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
ãâ¦ã all my Years in the Bitterness of my Soul Which Words are Written for our Admonition and Ensample for our Imitation and Practice upon whom the Ends of the World are come Namely That each of us should severally go all our Remaining Years Months Weeks and Days of this our Pilgrimage in the Bitterness of our Souls And if we should also when we come to lie on our Death-Beds Weep sore Provided it be for the very same Reasons as Hezekiah did It would be never the worse but better for us Now with what kind of Use and Application shall I conclude the foregoing Sermons The first Use shall be a short Word of Exhortation Namely for all that shall hear or read these lines To walk before God in Truth and with a Perfect Heart and to do that which is Good in his Sight How this may be done hath been already shewed My Business at present is to Exhort and Perswade People so to do Have ye in the past time of your Lives walked before God in Truth and with a perfect heart and done that which is Good in his Sight Some have and some have not But this know God requireth that which is past Eccles 3. 15. He will certainly call you to an Account and Judge you for the past time of your Life That is gone by and there is no recalling of it yet the future course of your Life is somewhat more in your Power Do ye therefore secure the Aâââues Walk before God in the beginning of each Day ãâã all the Day long And as ye do thus in the several Days the residue of your Life that is to come will ãâã True Perfect and Good For it is not a vain thing âor you Because it is your Life and through this thing ãâã shall prolong your Days in the Land whither ye go âver Jordan to possess it Deut. 32. 47. It is not a âain or Indifferent thing in the first place to Hear or Read the Word of God or not to do it For all that âver will be saved will be saved by the Word of God As Contrariwise Destruction and Misery are âhreatned to those who refuse it or turn their Backs ârom it or who only give it the Hearing but do not thereafter But Moses saith Set your hearts unto all the Words which I testifie because it is your Life Which is the nearest thing belonging to any one for 't is this which gives the resentment and feeling of all other things And through this thing of walking before God in Truth and with a perfect heart and doing that which is Good in his sight Ye shall Prolong your Days It Prolonged Hezekiahs Days Fifteen Years more and it will prolong your Days a longer space of duration then Fifteen Thousand yea Fifteen Millions of Years in the Land of Eternity whither and when ye go over the Jordan of this Life to possess it The Heart and Conscience of every one must necessarily assent to the Truth of this following Proposition Seeing that Man must live and abide for ever for so it is from the Order Decree and Determination of God concerning us He cannot do otherwise then desire to be happy for ever when He goes over the Jordan of this Life as well and all one as He desires and endeavours to live happily and comfortably in this Life on this side of Jordan Seeing that Mââ must live after Death He must all one and also doth desire to be Happy and Blessed after Death all onâ as it is Natural and every one doth desire to liââ Comfortably Pleasantly and Happily before Deaââ And seeing again from the Order Decree and Determination of God There is noâ other way undââ Heaven to be Happy and Blessed for ever but ãâã walking before God in Truth and with a Perfeââ Heart and by doing that which is Good in his sighâ throughout all our remaining Life Hereupon ãâã Word of Exhortation speaks most strong and forciblâ to every one that would be saved and happy for ãâã ver as every one would who knows and believes ãâã future State Go thou and do likewise What I say ãâã thee I say again to all Go thou and do likewise Ev ãâ¦ã to walk before the Invisible God in Truth and wi ãâ¦ã a Perfect Heart and to do that which is Good in ãâã sight all the remaining Days thou walkest moveââ and breathest on this Earth If you do but atten ãâ¦ã unto and understand throughly that Reasoning and Truth which lies in this consideration It will appear to be the most Strong and Powerful Argument in the World for to Perswade Men. The other Use which I shall draw and infer from these last words of our Text And Hezekiah wept sore shall be To Recommend unto those who are in Reality and Truth obedient Servants of the Lord to be in a State of Weeping and Mourning Say I these things as a Man For doth not the Law of the Prophets Recommend and say the very same unto ye Therefore also now saith the Lord Turn ye even to me with all your Heart and with Fasting the intent whereof is to afflict our Soul Isa 58. 3. And with Weeping and with Mourning Let the Bridegroom go forth of his Chamber and the Bride out of her Closet Let the Priests the Ministers of the Lord Weep between the Porch and the Altar and let them say Spare thy People O Lord and give not thine heritage to reproach Joel 2. 