hard and â—tony heart and give you a heart of â—lesh pray continually pray without â—easing and pray in Faith with a confidence that God hears your Prayers and will in his good time answer them not for thy sake but for his sons sake 4. Attend upon the means of Grace in the ministry of the word which is the only way and means God hath appointed for begetting of Faith in us and search the Scriptures the Word of God they â—are they that testifie of me saith our Saviour and as you love your souls take care of disrespecting or sleighting the Word of God and laying it aside as a thing not worth the looking into foâ—â— sleighting of it you sleight God himself you are the greatest enemies to youâ— selves in the world in being ignorant oâ— the word of God you are utterly disarmed against the temptations of Sataâ— when he assaults you When we go to war against a potent Prince or person we will not go without our arms buâ— in a posture of defence I beseech you let us consider the strength and power of our adversaries we have to deal withall the World the Flesh and the Devil three potent enemies therefore labour to be well armed out of the Magazine the word the Word of God which is for doctrine reproof instruction c. and then to your armor that you may be compleat in the principal bag the sword of the spirit of God we know a souldier is no body without his sword no more are we spiritual souldiers without the sword of the spirit for a man may read and hear all his lifetme yet if the spirit of God go not along with him in accompanying him in his reading and hearing it is all in vain unless the sword of Gods spirit cut asunder our corrupt hearts and affections so as to understand the mistery of the word of God as well as the history of it barely The use of this doctrine should be for exhortation to all sorts of men and women in the world to beware of sin and to shun it as the greatest evil in the world and more especially of those sins which draw away our hearts and affections and likewise to consider the dangerous consequences of sin and how dangerous a matter and thing it is to let loose our hearts and affections to Satan Then it may serve for to admire the wonderfull and unspeakable love of our heavenly Father in Christ that he will accept of us upon our unfained return unto him by repentance that our pardon is already sued forth if that we can by faith lay hold on it and esteem of the favour in some measure according to the worth of it It lets us see the miserable condition of them that claim no interest at all in this pardon Of the comfort of those that can experimentally conclude and by the spirit of God witnessing with their spirits say This pardon is sealed unto me I shall have the benefit of it tho notwithstanding my sins reach up unto heaven and cry mightily for vengeance against me yet my whole alliance and sole comfort and confidence is in the merrits of Jesus Christ applyed by faith I shall find mercy for he that confesseth and forsaketh his sins shall find mercy but he that hideth them shall not prosper I am one of them that confesse my sins and earnestly desire of God that he would break my stony and hard heart for them and do without hypocrisie if my heart deceive me not unfainedly resolve to forsake my sins therefore I though the worst and greatest of sinners shall accordingly find mercy Tho. Ford Collossians the 2. and the 6 verse The words are these As ye have therefore received Christ Iesus the Lord so walk ye in him THe blessed Apostle Paul after Christ had awaked him from his sleep of security and unscaled the eys of his understanding which were before darkened with that mistiness which the Devil like a Jugler cast before him did immediately after the Holy Ghost had enlightned him preach Christ and so like a principall work-man in Christs Church and as a chosen vessell to bear the name of Christ amongst the Gentiles did with all vehemency and ardency of spirit and affection endeavour to build up a spiritual Church to Jesus Christ and in this Epistle to the Colossians amongst the rest of his Epistles he dischargeth his trust as a faithfull Ambassador of Jesus Christ The whole chapter is as it were a glasse wherein we may see the fruit of Pauls Mâ—nistery the words being a perswasive part moved from a good priniple For the better explanation of them consider in them First the guift received Secondly the congratulation thereof 1. The gift received Jesus Christ 2. The congratulation of the Gift walk in him The words contain a serious exhortatation and the reason thereof The exhortation Walk in Jesus Christ The