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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A58958	The Second and last collection of the late London ministers farewel sermons preached by Dr. Seaman, Dr. Bates, Mr. Caryll, [brace] Mr. Brooks, Mr. Venning, and Mr. Mead ; to which is added a farewell sermon preached at Dedham in Essex by Mr. Matthew Newcomen ; as also Mr. Lyes sermon at the conclusion of the last morning-exercise at All-hallows in Lumbard-street, being a summary rehearsal of the whole monthly-lectures.	Seaman, Lazarus, d. 1675.; Bates, William, 1625-1699.; Caryl, Joseph, 1602-1673.; Brooks, Thomas, 1608-1680.; Venning, Ralph, 1621?-1674.; Mead, Matthew, 1630?-1699.; Newcomen, Matthew, 1610?-1669.; Lye, Thomas, 1621-1684.	1663 (1663)	Wing S2257; ESTC R41075	195,536	326

Jesus Heb. 4.14 Seeing then that ye have a great High Priest that is passed into the Heaven● Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our Profession Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the Authour and finisher of our Faith who for the joy that was 〈◊〉 before him endured the Cross despised the sham● and is set down at the rig●● and of the Throne 〈◊〉 God Oh let us be thin●ing of and looking 〈◊〉 this Jesus You will say what shall we think of him Oh think of this condescention in the world of that vouchsafement which as was never the like of his how he humbled himself and suffered from God and man Think how he became poor that was rich that we that were poor might become rich Think how he became a curse think how he became sin for us think what a good Confession he made before Pontius Pilate even to the death and was obedient to the death Think how he conquered death by dying and how he rose again by his Almighty Power and is ascended into Heaven and ever lives to make intercession for those that come to the Father through him Think how he lived here on Earth in a sad condition and joyed in it to that it might be for our good and shall we leave such a Christ as this Oh can you look upon Christ and leave the Profession of your Faith it cannot be keep Christ before your eyes make him your pattern and you will not you cannot do amiss He that saith he abides in him ought to walk as he walked He walked in obedience all his dayes and was obedient to the death So must we we must walk in obedience all our dayes though we dye for being obedient You see now how many Arguments there are for your holding fast the Profession of your Faith There are many now that might be added but the time is past therefore I shall shut up all the words of Jude from the 20. Verses of his Epistle to the end But you Beloved building up your selves on your most holy Faith praying in the holy Ghost keep your selves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life and of some have compassion making a difference and others say with fear pulling them out of the fire hating even the Garments spotted by the flesh Now unto them that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy to the only wise God and Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen Mr. Matthew Newcomen His Farewel SERMON Preached at Dedham in Essex Aug. 20. 1662. REV. 3. Vers 3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent I Began this Scripture the last Lord's-Day in this Congregation I told you then there were three Doctrines obvious in the Text The first was Doct. 1. That it is the Duty of Christians To Remember those Truths that they have heard and received Doct. 2. That it is the Duty of Christians to hold fast the Truths that they have heard and received Doct. 3. That continued Repentance is the Duty of Christians as well as initial Repentance Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent The first of these Doctrines I applyed my self to and applyed to ●he People the last Lord's-Day and shall not now say any thing of it but proceed to the next Doctrine That it is the Duty of Christians To hold fast the Truths that they have heard and received That which the Apostle enjoyns on Timothy is in proportion the duty of all Christians 2 Tim. 1.13 Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus The whole intire Body of Divine Truth Hold it fast against all opposition whatsoever Now if they that are themselves Teachers of the Truth to others must hold fast the Truth according to the Plat-form that hath been delivered to them then much more is this the duty of private Christians who are supposed not to have that latitude of parts and gifts that Teachers have And therefore you shall find that Christ requires this not onely of the Pastors but of the Members of his Church Rev. 2.24 speaking not onely to the Angel but to the Body of the Church● But to you I say and to the rest in Thyatira as m●ny 〈◊〉 have not this Doctrine and which have not known the depths of Sathan as they speak I will put upon you none other burden but that which you have already●● hold fast till I come As if he should say This is all I require of you my People keep your selves and hold fast that which you have till I come And so in the 3d of Rev. 11. Behold I come quickly hold that fast which thou hast that no man take away thy Crown As if he should say That Divine Tru●● that thou hast heard and received it is thy Crown thy excellency therefore hold it fast This Duty of holding fast the Truth is urged in many other places of Scripture under other expressions as that of continuing in the Word of God Christ says If ye continue in my Word then are ye my Disciples indeed And continuing in the Faith Act. 14.22 Paul and Barnabas visiting the Churches exhor ed them to continue in the Faith And so those terms of being rooted in the Truth of standing and standing fast and many others they all inforce this Duty Now for the better handling of this Point I shall do these four things First I will shew you What Christians are to hold fast Secondly How they are to hold this fast Thirdly Why they are to hold fast that they have heard and received Fourthly I will apply it First What Christians are to hold fast The Doctrine says They are to hold fast the Truths they have received Now Truths are of two sorts 1. Some are Natural and Moral 2. Some are Supernatural and Divine Truths Called Truths of God because they come from God and conform the Mind and Soul that receive them to the Image of God Now though it is true it is good for a man to be right in Moral things and to know and cleave to that which is Truth in Morality yet the Truths that we are here called upon to hold fast they are Divine Truths Supernatural Truths Truths in Religion Truths in the things of God Secondly Again Religious and Divine Truths Truths of God they are either such as are so in name and in the estimation of some men or else they are such Truths as are Truths of God in the truth and reality of the thing Now when I say that Christians are to hold fast the Truths they have received the meaning is not that what ever any man or company of men offer as Truths should be received and held fast for then we must hold fast many Errours But what

