perpetual remembrance it must be by that way and manner himself hath prescribed As Parchment and Wax are little worth of themselves but yet useful and significative of conveying Land one to another So our Lord may Minister unto us his grace and benefits by the outward signes of Bread and Wine and when they are received in this Ordinance they are more to be esteemed in respect of the thing signified then in our common eating and drinking The Bread broken sets forth how the body of our Lord was torn upon the Cross the Wine poured out puts in mind of his side being pierced and the shedding of his blood As often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come 1 Cor. 11. 26. The like Figure whereunto even Baptism doth also now save us not the putting away the filth of the Flesh but the answer of a good Conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 3. 21. That is not so much the sprinkling or dipping in Water as the thing signified The Apostle doth not speak to exclude it for himself used it and so did the other Apostles who had the Spirit of God and all the Church down ever since Now there is the same prejudice as to that What doth the meer Water signifie They might have put the same question to the Apostles themselves had they been in their time or to our Lord in the institution of his Supper There is not so much only in the outward sign but there is in the thing signified Many remain still in Ignorance and Sin but if they would be saved let them come out from among their Sheep and Oxen and lift up their eyes to Heaven considering who inhabits there They must not always be confined in a Barn or with Saul hide themselves among the Rushes or be wholly taken up with the little things of this short life for they are called out and invited to receive a Kingdom This is spoken in good earnest Your only end of coming into this World is to serve God and to know the things pertaining unto him and hence to be translated up to receive it If they do that for a while they will at length perceive there is something more in the Ordinances then what they at present imagine through the darkness and blindness that is in them None can think slightly but who do not understand If they do really believe on Christ it would seem no strange thing to come unto his Supper The Man is to raise up the highest Love for God and his Christ Remember the holy Covenant that hath passed between them with a continued firm stedfastness and sincere purpose to perform the same He may refresh and strengthen his Faith especially on the Death of our Lord and the Truth of his whole Gospel he is to lift up his Soâ—l in the most hearty Praises and lively Devotionâ— where is a constant â—ear and obedience to Almighty God if he comes unexpectedly where the Sacrament is Administred upon a little examination and reverence of mind he may receive But where he hath notice before hand and he may lay aside some of his Worldly Business as this may be done thrice in the Year at least there let him not approach to this Holy Mystery without Solemn preparation before for it is altogether of as high a nature and deserves as great reverence as the Passover of Old. We are always to have Oyl ready in our Lamps but then we should trim and make them ready at the meeting of the Bridegroom It is not an humbling or carefulness for a day nor a fit of holiness for a Season only for this is the practice of them Who are Foolish Disobedient Deceived serving divers Lusts and Pleasures Tit. 3. 3. who fondly think to make atonement by this Ordinance not considering that some will be rejected who have eaten and drunk in Christs presence Luke 13. 26. But a due preparation consists in a constant course of keeping the Commandments of God There is a building up in our most holy Faith and a progress in the Christian Life so that whosoever is sincere and willing as to that may partake of this Supper to his comfort and benefit Give not that which is holy unto Dogs is the express command of the Master of this Feast Since the Church hath been remiss to this thing and promiscuously admitted all the Sacrament is become common and disesteemed When she kept to the rules of our Lord people were earnest and desirous to come and sorrowful to be kept away If the Government of God over the World were not in a manner made precarious by those who take upon them the Office and Administration thereof Men would be more willing and obedient under it Neither would themselves be so contemptible and base among the People if they had kept up that authority in word and power which the Lord had given When a thing stoops or becomes easie the consequent is to trample upon and not care for it they are to answer before him who in their several Generations have thus managed the cause of God. They have not done according to their direction in his Word for that is with Authority and would if truly Preached command the most Rebellious and Proud hearts of the sons of Men. God is greater then Men and as those who exercise Authority would not suffer it to be brought low neither should his Kingdom and rule over them diminish Truth was once stablished in the Earth the Kingdom of God was once set up with Power but now through the treacherous yielding of the supporters it hath been long falling away and loses strength God is not the least beholden to his Creatures for serving him as Gen. 4. 