ground and reason thereof For you have received him As if the Apostle Paul should have said you had Jesus Christ preached amongst you by me and others of my brethren you are not ignorant of that eternal weight of glory which Jesus Christ hath purchased for you therefore walk not according to the rudiments of this world but walk according to the rules of Jesus Christ for this is all that Jesus Christ requireth of you that you would manifest your love unto him in walking obediently before him If you love me keep my commandments so that the words are in themselves a Proposition and do speak plainly thus much unto us That the incomparable love of the Lord Jesus Christ declared unto us in the word and laid open more abundantly in the Ministery of the Gospel should be a strong perswasion unto us to walk according to the rules of the Gospel Or thus That Christs exceeding love unto us in redeeming us from death and hell should be a strong ty upon us to love Jesus Christ Every one that hears me cannot deny but must needs confess and acknowledge that the point is very reasonable and I may say very seasonable in these apostatizing dayes of ours that Love deserves Love Our Saviour speaks of a deserved love as a thing not to be looked on not worth any reward For if ye love them that love you what thanks have ye saith our Saviour Do not even the Publicans the same denoting unto us that true love is of such an extensive nature that it sheweth it self even to our enemies this is perfect and true love Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect Now the greatness of Jesus Christs love is shewn in that he loved us when we were enemies unto him strangers and aliens from the common wealth of Israel And how did Christ love us was his love an ordinary love That Christ the Son of God co-equal with his Father should become man even the meanest of men although by Ioseph he was next heir
in the Lord Jesus Christ to humble and penitent sinners that by hearty repentance come home unto him He is very ready and willing to meet them to imbrace them in the arms of his mercy to kill the fatted Calf to provide delicates heavenly delicates for his the bread of life the food of immortality ushered in with the most delightfull Musick for there is joy in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth That by the way When thou hast judged thy self then earnestly beg of God pardon for Christs sake and never leave him off untill he give this blessed answer to thy Conscience that thy sins are pardoned The unjust Judge by reason of the importunity of the Widdow granted her request how much more shall the just God grant the request of his that pray day and night unto him Thus did David Let thy good spirit lead me c. These things are necessary if we would be saved we must not be Cowards in a business of this nature if we intend to win the field but we must work our best endeavours and still hold out wrestling with God if we intend to win the Victory Some Captives amongst men are redeemed by price only some by power without price but such is the lamentable captivity of all men under sin and the severity of Gods Justice that without the price of Christs blood and the power of his spirit there is no deliverance from sin and misery the Lord Jesus Christ having paid the full and absolute price of our deliverance Ioh 8. 32. Yet it is with us as with a company of Captives in prison our sins like strong chains holds us Satan our Keeper will not let us go the Prison doors through unbeleef are shut upon us and thereby God and Christ are kept our from us what power now can rescue us that are held fast unto such a power even after the price is paid The spirit of God speaketh of a power in Christ Thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thy help As Christ hath redeemed us so we must go unto him For strength and power that we may make application of this Redemption to our selves that by his spirit we may find the fruits of it on our own souls and here consists our comfort that as Christ was abased to purchase redemption for us so now he is exalted at the right hand of God the Father to apply this redemption unto us Four causes of mans misery joyned with four acts of Christs power Mans misery 1. The ignorance of his own misery 2. Security and unsenceableness of it 3. Carnal confidence in their own duties 4. Presumption or resting upon the mercy of God by a Faith of their own forgeing Christs Act 1. Conviction of sin 2. Compunction for sin 3. Humiliation or self-abasement 4. Faith These are the works of Christ on the soul There must be an