Practical Discourses On Sundry TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE Wherein is shewed and made known The absolute Necessity for all People TO Turn Immediately Unto the Lord their GOD. By RICHARD STAFFORD formerly a Batchelor of Arts of Magdalen-Hall in Oxford LONDON Printed and are to be Sold by Ralph Simpson at the Harp in St. Paul's Church-yard 1695. To the Courteous READER THE Subject of this ensuing Book A Call to all the Inhabitants of the Earth to turn immediately to the Lord their God is Great and Good Even what all the Words and Preaching that have ever came forth into the World in all the several Generations and Countries have endeavoured at For Christ also hath once suffered for Sins the Just for the Vnjust that he might bring us to God 1 Pet. 3. 8. Besides the Sufferings of Christ The End and Intent of all the Words which Christ spake or made known and so it is the same of all the Transactions which have ever passed between God and Man are that he might bring us to Himself who is God Though this hath been indeed effected of some few Peculiar People of the several Generations yet it hath not been of the Multitude and Generality of Mankind Notwithstanding God was manifested in the Flesh and put to Death in the Flesh but quickned in the Spirit for this alone End and Purpose How can it then be expected that one who is born out of due Time and the least of all in the Kingdom of God can by publishing a few words more accomplish so great a thing when all the Books and Preaching in the World have not yet done it Especially when the Word it self which was made Flesh and dwelt among us Full of Grace and Truth who spake as never Man spake did not so bring it to pass that all should though some did believe on him Far be it therefore from me to expect or imagine That this little Book or Treatise of mine will ever have so great an Effect But it is only offered as another Mile to be thrown into the Treasury of Divine Truths It is the Thoughts of one single Creature which have arose in his Mind whereby himself is actually perswaded to God and good things and to turn unto the Lord Immediately Luke 12. 36. As Paul conferred not with Flesh and Blood but immediately went to Jerusalem So for my part I would utterly lay aside all Carnal and Worldly Considerations and immediately give up my self to the Guidance of the Lord as he leads me in the way to Jerusalem that is above whithersoever that way goes And I do desire that these same Thoughts may be published and made known abroad Out of this Hope and Expectation If Peradventure the God of all Truth who perswadeth us throughout our Life in all the several Circumstances and Conditions thereof That we may be able to perswade other Men and Women by the very same Thoughts wherewith our selves are perswaded of God He fashioneth the Hearts of the Sons of Men alike Psal 33. 15. and it is commonly seen That by what one is perswaded another under the like Thoughts and Circumstances is Perswaded also And if the like things were made known unto and believed by the mixt Multitude and generality of Mankind as is to the elect People and real Servants of God in all outward Likelihood and Probability They would also be brought over unto God To this alone End and Purpose are these Words laid before Men that whosoever will may read And for such who will not read the Saying among the Latins is Pertinaciae nullum Remedium Posuit Deus So we the Ministers of his Word cannot tell what to say to it Nor do we know how to help and remedy it though we would never so fain But we can only warn such Behold ye Despisers and Wonder and Perish Such are in real danger to fall under the same Doom as the Sons of Eli and Amaziah did Notwithstanding they bearkned not unto the Voice of their Father Because the Lord would slay them 1 Sam. 2. 25. But Amaziah would not hear for it came of God that he might deliver them into the hand of their Enemies 2 Chron. 25. 20. And so it is They that will not Hear Read and Receive the Words of Instruction Knowledge and Reproof It is a certain foregoing sign that such will be punished with everlasting Destruction from the Presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his Power It is commonly alledged that there is no new thing under the Sun and there is nothing said especially in Books but what hath been said before for my part I would endeavour somewhat further in what I publish to the World which as yet is not so clearly made known in other Books and Sermons or otherwise I would not publish at all Or at least I would seek out acceptable Words and that which is written may be upright even Words of Truth Eccles 12. 10. If Words or rather Sentences of Truth are indeed brought forth Although they be without Method and Connexion as there are very many of this sort in the following Treatise yet they are never the less worth for want of that All one as pieces of Gold or so many Pearls are not the less valuable although they be not linked and chained together Again Although my writing here is not with enticing words of Mans Wisdom nor yet according to the exact Rules of Oratory But things are expressed so plainly that they may be understood by the meanest Capacity Nevertheless God is more glorified and the Reader may be more edified hereby then in what is called more Learned and Polite Discourses It was both a puzling and also a sudden Question of Pilate What is Truth To me it seems to be the expressing forth the Nature of things as they are with the Connexion between themselves and how they pertain to us Men. Things are again divided into Visible and Invisible Present or Future Now the present and visible things soon pass away and are but little But the great Object of what is commonly called Divine Truth which is the subject of the ensuing Book is only invisible and future things which are the only thing needful even the greatest and nearest Concern All things are Gods for he created them and the principal Matter here insisted on throughout the whole is what God requires of Man with a Word of Exhortation to enforce him the more to the Obedience and Observance of the same and more especially what God will do unto us Men and Women the reasonable Inhabitants of this Earth both hereon in the latter days and also after that they are gone off from this Stage of the middle part of the World As to that great Controversie which the Lord hath had for so many Generations past and foregoing concerning their universal Obedience to Himself their God Psal 50. 7. which all the words that ever came forth and were made known in the World heretofore
carnal Considerations or worldly Inducements no present Motive nor yet a like Danger and Inconvenience did hinder or excuse with him but he immediately went to Jerusalem Undoubtedly all these did for the best and God was well pleased with them He did accept and reward them more than those who seek out for Excuse and Delay or such who first refuse to hear his Gracious call or if they do at any Time hear or it is made known unto them yet they will not yield unto it The Word of Exhortation stands continually for all People both young and old to hear and read it The Spirit and the Bridegroom say always come There is one knocking at the Door of their Hearts for Admission God is ready at all Times to set up his Kingdom within us his Law is already written in our Heart and inward Parts He sends his Prophets rising up early and sitting down late Who being dead speak yet unto us in their Writings There are constant Dictates of Mind to serve and obey our Maker There are Examples of those who do it in our Age and Circumstances of Life There is hardly a Chapter or Verse throughout the whole Bible but some way or other calls and stirs us up The Scripture is opened and alledged The Word preached in the several Congregations throughout our Land and in all the Nations of the World are a Sermon to us also For we are the same Creatures and stand in the very same Relation to the great God over all as those several Persons who hear such and such Truths with their outward Ears We might also know and hear more than we do and those who hear and understand are to declare it unto us to acquaint their Neighbours and Kinsfolks and they to others So that the Word of God might dwell richly and have free Passage among us There is a sufficient Call and Warning to all People in their several Generations and Ages of Life God now commandeth all Men every where to repent because he hath appointed a Day in the which he will judge the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given Assurance unto all Men in that he hath raised him from the Dead Acts 17. 31. As every one knows Christ to be a Saviour so there is the same Notice conveyed that he is to be our Judge And as God shall bring every secret thing into Judgment all the Actions of our Lives for each single Day will be called to account So it will be demanded why such and such did not come when they were called as they sensibly knew by a powerful Conviction over their Spirits when it was inculcated over and over to Day if ye will hear his Voice harden not your Heart When they might have considered more and more and themselves did find that the more they did consider the more they were pressed instantly to close with Christ and therefore they did put off considering their Wayes They might at such an Opportunity have heard God's Word which would have urged them to have turned from their evil Ways and therefore they would not attend to them They might at such a Day and by such Means have learned the Knowledge and Fear of the Lord but they would not His Statutes were laid before them but they would not let the Ears hear which were made to hear nor the Eyes see which were ordained for that End And further when the Thoughts thereof did recur to the Mind they would put them far away When God rises up and enters into Judgment how shall Men answer for such things And whosoever now looketh upon or hears what is written in these Lines and he is convinced of the Truth and Sincerity of them but if he should go away and not comply with the Purport thereof or be willingly ignorant or take no notice for fear he should be brought over unto God more suddenly than he otherwise intended how will he give account to the Judge of all Men for the same Even to that God who knows all his Thoughts and Imaginations concerning this or any other matter who will reprove and set the things he hath done in order before him even from the Time he had the Beginning of the Knowledge of Good and Evil unto the Day of his Death God knows all things but we know not as God knoweth and therefore we are so puzzled and distracted in things pertaining to him He seeth all things in Heaven and Earth and under the Earth at one Sight and knoweth all things to the utmost as they are known But we now see one thing and then another in order and Succession of Time as he shews them unto us Those Things which are more hidden and invisible he reveals them by his Word and Spirit and still we know nothing perfectly and comprehensively And it may be all confined to things pertaining to us Men which is not the Ten Thousandth Part of the things to be known nor yet one Half of what doth immediately relate unto and concern us The Sum and Comprehension of all is to know God and his Law our Duty to him in each particular and when we do vary from it It may be observed that the whole Scripture which is called the Lord's Book may be all reduced to this Besides the natural imprinted Knowledge God is there more discoverd to us by the History of the Creation of the World his Manifestations unto his Servants that worshipped and feared him his wonderful Works that he did from Time to Time the Descriptions given of him in sundry Places and also the Commandments enjoyned to the Sons of Men. The Law was given by Moses unto which he added much Exhortation to the Observance thereof So did David and the Prophets whose Writings were to press People unto Obedience and a Reproof of Transgression Which last was an orderly Declaration of Matter of Fact and according to Truth how People did turn aside from the Commandments delivered unto them It was a Telling of or Declaration unto the House of Jacob their Sins and Transgressions Which was expressed in general or more particular Terms but yet so plainly that every Offender might understand himself was spoken of and called upon for to amend his Doings There is a strong Sense and Obligation upon the Heart of Man to keep the Law of his Creator and he is sensible of as much every Time he is put in Remembrance thereof As on the other hand he is troubled with Shame Regret and Condemnation when he thinks of and more especially when he is told of his Sin and Error This proceeds from the Consciousness of having offended God and from the Fear of his Anger and Judgment A secret Thought doth arise from Ignorance or Unbelief that either God doth not see or not take notice of such evil Deeds and will not require for them But such an one brings their Sin to Remembrance and makes it recorded before God which
Impertinency when that indeed is so with which they please and content themselves So that VVord doth pronounce which is to Judge and determine of every Man's State and Condition and according to which he is to receive We are but Creatures upon Trial and in that same word it is set down how God will be pleased to deal and add further with every one of us So that tho our different Thoughts and Apprehensions do not signifie much as to one another yet we must give Account to that God with whom we have to do who is Judge of all Men and of all Things and he hath expresly foretold us that we shall receive according to the Good or Evil we have done And tho in this wicked corrupt World they call Evil Good and Good Evil Isa 5. 20. Because they have the Multitude and Fashion to bear them along with it yet God is Judge himself Psal 50. 6. Who will sweep away the Refuge of Lies Isa 28. 17. and adjust all things according to Righteousness and Truth If Men do at present contemn and refuse what he doth command and esteem of and again they do honour and seek after what he hath forbidden and is an Abomination in his Sight But God's Thoughts are not as our Thoughts and his ways are not as our ways He is not beholding to his Creatures He is great and highly Exalted And what are a parcel of Worms of the Earth unto him But yet themselves shall know and feel what they get by this their opposition and contrariety to their Maker If there was not Stubbornness and Rebellion in their hearts they might understand For as the Eye doth discern Light from Darkness and the Taste doth perceive Sweet from Bitter So likewise in this diversity of things the Soul of Man can discern between Good and Evil Truth and Falshood Wisdom and Folly Every Scribe that is instructed into the Kingdom of God is like an Housholder who brings out of his Treasure things New and Old Both sorts are wholsome and good which were first received in and he produces forth upon occasion Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your Heart and your Soul Deut. 11. 18. He means the words of the Spirit of God and of Truth The greater number whereof the Mind is furnished withal so much the better That as the desire of the Righteous is only good Prov. 11. 13. Let him sincerely and diligently endeavour that all the thoughts of his Heart may be good true and significative at all times thereby shutting out Evil Falshood and Vanity A good Man out of the good treasure of the Heart bringeth forth good things Matt. 12. 35. which may spring up into suitable Words and Actions Sanctifie them through thy Truth thy Word is Truth John 17. 17. And People may discern what is rightly opened and alledged what is necessarily inferred from this Word of Truth for that also is true and will be fulfilled And tho many false Christs and false Prophets and Deceivers have and are gone out into the World as this same Word of Truth hath foretold and it hath been verified by the experience of every Age yet they deluded more by their Signs and Wonders by their forged Miracles and lying Legends as thereby hath increased the Roman Church more than by their Doctrin For that of our Saviour is Remarkable If it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect Matt. 24. 24. But it is not possible to deceive them for we have a standing Word which is as a Rule or Touch-stone to try the Doctrins whether they be of Men or no and by setting our Consciences in the sight of God and by the Spirit he hath given us we can search out and know the hidden things of Dishonesty and the practice of those who handle the Word of God Deceitfully But when the Truth is manifested it will appear so to us For great heed is to be taken lest under the pretence of avoiding Deceivers we do refuse and turn away from him that speaketh from Heaven and so we shall not escape Heb. 12. 25. But be in danger to be excluded from thence For this slanderous Report and false Imputation of a Deceiver was fastned on our Saviour Jesus Christ Matt. 27. 