walking Fifthly Negligence in Scripture will make you ignorant that there is a Legion of evil Angels waiting hourely to take advantage against you no sooner in the Text but now mentioned had the good Spirit left Saul but a◠evil Spirit comes upon him 2 Chron. 18. 19 20 21. And the Lord said who shall in 〈◊〉 Ahab presently there came out a Spirit and said I will intice him and be a lying Spirit in the month of all his Prophets Job 1. 6. There was a day when the Sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan came also among them and so soon as Joshua is standing before the Angel of God Satan is got at his right hand to resist him now ignorance that there is a Legion or very many evil Spirits waiting all advantages and opportunities to do us hurt occasions many to be secure when and where they have no cause and so their feet come to be insnared in by-paths to their shame and sorrow let us therefore be so studious in Scripture as to say in truth with the holy Apostle 2 Cor. 2. 10. 11. To whom ye forgive any thing I forgive also lest Satan should get an advantage of us for we are not ignorant of his devices Clearly noting how careful this good man was to keep the tempter at greatest distance while persons are not sensible that they are continually attended with wicked Spirits that seeks to insnare them by drawing them aside from God they shall be the oftner captivated and so in their spiritual estate in great danger to be spoiled When the unclean Spirit is gone out of a man he walketh through dry places seeking rest and findeth none then he returns to his house or heart from whence he came out and finding it empty swept that is destiture of the good Spirits company then goeth he and takes with him seven more wicked Spirits than himself and enters in and dwels there Mat. 12. 43 44. Hence it is clear that evil Spirits both wait advantages and take them where they find suitable subjects to be gaining upon But I pass this and come to the last Calamity which negligence brings Sixthly It makes you ignorant that you may hinder Gods holy Spirit from working any effectual good upon you This may possibly seem strange to some that the good purposes of Gods good Spirit upon any may be by them hindered but if it be considered well it need not be strange for if the workings of the holy Spirit were unresistable then few if any could be ungodly it strove much with the old World and yet they was not worthy to be saved from the Deluge and striving need not be where there can be no resisting Again the holy Spirit was much grieved with Israels stubbornness testifying against them many years Neh. 9. yet would they not give ear how could it be said the Spirit grieved at their withstanding if they could not withstand Turn ye at my reproof and I will pour out my Spirit upon you and make known my words unto you but ye have set at naught all my counsel and would none of my reproof In all their affliction he was afflicted and the Angel of his presence saved them but they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit therefore mark that he was turned to be their enemy Now if the workings and strivings of the holy Spirit were unresistable certainly Israel with whom it so strove being so bemoaned of God for their rebellion neither could nor should have so withstood him How shall I give thee up O Ephraim how shall I deliver thee O Israel how shall I make thee as Adma or Zeboim my heart is hot within me my repentings are kindled together Would it not be blasphemy to say that Gods thus bemoaning was not real It is altogether certain that the very heart of God is set out in these expressions CHAP. IX Shewing that an itching ear in Christians after Novelties bespeak◠them decaying to godliness with four Remedies against it SIGN IX VVHen you are mighty inquisitive after Novelties or new things rather than wholsome Doctrine This Sign is too too common amongst Professors and commonly ariseth from some dislike that they take because things go not just as they would have them after the light of their own eyes such may know themselves or at least be known by their instability or running from one thing to another as Solomon saith given to change no longer contented than while they are prosecuting some notion or other that hath in it the face of new and if with their notion they prove to be accepted then perhaps quieted for a while till some other new conceit take them but if not accepted then they swell so big that the bounds of the Church is too strait to hold them And sure from hence hath risen the multitude of dividings in opinion that now are on foot in our Land men growing confidently conceited that they are in the right and no reason shall sway them but if their offer be rejected then presently they make a schisme and so striving to get a party crying out of great injustice as though truth were only in them and withstood because their Notion is withstood All this while the great end of Church-being and Ordinances appointing to wit edification not so much as thought of but forgetting that blessed rule of Christ Jesus best followers who became all things to all men that they might gain the more drive on furiously and come what will come in the issue all must presently be as they see or else they will be gone whereas God knows if they were narrowly looked into they would be found of the simple that are apt to believe every word while the prudent looks well to his goings not hasty to receive nor hasty to forgo what he hath already received By this I would not be understood to palliate men who count others giddy headed for leaving an old Romish form when by God they are otherwise perswaded light breaking in and truth being made manifest but I rather indeed would by this give such to understand that the drift of what is here pointed at hath respect to such as in a right constituted Church cannot be contented Not in the least incouraging any others to be contented with false settlement ignorantly concluding that if they change it will be to something new and not true Men may change but it must be for the better yet how apt are persons to be affected with changes that they will change though it be for the worst At such a sort of people my drift is it being an evil that the Scripture is not wanting to tell us of Exod. 32. in the beginning While Moses is but absent for a while from Israel they cry to Aaron to make them new Gods saying these be thy Gods O Israel in like manner as you may read in Numb 11. 6. compared with 21. 5. Gods own appointment that once was welcome
Doth not he here consider their inward constitution and prepare his dish to their stomack and is not this Heavens road-way to bring in the greater by an orderly first bringing in the lesser witness this holy Apostles carriage 1 Cor. 12. 17 18 19 Did I make a gain of you by any of them I sent to you I desired Titus and with him I sent a brother did Titus make a gain of you We speak before God in Christ we do all things dearly beloved for your edifying he had respect to the great design Edification and when requiring their performance of a lesser duty to wit giving their temporals to them from whom they received spirituals even as the Lord hath ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel yet as I said but now if the calling for the performance of this duty will not stand with their edification in the main he will rather preach the Gospel of God freely 2 Cor. 11. 9. But when I was present with you And Wanted I was chargeable to no man and in all things I have kept my self from being burthensome to you and so I will keep my self you see though he wants necessaries he will take nothing of them but rather over-burthen other Churches that are better spirited to bear it then among this people labor in vain may not all mourn for Gospel loss through the want of such walking one towards another in our dayes How prosperous in probability may not I say in certainty had the truth been over it is through our Nation had it not been for those divisions that now are among the Churches whose beginnings came in this way I do secretly rejoyce to think what a blessed issue would have been reaped of general harmony amongst Gods Children while all persons in all places and among all people spoke the same things Doth not the adversary hinder the building greatly while he can truly say do you not see how they are divided among themselves and lay low one another doth not also the conscious seeker stumble greatly at this and say what shall I do where to settle I cannot tell Doth not the carnal Christian because of this please himself that he is got into the world of liberty from all Church way O that the Lord would be intreated to awaken the upright yet to make it their prayer and care night and day how they may in places times things especially in the main both to speak and do the same thing this will be blessed with better success to God and Gospel in one year then the best indeavours of another kind for time past hath been in some years I have done and the good Lord begin to set this my humble caution to Churches home that they all may take the good Apostles rule 1 Cor. 14. 