actual deliverance in man wrought by the efficacy and power of the spirit of Christ as well as a purchased deliverance wrought by the blood of Christ therefore untill we can find the former wrought in us we can lay no claim to the latter until we can see sin in its own colours with the several aggrevations thereof and the wages of sin which is eternal death we cannot truly hate it and not truly hating it we cannot repent of it and not repenting of it we cannot with a true faith lay hold on the Lord Jesus Christ Shew me thy Faith without thy work saith S. Iames and I will shew thee my Faith by my works He that repents and beleeves shall be saved but he that beleeves not shall be damned Thus you see where our rest and rock of comfort for salvation is only in our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ You see the manner how we must come to Christ so that we may be accepted we must come loathing and abhorring our selves out of our selves into Christ come humbly come willingly to Christ as with all thy might and power as to the only spring fountain and head of comfort of wisdom of excellency come even as the Bride to the Bridegroom as the members to the Head as the branches to the Vine and let thy confidence when thou comest inwardly perswade thee that Those who come to him he will in no wise cast away for we have his promise for it Behold saith our Saviour I stand at the dore and knock c. Let every beleeving Soul then say with Thomas My Lord and my God Objection may arise Is God such a merciful God and is Iesus Christ so willing to imbrace us when we come unto him and seek to him by those we 〈◊〉 which he hath appointed us in his Word â—hen what is the reason that he hears â—t the Prayers of his People that they â—t up unto him to be delivered from sin â—om some particular sin which it may is more predominant than any other against hardness of heart It may be thou art not humbled eâ—ough in thy self thou dost not pray as â—ou oughtest to pray in Faith or if thou â—st God may for present not answer â—ee according to thy desire for the tryâ—â— of thy Faith and Patience to make â—ee the more earnest suitor unto him â—oahs Dove returns not presently with 〈◊〉 Olive branch of Peace in his mouth â—rayer sometimes that speeds well reâ—â—rns not presently for want of compaâ—â— enough to fetch away that abunâ—nce of mercy that God hath to give the Lord ever gives them that ask in â—aith their asking in mony or monies â—orth God is long many times before â— gives but pays them well for their â—aiting Approve thy self to God in all thy â—aies for he is an omniscient God no â—atter what he world saith of thee God is thy Spie taking notice of all actions and they are in print in Heaâ—â— which that great spectator and Juâ—â— will open at the great day Fear theâ—â—fore to sin in secret unless thou canst a dark hole to sin where God cannot thee Have a care of playing the Athâ—â— in practice although thou be not so thy profession to confesse there is God yet by thy works to deny hiâ— even if it were possible to unthrone â—â—â—sus Christ they that pluck the 〈◊〉 from his throne are as bad or as vile they that say there is no King But that we may the better understaâ—â— how sin is remitted by Christ and him Consider that in him there 〈◊〉 three things that makes Sin exceed 〈◊〉 Sinfull 1 The Crime of Sin 2 The Guilt of Sin 3 The Stain and blot or pollution Sin The Crimes by which God is offenâ—ed The Guilt by which we are liable punishment The blot or stain which the 〈◊〉 â—ommitted leaveth in the offender These three are taken away by the â—erits of Christ 1 The Crime is taken away by his Obedience 2 The Guilt is removed by his sufferâ—ngs 3 The blot stain and coruption is
speakes Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ by the will of God c. and as Christ doth set some apart for this service so he furnisheth them with gifts suteable to the service as for example Zacharias is apointed to prophesy the business is a weighty business therefore he is filled with the Holy Ghost that he may be able to performe that great work God imploys Moses upon a service of great concernment I will send thee to Pharoah saith God I my Lord saith Moses I am not eloquent the Lord presently upon Moses seeing his own insufficiency I will be with thy mouth Isaiah being in a vision in the presecne of God and seeing the nature of the service unto which he was called cryethout woe is mee for I am undon after his one of the Seraphins touched his mouth with a Coal from the Alter which gave the prophet a full supply of grace the same we see in