yet as to this the Rule is safe herein to do as Moses did who was admonished of God when he was about to make the Tabernacle For see saith he that thou make all Things according to the Pattern shewed to thee in the Mount Heb. 8. 5. And now that the Old Dispensation is abolished we are to see that we Order all Things in our Worship according to the Pattern shewed to us in the Gospel That we may in our Worship which is a great thing relating unto that God with whom we have to do walk before God in Truth I do believe and speak after my Judgment that there is not a way of Worship now in this Nation nor yet on the Earth which is exactly according to the Scriptures of Truth in all things and in all things according to the Pattern shewed in the Gospel And I suppose it will be so seen at the Day of Judgment wherein it will be Found and Rehearsed That all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God Rom. 3. 23. So the several Churches and Congregations the several Saints and Servants of God have somewhat erred and come short of the Spirituality and Truth of his worship as it was in the Mind and Ordaining of God and as might be apprehended from out of his Book for it may be observed now a-days that in each Sect or Party however they are Nicknamed Distinguished or Termed there is something which is good and true and again there is somewhat which is Erroneous and Savours of Men. Now as to all this the faithful and knowing Soul as âhe Soars up above all the Ordinances of Religion as they are managed now a-days by the Worldly Priesthood they seeming to her cold dull low and fâat and she apprehends somewhat above them and is for higher and more excellent attainments So the same knowing and faithful Soul is vexed and dissatisfied That she knows not where on this Earth the People do worship God in all thigns exactly according to the mind of the Spirit Nor where âer self may turn to the People of a Pure Language that âhey may Call upon the Name of the Lord with one Consent Zeph. 3. 9. And she doth thirst and desire earnestly that she might once Worship the Lord God her Invisible Creatour so in the Congregations of his People as they were in the Days of a Old But where are they so now And she hath great Thought and Earnestness of Heart when that time will again come when it shall be fulfilled what is Written Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord as in the Days of Old and in former Years Mal. 3. 4. Tho' here again it is to be thought that as long as we are on this dark and corrupt Earth we shall never come to worship the Fatheâ in Spirit and in Truth still we ought to endeavour and to do the best that ever we can till we come to fall down on our Faces before him in Heaven the Habitation of his Holiness where we shall see all things in the light of the Lord. What will satisfy this perplexity and doubt and desirâ of Soul as to this great thing in the mean while shoulâ be to this Effect and Purport As the Lord saith unto ãâã the Inhabitants of the Earth Eschew Evil and do Gooâ 1 Pet. 3. 10 1. So let him or they that love salvatioâ and would go to Heaven be sure to do this as much ãâã ever they can Avoid errour and receive and follow the truth in all the several instances thereof As God himselâ speaketh on this wise If thou shalt learn to separate tâ Precious from the Vile and to put a difference between ãâã Holy and Profane then shalt thou be meet to come unto ãâã Altar So here it may be reasoned and applied if thâ knowest and also shalt carefully and constantly do tâ same to take out the truth from that Multiplicty ãâã Errour which is abroad in the world like as is the gathââ ing of Gold or Silver from out of the Dross or Honâ from the Wax If thou knowest to put a difference between truth and falshood so as to gather and receive ãâã first into thy heart and cast away and not admit the ãâã ther sort then thou shalt be meet for to come with ãâã ceptance on the Altar of the Lord Thou shalt enter iâ his City the Holy of Holies the highest Heavens ãâã to his presence and to his own Divine Majesty Be ãâã to observe this Rule in the worship of God Eschew ãâã falshood and errour therein and receive and do accord ãâ¦ã to the truth according to the very best of thy Knowledge and Understanding and with all thy Heart ãâã and Will and then thy worship will be accepted with the Lord and in thy worship also thou wilt walk before the Lord in Truth Another Explication of walking before the Lord in Truth is to walk in such a way as is Butted and Bounded in his word which is Truth This seems to be the most proper Acceptation and Understanding thereof for to make Gods written Word and Revelation our Guide and Rule throughout the whole Course of our Life is a walking before the Lord in Truth and it is the true and right way to Heaven as to go through or by such and such places is the way to such a City or the like The Word and Truth of God are near one and the same thing Sanctify them through thy Truth Thy word is Truth John 17. 17. And so the walking according to the Word of God or the having our Conversation according to the Gospel is to walk before God in Truth And so it is reciprocally To walk before the Lord in Truth is to walk according to the VVord of God Every Variation or Deviation from it is a false way Therefore I esteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be Right and I hate every false way It was both a Puzzling and also a sudden Question of Pilate What is Truth To me it seems to be the expressing forth the Nature of things as they are with the Connexion between themselves and how they pertain to us Men. Things again are divided into things present and things to come Now to know the very Nature of both these and how they belong unto and are to be had by us What is Good for us and what is Evil for us so as to choose the Good and Refuse the Evil this is Truth Here again to make a Right Judgment and Choice for our selves so as to pursue the best of Ends viz. Future Blessedness and Glory by Lawful and Right means This a walking before the Lord in Truth And so it may be conceived of in other like Instances As to the Second Particular What it is to walk before the Lord with a perfect heart Paul gives the Character of some Jews that they had a Good mind towards God And here Put and Conceive
therefore it was that just at the Time he was to be removed out of the City of Jerusalem by Death and he then would fain be removed up into the Heavenly City Therefore he addresses himself to God in the first Place Remember how I have walked before thee in Truth For in very deed as such a Path way or Road leads to such a Place so the Truth leads to Heaven According as we may further Gather from what is elsewhere written Lord Who shall abide in thy Tabernacle Who shall dwell in thy Holy Hill He that walketh uprightly and Worketh Righteousness and speaketh the Truth in his heart Psal 15. 1. 2. So that whatever Truth is in our heart Provided it be the Truth of God and arising out of his Word It ought to be spoken forth Yea the Plain and Simple Truth the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth For although there is a common saying abroad in the World agreeable to the Wisdom of the Flesh which is for Sloth ease and Present safety that all Truth is not to be spoken yet as sure as the Spirit of God in the Scripture last Quoted doth teach the way of Heaven and lay down the foregoing Qualifications and Conditions which we must have and do before we come there whatever Divine and serious Truth is in our heart We must and ought to speak it come what will thereof if we do not intend to be Disappointed of Heaven at the last And if the doing should bring Trouble or suffering on our loins foâ this Objection the Worldly Wise Man hath against this Duty and therefore he will refrain to utter it VVe must do it nevertheless This being that manifold kind of Tribâlation which we must go through before we enter into the Kingdom of God Take another Scripture how that the Truth ought ãâã no wise to be concealed but it is to be spoken out I haââ not hid thy Righteousness within my heart I have declarâ thy Faithfulness and thy Salvation I have not concealed ãâã Loving Kindness and thy Truth from the Great Congregatioâ Psal 40 10. So that to speak constantly the Truth ãâã whole Truth and nothing but the Truth and this ãâã for a Day or two or for a Week Month or Year ãâã throughout our whole Life is pleasing and acceptable ãâã the sight of God our Saviour who would have ãâã men to be saved and to come to the Knowledge of the Truth Notwithstanding all the Arts of Dissimulation Deceit Secresie Evasion Equivocation or such like by which Satan's Kingdom stands all which are contrary to Simplicity and Godly Sincerity I have observed in my Experience That to confess and speak out the Truth of the matter in most instances Things have then succeeded more prosperously with me than when I have done otherwise And the Truth hath gained and been esteemed of more than all the Little Arts of Falshood Honesty is the best Policy and it is best to Live within the streight Lines of Duty and never to transgress at any time So it may be affirmed in all cases It is the best way to speak the Truth whatever will be the Consequent thereof We may Read what a great Value and Estimation God himself puts upon it Run ye to and fro through the Streets of Jerusalem and see now and know and seek in ââe Broad Places thereof if ye can find a Man if there ãâã any that executeth Judgment that seeketh the Truth and â will pardon it Jer. 5. 