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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89411	Several works of Mr. Iohn Murcot, that eminent and godly preacher of the Word, lately of a Church of Christ at Dublin in Ireland. Containing, I. Circumspect walking, on Eph. 5.15,16. II. The parable of the ten virgins, on Mat. 25. from ver. 1. to ver. 14. III. The sun of righteousness hath healing in his wings for sinners, on Mal. 4.2. IV. Christs willingness to receive humble sinners, on John 6.37. Together with his life and death. Published by Mr. Winter, Mr. Chambers, Mr. Eaton, Mr. Carryl, and Mr. Manton. With alphabetical tables, and a table of the Scriptures explained throughout the whole.	Murcot, John, 1625-1654.; Winter, Samuel, 1596?-1665.; Chambers, Robert, minister in Dublin.; Eaton, Samuel, 1506?-1665.; Manton, Thomas, 1620-1677.; Caryl, Joseph, 1602-1673.; J. G.	1657 (1657)	Wing M3083; Thomason E911_1; ESTC R202939	754,107	852

healed what if the Lord then say to you your iniquities shall never be healed you shall dye in your sins what will become of your presumption then Secondly it concerneth the people of God that have had it may be some experience of this healing vertue of Jesus Christ that have a long time been groaning under the loathsomness and anguish of their wounds and now at the last are healed through abundant grace O take heed of returning to folly any more will you make bold with sin that have known what it cost our blessed Saviour and what it cost your selves what it cost him when as he would himself purge our iniquities he took the Physick and thou enjoy●st the cure but is it no more to us Brethren the heaviness of his soul to the death must he bleed to death that we might not bleed to death that our bloody issues might be stopt did it cost him an ecclipse of the light of the countenance of his Father and wilt thou make so light a matter of it walk so watchlesly as we do to go on to grieve him as we do some of us O it is the want of keeping that fresh upon our hearts what the cure of it cost that is the great cause of our so often relapsing And so we forget what it cost our selves it is strange that the burnt child doth not dread the fire dost thou not remember when the Lord came to search thy wounds what it cost thee when he went to the bottom of them O dost thou not remember the stench of them when he came to pluck off the hard crust grown upon them and let thee see and be sensible of the filthiness in them is this forgotten that thou makest no more of sin O dost thou not remember the time when thou wast even weary of thy self a burthen to thy self thou couldst not rest many a weary day and night it cost thee many an aking heart and yet now so soon art making wounds again making work again for Christ Surely this is very ill requital of all that riches of grace Or what can we heal the breaches we make upon our peace by our recidivations when we please It is true if a man had his panacea in his pocket that whatever disease he fell into whatever wound he should make upon himself he could cure it again when he pleased it were somewhat like there were some colour but have you the treasuries of grace in your own keeping have you or hath any man a pardon in a box as the poor deceived Papists are grievously mocked Surely no Alas we can make wounds but we cannot heal them we can make a shift to break our faces and bones but we cannot heal them again it is in his hand and will it be for our comfort then to grieve him by such careless walking what if he resolve to grieve thee and give thee enough of thy back-slidings Will it not be bitterness in the latter end though he may heal it it may cost thee many a throb and much smart for this wantonness Brethren take heed of this O sickness is chargeable it may cost thee mourning all thy daies Seventhly Then let it be for Exhortation to us all that we get under the influence of this Sun of righteousness Sinners we have all of us need of the Physitian for there is never a whole soul among us though to our own apprehension some of us think it is well with us yet it is not we are full of wounds the whole head is sick the whole heart is faint the Lord Jesus hath sent me to tell you where you-may have healing and to perswade you to come to him but alas I am a child and cannot speak Where is there healing to be had you will say you know that as well as you can be told why then how cometh it to pass that you come not to Jesus Christ he hath set open the Store-house the Treasuries of pardoning-mercy and healing-mercy inviteth all that will to come and yet you come not Surely either you do not believe this report or else you do not believe your need of Jesus Christ O consider what hath been said to that part and the Lord help you to believe and perswade you to come to him for indeed it is he that must draw and make poor sinners willing to come or else they will never come to him only he doth draw one way is by proposing the object by holding out a crucified Christ for them And therefore let me a little propose something to you to perswade you to come to Jesus Christ 1. Your need of Christ you have seen for we are all wounded yea even to the death bitten with fiery Serpents the venom whereof inflames our souls and therefore a Physitian we must have or else dye Now there is no healing in any other but through his stripes if you know of any other Saviour that can deliver can heal you take him follow after him but I must tell you when you have spent all you must be fain to come to Jesus Christ for healing and is it not better to come before you have spent all upon other Physitians that cannot cure when all is done O that sinners could but believe this I tell you truth Brethren a Plaister of any