soul to feed upon in the expectation of mercy he gave them to be meat to his people in the wilderness Psal 74.14 so former Judgements are meat also for the soul to feed upon in the expectation of future for the wrath of God breaking in upon a people is like a breach in awall where the enemy will be sure with all violence to break in if no man stand in the gap to make resistance impossibile a patente porta iram Dei non procedere For by a lesser Judgement God makes way for his anger for a perfect and an utter ruine Psaul 78.50 Let us see whether the same way be not made with us as it was with them First all Nations about them were against them Ier. 12.9 Mine inheritâ—nce is as a speckled Bird the Birds round about her are against her as a strange Bird seldom seen the Birds usually fall upon and set themselves against her if we did wisely consider the estate of this Kingdom how it is a speckled bird and how the Nations about her are against her as a strange bird it were easy to conceive and what expectations most of them have from the present state of things amongst us it is not hard to guess Secondly the general corruption and decay of truth and wisdom of men in places of greatest trust their silver becomes dross and their wine mixed with water Isa 1.22 their Judges and Officers and men in authority growing daily more and more corrupt the best of them is a Briar Mich. 7.4 that is a poor man flies to them for shelter as a sheep to a thorny hedge and instead of defending they do fleece him in and what follows the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh now shall be their perplexity what hath been the condition of this state we all know how servants have ruled over us and there was none to deliver us out of their hands men of servile birth and education and servile spirits in so much that there hath been no peace either to him that went out or to him that came in for God did vex us with all adversity 2 Chron. 15.6 Thirdly the subversion of fundamental Laws of the Kingdom which the Scripture calls the foundation upon which a Kindom stands which was a bitter complaint of the Church of God in this state all the foundations of the earth were out of course Psal 82.5 what invasions have been made upon us and our Laws hath been abundantly of late discovered and Solomon tells us that he that breaks a hedge a Serpent shall bite him Eccl. 10.8 he speaks it of this hedge by which a people are defended and kept several that all do not become first a Common and then a Wilderness Lastly private and intestine divisions amongst us the fore-running of Gods last and fiercest wrath upon that people Ephraim against Manassch and both against Iudah Isa 9. ult which the Lord saith is as if one member in the same body should be injurious to another as if a man should eate the flesh of his own arm and how far the wrath of God is at present stretched forth against this Nation we all know and complain of what secret whisperings and murmurings what jealousies and fears there are one of another and what parties and how for these divisions there do arise great thoughts of heart we can never sufficiently bewail which doth continnally threaten that the Lord will take us and dash us one against another as Potters Vessels These were the fore-runners of Judgement with this Nation which did show them that the time of Judgement was at hand and these are now the sins of the times which may justly occasion us to conceive that the time of Judgement is at hand let it not be our sin which is here reproved as theirs that we should not know the time of the Judgement of the Lord. Vse Use for direction only in five things First not to know the time is misery enough therefore men are taken suddenly unawares insnared in an evil time as birds in an evil share and as fishes in an evil net Eccl. 9.12 Secondly that you may know the time to improve this promise Whosoever keepeth the Commandment shall find no evil a wise mans heart shall discern time and Iudgement Eccl. 8 5. Thirdly a wise man foresees the evil and hides himself but fools pass on and are punished Prov. 22.3 First by a work of humiliation Hab. 3.16 When I heard my belly trembled rottenness entred into my bones I trembled in my self that I might rest in the evil day Secondly a work of reformation Zeph. 2.3 Seek righteousness seek meeknesâ— it may be you may be hid in the day of the Lords wrath Thirdly improve all the promises that perfection to which you are called Isa 26 ult come my people enter into your chambers the Promises and Attributes are the chambers of the godly but you must come into them else they will afford no shelter upon all the glory shall be a defence Fourthly be much in prayer to lay in for this time will be profitable for you for know prayer never proves ineffectual to a spiritual end it never in this respect comes too late because God never comes too late 1 King 18.45 Luke 21.36 Watch therefore and pray continually that you may be accounted worthy to escape all those things that shall come to pass fidelibus orationibus Deum ambimus coelum tundimus Fifthly betake thy self to the mediation of Christ Mich. 5.5 for this man shall be the peace when the enemy comes into the Land he is a refuge from the storm a defence from the wind a river of water in a dry place and the shaddow of a great Rock in a weary Land Isa 52.2 therefore return you to your strong holds you prisoners of hope Zach. 9.12 Remember his name is Shilo the peace-maker and he is so called everywhere when the Scepter departs from Judah Gen. 49.9 there must needs be nothing but trouble yet then he is the peace-maker then doth Shilo come
bosom to mourn with them and have compassion over them and this he is to do not only for some of the great ones but he is to do it impartially over all the flock For God makes no difference in respect of any mans title or place but he that hath the best heart is the best man in Gods account and in Church members those should be esteemed by us that have the greatest graces not the greatest places Fourthly it is the Pastors duty if any man in the Church walk disorderly or inordinately he is to mourn for them Jer. 13.17 My soul shall weep in secret for your pride and Phil. 3.18 Now I tell you weeping c. Their miscarriage should be to him as the errors of a child unto a tender Father he should bewail them with bitterness to consider how they thereby go about to destroy themselves should exceedingly affect the Pastor as Christ when he beheld Ierusalems sins he wept over it and many times there is nothing left for a minister to do for a person but to shed tears Secondly he is to admonish them and that authoritatively â— Thes 5.12 Know them which labour amongst you and are over you and admonish you in the Lord that is by vertue of the authority that is commited unto me by Christ I do admonish you in the Lord and this is to do a thing in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ 1 Cor. 5.4 Yea reprove them sharply and so Paul doth propose it unto the Corinthians Whither he should come to them with the rod or in the spirit of meckness Thirdly if nothing else will do they must together with the Church in which they are have the main hand they are to stir them up to cast out such a person and to represent it to the Church according to the power that is committed unto them by Christ for the Churches edification Rev. 2.3 they must not bear them that be evil they must be cast out they should look upon it as their Burthen that any amongst them should deserve to be cast out from the Church yet they must do their duty this is the rule that they have over you in the Lord Heb. 13.17 Fifthly they must walk as examples to the flock 1 Pet. 5.3 Go before them in a holy life 2 John 10. it is said Christ is the Shepherd and he goes before the sheep and his sheep do follow him the meaning is he went before them in a holy conversation for he hath in all things given us an example a Copy to write after that we should walk as he hath walked Pastors should be a living Scripture and walking Bibles more then any other men and yet ye are to take this as a rule be you followers of us as we are of Christ and mark them who so walketh as they have us for an example Philip. 