over every thought of thy heart every word of thy tongue c Oh say oft within thy self in the goings out and comings in Whither shall I goe from thy presence c The keeper of Israel who neither slumbers nor sleepes looks upon thee in all thy slumbrings with a broad eye thou art never out of his sight sleeping or waking hee never looks off of thee How soundly was Jacob rowsed out of sleep upon the apprehension of Gods dreadfull presence Gen. 18.16 17. He awaked out of sleep and said The Lord is in this place and I knew it not c Had I been aware of him I had been awake Serious thoughts of approaching glory will put one beside their sleep and startle one to purpose Jer. 5.21.22 Heare yee not mee saith the Lord and will you not tremble at my presence Why then 't is because you have eyes and see not eares and heare not holy tremblings will prevent heavie slumbrings Oh that our drowsie Spirits were continually over-awed with the deep meditations of the omniscience and omnipresence of the Father of Spirits how effectually would they be awakened out of carnall and formal securitie The eyes of Gods glory looking full upon us will keep open the eyes of our heads and hearts too visions of God will cleare up our spiritual sight and quicken it Well his eyes are alwaies upon ours and his heart goes along with ours what need have we of Watchfull eyes and hearts 2. Wait for the glorious ministration of the Spirit under every outward administration This charge is given to the seven Churches Rev. 2.3 by him which had the seven Spirits of God walking in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks when he would earnestly provoke them to watchfullnesse threatning to come upon them as a thief if they did not watch Let him that hath an eare heare what the Spirit saith unto the Churches This blessed Counsel is recommended seven times in two Chapters to adde the greater weight to it and to make deeper impression Oh set that stone with seven eyes before thine eyes to awaken them and spirit them Zech. 3.9 All the workings of the eternal Spirit upon our spirits are awakening when ever the word comes with life in the power of the Spirit it will raise us out of spiritual slumbers Indeed a lower or lesse dispensation will not doe it Oh how dead we lie at prayer hearing reading c till the Spirit of life breathe upon us we are little moved when the Spirit moves not All 's but as Elisha's staffe upon the Child there was neither voyce nor hearing 2 Kings 4.31 but if the holy Spirit stretch himself upon us his eyes upon ours as it were then our eyes will be opened How easie a thing is it to lie sleeping and slumbring in and under any Forme where there is no power how dead we lie by the letter and it by us without the Spirit Ezek. 1.37.1.2 Oh how heartlesse and Spiritlesse are most professors at this day as the very dry bones in the open valley resting and rusting in outward forms not feeling inward povver and there they may rest till they rot and lie till they die if the Spirit do not breathe upon them as upon those dry bones How many of Christs witnesses are spiritually dead taking up in the letter without life and in this unsuitable uncomfortable posture will they lie languishing under spirituall Lethargies and Consumptions till the spirit of life from God enter into them That blessed resurrection of the spirits of the Saints out of the grave of formality and security which is more to be desired a thousand times then their raising up in power and glory it 'h world without a plentiful effusion and powerfull operation of the holy Spirit may not be expected cannot be effected If the Spirit of judgment and burning fall upon their hearts it will fire them out of formalitie and startle them out of securitie when he shall come down with a sound from Heaven as with a mighty rushing wind upon the sluggish Spirits of the Slumbring Virgins how will they be awakened to astonishment as the Apostles were when the Holy Ghost rested as fire upon them c 3. Be diligent frequent and fervent in spiritual Exercises if you would keep up your spirituall Watch. Constant conscientious discharge of duty will be a special remedy against customary formality and carnall security pure Religion is no idle Trade 't will find us work enough can we but find in our hearts to fall to it and that full of variety and excellency to keep us awake and at work all our dayes 'T is not for want of work that any stand idle in the Lords vineyard but for want of will to it 'T is a very busie time with Jesus Christ his heart is upon his work and 't is so with his waiting-servants too for his work is upon their hearts and they that are lazie and sleepy-headed now are like the Sluggard that sleeps in harvest finding least to do where there is most work And they are slothfull servants above all other who are most sleepie when they should do the most and best service How busie will the Devil be with such drousie ones and hardest at work with them while they are at easie work to cast them into a dead sleep His work goes on where ours ceases how much Work have we found Satan in these dayes by neglecting Gods work Since we have left our first Work we have left our first Watch and we find it now vvork more then enough to keep our souls awake Omission of spirituall duties hath brought upon us an habitual indisposition to duties that we find no heart to them feel little heart or heat in them Since Christians have ungirt their loyns and ceased from spirituall motions and actions their vessels are empty their lamps going out and themselves laid down to sleep How dull and heavy are their spirituall senses grown for want of holy exercises how listlesse and livelesse are their Spirits Oh then 't is high time that all the faithfull servants of Jesus Christ should fall afresh upon their Masters work with double diligence to redeem that time which stole away while they slept and can never be recalled And indeed Christians of all the men i' th world should not lose time who have the best and most imployment Oh then out of hand take up that old thriving trade of the practice of Piety in all Gospel-duties from a pure principle as ever these would be found vvatching at the coming of their Lord. 4. Converse much with lively Saints who are much upon their Spiritual Watch their company will be very awakening who are well avvakened They will be knocking at the door of thy heart feeling thy spiritual pulse and asking thee if all be well within they cannot but be jogging at thy elbow if thou keep thy hands in thy bosome and lie slumbring with folded arms
upon him to keep him with them as the Keeper of their heads and hearts for ever 3. Prayer helps a Christian to Watch as it brings him in to commune with God who is glorious in holinesse fearful in praises doing wonders When a poor silly sinful Wretch comes to present himself before the Holy One who is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity How will the serious thoughts of the transcendent majesty and resplendent purity of Jehovah awaken him Will not his excellency make him afraid Job 13.11 and his dread fall upon him When Abraham drew near to commune with the Lord what awakened posture does he appear in Gen. 18 27. Behold sayes he I have taken upon me to speak to the Lord who am but dust and ashes Oh let not the Lord be angry c. When a Child of God finds in his heart to plead with his Father in Heaven he first pleades with himself in these or the like words Mic. 6.6 Wherewithall shall I appear before the Lord or bow my self to the mighty God of Jacob Awake O my soul awake and offer not the dead the lame and the sick in sacrifice to the living God Hee 's a great King Mal. 1.14 and his Name is dreadfull And as a gracious spirit communes with its own heart before it commune with him that tryes the heart so the Lord communes with it in and after prayer now the voyce of the Lord is a glorious voyce which shakes the Cedars and will it not then shake a bruised reed and make it tremble at his Word A broken heart that can speak its mind freely and feelingly to the Lord and hears him speaking home to his heart must needs be effectually awakened such heavenly entercourse maintained by a spirit of prayer will keep up a Christians spirit in a watchful frame till it go up to God that gave it 4. Prayer helps exceedingly at this heart-watch as it is marvellously heart-affecting In fervent prayer how does the softned heart melt in godly sorrow as snow before the Sun or wax by the fire mourning over the Lord and after him how does the thirsting soul pant and breathe and break with longings after the living God as a thirsty land how are the affections carried up towards heaven in a pure flame of Divine life and love ascending as pillars of perfumed smoke And will not such unconceiveable Soul-stirrings strugglings as these awaken the heart Sure there is a mighty spirit of activity goes forth in this Saints-exercise when performed in the power of the holy Spirit which will prevent heart-benumming security when a man of God wrastles with the Allmighty in his might as a Gyant refreshed with Wine what heart-raising and rowsing work