His Affectionss are perverted Being turned from God Slighting his Word 2 Tim. 4. 3. 4. Never praying unto him Psal 14. 4. Hating his Children Prov 29. 27. Being set on the world That is his Treasure Mat. 6. 21. That he minds Phil. 3. 19. To this corrupt frame of his soul his life is answeâ—able Mat. 7. 17. He is a worker of Iniquity Mat 7. 23. He walks in the waies of sin Prov. 1. 15. He accustometh himself unto it Jer. 13. 23. The Anointing of the head or hair was wont to set forth the chearfulness of the heart Mat. 6. 17. And was used by them who spent their time in voluptuous living Amos 6. 6. By my Apprehenders I understand all affected vanities whatsoever but especially as to my self that of worldly Pleasures By his being bare-headed a sinners boldness in sin By his deformed countenance a sinners loathsomness in the sight of God The heart of him in whom sin reigns being set upon the world it hath three Cords of vanity Is 5. 18. By which wicked men are taken and holden by them Pro. 5. 22. These are Honour Wealth Pleasure with the sins attending upon them 1 John 2. 16. Among all these vanities whatsoever is in the world is such Eccles 1. 2. None is so alluring and prevailing as Pleasure in which snare of Satan I was held and taken captive at his will 2 Tim. 2. 26. Voluptuousness hath a strong power over the soul and binds a sinner fast The Ambitious and Covetous when invited to the great Supper desired fairly to be excused but the voluptuous man answered flatly that he could not come Luke 14. 20. To let pass those temporal wants which it prepares the way unto Prov. 21. 17. with that brutish lowness in the spirit to which by sensuality the sinner is brought down Psal 32. 9. It discovers the mind to be wholly camal Tit. 3. 3. It choaks the seed of the Word Luke 8. 14. It takes off the heart from Goodness Hos 4. 11. It extingiusheth Charity Amos 6. 6. It blinds the mind 1 Kings 11. 3. It keeps out the Love of God 2 Tim. 3. 4. It puts the soul into a condition of spiritual death 1 Tim. 5. 6. To these add its shamelesseness at which height I was arrived And what can be expected but that he who is of purer eyes than to behold evil Hab. 1. 13. should with loathing as he doth from every one by any other vanity whatsoever yet enslaved to his Corruption turn away his face from that soul that is over-run with it Isa 59. 2. Obs Reigning Corruption renders a sinner vain bold in sin and loathsom in the eyes of God Vain Texts 2 Tim. 3 4. Lovers of Pleasures more than lovers of God 1 Pet. 1. 18. Redeemed from your vain Conversation Inst Solomons Wives turned away his heart 1 Kings 3. 12. The Gentises walked in the vanity of their minds Eph. 4 17. Bold in sin Texts Jer. 3. 3. Thou hadst an Whores Forhead thou refusedst to be ashamed 2 Pet. 2. 10. 13. They that walk after the flesh shall receive the reward of unrighteousness as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time Iâ—st Jerusalem and Judah their countenance witnessed against them they declared their sin as Sodom and did not hide it Isa 3. 9. The Harlot caught the young man and kissed him and with an impudent face said unto him I have decked my Bed c. Prov. 7. 13. 16. Loathsom Texts Ezek. 16. 6 c. I saw thee polluted in thine own Blood and I said unto thee when thou wast in thy Blood live Rev. 3. 18. I counsel thee to buy of me white rayment that thou maist be cloathed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear Inst Adam was afraid because he was naked and hid himself Gen 3. 10. Aaron by the Golden Calf had made the Israelites naked to their shame Exod. 32. 25. Reas The mind is in or set upon wicked works Col. 1. 21. Use 1. The slavish and loathsom condition of man while in the state of nature Rom. 1. 28 c. 2. Let not sin reign in thy mortal body that thou shouldst obey it in the lusts thereof Rom. 6. 12. 3. Beware of Voluptuousness it is a strong enflaver of the soul Luke 14. 20. 4. Thank God that thou art free from sin and become the Servant of Righteousness Rom. 6. 18. Resol Being dead unto sin and alive unto God I will yield my self unto God and my Members as Instruments of Righteousness unto him Rom. 6. 11 13. Ejac. O wreâ—ced man that I am Who shall deliver me from the body of this death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 7. 24 25. Paral. II. Circ My Apprehender led me on I knew not whither until we came unto a Prison Obs Natural men are by their Corruption led on insensibly unto Hell TO the receiving of the things of God is required A due esteem of them Col. 1. 27. A spiritual eye to discern them Eph. 1. 18. The Natural man counts them foolishness and wanting this eye doth not cannot know them 1 Cor. 2. 14. By this ignorance that is in him he is alienated from the life of God Eph. 4. 18. And while he so continues He is a child of disobedience He is dead in sins and Trespasses He walks according to the Prince of the power of the Air. He hath his conversation in the lusts of the Flesh He fulfils the desires thereof being led on thereunto by that power by which he is blinded 2 Cor. 4. 4. Which ruleth and worketh in him Eph. 2 1 2 3. If St. Paul though freed from the dominion of sin yet bewailed his wretched estate in that he found it often rebelling and warring against the Law of his mind Rom. 7. 23 24. How deplorable is their condition in whom it still reigns In him there was a reluctancy against it Rom. 7. 15. These are led by it He was sensible of its rebellion and his own wretchedness Rom. 7. 24. These are not sensible of its Tyranny and their own Slavery 2 Tim. 2. 26. Slavery they are so far from esteeming it to be such that They readily obey it Rom. 6. 12. They delight in it Rom. 1. 36. They live after it Rom. 8. 13. They walk in it Col. 3. 7. Which deals with them at length as Men-stealers whom we call Spirits do with those poor deluded wretches that fall into their hands They promise them great matters but in the end ship them over for slaves Or as Soul-stealers those worser Spirits among us do by their seduced Proselytes either by good words and fair speeches deceiving the hearts of the simple Rom. 16. 18. Or by swelling words of vanity and promises of liberty alluring them through the lusts of the flesh through much wantonness to the embracing of those errours or worse from which they were escaped 2 Pet. 2. 18 19. So beguiling them of their reward Col. 2.
