And the like Zeal should be indefinitely shewed forth for all the Commandments of God and for all the positive Duties of the Gospel without confining or limiting of it to one thing more than another But now if any thing is done against any of the Commandments of the Lord concerning things which should not be done see Levit. 4. 22 27. there is an indifferency and unconcernedness Some could wish but it will never be done with wishing that things were right and according to the Law of God Ezra 10. 3. there is the utmost pitch of their Zeal Tho' God hath given them knowledge and ability for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness they would have God excuse them now and pardon them hereafter if they neglect this gift in them If present interest or any doctrine or opinion which is espoused and peculiar it perhaps giving denomination to such a Sect or Party is any wise concerned here they will exert their Zeal Knowledge and Industry But they will not in like manner contend earnestly for the weightier matters of the Law as Judgment Mercy Faith and Obedience to all the Commandments of God every one of which is to be observed towards and by every Creature without exception or respect of Persons They say These things are sufficiently known already But are they practised and done accordingly Herein they speak after a like unworthy manner as those who said Will a Man plead for Baal let Baal plead for himself and it is almost the same what they speak in reference to the God of Israel For if they may not so properly be styled Scoffers of these last and worst days yet they are ignorant slothful walking after their own Lusts and saying What need one do any thing for God he will do his work for himself This they are willingly ignorant of that there is such a Duty That people should help the Lord against the mighty Judg. 5. 23. which signifies the Sons of Violence and Transgression who will do things of their own strength because it is in the power of their hand Mic. 2. 1. and they are not nor yet will they be kept within the bounds of God's Commandments But these People do err which they utter forth against the Lord Isai 32. 5. not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God nor yet the way of the present dispensation of his Kingdom For tho' the help which God doth upon Earth he doth it himself yet it is always done by the Means and Instruments of his Servants as they do act and exert forth those Principles of Goodness and Truth which he hath implanted in them As the Apostle argues from this Word Yet once more Heb. 12. 27. so every Sentence yea the least Word and Particle in Scripture is observable Where we read of some People that their Spirits were stirred there is a motion or making known or a Command of God to the Heart which yet the Creature doth not obey But where it is written God stirred up the Spirit of such an one as Gideon David Nehemiah Zerubabel there the Person doth actually obey and goes forth and is doing according to the Work God calls and employs him about Be instructed all ye slothful and faint-hearted Christians God hath put nothing in vain in any Man or Woman That Goodness which he first ingrassed and doth afterwards infuse should increase and grow up and it ought to appear forth through the Person in whom it is Agreeable hereunto is what our Lord saith and commands Ye are the Light of the World a City that is set on an hill cannot be hid neither do Men light a Candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick and it giveth light unto all that are in the house Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven Matth. 5. 14 15 16. That which is of God in any Person is either Goodness or Truth and as Goodness ought to appear forth so the Truth in him ought to be spoken out For tho' the common Saying of the World is agreeable to the Wisdom of the Flesh which is for sloth ease and present safety Thaâ— all Truth is not to be spoken yet we have learned another way to Heaven Lord who shall abide in thâ— Tabernacle Who shall rest in thy holy Hill He thaâ— walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness anâ— speaketh the truth in his heart Psal 15. 1 2. So thaâ— as sure as the Spirit of God doth here teach thâ— way to Heaven and lay down the foregoing Qualifications and Conditions which we musâ— have and do before we come there whateveâ— Truth is in our heart provided it be the Truth oâ— God as coming from Him and arising out of hiâ— Word we must and ought to speak it come whatever will hereof if we do not mean to be disappointed of Heaven at last And if this doing should bring trouble upon our Loins for this Objection the worldly-wise Man hath against thiâ— Duty and therefore he will refrain to utter it wâ— must do it for all that this being that kind of manifold Tribulation which we must go throughâ— before we enter into the Kingdom of God All People will not be saved who constantly go to Church or Meeting for of the four sorts of Hearers of the Word in Mat. 13. there is but one who beareth and bringeth forth fruit unto everlasting life But there is another sort which comes exactly to the present case But he that receiveth seed into stony places the same is he that heareth the word and anoâ—â— with joy receiveth it yet hath he not root within himself but dureth for a while for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word by and by he is â—ffended Mat. 13. 