the servant of the Lord oh be it unto me according to thy word When God I say hears his poor Ephraims thus bemaoning themselves Jer. 31.19 20. and smiting upon their thigh with holy shame and confusion reproach themselves thus Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised Lord if blowes would have made me good I had been good long ago I have had affliction upon affliction stroke upon stroke but all this while I have been as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke unteachable and untractable thou hast drawn forward and I have drawn backward thou hast stricken me I have kicked I have lifted up the heel against thee and hereupon in an holy agony turning Confession into Prayer Turn thou me and I shall be turned heal me and I shall be bealed for thou art the Lord my God While thus I say the soul weeps God weeps also Ephraim weeps before God tears of contrition and God weeps over Ephraim tears of compassion In all this affliction of the soul Gods Soul is afflicted his bowels are troubled his compassions are kindled and as not able longer to refrain himself as Joseph once towards his brethren he breaks out into this passionate condolency Is Ephraim my dear Son Is he a pleasant child Is this the voice of my repenting child pouring out his Soul his sorrowes over his sinful in firmities I do earnestly remember him I will surely have mercy upon him saith the Lord. Thirdly Com. 3 In Case your corruptions be but your infirmities they shall be no obstruction to your prayers David his unbelief did not prejudice the speeding of his prayers I said I am cast out of thy sight nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplication Psal 31.32 Who would have thought that a prayer mixt with so much infidelity should have the way to Heaven But the instance in the text is full to this purpose it is the very design of the H. Ghost he proveth the general Proposition vers 16. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much by a particular instance it being in materia necessaria prayer being a duty of universal necessity the special example of Elijah And it was not for his sake that it is written onely but for our sakes also the drift being a general encouragement to strengthen the hands of Gods Saints in prayer against the sence of their infirmities That if Elijahs prayers were of such prevalencie with God his passions notwithstanding our prayers shall not return altogether fruitlesse into our bosom though we likewise be incumbred with manifold corruptions it was not so much the dignity of Elijah his person as the integrity and uprightness of his heart which rendred his prayers acceptable with God He was an eminent Prophet indeed but he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of like passions with us The infirmities of our nature shall not prejudice the fervency of prayers Prayer is still of as much potency with God as ever There may be less of miracle in our answers then there was in Elijah's but there will be as much of love surely returns of prayer are not the fruit of our merit but of Gods free-grace they do not depend upon the worth of the supplicant but upon the merit and intercession of our surety Numb 14.12 And if Moses a servant prevailed by his intercession for an whole Nation notwithstanding their rebellions how shall Christ the Son prevail with his Father for his dear Children notwithstanding their infirmities Eph. 1.6 He hath made us accepted in the Beloved Lastly Fourth and last Com. The time is coming and it hastens apace when infirmities in the Saints whether natural or sinful shall be perfectly cured death will be an absolute cure death will be the death of all your corruptions Now they do not reign blessed be God then they shall not live now they be but slaves Hewers of wood and drawers of water the infirmities of the Saints find them hewing work and weeping work the time is coming when they shall not be the time is coming when the Saints shall rest from their labours and all tears shall be wiped from their eyes Here is good news for the conflicting servants of God They shall not alwayes pray in vain nor strive in vain nor wrestle in vain God will not alwayes be wanting to their faithful endeavours And truly now he is not wanting but they are not alwayes so sensible of his presence and assisting grace with them in their conflicts but the time is hastning when they shall weep no more sign no more when they shall have no more cause to complain Oh! my pride Oh! my passion and Oh! my love of the world and Oh! my hypocrisy and Oh! my unbelief c. But when they shall stand upon the shore and see all these Egyptians lye drowned and choked in the red Sea of Christs blood singing the song of Moses and of the Lumb Vnto him that loved us Rev. 15.6 and washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us KINGS and Priests unto our God and his Father to him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever Amen In the mean time let the sense of corruption set the Saints alonging for that day Corruption will never be totally destroyed till this mortal put on immortality This cursed leprosy of sin is so soaked penetrated into our natures that it will never be got out till the walls of the house be pulled down Washing and rubbing and scraping will not serve the turn but the whole structure of nature must be demolished the body of sin and the body of flest must be buried in one grave And therefore Let the Redeemed of the Lord rejoice in expectation of this day Rev. 22.20 let them lift up their heads with joy Phil. 3.20 because their redemption draweth nigh and having their conversation in Heaven let them look for the Saviour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change THESE BODIES OF VILENESS these vessels of rottneness and impurity to be like to his glorious body Surely I come quickly saith the Bridegroom let the Spirit and the Bride say Come even so Come Lord Jesus To God onely Wise be Honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen FINIS
in other places to whom he might say 1 Cor. 9.2 The seal of my Apostleship are ye in the Lord and that may say again of him 2 Cor. 9.15 My Father my Father who drew their first spiritual breath under his Ministry Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift Fifthly Elias was faithful in standing up for the Lord even when he thought himself alone against the tide and torrent of the Apostacy of that generation which might justly wonder to see it self turned Baalist But the holy Prophet wanted neither zeal nor courage to appear 1 King 19.14 Ingemuit terrarum orbis se Arrianum invenisse As it was in Athanasius his time 1 Kings 8.22 and protest against them and their Idolatry to their very faces I say alone The prophets of Baal are four hundred and fifty men but I even I ALONE am a Prophet of the Lord let them therefore give us two bullocks c. His zealous spirit could not bear their halting between two opinions and therefore provokes them to the dispute before all the people the God that answeareth by fire let him be God And his courage was rival with his fidelity and zeal vers 21. He feared not the face of Ahab vers 24. though a potent and a cruel King He spares not to tell him vers 18. I have not troubled Israel but thou and thy fathers house He feared not all the false prophets of Jezabel though they had the people to back them Take the prophets of Baal vers 40. let not one of them escape What a mighty spirit of God was that upon him that he a single unarmed man should not be afraid to command and see execution to be done upon four hundred and fifty Idolatrous prophets under the wing of an Idolatrous Queen and before the very face of a wicked King Thousands of their subjects standing by who but now were so cow'd with fear that they had not a word to say for the true and living God! here was courage to a Miracle Our reverend brother had his proportion of this fidelity zeal and courage He was faithful to Jesus Christ his truths and ordinances In all the Changes that went over his head in all the Controversies of the times wherein