as to love and union amongst the Saints would it not procure a right understanding to prevent Schisms and parties would it not meeken the spirits of dissenting brethren would it not dash those hot vapors which fly up into the heads of many and distemper their brains with notions and niceties and may it not through the blessing of God have an hopefull tendency to the quickening comforting confirming and spiritualizing the Saints the whole Nation over Mal. 3.16 Then in a time bad enough and it may be much worse then ours whatsoever some men say they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard and a book of remembrance was writ before the Lord for those that feared him and thought upon his name c. What an encouraging practice of the Saints and promise of the Lord is here to quicken us up to a suitable carriage we have had much talk of Classical Assemblies of teaching and ruling Elders to advance the discipline of Christ O that we might have bear the word and blame not the wish Classical communions of Ministers and Christians to advance the doctrine and life and holiness of the Lord Jesus and that now the Lord hath given all his Churches rest throughout his Nation we may walk in the fear of the Lord and comfort of the holy Ghost with one lip and one shoulder consulting our mutual edification and the enlargement of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus taking that Primitive practice Act. 9.31 for our pattern and this gives me a leading hint to offer a fourth consideration unto you how you may live best unto those that are yet without 4. You will more advance Religion in your several Towns and maintain good neighborhood upon the best account if you lend a word of seasonable advice to those that are posting to hell and jogging on with more hast then good speed to the chambers of death and thus you will best do if you speak over unto them how it hath been with you how ignorant how carnal how earthly-minded how obstinate how foolish and vain you have been and how you were in the broad way to destruction yet altogether senceless and stupid as to any right apprehension of your danger or right use of means for your recovery untill the Lord convinced you by his spirit of sin of righteousness and of judgement Joh. 16.8 granted you repentance unto life Acts 11.18 and now being justified by his grace you are made heirs according to the hope of eternal life Tit. 3.6 Now by grace you are acquitted from the guilt of sins and have a clear title unto heaven And friends who knows whether the same mercy be not laid up in store for you whether the same blessed change may not be wrought in you whether the same kindness aâ—d love of God our Saviour may not manifest it self to you Surely discourses of this nature which you may enlarge upon occasion according to the teachings of the good spirit of God may work in them a sense of danger and hope of delivery upon a saving account T is much that the Saints do for the profane world much for their unregenerate neighbors as is their duty commanded 1. In communicating unto them in their outward wants in drawing out their bowells towards distressed persons they have a word of command Ecc. 11.1 To cast their bread upon the waters giving a portion to seven and also to eight So Heb. 13.16 To do good and to communicate forget not for with such sacrifices God is well pleased and Gal. 6.10 to do good to all men supposed in distress as objects of mercy though the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the especially in the text directs them to a larger and more liberal charity towards the houshold of faith and I doubt not much water runs out at these two spouts of Mercy and Charity that this testimony may be given of many of the Saints 2 Cor. 8.3 That to their power yea and beyond their power they are willing to supply the wants of their fellow-Christians yea fellow-creatures also and indeed it would be much their shame and more their sin if men of carnal principles and worldly expectancies outstrip them in obedience to this great Gospel command Prov. 19.17 He that hath pitty upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord and that which he hath given will he pay him again Though God be much out of credit with the world yet the Saints dare take his word and do lend much unto the poor upon his single security 2. They have a great hand in procuring the blessing of God upon their carnal neighbors though God is good to all making his Sun to rise on the evil and sending rain on the unjust Mat. 5.45 bearing witness to his goodness and God-head in all nations by giving rain from heaven and fruitful seasons filling the hearts of men with food and gladness Act. 14.17 yet even the mercies of the footstool the neither springs run much for the sake of the godly which are in the world and are much as a return of their prayers Laban the Syrian learned this by experience that the Lord blessed him