imagine we shall leap at once from a Life of murmuring and repining here to a State of Praising and Glorifying God for ever We cannot doubt but such a Life as this would put a New Face upon the Christian Religion and convince the most obstinate that we suppose Everlasting Life and Glory to be the most Real Certain and Excellent Thing when we can live at the Holy Heavenly and Chearful Rate which supposes it to be all these That we do firmly believe that whatever are the inconveniencies of our Pilgrimage a Portion in Heaven will answer them and repay us And that therefore we look upon our selves as dwelling in Tents and Tabernacles without any fixed City here below as those Holy Patriarchs once did Heb. xi 9. and dare not drive our Stakes too deep into the Earth because we look long and pray every Day to be called away home to our own Countrey 3. Let us study and follow after the things that make for Peace our God is the God of Peace our Redeemer the Prince of Peace the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Peace the Gospel is a Doctrine of Peace which reveal'd peace on earth and good will towards men Luk. ii 14. But to our shame and the shame of our Profession we have represented it as a Civil War We say we own one God one Lord Jesus Christ one holy Spirit and one hope of salvation why then do we not keep the unity of spirit in the bond of peace Ephes. iv 3 4 5. Peace is that which every one will commend but very few will entertain If we regard the Orations of Men one would think it the most precious and desirable thing in the World but if we observe their Divisions one would conclude it the most Pernicious and Dangerous All Differences in Opinion do not infer a Difference in Religion nor all Local Separation a Schism but when the smallest Differences are managed by proud and froward Spirits and they influenced by secular Interests it 's a wonder to see what Flames a little Spark kindles The sum is this Perhaps we cannot syncretize in the Minutes of Religion nor express the finer Stroaks of Uniformity in our Sentiments yet let us Religiously keep up a Spirit of Love to Peace and Truth Christ has declared Love to be the Livery of his Disciples by which they are known to be His Joh. xiii 35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another As it was the Livery he enjoyn'd them whilst living so was it his Legacy bequeath'd to them when dying John xiv 27. Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you 4. Let us all most fervently cry unto God that his Holy Spirit may be poured out upon the Professors of Religion and that it may accompany the Preaching of the Gospel then will the Doctrine of God our Saviour shine gloriously when the Spirit shall be its Light then will it Conquer and Triumph when the Spirit shall second it with his Might This is that which subdues the Pride the Passions the unruly Lusts of Men and brings down whatever exalts it self against the Truth in subjection to God This influence attending the Word shall make Persecutors become Preachers Scoffers of Religion become Admirers of what they have Scorned and Blasphemers to justify that Name which they have Reproached this will give the Doctrine of the Gospel a Throne in their Hearts who have trampled it under their sordid Feet And this St. Paul well understood when he so earnestly entreats the Churches Prayers 2 Thess. iii. 1. Brethren pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified When the Light shall scatter the Darkness that like a thick Cloud sits upon Mens Minds when the Power of it shall bear down that Opposition that rages in their Hearts when it shall break through all Impediments and make its way to the Conscience then will the Doctrine of our God and Saviour Adorn it self and not need any other Ornaments we can put upon it I profess my self unwilling to dismiss this Argument till it has had its proper Effects upon the Hearts and Consciences of the Readers but I must draw to a Conclusion which I will do with a few Considerations humbly praying that the Great Lord and Master of the Assemblies would drive every Nail to the Head and so fasten it in the Heart that the Power and Policy of the Devil may never draw it out 1. Consideration What great Reason have we to Adorn the Doctrine of our God and Saviour when we have been the Cause or given the Occasion to its Dishonour Juâ—…tice demands that we should heal it because we have wounded it I persuade my self that there are many under the Rebukes of their own Hearts that the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ has been evil spoken of through their irregular Conversations I hope too that many have repented and that God has pardon'd the Iniquity of their Sin but yet God will bear a Testimony against their careless and common Behaviour tho' he has pardon'd the Sin Thus he dealt with David 2 Sam xii 13 14. The Lord hath put away thy sin thou shalt not die Nevertheless because by this dâ—…ed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme the Child that is born unto thee shall die In what way the Jealous God will bear Witness against the present Generation of Professors for the Scandals they have given I presume not to determine most certain it is he will not put up the