yet as to this the Rule is safe herein to do as Moses did who was admonished of God when he was about to make the Tabernacle For see saith he that thou make all Things according to the Pattern shewed to thee in the Mount Heb. 8. 5. And now that the Old Dispensation is abolished we are to see that we Order all Things in our Worship according to the Pattern shewed to us in the Gospel That we may in our Worship which is a great thing relating unto that God with whom we have to do walk before God in Truth I do believe and speak after my Judgment that there is not a way of Worship now in this Nation nor yet on the Earth which is exactly according to the Scriptures of Truth in all things and in all things according to the Pattern shewed in the Gospel And I suppose it will be so seen at the Day of Judgment wherein it will be Found and Rehearsed That all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God Rom. 3. 23. So the several Churches and Congregations the several Saints and Servants of God have somewhat erred and come short of the Spirituality and Truth of his worship as it was in the Mind and Ordaining of God and as might be apprehended from out of his Book for it may be observed now a-days that in each Sect or Party however they are Nicknamed Distinguished or Termed there is something which is good and true and again there is somewhat which is Erroneous and Savours of Men. Now as to all this the faithful and knowing Soul as â—he Soars up above all the Ordinances of Religion as they are managed now a-days by the Worldly Priesthood they seeming to her cold dull low and fâ—at and she apprehends somewhat above them and is for higher and more excellent attainments So the same knowing and faithful Soul is vexed and dissatisfied That she knows not where on this Earth the People do worship God in all thigns exactly according to the mind of the Spirit Nor where â—er self may turn to the People of a Pure Language that â—hey may Call upon the Name of the Lord with one Consent Zeph. 3. 9. And she doth thirst and desire earnestly that she might once Worship the Lord God her Invisible Creatour so in the Congregations of his People as they were in the Days of a Old But where are they so now And she hath great Thought and Earnestness of Heart when that time will again come when it shall be fulfilled what is Written Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord as in the Days of Old and in former Years Mal. 3. 4. Tho' here again it is to be thought that as long as we are on this dark and corrupt Earth we shall never come to worship the Fatheâ— in Spirit and in Truth still we ought to endeavour and to do the best that ever we can till we come to fall down on our Faces before him in Heaven the Habitation of his Holiness where we shall see all things in the light of the Lord. What will satisfy this perplexity and doubt and desirâ— of Soul as to this great thing in the mean while shoulâ— be to this Effect and Purport As the Lord saith unto 〈◊〉 the Inhabitants of the Earth Eschew Evil and do Gooâ— 1 Pet. 3. 10 1. So let him or they that love salvatioâ— and would go to Heaven be sure to do this as much 〈◊〉 ever they can Avoid errour and receive and follow the truth in all the several instances thereof As God himselâ— speaketh on this wise If thou shalt learn to separate tâ— Precious from the Vile and to put a difference between 〈◊〉 Holy and Profane then shalt thou be meet to come unto 〈◊〉 Altar So here it may be reasoned and applied if thâ— knowest and also shalt carefully and constantly do tâ— same to take out the truth from that Multiplicty 〈◊〉 Errour which is abroad in the world like as is the gathâ—â— ing of Gold or Silver from out of the Dross or Honâ— from the Wax If thou knowest to put a difference between truth and falshood so as to gather and receive 〈◊〉 first into thy heart and cast away and not admit the 〈◊〉 ther sort then thou shalt be meet for to come with 〈◊〉 ceptance on the Altar of the Lord Thou shalt enter iâ— his City the Holy of Holies the highest Heavens 〈◊〉 to his presence and to his own Divine Majesty Be 〈◊〉 to observe this Rule in the worship of God Eschew 〈◊〉 falshood and errour therein and receive and do accord 〈…〉 to the truth according to the very best of thy Knowledge and Understanding and with all thy Heart 〈◊〉 and Will and then thy worship will be accepted with the Lord and in thy worship also thou wilt walk before the Lord in Truth Another Explication of walking before the Lord in Truth is to walk in such a way as is Butted and Bounded in his word which is Truth This seems to be the most proper Acceptation and Understanding thereof for to make Gods written Word and Revelation our Guide and Rule throughout the whole Course of our Life is a walking before the Lord in Truth and it is the true and right way to Heaven as to go through or by such and such places is the way to such a City or the like The Word and Truth of God are near one and the same thing Sanctify them through thy Truth Thy word is Truth John 17. 17. And so the walking according to the Word of God or the having our Conversation according to the Gospel is to walk before God in Truth And so it is reciprocally To walk before the Lord in Truth is to walk according to the VVord of God Every Variation or Deviation from it is a false way Therefore I esteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be Right and I hate every false way It was both a Puzzling 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 again are divided into things present and things to come Now to know the very Nature of both these and how they belong unto and are to be had by us What is Good for us and what is Evil for us so as to choose the Good and Refuse the Evil this is Truth Here again to make a Right Judgment and Choice for our selves so as to pursue the best of Ends viz. Future Blessedness and Glory by Lawful and Right means This a walking before the Lord in Truth And so it may be conceived of in other like Instances As to the Second Particular What it is to walk before the Lord with a perfect heart Paul gives the Character of some Jews that they had a Good mind towards God And here Put and Conceive
The Exceeding Great COMFORT AND BENEFIT Of having walked before GOD in TRUTH And with a PERFECT HEART And of having done that Which is good in his Sight Set forth in several Discourses on Isaiah 38. 2 3. By Richard Stafford formerly of Magdalen Hall in OXFORD For our Rejoycing is this the Testimony of our Conscience that in Simplicity and Godly Sincerity not with Fleshly Wisdom but by the Grace of God we have had our Conversation in the World 2 Cor. 1. 12. I have Fought a Good Fight I have finished my Course I have kept the Faith Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto all them also that Love his appearing 2 Tim. 4. 7. 8. London Printed and are to be sold by Ralph Simpson at the Harp in St. Paul's Church-Yard MDCXCIX TO THE CHRISTIAN READER AS the Apostle did Write to those of his time so I according to the knowledge given me would willingly do the same as to the People of this my Generation and Countrey Yea I think it meet as long as I am in this Tabernacle to stiâ— you up by putting you in Remembrance Knowing that shortly I must put off this Tabernacle Moreover I will Endeavour that you may be able after my Decease to have these things always in Remembrance Which good Endeavour of St. Peter was so brought to pass only by his Writing down those very Words which are now Printed and thereby made known unto us For if Peter or Paul had only spoken those Words unto the few Christians then present with them but had never Written them they would have been like A Voice Crying in the Wilderness which is emphatically remarked concerning John Baptist by Esaias in Mat. 3. 3. for John spake four or five Sentences which are there Recorded and Written for him by the Evangelist But he himself Writing nothing hereof was as a Voice of one crying in the Wilderness which we know instantly perishes in the utterance and seems as nothing afterwards In the Wilderness thereby is signified the Church or Servants of God they being fewest in Number as that place hath fewest Inhabitants His Servant Job who had the character from God to speak â—f him the thing that was right saith on this wise Oh that my Words were now Written Oh that they were Printed 〈◊〉 Book That they were Graven with an Iron Pen and had in the Rock for ever Job 19. 23 24. Moreover There is the express Commandment of God to Isaiah Now go Writâ— it before them in a Table and note it in a Book that it â—ay be for the time to come for ever and ever Isa 30 8. A word spoken or a voice uttered Perishes in the Speaking â—â—d Vtterance And tho' it never so much affects the Auditory for the present time yet it goes off as a Flash and is soon forgottn both by Speaker and Hearers But a Word or Sentence written that remains and People may at any time have Recourse and turn unto it Hereby also it may be effectually Prevented thâ— People shall not become forgetful Hearers of the Word as tâ— which the Scripture saith Whoso is not a forgetful Heareâ— but a doer of the Work this Man shall be Blessed in his deed And accordingly the Prophet having obeyed the aforementioned Commandment of God herein so as to have Wrote down his Words they stand and remain longer then any Gates of Brass or Bars of Iron or the most Ancient Buildings in the World for time hath defaced them and the place of them knoweth it no more But the words of Isaiah are as fresh intire sound and perfect to and at this very day all one as they were in the first Moment be uttered them or as they were in that hour wherein he first Wrote them down God having been pleased to preserve his Writings in the World For by the way there hath been great Opposition against these kind of things by Satan and his Incarnate Instruments and the Powers of Darkness The Bible it self wherein then were all the Books of Moses was very â—nigh lost in the days of Josiah when there was but one Copy thereof accidentally found to have been hidden in the Temple It being supposed that some Idolatrous King a little before had Destroyed or Burnt them all As the like was usual with the Persecutors of the first Christians Who again would hide them and rather lose their lives then give up and surrender their Bibles Wherein they were more Noble then some now a days who say They do not much value the outward Letter if they should