it is the height of impiety I will judge you according to the Fruit of your doâ—ngs O House of Israel Is your Faith at an uncertainty and doth that make you regardless Why you are required to use the means to attend unto the things that are spoken and weigh fully with your selves whether indeed they are â—o Before the Gospel was written Faith came by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Rom. 10. 17. So it doth now and also by reading that Testimony Miracles Arguments and Demonstrations which must prevail when admitted into sincere Consideration but this you will not do Beware therefore least that come upon you which was spoken of in the Prophets Behold ye Despisers and Wonder and Perish for I work a Work in your days a Work which ye shall in no Wise believe though a Man declare iâ— unto you Acts 13. 40 41. God will â—ot take advantage over mankind without first making known his Good-will and Pleasure what he requires of them For we may be bold to say it would not have been consistent with Justice to punish Creatures for what they knew â—ot or could not know Shall not the Judge of all the Earth do right Gen 18. 25. The Case of the Heathen World is shewed Rom. 1. throughout and Rom. 2. 12 14 15. Acts 15. 17. And though of old Revelation was more * Exod. 19. 5. peculiar to the Land of Judea yet that was further a sign to all the Nations of the World but he will be pleased to deal with them most certainly according to Equity and Right But to us the Gospel is fully made known It was necessary God should discover himself to Man some way where he did it by implanting natural Principles of good and discerning of Evil within himself he will judge by them But in these latter days he hath revealed his Word more fully and universally and ordered it to be written in a Book that it may be for the time to come hereafter Nothing in the whole World can be said to be the written Will of God besides the Scripture wherein are Prophecies fulfilled God bearing them VVitness both with Signs and VVonders and with divers Miracles and Gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his own VVill Heb. 2. 4. Who spoke this Word that is come down to us which testifies of Resurrection of the dead eternal Judgment Heaven and Hell in as plain Words as possibly things can be expressed How fain would People either cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before them Isa 30. 11. or themselves cease and come to nothing That whilst they were living they sinned against him so when Dead be as nothing and not the Objects of Punishment They would willingly exempt his Providence from them but not lay aside their Transgressions against him and then would utterly perish to avoid his Truth and Justice What Tricks and Shifts are Men put unto to gain truce and safety for their Wickedness But they may have a Truce for a little while but all their Devices cannot attain unto safety They may take the several kinds of Opium Ignorance Unbelief Negligence hardness of Heart perverse Disputings but they will be all spent as soon as their Souls depart from the Body If it was for a thousand or ten thousand years all that would have an end it were something but when only for seventy or eighty years their Crafts and sinful Provocations are the more foolish To be soothed up a little when it ends in Ruin when this manner of doing doth the more ascertain Destruction to themselves and make it worse for they might otherwise have prevented it What can be more imprudent Let them take as much Pleasure in the mean while as the World affords their whole Life is but running towards Death And therefore let them make speed and hasten out of the Evil way for God hath most certainly ordered a Life after this either of eternal Happiness or Misery This is taught this is affirmed constantly And though some may raise Questions and Scruples How can these dry bones live Or the Soul exist separately Yet they err not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. He can do more then we conceive or imagine We are not to measure his Omnipotence by our weak understanding He hath said it shall be and we are to leave that to him which himself will accomplish For the Lord God of Recompences shall surely requite Jer. 51. 56. He could always do so in this Life if he pleased but his general Decree is to spare Men here this is the space of Forbearance and Long-suffering but afterwards is Punishment This is the time of Tryal but hereafter is retribution Why will not Man know of this before-hand Yea the Stork in the Heaven knoweth her appointed times and the Turtle and the Crane and the Swallow observe the time of their coming but my People know not the Judgment of the Lord Jer. 8. 7. They will not throughly consider thereof They may just call to mind how they shall be deprived of all things in this World of that Pain and Sickness distortion of Countenance pale Aspect that Death makes they are forced to think of these things because they are visible but the only useful part is neglected as it is an inlet into Eternity If there was no more in Death then what we now see in its worst Circumstances it were not worth while to concern ones Self so much concerning it but endure it when it comes and there is an end If attended with some weeks Sickness or Pain we suffer as much in the Course of our Lives and for the last strugling or gasp that is seldom longer then a single day and then the most acuâ—e Pain do destroy the sensible parts and a dangerous Sickness is least felt There is no need of making so much Provision against it But now we have assurance that this current of time is swallowed up in the Gulph of Eternity and therefore it is worthy the business of all our days to take heed into what kind thereof it enters Especially when by the Grace and Power put into our hands we may make it to end into which we will. And though none covet Death yet God hath ordered that if we will not accept of his Goodness we must be liable to the severity of his indignation Here Man would draw back and not run the hazzard of either He would be immortal and not die this is a fore-shewing of his future Condition but it cannot be here Then he would live as long as he can In Gods name let him endeavour so but withal go the way to make Death Comfortable Is he afraid when it approaches nigh And will he not take away the cause of his Fea Let him repent and turn from every Evil way and then it will do him no harm come when it will. In past Ages many were desiâ—ous to live some few years longer yet they are dead
whom they have provoked and offended throughout their foregoing days This they were warned of all along by Gods Word and Ministers their own Conscience but having continually resisted them all these Scriptures are fulfilled in them Isa 6. 9 10. 29. 10 11. Rom. 1. 24 26 28. Talk to an old Man who hath hitherto lived in disobedience and never left his lusts till they left him concerning Religion and exhort him to repent it is the same as if you did to a bruit Beast His ear is deaf and stupid to those things he understands as little of them as a Child Strangers have devoured his strength and he knoweth it not yea gray Hairs are here and there upon him yet he knoweth not Hos 7. 9. There hath been some exhortation used to those in the state of Manhood for if they are unconverted they have the spirit of slumber so they are more easily awakened but the spirit of deep sleep is poured out upon old hardened Sinners and it is to be feared some of them will not be throughly rouzed till they feel the flames of Hell about their Ears This Age is not usually bettered by reproof Who are unjust will be unjust still and who are filthy will be filthy still However they may know otherwise they shall feel that God shall wound the head of his Enemies and the Hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses Ps 68. 21. Let all people take heed how they put off their turning unto the Lord till this time for it is an unworthy thing after the body hath served divers lusts and pleasures and worn out in them and disabled any longer then to offer it up unto him Is it then a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God Is this a reasonable service No he disowns the Blind the Lame and Sick for Sacrifice Mal. 1. 8. Is it meet that the Church of God should be like the pool of Bethesda to be frequented by a number of impotent Folks of Blind Halt and Withered Neither let any presume too much on those who were called at the eleventh hour into the Vineyard but the reason is there given they were not hired before and they came as soon as called But here in a Christian Country all are called to serve the Lord in their Youth if they refuse because they think the day too long and they fancy it well enough if they go a little before Sun setting will the great Housholder thank them for it and so be imposed upon In no wise for which of you will be so served If your own workmen should not come or loyter all the day and do nothing till the time they should leave of Work would you reward such base and negligent Fellows who thus despise and put a trick on you God will be no more mocked or slighted by his Creatures then they will be by those under them He is jealous of his Honour and hates to have his commands disregarded with him is Power Sovereignty and Wisdom Men must not think to give him an answer when they will at some time hereafter for now they have other business to do or with Felix put him off to a more convenient season Let them deal thus with their Prince and see how he will resent it God is not beholden to the Work of his hands neither doth he receive any benefit by them it is alone his infinite Goodness and Love that he makes unto us any offer of Happiness and not our desert who do all we can to provoke the Author of our being He hath not dealt with us after our sins Psal 103. 10. He commands to turn from them and be healed it is meet and right the distance being infinite of him over us to answer him at the first call which he doth again and waits that he may be gracious but he doth not for ever Pharoahs heart was hardened after he had refused Gods message ten times and there are but few old Men in this Nation who have hitherto continued in an unregenerate condition but have more often resisted Gods Ambassadors commanding them in his name to turn and live and therefore equally deserve hardness of heart But God who can raise the Dead can raise these also out of the Lethargy and Death of sin he can pluck these brands out of the Fire Zech. 32. Yet there being so few sincere and hearty converts of this nature Oh my Soul trust not thou upon such uncertainties to day while it is called to day harden not thy heart but hearken unto Gods Voice forsake thy sins immediately and then thou art sure Defer not till old Age to be justified for then a thousand to one if ever thou be The hoary head is a Crown of Glory if it be found in the way of Righteousness â—rov 16. 31. It hath a resemblance to the Antient of Days and is a sign of that Eternity God shall endue him withal for the time is at hand let him that is Righteous be Righteous still Rev. 22. 10 11. Let your Loines be girded about and your Lights burning for the Bridegroom is near go ye out to Meet him that you go in with him to the Marriage be thou faithfull unto Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life Thus have we run through all the Ages of Man which are visible Of the Body Sences and sensual Pleasure in the increase change and alteration they make in his body Let none flatter himself as if he should certainly pass through them all nor defer the doing of those things which ought to be done presently for we are not sure of a Day or a Week forward For besides the many instances of sudden Death Sickness is most commonly so which in three or four days may hurry us hence to give Account for the Deeds done in the Body so uncertain a thing is life that by outward appearance none knows whither it will be long or short The breath in our Nostrils hangs upon such slender threads from within and is subject to so many Casualties from without that if it were not for Gods providence who holds our Souls in life we should rather admire that any live so long as die so soon Upon this frail thing depends our everlasting Happiness or Misery it being the space to try how we will behave our selves towards God and accordingly we are to receive from him Bâ—hold thou hast made my Days as an hand breâ—dth and mine Age is nothing before Thee Ps 39. 5. By reason of the Evil and Vanity which enclose us on every side it is irksom and tedious which makes it seem somewhat longer but when our days are passed away they are the same as a tale that is told Ps 90. 3. So it appears upon a Death-bed yea in the time of Health and Vigour the Years that are past may be all measured in a thought and the same as if they had not been How soon is the Morning of
deliberation all Men are Lyars With him my Soul is contented to embarque for the Land of Eternity upon this perswasion and confidence God must be good and true He hath made known his Will concerning us Men by him that is the true and Faithful Witness who hath done it accordingly God hath appointed a day in the which he will Judge the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all Men in that he hath raised him from the Dead Acts 17. 31. By Christs Resurrection the Apostle spends a whole Chapter 1 Cor 15. To prove the necessity of ours And in other places of Scripture are such convincing Arguments which are able to beget in us a lively Faith as is equal to knowledge and demonstration in other matters which we cannot so properly have of any thing that is unseen and future as this Article of Faith is Now my days are swifter then a Post they flee away they see no good Job 9. 25. It is evident they do roul over our heads we have no true and lasting Happiness but what is in expectation of that to come nothing we do signifies but which tends to that We cannot well think that God who made this lower part of the World for our use hath pâ—t all things under our feet Psal 8. 6. Whose works are manifold and in Wisdom hath made them all Should make us to serve to no purpose that we should not have also our proper end and we have no end at all unless it is to glorifie our Maker We have no work to do unless it is that he hath revealed for us here to do Is it to shine in Pomp or wear fine Clothes In all our Glory we are not arrayed as the Lilies of the Field Is it to shew our care by provision before hand for Earthly things The Ants and Bees do the same only we are found more unreasonable they lay up only for the Winter time but we who know our selves Mortal covet as if we were to abide here for ever Is it meerly to sport and play The Leviathan takes his Pastime in the deep Is it only to keep company There are some sorts of Birds and Beasts that continually flock and herd together still this is not all God made Man for himself hath endued him with Powers which rise higher then any of these ends To know and serve him here in order to more fully praise and enjoy him hereafter He hath provided other kind of things for us then we now see or have Every one that is not Brutish in his Imagination doth find in himself Expectations after that which this World cannot give something that points out beyond the compass of the Earth and the Deep saith it is not in me The good and allwiseCreator will not couzen or beguile him with that which is not will not always feed him with bare longings or false hopes No doubt but if Man will believe and have patience for a little while he shall have his full satisfaction These things are superfluous to Mention buâ— there are many unbelievers in these latter days who by sayings and caâ—eâ—ess actions cause the Faith of some to stumble Others have taken up Christianity as a thing of course and outward custom of the World they know nothing more in it I have heard it Talked and Whispered as if dead and gone there is an end and no more It was needful to say somewhat that these might in due time have perfect knowledge of another World before they are actually entred into it for otherwise it is sad and lamentable And also that those who have some belief and not bare profession might be under a more lively sence thereof for this very much helps to ordering the conversation aright Nay who have all faith and come to the greatest degree that usually Men arrive unto yet these have need still to seek out further establishment and confirmation thereof God having reserved that in Heaven and it being not so agreeable to a state of Tryal is pleased not to give unto any of us absolute perfection in Spiritual Graces or natural accomplishments Who hath received a faith which cannot be shaken at least in some of its Branches It doth lie upon us all to make it as sure as ever we can by the means given that it may help in time of need When we come near to Death that is such a time the greatest Temptation with whichSatan doth at last assail us is commonly to unbelief taking advantage over bodily weakness and drooping So that he who is wise will endeavour to lay up in store against that time and also it is necessary in the midst of life then indeed it may be accompanied with little doubts but at last with desperate plangings It is requiâ—te to do all things to believe yea and stedfastly to believe No Man can be too well assured of the Truth of Scripture and which is included in them a life to come Let him endeavour still to be more and more for then he may securely triumph over the last Enemy Death look it in the face and yet not be dismayed His business is when he believes the Scriptures to be most certainly true to act accordingly and then he is safe When he can apply those promises to himself in Truth and without deceit he is as sure as iâ—possible for any to be on this side of Heaven Saith Christ Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doth them I will liken him unto a wise Man which built his House upon a Rock and the rain descended and the flood came and the Winds blew and beat upon that House and it fell not for it was founded upon a Rock Mat. 7. 24 25. This he applyed to his whole Sermon on the Mount Who doth observe that particularly what is said Mat. 5. 19 20 29 Mat. 7. 21. Shall have this commendation in the mean while and shall at last find it to be true to his endless comfort But there is a deceit amongst Christians who think if they can apply one single Beatitude to themselves they are well enough Indeed if they are so not because natural disposition is more inclined to such a Grace but purely out of obedience to Christ and no other reason the blessing may be theirs And if they were so alone out of that Principle the very same would oblige them to other things also He that is careful to approve his Obedience sincerely unto God will do it in all things he requires as well as such a particular instance If he is acted by love and subjection unto him he will do a thing at his command contrary to natural inclination or fleshly interest In all the Law given us there is no exception left to the natural humours and desires of Men those are to be contradicted and brought into Obedience If some are more prone to this sin and again some to another kind their forbearance and