63. and his chosen Prophet Jer. 20. 7. and his Apostles 2 Cor. 6. 8. and upon almost all faithful Preachers and Writers ever since Such is the Subtlety of Satan and his Instruments by which he deceiveth the Nations That he will first throw out that Reproach and Calumny falsly on others to ward off divert and turn aside that Imputation which truly falleth back upon himself VVho are Deceivers indeed they will call those so who teach the way of God in Truth For these last being obliged in the course of their Ministry to lay open every thing that helps forward the Salvation of Mankind and to hinder their Destruction as much as possible they must also herein be like their great Master as to give a caution to People to take heed what they hear and to beware of those who are Men-pleasers more than the Servants of Christ Nay we must admonish of every thing which dishonours God and brings danger unto Men as unfaithful Teachers do both But these again through Pride and unwillingness to be Reformed seeing they hate Instruction Psal 50. 17. will endeavour to stop the way against the true handlers of the VVord of God for the former sort being secretly conscious of what may be proved and manifested against themselves they will try to be before-hand and falsly accuse or surmise such to be guilty of that which is truly their own Sin and Fault This is one cause of that Reproach which hath fallen on God's holy Prophets and People since the VVorld began As also it shews the perverseness and Disobedience of Mankind that they will as it were Reply against God Rom. 9. 20. In the Margin it is Answerest again and disputest with God which is to resist his will and it is a token of an unmannerly proud and disobedient Servant VVhen they break his Laws and God tells them thereof by his VVord and Spirit which he sends forth through some of their Fellow Creatures yet they are angry thereat and will retort upon them Again they have a mind to continue and go on still in Disobedience But this telling them is a kind of stop and interruption which they do not like and so they had rather remain Disobedient and have this for an excuse that they did not know it They would willingly be forgiven by God yet what they do in this manner is a further Sin and Provocation But God will search it out though we cannot so particularly and exactly discover it for he knoweth the very Secrets of the Heart Who is wise and he shall understand these things Prudent and he shall know them for the ways of the Lord are right and the Just shall walk in them but the Transgressors
have not I do not say could not accomplished and brought to pass How it will be all done suddenly and at an instant by the pouring out of the Spirit upon us from on High may be seen in Page 295. As also that there will be an end of all Wars and of all Persecution is shewed in Page 285 288. which will be a very great Good to Mankind So that the â—…king known these things will tend â—…re to the real Benefit of Man than spending their Money for that which is not Bread and their Labour for that which satisfieth not or consuming so much time in other and vain Things I need not say much more by way of Preface and Introduction But here I shall only add this further That according as God is now pleased to accompany and Seal these Truths with the droppings and distillings of that same Spirit which hereafter he will pour out And according as that self-same Spirit giveth Understanding for it is too common that the Works and Things of God are not understood Psal 106. 7. Acts 7. 25. for these things are Spiritually discerned As also there is a need of a distinguishing Judgment as to discern and know which are the real Truths of God from the Imaginations or Sayings of other meer Humane Writers Again According as the following Words of Truth do approve themselves to the Hearts and Consciences of the Real and Inward see Rom. 2. 29. and not so much to the Nominal and outward Christians And according as Care Endeavour Industry and Diligence are used in the publishing and making them known so accordingly they will meet with Acceptance or Rejection from the World THE CONTENTS CHAP. I. THE Introduction to the following Book Page 1 CHAP. II. Wherein that Proposition is at large discussed That People are not forced and compelled to the Obedience of God but they are left herein to their own Free Choice or Refusal p. 15 CHAP. III. That Surmise and Imagination is spoken unto whereby some People think that they have so Grievously offended God that they dare not come unto him p. 118 CHAP. IV. Therein it is discoursed of that false Thought in the Hearts of many People That if they should submit Presently unto the Obedience of God they shall be losers and disappointed of so much Pleasure and Conveniency in the mean while They shall miss of so much imagined Happiness and fall into Vexation Trouble and Misery p. 183 CHAP. V. Herein sundry things are written against them who will not be persuaded by nor live according to Words and also against following the Multitude p. 244 CHAP. VI. It is made known in the general from the Scriptures of Truth without any Reflections on Particular Nations or Governments that at length there will be an end of all Wars p. 285 CHAP. VII As also that there will be an end of all manner of Persecuting the Servants of God p. 288 CHAP. VIII Towards the end of Time and in the latter Days All the Inhabitants of the Earth will be turned and brought over unto God Which will be done and accomplished by the Pouring out of the Spirit upon us from on High p. 295 CHAP. IX A Paraphrase on some of the most Remarkable Verses of Psal 18. Shewing the Design and Connexion of that whole Psalm p. 310 Whereunto is subjoyned the shutting up and Conclusion of the whole Book p. 314 Practical Discourses OR AN Earnest Call to all the Inhabitants of the Earth to turn immediately unto the Lord their God As the same is opened and alledged from what is written Psal 18. 43 44 45. Thou hast delivered me from the Strivings of the People thou hast made me the Head of the Heathen A People whom I have not known shall serve me As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me The Strangers shall fade away and be afraid out of their close Places CHAP. I. The Introduction IF all Mankind of all Generations and Countries were now summoned together and there was a Voice that could reach them all as God will at the last Day gather all Nations and will bring them down into the Valley of Jehoshaphat and will plead with them there Joel 3. 2. By his own Power and uttering forth his Voice It would be proper to preach and make known these Words unto them But in the mean time he hath shewed the Way and he doth require it of us under the Danger and Penalty of Disobedience that all we should publish the Word Psal 68. 11. which he hath given us as far as we can And he hath so ordered that the still Voice of his Spirit should be sent forth into the Hearts of many People All things are to be done as far as he hath pointed out and put into our Power All we should help whatever we can towards the Furtherance thereof for the Work of the Lord is common and should be the joint Endeavour of all his Servants Ever since the World began and down until this Time and what futher remains on the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth Violence and the violent take it by Force According to our Ability we ought severally to the utmost of yea and beyond our Power to be continually doing the Will of God bring Glory unto his Name to further and carry on with all our Might and Diligence the common Salvation to endeavour by all Means possible yea our selves are to act and suffer an holy Violence that People may be more brought over and added unto the Lord. As God is to be loved with all the Soul and with all the Strength and with all the Heart and with all the Mind So all things we have or can do are to be laid out and resolutely put forth without any more Intermission or Weariness than what is absolutely necessary and requisite in his Service and doing good unto others None are to be idle but as we are warned of so ought we to avoid to our utmost that we fall not under the Doom of the unprofitable Servant For behold I come quickly and my Reward is with me to give to every Man according as his Work shall be Rev. 22. 12. And we having but a short Time might learn this Wisdom from the Serpent to improve this our Time to the utmost Advantage to oppose and destroy his Kingdom to turn People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God and to recover those that are already taken captive at his Will As he walketh about seeking whom he may devour so is the Will of the most high God that his Servants should run to and fro that knowledge may be increased Dan. 12. 4. that many may be converted and saved And when each Person is converted then he is to strengthen his Brethren and to endeavour what lieth in him that others may be converted also and so on The like Care and Endeavour is to be used and spread abroad that all Men may be saved and come to the
get so much and then enjoy our selves according as the Phrase of the World is or to please our selves with keeping an Abundance as the covetous Mammonist doth Yet still this is a meer conceit and a Reasonable Creature cannot be filled or satisfied with that and here Psal 49. 17 18. lies express against him For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away his Glory shall not descend after him Though whilst he lived he blessed his Soul All the Service and Labour after Mammon is evidently determined within this short Time and it stands in no stead at all further Now an Account shall be demanded what we have done here What Provision was made against the Time to come What Foundation was laid in by good Works Wherefore was all their Labour about perishing and temporal things And not about the eternal which do remain Every one is to give account for his Talent and how he improved it to the Glory of his Master that he may receive Authority and Commendation proportionable It shall be recompensed to every one according to what he hath done Where was more done there shall be a greater Reward so that all the Actions of a Man tend as much to himself in that State as what is done in the present Time The unprofitable Servant is to be bound Hand and Foot and to be cast into outer Darkness Every one is called to work in the Vineyard and if any one doth not come as soon as he is called as those did in the Parable Mat. 20. himself must answer before Almighty God for the Refusal to obey his Commands And also People do not attend nor rightly consider how they willingly deprive themselves of so much Wages and Recompense Seeing that God hath revealed himself to be so bountiful and good a Master Servants should shew themselves accordingly unto him and as it were meet him in the Way of Righteousness They are to strive who should run fastest who shall perform their Work with a more willing and chearful Mind and to offer themselves who shall make the first Assault or do such an Act of Duty for even thus much is done for our Masters according to the Flesh Is not God more gracious and better than they Are not his Benefits as valuable Ought not his Favour and Good-will to be more esteemed But his good things are to come why whatsoever we now have and enjoy did first proceed from God and is his own Man hath the Use of some things but God hath the Propriety of all But the greater things also will be actually present as those things now before us are and then these present things shall be utterly done away So they are upon equal yea more Advantage than what is now before our Eyes Tribulation Anguish and self-Indignation will be upon every Soul that did neglect them for perishing Bubbles and empty Nothings Which then they find as before they might have learned to come to nothing at all for they were just had and passed by And yet by the Nature of them by the utmost Certainty and Reality of future and invisible things they might have been perswaded to seek diligently after them For the same Word of Truth which spake of the one hath told us of the other also By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made Psal 33. 6. And upholding all things by the Word of his Power Heb. 1. 3. which hath created and given to each thing its Nature and now connects and holds things fast together as they are The same Word saith For behold I create new Heavens and a new Earth Isa 65. 17. so that as certainly as things now are and stand after this manner as they do at present they will be likewise so fulfilled as we are foretold of Those gracious Promises in Isa 45. 17 18 19. are confirmed with the like Reason which is as it were inserted between them viz. But Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting Salvation Ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded World without End For thus saith the Lord that created the Heavens God himself that formed the Earth and made it he hath established it he created it not in vain he formed it to be inhabited I am the Lord and there is none else I have not spoken in secret in a dark Place of the Earth I said not unto the Seed of Jacob seck ye me in vain I the Lord speak Righteousness I declare things that are right Here is an Answer and full Satisfaction given to that common Question and Thought what do People get by the Service of God They expose themselves to prevent Self-denial and Labour but what Recompence and Gain For if others are diligent after worldly things they do commonly obtain But here we are assured of that which cannot be had in this World To be saved with an everlasting Salvation There is no present Return to exercise our Faith and Waiting So that now we become liable to Shame and Disappointment by labouring for nothing Yet what saith the Witness of God Ye shall not be ashamed World without End At long run it shall not be thus At the End of Time it shall be otherwise and this is ratified by what we now see even his lesser Works are done for some Purpose as in the Instance here assigned the Earth was created to be inhabited But here again Faith is exercised for some things seem to be created in vain and a Part of the Earth is not inhabited as barren Mountains and the waste howling Wilderness yet there are also Creatures of some Sorts and God may have great Intents and Purposes herein which we know not as yet but shall know He asserts himself by his Name the Lord to be ALMIGHTY the chief and only Ruler and none can controul him so that he will perform what he hath said If one thinks within himself to do thus or makes private Promises there he may alter his Mind or Falsify and meet with no Discredit but only from the Person to whom it was entrusted But God declares out of the Thoughts of his Heart and speaks out publickly to all the World that neither the Seed of Jacob nor any one who doth the Works of Abraham or comes within the Covenant made to the Patriarchs shall seek him in vain Again He confirms it further by his righteous Nature and declaring the things that are right So we may be bold to say that where in serving him we submit our selves to present Loss or Labour there God is pleased to speak in Righteousness and thence we may assuredly gather that he will render a Reward accordingly But as he is gracious and bountiful it will as much exceed our Works as if one should give a Thousand Pounds to a Labourer when he deserves no more than a Penny God is not unrighteous to forget your Work and Labour of Love Heb. 6. 10. He will take notice of every thing that is done purely for him
