vexing for all the estate he hath if he hath any eye or tendernesse in it so those small matters for which the Saints have suffered and for which God is provoked and under which some have roared and others have been loaded one after another 't is worth a world oh blesse God for it but consider those that be under the dominion of sin and Satan so strong and miserable sinne so dear that there is not so much as a sigh under that be thankful for that 3. Labour to maintain in the heart a holy feare of abusing liberties every one in his place for what makes them despised but principally the abuse of them in such a Congregation there was such contention such affront to the Elders there is that degenerating of spirit and back-sliding from God that men grow worse under meanes then ever I and so must be if men grow not better Deut. 6.10 12. The Lord exhorts them that when they be at liberty they would not then forget the Lord but then feare 'T is Luthers note on the place When in trouble you rejoyce but when in peace you feare I 'le only name the sins of liberty 1. Take heed of a Prayerlesse spirit and that that lamp go not out Men under some pressures cry and 't is long before they do cry under them and under their sin but then at last they do and when the Lord gives liberty though they have the guilt of the same sins and more sins lie on them yet then like Marriners when the stormes are over fall asleep It s strange that Israel under Pharaoh cried and under Gods afflicting hand in denying them water murmured True thankfulnesse will help to prize what liberty affords 2. An unloving spirit to the Saints It 's that I have oft said souldiers when they are set against a common enemy are all one but when at liberty then they fling javelins at one anothers heads differ in opinion and in heart and affection and 't is not death so to do Take heed of a rigid censorious unloving spirit 3. Extreme ignorance how to use our liberties and hence running to extremes As we say of Christ There is good enough in him but men know not how to fetch and improve it so there is great advantage in liberties but men misse of it through their ignorance and abuse Hence many times more hurt done by an Admonition then by the sin when administred in passion and without compassion Hence under pretence of liberty extream licentiousnesse 4. Imperiousnesse of spirit arising from a frothy emptinesse and an overweening opinion and conceitednesse of their own abilities and wisdome above others and hence will not be led being at liberty by the Councel and Advice of others It 's natural for man to affect sovereignty and when the time comes of liberty then it hath a vent Who made thee a Lord and Judge over us though in bondage much more in liberty they think Wills Common-wealth is in their heads chiefly and hence will not be ruled by Gods ordinances and hence if once taken with an opinion hardly ever removed c. 5. Resting with liberties and in liberties We were never in bondage John 8.33 yet servants to sin We be Abrahams seed better then all the world yet under all the power of sin and Satan and must not be told of their wayes but hate them that censure them for their sins Men in bondage are like sick men that will cry if they were in another bed oh then they should be well but they must first be cured of their disease 4. Make use of liberties He that hath them but sees not so much glory in them or gets not much good from them he wil be no more thankful then one that hath large grounds may walk at liberty but the trees for want of manuring bear no fruit nor ground corn through sloth such a man wil starve there Look as they Deut. 15.5 10 11. they were to bring the first fruits present them before the Lord and rejoyce in all so should you if ever you be thankful for them bring the first fruits to the Lord and think there is more behinde and more in heaven Object But our outward straits are many Object and temptations sad Answ If Christ himself should come on earth what would you have with him Answ would you have him come and set up an earthly Paradise would you have better entertainment then he who had not that which foxes and birds had or would you have him come from his Crosse and then you will make him King if you despise his ordinances and liberties because of wants you would despise himself if he were present But you will reply and say What if we can have both If that can be and Christ calls to take both refuse not his love But it may be an heavy indictment against some at the last day in that they forsake Christ because he is poor and naked for they are therefore called to cloath him and this will be your Peace and you will be no losers your selves another day 2. Suppose he doth keep us low yet Psal 145.13 14. His dominion is alway and raiseth up all that are bowed down Oh be humbled he is said Deut. 32.13 to make the people such honey out of the rock and oile out of the flint sweetnesse and mercy out of the hardest condition 3. They that are not recompenced for their enjoyment of liberties by the spiritual refreshings which the Lord gives shewing them more of their own hearts the Lord proclaims liberty to them to depart I am perswaded the whole Countrey would flourish the more 4. Lament rather your own vilenesse who in the midst of all mercy know not how to use but abuse our liberties and hence the Lord forsakes us as Ezra 9.8 10 11. What grace hath been shewed us what shall we say that