be tryed but the tenth part so far for they say they have it in their Heart â—ut by their good leave it would not long remain in their â—eart if neither they nor others for them had it not also Writâ—â—n in Ink and Paper for to turn unto Read and seek out of it 〈◊〉 any time Thâ—s also discovers the Sin and Hypocrisie of those of the Romish Church who say they are Christians but they are not but of thâ— Synagogue of Satan and Antichrist for they also have used the very same methods to Suppress or Burn all such Bibles as aâ— in the National Tongue of any Countrey and all those Booâ—s which contain words of Truth which spring up any where aganst their own Errour Idolatry and Superstition Which agâ—in is the duty of all such as are Children of the Truth to prâ—â—erve and keep a foot in the World as the others seek to destâ—ry and suppress them for as to this the Rule is certain althâ—ugh it is not altogether so clearly apprehended by many That as words of Goodness and Truth are kept up above board and mâ—de known Openly and Vniversally on this Earth wheâ—e Sâ—tans seat is So his Kingdom doth accordingly by degrees fâ—ll and lose Ground in the World As contrariwise the Kingâ—om or Interest of Christ who is the Eternal Word would 〈◊〉 much increase and prevail in the World According as â—ood words and true words and right words are made Publick â—nd received in the World This is a Truth of great Importance 〈◊〉 would to God it were understood throughly by all Persons of whatever opinion or denomination for they should not seek their â—wn party but the things of Jesus Christ and done accordingly Another Reason of my willingness to write and Publish Books not which Minister to Contentions and Strivings for they are unprofitable and vain Titus 3. 9. But such as are to the use of Godly edifying may be gathered from what is said in psal 102. 18. This shall be written for the Generation to come and the People which shall be created shall praise the Lord. For by my sending Books or Printed papers unto them I may Preach unto People at many miles distance and put them in mind that they may obey the word of the Lord as in my presence
of God doth find them out and this cometh to pass because of what is Written There is an Evil which I have seen under the Sun and it is common among Men. A Man to whom God hath given Riches Wealth and Honour so that he wanteth nothing for his Soul of all that he desireth yet God giveth him not Power to Eat thereof but a Stranger eateth it this is Vanity and an Evil Disease Even so God giveth not to such Power or an Heart O that there were an Heart in them to fear me saith God And Wherefore is there a Price put in the Hand of a Fool to get Wisdom and he hath no Heart to it either to give unto the Poor or to consecrate their Gain and Substance unto the Lord by Expending it for the Service of his Truth But as our Saviour Jesus Christ who is the Way the Truth and the Life speaketh Pertinently Properly and truly when he twice in the same Chapter calleth it the Mammon of Unrighteousness the Unrighteous Mammon Luke 16. 9. 11. In the Margent opposite to Mammon in both places it is Riches for they are most commonly gotten by Vnrighteous means viz. By such means as are contrary unto or different from that Great and Compleat Rule of Righteousness in Scripture Even so again it is most commonly seen That what is got by Unrighteous and Sinful means is likewise spent in Unrighteous and Sinful ways as such are those aforementioned And therefore they hate the Light and the Truth which would manifest and reprove their Evil ways For the same reason they are Rebellious against it and would not have it come forth According to that other true saying of Jesus Christ And this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men loved Darkness rather then Light because their Deeds were Evil for every one that doeth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light least his Deeds should be reproved In the Margent it is discovered But he that doeth Truth cometh to the Light that his Deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God But when the Lord cometh after a long time which yet will certainly come at Death and Judgment and reckoneth with those Servants for this Talent committed unto and intrusted with them then it will be seen and discerned what way will be found best to have Vsed or Employed the same or by sinful Covetousness to have the rust of their Silver and Gold be a Witness against them and to have heaped up Treasure together for the last days James 5. 3. As for mine own part I have put my self to Difficulties Disadvantages and Loss as to my Worldly Substance for to my Power I bear Record yea and beyond my Power I was willing that the following Words may see Light and that these Children which are come to the Birth may be brought forth But to allude unto 2 Cor. 8. 13 14. This might be eased by an Equality that now at this time their abundance may be a supply for my want I mean by the Charitable Contribution of Christian People who receive the Truth in the love thereof For this work of the Lord is common and should be the joynt Endeavour of all his Servants For thy Servants take pleasure in her Stones and Favour the Dust thereof Psal 102. 14. which is the least thing belonging to it So then they should help and forward every least thing that tends to the building up of Zion As the certainty of the words of Truth doth build up the People of God which is Spiritually Zion in their most Holy Faith and towards making them a People prepared for the Lord. Whether it will be so or not according to the Intimation here given However I hope and trust that Almighty God will be pleased to pardon mine Ignorance and Infirmities and Graciously accept of these my Labours and endeavours in making known his Truth And because that Paul may plant and Apollos may water but God gives the increase therefore I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord-Jesus-Christ Humbly beseeching him to give his Blessing unto and accompany with his Spirit what is hereafter written that they may appear to be upright even words of Truth And that they may be as nails fastened by the Masters of Assemblies which are given from one Shepherd SERMON I. ON Isaiah XXXVIII 2 3. Then Hezekiah turned his Face toward the Wall and Prayed unto the Lord And said Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in Truth and with a Perfect Heart and have done that which is good in thy sight and Hezekiah wept sore I Have Written and Preached and Blessed be God most high that performeth all things for me have caused to be Printed and Published This shall be Written for the Generation to come and the People which shall be Created shall Praise the Lord Psal 102. 18. Six several Sermons or Discourses on the foregoing Verse Now the Order Method and Course of our Ministry requires to speak some things from the words above-mentioned In the shutting up and conclusion of that Book it was said that all the Sermons and Preaching in the World if they be rightly and truly managed were all to the very same end and purpose To instruct and exhort us To set our Souls in order for we shall die Or that they may be set in order which was explained to be in a readiness and that nothing be wanting in them against the time they shall go out of these Bodies We do hence see what is to be done then when that time comes So that by those words we are Instructed how to die or how to behave fit and prepare our selves a little before and as we come to die But now in the Words which I have here chosen for my Text we are taught what we must do throughout all our Life So that in the three first Verses of this excellent Chapter we are informed and directed how to live and how to die What we must do in our life time and what in the Day of Sickness and of Death And what would Man have more in order to his salvation Security and Happiness then to know how to live and how to die Truly there cannot be more desired then these two things For herein is Comprised the whole State of his Duration both in this World and also in his Passage into the next for inasmuch as the Spirit saith Blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord Rev. 14. 13. We may assuredly gather that they who live well as such do who live unto the Lord will also die well and will die in the Lord. Again they that die well or who die in the Lord will be blessed for evermore even so as to receive partake of and Inherit that Blessing which the Lord hath Commanded even Life for evermore Psal 133. 3. When I first entred upon my Ministry I promised unto my Hearers that I
be fulfilled I heard once a Minister of the Dissenting sort whâ— commonly are more faithful herein then those of thâ— Church Ministry say that several People who had lived Ungodly and Ignorant Lives would send for him wheâ— they lay upon their Death Beds And if they were of thâ— Substantial and Richer sort they would perhaps offer him Money if He would speak a word of Peace and Comforâ— unto them when lying in those sore and last Agonies oâ— Soul But it would have been in him a sinful Corruptionâ— if he should have Perverted the Word of God and took it for that end as he did not but it hath been the manner of some so to do Said he however I would go to them but when I came to them I did not Answer their Expectations for I used to repeat before such what is Written in Isa 3. 10 11. Say ye to the Righteous it shall be well with him for they shall eat the Fruit of their doings Wâ— unto the Wicked it shall be ill with him for thâ— Reward of his hands shall be given him This Scripture is very pertinent and proper to such an occasion Herein this Minister who probably now is a Partaker of the Truth of the former Verse he being at this time gone off from the Stage of the Earth shewed himself a Workman approved of God Dividing the Word of Truth aright and giving to every one his Portion And indeed any one that rightly knows and understands the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God doth also find that the whole Design Order Drift and Tendency of all that is Written in the whole Scripture stands on this wise They that have done Good shall come forth unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done Evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation John 5. 