thing else made of our own sorrow or tears or righteousness or good works or whatsoever it is so far from being a healing that it will venom the wound more and maketh yet further work for Jesus Christ if rested in as a cure I say you may make a shift to stop the Orifice of the wound with a balm of your own procuring but all the while the sore eats into the soul so much the deeper wrankles within O now the Lord Jesus he beginneth at the bottom and so heals it up say not then Are not Abana and Pharpar Rivers of Damascus better then all the waters of Israel when we must go and wash in Jordan if we be healed 2. Consider this the longer you conceal your wounds and hold off the worse will it go with you for either the Lord will let you go on and never heal you but let you languish away in these waies of sin you please your selves so much in or else if he do the longer the wound is wrankling the worse it will be the harder it will go when it cometh to be searched when David had turned his back upon Christ for so long in the matter of Vriah it cost him somewhat it made him roar when the Physick came to work the Lord withdrawing from him haply as long O that while you are called to day sinners now while healing is tendered you would accept of it the Lord make you willing 3. Do but consider what thronging there was to Christ for healing of their bodily distempers they brought them from all parts to him such as could not come themselves and would there not be the

Chapter then to love and walking in love not in heart only but it must be expressed actually as Jesus Christ expressed his love to us in giving up himself for us then he dehorts them from several vices as fornication uncleanness covetousness filthiness foolish speaking and jesting which are not convenient yea these are things will exclude from the Kingdom of heaven Let no man deceive you with vain words as if there were no such danger in such a loose walking those are vain words believe it saith the Apostle For these things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience therefore it is no light matter I deal with you about therefore the Apostle concludeth be not therefore partakers with them partake not of the sins of the children of disobedience lest you taste of the wrath which cometh upon their heads for these their iniquities The Apostle goeth on to back this his Admonition that they be not drawn away with the error of the wicked with many arguments As because now their condition was changed they were men of other principles no marvel if heretofore while they were darkness they walked as children of darkness and did work and had fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but now they were children of the light and therefore must walk as they were and they were fruits of the Spirit now they must bring forth they were goodness righteousness and truth besides it is the part of godly men and good children to approve themselves to God and submit to him in all things besides the works of darkness are unfruitful and shameful it is a shame to speak of the things they do in secret they were such in themselves and they will at last be revealed to the confusion of the authors of them to all which he addeth a testimony from Scripture that God doth generally every where call upon men to arise from their sleep and death in sin and he is ready to enlighten them he speaks no more but what the Scripture of old did speak some difficulty is in this Verse but it is beside our purpose Now the words of the Text are as I may say a Repetition and re-inforcing the general Proposition That the Saints ought to have their conversation adorned with every vertue or grace and the fruits of them and to keep themselves pure and innocent and free from the corruption of the world From all the former Arguments he laies down by way of Inference and Conclusion this charge in v. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 therefore because so and so as you have heard See to it That you walk circumspectly the Argument inforcing it is in the following words not as fools but as wise It is a part of great wisdom to walk circumspectly And from the general in the 16. verse the Apostle descends to a particular and special piece of this circumspect walking and a notable evidence of this wisdom and that is the redeeming the time and backeth this with a strong argument because the days are evil Without any further stay in the Porch let us now enter the House and view some of the rooms of it there are many things note-worthy in the words the first that I shall take up at this time is this It is a duty Christians are strictly charged with to walk circumspectly Here it will be requisite to enquire what is meant by this Circumspect walking and then Secondly to make it good that it is a duty so strictly charged upon the Saints and Thirdly why it is so and then Fourthly Apply it For the first What it is to walk Cirrumspectly Here we have the Ma●ter and the Manner of a Christians conversation the Matter that is expressed by a Walking which indeed doth comprehend all the actions of a Christian life in conformity to the Law and Will of Jesus Christ which is the Way nothing more ordinary then to express a Christian course by a walking and sometimes by a running in a race but by a walking here it is expressed and indeed this doth include all a mans actions his spiritual actions towards the Lord they are a part of this walking their praying meditating hearing receiving conferring living by faith all these are his spiritual actions Secondly A mans civil conversation also cometh under this walking for the Rule and Will of Christ hath an influence over that to bound it and limit it There is no calling which is lawfull but a man may therein