your selves and ere you give slumber to your eye lids seek out a habitation for the mighty GOD of Jacob that he may dwell in your heart and house And Pray after this manner The Evening Prayer O Most Gracious GOD and Father of mercies we thy unworthy servants come this Night before the Throne of thy Grace to present our Evening oblation through the perfect sacrifice of thy Son our Saviour once offered and still effectual through his containued Intercession in presenting that meritorious blood on our behalf We adore thee Our Good and Gracious GOD and gives Glory to thy name confessing our sinfulness Original and actual and our escapes in thought word and deed We have sinned Alace we have sinned againâ—t thy mercies and the warnings of thy word and Rod In the sight of an all-seeing GOD LORD give us Repentance and Remission and from henceforth guide us in the pathes of Righteousness for thy Name sake LORD watch over us this night that we may be Refreshed under the Cloud of thy covert and have matter of rejoicing in thee in the morning prepare us for all duty and all tryals and our last tryal Be with us to the end and in the end of our life and hereafter receive us into thy Glory Lord let thy Kingdome come have mercy on the World heal the Christian Church and in this Nation powr out a spirit of Grace truth peace and charity upon it be with all our friends and all that fear thee give us Charity to give and forgive as thou requires We commit our selves and all ours to thy keeping through Jesus Christ our LORD The grace of our LORD JESVS The love of GOD the Father and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with us for now and ever Amen § 9. If thou can read or if there be some few to sing a Psalm GOD's Word and Praise may help to Hallow your House if not fail not to make use of these Prayers till thou get better and be more dexâ—â—rous in Devotion and wait on GOD in the way of Duty Shun Idleness and Sin and wandring from your house which will obstruct this work and consider that it is good to begin well and to bring forth fruit in this Season Use makes perfection and ye can not breath a free Air till you dwell in the Wholesome Regions of Religion Make progress under the Gale of the Spirit Stir up the faculties of reason to be holy happy in the flower of your age and you shall find that Dimidium facti qui bene cepit habet that a Good beginning is a great progress for true Wisdom hews her Pillars and builds her house Prov. 9. 1. The Prayer O LORD through thy providence I am now come to some consiâ—â—ence of age I thank thee for the happy opportunities I have Enjoyed of the light of thy word teaching me to be wise sober solid Just and honest And had I improved well I had been an expert souldier of CHRIST Pardon my Fâ—â—lours wherein I have been shaken by temptation I desire now to stand under the Guard of the whole Armour of GOD. LORD thou has led me by thy invisible hand through a labyrinth of Childhood and Indigested youth It is a mercie I have not spleeted upon Rocks and ruined but by Grace I stand LORD unite my heart to fear 〈◊〉 Name I know that difficulties attend me 〈◊〉 the credit of my course the assistance of my Câ—â—tain the honour of my engagement and 〈◊〉 comfort of my Reward do animat me 〈◊〉 to faint for in due time I shall Reap throâ—â— JESUS CHRIST Amen STAGE Third Which commenceth from the 30 to the 〈◊〉 year of our age or there about which being a very material part of our Life I shall for clearness sake consider in three courses 1. Of the Ordering thy person Familâ—â— and walking in the pathes of Vertâ—â— and Religion 2. A Discourse to several Ranks of peoplâ—â— with all seriousness and modesty 3. What fine your labour in Vertue Piety Good Government of your lifâ—â— and family and the progress of your Religion the ordering of your House and the setting forth of your Childrenâ— to Laudable and Lawfull callings and settlement hath come to COURSE first The Contents Of the Right methods of Religion and Vertue for the Ordering of our person our Families And General and particular calling in this long and serious course of our life with means and motives for the furthering of these ends and suteable Devotion § 1. HAving led thee hitherto to some digested and setled Course of Life and helped thee by the Light and guidance of Religion out of the darker cells of Minority to clearer Air And from the beginning of thy Majority a very difficult scene of thy Life to the consistence of thirty Years of thy Age wherein if ever thou look to be Vertuous thou wilt make some ground of Hope bud fâ—rth This is a time wherein thou must either appear to be a man and a Christian Or a Mushrome and a Grape of unsavoury fruit â—ook first then to thy bygone way if thy work be begun and carried on hitherto or yet any solid Work of Grace very imperfect and scarse well founded For experience anâ—â— perhaps thine own senses if exerciseâ—â— will make thee feel thy pronness to 〈◊〉 off and delay Make â—ound work therefore and follow the streight Line of Religion and Morality Redeem misspeâ—â— time cleave to the LORD with full purpose of Heart and because thy Heart 〈◊〉 inconstant say with the Psalmist Unâ—â— my Heart O LORD to fear Thy Namâ—â— Psal 36. 12 Serve thy Generation anâ— carry worthily in it 2ly After this Reflection see what form thou now are itâ— If thy Heart be Right and stedfast in thâ— Covenant if thou be free of visible Blemishes Deut 32. 5. Which are noâ— the spots of GODS Children If thy lifâ— and family begin to blink with anâ— lustre If thou be thriving in Vertue anâ— piety if thou carry Creditably and be reputed to have an Honest and Religioâ—â— family and Grace and Peace beautifie the same 3ly If thou grow in Grace For Grace being a principle of new life iâ— may ly hid in the Root for some Seasons as a Plant or a Tree in Winter after which verdent greenness doth appear So is it with Grace it may lurk in the Heart and then come forth with greater Life and Fruit And this will distinguish betwixt a Real and Counterfit Christian his Light Life and Fruit will declare that the Seed of GOD remains in him And this you may perceive by the decay of sin and the greater vigour of Vertue in thee And it is with thee as it was with the House of Saul and David The House of Saul waxed weaker and weaker The House of David Stronger and Stronger Thou must be as Joseph a fruitful Bough both in thy General and Paricular Calling Water thy Garden every Morning for the refreshing of thy tender Plants Learn the