that lived under the Old Testament which doth not so clearly manifest immortality as the Gospel doth Luke 16. 22 23. Luke 23. 43. Phil. 1. 21 23. Heb. 9. 27. Rev. 6. 9. Besides are innumerable places to prove Resurrection eternal Judgment and Life everlasting Things are fixed and not according to Mens Fancies one way or another those Decrees and Ordinances remain still the same in Heaven Of which we could know no more unless they had been â—old unto us by the Son of God who came down from Heaven and the Spirit from above then one now lying in the lowest Dungeon doth know of what is done in this World. And they do not vary change or alter with our several apprehensions of them whether of assurance or doubt no more then the Sun ceases from shining when only a Cloud comes between Let the sick Person use continual Ejaculations Lord increase my Faith And God will not leave him But he shall receive the end of his Faith the Salvation of his Soul. There cannot be too much Strength or Comfort laid up against this Day it should be the business of a Christians whole Life before for it is the entrance into an endless Life It is the fulfilling and Manifestation of whatever he hath heard Read or done in Truth pertaining to God and Religion And indeed it is worth while to do all things to go off safely He will have Peace in his Life and strong Consolation in his Death Let him observe all parts of Duty to God his Neighbour and himself throughout the Course of his Days Let him do what he can in Sincerity and Truth Whoso doth these things shall never be moved He that hath an Ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second Death Rev. 2. 11. Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good Work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ Pâ—â—l 1. 6. We may be certain of using the means of perseverance for God hath put them into our Power and as long as we rightly use those means we shall infallibly persevere So that in the mean while we may be assured and at last have true and cercertain hopes of Resurrection unto eternal Life And there cannot be such Fright and Amazement concerning that which is to make the everlasting Decision either when it is far off or near at hand If any one hath let him search and examine his Conscience impartially either he doth something which he ought not to do or he leaves something undone which he ought to do this makes him horribly afraid and must be amended before he can be freed from the Danger which the Fear gives warning of A true Christian can contentedly look for the blessed Hope even in the midst of Life he can find Comfort and sweet in the thoughts of Death as that which will free from the disturbances of Flesh and Blood the Molestations of an unthankful unbelieving ignorant World from the Miseries and Labours of Life and send him over unto eternal Rest and Rejoycing To come to the Enjoyment of our Lord Jesus Christ to be admitted into Fellowship with Abraham Isaac and Jacob Prophets Apostles Martyrs all the Good and Wise Men since the World began to be gathered unto his Fathers to see his Godly Friends and Acquaintance of the same Generation with himself just gone before all this must be a desirable thing The dead may be supposed to be about five hundred to one more then the living now are those whom thou leavest behind shall in a little time follow thee and the People which shall be born shall die in like manner and shortly God will accomplish his whole Elect. None hath advantage who goes before or after And seeing the River must be gone over it is small difference who hath a longer or shorter Passage so we avoid the Rocks and Dangers in the way The pious Soul will be in a Strait willing to stay and yet have a mind to go and there is some Irksomeness to leave the World as now it is to change the place where we have long dwelt Our Nature is something made up of Contraries willing and yet unwilling but if God doth really send as we know not his Pleasure until after the use of all prudent Remedies the Sickness proves unto Death Fear not to go for he calls thee Remember that Petition thou hast often made Thy Kingdom come and when it is wilt thou then shrink back One end of Sickness is to make us the more willing to leave the World. Whatever is sudden doth surprize for the time but then it is soon over whereas that which comes on by Degrees and expected is longer but then more easily born Good Men have been divided in Opinion about this thing those who have been for a sudden departure have rightly thought the only Preparation is by an holy Life for the Gospel speaks of no other It Commands to Watch to have our Loyns girt and our Lamps burning and this is to be done in the midst of Health Life and Vigour There is much Talk in the World about providing for ones latter End but unless to settle temporal Affairs from the example of Hezekiah there is not so much said thereof throughout the whole Word of God. It is the beginning of Error and Deceit when People depart from that It is Non sense and Contradiction to the saying of our Saviour John. 9. 4. to put off the working while it is day till the night cometh when no Man can Work. Who purposely put off the working out their Salvation till that time had best have a great Care what they do for besides the hazard of being taken away by sudden Death yet if they should have considerable time of Sickness or Old decrepit Age they have no such Warrant of being accepted Hear what God saith Mal. 1. 8. of offering the Blind the Lame the Sick for Sacrifice But if some are against Death by the ordinary way of Sickness because that is tiresome and may be an occasion of murmuring Distrust Unbelief blasphemous Speeches which proceed from violent Distempers yet we should not refuse to suffer whatever God thinks fit to lay upon us He knows our Condition and will not enter into Judgment for the meer Sin of the Disease no more then he imputes the Follies of Childhood We are to receive for the things done in the Body 2 Cor. 5. 10. to be judged according to the general Tenour and Bent of our Life Neither will our most merciful God take advantage of any infirmity or slip at the last He will not suffer us for any Pains of Death to fall from him The Church prays so for more abundant security and also to deliver from sudden Death O Lord thou knowest what is best for every one of us Thy Will be done Whether this first coming of the Son of Man finds in the
him whom it is impossible to lie His good things promised and reserved are altogether as worthy to be depended on And though they surmise the return may be long however it is short before and certain that we go hence and we will trust our God for what may be hereafter But what if it should be said that as to this present time we are no losers All things are desired for Contentment and present Happiness again we abhor and are afraid upon the account of Evil and Misery Now if God doth continue this still without so much of those outward means if he only permits the superfluities to be taken away but instead of them gives greater Peace and Satisfaction then they would yield What harm is in all this Those who take joyfully the spoiling of their Goods as some have done are in the same or rather a better condition then those who have kept them for they have not that degree of rejoycing And so he that can finish his Course with Joy Acts 20. 23 24. when Bonds and Afflictions every where abide him is as happy as those at full Liberty for they do not so Indeed all the inconveniences of this Life are little but when they are willingly submitted unto out of Conscience towards God he sanctifies and sweetens them unto us and we are contented as if we had them not all It is small whatever we can do to testifie our Love and Obedience unto God the utmost is to part with Life for his sake when it is taken away by Wicked Men God is pleased to try many of his Servants thus far to see what they will endure for him and to let the wickedness of Men go on that he may behold what they will do against him Let none object foolishness to the Sufferers For in their falling they stay on him who gave them and all Mankind Life and Breath What can be more reasonable then to Sacrifice that up unto him which he lent them at first to Glorifie God by their Death when he will raise them up again and reward them In all Christian Sufferings it is to turn gainer for the other World the more thou shalt endure the more thou shalt be Crowned it is a laying in a Foundation against the time to come and if I may so speak a putting Isa 61. 7. in for a greater share of Glory The more thou art despised and abhorred by Men the more thou shalt be had in honour for cruel Mockings and Scourgings there will be Commendations and those shall be healed and done away for being Destitute Afflicted Tormented will succeed greater degrees of the contrary Happiness I do not admire that those Primitive and Blessed Souls when they were lodged in the Body as we are now and beset with the same Temptations and of like passions yet did so desire Martyrdom and seek after Suffering even so far that they did run to a pious extream of well-meaning forwardness We again decline it as much their Faith was more lively but we that do stand in the latter days on the earth find that decay thereof our Lord foretold which makes Men willing to shift it off by lawful or unlawful means and when all these fail then only they are for turning Martyrs and Suffering for Christ It is a good expedient to begin by little and little and try first whether we can hold a Finger in the Flame before we expose the whole Body to the Fire Whether we can endure a little Reproach Loss to be forsaken and other trifling Inconveniencies before we come to the greater Afflictions of the Gospel The least have their reward If this be absurd and simple Doctrine it must be only so with Unbelievers Let a Plutarch or Epictetus who did see no further then this present time who might talk but did not know of more then the conveniency of this Life deliver that prudent Aphorism ' He that accomedates himself to the present affairs is Wise But we have not so lâ—â—ned Christ Eph. 4. 20. Indeed he hath taught us to flee from Persecution to avoid it by speed but we are to decline it by nothing which in the least tends to the dishonour of Him and his Religion by nothing that betwrayes Unbelief or Distrust or is any ways contrary to the Doctrine he gave us He left no Rules of Policy or common esteemed Wisdom for that may prove an occasion to being on sinful compliances and after making a question whether they were so or not see 1 Pet. 4. If any one suffer as a Christian not according to the common nâ—tions thereof but as it is written in the Word of God by living according to the Rules and Directions there And the Man is perswaded so in his mind that which now invites and approves of him for so doing will be his witness hereafter to find acceptance with Almighty God. There is no great danger of being mistaken for the lines of Good and Evil Duty and Sin are so clearly written in the Hearts of all especially of those who arrive to that eminency as to suffer for God's sake that he may perfectly understand them Such a one must for some time have done the Will of God and then we know what is asserted and by whom John 7. 17. for outward Profession or Hypocrisie may go a great way but not to part with worldly Interest or Life it self Whereas sincerity will oblige on still and he that really designs for the Kingdom above will pass through the Tribulation which lies in the way Therefore it is to be presumed he knows it and cannot avoid without going out which he will not do It is truly said The Cause and not the Passion doth make the Martyr yet if he who hath no Pride nor vain-Glory no Sinister impulsive but is acted by the alone Principle of a good Conscience whereof no Man can judge but himself however if he should be deceived as to that seeing it is not out of wilful ignorance for that is far from the Godly without question God will be Merciful and reward his honest meaning to serve and obey him An upright and sincere mind is very acceptable with him I will spare them as a Man spareth his own Son that serveth him Mal. 3. 17. Now if a Child should do a thing with a good intent to please his Father though he did not require it yet still the good will and intent is accepted the same it is of God towards us Men. If this be not true Divinity we are left at the greatest uncertainty that can be for we are all but Babes and Sucklings to God the highest acts of our Soul are but ignorance before him We cannot be Wise beyond our selves and we take the same manner to please him as our Superiours on Earth And according to this is the whole Scripture his own Revelation to mankind Only let us have a good mind towards God and the Spirit he hath given us is
Men would suffer a particular Examination out of the Word of God the very Truth and Reason of things Christianity will evidence it self to be greater Courage then what pasleth for it in the judgment of the World. Which is sign of the more resolute Spirit that both fore-sees and considers the Evil and yet subjects it self thereto upon assured and beneficial grounds as did the Martyrs Confessors and godly Sufferers or those who go on with a certain Violence without Knowledge and Consideration as do others Who can lay down their Lives with a deliberate choice retaining their perfect Reason and Sence or those in a sudden Passion and heat of Blood who are pushed on by Malice like a spurred Horse leaping down a Precipice or foolish pride who make themselves half Drunk and then go on not knowing what they do But consider all the circumstances of the Christians Actings and Sufferings and his Courage will be found more Real and Fminent Through God he doth Valiantly Psal 60. 12. Whose Grace is sufficient and inspires him with an Heart to overcome all difficulty and danger Now that according to the World if strictly surveyed will be reduced very low for abstract that Disposition of Children and Mad-men who are not sensible of the danger and therefore dare rush upon any thing If they be neither Fools nor Blind as not to know nor see any thing If their Souls be not rendred Earthy through Sensuality and so fear not If they are not quite stupified when the Heart is become like the nether Milstone which doth not tremble because it hath no sence If they have no need of Wine nor strong Liquors to support If all Disguise and Hypocrisie could be discovered and their concealed Fears seen when big words make a shew of the contrary and are used as an Artifice to hide them Take away from them all Gutward Advantages and Helps and they will be as other Men keep them from the opium of continual and immoderate Eating let them renounce the assistance of strong Drink observing only the just rules of Temperance And then see whether their Courage will not grow faint and languish Were that predominant thing of Pride rooted out which makes them endeavour to stifle their Fears Then they would be brought back to the common nature of Mankind which they would lift up themselves above by the aid of the aforesaid things We see evidently when these fail they are the same as others As in Sickness or in a sober approach of Death but more certainly when their Souls are stript naked and sent into the other World no mention is made of their Courage in that place And the mighty Mens Hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the Heart of a Woman in her Pangs Jer. 48. 41. Men are generally the same There may be some little degrees of Difference yet they are all but Flesh still The Lord is the Maker of them all He hath not made some to be Men and some to be Gods some with Fear and some without but this Plant is implanted into all And ordered so that it may be improved or abused corrected or prevaricated besitting this Life of Tryal But the Wicked strive against God they would expel that out which he hath placed in which they cannot but do as faâ— as lieth in them for what they cannot utterly extinguish they endeavour to hide and stifle Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himself and let him be your Fear and let him be your Dread Isa 8. 13. and to this end all Fear was put into Men But if they do not fear him this is not their Courage but Ignorance and Forgetfulness of whom they see not And then for their making a shew not to value Death No more do Sheep going to the Slaughter for these Men just know they shall die yet mind no more what shall become of them afterwards then those dumb Creatures passing on the Road do think of what we know shall befall them Can those Reasonable Souls indeed rush into the other World who cannot hear a true report thereof in an aiery sound Can they indeed step forth upon the dark Mountains who cannot see a Map thereof in Paper and Ink They foolishly build up their Confidences and in common Vogue would pass for Men of Valour because they can slight and contemn Religion But stand to it for you are Challenged into the Field and see whether you do not betray Cowardice herein What if it should be said You that can hear Drums and Trumpets the roaring of Canons yet the voice of God you cannot endure to hear which is full of Majesty and shaketh your Hearts When he Thundreth in the Air it will make them quiet and still but when he speaketh from Heaven when he sendeth his Waters through a Pipe or gives life to a Psal 8. 2. dead Letter this you have not Courage enough to receive or read You set at naught and despise his Ordinances when they are not rightly managed You can smile at the flat and insipid discourses of Ignorant and Unfaithful Teachers but not at those who both understand and do as they should You that will not be out-Hectored yet ye are frightened with Words a sure proof that they are not vain but both true and significative You that do not value Sword nor Spears yet dare not contest with the Rod of his Mouth Isa 11. 4. What is lighter then that but when God is pleased to use the meanest thing it can make the stoutest Oak of Bashan tremble like the Leaves of the Forrest Gather your selves O ye Mighty and try to shew your Courage which if you can you also will for the great Importance and Necessity will press you forward if you have so much power to get over all this Can you sit for a while and tremble under Gods Word Will you admit of a second hearing and not be frightened with Felix to put it off to a more convenient season Are you able to stand before him who Fights with the Sword of his Mouth who Wounds that he may Heal who Condemns that he may Justifie who as the Prophet speaks Slays the Wicked casting them down that they do not come again but for those who are not so fearful to run away as Christ would have none to be so he will not shew himself always thus terrible to them Stand but the first Shock and then you are Men. It is only in order to bring you unto Conviction to be Humbled under the mighty Hand of God and then this Dreadfulness will go off that you may serve him with Reverence and godly Fear 'T is Pusillanimity and a more exceeding Fearfulness that keeps Men off even in those who would be thought to have the contrary for could they attend to the Word of Exhortation bear for a while a little Irksomeness and Sorrow Had they Resolution to do some things contrary to corrupt nature and undergo a little hardship in the Service