after this c Wouldest thou not be angry with us till thou hast consumed us Psal 81.13 16. Oh that my People had heard my voice I would have subdued their enemies God would not be wanting unto us if we were not to him Take therefore that example to imitate in Acts 9.31 Having rest they were edified if we be not so truly as none have the like liberties so no bondage so sad no where such poverty no where such anguish of conscience no where such spirit and power of sin no where such sad anger if in practice we be unthankful or can mouth and speak against long Sermons and against the Countrey and Christians or in hearts undervalue them and when you see Indians rise Brambles Abimelechs and Shebnas raised c. then know this is for abuse of liberty Vse 7. Of exhortation to come under Christs Government Vse 7 and be in his service lest ye come to know the difference between it and some other by experience Mot. 1. You must be either under Christs yoke or Satans and sins Mot. 1. and so
Lord of Hosts even upon them shall be no raine 3. Sadnesse hence Isa 56.7 Even them I will bring to my holy Mountains and make them joyful in my House of Prayer To be joyful in the house of Prayer is promised to such as joyn themselves to Gods Covenant 2. They have a power given them of binding and loosing By admonition of any one that being received in shall sin against their communion and the Lord in it thereby to defile the whole body and to provoke the wrath of the Lord against the same and this is mentioned Matth. 18. and by the Apostle 1 Cor. 5.1 4. and this is given to them to use against whatever sinner or offender it be be he great or small Prince or Peer if he be a brother he is to lye down here An admonition is an arrest and message from God from Christ Jesus the King of Kings Eglon must come down from his throne when this is brought Now I grant again this power may be abused miserably as to admonish without conviction or without compassion and love but in heat passion c. Yet this is the part of Christs binding power in his Church which when 't is done 't is bound in heaven Now when men come to that passe that they do not only sin for that the Lord pardons but are grown to that height that they cast off all reproofs and Christ-like admonitions for sin steept it may be in many teares and prayers before they came and sweetned with the Spirit of mercy and terror of Christ Jesus in the mouths of his servants this brings under bondage 'T is not sin so much for this will be but when they cannot abide reproofes they are iron morsels cannot be digested and hence sometime hide it and twenty shifts and halfe as many lies or if it be found out defend it and fall a fencing and thrusting and try it out to the last or extenuate it twenty wayes that a beam is a mote and which is worse their hearts rise and swell and they bear a privy grudge against them as if they were their enemies because they tell them the truth when they should say Let the righteous smite me Exod. 2.14 Who made thee a Prince and Judge over us When Moses the Israelites deliverer was raised up he thereupon departs and they lye under heavy bondage when they cast off his reproof It 's true a Saint may not for a time submit but yet it argues a height of spirit for the present unfit for communion with God and the Lord will bring them off and humble them for their pride 2 Sam. 23.6 7. But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thornes thrust away because they cannot be taken with hands A childe of God may have many weaknesses a hypocrite many excellencies but the tryall of them is when they come to be arrested with a sad reproof how they yield there and that as unto God especially when confession shall either discredit their person or make others question their grace Snakes will not hisse nor sting till touched a sheep will be led to the slaughter and turn the cheeke to him that smites So should one poor brother do to another when he comes to him in the name of the Lord but not many that will so do but resist and oppose against all reason 3. They have a power of Communication of good one to another in way of edification according to their places in this their communion So that now 't is not only left in the hands of the Officers but of the whole Church and each Member in the Church according to his place and ability to edifie the whole Eph. 4.16 From whom the whole body fitly joyned and compacted together by that which every joynt supplieth according to the essectuall working in the measure of every part making increase of the body unto the edifying self in love Members are not to stand like beautifull pictures in Church-windowes and as costly images in Churches that have eyes and see not eares and hear not but they are to be living stones in Gods building not only to build up themselves but one another also that so a man may not only get no hurt from communion of Churches but he may get good indeed from the same And if I mistake not here is the wound of Churches When Members seek not and indeavour not the good one of another and so have Ordinances and means of doing one another good but exercise them not or if they do receive not the good they might hereby but may say and shall say at last as he Prov. 5.14 I was almost in all evil in the midst of the Congregation Sin prevailing and sorrowes by little and little like water in a leaking ship sinking the poor barke Quest. What are those means that