29. For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in the Body according to that he hath done whither it be Good or Bad. So that only a Godly Righteous and Sober Life and Good Deeds will avail and stand in stead in a dying Day For tho' the common deceit which each Man hath in the deep of his heart which also is intimated to them to their own Danger and Loss by those who take upon them the Office of Preaching Repentance and Remission of sins that People may turn from their Iniquities some time hereafter a little before their Death That they may have the Pleasures of sin for a Season the expediency of Transgression the Profit and Wages of unrighteousness in the mean while and then leave them off just soon enough to obtain Pardon But certainly this is quite to leave the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ to go backwards to Imperfection not laying again but utterly overthrowing yea and contradicting the Foundation of Repentance from Dead Works for these should be utterly forsaken and Fruits should be brought forth Meet for Repentance And yet further this would make void both Law and Gospel for they require that We observe to do his Statutes and Judgments all the Days that we live upon the Earth Deut. 12. 1. That we serve God without fear in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the Days of our Life Luke 1. 74 75. And however it shall be distributed unto the other sort as to Acceptation or Pardon yet surely I know it shall be better with them that fear God which fear before him and turned from their Iniquities and kept his Commandments in those Days of their flesh whilst others continued in Sin and Disobedience In the latter Days ye shall consider it perfectly Jer. 23. 20. This Jeremiah said when he immediately speaks thereupon of those Prophets Which Ran and Prophesied when God had not spoken unto nor sent them and they did not turn People from their Evil way and from the Evil of their doings Whereby may be seen that if this effect doth not follow also they are no Ministers of Gods ordaining altho' they do take upon them the office and continue in the Exercise thereof after the Law and Commandment the Ordinances and Institutions of Men. But in the latter Days when their time of Tryal is over they shall consider it perfectly and when they come to see every and each Man have his own reward proportioned and adjusted according to his works and obedience Then that which themselves shall miss and come short off will raise bitter anguish within themselves and make to loath those Shepherds See Zech. 11. 8. Which should have Instructed and Guided them otherwise For this is certain on the right and safer side that the sooner any one comes to Repentance and brings forth Fruits Meet for Repentance and abounds in Good Works God is now the better pleased with that Man or Woman and He will give to such a more full reward hereafter Conceive your selves before-hand and whilst in Health let us in serious thought throw our selves upon a Dying Bed just gasping and breathing out our very last and then think what Temper and Disposition of Soul we should be in if we were in this Hour brought to the Gallows or to the Fire for our Life to be taken off from the Earth in a violent manner Here it may be either for the Sins of others as Jesus was hanged on the Cross and so it is of all true Martyrs and Sufferers it is not so much their own Sins as the Sins of their Persecutors which put them to Death But if any one suffers as a Murderer or Robber or an Evil Doer against which there is some Law of God also then he suffers for and dies in his own Sin Or if one is killed by another then it is the Sin of the Murderer which brings him unto Death But however it be a Dying Hour will come upon all one time or another and then if they have any remembrance or understanding Ask now of the Generations that were before thee and did you ever hear of any one that could then say seriously and throughly It is vain to serve God and what Profit is it that we have kept his Ordinances and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts Doth it not then rather seem on the other hand It was vain that we have not served God more The Godly and Righteous make such a Reflexion and looking back and the Wicked find it is vain because they did not serve God at all or not so much as can be properly called serving of God for now they experimentally find all other things to be vain When the end thereof is come we are then throughly sensible of what is written Remember how short my Time is Wherefore hast thou made all Men in vain Psal 89. 47. Therefore only it is that we have no more profit because we have not yet better kept the Ordinances of the Lord for the more we do that the more Profit or future Reward we shall receive whereof we shall
therefore it was that just at the Time he was to be removed out of the City of Jerusalem by Death and he then would fain be removed up into the Heavenly City Therefore he addresses himself to God in the first Place Remember how I have walked before thee in Truth For in very deed as such a Path way or Road leads to such a Place so the Truth leads to Heaven According as we may further Gather from what is elsewhere written Lord Who shall abide in thy Tabernacle Who shall dwell in thy Holy Hill He that walketh uprightly and Worketh Righteousness and speaketh the Truth in his heart Psal 15. 1. 2. So that whatever Truth is in our heart Provided it be the Truth of God and arising out of his Word It ought to be spoken forth Yea the Plain and Simple Truth the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth For although there is a common saying abroad in the World agreeable to the Wisdom of the Flesh which is for Sloth ease and Present safety that all Truth is not to be spoken yet as sure as the Spirit of God in the Scripture last Quoted doth teach the way of Heaven and lay down the foregoing Qualifications and Conditions which we must have and do before we come there whatever Divine and serious Truth is in our heart We must and ought to speak it come what will thereof if we do not intend to be Disappointed of Heaven at the last And if the doing should bring Trouble or suffering on our loins foâ— this Objection the Worldly Wise Man hath against this Duty and therefore he will refrain to utter it VVe must do it nevertheless This being that manifold kind of Tribâ—lation which we must go through before we enter into the Kingdom of God Take another Scripture how that the Truth ought 〈◊〉 no wise to be concealed but it is to be spoken out I haâ—â— not hid thy Righteousness within my heart I have declarâ— thy Faithfulness and thy Salvation I have not concealed 〈◊〉 Loving Kindness and thy Truth from the Great Congregatioâ— Psal 40 10. So that to speak constantly the Truth 〈◊〉 whole Truth and nothing but the Truth and this 〈◊〉 for a Day or two or for a Week Month or Year 〈◊〉 throughout our whole Life is pleasing and acceptable 〈◊〉 the sight of God our Saviour who would have 〈◊〉 men to be saved and to come to the Knowledge of the Truth Notwithstanding all the Arts of Dissimulation Deceit Secresie Evasion Equivocation or such like by which Satan's Kingdom stands all which are contrary to Simplicity and Godly Sincerity I have observed in my Experience That to confess and speak out the Truth of the matter in most instances Things have then succeeded more prosperously with me than when I have done otherwise And the Truth hath gained and been esteemed of more than all the Little Arts of Falshood Honesty is the best Policy and it is best to Live within the streight Lines of Duty and never to transgress at any time So it may be affirmed in all cases It is the best way to speak the Truth whatever will be the Consequent thereof We may Read what a great Value and Estimation God himself puts upon it Run ye to and fro through the Streets of Jerusalem and see now and know and seek in â—â—e Broad Places thereof if ye can find a Man if there 〈◊〉 any that executeth Judgment that seeketh the Truth and â— will pardon it Jer. 5. 1. By which last is imported as 〈◊〉 seeking the Truth would almost make atonement and Expâ—ation for other sins His Spirit goes on to add O Lord Are not thine Eyes upon the Truth Verse 3. Even â—â—e Eyes of Complacency Delight and Approbation herein The Time would fail me to mention all those seveâ—â—l places of Scripture wherien the word Truth is spoâ—â—n of But in every one of them it may be observed â—hat very Excellent and Glorious Things are spoken â—oncerning the Truth and the Drift and Design thereâ—f is to exhort the Inhabitants of the Earth to think â—eak and do according unto it all Times Even â—â—at they may keep the Truth speak the Truth in their â—eart and Walk before God in Truth There hath been a Proverbial saying as if Thoughts â—â—re free Every one might think what he would in 〈◊〉 deep of his heart But such people do not Know 〈◊〉 rather they do not consider That they are to be â—â—dged by the word of God which is a discerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart Neither is there any Creature that is not manifest in his sight but all thingâ— are naked and opened unto the Eyes of him with whom 〈◊〉 have to do Heb. 4. 13. But too many in our days havâ— improved this a little further as if Talk and commoâ— Discourse was free and there was no account to be made or given of it hereafter For how many Liâ—â— and Falshoods are now uttered forth in common Conversation VVhether it be in talking of News or publick affairs According to the side they rank themselves oâ—â— they do not much Regard whither the Thing be true 〈◊〉 false which they Utter forth to Uindicate one side anâ— run down or slander the other And so it is in reference 〈◊〉 to Common Neighbours Prejudice seldom or never speak 〈◊〉 well If it be concerning any Person against whom theâ— have an Enmity Hatred or Grudge They do not refuâ—â— to speak Evil falsly of him or to utter Reproaches anâ— Revilings against him As saith the Wiseman In thâ— Multitude of Words there wants not sin so in the Worâ— and talk of this Nature there is a Multitude of sin committed Herein is found true And the Tongue is a Firâ— a World of Iniquity So is the Tongue amongst our Members that it defileth the whole Body and setteth on Fire 〈◊〉 course of Nature and it is set on Fire of Hell Jam. 3. 〈◊〉 Although the Common talkers of the World do not muâ—â— Regard this yet whoso truly fears God He dares 〈◊〉 speak one false Word of another although it be of 〈◊〉 greatest Enemy he hath in the World For he knoâ— that speaking falsly of any one would not be a walkinâ— before God in Truth and therefore he refrains from speaking Evil falsly of any Man So speak ye and so do as thâ— that must be Judged by the Law of Liberty James 2. 12. There are other Instances of walking before God 〈◊〉 Truth as in the Worship of God And here we are 〈◊〉 see well to it that our Worship be in Spirit and in Tru 〈…〉 But the hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippâ—â— shall Worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth For 〈◊〉 Father seeketh such to Worship him God is a Spirit 〈◊〉 they that Worship him must Worship him in Spirit and 〈◊〉 Truth John 4. 23 24. Notwithstanding all controvâ—â—sies Disputes and different Congregations which are nâ—◠〈◊〉 this Nation and throughout Christendom