Affront without Repentance and Reformation The safest Course for every one of us is to confess our Sins to take Shame to our selves to give Glory to God and not to blush at our Repentance when the only thing should make us blush is our Sins 2. Consideration Adorning the Gospel by a suitable Conversation will prove the best expedient to secure its Presence with us If we think it not worth the Adorning we may question whether God will think it worth his Continuing and Protecting 'T was disingenuous in Absalom to spurn his poor Sister out of doors when he had defiled her but the Justice of God will be manifest if he removes our Gospel which we have basely prostituted 'T is his own threatning to the Church of Ephâ—…sus Rev. ii 5. Remember from whence thou art fallen and repent or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick out of its place except thou repent A Father takes away the Childrens Bread when they crumble it in scorn upon the Ground and if he indulges them Candle to play yet will not allow them it to fight and quarrel Let us consult the Histories of Antient Times they will inform us that Religion was never rooted out by Persecution till it had been made cheap by the Profanation of Professors The Primitive Christians proved this Truth that Religion flourisht fairer and grew
chearful Let him sing psalms As then God has divided our Lives between Afflictions and Consolations let us divide them between Prayer and Praise I conclude this with that of 1 Cor. vii 30. Brethren the time is sâ—…ort it remaineth that they that weep be as though they wept not and they that rejoice as though they rejoiced not and they that buy aâ—… though they possessed not for the fashion of thiâ—… world passeth away When Grace shall reach us a Holy indifferency of spirit towards these outward things to mourn under evil Circumstances with that moderation as believing that God can turn our Sorrow to Good nay into Joy and to rejoice under smiling Dispensations as they that believe our elations and transports may soon be dashed and to keep that equability of Spirit as they that know the fashion of this world passeth away then shall we Adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things § 3. Proceed we now to the third General Enquiry viz. What are the Particulars of the Doctrine of this Gospel which we must Adorn and how may we Adorn it in those Particulars The Doctrine of the Gospel may be reduced to two Heads Precepts and Promises and both these may be comprehended under the General Term of the Divine Testimonies because they Testifie what God expects from us and what we may expect from God The Preceptive part informs us what God justly expects from us in a way of Duty The Promissory part what we may expect humbly yet assuredly from God either for present Assistance or future Reward Both of which if narrowly considered will inform us what it is that will Adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel 1. I begin with the Precepts These are the true Copy of the Divine Nature The great instances of the Divine Authority The visible Demonstrations of the Holiness of the Law-giver The express Image of the Purity of him that gave them forth and the great Proofs of our Integrity A marvellous Beauty and Glory is impressed upon them by God but they have been insolently trampled upon by unhallow'd Feet cruelly treated by unclean Hands and now how to recover them to their Original Glory is the difficulty and design of this Discourse If we ask the Psalmist what value and estimate he put upon them What Glory what Beauty he could behold in them He readily answers Psal. cxix 128. I esteem all thy Precepts concâ—…rning all things to be right and I hate every false way All thy Precepts concerning All things There is a lustre in every single Precept but a Glory in them All. As every Star shines with its proper Light but as they stand Combined in their Asterisms and Constellations so they shine with a marvellous Glory And as every Creature which God produced by his creative Word was Good yet when he came to take a prospect of them in their Relations to each other he pronounced them exceeding good Gen. i. 31. Such are the Precepts of God and they are so concerning All things They reach the Heart with all its Principles and Ends they govern our Words they regulate our Lives they restrain from Sin they constrain to Obedience they instruct us how to walk holily before God honestly and righteously towards Men soberly towards our selves and to hate every false way If you again ask him why or upon what Reasons he prizes them at this high rate he will satisfie you Ver. 72. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver I know there may be good use made of Gold and Silver A good Conscience will not purchase Meat in the Market nor Innocence buy us Cloathing in the Shops but the law of thy Mouth is better upon higher upon noblet Accounts It acquaints me with those ways wherein God is to be found where I may expect Communion with him it directs me how to walk well-pleasing to my God whom to please is my highest Ambition it shews me how I may be kept from the paths of the Destroyer Gold and Silver will not heal a wounded Conscience nor pluck the Thorn out of the Flesh nor instruct the doubting Soul how to clear up its Peace with God What use others may make of their Gold and Silver I know not but unto me the words of thy mouth are better By them is thy servant warned to avoid the Sin and to escape the Snare by them is thy Servant Reproved when his own folly has exposed him to the bait and snare and by them is thy Servant Recovered out of those Temptations into which my own rashness or carelesness have thrown me The Goodness of all things is reckon'd from their Suitableness to the present and pressing exigency If we are hungry a piece of Bread is better than thousands of Gold and Silver which we may have and yet Starve If naked a few Rags are better in that present straight than thousands of Gold and Silver which will not cover our nakedness If then the Mind be uneasie Conscience dissatisfied if Sorrow sits as a thick Cloud upon the Brow The word of God which speaks to the Case is better than thousands of Gold and Silver There are three things which render the Precepts of Chriâ—…t easie aâ—…d our Obedience pleasant 1. When we keep our hâ—…â—…xed upon the Author of them 'T is the 〈◊〉 â—…rine of God our Saviour as God he claiâ—…â—…uthority over us as a Saviour he challenges an Interest in us Right to Command and Interest to Obey are a Cord of Love too strong to be broken Christ asiures us Matth. xi 29 30. That his Toke is easie and his â—…urden light 'T is a Yoke none of Christ's Servants are Sons of Belial but 't is an easie Yoke His strength which he gives that Principle of Love which is the governing Principle of the Renewed Nature makes it so Hence Christ presses Obedience upon that Principle John xiv 15. If ye love me keep my Commandments Can you pretend a mighty love to my Person and yet despise my Authority Give this essential Proof of your Love that ye keep my Commandments If your Friend should sooth you up and with many fair and fawning Complements protest he values you and yet at the same time Spit in your Face or throw Dung upon you you would desire him to give better evidence of his Love than those Actions which speak Despight and Scorn The Commands of Christ are the Mounds and Fences which he has set about his Glory If you will pluck down those Walls and Defences which your Neighbour has set about his Inclosures and then pretend that you do all this out of pure Love and Respect to him I am persuaded he would desire you to forbear such Proofs of your Love and give more convincing Tokens of it Christ is willing you would rather spare your high Expressions and give Evidence of your Love by sincere Obedience 2. When the Conscience is bound in subjection to Christ when the
nothing of the Bread he Eats the Life he Lives the Joy he Joys 1 John iii. 1. Therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not Whatever is within the compass of Sense and Flesh the Natural Man understands that he values prizes relishes and blesseth himself in because he finds a suitableness between them and his own Frame but if those who profess themselves Believers have nothing more than this comes to to produce in vain do they hope to persuade others of the excellency of their Religion Let us therefore give all Diligence to get such a view of the glory of that unseen World as may dash out of countenance all the glittering glory of this and make it appear by our Conversation that we can with a holy Scorn trample upon present visible earthly perishing things that so living by Faith and not by Sense our Hearts may be in Heaven where our Treasure is and our Conversation in Heaven where our Hearts are § 4. Come we now to the fourth General Head the only thing remaining before we come to the Application viz. The Reasons why every one that Professeth the Gospel of Christ should conscientiously labour to Adorn the Doctrine of it in All things The Reasons assigned will be very few let us Pray that the Good Spirit would make them very strong 1. Reason It ought to be our great Care to Adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel because it is the Doctrine of the Great God It 's a Doctrine that was given forth from him that has absolute Power to Command us John vii 16. The Doctrine is not mine but his that sent me and therefore we are to receive it entertain it as such 1 Thess. ii 13. Te received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God The Reproach cast upon the Word of God is cast upon the Author of it God himself Rom. ii 23 24. Through breaking of the law dishonourest thou God For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gâ—…ntiles through you As the affront offered to the Laws reflects upon the Law-giver and God is concerned in Honour to vindicate the dishonour cast upon his own Laws These things are drawn into a narrow Compass and we may enlarge upon them with ease in our own Hearts Let us be well advised whether we be not bound in Conscience to vindicate the Name of God by Adorning this Doctrine which has been so horribly blasphemed by defacing it He that Spits in the Face of Religion Spits in the Face of God He that tramples upon the Word tramples under Foot the Son of God 2. Râ—…ason 'T is the Doctrine of our Sâ—…viour our Redeemer and these Terms carry strong Obligations in them