their phansie who deny CHRIST's Offices Ministers Ordinances and Institutions will be so bold as to contradict it And therefore it concerns Parents Religiously to go about the Baptism of their Children and remember the great obligation they stand under for their pious Education And of Children baptized to reflect upon it when they come to any Knowledge and to improve it well by the Instruction of their Parents and Tutors whose serious Instructions grave Example and earnest Prayer for Young Ones may help to instill and drop in such Counsels into their easie and blank minds as may leave some Relish as a Vessel may still keep something of the tast and smell of the first liquor according to that Ancient observe quo semel est imbuta c. and this stage of our life may be reckoned to the fourth year of our Age. STAGE Second The Contents Of the particular care of Parents and Governours as to Children from four years old to twelve of studying their nature and genious and the inâ—â—â—ling and droping in some clear and common principles of Religion with the consideration of Regeneration and when the Children come to be about twelve years of age of their solemn Confirmation § 1. As the Children grows so should the care of their Parents increase towards them its dangerous to suffer the evil of their Nature to take rooting for then it will turn tenacious and obstinate it 's better to take the little Foxes that hurt their tender Gardens Cant. 2. 6. and by Religious conduct use the best means to Eradicate the corruption of their Nature and to correct that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and disorder that is naturally in them by frequent and gradual dropping of good counsel into their hearts especially by fixing in them the common notion of a GOD and fearing of Him of honouring their Parents And withal to acquaint them with their Baptismal Dedication and in as much as is possible to open up unto them the mâ—sterie of their redemption through Jesus Christ and that not only they know to Repeat the Law the Creed and Lords Prayer But also to make them according to their capacitie to understand these Thus entereth Knowledge into their Hearts as a little Drop by frequent falling makes a cavity and hollowness in the stone § 2. Although the Spirit of GOD the Author of Regeneration like the wind bloweth when where and how he pleases Joh. 3. v. 8. And calleth some sooner some later yet is it not improper to set it down here for that same LORD that Blessed Babs can Sow the Seed of Grace in their Hearts And of this Regeneration I shall only remember Man of the Necessity Nature and Evidence thereof First as to the necessity Our Saviour is very positive Job 3. v. 2. and 3. Except a man be Born again he cannot enter into the Kingdom of GOD and no outward exercise of Religion can avail us without the New Creature the Old-man must be Crucified and the New-man formed and Nurished ere we can be fit for the Kingdom of GOD. And 2ly We cannot better take up the Nature of it than by considering the Author and the manner of his Operation in producing this Work It is only the Spirit of GOD that doth it so is every one that is born of the Spirit John 3. 8. Of His own Will begatt He us that we should be a kind of first Fruits of His Creatures Jam 1. 18. This New Creature then is clearly the Product of the Spirit of GOD Who doth this work mediatly by the use of means especially by the Word oâ— Truth and other holy Engines that he is pleased to make use of Yet is not this Work produced of any means but by the concurse of the principal Agent the Word illuminats and perswads but there 's more then Moral Swasion in this Work for GOD's promise in the Covenant is to put his Laws in our inward parts Jer 3. 33. They receive by their Conversion a heavenly seed which abideth in them that will not suffer them to sin as the wicked do John 3. 9. Whosoever is born of GOD doth not commit sin for His seed remains in him and he cannot sin because he is born of GOD. Yet as to the production of this new Creature it may be so secret for a time like the Infant in the Womb so clouded and over-powr'd by Temptation and Corruption that it doth little appear and it takes a long time ere it become perfect in degrees and visibly compleat as to parts althô the Child tho little and weak is potentially a perfect man Parents then and Governours should with St. Paul travel in birth till Christ be formed in their Children 3ly As to its Evidence the Apostle manifests it fully 2 cor 5. 