he exercised his Ministery he he was a most strenuous Assertor of the truth and amost couragious opposer of Error and Innovation and that even while some higher then other by head shoulders in their own eyes did basely and unworthily betray their Cause Hee feared not the face of man in the Cause of Jesus Christ He durst tell the greatest person he had to do with of their faults Malleus haereticerum Anabaptists and Antinomians Arrians Quakers Antiscripturists c. upon just occasion in the worst of times He was an hammer to beat down error and blasphemy where ever it met him he could not bear with them that preach down Poedo-baptisme the Christian Sabbath Vniversities Schooles of Learning ordination and other ordinances and institutions of Jesus Christ The Apostle prophesieth to us of some and in the latter times that will not endure sound doctrine it was the zeal and fidelity of our brother that he could not endure unsound doctrine 2 Tim. 4.3 no not the lispings or likenesse of it knowing the dangerous tendency thereof False opinions do insinuate themselves by the use of dark dubious expressions and it is the policy of seducers and men of corrupt principles when they dare not speak out to shun the form of plain and wholesome words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Tim 1.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plaistred coyned words 2 Pet. 2.3 Rev. 2.2 and hide themselves under the masks of suspitious and doubtfull phrases or feigned words as Saint Peter calls them and so by new lights and new language they do insensibly undermine the truth and introduce their loose and rotten opinions This he could not bear with seducers nor they with him so that by this means he became a man of contention 2 Pet. 2.8 his righteous soul was vexed from day to day in seeing and hearing Sixthly Paral. 6 Elias was a man of a very tender spirit tender of the glory of God I have been very jealous for the Lord of Hosts Tender of his Saints and servants and ordinances so he continueth his complaint The children of Israel have forsaken thy Covenant 1 King 19.10.14 destroyed thine altars and slain thy Prophets with the sword his soul bled within him over the precious things and servants of God though he had his own life for a prey I onely am left this could not satisfie his zealous spirit Our honoured Friend now with God was a man in his degree of such another spirit He was jealous for God and for the interests of Jesus Christ they lay upon his heart with a great weight and made deep bleeding impressions His word was oft with Joshua And what wilt thou for thy great name Josh 7.9 Very tender towards the people of God his bowels wrought and melted within him towards poor perishing souls Chattam in Kent The Inhabitants of this place are his witnesses before God and man For your sakes that fear God here What offers hath he refused What affronts hath he sususteined What temptations hath he endured What opposition and reproach hath he born With what difficulties and straits hath he conflicted for many yeares together Phil. 2.30 not regarding his own life or the concernments of a numerous and necessitous family to supply your spiritual necessities He did spend and was spent he even offer'd up himself upon the sacrifice and service of your faith Verse 17. truly he was not only your Minister but even a Martyr among you What love and honour and mercy and liberality you owe unto his Name and poor Orphanfamilie left with you judge ye Surely if he sowed unto you spiritual things it is no great matter if his poor family reap your carnal things through his poverty you were made rich in the midst of your riches let not his Relicts remaine poor But to proceed Elias Paral. 7 was a mortified man He was so far from living to the world that he hardly lived in the world like his successor and anty-type John the Baptist he lived separated from the world while he was in it Matth. 3.4 choosing rather to live among bruit beasts then among bruitish men 2 King 1.8 his fare hard and his raiment course both suitable to a wildernesse not to Court or City This man of God now with God was a man dead to the world while he lived in it He was not a man of the mode his habit and diet spake a mortified frame of heart He was not given to juncating and feasting and ranting with vain and wanton persons as the manner of some is to the infinite scandal of the Gospel He sought not great things for himself nor laid about him to fether
ELIAH'S ABATEMENT Or CORRUPTION IN THE SAINTS Discovered and distinguished in a Sermon Preached at Chatham in KENT At the Funeral of that Faithful Minister of the Gospel Mr. GUALTER ROSWELL M. A. Late Preacher there By THO. CASE M. A. and Rector of Giles in the Fields LONDON Printed by E. T. for Luke Fawn and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the Parrat in Pauls Church-yard 1658. To his much honoured FRIENDS CHARLES BOWLS Esq High Sheriff of Kent PETER PETT Esq one of the Commissioners of the Navie RICH. ISACKSON Esq Capt. PHINEAS PETT His Loving and Respected NEPHEW Capt. JOHN PILGRIM With the rest of the Inhabitants of Chatham in Kent Worthy and well-beloved Friends THE death of a faithfull Minister the Gospel is no small losse unto a people especially when the spirit of errour and seduction is gone out into the world It is like the taking off a Shepherd from his Flock when the Wolves are abroad or the Hen from her Chickens when the birds of prey are upon the wing It is like the removing of a Watch-man from his Watch-Tower when the enemy is upon his march a skilful Pilot from the Helm or the Helm from the Ship in the midst of a tempestuous and a fluctuating Sea like the slaughter of a General in the head of his Army when the Enemy is ready to Charge Surely none of these are of more fatal influence in the affairs of the worldly state then the other of the Evangelical In such a juncture of time hath God taken away from your head that Precious and Worthy Servant of His your late Reverend and Faithful Pastor Mr. GUALTER ROSWELL whose eminent abilities unwearied labours in publick and in private impartial fidelity and compassionate spirit over perishing sinners and in a word his great integrity in all his ministerial out-goings before you I humbly conceive there are none among you but will thankfully acknowledge unless such possibly whom either erroneous principles or loose practises occasioned to look upon him as their * Gal. 4.16 An expectas ut Quintilianus ametur Enemy That this Lot may not be of so fatal consequence unto you accept I beseech you a few Advices from him that loveth you In the first place Ad ∣ vice 1 Be deeply sensible of your Loss Truly your Loss is great and unsensibleness will be the aggravation of it while your loss is but your affliction unsensiblenesse will be your sin A sin which God severely animadverts though it do but relate to Saints of a more private station The righteous perisheth and no man layeth it to heart and merciful men are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come Isa 57.1 This Jer. 22.15 16. 2 Chron. 