and Seriousness of Spirit For then indeed it is a weighty and near affecting thing that the Soul is going about when she is a going away into Life Eternal or into Everlasting Punishment when she hath but one Cast or Throw which is to make the Final and Everlasting Decision for Endless Happiness or Misery We see by Poor Malefactors when they come to receive the due reward of their deeds what a crying and howling will they make at the Place of Execution and this they do not so much for the Pains which they shall undergo In being cut off hastily and violently from this Land of the living but out of a fearful Expectation of yet greater misery to come But Hezekiahs weeping sore or great weeping was not for this Reason for his Life was True Perfect and Good So that after him none was like unto him among all the Kings of Judah And God that cannot lie hath now under the Gospel promised Eternal Life to the patient continuance in well doing Rom. 2. 7. But probably Hezekiah did not know of this as the Saints and Servants of God of latter Ages do And then like one who is turned and dispossessed out of a Cottage may at first take it in Indignation and Vexation when He then knows not that it is in order to be removed into a Pallace or â—â—ner House as He afterwards finds it So Hezekiah then not knowing that if He should be taken out of his Earthly Pallace that He should be received up into Heaven the City of the Great King which would be much better He might probably think it Irksome and a Loss to be taken from the other That Hezekiah was partly Ignorant of thus much appears from his own Words in the following Part of this Chapter For the Grave cannot Praise thee Death cannot Celebrate thee They that go down to the Pit cannot Hope for thy Truth This last He spake as one under that Dispensation from the Mount Sinah which gendreth Bondage Gal. 4. 24. And so this his Distrust and Ignorance did Gender Tears and Weeping in him But by your leave Good Hezekiah we under the Gospel can contradict the latter part of your saying for from thence we do believe yea we know and are assured that they which go down to the Pit can and do Hope for Gods Truth And Notwithstanding it is Written in the Old Testament For in Death there is no Remembrance of thee Yet now Christ hath abolished Death and brought Life and Immortality to Light through the Gospel we can truly contradict that saying also for in Death there 〈◊〉 most Remembrance of God For the Remembraneâ— which we have of God in this life is much less and as 〈◊〉 Remembrance in Comparison of what Remembrance of God we shall have in and after our several Deaths Anâ— we now can give a Plain and Satisfactory Answer in thâ— Affirmative altho' by its being asked so short it seems to imply a strong Negation for we know that God will shew wonders to the Dead as that will be a wonderfuâ—â— thing indeed to fullfil in a litteral sense in the last Day what is Written in Ezek. 37. 6 7 8 9 10. And thâ— Dead will Arise and Praise God Psal 88. 10. And ouâ— flesh also shall rest in Hope for it shall be raised up anâ— rendred intire flesh again Notwithstanding it will foâ— some time be left in the Grave and see Corruption as thâ— Holy one of God did not when Jesus Christ shalâ— change our vile Body that it may be Fashioned like unto his Glorious Body according to his working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto himself Here is to be observed that Good and Godly Mind oâ— Hezekiah and of David for these did weep and werâ— grieved at Death because they thought that thereby theâ— should be hindred from Praising of God and telling 〈◊〉 his Truth and Wonderful Works They thought theâ— should be deprived of his Worship and from having anâ— Sense and Remembrance of him Which as to be wiâ—â— God is the greatest Happiness of Man especially to the Soul that seeketh and serveth him who loveth and delighteth in him and chooseth the things that please hâ—â— So to be without God in the World or to be turned inâ—â— nothing after Death in Respect of God this is thâ— greatest misery of Man especially if it be considereâ— what an Unexpressible Benefit Comfort and Satisfactioâ—â—t is to be with God Herein the Godly and Graciouâ— Soul is quite opposite and perfectly contrary unto thâ— Ungodly and Graceless Person for the first cannot beaâ— or away with the thoughts of being without God botâ— in this Life and in the Life to come Nothing less wiâ—â— suffice that Soul then to be with God for ever and to have God for her Portion for ever But the Ungodly and Graceless Person as He is An alien from the common wealth of Israel and without God in the World For he makes it his own wretched and willful choice to be so And herein tho' He was made in Honour capable to know God to serve him and enjoy him hereafter yet by not understanding and doing thereafter He doth become like the Beasts that Perish So such an one would desire with all his heart to be without God in the other World also for He fears and apprehends and expects no Good from him but Evil For in the other World He will be either the God of Mercy or the Lord to whom Vengeance belongeth He will be so one of these two ways unto all the Reasonable Inhabitants of the Earth And who would not fear him in this World shall feel him in the next Those who in this Life did despise and would not accept of his Goodness shall partake and be sensible of his severity in the next It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God Every Sinner or Ungodly Person is a Fool as may be demonstrated particularly And as it is Written The Fool hath said in his heart there is no God Even so they that are corrupt and have done abominable works the Sinner and Ungodly the Hypocrite do indeed wish and desire that there was no God for they would not have God Reign over them But that same wish and desire of theirs is as Vain and Impossible as it is yet further provoking and makes their sin yet exceeding more sinful in the sight of him with whom we have to do What strange Imaginations do sinners conceive in their minds that they may not receive in themselves a Recompence meet for their Evil deeds which yet are all to no purpose avail or behoof as any other ways to possibly avoid the Wrath and Indignation of God against them They had better agree with their Adversary quickly whilst they are yet in the way Or let him take hold of my strength that He may make Peace with me and He shall make Peace with me Isa 27. 5. As the Apostle Paul could
I hear and receive from him Well done Good and Faithful Servant enter thou into thy Masters Joy or I know you not depart from me thou worker of Iniquity Go away thou Accursed Creature into Everlasting Punishment Prepared for the Devil and his Angels God hates nothing that he hath made as it is his Creature till afterwards he sees Sin and Evil in them Hereupon a Multitude of thoughts doth arise in the Soul whither my sin be Pardoned and taken away or not And why dost thou not Pardon my Transgression and take away mine Iniquity for now shall I sleep in the dust Job 7. 21. If the Soul had but once assurance that God would do this for her then she could with as little fear and concern commit her Body to sleep in the Dust and then her self could also without Terrour step forth upon the dark Mountains as now we do without fear yea willingly go to Bed to take our ordinary common sleep each Night in a Bed of Damask Violet or Roses or as any one ever lay down with Sweetness and Joy in the Marriage-Bed of his most Dearly Beloved For as a Young Man Marrieth a Virgin so shall thy Sons Mâ—â—y thee And as the Bridegroom Rejoyceth over a Bride 〈◊〉 shall thy God Rejoyce over thee Isa 62. 5. For then it 〈◊〉 upon Death which is the loosening and dissolution of other 〈◊〉 that the Souls of the Righteous are Married and United â—â—to God They are gathered up unto the Father of Spirits and stand in his Presence and near and next unto yea they are one with him as Husband and Wife make one Flesh in whose Presence is fulness of Joy and at whose Right Hand there are Pleasures for evermore But let no Stranger meddle with this joy let not those who are Aliens to the Commonwealth of Israel and not in Covenant with God ever think to receive or to come in for to share and partake of these Good and Comfortable things For as before observ'd there is no commending of our Spirits when we come to dye into the Hands of God without having been Redeemed by him from Sin and Guilt from the vain Conversation and Corruption that is in the World from Satan and his Temptations So it is here in Micah 6. 6 7 8. Take them all together there is no Agreement or Peace to be made with the Lord no not with those Great Many and Near Offers and Overtures there mentioned without following that which is good and obeying the Requirings of the Lord in doing justly and loving Mercy and walking Humbly with thy God throughout thy past and foregoing Life There is no other way under Heaven to get the sin of our Soul pardoned or taken away or to make Atonement or Expectation for it but to come into Covenant with God and not to break it again but to observe it according to what is written Nâ—t according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers in the Day that I took them by the Hand to bring them out of the Land of Egypt which Covenant they brake although I was an Husband unto them saith the Lord. This confirms the Truth of what was before spoken But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel After those Days saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward Parts and write it in their Hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People And they shall teach no more every Man his Neighbour and every Man his Brother saying know ye the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest saith the Lord for I will forgive their Iniquity and will remember their Sin no more Jer. 34. 