afford you a good word go mourne over them and if it bee possible by a contribution of prayers recover their sinking soules this is to bee Christians indeed adde to your brotherly love charity lay not out all your love to the Saints there is a love due to them as members but when you delight in the people of God the household of faith yet withall pity them that goe astray and bee charitable to them and trie all conclusions how you may winne them on and ingage them in the good way Christianity is sometimes called a way it is other times called a race Heb. 12. 1. Let us runne with patience the race that is set before us a Christian should move so fast that hee should be running making swift progresse that were walking to purpose The Lord knoweth how many even among those that would bee accounted good Christians are still dwarfes in Religion still novices children tossed to and fro with every wind and many that thinke their penny good silver yet it appeares they are but dead creatures they are but hypocrites in that they doe not grow as a Picture though never so lively drawne it groweth not it stands at a stay so many that are formall professors they shew indeed they are but pictures they doe not increase not out-grow corruptions nor over-grow their wonted passions nor grow above common temptations If you would approve your selves good travellers in the way to Sion you must bee walking it were an excellent thing that now as wee have monethly Sacraments and monethly dayes of humiliation to be drawing pictures of your selves compare your selves with yourselves observe how much more humble and broken hearted you are how much more weaned from the world you are and what fruitfull walking you expresse after so many heavenly showers falling upon you Thousands in England would bee glad of the very crummes of your Gospel comforts The more sad will your account bee if when the Lord shall reckon with you for so many yeares soule-quickning-liberties it shall appeare that neither Sabbath nor Sacrament-opportunities nor dayes of Humiliation nor dayes of Thanksgivings have engaged your hearts to walke on in this good way The Lord perswade your spirits that in an holy revenge of your former negligence you may now mend your pace and double your diligence in Sion way yea and quicken not onely your selves but one another as they in Jer. 50. 5. Come and let us joyne our selves to the Lord in a perpetuall Covenant that shall not bee forgotten Let us endeavour as those that have a minde to dwell in heaven together hand in hand to make constant progresse in this good way Quest Is there but one good way to soul-refreshing rest must all travellers towards Sion come into the very same way Answ. Without doubt Jesus Christ is the one way Joh. 14. 6. by his blood that one new and living way is opened Heb. 10. 20. there is one way of repentance for our sinnes of faith in Gods promises of obedience to his commands in which all Christians should walke as being the onely way that leades to communion with Jesus Christ and to an heavenly rest by him It concernes all Christians of all rankes of all sorts to come into this one way and with onenesse of heart to walke herein In it selfe it is a mercy very desirable that wâ—e might injoy the blessed fruit and accomplishment of that promise in the full extent of it Jer. 32. 39. I will give you one heart and one way This being part of the Covenant you should have it in your eyes make it the matter of your Prayer and the object of your indeavour The happy conjunction of purity and unity Zeph. 3. 9. was an argument that God was making a restauration of his Israel Then I will turn to the people a pure language that they may call on the name of the Lord to serve him with one consent In the Hebrew pure lip and one shoulder This is most lovely to see the people of God having a pure lip in his Worship and one shoulder in doing his Worke This promoted Temple worke not a little after the return from the Captivity when the people gathered themselves together as one man to Hierusalem Ezra 3. 1. This was the beauty of the Primitive Church that there was such an Harmony of spirits amongst the Christians of those times Act. 2. 1. It is an observation of a Learned Divine from that passage in 1 Kin. 6. 7. while the Temple was in building there was neither hammer nor axe nor any toole of iron heard in the house that thence wee should learn in Church affaires in matters of Religion to manage all with sweet peace and unanimity That no noise of contentions and schismes saith hee might be heard O that God would grant this mercy that in his house wee might all thinke and speake the same thing But it was a great blemish to the Church of Corinth that the Church which should have preserved unity within it selfe broke into divers parties into severall little Corporations some crying up Paul others Apollo others adhering to Cephas 1 Cor. 1. 12. notwithstanding those strong reasons against divisions mentioned ver. 13. Is Christ divided was Paul crucified for you or were yee baptized in the name of Paul how uncomely then are such divisions amongst you Paul was very serious and affectionate Rom. 16. 