1. By which last is imported as ãâã seeking the Truth would almost make atonement and Expâation for other sins His Spirit goes on to add O Lord Are not thine Eyes upon the Truth Verse 3. Even ââe Eyes of Complacency Delight and Approbation herein The Time would fail me to mention all those seveââl places of Scripture wherien the word Truth is spoâân of But in every one of them it may be observed âhat very Excellent and Glorious Things are spoken âoncerning the Truth and the Drift and Design thereâf is to exhort the Inhabitants of the Earth to think âeak and do according unto it all Times Even ââat they may keep the Truth speak the Truth in their âeart and Walk before God in Truth There hath been a Proverbial saying as if Thoughts ââre free Every one might think what he would in ãâã deep of his heart But such people do not Know ãâã rather they do not consider That they are to be ââdged by the word of God which is a discerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart Neither is there any Creature that is not manifest in his sight but all thingâ are naked and opened unto the Eyes of him with whom ãâã have to do Heb. 4. 13. But too many in our days havâ improved this a little further as if Talk and commoâ Discourse was free and there was no account to be made or given of it hereafter For how many Liââ and Falshoods are now uttered forth in common Conversation VVhether it be in talking of News or publick affairs According to the side they rank themselves oââ they do not much Regard whither the Thing be true ãâã false which they Utter forth to Uindicate one side anâ run down or slander the other And so it is in reference ãâã to Common Neighbours Prejudice seldom or never speak ãâã well If it be concerning any Person against whom theâ have an Enmity Hatred or Grudge They do not refuââ to speak Evil falsly of him or to utter Reproaches anâ Revilings against him As saith the Wiseman In thâ Multitude of Words there wants not sin so in the Worâ and talk of this Nature there is a Multitude of sin committed Herein is found true And the Tongue is a Firâ a World of Iniquity So is the Tongue amongst our Members that it defileth the whole Body and setteth on Fire ãâã course of Nature and it is set on Fire of Hell Jam. 3. ãâã Although the Common talkers of the World do not muââ Regard this yet whoso truly fears God He dares ãâã speak one false Word of another although it be of ãâã greatest Enemy he hath in the World For he knoâ that speaking falsly of any one would not be a walkinâ before God in Truth and therefore he refrains from speaking Evil falsly of any Man So speak ye and so do as thâ that must be Judged by the Law of Liberty James 2. 12. There are other Instances of walking before God ãâã Truth as in the Worship of God And here we are ãâã see well to it that our Worship be in Spirit and in Tru ãâ¦ã But the hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippââ shall Worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth For ãâã Father seeketh such to Worship him God is a Spirit ãâã they that Worship him must Worship him in Spirit and ãâã Truth John 4. 23 24. Notwithstanding all controvââsies Disputes and different Congregations which are nââ ãâã this Nation and throughout Christendom
Creatour is as directly opposite and contrary to the having a Good mind towards God as Darkness is unto Light It is also contrary unto a Perfect heart for this is an Imperfection to a Witness Yea such an Imperfection that unless it be remedied and taken away it will lay the Creature in Punishment and Misery As for mine own Part although in my common or week Day Life and conversation I have spoken and done Many Things which are contrary unto different from and not according to the Pure VVord of God yet I do not therefore dare to Hate or Reproach that same Word Nor yet for none doth so as to the VVord abstractedly to the Person of him who ministreth or speaketh forth the same VVord against this my Sin and Errour For I know this would make the Guilt of my Sin seven times yet Greater and Consequently Uengeance would be taken on me sevenfold when the Lord comes to Punish the VVorld for their Evil and the wicked for their Iniquity But I Judge it safe to lay my Hand upon my Mouth and hold my Peace and where I see my self faulty to Endeavour to mend And where I have not already attained neither am already Perfect Phil. 3. 12. There to Go on to Perfection Heb 6. 1. Avoiding the Errour and deceit of the VVorld herein of always Purposing and Resolving and not performing accordingly or of complaining and yet not mending But we should still Press forwards and Undeavour Unfeignedly so to do Not to attain unto absolute Perfection is the Infirmity of the Flesh but not to endeavour after it is the fault and failure of the Spirit Here again it must be acknowledged that to walk before the Lord with a Perfect Heart is sooner said then done For it is the whole which God requires of Man It being the first and Great Commandment Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God With all thy Soul and with all thy Strength and with all thy Mind This Particle All being Annexed to all the Faculties and Powers thereof makes it a Perfect Heart For so it is where is all or the whole of a Thing Besides this Appeal which Hezekiah makes unto God in his Pining Sickness not by way of self Commendation but as a stay and support to his Mind under that outward Evil of Body The Spirit it self gives a very Good Character of him And he did that which was Right in the sight of the Lord according to all that David his Father did He trusted in the Lord God of Israel so that after him was none like him among all the Kings of Judah nor any that were before him 2. Kings 18. 3 5. So that his doing according to all that David his Father did who was a Man after Gods one heart in all Things saving the matter of Vriah the Hittite Thus in reality and in Truth Hezekiah did walk before the Lord with a perfect Heart By this also may be seen that the Spirit of God keeps a Register of each Man or VVomans Life And God who is no Respecter of Persons but in every Nation he that feareth him and worketh Righteonsness is accepted with him Who accepteth not the Person of Princes nor regardeth the Rich more then the Poor for they are all the Work of his hands doth in alike manner keep a Book Put thou my Tears into thy Bottle are not these things noted in thy Book Wherein the several deeds here done in the Body of all the Particular Men and Women of all Generations and Countreys from the greatest of them unto the least of them are written and noted all one as we see it written thus and thus of the several Kings of Judah and Jerusalem how they did carry it towards the Lord God for so we may read it thus or thus recorded of the Inhabitants of the Earth in the Scriptures of Truth There is an Emphatical and Pertinent Scripture to our present purpose in Hos 10. 2. Their heart is divided now they shall be found faulty A divided heart is not a perfect heart and as long as it remains thus divided we hence see that it will be found and pronounced faulty that is defective or wanting in the sight Estimation Judgment and Account of God And yet alas Is not this the case of us all or of most of us Is not our heart divided one part is towards God and another part is for the World and for the Men and Things therein According to what Paul speaketh of himself So then with the mind I my self serve the Law of God but with the flesh the Law of sin Rom. 7. 