and soveraign cordial under the bitterest troubles that can befall them Let us begin with the first and that I shall onely handle at this time but before I make any further entrance upon it give mee leave onely to premise this one thing The best of Saints dwell here in poor tabernacles the best of Saints all Adam's sons have no better a portion then to dwell in poor earthly Tabernacles Som men are very great so great that they are called Gods Psal. 82. yet even they must die like men It is appointed for all men once to die Hebr. 9. 27. And in the same Dialect doth the Psalmist speak in another place Verily man in his best estate is altogether vanitie not onely man when hee lie's sick under a great long Ague or a Feaver or the Stone or the Gout not onely under infirmities of old age which is a kinde of sickness but verily man in his best take him in flore take any young man when hee hath strength and vigor and marrow and all heat all advantages nature can afford him yet in his best hee is altogether vanitie Old men must die and young men may die I beleeve you have many instances of both it may bee it hath cost som of you many bitter and brinish tears wee are all poor Tenents at will it is true wee are Tenents for life but yet that life is but for a moment and so indeed our lease is but from moment to moment O that wee were so wise as to consider it and therefore to carry our selvs like Pilgrims and strangers here and abstain from fleshly lusts which war against our immortal souls as the Apostlâ—Peter beseecheth his beloved 1 Pet. 2. 11. Do not reckon your selvs at home make account you are but in a journey you are But {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in an Inn it is to no purpose to go build there to go plant there a garden to go furnish your chamber you are but for a nights lodging the very Stoïcks Epictetus and others could speak that language O that wee could bee the more active while our candles are burning because wee know not how soon they may bee extinguished God let 's not alwaies the candle burn out somtimes it is put out O that wee could bee active as our Savior Christ was I will do my Father's work while it is day while it is light the night cometh when no man work 's Joh. 9. 4. O that wee would so consider that wee dwell in these brittle houses of clay that wee would redeem time redeem precious opportunities Eternitie dependeth upon every moment there are many that sell away their time to the first temptation in the morning many young Gentlemen Citizens and others for whom their fathers have had many wearisom journeys and thoughts night and day to get good estates now they think themselves Gentlemen the first thing they do in a morning after they have spruced and powdered and combed and tricked up themselves then they sell themselves and their talent of time to the next temptation at the next tavern at the next gaming-house the Lord put it into the hearts of the honorable Governors of this Citie to look to those snares those pit-falls that have undon many thousand young men and where many of your estates after you have gotten them with a great deal of care and industrie are thrown away with the shaking of the elbow as they say they sell away their time so far are they from redeeming time little do they minde eternitie and and consider that at the best they also dwell in houses of clay and that in their best estate they are altogether vanitie this I premise There are three things will conduce if God please to help mee in the middest of many weaknesses to open this point That hee hath made eternal provision to entertain all his Saints in heaven 1. I 'le give you the {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} of it by way of demonstration that it is so 2. The {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or grounds of it how it come's to pass that it should bee so 3. What the Nature of this Eternitie is * For the first there are these hints which I hope will help to clear it If the Lord did not intend eternal provision for his Saints in heaven why hath hee given them immortal souls capable of etertie God and Nature saith the Philosopher never do any thing in vain let us say God and his wisedom and grace never doth any thing in vain There are many desperate disputes never did wee expect to hear such in England especially in these times of Reformation against the immortalitie of the soul in defiance to that cleer light of God's Word even here There is a house eternal in the heavens for what for a mortal bodie for a mortal soul what need 's an eternal house for a mortal soul Paul desired to bee dissolved and to bee with Christ it seem's Paul who was guided by the Spirit of God Philip 1. 21. hee thought hee had an immortal soul else why did hee desire to die that hee might bee with Christ hee had better have stayed here hee did enjoy much of Christ here why would Christ himself have given such an answer to the Thief Luke 23. 42 43. Lord remember mee when thou comest into thy Kingdom why saith hee this day shalt thou bee with mee in Paradise It is a poor evasion they have that Christ should say to him Verily I say unto thee to day there they would have the comma thou shalt bee with mee in Paradise then the answer is not full to the Thief's question for then they overthrow the Scriptures and make it nothing and withall manifestly pervert the original as the Spirit of God speak's it unto us but this is the first thing God hath given you immortal souls and therefore reserv's it for you 2ly The Lord hath proclaimed that hee hath appointed a day though it bee concealed that there shall bee a resurrection of all his Saints their souls and bodies shall bee re-united It is most desperate doctrine the Socinians have up and down in their books they have a delentur they tell you your souls shall bee blotted out Who would have thought wee should ever have so far complied with Socinians and Arminians as many people do I hope it is ignorantly but to speak the very Socinians language they reckon the soul shall bee blotted out no eternitie afterwards but why soul and bodie re-united Surely for som further end hath not Jesus Christ said Joh. 6. 39 44. hee hath it twice I came down to do my Father's will and the will of my Father is this that all that hee hath given mee shall com to mee and I will loose none of them so again ver. 44. and I will loose none of them not the least member not the least finger