20 21. There is no Person but who would willingly be saved and doth perceive â—ome lightsomness and satisfaction to arise from â—he Ordinance of Preaching because he thinks â—hat this doth somewhat further him towards this happy and blessed End But when such a Duty is presented before him or such a thing seems to be commanded and required of him in the same Word which hath a shew or perhaps a real consequent of worldly loss trouble or inconvenience This is such a Stumbling-block in his way to Heaven that he cannot or rather will not get over So that here if he doth not the thing he cries out or secretly ejaculates with Naaman The Lord pardon thy Servant in this thing considering that he doth so much towards God besides Or when God requires and calls them forth to such a particular Duty they answer like those invited to the Wedding-Dinner I pray thee have me excused for if I should do so I should suffer damage in such worldly matters Nay if he should do the Duty but yet he is offended that tribulation and persecution is come upon him for it This indeed is another step further
SOME THOUGHTS CONCERNING The Life to Come WITH A Brief Account Of the State of Religion As it is now in the World LONDON Printed in the Year 1693. THE PREFACE TO THE READER OF making many Books there is no end said the wise Solomon in his time which hath been since fulfilled in such a degree and to such a measure that through the multitude of Books the intended Good and Benefit of them hath been lost and defeated For when the Great Truths of GOD have come forth and been published People have not distinguished discerned and known them from the ordinary Imaginations and Sayings of other meer Humane Writers But they have remained hidden and not understood Psal 106. 7. Acts 7. 25. by the Men of this World and by the outward Worshippers Yea they have not been Understood by many of the real Servants of GOD They having not been so diligent as in Duty they ought to seek Acts 15. 17. and enquire out after all the Appearances and Manifestations of his Truth in the World In every Nation and so in every Sect or Party however it is called or named he that serveth GOD and worketh Righteousness which is a general and comprehensive Speech and doth include Obedience to all the Words of His Law is accepted with Him Acts 10. 34. To each Person which doth this GOD affords the Knowledge of Himself and of the Things which pertain to his Kingdom So that out of the Writings of the People of the several Opinions and Persuasions among us if that Foundation in them here mentioned doth stand sure somewhat of GOD and of his Truth may be sought after and also had by the godly honest and understanding Reader But this is to be attended unto that as between the Miracles of Moses and the Inchantments of the Magicians there is that manifest diversity That the one does not only much exceed the other but the first do carry that Power Evidence and Demonstration along with them that the Magicians themselves are forced to confess and acknowledge This is the Finger of GOD Exod. 8. 19. So likewise there is not only a manifest diversity between the Imaginations Subtlety and Sophistry of Satan which have also an outward likeness unto and imitation of Truth and the certainty of the Words of Truth themselves or what Job calls right Words Chap. 6. 25. But further there is observed to be a continued Vein of Holiness and a Spirit of the Fear of the Lord which runs throughout the Writings of some Men more than others Here again these are exceeded by others also who are yet mightier and greater than they in the Kingdom of God and in the dispensation of his Gospel For there is a real difference between what is meerly pious and devotional or those common things which are universally known and obvious already and the making known the Great Truths of God or those new Things which he doth declare Before they spring forth I tell you of them Isa 42. 9. Which God doth tell anâ— declare unto Mankind by some particular Saint or Servant of his Now whether I my self shall fall under the same Imputation which I here tacitly reprehend in other Writers or whether I do here bring forth out of my Treasury such Things new and old which in themselves are indeed worthy to be made publick or whether yet further I do not express out those Truths of God which as it is my Duty to write speak and make known so it is the Duty of the People of this my Generation to read hear and receive into their knowledge Rom. 1. 28. I refer all this to the spiritual man who judgeth all things 1 Cor. 1. 15. in this mean while as it will be yet more clearly discerned and determined by God and his Saints at the last Day It hath been observed of John the Evangelist that in his Gospel he doth set down and mention what was omitted by the other three Evangelists for whereas they all repeat and confirm the same things he doth record that as to which they are silent so it hath been and shall be my constant Method and Resolution only to publish those useful Truths and weightier Matters of the Law which have been hitherto omitted see Mat. 23. 