12 13 14 17. And in that Day did the Lord God of Hosts call to Weeping and to Mourning and to Girding with âack-cloth Little of this is obeyed and observed in this Generation and Countrey of ours but herein is fulfilled what is next Written And behold Joy and Gladness slaying oxen and killing sheep eating Flesh and Drinking Wine Let us Eat and Drink for to Morrow we shall die And it was revealed in mine Ears by the Lord of Hosts surely this Iniquity shall not be Purged from ye until ye die saith the Lord God of Hosts Isa 22. 12 13 14. But here it may be surmised and said That such kind of harsh and sowre Doctrine may be Reasonably expected from the Old Testament Dispensation which came from Mount Sinah which gendreth Bondage from whence the Law was given in Fire in Blackness and Darkness and Tempest of Thunder and Lightning But the Gospel was not ushered nor brought into the World after that manner for it came in a still Voice with a Fear not for behold I bring you Good Tidings of Great Joy which shall be to all People Luke 2. 10. Doth this same Gospel Recommend or say any thing concerning this State of Weeping and Mourning For if it should How would it then bring us Good Tidings of Great Joy which shall be unto all People Yes assuredly it doth both but herein is Comprised the Mystery of God That the Weeping and Mourning must go before the Joy which is to be manifested in us and had by us
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
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
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
Sorrow This again is a most clear and convincing Demonstration That the living in the Pleasures of sin for a Season or the Catching after and enjoying the Delicacies and Recreations of the World is not a walking before God in Truth for the end of any ones living in Pleasure or Delicacy is in order to be an Happy Men. But now it is impossible from the order of the things of God that either the Pleasures of sin for a Season or the transitory delights of the World should give unto any Man the true Happiness because they have such bitter and miserable consequents no more then a Cup of sweet Poyson can tend to the well Being and Health of the Body So that it must follow by necessary consequence that whosoever follows after the Pleasures of sin for a Season or the delights of the World altho he now Bless himself in his heart saying I shall have Peace tho' I walk in the Imagination of mine Heart to add Drunkenness to Thirst Deut. 29. 19. Altho' they hug themselves in their own Conceit I shall have Happiness because that I enjoy so many Pleasures and Delights in Order to it Yet still herein they do not walk before God in Truth For they do not go in the right Road to Happiness but they are mistaken and deceived in heart and they are in a false Path as the end will prove for it will at last let them down into the Chambers of Death the place of Punishment and Misery We may thus know and conclude that as God gave us a Being at first so it is Natural and Reasonable to expect only from him an happy Being My Soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him Psal 62. 5. And thereupon we should walk before him in expectation and seeking after it And here if we go the right way And He led them forth by the right way Psal 107. 7. There is a great deal in that which is Chalked and Pointed out Butted and Bounded in his written word as long as we make that our Guide and Rule then indeed we walk before God in Truth But as sure as that word is Truth Thy Word is Truth the Pleasures of sin for a Season however eagerly they are sought after and followed by the People of the world for Satan who deceiveth the whole world makes use of this as the great Bait to beguile and catch Souls unto himself are not the true way to Happiness and Blessedness in the End Because that which may be known of God is manifested in them for God hath shewed it unto them Rom. 1. 19. So in like manner it may be truly reasoned that which may be known of God touching his future distribution of things is already manifest in Men for God hath shewed it unto them And accordingly may be observed that Melancholly and Heaviness of heart in the midst of Laughter the heart is sorrowful which is immediately at or after having the Pleasures of this Life That Regret of Mind and Vexation of Spirit immediately ensuing upon the Pleasures of sin for a Season All this and the like is but a manifestation before handâ or as a Pledge Earnest and Fâreruâner whereby God hath shewn unto them that Tribulation and Anguish Indignation and Wrath which shall be upon every Soul that doth Evil. This and the like is a fore-shewing of Pain Punishment and Misery to come And so again it is on the other good hand Where is Approbation of Mind the satisfaction of a good Conscience a Joyful Hope and Comfortable Expectation as all these and the like are annexed to our having our Evil things here to our enduring labour and taking Pains in the Obedience and Service of God this is an earnest of the Spirit and a Manifestation in Men whereby God hath shewn unto them that Glory Honour and Peace which shall be to every Man that worketh good Rom. 2. 