they are willing to be reproved for sin to be instructed concerning duty they hear they keep the word as well as hear it Prov. 10. 17. He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction So Prov. 6. 23. For the commandment is a Lamp and the Law is light and the reproofs of instruction is the way of life The word of God hath not only a convincing and a converting and an edifying power put 't will put the crown at last upon the head of the faithful therefore the Apostle affirms it able to give the inheritance Act. 20. 32. And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified 4. They who are Heirs to the Crown of Life do mortifie the deeds of the body by the Spirits help they do it Rom. 8. 13. If ye live after the flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live The Heirs of life are weary of the body of sin and death therefore they crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts of 〈◊〉 They mortifie their members on earth fornication uncleanness inordinate affection evil concupiscence covetousness which is idolatry Col. 3. 5. Every sin that they see they look upon with an eye of grief and hatred and strike at it 5. They who are heirs to the Crown of Life have their fruit unto holiness Rom. 6. 22. But now being made free from sin and become the servants of God ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life The pure in heart shall see the Lord Mat. 5. 8. his back parts now his face in glory And truly the holy are only fit to behold the Holy One. Art thou an enemy to holiness Thou art an enemy to thy own life The heirs of life understand that Jerusalem above is an holy City therefore they apply plead the promise of sanctification they cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. 6. They who are heirs to the Crown of Life persevere to the end they are faithful to the death as the Texâ— speaks they hold fast what they have that none may take their Crown away they not only begin but finish their course and keep the faith and so they receive a Crown of righteousness at the hand of the Lord the righteous Judge USE III. Suffer I beseech you a few words of Exhortation and I shall conclude with them 1. Let the serious and believing consideration of this Crown of life enliven and quicken you to every duty Art thou hearing for a Crown and praying for a Crown and wilt thou hear carelesly and pray coldly Doth not such a Kingdom as heaven is deserve thou shouldst use an holy violence to take it what slothful and dead when such glory is in view Oh strive to enter in at the strait gate that when thou seekest to enter in at Heavens door and cryest Lord Lord open to me entrance may not be denyed 2. Let this Crown of life be made use of to silence Satan to fence thee against temptation When the Devil tells thee of â—ase and gain and pleasure which sin will afford reply Come O thou lying and deceitful spirit put thy â—ase and gain and pleasure into one Ballance of the Sanctuary and I will put the Crown of life and glory into the other and what is sinful â—ase to the Saints rest or the gain of gold to the Saints glory or pleasures for a moment to eternal rejoycing Satan will not know what to say to this but perceiving unlikelyhood of prevailing will flee from you 3. Let this crown of Life loosen your hearts from the world Do not defile and load your selves with thick clay do not stick fast therein when such glory is so certain and near at hand Be not desirous of or content with a portion in this life since you are just entring upon a better Live as strangers and pilgrims on earth declare plainly that you seek a better country then the world hath any 4. Let this crown of Life steel your hearts against sufferings Fear not what enemies can do since the keyes of heaven hang not at their girdle nor glory is given of their pleasure Our Lord set the joy before him so he endured the cross and despised the shame Heb. 12. 2. and if you imitate him you shall at length sit down where he is at the right hand of the throne of God 5. Let this crown of life set you above the fear of dissolution it cannot be enjoyed till you are gone from hence you must dye before you can live the life above Let your death be natural or violent you must not be startled or amazed The Angels are ready to do their office to convey you to paradise Christs arms are open to receive you which are a part of his purchase and his redeemed ones Christ understands what 't is to dye 't is an unusual tryal which you can have experience of but once unusual strength shall be afforded If death were but lookt upon only as a dark passage into the glorious and lightsome inheritance it would be no longer terrible but desireable 6. let this crown of Life make you long for your Lords appearing Oh cry unto him to remove time and dayes out of the way and that the wheels of his chariot may make greater hast Long for the time when the heavens shall break asunder and the fairest of ten thousand shall shew his face through the clouds and sit upon his great white throne to judge the world in righteousness When he comes his reward will be with him Rev. 2 2. 12. Never a Saint shall be seen without a crown at that day And Oh what a spectacle will it be to behold the Head and all the members together every one having on a rich and sparkling diadem The Saints are described to be such as love their Lords appearing And there is reason they should wish for it For when Christ who is their life shall appear then shall they also appear with him in glory FINIS