31 32 33 34. From all this considered together for a Covenant must be taken all together as it lies in the whole and not by Peace-meals it appears that the only way for God to forgive our Iniquity and remember our Sin no more is to be in covenant with God to take him for our God Wherein is supposed that he is to be our Ruler and Governour and we his People which implies Subjection and Obedience to have his Law in our inward Parts and written in our Hearts For what end and purpose is that Namely for us to observe keep and do it So that the ready and compendious way there is none besides it to obtain Forgiveness of Sins and an Inheritance amongst them that are Sanctified is by Repentance for the past and Obedience for the future There is no other way under Heaven given unto Men whereby they must be saved To this do all the Scriptures both Law and Prophets Christ and Apostles give witness If the God of Truth hath Redeemed us and Delivered us from the Hand of our Enemies it is that we might serve him without Fear in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the Days of our Life All this Doctrine is pertinent and direct to our Text for it was this which gave Hezekiah that comfort and rejoycing that did spring up even through his Weeping and Tears when the Message of Death was brought unto him that before that he had walked before God in Truth and with a Perfect Heart and had done that which was good in his Sight For there is no Dying in the Lord without having Lived unto the Lord There is no dying the Death of the Righteous without having lived the Life of the Righteous It may seem a strange thing but only it shews forth the exceeding Delusion and Subtilty of Satan that one may speak many of the Truths of God and yet not be saved by them himself that one may Preach unto others and yet Himself be a Cast-away and Prophesie in Christ's Name and yet at the last Day be rejected and disowned by Christ So Balaam could and did really wish and desire to die the Death of the Righteous And when he afterwards saith Behold I have received Commandment to Blesâ— and he hath Blessed and I cannot reverse it Numb 23. 20. Hereupon his own Reason for the like Reasoning and Truth runs throughout all the things of God might have told and acquainted him that it is impossible to dye the Death of the Righteous without having lived the Life of the Righteous for of necessity such an one must have been Righteous before which doth respect some yea and the most considerable part of his foregoing Life for otherwise such an one could not properly and truly be said to be Righteous inasmuch as the Denomination is taken from the greater Part. And seeing that the Order Decree and Purpose of God stands on this wiâ—e The Righteous hath hope in his Death Prov. 14. 32. Such must have been Righteous before their Death for otherwise the Spirit which always speaks properly and truly would not have called them Righteous None else have Hope in their Death Not all the Ministers and People on the Earth can ever reverse alter or change this
same Order Decree and Purpose of God Now here is the strange thing which rather shews that Satan acted in Balaam as to that that when Balaam knew this before and how desirable indeed it was to dye the Death of the Righteous yet that he should presently hereupon love the Wages of Vnrighteousness which he might conclude would cut him off and hinder him from the other good and desirable thing But truly Satan deceiveth not only the Poor and Foolish but even the more Wise and Learned and Eloquent of Mankind for so was this Balaam And so as Rabshakeh could speak in the Person of his Master for thus saith the King of Assyria Make an Agreement with me by a Present and come out to me Isa 36. 16. So if the Great God of the World should speak on that wise unto the Inhabitants of the Earth as indeed he doth not but rather disclaims and disowns and denies that sort If I were Hungry I would not tell thee for the World is mine and the fulness thereof Thinkest thou that I will eat the Flesh of Bulls or drink the Blood of Goats Offer unto God Thanksgiving and pay thy Vows unto the most High But suppose that any false or pretended Messengers or Ministers from him should Preach unto you on this manner For thus saith the Lord God make an Agreement with me so far is no false Doctrine for Jesus Christ the Truth it self Preacheth the same to Mankind Agreâ— with thine Adversary quickly whilst thou art in the way But here comes in the Falshood and it is falsly applied Make an Agreement by a Present and that must be Thousands of Rams and Ten Thousands Rivers of Oyl The cunning corrupt Romish Priests have hence drained a great deal of Tithes and Alms to feed and enrich themselves for they have fallaciously Reasoned and Perswaded the People that what was given unto them this way was making a Present unto the Lord and consequently an Aâ—tonement for their Sins But all this will not do for iâ— one should go yet further and as those who gave up their Children unto Moloch so they would give up their very Children which came out of their very Bowels as Sacrifices to appease God their first Born for their Transgression and the Fruit of their Body for the Sin of their Soul All this is more besides the matter still for God requires none of these things What are Thousands of Rams and Ten Thousand Rivers of Oyl unto him whose is the World and the fulness thereof But this is more than all the Sacrifices and Alms in the World which make so great an outward shew and noise to walk humbly with thy God that is to be obedient unto him for this is the best and most real instance of Humility And this walking Humbly with thy God denotes a doing so throughout ones Life even as long as we walk at all In truth if we do thus walk Humbly with our God we have no Reason to fear as concerning the Sin of our Soul For we may let God alone to do as to that even according to the Words of his Covenant and Truth provided always that we be and continue in Covenant with him For I will be merciful to their Vnrighteousness and their Sins and Iniquities will I remember no more Heb. 8. 12. Most Precious and Comfortable Words which I had rather in truth to belong unto me when I lie upon my Death Bed or in whatever Hoâ—â— I am taken either violently or suddenly out of this World then to have a Medicine or means found out how I might live not only Fifteen but if it were Fifteen times Fifteen Years longer for if God is merciful unto my Vnrighteousness which signifies where I have not come up unto but have come short of that great Rule of Righteousness in Scripture and if he remembers my Sins and Iniquities no more then let Death come upon me as soon as it will and what way it will it cannot possibly hurt me But this will never be unless in our foregoing Life God is our God and we are to him a People There is no way to be Blessed in ones Death but to be Godly in ones Life There is no way to have God for our Friend and to be at Peace with us when through the Passage or Entry of Death we come to appear before him but to have lived unto the same invisible God to have served him with our whole Heart and to have obeyed him in all things in these days of our Flesh As we live so we shall dye and so again we shall dye that is Receive after Death according as we have lived These are Truths of great importance and necessary to be Understood aright and done accordingly that Souls may no longer Shipwrack and be lost upon those deceitful and broken Planks As if it were then soon enough to serve God throughly and constantly and Universally when they come to be Sick or in Declining and Old Age or upon a Dying Bed God forbid for this have I found in all my Study out of the Book of Gods Statutes and in all my enquiring and searching diligently out of the Scriptures of Truth that such a Man or Woman who thinks so and will venture and run the risque to Act accordingly It were better that a Millstone were tyed about his Neck and that he be thrown into the Sea for this would only sink him into Temporal Death and Destruction But the other deceit if trusted and relied on will involve them into Everlasting Destruction from the presence of the Lord and the Glory of his Power Such will never enter into that rest which remaineth for the People of God Inasmuch as they were never his People who did not serve and obey him in the most nor yet in the best part of their life time Altho' some yea too many of that kind of outward worldly Priesthood now among us Who heal the hurt of the Daughter of my People slightly crying Peace Peace when there is no Peace Will also huddle up the matter after their rate when People are lying in Fears and Hoâ—rours on their Death Bed and send them out of thâ— world with a vain hope and false thought yet even theâ—â— might have Learned better and more faithful dealing froâ— that afore-mentioned saying of corrupt Balaam for hâ—â— fault and failure only was that he spake well but did illâ— Behold I have received Commandment to Bless and he hatâ— Blessed and I cannot reverse it So it is on the other hanâ— where we Ministers have received Commandment to Cursâ— or to speak evil As Cursed are all they that err from hiâ— Commandments Or where he hath threatned to Punishâ—â— there God hath Cursed and Threatned and He will Punishâ—â— and we cannot reverse it Not all the Ministers Preachers or Understanding People now living on the Earth can reverse or change from the least Title of thâ— Word of God that it should fail or not
