wo. And for 〈…〉 Christ their lives not desired their deaths not lamented but you know how to contend and are carelesse though the Gospell and God be slandered you 〈◊〉 of the Lords yoke It was one mans speech that the great sin of this Countrey will be hatred of the Saints a scornful contempt of them It will come by degrees first distaste and then censure and contemne Oâ— but if herein you submit herein Christ is honoured and Gospell glorified in love and amiablenesse Not in a rigorous austerity of spirit and diabolicall censoriousnesse but in word and deed countenance and gesture comforting and encouraging one another When David would know what to do Truly saith he my goodnesse extends not to thee but to the Saints in whom is all my delight Oh therefore submit here this conscience calls for and Christ must have To conclude with a word for help here Means 1. Look to Gods Ordinances not as they be in themselves but as appointed of God to communicate an almighty power of spirit to them that wait on the Lord in them An almighty power must overcome and go on Conquering and to Conquer How shall we have this by Gods Ordinances Some more principall as Word and Sacraments some lesse How shall we partake of this power in them Look not on them in themselves but as appointed and sanctified and so as glorious And there pray and wait and look for the power nay believe you shall receive this power As the 〈◊〉 of Iordan to Naâ—man How did they cleanse Whe◠〈◊〉 lookt upon them without the command and 〈◊〉 he despised theâ— and so found not the benefit of them but afterwards hee found the benefit of them when he washed seven times in attendance to the appointment of God Brethren it is but go and wash here 1 Cor. 10. 5. Means 2. Know your disobedience the breadth of it Some things Christians see and pray against them and then all is well but see the breadth of evill in your disobedience There is something that doth oppose God in every lawfull thing in whole or in part for flesh is in it or else you are blinded if you see it not Oh therefore feel the breadth of evill in it that being sensible of and humbled under and striving against your continuall disobedience every thought may be brought into subjection and obedience to Christ. OF INEFFECTVALL HEARING JOHN 5. 37. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his shape FRom the 31. Vers. to the end of this Chapter Our Saviour proves that he was the Messiah to come from four testimonies 1. From the testimony of Iohn the first yet the least yet very strong and full vers 32 33. 2. From the testimony of his works greater than that of Iohn vers 36. 3. From the testimony of the Father by his voice from heaven vers 37. 4. From the voice of the Scriptures the highest of all and surer than a voice from heaven 2 Pet. 1. 19. vers 39 46. Now these words are annexed to the third testimony which I told you is the voyce of God from heaven set down Mat. 3. 17. For this Testimony of the Father â—s not the inward testimony of the Spirit only Because Christ speaks of publick and evident testimonies in this place noâ— is it meant of the testimony of the Father in the Scripture for that is a distinct testimony and â—â—ough the Father doth testifie of Christ in the Scriptures yet 't is not as his testimony no more than the testimony of Iohn and of his works whereby the Father did testifie also Nor is it probable that our Saviour would at this time omit that famous testimony of the Father at his Baptism which if it be not here is no where in this Chapter Beside how is this testimony the Fathers more than the Spirits but then being called his Son he did evidently declare himself to be the Father that spake Lastly the Spirits testimony is spoken of as the testimony of Moses and the Prophets Vers. 46 47. For had ye believed Moses ye would have believed me for he wâ—ote of me vers 47. For if ye beleeve not his writings how shall ye believe my words Now our Saviour in these words answers an Objection which the Jewes ever conceited of their own knowledge might make We know the Father as well as you and yet we know no such testimony that he gives Christ answers You do not know him for the certain knowledge of a thing is either by seeing or hearing now you never saw him nor heard him you have therefore no acquaintance with him So that the words contain 1. Christs fearfull accusation of the Jews to be ignorant of God 2. The aggravation and extent of it at no time i. e. not only at Baptism but at no other time in any Ministery or in any Scripture c. Quest. 1. What is it not to see his shape nor hear his voice Answ. Some think they are metaphorical speeches to expresse their ignorance of God Now though this be the scope and the general truth yet I conceive the Lord speaking particularly and knowing what he spake intends something particularly and it is a rule never to flie to metaphors where there can be a plain sense given There is therefore two degrees of true knowledge of God in this life or 't is attained unto by a double means 1. By hearing of him for hence our faith comes by the Word 2. By hearing thus from him the mind also comes to have a true Idea of God as he reveals himself in the Word and Means by the Spirit Iob 42. 5. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eye seeth thee and this is the shape here spoken of not bodily and carnall Now Christ doth professe that they did want both Carnal and unregenerate hearts neither hear Gods voyce nor have a right Idea of God in their minds but become vain in their minds though they have means of knowing and their foolish hearts are darkned the wiser they be the more foolish they grow 2. At no time i. e. neither at baptism nor else in any mans Ministery nor in any of the Scriptures which you read and where the Lord speaks 3. But did they not hear the voice of God at Christs baptism and at the Mount when Christ preach't when the Scriptures were opened every Lords day and at other times amongst them Answ. No they never heard it It 's a strange thing that such men that read heard preach'd remembred the Scriptures and could tell you mysteries in titles never heard the voice of God and yet it is most true Observat. That many men may a long time together know and hear the Word of God written and spoken yet never hear the Lord speaking that Word no not so much as one word tittle or syllable no not so much at once at any time This was the estate of
