Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	break_a	contrite_a	heart_n	6,246	5	5.9059	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A44341	Righteousness rained from heaven, or, A serious and seasonable discourse exciting all to an earnest enquiry after and continued waiting for the effusions of the spirit unto a communication and increase of righteousness, that faith, holiness, and obedience may yet abound among us, and the wilderness become a fruitful field / as it was delivered in a sermon preached at Harford Connecticut in New-England, May 10, 1677, being the day of election there by Samuel Hooker.	Hooker, Samuel, 1635?-1697.	1677 (1677)	Wing H2638; ESTC W1119	25,479	34

Mat. 6.33 Blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousnesi for such will be beyond complement and seek in truth 2. Seek seasonably early speedily 2 Cor 6 2 Behold now is the accepted time behold now is the day of salvation to day if you will hear his voice harden not your hearts Lose not you day while God calleth while his spirit moveth while life la●teth while you have liberty means helps and advantages about you before the decree come forth seek righteousness least the Clou●s return after rain least your Sabbaths be again turned into dayes of labour and weatiness hazard and hardship lest instead of the voice of the Turtle you have the noise of War least you come too late to be accepted Numb 14 6 7. The Spirit of God strove earnestly by Ioshua and Caleb to perswade Israel to go forward but in vain for In their frowardness and fit they ●et up their spirits and would not hearken Wherefore in the 28 and 29 verses God giveth forth bis decree As truly as I live saith the Lord as ye have spoken in mine ears so will I do to you your carkases shall fall in the wilderness after this they changed their mind ver 39 40 The People mourned greatly and they rose up early in the morning and gat them up into the top of the mountain saying Lo we be here and we will go up unto the place which the Lord hath promised but their motion take not Though they rose early though they mourned and went up to the mountain Obj. But hath not God said that those that seek him early shall find him Prov. 8.17 A. True but mans early is many times Gods late Prov. 1.28 Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my band and no man regarded but ye have set at nought all my counsel and would none of my reproof I also will laugh at your calamity they shall seek me early but they shall not find me 3. Seek him earnestly Seek first the kingdome of God and his righteousness with that intention and height of desires which becometh the worth excellency and necessity of the thing sought Righteousness is the principal thing life is in it win it and you win all miss it and all is lost O therefore seek importunately not only with your hearts sincerely but with al your hearts strongly Warm your spirits with the consideration forementioned reallize them mix them with faith meditate much on them that you may be suitably raised in your desires and endeavours after righteousness 4. Seek him humbly with a heart broken down and abased in the sence of sin and misery weakness and unworthiness The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart he will not despise Psal 51.17 He forgetteth not the cry of the humble Psal 9.12 but until our fallow ground be broken up it will not be Gods time to come and rain righteousness upon us It behoveth us therefore to remember the Wormwood and the Gall and to have our souls humbled within us to sit alone and put out mouths in the dust if there may be hope for us accepting the punishment of our iniquity for our destruction is of our selves our own sword hath devoured our children we have procured these things unto our selves but our help is not in our own hand Be it that eternal salvation the welfare of our whole man the preservation of the land our lives our little one● our peace our liberty all good depend upon our unfained ●urning to God in Christ and being righteous yet this is wholly beyond our power we have no might for it Turn thou me Jer. 31.18 herein appeareth the ●etchedness of a natural man Should God pass by all former provocations and say to him do but this one thing and all shall be well love the fountain of goodness who is also thy life although nothing can be more rational then this yet he is unto nothing more impotent and averse Rom. 8.7 The carnal mind is enmity unto God is not subject nor can it be Moreover we cannot deserve that God should turn us we are ungodly and enemies as well as without strength Rom. 5.6 10. If therefore after many other judgements which have come upon us for our sins God should now give us up to a blind mind and a hard heart fill us with our own devices leave us to a reprobate sence make the heavens over us to be brass command the clouds that they rain not on us withhold his free spirit send a dry wind not to fan nor to purge but to blast all means making his word and ordinances changes of mercy and affliction to be a savour of death unto death He would be righteou● t is true