abide with God if it be never so mean and this is another part of the walking while men are diligently imployed in their particular Callings out of obedience to his holy command they are in their way and walking to heaven as well as when they are in the spiritual part of the walk and so much the more while they have spiritual hearts in this walk ever and anon taking a turn in heaven and having their civil conversation in heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Apostle saith Thirdly even mens natural actions are a part of this way also of the Matter of this walking as eating drinking sleeping c. when they are used with moderation and an end to befit us only for our spiritual and civil conversations when men eat and drink for strength and not for lust for drunkenness and eat in due season as to whet when the Sythe is dull so that even these actions are a part of the walk also and that it is to be taken in this latitude will appear if we consider the particulars the Apostle presseth them too here as parts of that walking Now to walk you know speaks a motion it is opposed to standing or lying or sitting still the whole world lieth in wickedness and moveth not hand nor foot they have their grave-cloaths upon them are bound hand and foot and are melting away in their lusts and therefore they walk not towards heaven there is a sitting in the seat of the scornful when men have taken up their rest in sin and are at the height that they scorn the Travellers Zion-wards with their faces thither indeed there is a contrary walking to this walking in the counsel of the ungodly in the way of sinners a walking with sinners hand in hand having fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but that motion is from other principles even the flesh and this from the Spirit and by other rules the custome of this world to which they are conformed the examples of sinners the commands of their tyranical lusts and for other ends both of the Walk and the Walker in it the Walk the end of those ways is death there is a way which seemeth right to a man but the end thereof are the ways of death and the end of the Walker is to chear his heart and to satisfie his lusts but this walk we speak of is a contrary motion to that of the world 2. There is a terminus à quo from

yet hath it a large share in his affections supplications and endeavours for its good which he manifested by procuring an Order for the repairing of Christ-Church and setling Mr. Eyres in it The sickness beginning to break forth afresh at Dublin the Commissioners of Parliament send to the several Churches to humble themselves before the Lord and to return to them an Account of what lay upon their spirits as the provoking and procuring cause of this smart expression of rekindled displeasure The society Mr. Murcot was related to drew up their digested thoughts in certain Queries the most remarkable are here annexed 1. Whether denying neglecting flighting and countenancing of 〈…〉 ghters of Mini●ters of the publike Ordinances of God be not an Achan Exod. 4. 24. 5. 3. Lev. 26. 15 25. 2. Whether endeavouring to supplant the Ministry under pretence of all the Congregation of the Lords people being holy every one of them Numb 1. 6. 2 3. 5. 21 22. in opposition whereunto Aar●n is called the Saint of the Lord Psal 106. 16. so Deut. 33. 11. and abusing the Ministry be not a means to bring wrath without remedy 2 Chron 36. 15. which abuses are declared in the defence of the Worcestershire Petition especially in the Preface thereof And whether if Magistrates keep silence they do not thereby make the sin their own 1 Sam. 3. 13. Mr. Murcot is chosen with others humbly to present this Representation which he did with a resolved and clear confidenee as knowing the cause was Gods and truth worth the owning Shortly after the Church at Dublin the Lord being sought unto by solemn fasting and prayer with extraordinary chearfulness and unanimity nemine contradicente chose him to be their Teacher which being proposed to him he at first expressed his loathness to bow with his back to so great a burden yet took time to consider of the matter which he spent in private Fasting Prayer and clearing up his Call by an impartial preponderation of all considerable circumstances an account whereof under his own hand you have here annexed Jan. 31. 1653. The Question Whether I should answer the peoples Call to be Teacher For the Affirmative 1. The Pastors weakness in body and the peoples need thereby 2. The Church also increasing 3. Their unanimous consent in choice of me after solemn seeking of God for it For the Negative 1. My being a man of such uncircumcised heart and such polluted lips as the Lord knoweth c. 2. My being so weak and not able to convince Gain-sayers a very child in managing controversies if they arise in the Church especially in such a Congregation 3. My ignorance what a Teacher is 4. My being but a Novice as the Apostle saith 1 Tim. 3. 6. But doubts 1. Whether in these former Objections I do not mind more the praise of men then the praise of God because of my weakness in parts 2. Whether it be not the burthen without any outward reward which sticks so hard If there were a great outward reward how would it then prevail with me 3. Whether it be love to Christ to indent as I may say and thus much I will do and no further 4. Whether God may not call first and fit afterwards Yet it was so with David so with Saul at first and so Solomon had his Spirit of wisdom given him afterwards and have not we the like priviledge to ask and have as he had Mat. 7. 7. Paul was ready to go or do what God would have him before he had received the Spirit Act. 9. 5. Whether God may not call and I not see it as Samuel 1 Sam. 2. 