our will and desire though they be dead Now whereas in the last of these that is provision for so many motherless and now fatherless children there seemed to be the least hope yet God hath so wrought on the hearts of worthy and well affected persons that help is freely offered already for the education and disposal of the most of them which Christian love and most imitable charity in these dayes wherein the condition of the families of many Ministers is so hard and hazardous puts me in mind of the sweet words of our Saviour wherein I conceive such a comfort to be comprehended He that leaves all for Christ shall receive an hundred fold now in this time houses and brethren and sisters and mothers Mark 10. 30. and fathers too for that 's express'd v. 29. If the Apostles left fathers mothers houses c. they had an hundred for one here for every good Christians house was their house an hundred houses for one every old disciple was a father to them every Christian matron a mother What our Saviour thus speaks of the persecution we see verified in the dissolution of his servants They that had but one father and mother while their parents lived have now many when they are gone and by that means the benefit both of maintenance and education Think well of prayer therefore while God works so well for those that are prayed for though by what hand he pleaseth I shall conclude this with that savoury and comfortable saying of Bernard (a) De consid ad Eugen um lib. 5. Melâ—us est Deum non invenisse quam non quaesivisse Solus est Deus qui nunquam frustra quaeri potest nec cum inveniri non potest It s onely God saith he that is never sought in vain no not then when he cannot be found Let thy experience O Eugenius for to him he writes teach thee this or if it do not believe him that hath tried it I do not say my self but that holy man of God that saith The Lord is good he doth not say to the soul that findes him but to the soul that seeks him Lament 3. 25. Secondly Think well not only of every Ordinance of God but of every child of God Charge not God foolishly in his servants who are his Mal. 3. 17. and in whom he is charged Nehem. 4. 5 Psal 74. 22. no though God strike them heavily and double his stroke let none open their mouth and say Here are two gone the heads of the family father and mother both and that within a week together and that leaving such a charge behind them shew me any that you call a profane family Wherein God hath made such a spoil Unto whom it may suffice to say If God bring such evill on families that call upon his Name shall they who too like the cursed families of Heathens that call not upon his Name (b) Jer. 10. 25. have no course nor care of Religion in their families I say shall they be unpunished they shall not be unpunished (c) Jer. 25. 29. God will surely meet with them one way or other one day or other Meanwhile was it not a mercy that they died together unto whom it would have been so grievous to have lived asunder yea that instead of living asunder here they live together in Heaven Nor can we wonder at such providences if we do but look upon this Job with whom we have now to do who not by a fever or any ordinary sicknes but by an extraordinary hand of God and stroke of heaven lost at once all the children he had even seven sons and three daughters having nothing but a wife left him (a) Job 1. 2. that was a temptation (b) Job 2. 9. and affliction to him Job 19. 17. Nor must Job for this be the worse thought of for men are not to be judg'd of by their condition but their cariage And what Job's cariage was we all know Now though I intend not any comparison with him that receiv'd so high a testimony from heaven and that confirmed by the oppositions and conquests of hell yet if any shall list to make an unpartiall enquiry into these two persons that made such hast one after another it will I doubt not be found that they were such as did truly fear God as were careful of their duties in their places very helpful to others according o their abilities of State and gifts and who dwelt one with another aâ—cording to knowledge and as heires together of the grace of life whereof they are now possess'd But this being the day of his interring whom God thought fit to take away last it calls upon me to speak of him somewhat more particularly of whom notwithstanding I should not speak further were it not that the observation of what was good in him may be good for us I shall therefore with what brevity I can present his example to you and to my self in these five things following 1. He was a Sound Orthodox Minister And even that alone is very valuable in these truth-deserting-times The Devill is a disputing Devill as we see by Michael the Archangel his opponent (d) Jude v. 9. Now in setled times wherein the doctrine of Religion is better guarded by government he disputes against holiness against the holy observation of the Lords day and the necessity of a strict walking with God by all the arguments that profane men can pick up for that purpose But in times more unsetled especially wherein Reformation is sought but not yet found he uses the wits of men to undermine oppose the Truth of God but this our brother had learn'd the form of sound words himself and taught them others Tit. 1. 9. It belongs to us Ministers to minde this for what are unsound Teachers They are to speak as the Scripture speaks The Witches of the Church O foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you saith the Apostle (a) Gal. 3. 1. And who were those Witches but the false Apostles by whom they were removed from the truth of the Gospel (b) Gal. 1. 6 7. If he that should uncharm the sorceries of others as Luther speaks on that place be a witch himself how dangerous is that Witchcraft Matth. 6. 23. And it much concerns you that are Hearers in this place to consider whether you have received and heard and held fast Are not divers in divers places Some in this turn'd aside from the truth Yea some of whom there was some reason to say Will yee also go away [c] Joh. 6. 67 O remember Nothing is more odious than unsound and rotten hearers under sound and right Ministers 2. He was a painful and faithful Minister as all might see by his ready labours in Lectures abroad and his constant imployment in his own place A Minister may be Orthodox and yet idle not unskilful and yet unfaithful but we that are the Lords Watchmen and the
practise of good and continuance in it that God expects as you have received Christ Jesus the Col. 2. 6. Lord so walk in him and that to the end A Christian hath stil his plus ultra More to do He that continueth to the end shall be saved perseverance to the end brings a Crown without end Aarons Garments were Talares down to the feet And the Law forbad Tayl-less creatures to be offer'd in Sacrifice Let it be your care then not only to lay aside your sins for a time as the Serpent his poyson till he hath drank but resolve to part with them for ever do with them as Jacob did with his Idols bury them under the Oak and say as Ephraim Gen. 35. 4. of his Idols What have I to do any more with them Hos 14. 8. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your heavenly Father Mat. 5. 16. and thereby let it appear that you have been with Jesus and Christ hath been with you These are the truths which your dead Pastor by my mouth speaks to you and be ye prevailed withall To own Gods goodness in your enjoying of him so long to lament your loss to blame your selves if you have not profited by his labours as you ought to remember that Gods word never dyes though Ministers do to continue in what you have heard and to walk answerably to the truths you have been taught both by your late Pastor now dead and by your surviving teacher that now speaks unto you Wee dare not bring to you that which is not cleer to us to be the mind of God I am confident of it that nothing in the course of his Ministry was delivered by my Reverend Fellow-labourer now deceased but what he was assured of the truth of in his own conscience He did not press any thing upon you which God had not first setled on his own heart that it was the truth of Christ And let this suffice to be spoken to this Congregation respecting their Pastor deceased I now shall address my self unto you in respect of the opportunities of grace that do or may remain amongst you And that shall be in this general exhortation Return to God by them Lay hold upon them Be careful to improve them Make a good use of them Your Fathers are dead and the Prophets do they live for ever But my word and my Statutes which I commanded my servants the Prophets did they not take hold of your Fathers saith the Text. This Prophet is dead and he that speaks shall dye But their words shall live for ever While you have the light therefore walk in it It s John 12. 