not quite rooted out that there is in the Gospel administration some ill and bad tidings there is some love and some hatred some mercy and some wrath you think that it may be God is your father and it may be he is your enemie and that because you have sinned he will damne you to hell This is naturall and ordinary Now if you were convinced that there were nothing in the Gospel since our Lord Jesus is gone to heaven and is at the right hand of his Father there is nothing in his dispensation but love and mercy and no wrath hell and damnation and sin c. are all thrown away and if I be perfectly righteous and perfectly justified from all my sins if I have the spirit of Christ given me and am one with God for ever by an everlasting Covenant and shall have life and a Crowne of glory for ever and my sins shall not be laid to my charge O what a cleare and sweet spirit should I have in Gods service and not a muddie and dogged and froward spirit that ariseth from guilt soaking into the soule When I view this truth over and pull it by peice-meale and see that there is no gall nothing in the Gospel first or last but what is amiable and beautifull and blessed newes to sinners then there should follow this consideration why should there be any thing in my heart and spirit towards God but amiable thoughts and love c why should there be any of those coares of unbeliefe and distruct and feare and horrour Those mixtures of adoption and bondage Why should there be hellish feares or guilt in me since there is no wrath not anger at all in God Why should not the carriage of my heart be clear towards him as his is in his Sonne by the administration of the Gospel towards me Labour for a perfect spirit of adoption that you may not have any of those bublings of bondage in your spirits that now over take you and are twisted and woven with that little adoption that you have For who is there among us to this houre but when he comes before the Lord and hath a little smiling in his soule to see his favour and a little joy and delight to come at him and yet there is some feare and trembling as Peter when he was on the waves and what if God will not receive me c. Therefore studie to keep up the spirit of adoption It is a hard thing to keep up the temper of a childe in the soule especially when God lets a man fall into temptations and folly and weaknesse c. But though it be hard labour to keep up that temper at least thus much that thou never come to so low a condition which was the prayer of one that was a good man wherein thou canst not with a full mouth and with a cleare heart call God father and thee his childe though the unhappiest and unworthiest childe If thou come below this if thou call on God with feare and canst not cry abba abba that is as much as daddie daddie as our babes use to say if thou doe not come so high thou art spoiled and undone desire God to teach you this Lesson also The damnation of them that refuse the Gospel just Thirdly if this be so that the Ministery of the Gospel is all glad tidings to the worst of sinners then I appeale to you all and let every man put his hand upon his owne breast and if this be a truth as I hope it hath been cleared you shall all be your own judges how just will the damnation of that sinner be that will not receive the Gospel If there were in the Gospel ridged tidings sad newes as people are apt to fancie to themselves then it were no wonder if one persecuted it and another despised it and another neglected it and another turned it into wantoness But when it comes in such a â—reame that there is nothing but love and light and salvation and grace and all freely laid down at the feet of a sinner for his receiving nay he shall have power and grace to receive it he shall have salvation and a vessell to carry it in judge how justly thy damnation will be in the last day man or woman whosoever thou art that settest thy selfe against the Gospel and wilt not receive salvation Damnation mentioned frequently in the new-Testament why This is the reason why damnation comes out so rife in the new Testament it is scars ever mentioned in the old Testament that I know of damnation is not mentioned in the old Testament nor hell but as it is taken for the grave c. But when grace and the Gospel and life comes damnation comes at the heeles of it How can yee escape the damnation of hell Then comes the worme that never dieth and the fire that never goeth out The reason is because then damnation is proper Then when a man will not receive salvation not because he cannot no man is damned because he cannot receive Christ but because he will not receive this salvation and grace Therefore saith Christ Mat. 28. Goe preach the Gospel he that believeth shall be saved he that believeth not shall be damned That is saith that godly Dr Preston go tell every wicked man this good newes that Christ hath brought salvation But it may be they will not believe what we say to them there is no more in the long and short but in a word tell them they shall be damned That is the reason in Mat. 22. where the Ministery of the Gospel is compared to a feast of dainties and one slights it and another despiseth it and another rejecteth it