Fatling together a little Child shall lead them And the sucking Child shall play on the hole of the Asp and the weaned Child shall put his hand on the Cockatrice Den They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy Mountain But most certainly this peace and concord shall be among the Saints above no biting no devouring one another no diversity of judgments but all will agree in the same truth no alienation of affection for love to the Lord and to one another will be perfect the spirit that lusteth to envy will be cast out selfish ends will carry none aside disputes will be at an end the wounds which divisions have made will be closed How good and pleasant will be that unity when all the Saints will be of one of the right mind 6. The life above will be lead among the most suitable society The Saints will then have bid farewel to Mesâ—ech and the Tents of Kedar they shall no longer dwell among revilers at holiness the openly prophane the scandalous or lifeless professors of Religion no filthy communication or conversation in heaven to vex their righteous souls no contempt of God no provoking the eyes of his glory no cursing swearing pride wantonness to be heard or seen in the heavenly City When they come thither they will say How blessedly unlike is this to that place and company which we came from Glorified spirits innumerable companies of Angels will be their companions these will be glad to see them safely arrived unto rest For if there be joy in heaven at the conversion of a sinner we may very well infer there will be joy likewise at the Saints Coronation 7. That life above will fully answer its end The Saints were formed by the Lord for himself and they will be eternally shewing forth his praise and glory They will never entertain so much as an unbecoming thought of God but to magnifie and extol him will be their everlasting business their hearts and their Harpes will be ever in tune to sound forth his Name Now they do but lisp and stammer out his praises but then how seraphical will their Songs be and they will never be weary of singing Hallelujahs Oh what extasies of joy and love with what ravishment of spirit with what unconceivable raptures of delight will the whole Assembly and Church of the First-born joyn together saying Amen blessing and glory and wisdome and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be unto our God for ever and ever Amen Rev. 7. 12. The triumphant Saints will perfectly answer the design of God in their Creation in their new Creation they will glorifie him for ever who upon them hath bestowed eternal Glory 8. The life above will be an everlasting life Death it self will be destroyed and swallowed up in victory The eternity of the Saints joyes and enjoyments makes them infinitely of the greater value Heaven would be no longer Heaven were they ever to be turned out of it all the sweetness would be imbittered with the thoughts of its period But adored be the riches of mercy the inheritance is said to be incorruptible the Kingdome cannot be moved the Crown of glory fadeth not away the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6. ult Howâ— ye damned spirits your miseries are everlasting you are banished from God and shall never be called back but be unconsumed fewel for unquench able flames Triumph and râ—jâ—yce ye glorified Souls As long as God is he will be your God your portion your reward as long as God is you shall live in his presence and enjoy him Thus you see what what manner of life the Text speaks of In the second place I am to shew upon what score this Life is called a Crown 1. This Crown intimates that the Saints are Conquerours They have run the Race and won the prize they have fought the good fight of Faith and laid hold on eternal life They may truly say super-superamus we are more than conquerours They have being strengthned by him that loveth them conquered the whole World conquered the Principallities and Powers of Hell conquered themselves too their own lusts and passions and affections All other Battels are but petty skirmishes to the spiritual combate mortal men are but inconsiderable enemies compared with fleshly lusts and evil Angels All the Conquerours recorded in History are hardly worth the mentioning with a Christian that endures and overcomes And what is Lawrel to that Crown at last put upon the Christians Head 2. This Crown speaks the honour and dignity whereunto the Saints are advanced Though exceedingly filled with contempt and the scorning of those that are at ease yet even here the Saints are Kings Priests Rev. 1. 5 6. Vnto him that loved us â—nd washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever And when they come to Glory they are actually crown'd then 't is evident the World was not worthy of them and that far better than what the world could bestow is freely given them Heaven is called a Kingdome the Reward a Crown to shew 't is no mean prize the Christian aimes at What is all the height and grandeur on earth to the Kingly dignity put upon believers What are all the Kingdomes of the world and the glory of them to reigning with the Lord for ever The four great Monarchies by the Holy Ghost are compared unto four great Beasts Dan. 7. 