blamelesly and fruitfully men care not for a comfortable reckoning as yet There are two causes why they receive no good 1. From a mean esteem of the Saints looking on them as men and not as an Ordinance of Christ their persons prayers and speeches And this is a rule Men never gain any good by that Ordinance which they despise if all were Scholars Ministers or Saints glorified they could then esteem them Hence Eph 4. 16. Edifying is by love Making increase of the body edifying it self in love 2. From want of being poor in spirit and sensible of their extream need of Christ continually in all means Beggers will pick up crums and watch for a word of encouragement Isa. 11. 6. A little childe shall lead the Wolf and the Lion that is when the Lord hath humbled the heart of a man Oh when a Christian thinks none so poor and shallow and heartlesse as I and every one is better than I however I need more than any This soul will be glad to suck the brest and the Lord will fill others with light and life and his own bowels to do such a one good Whereas else they are shut up and they find no good conveyed to them by any of the Ordinances of the Lord nor any presence of God in them 3. There is a Ministeriall power committed from Christ by the Church to the ruling Officers thereof I say by the Church for all power in the Church is properly Christs yet he nextly communicates it ordinarily to his Church or multitude of Beleevers to whom is committed the supreme power of the Keyes in his word and a binding and loosing as hath been shewen and by this Church this power hath been by Christs appointment and still is to be communicated to those that are chosen out of themselves to be Officers and Rulers over them in the Lord to exercise the power of Christ over them according to his will Hence the very power of binding and loosing opening and shutting given to the Church is also given to Peter and the rest of the Apostles and the successors of Christs Apostles in Doctrine sent of Christ Iohn 20. 23. Whosoevers sins ye remit they are remitted c. Because though the power of Communication of it is in the Churches hand yet the power of usuall administration of it is in their hand whiles they exercise it according to Christ yet by the Church And hence Paul puts a difference between this extraordinary Ministery as Aposâ—leship and ordinary Gal. 1. 1. An Apostle not of men not by the will of men but by Christ for the Church not by it Now this I say is by the Church from Christ. Hence Acts 20. 28. The holy Ghost haoh made them overseers so that 't is no invention of man or act of man or the power of man but of Christ and hence refuse to be under this power men cast off the yoke and power of Christ Jesus For though the estate of the Church be Democraticall and Popular and hence no publick administrations or Ordinances are to be administrated publickly without notice and consent of the Church Yet the government of it under Christ the Mediator and Monarch of his Church t is Aristocraticall and by some chief gifted by Christ chosen by the people to rule them in the name of Christ who are unable and unfit to be all Rulers themselves and to cast off these or not to be ruled by these is to cast off Christ. Luke 10. 16. He that rejecteth you rejecteth me Numb 16. 3. You are gathered together against the Lord The Lord accounts himself opposed and resisted when the Officers of his Church are slighted and their government despised Quest. What is this power Answ. 1. Negatively 1. It is not any Lordly pompous power to bear the bell of great smoakie titles to govern in worldly pomp or by worldly rewards and civill punishments 2 Cor. 10. 4. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds It shall not be so with you saith Christ but as I have been without all worldly sâ—ate so must you be one to another And hence 1 Peter 5. 4. Not being Lords over Gods heritage Christ never gave his Ministers power of opening and shutting the doors of New-gate and Bonners Cole-house if they would not subâ—â—â—ibe or to confute mens opinions with their own lawes and bind consciences with chaines of Iron or to promote his servants by spirituall livings Christ himself refused to be a Judge in civill causes hence some of our Divines when they would grant that Peter was Christs successor and the Bishop of Rome Peters and Christs Vicar yet as Christ being on earth exercised no civill power so much less may these 2. 'T is not any Antichristian illimated power viz. to have power over many Churches for that 's the main spiritual Antichristian externall power and the Ministers thereof for we read in Scripture of many Elders and Bishops in the same Church Acts 20. 28. but never of any one ordinary Minister or Officer over many Churches either to govern or to baptize as the Anabaptists would among them as many godly plead for now in the misty confusion of England And look as we cry out of one Minister non-resident that shall have six or ten livings though he give never so good a stipend not only because of his pride and covetousnesse but because of his unconscionablenesse c. So here much more of one man Overseer over many congregations it may be an hundred at least 3. 'T is not any Magisterial power Diotrephes-like either to do what they will Mat. 23. 8. and their wills to be their law No Matth. 28. 20 Teach all that I command you If they do sin their persons are under the censure of the Church in case of manifest offence and scandall by the mouthes of two or three witnesses who being Members of the whole Church and under it and being sinfull Members may if the case need it be proceeded against by the whole Neither have they any power to act any publick Ordinance which concerns the whole Church and where 't is bound by Christ to judge without the privity and consent of the Church as to elect Officers admit Members cast out offenders in the Vestry without the knowledge of the Church one of the blaines of the reformed Churches which the Apostles with their extraordinary power never did themselves much leâ—e should these 1 Cor. 5. 4. They have no immediate power of rule immediately given by Christ over any one particular Church but mediate by that Church where they are their gifts of teaching and ruling are immediately from Christ but their actuall power to exercise it over this or that particular Congregation is by that Church only Hence Deacons that were only to take care for the outward estate of the Church Act 6. 3 4. they were ordained by lifting up their hands This
the government of the Lord. Men wonder why in this Countrey men are more vile then ever they were men that gave great hopes the reason is this they have seemed to be under Christs government but secretly cast it off And hence filthy and vile lusts are their Apparitors and Pursevants c. Objection The Saints feel a bondage how shall one know the difference Answer The first and greatest inthralment is when Satan and sin so rule as that they know them not this is lamentable that like those Iohn 8. 33. when Christ told them if they continued in the truth it should make them free they would not believe that ever they were in bondage so here a man thinks himself free when he is a slave thus Psalm 81. 13. God gave them up to their own hearts lusts and they were led by their own Councels The Saints may be much carried away by the power of Satans temptations but never so far as to think their bondage is their freedome and to have reasons and arguments prevailing against the good wayes of Gods grace and to have reasons to maintain their sinfull courses and that is in such as have wit and parts and knowledge which through the righteous judgement of God are leâ—t so far to abuse it as to make use of it to maintain their sin-full lusts 2. When men if they see their bondage yet have no heart to come out of it in using all means for that end When the will is in captivity no captivity like it no gally-slave like it A childe of God hath a bondage and is led into captivity but Oh miserable man he cries but these Prov. 17. 10. have a price in their hand but no heart to make use of it Ezra 1. 