who now rejoice in my Sufferings for you and fill up that which is behind of the Afflictions of Christ in my Flesh for his Body's sake which is the Church Col. 1. 23. To suffer for the Truth ought to be the Joy and Comfort of him that has undertaken to be the Minister of Truth How much then do they forget their Vocation who upon meeting with Discouragements lose all Comfort and repent of their Labor Whom we preach warning every Man and teaching every Man in all Wisdom that we may present every Man perfect in Christ Jesus Col. 1. 28. The only design of an Apostolic Teacher is to form Jesus in every one of his Flock and to make all perfect in him Say to Archippus take heed to the Ministry which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fulfil it Col. 4. 17. They who consider not well the Duties of their Charge will soon neglect them Fulfil the Duties of the Ministry of Jesus Christ What Pastor do's not tremble at this Word Your selves Brethren know our Entrance in unto you that it was not in vain But even after that we had suffered before and were shamefully entreated as ye know at Philippi we were bold in our God to speak unto you the Gospel of God with much Contention For our Exhortation was not of Deceit nor of Vncleanness nor in Guile But as we were allowed of God to be put in Trust with the Gospel even so we speak not as pleasing Men but God which trieth our Hearts For neither at any time used we flattering Words as ye know nor a Cloak of Covetousness God is Witness Nor of Men sought we Glory neither of you nor yet of others when we might have been burdensome as the Apostles of Christ But we were Gentle among you even as a Nurse cherisheth her Children So being affectionately desirous of you we were willing to have imparted unto you not the Gospel of God only but also our own Souls because ye were dear unto us For ye remember Brethren our Labor and Travel For laboring Night and Day because we would not be chargeable unto any of you we preached unto you the Gospel of God Ye are Witnesses and God also how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved our selves among you that believe as you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a Father doth his Children that ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his Kingdom and Glory 1 Thess 2. 1. Every Word a Lesson to Preachers What a Mercy to the World if they would study and follow this Spirit Be not thou therefore ashamed of the Testimony of our Lord nor of me his Prisoner but be thou Partaker of the Afflictions of the Gospel according to the Power of God 2 Tim. 1. 8. Great Courage is necessary for standing by the Truth and the Ministers of it Hold fast the form of sound Words which thou hast heard of me in Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us 2 Tim. 1. 13. Great Fidelity requir'd of the Pastors of God's Church The Holy Ghost promis'd to them for this end Thou therefore endure Hardness as a good Soldier of Jesus Christ No Man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this Life 2 Tim. 2. 3. I suffer trouble as an evil Doer even unto Bonds but the Word of God is not bound Therefore I endure all things for the Elects sake v. 9. To suffer with Courage all Difficulties is the Obligation of a Pastor And if he suffer as a Criminal as this is most humbling so it brings him nearer to the Resemblance of Jesus Christ They are of the World therefore speak they of the World and the World heareth them 1 Jo. 4. 5. Unhappy Teachers whose Character this is CHAP. XXXVI Of the Flock Q. WHat Directions do's the Gospel give to the Flock in Regard of those whom God has put over them A. It speaks very particularly to them but that I may end this last Chapter with such Instructions as the Gospel gives I will first set down some Injunctions of God in the Old Law which as it was a Figure of the New so it may lead us to such Duties as God expects from the Flock in this better Constitution which is the Church of Christ And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian Woman whom he had married And they said hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses Hath he not spoken also by us And the Lord heard it Wherefore then were not ye afraid to speak against my Servant Moses And the Anger of the Lord was kindled against them and he departed Num. 12. 1 8. God shews his displeasure against those who murmur at such as he has set over them And all the Children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron And the Lord said unto Moses How long will this People provoke me Surely they shall not see the Land which I sware unto their Fathers neither shall any of them that provoked me see it Num. 14. 2 11 23. Great are the Judgments of God upon those who murmur against such as are over them Now Korah and Dathan and Abiram took men and they rose up before Moses with certain of the Children of Israel two hundred and fifty Princes of the assembly famous in the Congregation Men of renown And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said unto them Ye take too much upon you seeing all the Congregation are holy every one of them and the Lord is among them Wherefore then lift you up your selves above the Congregation of the Lord And when Moses heard it he fell upon his Face And he spake unto the Congregation saying Depart I pray you from tbe Tents of these wicked Men and touch nothing of theirs lest ye be consumed in all their Sins And the Earth opened her Mouth and swallowed them up and their Houses and all the Men that appertained unto Korah and all their goods And there came out a fire from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty Men that offered Incense Num. 16. 1 26 32 35. The Congregation being holy Exempts them not from their Obedience enjoin'd The Authority of Princes of the Congregation Men Famous and of Renown is not enough for questioning the Authority of Moses and Aaron whom God had commanded all to hear and obey Their offering Incense to God is not accepted while divided from Moses and Aaron they are under the guilt of Disobedience Thou shalt come unto the Priests the Levites and unto the Judge that shall be in those days and enquire and they shall shew thee the Sentence of Judgment And thou shalt do according to the Sentence which they of that place which the Lord shall chuse shall shew thee and thou shalt observe to do according to all that
need of repeating it Let all then who engage in this State remember the Charge here given and distinguish themselves from Heathens by endeavoring to be punctual in it The State is what God has ordain'd for the Propagation of Mankind and filling up the Number of the Elect. Thus it becomes sanctified to the Faithful and ought to be undertaken not in the Spirit of Brutes or of the World but in the Fear of God and the Spirit of true Holiness so as to hope for the Blessing of a manifold Grace such as may be necessary for satisfying all the Obligations belonging to their State For a help in this I wish they would often read what the Word of God here speaks to them that so being frequently reminded of their Duty they may be solicitous in complying with it In undertaking this State they have undertaken these Obligations and if they are not careful in satisfying them they are faithless and unjust and what then will it avail them to be just in other Duties if they are unjust in these which are annext to their State Custom may seem to lessen the Guilt but this is a Snare for such as are willing to be deceiv'd for certainly it cannot be a Lessening but an Aggravation of Sin to live always in it CHAP. XXIII Of Widows Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as to this State A. It speaks very particularly of it There was one Anna a Prophetess the Daughter of Phanuel of the Tribe of Aser she was of a great age and had lived with an Husband seven Years from her Virginity And she was a Widow of about fourscore and four Years which departed not from the Temple but served God with Fastings and Prayer Night and Day Luke 2. 36. I say to the Vnmarried and Widows 〈…〉 for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain let them marry for it is better to marry than to burn But as God hath distributed to every Man as the Lord hath called every one so let him walk and so ordain I in all the Churches 1 Cor. 7. 8 17. The unmarried Woman careth for the things of the Lord that she may be holy both in Body and in Spirit but she that is married careth for the things of the World how she may please her Husband And this I speak for your own Profit not that I may cast a Snare upon you but for that which is comely and that you may attend upon the Lord without Distraction The Wife is bound by the Law as long as her Husband liveth but if her Husband be dead she is at liberty to be married to whom she will only in the Lord. But she is happier if she so abide after my Judgment and I think also that I have the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 7. 34 39. Honor Widows that are Widows indeed But if any Widow have Children or Nephews let them learn first to shew Piety at home and to requite their Parents for that is good and acceptable before God Now she that is a Widow indeed and desolate trusteth in God and continueth in Supplications and Prayers night and day But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth And these things give in charge that they may be blameless But if any provide not for his own and especially for those of his own House he hath denied the Faith and is worse than an Infidel Let not a Widow be taken into the number under Threescore Years old having been the Wife of one Man well reported of for good Works if she have brought up Children if she have lodged Strangers if she have washed the Saints Feet if she have relieved the Afflicted if she have diligently followed every good Work But the younger Widows refuse for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ they will marry having Damnation because they have cast off their first Faith And withal they learn to be idle wandering about from House to House and not only idle but Tattlers also and Busie-bodies speaking things which they ought not I will therefore that the younger Women marry bear Children guide the House give none Occasion to the Adversary to speak reproachfully for some are already turned aside after Satan If any Man or Woman that believeth have Widows let them relieve them and let not the Church be charged that it may relieve them that are Widows indeed 1 Tim. 5. 3. Thus speaks the Rule to Persons of this State plainly shewing what are the Advantages to be made of it and what the Exercises by which they may recommend themselves to the Favor of Heaven Such then as desire the Comforts of his Protection who reckons Widows a particular part of his Care may here see how they may be of this number since they have him for their Informer who offers his Help Thus then they may be Happy and even Gainers by their Loss in the tender Offers of a Heavenly Father But if they look not for this Privilege but still have their Hearts full of the World and still follow its Ways they have the Name of Widows but are not Widows indeed they seek Earthly Comforts and such they may have CHAP. XXIV Of Parents Q. WHAT Direction do's the Gospel give to Parents A. He that loveth Son or Daughter more than me is not worthy of me Matth. 10. 37. Their Love then ought to be prudent and moderate Then came to him the Mother of Zebedee's Children with her Sons worshipping him and desiring a certain thing of him And he said unto her What wilt thou She saith unto him Grant that thâ—se my two Sons may sit the one on thy Right Hand and the other on the Left in thy Kingdom But Jesus answered and said Ye know not what ye ask Are ye able to drink of the Cup that I shall drink of Mat. 20. 20. Ambition is to be avoided in the disposing of Children and in seeking Preferment for them Due Care is to be us'd in teaching them to do the Will of God and embrace his Appointments When the Days of her Purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished they brought him the Infant Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord Luke 1. 22. A good Practice of Parents to offer their Children daily to God for obtaining his Grace and Protection upon them And they sought him among their Kinsfolk and Acquaintance And when they found him not they turned back again to Jerusalem seeking him Luke 2. 44. It is the Parents Care to seek their Children and to omit no Industry in regaining them when they are lost How often is it necessary to follow them amongst their Relations and Acquaintance and to observe their ways He arose and came to his Father But when he was yet a great way off his Father saw him and had Compassion and ran and fell on his Neck and kissed him And the Son said unto him Father I have sinned against Heaven and in thy