3.17 Secondly for the dispositions with which all these duties are to be done which I will lay down in six particulars First from a tender love and care God doth put this care of the flock unto those whom he calls to be their Over-seers in mercy and he doth give them graces sutable Pastors graces 2 Cor. 8.16 God did put the same care into the heart of Titus Phil. 2.26 Epaphroditus that was their Pastor he doth long for them exceedingly and his love was so great that he would not have them so much as grieved and therefore he was sorry that they had heard that he had been sick there was in the heart of our Lord Christ a Law of love written thy Law is in the middle of my bowels as there should be a love amongst the members so in a special manner in those that are Pastors and Fathers to a people their bowels should yern over them Secondly all this is to be done with the spirit of meekness in a way of Ministry and not in a way of Majesty For we are but your servants for Christs sake and we are not to rule as Lords over Gods heritage 1 Pet. 5.3 and therefore pride and imperiousness must be avoided for all that we have to do is by the word and we can rule no other way Thirdly all things must be done without self-respects and to make a gain of the people we must feed the flock not for filthy lucres sake that though the Pastor is to eat of the milk of the flocks and though it be the peoples duty 1 Cor. 9.14 God hath ordained that they should yet this is not to be the end propounded by the Minister or Pastor unto themselves for them to have such a low end as this put me into the Priests office that I may eat a piece of bread no we are to seek you and not yours and to expect our crown of glory at the appearing of the great Shepherd of the sheep 1 Pet. 5.9 Fourthly it must be with faith and an expectation that God will in a special manner bless their endeavours and labours unto that people over which God hath put them over which the holy Ghost hath made them overseers for with the call of God there doth go the blessing of God and if God do put a man into any office he may expect a blessing upon him in that imployment he doth call Christ and he doth promise him the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand and Christ sends forth the Apostles and he promises to be with them to the end of the world Math. 28.19 the people are to expect a greater blessing by them because God hath put them over them Heb. 13.17 they watch for your souls So the Ministers also that go forth with faith to preach the Gospel the Lord will make them a blessing to the people where he sends them Fifthly it must be done as those that give an account for your souls that are the people committed to his care Heb. 13.17 there are great accounts that men have to give for talents and opportunities of doing good and of Riches that God hath entrusted them with and Honours and the day of grace but the greatest account is that of souls which are precious unto all those to whom their own souls are precious and as the Lord Jesus himself comes in at the last day before the Father Here am I and the children that thou hast given me Heb. 2.13 So also this will be the work of the Ministry at the last day they will give an account of your souls O what a great thing is it for a Minister to be able to say I prayed for such a soul I instructed such a soul he was blind before and God used me as an Instrument to convey light to him I watched over such a soul for it is your souls only that we have to do with all and its only with reference to your souls that we watch over you Sixthly the Pastors of a people do their duty as those whose crown of glory it will be at the last day
thee Is it so my Brethren then all men must conclude surely the Lord is raised up out of his holy habitation And this is the first point The second I shall speak a little to but very briefly that I may come to the second general in the Text I am loth to trespass or to straighten him that succeeds in the service The second Doctrine that I propounded to you was this Dostrine That the experiments that the Saints have of the rising of God for them in some Providential actings are a sure pledge to their faith that he will go on the will not leave the work till he hath brought it to perfection so observe I will give you but one Scripture Psal 74.14 he smote the head of Leviathan in the water and he gave him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness the Lord here doth encourage them against those great difficulties that they were to meet withal in the wilderness after they came out of Egypt why now what is the use that they must make of the affliction of Pharoah and his Army called the head of Leviathan there his power his policy his strength the Lord brake the enemy Why the text saith he gave it to be meat to the people Why did the people of Israel in the wilderness feed upon the dead bodies of the Egyptians No that is not the meaning of it but this he gave it to be food to their faith not to their bodies for their faith to feed upon in all those ensuing difficulties that they were to meet withal in a howling wilderness in decretis sapientium nulla est Litura Wise men make no blots when the Lord hath begun he useth to go on if he open the first seal against Rome Pagan he never leaves till he comes to the seventh seal If he sounds the first Trumpet against Rome Christian he goes on to the seventh So having begun to pour out some of the Vials against Antichristian Rome surely the Lord will never leave till the last vial be poured out So it is a great encouragement to the Saints the great experiments they have had of the Lords rising for them in his providential actings that the Lord certainly will go on Oh but will you say to me If we could be assured of that but what if the times should turn there are changes in the right hand of the most high what if we should see a new face upon things I know these are the suppositions of every heart here Now I intreate you consider I confess there is an ultima clades adhuc metuenda there is a great cloud that yet hangs over all the European Churches pray observe what I say the killing of the witnesses I cannot look upon as past because I cannot find the time of the prophecying in sackcloth and ashes to be expired and Rome Antichristian as well as Rome Pagan under Iulian shall have its three years and a half but yet for your comfort let me tell you the experiments that you have had of Gods providential actings may secure your hearts that they shall never prevail so as to put out that lâ—ght of the glorious Gospel that God hath set up among you they shall never prevail so far Rome hath a time of seduction and a time of persecution the time of Romes seduction is over though it is true the grand persecution is to come Angustine I remember tells us that there is a threefold persecution that the Church of God should undergo August The first is violenta by force The second is fraudulenta that is in a way of heresie A third should be violenta fraudulenta there should be a deceit mixt with force Now I intreate you be pleased to consider there be these three arguments that I have looked upon as a great stay to my own thoughts in this respect I shall crave leave to propose them to you In the first place the Apostle Heb. 12.27 tels us that the Lord doth shake the things that are made that the things that cannot be shaken may remain he shaketh the things that are made that they may be removed that the things that cannot be shaken may remain then the end why the Lord hath shaken in Church and State whatsoever is of man what the