him it may be he doth not presently answer all our requests It may be with Paul thou and I have some thorn in the Flesh that we have sought God for the taking of it away and we begin to be impatient and to say we have waited and prayed and looked long and yet 't is not taken away we looked for peace and behold no good we looked for healing and behold trouble and we begin to fret and say as Jehoram King of Israel did when trouble began to arise and the Famine increase 2 Kings 6.33 Behold this evil is of the Lord what should we wait for the Lord any longer Ah poor soul whoever thou art I pitty thee that hast been at any time in this sad temper but stay thy self soul with this that Christ waited tell his head was wet with the Dew c. And to what end did he and doth he wait but to be gracious so he saith Is 30 18 And therefore doth the Lord wait that he may be gracious unto you Note the force of that word therefore for that very end that he may be gracious Oh! how long hath he waited for you it may for some ten twenty thirty fourty years and yet he saith he will wait Therefore will the Lord wait not onely hath but will wait Oh why then should not we wait then for him I but dost thou find after all this waiting that Jesus Christ is come in thou wilt say it may be I would have Christ for my Saviour First Hast thou received him for thy Priest the Priest's under the Law were changed by reason of mortallity but this man because he continueth for ever hath an unchangeable Priesthood but art thou able to say thou art willing to cast thy self on him to bear away thy iniquities I tell thee he is able to bear them there is help laid on one that is mighty and he is able to save to the utmost all that come to God by him Heb. 7.25 And he is not one that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was tempted as we are that he might the better succour them that are tempted and because of this Priest-hood We may come boldly to the Throne of Grace Heb. 4.15 Heb. 2.8 Alas we durst not have looked God in the Face had not Christ been our Priest and undertaken this but now we may come boldly and plead Christ with him Oh who shall condemn 't is Christ that dyed Rom. 8.34 Yea when he let Angels go those noble Creatures yet he condescended to take on him the Seed of Abra'm he would be a Priest for poor lost man Heb. 2.16 Yea he by this bare our iniquities into the Wilderness of forgetfulness Lev. 16.21 And truly we had need of one to bear away not only the iniquity of our transgression but to bear the iniquities of our services he is the Antitipe of Aaron the Priest to bear away the iniquity of our Holy things Exod. 28.38 When poor Believers are troubled with vain thoughts and their Spirits are wandring in Prayer or Hearing or Meditation or Reading These Worm eaten services the worms of evil thoughts will be creeping in and eating out the heart of our prayers yet Christ will bear away the iniquity of these Holy things yea when not only vain but wicked thoughts come in as in Prov. 5.14 I was almost in all evil in the midst of the Congregation Yea thy very secret sins which made David cry out Cleanse me from my secret sins Psal 19.12 Yet he is a Priest to bear away all sorts of sins The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sins Now Soul try thy self art thou willing to have Christ for thy Priest do not deceive thy self 't is not so easie to take Christ for thy Priest 't is no small matter to come of from thy self Secondly Hast thou received Christ for thy Prophet to teach thee All Gods Children shall be taught of the Lord Isa 54.13 And a Prophet shall the Lord thy God raise up unto thee of thy brethren him shall ye hear in all things Acts 3.22 And this was of old Prophesied by Jacob Gen. 49.13 The Scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a Law-giver from between his feet until Shiloh come and to him shall the gathering of the people be this Shiloh was Christ and this gathering of the people to hear him begun to be fulfilled Luke 19.48 For all the people were very attentive to hear him or as some margins have it they hanged on him Now art thou willing to hear him and to hang on his lip to be taught by him and none other and to hear no other Doctrine then what he Teaches dost thou indeed take him for thy Prophet and with the Apostle Gal. 1.9 Dost account him accursed that brings any other news of Salvation This is a second way we should receive Christ But I proceed to the next Thirdly Dost thou receive Christ for thy King to Rule and give thee Laws as well as teach thee Isa 33.22 The Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King not only King to save us but our Law-giver to rule us He is our King and he will save us we must not think to be Kings our selves Alas what can we do but he will save us save us from sins Matth. 1.21 And he will save us from our enemies too the people of Israel did not save themselves by their own arm but by the Lords arm and by the Lords right hand Psal 44.3 so in Hos 1.7 I will have mercy on the House of Israel and will save them How by themselves by their own arm not so the Text tells you by the Lord their God and 't is Christ that is that horn of Salvation in Luke 1.69 71. That will save us from our enemies and from the hand of them that hate us and it is he in Isa 63.1 That is Mighty to save and as he will rule in the Salvation of his people so he will rule secondly in the destruction of his enemies Jam. 4.12 As he is able to save so likewise to destroy He shall Rule his enemies with a Rod of Iron Psal 2.9 Psal 110.2 God will send the Rod of his strength out of Zion and he shall rule in the midst of his enemies and Vers 6. He shall wound the heads of many Countries Though the proud ones of the World say this man shall not Reign over us yet he will bring them into subjection whether they will or no have but a little patience believer and it will come to pass but besides this Christ will be King in thy Soul to tread down Sin and Satan and art thou willing to have Christ King in thee to this end art thou willing he shall tread on the neck of every lust and corruption then dost thou receive him as King aright art thou willing he shall bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of himself 2 Cor. 10.5 Dost thou receive him
