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duty_n	christian_n	day_n	lord_n	1,759	5	4.1527	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A58958	The Second and last collection of the late London ministers farewel sermons preached by Dr. Seaman, Dr. Bates, Mr. Caryll, [brace] Mr. Brooks, Mr. Venning, and Mr. Mead ; to which is added a farewell sermon preached at Dedham in Essex by Mr. Matthew Newcomen ; as also Mr. Lyes sermon at the conclusion of the last morning-exercise at All-hallows in Lumbard-street, being a summary rehearsal of the whole monthly-lectures.	Seaman, Lazarus, d. 1675.; Bates, William, 1625-1699.; Caryl, Joseph, 1602-1673.; Brooks, Thomas, 1608-1680.; Venning, Ralph, 1621?-1674.; Mead, Matthew, 1630?-1699.; Newcomen, Matthew, 1610?-1669.; Lye, Thomas, 1621-1684.	1663 (1663)	Wing S2257; ESTC R41075	195,536	326

changed your hearts renewed grace ratified and reconciled and your Conscience quieted How can you think of these things but must admire the love of the Father in giving this to you and the love of the Son in purchasing this for you All the grace and mercy that is given to us is by Christ purchased for us Grace and Peace are fruits of the redeeming bloud of Christ purchased Secondly Do not envy the conditions or possessions of the men of the world they have Riches and Honours Prosits and Pleasures but they neither have Grace nor Peace Therefore do not envy their happiness There is a story of a Romane that was condemned by the Court-Martial to die for breaking his ranke to steal a bunch of Grapes and as he was going to his Execution his fellow Souldiers laughed at him and others envyed at him that he should have Grapes and they none Now sayes he do not envy me for my bunch of Grapes for you would be loth to have them at the rate I must pay for them My Brethren You that are the Children of Grace and peace don't envy at the men of the world at their Riches their Comforts their Pleasures for I am sure you would be loth to have them at the price they pay for them for the end of these things are Death Thirdly Don't complain of the worst condition that the Providence of God shall cast you into in this world it may be you shall suffer hard things but remember so long as thy soul is secure never complain of hard things My Brethren As God your Father brought you into a state of Grace and Peace and thereby secured his love to your souls in Christ can you complain of hard things So let the joy of the Lord be your strength Rejoyce in the Lord alwayes and again I say Rejoyce Phil. 4.4 The second Use is to such as have neither Gra●s nor Peace May I not say I speak to many such● I would I might not Are there not many that are without Grace and therefore must needs be without Peace They may have the world's peace but they have none of this Peace let me beg of you to get out of this graceless condition if you love your Souls don't live one day nor one hour nor one moment longer in a graceless state Oh that you would believe the words of a dying man for so I am to you and such words use to be remembred Oh remember this as a Testimony I leave with you that the love of Sin and lack of Grace will ruin and destroy every Soul at last But you will say How shall I get a share in this grace and peace I answer First Break off all your f●lse peace we can never have true peace with God when we content our selve with false peace you will never seek that peace which Christ hath purchased for you while you content your selves with that cursed peace which the Old man has wrought in you Oh therefore break off all false peace which is not the fruit of Grace Secondly Labour to see and be convinced of the miserable and of the naked condition your Souls be in for want of the righteousness of Christ for a covering without this oh Soul thou art miserable wretched poor and naked Be convinced also what a miserable thing it is to have God our Enemy God is the sinners Enemy it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God Oh be convinced of thy nakedness without Christs righteousness and thy emptiness without his fulness Thirdly Labour to go out of your selves to Christ for grace and peace surely in the Lord shall one say I have righteousness and strength I there it 's to be found Labour for a thirsty frame of Soul for the promises run farr to such that he will fill the hungry with good things Go to Christ oh Soul begg pray never leave God till he hath given thee an interest in Christ for none can come to me except the Father draw him there is no pardon for the least sin out of Christ but there is pardon for the greatest sin in Christ one sin will damn the Soul out of Christ but no sin can hurt the Soul in Christ Oh go to Christ Soul never give rest to thy eyes nor slumber to thy lids till thou hast made peace with God in the bloud of Christ one sting of the fiery Serpent was mortal without looking upon the brazen Serpent So one sin will damn a Soul out of Christ but no sin can damn a Soul in Christ Thirdly To such as have grace but no sense of peace this is the counsel I would leave with all such Be much in the exercise of grace pray much believe much use grace much for the exercise and improving of grace will produce peace There are ten duties which are to be the sphere of grace in activity and in performing of them we shall have peace First make Religion your business the main design of your lives be Christians to purpose be not only Christians by the bye but let your Conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ. Phil. 1.27 Secondly Put forth renewed Acts of Faith 〈◊〉 Christ every day and remember it 's as much your duty to believe in Christ to day as if you had never believed before Oh live by Faith every day and this will bring peace to you Thirdly Maintain a constant Communion with God daily this Communion with God is man● chief good the happiness of a Child is in communion with his Father and the happiness of 〈◊〉 Wife is in communion with her Husband and this is the happiness of a Believers Soul communion with God the Father through Christ our Head and Husband The seed of peace its true it is low● in the Soul in Union but then it takes root downward and brings forth fruit upward Spiritual peace will never be obtained if communion with God be not maintained that gives comfort in the midst of all sorrows and satisfies all doubts and reco●pences all wants Lo this is the fruit of communion with God Fourthly Be good at all times but of all best in bad times many Christians lose their peace by remitting of their grace and let loose their reins of Religion to avoid the censures of a crooked generation A Christians zeal should be like the Winter fire that burns the hottest when the Air is coolest or like the Lilly that looketh beautiful though among Thorns so should a Child of God though among sinners Fifthly In all conditions chuse sufferings rather then sinning If ever you would have peace choose suffering rather then sinning he that value●● peace with God or peace with Conscience he must make this his choyce thus Daniel rather chose to be cast●o Lions then to lose the peace of his Conscience the three Children chose rather to burn in the Furnace then bow to the Image One said He would rather go to Hell free from sin

