Souls will be at a strait and thirst after the living God But as yet the Door is open to you what is the reason you are no more upon it They are exceeding great and precious Promises in themselves why are they not precious to us Sure they would had we but a Heart Therefore consider of it it is offered to you and if you shall follow on to know the Lord you shall surely know Him Consider the Door is open the precious Promises are given to you of Life and Glory c. Why then are you passing away your days on such low trivial and dying things Josephs blessing was large reached out to the utmost bounds of the Everlasting Hills and why are we so scant-hearted and low in our desires Why are we not upon these great and precious Things promised and to partake of this Divine Nature and thence be fruitful in the Truth and bring forth somewhat that may stand and live for ever after us THE SOULS TRUE Wound and Cure SERM. II. March 30.1651 HOSEA 6.1 2. Come and let us return unto the Lord for he hath torn and He will heal us He hath smitten and He will binde us up After two days will He revive us in the third day will He raise us up and we shall live in his Sight c. The Analysis IN the words were intimated the three days Works of the Father Son and Spirit in their order 1. The Work of the Father to pull down and wound and thither the Return must be to Him that smiteth 2. The Work of the Son to revive After two days He will revive us c. 3. The Work of the Spirit to raise In the third day He will raise us up c. I. In this Returning three Things are considerable 1. They that return must truly know they are out of the way a true sense of that must be And that was here in two things 1. In breaking prison and running from the strait The Princes of Judah like them that removed the bound c. 2. They were out in seeking to cure themselves before the day came Hos 5.13 but a secret moth blasts all The Vses were 1. To look home whether not our own Case have we not removed the Bound run from the strait and not endured c. 2. To take us off of looking on anothers sin and keep close to our own strait lie under our own misery till delivered 2. 'T is considerable in this Return there must be counsel and calling to it Come and let us return else not stir a foot 3. This Return is to the Lord He that had wounded He will heal Many heal themselves but there is a wound too hard And these several ways God takes for healing 1. He removes the ill humor that feeds the sore Sense and Reason 2. He asswages the anguish and smart and pain of the Soul else all in vain 3. He applies a plaister of loving-kindness and mercy 4. He points the Soul to wait for the set time till that come II. The second Work is the Sons He will revive After two days He will revive us c. And that by these means 1. He takes off all bonds and chains fears and perplexities which keep down the Soul from stiring 2. He unswadles and opens Himself I am Joseph your Brother 3. He preaches Peace and Love He the Prince of Peace 4. He revives by preaching the everlasting Gospel the eternal Love and good-will of God to the Soul this enliveneth All was brought home by Vse to see how much of the work had passed on us there all the four Pa ticulars HOSEA 6.1 2 c. Come and let us return unto the Lord for He hath torn and He will heal us c. IN the former Chapter great complaint is made against Israel and Ephraim that they were Revolters that they committed whoredom and will not frame their doings to seek unto their God Vers 3 4. And this is that misery that befalls such as transgress against the Lord that received not the Truth in the love of it that obeyed not counsel the Hand of the Lord will surely meet with such He will teer and wound them There shall be no peace to the wicked When Israel was a child then I loved Him saith God then He was tender and soft and pliable to be ordered but as They called them so They went from them Hosea 11.2 As the Prophets called them indeed to come up and come nigh God then there is a going backward from Him He is bent to a back-sliding heart But Israel and Ephraim shall be sure to be dealt with and made desolate A Time comes wherein God will meet with Him The Pride of Israel testifies to his face therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity v. 5. And this is our case The Pride hath been such we thought we had been Some-body and could live alone of our selves and like the Prodigal have asked to have our portion and we would be gone and shift for our selves But alass all is soon spent with riotous living and desolation and famine have come upon us rendings and teerings perplexities disquiets and troubles in all our ways I will be unto Ephraim as a Lion I will teer and go away I will take away and none shall rescue Hos 5.14 And when thus it shall be in the midst of the Land when this is the Souls condition to be rent and torn by God and then left and forsaken that He cannot be found but He hides Himself though Job go forward and backward to the right hand and to the left yet He is gone and cannot be found He feeds among the lillies â—aith the Church until the day dawn and the shadows fly away As if she should say Alass I am unclean but He feeds among the clean ones among the Lillies that are spotless the Lillies that grow without toyling and caring there are his walks but I am no company for him He is withdrawn from Me until the day dawn c. This is a hard day indeed when the Soul is left in this desolate case there is now need to think of returning The Prophet He feels the need and therefore calls to the People Come and let us return to the Lord. And so all along the Scriptures the Prophets are brought in as sensible and crying under the misery though their People were senceless and careless and stupid How do Isaiah Jeremiah Samuel Hosea and so all the Prophets stand in the gap for their people and call upon them in their desolation to come in and return to the Lord But whom do they call to return not all men not such as never was nigh to the Lord No Onely Ephraim and Israel and Judah his own people that have been once nigh and are backslidden and turned Prodigals from their fathers house Onely to such is the Call and in the worst time of all when torn and wounded and left of God
thy Soul choose it however thou art found That 's the thing If thou canst but come in this Name of the Lord then be encouraged that he will receive thee he will make thee a feast of fat things and of wine well refined on the lees He will sit down at Table with thee and say Eat my friends eat abundantly Come and let 's be merry c. for Fury is not in him as we suppose He waits to be gracious and is more glad of one sinner that repents then of ninety nine just persons that need no repentance O therefore return thou Prodigal return say to thy Soul a thousand times over O return to thy strong hold Take hold on the horns of the Altar as thou art and be safe Say not If I were clothed I would come if I were shod and had Rings on my hands and were filled with the spirit of power then I could come But enquire Is there not life in thee Is not the principle quite dead then be encouraged for where there 's life there 's hope the Father will entertain thee But O Lord how long shall we neglect so great Salvation O Lord the thing is too much to expect That ever the sinner should be so received to stand before him spotless and blameless safe and sound But surely the Scripture has not said it in vain nor is that principle in you in vain that gasps and pants after it O therefore minde and consider that we might enjoy this portion and return from our Prodigality and the good Lord bring you in at the right door for there onely will he finde you and where 's that Why in the Name of the Lord. But so long as this pride and envy c lives we would never come to admire and say O the forbearance and long-suffering of our God! We would never clear him and own the thing as it is but this is the door by which the righteous enter and are safe Noah VVarned OF Things not Seen OR Faith piercing into Invisibles SERM. VII April 27. 