accept of Shew me thy Faith without thy Works and I will shew thee my Faith by my Works Jam. 2. 18. Faith may be without Works but Works is a good Sign of Faith If they be right spiritual and Divine Works they must have Faith and Knowledge for Beginning and Performance of the same for wouldst thou know wherefore they are done by some and not by others Because some understand the Obligation they are under and the Encouragement they have to the same All People would alike do the Will of God if they have the like Thoughts and Apprehensions concerning the same There is one Faith and one Hope So they might equally believe and have the same Assurance of good things to come if they would study and seek diligently after them If they would suffer themselves to know their Duty and be in a Readiness to perform the same God would reveal it unto them Provided they do receive the Knowledge thereof and not put it off and stifle it He would incline them to do the same if they would yield unto and not resist his Motions He would give his Spirit if they would not grieve nor quench it and if they would preserve their Body in Holiness and Sobriety fit for its Habitation he would enlighten and rectifie their Understandings if they would draw off the thick Coverings of Ignorance and Disobedience which make that either the Mind cannot apprehend at all or it is full of Falshood and Delusions For the Transgressors having not observed but departed from the Law of the most High to save and defend themselves they seek out for Excuses and Imaginations and through the Perplexity and Maze of them the Sinner doth not so easily apprehend what is good and true A deceived Heart hath turned him aside Isa 44. 20. So it is always when one starts or goes out of the good Way And likewise the same hinders it from coming in as a secret Imagination that it is soon enough or pray have me excused for this and the like Reason There is an hundred Kind of Surmises or Imaginations But in Allusion to what our Saviour saith take heed how ye hear so let People take heed how they think for God discerns their innermost Thoughts as plainly as if they were wrote upon their Face or spoken out aloud in the Market-place However they keep them close and concealed from his faithful People and Ministers least they should find something in the Word of Truth to convince them of their Errors and Mistake so that they need not to go on therein yet in the mean while known to God are all of them and he will one Day spread them forth before their Faces in the Sight of Angels and Men and lay it all open and detect the whole by his eternal Truth They are so angry and vexed at present as if we could inform God who searches all things out and knows the very Secrets of the Heart or as if we did bring their Sins to Remembrance when himself hath declared that he considers all their Ways Though he doth now hold his Tongue Hab. 1. 13. yet our God shall come and shall not keep Silence Psal 50. 3. He shall rehearse the Thoughts Words and Actions of the whole Life These things hast thou done and I kept Silence Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thy self but I will reprove thee and set them in order before thine Eyes Psal 50. 21. The Time Place Circumstances and Aggravations will be all manifested and as they were Day by Day committed so they shall be reckoned up In the Midst of Transgression there was no such notice taken of them because God kept Silence but it might even then have been known that our God would reprove People for the same because even then he did sometimes do it a little by his Word and Servants and by the still Voice of his Spirit within them And though we know nothing of one another yet God is pleased to convey into our Mind some secret Intents and close Imaginations giving us thereby to understand that he knows them all for he gave us this Knowledge And if the World is now so enraged when only a few Thoughts of their Heart are revealed good God what Fear and Confusion will they be in What Terror and strange Amazement will possess them when all the Thoughts of all the Sons of Men since they have been created on the Earth shall be fully manifested For there is not a Word in my Tongue but lo O Lord thou knowest it altogether Psal 139. 4. And then all Evil corrupt Communications Lies vain Swearing false Oaths Blasphemies hard Speeches against God Jude 15. Reproaches of his People Slander and Backbitings with all the Sins of the Tongue which is a World of Iniquity shall be summed up So he who considereth all their Ways shall bring up all their ungodly Deeds wicked and unjust Actions the first whereof they did endeavour to hide from the Saints here on Earth and the latter even from their common Neighbours If they had but the Knowledge of God they would understand all this at the present Time for even now we live under him whose Eyes run to and fro throughout the whole Earth and are in every Place beholding the Evil and the Good He hath given his Word which is a Discerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart for that speaks out concerning them and declare them unto us Neither is any Creature that is not manifest in his Light but all things are naked and opened unto the Eyes of him with whom we have to do Heb. 4. 11. Not only divine Revelation but common Reason teacheth the very same For as our Lord argued to the Pharisees Ye Fools did not be that made that which is without make that which is within also Luke 11. 40. so he who fashioned every Part of us must likewise know all that is therein He that planted the Ear shall he not hear He that formed the Eye shall he not see So he who created the Soul with Powers to know must also much more know himself and also every thing which she thinks or doth The Scripture in sundry Places asserts this all-knowing Property of God There is no Darkness nor Shadow of Death where the Workers of Iniquity may hide themselves And they which would not commit Wickedness before such a Man who perhaps hath the faint Image of God within as to hate and loath Evil and therefore if such a Spy is in their Presence as they term him there is a Secret Awe and Restraint upon their Spirits But why might not these understand that there is one greater among them who sees and beholds all that they do Who is holy and hateth all Wickedness who is the Judge of all Men and will certainly call them to an Account for what they are now a doing Yet the Sense of him doth not keep them off from evil-doing Which happens only from
the Mist of Ignorance He shall be thrust down to the lowest Dungeon and be confined unto utter Darkness For the former seeming Ease and Stupidity there will succeed continued self-indignation His Soul was then employed about somewhat and if not about that Talent intrusted with him by the God of the Spirits of all Flesh yet he had some little Thought or seeming excuse for his Refusal and Disobedience The knowledge was conveyed in the Obligation and Necessity thereof was considered in the Mind and there was a willing delay and putting it off In those debates and reasonings within there is a manifest thinking this or that way Now the Scale turns on this side and then on that And as there is a capacity to think freely so there is a power to do accordingly or a contrary froward going on in his way or a wretched doing nothing at all The Lord knoweth our frame Psal 103. 14. the disposal and tendency of each part of our Nature and accordingly in his VVord and Truth application is made to the Children of Men. To this end are those several kinds of Expostulation in the Psalms Prophets and throughout the Old and New Testament Some things are to inform and teach the Understanding others are to subdue and bring over the VVill and the several Affections are particularly spoken unto So that read where you will you may find some part of your Soul moved And then there is the example of Saints recorded who were Men of like Passions and Infirmities with our selves that we also might do the same which others have done before us God addresseth himself to us as we are Men to judge of the equality of his ways and of what he saith and commandeth us He bringeth us up and implants a capacity to know the Good and refuse the Evil. He giveth Senses to discern between one and the other He acquaints us over and over with the very Nature of things at present and also forewarns us of things to come Survey the whole Dispensation and Exercise of God's Dominion over us Consider each part and method thereof Look into the mystery of the Kingdom Remember his doings of Old Time Think upon what he doth now and also take in the Consummation of all what he hath said and sworn he will yet perform Then thou mayest understand that as he made People free so he would govern them as such He would have them serve him with joyfulness and gladness of Heart and what they do it should be with a willing and ready Mind for the Lord loves the answer of such a Soul when he saith Seek ye my Face Thy Face Lord will I seek That comes at first as soon as he is called and afterwards is in a continual readiness to receive further Direction and Command and then is in an actual and speedy performance of the same VVhere is a willing Mind there is no seeking out Excuses and Delays There is no shifting and trying to put it off There is no Controversie or Dispute of Mind whether I should serve God presently or not For if there is a right Knowledge of him and of the Terms upon which we are to enter into his Service we come as readily to him as one that was hired to the best of Masters according to the Flesh who will give the greatest VVages and most kind Usage Saith our Saviour unto his Disciples and Followers Henceforth I call you not Servants for the Servant knoweth not what his Lord doth But I have called you Friends John 15. 15. Here is yet a nearer Relation and Honour to be admitted into Friendship with him who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords Faith apprehends this exceeding Priviledge and esteems of it more than to have for assured Friends the King all the Nobility and Gentry of this or the Neighbour Nations Or if Love is lessened when it is divided into so many Particulars it is better than to have two three or a few only of the greatest and wisest Personages on Earth Christ unto the Believers Soul is the chiefest of Ten Thousand nay he is more to her than all the Persons and Things in the VVorld Now where is an intimate Love and Union as we expect his Grace and Benefits and hope for Gifts from him so likewise we must do the things he saith and whatever he doth require Our Voice and Desire is Come Lord Jesus come quickly and his Answer is again to the Church And behold I come quickly and my Reward is with me to give to every Man according as his work shall be Rev. 22. 12. And seeing the time allotted for that VVork is short though it was spoken to the Traytor Judas it may be also applied to his faithful Disciples and Followers What thou hast to do do quickly VVe have his own Example and Words for it I must work the Works of him that sent me while it is Day The Night cometh when no Man can work John 9. 4. Accordingly he did go about doing good and preaching the Kingdom of God making known all things he had heard from his Father The Wise Man calleth upon us Whatsoever thy Hand findeth thee to do do it with all thy Might For there is no Work nor Device nor Knowledge nor Wisdom in the Grave whither thou goest Eccles 9. 10. So whatever God and his Christ commandeth and requireth of thee do it with all convenient Speed and as soon as thou canst before the Opportunity slip from thee or the Means be taken away or thy self be cut off for thou art but Flesh and always dying After this is done God may have more for thee He will proportion thy Reward according to thy Labour If thou diminishest ought from that thou wilt lose so much of a greater Recompence The more thou dost at this present the more thou wilt receive for all Eternity What is done each Day or Hour is laying up a Treasure for many Ages There may be somewhat of this signified in the Words of our Saviour who speaketh the same to us as he did to the Disciples Ye say that there are Four Months and then cometh Harvest Lift up your Eyes for the Fields even now are white unto Harvest John 4. 35. And he that reapeth gathereth Fruit unto everlasting Life We may think and deceive our selves that such a Work is to be done hereafter when if we consider throughly all things are now ready for the Performance of the same But admitting it were not to be done until then yet such good Acts may be done in the mean while which are preparatory to that as the Husbandman fits all things in the mean while or we may in the Space between serve God to some other End and Purpose That no Day pass over our Head without doing some thing to the Glory of God and to the Benefit of Souls Every thing here is in order to eternal Life and as we are here always going towards that and the Life we
now live is continually hastning towards its Period so we should at all times make Provision against this shall fail to be received up into the other that we may there continually partake of somewhat which we have done here Indeed the Fruits of the Earth do spring up and are ripe at such certain Seasons of the Year according to the Climate or Countrey but still the Husbandman hath some Employment all the Year round The Kingdom of God over the Souls of Men is not confined to Times and Seasons as in such an Age or Part of Life to such a Month or Day of the Year But this Work may be carrying on at all Times and Seasons The Word may be preached in Season and out of Season at Summer or VVinter Spring or Autumn Sabbath or VVeek-day in the Day-time or at Mid-night as they are journeying or sitting still in the Closet Family or Congregation Truth shall spring out of the Earth Psal 85. 11. at what time it shall please the Lord to open the Fountains of the great Depth And as the VVind bloweth when and where it listeth so he shall give his Spirit to search it out So again Righteousness shall look down from Heaven when the Lord shall pour down his Spirit from on high which as he hath done several Times already so it may acquaint us further of the things there He may instruct his Servants as those of old in what Disposition of Body and Soul they must be in for to receive it To get the foregoing Qualifications of Faith Knowledge Love of God Obedience Holiness Humility convenient Retirement and separating from their Brethren that they may the more approach unto God These things do not so much depend upon the outward Circumstances of set and definite Times of the Year but they come to pass at what Time pleaseth the Father and we receive the Grace and use the Means to be Partakers thereof Known unto God are the great things he will do for his Church for they are fixed in his eternal Purpose and Determination it is not for us to know the Times and Seasons which the Father hath put in his own Power Acts 1. 7. Perhaps the very Reason why these are not clearly revealed and manifested unto us is least in the mean while we should neglect our own Concern Our Minds might so run upon what things are to be done in the Generations following that we should leave undone what ought to be done in this Generation wherein we now live As the VVoman of Samaria saith When the Messias is come he will tell us all things John 8. 25. so we might be apt to apprehend it as to refuse to learn any thing in the mean while And when it is promised The Earth shall be full of the Knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea Isa 11. 9. VVe might content our selves with our former Ignorance and reject any further Knowledge and Instruction in the mean while Even those great things of old time have been transacted by outward Means and we ought still to use those Means which are in our Power to put them forth with all our Skill and Might and then let the Lord do what seemeth him good We know not at first what a Blessing and Success he may give unto them but we may somewhat perceive it afterwards Then things may rise up beyond our Expectations when in the Beginning we are apt to distrust and faint in our Mind Had our selves done nothing or after we had undertaken it then let it fall then it was our own Refusal that we were not Instruments in carrying on the Work of the Lord or he might take it from us and make choice of and give it unto others who should throughly perform his Will If the Way is shewed unto us and we are put in such a Capacity we have also an Impulse and Pressing of Mind to the same and the VVork is right and good as appears evidently from his VVord and the Examples of old there we may and indeed ought to walk in that VVay and actually do according to the Power given us and also comply with the Dictates of a rectified and truly informed Conscience If God may be glorified by such an Action and Good may be done unto others this should be indeed performed And seeing it should be done by some one why not by thee to whom he hath given the Knowledge thereof endued with Ability and is stirring thee up by his Spirit We may learn from Exodus 4. 10 11 12 13. that God is not pleased with Excuses or Delays or with alledging our own Imperfections for he made us at first and can also mend and increase what he hath begun He sent forth further Strength and Ability according as the thing requires The stammering Lips may at length speak plain as in the Beginning of Speech The Voice which was hasty and confused may become clear and distinct And who acquaints at first in general with the Errand that he should go to such a Place and do such a thing will afterwards according to his own divine Method in Acts 9. 6. teach particularly what he shall say And put the very Words into our Mouth a little before or in the very same Hour Mat. 10. 19. just as they are to be uttered forth Remembring still that we are but Instruments in the Hands of God We are to receive the Thoughts he puts into our Heart and to speak them out with our Lips but we can say no more nor think of pertaining to him than what he suggests and puts into our Mind We are to execute what he puts into the Power of our Hands but we can do no more Our God doth not require more than he hath given Those Talents are to be exercised and traded withal which he hath committed unto us but he will never call us to Account for more than we have received So we are to use Diligence and Labour according to what we can In the first Place we should pray unto God O learn me true Vnderstanding and Knowledge that I may keep thy Commandments Now these are either things to be abstained from or things to be done The first are properly Prohibitions or Forbiddings but the Word Commandment imports Duty which is to be done That must be discerned and known before it can be begun and because there may be Hindrances and Oppositions those also are to be seen and overcome that it may be accomplished In the Way to Heaven there are many Turnings aside which we are to be acquainted withal and avoid that we may keep on still in the right Way for if we go out there is so much Time and Labour lost to no purpose which might have set so far on The best Use hereof is to be more careful for the future to keep on right In every worldly Business and Design there are such foregoing Means And if they do at first hit upon those which are