26. How is it then brethren when you come together every one hath a Psalm hath a Doctrine hath a tongue hath a revelation hath an interpretation Let all things be done to Edifying CHAP. XXVIII Shewing the necessity of humble waiting and confident depending upon the holy Spirit to help in the great work of mortification the necessity whereof is shewed in seven particulars with six directions how to get and keep this holy Spirit SIGN XXVIII VVHen the holy Spirits help to the great work of mortification seems not of absolute need to you That is its working help and way is not taken heed to necessity of the holy Spirits help in this matter of great concernment cannot be known so as to be to this great end worthily improved without knowledge to a good degree how in this great work the holy Spirits help is concerned and whether so concerned that without its help mortification of sin in its right order cannot be brought about Now where the holy Spirit is sought unto and humbly waited upon for help he doth show himself helpful in these particulars First in fortifying the mind of a Christian with spiritual materials meet to wage war with the spiritual adversaries flesh world and Devil all which are strongly ingaged against a poor convert Gal. 5. 7. The flesh lusteth against the Spirit desiring and striving to do what is directly contrary to the Spirit like a perfect opposite aiming and striving to set up all impurity contrary to or against the Spirits purity Now the mind being the most noble part in man that the flesh is most ingaged against so that Peter in his 1 Epist 2. 4 12. cautions to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul or mind therefore saith the holy Apostle St. Paul Rom. 7. 23. I see a Law in my members warring against the Law of my mind to lead me captive to the Law of sin in my members And saith Jesus Christ Mat. 22. 37. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy soul and with all thy mind All which together proving the mind to be the most noble part at which the holy Spirit to possess with good the adversary to possess with bad hath a chief only aime knowing right well that conquest there carries away the whole man and therefore the actions of good men and wicked men are more or less reputed good or bad as they are more or less managed with the Mind Nehem. 4. 6 17. The builders that wrought upon the wall with one hand held a weapon and with the other hand wrought in the work for the people had a Mind to work which notes how mightily a willing mind doth contribute to a succesful work that this is greatly esteemed of by God read Isa 26. 3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee thou wilt keep them such are the proper subjects of Gods great care whose minds on God is stayed and they shall have peace peace that is peace in its best performances and in all its degrees peace at home abroad in stormes in calmes within without equivolent with that blessing annexed to commandement keepers Deut. 28. beginning But on the contrary Prov. 21. 29. The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to the Lord how much more when he brings it with a wicked Mind So that at the best the wickeds sacrifices are abominable but how much more when they come with a mind set on wickedness Phil. 3. 18 19. For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping they are enemies of the Cross of Christ who mind earthly things now all this premised be speaks the necessity of the holy Spirits help to fortifie the mind with spiritual materials meet to wage war with the spiritual adversary for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness righteousness and truth proving what is acceptable to God and is therefore put in opposition to the works of the flesh Ephes 5. 9 10. Gal. 5. 22. But the fruits of the Spirit is love joy peace meekness long-suffering gentleness goodness faith now a mind destitute of this
holy Spirits fruit is no way able to withstand the motions of the flesh but is carryed captive with every lustful bait at the tempters will for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh and as it is the care of the evil one to have the mind of sinners in his possession even so the first work the holy Spirit doth upon the converted is to put Gods law into their mind by demolishing those dark works in those that turn to God both in debasing what was and in exalting what was not Ephes 4. 17. This I say therefore and testifie in the Lord that you walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanities of their mind vers 22. But that you put off concerning the former conversation the old man with his deeds and then is a necessity of putting on the new man with his deeds for if the house or heart be empty swept and garnished from all bad and yet not possest with like good the evil one enters again and makes the case worse than before All which notes the necessity of having dependance upon the holy Spirit Ephes 3. 16 17. To fortifie the mind with spiritual materials and thus I have done with the first mark and come to the second Secondly It is the Spirits work to discover to the Christian man wherein his danger most lies that is by what bait and to what evils the tempter is most like to draw him Ignorance here causeth people go into the tempters way and without defilement more or less they can hardly return and surely Solomon alludes to this in one of his petitions to God for Israel 1 Kings 8. 38. What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man or by all thy people Israel which shall know every man the Plague of his own Heart clearly implying that among Israel there might be that did not know their own Hearts Plague or wherein their danger most lay now the holy Spirit was given to instruct them and so witnesseth Nehem. 9. 20. Thou gavest thy good Spirit to instruct them the manner how is set out in Exod. 13. 17. And it came to pass when pharaoh had let the people go that God led them not through the way of the Philistines although that was near for God said lest they repent when they see war and return to Egypt again It is very questionable if not out of doubt that this danger was not in their eye at all but God led them saith Moses by his Spirit saith Nehemiah clearly noting that persons hearkning find the holy Spirit not wanting to lead them in the best way and set before them the greatest danger one text more and so I have done with this Isa 29. 24. They also that erred in Spirit shall come to understanding and they that murmured shall learn Doctrine They that through ignorance went astray shall come to understanding or know their best way and they that did repine shall learn Doctrine or be better taught Thirdly The Spirits work is to discover both the strength of the tempter and temptation showing to the Christian man these two things First that the tempter can but intice not inforce Secondly that the strength of his temptations lies in present things First he can and doth prepare suitable baits and snares but all he doth do and can do amounts but to thus much Therefore greater is he that is in you than he that is against you which consideration tends greatly to a believers support while he is able to say I know it must be my fault if I sin against my God for the tempter cannot force me neither did he ever force any he can and doth proffer his ware putting the best face upon it as you may see Gen. 3. 4 5. And the Serpent saith to the Woman ye shall not surely die for God doth know in the day you eat thereof your eyes shall be opened and shall be as Gods knowing good and evil here he makes his bait pleasant and to promise greater priviledge than yet they had with which the woman is taken And when the Woman saw that the fruit was good and that it was pleasant to the eye shee took thereof and did eat contrary to the Law so Josh 7. 20 21. When Achan saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish Garment and a wedge of Gold he coveted them which notes that the Devils power to take centers in preparing fair outsides which carries some after destruction as the Oxe goeth to the slaughter not knowing that it is for his life and indeed as his trade lies in shows so the people he tradeth among without which he could not trade at all to any advantage are silly people and though silly people yet he tradeth altogether in the dark and therefore is called the Ruler of darkness Eph. 6. 12 And his Kingdome a Kingdome of darkness Col. 1. 3. dare not come to the light for fear his deeds should be made manifest Secondly as he thus trades and these are the people he tradeth with so the strength of his temptations centers in present things It is all he can make snares and temptations of as is evident by these Texts Rom. 8. 18. The sufferings of this Present world are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us so Gal. 1. 