1651. HEBR. 11.7 By Faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with fear prepared an Ark to the saving of his house by which he condemned the world and became heir of the Righteousness which is by Faith The Analysis FRom the words was observed in general I. What Things Noah was warned of by God And they were these three 1. That all flesh was corrupt how fair and specious soever to sight 2. That the end of all flesh was come though all seem'd quiet and well 3. He is warned to prepare an Ark to the saving of his house None of these things were yet seen but Noah sticks to the Word This brought home to shew we have been warned in all these Cases 1. That all flesh is corrupt We have been warned of that three ways 1. By the Word of the Cryer that hath witnessed it 2. We have proved it over and over again by Tryal in our selves 3. Warned by Providence the world let out against us and the breach begun 2. We have been warned the end of all flesh is at hand often witnessed to us That He will not always wink and bear but call to an account 3. The warning hath oft been to us to provide an Ark a sure resting place and shelter from storms to know our portion in the eternal Love II. How is Noah affected Moved with Fear c. A Fear and awe seizeth on him and that in five Particulars 1. From the warning that all flesh was corrupt All in the man sin a Fear touches the Soul Lord is the case so with me 2. Moved with Fear because the end of all flesh was come Judgment ready to seize the Flood coming this moves a Fear 3. Because he was naked and had not an Ark provided 4. Moved with Fear lest he should slip over the present day and Call 5. Lest the Flood should come before his Ark be finished And this moves the Soul and makes it haste to the work All this brought home to Particulars to enquire whether we were moved with this Fear with much power and searching III. Consider He prepared an Ark the Fear took place The Ark was a Type of Christ It had three Stories which expressed the three Conditions Christ went through and All His must follow 1. A day of weakness sufferings and Death and this lowest story all that will prepare an Ark must first build In this Death of Christ was considered 1. He dyed to all things not only unlawful but lawful just Rights and Priviledges became poor for others 2. He did it willingly and quietly not grudging none took his Life from him This the pattern of the first story of the Ark. 2. The day of his Resurrection to Life that a second story 3. His ascending into Glory answerable to the third HEBR. 11.7 By Faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with Fear prepared an Ark c. IN all Times God had some to whom He hath been pleased to communicate his mind about what was to befall the world and therefore he saith He will do nothing but he will reveal it to his servants the Prophets and to them the forewarning they have had from God hath not been a slight Thing an idle Tale or a Fable but it hath taken impression As with many of the Prophets how have they cryed out in bitter distress That they were pained at the very heart and their bowels shook within c. at the sight of the miseries which were to come on a People before the thing was done or any present danger in view And so here Noah is warned of God of things to come though not at all yet seen and see what place it took He was moved with fear and that fear was not in vain neither but put him upon a work He prepared an Ark to the saving of himself and his house And therefore where ever we hear of great high words of great discoveries and revealings of God to any which many now in the world pretend to and yet all they speak of takes no place upon their spirits there is no fear nor awe nor dread no paining of heart nor shaking of inwards but they can live still as loosely and vainly as ever after their own fleshly wills this is a token God hath not spoke there but speak a false Vision of their own hearts But God hath in all Ages had some to whom he hath revealed what he hath intended to do to give warning to the world before-hand that when the Judgment comes they may know it comes not by chance and hap but that he hath a hand in it So Christ to his Disciples When these things come to pass you may remember that I have told you And it is often mentioned That such and such things came to pass that the Scriptures might be fulfilled The Word which God had spoke to his servants
builds an Ark a whole Ark not a piece of one Now the best of the World how do they sit down contented if they get but a broken board or two or a sorry cock-boat They think all is safe then I but when the storms come and the rain beats where is the Cock-boat then Will that secure them and be a compleat shelter Many are contented with a so far saving they are not the same they were they are not like this Publican they have escaped some of the pollutions of the world through lust and this they judg enough Now Soul take thine case No but this will not do What if a people be saved out of Egypt and yet perish in the Wilderness And if there be a saving through the red Sea yet if the Soul enter not into Canaan if it fall short of Salvation if it be not saved to the utmost what will come of all Men preach much against Papists for holding there can be no perfect Assurance in this Life but the best Faith is Doubting And in effect our Divines all hold the same Doctrine They say that in the best there may be fears and doubtings concerning their conditions in times of desertion and tryals But it is not so for had they ever been saved to the utmost they should never doubt that work more If the condition be indeed once made sure it is so without all doubts and scruples 't is clear and unquestionable and can never be shaken in that point more The gates of Hell cannot prevail against it And this sure and unmovable work of Truth is that which will condemn the World If the Lord count you worthy to be the people to rest no where short till the Ark be compleatly built and a sure condition of life attained not to settle on flashes nor true stirrings of spirit nor operations not to rest in a half Salvation but to be saved throughout to the utmost That wil judg and condemn the World You may go far and be mighty in shew get a high nest and reach to the clouds but Lucifer must come from his Throne and go down to the Pit God saith of Ishmael He shall be great also He shall beget twelve Princes This flesh brings forth great and high births but yet it shall not be heir with Isaac it shall not enter and inherit Life Though it may fare deliciously and be clothed in scarlet yet a time of dying comes and then this rich man is found in Hell How many servants in my Fathers house saith the Prodigal have bread enough and to spare I but the Inheritance is not their own The servant abides not in the house for ever Therefore what shall I say to warn you As the Martyr Bishop Latimer said being to preach from those words Beware of Covetousness If I should do nothing but repeat over this Text an hour together it were preaching enough said he to them that could hear So if whole days and weeks I should onely warn you of this Take heed be sure you sit no where short of the mountain rest no where till you have an Ark built a safe condition to stick to in all storms All this warning would be little enough to warn you Thus I have spoke something of the Effects following upon Noah's building the Ark 1. He saves his house 2. Condemns the World thereby And I told you he condemned it in seven Particulars four of which I have spoke to the other are yet behinde 1. He condemned the World in taking Gods Word and being warned The wise man foresees an evil and hides himself but this carnal sensual and devilish spirit this World in us and out of us will never be warned till it be destroyed 2. He beleeves concerning things not seen He disputes not with flesh and blood as all the World do Even children can plead Alass I am young and childish what can be expected from me The strong plead Why no need of such haste I may live long And others plead ' Sure God is not so extream He is merciful and will pass by failings And thus all the World shift it off till the Deluge come And how hardly hath it gone with some of the people of God because of this lingering and disputing spirit Moses reasons and reasons till the anger is kindled against him and Lot lingers in Sodom till he is almost in the burning and thus dangerously have we ventured to dispute and reason till our Day may be over and then wo to us 3. He begins this work alone though there be not one to joyn with him in it and the Soul that is truly sensible of its want and is indeed at a strait That must look out for help if none will go with it to cry for a certainty What shall become of them yet that must That must have bread or it starves So the blinde man he cries and cries after Christ and rebuke him who will yet there 's no stopping of his mouth till the cry be answered And this condemns the World they are for company they follow the wise and learned go with the multitude but alass it never was that the great ones and wise ones of the World were the Followers of Christ not whole Colledges and Congregations No The Prophets of Balaam are four hundred and fifty they go by Troops but onely one poor despised Micaiah for the Lord and he never prophecied good to Ahab but evil This true Spirit is the Troubler of the World and judges them nothings and vanities will content them but this cries for substance for bread indeed it looks after an Ark a certain condition and nothing less will serve it 4. He condemns the World in that he builds a compleat Ark ceases not till the work of Salvation be gone through with and finished till the Soul be conformed to the Death of Christ and to the Resurrection of Christ and to the Ascension of Christ till the Soul be brought to know the heart and counsels of God concerning it Now the World are contented with halves with piece-meals with some broken scraps belonging to Salvation but have not the thing it self are not saved to the utmost They cry for Parts and Light into Scriptures and enlargements and peace of Conscience and ease and they have their peny they agreed for God gives it them but this will not satisfie the Noahs nothing but an Ark. 5. This condemns the World That Noah builds an Ark and pitcheth it within and without a sure shelter that not the least water can soak into it Now as all the World and all their Ministers can never reach to this but some crevise is open some flaw sticks to the best conditions where questionings and doubtings will get in do what they can And this cuts them to the heart That no other condition should be approved of and pass for good and safe but that which is thus pitched within and without That which will stand in the