left both of Friends and Foes and that for these Reasons which is the first thing I have to do which is to shew you Why we should hold fast the Truths of God First For the excellency of Divine Truth it is more precious then Gold better ●hen Rubies and all that you can desire cannot be compared with Truth And it must needs be so because it is the immediate Issue of God himself who is the Fountain of Truth and the Fountain of all Perfection and Glory Natural men have said Truth is the Daughter of Time Divines say Truth is the Daughter of God Divine Truth is the Child of God the Issue and Birth of God And whosoever therefore God hath pleased to deliver his Truth unto they must be tenderly careful that it be not deflowred and violated Secondly It is our duty to hold fast the Truth that we have received because we have received it under the notion of those things that have a kind of constancy in them I say we have received the Truth under the nature of those things that have a kind of constancy and perpetuity in them The Scripture speaks of the Truths of God as an Heritage Thy Testimonies have I taken for mine Heritage saith David in the 119. Psalm Though a man's Personal Estate may be alienated yet that which is his Heritage this is unalienable in Law it is a wrong done to his Posterity if he parts with tha● Truth is the Inheritance of the Saints therefore they are to hold it fast Again in Scripture the Truth of God is called a thing committed to a man's Trust 2 Tim. 1.14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us That good thing What was that Why the form of sound words which in the Verse before he had bidden him hold fast this is but a Reduplication of the same thing on him The Body of Gospel-Truths that was committed to thee hold it fast that good thing a good thing the Author of it is good and it makes us good all that is contained in it is good Matter and it tend to a good End the saving of our Souls This saith he hath been committed to thee therefore keen it A thing committed to a man's Trust must be so kept that it may be re-delivered and re-delivered intire and whole and re-delivered to the same Person that did commit it to us else we cannot be faithful to our trust The Truth of God is committed to our trust we must so keep it that we may re-deliver it and re-deliver it intire and whole and re-deliver it thus intire and whole to him that committed it to us even to God This 〈◊〉 the Duty of all Christians thus to keep the Wo●● There is a committing of the Truth to all 〈◊〉 Church and Saints of God as Jude tells us in 〈◊〉 Epistle verse the third That ye should conte●● earnestly for the Faith which was once delive●● to the Saints the Faith that is the Doctrin● Faith the truth of the Gospel which was delivered to the Saints We have but one Gospel and it was delivered but once God means no more to deliver his Gospel and the Truths of it therfore you had need strive hard to keep them and hold them Thirdly We should hold fast the Truth that we have received because if we do not hold it fast we do wrong God and we wrong our selves and we wrong the Truth and we wrong our Posterity 1. It is our duty to hold fast the Truths we have received because if we do not we wrong God for Truths are more Gods then ours They are ours as to the use of them but they are his as he is the Original and Author of them Truths are God's Jewels there is never a Truth of Religion but God owns it as his and for us to barter away any of these Truths of God it is Sacriledge it is a robbing of God it is a wrong to God This is that God complains of by his Prophet in the second of Jeremiah the eleventh and twelfth Verses Hath a Nation changed their Gods which are yet no Gods but my People have changed their glory for that which doth not profit Be astonished O ye Heavens at this and be horribly afraid b●ye very desolate saith the Lord. The Prophet indeed speaks of a total forsaking of God and all his Truths but there is in the forsaking of every Truth a proportion of wrong to God 2. It is a wrong done to the Truths of God when men having received the Truth and embraced it hold it not fast but cast it off this is a wrong to the Truths of God We say it is less reproach to a man when he comes to my house to shut the Door against him and not receive him in at all then when he hath been in a while with me I turn him out all the World will now think I find cause to be weary of him They who have sh●● their hearts against the Truth and never gave a● entertainment to it they are less injurious to i● then they that have received it and professed it and yet turn from it These tell the World that the Truths of God are not so sweet and worthy of their entertainment as they supposed them to be 3. This is an injury and wrong to our selves this is a wrong to our Credit and Reputation Now though we may not make Credit our End in Religion yet we may make use of our Credit or Reproach as an Argument to hold fast the Truth and this is injurious to our own Souls John 8.31 Th●● Jesus said to those Jews which believed on him If ye continue in my Word then are ye my Disciples Indeed here Christ doth seem to distinguish his Disciples he hath some that are so in name that are not so is deed and he hath some that are so in deed and 〈◊〉 truth and of these he gives a Character here If ● continue in my Word You now profess to beli●● my Word but if you hold fast and continue● my Word then you are my Disciples indeed 〈◊〉 if you continue not in my Word you have 〈◊〉 name of Disciples onely and that will not save you You can never be saved unless you be indeed the Disciples of Christ and you can never approve your selves to be the Disciples of Christ indeed if ye continue not in the Truth 1 Joh. 2.24 Let that therefore abide in you which you have received and heard from the beginning If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you ye shall continue in the Son and in the Father Hold fast the Truth of God which you have received then shall you continue in the Son If the Truth of God which you have received and believed remain in you and be held fast by you ye shall continue in the love of the Father and Son but not else according to what he expresseth again

