Act. 16. 23. Ministers must preach such points as may be of most use for the present occasion Now the special work upon Fasting dayes is to humble the soul for sin God requireth that on the tenth day of the second month which was the aniversary day of humiliation to Israel they should afflict their souls Lev. 16 29. 31 and threatneth Chap. 23 29 that whatsoever soul it shall be that shall not be afflicted on that same day shall be cut off from among his people Hence it is that the word of God ought to be preached upon the Fasting day that so the people may be brought to sound repentance and humiliation for sin and so made more fervent in their supplications to God for pardon As appeareth by that direction the Prophet Jeremiah giveth to Baruch Jer. 36. 6. 7. Go thou saith he and read in the roll which thou hast written from my mouth the words of the Lord in the ears of the people in the Lords house upon the Fasting day it may be they will present their supplication before the Lord and turn every one from his evil way But how should we mourn for our sins unless we know them That which brought David to true sorrow and heart breaking for his sin was the certain knowledge he had of his own sinful condition I know or acknowledge my transgressions saith he Psal 51. 3. and my sin is ever before me And how should we know our sins so as to mourn for them unless Gods Ministers do their endeavours to discover them to us David of whom mention was made before never repented or mourned for his sins of Adultery and Murder until Nathan the Prophet came unto him and took pains with him in the discovery of them as is clear Psal 51. title you may read the whole history a Sam. Cap. 12. To this end it is that the Lord calleth upon every one of us who are his Heralds Isa 58. 1. Cry aloud spare not lift up thy voice like a trumpet and shew my people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins This alone is the usual way that God taketh for the discovery of sin Yet to make an exact and particular discovery of sin is a thing altogether impossible to be done by any Minister in the world For who can know his own errours Psal 19. 12. how much less the errours that other men are overtaken with Wherefore the Ministers of Christ have used to do in this case of the discovery of sin as he that draweth the Land-skip of a Country or Kingdom who because he cannot describe every bush or tree or house doth therefore take notice onely of the most eminent cities and towns and rivers therein Nathan takes notice of Davids great spots stains onely 2 Sam. 12. 9. Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword and hast taken his wife to be thy wife he speaketh of his great sins So the holy Prophets in their discovery of sin take notice of the foulest as of Ingratitude against God Hypocrisy Covetousness Murder Drunkenness Idolatry Lying Pride Contempt of Gods word Security in sinning and the like The greatest sins are especially to be taken notice of Upon this account that I may discharge my duty aright upon this our Fasting day I have singled out the sin of Separation as the foulest sin of this age and generation and therefore most seasonable to be spoken of that we may be humbled before the Lord our God I know indeed that it is the part of the Lords messengers to cry out against and to endeavour to bring others unto a godly sorrow for all the abominations of the Land for all that gross ignorance superstition and damnable prophanness that is rise amongst us And I doubt not but my brethren that are to beat a part in the work of this day will endeavour to acknowledge all our iniquities and transgressions before the Lord and wrestle with the Lord for the pardon of them But I must ingenuously profess that I conceive the sin of Separation to be the Achan the great abomination of these Lands upon diverse accounts of which I shall speak anon and therefore most to be laid to heart by the Lords people this day To which end I have made choice of this Text These are they who separate themselves c. And before I proceed any further I must first shew the dependance of these words upon those that go before The subject matter of this Epistle is a vehement exhortation of the Apostle Jude to all the godly in all ages That they contend earnestly for the faith which was once committed to the Saints as you see in the third Verse and That they suffer not themselves to be drawn from the faith and belief of the Gospel by those false teachers who were crept in among them unawares in the fourth Verse The arguments by which the Apostle persuadeth with these believers to beware of these seducers are of two sorts I He argueth from the punishments that the Lord hath inflicted upon those sins to which these false teachers endeavoured to seduce them which judgments he layeth down before them in three examples 1 Of the destruction of the people of Israel for their unbelief in the fifth Verse 2 Of the everlasting ruine of the reprobate Angels for their pride in the sixth Verse 3 Of the vengeance of God upon Sodom and Gomorrha for their