as to his outward estate for Jacobs sake Gen. 30.27 Potiphar saw this also chap. 39.5 It came to pass from the time that Potiphar had made Joseph overfeâ—r in his house that the Lord blessed the Egyptians house for Josephs sake and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that be had in the house and in the field a plain text and that which teacheth great personages to commit their affairs to the trust and care of Josephs as Stewards and Bailiffs it would go better with them then it does But alas Josephs Religious men are not the onely men in great families more 's the pity and more is there loss the Lord help them to see and all men else how much good the Lords Josephs are instrumental unto in the world that they may be more prized by all and masters may labor more to store their families with such servants how desirous soever the profane world is to be rid of the Saints sure I am they would dearly miss them Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are yet he prayed in a great drought and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth fruit Jam. 4.17 make much then of Jacobs Josephs and Elijahs O ye men of the world you 'l miss them in your barns and in your borders I 'le warrant you when they are gone 3. They keep off many a blow from the places where they live they either divert or at least delay the execution of judgements Ten righteous persons would have preserved four Cities from perishing by fire from heaven Gen. 18.32 How did David and the Elders of Israel by their prayer and humiliation keep off the sad stroak of the pestilence from Jerusalem when the Angel was now stretching forth his hand to destroy it 1 Chron. 21.15 16
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 OLD JACOBS ALTAR newly repaired OR THE SAINTS TRIANGLE of Dangers Deliverances and Duties personal and National practically improved in many Particulars seasonable and experimental BEING The Answer of his own Heart to GOD for eminent Preservations humbly recommended by way of Teaching unto all and as a special Remembrancer to the Ransomed of the Lord to awaken in them a sense of rich mercy that they may sing the Song of Moses for temporal and the song of the Lamb for spiritual Deliverances and to provoke them to Love and good Works By NATANEEL WHITING Mr. of Arts and Minister of the Gospel at Aldwinckle Gen. 35.3 Let us arise and go up to Bethel and I will make there an Altar unto God who answered me in the day of my distress and was with me in the way which I went And Verse 7. He built there an altar and called the place El-Bethel LONDON Printed by R.T. for Nathaneel Ekins and are to be sold at his Shop at the Signe of the Gunne in S. Paul's Church-yard 1659. To the Right Worshipfull Sr. WILLIAM FLEETWOOD Knight the Right Honourable Sr. GFORGE FLEETWOOD Baron of Swonholme in SWEADLAND and Lieutenant General of the King of SWEADLAND's Army there and to his Excellency CHARLES Lord FLEETWOOD Lieutenant General of the whole Army in ENGLAND and Scotland and one of his HIGHNESS Privy-Council Noble and Honoured I Am taught by the best Teacher the Holy Ghost not to forsake mine own friend and my fathers friend the Authority of which advice hath a great influence upon me being under the direct Aspect of it therefore do I own your antient and obliging favours in this publick Address under this hope That good wine will taste never the worse because presented in a wooden cup nor Truth lose any of its rellish because served up in an earthen dish If any charge blame upon me because I have not observed the Rules of Honour in the ordering of your names according to your Titles of Honour and standings in the world my Reply is this I pretend not to skill in Herauldry nor is it my business to dispute Titles I have therefore set Eliab in the Front because I may not give away the Honour of Primogeniture from Manasseh seing he hath not with Esau sold nor with Reuben lost the excellency of dignity He still weares with Zarah the scarlet thread upon his hand though his younger Brethren have broken forth and gotten the Precedency Besides though I owe much to your Honours I am much yours yet I am more your Brothers and my Obligations more to him which I must owne and I am sure such is your Justice that you will not entrench upon the right of other men much less upon your Elder Brothers And if your Honours be not offended why should others Again If any take offence that I preface this Treatise with Three Hnourable Names one of which would have been an honour to a more polite and elaborate Discourse my Answer is this When I had designed this Piece unto the Press I knew none whose Experiences could more fully comment upon the Subject treated on then your selves Your Preservations have been many and signal at home abroad by land by water few persons have had such remarkable Deliverances as you have had and few Families can instance in three Brethren who can