and when the Master of the feast came it is said he found one without a wedding garment and that the man was speechlesse he was as a man saith Beza with a halter about his neck saith hee goe Binde him hand and foot and cast him into utter darknesse there shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth He was speechlesse he had nothing to say and truly I have had more experience lately than ever I had in my life I saw a man that was accounted all his life a professed Athiest and I was with him in the roome when one in the company opened the Gospel from one end to the other as I have endeavoured in my poore abilitie to doe now and all the riches and the salvation of it how free it is how there is no core nor nothing but what is amiable Saith the man when he had done judge yee will yee not think it just if yee be damned if ye will not receive and obey this Saith he it is so I deserve to be damned without mercy Consider this you will say so too you will be made to confesse how just your damnation will be for refusing it If there were any thing in all this that were harsh and cruell and rough
Lord to give you sobrietie of spirit not to be wise above what is written it is pride in your hearts that makes you misse the will of God begg sobrietie and that in two things briefly First I discerne that you want this sobrietie in that people generally will bring their crotchets â— To subject our fancies to the word and fancies that they have hatched themselves to the word of God to make the word of God a cloak only a thing to prove their owne fancies whereas you must doe the contrarie raile every lesson out of the word of God Therefore as the word is in Ephes 4. the Apostle bids us not to be carryed with every slieght of men with dyce playing of men as the Greek is that is men use the Scripture as they use dice they make it speak any thing as a dice player that is cunning he will throw aimes ace or sise sinck So I have seen a man that hath alleadged the example of Noah to defend his drunkennesse c. O it is an abominable thing to make the word of God a bawd I speak with reverence to our witts and fancies as wee too often make it I have seen a man once that kept halfe a dozen men about him to goe to assizes and Courtes to sweare and he would carry any businesse only tell him what they should sweare and he had half a dozen or halfe a score that would doe it you think this was an abominable thing Beloved you doe a more cursed thing when you make the Scripture to second your own fancies you make the word of God to speake what your fancy would have it 2. To follow notions no further than they agree with the word Secondly sobrietie in this many of you raise a notion and start it from the word of God but in the pursuite of it you goe without it then you goe to metaphisicalls and so draw one conceite out of another beware of this as you raise any thing out of the word so follow it no farther than the light of the word goes before you and there lay it down Thirdly pray as for wisdome and sobrietie 3. Watchfulnesse so for a watchfull heart you must be watchfull Christians if you will walk by this rule Thereupon in the Gospel you are often called upon to be watchfull you must be fervent in spirit serving the Lord or as some will have it serving the seasons or opportunities If you will studie what is expedient you must looke to circumstances time and manner c. Or else you cannot walk by this rule Especially in this time and age wee live in and in this City that wee dwell in for I know not the man this day in the world that knows if he might have his will how to order the Church affaires in this City I know a hundred that can order all the Kingdome besides but not here Therefore you have the more need to walk warily and circumspectly to looke round about to see what may edifie and what may hinder our brethren and what hinders most you must have your eyes in your head if you will live in London as a Saint I pray the Lord to give you circumspect hearts Last of all pray to the Lord to fill you with more love above all things put on love 4. Love Col. 3. which is the bond of perfectnesse If you doe all the rest if God doe not raise your hearts to more love of God and the brethren you will not goe far enough Love doth nothing amisse it doth nothing unseemly If you have love you will find all waies and opportunities to doe things to the glory of God and the good of others So I have briefly run over that that I intended from these words I have been the more briefe in some things because I would not trouble you another time from this Scripture I leave what hath been said with you desire the Lord to blesse it to you GLAD TYDINGS from HEAVEN TO The Worst of SINNERS on Earth BY WALTER CRADOCK Late Preacher at Hallows Great in LONDON LUKE 2 10. Feare not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people LONDON Printed by Mathew Simmons 1648. To the Christian Reader READER THe nature of man is prone to be inquisitive after newes especially in these unsetled distracted times amongst us it is a great part of the imploiment of people and takes up much of their time as if London were Athens and the people thereof Athenians Act. 17.21 who spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to heare some newes And yet the news wee beare is sometimes bad sometimes uncertain and many times false Divert thy thoughts awhile from earthly things and in this ensuing Treatise thou shalt heare what newes from heaven in the Gospel The Law indeed brings us tidings but it is like the message of Ehud to Eglon it brings a dagger with it that stabs mortally Judge 3.21 but the ridings of the Gospel is like that message of the young Prophet to Jehu 2. King 9.6 to make him a King There is nothing truly terrible but the Gospel brings tidings of our freedome from it if we be believers nor nothing truly amiable but it tells us of our interest in it How welcome to a poore captive is newes of deliverance from slaverie The Gospel brings us tidings of our deliverance from sin Satan death hell from wrath and damnation it tells us of riches and glory and Kingdomes and Crownes and whatsoever may satisfie the capacious soule of man God hath appointed different conditions for men and Angels the Angels that stood they are so confirmed that they cannot fall the Angels that fell they are determined under eternall wrath that they cannot rise but God from everlasting in his love and mercy had appointed that fallen man should have a way of recovery as a board after shipwracke whereby he might come safe to the shore And God in time was pleased to come out of his hidden eternity and to discover this love of his to the world and hath sent his Son to puhchase it and his Spirit to apply it and his servants to tell not this or that perticuler man but all Nations Mat 28.19 Luk. 2.10 Joh. 3.16 that whosoever believeth in Jesus Christ shall have everlasting life this blessed tidings is brought by the Gospel And let none say this newes is to good to be true for God who is truth it selfe as it were on purpose to anticipate the infidelity of man hath said it and sworne it and sealed it with the blood of his deare Son that we might have strong consolation Heb. 6.8 and hath made this fabrick of the world to be as a stage to act the redemption of his people on which being finished it shall be no more It should stir us up to love and blesse the Father and his Son Jesus
and that must be upon extraordinary occasion yet both are sweet and profitable and precious for the good of the soule Therefore the truth of the Doctrine holds cleare to you that there is nothing in the Gospel look which way you will but good newes and glad tidings to the worst of sinners Object No peace to the wicked There is one objection more and so I proceeed to the Uses Some body may say out of the Prophet Isaiah There is no peace to the wicked saith my God Isa 57. ult And Isa 48.12 The wicked are like the troubled Sea when it cannot rest whose watters cast out mire and dirt The Prophet seemes to comfort the godly but wicked men have no peace then a man may say how doth this stand with your Doctrine you say that the Gospel holds forth peace and glad tidings and good newes to wicked men even to the worst of sinners Ans three Wayes 1. It is rather Law than Gospel The are three wayes to answer it in few words The first is that however Isaiah was in a sort an Evangelicall Prophet and spake many things of Gospel by way of Prophesie he saw things for us and not for himselfe as Peter saith yet these kinde of expressions are more properly Law than Gospel for it is certaine there is no other language in the Law but that there is no peace to the wicked Transgresse once and be damned for ever but the language of the Gospel is contrary it comes and gives peace to the wicked and justifieth the ungodly he preacheth peace to them that are neere and to them that are affar off And who were they The Gentiles that were emphatically sinners are we not Jewes saith the Apostle and not sinners of the Gentiles Therefore this was rather Law than Gospel 2. God will not make peace with sin though hee doth with sinners Secondly there is no peace to the wicked or to sinners saith my God You may understand it also in this sense that the Lord will not make any peace with sin though he send messages of peace and reconciliation to sinners though God be reconciled to a sinner hee will never be reconciled to sin 3. No peace to men that continue in sin under the Gospel But the third and last and most proper as I take it is this There is no peace to the wicked saith my God that is there is no peace to men that continue in sin after Jesus Christ hath been offered them and they have refused him then there is no peace to them Observe for it is a thing of great concernment it becomes not a Minister of the Gospel by any meanes to pronounce wrath and curse or damnation to a sinner qua a sinner as a sinner he is not a Minister of the Gospel if he doe he is a Minister of the old Testament that saith here comes a drunkard eo nomnie because he is a drunkard God will plague him and damne him this is the language of the old Testament But you will say will you speak peace to drunkards Object and sinners Answer How judgments are pronounced against sinners Wee speak judgment and curses and damnation to them when once wee have first offered Christ and they refuse