a wonderful unnatural thing in us But well as Peter saith the long sufferance of God is salvation Shall nothing hinder No gainsayings nor longings but the long-sufferance will stand and knock and wait out all till it be our salvation This will one day be prized There is a chosen Generation amongst you that is certain Now do you hear it Do you believe it When will you open the Door and lay down all weapons and say Well I will never speak against the Lord more But say with Job what I know not teach thou me It is sure you have been the bush in which the Lord hath appeared the fire hath been trying and purging and burning in you and you are not yet consumed but when will you turn aside to see this great wonder When lay it to your heart I must leave and desire the Lord would give you understanding into what hath been said and above all that you may not war nor fight against it in your minds but soberly inquire Is this my lot Is this my Portion to be one of this chosen Generation It will at last cause your souls to admire The Poor WISE MAN And LITTLE CITY Against The GREAT KING And His BULWARKS SERM. X. May 18. 1651. ECCLES 9.14 15. There was a little city and few men within it and there came a great king against it and besieged it and built great Bulwarks against it Now there was found in it a poor wise man and he by his wisdome delivered the city yet no man remembred the same poor man The Analysis FRom the words was observed I. The Lord ever had a Little City under the Sun A People built together in Unity and Love In three respects compared to a City 1 A City is for habitation so God to dwell in his People 2 It is a place of Free-Trading so God will be free to trade in sorrows sufferings inlargements What he pleaseth with his people 3 It 's a place of safety So God looks to be safe in his People in his Name to be kept from reproach and sufferings II. This is but a Little city and that in three respects 1 It makes but little noise in the world Little notice of it 2 Little in compare of many thousands left But a small remnant 3 Little not easily seen nor found without a diligent search III. There are but few men in it Little or no help in it but a few men left and they tremblers unable to defend it Hence three things considered 1 Few men in it that no flesh might have to glory in saving it 2 All is emptied out of the room that God may dwell in it and be seen that the poor mans wisdome may appear 3 Few in it as no strength to withstand or keep off the lean enemy Every Temptation and snare too hard IV. A great King comes against this little City and builds Bulwarks Great opposition from the devil His Bulwarks are made of Earth any thing that springs thence knowledge parts zeal Hope 's these Bulwarks he can imploy to keep off the Truth V. In it is found a poor wise man and he by his wisdom delivers the City Whence two things considered 1 Where he is to be found In the City not out the kingdom of God within you Christ in you else reprobates 2 How shall this poor man be known How shall you know whether Christ be in you These seven signs were laid down of it 1 If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin the man wholly convinc'd that sin is too hard for him He cannot help himself 2 Where Christ is the soul cannot utterly despair it cannot be drowned In the bottom of hell Jonah lookt toward the Temple 3 There is ever a love to that which is of it 's own kinde if God be your Father you would love me saith Christ Truth ever loves Truth 4 Where Christ is ever a light goes along to search and discover all the secret carriages and wiles of the enemy He is a true searcher 5 Where Christ is He will never yield up this City though it cost his life yet with the three children we will not worship the golden image 6 There is a secret looking after God and expecting from him in the lowest day never a whole giving up all for lost 7 Where Truth is It can look through all heaps and swarms of enemies to God that he is still able to deliver and who can tell but he may be gracious ECCLES 9.14 15. There was a little City and few men within it and there came a great king against it and besieged it and built great Bulwarks against it Now there was found it a poor wise man c. IN the verses before Solomon speaks of a strange Case which is very contrary to Reason to believe or see into vers 11. I returned and saw that the race is not to the swift nor the battel to the strong nor bread to the wise nor yet riches to men of understanding nor yet favour to men of skill but time and chance hapneth to them all None of these will carry through by strength shall no man prevail and the wisdom of this world is foolishness and as for Riches they make themselves wings and fly away But well saith Solomon though all this takes not this Wisdom and strength and riches and skill cannot deliver men but they are taken in an evil net like the fishes and snared like the bird Yet for all this there is a wisdom that will stand there is a condition of deliverance to be attained I saw this wisdom under the sun and it seemed wonderful unto me There was a little city and few men in it and a great King came against it and besieged it and built Bulwarks against it and yet a poor wise man was found in it and he by his wisdom delivered the City This wisdom is indeed wonderful and too high for a fool The words in themselves are a metaphor taken up by the Holy Ghost by which he would express himself in things obvious to mans sense and reason and humane capacity and thereby lead the soul into the invisible minde meaning and intent of Scriptures For there is a hidden invisible meaning runs in all the Scriptures which none can read but those that buy eye-salve of Christ to anoint their eyes those who are taught of God and led into the meaning of them by the same Spirit which once breathed them forth The Scriptures are a deep Well and none but men of understanding can draw it out for all others the Well is too deep and they have nothing to draw with they can by no means reach the invisible minde of Christ From the words these things are observable I. That always the Lord had a little City under the Sun In all times he had his people a City built together where his Name lived and this was the strait of all our Fathers in their
against it c. This Great King is the same spoken of cap. 4. Better is a poor and wise child then an OLD AND FOOLISH KING that will no more be admonished c. In all Ages this old King the old serpent the Devil hath played these pranks against this little City he will never leave spitting his Venome and Poyson against the Truth to destroy it utterly That the name of Israel may be no more This Haman can have no rest so long as Mordecai lives Poor Mordecai is an eye-soar and troubles and disquiets this Great King and Gallows must be provided to hang Mordecai and D crees sent out to destroy the whole Nation of the Jews for his sake nothing lesse will serve then an utter ruine He will never be admonished this Old King will never take warning though his plots have been again and again disappointed and he hath been taken in his own snare yet he wiâ—l go on to besiege this little City to disturb and perplex and torment and if possible destroy this little Remnant Now I have heard many say that they never were thus troubled with the Devil they thank God He harms not them they never were under his temptations and torture and cruell batterings were they never troubled with him I but this is an Argument they are a friend to him they live in his Kingdom and there all is in peace so long as he keeps the house but if you are ever brought out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Christ if you shall ever be gathered out of the great City Babylon to this little Sion this small remnant if ever plucked out of the world then you shall feel him stirring For this old Serpent hath ever from the beginning of the World been casting out his floods after the Truth if possible to drown and destroy that and the neerer any of you shall be brought to God be sure he will be the more busie you shall have the harder encounters and assaults from the Dâ—vil you shâ—ll then see he will raise his great Bulwarks But what makes he these Bulwarks of out of what matter doth he work them Why whatsoever is of the Earth be it what it will yet if it be but an earthly material he can raise Bulwarks out of it well enough not onely out of gross earth out of dirt and mire not onely out of lusts sensual delights and pleasures but out of the finest earth out of a golden myne he can do it out of wisdom and parts and righteousness and zeal and hope and faith and what not that he cannot raise a Bulwark out of against the Truth Paul had these strong Bulwarks fram'd in him against the Truth in Stephen when he was stoned to death He was of the strictest way of the Pharisees He walked according to his Conscience He was as concerning the Law blameless and yet all these were made Bulwarks for the Dâ—vils service And therefore all your zeal and forwardness and love which seems to be for God see whether the Devils bulwarks be not in all to keep thee off from the Truth for he works himself strangely under ground he hath strange wiles to cheat and cozen by by knowledg of the Scriptures by zeal by forwardness to venture lives and estates for the Truth as we then think by these doth he sâ—â—ly winde in and raise his great Bulwarks and if the Lord help you not and deliver the City he will soonest of all destroy you where you think you are safest and so keep off all Truth from coming neer to touch â—ou and therefore great need you should well minde and consider the sleights for he hath bulwarks of all sorts shapes and sizes Bulwarks of dirt and clay and mire they are strong enough to destroy some Bulwarks of Gold and Silver and Pearls if need be any thing that is but this Worlds material and that takes in a great compass he can make a Bulwark to save himself and undo the Soul by Good Lord what strange devices hath hâ— He 'l put a man upon zeal and forwardness put him to give his goods to the poor and body to be burned and whatever you will if so be under all this he may but make a Bulwark and lurk behinde it to keep himself alive and do a mischief to the Truth Therefore there is need to consider what we lean on for if we are trusting and hoping and lightly promising our selves that God will sure help at last and we shall be delivered when he pleases and so rest in hearing and coming together when nothing is done I say all these hopes and conclusions which we get up to keep off the strait from our Souls and get ease by All these are but the Enemies Bulwarks and certainly intended by him to destroy us and if we be left to shrink away so and neglect the Truth in our day we may never be met with again when the time is once gone Sure the Lord is righteous and will not let the guilty go free though as I told you the last night he is all Love and sweetness in himself