we lay if the Lord stept not in to help us out and whether this would ever be or not we knew not and here we were made to own and bow and lie under our conditions as undone Persons if Mercy help'd not out Thus we lay low for a time under this bond but soon as ever we heard a report of Deliverance and were pointed out to it as John pointed to Christ Behold the Lamb of God c. Here is one that can cure you and bring you out This is the Saviour of the World when a Light came to shew us this we presently reached at it and called all our own and would not lie in our misery till he called us to come till the Lord Himself delivered us but thought now that we saw the medicine lie before us we were wise enough to take it and to cure our selves we thought we could now live of our selves without being beholding to God that our Light and Instruction into the Truth that the sight of Salvation had been enough And here we went out like Prodigals till all was spent and Poverty came upon us as an armed man We got out and promised our selves liberty and ease as Paul saith of some who promising liberty Themselves became the servants of corruption We were the farther off and the more entangled that which Job speaks of If I wash my self saith he mine own clothes shal defile me We have indeed washed and washed our selves but that will not do we put on our own clothes again and we are presently all dirt as bad as ever Here hath been our going out and now we are out we would never stir home again But the Call and Counsel is to us Come and let us return That Charge is layd against us Thou hast forsaken thy first Love remember whence thou art fallen and repent This I speak is a Deep Parable if the Soul be not led in to read the meaning The Hypocrite he cannot know it he will ever be hoping and clambering up some way or other to get life and never endure these bonds though he perish for ever and how many are thus utterly lost And the Sons of God They cannot know this neither until it cost them dear till a dart strike through their Liver They will taste of the Whores dainties of her sweet morsels till they are made to vomit all up again and lose the sweet words We have taken up words of Scripture and Hopes and Promises to our selves but who gave us them The Door was open and we thought we might venture in and take what we pleased But the Spouse could give a better account He brought me into the banqueting house c. Did He thus take us by the hand and bring us in No no we thrust in without the wedding garment we stayd not till the Angel was sent to roul away the stone from the mouth of the Sepulchre till Christ Himself came to loosen the Prison doors and let the Captives go free And now to all you that have thus turned out and therefore have had a blast a mildew a secret moth consuming and destroying all your greenness and liveliness and freshness in the Truth for how dead and sapless do you now lie to you yet is this Counsel given and the Call made Come and let us return to the Lord for he hath smitten c. Lie under the hand and turn to him that smites you And that is Thirdly The third Thing considerable in this Return It is to the Lord who hath wounded that he may heal Many they are wounded indeed but they can heal themselves run to the Promises and wariness and resolvings and they are presently whole But when the Lord wounds indeed with the wound of a cruel one when he rends and teers and goes away then shall no healing medicine be found out when God comes to a strict enquiry once and searches Jerusalem with candles looks into every dark corner and asks for an account of the bottom of the matter if we know what shall become of us for ever how our everlasting Condition hangs whether all we have all the strong reasons and hopes and conclusions from the operations and enlargements and powers of Truth will all these prove our condition good for ever Was not Saul also among the Prophets and was not the Spirit of God upon Balaam and yet both fell short I wonder sometimes how we can pass it over from day to day and not consider what the end shall be but it is because the wound is not deep we have no sense to feel but are like a post in the wall but when He shall wound home indeed and strike the blow to the heart then it will seize it shall not be so easie getting from it then if ever we be cured the same hand must do it that struck the Blow all other Physicians will be of no value but Come let us return to the Lord for he hath torn and he will heal c. And He will heal us Now What Ways doth the Lord take to Cure this Wound 1. The first Way to cure a Wound throughly is by removing the ill humor that feeds and maintains the sore else all plaisters and salves applyed to heal are in vain and to no purpose So God deals with the Soul He goes first to the Root to stench the corrupt humor the bitter Fountain that feeds and supplies all the streams Sensse and Reason they have been the ill humor which have fed the sore all along whilest we could wring and wrestle and murmur and complain against God saying Why hath he made me thus Why hath he brought us into this Wilderness to destroy us Who hath resisted his Will Whilest these pleadings and reasonings live 't is impossible our conditions should be mended these will fester and corrupt use what means we will for healing therefore God promiseth I will heal their back-slidings that way He takes when he intends a Cure Whilest we go about to cure our selves and flee upon Horses because they are swift so long the case grows worse with us the wound encreaseth but stand still and see the Salvation of God saith Moses Let him alone and He will never leave till he hath met with the bitter Root that spoyls all our prospering 2. Another way of healing a wound is by taking away or asswaging the extremity of the anguish and smart of the sore else the violence of the pain will let nothing take place So is it with the Soul sometimes there is such an extremity of anguish that perplexes and torments it that nothing of hope or encouragement can come near it When it is made to look over all its rebellions and standings out and provocations what it hath done how it hath grieved the Holy Spirit and refused mercy and brought all this that it now lies under on its own head You may thank your self for this saith the Accuser this is your own will and way
thine own kind wherever thou findest it as Paul says we cannot do any thing against the truth but for it though the heart would be spurning and shrinking away saying he is a hard Master yet where this Spirit of Christ is it will joyn to his own the heart will be taken with him and cannot get off quite to leave him 4. Where Christ is He is a searcher he discovers al the inward and secret workings all the plots and stratagems of the Devil that all are but to destroy the soul is made to take notice of the secret carriages of things within it sees all the Train of his wyles and tricks and inventions how they are laid and how they work and whither they tend the world is blinded in all they see no danger they know not whither they go but Christ he is a divider in the souls of his People he will not believe every good word and fair promise that the enemy may make Master save thy self and cause these stones to be bread no but he will weigh and try what runs in all he will not take all for gold that glisters though you speak never so good words and fair promises and all seems right yet the Spirit of Christ where it is will try and examine whence it comes from what root all spings whether from heaven or hell c. 5. Where Christ is he will never yield up his City though it cost him his life he wil stand to his charge what ever comes on it as the three children answer though our God should not deliver us yet this their souls are resolved in we will not fall down and worship the golden Image what ever it cost yet they cannot turn to a Lie to worship an Idol Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of Dragons and covered us with the shadow of death yet cannot we lift up our hands to a strange God c. though the Soul may be taken and carryed Captive by force yet where Christ is it still breaths with Paul but with my mind I serve the Law of God I chuse not this Service though halled to it it is the burthen it cryes under that is certain it cannot go backward though it cannot get forward neither though made to yield and say well this is your hour and the power of darkness yet the soul consents not it will not fall down and worship an Idol God Jacob will not go back again to Labans service what ever comes on it though Laban pursues behind and Esau meets him be-before and God seems to leave and discouraged him yet he will wrastle it out with God and never give over without the blessing 6. Where ever Christ is though the Soul be never so low in the bottom of hell yet there is a strange looking towards God out of the belly of hell saith Jonah I looked toward thy holy Temple where truth is sown in the Soul it cannot but look thither ward towards God bind it and fetter it and keep it down and shâ—ke it as you will yet it will never leave turning and turning and looking thither ward as the Needle ever bends towards the Northpole I remember in my lowest day and it was low indeed when all appeared