must there needs be think ye 'T is too busie a time this to sleep in when an immortal soul is working as for life with the ever-living God about the things of Eternity A double ground in the Text why we should double our duty in Watching and Praying First Because we are exposed to temptation if we do not Watch and Pray For 1. We provoke the Lord to tempt us while we tempt him by neglect of these Gospel-Duties of his own appointment as 1. To lead us into temptation when we will not follow the leading and guidance of his Holy Spirit and Word 'T is that which Jesus Christ in tendernesse to our weak wandring spirits would have daily upon our hearts in prayer to beseech our Father not to lead us into temptation 'T is true as the Spirit of truth testifies that God cannot be tempted to evill neither tempteth he any man He is infinitely holy and righteous and cannot tempt any to sin and unrighteousnesse He is the chief good and cannot lead any into any evil temptation or temptation to evil And he is unchangeably and eternally holy and cannot possibly be tempted to unholinesse the just Lord will can do nothing that is unjust no iniquity Yet the Lord may be said in his own sense to lead us into temptation for himself hath said it As 1. By way of Probation When he tryes us like gold i' th fire as he did Job When he leads us into the Wildernesse to prove us as he did Israel of old when we fall into the hands of God as David and his Servants did Jam. 1.2 And though we are to account it all joy when we fall into manifold temptations for as the temptations and sufferings of Christ abound in us 2 Cor. 1.5 so our consolations also will abound by Christ 't is his peculiar method with which his secret ones are well acquainted to bring good out of evill and sweet out of bitter yet it is upon the account of his sympathy with us in sufferings and sanctifying them to us by keeping up the spirituall exercise of watching and prayer while we are exercised therewith otherwise as afflictions are never joyous in themselves so they will be ever grievous to those who have grieved the Holy Spirit by laying aside their spiritual watchfulnesse and prayer Those sufferings must needes befull of vexation and perplexitie which find us under presumption and securitie for First what bitternesse will it be to the soul when awakened in a day of adversity that it slept and slumbred out it's dayes of prosperitie that which was then a bed of ease to the flesh will be now a bed of thorns to the Spirit There cannot chuse but be much heart-aking under heart-awakening tryals to all slumbring Virgins and that is the pain of all paines the sharpest sting in sufferings sad thoughts of sinfull slumbrings will break ones sleep false rests will fearfully disquiet us when we find them out or they us in the day of calamity Affliction will be a root of bitternesse bearing gall and wormwood at such a time oh what an heavie burthen has the carelesse neglect of watching and praying been to some slumbring Christians in our dayes who have lived at ease in Zion while she has been in pain travelling to be delivered How have they mourned like Doves and chattered as a Crane or Swallow for want of that Spirit of grace and supplication which they had so long restrained and so much extinguished under a spirituall Lethargie how have their hearts been ready to dye within them like Nabals for want of life in and love to those holy duties wherein sometimes they had been lively and full of affection How will the hearts of all the slumbring Virgins smite them one day when distresse shall come upon them as sorrow upon a woman in travell will they not then weep out their sleepy eyes and sigh out their sluggish spirits crying Ah we fools that had a price in our hands and no hearts to use it We have lost many a good day trifling out choyce breathing times in the sight of the Sun and now the night is come upon us and we cannot work Alas alas for those daies of the Son of
not deny thee When Christ trusts him with himself and his own strength but for a little season how fowly he shews his weaknesse and shames himself and very sinfully offends him more then they all by being so shamefully offended because of him denying before them all that he knew his Master upon the word of a damsel that said Thou wast with Jesus And the Holy Ghost sets a brand of Cowardize upon this self-confiding Champion leaving this upon record to all Ages to shake and shame all the Lords people out of themselves that when another Maid said This fellow was with Jesus he denyed with an oath Ver. 71. I know not the man Would any of the Disciples have ever believed such a thing as this of Peter or he of himself that a cursed oath should have ever been found within his blessed lips and that to deny his Lord and Master with those lips that had so oft blessed him that he should so desperately disown him with his mouth whom he owned honoured and loved so dearly at his heart Oh how have the mighty fallen how have the mighty fallen when they have been left to themselves and have fallen into their own hands Such remarkable examples as these taken into our serious consideration may happily if the Lord strike in with them awaken some sleepy hearts from a presumptuous self-full security to a religious watchfull jealousie that they who think they stand may take heed lest they fall as certainly they shall though they seem to be pillars as Peter did if they stand upon their own leggs and not upon his that are as Pillars of Marble set upon sockets of fine gold Cant. 5.15 Upon this double Account that they are so exposed to Temptation and so indisposed to Opposition who do no Watch and Pray Let me call for double diligence in the Name of the Lord to this double Duty First Double your Watch Oh watch watch 1. Over your own Hearts Jer. 17.9 for they are most deceitfull and the Deceiver lyes most at catch there the subtle Serpent he knowes where our guile lyes which he would willingly make use of to beguile us with 'T is his Commission onely to bruise the heel Gen. 3.15 but 't is his covetous ambition to break into the heart How he watches day and night works without wearinesse and windes about every way to surprize this Royall Fort of the King of Glory if he carry that he commands all and will lead us captive at his will if he can but get his head into our hearts and keep his hand upon this great wheel he has his hearts desire and will turn all about with it Oh therefore lay to heart that blessed Counsell of our great heart-keeper Prov. 4.23 Keep thy heart above all keeping so the Hebrew has it for out of it are the issues of life 'T is matter of life and death this 'T is as much as thy life is worth to watch the heart well and not to watch it is death The Devill knowes if there be any good treasure within thee it is laid up in thine heart and he would fain have the key of this Cabbinet to rob thee of thy Jewels If he can but corrupt this fountain all the streams will be filthy out of it will proceed the worst of Evils when it becomes the worst part which should be the best The Father of spirits doubles his Charge upon our spirits The Lord God of Israel saith Take heed to your spirit Mal. 2.15 16. take heed to your spirit Here the unclean spirits muster up their Forces and therefore here must our main Guard be Watch but the heart so as to keep him out there and put the Devil out of heart hee 'l despair of you 2. Watch the good Spirit of God in all its motions impressions convictions allurings comfortings c. as ever you would escape the temptations and delusions of the evil spirit and therefore First Watch the good Spirit to welcome him make much of his sweet breathings ther 's much life and love in them If the Spirit come to Convince you saying as Nathan did to David Thou art the man say Speak Lord for thy servant heareth Be ready to hear of that ear though he speak such things as make it tingle as you love the peace of your own spirits If he come as a Spirit of glory and power to subdue your iniquities to cut off your right hand c. with his two edged sword Oh say Let him go on and prosper till he have slain his thousands c and made all his enemies become his footstool If he come to coast as a Dove upon you to meeken and sweeten your Spirits Oh put forth your hands to take him in as Noah did the Dove with the Olive-leafe make both much of and set much by the good Spirit and Word of God and the evill Spirit will not be able to do you much hurt Oh prize the gracious manuductions of this faithfull guide at an high rate and be as glad of his heavenly conduct as the wise men were to see the starre that pointed out Christ to them Math. 2.10 they rejoyced with exceeding great joy Lie as even as you can under his celestial influences and sweet distillings of the precious dews of grace and peace Attend his glorious ministration all along let him have his whole will upon you and do his work wholly and fully within you say him not Nay in any thing he will work mightily within you and witnesse manifestly to you 2. Watch the workings and witnessings of the Holy Spirit so as you may not hinder him when he comes to help you nor grieve him when he comes to comfort you take heed of tempting him who only can help you against the Tempter oh shut not out his glorious light for all the glory of the World imprison not any of his precious truths for all the specious libertyes under the Sun resist not the stirring power of his grace upon you when hee 's shaking the powers of darknesse within you refuse not the free and familiar tenders of his heart-renewing and reviving love for thousands of Gold and Silver Lose not willingly one syllable of the secret whisperings of this messenger of peace lest he with draw his light love power and peace and leave you to the power of Satan and he lead you into Prison and keep you in darknesse Alas alas we have given the greatest occasion and advantage to spiritual wickednesse in high places to tempt vex disturb and divide us by tempting vexing and quenching the Holy Spirit as ever any in the World have done And are not now the shadowes of the evening upon us for slighting his goings forth as the morning How strangely have the lying Spirits deceived us since the Spirit of truth has been rejected and the truths of the Spirit What a thick black dark hour of temptation is come upon us since