fornication and buggery in the seventh Verse II He also argueth from the personal vices that raigned in these seducers Whence it was altogether unfit that they should be leaders of these believers and also unsafe that these believers should be followers of them The sins that these seducers were guilty of are reckoned up under thirteen heads in this Epistle two of them are comprised in this Verse viz. 1 Schisme they were such as made a rent in and separation from the Church of God that is laid down in these words These are they who separate themselves 2 Steering their course by sense and carnal reason and not by the Spirit of God in these words Sensual having not the spirit Mine intention is to speak of the first of the sins mentioned in this Verse to which these false Teachers were addicted and which did evidence them to be seducers they were such as did separate themselves from the Church and people of God Where it is to be noted how the Apostle pointeth them out as it were with the finger 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As if he should have said thus Behold observe and mark these men to be vile and pernicious persons for they do willingly cut themselves off from communion with the Church of God The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Estius noteth upon the Text signifieth to lead or allure beyond the bounds of the Church to break the pale thereof A term which I am not ashamed to use though it have been much flouted a◠of late These are they that single
will serve the turn but prayer with the spirit will keep a man from this errour There is a promise which may be extended thus far Act. 2. 21. It shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved not onely from everlasting ruine but from forsaking and departing from the true church Prayer is a notable help in this thing 4 He that would be preserved from this evil must love God and his truth Keep your selves in the love of God He that buildeth upon the foundation and prayeth much shall be so kept in the love of God and of his church and people that he shall not fall off to Separation 5 Hope of heaven must be firmly rooted in the heart of him that would decline this sinful Separation Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life Hope of eternal glory will make a man carefully to avoid those allurements that may draw him into this disorder and so obstruct his expectation of that everlasting rest whereof his abiding in the church of God upon earth is a signe or symbole So much for the first exhortation II If Separation be fo old and dangerous an errour and have so overspread this Commonwealth Then labour I pray you to recover those who are seduced into this errour This is a great act of charity to recover a falne Christian from the errour of his way How this is to be done is also declared by this our Apostle Jude in the two and twentieth and three and twentieth verses of this Epistle And of some have compassion making a difference And others save with fear pulling them out of the fire Where we are to observe That we must not deal with all men alike in reducing them to soundness in the faith but we must put a difference in our dealing with them Where the Apostle seemeth to allude to the Lords direction given under the Law concerning the purifying of things taken or recovered in war Num. 31. 23. Every thing that may abide the fire ye shall make it go through the fire and it shall be clean nevertheless it shall be purifyed with the water of Separation and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make it go through the water They were to deal in their purification as the nature of the thing to be purified did require If that they took any prey that would abide the fire as gold silver brass iron tinne or lead that was to be purifyed by fire but that which was combustible and would be consumed if put into the fire must be purifyed by water onely So here in reducing a seduced brother fallen into an errour he adviseth to distinguish of men to make a difference of the temper of their spirits and to deal with them accordingly in this case For that severity that may be profitable to one man may prove very unprofitable and destructive to another and that gentleness that may recover one man may leave another still in his errour And therefore he adviseth in both these things that which may be worth our consideration and practise in these times of seduction and separation 1 He directeth that of some we have compassion Those persons who are of a meek and tractible frame of spirit should be handled gently and tenderly although they have erred Meek and humble spirits will soon be oppressed if any violence be offered to them The Apostle Paul speaketh notably to this point Gal. 6. 