him And for this reason and no other according to the Ministery of the Gospel I am to pronounce damnation and curse to wicked men because they refuse Jesus Christ because they doe not believe in Jesus Christ You will say Quest is it absolutely evil for a Minister to speak against drunkards and Swearers and whoremongers and to say the curse of God will fall on them c. Ans Continuance in sin a signe of unbeliefe No Why because I speak against a drunkard not properly because he is a drunkard but his drunkeness is a signe that he continues in unbeliefe and so hath not received Jesus Christ So we are to understand the Scriptures There is a drunkard a Sot a jearer of godliness I say the curse of God will come upon him and the damnation of hell is ready to overtake him why not because he is properly such a one but because those are signes that he is an unbeliever When God shall come to judge the world There are people that he will judge eo nomine because they are drunkards he will throw them to hel as those in the Mountaines of Wales c. Because they have but a little light and they did not follow that they shall be condemned and the heathens shall be condemned for their ignorance c. But under the Gospel all are wrapped up in unbeliefe So that this is the pin of Heaven or Hell the very wards that opens or shuts that you be believers or unbelievers But I will not stand longer on that Now I proceed to shew what profit we may have by this Doctrine by way of Application Use 1 To learne that in the Gospel salvation 〈◊〉 offered 〈◊〉 sinner 〈◊〉 sinners There be divers speciall Lessons that I would have you learne hence The first is this that this truth that I have now taught you it is the doore of the Gospel the very entrance into Christian Religion the first stone as it were in the Christian building in the Profession of Religion in Gospel Profession There is a kinde of devotion and Profession but it is not built according to the Gospel but if you would walk according to the Gospel learne this lesson first that is that God gives life and salvation through Christ to sinners as sinners though they be hard hearted backsliding and the cheife of sinners yet as long as they be sinners and but sinners they may alway looke upon Jesus Christ and salvation in his hand to bestowed on them This is a truth that thou must learne and be taught it of God or else thou canst not goe one step into the Profession of the Gospel for beloved till you know and learne this you will be like men in the dark you will be groping for Christ Jesus but you will never be graffed into him you will never be knit to Christ I say this is the first step to Religion to understand this truth aright that the Gospel brings glad tidings of salvation to be given to the worst of sinners therefor though I see no good in me at all whereby I might receive good newes from the Law and though I doe not see that I am a humbled sinner as such a Preacher teacheth or a believing sinner or a broken hearted sinner as another Preacher saith yet I say I am a sinner and a sinner quasi Unsetlednesse in religion whence a sinner is the proper object of the Gospel You will be off and on and never be knit to Christ but will be as a bone in and out till you come to that for if you goe and lay hold on Christ any other way in any other consideration that you are humbled sinners or broken
that make lawes to tie themselves Part. 1. Page 46 Those that make lawes to binde others Part. 1. Page 47 Danger to take away any of Gods lawes Part. 1. Page 59 Not to make lawes where God hath not Part. 1. Page 158 Mens lawes forced on people Part. 2. Page 28 Law and Gospel not to be mingled Part. 2. Page 52 see example Gospel Things lawfull now that were not of old Part. 1. Page 5 Lawfull what meant by it Part. 1. 6. Page â—2 Sin in doing lawful things Ibid Saints now their liberty in point of lawfulnesse Part. 1. Page 8 Christians troubled in the use of lawfull things Part. 1. Page 74 Men reproved that regard only lawfull things Part. 1. Page 89 see expedient rule submit heart Learning not to be disparaged Part. 2. Page 51 Errors on the left hand Part. 1. Page 40 Liberty of Saints in the new-Testament Part. 1. Page 14 Why Christ hath left that liberty Part. 1. Page 17 To understand our Christian liberty Part. 1. Page 51 Knowledge of Christian liberty safe Ibid Christian liberty not to be infringed Part. 1. Page 55 Christian liberty not to be abused Part. 1. Page 59 Christian liberty to be held fast Part. 1. Page 160 see others contention Gospel Life see salvation New light discovered Part. 2. Page 49 Expedient actions increase love Part. 1. Page 70 Love to be practised by Saints Part. 1. Page 106 Love to a mans selfe natures law Part. 1. Page 119 Love a help to expedient walking Part. 1. Page 179 Gods love in the Gospel to sinners Part. 2. Page 13 Things lovely what Part. 1. Page 85 M MAgistrates how far they may determine concerning Worship Part. 1. Page 107 Cautions for Magistrates in determining Part. 1. Page 109 see time place Malignants cause of the present contentions Part. 1. Page 132 Many see all Masters of families how they may determine concerning worship Part. 1. Page 109 Meanes see dutie