whence this black cloud God and som mens conscience know which I doubt not but it will soon vanish as Athanasius said of Arrius Shall I trust God for my soul and not for my reputation for a crown and not for a crust It was indeed my portion to bee involved in those unhappy differences between the Universitie and Town of Cambridg about their Priviledges when I had the honor to serve them as Vice-Chancellor Is that a sufficient ground of such an unkinde alteration that they calumniate and traduce the Innocent thereupon Alas poor Universitie how hast thou offended the Town of Cambridg which live's so much upon thee as by woful complaints appear's when a great plague scatter's the scholars that as of old it was in Tertullian's time a crime to bee a Christian so it 's now little less amongst som for want of Christian charity to bee an engaged Universitie-man and to stand for that though hee bee obliged thereunto by the Rules of Ingenuitie and Conscience I do heartily wish where our priviledges are not subservient to the publick good they were regulated and bounded by those who have power as our competent Judges but neither Universitie nor Town must bee Judges in their own case Wee cannot give them away they must not take them away till the Parliament to whom wee have appealed do determine the controversie In the mean while till they can have leisure to minde it why should it bee offensive for us to act soberly according to that which the Universitie hath been so long invested with by the donation of Princes confirmation of Parliaments or by a voluntary composition betwixt both Corporations Certainly this is no sufficient ground for such passionate unchristian invectives whereby they fret themselves to do evil gratifie him who is the Accuser of the Brethren and the father of lyes Were it my portion onely to bee thus injured I should suspect my self but my reverend Brethren who deserve much better then I can fare as ill from som when one of them lately was forced by a violet fit of an ague being preaching at the Universitie-Church to break off not long after hee began it would make one tremble to hear what language was spoken thereupon aaginst him for the holy hand of God upon him which might have befallen an Apostle and against others of us engaged as Masters of Colledges with him O that I knew what language to speak to win them to terms of amitie with the Universitie Surely the Devil get's much advantage by these differences they are most unhappy Instruments who ever do enflame them whether Universitie or Townsmen Is not this sad that men whose ministerie they have valued that they can scarce bring off your spirits to hear them preach This is the devil's plot in fomenting those prejudices to hinder the good of their souls and the spreading of the Gospel Herein mistake mee not I do not complain for want of Auditors Yet it grieve's mee to see som of more eminent abilities whose gifts were formerly highly valued now to bee sleighted because engaged in Universitie-employment as Masters of Colledges Yet what ever som think of mee and how unkindely soever they have dealt with mee I will apply my self to you whose Christian candor and Gospel-ingenuitie I have had som years experience of not without respect to their good who wish mee none I doubt not but you will bear my wonted plainness I can give you no more real testimonie of my cordial love unto you then by suggesting som few things which by God's blessing may advance the good of your souls I will begin with your dutie towards God who is our Alpha and Omega our first cause and last end as all the good wee receive is derived from him so all the good wee receive must bee resolved unto him Trust in the Lord with all your hearts and lean not to your understanding In all your waies acknowledg him and hee will direct your paths Acquaint your selvs more and more with worshipping him purely according to his will I doubt Cambridg hath been too patient I mean the Saints there of sinful mixtures not mindeing sufficiently the simplicitie that is in Christ If you would have much of the presence of Christ love purity hee walketh in the middest of the golden candlesticks expect much of the presence of his Spirit where there are pure golden Ordinances Let the Ministerie of the Gospel bee more precious unto you receive the love of the truth and attend upon preaching without respect of persons Do not yee blush to remember that when the truly Noble Earle of Manchester had picked a choice combination of most able Ministers out of the Country that they should ride a dozen or twentie miles to preach a Sermon to you and somtimes so few hearers that they were discouraged to preach What ever you say or think of Scholars did not they help to fill up Assemblies there would bee thin Auditories at week dayes Lectures Remember I pray our Savior's words Hee that heareth you heareth mee and hee that despiseth you despiseth mee and hee that despiseth mee despiseth him that sent mee Maintain Christian Communion whereby you may joyn your gifts experiences and prayers O the amiable beauty of the spirits of primitive saints who did so sweetly close as They continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and prayers I can remember when in the most corrupt and dangerous times som of you would adventure even your all so destructive was then the high Commission Court to enjoy a praying-day together what hath now deaded your spirits that now these things are so much neglected Is there not as much need as ever Doth not the Churches exigents bespeak your wrestling importunities at the throne of grace Chide your selves and one another out of this dulness or disjointing and labor to remove the obstructions what ever they are Often remember their practice when one Apostle was in prison wee have many in persecution instant prayer was made for him by the Church they prayed earnestly and sped succesfully Yet in your Christian communion act soberly and with a godly prudence There are that admit young Scholars into fellowship with them in private duties or rather into publick I dislike it not that any Saints joyn to provoke one another to love and good works But do not encourage them to do any thing beyond the proportion of their gifts and without a call from God Far bee it from mee to snib the movings of God's Spirit in the weakest and meanest of his Saints I desire to live no longer then I cherish the least good in any if indeed it bee good duly circumstantiated I know the direction Peter give's Use hospitalitie one to another without grudging As every man hath received the gift even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold
that you may attain him at your journeys end let this bee your care Saints should burn heer like a Lamp which is fed with Aromatical Oyle when it is extinguished it will leave a very sweet smell O thus should Saints live you 'l say Q. How should wee do this how A. A few directions First Take heed of carnall company flie and shun them there are no Drunkards in Heaven I mean such as live and dye drunkards impenitently no such persons in Heaven that live impenitently in their sins Away from mee all such God hath heard the voice of my weepings What shall I do to convers with such men heer that I must bee everlastingly separated from at the day of judgment what shall I live with such men that I shal judg at the last day I le rather judg my self for any carnall compliance or conversation with them Secondly Let this bee your care Vse creatures onely as your servants not as your friends if God have provided an Eternitie do not all things heer as if you were at home but do things heer as it were in your way to the Kingdom as the Painter said who being ask't why hee was so exact in his Painting why said hee these pieces are for Eternity I pray for Eternitie and I desire to act in my place as a Governor of a City Alderman Parliament-man whatsoever condition I live in as a Minister I do it for Eternity and so labor to keep your hearts above all comforts It is a great mistake Austin hath it that men do use things they should enjoy and enjoy things they should onely use Wee make use of God onely and seek not to enjoy him but wee enjoy those things wee should but onely use that is Creatures wee make them our Friends that wee should make onely our servants Thirdly Have your conversation in Heaven O speak heavenly language walk by a heavenly rule begin heavenly imployment let every Sabbath day bee to you an Epitome of Heaven when ever you com to an Ordinance think now I am in a corner of the Kingdom of Heaven and carry your selvs so to sing praises to God and admire and adore his mercies and to powr out Hallelujahs to him as if you were in Heaven And then in the fourth and last place Bee much in communion with God for what is Heaven but the ful pitch of Communion with God bee glad of address to God com not to prayer as to a task but as to a sweet priviledg com not to it onely to enjoy such blessings from God in prayer but also to enjoy thy God in prayer and to have a sweet communion and fellowship with thy Savior there and that there may bee som illapses of his spirit into thy spirit and som irradiations of the Sun of righteousness some beams to fall upon thy soul this is heaven And therefore I beseech you in the last place and so I shall dispatch I 'le not meddle with the other two points but by way of Motive If it bee so Take a friendly caution beware as you love eternal happiness of an immortal soul do not let things lie at six and sevens as they say at meer uncertainties any longer but give diligence as to make your calling and election so likewise to make your eternal mansions reserved for you in Heaven as sure to you give diligence 2 Peter 1. 10. Now I should have added the two next points one is to shew you That it is possible to attain such a certainty and the other is to shew you That it is a soveraign Cordiall in the greatest troubles but I 'le wrap them up I see the time is gone onely two Motives First Though to attain such a certainty bee difficult yet it is possible there is not onely a Faith of adherence by which you rest upon Christ for salvation but a Faith of evidence by which you know Christ to bee your Savior that all Saints have and this later they may have the one is required to the Esse of a Christian to the beeing but this to the wel-beeing of a Christian therefore som of Gods Saints want it and the best of Gods Saints have it not at all times but somtimes to prepare them for a cross somtimes to chear them under a cross as Paul and Silas when they were in the prison somtimes to reward and crown them after a cross after great troubles Let mee add this further There is that Divines call certainty of the thing and of the Person the certaintie of the thing it depend's upon Gods decree upon the mightie and invincible power of the spirit of God upon the efficacie of the death and intercession of Jesus Christ of the thing it shall bee made good the Saints shall com to Heaven but then certaintie of the Person that is more or less as God is pleased to dispens himself Somtimes the Saints pay a little fine have a little legal humiliation then they pay a great deal of rent it may bee more trouble about their Sanctification afterwards somtimes they pay a great Fine when they are converted lye long under a spirit of bondage then after six or seven or more years the spirit of adoption take's possession of them it may bee they never meet with a cloudy day many years afterwards heer is Certitudo subjecti as God please's to dispens himself and this may bee the Portion of many Saints not onely as an extraordinary priviledg to Abraham and Paul as the Papists would make us beleeve but as a priviledg common to the Saints that is they are all capable of it and they may attain it if God pleas according to the ordinary rules of his word Wee know saith Paul Rom. 8. 35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ c. Hee saith not onely of himself but of others but how com you to this certaintie there is a threefold seal thereof There are are the promises of God which are yea and Amen in Christ and they are seal'd in his blood though thy name bee not written there yet it is included and Faith will spie and pick it out As when you have the Commandement the Papists use this as a great Argument Is no man sure that hee is in the promise because John or Zachary is not in the promise so you may as well say no man is obliged in the Commandement because his name is not there now as you must apply the Commandements so the promises and Faith will fetch out thy name that is wrapped up in the general And secondly As there is the blood of Jesus Christ to seal the promises in whom they are all Yea and Amen 2 Corinthians 1. So there is the seal of the Sacraments a publick standing visible seal whereby things are made more credible to us though they are as true in themselvs as