so strong of injustice cruelty and oppression he is ready to pull up the hedge of his Protection and lay them wast or leave them to final extirpation T was said the cry of the sins of Sodom ascended up to heaven and it was so loud a cry that they pierced the very seat of the Almighty and pulled down vengeance from Heaven and what were their sins Pride which is the mother of Contention and Cruelty marches in the van the filthy Lusts of intemperance bring up the Rear so as righteous Lot and his Family are almost crushed between them as between two Mill-stones Gibea and Benjamin are ripe for judgment when they will go about to maintain iniquity by a Law instead of seeing Gods Salvation they and all their Confederates shall feel his indignation and know that the righteous Lord loveth righteousness As before when in the dayes of the old World the Earth was fill'd with violence viviter ex rapto their unrighteousness opened the Flood-gates of Divine vengeance which carried them all away with a Flood And not long after when in the dayes of Nimrod the great Grandchild of Noah the Inhabitants of Shinar proclaims War with the Almighty and bid defiance against Heaven God blasts their vain enterprizes and makes them see their own confusion instead of his Salvation 4. The next Branch of a well ordered conversation is that which concerns our selves viz. Sobriety and Temperance which according to the assertion of the Apostle Paul is part of that Doctrine which brings Salvation along with it wherever it is put in practice As we find it expressed Tit. 2.12 And here lies the greatest danger of a professing People Open unrighteousness is restrained by the severe Laws and Edicts of civil Nations where Intemperance and Prophaneness may appear with open face upon the stage Injustice in civil affairs as it is obvious to humane and common observation so is it more apt to be restrained and punished as standing in direct opposition to the commerce and traffick of Nations every one will be ready to bring a stone to fling at an Oppressor Thief or Robber but now the Lusts of Intemperance are more secretly and silently carried on undermining those Banks that seem to keep it in and insensibly by degrees like the Ivy sucking out the heart and life of the Religion of those whom it seems to compass about and embrace These Lusts of the Flesh secretly eat out the life of holiness and damps the heat of our zeal They are also the more apt to prevail upon the minds of the uncautelous because they are seated in such things as for the matter of them are not unlawful yea are both natural and accessary which made one sadly complain In licitis perimus omnes When Israel could neither be enchanted by Sorcery nor corrupted by Idolatry yet they may be charmed by the Syren of sensual delights for when the people had committed carnal Fornication with the Midianitish Women they are easily led on to commit spiritual Adultery with their Idols Solomon might speak it by experience as well as by observation of the strange Women that strong men have fallen down wounded by her When the Devil came to assault our Saviour he found nothing in him to fasten his Temptations upon there was no combustible matter for his fiery Darts to sieze upon but when he comes to David though never so holy a man he finds something to fix upon especially when he lay at an open Guard having ungirt himself and laid aside the Armour of light A chast conversation coupled with fear is the best security against those Lusts of the Flesh that war against our Souls The seeds of Piety and vertue are in as much danger of being choaked with these Weeds of Intemperance as by the Thorns of Covetousness and other Lusts of like nature 5. There are other Branches of a well ordered Conversation very necessary to bring about this Salvation of God Sometimes Prophaneness and Impiety may get such an head in places that it is not possible to suppress or bear them down without an eminent degree of zeal God was so provoked with the sensual lusts of Israel at Baal-peor that if it had not been for the zeal of Phinehas that Generation as commendable as they were had seen but little of the salvation of God it was his zeal that stayed the Plague from consuming the People If our zeal be not as hot as fire it will easily be quenched by these Fleshly Lusts Eli did not want a principle of holiness and the fear of God but he wanted the holy passion of zeal to actuate and exert it No man had ever more experience of seeing the Salvation of God than David and what man did ever declare more zeal against sin and for the Glory of God and casting off the works of iniquity doth he not engage that a vile person shall not tarry in his sight and him that telleth lies he would cut off If such be suffered saith Solomon by the Ruler all his Servants will be mislead Then farewel Gods Salvation The Church of Laodicea lost her dignity for want of zeal and is severely threatned for this defect Be zealous and repent or else I will spue thee out of my mouth Rev. 4.16 a cold dull un-active luke-warm spirit will in a little time lose the very life of godliness when in the primitive Church the love of many began to wax cold it was a presage of their Desolation which soon after