17 Behold all things are become New The man is wholly renewed in Quality tho not in Substance so that he may very well say Ego non sum ego He hath a more generous spirit with Caleb a better heart with David a more shininâ— face with Moses and the lips of the Righteous feed many And tho no man caâ— make this Change yet is he exhorted to make him a new heart Ezek. 18 31. Thâ—â— is to use the means and well to consider that the spirit of GOD begets this neâ— Creature by the word of Truth Jam 1 18 That such may be a kind of first fruits of Hâ—â— Creatures and for himself to show forthâ— His praise Who hath called them from darkness to Light § 3. It is very promotive of Grace also when Children comes to this state of Life that they be Confirmed after they can give any account of their Creed and of their Prayers according to the Blessed Pattern The LORDS Prayer For we read frequently in the Acts of Confirming the Disciples after they were Proseâ—â—ted to the Christian Religion whereby the new Plantation was fixed and by a sort of personal Covenanting with GOD they were Engaged to His Service by their Voluntar Consent This is the practice of the Universal Church Which if simply done and not elevated unto a Sacrament is laudable and promotive of the Ends of Religion And tho it be quarrelled with by some in this Nation Yet if it could be got well done in every particular Parish Since the Bishop may not be alwayes Vacant it may be thought no Disorder for the Parish Minister every year as Occasion offers to do this in the presence of the Parents and famous Witnesses personally and particularly to joyn them to the LORD And if there were not alas too great incuriousness about matters of Religion a mean so helpful to the ends thereof may be put in use So to conclude this Point I shall Reinforce my earnest Exhortation to Christian Parents in behalf of their Children for this particular instance of their Care for their Souls and to remember Gospel Ministers of their duty as to this And since through the unsetledness of the Times it can
is the Faith of the Church the hope of the Just the comfort of the aflicted and the great Crise and Result of of mortal Life Which will determine all the Intriges of Providence and destribute Rewards and Punishments according to their Works Theâ—e is a principâ—e and facultie in every Man which makes him accountable to GOD. This as it is an Article of our Creed so the Scripture fully determines it Ecc. 12 14. Matt 25. Acts 17. 30. 2 Cor 5. 10. GOD will be publickly manifested in His Hâ—liness and Justice the Equity and Reasonableness of His Laws and severity against sin Who will not acquite thy guilty And the monuments of Grace will sâ—e their Demerit had not the Merit of Christ prevented the punâ—shment Fixe then this Truth in thine heart and constantly apprehend â—â—th an Ancient Father that thou hearest 〈◊〉 Sâ—uâ—dâ—ngs of the last Trump with â—he Voice of GOD Arise Dead and come te Judgement § 3. 2ly That this Judgement in a part commenceth immediatly after Death is assâ—rted by the Apostle Heb 9. 27. The Saints of old have â—nherited the Promises The Convert Thief immediately after was judged and entered Paradise and the rich Glutton got his Doom and after his death was set to the place of Torment But the open visible and general Assize of the whole World is delayed to the time of the Restitution of all things When and where Soul and Body Good bad Young and Old without Law and under Law will be judged According to their Works and tho in the Apostles times some were â—hanatick said that the Resurrection was past some Atheitical scoffers as St. Peter sayeth Impioâ—sly Ragâ—ing and â—corning where is the promiss of his coming not knowing that God worketh hitherto hath great patience in whose Eternal View a Thousand years are but as one day yet when his works is done all the World will be judged which day and Hour GOD hath keept secret in his Eternal Council 〈◊〉 good and holy ends And there somethings yet unaccomplished before 〈◊〉 end to wit the full conversion of the Jeâ— Rom. 11. 26 and the discoverie of 〈◊〉 declension of the Christian Church 〈◊〉 exposing of that man of sin and son Perdition The pure Gospel becom 〈◊〉 divive and the Christian Church be muâ— liberated from the great Corruption 〈◊〉 manners and worship according to 〈◊〉 Primitive Patern When these shall comeâ— pass and not till then shall the end 〈◊〉 In the mean time let us pâ—ssess our selâ— with the Belief of This truth that all 〈◊〉 nerations shall be judged before the Tâ—â—bunal of the Soveraign Judge ss 4. 3ly The Judge GOD hath coâ—mitted all Judgement to the Son Aâ—â— hath appointed a day in which he will Judge 〈◊〉 world in Righteousness by him Acts. 17. 3â— We must all appear before the judgement sea◠〈◊〉 CHRIST 2 â—or 5. 10. When the Son 〈◊〉 Man shal appear in his Glory Matt. 25. 3â—â— And in this he Exerciseth his mediâ—torial Kingdom which will continue tâ—â— the last Enemie be distroyed which 〈◊〉 Death He declined to be a Judge on â—arth but came to be Judged and it is â—ighly reasonable that he who was unâ—ustly judged should judge the World in Righteousness Then shall they who have â—earced him by their sins mourn and â—owl But His afflicted people shall lift up â—heir head and say This is the Day that â—he LORD hath made Blessed is He who comâ—th to save us For our LORD and Kingâ—o whom the Godly have submited in â—heir time whose Scepter Cross they wilâ—ingly have born is now come to deliver â—hem He that bore our sins on His own Body on the Tree He that is a Compaâ—sionate High Priest He that is the King of Peace is now come to Judge them according to the Gospel of Peace and His easie Yoak which they did take upon them and walkt under What then shall such expect but Love and Peace and Pity from their LORD King and Brother Who is much Meeker than Moses more Loving than David and more Merciful than Man can be Whereas it shall be a great dreadour to the wicked to behold this Meek LAMB roaâ— like a Lyon against them § 5. 4ly The Process We cannot coneeive how soon and yet how exactly this-shall be done since every ones Conscience is in the place of a Thousand Witnesses and the Judge needeth no Information nor farther probation Every one then will be Judged according to that Law which was Given them to walk by And such as are under the Gospel shall be Judged by the Law of libertie Jam 1. 