without righteousness we perish It is as true that nothing but infinite grace working without yea against deserts of ours can make us righteous When therefore we pray for righteousness we may well take Davids words Psal 9 1. Have mercy upon us O God of our righteousness and hear our prayer 5. Seek him believingly with a holy dependance upon the mercy power truth and faithfulness of God in Jesus Christ Remember James His BUT Jam. 1.6 But let him ask in Faith 1. Our sins are indeed many and our iniquities very great but there is merit enough in the blood of Jesus to redeem them from all 1 Joh. 1.7 2. Though all means are of themselves weak and utterly insufficient to subdue our corrupt and rebellious wills yet with the Lord Jehovah there is everlasting strength if he will he can convince enlighten humble perswade sanctifie quicken and enlarge uncontroleably when he will work none can let It is nothing with him to save 2 Chron. 14.11 3 You have the countenance of Gods command to encourage in going to him for righteousness so the Text before us thus Zeph. 2.2 Seek righteousness Mat. 6.33 now let us improve this word not only to awe conscience but to strengthen and annimate faith Mark 10.49 Be of good comfort arise he ca●eth thee 4. You have the shadow of the promise to sit in and wait Luk 11 13. how much more will he give his Spirit to them that a●k him 5. Consider the example of poor needy sinners that have gone before you what happy welcome found Ephraim Jer. 31 19 surely I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised turn thou me and I shall be turned is Ephraim my dear childe It is unto God a most acceptable request to ask of him the rain of righteousness He had rather we should seek him for the meat which endureth to eternal life than for that which perisheth Let it be to him for a name and a praise for ever Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdome and love of God who knowing our frame and how eager we are in our pursuit of inferiour things maketh a bait of them wherewith to draw us

Righteousness Rained from Heaven OR A Serious and Seasonable DISCOURSE Exciting all to an earnest enquiry after and continued waiting for the effusions of the Spirit unto a communication and increase of Righteousness That Faith Holiness and Obedience may yet abound among us and the Wilderness become a fruitful field As it was Delivered in a SERMON Preached at Harford on Connecticut in New-England May 10. 1677. Being the Day of ELECTION there By Mr. Samuel Hooker Pastor of the Church of Christ in Farmington Isai 44. 3 4. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground I will pour my spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine off-spring And they shall spring up as among the grass as willows by the water-courses Psal 80.19 Turn us again O Lord God of Hosts and cause thy face to shine 〈◊〉 shall be saved Lam. 5.21 Turn 〈◊〉 unto thee O Lord and we shall be turned 〈◊〉 our days a● of old Cambridge Printed by Samuel Green 1677. Christian Reader IT is an Observation certain and solemn that Israels Holy one is none in a peculiar manner to bare witness against the wantonness and sins of his Covenant people that have been singularly favoured and priviledged by him Amos 3.2 You only have I known of all the Families of the Earth therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities The disobedient regardless behaviour of his Sons and Daughters carrieth an excess of provocation Deut. 32.19 When the Lord saw it he abhorred them because of the provok●ng of his Sons and of his Daughters In what awful and tremend●us manner the Lo●ds anger hath been of late in special made to appear against his wilderness people is not soon or easily to be forgotten such an Adnersary the worst of the Heathen Ezek. 7.24 bruitish men and skilful to destroy Ezek. 21.31 stirred up against u●● the sword gone through the land and thereby wasting and terror de●●ation and death carried up and down how have the mighty fallen blood and flames abounded unto a fearful consumption in the midst of the earth The Inhabitants of so many Villages made to cease even in Israel and some Candlesticks also removed out of their places Alas for the vineyard that his own right hand hath planted how hath he taken away the hedges thereof t●at the Boar out of the wood sh●uld waste and the wilde Beasts of the F●rrest devour it w● h●v● been delivered to the Sword Cap●ivity and Spoil That the Lord is righteous in all his wayes and holy in all his works is a truth alwayes to be acknowledged however terribld he is in dispensations towards the sons of men Sins more then enough have been found with us to deserve all our sufferings that we sin no more least a worse thing come to us is the duty incumbent and earnestly now called for however ready the Lord our God whose compassions fail not hath shewn himself in wrath to remember mercy and repent him of the evil yet will our impeni●ency if still continu●d without fail make him weary of repenting Sin not forsaken we may expect will be followed with a renewal and increase of judgement for all this his