yet but a bare profession Sinners of all sorts come under this rank Oh What pitty what shame to affront and slight such an eminent Call as the Gospel sends to you Do you bear Christs name only for a shew and for fashion-sake Shall your profession serve as a Pandor to your filthy lusts and as a Patron to your Libertinism Doth not this aggravate your sins eminently that you thereby oppose such an eminent favour What can the swearing and lying the tipling and gluttonous Christian have to say for himself What pretense shall the ignorant and lazy the proud and wanton the covetous and passionate sinner plead in this case What shall the Formalist and self-justiciary pretend for excuse What will the Notionist and self-perfectionist cloak himself withall What excuses shall the Scorner and Derider make Will not their conscience convince all such of the reign of sin by their Love and subjection thereto Do they not thereby stop their ears and turn their back against Christs Call If Conscience be silent now being stifled bribed and seared so much the worse It will awaken at last with a witness with a vengeance It will shew light enough to hasten to Hell though it had not enough to guide toward Heaven Oh The folly and the misery of every sinner that thus slights Christs Call to hearken to Satans How few heartily hearken unto Gods Invitation to the marriage-feast of Christ 2. Real Christians should be convinced also of their neglects contempts and mistakes about their eminent Vocation Should not our hearts bleed at the sight and sense of so much disgrace we have cast thereon Should it not humble us deeply that we have so long deafned our ears hardened our hearts and pulled away the shoulder against such a Call Is it not a burning shame that any Creature should prevail more with our spirits by their Syren-charms then the voice of Christ himself calling on us still by his Spirit Word and Providence It is our sin let it be our sorrow that we so readily hearken to self sin and Satan are so deaf so dull and dead to the cals of God Le ts heartily grieve that our souls prove still such drie tinder to so many Temptations of the common enemy and such green wood to the sparks of Heaven We are as soft wax to the Tempters impressions which easily touch and take but cold and stiff to the renewed expressions of the Lords Spirit Vse 3. Should we not hence be put upon an Inquest to trie our Title to this eminent Calling The deceit is frequent facile and pernicious which should quicken our industrious search The most find flaws in their evidences when duly reviewed Very much base coin passes for currant till duly tryed Most Christians rest upon an external Profession which will prove to them but a broken reed To dream of Heaven in the broad way to Hell will be found dreadfull mistake The best find most need of self-examining and are still earnest with God to do it for them distrusting their own heart Mans heart by the Lords Verdict is both deceitfull and desperately wicked so far as unrenewed Many carnal Hypocrites exceed the most gracious in outward shews Many foolish Virgins have their Lamps better trimmed then the wise though they want gracious oyl in the Vessels of their hearts Nature refined by the sublimations of Formality and Morality makes a specious shew with a deal of Varnish though the inside be often but rotten stuff Multitudes prove like the Popish Pictures and Pagan Idols curiously garnished to ensnare silly souls Many a fair Profession will be found much like Apothecaries Boxes finely painted yet filled often with poysonous drugs and like the Pharisees painted Sepulchers that are within full of dead mens bones All then are concerned to look to their Vocation whether it be of good alloy and of the right stamp such as will pass in the court of Heaven Quest How may it be discerned Answ. By three signal things viz. The Antecedents the Concomitants and the Subsequents thereof 1. The Antecedents foregoing it are considerable The Spirit of Christ convinces of sin still and of righteousness when he is about this effectual call He awakens the conscience to listen after his voice though not in all alike He deals with men in a rational and orderly method suited to their various conditions Hath the Lord so dealt with thee boring thine ear and rowzing thy conscience to see thy self a forlorn sinfull Wretch Hast thou felt the pangs of the new Birth Hath the Spirit of Bondage made thee sensible of thy sinfull slavery in Satans drudgery Hast thou found thy self lost in the wilderness of sin and sorrow like a poor Traveller that is bewildred in the woods and bogs among cruel Tories listening still and looking round about for help in his distress Hath the Lord allured thee into the wilderness that he might there speak unto thy heart Hath he been busied with his spade and Ax about the breaking up and dressing of thy soul to kill the weeds and prepare his ground Hath he opened thine eyes that he might turn thee from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God Hast thou sensibly viewed thy unworthiness and insufficiency as of all things else that thou mightst be wholly beaten off from all selfish shifts creature-refuges Hast thou perceived the absolute need of hearkening fully of Christs terms for Wisdom and Righteousness for Sanctification and Redemption Hast thou been like a poor Wretch sinking every moment under the raging waves of corruptions and temptations listening and looking after a saving arm that might reach them forth Hast thou felt thy self like a dying Patient ready to perish and as a Malefactor condemned on the Ladder-top upon turning off Hath this contrition and compunct on of heart made the voice of Christ most desirable to thee to be preferred before all the shrill calls of self sin and Satan Hast thou so heard his Call as Paul and the Jailor The 3000 in Acts 2 as Lydea at least opening thy heart to hearken to his efficacious Call 2. The Concomitants attending this eminent Vocation are also to be observed Christ and his Spirit never come alone into any soul but are still attended with a gracious Train conquering the whole man into a gracious subjection Hath he so come to thee as a mighty Conqueror gaining thy heart to yield up thy self upon his terms at his mercy without reserves or capitulations Hast thou surrendred all the powers and parts of soul and body with chearfull submission into his own hands Are the black Regiments of sin and Satan cast out with violence that the Lords own spirit might garrison thee with his gracious forces Hath thine Understanding Reason and Conscience so harken'd to his voice that thy Will and Affections do readily close with his Will and Pleasure above all things else