3. Surely earthly Crowns are but base and sordid to the heavenly 3. This expression a Crown of life is used to shew that the Crown fades not will never be less bright for wearing 't will never be thrown off 't is a living Crown a Crown of immortality In the next place follow the Arguments to prove the Doctrine that the Saints shall be thus Crowned and they are these 1. One shall be drawn from the Fathers good pleasure This good pleasure Christ declares to the little flocks encouragement Luk. 12. 32. Fear not little Flock 't is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdome And this his counsel is immutable he will do this his pleasure This pleasure he hath plainly signified in his Covenant and Promises wherein Glory as well as Grace is assured and hereby he hath heightned beliâ—vers hopes and expectations and certainly to frustrate them is not consistent with his truth and goodness 2. A second Argument shall be drawn from Christs purchase He hath purchased that possession for his Saints in the next world he hath bought that Crown by his Cross In the New Testament the Lord Jesus hath bequeathed life to them and by the Death of Himself the Testatour this Testament is confirmed Heb. 9. 16. So that this Life is as sure as 't is sure our Lord dyed 3. A third Argument shall be drawn from Christs entring into life and taking
possession of the Kingdome He liveth and was dead and behold he is alive for â—vermore He is set down with his Father in his Throne and is gone thither partly to this end that he might fit Crowns and prepare Mansions for his persevering followers Joh. 14. 2. 4. A fourth Argument shall be drawn from the forâ—â—asts of this glorious life that at present are vouchsafed Life spiritual is Life eternal in the Bud and the Bud will at length be fully blown In Ordinances an heaven upon earth is somtimes enjoyed Oh then how are the things unseen made evident When faith and spiritual sense and experience go together then there is that which the Apostle calls a full assurance of understanding Col. 2. 2. 5. A fifth Argument shall be drawn from the earnest of the Spirit Eph. 1. 13 14. In whom after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise which is the carnest of our inheritance until the Redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his Glory And in other places we read of the â—arnest of the Spirit The Spirit of wisdome and revelation makes the Saints know what is the hope of their Calling and what the riches of their glorious inheritance And the Lord gives his Spirit not only to reveal this to them but as an earnest and pledge to assure them of it and that after they are made meet to be partakers of the life and glory which he hath promised they shall undoubtedly enjoy it I come at last to the Uses USE I. Of Instruction We may learn the woâ—ul condition of the ungodly a Crown there is but not for them a glorious life above but they shall dye the everlasting death By the ungodly I mean they that allow themselves in sin which the Word and Conscience tels them they ought to cast away Not only the open unbeliever but the secret hypocrite is concerned who is an unbeliever as well as the other When these do read of Heavens joyes it should fill them with sorrow to consider that their triumph will be but short and their joy will last but for a moment Job 20. 5. There are these Five things that will exceedingly aggravate the loss of life to the ungodly 1. This life was proffer'd often to the ungodly in the Gospel The Fountain of living waters was not a Fountain sealed but 't was set open and yet this Fountain was forsaken for the sake of broken Cisterns The Spirit and the Bride say come the Ministers of the Gospel say come and the sinners pressing necessity and want sayes Go and drink of the waters of life since thou mayest do it freely Rev. 22. 17. and yet he refuseth to accept the invitation Pardon goes as it were a begging and Glory a begging in the Gospel and yet neither are accepted though offered upon terms most just and reasonable Oh how will it torture the damned to reflect upon this that they would not come to Christ though life was assured upon their coming Joh. 5. 40. 2. 'T will heighten the misery of undone sinners to consider what they preferr'd before this Crown of life Oh where were their wits when sin was cherished in their hearts while Christ stood at the door When the world that is so empty so unstable â—o ensnaring was lookt upon as a better inheritance then that which is incorruptible 3. Some that perish have been not far from the kingdom The spirit of God hath striven their own spirits have been startled and almost perswaded to turn indeed and if they had done so they would have lived this crown had been their own But some sin or other was a cord to hold them fast some command wherein suffering self-denial strictness is enjoyned made them first demur then consulting with flesh and blood to take offence at Christ and so away And 't is an hightning of misery to have been near to happiness through our own fault and folly to have miss't of iâ— 4. The ungodly hereafter will have other apprehensions of this crown which they have slighted When they see the Prophets and Apostles and Saints in the Kingdom and do perceive what a lustre their crowns have what bliss and glory is their portion Oh how will they grow mad mad at themselves for grief and vexation that they were so soâ—tishly ignorant to contemn such a treasure 5. Despair of ever gaining that Crown of Life will seize upon them Now there is hope but hereafter the door of heaven and the door of hope too will be shut and never open'd more No prayers will be heard no tears will move compassion Christ the giver