the occasion of a Sermon that enlightened me quickened me This breach brought me to Christ acquainted me with my necessity of interest in Christ I am not of the temper of that Emperour who said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when I dye let the Earth be burned But O that my Civil Death might minister occasion of your Spiritual and Eternal Life O that this divorcing day betwixt you and me might be the day of your Espousals to Christ Dying David bespeaketh Solomon I go the way of all the Earth Keep the charge of the Lord thy God that thou mayest prosper 1 Kings 2.1 2 3 4. My loving People I am this day going the way of all that will live godly in Christ Jesus the way of tribulation I charge you keep the Lord's way as you expect any blessing and prosperity look for them only through Christ the Way the Truth and the Life I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge both quick and dead as the Apostle when his time of departure was at hand charged Timothy that ye rest not without Interest in Christ and I leave this Sermon as Joshua did the Pillar as a Memorial that I admonished and besought you to come to Christ and become his Servants O let not the Word I have spoken to keep my self pure from your blood condemn you in the day of Christ You cannot plead We were not bidden to the Wedding-Feast we were not called to Christ No if you be found out of Christ at that great day how will it torture you to consider How have we hated Instruction and have not obeyed the voice of our Teachers In vain may you wish O that we had the day of Grace once again Domine cur non modo c. said Augustine at his conversion Lord why not now an end of my filthiness So say I to you Why not now a parting with sin and closing with Christ Take these Considerations or Motives 1. The Lord Christ calleth you whilst we are testifying these things to you Whilst Noah was preparing the Ark Christ was preaching See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh from Heaven 2. Others who have had as great hindrances as you have followed Christ at his Call James and John Mat. 4 22. left the ship and their father immediatly and followed Christ neither enjoyments not imployments nor relations could hinder them Zacheus a rich man of low stature in a great press yea of a wicked Sect a Publican great obstacles yet he breaketh through all he runs and climeth to see Jesus If you come not to Christ you will be inexcusable 3. Let the Loveliness of Christ draw you he is the Rose of Sharon the Lilly of the Valley the bright and morning Star the Sun of Righteousness chiefest among ten thousands and altogether lovely O let his Fulness and Perfections win your hearts and attract your affections 4. Let the Love of Christ constrain you his condescending and dying for you to save you from everlasting death Will not such bonds of Love hold you 5. The Lord taketh exact notice how long your Teachers are labouring with you what means you have and what fruit appeareth These three years have I come seeking fruit Luke 13.7 6. You must shortly appear before the Judge to give account how you have profited by all the Sermons and Lectures you have heard c. 7. Now is the Ax laid at your roots Judgment begining at the house of God your Teachers ready to be removed into corners possibly you may go from Sea to Sea and not find that refreshing food for your souls nor those advantages which you have had Now therefore what mean you O sleepers are you set on fire round about and not lay it to heart Let the time past of your life suffice you to have been servants of sin It is high time for you to awake out of sleep and to follow Christ 8. If you will not come this day what if the Lord should write you Christless and swear in his wrath You shall never enter into his Rest nor tast of his Supper saying I would have purged you and ye were not purged never be purged dye in your sins he that is filthy let him be filthy still 9. Christ is willing to be yours if you will be his he will not reject you if you come you have as fair Encouragement to come as ever any had 10. They are very fair terms propounded Is it not fit you serve him if you expect him to save you that you obey him if you hope for his Salvation Had he bidden you do some great thing should you not have done it how much more when he requireth nothing but what is your reasonable service befitting you as his Creatures They are fair terms Repent and be conuerted that your sins may be blotted out Come to me and find rest Believe in the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved Be faithful unto death and obtain the Crown of Life 11. And lastly Let your necessity drive you to Christ Is there but one Ark in the world to save you from drowning but one City of refuge to keep off Vengance from you O hie thither apace Is there but one day-Star to shine into your hearts but one Son of Righteousness with Healing under his wings but one Sacrifice for sin accepted But one Mediator betwixt God and Man the Man Christ Jesus O get interest in Him Oh! why do any of you linger and not hasten to this Zoar when Fire and Brimstone are so nigh so certain to all that reject Christ Oh! why do you draw back when drawing back is unto Perdition Know my Brethren these things as much concern you as ever any souls in the world what need have you of Christ to be your Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption without Him you are cursed captivated and condemned John 3.18.36 without Christ ye are deaf and dead poor and polluted and have no title to Heaven to the Promises nor any thing but sin and its wages Death Nay if you obey not whilest Christ calleth Come unto me you must with honour hear that other voice Depart ye cursed Those mine enemies that would not that I should rule over them bring forth and slay them before me Let me hint to you on what terms you must be in your coming to Christ 1. You must be divorced from your sins make sure you take off the heads of your dearest lusts 2. Disclaim all other Saviours besides Christ renounce confidence in the flesh Phil. 3.3 rest not in your outward priviledges nor performances but when you have done all you can say We are unprofitable servants 3. Rest not in a bare notion of Christ take heed lest you sit down with Fancy instead of Faith 4. Take a whole Christ Christ to rule you to teach to sanctifie you as well as save you 5. Give your selves wholly to Christ without reserve give him your ear open to his
Temptation to enjoy worldly Greatness yet he overcame it by withdrawing himself Thus Christ overcame the World in the heigth of its pomp and glory 3. Temptations from friends to sin to avoid evil fore-seen these are great Temptations yet these Christ overcame Mat. 16.21 22. Christ knowing and fore-seeing his great Sufferings acquainteth his Disciples with them Peter adviseth him to look to himself as this way the Christians were assaulted in the Primitive times yet Christ overcame and repelled that carnal suggestion ver 23. 