if we could but get in to him to his heart now if we could go and meet him thus as a Father and fall down and own our shame how well were it Were it not better then yet to stand out and war for the Enemy against our Brother then to joyn with the Devil in his Bulwarks against the Truth for one of these hands we must needs fall into But this is a hard case saith the Soul Am I so liable to the Devils Bulwarks and lie open dayly to all destruction and misery and is there no remedy Yes there is remedy There is Balm in Gilead V. In this City was found a Poor Wise man and he by his wisdom delivered the City A POOR WISE MAN a Jacob a plain man no such cunning tricks and deceits as the Esaus have and yet by his plain wisdom he can over-reach and supplant and go beyond all the deep plots and cunning of this great King How soon was Paul stopt in the midst of his run when he drove furiously for the Devil Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Not any great weapons are used but a wise word whispered into his Soul and that turns all and strikes the great Champion down to the Earth So Abigail comes to David but with a wise word a soft answer and how doth it prevail and prevent the great destruction intended against Nabals house It is but a word and the stream is turned I come against thee said David to the great Goliah in the Name of the Lord No more but so That Name is enough against the great Gyant and all his armor but a word Why persecutest thou me and that is enough to strike down the stoutest heart in the World if it be but set home What dost thou fight against God Art thou able to stand in his hands Alass what dost
and ransacked I but Christ when he comes he takes away his armour all that in which he trusted and hoped and said Now I am safe I shall sit as a Queen for ever I shall never see sorrow I but all his armour and fence is taken from him and this is a downfal indeed when he is thus found out and nothing can hide nor cover him any longer his coat of Male is taken from him and then Truth can easily enter then nothing appears but the mans nakedness and guilt and shame then the man cries out with Paul I am the chief of sinners then the Word takes place and enters and every arrow sticks Thine arrows stick fast in me saith David Then the man falls under as a poor naked helpless hopeless thing then he is counselled by Christ to buy eye-salve of him and gold tried in the fire and fine linen for he is found wholly naked and blinde and miserable We had thought Christ had ruled in us and we had been for God and the Truth we had thought our zeal and forwardness and speaking for God should have passed currant but take away this armour of the devil and then we are found out to be a wretched deceitful people a lye and deceit appears to be running in all and that there is nothing single for God and Truth without base selfish ends of our own And this is the first work Christ is to do in your souls to spoil this strong man of his armour else no Word of truth can ever come nigh and seize 2. After Christ hath taken away his armour he then seizes on his goods and DIVIDES THE SPOYL the spoyl Why what use can Christ make of his spoyl what can he do with all the devils goods You may see the thing illustrated Jer. 15. where God speaks thus Let that which is for death go to death that which is for the sword to the sword that which is for the famine to the famine and that which is for captivity to captivity 1. That which is for death to death some of these goods are presently to go to death to be utterly destroyed The enemies which you have seen to day saith Moses you shall never see them more The malignant disposition that was so wickedly bent against all prospering of Truth that evil eye that which lay in the way that one step Godward could not be taken that must be utterly destroyed and cut off for ever that abomination must live no more that ill favour that gave a taint and poison to all our ways and thoughts and words that man to Death Christ will say to that unclean spirit Come out of the man and enter into him again no more That enmity of spirit and hatred and ill will to all good the end of that is to be destroyed for ever That Cain-like love that hates its brother and would not suffer the least breathing nor prospering nor looking up of the Truth for according to that evil disposition in you if you minde it the heart rises against all good where-ever it appear though in a childe in a brother in a husband or wife yet the enmity works and hates to see your offering accepted and mine laid by as nothing But before Christ can ever come to reign this must certainly die and a whole turn of soul be wrought and we made naturally to love and chuse the prosperity of the Truth 2. Something must go to the sword That which is for the sword to the sword The Word of God that sword of the Spirit that shall still go on after that great enmity is slain to search and judge and quicken and stir up the man and cut off what hinders that the soul may grow up into the minde of God and as it hath born the image of the earthly so to bear the image of the heavenly as we have given our members servants to sin so to give them up to be servants of righteousness to be as free and voluntary and earnest in the service of the Lord as ever we have been to serve our selves to spend and be spent for the truth this the sword must do cut out a way thorow all rubbish for this minde to arise It must cut away all that sloth and carelesness that sluggish and carnal minde that sits still at home and would not come out to help the Lord against the mighty When Christ shall come to deal with us indeed and use his sword this must all be cut away and the soul pruned 3. Something must go to the famine That ill taint and setled indisposition that has been gathered and contracted by long custom in evil that hankering and lingering after the wickeds dainties all this must to the famine and be worn out by degrees and pined by little and little till it come to die Where-ever the heart is taken and hangs on the creatures on eating or wearing or trading or whatever enjoyments by degrees and degrees a secret moth shall eat and consume all a wasting and consuming famine must cure this evil disease 4. Something must go to Captivity and that is the last enemy to be destroyed the Devil he will yet keep some hold and footing and not be utterly routed so long as there is any dust to be the serpents food so long as the man hath any life beside the life of God I but now Christ shall designe him to captivity he shall be under a hewer of wood and drawer of water a servant to Christ he shall lord it no more He shall be bound for a thousand yeers and that will be the souls greatest happiness to keep him but in his prison that he may not break forth do his mischievous pranks but lie in his dungeon and be an underling to Truth though he still live for some Canaanites will ever live in the land to be the souls trial c. And thus I have opened to you this Day the great block that lieth in our way the bonds and shackles that hold us so fast It is Satans day 't is his hour and the power of darkness the mans Day of reigning is declining and laid aside in most if not all of you the man is not suffered so to bear sway and go at liberty and soar aloft in his minde but there are secret checkings and mindings of a shortness and the black feet appearing make the feathers fall And in some of you it is an empty and desolate Day you are left without much stirring either from God or from the enemy The land is void of both her kings But the greatest and sorest Day which lies sore upon some of us is The reign of the enemy and then wo to the inhabitants of the world Wo to that Land indeed where the Wicked are in Authority I opened to you the several Woes in it And now to make some Use 1. Examine How is it with you Every soul look home do you feel this strong enemy Do you
have shew'd you seven Ways by which if the Lord prevent not men may come in upon us to destroy the Body Now I come to the next general Thing Viz. Thirdly The Exhortation given Fear not them that can kill the Body And why should not They be feared 1. Fear not in regard of them that shall do it 2. Fear not in regard it is but the Body they kill 1. Fear not them that can kill the Body Fear not the men the persons that shall do it and that for these four Reasons 1. Because they are but men and man at his best estate is altogether vanity Alas They that go about to kill this body what are they themselves but a vain thing a nothing a shadow how ever strong and high conceited they may be yet alas all Nations are but as the drop of a bucket and what is a man that shall soon fade as the grass that he should be feared 2. Fear them not because they are but the Instrument the Rod in the hand of another and they cannot move nor stir a foot or hand farther then they shall be suffered and permitted and ordered They are but like the wheels of a Clock take off the weights and the Clock stirs not Alas though they may threaten and resolve and take counsel never so strongly yet they are not their own Lords they shall do neither more nor less then the hand will make use of the sword and therefore our Fathers in all their sufferings have looked through and beyond the instrument to the hand that rules and acts all I was dumb saith David and kept silence because it was thy doing 3. Fear them not but rather pity them Alas 't is woe and misery enough to all such as shall have a hand in this work They are imployed about a hard service it is their misery they are hackned by the Devil to do this mischief against the Truth As Christ saith of Judas It had been good for that man he had never been born Who ever shall be an instrument in this work alas 't is misâ—ry enough their case may be pitied by us rather then their malice feared 4. Fear them not in this respect because before their plots be ripe they may be cut off and dye and be layd in their graves How many such Cases have been known Haman what a strange plot and how surely had he layd it to cut off the Jews root and branch I but the mischief returns upon his own head before his plot comes to an issue he is cut off himself Alas how soon is it done His breath is but taken away and man turns to his earth and in that very day all his thoughts perish All plots and designs and contrivances come to nothing Remember O my People saith God what Balack consulted and what Balaam answered And yet see how all their designs were frustrate and blasted and came to nothing And in our own Kingdom how many plots have been thus prevented when they have been even ripe for execution So in that Powder Treason when all was fit and but now a candle only wanting to destroy and blow up all yet in the very nick it is found out and prevented Therefore fear them not if God will prevent he can soon do it be they never so strong and desperate and malicious yet He can but take away their breath and