Sorrow This again is a most clear and convincing Demonstration That the living in the Pleasures of sin for a Season or the Catching after and enjoying the Delicacies and Recreations of the World is not a walking before God in Truth for the end of any ones living in Pleasure or Delicacy is in order to be an Happy Men. But now it is impossible from the order of the things of God that either the Pleasures of sin for a Season or the transitory delights of the World should give unto any Man the true Happiness because they have such bitter and miserable consequents no more then a Cup of sweet Poyson can tend to the well Being and Health of the Body So that it must follow by necessary consequence that whosoever follows after the Pleasures of sin for a Season or the delights of the World altho he now Bless himself in his heart saying I shall have Peace tho' I walk in the Imagination of mine Heart to add Drunkenness to Thirst Deut. 29. 19. Altho' they hug themselves in their own Conceit I shall have Happiness because that I enjoy so many Pleasures and Delights in Order to it Yet still herein they do not walk before God in Truth For they do not go in the right Road to Happiness but they are mistaken and deceived in heart and they are in a false Path as the end will prove for it will at last let them down into the Chambers of Death the place of Punishment and Misery We may thus know and conclude that as God gave us a Being at first so it is Natural and Reasonable to expect only from him an happy Being My Soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from him Psal 62. 5. And thereupon we should walk before him in expectation and seeking after it And here if we go the right way And He led them forth by the right way Psal 107. 7. There is a great deal in that which is Chalked and Pointed out Butted and Bounded in his written word as long as we make that our Guide and Rule then indeed we walk before God in Truth But as sure as that word is Truth Thy Word is Truth the Pleasures of sin for a Season however eagerly they are sought after and followed by the People of the world for Satan who deceiveth the whole world makes use of this as the great Bait to beguile and catch Souls unto himself are not the true way to Happiness and Blessedness in the End Because that which may be known of God is manifested in them for God hath shewed it unto them Rom. 1. 19. So in like manner it may be truly reasoned that which may be known of God touching his future distribution of things is already manifest in Men for God hath shewed it unto them And accordingly may be observed that Melancholly and Heaviness of heart in the midst of Laughter the heart is sorrowful which is immediately at or after having the Pleasures of this Life That Regret of Mind and Vexation of Spirit immediately ensuing upon the Pleasures of sin for a Season All this and the like is but a manifestation before handâ— or as a Pledge Earnest and Fâ—reruâ—ner whereby God hath shewn unto them that Tribulation and Anguish Indignation and Wrath which shall be upon every Soul that doth Evil. This and the like is a fore-shewing of Pain Punishment and Misery to come And so again it is on the other good hand Where is Approbation of Mind the satisfaction of a good Conscience a Joyful Hope and Comfortable Expectation as all these and the like are annexed to our having our Evil things here to our enduring labour and taking Pains in the Obedience and Service of God this is an earnest of the Spirit and a Manifestation in Men whereby God hath shewn unto them that Glory Honour and Peace which shall be to every Man that worketh good Rom. 2. 10. And that assured future blessedness which shall be to every one that hath lived and done according to the Will of God Thou therefore endure Hardship as a Good Souldier of Jesus Christ saith Paul to Timothy VVhich is a Lesson of Instruction to be put in Practice by all faithful Christians for as we are in the way of Duty and Service of God the more denial of our selves we have used as to present ease and safety the greater satisfaction and enjoyment we shall have hereafter whereof now we have a little glimpse earnest assurance and foretast by that Complacency of mind and lively hope we may sometimes perceive after such and such Acts of Duty Notwithstanding the same do expose us to present worldly Inconveniencies Loss and Trouble However we are contented and satisfied and Joyful for it is something for God And so the more Labour we have been at the more Rest we shall have hereafter and this same Rest will be found yet so much the more pleasant And He saw the Land that it was good and Rest that it was Pleasant Gen. 49. 15. Which will be yet more so as we may perceive by the Irksomness of its contrary that is Restlessness And so the more Tribulation we have gone through in the world the Greater will be our Recompence and Crown The more loss hath been sustained in his Service the greater gain will be hereafter as Lazarus was comforted for the Evil things he had in his life time Yea in whatever seems Evil Harsh Uncouth and Irksome it will be made up double yea more then an hundred fold in the time of the Restitution of all things When the times of Refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. So that in each thing we take in hand we should not so much regard whither the same be Pleasant or aukward but whither it be Duty or Sin whither it be Good or Evil whither it will tend to our Benefit or Loss our Reward or Punishment in the last Day And so we should either do or not do the same either abstain from or give way unto it Hereby also we may somewhat conceive of the exceeding Evil Mischief and Danger of Loytering or Idleness For only Just to Rest or Breath a little and so to Labour or Business again Otherwise there can no Good come possibly of it Nay it tends to so much Loss to be sustained throughout all Eternity And it is a Losing so much of the Things which we have wrought that they receive not a full Reward according as may be apprehended from 2. John 8. Which though there is not much Account made of through Ignorance or Unbelief at present yet in the latter Dayes ye shall consider it perfectly And when we come to see every Mans Reward Proportioned and adjusted according as his Labour and Work hath been then what themselves shall miss and be disappointed of through Idleness and Sloth in the Dayes of their Flesh will raise bitter Anguish and Indignation within themselves for not having been stedfast Unmoveable
For both past and future things are present unto 〈◊〉 High and Lofty one who inhabiteth Eternity Which 〈◊〉 ternity one defines to be a Perpetual now Even the h 〈…〉 of our head are all Numbred and not any thing is 〈◊〉 gotten before God And as we Remember each thing our past Lives both the Good and the Evil to more 〈◊〉 the one and yet more eschew the other we do the 〈…〉 come nearer to his similitude and likeness And so we 〈…〉 again as we cast an Eye forward upon the things that 〈◊〉 to come Hereby we make the things that as yet be 〈◊〉 to be as tho' they were for shortly they will come 〈◊〉 pass and it is but a little time and He that shall co 〈…〉 will come and will not tarry Talk no more exceeding Proud let not Arrogancy 〈◊〉 out of your mouth for the Lord is a God of Knowledge 〈◊〉 by him Actions are weighed And so the Lord is a God 〈◊〉 Remembrance and a God of Prescience and by him A 〈…〉 on s are weighed And seeing that Actions are weighâ—â— by him our Actions ought to be weighed by us also the Ballance of the sanctuary and of his word so that 〈◊〉 may not be found wanting SERMON III. ON Isaiah XXXVIII 2 3. Then Hezekiah turned his Face toward the Wall and Prayed unto the Lord And said Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in Truth and with a Perfect Heart and have done that which is good in thy sight and Hezekiah wept sore Come now to shew and discourse 1. What it is to walk before God in Truth 2. With a perfect heart 3. What it is to do that which is good in his sight And then of the Consequent upon the whole And Hezekiah wept sore As to the first Remember O Lord how I have walk 〈…〉 before thee in Trâ—th We Read in sundry places of Scripture of this Thing â—â—uth But from these words this Doctrine will preâ—â—tly appear That it is the Duty of all who call themselves Servants of the Lord to walk before the Lord in Truth throughout the whole course of their Life So did Hezekiah not for a Season or at such a Ti 〈…〉 only but throughout the general Course Bent and 〈◊〉 nour of his Days Even as long or for the most pa 〈…〉 he walked at all he walked before the Lord in Truth Now the Scripture mentioning this Word Truth so 〈◊〉 often and in all places it doth recommend the same 〈◊〉 exhorts us to the Receiving and Practice thereof as alsâ— finds fault and Reproves where it is wanting or wh 〈…〉 the Truth is not obeyed Gal. 3. 1. Or People do not 〈◊〉 cording to the Truth We may hereby see and un 〈…〉 stand that exceeding great Stress aâ—d Necessity is 〈◊〉 hereon in order to our Eternal Salvation and Happi 〈…〉 Open ye the Gates that the Righteous Nation which 〈◊〉 eth the Truth in the Margent it is Truths may enter 〈…〉 Isa 26. 2. That is Enter into that strong City menti 〈…〉 ed in the foregoing Verse which the Lord hath buil 〈…〉 and prepared for such of the Inhabitants of the Eart 〈…〉 he shall judge and find worthy And here the word 〈◊〉 Promise and the Condition annexed is That is must 〈◊〉 to the Righteous Nation that keepeth the Truth or Tr 〈…〉 Which word Keepeth denotes a constant heed adhere 〈…〉 unto and Observance thereof And not to chop 〈…〉 change with the wind or to turn with the Fashion 〈◊〉 titude and Course of this corrupt world as to say 〈◊〉 thing is Truth to day and another contrary unto or 〈◊〉 ferent from it is Truth at another time No such â—â—ter for his Truth endureth to all Generations Psal 〈◊〉 Like God its Author with the Truth there is no V 〈…〉 bleness nor shadow of Turning And like unto 〈◊〉 Christ who is the Way the Truth and the Life it is 〈◊〉 same yesterday to day and for ever So that this man 〈…〉 them to be Children that are corrupters they have fo rs 〈…〉 the Lord Isa 1. 4. That they have Prevaricated 〈◊〉 turned aside from his Truth They are gone away 〈◊〉 ward who speak thus and thus concerning it as the 〈◊〉 ner of many is in these our Days And that they 〈◊〉 not the Righteous Nation or the Righteous People 〈◊〉 keep the Truth to whom this Precious Promise is ma 〈…〉 for such kept it or rather did by Chance happen 〈…〉 light thereon for a Time but they did not keep it 〈◊〉 tinually Blessed are they that keep Judgment and he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Righteousness at all times Psal 106. 