From the Head c. Sense From the Head c. Motion From the Head c. Increase From the Head c. 7. A Family Luke 12. 42. In respect Of its Lord. Steward Provision Wholsom Seasonable 8. A Building 1 Cor. 3. 9. Which Resemblance the Spirit was now pleased to make use of in this quadrangular Figure and thus left imperfect to present to the eye of my soul a more evident and full Representation of the Church into which I was now received At that Instant when by my Apprehenders hand being taken off me I was delivered from the power of daâ—kness by that Almighty Spirit which in the first work of Grace in the soul knows no delayes I was immediatly translated into the Kingdom of Christ into his true Church Col. 1. 13. Faith was then inâ—used my Will changed and all those other following requisites to a through renovation were wrought in that moment However my great Reformer was pleased more clearly to inform my understanding as to the manner of their working and to direct me how I should apprehend each after other by their successive imaginary resâ—mblances Among which this of the Building with my descent into it was represented at the Savoy as a soveraign Cordial to recover and raise my Spirit when at any time brought low by the afflicting Mementoe's of the Place and Descent When they shall wound Here is healing under the wings of the Sun of righteousness Mal 4. 2. When those fiery Serpents shall bite Num. 21. 6. Here is the Brazen Serpent to give life Num. 21. 9. John 3. 14. 15. Thus the Lord is nigh unto the broken-heart Psal 34. 18. to revive the spirit of the humble and the heart contrite Isa 57. 15. He maketh sore and bindeth up he woundeth and his hands make whole Job 5. 18. The Rosemblance is very apt as to these following Particulars 1. In respect of the Foundation which is Christ 1 Cor. 3. 11. who is A firm and sure Foundation Isa 28. 16. A secret Foundation Col. 3. 3. 2. In respect of the Corners of the Building which Christ being the Chief Corner-stone Isa 28. 16. do joyn the walls together so taking into the Church both Jews and Gentiles out of all the quarters of the world Isa 60. 3. Psalm 19. 4. 3. In respect of the Materials whereof it was built signifying the Members of the Church which are squared and fitted for their place by afflictions Rom. 5. 3. Hardned by the fire of the spirit for continuance Ezek. 36. 27 Acts 2. 3 4. 4. In respect of the Cement or Morter which is Charity whereby the Members of the Church are united together in which regard chiefly Charity is called the Bond of Perâ—ectnesse Colos 3. 14. 5. In its being left imperfect the work being to be continued by a dayly addition unto the Church of those that shall be saved to the end of the world Acts 2. 47. 6. In respect of the Beams and Jyces layd ready for a Floor and second Story signifying the Calling of the Jews when the fulness of the Gentiles shall be come in Rom. 11. 25 26. I remember not that the Fabrick had any Windows It needed not the Sun to enlighten it the Lord is an everlasting Light unto his Church and her God her Glory Isa 60. 19. Obs The Church of Christ is aptly resembled by a Square Brick-Building Texts 1 Cor. 3. 9 16. Ye are Gods building ye are the Temple of God and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you Mat. 16. 18. Upon this Rock will I build my Church Inst. The Church of the Ephesians was built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ being the chief Corner-stone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth into an holy Temple in the Lord Eph. 2. 20 21. The scattered strangers through Pontus Galaâ—iâ— c. being born again of incorruptible seed by the Word of God 1 Pet. 1. 1 23. are assured by Saint Peter that coming unto Christ they as lively stones are built up a spiritual House 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. Reasons See them before in the Discourse Use 1. Be sure that thou art built upon the Rock and thou wilt be able to withstand the violence of the Rain Floods Winds Mat. 7. 24 25. 2. They who are built upon the Sand will fall in the day of Tryal Mat 7. 26 27. 3. Glory in Tribulations they do but square and polish thee for the spiritual Fabrick Rom. 5. 3. 4. Above all put on Charity which is the Bond of Perfectness Col. 3. 14. 5. Pray for the Calling of the Jews that the Building may be perfected and that there may be one Fold and one Shepherd John 10. 16. Resol I will count it all joy when I fall into divers Temptations Jam. 1. 2. Knowing that by them I am fitted for my place in the Building Ejac. I acknowledge my self O Lord to be most unworâ—hy of the meanest place in thy Building yet thou hast admitted me to that high honour to be one of thy Builders O grant that I may only build upon Christ the Foundation and so take heed how I build thereupon that when my work shall be tryed that which I have built may abide and I may receive a Reward 1 Cor. 3. 10 13 14. Paral. IV. Circ The Fear of being taken again and carried back to the Prison made me endeavour to hide my self in the Building Obs Upon Effectual Calling the feaâ— of Hell is a principal means to bring the Soul unto Christ. BEside the before-touched Reasons of my being brought to the Prison-Gate this was one and a principal one that I might be made sensible that there was somthing to be feared A grim Jaylor strong walls and Graâ—es threatned a sharp and lasting restraint The consideration of this with my just desert thereof winged me in my flight and still kept up in me notwithstanding the dâ—stance at which I had left my Pursuer and that unexpected assistance which I evidently saw a fear of his getting loose and taking me again Whither should the soul sensible of its danger flee for safety but to Christ the strongest shield for defence the only secure hiding place Psal 119. 14. Who alone is able to the uttermost to save us Heb. 7 25. Imminent danger causeth fear fear stirs up to seâ—k out for a means to escape There is a threefold Fear Servile Filial Initial Servile or slavish fear proceeding from the spirit of Bondage is good and commendable as it awes from sin and approved of by God in the Israelites Deut. 5. 29. This as preparing the soul for the great work is first wrought in every one that is effectually called at ripeness of years Rom. 8. 15. It was first in them The Word again necessarily implies it But as it is accompanied with a secret desire after sin and dislike of and repining against Gods Justice threatning punishment against such and such sins wherein its slavishness doth consist
at any time for some years then past I had had such thoughts as might minister matter to my Fancy so to work The Lord was pleased in a Dream and Vision of the night thus to seal Instruction unto my soul Job 33. 15 16. The Vision AT London I was apprehended by a shag hair'd Fellow without an hat of a deformed countenance He led me on I knew not whither until we came unto a Prison scituated where Westminster Hall stands At the entrance into the Hall The Front of the Prison was toward the Thames The Gate was wide and stood wide open The chief Prison-house was in view a cross-building within at the end of a Court-yard There was a window on the right hand of the Gate-house which had a strong Iron grate before it as had the windows on the side-buildings on the left hand toward the chief Prison house through which I could discern mens faces At the entrance of the chief Prison-house stood the Jaylor a grim man in black He seeing of us presently comes to us to the gate and turning my Apprehender a little aside to whisper with him As they were whispering my Apprehender let go his hold I perceiving his hand off thought it best to run for my safety and betook me to my heels My Apprehender pursues me But having the start of him I was gotten so far before him that I could not hear him following Having now ran almost as far as the Savoy and looking back to see at what distance I had left him I could see a good way off a Gentleman who had stopped him in his pursuit and by the hair of his head having pulled him down upon his knees was beating of him with a Battoon I still fearing that he might get loose and follow me ran on until I came at the Savoy where I ran down a pair of stairs Which stairs delivered me on to a square Brick building raised one Story from the ground left so that the work might be continued having Beams and Jyces laid ready for a Floor and second Story In this Building I waâ— perswaded I might hide my self from my Pursuer Whereupon attempting to get down between two of the Jyces there were men below within the Building who endeavoured by thrusting at me with an Halberd and long staves to hinder my Descent But the danger I fled from made me so resolute that putting by their thrusts I got down in spight of them I was no sooner below but they were all vanished From hence I was immediatly transferred into the Tower of the Temple-Church and standing where the Essigies of the Knights-Tâ—mplars lie then not to be seen all fear of being again taken by my Pursuer was now ceased I cast mine eye up to the top of the Tower where my sight was limited by a Cloudy resemblance Round about on the sides the Tower was scaffolded up from the Pavement as in a Theater Under the Scaffolds I observed certain men as if lurking there to hinder people in their ascent I awaked and musing upon the Vision in my mind and finding that it had a kind of orderly dependance one part upon another assoon as I arose I wrote it down and gave I know not what Interpretation of it The writing unminded lay among my loose Papers many years until which I believe was nine or ten years after the Lord was pleased to lay upon me the heavy burden of a wounded