Ieremiah God â—alling him he began to complain of his â—nsufficiency O Lord behold I am a â—hild and cannot speak well the Lord â—ook away his fear in bestowing a comâ—etency of gifts upon him I have put â—â—y words in thy mouth Christ set apart â—is Disciples for that office and gave the Holy Ghost unto them promiâ—ng to make them Fishers of men So that you plainly see it hath bin Gods way thorough the whole course of the Scripture to furnish them which he did â—mploy with gifts sutable for the service â—ake care therefore I pray you of sleightâ—ng the Ministers of God or of the Amâ—assadge which they bring for in conâ—emning them you contemn and dispise God himself for what contempt you â—hew to an Ambassador which represents the Kings person you shew to the King himself This is a Sin which our Land stands guilty of in a hight nature we are grown to such a heigâ—t of pride and insolency amongst us that Gods word and his Ministers are had in least estimation A faithfull Minister of God is no more countenanced then a thing of nothing which plainly appeares from our detaining from them their right and just due even that which the law of God hath alotted and set apart for them we have every Tradesman now even meanest of the people take upon them the high and great work of the Ministery fomenting and prateing out their nonsence to the great dishonnor of his word and ministery No wise man will send a fool of an errand who will set a fresh Souldier over an army or intrust a dumb man with an Ambassadge it were an odious imputation to the wisest God to think him lesse carefull in the business and discipline of his Church then men are in their temporal affairs yet these intruders these busie-bodies in Gods business go on with such boldness and impudency and the rather because they are cherished and maintained as not thinking that God will ever call them to an accompt or tax them with that heavy sentence Ieremiah 2. 21. I have not sent them yet they ran Or with Friend how camest thou hither The Lord awaken such sleepy-headed intruders that they may know what it is to meddle with the great things of the Law of God Thirdly Christ is pleased to make known himself unto us by the graces of his spirit which he workes in us the spirit of God witnessing with our spirit â—hat we are the sons of God the spirit of God is the key which opens the Caâ—enet of the Scriptures and present it unto us as the Mistery of Godliness men by nature are stone blind in the â—hings of God therefore untill they be â—egenerated and new born by the spirit of God in the inward Man it is impossible they should discern the things of God that which is born of the flesh â—s flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit Man by nature of himself â—ath nothing in him but corruption I was born in iniquitâ— saith David and sin was I conceived we are all unproâ—table servants all the Children of diâ—â—bedience and the sons of wrath all 〈◊〉 imaginations of mans heart are 〈◊〉 evill and that continually Now eveâ—â— regenerate man is by virtue of his neâ— birth a spirituall man and the new birâ—â— is the gracious working of the spirâ—â— therefore such are called spiritual meâ— the whole scociety of the regenerate a spiritual house the regenerate man said to be born after the spirit and to 〈◊〉 after the spirit of God being the apliâ—â— of those precious Promises written 〈◊〉 the Word of God unto the Soul Take care I beseech you of queâ—ching the spirit of God or stifleing 〈◊〉 motions of his good spirit within yoâ— Thus you see the manner how Chriâ—â— communicates himself unto us 1 By his Word 2 By his Ministers 3 By his Spirit Let us now proceed to the last clauâ—â— of the doctrine and let it serve for exhortation in the fear of God to exhoâ—â— and perswade us to walk according tâ— the rules of the Gospel to have a more close communion with Iesus Christ then ever we had doe not reject so great salvation Hath Jesus Christ purchased heaven for Believers doth he continually knock at the door of our hearts for entrance and shall we not let him in Shall we still persist and go on in sin in our drunkenness prophaness contempt of Gods word of his Ministers certainly if we do if we will take no warning but go on in the waies of the wicked we shall receive the reward of the wicked every man shall be judged according to his works he that soweth righteousness shall receive a sure reward we must use diligence and care in the way to heaven Who more laborious than the Husbandman that doth desire to reap the fruit of his sowing Who ought to be more diligent than a Christian