25. He that doth not observe and feel the like within himself is Blind Ignorant and knows nothing as he ought to know Doth not one part of our heart Savour the things of God And again another part of our heart doth Savour the Things of Men. I discern and experience it so in my self Now this is but a divided heart which God in Hosea finds fault with And when he saith in the Proverbs My Son give me thine heart It may be truly reasoned and concluded that he will have a whole heart or none And hereupon the word of Instruction and Exhortation arises on this wise that this same divided heart must be cut off Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your hearts that ye be no more stiff-necked or rather changed and renewed that all the heart may be brought into intire obedience Subjection and Conformity to God till it becomes a good and perfect heart which He is well pleased with and delights in and will accept off for want whereof it is that we neither find God nor yet doth he hear our Prayers The heart hankers after some Carnal Lust or other Sin or Act of Disobedience Consider of this throughly and amend thy ways and thy doings O my Soul and therefore the Lord hath withdrawn himself and hides his Face and doth not manifest himself unto us as He dâd in former Days But your Iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his Face from you that He will not hear Isa 59. 2. So that where we cry and the Lord doth not hear or where we do not find such an Answer and Return to Prayer as we have experienced heretofore there let us examine our selves whither there be not some Sin or Iniquity which is the Cloud that hinders that our Prayers do not pass through in us which God is displeased with Here our heart is divided and found faulty for with some part of it it obeys or serves some Sin or Lust O Lord our God other Lords besides thee have had Dominion over us Isa 26. 13. And we do not seek or serve him our whole heart But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God thou shalt find him if thou shalt seek him with all thy heart and with all thy Soul Deut. 4. 29. And ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall
The Exceeding Great COMFORT AND BENEFIT Of having walked before GOD in TRUTH And with a PERFECT HEART And of having done that Which is good in his Sight Set forth in several Discourses on Isaiah 38. 2 3. By Richard Stafford formerly of Magdalen Hall in OXFORD For our Rejoycing is this the Testimony of our Conscience that in Simplicity and Godly Sincerity not with Fleshly Wisdom but by the Grace of God we have had our Conversation in the World 2 Cor. 1. 12. I have Fought a Good Fight I have finished my Course I have kept the Faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto all them also that Love his appearing 2 Tim. 4. 7. 8. London Printed and are to be sold by Ralph Simpson at the Harp in St. Paul's Church-Yard MDCXCIX TO THE CHRISTIAN READER AS the Apostle did Write to those of his time so I according to the knowledge given me would willingly do the same as to the People of this my Generation and Countrey Yea I think it meet as long as I am in this Tabernacle to stiâ you up by putting you in Remembrance Knowing that shortly I must put off this Tabernacle Moreover I will Endeavour that you may be able after my Decease to have these things always in Remembrance Which good Endeavour of St. Peter was so brought to pass only by his Writing down those very Words which are now Printed and thereby made known unto us For if Peter or Paul had only spoken those Words unto the few Christians then present with them but had never Written them they would have been like A Voice Crying in the Wilderness which is emphatically remarked concerning John Baptist by Esaias in Mat. 3. 3. for John spake four or five Sentences which are there Recorded and Written for him by the Evangelist But he himself Writing nothing hereof was as a Voice of one crying in the Wilderness which we know instantly perishes in the utterance and seems as nothing afterwards In the Wilderness thereby is signified the Church or Servants of God they being fewest in Number as that place hath fewest Inhabitants His Servant Job who had the character from God to speak âf him the thing that was right saith on this wise Oh that my Words were now Written Oh that they were Printed ãâã Book That they were Graven with an Iron Pen and had in the Rock for ever Job 19. 23 24. Moreover There is the express Commandment of God to Isaiah Now go Writâ it before them in a Table and note it in a Book that it âay be for the time to come for ever and ever Isa 30 8. A word spoken or a voice uttered Perishes in the Speaking ââd Vtterance And tho' it never so much affects the Auditory for the present time yet it goes off as a Flash and is soon forgottn both by Speaker and Hearers But a Word or Sentence written that remains and People may at any time have Recourse and turn unto it Hereby also it may be effectually Prevented thâ People shall not become forgetful Hearers of the Word as tâ which the Scripture saith Whoso is not a forgetful Heareâ but a doer of the Work this Man shall be Blessed in his deed And accordingly the Prophet having obeyed the aforementioned Commandment of God herein so as to have Wrote down his Words they stand and remain longer then any Gates of Brass or Bars of Iron or the most Ancient Buildings in the World for time hath defaced them and the place of them knoweth it no more But the words of Isaiah are as fresh intire sound and perfect to and at this very day all one as they were in the first Moment be uttered them or as they were in that hour wherein he first Wrote them down God having been pleased to preserve his Writings in the World For by the way there hath been great Opposition against these kind of things by Satan and his Incarnate Instruments and the Powers of Darkness The Bible it self wherein then were all the Books of Moses was very ânigh lost in the days of Josiah when there was but one Copy thereof accidentally found to have been hidden in the Temple It being supposed that some Idolatrous King a little before had Destroyed or Burnt them all As the like was usual with the Persecutors of the first Christians Who again would hide them and rather lose their lives then give up and surrender their Bibles Wherein they were more Noble then some now a days who say They do not much value the outward Letter if they should be tryed but the tenth part so far for they say they have it in their Heart âut by their good leave it would not long remain in their âeart if neither they nor others for them had it not also Writâân in Ink and Paper for to turn unto Read and seek out of it ãâã any time Thâs also discovers the Sin and Hypocrisie of those of the Romish Church who say they are Christians but they are not but of thâ Synagogue of Satan and Antichrist for they also have used the very same methods to Suppress or Burn all such Bibles as aâ in the National Tongue of any Countrey and all those Booâs which contain words of Truth which spring up any where aganst their own Errour Idolatry and Superstition Which agâin is the duty of all such as are Children of the Truth to prââerve and keep a foot in the World as the others seek to destâry and suppress them for as to this the Rule is certain althâugh it is not altogether so clearly apprehended by many That as words of Goodness and Truth are kept up above board and mâde known Openly and Vniversally on this Earth wheâe Sâtans seat is So his Kingdom doth accordingly by degrees fâll and lose Ground in the World As contrariwise the Kingâom or Interest of Christ who is the Eternal Word would ãâã much increase and prevail in the World According as âood words and true words and right words are made Publick ând received in the World This is a Truth of great Importance ãâã would to God it were understood throughly by all Persons of whatever opinion or denomination for they should not seek their âwn party but the things of Jesus Christ and done accordingly Another Reason of my willingness to write and Publish Books not which Minister to Contentions and Strivings for they are unprofitable and vain Titus 3. 9. But such as are to the use of Godly edifying may be gathered from what is said in psal 102. 18. This shall be written for the Generation to come and the People which shall be created shall praise the Lord. For by my sending Books or Printed papers unto them I may Preach unto People at many miles distance and put them in mind that they may obey the word of the Lord as in my presence