4. Christ also overcame the Sufferings of the World and all the Persecutions that were raised against him Persecutions of the tongue John 9.24 So Mat. 10.25 And after his Agony in the Garden his buffetting spitting on crowning with thorns and the ignominious and shameful Death of the Cross These were Temptations to sin but in all these conflicts Christ overcame and preserved himself free from sin 5. He did not only overcome all Temptations from the World but the Captain or General on the Worlds side who hath the Management of these Temptations Ephes 2.2 Mat. 4.3 to 10. Thus he fully overcame the World Col. 2.15 Thirdly In which of the foregoing senses did Christ overcome the World I answer 1. In both he overcame by resisting all Temptations he met with from the World and enduring all sufferings that were laid on him in the world patiently and meekly without sin 1 Pet. 2.21 22 23. Isa 53.8 9. If he had been drawn to sin by the World then the World had overcome him but being free he overcame 2. Christ having thus overcome the World he did manage his Victory after his Resurrection Mat. 28.18 19 20. and after his Ascension Ephes 4.10 11. Thus he did by the preaching of the Gospel increase his Dominions calling in the Gentiles Thus he did excellently pursue his Victory to the weakening of Satans Kingdom and the enlargement of his own Fourthly Why is it said I have overcome when the Victory was not yet perfect I answer 1. Because Christ had then in his own person conquered the World so far as he had been assaulted by it or had conflicted with it And though his perfect Victory over the World in his own person was to be accomplished on his Cross yet it is said to be already because he was â—â—rtain that he should overcome in his last and great Conflict on the Cross 2. Though this Victory be not accomplished fully as to Christ's Members yet Christ hath so overcome the World as that it is certain at the Day of Judgement they shall have no power to make any further resistance when the wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God Psal 9.17 When those his Enemies which would not that he should reign over them shall be brought and slain before him Luke 19.27 When the World shall pass away and the Lust thereof 1 John 2.17 Fifthly That it is so 1. Because Christ as he came into the World pure without sin so though the Devil and World did to their utmost assault him yet he was till death pure and free from sin Our first Parents were overcome when they yeelded to sin but Christ overcame because he is pure and free from sin and ever was so 1 Pet. 2.22 Heb. 4.15 and this is as it were a plain proof of his Victory he was tempted yet without sin as the contrary is of the Devil and Worlds conquest 2 Pet. 2.19 20. 2. Because he enjoyed the Crown the Reward due to the Conqueror Rev. 3.21 As I overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne q. d. I therefore have this Glory Honour conferred on me because I have conquered If I had been overcome by the World then I had missed of it So that Christ sitting at his Fathers right hand is an evident Testimony of his Victory for he had not had that Glory if he had not conquered Sixthly Reasons why Reas 1. That he might glorifie his Divine Power After that the Devil and World had overcome Adam and his Posterity and Man by the own strength and power could not overcome or get out of his snare or from under the power of Satan and the World Heb. 10.4 to 10. Lo I come q. d. I come who am God as well as man able to give satisfaction and to conquer the World and having undertaken this conflict and entred the Lists he overcame for the Glory of his Divinity Reas 2. That he might accomplish our Salvation For had he whilst he was upon earth been overcome by the World and so tainted with sin the work of our Redemption and Salvation had miscarried 1 Pet. 1.18 19. In Exod. 12.5 The Lamb that was to typifie Christ must be without blemish Now had Christ been overcome so as to be stained with sin our Salvation had miscarried but he overcame the world for our sakes Reas 3. He did this for the Joy that was set before him Heb. 12.2 If he did win the victory and gain the conquest the advancing of his humane nature to God's right hand was promised him if he overcame and this encouraged him in his conflict as appeareth Who for the Joy c. This he did expect at God's hand John 17.4 5. I have glorified thee on earth and now O Father glorifie thou me with thine own self with the Glory which I had with thee before the world was He was just now at his last and great conflict is confident he shall overcome and mindeth God of his Reward Reas 4. That he might teach and instruct us how to conquer the World Christ conquering by suffering was for our example 1 Pet. 2.21 Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow his steps And so we are in our conflicts frequently put in mind of Câ—rist's Heb. 12.2 3 4. and so doubtless Christ did conquer and overcome the World for to give us an Example He could have done it as God but he did it in our natures for this end Use 1. If this be so then it is for a Christians comfort and encouragement that the Captain of our Salvation hath overcome our Enemy the World Heb. 2.10 He got a perfect Victory by Suffering It is the joy of Souldiers that their Captain hath got the field So it should be of us Christians for the Souldiers are not more sure to reap benefit by the Captains victory than we by Christ's 1. Christ hath overcome the World in the utmost of its strength and vigor It tryed its full strength with the want of necessary sustenance when hungry with the heighth of Glory and abundance Mat. 4.2 3 8. with the perswasion of friends and extremity of sufferings yet Christ overcame the World in that nature and so assureth us that its possible for man to overcome this Enemy in its full force 2. Because that this Victory of Christs is the ground of our Assurance of Salvation For after the Devil had conquered
a great energy 1. This is to commit you to the Captain of the Church The Church is compared to an Army with Banners and Christ is the Captain General of that Army John 5.13 14 this Captain is wise and pollitick to find out and disappoint the cruel Stratagems and bloody Designs of his Churches Enemies Psal 33. He bringeth the Counsel of the Heathens to naught and maketh the Devices of the People of none effect He is prudent in managing all the Affairs and Concernments of the Church and orders them for his Peoples advantage because He is Wonderful in Counsel and Excellent in working Isa 28.29 As the Captain of his Church He goes before them in all their dangers He a bates the Fury of the Adversary he blunts the Sword he will make way for his People to follow him through the greatest difficulties He stops the mouths of hungry Lyons cooleth a Fiery-furnace makes a Jordan and a red Sea passable He hath tasted of every cup hath taken away the Poyson of it and makes it medicinal and sweet in the issue hence called The Leader and Commander of his People Isa 55.4 As your Captain he will succour you with new supplies of Strength and Courage in all your combatings with Corruptions Temptations and Satan and restore you when you are near vanquished his Grace is sufficient for you 2 Cor. 12. As your Captain he encourageth you by his Word Isa 41.13 14 15. Mat. 10.28 Luke 12.32 John 14.27 Rev. 2.10 by his Example Heb. 12.1 2 3. by promise of Reward that the Dunghil of your sufferings through perseverance and uprightness shall be turned into a Throne of Glory Be thou faithful unto the death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Rev. 3.10 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me on my Throne even as I overcame and am sate down with my Father on his Throne Rev. 3.21 As our Captain he conquers all our Eenemies Sin Satan the World and crowns us with Victory Rom. 8.37 We are more than Conquerors through Christ that loved us And hence the Apostle triumphs O Death were is thy Sting O Grave where is thy Victory The sting of Death is Sin and the strength of Sin is the Law but thanks be to God that giveth us the Victory through Jesus Christ our Lord 1 Cor. 15.55 56 57. 