came to pass But here we must look to our zeal that it be not mingled with too much wild-fire for the wrath of man will never work the righteousness of God The Lord Jesus was as became the Lamb of God meek and lowly of heart yet was admirably zealous against Hypocrisie and secret iniquity T is good to be zealously affected in a good matter sayes the Apostle And so also in a good manner The Disciples were zealously affected against them that did not follow them this was not in a good matter nor was their zeal to be commended that forbad them bringing little Children to the Lord Jesus And if the Angel that contended with the Devil about the body of Moses had brought raiâ—ing accusations there had been a defect in the manner Zeal is an holy affection and will thrive best in a meek and quiet spirit No man so meek upon the face of the Earth as Moses and yet no man was found so zealous as Moses in reforming the Idolatry of the People when he set every man against his fellow that was gulty of the fact and at last grinding the Idol to powder that they might drink it down that so eagerly had drunk down that cursed Worship The zeal of Moses was far more acceptable to God than that of Jonah or Jehu It is not the hot fiery curst tempers in a place that will maintain and keep up the purity of Religion and good order so well as that which proceeds
you may by force imprint another motion for the present yet it will not hold long unless it have a new nature stamped upon it It will be but as a stone that may be by Engines forced upward or as water heated by the fire which retains their innate qualities to which they will soon return again and to that place of their center Therefore he that would have his way set right must begin with his heart and get that changed and put into a right frame and then all the rest will follow He that made the heart at first and formeth the spirit of man within him must also make the heart anew and renew a right spirit within every man must renew it again This is the sense of the Church of God in all ages as to this article of Religion Turn us O God of our Salvation and then we shall be saved Ephraim is at last convinced that he cannot be turned unless God will please to turn him This turn in the heart necessarily includes Faith in God through the Lord Jesus by whose merit alone Salvation is to be obtained But 2. The second thing required to a Conversion ordered aright is a suitable operation constantly proceeding therefrom which will be necessarily required in the several actions of our lives and changes that pass over us for though our way be but one in the general as to the main tendency thereof yet there are several parts of the same like so many distinct branches in the Trees of Righteousness of which though every one is but one Tree yet are there many Branches in every Tree all of which ought to be laden with the fruits of righteousness The person is the same though he pass through the differing changes of Youth and Age single and married Estate publick and private prosperous and adverse estate in every of which changes he ought to order his way aright There is an evil time when the Righteous are to keep silence and a good time when more liberty and freedome may be used And Solomon tells us there is one duty properly belongs to prosperity and another to adversity The description of the Righteous that are planted by the Rivers of Gods Sanctuary is that their Leaf shall not wither they shall never change their hue or recede from their profession and that they shall bring forth their fruit in the season of it Thus the Apostle John applies himself in his Epistle to young Men and Children as well as to old men implying that distinct fruit was to be expected according to those distinct ages of Christians in respect of the operation of vertue The way of any man that desires to see the Salvation of God may be best digested into this method or order 1. As to what is past 2. As to what is to come 1. As to what is past his way is to manifest Repentance from all dead works formerly committed which cannot be carried on effectually to Salvation without Faith in the Lord Jesus by whose merit and blood alone pardon and remission of sin must be had and reconciliation with God obtained For that man will never walk aright in the way of Repentance that is not by Faith first reconciled unto God As the Scripture tells us without Faith it is impossible to please God and whatever is not of Faith is sin David complains that it was as a Sword within his bones while they said unto him where iâ— thy God if at any time we have lost our hold of God it will never be obtained again without the renewed actings and exercise of Faith And as he that in the state of Nature and unregeneracy is estranged from God can never be reconciled unto him without the Act of Faith uniting of him to the Lord Jesus as a Surety Head and Saviour in whom the Father iâ— well pleased Till then as we can have no interest in God so neither can he have any actual communication of life and Holiness with him without the daily exercise of Faith in Christ which is our life and who as a living foundation and root doth quicken all those who are as lively stones built upon him and as living