Spirit In mine extremity which was so high that I feared death having over-looked my loose Papers and this Vision cursorily among the rest I cast them into the fire The Occasion of recalling of the Vision AFter some dayes the Lord having been pleased to resettle me and to speak Peace to my soul as I have shewed in my salve for the Wounded Spirit reflecting my thoughts upon my time spent in that before-mentioned Family as also upon the great secular preferments which I then missed of I was not a little troubled at my supposed loss Yet when I remembred that I stood a long time silent as amazed c I had a strong perswasion in me that the Lord in Mercy had with-held those pâ—eferments from me I sued unto him by earnest Prayer that if it were so he would be pleased to discover it unto me that upon my sense of his Mercy I might bless his Name for it It was not long after my Prayer was ended before the Lord afforded me this gracious return thereof bringing freshly to my by my late illness much weakned memory the Vision which I had so long and so much slighted Which a little pondering upon I called to mind whereof I was afterwards in another dream assured by a voyce saying It was the Gatehouse That the Gate-house of that Prison to which I was brought with the inward Prison-house windows and side-buildings thereof were just like unto the Gate-house or Lodge the inward Buildings windows and side-Buildings of that House wherein I had lived with that Noble Personage whcih also being scituate in a Town upon the River on the same side had its Front towards the Thames Whereupon by him to whom alone they do belong Gen. 40. 8. I was presently enabled to give this Interpretation That the Apprehender was my Corruption That it had brought me to the mouth of Hell in bringing me to that Family and so near unto the Law the course I must have returned to and gone on in had the offered Favour been accepted That the man in black at the entrance of the Chief Prison-House was the Devil ready to seize upon me That the Gentleman beating of my Pursuer was the Holy Spirit restraining of my Corruption That the Stairs put me in mind to humble my self for my sins The Building I interpreted to be the Building of Grace begun in my Soul The men within to be my spiritual Enemies violently opposing of me The Scaffolds in the Tower of the Temple-Church a direction for a gradual improvement in Grace The men under them my spiritual enemies watching advantages to hinder mine Improvement This more general Interpretation served then to settle me in what I sued to be satisfied in with much comfort assuring me dayly more and more that I was delivered from the mouth of Hell as to those Relations and to that course But since upon more serious consideration and throughly weighing of each particular circumstance in the Vision I find that I have great cause to bless God in the super abundant riches of his Mercy in that when I sued only for satisfaction â—n that forementioned Particular he not only shewed me what he had done for me as to that But likewise That he had freed me from the slavery of my Corruption which so long and so powerfully had prevailed ever me and so had delivered me from the power of darkness and had translated me into the Kingdom of his Dear Son Col. 1. 13. Directing of me what now I was to do To humble my self
that wrestled with him desired him to let him go said I will not let thee go except thou bless me and he blessed him there Gen 32. 24 26 29. Elias prayed earnestly that it might not rain and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six moneths and he prayed again and the Heavens gave rain Jam. â— 17. â—eas 1. God hath tied himself by promise to hear such Prayers Mat. 7. 7. 2. Such Prayers are put up in the Name of Christ John 16. 23. 3. Christ maketh Intercession for us Rom. 8. 34. and his Father alwaies heareth him John 11 42. 4. Christ presents our Prayers unto his Father with the Incense of his merits Rev. 8. 3. 5. The Spirit maketh Intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered Rom. 8. 26. Use 1. Prayers to Saints are vain they are ignorant of us Isa 63. 16. 2. Go confidently to God in the alone Name of Christ and thou art sure to speed John 16. 23. 3. Though thine infirmities in Prayer be many yet be not discouraged the holy Spirit helps them and intercedes for thee Rom. 8. 26. Resol Whatsoever my wants are I will ask in the name of Christ and then I am certain I shall receive and my joy shall be full John 16 24. Ejâ—c I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice and my supplications because he hath enclined hiâ— ear unto me therefore will I call upon him as lonâ— as I live Psal 116. 1 2. Paral. V. Circ The Mercy was discovered to me but new â— humbled by a wounded Spirit Obs God recompenseth the great afflictions of hâ— Children with greater mercies SOme years before this great affliction was laid upâ—â— me I had often called my waies to remembrance and humbled my self for my sins but there were soâ—â— yet behind undiscovered which indeed some of the at least I thought not to be such Notwithstanding it was the Lords pleasure whatsoever to that time I had thought of them to make me throughly sensible that they were sins and of so high a nature as called for a low Humiliation To this end he took the same course with me as he did with David in a third person setting them before me and after a most sharp sentence by me pronounced against them secretly saying unto me within my self Thou art the man 2 Sam. 12. 7. Then began Conscience Gods Attorney-General to accuse and condemn Then did the Word applied unto my past actions like a two edged sword cut on both sides making two deep wounds in my soul In The apprehension of the loss of my God Isa 59. 2. In The Fear of the dreadful effects of his vengeance Gal. 3. 10. O the horrours of the wounded spirit my then present condition Who can bear their weight Prov. 18. 14. Who is able to express the anguish Yet the Lord was pleased to support me though his wrath lay heavy upon me and he afflicted me with all his waves almost to distraction while I suffered his terrours Psal 88. 7. 15. After some dayes being a little come to my self I bath'd my wounds with the tears of true repentance and Faith poured in the balm of Christs Merits And when the Lord saw that I did bear his Rod as became his humble child that I was brought so lon that I was now in a sit capacity for mercy then did the great Physitian of my Soul the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings Mal. 4. 2 Not despising my contrite heart Psal 51. 17. But healing my broken spirit and with his own hand gently binding up my wounds Psal 147. 3. Speaking peace unto my soul and raising me again by a clear sense of his Love and Presence O the sweetness of his Mercy Psal 34. 8. Then did he soon after afford unto me these great and gracious vouchsafings O the riches of his Mercy Eph. 2. 4. Obs God recompenseth the great Afflictions of his Children with greater Mercies And that In this Life In the Life to come In this Life Texts Isa 61. 7. For your shame you shall have double For confusion they shall rejoyce in their portion Mar. 10. 28. There is no man that hath left House or Brethren c. for my sake and the Gospels but he shall receive an hundred fold now in this time Inst. Job for what he had lost had twice as much at his latter end Job 42. 12. Joseph from the Dungeon was raised to highest honour in Pharaoh's Court Gâ—n 41. 40 43. After this Life Texts Isa 54. 8. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on thee 2 Cor. 4. 17. Our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory Inst Christ assures his Disciples that they who had forsaken all and followed him when he should sit in the Throne of his Glory they should sit upon twelve Thrones judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel Mat. 19. 28. They who came out of great tribulation here in Heaven are arrayed in white Robes and are before the Throne of God c. and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes Rev. 7. 13 14. c. Reas 1. The Lord is rich in Mercy Eph. 2. 4. 2. He would have his Children to bear his Rod with Patience Heb. 11. 9 10 11. Use 1. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Mat. 5. 4. 2. Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations Jam. 1. 2. The Recompense will sufficiently countervail the Trial. 3. Hearken to Christ He is sent to proclaim Liberty to the Captives the opening of the Prison to them that are bound Isa 61. 1. Resol I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord my soul shall be joyful in my God for he hath put off my Sackcloath and girded me with gladness Psal 30. 11. He hath cloathed me with the garments of salvation he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness Isa 61. 10. Ejac. O thou that bindest up the broken-hearted Appoint unto the Mourners in Zion give unto them beauty for ashes the Oyl of Joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness Isa 61. 3. Paral. VI. Circ The discovery as touching those missed secular preferments was onely craved but much more granted Obs The Lord often grants more then his Servants sue unto him for THE Lord is good and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon him Psal 86. 5. Had he onely heard me in what I craved the condescension had been greater then unworthy dust and ashes might expect My desire was to be setled as touching those missed expectations whether God in mercy had withheld me from their enjoyment The assurance of this had been a gracious return of my Prayer But O! I am rapt with the contemplation of the magnificence of his Bounty and Goodness That to this assurance he should