give forth narratives of such notable and numerous Escapes as you can give And therefore seing you have equally shared in the marvellous Protections of a good God I am bold to make this Application to you All in which I do humbly Remember you of engaging mercies that the sence thereof may be awakened in you that like that Persian Monarch you may often read over your Diaries gather up your memorable preservations own the Lord in them and by suitable actings improve them to his glory The improvement of Mercies makes them to be Mercies indeed Then are the appearances of God glorious when they are visible and may be known and read of all men in our noble and vigorous actings for God What life for God was in old Jacob how did he purge his family set up Religion erect an Altar at Bethel and all this by way of thankfull return to the Lord who answered him in the day of his distress and was with him in the way which he went And how bravely did King David draw up after the Presidency of that noble Patriarch when he sate in his house seriously reviewing his former frights and flights his Dangers and Distresses his Banishments and Battels comparing them with his present peace safetie and honour and considered from what hand he had received all that good he took up a resolution to build an house for the Lord that the Arke of his presence might no longer dwell within curtains He often looked down upon the cave of Adullam and Engedi the wilderness of Ziph and Maon his straits at Gath his dangers at Keilah his fears at Ziglag c. even then when God had set him on high upon the Throne of Israel and Judah these reviews kept his heart in a warm and and lively frame for God Ah! How little of Dâ—â—id's spirit is to be found in England even amongst many who have largely experienced David's mercies how seldome do many review their hazzards and heart-terrours their tears and fears dangers and deliverances how have the tides of worldly pomp peace and pleasures washed off the Sculpture of personal and national mercies in most mens hearts Oh 't is sad and sadly to be lamented The Lord give you with Caleb another spirit that seing he hath given you not onely a safe but an Honourable standing after such amazing dangers with liberal advantages of doing and receiving good your Honours may follow the Lord fully you may act up more and more to the Presidencies proposed that you may not move in too narrow Orbes but shew forth largeness of heart according to the largeness of Gods mercies towards you that like starres of the greater magnitude you may cast abroad your warming and prolifick Influences that all neighbouring persons and places may be the better for you and your selves much the better in your spirits for God I am not ashamed Right Worshipfull to tell the world how ancient and how affectionate a Moecenas you have been to me that I received many encouragements from you when I was student in the Universitie how ready I have alwayes found you to lay forth your power and Interest for me how freely and speedily you placed me at Aldwinckle and how much I have found the favour of a Patron and the affections of a friend I might go higher for the space of many yeares which is much considering what hard measure some good Ministers have found from their Patrons though good men in these times of difference both upon a civil and Religious account and indeed I think it to be ingenious whatever others think and well comporting with the
did he make unto the Lord he acted vigorously 2 Chron. 19.4 5 c. not onely as a prudent but also as a pious Covernour in the cause both of God and man Ah what a blessed change would be made in England how would it be a land of righteousness and how would the poor of the flock rejoyce in it if all that had been eminently delivered and dignified by the Lord would make such returnes to him and his people though your excellency be not upon the Throne yet you are near unto it you stand in a publick capacity both Civil and Military and are eminent in both and so have great opportunities of doing good I hope you lose none I am sure you have improved many God hath led you to the second Chariot much in Josephs way be still a Joseph to the house of your brethren let the Israel of God be dear unto you be a covering Cherub over them and an Advocate for them they are a considerable number in the Land yea the most considerable in the Census of Heaven It was Job's Honour Iob 29.25 compared with Verses 15 16. when he sate chief and dwelt as a King in the midst of the Army to comfort the mourners to be eyes to the blinde feet to the lame and a father to the poor and your Excellency knows it will be your advantage Isa 59.6 7 8. to loose the bands of wickedness to undoe the heavie burdens to let the oppressed go free to break every yoke c. for then shall your light break forth as the morning and your health shall spring up speedily And your righteousness shall go before