7. So afterwards his Commandments are given in a Majestick and Authoritative manner Exod. 20. And though the stubborn Sinner saith in his heart which he Manifests in practise I will do this and that just contrary yet he shall be answered again in Plagues and Punishment In like manner did the Lord Jesus give out his Commission of Teaching Go ye into all the World and Preach the Gospel to every Creature He that believeth and is Baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned Mark 16. 15 16. If People do their duty it is accepted if not they are to expect the danger There hath been a wonderful deal of begging yea moreover civil Authority must be called in for aid to bring Mankind over to the ordinances of their God and all will not do When their fear towards him is taught by the precept of Men they may come to perform such a Worship as is described in the foregoing part of the verse of drawing near with their Mouth and honouring with their lips but have removed their heart far from me Isa 29. 13. and that cannot be hindred by all legal constitutions What Glory is it unto him to have a
into such a Sleep that he knows not whether he is tumbling notwithstanding he comes to a fearful end One dead in Trespasses and Sins perceives not whether he tends when he is just dropping into the Fire yet as soon as he is there he is sensible to a Witness and so will remain for evermore Whatever gnorant By-standers may think such a sort of Death must be a sad sight to all knowing Christians for who can approve of what is occasioned by unbelief gross Ignorance or habitual Wickedness All which Seal men up to the Day of Destruction There is a great difference between this and the end of the Righteous for the one is Senceless and Calls not upon God but in a general way as Lord have mercy upon me or the like which any one may do if he be never so ungodly But the other can express his Peaceable Condition and shew forth good Grounds of hope and call upon God his Saviour with that feelingness which no Stranger to the Covenant of Grace can Righteousness delivereth from Death Prov. 11. 4. It preserves from all the dreadfulness thereof which nothing besides doth Wickedness shall not deliver those who are given unto it but is the cause of all that Misery which this binds Men over unto Let them ruffle and sport themselves never so much their End is coming They must sicken and go away to Account for all their Frolick and Madness There is set before thee a good and evil Death one you must have and therefore be sure to choose the best Be good and do Good and thou shalt never die amiss When thou art wearied with Labour all the days of thy Life this will set thee at Rest but if thou art not willing and obedient thou mayest drudge on still without any hope for after toil here will succeed endless pains according as now thou behavest thy self thou shalt fare well or ill hereafter So will it be with Thee and Me. For we must all appear before the judgment Seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5. 10. When the Sun shall become black as a Sackcloth of Hair and the Moon become as Blood and the Heavens shall depart as a Reâ— 6. scroll roled together The trump of the Arch-Angels shall sound and the Dead shall hear and leap out of their Graves like frighted Men. Neither greatness nor smallness shall excuse from coming forth The mighty Men and every bond Man and every free Man hid themselves This will be more dreadful then a blazing Comet or the greatest Thunder and Lightning It may be we have no business at those Assizes which are holden twice a Year but at this general Grave-delivery which is kept once for all our dead bodies shall arise and every one of us shall give account of himself to God Rom. 14. 12. Mens hearts will fail them for fear and if conscious to themselves of evil will wish that they might return into this World again to live over their past life for then they would be better provided But when the Prisoner comes to be tried is he let go free only upon his bare saying he will not Steal nor commit Murder any more No he must answer for what he hath done We know it before hand that when it shall come we may have no excuse or plea that of this and every day of our life after years of Discretion we are in danger to be called to account Although at present we make a mock of sin we follow it with Greediness and Merriment valuing it as a matter of naught yet when God enters into Judgment what was formerly so light in Opinion will â—â—nk them down into the bottomless Pit. There is no other way to escape this but now even now to judge our selves that we be not judged nor condemned with the World 1 Cor. 11. 31 32. God now commandeth all Men every where to repent because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained Acts 17. 30. 31. The good have no reason to fear because they are to be judged by him who is now their advocate with the Father and the propitiation for their sins 1 John 2. 1 2. They may have boldness in the day of Judgment because as he is so are they in this World 1 John 4. 17. But as for those who by continued doing the Works of the Devil in as much as in them lies build up that which he came to destroy shall receive from his Mouth that terrible Sentence Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels When the Words are gone forth these shall go away into everlasting Punishment Mat. 25. 