sometimes to afford it but man in expectation thereof may not neglect the means he hath appointed 1 Tim. 4. 13 15. 2. Let all light affected ornaments be shunned Gal. 1. 10. 3. As long as this Hand-maid will submit and be subject she is not to be rejected if she rebel and presume to domineer and dictate cast her out Col. 2. 8. 4. Beware of itching Ears as after new Doctrines so after Eloquence 2 Tim. 4. 3. 5. Desire the sincere milk of the Word that thou maist grow thereby 1 Pet. 2. 2. Resol I do not slight nor will I neglect that small portion of humane learning which my Lord Christ hath conferred upon me as it may in any way for his Glory be sub-servient in the great work of his Ministry However my chief care shall be that my Speech and my Preaching may be not with enticing words of man's wisdome but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power 1 Cor. 2. 4. Ejac. Who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2. 16. Paral. 2. Circ From the University being in Orders I was removed to the Living which I now hold Obs Christs way is for an orderly-called setled Ministry in his Church MY Lord Christ intending me for his Ministry was pleased from the University by a remark able manuduction to lead me to this place I was presented by the then Lord Keeper upon a Lapse by Simony committed by the former Incumbent To let pass many former Passages of special note my Presentation was sealed within few hours after his decease though he died here above thirty miles distant from the City My Evidence was then but weak Yet beforâ— my trial which the Patron to vindicate his Title and to keep off the imputation from his Progenitors who had bought the Estate and Advousion after the Simoniacal Contract did put me unto the Lord was pleased though the Simony was contrived above eight and twenty years before to discover unto me many material witnesses and having so ordered that the business should be heard before that Judge noted for the most searching Head of those times into Cases of that nature to give me the day upon an old trampled-upon scrap of Paper wherein the Contract was mystically set down which I found under foot neglected by him who upon the like aim had the perusal of the deceased Incumbents Writings before me The whatsoever Light they pretend to blind seduced Proselytes in gathered Congregations or among those possessed with a dumb I fear a proud spirit or in any other Fraternity Family Fellowship or Combination withdrawn from Christs Church and Way are absolved from their fetters though never so seemingly fast intangling by his Who required this at your hands Isa 1. 12. And so may unless resolved to be blind still shake off as Paul did the venomous beast into the fire Acts 28. 5. that usurped Authority with those their blind Leaders who exercise it over them and return with welcom to the Fold of Christ from which till then they are lost His setled Ministers unless in case of notorious scandal not to be judged by the people though the late times did shake their Titles are not ought not so to be laid by and lifted out of their Candlesticks They hold by the same Law for life as others for Inheritance Christ hath set them over his Flock to rule them in spiritual things and to watch for their souls as they that must give account Heb. 13. 17. From their Ruling their Charges of Cures where they are fixed are called Rectories and as Rulers they are to be obeyed Who can rule who hath none to govern Who will obey who knows not whom he is to submit unto And Who will watch where a trust is not reposed an account not feared not required The means for their subsistence necessarily follows on their fixing and employment The mouth of thâ— Oxe which treadeth out the Corn must not be muzzled 1 Cor. 9 9. Who goeth a warfare at his own charges 1 Cor. 9 7. For the Proportion of it They have Christ's irrevokable Ordinance thâ— it shall be so much that they may live of iâ— 1 Cor. 9 14. They have the Higher Powers Act being thâ— Act of the whole Kingdom whom they represent until by the same power repealed that it shall be and continue in such a measure as now it doth For the Justness of it it is the Labourers hire he is worthy of it â— Tim. 5. 18. If his Hire how voluntary If he worthy of it why is it envied why withheld For the Quality What passeth in exchange for it exceeds it at a vast dâ—stance They sow spiritual things and reap carnal things 1 Cor. 9 11. But they must be Labourers else they may not eat Gal. 6. 6. 1 Tim. 5. 17 18. Yet every one that will may not labour in the Word may not take upon him to be a Labourer in Christ's Harvest but only such whom the great Lord of the Harvest is pleased to send forth Mat. 9. 38. Christs Ministers are his Stewards of his Mysteries 1 Cor. 4. 1. And it is the Lord of the Family that appoints them to that Office Luke 12. 42. They take not this Honour to themselves Heb 5. 4. St. Paul was made a Minister according to the Dispensation of God Col. 1. 25. The great Shepherd of the sheep though filled with the Spirit above measure John 3. 34. So much pretended to by Intruders was pleased to manifest his Calling to his great Office of Preaching of the Gospel by outward sensible signs as By the Spirit in likeness of a Dove resting upon him at his Baptism By an audible voice then Mat. 3. 16 17. And at his transfiguration commanding to hear him Mat. 17. 5. As his Father sent him so sent he his Apostles He breathed upon them and said unto them Receive ye the Holy Ghost John 20. 20. Which on the day of Pentecost in a fuller measure descended down upon them by certain outward signs both to the ear and eye Acts 2. 2 3. Thus sent they their Disciples The hands of the Presbytery were laid upon Timothy 1 Tim. 4. 14. Who is commanded not to lay hands suddenly on any 1 Tim. 5. 22. And thus in all times since hath it been used in all well ordered setled Churches That by such outward sensible signs the Church may take notice that such a one is called and set apart and hath now received his Commission to preach the Gospel Whereupon people knowing that in spiritual things they are not bound to obey any other have still been ready to yield obedience unto such as being in Christ's own way called to their Function and set over their Charge Obs Christ's way is for an orderly-called setled Ministry in his Church For an orderly-called Ministry Texts Mat. 28. 19. Go and teach all Nations John 20. 21. As my Father sent me so send I you and he breathed on them and saith Receive ye the Holy Ghost
from the multitude of business Eccles 5. 3. Not to be heeded but by the Physitian as they may somtimes be caused by the temper of the Body Diabolical which are filthy superstitious deluding forbidden as by no means to be observed Deut. 13. 1 3. Heavenly proceeding from God Acts 26. 19. Known to be such by their agreeableness unto his Word and whereby he is pleased more evidently to manifest his Will touching things past present to come Such was this which was now represented before the eye of my soul That every one is bound to believe and diligently to endeavour to gain a particular assurance unto himself of his salvation is evident 2 Pet. 1. 10. 2 Cor. 13. 5. This Assurance is to be attained By the Light of Faith John 3. 36. By the Presence of the Spirit in the Soul 1 John 4. 13. By the Testimony of the Spirit Rom. 8. 16. By applying of the Promises with Comfort Hebr. 6. 18. By Confidence in Prayer Heb. 10. 22. Which Assurance when in some measure attained the Lord by special Revelation if he so please may make it yet more evident and more strongly confirm it as he did To Peter 2 Pet. 1. 3. To Paul 2 Tim. 4. 8. as Augustine observes on that place To the Apostles Luke 22. 29 30. To the Seventy Disciples Luke 10. 20. To my self in this Vision Or he may reveale unto man his Salvation without a former assurance of it as To Mary Magdalen Luke 7. 47 48 50. To the Malefactor on the Cross Luke 23. 43. I was never a waiter for Revelations The Scripture is full and contains enough to bring us to Heaven â— Tim 3. 16 17. Nor have I been an Observer of Dreams I know that in them are divers Vanities Eccles 5. 7. This how long and how much I slighted it I have before set down But being now so freshly and strangely brought back unto my memory I could not but take special notice of it as I do of the way of Gods dispensation in discovering of its meaning First He only in an evident way manifested unto me so much of it as in answer to my Prayer served to settle me touching those missed expectations My entertainment whereof with due thankfulness and blessing of his Name prepared the way for a further discovery For many moneths after having upon his former lateâ— great Mercies a perswasion raised in me that as to my soul I was in a happy condition and being desirous to attain a more evident assurance thereof I purposely made choice of that text to preach upon both to my self and my people 2 Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore the rather give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure Wherein I took some pains and before I had fininished it I was made clearly to understand the meaning of my Apprehenders hand being taken off me at the Prison Gate of my descent into the Building those most material things in the Vision touching my soul which before I had not so much as minded The faithful Witness who cannot lye in whom all Gods Promises are Yea and Amen 2 Cor 1. 20. so making good those unto me Seek and ye shall â—ind Mat 7. 7. To them that seek for Glory Honour and Immortality he will render eternal life Rom. 2. 