Jesus Heb. 4.14 Seeing then that ye have a great High Priest that is passed into the Heaven● Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our Profession Heb. 12.2 Looking unto Jesus the Authour and finisher of our Faith who for the joy that was 〈◊〉 before him endured the Cross despised the sham● and is set down at the rig●● and of the Throne 〈◊〉 God Oh let us be thin●ing of and looking 〈◊〉 this Jesus You will say what shall we think of him Oh think of this condescention in the world of that vouchsafement which as was never the like of his how he humbled himself and suffered from God and man Think how he became poor that was rich that we that were poor might become rich Think how he became a curse think how he became sin for us think what a good Confession he made before Pontius Pilate even to the death and was obedient to the death Think how he conquered death by dying and how he rose again by his Almighty Power and is ascended into Heaven and ever lives to make intercession for those that come to the Father through him Think how he lived here on Earth in a sad condition and joyed in it to that it might be for our good and shall we leave such a Christ as this Oh can you look upon Christ and leave the Profession of your Faith it cannot be keep Christ before your eyes make him your pattern and you will not you cannot do amiss He that saith he abides in him ought to walk as he walked He walked in obedience all his dayes and was obedient to the death So must we we must walk in obedience all our dayes though we dye for being obedient You see now how many Arguments there are for your holding fast the Profession of your Faith There are many now that might be added but the time is past therefore I shall shut up all the words of Jude from the 20. Verses of his Epistle to the end But you Beloved building up your selves on your most holy Faith praying in the holy Ghost keep your selves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life and of some have compassion making a difference and others say with fear pulling them out of the fire hating even the Garments spotted by the flesh Now unto them that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy to the only wise God and Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen Mr. Matthew Newcomen His Farewel SERMON Preached at Dedham in Essex Aug. 20. 1662. REV. 3. Vers 3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent I Began this Scripture the last lord's-Lord's-Day in this Congregation I told you then there were three Doctrines obvious in the Text The first was Doct. 1. That it is the Duty of Christians To Remember those Truths that they have heard and received Doct. 2. That it is the Duty of Christians to hold fast the Truths that they have heard and received Doct. 3. That continued Repentance is the Duty of Christians as well as initial Repentance Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent The first of these Doctrines I applyed my self to and applyed to ●he People the last lord's-Lord's-Day and shall not now say any thing of it but proceed to the next Doctrine That it is the Duty of Christians To hold fast the Truths that they have heard and received That which the Apostle enjoyns on Timothy is in proportion the duty of all Christians 2 Tim. 1.13 Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus The whole intire Body of Divine Truth Hold it fast against all opposition whatsoever Now if they that are themselves Teachers of the Truth to others must hold fast the Truth according to the Plat-form that hath been delivered to them then much more is this the duty of private Christians who are supposed not to have that latitude of parts and gifts that Teachers have And therefore you shall find that Christ requires this not onely of the Pastors but of the Members of his Church Rev. 2.24 speaking not onely to the Angel but to the Body of the Church● But to you I say and to the rest in Thyatira as m●ny 〈◊〉 have not this Doctrine and which have not known the depths of Sathan as they speak I will put upon you none other burden but that which you have already●● hold fast till I come As if he should say This is all I require of you my People keep your selves and hold fast that which you have till I come And so in the 3d of Rev. 11. Behold I come quickly hold that fast which thou hast that no man take away thy Crown As if he should say That Divine Tru●● that thou hast heard and received it is thy Crown thy excellency therefore hold it fast This Duty of holding fast the Truth is urged in many other places of Scripture under other expressions as that of continuing in the Word of God Christ says If ye continue in my Word then are ye my Disciples indeed And continuing in the Faith Act. 14.22 Paul and Barnabas visiting the Churches exhor ed them to continue in the Faith And so those terms of being rooted in the Truth of standing and standing fast and many others they all inforce this Duty Now for the better handling of this Point I shall do these four things First I will shew you What Christians are to hold fast Secondly How they are to hold this fast Thirdly Why they are to hold fast that they have heard and received Fourthly I will apply it First What Christians are to hold fast The Doctrine says They are to hold fast the Truths they have received Now Truths are of two sorts 1. Some are Natural and Moral 2. Some are Supernatural and Divine Truths Called Truths of God because they come from God and conform the Mind and Soul that receive them to the Image of God Now though it is true it is good for a man to be right in Moral things and to know and cleave to that which is Truth in Morality yet the Truths that we are here called upon to hold fast they are Divine Truths Supernatural Truths Truths in Religion Truths in the things of God Secondly Again Religious and Divine Truths Truths of God they are either such as are so in name and in the estimation of some men or else they are such Truths as are Truths of God in the truth and reality of the thing Now when I say that Christians are to hold fast the Truths they have received the meaning is not that what ever any man or company of men offer as Truths should be received and held fast for then we must hold fast many Errours But what

Consciences yet others have had a greater freedom given them that they could yeild and if not so What would have become of the people of God Therefore in those things acknowledg there may be some providence of God for good to you in it 5. My fourth Advice I shall deliver to you wholly in the words of that Holy man and Martyr of God Master Bradford in his Letter to the City of London saith he L●t us heartily bewail our sins and repent of our evils let us amend the evils of our lives let us every one be diligent in Prayer and attend with reverence on the reading and hearing of Gods Holy word let us reprove the workes of darknesse let us stie from Idolatry and which is the particular I would indeed commend unto you Obey the Magistrate and them that are set over us in the Lord in all things that are not against the Word and when th●y command any thing contrary to the Word Let us answer It is meet to obey God rather then men However saith he Resist not the Magistrate nor seek to avenge your selves but commit your cause to God be patient and submit to all that are in Authority over you but resist not rise not against Authority but wait on God till he pleaseth to cause the Light to arise and shine again upon you This is my fourth Advice 4. Now it pleaseth God that hearing oppertun●ties at least some of them are taken from some of us from many of us for a time My Advice and Counsell is that the lesse now you hear the more you would read read the word of God much the mote and take all helps for the right understanding of what you read The Book of Annotations is a great help to inlighten you to understand the Scriptures and next to the reading of the Scriptures what spare houres you have I would advise you to bestow your time in teading of the Book of Martyrs a Book that hath formerly been more prized then of late in England Especially read that part of it which containes the History of Queen Maries dayes they will informe you of the great controversies that are between us and the Papists and they will informe you what you shall answer the reading how chearfully they went to Prison and to the stake will embolden you against the feares of sufferings and death and the reading of their Letters will be a great meanes to edifie and build you up this reading of the Scriptures and other good Books is my fifth Advice to you 6. My sixth Advice to you is That seeing God hath taken away your Week-dayes opportunities of hearing the Word here and in other places you would be careful that the World may not devoure Gods Portion I mean that portion of time which some of you have bestowed on hearing these Lectures It was a good Speech of a gracious Woman now with God when Mr. Rogers was silenced Well saith she By the Grace of God The World shall never