as if I were quite lost and should sit down in Hell for ever among the damned yet I said in my Soul sure I shall love God th re I shâ—ll â—p ak something well of him amongst all that cursed and hatefull crew such a strange turning God ward is there in the worst of times 7. Where Christ is though all enemies beset it though all the Legions oâ— H ll and darkness of fears and doubttings come about it as a swarm yet the Soul is able to look beyond and through all to a Deliverance that it is yet possiâ—le it says still well yâ—t if he will deliver he is able thâ—re is a strange long Prospective Glass by which the Soul looks beyond all Seas and Mountains and impossibilities and fears and sees the Land that is very far off the good Land of rest and Peace and says well if the Lord delight in us he will bring us thither he is able still who can tell but he may be gracious Sure if the Lord Christ that Poor Wise Man be in you you cannot but savour and understand these words you will know the Language and though not able to express them plainly yet you cannot but know and feel these Leadings in your Souls It would now follow to speak of the Deliverance what way he takes how he delivers this City from the great King and that is not by force nor might nor multitudes but by his wisdom by a sleight that great Goliahs head is presently taken off by a wyle an unexpected way If thine Enemy hunger give him meat who would think this was the way to destroy him Yet this is the way he takes he gives the Enemy his Will lets him take his own course and run out his run thus he feeds him till he be insnared in his own net and so taken This can the Poor man do by his Wisdom but I would wish none of you to take it in hand 't is too hard for you to put your hand in the fire and not be burnt Mans Backwardness TO THE Lords House OR The Little Good-will to Truth SERM. XI May 25. 1651. HAGG. 1.2 3 4 c. Thus speaketh the Lord saying This people say The Time is not come the Time that the Lords House should be built Is it time for you O ye to dwell in your sieled houses and this house lie waste c. The Analysis THese general things were observed from the words I. What this house of God was and what it typed out It was a house built and separated to the Worship of God typing out the uniting of a people into one heart and soul where God may dwell II. Why will God have this House built For three Reasons 1. To be a Pattern of the Life to come where all live in Love and Peace 2. To be a standing place of Worship whither the Tribes go up 3. For a Witness to condemn the World in all their false ways III. What are the Materials of this House 1. Not of all but onely living stones such as will abide in whom the spirit of life is sown A living Dog is better then a dead Lion 2. In this House are to be vessels of all sorts and all for their proper use none in vain none unfruitful IV. Why do they plead It is not time to build this House For these three Reasons 1. From their ignorance They knew not that all their blastings and mildews and curses came for want of this This is our case 2. From love to their ease easier to sit still at home then go up to the mountain for wood to build The heart loves to be at ease 3. Fear hinders because yet they were under Tribute to the King of
rest and peace and enjoyments and instead thereof to take up troubles and sorrows and afflictions Oh no the heart shrinks from this here comes in Spare thy self Master and therefore we plead it is not time yet because it is a trouble and perplexity to the man to set upon this work it puts him beside his cushion he must be sure if he begin to build the Lords House to meet with opposition and contradictions from within and from without from the world and from the Devill The more we shall stir to get out of his Kingdom the more will he stir and rage and cast out his floods to destroy what have our Fathers gone through in this work what strange miseries and sundry sorts of death as you may see Heb. 11. What did Paul suffer hunger and nakedness perils by sea perills by Land perils amongst false brethren stripes and Imprisonments and now who will endure this that can avoyd it who will choose afflictions Mans heart will ever plead it is not yet time because it loves Ease and would never see sorrow But 3. Fear hinders them They were yet under tribute to the King of Babylon they were not yet quite freed from their foes they had once begun to build and were hindered and curbed in the work and therefore now fear gets up and they will venture no more having been once crushed and still remaining under the same enemies this seems a just cause to plead it is not time and thus the heart reasons Have I not tryed again and again and been stopped and prevented and beguiled by the Enemy and am I not still in his hands and if I stir I shall soon be met with and pulled back again and here the heart slugs and lingers and thinks it hath cause to fear and keep off but Jordan never parts till the Priest first ventures to set his foot in it there must be a venturing through all lets and rubs in the way if ever we think to come to any thing and see when they do but begin and set upon the work how they are prospered and all makes for them which before might seem impossible and are not these the true reasons we keep off from the work are we not ignorant that this is the cause of all our misery are we not loving our ease are we not fearing our enemies and so give it over and plead it is not time c. But consider V. WHAT MISERIES FOLLOW FOR NOT BUILDING THIS HOUsE A curse and a blast follows in all their undertakings do what they will yet nothing prospers as it is with a man in a deep consumption let him eat what he will though never so good and choice diet yet his Stomack spoils all It turns it into ill humours to maintain the disease till the root of his sickness be taken away and so is it with us notwithstanding all our mercies and opportunities afforded meat is set before us daily daily are we waited upon and called and instructed and counselled yet how do we still waste and consume we thrive not in all but wax leaner and leaner we come and hear and listen sometimes and swallow down a great deal but alas all is spoiled by a bad stomack we spend all upon our Lusts we love to live alone by our selves at our own Wills and Counsells and Wisdom we are not subjected yet in our souls to come to build this house of the Lord to live in Love and Counsell and order one with another c. and this is the moth that eats and destroys and will destroy all our good if the Lord prevent not thus I have spoke to you what this House is why God will hâ—ve it built and of what materialls and then the Reasons why the people plead it is not time and the misery that follow this neglect and now in a word I would speak to that who they are that are chiefly guilty in this thing I cannot so charge you all of being thus guilty but there are chief Heads who are called to this work and they are to lay the first stone the cloud must first remove before the people can journy and in that great sin of taking strange wives for which Ezra pull'd off his hair and sat astonished on the ground 't is said the Princes and rulers they were the chief in this thing they lead on the rest by a bad example they are the sinners such as were bidden to the feast and yet refuse to come and make excuses they are the sinners Now are you all bidden called out to build this house no I know it cannot yet touch nor lie upon all your Consciences that this house is not built but the Princes and Leaders such as have been called both from a word without and a stirring within their own spirits to begin their work and lead the way and lay the first stone that the rest might follow these are the guilty persons that make their excuses when they are Invited I have married a wife I have bought a Farm This and the other stands in my way that I cannot come but if any enjoyment or imployment or relation if any tye shall hinder us from setting to this work when the Lord calls to it then are we miserable I know there are some of you that stand yet clear and have not resisted a call but think you are ready to become any thing that shall be called for from you but some of you there are that punctually and certainly know you are called forth to the work and yet draw back and shrink away and say 't is not yet time to build c. The heart knowingly flies back and shrinks this is the guilt here lies the sin Therefore the first thing to be known by you is whether you are called or not and if called then take heed of reasonings and pleadings with Moses I am a stammerer a man of a slow speech and they will not beleeve that thou hast sent me till at lest the anger of the Lord was kindled for his lingering in it and this is the way of the heart we do not say point blank we will never build the House No but shuffle it off It is not yet time and we know not our way and the enemies are round about to hinder us and so we conclude the case before-hand and keep off the strait that Paul was brought to when he cries out Lord what wouldst thou have me to do What way should I take What is thy minde in all All things go cross there is no thriving nor prospering in out ways but all symptomes appear to signifie a consumption is upon our way we are scarcely kept alive have scarce a bit of bread to stay our hunger Now what is the meaning of all this Sure there is a Cause Therefore need there is every Soul of you should consider your ways and enquire Lord is it I or Is it I Do I hinder this work where am
