great a Weight upon this Duty as if it were the one thing the only thing nâ—…cessary Phil. i. 27. only let your Conversation be as it becomâ—…th the Gospel of Christ. And there are two subservient Duties which will much contribute to this great Design 1. The former is Stability stedfastness in the Faith that yâ—… stand fast in the Spirit 2. The other a Holy Zeal that ye strive together for the Faith of the Gospel Stand fast without wavering be zealous without cooling and let your Interest and the Name and Glory of your Redeemer be much upon your Hearts in both these Whatever can be said upon this Subject is compendiously summ'd up in that other place of the same Apostle which I will give you a brief Paraphrase upon and then proceed Phil. iv 8 9. Finally brethren whatsoâ—…ver things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoevâ—…r things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be anâ—… virtue if there be any praise think on these things Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of peace shall be with you This is the abstract of what I can speak or you hear upon this Subject Think on these things and do them Digest the matter well in your Thoughts concoct it throughly in your Hearts and then reduce all to Practice 'T is not Speculation but Action that must recover the Repure of Religion and the particulars wherein you must be active and zealous are such as these 1. Whatsoever things are true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let the Power of Truth in the Heart evidence it self in the Life and the Grace of God in the inward Parts shine through the Body in all suitable demeanor It is Theodoret's Gloss upon 1 Tim. iii. 2. The Apostle says he would have a Bishop to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That his whoâ—… carriage be such so comâ—…ly in his 〈◊〉 in his habit in his looks and gesturâ—…s that the Complexion of his Soul may shine through the Case of his Body 2. Whatsoever things are honest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That we be grave yet not morose serious yet not austere reserved without affectation that as the End of our Conversation is a matter of the greatest Importance and the Rule of our Lives of equal Concern so the Meen and Air of our behaviour may bear some good Conformity to them both 3. Whatsoever things are just 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As we must be Holy towards God so must we also be just towards all Men for Righteousness is Evangelium visibile 'T is the preaching of a Gospel which Men understand our Religion teaches us to give to God and Man what is their due and all the World will conclude that if we defraud them we would if it were in our Power cheat our God too nor can we ever confute those Suspicions which Men will easily entertain of our Hypocrisy but by an exact and punctual discharge of all those Offices of Justice which we owe to them 4. Whatsoever things are pure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chast modest pure clean that our Discourses savour not of Filthiness our Behaviour do not smell rank of inward Turpitude that we admit not the Flesh to mingle it self with our Courses or Discourses but that in all things our Speech be seasoned with Salt Administring grace unto the hearers Ephes. iv 29. 'T is a dirty World we walk in he that will walk clean must pick and chuse his way with great Care and Conscience 5. Whatsoever things are lovely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let a Spirit of Candour and holy Ingenuity breath in all our Actions that we affright not Men from Religion by a sour disobliging way of Converse There is a mean could we hit it between a base creeping fawning prostitution of our selves to the Lusts of Men and a haughty surly Arrogancy which will not stoop or bend to the benefit of Men and this mean is that generosum honestum that greatness of humility which would persuade the prejudiced World to entertain more tolerable Thoughts of God's holy Ways and perhaps in time to try and practise them 6. Whatsoever things are of good report 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To decline those Practices which carry an Appearance of evil with really good Men. Now says the Apostle If there be any virtue If ever your Religion had any commanding Interest in you or has had any sanctifying power upon you And if there be any praise If you expect the acceptation and approbation of God or the moderate commendation of good Men Then think upon and do these things and for your encouragement The God of Peace shall be with you In the managing of this Doctrine I will propose this Method 1. To shew what the Adorning of the Doctrine of the Gospel does presuppose 2. What it is to Adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel in all things 3. What are the particulars of the Doctrine which we must Adorn and how it may be Adorned in each of these Particulars 4. I will lay down the Arguments which ought to prevail with us herein 5. And lastly I will endeavour to improve the whole Discourse and reduce it to Practice § 1. Let us inquire what the Exhortation to Adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel does presuppose There was something more than ordinary in the matter that the Apostle so earnestly and frequently presseth this one Point Some Injury had been offered from which it needed to be vindicated something amiss in their Conversation that needed Reformation and we have cause to fear that the Case is our own Some notable Affront has been put upon the Gospel some indignity offered to the Profession of Religion which will render our present Discourse too pertinent That which is presupposed may be reduced to these Heads 1. That the Doctrine of the Gospel of Christ considered in it self is a most