46. Did we see this doleful herd as they are going we should fear What God hath said by his Son must come to pass so it will be as certainly as if we now saw it with our eyes What can be more forcible to make us take the utmost heed that our selves be not among them To whom the Summers heat seems so grievous and every little spark that falls upon the body so painful How can they abide to lye down in everlasting fire Who now think it so irksome to tarry a few and evil days here on Earth though they have several good ones intermingled How can they endure to be in Hell for thousands and millions of Years without an hour of comfort or the least freedom from Misery Let me ask thee O Man suppose thou â—awest a Fiery Furnace and there thou mightest continue alive for a thousand Years how much of the Worlds pleasure wouldst thou require to undergo the torment thereof for that time I am confident thou wouldst not take all the delights under the Sun all thy life long And why then wilt thou for the pleasures of sin for a season bring upon thy Body and Soul those Eternal Plagues The damned are set forth in Scripture suffering all those evils which are now accounted greatest in the World. What is all this for But to make the more hast to escape from the Stormy Wind and Tempest By the same reason that we flee from the face of a Serpent the Sword of a devouring Enemy to save our selves from Fire or Water or any thing which would hurt We are also obliged to avoid the damnation of Hell for this will more torment then all those things pâ—t together That is to be done by fearing the Lord our God and keeping his Commandments for he hath prepared those things only for the wicked and disobedient that none should be so As the Punishments are severe enough to frighten from Transgression so is the Reward sufficient to encourage any Soul to Obedience It is described by those things which are now most apt to raise our desires and stir up our industry towards obtaining of
all which doth seem to shew that great happiness doth arise from this sin notwithstanding it is here endeavoured to be lessened To the first instance let it be considered The greatest Torment and pain after it is over is the very same as if it had not been at all The anguish is forgotten and nothing remains but a saint Memory which is rather pleasant and therefore when this is laid in the Ballance it will not weigh down the seeming pleasure of a present Temptation which herein hath the advantage and thus prevails over Men The inviting good is at hand whereas the evil and inconveniencies are either past and then they are as nothing Or else to come and that is not already or may not be so it stands upon the same yea more unequal ground then the other did Hence what is present is preferred before what may be hereafter It is a thing only possible or contingent and so may not happen And therefore it is said the lustâ—ul person will venture again for if he knew the like event would come upon him he would as certainly refrain The burnt Child dreads the Fire himself also is more cautious and circumspective ever after If he doth greatly suspect he will decline so that the evil in his own judgment is greater then the good for he will lose the certain enjoyment of a present Object for fear only oâ— the uncertain consequence of the other This is his Opinion in time of ease and delivery from former pain but when he was smarting under it then might be heard his true judgment of this matter That cursing and indignation those real and then hearty resolutions of never committing the like again do sufficiently evidence the pain exceeds all the pleasure If he doth follow it again it is because that is vanished and gone but the other stands before him and solicites for entertainment It is difficult for flesh to resist the charms of what seems amiable especially if it look only upon the first outward appearance as the sensual Man looks no further it doth asâ—ent The delusion and mistake is he casts half and a partial Eye There being in this and every Sin A mixture of seeming Good and real Evil The first Being open and visible the last somewhat more within not discovered but by a discerning sight he just sees what is lovely and will mind no more but how to attain that yea having a desire after it he is afraid to peep further least he should find out something to discourage from the other Poor foolish Creature Thou art afraid of losing a Lust which is a very little Good consequently missing thereof must be no great unhappiness and yet blindly darest upon a great Evil which will make miserable Thou choosest Sin for that little and present advantage but knowest not or dost not consider the sad end thereof And thus thou actest like ignorant Boys who in Play and Sport pull down the Prop of Building which falls and crusheth them to Death It is not prudent Choice but haâ—ty inconsiderate doing for if when tempted to this Sin thou wouldst stand still and pause upon the manifold Evil consequeâ—ts thereof in this Life and that to come thou wouldst no more yield to it then make a mortal Wound in thy Body to drink thine own Blood which is said to be sweet but the other will bring Pain and Death Let none judge from the foolish Actings of Men but from the reason of things And though some which should have more understanding because of length of days and experience yet have a mighty esteem of these sins who are so far from coming to repentance that they more harden themselves and boast in Iniquity They should forsake when they cannot sin longer but we see by them this is not such repentance as God will accept for in Truth it is none at all A change of Mind doth not follow from Disability to Sin nay there is only a ceasing from the outward Act for the heart and tongue which were filthy are filthy still By such a long and continued course they are