alas they may be rotten and stink in their graves before their plots are accomplished When the wicked flourish like the grass and the workers of iniquity like the green herb yet then it is that they might be cut off for ever So that were we but truly principled and instructed we might have our greatest encouragement where we make our greatest fears viz. from the strength and heighth and flourishing of our Enemies when they carry all before them yet Fear them not 2. Fear not them that can kill the Body in regard of the Body which they can kill They can reach no farther then the Body and what is the Body 1. That is but a poor outside a shadow it is but as the cracking of a shell to kill the Body 2. The Body is a perishing thing that will soon dye of it self if none should take a sword against it it will soon dye and moulder 't will fall of it self like the fruit of a Tree let it but alone till it come to be ripe and you need not shake it the fruit will drop and fall of themselves Therefore Fear not them that can kill the Body They kill but a dead man cut down a little grass like Jonas gourd up in a night and gone in a night 3. Fear them not for they kill but the Body and that is not that which is to enter into glory this body is to turn to dust this flesh and blood which you see is not to inherit the Kingdom this Corruptible must put on Incorruption this Corn must dye before it shall bring forth that Body which is to abide God giveth to every seed his own body as it pleaseth Him He will give a Body but not this body this flesh and blood which is sown in Corruption therefore Fear not them that can kill the Body And I could wish that always in all our fears and threatenings from men these seven Considerations might stick by us to keep us up from fearing both in respect of the men themselves and also the Body that only is in their power to kill Alas it is but a poor Cask when they have done their worst that they can touch that which will soon dye alone and save the labour of being killed and should it hold out never so long yet this is not it that is to enter into glory it must break and go to the grave at the last Earth must go to Earth Corruption cannot inherit Incorruption No unclean thing must enter into that City and this is an unclean house a Body of Death and Sin In my Body saith Paul I find no good thing but a Law of Sin in my members rebelling against the Law of my mind and that must dye and not enter into life And thus far you heard the Negative opened What you are not to fear Fear not them that kill the Body c. And how have most of our days hitherto been spent about this body and how are the world all of them lost and drowned in carings and providings about this what to eat and what to drink and what to put on We have been more foolish in this then the Lillies and Sparrows and Ravens they take not these cutting and perplexing cares and yet they are preserved and provided for and what have all our carings brought about to us but sorrows and misery they have not added the least cubit to our stature But now we come to the fourth thing 4. Who then is to be feared Fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell Fear Him fear the Lord He that
troops of wickedness may come in at pleasure and overflow and overspread the Soul so that nothing at all can be seen but envy and lust malice and deceits the man is moulded and changed into the very image of the Devil I have known some men so wholy drunk up of the Devil that no Reason nor Sense nothing of parts and reasonableness hath been left but the very minde and disposition of the Devil hath been in all And this is to be undone indeed it is the very destruction And this is a sad condition sure to have the Soul thus destroyed Was ever sorrow or misery like this Is there not reason He should be feared that can destroy the Soul with such a destruction as this Look over it again 1. If God withdraws his sap that which enlivens and quickens and keeps up the Soul how surely doth all dye of it self and decay and wither And may He not withdraw if He please Is he bound to us Then 2. To be given up to beleeve lyes to lie under the power of deceit that nothing of Truth can reach the Soul how miserable is this And then 3. To be left here in the mire to be left thus wounded of Thieves and half dead and no good Samaritan to take pity nor look for cure for it to have none to care nor support nor look after it but be like a member cut off from the body how soon must that needs dye and wither And then 4. To have the anger of God so far kindled and gone forth that He will not hear any prayers or cries that shall be put up for the Soul Pray no more for this people When God will by no means be entreated to have mercy this is sad And lastly To be wholy left and given up into the hands and will of the Devil to be ruled at his pleasure and left wholy to be swallowed up of sin and ungodliness that nothing else appears but the very Image of Hell and the Devil this is a whole destruction indeed and wo to the man or woman that is thus beset that hath no place to turn to nor way for help or cure This is a destruction to be feared indeed Fear Him that can thus destroy Soul and Body Take heed saith the Apostle lest there be any profane person as Esau who for one morsel sold his birth-right and if you are not here prevented you are for ever miserable and the same thing is in you that would thus desperately throw away Life and Heaven and all for a trifle any vain lust and to be here prevented and not suffered to undo our selves is a mercy worth ten thousand worlds Therefore fear not them that can kill the Body Alass that is but a poor thing not worth the speaking of in compare of this destroying the Soul but Fear Him who can destroy with this destruction This I would have you minde That Men whom Christ counsels not to fear they can reach but the Body there they begin and there end in killing the Body But God when he sets against a man He begins with the Soul Fear Him that can destroy Soul and Body the Soul first and that may be struck at and have a wound though the Body live He begins there to strike and blast the Soul first and then the Body that will soon pine and fall and dye and come to nothing And now to the last thing Seventhly What is it to be in Hell Fear Him that can destroy both Soul and Body in Hell It hath these three degrees in it 1. To be in Hell is to be sensibly knowing that the Soul is excluded from God and hath no fellowship nor communion with him All the World are in Hell they have no knowledg nor fellowship nor union with God I but the sense is not upon them they know it not but cover themselves with a covering of falshood and lyes and hope and beleeve that God loves them when they have no ground nor know any such thing But now when any shall be awakened and rouzed and made to see their condition and sensibly know they are ignorant of God live at a distance from him and are so shut out and excluded as they cannot turn any ways to get to Him and know not whether ever they shall be brought to see the Kings face or not whether they shall be so far favored or not I say the felt sense of this exclusion from God is the first degree of Hell And this God can soon do He can soon awake and rouze and open how the case stands with the Soul that it may cry out with Cain My Punishment is greater then I can bear There are many in the world were they but brought to a strait to know their conditions would be found here in Cains case shut out from the Presence of God and therefore they hate the Light and are afraid to come to be judged by it 2. Another degree of being in Hell is when the Soul is made to feel the very Pains and Torments of Hell to go under the gnaw of that worm of conscience which continually dogs and gnaws and torments the Soul day and night The pains of Hell took hold upon me saith David the sorrows of Death encompassed me He was brought to this step of Hell to have no rest nor quiet in all his ways but he was not given over unto Death The Pit did not shut her mouth upon him Thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell saith he nor suffer thy Holy One to see corruption That was his mercy and salvation c. 3. The last step of Hell which makes all up for as I said the children of God may and do many times pass through the two former but this makes it up to be Hell indeed when Everlastingness is added to the condition Go ye cursed into Everlasting Fire when there is an everlasting Sentence of Exclusion when the great gulph is set as Abraham answered Between us and you is a great gulph set that they that would come from you to us cannot c. This is the Hell indeed And the Time is coming that this will grow up to be more known in the World that men shall have their Hell opened and their sentence read in their own consciences For how have all things been in the dark hitherto How few of the Children of God in former days have had a clear evident and certain knowledg of their Salvation And so for the children of the Devil how few have had their consciences opened and condemnation sealed but have slept out their days sottishly and gone hood-winked to Hell But as the Truth shall get up to open Salvation to the sons of God that that is their lot and portion so certainly will it grow up for others to be divided to their own stock and kinde and go under the feeling and sense of their condemnation as the Apostle saith of some whose damnation slumbreth not And