anger is not turned away but his hand stretched out still for the people tu●neth not to him that smiteth them c. Isai 9.12 13. He hath further sorer punishments to inflict on a people that by a progress in sin carry on the provocation Lev 26.16 c. for certain our s●ff●rings will be greatned if our sins be not lessened the former will rise unless the latter fall nor will any thing herein suffice short of a through work shew will not nor is it meet they should be accepted without the inside Spirit and life of conversion It is laid to Judahs charge as no little evil that sh● turned not with her whole heart but feignedly Jer. 3.10 when heart circumcision becomes generally wanting among a professing people they may look for woe Jer. 9.25 26. And yet nothing less then an almighty power can perform the thing that is needful for us herein means have not been wanting what could have been done more word and work Law and Gospel Mercies and Judgements abundantly improved to how little purpose and prevalenc● with many very many the observing eye may lawfully discover our help and hope is in heav●n heart-su●ng thither for his salvation is eminently the work before us and therein Solomons great request in behalf of the congregation of Israel is exceedingly suited to our condition 1 King 8.57 58 The Lord our God be with us as he was with our Fathers let him not leave us nor forsake u● tha●●e may incline our hearts unto him to walk in all his wayes and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgements which he commanded our Fathers protection all would have but conversion we must want may this be New-Englands mercy we shall live the heart-inclining presence of the God of our Fathers g●anted and continued to us his Spirit poured out on the seed of his people and his blessing upon their off-spring that as we are through grace the seed of the blessed of the Lord we may also be a seed which the Lord hath blessed This is of all the mercies we want the most needful weighty and desirable and accordingly with utmost care fear and faithfulness to be groaned after and waited for To awaken excite and encourage to this so necessary a work is the designe of the Treatise following the solemnity of the truth it self therein insisted on our concernment in it with its peculiar seasonableness give it abundant commendation The judicious Author was by a compassionate hand towards us pointed to this Subject and with an eminent assistance some circumstances attending him in special considered carried out in the handling of it to the great satisfaction of them that heard him That it may be not acceptable only but sanctified and made effectually successful to the attainment of the end therein aimed at by a blessing from heaven powerfully accompanying it to the minds and hearts of them that reade it as it is here after some considerable throws of difficulty delivered to a more publick view is the hearts desire and prayer of him who is Thine sincerely in our blessed Saviour John Whiting HOSEA 10.12 For it is time to seek Jehovah until he come and rain righteousness upon you IN the Words foregoing the Prophet giveth Israel a discovery of the uncomfortable tearms on which they stood at this time with God they had been disobedient and undutiful in their behaviour as appeareth in the 1 2 3 4 and 5th verses he was grieved and angry with them as in the tenth It is in my heart to chastise them The way by which he was minded to do this was the Inrode of the Heathen And the People shall be gathered against them The God of Israel is the Lord of Hosts He doth according to his will in the

5 When Israel had forsaken the t●ue God there was no peace to him that went out nor to him that came in but great vexations were upon all the Inhabitants of the countries and Nation was destroyed of Nation and City of City for God did vex them with all adversity If God will vex a people they shall be vexed They therefore that vex his Holy Spirit shall have trouble enough He can create darkness and evil for them but if a peoples wayes please the Lord he maketh even their enemies t● be at peace with them Prov. 16.7 There are two happy effects of the rain mentioned Psal 69.9 10. It settleth the Earth and inricheth the land both these are eminently true of this spiritual rain Isai 33.6 and wisdome and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times and the fear of the Lord his treasure O how would a soaking shower of righteousness settle our shaking times repair our losses and restore the years which the Caterpillars the Sword and the Mildew have taken from us This would establish Sion and make it a praise in the earth We need not than fear our enemies God would soon subdue them this would also mend out peace one with another Unrighteousness maketh a c●●● Isai 5.7 He looked for judgement and behold oppression for righteousness but behold a cry the less righteousness the more complaining there will be in likelihood among us and until we can obey the truth in doing right each to other is it to be expected that contention will cease Rom. 2.8 To them that are contentious and