4. who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from this Present evil World 2 Tim. 4. 10. Demas hath forsaken me having imbraced the Present World Now all these Scriptures speak the tempters strength to lie in present things which made the holy Apostle have light account of his suffering 2 Cor. 4. 17. For our light Affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory he compareth it with the state to come gives it the next count to a cypher calling it momentary and the utmost we can make or any sinner that lives at greatest height of worldly pleasure must confess all present things will amount to but these three First Such as goeth but shin deep Secondly Such as may properly be called minute joy that that is ours this minute but either it taken from us or we from it next minute it lasts not Thirdly At the longest worldly pleasure serveth us but till we come to the grave and there it leaves us Having now done with the third Discovery of the holy Spirits help I shall briefly add two or three more and pass to the Twenty ninth Sign of a dying Christian Fourthly The holy Spirit discovers what unprofitableness is found in sin after committed working strong convictions upon the heart of the sinner and forceth him to confess that his eager pursuit after his sin now he hath had his hearts desire granted contracts but wo and sorrow though sweet in the mouth while eating yet bitter in the belly when eaten Mark 8. 36 37. What shall it profit a man to gain the whole
sin and suffer too by the one others do us wrong by the other we do our selves wrong St. Paul meets with some Christians in the Corinth Church under this Dying Sign 1 Cor. 7. 6. Brother goeth to Law with Brother and that before the unjust too He prescribes the Remedy that they rather take wrong though from Brethren and suffer themselves to be defrauded The Proverb is worth our heeding in this kind it will not countervail our cost better patiently take the wrong than with sinning seek our right I shall now come to two or three Causes of this Decay which being observed and avoyded may also serve as Remedies against this decay or dying Sign First the first Cause is want of Government over our own spirits Secondly Too high esteem of worldly Injoyments Thirdly Cumbring our selves with any business For the first viz. Want of government over our own spirit that is not being Lords over our own passions having them at our Christian beck when to be angry and to what degree Ignorance of our bounds here makes us Beast-like I were envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked saying I have washed my heart in vain and cleansed my hands in innocency Psal 73. So foolish and ignorant was I even as a Beast before thee He that hath no Rule over his own Spirit is like a City without walls and broken down Want of government over our own spirit makes us as naked or desolate as an unfortified City whose walls are broken down Prov. 25. 28. Secondly Too high esteem of worldly Injoyments He that will hardly be moved at a bigger thing will not easily be moved for a pin All offences are a kind of loss being something that crosseth the grain of our spirit now answerable to the estimation we have more or less of our loss will our offence taking be It is putting too high a value of earthly Injoyments as Husband Wife Children House or Land Gold or Silver that makes us so impatient at their loss or leaving Set your affection saith St. Paul on things above not on things below The time is short it remaineth that they that have Wives be as though they had none and they that weep as though they wept not and they that buy as though they possessed not 1 Cor. 7. 29. The Apostle would have them to carry about with them their outward Injoyments as a Traveller carries his old Coat about with him every day thinking to throw it of and if he loose it or be robbed of it doth not much trouble himself for he sets little value upon it Would Christian Travellers seek to soar high in their affections how little would this little little worldly pelf seem to us in our getting or losing Thirdly A third Cause of our Impatience and a third Remedy against it is to avoyd much cumbring our selves with any business that is a filling our hands too full over-charging our selves taking more upon us than we are able to mannage with submission to better things and so hinder meditation and contemplation about those lasting things of heaven which occasions a freezing of the spirits and so we sin and fall at every little trouble that comes in our way whereas a joyful spirit that is inlarged and at liberty Bears all things believes all things endures all things is not easily provked as 2 Cor. 13. at large shews All this while a spirit cumbred is in bondage and quickly fretted like a scald head soon broken Take heed lest at any time your heart be over-charged Luke 21. 34. I would have you be without carefulness 1 Cor. 7. 32. Martha Martha thou art troubled and cumbrest thy self about many things but Mary hath made choice or busied her self about that good part that shall never be taken from her Luke 10. last Consider what you read and the good Lord give you understanding Amen CHAP. XVIII Proving those Christians to be almost dead that make it more their business to get the Form than the Power of Religion with its Causes and Remedies SIGN XVIII VVHen you are more careful to get the words of Christs People than the spirit of Christs People the Form than the Power That is the name and out-side of Reformation rather than the spirit and power of Reformation when the strength and bent of all thy care lies in trimming thy self to appear before men righteous or religious Persons may go very far in this with great self-security resting barely upon outside performances getting fine words and painted expressions making a great show of their worship Pharasaical like and at the same time live under the dominion of some base lust Isa 1. 11 12 13 14. To what purpose is the multitude of your Sacrifices to me saith the Lord I am full of the burnt Offerings of Rams and fat of fed Beasts I delight not in the blood of Bullocks or Lambs or Hee-goats When you come to appear before me who hath required this at your hands to tread my Courts Your new Moons and appointed Feasts they are a trouble to me I am weary to bear them for your hands are full of blood They were then under the guilt of sin or dominion or both and yet at the same time full of outward Services and mighty busie in their Worship Hear ye this ye men of Judah that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord Do not trust in lying words saying The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord for the Temple of the Lord is this If ye throughly amend your wayes and doings if you throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour and oppress not the poor fatherless or widdow in This I Delight Jer. 7. It is clear here also these rested meerly in outwards and lived under the dominion of very base lusts at the very time they seemed so zealous for the Lord. And it is very much to be feared many now adayes run in the same channel Ezek. 33. 31 32. Come I pray you and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord and they come before thee as my people come and sit before thee as my people do and with their mouth shew much love but mark that at the same time their heart runs after Covetousness These were Hypocrites in Zion that shelter themselves in the outside of Religion Covering Gods Altar with tears Mal. 2. 8 13. Yet he regards them not seeing such to be but nominal Christians and therefore abhors them exceedingly The Scripture seems to intimate this as a very common overspreading weed not rare to be found but rather rare to be avoided in professors Let us therefore all look to our selves prove our own work so shall we have rejoycing in our selves alone Mat. 23. 14 15. for a pretence make long prayers Rom. 2. 18 19 20. Behold thou art called a Jew restest in the Law makest thy boast of God being confident that thou thy self art a guide of the