7. And that with such a strong undoubted and full perswasion that nothing can ever move me from it Which unspeakeable Mercy I trust by Gods powerful support and assistance I shall alwaies be so far from abusing that as thereupon the Comforts of my soul are unutterable so I shall strive to the utmost in my power earnestly beseeching his help without whom I can do nothing John 15. 5. To proportion my Love and Thankfulness to the greatness of it Luke 7. 47. To purifie my soul from sin 1 John 3. 3. To walk holily and without blame before my God Eph. 1. 4. To fear and serve him in truth with all my heart 1 Sam. 12. 24. To go on chearfully and confidently in mine obedience unto his Will Psal 119. 32. With all diligence putting in practise those duties as all other to which he hath now directed me from Heaven This high favour for which I can never sufficiently magnifie my Gracious Lord was revealed To me seeking for assurance of mine effectual Calling Do thou seek and trust the Lord Christ upon his Promise To me who had been so wicked a man O with me give God the Glory of the riches of his Mercy And whosoever thou art that readest this though thy sins be never so â—ainous despair not of it To me a lawfully called setled Minister maintained by Tithes O slight not this eye-salve from Heaven Rev. 3. 28. Open your eyes poor blinded people The Lord open them for you that you may see and return from the errours of your waies Obs Heavenly Visions are to be observed Texts Joâ— 33. 14. In a dream in a Vision of the night c. Then he openeth the ears of men and â—ealeth their instruction c. Acts 2. 17. Out of Joel 2. â—t shall come to pass in the last daies I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh c. and your young men shall see Visions and your old men shall dream Dreams Inst Peter thought on the Vision of the great Sheet wherein were all manner of Beasts creeping things and Fowls and doubted in himself what it should mean Acts 10. 17 19. The Lord spake to Paul in the night by a Vision be not afraid c. Acts 18. 9. Reas 1. God calls by them to repentance Job 33. 14 c. 2. They are a means of enlightning Acts 10. 28. 3. They are given to profit withal 1 Cor. 12. 7. Use 1. Compare them with the Word that thou maist be sure they are from God Acts 2. 2 3 4 16. 2. Mind diligently what Gods end is in them Acts 10. 28. 3. Pray to God to enlighten thee that thou maist understand them Mat. 13. 36. 4. Improve them for thine own for others benefit 1 Cor. 12. 17. Resol Sâ—nce thou hast given me O Lord this manifestation of thy Spirit to profit withal as I am stedfastly purposed to obey thy will as to my self thy Grace assisting so I will and cannot but speak those things unto others for the good of their souls which I have seen and heard Acts 4. 24. O Lord for thy Servants sake and according to Ejac. thine own heart hast thou done all this Greatness in making known all these great things O Lord there is none like thee neither is there any God beside thee 1 Chron. 17. 19 20. The Vision AT London I was apprehended by a shag-hair'd Fellow without an Hat of a deformed Countenance He led me on I knew not whither untill we came unto a Prison scituated where Westminster-Hall stands at the Entrance into the Hall The Front of the Prison was toward the Thames The Gate was wide and stood wide open The chief Prison-House was
late commission as inconsistent with Faith This is quenched with It is written I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not Luke 22. 32. Thus by his Example hath our great Captain instructed us how to use the Sword of the Spirit at the point whereof if we keep our enemy though his Assaults be never so violent against our Faith yet he shall not be able to overthrow it Obs The Souls Enemies upon effectual calling are most violent against its Faith Texts 1 Pet. 5. 8. Your Adversary the Devil as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour whom resist stedfast in the Faith Rev. 12 12. Wo to the Inhabiters of the earth and of the Sea for the Devil is come down unto you having great wrath because he knoweth he hath but a short time Inst The evil Spirit being charged by Christ to come out of the young man and to enter no more into him cried and rent him sore and came out of him Mat. 9. 25 26. The Dragon stood before the Woman which was ready to be delivered for to devour her child assoon as it was born Rev. 12. 4. Reas 1. His Hatred of God whose Glory upon mans effectuall calling and Adoption being much enlarged Eph. 16. He endeavours what in him lyes to hinder it 2. His Pride he would have all to be his Subjects even Christ himself Mat. 4. 9. 3. His Malice against Mankind which he seeks to devour 1 Pet. 5. 8. 4. His Envy at the Joy of the Blessed Angels who rejoyce at the conversion and repentance of a sinner Luke 15. 7. Use 1. Be not entangled in the affairs of this life otherwise thou wilt be unfit for the spiritual Warfare 2 Tim. 2. 4. 2. Be sober and watchful 1 Pet. 5. 8. 3. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his Might Eph. 6. 10. 4. Put on the whole Armour of God that thou maist be able to stand against the Wiles of the Devil Eph. 6. 11. 5. Be stedfast in the Faith 1 Pet. 5. 9. 6. Call to God for Help Eph. 6. 18. Resol I will take unto me the Shield of Faith wherewith I shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked Eph. 6. 16. Ejac. O my most dear Lord Christ Thou knowest what it is to be tempted Mat. 4. 3. c. Thou art able to succour them that are tempted Heb. 2. 18. O teach my hands to war and my fingers to fight Psal 144. 1. Communicate thy Victory unto me and then through thee who hast loved me I shall be more than Conqueror Rom. 8. 37. Paral. VII Circ Getting down into the Building in despight of mine Opposers they presently dis-appeared Obs The Souls Enemies resisted with Courage will flee away IN War it is no mean Point of wisdom in a General before he engage to consider the strength of the Enemy whether with his Troops he be able to encounter him if not that a Treaty and Terms of Peace may in time be propounded Luke 14 31 32. Had I had this respite and freedom yet these mine enemies were such as with whom a covenant of Peace was not to be expected but upon Nahash's dishonourable conditions to have put out the right eye of my Faith which they with such violence opposed 1 Sam. 4. 2. But I was in a great straight and had no time to parly I fled from a Lion and a Bear met me Amos 5. 19. I fled from the Egyptians the proud Waves were ready to overwhelm me Exod. 14. 2 10. My Pursuer was behind me these mine Opposers before me who having the advantage of Number Arms place did thrust â—orely at me How was it then that I prevailed against them to put them to flight The Lord fought for me He who at the Prison Gate had rescued me had stopped my Pursuer when following of me was pleased still to carry on the work and in the greatness of his excellency to overthrow those who rose up against me Exod. 15. 7. The Holy Spirit is the Power of God Luke 24. 49. and it is a Glorious Power Col. 1. 11. Glorious carrying alwayes with it an assurance of victory where it assisteth Rom. 8. 37. It were not Glorious if overpowered by any Glorious in perfecting his own strength in mans weakness 2 Cor. 12. 9. It doth not immediatly of it self confound our Adversaries but enables weak sinful man to master Principalities Powers spiritual Wickednesses and to get the Victory over their most violent Assaults With this his Glorious Power the Lord doth strengthen all his Servants and it is derived unto them By Christ's Donation John 16. 7. By his Intercession John 14. 16. Do thou make God thy Refuge and the most High thine Habitation and in thy greatest Straits thou shalt not want this Helper who will so protect that none evil shall befall thee and so encourage that undaunted thou shalt tread upon the Lion and Adder and shalt trample the young Lion and Dragon under feet The Lord will be with thee in trouble and deliver thee and shew thee his Salvation Psal 91. 9 10 13 15 16. Obs The Souls Enemies resisted with courage will flee away Texts Luke 4. 13. And when the Devil had ended all the temptation he departed from him for a season Jam. 4. 7. Resist the Devil and he will slee from you Inst Christ though strongly assaulted by Satan yet ovâ—râ—ame him and drave him away Maâ— 4. 11. St. Paul was enabled by the sufficiency of Gods Grace though not to remove yet to master the Messenger of Satan that was sent to buffet him 2 Cor. 12. 7 9. Reas 1. They are overpowered by the assistance of the Spirit Eph. 3. 6. 2. They withdraw that they may return upon the greater advantage Mat. 12. 45. Use 1. Give God the Glory of thy Victory over whatsoever temptation Psal 115. 1. 2. Have Faith in Chrisâ—'s Victory John 16. 33. 3. Oppose them with courage 1 Cor. 13. 16. 4. Stand continually upon thy Guard they will return Mat. 12 44. 5. If they prevail over thee it is thine own fault Jam. 1. 14. Overcome thy self and thou hast overcome them Resol Thou hast given me the shield of thy Salvation thou hast girded me with strength by thee I have run through a Troop and leaped over a Wall Thou art my God my strength in whom I will trust Psal 18. 2. 29 32. 35. Ejac. Lâ—t God arise and mine enemies shall be scattered and they that hate me shall â—lee before me and as smoak shall be driven away at his Presence Psal 68. 1 2. Paral. VIII Circ The Duties in General to be performed after Effectual Calling Obs As for all other Mercies so especially for Soul-deliverances God expects that man should be thankful THE best are unworthy of the least of all Gods Mercies Gen. 32. 10. Yet for his Children the Lord hath Tender Mercies Psal 25. 6. Great Mercies 2 Sam. 24. 14. Very great Mercies 1 Chron.