to Adorn his Doctrine or having already defiled it to repair the damage we have done it The former Reason was drawn from Authority but this from Interest and both of them work by Love Christ is a Saviour and has preach'd the Doctrine of Salvation A Redeemer and has revealed the Doctrine of Redemption A Mediator and has made known how Sinners may come unto God by him It was St. Austin's censure of the Plâ—…tonists Patriam viderunt viam ignorâ—…runt They saw their Country but knew not the way to it they had at least some rude consused Notions that Blessedness must needs lie in the enjoyment of a perfect infinite Being but how to attain Reconciliation and Communion with him they were at a loss what they saw in a Glass darkly the Gospel has revealed plainly and we see it with open Face 2 Cor. iii. 1 8. And what they were totally ignorant of we behold in a clear sight that is wherein our everlasting Happiness doth consist and how we may reach that Happiness And shall we tread under our Feet that blessed Doctrine the power whereof in our Hearts will certainly save us and the Guilt lying upon our Head will eternally Condemn us The Apostle's Pleading is clear and strong 1 Cor. vi 19 20. Ye are not your own for ye are bought with a price that ye may glorifie him in your spirits and bodies which are his It is an acknowledged piece of Justice that he that purchases lawfully should enjoy peaceably and with what indignation do we exclaim against that Man that keeps out of Possession a lawful Purchaser Consider this Case 't is your own if Christ has bought you with an invaluable Price whose true value none can perfectly understand but the Father to whom it was paid shall we Treat that Gospel which brings us these glad tidings with Contempt and Neglect 3. Reason To Adorn the Doctrine of our God and Saviour will be our own greatest Ornament Holiness was the comely wear of Primitive Christianity no Artificial Dress did ever so Adorn its Profession and Professors as plain Godliness The Varnish and Paint of Art will wash off with a little stormy Weather but wisdom makes the face to shine Eccles. ix 1. This is the Counsel of Divine Wisdom Prov. i. 9. My son hear the instruction of thy father and forsake not the law of thy mother for it shall be an ornament of grace to thy head and chains to thy neck This was the Tyre wherewith the holy women of old time Adorned themselves 1 Pet. iii. 4. Even thâ—… Ornamâ—…nt of a meek and quiet spirit which in the sight of God is of great price Such was the Dress of the Gospel before the commonness of vain Modes and wanton Fashions took away the Deformity of Pride and almost forced the Antient Simplicity to retire into Corners Did we see an Antient Piece drawn by the Hand of some of the great Masters of Greece or Italy we should admire the Painting tho perhaps ridicule the Antick Garbs Surely if some of the Primitive Professors should rise from the Dead they would neither know us nor we them A heavenly Conversation is Antiquated every one wears the Livery of his Party the distinguishing Shibboleth of his own Sect but where are they that accommodate themselves in All things to the Doctrine according to Godliness What an honour to be a Citizen of the New Jerusalem To be an Heir of God and a joint Heir with Christ his Elder Brother and let us endeavour to reflect some of the honour back again upon the Gospel which we receive from it 4. Reason To Adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel will greatly recommend it to those who are at present Strangers to it We have the prejudices of Men to contend with their radicated Enmities to subdue and conquer we dispute we argue in vain 'T is a severe uniform Holiness suited to the Principles Precepts and Promises that must either wrest their Weapons out of their Hands or make them freely lay down their Arms at the Foot of a Redeemer 1 Pet. iii. 2. The Apostle supposes a very hard Case that a believing wife is unequally yoaked to an unbelieving husband an uneasie condition But how may it
of whom they see fitter for Bedlam than the Church If we could learn to discern the Divine Providence in Mens Provocations and that as the evil one has a hand in them the righteous God has an over-ruling hand in them too it would serve to dash the Ferment of our most boiling Passions and teach us to say with the Psalmist The Lord has â—…idden him to curse me The sense and fear of God vigorous upon our Hearts would fortifie them against the sudden eruptions of these Distempers Prov. xxiii 17. My son be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long and let not thy heart envy sinners And in a word It would abate our Passion and the Pride that feeds it did we but calmly consider that our strongest Passions are our greatest Impotencies and that whilst we indulge this last we do but make work for Repentance And what a folly is it to give way to that which must cost us bitter Tears and Sorrow before we can heal those Wounds which thereby we have given both our own Consciences and our Profession 2. Let my next Advice be to avoid all Fraud Falshood and Over-reaching in your Covenants Contracts and Dealings with your Neighbours Every Christian besides that business he has with his God and his own