obey not the truth indignation and wrath Reas 2. Because it is Gods prerogative to help in this case Jer. 14.22 None of the gods of the Heathen can cause this rain neither can the Heavens give it Art not thou Hee O Lord our God therefore we will wait on thee Job 37.16 Doest thou know the ballancings of the Clouds the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge Godliness is a great mystery 1 Tim. 3 18 the foundation of it is laid in hidden wisdome 1 Cor. 2 7. how great and costly a work is it to make a generation of s●nners righteous It is far easier to call in the treasures of the snow dissolve the ice and renew the face of the earth then to make judgement dwell in the wilderness and righteousness remain in the fruitful field The d●ffi●ulties which lye in the way of it taken from the strength of the law and divine revenging justice the subtilty power and rage of the Apostate Angels the word less strengthless dead estate in sins and trespasses in which we all lie naturally are even to amazement Hence until infinite power set a work by free grace influenced with the merit of the precious blood and obedience of the Son of God steppeth in it will not be done A masse of miracles meet together in it The blind is made to see the deaf to hear the leper is cleansed and the dead quickened Eph 2.1 2. 1 19 20. He that raised up the World out of nothing by the word of his power must create it or it will not be you are his workmansh●p created in Christ Jesus unto good works Eph. 2.10 Isai 45.10 It is in the day of Gods power that sinners are made willing to turn to Jesus Christ Psal 110.3 and until that day cometh Paul Apollos and Cephas are nothing Changes of men and gifts avail not Jer. 7 25. Since the day that your fathers came out of Egypt unto this day I have sent unto you all my servants the Prophet rising early and sending yet they hearkened not unto me nor inclined their ears 2. Mercies melt not Let favour be shewed to the wicked yet will he not learn righteousness ●hat could have been more in this way then was done to Jeseron Deut 32.15 but he grew worse under all 3. Corrections amend not Jer. 5.3 O Lord thou hast smitten them but they have not grieved thou hast consumed them but they have refused to receive correction Dan 9 13 all this is come upon us but we have not made our Prayer before the Lord our God that we might turn from our iniquities their captivity was almost ended but the work of righteousness and reformation needed to be begun 3. Because the way which God in his wisdome and good pleasure hath appointed for us to obtain his helping hand in this weighty case is to seek him Mat 7.7 Ask and have seek and find Zech 10.1 Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain so the Lord shall make bright Clouds and give them showers of rain But he will be enquired of by the house of Israel to do this for them Ezek 36 37 1 Not that God needeth to be told our indigent state no he knoweth us quite thorow and round about Psal 139.1 2 4.7 2 Or that he is slow to help No he is very pittiful and of tender mercy James 5.11 ready to save Isai 38 20. 3 Or that we can merit any good by our seeking and striving Rom 9 16 It is not of him that willeth or of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy 4 But he is minded that we in the sence of our own weakness should acknowledge him in all our wayes and be trained up in a constant dependance upon him Prov 3 5 6. 5 This honour also he is willing to put upon man to imploy and improve him as far as may be in working out his own welfare Phil 2 12 13. The Use that we should make of what hath been said is to Exhort and Perswade us to take the counsel given in the Text Seek we Jehovah until be come and rain righteousness upon us Till he make us a religious godly righteous people That he would not only continu● but powerfully influence the means of grace by his good spirit for the turning of our hearts unto himself that we may be a God-omnifying Christ-admiring Sin-hating Self-denying World-despising People That the Vine brought from far and planted here may still retain its ancient Nobility even the same Spirit of Holiness which came after God into this Wilderness when it was a land not sow●n That we lose not our first love our first heavenly-mindedness our first purity our first peaceableness humility and seriousness but may grow up in godliness and honesty as those to whom the Gospel hath come not in word only but in power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance That we may not only name the name of Jesus but depart from all iniquity and converse as becometh the Gospel The Lord God of our Fathers even the God of all grace say so too Seek him O seek him that it may be thus To perswade to this 1 Consider whether it be not time to seek him on this account this argument is urged by the Prophet in the Text doth not the season ca●l aloud what think you is it not time to