have those houres that I was wont to spend in hearing heretofore her meaning was she would spend them in her Closet in holy duties It was an excellent Resolution and worthy of our imitation and if I might after 26 ye●●● labour here in the Ministry now at my parting obtain thus much of you that you that have been pleased to be constant hearers here would lay a Law on your selves that so much time as you formerly spent in coming hither sitting here and in returning home that you will spend that time at home either in praying and reading and meditating in your Closets or else in praying in and with your Families and instructing of them if I might but obtain this of you at my parting I should believe that the Devill and his Kingdom would be loosers by this out parting if you would spend this time weekly in holy exercises reading and praying for your selves and for the Nation and for your Families which you were wont to spend in coming to these Lectures and in attending here and returning home and that is my sixth Advice to you and herefore let me intreat this of you 7. And my seventh Advice and Counsel is this that seeing it pleaseth God to take away from you so many of your publick Instructors that you would every one of you that are heads of Families be so much the more in instructing and teaching your Families Be so much the more in this by how much the lesse is done in publick Read the Word in your Families and catechise your Families and see that they may understand them you have many helps for this as M. Perkins and M. Ball and the Assemblies Catechisme 8. And the last Advice I have to give you is this That you would still continue your Reverence of and ●ove to and care for the observing of the Lords holy Sabbath it is that my Brethren wherein God hath been honoured in this Town and in these Parts I think as much as in most places of the World and I pray do so still and when you have not publick Ordinances and publick helps for the sanctifying of the Lords Day at home in your own Congregations if you can have the Word and Ordinances in any comfortable manner abroad travel for it I say travel for it and when you have them not at home nor abroad be so much the more earnest and fervent and abundant in your Family and secret duties in the sanctification of the Lords Day I have some feares least if time should come to that passe that the Magistrate should connive at the profaning of the Lords day giving way to sports and Recreations on it and Preachers should cry down the strict observation of the Lords day and the like I am afraid we have many youths that in these parts notwithstanding all the Instructions that have been given them would be ready to dance after these Pipes and run into the profaning of the Lords Day therefore you that are governours of Families remember the Charge that God hath given you more expresly concerning this then in any other thing that I know of Thou nor thy Sonne nor thy Daughter nor thy Man-servant nor thy Maid-servant nor thy Cattel nor thy stranger that is within thy gates shalt thou suffer to violate the day of the Lord Therefore know your Authority and do your duty And put on that holy Resolution of Joshua Whatsoever others do I and my House will serve the Lord so say you Whatever others do I and mine will sanctifie the Lords Day and keep it holy So do and the Blessing of God shall be on you all the week long And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an Inheritance among all them that are sanctified FINIS Mr Cradecots Farewell Sermon Phil. 4. latter part of vers 9. And heard and seen in me do and the God of peace shall be with you

Know in such a condition that though your condition be exceeding bad yet better than many thousands they never had Ordinances 2. God is able in such a case to support without Ordinances when hee calls into the Wilderness hee can carry along without Circumcision 3. Remember those that have had them but not now what 's become of Sion of the Church of c. 4. Your salvation may be carried on without Ordinances 5. There 's a time coming when you shall have no need of Ordinances In the mean time if you cannot get up to the Ark of God take heed of bowing to the Calves at Dan and Bethel If you cannot serve the God of Israel take heed you serve not the Gods of the Amorites What you will do I know not be sure Joshna would not chuse you saith hee this day whom you will serve whether the Gods which your Fathers served that were on the other side of the flood or the Gods of the Amorites in whose Land yee dwell But as for mee and my house wee will serve the Lord which brings mee to The Thirteenth Sermon Josh 24.15 As for mee and my house wee will serve the Lord. IN the words two things 1. An indefatigable Retortation Take your own choice follow your own discretion If you will go and bow down to a dumb Idol to a Captive God c. 2. An admirable Dehortation wee are at a pitch wee are resolved and if there be any Attractive in mee or my family you have it in this I and my house-hold wee will serve the Lord. The Observations were 1. Pious Governours of families are very zealous that their families as well as themselves should serve the Lord. Never hope of thriving in godliness till you bring your Families right for God to be of the same Religion with your selves 2. A true sincere Christian is resolved to chuse and follow God what ever else the world chuse and follow 1. Sincere Christians have much more satisfaction in the judgement and practice of God his Word Saints than in the judgement and practice of the World Hee knows their judgement to be depraved their choice and practice corrupt their end and conclusion worst of all therefore no wonder hee makes a better choice 2. They have the best Testimony in the world for their choice the Spirit and Son of God that this is their choice therefore no wonder c. But how do they chuse God Answer they chuse God as the object of their souls love as the chiefest of ten thousand as the lot of their inheritance as the companion of their souls to converse with him as the Commander of their waies to be guided by him as a shelter of their hearts as a refuge to flye unto in the time of danger The first Use was by way of Examination is God chosen as the chief object of our souls love can we truly say there is none in Heaven but thee none upon Earth I can desire besides or in comparison of thee Can wee say in having a God the lines are fallen unto mee in a pleasant place yea I have a goodly heritage Is communion with God our Heaven upon Earth Is God the Commander of our waies as well as wee hope to be the Saviour of our souls Is God our shield our buckler our retreat in danger The second Use was by way of Consolation Beleevers have you made choice of God Happy are the people that are in such a case thou hast the best assurance in the world to come to the best possession in this world peace and joy Peace without if not Peace within And Joy the best Joy in the world Joy unspeakable and full of glory And truly if so be that this be thy portion in having chosen God 't is no wonder thou dost not Apostatize from him 'T is no wonder that what ever comes upon a Beleever yet for that his heart is not turned back neither his steps declined from Gods way And this leads to The Fourteenth Sermon Psalm 44.18 Our heart is not turned back neither have our steps declined from thy way FRom these words two Observations 1. In times of sufferings and afflictions true Christians are to make a narrow inspection into their hearts to see how they stand affected Thus did the Church here 2. To keep stedfast and close with God notwithstanding all afflictions and sufferings wee undergo either from or for God is the duty and commendation of Saints 'T was our duty and 't is our honour Lord c. In prosecution of this point these seven preliminary Thesis was laid down 1. When man was first created his heart stood rightly bent towards God as his great center and mark 2. When man fell his heart immediately drew off and turned back from God 3. Though this be the case of fallen man yet poor creature he sees it not 4. The very Formalis Ratio of sin that wherein the formality of sin consists is in this not so much in sinning against God by outward Acts as in the hearts departing from God 5. All true Conversion to God begins at the heart 6. 