17 18. I beseech you Brethren marke them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which yee have learned and avoyd them for they are such as serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their owne belly and by good words and faire speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Church divisions doe both weaken friends and strengthen enemies and so much disparage Religion that they discourage commers on to it and make some candidates some probationers fly off Yea too many are ready to resolve to bee of no Religion because they see so many Religions in England It were worth rivers of teares could wee obtaine that mercy from God that these differences amongst us might bee reconciled that all you in London who inquire after the good way might once come into the same way Quest Though unity joyned with purity bee very desirable yet what if there should bee a toleration of divers ways in a Church in a Kingdom why not Answ. First Here wee must wisely distinguish betwixt opinions and practices It cannot bee expected that all good men should ever come to bee of the same opinion in every thing Neither indeed doe all Truths equally concern us There are severall degrees of necessity about matters of Religion which will admit variety of opinions in some of them 1. Some things are alwaies and simply necessary as necessary meanes and causes by which wee must bee saved Thus faith in the Trinity 2. Other things are necessary as requisite conditions without which a man cannot bee saved Thus conversion from sin to God
fatuus to poore people in the darke and carry them headlong sometimes till they stumble and fall and if not breake the neck of their salvation yet hazzard it very much dishonour God wrong themselves and cast stumbling blocks before others Therefore still let us see observe and take counsell not receive things upon trust without exact inquiring being there are many false guides that will mis-lead you into dangerous wayes Wee have all so much of that sin within us which doth easily beset us betraying us into by-wayes and unto false guides which may yet lay a further obligation upon us to bee vigilant and inquisitive after the good way Three things there are within us which expose us to bee mis-led First there is in us much blindnesse of mind much ignorance of Jesus Christ and soule-saving Mysteries whereby wee are both alienated from the life of God Ephes. 4. 18. and likewise alwayes ready to erre in our hearts nâ—t knowing Gods wayes Heb. 3. 10. As also hereby more subject to bee deluded by Satan Ephes. 6. 12. It is an easie matter to abuse any one in the dark you may cousen him with Copper in stead of Gold with a counterfeit Jewell in stead of a true one The Devill knowes how to take advantage of the darknesse of our minds to entangle us with corrupt opinions to engage us in licencious practices thereby mis-leading us till at last hee hath plung'd us into utter darknesse Secondly there is in us deceitfulnesse of heart as well as blindnesse of mind which layes us more open to bee seduced from the good way It is a full expression discovering the depth of deceit in our spirits Jer. 17. 9. The heart is deceitfull above all things and desperately wicked who can know it There are many deceitfull things in the world false weights false measures deceitfull coyne deceitfull bookes but the heart is deceitfull above all things A deceitfull heart is the greatest Impostor in the World So many anfractus such reâ—â—ssus so many sly corners and turnings and windings that none can know it none can find it out but God who hath an all-seeing all-searching eye The ignorance of our minds fils us with self-conceit our sinfull heart is as full of self-deceit as of sinne and where there is a selfconceited mind and a selfe-deceitfull heart 't is no wonder to see such mis-led Thirdly There are also in us many prejudiâ—es against the goâ—d way which make us more apt to bee seduced It is one of the great Engines whereby the Devill manages his designes a part of his strong 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 10. 4. to fill people with prejudicate opinions against the wayes of God as if they were either Melanâ—holy and dis-consolate wayes never considering that the wayes of wisdome are wayes of pleasantnesse Prov. 3. 17. or as if they were unprofitable wayes not minding 1 Tim. 4. 8. That Godlinesse is profitable unto all things having the promises of this life and of that which is to come This is the language too many speake from this distemper of spirit Mat. 3 14. It is vaine to serve God and what profit have wee that wee have kept his Ordinâ—nâ—â—s This prevailed to mislead people in Christs time Job 7. 48. Have any of the Rulers or of the Phâ—â—â—sees beleeved on him And afterward when Paul preached Christ cruâ—isied 1 Cor. 1. 23. Unto the Jewes hee was a stumbling blâ—ck they stumblâ—d because they did not â—ind so many miracles under this Gâ—â—pell as under the Ministery of Moses To the Gentiles hee was a râ—â—ke of offence they were so fond of Philosophicall subtilties and humane Eloquence that they were offended with Apostolicall simplicity in preaching Christ crucisied As there are many by-wayes many false guides divers evils within us which betray us to mis-leading so consider the good way is not easily found out our blessed Saviour presseth this Luke 13. 