under the ground and the tombitâ—ne is laid upon them If Christ spake he would make the dead to hear and the blind to see Vse 2. Hence see why the Saints find such changes and alterations in themselves when they come to hear sometimes their hearts are quickned fed and cherished healed and comforted relieved and visited sometime again dead and senselesse heavy and hardned Mark 8. 17 18 21. How is it ye do not understand Nay which is more that the same truth which they hear at one time should affect them and at another time doth not the same thing which they have heard a hundred times and never stirr'd them at last should The reason is they heard the Word of God spoken at one time but not God speaking and they heard the Lord speaking that same Word at another time the Lord is in his Word at one time the Word goes alone at another time as in Eliah the Lord was not in the whirlwind but he spake in the still voice and hence there he was to Elijah Luke 24. 25. with 32. not that you are to lay blame on the Lord for he blows where he listeth but to make us see 't is not in outward means nor 't is not in our own spirits to quicken our selves and to make us ashamed of our own darknesse that when he speaks yet we cannot hear there is so much power of spiritual death and Satan yet within us only out of his pitty he speaks sometimes not that you should despise the outward word No no the Lord is there shining in Perfection of glory and that which doth thee no good the Lord makes powerfull to some others But prize the Spirit of God in that Word which alone can speak to thee Vse 3. Of dread and terrour to all unregenerate men Hence see the heavy wrath of God against them they have indeed the Scriptures and the precious Word of God dispensed to them but the Lord never speakes one word unto them If any one from whom we expect and look for love passe by us and never speak What not speak a word and we call to him and he will not speak we conclude he is angry and displeased with us You look for love do you not you that hear every Sabbath and come to Lectures and you must out t is well yes you will say His love is better than life frowns more bitter than death Love wo to me if the Lord do not love me better never been born I hope he loves me Happy I if the mountains might fall on me to crush me in pieces if he loves me not c. but consider if he loves he will then speak peace unspeakable to thy conscience when humbled life to thy heart joy in the Holy Ghost Isa. 57. 19. Iohn 6. 63. 1 Thes. 1. 6. but look upon thy soul and see this day in the sight of God whether ever the Lordspake one word to thee outwardly indeed he hath but not inwardly inwardly also but not effectually to turn them from darknesse to light and the power of Satan to God c. The voyce of God is full of Majesty it shakes the heart 't is full of life it quickens the dead and light and peace and gives wisdom to the simple Ps. 119. Opening of thy word gives light to the eyes How many women ever learning and never knowing and many men learning and knowing what is said but never hear God speak Then know the wrath of the Lord see and go home mourning under it There is a fourfold wrath in this 1. 'T is the Lords sore wrath and displeasure Zach. 1. 2. with vers 4. If one should expect love from another to do much for him and he did not it may be he would not take it as a signe of displeasure but if he will not do a small thing not speak a word to him oh this is bitter what will not the Lord speak a word not one word especially when thy life lies on it thy soul lies on it eternity lies on it especially the Lord that is so mercifull and and pittifull this is a sign of sore anger 2. 'T is a token of Gods old displeasure eternall displeasure I know you cannot hear hence though God speaks you hear him not but why doth not the Lord remove that deafnesse you old hearers that have ears fat with hearing but heavy he never intended love else he would speak there would be some time of love Rom. 11. 7 8. The Elect have had it others are blinded as 't is written God hath given them the spirit of slumber eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear to this day 3. 'T is the Lords present displeasure When a man looks for love and speech and he doth not speak at those times he is not wont to speak one may take it as no sign of anger but when the Lord shall speak usually and then he speaks not this is a sad sign 1 Sam. 28. 6 15. He cries out of this He answors me not by Urim nor dreams nor thee by the Gospel nor Law neither where he useth to answer If this anger were to come it were some comfort but when 't is now upon thee even that very Sermon and Word whereby he speaks to others but not a word to thee 4. 'T is his insensible anger for a fat heart and an heavy ear ever go together for you will say I feel no hurt in this I have heard and been never the better but yet that hath made me never the worse Oh poor creature 't is because you feel it not but when the time of misery shall come you will say This is wo and load enough for the Lord to give no answer Psal. 71. 9. We see not our Prophets nor any to tell us how long so you that despise means you shall then lament and say none can tell how long Oh therefore lament this thy condition now that the Lord may hear some of your cries c. Vse 4. Hence examine whether ever you heard the Lords voice or no not only outwardly for that you know you have often done but inwardly and not only so for so ye may do and yet your eares heavy but effectually that if it be not so you may be humble and say Lord how have I spent my time in vain and if it be so you may be thankfull and say Lord what am I that the infinite God should speak to me There is great need of trial of this for a man may read hear and understand externally what ever another may and yet the whole Scripture a sealed Book There are therefore these three degrees by which you shall discern the effectuall voice of God you must take them joyntly 1. The voice of God singles a man out and though it be generally written or spoken speaks particularly to the very heart of a man with a marvellous kind of Majesty and glory of
and he doth give thee some victory Beloved a Christian may decay in the power of the grace of Christ which he hath received from the Word and voice of God in the Word and he may decay and grow to a very low estate yet he shall find this the Word of the Lord hath come with power to him it will recover his soul again and so the efficacy of the Word is eternall Psalm 72. it s said of Christ that his People shall fear him so long as Sun and Moon shall endure that is continually all their life-time It may be said there be many that find decay of their service and obedience and lose their fear of the Lord and their dread and their humble walking before him He shall come as the rain on the mowen grasse many times a Christian hath his flourishing time as the grasse but when the grasse is mowen it is as a dry chip so the soul it may grow dry as dry as a chip Now where is your sap and savour but I tell you if you belong to the Lord Jesus the rain it will fall again the Word of God set on by the Spirit of Christ it shall fall upon you as the rain on the mowen grasse and you know that it recovers little by little and puts on a green coat again Here is the eternal love of the Lord Jesus to his People and thus the eternal efficacy of the word does continue 3. Vse is of exhortation Oh Brethren and beloved in the Lord Jesus may a Christian hear the Word of God spoken and yet never hear God speak may he hear it externally and not internally then rest not in externall hearing and with some little movings and affections and stirrings of the Word of Gods grace in hearing Let not the Word be to you as the sound of many waters and a noise no efficacy of the Word that do remain on your soules Brethren and beloved in Christ I lay my finger on the sore in these times Oh the contempt of the Gospel of Christ though I believe it hath its efficacy in the heart of