34.3.35.23 24. some restrain to the person of JOSIAS That righteous and merciful Prince but the words seem more general being taken collectively as Ps 11.5 And without question MANY godly ones of that age were taken away by a premature death and that in a judicial severity to the surviving generation of the profane hypocritical Israelites who in the mean time gave themselves to security letting themselves loose to all sensual excesses And that as it were under the protection of divine patience taking Gods silence for Gods consent and his long-suffering towards them as an infallible evidence of his approbation of their wickednesses Now if it were such a sin to over-look Providence in the death of righteous and merciful men what an aggravation of guilt is it to be blind to the severer dispensations of justice in the untimely death of righteous and merciful Ministers whose lives are of a more publick and Vniversal influence Surely to shut our eyes against such signal indiciums of divine displeasure is highly provoking to God and may justly bring a people or a person within the verge of that tremendous curse Because they regard not the works of the Lord Psal 28.5 nor the operation of his hands he will destroy them and not build them up Secondly Adv. 2 Lay to heart your great unthankfulness and unfruitfulness under such precious influences I am afraid while some did despise his excellent labours few did value them at a due rate While some were fruitful onely in the works of the flesh not many did answer Gods expectations Gal 5 2. in the fruits of the spirit I accuse none I caution all that while possibly you enquire into the cause of such an unexpected stroke every one may * 1 King 8.47 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If they return to their heart bethink themselves and cry with the Disciples Lord is it I Ah! Lord was my murmuring my unthankfulness my unanswerable conversation my unrighteous opposition c. the cause of this sore displeasure That which I see not Job 34.3 shew thou me and if I have done wickedly I will do so no more Thirdly Adv. 3 Seek the face of God in fasting and prayer TOGETHER and APART * Zech. 12 12. for the attoning of his favour and the recruiting of your loss Numb 2.14 Had but her Father spit in her face should she not be ashamed seven daies Said God to Moses concerning his murmuring Sister Dear Christians God hath done more then spit in your face Hos 6.13 Bern. told his brother A rough hewen souldier slighting his reproofes pointing to his side One day a Spear shall make way to thine heart for counsel to enter in this sad dispensation he hath smitten you and made him sick in smiting you God by this wound make way for his word to enter into your hearts You have cause to lye in the dust shame your selves in Gods presence as to deprecate with tender-hearted Josiah the wrath of God so to get your breach repaired And surely the recruit of such a loss is worth many daies of humiliation and the Lord accept of your faces in Christ I would faign have the name of Him that shall be your Minister 1 Sam. 1.20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 q. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Asked or Lent of Cod. be SAMUEL Holy Hannah will expound to you the mystery She called her son Samuel and why Because said she I asked him of the Lord. This will be your comfort and your honour That when you see a faithfull Minister in your Pulpit you may be able to say This is He whom we have begged of God A mercy got by prayer is a double mercy a blessing and the return of prayer too which whatever the blessing be is twice so much Fourthly Adv. 4 And that you may prosper in your choice let me humbly begg of you to forget all your own private opinions and differences Divisions have been the sad obstructions of Englands Reformation and Settlement I am confident had it not been for our unhappy dissents and more unhappy dissentions England had been the most glorious people upon the face of the earth since
Christ and his Apostles left the world For the divisions of Reuben are great searchings of heart Of which we may say as it was said once of the contentions between the Reformed Churches in Luthers time * Dissensus condonart potest modo adsit fides in Christo Dissensiones vero neque sisanguinem fundamus expiabimus Melanct to Luther Our DISSENTS had been pardonable I speak in order to matters of Discipline through faith in Christ but as for our DISSENTIONS all the blood in our veins will never wash off the guilt It is time for Christians to close and to make up their breaches Is not Religion tantum non destroyed by our divisions Ah! that all such as love Jesus Christ in CHATHAM would here in be exemplary that you would lay by all your differences and animosities and unite as one man in this work wherein the glory of God the honour of the Gospel your good and the good of your posterity is so highly concerned the choise of a Minister And for the guiding of your choise propound to your selves I beseech you some such Scripture-qualifications as follow 1. Let him be a learned man I am confident it is one of the policies of Antichrist amongst us To cry down learning as knowing that an ignorant and illiterate Ministry would easily betray the Protestant Religion into his hands Who should not be able to discover their impostures nor evade their Sophistry I do verily believe none are enemies to learning Latrones prius lampadem extinguunt tunc latrocinantur but such as are friends to that design Moses was skil'd in all the learning of the Egyptians Saint Paul brought up at the feet of Gamaliel and verst in Heathen learning he was able to confute them out of their own * Aratus Act. 17.28 Anacrcon 1 Cor. 15.32 Menader vers 33. Epimenides Tit 1.12 Whom the Cretians called a Prophet Poets The Pontificians have felt the dint of your Learned-Protestant Adversaries sword and therefore now would act the Philistines plot upon us 1 Sam. 13.19 that there should be no Smith found in all these three Nations lest they should make themselves swords and spears weapons of defence and offence to stand up against their Babylonian forces At least it is ignorance that loves ignorance and errour that shuns the light Secondly Qual 2 He must be also a man of a sound judgement and well verst in the Controversies of the times that so he may not only be able to preach truth but to confute errour Tit. 1.9 and convince the gain-sayer One that may be able to stop the mouth of seducers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to * Tit. 1.11 muzzle them as the word signifieth that they may not boldly The Devils words to Him were these What stand I talking with thee All men know thou art bold Rothwell and fearest no body nor carest for words therefore I will talk with thee no more See the life of Mr. Rothwell set forth by M. S. Clerk and blasphemously bark against the truth Such an one was your late and worthy ROSWELL the hammer of the Hereticks of this generation The Hereticks were as much afraid of his name as the Devil in poor possessed JOHN FOX of Nottingham-shire was lately of a man of a like name and Spirit famous ROTHWELL Thirdly Qual 3 Be sure to make choice of an holy man a man whose life may be a Continual Sermon that may teach by his conversation as well as by his doctrine He hath no life in his doctrine that hath not doctrine in his life Nay there is not a readier way to make men turn Atheists then for a Minister to preach strictly and live loosely Men will believe their eyes rather then their ears Vivitur exemplo and are lead by example rather then by precept whereby it cometh to pass that the sins of the teachers are the teachers of sin Fourthly Qual 4 Make choise of a man of an healing Spirit to which is required much prudence and integrity Prudence every fool can make divisions it is onely the wise man that can make them up And there must be integrity too least instead of healing divisions he comply with mens lusts and serve the interest of the Devil rather then of Jesus Christ as too many of our times do who would have the repute of sweet-spirited men Fifthly A man therefore of gravity and experience would be much desired among you Qual 5 Quickness of fancy is rarely joined especially in young men with soundness of judgment He that will do good in CHATHAM must carry some authority in his very person Whether my advice to you in these particulars may not come too late I know not if you have prevented me herein I shall count it labour well lost if not I pray God it may be a labour well bestowed And The God of the Spirits of all flesh set SUCH A MAN over your Congregation Numb 27.16 17. that may go in and out before you that the Congregation of the Lord even while you may have a preacher may not be as sheep without a shepherd Fifthly For his better encouragement Adv. 5 raise a competent provision for his comfortable subsistence that while he should be studying for your Souls he may not be distracted with cares for his own Family It is the divinity of our times That the Ministers of the Gospel must live upon