event of Folly. The pleasures of Sin are but for a season and after the several times are over the melancholick fit returns as bad rather worse then ever If they would suffer themselves to be admonished how they neither make use of the right remedy nor apply it to the distempered part for instead of taking away they feed the Disease and use stupifying Medicines which only take away the sence but not prevent Death The Sinner that labours under remorse will drink heartily for sorrow is dry so endeavouring to drown the spirit within him which though it sink at night will rise again in the morning and because it tells him the truth it is thought his Enemy for disturbing him And therefore he will try again to drive that unwelcome Guest out of his house which cannot be done Then continual Business Recreation or Company shall divert its whispers Otherwise by gross Ignorance or stupid inconsideration he willingly becomes as bruit Beasts whom he observes to be disturbed from nothing within Thus he dreams of relief as if he should not die and puts of what would do no other harm then lead him to Repentance till it is hid from his Eyes It is truly said of the Wisdom that is from above Her wayes are ways of pleasantness and all her pathes are Peace Pro. 3. 17. Under that Word is comprized all Happiness and this throughout the whole Scripture is promised to keeping of the Commandments of God. O that thou had hearkened to my Commandment then had thy Peace been as a River and thy Righteousness as the Waves of the Sea Isa 48. 18. There is a constant serenity and calmness of mind The sincere Penitent when he is habituated to the way of Godliness finds more Pleasure then ever he did in the course of Sin. He iâ— more comforted in singing Praises and making spiritual melody in his Hâ—art then heretofore in drunken Songs or lacivious tunes More satisfaction arises to him in meditating on God's Law then who devise mischief or let their thoughts run after all manner of filthiness This is the constant felicity of God's chosen but they have greater things then these the antepasts of Heaven the earnest and first fruits of the Spirit that joy of the inward Man which far exceeds the most exquisite delights of Sence All these are without allay or mixture there is no Condemnation or Fear no Repentance or Vexation among them It is a true and sensible satisfaction though it may seem mystery and foolishness to carnal Men. Any one may have it upon the terms of the Gospel who observes all things whatsoever the Author thereof hath Mat. 28. 20. commanded for want of which so many miss of it The Covetous doth avoid Gluttony Drunkenness or such chargeable Sins and will be apt to cry out with the Pharisee God be thanked I am none of these But he doth not take heed and beware of Covetousness Luke 12 15. so he is not happy here For through the love of Money he pierceth himself through with many Sorrows nor will be hereafter for such shall not inherit the Kingdom of God 1. Cor. 6. 10. He whose God is his Belly is perhaps no Mans enemy but his own and therefore may expect the peaceable fruits of Righteousness but in vain for he hath not here any lasting joy it arises only from the Meat and Drink that perisheth neither will he attain to the fulness thereof His end being Destruction from the presence of God Phil. 3. 18. They do somewhat towards obtaining Happiness but the other evil deprives thereof One accursed thing troubles Israel here below and shall never approach so near as to disturb the rest of the People of God. However the enemies to their own good would have it yet it is necessary to that of the present time to avoid every evil way for otherwise there can be no true Peace of mind no freedom from fear and regret In the day of Prosperity be joyful but in the time of Adversity consider God also hath set the one over against the other to the end that Man should find nothing after him Eecles 7. 14. Look into them both throughly and they are little each passeth away and it is the same thing afterwards So they are not to be admired or feared but the one cautiously used and the other submitted unto that they may help forward to eternal Happiness for that is happiness indeed and the principal concern when all temporal things slip away like a Dream which affects a little for the instant but afterwards is not minded But good Men can better bear Affliction then others having joy and gladness within when the Body is weak and languishing They have quietness and assurance of mind when the Flesh is wasted with pain or sickness This is so manifest that even the Wicked if they have courage to stand by and observe will secretly ejaculate Let me die such a Death and let my latter end be like his Mark the Perfect Man and behold the Vpright for the end of that Man is Peace Psal 37. 37. when others are attended with Horror Amazement or Stupidity and Inconsideration All acknowledge those more happy in their Sickness and Death but the great doubt and inquiry will be whether they are so in their Life for if that can be brought forth and made to appear in the Light of the living it would be no small argument for the Conversion of Sinners from the error of their way The reason why theâ— follow after the Lusts of the flesh and commit sins most in Fashion is because they think it is for their present Happiness their Honour and Reputation which is one part thereof Now were they fully convinced that could equally yea more be had in obedience to Gods Commandment these would live according to that unless they are the greatest Fools that can be imagined considering the disproportion of the rewards of the one and sad Punishments that are to the other way If the God of this World hath not blinded their eyes and they are not altogether become Carnal who cannot discover any thing within they may consider the great difference of things set before us Life and Good Death and Evil that they may choose the better and avoid the worse Evil hath a thin appearance of Good and therefore is catched at and embraced so Good hath an outward shew of Evil and is abhorred and despised At first sight sin and iniquity seem to further the Happiness of mankind but in truth is the Cause of Misery so righteousness and obedience looked slightly on appear to bring in convenience and disturbance Sin hath a shew of Wisdom and Briskness when in the Act it is folly afterwards Tribulation and Anguish of Soul the other at a transitory glance is foolish and dull but upon full Tryal is the greatest Prudence perfect Peace and Satisfaction to the mind of Man. The delusion and mistake is Men do not see throughly
put before the means for the Apostle speaks of Gods principal intention and here mentions the way how they may accomplish it by knowledge of the Truth which whosoever doth sincerely and universally as any one may do this will quicken and stir him to arise and be saved It is the same as if in ordinary Conversation one would have his Servant go to such a place and then shews him the way Truth is distinct from Man for it is the very Nature of things without the Connexion between themselves and how they pertain Of Reason to us whether Divine or Common for so they are distinguished to us when properly all things are Gods. There is a Power implanted in us to know them many of them are hidden which we discern by searching and inferring one thing from another which is the proper Office of our understanding and commonly called Reason Some have been offended at this word because it is so little mentioned in Scripture Whereas it is 1 Sam. 12. 7. Isa 1. 18. Acts 17. 23. Acts 24. 25. and in innumerable places by other words to the same purpose as Knowledge Wisdom and Understanding and the great necessity of them is pressed throughout the whole Book of God. He appeals to us Ezek. 18. Whether his ways are not equal Implying we have some Capacity to think thereof I speak as to Wise men judge ye of what I say 1 Cor. 10. 15. And then what he saith concerning the Gentiles That which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hâ—th shewed iâ— unto them for the invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his Eternal Power and God-head so that they are without excuse Because that when they knâ—w God they glorified him not as God Rom. 1. 19 20 21. Their way of knowing him was by inferring it was some one who made this Beautiful House of the World and he that Built all things is God. They had but a dim knowledge of him just believed he was but for want of Grace and Revelation knew not how to come unto him nor seek him aright This is our advantage above theirs we have now blessed be his Divine Majesty the Old and New Testament compleated the sum whereof is a rational way of pleasing God see Mat. 23. 16 17. Isa 44. 19. All our duty to him is a reasonable service Rom. 12. 1. Here is to be seen his law for the Government of the World which at first was given in short as well becomes Sovereign and infinite power as the ten Commandment which contain great equity The Writings of the Prophets are as so many Expositions on them who did exhort to the observance and reprove for the Transgression of them all which may be observed to be reasonable inference and conclusion from them applicable to those particular acts as even the heart of Man might judge Who is among you that feareth the Lord that obeyeth the voice of his Servant Isa 50. 10. God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son Heb. 1. 1. In whose Gospel the things to be done are most agreeable unto the Sons of Men the precepts given us are worthy of the Son of God and came from above for the Wisdom of Ages could not contrive so excellent He whom the Jews did stile a Carpenter hath outdone all who were ever before him his worst and implacable Adversaries could not say any thing against what he Taught and those sent to apprehend him did confess never Man spake like this Man John 7. 46. The malicious world could not find fault with his Doctrine Of all those Antichrists and Hereticks who have done so much mischief to the Church of God none have either wrote or spoken against the rules of Life unless some mad prophane Persons in a scurrilous Language which prevailed nothing upon Wise and considering Men and never made any Proselites but such as were before led that way by their corrupâ— Lusts and Affections Nothing can be said against them â—oâ— they aâ—â— pâ—re 〈◊〉 and even the perfection of reason All do approve of their Excellency that do admit them into full and due consideration If reason were stretched out to the utmost and suffered to have its perfect work to look out every way and â—ow far this would dictate This Star being now assisted by the Son of Righteousness would direct to the right Path though it be a small Light in comparison to the other yet it will lead to the greater by direction of both we may go on securely Religion without reason is Superstition and Folly God is not pleased with the Sacrifice of Fools and reason without Religion doth argue Man more ungrateful to his Maker so liable to a greater Condemnation Well is it where they meet together and each assist the other remembring still which is subject and must keep close to the other The natural understanding prompts to do nothing prejudicial to our Happiness and to follow after what conduces thereto if it be further unable that hinders not seeing it is offered help from above Gods Grace is sufficient and that is never wanting to any who desire and seek after it which every one may do And therefore let none say if he becomes Miserable that it is through God he is so for I have no pleasure in the Death of him Deut. 8. 20. that dieth saith the Lord God wherefore turn your selves and live ye Ezek. 18. 22. That we may know how to do this we are shewed and also required to follow after Him who is the Way the Truth and the Life God hath given us Knowledge and Power to be Happy and hath done all things that can be well conceived seeing he hath been pleased to make us as we are to put us to a free Choice and Obedience We are not Gods but the Work of his Hands he may do what he will with his own if God should force us to do our Duty that would be like the Sacrifice of a Beast against his Will. We ought to praise our God that he hath made us capable of serving him who hath provided so much for our Good that we may live for ever if we will he doth press us forward to the things which are for our Peace he Neh. 9. 29. doth testifie against us that he might bring us again unto his Law this is done by the Spirit he hath given us Conscience is called the first Spirit of Man 1 Cor. 2. 11. Prov. Of Conscience 20. 27. It is the most excellent part of the reasonable Soul which being assisted from above make Application of the Mans actions to himself He that is wise is wise unto himself and this bringing all things home is most useful for accomplishment of the great end of Happiness
Pretence of more Freedom and being their own Men for not so much Original corruption as their own added Transgression hath inthralled them While they promise them Liberty they themselves are the Servants of Corruption for of whom a man is overcome of the same is he brought in Bondage 2 Pet. 2. 19. Every one is thus who is led away by sinful Inclinations which is the worst sort of Slavery If they be fulfilled he is thirsty after more and if not he is discontented when they did obtain it was great trouble before the thing when had doth not satisfie and still Desires are let out after something more All of us are miserable and enslaved in our natural State but Gods Grace doth help and bring us out The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to Preach deliverance 〈◊〉 the Capâ—ives and recovering sight of the Blind and to set at liberty â—hâ—m that are bruised Luk. 4. 18. To free those that are the Servants of â—in Know ye not that to whom ye yield your selves servants to obey his sâ—rvants ye are to whom ye obey whether of sin unto Death or of obedience unto Righteousness Rom. 6. 16. If Men will not yield subjection unto God they do to something else they are servants of Sin and Evil and as much under the suggestions of them as the obedient Soul is bound to live according to his Word Gods service is perfect freedom in comparison of serving divers Lusts and Pleasures yet these â—tand in competition with that so one would think Men were in love with Destruction or they would not suffer so much to â—all into it for less trouble rightly bestowed would carry them to Heaven His Commandments are not grievous 1 Joh. 5. 3. Which cannot be said of the dictates of a sensual appetite neither is so much difficulty in keeping them as making provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof The way of Man is not in himself it is not in Man that walketh to direct his steps Jer. 10. 23. It is not in his own power to make himself happy and seeing he fain would be so let him make the wisest choice The Lord commanded us to do all these Statutes to fear the Lord our God for our good always Deut. 6. 24. And who would not be confined to the things which are for his welfare and happiness It is for the safety of the Ship that it be steered Mans goings are of the Lord how can a Man then understand his own way Prov. 20. 24. That way is not good which is after his own thoughts Isa 65. 2. And then unto whom can he stand better beholden then that the Lord shall guide thee continually Isa 58. 11. The Steps of a good Man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way Psal 37. 23. It is the property of the Creator alone and not any Creature to have his own will Angels do comply therewith much more should the Sons of Men especially when it is so reasonable and excellent It restrains from nothing but what would do hurt and make us miserable Self will which is an Enemy to Righteousness and Peace must be pulled down This is the first thing to be done If any Man will come after Me let him deny himself Mat. 16. 24. saith our Saviour which is no such hard saying as carnal Reason may Judge for it is a greater satisfaction to resist corrupt inclinations then to yield unto them the less they are given way unto the less strength they have the understanding part rejoyces to get Masterdom over the Will for that is naturally contrary to the Law of God so Command must be had over it or no Obedience will be performed Some have subdued Countries triumphed over mighty Kings led them and their people into Captivity yet themselves have been holden under the invisible Chains of imperious lust and desire They are troubled with stirs and commotions in their new conquests but the greatest are within their own breast which cannot be appeased though the others may by outward force Those Wars and Fightings come from their lusts which War in their Members and cannot be suppressed with all the gallant Troops of Horsemen or brave Legions Though they have got Cities and strong Holds yet still they lust and have not enough If they kill never so many Enemies to possess their Lands yet they desire to have and cannot obtain as much as they wish for they Fight and War yet have not what they would And the reason of all is because they know not God who is the only proper and commensurate object for Mans vast desires There is no other way to Contentment but to apply our selves unto the infinite One above that he would be pleased to moderate our desire after the things here and turn the whole stream thereof unto himself If we could cease reaching after outward things more then what is necessary we should be more happy then those who have greatest abundance the not having is no torment where is no desire We are imperfect and wanting so must covet after somewhat more this leadeth our desire to the end â—or which it was put in that is taketh off from the Creature which cannot satisfie to fix upon the great Creator in whom all fulness dwells As the Heart panteth after the Water-Brooks so panteâ—h my Soul after thee O God. My Soul thirsteth for God for the living â—od when shall I come and appear before God Psal 42. 1 2. Whom have â—in Heaven but Thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire dâ—sire besides Thee Psal 73. 25. If ye be risen with Christ seek those things above Col. 3. 1. These are equal to our boundless desires and even the contemplation do some what fill much more will the enjoyment hereafter Whereas these here being subject to vanity leave the mind craving and empty What can be a greatâ—r Torment then earnest desire after those things which are not to be obtained by all that would and if had to be disappointed of that satisfaction expected from them Inordinate Affection evil Concupisence Covetousness have a present punishment besides the wrath of God which cometh on the Children of Disobedience To prevent these direction is given in the words foregoing Mortifie there â—re your Members which are upon the Earth Col. 3. 5 6. â—f this be done and the body is dead unto the Worlâ— there can be no â—â—â—re after things therein Our Lord Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins thâ—â— he might deliver us from this present evil World according to the will of God and our Father Gal. 1. 3. 4 Christians are obliged by their profession not to love it nor to walk according to it 1 John 2. 15 16 17. Eph. 2. 2 3. Let none think these harsh Doctrines which make mans life miserable when they do the contrary In the World is trouble who mind it are perplexed with cares loss and disappointment If any