and learned their works and served their Idols therefore was Gods wrath kindled in so much that he abhorred his Inheritance Nevertheless he regarded their affliction when he heard their cry and did pitty them Hosea 6. 4. compared with Chap. 11. 7 8. How shall I give the up what shall I do to thee What less doth all this signifie than thus much that though God be so provoked that nothing but Judgment must come yet like a tender Father to an unruly Child mourns over him while he corrects him We shall leave what hath been said to consideration and pass to the Twenty third Sign of dying to Christ CHAP. XXIII Proving those Christians under great Decay that pray more in Affliction to have it removed than sanctified with three Causes of this Decay SIGN XXIII VVHen you pray more for Afflictions being removed than sanctified That is not only mindless of Afflictions Cause but indeed mindless of Afflictions end it is easie and ordinary for persons under Affliction to be brought to their knees to prayer not only good men but bad men in affliction will be ready to cry for help In their affliction they will seek me early Hos 5. 15. That is one of their first works then they will mind to be doing till then God is forgotten they having lost much their spiritual feeling but now being touched in their outward senses they will cry for relief Then wicked Pharaoh that in Exod. 5. 2. could say Who is the Lord that I should obey his voyce to let Israel go I know not the Lord neither will I let Israel go in Chap. 8. 8. When his Land was ful of Frogs cries to Moses to pray to this God for him he had but little before disdained See that known text for this Jonah 1. 5. Then every man that is when they was in affliction cries to his God the tempest being great and they all like to perish not only cries to their God but with a high hand saith to Ionah What meanest thou O sleeper arise and call upon thy God that we perish not So 2 Chr. 33. 12. Manasseh when he was in affliction sought the Lord his God By all which compared it is very usual both with good and bad men in affliction to be early at prayer to God Now Affliction you know we have in the last Sign proved is Gods Furnance to try the Nature of every Mettal by so that you may truly pass judgment upon your selves whether or no you are of the dying hand not by your praying here you may deceive your selves though you pray mightily for it is easie to do so in Affliction but if you pray more for Afflictions being removed than sanctified that is put up strong cries to be eased of the trouble but scarce possest with faint wishes to answer Gods design in the trouble never inquiring What have I done or saying I must be more humble more thankful more pittiful more fearful more careful all my dayes What shall I do saith the zealous man to get good by this Affliction his voyce cries louder for spiritual advantage than his pain for natural freedome Let us think of this and deal plainly with our own hearts and see what way the pulse beats most for as the staff you set up will fall one way or other so persons being more or less spiritual will easily discover it in Affliction Israel of old might be read in this and you know how God dealt with them of six hundred thousand there was but two namely Joshua and Galeb that entered the good Land of promise they early begun to show how carnal they was Exod. 12. 13 14. When they enjoyed their great deliverance from Egypts bondage Chap. 15. then sang they Gods praise but being put into some strait they murmur presently and wish to God they had died in the Land of Egypt as Psal 106. shews at large where we may read of Gods dealings with them at large and their dealings with God while they had what they wanted they were pleased and liked the Lord should be their God but when though for their own good they were straitned and did miss their wonted fulness then they lusted exceedingly in the wilderness and tempted God in the desart vers 14. We do not read it was upon their hearts to make any spiritual use or advantage of Gods different dealings with them when they had not what they would have instead of learning to cease to murmur they strengthened themselves in murmurring against the Lord who was graciously careful for them and suffered not any more straits to befal them than what was in order to their truest good although they were as many now are full of complaints yet their greatest want was slackness to those strong cries that ought to be found in Christians for a sanctified use of whatsoever doth befal them taking care to the one thing needful without which all Order is Disorder all Mercies Miseries all Blessings but Cursings What shal it profit a man whatsoever he hath of fulness or scarcity health or sickness desire or want of desire if Gods end in all and our happiness in all be not gotten to wit that eternal Salvation that freeth from everlasting Damnation that being the great work that all other works ought and must give way unto But I shall proceed to the Causes why persons pray more to have Afflictions removed than sanctified First Ignorance of the Cause of Affliction Secondly Ignorance of the Necessity of Affliction Thirdly Ignorance of the End of Affliction First Ignorance of the Cause of Affliction No chastening for the present is joyous but grievous bitter and sharp having with it an unpleasant taste to whomsoever it comes therefore in it self certainly not welcome to any although they bring it upon themselves who is it that runs not from pain naturally and will part with what is outwardly dear to them rather than expose themselves to that torturing that attends some kind of Affliction Now if as plainly and as certainly it appear there is unwillingness as well in God to Afflict as there is in the creature to chuse Affliction then it will naturally follow that there is a Cause Ignorance of which is a main reason why we pray more to have it removed then sanctified For the proof of this that there is as great unwillingness in God from whom Affliction comes to give it as we to receive it mind a little some texts of Scripture 1 Pet. 3. 8. And who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good in the words going before you have it thus written But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil That is his favourable countenance is set against such and their portion is bitterness Levit. 26. 17. But if ye be followers of that which is good who will harm you Here seems to be a holy challenge to whatsoever may harm us as if the Spirit should have said
What indeed can harm you if God be for you and God will not be against you if you are followers of that which is good For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men to crush under his feet the prisoners of the earth Lam. 3. 33 34. Wherefore then may it be said Doth the living man complain the holy Spirit gives the answer For the punishment of his sin The joy of our heart is ceased our dance is turned into mourning the Crown is fallen from off our head Wo unto us for we have sinned Lam. 15. 16. A multitude of Scriptures might be urged further to prove both unwillingness in God to afflict and that the very Cause of all our Wo both temporal and eternal is our misdoing O that my people had hearkened to my voyce and walked in my wayes I should soon have subdued their enemies and turned my hand against their adversaries Psal 81. 13 14. Now in reason were the Cause of Affliction considered to be only from our selves procured by our misdoing and sent with tendency to our mending we should surely pray more to have it sanctified than removed Secondly Ignorance of the Necessity of Affliction is a Cause of this Decay the very unwillingness of God to bring it and the creature to indure it fully proves that there is Necessity for it there cannot be more undelightfulness in the creature to undergo languishing than there is in God to put him under languishing How shall I give thee up O Ephraim How shall I deliver thee Israel How shall I make thee as Idma How shall I set thee as Zeboim My heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled together Hos 11. 8. When he was come near and beheld the City he wept over it Luke 19. 41. Now Gods unwillingness proves the creature cannot live at any spiritual rate without it and indeed Experience proves the same Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I have kept thy word Psal 119. 67. David wandred from the Fould and were like to continue till Affliction spoke to him he forgot himself and what he was a doing The wicked saith the Psalmist are not in trouble as other men neither are they plagued like other men therefore pride compasseth them about as a Chain violence covereth them as a garment and what use do they make of it they say how doth God know and is there knowledge in the most High This clearly notes that a condition freest from trouble or affliction generally is attended with carnallest behaviour God-ward When I had fed them to the full they then committed Adultery and assembled by troops into Harlots houses Jer. 5. 