A VVarning-Piece FOR THE Slumbring Virgins OR AN ALARM TO THE Friends of the Bridegroom IN Some Awakening Meditations upon Christ's own Watch-word Matth. 26.41 Watch and Pray that ye enter not into temptation c. By Geo Scortreth Preacher of the Gospel in Lincoln Revel 16.15 Behold I come as a thief blessed is he that Watcheth keepeth his garments lest he walk naked c. London Printed for Thomas Brewster at the Three Bibles in Paul's Church-yard near the West End 1657. To the Friends and followers of the Lamb. Beloved in our Lord I Had not thought to have printed any of my poor Labours in the Lord though i'has been much upon my heart they might be imprinted upon the hearts of the hearers by the Spirit of the living God But some late impulses have been upon my spirit since infirmities have grown upon me to leave a few Words with the servants of Christ before I leave them looking up to him to leave his blessing with them and that upon these and the like Considerations 1. The strange Slumbrings of so many backsliding Christians at this day have somewhat awakened my drowsie spirit and my eye hath affected my heart to see so many sleepy eyes and heavy hearts so that I am not at rest till I have eased my own soul in warning them openly as in weeping for them in secret 2. The Lord hath been following me with awakening dispensations morning by morning awakening my ear to receive instruction and while he hath shaken his rod of Fatherly Correction over me a deep Conviction hath fallen from Heaven upon me that it is the work of the day in its day for the Watchmen to cry aloud saying Awake Awake 3. I have some sweet perswasions through mercy that whiles I am at the Lords work stirring up others to watch and pray I shall find him at work within stirring me up to take hold of him and giving in some awakening heart-reflexions upon these Meditations of Watchfulnesse and my heart tells me the Watchmen of all others would be well awakened and ever upon their Watch at such a day as this 4. Pity to slumbring Saints who hear not the sounding of their own bowels to make them pity themselves hath moved me to knock at their doors and ask them how they do at heart They little think alas now their hearts are asleep of the sorrowes that are coming upon the men and women that are at ease in Zion as sorrow upon a woman in travell 5. The love of Christ constrains me to call upon his sloathfull Servants to arise and fall to their Masters work who hath most to do i' th last dayes and would not be left alone at it many heads hands and hearts busie together would make light work 't would go merrily on and not so heavily as now it does whiles so many heads and hearts are heavy with sleep 6. The stirring Appetites of some hungry craving ones indeared to me in the bonds of the Gospel who are daily waiting with longing for one cluster of grapes or other from the Celestial Canaan have made me the more willing to presse this one grape for their sakes happily they may find a little sweetnesse in it though none else should as taking and tasting it with a good will from his hand whose heart is towards them And if any of these should unhappily be overtaken with that dead sleep of midnight-security which hath surprized so many at this day who knowes but the importunities of one that is their friend may prevail with them to rise and open the door of their hearts when the Bridegroom himself shall knock who is their best and dearest Friend i' th World These being the wheels which have set this Watch on motion you may not expect any Eye or Ear-affecting curiosity but heart-awakening Gospel Simplicity the entising words of mans wisdome have lull'd many asleep and ' tmust be plainnesse of speech in the demonstration of the Spirit that must awaken them I have most to do in this Work with Wisdomes Children who have learnt to become fooles that they may be wise and had rather hear one word spoken to the understanding then a thousand words in an unknown tongue The corporal weaknesses and spiritual wants of one groaning under an heap of infirmities will make a sufficient Apology for all wants and weaknesses as to matter or method 'T is broken meat this for broken hearts who will be gathering up a few Crums here and there and if it be well digested within 't will be the lesse matter though it be so indigested without I am very sensible 't is sowen in great weaknesse alas how can so poor a nothing Creature do otherwise yet I am not out of heart or hopes through grace but it may rise up in power to the raising up of some that are asleep in sin and the rowsing up of others that are under a sinful slumber by the power of the Spirit which is his hearts design and desire who would willingly bespeak your heart-remembrances while he takes the humble boldnesse to be one of your weak though willing Remembrancers in the Name of the Lord that he may be accounted worthy to be found a Watchful Servant of Christ Jesus our Lord and Your faithful Servant for Jesus sake G. S. From my Chamber in little Queenstreet Lond. M. 7. 1656. To my welbeloved Friends endeared to me in the love and bonds of the Gospel at Lincoln or elsewhere Dear Friends BEing laid aside by the hand of my righteous Father as to the publique work of the Ministry amongst you you have been much upon my heart in my private Meditations to stirre you up and put you in remembrance to wait upon our Lord and for him who will meet those with rejoycing Isa 64.5 that remember him in his wayes The openings of your hearts to me in much affection and compassion as many of your eyes witnessed at our parting not knowing whether we should see the faces of one another any more and as your affectionate remembrances of me while absent and under present bodily pressures do sufficiently testifie have much bespoke my heart on your behalf to leave this Watch-word with you if I should now take my Rest and sleep in Jesus And if the Father of mercies should graciously raise me up by his strength to spend and be spent amongst you 't would be a sweet mercy to find you in a waiting watching posture 'T will be the more seasonable to knock where they are awakened and to strike while the iron 's hot The Word of Life will be most welcome to quickned spirits That you may read these following awakening Meditations with open eyes and hearts let me present you with a few preparatory hints to an awakened posture happily your sight may be a little cleared by this foretaste as Jonathans was upon his tasting a little honey from the end of his rod if you look up for eye-salve from Heaven
borrowed from the practise of Shepherds watching over their Flocks as Jacob over Labans or from Souldiers upon the guard who keep strict watch both these must discharge their trust with great diligence and patience special care and constancie they must endure the heat by day and the cold by night Christs experienced Souldiers do find 't is hard duty this much must be done and suffered upon this account ther 's no giving over this watch what ever it costs us our life lies on 't This spirituall watch presupposes an awakened heart out of Naturall Stupiditie and Formall Security 1. Out of naturall Carnall stupiditie they cannot possibly watch who were never awakened the naturall man is spiritually dead and as uncapable of this spirituall duty as a man borne blind is to see the Sun or a dead man to heare the thunder he must first heare the voyce of the Son of God saying awake thou that sleepest c before he can watch with him or for him alas how can they watch who have eyes and see not like the idols in the psalm He must be a spirituall man that discernes spirituall things that is fit to be a spirituall watch-man and to wait in the spirit 2. Out of formal securitie A sleepie professor is ever crying a little sleep a little slumber c. he cannot keep his heart awake if he might have all the world nor his eyes open sluggish slumbring Christians are in no posture for watching they are as silly Doves without an heart they have no heart to this heartty duty and no heart in it they are not spirited for this work their spirituall senses are bound up they have let their watch fall and will never take it up againe without a sound awakening The watchmen must cry aloud in the eares and consciences of such or they 'l lie down to sleep againe and againe swooning Christians can never watch till the Lord rub them up to purpose they had need be living and lively men that are to watch as for life ' tmust be a raised sinner and rowsed Saint that 's set about this work Secondly more particularly Evangelical watching implyes these things following 1. Attention Isa 50. â— a spiritual watchman must have his eare awakened morning by morning as the prophets that he may heare what the Spirit saith Rev. 2. 