one of you if you were called this night to dye that are at a certainty for your conditions what shall become of you you have nothing certain to stick to If you look over all your treasure your hopes and promises and operations from Truth yet the bed is too short and the covering too narrow I remember the saying of an old Professor which was long my Guide and Teacher and many years had been zealous and strong and forward in Religion yet when he lay upon his death-bed and great things were expected from him I know not saith he whether all that ever I have done in all my life hath not been in hypocrisie All his great confidence was gone in a moment and he at a pitiful uncertainty what should become of him I am sure it made my heart startle to hear it and say in my Soul Art thou now to seek after all then what shall become of me who am far short and but a new beginner 4. This Consideration may move you to fear Not knowing how soon the day of Mercy may be slipt over and the day of Visitation hid from our eyes It hath been no small Mercy the peaceable Government we have lived under we have had Liberty and Peace to meet together it is more then was afforded in my day it cost me dearer But now do you think it will last always Is there not a fear upon you lest the day be gone and a breaking and scattering should befall us And then we may remember Sion and weep by the Rivers of Babylon in our bonds 5. This moved Noah with Fear lest the Deluge should come before his Ark was finished and therefore he presently hastens to the work and did as the Lord commanded him Now doth it take this place Are your Souls afraid lest the day should come unawares and prevent you Sure if you are it will put you out of hand to look after a shelter and presently to set upon the work to prepare an Ark. III. The next general Thing to be Considered will be WHAT THIS ARK WAS How to be built And what a Type of This Ark typed out Christ all confess He is that Alone Refuge for all the saved ones to hide themselves in when ruine and desolation and destruction comes upon the whole world beside Now the Ark had three Stories which type out three Conditions and states that Christ went through to finish and compleat the great Work of Salvation 1. A day of Christs weakness and Death This the 1. Story Of the Ark. 2. A day of his Resurrection from the Grave This the 2. Story Of the Ark. 3. A day of ascending and entring into Glory This the 3. Story Of the Ark. And all the saved ones must tread in the same steps and go through these three conditions in the work of Salvation c. I. Christ had a day of weakness a day of death and sufferings He was crucified out of weakness And if ever you will build this Ark to the saving of your souls you must begin at this lowest Story If we are planted into the likeness of his Death we shall be also into the likeness of his Resurrection If you suffer with him you shall reign with him If you take up his cross and be faithful to the Death He will give you a crown of Life But if you deny him he will deny you If we drink not with him in the cup of Vinegar and Gall we shall not drink of that new wine with him in the Kingdom of God If you will indeed be like Him you must begin here No man can build a Castle in the Ayr if there be no Foundation and there is no other Foundation but JESVS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED Now this Death of Christ takes in a large compass and who will follow him here 1. He dyed to all things both lawful and unlawful He sought not Himself in any thing He could have prayed to his Father and have commanded Legions of Angels to save him He was Lord of all and yet became poor and made himself of no reputation He layd down all his just Rights and Priviledges and comes not to do his own Will but the Will of another Now if you look it over how hard are we to part with unlawful things We are holding what in our own Consciences belongs not to us and we have no right to nor can we have peace in the enjoyment of it and yet how is the heart gathering and reaching and coveting O fill my belly clothe my back pity my case consider my tryals And thus every one would scramble all to himself and never care what becomes of another though in our Consciences we know these reachings are utterly sinful and unlawful But now who will follow Christ in that other Branch Who will begin to dye to lawful things that which we may justly plead a right and title to To clear our selves where we are innocent to have our Love answered with Love to have others deal with us as we deal with them This we say we may justly plead for I but to suffer wrongfully to be numbred with Transgressors to be counted a wine-bibber a companion of Publicans and Sinners one having a Devil a Deceiver a Blasphemer Thus it was with Christ though he was without sin neither was guile found in his mouth And yet this he takes up and lies under and lays down his neck to the block and submits This is your hour and the power of Darkness No more but so Who will follow Christ here to suffer servants to ride on horseback and thou though a Prince one truly belonging to God yet to go on foot Thus did Christ He went on taking up his Cross dayly and this Cross was not onely outward sufferings and reproaches and denyals from the World but alass it takes in a parting with and dying to all seen things all that the Will sticks to all that the Soul chooses all that is dear and precious to give up all Christ could justly have pleaded That he had a right to God a right to all the Creatures He might have enjoyed of the best the World affords No but He resigns up his Will to the Will of his Father He gives up all and though He was rich yet became poor c. And if you come not to this to follow him here you shall never build this Ark And wo to the wantons of this world that talk highly and largely for God but live loosely and reproach the Cross of Christ as much as any will not enter themselves nor suffer others 2. He did not only dye to all things lawful and unlawful but He did it quietly and patiently He took it well He gave up his life He layd it down none took it from him But how far are we from this When any thing is hard indeed and pinches us to the heart how do we struggle and take it ill There is an envying arises against the
time when he reigns after he hath bound the strong man and put down all rule and authority 4. A time of Gods reigning when the Kingdom shall be delivered up to the Father and God be all in all II. About the Devils time of reigning which was chiefly aymed at from the words these several woes observed 1. He is a strong man David and our Fathers complain of their strong Enemy who was too strong for them 2. He is throughout malignant maliciously bent against the root and branch of Truth that the name of Israel may be no more 3. Woe in that he hath a time and power given him to afflict God allows it This is your hour and power of darkness c. 4. He is in possession he keeps the house he is got into the heart out of the heart adulteries murthers c. This is a great woe 5. He hath goods in us finds of his own kinde Pride Envy Deceit Lustings that he can challenge his own goods by right 6. Besides all this he is armed he hath armor His Armor exprest under these three notions 1. A coat of mail to cover him over that nothing can touch or finde him guilty his scales so thick nothing can enter 2. A helmet of brass He can dispute and reason and plead for himself and will never yeeld nor give over 3. A spear like a weavers beam He 'l seem to be for God and Truth and by this spear keeps off all from coming nigh 7. The last woe He is desperate will venture on any desperate designes being thus armed he is safe made without fear III. A time when a stronger then he comes and overcomes him And Christ doth it by these means 1. He takes away all his armor That is first done else no entrance 2. He divides the spoyl sends all to their place as Jer. 15. 1. That which for death to death something utterly destroyed That malignant disposition which is ever bent against the Truth that must dye 2. That which for the sword to sword The sword of the Spirit the Word of God must cut through sloth and lingerings c. 3. Something to famine the ill tempers are starved by degrees 4. Something to captivity the Devil is bound and in prison though not quite destroyed but some Canaanites live c. All brought home in these four Uses 1. To examine how 't is with us whether we feel this reign of the Devil this strong malicious Enemy what goods and possession he hath 2. If we feel it then to inform what a vain thing it is for us to stir to help our selves alass man hath no might 3. To shew our way is to lie down and let all go over till Christ come 4. To encourage that a stronger then he will come Hope against Hope LUK. 11.21 When a strong man armed keeps his Palace his goods are in peace but when a stronger then he comes and overcomes him he takes away from him all the Armour in which he trusted and divideth the spoile I Have sâ—oke to you this last week from those words in Deut 5. where God cries out Oh that there were such a heart in then c. I told you what Heart it was that God requires and longs for to have grown up in them a Heart that will hear and do all that the Lord shall speak A heart always to feare before him and only such a heart I told you would be first suitable to God and the heavenly life secondly profitable and usefull to our brethren and thirdly peaceable to our selves and therefore ouâ— great happiness lyes in this in being brought up to such a heart But now to day if God wilâ— I shall open to you what hinders that such a heart is not risen nor can rise in us though there be longings in God and longings in the soul yet that which doth let will let till it be taken out of the way For this I would have you note that where-ever there is a longing and breathing in God after any of his People to cry Oh that there were such a heart in then there is a certain eccho lyes in the bottome of such a soule that answers this call and longs and pants also Oh that my heart were so direct to keep thy Commandments the longings and cryes are on both hands and why do they not prevaile why is not such a heart presently given no there is a block lyes in the way which will ever hinder till it be removed the strong man armed keeps the Palace and till a stronger then he come till Christ shall rise in the soul and cast him out this heart cannot get up nor arise in us the strong man rules I would in generall observe to you a fourfold time of raigning which succeed and follow one the other 2. A time of the mans raigning 2. A time of the Devils raign 3. A time of Christs raign 4. A time of Gods raign when Christ shall deliver up the Kingdom to the Father and so God become all â—n all I. There is a time of Mans reign when the man hath a great liberty and swinge to turn himself about hither and thither as he please and meets with no let nor cross nor trouble in his way When Peter is young he girds himself and walks whither he lists but when he grows old the case is altered another girds and leads him whither he would not but the man hath his day of liberty when the grass is in its prime and the flower in its full beauty the man can turn him to his ease and parts and inlargments and injoyments of truth and injoyments of creatures and suck sweet every where Thus was Iob in his day when his steps were washed in Butter and the rocke poured out rivers of oil his beauty was fresh in him and he sate as a king in the army under the flourishings and inlargments of truth he could walk and speak and act and choose and refuse exhort and incourage others and all takes and prospers and finds acceptance and here he thinks he is sure Then I said I shall dye in my nest c. And this time of greenness in the truth is yet upon some of you affords the man sweetness and liberty and how long did many of us walk in this posture coming forth delicately with Agag and saying Surely the bitternesse of death is past So have we secretly promised our selves I have forsaken the world and am come off from all the false wayes of worship and have left friends and preferments and am set down to the truth and sure now the worst is over now I am safe and in a good way and here the man sits down on a high seat above all creatures and bonds and snares takes ease and content and reigns with truth as Paul writes to the Corinthians Ye are free and reign as Kings they thought all was sure and the liberty of man would last alwayes I