6. Whether I may not be willing enough and yet seem thus unwilling which is great hypocrisie 7. Whether I could be willing to have another set up rather then my self and therefore as unworthy as I judge my self yet I may judge my self better then he 8. Whether the evil frame of heart hath not been upon me since my denyal of it and the thoughts of yielding are they not pleasing and when any thing produced to the contrary of my mind doth it make me smile and lighten my heart Whether out of pride and delight to hear others good opinion of me and desire towards me or whether out of a secret hankering after the thing notwithstanding my opposing it or whether from the Lord is doubtful 9. Whether the people are not better Judges of my gifts then my self 10. Whether all this discouragement be not through unbelief of the Promises as in Moses Exod. 6. 12 30. 11. Whether this be not hypocrisie Before being called forward enough and when called how backward even as Moses Exod. 2. 13. 4. 10. 6. 12 30. 12. Time was when I entred upon this work with a very wicked heart much more wicked blessed be his name for his present grace and yet not humbled for this to this very day as I ought I doubt 13. Yet notwithstanding he hath manifested himself to give a better heart in some measure then before as I hope and why not now if I undertake more may he not do more as well as before O he did not give me up as some others who in the like condition have undertaken this work 14. I have been as it were checkt What wilt thou not venture thy self upon Jesus Christ and then the Lord made me willing to do it 15. To get strength against corruption is not likely to be done by turning the back upon any work of his 16. And is it not better I should perish by corruption or temptation in doing the work of Christ then not But can any perish that in truth give up themselves to his work Wednesday Feb. 22. meditating upon that of Moses that he said Send by whom thou wilt send God was angry Such thoughts I had God might testifie against me by leavi●g me to blasphemous horrid thoughts and an untoward frame of Spirit When he had answered him that Objection touching his want of eloquence Now saith he when he was angry with him Is not Aaron thy Brother he is a man of eloquence and he will be glad to meet thee So in this God hath joyned such an one as was able through grace to do that I doubted my sufficiency most in that is to say the managing controversies And then telling him they are dead that sought thy life which was the Core So who knoweth but this fear of opposition may be taken away So upon 1 Cor. 9. 17. If I do it will●ngly I have a reward c. And upon 1 Pet. 5. 2. Taking the overlight not of constraint or necessity but a willing mind And John 21. Lovest thou me feed my sheep did somewhat bow my spirit to a resolution to close with it Having though with some reluctancy at first taken upon him the oversight of the Flock of God he led them forth into green pastures by the sides of the pleasant waters and fed them not with

husks as many do but wholsom food Careful he was to preserve the poor Lambs of Christ from infection depredation If any sheep ●as stragling from the fold he would reduce and bring it back again if weak he would take it up in his bosom and carry it upon his shoulders His bowels were rowled within him and did exceedingly melt and yern towards those for whom Christ shed his blood The Lord having fixt him in the Firmament of the Church he proved not a wandring star his regular motion kept others within compass He was not a cloud without water as appeared by the flourishing growth of many Christians who sate under the honey drops that distilled from his lips How did he thirst after the salvation of souls and how anxiously inquisitive after the success of his labours It did not satisfie him that the seed was sown fruits must appear or else his heart is mightily troubled within him and little comfort taken in the comforts of this life It was an heart-breaking unto him that the hearts of sinners were no more boken their dry eys would cause his to overflow with briny tears The Lord did not give up his Ministry to the curse of a miscarrying womb and dry breasts He was able to say Lo here am I and the children whom thou hast given me Surely in labours he was more abundant then many others as his Closet Pulpit besides many other places can well testifie Recreations he declined so loath was he to be accounted a loyterer or idler in Gods Vineyard Having put his hand unto the Plough he did not at any time stand still he looked not back he sate not down in the cool and gentle shade but was always in an erect posture and continually pressing forward contented to bear the burthen and the heat of the day as knowing that the time of refreshing was shortly to come from the presence of the Lord. So eagerly bent was he upon his work that when seriously setled to it his necessary and appointed food was frequently neglected wife children and other Relations not taken notice of If any refreshing was urged he would say This is not the way to get my Fathers work done The Subjects that he pitcht on were usually adapted and accommodated to the temper of the Times and his own condition as Preaching both to others and himself It did not satisfie him that Truth was Preached unless it were seasonable and suitable The Sermons that he Prcached he throughly digested before hand and made them his own by a deep impression of them not only on his memory but affections so that he still spake from the heart to the heart They who beheld him in a Pulpir with a spiritually discerning eye thought the place to be as it were filled with smoak and signal expressions of the Divine Presence The growing and prevailing Corruptions of the Times