2. He is the King of his Church Psal 2.6 called the King of Saints Rev. 15.3 stilled the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Rev. 19.16 As King he will effectually call you and all others that belong to the Election of Grace into a state of Salvation Thy People shall be a willing People in the day of thy Power Psal 110.3 He will redeem you from the Thraldom of Sin and Satans Vassalage turning Darkness to Light from the Power of Satan to the Power of God Acts 26.18 Kings are the Refuge of their distressed Subjects like the Tree in Nebuchadnezzars Vision in whose branches the Birds builded their nests and under whose shadows the Beasts rested and secured themselves Dan. 4.12 So God is the great Refuge of his Church of his People Thy Name is a strong Tower and the Righteous fly thereunto and are safe Prov. 18.10 If you will be true Christians you must expect to meet with stormy and windy dayes within you and by corruption without you by wicked men and infernal Spiâ—its expect to be persecuted pursued with temptations stung with sin and buffeted by Satan but here is your Refuge Isa 32.2 A man shall be an hiding place from the wind and a covert from the storm and the shadow of a great Rock in a weary Land This King of the the Church is glorious in Power fearful in Praises doing Wonders He is the Sole Soveraign of the three Kingdoms Heaven Earth and Hell and governs all the Creatures therein and disposeth their actions according to his will He stills the raging Sea turning the storm into a calm and limits the foaming and furious waves so far shalt thou go and no further He binds up the four Angels at the River Euphrates and looseth them at his pleasure and limits their rage i. e. He binds up and looseth and limits the Turkish Fury for an hour for a day for a month for a year which like mighty Seas break out and bear down before it mighty Nations and Kingdoms drowning them in the Floods of hostile Invasions and Miseries Rev. 9.14 15. This King binds up the Devil in the Chains of his Power and Providence that he cannot tempt you touch an hair of your head nor a Swine of your herd unless God give him leave and if he give him leave yet he limits for duration of time and measure so that your enemies shall neither sooner nor longer nor more afflict you than God gives them leave This King will subdue and conquer his Churches Enemies He will break them with a Rod of Iron and dash them in pieces like a Potters vessel Psal 2.9 He will strike through Kings in the day of his wrath Psal 110. they shall be before him as Dust before the Wind as Briars Thorns Stubble before the Fire Isa 27.4 This King is wonderfully rich and multiplies great Gifts and Priviledges upon his Church and People He is a Sun and Shield he will give Grace and Glory and no good thing will he withhold from you if ye live uprightly Psal 84.11 12. He will abundantly recompence all you works losses sufferings for him with an incorruptible Crown of Glory 1 Pet. 1.4 In a word in the day of his glorious Royalty when he comes to judge the World he will wipe off all the soot and blackness of Reproach and Sufferings and invest with an admirable Glory shining like the Sun in the Firmament 3. Jesus Christ is his Churches Shepherd Isa 40.11 He shall feed his Flock like a Shepherd And God promiseth that he will set one Shepherd over them and he shall feed them even his servant David i. e. Christ of the Seed of David Ezek. 34.23 And Christ assureth us that he is the good Shepherd John 10.11 14 16. What a Shepherd is to his Sheep the same is Christ to his Church he will provide Pasture for his People He maketh me saith David to lye down in green Pastures and leads me beside the still Waters Psal 23. These green Pastures and still waters are Gospel Ordinances where his People feed and drink The variety of Ordinances shew the variety of feeding the richness and fulness of the Ordinances shew the plentifulness of feeding Here is Milk for Babes Wine for the Faint Water for the Scorched strong Meat for strong Christians Isa 55.1 2. He hath provided his Body and Blood to feast and feed you to Life Eternal He knows the number of his Sheep and their particular persons from other men John 10.14 I am the good Shepherd and know my Sheep The Foundation of the Lord standeth sure having this seal The Lord knoweth them
when the whole harvest was gathered in Oh let God have the first and last of every day How shall your Families be distinguished from your Stables if you do not sanctifie them by Prayer The Creatures which God hath given us for our use they eat drink work and sleep now if we call not upon God daily what difference would there be betwixt our houses and our stables And so enter into your Closets Mat. 6.6 and pray unto your Father which seeth in secret Have you no secret sin to bewail no secret request to put up no particular Mercy to praise God for which you would not have others to know of Is it not a rare Priviledge that we may have liberty to prefer our private Petitions to the King of Heaven every day that we may confess our faults beg pardon ease our heavy hearts by laying them open before that God who will neither upbraid us for our weaknesses wants nor sins Brethren be constant spiritual and fervent in Prayer and it will prove like Sauls Sword and Jonathans Bow which never returned empty Do not hearken to the excuses of flesh and blood which are many but attend to God's Command the Example of Christ and his followers which will oblige you in point of duty and to the Sweetness and Benefit of it which may encourage and allure you 11. Think much of and live in preparation for death walk now and then amongst the Tombs live every day as dying men Get into such a Condition as would fit us for Death every hour Dye daily Deut. 32.29 Oh that you were so wise as to consider your latter â—â—d Dying thoughts would not be a little advantageous they would keep from sin What sin this hour when thou mayest die next they would keep us from doting upon the world from pride of life Why art thou proud of hair and beauty when both shall be turned into dust ere long Shall you and I idolize a coloured piece of clay who though now it proudly and haughtily treads upon the Earth within a few dayes shall it self be trodden upon as mire and dirt O get to be in the number of those servants whom Christ when he comes shall find so being and so doing The Prophet said to Hezekiah Set thy house in order I say to you Set your souls in order against the hour of dying The want of this is of ill consequence for hence it is that men go on securely in sin live as Atheists without God idolize the World and never look to the state of their souls 12. Prepare for Judgement make your Answer ready Put the case before-hand to your selves say with thy self I must ere long appear before the Tribunal of God what can I answer what can I say for my self at that day Who is it that will be Advocate or have I an Advocate that will speak for me how shall I come off shall I stand or shall I fall what will be my sentence Brethren be like him who thought he heard this voice alwayes sounding in his ears Arise ye Dead and come to Judgment The Apostle Paul thought seriously of it and lived as one to be judged 2 Cor. 5.10 For we must all appear before the Judgment-Seat of Christ to give an account of the things done in the body whether they be good or evil 13. Be often thinking of Eternal Death Walk now and then upon the brinks of Hell get your hearts affected with the reality and greatness of Hells torments Meditate with thy self what Hell is say with thy self Can I endure to lose the smiles of God how shall I endure the frowns of an infinite Majesty If God's terrors have distracted his Friends on Earth what will they do with me if I go to Hell Think what a torment it wil be to be shut out of the company of Saints to see Abraham Isaac Jacob Peter Paul and the rest of the Disciples and Servants of God in all ages in the Kingdom of Heaven and you your selves shut out and what a vexation it will be to be amongst none but damned wretches How canst thou endure to hear the Saints singing praises in Heaven and thou thy self roaring in the infernal Pit Often think of the Worm of Conscience How shall we endure to have Conscience alwayes setting our sins before our eyes It 's a burden now to lie under the gallings of an accusing Conscience O consider that Conscience will continually gnaw and fret in Hell It will be alwayes telling thee of thy sins the place where the time when the persons with whom and all the circumstances that aggravate thy sin Such a time remember thou wast overcharged with Drunkenness such a time thou blasphemedst the holy Name of God with Oaths and Curses Such a time in such a chamber with such a person thou wast wanton and impure Remember what means of Grace thou hast enjoyed what and how many Sermons thou didst or mightst have heard how many able Ministers lived and dyed in thy time Remember will Conscience say what Instruction Reproof and Corrections thou hadst from thy Parents Tutors and Covernours yea remember thou wast not far from the Kingdom of Heaven thou didst fully expect to have gone thither and now thou must be tormented in this flame Again think what a misery it will be to be there where is no mercy where there will be pain without ease sorrow without any joy despair without any hope eternity without end O Eternity Eternity Eternity Often to think of eternal death is the way to escape it If you would not descend into Hell really descend into it mentally If you would not be in Hell by possession be much in it now by meditation This would make us jealous and put us upon trying the state of our souls lest it should unexpectedly be our portion to be amongst the Devil and his Angels for ever 14. Begin betime to be Religious Put not off Holiness Righteousness and Sobriety till old age 1 Kings 18.12 It 's written in commendation of Obadiah that he feared the Lord from his youth It 's King Josiah's honour that while he was yet young he began to seek the Lord God of his fathers 2 Chron. 