offended when troubles come Job 16.1 I told you that you might not be offended Look for them that you may not be terrified by reason of the unexpectednesse of them 2. That he might convince us that there is nothing befalls us without his privity he that foresees them he must needs see them he that forecasts them he must needs have the ordering of them Not a hair of your heads falls to the ground without his counsel without his hand That we might provide for them Know you not the coming of the Son of Man When Christ comes with notable mercies usually he sends his harbingers we must thereore be as Noab Being warned of God believing his word he was moved with fear and built an Ark. Pro. 6. What ever troubles come upon the people of God they have no cause to fear Fear none of these things thou shalt suffer Be careful for nothing it's very comprehensive there is a feat that we cannot be without and there is a fear we may not admit A fear there is of dependance this furthers our preparation prayer renouncing our selves flying to the Lord Jesus under his wings that 's a blessed fear of trouble that makes us to come nearer to God But then there 's a fear of Dispondency Apostasie a fear of Distraction so as to be dismayed discouraged There 's no ground of slavish fear as to God no ground of a fatal fear of man of any thing that man can do to us And the Reason is 1. All our sufferings are ordered by a Father 't is the Potion that thy Father gives thee to drink whatever bitter Ingredient there is in it still it 's of thy Fathers procuring why wilt thou suspect it to be poyson and afraid of it no be encouraged 2. Fear not Christ stands by thee in all thy sufferings The Angel stood by Christ in his Agony to comfort him but Christ stands by us in our Agony in our contending for the Faith Fear not saith God O Worm Jacob I will be with thee He is alwaies with us though sometimes as to sense 't is otherwise nay if Christ be nearer to us at any time 't is when trouble is most near us O Lord be not far off for trouble is near saith the Psalmist That trouble is blessed that engages God to be nearer to us that engages us to come nearer to God 3. Fear not whatever 't is that we suffer there shall be sufficient strength given to bear it to go through it God will never lay more upon thee than he will enable thee to bear and if thy strength be encreased proportionably it is all one for thee to lift a pound weight and to lift a hundred pound weight 4. Fear not any of these sufferings because none of them shall hurt thee God hath said he will stave off all evil from thee no evil shall come nigh thy dwelling and he that fears the Lord shall not be visited of any evil Prov. 19.23 No hurt shall come nothing shall come to thee amiss that is as to thy Soul and the Soul is the man there shall be no imparting to thy Soul to thy best interest thou shalt lose nothing but that thou canst not keep nothing that enters into the other world to make up thy happinesse thou shalt lose nothing to do thee good no losse of communion with God no losse of Communion shall not be diminished But why do I speak of no hurt there shall come a great deal of good by these troubles When God calls thee to suffer and thou wilt put him off with doing make it up that way God loses by it and thou dost but if you would buckle your self to that service God calls for active when 't is active passive when 't is passive this is that piece of godlinesse that is great gain Thou wilt either live or die and shalt gain both wayes if thou live● thy graces shall be better the spirit of God shall rest upon thee if thou die thy glory which is weighty shall be double the weightier the Cross the weightier the Crown be content to go as Christ did from the Cross to the Crown Let us strive against our carnal lusts those few things that are ready to choak our faith disparage God and cut the sinews of our endeavour to any service God calls us to 1. Consider our troubles are like to be great here is the symptoms of Gods displeasure upon us here is the pouring out of such a providence among us as is usually attended with destructive Judgements Sodoms calamity was coming when one Lot was discharged Germany's calamity was coming when one Luther was taken away Lord then what woe is this to sleep away so many faithful painful labourers at once but it 's our duty to suffer patienttly and not complain 2. As our troubles must be great so many will fear and in fearing faint we see it come to passe and you will find it more and more There are those that run with the Foot-man that will not keep pace with the Horse-men that may be left behind and be trod under foot our troubles are likely to arise according to all we can learn from Scripture and Providence and very many there be that will shrink 3. Consider 't is a very difficult thing to stand stedfast in a day of evil you cannot name any of Gods Children but when they have indeed come to it their carnal fears have been working so as their feet have almost slipt they have been almost gone but that for the promise of God that he would lay no more upon them than he would enable them to bear O but you will say What will become of the publick interest of the name and Church of God what will become of my private interest I answer you have no ground of fear according to Scripture in either of these respects First as to the publick name of God the interest of his Church of his truth of righteousnesse of a real Reformation interest of our prayers hopes be not afraid 1. God bears a dear respect unto his people they are represented in Scripture by all names that may import dearnesse and nearnesse unto him the interest of his glory is bound up in his people he calls Israel his glory We know the interest of men is that which moves the world but the interest of God of his Glory no doubt will be the ground of safety and security unto us even till God take us to Heaven For the interest of Gods Justice God made Hell and for the interest of his mercy and grace he gave Jesus Christ to die to take effect here amongst the Children of men do you think God will forget his interest 2. Remember Gods wayes are in the deep you cannot tell what God is doing when you think thoughts of destruction and confusion my thoughts towards you saith God are thoughts of peace And truly God he does not save a Soul nor does not