1. Brethren if any man be overtaken in a fault ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness considering thy self lest thou also be tempted Where observe 1 Of whom he speaketh such as were fallen through infirmity onely and not wilfully which he calleth an evertaking in a fault fallen into an errour inconsiderately 2 What is to be done in this case Restore such a one in the spirit of meekness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Restore or set him in joint again The phrase is borrowed from Chirurgions who being to deal with a broken joint will handle the same very tenderly â—o tender must we be in dealing with those that erre through infirmity 3 The reason the Apostle giveth Considering thy self lest thou also be tempted Every man the best Christian is subject to errour therefore be tender and compassionate to such as are not sullen wilful and resolute but have slipped onely through inadvertancy and common frailty This is the course to be taken with meek and humble souls that erre 2 He adviseth That those which are stuborn obstinate and contumacious should be more roughly handled with greater and more earnest expression of detestation to their errours And others save with fear saith he pulling them out of the fire Snatch them out of the danger as firebrands out of the fire or as the angel did Lot and his wife and daughters out of Sodom when they lingred and put off Gen. 19. 16. It will be a singular point of prudence and piety in you who are members of this Honourable Convention and in all Magistrates Ministers and private Christians to learn to put this difference that so you may carry it aright toward them that are fallen into this sinfull Separation The Lord be pleased out of his great mercy to teach us all this lesson Amen FINIS March the 9. 1659. By the General Convention of Ireland ORdered That Sir John Clotworthy Doctor Jones and Colonel Hill be and are hereby appointed a Committee to return the thanks of this Convention to Mr. Coxe Mr. Charnock Mr. Adare and Mr. Bains for their pains in carrying on the work of this day in Christ-Church Dublin And that Mr. Coxe and Mr. Charnock be desired to print their respective Sermons this day by them delivered before the Convention Signed by Order Ma. Barry Clerk of the General Convention of Ireland DVBLIN Imprinted by WILLIAM BLADEN Anno Domini 1660.
Of this the wise man admonisheth Eccl. 3. 1. That to every thing there is a season und a time to every purpose under the sun And verse 11. Every thing is beautiful in its time To time a business aright is the excellencie of wisdom Upon the wisdom or the mistakes in counsels there doth usually follow answerable events Wherefore when the Lord intendeth to destroy a People he doth usually in the first place infatuate their counsels according to that of the Prophet Isa 44. 25. He frustrateth the tokens of the lyers and maketh diviners mad he turneth wise men backward and maketh their knowledg foolish And hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 1. 20. You see then what an extraordinary measure of knowledg you had need to have to capacitate you for this great buisiness Daniel was judged meet to be called unto the Kings Council because the spirit of the holy God was in him even an excellent spirit in knowledg and understanding and wisdom Dan. 5. 11 12. III. Ye ought to be men of publique spirits and must be such if ever ye intend to be a protection and safety to the people Private self-seeking men are not fit to be employed in publique counsels When God called Solomon to bear the Kingly Office in Israel it is said 1 King 4. 29. That he gave him largeness of heart even as the sand that is on the sea shore he was not of a straitned self interested temper I crave leave to enlarge my self in a few particulars 1 Ye must resolve to serve your Country though ye cannot profit your selves at all thereby but should rather waste your own outward estates Nehemiah for twelve years together did not eat the bread of the Governor when the people were in distress as the former Governors had done Neh. 5. 14 15. An excellent pattern Covetousness pursuing after a private profit in publique matters may well be called pestis Reipublicae this is a special thing to be avoided by them that are to judg others Deut. 18. 21. they must hate covetousness 2 A publique spirit will not suffer injuries of any sort to be put upon the people he beareth with and putteth up private in juries with patience but that wrong that is offered to the publique goeth to his heart he cannot brook it It was a noble virtue and a publique spirit in Saul that when a private despite was done unto himself yet he did hold his peace and was silent 1 Sam. 10. 27. But when he heard of the wrong done to his Subjects the men of Jabesh-Gilead by Nahash the Ammonite the Text saith that the spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard these tidings and his anger was kindled greatly 1 Sam. 11. 6. and he rested not till he had relieved them 3 A publique spirit is more sensible of the peoples sufferings and afflictions then of any private mercies that concern himself onely See this in good Nehemiah although he was in high honour cup-bearer to a great King yet he minded not that but his countenance was sad and his heart full of sorrow when he heard of the great affliction and reproach that was befallen his country-men Why should not my countenance be sad saith he Neh. 2. 