beauteous and lovely Doctrine 2. That this Doctrine has been miserably blackened and blemished by those that should have given it a better treatment 3. That whoever professeth this Doctrine is obliged to wash off that dirt and filth which has been cast upon it 1. That we are so earnestly urged to Adorn the Doctrine of our God and Saviour presupposeth that as it came first out of the Hands of Christ it was altogether lovely representing the sweetness and expressing the holiness of him that gave it forth And 1. One eminent Beauty of the Doctrine is this That those Truths which soar the highest in Speculation yet in their design and tendency aim at a holy practical Conversation Those which in the Theory reach the highest Heavens yet in their Scope stoop down to the Earth It was said of Socrates Primus Philosophiam è Nubibus in Terras deduxit He was the first that brought down Philosophy from the Clouds and made it an useful thing to Humane Life It was
Decus Tutamen OR Practical Godliness THE ORNAMENT and MUNIMENT OF ALL RELIGION Being the Subject of several SERMONS Preached at WESTMINSTER UPON TITUS ii 10. By V. Alsop Minister of the Gospel LONDON Printed for John Barnes at the Crown in the Pall-Mall 1696. To all that Love the Lord Jesus Christ in Sincerity especially to those who attend upon his Ministry Grace and Peace Beloved Brethren WHAT was once preached to your Ears is now presented to your Eyes accompanied with fervent Prayers that the God of all Grace would powerfully impress it upon your Hearts The importunity of Friends is a common Apology for publishing some Pieces which if Affection had not more prevail'd than Judgment might as well never have seen the Light How much of this I might plead to justify or excuse my appearing in Print upon this Subject many of you do know but I shall willingly wave those Reasons The Weight the Worth the Necessity of the Argument as they have been my strongest Inducements so are they all I shall offer for my Vindication The Age into which Sovereign Providence has cast our Lot does much boast of Light I wish that a proportionable measure of holy Heat had accompanied that Light that Grace Truth and Peace might have been the Glory of our Times But here we must bitterly lament that the holy Flame of Zeal for the Concerns of Jesus Christ that fervent Love to all that bear his Image in Righteousness and true Holiness has degenerated into or been expelled by another Fire not kindled from Heaven but if we may judge of the Cause by the Effects from a contrary Original The Spirit of Envy has almost eaten up holy Emulation and we have disputed so furiously about Truth that we have almost lost the other half of our Religion Charity The noise of Axes and Hammers in building the Temple has been as great as once it was in destroying it this Clamour has drowned the softer whispers of the Spirit of Holiness and Peace our Speculations about what is too high for our Reach and our Quarrels about what is too low for our serious Regard have insensibly worn out Practical Godliness and in the mean time Religion suffers its Enemies triumph it s few Cordial Friends mourn over it and suffer with it The Gospel of our blessed Saviour if it might have been heard would easily have compromised all our Differences but it has fared no better with Religion than with that charitable Person who interposing between two Friends engaged with drawn Swords was in the heat of passionate folly wounded by them both for an unkind Reward of his Kindness It is much to be feared that this will be the undeserved fate of whoever shall undertake to reconcile contending Friends to make them both his bitter Enemies for in an Age of Fiery mistaken Zeal he that is not Scalding Hot shall be censured for Lukewarm and not to be a Bigot will be to be reputed not a Christian The only Expedient I can recommend to you my beloved Brethren in this sad Case is To maintain Innocence in your own Souls Peace in your own Consciences to keep close to your Duty and if for endeavours of Love you must be so unhappy as to contract Enmity to retire with the Psalmist to your God Psal. cix 4. and give your selves unto Prayer But as the Holy Goâ—…pel of God our Saviour suffers unworthily by our Divisions and Contentions it suffers no less by our unsuitable Conversations which yet is but the evil Effect of an evil Cause the bitter Fruit of that poisonous Root For as when one part of the Natural Body grows great beyond its Proportion it robs the rest of their due Nourishment and Growth such is our deplorable Case we have furnish'd the Head so plentifully with Notions that we have starved the Members of their proper Supplies that they cannot perform their proper Operations We have laid out so much of our Zeal and Vigor upon Controversies that there 's little left to support the necessary things of Practical Religion Holiness towards God Repentance from dead Works and the exercise of good Works and a heavenly Conversation I Bless God from my Soul that most of you are of another Temper and Character though I cannot deny that the Enemy has studied to sow Tares among you and while we slept his Emissaries and Instruments have watch'd to bring in among you some Doctrines and Practices which would have Wounded if not mortally Stabbed our Holy Profession But blessed be the Great Superintendent of his Church who faithfully watched over you and against them and has prevented and defeated their subtle Malice It 's for the sake of humble sincere Ones principally that I have drawn up and sent forth these Papers who cannot perhaps wield a heavy Argument for the Cause of Christ and against its Opposers and yet their Integrity and Uprightness keeps them secure and the Grace of God on which they humbly and securely depend enables them to Live down all the