the Lord smite thy People and thy Children and thy Wives and all thy Goods and thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day 3. If God rain not righteousness on you it may be expected that he will rain something else Se●k this gentle rain that the storm of his wrath fall not on you Psal 11. Vpon the wicked be shall rain Snares Fire Brimsione and an horrible tempest this shall be the portion of their cup. 4. Weigh the advantage that cometh by righteousness that is much every way Godliness is profitable for all 1 Tim 4.8 having the promises of this life and that which is to come it will stand you instead while you live when you dye and to eternity 1. While you liv● Mat 6.33 First seek the Kingdome of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added If God give you righteousness he will give you all Rom. 8 32. Psal 37.27 Depart from evil and do good and dwell for evermore i. e. live as long as life is good God doth not grudge but delight in the prosperity of the righteous Psal 35.27 2. When ye dye the sting of death is sia when that is out there is no danger Hence Righteousness delivereth from death the death of the righteous is scarce worthy the name of Death Psal 22.26 they shall praise the Lord that se●k him your heart shall live for ever Death though a● enemy to nature shall thorough grace in Jesus Christ do them no harm but further their good and welfare lifting them home to their Fathers house where there is fulness of joy and pleasure for evermore Rev. 14 13. Blessed are the dead which dy in the Lord that they may rest from their labours and their work● follow them 3. Righteousness is profitable to eternity Mat. 25.46 These shall go into everlasting punishmen● but the righteo●● into life eternal God will never a done shewing kindness to the godly man How many are the good wayes and the comfortable words which he hath spoken concerning such 1. He loveth them dearly and that the world shall know before all be done Ioh. 17.23 That the world may know that thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me he loveth to see their faces and hear their voice Cant. 2.14 when he speaketh of righteous Noah how doth he repeat his Name over and over as if it were sweet to him and he loved to have it in his mouth Gen. 6.8 9. Noah was a just man and perfect in his generation and Noah walked with God and Noah c. why might not once naming of Noah have served thorough that short discourse but to declare that his name is sweet Noah Noah O Noah I love Noah Noah is a godly man a good holy man God hath set apart him that is godly for himself Psal 4.3 when he mak●th up his Jewels men shall return and see a difference Mal. 3.17 18. 2. God will bless them greatly Psal 5.12 For thou Lord wilt bless the righteous with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield 1. He will take care of their persons Psal 121.7 8. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil he shall preserve thy soul the Lord shall preserve thy going ou● and thy coming in from this time forth and even for evermore 2. He will bless their substance The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked but he blesseth the habitation of the just Prov. 3.33 A little that a righteous man hath is better then the riches of many wicked Psal 37.16 3. He will not forget their names Psal 112.6 The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance 4. He will show kindness to their relations also Psal 128.2 3 4. Bless●d is every one that feareth the Lord it shall be well with the● thy wife shall be as a fruitful nine thy children like olive plants the seed of the righteous shall be delivered Prov. 11.21 The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that f●a him and his righteousness unto childrens children 5. He will shine on their endeavours Psal 1.3 All that be doth shall prosper but one sinner destroyed much good wicked Abah having a share in Ichosaphats ships spoiled the voyage 1 King 22 48 49. 6. He will make them blessings Gen. 12.2 I will bless thee and thou shalt he a blessing If you be righteous many shall be the better for you your counsel your company you example will now be all precious your tongues shall be as choice silver and your lips feed many Prov. 10.20 21. your prayers will avail very much Iam. 5.16 your fellowship will now be desirable a godly man is a companion for a Prince Psal 119.63 I am saith King David a companion of all them that fear thee and of them that keep thy precepts and good reason for their fellowship is with the Father and the Son 1 Joh. 1.3 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous but with Kings are they on the throne Job 36.7 moreover righteousness will advantage you for places and imployment of trust Neh 7.2 I gave my Brother Hanani charge over Ierusalem for be was a faithful man and feared God above many The integrity of Davids heart did greatly meliorate the skilfulness of his band and was the main thing in Gods eye when he took him from the sheep-folds to be King in Israel 1 Sam 16 7. In a word the only true foundation of universal blessedness is laid in righteousness Prov. 10.25 As the whirl wind passeth so is the wicked no more but the righteous is an everlasting foundation 5 Consider the sweet and inviting terms on which God