me so long as I live look a● the drowning man holds fast that which is cast forth for to save him as the Souldier holds fast his Sword and Buckler on which his life depends So saith Job I will hold fast my integrity my heart shall not reproach me I had rather all the world should reproach me and my heart justify me then that my heart should reproach me and all the world justify me that man will make but a sad exchange that shall exchange his integrity for any worldly concernment Integrity maintained in the soul will be a feast of fat things in the worst of dayes but let a man loose his Integrity and it is not in the power of all the world to make a feast of fat things in that soul Leg. 9. That I would leave with you is this Let not a day passe over your head without calling the whole man to an exact accompt Well where have you been acting to day Hands what have you done for God to day Tongue what have you spoke for God to day this will be an advantage many wayes unto you but I can only touch on these Legacies Leg. 10. Labour mightily for a healing Spirit This Legacy I would leave with you as matter of great concernment Labour mightily for a healing spirit away with all discriminating names what● ever that may hinder the applying of Balm to hea● your wounds labour for a he ling spirit discord and division become no Christian for Wolves t● worry the Lambs is no wonder but for one La●● to worry another this is unnaturall and monstrous God hath made his wrath to smoak against us for the divisions and heart-burnings that have been amongst us Labour for a onenesse in love and affection with every one that is one with Christ let their forms be what they will that which wins most upon Christs heart should winn most upon ours and that is his owne Grace and Holinesse The question should be What of the Father What of the Son What of the Spirit shines in this or that person and accordingly let your love and your affections run out That is the tenth Legacy Leg. 11. Be most in the spirituall exercises of Religion Improve this Legacy for much of the life and comfort joy and peace of your souls is wrapt up in it I say be most in the Spiritual exercises of Religion There are externall exercises as hearing preaching praying and conference and there are the more spirituall exercises of Religion exercise of Grace Meditation Self-judging self-tryall and examination Bodily exercise will profit nothing if abstracted from those more spirituall The glory that God hath and the comfort and advantage that will redound to your souls is mostly from the spirituall exercises of Religion How rare is it to find men in the work of Meditation of Tryall and examination and of bringing home of truths to their owne soules Leg. 12. Take no truths upon trust but all upon tryall 1 Thes 5.21 So 1 John 4.1 Act. 17.11 It was the glory of that Church that they would not trust Paul himself Paul that had the advantage above all for externall qualifications no not Paul himself Take no truth upon trust bring them to the ballance of the Sanctuary if they will nor hold weight there reject them Leg. 13. The lesser and fewer opportunities and advantages you have in publique to better and enrich your souls the more aboundantly addresse your souls to God in private Malac. 3.16 17. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another c. Leg. 14. Walk in those wayes that are directly crosse and contrary to the vain sinfull and superstitious wayes that men of a formall carnall lukewarm spirit walk in this is the great concernment of Christians But more of that by and by Leg. 15. Lock upon all the things of this world as you will look upon them when you come to dye At what a poor rate do men look on the things of this world when they come to dye What a low value do men set upon the pomp and glory of i● when there is but a step between them and eternity Men now may put a maske upon them but then they will appeare in their own colours Men would not venture the losse of such great things for them did they but look on them now as they will doe at the last day Leg. 16. Never put off your Conscience with any plea or with any argument that you dare not stand by in the great day of your accompt It 's dreadfull to consider how many in these dayes put off their consciences We did this and that for our families they would have else perished I have complyed thus and wronged my conscience thus for this and that concernment Wil a man stand by this argument when he comes before Jesus Christ at the last day Because of the souls of men many plead this or that Christ doth not stand in need of indirect wayes to save soules he hath wayes enough to bring in soules to himselfe Leg. 17. Eye more minde more and lay to heart more the Spirituall and Internall workings of God in your soules than the externall Providences of God in the world Beloved God looks that we should consider the operations of his hand and the despising the works of his hands is so provoking to him that he threatens them to lead them into Captivity for not considering of them But above all look to the work that God is carrying on in your soules not a soul but he is carrying on some work or other in it either blinding or enlightning bettering or worstening and therefore look to what God is doing in thy soul All the motions of God within you are steps to eternity and every soul shall be blest or curst saved o● lost to all eternity not according to outward dispensations but according to the inward operations of God in your souls Observe what humbling work reforming work sanctifying work he is about in thy spirit what he is doing in that little world within thee If God should carry on never so glorious a work in the world as a conquest of the Nations to Christ What would it advantage thee if sin Sathan and the world should triumph in thy soul and carry the day there Leg. 18. Look as well on the bright side as on the darke side of the cloud on the bright side of Providence as well as on the dark side of Providence Beloved there is a great weaknesse amongst Christians they doe so pore on the dark side of the Providence as that they have no heart to consider of the bright side If you look on the dark side of the Providence of God to Joseth How terrible and amazing was it But if you look on the bright side his forescore yeares raign How glorious was it If you look on the dark side of the Providence of God to David in his five yeares banishment much will arise to startle