the Contributions of the people the people may indent with him for his work but he must not indent with them for his wages he must be bound but they be free and I would they were free indeed An expedient which these times have found out to tye up the Ministers tongue under their girdles flatterers by this means may probably scrape out a livelyhood but faithful ones without special providence are likely to be sterved They hate him that reproveth in the gate It is in the power of your hand to prevent this mischief I know not any Congregation of that quality in England wherein it is a matter of more facility less charge to raise up a liberal subsistence for a faithful Minister then your CHATHAM is I know what I say Worthy Friends make not your Minister an Almes-man that the poor man dare not to reprove sin lest one of my Masters withdraw his contribution In this sence I would have him be an Independent that he may speak the truth of God without fear Sixthly Adv. 6 Forget not the labour of love and the work of faith of Him that now is at rest with God His dear and precious Relicts are yet with you what He is not capable of in person pay unto his posterity It is but a small matter when you have reapt of the Fathers Spirituals that his Orphan-Family partake of your temporals He was content to leave them poor that he might make you rich in the midst of your riches let not his precious relations remain poor Lastly my
abilities both of gifts and graces for the work of his Ministerie Thirdly par 3 Elias was a father and Chief Governour of the Colledge wherein the children of the Prophet were trained up 2 King 2. Our dear Brother was though not a father yet a son of the Prophets though not the Governour yet an Alumnus in the Scools of the Prophets where he improved his time and studies to a great maturity to give him his due he was an excellent Scholar both in the Arts in the Tongues and generally verst in other kinds of learning as those that were intimately acquainted with him can bear witness He had a notable faculty in Poetry though his intention and attendance upon the Queen of all sciences and professions the study of Divinity allowed him no leasure to indulge his fancy that way as thinking it excentrick to his heavenly motion He was singularly verst as generally in the Controversies between the Papists Reformed Churches so specially in the Controversies of the times which rendred him very able quick potent to convince gain-sayers who in all their congresses with him Act. 6.10 were not able as it was said of Steven to resist the wisdom and the Spirit whereby he spake The Jesuites save that their Masters have taught them this piece of their Mystery that what they cannot cleer by argument Non persuadebis etiamsi persuaseris they will darken by clamour that whatsoever the premises be they will keep the conclusion and whoever have the better yet they will cry victory In the next place Par. 4 Elijah was a powerful Prophet His very name imports it Eli-jah which signifies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My strong God Jehovah or the Lord in the 1 King 17.1 it is Elijahu that is the Lord He is my strong God God indeed was strong in Elijah God manifested and magnified his mighty power in Elijahs person mighty in DEED working Miracles He called down fire from Heaven 2 King 1.12 14. 1 King 17.14.15 16. once and again He multiplieth the widows oil in the cruse and the meal in the barrel as Elijahs Lord afterward multiplied the loaves and the fishes He divideth the waters of Jordan with his Mantle 2 King 2.8 The mighty power of God indeed rested on him for even the fire and water obeyed him He was mighty in WORD mighty Evidence whereof you have 1 King 18.39 whereas by one Sermon he brought back many thousands of the Idolatrous Israelites to the acknowledgement and worship of the true God a like instance of Divine power afterwards was that in the Apostle in the day of Pentecost who by one Sermon Act. 2. converted 3000 Souls Such a monument of Divine power was this holy Prophet Elijah Hence John the Baptist after him inherits his name Our Lord himself baptiseth him with it as it were This is Elias which was for to come Matth. 11.14 the exposition of which riddle so it was to the Jews with their very Rabbies also you have from the mouth of the Angel Luk. 1.17 vers 13. He shall go before Him in the Spirit and power of Elias That promise of God to the Jews Matth. 4.5 Behold I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord was not to be literally understood as the Scribes doted Matth. 17.10 as if Elias had been personally to rise again from the dead before the Revelation of the Messiah but foretold of John the Baptist that he should stand up in the Spirit and power of Elijah as the Harbenger of Jesus Christ and wherein was this power to be exerted Mark that for it is very observable Luk. Luke 16.17 vers 17. 1.16 Many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God and to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just therein the Baptist was another Elias for as Elias turned back the Idolatrous Israelites to the true worship of the Lord their God so did John the Baptist Matth. 3.1 by preaching the doctrine of repentance thereby preparing them for the Ministry of Jesus Christ turn many to the Lord so it is applied in the third verse of that third Chapter of St. Matthew This is he that was spoken of by Isaias the Prophet c. Thus John the Baptist was the Successour of Elias not so much in doing miracles as in his powerful Preaching his Ministry was a powerful Ministry how did he thunder against the Pharisees Sadduces who came to his Baptism Matth 3.7 O generation Vipers who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come c. A terrible Exordium and the whole Sermon is of the same strein startling and convincing full of terrour I have not time to read it much less to run a Paraphrase upon it This gracious servant of the Lord whom we have this day followed to the Sepulchre was Successour as I may so say both to Elias and John the Baptist not as I said in working Miracles but in a powerful Ministry He was a Boanerges 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Ministry was a thundring Ministry And I would to God we had more of them there is need of them Thunder they say purgeth the air and if so we have need of more such sons of thunder amongst us and not such as will preach placentia unto people sow pillows under their elbows and sing men to hell with sweet Lullabies of peace peace when there is no peace Our air is pestilentially infectious not onely in the Physicians sence who tell us that the cause of the late mortality among us yet not universally healed though blessed be the God that heareth prayers wonderfully abated was the infection of the air but in the Divines sence our spiritual Physicions who tell us our climate is mortally infected with the Pests of Heresies and Blasphemies and with the putrid stinch of all manner of poisonous lusts and this is the fatal source of all our plagues both in Church State This our precious brother was deeply sensible of and hence it was that his spirit was warmed within him to a more than ordinary degree of zeal in his Ministry that so he might be an healer in the land of his nativity in the places where he lived His Ministry was a startling an awakning convincing warming clear instructive edifying Ministry And it wanted not success through grace God set a seal to his Ministry and he saw of the travel of his soul in all the places whither Providence sent him I hope in this place there be many living monuments of the power of God in his Ministry As his preaching bare witness to God so God bare witness to his preaching in raising up a spiritual seed thereby to his elder Brother the Lord Jesus I am confident there be many here as