3. this the Spirit calls for over and over Let him that hath an eare he are c he must have an hearing and harkening eare too that would here the still voyce the whisperings of the holy Spirit he must have an eare to heare from God that keepes his watch or he will have no eye to see him no mouth to speak from him or for him God has much to say to his awakened ones that are upon his watch they had need have their eares about them yea within them An heavie eare and a sleepie heart Jer. 6.10 go together to whom shall we speak and give warning sayes Jeremie sadly they have uncircumcised eares c and cannot heare alas the speakers may shut up their mouths there Mach. 13.15 where the people stop their eares they are no hearers indeed who have eares and heare not And may we not take up that heavie complaint at this day one of the saddest in all the Book of God they have made their hearts and eares heavie Isa 42.19 least they should heare with their eares c Who so deafe as many of Gods Servant to borrow that expression much preaching as great sounds hath made many deafe that what they would not heare they cannot And what are the wisest charmings to such deafe Adders well Christs watchmen must be swift to heare for his motions are quick hee 's somtimes but a word and away a knock and he has done 2. Intention a watchman must be very intent upon his duty corporall watching much more spiritual should take up our Spirits God must be much heeded and his whole work well-minded even with the whole heart especially this work of watching Hee 's no servant for Christ that would serve him by halves ther 's no being for him almost but altogether or not at all all our spirituall forces must be mustred up to keepe this watch we must stir up all our strength and all too little in the discharge of this duty 't will take up the whole man ther 's no halting here lest evil overtake us a lame Christian will never stand to it but must be sitting down ever and anon He had need be a man of another Spirit Caleb-like that would follow the Lord fully in this spirituall watch As naturall things act to the uttermost within their Sphear so in this supernatural work of evangelical watching we should act all we can for God Eccles 9.10 within the Sphear of our spirituall activitie what ever we find in our hands to do for him especially at so weightie and busie a work as this we should do it with all our might there must be an holy violence and fervencie accompanying Gospel vigilancie spirituall force will doe well here indeed we can never Watch well without it If it once come to a Spirit of indifferencie it will not be long ere we be surprized by a Spirit of securitie if we care not much Gallio-like we shall Watch but little a slothfull Spirit will be sleepie do what you can Oh what sad slumbrings amongst us since Christians have laid themselves down upon beds of ease a lazie creature is never likely to Watch with Christ or for him Hee 's nimble as a Roe quick in his turnes No you must stirre up your selves in Christs strength to quit your selves like men in his service 3. Inspection Christs Watchmen must be all Seers and have seeing eyes as well as hearing eares our spirituall Watch lies most within 't is an inward Watch especially our eyes must be in our hearts and upon them 'T is a very considerable Watch word that Prov. 42.3 Above all keping keep thy heart a strong and strict guard must be kept there and indeed if the Watch be not kept strictly there all our watching will be invain 'T wil be to little purpose to set a Watch before our mouths or make a covenant with our eyes if the plague of the heart be not watched over it will be ever breaking forth into putrified sores Had we an hundred eyes Jer. 17.9 they had need be all at watch here for our hearts are deceitfull above measure who can know them And he that is not faithfull in inward watching will never be good for ought either as to outward waiting on God or watching over others How many have been looking so much abroad that they are to seeke at home watching the haltings of others but not their own busibodys in other's mattters and neglecting the businesse of their own Spirits they are espying motes in the eyes of others and lay out their eyes at home or see not the
beames in them How oft does the Spirit knock at their doores and they not within when he comes to deale with their hearts they are not to be found 'T was said of old Fooles will be medling that is with others not themselves Oh how many such fools are every where whose eyes are in the Corners of the Earth seldome in the Corners of their own hearts most busie where they have least to doe and least where most will not the Lord ere long search such as with Candles who put out their lights within that they may not see themselves will he not storme them home that scatter their wayes abroad will not the Judge think you be at their doores who are all for judging others but not themselves Well the Lord is about to find the heavie-headed and hearted Virgins work within their own doores and to set them upon heart-watching againe by some awakening dispensations Oh 't is one chief businesse in our spirituall watch to try our own Spirits and much communing with our selves will keep our hearts awake and indeed since the servants of Crist have idled it within and neglected this inward work of heart-searching they have left their first works and watchings 4. Circumspection In this spiritual watch as we should have our eyes in our hearts so in our heads as to looke within so without As the Dove casts his head about this way and that before she take her flight So should Christs Doves look above them and abou them yea every way before they move any way As the heart must be watched over above all watchings so there must be a watch over the mouth as over Davids over the eye as over Iobs yea over the whole man and the whole life As we should be ever upon our Watch-Tower to Watch at all times being a work alwayes in season so to Watch over all things and to take a view allwayes above and below at the right hand and the left that we be not surprized any where in any thing at any time As the vertuous Woman whose price is above Rubies Prov. 31.10.27 is said to look well into the ways of her houshold So must the gracious Watch-man do he must bee a seer an overseer to his own house And as the Children of Issachar are said to have understanding of the times 1 Chron. 12.32 and to know what Israel had to do So should the generation of spirituall Watchers have an eye upon generation-work an heart to it an hand in it serving their owne generation as David did till they fall asleepe Act. 13.36 The spirituall Watchman should have a discerning into all things not be Eagle-eyed only in some things and blind as Bats in other things but as the four beasts which were full of eyes within and full of eyes before and behind too Rev. 4.6 So should they that are upon the Lords Watch be full of eyes within and without Alas poore silly Creatures that we be we meet with a snare in every Creature temptations will be crouding upon us in every condition we are in danger on all hands to be defiled or deceived and therefore we had need watch at every turne and have our eyes turning every way as the flaming sword at the East of the Garden of Eden Psal 139. As the Lord who is all eye as it were Watches us all over over all our thoughts all our words all our wayes c So should we Watch over our selves even all over at all times our goings out and comings in our down-sitting and uprising we should beset our selves with a strict VVatch behind and before 5. Exercitation There is much worth in this VVatch it is a very busie imployment full of duty a duty in every duty we should watch at every work a slothfull Servant is not fit for this stirring service this is no work for lazy-bodies It 's not carryed on by sitting still or looking about us 'T is lively work and requires a living active quickened Spirit grace in the habit is not sufficient though in the highest and greatest measure to keep on foot this spirituall watch no not in the least and lowest work of it when grace is not at work ther 's no watch kept it lies sleeping in the soul and the soul 's asleep too when bodily exercise is laid aside and there 's a cessation from motion and