true and prudent they do sooner perform the matter in hand but if they make use of false and foolish Means they go backward or round about and so they are further off or they wander And then either they do not accomplish or it is much a longer Time before they obtain what they would have Indeed there is another kind of Method in things pertaining to God than what is commonly made use of as to the things of this VVorld For though the same VVisdom Diligence and Activity are to be used towards the future and spiritual things as we see People do in their present Designs and Enterprises yet we ought not to venture upon all manner of Means For the Word of God is right and all his Works are done in Truth Psal 33. 4. That Word is to be made our Direction all along and we are to do nothing for God but what is holy and good So we learn manifestly from his revealed Will and also we find by the Success and Event thereof for if his own peculiar Servants do turn aside from the holy Commandment delivered unto them or do that which is sinful or doubtful not being of Faith and full Perswasion of Mind it doth not prosper unto them but they are most commonly defeated even the Wicked and Tansgressors which do most flourish and have the things they desire and endeavour after have not a comfortable Enjoyment thereof or they are given to vain Imaginations tormenting Desires continual Restlessness and Turmoil of Mind So they have plenty but no Satisfaction If there is but one Achan a single Babylonish Wedge this troubleth the whole Camp of Israel and the Israelites are smitten before their Enemies And this is many times a Reason not only of the common Afflictions of God's faithful People in their private Persons but also his Church hath laboured under long continued Persecutions and Adversities out of which they have attempted to redress themselves by unwarrantable and evil Means which have been frustrate and came to naught and then by giving occasion to the Enemy to think that they were not so holy as they pretended and thereupon they were kept faster in Bondage and tormented yet more We ought carefully to use the Means but we are in no wise to trust in them nor seek to the Arm of Flesh as to put any Reliance thereon God is exceeding jealous of his own Glory that as all things are of him so he would have all ascribed unto him And therefore he doth purposely make use of little outward Means that it may be known that they have not done it but he who sits above He acts in an invisible Manner He works and we see him not By the silent but effectual Operations of his Spirit Which the World receiveth not because it seeth him not John 14. 17. They do not understand but yet they are moved at the Presence of him in whom they imagine it dwells His Flesh is the same with theirs and yet they narrowly look on and consider him But if they had a spiritual Eye or if they had an inward Sense to perceive somewhat of the same Nature within themselves they would be much more over-awed with that And yet they would be inexpressibly more moved with the Presence of the God of the Spirits of all Flesh As Wax melteth before the Fire so let the Wicked perish at the Presence of God Psal 68. 2. which will be really fulfilled when himself shall bow the Heavens and come down Even now at the Manifestation of the Spirit of God Satan and his Legions do fly and disappear The Devils believe and tremble for they more quickly discern and fear than People in the Flesh and being more apprehensive of God's Power and also being conscious that they are liable to it they either make haste to get away or they lie under a more grievons Terror and Apprehension thereof against the Time it shall be executed upon them The Lord rideth upon a swift Cloud and shall come into Egypt and the Idols shall be moved at his Presence Isa 19. 1. As Light doth dispel Darkness one Beam or Ray of the Sun drives it away when it overspreads the Face of the whole Earth So it is of the spiritual Light and of the spiritual Darkness where the spiritual Light doth appear and shoot it self forth it makes all Ignorance and Error to utterly vanish away The Father of Lights doth sometimes send out a Ray and Communication of his own Nature O send out thy Light and thy Truth Psal 43. 3. Thou that dwellest between the Cherubims shine forth Psal 80. 1. He now and then appears a little more and makes a Discovery of himself The God of all things who hideth himself if I may so express it behind the Skreen of his Creatures doth look out a little Who hath put a Vail on his Face he doth a little draw it aside Who hath dark Waters and thick Clouds to cover him yet he looks out from behind the Pillar and as he troubled the Egyptians of old so doth he even now seem to disturb the Inhabitants of the Earth for so they are disturbed when they have any Apprehension or spiritual Sight of him And therefore they avoid it and they shut their Eyes against him Lord when thy Hand is lifted up they will not see but they shall see Isa 26. 11. As long as they can refuse the Knowledge of God they will refuse it As long as they can resist and despise his Righteousness and Truth they will do so But at length there shall such an abundant Measure thereof be poured down that they shall both know and consider tremble and be astonished do whatever they can By the Help of God one of his Saints who is the same with others shall put an hundred to Flight and Ten shall chase a Thousand And this shall not be done by Sword or Spear by outward Strength or Power of the Hands but with the weakest Member and lightest thing in Man viz. It shall be done by the Tongue and by the Breath of his Lips And he shall smite the Earth with the Rod of his Mouth and with the Breath of his Lips shall he slay the Wicked Isa 11. 4. The Lord shall put Words into their Mouth that the Ears which hear thereof shall tingle And though they are backward to hear yet he shall cause them to hear Now Words are vain light and the Sound of them soon passeth away They may be slighted off when they come from a weak and helpless Man For doth he talk of great things who is little and contemptible himself Doth he speak of Power and Might who is but Flesh a feeble Creature and like a Reed shaken with the Wind Doth he preach of Rewards and Punishments in whose Power it is not either to do good or hurt For the utmost is a slight Pleasure or little Inconvenience Doth he talk of Kingdoms Glory and Riches when perhaps himself is abject
We now hear of the Name of God which is great wonderful and holy That is to the outward Ear but then is a Conception of him in the Mind and our Eyes are to publish forth his Name We see with our very Eyes his Works and the things which his Hand hath made and by the Dimension of them we may ascribe Greatness unto our God He is the same still who abides of old from everlasting to everlasting He is nothing the more for being published nor yet greater for our most ample and large Expressions concerning him which possibly can be spoken Even the holy Men of old have had diminutive and little Conceptions of him which have increased yet higher according as more Revelation came into the World as appears from the Order and Succession of Scripture They were surprized and amazed at the Presence of his Angel And what is one of them to Thousands of Angels Or what are they to the Lord of all which hath ten thousand Times ten thousand ministring Spirits before him David saith The Lord is a great God and a great King above all Gods Psal 95. 3. which Gods may be the Princes of the Earth or Idols Jeremiah witnesseth Among all the wise Men of the Nations and in all their Kingdoms there is none like unto thee Jer. 10. 7. The Prophet in Isa 40. declares somewhat more and so doth Daniel in his seventh Chapter And yet all these come exceeding short of his true Majesty and Greatness It being such as Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard nor entred into the Heart of Man to declare God as he is I am that I am He is known to himself and by his Name I AM. His only begotten Son who is the eternal WORD hath declared him And also he did before reveal himself by his Spirit but it was by condescending unto and helping our Infirmities And therefore the Spirit useth such Expressions as we can receive but withal giveth us to understand that the things of God are unutterable for the Tongue cannot speak forth that which our finite Understandings cannot apprehend because it is infinite and incomprehensible But yet so far as we know and apprehend we ought to set forth the same to the intent that our Children may shew forth the same unto their Children and to those which are yet unborn And God may so enlarge their Hearts that they may receive yet further Knowledge of him what they had from their Forefathers may grow up yet higher Obedience is the Follower of Knowledge And they that know thy Name will put their Trust in thee for thou Lord hast not forsaken them tbat seek thee Psal 9. 10. and so it is of all other Duties and if we may rely on God as to the past where he doth not assist much further than just to perform our Duties and that also through Difficulty and Temptation to exercise our Trust and Dependance on him much more may we do the same as to the future when we verily know and are assured that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him The things prepared for those that wait for him are described to be more and greater than Eye hath seen Ear hath heard or hath entred into the Heart of Man so that the greater Apprehension and more full Assurance we have of these things we also are the more quickned and stirred up to do whatever our God requires of us in the mean while Saith David I will run the way of thy Commandments when thou shalt enlarge my Heart Psal 119. 32. which denotes Freedom and Speed I will that is his own Act. Run doth shut out all Delay and putting it off for it presently begins and pursues it with Strength and Vigour The Word Enlarge doth also signifie in the Original to perswade God shall enlarge in the Margent it is perswade Japheth Gen. 4. 27. for the Apprehension of those great things do incline and weigh down the Mind As before there was an high thing which did exalt it self against the Knowledge of God which was only a wrong Imagination but now there comes a real higher thing which leads and invites unto his Knowledge which is stronger and doth prevail In the Margent of 2 Cor. 10. 5. It is Reasonings opposite to the VVord Imaginations in the Text For let Men once come to this and the things of God will outreason with them People may sit down and stop under a sudden and false Thought or be held under Frowardness Humour and Inconsideration or only examine one Side the present seeming Pleasure and Advantage But if they would give their Thoughts full Scope and stay a little to see whether Truth will come in reflect whether in this he is not under the Command and Direction of the great Lord over all and then consult with his VVord and Spirit Take in the Consideration of future Judgment and Account when there shall be an exact Retribution to every Man according to his VVorks and the Matter of this or that Day shall be particularly discussed The more these things are understood and considered of they press yet more forcibly and what were heretofore rebellious and supposed to be in the Man 's own Power do fall and submit by degrees till every Thought is brought into Captivity unto the Obedience of Christ The Soul is first brought unto Obedience in the General and then the same Reason which brings in some Thoughts doth the other also till the whole doth come in and yield Conformity to it For the same God and Father who is in all and above all and through all he doth require to be loved with all the Heart with all the Soul with all the Strength and with all the Mind The same Lord Jesus Christ expects that we observe all things whatsoever he hath commanded Mat. 28. 20. And so whether this shall be done presently or hereafter there are so many Considerations for the present Performance of the same that whoso suffers them to be debated in his Mind they forthwith turn the Scale against all dilatory Pleas and Excuses For seeing we must all appear before God to give Account of our several Persons before him let our selves judge this one thing in the mean while whether God will not be better pleased with and sooner accept of those who make no tarrying to turn unto the Lord and who do not put it off from Day to Day or with them who trifle with and despise him in the mean time Or whether it will not be better for them whilst Time is before them and Opportunity is present so to employ that Opportunity in doing those things whereof is Hope and Expectation to which God hath annexed a Promise and a Reward Or to be still running after those things whereof they are ashamed in the Act which heighthens their Doubt and Fear of the divine Threatning and Punishment which is established by the same Word and Truth as the other So they are either
saith in Zeph. 2. concerning Nineveh That when she shall be desolate and uninhabited then People shall reflect and look back upon what hath brought this Judgment on her And so when the World comes to be punished for their Evil and Iniquity then they shall call to remembrance and consider what brought all this Misery upon them But then it is too late and to no Purpose but to aggravate their own Folly and to torment them yet more And so contrariwise It would have been well with them if they had done after this and that Manner Why you were told and warned of as much by the Word of God for whom it was impossible to lie So that they might even then have been assured it would as certainly be as now they find it present upon them It was necessary to be told of it before because they might have done some things for which they should have been worthy to escape Luke 21. 36. and also obtain Good for which they did labour and endure the foregoing Conditions should be performed they should be in the mean while rendred meet which the same God did press unto by the same Word and Truth which spoke beforehand of these things People are apt to stumble and be blinded at the Doings of God Our Fathers understood not thy Wonders in Egypt Psal 106. 7. till after they were over And so it was of their Dealings towards his Servants the Prophets whom they did persecute unto Death and afterwards they acknowledged them to have been faithful Messengers sent from God So whilst the Messias lived and dwelt amongst Men they doubted whether it was he But after they had crucified and put him to Death then they understood it Now when the Centurion and they that were with him watching Jesus saw the Earthquake and those things that were done they feared greatly saying truly this was the Son of God Mat. 27. 54. Now Jesus did in his Lifetime both by his Doctrine and Miracles manifest sufficiently before the Jews that he was the holy one sent from God No Man can do those Miracles that thou dost except God be in him John 3. 2. The Works which the Father hath given me to finish the same Works that I do bear Witness of me that the Father hath sent me John 7. 36. And so they were amazed at his Doctrine for it was with Power and he taught as one having Authority and not as the Scribes It was sublime and divine and and so they might even then be convinced and apprehend it Those many great and wonderful things done throughout the whole Course of his Ministry were as evident a Demonstration of his being the Son of God as what appeared afterwards And when they did oppose him continually from Time to Time and still they were more and more convinced of his Truth and Divinity yet still to go on and to the utmost Pitch of their Malice and Rage as to kill the Body And when the whole Time of Trial is over then to acknowledge that they were in a Fault and would not have done it to pretend Ignorance for an Excuse or Mitigation of their Sin when it was either willing Ignorance or a false Plea God who knoweth the Hearts will judge of all this Our Saviour notably confutes such gross Hipocrites and Dissemblers Mat. 23. 