'T is an argument of infinite love in God to bring back our hearts to him 7. When once the heart of a Beleever is brought back to God no suffering or affliction is able to turn that heart from him Quest When may a mans heart be said not to bee turned back notwithstanding all sufferings and afflictions Answ 1. When a man still retains the same esteem and estimate of God that ever he had When Job looks upon God as a God fit to bee blessed though God be plundering of him 2. When a man retains still the same affections the same love to him delight in him fear of him as much as ever 3. When wee hope and trust in God as much as ever Though hee kill mee yet will I trust in him 4. When we have the same resolutions to cleave to God as ever If a God in Israel as long as a God in Israel 't is all one makes not to the Gods of the Philistines this is for a mans heart not to be turned back from God By way of Use 1. Learn the heart of man is very apt to turn from God in daies of affliction our heart is not though their's were 2. It concerns us in time of affliction and suffering to see if our hearts be not turned back from God But what means shall I use that I may not turn a base Apostate Answ 1. Be watchful over your hearts they are exceeding slippery and deceitful The veryest Theeves in the World 2. Bee still bending of your hearts from the world and the flesh unto God As you bend a crooked stick to make it streight 3. Do not onely bend but binde your hearts tye them shackle them as you would one that hath broken Prison by holy serious scriptural necessary vows 4. Converse much with God That man that converses much with God it is not

wayes to ler loose the Devill on his owne Children Satan had a desire to afflict Job and God gave way to it c. The Church of God is Gods Spouse and there is a great deale of love between the Husband and Wife between Christ and the Church Yet Psal 4.5 this she is so solemnly charged with all God hath made Christ a head to his Church therefore his Church must be Ruled by Christ and t is not for the Church to say The inferiour shepherds would order me thus and thus we must in the mean while say but What doth Christ say in such cases It is not for the Church to go aside by the flocks of his Companions Cant. 1.7 The Companions of Christ pretend to be Shepherds of the sheep as well as he but have not that power Christ had They have their Societies and would have the ordering of them but the Church desires to know where she may hold Communion with Christ that she may not turne aside by the flocks of his compani●● 〈◊〉 There is many Disputations amorg inferiour shepherds but this is out of all dispute that Christ is the Great Shepherd of the sheep That great man at Rome never pretended higher than to be the Vicar of Christ and Successor of Peter now we know that the Principal is much more to be regarded than his Vicar therefore if Christ be the Great Shepherd surely the sheep of Christ must hear his voice before all other shepherds specially since Christ hath spoken so signally in the Case My sheep hear my voice and they follow me a stranger will they not follow for they know not the voice of strangers And God having so solemnly commanded Matth. 17.5 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him The Great Shepherd must be heard before all little shepherds The little shepherds have their division Act. 20.29 After my departure shall grivous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away discisples after them True shepherds are alwaies carefull to make Disciples for Christ and to bring all Disciples to Christ All John's work was to make Disciples to put them over to Christ not to make disciples to himself but to make over all his disciples unto Christ If any man will gather he must gather for Christ not himself others would draw men unto any matter or manner of Doctrine Government c. But our eye must be upon Christ and our ear open to his voice and our Hearts awed with his will and mind in Scripture made known to his Church And they love nor Christ as they ought that desire not to hear his voice before any others in the world for he is the Great Shepherd of the sheep 2. Though he be the Great Shepherd of the sheep yet he dye and though he dye yet because he is the Great Shepherd of the sheep he is raised again The great Shepherd Dyes the little Shepherds must not think much of it if they be called to dye We must be contented it be exemplified in us if occasion serve for if God spared not the Great Shepherd What have the little shepherds to plead for themselves they should be spared If the Case fall out while I labour to serve the Church as I can I come to suffer for the Church in the end I doe rejoyce and I will rejoyce And truly we had need to pray for such a spirit as this for if this was in the Great Shepherd of the sheep it will very well become the little shepherds But against the fear of death here 's the comfort The Great Shepherd of the sheep dyes yet is raised from the dead so shall the little ones not one member of the flock death can alwaies triumph over him In this respect Christ will have all his members to be raised in that he got the victory over death for Christ arose as the First fruits and ascended into Heaven as a fore-runner Though we may have deniall as to the advancing of Christs service c. Yet the Resurrection of the dead is that we must take into our thoughts and t is our solid comfort God will one day bring all the sheep together into one fold and David shall be their King and have the Ruling and ordering of them to all Eternity There is a Resurrection to little shepherds when we come to lay down our naturall lives we can look for no other recompence for it but our Resurrection and the thoughts of it must be our Comfort And oh how doth this incourage us to come unto God though sinne be heavie upon us Remember there is a God of peace that takes to himself this name for this very end that sinners may know for their incouragment that Reconciliation is wrought out between God and them through Jesus Christ and if they will but come and take hold of the bloud of the everlasting Covenant Christ hath said they shall have all the blessings and benefits promised in the Covenant of Grace and that the bloud of Christ can procure for them they shall have forgivness of sinnes and salvation of Soul Therefore when we consider Christ hath dyed to have a flock and for saving of the flock and to make himself the God of peace through his bloud this should comfort us It remains we come to consider of the matter of the Prayer this is very full Make you perfect in every good work to doe his will working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight c. Here we are to observe two things First The matter of the Apostle's desire Secondly The measure of it The matter of his desire is that the Hebrewes may be made perfect in every good work to doe the will of God i. e. that they may be fully and thoroughly regenerate sanctified throughout both in soul and body and that they may be furnished with all graces and inabled for every duty Take notice of every one of the expressions First Make you perfect T is the duty of Christians to perfect every good work to cleanse themselves from all the impurity of flesh and spirit and to perfect Holinesse in the fear of the Lord 2 Cor. 7.1 Secondly In every good work in matters of Piety Righteousnesse Charity Sobriety for within these head most of those things may be comprehended that belong to Christians they will goe a very great way to make a perfect Christian but that Christian cannot be perfect that is not sanctified in every one of these Thirdly To doe his will that you may be ready chearfully willing to do his will on all occasions But how is it possible flesh and bloud should attain to this that they should be perfect to every good work Why saith the Apostle working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ Working in you You see thereby All our works depend on God's