God holy and beloved bowels of Mercie Kindness Humbleness of mind Meekness long-suffering forbearing and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye and above all these these things Put on Charity which is the bond of Perfection We should be alwaies ready to accept of reconciling terms and pitty others that do offer us wrong rather then to cherish spleen and malice in any degree such Candor of Spirit becomes Christians who still find cause to bewail their own failings and wrongs towards others If we be enforced at any time to challenge our civil rights it should be done with such discretion as that we may avoid Jars and reflections Passions and Prejudices If others offences may seem to carry much of aggravation therewith we shall shew the more generosity and true gallantry in forgiving and forgetting all that personally concerns us It s the Glory of God to cover a matter and mans Glory to imitate him He proclaims himself to be the Lord merciful and gracious of long suffering and tender commiserations obounding in Pitty and Truth reserving mercy for Thousands pardoning iniquity transgression and sin Should it not be our Delight to resemble him therein as it s our honour thus to advance his name How sad were it with us if he should deal with us as we deal with others Do we not still need pardon from men as well as from God Shall we not willingly measure out to others as we would desire to be measured to The Gallant Roman and the noble Grecian thought it the best revenge to return good for evil and scorn the baseness of a spitefull spirit Shall Christians come short of Heathens herein They have the worst of it that do offend us as Precious Mr. Dod was wont to say pitty them pray for them help them to repent as God hath helped us by Patience and Love kindling such a fire on their heads as may melt their hearts 7. Ingenuous disposition and carriage of our thoughts words and actions with utmost candidness of Interpretation about the Intentions Expressions and Demeanure of others It becomes Christians to make the best Construction of all others that may possibly be Charity saith Paul by choise Experience suffers long and is kind it envies not it is not rash it is not puffed up it doth not behave it self unseemly is not easily provoked thinks no evil rejoyces not in Iniquity but rejoyces in the Truth covers all things so the Greek Stegei properly imports believes all things hopes all things endures all things Brethren Therefore if a man be over-taken with a fault ye that are spiritual restore such a one with the Spirit of meekntss considering thy self lest thou also be tempted let us not then judge one another any more but judge this rather that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in our brothers way We that are strong ought to bear with the infirmities of the weak and not to please our selves but every one to please his neighbour for his good to edification We should wisely discern between weakness and wickedness between infirmities and enormities There will be still many sickly froward and pettish Children in Christs family that must be tenderly not roughly medled with Grace will teach us so to observe their several tempers and distempers as to think of them speak and act towards them in the best way of doing most good and least hurt Imprudent and rugged Christians will be sure to do themselves and others wrong in bringing disgrace to their profession for want of discret moderation Some Spirits resemble the sweet Bazil as the Genoan Embassador observed in the Duke of Florences Garden which if gently touched will yield a fragrant smell but if harshly crushed will smell rank and strong and give a very offensive Odor Others seem like Nettles which if they be not very warily handled will sting and trouble one with smart and anguish Study we therefore industriously that we may neither give nor receive offence as far as we are able being wise as Serpents innocent as Doves in such a crooked generation 8. Meet Consolation sutably to the various conditions of other Christians in their spiritual or temporal troubles Herein we should be followers of Christ who made it his business to speak comfort to the broken-hearts and mournfull Spirits He was anointed from Heaven to that end that he might speak a word in season to the weary soul He sends his Spirit to be our Comforter and comforts us in all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort others also with the same comforts wherewith we our selves were comforted of God If there be therefore any consolation in Christ if any comfort of Love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and commiserations fulfill ye my joy saith the great Apostle that ye may be like minded heartily giving refreshment to others in their necessities to speak and act like Christ in this very thing must needs be desireable in the highest degree Should not Christians demonstrate themselves to be true Barnabasse's Children of consolation Is it not our honour that the Father of Mercies and the God of all consolation will imploy us instrumentally that he may create the fruits of our lips Peace Peace true and lasting Peace to the distressed Much wisdom is required in administring of such a cordial orderly and seasonably so as it may do good and no hurt The matter of it is extracted out of Divine Promises and Providence the Spirit of Christ must direct us by his Word to the right manner of dispensing it He purges and prepares the souls of his people as wise Physicians deal with their bodies that he may revive and corroborate He removes the cause of grief that the effect may cease He clenses away sin to take away sorrow He convinces of sin of righteousness and of Judgement that he may be a sure Comforter He shews unto men the worst of themselves that they may come to see the best of Christ He makes them poor in Spirit to hunger and thirst mourning after Purity and Meekness that he may bless them with the Comforts of Peace Let 's learn in his school to follow his Coppy and mind such a Divine Principle and Patten of Consolation 9. Liberal Contribution freely to communicate to the support and supplies of others wants as God enables us becomes all Christians As we have therefore opportunity let us do good to all especially to the houshold of Faith Charge them we must that are rich in this world that they be not high minded nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God who gives us all things richly to enjoy that they do good that they be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in store for themselves a good foundation