29 30 31 32. Who say if we had been in the Days of our Fathers we would not have been Partakers with them in the Blood of the Prophets when at that very Time they did the same against Christ whom the most moderate Fame did say he was one of the Prophets risen again but others Christ and others Elias as their Fathers did against the Prophets And so it was clearly manifested that themselves did not only allow the Deeds of their Fathers but themselves at that Instant did the same And as they were Witnesses against themselves that they were Children of them which killed the Prophets so they did afterwards fill up the Measure of their Fathers for they proceeded and did kill him also of whom God spake to Moses I will raise them up a Prophet from among their Brethren like unto thee Deut. 18. 18. who was more than all the Prophets or the Angels yea the very Christ the anointed one of God This is the Abomination of Hypocrisie that when they do wickedly against God they would justifie themselves before Men and make a Shew as if they had not sinned nor done corruptly They would first hide their Sin as Adam but if it is known as publick Acts are then they would put a Colour and Pretext to it But what are your Sins to us or what are we that ye should plead with or extenuate your selves before Your Sins are against the Lord and he is the Judge himself Oh let the Wickedness of the Wicked came to an End but establish the Just For the righteous God trieth the Hearts and Reins Psal 7. 9. He observes the several Steps and Gradations thereof He sees how far it will go And it may be that is one Reason why he suffers it to proceed so far that the Folly thereof may be more manifest that Sin may appear to be exceeding sinful that when he comes to dissect and lay it open with his eternal Truth we may see the infinite Guilt and Aggravation thereof Like a putrifying Sore which the longer it is let alone the worse it grows If God should arise in his Anger and lift up himself Evil and Transgression could never have proceeded so far as now it hath done If God had spread out his Light universally to reprove the Deeds of Mankind there had not been so much Sin and Ungodliness If his Truth were clearly universally and fully made known it would prevent a great deal of Sin and Errour Neither then had all Flesh corrupted its Way upon Earth as now it hath done But there hath been the Hour of the wicked and the Power of Darkness Luke 22. 53. In which things have been suffered so to be That Hour draws towards its End and the Light doth begin to shine Then also Sin and Iniquity will have its Period It will make an End of Transgression and bring in everlasting Righteousness For he will finish the Work and cut it short in Righteousness because a short Work will the Lord make upon the Earth Rom. 9. 28. What hath been some Thousand Years in Agitation and Continuance may be brought to an utter End within the Compass of a Year or less Even as we see that he who hath been a Sinner all his Life long is converted in an Hour or a Minute By one full and clear Conviction of the exceeding Evil and Danger of Sin he may be induced and brought over imediately to forsake it If we were throughly made sensible of the infinite Goodness and Glory of God and how he is dishonoured by the breaking of his Law this alone Consideration should move any one who hath the common Sense
Truth of God We could reason even from the very first Principle of Action and make even the man himself whether he be in a meer natural state or if he knoweth what we say whether he be learned or unlearned yet we could leave it to every man to judge what is best even for himself to do and which is lIkely to tend most unto his own good Nothing is more certain and evident Then that there is no fruit of Sin It is like dross Psal 119. 119. which melts and slides away The pleasure or profit thereof passeth away and comes to nothing at all there is nothing therein which doth remain and endure nothing which will abide the Fire or stand in any stead in the evil day Not the least comfort or happiness can possibly arise from it Wherefore then should any one continue in Sin Or why should any one go to add Iniquity to Iniquity To draw it on as with a Cart-Rope when hereby he doth not only lose so much good but bring on himself the more guilt and misery If he hath offended God by former sins he doth yet more by present continuance in the same if he hath been filthy he will be worse by wallowing yet further in the mire and the sooner he draws back from the ways of wickedness he will abate God's displeasure against him No flesh can stand under the power of his Anger they cannot endure nor are their hearts strong in the day when the Lord shall deal with them And seeing we must all appear before him to receive Good or Evil to be sentenced unto Life or Death What can be done too much to intreat our Judge in the mean while that we may have him favourable and propitious and be found accepted with him What intercessions and care should be used against this great day of Trial and everlasting Decision How should we in the mean while behave our selves towards him that now sits above to take notice of those who fear him and think on his Name and also expecting till his Enemies be made his Footstool Those who will not submit willingly at first must at length by force who will not do it of their own accord shall be made to do it Wherefore should any debate or doubt arise in the minds of men concerning this Had they not better forthwith close in with that God of whom it is graciously written Who is a God like unto thee who pardoneth Iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage He retaineth not his anger for ever because he delighteth in mercy Micah 7. 18. He would wink at and pass by former Iniquities if People would be careful to please him for the time to come if they would not perversly abuse things as to stir up his Anger so much the more because he doth not retain it nor yet to presume upon that Mercy which he delighteth in The right consequence is That if God doth not retain his Anger then they should not retain their Sins if he delighteth in Mercy they should both Pray and also endeavour to be Partakers thereof to meet God as it were in the way of Goodness to have good-will towards him that he may shew Mercy towards them with what Affection thou behavest thy self towards God he will manifest the same towards thee With the merciful thou wilt shew thy self merciful with an upright man thou wilt shew thy self upright With the pure thou wilt shew thy self pure and with the froward thou wilt shew thy self froward Psal 18. 25 26. According as men are so will God be towards them Now seeing that every one knows that it is in the power of God to save or destroy to do good or to punish no man can be indifferent as to which he would partake of for he would have the good and avoid the evil let him then go the most likely way to obtain the one and eschew the other and that is not to be determined by a sudden thought or slight apprehension of things for such may be the temptation and delusion of Satan But consult the Word of God the very truth and reality of things for seeing that God made doth now govern and will dispose of all things we may rest fully assured that so it shall be as he hath said and decreed where his Word doth promise Forgiveness there the man may be assured thereof as again where it threatens Punishment there he hath just cause to fear and dread it Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Isa 55. 7. But the wicked think that this may be done hereafter so that he is for keeping to his own way in the mean while Then he will continue and go further in a wrong way out of which he must at length come or perish the longer he goes on therein the more way it is to come back those things which he now doth must be undone He must endeavour to please and be reconciled with that God whom now he provokes and sets afar off He must have an awful Regard and Reverence for him whom he now despises What strangeness and contradiction would it be to do those things now which he shall hereafter really wish and desire that he had never done Repentance comes in upon a better and more truly informed Judgment When the prodigal came to himself Luke 15. 17. then came in him the resolution of going home and framing right Principles of Life hence forwards Then it is discerned that he was in an Error heretofore that he had chosen the worst part but now he would mend and lay hold of the better then he verily assents and is really resolved That if such a thing were to do again he would not do it But how can this be that when either he doth already or might know as much yet he doth the same The whole doth depend upon a full and true knowledge That God is to be obeyed and pleased in all things and that it is best for men in all circumstances and at all times so to do If in one instance so likewise in another and then in a third and so throughout all parts of our Duty It is better to be temperate in all things than to run to the full excess of Riot to do Righteousness at all times Psal 106. 3. then to practice wrong or deceit at any time It is better to observe the several parts and stated seasons of Worship than to live in irreligion or contempt of God It is grievous to have forsaken God and it is good to draw near and hold fast unto him in every thing this may be known by that long series and tryal how it is with the condition of Mankind those several dispensations and accidents the sundry changes and chances of this mortal Life the temptations and what may
us than with them who flourish and encrease most in worldly Goods May we not more surely rely upon God's infallible VVord that it shall be well with us than the vain and deceitful Promises of others or our own Imaginations in our own Designs and Enterprizes for we know by experience that we are often beguiled and mistaken as to both but the Lord never said to the House of Jacob Seek ye my face in vain Neither is he wanting as some are apt to doubt to make good his Promises at the present time But they do err in misapprehending of them for the great and precious Promises are yet a far off And now the Divine Goodness is only engaged so far as to give us all things pertaining to Life and Godliness to preserve Health and Strength of Body and he puts Grace and Consolation into the Soul that we may Perform And if we are at any time cast down yet we should not then be so discouraged as to neglect utterly and leave from Duty In the name of God let us go on and take whatever we shall meet withal for the time is short and hasteneth away VVnither we Rejoice or Rejoice not whether we Laugh or Mourn whether we are in good plight and steadfastness of Mind or are heavy and cast down It all goes on and we flie away And whatever is done here it is for Eternity Either it passes into Condemnation or it makes way for Repentance There is one Event to him that Sacrificeth or him that Sacrificeth not and this is found so by daily Experience But the same word of Truth saith That we must appear before the Judgment Seat of Chist to receive for the things we have done whether they be Good or Evil. It is certain that the Lord God of Recompences shall surely requite Jer. 51. 56. And this will much exceed both as to the delightful or tormenting Nature whatever is esteemed so here The Acts are suddenly over and so the Joy or Sorrow of of them is suddenly slipt by And indeed it is strange that a reasonable Creature should be so much concerned as to that fugitive thing of Joy or Sorrow but his care and sollicitation should be to what it tends at last Nothing is so good as to be truly desirable and nothing is so bad but what may be endured And therefore the first is not to be eagerly catched after but to be carefully avoided if it should lead and beguile into Misery and likewise the other may be chosen and submitted unto if it makes for and increases our Crown and Reward I mean as to the Delights and Pleasures of Sin so of the seeming pain and trouble of Duty The first are nevertheless to be abstained from the others to be willingly undertaken if they help unto good in the latter end And tho this may seem harsh and uncouth at first yet it is both Practicable and easie to him who is exercised therein It is thus by custom and continuance and afterwards it grows up into Delight and sincere Satisfaction Notwithstanding all vain fears and surmises anxious care or sinful distrust yet by thus doing he shall have more Happiness yea and be sensible of less Misery even as to this present time than possibly the one can be had or the other avoided by all Irreligion or the pretended wisdom and caution of any Disobedience Much more might be said as to this Point But as the truth may be cleared so again the force and perswasion thereof may be lost by multiplicity of words and therefore it is convenient to add no more upon this particular Head of Discourse especially there having been so much demonstrated in the fore-cited Book of Happiness and as to the several Heads of Good and Evil there treated of so that he who will not perceive nor be convinced by what hath been already said neither would he be perswaded if ten thousand words were more added to the same purpose CHAP. V. Herein sundry Things are written against them who will not be perswaded by nor live according to Words and also against following the Multitude BUT why do I mention this In vain is the Pen of the Writer or the Tongue of the Speaker for some obstinate and stubborn Souls do therefore refuse it They will not be tied and confined to live according to Words either they will be despisers or stubborn not to mind at all or practice just contrary or otherwise Indeed one would admire by what kinds of method Satan's Kingdom doth stand by what slender Threads he holds Men Captive at his will for do but once examin and touch them and they will fall and snap asunder Those Imaginations which he puts into the Hearts of Men and Women and thereby works in them with all deceiveableness yet when they are once known they are presently confuted The falshood and danger of them are so clearly laid open that themselves may see it and so they need not miscarry through all his Delusions if they would but receive the knowledge of the Truth that they might be Saved Amongst the several things which Satan Who deceives the whole World Rev. 12. 9. doth suggest and each Man keeps close in the deep of his Heart That aforementioned is a common and generally received Imagination which they hug and hold fast And to confirm them the more therein they will have a seeming excuse for it because so many go about troubling Christians with Words and there is such a multitude of words in the World such hold it the better way once for all to reject them and not to be limited or confined to live according to Words But they should do well in the first place to consider what it is they thus set at naught and cast off even what they shall not prosper nor be blessed in Their root shall be as rottenness and their blossom shall go up as dust because they have cast away the Law of the Lord of Hosts and despised the word of the holy one of Israel Isa 5. 24. These are the words which they will not be guided by nor give heed unto They refuse obedience and subjection unto Almighty God just like their fore Fathers A stubborn and rebellious Generation that kept not the Covenant of God and refused towalk in his Law Psal 78. 10. They rebelled against the words of God and contemned the Counsel of the most High Psal 107. 111. Now these words of God are contained in Scripture which is his Statute-Book for his government of the World All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God 2 Tim. 3. 16. As saith another Apostle For the Prophecy came not in old time by the will of Man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1. 21. At this the People are so impatient and will not be governed by it which is downright Disobedience and manifest Sin and shall receive a due Punishment thereof for Sin is the transgression