but saith Paul I would to God you did reign viz. that it were such a reigne as would last and hold Now who spake he to not to the rude world nor to the ignorant but such as he had in his heart to live and dye with such as he had espoused to Christ the match was made but not the thing done they were not wrought off from all things nor wrought up to that one husband into the minde of Christ though out of a light instruction and choice the thing was owned and approved And here the man gets peace and ease and liberty is free from guilt and torments and perplexities the man can goe on either hand if a mind to God and Truth thither he can turn if a mind to the Creatures he can turn thither the door is open and he can suck sweet from every thing his wayes are all washt in butter smooth soft and easie And here saith David my mountain was so strong I said I shall never be moved here the man sits as a King this is his day of reigning But II. There is another dispensation follows a time of the Devils reign this is a sad and wofull change Another king arises which knows not Joseph the man when he was King he knew God and owned truth and joyned it with him in his Kingdom though yet in the throne Pharaoh will sit above the man was uppermost in all But now another king rises that will not know Joseph and he deals cruelly with Israel then the hard Task-masters and cruel burdens come he will know nothing but his own will and lust and cruelty And Wo to the inhabitants of the world when the devil comes down to reign amongst them when Jeroboam reigns that makes Israel sin And how often have our fathers been at sore pinches and cried out in bitterness of soul when this time of the devils reign was upon them It is a woful kingdom indeed a cruel reign And these seven Woes lie up in it 1. One Wo is that he is a strong man How have our fathers owned his might and cried out under it Thou hast delivered me saith David from my STRONG enemy for he was too strong for me And again My enemies live and they are MIGHTY And Hezekiah cries out Lord I am opprest undertake for me And again We have no might against this GREAT HOST Alas when the man compares but himself to him what a Nothing is he to this great Goliah but as a fly a worm a gnat a stripling and he a man of war from his youth And here the heart sinks and dies at the very thoughts of dealing with him Was he but an ordinary enemy that might be matched any ways and the thing but feasible to fight with him then Man would have some hope but alas he carries all before him Shall not one be cast down at the very sight of him as 't is said of the Leviathan who was a type of the devil Iron is counted as rotten wood to him he laughs at the shaking of a spear Who is able to deal with this monstrous Leviathan If ever you but begin to reason and tamper the matter with him you are certainly foiled and worsted he will surely get beyond you 't is in vain to contend with him But let him vaunt and boast and rail on the Kings commandment is not to answer a word that 's the way Truth points us to to be still and lie under and say with Christ This is your hour and the power of darkness Until we can go out against him as David did in the Name of the Lord let us never stir though he come and vaunt himself and reproach Israel fourty days yet there is no other way but with Hezekiah to spread the Letter before the Lord and cry under the misery 2. He is not onely strong but a thorowout malignant enemy maliciously set and bent to destroy all truth exalts himself above all that is called God root and branch he strikes at all he deals as Herod who killed all the children from two yeers old and upward that he might be sure to meet with the childe Jesus and not let him escape So this malicious enemy kills every budding and springing of God in the soul he kills all the light kills the single love kills all the good desires that not so much as a right word or desire or groan may live and in all this his aim is utterly to destroy the Truth the principle of God sown in the soul Alas he cares not else if he can but kill the little spark of the Spirit of life he cares not what else passes by and lives Let us hear and meet together and eat and trade and take ease and content this is not the thing he is set against so but to smite the king of Israel onely that is his plot that was the wicked counsel of Ahithophel to kill David onely and bring all the people back to Absalom Neither small nor great doth he strike at but the King onely he cares not what lives so the Lord Christ the Truth the Seed of life the Heart and Minde of God may die in us Such a height of wickedness is in him that nothing else will content him but the death of all that would be a Lord over him a controuler a King this Herod cannot bear That which sits in the kings gate and will not bow to him that resolved Truth that will not fall down and worship the Idol nothing will content Haman but the death of this though he get Decrees against all the Jews though invited to the Queens banquet and sit next the King yet nothing will content him whilst this Mordecai lives that Seed of God that root of the matter that which will not stoop and buckle to him that he aims at and his fingers itch to cut off this name of Israel for ever And Oh what a Wo is this to be under such a cruel malicious enemy that would not give a moments respite not so much as a little breathing-time for the Truth not a little hope not a little desire not the least stirring of an inclination but he 's upon it presently if it were possible to stop every chink that the smoaking flax might not have the least vent but be utterly extinct and quenched 3. A third great Wo lies in this that he hath a time and power given him of God to afflict and try God allows it and gives him leave to strike Job This is YOVR HOVR saith Christ an hour was given them And God saith I will cause them to pass under the rod. And 't is said in the Psalms He TVRNED the hearts of their enemies to hate them He gives him his time and commission to rend and tear waste spoil and imprison and none can call him to account for it his Commission will bear him out Alas what a day is this In the time when the Man reigned he promised himself
fair he should soon be delivered and get thorow the Battel and see an end of sorrow I but he little thought of this day as Job cries out He hath given me over into the hand of the ungodly when the devil has power given to try and afflict and torment to let in what beasts he will to destroy the vineyard O wo indeed when a Leopard is set to watch over the city when the Devil is suffered to keep watch and guard that nothing can stir nor pass in or out without his leave Power is given him he hath a time to lead into captivity at his will But the day will come when he that led into captivity shall be led into captivity himself He that spoiled and wasted and cried Down with it down with it to the very ground A turn will come and then Blessed shall he be that serveth thee as thou hast served us But Oh what havock doth this murtherer make when it is his day How doth he make the earth utterly waste and empty and not a stirring of Truth may live If you minde it we cannot sometimes speak a word nor breathe a groan towards God but he flaps on the mouth presently so cruel is he when the power is put into his hand But now saith Job now I am their song they mock at me the rascal and vile rout whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock every base lowe unworthy trifling lust can now lord it over the soul and make their song on it Oh this is a woful day indeed when the enemy has power to serve himself of the soul without any controuler when he can carry captive at his will this Christ cries out against If it be possible let THIS CVP pass And here David cries out Oh let not the pit shut her mouth upon me 4. Another Wo lies in this he keeps the houe he is in possession ' The spirit that rules in the HEARTS of the children of disobedience There is a rotten and tainted sore within that is seated in the soul and sends forth such an unsavoury stink if it were possible to choak all that is good The Devil hath got the dwelling-place in the heart is in possession it is his house and therefore whence hear you of all your enemies whence come your troubles and perplexities and wars and fightings Come they not from your lusts saith Saint James Is not all the mischief from within Out of the heart come adulteries and murders and thefts an evil eye c. all comes out of the heart Whence come all the pesters and torments out of the air or from another as we often put it off No the taint is within Look not without thee for the enemy nor for the devil no but within IN THE HEART there 's the seat that 's his palace A time indeed is to be of his casting out but at present he keeps the house and therefore neither good can come in nor good come out not a breathing of Truth stir but he presently cries Get you to your tasks to your tasks that 's the word that stops all He would not let a groan live and this brings the soul into great bitterness that neither good can come into it nor a groan go out from it but presently the Devil flaps Christ on the mouth some base taint or guilt comes in and stops the rise and liberty of Truth Alas to have the Devil dwell so neer a man in his bosom this is a misery indeed Here the soul cries out Wo is me that I am constrained to dwell with them that hate peace This is the present day and time with some of you your enemies sit chief and Zion is in the dust I beseech you let the Word sink into your hearts for it will have a time to sink upon you all Consider where you are under what rule and government If under the Mans reign still then no marvel indeed you can live loose and free and gird your selves and go whither you will But a time will surely come when you shall know and feel this reign of the enemy For till this Day be over you can never indeed come under the reign of Christ the Day of Christ will not be till there be a falling away first from the Mans reigning and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God this is the time of the devils reign And until this wicked one be revealed whom the Lord Christ shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming till this you will never see that day of Christ nor come under his time of reigning 5. A fifth great Wo is this He hath goods in us his goods are in peace the Prince of this world comes and findes of his own in us though he did not in Christ And that he hath goods in us appears by that unsavoury smoak that always is coming up out of the bottomless pit their throat is an open sepulchre saith David a continual ill savour and stink comes forth As the Church is described to be full of sweets her garments smelling of myrrhe aloes and cassia and all sweet perfumes so in this condition the soul is clothed with nothing but stinking rags and polluted garments The soul that is indeed awake and sensible knows not how to endure its own stinking smell it is almost choaked and overcome with an ill savour which comes from that abundance of rottenness those goods of the Devil and wares of Hell that lie up in the heart so that the poor man knows not how to speak a word sometimes nor think a thought but an evil taint gets in first or last that spoileth all all the thoughts and inwards are so poisoned by the devil Here David cries out My wounds stink and are corrupt In mars heart is that soul sepulchre of dead mens bones full of loathsome rottenness Do you know this have you felt and seen it in your selves There is that cage of unclean birds there is the Bittern the Screech-owl the Satyr there all the beasts of the Forest creep forth there is the Lions den and all the bones he hath gnawn and scattered Our bones are scattered at the pits brink saith the Psalmist All is corrupt and become abominable there are the goods of hell packt together there he lays up envie and wrath and stubbornness and deceit and lyes Now who will believe this report Who thinks his soul and heart to be the devils shop the ware-house of hell But they that feel it feel it and they that know know and the day will surely come to finde out every man How fair soever we may speak and mince the matter and wipe our mouthes yet the fruit will discover the root Samuel will ask What mean the bleatings Though we would hide and cover the Devil never so close and paint
