wast false to my Honour and Interest thou didst betray me Thou that didst call me Lord and Master and yet disobey my Commandments And if Christ and his Gospel finds no fairer Quarter from Friends what may he expect when he falls into the Hands of Thieves It was this which cut David to the heart to be so treacherously dealt with by a pretending Friend Psal. xli 9. Minâ—… own familiar friend in whom I trusted that did eat of my bread hath lift up his heel against me May not we take up the same heavy and doleful Complaint on the behalf of Religion They that have eaten her Bread and drank her Wine have kicked and spurned at her Hear the Psalmist again mournfully bewailing his Case Psal. lv 12 13 14. It was not an enemy that reproached me sor then I could have born it neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me then I would have hid my self from him But it was thou a man mine equal my guide my acquaintance We took sweet counsel together and walked to the house of God in company This was the cutting killing Stroke And this aggravates the Case of Religion in this dismal day Religion has been wounded betrayed reproached by pretended Friends when yet the Upright like that holy dying Woman 1 Sam. iv 22. know not how to out-live the departing glory but are willing to die with it It 's a matter of the greatest Difficulty to persuade us to Repent of our guiltiness in this Thing and before I can hope to prevail I must premise a few Particulars 1. Whatever Reproach the Professors of Religion draw upon their own Persons will certainly be fastned upon their Profession Now tho' this be an unjust Procedure to Reproach a Holy Truth because he that owns it holds it in Unrighteousness yet thus it will be in Fact the Crimes the Excesses of Men will reflect upon the Doctrine They that will Reproach Men for their Duties will much more revile them for their Iniquities and from thence take a welcome occasion to revile their Principles and Professions 2. Whatever Reproach falls upon Religion will reflect upon the Author of it even our Blessed Saviour himself And this should sway with all our Consciences to walk inoffensively to give no just Occasion to them that seek it and watch for it to blaspheme the Name of our God Hear how affectionately the Psalmist prays Psal. lxix 6. Let not them that wait on thee O Lord be ashamed for my sake let not them that wait on thee be confounded for my sake O Lord God of Israel And he had reason to be sensible that some Pious Souls might be justly offended at him and reproached for him when by his sin he had caused the Enemies of God to blaspheme 2 Sam. xii 14. But that I may more effectually Prosecute this Use in inviting you to Humiliation for and Lamentation over those Scandals which our Holy Religion has contracted upon our Account I will endeavour to lay before you these three things 1. I will shew what an Excellent Religion we have reproached 2. I will lay before you the great Zeal of the Primitive Christians to Adorn their Religion in those purest Times 3. I will further open how unworthily we have defiled it in ours § 1. Let me shew you what an Excellent Religion that is which we have thus shamefully Reproached Amongst the many Great and Glorious Excellencies of the Christian Religion as it stands described and recorded in the Scriptures of Truth this is one 1. It is a sound Doctrine 1 Tim. vi 3. wholesome words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as are sound in themselves and make sound Tit. ii 1. Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All is sound all sincere nothing rotten 1. This Doctrine imbibed will make a sound Head not filling it with empty Notions aiery Speculations much less with rotten Matter which will breed Impostumes and break out into Ulcers but with such due Conceptions of God as will settle our Faith engage our Fear provoke our Love command our Obedience and in all secure the Souls everlasting Interest 2. It will make a sound Heart the Psalmist prays Psal. cxix 80. Let my heart be sound in thy statutes that I may not be ashamed As the Truth received into the Head will keep us sound from Heterodoxy so the same Truth entertained in its Power into the Heart will secure it from Hypocrisy 3. It will make a sound Conscience for herein alone is that Doctrine of Peace and Reconciliation with God revealed through Christ whose Blood sprinkled on the conscience purges it from dead works to serve the living God Heb. ix 14. 4. It will produce a sound Conversation we may lay it down for a Rule that Religion which begins in Hypocrisy will end in Apostacy And there 's little difference whether we go in a True way with a false Heart or forsake that way through a false Heart a sound Heart is the great preservative against both Now here we have cause to mourn till we have exhausted the Springs of Tears and can weep no more Lamenting over the rotten Doctrines of our Days which have defied and defaced this Holy and Sound Doctrine the rotten Conversations that have shamed it and rendred it contemptible The Truth is we can neither bear our Remedy nor our Disease we are sick with our Food and sick with our Physick The Scripture gives us True Notions of God but Men are ignorant and too proud to be taught 1 Tim. vi 3. Proud knowing nothing This Doctrinâ—… would be a lamp to our feet but we shut our Eyes against it and a light to our paths but we will not use it nor admit it to be our Guide in the ways of Holiness 2. Another Excellency of the Gospel is that it 's a Doctrine according to Godliness 1 Tim. vi 3. And a Doctrine after Godliness Tit. i. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As if the whole System of Divine Truth were squared and modelled by Godliness It 's not only true that Godliness must be tried and proved by this Doctrine but that the Doctrine is formed and fashioned by the Rule of Godliness every Leaf Line Proposition is adapted to the advancement of Godliness Here 's no Indulgence for Sin no Toleration for Lust not one loose Principle in the Body of Scripture Divinity and if any Doctrine offers it self that breaths not Purity we may safely reject it as that which is not after Godliness And let this also renew our Lamentation that such a Doctrine has been tortured upon the Rack of unsanctified Wits to abet filthiness and uncleanness Men have reap'd what God never sow'd and gather'd what the Holy Spirit never strew'd when this Grace of the Gospel is turned into lasciviousness and Men have abounded in sin because the Grace of God has abounded towards Sinners 3. It has this Peculiar Excellency that in every respect it
pregnant Proof that God is with us and Religion in us of a Truth But let thus much susfice to the first general Inquiry viz. what this Exhortation to adorn the Doctrine of our God and Saviour doth presuppose § 2. Proceed we now to the second general Inquiry What doth it imply to adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel in All things To this the answer must be returned in many Particulars 1. That the Doctrine of the Gospel must be Adorned in Civil as well as Sacred Affairs It 's not enough that we demean our selves decently and reverently in Acts of immediate Worship we must walk in the same fear of God under the same holy awe in our secular Businesses Religion must command even our Recreations our Diversions our Converses our particular Callings As carnal earthly Hearts will carnalize their Religious Performances so will spiritual Minds spiritualize their common Employments It 's far short of the Whole Duâ—…y of Man That we Sanctify the Lord's Day we must Sanctify our own God has indeed graciously indulged us six Days in the Week to labour in but not one of those Days nor one moment in any of those hours wherein we may do the Work of the Devil and the Flesh. If ever we will pretend to Credit our Religion we must evidence Holiness in the Shop as well as in the Church in our own Houses as well as the Lord's we must be Holy in Trading as well as Praying we must Sanctify the Name of God at our own Tables as well as the Lord's Table 1 Cor. x. 31. Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God And again 1 Pet. i. 15. As he that hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation ' Ev 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In all the windings and turnings of your livâ—…s There 's nothing lawful though never so remote from Heaven but may be laid in a right line and due suborâ—…ination to it and when we cannot actually intend our ultimare end yet must we virtually refer all unto it this is that which has reproach'd Religion that what warmth we get in the Worship of God we presently lose it and grow luke-warm perhaps stone-cold when we depart from it And thus whatever we build up at the Church in one day we are plucking down all the week after 2. We must adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things In second Taâ—… Duties as well as those of the first The same God who sees and observes the temper of our Hearts in Dealing with himself observes it also in our Treatings and Dealings with Men would we approve our sincerity before an all-seeing God approve it also in our Treatings Conversings and Transactings with Men. There are some excellent first Table Christians who will not swear lightly not take God's Holy Name into their Mouths profanely that seem to make a Conscience of the Lord's Day that are severe in regulating the Worship of God by his Word And yet if common Fame may be credited are under no such severe Bonds of Conscience in their Covenants Contracts and Engagements with their Brethren but the Doctrine of the Gospel would have taught them another Lesson Tit. ii 12. which teaches us to carry it Righteously towards