the outward letters and the light of their Reason joyned together but alass I cannot finde out the meaning of the heart of God concerning me by all this Therefore if there be not an Interpreter one of a thousand that can shew to man his righteousness if there be not a days-man for us that can come nigh to God and enquire his minde and thoughts towards us then are we miserable for alass we cannot go neer our selves who of us can stand before everlasting burning No saith God to Moses Thou canst not see my face and live No self no flesh no evil thing can live in the presence of God the fire is too hot He will have no fellowship with the stool of iniquity If you will come neer God there is need of a heart without all guile and deceit that intends what it pretends Will you be my people indeed saith God Indeed Nothing else will pass He will divide between words and thoughts between thoughts and intentions if there be but a tittle against thee he 'l be sure to finde it out I know thy Works and Love and Patience saith Christ I but yet I have a few things against thee He spies out the least flaw and therefore it is dreadful coming neer him without that garment of Love which can cover a multitude of sins for else alass he may take advantage every moment and consume us 2. This is another end of coming thus neer God That the Soul may stand reverently and with deep attendance of minde as in the Kings presence Were you but aware that God was so neer you sure it would strike a great awe and wariness upon your spirits What is the Lord in this place and I knew it not Is this no less then the gate of Heaven Am I in the presence of the great God and have to do with him in all my words and thoughts hearings O what need is there of an awful spirit Holiness becometh this House for ever Many go to Church it may be twenty or thirty years and never yet were their hearts affected with the least true fear and awe 't is because they come not nigh God in their service but make it a meer custom and May-game but he will have his people come nigh him he will have them stand in his presence with awe and reverence and godly fear he will have their words and prayers weighed and scan'd to a tittle How carelesly and inconsiderately do many venture on praying as men cast bones from them to a dog never think of the thing never look to see what becomes of their prayers but God will have his stand in another kind of posture As the eyes of a maid are unto the hands of her mistress so are our eyes up to thee O Lord He will have them wait and look and attend when ever a word shall drop from his mouth and touch upon them 3. They are to go neer to God for this end to learn his behavior and carriage Be ye holy as I am holy saith God Learn of me saith Christ I am meek and lowly I will go down to Sodom saith God and see whether it be altogether so as the cry is come up unto me Why did not God know Doth he need to go and see No but it is to teach us how to behave our selves in such cases to teach us to be sure and wary and just in judgment before we pass sentence against any to know what we do to learn his tender-heartedness and compassion and forbearance to learn his manners and ways and if ever you are brought neer him it will be for these purposes III. The next thing to be considered in general is AND HEAR THOU ALL THAT THE LORD OUR GOD SHALL SAY UNTO THEE Hear all Every tittle let nothing be lost that he speaks Now there are three general things which the Lord speaks and would have all his people know that stand in the same condition as Israel now did 1. He would have them know where they are that they are yet in the Wilderness yet not at home but far from Rest 2. What is their way to attain it 3. Their latter end what they are intended for what they are to come up unto for else the Soul cannot go on with any strength and courage but will faint and feeble Abraham followed the Lord at first going out not knowing whither he went but it was a mighty power of God that carryed him out to it and afterwards he saw the minde meaning of God plainly and that the Lord delights in he would not have his people grope in the dark always but see and know their way and have the mark in their eye and be wise to understand their latter end 1. The Lord would have his people know where they are They are now brought out of Egypt they have escaped that cruel bondage under Pharaoh This the Lord would have you take notice of how far you are saved and delivered not to pass that over slightly without regarding it 1. He would have you consider how he hath brought us out of the rude world when we lay all together in one lump and why should the Lord put a difference why hath he brought us off of our false hopes and confidences and false ways of worship worshiping Idols the works of our own hands the contrivances of our own wisdom and thoughts and reason as all the world do Why hath he saved us here that what ever become of us we can never again go back to those flesh-pots the Garlick and Onyons of Egypt 2. He would have us know what we are brought to as well as brought from to consider how far he hath led us That we can surely stick to though it should cost our lives whether we can say that word with the three children what ever becomes of us though our God should not save us though we should never attain the thing set in our view yet we will not fall down to this Image we cannot turn again from the worship of the living God to worship Idols This the Lord would have us know and stick to 3. He would have us know that notwithstanding all we are brought off from and all we are brought on to that yet we are but in the Wilderness that is the place and no farther And in this two things are to be known by us 1. That this is the day in which he will prove our hearts Now will he open the fountains of the great Deep the low channells of the earth are now made to appear as Psal 18. Now he discovers what man is what a helpless wretched thing Now he opens the strange wickedness that lay hid in the heart the fire makes the scum rise the fiery trialls the great and sore temptations as God calls them these stir and fetch up all the poyson that lay buried before Now the Lingrings and drawings back the murmurings the ill will the frettings and
receive instruction IV. The next general Thing is the Peoples Promise AND WE WILL HEAR IT AND DO IT And if this be not the thing set down in your hearts and minds if we intend not this to come to doing to be the thing that is called for alas what do we come together for Why do we hear What will come of all our way if we are not truly brought to this mind we will hear and do all that the Lord shall command About this hearing five things may be considered 1. You are to hear who it is that speaks My sheep hear my voice saith Christ and the voice of a stranger they will not hear there is need distinctly to know him that speaks calls and not take every word by road that seems good and true as the world do but to be able surely to discern and distinguish between the voyce of God and the voice of man and the voice of the Devil for the same outward words may be taken up by them all the Devil can speak Scripture to Christ He shall give his Angels charge over thee lest thou dash thy foot against a stone and the Jews the great enemies of Christ they can speak as good words as may be they say to the blind man recovered to his sights Give Glory to God what better and righter word can be spoken But yet how base and wicked was it from them for in the next word they reject Christ as for this man we know he is a sinner Now if we be not made to look into the inwards of words and see what runs in them what Spirit breaths whether God or the enemy or mans own heart if we know not this we know nothing and sure the word now preached to us is as an idle tale and we do not seriously enquire who it is that speaks whether this Doctrine be from heaven or from men whether the Lord speaks indeed unto us I told you the Lord would have you know where you are at the present that you are in a desolate Wilderness where a thousand dangers and miseries lie in the way and it is ten thousand to one whether you get clear through all but fall short in some pit or other Now do you believe this indeed do you think it is the Lords voyce that he speaks his very word to you Alas what a mist do the world live in How do they go to Church and hear and hear year after year and it scarce ever comes into any of their minds once to think seriously what is this I hear whose voyce is it Doth God speak to me of a certain or is it onely the voyce of a man If it be man onely then what do I hearing it is a vain service but if God then why seiseth it no more why do they not tremble under it And this old Taint we retain from them and thus I fear most of our hearings slip away without a serious enquiry who it is that speaks to us whose voyce calls for if we were certainly perswaded that when a word touches our hearts when it reproves and finds us Sinners when it pulls and stirs to arise and be going did we surely know it is God that reproves and touches and stirs within us certainly we durst not so stand out and sleight it as we do If it be indeed the