you the glory of the Lord shall be your Rereward Freedome from Oppression is a choice mercie and owned to be such by the poor whose flesh hath been torn by that iron tooth but 't is more eminentlie such upon a spiritual account and so owned by the Lords people whose soules have mourned and whose Consciences have bled under former Impositions a light burthen weighs heavy when 't is laid on weak shoulders and a little yoke presseth hard upon tender necks Tenderness of spirit when drawn forth unto right Objects is a fruit of Electing Grace Col. 3.12 a precious Cement to strengthen Communion of Saints and past all peradventure of rare use and real necessity that Christians of known integrity and of different perswasions in lesser matters may not be imposed upon but protected The Gospel spirit is a healing spirit a spirit of love and tenderness Jesus Christ will own those persons in an honourable way who carries his lambs in their bosomes that they may not become a prey to the Foxes and gently lead those that are big with young according to the right method and not beyond the bounds of Gospel-tenderness but 't is not the minde of Christ that seducing Jesabel should be suffered and 't is gravel in the teeth yea as a sword in the bones of many gracious ones to hear men of undermining Principles as to truth and of debauched practises as to holiness make use of names honourable before God and precious with good men as a shelter to themselves and blasphemies Cities of Refuge for such offenders are not set apart by God in his Israel nor is his Temple to be a Sanctuary for such Delinquents Zech. 13.2 The Lord cause the false Prophet and the unclean Spirit to pass out of the Land and ship them away to the Land of Shinar superadde this to his many mercies that he may turn to us a pure Language that we may serve him with one consent Zeph. 3.9 and that we may with one minde and one mouth glorifie God Rom. 15.6 even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ The Lord make your excellency eminently instrumental to repair Zions breaches and bless you out of Zion with peace and joy in your own spirit Heb. 12.22 23. and when you shall have served out your own generation according to his will receive you up into heavenly Jerusalem amongst the spirits of just men made perfect I shall shut up this Address Dear and Honoured with this one Request that you will accept the humble tender of real Respects in this smal bundle of goats hair was it better I know no persons in the world that can lay a fuller Challenge unto it then you can nor to whom I should more readily offer it then unto your selves If in the perusal of this Treatise you shall finde one spark to encrease your warmth of spirit for heaven and holiness own the Lord in it and let me be but a poor sheard in which the coal is brought from the hearth If any passage in it takes your soules aside and gives them a review of your Dangers and Deliverances offering any hint to direct or incite you to those Duties which the Lord calls for from his ransomed ones I have my end my Exspectations terminate in Gods glory and your spiritual good and growth The Lord make you progressive in Greatness but more in Grace that Religion in the life and spirit and power may be cherished in your hearts and houses that your practises may be a Paraphrase upon Psalm 101. your families may be Ecclesia Aula Schola as was the family of George Prince of Anhalt or like Cyrus his Court where if a man chose blind-fold he could not miss of a good man or like the Family of your Noble Parents where many were Proselited to the Faith and some now alive do own that Providence as happy which planted them under their roof That your children may keep up sincere Profession in your name and race and that the Lord who hath often delivered you out of the mouth of the Lion would deliver you out of every evil work and would preserve you unto his heavenly kingdome that you may be presented faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy is the hearty Prayer of Your Worships Honours and Excellencies humble and devoted Servant in the Lords work and for his honour NATH WHITING To the Ransomed ones of the Lord with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Dear Friends WHen with my own people I thankfully owned before the Lord an eminent Deliverance from an imminent Danger I then entred uppon this Discourse which was suited to that Providence And having often reflected upon that signall mercy duely considering the opportunities of doing and receiving good which I have had since that gracious reprieve from death I have since drawn up my Meditations which then were short suddain and confused into a more enlarged orderly and methodicall Treatise I do not covet the applause of men nor court your Acceptance with strains of wit an affected Eloquence new lights put into a dark Lanthorne or Seraphicall Notions high and sublimate but present you with a plain and practical Discourss desiring to speak from the heart to the heart The Treatise is