our Neighbour Soberly towards our selves and Godly towards our God What a rare Pattern was David Psal. ci 2. I will behave my self wisâ—…ly in a perfect way I will walk in the midst of my house with a perfect heart He will be a Holy King upon the Throne a Holy Judge upon the Bench a Holy General in the Field Holy in the City and Holy in the Country for a perfect Heart had taught him to walk wisely in a perfect way If therefore we design to vindicate the Glory of Religion none must go beyond over-reach or defraud his brother 1 Thess. iv 6. our Covenants must be kept tho' we suffer by it Psal. xv 4. Truth must be spoken to and kept with our Neighbour and that Neighbour must be every one that partakes with us of Humane Nature 3. In all things In holy Works as well as holy Words It 's not well-saying but well-doing that must wipe off the Reproach that has been thrown upon our holy Profession 1 Pet. ii 15. So is the will of God that by well-doing ye put to silence the ignorance of foolish men Foolish Men will be lavish of their Tongues they will be reproaching Religion and the Religious this evil-speaking is the effect of their ignorance but the question is how shall we silence them and stop their Mouths for the future This he resolves as the Direction of God himself 'T is by well doing Words are cheap Works are chargeable and will cost us more to perform them It 's a mortal stab that is given to Religion when the Professors of it talk as high as Heaven and yet walk as low as this dirty Earth When our Ntions and Professions seem too high for this World and yet too low for the next Words without Works are a Language which Men do not understand we speak to them in an unknown Tongue but to be Beneficent Charitable to do them good to relieve the Distressed to deliver the Oppressed to make peace among Contending Neighbours This is a Dialect which is Vernacular to all the World Had we judged of a Pharisee by the Ear and not by the Eye he had been the most excellent Saint on Earth but our Saviour notes them for this Matth. xxiii 3. They say and do not Nay our blessed Saviour rebukes his own Disciples upon this Account Luke vi 46. Why call ye me Lord Lord and do not the things that I say Let that therefore be ours which was the Motto of a great Man in his time Non magna loquimur sed vivimus Let Men see as well as hear us that our light may so shine â—…fore mâ—…n that they seeing our good works may glorifie our fathâ—…r which is in heaven Matth. v. 16. 4. In all things In Passive as well as Active Obâ—…dience In suffering according to the will of God as well as acting in obedience to it It 's a very poor Religion that is not worth suffering for We must expect otherwise no better Language than this surely if these Professors did really believe their God to be Faithful and True they would trust him Did they believe thâ—… Râ—…compence of Râ—…ard they would venture their All upon it Did they believe their God able to repay them to reimburse them in what they should lay out and lose for his sake they would generously forsake all at the Call and for the Cause of their God Sufferings have ever been the Test the Ordeal by which Christ has Proved his Disciples Mark x. 17 18. A young man comes running to Christ as if in great haste for Heaven and that he might justifie his Obedience which he hoped would justifie him he avouches
of whom they see fitter for Bedlam than the Church If we could learn to discern the Divine Providence in Mens Provocations and that as the evil one has a hand in them the righteous God has an over-ruling hand in them too it would serve to dash the Ferment of our most boiling Passions and teach us to say with the Psalmist The Lord has â—…idden him to curse me The sense and fear of God vigorous upon our Hearts would fortifie them against the sudden eruptions of these Distempers Prov. xxiii 17. My son be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long and let not thy heart envy sinners And in a word It would abate our Passion and the Pride that feeds it did we but calmly consider that our strongest Passions are our greatest Impotencies and that whilst we indulge this last we do but make work for Repentance And what a folly is it to give way to that which must cost us bitter Tears and Sorrow before we can heal those Wounds which thereby we have given both our own Consciences and our Profession 2. Let my next Advice be to avoid all Fraud Falshood and Over-reaching in your Covenants Contracts and Dealings with your Neighbours Every Christian besides that business he has with his God and his own Soul has Affairs in this World on this side Eternal Life In all these let your Heart be true to God your Tongue true to your Heart and Heart and Tongue both true to your Neighbours Eph. iv 25. Wherefore putting away all lying speak every man the truth with his neighbour for we are all members one of another We are all Members either in the First Adam or in the Second If in the First Adam only yet why should we defraud our own Flesh and Blood If in the Second why should we wrong them that are with us the same spirit 1 Cor. vi 17. The Psalmist Psal. xv 1. Propounds this great Question and propounds it to God himself who alone could answer it Lord who shall abide in thy Tabernacle And who shall dwell in thy holy hill Who is that blessed Man whom thou wilt admit to Communion with thy blessed self in Grace and Glory And amongst other Characters that describe this person this is one verse 2. He that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness that speaketh the truth in his heart And verse 4. He that sweareth to his own heart and changeth not Let others go beyond him in Temporals he will be true to his own Soul to his God to his Neighbour and the Credit of his Religion 'T is a great contradiction to Religion to use falshood in our Commerces and Converses Our God is the God of Truth his Word is the Scripture of Truth In all that Gospel which we Preach there 's not one Proposition but what is truth and the Apostle 2 Cor. i. 18 19. Purgeth himself of all Levity and Inconstancy in his Promises by the Truth of that Gospel which he Preached As God is true our word toward you was not Yea and Nay It was not Yea in Promising and Nay in Performing for saith he the son of God Jâ—…sus Christ was not Yea and Nay Every Yea of Christ is Yea and every Nay of Christ is Nay Fidelity therefore is the Image of God and bears some strokes of his veracity as unfaithfulness bears the Image of the Devil who is a liar and the father of it and when he spâ—…aks a lie he speaks of his own John viii 44. And if at any time he speaks a Truth 't is not of his own but either by an over-ruling power extorted from him or from some wicked end of his own used by him 3. Let us be jealous of and watchful over our selves in those things that lie near the Flesh our Corruptions are Tinder one spark struck into them sets all in a flame whatever things therefore are most suitable to those Corruptions must be carefully inspected Let us watch over our selves watch against the Tempter and his temptations and watch as those that watch for their Souls and then Pray that God would watch over us and all our watchings or else we wake and watch in vain The things that lie nearest our Flesh are Food and Raiment which are apt to awaken and draw out sleeping Corruption When we read of some Jude 12. That feed themselves without fear surely they know not what an Enemy they have that lies in wait to surprize them Holy Fear would suggest these Thoughts How know I but the Tempter has laid a baited Snare for me at my Table And when he is Adorning the Body how know I but I may be now preparing a Bait for anothers Soul Let every Man study his own weak point there it is the Devil will be sure to Aslault thee It was a dreadful Prophetick Curse which the Psalmist utters against some Psal. lxix 22. Let their table be made a snare and let that which should be for their good be to their hurt How sad is it to find Death in the Cup or Dish where he seeks his Life And yet how many Eat and drink their own damnation perhaps at Christ's Table and at their own The Wise Man or rather the Wise God has given us this Counsel Prov. xxiii 2. When thou sittest to eat with a Ruler consider diligently what is set before thee and put a knife to thy throat if thou be a man given to appetite And these Thoughts would mortifie the cravings of the Flesh. 1. That after all our studious Catering and Carving for the Flesh yet we must die and are now dying whilst we are Eating and Drinking perhaps whilst Sinning we are still dying the means of Life will not always prove effectual to preserve Life They that fed upon Angels Food yet dyed John vi 19. Meat for the belly and the belly for meats but God will 〈◊〉 â—…oth it and them 1 Cor. vi 13. 2. It would greatly abate the Luxury of the Table to consider that the Rich Glutton who fared sumptuously every day Luke xvi 19. was Dead Buried and in Hell where he could not by all his eloquent begging prevail for one drop of Water to cool his Tongue scorched with those Flames 3. And it might moderate our craving wandring Appetite to consider that Nature is content with little and Grace with less and whatever is beyond these comes of evil and leads to eâ—…il 4. And that if we cannot deny our selves in the lesser Instances how should we deny our selves in those more difficult Trials which Providence may possibly call us to How shall we be able to want Necessaries when we cannot deny these Extravagancies 5. And what a Reproach is it to a Professor to feel this raging Hunger for the Meat that perisheth when there is such a languishing affection for that which endureth to eternal Lifâ—… What a shame that we bring sharper Stomachs to our own Tables than to the Lord's § 2. I have given you the Advice of