Hast thou found thy self drawn so effectually by the cords of his love as by the Bands of man that thou couldst not resist any longer Hast thou heard the voice of thy Beloved so attentively and affectionately so submissively and applicatively that conjugal consent hath followed on thy part to be wholly and constantly his Hath his pardoning and renewing Grace sounded so powerfully in his Word and Ordinances that thy soul could not but eccho and resound a believing penitential Return Hath the effusion of his gracious Spirit so melted and mollified thy heart that it could not but pour forth it self into a Spirit of supplications Did the sight of him whom thou didst behold as crucified by thee and for thee pierce through thy very heart to the killing of sin and quickning of thy soul that thou couldst not but mourn bitterly at the sense thereof Hath that voice of his broken the Cedars and cleft the mountains of thy corruptions whilst Gods servants in his house were speaking of his Glory Hast thou felt his word sharper within thee then any two-edged sword piercing deeply discovering all and dividing energetically between sin and self by a spiritual Anatomy Hath his knock and voice wrought upon thee as they did on the Spouse to call thee away from thy secure bed and sluggish slumber into a diligent Inquiry after him pursued incessantly till thy Beloved be found Hast thou given Christ eminent entertainment in some proportion to his eminent Vocation as Matthew and Zachaeus did being called by him 3. The Consequents following this Call are likewise eminent His called Ones are his faithfull ones following him fully in an obedience of faith and love Hath he thus effectually prevailed with us to make us faithfull loving and obedient according to his Articles of marriage in every Relation condition and occasion Is our obedience cordial and constant universal and perpetual at least in our purpose and endeavours Is there no Duty we would willingly neglect no sin we would leave unmortified no mercy of his that we would not fruitfully improve Is his Will our Rule his Glory our End his Grace our Principle his Spirit our strength whether in superior or inferior places in every Ordinance and Providence Doth our faith work by love to him and all his peculiarly fervently orderly and continually Is it our desire and delight design and labor to follow him through fair and foul through the Cross to the Crown through many tribulations into his Kingdom of Grace and Glory Have we none in Heaven but him none upon Earth in comparison of him If thy Vocation be a saving one it s an eminent One in the exercise of every Grace in the crucifying of every Lust in the resisting of every Temptation in the bearing of every Affliction upon his account Art thou as willing to take up his yoak and to learn practically of him meekness and lowliness as thou art desirous of his Rest Dost thou as chearfully studiously obey every Precept as thou delighest in every Promise of his gracious Covenant Is it thy trouble and grief that thy self and others do so dishonour and disobey him Is it thy chief joy to see him honoured obeyed by any of his Doth the sense of thy sinfulness still conflicting within make thee to cry out against thy wretched self Doth the sight of his Grace any way made good to thee melt thy soul into gratefull acknowledgements and sutable Returns as it did in Paul David and the rest of his called ones Dost thou eminently improve that calling thus eminently vouchsafed unto thee consider it well Vse 4. This speaks comfort to the Lords chosen faithfull called Ones Your Vocation is most eminent so is the Cordial that flows from it against sin and sorrow the flesh and the world self and Satan He hath called you to Glory and Vertue through Glory and Vertue who is faithfull and will also do it Whom he did fore-know them he did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son that he might be the first born among many Brethren Moreover whom he did predestinate them he called whom he called them he justified whom he justified them he glorified Therefore shall all things work together for good to them that love God who are the called according to his purpose Is not this golden chain of your salvation a Soveraign Antidote against all fears from within and without to be carefully laid up and laid out as the Apostle did Thou trembling soul whose heart is tender that wouldst fain love Christ and loth sin above all that thou mayest follow his call is not this thy priviledge Shouldst not thou join with him in casting the Gantlet and biding Defiance to sin and Satan to self and the world as he instructs thee in the following Context Who shall separate us from the Love of God Shall Tribulation c. Nay in all these we are more then Conquerors through him that loved us Mayst thou not through his name confidently resolve with him also and be perswaded that neither Life nor Death nor any other creature shall be able to separate thee from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Thou hast his Word and Oath his Hand and Seal his Purpose and Promise his Purchase and Covenant his Grace and Glory yea himself with his al-sufficiency engaged to thee for it what canst thou look more for The more unworthy and insufficient thou art in thy own eyes the more is thy right cleared to his Worthiness and sufficiency His Gifts and Calling are without Repentance being carried on in this saving manner though his common Gifts and external Calling admit often of a change as appear'd in Saul Judas and the Like temporary Believers Though thy hand be weak yet his is strong enough thy strength and stay lies in him alone and not in thy self Though thou often break yet doth he not break who cals his sheep by name to eternal Life Thy Vocation is eminently divine for freeness and fulness sureness and singularness to sense thy Soul against all enemies and discouragements Whom doth he seek and save but that which was lost in a perishing state Vse 5. This should finally excite every One to look in earnest after such an eminent Vocation that the same may be faithfully Improved The whole world is cast into two Ranks of uncalled and called Persons both are to be effectually dealt with 1. UNcalled sinners that never gave yet hearty Obedience to the Call of Christ These are of various sorts abounding every where to be spoken to as their case requires Some are most ruled by one Lust some by another some openly others more closely whilst they all follow the call of sin and reject Christs Call Should not all such be vigorously pressed to listen to his voice before it be too