action we find great propensitie to slumbring and heavinesse 'T is even so in spiritualls when the acts and exercises of grace are suspened we are easily overtaken with the Spirit of slumber Since professors have been idle and lived at ease in Zion what a strange Spirit of formal securitie and sluggish secure formalitie has stolen upon them and stolen away their hearts too 'T is sad very sad to see how the Virgins are fallen asleep since they have been all for easy work carelesse ones have let their watch fall they find themselves little to do in spirituals and sleepe much in spirit and as they give over working so they give over watching as they cease from duty they are seazed upon by securitie graces must be exercised and habits actuated by the help of the Spirit of grace that our spirituall watch may be mannaged and maintained Busie heads and hearts are most watchfull if we stirre up the grace of Christ in us it will stirre us up to watch with Christ and for him As appeares plainly in new-converts who are much wrought upon and work much they are full of spirituall struglings wrastlings searchings pantings groanings fighings c Oh how watchfull are these new creatures when new awakened Christs babes are not like other babes in this For they sleepe least when new-borne and others most How watchfull in prayer and watching unto prayer Psal 45. their eyes even failing with looking up watchfull in meditation their hearts are ever bubling up like a quick spring watchfull in hearing the good word of God to heare a good word from God how do they hang about Christs lips as it were with both eares for some drops of sweet smelling myrrhe how watchfull to enjoy communion with the Father amongst his Children how much upon thewing after the doves of Christ no company now like the companions of Christ that heare his voyce Now it is farre otherwise with many ancient Christians who having un-bent their Bow of holy purposes and practises which at first seemed to abide in strength like Josephs grow remisse in Gospel-dutys Gen. 49. take their hands off from Christs plow and look back grow loose in Spirit lose time let their talents lie rusting by them and their graces resting in them how suddenly and shamefully their watch falls as their work failes the longer they live the lesse life in their Spirits and service and all things are readie to die in them before they die how heavily they drive when they once give over oyling their wheeles with spirituall exercises 'T is an high
If the Spirit be powred forth as floods who 'l drink so deep as these gaping thirstie Souls When ever the King sits at table and causes the spikenard to send forth a sweet smell they must needs feele the savour of his oyntments who wait as Olive-Plants round about his table when ever blessings are handed out they are within reach Oh 't is a rich mercy to be heerest mercy 2. They are fittest for Duty Is there any work to do for God his Cause his People they are neer hand waiting for it saying What wilt thou have us do Lord If a word of Command come 't is welcome they are upon their Watch If the Lord say Come they come and if he say Go they go their loyns are girt If the King of glory look out and cry Who is on my side who they are ready to look out of the window towards him Isa 41.2 saying Here are we Lord. They are called to his foot as the man of the East onely waiting for a word from his mouth they set themselves in a posture on purpose to follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth Yea awakened hearts whose eyes have seen the King in his beauty have and holy ambition in them to do as much and as well in their Masters service as he shall give them power to do of his good pleasure Whereas the slothful servant is ever to seeke both in will and power when his Master has work for him he will either slip out of the way or sleep at work If Jesus Christ call o th' sudden and have any haste of work hee 's all ungirt and will be so long a getting ready till the businesse might be half done But the vigilant diligent servant is at an houres warning he is the vessel unto honour meet for the Masters use and prepared for every good work 3. They are like to be richest in experience this must needs be men of great observation whose eyes are ever open to behold the gracious and glorious goings of God in Providences and Ordinances He will make most of his glory and goodnesse to passe before those that watch and wait according to his appointment Exod. 3 3.19.22 as Moses upon the Rock They 'l meet with many choise pledges of divine love many drops of myrrhe from Christs fingers and Kisses from his lips that watch at his feet his steps will drop fatnesse upon such as lie in his way waiting for him Hee 'l lay up much of his Heavenly treasure in holy awakned hearts and reveale most of his secrets to his hearkening hidden ones Math. 13.52 The watchfull faithfull Stewards will have out of thier treasure to bring forth new and old they 'l have all manner of pleasant fruits laid up at their gates for the Beloved Cant. 7.13 they will be able to give the best account what God does for their Souls who watch their own hearts best and wait most for him there He will be much with them whom he finds much at home and make out much of himself to them Watchfull Israelites will be the best provided of hidden Mannah they 'l be before-hand with all others in respect of the most experience and best intelligence from Heaven 4. They are readiest for the appearance of Christ If he come at morning or evening mid-day or mid-night at what watch soever he comes they are watching yea when they sleep their heart waketh Cant. 5.2 they are readie to goe forth to meet the bridgroome Math. 25.6 should he call at midnight and his salvation will be most welcom where it has been most waited for What an happie and heavenly posture was good old Simeon in Luk. 2.25.26.27.28 to meet Christ in the Temple who had so long waited in the Spirit for the consolation of Israel how ready was he to receive that blessed Child with open armes and heart too where was Christ more welcom then to little Zachaeus Luk 19.3.4 5. who was got upon this Watch-Tower the Sycamor-Tree desiring to see him how sweetly was Christs heart affected towards this poore waiting Soul he looks up with a loving eye to satisfie his longing looks and how happie doth this good man think himself in so blessed a guest he received him joyfully Math. 24.28 Oh how readie will the quick-sighted Eagles be to gather about him whose eyes are ever looking towards this rising Sun Behold I come quickly saith he Amen say they Rev. 22.20 Even so come Lord Jesus Observe how sweetly that lovely word Amen is couched betwixt them and their hearts together in it Use of Examination Let us give our Souls a visit in the Name of the Lord and commune secretly and seriously with our own hearts about our Spiritual Watch. Discoveries of Spiritual Slumber 1. Is the Lord silent to thee who hath used to speak much to thy heart to bespeak it Dost thou heare seldom from him will he scarce give thee a word why then thou mayest be jealous of thy self that thy heart is asleep for he will have a mouth to speak where there is an ear to hear Canst thou not remember the moneths of old when he gave in many words in season has he not oft spoke to thy heart when man spoke to thy ear And does he now keep silence Dost thou onely hear the voyce of a man now and so runnes to Ely as Samuel did Dost thou hear much without and little or nothing within Does not thine ear affect thy heart Is not the Word as a fire within thee dost thou hang upon the bare outward administration and art thou a stranger to the glorious ministration of the Spirit Why sure thy Watch is down and he seems to slumber And now he hides his ear from thy breathing thou cryest and he will not answer thee Ask thy soul solemnly What 's the matter is his ear heavy Is there not a cause within is not thy heart heavy Has not he called and thou hast not heard has not he knocked and thou not opened Is it not thus O slumbring Soul speak out and tell the Lord how it is within 2. Art not thou silent before the Lord who usedst to cry mightily after him Is not thine heart shut up now which thou was wont to pour forth thy sighings come not before the Lord as they have done and thy groanings are hid from him Art not thou a stranger to thy own closet where thou hast much sought him in secret Surely thy heart is fallen into a dead sleep 't is a sad swooning-time with thy sluggish spirit how hast thou lost thy heart in point of love to prayer and life in it Oh wer'st thou throughly awakened thou wouldst not for a world give over this thriving Trade of spiritual begging thou couldst not keep so long out of his presence who hath given thee so many sweet visits in prayer Job 27.10 the hypocrite will not pray alwaies and 't is no wonder for he cannot