ever men call Truth or offer as Truth we must examine it by the un-erring Rule of Truth that is the Word of God In these things it is a clear Canon which we have 1 Thess 5.21 Prove all things hold fast that which is good Prove them by the Word of God and if they hold Truth by that then receive them and hold them fast Divine Scripture-Truths we are to hold fast Thirdly Scripture-Truths Truths that are grounded and warranted in the Word of God they are either such as are immediately and expresly laid down in Scripture or such as are mediately contained in Scripture and by deduction drawn thence Now those Truths that are immediately and expresly laid down in Scripture we are with out dispute to receive and hold fast But those Truths that are drawn thence we may make use of our Reason to examine them by the Word and so far as we see them to be drawn from Scripture we are to receive them and hold them fast Fourthly Divine Truths from Scripture are of two sorts Either the great and weighty things of the Truth of God and of Religion which we call Fundamental Truths or else they are those things that are of less weight in Religion and yet Truths of God Now we are not onely to hold fast those Truths of God that are the Fundamental Truths as That there is a God and but one God and That there is a Trinity of Persons in Unity of Essence Father Son and Holy Ghost and that there is but one Mediator between God and Man the Man Christ Jesus and that He is both God and Man in one Person and that he hath given full satisfaction to Divine Justice for all that by Faith close with him and the like These are the great Points in Religion these we must be sure to hold fast And not onely these but even the lesser Those Truths of Religion that comparatively are far less then these we must hold them fast You know what our Saviour says of the Commands There are some that are the first and great Commandements and there are others that are the lesser But whosoever shall break one of the least of God's Commandements and shall teach men so the same shall be least in the Kingdom of God So whosoever shall renounce the least Truth God will be eaven with him for it For those Truths of God which are 〈◊〉 and small comparatively they may be of great weight and consequence in their Sphere L●ther said Let Heaven run together as a Scrowl r●ther then one Filing of Truth should be parted with Surely those Servants of God the Martyrs were not so prodigal of their lives but knew what they did when they suffered for such Truths as men now call Trifles and not worth standing for the least Truths of God must be held fast Thus you see What we must hold fast DivineTruths Scripture-Truths whether greater or lesser we must hold fast what we have received I should but that I fore-see the time will prevent me answer an Objection Is there nothing to be held fast but Truth Doth not the Apostle bid the Thessalonians in the second of the Thessalonians the second Chapter and the fifteenth Verse Hold the Traditions which ye have been taught whether by Word or our Epistle The Papists make much of this Place for their unwritten Traditions In a word know this Though there were some Doctrines of Faith and Matters of Practice which when Paul writ this Epistle were not expresly to be found in Writing that had been Preached by the Apostles yet this will not in the least infer that now when the Canon of Scripture is compleated there should be such unwritten Traditions to which we are to give up our Faith I go on to the second thing and that is to shew How we must hold fast the Truths of God that we have heard and received First In our Judgments being fully resolved and settled in our Judgments concerning them not wavering about them nor suffering our selves by ●ny means and ways to be removed from our stedfastness in them Says the Apostle 2 Pet. 3.17 Seeing you know these things beware lest you also being led away with the errour of the Wicked fall from your own stedfastness Take heed you be not removed in your Judgments Hold fast what you have received and suffer not every Wind to blow you off from them Secondly We must hold fast the Truths we have heard and received in our Wills and Affections in our love to the Truth we must receive the Truth in the love of it or else we shall never keep the Truth Love is the strongest hold-fast in the World no man will part with that which he loves What makes ●he covetous man so unwilling to part with his Money but because he loves it What makes the lustful sinner so unwilling to part with his Lust he will part with Heaven rather then with his Lust Why it is because he doth so love it If men did love the Truth they would hold it fast Thirdly You must hold fast the Truth in the Profession of it Heb. 10.23 Let us hold fast the Profession of the Truth or of the Faith without wavering We must not onely believe with the Heart but confess with the Mouth if we would be saved When Teter denyed his Master with his Mouth and said I know him not I am perswaded he denyed him not in his heart It is a dangerous thing in words or outward Profession to renounce the Truth or any part of it Hold fast the Profession of the Truth Fourthly We must hold the Truths of God fast in our Life and Conversation this the Apostle calls Walking in Christ and holding forth the Word of Life in a blameless and harmless Conversation We must hold fast the Truth of God in our Lives Fifthly We must do all this Constantly Hold fast the Truth in our Judgment and Affection and Profession and Conversation constantly and at all times as David I have inclined my heart to perform thy Statutes always even unto the end We must not onely in times of calmness and serenity when we may have all the peace and applause of the World hold fast the Truth and Profession of it but in stormy Times when Truth may burn a man's fingers if he hold it yet even then we must hold it fast Sixthly We must hold fast the Truths we have received Resolutely against all opposition whatsoever whether of Friends or Foes Paul would not bate an inch no not to Peter his Brother h●● elder Brother in Christ and in the work of the Gospel he resisted him to the face and gave not place to him no not for an hour Thus should we hold fast the Truth that we have heard and received in our Judgment in our Will and Affections in our Profession and in our Lives and Conversations And thus hold them fast constantly and resolutely against all opposition on the right hand and on the

