a Line by a Plummet and what is not warranted by the Word of God or maintainable by Arguments drawn from it we should not close with And for the closing up of all do but consider how this Chapter and the things that I have spoken to you and preached from it how they do all influence this Exhortation Little children keep your selves from Idols see to it that you approve your selves in holy worship to God and the Lord Jesus Do but argue thus You profess to be Believers and is it not your duty to answer to this profession Your Faith is a pure Faith and an obediential Grace it is a Grace that will tutour you to hang upon Christ and his Appointments and Institutions And therefore being Believers study to keep your selves from Idols and whatever is not consonant to the will of God concerning Worship You believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God keep your selves from Idols in this respect for he is come into the World and hath shewed the pattern of his House And then You are born of God carry it like a people that are born of God that are high-born and credit your holy Profession by keeping a dependance upon that God of whom you are born And then being Believers you are born of God and have overcome the world and therefore shew forth your Heroick spirit by standing out in opposition to Idols and whatever is contrary to sound Doctrin and the power of godliness You have an Unction from the Holy One and this engages you to look to it that you keep your selves from Idols And then we know saith he that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true and we are in him that is true even in his Son Iesus Christ. And thereupon he brings in this Little children keep your selves from Idols as if he should say This is the true God God in Christ Jesus Christ the Son of the Father this is the true God and he hath eternal life with him other Gods are false gods and what benefit will you have by following them and performing worship to them Nothing but eternal death false gods can bestow no eternal life upon you but this is the true God and he can give you eternal life And therefore Little children keep your selves from Idols And now yet one word more I would not occasion any discomposure of spirit that is not becoming you But this I must say for ought I know You have the words of a Dying man and we use to say that the words of Dying men they are 〈◊〉 to take somewhat a deep impression I mean a Dying man not in properness of speech according to nature and yet if it should be so I hope there would be cause of rejoycing on my part But I speak the words of a Dying man in respect of Ministerial Office I suppose you all know there is an Act come forth by Supream Authority and it is not for us to quarrel at all but to submit to it and hold correspondency with it so far as we can with a good Conscience and there being many Injunctions that many besides my self cannot comply withall therefore we are willing to submit to the penalty inflicted This I say You have for many years had the benefit of my poor Labours I have fulfilled near up towards 40 years and have performed my service to God Christ and his People and I bless his Name not without acceptance and success My Work so far as I know in this course and in the Weekly course is now at an end my Desire is that you whose Hearts have been inclineable to wait upon God in the way of my Ministry may be kept faithful to God and that you may have the blessing of the everlasting Covenant coming upon your Souls and that you may have the power of this Doctrine held forth in this Sermon put forth upon your hearts that as you do believe that Jesus is the Christ that Jesus is the Son of God that as you profess these things you may carry it suitably to your profession that you may walk in Love to God Love to Christ and Love to one another that you may labour to manifest a noble generous Spirit in overcoming the world in Errors Corruptions false Doctrines and unwarrantable Worship that you may in all things labour to approve your selves And Little Children keep your selves from Idols Amen Mr. Baxter's Farewell Sermon COLOSS. 2. 6 7. As ye have therefore received Christ Iesus the Lord so walk in him Rooted and built in him and stablished in the faith as ye have been taught abounding therein with thansgiving O Mitting the division and in part the opening of the words the Observation is this That those that have received Christ Iesus the Lord must accordingly be rooted built up in him and stablished in the faith and walk in him as they have been taught and abound herein with thanksgiving This receiving of Christ signifies to believe in him It is not only to receive his Doctrine or Benefits but to receive his Person to receive him as related to us for the uses and end for which he came into the world and for which he offers himself to souls by the preaching of the Gospel Sinners have lost and undone themselves Christ comes to be the Physitian of souls he will not save the unwilling and despisers of his grace while they continue in their unwillingness He will save them by the way of covenant while he consents and tenders them his grace he will have them consent to the terms of his covenant The consent of the heart exprest by our covenanting with him is this receiving of Jesus Christ. He is willing to be our Physitian and when we take him to be so we receive him He is willing to save us from the guilt and power of sin willing to be our Lord Head Intercessor with God Justifier and All unto us and if we consent to this and take him as offered this is receiving Christ with whom his benefits are also received the remission of sins in-dwelling renewing comforting-Spirit title to everlasting life c. In the receiving Christ all this is received Receiving of Christ contains these two things or these two things are essentially contain'd to make up the nature of saving Faith i. e. to believe the Doctrine of the Gospel concerning Jesus Christ to be true and to consent that the goodness that is therein revealed and proposed shall be ours To believe what Christ is and what he hath done so far to believe it as here we are resolv'd to venture our souls though there may be some weakness through our faith's imperfection and believing this Gospel to be the certain Word of God Then next to entertain the Christ that is offered in this Gospel to be ours with all the benefits that accompany and to all the blessed ends to which he is revealed
Title inrich his noble Soul with all the graces of thy most holy Spirit the Lord make him as holy as high that he may as much exceed in goodness as in greatnesse O Lord give him a Spirit of Wisdom to know how to go in and out before this great people and be able to discern between friends and flatterers O that he may be a true friend to thy friends and a real enemy to thy enemies the Lord make him the most glorious Instrument for promotion of the power of godliness that ever sway'd the Scepter in these Lands that under him we may live a peaceable and holy life in all godliness and honesty O Lord bless him in his Royal Consort Queen Katharine the Illustrious James Duke of York the Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council the God of all grace give them graces suitable to that high and honourable imployment thou hast intrusted them with do thou rule our Rulers and teach our Senators wisdom any that are in authority over us give them to improve their power for thee blesse the Nurseries of learning Cambridge and Oxford Dear Father bless all thy faithful Ministers thou that art the Lord of the Harvest send forth Labourers and keep out loyterers preserve those that are that they may be faithful to thee and to those over whom thou hast made them Overseers that they may neither be ashamed of thee nor thy ways truths worship however stiled and disowned by men O remember thy ancient people the Iews call in the fulness of the Gentiles that we may be all one Sheepfold under thee the great Shepherd of Souls In mercy look down upon this great City bless the Governour and Government thereof that thy Sabbath may be more strictly observed that piety may be more encouraged and profanesâ—… discouraged in the midst of us Blesse this great Congregation let them be all taught of God and more truly find that thou wert speaking to the heart when that a poor worm was speaking to the ear Bless them in their basket and their store but especially in their souls let them grow heaven-ward every one that hath spread a Bill before us do thou read them over and be a present help according to their several wants and necessities O God pardon all our sins bottle our tears rebuke the Tempter reform our lives and save our souls that by all these enjoyments we may be the more fitted for an immediate un-interrupted enjoyment of thy self in glory whereas there shall be no more tears in our eyes neither shall there be any more sin in our souls these and whetever else thou in thy wisdom sees necessary and good for us we most humbly beg in the Name and for the sake of our dear and blessed Redeemer Iesus Christ the righteous for whom we bless thee to him together with thy self and God the Holy and ever blessed Spirit the Comforter we desire to be inabled to render as we acknowledge to be most due all honour praise power might Majesty and dominion from us and all thine now and for evermore Amen Dr. Manton's Prayer at Covent-Garden OH Lord God all that we can do is-nothing of our selves we can do nothing oh let us have the gracious assistance of thy Spirit at this time let thy love constrain us say unto us thou art our salvation Do not say that we shall fill up the measure of our iniquities and there shall be no hope for us Oh Lord we are ashamed that we have waited so long in thine Ordinances and have got no more profit to our poor souls but we have given up our heart to the pleasures and vanities of this world that are but for a season even those that thou hast drawn out after thee do not walk worthy of thee answerable to that blessed hope of future happiness in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation Iesus Christ is to many of us become a stumbling-block and a rock of offence while our hearts are carried out after the world with such strong affections Oh when shall we carry our selves so as those that profess themselves to be seekers of a better life we come into thy presence now for strength do thou manifest thy self to us thou hast promised to pour out thy Spirit upon all flesh oh let it be unto us according to thy promise Oh Lord our hearts naturally are averse to thee so that of our selves we shall never be able to do any thing that may be well pleasing to thee but do thou regulate us by thy blessed Spirit that we may observe thy Statutes and do them and that thy Commands may not be grievous to us that it may not be burdensom to us to do the work of God O Lord when shall our hearts be made sound in thy Statutes we wait upon thee in the use of thine Ordinances that we may have a new supply from thee that at length we may come to see that thou art at work with us to save our souls O help us to be followers of them who with faith and patience do follow thee and to do nothing unbecoming our holy call suffer us not to swerve from thy Commandments but let us have a constant and earnest desire after thee Let the choicest of thy mercies come down upon our Soveraign CHARLES King of England Scotland France and Ireland let his heart be guided by thee and let him alwaies set thee before his eyes that under the shadow of his Government we may have peace in all godliness and honesty Blese him in his Relations in his Councels teach our Senators wisdom bewith all thy faithful Magistrates and Ministers let them be a terror to evil doers and an encouragement to them that do well Be with us in the way of thy worship we are here met together to hear and handle thy holy word oh do thou command it to light upon all our hearts let it come in the evidence and demonstration of thy Spirit and all for Christ his sake for whom we bless thee to him with thee and thy holy Spirit be praise glory for evermore Dr. Manton's Farewell Sermon Heb. 12. 1. Therefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a Cloud of Witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the Race that is set before us IN the former Chapter you have a Spiritual Chronicle or a Catalogue of the Lord's Worthies and all the emiâ—…ent effects of their Faith and now the Apostle comes to make use of this History that he had produced through â—…o many successions of Ages of all the holy men of God â—…at excelled in Faith Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a Cloud of Witnesses c. The Text is wholly Hortatory In it observe 1. The premisses or principle the Apostle worketh upon seeing we are compassed c. 2. The practical Inferences which are deduced from â—…ence and