are left to the Saints themselves Quest even private Members to exercise in Christian communion for men and women and so you may see when these are neglected or not improved the power of Christ in his Church is cast off so far forth Answ 1. The first is Answ a Spirit of dear Christ-like love one to another every one to all and all to that one againe being ready to expresse it self in procuring the good of others as well as its own This doth sweeten communion very much and edifies quickens and encourageth a Christian in his whole course marvelously Eph. 4.16 Making increase of the body unto the edifying it self in love Love edifieth 1 Cor. 8.1 Knowledge puffeth up but Charity edifieth It 's the joy of the Saints and that which makes the Saints to blesse God in heaven where take any one singly all joyntly besides honour it tender it and seek the good of it and that one blesseth God and seeks their good more then its own againe and this is prophesied Zeph. 3.9 That they may call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one consent to serve the Lord with one shoulder to help one another spiritually and outwardly where there be many griefs and burdens which depresse the spirits and make it unserviceable is removed As what is there that doth alienate the hearts of men more from God and his Church but want of love Now when mens love grows cold that a godly man is not esteemed whiles he lives nor his death lamented so much as the losse of a swine When people grow strange one to another and take distastes and prejudices when they can sit by the fire-side and censure and whisper and make offences and take offences and mindes divide and hearts divide that if you aske what such a one is good for the answer is he is good for himself and good to breed brawles and divide a Church A Kingdome divided against it self cannot stand and therefore hereby you cast off this Kingdome Oh Christians should pray for this and mourne for want of this and study peace and follow it It should be
death to differ or side or make a party one against another 2. Earnest prayer for the Church and all in it besides thy self and that with striving with God till an answer it given Sretcht out prayers as they made for Peter Acts. 12.5 James 5.16 Confesse your faults one to another and pray one for another that you may be healed And so Jude 20. But ye beloved building up your selves in your most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost This is a means to edifie one another when there is inlargednesse of heart to pray one for another Psal 122.8 For my brethrens sake I 'le wish thy peace Sometimes a Christian can do others little good yet he will wrastle for him in his prayers to God One knowes not the good comes hereby if withall a man keeps a good Conscience making conscience of his wayes And 't is one of the greatest priviledges that a man hath when once he hath a share in all the prayers of the Saints as his own and it answers that Quere What is a Christian the better for the liberties of the Church Matth. 18.19 Again I say unto you that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing they shall aske it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven vers 20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name there I am in the mida'st of them Now when people are false herein to their brethren and to their Covenant to their God and to their own soules for there is no one prayer thou makest that shall be lost but if it attaine not a blessing for others it shall returne again into thy bosome When there shall be no heart to spend prayer or shed tears for them whom Christ hath shed his blood for now you cast off the Kingdome of Christ Oh Brethren consider of it when there shall be many a soul in a Church taken by Satans temptations and held in temptations and ready to be overcome by temptations and it may be would not be so but because thou dost not pray publick Ordinances the ministery of the word little good done thereby because thou hast no heart to pray Acts 4.31 And when they had prayed the place was shaken where they were met together and they were all filled with the holy Ghost This is the reason the hearts of thy children servanrs and fellow-brethren remaine secure and unshaken by all the Sermons they heare nothing doth them good nothing will pierce or penetrate their adamant-like hearts because thou hast no heart to pray for them or at least not to purpose 3. Timely Exhortation when brethren are dead-hearted and heartlesse in their Christian course Heb. 3.12 13. Take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God but exhort one another whiles it is called to day lest any of you be hardned through the deceitfulness of sin Brotherly exhortation is a remedy against Apostasie of heart for though a man cannot convince another yet he may exhort him and 't is to be done in season whiles it 's called today with due respect and taking notice of what good there is with much wisdome and a spirit of humility or else thou spoilest all thou medlest withall putting your selves in their estate and with hearty unfeigned prayer that the Lord would accompany the same with his blessing Heb. 10.24 Consider one another to provoke unto love and good works Look over the Congregation and consider such a Brothers or Sisters estate one is poor and low another falling another very much altered Now in some cases a private Brother may do more then a