the Elect that is the thing that I presse never be content with external hearing though thou mayest have some affection and know new things unlesse thou find the Lord speaking with an eternall efficacy to thy soul. I conceive two things are to be done that the word may come with an everlasting efficacy although something is to be done by Ministers that is to preach truth and Gospel-truth fetch 't from heaven with many prayers soaked truth with many tears Ye shall know the truth that truth shal make you free Convicting truth We preach saith the Apostle in the demonstration of the Spirit The Spirit of God when he commeth he convinceth the world of sin Let Ministes do so Preach convincing truth and Gospel-truth fetch'd from heaven and bathed in tears Oh brethren let the fire burn clear let there not be more smoak than fire it will never come with power then convincing Gospel-truth set on by the demonstration of the Spirit of the Lord and this will set a Christian at liberty there is never such a Sermon that the faithful ones of God preach to you if it come not with a power to loosen you and call you home it comes with a power to blind you it is an ax at the root of the Trees but I leave this What means ought the people to use that the Word of God may come with efficacy Them that are in their unregenerate estate the Lord only knows how to work on their hearts they must come to the outward means I speak to the Saints of God I leave others to the infinite mercy of the Lord It is not in him that willeth or runneth but in the Lord that sheweth mercy In the use of means 1. Means Do not only see thy infirmities and weaknesses but pray to God to give thee a heart bleeding under the sense of thy many infirmities Many times men slight them and are not sensible of them I do not say wickednesses and wilfulnesses but thy infirmities and weaknesses get a heart mourning under them A Christian is made up of infirmities and weaknesses a man would not think there is that in another which he knows by himself Oh brethren labour for a broken heart in the sense of your many infirmities and weaknesses darknesse and enmity vanity and unsavourinesse the Lord will have his time to speak to such a soul. Break up the fallow ground of your hearts lest my wrath break out with fire the Lord hath promised to dwell with the poor and contrite Look as it was with our Saviour Christ they brought the sick and the lame ones to him and vertue went out from Christ to heal them all Bring thy sick and blind heart to Christ and vertue shall go forth from Christ to heal it 2. Draw near to God in the Word by looking on it as God speaking to thee We are far from God and therefore we cannot hear him draw near to him when you come to the external Word when you come to hear the Word hear it as the voyce of God You heard the Word as the Word of God which you felt in you I do not speak that the soul should take every thing that Ministers speak as the Word of God but that which is the Word of God take it as God speaking I am not able to expresse the infinite unknown sweetnesse and mercy and presence of God that you shall find thus comming I know it is a common truth but I am not ashamed to tell you I have not for many a year understood this truth and I see but little of it yet ye have heard of it but ye do not understand what it is to hear God speaking When God hath an intent to harden a mans heart and to damn him either he shall have a prejudice against the man or else if he hath not a prejudice against the man there is a secret loathing of the truth in regard of the commands of it and that is all and the Lord he hardens and blinds and prepares for eternall ruin all the men in the world by this means that live under the means When the Lord spake to Samuel Samuel heard a voyce but he heard it not as spoken by God but when he took Elies counsel and saw it was the Lord that spoke now he listens to the voice of the Lord and now the Lord opens all his mind to him 3. Do not trust to the external word It is a heaven on earth to hear the word exalted a glorious thing to hear the word of God as Gods word but trust to the free grace of God in it and the Spirit of God in Christ to set on that Word When they brought the lame and blind and halt to Christ they looked for the Word and the Power of it Speak the Word Lord and thy servants shall be whole so
bring you blind lame and halt souls to Christ and trust to the free grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Work of the Lord it shall prosper in his hand so the Word of the Lord it shall prosper in his hand also Lastly so seek the Lord and so hear the Word so see the truth and so hear the truth as that you lay up your happinesse in this world in closing with the truth and with the word Brethren what is a mans happiness in heaven but to close with God and Christ I cannot come to God now the most that I can have of God now is in his word if it be happiness in heaven to close with God in Christ truly then it is a mans happinesse to close with God in his word on earth and if it be your happiness lay up your happiness in it My son saith Solomon if thou wilt hear my words let them not depart from thine eies keep them in thy middest of thy heart place thy happiness in them So shall they be life to thy soul. Neverthelesse Brethren let a mans soul be set upon anything in the world when he comes to hear besides the word if he lay not up his happinesse in closing with the word truly the word it will be like a song to him The Prophet Ezekiel tells them Their hearts were gone after their covetousness When a man comes to hear a Sermon there is a Sermon and the Market there is a Sermon and a friend to speak withall and so many young people will go abroad to hear Sermons What is the end of it It is that yee may get wives and husbands many of you but it is not your blessednesse to close with the Lord in his word I have known some men that have had a distaste against the truth of the Lord and I have known them for many a day they have not bee able to understand the truth of the Lord. When it shall be thus with a man that a mans heart is set on something else besides the word of the Lord that it is not my happinesse to close with the truth of the Lord such a man shall never understand the truth of the Lord. Though the word be sweet to you sometimes if your blessednesse do not lye in this to enjoy God Oh this Gospel of God and these Commands of God that your blessednesse do not lye in cleaving to the Lord in his word I say it is a certain truth you shall be blinded and harned by the word For here is a Rule Whatsoever a mans heart is set on as his chiefest good the presence of that good it comes with power So here the precious Gospell of Christ when the presence of it commands the heart nothing is good enough for it and it closeth with it and with Christ in it I beseech you therefore Beloved in Christ set upon the use of these meanes think within your selves What if the Lord had left me without the word I will tell you what ye would have been Look upon these poor Indians herds of Beasts look upon others on their Ale-benches enemies to the Lord such a one thou hadst been This blessed word and voyce of God every