worthily the Word of God 4. Suppress corrupt Discourse 5. Subdue their own Passions and follow the Spirit of the new Man 6. Decline impertinent Contentions 7. Be Meek to all and ready to give their Help 8. Be moderate in Reproving and Arguing Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them and that from a Child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee Wise unto Salvation thro' Faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrin for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good Works 2 Tim. 3. 14. They are to be stedfast in Faith knowing in the Holy Scriptures make use of these for the Conduct of themselves for instructing correcting and leading others in Ways of Piety and Justice I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the Quick and the Dead at his appearing and his Kingdom Preach the Word be instant in Season out of Season reprove rebuke exhort with all Long-suffering and Doctrin For the time will come when they will not endure sound Doctrin but after their own Lusts shall they heap to themselves Teachers having itching Ears And they shall turn away their Ears from the Truth and shall be turned unto Fables But watch thou in all things endure Afflictions do the Work of an Evangelist make full proof of thy Ministry 2 Tim. 4. 1. They are to employ their Preaching Reproof Prayer Threats and Patience for the Salvation of their Flock They are to be Watchful bear patiently the Troubles of their Ministry and by discharging all Duties fully satisfie it For this Cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in Order the things that are wanting and ordain Elders in every City as I had appointed thee If any be Blameless the Husband of one Wife having faithful Children not accused of Riot or Vnruly For a Bishop must be Blameless as the Steward of God not Self-willed not soon Angry not given to Wine no Striker not given to filthy Lucre but a Lover of Hospitality a Lover of good Men Sober Just Holy Temperate holding fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound Doctrin both to exhort and to convince the Gainsayers Tit. 1. 5. Qualifications of such as undertake this Charge These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all Authority Let no Man despise thee Tit. 2. 15. They are to exhort and reprove as having Authority Their Conduct ought to be such as to be despis'd by none Avoid foolish Questions and Genealogies and Contentions and Strivings about the Law for they are unprofitable and vain A Man that is an Heretick after the first and second Admonition reject Knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself Tit. 3. 9. They are to decline unprofitable Disputes and declar'd Hereticks The Elders which are among you I exhort who am also an Elder and a Witness of the Sufferings of Christ and also a Partaker of the Glory that shall be revealed Feed the Flock of God which is among you taking the Oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy Lucre but of a ready Mind neither as being Lords over God's Heritage but being Ensamples to the Flock And when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall reeeive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5. 1. The true Shepherds not for their own Interest but for the Good of the Flock watch over it they lead it without lording it and are themselves an Example to it Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die For I have not found thy Works perfect before God Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent If therefore thou shalt not watch I will come on thee as a Thief Revel 3. 2. Thus speaks the chief Shepherd to all those who under him have taken upon them the Care of his Flock and from whom should they learn the Obligations of their Charge but from him Happy they who give ear to him §. II. As to Teaching the Flock Jesus came and spake unto them saying All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you And lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the world Mat. 28. 19. The Commission for teaching and preaching Christ must be from Christ and no other Confidence of teaching Truth but from him As ye go preach saying The Kingdom of heaven is at Hand Heal the Sick cleanse the Lepers raise the Dead cast out Devils freely ye have received freely give Mat. 10. 7. They are to be dis-interessed Do all good and not look for a Reward from Man but from God He that heareth you heareth me And he that despiseth you despiseth me And he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me Luk. 10. 16. Christ speaks to his Flock by those whom he has set over it and appointed to teach Christ is injur'd in the contempt of them In the day-time he was teaching in the Temple and at night he went out and abode in the Mount that is called the Mount of Olives Luk. 21. 37. They who teach others are to have their time of frequent Retreat from the World I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive Jo. 14. 16. When the Spirit of Truth is come he will guide you into all Truth Jo. 16. 13. No Security of Truth from Learning but from the Spirit of God What Gratitude due from the Flock to God whilst those who were to Teach it were to be led by this Spirit Then the Twelve called the multitude of the Disciples unto them and said It is not reason that we should leave the Word of God and serve Tables Act. 6. 2. To be engag'd in temporal Affairs is a hindrance to those who are to Teach When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small Dissension and Disputation with them they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders about this question Act. 15. 2. And the Apostles and Elders came together for to consider of this matter V. 6. When Questions arise they are not determin'd by Paul and Barnabas but are referr'd to the Apostles and Elders of the Church who assemble and consider of it Then pleased it the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church to send chosen Men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas and
him not having mine own righteousness which is of the law but that which is thro' the Faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by Faith that I may know him and the power of his Resurrection and the fellowship of his Sufferings being made conformable unto his death Phil. 3. 7. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ Shall tribulation or distress I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord Rom. 8. 35 38. For me to live is Christ and to die is gain Phil. 1. 21. I have learned in whatever state I am therewith to be content Phil. 4. 11. Seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Set your affection on things above not on things on the earth For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3. 1 2 3. These are some amongst infinite other Directions which the Gospel gives for regulating of the Inward Man Were they prescribed to the Apostles only or to some Particular Persons or States there might be a just excuse for such as observe them not but being writ to the Faithful of all States and Conditions they are to be observ'd by all that believe in Christ And in this may Christians make the truest Judgment of the state of their Souls For if this be prescrib'd to all all are bound to labor in bringing their Souls to this happy disposition and they who are not solicitous in this whatever their Faith be have not the Spirit of a true Disciple CHAP. IX Of loving our Neighbor Q. WHAT directions do's the Gospel give as to the Love of our Neighbor A. Such as are very particular and strict in the Charge Hear some of them Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart Thou shalt love thy Neighbor as thy self On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets Mat. 22. 37 39 40. A new Commandment I give unto you That ye love one another as I have loved you that ye also love one another By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another Jo. 13. 34 35. These things I command you that ye love one another Jo. 15. 17. This is my commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you Ye are my Friends if ye do whatsoever I command you Jo. 15. 12 14. Let love be without dissimulation Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love in honor preferring one another Rom. 12. 9 10. By love serve one another for all the law is fulfilled in one word even in this Thou shalt love thy Neighbor as thy self But if ye bite and devour one another take heed that ye be not consum'd one of another Gal. 5. 13 14 15. Owe no man any thing but to love one another For he that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law For this thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not kill Thou shall not steal Thou shalt not bear false witness Thou shalt not covet and if there be any other Commandment it is briefly comprehended in this saying namely Thou shalt love thy Neighbor as thy self Love worketh no ill to his Neighbor therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13. 8 9 10. As touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you for ye your selves are taught of God to love one another And indeed ye do it towards all the brethren which are in Macedonia But we beseech you brethren that ye increase more and more and that ye study to be quiet 1 Thes 4. 9 10 11. Above all things have fervent Charity among your selves For Charity shall cover the multitude of sins 1 Pet. 4. 8. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light and there is none occasion of stumbling in him But he that hateth his brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness 1 Jo. 2. 10. Whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his brother 1 Jo. 3. 10. We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren he that loveth not his brother abideth in death Whosoever hateth his brother is a murtherer and ye know that no murtherer hath eternal life abiding in him 1 Jo. 3. 14 15. If we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us If a man say I love God and hateth his brother he is a liar This Commandment have we from him that he who loveth God love his brother also 1 Jo. 4. 12 20 21. Tho' I have the gift of Prophecy and understand all Mysteries and all Knowledge and tho' I have all Faith so that I could remove Mountains and have no Charity I am nothing And tho' I bestow all my goods to feed the Poor and tho' I give my Body to be burned and have not Charity it profitteth me nothing Charity suffereth long and is kind Charity envieth not Charity vaunteth not it self is not puffed up doth not behave it self unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no evil rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the truth beareth all things believeth all things hopeth all things endureth all things 1 Cor. 13. 2 3 4 c. Thus the Christian's Rule directs as to this Point Whoever expects Salvation thro' Christ must hear his Word and make it his daily business to observe it Christ himself has said it Ye are my Friends if ye do whatsoever I command you Jo. 15. 14. CHAP. X. Of loving our Enemies Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as to the love of our Enemies A. It speaks positively in this Point I say unto you Love your Enemies bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you That ye may be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven for he maketh the Sun to rise on the Evil and on the Good and sendeth Rain on the Just and on the Vnjust For if ye love them which love you what reward have ye Do not even the Publicans the same And if ye salute your Brethren only what do you more than others Do not even the Publicaus so Be ye therefore Perfect even as your Father which is in Heaven is Perfect Mat. 5. 44 c. I say unto you which hear love your Enemies do good to them which hate you Bless them that curse you and pray for them which despitefully use you And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also As you would that men should do to you do ye also to them likewise For if ye love them which love you what thank have ye For Sinners also love those that love them And
