foregoing Verse According as his divine power hath given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledg of Him that hath called us to glory and vertue Where four things are layd down in which these precious Promises are fulfilled Life Godliness Glory Vertue These are the exceeding great things promised to be though not yet attained For it is one thing to have a Promise given and another to see the accomplishment of it as Christ saith to his Disciples I will send you the promise of my Father the Holy Ghost was promised before but yet to be sent by Christ 1. The first thing promised to which you are called is Life as the promise was to Sarah That according to the time of Life God would surely visit her and she should conceive c. The Spirit of Life is promised to you though yet the Thing is to be accomplished For how do we lie at present in our graves like Dead men long out of minde how dry and desolate and waste because the Spirit of Life that should quicken and enliven is not come The time of Life is not accomplished but the promise is gone forth that at the set time He will surely visit Sarah and the dry womb shall conceive though Abrahams body be dead and Sarahs womb dead and all seem to work to the contrary For great is the desolation now upon us We are sealed in our graves under death but yet this is the promise That the Dead shal hear the Voyce of the Son of God and live And This is an exceeding large and precious Promise 1. Life implies in it a freedom from death a recovery and deliverance out of its power Alas to Live is another manner of thing then we have conceived it We have gone about and acted and spoke like living men but have we Lived in all this have we been yet ever acquitted and freed from fears of death The Terrors of Death made me afraid saith David Are you not yet kept all your life time under this fear of Death You can never have rest nor quiet because the Jaylor is ever at your heels you are not yet freed from him Death reigned it is said from Adam to Moses now Adam was made a Living Soul He had a life to see and know good and evil but yet he could not come at it could not reach the Tree of life a sword was set to keep him off there But the second Adam is a quickening Spirit He hath life in Himself He was raised up by the power of God never to dye more and this is life indeed Now how many in the World are there that never yet came to be Living Souls to have understanding and light to know good and evil but when brought to that yet there is no freedom from Death Death reigns from Adam to Moses to that farther light which comes in by the Law opened and read to the Soul When the Commandment came saith Paul sin revived and I dyed Death yet reigned And now to be freed from this cruel Tyrant from eternal Death and to be made partakers of Life is an exceeding great and precious mercy Who can value it 2. The Man that is alive is capable of instruction and teaching He can hear and learn from others but the Dead know nothing at all saith Solomon while we lie dead in darkness fears unbelief faintings of spirit so long we know nothing hear nothing we are capable of nothing of the minde of God All is confused and without order in this land of Death What is the reason think you there is such a stupid senceless careless Heart upon you not an ecchoing back as was in Davids Heart When Thou saidst Seek my face My Heart answered Thy face Lord will I seek Why is not this minde and quickness and breathings of Truth in you Why you are dead Death reigns sin hath dominion you are not yet freed from that body of Death For were you but alive it were impossible but you should hear the voyce of the Son of God Truth would touch you and that is the first thing to be done to give you life and then sense and hearing will follow But you are now as unsensible at times as a post in the house and therefore you come and go and come and go and nothing is done why because you are under death It is not yet the time of Life and He will make us know we cannot quicken our own souls Adam would have been reaching to the Tree of Life when his Eyes were opened to know Good and Evil I but a flaming sword is set turning every way to keep the Tree of Life and if ever Adam live again it must be upon other terms He must be raised by another power and that freely of gift For he is now a dead man and cannot quicken his own Soul unless that quickening spirit of Life be put within and here lies the great strait to lie at the mercy of another whether He will ever again give life or not and if he will yet it must be in his own time too and not ours and therefore the Church is at a strait and complains There was none could tell her how long How long we must lie in the dust in our graves before Life shall be given we know not we cannot get it out of his hand Truth would never be good and sweet if we could attain it by our reachings Many may press in to take the Kingdom by violence and stealth but the Examiner will come Friend how came you in hither But of a certain this Promise of Life is given to some of us Hear O Earth for the Lord hath spoken The word is gone forth that you shall surely be visited at the Time of Life and till this be accomplished you cannot be capable of instruction Your reason and thoughts cannot reach it but are to sit silent in your graves till Christ shall call Lazarus come forth and so life be given and put within and this will be an eternal Life never to dye any more Death is no more to have dominion but yet it reigns This is your hour saith Christ and the power of darkness and whilest this government is up and those noises of Hell are within we cannot hear the voyce of Truth till the Soul is freed from the stormy wind and tempest and a calm be made We many times go about to quicken our selves and get life at our own hands and so reach up hopes and conclusions and promises to bear up a while but alass all must down again we must to our center to our graves till the spirit of Life be put in We are asking what we should do and what is our way as if then we could easily turn and do it but alass there is a mistake in the bottom Life must first be given us and we must rest in our graves till then and sit in silence in our darkness and
sure we are beyond them and honester then They There is something that judges and gets above them do what they can and however they envy hate and oppose and will not stoop under it yet such a glory there is in the Truth such a lustre and shining as will manifest it self and therefore the promise is The Righteous shal shine as the Sun in the firmament 4. The fourth great and precious Promise is to be Partakers of Vertue Now Vertue is either taken for a quick and lively fresh power in any thing as when we say such an herb is full of vertue to smell on or such meat is full of vertue to taste on or else Vertue is some secret hidden power which can neither be smelt nor tasted but yet is perceived As in the Loadstone there is a hidden vertue to draw Iron c. So there is a lively Vertuous Power in the Word of Life it will take some effect or other and not return in vain for either it meets with its own kind in us and that relishes and tastes and finds a sweetness in it as David says Thy Word is sweeter unto me then the honey and the honey-comb It is a sweet smelling savour to that a savour of life unto life but if it meet with the enemy that evil principle in us that curses and rages and rends and teers the child at the sight of Jesus it is a savour of death unto death to That Who ever they are that neither taste a sweetness in Truth nor smell a savour of rest from it yet there is a secret vertue that will cut them to the heart Nabal's heart dyes and faints in him do what he can It strikes a secret blow and gets in between the joynts of the armour There is a living vertue in it and like a potion of Physick it will work one way or other either make better or worse And thus the first thing is opened to you What are these great and precious Promises And before I come to the next thing to open what it is to partake of the Divine Nature I would have this I have said well looked over by you For who of you is yet fit to be marryed to Christ He will not take another mans wife whilest we have a husband living any created thing in whose bosom we lie and take delight and pleasure so long we are not a wife for Christ and if our hearts be pulled off by force only and the way hedged up that we cannot find our Lovers this is not that which pleaseth him neither He will not marry a divorced woman but only a chaste Virgin a Heart that stands loose and clean from all corruptible things such a heart only is a fit Spouse for Christ to be Partaker of this divine Nature But 1. It concerns some of you to enquire what â—it is you seek Life or Death None of you I know will say Death you would all have Life But what then mean the bleatings the cryings and huntings after perishing Things where Death is in the pot Why are you living in the creatures in your own wills and counsels Why are you not at a strait to cry out to be saved if Life be the Thing you seek There are many Seekers in the World the Greeks seek after wisdom and the Jews they seek a sign some seek ease and quiet and rest from their torment some seek wisdom and knowledg and parts to be great and honoured but Death is in all this See then what would you have Is Life the thing you seek for or have you it already If you are partakers of Life indeed then the rest will follow Godliness will then come in a God-like mind to be just single merciful h ly like to the Pattern and then Glory will follow your good works will shine before men and then a vertue will go forth which may be savored and relished in all your words and actions But now do these things appear in us what is it we seek what would we have is Life the Thing would we have Christ to dwell in us No we would not all come so near we would have Christ a great way off at the right hand of God to save us at the last gasp when we come to dye but not live the life of the Righteous But be not deceived it is in vain to come hither if we seek not Life But then 2. Suppose a stress be upon you that indeed you would reach out to the Tree of Life because you are smit to the ground and cannot escape the hand but it will bring you to Death do what you can But now enquire upon what grounds wouldst thou have Life upon what account why dost thou hope or expect it is it promised to thee is the word gone forth from Christ that He will raise thee up at the last day what ground have you to hope more then all the world though you may seek it yet that will not do it neither Esau sought the blessing with tears And Christ saith Many shall seek to enter and shall not be able And Paul saith That Israel obtained not what they sought after but the Election obtained it There is a People which shall surely be Partakers of Life to whom the Promise is made but no other The Promise is sure to all the Seed therefore see how standest thou in all thy seeking and hoping for Life Hadst thou ever a Promise of Life given thee either to thy self witnessed to thy own Soul or given to any of his People for thee that Thou shalt Live c. For a vain thing it is to go and take Promises up out of the Scripture and make them our own Promises made to Abraham and David and the rest what are these to thee unless God make them over and give them to thee as He did to them And then 3. Enquire what would you have Life for would you have it to please your selves to live to your wills to be at ease and be freed from troubles Alas this is not a right seeking of it As Jehu answered the Kings messenger concerning Peace What hast thou to do with Peace So what hast thou to do with Life it belongs not to thee unless there be that end in it to live for anothers service and not thy own Therefore it is of great concernment to know what we are about I wonder sometimes on what uncertain bottoms you stand you know not whither you go nor what you would have in all your hearings but like the picture of a rampant Lyon on the wall come seven years hence and that is still in the same place So I have known some of you these many years to be Seekers and Professors and Talkers but you are still where you were seven years ago as carnal sensual as blind ignorant in the ways of God as much glued to the world and seeking your selves not removed a step nearer God then you were c.