who have made the practising every opinion to be their trying of it till they have run themselves into all opinions but 't is by the Scripture you are first to try and then to practise who are like the Noble Bereans that were more noble then those of Thessalonica because they searched the Scripture To bring the Truths that have or shall be taught you or the Doctrines that shall be imposed upon you to the word of God to see whether they be according to the Truth or no for false Doctrines and false Worship of all things they hate the Scripture most they are like falâ—…e coyn or false Jewels which go best in the night false coyn will not endure the Touchstone nor false Jewels the day no more will false Doctrines the Scripture therefore it will be a great way to discover them 2. It will be a great way to vanquish them Eph. 6. Above all take the sword of the Spirit the word of God is the sword of the Spirit by which we slay Heretical Doctrines and by which we are to slay sinful practises All those stones that the Davids of God have flung at the Geliah's of Error they have been taken out of the brook of the Scriptures therefore reduce all Doctrines offered you to believe all worships that are taught you to practise to the word of God 1. All Doctrines that are taught you to believe reduce them thither there 's no profession of faith to be built but the stones must be fetched from that mountain If you believe divine truths but not because the Scripture propounds them your faith is but humane If you believe any thing the Scripture doth not speak your faith is Diabolical the word of God and your faith must run parallel All that is written you must believe and you must believe nothing but what is written This was the Rule of the Old Testament Isa. 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony to the Law that is to Moses and to the Testimony that is to the Prophets if they speak not according to these there 's no light in them When any thing was offered to Christ by way of enquiry his common answer was How readest thou Luke 10. 26. How is it written When the holy Apostle Paul would redresse the abuse of the Lords Supper he does not carry the Corinthians to these and these Fathers to this and that use and custome but brings that how it was delivered from the Lord he reduces them to the institution What I have received from the Lord that I have delivered to you The word of God is perfect in respect of Doctrine and in respect of worship So that whatsoever is offered you to believe you must try it by the perfect rule for 't is given by Divine institution to make the man of God perfect and wise to Salvation it is such a Canon about Doctrines to be received as nothing must be added nor taken from it Rev. 22. Therefore it 's called a Testament Now no man dares add to another man's last Will and Testament who shall dare to add a faith to the Faith of Gods Elect to that which Christ hath delivered I will give you this as a certain observation that there never was any thing of false Doctrine brought into the Church or any thing of false worship imposed upon the Church but either it was by neglecting the Scripture or by introducing something above the Scripture 2. Bring hither all practice of worship as well as Doctrines to be believed try the wayes and forms of Christs house by the word of Christ he shews us the patterns thereof the outgoings and returnings thereof he was faithful in all his House even as Moses was who did not leave a pin of the Tabernacle but did appoint it There is nothing decent and comely in the Church which is so much pleaded for but what comes in by Christs institution Whatever you worship without a warrant from the word of God or by whatever means you worship without a warrant from the word of God you worship you know not what Ioh. 4. 2 't is will-Will-worship and by the same Rule you receive one will-Will-worship you may receive twenty 't is vain worship it will never reach the end of your Communion with God for he is a Spirit and seeks such worshippers it will never bring you to the enjoyment of God therefore in point of worship bring it to the word of God and as to faith and worship say Hitherto my faith and my worship shalt thou go and no further This rule rightly improved it will dis-intangle you from the hooks and take you off from the baits of those cunning Fowlers for to such the Apostle doth compare them in the New Testament who seek to betray souls from the simplicity of Gospel-faith Never any did invent false doctrine but to put up them they put down the Scripture and they put out the eyes of Christians to make them bend to it before they use other means to compel them their great work is to darken the light of the truth and in the room of the Scripture to be your rule they set up other Rules which because there are three marvellous Popular I desire to mention them in opposition to this Rule I have given you There 's a three-fold Rule men would set up to deceive poor souls The name of a Church Ancient Customes The Generality of those where they live 1. The specious Name of a Church to make that a rule to Doctrine and to worship It was the plea of the Popish party in the Marion daies What will you not believe the Church hath not the Church power to make Institutions and Canons about this and that and the other will you not believe the Church will you go out from the true Church Thus do men that go about to deceive nothing like it as to the catching and deluding many poor souls by making the Church their rule It was the way of of the Popish party of old and if Antichrist ever hath power again over the Church of Christ in that measure and degree it has had you must expect it again therefore let me caution you against it Can we enquire who this Church was It was only the decree of the proud Church Antichrist of old and the Antichristian Clergy who as you may read in their Stories would Lord it over the Faith of Gods heritage I must tell you the name and custome and way of the Churches of Christ is a reverend holy thing even of that that is a true Church 'T is a weighty Argument when the Apostle saith We have no such Custome nor the Churches of Christ And therefore I do fully close with him that said No sober man will go against Reason No Christian against the Scripture and no peaceable minded man against the Church But then the Church must shine by a Divine Scripture Light If that be a rule it must be ruled by
The Farewell SERMONS of Mr. Calamy Mr. Watson Mr. Sclater Dr. Iacomb Mr. Case Mr. Baxter Mr. Ienkins Mr. Lye Dr. Manton Mr. Ashes funerall Mr. Collins An EXACT COLLECTION OF Farewel Sermons PREACHED By the late London-Ministers VIZ. Mr. Calamy Mr. Watson Dr. Iacomb Mr. Case Mr. Sclater Mr. Baxter Mr. Ienkin Dr. Manton Mr. Lye Mr. Collins To which is added Their PRAYERS before and after Sermon AS ALSO Mr. Calamy's Sermon for which he was Imprisoned in Newgate His Sermon at Mr. Ashe's Funeral And Dr. Horton's at Mr. Naltons Funeral The last Edition being much Enlarged and more Perfect than any yet Extant 2 SAM 23. 1. Now these are the last Words of David the sweet Singer of Israel Printed in the Year 1662. THE PUBLISHERS TO THE READER THE words of dying men usually are very serious weighty and much regarded The ensuing Notes being the Preachers last Legacies to their several Congregations a little before their Civil though Voluntary Death by reason of the great Concourse of people that were then assembled in all Churches to hear their dying Pastors preach their own Funeral Sermons whilest they were yet alive many being too distant from them or too much disturbea by the crowd fell short of their share and portion in them others having lost much of what they committed to their memories addressed themselves to their friends that writ But it being found too tedious a work to satisfie the desires of all by Transcriptions some who had taken after them as followeth by the importunity of many have been prevailed with for the satisfaction of their friends to expose their Notes to publick view It is not to be expected though all care and faithfulness hath been used that the Picture should answer the Person in all things what defects therefore in any kind may be found herein we humbly pray may not be imputed to the Reverend Authors but unto the Publishers hereof We conceive we need not adde any thing to take off that clamour that is cast upon them as if out of an humour faction or which is worse disobedience to Authority they refused to conform Enough is said by themselves to give an account why they chose to take up their Cross and follow Christ in a way of conscience and fidelity Reader we will detain thee no longer from partaking of the fruit we here present thee with but conclude praying that the Lives of these worthy Ministers Hearers may be their legible Epistles seen and read of all men and that their Conversations may be such as becomes the Gospel of Christ that whether they yet again come and see them or else be absent they may hear of their affairs that they stand fast in one spirit striving together for the Faith of the Gospel Farewell Mr. Calamy's Prayer at Aldermanbury OH most Holy and ever â—…lessed Lord God! thou fillest Heaven and Earth with thy presence we pray thee fill all our hearts with the presence of thy Grace and let it appear that thou art in the midst of us with that powerful assistance of thy Spirit that we may receive a token of love from thee at this time It is a singular favour that the doors of thy Sanctuary are open to us and that yet we may meet together in thy Name we pray thee continue it to us and sanctifie it to us that every Sabbath may add to our Staturâ—… in Iesus Christ. We confess we have forfeited all our mercies we have heard much of God and Christ and Heaven with ouâ—… ears but there is little of God Christ and Heaven in our hearts We confess many of us by hearing Sermons are grown Sermon-proof we know how to scoff and mock at Sermons but we know not how to live Sermons It is a miracle of free Grace that thou hast not taken thy Gospel from us ere this time but thou art a merciful God and though we cannot please thee yet Mercy pleaseth thee and we have no argument to bring along with us to beg thy â—…avour but thy mercy in Iesus Christ. We pray thee that thou wilt glorifie thy Sovereignty in being gracious to us and pardon our many and great transg essions Thou makest use of the malice of men for thy glory thou killest Goliah with his own sword oh help us to put our trust in thee thou that canst kill and cure by killing Bless these Nations of England Scotland and Ireland and find out yet a way to save us pour down thy blessings upon the head and heart of our Sovereign CHARLES by thy Grace King of Great Britain thou hast done great things for him let him do great things for thee bless him in his Royal Consort in his Royal Relations in his Council bless the Magistrates and Ministers oâ—… this Realm Lord forgive us for we live as if we had been delivered to work wickedness we cannot sin at so cheap a rate as others do we pray thee humble us under our great and grievous sins give us Repentance unto Salvation and a lively faith through the bloud of Jesus Christ quicken our graces forgive our sies make alive our souls let us be such as thou wouldst have us to be make us Christians not only by an outward profession but an inward conversation that we may live in Heaven while we are on Earth and come to Heaven when we shall leave the Earth To that purpose bless thy Word unâ—…o us at this time and give us all grace to make conscience what we hear and how we hear And all for Jesus Christ his sake to whom with thy blessed Self and Spirit be all glory and honour Amen Mr. Calamy's Farewell Sermon August 17. 1662. 2 SAM 24. 14. And David said unto Gad I am in a great strait let us fall now into the hand of the Lord for his mercies are great and let me not fall into the hand of man IN which words we have three Parts 1. Davids great perplexity and distress I am in a great strait 2. Davids resolution 1. Affirmative Let us fall into the hand of the Lord. 2. Negative Let me not fall into the hand of Man 3. We have the Reason of Davids choice for the mercies of God are great The mercies of wicked men are cruel therefore let me not fall into the hands of men But the mercies of God are many and great therefore let uâ—… now fall into the hands of God 1. For the first that is Davids great Distress wherein we must speak 1. To the distress it self Then â—… To the person thus perplexed I am in a great strait David a great man David a godly man 1. In the perplexity it self we shall consider 1. The reality of this perplexity 2. The greatness of it 1. For the reality of it after David had sinned in numbring the people God sends the Prophet Gad to him and puts three things to his choice as you may read in vers 12. God was determined to make David smart for numbring
avoid danger â—…hall certainly meet with greater danger Balaam went out of God's way Numb 22. 22. and God sent an Angel with a drawn sword and he riding upon an Ass vers 26. the Angel stood in a narrow place where was no way to go from the right hand or from the left if his Ass had not fallen under him he had been run through by the sword of the Angel Ionah for fear of the King of Niâ—…veh went out of God's way but he met with a mighty tempest he met with a Whale What do you do when you commit sin you make way to be cast into the eternal prison of hell you destroy your precious souls to save your perishing bodies Use. 2. If sin be the father and mother of all perplexity and distresses then I beseech you let us above all things in the world abhor sin all the curses of the Bible are all due only to a sinner and all the curses not named in the Bible for that is observable Deut. 28. 36. every plague that is not written in the book shall light upon him There are strange punishments to the workers of iniquity Iob 31. 3. Is not destruction to the wicked a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity sin it bringeth the sinner to little ease little ease at death little ease at the day of judgement and little ease in hell tribulation and anguish the word in the Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 little ease to every soul that doth iniquity Oh my beloved will you promise me to look upon sin and consider it in all its woful consequents as the father mother and womb out of which come external eternal and internal straits more particularly there are twelve sins I especially command you to take heed of and avoid 1. Take heed of Covetousness the love of the world will pierce you through with many sorows the love of money is the root of all evil the love of the world drowns men in perdition 2. Take heed of the sin of Pride into what woful straits did pride bring Haman God crossed him in what he most desired God made him hold the stirrup while Mordecay rode in triumph and God hanged him on the Gallows which he had made for Mordecay 3. Take heed of Drunkenness look not on the wine when it gives its colour in the cup c. drunkenness will bring you into snares It will bite like a Serpent and sting like an Adder c. 4. Take heed of disobedience and rebellion against the Commandments of God it brought Ionah to his three nights and three dayes in the Whale's belly 5. Take heed of fornication and adultery and all uncleanness this brought Sampson to a woful strait this brought David and Solomon into great perplexity 6. Take heed of oppression and all acts of injustice this brought Ahab into a great strait insomuch that the dogs licked his blood Take heed of unnecessary familiarity with wicked men this brought Iehosaphat into a great strait 8. Take heed of misusing the Prophets of God this made God destroy the children of Israel without remedy 2 Chron. 36. 15 16. 9. Take heed of coming prophanely to the Lord's Table this brought the Church of Corinth into a great distress insomuch as the Apostle saith For this cause many among you are sick and many weak and many fallen asleep 10. Take heed of loathing the Manna of your souls this brought the people of Israel into woful misery that God destroyed all their carcasses in the wilderness save Ioshua and Calâ—…b Take heed of slighting the Gospel this brought Queen Mary's persecution as many learned and godly men that fled for Religion's sake out of the Land have confessed Their unthankfulness for and unfruitfulness under the Gospel in King Edward the sixth's time brought the persecution in Queen Mary's time 11. Take heed of losing your first Love that makes God threaten to take away his Candlestick 12. Take heed of prophaning the Christian Sabbath which is much prophaned every where a day that Christ by his resurrection from the dead hath consecrated to be kept holy to God Certainly if the Jews were so severely punished for breaking the Sabbath which was set apart in memory of the Creation surely God will severely punish those that break the Sabbath set apart in memory of Christ's Resurrection May be some will say I have committed many of these sins but am not brought into any strait Remember it was nine months after David had nâ—…mbred the people before he was in this strait but as sure as God is in heaven sin will bring straits sooner or later though a sinner live au hundred years yet shall he be accursed May be thy prosperity makes way for thy damnation and this is thy greatest distress that thou goest on in sin and prosperest Use 3. If sin bringeth a Nation into marvellous labyrinths learn what great cause we have to fear that God should bring this Nation into great distress because of the great abominations are committed in the midst of it Our King and Soveraign was in great straits in the dayes of his banishment but God hath delivered him God hath delivered this Nation out of great straits but alas we requite God evil for good and instead of repenting of old sins we commit new sins I am told there are new oaths invented oaths not fit to be named in any place much less here Certainly the drunkenness and adultery the oppression and injustice the bribery and Sabbath-breaking the vain and wicked swearing and for-swearing this Nation is guilty of must of necessity provoke God to say of us as he did of them in Ieremiah 15. 29. Shall I not visit for these things saith the Lord Shall not my soul be avenged on such a Nation as this God will not only punish us but be avenged on us There is no way to avoid a national desolation but by a national reformation Lastly learn what cause you of this Congregation and Parish what cause you have to expect that God should bring you into great straits because of your great unthankfulness and unfruitfulness under the means of Grace you that have so long enjoyed the Gospel you have had the Gospel in this place in great abundance Doctor Taylor he served one apprenticeship in this place Doctor Staughton served another apprenticeship and I through divine Mercy have served three apprenticeships and half another almost among you you have had the Spirit of God seven and thirty years in the faithful ministry of the Word knocking at the door of your hearts but many of you haue hardened your hearts Are there not some of you I only put the question that begin to loath the Manna of your souls and to look back towards Egypt again Are there not some of you have itching ears and would fain have Preachers that would feed you with dainty phrases and begin not to care for a Minister that unrips your Consciences speaks to your hearts