his nest as some do that would be counted Saints of the first magnitude Verily covetousnesse never so invaded the professing party as in this hypocritical generation wherein we live no our brother was crucified to the world Gal. 6 14. 2 Cor. 4.18 and the world to him He lookt not upon the things that are seen but upon the things that are not seen He coveted no mans silver or gold never any man passed under harder pressures with greater silence and contendednesse He had but little yet when demanded how it was with him he would alwayes reply with much cheerfulnesse he had enough and wanted nothing Yea in the midst of all his straits he was not only unquerulous but liberal liberal even to profusenesse He never cared how little was given him nor how much he gave to others that were due objects of charity Covetous he was only in laying out for Christ not in laying up for himself and surely his compassionate spirit had undone him long since had not that promise recruited him Isa 32.8 The liberal man deviseth liberal things and by liberal things he shall stand and Psal 37.26 he is ever mercifull and lendeth and his seed is blessed The Lord make good this his promise to this surviving Orphans In the next place Paral. 8 Elijah was a man much and mighty in prayer the Text represents so much unto us Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are yet he prayed earnestly c. in another place the Scripture calls him the Intercessor of Israel Wote ye not how Elijah mirketh intercession to God for Israel Rom. 11 2. Elijah by his prayers was a Mediator between God and his people And surely our Brother was a man of prayer much in prayer both with the people of God and for them in publick in private in their houses and in his own house and closet he poured out his soul to God night and day Surely England hath lost one of her Intercessors one of the Lords remembrancers a Moses a Samuel a Jacob a wrestler with God who stood in the gap and helped to turn away the wrath of God from a sinfull nation Elijah was much in fasting Paral. 9 as well as in prayer 1 King 19.8 he fasted forty dayes and forty nights at one time This holy man was frequent in this duty he joyned fasting with prayer not seldom so that he might well with the Apostle put it into his Catalogue 2 Cor. 11.27 I cannot call it the Catalogue of sufferings because he counted such dayes as his feasting dayes in fastings often It was his meat and drink thus to do the will of his heavenly Father Elias was a persecuted Prophet Paral. 10 one of those our Saviour mentions Mar. 5.12 1 Kings 10.18 Ch. 19.1 2 3. in his Beatitudes so persecuted they the Prophets that were before you persecuted by Ahab and persecuted by Jezabel put to flye for his life and often driven by the severer dispensations of providence from place to place he was one of those holy wanderers the Holy Ghost makes mention of Heb. 11.37 they wandred about in Sheep-skins and Goat-skins being destitute afflicted tormented This faithful Minister of the Gospel he had his share in the persecution of the times wherein he lived from his very first entrance upon his Ministry according to the prophesie of our Saviour Matth. 5.11 12. and truly it had been a wonder if he should have escaped it For as our Lord subjoyns the reason to his prediction of the Apostles sufferings verse 13. His Ministry was salt he was salt in his life and salt in his doctrine not only savoury but quick and corroding smart and searching which corrupt times and ulcered consciences could not bear 2 Tim. 4.3 This enraged and enflamed the spirits of unsound men and raised much trouble and persecution against him wheresoever he came which gave him occasion often to flit from one place to another to avoyd the fury of unreasonable men Psal 56.8 And this David put among his sufferings Thou tellest my wandrings put thou my tears into thy bottle And others of the faithfull Ministers of Jesus Christ have had their share with him in this kind of persecution Math. 10.23 The world cannot beare the plain dealing of Gospell-Ministers there is none so hated as the Reprover in the gate Amos 5.10 Elias was miraculously fed and preserved in the midst of all those hardships and persecutions by immediate Providence Paral. 11 A widow ready to perish 1 King 17.5 6. Verse 9.12 15 17. is his Suckler and a bird of prey his Caterer c. The providences of God toward our Reverend Brother were highly observable surely in the eyes of many standers by it was little lesse then a miracle how he and his numerous family have subsisted for divers years last elapsed his visible revenue not having exceeded 30 l. per annum But he lived by Faith and not by Sense that promise was his best salary Psal 37.3 Trust in the Lord and do good and verily thou shalt be fed He was not a man that would take Gods work out of his hand and neglect his own as many do he look't to the condition and trusted God to make good the promise Elias appeared with Christ in the Mount of transfiguration Paral. 12 Mat. 17 3. This servant of Christ had his tranfigurations also Though he acknowledged with Bern. Rara hara brevis mora 1 Pet. 1.8 Jesus Christ did sometimes call him up into the mountain where he shewed him his glory he had in his proportion his visions and revelations sometimes full of joy unspeakable and glorious Elijah when he was to leave the world 2 King 2.8 his way lay through Jordan Psa 130.1 and our Brother had his Jordan also to passe through deep waters of desertion which threatned to go over his soul and out of these depths he cried to the Lord. But it was his happinesse and honour that he found Elijah's mantle as well as his Jordane his faith I mean For surely it was the faith of Elijah that divided Jordan and not his garment And by the vertue of this faith did this precious man go through his Jordan so that the waters did not drown him God hid his face from him for a season and he was troubled Psal 30.7 But he was pleased to dispell the cloud and caused his face to shine upon him again which caused his departing soule to break forth into this triumphant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a little before his last breath VICTORY VICTORY VICTORY The Devil was a Coward and durst not set upon this holy man till he thought Faith and Reason and almost Sence were exhausted and could make no refistance But the Lord Jesus having loved this his Disciple loved him to the end and was strong in his weak servant to overcome the Devil in this last encounter so that he breathed out his
soul and his doxologie together THANKS BE TO GOD FOR JESVS CHRIST And yet let us follow Elias a step or two further with Elishah his servant Paral. 14 2 Reg. 1.6 Elias went up to heaven in a fiery Chariot our Brother was carried up in a burning fever or rather he ascended up into glory in the triumphant Chariot of victorious assurance of the love of God in Jesus Christ Rom. 8.37 Lastly Paral. 15 Elijah let fall his mantle upon his servant Elishah who followed him in his ascension both with his eye and voyce My Father my Father 2 Rings 2.12 the Chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof This good man let fall the mantle of blessings and prayers upon his dear Friends and Relations that stood crying about him in some such kind of phrase My Father my Father c. a blessing suitable to the state condition of every stander-ly And thus this servant of Christ made his LAST Will and Testament if I be not mistaken his ONLY Will Testament of Praise and Prayer praising God and blessing men And thus much for the Parallel between Elijah and our Reverend Brother I come now to the second thing propounded for the just vindication of our Brother of the truth it self and that is to shew you That the affection of Anger rightly qualified and managed is of singular use and advantage in the life and work of a Christian especially of a Minister of the Gospel which ought in no wise to be branded with the usual scandal of choler and passion I make no question the false prophets and their seduced proselytes stuck not to blast the holy Prophet in my Text with the same reproach a furious man a man of an intemperate and unbridled spirit that valued not mens lives but in his anger would not stick to call down fire from Heaven to destroy an hundred men at a time c. The very meek Spirit of God