23. in the Books and Sermons of other Writers and Preachers And tho' I have already employ'd the Press proportionally for one of my Circumstances Condition and Years yet I shall never be so voluminous as Origen of old who is reported to have made six thousand Books or as Tostatus and Richard Baxter of later Times But as I hope to be accepted of Him who comes quickly and his Reward is with him to give to every man according as his Work shall be Rev. 22. 12. I know that the Goodness and Worth thereof doth lie not so much in its quantity as its quality as a little Diamond is of more value and estimation than a much greater common Stone so I had rather speak five or a very few Words with knowledge and understanding that by my Voice I might teach others also which may be unto Men to edification exhortation and comfort than ten thousand Words in useless Notions or rather Imaginations in meer smooth Language or in vain-jangling and matters of doubtful disputation the former of which do divert and turn aside the Mind from the one thing needful and the latter do rather minister unto strife than unto godly edifying This small ensuing Treatise is an essay and endeavour to the only good and right end of seeking the present Peace and future Welfare of men and women I do therein write unto them of the common Salvation The Contents and subject Matter thereof may be apprehended from the Title-Page Where the Failings Defects Infirmities the Sins and Errours of the People are spoken of This is for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for Instruction in Righteousness And tho' perhaps there may not be altogether that exactness of Art Method and Connexion whereof some Scribes have been more curious and careful than of the Substance of the Things they have delivered yet herein we have a great part of the Scripture for our ensample which was given by Inspiration of God and is profitable for things which make us wise unto Salvation that the Man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto all Good-works albeit it is not like unto Discourses framed by Art and Man's Device SOME THOUGHTS Concerning the Life to come c. Behold now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 John 3. 2. COncerning this thing of future and endless Life I have great thought and searching of Heart My Soul doth shrug within me when in my Bed I think upon it throughly Now I am as yet in this Life but when that Moment shall come in which I must be dislodged from
other and before I had finish'd what I came into this World for to do How many precious Truths of more latitude of greater concern and of more universal use to all Men and Women in the general which might be of instruction and edification for longer time and even for the Generations to come which do also more immediately respect the Church of God and his elect Servants might have been brought forth and published instead of a lesser matter of a National Revolution which was done by a few thereof And tho' their eternal Salvation was concerned herein that being to be obtain'd no other way than by keeping the Commandments of God yet it was not altogether so much relating to the great and common multitude whose Souls are as highly esteem'd of God as the Souls of the rich and mighty People And then for my laying of divine Truths before them they laid persecution upon our Loins which caused disturbance of Mind and loss of our precious Time Hereby I came to lose that lovely Awe and Dread and that sweet Sence of God which did formerly dwell and abide upon my Soul and Spirit O that I were as in the days of my youth when the Secret of God was upon my Tabernacle Hereby also I became insensible and unbelieving as to the invisible and future things of God which heretofore my Heart was always full with the expectation of I who have heard Words of God and knew the Knowledge of the Most High who was always looking after what I shall not see now and still beholding after what did draw nearer and nearer yet again there did as it were Scales come over the Eyes of my Understanding and I became as other ignorant ungodly People In the multitude hurry and confinement of the City I have not had those pure enlightnings and clear communications of God as I have had in mine own native Country and under my Father's Roof and I have several times desired that I might recover and return to that state again and not spend my life upon one thing only which is little more than a continued bringing forth unto trouble But as I do day by day approach nearer and nearer unto this future Life and Immortality so whether I sleep or wake am busie or idle my Thoughts may be always thereupon and be more lively concerning it and I may be still reaching forth after it Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God 2 Pet. 3. 