Members of Christ who Part. 1. Page 35 Saints in the new Testament growne men Part. 1. Page 18 Excellent Christians have Christs minde Part. 1. Page 153 Ministers forced on people Part. 2. Page 28 Gospel Ministers to be imbraced Part. 2. Page 45 see stumbling-blocks Afflictions moderated to the Saints Part. 2. Page 20 Modestie a law of nature Part. 1. Page 119 Common multitude cause of the present contentions Part. 1. Page 134 N Nature THe law of nature to be looked too Part. 1. Page 118 Gods ordinary commands agree with the law of nature Part. 1. Page 119 Contrary names put upon men and things Part. 1. Page 101 Names of persons and things changed by the Devill Part. 1. Page 131 Service of naturall men hard Part. 1. Page 33 Magistrates may determine in necessary indifferent things Part. 1. Page 109 The Ministery of the Gospel nothing but good news Part. 2. Page 6 Latitude of Saints in the new Testament Part. 1. Page 12 see grace liberty O Offended see law OFfices and officers in the new Testament Part. 1. Page 17. Saints tyed more strictly of old Part. 1. Page 8 see lawfull grace Punctuall lawes in the old Testament Part. 1. Page 15. Old Testament spirit what Part. 1. Page 45 Sign of an old testament-spirit Part. 1. Page 91 How men deprive themselves of opportunities Part. 1. Page 147 Christians must walk orderly Part. 1 Page 86 Things done disorderly how Part. 1. Page 87 What hinders men from winning others Part. 1. Page 53 see law P Papists HArdnesse of Papists service Part. 1. Page 33 Men offended that their party is spoken against Part. 1. Page 163. see engagement Posseover strictly observed Part. 1. Page 16 What actiins tend to Peace Part. 1. Page 71 The way to peace Part. 1. Page 100.122 No peace to the wicked how Part. 2. Page 34. see selfe prosperity Some men thinke truth alway goes with persecution Part. 1. Page 175 Persecution of Saints a previledge Part. 2. Page 19 Decency in respect of a Christians person Part. 1. Page 78 Place of meeting to worship how to be determined Part. 1. Page 108 Pope his practise Part. 1. Page 48 Power given in the Gospel to doe what is required Part. 2. Page 23 Practise see Pope Bishops Things worthy praise what Part. 1. Page 85 Praise only to God Part. 1. Page 86 Of preaching Part. 1. Page 116 Precepts of severall sorts Part. 1. Page 56 see rule Prejudice inconvenient Part. 1. Page 172 Of Presbytery Part. 1. Page 49 False Presbytery Part. 1. Page 101 True Presbytery Part. 1. Page 102 Presbytery and Independents wherein they differ Ibid Presbyterians judgments Part. 1. Page 124 Contention from carnall Presbyterians Part. 1. Page 129 Principles and ends of carnall Presbyterians Part. 1. Page 136 see contention Principles see Presbytery Priviledge see persecution Outward prophanenesse by whome allowed Part. 1. Page 43 Decency in respect of profession Part. 1. Page 80 Profit meant by expediency Part. 1. Page 66 Profit how brought by actions expedient Part. 1. Page 68 profitable see sin Truth goes not alway with prosperity Part. 1. Page 173 Prosperity sometimes goes with truth Part. 1. Page 75 Of singing Psalmes Part. 1. Page 115 Things pure what Part. 1. Page 85 Q Christians full of Questions why Part. 1. Page 140 R THe Saints must be dealt with rationally Part. 1. Page 110 Reason of three sorts Part. 1. Page 117 Right reason what Ibid Rediculous to tie the Saints where Christ hath not Part. 1. Page 50 Religion presented by some as rediculous Part. 1. Page 146 Christ come to work redemption Part. 2. Page 14 Decency in regard of a Christians relation Part. 1. Page 79 Religion see endlesse burthen Things of good report what Part. 1. Page 85. Benefit by Gospel reproofe Part. 2. Page 31 Right hand errours Part. 1. Page 44 Rigour not to be used in determining things Part. 1. Page 111 The Law the outward and the Spirit the inward rule Part. 1. Page 13 What precepts or examples make a rule Part. 1. Page 58 To walke all by the same rule Part. 1. Page 103 Every thing in Scripture not a rule Part. 1. Page 166 see Scripture S SAlvation to be accepted of from Christ Part. 1. Page 37 Wrong wayes to salvation Part. 2. Page 12 Rules mis-drawen from Scripture Part. 1. Page 168 Heed in drawing rules from Scripture Part. 1. Page 169 see Canon Rule Decency in regard of season Part. 1. Page 82 The way to peace in a mans self Part. 1. Page 138 Self a hindrance to expedient walking Part. 1. Page 177 Ministers not to run before they be sent Part. 2. Page 51 The Saints under the old Testament servants Part. 1. Page 17 Decency in regard of sex Part. 1. Page 80 Engagement to sinners to come to Christ Part. 1. Page 26 Leaving of sin profitable Part. 2. Page 21 God makes no peace with sinne Part. 2. Page 35 Salvation offered to sinners as sinners Part. 2. Page 36 see lawfull singing see Psalmes Difference small between Indedependents and Presbyterians Part. 1. Page 125 Sobriety a help to expedient walking Part. 1. Page 177 Saints in the new Testament sonnes Part. 1. Page 17 Expedient actions for the good of the soul Part. 1. Page 74 The service of the devil will one day be soure Part. 1. Page 34 Saints in the new Testament have more of the Spirit Part. 1. Page 19 Christs Kingdom spiritual Part. 