Objections of Atheists Deists and Profane Persons by a regular and exemplary Conversation We Read of a Philosopher who when a subtle Sophister disputed zealously that there was no such thing as Motion in the World said nothing but rose up and walked You may possibly meet with such Profane Wretches who with great Noise and Clamour would bear you down that there 's nothing real nothing solid in Religion that its an empty ineffectual Notion a curious airy Speculation that has no power upon Mens Hearts no command over their Lives now if you shall meet with this importunate Clamour which is the best Argument they have say you nothing but rise up and Walk Let Men see your Holy Heavenly Conversation and this will silence all their Cavils and stop the Mouths of all their Objections better than you can do by fine force and Dint of Argument And indeed let us Dispute Write what and while we please nothing will vindicate Religion from the Reproaches thrown upon it by impudent Atheism but the Holy Walking of those that profess it And it 's a thousand pities that false Doctrine should be credited by a severe morose and rigid behaviour while Truth it self is blemish'd and brought into Contempt by a loose one Let me therefore Anticipate the following Discourse thus far as to assure you that the Credit of our Holy Religion can never be recovered without 1. A more Consciencious Sanctification of the Lord's Day all practical Religion Rises Falls Ebs Flows with that When a Generation of Men removed the Observation of that Day from Divine Institution and laid it upon the Churches Tradition or the Civil Sanction the repute of it sunk presently and the observation of it dwindled away to nothing 2. A more constant fixed Worshipping God in our Families As Personal Remisness will creep into the Family so will Family-Looseness easily infect the Churches It is in vain to Dream that Congregations will be Holy if
chearful Let him sing psalms As then God has divided our Lives between Afflictions and Consolations let us divide them between Prayer and Praise I conclude this with that of 1 Cor. vii 30. Brethren the time is sâ—…ort it remaineth that they that weep be as though they wept not and they that rejoice as though they rejoiced not and they that buy aâ—… though they possessed not for the fashion of thiâ—… world passeth away When Grace shall reach us a Holy indifferency of spirit towards these outward things to mourn under evil Circumstances with that moderation as believing that God can turn our Sorrow to Good nay into Joy and to rejoice under smiling Dispensations as they that believe our elations and transports may soon be dashed and to keep that equability of Spirit as they that know the fashion of this world passeth away then shall we Adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things § 3. Proceed we now to the third General Enquiry viz. What are the Particulars of the Doctrine of this Gospel which we must Adorn and how may we Adorn it in those Particulars The Doctrine of the Gospel may be reduced to two Heads Precepts and Promises and both these may be comprehended under the General Term of the Divine Testimonies because they Testifie what God expects from us and what we may expect from God The Preceptive part informs us what God justly expects from us in a way of Duty The Promissory part what we may expect humbly yet assuredly from God either for present Assistance or future Reward Both of which if narrowly considered will inform us what it is that will Adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel 1. I begin with the Precepts These are the true Copy of the Divine Nature The great instances of the Divine Authority The visible Demonstrations of the Holiness of the Law-giver The express Image of the Purity of him that gave them forth and the great Proofs of our Integrity A marvellous Beauty and Glory is impressed upon them by God but they have been insolently trampled upon by unhallow'd Feet cruelly treated by unclean Hands and now how to recover them to their Original Glory is the difficulty and design of this Discourse If we ask the Psalmist what value and estimate he put upon them What Glory what Beauty he could behold in them He readily answers Psal. cxix 128. I esteem all thy Precepts concâ—…rning all things to be right and I hate every false way All thy Precepts concerning All things There is a lustre in every single Precept but a Glory in them All. As every Star shines with its proper Light but as they stand Combined in their Asterisms and Constellations so they shine with a marvellous Glory And as every Creature which God produced by his creative Word was Good yet when he came to take a prospect of them in their Relations to each other he pronounced them exceeding good Gen. i. 31. Such are the Precepts of God and they are so concerning All things They reach the Heart with all its Principles and Ends they govern our Words they regulate our Lives they restrain from Sin they constrain to Obedience they instruct us how to walk holily before God honestly and righteously towards Men soberly towards our selves and to hate every false way If you again ask him why or upon what Reasons he prizes them at this high rate he will satisfie you Ver. 72. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver I know there may be good use made of Gold and Silver A good Conscience will not purchase Meat in the Market nor Innocence buy us Cloathing in the Shops but the law of thy Mouth is better upon higher upon noblet Accounts It acquaints me with those ways wherein God is to be found where I may expect Communion with him it directs me how to walk well-pleasing to my God whom to please is my highest Ambition it shews me how I may be kept from the paths of the Destroyer Gold and Silver will not heal a wounded Conscience nor pluck the Thorn out of the Flesh nor instruct the doubting Soul how to clear up its Peace with God What use others may make of their Gold and Silver I know not but unto me the words of thy mouth are better By them is thy servant warned to avoid the Sin and to escape the Snare by them is thy Servant Reproved when his own folly has exposed him to the bait and snare and by them is thy Servant Recovered out of those Temptations into which my own rashness or carelesness have thrown me The Goodness of all things is reckon'd from their Suitableness to the present and pressing exigency If we are hungry a piece of Bread is better than thousands of Gold and Silver which we may have and yet Starve If naked a few Rags are better in that present straight than thousands of Gold and Silver which will not cover our nakedness If then the Mind be uneasie Conscience dissatisfied if Sorrow sits as a thick Cloud upon the Brow The word of God which speaks to the Case is better than thousands of Gold and Silver There are three things which render the Precepts of Chriâ—…t easie aâ—…d our Obedience pleasant 1. When we keep our hâ—…â—…xed upon the Author of them 'T is the 〈◊〉 â—…rine of God our Saviour as God he claiâ—…â—…uthority over us as a Saviour he challenges an Interest in us Right to Command and Interest to Obey are a Cord of Love too strong to be broken Christ asiures us Matth. xi 29 30. That his Toke is easie and his â—…urden light 'T is a Yoke none of Christ's Servants are Sons of Belial but 't is an easie Yoke His strength which he gives that Principle of Love which is the governing Principle of the Renewed Nature makes it so Hence Christ presses Obedience upon that Principle John xiv 15. If ye love me keep my Commandments Can you pretend a mighty love to my Person and yet despise my Authority Give this essential Proof of your Love that ye keep my Commandments If your Friend should sooth you up and with many fair and fawning Complements protest he values you and yet at the same time Spit in your Face or throw Dung upon you you would desire him to give better evidence of his Love than those Actions which speak Despight and Scorn The Commands of Christ are the Mounds and Fences which he has set about his Glory If you will pluck down those Walls and Defences which your Neighbour has set about his Inclosures and then pretend that you do all this out of pure Love and Respect to him I am persuaded he would desire you to forbear such Proofs of your Love and give more convincing Tokens of it Christ is willing you would rather spare your high Expressions and give Evidence of your Love by sincere Obedience 2. When the Conscience is bound in subjection to Christ when the
nothing of the Bread he Eats the Life he Lives the Joy he Joys 1 John iii. 1. Therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not Whatever is within the compass of Sense and Flesh the Natural Man understands that he values prizes relishes and blesseth himself in because he finds a suitableness between them and his own Frame but if those who profess themselves Believers have nothing more than this comes to to produce in vain do they hope to persuade others of the excellency of their Religion Let us therefore give all Diligence to get such a view of the glory of that unseen World as may dash out of countenance all the glittering glory of this and make it appear by our Conversation that we can with a holy Scorn trample upon present visible earthly perishing things that so living by Faith and not by Sense our Hearts may be in Heaven where our Treasure is and our Conversation in Heaven where our Hearts are § 4. Come we now to the fourth General Head the only thing remaining before we come to the Application viz. The Reasons why every one that Professeth the Gospel of Christ should conscientiously labour to Adorn the Doctrine of it in All things The Reasons assigned will be very few let us Pray that the Good Spirit would make them very strong 1. Reason It ought to be our great Care to Adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel because it is the Doctrine of the Great God It 's a Doctrine that was given forth from him that has absolute Power to Command us John vii 16. The Doctrine is not mine but his that sent me and therefore we are to receive it entertain it as such 1 Thess. ii 13. Te received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God The Reproach cast upon the Word of God is cast upon the Author of it God himself Rom. ii 23 24. Through breaking of the law dishonourest thou God For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gâ—…ntiles through you As the affront offered to the Laws reflects upon the Law-giver and God is concerned in Honour to vindicate the dishonour cast upon his own Laws These things are drawn into a narrow Compass and we may enlarge upon them with ease in our own Hearts Let us be well advised whether we be not bound in Conscience to vindicate the Name of God by Adorning this Doctrine which has been so horribly blasphemed by defacing it He that Spits in the Face of Religion Spits in the Face of God He that tramples upon the Word tramples under Foot the Son of God 2. Râ—…ason 'T is the Doctrine of our Sâ—…viour our Redeemer and these Terms carry strong Obligations in them to Adorn his Doctrine or having already defiled it to repair the damage we have done it The former Reason was drawn from Authority but this from Interest and both of them work by Love Christ is a Saviour and has preach'd the Doctrine of Salvation A Redeemer and has revealed the Doctrine of Redemption A Mediator and has made known how Sinners may come unto God by him It was St. Austin's censure of the Plâ—…tonists Patriam viderunt viam ignorâ—…runt They saw their Country but knew not the way to it they had at least some rude consused