none but he who travelled in the greatness of his strength who was mighty to save and therefore could endure The consideration of which should make us abhor our selves and repent in Dust and Ashes to mourn and be in bitterness for those sins which have slain the Prince of Life This is that sorrow required under the Gospel for Godly sorrow worketh repentance to Salvation not to be repented of for behold this self same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort what carefulness it wrought in you yea what clearing of your selves yea what indignation yea what fear yea what vehement desire yea what zeal 2 Cor. 7. 10 11. If it were troublesome yet to obtain these good fruits none should refuse it but our Gracious God hath ordered for the encouragement of all some sweetness therein In the midst of such sorrow the heart is light and cheerful which seems absurd and foolish to carnal Men yet who have had sincere contrition know it to be true even whilst they were pouring forth penitential tears gladness was in the inward Man. Let not this pass off for strange for if in the midst of laughter the heart is sorrowful why may it not be also joyful in the midst of weeping Thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity whose name is holy I dwell in the high and lofty place with him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit to revive the Spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Isa 57. 15. When Almighty God doth this who or what can depress and make it sorry There is light and cheerfulness however cloudy and dark it seems without the Sun doth always shine in its full Brightness but somewhat between doth hinder ouâ— perceiving thereof so it is of Gods Favour and the light of his Countenance Our infirmities and imperfection do take away the feeling thereof whereof we have the more as they go off and are endeavoured against God is not far from us but our iniquities separate from him he doth not so much hide his face but our sin and weakness like a curtain before the Soul intercepts the sight thereof None need to be discouraged or think the King of Kings will not regard him because of his small and mean condition there is another gracious promise Isa 66. 1. 2. Some do highly esteem a kind word or pleasant aspect from a great personage and shall so little a thing which doth no real good be so much accounted of when it proceeds from vain Man whose breath is in his Nostrils Is not his favour to be more valued who is Lord of Lords whose loving kindness is better then life Psal 63. 3. For it reaches further Certainly if we had faith we should not care to be rejected and despised of Men as long as we have the assurance of that no more then he who hath the Kings favour doth regard the esteem of a common Beggar God who is not a Man that he should lie hath promised it to godly sorrow and contrition herein are those sayings found true They that sow in tears shall reap in joy Psal 126. 5. Blessed are ye that weep for ye shall laugh Blessed are Luke 6. 21. they that mourn for they shall be comforted Mat. 5. 4. To Sinners and the merry Men of the World the Apostle gives Admonition and Exhortation Be afflicted and mourn and weep let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up Jam. 4. 9 10. But the sorrow of the World worketh Death 2 Cor. 7. 10. Therein is nothing but Vexation and therefore to be taken away Christianity hath shewed an excellent way of doing this which those of old time were ignorant of see Mat. 6. 25. to the end Phil. 4. 6. 1 Pet. 5. 7. 1 Cor. 7. 30 31. Set not the heart and affection for the disquietude arises from that on the World. The more the mind is separated from Sensible things it conceives of Spiritual which is Life and Peace Rom. 8. 6. And to this it is quickened knowing that shortly we are to be quite taken from these and for ever to abide with the other and therefore is greater reason they should be the object of our thoughts and care then the little things that are only for a while present A lively faith sees into the other World and over looks this It gives a transitory glance but not sixes on perishing things and then they are no disturbance Experience assures we must be certainly deprived of them as we daily see others are a little before Our profession teacheth to draw off our desires before we are utterly taken from them to be in not of rather above the World just set the hand to those little concernments here but to have the affection still on things above and then the Man hath not much of Worldly Sorrow for his Portion though he hath some for as he partakes of the corruption so must he of the curse of his Fore-Father which also in a great measure is taken away by Christ yet he is comforted by Gods Grace that he is very well able to bear Many are the afflictions of the Righteous but the Lord delivereth them out of all Psal 34. 19. And in the mean while giving patience and support he is not broken under them Heaviness in the heart of Man makes it stoop but staying upon his God he is not cast down Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee â—e shall never suffer the Righteous to be moved Psal 55. 22. Many are the places in Scripture which minister Consolation to them in affliction or trouble this precious Balm if applied will heal all their diseases and sores of whatsoever kind they be But many Sorrows shall be to the Wicked Psal 32. 10. For this belongs not unto them neither can they relish it When they are in pain or heaviness they must groan and be in like miserable condition with them which have no understanding their sence render them capable of sufferings but their Spirit being become brutish will not sustain them they may indeed palliate but can have nothing to get a real hope or deliverance ye shall lie down in sorrow Isa 50. 11. Would they be raised up again Then they must cease to do wickedly and hear the word of God which saith When thou art in Tribulation and all these things are come upon thee even in the latter days if thou turn unto the Lord thy God and shalt be obedient unto his voice for the Lord thy God is a merciful God he will not forsake thee neither destroy thee Deut. 4. 30 31. And if thou learnest obedience by sufferings thou mayest kiss the Rod and say it is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy Statutes Psal 119. 11. Anger is often abused to Sin and then is Torment but
for that also was once to come and we see it hath already been The day of death with us living is to come and though it be so none can be foolish to deny but that will as certainly be as was the day of our Birth All this great business which is cryed up to be so much at a distance is only till then for albeit the perfect consummation of bliss and misery will be after the general Judgment and how it shall be with us immediately after Death there is no plain Revelation yet from John 9. 4. Heb. 9. 27. and alike places it appears As the Tree falls so it lies As Death leaves one so Judgment finds him What therefore doth it signifie if the General Day be afar off when the Day of our particular Death may be next Week to Morrow this very Night God may require our Soul The body remains insensible in the Sleeping-House of the Grave yet it will be awaked from thence by the Trump of the Arch-Angel A Man would not go to sleep very securely if he knew before hand he Mat. 25. 6. should be rouzed by his House burning about his ears and of this we are assured that after our earthly Tabernacle is laid down it riseth up no more till the day of the Lord comes as a Thief in the Night 1 Thes 5. 2. In the which the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth also and the Works that are therein shall be burnt up If we would be safe in that great day we must before we go hence consider and do well that we may be worthy to escape and stand the only strength is innocence Seeing then these things shall be dissolved what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God wherein the Heavens being on fire shall be dissolved 2 Pet 3. 10 11 14. We daily approach nearer to morrow then to day and thus continually make towards it Whether we Eat or Drink Sleep or Play our time passeth and whether we think of it or not we are always going to that state in which time shall be no more How soon we may be there we know not but most certainly we shall be there at last Take ye heed Watch and Pray for ye know not when the time is Mark 13. 33. Who will not obey this Commandment but be unmindful go to sleep and take their rest yet their Damnation slumbereth not and if they put the evil day far from them yet still their condemnation lingereth not and that will come do what they can In the days of Sodom they did Marry and were given in Marriage did not at all consider the things which should come upon them nevertheless the Lord rained down Fire and Brimstone What are now become of all those in the Generation with Amos who would put the evil day far from them Yet it is long since come and they could not stave it off Those of the same mind in the time of our Amos 6. Fathers are all gone and their carelesness could not preserve them from the Pit of Destruction They thought the very like what some do now the things of another World were at a great distance and they need not mind them yet they fell in unawares We can no more think their misery less then who wilfully shut their Eyes and drop into a bottomless Gulph whereas if they had kept them open they might have seen and passed by it Like the evil Servant who said in his heart My Lord delayeth his coming Mat. 24. 48. They had time enough and to spare on the Earth therefore they would smite and oppress their Neighbours eat and drink with the drunken But the Lord came in a day when they looked not for him and they are reserved unto his just Judgment if they might rise from the dead again and have another day of grace and for bearance they would be other kind of Men They would take heed and not be surprized on a sudden But the decrees of Almighty God like himself are unchangeable they were told of this before and they might have accepted the good counsel of the Lord Jesus and therefore he is Righteous in his dealings towards Men. Who dyed in their sins have no more place for repentance for he gave them a space to repent and they repented not Rev. 2. 21. But the living may as we are at this day yet not better then our Fathers we must shortly dye in like manner and are to stand or fall to our own Master We shall see another representation of things then is now before us one which openeth into the eternal Countrys either new Heavens and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness 2 Pet. 3. 13. Or a Land of Darkness of the shadow of Death a place of Dragons and Scorpions the inhabitation of Sin and Misery Yet a little while and we shall be removed out of this place and then we shall find that the things here spoken of though they may at present seem as idle tales Luke 24. 11. will be real and no fictions Whosoever believeth that God is true and that those things are so which he hath spoken by his holy Prophets Son and Apostles cannot otherwise then be convinced of the certainty of them even now If so nothing can be more effectual to perswade Men futurity will be no more an argument against them then now it is against Mens going a Voyage to a Foreign Country where it is several Months before they can reap any profit The shortness of the time before at least by Death the infallibility of that the exceeding greatness of the concern should take away all other disadvantages If we had but faith as a grain of Mustard-seed we should remove Mountains which now hinder us to behold the Land that is very far off Isa 33. 17. And for all the distance it would more affect us because of its exceeding pleasantness then that our feet now tread on if it doth not it cometh to pass because of unbelief Nevertheless if we believe not yet he abideth faithful he cannot deny himself 2 Tim. 2. 13. He hath provided a rest for his people and to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest but to them that believed not Heb. 3. 18. They shall not only be deprived of that but shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone which is the second Death Rev. 21. 8. Which they may as soon avoid by saying they do not believe any such thing as now they may a temporal evil by fancying strongly it shall not come upon them If they could make themselves immortal by having a lively Faith that they shall â—ot die or if they were fast bound to a Stake and a pile of Faggoâ—s kindled close round about and they could be preserved from
into such a Sleep that he knows not whether he is tumbling notwithstanding he comes to a fearful end One dead in Trespasses and Sins perceives not whether he tends when he is just dropping into the Fire yet as soon as he is there he is sensible to a Witness and so will remain for evermore Whatever gnorant By-standers may think such a sort of Death must be a sad sight to all knowing Christians for who can approve of what is occasioned by unbelief gross Ignorance or habitual Wickedness All which Seal men up to the Day of Destruction There is a great difference between this and the end of the Righteous for the one is Senceless and Calls not upon God but in a general way as Lord have mercy upon me or the like which any one may do if he be never so ungodly But the other can express his Peaceable Condition and shew forth good Grounds of hope and call upon God his Saviour with that feelingness which no Stranger to the Covenant of Grace can Righteousness delivereth from Death Prov. 11. 4. It preserves from all the dreadfulness thereof which nothing besides doth Wickedness shall not deliver those who are given unto it but is the cause of all that Misery which this binds Men over unto Let them ruffle and sport themselves never so much their End is coming They must sicken and go away to Account for all their Frolick and Madness There is set before thee a good and evil Death one you must have and therefore be sure to choose the best Be good and do Good and thou shalt never die amiss When thou art wearied with Labour all the days of thy Life this will set thee at Rest but if thou art not willing and obedient thou mayest drudge on still without any hope for after toil here will succeed endless pains according as now thou behavest thy self thou shalt fare well or ill hereafter So will it be with Thee and Me. For we must all appear before the judgment Seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5. 10. When the Sun shall become black as a Sackcloth of Hair and the Moon become as Blood and the Heavens shall depart as a Reâ— 6. scroll roled together The trump of the Arch-Angels shall sound and the Dead shall hear and leap out of their Graves like frighted Men. Neither greatness nor smallness shall excuse from coming forth The mighty Men and every bond Man and every free Man hid themselves This will be more dreadful then a blazing Comet or the greatest Thunder and Lightning It may be we have no business at those Assizes which are holden twice a Year but at this general Grave-delivery which is kept once for all our dead bodies shall arise and every one of us shall give account of himself to God Rom. 14. 12. Mens hearts will fail them for fear and if conscious to themselves of evil will wish that they might return into this World again to live over their past life for then they would be better provided But when the Prisoner comes to be tried is he let go free only upon his bare saying he will not Steal nor commit Murder any more No he must answer for what he hath done We know it before hand that when it shall come we may have no excuse or plea that of this and every day of our life after years of Discretion we are in danger to be called to account Although at present we make a mock of sin we follow it with Greediness and Merriment valuing it as a matter of naught yet when God enters into Judgment what was formerly so light in Opinion will â—â—nk them down into the bottomless Pit. There is no other way to escape this but now even now to judge our selves that we be not judged nor condemned with the World 1 Cor. 11. 31 32. God now commandeth all Men every where to repent because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained Acts 17. 30. 31. The good have no reason to fear because they are to be judged by him who is now their advocate with the Father and the propitiation for their sins 1 John 2. 1 2. They may have boldness in the day of Judgment because as he is so are they in this World 1 John 4. 17. But as for those who by continued doing the Works of the Devil in as much as in them lies build up that which he came to destroy shall receive from his Mouth that terrible Sentence Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels When the Words are gone forth these shall go away into everlasting Punishment Mat. 25. 46. Did we see this doleful herd as they are going we should fear What God hath said by his Son must come to pass so it will be as certainly as if we now saw it with our eyes What can be more forcible to make us take the utmost heed that our selves be not among them To whom the Summers heat seems so grievous and every little spark that falls upon the body so painful How can they abide to lye down in everlasting fire Who now think it so irksome to tarry a few and evil days here on Earth though they have several good ones intermingled How can they endure to be in Hell for thousands and millions of Years without an hour of comfort or the least freedom from Misery Let me ask thee O Man suppose thou â—awest a Fiery Furnace and there thou mightest continue alive for a thousand Years how much of the Worlds pleasure wouldst thou require to undergo the torment thereof for that time I am confident thou wouldst not take all the delights under the Sun all thy life long And why then wilt thou for the pleasures of sin for a season bring upon thy Body and Soul those Eternal Plagues The damned are set forth in Scripture suffering all those evils which are now accounted greatest in the World. What is all this for But to make the more hast to escape from the Stormy Wind and Tempest By the same reason that we flee from the face of a Serpent the Sword of a devouring Enemy to save our selves from Fire or Water or any thing which would hurt We are also obliged to avoid the damnation of Hell for this will more torment then all those things pâ—t together That is to be done by fearing the Lord our God and keeping his Commandments for he hath prepared those things only for the wicked and disobedient that none should be so As the Punishments are severe enough to frighten from Transgression so is the Reward sufficient to encourage any Soul to Obedience It is described by those things which are now most apt to raise our desires and stir up our industry towards obtaining of
did not take up our rest there for we believed God had provided better things We fully trusted unto what some did only make a reserve of and therefore would make sure of the Wordly happiness O wonderful wise in their own Opinion and accordingly did run after every trifle snatch at every thing goodly to behold did tear their flesh with thornes and briers walked through deserts and wandred out of the way and so missed of the place to which those who had faith are arrived Deut. 32. 20. It will be more Happiness to the blessed Spirits in Heaven to remember that they came thither with more ease and less trouble then those accursed Souls did find in the way which led to Hell which consideration will be a greater degree of torment to them This is true of all sorts and conditions of Men from the highest to the lowest whatever rank they stand in the World it is their greatest happiness to fear God and keep his Commandments then which what more forcible Exhortation can be desired to perswade Men For the very same doth prevail as to all other things CHAP. VI. A Survey in General of those sins which hinder the Happiness of Mankind as contrary to Scripture and from the very nature of Things HItherto hath been shewed out of Gods Word what is required of Man in every state and condition and what is most for his own Happiness Nothing can be done too much to further this great end and therefore it is necessary to proceed unto the discovery of those things which promise and make a shew of Happiness but in truth hinder from obtaining Every single person proposes to himself some Felicity which is the end of his Actions Now the mistake is wherein this Happiness of Man is placed Whether in obedience to Gods Commandments or taking the full of the things of this World following his own inclinations and humours God hath given Laws to his Creatures the transgression of which is Sin. As soon as the World was peopled the Wickedness of Man was great in the Earth and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the Earth Gen. 6. 5 12. Evil hath interwoven it self into every particle of his Nature he is become strangely in love therewith not knowing or rather not minding that like a sweet Poyson causes Sickness and Death so this brings Misery and Ruine The fault is wholly in himself for he will be ignorant Love is blind according to the Proverb and also it prejudices The resolution is not to part with and so shuts the Eyes stops the Ears not suffering himself to be perswaded of its Deformity and Mischief Sin hath stole away the hearts of the Men of this World it kisses and flatters insinuating what a deal of good it will do them what pleasure it affords By one Man sin entred into the World Rom. 5. 12. It prevailed upon him after such a colloguing and creeping manner We may blame our Fore-Father for putting the Seeds of evil in but yet by the assistance given us we may stop the growth thereof Sin hath this Advantage that it hath taken Root and hath one part even our dear flesh to side with it Which as so much dung and soil makes it shoot forth abundantly yet still as it appears above ground we may cut it off And if we alwayes keep it thus short it may indeed and will somewhat trouble us as long as we remain in this sinful Earth but it will not overcome or triumph over us Let not sin reign in your Mortal Body Rom. 6. 12. The Apostle well knew what â—e said in calling it a Mortal Body If absolutely without sin it could not be Mortal for Death is by reason of Sin But he further explains himself verse 14. Sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under Grace 'T is the Dominion and Power of sin which is really and finally hurtful from that any one may be freed who will come unto Christ Without me ye can do nothing John 15. 5. And again We can do all things through Christ that strengthneth us Phil. 4. 13. Men are naturally apt to give back yea and corruption hath so weakned them that they cannot go unto him No Man can come unto me except the Father which sent me draw him John 6. 44. And if any will seek unto God for this purpose he will powerfully move and incline them to be followers after Christ When one is brought over to a thing with great striving and unwillingness it is a common saying that he is compelled though at last he yields to it freely compare Mat. 22. with Luke 14. 23. And so God doth work by his Spirit upon the untoward hearts of Men He gives Grace and corruption is there also and these struggle together within the Man. Though corruption hath the start of being there before and doth influence yet Grace sollows close at the heel hath power with God and with Men and will prevail But the Question is with which the Man will side and take part whether he will work together with the Grace of 2 Cor. 6. 1. God or yield to his own corruptions and so receive that in vain He cannot be neuâ—er or unconcerned for the War is within him and it is here as between the house of David and Saul the one grows stronger and stronger the other weaker and weaker according to the single Victories one hath over the other To him that hath shall be given who useth well shall have more but who doth not from him shall be taken away that which he hath An old hardned Sinner bred up in ungodliness from his Youth is as awkward to Prayer or good Duties as a stone to flie upwards yet in his life time past had Disposition and Power to do those things unto which now he is averse So he who hath little and few good motions yet if he doth cherish and comply with these from time to time he will have them greater and more impulsive The Spirit of God is a delicate thing and cannot endure to be vexed who rebell against its dictates and thwart its desires do provoke him to with-draw What passionate intreaties doth Isa 63. 10. he make to reclaim sinners O! that my people had hearkened unto me and Israel had walked in my wayes Psal 81. 13. Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee Jer. 31. 3. Some are moved by this and others are of such base nature as to resist it And the Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is Athirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely Rev. 22. 17. Here is Conscience Christ his Ministers the want and desire of good and comprehensively all other motives which invite but none is forced for all