of God doth find them out and this cometh to pass because of what is Written There is an Evil which I have seen under the Sun and it is common among Men. A Man to whom God hath given Riches Wealth and Honour so that he wanteth nothing for his Soul of all that he desireth yet God giveth him not Power to Eat thereof but a Stranger eateth it this is Vanity and an Evil Disease Even so God giveth not to such Power or an Heart O that there were an Heart in them to fear me saith God And Wherefore is there a Price put in the Hand of a Fool to get Wisdom and he hath no Heart to it either to give unto the Poor or to consecrate their Gain and Substance unto the Lord by Expending it for the Service of his Truth But as our Saviour Jesus Christ who is the Way the Truth and the Life speaketh Pertinently Properly and truly when he twice in the same Chapter calleth it the Mammon of Unrighteousness the Unrighteous Mammon Luke 16. 9. 11. In the Margent opposite to Mammon in both places it is Riches for they are most commonly gotten by Vnrighteous means viz. By such means as are contrary unto or different from that Great and Compleat Rule of Righteousness in Scripture Even so again it is most commonly seen That what is got by Unrighteous and Sinful means is likewise spent in Unrighteous and Sinful ways as such are those aforementioned And therefore they hate the Light and the Truth which would manifest and reprove their Evil ways For the same reason they are Rebellious against it and would not have it come forth According to that other true saying of Jesus Christ And this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men loved Darkness rather then Light because their Deeds were Evil for every one that doeth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light least his Deeds should be reproved In the Margent it is discovered But he that doeth Truth cometh to the Light that his Deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God But when the Lord cometh after a long time which yet will certainly come at Death and Judgment and reckoneth with those Servants for this Talent committed unto and intrusted with them then it will be seen and discerned what way will be found best to have Vsed or Employed the same or by sinful Covetousness to have the rust of their Silver and Gold be a Witness against them and to have heaped up Treasure together for the last days James 5. 3. As for mine own part I have put my self to Difficulties Disadvantages and Loss as to my Worldly Substance for to my Power I bear Record yea and beyond my Power I was willing that the following Words may see Light and that these Children which are come to the Birth may be brought forth But to allude unto 2 Cor. 8. 13 14. This might be eased by an Equality that now at this time their abundance may be a supply for my want I mean by the Charitable Contribution of Christian People who receive the Truth in the love thereof For this work of the Lord is common and should be the joynt Endeavour of all his Servants For thy Servants take pleasure in her Stones and Favour the Dust thereof Psal 102. 14. which is the least thing belonging to it So then they should help and forward every least thing that tends to the building up of Zion As the certainty of the words of Truth doth build up the People of God which is Spiritually Zion in their most Holy Faith and towards making them a People prepared for the Lord. Whether it will be so or not according to the Intimation here given However I hope and trust that Almighty God will be pleased to pardon mine Ignorance and Infirmities and Graciously accept of these my Labours and endeavours in making known his Truth And because that Paul may plant and Apollos may water but God gives the increase therefore I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord-Jesus-Christ Humbly beseeching him to give his Blessing unto and accompany with his Spirit what is hereafter written that they may appear to be upright even words of Truth And that they may be as nails fastened by the Masters of Assemblies which are given from one Shepherd SERMON I. ON Isaiah XXXVIII 2 3. Then Hezekiah turned his Face toward the Wall and Prayed unto the Lord And said Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in Truth and with a Perfect Heart and have done that which is good in thy sight and Hezekiah wept sore I Have Written and Preached and Blessed be God most high that performeth all things for me have caused to be Printed and Published This shall be Written for the Generation to come and the People which shall be Created shall Praise the Lord Psal 102. 18. Six several Sermons or Discourses on the foregoing Verse Now the Order Method and Course of our Ministry requires to speak some things from the words above-mentioned In the shutting up and conclusion of that Book it was said that all the Sermons and Preaching in the World if they be rightly and truly managed were all to the very same end and purpose To instruct and exhort us To set our Souls in order for we shall die Or that they may be set in order which was explained to be in a readiness and that nothing be wanting in them against the time they shall go out of these Bodies We do hence see what is to be done then when that time comes So that by those words we are Instructed how to die or how to behave fit and prepare our selves a little before and as we come to die But now in the Words which I have here chosen for my Text we are taught what we must do throughout all our Life So that in the three first Verses of this excellent Chapter we are informed and directed how to live and how to die What we must do in our life time and what in the Day of Sickness and of Death And what would Man have more in order to his salvation Security and Happiness then to know how to live and how to die Truly there cannot be more desired then these two things For herein is Comprised the whole State of his Duration both in this World and also in his Passage into the next for inasmuch as the Spirit saith Blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord Rev. 14. 13. We may assuredly gather that they who live well as such do who live unto the Lord will also die well and will die in the Lord. Again they that die well or who die in the Lord will be blessed for evermore even so as to receive partake of and Inherit that Blessing which the Lord hath Commanded even Life for evermore Psal 133. 3. When I first entred upon my Ministry I promised unto my Hearers that I
I hear and receive from him Well done Good and Faithful Servant enter thou into thy Masters Joy or I know you not depart from me thou worker of Iniquity Go away thou Accursed Creature into Everlasting Punishment Prepared for the Devil and his Angels God hates nothing that he hath made as it is his Creature till afterwards he sees Sin and Evil in them Hereupon a Multitude of thoughts doth arise in the Soul whither my sin be Pardoned and taken away or not And why dost thou not Pardon my Transgression and take away mine Iniquity for now shall I sleep in the dust Job 7. 21. If the Soul had but once assurance that God would do this for her then she could with as little fear and concern commit her Body to sleep in the Dust and then her self could also without Terrour step forth upon the dark Mountains as now we do without fear yea willingly go to Bed to take our ordinary common sleep each Night in a Bed of Damask Violet or Roses or as any one ever lay down with Sweetness and Joy in the Marriage-Bed of his most Dearly Beloved For as a Young Man Marrieth a Virgin so shall thy Sons Mâây thee And as the Bridegroom Rejoyceth over a Bride ãâã shall thy God Rejoyce over thee Isa 62. 5. For then it ãâã upon Death which is the loosening and dissolution of other ãâã that the Souls of the Righteous are Married and United ââto God They are gathered up unto the Father of Spirits and stand in his Presence and near and next unto yea they are one with him as Husband and Wife make one Flesh in whose Presence is fulness of Joy and at whose Right Hand there are Pleasures for evermore But let no Stranger meddle with this joy let not those who are Aliens to the Commonwealth of Israel and not in Covenant with God ever think to receive or to come in for to share and partake of these Good and Comfortable things For as before observ'd there is no commending of our Spirits when we come to dye into the Hands of God without having been Redeemed by him from Sin and Guilt from the vain Conversation and Corruption that is in the World from Satan and his Temptations So it is here in Micah 6. 6 7 8. Take them all together there is no Agreement or Peace to be made with the Lord no not with those Great Many and Near Offers and Overtures there mentioned without following that which is good and obeying the Requirings of the Lord in doing justly and loving Mercy and walking Humbly with thy God throughout thy past and foregoing Life There is no other way under Heaven to get the sin of our Soul pardoned or taken away or to make Atonement or Expectation for it but to come into Covenant with God and not to break it again but to observe it according to what is written Nât according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers in the Day that I took them by the Hand to bring them out of the Land of Egypt which Covenant they brake although I was an Husband unto them saith the Lord. This confirms the Truth of what was before spoken But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel After those Days saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward Parts and write it in their Hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People And they shall teach no more every Man his Neighbour and every Man his Brother saying know ye the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest saith the Lord for I will forgive their Iniquity and will remember their Sin no more Jer. 34. 