2 3. when the city the place of my fathers sepulchres lyeth waste and the gates thereof are consumed with fire So also Uriah denieth his own private content upon a publique account 2 Sam. 11. 11. The Ark and Israel and Judah abide in Tents and my Lord Joab and the servants of my Lord are encamped in the open fields shall I then go into my house to eat and to drink and to ly with my wife as the Lord liveth and as thy soul liveth I will not do this thing 4 A publique spirit will not stick at his own private danger though it be apparant but will venture his own person to the greatest hazzard so that he may further the publique interest He will use his sword aswell as his tongue if necessity require it David did fight the Lords battels 1 Sam. 10 17. When religion is in danger he will not spare himself but venture life and limb to uphold it Excellent was the resolution of Queen Esther in this case Chap. 4. 16. I will go in unto the King which is not according to the Law and if I perish I perish He knoweth that he is not born for himself but for his country also and can willingly dye in the service thereof He can say as that reverend Bishop did Moriar ego modo me moriente vigeat Ecclesiae 5 He that hath a publique spirit desireth rather to be useful in his generation then to be great When the Lord puts Solomon to his choise what he would have 1 King 3. 5. He beggeth nothing but a publique spirit Verse 9. Give thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people that I may discern between good and bad for who is able to judge this thy so great a people He asketh not honour and grandure in the world but that he might be useful to the people of God over whom he was placed 6 I will adde but one thing more A man that hath the publique upon his heart will lay aside all private animosities put up all private wrongs and differences rather then endanger the publique peace and settlement of the people When there was some private difference between Abraham and Lot occasioned by their herdmen whence the Canaanite and Perizzite who dwelt in the land might have taken an opportunity to have done hurt to both of them we find that Abraham passeth over that difference and would take no notice of it to the publique disadvantage Gen. 13. 7. 8. 9. Let there be no strife I pray thee between me and thee and between my herdmen and thy herdmen for we be brethren Is not the whole land before thee seperate I pray thee thy self from me if thou wilt take the left hand then I will go to she right or if thou depart to the right hand then I will go to the left If the mariners fall out the ship must needs be in jeopardy If private grudges be in the heart the publique concernments are like to suffer I have the rather pressed this duty of publique spiritedness upon you worthy Patriots because you know as well as I that private interest and self seeking in publique affairs have for a long time by past destroyed all our national counsells and consultations IIII Ye ought to be of settled and well resolved spirits and full of courage for God and your country To this end ye have your swords girt How shall ye be able to persevere in seeking the good of Gods house or of the Nation if ye be not resolved and grounded in your Religion and in the Laws of the Land And especially is it requisite at this time that ye be full of immoveable resolution because there is such a
are defective Secondly If ye would have true Religion to thrive and flourish then ye must also set upon the doing of those things which may promote and advance Religion I will instance onely in five things which if done would magnify our Religion wherein I become your most humble Petitioner in Christs stead 1 There is nothing can exalt Religion so much as a godly learned orthodox and painful Ministry It is said of good King Jehoshaphat 2 Chron. 17. 6. that his heart was lift up in the ways of God As if the Holy Ghost had said thus of him He did most zealously seek to promote and advance the true religion of God But what course took he to advance it That you shall see in the three next verses He provided carefully that all his people might be taught and instructed in Religion he sent teaching Levites and able Ministers into all parts of the land and Magistrates also with them to protect and encourage them in their Ministry And it is said of King Josiah that he encouraged the Priests and Levites to the service of the house of the Lord 2 Chron. 35. 2 3. That was the way he made use of for the settling of Religion Therefore I intreat That persons unordained to that great work and who despise that great Ordinance of Christ may not be admitted into any Ministerial employment in this Church and Nation That such Ministers ordained as are ignorant scandalous or unsound in judgment in the fundamentals of Religion may not be admitted to any pastoral charge in the Land That those who are already crept in may upon due proof be suspended from their places and in case they reform not ejected That all good endeavours be used to store every congregation with such a soul-saving Preacher as may seed them with knowledg and understanding And That timous care may be taken to encourage such Ministers least themselves and their families starve for want of outward necessaries whilst they deal forth their spirituals to others 2 The settlement and due administration of that Discipline or Cburch-Government which Christ hath appointed to be in his Church is of singular use to pluck up the weeds that the wheat may flourish This is that fence of Gods vineyard spoken of Isa 5. 