Notions that Blessedness must needs lie in the enjoyment of a perfect infinite Being but how to attain Reconciliation and Communion with him they were at a loss what they saw in a Glass darkly the Gospel has revealed plainly and we see it with open Face 2 Cor. iii. 1 8. And what they were totally ignorant of we behold in a clear sight that is wherein our everlasting Happiness doth consist and how we may reach that Happiness And shall we tread under our Feet that blessed Doctrine the power whereof in our Hearts will certainly save us and the Guilt lying upon our Head will eternally Condemn us The Apostle's Pleading is clear and strong 1 Cor. vi 19 20. Ye are not your own for ye are bought with a price that ye may glorifie him in your spirits and bodies which are his It is an acknowledged piece of Justice that he that purchases lawfully should enjoy peaceably and with what indignation do we exclaim against that Man that keeps out of Possession a lawful Purchaser Consider this Case 't is your own if Christ has bought you with an invaluable Price whose true value none can perfectly understand but the Father to whom it was paid shall we Treat that Gospel which brings us these glad tidings with Contempt and Neglect 3. Reason To Adorn the Doctrine of our God and Saviour will be our own greatest Ornament Holiness was the comely wear of Primitive Christianity no Artificial Dress did ever so Adorn its Profession and Professors as plain Godliness The Varnish and Paint of Art will wash off with a little stormy Weather but wisdom makes the face to shine Eccles. ix 1. This is the Counsel of Divine Wisdom Prov. i. 9. My son hear the instruction of thy father and forsake not the law of thy mother for it shall be an ornament of grace to thy head and chains to thy neck This was the Tyre wherewith the holy women of old time Adorned themselves 1 Pet. iii. 4. Even thâ—… Ornamâ—…nt of a meek and quiet spirit which in the sight of God is of great price Such was the Dress of the Gospel before the commonness of vain Modes and wanton Fashions took away the Deformity of Pride and almost forced the Antient Simplicity to retire into Corners Did we see an Antient Piece drawn by the Hand of some of the great Masters of Greece or Italy we should admire the Painting tho perhaps ridicule the Antick Garbs Surely if some of the Primitive Professors should rise from the Dead they would neither know us nor we them A heavenly Conversation is Antiquated every one wears the Livery of his Party the distinguishing Shibboleth of his own Sect but where are they that accommodate themselves in All things to the Doctrine according to Godliness What an honour to be a Citizen of the New Jerusalem To be an Heir of God and a joint Heir with Christ his Elder Brother and let us endeavour to reflect some of the honour back again upon the Gospel which we receive from it 4. Reason To Adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel will greatly recommend it to those who are at present Strangers to it We have the prejudices of Men to contend with their radicated Enmities to subdue and conquer we dispute we argue in vain 'T is a severe uniform Holiness suited to the Principles Precepts and Promises that must either wrest their Weapons out of their Hands or make them freely lay down their Arms at the Foot of a Redeemer 1 Pet. iii. 2. The Apostle supposes a very hard Case that a believing wife is unequally yoaked to an unbelieving husband an uneasie condition But how may it
wast false to my Honour and Interest thou didst betray me Thou that didst call me Lord and Master and yet disobey my Commandments And if Christ and his Gospel finds no fairer Quarter from Friends what may he expect when he falls into the Hands of Thieves It was this which cut David to the heart to be so treacherously dealt with by a pretending Friend Psal. xli 9. Minâ—… own familiar friend in whom I trusted that did eat of my bread hath lift up his heel against me May not we take up the same heavy and doleful Complaint on the behalf of Religion They that have eaten her Bread and drank her Wine have kicked and spurned at her Hear the Psalmist again mournfully bewailing his Case Psal. lv 12 13 14. It was not an enemy that reproached me sor then I could have born it neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me then I would have hid my self from him But it was thou a man mine equal my guide my acquaintance We took sweet counsel together and walked to the house of God in company This was the cutting killing Stroke And this aggravates the Case of Religion in this dismal day Religion has been wounded betrayed reproached by pretended Friends when yet the Upright like that holy dying Woman 1 Sam. iv 22. know not how to out-live the departing glory but are willing to die with it It 's a matter of the greatest Difficulty to persuade us to Repent of our guiltiness in this Thing and before I can hope to prevail I must premise a few Particulars 1. Whatever Reproach the Professors of Religion draw upon their own Persons will certainly be fastned upon their Profession Now tho' this be an unjust Procedure to Reproach a Holy Truth because he that owns it holds it in Unrighteousness yet thus it will be in Fact the Crimes the Excesses of Men will reflect upon the Doctrine They that will Reproach Men for their Duties will much more revile them for their Iniquities and from thence take a welcome occasion to revile their Principles and Professions 2. Whatever Reproach falls upon Religion will reflect upon the Author of it even our Blessed Saviour himself And this should sway with all our Consciences to walk inoffensively to give no just Occasion to them that seek it and watch for it to blaspheme the Name of our God Hear how affectionately the Psalmist prays Psal. lxix 6. Let not them that