of life will say depart ye cursed and the invitation to come to him will be heard no more for ever How will desperation torture them when they consider what they have lost and how their loss is irreparable Fools they lived and fools they dyed and then after-wisdom cannot at all avail them Bring these things to mind consider and shew your selves men O ye transgressours When life and death were set before you why should death as the best of the two be chosen USE II. Of Examination It highly concerns all to examine whether they have a right to this Crown of life or no Most expect it but most will be ashamed of their ungrounded hope and expectation To help you against deceiving your own souls in this self-examination I shall describe those that have a title to this Crown that are indeed the heirs of life by these ensuing characters 1. They who have a right to the Crown of life are believers on the Son of God Joh. 3. ult He that believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting life What is it to believe on Christ 'T is to recieve him as he is offered in the Gospel How is Christ offered in the Gospel As a Prince and as a Saviâ—ur Christ cannot be received as a Prince but the dominion of sin must be pulled down He cannot be received as a Saviour but our own righteousness and strength must be look't upon as insufficient and unavaluable to salvation He that thus hath accepted the Son hath life by him 1 Joh. 5. 11. This is thâ— record that God hath given us eternal life anâ— this life is in â—his Son seek it elsewhere 〈◊〉 you will never find it 2. They who are heirs to the Crown of life are quickned by the Spirit 'T is the Spirit that quickens Joh. 6. 63. Sometime they were dead in trespasses and sins but God who is rich in mercy for the great love wherewith he loved them did quicken them by the holy Ghost Eph. 2. 4 They are alive to God his spirit dwels in them they breathe after him they walk in his wayes they do his work they aim at his glory And this life spiritual is the forerunner of and preparative to that which is eternal 3. They who are heirs to the Crown of life diligently hearken to the word of God
you to have taken it upon you I have Preached much to your incouragement Now I am taken off a sad silence is imposed on me Only my mouth is still open to the Lord for you that you may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God I could not have satisfied either you or my self unless in this my restraint and retirement I had written somthing that might be a furtherance to your faith joy in this hour of temptation The blessing of the Father of Spirits go along with this Book Oh that believers may be strengthened and refreshed by it And if enemies read it with an ill mind the Author wisheth that by reading it their minds may be changed and for their own sakes as well as his made better Nathanael Vincent ERRATA Before you read I pray correct these faults else the sense will be quite spoyled in some places PAge 37. Line 12. for confess read profess Page 43. line 14. for preservation read preservative Page 47. line 18. for doth uphold read do uphold Page 53. line 15. for offences read offenders Line 16. of the same page for heartily read presently Line 17. for very read many Line 18. for even read seven Page 77. line 10. for Goal house read Gatehouse Page 88. line 9. for ever read even Page 100. line 21. for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Page 104. line 23. for religious enemies read enemies of Religion Page 107. line 3. for expressive read express Page 108. 116. for shal read should Page 109. line 1. for their read this Page 113. line 3. for loved read bestomed Page 119. line 12. blot out upon you Page 120. line 5. for but read best Page 121. line 27. for fear of God is seen read face of God is seen Page 123. line 27. for communion read coniunction Page 124 line 6. for fall read fâ—l Line 16. of the same Page for filled read killed Page 125. line 8. for unspeakable read uncapable Line 22. of the same Page for attended read attained Line 24. for mouths are songs read mouths are full of songs A COVERT FROM THE STORM Rev. 2. 10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer Behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that ye may be tryed and ye shall have tribulation ten dayes be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of life A Light is hung up at the porch of this Book which is so very mysterious the three first Chapters are more easy to be understood than those that follow Here the waters of the Sanctuary are but up to the head but presently they grow so deep as that the tallest must be fain to swim I am perswaded that one reason why the Holy Ghost speakes so sublimely is that man when he reads may sometimes lay aside the book and cry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O the depth and being the more humbly sensible of his own ignorance and weaknesses may pray with the greater earnestness that the Spirit who was the Inspirer would also be the Interpreter of the Revelation Seven Epistles or Letters dated from Heaven indited by the Son of God are sent to the seven Churches of Asia He who knew their works owns what is right taxes what was a miss and calls to repentance and amendmenâ— and charges them to hold fast those good things which they had received as being a treasure highly worth the keeping The Captain of their salvation encourages to quit themselves like men that overcoming they might in the end