if ye do good to them which do good to you what thank have ye For Sinners also do even the same And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive what thank have ye For Sinners lend to Sinners to receive as much again But love ye your enemies and do good and lend hoping for nothing again and your reward shall be great and ye shall be the Children of the Highest for he is kind unto the Vnthankful and to the Evil. Be ye therefore Merciful as your Father also is Merciful Luk. 6. 27 28 c. Then said Jesus Father forgive them for they know not what they do Luk. 23. 34. Stephen kneeled down and cried with a loud voice Lord lay not this sin to their charge Act. 7. 60. Dearly beloved avenge not your selves but rather give place unto wrath for it is written Vengeance is mine I will repay it saith the Lord. Therefore if thine Enemy hunger feed him if he thirst give him drink For in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good Rom. 12. 19 20 21. Bless them which persecute you bless and curse not Recompence no Man evil for evil Rom. 12. 14 17. See that none render evil for evil unto any man but ever follow that which is good both among your selves and to all men 1 Thes 5. 15. Be Pitiful be Courteous not rendring evil for evil or railing for railing but contrariwise blessing knowing that ye are thereunto called that ye should inherit a blessing 1 Pet. 3. 8 9. Here is the Rule and it must be follow'd To dispence with it is to break it to hearken to Inclination is to forsake it The Difficulty of its Practice must be own'd and this more particularly in some Tempers but Difficulties must not carry us against the Commands of God in our undertaking to serve him there was no Proviso made for our Ease or Inclination but our Profession was Absolute how then can we pretend to follow Nature when God's Will is known to us If the Lord be our God it is mockery if we do not follow him CHAP. XI Of Forgiving Injuries Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as to Forgiving Injuries A. It speaks plainly to the Point Forgive us our debts as we forgive our Debtors Mat. 6. 12. Then came Peter to him and said Lord how oft shall my Brother sin against me and I forgive him Till seven times Jesus said unto him I say not unto thee until seven times But until seventy times seven Mat. 18. 21 22. Then his Lord said unto him O thou wicked servant I forgave thee all that debt because thou desired'st me Should'st not thou also have had compassion on thy Fellow-servant even as I had pity on thee And his Lord was wroth and deliver'd him to the tormenters till he should pay all that was due unto him So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses Mat. 18. 32 c. If thy brother trespass against thee rebuke him and if he repent forgive him And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day and seven times in a day turn again to thee saying I repent thou shalt forgive him Luk. 17. 3 4. Let all Bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice And be ye kind one to another tender-hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you Eph. 4. 31 32. Put on therefore as the Elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercies kindness humbleness of mind meekness long-suffering forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye Colos 3. 12 13. For if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses Mat. 6. 14. 15. And when ye stand praying Forgive if ye have ought against any that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses But if ye do not forgive neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses Mar. 11. 25 26. Forgive and ye shall be forgiven for with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measur'd to you again Luk. 6. 37. He shall have Judgment without mercy that hath shewed no mercy Jam. 2. 13. Charity suffereth long is not easily provok'd thinketh no evil beareth all things endureth all things 1 Cor. 13. 4 c. Thus says the Christian's Rule and there are no Promises but what requireth the Observance of it Let then all degrees of Malice Revenge Hatred Ill-will Animosities Resentments Provocations Grudgings Want of Neighborly Correspondence with all the train of such like Interior Disorders be examined by the Gospel and upon the evidence of their being not allow'd upon any account but absolutely condemn'd the Christian must conclude that either he must make this his Rule or else have no part in the Promises of the Gospel What then O God must I fear of my self who am so easie in admitting and so careless in overcoming what is thus contrary to my Profession I profess the Gospel but follow Inclination and is this to be a Christian CHAP. XII Of making and keeping Peace Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as to avoiding Contention and keeping Peace A. It speaks so plain in this Point that no Christian can be ignorant of his Obligation Blessed are the Peace-makers for they shall be called the Children of God Mat. 5. 9. If thou bring thy Gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy Brother hath ought against thee leave there thy Gift before the Altar and go thy way first be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy Gift Mat. 5. 23 24. A new Commandment I give unto you that ye love one another By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another Jo. 13. 34 35. Have salt in your selves and have Peace one with another Mar. 9. 50. Be of the same mind one towards another If it be possible as much as lyeth in you live peaceably with all men Dearly beloved avenge not your selves but give place unto wrath Rom. 12. 16 18. I beseech to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called With all lowliness and meekness with long-suffering forbearing one another in love endeavouring to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace Eph. 4. 1 2 3. For God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace 1 Cor. 14. 33. He that will love life and see good days let him refrain his tongue from evil let him seek Peace and ensue it Be ye all of one mind having compassion one of another love as Brethren be Pitiful be Courteous not
For he that soweth to his Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting And let us not be weary in well-doing for in due Season we shall reap if we faint not Gal. 6. 7. Brethren be not weary in well-doing 2 Thess 3. 13. God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of Love which ye have shewed toward his name in that ye have minister'd to the Saints and do minister And we desire that every one of you do shew the same Diligence to the full Assurance of Hope unto the end That ye be not Slothful but Followers of them who thro' Faith and Patience inherit the Promises Heb. 6. 10. Work out your own Salvation with Fear and Trembling Phil. 2. 12. Know ye not that they which run in a Race run all but one receiveth the Prize So run that ye may obtain And every Man that striveth for the Mastery is temperate in all things Now they do it to obtain a corruptible Crown but we an incorruptible I therefore so run not as uncertainly So fight I not as one that beateth the Air But I keep under my Body and bring it into Subjection lest that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should be a Cast-away 1 Cor. 9. 24 c. Many are called but few are chosen Mat. 22. 14. Wherefore the rather Brethren give Diligence to make your Calling and Election sure 2 Pet. 1. 19. See that ye walk circumspectly not as Fools but as Wise redeeming the time because the Days are Evil Eph. 5. 15. She that liveth in Pleasure or delicately is dead while she liveth 1 Tim. 5. 6. The time past of our Life may suffice us to have wrought the Will of the Gentiles when we walked in Laciviousness Lusts Excess of Wine Revellings Banquetings and abominable Idolatries Wherein they think it strange that you run not with them to the same Excess of Riot speaking evil of you 1 Pet. 4. 3. They shall receive the Reward of Vnrighteousness as they that count it Pleasure to riot in the Day-time Spots they are and blemishes sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you 2 Pet. 13. How much she hath glorified her self and lived deliciously so much Torment and Sorrow give her Rev. 18. 7. Thus speaks the Rule and so Positive and Large it is in pressing all to be Watchful and to take Pains in working out their Salvation that there must be own'd a Necessity of a Christian Life being an Industrious and Laborious Life Let but these Heads be duly reflected on First The Life of Christ and the Example he has given us both in what he did and what he suffer'd 2dly The Great Perfection of those Vertues which God demands of us 3dly The Corruption of our Nature which renders us averse to all these and strongly inclines us to Evil. 4thly The Variety of Temptations which draw us out of the way 5thly The great Encouragement to Evil from Authority and Custom 6thly The industrious Subtilty of the Devil 7thly The Uncertainty of the time granted us for doing this great Work 8thly The irrecoverable Ruin attending a Miscarriage Lastly The variety of Delusions to which we are expos'd thro' the Violence and Contrivance of our Passions Let but these Heads I say be duly reflected on and it must be confess'd that Salvation is a Work of Difficulty such as requires a constant Watchfulness persevering Endeavors and the best of our Care and that as for those who live on as if they had nothing to do but to contrive how to drink sleep and play away their Time and leave Salvation to the Chance follow not the Directions so often press'd to them in the Gospel and therefore whatever their suppos'd Innocence may be are not in a way of of doing the Work of the Gospel What hopes then can they have from hence where they see unprofitable Servants not rewarded but condemn'd Where they see great Crimes charg'd upon them and eternal Wo's prepar'd in Punishment of their reputed Innocence It must then be remember'd that the Gospel of Jesus Christ requires of all his Followers a Watchful Life and that Idleness Sloth and a constant Dissipation of Mind are contrary to it and therefore to be avoided CHAP. XVII Of Immodesty Q. WHAT Directions does the Gospel give as to this point A. It shews it to be very displeasing to God and strictly cautions all against it Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time Thou shalt not commit Adultery But I say unto you that whosoever looketh on a Woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his Heart And if thy right Eye offend thee pluck it out and cast it from thee for it is profitable for thee that one of thy Members should perish and not thy whole Body should be cast into Hell Mat. 5. 27. Let not Sin therefore Reign in your mortal Body that ye should obey it in the Lusts thereof Rom. 6. 12. When they knew God they glorified him not as God wherefore God also gave them up to Vncleanness thro' the Lusts of their own Hearts to dishonor their own Bodies For this Cause God gave them up unto vile Affections Rom. 1. 21 24 26. I beseech you Brethren by the Mercies of God that ye present your Bodies a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable Service and be not conformed to this World Rom. 12. 1. To be carnally minded is Death because the carnal Man is Enmity against God We are Debters not to the Flesh to live after the Flesh for if ye live after the Flesh ye shall die But if ye thro' the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the Body ye shall live Rom. 8. 6 7 c. They that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts Gal. 5. 24. This I say therefore and testifie in the Lord that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the Vanity of their Mind having the Vnderstanding darkned being alienated from the Life of God who being past feeling have given themselves over unto Lasciviousness to work all Vncleanness with greediness But ye have not so learned Christ if so be that ye have heard him that ye put off concerning the former Conversation the Old Man which is Corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts Let no corrupt Communication proceed out of your Mouth Eph. 4. 17 c. But Fornication and all Vncleanness or Covetousness let it not be once named amongst you as becometh Saints neither Filthiness nor foolish Talking nor Jesting which are not convenient but rather giving of Thanks For this ye know that no Whoremonger nor unclean Person nor Covetous Man who is an Idolater hath any Inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God Have no Fellowship with the unfruitful Works of Darkness but rather reprove them for it is a shame