5. So many whose hearts the Lordo stirred they gat up to go to Ierusalem But the Lord never stirs the hearts of these poor creatures they know and fear yet have no heart to get out of that condition nay rather willingly are so They sell themselves to their lusts and sins and Satan here is saith Satan this gain neglect prayer for it tell a lye for it break Covenant for it lose thy peace for it here is this honour and credit look big on it here is this estate carry thy countenance high and thus apparrel thy self with these trappings walk thus with thy boots French-like here is this pleasure and mirth keep thou this company loose thy heart neglect thy God give thy self over to it here is this ease deferre thy repentance be cold in prayer neglect thy family and a man sels himself to his lust pleasures and honours thou art thus provok't and therefore now thou must fret and murmur and rage and hold thy own and so ease thy heart thus men set themselves to sale willingly 3. When men have some heart to come out of it but the Lord leaves men to an indifferency and consequently to apostasie as it was with Agrippa almost perswaded and like the Israelites that refused to go into the good land Numbers 14. And hereupon the Lord was wroth and said they should not but they repented and would fain have had some pitty shewed in regard of their misery but their enemies felt upon them and destroyed them all the plea of the Arminians is for this which is nothing else but mens misery Luke 14. those that were invited made their excuses and said I must needs go and see it But found no necessity to come to Christ. Now the Saints the Lord never leaves them to a spirit of indifferency but keeps them in a spirit of necessity I must come out of this miserable condition saith the poor soul they say not flesh is weak but I must have help Psalm 110. because 't is the day of the Lords power they must not rest contented without help and if the Lord delayes them and hears not they will follow the Lord so much the harder 4. If they have any resolution to come out and think it must not be thus and purpose never to live thus again yet notwithstanding all their purposes and resolutions they fall again and never get any reall conquest their unâ—anied hearts and wills are never a whit more subdued Isaiah 63. 7 8. For he said Surely they are my people children that will not lie So he was their Saviour but they soon rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit their wills were never subdued But now the Saints either the Lord preserves them from such falls and Apostasies Or if they do depart from the Lord by reason of the prevailing power of any temptation they ever get reall conquest by their fall their sinfull corruption thereby gets its deadly wound Rom. 11. 10. Their backs are not alwaies bowed down but the Lord raiseth their bowed-down spirits Psalm 145. 14. and upholdeth their spirits for them when they think they shall one day fall by the hand of such Saul-like sins and distempers A carnall heart may carry a fair profession and be in subjection to Christ for a time but his back stands alwaies bowed down under his profession is is his berthen and hence at last he casts it off as a man doth his wearisome burden but on the contrary a child of God being indeed weary of his sin and carrying that up and down with him as his burden with his soul bowed down in the sense of his own vilenesse by this means through the help of Christ at last he comes to get reall conquest over his sin and cast it off 5. When the Lord in this case lets them alone without inward or outward troubles this is a fearfull signe Hosea 4. 17. Ephraim is joyned to his Idols let him alone the Lord will take no more pains with them he is wearied out with striving Isaiah 1. 5. Why should ye be stricken ye will revolt yet more and more when the Lord sees men the worse for his mercifull corrections he deals like parents that have striven long with their children and can do no good on them they then resolve to let them take their own course and will own them no longer to be of their family the Lord never deals thus long with his but if their sinne will not waste by words the Lord will then try what chaines will do and now they shall finde good now they shall remember their backslidings and apostasies from God and their impeniâ—ency in sin in secret sins especially in the dayes of their peace and prosperity now the Lord will make sinne as bitter as ever it was sweet Oh consider this you that are prosperous and because the Lord is good to you therefore you think the Lord likes well of your wayes No greater plague then for the Lord to give a man peace in his sinne or if the Lord begins to afflict thee in thy name on estate begin to be blasted and thou canst see Gods hand on thee and knowest it and yet thou remainest unhumbled this is
of God and now you exalt him when he is thus set up 1 Cor. 4. 20. The Kingdome of God is not in word but in power The power of Christ Jesus is come into thy soul and the soul is under the Kingdome of the Lord Jesus when it doth lye under the mighty power of the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thess. 1 11 12. We pray always for you that the Lord would work and fulfill the good pleasure of his will and the work of faith in power that Christ may be glorified Yea then is Christ glorified when God omnipotent reigns over sin and unbelief when the Lord doth this not only the Kingdome of God is now come but the Kingdome of Christ in glory is come there is many a poor soul thinks Christ rules him not because he cannot do this nor that because he finds his heart unable unwilling for to submit to the will of Christ I find no strength at all saith the soul and I go to Christ and find not strength conveyed and now he thinks he is not under the Kingdom of Christ. I answer that is not the question but hath the Lord made thee willing in the day of his power when the soul doth lye under the power of the Lord Jesus Christ when the soul doth lye like wax before the Lord Jesus when the soul saith Lord there was never any change of my nature the good Lord change it and if there be any change the good Lord increase and stir up the graces of thy Spirit in my soul and do thou lead me and guide me Brethren the Kingdome of Christ is come to this soul Iohn 5. 40. You will not come to me for life He doth not say you do not quicken your selves or ye cannot come to me but will not here is their wound they will not come to Christ for life Rom. 6. 19. As yee have yeelded your members servaâ—â—s to sin and Satan so now yeeld up your selves servants to righteousnesse and to holinesse Psal. 119. 5 6. Thou hast commanded that we should keep thy precepts continually Oh that my heart were directed to keep thy precepts continually Oh that my heart were directed to keep thy statutes When a Christian is grapling with his own heart ye will never be able to overcome the unsubduednesse thereof but when ye bring them to the Lord Jesus Christ that he would take a course with them 1. Now ye please Christ. 2. Ye take a sure course to have the will of God done he being in office for that end for Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and Saviour to Israel When the soul doth look up to the Lord Jesus and lye under the power and Spirit of the Lord Jesus 3. You now make the yoke of Christ sweet and his name glorious nothing glorifies Christ so much as this when Jesus doth work in a Christian now the kingdome of Christ is come to the soul and that in power But now when men will not submit thus far to Christ 1. They can do nothing but will not come to him on whom God hath laid salvation you say you cannot understand nor edifie by the Sermons ye hear and you cannot part with your lusts Ay but now this is thy condemnation thou wilt not go to a Saviour that he may teach thee and help thee when men will not have the Lord Jesus to reign over them or 2. If men do come they will not come to him where he may be found but say I can do nothing Christ must do all and so neglect the means wherein he will be found or 3. Will submit and come in means to him but not then at the speciall time when He is to be sought and may be found viz. in time of temptation But then forget and forsake him and cry not Hosanna Lord now save now help me against this lust When temptation comes when passion and pride come do you now go to Jesus Christ When the world begins to draw thy heart away dost thou say thus Lord I have prayed this day against this sin and Lord I have no strength against it now Lord help me but here is the misery of the soul it doth not go to Christ and by this means live in complaints all their life-time 4. If lastly any thing be to be done they will do it themselves as Paul Gal. 1. 