is a sad sign of a Soul yet under the Dominion of Satan of one in whom sin reigns that is ready to take any occasion to obey it in the Luâ—ts thereof I must tell such that as yet they are not of the number of the Lords people that they are none of his Saints If they were they would make a better use of the fals of their Brethren they would pity them mourn over them and pray for them and that not only out of a sense of their weakness but likewise and chiefly out of a sad apprehension of those disturbances and unsettlements which they cannot but know will follow in their souls upon such their follies upon such their fals which is the Third Branch of the Point Branch 3. That when the Lords people and Saints do fall into the folly of hainous sins they lose their Peace and great disturbances perplexities unsettlements do thereupon arise in their souls This is clear out of v. 6. a little above the Text Where you may perceive that the Lords hand was so heavy upon his people that they were brought down even to the very gates of death Wilt thou not revive us again Reviving is a restoring to life as if they had been in a manner stricken dead with the sense of the Lords wrath upon them they were so distracted so disturb'd and unsetled They lâ—ved as to the natural life but as to Gods Favour in I which alone is true life Psal 30. 5. to this they were dead as to their sense and apprehension It is not thus with men of Brawny benummed Consciences Custom in sin hath beâ—eft them of all sense either of it or of wrath deserved by it But the Lords people their souls are of a more tender and soft temper and as in all known sins so especially in sins of an hainous nature in devouring sins that lay the Conscience wast their Conscience faithfully performs its Office and tels them thus and thus hast thou done Whereupon their former peace vanisheth and their souls are filleâ—â—ith peâ—plexities and perâ—urbations upon application of the Word unto their actions Reas The Word that sets down thâ— sentence of God against such and such sins so and so wâ—ll I deal saith God with such and such sinners The soul assumes by acknowledgment of its own wicked state accusing it self as guilty of those sins And thereupon it cannot but conclude and pass Judgment upon it self that it is justly liable unto the punishments threatned And hence upon serious consideration of what it hath done and what it hath deserved it becomes much troâ—bled perplexed unsetled Somtimes indâ—ed it so fals out that the Lords people do not presently upon their fals make this application by reason they do not presently consider their actions and weigh them and compare them with the Law of God as it was with David 2 Sam. 2. 5. 6. Who was quick and sharp in his sentence agaiâ—st the rich man that had taken away the Ewe-lamb from the poor man but considered not what he had done to Uâ—iah in taking away his wife and his life nor what he had deserved by it But whensoever the Application is made and it shall be at some tâ—me or other the soul loseth its former peace and becomes exceedingly troubled perplexed unsetled even to the breaking of the bones Psal 51. 8. to the wounding of the spirit Prov. 18 14. the smart whereof is insusterable and the weâ—ght insupportable O! unlâ—ss the Lord himself uphold the soul in this sad condition under this pain and pressure who can endure it Who can bear it or who is able to express it The heart knows its own grief as to temporal sufferings or its sorrow for sin but for that pain and load and trouble and horrour that accompanies the wounded spirit it is as its contrary peace past utterance past understanding Yet that I may in part acquaint you with the wofulness of that condition which the sin-burdened soul lies groveling and labouring under Know That when it is brought into this condition by the Application of the Word unto its actions the Word hath truly performed the Office of a sharp two-edged sword to which it is compared Heb. 4. 12. cutting on both sides and making two great gashes or deep wounds in the heart Two wounds In the apprehension of the losse of God In the fear of his Wrath. We have both of them before the Text. Wilt thou not revive us There is the Apprehension of the losse of Gods Favour the life of the soul v. 6. Shew us thy Mercy and grant us thy salvation ver 7. There they deprecate wrath and sue to have it removed from the seizure whereof they knew that without Mercy they could not be saved But it would burn against them and be drawn out and continue upon them 1. Then the Lords people and Saints when fallen into the Folly of hainous sins they lose their Peace and are disturbed and unsetled in their Souls and deeply wounded with the Apprehension of losse Of the losse of God Christ the Spirit God hides his Face and they are troubled Their Faith in Christ is seemingly dead and his Blood to them as a Fountain sealed up They cannot find any effectual workings no not so much as those discoveries of life the least stirrings of the Spirit in their souls They cannot pray with Confidence They cannot as formerly rely upon and shrowd themselves under Gods wing for Protection their hedge of defence is broken down and the Tents of those heavenly Guardians the Angels formerly pitched about them for their safety are overthrown So that in this regard they are in a worse-estate for the time then when first freed from the power of Darkness Then they were wounded and pricked at their hearts and had fearful apprehensions of wrath But now beside that they feel the smart of this wound of losse And this is all the good we get by sin it robs us of our God it makes a separation between him and us and causeth him to hide his Face from us Isa 59. 2. Happy is that people whose God is the Lord Psal 144. Ult. He is all-sufficient the Saints enjoy all things in him while they are his and he theirs all things are theirs and they are Christ's and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3. 22. 23. But on the other side when he is lost Christ is lost the Spirit is lost all is lost and gone And the loss is yet the greater and the wound the deeper and more smarting according to the Saints love towards God It goes to the heart of a man to lose what he loves Take away the worldly mans wealth which is his god you rob him of his life Micha thought he had lost all when he had lost his Idol Judges 18. 24. Mary Magdalen loved much and when she could not find the body of her beloved Lord in the Sepulcher how â—adly doth she mourn John 20. 15. Much more must it needs
guides them into all Truth seals the Promises unto them is the Pledge of their â—nheritance The Angels are appointed to guard them to minister for them Heb. 1. 14. They are afforded a free use of the Creatures for necessity for delight 1 Tim. 4. 3. All things are theirs 1 Cor 3. 22. Friends deny no lawful thing to each other The Lord grants all the lawful Requests of his friends John 15. 16. Friends rejoyce in the prosperity of each other The Lord takes pleasure in the prosperity of his Servants and friends Psal 35. 27. Friends suffer with one another The Lord accounts the sufferings of his friends as his own Zechariah 2. 8. Acts 9. 4. Friends do sometimes reprove one another Psal 141. 5. The Lord by his gentle rod doth smite and admonish his friends for their good Heb. 12. 6. There is such a near Union between Friends by reason of that Love which is between them that they are as it were half of each other as if but one soul did animate them A Friend is alâ—er idem another self So there is such a near Union between God and his friends that they are partakers of his Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. He dwels in them and they in him 1 John 3. 24. Now to have God thus to be our Friend the sense of this must necessarily be a sweet-settlement to the soul and fill it with abundance of Peace He who is assured that God is his friend fears not the enmity of all the world Let him be with us it matters not who is against us If he be for us who can be against us Rom. 8 31. 2. This Peace which the Lord speaks to the truly penitent and faithful soul it is a peace oâ— Joy and Comfort They that mourn shall becom◠〈◊〉 Mat. 5. 4. They that sow in tears shall reap in Joy Psal 126 5. This Peace of Joy it consists in the Presence of God of Christ and the Holy Spirit in the soul The languishing soul was wounded with the apprehension of the losse of God which wound he now bindâ— up with the assurance of his Presence which cannot but raise exceeding Joy and Comfort in the soul To know that God is not our enemy is some settlement to the soul but more to be assured that he is our Friend Yet more that he is a friend nâ—gh unto us Psal 34. 18. But in that he is pleased to come so nâ—gh as to be our familiar Friend to dwell with us and in us to make the humble soul his Palace his Heaven his constant Habitation Isa 57. 15. This must needs revive the spirit of the humble and the heart of the Contrite In this Presence of God in the soul and the assurance thereof with those other sweet Consequences depending thereupon doth consist that unutterable inconceiveable Peace which passeth all understanding Phil. 4. 7. A Glimpse whereof however the Spirit is pleased to afford us where it sets it soâ—th to us under the similitude of a conâ—inual Fâ—ast Prov. 15. 15. At a gâ—eat Feast there is provision usually made of whatsoâ—ver may pleâ—â—e the sense a richly hung and furnished Room to entertain the Eye Musick for the ear Peâ—sâ—mâ—s for the Smâ—ll all sorts of Dainties the Land Sea Ayr afford for the Fast soft Seats and sine Lâ—nnen for the touch which doth exceedingly cheer the Spirit for the present though it be but of short continuance How then must the soul be ravished with inconceiveable Joy to enjoy this in a spiritual manner and that continually within it self Where the Room is garnished with Grace and perfumed with Christ's Merits Where God and Christ and the Spirit are both the Guests and the Food where the Angels are Attendants and Cherubims and Seraphâ—ms the Choristers and Musitians What shall the Saints enjoy more in Heaven it self as to their souls but this begun happiness in a full accomplishment When for Faith they shall see face to face and for hope shall fully and satisfiedly enjoy and for imperfect Love shall perfectly and for ever love this great Feast-maker and Feast-continuer in the soul even the God of Peace and Prince of Peace and Spirit of Peace who thus upon their unfaigned Humiliation and Faith doth and will fill the souls of his People and Saints with Peace And that most certainly there is not the least question or doubt to be moved but that he will do it Which is The next Particular to be spoken to Partic. 