even to speak of those things which are done of them in Secret Eph. 5. 3 c. Mortifie therefore your Members which are upon the Earth Fornication Vncleanness inordinate Affection evil Concupiscence and Covetousness which is Idolatry For which things sake the Wrath of God cometh on the Children of Disobedience But now you also put off all these Anger Wrath Malice Blasphemy Filthy Communication out of your Mouth Col. 3. 5 c. For this is the Will of God even your Sanctification that ye should abstain from Fornication that every one of you should know how to possess his Vessel in Sanctification and Honor not in the Lust of Concupiscence even as the Gentiles which know not God For God hath not called us unto Vncleanness but unto Holiness 1 Thes 4. 3 c. Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the Lust of the Flesh Now the Works of the Flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornication Vncleanness Laciviousness and such like of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God Gal. 5. 16 19. Dearly beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly Lusts which War against the Soul Having your Conversation honest among the Gentiles 1 Pet. 2. 11. Let us live honestly as in the Day not in Rioting and Drunkenness not in Chambering and Wantonness not in Strife and Envying but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not Provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof Rom. 13. 13. Dearly Beloved let us cleanse our selves from all Filthiness of the Flesh and Spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. If any Man love the World the Love of the Father is not in him For all that is in the World the Lust of the Flesh and the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life is not of the Father but is of the World And the World passeth away and the Lust thereof but he that doeth the Will of God abideth for ever 1 Joh. 2. 15 c. Every Man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own Lust and enticed Then when Lust hath conceived it bringeth forth Sin and Sin when it is finished bringeth forth Death Jam. 1. 14. Now I have written unto you not to keep Company if any Man that is called a Brother be a Fornicator or Covetous or an Idolater or a Railer or a Drunkard or an Extortioner with such an one no not to eat 1 Cor. 5. 11. Be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor Effeminate nor Abusers of themselves with Mankind shall inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6. 9. Marriage is honorable in all and the Bed undefiled But Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Heb. 13. 4. As you have yielded your Members Servants to Vncleanness and to Iniquity unto Iniquity even so now yield your Members Servants to Righteousness unto Holiness What Fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed For the end of those things is Death Rom. 6. 19 21. Thus speaks the Rule And is not here expresly declar'd how criminal all kind of Impurity is in the sight of God whether it be in the Heart only or Desire or by Inordinate Affections or in the Eyes or in the Tongue or in Actions All kind of Sensuality and Uncleanness both of Mind and Body are here forbid and mark'd with the Infamous Character of being the Sins of the Gentiles or Heathens who knew not God who for their unworthiness were given up to a Reprobate Sense It is evident then that all such Offences are an Absolute transgression of the Christian's Rule and that to live in the Practice of them is to live as a Heathen What then must be done The Christian must remember that the Promise of seeing God is made to the Pure and Clean of heart that without this he can have no part in this Promise That therefore he must dailyl labor to bring his Heart to this happy disposition He must resist evil avoid Ill company keep a watch upon his Eyes upon his Tongue and upon his Heart he must put a restraint upon himself as to all kind of dangerous liberties and avoid all that can defile if he truly desires that his Heart should be Clean. And is this the Gospel How few then are Chosen Examin thy self by what the Apostle has said The Lust of the flesh the Lust of the eyes the Pride of life are not of the Father 1 Jo. 2. 15. Do'st thou belong to him CHAP. XVIII Of Self-denial Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as in this Point A. The Gospel declares it to be absolutely necessary for all Christians Jesus said to his Disciples if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow me For whosoever will save his life shall lose it And whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it Mat. 16. 24. Whosoever will come after me let him deny himself Mar. 8. 34. If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me Luk. 9. 23. If any man come to me and hate not his Father and Mother and Wife and Children and Brethren and Sisters yea and his own Life also he cannot be my Disciple And whosoever doth not bear his Cross and come after me cannot be my Disciple For which of you intending to build a Tower sitteth not down first and counteth the cost whether he have sufficient to finish it So likewise whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath he cannot be my Disciple Luk. 14. 26 33. If thy right hand offend thee cut it off and cast it from thee for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not that thy whole body should be cast into Hell Mat. 5. 30. He that loveth his life shall lose it and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal Jo. 12. 25. Reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto Sin but alive unto God thro' Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin Rom. 6. 11. I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death Rom. 7. 23. Brethren we are debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh For if ye live after the flesh ye shall die But if ye thro' the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God
Rom. 8. 12. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ Shall tribulation or distress or persecution Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors thro' him that loved us Rom. 8. 35. If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection Knowing this that our Old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin Now if we be dead with Christ we believe that we shall also live with him Rom. 6. 5 8. I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service and be not conformed to this world But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God Rom. 12. 1. Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things Now they do it to obtain a corruptible Crown but we an incorruptible I therefore so run not as uncertainly so fight I not as one that beateth the air But I keep unto my body and bring it under subjection lest that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should be a cast-away 1 Cor. 9. 25. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus Christ that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body 2 Cor. 4. 10. He died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them and rose again Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things are past away behold all things are become new 2 Cor. 5. 15 17. I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me And the life which I now live in the Flesh I live by the Faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Gal. 2. 20. Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the spirit They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Gal. 5. 16 24. Henceforth let no man trouble me for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus Gal. 6. 17. I do count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead Phil. 3. 8. Put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind and that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Eph. 4. 22. The Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Tit. 2. 12. Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth Fornication Vncleanness inordinate Affection in the which ye also walked some time when ye lived in them But now you also put off all these and have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him Col. 3. 5. Flee also youthful lusts But follow righteousness Faith Charity Peace 2 Tim. 2. 22. Thus speaks the Rule whence it is plain above all dispute that those who follow their Inclinations do not follow this Rule We have all an inheritance of Corruption which bends us to sin this is entail'd on us from Adam and is call'd the Old Man this the Gospel commands us to put off all such then as strictly examin their Inclinations Affections and Desires and resolutely stand against those which they perceive to be sinful or can suspect as leading to sin are the Persons who live by the Rule which they profess and if they study to improve those better Impressions which are the effects of Grace it cannot be question'd but they will be cloath'd with the New Man and while in the Flesh even live by the Spirit But this cannot be their Character who being subject to great variety of Worldly and Sensual Inclinations who finding no Relish in their Souls but of what is in favor of their Pride Vanity Idleness and of Self-love in all its Shapes are so far from using due means for suppressing them that their whole Life is an Obedience to their demands for certainly these have no regard to what the Gospel prescribes their Life is a Contradiction to its Rules they indulge their Corruption which God commands them to resist and therefore being found under the Subjecti of the old Man can never expect while under this Slavery to come to the Liberty of the Children of God Either do what the Gospel requires or else look for no other Portion but with Unbelievers CHAP. XIX Of Suffering Affliction or Persecution Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as to these Points A. It speaks very largely of them and shews with what Spirit a Christian ought to submit Blessed are they which are persecuted for Righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Blessed are ye when Men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake Rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your Reward in Heaven For so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you Mat. 5. 10. Ye have heard that it hath been said an Eye for an Eye and a Tooth for a Tooth but I say unto you that ye resist not Evil but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right Cheek turn him the other also Mat. 5. 38. He that taketh not his Cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me He that findeth his Life shall lose it and he that loseth his Life for my sake shall find it Fear not them which kill the Body but are not able to kill the Soul but rather fear him which is able to destroy both Soul and Body in Hell Are not two Sparrows Sold for a Farthing And one of them shall not fall on the Ground without your Father But the very Hairs of your Head are all number'd Fear ye not therefore ye are of more Value than many Sparrows Whosoever therefore shall confess me before Men him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven Think not that I am come to send Peace on Earth I came not to send Peace but a Sword Mat. 10. 38 28. Behold I send you forth as Sheep