34.2 3. It 's Mnasons honour that he was an old Disciple Acts 21.16 he began betime and continued till old age Timothy knew the Scriptures from his youth Consider we know not whether old age will be granted us to be religious in be religious whilst ye may The sooner we set upon Piety the sooner we shall honour God and the better God will take it He will remember the kindness of religious youth And by minding Religion soon we may be secured from many sins which others run into and so be secured from the smart and torment of Conscience which old sinners find at Conversion 1. The longer we continue in sin and profaness the more sorrow contrition and humiliation we are like to meet with if ever we be changed Old Oaks must
by shall have 3. Who are meant by You ye shall have 4. What is meant by In the world 1. What is meant by Tribulation The word in the Original is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Greek word signifieth Tribulation Affliction trouble distress whether by loss of estate liberty c. It signifieth any sort of tribulation or affliction that is for ones casting down Mat. 24.21 1 Cor. 7.28 Acts 14.22 2ly The Syriack word is Aulzono it cometh of the root Alaz which signifieth he hath forced constrained as in Gal. 6.12 And so this word is used for Oppression Persecution And the same word is used 2 Thess 1.6 And so here as appears from the scope of Christ's discourse 2. What is meant by Shall have The word in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the theam is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shall have being the future tense implyeth that the suffering was to come It is not you have had but shall have tribulation This you are sure and certain of And so the Syriack how e l koun there shall be to you it shall come 3. Who are meant by You doth it imply that the Apostles and they only should have tribulation in the world or are we to understand it of Christians or Christ's Disciples in general I answer This discourse is principally to the Disciples yet with relation to all Christians that will be stedfast or constant in the Christian Faith Matth. 28.19 20. And lo I am with you alwayes c. i. e. with you whilst you live and with the Ministers that shall succeed you in this work to the end of the world And so in this chapter from ver 22. to 28. is hinted that Christ will by his Spirit give comfort and a spirit of prayer and gracious answers and though the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit were proper to the Apostles yet these belong to the Church in common and to Christians in all ages 2. Christ assureth his Disciples yea all that should be his Disciples hereafter as Mat. 16.24 that they should meet with the cross and so adviseth all that resolve to be his Disciples beforehand to prepare for sufferings As in Luke 14.25 to the end And so the Apostles Acts 14.22 2 Tim. 2.12 So that all that will be sincerely godly however they may now be free from yet they shall have tribulation 4. What is meant by In the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is put for this world in opposition to the world or life to come as John 12.25 and 2 Cor. 1.12 In the world is a limitation it is to last only whilst Christians are upon Earth it ceaseth when they leave the world 1 Pet. 1.6 Now for a season ye are in heaviness Now. And it is said of the Saints 2 Cor. 5.1 We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God c. And so the Apostle Phil. 1.23 and Rev. 21.4 God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away After a Christian hath passed over this life all his Afflictions and Tribulations are over It is but in the world that is the time and date of them Again In the world you shall have It is not all the time you are in the world though sometimes the tribulations of the Faithful begin at their conversion and continue till their death yet more ordinarily they are but as storms Revel 2.10 Yet this is certain in the world Christians shall have tribulation though when and how long it is not for us to know aforehand as Christ told his Disciples Acts 1.7 The times and seasons are in God's power Secondly The Reasons why 1. Because there is an enmity in the world against Piety and Holiness ever hath been and will be and that is the ground of Persecution and of Christians Tribulation Gal. 4.29 As the world hated Christ John 15.18 19. The world as it is taken for the irregenerate 1 John 5.19 So every irregenerate man Rom. 8.7 And this is the ground of their tribulation in the world 2. In the world they have Tribulation for the tryal of their Graces As all Job's were for his tryal And indeed Hypocrites and sincere Christians cannot be discovered assunder but by persecutions and tribulations as in Rev. 2.10 and that is the reason that the Devil and wicked men may prove Liars for though God hath sufficiently confuted them yet are they ready to say as Job 1.9 10 11. Doth Job fear God for nought c. and Job 2.4 5. 3dly They are in Tribulation because they stand in need of it 1 Pet. 1.6 especially when they grow proud sensual and their hearts are lifted up as Psal 30.6 7. So when David had committed murder c. 2 Sam. 12.10 11. God keeps as it were a stricter hand over him than before 2 Sam. 24. As we say of children that correction is sometimes as necessary as food so is Tribulation for God's Children Fourthly because it is for their good As Frost and Snow is seasonable in winter profitable for the Corn killing the Weeds so is Tribulation Jer. 24.5 Like these good Figs so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah whom I have sent out of this place into the Land of the Caldeans for their good As all things shall so afflictions do work together for good Rom. 8.28 Psal 119.67 And the Faithfull should never be in Tribulation but that God aims at their good 1. To work them to humiliation and repentance as in 2 Chron. 7.13 14. Deut. 8.2 3 16. so this is God's end to break our proud spirits to work us to humiliation for sin and to a hatred forsaking of it as a main cause of all our troubtes And is not this more for our good than if we should be let alone in our sins 2. Again for the increase of patience experience hope as Rom. 5.3 4 5. And to keep us in obedience to keep us up in duty afflictions make Christians more watchful Psal 119.71 And indeed for practical Godliness the Church flourished most under the ten Persecutions and what tendeth to this is clearly for a Christians good 3. Again it is for their good to wean them from the world to draw out their desires after Heaven Nature doth encline us to love and like the world and constant prosperity doth encrease our love of it as seems to be implyed in Psal 62.10 If Riches encrease set not your hearts upon them But now tribulation weaneth our affections from the world helpeth to raise them unto things above according to our duty Col. 3.2 maketh us with the Apostle Phil. 1.23 desire to depart and to be with Christ 4. Again it for their good as it doth further their assurance and hope of Glory For a Christian may doubt of his