2. That the Lord in his good time will most certainly speak peace unto the Soul He will speak peace unto his people and Saints This Certainty I ground upon a threefold Reason that the Lord will nay cannot but speak peace unto the truly penitent and faithful soul Reas 1. Because by its humiliation it s now become a spiritual vacuum or emptiness and so is fitly prepared and put into a capacity for the entertainment of Gods Favour in speaking peace unto it That which is full cannot receive another body but that which is voyd and empty may Now as it is in natural things Nature cannot endure a vacuity or emptiness but to avoyd such an Inconvenience doth ordinarily force bodies against their nature to fill it up So the Lord suffers not a spâ—ritual emptiness in the humble heart but sends a River of heavenly peace and comfort to fill it This Reason I confess is not so forcing But in respect of the other two which follow let me speak with all due reverence of his dreadful Majesty a kind of necessity lies upon God to speak peace to the truly humbled and faithful soul 2. Therefore God cannot but speak peace unto it because he hath given it such a prevayling power over himself I cannot do any thing till thou art come to Zoar. It is the Lords speech to Lot when about to destroy Sodom and the rest of the Cities Gen. 19. 22. to Moses likewise Let me alone Exod. 32 10. So to Jacob Let me go Gen. 32. 4. As if these Saints of his had so over-powered God and held his hands that he could not do what otherwise he would So the humbled and faithful soul may in reference to that power which the Lord hath given it over himself and to which he is pleased to submit his own Almightiness being conscious to it self of its unfaigned humiliation and faith in the Promises of the Gospel it may with an holy boldness say unto God I will not let thee alone I will not let thee go until thou speak peace unto my soul In respect of this power it was that David entitled the 51 Psalm wherein is set forth his Repentance and Faith Vincenti or provictoria To the Conqueror or for the Victory Because he was assured that the Lord would not despise Despise Nay could not but accept of the Sacrifice of his broken heart for his sins being offered up upon the Altar Christ 3. The Lord cannot but speak peace unto the humbled and
them through Christ in the Gospel Of these two Offerers or Givers of Peace mention is made John 14. â—7 Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you God giveth Peace the world giveth peace The world gives it freely God upon terms and conditions Whether of these two now are the Lords people to hear Flesh saies the World that stands not upon terms and reservations that ties not to any conditions of bewayling confessing hating resolving applying here needs no breaking or rending of the heart or changing of the mind the dear price which they must pay who have their peace from God But the Spirit sayes beware take heed how you listen to the World hearkâ—n unto God the Lord and to him alone For he is God the Lord and ye are his people he speaks peace and he speaks peace unto his people and Saints In which words are couched and contained a threefold reason why in speaking of peace the Lords people and Saints are to hear him and him alone 1. Because he is God the Lord and they are his People He loves them he knows and pities the sad condition the wounded Spirit is in and is alone able to help it 2. Because he will most certainly speak peace unto the soul He will assure it that he is at peace with it 3. Because he speaks peace that which the soul shall find to be truly such He neither gives what the world gives nor as the world gives 1. The first Reason is taken from that near relation between God and his People and from those two titles God the Lord and so it is taken from his Power his Knowledge his Love He is the Lord and therefore able to cure the wounded Spirit He is a Lord of great power such that as he can work by weak means by contrary means so without means He can create peace for the unsetled soul Isa 45 7. He can make it of nothing and indeed so he doth there being no prepared prejacent matter in the soul out of which it should be prâ—duced He is God he knows the soul in iâ—s adversity Psal 31. 7. He it is who wounded it and therefore knows the anguish and danger of its wounds what remedy is fittest for it and when and how it is to be applyed And the Saints though in this sad condition yet are his people whom he loves Col. 3. 12. Towards whom he is tender-hearted very pitiful and of tender Mercy Jam. 5. 11. He pitieth those that fear him as a Father pitieth his Children Psal 103. 13. And therefore as he is able and skilful so he is most ready and willing to help them to settle them to cure their wounds The World is a Physition of no value a meer Empyrick a bold Mountebank that neither is able to compose any Soveraign Remedy nor knows how to apply it being altogether ignorant of the state of the soul in its distress Beside the Lords people and Saints are most hateful unto it Jo. 15. 19. And shall they believe that their deadly enemy if it were able and had skill would be willing to settle and recover them 2. The second Reason why in speaking peace the Lord alone is to be heard is taken from that assurance which the Lord rayseth in the soul that he is at peace with it For he speaks peace to it He makes the soul as strongly perswaded of peace and as confidently to build upon it as if it heard the Lord himself speak it immediatly from Heaven The Grounds whereon this assurance is built in the soul are His Decree which is stable unchangeable Heb. 6. 17. His Promise which is Yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. His Oath which he will not break Heb. 6. 17. His Hand for it in his written Word which he will not deny Rom. 15. 4. His Seal to it his Spirit which he cannot but own â— Cor. 1. 22. His Delivery of this Assurance which he will not revoke John 14. 27. The Witness to all this his Spirit which cannot lye Rom. 8. 18. Thus the Lord speaks peace unto the Soul by thus assuring of it that he is no more an enemy or a stranger unto it which must needs settle it and fill it with strong Consolation Heb. 6. 18 When the World can afford to the unsetled and wounded Spirit such grounds of assurance of Peace and Settlement it may then hope the Lords people may be perswaded to hearken unto it till then it may forbear its frank but empty Tenders 3. The Third Reason is taken from the quality of that Peace which the Lord speaks to the Soul He speaks unto it which is truly such being 1. A solid Peace 2. A satisfying Peace Peace fourfold 3. A Fortifying Peace 4. A lasting Peace 1. It is a solid Peace grounded upon Christ who is our peace Eph 2 14. Who hath made peace for us and reconciled us unto his Father Col. 1. 20. Having purchased peace for us at a dear raâ—e by the bloud of his Cross being wounded for our Transgressions the chasâ—â—sement of our peace being upon him and he healing our wounds by his stripes Isa 53. 5. He is both our propitâ—ation and our advocate for peace unto his Father 1 John 2. 1 2. My Peace I give unto you John 14. Well may he call it his which he hath bought so dear The greatness of the Price speaks the Truth and Solidness of the Peace It is Christ's Peace dearly bought His Father gives it at his request it is the peace of God Phil. 4. 7. And from him proceeds nothing but what is true real and solid The Peace which from it the world would have the soul to accept of it deserves not the name of peace being but a light flash but a shadow of Peace The World cries Peace where there is none Jer. 6. 14. And so if its tender might be accepted would it heal the hurt of Gods People slightly And indeed what more is to be expâ—ctâ—d from the World when it hath but one Receipt or Remedy consisting of three Ingredients which like a bold unskilful Empyrick it applyes to every Mâ—lady What these Ingredients are St. John tells us 1 John 2. 16. All that is in the World are the Lusts of the flesh or Pleasures the Lust of the eyes or Wealth the Pride of life or Honour And alas What can these do to the recovery of a wounded Spirit which cannot prevent or remove a disease from the body or in the least measure abate its Pain The Vermin seized upon Herod and devoured him alive though a great King who had Wealth and Pleasure at his Command Acts â—2 23. 2. The peace which God speaks unto the wounded Spirit it is a satisfying peace Upon the speaking of this the before-disturbed soul returns unto its rest and settlement It hath now its desire it was wounded with the apprehension of losse and fear of wrath and its
again their Friend and affording them a continual Feast of Joy in their souls He is good to them in admonishing of them for the time to come to beware of turning again to Folly so to prevent a new and wider breach which such relapses might cause Let them not turn again to Folly O It is a dangerous thing for the Lords People when having been in such a wâ—ful condition under the smarting wounds of loss and wrath and the Lord hath graciously spoken peace unto their souls and hath assured them of his Love and Presence It is I say a most dangerous thing for them after Peace spoken to turn again to the Mire to the Vomit to the Folly of sin For so doing they make themselves justly liable to a severer punishment by more highly provoking the Lords wrath against them by a new and greater guilt which now they have drawn upon their souls If you ask the skilful Physitian why in the diseases of the body a Relapse is so dangerous as it is commonly said and found to be I suppose he will say Because the malâ—gnity of the humour which formerly nourished the disease returning upon a new distemper finds a readier entertainment in the parts and the spirits are so weak and unable to resist and struggle with it that if it do not wholly oppress the heart and so bâ—reave the life Yet it renders a second recovery far more difficult So is it with the soul after its recovery upon peace spoken to it If it relapseth and turns again to the folly of sin sin finds a more welcome entertainment in the carnal part and the spiritual part is so weak that it is not able to resist it So that though it do not nor can bereave the soul of spiritual life yet the recovery will be the more difficult and it will cost such a man many a heart-pang many a sad sigh and bitter Tear before he can again be â—id of it I might uâ—ge this as one reason why the Lords people are to be waâ—y how after peace spoken they fall into the folly of sin because upon such their backsliding they will find it an hard matter to shake it off and to rid the soul of it But the main Reason which I intend