It is good for a Man not to touch a Woman Nevertheless to avoid Fornication let every Man have his own Wife and let every Woman have her own Husband But I speak this by Permission and not of Commandment For I would that all Men were even as I my self But every Man hath his proper Gift of God one after this manner and another after that I say therefore to the Vnmarried and Widows it is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain let them Marry For it is better to Marry than to Burn. But as God hath distributed to every Man as the Lord hath called every one so let him walk and so ordain I in all the Churches Now concerning Virgins I have no Commandment of the Lord Yet I give my Judgment as one that hath obtained Mercy of the Lord to be faithful I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress I say that it is good for a Man so to be Art thou bound unto a Wife Seek not to be loosed Art thou loosed from a Wife Seek not a Wife But I would have you without Carefulness He that is Vnmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord how he may please the Lord But he that is Married careth for the things that are of the World how he may please his Wife Thee is difference also between a Wife and a Virgin The unmarried Woman careth for the things of the Lord that she may be holy both in Body and Spirit But she that is Married careth for the things of the World how she may please her Husband And this I speak for your own profit not that I may cast a Snare upon you but for that which is comely and that you may attend upon the Lord without Distraction But if any Man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his Virgin if she pass the Flower of her Age and need so require let him do what he will he sinneth not Let them Marry Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his Heart having no Necessity but hath Power over his own will and hath so decreed in his Heart that he will keep his Virgin doth well So then he that giveth her in Marriage doth well but he that giveth her not in Marriage doth better 1 Cor 7. 1 6 17 25. I looked and lo a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion and with him an hundred forty and four thousand having his Father's Name written in their Foreheads And they sung as it were a new Song before the Throne and before the four Beasts and the Elders And no Man could learn that Song but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the Earth These are they which were not defiled with Women for they are Virgins These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth These were redeemed from among Men being the First-fruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their Mouth was found no Guile For they are without Fault before the Throne of God Rev. 14. 1 3. Thus the Rule In which these Particulars are declar'd First That it is lawful and good to Marry but that it is better to remain Unmarried 2dly That the Unmarried State has much the Advantage of the other for tending upon the Lord with less Distraction 3dly That there are Persons which remain Unmarried for gaining the Kingdom of Heaven Lastly That if such are not duly watchful in preparing for the coming of the Spouse they are not Wise and will be shut out with Unbelievers CHAP. XXII Of Married Persons Husband and Wife Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give as to the State of Marriage and to those which are engag'd in it A. It speaks very particularly upon this Subject and what ought to be well consider'd by all concern'd First That it is not to be dissolv'd The Pharisees also came unto him tempting him and saying unto him Is it lawful for a Man to put away his Wife for every Cause And he answered and said unto them have you not read that he which made them at the beginning made them Male and Female And said for this Cause shall a Man leave Father and Mother and shall cleave to his Wife and they twain shall be one Flesh Wherefore they are no more twain but one Flesh What therefore God hath joined together let not Man put asunder Moses because of the Hardness of your Hearts suffered you to put away your Wives but from the beginning it was not so And I say unto you whosoever shall put away his Wife except it be for Fornication and shall Marry another committeth Adultery and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit Adultery Mat. 19. 3. Vnto the Married I command yet not I but the Lord let not the Wife depart from her Husband But and if she depart let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her Husband And let not the Husband put away his Wife 1 Cor. 7. 10. The Woman which hath an Husband is bound by the Law to her Husband so long as he liveth But if the Husband be dead she is loosed from the Law of her Husband So then if while her Husband liveth she be Married to another Man she shall be called an Adulteress But if her Husband be dead she is free from that Law so that she is no Adulteress tho' she be Married to another Man Rom. 7. 2. The Wife is bound by the Law as long as her Husband liveth But if her Husband he dead she is at Liberty to be Married to whom she will only in the Lord. But she is happier if she so abide after my Judgment And I think also that I have the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 7. 39. 2dly As to difference of Religion in Man and Wife S. Paul thus gives his Judgment To the rest speak I not the Lord if any Brother hath a Wife that believeth not and she be pleased to dwell with him let him not put her away And the Woman which hath an Husband that believeth not and if he be pleased to dwell with her let her not leave him For the unbelieving Husband is sanctified by the Wife and the unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the Husband Else were your Children unclean but now they are holy But if the unbelieving depart let him depart A Brother or a Sister is not under Bondage in such Cases But God hath called us to Peace For what knowest thou O Wife whether thou shalt save thy Husband Or how knowest thou O Man whether thou shalt save thy Wife But as God hath distributed to every Man as the Lord hath called every one so let him walk And so ordain I in all the Churches 1 Cor. 7. 12. 3dly As to one part of their mutual Obligation Let the Husband render unto the Wife due Benevolence And likewise also the Wife unto the Husband The Wife hath not Power of her own Body but the Husband And likewise also
the Husband hath not Power of his own Body but the Wife Defraud you not one the other except it be with consent for a Time that ye may give your selves to Fasting and Prayer and come together again that Satan tempt you not for your Incontinency But I speak this by Permission and not of Commandment 1 Cor. 7. 3. 4thly That they may and ought to live holily There was in the Days of Herod the King of Judea a certain Priest named Zacharias of the Course of Abia And his Wife was of the Daughters of Aaron and her Name was Elizabeth And they were both righteous before God walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless and they had no Child because that Elizabeth was barren and they both were now well stricken in years Luk. 1. 5. This I say Brethren the time is short It remaineth that both they that have Wives be as tho' they had none and they that weep as tho' they wept not and they that rejoice as tho' they rejoiced not and they that buy as tho' they possessed not and they that use this World as not abusing it For the fashion of this World passeth away 1 Cor. 7. 29. We beseech you Brethren and exhort you by the Lord Jesus that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God so ye would abound more and more For ye know what Commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus For this is the Will of God even your Sanctification that ye should abstain from Fornication That every one of you should know how to possess his Vessel in Sanctification and Honor not in the Lust of Concupiscence even as the Gentiles which know not God 1 Thess 4. 1. Marriage is honorable in all and the Bed undefiled But Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Let your Conversation be without Covetousness and be content with such things as ye have For he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13. 4. 5thly That there are great Duties of mutual Love and Support belonging to them and that Order is to be observ'd which God has appointed between them I would have you know that the Head of every Man is Christ and the Head of the Woman is the Man and the Head of Christ is God A Man indeed ought not to cover his Head praying for as much as he is the Image and Glory of God But the Woman is the Glory of the Man For the Man is not of the Woman but the Woman of the Man Neither was the Man created for the Woman but the Woman for the Man For this Cause ought the Woman to have Power on her Head because of the Angels Nevertheless neither is the Man without the Woman neither the Woman without the Man in the Lord. For as the Woman is of the Man even so is the Man also by the Woman but all things of God 1 Cor. 11. 3 7. Submitting your selves one to another in the Fear of God Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as unto the Lord. For the Husband is the Head of the Wife even as Christ is Head of the Church And he is the Saviour of the Body Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ so let the Wives be to their own Husbands in every thing Husbands love your Wives even as Christ loved the Church and also gave himself for it That he might sanctifie and cleanse it So ought Men to love their Wives as their own Bodies He that loveth his Wife loveth himself For no Man ever yet hated his own Flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the Church For we are Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones For this Cause shall a Man leave his Father and Mother and shall be joined unto his Wife and they two shall be one Flesh This is a great Mystery But I speak concerning Christ and the Church Nevertheless Let every one of you in particular so love his Wife even as himself and the Wife see that she reverence her Husband Eph. 5. 21 28. Wives submit your selves unto your own Husbands as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands love your Wives and be not bitter against them Col. 3. 18. Ye Wives be in Subjection to your own Husbands that if any obey not the word they also may without the word be won by the Conversation of the Wives while they behold your chaste Conversation coupled with Fear Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the Hair and of wearing of Gold or of putting on of Apparel but let it be the hidden Man of the Heart in that which is not corruptible even the Ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which is in the Sight of God of great Price For after this manner in the Old Time the holy Women also who trusted in God adorned themselves being in Subjection unto their own Husbands even as Sara obeyed Abraham calling him Lord Whose Daughters ye are as long as ye do well and are not affraid with any Amazement 1 Pet. 3. 1. Likewise ye Husbands dwell with them according to Knowledge giving Honor unto the Wife as unto the weaker Vessel and as being Heirs together of the Grace of Life that your Prayers be not hinder'd 1 Pet. 3. 7. Teach the young Women to be sober to love their Husbands to love their Children to be Discreet Chaste keepers at Home good obedient to their own Husbands that the Word of God be not blasphemed Tit. 2. 4. Young Men likewise exhort to be Sober-minded Tit. 2. 6. That the aged Men be Sober Grave Temperate Sound in Faith in Charity in Patience Tit. 2. 2. The aged Women likewise that they be in Behavior as becometh Holiness not false Accusers not given to much Wine Teachers of good things Tit. 2. 3. I will that Men pray every where lifting up holy Hands without Wrath and Doubting 1 Tim. 2. 8. In like manner also that Women adorn themselves in modest Apparel with Shamefacedness and Sobriety Not broider'd Hair or Gold or Pearls or costly Array but which becometh Women professing Godliness with good Works Let the Women learn in silence with all Subjection But I suffer not a Woman to teach nor to usurp Authority over the Man but to be in silence For Adam was first formed then Eve And Adam was not deceived but the Woman being deceived was in the Transgression Notwithstanding she shall be saved in Child-bearing if they continue in Faith and Charity and Holiness with Sobriety 1 Tim. 2. 9. Let your Women keep silence in the Churches For it is not permitted unto them to speak but they are commanded to be under Obedience as also saith the Law And if they will learn any thing let them ask their Husbands at Home For it is a Shame for Women to speak in the Church 1 Cor. 14. 34. Thus speaks the Rule and so particularly that there can be no