would break presently they were not intended for that use You see Saul had of this wine in him he was among the Prophets the spirit of God was upon him but the Vessel broke and all ran out and was lost so Judas he was a Preacher and went in and out with Christ and had enjoyments and seasons of Truth but the vessell had holes and all was lost and came to nothing and therefore it is said of some that they make shipwrack of faith and a good Conscience All is shattered and broken and gone as if it never had been some are compared to the Corn that grows on the house top though it be green and flourishing yet soon withers and comes to nothing It was sown there by some chance or carried by some fowl the Husbandman never intended to have a Crop from thence so may it be and hath been with many that are very green they have Light and Knowledge and parts and Forwardness I but they grow upon the house top the place was not intended for that purpose to bear a Crop the stony ground flourished for a time but soon dies for want of root ye did run well saith Paul but they were left and soon turned aside but now whoever is pitched upon by God and made a chosen vessel he is set apart for some end some service say ye saith Christ the Master hath need of him and he speaks to Ananias concerning Paul He is a chosen vessel to carry forth my name whoever of you are thus chosen and pickt and gathered by God out of the world out of relations and all your straglings Do you think God hath no end in it Is it think you you should still live to your wills as you did and walk as other Gentiles no sure it is that you may do him service be his and no more your own 6. Things that are chosen men expect more from them then from other refuse they leave behind A man when he is hungry chooseth bread and not a stone and he looks for more refreshment and nourishment from that then he would from a stone God expects not to gather grapes of thorns he looks not to reap where he never sowed the unjust Servant accused him falsly in that but if he please to take advantage he may he may come in an hour unthought of as Christ came to the Fig tree and cursed it because no fruit was on it though it is said it was not the time of fruit it seems strange but such a Lord is he if he will take the advantage if he will be extream to mark what is done amisse then who may stand He can if he please cast a man into sickness and torments of body or let loose horrours upon his Soul there is cause and advantage enough to be taken if he will make a man an example a witness of his power and severity for the Gospel hath that in it too it is to be preacht for a witness to all as well as for Salvation to some but now from his own his Chosen Generation He expects somewhat out of Love If I be a Father where is my Honour he expects fruit from you he looks for sweet grapes from his Vine he expects you should hear Sure they are my people they 'l be ordered and perswaded and prevailed with he expects better entertainment from them then from the world and though it falls out that they are the chief of Sinners and found the most ill requiting of all People I but it is their shame and their sorrow and their Sin he looks for other fruit he looks for more where he trusts with more where he trusts with Heavenly Treasure I sayd They are my People Children that will not lye and in all things he expects their moderation that at all times they stand open and ready to receive him that alwayes their Lamps be burning and their Loyns girt as those that expect their Lords coming and he is grieved if they disapoint him therefore he complains The Ox knows his Owner and the Asse his Masters Crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not consider This grieves him to be thus dealt with at their hands 7. Things that are chosen are more looked after and more carefully minded then other things they are not layd scattering about but charily reserved So doth the Lord deal with his chosen He takes them into his bosom hides them under the shadow of his wings Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints and if their Death be precious if an eye after them then in their blood if the minstration of condemnation be glorious if there be Love in that work of bringing to Death Then how much more Love will be seen in bringing them again to Life He says of his Vineyard that He watches it night and day And in the Canticles My Vineyard which is mine is continually before me There is no time he watches it not night and day take in all In the Light and in the Darkness in their sorrows and in their enlargements still he watches whether we sleep or wake yet the Keeper of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps If they are sent into captivity it is for their good there his eye is after them If the three children are cast into the furnace there is a fourth like the Son of God He will walk with them there If Daniel be cast into the Den of Lions his God is there to shut the Lions mouths If Joseph be sold into Egypt God goes with him if he be cast into prison he is with him there and findes favor for him where ever these chosen go a special eye is after them when they wander from one Nation to another from one Kingdom to another People yet there He suffers no man to do them harm but reproves even Kings for their sakes Touch not mine anointed c. His charge is given out to secure them a guard is set about them that nothing may harm them He shall give his Angels charge over thee and they shall preserve thee in all thy ways This is his care of his chosen and this is their safety and happiness Before I come to make Use of this I would speak something of the next words A Royal Priesthood This chosen Generation is intended for that to be a Royal Priesthood to offer up Prayers and Praises to God Hitherto saith Christ you have asked nothing in my Name because as yet they were not brought to beleeve the words of Christ They knew not they were a Chosen Generation till at the last when he was about to leave them then he says to God And these have beleeved that thou hast sent me There is no coming to your Priesthood till you are first brought to know and beleeve you are a Chosen Generation A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD Royal of the royal Blood born of God sprung from that stock and kindred And hence three great Priviledges belong to
feel how utterly malignant he is and contrary to all good Do you finde it is his hour to be let loose to rend and rear and perplex and torment Do you feel indeed the pains of hell and do the sorrows of death take fast hold as David cries out they did upon him If you finde it not so now nor have ever found it yet certainly a time will come when the enemy will shew himself when the wicked one will get up into the throne and exalt himself above all that is called God a time will come of being hurried and torn and perplexed under his wicked and tyrannous reign when ye shall be made sensible where you are once for whilst you stand sensless as images and posts nothing seizes on you and you never think to see such a Day but whether you feel or believe to see it yea or not yet the Day will surely come and try all that dwell upon the whole earth 2. You that finde and feel this Day it may inform you what a vain thing it is for man to stir or move hand or foot to rescue himself or oppose this adversary Alas what is man to lift up a hand against him one that is so strong and so malignantly bent to destroy one that hath a commission and power given one that is in full possession of the house and furnished with all store of armour and goods in us Alas it is in vain to stir against him Man is too weak 't is all one as if a poor lonesome woman should have twenty or an hundred plunderers in her house ransacking and breaking up here and there alas 't is in vain for her to stand against them they may do what they will unless some other help come and rescue her so vain and impossible is it for any of you to winde out of the hands of this enemy and save your selves if another Saviour one mightier then he deliver you not 3. Therefore in the next place this might perswade you to lie down and submit to your bonds till deliverance come Answer him not a word that is the Kings command the charge of Truth but bear all his threats and vauntings and upbraidings Let all run over as God saith of Zion And thou layedst thy body to the earth for them to pass over Lie in the condition how miserable soever it be till a stronger then thou or he shall come to deal with him This is the peaceablest and most sutable way for our present conditions 4. Yet this must give some hint of hope and encouragement and cause the soul to put in and wait for a lot in this matter since there is for certain such a thing as deliverance to be for some there is a rest for the people of God Our God will come say they and will not tarry A stronger then he is spoke of that is able to deal with him and twist him about at his pleasure and this might give a little encouragement to hope But as for our parts we can do nothing in it we cannot stand against the enemy nor can we hasten the rising of Christ to deal with him Who shall say unto God What dost thou Who shall stir him up before his time May he not do what he will Is he not Lord of all Therefore no way is for us but to lie under and endure and let all the waves go over our backs till he shall command a calm and he uses to come in an unexpected time when all hope of life is gone when but meal and oyl enough is left to make one cake and then the widow concludes to die then comes the word The barrel of meal and the cruse of oyl shall not fail c. Therefore Oh that it was in your hearts to cry with one consent for this Saviour to arise this Deliverer that might turn ungodliness from Jacob All difficulties and impossibilities are nothing to him that which is impossible with Man with God is easie and possible And this might raise up a little springing of hope against all rubs and bars that lie in our way When he comes he is able to deal with this mighty enemy He comes provided His works before him and his rewards with him He will divide the spoyl and take away his armor and send that which is for death to death that which is for the sword to the sword that which is for famine to famine and that which is for captivity to captivity He keeps sure records of all and will surely visit in his appointed time O therefore that we had a heart raised and stirred to cry with one consent for this Coming of his and to give no rest night nor day but cry O come Lord Jesus come quickly till we have an answer and be delivered THE Woful Case of the Lepers OR The Soul at an exceeding Strait SERM. XIV June 22. 1651. 2 KING 7.3 4. And there were four leprous men at the entering iâ— of the gate and they said one to another Why sit we here until we dye If we say We will enter into the City the famine is in the City and we shal dye there and if we sit stil here we dye also Now therefore come and let us fall into the hoast of the Syrians and if they save us alive we shall live and if they kill us we shall but dye c. The Analysis THree things in general observed I. The present condition the Lepers are in And that was opened in five Particulars suitable to the misery of our present state 1. They were without the City out-casts no enjoyment of the Society Ordinances Blessings of the Commonweal of Israel 2. They were all overspred with leprosie might not talk with any lest infect them and how do we taint one another with our selves 3. Farther a miserable famine was upon them women eat their own children so we forced to eat what is born of the flesh our own Reason 4. They are beset with an hoast of Enemies too and this is our case at present the world are up against us 5. The light and sense of all this misery was upon them If we sit here we dye They knew and felt the heavy case they are in All this was brought home to our particular conditions II. Consider their hopeless and helpless Case to use any means to escape If we go back into the City we shall surely dye c. This applyed to our conditions in three things we are brought to something and if we go back Death will surely be in it 1. We are brought to a clear information of the vanity of all the worlds worship and the shortness of our conversation in all points 2. Made to see that all hopes and conclusions without a certain witness from God himself are short and nothing to eternal Life 3. We have professed to all and chose in our Souls a self-denying way to take up the Cross dayly and if now suffered to reason