12. Not but that a Christian should put forth himself a Christian is not a dead-hearted Christian at all times but the grace of God which comes from Christ doth act the soul in a continuall dependance on Christ and where Christ acts not there Satan doth Now I say the Kingdome of God is come when the soul doth thus submit to the stream of the blesâ—ed Spirit of the Lord that the Lord may guide it Oh beloved here is the skill that poseth the Angels how to tell you so to yield your selves to Christ as that Christ may come so to abide in the stock that all your fruit may be from him So to lye under the Lord as that the stream of the Spirit of life may fall on thee so to be implanted in the Lord as to fetch life from him and bring forth fruit to him But try this course submit to the will of the Lord Jesus be nothing in thy own eyes and if the Lord do give thee any thing blesse the Lord for it if any strength against thy sin be vile in thy own eyes and try and see if ye find not the Kingdome of God the glory of Heaven come into thy soul. Oh the light life prayers you might have the heavenly conference ye will have together that it would do a mans heart good to be with such a Christian that those that are with you might say Verily God is in this man verily there is joy in heaven when the Saints keep in this frame 4. When the soul yields thus to the will of Christ for Christs ends for such is the subtill wretchednesse of mens hearts that men would have Christ glorifie himself that he may glorifie and honour them like Simon Magus that would give any money for Apostolicall gifts that he might be some body that way also Now if a man shall submit go to Christ for gifts and parts that 's to set up another King to advance a mans self and so also sin and the devill and Christ must be made a servant for this end He is now no King like a Rebell that is not content that thousands of the Kings Subjects should serve him but he will have the Prince serve him a so Every man will say this doth utterly overthrow the Kingdom of such a Prince When a man shall secretly fight against the Lord and be for himself and for the devil and sin within When a man shall make all the creatures serve him the souldiers of his army meat drink and outward comforts this is a marvellous thing Ay but when a man shall make Jesus Christ
it Ye say that the Table of the Lord is contemptible the meaning is you do despise my Table and Ordinances and so now do despise me too and so ye do vilifie and contemne the Ordinances of the Lord Therefore saith the Lord in the conclusion of that Chapter vers 11. From the rising of the Sun my name it shall be known As if he should say I am uot bound to you I can have a people among whom my name shall be great For saith the Lord I am a great King If one should have asked men in those dayes what good is in your sacrifices what great glory can ye see in them the Saints can see a great deal of glory in mean outsides Now when this is wanting the name of the Lord is polluted and so the Lord driven from his Ordinances Heb. 12. 15. Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil root of bitternesse springing up and many thereby be defiled When men do live in secret lusts or open proâ—nenesâ—e a man that hath a profane heart such a heart as doth contemne the portion of mercy the Lord doth offer to him who like Esau did sell his birth-right for a mâ—sse of pottage Secondly Unbrokennesse of heart in the enjoyment of Ordinances when men live not in a daily sense of the extreme need they stand in of mercy Isa. 66. 1. 2. Heaven is my throne and the Earth is my foot-stool Now observe what the Lord doth there speak To him will I look that is poor in spirit contrite such a poor soul saith the Lord will I look to and to these are opposed such as have not such hearts but do look only to the Ordinances of the Lord Now saith the Lord to such He that offereth a lamb is as if he cut off a dogs neck and he that offereth incense as he that blesseth an Idol These were a people that did plead for the Temple of the Lord and had the Ordinances of the Lord according to his command but here was their wound they were not broken under the Ordinances of the Lord This you shall find the Saints have many sins and wants under the Ordinances of the Lord but little does the world know their gronings before the Lord and the Lord hath mercy for such soules as are sensible of their need they stand in of the Ordinances of the Lord. But now when men have found the Lord in an Ordinance subduing some particular sin there are other sins remaining in their hearts and they stand unremoveable in their hearts and hence are the strongest and dearest of all the rest Now I say when men having these sins and knowing these sins in their hearts and spirits when as because I cannot subdue these sins and they have attended on the Lord in the use of meanes and the Lord helps them not and because they hope to be saved at last for all these Hence they come to a truce with their sin and never go mourning to the Lord nor say the Lord hath begun to subdue some of these lusts Now Lord go on but the soul is at truce with his sâ—nnes Beloved if there be any pollution of the Ordinances of the Lord here it is that men come with unbroken hearts to the Ordinances of the Lord that never feel your need of them wounds and sores that are in your hearts that men do stand with those very sins that they think they cannot subdue and because they cannot ease themselves of them therefore they give way to them When men keep these sins with unsensible hearts of them ye do resist the holy Ghost ye feel not your need of the Lord therefore ye keep your sins and your woes you shall have for them Thirdly Where there is a spirit of unbelief that there is not a seeking to Christ Jesus to wash away the pollutions of his heart and life in his attending upon the Lord in his Ordinances Tit. 1. 15. To the unbelieving nothing is pure but even their mind and conscience is defiled Exod. 30. 29. It is said Every thing that touched the Altar was clean and hence without this all is unclean When a poor soul shall come to the Lords Ordinances and prepare himself before he come and in all it hath many weaknesses yet it doth leave it self with Jesus Christ every thing that doth touch this Altar is sanctified and is not polluted But now when men shall enjoy Ordinances and make no great matter of sins in Ordinances especially if secret such is the venemous nature of sin it doth defile the earth a man doth tread on Now when men shall have these sins and know them and yet never leave themselves with Christ and lay themselves on this blessed Altar by faith they do pollute the Ordinances of the Lord Fourthly When the soul doth not so openly manifestly drive away the Lord but when men shall â—ome to the Ordinances and never come to the Lord Jesus in them now the Lord is cast off A great Prince that comes to a mans house though he be not driven out of doors yet if not attended on he accounts himself cast off The Lord Jesus Christ is in his Ordinances Ezek. 48. 35. The Lord is there the Saints they come to God in them and are carried to him by them Therefore 't is said Acts 10. 33 34. Now therefore we are all present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God and Psal. 84. 7. Every one of them in Sion appeareth before God Now the Saints and people of God when they do thus come to the Lord they find many difficulties to break through a vally of Baca. Sometimes their heart is turned from the Lord and sometimes God is turned from them so that now the Saints when they do come to the Lord in his Ordinances They go through the vallie of Baca that they may see God in Sion But now when men do never break through difficulties but give way to a sluggish heart when it is thus with a people it is certain the Lord is now cast off and ye do as good now as live without Christ in the world Amos 5. 21. faith the Lord I hate your new Moons and Sabbaths For these forty years ye never sacrificed to me vers 25. Did they not sacrifice those forty years to the Lord in the wildernesse It was the very thing they came out of Egypt for that they might sacrifice to the Lord Yet saith the Lord ye did not sacrifice to me truly here was the thing they did sacrifice but to enjoy communion with a God that they did not the Lord he saw none of that and this is the frame of many a man ye never heard a Sermon ye never broke through your difficulties to come to a God in Ordinances therefore in truth though you had them yet it is as if you never had them because ye never did enjoy the Lord in them Therefore this is that I would