and the better man yet I sought first unto thee thou art indeed said Aeschines a far better man than I for I began the quarrel and thou the reconciliation O stand not upon punctilios but goe thou and do likewise you know the sad fruits of contention where a scar-fire is the bels ring backward So where this fire breaks forth in fellowship and fraternity Religion is Retrograde all things go backward and run into disorder Communion is broken Prayer is hindred mutual edification neglected Brotherly admonition will not be borne the weak are offended and the mouths of the wicked are opened wide in reproaches and calumnies 6. Preserve oneness in Judgment beware of dividing opinions and dividing in opinion Labour for stability in judgement for rooting in the faith It 's a great honour to be standing Christians in falling times be much and serious in searching the Scriptures much and serious in examining your grounds of profession Look often to your foundation be true to your own experiences Cant. 1.8 and recede not from your approved principles follow the foot-steps of the flock keep close to the Sheapheard tents conforme to the purest times the most primitive and Evangelical practises do not hastily leave the good old way meddle not with those that are given to changes in fundamentals Doctrinal or Practical Errour as one saies is a whirl-pool first turns men round and then sucks them in He has no sure standing who leaves the top of the hill Islebius Agricola the first Antinomian at last turned Papist How gradual has errour been amongst us unto what a monstrous bulk is Heresy now grown both as to persons and opinions which but a few years since was hardly visible now low did some begin who now are mounted upon the highest Pinacles O then stop the first leak least the Ship be immersed quench the first sparks least the maister-timber become a flame not onely keep but contend earnestly for the faith Iude 3. which was once delivered unto the Saints we are the trustees of Jesus Christ the treasure that is committed to our trust is very pretious above the vaule of heaven and earth in the account of the great Truster and that 's an obligation to faithfulness we are not to look onely to our selves but to posterity to that Doctrine which is transmitted to them one generation teacheth another and as we leave them Laws and other National priviledges so it would be sad if we should not be as carefull to leave them the Gospel O then as the Church is terrible as an army with banners so is she beautifull when she marcheth orderly under the Standard-Royal of truth and surely if we remember how we have rejoyced in the salvation of our God and in his name have set up our banners when formidable Armies were drawn up in great fury against us we cannot but charge blame upon our selves if we should forsake his Colours and fly to the painted Pageants of the Prince of darkness 7. Let not evil root in your hearts by the love of money Lay not up your treasures upon earth lest they keep your hearts too much out of heaven seek not great things for your selves with the neglect of greater Let not friendship with the world put you into a state of enmity with God Remember what a friend God was unto you in the midst of your late straits and dangers How little a value you set upon your stocks and lands your shops and trades in the heat of the late dreadfull Warrs how they that rejoyced were as though they rejoiced not they that bought as though they possessed not and will you now doat upon the world and put any trust in deceitfull riches What a sad presage is this of another War what a blemish upon Professours what a Reproach upon Religion There is no sin so contrary to a true Saint as earthly-mindedness whose Conversation ought to be in heaven his inheritance lying there O then roul away this reproach from you be content with food and raiment though none of the finest time was when you would have valued peace and the Gospel as choice mercies though with course dress and Diet make shift a while ere long you shall be cloathed with long white Robes clean and fine and shall drink of that wine which shall be ever new in the kingdome of your Father 8. Lastly Be most intent upon the quatuor nosissima the four last things Let your thoughts be much spent upon death these dying times by way of preparation that it may come without a sting and terrour to you of Judgment by way of preoccupation judging your selves here that you may not be judged hereafter of Hell by way of prevention waiting for and making sure your Interest in Jesus who will deliver you from wrath to come And of heaven by way of prelibation tasting the peace joy and comfort of that blessed Estate living upon the foretastes of heaven living up to the holiness of it and giving all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure that as the Lord hath given you an earnest of his mercy in temporal Preservation so the Lord may give you the full Treasures of his grace in everlasting Salvation To shut up all And indeed 't is time for according to the Rules of Architecture the two porches of it are much too big for the building my witness is in heaven that I covet not the applause of men I am not carried on by a popular spirit to make this publick nor do I designe it to that end which Absalon did his pillar 2 Sam. 18.18 The Lord I trust hath given me a name better then of sons and daughters Isa 56.5 Heb. 2.4 Zech. 1.4 but that like Abel's faith it may speak when I am dead The Prophets do they live for ever Alas we are earthen vessels soon dashed in pieces every Age hath born sad witness to this and none more then the present wherein many honourable vessels that were sanctified and made meet for the Masters use 1 Tim. 2.21 and prepared unto every good work are broken by the hand of heaven as earthen pitchers Lam. 4.2 the work of the hands of the Potter And therefore I have spared some hours from my ordinary pains and studies to prepare this Treatise That when the Lord shall silence me by death that my voice shall no more be heard from the Pulpit I may still speak to the people of God from the Press who are a people lying near my heart whose Stability in the Faith Union in Love Progress in holiness Growth in grace and further ripening for glory is the hearty desire of an unworthy Minister of the Gospel who is yours and the Churches servant in the Lords work N. Whitinge THE CONTENTS of this following TREATISE THE TEXT opened and analised Pages 1 2 3. Three Observations raised Observation 1. That the Saints of God pass through many dangers in this life page 4 1.
good glosse upon the text both as to the quod and quando of a duty shewing that it ought to be done and that then is the time for the doing of it thus Abraham when he had received a prohibition from heaven not to sacrifice Isaac and beheld a ramme caught in a thicket by the horns interprets the mind of God by that providence and offers up the ramme in the stead of Isaac Gen. 22. ver 12 13. by a divine Prolepsis anticipating that law of redemption which afterwards was enacted and published by God himself Exod. 13. ver 13. all the first born of man amongst thy children shalt thou redeem thus when the Lord met Moses by the way as he was going down to Egypt and would have slain him Exod. 4. ver 14 15 then Zipporah his wife probably by her husbands appointment circumcised her son concluding the neglect of that duty to be the speakings of God in that providence as appeared Read Babbingtons notes upon the place for when the child was circumcised the Lord let Moses go When Gideon heard the Medianites dream and the interpretation of it Judge 7. ver 15. he worshipped and returned into the host of Israel and said Arise for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host He concludes this providence as a clear exposition of the mind of God and a full confirmation of former promises How did the Elders of the Jews now being in Babylon interpret the Lord's mind in setting Cyrus the Persian upon the throne of Babylon and stirring up his heart to publish that gracious edict concerning their return to Jerusalem and rebuilding of the temple Ez. 1. ver 2 3. why they concluded that God had now put an opportunity into their hands both to quit the waters of Babylon by which they had sate down and wept and to enjoy the freedome of Gods worships in their own land ver 5. Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin and the Priests and Levites with all them whose spirit God had raised to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem they owned this providence as a true paraphrase upon that passage Psal 102. ver 13. Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Zion for the time to favour her yea the set time is come being penned as is thought by Daniel or some other holy man about this time of Cyrus's proclamation Now to bring this home to our selves that the reformation of State-abuses and male-administrations is the mind of God appears Isa 1. ver 17. Cease to do evil learn to do well seek judgement relieve the oppressed judge the fatherlesse plead for the widow that the worships of God should be established in liberty and purity that Gospel-truth should be winnowed from the chaffe of errours and heresies that the people of God should walk in the fellowship of the Gospel and advance Religion and the power of Godliness the Scriptures plainly declare to be the will of God that such things are seizable that there is hope of a good issue in such undertakings we have the word of Gods faithfulness for Isa 1. ver 25 26 27. Isa 60. ver 11.19 20 21 22. Chap. 54. ver 11 12 13. Zech. 13. vers 2 3 4 5. Ezek. 11. vers 19 20. Zeph. 3. vers 9.11 12 13. If these and other Scriptures be consulted with they will afford