31 32 33 34. From all this considered together for a Covenant must be taken all together as it lies in the whole and not by Peace-meals it appears that the only way for God to forgive our Iniquity and remember our Sin no more is to be in covenant with God to take him for our God Wherein is supposed that he is to be our Ruler and Governour and we his People which implies Subjection and Obedience to have his Law in our inward Parts and written in our Hearts For what end and purpose is that Namely for us to observe keep and do it So that the ready and compendious way there is none besides it to obtain Forgiveness of Sins and an Inheritance amongst them that are Sanctified is by Repentance for the past and Obedience for the future There is no other way under Heaven given unto Men whereby they must be saved To this do all the Scriptures both Law and Prophets Christ and Apostles give witness If the God of Truth hath Redeemed us and Delivered us from the Hand of our Enemies it is that we might serve him without Fear in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the Days of our Life All this Doctrine is pertinent and direct to our Text for it was this which gave Hezekiah that comfort and rejoycing that did spring up even through his Weeping and Tears when the Message of Death was brought unto him that before that he had walked before God in Truth and with a Perfect Heart and had done that which was good in his Sight For there is no Dying in the Lord without having Lived unto the Lord There is no dying the Death of the Righteous without having lived the Life of the Righteous It may seem a strange thing but only it shews forth the exceeding Delusion and Subtilty of Satan that one may speak many of the Truths of God and yet not be saved by them himself that one may Preach unto others and yet Himself be a Cast-away and Prophesie in Christ's Name and yet at the last Day be rejected and disowned by Christ So Balaam could and did really wish and desire to die the Death of the Righteous And when he afterwards saith Behold I have received Commandment to Blesâ and he hath Blessed and I cannot reverse it Numb 23. 20. Hereupon his own Reason for the like Reasoning and Truth runs throughout all the things of God might have told and acquainted him that it is impossible to dye the Death of the Righteous without having lived the Life of the Righteous for of necessity such an one must have been Righteous before which doth respect some yea and the most considerable part of his foregoing Life for otherwise such an one could not properly and truly be said to be Righteous inasmuch as the Denomination is taken from the greater Part. And seeing that the Order Decree and Purpose of God stands on this wiâe The Righteous hath hope in his Death Prov. 14. 32. Such must have been Righteous before their Death for otherwise the Spirit which always speaks properly and truly would not have called them Righteous None else have Hope in their Death Not all the Ministers and People on the Earth can ever reverse alter or change this
same Order Decree and Purpose of God Now here is the strange thing which rather shews that Satan acted in Balaam as to that that when Balaam knew this before and how desirable indeed it was to dye the Death of the Righteous yet that he should presently hereupon love the Wages of Vnrighteousness which he might conclude would cut him off and hinder him from the other good and desirable thing But truly Satan deceiveth not only the Poor and Foolish but even the more Wise and Learned and Eloquent of Mankind for so was this Balaam And so as Rabshakeh could speak in the Person of his Master for thus saith the King of Assyria Make an Agreement with me by a Present and come out to me Isa 36. 16. So if the Great God of the World should speak on that wise unto the Inhabitants of the Earth as indeed he doth not but rather disclaims and disowns and denies that sort If I were Hungry I would not tell thee for the World is mine and the fulness thereof Thinkest thou that I will eat the Flesh of Bulls or drink the Blood of Goats Offer unto God Thanksgiving and pay thy Vows unto the most High But suppose that any false or pretended Messengers or Ministers from him should Preach unto you on this manner For thus saith the Lord God make an Agreement with me so far is no false Doctrine for Jesus Christ the Truth it self Preacheth the same to Mankind Agreâ with thine Adversary quickly whilst thou art in the way But here comes in the Falshood and it is falsly applied Make an Agreement by a Present and that must be Thousands of Rams and Ten Thousands Rivers of Oyl The cunning corrupt Romish Priests have hence drained a great deal of Tithes and Alms to feed and enrich themselves for they have fallaciously Reasoned and Perswaded the People that what was given unto them this way was making a Present unto the Lord and consequently an Aâtonement for their Sins But all this will not do for iâ one should go yet further and as those who gave up their Children unto Moloch so they would give up their very Children which came out of their very Bowels as Sacrifices to appease God their first Born for their Transgression and the Fruit of their Body for the Sin of their Soul All this is more besides the matter still for God requires none of these things What are Thousands of Rams and Ten Thousand Rivers of Oyl unto him whose is the World and the fulness thereof But this is more than all the Sacrifices and Alms in the World which make so great an outward shew and noise to walk humbly with thy God that is to be obedient unto him for this is the best and most real instance of Humility And this walking Humbly with thy God denotes a doing so throughout ones Life even as long as we walk at all In truth if we do thus walk Humbly with our God we have no Reason to fear as concerning the Sin of our Soul For we may let God alone to do as to that even according to the Words of his Covenant and Truth provided always that we be and continue in Covenant with him For I will be merciful to their Vnrighteousness and their Sins and Iniquities will I remember no more Heb. 8. 12. Most Precious and Comfortable Words which I had rather in truth to belong unto me when I lie upon my Death Bed or in whatever Hoââ I am taken either violently or suddenly out of this World then to have a Medicine or means found out how I might live not only Fifteen but if it were Fifteen times Fifteen Years longer for if God is merciful unto my Vnrighteousness which signifies where I have not come up unto but have come short of that great Rule of Righteousness in Scripture and if he remembers my Sins and Iniquities no more then let Death come upon me as soon as it will and what way it will it cannot possibly hurt me But this will never be unless in our foregoing Life God is our God and we are to him a People There is no way to be Blessed in ones Death but to be Godly in ones Life There is no way to have God for our Friend and to be at Peace with us when through the Passage or Entry of Death we come to appear before him but to have lived unto the same invisible God to have served him with our whole Heart and to have obeyed him in all things in these days of our Flesh As we live so we shall dye and so again we shall dye that is Receive after Death according as we have lived These are Truths of great importance and necessary to be Understood aright and done accordingly that Souls may no longer Shipwrack and be lost upon those deceitful and broken Planks As if it were then soon enough to serve God throughly and constantly and Universally when they come to be Sick or in Declining and Old Age or upon a Dying Bed God forbid for this have I found in all my Study out of the Book of Gods Statutes and in all my enquiring and searching diligently out of the Scriptures of Truth that such a Man or Woman who thinks so and will venture and run the risque to Act accordingly It were better that a Millstone were tyed about his Neck and that he be thrown into the Sea for this would only sink him into Temporal Death and Destruction But the other deceit if trusted and relied on will involve them into Everlasting Destruction from the presence of the Lord and the Glory of his Power Such will never enter into that rest which remaineth for the People of God Inasmuch as they were never his People who did not serve and obey him in the most nor yet in the best part of their life time Altho' some yea too many of that kind of outward worldly Priesthood now among us Who heal the hurt of the Daughter of my People slightly crying Peace Peace when there is no Peace Will also huddle up the matter after their rate when People are lying in Fears and Hoârours on their Death Bed and send them out of thâ world with a vain hope and false thought yet even theââ might have Learned better and more faithful dealing froâ that afore-mentioned saying of corrupt Balaam for hââ fault and failure only was that he spake well but did illâ Behold I have received Commandment to Bless and he hatâ Blessed and I cannot reverse it So it is on the other hanâ where we Ministers have received Commandment to Cursâ or to speak evil As Cursed are all they that err from hiâ Commandments Or where he hath threatned to Punishââ there God hath Cursed and Threatned and He will Punishââ and we cannot reverse it Not all the Ministers Preachers or Understanding People now living on the Earth can reverse or change from the least Title of thâ Word of God that it should fail or not
