and set you down Marks and Characters by comparing your selves with which you may acquire a distinct and true knowledge of your Estate Do not your Bibles tell you very plainly what sorts of People will be shut out of the Kingdom And how should you know whether you be or be not of those numbers if you refuse to examin and make a true judgment of your selves Presume what you please of your selves God cannot be deceived nor will he be mocked Death and Judgment will in due time fully discover the truth of your State both to your selves and to all the World Can you imagin that this Enquiry should do you any prejudice If you have been and are duly concerned for your Salvation nothing can fill you with a greater and such rational Joy and Comfort than to perceive this attested upon a just Search by the word of God and that an eternal and glorious Inheritance is made sure to you by the promise of that God who cannot lye Whereas a neglect of this Enquiry must needs deprive you of the best and greatest comfort of your Lives If you have been and still are unconcerned for your Salvation nothing can more mischievously hinder your recovery out of that dangerous Estate you are in than your refusing to try and examin your selves Make no delay therefore but presently betake your selves to what you are perswaded unto O! that you would be so kind to me to grant me this one request I beg it of you for your own Sakes I have no Interest to serve by it but your own that you may presently escape out of the snares of the Devil and be safe from eternal Agonies that you may not walk any longer in the Broad Road which ends in Hell and irrepairable Destruction but may live in Peace and Comfort here and Reign with Christ in Glory for ever Reason then and argue with your selves about this Matter Cannot you discourse thus with your selves How terrible and dreadful a thing will it be to be found at last a neglecter of Salvation one who hath been all his Life unconcerned for his Soul To have God and Christ Enemies when I must appear before their Tribunal He that commanded me into Being and Life can with a word speak me into Eternal Misery The Holy God I must needs acknowledge loves Holiness and cannot but hate Iniquity He will in his Righteous Judgment infallibly make a difference betwixt People He will assuredly separate the Holy from the Vile Then shall the Righteous be discerned from the Wicked and he that serveth God from him that serveth him not Mal. 3.17 18. I am at present undoubtedly of one of these Ranks And doth it not much concern me to understand what my Estate is Careless negligent Wretch in omitting an enquiry of such Importance so long The time past shall suffice to have lived in so supine and unthoughtful a manner My Eyes shall not Sleep nor will I give slumber to my Eye-lids till I have made a diligent Enquiry and do know what the Word of the Lord doth say of and to me I dare not lye down to Sleep till I have examined my Estate till if it appear I have been unconcerned hitherto for my Soul and its Salvation I have sued heartily for Pardon and Peace through the Blood of Christ lest I should sleep the Sleep of Death lest Destruction should surprize me And I should awake in those Flames which will never be quenched Be gone all Excuses for I have no Business so necessary to be attended to as this I am not at leisure to follow any Sports or to mind Wealth or Honors yea or the Necessasaries of this present Life whilst I am Ignorant of the State of my Soul and know not whether I have been duly concerned that my Salvation may be made sure I will not any longer venture Eternity upon Uncertainties Now I have been called on and exhorted to apply my self to this Examination Should I refuse to comply God may justly suffer me to be hardned in my Sins I may never have the like opportunity again Tho I should find I have hitherto been unconcerned for the happiness of my Soul yet eternal Misery may be prevented There yet remains place for Repentance and some ground to hope that I may find favour with the Lord Therefore I am resolved nothing shall divert me from going through with this Work Lord powerfully fix my Resolution Keep my my Mind and Heart intent on this Business and give me the gracious assistance of thy holy and powerful Spirit to guide and carry me with success thorough it Sixthly You who have been careless of your Souls and their Salvation till this time should now be prevailed with to concern your selves with all seriousness and earnestness that they may be secured Could I set forth a miserable Estate before you in the most doleful Strains and with the fullest account of aggravating Circumstances imaginable I should not declare the thousandth part of your Wretchedness The Groans and Sobs of the Damned manifest they cannot speak what they feel their Shrieks and Clamours are but broken Relations of the Horrors and Pains they sink under And you are obnoxious to all that Wrath which doth so terrifie and overwhelm them If you still continue