12. Whether we do think thereof or not we do continually run yea and fly towards it But hereby the Holy Ghost doth teach and instruct us That tho' we do move so fast towards it yet we should prevent it in our Thoughts so we should think more continually and earnestly as we come nearer in time and see the day approaching And this should not be a vain speculation nor a meer thought only but we should still be upon the inquiry and examination What we must do to be saved And that we give all diligence to make our calling and election sure that so an entrance may be ministred unto us abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ still making Heaven sure unto our selves and endeavouring to make it yet more sure The Life which I now live is by faith in the Son of God and so when God and Christ do act altogether in us and our whole Business is to please and approve our selves unto them Religion and our future being is all in all of our Concern and all our Works and Doings are brought in subordination under that then we are Servants of God and Christians indeed Tho' I have known such after the flesh yet henceforth I know them no more nor yet will I walk after the manner of the flesh nor after the manner of the world nor yet after the way of childhood youth vanity or jesting We should renounce the things that savour of men nor make mention of them within our Lips The Holy Ghost saith by the mouth of Micah Arise ye and depart for this is not your rest because it is polluted chap. 2. 10. This expression is in allusion to Shepherds who after they have fed one place well and throughly with their Flocks and their feet have trodden spoiled or made the Pastures to smell then they remove to a fresh place and ground So after we have throughly done the Business of Life in such a thing we should not still stick in that but press further to the higher and greater Concern The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her they shall pitch their tents against her round about they shall feed every one in his place Jer. 6. 3. And when they have so done for some time they take up and remove to another It is said in the following Verse Wo unto us for the day goeth away for the shadows of the evening are stretched out If we have not done our task nor the work appointed for us whilst we were here on this Earth our Master in Heaven will call us to an account Doth the plowman plow all day to sow Isai 28. 24. This would be too laborious and tiresome for when tbe day is far spent as towards two or three of the clock he looks up to the Winter-Sun and concludes it is time to draw off Our God hereby doth instruct us to discretion and teach us that when a great deal of our life is spent and the day of immortality is at hand then let us make the three afore-cited Inferences Arise and depart for this is not your rest Which in the language of the Gospel that brings Immortality to light speaks on this wise The Bridegroom is at hand go forth to meet him Tho' future life and immortality is coming fast enough upon us yet we should run out before to prevent meet and anticipate it I want Words to express it according to the very meaning purport and requiring of the thing As the Soul is just breaking forth out of this Shell of the Body into endless life the Babe should leap in the Womb and move it self before yea and lift and ascend its self up desiring to be there And as the Plowman draws off at such a time of day so we should draw off our Desires not only from the sin and evil for we should be perfectly listless and dead as to them but our desires should be drawn off utterly even from the lawful necessary and indifferent things of this World We should be as if we used them not temperate in all things and get above them The reason of the different actings of Men is according to the diversity of the knowledge that is in them as our Saviour answer'd him who asked a good thing and was doubtful whether he should receive it or not According to thy Faith so be it unto theâ— So as to many future things we are doubtful in the dark or blind as towards them yet
him That they are the work of his hands Thy Mercy O Lord endureth for ever it reaches and extends beyond the Day of Judgment even throughout all Eternity Forsake not the work of thine own hands Psal 138. 8. Do not leave them for ever in utter despair and misery God hath more than one Blessing to Angels and Saints he may make Devils and condemned Sinners Hewers of Stone and Drawers of Water John 9. 2. That is somewhat ease and exempt them from the worst pain and thraldom For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek For there is no difference between the Flesh of a Saint and the Flesh of a Sinner and I suppose there is not much more as to the outward original frame and composure of Spirits of the same kind For the same Lord over all that is Creatures is rich unto all that call upon him For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved Rom. 10. 12 13. This is cited from Joel 2. 