and garnish him over with never so many fair pretences yet he cannot be so whited do what we can but his black 〈◊〉 appear to them that have eyes and can discern Paul was brought to own and discover these goods of the devil he cries out In me dwells no manner of good thing all is corrupt And God saith of Jerusalem As a fountain casts out its water so Jerusalem casts forth her sin Now a fountain casts out water naturally it flows without pumping and continually it never slacks night nor day and 3ly a fountain casts out abundantly no measure of it and 4ly irresistibly who can stop it So the heart casts out sin such a stock and endless store of the devils goods are laid up in the heart Do you believe this 6. Another great Wo is this He is not onely a strong enemy and most maliciously bent and power put in his hand and in possession and hath stuffed the house with his goods but 6ly he is armed too he hath armour to defend and maintain himself and keep off all assaults that are made against him Now his Armour may be expressed under these three Notions 1. He hath a coat of male upon him which covers him quite over that no word of Truth can come to touch and enter into him and finde him guilty though you try again and again and shoot and shoot bullet after bullet yet nothing shall enter his scales are so close to one another that not the least air can come between until the Lord shall direct an arrow thorow the joynts of his armour and come to the heart but it 's out of the reach of any creature to do it his coat of male keeps off all And though you may crush his coat a little sometimes and hurt him a little yet he presently gets up again and shakes himself and he is well the wound is healed for it never came to his heart his coat of male hath a thousand twistings and windings to keep off all guilt from coming so nigh him 2. He is armed with a helmet of brass upon his head his wisdom fences him that he is mighty able to plead the cause and reason and dispute for himself you shall never out-speak nor out-reason him he has so many subtil windings and ways to put off the guilt The fool is wiser in his own eyes then a man that can give a reason He hath a brazen brow that be the case never so clear yet he will not blush nor ever yeeld he is guilty but some way or trick or shift is ever at hand to put it off and save himself from being a sinner some plaister or other he will finde to heal the wound and keep the guilt from sinking to his heart though the case be never so plain against him and though seven a compleat number witness and accuse him yet his helmet of brass keeps off all he will not be guilty 3. He is armed with a great spear in his left hand like a weavers beam and with this he dare challenge all Come neer him who can By this spear he 'll seem to be for Truth and fight the Lords battels with Saul and slay the Philistims And who dare charge him now He is on our side he cries A friend a friend He hath the Watch-word and the Colours he 'll come and build the wall with you and who shall set upon him here He 'll be zealous and forward in the Truth he 'll plead and answer and prove and condemn others for being thus and thus as the Pharisees did Christ And this spear reaches out so far that there is no way to come nigh to reach or once question him Will you speak wickedly for God saith Job to his friends There is a wicked speaking for Truth many times a preaching of Christ out of envie to snare another or finde another guilty and keep up our selves some base selfish end or other lies in it that spoils all Therefore God says He will be Judge himself he will judge between ends and ends between thoughts and intentions The Word of the Lord is quick powerful that pierceth between marrow and joynts that can get between and meet with this enemy when the time is come But the work is wonderful He is so sorely armed all over 1. with a coat of male 2. with an helmet of brass 3. this long spear like a Weavers beam that alas what man shall come near to deal with him 7. The last great Wo is that this enemy is desperately ventrous dares venture upon any strange designes He 'll set on Christ and hurry him about to a high mountain to a pinacle of the Temple into the wilderness This Leviathan is made without fear being thus armed and fenced he cares for nothing Whilst his armour is so close about him he can venture on the mouth of a Canon and is safe enough He can vent out all his malice and poison and rage and do all his mischiefs and none shall touch nor controul him nor come nigh to search his heart He 'll be a friend to God and Truth and his People come not nigh to judge him And this is the armour of the whole world they are thus cheated by the devil and think all is well and right with them and under this covert he can work all his pranks and bring about all his mischiefs and murtherous plots against the Truth And this is a great misery the desperate ventrous spirit of this enemy that rushes on all mischief without fear and dread Now minde whilst this strong man armed keeps his Palace his goods are in peace all is at rest and quiet there 's no trouble nor perplexity no fears the whole earth is at quiet and if it were possible he would never be disturbed nor pitch battel with Christ but keep his goods in peace I but a time comes when a stronger then he comes upon him and then the war begins and the battel stirs and the clashings appear but this is the great happiness that there is one that is stronger then this strong man that can deal with him one that hath all the keys of hell and can open and unlock all the doors one that can take away all his armour in which he trusted and utterly overcome and rout him Then saith Job the poor hath hope and all iniquity stops her mouth And the way by which Christ accomplisheth this is twofold First He doth it as I told you by taking away all his armour in which he trusted He trusted in his armour that that should save him and keep off all blowes He trusted no arrow should ever pierce that and come into his heart and finde him guilty He trusted in his wisdom that he could reason and plead the case and maintain his Way to be right and just He trusted his speaking good words for God and pretending for Truth and his love zeal and forwardness should never have been questioned
that are to be saved may dye in this Wilderness And there is an everlasting Death to be utterly cut off and separated from God And can you have any rest till you are satisfied in both these for your state and for your attainment Can you get off from that voyce within you If I sit here I dye 2. You that indeed hear this noyse in your Souls do you learn of these Lepers venture into the host fall under the hand let nothing keep you back not because you are forlorn and miserable and all overspread with sin shall this keep you back But it shall not keep back all some must enter and come as they are in their rags and unclean garments they must venture upon the swords point and if ever you get bread it must be this way not by ease and sitting still and shunning sufferings No but by venturing into the midst of the Host in taking up the Cross dayly not by picking and choosing here a bit and there a bit but if hungry indeed the whole Lamb must down and the bitter herbs nothing must be too hard 3. The manner of these Lepers going without conclusions one way or other for or against themselves this may shew you the right way of coming at a peradventure not propounding to our selves what will come on it but to venture and leave the success to another to lie before the sword and say Let him do his pleasure Lo here I am let him do what seems him good If it please him he is able he can cure and heal and save us but if not lo here we stand in his presence and lie at his mercy Thy Will be done OR Christs Amen to the bitter Cup. SERM. XV. July 6. 