7. By all this it appears that it is from ignorance of Afflictions necessity if we pray more to have it removed than sanctified Thirdly Ignorance of the End of Affliction is a Cause of this Decay now the Cause being Sin and the Necessity being to humble the End is to save Now all Gods dealings are mercy whatsoever he doth to the creature is like himself and in it self is mercy if he give us all we desire and would have it is Mercy if he keep us without it it is Mercy Health from him is Mercy so is Sickness Plenty from him is Mercy so is Poverty Health Life Strength and such like Favours temporal every body will acknowledge to be Mercy but their contrary few or none will account Mercy yet this is Mercy also for this Checquer work the World is made of some at the same time are wringing their hands for sorrow while others are clapping their hands for joy some with straitâ— through Sickness and Poverty are Weeping others through Health and Plenty rejoycing Now the great difficulty is how to bring the heart to look upon the state of Weeping as truly Mercy as the state of Rejoycing For which end consider why we do account Health Plenty and such like Injoyments Mercy but because they have in them an esteeming and desirable good a seasonable and sutable good it is the same with the contrary they are as seasonable and as sutable could our frail hearts so receive them for they are as truly from the Lord as the other and as truly have the same end in them There are two great Ends in all God doth one is his Honour the other is our Salvation now if God give us what we would have his End is the same and if he give us the contrary his End is the same and Christians certainly misconstruing his End to be Mercy is the Cause they misconstrue his Actions to be Mercy That both are Mercy read Exod. 13 17. There God led them through the wilderness an unbeaten way where they wanted both bread and water and yet both End and Action Mercy to bring them to Canaan and deliver them from harm by the Philistines Remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years through that great and terrible wilderness wherein was fiery Serpents and Scorpions and Drought and no Water that he might humble thee and prove thee to the good at thy latter end It is too evident that Israel construed this hard dealing from God but it was great Mercy as the text fully proves Ignorance therefore of the End of Affliction is a Cause why we pray more to have it Removed than Sanctified CHAP. XXIV Containing in it six Seasons in which Christians ought to humble themselves by fasting proving those under great decay that in times of calamity can find no necessity for fasting SIGN XIV WHen under Gods Calamity you can neither find necessity nor excellency to humble your selves by fasting As prayer rightly put up to God is a way and means by which he many times is prevailed with both to remove judgments and sanctifie them even so fasting is Gods way in which he hath often been found and it is the more prevailing with him in so much as it hath in it a gratious tendency to abase and humble the soul and make it more fit to receive the kind impression of his precepts in opening of his promises together with the reverencing him because of his threatnings it being a season not only of laying the soul low in its own eyes at the sensible sight of his own vileness but a marvellous exalting the gratious and long-forbearance of God forcing the heart to cry out what manner of love is this that we should be called the Children of God who was before wallowers in the works of darkness that leads to the Chambers of death but now by his grace though once far off made nigh of an Alien made a home dweller All these things are brought to remembrance very fresh in fasting Seasons that being a time of calling to mind things past and though calamity be as truly Gods mercy as the contrary having in it the same design of Salvation good yet it is more properly sent in order to reducing from those straings it finds such persons
is so enflamed with zealous love and pitty to his suffering brother that he greatly suffers also The one is offended the other burns 2 Cor. 11. 29. When all the strength a poor tempted soul hath is engaged in hot fight with the Devil flesh and world then pitty from lookers on proves like a fresh recruit to a shattered Army it so suits with Gods will and with the tempteds want whereas on the contrary want of pitty in lookers on as it strengthens the hands of the Adversary and tempts the courage of the troubled to grow flat Now this sixth Mark is framed to that end if the Lord will that lookers on may not only know what frame of heart they are to be of in such a season but to provoke them to make haste to it in Amos 6. 4. there was neglect to this duty and it meets with a sad salute Wo to them that are at ease in Zion that lie upon beds of Ivory that drink Wine in Bowls but are not grieved for the Afflictions of Joseph No iniquity mark that so provokes God as to be preferred in punishment before this They must go into captivity with the first that go Captive Amos 1. 11. Numb 20. from the 14. to the 22. God will not bear such a pittiless heart in his very Enemies Isa 47. 6. I was wrath with my People and gave them into thy hands and upon the ancient very heavily hast thou laid thy yoak Therefore in one day shall come vpon thee loss of Children and Widdow-hood Remember therefore those that are in Bonds as bound with them and them that suffer Adversity as being also of the same Body Heb. 13. Read and consider and the good Lord give you understanding Amen CHAP. XXVII Shewing Satans way by which he Gets in our day most advantage upon Churches and a plain discovery of the first rise of the Quakers shewing also the great Law of Edification to be preferred in all Doctrine with Cautions to such as live out of all Church way SIGN XXVII VVHen you are mighty curious about the lesser matters of Gods Law and mighty careless about the weightier When Satan the grand Engine of beginning and perfecting a Christians ruin cannot at once knock his heart and hands from off the Ordinances of Gods House thereby to make him destitute of the very means to good He usually works this way where he finds meet subjects to be working upon viz. make some more curious by far than God would have them and so wholly taken up with the lesser matters of Gods Law that he may have the fairer opportunity to make them as careless in the weightier by this manner of dress he deceives far more than by his common known dress of visible prophaneness this being so far from the road of the rude ranting way that it shows yea and pretends to exceed even Christians in their right Saint-like way carrying with it profession of and contention for commands of God Which spirit meeting with ignorant and inconsiderate people makes a noise as though it would drive the World before it while the fairer surer Christian that carries on his matters temperately giving due respect to every command yet seems in their eye to burn so dim that they are ready to bid him stand further off they are holier than he This deceit is a wonderful mysterious one and without all doubt worketh mightily not only among the Churches but in and among the people called Quakers whose spirit is yet kept under by the wise God till a riper season from shewing it self in that Atheists dress that certainly it did rise from and certainly will end in They being of all people Pharasaical like out of all cry contenders foâ— that that comparatively is but the shell of Christianity and are so far from contending for that they set themselves even against the kernel or substance of Religion and the Church of God can truly witness this for from among themselves are some gone out with as fair pretences as can be of living more to God in the Spirit and power of holyness and yet quickly shewing themselves in the mystery of carrying on most abominable Atheisticall principles of denying both the Resurrection of the body from the grave of the earth and Judgment day to come And so bend their bow at the overthrowing the very foundation of godliness in the mystery of Egyptian darkness and yet under the highest pretences of Angel light It is clearly evident that the first rise of that spirit laid its beginning upon these very materials of being curious in the lesser and careless in the weightier making nothing secretly to act gross abomination as some can witness yet to publick view where they might have the fairer advantage to deceive the simple did make great show of tender respect to some lesser matters of Gods Law and indeed out-talk every body while God knows they did not thus plead out of true love to Gods Law that they had but because no bait would so fit their hook and carry on the business they designed like this Now Satan himself full well knows that it is in vain for him to expect the accomplishing any great design among the seperated Churches any other way for filthiness of flesh is so manifest that every body among them that knows but any thing knows they are redeemed from that but filthiness of the spirit which works secretly and yet ends carnally and mortally is his grand working way which doubtless the Apostle well knew when he gave this exhortation to the Corinth Church with this discription which I pray observe Chap. 7. 1. where he beseecheth them not only to cleansethemselves from all filthiness of the flesh but by way of distinction filthiness of Spirit also and that in order to their perfecting holyness in the fear of God Read also Isa 30. 21. And by this mysterious means he takes in some place and among some people by companies that most of them in their true Church standing were the carnallest mean ignorantest Christians having in them as little experience as could be of the power of Godliness so little that if they had any less would have had too little to be born by the Church yet intangling themselves with this spirit of deceit or filthiness of spirit have grown mighty confident bold and lifted up too wise for their teachers despising those far before them in grace yet far behind them in their account and very justly may and doth the Lord let such fall into spiritual deceit notwithstanding they plead for some of his own law they being most careless where he would have them most careful so renders their care in the lesser while careless in the gâ—eater of no account with him at all he taking no pleasure in such but greatly disdaining them Mat. 23. 23. Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees for you pay tyth of mint Annise and Cummin and have omitted the weightier matters of the Law They are