32. and there it is delivered So that by the comprehensiveness of the Word Whosoever which takes in all without exception and from the Apostle's arguing That the Lord is rich unto all that call upon him That is he hath Goodness abundant and to spare for he doth ten thousand times exceed even that of Isaac or of the best and most tender Father for 't is he who created the Bowels and put Compassion in them By the Riches of his Goodness he is obliged to do somewhat for every one that calls upon him So that if these Creatures can and do but call upon the Name of the Lord though it will not be after the same manner and nothing to an equal degree of that Salvation the elect Servants of God are possessed of yet they will at length be somewhat saved and delivered from that depth and grievousness of pain and misery which they have long groaned under For I will not contend for ever neither will I be always wroth for the Spirit should fail before me and the Souls that I have made Isai 57. 16. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief that he might have mercy upon all Rom. 11. 32. As the Wisdom of God is manifold so the Truths arising out of his Word are of more universal latitude and of longer extent even throughout the succeeding Eternity than that particular occasion upon which they were at first cited For these two great Scriptures have a further meaning and signification than to troubled and afflicted Consciences or to the temporal casting off of the Jews The same may be yet further understood from the very Nature of God who is infinitely eternally and essentially good and from the Analogy and Reason of things that he will not contend for ever in the punishment and misery of his Creatures but he hath shut them all under deserved and the greater part under actual condemnation that he might have mercy upon all O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God How unsearchable are his Judgments and his Ways past finding out was the Conclusion which the Apostle made when himself had before according to the measure of the Knowledge given him searched and found out some of them But thus he pronounceth concerning what yet remained behind and which himself understood not any further If thou Lord shouldst mark Iniquities O Lord who shall stand Psal 130. 3. And Enter not into Judgment with thy Servant for in thy sight shall no man living be justified Psal 143. 2. For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God Rom. 3. 23. The best Servant of God that was ever or is now upon the Earth doth come short of that Holiness as He is holy and of performing that Duty in all things and at all times which God did command or require of him Such Truths are to be made known which shew how these are so let whatever imputation will be fastned upon it To come with Ropes about our Necks and acknowledge our selves worthy of Death eternal to donfess our Sin in the most aggravating Circumstances to arraign our selves and make no other Plea than acknowledgment of our own Guilt that we have transgressed against the Lord and to cry our mightily and earnestly unto him for pardon and mercy All this is the best and soonest way to make our peace with God So did David and the Prophets Saith one We lie down in our shame and our confusion covereth us for we have sinned against the Lord our God from our youth even unto this day and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God Jer. 3. 15. But we are all as an unclean thing and all our Righteousness are as filthy Rags Isai 64. 6. Some may be apt to surmise What need the Prophet mention this for peradventure God might accept this Righteousness as it is whereas by vilifying and depretiating it as he doth he may put God in mind or move him not to accept it What an absurd and wrong imagination is here For it was the Spirit of God which did first acquaint and make this known unto Isaiah and he speaks it forth unto the People in order to humble them and make them have a low Conceit of their best Performances To be as nothing in our own sight to acknowledge our own Guilt and Unworthiness to bear iniquity and loath our selves for our Sins This is the way to get the Favour and Mercy of God for so did the holy Men and Women of old who served him and were accepted by him And so when God would tell People of their Sins and Transgressions when they have done amiss and erred from his Commandments he doth not now speak unto the Inhabitants of the Earth out of the cloudy Pillar or from the Battlements of Heaven but now he speaks in the still Voice of his Word and Spirit unto their Hearts and Consciences Which Word is yet more clearly and distinctly revealed unto some of his peculiar and elect Servants whom again he prompts by his Spirit to speak out and publish the same Word unto others And so they do not tell and inform God but God doth tell and inform them Agreeable hereunto is that kind of speaking unto Ezekiel Go and shew the House of Israel their Doings and cause them to know the Abominations of their Fathers Ezek. 20. 4. God sees it and is displeased Isa 59. 15. He knows it and is grieved Forty years long was I grieved with this Generation Psal 95. 10. His own Spirit is pressed until it is actually stirred up which same Spirit he doth infuse it into some Pipe here on Earth either Man or Woman who again doth receive convey and vent it forth by publishing and making it known unto other Men and Women I am pressed under you as a cart is pressed with sheaves He doth here speak after the manner of Men for our Infirmities And hereby we may apprehend how the