who intends to reap the hoped for fruit of eternal happiness we must not be loyterers in the way to Heaven ways are for travellers and not for gazers therefore go on and see to your steps let the word of God be your conducter and leader estrange not your selves from the word let it precious unto you And the good spirit of God help your infirmities and assist you in your spiritual warfare that you may like good Souldiers under the banner of Jesus Christ fight the good fight of faith so that you may attain the end of your faith even the salvation of your souls Amen The last Speech of Thomas Ford being penned by himself and delivered to me Iohn Plass his own Brother by the Mother GEntlemen and Friends I am yet a living object of your pitty ere long my soul will be seperated from my body by an untimely yet a wel-deserved death Bloud must be recompenced with blood the Law of God commands it the law of Man in subordination to Gods Law hath brought me to the period of execution But that I may not minde
might and main to make them sure as in purchasing of Lands settling of estates what counâ— selling and contriving is there Gentlemen it is an estate of immortality which will not fade away labour to get a feeâ— simple in this estate get interest in Jesuâ— Christ and let him be of inestimablâ— value in your thoughts Thus Gentlemen I thought it a parâ— of my duty to ease my spirits to the world in hinting at particulars I mighâ— have been abundantly more large 〈◊〉 let this be enough to comfort my friend and acquaintance and the rest of 〈◊〉 well wishers for eternity that althougâ— I am by an ignâ—â—â—inous death deprivâ—â— of this temporal life yet I have gooâ— assurance of eternal life and that 〈◊〉 name is registred in heaven of whicâ— blessedness I shall by and by have â— taste and a full consummation at the daâ— of Judgement when we shall all appeâ—â— before the Judgement seat of Christ 〈◊〉 give up our accompts And I beg 〈◊〉 God to afford you his Spirit of Gracâ— that you may be kept blameless unâ—â— that day and that you may be assured upon good grounds before you depart this world that your names are written in heaven and that you may say with the Apostle blessed be God for this unspeakable gift The two and thirtieth Psalm was intended to be sung but not sung himself being desirous to finish his course in this life His PRAYER O Lord our God high and mighty King of kings Lord of lords the only Ruler of Princes look down from heaven upon us miserable sinners in and through the merits of the Lord Jesus pluck us out of our sins and implant us into Jesus Christ let us be living branches in that vine living members of that head remember these nations of England Scotland and Ireland and in them the principal member thereof govern thou him whose right it is to be our Governour implant thy grace in his heart let the Kingdome authority and power of Jesus Christ in the Gospel be by him advanced season his heart with wisdome from above and defend him from his Enemies remember the afflictions of Ioseph comfort thy people after thou hast afflicted them and for the yeares wherein thou hast shewed them tribulation quench the fire of â—hine indignation that is kindling amongst us and consume us not for thy Name sake Shew mercy unto Sion build up the walls of Ierusalem and love it still Be with me now that am to dye Just O Lord is it with thee to cast me into Hell but here lyeth my comfort Jesus Christ will receive me â—nto his bosome to whom with thy self and Comfortable Spirit be praise and glory dominion and majesty for ever And in whose name and words I further call on thee as my Saviour hath taught me to pray Ouâ— Father which art in heaven c. Compared with the original Copies and examined by us VVilliam Sandbrook P. M. R. Margaret Rochâ— December the 24. 1656. At the funeral of Mr. Thomas Ford of Rochester Micah chap. 7. verse 8 9. at Margarets Rochester By WILLIAM SANDBROOKE P. M. R. MICAH 7 verse 8. Rejoice not against me O mine Enemy when I fall I shall rise when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me V. 9. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him until he plead my cause and execute judgement for me he will bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteousness V. 7. Therefore I will look unto the Lord I will wait for the God of mâ— salvation my God will hear me SECT. I. The Preface Brethren YOu know and see and I do believâ— are sensible of what the occasion oâ— this sad meeting and assembly is Time and opportunities of this nature especially in so stupendious and astonishing aâ— instance we have in hand must be madâ— use of for our good you all grant the person deceased is no way advantageâ— by this exercise 1. Except we run to the Alylum oâ— Purgatory 2. And fly to those rotten shifts oâ— Dirges and Requiems of Rome which you all I believe know the Church of England with all other profest Protestants and the Reformed Orthodox Churches have justly exploded 1. As the doctrine of Antichrist 2. As a parcel of Heathenish abominations Ergo This the occasion Now in the next place let me also acquaint you with a paragraphe more in this preface to my work 2. The occasion of my being limited up to the text It was I understand his own request that it comeing often upon his thoughts it might be the remembrance of him in his Funerall obsequies and might be to appeare in this confidence upon the Churches hope the Lord Rejoyce not O mine enemy I shall make no long furrows upon his back it is sufficient what hath been already done and now it is totally in vain for any assistance towards him Except to rake up the ashes of so great a crime therefore letting these things passe as well known to you already Sect 2. The text it self Wherein I le not trouble you with dependance The words are a distinct paragraphe in themselves and may be kept entire within their own limits bounds and confines so according to my old method of for exposition of the text take this The sum This is easily resolved in this issue The sure stay support and setleness of the Church and by consequence of every Beleever in their utmost desertions greatest declinings from God by transgression against 1 The apprehension of Divine wrath sincking their spirits for ever 2 The insolent insulting of adversaries 1 They shall see 2 God to be light to them This being the sum of the whole text take the Analysis of the 8 verse for that is all I can or will meddle with at this time 1 The state of the Church and every Beleever in that condition she is fallen 2 The successe of this The adversaries tryumph and rejoyce 3 The state of recovery with a secret check to the malicious pride of insolent adversaries Rejoyce not For the rest of the particulars my time nor ability of body nor strong lunges to keep on in a strong carreer in a long and vexing winded discourse will not admit mee therefore I le be briefe if you expect it 1 Pardon my inabilities I am aged 2 Seek it where you know you may have it These things supposed let me now come seasonably to my last 4 Theorems 1 The best of Churches Saints or persons may fall deeply into grosse transgressions 2 The enemies to the Church and Saints have an akeing tooth and obstinate spirit of insulting and vaporing over the Church and Saints in their fallings â—in this their sadd and deep declining by transgression 3 In this distresse of falling and the exultancy and proud insolency of opposition they shall arise again and the glory of the Lord shall appear upon them in light These are the Theorems which I must
prosecute distinctly therefore pray take this to be the first 1. Theorem Saints may fall into grosse and very deep transgressions or sins against God The demonstration of this Theorem is firm upon these principles 1 The infinite and indeed unlimited liberty and authoritative power the infinite God hath over the creature to do with it what he pleaseth Ergo 1 To leave and desert when hee will Thence 2 To give them up to themselves 2 The naturall principles of the creature being thus left without any limits or bounds to its own propensions from preservation it must follow inevitablely that the springs or sluces of corruption must break forth Ergo Churches and Persons nay Saints may rush into and act in grosse abominations Hence then from these principles leâ— us wind up all into an argumentive formâ— Argument 1 Where there is an independant liberty in any cause to sustain or not to sustain a created being in a just regularity to his own will 2 And strong active principles in an eminent deviation from the eternall rule there must be and that unavoidably a deflexion from that eternall rule 1 But in the eternall God of Glory in Christ there is this independant liberty by concession of schooles and Fathers 2 The creatures acting nothing by their own principles but opposition to him and his rule and will Ergo The creature may fall into the greatest relapses grossest sins that ever any creature did Thus I have twisted up my argument of reason into the forme of a sillogisme in mood and figure and it being but reason which is dark let me support faith with Scripture And for this purpose I le nominate but two places which will