exhort one another whiles it is called to day lest any of you be hardned through the deceitfulnesse 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 to day 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 than 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 self 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 occasionall meetings and worldly discourses mix with it some sweet truth that God hath taught thee But now on the other side when Christians shall meet and a 〈◊〉 is the worse for their fruitlesse discourse no savoâ—â— of any thing of God Let them meet never so long or oâ—â—en walking or sitting this is sad 5. In Comforting those that be sad Thes. 5. 14. and 4. ult Comfort the feeble-minded and support the weak wherefore comfort one another with these woâ—â—s There are many sad hearts in Gods Church and sad things are as wounds to a mans limbs 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 than if he had given me â—any pounds But now when this also is neglected that one Christian 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 meekness Gal. 6. 1 2. Brethren of any be overtaken with a fault ye which are sprituall restore such a one with a spirit of meeknesse Oh how will a poor soul blesse the 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 vilâ—fie 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 fils not his Tabernacle 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 duties in Prayer Meditation Reading and daily Examination of a mans own heart And hence they cannot do good because they receive none or very little themselves they have not a treasure within hence they can spend little have no heart or ability to exhort instruct comfort He that keeps not his shop his shop will never keep him As Psal 41. 6. His heart gathereth iniquity to it self when he goeth abroad he telleth it 2. A low spirit which makes a man to have low thoughts and endeavours I mean not an humble but a narrow spirit not inlarged to hold much or to do much hence it doth little As take a plain Countrey-man he neither seeks or regards the affaires of the State in publick because his spirit and condition is low but Princes do mind and attend to the affaires of the Kingdome to advance it because their condition is high and they know it Moses he suffered reproach with the people of God losse of all the honour and pleasure of Pharaâ—hs out feared not Pharaoh nor losse of life for their sakes For he saw that God which is invisible like Saul when once a Ringdome comes to be in his eye he leaves off to seek the Asses 3. Sloth There are Thornes Prov. 15. 19. and Lions Prov. 26. 13. in a sluggards way There be many difficulties businesses occasions and objections when as if once he were resolved to break thorough them then the work would go on Like a man when he is in his warm bed he is loth to rise but when he is up he would not be in his bed again if he might be hired again to put off his clothes I shall get no good saith one nor do none saith another and when these businesses are past and occasions over and at another time I will seek God and go about Gods work and thus a slothfull spirit hinders 4. Want of Faith 2 Cor. 4. 13. We believe and hence we speak Faith empties us most and hence fils us with Spirit and Life of Christ Jesus hence Steven full of faith and the holy Ghost A lively Christian when he comes in another Christians company it may be he knows not what to speak but he looks up to Christ and sayes Now Lord here is an opportunity in doing or receiving some good and therefore now Lord help 5. Want of fear of God and consolation of the spirit of God from the sense of Gods love Acts 9. 31. They walâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the fear of the Lord and consolations of thâ— Holy Ghost the Church was edified by the consolations of the Holy Ghost A man that 's wounded keeps within and stirs not but when he is in health and strength now hard work is his meat he cannot live except he work 1 Cor. 15. ult 6. Not considering the shortnesse of our time of sowing Heb. 10. 25. Whereas if men were on their death-bed they would wish Oh that I had walked more
speak so suitably to him But as soon as he is gone out again this is the complaint of the soul all is lost again now the soul it sals 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 voyce of God it may be preserved in an internall spirit of prayer for the continuance of it while he hath it and for the return of it when it is lost Psalm 119. 4 5. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently David he knew his own weakness 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 beaâ—ty 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 the sanctuary David he did find a want of seeing him as he had done yet the vertue of it did remain in a spirit of thirsting and desire My soul thirrsteth for thee as in a dry land where no water is that I may see thee A Christian may have at some time 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 find the want of this yet it may be preserved in a spirit of prayer For whem 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 find his spirit marvellously 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 find 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 sweetness of the waies of God goes home 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 find it thus when he cannot find 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 find and there is the efficacy of the word there As now there are two golden vessels one a man fills and it is every day dropping and he preserves it another vessel he do's not fill 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 vessell 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 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 joys and good that it finds 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 remain 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 remains 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 sorrows 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 effectuall 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 mind to discover his sin now this light it do's not sensibly overcome the power of sin But now the sâ—ul blesseth God for that word which hath convinced it had I never seen my sin saith the soul I should never a sought for power 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 finds marvellous refreshings and affection whiles he is a hearing when he is gone away he finds not the same but he blesseth God for those affections he finds and
the Lord will not do And hence if he does not destroy him he with-draws himself from serving of the creature and hence other evils take hold of it and bring it under When Adam stood and was for God all creatures served him and the riches of Gods goodnesse preserved him the Lord communicated the sweet of his government or service to him but when turned away from the right wayes of God Now if the Lord should serve him by governing of him in goodnesse he should serve a lust and bow to the creature nay to a lust which is a viler thing then for one creature to fall down and worship another Therefore now hence it comes to passe because the Lord will not be a servant to any mans lust there must be some other government that must seize upon them Hence set all the Saints in the Churches with their faces subjected to the Lord his good wil and righteous wayes and then his goodness shall flow down upon them in a through Christ for otherwise we have nothing to do with good but when we are set right for God Hos. 2. 19. I will betroth thee unto me for ever yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteousnesse in judgement in loving kindnesse and mercy c. The Lord will then command all creatures to be serviceable to his Church and people Vers. 21 22. But on the contrary misery must needs seiz upon the soul that doth cast off the government of the Lord Jesus Thus much for the generall explication of the point Now in particular 1. What is this government or service of God 2. What is the bondage he captivates his unto 3. Why doth the Lord do thus Quest. 1. What is this government or service of God which being shaken off the Lord gives them over to bondage Ans. There is a double government of the Lord over his people 1. Internall or inward of which our Saviour speaks Luk. 17. 21. The kingdome of God saith Christ comes not by observation and outward pomp For behold the kingdome of God is within you And this is nothing else in generall but when the Lord doth by his Spirit in the word of his grace cause the whole soul willingly to submit and subject it self to the whole will of God so far as it 's made known to it this is the inward kingdom of God and government of Christ in the soul. Ro. 8 14. So many as are led by the Spirit are the sons of God Ps. 110. 2. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion c. 2. Cor. 10. 4. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnall but mighty through God the pulling down of strong holds Vers. 5. Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. There are mighty boisterous distempâ—rs but the Lord when he comes in his Kingdome to sit upon the royall throne of the hearts of his people now they flie and this is the inward Kingdom of Christ like a poor Subject pardoned and received to favour he is before the face of the Prince continually attending on him Revel 7. 14 15. These are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Vers. 15. Therefore are they before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his Temple c. Now this is meant in part by Gods service in these dayes do you think the Lord cared for thousands of Rams no but to walk humbly Mica 6. Did he care for Temple aud Ordinances no but Isa. 1. 