be of good chear 8. A Christian is to be of good chear because Christ our Captain bids us be so and if he did not see ground and cause thus to encourage us he would never have done it He bad the Disciples in Mark 6.50 Be of good chear It is God and Christ that have the over-ruling hand in these Tribulations as 1 Cor. 10.13 therefore ground of being of good chear Christ hath bidden us so to be 2. Why because Christ hath overcome the World Did not Job overcome the World by Patience Job 1.22 And so Moses who did chuse Afflictions And so Jam. 5.10 11. So Mat. 5.11 To this I answer 1. That indeed they are Examples of Courage and Patience but they suffered as private persons or more on a private account Therefore so eminently we are not bid be of good comfort though something is hinted in Mat. 5.11 2. Jesus Christ overcoming the World is of publick concernment he did it in our stead and behalf The Devil and World did design to hinder our Salvation by tempting Christ to sin if they had prevailed our Salvation had been hindered but his overcoming the world removed all obstructions as to the meritorious cause of our Salvation Hence is that Rom. 4.25 Who was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our Justification 3. Christ's overcoming the World is of greater concernment to us for our Comfort in Afflictions than Saints overcoming the world for theirs was for their own Salvation the Scriptures making Promises to him that overcometh Mat. 24.13 Gal. 6.9 But now Christ did it on our account the Glory personally was his John 17.5 before the World was and that was large as in Phil. 2.6 to 9. 4. Christ's bidding us be of good Comfort on this account because his Victory hath broken the Serpents head he hath left us but the distressed body to conflict with And though when we reade of the Martyrs Sufferings we may think them almost comparable to Christ's yet never any did nor shall for Righteousness sake suffer the like as it appeareth John 14.27 These expressed in their death nothing like his Agony especially Mat. 27.46 5. There is strength also given by vertue of Christ's Victory to overcome the World and so ground of comfort as the Apostle concludeth Phil. 4.11 12 13. this is spoken in respect of suffering Tribulation And so Phil. 1.29 To you it is given in the behalf of Christ c. and that by Christs Victory And so in Heb. 2.18 And thus there is cause to be of good chear As it was said of Constantine Sub Cruce Vinces So Christians 6. And lastly His Conquest was of more publick Example It s true others are Examples but Christ mainly 1 Pet. 2.21 And so Heb. 2.10 11. He by his Sufferings was perfected and so left us some in the way to Heaven Col. 1.24 And that is only so much as is necessary for our tryal and further fitting for Heaven Vse 1. If this be so then it is the duty of Christians in all Tribulations they meet with in the world to be chearful Christ commandeth his Disciples to be so in the Text. And the Apostle pressed this Doctrine 1 Thess 5.16 Phil. 4.4 This alway and evermore must take in the time of Tribulation seeing Christ did tells us and we find by experience we must have it in the world and then when we have it we should be of good chear 1. We have examples of such as have practised this The Apostle saith Rom. 5.3 We glory in Tribulation And so in 1 Pet. 1.6 wherein ye greatly rejoyce c. speaking of the spirits of Saints at that time So in that commendation Heb. 10.34 And so Paul and Silas sung in Prison Also the comforts that primitive and latter Martyrs have expressed confirm this No other sort of men have been like them for this 2. It is a duty that we sin much against God if we do not practise because we have encouragement from our Captain that undertook and got this Victory for our sakes and hath left but some stragling afflictions behind Col. 1.24 We should be very cowardly if we do not with good courage follow him when it is but Resist and he will flee Jam. 4.7 and but believe as 1 John 5.4 Obj. But some may object If it was in some tribulation I could be more chearful if from enemies as Psal 55.12 13 14. Ans 1. To this I answer That Christ hath told us that in tribulation which we meet with in the world of what nature sort soever we are to be of good chear not in this or that particular tribulation only 2. Christ hath overcome the world in this point when his Discipleâ— fled and Peter denied him And so Paul 2 Tim. 4.16 17. No man stood with me but all forsook me Yet he had God to stand with him Use 2. If this be so Then a Christian though he suffer yet Christ hath as it were sweetned it in bidding us rejoyce He hath sweetly mixed this bitter cup though it cannot pass from us but we must drink of it What a voice is this in affliction it is suitable and comfortable as Mark 6.50 3dly It is a great sin not to be of good chear in Tribulation He knoweth what the sharpest of afflictions mean and underwent them and so knoweth there is ground for what he hath engaged us to and if we be not of good chear but cowardly yeeld as 2 Tim. 2.12 Him that is ashamed and cannot patiently and chearfully bear tribulation Christ will not own 4thly Let us think of such things in Tribulation as may make us chearful For in Tribulation it self no man can rejoyce it must be some adjunct that must make us chearful in it As 1. Sincerity 2 Cor. 1.12 and so Hezekiah did Isa 38.3 2. Interest in God as our God as in Phil. 4.4 So Lam. 3.24 The Lord is my portion therefore will I hope in him This is the highest ground of comfort 3. The glorious Issue as Moses did Heb. 11.25 26. and Christ Heb. 12.2 and the Apostle 2 Cor. 4.17 4. Look on it as an Honour 2 Thess 1.4 5. and so in Acts 5.4 the Apostles looked upon it as a badge of Honour So Gal. 6.17 5. It is an excellent means to yeeld comfort in tribulation to consider the End God made with suffering Saints as to this life Jam. 5.11 Ye have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the End of the Lord c. So Joseph and David 6. And lastly Christ's Victory over the world His Issue and Support we are like to have Hob. 2.18 This Christ layeth down as ground of comfort and this we may take comfort mainly from SERMON XIII Acts 20.32 And now Brethren I commend you to God and the word of his Grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified EVery Society shall have a Separation and every
Communion shall receive a dissolution the dearest Friends and sweetest Relations as of Husband and Wife of Parents and Children of Ministers and People whom Nature Providence and Election like a threefold-cord hath joyned together and this strengthned with the strongest cement of true intensive love and affection shall sooner or later either by Satan's rage the malice of wicked men or the stroak of death be parted asunder Here is no certainty of long continuance in this world or of long enjoyment of any society or relation The Tabernacle made by Moses had no continued abiding but was carried up and down from place to place til it was placed in Solomons temple in the Land of Canaan God's People in Scripture are called Pilgrims and Strangers Whilst they are in this world they are in a strange Country like Abraham in Canaan and Israel in Egypt they have no continued abiding until they come to Heaven the Celestial Canaan that place of durable and uninterrupted Rest And amongst these God's Ministers have no assurance of their unchangeable residence among and ministration to their loving and beloved People A plain demonstration whereof we have in the example of Paul concerning whose many journeys from one Nation and Church to another we have abundant mention made in this History of the Acts of the Apostles And in this chapter we have mention made of four the first into Macedonia where the Jews laid wait for Paul ver 1 2 3. The second to Troas where Paul preached in the night administred the Lord's Supper and Eutichus sleeping falleth down from an high window ver 6 to 13. The third to many places to Assos Mitylene Chios Samos and Trogyllium vers 13 14. The fourth and last more famous than the rest was to Miletum ver 15. from whence he sends to Ephesus and calls together the Ministers of the Churuhes there ver 17. and when they were come together he takes his Farewel of them in which speech he first declares his former manner of life amongst them how he had discharged the duties of his