the saving Knowledge of Christ thy will subdued and brought into subjection unto Christ thy affections renewed spiritualized thy conversation such as becomes the Gospel of Christ 2. You that have made all things ready for his coming look out after his coming The Table is spread the Trencher laid the dinner ready the guest not come oh when will hee come I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ come Lord Jesus come quickly every Saint will eccho too Come quickly To every Beleever it shall be a most welcome coming hee shall come with a reward of absolution and pardon of all sin of vindication and clearing up of all names Beleevers bodies shall not only have a Resurrection but their good names It shall be a reward of Coronation all their Crowns of Thorns shall be turned into Crowns of Glory 3. Is Christ coming will hee come This should bear up Beleevers hearts in and under the sufferings they fear or feel Christ comes quickly therefore fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer This gives us advance into The Nineteenth Sermon Rev. 2.10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer behold the Devil shall cast some of you into prison that you may be tryed and you shall have tribulation ten daies be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a Crown of Life WHence observe 1. The people of God must suffer Through tribulation through many tribulations they must enter into the Kingdome of God From a cross into Heaven think it not strange no not of the fiery tryal thou shalt suffer 2. What ever sufferings the people of God either are or may be in they have no just cause ground or reason of fear i. e. of disponding distrusting distracting fear The Arguments for this point are in the Text. 1. The Consideration of who it is that brings the People of God into suffering Is it God God is the Disposer but who is the great Executioner The Devil whom God hates more than thou canst The Devil shall cast c. 2. 'T is the Devil in a Chain The Devil hath two sorts of Chains A Chain of darkness in which he is kept to the day of Judgement A Chain of providence he is restrained in that c. 3. The Quality of the suffering should keep them from fearing He shall cast some of you into Prison not into Hell 4. The Design to destroy you no but to try you 'T is well you are Gold else you would be presently destroyed and burnt 5. The Duration could the Devil have his design it should be for ever 'T is but for ten daies 6. God over-rules all that befalls us Christ alwaies stands by the Beleever to take notice of every stripe as well as of every hair of thy head to own thee in all thy sufferings to sympathize with thee to have a fellow-feeling and compassion unto thee to compose us and sanctifie all unto us to order the issue of all that it shall be sure speedy and good and by all these to make us as like God God-man as possible Vse Then do not fear Here we were forewarned and fore-Armed 1. Forewarned our suffering is like to be great nay it may be greater then we may suppose This to bee sure if our sufferings do but keep pace with our sinings I beleeve never such sufferings in England If God lay Righteousness to the Line and Judgement to the Plummet never such matter for his Justice in England 2. We should not fear because that is the spring of many other sins Fainting Running Lying Perjury and to do any thing in the world c. 3. The best of men in such bad times it will bee as much as ever they can doe to keep themselves steady 2. We were Fore-armed 1. In reference to the Church of God Do not fear the Church of God is dear to thee but 't is dearer to God The Interest of God is more concerned in the life peace and truth of the Church then in mine c. If the great God will not look to his own Interest can the Church be safe But doubtless hee will 2. In reference to our selves Suppose many sufferings yet the waies of God are in the dark as well as in the deep there 's no tracing of him let him alone where thou canst not trace him admire him God can and hath done and I bless God I can set my Seal to that word that tells mee God will do great things Babylon must sink his people must bee called the Kings of the earth must hate that Whore when God brings his people low 't is but making way for the bareing and magnifying his own mercy when the praise can be given to none now is a time for God to work Now will I arise and shew my self strong Therefore fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer Fear not oh ye Saints of the most high T is true if you were carnal natural unconverted sinful Idolatrous wretches well might you fear the wrath of the Lamb and him that sitteth on the Throne Wert thou a filthy drunken unrighteous intemperate Faelix thou might well fear thou hast no God to run to but being a Paul thou needest not fear No Paul can speak and act with so much confidence even when he stands before a great Tribunal ready to have a sentence of death passed on him that he makes his very Judge to Tremble And so you have it in The Twentieth Sermon Acts 24.25 And as he reasoned of Righteousness Temperance and Judgement to come Faelix trembled IN these words you have the manner matter and effect of Paul's Preaching The manner why Paul was reasoning The matter 't is of Righteousness Temperance and Judgement to come the Effect Faelix trembled First for the manner of Pauls Preaching as he reasoned i. e. as he argued the matter he did propound it in a rational way and pursued it before Faelix and this he doth in a double capacity as he is a Convert and as he is an Apostle as a Christian and as a Preacher 1. As a Convert and Christian and so he had reason to do and make use of that reason he had to shew though he became Righteous yet Paul had not lost his reason Hence learn true Religion will consist with right Reason Blessed be God for this Truth We are apt to look upon men as mad men if they will be Righteous 'T is true before Paul was converted he had Reason but he used it madly but after Conversion he begins to be sober and make the best use of his Reason 2. Look upon Paul as a Preacher so he makes use of his Reason And True Reason may and must bee used in Preaching the Gospel yet with these two Cautions 1. Do not over-value Reason do not lift up the Servant above the Master Prize Grace more then Reason Piety is better then Parts though Parts are the Ring of Gold Piety is the Diamond in

Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God therefore he cannot be saved he that abideth in the Doctrine hath the Father and the Son Therefore as you would be saved hold fast the Truths you have received Now here but I have not time to speak to it is a Case of Conscience Whether every errour doth cut a man off from God Answer No God forbid But this we cannot speak to now Fourthly They that hold not fast the Truth of God are injurious to their Posterity Our Fore-Fathers holding fast the Truth of God in the day of their Trial and sealing it with their Bloud was the means of transmitting the purity of the G●spel to us their Posterity and if we in our Generation hold no fast the Truth of God but carry it loose in our Consciences and Judgments and we let it fall out of our hands and hearts we forfeit the Truths of God not onely from ou● selves but also from our Posterity Thus you see we shall wrong the God of Truth and the Truth of God we shall wrong our selves and our Posterity if we hold not fast the Truth we have received Thus we have the Reasons of the Doctrine Application For Application here first I might bewail the general want of the care of the performance of this Duty which hath appeared many years in this Land We have had little care of holding fast the Truths we have received For holding fast the Truth in our Judgments How many are there whose Judgments have been perverted with many Errours This is that which the Apostle calls A turning aside to another Gospel in the first of the Galathians and the sixth Verse And so for holding fast the Truth in the love of it How many are there that have failed in that which Christ calls 〈◊〉 forsaking of the first Love Revelations the seco●● and the fourth Verse And we should hold fast the Truth in the Profession of it and how many are there that have failed in that This the Apostle calls in the tenth of the Hebrews A drawing back unto Perdition And for holding fast the Truth in the Practice of it How many have failed in that that have been Professors and now are grown loose and debauched This the Apostle Peter calls A turning aside from the Holy Commandement All these things call for our Lamentation Exhortation But the whole Work that I will apply my self to is to exhort every one of you to the care of this Duty To hold fast the Truths that you have heard and received Hold them fast in your Judgment hold them fast in your Will and Affections hold them fast in your Lives and Conversations hold the Truths you have received constantly and hold them against all opposition on the right hand and on the left from Friends and Foes To press this upon you I think I shall need use no other Motive then what I have laid down before you in the Doctrinal Part onely this one thing more and that is Take notice how urgent the Spirit of God is in pressing this in Scripture Now saith M ● Hildersham If in those days when the Apostles were ye● living who taught th● People of GOD with more Power and Demonstration of the Spirit then any of us do or can Yet if then they had need of such Exhortations to continue in the Doctrine and to abide in it to stand fast and hold fast the Word and Truth of God How much more needful are these Exhortations in our days If any say No There is not more cause for then the Magistrate was a Mortal Enemy to the Gospel and the Professors of it but we are thanks be to God under a Christian Magistrate who doth not oppose but countenance the Gospel and the Profeffors of it If any makes this Objection I will give you Mr. Hildersham's Answer to it which I find in a Sermon of his Printed in the Year One Thousand Six Hundred Thirty and one which is now One and Thirty Years agone saith he Though through the great mercy of GOD we in this Land enjoy the Gospel in great Peace and have it countenanced by Authority and though through the Religious Disposition of the KING we may have great hopes of the continuance of the true Religion and seem to be freed from all fear of the altering of it Yet says he there is need of this Exhortation even in these days and that for these Reasons REAS. I. First Because of the great danger we are in of being over-run or over-spread with Popery and the Fiery Tryal before we are aware For says he The great increase of Papists that we daily hear of and the great declining of many who are ready to receive any Errour that shall be offered to them These things give us just cause to fear the danger of Popery over-spreading us And Brethren If it were so in his time so many years ago What is it now REAS. II. Secondly says he If he there were no danger o● Popery yet says he there are so many Errours newly sprung up that do shew how needful this Exhortation is REAS. III. Thirdly says he There is such a general decay of the love of Religion in all places and amongst all sorts of People and so much irreligiousness every where that it is the general Disease of the Nation Therefore he concludes That in these Times of ours though Religion hath the Magistrate to countenance it yet there is as much need of pressing this Exhortation as ever there was namely To hold fast the Truths that we have heard and received Now if you ask What you shall do that you may be able to hold fast the Truths that you have received I will give you some Directions First If you would hold fast the Truths that you have heard and received get into Christ rooted and established in him Brethren It is not all the Learning in the World and Abilities that man can have that will inable him to hold out and hold fast the Truths that he hath received If a time of Tryal come unless Christ be his Bottom and Foundation unless Christ be his strength if a man stands upon his own legs his own Parts and Abilities to argue and dispute and repel Objections alas these things will fall in a day of Tryal Prison and Death and a Stake are such Arguments Brethren that all the Learning and Parts in the World cannot answer but onely Christ and his Spirit and Grace in the Heart Therefore if you would hold fast the Truths which you have received and heard and not be beaten off from them in the day of Tryal get into Christ rooted and established in him then shall you stand not else 2. If you would hold fast the truths that you have heard and received then take nothing upon trust in matters of Religion what ever Preachers you hear or what ever Books you read take not things upon trust but examine them and prove