Minister the Lord help us and stir us up to this work Now when this is neglected many soules are hardned 4. Instructing and teaching one another as occasion serves Rom. 15.14 And I my selfe also am perswaded of you my brethren that you also are full of goodnesse filled with all knowledge able to admonish one another They were able for to instruct and teach one another Isa 54.13 They shall be all taught of God What God teacheth thee that do thou teach others what thou gainest by hearing or by praying or meditation by putting questions to others sometimes to teach and sometimes to be taught and this do if possible in all occasional meetings and worldly discourses mixe with it some sweet truth that God hath taught thee But now on the other side when Christians shall meet and a man is the worse for their fruitlesse discourse no savour of any thing of God Let them meet never so long or often walking or sitting this is sad 5. In Comforting those that be sad 1 Thes 5.14 and 4. ult Comfort the feeble-minded and supprt the weak wherefore comfort one another with these words There are many sad hearts in Gods Church and sad things are as wounds to a mans limbes that make him halt or fall Oh Brethren be much in this work 2 Cor. 1.4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God That a soul may say such a one came to me and spake some few words to me but they were as seasonable as though the Lord had sent an Angel from heaven to speak to me and of more worth then if he had given me many pounds But now when this also is neglected that one Christians hath not a word of encouragement to another but dry and savourless discourse this the Lord takes very ill at the hands of his people that have received comfort from himself in the day of their sorrow and distresse 6. Restoring a Brother fallen with a spirit of meeknesse Gal. 6.1 2. Brethren if any be overtaken with a fault ye which are spiritual restore such a one with a spirit of meeknesse Oh how will a poor soul blesse the Lord for such a Brothers prayers admonitions and exhortations when the Lord shall have brought his heart back again to himself although before he did most of all disesteem and vilifie him Now when these are not used or not with a spirit of meeknesse improved that a man never blesseth God for these the Lord Jesus is pulled down from his throne when not done according to the ability time and place that the Lord affords And this I wish the Churches mourn not for another day For my own part I do adjudge my self before God and men as most guilty of this that I enjoy many sweet Ordinances and we improve them not and hence the glory of the Lord fills not his Tabernanacle abides not on his Churches either to draw others to them or to make others abundantly blesse God for them Now here I will shew you the causes of this 1. Not gaining much in private dutties in Prayer Meditation Reading and daily Examination of a mans own heart And hence they cannot
the publick good He is for mens private good but 't is in reference to publick good that as private persons are to attend their work so publick persons publick good Hence 1. If a law be made for publick hurt that law is not of God 2. Hence if the law be made only for the private good of themselves or any particular person and hurts the publick that 's not according to God Admirable was Joshuas spirit herein Josh 19.49 50. 3. If lawes be only in appearance and pretence for publick good and not really they binde not none must do evil much lesse make a law of it for publick good Nothing more usuall then to make evill lawes and orders crossing Gods law and to pretend publick good which ever prove the publick pests and plagues and cankers of that place as Jeroboams command for Religion Something 's are forbidden plainly they make not for publick good but hurt the statutes of Omri Other things are indifferent in their nature as swine to go abroad or to be shut up but inconvenient in their use and hurtful and scandalous and that really to the generall They are not for publick good whatever is pretended somethings are plainly commanded they are for the publick good circumstantiated some things are indifferent in their nature but convenient and comfortable in their use those are indeed according to God And such things may be discerned they are so obvious and sensible of such necessity and such profit when duly considered by persons not blinded with their private interests 4. Hence things indifferent which may as well be left undone as done and so publick good no way advanced are not of God that any should restrain them For the liberty which Christ hath purchased by his blood and which Gods law gives no law of man can abolish or take away It 's the cry of the claw-backs of Princes that they have power in things indifferent i. e. such things which make as much for publick good not to use as use the truth is he hath least power here because they are idle and Idol-lawes no hurt nor is there good in them And hence some of the most rigid Schoolmen maintaine such lawes binde not conscience we are not to seek our private only now all humane lawes are helps to seek publick 5. That lawes made for and according to God for publick good if they do not destroy some mens particular only for sometime pinch and presse hard upon his particular good or their particular good men are bound in conscience here to submit True 1. If it were possible all lawes for publick good should