they should not enter into his rest and so they that were invited to the Feast and draw back and make excuses see what comes of it he swears they shall not taste of his Supper I could desire you might never come hither to hear unless there be a heart indeed to go on it is not easie dallying with the truth not like going to ordinary Chuâ—hes and meeetings there you may hear many years and never be touched to the heart nor found so guilty for not going on in the Truth but it will not be so here the Word will surely take place and be either a savour of life to life or of death unto death And thus I have opened to you the present miserable condition the Lepers sit in and brought it home to our own case and the case indeed is miserable to sit down in it and if ever we rise it will be a wonderful recovery You that are sat down O consider and think of it for if you are left here it had been good for you you had never been born Then I have shewed you how they were hem'd in with Death if they go back they dye if fall to their Enemies in all appearance they dye I apply'd it to our particulars and shewed you three Things we were brought to from which if we turn back it is no less then Death 1. We have seen the end of all the Doctrines of the world an end of all the ways of false worship 2. We know how we are short and what we want and that nothing but a certainty and clear evidence of the love of God opened and sealed to our Souls and that we may be made like to him nothing else can ever content and satisfie us 3. We are come to receive and entertain the Proclamation of a self-denying way to bid farewell to ease and quiet and self-pleasing and take up the Cross dayly and if in any of these Cases we fall back we are surely undone And now to speak of the last Thing observed from the words III. THE GREAT SUBMISSION AND BUCKLING OF THEIR SPIRITS Come and let us fall into the Host of the Syrians for we can but dye Can but dye Alas and is that little How are their Souls ground to powder and their hopes layd in the dust and they venture with their lives in their hands In this Buckling of the Lepers I would observe to you three Things 1. They rise for they were set down but are made to look about and say If we sit here we dye And must they rise now This is a strange time and case to stir in what when out-casts when Lepers when almost starved when cast off on all hands I now they rise need makes the naked man run They do not stand to dispute the case as our hearts sometimes do Alas I am unclean and an out-cast and filthy and should I now look towards God But if the famine pinch'd you to the heart it would make you up and be going and not reason the case I am ragged and torn and uncomely 't is not a time to look for any message from God whilest the case is thus with me Alas Hunger stands not upon manners and modesty it says Give me bread or I dye The sore famine buckles the heart and makes it stoop to any thing It turns to the hand that smites it falls at the foot and says Let him say and do with me what seems him good Lo here I am 2. In this submission of theirs they fall into the Host of the Syrians they fall upon the sword Now the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God with this it cuts and divides and pierces to the heart and when the Soul is brought to this pinch it bows indeed it accepts of all Let him read and say and do what he will let me hear all his mind the judging part the cutting part that which most strikes to the quick The heart is not now coy and nice and stands upon those terms of picking and choosing it says not This is too sharp and the other too cruel I cannot bear that hard saying or the other dealing No but now to the hungry Soul every bitter thing is sweet Every word of God is good saith Agur. And Paul under this buckling of heart cries out The Law is holy just and good but I am carnal c. Thus the Leper crouches down and lays his neck to the block if the sword will spare it well if not it lies to take the blow I can but dye and with Esther If I perish I perish 3. Consider the carriage of the Lepers in this great strait They rush not on furiously and desperately and say Come all shall be well they take not the Kingdom by force nor do they go utterly fainting and despairing shutting out all hopes of their lives by hard conclusions but with a sober submitted spirit they venture ready to take up what ever befalls bâ—â— whether life or whether death that they leave and conclude not the matter And in this posture doth the Soul truly buckled ever draw near to God And therefore when ever you are upon your hasty conclusions one way or other saying Sure I shall come to nothing or sure all will be well with me you say you know not what both are alike false and come not from a submitted heart that stands in the strait and gives not up all for lost in the worst time How did Josephs Brethren expostulate the case and plead with him when he seemed most harsh to them and though they buckle and own We are all my Lords bondmen we are guilty yet they plead and hang on him and cannot give over but O my Lord saith Judah let thy servant I pray thee speak a word in my Lords ears c. This is a token of a Soul that is at a want indeed Many talk of a Heaven of a God and of an eternal life but 't is but in way of complement they are not at a want indeed their Souls are not fired with a thirst for the living God but want will carry through all Though the Soul be an out-cast and the enemy reproach it and upbraids how ill it hath dealt with God and how can it ever hope for mercy yet nothing can stop or hinder it the needs press it on and the noyse continually rings in its ears If we sit here we dye Now for Use of this Consider 1. Do you indeed hear this voyce in your Souls ever living and speaking and giving no rest If I sit here I dye O that it were the Lords will to thunder it in your ears that you might ever hear it sounding If we sit here we dye Who of you have attain'd to that certainty that are sure you shall never fall short There is a two-fold Death A Death of your good and light and love and enlargements and attainments that may be come to in the Truth and here you
false they were sent to be their Guides and Deliverers to bring thâ—m to the good Land But the Lyars mouth was open and this Christ is made to submit to to have his Life taken from him unjustly and without cause 4. Another Thing Christ submits to when he says Thy Will be done is to be put to the worst and shamefullest death of all The Circumstances aggravate the Death 1. He is crucified among two Thieves as one of that company guilty as they He is numbered with transgressors The Truth suffers as guilty though it be clear as Deceivers and yet true saith Paul Truth suffers between the Man and the Devil they are the two Thieves The Devil he is the great Thief he steals to himself Lordship and Power and to sit in the seat of God and to be Disposer of things He brags and vaunts All this will I give if thou wilt fall down and worship c. Alas they are none of his goods Then the Man he is a Thief too he steals a little hope and ease and rest a little release of his burthen when it presses very sore and this Thief steals for his want to satisfie his hunger and therefore he may be saved with Christ But between these two the Truth must dye as one of that number as a sinner and transgressor We have looked amiss as if the man only and the Devil were to suffer but the Truth in us because clear therefore that might scape No no that must suffer and lead the way to the man or else he alas can never suffer nor go through death But the good shepherd when he puts forth his own sheep he goes before them He suffers first and drinks the first cup. But 2. Where do they crucifie him Out of the City out of the place of blessing and carry him to the place of a skull as one of the Evangelists hath it a field of blood as another calls it but by both it appears to be a loathsom unworthy disgraceful place a place of filth and rottenness Out of the belly of Hell have I cryed unto thee c. No better a lodging for the Soul in this day then the belly of Hell it self and this Christ submits to 3. Yet further The Souldiers part his garments among them And truly this is a very sad case to consider How the Lusts that crucified the Truth yet they will divide its garments and put them on and they 'l be covered with a garb and covering of Truth The wisdom of the flesh that puts in for a share the hasty and eager zeal and affections they plead for a share the strange imaginations they plead a share and all will seem to be Friends to Truth notwithstanding they have but now put it to death yet they part his garments among them And this is a sad case to the sensible Soul that is bereaved of the Life of its Truth and of the garments also that hath lost all such a Soul can cry out bitterly with Mary They have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have layd him 5. Yet further He submits to be left and forsaken of all his Friends His Disciples left him and fled Might he but have had them to stick to him in this day of his calamity it had been a great support and stay but they all leave him and are scattered every one to his own And herein lies a sore aggravation of misery if your Souls can read it that now in this woful day when all these woes are upon the back and press the Soul to death almost yet this must come in to add to all the rest That all the good that ever the Soul hath done and thought and laboured in the Truth all is now scattered and leaves it What ever it hath done singly and honestly and out of the good-will sown in its heart towards the Truth all the labours under the Sun now take their leave and seem vanity and vexation of spirit And here Christ cries out I have spent my labour in vain time will come you will forget that ever you had a good thought or a good word or did any thing for the Truth all wil leave you and be gone when now your Souls can sometimes hold on the innocency and single mindedness within and truly pray to be remembred according to that inward cleanness yet a day will come when all this will be laid aside and forgotten I forgot prosperity saith David and in another place he compares himself to the Dead that are forgotten for ever How had Christ once his Disciples about him and ready to his command when he sent out the Seventy two by two and now to be left of all and not one to stand by him this is a hard Trial and if it were not hid from the Soul if it could foresee what a day of Scattering of all its good and labours would come upon it as though they had not been it would discourage and make it flag in all its actings for God if it thought such a day of stripping all were to come They pierced my hands and my Feet saith Christ His Hands that had laboured in the Truth and his Feet that had ran the way of his Commandments These are now nailed fast to the Cross and he is not able to stir them The day will come when your Souls will hate all the Labours you have taken under the Sun when that Strait shall be upon you to crie out My God My God Why hast thou forsaken me Mark what I say for the day will surely come upon you and then all your Works and Labours will leave you All the good that ever hath passed upon you will not stand you instead in that day nor answer that Strait O Lord how is my Soul troubled when I feel how senselesse you are and far off from having the thing seise upon you indeed But it will surely come and then you will remember what hath been told you this Condition will befall you to be left alone as Christ complains Lover and Friend hast thou put far from me and my acquaintance into darkness 6. Another misery greater then all is this His father hides his face from him he seems to forsake him and become an enemy that he cries out my God my God c. My God he can yet say but not my father he hath hid himself from the house of Jacob all the bowels are hid But why must this befall Christ that his father leaves him 1. He hides himself that he may not see the death of his childe the father cannot endure that and therefore he turns aside and hides his face his bowels and tenderness and puts on another habiâ— Cloaths himself with vengeance as with a garment when this work of death must pass then he seems all anger and hardens himself against the cries and tears of his Son then he comes with Refiners fire now the fire that hath no mercy
it burns all alike that comes nigh it and here David cries out Hast thou forgotten to be gracious Hast thou shut up thy loving kindness in displeasure The Soul wonders at this day and is amazed what work is in hand It is hemm'd in wiâ—h darkness and gloominess and all things work against it and God he withdraws and leaves it the Father lays aside all his bowels and falls upon his Isaac to bind him and lay him upon the Altar for a Sacrifice 2. He hides himself that the Son may learn obedience by the things he suffers for nothing in the world seizeth so deep upon the sensible Soul as this absence of God when God is indeed made precious and the Soul hath left all and made choyce of him onely then to be left and forsaken O how it grindes the heart and lays it in the dust The Soul is like a foolish childe that so long as the mother is present joys and fliggers greatly but let his mother depart and leave it and then how doth it pensie and sink and nothing will please it So when all sight of God is gone that the Soul can see no more of him O how doth it seize and buckle to the dust Then the Soul cries to all things Labor not to comfort me let me dye in my sorrow It learns by this want to want all things 3. He hides himself that Death may seize and take place for God should he always be present and uphold with his love and favor it were impossible to dye How have the Saints sung and rejoyced in stocks and prisons and fires nothing could terrifie nor affright why God was present and that kept them up He walked in the fire with the three children and so long the fire cannot burn nor seize at all Martha says to Christ Lord hadst thou been here my Brother had not dyed And certain it is were but God with us we could not be in that darkness and confusion in those sorrows and wants and perplexities that now are upon us but he withdraws on purpose that the blow may seize Do you know what this means and what a bitter cup this will be to drink of when the Philistins are upon you and the Lord he is departed To be betrayed by a neer and bosom friend to be given into the hands of sinners to be unjustly put to death to be numbered among Transgressors and left of all friends that ever stood by us