greater which was said of our own Mr. Perkins Primus Theologiam è coelis in Terras deduxit He was the first who amongst us reduced Doctrine to Application Speculation to Practice However that be most certain it is that every Truth Doctrine Proposition in the Gospel aims at the subduing of Sin in the Heart and of the Heart to God to make us better rather than wiser The design of the Scripture is not to Amuse and Puzzle us but to Reform and Sanctifie us not to Confound our Heads but to Conform our Hearts and Reform our Lives to the holiness of its Principles not to make us lose our Wits but to save our Souls But the truth of this will most clearly appear in some few instances 1. The Doctrine of God's Electing some out of the Mass of mankind from all eternity unto eternal Life is a Doctrine which swallows up our Reasons and we are lost in the depth of it here indeed Faith will swim but naked Reason unassisted by Revelation will certainly sink and drown in that vast Abyss for who is he that standing upon the Shoar of that unfathomable Gulph will not cry out with Apostle Rom. xi 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledg of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out And yet when this sublime Doctrine shall produce its effects in the calling home of Souls to God it comes cloathed with visible Grace and approves it self to our experience and terminates in practical godliness Eph. i. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the World that we should be holy and without blame before him in love As the Sun whose glory we cannot safely behold nor gaze upon in his meridian Lustre without endangering our Eyes yet we can comfortably view by Reflection So that Doctrine which would strike us blind in its direct and immediate Prospect Administers a sweet and sensible Consolation when it comes to take hold upon the Heart in effectual Calling Those curious Speculations which Men have spun out of their own Brains and woven into subtle Webs as the Spider her Nets out of her own Bowels are but Elaborate Nothings refin'd triffles we may know them and be never the better be ignorant of them and never the worse Only Gospel-Doctrines have this singular excellency that they bear hard upon the Corruption of the Heart to Mortifie it upon Pride to abase it and press vigorously upon the Conscience to purifie and pacifie it They are therefore styled in 1 Tim. vi 3. Wholesome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine which is according to godliness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wholesome in themselves and healing to the Soul such as being taken down into the Heart purge out the Corruption of depraved Nature and in a word it 's a Doctrine whose every line is drawn by the straight Rule of Holiness and centers in that one point of Godliness 2. The Doctrine of Redemption is another great instance of this Truth what more amazing than that God should send and give his Son and that the Son should give and offer up himself to Redeem lost self-lost Sinners to Redeem them by Price paid to God out of the hand of Justice to Redeem them by Power out of the hand of the Devil This would lead us back to the Covenant of Redemption between the eternal Father and the eternal Son when the Counsel of Peace was between them both Zech. vi 13. But here we may lose our selves and perhaps not find out God till we relieve our selves by such Scriptures as that Tit. ii 14. He gave himself for us to Redeem us from all iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Not only Redeeming us from Hell but Sin nor only to purchase but to purifie us to himself nor only to deliver us from the future but from this present evil World Gal. i. 4. Not only to rescue us out of the Devils power but out of our own and thus this Doctrine terminates in Godliness in Good Works for so the Apostle concludes his Discourse that he might purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works II. Another Peculiar Glory of the Doctrine of the Gospel is that it never more directly designs the advancement of a Sinner than when it abases him most and lays him lowest it suits indeed the Sinners Misery but always crosses his Lust Empties the Creature when it designs to fill it and humbles the proud Worm that it may exalt it the Gospel breaks first and then binds up Wounds that it may Heal and Condemns that it may Justifie It will make the Sinner plead Guilty before he be absolved It strips him Naked before it cloaths him and makes him know and see and feel himself the most beggarly Wretch in the World before it discovers the unsearchable riches of Christ. In a word it will convince us all that we are the most miserable undone lost things ' ere it Saves us And in this Point the Apostle has fully satisfied us 1 Cor. i. 29. 31. That the Method of the infinitely wise God isâ—…ues in this That no flesh might glory in his presence but he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. In Election God had no respect to Faith Works or the right use of Free-will foreseen that no flesh might glory in his presence the same Method he takes in justifying a Sinner That no flesh might glory in his presence so Rom. iii. 27. Where is boasting then It is excluded By what Law Of Works Nay but by the law of Faith There are two things upon which the haughty Creature would value it self It s own Righteousness it s own Strength and we may add a third it s own Wisdom upon these especially the proud Worm lifts up its Crest on high the gracious God has provided all these in his Covenant that the Sinner shall have Righteousness shall have Strength shall have Wisdom but none of his own but Gods First For Righteousness This is one of the strong Holds wherein the proud Flesh fortifies it self and goes about to establish his own righteousness Rom. x. 3. And this strong Hold God will dismantle and level it with the ground before he builds the House upon the impregnable Rock of his own righteousness i. e. that of Christ. Conviction of Sin and comparing our selves with the Holy Perfect Law of God will thoroughly effect this and then the Sinner stands upon other terms with God and his own Conscience you shall hear this stately proud Creature speaking in another Language when he comes to be distressed about his sin Mich. vi 6. Where-withal shall I come before the Lord and bow my self before the most high God What perplexity is here between the necessity of coming and the hazard of coming I must come before the Lord either to be justified or judged I must come before
has not deserved it is most deplorable 3. The Third and Last thing supposed in the Apostles exhortation is that every one of us in our respective places and stations do engage as far as in us lies to restore Religion to its Primitive Lustre and Splendor and so to retrieve the Reputation of it to adorn it in all things In order to which blessed End I will only at present offer a few things 1. Would we recover the original Beauty of the Doctrine of the Gospel we must so walk so act live as those that believe Invisible things to be the greatest Realities Without breach of that Charity which we owe to all Men or pretending to search the heart we do see and may say that many walk as if all their hopes were terminated by their Eyes and that they believe no other World no other Reward than what is within the reach of Sense But this was the Glory of the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. iv 18. that he look'd not at the things that were seen but at the things not seen His main scope and hope was in invisibles an invisible God an invisible World had that influence upon his Soul that he was born up under all present pressures could glory in all his present tribulations upon the hope of a future Recompence This was it which made Moses endure as seeing him that was invisible Heb. xi 27. And if we search into the Reason of this otherwise unaccountable resolution we have it v. 1. Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen If Faith can render the future World present if it can represent the unseen World to the Eye if it can bring down Heaven and lay it with all its Glory before us it will teach us to live at another rate than we can possibly do upon the proposal of all things to our Sense This will teach us to wait and to possess our Souls in patience whilst we wait so For thoâ—…e things which Christ has promised to them that love and from love obey him Rom. viii 25. If we hope for that we see not then do we with patience wait for it This was it which taught the Primitive Christians to rejoyce 1 Pet. i. 8. Whom having not seen ye love in whom tho' now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 2. Convince the World that you can trust your God upon his naked word who will believe your Religion has any thing solid and substantial in it if you cannot depend on the promise of him whom you say you have chosen and taken for your God We see it evidently they that have chosen the World for their Portion can trust its Promises and take its Word for good Payment what a reproach then will it be to those who have a better God but a worse Faith than they that have a worse God Let all Men therefore see that you dare follow your God on the Credit of his Truth that you can trust him for the Re-imbursement of whatever you shall lay out for his Name or lose for his sake Compel Men to acknowledge that you dare avow your Consciences against all the Damage you can possibly sustain for it or from it convince an unbelieving Generation that there are those who know their God so well that they can trust him and tho' you apprehend you may probably