standeth with us in this matter Mat. 7.7 Ask and have Jam 1.5 If any man lack w●sdom l●t him ask it of God who giveth● be●all to to all and it shall be given him Luk. 11 13. How much more shall your heavenly Father give his Holy Spirit to those that ask Quest But how may we so seek God as to find him and a supply of righteousnes● from him Answ 1. Seek him heartily and sincerely Isai 26 9. With my soul have I desired thee in the night season with my spirit within me will I seek thee Jer 29.3 And ye shall seek me and find me when you shall search for me withal your heart God will not be mocked in any case much less in this which is of such high importance It was Israels folly of old Psal 78.36.37 when he slew them thou they sought him they enquired early after God nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth they lyed unto him with their tongues take we heed least we fail here It is time to make righteousness our design to Preach for this Pray for this Hear for this sincerely heartily least while in shew we seek ●his but with our hearts go after other things we lose this and other things too

to him for such as are infinitely better even his Kingdome and Righteousnes● Mat. 6.33 6. Seek him unanimously The stress lieth here therefore lift together We in New-England are a poor and an afflicted people It is not for us to rejoice with other Nations in our number or our strength but that mattereth not if God be with us we shall do well enough notwithstanding our poverty our littleness and mean outward estate Past experience proclaimeth it that our hazard lieth not in these things If the mun●tion of Rocks be our defence we are safe Can we desire greater serenity peace and safety then we have injoyed in years past Jeko●ab● arm is not shortened there is no shadow of turning with him If we be righteous he will love us and we shall dwell safely by his side If any thing undoe us it will be sin our unrighteousness our want of the fear of God our want of love to Jesus Christ our forsaking the fountain of living waters our undutiful and provoking carringe to the Angel that leadeth us by the way but if righteousness be rained on us all will be well It is enough O therefore let every one put in for that with all the strength he can make 1. Fathers Ancient Christians yee have been at the beginning of the work of God in this Country and you are greatly concerned in the progress of it lose not the things ye have wrought for which ye have prayed and wept and travel'ed and ventured so much you have in some measure experienced the worth of Righteousness labour as for life that it may live when you are dead your Glass is even out you are almost at home strengthen the feeble knees brighten your example shine in the fear of God let not your sun go down in a cloud your prayers avail very much O sp●ak yet again unto God for this poor land in which you so journe least he bring evil upon it by slaying your Sons 2. Young men ye are strong let not sin overcome you consider the price that is in your hands Religion priviledged as sometimes it hath been and thorough grace still is in this Land is a costly Legacy take heed you do not forfeit it let not the fear of God dye as long as you live shall it be said in time to come that godliness dwelt in the land until you arose but then failed shall this ruine be under your hand O seek the Lord till be come and rain righteousness on you 3. Ye Masters of Families will not you and your houses serve the Lord surely it is time for you to seek him also The fcundation of all societies is laid in families you therefore who are Leaders in them and have the first seasoning of young ones had need look to your selves If the Foundations be destroyed what can the righteous do If the Springs be corrupt what will the Streams be consider the grea● t●ust which God hath committed to you and command your children and Houshold after you to keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgement that the Lord may bring upon them that which he hath spoken of the righteous see that your example be good that those who come after you and tread in your steps may walk safely Let not your vain conversation be a stumbling-block in the way to Heaven least your children rise up and call you cursed at the last for the irreligion and prophaness which you have taught them 4. Ye house of Aaron this matter belongeth in a special manner unto you Ye are the Lords Ministers O weep betwixt the Porch and the Altar and say Rain down Righteousness on thy People Lord and give not thine Heritage to reproach wherefore should the Heathen say where is their God It is your Office to teach Jacob Gods Judgements and Israel his Law Take beed therefore to the Ministry which ye have received in the Lord that ye fulfil it Preach Righteousness ●o your Congregations plainly declare and powerfully p●ess that Grace of God which bringeth Salvation Make it your work to watch for Souls as those that must give an account Be instant in season and out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine Soke your Sermons in prayer print them in your