Ministry with meekness and compassion with diligence and innocency with courage and resolution despising all dangers for the Gospel-sake c. In which example of his he insinuates not only to the Presbyters of Ephesus but unto all Ministers unto the end of the world how diligently they ought to watch over the Flock serving the Lord in all humility that is not to pride in their gifts abilities not to despise the wants and weaknesses of others to sympathize with the poor and afflicted to be valiant and heroically constant in preaching defending the Truth notwithstanding the many temptations and oppositions they were to meet with ver 19 20 21. Secondly he shews the condition of his life at present that he had a mighty impulse and perswasion of the Spirit upon him that bonds abide him in every City ver 22 23. and his Christian magnanimity he was not moved with any of these things nor counted his life dear unto him that he might finish his course with joy and the Ministry he had received of the Lord to testifie the Gospel of the Grace of God ver 24. In the third place he prophesieth concerning the future And first what should befall himself this was the last time they should enjoy him And behold all ye among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God shall see my face no more ver 25. And secondly what should befal them after his departure As the absence of the Shepherd invites the wild beasts to fall upon devour and scatter the Flock and as the death of the Husband invites the wicked to oppress wrong and defraud his Widow and Fatherless So the departure of Paul a vigilent and painful Shepherd a loving and tender Father opens a way and ushers in an opportunity for wicked men to enter in and play the part of Wolves and Oppressors against the Church of God For I know that after my departure shall grievous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the Flock c. ver 29 30. and hence exhorts them unto all diligence and care for the due performance of their Ministerial Calling Take heed therefore to your selves and to all the Flock of God ver 28. as if he should say You must not only take heed to others but to your selves also To others you must take heed that they be not seduced with Errours and Heresies and to your selves you are to take heed that you incur not God's Displeasure and Rod for a neglect or ill performance of your duty And this he presseth with divers Arguments first from their Name and Office they were Bishops and Overseers over the Flock Secondly from the great Appointer and Designer of them unto this Office the Holy Ghost Thirdly from the end of their appointment and call to this Office to feed the Flock Fourthly from the Owner of the Flock God himself Fifthly from the great Price paid to redeem and purchase this Flock which was neither Silver nor Gold these were poor and mean things but Blood not the blood of a mean-man nor of a nobleman nor yet of a King but the Blood of God! Take heed therefore to your selves and all the Flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath redeemed and purchased with his own Blood Sixthly from the consideration of the Churches enemies that should arise after his departure which were either foreign or domestick Foreign were the Jews or Gentiles not yet converted to the Christian Religion Such as these he means in ver 29. Their domestick enemies were such as were brought up by the Ministers of the Gospel but by ambition covetousness and ignorance should apostatize and fall into erroneous and heretical doctrines superstitious opinions calling themselves Apostles but are not mixing Christ and Moses together asserting the doctrine of the Nicholaitans Such as these he means in ver 30. Men of your own selves shall arise speaking perverse things and shall draw away Disciples after them And these Enemies in respect of their nature are called Wolves and that in respect of certain resemblances what Wolves are unto the Flock the same are Persecutors and Seducers to the Church of God These by Persecution would be grievous and intolerable these by the Errours and Heresies would be contagious and infecting And after these motives renews his former Exhortation that they would remember and watch ver 31. As if he should say Seeing Christ hath redeemed his Church by his Blood and I by my great labours have builded up a Church among you and seeing you are appointed by the holy Ghost to be Overseers to the Flock to feed it and seeing after my departure grievous Wolves shall arise to destroy the Flock some by open hostility and persecution some by errours and infection be so much the more vigilant and industrious to save and preserve them and your selves Let not Christ's Blood
assures you are kept by the Power of God to Salvation 1 Pet. 1.5 6. It is a Word to revive and quicken you in soul-deadning times and in soul-deadning sins The Faith of God's People begins oftentimes to stagger when the proud are called happy and they that work wickedness are set up and they that tempt God are delivered Mal. 3.14 15. This staggered Jeremiah Righteous art thou O Lord when I plead with thee yet let me talk with thee of thy Judgments Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper wherefore are all they happy that deal treacherously Chap. 12.1 And David when he saw the ungodly prosper in the Earth that they are not in trouble as other men that they are not plagued like other men said He had cleansed his heart in vain in vain had he washed his hands in Innocency Psal 73.5 12 13. but when he came into the Sanctuary of God and consulted the Word of God then he understood their end v. 27 28. Read to this end and purpose Psa 37. and consider it well and it will revive you under these dispondencies of soul When Afflictions like waters upon fire fall on you and deaden your Graces and Comforts this Word will revive you and them this is my comfort in my affliction Thy Word hath quickened me And again Unless thy Law had been my delight I should have perished in my affliction Psal 119.50 92. And sin committed will deaden your Comforts your Graces Great sins are like a great blow upon the head astonishes a man layes him in a swond so great sins lay your Graces Comforts in a swound but this Word will revive you be as Aqua vitae to you David's sins of Adultery and Murder laid him in a spiritual swound well nigh for the space of a year if not all out a year or more he repented not of his sins in all this time but when Nathan the Prophet came to him with the Word of God David then revived 2 Sam. 12. And so for comfort under sin 7. This Word is an Antidote of Sovereign Efficacy to preserve you in the worst of times When a man lives in an Air in a City in a Town in a Family that are infected with the Plague he will take a Cordial to fortifie himself against the Infection Infection of an house with the Plague is dreadful to the Inhabitants and to have the Plague-sore upon the body is a sad affliction but to be infected with the Plague in our souls is worse that brings temporal this eternal death unless cured or prevented Now you live in an infected and an infecting world amongst corrupting and corrupted persons and the danger is great but here is a word that will fortifie you against evil examples promises preferments threatnings and sufferings and keep you from sin make you good in bad times healthy and strong in a bad air I have hid thy Word in my heart that I might not sin against thee Psal 119.11 8. This Word will edifie and build up in Grace As we by a constant feeding upon our food of infants a foot long we grow and increase to be men and women of a full stature So when we are babes in Christ new born this Word by a daily feeding upon it by Faith doth nourish us until we come to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ our Graces grow and are increased and strengthned according to our feeding upon it Here is Milk for babes Wine for the faint strong meat for them that are strong Christians The builders of an house cut their timber and square their stones and add timber to timber and stone to stone until the house be built up So saith the Apostle this