25. And the Issue will be whether they have obeyed or disobeyed the Gospel and walked suitably thereunto and answered the opurtunities they have enjoyed above oâ— thers to make them Christians indeed And fit for the Kingdom of GOD. ss 6. 5ly The Sentence will be accord to thy works tho thou be justified by Faith and saved by Grace yet the LORD will reward according to thy works For to the true Christian there is a wonderful mitigation of the Rigor of the Law by the easie terms of the Gospel and such shal receive sentence according to that Infinite Love revealed therein then shal the great sheepherd appear in Glorie yet probably with the Honourable marks of the Cross that all who have gloried in Hiâ— Cross may rejoice such as have stumbled at â—t hang their heads The Sentence shall decide in favours of Believers and all who have Closed with the conditions of the Gospel and Obeâ—ed the Faith 1. 5. Which is the great specifick of Christanity Such may appear before him with his marks upon them of Faith Mortification and Self-denyal c. And that in their time they have born Testimony against a sinful Generation they shall receive that favourable sentence Come ye Blessed c. The Prayer O Soveraign Judge prepare me for Death and Judgement It is much my comfort that thou art Judge Competent and Compassionate Thou wilt not acquite the Guilty yet Thou delights in mercy and there is forgiveness with Thee that Thou may be feared LORD give me my discharge in time for Who can condemn CHRIST has dyed I make my humble application to the Mercies of Thy Infinite Bowels the Merit of Thy Death the worth of thy Blood and the Power of Thy Intercession I have many Accusers am convict But LORD say to me that thou will not condemn me Thou knows all the Intrigs of my Soul What I cannot clear LORD do Thou cancell I make Mercy my claim Thy Merit my Trust and Thy Righteousnesâ— my Justification Give me the White stone to refresh my Soul till Thou grant me the Crown oâ— Righteousness at Thy Appearing Amen The Third Last Thing HELL 1. TO treat of Hell is a sad Subject Tophet should have a Beacoâ— set over it that Passangers may be aware Let us then consider 1 The Certainty of a future punishment of the Wicked in another World and
brâ—ken and Strangers shall not meddle with our Jâ—yeâ— nor the Impure eat the Childrens food This shall confute all such as decry Religion and comfort all that have the Real Life of it and make them say with St. Paul The Life we now live is by Faith in the Son of GOD. 4ly This will open a door and Entrance to the Kingdom of Oâ—r LORD JESUS CHRIST and will prove a more solid way to make us Draw near to GOD with full assurance of faith and be a more sure ground to us than all the heats and heights of Religion which are but transient and perhaps flow from humour and Complexion but this makes the spirit of Gâ—ory dwell in us Gives us a clean conscience washt with pure water Heb 10. end to draw near to GOD So that a trembling humble Ghâ—istian that with St. Paul cryes â—ut O wretched man that I am Rom. 7. end May be neerer the Joy of the Lord than the other So that whoever seek a proof of Christ sn us We shall prove it best by Works and Fruits and the New Creature is the most infallible mark of beinâ— in Christ 2 Cor 5 17. and True siâ—â—cere Obedience is the great specifick and genuine propertie of true Christianism And further to clear you in all this let us confront the privilidges and properties of the Christiâ—n if any separate them he is like a Man catching the Crown with out the Conquest but the true Christian reacheth one hand in the Crown and wiâ—h the other holds his Wâ—apon to fight for the Prize that through â—aith and pâ—tience and unwearied Wâ—ll â—â—ing he may inheriâ— the Promises What more excellent then the precious Promisâ—pâ—ut we must add Vertue to our faith 〈◊〉 thâ—se Promises the Christians Claim is indâ—ed great for all are yours sayeth 〈◊〉 But such as are Christs sayeth he have crucified the flesh with its lusts and effections But to come nearer the conâ—â—xt from 2. ver to this 12 the Apostlâ— speaks of beleivers attaining like precious faith with the Apostlesfor their is but one faith which the Apostles Beleived prâ—pagated once delivered to the Sa 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 Jâ—de sayeth and this faith Acts 15. 9. purifiâ—th the heart and life And having that same faith of the Apostles we should live according to our measures as the Apostles then should the Pure and Primitive Church revive But alas Were St. Paul now at Rome he should find it much more Heathen than in his time and very unlike these whose faith was spoken of through the World O then if people would walk suitably to that noble Gift of Faith which is given us 2ly The full Instructions the Christians have All things sayes the Apostle that pertain to Life and Godliness Glory and Veriâ—e We want nothing to furnish us for every good Work The whole Council of GOD Acts 20. 27. All things to make us Godly and Glorious we have the Word of GOD to make us wise to Salvation and the Spirit of GOD to lead us into all Truth Improve then your priviledges For if ve know these things happy are ye if ve do them 3ly We have the great Gift of the Promises as the Apostle sayeth here But yet having these Promises let us cleanse our selves from all silthiness of flesh and spirit 2 Cor. 7. 