is heavy so he may frollick it a little in his younger days then become dull and spend the greatest part of his life void of true cheerfulness and that ended a worâ—e thing may befall him For Psal 104. 15. John 2. 10. Which are commonly alledged in vindication of this sin when it rather argues of more Ingratitude and Disobedience Our Gracious God hath given this good creature for necessary refreshment and honest cheerfulness so there is no waste or disturbance to reason But if Men will not be content with this Liberty and when God hath ordered they shall drink no more after these ends are answered if they will go further to add Drunkenness to Thirst Deut. 29. 19. To force down more after they have well drunk already and have not the least Appetite there is the provocation of this sin Nothing exasperates so much as abused favour and because God hath been good therefore for Men to be more wicked this makes sin to be exceeding sinful He is most displeased with those which are committed against his loving-kindness and therefore because he hath given great liberty to transgress that and to presume upon his being merciful to forgive is a perverse way of reasoning and makes the sin seven times greater To hope that God will forgive give such Malicious and Presumptuous Offenders or Despisers is in effect that he will prove a Liar But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings saith the Lord Jer. 21. 14. Every Mans sin would be pardoned if hopes or wishes alone would induce the Lord to pardon them In truth he is what he hath proclaimed himself The Lord the Lord God Merciful and gracious long suffering and abundant in goodness and truth iâ— so he is to be believed what he saith further keeping Mercy for thousands forgiving Iniquity Transgression and sin and that will by no means clear the Guilty Exod 34. 6 7. His mercy is confirmed more then ten times before this of Judgment comes Think not this last hard O ye Transgressors Luke 21. 22. Rom. 3. 5. for whether is meet you should turn away from your â—ins or God should devest himself of justice and Truth rather then punish you for the same Which can he most reasonably expected either your selves must go into Hell or that the Words he hath spoken shall come to naught God hath spoken once twice have I heard this that power belongeth unto God Psal 62. 11. Though hand joyn in hand the wicked shall not be unpunished Prov. 11. 21. Do not think to trifle with him for he is a Righteouâ— Judge and a Father only to those who perform unto him the Obedience of Children As for the other vain Imaginations the Drunkard hath they Antep 288 are grounded upon unbelief or desperate folly He cannot be so senceless to conclude it shall happen to him according to his unbelief that there is no future State only because he thinks so or would have it so and thus make void the fixed decrees of Almighty God with his own weak fancy or fruitless desire If he is unbelieving now and so resolves to continue the first thing that shall convince of the mistake will be his own woful experience but when this shall teach him his condition will be without hope or remedy It would be a more wise way to believe and so avoid then to go with an evil heart of unbelief till death delivers him over where he shall be forced to believe and tremble and afterwards see and suffer But if he hath not quite lost his Faith he must be convinced of a more foolish manner of Acting He abhors and cannot endure his present Life because it is miserable there is the same Reason he should not thrust himself forward into the other for if the Punishment of Sin is now so grievous that Men would do any thing to be rid of it what will it be hereafter when Jer. 12. 5. God shall stretch forth his Arm to take full Vengeance on the Workers of iniquity These had better take warning God hath given them a space to repent of their Drunkenness Be sure to comply with his gracious purpose make their Peace with him lengthen out their time by all lawful means to prepare the more for the Bridegroom 's coming But if they will go on in their own former way they shall Taste and Feel this to be true Their Grapes are Grapes of Gall their Clusters are bitter Their wine is the Poison of Dragons and the cruel Venom of Asps Deut. 32. 32 33. What hath possessed the minds of Men to be so in love with this Evil All are not for Turks and Iâ—fidels are not so guilty thereof as the Christian World. A Company of People who profess to believe the Scriptures in which are contained severe Threatnings against this Sin yet they most of all do commit it The Laws and Prescriptions of Heathen Deities and false Prophets throughout the World are observed but here in Christendom Men do not obey the Commandments of the Lord and his Christ The words of Jonadab the Son of Rechab that he commanded his Sons not to drink Wine are performed Jer. 35. 14. But our bountiful Lord hath permitted the good use thereof with this charge Be ye not drunk with Wine wherein is excess Eph. 5. 18. Yet Men have transgressed his Voice wherefore the Râ—chabites may be their Judges and it will be more tolerable in the day of Judgment for Mahometans and Idolaters then for this sottish Generation â—O foolish People who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the Truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently-set forth crucâ—fied among you Gal. 3. 1. All of you hear him Preached and some have drunk of the Cup of the Lord yet you resort again to the Cup of Devils by Drinking after such an excessive manner as they of old did in Sacrificing to Evil Spirits which also now chiefly gratifies them who prompt to sin and disobedience If we did allow for the Temptations of Drink and Company yet the loss of Gods Favour Peace of Mind and health of Body will not be sufficiently recompenced with that pretended converiency Look not only upon the good colour of the Liquor nor hearken to the Merriment of Companions when they are at it but consider the enâ— Think upon the whole life and way of those jolly Persons and then tell me whether drunkâ—â—â—ess is not pâ—â—judicial to Mans Happâ—ness But couldst thou â—eep into the Chambers of Death as that may be done by Faith and see those poor Souls who were once Drinking and making Merry on the Earth the Pit hath shut her Mouth upon them and now they are full of Anguish and Indignation for their former Folly There remains still the like Threatning to the Drunkards of England the Drunkards of England shall be troden under Feet Isa 28. 3. For the Judgment of God is the same against all Nations Times and People who
brutal Lust The highest happiness if it may be so stiled that Beasts are designed unto is meerly sensual and therefore are allowed a more free enjoyent in these things then Man who is a compound of Angel and Brute As such he is barely to use and pass by the delights of the one but to aspire after and to finally rest in the happiness of the other Sence was given us just to relish but Understanding to enjoy Men will catch part of a thing and run away with it and then think they have a mighty Argument on their side a frequent Policy in this disputing Age but take the whole together and that which seemed for turns against them The lustful person fancies he hath the whole world of Creatures on his side when further the greater part Copulate at set Seasons and other circumstances may be found out to prove his manner of doing more unreasonable and even in his lower inclinations to sink beneath the Beasts that perish He acts more foolishly and preposterously then they which have no Understanding They do not shorten life and bring Diseases upon themselves as Man doth 'T is he alone who turns Good into Evil that is made miserable by his Enjoyments God hath set a bound to them and then they are good which the sensible Creatures keep within but Man will leap over though it be to his own Ruine What was given to refresh and preserve the kind he makes an occasion to destroy himself and to produce none or an accursed seed His Breasts are full of Milk and his Bones are moistened with Marrow Job 21. 4. But he drains it out wherein consisted his strength When every Dracâ—m is continually exhausted the body becomes weak and so more quickly drops into the Pit. And then it doth not only extract the sound but brings rottenness into the bones 'T is common that he who is addicted to this sin gets a wound at last which for sweet repayes with bitterness The joviality of Youth is changed into pains and languishing those years are given unto the cruel and thou mourn at last when thy flesh and body are consumed Prov. 5. 9 11. That unspeakable Pain and Weariness which some have laboured under for several Weeks â—ea Months together seem to have a visible pourtraiture of Hell Torments the difference being in the duration of them for here as much is endured as the weak body is capable of For the punishment of the iniquity of the Daughter of my People is greater then the punishment of the â—in of Sodom that was overthrown as in a Moment and no hands stayâ—d on her Lam. 4. 6. But when one shall groan under continued Miseâ—y â—or half a Year and longer when he shall be placed over the 〈…〉 e of Affliction as if baked in an Oven or being alive he is used in the same manner as the Carkasses Hoâ— 7. 4. of dead Beasts are when the iâ—â—truments of cruelty shall search into the members of Iniquity and grate upon the most sensible parts here is an aggravation of Miserâ— and it may be theâ—e is no remedy at last dâ—e he must though with such Vexation and Lingâ—ing Did any Martyr by close imprisonment or thrown into the darkest and lowest Dungâ—on there fed with Bread and Water and after haled out to the most cruel Death yet endure so much as this unhappy Creature hath done He all the while enjoyed the liberty of the Sons of God his Soul was free and liâ—tâ—d up with light from above his Belly filled with hidden Manna thence supported by the Power of Gods Grace and after received into Glory But the other Person did groan and Weep still mindful of his Wretched conâ—ition and every thinking did add unto his grief he is gone and we know no more of him Look into primitive story and find him out who suffered most for the the Lord Jesus and his Kingdom There have been likewise examples of those who have went through a more Fiery Trial and worse hardship only for the â—ake of a base lust Flesh and Blood will be apt to recoil and mormur if we endure any thing for God though he is pleased to recompence exceedingly our light and short affliction but if others endure ten times more in the slavery of Sin and the Devil they take iâ— patiently though this is not half of what is to succeed in another place Let none object to Christianity the Cross or Persecution when greater trouble is annexed to one single sin and there is Misery linked to every one then to the whole chain of Spiritual Graces and Duty He that practises them aâ— finds less difficulty and tribulation then some have done in accomplishment of lust Many after long and painful contesting under it have been overcome others have been put to more strugling and danger to prolong Temporal Life for a little then the worthies of old to lay hold of Eternal Life If some few have wholly escaped those continual fears thereof did take away much of their conceived and unlawful Pleasures If God hath permitted them to act wickedly without bringing punishment upon themselves let them look to it unless they repent he will not spare them hereafter If Judgment doth not begin 1 Tim. 5â— 24. in this lifâ— it will be begun and never ended in that which is to come in some who follow all iniquity with greediness may be seen the fire already kindled and if that be so intolerable now what will it be when it shall burn out for evermore By the Severity of Gods Wrath consider of and fear his Indignation against sin It is soon acted but his Vengeance rests long upon the head of those who do the same He hath manifested his displeasure by Judgments of old upon Sodom and Gomâ—â—rah the death of Zimri and Cosbi and three and twenty thousand which fell in one day It was the occasion that Absolom slew his brother Amnon there are innumerable Examples in common History and daily experience in all Places and Generations Whether the aforesaid Disease hath been lately sent into the World to scourge the Transgressors of these worst Ages or was known long since and those sayings in Scripture of Rottenness of Bones Body and Flesh consumed have allusion to it is not here determined It hath and doth torment these Workers of iniquity and this plague will not be stayed till they cease from their evil doings it brings Death or great Misery at least it makes them sufficiently roar for giving way to a paultry lust But what shall we think of those who have been â—ured and endured all this misery yet will venture again Surely it must be a transcendent delight and greater then all the pain that follows it for otherwise none would choose it And moreover old Persons who are disaâ—led will recount their pasts Acts with rejoycing and please themselves with the remembrance their old hearts run still after Youthful Lusts their dim eyes are full of Adultery
Labour in the very Fire and the People shall weary themselves for very Vanity Hab. 2. 13. According as his Divine Wisdom hath established things and all to bring back to his Obedience that they may go and return to their first Husband for then was it better with them then now Hos 2. 7. There is an Enemy which lets from this and he whispers to those he withdraws that hence it appears there must lye hid some great Good which they cannot have before they have long wrestled He would fain insinuate of a Satisfaction behind that will not be had unless they take Pains for it and the greatest things are reserved at last If the covetous Man could get so much then he would have Happiness and Contentment That at length is obtained with much Sweat and Drudgery but then his mind is altered he hath need of more and so on he hath not yet laid hold of that Satisfaction he looked after it is further off â—â—ill and so continues to make towards it Thou mistaken Fool There is neither Satisfaction at the end and if there was thou couldst not come to it How much dost thou propose to thy Self Why another hath the same already and he is not satisfied and why shouldst thou in the same Condition Thou hast lower Thoughts but they will Rise with thy Wealth and if thine should come to be equal with his thy Thoughts would be the same also He that loveth Silver shall not be satisfied with Silver nor he that loveth abundance with increase This is also Vanity Eccles 5. 10. Every one crys for what is sufficient but how much is that If it were stated according to the desires of Grace Nature and Conveniency it might be quickly had If People would use only Honest and diligent Endeavours in their Calling and expect Gods blessing let him judge what is the Competency and not we our selves But if it is measured by the covetous Mans Opinion when he shall cease to ask any further then is no hope to obtain it For he may as well think when he goes as far as he can see that he shall touch the Horizon as that he shall be satisfied when he gets what he now proposes within himself If any do desist in going after Wealth and the Promised satisfaction thereof it is not because that it is obtained for the use of Riches as they Subminister all Plenty of Meat Drink and Raiment do content the Body but will not throughly satisfie the mind of Man much less will the bare keeping of them in a Chest What doth it signifie if one hath a rich Neighbour and finds no benefit at all by him And it may be the same if not worse for the Fear and Care of losing Property Torments more then the Priviledge of having it amounts unto with the Man to whom God hath given Riches Wealth and Honour so that he wanteth nothing for his Soul of all that he desireth yet God giveth him not Power to eat thereof but a stranger eateth it this is Vanity and it is an evil Disease Eccles 6. 2. Be exhorted to put an end to thy Covetousness and wearisome Labour Wo to him that increaseth that which is not his how long And to him that ladeth himself with thick Clay Hab. 2. 6. Thy Life draws to an end and then it is not thiâ—e how soon thy years may be run out thou knowest not Consider to what purpose do you consume strength and time Shall you give account to God how careful you have been to the World and in the letteral Sense of the Parable VVhat a good Servant you have been How thou hast put thy Money to the Exchangers and Vsury and hast gotten so much Mat. 25. by other ways of dealing God doth not require any to be Rich but all to be innocent He would have his Servants do that he gives them in Charge viz. Obey his Commandments When he calleth to Account Then it will be demanded whether we have inclined our Hearts to his Testimonies and not to Covetousness Whether we have loved Gold more or it hath divided our Love with God whether we have broken his Commandments for Gain or neglected Duty for present advantage Such things will be required Wherefore let him that been an idâ—later or unrighteous repent and be so no more Do not transgress the least Precept for the greatest Profit The getting of Treasures by a lying Tongue is a Vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek Death Prov. 21. 6. You must ere long part with whatever you have and have a Care you do not lose your self You will be stript naked destitute and forsaken of all and how sad would it be If you should be condemned for what you must leave behind and cannot carry with you VVash ye make ye clean put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes cease to do evil learn to do well seek â—udgment relieve the oppressed plead for the VVidow Isa 1. 16 17. Leave off your former Greediness and unjust Dealing be bountiful and Charitable Act with all good Conscience and Honesty stand up for them you have wronged heretofore And which should be done in the first place for Mercy is before Sacrifice and Justice before Alms giving Be sure to make restitution and satisfaction for all the injury you have done according to Numb 5. 7 8. Do not think to bring the price of a VVhore or a Dog to give Alms of See Deut. 23. 18. Goods unjustly gotten If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the Land. But if ye refuse and rebel ye shall be devoured with the Sword for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Isa 1. 19 20. Under the shew of temporal Calamity the eternal threatning of God is vailed throughout the Old Testament It is a little more drawn aside Isa 33. 14. but expressed in the most plain words under the Gospel God is truth and hath not frightened People with a Lye He who is as good as his Word in all things as all believe he is in his Promises doth not threaten that which is not or he will not perform It is a sad adventure for any one to run either God must prove a Lyar or himself be turned into Hell he might equally throw himself into the Fire to try if it will not burn For our God is a consuming Fire Heb. 12. 29. And so will at length appear to the miserable experience of the ungodly and disobedient that they may tremble and fear to continue so Will they not be perswaded to make all haste to flee from that Whereof the thoughts only are so very dismal that People are afraid to entertain them but take no due Care to escape the thing it self That which is irksome to the apprehension will be much more to the Senâ—e and what is dreaded afar off will be more terrible when it comes nâ—gh It vexes now the thought for a moment but will