lose something for him yet you shall lose nothing by him you have it under his Hand he will Repay it Glorious was the Faith of Abraham Heb. ii 9. Who sojourn'd in the land of Promise as in a strange Country because he could confidently and comfortably look for a City that had foundations whose builder and maker was God v. 10. Such was the Faith of Moses v. 25. Who chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt for he had respect unto the recompence of reward In which Heroical Actings of Faith we cannot but observe First The Value the different Value that he put upon things Secondly The Choice he made in pursuance of that Valuation First Let us consider his estimate of things he esteemed the Reproach of Christ greater Treasures than the Riches of Egypt where the two things put into the opposite Scales are the Reproach of Christ in the one and the Treasures of Egypt in the other And what Man looking on these with an Eye of Sense would not esteem the Treasures of Egypt preferable to Reproach and Scorn But there was something that turned the Scale in his Judgment something that gave him a Holy Byass that he judges the worst thing in Religion better than the best in Egypt The best thing that Egypt could boast of or court him with was its Treasures the worst thing Religion could affright him with was Reproach especially if it goes so high as an ignominious Death And yet he esteems the reprâ—…ach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt because he kept his Eye fast fix'd upon the Recompence of Reward Secondly Let us not wonder if this was the value and estimate he made of things that his Choice was proportionable he chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season Two things are set before him and upon his good or evil Choice depended Life or Death Affliction and Pleasure And is this a Measuring Cast Or can any one be long in suspence which to chuse Affliction is evil Pleasure is good True but those Afflictions were to be born with the Church of God in which he might be assured of God's gracious Presence his powerful Protection his seasonable Grace to help in time of need And for the Pleasures they were polluting and perishing Pleasures which would leave a sting in the Conscience to imbitter the remembrance of them and therefore his Judgment swayed and determined his Choice that way This and nothing without this will convinee Men that you take the Promises for True that these shall be responsible to your Faith that God shall be responsible for his Promises and that his Truth his Faithfulness and Omnipotency shall be responsible for God 3. Thirdly Let this one thing more be made appear that you are under a Law to God That the preceptive part of the Word has taken as strong hold upon your Hearts as your Faith has taken on the promissory Part. This will satisfy all the World that you are in good earnest with Religion when you live in the practice of the most Flesh-displeasing Duties that you can deny the most profitable temptation to sin and that you walk as those that firmly believe your Religion will bear its own Charges The power of the Word restraining us from the most gainful sin and constraining us to the most chargeable Duty will be a most
it to Christ that he had kept all the commandmâ—…nts from his youth he began early continued long promised to persevere to the â—…nd I confess I suspect he either lyed against his Conscience or else had a very bad one and he had been more hopeful if from a sound Conviction he had bitterly cried out All these commandments I have broken from my youth But be it so Christ willing to try the truth of his Active by his Passive Obâ—…dience put him upon this Trial Go and sell all that thou hast and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven This was a pinching Word indeed The Neck-Verse for a Hypocrite Methinks I see his Courage cool his Countenance change and grow pale Amazement and Confusion in his Looks he turns about and goes away sorrowful sar he had great possessions Upon no lower Terms than these must wâ—… hope to Recover the Glory departed from our Profession Then when we can cast all at Christ's Feet resign all into his Hands and whether he gives or takes say with holy Job Job 1. 21. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord. Let us therefore set before our Faith and imitate the Father of the faithful Gen. xxii who when called of God to offer up his Son his only Son his well-beloved Son the Son of the Promise and that in a way which seemed to Contravene the Law of Nature the positive Law of God yet disputed not delayed not but gave this clear Demonstration that he had nothing too Dear for his God 5. In all things Whether in a more narrow and private or in a more enlarged and publick capacity The Heavenly Orbs are of different Diameters yet they move regularly according to the Laws imposed upon them by their Creator The Stars are of differing Lustre and Glory and yet they shine and grudge not their influences to this lower ungrateful World which returns them nothing but Fogs and Mists to obscure their Light and Beauty God has placed us All in Spheres of different Circumferences how small soever they be let our Motion be Regular and Orderly he has filled us with various degrees Grace and Gifts let us lay out all faithfully There are various Talents with which our Soveraign Lord has intrusted us for kind for number 1 Cor. xii 11. Wrought by that one and the same spirit dividing to every one severally as he will If then our Talents be few let 's be faithful in the using diligent in the improving them the unprofitable servant Matth. xxv was not condemned because he had but one Talent but because he hid it in a Napkin He that has but a little spot of Ground may Cultivate it and shew that diligence in improving it that it may reward his Labour with a blessing Since I considered that passage in the History of Absalom 2 Sam. xv 4. O that I were made judg in the Land that every one that has any suit or cause might come unto me and I would do him justice It has taught me never to be ambitious of great things without more Grace to manage them but we are frank and liberal in our Promises to God to Men and to our selves The poor Man says O had I Riches how rich would I be in good Works The Illiterate says O that I were Learned what service would I do But let us Pray that we may have Grace to be useful and serviceable with what we have that whether in a narrow or more dilated Capacity we may Adorn the doctrine of our God and Saviour in all things 6 In all things In affirmative as well as negative Duties 'T is not enough that we Curse not God we must Bless him The Pharisee Luke xviii 11. had a Religion made up most of Negatives with a small sprinkling of lesser Duties and not without a mixture of Superstition God I thank thee I am not as other men are extortioners unjust adulterers or even as this Publican When the final Sentence shall pass upon every wicked Man it will proceed thus Matth. xxv 42. I was hungry and ye gave me no meat I was naked and ye cloathed me not I was sick and in prison and ye visited me not The Indictment will not be laid that they plucked the Bread out of the Disciples Mouths but that they did not feed them Nor did the Charge run that they stripp'd the Cloaths off the Saints Backs but that they did not Cloath them They are not Accused that they Cast them into Prison but that they relieved them not visited them not when there we have all cause to Pray with the holy Person Lord pardon my sins of Omission Negatives will never intitle us to that blessing of living many days and seeing much good We must join the Affirmative with them Psal. xxxiv 14. Depart from evil and do good 〈◊〉 In all things In all Companies whether holy or unholy The Apostle discharges the Corinthians 1 Cor. v. 9 10. from the Company of Fornicators And yet he seems to correct or limit the Prohibition yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world or with the covetous or extortioners or with Idolaters for in that Latitude the Command would not be practicable for then says he ye must needs go out of the world Either a Christian must retire wholly from all Business in the World or must quite remove his Station into the other World A godly Man then may possibly be cast amongst them though a prudent Man will not of Choice frequent them The holy Art and Skill is how he may Adorn the Gospel when he is inevitably thrown amongst them And it 's a good Rule that if we cannot make wicked Men ashamed of their wickedness yet should we neither be ashamed of nor a shame to Holiness if they will not go to Heaven with us let us not in complaisance go to Hell with them Though Prudence will advise us to be wise as serpents a good Conscience will oblige us to keep our selves innocent as Doves That our unseasonable Rashness may not expose us to the fury of Men nor our temporizing Compliance to the wrath of God David had studied this Case with great accuracy Psal. xxxix 1 2 3. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me I was dumb with silence I held my peace even from good and my sorrow was stirred My heart waxed hot within me while I was musing the fire kindled then spake I with my tongue Here was a notable conflict in David's soul betwixt his Prudence and his Zeal while the wicked were before him Prudence advised Silence Zeal counselled Speech while the Case was desperate and no hope of doing good appeared Prudence prevailed he was silent but as soon as there appeared fair probability of doing more good than harm or rather some good and no harm then Zeal unlock'd his Lips and he spake with his tongue A modest