you but if you turne to the bright side his fourty yeares raign in glory How amiable was it Look on the darke side of the Providence of God to Job Oh how terrible was it in the first of Job but compare this with the last of Job where you have the bright side of the cloud and there God doubles all his mercies to him Consider the patience of Job and the end that the Lord made with him do not remember the beginning only for that was th● darke side but turne to the end of him and there was his bright side Many sinnes many temptations and much affliction would be prevented by Christians looking on the bright side of Providence as well as on the dark Leg. 19. Keep up pretious thoughts of God under the sowrest sharpest and severest Dispensations of God to you Psal 22.1 2 3. My God my God Why hast thou forsaken me Why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring oh my God I cry in the day time but thou hearest not and in the night season and am not silent There was the Psalmist under smart dispensations but What pretious thoughts hath he of God under all But Thou art holy O thou that inhabitest the prayses of Israel though I am thus and thus afflicted yet thou art holy Psal 65.5 By terrible things in Righteousness wilt thou answer us O God of our salvation Leg. 20. Hold on and hold cut in the wayes of well-doing in the want of all outward encouragments and in the face of all outward discouragments It s nothing to hold out when we meet with nothing but encouragements but to hold out in the face of all discouragements is a Christians duty Psal 44. Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of Dragons and covered us with the shadow of death yet have we not dealt fasly in thy Covenant our heart is not turned back neither have we declined from thy wayes t is perseveravce that crownes all Be thou faithfull to the death and I will give thee a crown of life Rev. 2.10 And he that endureth to the end shall be saved Mat. 24. It s perseveran●● 〈◊〉 well-doing that crownes all our actions If 〈…〉 began in the Spirit don't end in the flesh do not go away from the Captain of your salvation follow the Lambe though others follow the Beast and the false prophets Leg. 21. In all your naturall civill and Religious actions let divine glory still rest on your soules Rom. 14.7 8. 1 Cor. 10.31 In all your hearings in all your prayings let the glory of Christ carry it in all your closet-dutyes let the glory of Christ lye nearest your hearts Leg. 22. Record all Speciall favours mercies providences and experiences T is true a man should do nothing else should he record all the favours and experiences of God towards him and therefore my Legacy is Record all Speciall favours peculiar experiences Little doe you know the advantage that will redound to your soul upon this account by recording all the experiences of the shinings of his face of the leadings of his Spirit many a Christian looseth much by neglecting this duty Leg. 23. Never enter upon the tryall of your estate but when your hearts are at the best and in the fitest temper T is a great designe of Sathan when the soul is deserted and strangely afflicted to put the soul on trying wroke Come see what thou art worth for another world what thou hast to shew for a better state for an interest in Christ a title for heaven this is not a time to be about this worke thy work is now to get off from this temptation and therfore to pray and believe and wait upon God and to be found in all those wayes whereby you may get off the temptation Leg. 24. Alwayes make the Scripture and not your selves nor your carnal reason nor your bare opinion the Judges of your spiritual state and condition I cannot see my condition to be good I cannot perceive it What must your sense and your carnall reason be the Judge of your spiritual state Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this rule it is because there is no light no morning in them John 12.48 The word that I have spoken the same shall judge you in the last day The Scripture is that which must determine the case in the great day whether you have grace or no or whether it be true or no. Leg. 25. Make much conscience of making good the terms on which you closed with Christ you know the terms how that you would deny your selves take up his Cross and follow the Lamb wheresoever he should go Now you are put to take up the Cross to deny your selves to follow the Lamb over hedge and ditch through thick and thin do not turn your backs on Christ the worst of Christ is better then the best of the world make conscience of making good your terms to deny your self your natural self your sinful self your religious self and to follow him and if you do so oh what an honour will it be to Christ and advantage to your souls and a joy to the upright Leg. 26. Walk by no rule but such as you dare dy by and stand by in the great day of Jesus Christ You may have many wayes prescribed to worship by but walk by none but such as you dare dye by and stand by before Jesus Christ walk not by a multitude for who dare stand by that rule when he comes to dy Make not the example of great men a rule to go by for who dare dye by and stand by this in the great day of accompt Do not make any authority that stands in opposition to the authority of Christ a rule to walk by for who dare stand by this before Jesus Christ Ah Sirs walk by no rule but what you dare dye by and stand by at the great day Leg. 27. And lastly sit down and rejoyce with fear Psal 2. Let the Righteous rejoyce but let them rejoyce with fear Rejoyce that God hath done your souls good by the everlasting Gospel that he did not leave you till he brought you to an acceptance of to a closing with and a resignation of your souls to Christ and the clearing up of your interest in him Rejoyce that you have had the everlasting Gospel in so much light purity power and glory as you have had for many years together Rejoyce in the riches of grace that hath carryed it in such a way towards you And weep that you have provoked God to take away the Gospel that you have no more improved it that you have so neglected the seasons and opportunities of enriching your souls When you should have come to Church-fellowship any thing would turn you out of the way Oh sit down and tremble under your barrenness under all your leanness notwithstanding all the cost and

FRom this Verse we may observe three Doctrines Doct. 〈◊〉 That the peoples eyes must be taught by the Ministers holiness of life as well as their ears by the Ministers soundness of Doctrine Paul did not reach one thing and practice another he practised as he preached and he both practised and preached the forementioned Duties in the Verse before the Text. And to this end the Lord appointed a Ministry to be perpetuated through all ages of the World And it is the Lords appointment that peoples ears should be taught by the Ministers holiness of life as well as their ears by their soundness in Doctrine and this is necessary for the Minister himself and necessary for the people No marvel then that a faithful Ministry is the Butt of the Devils malice or his craft and cruelty and that the Devil hath in all Ages attempted and endeavoured utterly to overthrow the Ministry or topoyson and fly-blow it shamefully and this is the method whereby Satan hath endeavoured to fly-blow the Ministry Why then see the folly and madness of those people who affect or cry up those Ministers who do not reach their people with sound Doctrine or a holy life and whether there be not such Ministers which do not teach their peoples ears with soundness of Doctrine or their ey●● with a holy life and whether there be not such people as do cry up such Ministers and whether or no 〈◊〉 people are not guilty of spiritual folly and madness judge ye Doct. 2. A Ministers soundness in Doctrine and holiness of life and conversation doth lay a very great obligation on a people to a due conscientious practice of every commanded duty The Apostle we see maketh his Preaching and Practice an argument to excite the Philippians to the fore-mentioned commanded duties as is in the Text