to speak of is because by their turning again unto Folly after Peace spoken they draw a greater guilt upon their souls and so do more provoke the Lords wrath against them and thereupon cannot but justly fear and expect to be corrected with a more stinging rod with a sharper and more smarting punishment Now the guilt of the soul turning again unto the Folly of sin after peace spoken unto it is heightened and enlarged exceedingly by the concurrence of many grievous sins committed in such backsliding For Aggrav Here is a falling back from those resolutions in Repentance wherein the soul in its distress did bind it self by promise and vow unto God that it would for the time to come abhor and decline the wayes of sinful Folly and walk before him in better Obedience If it did but barely resolve so yet not to keep up such resolutions and so to cherish them that they may be derived into act this failing and falling from them discovers a want of due care and diligence the neglect whereof after peace spoken renders the soul more guilty But if to such resolutions there were added a Promise and Vow so to walk before God which it was but meet the Soul should do surely it is meet to be said unto God I have born Chastisement I will not offend any more If I have done Iniquity I will do so no more Job 3â— 31 32. It is meet the soul should say thus in its distresse and if it hath and I am confident that whosoever haâ—h been under the horrours of a wounded spirit hath thus promised and vowed unto God if the soul hath thus said thus promised and thus vowed and yet breaks such Promise and Vow by relapsing and backsliding it must needs lay a greater guilt upon it selâ— For What is it but to mock God What but to take his Name in vain And so to do is it not a new and high provoking Folly Will the Lord hold such an one guiltless Pay that thou hast vowed God hath no pleasure in Fools Eccles 5 4. 2. The guilt is aggravated by forgetfulness of that deliverance which the Lord hath wrought David in Psal 103. cals upon his soul at the beginning of the Psalm and all that is in him to bless God to remember his Benefits who forgiveth saith he all thâ—ne Inâ—quity and healeth all thy diseases Thine Inâ—quity was high yet God hath forgiven it Thy Diseases and Wounds were painful and dangerous yet he hath healed them He hath restored thy peace he is become thy Friend thy near Friend dwelling in thy soul he hath delivered thee from all thy Fears and Terrours and hath crowned thee with loving kindness and tender mercy and canst thou so soon forget him who hath dealt thus by thee It was an high aggravation of Israels sin that they forgat God their Saviour Deliverer Ps 106 21. The Lord hath saved thee he hath delivered thee he hath had a regard to thine affliction he hath heard thy cry when thou wast brought low for thine Iniquity and yet dost thou forget him Dost thou provoke him again with new Follies 3. The guilt is aggravated by despising of Gods Rod by slâ—ghting and setting lâ—ght by it lâ—ke Pharaoh who returned to his Râ—bellion against God asâ—oon as the Plague was but removed Hath God corrected thee as his Son whom he loves in whom he delâ—ghts Prov 3. 11. And dost thou despise his Chastisemâ—nt Is that man happy whom God correcteth Jâ—b 5. 7. And dost thou slight the Chastening of the Almighty They who despise the reproof of Wisdomâ— can they expect other then to eat of the fruit of their own wayes and to be filled with their own devices Prov 1 31. 4. The guilt is aggravated and heightened by Presumption of new Peace or of the former to be continued It is a good â—â—m that is given Ecclus 3. Be not without fear after the sin is pardoned Neither add sin unto sin Say not Gods Mercy is great he will have mercy upon the multitude of my sins Is it not a bold wickedness springing from that root that beareth Gall and Wormwood for a man to bless himself and to say God is a God of Mercy and I shall have Peace though I walk in the Imagination of mine own heart adding Drunkenness to Thirst Deut. 29. 19. For a man so to say it is an high Provocation much more to add sin to sin upon such Presumption For what is it but a tempting of God in an high degree Had Christ cast himself down from the Pinacle of the Temple when there were stairs to come down by he had tempted God Wouldst thou have Peace use the Means forbear the Folly of sin if
thou sin upon Presumption of Gods Mercy thou dost tempt God and so lay a new and greater guilt upon thy Soul What Shall we sin that Grace may abound 5. Lastly The guilt is aggravated and that in the highest degree by unthankfulness I forgave thee all that thy debt Mat. 18 32. He who hath had Talents 10000 Talents forgiven him many hainous sins and yet is such an unthankful wretch as to provoke his Gracious Lord by cruelty towards his Fellow-Servant or by any other hainous Follyes he must look to be delivered to the Tormentors until he hath paid all the debt which returns upon the Score not in respect of act but in respect of that high guilt which such ungratefulness layes upon the soul far exceeding the guilt of those sins whatsoever they were before peace spoken After all this is come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great Trespasses seeing that God hath punished us less then our Iniquities deserved and hath given us such deliverance as this should we again break his Commandments Would he not be angry with us till he had consumed us Ezra 9. 13 14. And would not his anger be yet the more provoked against us if we turn again to folly when upon peace spoken The understanding by Christs manifesting of himself unto it is more cleared to know Gods Will. When the Soul by the Spirits dwelling in it is more inabled to do his Will When so great an Obligation lies upon it calling for all ready Obedience unto his Will Now lay all these together Breach of Promise Forgetfulness of deliverance Despising of the Rod. Presumption of Mercy Unthankfulness for Peace All these meeting in backsliding into sin after Peace spoken and what is it but to increase Iniquity above our heads to cause our trespasses to grow up to Heaven Ezra 9. 9. What is it but to add Rebellion unto sin Job 34. Ult. And what a fearful case is the Soul in when by new Follies it hath thus provoked its God How will its former wounds of Loss of wrath lately by a sweet peace drawn together and cured rend themselves open afresh The much enlarged and longer continuing smart whereof it must unavoydably undergo He that sins again after that he is made whole must look for a worse thing to come unto him John 5. 14. He that hath been under Gods smoaking and kindling anger Psal 74. and yet again provokes him such a one must look to feel his burning anger the heat of his great anger Deut. 29. 24. His consuming anger Ezra 9. 14. And if his former Rod was so stinging and intolerable what will his Scorpions be Use I trust that what I have already said concerning backsliding and relapsing into the Folly of sin after peace spoken will make such an impression in your hearts that I shall but lose time to enâ—arge my self further in exhorting you to beware how by new Follâ—es you provoke the Lord. Neither shall I need to say much to stir you up to be careful to preserve Peace when it is spoken to your souls Motives Do but cast your thoughts back upon the anguish and horrour of the wounded Spirit upon the loss of its peace Cast them back upon that love of God and that exceeding Joy which Peace spoken doth assure the soul of and â—ill the Soul with and you will need none other motives Only I conceive it needful that I give you some brief Directions how to preserve peace when it is spoken to your Souls When the Church had found him whom her soul loved whom she had formerly lost Cant. 3. 4. she held him fast The Lord Christ is our Peace That thou mayest hold him fast and noâ— lose him again use these Means Means 1. Love his Word they who do so have great peace Psal 119. 165. 2. Get spiritual Wisdom all her pâ—ths are Peace Prov 3. 17. 3. Live in Unity and the God of Love and Peace will be with you 2 Cor. 13. 11. 4. Love Christ and he will make his abode with you John 14. 23. 5. Be obedient to his commands and you shall have Peace as a River Isa 48. 18. 6. Be spiritually minded to be so is Liâ—e and peace Rom. 8. 6. 7. Let God rule in thine heart his Kingdom consists in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. 8. Let thy mind be sâ—aâ—â—d on God trust in him and he will keep thee in perfect peace Isa 26. 3. 9. Constrain Christ by fervent Prayer and he will tarry with thee Luke 24. 29. and cannot depart from thee Gen. 32. 26. The Authors Hymn upon his wounded Spirit recured Comprising many of the Principal Heads of the Former Discourse VVHen I felt that Heart-stinging Rod Of my Soul-wounding-Salving God In his Losse I was lost his eye Shot Beams of threatning Enmity I bath'd those wounds with Tears for sin Christ's Merit-Balm Faith poured in He came and gently them up-bound Spake Peace Joy Love and I was sound Bless him my Soul while Life doth last Prize Peace and hold thy Dear Christ fast O strengthen me my God most Holy That I return no more to Folly His Farewel to the World VVOrld since to sin to thee I 'm dead To new life rais'd where Christ my Head Doth dwell I 'le seek those things above Disdaining thy now Trash to love There my heart 's set In longing Cries To him my Clay-restrain'd Soul flies He there what doth it here It 's home Is Heaven Lord Jesu quickly come HEnce Bubble-Honour thy swoln gay Light Empty shews are blown away With a just Scorn I now despise Thy once ador'd great Nullities And well I may slight thy proud state Through Christ 'bove thee b'ing made so great Earth bounded thine Ambition I 'm Heavens great King 's Adopted Son VVEalth take thy Wings flie where thou list I 'l be no more a Mammonist To lade me with thick Yellow Clay Poor helpless Idol in wrath's day Gold 's not my hope My hope I 'le place On him who hath my Soul with Grace Inrich'd and made him mine me his In whom are hid all Treasuries PLeasure away away be gone Fair Sorceress thy Potion Is amber'd Poyson thy Songs Spell Wreaks in a Calm and lulls to Hell Welcom sweet Peace thou dost immure With Brass and set my soul secure Rapt from my self in Extasie To Heavens Joyes on thy wings I fly VVEalth Honour Pleasure all adieu My Rescued Heart once slave to you Hath now that best of Objects found Whose Rod hath cur'd your Balm-made Wound You neither last nor satisfie Fulness and Perpetuity Of Blisse he will my Soul afford Who cannot lie I 'le trust his Word 1 John 2. 15. Love not the World neither the things that are in the world If any man love the World the Love of the Father is not in him FINIS