35. your opportunity improve it He that gathereth in Summer is a wise Son but he that sleepeth in Harvest Prov. 10. 5. is a Son that causeth shame Two things there are which render men truly wise First the knowledge of what is to be done and Secondly the knowledge of the time when it s to be done Solomon tells us There is a time for all things Eccl. 3. And that every thing is beautiful done in its due season It was a speech of Antigonus being provoked to fight by Pyrrhus upon a disadvantage Mea militia non magis armorum est quam temporum My war is managed by Times as well as by Arms. Accounting it his best military prudence to take his opportunity of time as well as to provide good Souldiers Idlers in their youth prove commonly beggars in their age They that Sing in Summer shall mourn and weep Aestate Cecineris Hieme jejunaris Fronte capillata est c. Heb. 3. 7 8. Isa 55. 6. John 12. 35. in Winter Those five foolish Virgins witness this who unprovidedly slept when the Bridegroom came and therefore were shut out from the Wedding Hence those exhortations of Not hardning our hearts to day while it is called to day of seeking God while he may be found of walking in the light while we have it Improve then present opportunities by an immediate returning unto God Put not off repentance till hereafter Think not that the practise of Repentance as that Popish Prelate said of the doctrine of Justification by Faith only that 't is a good Supper Doctrine No but know that God calls thee to Remember him thy Creator Eccl. 12. 1. in the dayes of thy youth It s true indeed that Nunquam sera est ad bonos more 's via True repentance is never too late But yet in this case Sera nimis vita est crastina vive Hodie A resolved late repentance is usually prevented by an intervening death We have a day of Mercy if we neglect that God hath a day of Justice and he will not neglect that Then Jesus Christ the now despised Lamb will appear as an unresistable Lion Then they who now Pr. 1. L. stop their ears at Gods call will find Gods stopt at theirs and therefore To day while it is called to day Harden not your Hearts Time past is gone Time to Aestas non semper fuerit compenite nidos come may find us gone Provide then eternal heavenly mansions before these earthly tabernacles are dissolved That I may perswade you to this care I shall enforce it on you by these two arguments 1. Our eternal welfare depends on it As men sow so they reap as the tree falls so it lies Non relinquitur Hostia pro peccatis mortuo in peccatis nec descendit in inferos sanguis effusus super terram It was a Poetical fiction that what every man affected in this life with that he should be solaced in the Elisyan Fields The moral is a certain truth That look what men are in this world that shall they be hereafter they shall not hereafter be numbred amongst the Sons of Sion who were here the slaves of Satan For know that spiritual Eunuches that bring forth no good works Bastards that are not the seed of God the Incestuous brood of Ammonites and Moabites that are born of worldly lusts and concupiscences shall be more certainly excluded the Congregation of the Saints in Heaven than were the Corporal from the Congregation of Israel upon earth Let us then provide our selves a remedy whilst Deut. 23. 3 there is time and gain an interest in Christs righteousness before we come to judgement that so Christs tribunal may be to us as Mount Sion not as Mount Sinai That we having delighted our selves here in the Law of the Lord may stand in the Congregation Psal 1. 11 of the righteous when others fly and fall Delay not the doing of that which must be once done or Cum mora non tuta est totis incumbere remis Utile Cras Cras sic nihil sit else thou art for ever undone You see there is danger in delay and it s a good rule A speedy endeavour is exceeding necessary where delay is
Heb. 2. 3. Secondly Apply what 's spoken to thy self Let the Preachers words take hold upon thee We are naturally well pleased when Preachers words take hold on others as Herod when John Preached against the Pharisees but we are loath they should come too close to our selves When John came to touch Herod about the matter of Herodias and meets with his beloved sin John Baptist shall lose his head Let us then be less inquisitive concerning others and apply what 's spoken to our selves Most men say as Peter of John What shall this man do but let us John 21. 21. 2 Sam. 7. 18. Mat. 19. 16. say as David Lord who am I or as that youngman in the Gospel to Christ not what shall others do But Lord what shall I do Be contented to be convinced of the evil of your own ways Suffer the word of Reproof This is a harder matter than men are aware of to be willing to be reproved The most of hearers are like Thistles you may stroak them upward without danger but press them downward and immediatly they offend Preach gospel-Gospel-truths and no more a wicked man likes it A Carnal heart can be content to hear of Christ and of grace The stony hearers Luke 8. 13. receive this word with joy But once tell him This way of wickedness is unlawful this or that profitable sin must be left this gain or pleasure parted with Then away with these fellows These are they which trouble the world as those unbeleeving Jews spoke of the Apostles They which have turned the whole world Acts 17. 6. upside down are come hither also It s the property of a true beleever to be willing to be told of his faults that he may amend them And it s the property of an Hypocrite yea his discovery by which he may know himself That he cannot endure to hear of his sins because he is not minded to forsake them Paul is accounted an enemy if he speak the truth and that Gal. 4. 16. in the esteem of those who sometimes could have been content to pull out their own eyes to have done him good So Herod heard John Baptist gladly till he told him him of Herodias Thus are many so pleased with their sins that they are angry with those that shew them they are sins as that distracted man I have read of Who imagined himself a King in which distemper'd conceit he so pleased himself That when he was cured he was displeased with the Physician who restored him to his right mind So is it with Hypocrites who are so pleased in the ignorance or mistake of some profitable practicals that they are offended with such who by a discovery of the truth shall undeceive them Be perswaded to accept of Reconciliation offer'd and that upon Gods own terms He sends his Embassadors on this errand to entreat you and beseech 2 Cor. 5. 19 20. you to be reconciled Have good thoughts then of God and Jesus Christ for know what was flatteringly spoken of Julius Caesar Nihil oblivisci solet nisi injurias that he forgot nothing but injuries is most true of God and Jesus Christ who forget nothing but the sins of penitent supplicants Having thus dispatched the Improvement of this truth and occasion as they respect this City and Congregation unto whom our Reverend friend was a faithful Pastor I shall now proceed to speak those things which our dead Brother speaks to us the surviving dispensers of Gospel mysteries briefly thus Walk answerably to the immortality of our imployment Having our hearts and affections setled upon things of eternity This Doctrine hath taught us that the Ministers imployment is about things that never dy O How unsuitable a thing it is to have Heaven in our mouths and the world in our hearts Let us not live below the word we Preach God teacheth by precept and example so should Si vis me flâ—re dolendum est primum ipsi tibi Preachers If you would have another grieve for sin you must first grieve your selves and practise that you press others too It s a good rule of an antient Cavendum est ne admirandae virtutis mali sumus pastores Look to this let our lives express our Preaching lest we hear that Physician cure thy self Luke 4. 