1. and take head least a promise being made thus of entering into his Rest we fall short But if Piety be joyned with the Promises then we partake of the Divine Nature and have another Spirit a new Heart Lifâ— and new Affections and thus the Saiâ—â— are in their measure Divinized and spâ—ritualsed and Created after GOD 〈◊〉 Righteousness and true Holmess And so to conclude this truth 〈◊〉 would warn you not haâ—ilv to catch aâ— the Promises but labour to lay hold on them by a lively Faith and Well-doinâ— Be not too â—aring least ye presume prove your title first And then glory in your priviledges make your selves meet for the Inheritance and then you are sure of it and let the glory of that great Claim indeer your Hearts to Duty to joâ—n your selves in a perpetual Covenant with the LORD never to be forgot Jer. 50. Sermon II. The Duty and Diligence of the Apostolick Câ—rate or Gospel Minister described With the Matter and manner of his Preaching and the Quality of Christians in the time of the prime of Christianity Vpon Verse 12. THe Apostle falls now to a closs Application of the Doctrin formerly mentioned in this Chapter wherein he relates the Duty of the Minister that he should not be negligent but busie in the exercise of his holy Office 2ly The great Subject of his Dâ—ctrine these Things 3ly The way of his Iâ—culcating the said Doctrine upon the Hearts of People And 4ly The Qualification of People in these Times I begin with the First bâ—th negatively and positively described Doct. 1 which teacheth us That a Gospel Minister should be very intent upon his great and weighty Work This St Peter declares of himself and St. Paul also frequently mentions his great business These two Pillars of the Church the Apostles of the Câ—rcumcision Uncircumcision follow the the great Luminary their Blessed Master and stand as eminent Examples to all the Officers of the Church of Christ And this Apostle describeth his Duty 1st In his care for the Good of Souls to whom he wrote 2ly That he was not negligent but Diligent in his Imployment First His great care for the Church and the good of Souls The care of Souls is worthy to â—e fined from the most intensive affections of the Hâ—art It is such 〈◊〉 Pious and Divine Affection that GOD Himself describs His eaâ—nest Compassionâ— to His People thereby As our Saviout shâ—ws us in His Sermon upon the Mount Upon which account St. Paul bids us be careful for nothing but by Prayer and Supplication make our request known to GOD And St. Peter so exhorts also casting all your caâ—es upon GOD who careth for you It was our Saviour's care for Souls that brought Him from Heaven to us and when on Earth made Him so diligent to Preach Pray and Weep for his Church This care of Souls went nearer St. Pauls Heaâ—t than all his troubles for beside all things that are without said he that which comes upon me dayly the care for all the Churches The true natural Father hath a great care for his Children and the Spiritual Parent no less for I have no greater Joy sayeth St. John than to see my Children walking in the Truth Fâ—r such is the subtility and labour of the evil one â—o seduce and corrupt our Flock And alas such is the carelesness and incuriousness of the most as to Spiritnol Matters like Gallio careing for none of these things and such are the many incumbrances anent the World and what is worst of all even a careful Contrivnance of many to prosecute their sinful ends that a faithful Minister shall find great Reason of serious
the Means for the Advancement of Practical Religion And the short while that Gospel Ministers caâ— be useful to the Church I thiâ—k iâ— meet as long as I am in this Tabernacle to remember you of these Things Verse 13. THIS Serious and Experienced Apostle doth in this Verse vent unto us the result of his Maturest thoughts that he judged it expedient to use all laudable Means for the serving of the Ends of the Gospel And declares his fixed Resolution to the Term of his Lives End As long as he is in hâ—s Tabernacle so to do Which affords to us these following Observes 1st The Expediency Vsefulness and Conveniency of all laudable and approved Means for the Propagation of the Gospel 2ly That the best of Men cannot more be useful to the Church but during their Abode in this Tabernacle of the Body As to the First Ministers should Preach nothing but what is Expedient Useful and tending to Edification Doct. 1 And they should be at the pains to select and wyle well what they say that with the Preacher they may search out fit and acceptable Words Ecc 12. 9. all things are lawful to me sayeth St. Paul but all things are not expedient Every thing is good in its season and every Pastor should learn of Christ to speak a word in season to souls But I shall insist most upon the expediency of the use of means for the Good of souls For GOD that hath ordained the end hath appointed the means whereby to attain it Now The great mean to know GOD and the Mediator is by dropping in wholsome Doctrine into the Ears and hearts of People yea also all the subservient means for that end are to be observed as the conviction of sin the discovery of the evil of sin the beauty of Grace and holiness sound and solid direcions for the Government of our life and the discovery of that Glory that is to be Revealed to animate Christians to a strict and Religious life And to be more particular I shall comprehend this in these following heads 1. The necessity of PREACHING 2ly The expediency 3ly What things are not convenient to be insisted upon 4ly what things are most usefull and expedient for the Good of souls First the necessity of Preaching the Gospel How can they beleive without a Preacâ—er And it pleased GOD by the Foolishness of Preaching to save Souls I am not ashamed of the Gospel of CHRIST sayeth the Apostle Rom 4 18 For it is the Power of GOD unto Salvation to every one that believeth to the Jew first and also to the Greek GOD can indeed work without means and above them because he is absolute Master of the hearts of men but he hath chosen this way hath sanctified it by his spirit in the Prophets by his Son while in the Flesh and by his Appostles after CHRIST which hath been that approved and wonderful engine to convert the World and to edifie and build up the Church whose Officers since the Apostles stand under an Apostolick precept 2 Tim 4. 