me for ever Jer. 35. 18. Thus speaks the Rule the Will of God is manifest in it and the doing his Will being the only Secure Way wherein a Christian is to walk Children have no other Means of coming to their Heavenly Father but by doing his Will here on Earth and with a particular Care observing whatever charge he has given them in Relation to their Parents The Precept is repeated so often that there can be no dispute of it And yet to see with how little Respect some Parents are treated how much others are slighted and neglected and that many have no greater affliction in the World than what is given them by the Children of their own Bowels and this at an Age when Parents stand most in need of Comfort and Children being at years of Discretion cannot be Ignorant of their Duty To see this I say one would think God had never spoke in the Case or not manifested his Will What then must be said but that Christians have a Rule but have little concern in following it and that upon this account they cannot rationally expect the Blessings God has promis'd to the Observers of it This is the First Commandment as the Apostle says with Promise and it cannot be question'd but as the Observance of it is so particularly enforced with a Promise of God's Favor so the Contempt of it must be the Forfeiture of all such Expectation must provoke God's Displeasure and be follow'd with Judgment CHAP. XXVI Of Youth Q. HAving now spoken of the Duties of Children to their Parents Pray tell me are there not some Instructions particularly directed to Persons while yet in their Youth for such seem very much to want them A. Yes there are such Behold one came and said unto him Good Master what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal Life And he said unto him why callest thou me Good There is none Good but one that is God But if thou wilt enter into Life keep the Commandments He saith unto him which Jesus said Thou shalt do no Murther Thou shalt not commit Adultery Thou shalt not Steal Thou shalt not bear false Witness Honor thy Father and thy Mother and thou shalt love thy Neighbor as thy self The young Man saith unto him all these things have I kept from my Youth up What lack I yet Jesus said unto him if thou wilt be perfect go and Sell what thou hast and give to the Poor and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven and come and follow me But when the Young Man heard that Saying he went away Sorrowful for he had great Possessions Mat. 19. 16. The Commandments are to be kept by all Persons in their Youth and even then they are to consider which is the Way to eternal Life and whether they walk in it and what is yet wanting to them It is said of this Young Man that Jesus beholding him loved him Mar. 10. 21. And thus only can Youth expect the Love of Jesus If this be true then what is the unhappy State of those great Numbers who have their Thoughts Desires Affections so confin'd to Self-love and the Love of the World that they scarce think of another Life Grant them O God a better Spirit And the Child grew and waxed strong in Spirit filled with Wisdom and the Grace of God was upon him And when he was twelve years Old they went up to Jerusalem after three Days they found him in the Temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors both bearing them and asking them questions Luk. 2. 40 42 46. And Jesus increased in Wisdom and Stature and in favor with God and Man v. 52. Youth ought to seek the best Company by whose Conversation they may be advanced in Virtue and all true Wisdom How wretchedly then do they go out of the Way who avoiding these seek and love none but those from whom they can learn nothing but Folly or Vice Young Men likewise exhort to be Sober-minded Tit. 2. 6. Likewise ye Younger submit your selves unto the Elder 1 Pet. 5. 5. I here add something out of the Old Testament Thou shalt rise up before the hoary Head and honor the Face of the old Man and fear thy God I am the Lord Levit. 19. 32. My Son forget not my Law but let thine Heart keep my Commandments Prov. 3. 1. Let not Mercy and Truth forsake thee 3. Trust in the Lord with all thine Heart and lean not on own thine own Vnderstanding 5. Be not wise in thine own Eyes fear the Lord and depart from Evil 7. Get Wisdom get Vnderstanding Forget it not neither decline from the Woods of my Mouth Forsake her not and she shall preserve thee love her and she shall keep thee VVisdom is the principal thing therefore get VVisdom And with all thy getting get Vnderstanding Pro. 4. 5. Take fast hold of Instruction let her not go keep her for she is thy Life Enter not into the Path of the VVicked and go not into the VVay of evil Men. Avoid it pass not by it turn from it and pass away v. 13. He is in the VVay of Life that keepeth Instruction But he that refuseth Reproof erreth Prov. 10. 17. VVhoso loveth Instruction loveth Knowledge but he that hateth Reproof is brutish Prov. 12. 1. A Man shall be commended acording to his VVisdom but he that is of a perverse Heart shall be despised Prov. 12. 8. The way of a Fool is right in his own Eyes but he that hearkeneth unto Counsel is wise v. 15. Lying Lips are Abomination to the Lord but they that deal truly are his delight v. 22. A wise Son heareth his Father's Instruction But a Scorner heareth not Rebuke Prov. 13. 1. He that keepeth his Mouth keepeth his Life But he that openeth wide his Lips shall have Destruction v. 3. Poverty and Shame shall be to him that refuseth Instruction But he that regardeth Reproof shall be honored v. 18. He that walketh with wise Men shall be Wise But a Companion of Fools shall be destroyed v. 20. He that walketh in his Vprightness feareth the Lord but he that is perverse in his Ways despiseth him Prov. 14. 2. Go from the Presence of a foolish Man when thou perceivest not in him the Lips of Knowledge v. 7. Fools Mock at Sin v. 9. There is a Way which seemeth right unto a Man but the end thereof are the Ways of Death v. 12. He that is slow to Wrath is of great Vnderstanding but he that is hasty of Spirit exalteth Folly v. 29. The Way of the Wicked is an Abomination unto the Lord but he loveth him that followeth after Righteousness Prov. 15. 9. A Scorner loveth not one that reproveth him neither will he go unto the Wise v. 12. The Lord will destroy the House of the Proud v. 25. The Thoughts of the Wicked are an Abomination to the Lord v. 26. He that refuseth Instruction hateth his own Soul but he that heareth Reproof getteth Vnderstanding 32.
Directions in the Gospel for Persons of this Rank A. Some Instructions there are which it may not be improper for these to consider which I will set down here but they being likewise concern'd in the next Chapter I must recommend that to their perusal Ye see your Calling Brethren how that not many wise men after the Flesh not many mighty not many noble are called But God hath chosen the foolish things of the World to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the World to confound the things which are mighty and base things of the World and things which are despised hath God chosen yea and things which are not to bring to nought things that are That no Flesh should glory in his presence But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption That according as it is written he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord 1 Cor. 1. 26. God makes not choice of Persons from their Greatness Wisdom or Nobility he chose the contemptible things of this World to confound all Confidence and Glory except that which is in God alone My Brethren have not the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of Glory with respect of Persons For if there come unto your Assembly a Man with a gold Ring in goodly Apparel and there come in also a poor Man in vile Raiment and ye have respect to him that weareth the gay Cloathing and say unto him sit thou here in a good place and say to the Poor stand thou there or sit here under my Footstool Are ye not then Partial in your selves and are become Judges of evil Thoughts Hearken my beloved Brethren hath not God chosen the Poor of this World rich in Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him But ye have despised the Poor Do not rich Men oppress you and draw you before the Judgment-seats Do not they blaspheme the worthy Name by the which ye are called Jam. 2. 1. To be Partial in the Respect of Persons the Spirit of God disapproves Humane Greatness has no Preference with God To be Honorable in the Gospel-scheme is to do that which the Gospel most recommends and for which a Soul shall find Honor with God They who do this are truly Honorable Some additions may be here made out of the Old Testament David went out whithersoever Saul sent him and behaved himself wisely 1 Sam. 18. 5. A vertuous and prudent Conduct is a sure Step to Honor this cannot fail of being valued But great Titles Retinue and Riches join'd with a light Head and Indiscretion help to make a Person more remarkably Contemptible The King David said and where is thy Master's Son And Ziba said unto the King behold he abideth at Jerusalem For he said to Day shall the House of Israel restore me the Kingdom of my Father Then said the King to Ziba behold thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth 2 Sam. 16. 3. A Servant thus made his Court to the King by falsly accusing his Master and disgracing him with his Prince Such a Step to Honor is base only fit for a treacherous Servant and cannot be attempted without Infamy And Barzillai said unto the King how long have I to live that I should go up with the King unto Jerusalem 2 Sam. 19. 34. To retire from Court and public Business for making a Preparation for Death is Christian Discretion Solicitude of Business and Variety of Engagements are not a Help for dying well Persons so taken up do not leave the World but are torn from it Why boastest thou thy self in Mischief O mighty Man The Goodness of God endureth continually Thy Tongue deviseth Mischiefs like a sharp Razor working deceitfully Thou lovest Evil more than Good and Lying rather than to speak Righteousness Thou lovest all devouring O thou deceitful Tongue God shall likewise destroy thee for ever Psal 52. 1. There is Meanness in Boasting in Malice in Detraction and Lying which is not consistent with true Honor. Where there is Quality there ought to be an Abhorrence of all that is thus Base and nothing can be more degrading than to be familiar with it What are then Titles State and Birth where there is a Familiarity with Lying Detraction Malice and Vanity Such may make a Shew at a Distance but more nearly examin'd they are certainly Contemptible Without Repentance their Fate must be to be despis'd and trampled on by Devils Seest thou a Man diligent in his Business He shall stand before Kings he shall not stand before mean Men Prov. 22. 29. Sloth is unbecoming all States and where is the Honor of being a Drone Industry with a low Birth is more Honorable than useless Quality Is he Idle and Lazy Say no more whatever his Blood be he is Infamous Daniel purposed in his Heart that he would not defile himself with the Portion of the King's Meat nor with the Wine which he drank Therefore he requested of the Prince of the Eunuchs that he might not defile himself Dan. 1. 8. True Greatness of Mind not to transgress the Law of God in Compliance with the King Such Fidelity proof against Interest and Flattery is truly Honorable But what degree then of contemptible Meanness is in all those who knowing their Duty to God and the Honor of their Nature have not Strength of Mind to withstand ordinary Attempts but surrender upon every Breath of Flattery or Reproach They make the King glad with their Wickedness and the Princes with their Lies They are all Adulterers Hos 7. 3. This was the Provocation of Israel Hear this word ye Kine of Bashan that are in the Mountain of Samaria which oppress the Poor which crush the Needy which say to their Masters bring and let us drink Amos 4. 1. This was the Crime of the great Ones of Israel Oppression and Excess Wo to them that are at ease in Zion and trust in the Mountain of Samaria ye that put far away the evil Day and cause the Seat of Violence to come near that lye upon Beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their Couches and eat the Lambs out of the Flock and the Calves out of the midst of the Stall that chant to the Sound of the Viol and invent to themselves Instruments of Music like David that drink Wine in Bowls and anoint themselves with the chief Ointments but they are not grieved for the Affliction of Joseph Therefore now shall they go Captive with the first that go Captive and the Banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed The Lord God hath sworn by himself saith the Lord the God of Hosts I abhorr the Excellency of Jacob and hate his Palaces Therefore will I deliver up the City with all that is therein Amos 6. 1 3. The Prophet reckons up the Provocations of Israel their Life of Ease of Oppression of expensive