23. It s a witty observation I have read and I wish it were not as true as witty Some Preachers are such in the Pulpit that when they are there its pitty they should ever come forth and when they are out of the Pulpit its pitty they should ever come in Pudet haec opprobria nobis Et dici potuisse non potuisse reselli Ther 's truth in this sad story O what shame That such reproach and unrefuted blame Should stain the glory of so good a name Let us labour then Reverend Fathers and Brethren to manifest our savouring of eternity by our actions as well as expressions especially by our sitting loose from and undervaluing of earthly things Let us look to this Ne surgant indocti rapiant coelum nos cum nostris literis detrudimur in Bâ—rathrum Let not those who comparatively are mean in knowledge compass Heaven and we our selves with all our learning prove cast aways O let us now learn this lesson from this our Reverend deceased Fellow-Labourer Of whom I do boldly affirm upon my own knowledge that he was exceeding free from that which is a sordid thing in all Christians but a most indelible blemish in the Lords dispensers earthly-mindedness For of him I may say and say truly what was spoke of Luther Non curabat Aurum He used but not loved the world I know we are all of us exceeding witty to find out arguments to justâ—fie that course we have a mind unto and a sad thing it is that covetousness which is Idolatry should be accounted provident care and Col. 3. 5. good Husbandry We are ready to say as Ministers we Preach eternals but as men we look to temporals I grant this and therefore adde That it s not the having but the loving and the inordinate seeking after the world that God condemns Let us not then deceive our selves for if God condemn the man for his earthly mindedness what will become of the Minister withall his spirituals Suitable to this is that story of an Arch-Bishop of Colen who marching with his followers in a warlike and stately equipage was met by a Country-man The Countryman smiled and being asked the cause of that incivility answered That he could not choose but smile and did greatly wonder that the Apostles who were themselves so mean and poor should have such rich stately and magnificent successors The Arch Bishop replyed that he was a Duke as well as an Arch-Bishop and as a Duke was now so attended on with that warlike Company The Country man replyed that he desired him to resolve this question When my Lord the Duke for his pride shall be
his dealings even in this sad dispensation of his providence whereby a deserving Pastor is removed from a desiring People and both the careful and indulgents Parents within the compass of one week from many tender and needing Orphans so ought we to indeavour the improving of it to our own spiritual good And therefore know that Funeral solemnities are not for the solace of the dead they are beyond our prayers or helps though not respects but for the comfort and instruction of the living who ought as those who came where Asahel lay dead to stand still and 2 Sam. 2. 23. consider what God expects they should learn from the works of his hand his deed having a voice to instruct us as well as his word To help you wherein I shall crave your attentions to those doctrinal truths which from the word read shall be commended and improved unto you In the managing of which as I vary from my usual way of discourse my Apology is this As in Feasts so in Sermons we respect the Company not our selves Paul at Athens alters his stile The words are part of Zechariahs Penitential Sermon comprised in the six first verses of this Prophesy in which according to the resolution of it by the Judicious Diodati we have 1. The call to Repentance v. 3. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts Turn unto me saith the Lord of Hosts 2. Arguments to enforce this exhortation and they are drawn from 1. The good of so doing v. 3. I will turn to you 2. The evil of not repenting 1. Represented in the History of their Fathers 1. Sin v. 4. They did not 2. Effects of sin 1. Gods wrath v. 2. The Lord hath been sore displeased c. 2. Their punishment v. 6. Did they not take hold c. 2. History applyed v. 4. Be not as your Fathers Now the words of my text Your Fathers where are they c. are inserted for the amplification and inforcement of the exhortation and by way of prevention to remove two forceable obstructions that might weaken the strength of those Motives The hindrances are what the Prophet foresaw their corruptions would prompt them to say 1. You tel us of our Fathers What is that to us They are dead 2. You tell us of the former Prophets What is that to us They are dead too to remove which these words are by way of Concession as if God should say I grant you what you do object your Fathers are dead and the Prophets are dead yet know you have great reason to regard the present exhortations to repentance that are now made to you by my Prophets Haggai and Zechariah and others that are now sent Because 1. The examples of my Justice on your Fathers do stil live Did it not take hold yes it did they have confessed it and they returned and said like as the Lord of Hosts thought to do unto us according to our ways and according to our doing so hath he dealt with us ver 6. 2. The word which I commanded my Prophets though the Prophets be dead yet their words stil live Did they not take hold v. 6. Thus have I given you that sense and dependance of the words which I conceive most genuine and proper and shall not spend time needlesly in relating others judgements That being a good rule for popular Preachers which at my first entrance upon the work of the Ministry I received from my sometimes Reverend Friend Mr. Samuel Crook of famous memory late Pastor of Woragton now with God In vulgar auditories to pitch upon that sense of Scripture which is most genuine and not to distract hearers by mentioning various readings and judgements That course rather savouring of ostentation than tending to instruction The words are plain and without difficulty only take notice that the Prophet by that question Where are they Intends thus much they are dead according to that of Job Man giveth up the Ghost and where is he and by that phrase of Taken hold or overtake implies thus much that Gods Job 14. 10. denounced judgements are as a prosecuting enemy that follows the pursute and wil not cease til overtaking they lay hold on and hold fast his enemies Now in my passage to the main thing intended from the words read give me leave to mention and I shall but mention the doctrines of the Context or at least the most principal of them which are these five that follow Turning men to God is the Preachers main Doct. 1 employment The former Prophets Zechariahs St. Pauls whom God sent to open their eys and to Acts 26. 18 20. turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God This was This is Gods messengers imployment to perswade such that have left Gods ways to follow their own now to leave their own to follow Gods to walk with their faces toward the Sun that so they may have shining light and comfortable heat when as turning their backs to the Sun what see they but a shadow the privation of light and heat The bringing back of lost Sheep to their Shepherd of prodigal children to their Father the beseeching sinners to be reconciled and by repentance to break off their sins is the proper work of Christs Ministers Present enjoyments of signal mercies yea great Doct. 2 deliverances are no ground of future security without renewed and renewing repentance They were now but newly come forth of captivity and so had received a mighty deliverance yet should they again break Gods Commandements they know God would have been angry with them Ezra 9. 