measure of grace oh help us by faith to relie upon God that thou mayst help us at last Bless with us all thine remember thy people from one end of the world unto the other thy people are very low this is a time of Jacob's troubles the bush is burning every day 〈◊〉 thou the hope of Israel and the Saviour thereof shew thy self in mercy to these nations We bless thee for all thy meroies that thy judgements do not feize upon us every day that thou dost not sweep us away that thou dost not rain fire and brimstone on England as thou didst on Sodom our sins cry aloud to Heaven for vengeance God is greatly provoked every day and it is a miracle of patience that yet thou hast not destroyed us God can pardon the sins of the Nation at once but we are not fit for pardon we dâ—… not humble our selves oh Lord humble us Give repentance to England from the highest to the lowest that we may return unto thee We desire to bless thee that our enemies have not had their wills over us they said they would pursue and overtake and satisfie their lusts but God did blow upon them and they did sink in the mighty waters and thou hast yet preserved thy Church we pray thee do not leave us nor remove thy Gospel whatsoever thou dost Pour down the best of thy blessings upon thy Servant and our Soveraign Charles by thy Grace of England Scotland France and Ireland King bless him with the blessings of Heaven and Earth make Him a blessing to all of us bless him in all His Relations the Lords of the Privy Council Look on them that have desired an interest in our prayers Known to thee are all of them know their souls in this time of adversity make their beds in their sickness give faith to them that complain of unbelief give the spirit of Prayer to those that complain they cannot pray Be a Counsellor to those that want Counsel in their affairs either by Sea or Land let thy blessing go with them whereever they go spare the lives of children if it be thy will Prepare us for thy good and holy Word let it be a savour of life unto life and let it come with power unto us Oh let us hear it as Thy Word nâ—…i as the word of a poor man but as the Word of God And all for the Lord Christ his sake for whom we bless thee to whom with thee and the Spirit of Grace be given Glory and Honour for evermore Amen Dr. Iacomb's Forenoon Sermon JOHN 8. 29. And he that sent me is with me the Father hath not left me alone for I do alwayes those things that please him THese are the words of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are spoken by himself they are spoken of himself though yet in a sober and modest sense they are applicable to all his members That which Christ here affirms is that the presence of God was alwayes with him and this is first propounded He that sent me is with me and then it is amplified and the Father hath not left me alone and then thirdly the reason of this is annexed for I alwayes do those things that please him I shall speak but very little of the words as they do refer to Christ he tells us his Father was with him he did not leave him alone in all the troubles and difficulties that he met withal in the finishing the great work of man's Redemption still God was with him It is true there was a time when Christ was without the sensible manifestation of his Father's presence when he cried out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Why but yet even then in truth and in reality his Father did not leave him for though he had not the evidences of his Father's presence yet he had the influences of his Father's presence It would take up much time to shew you how in all Particulars the the Father was present with Christ I will only speak this one word and instance in this one thing God's assisting presence was alwayes with him both in his active and also in his passive obedience and indeed he had that work to do and those miseries to suffer that if God had left him if he had not been mightily assisted by the Divine Nature Christ as meer man could neither have done nor have suffered what he did but the Father was with him to support him Isa. 42. 1. Behold my servant whom I uphold You shall find that Christ did act faith upon this in Isa. 50. 7. The Lord God will help me therefore shall I not be confounded Ver. 9. The Lord will help me So to the same effect is Psal. 16. 9. And you shall find this made good to him in the Scriptures in his greatest necessities Take a Double Instance In the first place After he had been engaged in that Combat with Satan you read of in Matth. 4. The strongest Combat or Dueâ—… that ever was fought wherein you have the Prince of Peace and the prince of darkness the Lion of the Tribe of Iudah and the roaring lion that seeks how to devour both of them putting forth their utmost strength and endeavouring to overcome each the other Now I say in this Combat the Father did not leave Christ but he helps him for he sends an Angel for to minister unto him Mat. 4. 11. So in Christ's bitter Agony in the Garden just before his bitter passion and death upon the Cross the Father did not leave him alone for he sent an Angel unto him to strengthen him Mat. 22. 43. and so in several other places and in several other things I might instance but I shall pass this by I but now Why did the Father thus stand by Christ he gives you the reason of it in the Text because he alwayes did the things that pleased him This I shall open in a double respect First Christ's undertaking the Work of our Redemtion it was very well pleasing unto his Father that poor lost und oâ—…e sinners should be brought back again unto God and restored unto his love and favour I say the Father was infinitely well-pleased with Christ in this undertaking Isa. 53. 10. The pleasure of the Lrrd shall prosper in his hand the pleasure of the Lord that is the Work of our Redemption wherein God the Father took great pleasure or delight therefore when Christ was publiquely in â—…he eye of the world to enter upon this great Work the Father sends him out with this witness This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased He speaks not only of his well-pleasing to his Person but also to his well-pleasing as to his Undertaking Secondly as the Work it self was pleasing unto God so Christ's managing of â—…his Work was all along pleasing unto his Father and that doth appear in this that Christ in all things kept to his Father's Commission and to his
Thus the water of life is freely tendered to all that are athirst and there is no more required but Come and drink Then there is two things implyed that are the immediate products of this saving Faith and inseparable from it i. e. trusting on him as the Redeemer and obeying him as a Lord. To rest upon him as a Redeemer Rom. 15. 12. And here as far as the soul feels entertainment and encouragement by Christ overcoming his doubts that Christ will reject him c. so far he hath quietness of soul in Christ and will trust his soul upon Christ. And then the obeying of him in order to our full recovery as a Patient must obey his Physitian in using his remedies and means he prescribes for killing our sins restoreing our souls to Gods love and being with him to eternity The nature of Faith is to receive Christ the sincerity of it lies in the suitableness of the act to the object that we receive him as He is Now in Christ there is something essential to this act that he be a Saviour and our Saviour c. And there is something makes unto the well-being and fuller attaining of the end The first are the objects of Faith it self as 't is of absolute necessity to Salvation The second sort are the objects of Faith as it is strong and makes to the well-being of a Christian. All that is essential to Christ as a Saviour and Redeemer is to be believed by him that will approve himself a true Believer And thus to receive Christ as the eternal Son of God made Man the Redeemer of the World ruling us upon the right of Redemption justifying us before God bringing us to God and interceding for us And thus Christ must be received according to his Offices and as those uses for which he is given to the soul do import and and imply For the Application of this point First let us begin with those that our business at present doth not mainly lye on Must men walk in Christ as they have received him What shall we say to those that have not will not receive him that stop us at the door that we can't bring in the Doctrine of Christ that will not receive the principles of Christ How can we bring them and build them up that will not suffer the Foundation to be laid the seed to be received Hast thou not received Christ Then thou hast refused Christ been a despiser of the Gospel of Christ which will prove thy great condemnation What is it for thee to bear the Name and not to have the Spirit of Christ Do not go upon conjectures It 's one thing to number thy self with those that are Christians as to outward appearance and another thing to open thy heart and deliver up thy self to Christ's Government and as a lost sinner to receive him to those ends a Saviour must be received And remember this was no small Work God's sending Christ into the World no small thing to fetch thee from Hell and Satan to wash guilty Souls from all their sins and to bring them to everlasting glory If these great things be rightly understood and believed by thee if Christ be understood well as Christ it must be done with a wakened humbled self-resigning heart making the greatest matter in the World of these things Hath thy soul been seriously taken up about thy own recovery And hast thou received Christ as a man that was ready to be damned as one that had a load on his soul heavier than all the Mountains of Earth to ease and deliver him As one that was under the frowns of God in an estate of enmity receives reconciliation Hast thou received Christ as if thou hadst received Heaven in him Believe it these are great Transactions and will affect thy heart and it is not a sleepy or jesting matter thus to receive Christ. Consider what it is to receive Christ. First If you have received Christ you have received the great Reconciler that binds up the broken-hearted quiets those that tremble under the threatnings of God for fear he should forsake and cast them off for ever Secondly If thou hast received Christ thou hast received a perfect enmity to all sin that will never let thee rest in sin but be perswading thee from it and conflicting in thee against sin in thy soul If thou hast received Christ thou hast not received a friend for sin that will plead for or give thee leave to commit sin but one that though he bear with thee in thy weakness yet abominates thy sin If thou hast received him as a Lord and Master to rule thee to be consented and subjected to him and to be ruled by none but in subordination to him who will break those in pieces that refuse his Government Obedience and not verbal Profession is the thing he requires Hast thou entertained Christ to be the Master of thy words thoughts and deeds whose Government thou livest under more than under any in the world Thirdly If you have received Christ you have then received the beginning of felicity and full contentment to your souls having found none in your sins you have it discovered to you where it is therefore with gladness you go on and so far as you have hopes of attaining it so far you have great contentment c. Fourthly In a word If you have received Christ you have fallen out with sin subjected pleasures profits and honors to him and you have received his Spirit and this Spirit hath made you new and maintains a War within you against the flesh c. If this be not thy case Oh that thou knewest what a case thou art in For then First What the better art thou for all his blood shed as yet if thou wert this day to dye What would Christs blood do to the cleansing and saving of thy soul Secondly How canst thou look thy sins in the face and think on what thou hast done and art How canst thou look inward into thy defiled heart and not tremble when thou hast no more shelter from the wrath of God Thirdly How canst thou look God in the face who is a hater of sin How canst thou read his Attributes think on his Threatnings c. Fourthly How canst thou think to have any duty accepted any prayer heard or rewarded c. Fifthly How canst thou think on the day of Judgement on the time when thou must receive thy final sentence if thou hast not received Christ Oh what a thing is a Christless heart c. Quest. What shall I do that I may receive Christ Answ. First Till Christ be thine and hath brought peace from Heaven to thy soul let no peace be there to keep him out I do not say Overwhelm thy self with sorrow but let sorrow dwell there and let holy cares and solicitousness about thy spiritual state be there till Christ come and quiet and reconcile thee to God Secondly Read and believe the