hardened through the deceitfulness of Sin The Author to the Hebrews applies the Word to all indifferently Heb. 3. but this in a more especial manner may be said to be deceitful above all sins There is a strange bewitching Nature in it a Man is led from one sinful Act to another the next time he is promised more sweetness from a different Object if he is sometimes struck with the fear of Gods Vengeance and he thinks of his sin in order to Repent then the Devil is not wanting to raise thoughts of former delight and instead of recollecting them with horrour and detestation he is well pleased with what he hath done and cannot seriously repent of them if he would Thence he concludes it impossible and so goes on with hope to be excused seeing he hath tryed to repent though he is neither heartily Sorry for what he hath done nor leaves it of When formerly he might have refrained from the several Acts and so by degrees have came to perfect Abhorrency and true Contrition And now he might keep his Tongue from every filthy and idle Word confess in the bitterness of his Soul instead of Glorying in his Shame endeavour all ways to disswade others rather then allure them on But commonly they are still held Captive and few do recover out of an habit of Lust And I find more bitter then death the Woman whose heart is snares and nets and her hands as bands whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her but the sinner shall be taken by her Eccles 7. 26. They cling and hamper so fast and the Man likes them that there is seldom any escaping when he hath been long holden under them As at beginning of this Iniquity they climb up from step to another till they come to the height so they will continue there as long as they can And when they must let go one or two rounds they will hold fast to the rest When Strength decays and Age comes on they still commit as much of the Sin as ever they can Through these Mens Obduration and foolishness others conceive abundance of Happiness must flow from this muddy and stinking Fountain But shall they be Judges who are given over to vile Affections Who can no more know the true happiness of Man then Brute Beasts if these dumb Creatures could speak with Mans Voice they might as well be called to give their Opinion and then no question the Hart or Goat would give a large commendation thereof Who know nothing better and whose capacities once exalted and honourable are sunk into low and base lusts have a mighty Valuation for them this being the utmost and greatest excellency they can attain unto They likewise who are now fallen into the midst of these sins know of the things here spoken of let them make all speed to Repent of the Vncleanness and Fornication and
that we are related and the Objects of his Concern That 〈◊〉 doth and will punish the World for their Evil and the wicked for their iniquity Isa 13. 11. is manifested when his wrath is kindled a little for sometimes Punishment doth begin to seize on the ungodly Sinner even before he goes to receive the full recompence of his doings By that abundant Misery which is every where he doth let all the Earth know that he hath indignation against Sin and this the place thereof Again on the other hand By seeing the felicity of his Chosen by that little taste of Happiness he gives unto his dutiful Children He doth thereby assure that he designs to bring them unto greater to encourage here and reward hereafter Their affliction and trouble doth manifest the Sin even these have They are chastened of the Lord that they should not be Condemned with the World 1 Cor. 11. 32. That liberal Provision and plenty the Evil and unthankful have is for Tryal or Retribution for even these do some little good So that a Man shall say Verily there is a reward for the Righteous Verily he is a God that judgeth in the Earth Psal 58. 11. The Lord looketh from Heaven He beholdeth all the Sons of Men from the place of his Habitation he looketh upon all the Inhabitants of the Earth He fashioneth their Hearts alike he considereth all their VVorks Psal 33. 13 14 15. God doth care for us and we have to do with him Heb. 4. 13. notwithstanding his infinite Greatness for he hath been pleased to admit thereof The VVord Prayer and Praise do keep up this astonishing intercourse They expel the former Hatred Aversation and Strangeness Can two walk together except they be agreed Amos 3. 3. But they may when they are Acquaint now thy self with him and be at Peace Job 22. 21. Abraham was called the Friend of God Jam. 2. 23. Many like sayings the Holy Ghost makes use of as may create Humble Boldness and love to him There is nothing affrightful in him to good Men but perfect love casts out Fear 1 John 4. 8. When this once begins to be established and rooted it is no harshness to make mention of his name then to talk and think of him must be exceeding delightful The very reason why natural and disobedient people cannot endure to hear or speak of God is for want of what is here mentioned and they judge of others by themselves But examine your selves is there any torment to speak of what one loves There is such a thing as love of God if themselves would turn from every evil way and come nearâ—â— they might be happy partakers and not only conceive but be sensible thereof It is the whole required of Man to love God with all his Heart all his Soul all his Strength and all his Mind to love him better then any yea all things besides As much as he can and to use sincere endeavours to love him more The first thing to be done before any can come unto that is to hate evil Psal 97. 