alone and the Fatherless hath not eaten thereof If I have seen any perish for want of Cloathing or any Poor without Covering If his Loins have not blessed me and if he were not warmed with the Fleece of my Sheep If I have lift up my Hand against the Fatherless when I saw my help in the Gate Then let mine Arm fall from my Shoulder-blade and mine Arm be broken from the Bone Job 31. 16. Blessed is he that considereth the Poor the Lord will deliver him in the time of Trouble The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive and he shall be blessed upon the Earth and thou wilt not deliver him unto the Will of his Enemies The Lord will strengthen him upon the Bed of Languishing thou wilt make all his Bed in his Sickness Psal 41. 1. Is not this the Fast that I have chosen To loose the Bonds of Wickedness to undo the heavy Burthens and to let the Oppressed go free and that ye break every Yoke Is it not to deal thy Bread to the Hungry and that thou bring the Poor that are cast out to thy House When thou seest the Naked that thou cover him and that thou hide not thy self from thine own Flesh Then shall thy Light break forth as the Morning and thine Health shall spring forth speedily and thy Righteousness shall go before thee the Glory of the Lord shall be thy Reward Then shalt thou call and the Lord shall answer thou shalt cry and he shall say here I am If thou take away from the midst of thee the Yoke the putting forth of the Finger and speaking Vanity And if thou draw out thy Soul to the Hungry and satisfie the afflicted Soul then shall thy Light rise in Obscurity and thy Darkness be as the Noon-day And the Lord shall guide thee continually and satisfie thy Soul in drought and make fat thy Bones And thou shalt be like a watered Garden and like a Spring of Water whose Waters fail not Isa 58. 6. God having spoke so at large to those who possess the Riches of this World having made so many Promises to them of everlasting Blessings if they let the Plenty he has given them be the Relief of the Poor It must be here acknowledg'd that such as have Wealth have in this a great Opportunity put into their Hands of engaging God to them by making that good use of it as he has directed 2dly That such as instead of this good Use Hoard up their Money either for the Love of it or for the unreasonable Apprehensions of Want are more Solicitous for this World than the next and chuse to take their Chance for Hell rather then venture the Imaginary Dangers suggested by their immoderate Love of the Earth and themselves 3dly That such as turn their Plenty to the Service of Vanity Self-love and seeking human Greatness abuse the Gifts of God and give Demonstration of their Concern being more for this World than the next and that Salvation is not the thing they seek Lastly That such as prostitute their Plenty to vicious Extravagancies have in Fact renounc'd their Faith since they have no regard either to the Promises of God's Mercy or to the Threats of his Justice and hence have too much Reason to apprehend the Lot of being cast out with Unbelievers Riches in the right Use of them are a certain Blessing but abus'd are a Curse CHAP. XXXIV Of the Poor Q. DO's the Gospel take notice of these A. It do's and instructs them for their Comfort Blessed are the Poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 5. 3. Take no Thought saying what shall we eat Or what shall we drink Or wherewithal shall we be cloathed For after all these things do the Gentiles seek for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you Mat. 6. 31. Jesus answered and said unto them go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see The Blind receive their Sight and the Lame Walk the Lepers are Cleansed and the Deaf Hear the Dead are raised up and the Poor have the Gospel preached to them Mat. 11. 4. A certain Scribe came and said unto him Master I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest And Jesus saith unto him the Foxes have Holes and the Birds of the Air have Nests But the Son of Man hath not where to lay his Head Mat. 8. 19. Peter began to say unto him lo we have left all and have followed thee And Jesus answered and said verily I say unto you there is no Man that hath left House or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother or Wife or Children or Lands for my sake and the Gospel's but he shall receive an hundred-fold now in this time and in the World to come eternal Life But many that are first shall be last And and the last first Mar. 10. 28. And there came a certain poor Widow and she threw in two Mites which make a Farthing And he called unto him his Disciples and saith unto them Verily I say unto you that this poor Widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the Treasury For all they did cast in of their abundance but she of her want did cast in all that she had even all her Living Mar. 12. 42. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the Poor he hath sent me to heal the Broken-hearted to preach Deliverance to the Captives and recovering of Sight to the Blind to set at Liberty them that are bruised to preach the acceptable Year of the Lord. And he began to say unto them this Day is this Scripture fulfilled in your Ears Luk. 4. 18 21. He lifted up his Eyes on his Disciples and said Blessed be ye Poor for yours is the Kingdom of God Blessed are ye that hunger now for ye shall be filled Blessed are ye that weep now for ye shall laugh Luk. 6. 20. Then the Master of the House being Angry said to his Servant Go out quickly into the Streets and Lanes of the City and bring in hither the Poor and the Maimed and the Halt and the Blind And the Servant said Lord it is done as thou hast commanded and yet there is room And the Lord said unto the Servant Go out into the High-ways and Hedges and compel them to come in that my House may be filled For I say unto you that none of those Men which were bidden shall taste of my Supper Luk. 14. 21. There was a certain Beggar named Lazarus which was laid at his Gate full of Sores and desiring to be fed with the Crumbs which fell from the rich Man's Table moreover the Dogs came and licked his Sores And it came to pass that the Beggar died and was carried by the Angels into Abraham's Bosom
Luk. 16. 20. Ye see your Calling Brethren how that not many wise Men after the Flesh not many Mighty not many Noble are called But God hath chosen the foolish things of the World to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the World to confound the things which are mighty and base things of the World and things which are despised hath God chosen 1 Cor. 1. 26. Moreover Brethren we do you to wit of the Grace of God bestowed on the Churches of Macedonia How that in a great Trial of Affliction the Abundance of their Joy and their deep Poverty abounded unto the riches of their Liberality For to their Power I bear record yea and beyond their Power they were willing of themselves praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the Gift Ye know the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that tho' he was Rich yet for your sakes he became Poor that ye thro' his Poverty might be Rich 2 Cor. 8. 1 9. Let this mind be in you which was also in Jesus Christ who being in the form of God thought it not Robbery to be equal with God But made himself of no Reputation and took upon him the form of a Servant and was made in the likeness of Men And being found in fashion as a Man he Humbled himself and became Obedient unto Death even the Death of the Cross Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him Phil. 2. 5. Godliness with Contentment is great Gain For we brought nothing into this World and it is certain we can carry nothing out And having Food and Raiment let us be therewith content But they that will be Rich fall into Temptation 1 Tim. 6. 6. Let your Conversation be without Covetousness and be content with such things as ye have For he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee So that we may boldly say the Lord is my Helper and I will not fear what Man shall do unto me Heb. 13. 5. Humble your selves therefore under the mighty Hand of God that he may exalt you in due time casting all your Care upon him for he careth for you 1 Pet. 5. 6. Let the Brother of low Degree rejoice in that he is exalted Blessed is the Man that endureth Temptation For when he is tried he shall receive the Crown of Life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him Jam. 1. 9 12. Hearken my beloved Brethren hath not God chosen the Poor of this World Rich in Faith and Heirs of the Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him Jam. 2. 5. Not that I speak in respect of Want for I have learned in whatsoever State I am therewith to be content I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound Every-where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need I can do all things thro' Christ which strengtheneth me Notwithstanding ye have well done that ye did communicate with my Affliction Phil. 4. 11. These things saith the First and the Last which was dead and is alive I know thy Works and Tribulation and Poverty but thou art Rich. Fear none of these things which thou shalt suffer Behold the Devil shall cast some of you into Prison that ye may be tried and ye shall have Tribulation ten Days Be thou Faithful unto Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Rev. 2. 8. Some additions out of the Old Testament I would seek unto God and unto God would I commit my Cause He saveth the Poor from the Sword from their Mouth and from the Hand of the Mighty So the Poor hath Hope and Iniquity stoppeth her Mouth Job 5. 15. The Lord also will be a Refuge for the Oppressed a Refuge in times of Trouble And they that know thy Name will put their trust in thee For thou Lord hast not forsaken them that seek thee Psal 9. 9 10. The Needy shall not alway be forgotten the Expectation of the Poor shall not perish for ever v. 18. Why standest thou afar off O Lord Why hidest thou thy self in times of Trouble The Wicked in his Pride doth persecute the Poor Let them be taken in the Devices that they have imagined Arise O Lord O God lift up thine Hand forget not the Humble Wherefore doth the Wicked contemn God He hath said in his Heart thou wilt not require it Thou hast seen it for thou beholdest Mischief and Spite to requite it with thy Hand The Poor committeth himself unto thee thou art the Helper of the Fatherless Lord thou hast heard the Desire of the Humble Thou wilt prepare their Heart thou wilt cause thine Ear to hear To judge the Fatherless and the Oppressed that the Man of the Earth may no more oppress Psal 10. 1 12 17. I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my Fears This Poor Man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his Troubles The Angel of our Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them O taste and see that the Lord is good blessed is the Man that trusteth in him O fear the Lord ye his Saints For there is no want to them that fear him The Righteous cry and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their Troubles The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken Heart and saveth such as be of a contrite Spirit Many are the Afflictions of the Righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all He keepeth all his Bones not one of them is broken The Lord redeemeth the Soul of his Servants and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate Psal 34. 4 6 17. Trust in the Lord and do good so shalt thou dwell in the Land and verily thou shalt be fed Delight thy self also in the Lord and he shall give thee the Desires of thine Heart Commit thy Way unto the Lord and he shall bring it to pass Rest in the Lord and wait patiently Fret not thy self because of him who prospereth in his Way for evil Doers shall be cut off but those that wait upon the Lord they shall inherit the Earth A little that a righteous Man hath is better than the Riches of many Wicked The Lord knoweth the Days of the Vpright and their Inheritance shall be for ever They shall not be ashamed in the evil Time and in the Days of Famine they shall be satisfied The Steps of a good Man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his Way Tho' he fall he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his Hand I have been young and now am old Yet have I not seen the Righteous forsaken nor his Seed begging Bread Psal 37. 3 7 16 18 23. Why art thou cast down O my Soul And why art thou disquieted within me Hope in God for I shall yet praise him who