them by the Scriptures and judge what foundation and warrant they have from the Scriptures and accordingly receive them or receive them not It is observable in 1 Thes 5. When the Apostle sayes Despise not Prophesyings in the next words he sayes Prove all things and hold fast that which is good as if he should say Though I would not have you despise Prophesying and Preachers yet I would not have you to take things upon trust in matters of Religion but prove all things and hold fast that which is good 3. If you would be able to hold fast the truths that you have heard and received get a clear and distinct and certain knowledge of what is truth that which you would hold fast get a clear assured knowledge that it is the truth of God 2 Tim. 3.14 Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of if a man would continue in the things that he hath learned he must be assured of them that they are the truths of God But how shall a man be assured that such and such things are the truths of God He may know this first by the consonancy of them to the word of God secondly by the power of them on his own heart to convince or humble and quicken it 4. If you would be inabled to hold fast the truths you have heard and received then get a high valuation and esteem of the truths of God Such as David had Psal 119.12 The Law of thy mouth is better unto me then thousands of Gold and Silver Better in it self all the Gold and Silver in the world all the riches in the world will never do a man so much good as that and better in my estimation I value it more I had rather part with all then with the Word A man that is of this mind he will hold fast the truth Oh that there were such a heart in every one of you as to say The words of Gods mouth they are better then Estate and better then liberty and better then Wife and Children if there were such a heart in us this would inable us to hold fast the truths of God and part with all rather then them 5. If you would hold fast the truth that you have received and heard then make conscience to practice according to what you know make conscience to obey the truths of God obedience is the sinue of constancy Christ saith Luke 6.44 Whosoever heares these Sayings of mine and doth them he is like a man which built his House and digged deep and laid the foundation upon a Rock and when the flood arose and the streams beat vehemently upon that House it could not shake it Mark ye it could not be shaken the conscionable practical hearer and receiver of the truth of God he is the man that is like to hold out and to hold fast the Word he that hath been a careless hearer and never made conscience to hear for obedience and practice he is blown over presently it is a sad passage I have met with in that Reverend man Mr. Hildersham and to me it seems to have much weight in it What hopes sayes he can we have of many of our hearers in England who are willing to give the World a hearing and outwardly profess it but what hope can we have but that if a time of triall come they will turn Papists or profain or any thing for they never loved the Word when they heard it and they never obeyed the Word but lived in known sins they take up a form of godliness and hate the power of it what hope but that if a time of tryal come these will fall from the truths 6. If you would be able to hold fast the truth that you have heard and received then take heed of receiving the least truth of God take heed I say of knowing and willing forsaking the least truth and knowing and willing giving way to the least errour as the committing of the least sin may render a man abominable unto God as you find in Levit. 11.43 You shall not make your selves abominable with any creeping thing that is with the eating of any creeping thing Now this was one of the least Commandements that God gave out for the not eating of such and such things and yet by transgressing this the people might make themselves abominable the committing of the least sin may make a man abominable to God so the embracing of the least errour and the forsaking of the least truth may make a man abominable to God the least truth forsaken knowingly and the least errour imbraced knowingly becomes a great sin and a little errour makes way for a greater if once a man gives way to one errour a thousand will follow after If we would hold fast the whole body of truth we must take heed we forsake not the least truth if we forsake God and his truths whether in lesser matters or greater and if we turn back again to Popery and conform to the Papists in lesser matters saith Mr. Hildersham know of a certainty that Popery shall return again 7. If you would hold fast the truths you have heard and received then shun all such persons as would go about to draw you off from the truth of God shun all Seducers confer not with them have nothing to do with them and their wayes Prov. 19.27 Cease my Son to hear the instruction that causeth to erre from the words of knowledge thou hast been instructed in the words of knowledge and if any would instruct thee otherwise and seek to draw thee off from the words of truth and knowledge have nothing to do with them Cease my Son to hear the Instruction that causeth to erre from the words of knowledge Now my Brethren this advice I judge to be the more seasonable because it is in my apprehension that this present providence of God in taking off at one stroak so many of his Servants that have indeavoured in uprightness of heart to instruct you and the People of God from this work it is on my heart to think and fear this will give a great advantage to Seducers to seek to corrupt you and draw you off from the truth to their party When the Shepheards are smitten there is a great opportunity given to the Foxes and Wolves to make a prey of the flock when God makes it dark and night then all the Beasts of the Forrest do creep out as the Psalmist saith Psal 104.20 When there is a hight and Cloud on the Ordinances of God then all the Be●sts of the Forrest will go forth many will undertake to be your instructors and say here is Christ and there is Christ but believe them not remember the things that you have heard and received and hold them fast ce●se from the instructions of those that would turn you aside 8. And lastly If you would be able to hold fast the truths of God then commend your selves and