word of God it will not be dallied with It is quick and lively and will work one way or other it will either kill or save condemn or justifie draw to God or drive from him he will not speak in vain therefore in all hearings hear this first who is it that speaks 2. The next thing is to hear what he speaks I will hear what the Lord God will say saith David hear the particular word and message that comes to me for he saith to one Go and he is to go and to anothâ—r Come and he is to câ—me to a third Do thou this and that is to be his work Now in Babel there is a strange confusion and lumber of all together it is a Land without order because there is no King nor governmenr nor setled laws to stand to but God is not the God of confusion his Kingdom is a Kingdom of righteousness peace and order the Lord sets every one to his own work and in his own place Sit thou down here thou art a sinner and guilty buckle thou under the guilt that 's thy place To another he sayes Friend sit up higher be thou incouraged and hope and expect deliverance that 's his place to another he says Enter thou into thy Masters joy for thou art worthy and that is his place he speaks not to you all as in one condition though you may be all sailing in one ship yet for different ends and purposes I now some of you that are like a post in a wall it is as impossible to make you hear a word of truth the ear is so stopp'd charm the charmer never so wisely Now the word spoke to such is to know where they are to own theiâ— shame that 's their place for others that may not be this Highway ground where the word is snatched away and takes no place at all yet there is a stony ground and a thorny ground where the seed grows and flourishes a while but yet all is lost it never comes to perfection Now for every one to know what ground is my present condition in What speaks the Lord to me What is my way and work hear that 3. Hear to whom he speaks that not every one may thrust himself in by violence and catch at a share in every word that is spoken do you press in I but you shall be turned out again as fast The children of the Kingdom that thought they had good right and title to it yet they shall be thrust out There is need therefore to know distinctly whether the Lord speaks to me or not Thou art the man said the Prophet to David thou art the sinner when the word shall come home and the Lot fall upon the particular Tribe the particular man the particular sin Tâ—is distinct way God takes in his deâ—lings when Christ said to the D sciples One of you shall betray me they are all put upon the search and enquiry Lord is it I and is it I Now I have told you all the four sorts of grounds are amongst us there is the High-way ground where the seed takes no place at all and the stony ground where it takes a while but there was a depth of earth a sure â—ooting and that soon withers and there is a thorny ground which may continue long and hold to the last but the seed is all overspread over-â—opped and choaked with the thorns Now these three grounds take in a large compasâ— will you now go away and not enquire this night which of these grounds doth my soul stand in how is the state of my condition
but saith Paul I would to God you did reign viz. that it were such a reigne as would last and hold Now who spake he to not to the rude world nor to the ignorant but such as he had in his heart to live and dye with such as he had espoused to Christ the match was made but not the thing done they were not wrought off from all things nor wrought up to that one husband into the minde of Christ though out of a light instruction and choice the thing was owned and approved And here the man gets peace and ease and liberty is free from guilt and torments and perplexities the man can goe on either hand if a mind to God and Truth thither he can turn if a mind to the Creatures he can turn thither the door is open and he can suck sweet from every thing his wayes are all washt in butter smooth soft and easie And here saith David my mountain was so strong I said I shall never be moved here the man sits as a King this is his day of reigning But II. There is another dispensation follows a time of the Devils reign this is a sad and wofull change Another king arises which knows not Joseph the man when he was King he knew God and owned truth and joyned it with him in his Kingdom though yet in the throne Pharaoh will sit above the man was uppermost in all But now another king rises that will not know Joseph and he deals cruelly with Israel then the hard Task-masters and cruel burdens come he will know nothing but his own will and lust and cruelty And Wo to the inhabitants of the world when the devil comes down to reign amongst them when Jeroboam reigns that makes Israel sin And how often have our fathers been at sore pinches and cried out in bitterness of soul when this time of the devils reign was upon them It is a woful kingdom indeed a cruel reign And these seven Woes lie up in it 1. One Wo is that he is a strong man How have our fathers owned his might and cried out under it Thou hast delivered me saith David from my STRONG enemy for he was too strong for me And again My enemies live and they are MIGHTY And Hezekiah cries out Lord I am opprest undertake for me And again We have no might against this GREAT HOST Alas when the man compares but himself to him what a Nothing is he to this great Goliah but as a fly a worm a gnat a stripling and he a man of war from his youth And here the heart sinks and dies at the very thoughts of dealing with him Was he but an ordinary enemy that might be matched any ways and the thing but feasible to fight with him then Man would have some hope but alas he carries all before him Shall not one be cast down at the very sight of him as 't is said of the Leviathan who was a type of the devil Iron is counted as rotten wood to him he laughs at the shaking of a spear Who is able to deal with this monstrous Leviathan If ever you but begin to reason and tamper the matter with him you are certainly foiled and worsted he will surely get beyond you 't is in vain to contend with him But let him vaunt and boast and rail on the Kings commandment is not to answer a word that 's the way Truth points us to to be still and lie under and say with Christ This is your hour and the power of darkness Until we can go out against him as David did in the Name of the Lord let us never stir though he come and vaunt himself and reproach Israel fourty days yet there is no other way but with Hezekiah to spread the Letter before the Lord and cry under the misery 2. He is not onely strong but a thorowout malignant enemy maliciously set and bent to destroy all truth exalts himself above all that is called God root and branch he strikes at all he deals as Herod who killed all the children from two yeers old and upward that he might be sure to meet with the childe Jesus and not let him escape So this malicious enemy kills every budding and springing of God in the soul he kills all the light kills the single love kills all the good desires that not so much as a right word or desire or groan may live and in all this his aim is utterly to destroy the Truth the principle of God sown in the soul Alas he cares not else if he can but kill the little spark of the Spirit of life he cares not what else passes by and lives Let us hear and meet together and eat and trade and take ease and content this is not the thing he is set against so but to smite the king of Israel onely that is his plot that was the wicked counsel of Ahithophel to kill David onely and bring all the people back to Absalom Neither small nor great doth he strike at but the King onely he cares not what lives so the Lord Christ the Truth the Seed of life the Heart and Minde of God may die in us Such a height of wickedness is in him that nothing else will content him but the death of all that would be a Lord over him a controuler a King this Herod cannot bear That which sits in the kings gate and will not bow to him that resolved Truth that will not fall down and worship the Idol nothing will content Haman but the death of this though he get Decrees against all the Jews though invited to the Queens banquet and sit next the King yet nothing will content him whilst this Mordecai lives that Seed of God that root of the matter that which will not stoop and buckle to him that he aims at and his fingers itch to cut off this name of Israel for ever And Oh what a Wo is this to be under such a cruel malicious enemy that would not give a moments respite not so much as a little breathing-time for the Truth not a little hope not a little desire not the least stirring of an inclination but he 's upon it presently if it were possible to stop every chink that the smoaking flax might not have the least vent but be utterly extinct and quenched 3. A third great Wo lies in this that he hath a time and power given him of God to afflict and try God allows it and gives him leave to strike Job This is YOVR HOVR saith Christ an hour was given them And God saith I will cause them to pass under the rod. And 't is said in the Psalms He TVRNED the hearts of their enemies to hate them He gives him his time and commission to rend and tear waste spoil and imprison and none can call him to account for it his Commission will bear him out Alas what a day is this In the time when the Man reigned he promised himself