13 14. til he had consumed them so that there should be The doctrine of Repentance is always necessary Doct. 3 to be preached but especially then when mercies are enjoyed and we are in a prosperous estate In which the Heart is exceeding apt to forget God Latet anguis in Herba A deadly poyson is many times secretly conveyed under a pleasant relish for as when men are most hot they are then most subject to take dangerous colds so when Christians enjoy all things outwardly well as David when at peace then are they in greatest danger of spiritual miscarriages The doctrine then of Repentance is always needful it was the first doctrine preached by Christ The disciples John fit for every Auditory for all times Other discourses may be profitable but this is necessary An impenitent obstinacy against and under the Doct. 4 means of grace is an aggravated impiety Forefathers examples are no plea for impenitency Doct. 5 no privilege for impunity and yet as the Jewes we are exceeding apt to plead them when Jer. 44. 17 they are so far from countenancing that they aggravate offences Having thus mentioned the doctrines of the context I now come to Consider the truths of the words Read and they are two the first I shall but touch and the second Insist on as more suitable to the present occasion Your fathers are dead yet
they were took Hold Text. on and they confest it Whence Examples of God justice on foregoing people are Doct. left recorded and ought to be improved as warnings to following generations As what was forewritten so what was foredone was for our learning and thus the Apostle tels us Rom. 15. 4. that the Israelites were overthrown in the wilderness and these things were our examples to the 1 Cor. 10. 5 6. intent we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted Hence God calls us to Remember the dayes of Deut. 32. 7. old and to consider the years of many generations and Christ wils his disciples to recall to mind what Luke 17. 32. was done long before even to Remember Lots wife who was turned into a Pillar of Salt a visible and lasting Monument whereas God might have blown her up as Salt-Peter or sunk her down as Coral he fixeth her as a Pillar and calls to us to remember it that we may fetch thence wherewithall to season our unsavory lives Thus Antidotes are made of poyson and Treacle from Vipers The ground of which truth is because God is alwaies the same His past dealings are the discovery of his future they who are alike in fault must expect to be alike in suffering If Israels Princes Isa 1. 9. 10. commit the sins of Sodom as they shall have their names so without repentance shall they have their sorrows Learn then hence how to improve Histories recorded not read them to satisfie curiositie but to instruct and caution thee Not as those who are well that hear or read the rules of Physicians but as sick persons that attend such discourses that they may make use of and apply the receipts prescribed Let us thus go to Shiloh and consider what God did Jer. 7. 12. dit to it for the wickedness of his people Let us of England remember the seven Churches of Asia the Nation of the Jews who were as Gideon's Judg. 6. 37 38. fleece first wet with Heavenly dew when all the rest of the world was dry and now dry when great part of the world besides is wet for look Exod. 10. 21 23. as it was in Egypt the Israelites had light when all the rest were dark but at Christs death Judea Luke 25. 45. was in darkness when all the rest was light so had the Jews at first Gods oracles and so Christs proffers when the Gentiles were strangers but now the Gentiles are ingrafted and the Jews cut off so may it be with us of England who have long enjoyed the Sun-shine of the Gospel when other Nations and people have been without it we may be for our unworthiness cast off and others received therefore let us so remember former examples that we may stil apply them to our selves and know what Christ is willing we should mind that except we repent we shall Luke 13. 3 5. all likewise perish Having thus given you a brief account of the first truth of the text I now come to the consideration of the main Doctrine and that which is most pertinent to the occasion of our present meeting and that grounded on these words The Prophets do they live for ever But my words Text. and my Statutes which I commanded my servants the Prophets did they not take hold of your Fathers Whence observe Though Preachers dye yet Sermons live Doct. All flesh is grass but the word of the Lord endureth 1 Pet. 1. 24 25. for ever Though Christs Embassadors are mortal men yet their Embassage is an immortal errand which will have its effect even after the death of the Messenger Ministers are earthen pitchers that may and must dissolve into dust But the Gospel which they bring is water drawn from an everlasting Isa 12. 3. Rev. 14. 6. Well and of an everlasting nature and so continues when the pitcher is broke When the Angels were returned to Heaven the Shepherds remembred Luke 2. 15. their words For the first part of this Doctrine That Preachers dye you have a visible proof this day before you and no wonder For it s appointed for all men and Ministers are but men once to dye For the second part of this Doctrine that Sermons live it is though not so visibly yet as fully evidenced in the words of the Prophet Isaiah For as the rain cometh down and the Snow from Isa 55. 10 11. Heaven and returneth not thither but watereth the earth and maketh it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth it shall not return unto me void but it shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it And therefore though at present obstinate sinners regard not Gods messages or messengers yet whether they wil hear or whether they wil forbear they shall one day know that there hath Eze. 2. 4 5 been a Prophet amongst them The word Preachd by Gods faithful Ministers is an immortal and incorruptible 1 Pet. 1. 23 seed that wil most assuredly bring forth some fruit either for our good or evil 1. For good so this good Seed produceth in us the eternal being of immortal grace Now as 1 Pet. 1. 23. natural Parents may dye yet leave their children living much more spiritual Parents who 1 Cor. 4. 15. beget Converts through the word of the Gospel who if they leave not spiritual children here below yet wil certainly find them in Heaven Grace once given being a Free-hold of inheritance that cannot be forfeited For he that is born of God hath the seed of God remaining 1 Joh. 3. 9. in him and cannot sin and so by consequence cannot finally miscarry God having in his Covenant ingaged as never to Heb. 13. 5. leave us so to write his Laws in our hearts and put his fear before our eyes that we shall Ier. 32. 40. never leave him 2. For evil Thus the text Did not my words take hold Hence Christ tells us that the word which he had Preached to the Jews should judge them Iohn 12. 48. Mat. 16. 19. at the last day and that what his Apostles did bind on earth should be bound in Heaven Thus the Doctrine lieth evident before you and you are I question not fully convinced of the truth of this assertion That Preachers dying leave Sermons living and lasting and which wil 2 Cor. 2. 16. have their effect either of good as a savour of life to life or of evil as a savour of death to death Not that all which pious Preachers speak in Sermons shall last so long No There may be much 1 Cor. 3. 12. Wood Hay Stubble built on the foundation which wil not endure the fire but the foundation rightly layed shall alwaies last the proffers and tenders of Christs to Sinners shall have