secure and cannot bemoan your selves nor cry heartily for Pity and Mercy your Danger encreases Did you understand what you are doing what Vengeance you are treasuring up for your selves whom you are Offending what Souls you are Murthering what a glorious holy powerful just God you are Provoking what a Change would soon appear in you You would look upon all your Enjoyments as nothing worth you would look upon the Pleasures Riches and Honors of this World as insipid useless things The whole World would be no more to you than a Prison or Dungeon in which you are reserved till the Sentence of Wrath is to be Executed on you The wicked is reserved to the day of Destruction they shall be brought forth to the day of Wrath Job 21.30 Were you sensible what Love you despise what Salvation you neglect what Mercy you trample under your Feet what Grace you reject what Patience and Goodness you abuse and what great things you might lay hold on what Inheritances you might obtain what Glory you may be assured of if you would but consider things aright and approve your selves truly Wise what an alteration would soon appear in your Carriage and Conduct You will in a little time be convinced fully of the truth of all this When Death hath executed its Commission against you and your Souls are dragg'd into another World continue Infidels if you can When you have drank a few draughts more spent a little time more in your Sports and Games slept a few Nights drudg'd and toil'd a few days more you will see and know and be convinced of these things in another manner Then you will have no need of such Ministers to tell you
deserving and good Men have not the same Apprehensisions from what I have and many more have whom I greatly Reverence His differing Judgment about these Matters served him for his own Conduct But he manag'd his Dissent from Conformists with that Candor and Christian Temper he highly deserved Love and Respect from all Conformists who were endowed with true Piety or indeed had any share of common Ingenuity He did not abuse his Dissent to Uncharitableness and Censure nay he could not endure to hear a deserving Conformist Reflected on I remember once a Person of no small Abilities and Mr. Cooke's particular Friend happen'd accidentally to reflect on a Conformist on the account of his being a Conformist Mr. Cooke immediately reproved him with some keenness the other Person replying I believe what I said is true Mr. Cooke presently Silenc'd him desiring him the with some earnestness of Speech to observe the Apostle's Rule Hast thou Faith Have it tothy self Rom. 14.22 I must also pass over in Silence Mr. Cook 's unwearied and indefatigible Labours in the work of the Ministry in Praying Preaching Expounding the Holy Scriptures Catechising and Personal Converse from House to House tho in these things he very well deserves to be imitated by all Clergy-men of what sort soever An exact Relation of Mr. Cooke's Loyalty would make a Volume and represent him so considerable on that account I do not question but most would be apt to suspect the possibility of finding a compleat Parallel in the Records of Human History His Loyalty was not like that so much talked and boasted of some Years ago an empty Name used to cover His Loyalty was truly Christian He knew how to suffer with Patience and Meekness and with a temper of Soul very agreeable to that of the Holy Jesus whose Ambassador he was and whose Example he followed And he did actually suffer in that manner both for and under the same Government True Loyalty is a necessary property of a good Christian and faithful Subject And I know not any one who hath lived within your Memory who so well deserved your imitation in this excellent Qualification as your ancient Pastor This is indeed a Topick which deserves to be enlarg'd on because the thing has been so horribly Counterfeited and the Name so shamefully yea more than villainously Abused But I forbear because should I expatiate I may find my self obliged to drop some Expressions which would prove uneasie to certain Persons who have happened to bring themselves under such Circumstances they perceive it possible for Men of haughty Spirits who have ridicul'd the plea of Conscience who have been very daring contemptuous and truculent in their Behaviour and Carriage to have some tender Places And I am not willing to exasperate any Man if I may avoid it with Innocency He Governed his Family with great Prudence and with much Strictness I think no Man ever attended more diligently to the interest of Religion in a Private Family than he did Every Morning and Evening after he had with his Family briefly implored the Divine assistance in Prayer and Praise and a Blessing with that part of the Holy Scriptures which was then to be read a Psalm or part of one was Sung then a Chapter in the Old Testament in the Morning and in the New Testament in the Evening was read which he Expounded reporting the principal parts of which it did consist then he gave an account