matter of great encouragement to the Saints of God which breathe after Zion's beauty and glory And that it is a duty incumbent upon the Lords people to endeavour these things besides the inward witness of the Spirit in their own hearts we have the testimony of the Spirit in the Scripture of truth And that this is the period of time in the secret appointments of the onely wise God and the Saints of this generation the people assigned by him for the carrying on of these works may be read in the dispensations of God amongst and toward us what have the people of God had more in former Ages by way of call from God or encouragement from men then we have Did God give them rest and peace from their enemies forraign and domestick So hath he given us in some measure Did the Lord pull down those persons and powers amongst them who authorised or abetted Idolatry and profaneness hath he not done the same amongst us Did the Lord give them the protection and encouragement of prudent and pious governours is it not so with us had they the Prophets of the Lord to quicken them up and strengthen their hands have not we also faithful and learned Ministers who from press and pulpit call upon us and excite us to do great things for the Lord Oh what glorious work would those blessed Spirits who are now at rest have made in England if they had enjoyed our opportunities Let me commend the practise of the Saints unto you Acts 9. v. 31. Then had the Churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samariah And how did they improve their Halcyon dayes why they were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the holy Ghost were multiplied the superstructures were carried on and new foundations laid old converts arrived at greater growth and new converts were dayly added Oh what a blessed peace would ours be if these two fruits were the products of it Oh ye servants of the Lord whom he hath ransomed from the grave and from the sword Magistrates Ministers and Christians lay aside your private interests and animosities and fall upon these great works as your respective stations give you advantage and opportunity that ye may have this Motto engraven on your tombes Here lie such and such who David-like served their own generations by the will of God And let me adde these two Corrolaries 1. That God hath assigned you your particular times for working Stat sua cuique dies 2. That when ye have lived up that time your working tooles must then be laid aside When David had served out his generation he fell asleep And therefore I shall shut up with the Preachers advice Eccl. 9. ver 10. Whatsoever thine hand findeth to do do it with all thy might for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdome in the grave whether thou goest and though thou beest lately come from thence be not secure the winde may suddenly turn and waft thee back again Alas What is your life it is even a vapour which appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away Jam. 4. ver 14. How easily can the great God disperse that vapour and melt that cloud into dew there is a great Arbitrer of all things that can thunder the proud Emperour under his bed and write the great King in three or four words into trembling that can send a fly to fetch the triple crown before his Tribunal make an hair or the kernil of a raison as mortal as Goliah's spear that can unspeak
all possibility of disappointment Sathan and his agents may as easily hinder the day from dawning and the Sun from rising when the appointed minute for each is come both which are fixed by the unrepealable ordinance of the great Creatour Jer. 33. ver 20. as prevent the dawnings of comfort or darken the irradiations of the Son of righteousnesse when he is pleased to shine into the souls of his drooping ones Nay farther He shall come unto us as the rain as the latter and the former rain to the earth both were certain in the land of Canaan unlesse held back in wrath the first at seed-time to soften the ground and the latter a little before harvest to plump and pumple the corn in the ear in like sort as renewing so reviving grace is certain as the former came unto us Mr. Burroughs Lecture in loc to convert us when we were sinful so the latter shall come to comfort us when we shall be sorrowfull O precious mercy read and enlarge this in your own thoughts and take these few hints as helps which are more insisted upon by Mr. Burroughs 1. The Time of Gods delivering his people is the morning he takes the first and fittest opportunity after a sad and dark night 2. T is Gods presence that makes morning to the Saints all naturall helps cannot do it 3. Gods mercies to his people are prepared and decreed mercies 4. The Saints in the night of affliction comfort themselves with this that the morning is a coming 5. The Church hath no afflictions upon her but there comes a morning after them 6. A little before the Saints deliverance out