Lord will not have to continue it is that he may remove it Why now this is the great end then that the Lord hath that things that cannot be shaken should remain Whatsoever Jesus Christ hath removed all the power of men shall never exalt for he did shake it to that very end that he might remove it I say what the Lord hath removed as a thing made moveable all the powers of men shall never be able to establish again Jesus Christ will maintain the ground he hath won That is the first Argument Yea In the second place when Christ rides forth for to Conquer he conquers not at once but he will go on to conquer that is another argument you may see him going forth Rev. 6.1,2 he rideth forth conquering and to conquer he did not conquer all at once but he carries on the victory Luther I remember said when he began Luther brevi efficiam ut Anathema sit esse Papistam it shall not be long saith he but by the grace of Christ I shall bring it about that it shall be looked upon as a cursed thing to be a Papist God hath carried on the work still and I remember it was the speech of Latimer one of our Martyrs when he came to be burnt I hope I shall kindle a fire this day in England shall never be put out Romanum nomen de terra tolletur Certainly the Lord Christ will carry on his work for he conquers not all at once he goes on conquering and to conquer In the third place Consider I beseech you the ten Kingdoms shall destroy the whore that is my third argument the ten Kingdoms are the Instruments God will use Antichrist riseth in a double beast Rev. 13. in his civil power so he makes up one beast with the ten Kingdoms In his Ecclesiastical he makes up his ten Kingdoms in the Clergy that is the Beast that hath two horns like a Lamb he speaks like a Dragon Now observe I beseech you these ten Kingdoms the Lord will make use of to destroy the Whore therefore he must reserve a considerable party Nay a major party that shall hate the Whore who shall become chosen and faithful the Lord hath been pleased to make this one of the ten Kingdoms certainly the Lord will uphold a major party here those that shall keep themselves that be Virgins not defile themselves with the fornications of Antichrist and the Lord will raise them up for this great service and they shall stand with the Lamb upon Mount Sion Consider I beseech you this and then when you look about upon those glorious providential acts of God for you truly you may
with Christ for the term of vocation is union they were never cut off from their old root and never had experience of an ingrafting work never knew what it was to be translated Col. 1.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Verbum deductum ab iis qui colonias transferunt e natali solo Its a Metaphor taken from transplanting of Colonies They are in him by profession only without any real implantation for Christ as he is a vine upon earth has in him many unfruitfull branches though as he is a head in Heaven so he hath no dead members and this is the great ground of all barrenness and so all that a man doth is but building upon the sand when it flows not from Christ through the union of faith which is the ground of all fruitfulness Non semper ore non semper meditor sed vestio dormio bibo comedo c. Haec omnia si in fide fiant tanquam recte facta divino judicio approbantur As are my prayers so my eating drinking sleeping and clothing my self they are all Luther fruit abounding to my account in Christ Luther Gen. 33. Secondly he gives them up unto a heedless spirit in the things of God so much of Religion as shall uphold a form they take up but they regard not the keeping of their hearts and the approving of themselves unto God in secret there is a cultus conscientiae that is wholly neglected 2 Kin. 10.31 But Jehn took no heed to walk in the Law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart what shew so ever they make of Religion and how great so ever their pretences are yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 2.3 They neglect or they care not for the salvation that is offered therein Bernard Vita uniuscujusque non cognoscitur nisi in conscientia Bernard A mans life may seem as fair in a hypocrite and as fruitful as in a godly man but it is the inward frame of the heart and the constant care of that in which Religion doth consist and if a man do duties with a Spirit of inadvertency they are none of them fruits but leaves and make way for a judicial barrenness Thirdly he gives them up unto new opinions and these do ingross the heart and take up the strength of the man by contests of this nature whereas the kingdom of God consists not in meat and drink Rom. 14.17 and when men are given up to this then Hylar quas volumus doctrinas coaptamus Hylar That must go for true doctrine which is agreeable to their apprehensions and there is more pains taken in contending for and in maintaining of such opinions and things which we have made our own then there is about knowing or practising all the Truths of Christ and the duties of godliness besides and so the whole practice of godliness is neglected while the man is sinfully busied in novelties and unpractical curiosities and so urbem produnt dum castella defendunt when as in absoluto facili stat aternitas The things necessary to salvation are easie and as for lesser disputes be not much in them say Elias cum veniet Let us leave this unto the day of Resurrection which will declare of what sort every mans work is whither it be gold or silver hay or stubble and the truth is this is a grave in which Satan hath buried many a soul causing men to fall in love with their own births and apprehensions and thereby to take them off from the things which are of eternal concernment in the things of God which turn men commonly from Idolatry to Heresie Fourthly the Lord gives them up to have their thoughts set much upon other things as it was with the thorny ground the thorns sucking in the strength of the soil choaked the seed Matth. 13. One is taken up about getting an estate and another about raising a building of honor and another he is busied in the great affairs of a Commonwealth and he talks of making of Laws defeating of enemies saving of Kingdoms c. and in the mean while he himself is lost Matth. 7 22. There is a man busie preaching to others whilst he himself is a castaway and casting out devils out of other mens bodies when he himself is all the while in his inward man possessed of the devil and so while he is made a keeper of the vineyard he neglect to keep his own vine Cant. 1.6 And so many a great Statesman gives the same accompt at his death as Luther brings in Cicero complaining Luther Olim frustra me sapientem putatum vocem indignationis desperationis plenissâ—mam c. So that men never consider by their gifts and places and powers they bear fruit among men and be usefull to a Civil State they never think of being useful to the people of God and saving of their own souls but it s one thing to live fruitful towards God and another to be thought so by men as it s said of Jeroboams son There was found some good thing in him towards the Lord God of Israel Therefore consider that may be good among men which is not good towards the Lord God of Israel Fifthly After this the oath of God passes on the man there is a swearing in his wrath against men now as there was against Israel of old Hebrews 3. and therefore we also must take heed for this is the most dreadfull Judgement can come among men and this oath though it be secret yet it hath this effect that the Spirit of God in the common works and gifts is by degrees withdrawn for though there be a decree that passeth upon every mans eternal estate as an act of the Soveraignty of God Iacob have I loved and Esau have I hated and the foundation of God remains sure the Lord knows who are his yet there are many strivings of the spirit of God about a mans eternal estate before the Lord swear in his wrath he shall never enter into his rest for my spirit shall strive with that man no more Gen. 6.3 for as the Lord will not always suffer his Ministers to speak in vain therefore sometimes he saith they shall be a reprover unto such a people no more and therefore he will change the orb in which the stars sometimes shine he that hath them in his right hand so he will not always suffer his spirit to strive in vain and therefore he doth call home this Spirit as his extraordinary Embassador when he prepares open war against that man and all Treaties of peace are at an end the Lord will treat with him about the matter of reconciliation no more Sixthly after this there comes upon a man from the Lord as a fruit of this oath a spirit of slumber and a heart that cannot repent Isa 29.10 the word in the Hebrew is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same that 's used of Adam when the Lord took out his rib