practise and conversation Follow the example of the Baptist who was the voice of one crying in the wilderness Joh. 1.23 all voice his word and his works his language and his life spake this make strait the way of the Lord go ye and do likewise 5. Ye also who are Judges in the Land the Lord make you higher then the rest of the people from the shoulders and upward in wisdome and holiness the Lord give you an open mouth for righteousness Prov. 31.8 9. Let your eyes be upon the righteous in the Land to encourage them promote Religion bear up against sin suppress iniquity put life into your wholsome Laws by vigorour execution thus do in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart Be it that the Battel is against you before and behind yet be of good courage and play the men for your people and for the Cities of our God and the Lord do what seemeth him good 7. Seek him perseveringly minde the language of the Text Seek the Lord until be come then shall we know if ye follow on to know the Lord Hos 6.2 pray alwayes with this prayer and do not faint Luk. 18.1 ye therefore which make mention of the name of the Lord give him no rest till he ●a●● down righteousness on the land To Conclude Seek God by all means in all his own wayes 1. Maintain a high esteem of the Word and ●rdinances of God wo be to you if your souls loathe the Manna or call it a light food 2 Take heed you be not overcharged with the love of the world and the cares of this life these ●ho●k the Word Be cloathed with the Sun and let the Moon be under your feet 3. Study the method of conversion held forth in the Word and fall in with the good spirit of God breathing in the same to the wonderment of men and Angels life and immortality are come to light thorough the Gospel There is a sure way to save sinners opened thorough Jesus Christ admire it study it labour to know it set your hearts to it and follow it let wisdome enter and understanding be pleasant love the light but on a humble teachable frame of spirit entertain conviction kindly Be content to know the worst of sin look upon it in that peculiar direct opposition in which it standeth to the wisdome and goodness authority and holiness of God in the command see it in its sad effects the end of these things is death Behold it thorough the bloody glass of Christs sufferings look on it from a death-bed and as it will look on you at the last Give that honour to God to believe that he hath good reason for all that he hath said against sin in his word concluding that at length sin will prove to be as he hath spoken and if God and you can be of one mind about sin the great difficulty is over Fall in love with Jesus Christ let him have a name in your hearts above every name that is named in this world or that which is to come Cant. 5.10 16. Hate all the pleasures of sin let all external priviledges personal performances and worldly imployments be dung and dross in comparison of winning him and being found of God in him Do duty with conscien●ious care and diligence but say not to the works of your own hands Ye are our Gods Go not about to establish a righteousness of your own but submit your selves to the righteousness of God Abraham found by experience that the Hand-maid taken into Sarahs place brought with her great v●xation insomuch that at length he was put upon it to cast her and her Son quite out of doors But least I be tedious let me shut up all with this word Be not discouraged To the Lord belongeth righteousness and salvation although to us confusion of face The residue of the spirit is with him who knoweth but he may return and make his work appear to his servants and his glory to their children Jerusalem was greatly fallen Isai 1.21 when of a faithful City she was become a Harlot and from being full of righteousness and judgement to be full of Murtherers But God lifted her up again Jer. 31.23 Thus saith the Lord of Hosts the God of Israel as yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the Cities thereof The Lord bless thee O habitation of justice and mountain of holiness He can strengthen the things that remain which are ready to dye There was a time mentioned Mark 9.14 15. in which Christ being withdrawn to the mount his Disciples were hard put to it below The poor man brought to them his Son which had a dumb Spirit but they could not cast him out at length Jesus came down took to himself his mighty power rebuked the fool Spirit healed the Child● comforted the Father and sent the multitude away am●z●● and wond●ing at all the things which he did Truly we have 〈◊〉 time wherein to experience the naughtiness of our own hea●●● how bent we are to backslide and go off from God as also 〈◊〉 ●akeness and utter insufficiency of all means in themselves ●●●dered to keep vs with God or reduce us to him when tur●●●●●●y●● But it may be Christ will shortly come down and then 〈◊〉 ●●ll ●●mended Jer. 17 14. Save as O Lord and we shall be 〈◊〉 heal us and we shall be healed for thou art our praise ●●●er us seek him therefore till he come for he loveth Righteousness and hath not forsaken them that seek him FINIS