their effect either in their conversion or to their greater condemnation Thus then It is not the wisdom Joh. 3. 19. 1 Cor. 1. 17. of words but the Word of wisdom that abides for ever Having thus dispatched the doctrinal part of this truth it remains that I improve it to you by application In the managing of which I shall joyn both the truth of the text and the providence of this time the sad occasion of our present meeting and shall endeavour to make use of both by acquainting you what they speak 1. To this Congregation to whom this Deceased Preacher was a faithful Pastor 2. To us in the Ministry the surviving dispensers of Gospel mysteries 3. To all in general First you that are related as a particular flock of Christ to him that 's gone and to him that speaks Know that this word this work speaks much to you I shall divide my discourse into a twofold Chanel 1. Respecting him that is gone 2. Respecting the opportunities of grace that do or may remain amongst you First then know that this truth that Preachers dye but Gods word never dieth and the death of this our Reverend Brother hath much to say to us I shall give it in six particulars and I desire you would seriously lay them to heart as they proceed from a mind that doth seriously and earnestly desire your good in what is spoken First own Gods goodness in enjoying of him so long for though sad providence hath more suddainly than was expected taken him from us yet may we not be unmindfull of Gods goodness in lending him so long as a great mercy to this place and people for whom as Paul he spent himself in the painfull exercise of his Ministerial gifts He was a burning and a shining light who did not wast out but wear out who did not smother out but burn'd yea flam'd out who spent his Spirits that he might instrumentally communicate Gods Spirit and inliven yours and they that know the passages of his sickness are very confident that it was not the violence of the Wind that blew forth his Lamp but the Oyl was spent and the flame must cease Let us then remember and own him for a mercy who was so successively painfull and usefull in his generation Secondly we have reason all of us but especially he that speaks and you late his charge that are spoken to and all others that hear me this day to lament our loss I may justly take up Elisha's Lamentation when he saw Elijah gone to Heaven before him Ah 2 Kings 21. 12. my Father my Father the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof and you have reason to say Alas my Brother Alas our Pastor God expects that we should value our loss and express it by our lamenting for it And the most of us if not all have cause to repent of our sin who have slighted the mercy lent us Who have slept in our day and not walked answerably to this light When Children wax wanton and throw wholesome food to the Dogs its time to remove the Tables if Ephesus wil not repent Rev. 2. 5. and do her first works Christ threatens to come quickly and remove her Candlestick And whether our unthankfulness and unfruitfulness have not provoked the Lord to deprive us of this his servants Ministry I am afraid to deny though I cannot determine Let us however lament our loss repent of our sin Thirdly are there any amongst us I could wish there were none but I fear there are too many to be found the more sad their condition that have not profited as they should have done by the labours of this servant of God Let such lay the blame where its due at their own doors Consider the Parable of the Sower That tells us There were Mat. 13. four grounds on which Seed was cast and but one fruitful Where was the fault Was it in the Seed or Sower No they were the same but the faults lay in the grounds themselves So is it with the hearers of the word when a very few receive advantage and the greatest number remain unfruitful Say not thou then the Physick was weak but thy distemper was strong Say not the meat was unwholesome but know thy Stomach was foul Now it s a true Rule in Physick Corrupta corpora quo magis nutris eo magis laedis Impure Bodies the more you nourish the more you harm They who have bad eyes think the sky alwaies cloudy The fault may be and most times is in our selves when we are ready to lay it upon others People may be unprofitable under the most powerful Ministry because of their own dulness and negligence Do not then in this case as that man who complained of the roughness of the way when he had a thorn in his foot or that Woman Plutarch mentions who being suddainly struck blind bid them open the Windows Fourthly Remember I beseech you the Doctrine of the text That though your Preacher be dead yet his Sermons live and wil live for ever You shall know that he hath been a Prophet of the Lord amongst you It was the desire of his Soul on his sick Bed that this Congregation would consider his death and lay it to heart That they who have not profited by his Sermons in his life might now profit by his departure For assure your selves Gods word by whomsoever spoken as the Sword of Saul wil 2 Sam. 1. 22. never return empty any more than the rain doth as that place formerly cited out of the Prophet Isaiah fully shews So shall not the word of God spoken by any that are faithfull return empty but prosper in the thing whereto God sends it Blessed be God that some of you know that Gods word by him hath taken hold of you for good He hath not wanted the Seals of his Apostleship And 1 Cor. 9. 2. what ever vain men say to the contrary conversion of Souls to God by the Ministry is an Apostolical argument of the rightfulness and lawfulness of the Ministerial call and such a Seal yea divers such Seals had our deceased friend Some that were in Heaven before him and others that are stil below did and do acknowledge him their spiritual Father And Friends you of this City and Congregation shall know that his words wil take hold if not to save you which was his aim and desire yet to judge you at the last day which is your fault and wil be your misery for God wil certainly punish as the Congregation Hos 7. 12. hath heard That the Gospel by him or any other Preach'd prevails for good is Gods grace that it proves a savour of death to death is our sin Now never wonder that such diametrical opposite effects proceed from the same cause You wil not if you consider the reason to be not in the Cause but in the Subject not in the word but in the hearts of those who hear
it Christ who came to be the light of the world came also for judgement into this Joh. 9. 39. world that they which see not might see and that they which see might be made blind Christ who is a Corner stone to some yet becomes a Rock of offense 1 Pet. 2. 6 7 8. to others that meat which strengthens healthy bodies yet breeds diseases in corrupted Stomachs and it s observ'd by Naturalists That the smel of a sweet Ointment comforteth the Dove but killeth the Hornet The same heat which softneth Wax hardneth Clay That Flower which yields Hony to the Bee yields poyson to the Spider That fire which refines Gold consumes the dross So that Gospel by the mouths of Gods Servants and by the mouth of this his servant which hath been instrumental to save some wil most assuredly at the last day condemn others For this indeed is the judgement heightning sin that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light And accordingly it wil be more Joh. 3. 19. tolerable for Sodom and Gomorroh for Tunnis and Algier at the day of judgement than for this City for this Congregation if the word of Gods grace be not savingly entertained Woe unto thee Chorazin woe unto thee Bethsaida saith our Saviour for if the mighty works which were done in you had been Mat. 11. 21 22. done in Tyre and Sidon they had repented long agoe in Sackcloth and ashes Fiftly Continue in and hold fast and still cleave to those instructions which your late Pastor in the discharge of his Ministerial employment hath delivered to you His soul was and my soul is your Pledge that they are the truths of Jesus We dare not be as some who make merchandise of you with 2 Pet. 2. 3. feigned words We tremble to be as many who corrupt the word of God but as of sincerity but as of God 2 Cor. 2. 