be fulfilled I heard once a Minister of the Dissenting sort whâ commonly are more faithful herein then those of thâ Church Ministry say that several People who had lived Ungodly and Ignorant Lives would send for him wheâ they lay upon their Death Beds And if they were of thâ Substantial and Richer sort they would perhaps offer him Money if He would speak a word of Peace and Comforâ unto them when lying in those sore and last Agonies oâ Soul But it would have been in him a sinful Corruptionâ if he should have Perverted the Word of God and took it for that end as he did not but it hath been the manner of some so to do Said he however I would go to them but when I came to them I did not Answer their Expectations for I used to repeat before such what is Written in Isa 3. 10 11. Say ye to the Righteous it shall be well with him for they shall eat the Fruit of their doings Wâ unto the Wicked it shall be ill with him for thâ Reward of his hands shall be given him This Scripture is very pertinent and proper to such an occasion Herein this Minister who probably now is a Partaker of the Truth of the former Verse he being at this time gone off from the Stage of the Earth shewed himself a Workman approved of God Dividing the Word of Truth aright and giving to every one his Portion And indeed any one that rightly knows and understands the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God doth also find that the whole Design Order Drift and Tendency of all that is Written in the whole Scripture stands on this wise They that have done Good shall come forth unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done Evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation John 5. 29. For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in the Body according to that he hath done whither it be Good or Bad. So that only a Godly Righteous and Sober Life and Good Deeds will avail and stand in stead in a dying Day For tho' the common deceit which each Man hath in the deep of his heart which also is intimated to them to their own Danger and Loss by those who take upon them the Office of Preaching Repentance and Remission of sins that People may turn from their Iniquities some time hereafter a little before their Death That they may have the Pleasures of sin for a Season the expediency of Transgression the Profit and Wages of unrighteousness in the mean while and then leave them off just soon enough to obtain Pardon But certainly this is quite to leave the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ to go backwards to Imperfection not laying again but utterly overthrowing yea and contradicting the Foundation of Repentance from Dead Works for these should be utterly forsaken and Fruits should be brought forth Meet for Repentance And yet further this would make void both Law and Gospel for they require that We observe to do his Statutes and Judgments all the Days that we live upon the Earth Deut. 12. 1. That we serve God without fear in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the Days of our Life Luke 1. 74 75. And however it shall be distributed unto the other sort as to Acceptation or Pardon yet surely I know it shall be better with them that fear God which fear before him and turned from their Iniquities and kept his Commandments in those Days of their flesh whilst others continued in Sin and Disobedience In the latter Days ye shall consider it perfectly Jer. 23. 20. This Jeremiah said when he immediately speaks thereupon of those Prophets Which Ran and Prophesied when God had not spoken unto nor sent them and they did not turn People from their Evil way and from the Evil of their doings Whereby may be seen that if this effect doth not follow also they are no Ministers of Gods ordaining altho' they do take upon them the office and continue in the Exercise thereof after the Law and Commandment the Ordinances and Institutions of Men. But in the latter Days when their time of Tryal is over they shall consider it perfectly and when they come to see every and each Man have his own reward proportioned and adjusted according to his works and obedience Then that which themselves shall miss and come short off will raise bitter anguish within themselves and make to loath those Shepherds See Zech. 11. 8. Which should have Instructed and Guided them otherwise For this is certain on the right and safer side that the sooner any one comes to Repentance and brings forth Fruits Meet for Repentance and abounds in Good Works God is now the better pleased with that Man or Woman and He will give to such a more full reward hereafter Conceive your selves before-hand and whilst in Health let us in serious thought throw our selves upon a Dying Bed just gasping and breathing out our very last and then think what Temper and Disposition of Soul we should be in if we were in this Hour brought to the Gallows or to the Fire for our Life to be taken off from the Earth in a violent manner Here it may be either for the Sins of others as Jesus was hanged on the Cross and so it is of all true Martyrs and Sufferers it is not so much their own Sins as the Sins of their Persecutors which put them to Death But if any one suffers as a Murderer or Robber or an Evil Doer against which there is some Law of God also then he suffers for and dies in his own Sin Or if one is killed by another then it is the Sin of the Murderer which brings him unto Death But however it be a Dying Hour will come upon all one time or another and then if they have any remembrance or understanding Ask now of the Generations that were before thee and did you ever hear of any one that could then say seriously and throughly It is vain to serve God and what Profit is it that we have kept his Ordinances and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts Doth it not then rather seem on the other hand It was vain that we have not served God more The Godly and Righteous make such a Reflexion and looking back and the Wicked find it is vain because they did not serve God at all or not so much as can be properly called serving of God for now they experimentally find all other things to be vain When the end thereof is come we are then throughly sensible of what is written Remember how short my Time is Wherefore hast thou made all Men in vain Psal 89. 47. Therefore only it is that we have no more profit because we have not yet better kept the Ordinances of the Lord for the more we do that the more Profit or future Reward we shall receive whereof we shall
also are formed out of the Clay to come down to the plainness and simplicity of thy Worship As for mine own part I do abhoâ such a Thought with the utmost Indignation from the very bottom of my Soul but I cannot help the Talk Esteem and Reproach of others But lest it should seem somewhat too trivial to menâ tron or rehearse these things We may read somewhat alikâ to this in 2 Sam. 6. 14 15 16. And David danced beforâ the Lord wiâh all his might and David was girded with ãâã linen Ephod And as the Ark of the Lord came into the City of David Michal Saul ' s Daughter looked through a Wiââ dow and saw King David leaping and dancing before thâ Lord and she despised him in her Heart and came out tâ meet him and said How Glorious was the King of Israel who uncovered himself to Day in the Eyes of the Handmaiâ of his Servants as one of the vain Fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself David was here so far from being discouraged at this sarcastical kind of Saying that he ãâã more confirmed in his Duty I will play before the Lord will be more vile then thus and will be base in mine own Sight and of the Maid-Servants which thou hast spoken of of them shall I be had in honour Even so will I Preach Righteousness in this little Congregation for that no more are gathered together that is the Sin and Fault of those who refuse to come it is their Stubbornness and Disobedience their Pâide and Abomination of Heart however Vile or Base I shall be thought of by others for it knowing and believing that where Two or Three are gathered together in his Name and in his Fear there God and Christ will be in the midst of them But God hath chosen the foolish things of the World and base things of the World and things which are despised hath God chosen 1 Cor. 1. 