they are two 1. One concerning the privative part of our duty â—…et us lay aside every weight c. There is something external and without like to clog us in our way to Heaven â—…very weight and something within that will hinder and â—…ouble us within therefore he saith and the sin which â—…h so easily beset us 2. Here is the positive part Let us run with patience 〈◊〉 Race that is set before us There 's motion Run the manner with patience the stage or way the Race that is set before us My purpose is to give you some brief thoughts upon this usefull and practical inference of the Apostle from the Histories of the faithfull before recorded Therefore I will sum up the whole Text in this point Doct. The people of God that have such a multitude of examples of holy men and women set before them should prepare themselves to run the spiritual race with more patience and chearfulness There are two things in this Doctrine the Encouragement and the Duty I shall open both with respect to the circumstances of the Text. First the Encouragement A multitude of examples or as in the Text Seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses Mark here are witnesses a great cloud of witnesses and these compassing us round about First here are witnesses by that term we are to understand those worthy Saints mentioned and reckoned up in the former Chapter Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Moses c. all the Saints of God that have had experience of the goodness of his providence to them and the fulfilling of his promises they are all called Witnesses Why because they depose a Testimony for God and speak to future generations to be constant as they did that they might receive the like reward This witness was partly in their faith and partly in the fruit of their faith 1. They witnessed by their Faith Iohn 3. 33. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true A man that hath soundly digested the promises that expresses his faith by chearfulness and patience under all difficulties troubles delaies and those sundry trials that he meets with he gives it under hand and seal proclaims it to the world that he hath to do with the true God And 2. They witnessed in the fruits of their faith as they give us an instance of Gods fidelity towards them that faithfully adhere to and firmly believe in his promâ—… so it is said Heb. 6. 12. Be not sloathfull but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promise Let faith but set patience a work do but hold out a little while with God and you may learn by the example of all those holy men we shall inherit the promises they shall be made good to a tittle and not one thing fail of all that the Lord hath spoken as these holy men were exercised and tossed to and fro but it succeeded well with them at the last Oh! then let us hearken to the deposition of these worthy witnesses that are recorded in the Scripture and with such an invincible resolution as theirs was let us hold on our course towards true happiness If we do not they that are now propounded as witnesses to us will at the day of judgement be produced as witnesses against us And pray also let us remember that we are to continue and keep afoot that Testimony to succeeding generations for not onely the Prophets and holy men of God were witnesses but all Gods people also are his witnesses Isa. 43. 10. by their faith patience diligence constancy and a chearfulness under afflictions they are to give it under hand and seal to the world that God is a true and faithfull God But now if we either by our sinfull walking or by our drooping discouragements discredit Christ and his profession then we are witnesses against him we deny that Religion which we would seem to profess and cry up Tit. 1. 16. They profess they know God but in works they deny him and the more dangerous because deeds are more deliberate then words and so a greater evidence of what we think in our hearts If we by drooping discouragements and sinfull walking discredit Religion we deny it and do in effect put the lie upon Christ. Therefore let us remember they were witnesses and so must we 2 By a figurative speech they are called a cloud havâ—… a cloud of witnesses why so I might trouble you with many conceits Interpreters have had of this word cloud say some because of the raisedness of their spirits because clouds fly aloft Clouds for the fruitfulness of their doctrine as clouds send down fruitfull showers upon the earth and clouds because they cool and cover us from the heat so some would gloss for our comfort others with more judgement say a cloud with allusion to the pillar of cloud which conducted the Israelites to Canaan yet neither doth this come up fully to the scope of the Apostle for the Apostle speaks not of a cloud that goes before us but of a cloud that compasses us round about and therefore a cloudy the reason why 't is called so is the number and multitude of those witnesses as a cloud is made up of a multitude of vapors gathered together and condensed into one body and so the expression is often used Ezek. 38. 9. thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land c. noting the increase of the people when God would restore them the multitude of converts and so in profane Authors Livie hath such an expression an army of men is called a cloud but this is enough to shew the intent of this expression that there are a multitude a very great number though the godly comparatively and with respect to the wicked are a few yet considered in themselves they are a great number for if the Martyrs and those glorious instances of heroick faith and that under the Old Testament when God's interest was more confin'd to one people if there were such a Church then of so great a number what will the whole Church of the Old and New Testament be when we shall meet together in Heaven We are often discouraged with the paucity of Professors and are apt to think our selves to be left alone 1 Kin. 19. 10. But let us remember there is a Cloud of Witnesses we are not solitary now and certainly we shall not want company when we come to Heaven To the innumerable company of c. Again it meets with an ordinary and strong temptation which Satan suggests to the hearts of the godly that they are singular and matchless in their afflictions that none of the people of God have ever undergone such difficulties as they are expos'd unto and this makes them question their Father's affections and put themselves out of the number of his children I but all these things are accomplished in the Saints of God before you here is a Cloud of
slight of men and cunning craftiness that can cog the Die notable Gamesters there are in the World but you must stand steady in judgement you must be firm to your principles I would have you Stars not Meteors for Meteors are carried about with every blast of Wind. I hope better things of you I shall pray God would make you steadfast in Iudgement 1. Be sure to get good principles and secondly Be sure to stand in those good principles that you have got And though I cannot say but some Tares are sown among this Parish yeâ—… I bless the Lord for the generality I hope I may say I have an Orthodox Ministry 2. 'T is not enough to stand iâ—…â—…udgement but we must be steadfast to our 〈◊〉 1 〈◊〉 15. 58. Be steadfast immoveable such as stand firm on some Basis and foundation that doth not totter and stagger if they find you staggering to be sure the next moment they look upon you as falling Be as they say of one or both of the Poles of the Heavens though all the world turns the Poles are immoveable If I mistake not you may see a great turn in the World â—…nd behold at this day the greatest turn that ever was in England but yet you must not move you must not stir be true to your Resolutions be just to your first love go on in the Lords Work let nothing take you off If I have preached any false Doctrine among you witness against me at the day of judgement but if the things I have preached be true stand to the truths if you do not witness against my Doctrine mine 't is not but rather witnesse for it remember if you leave it that very Doctrine will witnesse against you at the day of Judgement Oh! that excellent Heroe Queen Hester thus and thus I will do and if I perish I perish You cannot imagine against how many thousand temptations a stadfast resolution will guard you 3. There 's a steadfastnesse of Faith too when we so believe as that we do not waver or do not hesitate Will you give me leave to propose to you my dear Friends though my Congregation I cannot call you that question which our Saviour did unto the Jews whom he hated though I love you The Baptism of Iohn whence was it from heaven or of men The doctrines you have heard have they been from Heaven or from men Answer me if from men abhor them man is a false creature man would make merchandize of your faith and souls but if from Heaven why then should you not believe them I blesse the Lord my conscience bears me witnesse I never did so far propose a doctrine to you I would have you believe without Scripture If the doctrines have been from God believe them if not abhor them and any of those that shall dare to bring a doctrine but dare not bring the authority of the Scripture to warrant them You may not be like those in Iam. 1. 6. that mavereth like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed The most godly man may stumble in his way i. e. tread awry but a wavering minded man is never settled concerning his way Blessed be God I am not now on this day that looks as like my dying day as can be in the world to begin to fix upon a Religion to fix upon my way I know my way If God will but keep 〈◊〉 steps and guide me in that way If God be 〈◊〉 I appeal to your consciences worship him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God worship him do not stand disputing and doubting do not say shall I shall I if the ways you have found be the ways of God follow them God hath but one way to heaven there is but one truth if Baal be God follow Baal do not stand wavering do not consult with flesh and bloud 't is an infinite mercie that God will give any of us to leave Relations Estates Congregations any thing for Christ 't is an infinite mercy we do not split upon a rock Be sure to be either for God or Baal a godly man many time halts in his way but never halts between two opinions 4. Steadfastness of Conscience Indeed the genius of my ministry hath lyen this way and here I could easily launch out but I must be short I would speak a word in season to those that are weak it becomes you to be steadfast in conscience then have a God decreeing a Christ redeeming a spirit quickning a gospel promising a heaven prepared a God infinitely more ready to save him then he can possibly be desirous to be saved by him Be steadfast in conscience against the guilt the filth of sin against the temptations of Satan c. Let us draw near with full assurance of faith you can never believe Gods love so much as Gods love doth engage you to believe c. I might adde 5. You must be steadfast in conversation 't is not the Running well but the Running out 't is not the sighing but the conquering that gives you title to the Reward for you to give a great deal of milk and to throw it down all at length with your foot may argue you to have a good dug but a bad foot Never give those beâ—…sts of Babylon occasion to say that a man may be a child of God in the morning and a child of the devil at night that we contradict that Doctrine by our conversation that we assert in our profession But why must we be stedfast Alas why would you have me marshal up all the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 me count the stars or number the sands on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is noâ—… an attribute in God not a precept 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 in the word not an ordinance 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 there is nothing in God or 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or ourselves but all would give a conâ—…ribution of 〈◊〉 to prove the Saints 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I must but hâ—…nt at a few things First I would argue from Iesu Christ. Believers you love Christ and therefore you love the honour of Christ now the honour of Christ is highly engaged in your stedfastness We never cast a deeper blot on the honour of Christ then when we grow unstedfast I need not tell you so the Jesuits those meâ—…k Papists will tell you so those that delight in nothing more then in the milk of the Virgin Mary and in the bloud of Saints they have enough if you be unsteady 1. You dishonour Christ in his sufferings Pray tell me Believers why did Christ swear bloud why did he dye why did he undergo what the wrath of Devils could inflict but for this end to make you steady to give you the conquest of all spiritual Enemies and to make you stand in that conquest triumphing Thus I remember as Ioshuah Jos. 10. 24. Come put your feet upon the necks of these kâ—…ngs and they came near and put their feet upon the necks of them So Christ hath dy'd that you might live