hurt no particular man and Townsmen if they can should help those that are hurt yet because no lawes but usually they will presse on some mans particular the heaviest end of a staffe that is to be borne must fall on some mans shoulder and such lawes must be made Hence a man is to bear and submit chearfully i. e. from the rule of love which will abate of particular for the general good love that more then mine own 2. The law of justice a man is to do as he would be done by there is no man but if his good was advanced by the general but would be content that some particular should be pinched 3. The law of nature The stomack is content to be sick and body weak to heal the whole body Hence Christians should not think that Townsmen are carelesse unjust and aimed at their hurt when it is thus 1. King 12.4 6. A meere Penal law when 't is broke the forfeiture is sufficient for the satisfaction of the offence or trespasse but not in a mixt law First A Penall law is about things of small moment Secondly 'T is not made by way of command but with an aut a disjunctive copula and is indeed rather a proviso then a law Thirdly It is in the minde of the law make satisfactory if the penalty be payed though the law be not performed because the publick good in the minde of the Law-maker is known to be set forward that way as by obedience to the law In these cases penalty is enough but if the law be mixt i. e. there is a command it shall be done and Law-giver is sad though penalty being paid as being about a matter of weight it may be the livelyhood and comfort of men as keeping hogs out of corne and peace in a town that there be no complaining here the penalty will not satisfie because this is no penall law but a law indeed deducted from rules of the word of God as it is in theft he that steals shall pay fourfold or he that brawles shall be duckt in the water Suppose one should say I will suffer my servant to steal or revile I hope 't is no offence if he suffer the penalty Yes but it is because it is not a mecre penal law the thing is of weight peace between neighborus so peace in a Town It 's a flat charge not to break it and thou knowst such is the honesty and justice of a Magistrate that he will say I would rather you would never do thus then offer those to do Hence in Gods law Christ must suffer and do also because Gods law is not meerly penal but doing the thing gives more content then the punishment 3. When servants cast off all subjection to their Governours Families being the members and foundations of Townes and so of Common-wealths When they are not obedient Tit. 2.9 10. 1 Pet. 3.18 Eph. 6.5 but answer again if they they be let alone then idle if rebuked and curb'd then stubborne and proud and worse for chiding and finde fault with their wages and victuals and lodging weary and vex out the heart of Master and Mistresse and make them weary of their lives and their God also almost sometimes and that by such professing Religion and all that they might be from under the yoke And here I cannot but set a marke upon servants broke loose from their Masters and got out of their time that are under no Family nor Church-government 1 Pet. 3.18 Tit. 2.9 10. Eph. 6.5 nor desiring of it or preparing for it but their reines are on their necks I confesse if under heathen Masters then desire liberty rather but when men will live as they list without any over them and unfit to rule themselves I much doubt whether this be according to God 1 Hence they come to live idly and worke when they list 2. Hence men of publick use can have little use but when they please of them 3. When they be with them they have no power to correct or examine and call them to account in regard of spirituall matters 4. Hence they lye in wait to oppresse men that must have help from them and so wilt do what they list 5. Hence they break out to drunkenness whoring and loose company 6. Hence they make other servants unruly and to desire
gives but a little consolation consider'd in it self it shall give marvelous consolation One would wonder to see what one word will do when the Lods time of blessing it is come 2. After that a Christian hath had the feeling of the efficacy of the word he may lose the feeling of it again and yet the being of it may remain and the reason is this partly because there is not alwayes need of feeling the like efficacy in the word A man may have by the word a marvelous deal of assurance of Gods love and sense of mercy and joy in the holy Ghost he may have this in the feeling of it This word it did ly hid for a time afterward it springs up and gives him peace But he loses his peace again his Sun do's set and it is midnight with him within twenty four hours and he is as much in the dark as before Now the being of this peace is there but he hath no need of the feeling of it at all times the Lord he will reserve that till some time of tentation that he shall meet withall As Paul he had marvelous Revelations but Paul had more need of humiliation then exaltation and there was not that use of Pauls having those glorious manifestations to him I will glory in my infirmities There was need for Paul to know the evils of his heart that he might walk humbly and it did not make so much for the glory of the Lord as this that Paul should say I have this misery and darknesse and sins and yet Jesus Christ he will take away all There was not need for Paul to have those joyes at all times that