27 28. All those afore-mentioned Imaginations of Pride will vanish and disappear utterly and seem as nothing upon a Death-bed Which time is hastening upon them as it hath been already fulfilled as to those of foregoing Generations as to the Rich and Chief of the People As a Dream when one awaketh so O Lord when thou awakest thou shalt despise their Image Psal 73. 20. The Lord of Hosts hath purposed it to stain the Pride of all Glory and to bring into Contempt all the Honourable of the Earth Isa 23. 9. When Pride will profit them nothing but rather sink them down into the lowermost Hell and Riches with all their Vaunting will do them no Good As Socrates that real Martyr for the one God against the vain Polutheism of the Gentiles told his Judges immediately after they had passed the Sentence of Death upon him I go away to die but ye to live a little longer but which will be the better for us God knows My Answer is alike to this scornful Reproof of those that are at ease and the contempt of the Proud concerning this matter I am resolved by the Divine Grace to go on in this manner of way Reproach it in as pitiful and mean a manner as you will and ye will continue a little longer in your Contempt of Gods Word and Commandment in your going on according to the fashion and course of this World and in the way of the Multitude but which will be better for us at last God knows But the same Word of God which speaks not one Tittle of Good of this kind of Conversation and manner of Acting doth make known to me that as long as I continue faithful in his Service and am not weary of well-doing for in due Season we shall reap if we faint not If I fear not the Reproach of Men nor am afraid of their Revilings Then the same God who chose David before Michals Father and before all his House to appoint him Ruler over Israel the People of the Lord he also may choose me to reign in his Kingdom before such Scoffers and Reproachers of me only for serving God in the Word of his Ministry and of the Saints and Servants of the Lord I may be had in Honour in the day of Eternity when such like shall be thrust down into shame and everlasting Contempt and become an hissing to Angels and Men. In a word Let People do so in all the several things pertaining to God as they will wish they had done when they come to be Sick unto Death or in a dying Day or as soon as they are let slip into Eternity Remember this great End and thou shalt never do amiss SERMON II. ON Isaiah XXXVIII 2 3. Then Hezekiah turned his Face toward the Wall and Prayed unto the Lord And said Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in Truth and with a Perfect Heart and have done that which is good in thy sight and Hezekiah wept sore THere is not a Sentence or Word in Scripture but what is observable and somewhat may be gathered from thence Yea the very Iota's Points and Stops thereof are to be heeded and attended unto for some meaning and signification may be also drawn and conceived of according as they are and do stand And so when we here Read that Hezekiah turned his Face towards the Wall and Prayed unto the Lord some Use and Word of Instruction is hereby conveyed and made known unto us namely that in our Worship of the Invisible God whether it be Publick or Private we should turn our Face to the Wall that is as saith the Psalmist Turn away mine Eyes from beholding Vanity and quicken me in thy way Psal 139. 37. This we should do at all Times and in all Places but yet more especially in and amidst the Worship of God we should turn away our Eyes from so much as beholding other Men and Women not looking about as the manner of many is at every one that comes into the Church or Congregation Nor yet should we stare about on this side or that side to observe other Peoples Devotions to the neglect of our own Nor yet should we look about what Vestments Clothes or Apparel such an one or such an one is in In a word we should turn away our Face from all outward and other Objects unto the Wall which being the same still and there being no great variety therein will not distract the Mind nor yet much divert it from its being more intent and fixed on its proper Object the Vnseen God whom we there come to bow down before and worship in our Soul And this I speak for your own Profit and that you may attend unto the Lord without Distraction 1 Cor. 7. 35. It is the manner of some to shut their Eyes in Prayer to hinder and prevent themselves the more from Wandring and Distraction in looking on outward Objects But Satan who hinders still can and also doth fill the Mind with other Thoughts and inward
For both past and future things are present unto ãâã High and Lofty one who inhabiteth Eternity Which ãâã ternity one defines to be a Perpetual now Even the h ãâ¦ã of our head are all Numbred and not any thing is ãâã gotten before God And as we Remember each thing our past Lives both the Good and the Evil to more ãâã the one and yet more eschew the other we do the ãâ¦ã come nearer to his similitude and likeness And so we ãâ¦ã again as we cast an Eye forward upon the things that ãâã to come Hereby we make the things that as yet be ãâã to be as tho' they were for shortly they will come ãâã pass and it is but a little time and He that shall co ãâ¦ã will come and will not tarry Talk no more exceeding Proud let not Arrogancy ãâã out of your mouth for the Lord is a God of Knowledge ãâã by him Actions are weighed And so the Lord is a God ãâã Remembrance and a God of Prescience and by him A ãâ¦ã on s are weighed And seeing that Actions are weighââ by him our Actions ought to be weighed by us also the Ballance of the sanctuary and of his word so that ãâã may not be found wanting SERMON III. ON Isaiah XXXVIII 2 3. Then Hezekiah turned his Face toward the Wall and Prayed unto the Lord And said Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in Truth and with a Perfect Heart and have done that which is good in thy sight and Hezekiah wept sore Come now to shew and discourse 1. What it is to walk before God in Truth 2. With a perfect heart 3. What it is to do that which is good in his sight And then of the Consequent upon the whole And Hezekiah wept sore As to the first Remember O Lord how I have walk ãâ¦ã before thee in Trâth We Read in sundry places of Scripture of this Thing ââuth But from these words this Doctrine will preââtly appear That it is the Duty of all who call themselves Servants of the Lord to walk before the Lord in Truth throughout the whole course of their Life So did Hezekiah not for a Season or at such a Ti ãâ¦ã only but throughout the general Course Bent and ãâã nour of his Days Even as long or for the most pa ãâ¦ã he walked at all he walked before the Lord in Truth Now the Scripture mentioning this Word Truth so ãâã often and in all places it doth recommend the same ãâã exhorts us to the Receiving and Practice thereof as alsâ finds fault and Reproves where it is wanting or wh ãâ¦ã the Truth is not obeyed Gal. 3. 1. Or People do not ãâã cording to the Truth We may hereby see and un ãâ¦ã stand that exceeding great Stress aâd Necessity is ãâã hereon in order to our Eternal Salvation and Happi ãâ¦ã Open ye the Gates that the Righteous Nation which ãâã eth the Truth in the Margent it is Truths may enter ãâ¦ã Isa 26. 2. That is Enter into that strong City menti ãâ¦ã ed in the foregoing Verse which the Lord hath buil ãâ¦ã and prepared for such of the Inhabitants of the Eart ãâ¦ã he shall judge and find worthy And here the word ãâã Promise and the Condition annexed is That is must ãâã to the Righteous Nation that keepeth the Truth or Tr ãâ¦ã Which word Keepeth denotes a constant heed adhere ãâ¦ã unto and Observance thereof And not to chop ãâ¦ã change with the wind or to turn with the Fashion ãâã titude and Course of this corrupt world as to say ãâã thing is Truth to day and another contrary unto or ãâã ferent from it is Truth at another time No such ââter for his Truth endureth to all Generations Psal ãâã Like God its Author with the Truth there is no V ãâ¦ã bleness nor shadow of Turning And like unto ãâã Christ who is the Way the Truth and the Life it is ãâã same yesterday to day and for ever So that this man ãâ¦ã them to be Children that are corrupters they have fo rs ãâ¦ã the Lord Isa 1. 4. That they have Prevaricated ãâã turned aside from his Truth They are gone away ãâã ward who speak thus and thus concerning it as the ãâã ner of many is in these our Days And that they ãâã not the Righteous Nation or the Righteous People ãâã keep the Truth to whom this Precious Promise is ma ãâ¦ã for such kept it or rather did by Chance happen ãâ¦ã light thereon for a Time but they did not keep it ãâã tinually Blessed are they that keep Judgment and he ãâã ãâã Righteousness at all times Psal 106. 