1651. MATTH 26.42 He went away again the second time and prayed saying O my Father if this Cup may not pass except I drink it Thy Will be done The Analysis FOur General Things observed from the words I. This Cup must in no ways pass from Christ without drinking II. Christ certainly knew this by proving and trying to the utmost to escape III. The ground why it cannot pass was the Will of God IV. Christ submits and bows to this at last Thy Will be done In this Submission of Christ seven Particulars considered 1. He submits to be betrayed by one of his Disciples that eat at his Table they took sweet counsel together this a great woe 2. Submits to be betrayed into the hands of sinners not righteous persons and here seven Aggravations considered 1. They are a multitude that which is the Betrayer of the Soul le ts in a multitude an Host swarms of ungodliness 2. They come against him with swords and staves not only swords to kill but staves to defend and prolong the misery 3. They lay hold on him sins get upon the Soul and are too strong it cannot shake them off 4. They bring him before the High Priest an Enemy and unequal Judg so the Soul brought befo e the Devil to be judged 5. When He begins to speak they flap him on the mouth so is the Truth snib'd within if it speak a word to clear it self 6. They crown him with thorns so the Truth pestred and cumbred with thorns cares fears c. 7. They seek false witness against him to put him to death so the great search in the Soul is to prove all has been deceit c. 3. Christ submits to be put to death unjustly no just thing is against him but only false accusations yet he submits to dye 4. He submits to a most base unworthy and ignominious death 1. Crucified between two Theeves Truth dies between the man and Devil 2. Buried in the field of blood the place of a skull 3. The Souldiers part his garments Lusts share the garments of Truth 5. Submits to be left of all his Disciples and Friends they all fly away so all the labours and good that ever the Soul hath done now forsake it 6. His Father hides himself from him He cries My God my God but not now my Father His bowels are hid 1. He hides himself because his Son is to dye and he will not see the death of his Child 2. He doth it that the Son may learn obedience from what he suffers Nothing so crushes the Soul as the absence of God 3. He doth it that the blow may seize whilest he is present 't is impossible the Soul should dye Three children burn not 7. That which adds to all He submits to be dumb and silent not to complain under all this and that for three Reasons 1. That he may stand to his word He had consented Thy Will be done and if now complain he contradicts all 2. Dumb to give no evil example of murmuring to others 3. That he might not lose all his recompence and reward All was brought home practically and Application made 1. To enquire every one What is my Judas that lurks and lies hid what will be my Betrayer need to know it 2. To inform what we are to meet with if we will go to life we must drink the same Cup therefore let it not be strange MATTH 26.42 He went away again the second time and prayed saying O my Father if this Cup may not pass except I drink it Thy Will be done HAving spoke several times to you of the General Points observed from the words we came at last to the fourth Point viz. After all means used by Christ to avoyd this Cup after all strivings intreatings and prayings O my Father if possible let this Cup pass yet at last submits Thy Will be done In the conclusion he bows and buckles and is ground under and made to cry out Thy Will be done And in this saying there is so large and vast and deep a thing contained that truly it swallows up all things else Heaven and Earth and all creatures are as nothing before this Will of God All things must come to buckle and be crusht and lie in the dust before it Alas it will make the sensible heart to shake and tremble and the ears to tingle to hear and see what Christ here submits unto what he gives consent to in saying this word Thy Will be done an unfathomed depth of submission and bowedness of Soul lies up in it to take up all sufferings and sorrows and miseries that can befall For more plainness I branched out the thing into seven Particulars which Christ here submits to and to which all the saved ones must consent and follow in the same steps In which seven particulars ten thousand miseries and sufferings are layd up which no heart can conceive nor tongue express what all they must pass through that go to life and shall be made to drink of the Brook in the way before they must lift up their heads 1. In this saying Thy Will be done He submits to be betrayed by one of his Disciples one of his own house lifts up himself against him
among the People and this the Soul shall find true in it self there is a time when Christ is strong and can get away from them a time when the Soul could deal with its lusts and curb and beat them in when ever they appeared and like Sampson when ever the Philistins came to bind it It could but arise and shake it self and get loose again I but there is a time when Sampsons strength is departed and the Philistins prevail and carry him by force and put out his eyes and make him grind in a mill and he cannot withstand such hold do sins lay upon the Soul They take such fast hold on me saith David that I cannot loook up and again speaking in the name of Christ My sinnes are gone over my head as a burthen too heavy for me to bear they stick close to the Soul that it cannot get loose they stick as the flesh to the bones that the Soul is no wayes able to shake off these Lions and Tygers and devouring beasts that lay hold upon it it is impossible for the soul to get them off but it â—s led captive and made to serve and follow whither this wicked rabble will lead it and here Iob cries out That which my Soul refuseth to touch is made my sorrowfull meat and so Paul cries out that he was a slave and sold under sin and that which I hate and would not do that I do saith he such a strange haling is there and leading captive by sin And this you will all have a time to find true that your iniquities will be too hard for you you will not be able to stand before them they will prâ—vail and have the victory else what need that challenge to Death and Hell where is your victory if they had not the victory once yes they surely will have the victory over all but now not to be left in Hell not to be holden of the grave but to be raised up by the same Almighty power which raised up Christ this will be the Salvation but this will be the sad day to the Soul when it shall be thus left in the hands of Sinners In those dayes they shall mourn c. We promise fair I can submit to be ruled ordered and part with this and other and be denyed of my wil and runs of heart alass you know not your heart nor the multitude and strength of your enemies They wil surely come to be too hard for you that you shal not be able to get out of their hands but a base rabble company of unworthy lusts which somtime the Soul hath scorn'd should touch it now lay hold lead it away like an ox to the slaughter and as a fool to the correction of the stocks and it cannot help it nor wring any ways out of their hands 4. They bring him to the high Priest and set him before a partial unequal judg that is set against him and right or wrong will certainly do what he can to put him to death and thus is the Soul dealt with in this day when it is betrayed into the hands of its lusts They presently lead and hale it to be judged by their own King the Devil he sits in the seat of Judgement to hear and cast the matter he who never favoured Truth was never a friend to it but a murtherer from the beginning seeking all wayes and means to destroy yet He must now be Iudge and condemn and accuse and upbraid the Soul in this day of its calamity Now Shimei comes out and upbraids and curses David Come out thou bloody man Now all the blood of Sauls house is come upon thee Alas there was another hand in it he was clear and innocent concerning Sauls blood he had spared his life when it was in his hands to slay him and had done good to Sauls house but yet this false charge must be laid in his dish and he must bear the railing and go away as guilty O Lord if your Souls be awake and do but mark the carriages within you will see what a stir this wicked Judge makes to find some false accusation or other for which he may pass a sentence of death against the Soul how doth he bestir him to prove that all that ever the soul had or did was but a deceit and in hypocrisie and no truth was in the bottome of it and this is a token you were a deceiver saith the Judg and this proves you will come to nothing you ever had a base taint in all you did a base selfish end and here the poore creature stands amazed and silenced at these cruell charges when presently this wicked Judge is upon its back and will not give a breathing time but asks an answer Answerest thou nothing to what these accuse thee of he calls for an answer in a moment when the Soul stands amazed and nonplust and knows not how to get up a sober thought or word at such an instant to plead for it self yet then they press to have the Sentence pass against the Soul as if there were nothing of truth and singleness but a dissembling hypocriticall heart in all 5. When Christ begins to speak for himself presently one smites him upon the mouth answerest thou the high Priest so why saith Christ If I have spoken evil bear witness of it but if good why smitest thou me So if you can read the Parable when ever the Soul in this day goes about to speak a word for it self though never so fairly and soberly and according to truth opening the thing as it is presently one or other of this Rabble multitude flap it on the mouth some base fear or discouragement comes in What dare you look towards God Dare you speak or plead a word for your self Are not you found guilty and deceitfull here and there And do you look for mercy so that when this work must pass of bringing the Soul to death all things must work to that purpose it may not have liberty to speak a word to clear it self how innocent and clear soever it be 6. They crown him with Thorns A Crown of Thorns indeed 'T is said of the Thorns that they choked the seed and made it unfruitful A Crown of cares and pesters come in which way to take and what to do to escape this hand and get from the blow Oh that the King of Glory should wear such a Crown as this He that was born to a Crown of Glory a Crown of Gold yet he too must be rent with these Thorns He was under cares and fears and therefore 't is said He was heard in the things he feared He looked about to his right hand and to his left to see if there were any to help but he found none This Crown of Thorns rends his head the cares and fears which in the day of his flesh did beset him Then they put on a Purple robe in derision and scorn they mock