be crown'd The Text I have chosen lyes in the Epistle sent to the Church in Smyrna Poor they were in the World and yet rich towards God and it is not unlikely that for the securing of their spiritual riches as to worldly things they had been impoverished Christ knew their works and as their works so likewise their tribulation he knew also how to support them under the heaviest and most pressing burthens nay to render all their troubles advantagious by conducing to their more perfect purity and peace and therefore bids them in no wise to be afraid Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer c. Our Lord came to deliver not only from the sting of Death and from the curse of the Cross and affliction but from the fear of both The words may be analysed or resolved into three parts First Here 's a general encouragment against all kinds of suffering Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer Secondly Among other sufferings imprisonment is specified and foretold where take notice 1. who is the procuring cause of imprisonment and he is the Devil 2. The persons imprisoned Some of you All the Saints shall not be in bonds together 3. The end of their imprisonment which their God aims at in permitting it 't is that they may be tryed 4. Although they have tribulation it shall not be long-liv'd it shall last but ten dayes that is a very short season Thirdly We have a strict charge given Be thou faithful and that even to the death Perseverance must run parallel with our lives Fourthly A sure and glorious promise perswading to this faithfulness and enduring to the end I will give thee a Crown of life Here 's a Crown a word that carries great dignity and advancement This Crown is a Crown of life or a living Crown The Garland that 's put upon the heads of triumphant Saints will never wither their Crown will never fade there will be no death to throw it off again when once they have received it This Crown shall be given to shew that what they do or can do bears no proportion to such a reward Neither their active nor passive obedience is meritorious Grace Grace must be written round the Crown of glory because freely bestowed I will give this Crown sayes Christ I who have purchased it by my death who have it in my keeping who am the Lord of glory and alive for evermore The text is very fruitful and affords several very excellent and useful points of Doctrine I shall raise these nine which flow naturally from the words and insist upon them all The first Doctrine is this He that will be a Saint shall be a sufferer The second this No sufferings should cause the Saints to be afraid The third this Among other troubles sâ—me Believers endure bonds and imprisonment The Fourth this The Devil is the imprisoner of Believers The Fifth this That Saints are imprisoned that they may be tryed The Sixth this The Tribulation of Believers will not last alwayes after ten dayes that is a short time a period will be put to it The Seventh Doctrine is this Whatsoever sufferings a Christian is exposed to he must be faithful The Eighth this A Christians faithfulness must run parallel with his life to the very death he must be stedfast The Ninth and last is this Vpon those who continue faithful to the death Christ
Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ he knew how to be abased how to be hungry now to suffer need and learned in whatever state he was therewith to be contented Phil. 4. 11 12. compared with v. 20. of ch 3. 6. A sixth Antidote against fear is a due consideration who your enemies and troublers are Bring them into the Sanctuary and there take a view of them weigh them in the ballance and themselves with all their power will be found so light that you will conclude that to be a very vain fear which such vain and weak creatures as they are do raise in you 1. Your enemies are but men let them do their worst their most they can but kill the body Cease ye from man saith the Prophet whose breath is in his nostrils for wherein is he to be accounted of The hand of man as 't is not able to suppoâ—t us so neither to throw us down and consequently he doth no more deserve to be feared than to be trusted in by us 2. Your enemies are men whom the Lord hates and sets his face against He ordains his arrows against the persecutors Psal 7. 13. God shall shoot at them suddenly shall they be wounded He is more angry at them than they can be enraged against you and it will not be long ere he ease himself and you â—oo of thâ—se burthensome oppressours Isa 1. 24. Therefore saith the Lord the Lord of Hosts the mighty one of Israel Ah I will case me of my adversaries and avenge me of my enemies Fear becomes them that have such a mighty God their enemy not you that have him to be your Father and Defender The Third Doctrine Among other troubles some believers endure bonds and imprisonment In the Catalogue of sufferings imprisonment is reckoned by the Holy Ghost Heb. 11. 36. And others had tryal of cruel mockings and scourgings yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment And the Apostle speaks after this manner Acts 20. 