her withdrawn from her husbands company that should have been her guide and stay and walking toward the forhidden Tree Her gazing thereon gives him advantage to insinuate with falacious Queries and to infect her with his serpentine Breath Adam quickly felt the direfull Touch of that sinfull contagion and turned form his God to follow the charms of that subtile enemy toward his own Ruin Thus man tasted the fruit of that deadly Tree which gave him the Knowledge both of good and evil by sinfull privation and wofull probation to the utter undoing of his whole Posterity Our whole nature was so totally and universally poisoned thereby that like the spawn of venomous creatures all men draw from him through theâ—e parents loins the cursed Principles of sin and sorrow Ignorance Error Atheism Unbelief with all the rest of that Serpents feed do brood in mans heart still to draw him further from God and Bliss towards Earth and Hell till Grace enterpose God suffers all this evil to bring a greater good out of it by his over-ruling of all men and devils to his glorious ends in a holy manner The eternal thoughts of his gracions Love toward his Elect in Christ doth he in due time effectually demonstrate promising Christ to them giving him for them and through his Spirit bestowing him on them in drawing them to him that they may walk with him and worthy of him His Gospel is the word of Reconciliation which offers and gives his Tearms of mercy to be treated upon between him and them By that voice from Heaven he calls them off from their sinfull march and stops them in the midst of their wofull career wherein they follow the Prince of darkness toward destruction Mans sinfull life is a wretched walk in Satans company through the inchanted allies of a conceited Paradise of seeming pleasures profits and preferments All men please themselves in such Illusions and delusions till the Spirit of Christ takes away that inchanted vail from their eyes to shew them convincingly both their folly and their misery That Gospel-voice of Christ which sounds in the ears of all sorts promiscuously is carried into the very hearts of his peculiar People by distinguishing Grace to turn them efficaciously from darkness to Light and from the power of Satan to God Through his glorious vertue he cals them to Glory and Vertue whom he did foreknow and predestinate them he thus called justified and glorified This effectual Vocation makes the great difference between men and men the most remaining still strangers thereunto Many never hear the least hint thereof many do openly reject it and many are found to profess owning thereof that never come up to the full terms of it This miscarying mistake being so facile and frequent so pleasing and pernicious it concerns all to review with care all their evidences to saving purpose Whilst so many walk so unworthily we have all most need to take cognizance of our case and course Most men walk in Lies and few are found walking in the Truth Self is the grand Idol of this back sliding degenerating Age The best are too subject to walk after the Lusts of their own eyes and to chuse their own waies when left to themselves The purest state of Primitive Christians need frequent and mutual quicknings much more do our daies Our Christian Vocation is so eminent that our unworthy walking of the same cannot but cast on all a proportionable meameasure of Reflection 'T is our choice honour and happiness to honour God and enjoy him in Christ walking before him as heroical Saints have done in all Ages places and Relations Our holy Vocation doth much resemble that lovely Eden that Garden of Pleasure planted by the Lords hand for mans delight and exercise in his friendly state of Communion with God Christ himself is our Tree of Life standing in the midst of the Paradise of God whose leaves and fruits abound with soveraign vertue for the healing and strength of the Nations Variety of spiritual Ordinances and temporal Comforts he affords herein most liberally for Pleasure and help Sin is the only Tree forbidden unto us which may not be fed on without danger of death natural and civil spiritual and eternal His own society God himself is pleased to assure and vouchsafe there also by the sweet breathings of his gracious Spirit in every Institution of his appointing His Presence and Blessing still do come along with that fresh Gale in the cool of the day to solemnize the match between Heaven and Earth in the Spring of his Grace and ripen all things towards the fulness of his glorious Harvest Idleness therein he cannot endure but allots to every one his Task that all may work for him and like him in converse with him The Father works hitherto said the Son and I work so doth the Spirit work in all his People to direct excite and enable them to this Heavenly Work How curiously gallant is such a Walk as this with such a company and in such an Eden wherein all things conspire to render Christs friends most holy and happy Should not this prevail with Rational Souls to prefer Christs waies before all the Worlds bewitching Braveries Should not carnal Hearts be eflectually drawn to admire and embrace the Beauties of Holiness upon Christs own Terms of conjugal Consent Should not Spiritual Hearts be quickned thereby to walk worthy of such a Vocation wherewith they are called Should it not oblige them to utmost Diligence in the best Improvement of all effectual means to the mutual quickning of each other in order thereto The lively Resentments thereof obliged my thoughts and engaged my Resolutions of pressing my self with my christian Auditory more vigorously to this choice Duty and noble Exercise The substance of those five Sermons which were publiquely delivered on this theme is here contracted in a plain Essay which some friends have conceived might be of further use by such a publication as this The blessing of heaven go along with it that this small Tract may prove an open door into the Lords Garden wherein his Spirit may lead you by the hand to your chief good to your God in Christ from grace to grace from strength to strength I shall leave you with him in such a blessed walk that you may not be longer interrupted from passing through the varieties thereof but may feed all your spiritual senses most deliciously in his Paradise walking before him and worthy of him in your fellowship with him If you reap benefit from this poor contribution bless God for it and rememember him at the Throne of Grace who cordially desires to be serviceable to God and his People though he finds still cause to acknowledge