Branches united unto him as to the true Olive Repentance therefore is another part of our way together with faith These two are inseparable Companions in the condition of the Gospel These two are alwayes joyned together in the Doctrine and way of Salvation Sinners that would enjoy the Salvation of God must as well undo the evil that is past by true Repentance as endeavour to do that which is right for the time that is to come Forgiveness is as freely extended by God as a God of all grace as it was ever declared in the promise or covenant of Gods grace yet t is added only acknowledge thine iniquity And though there be many instances of Gods pardoning grace extended to great sinners yet it is no particular instance of any such act of Grace from God where there was no certain sign of true Repentance David's heart went too intemperately out toward Absalom that he seems resolved to have pardoned him though he had never given any real evidence of sincere Repentance But the pardoning of Fratricide without repentance made him the readier to adventure upon Paricide afterward God seemed as forward and willing to pardon David as ever he did any of the Sons of Men and accepts of as little evidence for Repentance yet that which was was sincere and therefore sufficient David said I have sinned Confession as that was circumstanced implied all the other parts of Repentance And seeing we are apt to sin daily and are directed to pray daily for the pardon of our sins so Repentance is a work it is never out of season while the Children of God carry a body of death along with them He that is wicked already may have daily need to wash his feet Joh. 13.10 Although our persons be already sanctified by the Spirit yet in regard of the remainder of corruption our affections are as apt to be defiled by our converse with the men of the World as are the feet of them that tread upon that Earth They â—hat would be found as a new lump must â—aily be purging out the old leven While we are in the World we shall have occasion of commerce with the Idolatrous Covetous Fornicators of this World or else as the Apostle sayes we must go out of the world for fear of defilement therefore we must daily cleanse our selves in the lavor of Repentance as was the custom of the Jews to wash and be clean as to their outward man after they came from the market If we say we have no sin as the Apostle John sayes we lie and the truth is not in us but if we do sin we have an Advocate with the Father whose blood cleanseth us from all sin and the way to make use thereof is by the exercise of repentance as well as of
Salvation of God When a People so walk as that they can approve themselves to God himself as Abraham I know Abraham that he will not only himself keep the way of the Lord but command his houshold after him to keep the same It may then be expected that God will bring upon them the good which he hath spoken Reas 3. From the consideration of others in the World If such a People that order their wayes aright in their daily walking with God or that so frame their doings as to turn unto the Lord their God if at any time they should humble themselves before him and yet should not see the salvation of God what would the wicked and ungodly of the World say but that it is in vain to serve God And what advantage is there in circumcision and keeping the whole Law of God if they are like to be plagued as other men it will be in vain to alter their course and live otherwayes than formerly they did This were certainly to sin against the generation of the just in the midst of whom God is alwayes wont to be found God will therefore have it known in the world that there is great recompence of reward in keeping the Law of the Lord and that though the righteous scarcely are saved yet saved they shall be whatever become of others Let Balak and Balaam conspire together to enchant the Tents of Israel and lay stumbling blocks before their Feet yet some shall be found in the midst of them so to order their wayes as that they shall be able to save the rest They may else plead with God as Joshuah once did in such an exigent when Israel did not see the salvation of God in a Military expedition And what wilt thou do for thy great Name Josh 7.9 But Joshuah is bidden not to be discouraged let God alone to look after the glory of his own if his People do but look after themselves and order their way aright God will make all the rest of the Nations to behold the glory of his Salvation God is able to exalt the valleys and make the rough places plain The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all Flesh shall see it together Obj. But notwithstanding all these great and glorious things that are spoken of the City of God there lies this great stumbling block in the way of natural men that they never can get over yea which the Saints themselves are oft times at a great set before they can see through it they observe that though those who are called the people of God order their wayes never so right yet they see the salvation of God no more than other men They hear them complain with Asaph Psal 73. Though they cleansed their hearts and washed their hands yet all is in vain they are yet plagued like other men all