is the Health of my Countenance and my God Psal 43. 5. Thou makest us a Reproach to our Neighbors a Scorn and a Derision to them that are round about us Thou makest us a By-word among the Heathen a shaking of the Head among the People All this is come upon us yet have we not forgotten thee neither have we dealt falsly in thy Covenant Our Heart is not turned back neither have our Steps declined from thy Ways Psal 44. 13 17. I am Poor and Sorrowful let thy Salvation O God set me upon High For the Lord heareth the Poor and despiseth not his Prisoners Psal 69. 29 33. He shall judge thy People with Righteousness and thy Poor with Judgment He shall judge the Poor of the People he shall save the Children of the Needy and shall break in pieces the Oppressor He shall deliver the Needy when he crieth the Poor also and him that hath no Helper He shall spare the Poor and Needy and shall save the Souls of the Needy He shall redeem their Soul from Deceit and Violence and precious shall their Blood be in his Sight Psal 72. 2 12. Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on High He raiseth up the Poor out of the Dust and lifteth the Needy out of the Dunghil That he may set him with Princes even with the Princes of his People Psal 113. 5 7. I know that the Lord will maintain the Cause of the Afflicted and the Right of the Poor Psal 140. 12. Better is a Little with the Fear of the Lord than great Treasure and Trouble therewith Prov. 15. 16. Better is a Little with Righteousness than great Revenues without Right Prov. 16. 8. Better is a dry Morsel and Quietness therewith than a Housefull of Sacrifices with Strife Prov. 17. 1. Better is the Poor that walketh in his Integrity than he that is perverse in his Lips and is a Fool Prov. 19. 1. Thou hast been a Strength to the Poor a Strength to the Needy in his Distress a Refuge from the Storm a Shadow from the Heat when the Blast of the terrible Ones is as a Storm against the Wall Isa 25. 4. Yea in the Way of thy Judgments O Lord have we waited for thee the desire of our Soul is to thy Name and to the Remembrance of thee With my Soul have I desir'd thee in the Night yea with my Spirit within me will I seek thee early For when thy Judgments are in the Earth the Inhabitants of the World will learn Righteousness Lord in Trouble have they visited thee they poured out a Prayer when thy chastening was upon them Isa 26. 8. It is of the Lord's Mercies that we are not consumed because his Compassions fail not They are New every Morning great is thy Faithfulness The Lord is my Portion saith my Soul therefore will I hope in him The Lord is good unto them that wait for him to the Soul that seeketh him It is good that a Man should both hope and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord. It is good for a Man that he bear the Yoke in his Youth He sitteth alone and keepeth silence because he hath born it upon him He putteth his Mouth in the Dust if so be there may be Hope For the Lord will not cast off for ever But tho' he cause Grief yet will he have Compassion according to the Multitude of his Mercies For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the Children of Men. Wherefore doth a living Man complain a Man for the Punishment of his Sins Let us search and try our Ways and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our Heart with our Hands unto God in the Heavens Lam. 3. 22. Thus do's the Spirit of God speak in the Case of the Poor and Distressed evidently discovering that however by this World they are esteem'd unhappy yet that God has a particular Regard to them undertakes their Protection and makes so many Promises to them that it cannot be question'd but as to the next World they have much the Advantage above those who enjoy themselves in plenty But then they must observe the Conditions which God proposes to them of accepting the Inconveniencies of their State as from the Hand of God of being content with what they have of casting their Care upon God of waiting upon the Lord with Patience of retaining a firm Confidence in his Promises of living in the Fear of God and banishing with their best Endeavors all Inclinations to Impatience Murmuring and Distrust If in this Spirit they live I think they have more solid Grounds for true Comfort than the Enjoyment of all worldly Possessions can afford and may have a great Assurance of God's Promises to be accomplish'd in them in the Blessings of a happy Eternity CHAP. XXXV Of those who have the Care of the Flock Q. WHAT Directions do's the Gospel give to Persons of this Character A. It speaks very particularly to them and is very full both in the Instructions and Charge it gives them Ye are the Salt of the Earth but if the Salt have lost his Savour wherewith shall it be Salted It is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and to be trodden under Foot of Men. Ye are the Light of the World A City that is set on a Hill cannot be hid Neither do Men light a Candle and put it under a Bushel but on a Candlestick and it giveth Light to all that are in the House Let your Light so shine before Men that they may see your good Works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Mat. 5. 13. They are to be Exemplar If a Man have an hundred Sheep and one of them be gone astray doth he not leave the ninety and nine and goeth into the Mountains and seeketh that which is gone astray Mat. 18. 12. They are to be solicitous in seeking the lost Sheep There was also a Strife among them which of them should be accounted the greatest And he said unto them The Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them and they that exercise Authority upon them are called Benefactors But ye shall not be so But he that is greatest among you let him be as the Younger and he that is Chief as he that doth serve For whether is greater he that sitteth at Meat or he that serveth Is not he that sitteth at Meat But I am among you as he that serveth Luk. 22. 24. They are to be Humble in Preferment Verily verily I say unto you He that entreth not by the Door into the Sheepfold but climbeth up some other Way the same is a Thief and a Robber But he that entreth in by the Door is the Shepherd of the Sheep To him the Porter openeth and the Sheep hear his Voice And he calleth his own Sheep by Name and leadeth them out And when he putteth forth his own Sheep he goeth before them and the Sheep follow him for they know his
yet the Pastors of his Church are to teach This is the Ordinance of Christ and the Practice is confirm'd from Heaven And he trembling and astonished said Lord what wilt thou have me to do And the Lord said unto him Arise and go into the City and it shall be told thee what thou must do Act. 9. 6. Christ calls upon Saul stops him in his evil way but for his Instruction he sends him to a Disciple If this be the Will of God who can pretend to serve God and yet make exceptions against doing his Will When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small Dissension and Disputation with them they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders about this question Act. 15. 2. And the Apostles and Elders came together for to consider of this matter v. 6. Then pleased it the Apostles and Elders 22. Questions of Faith are referr'd to the Pastors of the Church S. Paul and Barnabas tho' great Apostles and particularly inspir'd pronounce not in this case but help to publish what the Pastors assembled had determin'd And as they went thro' the Cities they delivered them the Decrees for to keep that were ordain'd of the Apostles and Elders which were at Jerusalem And so were the Churches established in the Faith and increased in number daily Act. 16. 4. The Faithful receive the Decrees of their Pastors and thus was the Faith establish'd and they perserv'd from the dangers of Novelty and Error Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the Flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood Act. 20. 28. It is the Ordinance of God that the Flock be under the care of the Pastors by these it is to be fed and preserv'd from Error This Charge is given them by the Holy Ghost Who dare alter the Method They that stood by said Revilest thou God's High Priest Then said Paul I wist not Brethren that he was the High Priest For it is written Thou shalt not speak evil of the Ruler of thy people Act. 23. 5. Respect is due from the Flock to their Pastor they are not to revile him And when the Gentiles heard this they were glad and glorified the Word of the Lord and as many as were ordain'd to eternal Life believed Act. 13. 48. Those who are ordain'd to Salvation hear and believe the Apostles This was the way to Life Whosoever therefore resisteth the Power resisteth the Ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation Rom. 13. 2. Have the Pastors of the Church Power from God He gave some Apostles And some Pastors and Teachers For the perfecting the Saints for the edifying of the Body of Christ That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4. 11. If thus God has declar'd the design of his Goodness in the Ordinance of Pastors then it must be the greatest duty and interest of the Flock to adhere to the Pastors of the Church For thus has God appointed for preserving it in Unity and Truth Now I beseech you Brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment 1 Cor. 1. 10. Thus is strictly enjoin'd the Flock then they must be careful in observing the Means which God has ordain'd for Unity He therefore that despiseth despiseth not Man but God who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit 1 Thes 4. 8. If the Flock despise the Doctrin of those whom God has appointed to teach it they despise not Man but God We beseech you Brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake 1 Thes 5. 12. If these are to be esteem'd and lov'd this must be chiefly in their Instructions and Admonitions then no Contentions no setting up against them Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things Gal. 6. 6. Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9. 14. Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine for the Scripture saith Thou shalt not muzzle the Ox that treadeth out the Corn and the labourer is worthy of his reward 1 Tim. 5. 17. Remember them which have the rule over you who have spoken unto you the Word of God Whose Faith follow considering the end of their Conversation Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 7. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves For they watch for your Souls as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you v. 17. What Charge given by God to the Flock Remember Submit Obey Follow the Faith of those who have the Rule over you for these must gâ—ve account of your Souls But can they be any part in this account who refuse to obey He that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us Hereby know we the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error 1 Jo. 4. 6. Are these thus discern'd Then the Flock must here see the necessity of hearing those whom God has appointed to feed the Flock And now having gone thro' the Principal Duties of a Christian Life as likewise the Particular States in some of which every Christian must have a part and having seen in all these what is the Will of God as it is deliver'd in holy Writ what better Conclusion can I make than earnestly to recommend to all that they would frequently read seriously consider and with exactness attend to what the Spirit of God says to them It is the effect of an infinite Mercy that God has thus left his holy Will manifested to us that in this we might have a sure Guide And there is no other Way to Salvation but this alone of doing the Will of God Thus Christ has declar'd and what greater Interest then can a Christian have than in knowing the Will of God This is the best Study this the best Learning All other without this are vain and useless Ornaments but this alone without all others will make a Man Wise to Salvation If the World sets up for other Ways if it has Number and Custom to give Authority to them yet all this makes them not warrantable to the Christian he must consult his Rule and whatever he finds not allow'd there he must renounce as Antichristian for it is Christ and not the World is his Guide to Salvation How perversly blind then are all those Christians who make it their Business to study the World and esteeming this the best Education are at a great Expence in training up their Children to an early Knowledge of whatever it admires And when this is done what is the Effect but only to be skill'd in Vanity to be learned in those things which lead them out of the Way And in the mean time the only thing Necessary is neglected and they are Strangers to that Knowledge which can be their only Guide to that Life for which they were born Whereas the great Business of all that believe is to know the Will of God and by doing it to work out their Salvation If this be the Error of such as are blind Lovers of themselves and the World instead of God then such as follow the Light of Faith must follow another Business They must make it their general Study to know the Will of God they must strictly inform themselves what he commands what he forbids what he approves and disapproves and this being most expresly deliver'd in holy Writ they ought to esteem the particular Knowledge of this their only solid Accomplishment and not think they have any thing valuable in them whatever their natural or acquir'd Abilities be as long as they are Ignorant of this By this Method Christians will soon be qualified for making a true Judgment of all Things and Circumstances of human Life they will judge the World and all its Ways and not be in danger of being deluded by its Specious and most Authentic Snares This is the true Christian Wisdom and whosoever takes another Way tho' he may come to an eminent Degree of admir'd Knowledge yet he will never be Wise to Salvation FINIS