and the verse before the Text. As first of all the Appellations and Titles given in Scripture to such Ministers whose Doctrine is sound and whose Lives and Conversations are exemplarily holy They are called 1. The salt of the Earth as Mat. 5.13 read that saith Christ to those great Teachers of the Gospel and Dispensers of his Oracles and in them to their Successours Salt hath two things in it namely Sharpness and Savouriness and thus Ministers first must rebuke sharply that people may be sown in the Faith as Paul enjoyns Titus as in the 1. of Titus and 13. verse And secondly Ministers must speak savoury things to every person and to every palate that their people may be savoury both in heart and life but to be as unfavoury as stinking carion in the nostrils of Almighty God under such a savoury and seasoning Ministry this is woful It is the nature of salt to cause barrenness where it seasoneth not therefore we read of Abimel●● in Judge 9. ver 45. that be swed the City with salt So that people who live under a sharp and savoury Ministry and are not seasoned therewith and preserved from purrefaction in their fin and corruption thereb● their case is very dangerous 2. They are called again the Light of the World in Mat. 5.14 read that As for their Doctrine the Salt of the Earth so for their Lives the Light of the World and they must therefore lead convincing lives as John 5.35 read that it is there said of John the Baptist our blessed Lord and Saviour gives him this commendatory Character or Testimonial That be was a burning and a shining light burning in himself and shining to others Or as it was said of Basil Thundring in his Doctrine and lightning in his Life and Conversation Now if good Ministers be the light of the world then hence we may infer 2. Inf. 1. That without a godly faithful Ministry the world lyeth in darkness ignorance errour sin and misery It is said of Galilee in Mat. 4.16 That the 〈◊〉 who sate in darknese saw great light read that Why had they not Priests and Levites I answer they had indeed sorr Priests but they had not a faithful Ministry and therefore the Evangelists rells them they sate in darkness yea in the region and shadow of death notwishstanding the sorry sottish Priests they had But when they had a faithful Ministry they are said to see a great Light Again If good Ministers be the light of the world then we may draw this Corollary That to be offended at the light of a faithful and powerful Ministry argues and speaks a very sinful and wretched frame of heart Nothing is to excellent but some will be displeased at and with it as Eccles 11.7 Even the light it self we know is offensive to sore eyes and this the burning and shining light of a godly and faithful Ministry is offensive and terrible to some but who are they fore diseased souls the Lord knows The Ark of God which was the monument of his presence whom did it smite with Emrods but the Philistinet What then is the Ale-bench more easie to thee than thy Pew is to thee in this place than a Conscience Soul-searching Sermon what art thou offended at a powerful faithful Ministry Oh fearful plague-tokens 3. To do all that man can do to put out the Light this is worse It is the most horrid hellish plot that can be assigned or named and of this I am sure the the Church of Rome cannot plead not guilty which like the Scribes and Pharisees take away from the people the key of knowledge and shut up the Kingdome of Heaven against men How terribly doth our blessed Lord thunder-strike those stupid Pharisees for this Mat. 23.13 And as did the Pharisees so did the Papists For 1. Heretofore they made it a mortal sin to read Gods word 2. Afterwards they clogged the liberty they granted with such cautions and restrictions as tha●●●ry few escaped of those that were within the reach●● the Inquisition 3. Those clogs contented not but now it is thought fit utterly to deny liberty and can there be a more horrible hellish plot assigned than this to take from people their knowledge of salvation And thus the Church of Rome whether they have Church-snuffers or not to be sure they have Church extinguishers and various means to put out the light Oh fearful is this as in John 3.19 20. That is the reason men hate the Light because their deeds are evil Again If good Ministers be the Light of the world then hence may we draw this conclusion that it concerns people very nearly to believe in the light and-to walk in the light and to work while the light lasteth at our blessed Saviour exhorteth in John 12 35 36. read that God sets up his Ministers as Lights as Candles on the candlesticks of his Church to awaken men and to light men unto eternal life And ought not people to pray hard and work hard while the light lasteth Go● removes many times the candle and candlestick and makes the Sun to go down at noon-day as Amos 8.9 So darkens the

earth at clear day Good Ministers they are called the Light of the world and they are called 3. Stars as in Revel 3.1 And who are meant by the seven Stars Rev. 1 ult they are the Angels that is the Ministers of the seven Churches Now the Stars are said to affect those inferiour bodies 1. By their influence And thus godly and faithful Ministers by the influence of their lips they feed many with the bread of life 2. By their regular motives of their lives they confirm many 3. By the light of both they confirm many one while their employment is to instruct poor souls and so they are like Stars shining in a dark winter night another while they are to converse in their courses Judg. 5.20 Now to enjoy and live under the Ministry of such Stars and yet to walk in darkness and to have fellowship with the works of darknesse to remain unconvinc'd unconverted unhumbled unmortified unfruitful this is woful this is a very lamentable state 4. They are called the Lords Messengers and Embassadours Mal. 2.7 And the Ministers of the Gospel for indeed the Ministers of the New Testament they are no where called Priests they are called Embassadours for Christ 2 Cor. 5.20 Godly faithful Ministers are the Lords Messengers and Embassadours in matters concerning the soul the precious immortal never dying soul of man not in the matter● of this life but for the soul Now this is no mean employment to treat with God for the soul 5. They are called the Lords Husbandmen Gods Church is his husbandry 1 Cor. 3.9 And Ministers are Gods Husbandmen naturally we are like a barren wilderness now the Lord sends his Husbandmen to those barren wildernesses to make it a fruitful Paradis● Now for Gods Husbandmen to plow fow and 〈◊〉 row and yet no fruit no crop Isa 5.6 When Gods Vineyard brought forth no fruit I will take away all their rainy clouds saith God you shall have clouds but you shall have clouds without rain you shall have Ministers still but such as shall never do your souls any good Well you see the titles given to them in Scripture they are c●lled the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World and Stars and the Lords Messengers and Embassadours and Husbandmen all which doth import a very great obligation lying on a people who live under such a Minister and who live under and practice every commanded duty 1. Inference 2. Dangerous and fearful is the estate of those who have enjoyed and lived under and have not been wrought upon by such a Ministry And this will appear if we consider 1. How fearful a sentence the Lord Jesus Christ hath given to those that live under but despise and pro●t not by the Ministry of his faithful servants Mat 10 14 15. And do not think that Christ said this touching the Ministry of the Apostles only cert●inly the Lord Christ would have it to be understood of the Ministry of all his faithful servants whom he f●ndeth to teach his people John 13.20 whomsoever he sends and 16 He that despiseth whoms●ev●● 〈◊〉 send des●iseth me Then is the message of the Lords faithful Messengers received aright when people do not only ●ea●●● but receive it and bring forth fruit as our blested Lo●d speaks of good hearers Mark 4.20 Those are they that hear and receive the fruits ●own in good ground ●nd thus our blested Lord expounds himself Mat. 