the devil hath not forget his old trade of transforming himself into an Angel of light he can tell them 't is lawful to provide for their Family they are worse then Infidels that do not but this Nehemiah might have as many excuses as thee who ever thou art and yet Nehemiah would not leave the Lords work no he preferred the Lords work and esteemed it a great work this Christ would have all his children do Matth. 6.33 Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness I and that 's the work that should be done in the first place before all other things try how 't is with thee if it be thus 't is a good sign thou art a child of God XXVI Hast thou in any measure overcome the World and dost thou seek the things above I put these together for they are of the same import 't is a sign thou art quickned with Christ if thou seek the things that are above and gett'st the world under thy feet this made Moses contenin the Treasures in Aegypt alas he valued it not Heb. 11.26 so John 1 5.4 He that is born of God overcometh the World and as they have overcome the World so they seek the things of another Paul would have the Corinthians live in the world like Men and Women of another World 1 Cor. 7.29 It remains that they that have Wives be as they that have none no why should they run away from them no that 's not the meaning but they should sit loose from them if God call for them be as willing to part from them in his fear without repining at Gods hand as if they had none at all And they that weep as though they wept not and they that rejoyce as though they rejoyced not and they that buy as though they possessed not and they that use this World as not abusing it Note well the Apostle doth not say you shall have no Wives nor you shall not weep nor receive nor buy nor use this World no but take heed how you have and do things in the World as if the Apostle should say I would not have your hearts set on these things We should use the World to carry us to our Fathers House but we must take heed you rest not here Arise arise Man this world is not thy rest Get wings man and fly up live like men of another world in this world such a life as this did Paul live when he said Our conversation is in Heaven Phil. 3.20 Why Paul are not you among the Saints on earth among men on earth yes but converse in Heaven I trade about Heavenly things my thoughts Heavenly my affections Heavenly my conversation Heavenly my words they are Heavenly too they are such as are a Paradox to the Men of this world the men of the world speak of the world the world hear them but said the Apostle We are of God and they that know God hear us and they that are not of God heareth not us no poor Creatures they know not what we say 1 John 4.5 if you speak of God the world know not what you say these are out of their reach therefore Christ said to the poor blind Jews You do not understand my speech why because you cannot bear my Word in John 8.43 'T was a mistery that he speak to them therefore Paul saith 3 Cor. 2.14 The natural man receiveth not the things of God because they are Spiritually discerned Talk to him of Meat and Drink and Sleep and ease and the pleasures and sports of this life and this he heareth and knoweth this is sensual not spiritual Jude 19. This his sence understandeth talk to him of a Kingdom that consisteth of Meat and Drink this he is willing shall be his Heaven but alas poor carnal man thou art mistaken The Kingdom of God consisteth not in Meats and Drink Rom. 14.17 But now soul hast thou overcome these sower things and is thy heart set on Heaven hast thou thy heart soaring aloft I am afraid the most professors of this age are great strangers to this and many other things that are the life of Christianity what ever specious pretences they may make yet their very practices speak it out to loud but if thou art one whose life is in Heaven then thou art one of wisdoms children For the way of life is above to the wise Prov. 15.22 XXVII Art thou a new creature then 't is a sign thou art in Christ Are all old things done away the old Companions the old lusts the old love of the folly of this world is turned into the love of Heavenly things 2 Cor. 5.17 It may be thou canst not shed tears so plentifully why man repentance doth not so much consist in that but is thy nature changed and dost thou abhor thy self as Job 42.6 Dost thou find in thee a hatred to thee way of wickedness that thou wast wont to love and a love to the things of God that of old thou wast wont to hate dost thou loath sin and loath thy self for sin 't is a good sign thou art in Christ it may be formerly thou wouldst not have this man to reign over thee but now give me Christ or else I dye formerly thou wer 't alive and active in sin But now thou art dead to sin and alive to God Rom. 6.11 Now you do not alow your selves willingly in any known sin Oh soul is well with thee thou art pure in heart though not perfect yet in part XXVIII Hast thou a spirit of prayer and supplication poured out upon thee when Paul was converted to Christ whom before he persecuted Ananias was bid to go and enquire for Saul of Tarsus for behold he prayeth why did he never pray before possible he might utter words before but he had not the Spirit of Prayer before there be many from the invention of memory or in a form seem to pray excellently that yet do not pray in the Holy Ghost Acts 9.11 And you know Jude speaks of praying in the Holy Ghost Jude 20. So that men cannot pray but by the Holy Ghost Men may as I said mumble over a form of words it may be I but a man cannot pray but by the Holy Ghost 't is the Spirit of God that will help souls to pray to confess sin and to plead promises the Spirit helpeth our infirmities with groans that cannot be uttered he that hath the Spirit can come to God as a Friend and say Father I have need of such and such mercies I have need of strength against sin and such and such corruptions are like to overcome me he that hath the Spirit of God is the Friend of God as Abraham was called the friend of God often times take one place for the rest that comes next to my hand 2 Jam. 23. Now a friend of God can go and plead with God and say Lord such and such sins and corruptions are to hard for me