tittle of it cost the blood of Christ written all the lines of it in the blood of Christ. Oh make much of it and it will make much of you it will comfort you and strengthen you and revive you if the word come not with power ye shall be under the power of something else if not under the power of the word then under the power of some lust What is the reason that these poor creatures that are come to the tryall for life and death that have fallen into such sinnes as were never heard of What is the reason that they are under the power of their lusts I will tell you what Solomon saith My son if wisdome enter into thy heart and discretion be pleasant to thy soul it shall keep thee from the strange woman and sinful companion If it be pleasant here is the reason the word of Gods grace it never came with power or if it came with power powerless the word of Gods grace hath been to them and because it hath not come with power the Lord hee hath given them over to the power of their lusts and sinfull distempers Oh Brethren truly I cannot see how any man can maintain any evidence of Gods electing love that shall hear and hear and good dayes mend him not nor bad dayes pair him that can commend a Sermon and speak of it but that efficacy is not known to him neither doth he mourn for the want of it but the eternall efficacy thereof is a stranger to it 1 Thes. 1. 5. Knowing saith the Apostle your Election of God How did he know it For saith he Our Gospel came not to you in word but in power ye will rejoyce the hearts of your Ministers when the word comes with power Let me say this and so I conclude I remember the Lords threatning I will take away the staffe of bread and ye shall eat and shall not be satisfied When the Lord shall let men have the word when the Lord shall not take away the word but the staffe of the word Suppose you poor Parents Fathers and Mothers your Families should have good Corn but when you come to eat it no strength at all but ye dye and wear away and others that are about you they have planted the same Corn and eat and are satisfied What will ye do in this case You would set apart a day of fasting and prayer and say Good Lord what a curse is upon me my poor children are dying before me others have the staffe of Corn but my Family have no strength at all Ye would mourn if it were thus with your poor Cattell Oh for poor Creatures to have the word but the efficacy of it to be taken away no blessing no power at all Oh poor Creatures go and say Oh the curse of God that lies on me the wrath of God that lyes on my servants it is a heavy plague But Oh the sweetnesse and excellency of it when a Christian shall find everlasting vertue and efficacy conveyed to him by the word All you that are before the Lord this day ye shall see an end of all perfection but eternall things are not they worth something You shall see an end of all delights and contentments but this shall comfort you when you are a dying that the word which you attended upon the Lord in such peace and such consolations I have found by it and the efficacy of that word then remaines with you nay goes to heaven with you I commend you therefore to the word of his grace which is able to build you up unto an eternall inheritance amongst them that are sanctified Acts 20. 32. FINIS Doctr. 1. Quest. 1. Answ. Quest. 2. Answ. 1. Answ. 2. Reas. 2 Vse 1. Vse 2. Vse 3. Quest. Vse 4. Objection Answ. 1. Answ. 2 Answ. 3. Vse 5. Quest. Answ. 1. Psal. 133. ult Quest. Answ. Acts 5. 12. Quest. Answ. 1. Answ. 1. Answ. 2. Quest. Answ. Quest. 2 Answ. Object Answ. Quest. 3 Answ. Tit. 2. 9 10. 1 Pet. 3. 18 Eph. 6. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 18. Tit. 2. 9 10. Eph. 6. 5 Answ. 1. Answ. 1. Vse 6. Ier. 2. 20. Object Answ. Vse 7. Mot. 1. Mot. 2. Mot. 3. Mot. 4. Quest. Answ. Means 1. 〈◊〉 2. Quest. 1. Answ. Answ. Observ. Quest. 1. Answ. Reason 1. Reason 2. Rev. 12. 9. Rom. 1. 22. Reas. 3. Vse 1. Vse 2. Vse 3. Vse 4. Object Answ. 1. Vse 3. 1 Thes. 2. 3. Prov. 3. Vers. 22.
finished usually on Saturday by two of the clock He hath someâ—ime exprest himself thus in publick God will curse that mans labours that lumbers up and down in the world all the week and then upon Saturday in the afternoon goes to his Study when as God knows that time were little enough to pray and weep in and to get his heart in frame c. He affected plainnesse together with power in preaching not seeking abstrusities nor liking to hover and soar aloft in dark expressions and so shoot his Arrows as many Preachers do over the heads of his hearers It is a wretched stumbling block to some that his Sermons are somewhat strict and as they term it legall some souls can relish none but meal-mouth'd Preachers who come with soft and smooth and toothlesse words byssina verba byssinis viris But these times need humbling Ministeries and blessed be God that there are any for where there are no Law-Sermons there will be few Gospel-lives and were there more Law-preaching in England by the men of gifts there would be more Gospel-walking both by themselves and the People To preach the Law not in a forc'd affected manner but wisely and powerfully together with the Gospel as Christ himself was wont to do Mat. 5. and elsewhere is the way to carry on all three together sense of misery the application of the remedy and the returns of thankefulnesse and duty Nor is any doctrine more comforting than this humbling way of God if rightly managed It is certain the foundations of after-â—orrows and ruines to the Church have ever been laid in the days of her prosperity and peace and rest when she injoyes all her pleasant things This the watchmen of Israel should foresee and therefore what shoulâ— they do but seek to humble and awaken and search and melt mens hearts and warn every one night and day with tears that in the day of their peace they may not sin away the things of their Peace There are therefore three requests which we would desire to beg of God with bended knees for England to prepetuate the present prosperity and peace thereof and let us commend them to the mourning and praying ones amongst us that they would be the Lords remembrancers in these Petitions 1. A right understanding and sober use of liberty For when People come first out of bondage they are apt to be not only somewhat fond of their liberties but to wax giddy and wanton with liberty and instead of shaking off the blâ—ody yokes of men to cast off at least in part the Government and blessed yoke of Christ also Hence it â—oâ—es about that a day of rest from persecution which should be a day of liberty to the Saints to serve God may become a day of great seduction and of liberty to seducing Spirits to deceive and damn and mislead them from the truths and wayes of God But the machinâ—tions of men though in conjunction with the powers and gates of hell shall certainly fall at last before Truth and Prayer And of this is the first Treatise which is seasonably publish'd To be fast bound to the rule with all the bonds and cords of God and Man is the Perfection of liberty Hence there is not a surer Corner-stone of ruine to a Christian Commonwealth that God will break them with unparallell'd destructions by some overflowing scourge when the