11 24. He telleth us there that they of Caper●●um shall be in a worse case than they of Sodom and Gomorrah and why because they repented not at Christs Sermons and Miracles they were not to be seen in their lives notwithstanding Christs Ministry notwithstanding Christs preaching and his thiracles among them they did not amend their hearts and ways Oh how fearful a sentence hath our Lord Jesus Christ denounced against such 2. If a people be not wrought upon by such a Ministry what hope can such a people have that any thing sh●● do their souls any good for is not the Ministry of Gods faithful servants the power of God to salvation and the ministration or the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.8 That is that Ministry whereby the spirit of grace and holiness is infused into the hearts of the Father 's chosen ones in Christ Jesus The Poet speaks of excellent Musicians who by power of their musick made stones to leap into a wall A godly faithful Ministry hath done more it hath taken the stone out of mans heart and hath given them new hearts it hath made all the commandments of God easie to many a poor soul because it loves its Father its Redeemer and ●omforter There is a kind of obedience in a godly faithful Minister and if this will not do nothing will as in Luke 16.31 3. Is not the cause of the non-proficiency of such a people under such a Ministry in themselves Oh men do hinder the fruit of the word of their own souls the powerful operation and working of the word on their own souls the Lord prophecies that sentence on the Jews Matth. 13.14 He layes all the blame on themselves and assigns their own sins and the reason and cause of it as in Verse 13. And thus our blessed Saviour expounds the Parable of the Sower shewing how many that hear the word are never the better for it and be lay●th the blame on themselves as in Luke 8.14 what then hast thou not profited under the Ministry of the Lords faithful servants Oh lay the blame on thy 〈◊〉 4. Consider hath not● the Lord himself a hand in 〈◊〉 proficiency or non-proficiency under such a Minist● surely the Lord hath a chief hand in making the Min●●stry of his servants fruitful or not fruitful to them 〈◊〉 enjoy it Now to enjoy and not enjoy is it not a fea●ful sign that ye are not of God as Joh. 8.47 Is it not a sign that thou art not of Gods Elect at least of Regeneration But you will say did not the Jews hear Gods word Yes they did with their bodily cars but they heard it not with faith submission and fruitfulnesse and therefore our blessed Saviour tells them they were not of God that is they were at least in 〈◊〉 unregenerate if not in a reprobate condition And so John 10.26 Ye are those Goats saith Christ that must stand at my left hand in that great day And then Unbelievers shall teflect on themselves not on Christ Ministry by the mouths of his servants But if any should say what then will you say th●● all of us are Reprobates that are not wrought on by your Ministry I say not so for that seed which hath been sown on you may do your souls good hereafter though ●t hath done them little or no good as yet But secondly this I may boldly say that if any of you die in your present state unconverted unregenerate you will carrie with you to your grave as fearful marks of reprobation as any we can find

in the whole book of God John Baptist compares the Ministry of the Gospel to a Fan in Mat. 3.12 When the Lord Jesus maketh use of the Ministry of his faithfull servants among the people when he maketh use of those Fans it will appear who among them are wheat and shall be gathered into the Lords Garner and who among them are chaff and shall be cast into the 〈◊〉 And now whether the present state that you have lied under and are not yet wrought upon by a faithful Ministry be not very dangerous judge ye And so much may suffice for the Doctrinal part If it be so then That a Ministers soundness in doctrine and holiness of life and conversation doth lay a great obligation on a people conscientiously and duly to practice every commanded duty Then first of all the first Use we shall make of this Doctrine shall be by way of Tryal and Examination and that in two particulars 1 Branch of the Use of Tryal First Whether you in this Parish in this place you here before the Lord do make conscience of the due practice of every commanded duty Secondly Whether the Ministry you have enjoyed and lived under doth not lay a great obligation on you so to doe For the first of these Whether you here before the Lord do make conscience of the due practice of every commanded duty in obedience to Almighty God you may try your selves by these three excellent Ingredients First Universality Canst thou in the witnesse of thy conscience say that through grace thou dost every as well as any part of the Lords revealed will so far as thou knowest it 2. Vniformity Dost thou do all without prejudice or partiality 3. Vbiquity Art thou the same at ●●ome as abroad in thy Closet as well as in the Congregation and dost thou mind inward and secret as well as open and outward holiness What saith conscience to this As first Hath commanded duties a throne in your own souls and conscience Secondly Have they a throne in thy Family First Have commanded duties a throne in your own fouls and consciences Is your hearts fully possest 〈◊〉 the power of those divine and heavenly truths 〈◊〉 you have often heard which hath been again and again inculcated upon you as it was upon the Thessaloni●●● 1 Thes 1.5 their carnal principles were confuted th●● passion moderated their lusts mortified their self-ends consounded are yours so Have commanded duties a throne in your souls and consciences Oh that all your consciences could give a satisfying answer to this Quaery Secondly Have commanded duties a throne in your Families do you make conscience of Family duties are your houses Bethels that is houses of God houses of Prayer are they habitations of Holinesse and Righteousnesse do you make conscience of relative as well as of personal duties Oh that all your consciences could give a satisfying answer to this Quaery 2. Branch of the Use of Tryal But now the second Branch of this Use of Tryal and Examination is this Whether the Ministry you have enjoyed and lived under doth not lay a very great obligation on you to put in execution every commanded duty as Rom. 10.6 7 8. that is the Word of Faith we Preach read that place and may not we take up that with some variation and say You have heard of the disease the misery and remedy When the great God shall arraign thee at the great and fearfull Day and shall 〈◊〉 thus Thou rebellious wretch why didst thou not forsake thy evil wayes thy drunkennesse thy ●ipling thy covetousnesse thy snuffing at purity thy inve●erate heart and spirit against my holy wayes and Ministers why didst thou not forsake thy evil wayes wilt thou be able to say Lord I lived under 1. A so I betraying non-resident Minister one 〈◊〉 made it his businesse to fleece indeed not to feed the flock or 2. Under a foul-poysoning Innovator or 3. Under a soul-pining dry nurse or 4. Under a soul-misguiding guide or 5. Under a soul unsetling temporizer or 6. Under a soul-destroying discountenancer 1. Canst thou say that thou livest under a soul-betraying non-resident Minister one that made it his business to fleece and not to feed the flock one that looked after the wool and fat of the flock the fleece but never minded the flock but non-residency hath been hitherto decryed as that as breeds a Minister idle and erroneous or licentious but wilt thou be able to say Lord I lived under such a Minister that was a soul-betraying Minister one that was greedy of Livings and had perhaps two or three or four but so bad a man that the worst was too good for him or wilt thou be able to plead or canst thou say 2. Lord I lived under a soul-poysoning Innovator one that was for formality more then reality of true worship one that preached such Doctrine as did not season but poyson and destroy the souls of his hearers such are Romish Teachers Jesuites Priests and Seminaries who so affect the outward pomp as they neglect the inward power of