10. And that assured future blessedness which shall be to every one that hath lived and done according to the Will of God Thou therefore endure Hardship as a Good Souldier of Jesus Christ saith Paul to Timothy VVhich is a Lesson of Instruction to be put in Practice by all faithful Christians for as we are in the way of Duty and Service of God the more denial of our selves we have used as to present ease and safety the greater satisfaction and enjoyment we shall have hereafter whereof now we have a little glimpse earnest assurance and foretast by that Complacency of mind and lively hope we may sometimes perceive after such and such Acts of Duty Notwithstanding the same do expose us to present worldly Inconveniencies Loss and Trouble However we are contented and satisfied and Joyful for it is something for God And so the more Labour we have been at the more Rest we shall have hereafter and this same Rest will be found yet so much the more pleasant And He saw the Land that it was good and Rest that it was Pleasant Gen. 49. 15. Which will be yet more so as we may perceive by the Irksomness of its contrary that is Restlessness And so the more Tribulation we have gone through in the world the Greater will be our Recompence and Crown The more loss hath been sustained in his Service the greater gain will be hereafter as Lazarus was comforted for the Evil things he had in his life time Yea in whatever seems Evil Harsh Uncouth and Irksome it will be made up double yea more then an hundred fold in the time of the Restitution of all things When the times of Refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. So that in each thing we take in hand we should not so much regard whither the same be Pleasant or aukward but whither it be Duty or Sin whither it be Good or Evil whither it will tend to our Benefit or Loss our Reward or Punishment in the last Day And so we should either do or not do the same either abstain from or give way unto it Hereby also we may somewhat conceive of the exceeding Evil Mischief and Danger of Loytering or Idleness For only Just to Rest or Breath a little and so to Labour or Business again Otherwise there can no Good come possibly of it Nay it tends to so much Loss to be sustained throughout all Eternity And it is a Losing so much of the Things which we have wrought that they receive not a full Reward according as may be apprehended from 2. John 8. Which though there is not much Account made of through Ignorance or Unbelief at present yet in the latter Dayes ye shall consider it perfectly And when we come to see every Mans Reward Proportioned and adjusted according as his Labour and Work hath been then what themselves shall miss and be disappointed of through Idleness and Sloth in the Dayes of their Flesh will raise bitter Anguish and Indignation within themselves for not having been stedfast Unmoveable
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
Life By which may be seen what a Relation and tendenââ the doing of Good hath unto Life Now Jesus Chr ãâ¦ã not only suffered but also lived an Example that ãâã should follow his steps And this Place in Acts. 10. 38 so written to the Intent that every one of us who wouââ Love and Inherit Eternal Life What Man is He tââ desireth Life Answer is made Depart from Evil and Good Psal 34. 12 14. Should in our several Respectiââ Stations and according to our several Ability and Capacity go about and do good also for so far as we do this God is with us Whereby again may be seen and perceived the Goodness of that Supreme and Almighty Being Who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil Hence again We may understand what a doing of good is for as the being oppressed of the Devil is an Evil so to have that same Evil either removed or taken away or âured and healed this is a doing good By the way the worst oppression of the Devil is when Sin and Guilt is brought into the Conscience through his Temptations or Instruments And so it is as to all other evils or harms whatever the either taking them away or curing and healâng them is a doing good It is written of him that did the greatest and all the good that was ever done to Mankind When the Even was come they brought unto him âany that were possessed with Devils and He cast out the Devils with his word and healed all that were Sick That ãâã might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the Prophet âaying Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses Mat. 8. 16 17. The very Words in Isaiah are these Sureââ He hath born our Griefs and Carried our Sorrows Isa 53. ãâã And it being after added The Lord hath laid on him âe Iniquity of us all for He shall bear their Iniquities and He ââre the sin of Many Verse 6. 