he had at one time So the Lord he gives a Christian joy and peace now there is no need for a Christian to have it alwayes I will pour floods of water on dry ground Beloved if there should be nothing but raine raine every day and night the ground would be glutted with raine and so turned into a puddle but when the land is dry and thirsty now the ground hath need of raine Let the Earth make use of that raine it hath and when it is dry and thirsty I will give more saith the Lord. So the Lord he gives the soul joy and peace Now if it should continue the very peace and joy of God would not be pleasant to the soul or at least not so pleasant as it will be when the Lord takes it away and gives it the soul again A Christian comes to the meeting-house and the Lord fills the sailes of a poor soul that he wonders the Lord should meet him and speak so suitably to him But as soone as he is gone out again this is the complaint of the soul all is lost again now the soul it falls a mourning again It is not for the glory of God to give the soul such peace out of his Ordinances as he doth in them the soul it would not prize the Ordinances of the Lord so much yet there it is and when they come again the Lord he either gives them the same refreshings again or else there is a new spring 3. The eternall efficacy of the word and voice of God it may be preserved in an internall spirit of prayer for the continuance of it while a man hath it and for the return of it when it is lost Ps 119.4 5. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently David he knew his own weaknesse yet he intimates with what power it came on his heart Oh! that my soul were directed to keep thy statutes When the soul sees the beauty of a command and the good will of God how sweet it is and how amiable the way and work of God is Oh that my heart were directed to keep thy statutes And so when it is gone Psal 63.3 My soul thirsteth after thee Lord saith David that I may see thy glory and power as I have seen thee in thy sanctuary He doth not say that I may see thy glory and power in thy sanctuary though that might be too no but that I may see thy glory and power as I have seen thee in thy sanctuary David he did finde a want of seeing him as he had done yet the vertue of it did remaine in a spirit of thirsting and desire My soul thirsteth for thee as in a dry land where no water is that I may see thee A Christian may have at sometime such a glimpse in hearing the word of Gods grace of the exceeding riches of Gods grace and the love of God to him that he may be in a little heaven at that time ravished in the admiration of that mercy that ever God should look to him It is so and the word sayes so and the soul is ravished with wonderment at it yet God is gone again and the soul loses it Now the soul thinks I have lost the efficacy of Gods word but it is not so for thus it may be preserved Oh that I may see this God as I have done And all his life-time the soul may finde the want of this and yet it may be preserved in a spirit of prayer For whom the Lord hath given once a glimpse of his glory the soul it cannot be at rest but it breatheth for more of that mercy and presence a Christian may finde his spirit marvelously refreshed at the word he may taste how good the Lord is and he may lose it again but this may be preserved in a spirit of longing after this God and presence again And I will say this Brethren A Christian may finde no good by the word to his apprehension he sees the admirable blessed estate of the Saints and exceeding riches of God in Christ sees the swetnesse of the wayes of God goes home and thinks within himself Happy they that are in this condition Blessed are they that can walk thus with God But I cannot saith the soul I say it may finde it thus when he cannot finde the reall efficacy of the word as he would do he may receive the benefit of that word if the Lord do but only give him a heart to desire it Oh that the Lord would but thus manifest himself to me the soul may go away poor and hungry from the word and the Lord may yet reserve a spirit of thirsting after that good which a man desires to finde and there is the efficacy of the word there As now there are two golden vessels one a man fills and it is everyday dropping and he preserves it another vessel he do's not fil but with something that he hath he is every day widening of it So some Christians the Lord he 's a filling of them others the Lord he do's not fill them with such peace and joy ay but though the Lord is not filling of them he is a widening of them there is such a vertue that the lord do's enlarge the heart with secret desires and longings after more of Gods