Word is able to build you up it cuts off the remaining knots of sin and polisheth you from the remainders of corruption until you be made fit for the Temple of God in the highest Heavens 9. It will give you an Inheritance amongst them that are sanctified It gives not by way of merit and purchase but it shews you not only the Kingdom of Heaven but points out the way and directs you to it It doth not only shew and lead you that way but fits you for Heaven Unless we be fitted for Heaven we cannot come thither The Lepers must not enter the Camp so long as the Leprosie was upon them And no unclean thing shall enter into Heaven Rev. 21. ult The Temple of Solomon was all squared and fitted in the field before it was brought together to be built up So you must be fitted in the field of Grace before you can be laid in the Temple of Glory This Word then sanctifieth you purgeth the corruptions the sins of Nature this Word strengtheneth and increaseth your Graces it makes you holy with Saints here and will make you happy with them hereafter it brings Heaven and Glory into your souls here and will bring you into Heaven and Glory hereafter and give a possession of that Inheritance which was prepared for you before the foundation of the World purchased for you by the Blood of Jesus an Inheritance far better than all the Crowns and Kingdoms of the World one corner of it is better than a thousand Worlds for firmness purity duration certainty and scituation An Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in the Heavens for you 1 Pet. 1.4 where you shall have the best society them that are sanctified Abraham Isaac and Jacob all the Prophets Apostles and Children of God both Minister and People shall be gathered as Wheat and safely reconded in the Garners of Glory There shall be no Ishmael to deride and scoff our devotion no Esau to pursue us no Pharoah to oppress us no Ahab to persecute us no Doeg maliciously and falsly to accuse us no Judas to betray us no Devil to tempt us no Sin to wound us All tears shall be wiped away from our eyes and we shall enjoy Him whom to enjoy is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore Now my Brethren to this Word that is of such indispensible necessity such compleat perfection and of daily use and advantage as being abundantly filled with all suitable Excellencies and Remedies for your souls in every condition I commend you Here is Light to enlighten and guide you a Touchstone to manifest Doctrines what they are unto you Here is a weapon to defend your selves and conquer your enemies Here is Rain to cool you to soften you to refresh you Here is a Cordial to comfort you to revive and quicken you an Antidote to preserve you Here is Liberty to free you Fire to purge you Food to nourish you your Magna Charta wherein your Laws Priviledges and Immunities are enrolled a Treasury of Comfort a Testament full of Legacies your Souls preservative from Sin and preparative to Glory I have done with the Doctrinal part I come now to the Application And though I have spent my self and happily
have Tribulation but be of good Comfort As you should be humble in Prosperity so quiet and chearful in Adversity Carry an even frame in each state Let your Moderation be known unto all men even in bearing Afflictions Be not overmuch cast down with any trouble Let the Enemy see that you have been with God by the Gladness of your Countenance You 'l discredit Religion by too much drooping Let not others say You serve a hard Master God that knows all things knows what condition is best for you and how to deal with you Rejoyce in the Lord alwayes Though Adversity and the Wicked may intermeddle with your outward comforts and take them away yet let them see you have inward Joyes with which they cannot intermeddle nor take away 13. Esteem and approve Time as a precious Commodity Husband Opportunities for Soul-Advantage When you have spare hours improve them in Reading Meditation and Prayer Redeem Time from sleep your callings and recreations in order to Heaven Men usually work sleep and recreate more than necessity calls for and then cry out they have no time for holy Exercises Oh what would damned spirits give for two or three of those hours which we throw away Oh how would they spend them would they sleep play or work them away Nay how would they Pray Read and Repent more in one hour than we do in many Brethren the time is short your work is much you have God to honour your Relations to watch over your own Evidences to make clear O then redeem precious Time do not throw it away Ephes 5.16 15. Contend earnestly for the Faith Jude 3. Maintain fundamental Truths I do not mean that you should fall a wrangling with every one you meet The Apostle indeed takes notice of some men that place their Religion in fightings of Words in conflicting with the Air in janglings and disputings about things they understand not 1 Tim. 1.5 6. Some place their Religion in being of this and that Opinion and indeed they are meer Opinionists Our meaning is this When the Enemies of the Church labour to root up the necessary and very foundation Truths of Christianity that we should stick to them As Paul he did earnestly contend for the Doctrine of Christ being the Messiah against the Jews He maintained the Doctrine of the Resurrection against the Saduces The Doctrine of Justification by Christ's Righteousness against the Teachers of the Law He doth strongly and vehemently maintain Divine Worship against the idolatrous worship of the Athenians And so should we contend opportunely and wisely with tongues and lives Contend against Justification by Works against Idolatry rather than God's Honour should be given to dumb Idols give your honour to the Dust Consider fundamental yea every Truth hath been confirmed by no less than Miracles preserved in a miraculous way and sealed in the Blood both of Christ and of Martyrs Never then sell the Truth but buy it 16. Get longing Desires after the Enjoyment of God in Heaven Let your hearts be often sending sighs thither Long till you be at home Groan earnestly till mortality be clothed with Immortality 2 Cor. 5.1 2. Say as he When shall I come and appear before God Long till you be in Heaven that so you may have constant Communion with God's Angels and Saints that ye may be wholly freed from sin and made perfect in Holiness Let your Conversation be in Heawhilst you are on Earth To this end get more acquaintance with Heaven Study till you be convinced that it is and what it is Understand what that Happiness is that Saints enjoy there When you have got minds informed and hearts affected with it often muse and meditate of it This heavenly Conversation is very sweet it will comfort us when we are never so sad Well may the soul say Now I am full of sin O but then no sin I am now sold under sin O but then I shall be free Now I dishonour God but then I shall honour him altogether Now I am in continual fear of falling into sin but then I shall be past all danger Now I am in continual sorrow but then all tears shall be wip'd away Now I am kept in bondage through fear of death but then there shall be living and no more Death and so no more fears of it Moreover this would teach us to understand the World When we do experimentally taste Heavens Joyes we shall despise Earths Pleasures when we seriously think of that Friendship and Communion we shall have with Friends in Heaven even God Christ Angels and Saints it will wean us from Friends on Earth and make us more willing to leave them And when we think of Heavens Honour we shall undervalue the honours and scorn the contempt we meet with in this world Get now and then upon the top of Pisgah and solace your selves with a view of the Heavenly Canaan Having now given you an account of those main Duties and Counsels that relate more immediately to God and your souls I shall briefly give you the sum of those Counsels I have to leave you about things that relate more nearly to you and others with whom you converse and have to do The first is this 1. Discharge domestical Duties Study and perform the Duties that every Relation calls for Act as Christian