11 12. This goes further âven to the Fountain Head the Original cause and âource of Infirmities Sickness Griefs and Sorrows for âân and Iniquity is the cause of them all This is effectu ãâ¦ã and sound work And as sin is the greatest and only âvil so to cure heal take away Remedy or someway or âther to provide against sin is doing the greatest Good So ââat to Instruct the Ignorant is a doing good yea and ãâã resemblance to him who was the Author and Finisher of ââr faith who went about doing good for we Read that ââe sate down and taught his Disciples and the Multitude âhis is a kind of doing the greatest good for it is a doing ââod unto the Immortal Soul the more excellent part of us ââd not only to the dying Body Brethren if any of you do err from the Truth and one convert him let him know that ãâã which converteth the sinner from the Errour of his Way shâ save a Soul from Death and shall hide a Multitude of ãâã Iames. 5. 19 20. And so by the Words of Gods Graââ and Truth to Perswade Testify and Exhort People froâ their Sinful and Ungodly courses From living in ãâã religion and contempt of God as that if continued ãâã would involve them into the Greatest of Evils So con ãâ¦ã quentially it must be the Greater Good to disswade thââ from it And then Giving Alms to the Poor and M ãâ¦ã string comfort to the Sorrowful in as much as Pove ãâ¦ã and Sorrow are sore Evils and such like are instances ãâã doing Good The more and Greater Good People ãâã here the Greater and more full Reward they will rece ãâ¦ã hereafter As again it is on the other worse hand ãâã more sin any one do commit It is a treasuring up Wr ãâ¦ã to themselves against the day of Wrath which consider ãâ¦ã on should be a prevailing motive to cease from the ãâã and do the other as much as ever we can Remember how I have done that which is Good in ãâã sight Now all Things are in the sight of God But ãâã do that which is Good in his sight may have a twof ãâ¦ã Sence and Meaning either to do Things in order and ãâã tention unto God and upon that Respect it is that we ãâ¦ã Good because God commands requires and is well pl ãâ¦ã ed therewith when we do it as unto the Lord and ãâã as unto Men. As also what will appear Good in ãâã sight of the Lord now and by his Judgment hereaf ãâ¦ã For it is one Thing to do Good as in the sight of ãâã Lord and another as in the sight of Men. For the ãâã seeth not as Man seeth That which is highly este ãâ¦ã amongst Men is an Abomination in the sight of the ãâã And so it runs and may be conceived contrariwise ãâã which is highly esteemed by the Lord God is le ãâ¦ã ed and despised amongst Men For these call that ãâã which is good in the sight of the Lord. And again They ãâã that Godo which is Evil Isa 5. 20. But a Godly Heze ãâ¦ã or that Soul like unto Godly Hezekiah doth ãâã as in the sight of the Lord and not as ãâã Men. As the Lord said unto Sarah At the time appointed will I return to thee according to the time of Life Gen. 18. 14. So at the time appointed when the great Day of his Judgment is come will God Judge every one of us according to the Time of Life and as it was with us at such a Time of Life and such a Time of Life of some we shall give a better Account then of others so as to take in the whole Term of Life from the time that we had the first Knowledge of Good and Evil unto the Day of our Death SERMON IV. 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 THAT we do walk all our Days in the sight of the Lord and whatever we do it is in the sight of the Lord and how that God will Judge us for all the Thoughts Words and Actions of our whole Life even from the very time that we had the Knowledge of Good and Evil are most forcible considerations what manner of Persons we ought to be in all Holy Conversation and Godliness in all Obedience and Righteousness In Purity and Innocency and Uprightness of Life In all thy work and in whatever thine hand findeth thee to do in thy Feastings Sportings or Recreations Do thou awfully and constantly Remember that God seeth thee and God will Judge thee And after any thing is over and past whither it be an Act of Good and Duty or else an Act of Sin or Evil This know that the same is passed over into a thing to be Judged off and for the
and Seriousness of Spirit For then indeed it is a weighty and near affecting thing that the Soul is going about when she is a going away into Life Eternal or into Everlasting Punishment when she hath but one Cast or Throw which is to make the Final and Everlasting Decision for Endless Happiness or Misery We see by Poor Malefactors when they come to receive the due reward of their deeds what a crying and howling will they make at the Place of Execution and this they do not so much for the Pains which they shall undergo In being cut off hastily and violently from this Land of the living but out of a fearful Expectation of yet greater misery to come But Hezekiahs weeping sore or great weeping was not for this Reason for his Life was True Perfect and Good So that after him none was like unto him among all the Kings of Judah And God that cannot lie hath now under the Gospel promised Eternal Life to the patient continuance in well doing Rom. 2. 