and then to add to all the rest to have God withdraw too and hide all love and favor and stop his ears and seem an enemy O who can express the misery My God my God why hast thou forsaken me The Soul cannot get from my God How ever it is delt with though a Father be gone and hid yet it cannot go to another God though it perish 7. The seventh aggravation of this misery to which Christ submits is this He must be dumb and not open his mouth in all these sufferings as a sheep dumb before the shearer He must not complain nor repine nor struggle nor reason the case He must not ask and cry for any ease and favor but be still and let all the waves go over him He may not have so much liberty as the rich man had in Hell he could call out to Abraham for water to cool his tongue but he must be in the fire and yet not cry out but bear it in silence and how hard a lesson is this to have no vent in misery not to complain nor so much as ask pity but this Christ submits to and all your Souls must come to it that shall enter into Life And there are three Reasons for it 1. He must be dumb that he may stand to his word and make that good He had consented and spoke the word Thy Will be done and he should now contradict himself and his heart would reproach his mouth as Job says if he should shrink away and complain for this was to have His Will done and not Gods 2. He must be dumb that he may give no ill example to others He is called the Lamb without spot no flaw must be in the Truth If the Captain turn his back alass this would soon dishearten all his Souldiers If he should complain and murmur who would not learn murmuring and stand to plead for it 'T is certain we learn evil one of another if we see another break out frowardly under a cross we presently learn to be unruly and froward With the froward thou wilt shew thy self froward But now he must bear the hand quietly and meckly and patiently to leave a good example for his people to walk in the same steps 3. He is dumb that he may not forfeit all his work and lose all his reward One dead fly spoyls the whole box of ointment And he that keeps the whole Law and fails in one point is guilty of all Not to go quite through with the work is to lose all and to complain and murmur that is to fly from the hand and shrink from the work and that would hinder the reward and be recorded for an evil Amongst all the other good yet this comes in as a flaw In this thou hast done foolishly And thus you may see a picture of Christ upon the Cross but you cannot feelingly know the thing till you shall come to the execution of it upon your selves and feel the same in all these particulars 1. Then for Use consider Do you beleeve ever to see this day or do you think to come in at some other door I wonder where your thoughts are sure you do not beleeve that ever this condition should be yours If you beleeve it you will be searching and enquiring But what is my Judas what is that false bosom companion that will prove my Betrayer where lies that darling-viper Is it in my Understanding my Light Am I holding and boasting of my knowledg secretly Or is it in my affections in the love and choyce and cleavings of my heart to any seen thing and will that be a Traytor to me Where lurks the Thief under what habit goes he Is he betraying with kisses with tenderness and love and inward pleasings of spirit where I least suspect him Is he in my ease and rest and content Is it he that keeps the bag and is the overseer and provider of all things needful for me which seems the neerest friend and most careful for my good Is the Traytor so nigh me 'T is time to entire for certainly if ever you enter into Life you must pass the same way and you will meet with a Judas that will be your death one that lies close and hid and the man little suspects him to be who he is but 't is said of Christ He knew from the beginning who should betray him Truth in us from the first day we can remember hath ever dis-relished him and found an evil savor in all that he hath done or said therefore enquire out the thing for what ever it be whether wisdom or knowledg or honor or ease or outward enjoyments or husband or wife or childe or what ever else yet certain a Thief is got in and lodges nigh all of you in your very bosoms that will betray you 2. If you are informed you must pass this way and no other then let it not seem strange when it comes to pass when a multitude shall be about your ears floods and swarms of ungodliness that agaster and amaze the Soul will appear hidden and unthought of depths of wickedness and all that man may appear to be a meer nothing and Sin may appear exceeding sinful and Grace may appear to be Grace indeed All your fair carriages and wisdom and moderation will be found to be a stinking puddle and defiled If you have found another way to life I would you could declare it but if there be no other sure it will put your Souls to a strait to look about where you are How do you think to stand in that Day when he shall rise to shake terribly the Earth If you are not then found in those everlasting records if not a Name written in the Book of Life if there be not another spirit in you that can go through the fire that cannot dye that it is impossible it should be holden of the grave Then what will become of you in that Day FINIS
troops of wickedness may come in at pleasure and overflow and overspread the Soul so that nothing at all can be seen but envy and lust malice and deceits the man is moulded and changed into the very image of the Devil I have known some men so wholy drunk up of the Devil that no Reason nor Sense nothing of parts and reasonableness hath been left but the very minde and disposition of the Devil hath been in all And this is to be undone indeed it is the very destruction And this is a sad condition sure to have the Soul thus destroyed Was ever sorrow or misery like this Is there not reason He should be feared that can destroy the Soul with such a destruction as this Look over it again 1. If God withdraws his sap that which enlivens and quickens and keeps up the Soul how surely doth all dye of it self and decay and wither And may He not withdraw if He please Is he bound to us Then 2. To be given up to beleeve lyes to lie under the power of deceit that nothing of Truth can reach the Soul how miserable is this And then 3. To be left here in the mire to be left thus wounded of Thieves and half dead and no good Samaritan to take pity nor look for cure for it to have none to care nor support nor look after it but be like a member cut off from the body how soon must that needs dye and wither And then 4. To have the anger of God so far kindled and gone forth that He will not hear any prayers or cries that shall be put up for the Soul Pray no more for this people When God will by no means be entreated to have mercy this is sad And lastly To be wholy left and given up into the hands and will of the Devil to be ruled at his pleasure and left wholy to be swallowed up of sin and ungodliness that nothing else appears but the very Image of Hell and the Devil this is a whole destruction indeed and wo to the man or woman that is thus beset that hath no place to turn to nor way for help or cure This is a destruction to be feared indeed Fear Him that can thus destroy Soul and Body Take heed saith the Apostle lest there be any profane person as Esau who for one morsel sold his birth-right and if you are not here prevented you are for ever miserable and the same thing is in you that would thus desperately throw away Life and Heaven and all for a trifle any vain lust and to be here prevented and not suffered to undo our selves is a mercy worth ten thousand worlds Therefore fear not them that can kill the Body Alass that is but a poor thing not worth the speaking of in compare of this destroying the Soul but Fear Him who can destroy with this destruction This I would have you minde That Men whom Christ counsels not to fear they can reach but the Body there they begin and there end in killing the Body But God when he sets against a man He begins with the Soul Fear Him that can destroy Soul and Body the Soul first and that may be struck at and have a wound though the Body live He begins there to strike and blast the Soul first and then the Body that will soon pine and fall and dye and come to nothing And now to the last thing Seventhly What is it to be in Hell Fear Him that can destroy both Soul and Body in Hell It hath these three degrees in it 1. To be in Hell is to be sensibly knowing that the Soul is excluded from God and hath no fellowship nor communion with him All the World are in Hell they have no knowledg nor fellowship nor union with God I but the sense is not upon them they know it not but cover themselves with a covering of falshood and lyes and hope and beleeve that God loves them when they have no ground nor know any such thing But now when any shall be awakened and rouzed and made to see their condition and sensibly know they are ignorant of God live at a distance from him and are so shut out and excluded as they cannot turn any ways to get to Him and know not whether ever they shall be brought to see the Kings face or not whether they shall be so far favored or not I say the felt sense of this exclusion from God is the first degree of Hell And this God can soon do He can soon awake and rouze and open how the case stands with the Soul that it may cry out with Cain My Punishment is greater then I can bear There are many in the world were they but brought to a strait to know their conditions would be found here in Cains case shut out from the Presence of God and therefore they hate the Light and are afraid to come to be judged by it 2. Another degree of being in Hell is when the Soul is made to feel the very Pains and Torments of Hell to go under the gnaw of that worm of conscience which continually dogs and gnaws and torments the Soul day and night The pains of Hell took hold upon me saith David the sorrows of Death encompassed me He was brought to this step of Hell to have no rest nor quiet in all his ways but he was not given over unto Death The Pit did not shut her mouth upon him Thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell saith he nor suffer thy Holy One to see corruption That was his mercy and salvation c. 3. The last step of Hell which makes all up for as I said the children of God may and do many times pass through the two former but this makes it up to be Hell indeed when Everlastingness is added to the condition Go ye cursed into Everlasting Fire when there is an everlasting Sentence of Exclusion when the great gulph is set as Abraham answered Between us and you is a great gulph set that they that would come from you to us cannot c. This is the Hell indeed And the Time is coming that this will grow up to be more known in the World that men shall have their Hell opened and their sentence read in their own consciences For how have all things been in the dark hitherto How few of the Children of God in former days have had a clear evident and certain knowledg of their Salvation And so for the children of the Devil how few have had their consciences opened and condemnation sealed but have slept out their days sottishly and gone hood-winked to Hell But as the Truth shall get up to open Salvation to the sons of God that that is their lot and portion so certainly will it grow up for others to be divided to their own stock and kinde and go under the feeling and sense of their condemnation as the Apostle saith of some whose damnation slumbreth not And
that unpardonable Sin and there could have been no mercy for us But What was Jerusalem ignorant of She was ignorant of her Day O that thou hadst known in this thy Day It was the time and day of her Visitation and she knows it not This day saith Samuel to Saul would the Lord have established the Kingdom upon thee had he known the time and stood in that nick but falling there he lost all So the woman of Samaria she looked for the Messias to come and that He would tell her all things but she was ignorant of the present season she knew not that He was the Messias who now talked with her So have we been hoping and expecting and promising our selves great things for the future but have not known the present day and the present mercies offered us For my own part had I known my time and day afforded me I can truly say I had been prevented of many of the miseries mischiefs and miscarries that I have fallen into And how many times have you killed the strugglings and motionings of the Spirit in you and said To morrow we will consider of it and hear and come up to what is called for when alas to morrow is not ours we know not but this may be the day and if this be slipt over by us it may never be offered more but we are reasoning and disputing away the time saying Sure this is not the call and mind of Truth this would make me a scorn and hissing stock to all sure this would undo me And thus we are keeping off our mercies No but we judg amiss He would bring thee to Himself to know the things that belong to thy Peace to have Peace in all thou goest about which is worth all We have now no Peace in all our ways turn whither we will to eating and drinking and trading to all our employments and enjoyments yet nothing shall give rest and ease to them that are to be saved till this Peace be given and this Christ weeps for that this Peace should be no more known nor minded by Ierusalem but the time slipt over and lost and gone whilest we stand and oppose our own Salvation and would never come at it But you will say Is such a Thing