he strongly opposed Errors though countenanced by great Ones were not basely baulked and passed by in silence The miscarriages of those in high Places were sure to meet with a severe and sharp rebuke He often bewailed and greatly mourned for the evil and dangerous consequence of corrupt men called to the Ministry who daub with untempered morter and slightly heal the wound that is made with a faithful hand When secure and sleepy sinners are at any time awakned by a stirring and a soul-searching Ministry and complain of the terrors of the Lord that set themselves in battle array against them these miserably-mercifull men with an oyly tongue labour to lick them whole again and skin over the sore they make it their design to bind up the broken bone without putting their patients to any pain perswading them that Ministers now-adays are too severe sour strict streight lac● and fright silly folk who do not understand themselves with Bug bears and Sear crows For a Waspish and inraged conscience thy provide a sweet and stupifying sop and so lay it to sleep again Thus are men flattered into a good opinion of themselves when in the mean time they are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity Wo and alas● that ever men should be thus contentedly cheated of their souls and prefer their present ease before their future safety He who was chosen a Ruler in the Church was so in his Family which he ruled well and diligently instructed in the knowledge of Christ He prayed twice a day with his Family and expounded some portion of Scripture and in these exercises usually expended an hour and an half at a time In Singing he was much transported and even lifted up and delighted much in Psal 63. and 103. He was with Paul in fastings often and that not only when publickly required for he was herein often ingaged upon the account of his own personall concernments and condition In preparations for Fasts as well as in the celebration of them he was very solemn and severe as will afterwards more plentifully appear Food on such days he tasted not till late at night if any offered it was entertained with dislike in his very looks In Prayer at all times especially then he was copious inlarged spiritual powerfull to the melting of the Congregation into tears and sighs His love to the Ordinances was very great and his heart did even break with longing after that of the Supper and in preparation for it he would unbowel himself before the Lord and be very strict in the duty of self examination When his children were Baptized and had the Seals of the Covenant imprest upon them he would wonderfully rejoyce thereby declaring a sweet refreshing and full satisfaction With the Psalmist he had rather be a door keeper in the House of the Lord then dwell in the Tents of wickedness One day in Gods Court was better then a thousand elsewhere He would cheerfully chirp and sweetly warble out his high-strained Notes when with the Swallow neer Gods Alta but would mourn like a Dove and chatter like a Crane when the waters of the Sanctuary were dammed up and did not freely flow forth he would droop and hang the wing though under the broad spreading guords of carnal contentments He abridged and cut himself short in the use of the warrantable contentments of the present life He was unwilling to launch out too far lest he should lose the sight of his Harbor and a storm arise ere he got in again He was loath to swallow down large morsels for fear of an ensuing surseit and dismal dolefull distempers that might thence arise He knew that the fairest full-blown Rose was not without its grieving thorn and that a scratching Bryer lay lurking under the blooming leaves and therefore he passed over the most flowrie and fragrant walk with an hasty and trembling foot He was none of those whom the Apostle speaks of that mind earthly things His work was his wages His design was not to spread his roots in the earth

Silver tryed and purified seven times that is to say his Promise therefore he concludeth That the Lord will keep them he will preserve them for ever and so pretious so confirmed by miracles that all other truth scarce deserveth the name of truth in comparison of it either it is not so pure but hath some dross or else not so pretious O they are pretious Promises indeed as the soul knoweth right-well when he cometh to stand in need of a Promise and the sweetness of it he sucks out and it letteth down the sweetness of it upon the soul but take a parallel Scripture to shew that Gospel is called the truth The Apostle speaks plainly For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven whereof you heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel and again to the Ephesians In whom also ye trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of your salvation in whom also after ye believed ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of Promise So that this is the truth then the knowledge whereof shall make us free where the Spirit of Christ is there is liberty that is clear as you heard before Now how is the Spirit given but by the Gospel Received ye the Spirit by the works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith which is that hearing of Faith by the Word of Truth the foregoing Verse even that which held forth a crucified Christ to them hearing of Faith not the rumour of Faith but hearing is such an hearing as whereby a man believeth and Faith by a Metonymie is put for the Word of Faith as the Gospel is called sometimes because Faith thereby is begotten now by this the Spirit is received and therefore liberty cometh and therefore the Gospel is called the ministration of the Spirit in that place of the Apostle because therewith the Spirit is given and ministred to poor