7. But probably Hezekiah did not know of this as the Saints and Servants of God of latter Ages do And then like one who is turned and dispossessed out of a Cottage may at first take it in Indignation and Vexation when He then knows not that it is in order to be removed into a Pallace or ââner House as He afterwards finds it So Hezekiah then not knowing that if He should be taken out of his Earthly Pallace that He should be received up into Heaven the City of the Great King which would be much better He might probably think it Irksome and a Loss to be taken from the other That Hezekiah was partly Ignorant of thus much appears from his own Words in the following Part of this Chapter For the Grave cannot Praise thee Death cannot Celebrate thee They that go down to the Pit cannot Hope for thy Truth This last He spake as one under that Dispensation from the Mount Sinah which gendreth Bondage Gal. 4. 24. And so this his Distrust and Ignorance did Gender Tears and Weeping in him But by your leave Good Hezekiah we under the Gospel can contradict the latter part of your saying for from thence we do believe yea we know and are assured that they which go down to the Pit can and do Hope for Gods Truth And Notwithstanding it is Written in the Old Testament For in Death there is no Remembrance of thee Yet now Christ hath abolished Death and brought Life and Immortality to Light through the Gospel we can truly contradict that saying also for in Death there ãâã most Remembrance of God For the Remembraneâ which we have of God in this life is much less and as ãâã Remembrance in Comparison of what Remembrance of God we shall have in and after our several Deaths Anâ we now can give a Plain and Satisfactory Answer in thâ Affirmative altho' by its being asked so short it seems to imply a strong Negation for we know that God will shew wonders to the Dead as that will be a wonderfuââ thing indeed to fullfil in a litteral sense in the last Day what is Written in Ezek. 37. 6 7 8 9 10. And thâ Dead will Arise and Praise God Psal 88. 10. And ouâ flesh also shall rest in Hope for it shall be raised up anâ rendred intire flesh again Notwithstanding it will foâ some time be left in the Grave and see Corruption as thâ Holy one of God did not when Jesus Christ shalâ change our vile Body that it may be Fashioned like unto his Glorious Body according to his working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto himself Here is to be observed that Good and Godly Mind oâ Hezekiah and of David for these did weep and werâ grieved at Death because they thought that thereby theâ should be hindred from Praising of God and telling ãâã his Truth and Wonderful Works They thought theâ should be deprived of his Worship and from having anâ Sense and Remembrance of him Which as to be wiââ God is the greatest Happiness of Man especially to the Soul that seeketh and serveth him who loveth and delighteth in him and chooseth the things that please hââ So to be without God in the World or to be turned inââ nothing after Death in Respect of God this is thâ greatest misery of Man especially if it be considereâ what an Unexpressible Benefit Comfort and Satisfactioâât is to be with God Herein the Godly and Graciouâ Soul is quite opposite and perfectly contrary unto thâ Ungodly and Graceless Person for the first cannot beaâ or away with the thoughts of being without God botâ in this Life and in the Life to come Nothing less wiââ suffice that Soul then to be with God for ever and to have God for her Portion for ever But the Ungodly and Graceless Person as He is An alien from the common wealth of Israel and without God in the World For he makes it his own wretched and willful choice to be so And herein tho' He was made in Honour capable to know God to serve him and enjoy him hereafter yet by not understanding and doing thereafter He doth become like the Beasts that Perish So such an one would desire with all his heart to be without God in the other World also for He fears and apprehends and expects no Good from him but Evil For in the other World He will be either the God of Mercy or the Lord to whom Vengeance belongeth He will be so one of these two ways unto all the Reasonable Inhabitants of the Earth And who would not fear him in this World shall feel him in the next Those who in this Life did despise and would not accept of his Goodness shall partake and be sensible of his severity in the next It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God Every Sinner or Ungodly Person is a Fool as may be demonstrated particularly And as it is Written The Fool hath said in his heart there is no God Even so they that are corrupt and have done abominable works the Sinner and Ungodly the Hypocrite do indeed wish and desire that there was no God for they would not have God Reign over them But that same wish and desire of theirs is as Vain and Impossible as it is yet further provoking and makes their sin yet exceeding more sinful in the sight of him with whom we have to do What strange Imaginations do sinners conceive in their minds that they may not receive in themselves a Recompence meet for their Evil deeds which yet are all to no purpose avail or behoof as any other ways to possibly avoid the Wrath and Indignation of God against them They had better agree with their Adversary quickly whilst they are yet in the way Or let him take hold of my strength that He may make Peace with me and He shall make Peace with me Isa 27. 5. As the Apostle Paul could