and ransacked I but Christ when he comes he takes away his armour all that in which he trusted and hoped and said Now I am safe I shall sit as a Queen for ever I shall never see sorrow I but all his armour and fence is taken from him and this is a downfal indeed when he is thus found out and nothing can hide nor cover him any longer his coat of Male is taken from him and then Truth can easily enter then nothing appears but the mans nakedness and guilt and shame then the man cries out with Paul I am the chief of sinners then the Word takes place and enters and every arrow sticks Thine arrows stick fast in me saith David Then the man falls under as a poor naked helpless hopeless thing then he is counselled by Christ to buy eye-salve of him and gold tried in the fire and fine linen for he is found wholly naked and blinde and miserable We had thought Christ had ruled in us and we had been for God and the Truth we had thought our zeal and forwardness and speaking for God should have passed currant but take away this armour of the devil and then we are found out to be a wretched deceitful people a lye and deceit appears to be running in all and that there is nothing single for God and Truth without base selfish ends of our own And this is the first work Christ is to do in your souls to spoil this strong man of his armour else no Word of truth can ever come nigh and seize 2. After Christ hath taken away his armour he then seizes on his goods and DIVIDES THE SPOYL the spoyl Why what use can Christ make of his spoyl what can he do with all the devils goods You may see the thing illustrated Jer. 15. where God speaks thus Let that which is for death go to death that which is for the sword to the sword that which is for the famine to the famine and that which is for captivity to captivity 1. That which is for death to death some of these goods are presently to go to death to be utterly destroyed The enemies which you have seen to day saith Moses you shall never see them more The malignant disposition that was so wickedly bent against all prospering of Truth that evil eye that which lay in the way that one step Godward could not be taken that must be utterly destroyed and cut off for ever that abomination must live no more that ill favour that gave a taint and poison to all our ways and thoughts and words that man to Death Christ will say to that unclean spirit Come out of the man and enter into him again no more That enmity of spirit and hatred and ill will to all good the end of that is to be destroyed for ever That Cain-like love that hates its brother and would not suffer the least breathing nor prospering nor looking up of the Truth for according to that evil disposition in you if you minde it the heart rises against all good where-ever it appear though in a childe in a brother in a husband or wife yet the enmity works and hates to see your offering accepted and mine laid by as nothing But before Christ can ever come to reign this must certainly die and a whole turn of soul be wrought and we made naturally to love and chuse the prosperity of the Truth 2. Something must go to the sword That which is for the sword to the sword The Word of God that sword of the Spirit that shall still go on after that great enmity is slain to search and judge and quicken and stir up the man and cut off what hinders that the soul may grow up into the minde of God and as it hath born the image of the earthly so to bear the image of the heavenly as we have given our members servants to sin so to give them up to be servants of righteousness to be as free and voluntary and earnest in the service of the Lord as ever we have been to serve our selves to spend and be spent for the truth this the sword must do cut out a way thorow all rubbish for this minde to arise It must cut away all that sloth and carelesness that sluggish and carnal minde that sits still at home and would not come out to help the Lord against the mighty When Christ shall come to deal with us indeed and use his sword this must all be cut away and the soul pruned 3. Something must go to the famine That ill taint and setled indisposition that has been gathered and contracted by long custom in evil that hankering and lingering after the wickeds dainties all this must to the famine and be worn out by degrees and pined by little and little till it come to die Where-ever the heart is taken and hangs on the creatures on eating or wearing or trading or whatever enjoyments by degrees and degrees a secret moth shall eat and consume all a wasting and consuming famine must cure this evil disease 4. Something must go to Captivity and that is the last enemy to be destroyed the Devil he will yet keep some hold and footing and not be utterly routed so long as there is any dust to be the serpents food so long as the man hath any life beside the life of God I but now Christ shall designe him to captivity he shall be under a hewer of wood and drawer of water a servant to Christ he shall lord it no more He shall be bound for a thousand yeers and that will be the souls greatest happiness to keep him but in his prison that he may not break forth do his mischievous pranks but lie in his dungeon and be an underling to Truth though he still live for some Canaanites will ever live in the land to be the souls trial c. And thus I have opened to you this Day the great block that lieth in our way the bonds and shackles that hold us so fast It is Satans day 't is his hour and the power of darkness the mans Day of reigning is declining and laid aside in most if not all of you the man is not suffered so to bear sway and go at liberty and soar aloft in his minde but there are secret checkings and mindings of a shortness and the black feet appearing make the feathers fall And in some of you it is an empty and desolate Day you are left without much stirring either from God or from the enemy The land is void of both her kings But the greatest and sorest Day which lies sore upon some of us is The reign of the enemy and then wo to the inhabitants of the world Wo to that Land indeed where the Wicked are in Authority I opened to you the several Woes in it And now to make some Use 1. Examine How is it with you Every soul look home do you feel this strong enemy Do you
of the society out of hearing as not to have the blessing that runs in these In hearing ye shall hear and not understand and seeing ye shall see and not perceive What a misery is this and are not we thus an outcast outed from the favourable presence of the Almighty outed from the love and hearts of one another the Court of heaven hath excluded us and our own Land casts us out we presently become a burthen to our selves and each other and live only among harlots and thieves and murtherers the strange lustings and iniquities of our own hearts who of you can say that word with spirit and courage Our feet shall stand in thy gates O Jerusalem Who of us is joyned to ano her Who lives in counsell love and the true one-heartedness Who stands not alone Whose Soul sits not down in its bonds and is turned out to the wide World of temptations trialls and discouragements 2. Another misery of these Lepers is that they are all unclean and overspread with Leprosie not only shut out of the City but they must come near none to have any relief They were to carry a cloth before their mouths lest their breath should touch upon any and so infect them so loathsome and noysome was the disease upon them and how truly is this our present condition How do we spoil and infect one another with our very words we cannot speak the least word but a Selfish taint runs in it and is ready to infect whoever it lights upon either to sink their spirits with faintings about the difficulty of the way or to stir them to frowardness or move Jealousies One mischief or other comes from this loathsome Leprosie that selfish base taint that runs in all so that they as many as are sensible know and the Lord knows that we sometimes know not which way to turn us to speak a word or do an action or breathe a Breath without spreading a taint and infection in it and therefore Job cryes out at the last I will lay my hand upon my mouth I will speak no more I will be among the Lepers and cry unclean unclean Do you not see this thing I speak of Do you not â—eâ—l how you harm and grieve and infect one another and that ever we should be cured and made to speak a word in season to strengthen and help forward one another this seems wonderfull but yet it is possible If he will he can make us clean and Lepers such as we are have been cured but Lepers we are at present wholly polluted and unclean that is certain 3. Yet farther They were now under a miserable Famine you may see at what a strange price an Asses head was sold and Doves dung and how they eat their own children a woman cryes to the King Help O King this woman and I made a bargain to eat my Son to day and her Son to morrow and we boyled my Son eat him and now she hath hid her Son c. 2 Kings 6.28 29. a miserable Famine surely and when Elijah prophecied of plenty that should be to morrow one of the Nobles on whom the King leaned looks upon it as such an impossible case that he says If God should make windows in heaven can this thing be All shews the Famine was very sore in the Land and this was l ke to undo them were there no other miseries