17. in the sight of God speak we in Christ And therefore follow that Counsel given by Paul As you have received Col. 2. 6 7. Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him rooted and built up in him and established in the Faith as yee have been taught Be rooted be fixed be not as Reeds shaken with every Wind as Children tossed to Eph. 4. 14. and fro and carried about with every doctrine No but as Trees of righteousness which stand fast in the place where God hath planted them Be ye as men setled and grounded in the truth O how changeable and child-like are many wanton hearers whom you may win with an apple and lose with a Counter Be not ambulantes in Consilio scatterers of your Jer. 3. 13. wayes who so take a taste of all courses must needs do evil who so give themselves a liberty to run after all pretended Teachers must needs learn evil Therefore good was that Counsel to the Hebrews Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines Heb. 13. 9. for its a good thing that the heart be established with grace Intimating thus much that unsetled hearers have unestablished hearts And worth our observation is that character of false doctrines given in the original word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We render it various divers It signifieth properly Varii Coloris Parti-coloured doctrines of several threads which have no agreement one with another And certainly were there nothing else yet this were enough to convince the doctrines of many to be false especially of such who casting dirt in the faces of Christs publike Ministers arrogate the name of his Messengers to themselves and say they are Apostles Rev. 2. 2. when they are not Namely their inconsistency variableness and disagrement And this may sufficiently commend unto you the doctrines taught you by your deceased Pastor by him that now speaks and all other faithful Ministers which have occasionally by their procurement spoken to you in the name of the Lord viz. That there is no interfeering no crossing but a sweet Harmony and consent Truth is in all his parts alike and such who are acted by the Spirit of truth in those points which are materially and fundamentally necessary howsoever Phil. 3 16. they may differ in some circumstantials speak the same things Whereas false teachers not only differ one from another but also from themselves seldom keeping themselves in the same station either of place or doctrine but are as Jude calls them wandring Stars that settle no where but are alwaies in Jude 13. uncertain motions Solid Christians are fixed Stars counterfeit professors are wandring Planets now Planets as Astrologers speak according to their Conjunction vary their Influence so is it with unstay'd professors they are according to their conjunction Let one man Preach this thing they are of his mind if another new-affected Teacher Preach the contrary they close with that But I hope better things of you for whom it was the prayer of your late Pastor it is and shall be the prayer of him that now speaks to you what was St. Peters 1 Eph. 5. c. 10. v. That the God of all grace would make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you Amen Sixtly Know beloved you of this place that God expects from you a walking answerable unto the care pains and labour that he hath exercised towards you Where God gives much he expects much Luke 12. 48. and certainly you have had much perswasion unto Christ exhortation unto duty conviction of sin precept upon precept line upon line here a little and Isa 28. 10. there a little as Israel of old had Now what is Gods expectation but that you should not shame your keeping nor dishonour your keeper but that you would manifest that you have been taught of God and make your profiting to appear by your practise of and continuance in that which is good That you would not be as Pharaohs lean kine stil ill Gen 41. 22. favoured after they had devoured the fat ones That you should not be like other men as others who have not had the same means of grace Content not your selves with knowledge or desires after it but look that your practise be answerable to your knowledge Knowledge is necessary but it s not sufficient knowledge is not to be desired for it self only but for practise which is indeed the life of knowledge and renders it a blessing For sinful souls are as corrupt bodies who have often great appetites but small digestion Now meat not disgested encumbers and breeds disquieting diseases so knowledge not put in practise perverts the soul and makes the professors of it Satans more serviceable instruments Let us then follow Christ in sincere obedience to plain truths rather than trouble our selves with curious knotty and difficult matters that at best do but fil our brains with notions and usually our hearts with pride and rarely if ever advance Gods glory by us or his grace in us It s the
they throw fall down upon their own heads And how think you will Jesus Christ look upon them at the last day who to disgrace his servants abuse The name of Priest properly belongs to Christ who sacrifised and is as an Honour appropriated to all Saints under the new Testament and not to Ministers Rev. 1. 6. his own Title and by way of scorn call Ministers by that name by which Christ is most comfortably to be known viz. By the name of Priests 4. It s not alwaies a sign that that is evill which is spoken against For we read what was said of the Christian Religion that * Acts 28. 22. James 1. 26. this sect is every where spoken against No but it s a manifest sign of evill in those that so do and we may easily see the rancour and bitterness of mens minds by the utterance of their tongues A pimpled face discovers a distemper'd Liver A stinking breath corrupted lungs A railing tongue makes manifest a wicked rotten envious naughty heart therefore St. James gives this character of an hypocritical professor That he bridleth not his tongue though he seem to be religious but therein deceives his heart and therein is his Religion vain whence it is evident That Rayling and Religion do not cannot dwell together Where then is their Religion that make it their business to rail at and revile the Lords Messengers 2. Having thus acquainted you with these observations I shall endeavour to make them useful to all but especially to us Ministers by perswading the practice of these two Rules 1. Indeavour to prevent all occasion from those that wait for it that they may not have their mouths opened against us justly There are a generation of men in this Nation in this City in this place happily that look for Ministers haltings Let us then walk more circumspectly and take care that we give no offence either to 1 Cor. 10. 32. Acts 24. 16. the Jew or Gentile or to the Church of God to those that own us or disown us As Paul did so let us exercise our selves to keep alwaies a Conscience void of offence both towards God and towards men and then Non offendunt obloquentium verba quem propria non inquinaverit conscientia Reproches of revilers will never harm where mens own consciences are not defiled As much as its possible Let us live peaceably with all men But know that Peace must not be bought with the loss of Truth If men are our enemies for truths sake Valeant Let them be so That mans friendship is not worth the keeping where the prostituting of Truth must be the price of it 2. Answer not reviling with reviling railing with railing The Spirit of man lusts to revenge James 4. 5. But let not us do to them as they have done to us But let us bless where they curse and herein shew our selves Christs Disciples Ministers must Mat. 5. 44. expect when they Preach well to hear ill and when they bring the Gospel of salvation to be accounted the filth and off scouring of the world 1 Cor. 4. 13. But whatever undeserved reproachings men cast upon us Let us take them up as our Crown and with Paul rejoyce in our very suffrings in that we Col. 1. 24. fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ for his bodies sake which is the Church And to ease our selves Let us not as the men of the world do vent our passions to men but our case to God and spread such revilings before the Lord as Hezechiah did the railing Letter of Isa 37. 14. Senacherib with this prayer which our Saviour taught us Father forgive them they know not what they do The last use I shall make of this truth That though Preachers dye yet Sermons live is to perswade you while you have time and while you are call'd by the word to let your hearts answer that call that you may be taken hold on by Gods word for good Labour for an interest in God by Christ the enjoyment of whom will be your chiefest good This is life eternal John 17. 3. to know thee the only true God and whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ God is the only summum bonum chief good He is optimum the best and so can suit he is maximum bonum the greatest and can satisfy our desires Be prevailed withall to study Jesus Christ more and in him your own immortaliy and labour after a cleerer knowledge of eternal Excellencies For certainly had we Heaven more in our eyes we should have it more in our hearts I have read that the discourse of a Philosopher concerning the contempt of life prevailed with the Milesian Virgins to destroy themselves and of Cleombrotus who reading Plato of immortality threw himself headlong that he might enjoy it And shall discourses of Heaven and immortality work nothing upon us O that we could see Heaven as it is then should we be willing to leave Earth When Paul had been rapt up into Heaven and had some taste of the inexpressible joys and delights thereof then was he willing to depart and Phil. 1. 23. to be with Christ which was best of all Though Paul while here was with Christ and Christ was with him between whom there was a spiritual union and Communion Yet in comparison of what he expected in Heaven he reckons himself while in the body absent from the Lord. Here 2 Cor. 5. 6. we enjoy as it were the Crums of grace Heaven is a full Table Whereat though all shall not fare alike yet every one shall have his full portion As Exod. 16. 18. the gatherers of Manna who had not all equal yet had all sufficient Our understanding here in comparison of what it will be is no more than the eye of a Bat to an Eagle the creeping of a Snayl to the flying of a Swallow And so are our possessions and enjoyments Here we have mixt and at best short and fading pleasures But when we awake at the resurrection we shall be satisfied Ps 17. 15. with Gods Image with whom is fulness of joy Ps 16. 11. and at whose right hand there are pleasures for evermore The knowledge of this may lesson our grief for friends who are by death parted from us Such friends as dye in the Lord they are no losers They go to Rev. 1â— 13 Josh 7. 25. Judges 2. 5. Rev. 21. 4. a blessed to a better place from the Vally of Achor and Bochim from trouble and weeping to fulness of joy where all tears are wiped away where is no more death or sorrow or crying or pain To this place of joy this our Reverend Friend is gone before who hath left us behind in the Camp the place of travail and hath ascended the Capitol the place of Triumph He hath not lost but gained by his removal It s observed that by Gods appointment when a Deut.
in Germany and at home which did indeed sadden and wound his heart with much cheerfulnes of Spirit None further off from Stoicks than he in their denying affections none more neere them than he in composing them what they would nullifie he did rectifie O that it could be said Hee and Wee but how are our Faculties disturbed our Societies sowred yea prayers and holy exercises pudled with our imperious and impetuous passions As our Saviour sometime said This did not Abraham So may we truly say It was not thus with our deceased Brother whose Example therefore I am willing to present not so much to adde to his honour whereof there is no neâ—d but whereof there is so great need to our patience Had it not been for this I mean that we have great need of the help of such an example I should in this and in other things have suppresd that commendation of him now he is dead that was intolerable to him when he was alive I have told you of his patience onely in one thing I confess hee was impatient I mean in hearing those things that seemed to set him up and dâ—d indeed advance him above other men which leads me to that that I would observe 4. Fourthly to wâ—t his rare humility well were it if we could speak of our faults as he did when men spake of his vertues that is with weeping for when any mentioned his perfections it did but make him mind and mourn under the sense of his imperfections My self visiting him in his last sicknes and telling him of some that acknowledged themselves to be converted by his Ministry he replyed with much relenting O that God should make me an instrument of so great a work I have desired to spend and be spent and to doe what good I could but with weaknes infirmity c. And at the same time he declared that when others spake highly of Wrington for Christans formerly did cry up sound men as now they do uâ—sound I never rejoyced in it said he for I thought such would not be of any long standing O that we could think so meanly of our selves with our sow things with our nothings as he did with his great things and be so humble with our two Talents as he was with his ten Having spoken thus much of him but for our use Let us now reflect upon our selves and consider what a mercy we have enjoyed in enjoying him so long in these parts A mercy to us Ministers for that saying of one in the University which he was wont to mention that Pastors in the Countrey did dolare Lapides University-Preachers did dolare Artifices was very true of him in the latter part of it though a Countrey-Preacher Know Beloved that all the Congregations hereabout that have received good by our Ministry have reason to bless God for Wrington-Ministry and him that was the guiding Pastor here Our Congregations have received much more good from us by the help that we received from him If his Ministry were a mercy to us and to our people round about It was sure a mercy to you of this place to whom his labours were peculiarly directed and it is to God that you are bound for it For though the noble Patron were carefull to send and settle a faithfull Pastor yet how came one faithfull above many to his hand and who is it but God that thrusts forth labourers into his Vineyard Set your hearts I beseech you to what your Saviour sayes (a) Luk 4. 25. I tell you of a truth there were many Widows in Israel in the dayes of Elijah yet unto none of them was Elijah sent but unto the Widow of Sarepta So were there many affâ—â—mished places and Parishes in the first dayes of this deceased servant of God yet unto none was he sent but to you The more need have you to examin whether you have gotten by this meanes [b] 1 King 17. 15. a barrell of meale that will not wast and a cruise of oil I mean that Spiritual and Soul-supporting-sustenance that will not fail and that will keep you from failing and perishing But the same Saviour speaks to you the second time [c] Luk 4. 27. and sayes Many Lepers were in Israel in the time of Elizeus the Prophet and none of them was cleansed saving Naaman the Syrian How many Leprous soules in our Israel yea Leprous Parishes yet we may say upon great reason To none was such an Elisha sent but to you Now therefore examin Is your Leproste cleansed or are Abana and Pharpar better to you than that Jordan to which you have been directed You are rich worldly-wise well thought of c. but are you not Lepers 2 King 5. 