day of vengeance is in his heart than to think that Religion is none of their Liberties and yet how many sons of Belial are there void of counsell neither is there any understanding in them who imagine vain things and say Let us break his bands asunder and cast away his cordâ— from us How do men run into extremes either stretching and paring every one to the Gyants bed and thereby denying liberty to the Saints to serve him according to the measure of their stature in Christ or else on the other hand opening the door so wide as to plead for liberty to all the disguised enemies and sins against Christ thereby instead of uniting the Saints in one indeavouring though a dreadfull mistake to unite Christ and Belial It is a sad thing when a man is come to this passe that he is not able to resolve his conscience whether Baal be God or the Lord be God and therefore would not have the worshippers of Baal punisht for fear lest Baal should be God Is liberty nothing but indifferency and irresolution of spirit in the things of God wo to the valley of vision even to a sinfull Nation laden with iniquity and led away from the truth as it is in Jesus and to the Host of the high ones that sit on high in the day of his visitation if this be the spirit of these times for in the day when he visits God will visit for these things 2. That his Word especially the Word of his Gospel may be precious and powerfull may run and be glorified in England Alas as there is much preaching but few serious few heart-breaking Sermons so there is much hearing but little effectual hearing Men stand like the Oakes of Bashan before the words of the God of Israel no terrour of the Lord no news of everlasting destruction no evidence of the fierce anger of God upon them which burns down to the bottom of hell can take hold upon their spirits or awaken their consciences to make inquiries after God in this their day yea if the bars of the pit of hel were broken and if the devils of hell should come flying up amongst us in our solemn Assemblies from the fiery corners of the Pit helow with everlasting burnings about their eares and with chains of darkness ratling at their heels they might fright men out of their wits perhaps or from the acts of sin it may be for a time but it would not work upon their hearts their desperate dead besotted hearts The fooles in Israel will have their swinge in their lusts and go to hell in a full cariere let God do his best Oh the hardnesse of mens hearts And the main reason of it is because they hear but a sound of words but they do not hear the Lord in that Word they hear words that are spoken by God but they hear not they see not God himself therein If ever thou wouldest profit by reading or hearing take every word as a speciall message to thee from God and of this fruitless hearing and the rules of hearing aright is the other Treatise 3. Conscience of his Sabbaths Of which there is an elaborate discourse of this Author formerly publish'd by himself Therefore we shall adde no more The blessing of heaven go with these to make us a willing People in the day of his power to submit to his Word and to come under the wing of the Government of Iesus Christ as esteeming these spirituall mercies our best mercies our choycest and dearest liberties If ever the Lord Iesus which mercy forbid should take his
dolefull and finall farewell of the English Nation as when he laid the tomb-stone upon Jerusalem such as these will be his mournings over us Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and burnest them that are sent unto thee as they did in the time of Popery how often would I have gathered thy children together by my Word and Spirit therein even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under the wings of my speciall Government and Protection but ye would not behold your house is left unto you desolate But the Lord who doth not only make the day dark with night but also turneth the shadow of death into the morning even the Lord avert these evils and the Lord make the English Nation his Hephfibah and the land Beulah which is the prayer of his Mourners in Sion and of Thy Servants in Jesus and for Jesus sake William Greenhill Samuel Mather TO THE Christian READER THe precious memory of the Author of these ensuing SERMONS needs no reviving to any gracious heart that had any knowledge of him Yea the world knows in part though but in a little part by some pieces of his formerly Printed while he was yâ—t 〈…〉 who this Author was what it owes to God for him and how justly it might sigh over his grave with that of the Apostle Of whom the World was not worthy His praise throughout all the Churches is farre above any addition by so mean a pen as writes these lines But it is not fit that the first page of any thing published after his death for I doubt not but his death is long ago publickly took notice of should go without some witnesse of a mournfull remembrance thereof which indeed no tears can sufficiently lament We who sometimes sate under his shadow and were fed from God by him the poor flock of this Shepherd among whom he lived testifying Repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Iesus Christ and whom he sometimes exhorted comforted and charged euery one of us as a Father doth his Children we cannot but carry sorrow in the bottome of our hearts to this day that wee must here see his face no more Neither do we believe that his losse remains with us alone or only within the limits of this remote wildernesse the benefit and consequently the want of such a burning and shining Light is of more generall concernment that we easily apprehend especially in this Age wherein not only many â—it in utter darknesse but which is more the new Light thereof is darknesse and the Love of many waxing cold But we must all be silent before Him whose judgements are unsearchable Neither may we presume to say to him What doest thou It is instantly and not without cause desired by many that such reliques of his Labours as do survive him may be at least some of them imparted to the publick To effect any thing considerable that way is not an easie or sudden work But this small piece being at present attained it seemed not amisse to let it pass the Press These were some of his Lecture-Sermons Preached most of them in the year 1641. They are now transcribed by a godly Brother partly from the Authors own notes partly from what he took from his mouth The subject in both the Texts is of great use and needfull for these times wherin there is more Liberty than good use of it and much more common and outward than saving and effectuall knowledge of the word of God These posthumous editions are far short of what the Author was wont to do and of what the Sermons were in preaching But though the sense be not every where so full nor every thing so thorowly spoken to nor the stile so good by far as the Authors manner was yet the intelligent Reader will find a precious treasure of truth in it not fit to be buried or neglected The Prophets do not live for ever but their words do The Lord make them such ever-living words as may take hold of all our hearts not for judgement but for mercy for one of these wayeâ— they shall live yea rise up at the last day Imprimatur March 29. 