of the substance of it in as few words as the matter and parts of it would permit afterwards explained the greatest Difficulties which did occur and in the last place shewed what useful Instructions were especially to be taken notice of And then he spent at last a quarter of an Hour in Prayer and Praise usually improving much of the Chapter that was read into matter for the one or the other He was an extraordinary Person for all the parts of Prayer tho commonly he did very much abound in confusion of Sin in admiring the Divine Excellencies and in praising of God for his Benefits of all sorts On all occasions he was very importunate for the Church of God and that the Kingdom of Christ might be Enlarged He had no Child of his own but did freely take into his Family three or four Children for whom at his own Charge he provided Food Lodging and Raiment and whom he instructed in Religion and Human Learning in order to their attaining to serve their Generation according to the will of God These and the Servants he Catechised twice every Week explaining every thing with a peculiar easiness for the helping them to understand every particular When he could not any longer attend on his publick Ministry he did not grow Idle but performed most parts of it in his own Family with the same care and diligence he was accustomed to use in Publick tho there were not one Person more than those of whom his Family did constantly consist He was a very strict Consciencious observer of the Lord's Day His Family was constantly to have their Worldly Business dispatched by four or five of the Clock in the Afternoon of Saturday Then he bestowed an Hour and an half or more with his Family in explaining and applying one or more Verses of some Chapter in the Bible going over the Chapter and usually the Book in order and in Prayer After that every one in the Family was to go to his own Apartment for some time either to learn the Catechism or for private Reading and Devotion About Eight of the Clock they Supped and after that he dismissed his Family according to his every days Custom He was always up early on the Lord's Day Every one read a Chapter in the Morning he then spent at least an Hour and an half in expounding one or more Verses of a Chapter and in Prayer Then he and his whole Family went to Church I speak now of the time after his publick Ministry ceased About a quarter of an Hour after they were returned home he Prayed with his Family repeated the Sermon they had hear'd in Publick and Preached and Prayed as he was wont to do in Publick before he was Silenced A little time being allowed for Dinner he and his Family went again to Church and allowing after their return home more time for every one in Retirement he performed the same Religious Exercises he had performed betwixt coming from Church in the Forenoon and going thither in the Afternoon Every one in the Family having after Supper given an account of what they remembred he concluded the day always with singing a Psalm and with solemn enlarged Praise and Thanksgiving He went through all this Labour and Work with unaccountable vigor cheerfulness and fervour of Spirit The Visits he made were usually very short and most of the time was spent in pious Discourse or Prayer He would be exceedingly uneasie if he heard any Person spoken of Reproachfully He would not by any Means
us along with him thither I press toward the the Mark for the Price of the high Calling of God in Christ Jesus if by any means I might attain unto the Resurrection of the Dead What support would this yield us With what patience would this possess our Souls Yea with what joy would this fill us in the greatest Tribulations Distresses and Persecutions we can possibly have occasion to encounter in our passage toward it We glory in the Tribulations also Rom. 5.3 For which cause we faint not but tho our outward Man perish the inward Man is renewed day by day for our light affliction which is but for a Moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.16 17. I reckon that the Sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory which shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 We read of those Heb. 10.24 who took joyfully the spoiling of their Goods knowing in themselves that they had in Heaven a better and an enduring Substance Yea how would this reconcile us to leave the World quite make us earnestly desire to Die and that the time may hasten apace when we may actually give up the Ghost and resign up our Spirits to Christ Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better Phil. 1.23 Who can conceive the thousandth yea the least part of the Happiness of the Spirits of Just Men made Perfect With what knowledge admiration and love shall we be filled when we are setled yonder in those bright and shining Thrones when we are joined to the Heavenly Choir and bear our part in the eternal Halelujahs and shall be ascribing Honor Glory and Praise to him that sitteth on Throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever With what raptures of Love Praise and Joy shall we be everlastingly entertained when we become Denizens of that glorious City of which the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb is the Temple where we shall see his Face and have his Name in our Fore-heads where there shall be no Night where we shall need no Candle neither light of the Sun for the Lord God will give us Light and we shall reign for ever and ever How incomprehensibly great and good are the things which God hath in store for them who heartily love and sincerely serve him seeing God will be pleased to admit such frail imperfect Mortals as we are to the full fruition of himself and his Christ surely there is nothing can deserve to be esteemed and called Blessedness but only this How can I prize and value how can I affect strive and long for any thing but this Salvation alone How am I transported with admiration and wonder yet these do fail me they flag they cannot mount high enough by thousands of Degrees Salvation is so transcendent O let my Love increase grow ripe ascend still higher and higher How would the Damned value this Salvation might they have but the least hopes of ever being admitted to it What esteem have the Saints above for it Yea how do sincere Believers here prize it especially when they have a lively vigorous sense of it St. Paul was positive that to Die would be his Gain Phil 1.21 Others were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better Resurrection Heb. 11.35 O my stupid senseless Soul what ails thee that thou still liest grovelling here that thy motion is so slow O! for the strongest and most seraphick flights of Love for the Extasies of Passion now What art thou bereaved of all thy Powers Hast thou lost thy Nature Art thou Metamorphos'd and chang'd into a lifeless lump of Matter Rouze and awake exert and put forth all thy Strength Tho hitherto thou hast been deceived by Objects much too little and unsatisfying here 's that which calls for all thy Love thy Zeal thy Life Here is Salvation which much exceeds thy most extended thoughts and reach Here 's that which none could ever esteem according to the fulness of its worth the most glittering splendid worldly Triumphs are at best but poor deceitful treacherous and insipid Vanities all the Grandeur Pomp and Glories here do soon decay and wither do quickly dwindle into nothing but this Salvation is truly great and Glorious it is substantial durable and satisfying Most holy true and blessed Jesus thou hast expresly told us that in thy Father's House there are many Mansions Joh. 14.2.3 That thou art gone to prepare a place for thy faithful People And that thou wilt come again and receive them unto thy Self that where thou art there they may be also Thou Prayedst for them with most tender and earnest Affection when thou wast here And it is thy will and pleasure that thy Saints and Servants those whom the Father hath given thee shall be with thee where thou art that they may behold thy Glory Matt. 17.24 Thou dost not enjoin them any thing in order to their being Saved but what thou wilt enable them by thy Spirit to perform Nor any thing but what thou can'st make pleasing and delightful to them by the abundance of thy Grace O Lord I here absolutely resign my self to be guided by thy Counsel afterterwards receive me to Glory Whom have I in Heaven but thee There is none upon Earth I can desire besides thee Be thou the strength and the joy of my Heart and my portion for ever There is not any thing comparable to thy Salvation Lord take from me what thou wilt make me Poor and needy let me be Scorned and Despised let my Body be Sick and every part and Joynt of it Sore and in Pain let me be afflicted and Persecuted yea do with me what thou wilt so that thou wilt grant that Grace and Peace may be multiplied to me at present through the knowledge of thy self so that thou wilt be pleased that I may at last obtain the end of my Faith and Hope the Salvation of my Soul Thirdly No Person can with reason expect or hope his Soul shall be Saved who is not resolvedly diligent in that course God hath ordained and prescribed him for this purpose That customary slight and formal course with which too many content themselves will not suffice to secure their Salvation The best have too much reason to complain of themselves because they are so supine remiss and careless about a business of so great importance in it self and unto which the Holy and most Righteous God requires all should give a diligent Attendance This is the one Thing necessary which must be minded with the greatest seriousness whatever is Neglected All other Affairs and Businesses must give place to this if at any time they happen to interfere with it A few accidental thoughts of some flitting unconstant desires after Salvation a customary observation of some of the outward parts of Devotion an over-vehement heat for particular Modes of Worship speculative Opinions and doubtful Practices will