grace and Christs The Lord he saith I intend to make this man a vessel of glory and I intend he shall have a great deal of glory and peace at the last The lord he leaves such an impression of the word upon him as that thereby he enlargeth the heart Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it 4. A Christian may have the everlasting efficacy of the word and voice of God preserved in a spirit of thankfulnesse and love to the Lord for those joyes and good that it findes by the word sometimes When it feels that the sweet and savour of the word is gone a spirit of thankfulnesse and love to the word that doth remaine The Lord he preserves the efficacy of the word in this way Psal 119.7 I shall saith David then praise thee with uprightnesse of heart when I shall have learned thy righteous judgements The Lord he may teach his people his righteous judgements and the savour and feeling and strength of them to their feeling may be gone and yet it is preserved in a spirit of thankfulnesse and praise that ever the Lord should shew it such mercy When the Spirit is gone the spirit of love and thankfulnesse remaines As now a man hath heard the word the Lord he hath effectually wrought on him and changed his heart and drawn him to himself a Christian it may be he may lose those sorrowes and humiliations and the remembrance of those things yet there remaineth to his dying day this Spirit he blesseth God and wondereth at God that ever he should make the word effectual that he should leave so many thousands in the world and cast his skirt over him and say to him Live this do's remain still Brethren the Lord do's sometimes let light into a mans minde to discover his sin now this light it do's not sensibly overcome the power of sinne But now the soul blesseth God for that word which hath convinced it had I never seen my sinne saith the soul I should never a sought for power a-against it and pardon of it and this continues now and cannot but continue here is the efficacy of the word the word of Gods grace though the flower of it be gone yet there is an eternal power of the word that the soul can say It hath come to me and helped me against these sins and the soul wonders at the Lord it should be so much as it is So again a Christian he findes marvelous refreshings and affection whiles he is a hearing when he is gone away he findes not the same but he blesseth God for those affections he findes and there remains an eternall efficacy of the word 5. The eternall efficacy of the word it may be and is preserved by nourishing increasing and restoring the new man that is eternall There is a double efficacy that the word hath the first is to beget a Christian to life and this new man is eternall I conceive all the actions of the new man may be suspended and the increasings of the new creature may be decayed though God doth renew it again But this never do's decay it never dies He that is born of God cannot sin because he is borne of God and because the seed of God remaines in him 2. There is efficacy in the word when it hath begotten a man to nourish him up and so the word it is food to him that was seed to him to beget him which food is eternal How is it eternal Is it in this that now the sweetnesse savour and remembrance of every thing that doth refresh him shall last in it self No buâ— in this respect it is eternall in that it leaveth its secret vertue in the nourishing of that which is eternall As now Adam when he was in innocency and had an immortall body his food it should have been an immortal food to him but how should that have been should he alwayes have had the same strength from the same diet which he ate long before No but in this respect it should have been an immortall food to him in that it was to nourish that which was to be eternal So it is here the word of Gods grace it begets a man it humbles a man and drawes the soul to Christ but afterwards there are many things that God speaks to the soul in the word that hath an eternall vertue in that it doth nourish up the new creature the word hath a secret vertue in it for this end I will shew it you thus Isa 58.11 The Lord he professes to his People Thy soul shall be at a watered garden The Lord will make the souls of his people like watered gardens in peace and joy and life Now look as if so be trees by water or by some springs that run by it and slide away and ye cannot tell which it is that makes them to grow yet yâ— know this there is in all of them joyned together a secret insensible vertue that every one of them addes something to the flourishing of the tree So it is here the Saints of God the word of God it comes to them and passes by them and ye cannot tell whether this part or that part of the word leave any vertue but many times a man feels no vertue yet it is manifest here is aflourishing Christian here is heart and life and peace that it hath with God and the soul it remains flourishing there is a secret vertue all the words that run by and passe by the souls of Gods people they do leave a marvellous vertue to make the soules of Gods people like watered gardens and to increase in grace Note it by the way you that live under the means of grace your soules shall be like watered gardens if God have spoken to you first or last the Lord speaks many times to you sometimes affecting and sometimes warning sometimes convincing and humbling and speaking Peace and there is a vertue that remaines and if ye finde it not know that God hath not spoken to you 6. The eternal efficacy of the word may be preserved in a power of Conflict against the power of sin for therein the Lords power of the Word does principally appear in this life though not in a power of victory I mean a compleat victory yet an imperfect and incompleat victory there ever is first or last whereever there is a power of Conflict I mean thus the Word it singles a man out and speaks to his heart and sets him at variance with his sin and with himself for his sin and he joynes side with God in the use of all meanes that his unbelieving heart and proud Spirit may be subdued it sets him at variance with his sin now there is many a Christian thinks there is no power of the Word oh my unbelief continues still and my vain minde and I can finde little strength no ye must not look for a power of compleat victory but yet there is a power of Conflict God