2 to preach the Word so that they must be very self-conceited proud and presumptuous that think it below them to hear the Word For altho Men speak it yet it is the Dictate of GOD Himself Altho they may use other means as Reading and Conference yet GOD hath commanded us not to forsake the assembling of our selves together and many have found it experimentally true that there is some latent Energie and Force in the Word preached to which GOD hath promised his blessing 2ly The expediency of Preaching Some things are lawful but not expedient but things that are necessary are alwayes expedient especially in Things that are absosolutely necessary to our Salvation and the Expediency Pheasableness Convenience and Usefulness of Gospel Preaching as it was the practice of CHRIST and His Apostles so hath it been the constant Course of the Church in all Ages from Moses to CHRIST the Word of the LORD did drop by Preaching and from the 1 st to the 2 d Advent of CHRIST it shall be so For the Consideration of the Divine Special Presence in Church Assemblies the Influence that an auditory may have upon the Preacher and the sweet and gentle Voice in the Gospel with all other Circumstances makes it out to be very pheasable and expedient to have the Gospel not only Read but Explained and Applyed every Lords day this except people be obdurate sends in light to the Soul warmeth the Heart with chearful Affections and produceth so much good as to be a bond of Religion so that we fear if the Church doors be shuâ— that the Expediencie and necessitie of Preaching would too soon appear and the peoples carriage would but too sadly answer the Apostles Question How should they believe without a Preacher Then perhaps some who contemned the Church and publick Preaching may wander from one sea bank to another to seek the Word of the LORD and not find it Amos 8. 12. 3ly What things are not convenient to be insisted upon in Preaching And first I humbly conceive that it is not very fit to be too daring in our Doctrine anent the Council and Decrees of GOD especially to conclude from them any thing that may encroatch upon the goodness and mercie of our Good and Gracious GOD it is better with humble modesty to cry out wih St. Paul O the depth c. 2ly It is not very needful to insist much upon Circumstances for such are but Time-purposes and the least of Policy in order to Religion And it had been well for this Church if these had been much more miâ—igatâ—â— and mutilated and true Gospel Truth and Doctrine according to Godliness had been more pursued Neither 3ly â—â— it fit to cry out publickly against 〈◊〉 except there hath been lawful previous Admonition for reflections may exasperate and imbitter the heart whereas the Gospel Spirit is Tender Meâ—k Kindly and Gentle and it is much more desireable to be a Barnabas a son of Consolation than Boanerges Sons of Thunder It is true to cry aloud and not spare may be sometimes seasonable but a calm voice hath GOD in it and may be much more profitable 4ly It 's not very safe to be too peremptâ—ry about marks lâ—st we mistake the marks The Spirit of GOD indeed gives marks in Scriptureâ— particularly in the First Epistle of Saint John but the Spirit of Man is fallible as to the application 4ly What we are to insist on and that is to preach the whole Council of GOD Acts 20. 29. Jude 20. c. 2ly To build up people in their holy Faith 3ly To waâ—â— every man in all Wisdom 4ly To preach up morality whatever things are Just Honest and of good Report Col. 1. 28 Pâ—il 4. 8. c. to perswade people to these 2ly I observe that the best of Men have their great Work Doctrine 2 ado to the good of the Church while they are in this Tabernacle Here 's the
who brings these things to Ouâ— Remembrance The labour of faithful Ministers the short and clear digest of our Holy Faith and Gospel designe as to good works frequent Prayer for a Blessing upon our pains and to digest these things well in our mind so that they may take impression never to be obliterated 2ly Res Retenta the thing Remembred which is the things of GOD of CHRIST and the Truths of the Gospel the concerns of the Soul and what is conducive to advance them The first and second relates to the principles of our Religion The third and fourth concerneth people as to their practice of these things First then let it be your care to know GOD and the Gospel which if thou hast had any ear to hear and heart to understand thou may be a great proficient But alas that may be said to many for which the Apostle reproveth the Hebrews Heb. 5. 