Man Job 29.2 3. Oh that it were with us as in the moneths of old when the candle of the Lord shined upon our heads c. What slothful servants have we been hiding our Masters Talents in a napkin when we should have ministred one to another 1 Pet. 4.10 as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God And now the rust of them witnesses against us as the worldlings gold and silver We have shut our ears and hearts against the Lord and his good Word and now the Word of the Lord is against us We have slighted the sweet counsell and comforts of the holy Spirit and now we feel its sharp Convictions We would not hear the checks of Conscience and now we must hear its chidings Oh the sting and the smart of a self-condemning Conseience when it is once awakened out of self-pleasing and self-easing security by the scourging rod of the Almighty Secondly what Aversenesse and frowardnesse will fill thy Spirit in sad houres who hast sinfully slipt and slept out so many good ones When thou feelest thy sufferings weightie and thy shoulders weake thy pressures great and thy patience small thy body languishing thy soul fainting thy faith failing How will thy Spirit be distempered thy peace disturbed thy heart will be readie to fret against the Lord Pro. 14.3 thou 'l be angrie as Jonah even to the death to see death looking thee in the face when thou last looked for it and the evill day neerest when thou puts it farthest from thee And now thy slumbrings and wandrings will be set in order before thee and thou hast neither set thy house or heart in order before the Lord and now the Judge standeth at the door to call thee to an account and thou hast not made up thy reckonings for many a day thy time misspent thy stock spent thy experiences lost thy evidence to seek Oh how discontented will thy disappointed heart be at such a day Thou hast long neglected the ruling of thy own spirit and now 't will be too unruly for thee as a wild bull in a net how apt wilt thou be to kick against the pricks Ephraim-like as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke An heart not watcht over will be much out of frame for doing well much more for suffering When the weight of affliction falls upon a lazy lame spirit what haltings will be discovered and uneaven carriage under the rod 2. By way of Permission As the Lord may be said to lead us into temptation by way of Probation when he takes us into his own hand so by way of Concession when he takes off his own hand and suffers Satan to put forth his hand against us 'T is true the evil one is alwaies limited by the Holy One that he cannot do his worst or else he would play the devil indeed he 's under Divine restraint and in a prison as it were when most at liberty this strong man armed is reserved in chains by a stronger then he Yet his heart is set upon the servants of God Job 1.8 Hebr. as 't was upon Job with as much ill will as it can hold though through mercy he cannot have his will on them The roaring Lyon gapes with open mouth to swallow them up How earnestly did he desire to sift the Disciples of Christ Luk. 22.31 Gr. he was greedy of such a prey as this and if the Lord did not put an hook in the nostrils of this Leviathan what a piercing Serpent would he be How ready was the evil spirit to offer his service Isa 27.1 to be a lying spirit in the mouth of the Prophets he would fain be deceiving 1 King 22.22 that he might be destroying Now if we neglect our spiritual Watch we grieve the Spirit and tempt him to leave us to the temptations of the evil spirit who will be ever grieving and vexing our spirits and doing us all the mischief he can and 't is much he can do with Gods leave if the Lord take away the hedge this wild Boor will be in upon us and root up all 2. We tempt the Lord to tempt us when we give over watching and praying by leaving us in temptation as by leading us into it and that 's a very Sad Case As 1. By withdrawing himself and his holy Spirit from us when we are under tryals And this must needs be a dark time when God covers us with a cloud in his anger and covers himself as with a cloud too What a terrible Eclipse will that be when the light of his Countenance is withheld in a day of darknesse and gloominesse This indeed is the burthen of all afflictions and lyes heaviest upon honest hearts This is plain to see in the severall perplexed cases and distressed conditions of Job Job 13.21 Psa 88.14 Psa 13.1 30.7 Heman David c. under variety of afflictions and temptations The hiding of Gods face was the forest trouble the saddest tryal this struck deepest into their hearts and made their faces gather palenesse how were their spirits drunk up with the terrours of the Almighty Now 't is most righteous with the Lord to leave us in a day of adversity when we leave him in dayes of prosperity to leave us at a losse in our straits when we leave and lose him in liberty He will withdraw from us when evill drawes near if we have withdrawn and wandred from him when he drew near to do us good He will turn his back upon them in times of calamity who have given him the back and not the face in times of tranquillity 2. Psa 81.11 12. By delivering us up to our selves and our own spirits When Gods people would have none of Him He gave them up to their own hearts lusts they would not own the Lord and be his servants and he leaves them to be slaves to their own lusts lording it over them Ah when a people grow weary of God have done with him as to Watching in prayer and let him alone coming seldom at him hee 'l be a stranger to them and leave them alone as he did Ephraim Hee 's joyned to Idols Hos 4.17 18. let him alone sayes God he will not joyn himself to the Lord and the Lord will have nothing to do with him but leave him to himself and to his Idols and now all goes ill with poor Ephraim his drink is sowr or is gone as in the Hebrew all is gone when God is gone and he commits whoredome continually all sowres on his hands and in his heart too Ah when we slight the Lord and slumber in his sight he will let us slip out of his hands and then as a bowl falling out of the hand down a steep hill we follow the Byasse of our own corrupt hearts and run headlong without stop or stay Hell-ward 'T is not to say How fearfully and shamefully the best of men will leave the Lord and lose
we have refused the cleare counsel and pure comforts of the Holy-Ghost in the day of his gracious visitation what strong delusions and strange declinings to the right hand or the left since we have forsaken the guide of our spirits 3. Watch your spiritual enemies they watch us Luk. 4.13 as Satan did Christ when the Tempter is gone and his temptation seemes to be quite over he does but watch another season and therefore we must watch in season and out of season As Nehemiah and the people of God with him did with Sanballat and the enemies of God Neh. 4.7.8.9 they prayed and set a watch day and night the enemie was very wroth and they were very watchfull a sword in one hand when at work with the other So should we at this day watch at the Lords work Watch and Pray watch and heare watch and speak c 'T is very seasonable that counsell of the mightie Counsellour Take heed no man deceive you for many shall come in my name saying I am Christ deceive many Oh how much are we concerned in that blessed caution upon whom the ends of the World are come Math. 24.4 5 11 24 25. How affectionate and importunate was Paul the aged and experienced in warning the people night and day and that with teares to beware of such as should seeke to withdraw them from the Gospel of Christ Do not spiritual dangers multiply upon us every day whiles we are under a Spirit of slumbring securitie from our soul-enemies and that on every side Oh what need of the whole Armour of God on the right hand and on the left what need of a diligent spiritual watch over our heads and hearts words and wayes teachings and hearings Oh gather up your spiritual forces every day and call in auxiliaries from Heaven and follow the Captain of your salvation Watching and Praying as the armour-bearer did Jonathan climbing upon heads and feet contend eamestly for the faith which was once given to the Saints and as you 're fighting the good fight of faith be ever looking up to Jesus 1 Pet. 1.5 and you shall be kept as in a Garrison so the word imports by his power through faith unto salvation 4. Watch over and for one another for good in an evil time 't is very seasonable to be knocking at one anothers doores and jogging at each others elbowes in the Spirit of meeknesse to keep as many awake as you can in this slumbring time through the good hand of God upon you and surely they whose hearts are awakened in such a day as this by the Lords speaking from heaven to them cannot keep silence but must be speaking to their brethren in the name of the Lord saying awake awake As our hearts should dwell much upon awakening meditations so our mouths should be filled with awakening salutations and exhortations when we meet with the servants of Christ as it was with the lively Christians in the primitive times saying behold he comes like a thief and The Judge standeth at the door and the like When so many watch one anothers haltings let us watch to be helpers of one anothers faith and joy by provoking one another to Watching and Prayer when many fellow-servants are smiting one another with words of violence and verulency let