Divine Oracles in every branch of Gods Word All the expressions that describe it testifie so much being equivalent with regeneration and conversion the new Creature and new man the translation of men from Darkness to Light and from Death to Life their bearing of his Image and partaking of the Divine nature their coming out of Bondage into Liberty by Redemption from Satans Kingdom into Christs own Kingdom c. Instances might be given of the excellency of every part hereof with relation to this Christian Vocation The Precepts requiring it the Promises assuring of it the prefigurations typifying it the Presidents performing it are all eminent All Instructions and Incouragements thereto all Threats and Punishments for the neglect and abuse thereof do eminently ratifie the same The Reason of it is as remarkable if we consider the Cause and Terms the Properties and Effects thereof 1. THE Cause is eminent It s God himself that calls thus by the Spirit of Christ internally and externally His Divine Excellencies shine here in their Brightness This is his Work-man-ship in the product whereof all his glorious Attributes concur harmoniously He is the fountain and the final Cause whence it flows and wherein its terminates He is the Prime and choise Agent who appoints and over-rules all Means in tendency thereto His Voice gives the formal Impression of it upon that matter which his Spirit disposes orderly according to his eternal purpose to be a fit subject for the Reception and Improvement thereof He speaks actively and effectively calling things that are not that they may be according to the good pleasure of his Will God thus considered both Essentially and personally is the eminent Cause of this Vocation not any meer Creature nor any thing considerable in it either in Gods purpose or execution Reason 2. The Terms of it are eminent Ones both the terminus à quo whence they are called and terminus ad quem to which they are called It s from slavery to freedom from a sinfull to a gracious state from the Power of Satan to God from misery to felicity from the drudgery of Hell to the glorious Grace of Heaven Is not this call then a most eminent One Reason 3. The Properties of it do further ground its Eminency it is a high calling a holy heavenly Vocation free and full sure and singular Nothing excellent in any creature but it sets out the choise qualities of this noble Vocation It s the highest Preferment which the most high can afford in his Kingdom to his best friends Children and Spouse It s the conforming of them in holiness to that which is the Top of Divine Excellency It comes from Heaven leads to Heaven and trains up for Heaven gradually efficaciously It s of his free gift to sinfull unworthy Wretches to fill them with the fulness of Christ It s surely made out and made good in a singular manner to all the Vessels of Mercy prepared for Glory through Grace Here are eminently fulfilled the fathers purpose and the sons purchase in proper applications of every Covenant-promise through the operations of his holy Spirit freely and fully surely and singularly in an high holy and heavenly manner All the Properties thereof are most eminent Reason 4. The Effects demonstrate its Excellency also This Vocation renders men truly noble and eminent It raises up their spirits to the best pitch of generous magnanimity to the scorning of all sinfull baseness It stamps the characters of Divine Nobleness upon their souls giving them so large an Interest in the royal blood of the King of Saints They are hereby qualified with that Princely Spirit which enobled Caleb to act so eminently for God and the publique So far as Christians harken to this Call it works on them and by them in a choise manner to the promoting of the Lords Interest and the publique Weal against all internal and external enemies of both This is it that duly improved makes all sorts of Christians eminently usefull in their respective places whether superior or Inferior The Application may 1. Inform our Judgement in two Corollaries 1. Of the Excellency of Grace which cals Christians thus eminently Carâ—â—… hearts cannot see any beauty nor comliness therein no more then in Christs own person who was accounted a Worm and no Man Yet is the Kings Daughter all glorious within in the beauties of Holiness though blind eyes cannot discern it The natural man understands not the things of Gods Spirit neither indeed can he because they are spiritually discerned but the spiritual man judges of all things spirituall by due comparing thereof The Kingdom of God said Christ comes not with ostentation and observation but is within you and among you like the Curtains of Solomon whose out side appears like the Tents of Kedar What if God do not thus call many noble nor many wise nor many rich after the flesh that his Grace may appear to be free Doth not he make them truly noble rich and wise whom he thus effectually calls Have not the famous Worthies of all Nations in all ages learned in Christs school with Theodosius to account their Relation to Christ the choisest flower of their honor and happiness Coroll 2. Observe hence also the baseness of every sin Original Habitual Actual It is sin that so notoriously opposes maligns and hinders this eminent Vocation Sin is that unworthy Varlet that cheating Mountebank who dares vâ—e it with the Lord and give a counter-call to millions of Souls Sin is that impudent Strumpet that bewitches the simple with flattering Charms of seeming pleasure profit and credit thereby to keep off Customers from hearkening to Christ Sin like the Hyena counterfeits often the shepheards voice in many disguised Seducers to draw in silly sheep into her snares Sin is that Monster which Panther-like draws brutish sensualists by plausable allurements into her cruell clutches This is the Dalilab that inveigles and captivates so many Sampsons by her juggling Tricks Sin is that cunning Rook which draws out of Christs road so many Travellers into the crooked wayes of error and baseness by misperswasions Is it not sin that debased the glorious Angels and the first Adam and hath made them Maps of wâ—â—tchedness that were at first Mirrors of happiness Is it not baser then Hell it self being the cause and founder thereof Nothing vile enough in the worst of Creatures to express this unworthiness of sin The poison and bane the venome and pest the excrements and filthiness of the very worst kind are mentioned in Scripture to point at the inexpressible baseness of sin This dung and dirt this puddle and vomit this filthiness and excess of naughtiness is the inveterate and desperate enemy of our eminent Vocation Vse 2. This should convince every Christian nominal and real of their unanswerableness 1. NOminal Christians that have