3. and so they 〈◊〉 no Lot and Share nor Right to enter into that â—â—ong City which the Lord hath made for Judah and â—â—rusalem yea for all the Inhabitants of the Earth who â—ould keep the Truth or walk before him in Truth For this Good and Sweet Word of Promise is made â—t only to the Righteous Nation but to every and each â—â—rticular Soul therein that keepeth the Truth So that â—â—ese Two Consequences must necessarily arise That even 〈◊〉 the Unrighteous Nation which Keepeth not the Truth 〈◊〉 those few Inhabitants and Souls therein who are â—â—ghteous and do Keep the Truth shall enter into the 〈◊〉 of our God Again Suppose it were a Righteous 〈…〉 tion and did Keep the Truth here the Denominati 〈…〉 is taken from the greater part and it is called a Righâ—â—â—us Nation where the Multitude or most are so But 〈◊〉 some â—ew therein were Unrighteous and did not Keep 〈◊〉 Truth here the Promise would be only to the for 〈…〉 sort and not to the latter The Reason whereof is 〈…〉 dent Because the Soul that sinneth it shall die The 〈◊〉 shall not bear the Iniquity of the Father neither shall 〈◊〉 Father bear the Iniquity of the Son the Righteousness â—he Righteous shall be upon him and the Wickedness of 〈◊〉 Wicked shall be upon him Ezek. 18. 20. So that as 〈◊〉 being an Inhabitant of a Righteous Nation which keep 〈◊〉 the Truth will not give thee Admission or Entrance in 〈◊〉 City of God unless thou be Righteous and keepest the 〈◊〉 thy self So although thou Livest in an Unrighte 〈◊〉 Nation where most are so which Keepeth not the â—â—uth yet if thou art Righteous thy self and Keepest 〈◊〉 Truth yet thou wilt enter into the City of God alâ—â—â—ugh never so few are besides The Marginal Reading 〈◊〉 Truths in the Plural Number shews That it is not the 〈◊〉 Keeping of One or Some of the Truths of God but 〈◊〉 Keeping all of them which is requisite and necessary 〈◊〉 we enter therein It was the same Spirit of God â—â—ich spake that in Isaiah 26. 2. as also which spake that Isaiah 38. 3. and which probably gave Hezekiah that â—â—owledge How necessary was Keeping the Truth or the 〈…〉 king before God in Truth in order to enter into the Ci 〈◊〉 of our God And
Life By which may be seen what a Relation and tendenâ—â— the doing of Good hath unto Life Now Jesus Chr 〈…〉 not only suffered but also lived an Example that 〈◊〉 should follow his steps And this Place in Acts. 10. 38 so written to the Intent that every one of us who wouâ—â— Love and Inherit Eternal Life What Man is He tâ—â— desireth Life Answer is made Depart from Evil and Good Psal 34. 12 14. Should in our several Respectiâ—â— Stations and according to our several Ability and Capacity go about and do good also for so far as we do this God is with us Whereby again may be seen and perceived the Goodness of that Supreme and Almighty Being Who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil Hence again We may understand what a doing of good is for as the being oppressed of the Devil is an Evil so to have that same Evil either removed or taken away or â—ured and healed this is a doing good By the way the worst oppression of the Devil is when Sin and Guilt is brought into the Conscience through his Temptations or Instruments And so it is as to all other evils or harms whatever the either taking them away or curing and healâ—ng them is a doing good It is written of him that did the greatest and all the good that was ever done to Mankind When the Even was come they brought unto him â—any that were possessed with Devils and He cast out the Devils with his word and healed all that were Sick That 〈◊〉 might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the Prophet â—aying Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses Mat. 8. 16 17. The very Words in Isaiah are these Sureâ—â— He hath born our Griefs and Carried our Sorrows Isa 53. 〈◊〉 And it being after added The Lord hath laid on him â—e Iniquity of us all for He shall bear their Iniquities and He â—â—re the sin of Many Verse 6. 11 12. This goes further â—ven to the Fountain Head the Original cause and â—ource of Infirmities Sickness Griefs and Sorrows for â—â—n and Iniquity is the cause of them all This is effectu 〈…〉 and sound work And as sin is the greatest and only â—vil so to cure heal take away Remedy or someway or â—ther to provide against sin is doing the greatest Good So â—â—at to Instruct the Ignorant is a doing good yea and 〈◊〉 resemblance to him who was the Author and Finisher of â—â—r faith who went about doing good for we Read that â—â—e sate down and taught his Disciples and the Multitude â—his is a kind of doing the greatest good for it is a doing â—â—od unto the Immortal Soul the more excellent part of us â—â—d not only to the dying Body Brethren if any of you do err from the Truth and one convert him let him know that 〈◊〉 which converteth the sinner from the Errour of his Way shâ— save a Soul from Death and shall hide a Multitude of 〈◊〉 Iames. 5. 19 20. And so by the Words of Gods Graâ—â— and Truth to Perswade Testify and Exhort People froâ— their Sinful and Ungodly courses From living in 〈◊〉 religion and contempt of God as that if continued 〈◊〉 would involve them into the Greatest of Evils So con 〈…〉 quentially it must be the Greater Good to disswade thâ—â— from it And then Giving Alms to the Poor and M 〈…〉 string comfort to the Sorrowful in as much as Pove 〈…〉 and Sorrow are sore Evils and such like are instances 〈◊〉 doing Good The more and Greater Good People 〈◊〉 here the Greater and more full Reward they will rece 〈…〉 hereafter As again it is on the other worse hand 〈◊〉 more sin any one do commit It is a treasuring up Wr 〈…〉 to themselves against the day of Wrath which consider 〈…〉 on should be a prevailing motive to cease from the 〈◊〉 and do the other as much as ever we can Remember how I have done that which is Good in 〈◊〉 sight Now all Things are in the sight of God But 〈◊〉 do that which is Good in his sight may have a twof 〈…〉 Sence and Meaning either to do Things in order and 〈◊〉 tention unto God and upon that Respect it is that we 〈…〉 Good because God commands requires and is well pl 〈…〉 ed therewith when we do it as unto the Lord and 〈◊〉 as unto Men. As also what will appear Good in 〈◊〉 sight of the Lord now and by his Judgment hereaf 〈…〉 For it is one Thing to do Good as in the sight of 〈◊〉 Lord and another as in the sight of Men. For the 〈◊〉 seeth not as Man seeth That which is highly este 〈…〉 amongst Men is an Abomination in the sight of the 〈◊〉 And so it runs and may be conceived contrariwise 〈◊〉 which is highly esteemed by the Lord God is le 〈…〉 ed and despised amongst Men For these call that 〈◊〉 which is good in the sight of the Lord. And again They 〈◊〉 that Godo which is Evil Isa 5. 20. But a Godly Heze 〈…〉 or that Soul like unto Godly Hezekiah doth 〈◊〉 as in the sight of the Lord and not as 〈◊〉 Men. As the Lord said unto Sarah At the time appointed will I return to thee according to the time of Life Gen. 18. 14. So at the time appointed when the great Day of his Judgment is come will God Judge every one of us according to the Time of Life and as it was with us at such a Time of Life and such a Time of Life of some we shall give a better Account then of others so as to take in the whole Term of Life from the time that we had the first Knowledge of Good and Evil unto the Day of our Death SERMON IV. ON Isaiah XXXVIII 2 3. Then Hezekiah turned his Face toward the Wall and Prayed unto the Lord And said Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in Truth and with a Perfect Heart and have done that which is good in thy sight and Hezekiah wept sore THAT we do walk all our Days in the sight of the Lord and whatever we do it is in the sight of the Lord and how that God will Judge us for all the Thoughts Words and Actions of our whole Life even from the very time that we had the Knowledge of Good and Evil are most forcible considerations what manner of Persons we ought to be in all Holy Conversation and Godliness in all Obedience and Righteousness In Purity and Innocency and Uprightness of Life In all thy work and in whatever thine hand findeth thee to do in thy Feastings Sportings or Recreations Do thou awfully and constantly Remember that God seeth thee and God will Judge thee And after any thing is over and past whither it be an Act of Good and Duty or else an Act of Sin or Evil This know that the same is passed over into a thing to be Judged off and for the
〈…〉 all my Years in the Bitterness of my Soul Which Words are Written for our Admonition and Ensample for our Imitation and Practice upon whom the Ends of the World are come Namely That each of us should severally go all our Remaining Years Months Weeks and Days of this our Pilgrimage in the Bitterness of our Souls And if we should also when we come to lie on our Death-Beds Weep sore Provided it be for the very same Reasons as Hezekiah did It would be never the worse but better for us Now with what kind of Use and Application shall I conclude the foregoing Sermons The first Use shall be a short Word of Exhortation Namely for all that shall hear or read these lines To walk before God in Truth and with a Perfect Heart and to do that which is Good in his Sight How this may be done hath been already shewed My Business at present is to Exhort and Perswade People so to do Have ye in the past time of your Lives walked before God in Truth and with a perfect heart and done that which is Good in his Sight Some have and some have not But this know God requireth that which is past Eccles 3. 15. He will certainly call you to an Account and Judge you for the past time of your Life That is gone by and there is no recalling of it yet the future course of your Life is somewhat more in your Power Do ye therefore secure the Aâ—â—â—ues Walk before God in the beginning of each Day 〈◊〉 all the Day long And as ye do thus in the several Days the residue of your Life that is to come will 〈◊〉 True Perfect and Good For it is not a vain thing â—or you Because it is your Life and through this thing 〈◊〉 shall prolong your Days in the Land whither ye go â—ver Jordan to possess it Deut. 32. 