1652. EDM. CALAMY THE TABLE B. BOndage What it is to which God delivers them that cast off his government Page 7 Iuvasion by forein enemies 7 By setting authority against them 7 Oppressing them by one another 8 Taking away good Governours 8 Giving them up to Satan 9 And to their own lusts 9 What are the sins for which God brings into Bondage 13 Bondage of the good and the wicked how it differs 15 C. CHurch of God why deprived of her liberty 11 Church-members that are private men in their duties are 48. what c. The causes of their neglect of their duty 52 c. Why men receive not more good from them than they do 53 Covenant of God if broken God rejects such as break it 3 To break Covenant with Christ is to cast off his government as King 31 People of God may be said to break Covenant and how 33 G. GOvernment see Power To cast of Gods Government provokes God to bring into bondage 3 Reasons of it 9 10 c. What Gods government is 4 The sorts of it 4 Internall 4 And Externall 5 Want of government a judgement 8 When men may be said to cast off Christs government 18. see 24. and see Ordinances When men submit to Christ. 20 21. to 29 In Christs government he useth a threefold power 30 Motives to come under Christs Government 81 L. LAwes the causes of the breach of Lawes 67 What prudence is to be used in making Laws 70 And how for human laws bind 70 c Gods Law onely can immediately bind the Conscience 70 Good Lawes have relation to the word and law of God 71 this proved ib. Of Penall Laws 74 Liberty see Government the sweetest Liberty is to be under Christ. 11 Liberty how it s abused 79 Love to Christ a sign of subjection to him 84 Love to Gods people another sign 84 Who do not love Gods people 85 M. MAgistrates We are to be subject to them and why 64 When Christs power is cast off in this respect not being subject to them 64 And objections about this answered 66 Ministeriall power what it is 54 And if this be not submitted Christ is cast off 69 And when men despised it 62 O. ORdinances When men adde their own inventions to Gods Ordinances they cast off Christs Government 34 We must take heed off this and why 35 When men destroy Ordinances and deny them they cast off Christs government 35 To cast of ordinances is a temptation of Satan 36 When Christ is thrust out of ordinances his government is cast off 39 To pollute Ordinances what it is 39 1. To contemn them 39. 40 2. To use them with unbroken hearts 40 3. To use them without faith 41 4. By not looking to Christ in them 41 P. POwer see Government Power of Christ in
it Ye say that the Table of the Lord is contemptible the meaning is you do despise my Table and Ordinances and so now do despise me too and so ye do vilifie and contemne the Ordinances of the Lord Therefore saith the Lord in the conclusion of that Chapter vers 11. From the rising of the Sun my name it shall be known As if he should say I am uot bound to you I can have a people among whom my name shall be great For saith the Lord I am a great King If one should have asked men in those dayes what good is in your sacrifices what great glory can ye see in them the Saints can see a great deal of glory in mean outsides Now when this is wanting the name of the Lord is polluted and so the Lord driven from his Ordinances Heb. 12. 15. Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil root of bitternesse springing up and many thereby be defiled When men do live in secret lusts or open proâ—nenesâ—e a man that hath a profane heart such a heart as doth contemne the portion of mercy the Lord doth offer to him who like Esau did sell his birth-right for a mâ—sse of pottage Secondly Unbrokennesse of heart in the enjoyment of Ordinances when men live not in a daily sense of the extreme need they stand in of mercy Isa. 66. 1. 2. Heaven is my throne and the Earth is my foot-stool Now observe what the Lord doth there speak To him will I look that is poor in spirit contrite such a poor soul saith the Lord will I look to and to these are opposed such as have not such hearts but do look only to the Ordinances of the Lord Now saith the Lord to such He that offereth a lamb is as if he cut off a dogs neck and he that offereth incense as he that blesseth an Idol These were a people that did plead for the Temple of the Lord and had the Ordinances of the Lord according to his command but here was their wound they were not broken under the Ordinances of the Lord This you shall find the Saints have many sins and wants under the Ordinances of the Lord but little does the world know their gronings before the Lord and the Lord hath mercy for such soules as are sensible of their need they stand in of the Ordinances of the Lord. But now when men have found the Lord in an Ordinance subduing some particular sin there are other sins remaining in their hearts and they stand unremoveable in their hearts and hence are the strongest and dearest of all the rest Now I say when men having these sins and knowing these sins in their hearts and spirits when as because I cannot subdue these sins and they have attended on the Lord in the use of meanes and the Lord helps them not and because they hope to be saved at last for all these Hence they come to a truce with their sin and never go mourning to the Lord nor say the Lord hath begun to subdue some of these lusts Now Lord go on but the soul is at truce with his sâ—nnes Beloved if there be any pollution of the Ordinances of the Lord here it is that men come with unbroken hearts to the Ordinances of the Lord that never feel your need of them wounds and sores that are in your hearts that men do stand with those very sins that they think they cannot subdue and because they cannot ease themselves of them therefore they give way to them When men keep these sins with unsensible hearts of them ye do resist the holy Ghost ye feel not your need of the Lord therefore ye keep your sins and your woes you shall have for them Thirdly Where there is a spirit of unbelief that there is not a seeking to Christ Jesus to wash away the pollutions of his heart and life in his attending upon the Lord in his Ordinances Tit. 1. 15. To the unbelieving nothing is pure but even their mind and conscience is defiled Exod. 30. 29. It is said Every thing that touched the Altar was clean and hence without this all is unclean When a poor soul shall come to the Lords Ordinances and prepare himself before he come and in all it hath many weaknesses yet it doth leave it self with Jesus Christ every thing that doth touch this Altar is sanctified and is not polluted But now when men shall enjoy Ordinances and make no great matter of sins in Ordinances especially if secret such is the venemous nature of sin it doth defile the earth a man doth tread on Now when men shall have these sins and know them and yet never leave themselves with Christ and lay themselves on this blessed Altar by faith they do pollute the Ordinances of the Lord Fourthly When the soul doth not so openly manifestly drive away the Lord but when men shall â—ome to the Ordinances and never come to the Lord Jesus in them now the Lord is cast off A great Prince that comes to a mans house though he be not driven out of doors yet if not attended on he accounts himself cast off The Lord Jesus Christ is in his Ordinances Ezek. 48. 