2. that serveth both to keep in the godly and to keep out the ungodly The want of this holy discipline is a great ground of lamentation Herein I intreat That forasmuch as the matters of Church Government are of so great weight and importance ye would please therein to walk hand in hand with our Brethren in the other parts of these Dominions and That all such matters may be concluded of by a Synodical Assembly of the three Nations 3 The due administration of all Christs holy Ordinances and Institutions makes much to the flourishing condition of Religion in the Land especially of those that are the sealing Ordinances and the misusage or non-usage of those Ordinances is our great reproach in all the reformed Churches These are the food of our souls I therefore pray That all such Ministers as have the care of Congregations may be required to administer all Christs Ordinances even the sealing Ordinances to duly qualified persons within their precincts though as yet the Government of the Church be not setled Methinks it is sad that any of the Lords people should be deprived of their spiritual food and so famish whilst we are contending which is the best way of carving it out unto them And That none be permitted to administer any of the sealing Ordinances save in the parishes whereof they are Pastors unless it be by the consent of the Minister in whose Parish they desire to administer them 4 Catechising in the principles of Religion is also an excellent way and mean to propagate Religion and cause it to flourish This is milk for babes in Christ And it is for want of the due performance of this by Ministers Parents and Masters of Families that there is so little found knowledge and understanding in the Land My request therefore is That ye will by all due ways and means shew your approbation of the way of Catechising and That ye will as ye have opportunity stir up all sorts of persons in their several places to a consciencious performance of their duty therein 5 Lastly Schools of Learning do also contribute much to the flourishing state of Religion Those are the nurseries wherein grow up many plants for the use both of Church and Commonwealth May you therefore please to take this also into your serious thoughts and to provide That the University near this City and all such Schools as are already erected and founded may be nourished and maintained That fit Schoolmasters may be provided and well encouraged and That other Schools may also be erected as occasion shall require These things amongst many others that might have been mentioned I have been bold to mind you of from the Lord that so by your counsells ye may prove to be the blessed Physicians of this languishing Church and Nation I shall conclude with that speech of David to his sonne Solomon when he was to build the house of the Lord 1 Chron. 22. 16. Arise therefore and be doing and the Lord be with you The Second Sermon Jude verse 19. These be they who separate themselves sensual having not the Spirit THat it is a duty appertaining to the Ministers of the Gospel to preach the Word of God soundly and sincerely in doctrine shewing incorruptness is a thing that none will deny It is commanded that they use sound speech that cannot be condemned Tit. 2. 8 9. But that is not all that Ministers have to do they stand bound also to preach seasonable Truths otherwise they shall be found wanting in their duty toward the people of God We are informed that the right timing of a thing is that which setteth a lustre upon it Eccl. 3. 11. Every thing is beautiful in its time fruit is the best when it is ripe words though they may be truths yet lose their beauty if unseasonably spoken And therefore Solomon hath an excellent Proverb for this Prov. 25. 11. A word fitly spoken or upon its wheels as it is in the margine with a due concurrence and observation of all its circumstances Is like apples of gold in pictures of silver pleasant as apples profitable as gold and silver When the Apostle Peter observed the giddy humours of Sectaries Apostates from the faith which once they had professed he makes this the work of that time by all good means to confirm the Saints in the truth against those phantasies and to that end writeth an Epistle to them 1 Pet. 5. 12. Exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein they stand So when Paul observed that the City of Athens was wholly given to idolatry he bendeth himself to this seasonable doctrine even to declare to them that God whom they did ignorantly worship