1. Page 20 The Spirit enables to doe what is required Part. 1. Page 35 Spirituall things to be studied Part. 1. Page 105 Spiritual Christians their carriage Part. 1. Page 141 Spirituall things by whom relished Part. 1. Page 155 Spirit by whom restrained Part. 2. Page 29 see rule Ministers to woe men as spouses for Christ Part. 1. Page 28 Strength not given to keepe lawes of our owne making Part. 1. Page 139 Men strive about unlikely things Part. 1. Page 126 Men strive about that they cannot proue Part. 1. Page 127 Doctrine not to be abused to strife Part. 1. Page 165 Gospel way a strict way Part. 1. Page 94 To be strict in point of expediency Part. 1. Page 98 Stumbling-blocks keep men from Christ Part. 1. Page 27 Stumbling-blocks removed Part. 1. Page 162 Saints now tied chiefely to the substance of things Part. 1. Page 23 see supper To submit to Christs laws Part. 1. Page 38 To look to our principles against times of suffering Part. 1. Page 176 Supper of the Lord how ordained Part. 1. Page 16 Substance of the Lords Supper set downe Part. 1. Page 24 Sweetnesse in the Devils service whence it is Part. 1. Page 34 Sweetnesse in Christs service not tasted Ibid T EVery thing in the Gospel glad tidings Part. 2. Page 11 Gospel tidings great and true Part. 2. Page 48 Gospel tidings to be spread abroad Ibid Tie see ridiculous Time of publique worship by whom to be determined Part. 1. Page 107 Comforts against troubles Part. 2. Page 51 Things true what Part. 1. Page 84 Saints of old as children under tutours Part. 1. Page 18 V Signe of unbeliefe Part. 2. Page 36 understand see liberty Unsetlednesse in Religion whence Part. 2. Page 57 W VVatchfulnesse a help to expedient walking Part. 1. Page 179 Weak Christians cause contentions Part. 1. Page 129 Nothing commanded by God to be weakened Part. 1. Page 165 Some make the way wider than Christ hath made it Part. 1. Page 40 Expedient actions tend to the winning of others Part. 1. Page 73 see others Carnall wisdome a hindrance Part. 1. Page 176 Spirituall wisdome a help to expedient walking Part. 1. Page 177 God wil interpret his own word Part. 1. Page 174 Fancy to be subjected to the word Part. 1. Page 178 Notions to be followed as they agree with the word The maine work of salvation done already Part. 1. Page 29 Liberty in the externalls of Gods worship Part. 1. Page 15 No liberty in the substance of Gods worship Ibid The maine work done concerning worship Part. 1. Page 104 Y Yoake of Christ what Part. 1. Page 9. READER THe number of the Pages in the latter three Sermons beginning with 1 2 3 c. For thy ease in the use of the Table I have set down what is contained in the nine former Sermons as Part 1. In the three latter as Part 2. Whereby with ease may be found any head in either T. S.
to be found there To make it a little plainer by an illustration suppose a Gentleman in the Countrie should have a Son and a servant both faithfull as he judgeth and he should send his servant into Cheap side or some other Market to buy a great deale of meat and spice and suger and cloathes and the like and he should send his sonne with letters to the Parliament with messages to the Committees of State they both goe home they have both done their errand now should that Gentleman say that his sonne was unfaithfull because hee did not bring as much luggage home as the servant No it was the message of the servant to fetch luggage but it was the message of the son to deliver his message So the message of Moses it was luggage to teach them endlesse externall lawes and things but the designe of the Sonne of God his message was to declare the sercret spirituall mysteryes of his Father to the people of God in the New Testament therefore it is no sence much lesse truth to say that Christ was unfaithfull because he hath not as many curious ties in outward things as Moses So I have done with those objection .. Now breifly to end all at this time there are two things remaine First to point out the hindrances that keep us from walking according to this truth And secondly to shew you certaine meanes that may further you in it Hindrances The hindrances are these foure or five The one that you must take heed of engaging your selves with any party in Religion beyond your owne principles 1. Engagement in parties beyond mens principles Religion is already in a faction among some Saints men are readie to cry I am for Paul and I am for Apollo and I am for Cephas Now I would not have you persecute others by no meanes but I would have you love all Saints all that call on the name of the Lord with a pure heart and honour all Saints without faction but take heed of running into any of these partyes whatsoever beyond your owne principle further than you have a cleare light that you can answer comfortably for it at the last day before the Lord. Hence is this running into faction that I beleive there are thousands of men and women that professe themselves now Presbyterians that know not not understand what Presbytery is men scarsly know what they say and yet I am a Presbyterian run into faction So many in that way that you call Independency that out of some motive of truth that they see in it their good neighbours and