the Scripture the Churches power is not Authoritative as to give Laws against the Laws of Christ it 's only Ministerial we do believe the Scripture for it self and not because of the Church we receive the Scripture by the Church Hence therefore when we set up the name of a Church let us see whether that Church walks in the way of Christ whether she be his Spouse or no whether she doth act according to his Institutions whether they bring his light yea or no then submit for it is not what a Church practises but what they are warranted to practise not what they hold for a truth but what they are warranted to hold as the word of truth The word was written afte the Church but as it is the word of God it s before it This therefore will break the snare if you be set upon by the specious name of the Church look that the Church hath warrant from Scripture Institution and then submit to Church Institution A second Rule I observe men would set up to betray poor souls from the faith once delivered to them is Ancient Custome Our Fathers worshipped in this Mountain when they would hold forth that which the Scripture is short in they will send us to such and such Customes of so many hundred years standing It is to be bewailed that the date the standing of false Doctrines and false Worships is so ancient for though at first they were but Invocations yet to succeeding Generations they become old And 't is a very great truth that That is the most ancient is the most true and therefore there lies a great snare in this Therefore when Antiquity is pretended if you find not their hoary heads in the way of Righteousness there is little reason for you to reverence them or comply with them no more then there was reason so suddenly to be taken with the Gibeonites mouldy bread and clouted shooes When matters of Antiquity are pretended say as Ignatius Iesus Christus est mea Antiquitas Jesus Christ is my Antiquity so say Truth is my Antiquity for though an opinion have been practised a thousand years yet men may have the word of truth in their hearts that is ancienter then all A third Rule that men would set up is The general course of the world or place the generality of those where they live This was that the Popish Party did often mention to the Witnesses of Jesus Christ what will you be wiser then others can't you do as others do must you be singular And this is a taking rule for to make you conformable to those things possibly the word of God will not warrant if you bring not this custome to the word of God 't is not what the most do but what we may do 't is not what is the practise of all in general but what ought to be the singular care and strict holiness of Christians in particular that the word of God will allow Christians are not to be conformable to the present world Rom. 12. 1. The word will tell you it is no more safe to follow a multitude to do evil then it will be sweeter to be in Hell with a great company The word will let you know the secrets of the Lord are with a very few and those them that fear him as for the whole world it lies in wickedness The word will tell you The waies of Jesus Christ and the profession of Jesus Christ is commonly called a Sect it is every where spoken against and men hate it every where Therefore set up this Rule in your hearts in your houses in your meditations in your practise Rule 2. Be very well rooted and established in the faith that hath been delivered to you I observe it 's one of the great reasons why Christians so easily let go the profession they have made is because they were never well built upon it nor established in it There are many Christians that through their own itching ears heaping up Teachers to themselves have never been rooted or established in the truth the Lord pity them and keep them this day Many Christians that have attended to establishing means yet never seriously considered nor laid things to their heart but are like those the Apostle speaks of Heb. 5. 12. that had need to learn the first Oracles of God How many among us profess with the highest but have little ground for their faith only with the Jews the Traditions of the Elders the custome of the place Education and because such a party of men say so because no body denies it because Ministers commonly preached it but to take any solid and serious ground they are yet to seek 'T is not wiâ—…h the things of God as with other Arts as Logick Rhetorick Astronomy in these Arts the principle is presupposed to be proved no man goes about to prove there is Reason that there is Number that there are Heavenly bodies because sense and experience shews it But 't is quite otherwise in the things of God for you are not only to run away with the notion that there is a God that this God is one and that these are his word and his works but you are to know this by experience because the knowledge of these things comes in by infusion by faith by a belief that God is For by Faith we believe the worlds were made by the word of God Heb. 11. 2 3. It is that therefore I would press you to that you would labour for an established spirit Do not only hear the things of God but see them the first will but blind you or at best leave you at great uncertainties the last will settle you What was the reason of the holy Apostles zeal when they were under the greatest threatnings of the High Priests and were forbid to speak in the name of Christ and to speak of Justification by faith and the Resurrection of Christ from the dead and forgiveness of sins by him things that are furthest remote from sense and reason the Apostle will tell you Act. 4. 20. We cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard Hence it is that poor silly women that in respect of their Imbecility and Infirmity of sex the terrours of the fire and faggot might have been such to have brought them to Apostacy yet they confounded the great Doctors and Rabbies when they were brought before them they were able to burn though they could not dispute they beheld things that were invisible It is an excellent thing not to take up the word upon notion upon opinion but to have an established heart through grace I shall direct you in two words 1. Get the Lord by Prayer to teach you every truth what Jesus Christ teaches once is everlastingly taught no word is abiding but what the Lord Jesus teaches himself Look as it is with Satan when he comes to seduce men from the truth he will present such a fine notion without and commonly he
not esteem the Gospel according to the vessel according to the disparagement of the Vessel a Vessel of dishonour in respect of its matter may be a Vessel of honour in regard of the Gold that is in it those Members of the body that are weak and in themselves lesse honourable we afford a great deal of honour upon them in decking and cloathing them So the Ministers Work and Employment and the Doctrines they bring are excellent and of great use when all is done we have that we serve for according to the employment we are put to we are honourable though outwardly mean Wicked and base men are called filâ—…i terrae they are sons of the earth Iob 30. 8. Children of fools yea children of base men they are viler then the earth i. e. Men of no account as one saith the earth groans under such ingracious persons but gracious persons are Vessels of honour as it was said of the Giants of old so it may be said of these They are men of Renown and so we should esteem of them Worldly men look at the outside and so esteem of them so was Christ dealt with Is not this the Carpenters Son So those Teachers in Corinth endeavoured to render St. Paul his presence weak and his speech contemptible 2 Cor. 10. 11. that so they might make his Ministry contemptible also But this glorious Treasure is in Earthen Vessels You know saith St. Paul Gal. 4 13. that through infirmity of the flesh I preached the Gospel unto you at first This was their commendation v. 14. But my temptation which was in my flesh you despised not nor rejected but received me as an Angel of God even as Iesus Christ. All his weaknesses and whatever was matter of discouragement they did not despise but honourably entertained him even as Christ himself So it was the commendation of the Thessalonians 1 Thess. 2. 