wait on thee O Lord be ashamed for my sake let not them that wait on thee be confounded for my sake O Lord God of Israel And he had reason to be sensible that some Pious Souls might be justly offended at him and reproached for him when by his sin he had caused the Enemies of God to blaspheme 2 Sam. xii 14. But that I may more effectually Prosecute this Use in inviting you to Humiliation for and Lamentation over those Scandals which our Holy Religion has contracted upon our Account I will endeavour to lay before you these three things 1. I will shew what an Excellent Religion we have reproached 2. I will lay before you the great Zeal of the Primitive Christians to Adorn their Religion in those purest Times 3. I will further open how unworthily we have defiled it in ours § 1. Let me shew you what an Excellent Religion that is which we have thus shamefully Reproached Amongst the many Great and Glorious Excellencies of the Christian Religion as it stands described and recorded in the Scriptures of Truth this is one 1. It is a sound Doctrine 1 Tim. vi 3. wholesome words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as are sound in themselves and make sound Tit. ii 1. Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All is sound all sincere nothing rotten 1. This Doctrine imbibed will make a sound Head not filling it with empty Notions aiery Speculations much less with rotten Matter which will breed Impostumes and break out into Ulcers but with such due Conceptions of God as will settle our Faith engage our Fear provoke our Love command our Obedience and in all secure the Souls everlasting Interest 2. It will make a sound Heart the Psalmist prays Psal. cxix 80. Let my heart be sound in thy statutes that I may not be ashamed As the Truth received into the Head will keep us sound from Heterodoxy so the same Truth entertained in its Power into the Heart will secure it from Hypocrisy 3. It will make a sound Conscience for herein alone is that Doctrine of Peace and Reconciliation with God revealed through Christ whose Blood sprinkled on the conscience purges it from dead works to serve the living God Heb. ix 14. 4. It will produce a sound Conversation we may lay it down for a Rule that Religion which begins in Hypocrisy will end in Apostacy And there 's little difference whether we go in a True way with a false Heart or forsake that way through a false Heart a sound Heart is the great preservative against both Now here we have cause to mourn till we have exhausted the Springs of Tears and can weep no more Lamenting over the rotten Doctrines of our Days which have defied and defaced this Holy and Sound Doctrine the rotten Conversations that have shamed it and rendred it contemptible The Truth is we can neither bear our Remedy nor our Disease we are sick with our Food and sick with our Physick The Scripture gives us True Notions of God but Men are ignorant and too proud to be taught 1 Tim. vi 3. Proud knowing nothing This Doctrinâ—… would be a lamp to our feet but we shut our Eyes against it and a light to our paths but we will not use it nor admit it to be our Guide in the ways of Holiness 2. Another Excellency of the Gospel is that it 's a Doctrine according to Godliness 1 Tim. vi 3. And a Doctrine after Godliness Tit. i. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As if the whole System of Divine Truth were squared and modelled by Godliness It 's not only true that Godliness must be tried and proved by this Doctrine but that the Doctrine is formed and fashioned by the Rule of Godliness every Leaf Line Proposition is adapted to the advancement of Godliness Here 's no Indulgence for Sin no Toleration for Lust not one loose Principle in the Body of Scripture Divinity and if any Doctrine offers it self that breaths not Purity we may safely reject it as that which is not after Godliness And let this also renew our Lamentation that such a Doctrine has been tortured upon the Rack of unsanctified Wits to abet filthiness and uncleanness Men have reap'd what God never sow'd and gather'd what the Holy Spirit never strew'd when this Grace of the Gospel is turned into lasciviousness and Men have abounded in sin because the Grace of God has abounded towards Sinners 3. It has this Peculiar Excellency that in every respect it
imagine we shall leap at once from a Life of murmuring and repining here to a State of Praising and Glorifying God for ever We cannot doubt but such a Life as this would put a New Face upon the Christian Religion and convince the most obstinate that we suppose Everlasting Life and Glory to be the most Real Certain and Excellent Thing when we can live at the Holy Heavenly and Chearful Rate which supposes it to be all these That we do firmly believe that whatever are the inconveniencies of our Pilgrimage a Portion in Heaven will answer them and repay us And that therefore we look upon our selves as dwelling in Tents and Tabernacles without any fixed City here below as those Holy Patriarchs once did Heb. xi 9. and dare not drive our Stakes too deep into the Earth because we look long and pray every Day to be called away home to our own Countrey 3. Let us study and follow after the things that make for Peace our God is the God of Peace our Redeemer the Prince of Peace the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Peace the Gospel is a Doctrine of Peace which reveal'd peace on earth and good will towards men Luk. ii 14. But to our shame and the shame of our Profession we have represented it as a Civil War We say we own one God one Lord Jesus Christ one holy Spirit and one hope of salvation why then do we not keep the unity of spirit in the bond of peace Ephes. iv 3 4 5. Peace is that which every one will commend but very few will entertain If we regard the Orations of Men one would think