world and lose his soul Or what shall a man give in Exchange for his soul When such Texts as this is brought home to the conscience it doth so awaken where not willingly withstood that sins hold must needs fall Fifthly The Spirit furnisheth the Christian with spiritual Arguments bearing such force upon his heart as makes him able to break out with such replies as these First All the Devil hath to make an argument of is but present things and they suit not with my person for my person is made up of soul and body and all he offereth doth but respect and serve that body that shortly must be worms-meat and therefore it will not profit me to lose my soul for present things Secondly As all he hath to make an Argument of suits not with my person in like manner it suits not with my condition for if I have all that heart can wish it carries me but to the grave and there leaves me and wo be to me if such works follow me for alas I must be raised again and he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption Sixthly The holy Spirit helps in lending the immediate supplies of new strength proportionable to our straits and will not suffer those that wait on him to be tempted above what they are able to bear but will with the temptation make way to escape that they may be able 1 Cor. 10. 13. Seventhly The holy Spirit helps by striving with the heart to draw it after holy performances following the soul up and down with sweet visits and secret whispers prompting and inclining it God-ward preparing a season for the heart to draw nigh God and then preparing the heart for that season The Spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what to pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered Rom. 8. 26. May not all this teach us to put a high value upon the holy Spirits Help to the great work of Mortification by all means striving to please and not grieve this holy Spirit by which we are sealed to the day of Redemption Having now spoken of the holy Spirits help may not some from hence inquire what may be done to the obtaining not only its visits now and then as a wafaring man that tarrieth for a night but its constant company to abide with the soul Answ There may be three Directions laid down briefly for its obtaining with three Directions for its keeping First for its obtaining Get a deep sense of its want and worth Secondly Get longings of heart after its supply Thirdly Make humble supplications to the Father for it First Get a deep sense of its want and worth it s Jesus Christs own argument that the world cannot receive this Spirit because it seeth him not neither knoweth him John 14. 17. Now by personal examination of that souls barrenness where the holy Spirit either comes but seldome or stayes not long may some considerable sense of its want be discerned and consequently of its worth all those black sinful works acted by the sons of men are the effects of the holy Spirits absence and indeed to what degree a good man is a stranger here to that degree he is weak an unable either to make right judgment of the best things or to withstand the temptations and vexatious assaults of the evil one and although a man be thus destitute where the holy Spirit is wanting yet can there be no expectation of his company till a deep sense both of its want and worth affect the heart to the rendring the soul capable of setting a valuable estimation of its company Secondly for its obtaining Get longings of heart after its supply breathings and pantings from a sense of its want bastens its coming a foul that goeth sadly up and down all the day long sick as it were of love for its frequent visits to revive comfort and strength and to discover its own wants and the tempters wiles making the soul taller by head and shoulders than those temptations that frequently attend it saying with David As the Hart panteth after the water brooks so panteth my soul after thee O God My soul thirsteth for the living God when shall I come and appear before thee Or be filled with supplies from thee Psal 42. 1 2. Thirdly for its obtaining Make humble supplications to the Father for it not only sick of love with the Spouse but also panting and thirsting with David yet rests not here but is again and again upon its knees with humble hearty supplications to God even the Father like the thirsty traveller that going from Fountain to Fountain from means to means till he get what his soul travelleth after when Jesus Christ were about to leave the Disciples this was one of the last Legasies he gave them And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever John 14. 16. If ye being evil know how to give good gifts to your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him Luke 11. 13. In the second place we may offer three Directions in order to the sure keeping the holy Spirits company or holding constant fellowship and dear inward intimate familiarity with so happy a companion First A constant withstanding the beginnings of all evil Secondly A ready complyance with new motions to all good Thirdly A retaining in the heart a high value of its company First A constant withstanding the beginnings of all evil is that which will wonderfully engage the Spirits company when you crush sin in its least and first motion Now the dearest of Gods Children are lyable to temptation and it is not their sin to be tempted to sin Jesus Christ was tempted to sin their sin lyeth in closing with the temptation but if instead of closing with it you do in the Spirits strength constantly oppose it mistake me not here I pray you a constant opposing sin doth not intend less than these three things First A firm withstanding the very first least motion even a glance as it were at the eye ear or thought to sin Abstain from all appearance of evil 1 Thes 5. 22. Secondly As the first least motion so in all cases and conditions whether the temptation set upon you when ye are full or hungry sick or well strong or weak rich or poor in affliction or out of affliction it will be coming with new assaults in all conditions waiting to kill you by a Goliah or Bathshebah temptations more piercing or more pleasing Constant intends a withstanding here Thirdly Constant intends continual Blessed is the man that endureth temptation Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of life James 1. 12. Revel 2. 10. Secondly A second Help to retain the holy Spirit may be this A ready complyance with new motions to all good it
by all that are about him Secondly You must hear as Gods Word Isa 66 2. 1 Thes 2. 11. Thirdly You must hear with attention and godly fear Isa 55. 2. Nehem. 8. 3. Luke 29. 48. And all the people were very attentive to hear him Fourthly In Hearing you must mix what you hear with faith Heb. 4. 1 2. But the word preached did not profit it being not mixt with faith in them that heard it 2 Chron. 20. 26. Fifthly You must receive what you hear in the love of God 2 Thes 2. 10. Psal 119 97. Sixthly and lastly You must hear with resolution to obey Deut 5. 27. Josh 1. 16. Now what must you do after Hearing First You must remember what ye have heard 2 Pet. 3. 1 2. Secondly That you may remember you must meditate upon it Josh 1. 8. Psal 1. 2. Thirdly of all the Sermons you hear pick out something most profitable and confer about it Mark 4. 10. Fourthly You must put into practise what you hear Eccles 9. 10. Jam. 2. 25. Luke 11. 