pleasure in him Heb. 10.38 Ah soul I know not so well what thou hast as I know what I have but I have mine iniquity and I do fear so hast thou few that ever I met with but had one beloved above all other this is that David kept himself from Psal 18.23 I kept my self from mine iniquity Oh take head that thine iniquity do not draw thee back but follow the Lord and keep on his way not only begin but follow on Hes 6.3 Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord there is the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ before but take heed and look forward for if thou look back there is Hell behind at thy heels if thou draw back it will be to perdition Oh that we may never draw back for if we do the fault will be ours for God if he hath begun a good work will go on to perform it or as it may be read finish it Phill. 1.6 Let us then go on after Christ and not draw back from him but Thirdly And lastly to the Saints live as it becometh those that are called by him and make profession of him hath he loved thee with an everlasting love and therefore with loving kindness hath he drawn thee Jer. 31.3 And wilt thou not answer his love by thy Life Oh soul wilt thou not stand for him and own him in bad days wilt thou not plead his cause against all enemies that plead's thy cause with the Father hath God given thee a gift oh improve it for Christ thy Lord he hath dyed for thee and wilt not thou live to him doth he appear before God for thee and wilt not thou appear before Men for his Name sake 't is sad to see how men sneak away and diseart Christ's cause under fine specious pretences 't is not prudence to do things say they when Authority would not have it so and so they have a pretence to cover themselves with that pretence this kind of Spirit was found in some of old in Holy Philpots time said he some persons make themselves a Clock to keep of the Rain with pretence of obeying Magistrates whom we ought to obey though they be evil and wicked but saith he such must learn to give Caesar his and God his due and with Peter obey the higher powers in the Lord c. this he speaks by reason of the cowardness of their Spirits in their Masters cause but oh soul that I could prevail with thee and my own soul to stand to Christs cause Oh I call Heaven and Earth to witness this day bear witness all ye that see or hear of this that I call upon you to plead Christ caused and hold fast his Name and not run away and leave Christ oh live as those that become the Gospel in this very thing oh sad 't is to tell there be some that in this respect have cause the very adversary to speak reproach fully and to blaspheme and as these are cowardly in Christs cause so there are others very debauched in their practices would to God there were no cause to say professors keep loose company many there are that keep a Club with vain Fellows I and I am afraid many times drink to excess oh take shame to your selves who are guilty this is loathsom in the sight of the truly Godly and I tell you you give them just occasion to judge you Hypocritical and rotten at the heart and to spare no rank let me be plain with you who take it upon you to be the Lords Watchmen you of the Ministry 't is sad that you that should be reproevers should fall justly under reproof or rather for I am on exhortation now you that should exhort others should need be exhorted and yet what lives do some of you lead I am ashamed to say debauched of you Oh insteed of a holy self denying life how many of you live an Earthly flesh pleasing life and how are your Families trained up insteed of the School of Christ it may be in a Dancing-School or at the Musick is this a life that becometh Professors but by this time I think I hear some of you begin to say is not it lawful to recreate our selves I am not minded here to answer all the cavils that the flesh will raise but this I 'le said Paul said indeed All things were lawful that is as I conceive with respect to conscience of his own but not expedient that is with respect to conscience of anothers and to my knowledge there are some hardened by your practices Oh how sad is it to see Ministers Wives Children and Families as well as other Professors come into the Congregation and insteed of being patterns of piety are patterns of Pride that insteed of having it said of them they were Modest and adorned with meekness and humility in modest apparel shameful it might be said they were proud high-minded and clad in gaudy Robes like pictures set to sell but I leave you to dispute it with one that will nonplusse you in all your disputations and silence all your objections but Saint thou that art truly such what ever others do though they Eclipse and darken the Glory of God and Religion yet do thou let thy light so shine that others may see thy good works and glorifie God Oh soul have a shinning conversation so saith the Apostle Phill. 1.27 Only let your conversation be as becometh the Gospel Art thou Christ's live as one that wouldst honour Christ it will be an honour to Christian profession it will be a comfort to those that were instrumental in begetting thee to God they will be able to stand up one day and say behold here I am and the Children that thou hast given me Heb. 2.13 Oh I call upon professors now to adorn Religion when the wicked scorn it do you adorn it and you that are members of Churches I do not say of Christ for it doth not appear by you how do you honour Christ when there is no order nor government in your Families no Justice no pitty or if any but a meer carcase insteed of having the Master in the Family at even when the duty of his particular calling is over he is in the Coffee-house which may justly be called the Night Exchange not so much to Traffick as to quaffe it insteed of an exhortation to thy Family and Servants it may be thou sit telling or else hearing a merry jest among thy Company or at best insteed of thy Bible in thy hands asking thy Children and Servants what 's God or Christ or the Holy Ghost it may be thou sittest with Cards in thy hands asking who deals who leads the Table or what 's Trump Sirs take it how you will I speak not groundlesly is this to honour Christ and the profession of Religion Oh let it not be told in Gath nor published in Askelon Oh never wrong Religion so much as to take the