in man that would not be saved and come to know the things which belong to his Peace and everlasting good I there is that which opposeth it to the Death if the Lord prevent not But how ever the Soul may be saved in the day of the Lord yet a great Loss may come the inlargements and attainments may be lost But now they are hid from thine eyes c. and much misery sorrows may be brought on our heads as in the Verse following Thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee and keep thee in on every side and not leave one stone upon another c. Methinks while I read and consider it to whom he speaks to Ierusalem that God should deal thus exactly and be so severe and harsh to his own People this is marvelous and makes my heart ake to think on it and yet thus He will deal with Ierusalem I told you the high nature of their sin to destroy their Prophets is 1. An unnatural sin it is to kill their own Souls And 2. An ungrateful sin against all love and mercy and tenderness a requiting of the greatest evil for the greatest good And then 3. What a venture is it to run such a desperate hazard who that should see this in himself and have the sense seize upon him would not cry out O what have I done I remember it was so with me in my day when Christ was offered to me and my Soul drew back refused the Lamb of God that which I had so long cryed and prayed and longed for yet when offered to me Lo here is my Son that then I should refuse it Lord I said to my Soul what have I done what will become of me what now can save me Then another Cause of Christs weeping over Ierusalem I told you was their Ignorance that They knew not the things which belonged to their Peace and what Things were they Why saith Christ How often would I have gathered thee as a Hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and you would not They knew not the goodness of the Lord the day of Grace offered that then He was calling and inviting and gathering them to Himself Now this I would bring home to our selves to see how it will parallel with our conditions whether the Lord hath not thus sought to gather us in our day as a Hen gathereth her Chickens In which these several things are Considerable 1. A Hen calleth her Chickens after her she goes before and clocks and clocks to call them together to follow her till she gets them all about her and so hath the Lord dealt with us the Call of Truth hath reached us and brought us together out of several Countries and places and conditions one Call of the Truth hath met with us and brought us together 2. The Hen after she hath gathered her chickens about her she sits down and settles in some place and so hath Truth now it hath gathered us together it hath sat down amongst us it hath taken up a setled place of abode that we are not now wanderlng abroad to find a Truth or a People to joyn with 3. After the Hen hath called her chickens together and sat down in her place the next thing she doth is this she spreads forth and opens her wings to receive and take them in so hath the Truth opened and spread forth the wings of its favor and goodness and entertainment the way is open and free all that will may come under and find acceptance and tendering all that are the chickens indeed that belong to this Hen to this Truth and not of a false brood 4. The Hen receives her chickens under her wings to warm cherish and revive them and that is the end of Truths gathering and opening it self to receive and take us in to fellowship and counsel and unity it is that we might be warmed and helped and relieved and prosper If two lie together there is heat but how can one be warm alone Take a quick coal out of the fire and it dyeth presently And the Holy Ghost says Wo to him that is alone But the Prospering way that Truth calls to is where Brethren live together in unity to come under one wing for counsel and help and direction in all our ways 5. The Hen gathers her chickens under her wings as to warm and cherish them so to protect and keep them out of danger and harms the Kite or some ravenous thing or other soon catches them when they leave the Hen and straggle alone And this is a certainty whilest we stand alone by our selves out of the counsel and care and submission under Truth we are open to a thousand dangers
of Truth But the time will come when we shall feel it but why is he now in want There is a two-fold want and I would have you distinguish them There is a certain need when a mans head is plotting yet there 's a fainting of the heart the dart strikes him how do we often famble in speaking of our conditions There 's a want within we want God but we would carry it out fairly still shuffle it off and say as Elisha's servant did Thy servant went no whither When we have been rioting in an Harlots house our heads are plotting though we in want Never would the Prodigal return if possible but that none would receive him when all is spent How did Jacob change his wages ten times because he loved Labans service Before we will cry out and own what we have done how we have taken his Wool and his Flax and called them our portions and spent them upon Harlots it must be a want indeed But now is the Prodigal left to his last shift and being once gone from his father the heart is like a run-away child though he can be received no where yet he had rather lie in a ditch or a stable any out-house then come and buckle to his father Though he was in a Land of pits and deserts of emptiness where no good grows a Land of thorns therefore he came home ragged and torn yet for all this his head is plotting still to carry it out Though Saul had forsaken the Lord yet he comes to Samuel to ask counsel in his want when the Philistins were upon him c. Though Israel walk'd not stedfastly with God but contemned the counsel of the most High c. yet in their afflictions saith God they will seek me The Prodigal joyn'd himself to a Citizen of that Country not to a stranger for then had it been possible they might have gone out of this evil Country together but he is joyned to a Citizen to the King of darkness the Spirit of Antichrist a dweller in that Land and now to have him to be his Counsellor that cursed Sense and Reason to rule all to become one with that King of darkness to be molded into that soil O what misery is it Your League with Hell shall be broken and your Covenant with Death shall be disanulled But as yet it is not broken in us there has not been a translation out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Light We can truly say we have been born again and have seen the Kingdom but Except a man be born of Water and the Spirit saith Christ he cannot enter that birth has not been Therefore what fellowship and society has the Prodigal why such as is suitable to him for now the heart is afraid of the righteous the clean and just ones now it invents saying How shall I spend my days c. And now he is joyned to the Citizen he must do his service and what 's that he must now be a server of swine Alas alas what a case is he in Now Princes go on foot indeed and servants ride on horses What for a Prince to feed swine The Church saith O thou whom my Soul loveth tell me where thou makest thy flocks to rest at noon for why am I turned aside by the flocks of thy companions Alas to be with swine there 's no harmony yet he would fain have eaten husks with the swine but no man gave him upon any thing would the heart feed rather then repent then come to the Land of the living it had rather feed swine in the Land of Death But here was his mercy that he had no mercy shewed him and this was a token God would bring him out because the hearts of them he would have had favour from were closed to him If indeed God has a favour to a man that is intangled in the world and will bring him out he will let him find no favour When God had a purpose to bring Israel out of Egypt he turned the hearts of the Egyptians to hate them But might the Prodigal have said Why don't you favor me I am joyned to you I have as swinish an heart as any of you But though there would be a cleaving yet because God has a minde to bring him out he will make a separation and all things shall work to make a disagreement and here you see the end of his race I shall speak next of his Return and then of his Entertainment by his father By and by he comes to himself and now he says How many hired servants in my fathers house have bread enough and to spare and I pine with hunger But where had he been Why all this while he was out of his wits he was not himself he was enchanted But when he came to consider what he once enjoyed and the present misery he was in Alass as if he should say what a case am I in I that am a son who have a father c. He remembers the time that he was brought forth by the Truth and truly born to be a Child He is not now as one that knows not who he belongs to and is not able to go to a father but he knows him And if this be not in your returning you will never return Two Considerations there are must move you to it 1. To consider that you are children for if you know not this you will never return He that comes to God must first beleeve that He is before he can set one step to come to him Turn to your strong holds you prisoners of hope But while you stand disputing Am I a son or not c. here you have forgotten that you were once cleansed that God is your Father but when once you shall come to your selves you will then consider and say Thou art our Father we are thy Children The way to come to the blessing of the Birth-right is to set an high price upon it not to dis-esteem it and count it light as Esau for therefore he lost it Now though you have spent your portion and lost it and squandred it away you know not how yet there 's hope but if you had despised it and trod it under foot as a light thing then had there been no hope but as Paul saith Brethren I know that through ignorance you have done it You have gone out with this Saying That sure you are well it will maintain you c. But No it was not given for that end I beseech you consider that you be not of them that draw back to perdition I know you have not so properly been there in despising but here you have been You have left your first Love If there had been a contemning your Birth-right and saying as the man that had but one Talent What 's this c. if a despising then had there been no return but you have been cheated of your portion the subtle Enemy has
should have said No thy love is too heady Let her go out of the Camp seven days and bear her shame and then let her be received again But Paul could say I have learn'd in all things to be contented both how to abound and how to want And this is that which God delights in Sober love ordered love He that rules over men must be just saith David ruling in the Fear of God in Soberness in Humility c. to be wise slow to do evil swift to do good more ready to hear then to offer the sacrifice of fools What need of this When we are but a little brought from our hypocrisie and can truly say our love is single then we think sure this is enough No but yet be you sober that 's the counsel But who will be wise none but the Prodigal that has learn'd experience Peter meant singly when he said to Christ I will lay down my life for thy sake But how heady was it He was unsober in it He knew not that was to be fulfilled that was ordained before of God that he should deny him All you shall this night saith Christ to him be offended because of me and shall leave me for it is written I will smite the Shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered abroad He little thought of this Alas is there no other way to find this Soberness but through sorrows through banishments sending into Captivity This is hard dealing indeed But now the Prodigal can tell this Mystery now he has learn'd Sobriety he is made to admire at the way his father took to make him a sober man Now he can say as David It was good for me that I was afflicted A friend loves at all times And now he seeth That Love is as strong as Death It has Hinds feet it hath quickness singleness and soberness and when you shall be thus shod then love as much as you can nay then you cannot but love And thus the son is welcom'd Bring hither the best robe and put a ring on his hand and shooes on his feet And if ever we shall see this Return then shall we be made to say as Paul Thanks be to God that we are the servants of sin But who would fetch pearls from the bottom of the Sea It 's ten thousand to one not to be spoiled in this venture For there shall be but a remnant saved here and there one as the shaking of an Olive tree here and there one in an uppermost branch What to be found dead and stinking in the grave as Lazarus to be incompast about with Harlots c. and yet get home again Sure the Prodigal did not discover himself to the Citizen he joyned to that he was a Jew for then he would not have received him he was fain to use all the shifts he could for entertainment And so do we and yet we can find none that pities us we cannot so much as feed with the swine But what has God wrought that no inchantment nor divination should be against him Oh the wonder that ever he should welcom his Prodigal with such entertainment as I have shewed you But 4. The next thing considerable in his Entertainment is And kill the fatted Calf c. The Robe I shewed you what it was I also shewed you why he must have that put on before he has meat and why the rings and shooes go first seeing he came out of the Land of famine and the main cause that moved him to return was because his father he knew had bread enough and