24. Strive to enter in at the strait gate for I say unto you many shall seeke to enter in and shall not bee able It is an awakening expression if seriously minded Strive to enter in strive to overcome thy selfe strive to overcome the Devill strive to overcome the World and all little enough many shall seeke and shall not bee able the â—ivill Hypocrite hee seeketh by complying with duties of the second Table and the religious Hypocrite hee will seeke by correspondence with duties of the first Table the Papist hee will seeke in the wayes of superstitious devotion and all kind of people in the world that have any sense of a deity and any apprehenâ—ion of the immortality of their soules they will seeke after some kind or other but all seeking will not serve many seekers shall not bee able to enter and therefore saith hee Strive Two things increase the difficulty in finding out the good way First This good way lies deepe 't is a hidden way Religion is the greatest Mysterie in the world In any ordinary trade before a man can bee acquainted with the secrets of it you bind him Apprentice for six or seven yeares truly there are so many mysteries in Religion that require the service of divers Apprentiships to bee well acquainted with them Religion it seemes a Paradox a Riddle and that 's the reason that so many out-stand out-sit so many Sermons out-live so many Ministers one after another and yet are where they were it may bee ten or twenty yeares agone grow more wise for the world and more provident and more politicke for their owne secular advantage But still as great strangers to the power of godlinesse as ever How commeth this to passe The way lies deepe there s nothing in Religion but it hath a mystery in it Paul when he speaketh of chastity useth this expression that every one should know how to possesse his Vessell in holinesse and honour 1 Thes. 4. 4. There is a virginall and a conjugall chastity not easily learned And he tels you Phil. 4. 12. I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound every where and in all things I am instructed both to bee full and to bee hungry both to abound and to suffer need There was a mystery in all this to know how to avoid the sinnes to resist the temptations and exercise the graces of all these conditions was a lesson not easily learn'd Therefore Paul saith here {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} I am initiated in this mystery As in regard of the doctrine of the Gospel without controversie great is the mystery of godlinesse 1 Tim. 3. 16. So indeed it's very true in practicall godlinesse in all the duties that you and I are to practice in Religion there is a mysterie To know how to live by faith to act selfâ—-deniall to performe duties so as to enjoy communion with God therein requires a secret and heavenly skill Many a man hath meerely an outward shell and huske of duty a carcasse of Religion but wants
he observes what converse his soule hath with Jesus Christ therein what God lookes from him what influence from Heaven what holy impâ—â—sâ—on upon his spirit by duty Hee knowes that in this good way God brings downe part of Heaven into his people before hee advance them unto Heaven Hee hath happily tasted that a day of Humiliation may prove a soule-melting day a day of Thankesgiving a soule-cheering day a Communion day a healing and healing day a Sabbath a day of blessing and sanctification so directly doth the good way lead unto God Thirdly the good way comming from God leads unto God and that according unto God according to the will of God tending unto his Honour and the magnifying of his Name That is undoubtedly the best way which leads to happinesse by holinesse Heâ—r 12. 14. The soule-saving way will bee a soule-sanctifying way In 2 Thes. 2. 13. God chose the Thessalâ—nians to salvation through the sanctification of the spirit and â—eâ—eâ—â—e of the Truth In the execution of his eternall counsels this is the Method No satisfying evidence to us that we were chosen to salvation from eternity unlesse wee have within us this undoubted pledge of his electing love and spirit of sanctification That way which is not a way of sanctification as well as of Justification is not the good Scripture way to Salvation It lies as a great disparagement upon any new way however many may ignorantly cry it up when peoples opinions marre their practises if whilst they contend for justification they weoken the power of sanctification if in their entertaining the Gospel of Christ they turne out the holy love of God from being a rule of life without question that is not the good way wherein peoples spirits grow dry and barren which opens a back-doore to Sabbath-breaking and other licenciousnesse Suspect your selves and wayes I beseech you if by any of your opinions practicall Christanity wither if therby you become formall and loose in the duties of your places and relations The good way is a soul-emproving a spiritaâ—lizing way In the 1 Tim. 6. 