late Who ever thou art that hearkenest to any thing else rather then to Christ take notice of thy state in its sinfulness in its wofulness Hast thou not been jugling and jugled with long enough already both deceiving and being deceived Hast thou not followed Satan far enough in thy ignorant and negligent course in thy notional and formal Revolts in thy sinfull pleasures profits and esteem Wilt thou still be cheated by such a Father and such children of lies Wilt thou still hearken to that pernicious voice which calls thee away from Christ and his ways Hast thou not slighted and abused him too long in rejecting his terms and capitulating still to have thy own Hast thou not sufficiently wearied thy self in thy wildred state like the Prodigal Son from one Bog to another from one Lust to another Is it not high time to come to thy self by hearkennig to Christs Call Hath not he waited long enough on thee with intreaties and offers precepts and promises chidings and threats wooings and expostulations Directions and Incouragements of all sorts Have not his Law and Gospel his Mercies and Judgements sounded loud and long enough about thee to call thee to Christ out of sin and self Shall nothing prevail art thou grown so dull so dead and obdurate like the Smiths Anvil and his sleepy Dog Hath Satan so far blinded and hardened thee that thou canst not deliver thy Soul by shaking off the lie of thy right hand Wilt thou not admire the Treasures of his Patience Bounty and long-suffering exercised towards thee hitherto Hast thou a mind to feel the Treasures of his Justice and Vengeance Behold Christ is come once more to give thee a Call Now hearken for thy Life This may be the last Now if ever be perswaded to listen to him and obey his Call Sinner he cals thee by name to look into self about self under self above self Dost thou not see thy self a forlorn wretch Hell opening its Jaws all the Creatures arm'd to execute thee the great God himself smoaking in deserved rigor against thee Is not Christs tender now be valued owned and embraced Awake and arise he calls thee to himself for Grace Mercy and Peace Art thou weary and heavy laden with sinfull Burthens come to him for Rest Is thy heart blind rotten and diseased the Master cals thee that he may heal thee Is it not equitable and reasonable thou shouldst yield to his voice Is it not absolutely necessary to thee Is not thy own Interest specially concern'd Is not his Call most honourable most pleasurable most profitable Canst thou hear of his Love of his sufferings of his Grace and Glory without relenting of thy tendrest Bowels Can thy heart hold out any longer against his Call Wilt thou not abhor and abandon sin self and Satan to give thy All to him For shame come now to Christ though thou be very bad that he may mend thee pardon thee purge thee with his Blood and Grace through his Spirit and Word Let his Love constrain thee to a cordial Reciprocation Quest How shall it be done Answ. Two main things he cals thee to mind Diligence and Dependance 1. Diligence in the use of all means appointed by him in his Word and Providence Look for him and hearken to his voice in every Duty in every Mercy attend on him in every Ordinance and Providence Neglect not any opportunity of seeking his face studying his Word praising his name consulting with his People Be much in secret and fervent Prayer sigh and groan cry and chatter if thou canst not speak plain Let his Sabboth and service be precious to thee and duly observed Perform every Duty as thy last and as for thy Life slight not any help from his meanest servant make choise of some special bosom friend whose Prudence Tenderness and Love may be most helpfull to thee Be much in the study of Scriptures such especially as most sute thy case Attend on the publique Ministry with faith and diligence as upon the great Ordinance of Heaven for Conviction Conversion and Confirmation of Souls How shall men believe unless they be preached to How shall men preach unless they be sent Make use of others Experiences for Direction and Incouragement Beware of Mountebanks and jugling Seducers that will poison and skin over thy sores and at best can give but a palliate cure with all their Bragadoxia's Be willing to be dressed to the quick by such sober and skilfull Physitians such spirituall Chirurgians as the Lord doth appoint and bless to his People Thou wilt not trust thy Estate thy Cloaths thy Body and Temporals with Idiots and unskilful persons Should not thy soul be much dearer to thee then to be trusted with unlearned Empyricks that have gotten some few receipts with many brags In a word be most diligent in every Relation and occasion to serve the Lords Spirit and observe his Will by the right use of all 〈◊〉 Means for his Honor and thy good 2. Dependance on him wholly and solely he requires also It s he alone that must bless the means and will be trusted for it He bids thee roll thy self upon his Grace lie at his feet acknowledge him in All This is the Angel of the Covenant whose motion must communicate a healing vertue to the waters of Bethesda and of the Sanctuary He can heal at the Pool if not in the Pool The sense of thy weakness emptiness must still drive thee to him for strength fulness He calls thee to rest upon him to derive from him and keep close to him for support supplies in every condition It is his Grace must pardon purge direct and quicken restore and save His presence and blessing is the cream and substance the Life and vigor of every Ordinance of every Creature Apply therefore his gracious Promises in order thereto He will be sought and found in all his ways to meet us with a Blessing where ever he records his name He meets them that rejoice working righteousness those that remember him in his ways and is still present where two or three are met together in his name He hears in secret and rewards openly those that depend on him The more thou findst thy self unable unskilfull and unwilling to good the more depend thou on him who hath an Al-sufficiency of skill Power and Will for thy good So shall his Grace be sufficient for thee and his strength shall be perfected in thy weakness Secondly Christians that are efficaciously called should be stirred up to make Improvement of their eminent Calling Hath the Lord vouchsafed so singular a favour to any of us How can it but inflame our hearts with gratefull rescentments thereof Should we not with the Apostle admire the dimensions of that eternal Love which wrought so effectually in the fulness of time by shewing Mercy to such sinfull wretches after so many provocations That