he perished for hunger I shewed you the Reasons c. But why must he have such abundance And this is not all neither Bring the musick there must be dancing and mirth too Well may this be likened to Jacobs ladder for it reached to Heaven The fatted Calf what 's that The Everlasting Righteousness to be establisht with the free Spirit Seventy weeks saith Daniel are determined to finish transgression and make an end of sin to make reconciliation for iniquity and to bring in the EVERLASTING RIGHTEOVSNESS c. Dan. 10.24 This David cries out for when his blood-guiltiness lies upon him O deliver me from my blood-guiltiness saith he establish me with thy free Spirit Psal 51.14 12. With that Spirit Christ could say It 's my meat and drink to do the Will of my Father This made David say Thy Word is dearer to me then my necessary food But what benefit is it to the man or woman that eats this fatted Calf There are three Benefits considerable that comes to him by this meat 1. There 's refreshment to the weary Soul When the Inwards are dying and sinking and tyred quite out when hunger has smit the Inwards for want of the enjoyment of God how good then is the Spirit of Truth to refresh to the heart After a great abstinence after a long time of distance then Christ saith But I will send the Comforter the Holy Ghost who shall abide with you for ever After many a weary step and hard pang for want of meat a mans inwards close together and as it were devour themselves Is it not enough that I take my flesh in my teeth saith Job I lookt on my left hand and none stood by me and on my right hand and found none to comfort me And O that I could find him saith Job Alas Hope deferred makes the heart sick but when the desire is come it is a tree of life After a weary journey long want every morsel is good nay bitter things become sweet But 2. The second use of meat is to strengthen mans heart so is the Communion of the Holy Ghost a Strengthener to the Soul As Paul prayeth concerning the Ephesians That you might be strengthened saith he in your spirit with might in the inward man that Christ might dwell in your hearts by faith that you being rooted and grounded in love c. Rooted and grounded As if he should say That now you may be able to stand strongly and unshakeably through temptations and provings and all storms as the Prodigal here now never more having a mind to wander from his fathers house and this will be your happiness indeed if ever you attain to it We have had many deliverances and experiences and helps in the wotk but are not yet made able to stand but as David says we mount up to Heaven and down again to the deeps not yet come home But when God shall have given victory then will there be a sure standing we shall then move no more when once establisht upon mount Sion that steady Foundation which shall never change nor wax old as a garment then shall we stick to our Principles and not after a vow enquire as now we do But 3. Meat if a blessing be with it makes a man look well have a good countenance but how through want does a man look lean and ill favored Wo is me saith
wisdom and will believe God no farther then we can see him but keep off our misery though we are warned by the voyce of the Cryer and warned by our own hearts to know how deceiveably they have dealt with us yet we will hold our hold and not give up all flesh for corrupt and wretched and cry out In me that is in my flesh dwells no good thing Till this we must welter in our misery no Cure will come 3. We have been warned by Providence of this an ordering Hand of God hath preach'd That all flesh is grass How hath it taken away some of us by Death and how hath the world a late been let loose upon the rest What plots and contrivances are there on foot to break us a pieces if the Lord prevent not What stirings are there and waitings for our halting And what mean all these stirs and hurly-burlies Sure they have an end they come for the destruction of the flesh they come to shew that flesh yet lives that there is a fleshly coming together fleshly hearing and trusting in our outward mercies crying The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord and so rest in the shadow and come not to the preparing of an Ark indeed And therefore you see how it hath fallen upon some of us to be divided and taken away by force and carried to strange Tryals And think not with your selves that they were greater sinners then the rest No but certainly unless we repent that are yet left together the Hand will go against us and the men of the world shall have their wills to root us out from being a People Therefore if we shall be warned this day to lay it to heart it will be well if the Word and the Work and the present hand of Providence if all make you consider and know that all flesh hath corrupted its way and that out of flesh you must come then it 's well Out of Sodom you must come that is certain and if one thing will not do it another shall We have certainly lived all of us besides the mercies afforded We might have been Teachers of others for the time but alas we have been dull of hearing and have need to be taught into the first Principles of repentance from dead works Therefore there is need now at the last you should be warned That all flesh is grass and this you will grant in a word But come to particulars and there your fleshly wisdom wilâ— be Judg what is right and what is wrong and flesh will never judg it self and so all is kept off from seizing upon the heart for certainly else you could never keep up to live alone as you do upon your own thoughts and counsels without the Lord As it is said God is not in all their thoughts Oh therefore Consider this all you that forget God! And whilest it is called to day harden not your hearts Fall under the mighty hand and own your misery and if you know it not be jealous and enquire with fear What means this voyce of the Cryer ' Am I indeed so corrupt and miserable and know it not Say with Job What I know not teach thou me till the Thing be opened for some way or other this Lesson must be learn'd you That All flesh is grass and the Lord spares none of you and nothing in any of you but All flesh the whole House of Israel have corrupted their way You are all guilty and have turned aside to vain things and have forsaken the Lord days without number and the strait is not yet upon you The Lord make you sensible where you stand But then 2. We have been warned of that too as Noah was That the End of all flesh is come before God How often hath this been told you That He will not always bear His Spirit will not ever strive The Patience will wear out at the last nay it is even expired and if the Lord move you not with fear as Noah was moved to prepare an Ark desolation will surely come the Flood will overtake you some way or other either Death will come and bind us fast from our wills in the grave or sufferings from unreasonable men will come to shatter us asunder and break us in pieces and then whither shall we turn for counsel and help in our straits How may we then prize the days which we now slight Surely one way or other God will take to bring All Flesh to an end And if we have no other hope nor confidence but in the flesh if we stick still in our self-wills and fleshly minds we shall not be able to stand in that day It is not your high looks nor great thoughts that will then carry you out not your knowledg of Scriptures nor understanding of Mysteries none of your carnal hopes nor carnal fears nor carnal reasonings will now stand as they have done formerly but the Flood will sweep away all that is born of the flesh Therefore if we shall be made to judg our selves before-hand and cry out O search me and try me if there be any way of wickedness in me and bow under the Judgment then it 's well for us But if there be such a saying within I shall have peace in the way of my own heart this evil shall not come that is spoke of I shall have ease and rest and dye in my nest saith Job if thus you put the evil day far from you it will surely overtake you unawares in a day when you think not of it when they were eating and drinking and marrying the Flood came c. 3. We have been also warned as Noah was to prepare an Ark We have been minded often both from a Word without and stirrings within to look after a sure testing place a Refuge a shelter that which will keep off all Floods and storms and Tryals Though the Earth be moved into the midst of the Sea yet saith David I will not fear His heart is fixed trusting in the Lord And in another place My heart is fixed O God my heart is fixed There is sure such a place whither the Righteous can flee and they are safe In the Name of the Lord in that Tower under his wing in the secret of his Pavilions in his Bosom in his Love when that is opened to the Soul and a mansion given it there Now if thou hast all parts and knowledg and operations and good desires and good resolvings all these will not save thee in the day of the Flood The Waters will get above over all the high Mountains the whole Earth how high soever it be yet if it be of the Earth if it be born of the flesh and the will of man it will not stand But There is a Rest for the People of God Wast thou ever brought into that Hath the Lord Jesus ever shewed thee thy lot and portion in that Eternal Love that thou art chosen there
upon That was Faith by Faith he did it 2. I told you the effect it left behinde the Word from God took place He was warned 3. What things was Noah warned of Not things in present view which appeared to Sense and Reason but of things not seen as yet Though no danger at all could be seen or thought of at present yet he beleeves and is warned Then 4. I told you the great impression it made upon his spirit 't was not a light warning a matter of talk as the Religion of all the World is but it comes neer and toucheth upon his heart deeply He was moved with Fear Work out you Salvation with Fear and Trembling not talking and thinking and resolving but the thing comes to the heart with Fear and Trembling Then 5. I told you what a real work this produces in him he is not onely warned nor onely moved with Fear but goes on to a great work He prepared an Ark. I told you this Ark was a Type and Figure of Christ of a Saviour of a sure and safe condition which will carry through all storms what ever which sure condition I told you was made up of three several works answerable to the three Stories of the Ark. 1. The work of Death of being made conformable to the Death of Christ to dye to all things both lawful and unlawful To let all dye all mans reason and wisdom and hopes and confidence all created enjoyments how dear soever to part with all 2. The second story of this Ark or the second work of Salvation is the work of the Resurrection If by any means saith Paul I may attain to the Resurrection of the Dead To be raised again by the same power that raised up Christ Else if we part with all and give our bodies to be burned and be left there in Death That will be miserable If that word of the Curse threatned to Adam light on us In dying thou shalt dye if left in the grave This is to be utterly lost Many have been brought to that strait that they could not keep alive their own Souls had no ways to turn from the stroak Cain was brought to this Saul brought to this Judas brought to this I but here lay their misery they were left in Hell they dyed in dying and never came to the Resurrection 3. The Ark is not yet fully built the work of Salvation not yet compleat till it is made conformable to the Ascension of Christ into his glory to be accepted there of his Father and for ever setled in an Eternal Life never to dye more And in this last Story of Salvation I opened three things to you 1. That the Soul is here taken up as Paul says into the third Heaven It is quite translated and separated and divided from all seen things the whole World nothing toucheth it below 2. Here the Soul heareth words spoke to it which cannot b uttered Here the seven-sealed Book is opened and the eternal Decrees read This is my beloved Son c. 3. Here the Soul is marryed to Christ joyned into the union with the Divinity the Holy Ghost put in it as a well of living waters springing up to eternal Life And this is that long Life spoke of He asked Life of thee and thou gavest him a LONG LIFE for ever and ever This is that Eternal Life never to dye more Now such a condition may be of having Life but not the eternal Life they may dye again therefore 't is said of some Twice dead plucked up by the roots Therefore the Ark is not compleat the condition not fully sure and safe till the Soul be setled in the Eternal Life as Christ said to his Disciples And I give unto them Eternal Life Then I spake to you of the proportions how the Ark was to be made the length of it three hundred cubits the bredth fifty cubits and the height yet less but thirty cubits All which was not without a farther meaning 1. It was three hundred cubits long pointing out the long Life the eternal Life that all have which attain this safe condition a long walk from Eternity to Eternity 2. But yet the bredth is not so large that but fifty cubits not so large a compass here in this Life not such full room and liberty to walk round about without any straitness not so to run the ways of his Commandments to go on without let and controul But 3. The height less still that but thirty cubits to shew how the Soul is greatly kept down there it can have least room of all upwards The Ark is but low but little liberty Heaven-ward the Soul when it hath attained most yet it cries out O how short am I and this is to pinch it on still not to sit down here but to cry for the Kingdom to come when all bonds and stops shall be taken out of the way and a river of broad streams be given everyways liberty enough but now ever anon darkness and mists rise up an earthly cloud gets between the Soul and its Happiness that it can see but a little way off But then saith Paul shall I know as I am known Then I told you this Ark was to be pitched within and without to keep out all waters which pointed out the exceeding firmness and safety of a good condition That who ever builds such an Ark is so conformed to the Death of Christ and attained to his Resurrection and ascended and established in the same Inheritance made a coheir with Christ in his glory nothing can ever shake this condition no waters can get in 't is so surely pitched round no doubtings nor fears can take place either from within or without to shake it It is built upon the rock and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Then the Ark was to be finished in a Cubit which had this meaning That the nearer and higher we come towards God our way will grow more strait and narrow They came out of Egypt full-handed with Dough on their shoulders and rings on their hands c. but before they enter into Canaan all that trash that came out of Egypt was spent their compass was narrower Therefore the Cryer cries Make streight paths for our God c. But yet I told you there was some compass left it was finished in a Cubits bredth not an Inch not without any bredth at all No All our Fathers have had some flaw or other here their Ark hath had somewhat in it like to this world They have had some sore and weak part some Canaanites left behind to afflict and vex their Souls And this was to put them to a strait to cry for the Kingdom to come where no spot nor wrinkle shalt be left nothing of sin or imperfection but all tears wiped away Then I told you this Ark contained the whole Creation in it All creatures were here to be preserved both clean and unclean