19. If he be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the land Neh. 9. 20. In those dayes hee gave them his good Spirit to instruct them 2. Externall or outward the end and instigation of which was to set up and help forward the inward for externall Ordinances are nothing in themselves mean things but as they are appointed and sanctified for this end they are most glorious and therefore Christ threatens the Jewes Matth. 21. 43. That the Kingdome should be taken from them what was that Surely not inward for that they had not but the outward and externall means called Gods kingdom all these helps and means shall be taken from you and all laid ruinous Now this externall kingdom of Christ is double 1. The externall kingdome or government of God by his Church in the administration anâ— execution and subjection to the blessed Ordinances of God wherein the power and Kingdome of Christ is seen and thus Dan. 2. 44 45. Dan. 7. 27. It shall be given to the Saints of the most high c. Not to prophane herds of beasts or cages of unclean birds but to the Saints of the most high Whose kingdome is an everlasting kingdome and all the Princes of the world shall subject themselves to this kingdom of Christ. This outward Kingdom Christ administreth amongst his people in this world And this was part of the Lords government over his people herein though various from our form now 2. Of the Common-wealth which may have divers forms and had in the time of Israel but it receiving its law from God and governing for God hence it was the government of God and subjection hereunto was subjection and service to God himself And hence when the people cast off Samuel 1 Sam 8. 7. They have not rejected thee but me Rev. 11. 15. The kingdomes of the world are become the kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever For although the Common-wealth of Israel was made up of the Church and hence Iosephus cals it a Theocracy where the Lord governed and yet the same thing had divers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 formes and respects and hence there was a diverse government then and hence made diverse 2 Chron. 19. 5 8. Iehosaphat sets Iudges in the land throughout all the fenced Cities Such is the wildnesse boldness carelesness of mens hearts that they do not only need lawes but watchmen over them to see they be kept and hence the Lord appointed some chief some Judges in every City and also some in every Village as by proportion may be gathered Exod. 18. every ten men had one over them Now this was the blessed wisdome of God to put all into sweet subordination one unto another for himself 1. Every one professing his name is made for God for Christ as Lord of Lords unto whom every knee must bow and inwardly subject 2. Hence the Lord it being not good to leave man to himself erects a Kingdome of the Church with his own power and authority and government in it for that end 3. This being poor shiftlesse against inward and outward revenge hence the Lords sets up Kingdoms of the world which either rule for this end of these ends or not if they do not they are to answer it and shall one days to Christ whom God hath made head over all
a signe thou art under the bondage of thy sin Vse 5. For examination whether we do or when a people do cast off the government of the Lord and destroy his kingdome it's needfull to know the sin that we may prevent the misery and 't is certain let New-England be watchfull and make sure here to advance the Prince of peace and to keep the right and government in his hand and you shall have the blessing of God and his Ordinances peace and mercy in your times and continued to your children for his kingdome is an everlasting kingdome and of the encrease of his kingdome there is no end and on the contrary if New-England cast off the government from over them and refuse his service the Lord will then take the kingdome from you and you shall then know the want of what now ye enjoy Now because Christs government or Kingdome is 1. Inward 2. Outward in Church in State I shall let you know 1. when the inward kingdome of Christ is set up and when 't is razed down which I shall do by giving you a briefe view of the nature of it and wherein it confists and so you may the better Judge of your own hearts in this particular As Satan hath an inward kingdome in the hearts of those that are without so the Lord Jesus hath an inward kingdome in the hearts of all his Saints Col. 1. 13. Blessed be god saith the Apostle which hath translated us from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan into the kingdome of his dear sonne which is very spirituall little seen a man may be under all outward government and yet naught here and therefore attend this inward kingdome therefore consists in four things or when the whole soul submits it self to God in these four particulars 1. When the whole soul gives entertainment unto the Lord himself to come into it for if a people shall say they are under such a government and yet will not admit the Prince himself to come amongst them but keep him out of the kingdome they cast of his government and his kingdome 2. When the whole soul closeth with the whole will of the Lord for if a people shall receive a â—â—nce amongst them but he shall make 〈◊〉 wholsome Laws to governe them but will be led by their own wills and lusts they pull down his kingdome 3. When the whole soul thus closeth with the will of Christ by vertue of the power and Spirit of Christ for if a people submit to the will of their Prince but 't is not by vertue of his authority over them command of them and helps he hath given them for that end but it is by reason of some forreign power that underhand encourageth them to yield this is poor subjection 4. When the soul thus submits to Christ's will for the Lords ends denying its own wisedome or will and is led by the Lord to his end for if a people shall submit to their Prince but 't is to set up other princes he is cast off from his throne When a man shall serve God and be under his government because it is profitable or honourable it suits his own end this is poor service in the Lords account 1. I say then the soul is under the inward kingdome or goverment of Christ when the whole soul gives entertainment to the Lord of Lords the Lord himself with all his traine in and by the Gospell of grace the royall sword and Scepter of Christs kingdome for when Christ himself is thus received the kingdome of God is come to that soul and entred into that heart and hence Mark 1. 14 15. the Gospel is called the Gospel of the kingdome and when Iohn and Christ preached beleive and repent for the kingdome of God is at hand Under which word is comprehended much but principally Christ Jesus ready to enter the souls of his people and hence Iohn preached Christ. Now 't is said those that were effectually wrought upon Matt. 11. 12 that the kingdome of heaven did suffer violence and the violent take it by force so that the kingdome of God is come into the hearts of all the elect of God when the soul uses a holy violence and the Lord do's draw the heart to an entertainment of the Lord himself Many difficulties there be between them and Christ and yet they break through all This is the condition of all men by nature they are strangers to Christ and live without God and Christ in the world and Christ from them and so Satan takes possession and rules them and so men are under the kingdome of darknesse so that the devill himself possesses every naturall man as the Apostle speaks he worketh in the children of disobedience to run on so and remain so Now the Gospel of the kingdomâ— and the meanes to advance Christ in his kingdome makes a free offer of Christ himsâ—lf indeed it offers pardon grace mercy life glory but all these are in Christ himself and we possesse them by possessing and receiving of Christ himself as a poor woman hath all the wealth of the man by entertaining of the man So that the Gospell firstly and primarily offers Christ himself and faith doth pitch on Christ himself and doth open those everlasting doores that the King of glory may come in John 1. 12. 't is said So many as received him he gave power to be the sons of God 1 John 5. 12. He that hath the Son hath Life so that now let a man refuse or reject the Lord himself as he is thus offered in the Gospel he does refuse the kingdome of the Lord and does refuse to be under the power of the Lord. True it may be said the kingdom of God hath been nigh to him when Christ is offered in the Gospell and God sayes as it were nothing shall please me so muâ—h as this if thou dost receive me Luke 10. Go and preach to these and these Cities and if they will not receive you shake off the dust of your feâ—t and let them know the Kingdome of God hath been nigh to them then Christ comes into the soul when the whole soul takes the Lord for himself Christ and all that Christ hath Christ in a pardon and Christ in a promise at that very day the Lord gave the heart to receive him then is the kingdome of God come in that heart and with him all life peace joy and glory God Spirit and all Now the whole soul receives him when 1. The mind sees him in the glory of his grace that though it had low mean thoughts of Christ before for which it mourns yet the rising of this glorious Sun upon him he esteems all things losse for him that he may win Christ and be found in Christ I in him and He in me in Vocation and not having my own righteousnesse in justification And to feel the life of Christ and death also in sanctification And to attain