he will not suffer his faithfulness to fail Psal. 1xxxix 33 34. His covenant he will not break nor alâ—…er the thing that is gone out of his lips for he hath sworn by his holiness that he will not lie unto David Hence I say it is that Unbelief is a Sin of such horrid guilt because it dishonours God in that Point of which he is so jealous and tender God can no more lie than he can die to doubt or deny his Faithfulness is to doubt or deny his Being 1 Joh. v. 10. He that believeth not God has made him a liar Every Thought Word or Act that represents God otherwise than he is casts a Reproach upon the Divine Majesty but to make him a Liar which Unbelief does represents him as if he were that Evil one Joh. viii 44. who is a liar and the father of lies 'T is true none can make God a Liar any more than they can make Light Darkness or Truth Falshood but the Unbeliever not crediting the Testimony of God does by Interpretation and devilish Construction either judge him so to be or represent him as such to others And this Truth this Faithfulness of God is the Great Buttress of the Promise In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lie hath promised before the world began Tit. i. 2. 2. This Faithfulness of God in the Promise is now drawn up into Writing God has not only spoken but written we have it not only from his Mouth but under his Hand which tho' it adds nothing to the Divine Truth yet it contributes much to our weak Faith for hereby we have a more steady Aim at the Mind and Will of God than if it had been conveyed only by a Voice from Heaven or otherwise As the Law was more durable engravâ—… upon the two Tables than when delivered from Mount Sinai how much more is our Security that God proceeds with us and we treat with him by a written Word than if we had been left to the uncertainty of Oral Tradition Our blessed Saviour assures us Joh. x. 35. The Scriptures cannot be broken Tho' nothing more easy than to violate a Precept yet impossible to repeal it Unbelief disparages the Promise but cannot make it void as a River meets with Rocks and Mountains that would obstruct its Course and Current and may sometimes run under Ground yet it will make its way through all Opposition Psal. c. 5. Thy Truth endureth through all Generations 3. The Truth of God in the Promise receives yet a further Confirmation from the Oath of God As when God had nothing greater to give he gave Himself his Son his Spirit in an everlasting Covenant So when he had nothing greater to confirm that Covenant by he swore by himself Heb. vi 13 17. Wherein God willing â—…re aâ—…undantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an oath Happy Man for whose sake God will vouchsafe to Swear Miserable Man who will not believe a swearing God! How wretched is the Nature of Suspicion Jealousy and Doubt whom the highest Security direct and collateral even from Veracity and Infallibility cannot satisfy 4. The Truth of the Promises is yet further attested sealed ratified by the Death of Christ. Of whose Blood and Cross tho' there are other and greater Ends yet this is one to confirm the Promises Rom. xv 8. Jesus Christ a minister of circumcision for the truth of God to confirm the promises made to the Fathers And that the promise might be sure to all the seed Rom iv 16. He has drawn the Covenant into a Testamentary form and then dies to seal and ratify his own Testament Heb. ix 17. A testament is of force after men are dead otherwise it is of no strength while the testator liveth 5. You have had many gracious Experiences afforded of the Faithfulness of God in the Promises enter them upon Record in your Souls an Answer of Prayer the Pardon of Sin sealed to the Conscience present Help in time of need suitable and seasonable Strength against Temptations eminent Deliverances in pressing Dangers are so many Earnests of what he will further do special Tokens of his Truth in doing them In all your Dealings with Men you will buy by a Sample or Pattern many of these we have had and from one we might conclude what he will perform in all other Cases He shews us in little what he will do in great and by what he performs in one Instance gives hope of what he will do in all the rest 2 Cor. i. 10. He hath delivered us and doth deliver us in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us So that we may with the Prophet set up our Ebenezer 1 Sam. vii 12. and give it this Inscription Hitherto hath the Lord helped us 6. And now to shut up All God summons us in upon our Consciences to give Testimony to his Faithfulness in the Promises Isa. xliii 12. I have declared and saved I have shewed when there was no strange God among 〈◊〉 thâ—…refore ye are my witnesses God 〈◊〉 〈…〉 g our former Experiences to confront our present Fears Therefore be well advised if it be so heinous a Sin to bear False Witness against thy Neighbour what is it to bear False Witness against thy God § 2. Let us further enquire How we may Adorn this Branch of the Doctrine of the Gospel 1. God has seal'd to the Promises with his Truth his Word his Oath let us now mutually seal to them with our Faith Joh. iii. 33. He that receiveth his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true It 's the highest disparagement to a Person of known Integrity not to receive his Testimony and yet Man by departing from his God has forfeited his Credibility What David once said in a hot fit of Passion In his hast that all men were liars Psal. cxvi 11. All Men even the Prophets that encouraged him in the Name of the Lord that the Apostle in cool blood and deliberately has asserted Rom. iii 4. Let God be true and every man a liar As none is absolutely Good but one so none is True perfectly but one that is God Now if we can receive the Witness of Man who is branded upon Record for a Liar that he goes astray assoon as he is born speaking lies Psal. lviii 3. What a Reproach do we cast upon God who is the Truth All whose promises are Yea and Amen in Christ to the glory of God 2 Cor. i. 20. And thus the Apostle argues 1 Joh. V. 9. If we receive the witness of men as we must the witness of God is greater And if an oath among men for confirmation is to them an end of all strife Heb vi 16. Let the Promise of God confirm'd by his Oath put an end to all those Controversies which our suspicious Hearts have made let us come off roundly with God seal to his Promises and make all the
World know to its shame that we have a God whom we can securely trust 2. In pursuance of this let us walk chearfully before the World upon the Credit and Security of the Promises There was a time when Holy Job could walk in darknâ—…ss by the light of God Job xxix 3. When the Light of the Promises guided and comforted him in the Darkness of Providences when tho' all was gloomy without yet all was clear within It 's a great Blemish that Professors give the Face of their Religion that we hear much and often of their Complaints seldom of their Praises always mourning never rejoycing This represents Religion as a melancholy cloudy thing and affrights Strangers from all acquaintance with it whereas did we live up to the height of what our Religion would justify us We might glory in tribulations Rom. v. 3. Rejoyce evermore 1 Thes. v. 16. And give thanks to God who always causeth us to rejoyce and triumph in Christ. 2 Cor. ii 14. Nor would this be any Triumphing before the Victory seeing we are already more than conquerours in him that loved us Rom. viii 37. For what could all our outward Afflictions Tribulations Crosses Losses Disappointments that we meet withal in the World do to the extinguishing our Joy did we as we might urge the Promises upon our own Hearts plead them with God and object them to the Tempter 1. We might urge them upon our own dejected Souls Psal. xliii 5. Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope in God for I shall yet praise him We are apt to be cast down and disquieted when we are not able to assign a good Reason of the Dejection and Disquiet We have a God to trust in a Word from that God by which to lay hold on him and why then cast down And this Psalmist at other times has been able to relieve himself from such a word Psal. cxix 50. This is my comfort in my affliction for thy word hath quickned me 2. We might plead the Word of Promise with God and humbly press his own Truth upon himself Psal. cxix 49. Remember thy word unto thy servant on which thou hast caused me to hope as if he had said Holy Lord Thou hast encouraged me to Hope and I have thy word for the ground of that encouragement and I am thy Servant to whom this Promise is made and have therefore Reason to apply the Word to my own Case and wilt thou forget thy Word and fail a Servant of thine who hopes upon thy Security If thou hadst never promised I had never hoped but since thou hast caused me to Hope answer my Hope If I could not say in Sincerity Lord I serve thee I could not say in Faith Lord Save me If I had forgot thy Precepts I could not plead with thee to remember thy Promises It was therefore excellent Counsel that Chrysostom gave 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hear thy God in his Precepts that he may hear thy Prayers for although the truth of God is the security of our believing yet sincere Obedience is the ground of our applying to our selves the Promises 3. We have the word of Promise to answer and refel all the Objections of the Tempter His great design is to undermine and blow up that great Fundamental Principle that God is good and faithful that he is good and gracious in all his Ways and Works faithful and true in all his Words and great advantage he has got this way over many holy Ones David was ready to conclude Psal. lxxvii 8. That God's Mercy was clean gone for ever That there was a Total and final failure of the Divine goodness and