friends that are of it they run a long in it and what followes When they come to suffer in death or the like case they either goe back with shame and greive their brethren or else they go on uncomfortably for that that they have not a seale to their conscience So now I may say in some measure that people generally believe as the Church believes as the faction that they joyne themselves to believe Therefore beware of this this is not a time for men to see with other mens eyes Try all things hold fast that which is good Let every man prove his own work Love all Saints if there be any thing of God in them but walk not according to any mans rules or principles farther than God cleares it to your soules 2. Looking on things with prejudice The second tâ—ing is this that if you would walk by rule take heed of looking upon any thing truth or error with the eye of prejudice People look now a dayes upon all things that are controverted especially every one hath a glasse before his eyes one blew another red one lookes on a thing as it is accompanied with shame and persecution as it hath such nick-names on it Others look on other things as they are approved by wise men and followed by the multitude as they bring profit and credit remove all these things from any thing that you would judge aright of these are false glasses therefore truth or error that that is most persecuted in the world you must judge as if it had all the preferment and advancement in the world This I have often thought those that shall come a hundred yeares hence that shall be godly if the world last so long will wonder at our follies and think us mad men in most of our controversies and wranglings because that prejudice and peevishnesse and passion and those mists and glasses shall not be before their eyes they will be able to judge of things as they are As we have read of a controversie many yeares between the Saints about keeping of Easter in the East and Westerne Churches some would keep it at one time and some at another we think they were mad to strive about it and it had been no matter if it had never been kept And so in the Convocation for a quarter of a yeare in the Synod the Bishops of Canterbury and Yorke they strove who should sit uppermost we think they were mad but they were great things in those dayes when they had no better light So those that shall come after will wonder as much at us Therefore labour to be as wise as thy Childe will be fortie yeares hence look on things without prejudice and then thou shalt see clearly 3. A devout jealousie concerning truth and error Thirdly take heed if thou wilt walk by the rules of the Gospel and by this that I have laid down before thee of a devout jealousie that is in you of all things that are upon the right hand I shall endeavour to open it a little I know that generally men are jealous of those opinions that are on the left hand I mean thus most men are very apt to believe that it is the truth of God whatsoever it is if it bring credit and preferment and profit and the like Carnall men think that truth that goeth with prosperity and they are easily convinced that error brings povertie and shame As the people in Jer. 43. when the Prophet comes to teach them that they should not goe into Egypt they had a minde to goe contrarie to Gods word verse 2. Thâ—â— said the men thou speakest fasly the Lord our God hath not sent thee to say goe not into Egypt to sojourne there They were jealous that it was a false message that it was no truth but error to tell them a thing contrary to their own lusts So Ahab that had foure-hundred false Prophets he thought that Micajah did not speak truth Why because it was contrary to his prosperity hee said not goe and prosper as the rest did So most men are apt to doe now men are strangers to the life of God and are blinde and they think not that the way to heaven is through many persecutions therefore any Pamphlet or any sermon though from a carnall drunkard it will easily confirme them in the
truth as they call it that goes with prosperity But whatsoever is on the other side is error if it bring not gaine But these men I may say they be friends to the world and enemies to God and they are not worthy to be called Christs Disciples God will one day interpret his own word And there will be a time when God will come to interpret and expound his own word You shall all be judged by the word of God and you shall be judged as God interprets that word therefore you that follow truth now on that fashion I say to you as learned Mr Dyke said it is an observable speech when he was speaking of non-residents or pluralists hee brings him answering for himself before the Lord as it were at the last day There God will tell thee if thou haddest loved me thou wouldest have fed my flock thou wilt say I fed them by my selfe or by my Curate but saith hee What if that be not the meaning of the place when thou commest there So you take any thing for truth if it hold with gaine and prosperity you will wrest any Scripture but when God shall interpret his owne Scriptures and you shal be judged by them what if that be not the meaning of those Scriptures as your Pamphlets and carnall Sermons