it Psal. 18. 22. saith David I have kept the wayes of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God and though it hath had many quarrellings against the truth of God yet now it hath not nor dares not but sayes Lord teach me the Lord gives them hearts to lye down at the feet of any man that shall shew them any thing that is amisse in them and they say with David Lord search me and try me I have many crooked wayes and therefore good Lord find them out and therefore come to the Lord for that end and though there be something in them that is desperately contrary to the good wil of God yet there is an inward man that does delight in the law of God and when the Lord is pleased to give them an heart to submit to the will of God Oh the soul doth wonder at the Lord that the Lord should shew him any thing and help him against temptations and though there be a great deal of wearinesse in the wayes of God yet there is a spirit within him that it is indeed heaven it self to him to be in the ordinances of God now ye stoop to the directing will of Christ when this is thy way though thou goest oft out of it yet comest in it again as sin is a wicked mans way although he goeth a thousand times out of it Now for the other the correcting will of Christ The L. hath strong trials Now here subjection to Christ is required as well as to the directing will of Christ then the soul submits to this will when the mind objects not charges not God with folly as Eli 1 Sam. 3. 18. It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good And likewise the will though it hath had many sad bouts yet this is his frame in the Conclusion that the wil of Christ is better than every thing else the wil of Christ is alone sweet to him Isa. 38. saith Hezekiah Good is the wil of the Lord so Lam. 3. It 's good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth and to turn his cheeks to him that smites him Nay when there is spiritual evils on the soul as was on Christ himself spiritual desertions nothing but bitterness sorrow yet the soul saith as Christ did Not my will but thine be done Father save me from this hour yet Father glorifie thy self and so the soul does humbly submit it self to the Lord though the Lord should never pitty it yet it will lye down at the feet of the Lord now is Gods Kingdome come But if the soul wil have Christ and yet cast off the wil of Christ 1. Either in his judgement that the law of God as given by Christ should be no rule to a Christian suppose you were in England and were there prest to bow before an Altar or Image what shall lead you if that Gods will and law must not be your rule The Lord will one day make you know his blessed will in that blessed law of his that ye shall never find peace to the end of the world except the Lord do help ye thus to walk Again when men cannot endure the wil of Christ cannot eÌ„dure exhoâ—tations what doth the man mean to exhort us thus I tell thee there goeth forth power with the exhortaâ—ions of Christ. I say take heed of casting off the will of Christ here and so when men in their practice shall quarrel against any of Gods truths and are loath to see it or if they do yet not love dearly every truth of God but it 's a burden to them especially if it crosse their own ends and gain they will not see it to be a truth lest they should be convinced and turn ro the rule of it if the will and ordinances of Christ be a burden to a man and a man is not weary of his wearinesse but weary of them all the while Art thou under the government of Christ If a man forsaken of God led by his own counsels be under the Kingdom of Christ then thou art so long as there is credit for the truth so long it is entertained but now suppose it be costly rhat it should bring beggery affliction with it is it now sweet to you doth this support thy heart I am in Gods way canst lye dowu and subscribe to the equity of Christs proceedings with thee though he should never shew favour to thee if it be not thus I dare not say thou art under the Kingdome of Christ. And so for the correcting wil of Christ many sad afflictions the Lord tries thee withall the Lord tries men marvellously when thou art under the hand of the Lord those very things that should make men cry to heaven and wean thee from the world those very things do harden thee and make thee grudge repine The L. be merciful to thee if this be thy frame the Kingdom of Christ never came into that heart you are begging for mercy the Lord sayes you mercy you have abused it no saith the Lord Go to your lust that have despised the day of grace so now you cast off the Lord because the Lord will not give you mercy when you would have it Will you now quarrel with the Lord no down proud heart pray still and mourn still and turn to the Lord and say Lord do with me what thou wilt I am clay in thine hand thou may'st make me a vessell of dishonour I deserve not the least bit of bread such a one as is above the Lord and his will is not under the Lord therefore submit thy self to the good will of Christ. 3. When the soul doth thus submit to the wil of Christ by vertue of the power and Spirit of Christ i.e. when the soul doth not submit by vertue of its own power strength or ability for this is forreign power But as it doth seek to submit to the will of Christ so it would have Christ himself act it and rule it and so inable it to submit there unto Now is the Kingdome of God come neer to that heart And herein Christs Kingdom is different from Princes they give laws that men may keep them by their â—wn might hence they command no impossible things but the will of Christ is so crosse to a carnal hearâ— that 't is impossible man of himself should submit to it But the Lord doth it for this end that the soul should then come to Christ in its need that he would do all the good pleasure of his will and now the Lord himself reigns and that gloriously Ro. 8. 1 2. For the law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death Acts 5 31. A Prince an Saviour for to give repentance and remission of sins It is part of his Princely power for to give remission of sins both in turning from sin and to God and all the wayes
chief amongst the people was the counsell of God by Iethro and Mâ—ses but when they be Elected now to despise them and hence not to bow the knee or stir the hat and speak rudely before them it 's casting off not only their power in sight of God but the very root of it which is honour And hence in the fifth Commandment all duties to them are comprehended under the word Honour And who sees not but this is a sin which is apt to attend the spirits of men in a place of liberty and in our weak beginnings and day of small things Reports are abroad that no men of worth are respected and hence the Countrey is neglected I cannot say so after many thoughts for I am perswaded no place in Europe more ready to honour men of publick spirits and of eminency in piety and humility without the seeing of which no Countrey more apt to vilisie because grace is the glory in the eye of a Countrey led by Religion But take heed lest such a spirit be all us lest the Lord put out our Lamps and cast our Crown down to the ground 2. When men seek to pluck the sword of revenge for sin hurting the Commonwealth out of their hands without which the greatest power in a Common-wealth is but a pageant and a meer vanity almost a nullity Hence Rom. 13. 