measure that Christ hath appointed unto them and with which he will fill and enrich them that are the body of Christ of which every member is a part and which he by the increase of his grace doth fill up which is in this respect as it were imperfect till the measure of his Saints be filled not only in suffering Col. 1.24 but in graces also Now the Lord having appointed them a measure which they are all in this life to fulfill as he will not destroy wicked men till they have fulfilled their measure fill up saith Christ to the Pharisees the measure of your fathers iniquities so neither will he translate the Saints till they have fulfilled their measure which is done by some sooner and some later and when the measure is full as then Rev. 19. He doth tread the wine-press of his Fathers vengeance upon the wicked So when the Corn is ripe he doth put in his Sicle and reap and gathers it into his barn c. therefore Job 5.26 Thou shalt come to thy grave in a good full age as a shock of Corn in his season God will not reap till his harvest be ripe therefore the Lord hath appointed a measure and what it is we know not we should set no bounds to our selves but strive unto the uttermost adding one degree of grace unto another so be sure of this till thou attain thy measure thou shalt never be received unto glory and therefore unto the actual possession of grace growth in grace is as necessary in some respects as truth of grace is What is the reason that a wicked man doth commit iniquity an hundred times and his dayes are prolonged it is because he hath not filled up his measure Joel 3.13,14 So what is the reason that some of the Saints are taken up betimes into Heaven and others of the People of God are a long time in the world Why it is because they have not fulfilled their measure for the Lord would not stay a day beyond his time in the one as well as in the other the one is ripe for wrath and the other is made meet for glory Thirdly look upon Holiness quoad exercitium and so it s called Obedience and this also is necessary to salvation that unto men grown strong Christians without the exercise of Holiness in wayes of Obedience they can never see the Lord A man must run before he can receive the prize 1 Cor. 9.24 And he must fight the good fight of faith and finish his course before he shall receive the Crown of righteousness 2 Tim. 4.8 To him that overcometh I will grant to sit upon my Throne as I overcame and am sat down with my Father upon his Throne c. Rev. 3.21 It s called The Labourers are worthy of their hire the hire is for the Labourers and for none else Opera non sunt minus necessaria quam sides ipsa Luther Obedience and good works are in some sense as necessary to Salvation as Faith I say as necessary though not in the same kind as the Instrument of Justification And there is also a double ground for it First because there is a measure of Obedience which the Lord hath appointed unto all the Saints before they shall be translated it shall not be till their Obedience is fulfilled 2 Cor. 10.6 as men shall not take them away The Witnesses shall not be slain till they have finished their testimony Rev. 11. So God will not take them away till they have finished their course Joh. 17.2 saith Christ Father I have glorified thee on earth I have finished the work that thou gavest me to do and a Saint shall not be taken from hence till he be perfected I work to day and to morrow and the third day I shall be perfected that is in respect of the work that was given him to do and the perfection of the service is the perfection of the man the same is true of all the Saints when they have brought forth their uttermost fruit unto God and their work is ended they shall never till then be translated Secondly all men that are received into glory they are received unto the degrees of glory unto which they are appointed and though its true that by Conversion they are put into a right of glory but degrees of glory are answerable unto degrees of service which men are in this life drawn forth for though God will not reward men for their works as if they were the meritorious cause yet he will for degrees reward them according unto their works and so good works are a good foundation by which men lay hold of eternal life 1 Tim. 6.19 As Christ hath upon his head many Crowns sutable to the multitude of his Victories Rev. 19.7 Amongst the Romans there was a common Crown and some Crowns that were more special and peculiar Corona Civica and Navalis c. So there is a common Crown too belongs to the Saints as they are in Christ and so enter into their Masters joy but there are some peculiar Crowns which belong unto some more then to others answerable to the special services that they have performed upon Earth As the Apostles shall sit upon twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Israel There are stars primae magnitudinis though all the righteous shall shine as the stars yet it is observed by our Divines in the Angels themselves that though there be no difference betwixt them in natura Angelica the Angelical nature is alike in all Yet in of ficio in office there is a great deal of difference in the glory of the Angels as the Lord doth employ them some in more high and excellent services then others and answerable to that shall their reward be the essential glory shal be all alike but there is an additional glory that shall be made out unto them answerable unto the services that they have performed therefore it s true of holiness in this large extent of it That without it no man shall see the Lord. There is but one Use I will make of it which is of marvellous concernment unto every one of you Vse The Use shall be of Examination prove your selves for without holiness there is no salvation it is that in which men are apt to deceive their own souls Job 34.30 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an hypocrite that the hypocrite reign not least the people be ensnared the word signifies nubilus a man in a cloud or velatus pallio Aven Avâ—… a man that covers himself with a cloaâ— men find out often-times artificial coverings for themselves and thereby deceive their own souls it is not holding some opinions in matters of Religion or going zealously with some one partie it s not barely appearing for truth for thou maist do all this and be unholy a worker of iniquity and if so there is no vision of God for thee But how shall a man know whether or no he be holy according to the