3. Paul directs Timothy thus to judge of Teachers and their Doctrines and accordingly to owne or decline them as they teach and consent unto the wholsome words of Jesus Christ and the Doctrine which is according unto godlinesse clearly holding forth that Christs words are wholsome soule-saving words his doctrine purifies the heart it is according to godlines This age is very fruitfull in multiplicity of opinions If you would know how to judge of them together with your examining of them by the word of Truth observe diligently what influence peoples opinions have upon their spirits and upon their conversation Under the Tyranny of the Prelates many congregations had almost lost the power of Religion in a crowd of needles Ceremonies and now in too many places the vigour of practicall piety is much abated to say no more by multitudes of dispute about some such opinions as might well bee spared This renders the way very suspitious because it is no more according unto godlinesse I confesse if wee should judge of peoples way by their language onely good words are very frequent many mouths are full of Christ Free-grace light liberty c. God forbid that such sweet and precious words should bee abused to countenance either darknesse of error or licenciousnesse of practice Yet alasse how many speake the highest Gospell language who live farre below Gospell priviledges and below Gospel hopes The subtill Devill knowes how to hide his snares under the most speciâ—us even under Scripture words Try therefore over and over it much concernes you O that it might appeare that the way wherein you walke is the good way being according unto God expressing the reality of godlinesse in the course of your conversation These things being laid downe for the awakening of your vigilancy in enquiring after the good way something must be added concerning your asking for the old paths Herein you shall doe like wise travellers to consult with such as have discovered and trodden the good way before you The good way is an old way Aske then First what is the good old way of Doctrine what is the old patterne of wholsome words 2 Tim. 1. 13. Enquire what Truth Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday and to day and for ever Hebr. 13. 8. did reveale unto his servants and vers. 9. hold that fast and bee not carried about with divers and strange doctrines new and uncouth Doctrines not recommended to us by the Apostles O Timothy saith Paul 1 Tim. 6. 20. keep that which is committed to thy trust Depositum serva that which hath beene committed to thee not what thou hast invented that which thou hast received not that which thou hast found out wherein thou must not bee an Author but whereof thou art a Guardian not an ordainer but a Disciple not a guide but a follower what tâ—ou hast received in gold re-deliver the same in gold c. Hee had this trust for the Churches use let us diligently enquire after it that wee may bee guided by it Secondly what is the good old way of divine Worship Here you must consult not with the precepts of men but with the word of God revealed of old unto his Church The not minding of this ancient Land-marke hath brought in many superstitious Innovations into Gods service and mis-led thousands of simple soules out of the good way A Statesman of our owne could observe divers causes of superstition 1. Pleasing and sensuall Rites and Ceremonies 2. Excesse of outward and Pharisaicall holinesse 3. Over great reverence of Traditions 4. The Stratagems of the Prelates for their owne ambition and lucre 5. The favouring too much of good Intentions which opens the gate to conceits and novelties 6. The taking an aime at Divine matters by humane which breeds mixture of imaginations In all which there was a neglecting of the holy will of God the onely rule of pure Worship And all this while alasse poore hearts people taking much paines to little purpose In vaine doe they worship mee teaching for doctrines the commandements of men Matth. 15. 9. They over-looke Gods will hee over-lookes their devices so indeed the new way proves a bad and uncomfortable way you must enquire for the good old way if you desire to please God in his Worship Thirdly what is the good old way of practicall piety The beauty of Religion much appeares in the duties of our places and relations to have such a conversation as Paul expressed 2 Cor. 1. 12. in simplicity and godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdome but by the grace of God would much commend the Gospel and fill us with rejoycing in the testimony of our own conscience much of this practicall godlinesse might bee learned as from Scripture precepts and practices so both from the Doctrine and examples of Ancient Worthies Amongst others there are two
the Lord knows we are not purged what if God should throw England off and give us up to Popery and Slavery and leave us as a prey to blood-thirsty men What if God should cause his fury to rest upon us O still wee should justifie him in these sad tokens of his displeasure for we have peremptorily out of proud rebellious selfwill denied to submit to God to stoop to him to come into the good way when he hath called us This City hath been an Arke to this poor Kingdome and many of his faithfull Servants have been sheltred in this Arke You have sent out it 's true your Doves you have sent out Regiment after Regiment and one Messenger after another and though God hath brought them back againe with Songs of preservation and victory and deliverance yet they have not brought an Olive branch of peace yet we cannot heare that welcome newes Me thinks we may take up the sad complaint in Psal. 74. 