2. I shall now hint three Reasons of this great Care thus to Assemble and hear Gods word and then proceed to the Thirteenth Sign First Because it is the great Ordinance of Conversion Secondly The means of a Christians growth and Sanctification Thirdly Negligence in it a great aggravation of Condemnaton CHAP. XIII Proving the state of such to be sad who assemble together more for fear of mans eye than Gods with four Discriptions how such may be known or know themselves with two Causes of this decay SIGN XIII VVHen you come to the Assembly more for fear of brethrens eye than Christs eye That is you are so indifferent as to coming that would none miss you nor question you for it you could well dispence with absence and that without any material hinderance 't is much to be feared that this decay prevails strongly with many professors who have neither hungring or thirstingat least at that early rate they once had and still doubtless ought to have were they not losing their relish to Ordinances and the fellowship that they have had with God through them for now they begin to cease looking at things with an eye of faith and have all or most of their recourse to things after an eye of carnal sense and so no fear holds them to the outward order of Gods House but what is taught by the precept of men and were they not lyable to censures both from the assembly and others who have taken notice of their being professors could as to the eye censure of Jesus Christ quit all wherefore the Lord said Isa 39. 4 13. For as much as this people draw near me with their mouth and with their lips do honour me but have removed their heart far from me note that it is far to many degrees alienated and their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men it is from hence very evident that they though they did come together yet it was not from aright principle their person and their heart was asunder and God is pleased to note them out as people fearing him only with an outside fear therefore he will proceed to do a marvellous work upon them the Prophet Ezek. 33. 30 31. meets with such a people as are still a quarelling with the Prophets words and talking against him in the doors of their houses yet would say Come I pray and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord coming as his people come sit before him as his people do hear his word and with their mouth shew much love but their heart runs after covetousness So in the time of the Prophet Mal. 4. 3. there you have a description of a decaying and growing professor one is so weary that they are ready to throw all profession off crying It is in vain to serve the Lord and what profit is it that we keep his Ordinances at the same time those truly spiritual that feared Gods eye more than mans they spake the oftner one to another fearing him and thinking upon his name I shall give two or three descriptions how such may know themselves or be known and so pass to the next Sign First Such when by more or less weighty occasions they are hindered from the assembly you will not find them troubled whereas a truly growing Christian though hindered even by God yet he is thirsting hungering and thinks it long saying with David O when shall I come and appear before thee Psal 42. 1 2. Secondly Such may be known and know themselves by this they are of all others most apt to be discontented it is seldome but one thing or other troubles them and goes not as they would have it whereas the more spiritual dwells so much in charity with every one that they are ready to construe every thing to the best so neither much troubling nor much troubled Thirdly If any Schisme or faction rise you 〈…〉 these more apt than any other to close with it and so zealous for a while as passes but it holds not long Fourthly you shall find such very forward at propagating some lesser matters of Gods Law while the more weighty they themselves live strangers to a chief cause of all this is First large zeal but shallow judgment Secondly a too much prying into the wayes of others and too little into their own CHAP. XIV Shewing our state dying when we are more troubled at the decayes in our House than in Christs House with four marks to know when we are so dying SIGN XIV VVHen the decay in Christs House less troubles you than the decay in your own House This decay wherever found notes a man very far gone on the dying hand If trade decayes then nothing but complaining if loss by fire or sickness or death then all is out of order it breaketh their rest they cannot sleep by night disturbs their worships they cannot pray read or meditate by day It is evident with such the affaires of their own house lyeth nearer their heart than the affairs of Christs House far from a truly growing Chrian who is all out of order when it goeth not well with the Church of God Now by decay here in the Sign I would be understood of persons in Christ Jesus profession who dye in their zeal love and fear c. that begin to walk faintly after Christ Jesus flat to prayer to reading to hearing cold and careless to spiritual visitings one another seldome and little in spiritual talk when they meet together not now as once make it their trade business to be making the name of Christ great wherever they come but either say nothing or that that comes to nothing having no spirit or savour in it yet once was early at the Ordinances quickly troubled if things went amiss much joyed when all werein a holy Harmony but now being discovered to have lost most of their spiritual relish to those
good things they once flourished in and this not working trouble of heart on fellow brethren and beholders must needs argue great decay That such decay in Christs House even among those in his spiritual profession hath been and too too much is very evident both from Scripture and experience First from Scripture 1 Cor. 3. begining And I Brethren could not speak to you as to spiritual but as to carnal even babes in Christ whereas there is among you envy division and strife are ye not carnal and walk as men First this same people as the first Chapter makes appear had such grace from God given by Christ Jesus that they were enricht in all utterance and in all knowledge so that they came behind other Chruches in no gift waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Again this holy Apostle in Ephes 2. 12. Complains greatly of their decay many had sinned and had not repented of the fornication and uncleanness they had committed From whence it is very obseveable that their decay was such that their Senses or Feeling were well nigh departed from them they were guilty of high crimes among which were debates envyings wrath strife backbiting whispering swelling tumults yet not humbled among themselves for all this In like manner the Galathian Church Chap. 4. That once if it had been possible they would have plucked out their own eyes and given them to the Apostle St. Paul now counts him their enemy for telling them the truth so Revel 3. 17. Thou saist I am rich and increast with goods and have need of nothing but knowest not that thou art poor and miserable and blind and naked It would be tedious to tell what experience cound speak of the same thing in our dayes are there not many that at their first entrance into Christs Vineyard never thought that they loved Enough Heard Prayed Laboured enough that had mighty Parts Gifts and Graces and did mightily improve them to the best services yet now is grown huskish dry and barren and rare to hear any spiritual expressions from them Now count meetings burthensome duties tedious sit as dull under the use of Christs Ordinances as though their stomack did loath now what was once as the morning dew to them who can withhold being grieved and afflicted at this unless his eyes be out and his spiritual feeling gone It therefore may concern all those that read this to make inquiry with themselves what impression such tidings as these of decayes in Christs House make upon theit hearts for answerable to ones esteem of things and making any thing their treasure will their sorrow and trouble be to see it wasting whether husband wife children houses or lands or the prosperity and well-faring of Gods House lye nearer the heart may easily be discerned by the effects that will follow O Lord what shall I say when Israel turns their backs upon their enemies for the Canaanites the inhabitants of the Land shall hear oft it environ us round and what wilt thou do for thy great name Josh 7. 8 9. Joshua in the fight or flight might have been taken or slain yet that is not highest in his thought nor lyeth nearest to his heart his great fear is what to do for the Great Name fearing the Canaanite should have occasion to speak lightly of it I would not by what hath been said be thought to prohibit persons being troubled at outward decay that would be a way to hold them from such diligence as ought to be to romove or prevent it but we may know whether we are less troubled at decay in Christs House than in our own by these marks following First by observing which way the drift of our praying to God bends most Secondly In which channel our complaints to men runs most Thirdly whether the thoughts of it are so prevalent that they molest us in the highest of our spiritual performances Fourthly whether in compassion our choyce answers the lesser call and rejects the greater that is we will rather put our helping hand to the removing the decayes of our house than of Christs House Read and consider and then pass to the next Sgin CHAP. XV. Shewing that want of weeping in some when others of Christs Children with grief are stooping declares such to him a dying shewing also in four respects how we are to pitty with four Remedies against this Decay SIGN XV. WHen you can see Christs Children stoop with trouble and you not or little Sympathize with them Although affliction cometh not forth out of the dust neither doth trouble spring out of the ground yet man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward Job 5. 