10. And then we may love the Lord which gives a delicate relish of every duty we owe unto him O how love I thy Law it is my Meditation all the Day Psal 119. 97. My Meditation of him shall be sweet I will be glad in the Lord Psal 104. 34. My Mouth shall be satisfied with Marrow and Fatness whilst my tongue praiseth thee with joyful lips Psal 63 5. Praise ye the Lord for it is good to sing praises unto our God for it is pleasant and praise is comely Psal 147. 1. But God commendeth his love towards us in that while were yet sinners Of the Sacrament Christ died for us Rom. 5. 8. Now it is just and reasonable that wonderful and gracious works should be had in remembrance To this end our Lord instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood that we may call to mind the one was broken the other shed for us to obtain the forgiveness of our sins This do in remembrance of me Luke 22. 19. Here is a positive command and the refusal is an act of Disobedience It is called by his own name the Communion of the body of Christ and the communion of the blood of Christ 1 Cor. 10. 16. The Psalmist seems to have intended it in a prophetick Spirit when he said I will take the Cup of Salvation and call upon the name of the Lord Psal 116. 13. So that it may be applyed to this Every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward Heb. 2. 2. Again He that despised Moses Law died without Mercy Heb. 10. 28. That Soul which did not receive the Passover was to be cut off from his people And ought not the Marke 12. 6. Son of God himself be as much reverenced in the Commandments he gave us Did he not work for us a greater Salvation then the other did for our Fore-fathers in delivering them from the Land of Aegypt May it not be fearfully expected that those who either contemn or wilfully neglect this divine institution shall not be admitted into that eternal inheritance Christ hath purchased for us And where I am there shall my Servant be John. 12. 26. But he is none who will not do the things Christ saith and commands Let all consider of this and fear and lay hold of opportunity for this duty That of 1 Cor. 11. 28 29. should not keep people away for this is a certain Rule That if one truly repents and discerns the Lords Body that is esteem it more then common Bread and Wine he can never eat or drink unworthily A common and ordinary capacity doth not judge of more then he sees or handles Indeed there are too many especially in Country Towns and Villages that are sunk into gross Ignorance and Darkness as to spiritual things who was in the fault will be judged at the last day There being throughout our Land like Priest like People both backward and unwilling the one to give the other to receive instruction Yet any one that is a Man and reasonable Creature otherwise he could not do the common business of life may conceive thus much that God is who made the World and all things therein The Bible is his Word and whatsoever is written therein is most true and certain When this is heard or read sincerely it will by degrees let in more Light into his Soul Especially if he goes to the place where it is Preached and Expounded He may come to understand the sence and meaning for the Scripture in necessary things is very plain and then to conceive thereof in his mind There he may learn that under the old Law God instituted many Ceremonies and required the punctual observation of them and though the beggarly Elements and carnal Ordinances are done away for they were Types of Christ our Passover who is now risen yet since his supper is ordained to be kept in
God should be called Wise So he is stiled Only VVise Rom. 16. 27. Our Saviour checked one for calling him Good upon the same Reason In like manner none should be called Happy which is the Comprehension of all but we are in the way and do endeavour after Happiness only And when we shall come there we must with the four and twenty Elders fall on our Faces to ascribe Greatness and Blessedness unto our God only for he hath created all things and of him are all things and they do but partake of his Fulness and all they have is from him But hold we are now in the way and therefore are to be more careful about this then what shall be at the End. We should know and do what helps toward this perfect Happiness The Goodness of a thing lies in its right Temper and Equality Health of Body consists in a due Circulation of the Blood in the even and usual Proportion of moist and dry hot and cold So there is Peace in the Soul when the understanding doth its Office the Desires and Passions keep still in their just place and each doth what he should do For if they do nothing all as it is the wretched Condition of many Whose Soul as it were sleeps in the Body just keeping Life and Sense who in Laziness and Sloth do rather snort then live out their days this deceives into Misery It hath a shew of Peace but it is Stupidity descends into the lower parts and utterly hinders from coming up to Heaven And this though it makes no such great noise is the Destruction of the World their refusing to exercise that Ability God hath given them either by not using the powers of the Soul or not doing it to the utmost on its proper and excellent End. VVherefore is a price put into the hands of a Fool and he hath no heart to get Wisdom Let the latter sort consider this Command of our Lord strive to enter in at the streight Gate for many I say will seek to enter in and shall not be able Luke 13. 