at all upon them Famine is the most miserable languishing uncomfortable death that can be They that dye by the Sword saith Jeremy are better then they that dye by the Famine O what a strange force is there in hunger How will it turn all upside down This at last buckles the Prodigall to the Dust when nothing could touch him and how truly is this Famine seised upon us Not a Famine of bread but of the word of the Lord. How doth the countenance fall and wax pale because of the Famine upon our spirits there is no bread to be found to strengthen mans heart no oyl to anoint his face to make a chearfull countenance I could ask all of you How long it is since you met with a word of power and vertue that strengthened and gave life to your souls and set you upon your legs to walk on in your journy chearfully and resolvedly Sure when you awake you will be sensible how lean and poor you are you have had so much hitherto provided and brought to you as hath just kept life and Soul together that you are not quite famished and so had these Lepers they were alive yet through all I but what strange shifts were they put to by the Famine made to eat Doves Dung and boyl their own children strange unnaturall wayes to keep a Life by and do not we use as hard shifts Are not you made often to eat your own children to eat that which is born of your own flesh comes out of your own Bowels your own wisdom and reason and counsell as David cries out How long shall I take counsell in my own heart c. We have no other food to live on now and that we turn to rather then we will starve that which once we scorned and condemned and judged as Job saith That which my Soul refused to touch is made my sorrowfull meat We have no other stay and refreshing then these dry Husks and it is a wonderfull thing that we are not yet dead with such unsavoury meat It was a sore day of Famine with Job when all was taken from him all his friends and children and wife and servants and cattle and he sits on the Dunghill to scrape himself and is cast off by all that he cryes out My breath stinks and is corrupt my breath is strange to the wife of my bosome This is a strange turn for one who had seen so flourishing a day and if you have never known plenty you cannot so sensibly know want but if you have indeed tasted of the rivers the brooks of honey and Butter as Job speaks if you have ever tasted that the Lord is gracious and then come to be denyed that will be the sore Famine indeed Oh how flourishing and green have we been in our young dayes what powers and breakings of heart upon us How could we have run barefoot and broke through all blocks in our way to meet with the truth but now how is all dead and stupid and clung within the inwards are shut up that nothing can go down nor come to the heart to strengthen and nourish but we dye and pine famish and walk about like shadows without any true life and motion It was misery enough to sit by the rivers of Babylon and remember Zion to them that were sensible of the loss they weep to think of Zion but now to be an outcast from Israel and all overspread with the Leprosie too to have a loathsom disease sticking that the breath must be stopt and kept from all society this
they should not enter into his rest and so they that were invited to the Feast and draw back and make excuses see what comes of it he swears they shall not taste of his Supper I could desire you might never come hither to hear unless there be a heart indeed to go on it is not easie dallying with the truth not like going to ordinary Chuâ—hes and meeetings there you may hear many years and never be touched to the heart nor found so guilty for not going on in the Truth but it will not be so here the Word will surely take place and be either a savour of life to life or of death unto death And thus I have opened to you the present miserable condition the Lepers sit in and brought it home to our own case and the case indeed is miserable to sit down in it and if ever we rise it will be a wonderful recovery You that are sat down O consider and think of it for if you are left here it had been good for you you had never been born Then I have shewed you how they were hem'd in with Death if they go back they dye if fall to their Enemies in all appearance they dye I apply'd it to our particulars and shewed you three Things we were brought to from which if we turn back it is no less then Death 1. We have seen the end of all the Doctrines of the world an end of all the ways of false worship 2. We know how we are short and what we want and that nothing but a certainty and clear evidence of the love of God opened and sealed to our Souls and that we may be made like to him nothing else can ever content and satisfie us 3. We are come to receive and entertain the Proclamation of a self-denying way to bid farewell to ease and quiet and self-pleasing and take up the Cross dayly and if in any of these Cases we fall back we are surely undone And now to speak of the last Thing observed from the words III. THE GREAT SUBMISSION AND BUCKLING OF THEIR SPIRITS Come and let us fall into the Host of the Syrians for we can but dye Can but dye Alas and is that little How are their Souls ground to powder and their hopes layd in the dust and they venture with their lives in their hands In this Buckling of the Lepers I would observe to you three Things 1. They rise for they were set down but are made to look about and say If we sit here we dye And must they rise now This is a strange time and case to stir in what when out-casts when Lepers when almost starved when cast off on all hands I now they rise need makes the naked man run They do not stand to dispute the case as our hearts sometimes do Alas I am unclean and an out-cast and filthy and should I now look towards God But if the famine pinch'd you to the heart it would make you up and be going and not reason the case I am ragged and torn and uncomely 't is not a time to look for any message from God whilest the case is thus with me Alas Hunger stands not upon manners and modesty it says Give me bread or I dye The sore famine buckles the heart and makes it stoop to any thing It turns to the hand that smites it falls at the foot and says Let him say and do with me what seems him good Lo here I am 2. In this submission of theirs they fall into the Host of the Syrians they fall upon the sword Now the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God with this it cuts and divides and pierces to the heart and when the Soul is brought to this pinch it bows indeed it accepts of all Let him read and say and do what he will let me hear all his mind the judging part the cutting part that which most strikes to the quick The heart is not now coy and nice and stands upon those terms of picking and choosing it says not This is too sharp and the other too cruel I cannot bear that hard saying or the other dealing No but now to the hungry Soul every bitter thing is sweet Every word of God is good saith Agur. And Paul under this buckling of heart cries out The Law is holy just and good but I am carnal c. Thus the Leper crouches down and lays his neck to the block if the sword will spare it well if not it lies to take the blow I can but dye and with Esther If I perish I perish 3. Consider the carriage of the Lepers in this great strait They rush not on furiously and desperately and say Come all shall be well they take not the Kingdom by force nor do they go utterly fainting and despairing shutting out all hopes of their lives by hard conclusions but with a sober submitted spirit they venture ready to take up what ever befalls bâ—â— whether life or whether death that they leave and conclude not the matter And in this posture doth the Soul truly buckled ever draw near to God And therefore when ever you are upon your hasty conclusions one way or other saying Sure I shall come to nothing or sure all will be well with me you say you know not what both are alike false and come not from a submitted heart that stands in the strait and gives not up all for lost in the worst time How did Josephs Brethren expostulate the case and plead with him when he seemed most harsh to them and though they buckle and own We are all my Lords bondmen we are guilty yet they plead and hang on him and cannot give over but O my Lord saith Judah let thy servant I pray thee speak a word in my Lords ears c. This is a token of a Soul that is at a want indeed Many talk of a Heaven of a God and of an eternal life but 't is but in way of complement they are not at a want indeed their Souls are not fired with a thirst for the living God but want will carry through all Though the Soul be an out-cast and the enemy reproach it and upbraids how ill it hath dealt with God and how can it ever hope for mercy yet nothing can stop or hinder it the needs press it on and the noyse continually rings in its ears If we sit here we dye Now for Use of this Consider 1. Do you indeed hear this voyce in your Souls ever living and speaking and giving no rest If I sit here I dye O that it were the Lords will to thunder it in your ears that you might ever hear it sounding If we sit here we dye Who of you have attain'd to that certainty that are sure you shall never fall short There is a two-fold Death A Death of your good and light and love and enlargements and attainments that may be come to in the Truth and here you