6 7. And though in general it be a portion common to all yet in especial most of all to Gods dearest people the worst of men commonly being in the least of troubles here They are not in trouble as other men neither are they plagued like other men Psal 73. Now this portion from the Lord for blessed ends to his people though deserved by them and as needful as their food to them yet it being that that bows their soul down greatly ought to be attended with suitable compassion from their fellow brethren as a help provided of God that they may bear it the better When trouble or afflictions of any kind from the Lord are great upon some it is an evident token of decay in such as have not a fellow-feeling towards them Woe to them that are at ease in Zion and lye upon beds of Ivory stretching themselves upon their coutches drink their wine in bowls and anoint themselves with chief oyitments but are not grieved for the afflictions of Joseph in Amos 6. from the 1. to the 7. Some we may see there lived a careless life feeding to the full had even what heart could wish felt not the trouble in person that at the same time was their brethrens portion yet are not grieved for the afflictions of Joseph but lived at the height of Joy under their own fulness and were not compassionately affected with others penury This hath been found among the people of God but ill taken from them Numb 20. We shall find that Israel was in great distress and begs their brother Edom who knew all travail that had befallen them to let them pass by his high way but he shewed them no pitty was fallen from that sympathizing Spirit that ought to be in him God will not forget to take notice of this and reckon for it which proves that pitty in his people one to another is Gods expectation from them Amos 1. 11. Thus saith the Lord for three transgressions of Edom and for four I will not turn away the punishment thereof because he pursued his brother with the sword and cast off all pitty But some may Object and say shall we pitty those though Gods own people that have brought by their sinning what misery is come upon them Answ Yes God expects this
is as proper for the holy Spirit to be prompting the heart to good if hearkned to as for the fire to give heat waiting upon the soul in every season whether of rejoycings or weepings whether of doing Gods will or suffering for his name still to be putting such as wait upon it into some such action as tends to their enlargement heaven-ward but it must be quietly and silently heeded that when it saith Seek my face the answer may be Thy face will I seek Great care and feâ—r therefore must be had that we neither grieve it by not hearing what it saith or not doing what it bids nor yet quench or lightly esteem those gracious services it prompts us to Thirdly A third Help may be this A retaining in the heart a high value of its company this is the way to keep and to be richly encreast with the company of the holy Spirit it cannot dwell where it is not valued at the highest rate and that because ignorance of its worth and work incapacitates the soul to high expectations being ignorant both of the ability and delight that essencially abides in the holy Spirit to be greatning in the heart things to come and lessening in the heart things present Christ Jesus could not in one place do many mighty works because of their unbelief the low and mean esteem of him lessened their expectation from him Now the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God We are therefore called upon to be filled with the Spirit and if we live in it to walk after it being strengthened with its might in the inward man to a full understanding the deep things of God Labour therefore praying over this to retain in your hearts an high value of its company CHAP. XXIX Treating of Spiritual Ignorance of our everlasting condition and five Scriptures tending to reducement from carnal security and three special Causes of such a damning Decay SIGN XXIX VVHen your are so Ignorant of your Spiritual standing that you know not whether you grow or decay This is not only a Sign of great Decay but a prediction of a speedy fall or total throwing off those holy badges by which a Christian is known from other men such being of a Laodicean spirit neither hot nor cold yet say they are rich and encreased with goods and have need of nothing Being in a besotted careless state not minding when they do well or ill when Professors come to this pass they grow useless and fit for nothing but to be laid aside for were such hot that is zealous active and lively they were fit for encouragement and were they cold that is quite dead they were to be plucked up by the roots and cast into the fire now this sort of Peoples ignorance is a very high crime it being premised that their ignorance of their standing growing or declining in heavenly things doth not come upon them for want of Gospel means allowed on Gods part in order to their being fruitful but that under sufficient allowance in order to their growth they prove empty dry and huskish yea and such that were otherwise in the dayes of their first Espousal but length of time in Gospel standing for want of due care to observe Gospel ends they have by little little entertained Spiritual slumber so lose their stomack to and relish of the true use and powerful end Means from God to them hath been so long continued and so by long custome in his service come as his people come sit before him as his people do and hear his word day by day but do it not or live not like it having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof viz. the spiritual end designed by God in giving the forme being not listed up to provokes God to complain against such of old The Ox knoweth his owner and the Ass his Masters crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not consider though I have nourished and brought them up yet they understand not that I taught Ephraim to go taking him by the armes but he knew not that I had healed him though strangers devoured his strength yet he knew it not and though gray hairs were here and there upon him yet he knew not Hos 7. 9. Nay some were grown to that pass in spiritual slumbers that even under judgments they knew not how it was with them Isa 42. 25. He hath poured upon Jacob the fury of his anger and strength of battel and it hath set them on fire round about yet he knew it not and it burned him yet he laid it not to heart By all this we may see that some were so ignorant of their spiritual standing under plentiful means that they knew not whether they grew or decayed though it is apparent the decay was great they knew not how it went with them At such a loss may Professors be in their heaven-born state that while they are objects of pitty and sorrow of heart to growing Christians that behold their decay yet all makes not for their awakening but still they think it well with them and that they have need of nothing though blind and naked Now the Causes why persons under Gospel means grow to this senseless pass in their spiritual estate may be these three First Carnal security in an evil time Secondly Contentment with out-side Christianity Thirdly Not being conversant about things to come First Carnal security of hereafter Glory which consists in a kind of confidence of Glory to come without certain care of being in that way through which Glory is promised It is such a state as promiseth safety to it self and yet lives a careless life when the children of Dan went to seek them an inheritance they come to Laish and found the people that were therein how they dwelt careless after the manner of the Zidonians quiet and secure this proves such an advantage to them that they take their City burn it with fire and upon the ruins thereof build themselves an Inheritance Judg. 7. 8. Clearly noting how dangerous a state some manner of security is When they shall say peace and safety then suddain destruction cometh upon them as travail upon a woman with child and they shall not escape 1 Thes 5. 3. It seems in that good mans time there was some that had high thoughts of hereafter Glory yet should meet with disappointment and their expectations come to nothing though they might cry as in Jeremiahs time Peace peace yet peace there was none like the old world in Noahs time Sodom and Gomorrah in Lots time They eat they drank they builded they planted until the day that Noah entred into the Ark and Lot left Sodom being under such kind of security as no awakening word would warn them till at last Destruction ruins them We have the like instance from Jesus Christ speaking of the last dayes I say to you many shall come from the East and West and sit down