24. Do but really endeavour according to what thou canst for not those who Strive but Seek that is in a careless and negligent manner who miss thereof We being now in the way to the Rest that remaineth for the People of God must go on and be travelling or we shall never come to it Again all things succeed well when they keep within their own Station and bounds and move according to their several kinds more then this is Confusion and Disorder Iâ—ss is lying still and involves in the doom of unprofitable Servants In the things Commanded us some may seem to thwart our Nature yet only as it is corrupted but they are not contrary to it when considered in its Original purity If any thing seems harsh and iâ—ksome it is to better and to advance to heal that which was sick to restore the fallen to recover sight to the blind to give Liberty to the Captive It is reasonable to undergo a little trouble or inconvenience in order to a greater Good that also is in our selves for we sinned with our Father and have since added fresh Provocation to his Disobedience Now the Law is ordained to help and retrieve the Condition of poor Man that he may come to himself Luke 15. 17. take Care that he do not sink below himself to bring him into his due posture and then to raise him yet higher By setting before us and then stirring us up to endeavour after those great and precious Promises that by these you might be Partakers of the Divine Nature having escaped the Corruption that is in the World through Lust 2 Pet. 1. 4. First to make us Men and then to be as Angels and thence to be translated into a Greater Similitude unto God himself The End of the Commandment is Charity out of a pure Heart and of a Good Constience and Faith unfeigned 1 Tim. 1. 5. Love to God and Men a right inward Disposition of the Soul is the whole required of us There are indeed some things given to prove our Love Obedience and Faith Of this sort are the Precepts of Self denial Taking up the Cross hating Father and Mother subjecting our selves unto Persecution rather then offend God. This exercises Faith and Love in a high Degree because we endure real present and visible inconveniences only out of Respect to him that is invisible for future but certain Rewards Even now he gives Grace and Strength to bear hereby assuring he will give Glory and Recompence hereafter God doth by inward Consolation or outward Help arm his Servants against all Sufferings There are none of his Commandments though they may seem austere to the ignorant and disobedient but tend to the Happiness of those who do thereafter God is good to all who believe wait and trust in him But these are extraordinary Precepts which are as Abrahams offering up his Son that the Tryal of us might be more perfectly had to which particular chosen Ones are called out They happen only at some Seasons according as his Gracious for so I will call it here Providence is pleased to Order Persecution Reproach Losses are not all the days of our Life these are shortened for the Elects sake For the Rod of the wicked shall not Rest upon the lot of the Righteous lest the Righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity Psal 125. 3. they also are but Flesh There is a taking up the Cross daily Luke 9. 23. but that may be understood of a Preparation against it or a suffering in lesser inconveniencies Yet still it is so ordered by the Goodness of God that his Servants may pass the greater part of their time in Rest and Quietness If they have Evil returned for Good this doth not arise from the Commandments of God but from the iniquity and perverseness of Men. Those are good and reasonable but the inconvenience Springs from the Malice and â—olly of others Take away that and there would not be the least outward harm in obeying God. The greater Persecution arises from hence for it is not through following of good only if they keep that to themselves The wicked may hereupon conceive secret Rancour and Indignation yet this doth not commonly break forth into open violence But then for the other part when they come to meddle with the People to tell them of their Transgressions and seek to reform them this was the unwelcome Message that stirred them up to Hatred and Cruelty Now consider the thing abstractedly a King sends a Messenger to his Subjects to acquaint them of the Violation of his Laws He would have them make acknowledgment and do so no more then they shall have Protection and Peace otherwise they shall be destroyed As God is greater then Man Why should he be hardly thought of for keeping up his Government over the work of his hand Wherein is his Messenger to be blamed What fault is
much pining or starving thereof The Apostle saith verse 25. Every one that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things alluding to those who did Dyet themselves for the Olympick Games Which plainly implies that we are to manage our selves so as to be more fit for the Service of God and that we may get to Heaven Now it is evident we can better serve him in Health then in Sickness and it is more accepted when done with a willing good Heart If we may be still spiritual minded not taking off our Affections from God and the things above to set them on small and perishing comforts If we can avoid Sin without so much rigour If we set a part some time for Fasting and Prayer I know not what mean those harsh disciplines that famishing all the Life long for it is not a shriveled skin nor pale looks nor a lean Carkase which commends unto God but A broken and contrite Spirit a Soul little in its own esteem contracted and become in intire subjection unto him which hath the Body under and both in obedience unto God. That extream Mortification hath been turned into a gross mistake and Superstition The cruel afflicting ones self comes near to the Prophets of Baal who cut themselves after their manner with Knives and Lances till the Blood gushed out upon them 1 Kings 18. 