of their greatest disturbances of misery and trouble the darkness of their night is the greatest therefore be not dismayed although not a starre appears in your night of trouble for the morning is approaching that darknesse is the Prodromus it ushers in the Phosphorus the bright morning starre of joy and comfort neither let the scoffing Ismaels of the world take advantage from the drouping of Saints to reproach Religion for Psal 97. ver 11. Light is sown for the righteous and gladnesse for the upright 〈◊〉 heart they have light and gladnesse insemine at their first conversion and at their first entrance into a distressed estate the husband man sets a harvest value upon his land when the seed is harrowed in because he trusts to the word of Gods Covenant with Noah So may a believer who hath had a seed time of grace passe over his soul comfort himself that he shall have his harvest time of joy also 't is sown and covenant dews will ripen it in due time and therefore you who think so basely of the Gospel and the professours of it because at present their peace and comfort is not come at least in any measure unto some but rather sorrow and mourning know it is on the way to them and comes to stay everlastingly with them where is your peace is going from you every moment and is sure to leave you without any hope of ever returning to you again Look not how the Christian begins but ends The Spirit of God by his convictions comes into the soul with some terrours Mr. Gurnall part 2. of his Christian in compleat armour pag. 396. but it closeth with peace and joy as we say of the moneth of March it enters like a Lion but goes out like a Lamb Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace O then ye servants of the Lord be much and serious in meditating upon recovering and relieving grace under those three particulars mentioned and you will find excellent advantages thereby you will live at the best rate of a spiritual and happy life which I shall evince in three considerations Consid I. You will live best to God 2. You will live best to your selves 3. You will live best to others I. You will live best to God and for God if you often remember how near to silence your souls have been upon a spirituall account if you often meditate in what dark and dangerous paths you once walked what a load of lust and sin you lay under how thwart your principles and practices were to God and godlinesse how you walked in time past according to the course of this world the mundaneity and worldlinesse of the world as the Syriack renders it which is wholly set upon wickednesse and lyes soaâ—â—t in sin and according to the Prince of the power of the air the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience Ephes 2. ver 2. as a Smith worketh in his forge and an Artificer in his shop that ye were the devils journey-men your members as his working-tools your souls as his shop wherein and by which he carryed on that cursed trade of sin Oh! the sense of this will marvellously draw the soul after God and prevail with you to live unto God which is the great end of living Rom. 14. ver 8. the truth whereof is evidenced in three particulars 1. You will live most by faith upon God you will act faith in a more immediate and fiduciall dependency upon the Lord Try and then trust is the worlds motto now when you have a present sense upon your souls of what the Lord hath done for you how and in what methods of grace the Lord appeared to you when you walked upon the brink of hell and were ready every moment to drop into the pit this will work an holy boldnesse in your hearts this will answer all carnall cavills it will silence all the objections of your distrustfull hearts and bring up your spirits bravely to Jobs resolution Job 13. ver 15. Though he slay me yet will I trust in him he shall not be so rid of me I will hang on him still and if I must dy I will dy at his feet I and remember the wayes of God unto me his wayes of grace and mercy and free redemption when my estate was sad and bad and therefore under all those showers of arrows which fly from the Almighty against me and drink up my moisture I will roul my self upon him trust in him I and he also shall be my salvation see further ver 16 17 18 19. Oh if any man lives to God the just man doth who lives by his faith and fetcheth life and strength for his faith from his own experiences All the world could not shake the holy confidencies of Saint Paul when he had argued out the experiences of the grace and good will of God in Jesus Christ unto himself and believers Rom. 5. ver 16 17 18. then chap. 8. he begins conclusively there is therefore now no condemnation not one condemnation and carries it on at that high rate of affiance that ver 33 34. he doth arietem mittere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 take the field and give a generall challenge to all his adversaries to plead and preferre what indictments