debt to owe still to each other to owe still to each other It s his great Command renewed by him so wonderfully in every expression and carriage The Alpha and Omega of Law and Gospel the choyce abstract of his Covenant in mercy and Duty He would have Christians to love the Brotherhood to love as Brethren not excepting the meanest member of his They that have purified themselves in obeying the Truth through the Spirit to the unfeigned love of the Brethren are vigorously charged thus to love one another with a pure heart fervently This is the great wheel that must move all the rest It s a Divine Grace of a special Nature the Rare Cement whereby the Spirit knits their Hearts in One though their minds may differ and their persons may be at distance This is the fire that must still consume all rising corruptions and enflame all the powers and parts of the whole man with the zeal of Gods House and of all its Branches and concernments As far as any bears true love to God so far and no further doth he love his people that bear his Image notwithstanding all their infirmities God is Love and he that abides in Love abides in God By this Token were all Primitive Christians discerned from all others as by their Badge of Honour This is the Oyl of the Sanctuary that must anoint them with heavenly Joy and supple all their wheels that every motion may be plyable and smooth for their mutual help the want of this is the shame of Christ and Christianity the scandal of men the joy of Hell the sadning of Heaven the bane of our comforts the blast of all labours the very pest and ruin of all things Oh! that Christians were more sensible of it and quickned thereto 2. Tender compassion towards each other in all troubles and wants proportionable still to each of their various conditions Such a Sympathy and fellow-feeling Christ himself commends unto them by his own example that they may may be cloathed with Bowels after his Pattern and measure them out towards one another as himself also did Living Members must needs be sensible of each others smart if one suffers all must needs suffer in the Body of Christ mystical as well as in his natural Body Christians are bid and bound to rejoyce still with them that rejoyce and weep with those that weep Christ himself was still afflicted in all his peoples sufferings They are dead spiritually who remain still sensless of others case having their bowels shrivel'd up by their base selfishness A new heart is a tender heart such as Josias had a melting heart after Gods own heart such as David manifested to God and his people who is weak and I am not weak who is offended and I burn not said the great Apostle so well taught of Christ To be like Judas destitute of Bowels is as woful as it is sinful Remember them saith the Apostle that are in bonds as bound with them and them that suffer adversity as being your selves also in the body Christians should bear one anothers burthens and so fulfill the Law of Christ Nehemiah shewed his nobleness of spirit by his tender sympathy with Gods people under trouble whilst himself fared sumptuously in the Persian Court The prosperity of Gods house should be esteem'd and desired above our own Christ commends and rewards gloriously such a Disposition and carriage Paul highly celebrates their Name who had been thus affected towards him 3. Earnest supplication for the good of the whole Church and of every member of it is as useful as its needful sutable to their various necessities Christ would have us pray for our enemies and Oppressors much more for all Saints and one for another on special occasions with all possible encouragements to quicken thereto He excepts none from our prayers but such as evidently sin unto death bidding us pray for all sorts of men particularly for Rulers though no friends to us All Relations and spiritual ones peculiarly challenge this help from us in a singular manner Pray for the peace of Jerusalem they shall prosper that love thee Gods Remembrancers are eminently required to be continual Intercessours for Zion till she be made the praise of the earth Promises of assistance and acceptance are innumerably given to us from Heaven to direct excite and help us efficaciously to this choyce exercise 'T is the great Engine that moves Heaven and Earth wherein the meanest may act wonderfully and help the greatest It s a conquering weapon beyond compare of Gods own furbushing guiding and prospering He yields to it himself in his condescension and makes it Victorious over hell and Devils as over earth and men by improvement of his Divine strength through the spirit of Grace and supplications which he pours upon all his children This is the sure Post that carries Intelligence in a moment from all parts and makes all Gods people though at greatest distance helpful to each other by the surest sign of communication The thundering Legion of the Christians so famous for prayer in the Emperour Aurelius his Army wrastled with Heaven as Jacob had done in a conquering way and procured refreshment to their friends and ruin to their foes which moved their Prince to shew much favour to all Christians over his Empire which before had been much persecuted The poorest soul may Jacob-like become a Prince with God an Israelite indeed by such a violence offered to the Kingdom and power of Heaven which the violent do carry and take by a zealous force in the strength of Christ especially from the dayes of John the Baptist They shall praise the Lord that seek him and whatever they ask in Christs name according to his will is certainly granted This was Pauls delight and constant exercise which he heartily recommends to every Christian as their choyce Antidote against all evil and singular procurer of all good spiritual and temporal publike and private This is the Key that opens prison-doors unlocks mens hearts masters their hands over-rules the clouds and fetches contribution from every creature to the relieving of all Gods children A praying Christian is still doing and receiving much good God honours this Ordinance most because it honours him most in all his Attributes The groans and sighs the tears and cries of his poor weaklings are forcible Arguments and efficacious Tools which he cannot gainsay and will not resist They pierce through his heart and draw out his bowels by a Magnetick Vertue which Christs Spirit through his blood and Grace imparts to them by a Divine Touch All Christians should therefore improve the same to the uttermost for others as for themselves Apostacy begins stil with