12. And secondly If people would walk according to the Light they have they might attain to the end of their Faith which is the Salvation of their Souls And this Practice would give them the more facility to do the thing they know 3ly The help of the Remembrances which consists in his Prayers and patience that he weary not in his work that he inâ— struct and warn every man that he preach sound Doctrine and observe the form of sound words that he press and propagate the Essence of Religion and do not please himself much with circumstances and time debates and that which the most of our people are not concerned in And never a white the better tho they be but the necessary things are our great instructions from our Great Master and to press these Qui populariter docet optime docet so popularly as Luther said most profitably And we must be intent upon our work and press people to cooperate with GOD and us and be busie themselves attend the ordinances and using the means let Ministers also Rule well their own Life that it may correspond with their Doctrine and follow the steps of Holy Men whose ashes seem yet to exhale from their Tombs a sweet Savour which makes their memory for ever Blessed And if we put the Brethren in mind of these things we shall be good Ministers 4ly Peoples improvement by right Remembring Memoria excolendo augetur Culture and Industrie will make a barren ground Fertile Improve well the many Remembrances thou gets from the Word and that Monument Christ built for Himself by the Sacrament remember the novissima the last things the prima media ultima to wit thy Conversion Progress and Perfection therein Consider what thou hast been what thou art and what thou shall be Be not a forgetful hearer consider the Beacon set up in the Scripture aâ— gainst sin Remember Lots Wife Jam 1. 22. And the Encouragement of Vertue in the practice of Holy Men and Women keep a Diary as to thy time have thy Memorandum and labour still by remembering to practice and do Sermon VI. Concerning the Truth and Excellency of our Holy Religion and the infallible Proofs thereof with the Duty of such as own it For we have noâ— followed cunningly devised fables when we made known upto you the Power and Coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST c. Verse 16. THIS is the Base and Found of all Religion Which as it Convinces Men to Embrace it so doth it invite them to the Practice of it And as this Apostle was very Competent to give his Sentiments of the Truth and Power of this Holy Religion being called by Power enlightned by Knowledge and having seen a Demonstration of it in the Oracles and Miracles of his Master So doth he direct Gospel Ministers to Inculcate upon their People the Truth and Power of the Christian Religion that every faithful Pastor may have the Occasion to attract People to the Obedience oâ— the Faith and in their measure to say unto them We preach not unto you vain and frivolous things but the Magnalia Veritatis the great Things of Truth And it cannot but be great Satisfaction to a Gospel Minister that he can refresh his mind as well as satisfie the People that he hath Preached nothing to them but the Truth of GOD. For when the account of the Stewartship is called for it will afford but small Peace to the Pastor to reflect that he hath been taken up with ventilations of Controversie Circumstances and External Polity of the Church that he hath been biguit about his beloved Sect that he hath Pharisaically insisted upon Gerimonies and much neglected the Life and Power of the Truth of GOD. Now more particularly to take up the Scope and Parts of this Text I shall reduce it to these Points following 1. That the Doctrine of the Gospel is not a eunningly devised Fable but the Infallible Truth of God 2. That though Christ and the Gospel came to the Eye of the World in Weakness yet to a Right Discerner His coming was with Great Power and Majesty 3. As the coming of Christ is very evident by many infallible Proofs so is it banded down to us and confirmed by Eye-witnesses First That the Doctrine of the Gospel is not a cunningly devised Doct. 1 Fable but the infallible Truth of GOD. It is a faithfull saying and worthy of all Acceptance 2 Tin 2. 1â— Nor a cunning fable and a subtile contrivance to impose upon and deceive the World No â—ut let GOD be True and all men liars First Then It is no cunningly devised fable as the Apostle sayes here but it is the Contrivance of the Wise Council of GOD transacted in Heaven and given to Men as their Guide and Comfort it is the Emanation of the Love and Good Will of GOD to Man through a Mediator Have I not written unto thee Things excellent that thou mayest know the Words of Truth Sayes GOD by Solomon It is as true as CHRIST Himself and He is the Way the Truth and the Life If He Himself was really upon Earth which is evident as a Demonstration and the most verified Matter of Fact that ever was in the World not done in a Corner or Clancularly but in the View of the sun and the sight of friends and foes For He did moe Miracles for the Confirmation of His Doctrine and the discovering of His Person than ever was dâ—ne before Him miracles of Mercy so great and stupendious that had not the Ancient People been prejudged at his Doctrine and the Humility of His Person and the fear of the Rulers All Jury had gone after him And further the influence of his Doctrine had upon the Hearts of Men and the great Demonstration of his being the Messiah and the Son of GOD by His Resurrection from the Dead And the wonderful effects that the Preaching of the Cross of Christ had upon Jew and Gentile All these write the Verity of our Religion with a Beam of the Sun that the Gospel câ—nnot be
hid but to such as are lost Moreover If we consider the exact Impletion of the Prophesies concerning him even unto the least circumstance of his Incarnation Conâ—â—â—tion Birth Breeding Life Death and Resurrection We have an Accumulation of Proofs for the Verity of the Christian Religion and the Founder of it for if we consider its Original the Purity of its Precepts the Glory of its design the Comfort of its promises and the Divinity of its Proposals We may acquiesce here and confess its Truth and Verity And if we shall confront it with other Religions of the Jews which was but temporary of the Heathens which was but Vanity of the Mabumitants which is a devilish delusion made up of lies and impossibilities We shall find that the Spirit of Christianity remains in the bosome of Glory alwayes Holy Victorious and Triumphant over impiety and confirmed by a