to us all for the Lord to put us in fear that we may know our selves to be but Men Psal 9. 20. When we are lifted up this depresseth us low again we are swoln with Pride but contracted with Fear That is Big and Stately this shrinks into its due Posture That struts and thinks it shall never be moved this reminds of the Truth that he is subject to injury and falling What a Monstrous thing would Man be if there was nothing to allay the proud Humour Whither would he be carried when every little thing doth puff him up as it doth a Bubble if there was not to pull down A small conceit of Happiness transports him beyond himself so it is requisite a sence of that Misery within him and he is further liable unto should humble and reduce him into right Frame That he should not be always cheated and exalted with a Lye but be truly informed of his own State and Condition Let him not imagine he is come only to Swagger here or think himself the chiefest in the Creation Our Lips are our own who is Lord over us Psal 12. 4. For assuredly there is One greater then he Who made him and gave himself power thus to Domineer must be more great And it is he who is infinitely above us and him we ought to Fear As he made so he can dash in pieces He hath fashioned us subject to Frailty and Consumption within to Hurt and Casualty without He doth good so likewise he can Punish He is the great Law-giver who is able to save and destroy Indeed the sence thereof is the cause of all the Fear in the World tho Men would fain stifle the Apprehension of God which he hath ordered to be conveyed unto them by their own Fears yet they will not acknowledge him whom they do Fear What malicious stubbornness is this What absurd folly Besides natural awe and reverence Rom. 1. they do dread him by reason of Transgression and they will sin yet more by not owning him They will not speak out what they can hardly conceal They would shut him out of their mind who is in every part and visible in all the World besides All the faculties of the Soul do discover him the inclination of the understanding to know him the desire and will to enjoy him and every affection doth somewhat manifest him The Lord Reigneth let the People tremble Psal 99. 1. Some foolishly disdaining to be kept under who ignorantly would have been freed from what is their greatest honour and good have hence attempted at the very foundation but by so doing they only â—urt themselves and provoke him yet more God is above and hath power over Men they can neither make him nor themselves cease to be or preserve themselves from his Dominion Neither let the Worldly Wise Men think themselves secure because they will drive the Sence and Fear of God out from within them But he remembers their despising and negligence of him They do only for a little time put off their Fears and Doubts which will return sadly upon themselves when past remedy I also will choose their delusions and will bring their Fears upon them because when I called none did Answer when I Spake they did not Hear Isa 66. 4. In this short and vain life Men may cast out of their hearts the Fear of God and harden themselves against him but from the day of their Death they will be forced to Fear him when Fear will do no good Their Soul will leap out nothing but fright and consternation and their Tormenting Passions will be stretched out to the utmost In temporal evils the fear is often greater but it is contrary as to Eternal Who knoweth the Power of thine Anger Even according to thy Fear so is thy Wrath Psal 90. 11. And however some will not Fear the greater yet they do the less If they do not choose the Fear of the Lord they are afraid of every thing besides which hath the least Power to do hurt let them pretend what they will they do secretly but unwillingly dread him And this is the reason of that universal practice amongst the Men of this World to hear or think as little of him as may be for they are uneasie and disturbed every time they hear him named unless by way of customary Oath and Provocation Which is one reason that makes the sin of rash Swearing and taking Gods Name in Vain so much in use upon frivolous Matters and Idle Expressions for hereby it is made so familiar and common as takes off from that inward trembling they have at the least serious thoughts of him This is directly contrary to the third Commandment which seems to have been therefore given that this Glorious and Fearful Name THE LORD THY GOD Deut. 28. 58. should not be made vile and cheap for that would destroy the reverence we owe unto him But this is a silly device of the wicked for thus they sin yet more and by only stifling the sence they do not take away but increase the cause of their Fear So it is likewise of their talking of Religion in their Drunken Fits which is laughed at for a merry Fashion but is Abominable and Provoking and is because they cannot bear the sober thoughts thereof If one was to unravel the whole Mystery of Iniquity how much folly and contradiction would he find therein But for all Mens doing they will never be too strong for the Almighty nor 1 Cor. 10. 22. too cunning for the All-wise God. How much better had they submit and confess unto God Thou even thou art to be feared Psal 76. 7. Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himself and let him be your Fear and let him be your Dread and he shall be for a Sanctuary Isa 8. 13 14. They must necessarily and also do Fear somewhat and on whom should it be placed but who is most worthy thereof With God is terrible Majesty touching the Almighty we cannot find him out he is excellent in Power and in Judgment and in Pleâ—ty of Justice he will not afflict Men do therefore fear him Job 37. 22 23 24. Take God in both his Natures When he is Angry or Merciful he is to be Feared Our God is a consuming Fire Heb. 12. 29. And it is no disparagement for the stoutest heart to run from that yea he doth And if some out of damned Pride may pretend to slight this thinking it cowardly to fear invisible powers yet the time of Trial will come upon themselves And he that is couragious among the Mighty shall flee away naked in that day saith the Lord Amos 2. 16. Zeph. 1. 14. His Power and Indignation will command Fear from the greatest of his Enemies so his Majesty and Goodness do require Reverence and Godly Fear from all his Servants Who would not fear thee O King of Nations For to thee doth it appertain Forasmuch as among all the Wise Men of the
and what doth the short respite avail them if not employed to the foresaid use Those who are so over careful of their Health if not of their Salvation also as these things have been too often put asunder do notwithstanding go away at last as to the first they were cumbred in vain but the other Labour would not have been so 1 Cor. 15. 58. for perhapâ— they might prevent Death a little time but yet still it comes and will be more terrible if the only thing needful be not as much minded Let the wicked World search after all the Policies that can be had do all things to pacifie for satisfie they cannot their minds yet they have no Preservation against the Fear and Danger of Death There is more help to be had in Faith and Obedience then all their Stratagems However they Brave it out in time of Health and Vigour yet the wickedness of the wicked will come to an Numb 32. 13 14. end The Generations of them have been and are in Rebellion but the single Persons fall away day by day Now goeth one and then another An Evil as only Evil behold is come an end is come it watcheth for thee behold it is come The morning is come upon thee O thou that dwellest in the Land the time is come the day of trouble is neer and not the sounding again of the Mountains Ezek. 7. 5 6 7. The time of last Sickness and Death hath already came upon many Millions of wicked Men several at this instant lie strugling and those who now walk so disdainfully and do not value any sort of Sin in a short time themselves will come to be in the same Condition And then if they are the least sensible or apprehensive What Fear and Horror are they in What dreadful Thoughts do arise in their minds They having not given Glory unto God but on the contrary dishonoured him must be horribly surprized about their Feet stumbling upon the dark Mountains as their Souls do look over into the other World they shrink back and would fain stay where they are Now a flashing of Thunder makes them startle Hell opens a little as ready to receive them and they leap back then a sad presage doth discompose and trouble them If they would but at the last give Glory to God discover the utmost they suffer to warn By-standers to acknowledge Gods Justice and their own Sinfulness Who knows how kindâ—y he may take it from them see Jer. 3. 12 13. But some as they were disobedient in their life time are sullen in their Death or ashamed and not willing to take discredit upon themselves for Pride goes out last with the body of sin Otherwise they might own as much as indeed some have done and it was never the worse for them And who have strove to conceal yet sudden words drop forth and other signs manifest their sad Condition All their sinful Pleasures are vanished away like smoke and leave this blackness behind If never so much hath been done to please Men that signifies nothing for they cannot support him they are under the same Law and shall not be able to deliver themselves The World and all things therein are passed away what he hath done as to them stands in no stead that was the Enemy which beguiled now shrinks away and leaves him in this foreâ—orn Condition His body is to descend into the Bars of the Pit which till the Resurrection will be no more then a Stone or any other lump of Clay under the Earth but where the Soul shall be received is the Anguish and Vexation If sin was a thing of naught as we are apt to Imagine God who is good and his Judgments are Righteous altogether would never inflict such â—â—nishments for the same as we see he doth when his Wrath is kindled but a little when he begins to execute Sin receives its aggravation from the Person of him against whom it is committed The end is come it watcheth for thee Ezek. 7. 6. It is strange that the living will not take warning by what they see hath happened to others Hast thou known or heard of any one that hath died in his sins All the pleasure of them is gone and the same thing with him as if it had not been at all as to the delightful Nature Was he in an Agony or Stupid at the last Dost not thou think it would have been better for that same person if he had lived in Holiness and Righteousness instead of Sin and Iniquity For the fancied trouble but the real delight of the former would have been past and gone as the clamorous and outward Pleasures but the silent and inward Vexation of the latter now is Then he would have had something to trust unto but now he hath not If thou continuest in sin which God forbid just the same will be thy Case Whether thou mindest it or not the day will come when thou shalt be like him The Scripture testifies sufficiently unto all that they do not those things the end of which is Death Rom. 6. 21. To be wretched in this life and afterwards also is a sad thing What can be done too much to prevent either but especially the last The first may be somewhat eased the latter may be wholly taken away And the only means to do it is by Submission and Obedience unto Almighty God That in this time which he hath given to prove us we may be such as he would have us be All reasonable Creatures are either obedient Subjects or Enemies He holds all our breath in for a space he takes it away and we die The Wicked is driven away in his wickedness but the Righteous hath hope in his Death Prov. 14. 32. Now that relies upon the promises of God which are as sure The condition of good Men in their Death as the Foundations of the Earth He upholdeth all things by the word of his power Heb. 1. 3. And also he doth support the Faith of his Servants by the Word of his Truth Innumerable are the places of Holy Scripture to give them the most perfect assurance that it shall be well with them after Death as Mat. 25. 34 40 46. John 8. 51. John 3. 16. John 6. 33. John 12. 26. John 14. 2 3 19. John 20. 17. Rev. 14. 13. Phil. 1. 21 22. Col. 3. 4. 2 Cor. 5. 1 2 3 4. Rom. 8. 1 15 16 17. 2 Cor. 1. 20. Eph. 1. 13 14. 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. Rom. 2. 7. Tit. 1. 2. I might transcribe the whole Gospel for it hath relation to this purpose to promote a conversation according to it whilst we live and the Happiness we shall be partakers of after we die as sure as God hath spoken to us by his Son all this shall be fulfilled The Lord Christ must be a deceiver if these things be not so rather then which in the least to think I would say in good earnest and upon
practice of the contrary duty will be more excellent and have a proportionable reward All Gods Precepts Jam. 2. 10 11. 1 Cor. 12. 8. are linked together But as in the Gifts of God a Man hath the common measure of all yet one is more eminent for this So in Obedience and Christian Graces one is obliged to all but then a single one shall shine forth more then the reâ—t and to such besides the common reward a more especial blessing is promised This is not a needless digression for the Doctrine and Practice of Universal Obedience is necessary against the Fear and Danger of Death as we learn from Ezek. 18. 31. 1 Cor. 15. 56. That gives title to all the promises who complies therewith is sure and none besides Righteousness delivereth from Evil Prov. 11. 4. From the Fear whilst he lives and the Danger when it approaches â—igh The body will a little tremble at its dissolution for that is natural But Christ came to deliver them who through Fear of Death were all their life time subject to bondage Heb. 2. 15. And this beâ—â—fit he hath procured to his Servants for they believe the Scriptures to be true which are fulfilled in them so they are assured no evil can happen unto them after Death and therefore are not â—â—â—mented with the apprehensions of it They do not 〈◊〉 or drive it out of mind for there is much advantage from the Meditation thereof It is a great help to right and good actions What will this signifie and avail when I come to die It quickens to do whatever his hand finds to do with all his might for there is no Labour nor Work in the Grave There is but one of Tryal the days pass away are accountable for and do not return this puts upon doing every thing to the utmost to have the favour and acceptance of Almighty God. The World judging by themselves look upon those as Melancholy who are so wise to consider their latter end But is there no difference between the Righteous and Wicked There is much in their manner of Conversation all the life long and so is at their death There is difference in Prisoners between the innocent and guilty as to their looking for the day of Assizes and shall the last Judge of the comfortable expectation of the other by his own Fears and Dread Because some are afraid to appear before Christ are they also who have the certain promise of Being with him The one doth not live like the other they are contrary in their Thoughts Words and Actions before their manner of Dissolution that vast and endless parting they must make one from another It is the greatest Happiness to the one and misery to the other and therefore it may be well supposed to administer different thoughts to them It is impossible to obviate all the sayings of Men for they are endless and most are so trivial that they do not deserve any answer but yet may be judged of by this one Observation viz. There is nothing so good and true but something may be said against it Nothing so evil and false but something may be said for it But in every proposition let it seem never so true or strange at first sight examine the Arguments of both sides without prejudice or partiality and then that side which hath most reason and probability may determine our assent This doth make for the honour and reality of Truth that the reasons whereby inferring one thing from another we come to know it are clear deep and convincing Truth must prevail where it can be manifested Which is of such a Divine and excellent Nature that the whole doth not come forth on a sudden but hath been strugling in the Womb some thousands of Years There is great opposition to it by the powers of Darkness and their Sophistry as may be seen for the Objections against it are Dark Perplex Contradictory Slight and deceiving It is reciprocally so with falshood though it hath passed current and been a long time received This may be applied to innumerable instances But to our purpose The noble Martyrs of Old did not decline Death in its most terrible shape when they might glorifie God and avoid sin they were called Melancholly Sullen Obstinate Foolish haters of Mankind and such like When they were in the very prime of Age of excellent natural disposition of a vain conversation before and that changed by Christianity into a more happy manner of living when they were wise and understood what they did as well as ever Men did and did shew themselves as sincere and affectionate to one another The Devil is never wanting to set himself against the doings of God to whisper into the hearts of Men to hinder their Faith and returning unto him but then they run away with that and will not consider what can be said on the other side this is one cause of unbelief the many objections and prejudices they have against the truth They are resolved to take up therewith and not hear from themselves or others a full satisfactory answer Is the least thing muttered against God Their ears are open immediately it is forthwith unanswerable But if spoken out for him then like the deaf Adder they stop their Ears and refuse to hear the voice of the Charmer charm he never so wisely They think it can never be wise that makes for Religion as all things are which make against it Whilst they are willing Satan should hold them at this catch it may be here applied Because they received not the love of the Truth that they might be saved for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness 2 Thes 2. 10 11 12. They might consider which was most safe as well as most reasonable to believe In the likeliest probability when such multitudes of Men Women more fearful by nature and young Men who may rush upon Death in a heat of passion or out of Gallantry and Honour not with a deliberate advised mind When it was esteemed infamous and foolish by the World yet still to embrace it rather then sin against God and deny the Faith this must be the power of his Grace which did arm their mind against all Fear of Death both in its natural dreadfulness and also heigthened by the malice and cruelty of Men. That was an extraordinary Case but what is it to the Fear of Death now a days Very much for though Men do not continue in the World by reason of Death yet that still continues It reigned as an evil from Adam unto Christ But now he hath taken away the sting and frightful nature from it When he made his Soul an offering for sin and took upon him the person of the Wicked he drunk of the Cup of Gods Wrath Was there any such love that he by the