us smite one another with words of truth soberness and the deeper they pierce the heart in the Spirit of Love the better could we hit one another o' th heart-vein 't would be a mercy Oh that the righteous would thus smite one another with gracious words of reproof to restore one another and all in much mutual soul-love what a kindness would this be Such precious oyntments would not break the head but mollifie and meeken the heart Such wounds would be welcome from the hand of a friend Alas we complain every where of the Saints slumbring wandring and wantonnesse 't were better we turned our complaints inward and left them upon our selves that we do not stir up one another to Watching and Prayer we do but bear one another as burthens upon our spirits when we should beare one anothers burthens and help at a dead lift as with one shoulder we see poore Christians in a dead sleep on every hand and we lie dying by them but who calls upon them to be watchfull and strengthen the things that are readie to die Rev. 3.2 How many have our eyes beheld lying as a man asleep upon the top of a Mast and floods of temptation under them too prov 7.23.34 readie to swallow them up but how few have we laboured to awaken to this day 2 Sam. 16.17 may we not reflect upon our selves in the words of Absalom to Hushai Is this our kindnesse to our friends Is this nothing to you all ye that passe by do you not take notice how many foolish Virgins lie slum-bring and languishing upon beds of sensualitie and securitie and the house readie to be set on fire over their heads and do you take no care to awaken them would it not pitty your very heart to see the flames seize upon them while they are asleep How long has the keeper of Israel watched over them and kept them as the apple of his eye notwithstanding all their slumbrings and wandrings and does he not expect think you that you should be your brethrens keeper for his sake and cry unto them in all haste to prepare to meet him least he withdraw the wing of his protection from them and leave them naked if you see your brethren sleeping starving dying and shut up the bowels of your compassions from them in such a case how dwels the love of God in you And if you say 't is not in mans power to awaken anothers heart who cannot awaken his own can a man raise the dead T is true the low voyce of a weak man can never make those hearts heare which can sleep under the loud thundrings of Heaven why but can you weep over them as the Jewes did over Lazarus in his grave yea can feelingly sigh over them saying Can these drie bones live Who shall roul away the stone and open their graves why he that is the resurrection and the life can awaken them out of the deepest sleep and quicken them with a word of his mouth If Jesus will but groan in Spirit with you and say awake arise come forth the dead shall heare his voyce and live You cannot lift up their sleepie hearts no alas they are too heavie for you but cannot you lift up a prayer for them If any man see his brother sin a sin not unto death he shall ask 1 Ioh. 5.16 and he shall give him life what high encouragement is here to praying-souls to lift up their voice on high for such as are sinning and sleeping in sin almost to death oh then if the Spirit of prayer were raised again from the dead as one may say what blessed
hopes would there be of a spiritual resurrection to many poor hearts that are even dead and buried in the grave of securitie Secondly double your duty of Prayer Pray Pray 1. For a plentifull and powerful effusion of the Holy Spirit to counsel comfort our foolish fainting Spirit in this hour of temptation T is sad to behold since we have caused the good Spirit to withdraw his gracious influences how the glory is departed in a great measure from Churches ordinances communions c in most places may we not sadly sigh out that heart-breaking word Ichabob and say Where is the glory how many choyse Gardens of the Saints are withered since the Lord has withheld the spiritual dewes of Heaven How thin and lean is Jacob become and waxen pale since a famine of the Spirit has been amongst us How spiritlesse faithlesse heartlesse fruitlesse lovelesse are most Christians grown since we have slumbred and sinn'd away the spirit of faith life love power c How is the Gold become dimme the fine Gold changed now he that has the seven Spirits is turned aside from the Golden Candlesticks Oh it is high time then to begge as for life that the Spirit would come down as floods upon the drie ground that the Churches may be as watred Gardens and the Saints may grow up as willowes by the water courses oh let all the awakened Servants of Christ cry as with one heart and mouth Cant. 4.16 Awake O North-wind and come thou South blow upon the Gardens that the spices thereof may flow out that our beloved may come into his Garden and eate his pleasant fruits oh when when shall a precious box of oyntments be broken over us to fill our hearts with its savour Oh when will the spirit come down amongst us as a refiners fire or fullers sope Mal. 3.3 4. to purifie us as Gold and Silver that we may offer up pure offerings of righteousnesse which may be pleasant to the Lord as in the dayes of old Oh that we could wait in the Spirit as old Simeon did for the consolation of Israel for that power from on high that so strengthens weak hearts hands that the feeble may be as David for such an anointing with fresh oyle as may cause us to move swiftly and sweetly after Jesus Christ And we have many precious cords of love let down to pull at for this gracious Gospel-promise Joh. 14. 15 16 As the special promise of the Father of mercies to send the comforter oft repeated for our better assurance and he is faithfull that hath promised he will not deny his people long nor alwaies for he cannot deny himself And the effectual prayer of our Lord Jesus who never prayes amisse but is heard alwaies of his Father This was that sweetest myrrhe which dropt from the lips of Christ as he was ascending up to Heaven his greatest last Testament-promise of a double portion of his Spirit Now is it so much upon the Lords heart to bestow this peculiar blessing and should it not be much upon our heart to aske it especially being that glorious ministration which is to continue for the support supply and solace of the Saints till the appearance of Jesus Christ without which no outward administration can be effectuall 2. Oh Pray Psa 2.6.8 Pray that Jehovah would set his King upon his holy hill of Zion that the Heathen may be his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth his possession that the government may be upon his shoulder Isa 9.6 who is clothed with a vesture dipt in blood Rev. 19.13.16.14 and hath on his thigh a Name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords that all things may be opened and shut by the Key of David Isa 2.11 17. The Lord is arising to shake terribly the Earth the loftinesse of man must be bowed down and the haughtinesse of men made low that the Lord alone may be exalted in his day Oh that the Sun of righteousnesse were at this height once there would be a glorious Sun-shine day indeed The God of heaven and earth has promised Heb. 12 26 27 28. he will once more shake heaven and earth to bring in that Kingdom that cannot be shaken and the things that shall remain and Heaven and Earth shall passe away rather then one tittle of his good promise shall fall to the ground The Fathers heart is all upon his beloved Son in whom his Soul delighteth to exalt Him highly Phil. 2.9 give Him a Name above every Name And shall not the hearts of his Children go in with him and work strongly that way It was for their sakes he humbled himself so low even to the death of the Crosse Oh how should their hearts break with longings that he may be extolled and be very high crowned with majesty and glory Why then let all the Lords Remembrancers make mention of this good thing promised Jer. 33.14 of which he loves to be put in remembrance before him night and day that Jesus Christ may take to himself his great power and reign On when shall the sounding of the seventh Angel be heard as the great voyces in Heaven all the world over saying The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11.15 and he shall reign for ever and ever Cant. 3.10 Oh that King Solomon would send his Chariot that is paved with love for the Sonnes and Daughters of Zion that they may enter with joy and gladnesse into the Kings Palace how would their spirits revive within them and they would say It is enough 3. Improve the Spirit of grace to the utmost for the chaining up the unclean spirit Oh try what power you have with the Father of Lights to set his power on work to shake the powers of darknesse If Fervent Prayer lift up by the hand of faith bind Gods hand and put him to say Let me alone will it not overcome him to bind up Satan and to bruise him under the feet of his Saints shortly The Devill is come down with great wrath because he knoweth he hath but a short time He followes his Kingdom with greatest violence towards its period hee 's hot upon 't throwing with fury his fiery darts round about The Adder's poyson is boyling up to the height This enemy is comming upon us like a flood Oh 't is high time to set upon the gates of Heaven with an humble and holy violence knocking day and night till the holy Spirit come down with prayer and lift up a Standard against him The old Serpent has now above 5000. years experience upon his back hee 's now master indeed of his black Art Oh what multifariety and Variety in his methods what Subtletie and secrecy in his snares how destructive and obstructive are his devices and depths Oh when will the Angel come down from Heaven with that great chain and lay