9. We know not how long there is no Prophet amongst us that can tel us how long It would pose all the Prophets in England to tell you when these unnaturall sparkes shall bee quenched and when God will call backe the Commission hee hath given to this Sword to doe that execution in severall parts still there are abroad Nimrods Sons of violence that drive apace even after Hannibals cruelty That when he saw a pit filled with mans blood he cryed O formosum spectaculum O beautifull sight The Lord if it be his will put a check on those that are so barbarously cruell yet howsoever the malice and the fury of men may bee let out we must still justifie God in all this and let us begin at home and let you and I now lay our hands on our hearts in particular O my self-will my rebellion against my God and my checking the motions of his Spirit and my slighting Gods gracious offers I have gathered some sticks to kindle this fire That fire that is in the North and that fire that is in the West and that fire that hath been in severall parts of the Kingdome and there 's not a man nor woman here present but hath given in some fuell to those fires by their self-will O now let us abase humble our selves and honour our God in justifying him and let us accept of the punishment of our iniquities that the Lord may remember his Covenant and remember the Land It is tree the Lord hath been pleased to shew various dispensations towards us heâ— hath been calling upon us wooing and soliciting England to come into this good way Sometimes he hath given us Physicke many potions we have had a great deale of strong Physick he hath made us sicke at heart many great shakings there have been he hath not only given us strong potions but he hath likewise let us blood and he hath opened many veiâ—â—â— we have lost Noble blood and precious blood a great deale of blood of the Gentry and a great deale of precious City blood too and a great deâ—â— of blood in the Country Yea and as God hath given us potions and strong Physick and let us blood so he hath given us Cordials we have had good successe witnesse our solemn dayes of Thankesgiving God hath visibly owned his cause in time of need and though wee bee not ripe for mercy God will not suffer us to be ruined he giveth such and such Victorier that shall at least be preservations of us O let us take heed that we provoke not our God to withdraw his loving kindnesse from us and if he let ouâ— more blood that City and Country both should swim in blood let us rather stir up ourselves and one another That we may get into such aâ— Humiliation into such a Reforming posture this day for our particulars and beg the like mercy for all the Congregations in England that wee may find God turning his gracious hand on us and making good that place of Scripture to us Isa. 1. 25. I will turn my hand upon thee and purely purge all thy drosse and take away all thy tinne and will restore thy Judges â—â—â— the first and thy Counsellors as at the beginning afterwards thou shalt be called the Citie of righteousnes the faithfull Citie Sion shall bee redeemed with judgement and her converts with righteousnesse Were not this worth rivers of teares worth many more dayes of humiliation and seeking of our God That the Lord would be merciful to the Countrey and mercifull to ouâ— Armies and mercifull to our Counsellors and mercifull to this City that the Lord would grant us to bee so purged that it might bee an evidence to us that we should be redeemed that this City of London mighâ— become a City of righteousnesse a faithfull City that being a righteous City and a faithfull City it might bee a City of Peace both within her selfe and towards all others that seek it of her that shee may be alwayes a terrour to the Churches enemies and their adherents but a friend and support to all those that love the truth as the truth is in Jesus And to this I hope you will all say Amen FINIS Many mists of new opinions which much puzzle Travellers Ezek 33. 7. Matth. 5. 14 Joh. 5. 35. Psal. 119. 105. Ezâ—a 8. 21. Zach 3. 1. See Mr. Wellâ— Preface to a short Story of the rise and reigne and ruine of the Antinomians Familists and Libertines which infected New-England p. 4. Isa. 9. 6. Zach. 3. 2. Sâ—ulâ—et Annal. p. 384. 474. Post tenebras lux Deus noster pugnat pronâ—â—is Zach. 2. 5. Three generall parts 1. 2. 3. First generall part 1. Eâ—â—k 36. 2. Eccles. 2. 14 Luke 1â— 4 3. Second generall part Jâ—vereâ—unde respondenâ— Sanct. Vide quo Divina provehatuâ— Clementia Sanct. Third generall paâ—t Peccata quoâ—um isti peâ—aguntur rei senâ—enâ—â—â—m meam lun Jeâ— 2. 12. Jer. â— 1â— Voluâ—… sert a nobis vâ—l de nobâ—s 1 Observat. Quest Answ 1. Stand in your owne wayes Stand in your Fore fatheâ—s wayes Inâ—etâ—ogaâ—dum de semins antiquis â—ive sempiternis quae multoâ—um sanctoâ—um tritae sunt vestigiis Hieron. Iâ—m 2. 23. Hâ—sea 12. 4. Numb 14. 24. Acts 13. 22. Stand in the Lords wayes discovered by his Prophets Standum in Prophetis diligentissime contemplandum Hieron. Multae quidem vâ—ae sunt sancti Prophetae via auâ—em veâ—e bona est Dominus noster Vâ—ae plures sunt plura Dei mandata {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Pervias patriarchaâ—um prophetarum tendendum ad unam evangelii viam Hieron. 1 Reas. 1 There are many by-waies Psal. 12â— â— Breerwards enquiry Cap. 14. Rev. 17. 2. 2 Tim. 3. 5. Matth. 13. 3 Reas. 2. â— There are many false guides 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} praeter sanam Evangelii doctrinam Pisc. 1 Tim. 4. 1. Verse 2. As Eph. 4. 14 3.