Field or in the Streets in the lower parts of our House or our Closet or upon a Sick-bed we may go hence securely though upon the last we may glorifie God shew our Faith and Sincerity Comfort and exhort By-standers manifest to this unbelieving Generation the truth and reality of Religion that it can free from the Fear of what hath been called the most terrible of Terribles The Sayings of Philosophers and Wise Heathens will make a fine jingling and noise they will sound magnificently or delight somewhat whilst Reading but even then it may be observed they do not afford sufficient Strength and Comfort against it but when it approaches nigh none at all Men may a little please themselves with a Sentence or two whilst they live but still it may be otherwise it doth not satisfie but when they come to die all those brave Words vanish and signifie nothing Nay all the Discourses of meer Reason wiâ—l not avail as to this thing for let there be never so much ingenuity or shew of arguing yet there is a Possibility of mistake and they can never reach to any assurance To Examine that admired Saying of Seneca Death is either an end or a passage if the first never Fear to cease to be for it is the same as not to have begun neither to pass because I shall never be so narrowly confined Sen. Ep 65. As for the first if it is so he argues rightly but not all the Wise Men of past Ages or the present can give certainty that it is so Neither their study and searching nor the ingenuity of some or Carelessness of others at this day can throughly satifie the mind of any considering Man. And so they could not secure the World from Danger for let them say and do what they will it may be otherwise which is as sure as the Scriptures are true But then it must be a passage according to the other supposal From that he Reasons weakly and deceitfully for it would be a poor relief to be out of the Prison of the Body and in more Misery In that it is dreadful because it consigns over to a State of Happiness or Misery What will the Disputer and Wise Man of the World say to this What help can the Philosophers find out against it And let them tell what the Lord of hosts hath purposed upon all the Generations of mankind It is no more in our Power and Wisdom to hinder Punishment after Death then it was to hinder our own Being That God who took us out of our Mothers Womb if we are not reconciled unto him in the mean while will raise us up again to sâ—ffer worse things then we have dâ—ne here The sence of this being put into our frame is sufficient to make us afraid and not without cause Saith one It is â—est not to be born or to die very quickly But seeing we are born how can he assâ—re us of that To have but one Tryal for endless Happiness or Misery when all that can be done is little enough to make sure a thing of that importance as laâ—ing hold of the good and avoiding the evil this is not to be done hastily and well If he means to die quickly because we shall be as nothing Produce his strong reasons and all will not amount to a Certainty no nor a Probability The Spirit of God saith contrary It is appointed unto Men once to die but after this the Judgment Heb. 9. 27. He that made them and sent them into this World knows best what shall become of them when they are gone out and of him we have this Revelation Let the Wise and Prudent go away with their fine expressions let Infidels and Fools go on in their Denial and Negligence the Word of God abideth sure that will discover all their Errors and Mistakes A day of determination draweth nigh upon the living as it hath already passed upon many Generations If they were suffered to come from the Dâ—â—d and testifie of these things we should have a vast cloud of Witnesses God is not pleased to permit this and therefore doubts first and then unbelief do spring up in the hearts of Men Neither do any go there whilst living and return There is no intercourse betwixt the two Worlds Things then would be so certain and past doubt that none would serve God for â—ought for the alone hope and expectation of unseen things But people would traffick for Heaven as they do to Jamaica or the Indies and all still for love of themselves not out of any love to the Lord of that Country What a company of Meâ—cenary Souls should we have Then the Church would be flocked unto even upon Weeks days as the Exchange Then Worldly minded Men would become the best Christians those who are all for themselves use Religion only now to serve a turn or for a reserve but if there was such sensible profit such would do most therein and still do nothing only for Gods sake There would be no work of Faith or labour of Love but all selfishness God hath most wisely ordered it as it is that the Trial of Faith might be had that the excellency of Obedience may be seen We must needs die and are as Water spilt upon the ground which cannot be gathered up again 2 Sam. 14. 14. It appears so in our sight but the eye of Faith can reach further to an Immortality and Resurrection Again all things happen alike to all there is no visible and eminent reward to Righteousness or Iniquity this will manifest of what sort our Obedience is If we can deny present ease and pleasure submitting our selves to loss and inconvenience for that which no Man hath seen this is such love and trust in God to which he hath promised a recompence of Reward If we believe his Word speaking of Futurity though we see nothing in a dead Man to give Warrant or Ground for it there is some commendation in this Faith that the Soul which seems nothing but Breath vanished and gone doth yet live That such a clod of Flesh which must first turn into Stench then common undistinguishable Dust that the Bones shall be disjoynted and themselves though somewhat longer become Dust also that these shall become Bones again and there shall be Resurrection as described Ezek. 37. There shall be a shaking and the Bones come together Bone to Bone Sineâ—s and the Flesh came upon them and the Skin covered them which shall be performed in a literal sence at the last day and as they were dissolved so to be raised again though it will be done more suddenly This is something above what is common to believe As Acts. 1. 11. Christians we judge him faithful that hath promised As reasonable Men we can thus deem that he who made the World and our selves of nothing can also restore out of pre-existent matter VVe have also a more sure word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well
warning against the presumptuous Sinner who turns the Grace of Rom. 2. 4. God into Wantonness who trifles with that which should lead him to Repentance who deceives himself with a slight Remoâ—se and Sorrow but continues impenitent And also to affâ—ighten malicious Transgressors who sin yet more upon the fore sight of future Repentance To make the Professor of Christianity look about himself who doth this or that deliberate Sin as opposing Gods Truth and Servants of set purpose to comply with the humour of the World and thinks to come off afterwards upon a general Repentance or secretly asking Pardon or the like and upon this he did trust before I say to make all these throughly consider what they do and not to be deceived in a matter of so great Concern it is necessary to explain the true Nature of it more fully When the mind is now to do such a thing upon through Consideration Mat. 23. 30. how can they say afterwards they would not have done it or else to trick with the Almighty by not giving way to that because he hopes to have this excuse for his Sin to be willingly ignorant and to do a thing hastily with that reserve this is to disobey that God who twice Commands to consider our ways Hag. 1. 5 7. to endeavour to out-wit him who is all-wise or seek to hide their Counsel from the Lord Isa 29 15. Shall not God search this out For he knoweth the secrets of the Heart Psal 44. 21. And hence may be observed a great difference between the Worâ—s of the Flesh and Perversities of the Spirit The former being through infirmity of the Flesh transient Acts and of sudden surprizal may be more easily repented of because through their Deceitfulness and Temptation the Man may be beguiled or overtaken and when he comes to be convinced of their true Nature and recover out of them he may Act Indignation and Revenge upon himself for the same But for the latter sort when they are resolved on and all the 2 Cor. 7. 11. Circumstances fully known when neither surprizal nor ignorance but what was wilful can be pretended for it this makes the Sin of a very deep dye And when the mind is now to do it and either doth or may foresee the reality thereof with its Consequents How can such an one expect that if it were to do again upon the like Circumstances he would not when now he doth the very same I mean advised continued Acts of Sin as that Spirit of Stubbornness and Perverseness opposing the known Truth Persecution for which Paul gives the Reason why He obtained Mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief 1 Tim. 1. 13. which implies that if it had been knowingly done it would not have been so easily Pardoned Think upon the Case of Persecutors and Hereticks who have persisted so after a full Conviction that they were in the wrong and how many of them have you heard to have came to Repentance What they have done in secret it may be a Question whether that will be accepted for as their offences have been done openly so should their Recantation be likewise if they would have it avail It is necessary not only to be sorry or secretly to bewail but further to undo the fault as much as it can be And as God was dishonoured publickly in like manner to regain his Favour they should acknowledge their Error before Ezra 10. 2 3. Lev. 26. 40. Josh 7. 19. Ezra 10. 10 11. Mark 1. 5. Acts 19. 18. all To speak after the manner of Men That God should have repair for his hurt Majesty have Glory given unto him by Confessing their own Shame We must do as much to reconcile our selves unto an offended God as the Great Ones of the Earth require from all that displease them And this iâ— the end of Confessior those things done in private may be there acknowledged unto Almighty God but in other things the acknowledgment must be as publick as the Sin was Of all that mischief done to the Church of God by Error or Violence smiting with the Tongue of Fist there have been but few instances left on Record of Penitents of this Nature Do not those who have Acted cruelly die suâ—lenly And in those fierce Disputes where one side must be convinced to be in the wrong by the Power and clearness of the Arguments of the other side yet out of Pride Oâ—â—tinacy or Interest they will go on and seek for Eâ—asions where they cannot Answer but how few will openly declare themselves to have been in an Error Where it is purely a defect of Understanding and a mind willing to be informed we have some Reâ—raâ—tations but when the perverse Spirit is once mingled with them it is seldom that they come to Repentance We who are short-sighted and know little but what we gather by Reason and Experience which requires Succession of time are admitted unto Repentance which may supply these Defects and space and Liberty is left unto us of a full advised Choice of Good or Evil Life or Death Now when there is a through and firm perswasion of the Vanity and Vexation of Sin when he doth not barely commit it once twice or so often as to know what it is but still continue in vâ—miting not to be contented to lye only but to Wallow in the Mire is a Sign that he hath 2 Pet. 2. 20 22. made that his Choice Again when God calls by his Word his Spirit by his methods of Judgment and Mercy the Sinner to be reconciled unto him yet he stands out continually surely then he doth not Choose the Fear of the Lord Prov. 1. 29. But is Rebellious Disobedient refusing that reverence and subjection he owes unto his Maker And if at length when he finds he shall be punished for the same then he will make a pretended submission Or stood out so long of set purpose think to pacifie him with a slight Sorrow and going softly for a time by a partial and imperfect Amendment of Life God will judge of this Repentance is never too late if Fruits meet for Repentance are brought forth afterwards if there doth succeed the Christian Life in all Godliness and Honesty But if the â—icled will turn from all his Sins that he hath commited and keep all my Statutes and do that which is lawful and right he shall surely live he shall not die Ezek. 18. 21. God is sometimes pleased to bring home his Servants by Affliction and Sickness and therefore if in that which proves unto Death there is a true turning of the Soul unto God and he knows the Man would really order his Conversation according to the Gospel and for sake all his former Sins this Man hath good grounds of Hope for Mercy and Forgiveness But for him who puts it off all his Life-time before who thought it soon enough to make his Peace with God in Sickness and Old Age who
for it passeth away an such is the event thereof if not rightly managed What an horrible Abuse and Prevarication it is That when they should â—e moâ—e Thankâ—â—l and Obedient to him who placed them in a higher Sâ—ation thence to lift up themselves as to contemn God and Sâ—n against him What is lent for a tryal of Humility and moderate Deportment they presently turn into Pride and insolent Carriage to others The nature of Man is extream prone to Pride and hardly restrained no other way but according to what is written Then he opâ—neth the Ears of Men and sealeth their Instruction That he may with draw Man from his purpose and hide Pride from Man Job 33. 16 17. Let them attend to what may be said of the nature of things and their Establishment of his own â—rame and constitution his own Vileness Weakness and Mortality how he is Dust and Ashes walking up and down like a Shadow a little dependant Being and much more there is to humble and keep him off from this Sin. The prevalency thereof arises from those enlarged Faculties wherewith Man is endued as also that Preparation and Tendency God hath put into him for greater things Now this is turned the wrong way and thence proceeds all the Transgression and Irregularity Those powers of Soul were designed to serve the Lord with all the Heart but turning aside they are taken up with vain things which cannot profit 1 Sam. 12 20 21. If Man were to be once made and so still to abide If there was no further Advancement and Exaltation for him If he were not capable of Increase and to be yet more Excellent What mean those aspirings after it that he is still reachâ—â—â—â— yet higher This being equally in good and bad which also prompts to things lawful and commendable as following ones Humour and vain Applause to keeping of the Commandments all one as breaking them which seems to shew this is not so much the voice of Depraved as Imperfect Nature Even before Sin came into the World these desires were so much was not revealed for wiâ—e Reasons yet our Fore-father was to have been Translated as Enoch if he had pleased God and to have a better Body then formed out of the Earth that to be changed into more Glorious His Soul was to have been more enlarged and converse with higher things then those of this Earth God would have led him up from one Degree to another But the fault was his Impatiency and he would not tarry the Lords leisure He did hearken and yield unto the first proposal and appearance of being greater when himself might have had an assurance of being so if he had been contented to have waited for some time Nothing is more reasonable then for a Creature to expect of his Creator That as he was first pleased to make him low until he should be raised and rendred more Excellent so according to his good Pleasure he would fill the Mouth which he hath made capable and commanded to be opened wide Psal 81. 10. That he would satisfie See and Observe Psal 145 16. 19 the desires he hath put in The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me Psal 138. 8. And we are to wait his good time We see how our Fore-father fell how others at this day Transgress after the same manner so we may look on and be afraid using the utmost caution that we do not follow after them Man would be Happy and Great his own way and that presently God hath ordered another which is to be begun here and fully manifested hereafter The question is whose Will shall take place If Man follows his own he shall find nothing sutable to his Faculties but be carried along with Falshood and Deceit till he falls into Destruction and Misery But in Gods way and according to his appointment there let him stretch out as far as he can and he will meet with things proportionable with Reality and Truth according to his Promise and Covenant of our Sojourning here which ends in the greatest Safety and most compleat Happiness Humble your selves therefore under the Mighty Hand of God that he may Exalt you in due time 1 Pet. 5. 6. Those accomplishments of the inward Man are most worthy to be sought after and highly to be valued for they have real Worth and Excellency they give Peace and Blessed Expectation to the Soul and when the Body goes to the Earth remain together till they are perfected in eternal Happiness Indeed he that is discerning cannot have a thing but he knoweth he hath it and also the worth thereof As he sees others value themselves upon the account of such and such things comparing his with theirs he is subject to do the like Thence cometh spiritual Pride to be the greatest of all Pride as those Graces and Gifts are more excellent then any thing whatsoever But that all Glory may be unto God for stirring up Thankfulness unto him and quelling Self-conceit and also to take somewhat off from the Temptation to Hypocrisie it may be requisite to lay open this Proposition with the Reasons thereof viz. If a Man be Religious he deserves not the least Praise nor Reputation from others for it is matter of Duty as he is a Servant If he is only according to the common Standard of the World that is from a mercenary selfish principle out of respect to the promise of Eternal Life and fear of the threatnings of Eternal Death and that prudential security to saving of the Soul as to the uncertainty thereof Now there is no more Commendation in all this then an Hireling that works for his Pay or anothers doing to prevent an Evil that would beâ—all him or to secure ones self in a matter doubtful But for what is more and comes to the practice of things which are Honest Lovely of good Report Vertue Praise Phil. 4. 8. For the several Acts of Universal Obedience pure Faith and Love Free-will Offerings doing Good working with Grace all this is Answered from Rom. 2. 29. Whose Praise is not of Men but of God. 'T is not Man that doth this but the Grace of God in him Acts 18. 5. by strong impulses or quickenings which he must give way unto or he is uneasy And to keep his own Peace being acted he doth act For who maketh thee to differ from another And what hast thou that thou didst not receive 1 Cor. 4. 7. God makes him both to will and to do of his own good Pleasure he is a meer Creature an Instrument only and also God hath made him thus So he alone is to be glorified in the Gifts he giveth unto Men. They are to stir up and comply therewith for which they receive a Reward Glory to God in the highest and on Earth Peace good Will towards Men Luke 2. 13. Those whom he sends forth should not be disturbed they desire only the common thing of good Will and Kind Reception but no