creatures whereas the Law works Bondage and Wrath Therefore Jerusalem is free which is above that is to say the Church builded upon the Covenant of Grace is free is the Mother of us all but enough of this The Gospel is the outward instrumental cause Fifthly the inward instrumental cause or Con. as some will have it which I shall not now dispute that is faith whereby we close with this Covenant it is the Word of Faith and hearing of Faith that is to say of the Gospel so as to work Faith whereby the Spirit is given which brings liberty to the soul Alas many hear the Gospel of liberty which we preach and few do receive it few believe it for it appeareth by woful experience we are yet in bondage we have never gone forth to this day many of us though we have had as much preaching of the Gospel as any other Jerusalem that now is as the Apostle cals it was in bondage then though they had the Gospel preached among them a great while they believed not except the Spirit therein be conveyed the Gospel is but a dead letter as well as the Law and a deadly letter also and so much for the causes of this liberty or freedom which cometh by Jesus Christ The third thing under this head is the parts of this liberty or freedom which we shall consider two ways First Extensively in their latitude● And secondly Intensively in the degrees of each of these parts in its latitude But that we may the better understand it we must know that liberty is a relative and respecteth some bondage some imprisoning or shutting up from which this liberty is a deliverance ye shall go forth and therefore to set off the lustre of this glorious liberty it may not be amiss to run a parallel between them That there is such a bondage under which every poor creature without Christ is held we shall at present presuppose though afterward haply I shall come to prove it I would not here too far digress before we come to speak of the parts of the bondage to which the parts of liberty will be opposite and correspondent I shall say in a few words something to the Author of this Bondage and Tenure of it and but a word or two For the Author of this bondage under which poor creatures are without Christ altogether and in part also many times when they are under Christ and under Grace First Some part of it is to be ascribed to the Lord so far forth as it is meerly vindictive or an inflicting of a just penalty upon Sinners for sin so far we may ascribe it to God as will more plainly appear in the following Considerations The Law which genders to Bondage it is his Law and holy and just and good though it gender to Bondage nor will it follow because we are delivered form it therefore it was an evil in it self but only per accidens by reason of our corruption and so the Spirit of Bondage which in some is vindictive when he binds and hampers a Sinner with the cords of his sin haply never intending that he shall see through those terrors to his comfort this is from him and justly or else if it be in order to a settlement to a peace to an Adoption a Sonship through Christ as preparative to the receiving of Christ this is from him and so several other parts of it are from him under this Consideration Secondly But so far forth as any part of it is sinful there it is from Satan and from our own evil hearts for darkness cannot come from the light nor can any thing unclean come from that which is altogether pure no more then a clean thing can proceed from an unclean as the bondage under sin which more at large afterward we shall discuss Secondly For the tenure for being in bondage we are in bondage to some person properly to some thing improperly and by a kind of Prosopopeia we are said to be in such a bondage now there is some Tenure as I may say wherein they do hold us in bondage there are three or four tenures if I may so call them whereby we are thus held under Bondage until Jesus Christ come to set us free First A Sale Secondly By Birth Thirdly By Captivity or Conquest Fourthly By Tyranny and resignation of themselves up to such a vassallage but a word or two to each of them First then There is a Bondage by Captivity when People are taken Captives this is so common there is none can be ignorant of it What are the Turks Gally-slaves but the prey of their piracies all is fish that cometh to the net so it is in this case This is one Part of the Tenure we are taken captive by Satan even at his pleasure Of whom a man is overcome of the same is he brought in bondage this is the military Law the Prisoners were ever the Conquerours slaves we have seen it but too evidently with our own eyes we have

have not heard saith the Apostle And Faith cometh by hearing and therefore it is called the word of Faith and therein the righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith thereby wherein even in the Gospel preached of which the Apostle was not ashamed by the preaching thereof poor creatures were brought to believe in the Lord Jesus and so the righteousness of Christ was revealed therein to them and conveighed to them by Faith I know not what course the Lord holds with the Heathen to whom the Gospel is not preached by men like themselves nor hath the Lord given us a positive account of his dealing with them and therefore I meddle not with it but this is the ordinary way of Gods working of Faith in them who come to be capable of hearing the Word and understanding of it therefore usually if God intend to bring on such a soul or such a soul he will bring them under the Word either to dwell under it or the Word accidentally to be among them It is observable that in Pauls conversion only he himself heard the voice of him that talked with him not the men that were with him because God intended this vision for Paul and not for them