188 To Hear God speaking in the word p. 189 I. THings Indifferent not to be restrained by a Law p. 129 Setting up humane Inventions casting off Christs head-ship p. 60 Just with God that those that would not be under his Government should be under the power of lust p. 16 God to be Justified in all his judgements p. 3 K. CHrists Kingdome puts not down the Kingdomes of the world pag. 111 In the Kingdomes of the world there is a double power ibid. Knowledge twofold notional and experimentall p. 4. Two degrees of Knowing God in this life p. 155 L. TWo things chiefly occasion the breach of all Lawes p. 118 Gods Lawes only absolutely binde Conscience p. 123. and why ibid. All good Lawes either expresly mentioned in the word or deduced from it p. 124 Why all Lawes should be according to the Word p. 125 Humane Lawes agreeable to the Word binde Conscience secondarily and why p. 126 What a Christian should do in case Lawes be not according to the word p. 127 How to know when agreeable to the word ibid. All Lawes to be made for publick good ibid. Things indifferent not to be restrained by Law See Indifferent Lawes for publick good to be submitted unto though prejudicial to private and why p. 129 130 Of breach of Lawes meerly penal p. 130. and mixt p. 131 Why God often deprives Churches of their Liberties p. 18 In places of Liberty most danger of Licentiousnesse p. 134 Liberties of Gods people the price of Christs blood p. 137 How many wayes Libertie may be abused p. 138. to 140 Love to Christs will and members an evidence that we are under his Government p. 148 How great a sin to neglect this p. 150 God will not serve our Lusts See God M. WE must be subject to the civil Magigistrate and why p. 113 When this subjection is cast off p. 114 Whether he may punish sins against the first Table p. 115 116 May not make what lawes they please p. 118 Ministers how to preach p. 187 O. POwer of Church Officers See Power The evil of not submitting to them p. 104 105 What need there is of this Doctrine at present p. 109 Men apt to cast off Ordinances for temporall advantage and the greatnesse of the sinne of it p. 62. to 68 Secret pollution of Ordinances drives the Lord away from them p. 68. and what those pollutions are p. 69 To come to Ordinances and not to Christ in them is to cast off Christ p. 72 We must not be content with some movings in Ordinances but receive the power of the life of Christ p. 75 God gives not such comfort out of Ordinances as in them p 176. and why P. LOok not for an earthly Paradise of Christ p. 141 Seldome a Persecutor but he is an Adulterer p. 119 Supreme Power of Christ in his Church p. 54 When this is cast off p. 55 What Power given to the Church joyntly p. 79 c. Power of binding and loosing p. 82 Power of Church-Officers p. 95 What Power they have not p. 97. to 99 What Power they have p. 99. to 109 The sin of those that usurp it p. 100 The Power of Officers more then the Power of Members ibid. How Ministers are to Preach p. 187 S. WHat meant by Service p. 3 Difference between Gods Service and others See Government and Difference The Sinne of Servants not subject to their Masters p. 131 132 Of such as live under no Masters p. 132 Sinne cause of Warre p. 2 Sinnes for which God cast s people from under his Government p. 23 24 Souldiers not to neglect the commands of their Leaders p. 121 Spiritual refreshments abundant recompence for temporal distresses p. 142 Of coming to Christ for Strength See Christ Not to be Subject to God is to make him Subject to us p. 4 5 T. WHat reason we have to be Thankfull for the Liberties we enjoy pag. 136 Means of Thankfulnesse p. 137 God takes his own Time to punish those that cast off his Government p. 11 Towns-men ought to be obedient to Town-Orders p. 122 V. HOw to know whether we have heard the Lords Voice p. 165 Gods Voice in the word singles a man out in particular p. 166 Is of everlasting efficacy p. 168 c. Carries home to Christ p. 170 Victory against sin either incompleat or compleat p. 185 W. TRansgression cause of Warre p. 2 The whole soul must close with the whole Will of Christ. p. 38 Will of Christ directing or correcting p. 39 Cast off either in judgement or practice p 42 We must submit to Christs Will by Christs strength p. 44. For Christs ends p. 49 Gods Wisdome seen in subordination of all things to himself p. 10 A twofold Word of God outward and inward p. 157. The inward Word double effectual or ineffectual ibid. The efficacy of the Word may lye hid p. 173 After it hath been felt the sense of it may be lost againe p. 174 Not needful alwayes to feel a like efficacy of the Word p. 175 Preserved in a Spirit of prayer and longing after it p. 176 And thankfulnesse for the good we have found p. 179 A double vertue in the Word to beget and nourish p. 181 Efficacy of the Word appeares in a power of conflict against corruption p. 183 Trust not to the outward Word but to the grace of God with it p. 190 Place our happinesse in closing with the Word p. 191 Every tittle of the Word cost the blood of Christ p. 193 If not under the power of the Word we are under the power of lust ibid. The curse of God on those that enjoy the Word and receive no benefit by it p. 194 The comfort of the Word remaines till death yea unto eternal Life ibid. FINIS