3. and so they ãâã no Lot and Share nor Right to enter into that ââong City which the Lord hath made for Judah and âârusalem yea for all the Inhabitants of the Earth who âould keep the Truth or walk before him in Truth For this Good and Sweet Word of Promise is made ât only to the Righteous Nation but to every and each âârticular Soul therein that keepeth the Truth So that ââese Two Consequences must necessarily arise That even ãâã the Unrighteous Nation which Keepeth not the Truth ãâã those few Inhabitants and Souls therein who are ââghteous and do Keep the Truth shall enter into the ãâã of our God Again Suppose it were a Righteous ãâ¦ã tion and did Keep the Truth here the Denominati ãâ¦ã is taken from the greater part and it is called a Righâââus Nation where the Multitude or most are so But ãâã some âew therein were Unrighteous and did not Keep ãâã Truth here the Promise would be only to the for ãâ¦ã sort and not to the latter The Reason whereof is ãâ¦ã dent Because the Soul that sinneth it shall die The ãâã shall not bear the Iniquity of the Father neither shall ãâã Father bear the Iniquity of the Son the Righteousness âhe Righteous shall be upon him and the Wickedness of ãâã Wicked shall be upon him Ezek. 18. 20. So that as ãâã being an Inhabitant of a Righteous Nation which keep ãâã the Truth will not give thee Admission or Entrance in ãâã City of God unless thou be Righteous and keepest the ãâã thy self So although thou Livest in an Unrighte ãâã Nation where most are so which Keepeth not the ââuth yet if thou art Righteous thy self and Keepest ãâã Truth yet thou wilt enter into the City of God alâââugh never so few are besides The Marginal Reading ãâã Truths in the Plural Number shews That it is not the ãâã Keeping of One or Some of the Truths of God but ãâã Keeping all of them which is requisite and necessary ãâã we enter therein It was the same Spirit of God ââich spake that in Isaiah 26. 2. as also which spake that Isaiah 38. 3. and which probably gave Hezekiah that ââowledge How necessary was Keeping the Truth or the ãâ¦ã king before God in Truth in order to enter into the Ci ãâã of our God And
search for me with all your heart and I will be found of âou saith the Lord Jer. 29. 13 14. In both these observable Scriptures is contained the inseparable condition ânnexed to which the promise is made of acceptance from the Lord If thou shalt seek him with all thy Heart ând with all thy Soul There must be no Exception or Reserve and nothing in the least is to be taken out of the heart for it to be fixed or employed about saving God only and the things pertaining to his Kingdom This is to walk before the Lord with a perfect heart which did yield to Hezekiah so much inward comfort as streamed forth in outward Tears when He laid upon his Bed of Sickness It will do the same also to every one besides that shall do the like things As we have a further Example and confirmation hereof in another Servaââ of the Lord who thus witnesseth of himself That we were ãâã pressed out of measure above strength insomuch that we despaired even of Life But we had the Sentence of Deaââ in our selves this was a sad Case and Extremity Buâ he goes on to add sweetly for our rejoicing is this the Testimony of our Conscience That in Simplicity and Godly Sincerity not with fleshly Wisdom but by the Grace of Goâ we have had our Conversation in the World 2 Cor. 1. 9. 10. 12. Hence may be seen again the absolute necessity of ãâã Godly Life foregoing which is to yield this rejoycing Hence also suspect and tremble at and do not for Te ãâ¦ã Thousand VVorlds trust thy Soul upon that uncertainty oâ huddling up the matter by a Death-Bed Repentance which will Administer Horrour or only Carnal Peace anâ Stupidity which will be after followed by the gnawing ãâã the Worm which shall never die For such can neveâ make that comfortable Reflexion as Hezekiah did in thâ Text Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I havâ walked before thee in Truth and with a perfect heart anâ have done that which is good in thy sight This is the Third thing proposed to be spoken unto And here I would recommend to all such as shall Rea ãâ¦ã this which may also be applied unto the two foregoinâ particulars That whatever ye do meet with in the courââ of your Reading the Scriptures which were given to maââ us wise unto Salvation concerning doing good Be here ãâã structed that this is written for your Admonition also Tââ Time would fail me to speak of all those many and ãâã veral Texts of Scripture which speak of this Thing ãâã doing Good Now as all Making or Preaching of Sermoâ if they be managed aright are but a Reasoning out ãâã the Scriptures concerning the same Things So if the Hearers or Readers of the Word would also compare Place with Place and narrowly mind and observe from within themselves what further Significative and true Thoughts do arise from thence they might be Preachers also at least to themselves that is to their own Hearts or Consciences In which sence they might Hear a Sermon or rather a still Voice within them dictating to Good and Testifying against Evil all the week long Whereas I could bring more out of this Treasury of Divine Truths as pertaining to this Subject I shall Instance âut in two or three Texts of Scripture that being Sufficient for in the Mouth of two or three Witnesses every Word shall be established The first is Psal 37. 3. Trust in âhe Lord and do good so shalt thou dwell in the Land and âerily thou shalt be âed Whereby is shewn forth That Good is not only to be done at the time of our Death but even in the very midst of and throughout the time we dwell in the Land that is on this Earth where we now Inhabit And by the first and last words of this Verse Trust in the Lord verily thou shalt be fed The Holy Ghost doth hereby tacitly anticipate and meet with an Objection or Surmise in heart as if People should think or âay that if they did Good they should be impoverished ând come to want themselves But here by Arming their minds before-hand with Trust in the Lord which is a relative Term and Presupposes danger and difficulty through which God will carry them for all and then comes in at the close thereof Verily thou shalt be fed This again satisfies the heart not so much of the Natural Man who doth not altogether so well discern these things âut it doth the Spiritual Man and Faithful Soul who doth discern and lay hold of the promise so far that tho' if He should do so much good as He would He must of necessity âell all his Estate or give all his Goods to feed the Poor for that of Almsgiving seems to be the doing of good here meant and intended yet nevertheless He will do some good according to his Ability And also withal observe the Rules of Justice to his Kindred and Family as well as those of Mercy and Almsgiving to the Poor For this is a constant Rule that we should not break one Commandment of God to yet more fulfill another Nor yet jostle and thrust out one Duty out of ãâã greater Zeal for the observance of another For as haââ been aforesaid We should walk before God with a perfeââ heart Even so good should be done Universally withoââ doing it only in some things and not in other things ãâã Good Man will guide his Affairs with Discretion Psal 11â 5. So He is good in all Relations and will approve hiâ self Universally so in all things in all Times and Placeâ and in reference to all Persons The Second Scripture which I shall Instance in is Joââ 5. 29. They that have done Good shall come forth unââ the Resurrection of Life This again is to be Understooâ of having done good throughout the course of our Life hââ on Earth So wonderfully much doth the Scripture speââ of and make for this Thing of Good Life And Hezekiââ knowing this by the same Spirit that the having doââ Good would intitle to the Resurrection of Life like as ãâã Man who is a drowning or sinking doth catch hold ãâã somewhat to save and Preserve himself so he doth he ãâ¦ã fitly and properly make his Appeal unto God on this wi ãâ¦ã now he was a surrendring up his Life into his hands o ãâ¦ã of a Desire and Expectation that a Better and more End ãâ¦ã ring Life may be Given unto him instead thereof Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have done tââ which is Good in thy Sight The Third Scripture which I think convenient and necessary to alledge for this Purpose is Acts. 10. 38. Hâ God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and wiââ Power who went about doing Good and healing all tââ were oppressed of the Devil for God was with him Tââ same Jesus is elsewhere called the Prince of Life Acts. â 15. in the Margent it is the Author of