the day long and chastened every morning And with the Church in Psal 44. We are counted but as sheep for the slaughter yet is not our heart turned back neither have our steps declined from thy way c. and for thy sake are we filled c. Sol. Those that take up Asaphs objection should take along Asaphs and the Churches answer Asaph acknowledges it was his folly and ignorance so to speak Nevertheless I am continually with the thou hast holden me by my right hand thoâ— shalt guid me with thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory It is the end of matter that is the ground of a right judgment thereof Finis coronat opus Joâ— ordered his way aright yet was harrowed with much affliction so may the Church and Poople of God but it is only to prepare the soyle for the receiving the seed of everlasting joy and comfort The People of God are never nearer Salvation than when they are exercised with the greatest sufferings so the eye of sense seems furthest from it so it was with Israel in Egypt they never were more grievously oppressed nor served with more rigor than a little before their deliverance In like manner the sufferings of the Church under Antichrist when they come to the greatest extremity in the three dayes and an half that strages or slaughter immediately proceeds their exaltation into Heaven and that in the sight of their Enemies So immediately after the three â—ayes Pestilence in Davids time the Lord ends out an Inhibition to the Angel that destroyed the People For now David â—nd the people are sufficiently humbled therefore God is willing to be reconciled accept them into terms of favour again and doth also then signally discover the place he had chosen for his Name to reside in It may certainly be said unto every humbled penitent believing person as Christ said to his Disciples they shall see the Kingdom of God and obtain his salvation and if they do not live to see a temporal salvation in this world they shall be sure not to miss of eternal salvation at the last Now let every one chuse what he would have to be saved from the wrath that is to come that shall destroy the world of the ungodly at last or to be saved from trouble and danger here and perish eternally at last But the full answer to all objections of this nature is that according to Gods ordinary providential dispensations God is with his People while they are with him which is a truth confirmed by the experience of all ages and all People for some have observed that the long continued success and prosperity of their heathen Empire of Rome was a reward of their justice temperance and industry So was it in the dayes of David Solomon and other good Kings of Judah But if God should see cause for a time out of his infinite wisdom and soveraignty to change the hands of providence and lay the left hand of favour and prosperity upon the younger less deserving he is a soveraign Ruler and may do what he will with his own he may afflict his people in this life and prosper the wicked for a time for ends best known to himself yet all this while he is near unto his people in all they call upon him for to uphold and preserve them in and carry them through all their sufferings and make them see his eternal salvation at last None of these things sc outward tribulations and crosses moved the Apostle Paul so he might finish his course with joy They need 〈◊〉 not much trouble themselves whatever become of their bodies if they can say with respect to their souls as a Monk said stroking his paunch Modo hic sit bene Or what were a man the better if he could gain the whole world and miss of the salvation of his soul at last If the body be lost destroyed by the elements returned to its first principles or reduced into the minutest Atomes yet all shall be gathered together again and raised up in a state of greater Glory and beauty than ever it was
laid down in 'T was observed that the spirit of Glory rested upon the primitive Martyrs and Confessors so as there enemies were not able to behold the refulgence of them 'T was said of Stephen that they were not able to resist the wisdom and spirit by which he spake and that as he saw heaven opened the Glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God so they saw his face as if it had been the face of an Angel This might be said to be extraordinary But Paul speaking of all Believers declares how they are able to triumph over sin and death and boldly challenge the victory from them all Oh death where is thy sting Oh grave where is thy victory yea he proceeds further Rom. 2.37 Nay in all these we are more than Conquerors A great speech for one that had been so sadly handled by Men and Devils Yet such is the victory of faith whereby Believers are enabled not only to get the victory but even to triumph over all their enemies therefore doth it necessarily follow that through faith which is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen they may be able to see the sight of Gods salvation even then when they pass through the dark vally of the shadow of death The Lord Jesus was never seen more glorious on earth than in that apparrel which was dyed red and stained with the blood of his enemies when he speaks in righteousness mighty to save In