13. that they received not the word as the word of man but as it is in truth the word of God looking to the mighty God to make it effectual so should all others do upon this consideration 2. Seeing Ministers are earthen Vessels in tegard of moral infirmities which adhere to them in respct of their corruptions and weaknesses judge of them as men but esteem of what is righteous in them though they have great advantages against sin and be very carefull against sin yet notwithstanding they are not totally exempted and freed from sin as they are Ministers so they are men 3. In regard that Ministers are earthen Vessels in respect of their frailty Seeing then they are so â—…rail and transitory therefore accordingly you should make use of them deal kindly and affectionately with them in that they are quickly broken What is sooner broken then a Glasse or an earthen vessel Ministers are quickly taken away and therefore you should be tender of them while you have them Where are all the Fathers Do the Prophets live for ever the word of the Lord indeed endureth for ever but the Preacher of it doth not the Gospel is eternal but the Dispenser is mortal the Calling is lasting but the Minister is transitory and therefore you should carry your selves with all tendernesse and respect to them take heed of grieving their spirits seeing they are so soon broken Endeavour also to improve by them and to get as much good as you can by them It is a great argument to work while it is day because the night comes when no man can work whilst God affords means and opportunities make use of them we are but passengers therefore this is a great ground for you to endeavour to get all the good you can by your Ministers seeing they are frail Lastly By way of improvement Take notice of the wayes of God as different from man God pnts excellent treasure into Earthen Vessels we keep treasure in strong holds in the strongest Repositories Gods ways are not as our ways he goes another way then we doe he makes use of the poorest meanest and most frail creatures sometimes he layes aside many times men of greater abilities parts and quality and makes use of weaker to do this great Work Chrysostome makes and expostulation If it be excellent tâ—…easure why in earthen Vessels Therefore it is a Vessel of Earth because an excellent Treasure Thus Gods waies are unsearchable This is the improvement Now besides this interpretation given of it there is another that will not be impertinent Some understand by Earthen Vessels the expressions words and phrases of the Ministry through which the doctrines and truths of the Gospel ate conveyed this is agreeable to what went before Some false Teachers in Corinth pleased themselves with eloquent and enticing words of worldly wisdome and so endeavoured to render Pauls preaching despicable in regard of the plainnesse of it therefore saith the Apostle we have this treasure in earthen vessels i. e. familiar conveyances that so we may easily understand it Thus I have explained this Earthen Vessel and so have done with the first considerable part viz. the dispensation it self This Treasure we have in Earthen Vessels and come now to the second viz. II. The account of this Dispensation That the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us Which words may be considered two waies 1. Either absolutely as lying in themselves Or 2. Connexively to the words before going 1. Take them absolutely as they lie in themselves and two things are exhibited 1. The excellency of the Gospel and Ministry it self called Power 2. The Author and Original of it laid down two waies positively of God and negatively not of 〈◊〉 1. The excellency of the Gospel and Ministry thereof called Power There is a great deal of power and efficacy in the Gospel it is in its nature powerful and efficacious so the ministry of it Romans 1. 16. I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth See 1 Cor. 2. 4. Paul's preaching was in the demonstration of the Spirit and of Power c. 'T is called the Arm of Gods Power the sword of the Spirit Ephes. 6. 17. 'T is quick and powerful and sharper then any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit c. Heb. 4. 12. and many other places We may conceive it to be so according to the various effects and consequences of it viz. as to 1. Conviction 2. Conversion 3. Consolation 1. 'T is powerful in regard of conviction it is a word of conviction and one part of the Work of the Ministry is by the Spirits co-operation to convince the World of sin to open mens eyes to shew them the vilenesse of their wayes to discover such courses to be sinful the Conscience is awakened by the Spirit in the Ministry of the Word herein it is powerful and efficacacious There are divers instances in Scripture how powerful the Word hath been in
point of conviction in Foelix the Apostle Paul preached to him of righteousness and judgement to come c. He trembles The Judge on the Bench trembleth at the word delivered by the Prisoner at the Bar So powerful is the ministry of the Word as to discover our sinfulness So the Disciples going to Emaus their hearts burnt within them when our Saviour opened to them the Prophets c. So it was with St. Peters Auditors Acts 2. they were pricked in the heart when they heard this he did preach to them in the power and demonstration of the Spirit and plainly discovered that sin that they were more especially guilty of and when they heard that they were pricked in the heart c. 2. It is a word of Conversion also Conviction is one thing and Conversion is another Sometimes men may be convinced but yet have no change wrought in them therefore conversion is another work it is a turning men from darkness to light from the power of Satan to God c. to receive an inheritance among them that are sanctified Herein is the Word powerful viz. in regeneration I have begotten you by the Word to a lively hope c. of his own will hath he begotten you c. 4. It is a word of comfort and consolation it is a powerful word and able to comfort the heart and the Ministry is very effectual herein when set on by the Spirit to quiet satisfie and pacifie the consciences of men which declareth the remission of sin and whosoevers sins are forgiven must needs be comforted Indeed it is not in the power of men to forgive sins yet they can speak a word of comfort in season by the administration of the promises the Spirit of God going along with them and then they are not only declarative but operative Where I say it pleaseth God to blesse and sanctifie the Word it is effectual for quieting of the mind for pacifying of the conscience and setling of the troubled soul. Thus you see how powerful the ministry is and seeing it is so this should teach us how to behave our selves under it it is powerful in it self and powerful in its dispensation and hath none of that weaknesse mentioned before of the dispenser of it I was with you saith St. Paul in much weaknesse and in fear and in trembling 1 Cor. 2. 3 4. and my speech was in demonstration of the Spirit and of power These may seem to be contradictory but 't is answered the Word is powerful in the demonstration of the Spirit though delivered by one of humane weakness as before is declared This spiritual power we should look at and labour after which power doth not consist in matter of elocution the inticing words of mans wisdome nor in matter of voice which indeed is a good thing and sutable to the nature of the Matter a quick and powerfull delivery is of great efficacy and power for the setting home of truths Yet this doth not make a powerfull Ministry for a whisper in the ear may cause a thunder-bolt in the conscience the power lyes first in the nature of the matter the matter consists in the nature and condition of mankind the certainty of Judgement the necessity of Christ the covenant of Grace and the Graces and priviledges thereof c. These carry a great deale of power and efficacy with them when they are carefully and frequently dispensed and Gods spirit going along with them so they become powerfull for the Ministry consists not in empty notions and speculations that will onely tickle the fancy but never reach the conscience Morall discourses though they be of great use yet if we rest in them they leave us as they found us Evangelical truths which are manifold are to be delivered in the Ministry Now as the matter of the Ministry must be powerfull so the expressions must be powerfull there should be sutablenesse of expression to the matter h. e. with gravity sobriety and affection c. Strong lines make but weak preaching and take away the efficacy but delivering truths in the demonstration of the spirit and in power that is most effectual when we speak feelingly and from our hearts it comes then through the blessing of the Lord with it with power This is then to learn us of the Ministry viz. 1. Use. Let us be careful that the matter of our Ministry be powerful so that the handling and dispensing thereof be powerful that so it may come home to the conscience thus we should deale with all the words of the wise are as good and as nails fastned by the Masters of Assemblies c. Eccle. 12. 11. So our words should have a force and power in them This as the Apostle sayes is mighty and powerful to the beating down of strong holds c. Use 2. Secondly in reference to hearers seeing the Ministry is powerful you must then submit your selves to the power of it Many people are Sermon-proof and think to stand it out against the power of the Word but if it comes in power to the conscience they will not be able to resist it as it is said of them in the Gospel they were not able to resist the spirit by which he spake viz. Steven And for those that desire the conversion of others what course should be taken by them for that end but by good counsel instruction prayer and good example to endeavour to convince them and more especially to bring them to the Word and administrations thereof which God hath sanctified for this end So much for the excellency of the Gospel viz. The excellency of the power c. I come to the second 2. The Author of it 1. Positively it is of God And 2. Negatively it is not of us First Positively it is of God and that in all the considerations of it in the full extent of it it is of God So the ministerial gifts the performances of it and the success of it are all from God First Ministerial gifts are from God it is lie that makes us able Ministers of the New-Testament there are saith the Apostle Paul diversity of gifts to one is given the Word of wisdome to another the Word of knowledge by the same spirit c. 1 Cor. 12. 4 5 6. It is God that bestows every good gift Secondly The performance also is from God his grace concurs and assists therein the habit and the act are both from him God gives gifts to men and he enables them to dispence them Ministerial employments are not onely for generall but particular applications and so need not onely general but particular assistances That I might be enabled saith St. Paul to fulfill the work c. the Lord stood by me and strengthened me that my preaching might be fully accomplished It is God that makes the work powerful efficacious and successful Alas when we have used our best endeavours all the success is from him he must make it effectual it