28 so are the self-Whippings and Scourgings of Pagan Christian Rome and alike are the ways of the Heathen and false Religions throughout the World. But the King of Israel is a merciful King He doth not require these things at our Hands He doth not Afflict willingly nor Grieve the Children of Men Lam. 3. 33. Neither should they do it foolishly themselves What deserving is there utterly to refuse what God doth give God would have in this place the Humiliation but in no wise the Misery of his Creatures He at present keeps them off from true and perfect Happiness that being reserved elsewhere but denies not their Comfort and Refreshment He is not now unwilling that we should be Happy but then we should be so puffed up that we would not have him Reign over our Hearts He would not have us run away from those things which are set forth for a tryal of our Obedience having as it were hedged us in by ordering that to be had in things absolutely necessary which we cannot be without Another kind of Moderation is conversant about Apparel which was designed against the pain of Cold and shame of Nakedness Of Apparel This calls again to remembrance our Misery and Want for such an help is found against it and therefore those who place Happiness in Meat Drink or Raiment consider not that it is only as Physick for remedy against foregoing Evils Hunger and Thirst Cold and Shame and how much better it will be when we shall be made Perfect and altogether without them as it is to be whole and have no need of a Physitian God in clothing us at present with Garments of Flesh which are weak and filthy mean and contemptible seems to check hereby the aspiring temper of Man for nothing is so much provided against Job 33. 17. as Pride Though he endeavours to strive against it making that an occasion to lift up himself which should humble and abase him The Word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the Heart Neither is there any Creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and open unto the Eyes of him with whom we have to do Heb. 4. 12. 13. He will judge and recompence according to the secrets of the Heart Those who are to discover in order to turn away Iniquity from Jacob by laying open the Aggravation and Sinfulness thereof may by a malicious Interpretation be thought like him that accuses our Brethren before God day and night But then this Charge would fall upon the Prophets Christ and Apostles and all faithful Teachers The case stands thus Every Mans final condition is to be determined by God and his own Heart He knoweth all things and that knoweth its own Sin. 'T is the motions of that which commit the evil And those who are to convince of Sin are to reprove and not to be our Judges to Warn but not to Condemn If the thing be so they must repent and amend if not they only admonish and exhort to take heed and there is no harm done They enjoyn no Duties but set up the Mark again which was almost fallen to direct in the Way to Heaven They make no Sins but raise up the float which was sinking to keep people from Shipwrack and Perishing The great Policy of the Deceiver of mankind is to bring them off from God to lose their Knowledge of him and the Sence of Good and Evil whereas on the contrary it hath been the Business of all true Messengers sent from him to †Isa 58. 12. restore both as much as they could The less Conscience and particular Examination of their ways the less conviction of Sin there is be sure no ripping of it up from the bottom the generality of the World think so much the better For ever O Lord thy Word is settled in Heaven Psal 119. 89. Those Laws and Rules of Obedience and Sin have been long since fixed up and all the World shall be judged by them so they are to take notice of and prepare themselves accordingly now they are in the way What Sin or Harm is in Clothes is commonly asked In truth none but in the Pride and Excess of them for otherwise the Word of God would not make express mention of them as it doth Isa 3. 16. c. Isa 32. 11. Jer. 4. 30. Psal 73. 〈◊〉 Zâ—ph 1. 8. 1 Tim 2. 9. 1 Per. 3. 3 4. Evil doth intermix with every thing here even to what we are fed with and do wear The evil accompanying Raiment is Pride which divides it self into forgetfulness of God or despising our Brethren who are not so arrayed Yet they that wear soft Clothing are in Kings Houses Mat. 11 8. So they may be used for distinguishing of Condition Let thy Garments be always white Eccle. 9. 8. which intimates another end of Decency and Comeliness If fine Apparel doth not take off from the Love and Service they ow unto God If they do not set at naught or less esteem him in vile Raiment If they do not place more Happiness then as it barely ministers to Warmth Modesty and Comeliness If it doth not engross too much time and other evils are separated then they may use what God hath afforded for Clothing improved with that Art Psal 45. 13 14. and Skill he hath given to Man. But considering withal The Soul is more then the Body and the Body is more then Raiment Luke 12. 23. And more care should be had for them both then for these appendages to the latter There is a Resurrection and Immortality