that hath known the terror of the Lord in himself it is a terrible thing unto him to give an account of other mens souls also Fifthly there is a different account that Officers will give at the last day some will give an account with joy and some with grief there is a double connexion First they watch for your souls obey that they may do their work with comfort watch for your souls with comfort Secondly that they may give up their account with joy for the obedience of a people is a ground of both the greatest joy of a faithful Minister of God is in this which was the great satisfaction of Christ Isa 53.10 To see the Travel of his soul the joy of harvest is the greatest joy one sows and another reaps to receive the fruit of a mans labour is as it were reaping it brings great joy 1 Thes 3.8 Now we live if you stand fast the great comfort of our lives comes in by it for it is a comfortable living to see the souls of men committed to our charge prosper 1 Thes 2.19 Ye are our glory and joy our Crown of rejoycing in the presence of the Lord Iesus Christ at his coming ye are our glory and joy next unto a mans interest in Christ and the joy that he hath at his appearance are the souls that he hath brought unto him on the contrary what they do if the people profit not they do it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suspirantes its true that there shall be no sorrow of the Saints at the last day for there shall be no more sighing ou◠tears shall be all wiped away but yet there will be something that will be even matter of sorrow to them First that they have lost their labour Isa 49.45 I have laboured in vain and the labour of the officers is great it is the greatest labour 1 Thes 5.12 it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wearisom cutting labour and to look upon all this as lost in reference to the main end of it is a grievous thing Secondly that the souls of the people are lost which was the greatest care that they should dye in their sins though their blood be not required a◠their hands Oh it is sad for there is a great love in the Officers that are faithful unto the souls of the people and they ought to walk in a high degree of love towards them now to see those souls lost for whom I put up so many prayers and about whom I took so much pains it is grieving the Spirit of God to see men turn his grace into wantonness Eph. 4.30 And it will also exceedingly grieve them that are acted by the same Spirit Thirdly that I should be instrumental in their Condemnation and be a means to heighten it for it will be casier for Sodom in that day and the greater means men have had the greater will their condemnation be the greater pains any Minister hath taken with a people the greater will their Judgement be they that have been exalted up to heaven shall be brought down to Hell and in the day of Revelation when the secrets of God as well as the hearts of men shall be made manifest it shall appear how Ordinances did ripen sins and how God did make use of them to pour out spiritual Judgements by them the greatest curses come out of Sion as well as the greatest blessings Fourthly that I should be brought in as a witness against them at the last day Satan shall be the accuser but there will be three very dreadful witnesses against them First Christ then shall the King say c. Secondly Conscience a mans own thoughts will accuse him in the day that God shall judge the secrets of men Thirdly the Ministers when they that have been labouring for their good all their life time shall witness against them There is one that accuseth you even Moses in whom you trust when a man shall bring in his accusation against a disobedient and a rebellious people Mark 6.11 Shake off the dust of your feet for a testimony against them it will be easier for Sodom and Gomorrah then for them c. Sixthly From all that hath been opened we may plainly by way of use gather what manner of men Church-Officers ought to be First they must be gifted and it is this must be the ground of the Churches choice for as grace fits a man for communion with God so do gifts fit a man for the edification of the Church and who ever is chosen that is not gifted was never appointed by Christ for the Holy-Ghost doth gift men before he doth set them over any people therefore you are not to look only at the grace but at the gists of Officers every godly man is not fit for an office Secondly they must be humble men for they have a power put into their hands and an honour put upon them now it will be a snare to a proud man to be in honour and he will never use power well that is not humble the great care of officers should be that they might so walk as not to Lord it over Gods heritage they must not exercise a Lord-like authority but carry themselves in all manner of meekness and humility or else it is dangerous to put such a snare upon them it is a temptation for them to be in place Thirdly they must also be holy men such as have a care of their own souls and rightly judge of the price of a soul for they that have no care of their own souls will never have a care of yours Fourthly they must be faithful men that is faithful in labour Laying out themselves to the utmost without any respect to themselves or to their own ease for the business which they are to do concerns souls and they must be faithful in their account those that shall do all things that their office requires of them upon this consideration that we must give an account for the souls that are committed to us it is not an account unto the Church that will serve but our account must be unto him that shall Iudge quick and dead Fifthly he must be a man eminent in holiness for he must be a Leader Now there are many Saints that are not fit to lead their Officers are to walk holily before them that they may follow their example and he must also be couragious or else he will never dare venture in dangers to go before them and if he be not so he will be a man apt to mis-lead and pervert there is nothing more dangerous then to have a man of great parts and eminent place in the Church if he be a leader in an evil way men will be ready to follow him and therefore above all take heed of this that he be a man eminent in holiness and of an exemplary conversation Sixthly that he be well known and acquainted with you c. if he have not all these
c. Fifthly God hath subjected things to come unto the prayers of his people and thereby joyn'd them as it were in the same commission with his Son the Lord Christ in the government of the world Isa 45.11 Ask me concerning things to come concerning my sons and concerning the workes of my hands command you me c. There are two things that the providence of God is extended to and they are either matters of common providence and they are concerning the works of his hands And also matters Ecclesiastical which concern his Church and all things to come concerning both he hath subjected unto the prayers of his people and therefore ye that are the Lords remembrancers keep not silence And therefore Revel 4.5 it 's said out of the Throne proceeded thunder and lightning and voices Out of the prayers of his people are the great Mercies and Judgements the great turnes of the world are brought about and accomplished by this the Saints working together with God and therefore at the last day when the causes of all things shall be layd open it will appear all these great things that are dispenst either in a way of Mercy or in a way of Judgement were attain'd by Prayer Vse of exhortation Exercise Faith about things to come for this promise that things to come are the Saints as it is a ground of Faith so also it should be a ground of Hope and a rule of Prayer Therefore let me exhort you in the name of the Lord be not sinfully dejected about things to come I would not have you ignorant of the signs of the times nor secure I would have you know the Judgement of your God for he that is wise shall know times and judgement but yet I would not have you distrust and walk dejectedly for what if the Witnesses be not yet slain that ultima clades ad huc metuenda What if the Enemyes of God prevaile once more to ripen them for their greatest and final ruin What if such a temptation should befall a poor soul that he thinks he should not be able to withstand What if I be left by God unto such a sin What if such a miscry and calamity should befall mee that GOD should take away my Friend which is as my own soul and such a Relation that I took comfort in c. What will become of the Church of GOD What will become of the Ordinances of GOD What will become of my Posterity when I am gone now the Enemy is sowing Tares amongst the Wheat I have Friends few where can a man find a faithfull man Let these be the Queries of ungodly men whose enjoyments are onely present and have no ground of hope for time to come I should have given you a few directions I can now only name two or three First Rowle thy self upon the promise Psalm 10.14 Jerem. 