strongly evince the conclusion it self 2 Samuel chap. 11. chap. 12. Isaiah 63 17. These two places will joyn in issue to prove my conclusion against any the least opposition Wee will a little examine both In the 11 Chapter you find very desperate acts of Davids 1 His Adultery deflowring Vriahs wife Bethseba to bear a child 2 Murder upon the person of Vriah by his speciall comission sent to Ioab the Generall of his army Now do but observe the severall agravations and concatinations of other sins lincked together and centred in these two and then Judge 1 Ingratitude to a faithfull servant and officer in his battles 2 His cursed hypocrisy in carrying on his desperate designe 1 Vriah must be sent for home under pretence of favor but in a reall intention that he might be murdered or hide Davids shame But this was but the briding of his designe to the execution of murder upon so faithfull a friend and servant therefore he goes on 2 Vriah must goe home to his wife to hide Davids shame that the bastard might be made legitimate by Vriah yet Vriah stands this attempt out as unworthy of the spirit of a souldier especially a commanding souldier Yet David in a depth of hypocrisy towards faithfull Vriah persists with what brave resolutions and what firm principles Vriah baulked the motion the text cleares and yet David hath another stratagem upon so faithfull a servant to hide his own shame Vriah 3 He must tarry but one day and on the morrow he shall goe to this Vriah condescends and abode in Hierusalem that day 4 David goes on with new stratagems to hide his sin so adds sin to sin under the pretence of doing him honor in an entertainment he makes him drunk cursed hypocrisy hoping when he was drunk he would do any thing and now after the transgressions of adultery and these subtile devices to hide the shame Next comes the tragedy of poor inocent Vriahs murder All full of perfidious deceit and dissimulation in hypocrisy by David 1 Ioab the Generall must be sent unto to put Vriah upon the forelorn hope where the Skirmish was hottest and this by commission from David that Vriah might dye expresly 2 Ioab Obeys Davids severe unjust and desperate command and the issue is Vriah is slain But it is not unworthy observation David gives commission in his coole blood and sedate resolutions that Vriah being in the heat of battell upon a desperate service all his forces should retire and leave him naked in the fury of the enemy cursed treachery in david yet Davids sin in this passage goes on to a higher stretch then this for if you observe the subsequent passage you will find 3 Ioab to be an obsequious knave to do any thing that the king commands him against a faithfull servant to Ioab himself shall I and my Lord Ioab 1 To hide his sin and shame 2 To accomplish his base lust with Bethseba Ioab sends an accoumpt to David that according to Davids command and directions given to him Vriah is out of the way these tidings being brought to David he hath an other shift to his hypocrisy and cruell designe 4 The sword devoureth one as well as the other Yet that he thought all things might be secure and hidden he takes her home and makes her his wife Well this done the thing did displease the Lord Thus far of Davids sin of murder and adultery against God Having done thus farr in the business the detection of the horrid unparralled villany in Davids sins the next business is to come in hand 1 Davids arraignment by Nathan the Prophet now in this we may consider thus 1 Nathan is sent to him by commission from the Lord the God of Glory to convince him of his guilt of this his sin 2. By a wile of a parable states the question so that David confesseth plainly he had sinned 2. Nathan leaves him not in this sad condition under guilt but presently applies peace the Lord hath put away thy sin yet gives him a chastisement temporall hence then Persons under the apprehension of guilt ought not to be left so but promises of mercy ought after the detection of guilt to be applied Now Bretheren the next busines Isaiah 63. 17. If you observe the connexion of the words you will find the state of whole Churches under a sad state of dereliction here in this verse wee find not only 1 Outward transgressions and those of a deep die if you compare things with things 2 Inward opposition or an habitual frame of spirit whence 1 Outward transgressions did flow a hardened heart 2 And the frame of the spirit corrupted Out of all these my conclusions I will conclude The Saints may be deserted and left to great transgressions and a fearfull frame of spirit But we must go on to the other conclusions but the time is almost past and the time of the year unseasonable And now Bretheren since we have brought our busines thus farr let me inferr these few practique Corrolaries 1 Let him that standeth take heed least he fall 2 Keepe for the purpose vigilant eye over your own spirits 3 Pittie those that are fallen and walk in darkness and see no light 4