it the most precious and desirable thing in the World but if we observe their Divisions one would conclude it the most Pernicious and Dangerous All Differences in Opinion do not infer a Difference in Religion nor all Local Separation a Schism but when the smallest Differences are managed by proud and froward Spirits and they influenced by secular Interests it 's a wonder to see what Flames a little Spark kindles The sum is this Perhaps we cannot syncretize in the Minutes of Religion nor express the finer Stroaks of Uniformity in our Sentiments yet let us Religiously keep up a Spirit of Love to Peace and Truth Christ has declared Love to be the Livery of his Disciples by which they are known to be His Joh. xiii 35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another As it was the Livery he enjoyn'd them whilst living so was it his Legacy bequeath'd to them when dying John xiv 27. Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you 4. Let us all most fervently cry unto God that his Holy Spirit may be poured out upon the Professors of Religion and that it may accompany the Preaching of the Gospel then will the Doctrine of God our Saviour shine gloriously when the Spirit shall be its Light then will it Conquer and Triumph when the Spirit shall second it with his Might This is that which subdues the Pride the Passions the unruly Lusts of Men and brings down whatever exalts it self against the Truth in subjection to God This influence attending the Word shall make Persecutors become Preachers Scoffers of Religion become Admirers of what they have Scorned and Blasphemers to justify that Name which they have Reproached this will give the Doctrine of the Gospel a Throne in their Hearts who have trampled it under their sordid Feet And this St. Paul well understood when he so earnestly entreats the Churches Prayers 2 Thess. iii. 1. Brethren pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified When the Light shall scatter the Darkness that like a thick Cloud sits upon Mens Minds when the Power of it shall bear down that Opposition that rages in their Hearts when it shall break through all Impediments and make its way to the Conscience then will the Doctrine of our God and Saviour Adorn it self and not need any other Ornaments we can put upon it I profess my self unwilling to dismiss this Argument till it has had its proper Effects upon the Hearts and Consciences of the Readers but I must draw to a Conclusion which I will do with a few Considerations humbly praying that the Great Lord and Master of the Assemblies would drive every Nail to the Head and so fasten it in the Heart that the Power and Policy of the Devil may never draw it out 1. Consideration What great Reason have we to Adorn the Doctrine of our God and Saviour when we have been the Cause or given the Occasion to its Dishonour Juâ—…tice demands that we should heal it because we have wounded it I persuade my self that there are many under the Rebukes of their own Hearts that the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ has been evil spoken of through their irregular Conversations I hope too that many have repented and that God has pardon'd the Iniquity of their Sin but yet God will bear a Testimony against their careless and common Behaviour tho' he has pardon'd the Sin Thus he dealt with David 2 Sam xii 13 14. The Lord hath put away thy sin thou shalt not die Nevertheless because by this dâ—…ed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme the Child that is born unto thee shall die In what way the Jealous God will bear Witness against the present Generation of Professors for the Scandals they have given I presume not to determine most certain it is he will not put up the Affront without Repentance and Reformation The safest Course for every one of us is to confess our Sins to take Shame to our selves to give Glory to God and not to blush at our Repentance when the only thing should make us blush is our Sins 2. Consideration Adorning the Gospel by a suitable Conversation will prove the best expedient to secure its Presence with us If we think it not worth the Adorning we may question whether God will think it worth his Continuing and Protecting 'T was disingenuous in Absalom to spurn his poor Sister out of doors when he had defiled her but the Justice of God will be manifest if he removes our Gospel which we have basely prostituted 'T is his own threatning to the Church of Ephâ—…sus Rev. ii 5. Remember from whence thou art fallen and repent or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick out of its place except thou repent A Father takes away the Childrens Bread when they crumble it in scorn upon the Ground and if he indulges them Candle to play yet will not allow them it to fight and quarrel Let us consult the Histories of Antient Times they will inform us that Religion was never rooted out by Persecution till it had been made cheap by the Profanation of Professors The Primitive Christians proved this Truth that Religion flourisht fairer and grew