35. The Lord is there the Saints they come to God in them and are carried to him by them Therefore 't is said Acts 10. 33 34. Now therefore we are all present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God and Psal. 84. 7. Every one of them in Sion appeareth before God Now the Saints and people of God when they do thus come to the Lord they find many difficulties to break through a vally of Baca. Sometimes their heart is turned from the Lord and sometimes God is turned from them so that now the Saints when they do come to the Lord in his Ordinances They go through the vallie of Baca that they may see God in Sion But now when men do never break through difficulties but give way to a sluggish heart when it is thus with a people it is certain the Lord is now cast off and ye do as good now as live without Christ in the world Amos 5. 21. faith the Lord I hate your new Moons and Sabbaths For these forty years ye never sacrificed to me vers 25. Did they not sacrifice those forty years to the Lord in the wildernesse It was the very thing they came out of Egypt for that they might sacrifice to the Lord Yet saith the Lord ye did not sacrifice to me truly here was the thing they did sacrifice but to enjoy communion with a God that they did not the Lord he saw none of that and this is the frame of many a man ye never heard a Sermon ye never broke through your difficulties to come to a God in Ordinances therefore in truth though you had them yet it is as if you never had them because ye never did enjoy the Lord in them Therefore this is that I would
exhort one another whiles it is called to day lest any of you be hardned through the deceitfulnesse of sin Brotherly exhortation is a remedy against Apostasie of heart for though a man cannot convince another yet he may exhort him and 't is to be done in season whiles it 's called to day with due respect and taking notice of what good there is with much wisdome and a spirit of humility or else thou spoilest all thou medlest withall putting your selves in their estate and with hearty unfeigned prayer that the Lord would accompany the same with his blessing Heb. 10. 24. Consider one another to provoke unto love and good works Look over the Congregation and consider such a Brothers or Sisters estate one is poor and low another falling another very much altered Now in some cases a private Brother may do more than a Minister the Lord help us and stir us up to this work Now when this is neglected many soules are hardned 4. Instructing and teaching one another as occasion serves Rom. 15. 14. And I my self also am perswaded of you my brethren that you also are full of goodnesse filled with all knowledge able to admonish one another They were able for to instruct and teach one another Isa. 54. 13. They shall be all taught of God What God teacheth thee that do thou teach others what thou gainest by hearing or by praying or meditation by putting questions to others sometimes to teach and sometimes to be taught and this do if possible in all occasionall meetings and worldly discourses mix with it some sweet truth that God hath taught thee But now on the other side when Christians shall meet and a 〈◊〉 is the worse for their fruitlesse discourse no savoâ—â— of any thing of God Let them meet never so long or oâ—â—en walking or sitting this is sad 5. In Comforting those that be sad Thes. 5. 14. and 4. ult Comfort the feeble-minded and support the weak wherefore comfort one another with these woâ—â—s There are many sad hearts in Gods Church and sad things are as wounds to a mans limbs that make him halt or fall Oh brethren be much in this work 2 Cor. 1. 4. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God That a soul may say such a one came to me and spake some few words to me but they were as seasonable as though the Lord had sent an Angel from heaven to speak to me and of more worth than if he had given me â—any pounds But now when this also is neglected that one Christian hath not a word of encouragement to another but dry and savourless discourse this the Lord takes very ill at the hands of his people that have received comfort from himself in the day of their sorrow and distresse 6. Restoring a Brother fallen with a spirit of meekness Gal. 6. 1 2. Brethren of any be overtaken with a fault ye which are sprituall restore such a one with a spirit of meeknesse Oh how will a poor soul blesse the for such a Brothers prayers admonitions and exhortations when the Lord shall have brought his heart back again to himself although before he did most of all disesteem and vilâ—fie him Now when these are not used or not with a spirit of meeknesse improved that a man never blesseth God for these the Lord Jesus is pulled down from his throne when not done according to the ability time and place that the Lord affords And this I wish the Churches mourn not for another day For my own part I do adjudge my self before God and men as most guilty of this that I enjoy many sweet Ordinances and we improve them not and hence the glory of the Lord fils not his Tabernacle abides not on his Churches either to draw others to them or to make others abundantly blesse God for them Now here I will shew you the causes of this 1. Not gaining much in private duties in Prayer Meditation Reading and daily Examination of a mans own heart And hence they cannot do good because they receive none or very little themselves they have not a treasure within hence they can spend little have no heart or ability to exhort instruct comfort He that keeps not his shop his shop will never keep him As Psal 41. 6. His heart gathereth iniquity to it self when he goeth abroad he telleth it 2. A low spirit which makes a man to have low thoughts and endeavours I mean not an humble but a narrow spirit not inlarged to hold much or to do much hence it doth little As take a plain Countrey-man he neither seeks or regards the affaires of the State in publick because his spirit and condition is low but Princes do mind and attend to the affaires of the Kingdome to advance it because their condition is high and they know it Moses he suffered reproach with the people of God losse of all the honour and pleasure of Pharaâ—hs out feared not Pharaoh nor losse of life for their sakes For he saw that God which is invisible like Saul when once a Ringdome comes to be in his eye he leaves off to seek the Asses 3. Sloth There are Thornes Prov. 15. 19. and Lions Prov. 26. 13. in a sluggards way There be many difficulties businesses occasions and objections when as if once he were resolved to break thorough them then the work would go on Like a man when he is in his warm bed he is loth to rise but when he is up he would not be in his bed again if he might be hired again to put off his clothes I shall get no good saith one nor do none saith another and when these businesses are past and occasions over and at another time I will seek God and go about Gods work and thus a slothfull spirit hinders 4. Want of Faith 2 Cor. 4. 13. We believe and hence we speak Faith empties us most and hence fils us with Spirit and Life of Christ Jesus hence Steven full of faith and the holy Ghost A lively Christian when he comes in another Christians company it may be he knows not what to speak but he looks up to Christ and sayes Now Lord here is an opportunity in doing or receiving some good and therefore now Lord help 5. Want of fear of God and consolation of the spirit of God from the sense of Gods love Acts 9. 31. They walâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the fear of the Lord and consolations of thâ— Holy Ghost the Church was edified by the consolations of the Holy Ghost A man that 's wounded keeps within and stirs not but when he is in health and strength now hard work is his meat he cannot live except he work 1 Cor. 15. ult 6. Not considering the shortnesse of our time of sowing Heb. 10. 25. Whereas if men were on their death-bed they would wish Oh that I had walked more