cloud of Witnesses sealed by the blood of millions of Martyls approved by General Councils and the Universal Consent of the Catholick Church and clearly demonstrated to be of GOD and for GOD that a Christian may upon good Ground say sit anima mea cum Christianiâ— Let my Soul be with the Christians But there is so much said to this purpose that I cannot add but to resume the Doctrine of the Apostle That Christianity is not fabulous but infallible Truth And because there are so many Pretenders to True and Holy Religion and the different Sentiments of the Papal and Protestant Church And even Differences among themselves I hope I shall not di gress from the Paths of Tâ—uâ— to assert that True Protestanisâ—n in true Christianity It being the very Doctrine of Christ and his Apostâ—es and the purest and pâ—imitive times of the Church And having made Sucession from the Spurious Doctrine of the degenerate Church of Rome And it may be safely said that the Trash of its impure Doctrine its lying Wonders and Legends doth expose that Church to the Impious and Blasphemous Expâ—ession of one of its Popes who said Quantum nobâ—â— prodest haec fabula Christi What avail is that Fable of Christ to us And as the Truth of Christianity is fully demonstrated so in the next place are we to consider The Power wherewith the coming of Christ was attended It would seem from Isaiah 53. That he came in weakness and so did the Jewish and Heathen World look upon him But they took that measures from outward Appearance and did not consider the Vertue that was in him as God and God man which made his Manger more glorious to the Eye of Faith than a Palace or Bed of State he was Crucified through Weakness yet conceals His Power for Who might abide the Day of his first coming Mal. 3. 2. He was Glorious in his Abaseours Honourable in his Humiliation and was the King of Gloâ—ie's Son in his Pilgrimage He was a Lamb in his Meekness but a Lyon in his Power He came to dash the dark Kingdom to destroy the Wâ—rks of the Devil and to bring Life and Immortality to Light by his Gospel and to cast down the Prince of this World to deliver his People from Bondage and to lead Captivity Captive to tread Satan under our Feet to discover the Evil of Sin and the Beauty of Holiness And this he did by a Seraphick and Angelical Purity yet in a wonderous Condescention and Familiarity attended with such Glorious Miâ—acles famous Monuments powerful Doctrine With Authority and not as the Scribes That we shall see his Glories Conspicuous under the Vail of flesh and all the Umbrage of his Life served to raise his Glory to a higher pitchâ— as the Sun is more conspicuous after a cloud So that it is very evident and observable That Christ's first coming was with Power Doct. 2 and the Doctrine he propagate is the Power of God to Salvatâ—on Let his People therefore be willing in the day of his Power And learn to be swayed with the right Scepter of this Kingdom If a Foelix tremble before a Prisoner in a Chain if King Agrippa be almost perswaded to be a Christianâ— Let us learn to give our Necks to his Powerful though Easie yoak Least he dash us iâ— peices when there is none to deliver Let us not stumble with the Jew nor count it foolishâ—ess with the Greek but believe it and we shall behold Christ the Power of Godâ— and the Arm of God Although there be no need of further Witnesses yet the more to confirm us of the Truth and Power of the Gospel We have this Apostle and others with him is Oculati Testes of CHRIST's Majâ—stie famous and unanimous in their Testimony who could say vincit Veritas Vidi Scivi audivi Truth prevails and has the Testimony of GOD and Man of Angels and Saints Prophets and Apostles Martyrs and Confessors And every One that hath received this Testimony hath put tâ—o their Seal that GOD is True The greaâ— improvement that Improv I shall make of this whole purpose is that the Character of our life ccrrespond with the truth and Realitie of our Religion that is that we be Ethically of true and morally true in the practice of our holy Profession that we be not paint ed formal and false as to a real way bus suitable to the excellent principles of our holy faith if ye abide in my word sayes CHRIST ye are my Disciples indeed Joh. 8 3. It is not a name of a Christian but the truth of Christianity that approves us to GOD. Many have a name not only general as Christians but as more eminent professors I say a name that they are living when dead Rev 3. 1. many flatter themselves in a Profession and Church Priviledge even into the end and will say have we not eaten and drunken in thy presence hast thou not taught in our streets To whom CHRIST will say depart from me c. I never owned nor approved you as mine Many have CHRIST in their mouth and can say LORD LORD but do not the works that he bids them This was a sad disease in the Ancient Church for the Circumcised l ived as the uncircumcised Moab Ammon and Amalek were uncircumcised and the house of Israel uncircumcised in their heart This the Prophets cryed out against reproving people that boasted of the Temple Jer 8. And yet lived in villany But GOD and his Temple are no sanctu arie to prophanity and such boastings are so fan from excusing that they aggravate Peoples faults and in effect GOD sayes to the Wicked what hast thou to do to declare my statues It was so in the times of our Saviour and the Apostles and in the beginning of Christianity the filthy Gnosticks were great boasters of knowledgeâ— and priviledges and prophanity came to such a hight that Irreligion became to be patronised by false Prophets As the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans Jezebâ—l and â—thers and this Spirit of lyes was justly poured out upon many for not suitable to