say Looke to it Godly men think that truth that goeth with persecution But one the other side there is a devout jealousie in a godly man that he thinks that that is alway truth that goeth with persecution and that error goeth with peace and herein the honest heart oftner misseth the will of God than the other way As honest Jehoshaphat when foure-hundred Prophets bid them goe to Ramath Gilead and prosper he thought this too good to be true he suspected it was not the way of God it was so smooth there was too much peace hee would have Micajah tell them the truth So when the Saints of God see peace and prosperity goe along with a way they are jealous that it is not the way of God As for instance if you tell a man that the way to Canterbury or York is a rough dirty way if a man be going thether and find a peice of faire way he is jealous he is out of his way because he was told it was a rough foule way So Christ saith that wee must suffer persecutions and through many tribulations we shall enter into heaven now when a Saint findes a little peice of faire way he thinks he is out of the way it cannot be peace and prosperitie that is the portion of the wicked herein an honest heart is ofter deceived than in the other Therefore to direct you know that peace and prosperitie are not alway companions of the truth yet sometimes riches and honour and prosperity are with the truth Peace and prosperity sometimes goe with truth as I might prove out of the Proverbs Riches and honour are in the right hand of wisdome Many times there is honour though not ordinarily the ordinarie way is persecution but sometimes there is honour and wealth with truth and righteousnesse when there is persecution and trouble to the wicked therefore though it be a good rule generally yet it is not absolute Therefore let me speak to you poor lambes and weak souls that I am six times more jealous of you that you should be out in this devotion that you should be carried aside to the right hand or to the left I feare not you that are drunkards and swearers and cozeners c. But you poore creatures you will finde some course that hath more persecution and that must be the truth and so you run and misse the will of God In Exod 23.1 the Lord saith Thou shalt not follow a multitude to doe evil And what followes in the next verse thou shalt not favour a poore man in his cause If he had said thou shalt not favour a rich man it had been no wonder for men are apt to favour them but he saith favour not a poore man many times a man in judgement out of a kind of devotion and charity and mercy may stick to a poore man against a rich man and yet pervert justice therefore thou shalt favour neither rich nor poore in justice but as Solomon saith Pro. 4. Let thine eyes look straight before thee and thine eyelides right on turne not to the right hand nor to the left remove thy feet from evil Look straight on saith he I know the ordinary way to heaven is persecution and afflictions but sometimes it is otherwise therefore let me keep the way of God whether it bring peace or trouble 4. Carnall wisdome The fourth thing that we must beware of is carnall wisdome for by this that I have said those that are carnally wise will lay hold of this latitude that I have spoken of and be glad of the Doctrine and think now I have found a way to escape persecution Take heed of carnall wisdome wherein is it In a word carnall wisdome will make things absolutely commanded and forbidden to be expedient or inexpedient or else it will call those things expedient that make for a mans owne lust and not for the honour of God Fiftly take heed of selâ— for thou wilt never be able to walk by this rule till thou love thy brother as thy selfe Therefore in the verse next after the text 5. Selfe Let every man not look on his owne good but on his neighbours wealth not to please himself but to please all men in all things Take heed of self love for then you will judge all expedient that is for your own lust 6. Hypocresie Lastly beware of hypocresie endeavour to be sincere An Hypocrite will never come to this mold while the world standeth beware of Hypocricie that is as a godly man saith we should soone end the controversie if every one would labour for an upright soule and to honour Religion before the world There be the hindrances Helps to walk expediently Now I will name those few meanes to help us in our conversation they are but three or foure at the most that I would have you take notice of 1. Spirituall wisdome The first is spirituall wisdome endeavour after this to be filled with it for you may have zeale and you may have no knowledge and you may have knowledge zeale and yet have no wisdome therefore to some God hath given knowledge saith the Apostle and to some wisdome Therefore labour for spirituall wisdome What is that Wisdome to be able to discerne what is convenient and expedient how to fit circumstances to make an honourable and profitable action I mean not carnall wisdome and discretion but spirituall For without that all your zeale will be as water out of the channell as fire out of the chimney onely to rent the Churches and to trouble the Nation That is one 2. Sobriety Secondly begg of the