49.11 Leave thy fatherless children with me Secondly the same Fountain of Love and Goodnes that was extended to the Saints of old is extended also to thee There 's Mercy for the future as well as at present As Faith will purifie the heart so also it will pacifie it that it shall not be afraid of evill tidings But the consideration of the great Goodness of God will support the spirit of a man in any calamity whatsoever THE GREAT DAY At a private Fast JER 30.7 Alass for that day is great c. GOD hath subjected all the works of his Providence unto the Prayers of the Saints â—sa 45.11 and therefore though we are met hereupon a particular occasion and that private yet I hope it is with general intentions to seek God for the Publick also Which perswasion put me upon the choice of this Scripture at this time I shall not detain you in the Context though there may be many weighty observations drawn from thence The words are the words of the Lord Verse 5. we have heard a voyce of trembling and not of peace and is there a voyce of trembling unto Jehovah at whose presence the earth trembles and before whom the everlasting hills do bow There is a double apprehension of the speech First that the Lord speaks it in the person of his people as taking part with them being affected after the manner of men as it 's said Isaiah In all their afslictions he was afflicted So in their trembling he may be said to travel also to shew that he was like affected towards them 2. The Lord speaks in the Person of his People reproving them and instructing them reproving them that though the Lord saith we heard a voice of trembling socordiam exprobrat It was in it self a voice of trembling but the people trembled not I and the people that foresaw the calamity yet they were so unwise as not to tremble A wise man foresees the evil and he trembles all that were wise hearted did tremble but the generality of the people did not tremble and to instruct them the Lord directs them what they should say and how they should be affected with the calamities that were coming upon them We have heard a voice of trembling and the Lord would at the last extort that acknowledgment and confession from them how secure and senceless so ever they were under his present hand and when they were brought into the sence of it they should cry out Alass for the day is great c. Here is first Jacobs Affliction It 's the time of Jacobs trouble Secondly His Consolation But he shall be saved out of it Here first we are to consider what is meant by Jacob Jacob is commonly put for all the Tribes they being all called by their Fathers Name sometimes Jacob and sometimes Israel We see it put so Mich. 1.5 For the Transgression of Jacob is all this and for the sin of Israel Deut. 32.9 What is the Transgression of Jacob Is it not Samaria c The Lords portion is his People Jacob is the Lot of his Inheritance But Israel was before these times carryed into Captivity and God had by Salmanasar removed them out of his sight only Judah did yet rule with God and was faithful with the Saints There was a Remnant of the faithful of Israel that rather then they would joyn in worship with Jeroboam some of the Levites and the people 2 Chron 11.14,16 they left their possessions and in the desolation of the ten Tribes they were preserved but when they had peace what the Lord had done they were neither moved by his Mercy unto themselves nor by his Judgments upon their brethren But They provoked the Lord they justified their Sister by their evil doings Therefore those that were preserved in the former calamity there 's a Judgment also remains for them there 's a rime of tryal that yet is reserved for Jacob and these were the people amongst whom the Prophet lived For he was in the Court of the Prison when Jerusalem was taken and this is called
we might learn to dye well for Heb. 9 27. it is appointed to all men once to dye but death comes not presently and the end of a mans life is that he may consider his latter end Deut. 32.29 men do not live here to get riches and injoy the good things that are present and the pleasures of sin are but for a season this life is but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the school of death which teaches men how to dye 2 It is the last act of a mans life the close of all his actions and for a man in his life to burn as a Torch to shine as a light and afterwards to go out in a snuff as the foolish Virgins and the foolish Builders in Iobs affliction there was nothing desirable but yet there was in the end which God made with him that which was very desireable Iulius Caesar when he was taken in the Senate he plucked down the robe he wore about him Ut honestè caderet It is the night that commends the day mark the end of the righteous man his end is peace 3 At death all outward excellencies will leave a man Iob 4.21 their excellency goes away and they dye without wisdom for though there be a flower in the grass which has a glory in it yet Psal 90.11 it quickly comes to nothing so shall all the excellencies that men so pride themselves in their learning parts wisdom and policie knowledge in the Scripture and in the common works of grace it is all but flesh and will take its leave at death and it will be said of you as one of the Antients said of Caesar who was one of the greatest men in the world in his time Ubi nunc pulchritudo Caesaris quò abiit magnificentia tua What is become of his glorious magnificence his Armies Triumphs and Trophies 4 At death your eternal states are cast it is aeternitatis ostium the door of eternity there is a Double time set to the sons of men 1 A time of working 2 A time of rewarding A time of working here they toyl and labo urbut at death the Lord doth call the labourers to give them their hire every man shal have his peny but after death comes judgement there is no more time of working for after death remains nothing but judgement then for ever But what shall a man do that he may be blessed in his latter end I will set before you these five things and the Lord teach you to profit by them 1 Let me exhort you to get union with Christ and thereby thou art translated from death to life for this is a truth no man dyes well that doth not dye in the Lord. What a sad thing is it to think that a second death must follow death rides before and Hell follows after nihil facit mortem malam nisi quod sequitur mortem when death in sin went before and eternal life is not begun in thee 2 Serve thy Generation and thereby lay up a good foundation against that last day Act. 13.36 Fight the good fight and finish thy course be abundant in the works of the Lord It s said of Saul Sam. 13.1,2 he reigned two years over Israel he reigned twenty yeers but after he was rejected of God no more is counted of him nor will it be unto all those that spend their lives unprofitably that are but as empty trees onely serve to cumber the ground are unprofitable both to God and man vita fabula est in qua non refert quam diu sed quam bene 3 Number your days and consider your latter end with Joseph of Arimathea walk with thy Tomb. A man shall not need much Arithmtick to number his days they are so few and yet he will need a great deal of grace to number them they are so evil and so death shall come upon thee not as a stranger but as a friend that brings peace along with him and rest 4 Exercise faith much