1. If I should speak more particularly to this Congregation and those belonging to it I would speak a word 1. To those that did not hear this ever-speaking Pastor 2. To those that did 1. First to those that did not hear him That did not hear him may some say were there any whose Understanding was so low whose piety was so little whose love was so cold whose hearts were so hard as not to hear such a Teacher You know Beloved whether there were not some such here and wee all know that there be many such otherwhere Unto whom I wish all good they being heretofore divers of them hopefull Christians and not altogether hopeless now as being men led and got away by tentation for so in charity we are willing to think rather than goâ— away out of their own disposition Yet a word I have to say to them and that 's this (a) Gal. 5. â— 8. Ye did run well who did hinder you Doth any persuade you to leave the Ministry that teacheth the truth of God This persuasion cometh not from him that calleth you but from them that trouble you and sour you and seduce you for A little Leven leveneth the whole lump Consult your own former judgment where the blessednes you spake of [b] Gal. 4 15. Once you thought your selves blessed in that Ministry which now you are ready to curse and blaspheme and then you had not such tentations to byass your judgment â—s now you have Then you spake good words of the good Word of God in the mouth of his Ministers and you spake them I think out of the experience of that goodnes that the Ministry wrought in you and the comfort it brought unto you How comes it to pass that your judgment that was so well grounded is so soon changed [c] Gal. 3. 1. consult your future good Can you understand Scripture without a guide [d] Act. 8. 31. be stable in truth and goodnes without a Nail [e] Eccleâ— 11. make speed in the wayes of godliness without a Goad which Nailes are fastned and Goads used by the masters of the Assemblies If you say you can where 's your humility If you say you cannot where 's your wisdom If you
full of danger Let us not say as too many do To morrow we will do and so it s not done at all 2. Opportunities of grace are uncertain The door may be shut the light may be removed from us or we may be removed from it and therefore good is that Counsel of Solomon All that thine hand shall Eccl. 9. 10. find to do do it with all thy power for there is neither work nor invention nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest Lay up then in store a good foundation against the time to come that when thou 1 Tim. 6. 19. leavest all other holds thou mayst lay hold on eternal life The time of the Gospel is but a day the time of our life is but a moment whilst thou hast then the price in thine hand get wisdom and stand not as those therefore rebuked in the parable all the day idle I Mat. 20. 7. am sure you cannot say no man hath hired you We should count that Prisoner exceeding foolish that would refuse a pardon profered and not look after it till the judge comes And that traveller unwise that having far to go will not set forth till the Sun be set The Stork knoweth his time and shall Jer. 8. 7. Gen. 27. not we Jacob was but newly gone with the blessing yet Esau came to late They who neglected gathering Manna in the six dayes in vain expected it the seventh They who refuse the profers of grace in Exod. 16. 27. this life may hereafter seek for entrance but shall not be admitted Improve then your time your Mat. 7. 1. means your present opportunities I hope you are ready to ask this question What shall we do In answering this question my purpose is to shew you somewhat largely what God expects from you that you may improve present opportunities of grace First Hear from God as often as thou mayest by the voice of his servants the faithful appointed Stewards and dispensers of Gospel mysteries I have been large upon this subject lately yet give me leave now again to mind you that its the great design that Satan now drives the great sin the great misery of this Land to endeavour to overthrow the power and vigour and force of the Preaching of the Gospel by the Ministry of men What the iniquity of former times could not compass by stopping the mouths of such Preachers as were good that the subtilty of Satan hath indeavoured in our dayes and hath too much prevailed in that indeavour by opening the mouths of such as are bad Who to cry up themselves not only cry down others but even the Ordinances of Christ themselves And herein the Lord open our eyes and the eyes of all this Land and thine Christian Reader to see and consider this Stratagem of Satan who makes some by seeming to cry up the purity overthrow the power of Preaching For I pray you observe Satan doth not directly cry down all Preaching he will not tell you though he intend that in the end that you must not hear at all No He knows full well that natural conscience not seared wil immediatly deny that persuasion Such down-right dealing would be the way to discover himself and therefore transforming himself into an Angel of Light he besets in another method blasting the publike 2 Cor 14. 14 15. Ministry of Jesus Christ with odious names if not as Anti-Christian the usuall term of such who speak against those who cannot speak for themselves yet as less pure than others of another way and so shut up the Kingdom of Heaven which according to Christs promise hath been given to our Mat. 21. 43. Nation and hath blessed be Gods holy name both in former and later days brought forth its fruit within the narrow compass of such and such societies And thus Satan by force dividing between Paul and Apollos and Cephas instilling that mischievous 1 Cor. 1. 12. poyson of having the truth of Christ with respect of persons and so by pretending to purer doth at last James 2. 1. which is his main drift cause man to fall off from a consciencious respect unto any of Gods Ordinances I appeal unto thee good Reader and am confident thine experience doth witness the truth of this discovery Do not we daily see that those who throw away their wonted respects to Christs standing Ministry give themselves a liberty first to hear any and then afterward to hear none Ahab that could not away with one true Prophet that counseld him for his good yet hears and follows four hundred false ones to his own ruin Attend then I beseech 1 Kings 22. 22. you with care and conscience unto Gods sent Messengers by whose preaching it pleaseth him to save Rom. 10. 15. such as beleeve Hear from him by them as often as you may and if you say Can any good come that way I answer Come and see Look not on the meaness of the instruments but who works by them as Christ bid the Herodians on the penny whose image it bore For if God be the worker he is able Luke 20. 24. by the smallest means to bring to pass the greatest effects The sound of Rams-Horns commissionated Judges 6. by him blows down the walls of Jericho The shivering Sand keeps in the billows of the Sea which Brasen walls could not So God being the worker the foolishness of Preaching converts and saves 1 Cor. 1. â—1 Neglect not then the spiritual opportunities that are put into your hands Suffer not every slight and trivial occasion to keep you from them God tells us that when and where a famine of the word is people shall run from one end of the Land to another and wander Amoâ—â— 11. from Sea to Sea and run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord and shall not find it But alass under the plentiful means of grace we enjoy how slight excuses keep us from them As in Summer it s too hot in Winter it s too cold In Spring its sicâ—ly and in Harvest they are too busie The way is farr or the weather is foul or else say people I like not the Preacher He is a dry fellow He is a Presbyterian or an Independent or this or that By these and such like simple and silly pretences Satan deludes the Souls of men and keeps them from hearing when they have the opportunity put into their hands But let such remember Thomas was but once absent and that not Iohn 20. 24. willingly and not knowing that Christ would then appear and he was like to have lost the confirmation of the Article of the Resurrection so may we be wanting when that may be spoken which we may never again be told of perhaps that truth which might have done us eternal good This is the first advice that I shall in answering the question forementioned leave with you Neglect not so great salvation