4. He is Gods Minister yâ—s when he gives good counsell and when he is a revenger to execute wrath on him that doth evill So that be the evill what it will be if it hurt the Common-wealth or be against any wholesome Law thereof he is Gods Minister to punish it civilly In the first Reformation of Geneva there were as many heresies and errours almost as truths of God Servetus he denyed the Deity of Christ whereupon the Magistrate put him to death who dyed with extream horror Whereupon heresies being begun to be sâ—ibb'd aud blasted Bellius writes a Book 1. That men should punish no heresie at all but be mercifull and â—eek as Christ was to the adulterous woman 2. If they did yet that Magistrates they should not punish for errors or heresies 3. If they did yet not with such severity as they begun To all which Beza hath given a most learned and solid answer detesting the hypocrisie of the man and the sad consequences of such opinions if their power should be diminished I conceive 't is casting off Christs power to take away power from Magistrates to punish sins against the first Table of which errors and heresiâ—s in Religion are part It 's as clear as the Sun that the Kings of Iaâ—ah that were gâ—dly did it and were commended for it and 't is as clear they were commended for it not as types of Christ but because they did therein that which was right in Gods eyes and according to the commandment of the Lord Which judiciall commandments concerning the punishing of Sabbath-breakers false Prophets Hereticks c. Gâ—ds fence to preserve morall lawes 〈◊〉 are of morall equity and so to be observed to this day of Christian Magistrates c. To exempt Clergy-men in matters of Religion from the power of the civill sword is that â—â—pery by means of which Antichrist hath risen and hath continued in his pomp and power so long together The indulgence of Princes towards the Papal function in matters of Religion hath undone Christendome 'T is true every error is not to be immediately committed but when 't is like a gangrene of a spreading nature then the Magistrate in due time must cut it off speedily Ohject Leave them to the Church Answ. True leave them 1. there But 2. Sometimes the Church will not sometimes they are not of any Church A â—apist an Arminian may come in and leaven and damne many a soul for which they had better never been If it were but one and if he sayes I do it with a meek spirit their trick of late and none must meddle because mercy must be shewen to their wolves A wise shepherd had rather let a hunter come in and kill one of his sheep then let a Wolf or Fox escape Acts 20. 29 and see his people persecuted than their soules worried Heresie and Error hath this property it ever dies by severe opposition and truth ever riseth the more because Christ is against the one Hence it must fall but or the other hence it shall rise by its fall Hence set your selves against this 't is to oppose the power of Christ Jesus And hence in Henry the 8th time the Abbies fell and never could rise to this day but the six Articles against the Saints pursued with blood made them increase the more 3. When men will not submit to the wholesome Laws of Magistraâ—â—s which are either fundamentall and continuing or Oâ—ders that have their date and time of expiring made for common good When men will either have 〈◊〉 laws or as good as none or submit to none but what they please Deut. 17. 12. He that will not heaâ—ken but do presâ—mptuously shall dye He being the Minister of the 〈◊〉 and indeed it is to cast off the Lord. I go not about here to establish a sovereign power in Magistrates when is proper to God to maâ—e what lawes they will about civiâ—l Religious or indifferent things and then people to 〈…〉 for no other â—eason but because of their willâ— under which notion superstition in Churches hath been ushered and maintained you must 〈…〉 in that case it 's better to sâ—ffer than to sin and nor to do than do But suppose the lawes just righteous holy and for publick good and that apparently so and not in saying so only Now here to cast off lawes is to cast off Christ. There are two things especially which are the cause and occasion of the breach of all other lawes and the strongest sins and sweetest which men young men especially the hopes of the Common wealth are catcht with Prov. 2. 13 16. 1. Whoâ—edome secret lusts and waâ—tonnesse and other strange lusts which I â—â—ase aâ—d dare not name 1 Kings 1â— 24. The sin before Shishah came a sin which many times Solomon cannot see thorow his window nor the eye of authority discern but God will judge for it Heb. 13. 5 and if he be â—udge who shall be thy Jailor but Satan and what shall be thy sentence but death and what thy â—naines but a hard heart for the present and horrour afterward A sin which pollutes the very earth the land the very dust of the ground and the cause of all sin almost in a place as drunkennesse idleness corrupt opinions scoffing at the Ministers of God and wayes of God For I seldom knew a persecutor but he was an adulterer though it 's not alwayes true and in the end poverty and ruine And know it though no mans eye has seen thee no power of Magistrate can reach thee this word shall be fire to consume thee unlesse thou repent for thy
and he doth give thee some victory Beloved a Christian may decay in the power of the grace of Christ which he hath received from the Word and voice of God in the Word and he may decay and grow to a very low estate yet he shall find this the Word of the Lord hath come with power to him it will recover his soul again and so the efficacy of the Word is eternall Psalm 72. it s said of Christ that his People shall fear him so long as Sun and Moon shall endure that is continually all their life-time It may be said there be many that find decay of their service and obedience and lose their fear of the Lord and their dread and their humble walking before him He shall come as the rain on the mowen grasse many times a Christian hath his flourishing time as the grasse but when the grasse is mowen it is as a dry chip so the soul it may grow dry as dry as a chip Now where is your sap and savour but I tell you if you belong to the Lord Jesus the rain it will fall again the Word of God set on by the Spirit of Christ it shall fall upon you as the rain on the mowen grasse and you know that it recovers little by little and puts on a green coat again Here is the eternal love of the Lord Jesus to his People and thus the eternal efficacy of the word does continue 3. Vse is of exhortation Oh Brethren and beloved in the Lord Jesus may a Christian hear the Word of God spoken and yet never hear God speak may he hear it externally and not internally then rest not in externall hearing and with some little movings and affections and stirrings of the Word of Gods grace in hearing Let not the Word be to you as the sound of many waters and a noise no efficacy of the Word that do remain on your soules Brethren and beloved in Christ I lay my finger on the sore in these times Oh the contempt of the Gospel of Christ though I believe it hath its efficacy in the heart of the Elect that is the thing that I presse never be content with external hearing though thou mayest have some affection and know new things unlesse thou find the Lord speaking with an eternall efficacy to thy soul. I conceive two things are to be done that the word may come with an everlasting efficacy although something is to be done by Ministers that is to preach truth and Gospel-truth fetch 't from heaven with many prayers soaked truth with many tears Ye shall know the truth that truth shal make you free Convicting truth We preach saith the Apostle in the demonstration of the Spirit The Spirit of God when he commeth he convinceth the world of sin Let Ministes do so Preach convincing truth and Gospel-truth fetch'd from heaven and bathed in tears Oh brethren let the fire burn clear let there not be more smoak than fire it will never come with power then convincing Gospel-truth set on by the demonstration of the Spirit of the Lord and this will set a Christian at liberty there is never such a Sermon that the faithful ones of God preach to you if it come not with a power to loosen you and call you home it comes with a power to blind you it is an ax at the root of the Trees but I leave this What means ought the people to use that the Word of God may come with efficacy Them that are in their unregenerate estate the Lord only knows how to work on their hearts they must come to the outward means I speak to the Saints of God I leave others to the infinite mercy of the Lord It is not in him that willeth or runneth but in the Lord that sheweth mercy In the use of means 1. Means Do not only see thy infirmities and weaknesses but pray to God to give thee a heart bleeding under the sense of thy many infirmities Many times men slight them and are not sensible of them I do not say wickednesses and wilfulnesses but thy infirmities and weaknesses get a heart mourning under them A Christian is made up of infirmities and weaknesses a man would not think there is that in another which he knows by himself Oh brethren labour for a broken heart in the sense of your many infirmities and weaknesses darknesse and enmity vanity and unsavourinesse the Lord will have his time to speak to such a soul. Break up the fallow ground of your hearts lest my wrath break out with fire the Lord hath promised to dwell with the poor and contrite Look as it was with our Saviour