that his Promise failed for eâ—…rmore Now when the wicked One prevails thus we are driven from our Anchor and he â—…loating and hulling upon the Waters exposed to the next Storm to be dasht in pieces against the Rocks To all these Suggestions and Injections we have this one Answer 1 Cor. x. 13. God is faithful who will not suffer us to be tempted above what we are able 3. Make all that observe you confess that you dare venture and if the Will of God be so lay down and lose all your outward concerns upon the sole ensurance and counter-security of the Promises God does try us sometimes how much we dare ensure upon his Word Matth. xix 29. Every one that has forsaken houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my names sake shall receive a hundred fold and shall inherit everlasting life where you easily observe that the Promise is large enough and the Title unquestionably good the only Question is whether we dare venture our All upon this Security He that lends Mony will be satisfied in two Points First Whether the Mortgage ossered will bear and answer the sum he lends upon it Secondly Whether the Title of the Estate be good What Warranty will be given Now in both these we have the clearest satisfaction imaginable There can be no dispute whether the matter of this Promise will answer whatever we can possibly venture upon it for a hundred fold and everlasting life is far more than we can lay down nor can there be any question about the clearness of the Title since Christ himself undertakes to make it good If therefore we believe how freely how cheerfully shall we lay down our All at his Feet with them Hebr. x. 34. Who not only patiently but joyfully took the spoiling of their goods knowing in themselves that they have in heaven a better and enduring substance 4. Lastly Live the life of Faith and despise this poor beggerly life of Sense in Comparison of it The life of Sense has its proper Food its Comforts Supports and Supplies it has its Employments its Hopes its Trade and Gains but they are all low and mean all within the road and reach of Sense The life of Faith has its Food too its Joys its Hopes Business and Designs but these lie out of the road and way of the Flesh. Now if we could through the Grace of God make future invisible things our All and conform our Hearts our Ways our Course of Life to the great End we should effectually persuade Men that the Doctrine of the Gospel is a most glorious Doctrine Our Blessed Saviour tells his Disciples Joh. iv 3-1 That he had meat to eat which they knew not of As a Believer has a hidden Life so he has hidden Meat to support it He has a hidden Life Col. iii 3. Tour life is hid with Christ in God and he has hidden Food Rev. ii 17. To him that overcomes I will give to eat of the hidden Manna As he has secret Sorrows which the World knows nothing of so has he hidden Joys Prov. xiv 10. The heart knows its own bitterness and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy And hence it is that the World knows little or
nothing of the Bread he Eats the Life he Lives the Joy he Joys 1 John iii. 1. Therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew him not Whatever is within the compass of Sense and Flesh the Natural Man understands that he values prizes relishes and blesseth himself in because he finds a suitableness between them and his own Frame but if those who profess themselves Believers have nothing more than this comes to to produce in vain do they hope to persuade others of the excellency of their Religion Let us therefore give all Diligence to get such a view of the glory of that unseen World as may dash out of countenance all the glittering glory of this and make it appear by our Conversation that we can with a holy Scorn trample upon present visible earthly perishing things that so living by Faith and not by Sense our Hearts may be in Heaven where our Treasure is and our Conversation in Heaven where our Hearts are § 4. Come we now to the fourth General Head the only thing remaining before we come to the Application viz. The Reasons why every one that Professeth the Gospel of Christ should conscientiously labour to Adorn the Doctrine of it in All things The Reasons assigned will be very few let us Pray that the Good Spirit would make them very strong 1. Reason It ought to be our great Care to Adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel because it is the Doctrine of the Great God It 's a Doctrine that was given forth from him that has absolute Power to Command us John vii 16. The Doctrine is not mine but his that sent me and therefore we are to receive it entertain it as such 1 Thess. ii 13. Te received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God The Reproach cast upon the Word of God is cast upon the Author of it God himself Rom. ii 23 24. Through breaking of the law dishonourest thou God For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gâ—…ntiles through you As the affront offered to the Laws reflects upon the Law-giver and God is concerned in Honour to vindicate the dishonour cast upon his own Laws These things are drawn into a narrow Compass and we may enlarge upon them with ease in our own Hearts Let us be well advised whether we be not bound in Conscience to vindicate the Name of God by Adorning this Doctrine which has been so horribly blasphemed by defacing it He that Spits in the Face of Religion Spits in the Face of God He that tramples upon the Word tramples under Foot the Son of God 2. Râ—…ason 'T is the Doctrine of our Sâ—…viour our Redeemer and these Terms carry strong Obligations in them to Adorn his Doctrine or having already defiled it to repair the damage we have done it The former Reason was drawn from Authority but this from Interest and both of them work by Love Christ is a Saviour and has preach'd the Doctrine of Salvation A Redeemer and has revealed the Doctrine of Redemption A Mediator and has made known how Sinners may come unto God by him It was St. Austin's censure of the Plâ—…tonists Patriam viderunt viam ignorâ—…runt They saw their Country but knew not the way to it they had at least some rude consused Notions that Blessedness must needs lie in the enjoyment of a perfect infinite Being but how to attain Reconciliation and Communion with him they were at a loss what they saw in a Glass darkly the Gospel has revealed plainly and we see it with open Face 2 Cor. iii. 1 8. And what they were totally ignorant of we behold in a clear sight that is wherein our everlasting Happiness doth consist and how we may reach that Happiness And shall we tread under our Feet that blessed Doctrine the power whereof in our Hearts will certainly save us and the Guilt lying upon our Head will eternally Condemn us The Apostle's Pleading is clear and strong 1 Cor. vi 19 20. Ye are not your own for ye are bought with a price that ye may glorifie him in your spirits and bodies which are his It is an acknowledged piece of Justice that he that purchases lawfully should enjoy peaceably and with what indignation do we exclaim against that Man that keeps out of Possession a lawful Purchaser Consider this Case 't is your own if Christ has bought you with an invaluable Price whose true value none can perfectly understand but the Father to whom it was paid shall we Treat that Gospel which brings us these glad tidings with Contempt and Neglect 3. Reason To Adorn the Doctrine of our God and Saviour will be our own greatest Ornament Holiness was the comely wear of Primitive Christianity no Artificial Dress did ever so Adorn its Profession and Professors as plain Godliness The Varnish and Paint of Art will wash off with a little stormy Weather but wisdom makes the face to shine Eccles. ix 1. This is the Counsel of Divine Wisdom Prov. i. 9. My son hear the instruction of thy father and forsake not the law of thy mother for it shall be an ornament of grace to thy head and chains to thy neck This was the Tyre wherewith the holy women of old time Adorned themselves 1 Pet. iii. 4. Even thâ—… Ornamâ—…nt of a meek and quiet spirit which in the sight of God is of great price Such was the Dress of the Gospel before the commonness of vain Modes and wanton Fashions took away the Deformity of Pride and almost forced the Antient Simplicity to retire into Corners Did we see an Antient Piece drawn by the Hand of some of the great Masters of Greece or Italy we should admire the Painting tho perhaps ridicule the Antick Garbs Surely if some of the Primitive Professors should rise from the Dead they would neither know us nor we them A heavenly Conversation is Antiquated every one wears the Livery of his Party the distinguishing Shibboleth of his own Sect but where are they that accommodate themselves in All things to the Doctrine according to Godliness What an honour to be a Citizen of the New Jerusalem To be an Heir of God and a joint Heir with Christ his Elder Brother and let us endeavour to reflect some of the honour back again upon the Gospel which we receive from it 4. Reason To Adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel will greatly recommend it to those who are at present Strangers to it We have the prejudices of Men to contend with their radicated Enmities to subdue and conquer we dispute we argue in vain 'T is a severe uniform Holiness suited to the Principles Precepts and Promises that must either wrest their Weapons out of their Hands or make them freely lay down their Arms at the Foot of a Redeemer 1 Pet. iii. 2. The Apostle supposes a very hard Case that a believing wife is unequally yoaked to an unbelieving husband an uneasie condition But how may it