Soul has Affairs in this World on this side Eternal Life In all these let your Heart be true to God your Tongue true to your Heart and Heart and Tongue both true to your Neighbours Eph. iv 25. Wherefore putting away all lying speak every man the truth with his neighbour for we are all members one of another We are all Members either in the First Adam or in the Second If in the First Adam only yet why should we defraud our own Flesh and Blood If in the Second why should we wrong them that are with us the same spirit 1 Cor. vi 17. The Psalmist Psal. xv 1. Propounds this great Question and propounds it to God himself who alone could answer it Lord who shall abide in thy Tabernacle And who shall dwell in thy holy hill Who is that blessed Man whom thou wilt admit to Communion with thy blessed self in Grace and Glory And amongst other Characters that describe this person this is one verse 2. He that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness that speaketh the truth in his heart And verse 4. He that sweareth to his own heart and changeth not Let others go beyond him in Temporals he will be true to his own Soul to his God to his Neighbour and the Credit of his Religion 'T is a great contradiction to Religion to use falshood in our Commerces and Converses Our God is the God of Truth his Word is the Scripture of Truth In all that Gospel which we Preach there 's not one Proposition but what is truth and the Apostle 2 Cor. i. 18 19. Purgeth himself of all Levity and Inconstancy in his Promises by the Truth of that Gospel which he Preached As God is true our word toward you was not Yea and Nay It was not Yea in Promising and Nay in Performing for saith he the son of God Jâ—…sus Christ was not Yea and Nay Every Yea of Christ is Yea and every Nay of Christ is Nay Fidelity therefore is the Image of God and bears some strokes of his veracity as unfaithfulness bears the Image of the Devil who is a liar and the father of it and when he spâ—…aks a lie he speaks of his own John viii 44. And if at any time he speaks a Truth 't is not of his own but either by an over-ruling power extorted from him or from some wicked end of his own used by him 3. Let us be jealous of and watchful over our selves in those things that lie near the Flesh our Corruptions are Tinder one spark struck into them sets all in a flame whatever things therefore are most suitable to those Corruptions must be carefully inspected Let us watch over our selves watch against the Tempter and his temptations and watch as those that watch for their Souls and then Pray that God would watch over us and all our watchings or else we wake and watch in vain The things that lie nearest our Flesh are Food and Raiment which are apt to awaken and draw out sleeping Corruption When we read of some Jude 12. That feed themselves without fear surely they know not what an Enemy they have that lies in wait to surprize them Holy Fear would suggest these Thoughts How know I but the Tempter has laid a baited Snare for me at my Table And when he is Adorning the Body how know I but I may be now preparing a Bait for anothers Soul Let every Man study his own weak point there it is the Devil will be sure to Aslault thee It was a dreadful Prophetick Curse which the Psalmist utters against some Psal. lxix 22. Let their table be made a snare and let that which should be for their good be to their hurt How sad is it to find Death in the Cup or Dish where he seeks his Life And yet how many Eat and drink their own damnation perhaps at Christ's Table and at their own The Wise Man or rather the Wise God has given us this Counsel Prov. xxiii 2. When thou sittest to eat with a Ruler consider diligently what is set before thee and put a knife to thy throat if thou be a man given to appetite And these Thoughts would mortifie the cravings of the Flesh. 1. That after all our studious Catering and Carving for the Flesh yet we must die and are now dying whilst we are Eating and Drinking perhaps whilst Sinning we are still dying the means of Life will not always prove effectual to preserve Life They that fed upon Angels Food yet dyed John vi 19. Meat for the belly and the belly for meats but God will 〈◊〉 â—…oth it and them 1 Cor. vi 13. 2. It would greatly abate the Luxury of the Table to consider that the Rich Glutton who fared sumptuously every day Luke xvi 19. was Dead Buried and in Hell where he could not by all his eloquent begging prevail for one drop of Water to cool his Tongue scorched with those Flames 3. And it might moderate our craving wandring Appetite to consider that Nature is content with little and Grace with less and whatever is beyond these comes of evil and leads to eâ—…il 4. And that if we cannot deny our selves in the lesser Instances how should we deny our selves in those more difficult Trials which Providence may possibly call us to How shall we be able to want Necessaries when we cannot deny these Extravagancies 5. And what a Reproach is it to a Professor to feel this raging Hunger for the Meat that perisheth when there is such a languishing affection for that which endureth to eternal Lifâ—… What a shame that we bring sharper Stomachs to our own Tables than to the Lord's § 2. I have given you the Advice of