faster when it was watered with the Blood of the Martyrs Proâ—…perity and that Loosness which commonly attends it was the Poyson poured out into the Church The frequent mowing down of Christ's Field makes it come up the thicker and greener Plures efficimur quoties metimur was Tertullians Observation Debauching Prosperity has been the greatest Enemy that ever Religion had in the World Isa. v. 4. when God looked as after all his Cost and Pains he might well look that his Vineyard should bring forth grapes and it brought forth wild grapes Go to now saith he I 'll tell you what I will do to my vineyard I will take away the hedge thereof and it shall be eaten up and break down the wall thereof and it shall be trodden down and I will lay it waste The Politicks of Earth are vastly different from those of Heaven both in the Securing and the Adorning Religion The Methods of humane Wisdom to secure Religion proceed thus They hedge it about with strict Laws and severe Penalties which sometimes are as cruel as the Crimes they would restrain are Enormous and whilst by these Artifices they would entail Religion upon Posterity corruption of Doctrine defiling of Worship and loosness of Manners provokes God to cut off the Entail And thus when we have lost the Power of Religion upon our Hearts and the Purity of it in our Lives our Care is to supply the Defect by trimming and tricking it up with gaudy ceremonial Ornaments How much more beautiful were our first Parents in their Original Nakedness than when the Sense of Sin and Shame taught them to patch together a few Fig-leaves to cover it but Religion is its own Strength it s own Beauty 'T is its own Ornament and Muniment nothing adorns nothing secures Religion but Religion Let us therefore shew an Exemplary Conversation and this will Beautify this will Fortify it better than all our politick Contrivances and fruitful Inventions It was a Glorious Promise which God gave to the Gospel-Church under the Notion of Jerusalem Zech. ii 4 5. Jerusalem shall be inhabited as Towns without walls and bulwarks For I saith the Lord will be a wall of fire round about her and will be the glory in the midst of her Holiness engages God's special Presence and that Presence is our Protection Secure God's Glory in the Center and we shall have a Wall of Fire in the Circumference A parallel Promise we have Isa. iv 5. Upon all the Glory there shall be a Defence If therefore we are careless of that Glory let us make what Walls we can our Walls of Water and of Wood will deceive us nothing but such a Holiness as will engage the Divine Presence and Protection can secure us and the Gospel of God our Saviour unto us 3. Cansideration Nothing but a holy exemplary Conversation can possibly propagate the Gospel abroad our Lives speak louder than our Words and we may with more ease live Men over than dispute them over to Christ. Let us be never so Zealous in our Arguings they will readily retort it upon us Why do you persuade to go to Zion when you your selves are running to Babylon In vain did we plead with others to Turn and look towards Heaven if we are treading the broad way that leads towards Hell Do we then indeed wish well to the Kingdom of Christ Should we rejoyce to see the heathen given him for his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possessions First remove the stumbling Blocks we have laid in the way of their Conversion then win them over by an Heavenly Holy Sober Righteous Conversation speak so that Men may see that what you speak you believe to be Truth There were more brought in and converted in the first Twenty Years of the â—…eformation than in the last Century and of our few Modern Converts it's to be fear'd some of them need Conversion This was the Glory of the early Days of Christianity Act. 2. 46. They continued daily with one accord in the Temple and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart praising God And the Lord added daily to the Church such as should be saved And the same Success the Gospel had upon the same reason Act. ix 31. Then had the Churches rest and were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and the comforts of the Holy Ghost were multiplied 4. Consideration The Adorning of the Gospel by a holy practical Conversation would contribute much to the healing of our present deplorable Divisions our scandalous Separations and that Spirit of frowardness and perverseness which has possess'd this present Generation The Differences amongst us are not so great as are imagined nor yet so small as not to be lamented Wisdom Humility and a temper of Moderation might have managed as great Matters as these came to without any notable Scandal but a Spirit of Pride Hatred uncharitable Censoriousness has inflamed these little things to a prodigious height Now the process was thus Some Professors had given Offence by their remiss or perhaps some irregular Walking there began the Offence first at the Person then at the Profession The Disgust at one grew up to a Disgust against all of the same Denomination from an Ossence at the Persons it grew up into a Distaste of their Worship and Administrations and when this dividing Zeal had usurpt the Title of Divine Fervour then Heaven and Earth Church and State must be involved in unquenchable Flames This was therefore the generous Spirit of the Apostle 2 Cor. xi 12. What I do that I will do that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion that wherein they glory they may be found even as we But I must shut up this Discourse which a sincere desire to restore our Holy Religion to its due Honour and Repute has made to grow under my hands to a bulk far greater than at first designed Give me leave to reassume my Exhortation I beseech you Brethren by the Mercies of God and the Bowels of our Lord and Saviour that you would consider and pity the sad Case of his blessed Gospel which has been wounded either by our hands or through our sides and make it your great Business to Adorn it in All things I deny not but though you should walk like Angels there are a Generation of Men would reproach you as Devils but yet there are many Curable Souls whose Reconciliation to the Ways of God wants nothing waits for nothing so much as that you should shew them the way to Heaven by your Heavenly Example And that our Endeavours may be successful let us all join with the Prophet in his Pious Prayer Hab. iii. 2. O Lord I have heard thy speech and was afraid O Lord revive thy work in the midst of the years in the midst of the years make known in wrath remember mercy Amen FINIS