at him Hail King of the Jews and make a sport at his misery And thus many times the cursed Lusts within insult and triumph and mock the poor Soul when it is in this miserable strait and upon the nick of Life and Dâ—ath Can you read it 7. They sought false witness against Christ They were busie to search and enquire out all that could come against him right or wrong they matter not And if you mind in this day there will be a most strict search and enquiry made if any can come in against the Soul to prove it a Deceiver and Hypocrite in all it hath done or said for Truth Can you not read the Parable What inquisition is made by the high Priests to prove against the soul that all its best good was tainted all it hath ever done or spoke for God that all this was in deceit and a base selfish taint ran in all that there is no singleness in the bottom to carry it through This is the thing the Enemy mainâ—y aims at and this cuts to the heart as a sword to be thus upbraided and dog'd with accusations and outcries within that all was but deceit and the Soul shall come to nothing c. And this I would have you mark what will surely befall us in the day of our calamity what dealing we may look for and expect if we will follow our Master and tread in his steps Many speak much of the Death of Christ but they come not to it to know and feel it in themselves But if we never be planted together with him into his death never shall we partake of his resurrection if we come not to the same submission of heart to say Thy Will be done And in this word I told you seven Things were considerable which Christ accepts of and consents unto though the Execution was yet to come and pass upon him 1. He submits to be betrayed by one of his own House by a Disciple one of the Twelve one that goes for a Friend and had another heart given him though never a new heart 2. He submits to be betrayed into the hands of sinners a multitude come against him and there I opened to you seven particular Aggravations Now to come to the next Thing 3. He submits and yeelds to be put to death wrongfully He is falsly accused falsly judged falsly condemned They bring nothing truly but only lyes against him and yet he submits to take up death though never so unjustly condemned They lay that to my charge which I never did and therefore their Witnesses could not agree there is ever a jar will be between lyes One comes and witnesses This man blasphemed and said I am the Son of God another says This man said I will destroy the Temple of God made with hands and in three days raise one made without hands And this was a lye He had said no such thing but spake of the Temple of his Body And thus is the Soul dealt within this day false Witnesses come against it and upbraid it Well you said once you should never be moved you should never be left nor forsaken of God but that he was your Father for certain and you should be saved When alas the Soul that is to be saved never durst conclude any such thing till it be sure indeed but in its best day ever it stands in fear and jealousie what the end shall be Other Witnesses come and bring in a false charge on the other hand ' Well you said once there was no God no ' Heaven no Hell nor Life to come And this is a flat lye also The Soul to be saved could never nor durst ever say there was no God though it hath truly complained and bewailed that it knew not God nor Heaven nor the life to come it was dark and ignorant in these cases as a blind creature and this was its heavy woe and bitterness And all this while the Witnesses agree not they differ in their Tale and their Accusations are all false and unjust and groundless no one true thing is brought against him and yet he must dye still they cry Crucifie him crucifie him and he submits to take it up But what is the reason why must he dye when no just Cause is found against him 1. Because it is determined so it is the determinate Counsel of God it should be thus though brought about by wicked hands 2. He dyes for the glory of God that his Power and Might and Truth and Faithfulness might appear the clearer in raising up from the dead As Christ said of the blind man Not for this mans sin nor his parents was he born blind but for the glory of God Alas were man to dye for sin for that very cause and no other he might dye again and again ten thousand times over and never have done the work No but precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his Saints They dye not to satisfie for their sin but for the glory of God Did the Father lay any thing to the Prodigals charge when he came home No his sin was that he came no sooner the father was ready to receive him notwithstanding all his rags and riotous behaviour this hindered not his acceptance but his keeping away from his father that was his great sin When they accuse Christ as a glutton a wine bibber a Companion of Publicans and Harlots a Breaker of the Sabbath a Blasphemer and would put hâ—m to death for these alas they charge him unjustly he is not guilty of these So all that is layd to the charge of the Soul in that day by the Enemy all the hypocrisie and deceit and envyings and coverings and lustings alas all this belongs not to the Son of God the Truth is clear But these are the Devils goods his ware and he and his goods must perish together The Truth is free and disowns and hates all and the man take him as separate from that evil Spirit as standing alone and he is harmless and innocent only his woe add misery is to be cumbered and pestered and plagued with these goods of the Devil lodged within him But now the Accusation and Charge is never layd rightly and truly for then the Enemy must accuse himself which he will never do He never hits rightly on the sore where the Souls great woe and misery and weakness lies that is hid from these false Witnesses but they venture to speak desperate and punctual lyes if it were possible to destroy the Soul by them if you do but mind how the wheels move within when ever the man is indeed put to a strait and stands in anguish then the Lyar steps up and witnesses falsly then they say acted by this Spirit 'T is you Moses and Aaron that have made our savor stink in the nostrils of Pharaoh and his servants and you have brought us into this Wilderness to slay us with thirst It was all
false they were sent to be their Guides and Deliverers to bring thâ—m to the good Land But the Lyars mouth was open and this Christ is made to submit to to have his Life taken from him unjustly and without cause 4. Another Thing Christ submits to when he says Thy Will be done is to be put to the worst and shamefullest death of all The Circumstances aggravate the Death 1. He is crucified among two Thieves as one of that company guilty as they He is numbered with transgressors The Truth suffers as guilty though it be clear as Deceivers and yet true saith Paul Truth suffers between the Man and the Devil they are the two Thieves The Devil he is the great Thief he steals to himself Lordship and Power and to sit in the seat of God and to be Disposer of things He brags and vaunts All this will I give if thou wilt fall down and worship c. Alas they are none of his goods Then the Man he is a Thief too he steals a little hope and ease and rest a little release of his burthen when it presses very sore and this Thief steals for his want to satisfie his hunger and therefore he may be saved with Christ But between these two the Truth must dye as one of that number as a sinner and transgressor We have looked amiss as if the man only and the Devil were to suffer but the Truth in us because clear therefore that might scape No no that must suffer and lead the way to the man or else he alas can never suffer nor go through death But the good shepherd when he puts forth his own sheep he goes before them He suffers first and drinks the first cup. But 2. Where do they crucifie him Out of the City out of the place of blessing and carry him to the place of a skull as one of the Evangelists hath it a field of blood as another calls it but by both it appears to be a loathsom unworthy disgraceful place a place of filth and rottenness Out of the belly of Hell have I cryed unto thee c. No better a lodging for the Soul in this day then the belly of Hell it self and this Christ submits to 3. Yet further The Souldiers part his garments among them And truly this is a very sad case to consider How the Lusts that crucified the Truth yet they will divide its garments and put them on and they 'l be covered with a garb and covering of Truth The wisdom of the flesh that puts in for a share the hasty and eager zeal and affections they plead for a share the strange imaginations they plead a share and all will seem to be Friends to Truth notwithstanding they have but now put it to death yet they part his garments among them And this is a sad case to the sensible Soul that is bereaved of the Life of its Truth and of the garments also that hath lost all such a Soul can cry out bitterly with Mary They have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have layd him 5. Yet further He submits to be left and forsaken of all his Friends His Disciples left him and fled Might he but have had them to stick to him in this day of his calamity it had been a great support and stay but they all leave him and are scattered every one to his own And herein lies a sore aggravation of misery if your Souls can read it that now in this woful day when all these woes are upon the back and press the Soul to death almost yet this must come in to add to all the rest That all the good that ever the Soul hath done and thought and laboured in the Truth all is now scattered and leaves it What ever it hath done singly and honestly and out of the good-will sown in its heart towards the Truth all the labours under the Sun now take their leave and seem vanity and vexation of spirit And here Christ cries out I have spent my labour in vain time will come you will forget that ever you had a good thought or a good word or did any thing for the Truth all wil leave you and be gone when now your Souls can sometimes hold on the innocency and single mindedness within and truly pray to be remembred according to that inward cleanness yet a day will come when all this will be laid aside and forgotten I forgot prosperity saith David and in another place he compares himself to the Dead that are forgotten for ever How had Christ once his Disciples about him and ready to his command when he sent out the Seventy two by two and now to be left of all and not one to stand by him this is a hard Trial and if it were not hid from the Soul if it could foresee what a day of Scattering of all its good and labours would come upon it as though they had not been it would discourage and make it flag in all its actings for God if it thought such a day of stripping all were to come They pierced my hands and my Feet saith Christ His Hands that had laboured in the Truth and his Feet that had ran the way of his Commandments These are now nailed fast to the Cross and he is not able to stir them The day will come when your Souls will hate all the Labours you have taken under the Sun when that Strait shall be upon you to crie out My God My God Why hast thou forsaken me Mark what I say for the day will surely come upon you and then all your Works and Labours will leave you All the good that ever hath passed upon you will not stand you instead in that day nor answer that Strait O Lord how is my Soul troubled when I feel how senselesse you are and far off from having the thing seise upon you indeed But it will surely come and then you will remember what hath been told you this Condition will befall you to be left alone as Christ complains Lover and Friend hast thou put far from me and my acquaintance into darkness 6. Another misery greater then all is this His father hides his face from him he seems to forsake him and become an enemy that he cries out my God my God c. My God he can yet say but not my father he hath hid himself from the house of Jacob all the bowels are hid But why must this befall Christ that his father leaves him 1. He hides himself that he may not see the death of his childe the father cannot endure that and therefore he turns aside and hides his face his bowels and tenderness and puts on another habiâ— Cloaths himself with vengeance as with a garment when this work of death must pass then he seems all anger and hardens himself against the cries and tears of his Son then he comes with Refiners fire now the fire that hath no mercy