they are said in another place to hear a voice but not the voice of God but the voice of Paul and wondered to hear him speak and heard no body speaking to him hearing then of God is hearing him speak in his Word for it is he that speaks therein Secondly By the hearing may also be understood yet further some whisperings and motions and secret workings of his Spirit which many a man hath many times in hearing of the Word the Spirit passeth by and breatheth in the Word upon one soul and upon another putting on the soul to fasten upon such a a truth or such a truth as sweet and precious inwardly speaking to their understandings that they are sure the men concerned in such a threatning in such a promise and this is a part of Gods striving by his Spirit with rebellious sinners that do not believe nor obey Now this is a more inward hearing then the former some sit under the same Sermon and the Sword of the Spirit maketh no more entrance upon them then upon a brazen wall and it must be a sharp sword indeed that must divide an heart of stone many a blow is laid at a sturdy Oak an old grown sinner before his heart beginneth so much as to shake and this is the second Thirdly Then for the learning which is the main thing which goeth before the coming to Jesus Christ this I take to to be when the Lord not only by his Messengers maketh his word plain before us lays it to our Consciences as the Ax to the root of the Tree but when he opens our understandings plucks open our eyes to behold the light teacheth us indeed he teacheth a poor soul in special these two or three things 1. That he is lost a son of perdition for ought he knoweth many a poor Creature in the Ship like Jonas though ready to sink he was asleep if the Ship had sunk it had been all one to him they come and awake him up thou sleeper dost thou not see thou art sinking thou art dying thou art perishing so the Spirit of the Lord Jesus takes a poor sleepy dead sinner by the understanding tels him thou art the man condemned wrath abideth upon thee particularly what dost thou mean wilt thou have the flames of hell about thy ears before thou wilt stir a foot what wilt thou bring the blood of Jesus upon thy head thus the Spirit cometh and shaketh a poor soul out of his sleep in sin he never dreamed what his condition was before this is the Spirits convincing a man of sin setteth his sins in order before him setteth a man upon the search into his condition then represents all his sins in their bloody guilt and condemning nature every one of them with a mouth like hell ready to swallow him up this is a part of the cords of a mans convictions 2. It teacheth him yet further now no longer to lie securely in that condition if he continue here he must perish therefore now he beginneth to look about him O what shall I do to whom shall I turn my self is there no hope of pardon no mercy for me O what shall we do said they in Acts 2. to be saved if the Ship be sinking now it is time to look about for a Plank a Mast something to lay hold upon something to stop the leak if now Brethren granadoes be cast into the soul and be broken and tearing all to pieces the very flames of hell have caught hold upon such a poor creature there is no delay now the Spirit of the Lord working with a mans natural principle for self-preservation puts him on to enquire for somewhat to quench it now he beginneth to cry out fire fire in his soul O he cannot hold it 3. It teacheth yet further and the poor soul learneth this also effectually that there is no help for him in the creature neither in himself nor in any other if he take the quintescence of all his works which we usually before have a high esteem of and temper them together alas they will not make a balsom for this wound now all the Spirits in all the Creatures in the world if they could be extracted I mean the comforts that might arise from the enjoyment of them would not keep the poor languishing soul from fainting and dying waters of the fullest cup let them overflow never so much if a man have rivers of pleasures in the enjoyment of creature-comforts honours relations parts learning gifts whatsoever they be alas the poor creature is now taught they will not quench this spark that is gotten into the conscience I mean they will not allay the trouble of his spirit will not heal the wounds of his spirit so that now he knoweth not what to do the Hart they say if smitten with an arrow goeth to her herb to cause the arrow to fall out and other creatures being poysoned stung sick distempered run to their cure by a natural instinct but now when God hath shot this arrow into a poor soul it wounds too deep sticks too fast for the teeth of any creature to pluck it out or for the vertue of any creature yea they are so far from healing that rather the consideration of them are as oyl to the flame to vex and wound so much the more well this is much to be taught he that learneth this effectually and not in the notion only goeth far there are many convinced of their wounds their bleeding dying condition but they imagine there is help to be had in something else they run to a duty of their own as if a day of fasting would make amends for all run to this or that unfaithful Shepherds that will