on the dying graces of Christ and the promises the Lord made Ioh. 16. to all Christians dying as well as living of his fulness we shall receive grace for grace it is our business in this world to be made conformable unto Christ not onely in our life but also at our death and then the Lord says of his people they shall be mine Mal. 3.17 what a glorious creature will a Saint be in that day when God himself looks on him as a Iewel 1 Cor. 3.21 all things are yours then a Saint enjoys perfection enough when he has a full possession of God Psa 16.11 in thy presence are fulness of joys and on thy right hand are rivers of pleasures for evermore and then when a Saint has such a glorious advantage by death shall not we say blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord 5. Lay up a treasury of prayers that thou mayst be fitted for this great change if a man be in any straight or any sad condition nature will prompt him to seek relief and he will take any course that may deliver him out of it especially since God hath made such a promise Call upon me in a time of trouble and I will hear you and if a man be so careful to avoid and prevent these lesser changes that they may not do him harm how much more should he be industriously careful touching this great change Psal 34. the Psalmist begs that he may know his latter end Psa 90.12 so teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom and therefore a man should lay up a treasury of prayers in his life time and they will be as so many comforts to him on his death bed he shall then have a gracious answer of all those prayers Vse 2. Let us lay to heart the loss of the righteous man that we be not guilty of that sin condemned in the Text. I know it has been a thing condemned or at least always suspected funeral Panegyricks as being a badge of the false Prophet and by a funeral Oration we do as the Papists do think to send souls to heaven after their death even those that have been posting to hell all their life but yet seeing the name of the righteous is as a precious oyntment poured out and that precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of all his Saints and seeing it was an Antient custom to do the Saints of God honor at their death I think it but our duty to consider of our loss in this brother at this time though it be but to carry a torch after him to his long home first he was a man of a gracious spirit in whom the Lord had wrought the good work and a through work of Regeneration he was one that feared God above many that had truly given up his name to Christ one that had oyl in his vessel and did not onely shine by profession before men one that was not indulgent
God that he makes all their punishments to be measured out by that they shall have their portion with Hypocrites Mat. 24.51 they shall have their portion with the Devil and his Angels to shew none so neer to the Devil as they no man so hateful unto God or creatures but the Devil and this is a most common and ordinary way of hypocrisie that can be this makes the Saints groan in themselves therefore Bradford did write in his Letters to his friends Iohn Bradford a very hypocrite a very painted hypocrite look back with how little preparation how vain thy thoughts how thy eyes have wandered c. Secondly Apply the righteousness of Christ for the pardon of this amongst other evils Exod. 28.38 Christ must have upon his forehead holiness to the Lord that he may bear the iniquity of your holy things a great part of the holiness of Christ is appointed for this for the pardon of your unholiness in service Thirdly be more heedful for the time to come and to stir you up to it consider but only this how heedful you have been in the waies of sin Prov. 16.30 He shuts his eyes that deviseth mischief a man that will study and be intent upon a thing will shut his eyes that so objects from without do not distract his mind so intent is this man in a way of deceiving Iob 17.11 the thoughts of man are called the possessions of the heart whereupon a mans heart doth dwell now we know upon any sinful projects and thoughts of evil a mans thoughts are so settled upon them that a man cannot remove them but there they dwell but as for the things of God a mans heart dwells in them as one doth that is in another mans house he is alwaies going and taking his leave Now let this heed be seen First in thy Preparation prepare with all thy might as David did for the material Temple 1 Chron. 29.2 and say in thy heart as Solomon did the house must be great and magnificent for it is for the Lord 2 Chron. 26.6 Isa 12.3 Come to the Ordinances as wells of salvation as breasts of consolation Isa 66.11 to see the face of Christ and the goings of the Lord Come to them as the ministration of the spirit and a Doal of spiritual gifts Rom. 1.12 Secondly when thou art come take heed in the performance be not rash with thy mouth let not thy heart be hasty Eccl. 5.1,2 when thou dost do it with all thy might as David did 1 Chron. 29.17 act all graces stir up all thy affections awake my glory c. else when thou hast done there will be an out-side of service but yet they will not be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They will be empty works hollow no inward grace or strength or affection to fill them out Thirdly to shew that thou canst never take heed enough after every service go and humble thy self before God for thy want of heed and watchfulness say with Abraham I that was dust and ashes did take upon me to speak to the Lord and with Iacob How dreadful is this place it is the house of God the gate of Heaven God was here and I was not aware c. Lastly and to enable thee so to do get the fear of the Majesty of God throughly planted in thy heart and whenever thou comest before God stir up thy fear and all those awful considerations that may be for fear is the watch-man of the soul exceeding heedful and vigilant that is appointed as the remedy be not rash with thy mouth but fear thou God Eccl. 5.7 and to this end walk in the fear of the Lord all the day long walk with God in his fear at other times a special cause why men are no more heedful in Gods worship is because they give liberty to themselves and have no eye to his presence at other times therefore be thou in it all the day long GOSPEL EXALTATION MATTH 11.23 And thou Capernaum which art exalted up to heaven shalt be brought down to hell for if the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom it would have remained unto this day THE Lord hath not chosen one fixed place for the Gospel to reside in unto which all Nations that expected any benefit thereby were to resort as he did for the Jews at Jerusalem that only was the valley of Vision but now its sound is gone forth into all lands and there is beauty in the feet of those that bring those glad tidings Isa 52.7 the Lord hath now made it an ambulatory an itinerary Gospel it walks from place to place and comes home to the doors of those who will scarce go out of their doors to it And wheresoever it comes it brings with it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A fulness of blessing Rom. 15.29 It is to a place as the Sun to the world a beam of the sun of righteousness Mal. 4.2 It is the rain of the earth Heb. 6.8 it is a feast of fat thingâ— of fat things full of marrow of wine on the lees well-refined Isa 25.6 it is the glory of God and the glass wherein we behold it 2 Cor. 3.18 it is the face of Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 the ministration of righteousness 2 Cor. 3.9 it is the dole of spiritual gifts Rom. 1.11 it is eternal salvation it self yea great salvation Heb. 2.3 Here are garments to cover your nakedness meat to satisfie your hunger medicine to cure your diseases armor to protect your persons and a Treasure of precious promises and sure mercies to provide for your posterity that so there may be nothing wanting to make it up a fulness of blessing But wherever the Lord sends this Gospel and the Ordinances thereof he doth send it with a threefold reference First as donum with reference to our thankfulness Secondly as depositum which respects our faithfulness Thirdly as talentum which respects our fruitfulness that we may bring forth fruit meet for him of whom we have received it that we fall not into the sin and so become liable unto the censure of the unprofitable servant now the fruit which the Lord expects where he sends these Gospel-Ordinances is Repentance and Conversion Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand Matth. 