of the Law either going over and beyond it or doing otherwise than that hath prescribed or not doing what that hath enjoyned So that those stubborn Souls who will not live according to Words are convinced as transgressors and offenders of the Law of the most high God and they shall be dealt with accordingly for now they are under the Threatning and Curse and they shall hereafter be sensible of the Punishment and Misery Who is he that saith he will not obey the Law of God If any should do so as to the Laws of the King and our Country judgment would be executed upon him of Death or Banishment or loss of Liberty or Member according to the several sorts of Punishment among us And albeit our God doth keep Silence for a while and doth not execute Sentence speedily upon the Sons of Men yet it will be far worse with them who shall thus behave themselves towards the great King of all the Earth the Lord God Almighty It is near the same thing whether they speak out with a loud voice or say so in their Heart or practice it in their Life and Manners that They will not have God to reign over them see Luke 19. 14. Who set themselves against the Lord and against his Anointed saying Let us break their bands asunder and cast away their Cords from us Psal 2. 2 3. For they will not be holden in by invisible Restraints nor be kept away from their own doings by sense of any Divine Law and Obligation Our lips are our own who is Lord over us Psal 12. 4 But those who think and act after this manner are the worst sort of Sinners who do presumptuously and sin with an high Hand Few will own as much though more do so The general course of Transgression is by way of Excuse and Delusion and these do take up the forementioned Plea That because of the multitude of Words and the falshood Vanity and Evil of many of them therefore they do not live according to Words But as the Apostle saith There are it may be so many kinds of Voices in the World and none of them is without signification 1 Cor. 14. 10. So a Word is but as it were a Voice expressed and articulated And every word if it be proper and taken singly is significative but when they are connected together in a Sentence and are to shew forth the sense and meaning of somewhat then they are to be judged of and discerned There is Truth and Fulshood right Words and wrong But we should in no wise reject the Truth and Right because there are of the other worse sort for if we do that we certainly run into the other and so out of a shew to avoid Falshood and Wrong it is so managed by the cunning delusion of Satan that we do hereby fall into it The World and all the things we have to do with here are made up of Intermixture and Contraries where is Right and Wrong Good and Evil Truth and Falshood Apparent and Real So that if we have not the one we must have the other If we have not the better we shall meet with the worse And therefore if we would indeed have the better we must know and choose it accordingly but not despise and set at naught the more excellent things for this is submitting unto the worse According hereunto the Wisdom of God teacheth If thou shalt learn to put a difference between the Holy and Prophane the Clean and the Vnclean then shall ye be meet to come into mine House Such shall be meet to partake of the Inheritance with the Saints in Light who can thus seek out and discern things in this place of Darkness They shall be fit for Heaven who can and also do escape the Corruption that is in the World through Lust and thus order their Conversation aright here on Earth The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Net that was cast into the Sea and gathered of every kind which when it was full they drew to shoar and sat down and gathered the good into Vessels but cast the bad away Matt. 13. 47 48. And so whatever thoughts arise or are suggested to our mind we are to entertain and nourish the Good but to extinguish cast forth and not admit the Evil. In like manner it should be of the words we hear or read we are to gather and receive the good words into our Hearts but to cast the bad away The Wheat is to be gathered and laid up in the Treasure of our Heart but the Chaff is to be blown away Knowledge and Truth are to be sought after and received but Imagination and Falshood are to be thrown out They are both mixed together for as by Learning and by right Consequences we come to the knowledge of the Truth so a false and deceitful kind of Reasoning will present it self and fallacious and mistaken Consequences will arise through the Sephistry of Satan and his Instruments which we are likewise to discern before we pronounce Judgment and try before we Believe Now every Man hath either the right and true Promises or others which are not And because all People pretend unto and would have the first through Pride and Self-conceit they mistake which they have already for them and so they will have no more nor better The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge but Fools despise Wisdom and Instruction Prov. 1. 7. VVhen our Heart and Understanding is first lifted up towards God and then looks down and sees things as he sees them which must be in their very Nature for certainly he knows them who made and Establish'd them VVhen the Apprehensive Faculty is enlightned from above and endued with that which cometh down from the Father of Lights we do first know and consider of the Great God over all and then how all other things were Created by him but now they are under him to Govern and Rule according to his good Pleasure both the things in Heaven the things in the Earth and the things under the Earth Some have not the knowledge of God I speak this to your Shame 1 Cor. 15. 34. Neither have they the understanding of his Law this is to their worse deserving And whatever they pretend unto others or seem to themselves to know it is separated from them both That is they discern somewhat of the Creatures without the Creator And because they understand not his Law neither do they perceive that Obligation they are under and the true connexion of things one to another So they are destitute of the true and useful Knowledge and in the Language of the Holy Ghost they are direct Fools Vnderstand ye Brutish among the People and ye Fools when will ye be wise Psal 94. 8. VVhich it is impossible they should be as long as they despise and reject the means of Being so VVhat is real VVisdom and Instruction may seem to them as Folly and
shall fall therein Hos 14. 19. The VVise and Prudent know the difference between vain words Exod. 5. 9. those there were not so tho a Proud Ignorant and Ungodly Pharaoh did call them so and the words of Truth and Duty the VVise and Prudent know the difference between what words pertain to real Instruction and what words are of empty Speculation what serve unto Godliness or tend unto vain Jangling what is good unto the use of Edifying or ministers only unto Idleness and Vanity But Sinners do contrariwise in all these They chuse and are employed in the worse instead of the better And though they make their boast not to regard nor live by Words yet they are acted by Thoughts which Thoughts are made up of Evil and Vanity Falshood and Folly And even all their Thoughts might be uttered and written in Words as themselves know what they think and by what they are guided which they could speak forth or set down and then they become words But if these did appear in like manner how ridiculous and foolish and vain would they be Destroy thou them O God let them fall by their own Counsels Cast them out in the multitude of their Transgressions for they have rebelled against thee Psal 5. 10. Which is accordingly fulfilled for they go on in their own Counsels till they fall and are Destroyed and they are intangled in the multitude of their Transgressions till they actually drop into Punishment and Misery The Holy Ghost calleth them a Rebellious People which walketh in a way that is not good after their own Thoughts Isa 65. 2. This is the Question and Controversie which the Lord hath with the Inhabitants of the Earth whether they shall do according to his revealed Will and Commandment or go after their own Thoughts Indeed they are for the last because it hath a shew of Pride Humour and Conveniency but this is their Reward and utmost they will have for it will never attain to any real and lasting Good And when a single VVorm of the Earth shall prefer and follow his own will against that of the great Lord of the VVorld it doth Provoke the Lord to Anger conninually Isa 65. 3. As if their own Thoughts were better than God's Thoughts They will strive for Masterdom and have their own Imaginations and Sayings above the VVill and Commandment of God This is plain Walking contrary to him to which is threatned that he will bring seven times more Plagues upon them according to thiir Sins Lev. 26. 21. And again it is further added Then I will walk contrary also unto you in Fury and I even I will chastise you seven times for your Sins Verse 28. If ye walk contrary c. Their manner of doing is expressed in the Present Tense For now is the time of their Trial but how God will deal with them is Future for it shall be rendred accordingly As also to prove in the mean while whether they will be reformed from their Sin and Iniquity and do according to his Law Indeed all People do one or the other Either they live according to what is contained or directed in the word God or according to what is thought and Imagined in the Hearts of Men. VVhich as aforesaid might be expressed forth in words so it is near the same thing Or the Men are led by the Temptations and Suggestions of Satan which also as they appear to the Mind in an intelligible manner so they might be spoken forth But none will plead outwardly for them and therefore the Question in short turns upon this Point VVhether we shall go according to Divine or Human VVords for all People High and Low Rich and Poor are guided continually by one or the other VVhich of the twain is our bounden Duty and which is the best and also which is the wisest way for the attainment of Good and Happiness that hath been largely before demonstrated There is Line upin Line Line upon Line Precept upon Precept Precept upon Precept Here a little and there a little Isa 21. 10. throughout the whole Book of God And yet more in quantity and number of words hath been delivered from the Tongue and Pen of his Saints of the several Generations since the World began So much hath been said and done to make this appear unto the ungodly and disobedient in order to restrain them from the Error of their ways that if it was all written as indeed a great deal thereof is I suppose that a Man's whole Life would not suffice to Read it Nay they seem to reject it because of that seeming multitude of words touching this Matter yet themselves go according to their own Thoughts though these are more than what do occurs to their Mind concerning Goodness and Duty They are acted and led by the multitude of their own Thoughts and they do not refuse to go according to them for all their vast number Like Brute Beasts made to be taken and destroyed They follow the Herd not knowing whether they go for they perceive not when they are pressing on to be Killed and Destroyed And there are also to be found too many called Reasonable Creatures who remain altogether as Ignorant when they are in the way to Death and Hell The way of Ungodliness and Sin leads directly to it and yet too many continue therein without fear They have the Multitude and Fashion on their side and they are for doing what the most do especially those of the Richer sort They are for going according to the course of the World though they should be condemned with the World 1 Cor. 11. 32. And they think it good to swim with the Stream not knowing that it tends to the bottomless Pit Satan who deceiveth the whole World Rev. 12. 9. hath found out this device to blind them in his and their own Deceivings so called 2 Pet. 2. 13. For they imagine that they do not Err because they have so many of their side however they shall fare as well as the most and they shall be in the same condition with others according to whom they do in this present World To do as others do is one Thought by which the Men of this World act and it is here expressed forth in words So it is the same principle of Action which they hold unto tho it be not spoken out or written But to do barely as others do without regard had to Good or Evil Duty or Sin to what is Commanded or what is Forbidden is Transgression and Folly now which ends in Punishment and Misery hereafter Alas such do not consider there is a great God over all who now looketh from Heaven upon all the Inhabitants of the Earth and considereth all their Works who hath given a Law for them to live by and he is to judge and render to every Man according to his Deeds If People did consider throughly and would do acccording to the Most they should do according to
God's Will for himself is more than all the Generations of Mankind and so more than all that are now living He is more than ten thousand times ten thousand kind of Creatures which are any where in the World above the Firmament or in the vast and spacious Air in the habitable parts of the Earth or any where underneath and without the visible World for all things were created by him whether Visible or Invisible Thrones or Dominions Principalities and Powers Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven Matt. 6. 10. So it is more Universally as Heaven is greater than Earth which is but a part and next to nothing The Innumerable Company of Angels Heb. 12. 22. Those many sorts of Creatures whether Animate or Inanimate Those ten thousand of his Saints whereof Enoch prophesieth Jude 14. The hundred and fourty four thousand of all the Tribes of the Children of Israel and that great Multitude which no Man could number of all Nations and Kindreds and People and Tongues Rev. 7. 4 9. All these obey and fulfil the Word of God and they do his Pleasure And those are many more than all those Rebels now living upon the Earth or those Generations of sinful Men since the World began Whom the Lord hath carried away as with a Flood Psal 90. 5. to be delivered over to the Lake of filth and stink or like the Grass which in the Evening is cut down and withereth Verse 6. and is to be burnt with unquenchable Fire And so it will be of all those which are yet to succeed until there be an End made of Transgression and the Sinners be consumed out of the Earth and the Wicked be no more Psal 104. 35. A little after the Creation All Flesh had corrupted its way upon the Earth Gen. 6. 12. which caused the Flood whereby the World that then was being over-flowed with Water perished But the Heavens and the Earth which are now by the same Word are kept in store reserved unto Fire against the Day of Judgment and Perdition of Vngodly Men 2 Pet. 3. 6 7. As certainly as the Flood came upon those in the days of Noah so certainly shall the whole World be consumed by Fire The Punishment and Vengeance of God are executed by Fire and Water which do drown and consume many as well as few And Death that consigns them over unto it hath reigned from Adam ever since Hell hath enlarged her self and opened her mouth without measure and their Glory and their Multitude and their Pomp and he that rejoyceth shall descend into it Isa 5. 14. which hath been and continues unto this day to be fulfilled So it is a vain Shelter and foolish Safety to think to escape with the Many for God can and doth as easily deal with them as with few We sensibly know that within seventy or eighty Years within the compass of the Age of a Man he doth quite empty the Earth of all its Inhabitants and causeth others to spring up in their stead whom again he takes away in his own order And though now they assemble themselves in Companies to commit Wickedness and gather by Troops to do Mischief Yet they drop away one by one into the Bars of the Pit and he scatters them that they fall severally until they all die away and come to nothing He doth now give his express Command by his Servant Moses Thou shalt not follow a Multitude to do Evil Exod. 23. 2. and forewarns us by the Son of his Love whom he sent to Redeem and Preserve us from it Wide is the Gate and Broad is the Way which leadeth unto Destruction and many there be which go in thereat Matt. 7. 13. So that who is for being amongst the Multitude He will be amongst them also and so he will miss of that narrow way which leadeth unto Life Nor will he be one of those few who find it Indeed there is an Inclination in Man to do as the rest of his Brethren do but then he hath some seeming Reason for it or he is void of Understanding as to have no set and inward Principle of Action and then he can just conceive what others do and order himself to do according Example is a sensible and visible thing and thereupon it hath such a strong Prevalency over most and it is yet stronger over those who know not what it is to live by Faith nor act by hope of unseen things But they are most led on thereby who least think within themselves A Multitude is made up of several distinct Persons which conspire in one thing or near the same But it was received of one or few before it is made known unto and embraced by many and then the like Disadvantage lay against it as now they conceive on the other side But it is said now it hath the more general Acceptation Why the most do swallow it without Examination And who admit thereof must have some Rule Then which God hath given none other unto Men besides his Word which is to try Good and Evil Duty and Transgression as also what may be discerned from the Truth and Reality of things There is no other way under Heaven whereby we may be Happy but this only Now every one desires to be Happy that is To enjoy what Good he can and to avoid Evil. Even those have that Wish and Intention who turn aside every one to his own Way Who live as their Neighbours and Acquaintance and as the rest of the World do why this hath a shew of Peace and Good Will and they do hereby avoid the odious thing of Singularity and the Irksomness of Reproach But they should do well to consider in the first place of Glory to God in the Highest How is that annexed to their kind of Peace on Earth and Good Will towards Men. Their Hearts should be lifted up with Angels and the Heavenly Host towards him who sitteth above and remaineth King for ever And how is he honoured by such a kind of Life as the Inhabitants of the Earth lead which is made up of Forgetfulness of their Maker Sin and Sloth How are his Statutes kept and his Laws observed Are Peace and Truth met together as in the days of Hezekiah see Isa 39. 8. Or is it like the Hills of the Robbers the Assemblies of the Ungodly and Wicked an Agreement together to preserve their old accustomed Ignorance Corruption and Error And then those who would teach Knowledge and guide into Truth shall be reputed Enemies to Civil Society and Troublers of Israel the Church of God And what is the commonly called Good Will but to let every one do what is right in his own Eyes Not to meddle with their Sins and Transgressions To avoid Sound Doctrine Reproof Correction Instruction in Righteousness for all this hath a shew of Disturbance It is said to spoil Family-Peace and good Neighbourhood Even in this Antichristian Age wherein things are