records it here in my Text that he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of like passions with us and yet without any disparagement to his memorial in the land of the living To which end let me 1. in general put you in mind of this viz. That the passion of anger with other affections in nature at what time the person in whom they are is regenerate they do change their nature and become regenerate too and being baptized with the blood and spirit of Jesus Christ they receive Divine impressions and so pass into the catalogue of gracious affections and dispositions and become instruments of exceeding honour and service in the hand of Jesus Christ Jam. 3.17 who is pleased to make use of them in his own work ex gr WIT regenerate becometh Heavenly wisdom LOVE sanctified Gal. 5.6 Faith working by Love becomes an active principle in the hand of Faith FEAR besprinkled with the blood of Christ becomes a notable Andidote and prefervative against sin Hate I not them that hate thee c. Psal 139.21 HATRED spiritualized an holy Antipaethy with any thing or person contrary to God COVRAGE sanctified by the Holy Ghost Zach. He that is as David shall be like an Angel of God is turned into a kind of Angelical fortitude And thus to be short PASSION born again of water and the spirit becometh the grace of Zeal and holy jealousy for God and for the interest of Jesus Christ Anger sanctified is that to the affections which edge is to the instrument which varnish is to colours which wind is to the sails of a ship judgment is the ballast but zeal is the full gale it is as mettle to the horse it is the activity of every grace every affection red hot for Jesus Christ Cant. 8.7 which much water cannot quench neither can the floods drown it In a word passion refined and spiritualized is every faculty of the Soul acting to its height for the glory of God The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up Psal 69 9. To be short Sanctified anger in the Saints of God is not that which the world takes it to be a short madness Psal 31. Furor ira brevis but a grace of the Spirit of God yea it is a compound and temperament of all graces acting in summo gradu in the height of intention for the promoting of the concernments of Christs Kingdom I told before that Elijah was an useful man though he was subject to passion I shall tell you more now He was therefore so useful BECAVSE he was subject to passion his anger and passion being sanctified made him so abundantly active for God and the reformation of the publick worship doctrine and ordinances in his generation had he wanted his passion he had wanted some of his zeal for God And so it was with our worthy brother deceased That which an idle wanton loose luke-warm generation of professors as well as prophane persons for the palliating of their own hypocrisie and Gallio-like-indifferency in matters of religion called passion and choler in him was in deed and in truth nothing but his zeal and courage and activity for Jesus Christ which truly did even consume him Alas in this apostate generation all things have lost their proper names the Devil appears in Samuels mantle Satan in the form of an Angel of light and sin puts on the habit of vertue that it may deceive the more safely Thus Luke-warmness and cursed neutrality in religion passeth abroad for meekness and sweetness of Spirit Carnal Policy for Christian Prudence Cursed Compliance with the lusts of men for moderation and command of a mans spirit sic in coeteris While zeal and fidelity to the truth ordinances and government of Jesus Christ heare ill in the world and suffer all the odium and scandal that a reviling world and the venemous wit of malice can heap upon it Truly the earth is not able to bear their words And therefore Jam. 2.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you that fear God be instructed and take heed how ye became Judges of evil thoughts that ye do not judge perversly according to your own corrupt thoughts or according to the corrupt thoughts of the men of the world whose judgment is totally perverted by carnal interest and vile affections Take heed Isa 5. ye do not call good evil and evil good put light for daokness and darkness for light and so condemn the generation of Gods Children and bless the proud whom the Lord abhorreth And thus having premised thus much in general concerning anger and passion in the Saints Because indeed even where this affection is sanctified it is not sanctified quite through but may have even in the best of Saints and without question in this servant of Christ had some mixtures of the old corrupt nature troubling and distempering it sometimes which makes the Saints go mourning and sighing within themselves and wishing to be dissolved and to be with Christ Let me come
God and of Religion the concernments of Jesus Christ and of mens immortal soules Indignities and affronts offered to himself did not tempt out the fervour and acrimony of his spirit as those which were put upon Christ and his precious Truths If so your consciences cannot gainsay it call him no more an angry passionate cholsrick man but call him a faithful plain-dealing zealous Minister of Jesus Christ lest otherwise God hear and be angry and judge you for your passion and partialty And lastly Rule 5 When the warmth and keennesse of a mans spirit is acted not so much against the persons as against the wickedness of men who hold the truth of God in unrighteousnesse Call it not anger and passion bat zeal for God and compassion on mens souls Passion le ts flye its arrows against the persons of men zeal only against their sins Indeed sins and persons are so near that a man can hardly distinguish sometimes between the person and the sin to avoyd the danger therefore let men stand furtther off from their sins that he that strikes at their sins may not with the same blow be judged to strike at their persons also But this is that which I say the heat of anger must be against the crime rather then against the person and when it is mixt with grief which sets pity and prayer on work for the offending party as it is said of Christ Mark 3.5 then it is pure zeal and not distemper'd anger I have done both with the Sermon and with the occasion Onely in as much as the Passions of the Regenerate as I hinted before are not all over regenerate nor have I made this Apology for the Saints in general or this our brother for whose loss we mourn this day in particular as if I conceived there were no sin in their Anger no strange fire in their passion yea because the Saints of God discover much distemper in their affections and passions sometimes even when they act for God for which they judge themselves bitterly in the presence of God for the preventing of mistakes on the right hand or on the left give leave to adde a word or two of Direction now in the close for your better improvement of the doctrine It is twfold sc 1. A word of Caution 2. A word of Comfort Caution 1. To all in general 2. To the Saints in particular To all in generall First 1. Caution general take heed of mistaking your infirmities take heed of putting a softer name upon your Corruptions then God doth and the Scripture doth this is the general deceit amongst Christians Sin takes sanctuary under infirmity Every wicked man calls his Iusts his gross sins his infirmities The Drunkard sayes it is my infirmity the Swearer sayes it is my infirmity the Adulterer alas what would you have him do it is his infirmity sic in caeteris Every prophane wretched miscreant hath taken hold of the horns of the Altar and there he cries alas this is my infirmity Brethren take heed say not infirmity when it is more then infirmity Quest When is that When sin is more then infirmity Answ 1. When men are more sollicitous for pardon then for Cure they are more then infirmities if pardon alone would quiet thy spirit without healing thou art under a mortall disease The Saints cry heal me O Lord and I shall be healed and this is an argument of their sincerity desire of pardon only argueth Self-Love desire of Cure argueth love