22 23. And now behold I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem not knowing the things that shall befall me there save that the holy Ghost witnesseth in every City saying that bonds and afflictions abide me The members of Christ though made free by their Head yet may have fetters put upon them by unreasonable men In the imprisonment of the Saints two things are to be considered 1. Their confinement and the restraint that is laid upon them Liberty is agreeable to Nature 't is therefore a great tryal to lose it and the closer the imprisonment is Nature accounts it the more irksome To have lovers and friends and acquaintance put far away may well be lookt upon as a great affliction To be within double doors and those doubly barr'd to look through Iron grates is a condition which needs soâ—thing from above to sweeten it 2. Their being numbred among evil doers is another part of the imprisoned believers tryal As the Lord himself was numbred among the transgressours Isa 53. 12. so are his Prisoners The same Gaol contains Thieves and Harlots and the Witnesses of Jesus their innocency is â—ullâ—ed and things that they know not are laid to their charge But the Lord hath promised that within a while their righteousnesse shall be brought forth as the light and their judgment as the Noon day Psal 37. 6. Now the Reason why the Saints are imprisoned by their enemies is twofold 1. That they may be punished If their enemies can go no further they will go thus far and hereby they think to take some revenge upon them though they little imagine what a sweet place they send the Saints to God turns their revenge into a kindnesse 2. That they may be hindred from doing good is another Reason why the Saints are confined They went about doing good while Liberty was enjoyed therefore they are restrained and their feet made fast that they may no longer be thus employed though it be as their Lord and Master himself was in the dayes of his flesh But it is the application of this Doctrine I principally intend USE I. Of Direction how the Saints should behave themselves when they are imprisoned Their carriage I shall direct in these particulars 1. They must carry themselves humbly before God Sin and the desert of it should be called to remembrance and how a worse place than a prison hath been justly merited You should lament your not improving of Liberty while you had it your unprofitableness your unusefulness that so little good was done when you had opportunities in your hands The Crosse indeed that 's laid upon you is a badge of honour and yet withall there is somewhat medicinal in it which argues remainders of spiritual distempers that should be matter of humiliation The more humble and contrite you are the more visits you are likely to have from the High and Lofty One who inhabiteth Eternity He dwells with the lowly that he may revive the spirit of the humble and that he may revive the heart of the contrite ones Isa 57. 15. 2. You must carry your selves meekly and modestly towards your enemies you must bless them that curse you and pâ—â—y for your despightful persecutors Mat. 5. 44. Call not the Wild-fire of your own passions by the name of zeal and ever remember that excellent and divine Maxime The wrath of man worketh not the righteousnesse of God Jam. 1. 20. Imitate the perfect Pattern who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffer'd he threatned not but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously Meekness and humility will be lovely and convincing too in the eyes of your adversaries and they may be brought to acknowledge if Christ hath any followers that you do most resemble him and are likely to be the persons 3 Be not daunted at imprisonment Look with another kind of countenance than those do that suffer for evil doing Let not your joyes be so low as to be in the power of creatures to rob you of them Shew by your chearfulness you have chosen that good part which men cannot take away from you Check your spirits when they begin to despond and say with David Psal 43. ult Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God And that you may be thus fortified beg that the Lord would strengthen you according to his glorious power with all might unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness Col. 1. 11. 4. Since you are taken off from other business abound the more in duty Now the Throne of Grace should be often visited and the Word which strengthens in weakness which revives in heaviness should be more than ever searched into It is meet that Prisons should be Houses of Prayer Being sequestred from the World you should be the mâ—re with God Pull up all the Flood-gates and let the stream of your affections run with an
from following their great Shepherd Though herein the subtle Serpent playes the fool egregiously for the Saints grow more acquainted with their Lord in Prison like him the better and are knit the faster to him ever after But here it may be enquired How the Devil doth cast the Saints into prison The Resolution of this shall be in these three particulars 1. The Devil stirs up false accusers of Believers The Name which the Holy Ghost gives him in the Text is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a calumniator or false accuser He accuseth the Brethren before God and his Instruments at his instigation do it before men He inspired false witnesses against Christ he doth the same against Christs followers This unclean Spirit is utterly alienated both from Truth and Love Malicious lyes especially against the Brotherhood he is the Father of Words that they never spake nay which to speak is against their conscience Deeds that they never did nay which they abhor to do are notwithstanding fathered upon them by the children of the Father of lyes and lyars 2. The Devil cherishes in the minds of his servants unreasonable