like manner the followers of Jesus are also glorious in their apparrel when they are thus clothed with the garments of Salvation and assuredly believe that which ere long they shall certainly enjoy VSE 1. The best of Gods servants in the times of their greatest prosperity are never so far secured from trouble but that they may need salvation All Believers are or may be assured of spiritual salvation they may certainly conclude they shall at the last receive the end of their faith the salvation of their souls but they may often stand in need of temporal salvation David had as great prosperity in his reign as ever any King on earth before him for t is said the Lord preserved him whithersoever he went whence he was too ready to take up this conclusion that he should never be moved That now all his forraign enemies as well as intestine foes being subdued his mountain stood so strong that it could never be shaken But he soon found no small trouble to arise by the hiding of Gods face Psal 30.7 8. For though affliction cometh not forth of the dust as Job speaks neither doth trouble spring out of the ground yet man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward i. e. Troubles come not by chance nor are to be imputed to the miscarriage of secondary causes yet man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward he works himself trouble as easily and ordinarily as if he were born for that end It is as natural for man to breed himself trouble as for sparks to fly upward Weeds grow out of the ground without mens labour or care but mens sins are the meritorious cause deserving and procuring and Gods wisdom and soveraignty are the efficient and inflictive cause of them we bring our selves into troubles but it is God only that can save us out of them God hath the hearts of all men in his hand and turns them as the Rivers of water He can turn them to favour or hate his People as he sees cause The time was when all that David did pleased the people but afterwards the people are displeased with him forsake him and follow Absolom God intended thereby to chasten David and to punish the iniquity of the People that had no better improved the blessing and priviledges of God in the time of Davids reign In Hezekiah time Sennacherib comes up against all the fenced Cities of Judah and takes them and layes siege to Jerusalem it self The Prophet therefore calleth the Assyrian the Rod of God's anger and the staff of his indignation in their hand but when God hath accomplished his work upon mount Sion and Jerusalem for the humbling of his People and pulling down their pride he will then punish the fruit of the stout heart of the King of Assyria and the glory of his high looks He will then call them to account for their proud words and blasphemous speeches God leads his People through various changes and difficult paths sometimes they are made to pass through the water sometimes through the fire they are in danger of being destroyed by either without some special kind of Salvation stretched forth In the dayes of Amos God called somtimes to contend by fire that devoured the great deep and eat up a part as he speaks and somtimes by famine all which bring Jacob low that he is scarce able to arise At another season God suffers the multitude of this nation to gather themselves together against his People for the tryal of their faith and exercise of their graces then the punishing of their sins as in Asa's and Jehosophat's time or rather that there might be a fit occasion to cut off the wicked nations of the world but yet they threaten sorely the Church and People of God that they might learn to put their confidence in him who is the rock of their Salvation There was one season in Solomon's time when Israel was without adversity or evil occurrent Solomon was at that time called of God to attend the building of the Temple and while he was intent upon that work God was pleased to secure him from all outward troubles but after that time God stirred him up many adversaries round about that he was never able to suppress though he might forget that calamity coming upon his family he was neverable by all his wisdom to save himself and them from or in the least prevent So as notwithstanding God may have made a Covenant with his People ordered in all things and sure as to their eternal salvation yet there may be cause for God to visit them with temporal calamities and evils which they know not how to save themselves from So deceitful are the hearts of the best of men and so dangerous are the temptations of the world that God knows not how to trust his People long with much outward prosperity and favour lest they should be ensnared and wax wanton and secure thereby After the return from the captivity when it might have been thought that they had received double for their sin and that therefore now their warefare should be accomplished and that now from that time foreward nothing but the oyl of comfort should be poured into their wounds yet you will find their suffrings were not quite ended many clouds of threatning evil did continually arise which much darkned their hopes of a setled time of tranquility A messenger that came from Judah informs Nehemiah that the remnant of