be remedied The Apostle answers If any obey not the word they may be won by the conversation of the wives but the question is what Conversation will reach that end He answers again While they behold your chast conversation coupled with fear Are there any of you who have a Neighbour a Relation a Friend that is as your own soul for whose Conversion you have longed prayed mourned and added Counsel Entreaties to your Prayers and Tears add a holy humble consciencious Conversation keeping your Consciences void of offence toward God and Men and despair not of success 5. Reason There 's nothing more Provokes the wrath of God than to throw Dirt in the Face of the Gospel and the next Provocation is not to wipe that off which others have thrown upon it Which way God will vindicate his insulted Honour which way he will Avenge himself upon a careless or loose or indifferent Generation of Professors I cannot foretel whether he will take the Sword into his provoked Hand or give a Commission to Fire Plague or other Judgment to avenge the Quarrel of his Gospel but certain it is he will do it Levit. xxvi 25 26. I will bring a sword upon you that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenantâ—… and when you are gathered together in your Cities I will send the pestilence amongst you and ye shall be delivered into the hands of your enemies and when I have broken the staff of your bread c. We have notoriously assronted the Gospel of our God and Saviour either by unmerciful Persecution or an unsuitable Conversation this Gospel has just cause of Quarrel against us God takes the Quarrel of his despised Truths Precepts Promises Ordinances into his own Hands he will avenge it He has already sent us a Challenge nay he has drawn blood on us but yet his patience waits and strives with us and calls to us to take up the Controversie what shall we do Either we must fight it out and carry on a vigorous War against Heaven or entertain O that we would entertain better wiser Counsels and Agree with our Adversary quickly whilst we are in the way with him and he in the way with us lest I tremble to mention what follows Let us then Repent and turn to the Lord with our whole Heart let us Reform our Persons Families our Lives peradventure the Lord may be nay certainly the Lord will be reconciled to us and have Mercy upon us § 5. The Improvement of the Point only remains and till we have done that we have done nothing but here we are usually under some mistake we think it is only the Preachers work to make Application when it 's the proper Duty of All to apply it All he can do is to Direct how it may how it must be appplied by all that hear it This Truth must be applied and improved two ways by way of Humiliation and Exhortation I. Improvement by way of Humiliation ARE we then throughly convinced that it ought to be the cautious care of all that Profess the Gospel to Adorn the Doctrine of it in all things Let us then be humbled Let us take up a bitter Lamentation over this bleeding gasping and if Grace prevent not this dying Gospel It has fared amongst us just as the poor Man Luke x. 30. Who went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves they strip him wound him and leave him half dead but who could expect better quarter from bloody Thieves In this dying and desperate state there comes by a Priest he sees him but his Eyes did not affect his Heart but passes by A Levite next he bestows a careless look upon him but passes by on the other side Might not better things have been expected from the Priests and Levites Well! In the agony and pangs of Death comes by a Samaritan one abhorred both by Priest and Levite one that they damned for a wretched Schismatick but yet he had Bowels of Compassion for the expiring Man he binds up his Wounds and takes care for his Cure The Doctrine the Gospel of God our Saviour lies here a bleeding a dying 'T is in vain to inquire who has been the Assassin who has committed the Massacre For all will remove the guilt from themselves though all be guilty in the mean time Religion bleeds on and is ready to give up the Ghost Now it 's usual when a Person is found sore wounded in the Streets to ask who wounded him At least to describe them by such Characters that they may be pursued seized and brought to Condign Punishment But have we Courage enough Conscience enough to ask wounded Religion this question How readily would it answer though with the Accents of a languishing Voice It was you all and every one of you that are guilty and our own Consciences will accuse and convict us that we are the Men When our Saviour Matth. xxvi 21 22. Had told his Apostles that one of them should betray him They were exceeding sorrowful and began to say one by one Lord is it I Lord is it I He that knows his own deceitful Heart and the Corruption that lies dormant there will find Reason to suspect that a Temptation may awaken it to deny his Lord nay to betray and sell his Lord and Saviour Peter and James and John suspected themselves as much as Judas and none of us but have cause to say Lord was it I I that denyed thy Truth I that blemished thy Gospel And if so O let us mourn and mourn bitterly over him whom we have pierced as one that mourneth for an only Son Zech. xii 10. It was a cutting word that would have wounded the Heart of any but an Obdurate Judas Judas betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss Do we pretend to Kiss him and yet basely betray him The smiling Face aggravates the Rancour of the false Heart This was the baseness of Joab that he saluted Aâ—…ner and stabbed him do we Complement Christ and Stab him The Gospel may say to us in the language of that Prophetick Scheme Zech. xiii 6. The Qucstion was asked What are those wounds in thy hands Religion will answer Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends This is that which wounds deeper than the Swords the Nails the Spear the Thorns that wounded Christ He has been wounded in the House of his Friends Let not our deceitful Hearts think to evade the charge by saying Lord when did I Buffet thee or Spit upon thee It was the Soldiers When did I Crown thee with Thorns or put a Reed into thy Hands Or nail thee to the Cross or pierce thy side with a Spear It was the Jews that Accused thee Pilate that Condemn'd thee the Souldier that Pierced thee Nay but it was thou even thou who pretending to submit to my Scepter didst make it at pleasure but a broken Reed It was thou that didst profess much love with thy Lips and yet
God what you must Avoid if you would not Defile It remains now that I lay down those Directions which you must observe If you will Adorn the Doctrine of our God and Saviour in All things 1. And first severely Govern your selves and the whole Tenor of your Conversations by that Royal Law Matth. vii 12. All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you do ye even so unto them for this is the Law and the Prophets A Law which Christ has transcribed out of the Codè of Nature into his own A Law which once grew upon the stock of Morality but he has transplanted and inoculated into the Gospel Called therefore by the Apostle St. James ii 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture thou shalt love thy neighâ—…our as thy self ye do well A Law that carries the fairest Stamp and Signature both of the Divine Nature and Authority A Law that shines with its own Light into the Soul of Man No Man would Defraud Oppress Persecute another if he would give his Conscience leave to put this Question to him Would I be thus treated thus dealt with my self A due Attendance to this Rule would not only teach us to do Justice but to shew Mercy to Others upon this single consideration I expect Justice and may need Mercy and Pity from others for certainly I am obliged to give what I expect and to shew what I my self may need And nothing would more reclaim Men from their Unchristian their Antichristian Barbarities than to put our selves into the same Condition and Case to suppose our selves chained in the same Prison labouring under the same pressures with others of our Brethren 1. Whatever Mercy Pity Charity we may possibly need in our Extremity let us learn to shew it to others in theirs If we shut up our Bowels of Compassion what may we expect but that God will shut up his and that will restrain the Bowels of Compassion of all the World to us as the first Cause either draws nigh to us or recedes from so will the second either assist or forsake us This Reason the Apostle offers Heb. xiii 3. why we should Remember these that are in bonds and sympathize with them as if we were bound with them and them that suffer affliction as being your selves also in the body Suppose we are not actually bound yet we are in the body and may be so We are not Sick as others are yet we are in the body and may be so and shall then need those Charitable Visits that Relief which we now forget or neglect to Administer Or perhaps we now abound dwell at ease yet still we are in the body and may soon in that very Kind need Compassion And this may seasonably lead us into the Admiration of the Pity Compassion and Bounty of our gracious God who being out of the reach of our Necessities yet can exercise Bowels of tender Mercy to us poor sinning and suffering Worms and into the Admiration of the pities of Christ who now upon the Throne and out of the way of those Afflictions and Temptations wherewith we are encompassed yet has not left the Humane Nature behind him but taken it with him into Heaven that he might therein compassionate his distressed Members whom he is not ashamed to call his brethren Phil ii 11. 