shal grace reign unto eternall life Rom. 5. 21. He will bestow on you the sure mercies of David by an everlasting Covenant Isa. 55. 5. Quest. But wherein should I submit to the Lord Answ. None have power to rule conscience but Christ give him therefore this glory that wherein he bindes conscience conscience not out of fear but love may indeed submit I have instanced the particulars formerly yet more distinctly There be two great commands or charges of Christ that lye upon all mens consciences to whom the Gospell comes and therein lyes our service of him generally Which two I name because there we think we are free or do not know our liberty First The command of Christ is that every one to whom the Gospell comes and is preached do believe i. e. receive Christ Jesus in all his fulnesse in the Gospel Iohn 1. 12. For that is to believe in which command lies Gods offer 1 Iohn 5. 23. This is his commandment that ye believe John 6. 25 37 38. This is the work of God that ye believe Now here men think they are free 1. They say they are unworthy and hence they say Depart from me Lord I am a sinfull man as if Gods grace was built on mans worthinesse 2. Because unhumbled whereas Gods grace calls in men unhumbled Rev. 8. 17 18. For Gods call and offer is generall though none but the humble will hearken to it But there are none but it may be said to them If they can believe let them 3. Because Christ is not theirs are they bound to believe he is Whereas the first act of faith is not to believe Christ is mine then men were bound to believe a lie But to receive Christ as a woman her husband that he may be mine by saith and so a man may know and say he is mine The Gospell doth no where say to any man Christ is thine but if thou receive him he is thine and consequently the Spirit speaks so also 4. Because they cannot believe unlesse they should presume as if the Gospell bound the conscience of none to believe but them that were able to believe it and receive Christ in it yet 't is otherwise for it binds all to receive Christ Jesus to go up and possesse him to feed eat 〈◊〉 and live for ever And I will leave this one 〈◊〉 argument If men are liable to eternall conâ—â—â—mation at the great and last day and to bear the 〈◊〉 wrath of God and Christ also for disobeying the Gospell for refusing Christ and the offer of his grace therein Then those mens consciences are bound to obey the Gospell i. e. to believe and receive Christ now in this life But all that have the Gospell preached to them are liable to eternall condemnation for disobedience to it Iohn 3. 18 19. Psal. 2. 12. Kisse the Son lest he be angâ—y So. 2 Thes. 2. 8 9. He comes to render vengeance on them that obey not the Gospell Rom. â— 10. The Lord shall judge the secrets of all hearts by my Gospell That is where ever the Gospell comes for they that have no law having no law shall not by judged by it But men that have had the Gospell shall be judged by it and therefore are bound to obedience thereunto The serious consideration of which one truth is enough to draw all 〈…〉 from the power of unbelief especially they that say I cannot or ought not believe For the reason why meâ— do not come is 1. They think the Gospell concerns not them what doth the Lord say to me come so vile and sinfull yes that he doth if there was no such law there could be no transgression or condemnation 2. They think they shall presume No if conscience be bound to it 't is no prefumption to keep a Sabbath aright or to receive Christ as God offers him Oh this quiets conscience 3. The Lord layes his chain on the most tender place of conscience as it will answer it at the great day or will have any peace take heed you refuse not so great salvation 4. 'T is a chain not of bondage but of liberty and mercy and love Come and receive not a Kingdome but Christ Peace pardon and grace freely which may draw the heart as it will at the great and last day Come ye blessed take a Kingdome take a Christ prepared for you from before the foundation of the world Oh that this might sound in your eares This is the first and chiefest without this all your obedience is hypocrisie and abominable but this will please and then all poor obedience shall please Secondly Love unto the whole will of Christ especially to that part of it to love those that be the members of Christ. Some Christians they believe and feeling a heart so crosse to Christ and the will of God think they are from under the government of God and Christ so from under the grace of Christ and the argument is strong if true but why not under his government because they find daily a spirit so crosse to the will of Christ and hence under continuall fears of condemnation Oh but consider hast thou no love to the will of Christ and law of God for if any believe this is found in him if so then under Christs Government Rom. 8. 2. The Law of the spirit of life hath made me free What is that Law See Chap. 7. 23 24. Spirit of delight in the Law in the inner man and mourning for contrary captivity Know therefore though you cannot do all yet love the whole will of God and mourn where you do not and then say Now no condemnation Do not say 'T is impossible Oh here is mens wo and tryall of subjection to Christs will How do you love it love his Sabbaths and Ordinances because of his love to you How do's this constrain you In particular Love the people of God that is his speciall commandment 1 Iohn 3. 23. Iohn 13. 34. But now the want hereof or the contrary hereto As when a man shall become 1. A Distaster 2. A Contemner 3. A Censurer and whisperer 4. A Sooffer 5. If met on a Bridge an opposer of the Truths or servants of God This is that which kindles wrath and wherein the inward venome of hypocrisie appears There 's many duties neglected and not that spirit of prayer and holy conferences amongst Christians yet do you keep love to them that what you cannot do your selves yet you love others that can do it and account it your blessednesse to be like them and daily mourn under your neglects that in every thing the Gospel is not adorned by you on the other side although you have many duties Sabbaths and good acts yet if not love all is vile I fear 't is not mens joy sweetnesse delight to hear the least good word that falls from a good mans lips but rather the truths and things of God despised if so then look for