â—urmised such a thing is Harsh and impracticable so he is thought an hard Master who requires and that his Commandments are grievous which is abominably False Where the Love of God is fixed that makes all things easie and delightful done in Reference to him They have Peace and Satisfaction all their days a well grounded Hope and are secured against the terrors of Death They do every thing of a cheerful mind and not grudgingly But where the work is only done and people are glad it is over Whose Holy and Spiritual things are left as soon as out of the Closet or Congregation and care for no other Hearing or Conversation thereof Who run on in their manner of serving God and certainly conclude themselves Right because they have the Course and Generality of the World on their side though they have been mistaken all along in matters of pure and sincere Religion Who do not universally prove what they do and if they did could find no Rejoycing in it â—ndeed their way may become familiar and customary to them for vain Hopes and Formality if not examined may produce some Gladness and Exultancy And then they reject what is more for Melancholy These will admire so many words should be made about what they conceive and do in short They may look upon what is here and afore-offered as a parcel of Melancholy Notions and contradictory to the Argument of Happiness which they fancy as only apt to breed Disturbance and sadness of Mind But iâ— the whole Work of Religion might be made so short Why did God make so large and full a Revelation in Scripture which is to be searched and contains infinite matter Why did he afford such a long John 5. 39. Psal 14. 2. time to Man upon Earth to understand and seek God if it might have been done so quickly His doings are all Wisdom and no more then what is Necessary Religion is not a Business of such sudden dispatch as some would falsly imagine and make it The general prâ—jâ—dice against Truth is that it makes Mâ—lancholy But he that will not be thus Melancholy shall be Miserable for ever We learn from 2 Thes 2. 10 13. They are to receive the Love of the Truth who would be saved from hence spring their Principles of acting aright and they must know before hand to avoid what is Evil and Destructive The Knowledge of Truth brings unto God who hath established all things under whose Shadow we may be secure from all Evil and Danger Indeed there may be mistaken ways of pleasing him which have no Footstep in his Word on a furious unwarranted Zeal which exposing to Trouble and Inconvenience without his Acceptance may run out of Breath in a wrong Road and so spend it self in weariness and doubt of mind There may be aâ— overmuch Righteousâ—â—ss in not Commanded things but in keeping close to the lines of known Duty in observance of the Precepts is application and hope of the Promises there is Approbation of Conscience Blessed are those Servants who are so doing It is called a Work of Faith and Labour of Love 〈◊〉 Thes 〈◊〉 3. but still they contentedly do it looking for the Reward and Rest as they have a little in the mean while to carry them through here yea this is an Antidote against Melancholy for they would be so otherwise the restless and busie Faculties of Man must be doing somwhat though less troubled when in any acting yet are uneasie if not on their proper Business as Religion is of the mind and outward Calling of the Body and this in subservierâ—y to the other A strange wresting of things to call that Mâ—lancholy Isa 5. 20. which only prevents and keeps it off a Disturbance which belongs to our Peace to be driven away and avoided which is the chief Good to be sought after and cherished None are more Melancholy then who seem to decline it for their utmost Happiness lies in Stupefaction and the studied Arts of unmindfulness but take away these and they sink into Dumpishness or are tortured in mind They having either a dead and troubled Heart do not know what Peace is and must find out some cure for that which would bring them to Repentance or Desperation O'foolish Sinners who hath bewitched you Why will you not suffer Gods design to be answered in you for he would have you turn from your Sins and Vanities the guilt whereof if permitted to stir causes Sorrow if stifled heaviness of Mind All this is a sad Earnest of worse things to come if not prevented this only way You must either comply or smother but how unreasonable is â—he last for if you could put away instead of putting afar off the evil Day it will come at the appointed time do what you can you only shut out the Sence thereof If in driving away Melancholy you could utterly beat off Death If you could hinder your Souls from being stript naked and sent into the other World where are no Company Pleasure or Recreations to harden If you could escape the day of Judgment and the dreadful Event thereof then it were some advantage to chase away Serioâ—sâ—ess but as things now stand it is the greateâ—â— Folly and â—anâ—er Be perswaded to endure it here for a little time Dare to be somewhat dull for a day or two and suffer the lâ—ksomâ—â—â—ss of what you have done in Iniquity 2 Cor. 7. 8 9 10. aâ—d begin the Work of Righteousness If people could be prevailed upon to be Mâ—lâ—ncholy a little and they must or suffer Eternally what is worse they would be Christians in Deed and in Truth for this is the great hindrance with aâ— High and Low Wise and Ignorant Religion makes dull and therefore they keep off Here again is to be repeated the former Observation Things at fiâ—st make a shew of the contrary Whatever brings Happiness and real Good to Mankind hath a slight appearance of Misery and Evil. The Wisdom from above doth bring Peace Satisâ—actron Delight and Assurance but the Enemy who lets from all that is Good would Suggest it raises Trouble Disquiet Fear and such like Many think of what is aforementioned as dull things because they do not make much outward noise and merriment But they do not understand the true Happiness of a Man. Peace c. What can be more desired Would they be Children always in Laughter or Crying now up in excessive Mirth and down again in Dejectedness and Anguish The first at the very instant doth not satisfie and there is weariness in it the other doth really Afflict It is desirable to be between both in a sober composed State to be as other Creatures pleased with themselves And though there is a knowledge of Imperfection and Vanity yet to go on contentedly to a better State and comfort himself in the mean time with hopes thereof He is just as a Man should be for the Mouth was not made always to be contracted Who
11. 3. He gives preserves and continues our Health But yet what is corruptible and weak will wax old and decay Health consists in such an exact disposition of Humours which is easily disturbed by Violence from without Defect or Excess from within The Goodness and Wisdom above doth ordain Strength out of Weakness and continuance from tottering things otherwise it were to be admired that we are not Sick always instead of being so sometimes A Sparrow doth not fall to the ground without the Will of our heavenly Father Nor any Chastisment light upon the Sons and Daughters of Men without his Permission or Order He suffers such an one to fall under the harm of a second Cause or adverse Accident If we would search and examine to the utmost then confess and give Glory unto God we might many times find our Disease to be the natural effect of some Sin or Provocation We became at first subject unto Sickness by Sin only So if we reflect upon Gen. 2. 17. all our foregoing Actions and Circumstances There is some evil which insensibly alters and breaks the sound Constitution or brings it on Speedily and Violently The next thing is to be humbled for the same to accept the Punishment of our Iniquity Lev. 26. 43. I will bear the Indignation of the Lord for I have Sinned against him Mic. 7. 9. We must sincerely resolve if God should spare us this time to watch more carefully against the same for the future now to be unfeignedly sorry for it and to cry mightily unto God. The King of Israel is a Merciful King he will be Appeased and Reconciled Behold Happy is the Man whom God Correcteth Therefore despise not thou the Cbastening of the Almighty Job 5. 17. Then he fully perceives that false shew of Happiness with which Fools and Blind are deluded all along Which they might know in the mean while if they would consider it throughly as they do ever and anon slightly Outward things cannot give so much aid as they vainly promise They are all passed away as a Dream and cannot help in the greatest time of need My Flesh and my Heart faileth but God is the strength of my Heart and my Portion for ever Psal 73. 26. If the Conscience is accused by sin let the Sick Man cast it forth by Confession and Prayer and the Sea will cease from raging The mind will become more quiet Whether the Body dies or lives he is safe when he hath done all things to obtain the Mercy and acceptance of Almighty God. It is a sad Story of those who in time of Dangerous Sickness have made great shews of Reformation and Amendment and after Recovery have returned again unto Folly. And they have not cryed unto me with their Heart when they howled upon their Beds Hos 7. 14. Which word imports no true in ward Sorrow but an outward noise upon apprehension of Danger which goes off with it However God cannot be imposed upon he knows the Thoughts long before searches the Heart and tries the Reins discovers the bottom and inward reserves according to which he will judge So it is not what they pretend but what they will really be Those who have been for a superficial and slight Repentance which they did hope might avail if they should Die but if they Recover then to return to their former evil ways I say these should have done well to have considered What moved them to any Repentance at all the same should engage them to continue and perfect it For admit you should certainly live it is but a Reprieve only You will be Sick again or what is worse cut off suddenly And then things will appear exactly at the same manner again yea worse for the former Hypocrisie and Dissembling As also for that more Sin and Guilt is increased How many years may be added unto your Life is not known but it will be a sad thing to have lived Ionger to have committed more Iniquity and so Die hardened Impenitent or feigned at last At first recovery is uncertain for many have lulled themselves with hope thereof till Death hath been upon them Many things might be urged to disswade people from doing Foolishly and Presumptuously Their own Eternal Happiness or Misery lies at stake It is not a matter to trifle or deal deceitful with Be prevailed upon as you tender the good of Soul and Body to have your Repentance true and sincere By the Trouble or Pain of them think of the Worm which shall never die and the Fire which shall not be quenched and which are to be escaped from only this way Believe in God and Jesus Christ that all things contained in the old and new Testament are certainly true Faith and Repentance are necessary for all Men both in time of Health and Sickness which whoso hath according to Truth is sure for these intitle unto the Promises of him with whom we have to do Health doth consist in a regular Disposition and due Motion of each part of the Body None can see into himself or tell the exact manner how as to every particular I was made in secret and curiously VVrought in the lowest parts of the Earth Thine Eyes did see my Substance yet being imperfect and in thy Book were all my Members written which in continuance were Fashioned when as yet there was none of them Psal 139 15 16. None of us can look into the Womb or whilst in Life can see how all the Members and Parts within do work and move yet after the Body is dead we may perceive somewhat by Dissections which is guess and uncertain for if a number of Men should come into the Shop of an excellent Artist seeing his Tools and Instruments only One may think this another that and so may be divided but can never find out the exact manner of his Art. He that sees a dead Carkase unless he were put in mind by himself carrying about one of the same likeness would be at a stand to answer the Question Was this lump ever in Life He could never by his own Wit and Invention find out the way how it was He would also admire how each part both within and without did move and actuate So wonderful and fearful are Gods Works which puzzle the Understanding of Man. Whether it were to keep of Boasting or other causes yet God doth hold our Souls in Life by hidden and invisible Bands that whatever others pretend unto they cannot perfectly find out and see them The Lord Killeth and maketh Alive He bringeth down to the Grave and bringeth up 1 Sam. 2. 6. He hath kept this in his own Power All the ways he hath set out for Nature to go according unto are not yet known Indeed many of them have been searched after and some found but not all for then those Diseases would be Cured which were not first Mortal and Irrecoverable The prevention of and recovery out of Sickness doth depend upon
holy and the Commandment boly just and good and they consent unto the Law that is is good Rom. 7. 12 16. By that let them likewise examine what is here said to be interred from it Luke 2. 35. Mark 4. 22. 2 Cor. 4. 2. God knows I have not intended to upâ—raid or accuse Mankind but was obliged to manifest the Truth Impartially and Universally as every one may judge in his own Conscience There hath been nothing said but what is practicable My self also am a Man compassed about with the same Sins and Infirmities and do readily subicribe to what is written In many things we offend all Jam. 3. 2. Neither have I spared mine own Sin but in several places stand Convicted and Condemned out of the words I have set down hoping to recover by Gods Mercy and my own Repentance But what I desire for my self so for others to have the less Sin for thereby is more Peace and Comfort according to the measure of Innocency and doing good there is a greater Reward What real good doth come of any Disobedience surely none God is Dishonoured and Man is not Benefited it serves the design of an invisible Malicious Enemy and therefore we should all abstain srom Evil as much as we can It is the open Accusation or secret Thought of the World to affix severally on them who come on this Message This Man seeketh not the welfare of this People but the hurt Jer. 38. 4. If one had devised new Pleasure sor the sensual minded or had abundance to bestow Largesses on poor people or gives them Entertainment for a few days with Mirth and Pastime He that conquers Kingdoms and enlarges Territories such are reputed great Instruments of Mens Happiness though the utmost hereof is but as the hasty Fruit before the Summer which when he that looketh upon it seeth it while it is yet in his band he eateth it up Isa 28. 4. which signifies nothing after it is had and is but a faint â—ore-runner of the true Happiness But they are only the unacceptable persons to the World who speak of this which shall just begin here on Earth but never end and be consummated in Heaven There cannot be too much Good-will returned to them who save from every least Injury from Fire Enemies Sickness Poverty all whiâ—h tend only to Temporal Death but they are hated who would keep off from Eternal Death from the Devil and his Legions who would dâ—sswade from vain things that cannot profit and are the Baits he makes use of to beguil Souls unto himself Even here beloved â—â—st and Interest have been touched upon and shewed that they cannot make a Man Happy so that if the Temptation may not be taken away yet is less tempting Why abundance have done thus much already so many Books and Sermons â—o this purpose what need of moreâ— But there should be yet further Admonition for people are not as yet come over unto God. Whilst others have hovered up and down in generals I have ventured by Gods help to pitch When others again have spent many words in Instruction of what was known before or notional unnecessary things here hath attendance been principally given to the word of Exhortation When some have used Moral Perswasions or the less Cogent Arguments here have been brought forth those pressed with the full force and power that I knâ—w of for cursed is that Deceiver who knoweth them and doth not use them And further several things have been spoken out which were concealed from the people If I had came with mine own Inventions and Fancies or the power of Mans Wisdom and Eloquence there would be less ground of Hope but the Truths have been pressed in the Name of God from his Revelation I thought my self accountable for that measure of Grace he hath been pleased to send through me And therefore let it be considered that it is nothing to me let all Men do what they will they have still their Liberty of Action but they are to answer before God how they will shew themselves towards his Word and Truth If that is not found sufficient to reclaim Sinners Isa 55. 10 11. John 12. 48. and Transgressors it is because they will not believe nor consider thereof however it will arise and Condemn them What is here Published will have its due effect on all that are Stubborn or Despisers Let not any one think this new found out for it is the old Scripture-Way illustrating that more particularly what is affirmed in divers places That I may see the good of thy Chosen that I may Rejoyce in the gladness of thy Nation Psal 106. 5. Happy art thou O Israel Deut. 33. 29. Happy is that people whose God is the Lord Psal 144. 15. He thaâ— keepeth the Law Happy is he Prov. 29. 18. The end of all Preaching is to prove and shew that more perfectly what is contained therein and so to manage it according to the design of the whole that all the World may Oâ—ey God and be wise unto Salvation His Word doth not stand in need of Apology but the Abuse and Corruption in handling thereof hath bâ—â—â— so universal that he who would keep free from it is necessitated to Justifie himself least he be thought a setter forth of strange Doctrines To bring all towards Conclusion Man would be Happy even whilst he Lives and doth so that fâ—om the Decree of God and the nature of the thing it is impossible he should be Happy And again he declines those things which are absolutely necessâ—ry to be so All his Actions turn upon this Point If he would rectifie the mistake and suffer himself to be rightly informed herein he can never miss of what all desire the only end the true Happiness If he is put in mind of any thing which may assist or direct him Not unto us O Lord not unto us but unto thy Name give Glory for thy Mercy and for thy Truths sake Psal 115. 1. FINIS ERRATA PAge 4 line 2 for varietation r variation l 40 r Mark 14. p 26 17 r not we our selves P 37 l 35 r to recommend P 47 l 34 f forwardness r frowardness P50 l 19 〈◊〉 speaking r snâ—aking P 70 l 37 f fear r bear P 71 l 21 r equal worth P 75 l20 r John 16. 13. P 79 l 1 omit the word first p 86 l 5 r their own pâ—ril P 180 l 13 r doth not P. 190 l 16 r adapting p 229 l 9. r trust God. p 261 l 6 r lively â—nd P 309 l 8 r enjoyment P 358 l 22 f employments r enjoyments P 417 l 16 r â—rocuring p 467 l 29 r to have been Penned p 152 l 27 r before Men can