Isa 65. 5. which he could not endure and would have behind or a far off from him Indeed the infinite Holiness and Uprightness of God is in no wise reconcileable to Man's Sin and Corruption and he doth the more abominate and loath it when he beholds it covered with the Mask and Visour of Hypocrisie Who is all-Wise and all Knowing he doth pity and despise our Folly and Ignorance but it is a further Aggravation so that he cannot or rather will not endure therewith when Worms of the Earth would be wise beyond their Maker or pretend to know otherwise than he knoweth and hath decreed or purposed It doth provoke him justly to Anger That when the Sun Moon and Stars and the whole Family in Heaven so much Greater and more Excellent Creatures than we do observe the Law which he hath made And seeing he hath given unto Men Laws which are Holy Righteous and Good he hath shewed unto us strait ways yet stubborn and disobedient Man will not keep and walk in them but every one is for walking after the Imagination of his own evil Heart And as they live and are joined together in Civil Society so this carries on the course of the World and each Person doth make a part of and contribute unto the universal Sin and Wickedness The word Imagination doth import no set Rule of Action but it is a Wandring or Guess Now it thinks it may be thus but is afterward mistaken And this is so much the worse as the End is more excellent which it aims at Now that End is Good and Happiness Every Soul as aforesaid is in pursuit thereof and his several Actions are intended accordingly There is One God over all One rule of Action in his Word One End of everlasting Happiness or Misery and all the deeds done in the Body are as so many Steps to one or the other This is actually so though too many perceive it not nor consider thereof in the time of Probation and Tryal To walk all along in a vain and false Imagination and be deceived at last when this is but once for all Eternity when there is no possible Redress of this Errour must very much enhanse the Folly and Misery of such a Man The first Errour and Evil is in having departed from God and casting away his Fear and exempting himself from his Obedience For though it is so suffered in this Life to prove Mankind more perfectly that it may be seen It is possible for him to run out his days here without having due regard and respect to his Maker and Preserver yet it is known unto God and also Revealed unto us how he will be pleased to deal further with them Even according as we order our Conversation and as our doings are That Word by which we are to Live be Judged and receive accordingly doth now forewarn and acquaint us that things will be otherwise or contrary to what they appear now For that which is highly esteemed amongst Men is abomination in the sight of God Luke 16. 15. And so what is universally received and fashionable among us will be rejected and even loathed by him He hath left another Rule to follow than the Multitude or the meer Example of others An Holy Man of God doth speak on this wise Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ 1 Cor. 11. 1. But no otherwise for Christ had done no Violence neither was any deceit found in his Mouth He was the Holy one of God and in him was found no Sin So that if we do the same which he did we may be assured that it is not Sinful Again his Meat and Drink was to do the will of God and he did always the things which pleased his Heavenly Father So that if therein we follow his Steps as we have him for an Example and do the like things that he did we may hereby know that we do the will of God also and what is pleasing and acceptable in his Sight But every Man besides is a Liar for they have all both Saint and Sinner none excepted varied and gone aside either in some single transient Instances or in many continued ones from the Word of Truth and from the right way It is Written And thou shalt not go aside from any of the Words which I command thee this day to the right hand or to the left Deut. 28. 14. That is neither to one Extream nor yet to the other But where is the Man or Woman who have not gone aside from any of the words wich the Lord God hath Commanded in the Bible both as it comprehends all that is written in the Old and New Testament Both Jews and Gentiles yea all Mankind of every Generation and Country are under Sin and have come short of what God requied in his Law So that whoever doth follow any of these Examples in all things even of the most Perfect and Upright among the meer Sons of Men he will go aside with them even unto the Transgression So that the word of God is to be our Rule and not the Example of others However prone and subject the People of the World are to follow the Examples of their Fellow Creatures and to do what others do of near the same Age Condition and Circumstances of Life yet in these times of the Universal Reformation of the World which is now drawing on in these latter days we must labour and endeavour Mightily to beat off and dissuade People from acting according to that dangerous and mistaken Principle of following the Multitude and being led by the Example of others For besides that to follow the Multitude is a sure token that such are amongst those many which go in the Broad way which leads unto Dsstruction and they are not amongst those few in the Narrow way which leadeth unto Life Matt. 7. 13 14. This seems to lye as the greatest Prejudice against the ways of God That though all his Commandments are Just Holy and Good And it is meet and right for all People at all times to observe the same Yet still nevertheless very few People do observe them When the Scripture speaks of those glorious times Thy People also shall be all Righteous Isa 60. 21. And how that the Sinners will be consumed out of the Earth and the wicked will be no more Psal 104. 35. For in what Prayer the Spirit of Truth doth Dictate is included a Promise that so it shall be As we read these and alike Places what in the Prophet's Phrase is a very lovely Song Ezek. 33. 32. And Peter reciteth from the faying of others As if the Scriptures were a cunningly devised Fable So in our way of speaking those Scriptures seem to be as a pleasant Romance which contain things that were to be indeed wished and desired but at first sight they do not seem to be grounded on Truth for the thing neither as yet is so and there is no
such great outward likelyhood and probability that it will ever be so What thy People shall be all Righteous when now not more than One in an Hundred are strictly and universally so And for the Sinners to be consumed out of the Earth and for the Wicked to be no more How can this be when all places are now full of them But yet as the Waters of Noah did once cover the Earth and so a common Flood doth now cover several parts thereof and the lower Grounds which goes off again So that Deluge of Sin and Ungodliness which hath so long for many Years and Generations overspread the face of all Nations will at length quite go off and never return again An Inlet and preparatory to this glorious day of Righteousness and Holiness throughout the Earth will be when People shall once begin to leave off living by Examples but they shall live according to the Word of God and the Dictates of the Spirit Tho Satan's Kingdom hath stood a long time yet it hath been all along upheld as it were by Threads or as the Spider's Web or as Brittle Glass I mean that it hath been erected upon so slender a Foundation and holden up by such weak Props that if any thing had touched and beat vehemently upon it it would have fallen in that part thereof for as soon as it had been touched or grappled with it would have presently broken and snapped asunder And when when it was made up again it was as Thread or Tow tied together or like a Spider's Web made over again or as the broken pieces of Glass set together again which was somewhat weaker than the former To these and such-like Similitudes all those Thoughts and Imaginations in Men and Women may be compared by which the infernal and unseen Spirit did work in the Children of Disobedience for it was all either Evil or Falshood And whensoever Grace and Truth had also an entrance into their Minds and did once begin to close and grapple therewith it did put it all to flight and overcame the Temptations and Suggestions of the Evil one which he would bring on again after the aforesaid manner As heretofore observed almost all Satan's Temptation is comprized in that which he used to our Grandmother Eve And when the Woman saw that the Tree was good for Food and that it was pleasant to the Eyes and a Tree to be desired to make one Wise she took of the Fruit thereof and did Eat Gen. 3. 6. So that Goodness Pleasure Desirableness which last may be also expressed by conveniency or Expediency are the three Baits which the Serpent who is more Subtle than any Beast of the Field doth make use of to fish for and catch the Souls of Men and VVomen and where he also tempteth them to any Sin or act of Disobedience which doth not seem either Good or Pleasant or Desirable But it is either Humour or Frowardness or VVillfulness or they know not what reason they have for it but they do it for all There commonly it is Company and Example of others like natural brute Beasts Oxen or Sheep which go on with the Drove and as they see others before them not knowing where or wherefore To do as others do seems convenient or expedient which comes under one of those three Heads of Goodness Pleasure and Desireableness for it is thought Safe and also it prevents that Hatred and Ill-will which is commonly annexed to Singularity VVho do not in all their Actions seek to please God yet commonly these same Persons endeavour to please other Men or their own selves that is Their own Lust and VVill or the sinful Desires of the Flesh By which is shewn forth that Principle ingrafted in them by the God who formed them of Pleasing some one which should be terminated and arise up to their Maker and Creator only but with them it is turn'd aside to their Fellow-Creatures or to themselves Casting down Imaginations in the Margent it is Reasonings and every high thing that exalteth it self against the Knowledge of God and bringing into Captivity every thought to the Obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10. 5. To express sorth these several Imaginations and every Thought would swell this Treatise to a prodigious bulk And indeed many of the Thoughts of Men are so vain and trivial that they are not worthy to be spoken out or to be set down in Ink and Paper But for those Imaginations which carry a shew of Reasoning with them if the Reader would narrowly and attentively observe how each of them is answered and cast down by the like words of Truth as that is effected any other new Imagination as it shall arise may in the same or like manner be answered and cast down also The Metaphor of casting down is I suppose in allusion to Wrestling at the Olympick Games which were in use among the Corinthians and there sometimes a Tall Boasting Fellow would come into the Ring whom another less Man who had more Skill though not equal in outward Appearance would oftentimes gives the Foil unto and cast him down And so for bringing into Captivity every Thought to the Obedience of Christ This is also a Similitude in which the Holy Ghost delights Hos 12. 10. taken from Warriors where both the Adverse Parties contend and fight together and they try with all their Strength and Skill who can kill or take one another Captive There is a very near resemblance between things Visible and Invisible for so it is likewise as we may see with the Eyes of our Vnderstanding being enlightned between the Thoughts of Good and Truth and the Suggestions of Satan and the Dictates of Evil and Falshood All these are contrary one to the other and they do fight and contend together in the Soul of Man They strive there for Mastery which shall prevail which the Man shall be lead and governed by And according as this is so is the Discrimination to be made of Godly and Vngodly Righteous and Wicked they that serve God and they that serve him not for the Godly and Righteous and the Servants of God are ever or for the most part led and governed by the Words of his Grace and Truth And when there is a War and Contest in their Souls whether they shall overcome or the Temptation of the World the Flesh and the Devil the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life Their Faith in the unseen God and their Knowledge and Fear of him and the sense of his Law written in their Hearts do constantly or at least most commonly overcome all the other Assaults of the Evil one Whereas the Ungodly and the Wicked and Rebels have indeed a faint remembrance and a small sense of that Obedience they owe unto God and his Law But in all these Temptations or for the most part they shew themselves to be Servants of Sin and Evil By consenting unto and doing the