to Jesus Christ desire of pardon argueth men fear hell only but desire of healing argueth men fear God defire of pardon only sheweth men would be content to live in sin if they durst desire of Cure shewes men would not live in sin if they might Secondly much more when men study the satisfaction of their lusts In exordio adolescentrae petieram à te castitatem continentiam c. more then the mortification of them they are more then infirmities Augustine confesseth of himself before Coversion he prayed sometimes for the gift of chastity but there was something within that secretly whispered Timebam si neâ—citò exaudires sanares me à morbo boncupisâ—entiae quam expleri malebam quam extingui not yet Lord for sayes he I was afraid lest God should hear me too soon and cure in me that distemper which I had rather should have been saisfied then mortified This is the temper of every unregenerate person Conviction may make them pray against their lusts sometime but love of sin makes them indulge them they cannot find in their hearts to lay violent hands upon them they be yet as their own flesh and no man ever yet hated his own flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it when men are so tenderly affected to their Corruptions they are more then infirmities sin reigns when men dare not displease it nor rise up in opposition against it Thirdly Third note of reigning sin sin is more then infirmity when men are impatient of Conviction when men are so tender of their corruptions that a man must not touch them He that toucheth them toucheth the apple of their eyes Gracious hearts are glad of conviction let the righteous smite me Psal 141. it shall be a precious oyle c. When reproof is a wound which men cannot bear it is a sign sin is alive and whole within them Sin is then King â—worâ— the soul Eccles 8.4 when a man must not say unto it what dost thou Prov. 3.31 and against which there is no rising up The more any corruption is indulged the lesse infirmitie is in it Fourthly Fourth note when a man or a woman is never troubled with their corruptions but when wrath is upon them then they are more then infirmities The godly go mourning under their secret corruptions when the Sun shines upon their Tabernacles with the warmest influences yea when God is pleased to shine into their hearts with the clearest beams of love the more sensible the Saints are of Gods love the more they hate their own corruptions because they make them unlike to God They that are never troubled with corruption but when wrath is upon them it is wrath that troubles them and not corruption this is not infirmity Carnal people are never good but when they are under the rod and then not because their sins displease God but because Gods judgements displease them Fiftly when Infirmities serve men only for apologies they are more then infirmities when a man can say of any corruption it is my infirmity and acquiesce there it is very dangerous This is certain men in nature do not sit down patient under infirmities because infirmities Corruption is all wed where infirmity is the apology and allowed corruption is more then infirmity The Saints infirmites are their afflictions their burdens not their apologies Oh wretch that I am Rom 7.24 who shall deliver me c. Sixthly Sixth note when
transport them out into indecent excesses commotions of spirit to the dishonour of the Gospel and the grief of the godly Ninthly Cons 9 The more infirmity the lesse grace Tenthly Cons 10 But the more sence of infirmity the more grace To be sensible of the least corruption and to mourn over it argues a tender conscience and strength of grace A sound eye cannot endure the least mote in it nor a tender conscience the least defilement Psal 19.12 Oh purge me from my secret sins Eleventhly Cons 11 and yet this is a consideration of greater weight that Infirmities neglected may grow to dangerous diseases as we see in nature a cold neglected may grow to a burning fever a distillation from the head upon the lungs if slighted may turn to a consumption c. and so in the spirituall constitution a lesser corruption not timely resisted and mortified may grow to be an head-strong lust which in the very godly shall keep grace at an under and make the Christian go halting to his grave It is good to deal with our infirmities betimes Obsta principiis Twelfthly And lastly Cons 12 to be sure spiritual infirmities may bring temporal judgements upon the Saints Moses his passion Num. 20.12 made him fall short of the promised land Davids surprize into murder and adultery entails the sword upon him and his family to all generations 1 Sam. 12.10 Luk. 1.20 Zechariah his unbelief strikes him dumb for a season Eli his indulgence to his Sons 1 Sam. 3.13 Cum ch 4.18 betrayes the Ark into the enemies hand and then breaks his own neck Davids pride in a numerous people 2 Sam. 24.15 costs him the lives of 70 thousand subjects And Hezekiah his unthankfulness brought wrath upon himself and all Israel 2 Chr. 32.25 This is a startling consideration 1 Thes 1.10 Strong infirmities may bring strong afflictions that though the Lord Jesus hath delivered his Redeemed from wrath to come yet their very infirmities may lay them and their families under the bitter fruits of Gods righteous displeasure in this life God THEREBY vindicating his own impartiality his hatred against sin his unchangeable love to his people in chastening them here that they may not be condemned with the world And thus much for the first Caution I shall adde a few more very briefly Secondly Caut. 2 Be tender to your brethrens infirmities to the Saints but severe to your own this argues an excellent spirit when a Christian aggravateth his own failings but extenuates other mens when he maketh complaints against himself but apologies for his brethren Rom 7.24 I am a wretch sold under sin saith the Apostle of himself But as to other believers Gal. 5.17 The flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would It is the very same apology which our Lord Jesus made for his sleepy disciples in the garden the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak True Saints have apologies for others when they have none for themselves they can justify others while they judge themselves the greatest fault they find is with their own hearts A true child of God is made up of Passion and Compassion passion against himself and Compassion towards his brethren they condemn that in themselves which they can excuse in another yet not so as to suffer sin upon their brethren Consciousnesse to our own Corruptions Gal. 6.1 should make us tender of our brethren but our love to the souls of our brethren should make us faithfull to them A carelesse passing by an offending brother Levit. 19.17 is our sin not our love and hatred not compassion we should bear with one anothers infirmities yet so as to be healers physitians to their soul distempers not accessories It is a sin to speak of our brethren but it is our duty to speak unto them Heb. 3.13 It is a blessed thing to be of an healing and a restoring spirit Exhort one another daily while it is called to day lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin The Lord restore this spirit to his people in England or else we are like water spilt on the ground that can never be gathered up again Thirdly Caut. 3 When you begin to be proud mind your infirmities when your parts or graces lift up your spirits think of your Corruptions and say thus to your selves What have I within me an hard heart and shall I be proud an earthly heart and shall I be elated a lustfull heart and shall I be puffed up what shall I be covetous and proud passionate and proud poor in respect of grace and proud unable to mortify any corruption to stand before any temptation to perform any holy duty shall I be proud especially this consideration added nothing is mine own but my corruptions my parts graces are Gods concerning which I may say as the young Prophet of his Axes head alas for they are but borrowed What have I that I have not received and if received why do I glory To be