hold on the Dragon and bind him Rev. 20.1 2 3. Ah what a world of mischief will he do if he be let loose awhile For now this Prince of darknesse transforms himself into an Angel of light to bring in the greatest darknesse and the Devil in white or the white Devil is most dangerous and deceitful now like the adulterer mentioned Job 24.15 he disguiseth himself or sets his face in secret so the Original that he may beguile and defile us and we never know it and be most and best at his wicked work when least in sight He has put on a vizard of profession and now playes the thief in grain stealing away the power and heart of pure Religion He has oyl in his mouth and truth in his tongue but warre and a lie in his heart And how many are betrayed with his flattering kisses killed with his false kindnesse and by swallowing down his sugred poysonous pills greedily How many are taken with the fine hair of the Locusts that ascend out of the bottomlesse pit Rev. 9.8 10 who sting them with their tailes as Scorpions Oh then if ever you pitied poor silly soules laden with sin and led Captive by Satan now pity and pray for them much more Oh cry out as the betrothed Damsel fearing ravishment to the Captain of your Salvation to lead Captivity Captive to rescue his darlings from the Lions and to shorten this hour of temptation 4. Oh Pray Pray for a glorious spiritual resurrection of the hearts and lives of the Saints after so great a death has past upon them that times of renewing and reviving may come from the presence of the Lord to the decaying and desponding Spirits of his people Oh what a blessed beautifull sight would such an heavenly Spring bee Can. 2.11.12 c. 7.12.13 after this heart-withering winter season Would the flowers of the spouses Garden flourish once the Pome-granats bud forth and the tender grape send forth a good smell then would the singing of birds and the voyce of the turtle be heard in our land and we might chearfully get up early to the Vineyards Oh be earnest with the Father of Spirits to send down a speciall anointing from on high for the new-spiriting of his people for the work of their generation A common Spirit will not carry them thorough special service no it must be that other Spirit that Caleb had or they 'l never follow the Lord fully The Sonnes and Daughters of Zion must be awaked to put on beautifull garments and shake themselves from the dust as they that are redeemed from the earth and from men as ever they would appeare in a good Gospel-posture to follow the Lamb witherfoever he goeth they must be putting on that new Man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse and be renewed in the Spirit of their minds or they 'l have no heart to think of the New Heaven and new Earth wherein righteousnesse shall dwell That work which the Lord is carrying on in the world is high and heavenly much above the world A low-spirited earthly-minded Generation can never reach it their poor flat spirits must needs shrink from it or sinck under it at one time or other Oh they had need of gracious excellent spirits changing from glory to glory by the Spirit of glory resting on them who looke to keep pace or hold any considerable comfortable correspondency and compliance with those glorious Works which the Lord will bring forth in the latter dayes who is Wonderfull in Counsell and excellent in Working Why then 5. let us look upon it as one main work of the day to set saith on work at the promises by prayer for Judges as at the first and Counsellours as at the beginning men of choise spirits answerable to Jethro's choyce able men Exo. 18.21 fearing God men of truth hating covetousnesse And while I am stirring you up to make supplications to the Lord our righteousnesse that he would graciously vouch-safe a peculiar unction and qualification to such as are in authoritie let me set before your eyes one of the first and fairest patterns deserving to be set in letters of Gold and engraven upon our hearts as with the point of a Diamond the purest Primitive mould of Mercy and Justice sweetly meeting together in the righteous breast of Job and striving as it were for super-eminency and victory As for righteousnesse he clothed himself with it Job 29.11.12 and judgment was to him as a diadem he brake the Jawes of the oppressors and pluckt the spoile out of his teeth and delivered the poor that cryed and the Fatherlesse and him that had none to help him As for mercy his condescention and compassion is very remarkable when he sate chief and dwelt as a King in the Army hee was as one that comforteth the mourners A Father to the Poor and Fatherlesse eyes to the blind and feet to the tame who caused the heart of the widdow to sing and the blessing of such as were readie to perish came upon him Oh that Jesus Christ that blessed and only potentate would make all our Governours and Magistrates willing in the day of his power to kisse the Son in humble subjection heartie affection to his righteous Scepter and to lay down both sword and Scepter at his feet as the Elders did with their Crownes Oh that there were in them such an heart as to say with the inhabitants of Judah in their hearts The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be our strength in the Lord of Hosts their God That they may be as nursing Fathers to the Saints the Children of the most high yea the least of Christs bretheren accounting it their greatest glory and praise to promote the glory of the King immortal and eternal the only wise God to be a praise to those that doe well and a terrour to evil doers putting sinners to shame oh that the Rock of Israel that spake it would make it good That they that rule over men must be just 2 Sam. 23.3.4 ruling in the feare of God And they shall be as the light of the morning when the Sun ariseth even a morning without Clouds as the tender grasse springing out of the earth by cleare shining after rain Why let us open our hearts and mouths wide by the help of the Spirit for such a blessing as thus waited for Job even as for the latter rain And spread those good old promises before the Lord which are as fresh upon his heart as ever to renew them in these latter daies That Saviours shall come upon Mount-Zion to judge the mount of Esau and the Kingdom shall be the Lords Obad. v. 21. That he will raise up Carpenters to break the horns that scatter Judah Zech. 1.20.21 so that no man can lift up his head That he will put that honour upon his Saints To execute the Judgment that is written Psal 149.6.9 with a two-edged sword in their hands and the high praises of God in their mouthes That the faithful chosen and true clothed in fine and white linnen shall give blood to drink Rev 18.6.14 to the woman which is drunken with the blood of the Saints and the Martyrs of Jesus and shall destroy that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth and shall overcome all his and their enemies in the blood of the Lamb for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings Oh then let the prayers of all the Saints meet upon the golden Altar Rev. 8.3.4 that the smoke of the incense may ascend up before God day and night and let them cry with a loud voyce saying How long O Lord holy and true c Lastly Pray pray for the fulnesse of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ upon all pure Evangelicall administrations Rev. 1.13.16 That Jesus Christ would walk in the midst of the golden Candlesticks hold the stars in his right hand that the golden pipes may empty the golden oyl out of themselves from the Olive tree Zech. 4.11.12 and his servants be anointed with the oyl of gladnesse Jer. 3.15 who desire to keep the Commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus And that he would send Pastours according to his own heart that may feed the people with knowledge and understanding able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit and send them forth in the power and spirit of Elijah to turn many to the Lord. Joh. 10.3 4 9. And that the good Shepherd would call his own sheep by name lead them out and go before them that they may know his voyce and follow him and go in and out and find pasture That his little flock receiving the Gospel not in word onely but also in power and in the Holy Ghost 1 Thess 1.5 and in much assurance may have that glorious Character of the Church of Philadelphia as a Crown of twelve Stars upon their heads that they have kept the Word of his patience and have not denyed his Name Rev. 3.8.10 who will keep them in this hour of Temptation FINIS