Christ they brought the sick and the lame ones to him and vertue went out from Christ to heal them all Bring thy sick and blind heart to Christ and vertue shall go forth from Christ to heal it 2. Draw near to God in the Word by looking on it as God speaking to thee We are far from God and therefore we cannot hear him draw near to him when you come to the external Word when you come to hear the Word hear it as the voyce of God You heard the Word as the Word of God which you felt in you I do not speak that the soul should take every thing that Ministers speak as the Word of God but that which is the Word of God take it as God speaking I am not able to expresse the infinite unknown sweetnesse and mercy and presence of God that you shall find thus comming I know it is a common truth but I am not ashamed to tell you I have not for many a year understood this truth and I see but little of it yet ye have heard of it but ye do not understand what it is to hear God speaking When God hath an intent to harden a mans heart and to damn him either he shall have a prejudice against the man or else if he hath not a prejudice against the man there is a secret loathing of the truth in regard of the commands of it and that is all and the Lord he hardens and blinds and prepares for eternall ruin all the men in the world by this means that live under the means When the Lord spake to Samuel Samuel heard a voyce but he heard it not as spoken by God but when he took Elies counsel and saw it was the Lord that spoke now he listens to the voice of the Lord and now the Lord opens all his mind to him 3. Do not trust to the external word It is a heaven on earth to hear the word exalted a glorious thing to hear the word of God as Gods word but trust to the free grace of God in it and the Spirit of God in Christ to set on that Word When they brought the lame and blind and halt to Christ they looked for the Word and the Power of it Speak the Word Lord and thy servants shall be whole so
bring you blind lame and halt souls to Christ and trust to the free grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Work of the Lord it shall prosper in his hand so the Word of the Lord it shall prosper in his hand also Lastly so seek the Lord and so hear the Word so see the truth and so hear the truth as that you lay up your happinesse in this world in closing with the truth and with the word Brethren what is a mans happiness in heaven but to close with God and Christ I cannot come to God now the most that I can have of God now is in his word if it be happiness in heaven to close with God in Christ truly then it is a mans happinesse to close with God in his word on earth and if it be your happiness lay up your happiness in it My son saith Solomon if thou wilt hear my words let them not depart from thine eies keep them in thy middest of thy heart place thy happiness in them So shall they be life to thy soul. Neverthelesse Brethren let a mans soul be set upon anything in the world when he comes to hear besides the word if he lay not up his happinesse in closing with the word truly the word it will be like a song to him The Prophet Ezekiel tells them Their hearts were gone after their covetousness When a man comes to hear a Sermon there is a Sermon and the Market there is a Sermon and a friend to speak withall and so many young people will go abroad to hear Sermons What is the end of it It is that yee may get wives and husbands many of you but it is not your blessednesse to close with the Lord in his word I have known some men that have had a distaste against the truth of the Lord and I have known them for many a day they have not bee able to understand the truth of the Lord. When it shall be thus with a man that a mans heart is set on something else besides the word of the Lord that it is not my happinesse to close with the truth of the Lord such a man shall never understand the truth of the Lord. Though the word be sweet to you sometimes if your blessednesse do not lye in this to enjoy God Oh this Gospel of God and these Commands of God that your blessednesse do not lye in cleaving to the Lord in his word I say it is a certain truth you shall be blinded and harned by the word For here is a Rule Whatsoever a mans heart is set on as his chiefest good the presence of that good it comes with power So here the precious Gospell of Christ when the presence of it commands the heart nothing is good enough for it and it closeth with it and with Christ in it I beseech you therefore Beloved in Christ set upon the use of these meanes think within your selves What if the Lord had left me without the word I will tell you what ye would have been Look upon these poor Indians herds of Beasts look upon others on their Ale-benches enemies to the Lord such a one thou hadst been This blessed word and voyce of God every tittle of it cost the blood of Christ written all the lines of it in the blood of Christ. Oh make much of it and it will make much of you it will comfort you and strengthen you and revive you if the word come not with power ye shall be under the power of something else if not under the power of the word then under the power of some lust What is the reason that these poor creatures that are come to the tryall for life and death that have fallen into such sinnes as were never heard of What is the reason that they are under the power of their lusts I will tell you what Solomon saith My son if wisdome enter into thy heart and discretion be pleasant to thy soul it shall keep thee from the strange woman and sinful companion If it be pleasant here is the reason the word of Gods grace it never came with power or if it came with power powerless the word of Gods grace hath been to them and because it hath not come with power the Lord hee hath given them over to the power of their lusts and sinfull distempers Oh Brethren truly I cannot see how any man can maintain any evidence of Gods electing love that shall hear and hear and good dayes mend him not nor bad dayes pair him that can commend a Sermon and speak of it but that efficacy is not known to him neither doth he mourn for the want of it but the eternall efficacy thereof is a stranger to it 1 Thes. 1. 5. Knowing saith the Apostle your Election of God How did he know it For saith he Our Gospel came not to you in word but in power ye will rejoyce the hearts of your Ministers when the word comes with power Let me say this and so I conclude I remember the Lords threatning I will take away the staffe of bread and ye shall eat and shall not be satisfied When the Lord shall let men have the word when the Lord shall not take away the word but the staffe of the word Suppose you poor Parents Fathers and Mothers your Families should have good Corn but when you come to eat it no strength at all but ye dye and wear away and others that are about you they have planted the same Corn and eat and are satisfied What will ye do in this case You would set apart a day of fasting and prayer and say Good Lord what a curse is upon me my poor children are dying before me others have the staffe of Corn but my Family have no strength at all Ye would mourn if it were thus with your poor Cattell Oh for poor Creatures to have the word but the efficacy of it to be taken away no blessing no power at all Oh poor Creatures go and say Oh the curse of God that lies on me the wrath of God that lyes on my servants it is a heavy plague But Oh the sweetnesse and excellency of it when a Christian shall find everlasting vertue and efficacy conveyed to him by the word All you that are before the Lord this day ye shall see an end of all perfection but eternall things are not they worth something You shall see an end of all delights and contentments but this shall comfort you when you are a dying that the word which you attended upon the Lord in such peace and such consolations I have found by it and the efficacy of that word then remaines with you nay goes to heaven with you I commend you therefore to the word of his grace which is able to build you up unto an eternall inheritance amongst them that are sanctified Acts 20. 32. FINIS Doctr. 1. Quest. 1. Answ. Quest. 2. Answ. 1. Answ. 2. Reas. 2 Vse 1. Vse 2. Vse 3. Quest. Vse 4. Objection Answ. 1. Answ. 2 Answ. 3. Vse 5. Quest. Answ. 1. Psal. 133. ult Quest. Answ. Acts 5. 12. Quest. Answ. 1. Answ. 1. Answ. 2. Quest. Answ. Quest. 2 Answ. Object Answ. Quest. 3 Answ. Tit. 2. 9 10. 1 Pet. 3. 18 Eph. 6. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 18. Tit. 2. 9 10. Eph. 6. 5 Answ. 1. Answ. 1. Vse 6. Ier. 2. 20. Object Answ. Vse 7. Mot. 1. Mot. 2. Mot. 3. Mot. 4. Quest. Answ. Means 1. 〈◊〉 2. Quest. 1. Answ. Answ. Observ. Quest. 1. Answ. Reason 1. Reason 2. Rev. 12. 9. Rom. 1. 22. Reas. 3. Vse 1. Vse 2. Vse 3. Vse 4. Object Answ. 1. Vse 3. 1 Thes. 2. 3. Prov. 3. Vers. 22.