proud of that which is none of our own is folly but to be proud of that which is Gods is sacriledge If therefore the sence of Grace at any time lift you up let the sence of corruption pull you down There is infinitely more in corruption to humble then there is in grace to elate and lift up the spirit Fourthly Caut. 4 Strive against your infirmities to the very death Object It may be a poor dejected soul may reply I have striven but I cannot prevaile corruption rather gets ground of me then I of corruption Answ To this complaint besides what I said before I reply two things 1. Strive still for consider if corruption lose no ground notwithstanding all thy wrestlings and conflicts what will it do if thou givest over striving if a man that rowes against the tide get no ground with plying his Oars how will he be carried down the stream if he strike not a stroke This thou must resolve on either to overcome thy infirmities or to be overcome by them Oh do not throw away thy weapons die not like a fool with thy hands bound It is a kind of victory on this fide the grave not to be driven out of the field De gemi pugnare to die fighting 2. If thy infirmities be too strong for thee Carry them to the cross of Christ remember Victory must be fetcht out of Christs blood This Crown is reserved for the head of Christ the King of Saints Victory is purchased and Christ hath overcome already in his own person there is * Phil. 3.10 Gal. 6.14 Eph. 1.2 power in the death of Christ as well as merit And he that hath overcome for thee on the Cross will overcome in thee by his spirit because greater is he that is in
you than he that is in the world 1 Joh. 4.4 And therefore Christian act faith upon the merit and upon the power of Christs Cross and believe down thy pride and believe out thy passion believe thy corruptions to death Faithfull is he that hath promised who alse will do it Let it not be the reproach of the Crosse of Christ that any corruption or lust should be too hard for it no there is enough and a redundancie in Christ only the Well is deep and therefore thou must bring the bucket of faith to it and then with joy thou mayst draw water out of this Well of salvation Caut. 5 Fifthly Be thankful O ye Saints servants of God if upon those scriptural discoveries already laid down you can evidence it to your own soules that the remainders of corruption in your natures are but infirmities that sin of a Lord is become a slave and of an obeyed Soveraigne is become a resisted Tyrant Oh! it is matter of great thankfulness that the dominion of sin is broken Although the Saints have cause to be humbled that they have infirmities cause to go mourning to the very death yet they have infinite cause to be thankful that they are but infirmities no longer domineering lusts but base underlings and vassals And therefore while the sence of Corruption maketh them complain with the holy Apostle Oh wretch that I am c. the consideration that sin is dethroned and remains now but as a blasted infirmity in the soul may cause them to triumph I thank God for Jesus Christ It was the merit of his Crosse that purchased this grace Rom. 8.3 Christ died that sin might not live He conlemned sin in the flesh He adjudged sin to death on his Crosse in his redeemed And by the power of his Crosse he puts the sentence into execution Gal. 5.24 they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Hence that security given Rom. 6.14 sin shall not reign in your mortal bodies it is an Exhortation verse â—2 let not sin reign to shew it is our duty to bring sin to the Crosse to do execution upon every lust but it is a promise in the fourteenth verse sin shall not reign to assure the believer that what Christ hath purchased with his blood he will accomplish by his Spirit sc the final and total destruction of the body of sin whereof this is the pledge and first fruits the dethroning of sin in the soul so that though it be yet it shall not be as a Lord sin shall not reign in your mortal bodies for ye are not under the Law but under Grace When the Lord turned again the Captivity of Zion Psal 126.1 2. our mouth was fill'd with laughter and our tongue with singing The redeemed soul hath not less cause to rejoyce whose spiritual captivity the Lord hath turned made them to lead Captivity captive 2 Tim. 2.26 to lead captive those lusts which led them captive before take captive by the devil at his pleasure So much for the Cautions I come now in the last place to close with the Comforts Comforts to the Saints ever their infirmities 1. Comfort Amongst many take these 1. Thy infirmities shall not prejudice thy acceptance with God This is a Christians comfort Though the world either through blindnesse cannot or through malice will not distinguish between infirmities and allowed wickednesse in the godly yet God both can and will He will distinguish between the Gold and the drosse between the chaffe and the wheat He will not cast away the gold because there is some drosse mixt with it nor throw the heap into the fire because there is much chaffe in it if there be but some grains of good seed God doth not cast off his people for their infirmities when he finds any precions grains of sincerity and grace in them It is highly observable concerning Sarah David Asa Jehosaphat c. when the spirit of God comes in Scripture to give us their characters he puts a veile upon their infirmities and takes notice only of their graces Gen. 17.12 Sarah laughed through unbelief yet when the Holy Ghost makes mention of her in the New Testament he takes notice only of her obedience and reverence to her husband Sarah obeyed Abraham 1 Pet. 3.6 and called him Lord. David had two terrible falls able to make every one that readeth to tremble but in his character God only takes notice of his integrity 1 King 9.4.11.4 6 14.8 his perfection the Vniversality of his obedience He did ONLY that which was right in mine eyes Asa had his failings He was wroth with the Seer 2 Chron. 16.10 and again In his sickness he sought not to the Lord but to the Physitians ver 12. yet in the accompt of his reign you find nothing 2 Chron. 14.17 2 Chron. 20.35 36. but this high eulogie The heart of Asa was perfect all his days And his son Jehosaphat contracted a wicked affinity he left reformation imperfect verse 33. yet in the summa totalis he inherits the testimony of his Fathers sincerity He walked in the way of Asa his Father 2 Chron. 20.32 and departed not from it doing that which was right in the sight of the Lord. Oh what a Cordial is this for the fainting hearts of Gods dear children sinking under the sense of their corruptions When God comes to weigh them in the ballance of the Sanctuary he leaves out their infirmities and puts nothing into the scales but their graces He overlooks what is theirs and takes notice onely of what is his own and so holdeth them forth to the world as models of perfection God will not onely pardon Com. 2 but pitty the infirmities of his people When their infirmities are their afflictions they be the objects of Gods Compassion Of all the children in the Family the Father pitieth the weak child the lame child and the sick child when the poor child crieth Father take me Father help me Father hold me Father carry me the Fathers bowels melt within him and his compassions are rolled together Like as a Father pitieth his children Ps 103.13 so the Lord pitieth them that fear him Isa 63 9. In all their affliction he is afflicted and the Angel of his presence saveth them When God seeth a poor believer striving and wrestling and conflicting with his corruptions weeping and mourning over them like a dove of the valley sighing with the breaking of his loins and crying Lord help Lord rebuke my temptations Lord subdue my corruptions pleading and pressing the promise Lord thou hast said sin shall not have dominion over me Rom. 6.14 thou hast said I will heal their back-sliding Hos 14.4 I will love them freely c. Why now Lord Psal 119.49 Remember the word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope and pressing it again and again Behold