against it c. This Great King is the same spoken of cap. 4. Better is a poor and wise child then an OLD AND FOOLISH KING that will no more be admonished c. In all Ages this old King the old serpent the Devil hath played these pranks against this little City he will never leave spitting his Venome and Poyson against the Truth to destroy it utterly That the name of Israel may be no more This Haman can have no rest so long as Mordecai lives Poor Mordecai is an eye-soar and troubles and disquiets this Great King and Gallows must be provided to hang Mordecai and D crees sent out to destroy the whole Nation of the Jews for his sake nothing lesse will serve then an utter ruine He will never be admonished this Old King will never take warning though his plots have been again and again disappointed and he hath been taken in his own snare yet he wiâ—l go on to besiege this little City to disturb and perplex and torment and if possible destroy this little Remnant Now I have heard many say that they never were thus troubled with the Devil they thank God He harms not them they never were under his temptations and torture and cruell batterings were they never troubled with him I but this is an Argument they are a friend to him they live in his Kingdom and there all is in peace so long as he keeps the house but if you are ever brought out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Christ if you shall ever be gathered out of the great City Babylon to this little Sion this small remnant if ever plucked out of the world then you shall feel him stirring For this old Serpent hath ever from the beginning of the World been casting out his floods after the Truth if possible to drown and destroy that and the neerer any of you shall be brought to God be sure he will be the more busie you shall have the harder encounters and assaults from the Dâ—vil you shâ—ll then see he will raise his great Bulwarks But what makes he these Bulwarks of out of what matter doth he work them Why whatsoever is of the Earth be it what it will yet if it be but an earthly material he can raise Bulwarks out of it well enough not onely out of gross earth out of dirt and mire not onely out of lusts sensual delights and pleasures but out of the finest earth out of a golden myne he can do it out of wisdom and parts and righteousness and zeal and hope and faith and what not that he cannot raise a Bulwark out of against the Truth Paul had these strong Bulwarks fram'd in him against the Truth in Stephen when he was stoned to death He was of the strictest way of the Pharisees He walked according to his Conscience He was as concerning the Law blameless and yet all these were made Bulwarks for the Dâ—vils service And therefore all your zeal and forwardness and love which seems to be for God see whether the Devils bulwarks be not in all to keep thee off from the Truth for he works himself strangely under ground he hath strange wiles to cheat and cozen by by knowledg of the Scriptures by zeal by forwardness to venture lives and estates for the Truth as we then think by these doth he sâ—â—ly winde in and raise his great Bulwarks and if the Lord help you not and deliver the City he will soonest of all destroy you where you think you are safest and so keep off all Truth from coming neer to touch â—ou and therefore great need you should well minde and consider the sleights for he hath bulwarks of all sorts shapes and sizes Bulwarks of dirt and clay and mire they are strong enough to destroy some Bulwarks of Gold and Silver and Pearls if need be any thing that is but this Worlds material and that takes in a great compass he can make a Bulwark to save himself and undo the Soul by Good Lord what strange devices hath hâ— He 'l put a man upon zeal and forwardness put him to give his goods to the poor and body to be burned and whatever you will if so be under all this he may but make a Bulwark and lurk behinde it to keep himself alive and do a mischief to the Truth Therefore there is need to consider what we lean on for if we are trusting and hoping and lightly promising our selves that God will sure help at last and we shall be delivered when he pleases and so rest in hearing and coming together when nothing is done I say all these hopes and conclusions which we get up to keep off the strait from our Souls and get ease by All these are but the Enemies Bulwarks and certainly intended by him to destroy us and if we be left to shrink away so and neglect the Truth in our day we may never be met with again when the time is once gone Sure the Lord is righteous and will not let the guilty go free though as I told you the last night he is all Love and sweetness in himself if we could but get in to him to his heart now if we could go and meet him thus as a Father and fall down and own our shame how well were it Were it not better then yet to stand out and war for the Enemy against our Brother then to joyn with the Devil in his Bulwarks against the Truth for one of these hands we must needs fall into But this is a hard case saith the Soul Am I so liable to the Devils Bulwarks and lie open dayly to all destruction and misery and is there no remedy Yes there is remedy There is Balm in Gilead V. In this City was found a Poor Wise man and he by his wisdom delivered the City A POOR WISE MAN a Jacob a plain man no such cunning tricks and deceits as the Esaus have and yet by his plain wisdom he can over-reach and supplant and go beyond all the deep plots and cunning of this great King How soon was Paul stopt in the midst of his run when he drove furiously for the Devil Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Not any great weapons are used but a wise word whispered into his Soul and that turns all and strikes the great Champion down to the Earth So Abigail comes to David but with a wise word a soft answer and how doth it prevail and prevent the great destruction intended against Nabals house It is but a word and the stream is turned I come against thee said David to the great Goliah in the Name of the Lord No more but so That Name is enough against the great Gyant and all his armor but a word Why persecutest thou me and that is enough to strike down the stoutest heart in the World if it be but set home What dost thou fight against God Art thou able to stand in his hands Alass what dost
rest and peace and enjoyments and instead thereof to take up troubles and sorrows and afflictions Oh no the heart shrinks from this here comes in Spare thy self Master and therefore we plead it is not time yet because it is a trouble and perplexity to the man to set upon this work it puts him beside his cushion he must be sure if he begin to build the Lords House to meet with opposition and contradictions from within and from without from the world and from the Devill The more we shall stir to get out of his Kingdom the more will he stir and rage and cast out his floods to destroy what have our Fathers gone through in this work what strange miseries and sundry sorts of death as you may see Heb. 11. What did Paul suffer hunger and nakedness perils by sea perills by Land perils amongst false brethren stripes and Imprisonments and now who will endure this that can avoyd it who will choose afflictions Mans heart will ever plead it is not yet time because it loves Ease and would never see sorrow But 3. Fear hinders them They were yet under tribute to the King of Babylon they were not yet quite freed from their foes they had once begun to build and were hindered and curbed in the work and therefore now fear gets up and they will venture no more having been once crushed and still remaining under the same enemies this seems a just cause to plead it is not time and thus the heart reasons Have I not tryed again and again and been stopped and prevented and beguiled by the Enemy and am I not still in his hands and if I stir I shall soon be met with and pulled back again and here the heart slugs and lingers and thinks it hath cause to fear and keep off but Jordan never parts till the Priest first ventures to set his foot in it there must be a venturing through all lets and rubs in the way if ever we think to come to any thing and see when they do but begin and set upon the work how they are prospered and all makes for them which before might seem impossible and are not these the true reasons we keep off from the work are we not ignorant that this is the cause of all our misery are we not loving our ease are we not fearing our enemies and so give it over and plead it is not time c. But consider V. WHAT MISERIES FOLLOW FOR NOT BUILDING THIS HOUsE A curse and a blast follows in all their undertakings do what they will yet nothing prospers as it is with a man in a deep consumption let him eat what he will though never so good and choice diet yet his Stomack spoils all It turns it into ill humours to maintain the disease till the root of his sickness be taken away and so is it with us notwithstanding all our mercies and opportunities afforded meat is set before us daily daily are we waited upon and called and instructed and counselled yet how do we still waste and consume we thrive not in all but wax leaner and leaner we come and hear and listen sometimes and swallow down a great deal but alas all is spoiled by a bad stomack we spend all upon our Lusts we love to live alone by our selves at our own Wills and Counsells and Wisdom we are not subjected yet in our souls to come to build this house of the Lord to live in Love and Counsell and order one with another c. and this is the moth that eats and destroys and will destroy all our good if the Lord prevent not thus I have spoke to you what this House is why God will hâ—ve it built and of what materialls and then the Reasons why the people plead it is not time and the misery that follow this neglect and now in a word I would speak to that who they are that are chiefly guilty in this thing I cannot so charge you all of being thus guilty but there are chief Heads who are called to this work and they are to lay the first stone the cloud must first remove before the people can journy and in that great sin of taking strange wives for which Ezra pull'd off his hair and sat astonished on the ground 't is said the Princes and rulers they were the chief in this thing they lead on the rest by a bad example they are the sinners such as were bidden to the feast and yet refuse to come and make excuses they are the sinners Now are you all bidden called out to build this house no I know it cannot yet touch nor lie upon all your Consciences that this house is not built but the Princes and Leaders such as have been called both from a word without and a stirring within their own spirits to begin their work and lead the way and lay the first stone that the rest might follow these are the guilty persons that make their excuses when they are Invited I have married a wife I have bought a Farm This and the other stands in my way that I cannot come but if any enjoyment or imployment or relation if any tye shall hinder us from setting to this work when the Lord calls to it then are we miserable I know there are some of you that stand yet clear and have not resisted a call but think you are ready to become any thing that shall be called for from you but some of you there are that punctually and certainly know you are called forth to the work and yet draw back and shrink away and say 't is not yet time to build c. The heart knowingly flies back and shrinks this is the guilt here lies the sin Therefore the first thing to be known by you is whether you are called or not and if called then take heed of reasonings and pleadings with Moses I am a stammerer a man of a slow speech and they will not beleeve that thou hast sent me till at lest the anger of the Lord was kindled for his lingering in it and this is the way of the heart we do not say point blank we will never build the House No but shuffle it off It is not yet time and we know not our way and the enemies are round about to hinder us and so we conclude the case before-hand and keep off the strait that Paul was brought to when he cries out Lord what wouldst thou have me to do What way should I take What is thy minde in all All things go cross there is no thriving nor prospering in out ways but all symptomes appear to signifie a consumption is upon our way we are scarcely kept alive have scarce a bit of bread to stay our hunger Now what is the meaning of all this Sure there is a Cause Therefore need there is every Soul of you should consider your ways and enquire Lord is it I or Is it I Do I hinder this work where am