3.2 The Lord lights not up this canâ—le but it is to find the lost groats he goes not abroad in this but it is to find the lost sheep or to meet some prodigal son And though there may be fruit of an inferiour nature civility and formality which men may bring forth yet the Lord counts this nothing unless repentance and conversion go before them as ciphers they be that stand for nought if set alone though they add to the Number if the figure of conversion go before Christ saith not unto them Auditores Spectatores Administratores ni fuissent virtutem ejus divinam non laudavissent â— saith Brugens plainly manifesting unto us that all the
rest without this is nothing worth in Gods account because this people was like unto the ground that had drunk in the rain that came oft upon it and brought not forth herbs meet for him that dressed it not fruit meet for repentance but rather bare thorns and bryars therefore Christ shews that they were nigh to cursing and their end was to be burnt Heb. 6.8 The words are the Exprobation of Caparnaum and the sentence which the Lord Christ did denounce thereupon because they had neither answered the Lords mercy nor expectation First he looked for fruit and there was nothing but leaves he looked for grapes and they brought forth wild grapes he looked for repentance and behold impenitency no man repented of his wickedness saying what have I done but they held fast deceit and refused to return Ier. 8.5,6 Therefore he that upbraids none propter inopiam necessitatem Iam. 1.5 before they do receive mercy yet he doth upbraid them propter ingratitudinem after they have received he upbraids none respectu Dei dantis as if he did it out of unwillingness to give but respectu hominis accipientis to shame and fear the man who desires to receive And to this end is this Exprobation used by Christ in this place In them we may consider first a concession something is confessed and acknowledged which was that Capernaum was lifted up to Heaven Secondly a Commination in them we may consider this place First in its exaltation and that is the highest they were exalted up to heaven Secondly in its humiliation and abasement and that is they shall be brought down to hell Thirdly the cause of both the cause or means of their exaltation was the ministery of Christ and his mighty works ver 20 and the cause of their depression their impenitency under such a powerful ministery and such glorious means which is amplified by a comparison by which Christ makes them to be more incurable then the worst of sinners humani generis opprobrium the Sodomites for if the mighty works that have been done in you had been done in Sodom they would have repented and remained to this day for that must needs be implyed though it be not expressed We have first Capernaums exaltation and therein we are to consider the place Capernaum Secondly the glory thereof thou art exalted up to heaven Thirdly the means of this exaltation the ministerie of Christ and his mighty works First the place was Capernaum situate in Galile a maritine Town neer to the lake of Genezareth and as Andriconius conceives in the half Tribe of Manasseh and bordering upon the Tribes of Zebulon and Napthaly and so that place seems to be understood Math. 4.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the borders Not in either of those Tribes but bordering upon them and in the Tribe of Manasseh The Lord Jesus was born at Bethlehem and then in his infancy for fear of Herod by Gods direction he was carried by Joseph into Egypt there he spent as is conceived some years then returning for fear of Archelaus the Son of Herod Joseph took up his habitation in Nazereth Mat. 2.23 and there Christ abode till the time that he was to shew himself unto Israel in the publike execution of his ministery but when he began to preach though he made choice of that Contry Galilee and not of Ierusalem and Iudea for to exercise his ministery and there he spent most of his time and labour yet he passed by Nazareth and resolveth not to make choice thereof as the place either to preach or live in he leaving it made choice of Capernaum Mat. 4.13 and if you ask the reason why Christ passed by and shewed so little respect to the place of his education the true cause is given John 4.44 because he knew he could have no honour there in his own Countrey therefore leaving it he takes up Capernaum for the place of his chief residence and abode there for to exercise his ministery and to manifest his power in mighty works unto the world so that during the time of his ministery here he lived most and here he preached most and manifested forth his glory Secondly this place though in that dark Country Galilee of the Gentâ—les yet I say this place was exalted up to heaven which expression in Scripture notes the higest degree of Honour and Exaltation as Deut. 9.1 Their Cities are fenced up to heaven that is exceeding high A rage that reacheth up to heaven that is the height and extremity of fury 2 Chron. 28.9 Ezra 9.6 So Isa 14.12 how art thou fallen from heaven O great Lucifer It s spoken of the fall of the King of Babylon from the top of all earthly honour in that day when Judgement should overtake him and he is said to fall from heaven So that his meaning is that Caparnaum was exalted to a transcendent and a superlative degree of honour Thirdly by what means was it thus advanced How came this Town in this obscure Contrey of Galilee to be so highly honoured rather then Jerusalem it was only as the glory of the second Temple was greater then the former the Temple of Solomon Hag. 2.9 not in the frame and fabrick not in the curious stones and goodly building thereof in this the glory was of Solomons Temple which made the old men to mourn who had seen the beauty of the former House yet the Lord saith it should be greater that is greater by reason of his Presence that is King of glory Mal. 3.1 The Lord shall speedily come into his Temple So here it is true that Ierusalem was the joy of the whole earth Babylon the Lady of the world Rome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet Capernaum an obscure Town in Galilee which very name was a reproach advanced above them all by the presence ministery and miracles of the King of glory so much is intimated in the two former verses Christ did upbraid those Cities because in them most of his mighty works were wrought that is there he had mainly exercised his ministery for though the miracles only are named yet the ministery also in them is included and this was the ground of their honour by this means it was exalted up to heaven Doctrine The Ordinances of the Gospel being set up in their Power and Purity are a great honour and advancement unto the meanest people and the obscurest places For this cause Gods Ark is called the glory of Israel 1 Sam. 4. ult and the Land of Juda therefore called Dan. 11.16 the glorious Land and this is made one end why God did set up the Temple and the Ordinances therein amongst the Jews as some interpret it Ezek. 7.20 the beauty of his Ornament he set it up in Majesty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad excellentiam ad magnificentiam c that is not only that there God might manifest his own glory and there he might be glorified by the Church but also for the glory honour and