Presume not upon examples you know not whether Davids restitution may be yours This is from the second conclusion Insultansy of spirit over distressed persons and falling sinners is incident to man especially enemies Next take notice of this plaine issue 4 As presume not to act hainous transgressions 5 So dispare not under their burden This is from the last proposition of the three gathered from the text and so these three propositions in the first paragraphe are dispatched Sect 3 The occasion of this business and application to the remembrance of the person deseased and herein brevitie becomes the time and season ergo Let me acquaint you with these few hints which possibly you may hear more at large hereafter The occasion I have told you already and so need no further repetition The persons condition is now in agitation 1 His birth and education with his parts and their improvements you all know were to be highly approved of 2 His conversation and greatly prodigious act of sin in so near a relation is too well known for me to trouble your memories or greive your spirits a fresh These things we grant to the most malevolent spirit and contradicting spirit we meet with yet for his deportment in the time of his confinement sentence and execution some things must be said 1 These reverend Divines faithfully that dealt with him and most in frequency in the time of his confinement can give a more strict and severe accompt When I had the opportunitie to visit him I found him in a sedate composure of spirit I hope in the successe of their endeavours and upon accompt examined with other things implicitely two great questions resolved 1 Conviction of guilt of so great a transgression 2 Yet this was not all but tenderness of contrition for this and other facts 3 A totall relinquishing of any thing of humiliation or contrition for acceptation 4 Only wrapt up himself in the armes of our Saviour Christ as the only refuge Upon this accompt I did what I did and ought to do Let Momus carpe Wee will leave him to his own master to him he stands or falls or suffers only thus it was his earnest desire to receive a sealing testimony from Christ in the ordinance for his sealed confirmation of his interest in him And in this case Iâ— will doe it again upon like occasion when they that except are reduced to the like condition upon his supposed qualification let malevolent spirits say what they will I say he died a Christian the testimony of this shall appeare to the shame of his Calumnators in print from his own hand I confesse I have the original by me but will conceale it yet I am yet confident his grand Adversaries do not know what 1 Hee found of the things of God in Christ 3 Nor can so exactly compose a peece of a Beleevers spirit as he hath done This you know to speake in business of this nature unusual yet seeing such pettish foolish impertinances added in by ignorance and malicious beggerly pride I thought fit to acquaint you with my resolutions I le justifie it against opposition let proud malice swell untill it break February 20 1656. Valete Quest Ans. Ioh. 6. 37. Heb. 10. 11 Psal. 45. 15 Phil. 2. 30 Lu. 15 10. Hos. 14. 3. Dan. 9. 18. 19. 20. 21. Psal. 143. 10. Read Eph. 1. Ro. 11. 32 Hose 13. 9 Acts. 5 31. Isa. 43. 25 Ezek. 36. 22 Ia. 2. 18. Iohâ— 20 28 Ans. Pro 18. 24 Hos 4. 6. Esai 44. 1. Esa 59 2. Esa 1. 6. Psal. 77. 6. Iob. 42. 6. Phi. 3. 8 2. Sam. 12. 13. Mar. 14. 72. Psa. 51. 3. Deu. 30. 2. Eze. 20. 8. and added blood to all our sins the sin of murther Iohn 20. 4. Heb. 12 8 9. Vse 2 Vse 3 Vse 4 Acts. 9. 4. vers. 18. vers. 15. Ioh. 14. 15. Doct. Mat. 5. 46. Vers. 48 Ioh. 8. 25. 1 Ioh. 3. 1 Gal. 4. 5. Exod. 33. 23. Ioh. 5. 39. Luk 24. 27. Act. 17. 2 Act. 26. 22. Mat. 26. 56. Mark 14. 49. Luk. 1. 67 68 69. Act. 4. 12 Co. 1. 19. Ioh 1. 1 2. Mat. 19. 13. Isa. 53. 5. Mat. 11. 28. Rev. 3. 20 Gal. 3. 13 Isa. 55. 1. 2 Cor. 5. 20. 2 Cor. 1. 1. Luk 1. 67 Exod. 3. 10. Exod. 4 12 Isa. 6. 5. Ier. 1. 6. vers. 9. Mat. 22. 12. Hos. 8. 12 Ioh. 3. 6. Psal. 51. 5. Eph. 2. 2. 3. Gen. 6. 5. 1 Cor. 2. 15. 1 Pet. 2. 5 Rom. 8 5 Prov. 22 8. This inserted but really delivered Rom. 1. Vers. 4. Vers. 15. Vers. 6. Vers. 8. Vers. 9. Vers. 12 Vers. 13 Vers. 15. Vers. 11. Vers. Vers. â— Chap. 12.