indeed these are the sweet breathings of faith these are the near approaches of the soul to Christ this is to lay hold upon him though the soul feel little comfort for the present yet this is a coming to Christ So the Prodigal O make me but as one of thine hyred servants Fifthly and lastly it is a closing with Jesus Christ as he is offered not by the halves Christ is not divided as the Apostle saith his righteousness from his holiness nor his holiness from his righteousness therefore saith the Apostle as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk in him O here many are deceived they would have Christ but they will not be his what a strange unreasonable thing is this they would have the benefit of having him to be their Father and be heirs but they will not be subject as children they would have all the immunities and priviledges peace and prosperity of soul under him as a King but they will not submit themselves to him as King and Lord they would have him for an husband and yet will not obey O this is not a coming to Jesus Christ this is to serve our selves upon him but the Lord Jesus will search this out keep it as close as we can from others that they may think well of us yea from our selves also through the juglings of our hearts we cannot keep it from him he knoweth where there is a soul that takes the Lord Jesus without any reserve and equivocation Aug. Is non modo durus was no good sign of his condition at that time though afterward it was otherwise for we find he acknowledgeth it bewails it the Lord grant that the doom of Ananias and Saphira reach not to many of our souls for pretending to give up the whole to Jesus Christ and yet reserve part to our selves yea pretend to come to Jesus Christ and yet divide him Well you see Brethren what this coming to Jesus Christ is it is not then every one that saith Lord Lord nor cryeth out the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord that come to Christ it is not the having a few faint wishings and wouldings which like the untimely birth of a woman like a bable perish and never appear more that is a coming to Christ it is not your sucking sweetness from your own duties performances Ordinances priviledges any thing short of Christ that is coming to him Dear Lord Jesus how many of us loyter and take up our rest short of thee It is not a bare acknowledgement of our being sinners in the general and a Lord have mercy from the mouth without any sense of our condition upon our hearts that is a coming to Jesus Christ It is not a desire to be pardoned alone for then none of us should miscarry and O that it were so if the Lord see it good But it is the earnest breathings of a poor broken lost soul the moan of a poor wounded creature the pantings of a poor languishing heart after Jesus Christ a making him alone our stay a resigning our selves to him that is the coming to him here spoken of and such a soul he will not cast out Pardon me I know I am too slow for the acute and I wish I be not as much too swift for many of us that are dull of understanding slow of heart to understand and believe these things the condition of people now a daies I take it doth call upon us to speak oftner and more fully to beat it upon poor creatures the nature of this coming to Jesus Christ then any other thing as I find still in all the preachings of the Apostles they did endeavour to make good that truth most necessarily that Jesus was the Christ because that was most opposed in those daies so now this being granted by all and already that we are sinners the main work lies herein to undeceive poor creatures who think all is well enough with them and therefore I am the more large in this part and indeed much more large then I thought to be The second thing then is what is meant by this not casting out wherein lies the marrow and fatness and sweetness of this Scripture and indeed I think the whole Book of God doth not afford a more refreshing word a more establishing word to a poor weak creature then this is O then let us see what it is First he will not cast him out he will not cast him out of his heart that is the first not out of his love for we must know this all of us this day which may be a comfort to many a doubting trembling misgiving-heart that if the Lord Jesus have done this in us and for us hath given us thus to come to him in truth for degrees of the things formerly spoken of I intend not them as to make up the nature of our duty it may be in a weaker and a stronger measure but if in truth it can be found that so we come know for thine everlasting comf 〈…〉 t as base thoughts as thou hast of thy self and of thy vileness and of thy unworthiness thy dear Saviour hath precious thoughts of thee thou art written in his heart thou wast in his heart when he wrought this work in thee and for thee yea long before this for the truth is were not he first as well as last in the work the Alpha as well as the Omega in that work of salvation we should never come to him nor should we abide with him O thy Law is in my heart saith he in Psal 44. 8. thy command I delight to do thy will and what was that that all that the Father hath given to him he should redeem and deliver and save and therefore if it be thus with us we were in his heart before as it was said of that Queen when she dyed That if her heart were opened they should find Calice there Ah Brethren surely the names of the choice of God which now appears and breaks out by this that is given to us to come to Jesus Christ all that the Father hath given shall come to me I say our names were then upon his heart and now are upon his heart as the Priest did bear the names of Israel before the Lord and therefore the Lord will not cast out such a poor soul out of his heart out of his love O my loving kindness I will never take from thee however he may chastise however he may with-hold comfort for a time yet believe it O that every poor weak creature might this day have it given from on high to believe that the Lord will not cast them out of his heart this is thy greatest fear poor soul lest thou shouldest lose him lest he should disown thee and say I will not have mercy on thee Alas it is as impossible as white to be black or black white hath he once owned thee and made manifest his