jealousies and surmizes concerning Saints and this is another matter which occasions their imprisonment they are lookt upon as dangerous persons and that 't is inconvenient and unsafe to have them at liberty As the Primitive Christians had the skins of brute beasts put upon them and then were worryed So believers are represented by Satan to the minds of their enemies as enemies to Government as Turners of the world upside down as those that would set the Nation in a combustion But oh how far are they from deserving such a Character They pray earnestly and desire heartily under authority to live quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty They are indeed the Disciples of the Prince of peace and make conscience of following after Peace and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord Heb. 12. 14. 3. The Devil hightens the enmity against and hatred of piety that naturally is in the minds of the ungodly so that it breaks out into acts of cruelty and injustice Although corrupted Nature of it self be very furious yet 't is more violent when the Devil joyns with it He can set an edge on the lusts of men and make them the more impetuous When concupiscence is blown up by an unclean Spirit how doth it burn and flame then When pride is hightned by a proud Devil how uncontroulable is it by any advise or consideration and in like manner when envy hatred and malice and uncharitableness as they are put together in the Letany are made more keen by a spightful Satan No wonder if the tongues of the ungodly prove scourges and their hands strike at believers liberty if not at their lives USE I. Of counsel and advice to persecutors I know not but this Book may light into the hands of one of them Understand O enemy whoever thou art that thou hast a friend at the 〈◊〉 house who wishes thee well who prayes for thy welfare as well as his own who would stop thee in thy pernicious way not so much for the Saints sake as for thy own for thou doest thy self not them the greatest mischief Let not O ye persecutors your rage stop your eares be a little in cool blood and hearken unto these two words of counsel 1. Consider then by whom you are acted The Devil casts the Saints into prison whose instruments and servants then are you Is there not a better Master to be served a better work to be employed about What thanks do you think our Lord Christ will give you for the service you do to this destroyer But you will say 'T is zeal puts us upon what we do and we hope we do God and his Church good service Yes so the Jews thought they served God when they set themselves against his Son and Christ himself foretold this Joh. 16. 2. They shall put you out of the Synagogues they shall excommunicate you yea the time cometh that wh◠soever killeth you will think that he doth God good service 2. O that you would become friends to your selves by being friends unto the Saints The Apostle Paul sayes that before his conversion he was exceeding mad against the Lords Disciples Acts 26. 11. He shewed himself to be exceeding mad indeed to set himself against them that were so dear to the Lord Jesus But at last he is recovered to his wits he is cured of that persecuting phrenzy that possest and acted him and then he preached that faith which once he endeavoured to destroy Gal. 1. 23. O that you would become propagatours of that Gospel which now you oppose and hinder from being preached USE II. Of consolation to the prisoners of Jesus Christ 1. Think how weak the Devil is if compared with the Captain of your Salvation Christ has fought with this old Dragon and overcome him he has tried his strength and has been much too hard for him He has taken the Devil captive and holds him in a chain As the great Emperour and Conquerour Tamerlane kept Bajazet the Turkish King in an iron cage So the Lord Jesus having subdued Satan keeps him in shackles he cannot stir to destroy a Swine much less to molest a Saint without Christs leave and will he give the Devil leave to do any thing to his faithful followers that may be really to their prejudice 2. There is less danger when Satan rages then when he flatters 't is better he should cast you into prison for well doing then draw you into his snar◠and unto the commission of evil His pleasing temptations are most hard to be resisted When you see him furious and play the Devil indeed as 't is a sign he has lost you so his enmity being more perceivable it will make you fly to that Merciful and Faithful High Priest who knowes how to succour them that are tempted Heb. 2. ult And besides his hatred at such a time being so visibly discovered 't will make you more sober and vigilant ever after and to get on the armour that you may stand against all his wiles all his devices 3. The Devil may have great wrath but he hath but a short time Rev. 12. 12. He is the more busie because he is aware that your warfare will shortly be at an end and that the spiritual combatants within a few yeares will be Conquerours and Crowned Happy those that are above Devils cannot come at them they know not what temptation means 'T is no more possible for any of Satans fiery darts to hit any of the Saints in glory than for an Arrow that we shoot upward into the aire to hit the Sun in the firmament Now you Saints that are below will come to be above shortly Romans 13. 11. Your salvation growes nearer and nearer every day The Fifth Doctrine Saints are imprisoned that they may be tried The Devil sayes the text shall cast some