Soul to Sin or be wanting in Duty Both which do now occasion Vexation of Spirit But they shall see and be ashamed for the Envy of the People Isa 26. 11. That is whereas heretofore the World did envy at the People of God from whence did spring up their Hatred and unkind usage of them thinking that such would be more Happy and Blessed than themselves in the end But when God shall also manifest unto them the Favour that even the Wicked had That even they might have learned Righteousness and beheld the Majesty of the Lord see the foregoing Verse They shall be so ashamed for ever having maligned and done despitefully against his Servants as they shall never do it more And whereas also heretofore the Churches had sometimes Rest from their Enemies and again at other Times they were made Havock of and Persecuted This did happen interchangeably and successively as was before observed that at some times some Countries would fear the Lord greatly and then remisly or negligently and not at all And as there was a time of War and a time of Peace among the Nations so likewise as to this we have the certain and assured Promise of the Lord. Also I will ordain a place for my People Israel and will plant them and they shall dwell in their place neither shall the Children of Wickedness waste them any more as at the beginning 1 Chron. 17. 9. He will make an utter end Affliction shall not rise up the second time Nahum 1. 9. This as may be seen from the two foregoing Verses is spoken as to that day of Trouble which hath come upon his Servants that trusted in the Lord their Strong-hold which was stirred up and occasioned unto them by the Enemies of the Lord emphatically and truly called his Enemies though they did shew themselves so to his Church that is his People And when as to many of his Prophets his Son Jesus Christ his Apostles Ministers and People Affliction did arise up not only the second time but even in Job's Phrase The Lord was with them even to seven Troubles Job 5. 19. Yea and to Seventy times seven for their whole Life was a continued Train and Series and Succession of Trouble and Affliction How then was this found true Affliction shall not rise up the second time And indeed it cannot be otherwise understood and believed but that God hath another day shortly coming in the which he will fulfil and make good this his Word when God will Return How long This question shews how impatient and desirous our Nature is of it How long O Lord Holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our Blood on them that dwell on the Earth Rev. 6. 10. And shall not God avenge his own elect which cry day and night unto him though he bear long with them I tell you that he will avenge them speedily Luke 18. 7 8. So that it will Repent him concerning his Servants O satisfie us early with thy Mercy that we may rejoyce and be glad all our days and make us glad according to the days he hath afflicted us and the years wherein we have seen Evil Psal 90. 13 14 15. for the Lord shall judge his People and repent himself for his Servants when he seeth that their Power is gone and there is none shut up or left Deut. 32. 36. Like Sheep they are laid in the Grave Death shall feed on them and the Vpright shall have Dominion over them in the Morning Psal 49. 14. Now to make the like Application of all these Scriptures here laid together as Peter did in Acts 1. 16. Men and Brethren who shall read or hear this these Scriptures must needs be fulfilled which the Holy Ghost spake by the Mouth of Moses David Isaiah and Jesus Christ hath spoken before concerning that poor afflicted and persecuted Condition of the People of God How they shall take them Captives whose Captives they were and they shall rule over their Oppressors Isa 14. 2. The Power of these Oppressors shall be utterly gone and the Vpright shall have Dominion over them God shall repent himself for that hard Condition he suffered his Servants to go through with and he will satisfie and make them glad for it Now it being manifest that all this good Word is not as yet performed on this Earth and in this Life from the like Reasoning which the same Apostle Peter makes use of Acts 2. 29 30 31. Acts 3. 21. We may assuredly gather and believe That in the Resurrection and Restitution of all things God will most certainly make good this his Word That all things which are written may be fulfilled And that there will be a beginning and entrance into this Blessed State towards the latter days here on the Earth when the Lord shall reign before his Ancients gloriously And all things shall exactly so come to pass according as he hath aforespoken of in his word When the Wolf also shall dwell with the Lamb Isa 11. 6. and there shall be a Concordance and Agreement between the most fierce and devouring Natures of Men and Women with the most calm meek and peaceable Dispositions according to what is further written and confirmed The Wolf and the Lamb shall feed together and the Lion shall eat straw like the Bullock and dust shall be the Serpents meat They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my Holy Mountain saith the Lord Isa 65. 25. To make way and prepare for this glorious day of universal Holiness and Righteousness is the end of all our Preaching and Writing and laying before Men and VVomen all the Words of Truth which we can The Lord saith I will come near to you to Judgment Mal. 3. 5. So according to the goings forth and Emanations of his Eternal Truth God doth come nearer to the Children of Men both for Good and Comfort to his Saints and Servants as also for Terror and Punishment to the Ungodly and Disobedient For that thy Name is near Thy wondrous Works declare Psal 75. 11. God in Scripture is sometimes said to be afar off and he is invisible So that he cannot be otherwise shewn forth and made known unto others but in his VVorks and by his Name Both which are declared by fit proper and true words So that the Reader need not to be offended at the multitude of them here used if they help to make the invisible God more known unto the Inhabitants of the Earth and render him as it were visible yea and sensible unto their Souls If we do not darken counsel by words without knowledge but according to the measure of the gift in us our words become instrumental that the things pertaining to God's Kingdom are rendred yet clearer and clearer that the Children of Men may more easily understand and perceive them than we do the VVork and VVill of God As I do this day the Father to the Children shall make known thy Truth Isa 38. 18. If
from out of the Hearts of the Inhabitants of the Earth as also from the Element it self And Righteousness shall look down from Heaven more clearly and visibly than ever it hath done yet But wherefore is it that we hear so very much that in the last days of all God will pour out his Spirit upon us from on High Isa 32. 15. For I will pour Water upon him that is Thirsty and Floods upon the dry Ground I will pour my Spirit upon thy Seed and my Blessing upon thine Off-spring Isa 44. 3. And it shall come to pass afterward in the last days saith God Acts 2. 17. that I will pour out out my Spirit upon all Flesh Joel 2. 28. And there is not altogether so much mention made of the Word then For after Jesus Christ who was the Word and the Word was God was taken away in his Bodily Presence from among Men he ordered that his Disciples should tarry at Jerusalem until they had received the promise of the Father and were endued with Power from on High And so in the beginning was the Word and all things were Created by it that were Made And during all this mean while they are upheld by the word of his Power And whilst these Generations pass through here the Word is to them all in all towards the making them a People prepared for the Lord and to give them an Inheritance amongst all them which are Sanctified But at the very ending Conclusion and shutting up of all things The Spirit is to do the main and principal Office But we read not altogether so much of the VVord then as aforetime Besides that the VVord is in Order and Succession of Time before the Spirit for Jesus Christ came first into the Flesh and then afterward the Holy Ghost was given according to that Emphatical Remark of one of the Inspired VVriters for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet Glorified Another great Reason hereof may be assigned That as the Angel sware by him that liveth for ever and ever who created Heaven and the things that therein are and the Earth and the things that therein are and the Sea and the things which are therein that there should be Time no longer Rev. 10. 16. For Time will be lost and swallow'd up in Eternity as a River or Brook is now lost when it empties it self into the wide Ocean So we may easily gather and understand that when all these things here mentioned shall be so perfectly and wholly made known and seen face to face when what is now afar off and Future shall be Present and just before us when Faith shall be turned into Vision and Hope into Fruition when Prophesies shall fail Tongues cease and Knowledge shall vanish away VVhen the whole Creation of God shall be new and changed from material and sensible things into Spiritual then we may conclude also That WORDS shall be NO LONGER But the things themselves heretofore expressed and apprehended by them shall succeed and be given unto the Creatures God doth all things in his own Order He first made known unto his Creatures the Words of Eternal Life and then afterwards he invests them with the thing it self of Eternal Life and then it is consequent that the words thereof should cease and fail as the Scaffold falls down or is taken away when the Building is Perfected and quite Finished Like as now in common Life there is great talk of such a Person 's coming as of the Messiah among the Ancient Jews but when he is come indeed then all that talk perisheth which did relate thereto For since the beginning of the World Men have not heard nor perceived by the Ear neither hath the Eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him Isa 64. 4. But when that great and enduring thing shall be actually given to the Creature by that God whom he hath waited for then all the thoughts of Heart and words of Mouth that were before concerning it will cease and come to an utter end VVhat Truth we now see written in a dead Letter or we hear in an outward Airy Sound or we conceive in our Mind will one day appear as a shining Ray of Light For Whatever doth make manifest is Light Eph. 5. 13. And all things then will appear in the Light of the Lord. And so this great Matter which we are contending for all along and perswading People unto shall be instantly and altogether done by the Spirit So that Jesus Christ the Son of God shall be delivered from the Strivings of the People and be made the Head of the Heathen and a People whom he hath not known shall serve him As soon as they hear of him they shall Obey him So that there is not need of many more words to enforce the Exhortation But by VVords Knowledge or Notice hath been given that one day so it shall be for all things which are written in the Scriptures of Truth must be fulfilled And also there is this further benefit and use of words that we are hereby taught and put in mind to be in a Readiness and Preparation for the same The VVord doth convert Sinners from the Error of their way like the droppings of Rain or the distillings of Dew that is it doth now and then bring in some individual Persons and that also is done by degrees and in succession of time But the pouring out of the Spirit from on High shall bring them in by shoals and multitudes and do the VVork Instantly and Immediately As soon as they hear of me they shall Obey me Then thou shalt see and flow together and thine Heart shall fear and be enlarged because the abundance of the Sea shall be converted unto thee the Forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee The Multitude of Camels shall cover thee All the Flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee Who are these that fly as a Cloud and as the Doves to their Windows Isa 60. 5 6 7 8. By all which kinds of Speech we are given to understand that very many in number shall flow and come over and be Converted unto God And the Sons of Strangers shall build up thy Walls This is near to the same purport and meaning as what is said in our great Scripture out of which I have here opened and alledged things all along The Strangert shall submit themselves unto thee The Strangers shall fade away and be afraid out of their close Places Those are Strangers who before had not known God nor Christ For although known unto God are all Men and Women as they are his Creatures yet God and Christ doth not know them as to be in Covenant with them I never knew ye depart from me ye that work Iniquity Matt. 7. 23. But they remain Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel who are without Hope without God in the World And yet here is
love thee O Lord my Strength the Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer my God my Strength in whom I will trust my Buckler and the Horn of my Salvation and my high Tower And so they may go on to declare and make a Rehearsal in order of the several great and good things which God hath done in his works of Creation and Redemption how that from the Forming and Transgression of Adam unto Jesus Christ being manifested in the Flesh and from thence to the Pouring out of the Spirit upon us from on High till the very last days it went on all along with Men and Women in all the Habitable parts of the Earth and throughout all the several Generations till at last it came to this Blessed upshot Conclusion and Period Thou hast deliver'd me from the Strivings of the People and thou hast made me the Head of the Heathen By which two Words People and Heathen are comprehended all those who Worship God and who Worship him not as also both them who Worship him in a true or in a false manner for when David Prays in another Place to to Visit all the Heathen Psal 59. 5. He includes under that Word Heathen also those sinful and Wicked Jews whom he there speaks of and amongst whom he dwelt Even as there have been all along Those of the Synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews but are not but do lie Rev. 3. 9. Which say they are Christians and Servants of the Lord and are not but do lie for they are Heathen in Manners tho not in Worship And such for all their Name of Christian are not known of Christ they being workers of Iniquity but many of them shall cease to be such and then he shall begin to own and know them When such and all others come to serve him When the People are gathered together and the Kingdoms to serve the Lord Psal 102. 22. When that which hath been said will be fulfilled A People whom I have not known shall Serve me I am sought of them thâ—… asked not for me I am found of them that sought 〈◊〉 not I said Behold me Behold me unto a Nation that was not called by my Name Isa 65. 1. And when the Prophet doth afterwards complain I have spread out my hands all the day unto a Rebellious People He saith the first of the Gentiles but this last and worst Character he gives of the Jews By which is intimated forth and confirmed that old and true Observation That as good People do commonly meet with more Kindness and Civility from meer Strangers than from Acquaintance and Kinsfolks So it is a more easie matter to convert and bring over unto God meer Heathen and Infidels than to Reform obstinate Jews superstitious or formal Christians from the Error of their ways and to bring them off from their vain and sinful Customs So God speaks unto Ezekiel Son of Man go get thee unto the House of Israel and speak with my Words unto them for thou art not sent unto a People of a strange Speech and of an hard Language whose Words thou canst not understand Surely had I sent thee unto them they would have hearkened unto thee But the House of Israel will not hearken unto thee for they will not hearken unto me Ezek 3. 4 5 6 7. And so God doth elsewhere take notice how they did Pollute his Name among the Heathen which before was Sanctified among them It is a more easie matter to instruct them in the true Knowledge of God who never heard of him before then it is to them who have heard him Preached and Talked of all their Lives long and yet they have not the Knowledge of God I speak this to their shame For manysuch are found to be in this Christian Nation who know nothing more of him than in a general way what they have heard only with the outward Ear or they have received in false Notions and Apprehensions concerning him for in this case so many things must be unlearned again and so many Errors must be removed out before the Truth can come in That one who is a pure Man not before prepossessed with wrong Imaginations but hath the common Principles of Nature and Powers of Knowledge when such an one is instructed truly and perfectly in the ways of God he will forthwith assent unto them and he will judge it the most reasonable thing in the World to do according to what is written At that day shall a Man look to his Maker and his Eyes shall have respect unto the Holy One of Israel Isa 17. 7. That Mortal Man should be Subject and Obedient unto the Almighty and everlasting God for a Creature to be Governed by his Creator especially when he sees hears and finds it in his Heart to be enforced with that Demonstration and Power as it may be As soon as they hear of me they shall Obey me The Strangers shall submit themselves unto me The Strangers shall fade away and be afraid out of their close Places There is a manifold Wisdom of God and so there is a manifold Sense and Interpretation of his Word which yet is all true and genuine so besides that meaning of the word Strangers before assigned There may be intended also such as are Jews Christians and Servants of God in Name or Profession only for they are Strangers or strange Children Psal 144. 7. Who pretend and seem outwardly to own and serve God when indeed and in truth they do not serve and obey him Whatever Thoughts Deceits or false Imaginations such have in their Minds they shall fade and come off from them and they shall be afraid thereof when the Earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord and of the things pertaining to his Kingdom all their own Reasonings and Imaginations shall Vanish and be utterly Abolished and every High thing that heretofore exalted it self against the Knowledge of God shall be cast down and fall to the Ground that the Lord alone may be exalted in that day and every thought both in Man or Woman will be brought into Captivity unto the Obedience of Christ As soon as they hear of me they shall Obey me The CONCLVSION THE Wickedness and Rebellion of former Generations did endeavour to Dethrone God and Christ Nay it did put Christ to Death who was the Prince of Life whom God again loosed from the Pains of Death it being not possible that he should be holden by it for God raised him up And the very same degree of Rebellion and VVickedness would if such a thing were possible which was not with Reverence be it spoken have Killed God himself Yea they would what lay in them Vngod him from whence they are properly called Vngodly Men for they would not that God should reign over them Hence did arise up those Strivings of the People But herein the Heathen did rage and the People did imagin a vain thing For after