2. This ought to teach us to do that Justice to others which we expect others should do to us for with what judgment we judg we shall be judged Matth. vii 2. This one thing would marvellously Adorn the Gospel when we can Convince all the World that our Religion has made us better Men when it made us Christians and that we brought along with us Morality when we espoused and came over to Christianity 2. Secondly Maintain a heavenly Mind and Conversation Let all see that though your Root be in Heaven yet you bring forth Fruit here on Earth It has reflected highly upon our Profession that we believe well but live ill we have got a Systeme of heavenly Truths in our Mouths but we disparage them with Earthly Lives A heavenly Mind a heavenly Frame of Heart would support a heavenly Conversation now because this is that great thing that must recover the Credit and Honour of the Gospel I will in few words shew you what it is 1. A heavenly Mind has unmoveably fixt and pitcht upon Heaven for its great and commanding end this is his Fathers House whither he is always Travelling 't is the Port for which he is Bound And because there may be a mistake in the Notion of Heaven as that it may be only a place of Ease a state of Rest from the Troubles of this Life he is satisfied that the enjoyment of God in that Place and State makes the real Heaven Psal. lxxiii 25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee 2. The heavenly Mind and Heart is always vigorously pursuing that great Design and because there are many impertinent avocations that would seduce or steal his Heart from his end he shakes them off with indignation as those that would divert him in that Holy pursuit nor does he so much consider how much of his Race he has run as he ties up himself to run the rest Phil. iii. 14. Forgetting the things that are behind and looking unto those that are before we press towards the mark for the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus 3. The heavenly Mind endeavours especially to maintain a heavenly Temper and frame of Heart which is the life of all heavenly pursuits The Habits of Grace must be reduced into Act and Exercise and Grace must be laid out to its highest and noblest end as the best Instrument must be in Tune before the skilful Hand can make Melody upon it so must the Heart be kept in Frame suitable to the services which are proper to it 4. A heavenly Mind must Conform it self to and Exercise it self in those imployments here below which are the proper Work of Heaven always recovering it self when it deviates from its main end with this Question My soul How do the Angels and the Spirits of just Men made perfect spend their blâ—…ssed Eternity above They are surely Praising Blessing Admiring Adoring Loving and Serving their God their Redeemer their Sanctifier and Comforter and why do not we Conform our selves to their Pattern The great Law of Heaven governs them and every Thought and Motion of their Wills why do we not then more fervently Pray that we may do the Will of God on Earth as t is done in Heaven With the same chearfulness and perseverance And though we come short of their Perfect Love Praise and Service yet let us be Practising and tuning our Hearts and Harps for those Hallelujahs The Work of Eternity must be begun in time upon us and done in time by us nor is there a wilder Fancy that can delude the vain Heart of Man than to
imagine we shall leap at once from a Life of murmuring and repining here to a State of Praising and Glorifying God for ever We cannot doubt but such a Life as this would put a New Face upon the Christian Religion and convince the most obstinate that we suppose Everlasting Life and Glory to be the most Real Certain and Excellent Thing when we can live at the Holy Heavenly and Chearful Rate which supposes it to be all these That we do firmly believe that whatever are the inconveniencies of our Pilgrimage a Portion in Heaven will answer them and repay us And that therefore we look upon our selves as dwelling in Tents and Tabernacles without any fixed City here below as those Holy Patriarchs once did Heb. xi 9. and dare not drive our Stakes too deep into the Earth because we look long and pray every Day to be called away home to our own Countrey 3. Let us study and follow after the things that make for Peace our God is the God of Peace our Redeemer the Prince of Peace the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Peace the Gospel is a Doctrine of Peace which reveal'd peace on earth and good will towards men Luk. ii 14. But to our shame and the shame of our Profession we have represented it as a Civil War We say we own one God one Lord Jesus Christ one holy Spirit and one hope of salvation why then do we not keep the unity of spirit in the bond of peace Ephes. iv 3 4 5. Peace is that which every one will commend but very few will entertain If we regard the Orations of Men one would think it the most precious and desirable thing in the World but if we observe their Divisions one would conclude it the most Pernicious and Dangerous All Differences in Opinion do not infer a Difference in Religion nor all Local Separation a Schism but when the smallest Differences are managed by proud and froward Spirits and they influenced by secular Interests it 's a wonder to see what Flames a little Spark kindles The sum is this Perhaps we cannot syncretize in the Minutes of Religion nor express the finer Stroaks of Uniformity in our Sentiments yet let us Religiously keep up a Spirit of Love to Peace and Truth Christ has declared Love to be the Livery of his Disciples by which they are known to be His Joh. xiii 35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another As it was the Livery he enjoyn'd them whilst living so was it his Legacy bequeath'd to them when dying John xiv 27. Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you 4. Let us all most fervently cry unto God that his Holy Spirit may be poured out upon the Professors of Religion and that it may accompany the Preaching of the Gospel then will the Doctrine of God our Saviour shine gloriously when the Spirit shall be its Light then will it Conquer and Triumph when the Spirit shall second it with his Might This is that which subdues the Pride the Passions the unruly Lusts of Men and brings down whatever exalts it self against the Truth in subjection to God This influence attending the Word shall make Persecutors become Preachers Scoffers of Religion become Admirers of what they have Scorned and Blasphemers to justify that Name which they have Reproached this will give the Doctrine of the Gospel a Throne in their Hearts who have trampled it under their sordid Feet And this St. Paul well understood when he so earnestly entreats the Churches Prayers 2 Thess. iii. 1. Brethren pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified When the Light shall scatter the Darkness that like a thick Cloud sits upon Mens Minds when the Power of it shall bear down that Opposition that rages in their Hearts when it shall break through all Impediments and make its way to the Conscience then will the Doctrine of our God and Saviour Adorn it self and not need any other Ornaments we can put upon it I profess my self unwilling to dismiss this Argument till it has had its proper Effects upon the Hearts and Consciences of the Readers but I must draw to a Conclusion which I will do with a few Considerations humbly praying that the Great Lord and Master of the Assemblies would drive every Nail to the Head and so fasten it in the Heart that the Power and Policy of the Devil may never draw it out 1. Consideration What great Reason have we to Adorn the Doctrine of our God and Saviour when we have been the Cause or given the Occasion to its Dishonour Juâ—…tice demands that we should heal it because we have wounded it I persuade my self that there are many under the Rebukes of their own Hearts that the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ has been evil spoken of through their irregular Conversations I hope too that many have repented and that God has pardon'd the Iniquity of their Sin but yet God will bear a Testimony against their careless and common Behaviour tho' he has pardon'd the Sin Thus he dealt with David 2 Sam xii 13 14. The Lord hath put away thy sin thou shalt not die Nevertheless because by this dâ—…ed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme the Child that is born unto thee shall die In what way the Jealous God will bear Witness against the present Generation of Professors for the Scandals they have given I presume not to determine most certain it is he will not put up the Affront without Repentance and Reformation The safest Course for every one of us is to confess our Sins to take Shame to our selves to give Glory to God and not to blush at our Repentance when the only thing should make us blush is our Sins 2. Consideration Adorning the Gospel by a suitable Conversation will prove the best expedient to secure its Presence with us If we think it not worth the Adorning we may question whether God will think it worth his Continuing and Protecting 'T was disingenuous in Absalom to spurn his poor Sister out of doors when he had defiled her but the Justice of God will be manifest if he removes our Gospel which we have basely prostituted 'T is his own threatning to the Church of Ephâ—…sus Rev. ii 5. Remember from whence thou art fallen and repent or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick out of its place except thou repent A Father takes away the Childrens Bread when they crumble it in scorn upon the Ground and if he indulges them Candle to play yet will not allow them it to fight and quarrel Let us consult the Histories of Antient Times they will inform us that Religion was never rooted out by Persecution till it had been made cheap by the Profanation of Professors The Primitive Christians proved this Truth that Religion flourisht fairer and grew