and growing up like weeds Rising to strength and violence quickly Mans heart is very prone to grow dull and Lazy thence neglect and slight of this and that thence contempt and prejudice thence Rejection and Opposition of one Ordinance after another til such fall to the very bottom of total and final Apostacy by such sad steps if Grace prevent not Traytors and Runagadoes are alwayes disgraced even among those that have ensnared them Shame and confusion is their portion stil and hath been in all Ages Selfish men love Treason as Philip of Macedon said but abhor the Traytors Satan payes them home as Solyman the Turk rewarded the treacherous Villain that betrayed Rhode and other places with shamefnl Torments and a direful death Perseverance is the crowning Grace for our help wherein the Lord hath appointed all sorts of means and would have Christians to observe and assist each other with utmost vigilance and diligence that none may withdraw from their stedfastness The least breach in a Fence will gradually let in so much water as will ruin all A smal Leak will soon sink a ship if let alone A slender Bodkin will quickly wound to death Princ piis obsta is a sure Maxime Look to the first stirrings of every kind of evil Luke-warmness and indifferency will still lead us on to more mischief as it proved sadly with the Churches of Sardis Laâ—diâ—ea Pergamus Ephesus and other parts of Asia to whom Christ wrote as also with the Christians of Europe and Africa who did so wofully degenerate that they became a prey to Mahomet in the East and the Romish Antichrist in the West having first been wasted by all sorts of Barbarous Invasions and Desolations In the wayes of Christ there is safety and peace He will keep us in all the paths of his own Road and Walk Keep close to him stil and to each other in him His All-sufficiency shall be then our Portion and protection against sin and sorrow 12. Zealous vindication of the Truth of Christ in mutual preserving of each other against all Errors and Seducers though never so plausibly disguised Scripture every where warns us against such deceiving Impostors who do most mischief in these latter dayes They are the petty Antichrists making way for that grand Antichrist tha Roman Abaddon and Apollyon in whom they all center as in a common sink though their many streams run variously with their infectious mud They went out from us saith the beloved Apostle because they were none of us and do testifie this to be the last Time by their active spreading of their cheating stuff Believe not therefore every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God because many false Prophets are gone out into the world If there be any that comes to you brings not this Doctrine of Christ in faith and obedience Receive him not into your houses neither bid him God-speed For he that bids him God-speed is partaker of his evil deeds I know this said Paul in his warning farewell to the Ephesian Elders that after my departing shall grievous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away Disciples after them watch therefore carefully Christ himself rebukes the Church of Pergamus for entertaining those that held the Doctrine of Balaam and of the Nicolaitans which things he hates Repent therefore saith he or else I shall come to thee quickly and will fight against thee with the sword of my mouth Paul renews such cautions to the Romans very earnestly and to Timothy and Titus shewing the great danger of such Gangreens and cancerous Doctrines which draw into all evil perverting many from all good He would have a strict course taken with all such by all possible means The Lord Jesus himself redoubles his warnings against such false Christs and false Prophets shewing their violence and fraudulency their diligence and deceivableness to the endangering of many thousands Christians should therefore be well setled in the Truth that they may keep one another from unsetlement Seducers will be known by the fruits of their â—ips and Life being foolish and proud disorderly and self-conceited ignorant and imprudent uncalled and unlearned It concerns every one to beware of Novelty the poisonous itch of this age Suspect all praters that are self-called and censorious of others duly called and qualified Beware of Mountebanks and Empiricks for your souls as for your bodies and estates Take nothing without trial but try not poison by eating thereof The Bereans were highly esteemed for their daily scruting into Scripture and proving of Pauls doctrine thereby Get good Antidotes against the poisonous Infections of this Age Wandring spirits like Satan their master compass Sea and Land to make Proselytes Many fair pretences and plausible Baits they will make use of to inveigle the simple if you be not watchful and diligent you will be soon intangled in their snares Their Pestilential contagion seizes quickly on the finest spirits Conceited Christians are most endangered stil Know we therefore our own ignorance weakness and insufficiency that we may not trust our skil and strength in dallying or parlying with sin and error Eve was soon catched when she once began to listen to the Tempter having left her husband that should have been her guide and her stay if you be once drawn from Christ and his publike worship and from attending on his servants regularly called thereto you fall immediatly into Satans trap and will surely sink into his bogs Itching ears will soon infect your brains and hearts your hands and feet if not diligently prevented and cured Take heed therefore of all vain janglings needless Disputes novel Opinions and whimsical Notions that are the Serpents spawn which he scatters up and down that must carefully be crushed in the shel before they break out into Cockatrices Those tares and weeds will grow very fast if not continually plucked up and cast away 13. Vigilant Preservation of Unity and Order watching against the least inclinations to breach and Disorders Discension and Discord A very strict charge is given to Christians for the keping of each other close to their Head Christ in their Christian Union and communion Now I beseech you Brethren saith the Apostle Mark those which cause divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them There are some spirits that love contention as the Salamandra to live in the fire or obout it What a shame it is that any Christian should lend his tongue or Head his heart or hand to the Devils Designs in dividing Gods people Blind zeal is often found to be fired from hell and scatter the coals about the house venturing the Ruin of all in a pettish mood All should beware of such strange fire and of putting any fuel thereto by quarrels and back-bitings