been acquainted with him many years He was not onely a Minister but the Son of a Minister his birth and education suiting together He lookt upon it not onely as an honour but as an engagement to be carefull to walk in those steps set before him and to continue the work of the Ministry begun by his Religious Father Certainly the Children of godly and holy Parents cannot come off so cheap in their carriages as others they have greater accounts to make as having greater examples set before them greater advantages of prayer exhortation c. and so greater engagements this was thought on and observed by him And as he was the Son of a Minister so when he came to years and was fitted he took upon him the Ministry as he was one of great abilities so accordingly he discharged them faithfully and conscienciously He was a spirituall powerfull consciencious Preacher he preached by his Life for as Erasmus saith we should not onely love to speak truths but we should digest truths on our own hearts before we commend them to others and so they will be the more effectual He was a man of a very meek sweet and humble spirit a man of great humility and of great meekness in the midst of great abilities which was a great Ornament in him a man full of tenderness and condescension to others a man of a very yeilding and melting fram of spirit soon dissolved into tears It was the saying of one that a good man is full of Tears so this good man was full of Tears not affected but very real and hearty drawn from the fullnesse of his Spirit as the Apostle Paul saith he served the Lord in much humility and many tears This was remarkable that in these times our Reverend Brother was full of tears in delivering his Doctrine which was sutable to the age we live in being full of sin and calamity there is much need of a bewailing spirit to bewaile the iniquities and miseries of the times they that cannot bewaile themselves need the tears of others He was a man of great integrity and single-heartednesse in his exhortations he had much of the simplicity of Christ as the Apostle Paul speaks In reference to the Ministry he had no worldly and base affections he had no carnall designes therein but his chief design was to bring souls home to Christ that was his chief businesse As the Apostle saith of himself may also be said of him that in simplicity and godly sincerity he had his conversation in the world not walking in craftinesse nor handling the word of God deceitfully but by the manifestation of the truth commending himself to every mans conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4. 2. He was a man that had ability to speak a word in season he was very compassionate to a wounded spirit he himselfe having been much afflicted He was a man much in communion with God and had much acquaintance with God and was carefull in improvement therein he was a Iacob in wrestling with God a Moses that stood in the Gap an Elijah that prayed earnestly the whole Land was the better for such a Person being much with God he made many addresses to him and had much holy familiarity with him And as in his publick performances he was very faithful and beneficial so in his family and private he was very fruitful and serious In a word not to multiply much in this kind you need it lesse in this Auditory but onely by way of grateful memorial there was much of God and Christ in him and he was a great example to his fellow-servants there was much of his Treasure spoken of in the Text in this earthen Vessel as in the matter of it he was one of a Gospel spirit and in the conveyances of it he had great abilities for the work of the Ministry and discharged it with a great deale of successe As he had this Treasure in an Earthen Vessel so his Vessel his fraile body was no disparagement to him but the advancement of the Treasure in setting forth the power to be of God his outward man was much weak and worn away but his inward man was upheld by the grace of God His first work in the Ministry was in that place where my self have relation to he was an assistant to my predecessor being then past labour Mr. Richard Couder and performed the work so well that he was exceedingly beloved of Mr. Couder and well beloved of the Parish and other places He left a good impression behind and I found good effects by the foundation there laid The Apostle Paul indeed desired not to work there where another had laid the foundation but I thought it a great advantage that the foundation was laid by such a Master-builder He was called into the Country to Rugby in Warwick-shire there he continued very fruitfull and did much good For some occasion he removed and returned into the City and came into this place where he continued about 18. or 19. years discharged the work of the Lord carefully I need not say much of his carriage in this place I appeal to your own Consciences I may say of this servant of Christ as the Apostle Paul said of himself 1 Thes. 2. 10 11. Ye are his witnesses and God also how holily and justly and unblameable he behaved himself among you as you know how he exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a Father doth his Children that ye would walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his kingdome and glory Therefore there lies an engagement upon you to walk answerable to the truths he delivered and to follow his steps considering the end of his conversation I shut up all in the words of the Apostle Paul to the Phillippians Ch. 4. 9. Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in him Do and the God of peace shall be with you Mr. Nalton's Prayer Iuly 20. 1662. at Foster-lane ETernal most Mighty and most glorious Lord God Thou aâ—…t God alone and besides thee there is no Saviour or Helper our strength stands in thy Name who hast made both Heaven and Earth of our selves we are able to do nothing that is pleasing in thy sight we can pollute thy name but we cannot honor thy name we can run away from thee but we cannot run unto thee unlesse thou dost powerfully draw us by thy Spirit we can grieve thy spirit but we cannot grieve for grieving of thy spirit Oh let thy strength be manifested in our weaknesse look upon us with the favour thou bearest to thy Children Enter not into judgement with thy servants for we cannot answer thee one of a thousand not one thought of a thousand thoughts not one word of a thousand words Most of our actions have been reproveable and the best of our services have been improfitable our omissions commissions and presumptions have been multiplyed intolerably Oh how often
have we taken thy name in vain while we have been confessing our sins how often have we run from confessing our sins to the committing of sin and from committing sins to the confessing sin again as if we had but mocked thy sacred Majesty though we know thy favour is better then life we have parted with it upon easie terms Oh! the pride and stubbornnesse that is in our hearts All the mercieâ—… thou hast bestowed upon us have not melted us into teares for our unkindnesse and all those blows that have fallen upon our backs have not beat folly out of our hearts we have been unprofitable all our dayes some have done thee more service in one year then we in all our time we have forgotten thee in the day of prosperity and sung a â—…ullaby to our own souls oh that we could speak these things with broken and bleeding hearts but as in the time of our ignorance we could sin without reluctancy so now we can sin without repentance oh that thou wouldst smâ—…te the rock that there may flow out teares We can do nothing by way of expiation if we could weep out our eyes nothing but the blood of Christ can take away our guilt O that there might be a spring of that blood upon our souls at thâ—… time Oh that that blood may at this time bring a report of love and a message of mercy to us Do we beg any more then thou hast promised oh hast not thou accepted of that satisfaction that Christ hath made in his own person if we had suffered the torments of hell it could not have made that satisfaction that Christ has made give us the witness of the spirit and thy love and we will say we have enough give us hearts of flesh crush the head of the serpent in our soules O Lord Christ thou camest into the world to destroy the works of the Devill in our hearts and to build up the Kingdome of the Spirit in us oh when shall we see the old man decay in us and the old man to live more and more Oh be wisdome to guide us and righteousnesse to cleanse us from guilt and redemption to deliver us from the wages of sin let us be nothing in our selves that we may be all in thee our Saviour oh honour us so far that we may honour thee We pray thee strengthen our weak faith quiet our consciences we would not live a day longer then that we may honour thee tread Satan under our feet sit us for our places and employments let not our conditions be so low but that our hearts may be lower we are pâ—…sting to death oh let sin dye before we die let us know our names are written in the book of life before thou take away our life Look upon thy Servant our dread Sovereign CHARLES of Great Brittain France and Ireland King oh inrich his Royall heart with all those saving Graces of thy Spirit in order to a wise and happy Government of these Kingdomes Look upon his Royall Consort his Royall Relations the Lords of his Privy Councill and make them blessing to this Nation Oh sanctifie thy good word oh give thy gracious assistance to us both in speaking and hearing let us hear it as that word by which we must be judged that we may be convinced by it and say it is the power of God to salvation to every soul of us Let our meeting â—…e for the better to all of us that we may be built up in the most holy Faith and let us know we have not sought thy face in vain for Iesus Christ his sake our dear Saviour for whom we blesse thy Majesty to whom with thee and the Spirit be praise for ever Amen Dr. Anesleye's Prayer at Giles-Cripplegate HOly and great God of Heaven and earth such is the condesâ—…nsion of thy grace that thou art pleased to manifest thy speciall presence to thy poor Creatures though thou hatest sin with a perfect hatred yet thou lovest sinners with an infinite love though thou art of purer eyes then to behold iniquitie yet thou art pleased to manifest thy love to sinners that approach to thy service O Lord when shall we admire enough thy grace and love how thou art pleased to communicate thy self to a poor man Dear Father raise and fix our hearts help us â—…o mind the business that we come about and â—…o deal very faithfully with our own souls in the matters of eternall moment O that we could pray so that our prayers through grace might be returned upon us with a blessing O that we could wait upon thee to hear thy Word as the Oracles of God let us hear what Christ will discover to us for our spiritual benefit Lord grant that our Soules may know what it is to be in the Spirit upon the Lords day dear Father thou canst deal with such hearts as ours for the curing of them we pray thee to do iâ—… we must needs acknowledge had'st not thou laid help upon one that is mighty that is able to save to the uttermost we must have perished to all eternity for we do not know any upon the earth more vile then our selves The very aggravations of our sins do render us monstrously abominable the means of grace we have afforded us the stirring of thy Spirit in us the patience and goodnesse of God towards us makes it a wonder that our hearts do remain so blockish But dear Lord we do find by experience that our immortal souls are much debased all the faculties of our Souls are out of tune our understandings are so dark our conceptions of God are so low our consciences are so benummed that the stirrings of them are scarce discerned or perceived our affections are spentupon the creature that we cannot gather them up again our wills are perverse our memories are apt to retain the drosâ—… and let out all that is good we pray thee for Christs sake make an experiment upon our Soules what thou canst do what sinners Christ can save what corruptions the Spirit of God can subdue in our soules teach all our hearts do not stand behind the wall and look through the â—…attice do so much as may leave us without excuse but good Lord put in thy hand in at the whole of the Door and let thy fingers drop hony upon the handle of the Lord. And oh set open these everlasting Doores that the King of Glory may enter in subdue us intirely to thy self do not ask our wills whether we â—…e willing or no but make us willing do not ask us what we would have but give us what thou knowest is good for us Dear Lord we pray thee deliver us from sin according to thy batred of it and pour out thy grace upon us according to thy love of grace that our Souls may be refreshed that we may find thy thoughts are above ours as high as Heaven is above the Earth Dear Father it is thy promise that