Parents and Christian Masters towards your Children and Servants bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord call on them to reâ—d the Scriptures frequently that even of Children they be acquainted with that which will make them wise to Salvation keep them to a form of sound words 2 Tim. 1.13 hold them to the Principles of Religion Catechisms are called A Form of sound words because they keep the Judgment and Affections sound they help to discern betwixt Truth and Error fit and prepare for hearing of the Word preached and for the receiving of the Lord's Supper For want of this we may observe notorious ignorance in grown youth and old men also For want of this how many that are Fathers in years are meer Children in understanding Again pray with and for your Children and Servants and set them to pray by themselves for this end give them time convenient do not so much forward them in your service as to hinder them from serving God your Servants have God to acknowledge honour and serve as well as you they have sins to be pardoned corruptions to be subdued Graces to beg wants to be supplied and souls to be saved as well as you and will you make them throw their souls over-board to secure your goods And so study to carry as Christians in every other Relation Carry as Christian Husbands and Christian Wives are directed and ought to do that the Gospel of Christ be not blamed upon your account And so you that are Children and Servants as you expect your Parents and Masters should discharge their duties towards you so it is expected you should
thereby taken away from the evil to come And then 3. The shortning of this life doth but the sooner bring them to a Life of Glory in Heaven Indeed if their condition were the same with the condition of the ungodly if they lost Heaven and Earth the lives of their souls and bodies together If their death were an eternal death and the end of their temporal miseries the beginning of eternal torments it were a very sad argument but the case is not so bad Whatever they lose for Christ in this world shall be recompensed a thousandfold in the world to come with eternal Life Now lay all these things together and consider that this strictness or preciseness is commanded by God and is most sutable to the Rules of Christianity And dost thou profess thy self a Christan a Disciple of Christ a Servant of God and one that lives in hope of everlasting Life and hast thou not yet learn'd to forsake all deny thy self take up thy cross and follow Christ Certainly if thou be a Christian indeed and hast received that Wisdom which is from above none of these things will move thee neither wilt thou count thy life so dear to thee as for the saving it to forsake the holy Commandment Having now vindicated this Truth from those Objections that might seem to weaken it I proceed to give a brief hint what use may be made of it Use 1. If they that live most exactly are the wisest men then it is so far from being a shame to live exactly Psal 119.6 that it tends much to the justification and commendation of those that so order their conversations And certainly the world is much mistaken in their censure and judgment concerning them They think it strange that all do not run to the same excess of riot with them 1 Pet. 4.4 and speak evil of them as fools and mad men because they willingly forgo the pleasures and advantages of this present life for things future and invisible but the end will make it sufficiently to appear who are the fools and who are the wise men Therefore 2. Be exhorted and perswaded to exercise this piece of wisdom Wisdom it is and that of the best sort for it is Divine and Heavenly Wisdom So the Apostle tells us Jam. 3.17 That Wisdom which is pure and full of good fruits comes from above it is saving Wisdom In 2 Tim. 3.15 the Apostle tells us that the Scriptures are able to make a man wise to Salvation in as much as they were given by God to make men pefect throughly furnished unto all good works Labour then for this Scripture-Wisdom and search for it as for hid treasures it alone shall abide and the good fruits thereof remain with thee to Eternity when all other wisdom in the world shall perish and by its fall shall ruine the owners and professors thereof I have now finished the third Observation I must use much more brevity in those which remain and so I pass to the fourth which is this Doct. 4. That then especially in evil times we have much need of spiritual wisdom for the circumspect and exact ordering of our conversations Thus the Apostles Argument runs Walk circumspectly and redeem time because the dayes are evil This is a duty at all times but especially in evil times it is both a Duty and an Advantage That we may understand what is meant by evil times or Dayes we must know that there are two sorts of evil First The evil of sin whereof Devils and men are the only authors Secondly The evil of punishment or misery in this sence it is used in Jer. 17.17 18. Amos 6.3 and though sin be the meritorious cause of this evil and Devils and Men yea and good Angels also are made use as instruments of it yet God takes it upon himself as the Author thereof Amos 3.6 Thus the Times or Dayes are evil First When they are sinful Times such times as our Saviour foretold Mat. 24.11 12. When false prophets should arise and deceive many When iniquity should abound and the love of many should wax cold Secondly The Dayes are evil when they are full of trouble and misery These evil Dayes of both sorts are either 1. Common by reason of that sin and misery which are incident to every mans life Eccles 12.1 in respect whereof Jacob told Pharoah that the dayes of his life had been few and evil Gen 47.9 2. Or special When both sin and trouble do abound in more than ordinary measure Again these evil Dayes are either 1. General When both sin and misery do more than ordinarily abound in the World or in a Kingdom 2. Or particular When a man 's own particular life hath been extraordinarily full of sin and trouble The Apostle in the Text doth principally respect the special and general sinfulness and troublesomness of the times but in what kind soever the dayes are evil the evilness of them is an argument for circumspect walking and exact ordering of our conversations For if the Times be sinful 1. In sinful Times there is much liberty and encouragement to sin The Multitude run to sin the stream goes that way and it is an easy thing to go along with the stream but it is certain that the stream will carry a man to perdition So that if we would not perish in sinful times we must strive against the stream by circumspect walking These are those perillous Times from the authors whereof the Apostle warns Timothy to turn away 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5 6. 2. In Sinful Times there are many temptations and enticements to sin in which respect the Apostle calls such dayes evil dayes and therefore adviseth at such times especially to put on the whole Armour of God that we may be able to stand and keep our selves unspotted from the pollutions of the world Ephes 6.13 If the Times be evil in respect of the trouble and misery that attends them Then 1. In Times of Trouble and Misery a man hath most need to get and keep peace of conscience Oh! it is a sad thing for a man to be lost as much with storms of guilt within as with waves of trouble without But there is no getting or keeping true peace of conscience without circumspect and exact walking The fruit of Righteousness is sown in peace Jam. 3.18 2. In Troublesome Times a man had most need to get and keep the love and favour of God and thereby an interest in the Promises of this life or if those be forfeited yet to be sure of an interest in the Promises of the Life to come But this cannot be done without circumspect walking for it is only Godliness that hath the promises of the life that now is and that which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 Use How preposterous and foolish a course is it then for any man to think to secure himself from the evil of the times by complying with the times to comply with the evil