47. It is not a â—ain or Indifferent thing in the first place to Hear or Read the Word of God or not to do it For all that â—ver will be saved will be saved by the Word of God As Contrariwise Destruction and Misery are â—hreatned to those who refuse it or turn their Backs â—rom it or who only give it the Hearing but do not thereafter But Moses saith Set your hearts unto all the Words which I testifie because it is your Life Which is the nearest thing belonging to any one for 't is this which gives the resentment and feeling of all other things And through this thing of walking before God in Truth and with a perfect heart and doing that which is Good in his sight Ye shall Prolong your Days It Prolonged Hezekiahs Days Fifteen Years more and it will prolong your Days a longer space of duration then Fifteen Thousand yea Fifteen Millions of Years in the Land of Eternity whither and when ye go over the Jordan of this Life to possess it The Heart and Conscience of every one must necessarily assent to the Truth of this following Proposition Seeing that Man must live and abide for ever for so it is from the Order Decree and Determination of God concerning us He cannot do otherwise then desire to be happy for ever when He goes over the Jordan of this Life as well and all one as He desires and endeavours to live happily and comfortably in this Life on this side of Jordan Seeing that Mâ—â— must live after Death He must all one and also doth desire to be Happy and Blessed after Death all onâ— as it is Natural and every one doth desire to liâ—â— Comfortably Pleasantly and Happily before Deaâ—â— And seeing again from the Order Decree and Determination of God There is noâ— other way undâ—â— Heaven to be Happy and Blessed for ever but 〈◊〉 walking before God in Truth and with a Perfeâ—â— Heart and by doing that which is Good in his sighâ— throughout all our remaining Life Hereupon 〈◊〉 Word of Exhortation speaks most strong and forciblâ— to every one that would be saved and happy for 〈◊〉 ver as every one would who knows and believes 〈◊〉 future State Go thou and do likewise What I say 〈◊〉 thee I say again to all Go thou and do likewise Ev 〈…〉 to walk before the Invisible God in Truth and wi 〈…〉 a Perfect Heart and to do that which is Good in 〈◊〉 sight all the remaining Days thou walkest moveâ—â— and breathest on this Earth If you do but atten 〈…〉 unto and understand throughly that Reasoning and Truth which lies in this consideration It will appear to be the most Strong and Powerful Argument in the World for to Perswade Men. The other Use which I shall draw and infer from these last words of our Text And Hezekiah wept sore shall be To Recommend unto those who are in Reality and Truth obedient Servants of the Lord to be in a State of Weeping and Mourning Say I these things as a Man For doth not the Law of the Prophets Recommend and say the very same unto ye Therefore also now saith the Lord Turn ye even to me with all your Heart and with Fasting the intent whereof is to afflict our Soul Isa 58. 3. And with Weeping and with Mourning Let the Bridegroom go forth of his Chamber and the Bride out of her Closet Let the Priests the Ministers of the Lord Weep between the Porch and the Altar and let them say Spare thy People O Lord and give not thine heritage to reproach Joel 2. 12 13 14 17. And in that Day did the Lord God of Hosts call to Weeping and to Mourning and to Girding with â—ack-cloth Little of this is obeyed and observed in this Generation and Countrey of ours but herein is fulfilled what is next Written And behold Joy and Gladness slaying oxen and killing sheep eating Flesh and Drinking Wine Let us Eat and Drink for to Morrow we shall die And it was revealed in mine Ears by the Lord of Hosts surely this Iniquity shall not be Purged from ye until ye die saith the Lord God of Hosts Isa 22. 12 13 14. But here it may be surmised and said That such kind of harsh and sowre Doctrine may be Reasonably expected from the Old Testament Dispensation which came from Mount Sinah which gendreth Bondage from whence the Law was given in Fire in Blackness and Darkness and Tempest of Thunder and Lightning But the Gospel was not ushered nor brought into the World after that manner for it came in a still Voice with a Fear not for behold I bring you Good Tidings of Great Joy which shall be to all People Luke 2. 10. Doth this same Gospel Recommend or say any thing concerning this State of Weeping and Mourning For if it should How would it then bring us Good Tidings of Great Joy which shall be unto all People Yes assuredly it doth both but herein is Comprised the Mystery of God That the Weeping and Mourning must go before the Joy which is to be manifested in us and had by us
or to those Methods and arts of hardening and Insensibility as have been heretofore used This End of Life hath long since come upon Hezekiah although he had Fifteen Years more added unto his days VVhy they are over and gone and near upon three times Fifteen Hundred more since the Lord by Isaiah spake thus unto him Now as in truth nothing is long that hath an End and as it is written It is a light thing that thou shouldst be my Servant to raise up the Tribes of Jacob and to Restore the preserved of Israel I will also give thee for a Light to the Gentiles that thou mayest be my Salvation unto the End of the Earth So in like manner it may be truly Reasoned it is a Light thing that God should give unto us the Reasonable Inhabitants of this his Earth Threescore Years and Ten or Fourscore Years nay if it were to every one of uâ— also the days of Methusaleh nine hundred sixty and nine years for it is immediately afterwards recorded And â—â— died Gen. 5. 27. For we can conceive and apprehenâ— somewhat more Namely what is like unto what is expressed here to Restore the preserved of Israel That is in the sence which we would allude and apply unto for to thâ— agree the other Scriptures of Truth As God in the first anâ— continued forming of Man of the dust of the Ground Br 〈…〉 thed into his Nostrils the Breath of Life and Man became 〈◊〉 Living Soul And as he doth preserve this Breath of Liâ—â— in and holds our Souls in Life all the days we Breatâ— live and move on this Earth So it is an easy thing foâ— this same God to preserve this Breath of Life again after it is gone forth and the Man returns to his Earth and also to preserve the dust of the Ground which he doth accordingly into which his Body turns and Moulders So as in the Resurrection for God will do so to Restore the preserved of Israel to restore the preserved of Adam even of all his Children and Posterity So that he will restoâ—â— the preserved whole Body and Soul of each and every oâ—â— of them Why the Soul was preserved all the while 〈◊〉 the Cabinet Archives and keeping of God according 〈◊〉 the Scripture Phraseth it Commit the keeping of their Souâ—â— to him in well doing as unto a faithful Creator And he w 〈…〉 restore and raise up the Body also which all the whilâ— was preserved in his dust and ashes according as it was either buried in the Ground or burnt with Fire according to the two ancient ways of Interment and disposal thereof after it was dead and the Soul gone out of it Yea and it would be a light thing if God should not do thus as to raise up all the descendants of Adam the Tribes of Jacob and in this sence also To Restore the Preserved of Israel that his own great work of Creation might be Perfect and Compleat unto the End of the Earth unto the End of time yea unto the end of his whole work of Creation for that would not be Perfect and Compleat unless he should annex salvation unto it That is save and bring it up again from that Perishing and Corruption that Death and Dissolution which hath already come in part and is yet further to come upon the whole Creation of God Because the Creature it self also shall be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the Glorious liberty of the Children of God For we know that the whole Creation groaneth the reason whereof is that Perishing and Corruption the Death and Dissolution which as yet it is subject unto and Travaileth in Pain together until now Rom. 8. 21 22. But when God shall extend his salvation so far as to save and preserve the whole from the same Perishing and Corruption Death and Dissolution which it hath underwent when the New Heavens and the New Earth under which are comprised all things contained in them which He will make shall remain Isa 66. 22. By which word remain 〈◊〉 denoted an Eternal Immutable and Irreversible State of things For if it was to be for never so many Millions of Years it would not be properly remaining but transitory because that the several Parts and Portions of time do pass and succeed one another Then the whole Creation instead of the former Groaning and Travailing in Pain will rejoyce with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory Because that thus it will be delivered from the former Bondage of Corruption into the Glorious Liberty of the Sons of God and then shall be brought to pass that saying I know that whatsoever God doth it shall be for ever Eccles 3. 14. And the Works of God will be found worthy of himself that is Eternal It stands on this wise in the order and decree of things to do them at first in a lesser degree in order to a greater To carry and advance them from Imperfection to Perfection It is sown in Corruption It is raised in Incorruption To first make them with a Perishing Nature and afterwards Graft on and add an Eternal Nature that they are never more to be done away nor yet to cease to be All this cometh from the Lord of Hosts which is wonderful in Counsel and Excellent in working And all this is as certainly true and will be found so in the appointed time as God is God which again is as certain as that there is a world and any thing in it for he is the Maker of all things and by whom they subsist Then Philip opened his Mouth and began at the same Scripture and Preached unto him Jesus So if one was to begin at this same Scripture Behold I will add unto thy Days Fifteen Years and from thence Preach unto you Eternal Life which God that cannot lye promised before the World began for discovery was made thereof by little and little unto the Fathers But hath in due times manifested his word through Preaching Titus 1. 2 3. It might at first seem hard and perplex unto ye how the Preacher would draw forth and infer Eternal Life from these Words which at first sight and appearance rather shews the contrary that the Life of Man will come to an utter end And yet it hath been made out in some Measure But the Reasoning and Inference of Eternal Life doth yet further arise from that word add For as the Apostle Paul argues somewhat yea very much in reference to the case in hand If there be no Resurrection of the Dead then 〈◊〉 Christ not risen for if the Dead rise not then is Christ not raised 1 Cor. 15. 13 16. So in like manner it may be here reasoned if God did add Fifteen Years unto Hezekiahs Life because he had heard his Prayer and seen his Tears so he will add unto him and to all others who pray and cry for and shall be Judged worthy that Blessing which the Lord hath commanded even Life for evermore Psal