and ransacked I but Christ when he comes he takes away his armour all that in which he trusted and hoped and said Now I am safe I shall sit as a Queen for ever I shall never see sorrow I but all his armour and fence is taken from him and this is a downfal indeed when he is thus found out and nothing can hide nor cover him any longer his coat of Male is taken from him and then Truth can easily enter then nothing appears but the mans nakedness and guilt and shame then the man cries out with Paul I am the chief of sinners then the Word takes place and enters and every arrow sticks Thine arrows stick fast in me saith David Then the man falls under as a poor naked helpless hopeless thing then he is counselled by Christ to buy eye-salve of him and gold tried in the fire and fine linen for he is found wholly naked and blinde and miserable We had thought Christ had ruled in us and we had been for God and the Truth we had thought our zeal and forwardness and speaking for God should have passed currant but take away this armour of the devil and then we are found out to be a wretched deceitful people a lye and deceit appears to be running in all and that there is nothing single for God and Truth without base selfish ends of our own And this is the first work Christ is to do in your souls to spoil this strong man of his armour else no Word of truth can ever come nigh and seize 2. After Christ hath taken away his armour he then seizes on his goods and DIVIDES THE SPOYL the spoyl Why what use can Christ make of his spoyl what can he do with all the devils goods You may see the thing illustrated Jer. 15. where God speaks thus Let that which is for death go to death that which is for the sword to the sword that which is for the famine to the famine and that which is for captivity to captivity 1. That which is for death to death some of these goods are presently to go to death to be utterly destroyed The enemies which you have seen to day saith Moses you shall never see them more The malignant disposition that was so wickedly bent against all prospering of Truth that evil eye that which lay in the way that one step Godward could not be taken that must be utterly destroyed and cut off for ever that abomination must live no more that ill favour that gave a taint and poison to all our ways and thoughts and words that man to Death Christ will say to that unclean spirit Come out of the man and enter into him again no more That enmity of spirit and hatred and ill will to all good the end of that is to be destroyed for ever That Cain-like love that hates its brother and would not suffer the least breathing nor prospering nor looking up of the Truth for according to that evil disposition in you if you minde it the heart rises against all good where-ever it appear though in a childe in a brother in a husband or wife yet the enmity works and hates to see your offering accepted and mine laid by as nothing But before Christ can ever come to reign this must certainly die and a whole turn of soul be wrought and we made naturally to love and chuse the prosperity of the Truth 2. Something must go to the sword That which is for the sword to the sword The Word of God that sword of the Spirit that shall still go on after that great enmity is slain to search and judge and quicken and stir up the man and cut off what hinders that the soul may grow up into the minde of God and as it hath born the image of the earthly so to bear the image of the heavenly as we have given our members servants to sin so to give them up to be servants of righteousness to be as free and voluntary and earnest in the service of the Lord as ever we have been to serve our selves to spend and be spent for the truth this the sword must do cut out a way thorow all rubbish for this minde to arise It must cut away all that sloth and carelesness that sluggish and carnal minde that sits still at home and would not come out to help the Lord against the mighty When Christ shall come to deal with us indeed and use his sword this must all be cut away and the soul pruned 3. Something must go to the famine That ill taint and setled indisposition that has been gathered and contracted by long custom in evil that hankering and lingering after the wickeds dainties all this must to the famine and be worn out by degrees and pined by little and little till it come to die Where-ever the heart is taken and hangs on the creatures on eating or wearing or trading or whatever enjoyments by degrees and degrees a secret moth shall eat and consume all a wasting and consuming famine must cure this evil disease 4. Something must go to Captivity and that is the last enemy to be destroyed the Devil he will yet keep some hold and footing and not be utterly routed so long as there is any dust to be the serpents food so long as the man hath any life beside the life of God I but now Christ shall designe him to captivity he shall be under a hewer of wood and drawer of water a servant to Christ he shall lord it no more He shall be bound for a thousand yeers and that will be the souls greatest happiness to keep him but in his prison that he may not break forth do his mischievous pranks but lie in his dungeon and be an underling to Truth though he still live for some Canaanites will ever live in the land to be the souls trial c. And thus I have opened to you this Day the great block that lieth in our way the bonds and shackles that hold us so fast It is Satans day 't is his hour and the power of darkness the mans Day of reigning is declining and laid aside in most if not all of you the man is not suffered so to bear sway and go at liberty and soar aloft in his minde but there are secret checkings and mindings of a shortness and the black feet appearing make the feathers fall And in some of you it is an empty and desolate Day you are left without much stirring either from God or from the enemy The land is void of both her kings But the greatest and sorest Day which lies sore upon some of us is The reign of the enemy and then wo to the inhabitants of the world Wo to that Land indeed where the Wicked are in Authority I opened to you the several Woes in it And now to make some Use 1. Examine How is it with you Every soul look home do you feel this strong enemy Do you
that are to be saved may dye in this Wilderness And there is an everlasting Death to be utterly cut off and separated from God And can you have any rest till you are satisfied in both these for your state and for your attainment Can you get off from that voyce within you If I sit here I dye 2. You that indeed hear this noyse in your Souls do you learn of these Lepers venture into the host fall under the hand let nothing keep you back not because you are forlorn and miserable and all overspread with sin shall this keep you back But it shall not keep back all some must enter and come as they are in their rags and unclean garments they must venture upon the swords point and if ever you get bread it must be this way not by ease and sitting still and shunning sufferings No but by venturing into the midst of the Host in taking up the Cross dayly not by picking and choosing here a bit and there a bit but if hungry indeed the whole Lamb must down and the bitter herbs nothing must be too hard 3. The manner of these Lepers going without conclusions one way or other for or against themselves this may shew you the right way of coming at a peradventure not propounding to our selves what will come on it but to venture and leave the success to another to lie before the sword and say Let him do his pleasure Lo here I am let him do what seems him good If it please him he is able he can cure and heal and save us but if not lo here we stand in his presence and lie at his mercy Thy Will be done OR Christs Amen to the bitter Cup. SERM. XV. July 6. 1651. MATTH 26.42 He went away again the second time and prayed saying O my Father if this Cup may not pass except I drink it Thy Will be done The Analysis FOur General Things observed from the words I. This Cup must in no ways pass from Christ without drinking II. Christ certainly knew this by proving and trying to the utmost to escape III. The ground why it cannot pass was the Will of God IV. Christ submits and bows to this at last Thy Will be done In this Submission of Christ seven Particulars considered 1. He submits to be betrayed by one of his Disciples that eat at his Table they took sweet counsel together this a great woe 2. Submits to be betrayed into the hands of sinners not righteous persons and here seven Aggravations considered 1. They are a multitude that which is the Betrayer of the Soul le ts in a multitude an Host swarms of ungodliness 2. They come against him with swords and staves not only swords to kill but staves to defend and prolong the misery 3. They lay hold on him sins get upon the Soul and are too strong it cannot shake them off 4. They bring him before the High Priest an Enemy and unequal Judg so the Soul brought befo e the Devil to be judged 5. When He begins to speak they flap him on the mouth so is the Truth snib'd within if it speak a word to clear it self 6. They crown him with thorns so the Truth pestred and cumbred with thorns cares fears c. 7. They seek false witness against him to put him to death so the great search in the Soul is to prove all has been deceit c. 3. Christ submits to be put to death unjustly no just thing is against him but only false accusations yet he submits to dye 4. He submits to a most base unworthy and ignominious death 1. Crucified between two Theeves Truth dies between the man and Devil 2. Buried in the field of blood the place of a skull 3. The Souldiers part his garments Lusts share the garments of Truth 5. Submits to be left of all his Disciples and Friends they all fly away so all the labours and good that ever the Soul hath done now forsake it 6. His Father hides himself from him He cries My God my God but not now my Father His bowels are hid 1. He hides himself because his Son is to dye and he will not see the death of his Child 2. He doth it that the Son may learn obedience from what he suffers Nothing so crushes the Soul as the absence of God 3. He doth it that the blow may seize whilest he is present 't is impossible the Soul should dye Three children burn not 7. That which adds to all He submits to be dumb and silent not to complain under all this and that for three Reasons 1. That he may stand to his word He had consented Thy Will be done and if now complain he contradicts all 2. Dumb to give no evil example of murmuring to others 3. That he might not lose all his recompence and reward All was brought home practically and Application made 1. To enquire every one What is my Judas that lurks and lies hid what will be my Betrayer need to know it 2. To inform what we are to meet with if we will go to life we must drink the same Cup therefore let it not be strange MATTH 26.42 He went away again the second time and prayed saying O my Father if this Cup may not pass except I drink it Thy Will be done HAving spoke several times to you of the General Points observed from the words we came at last to the fourth Point viz. After all means used by Christ to avoyd this Cup after all strivings intreatings and prayings O my Father if possible let this Cup pass yet at last submits Thy Will be done In the conclusion he bows and buckles and is ground under and made to cry out Thy Will be done And in this saying there is so large and vast and deep a thing contained that truly it swallows up all things else Heaven and Earth and all creatures are as nothing before this Will of God All things must come to buckle and be crusht and lie in the dust before it Alas it will make the sensible heart to shake and tremble and the ears to tingle to hear and see what Christ here submits unto what he gives consent to in saying this word Thy Will be done an unfathomed depth of submission and bowedness of Soul lies up in it to take up all sufferings and sorrows and miseries that can befall For more plainness I branched out the thing into seven Particulars which Christ here submits to and to which all the saved ones must consent and follow in the same steps In which seven particulars ten thousand miseries and sufferings are layd up which no heart can conceive nor tongue express what all they must pass through that go to life and shall be made to drink of the Brook in the way before they must lift up their heads 1. In this saying Thy Will be done He submits to be betrayed by one of his Disciples one of his own house lifts up himself against him