it Wilt thou be able to say Lord I lived under the Ministry of such a one who was more realous for the formality of thy worship than the reality more zealous for those things that will not 〈◊〉 the tryal of the Lords day of appearance than for the su●stance of Religion Or 3. Canst thou plead that thou livedst under a soul pining dry Nurse one that did not or could not seed us with the sincere milk of thy Word one from whom thou never heardst a soul-solid a soul-working Sermon all thy life I appeal to your Consciences have you not heard often of your miser●● and Gods mecy and Christs merits Have you not he●● often of the necessity of a holy life Oh the conviction informations exhortations perswasions directions you have enjoyed and lived under Hath not thy state 〈◊〉 nature been ripped up and the Anatomy not of the Councel of Trent but of Gods Book been shewed to thee What shall I say hath not Hell and Damnation to all rebellious and Heaven and Salvation to all true penitent souls been preached to you 4. Or canst thou say that thou livedst under a soul-misguiding guide as 1. A blind Seer a blind Watchman a blind Leader of the blind one who knew not Heavens way Canst thou say thou livedst under such a creature that is not to be found in Christs Catalogue an I dolpreacher as in Psalm 135.15 16 17. verses read that Or 2. if not ignorant yet one so vicious that he pulled down more with his foul hand then he built up with his fair tongue Canst thou say thou livedst under one who by his conversation gave his Doctrine the lye Wilt thou be able to plead thus at the great day or wilt thou be able to say 5. That thou hast lived under a soul-unsetling Temporizer what would he not do rather then he would lose his Living which made me think Religion to

be but a fancy Wilt thou be able to say at the great Day Lord it was my sad lot and portion to live under the Ministry of such a one who tuned his Fiddle to the times of every one I or lastly Wilt thou be able to say thou livedst under a soul-destroying Discountenancer of all purity and holiness one perhaps though no dunce or drunkard yet a profane scoffer one that preached holiness out of his Pulpit and Parish and House and the like But first of all we can through grace appeal in this case both to the Lord and to your selves that it hath not been so with you 2. Consider how unexcusable you will be if you live and dye in your ignorance impenitency and unbelief 1. Consider we can in this case appeal both to the Lord and 〈◊〉 your selves 1. To the Lord we are able with an humble boldness to appeal to him and say Lord thou knowest we have given this people warning Ezek 3.18 Now blessed be the Lord we can humbly appeal to his Majesty Oh Lord thou knowest we have warned the wicked to turn from his wicked way and the profane from his profaneness and the superstitious from his superstition and the schismatical from his schism and the formal from his formality and the civil honest man from resting in his morality Oh blessed be thyname we have endeavoured to take off this people from all their sandy quagmoiry foundations Lord thou knowest our prayers for them And so 2. To appeal to you And this was a very great comfort to St. Paul that he could appeal to the people themselves as Acts 20.26 27. This was a great comfort to him and blessed be the God of Grace it is a great comfort to us that we can take you to record that we are pure from your blood we have not ceased to declare all that the Father hath shewn to us we have not been affrighted by any man or mens frowns nor debauched to conceal any part thereof by any mans smiles 2. Consider how inexcusable you will be if you live and die in your ignorance impenitency and unbelief Ezek. 3.10 Observe it if you miscarry for Eternity the bloud of your souls will not be charged on us nay it will be on your own heads And there fore the Apostle Paul when the preached Christ to the Jews and they opposed and blasphemed their bloud was upon 〈◊〉 own heads as Acts 18.5 6. Oh consider it if you Ministers have been faithful they are clear and free and guiltlesse the Lord will never charge the bloud of souls on them Considet it therefore how speechlesse will you be at the great day if you live and die in your sins may not the Lord say of this place as he did of Capern●um Mat. 11.23 for thou hast ●●joyed the Ministry of many of my servants Dars any of you meet us in the day of Judgement under whose Ministry you have lived in an unregenerate ●state and say that you have lived under a soul-betraying non-resident one or under a soul-poysoning Innovator or a soul-pining dry Nurse or a soul-misguiding guide or a soul-unsetled Temporizer or a soul-destroying dis-countenancer in 〈◊〉 unregenerate estate The Lord will then make you to know what it was to have a faithful Labourer among you as Ezek. 33.33 Then when you-shall be convinced in your own conscience you shall then say you heard all those things and we cannot say 〈◊〉 were unwarned either in sin or danger we cannot say we were untaught our duty either to God 〈◊〉 Man we had precept on precept but we sligh●ed all warning and exhortation and direction therefore now are lost and undone everlastingly So much may serve for the first Use 2. Vse of Direction The second Use is a Use of Direction which will fall into many very suitable and practical particulars whereto I do beseech you to hearken unto as the words of a dying man do commonly take the deepest impression 〈◊〉 the surviving hearers Now this may be for all that 〈◊〉 know my last words to you in this place therefore 〈◊〉 beseech you to hear me An interruption a suspension of my weak worthless pains and labour among you there will be for any thing I know from this day but observe it is no Refignation from me or my Reverend Brother and therefore what other dissolution of the property and relation between your Pastour and you there may be as of that mutual intercourse I shall not account or call it a forfeiture of his place whatever others may call it let them call it what they will Then hearken to my words as the words of a dying man yet not dead but alive and perhaps shall nor die but live and declare the Word of the Lord and hold forth the Word of the Lord to you many a time in this place when ever it pleaseth God to set open a door for me If it be so That the Ministers soundnesse in Doctrine and holinesse of life and Conversation do lay a great obligation on a people duely and conscienciously to practice every commanded duty Then from this Doctrine I would suggest and leave with you several words and hints of counsel And oh that the Lord God of Heaven would effectually engrave and set them home on every one of your hearts My first counsel is this That when the Lord taketh away such Ministers whose Doctrine is found and their lives exemplarily holy you would then be duely apprehensive and deeply sensible both of the inflicting cause and also of the meritorious deserving cause thereof 1. For the inflicting cause and that is the Lord himself Isa 3.1 2. Who is it that taketh away from a people the natural staffe and the civil staffe the spiritual staffe saith the Prophet The Lord the Lord of Hosts Whoever it be that is the instrument it is certain it is 〈◊〉 Lord himself that is the principal efficient cause of this judgement on a people and this will appear if we consider 1. The Lord hath threatned his judgement on a rebellious peoply Amos 8.11 12. I saith the L will bring this judgement on them A most dreadful siritual judgement Gods Word is the spiritual food 〈◊〉 our spiritual lives and therefore as the granting of 〈◊〉 is a blessing indeed so the withholding of it is a judgement indeed This ireful dreadful judgement the Lord we see threatens yea that is not all the Lord hath not only threatned it but 2. Inflicted it As the Lord hath taken away his faithful Messengers and Embassadors 1. Sometimes by death out of the world out of the land of the living And thus the Lord took away the Prophet Enoch Gen. 5.24 And 2. Sometimes by removal Thus the Lord took away the Prophet Jonas from Israel and sent him to Ninivie as Jonah 1.2 And thus Paul and Barnabas went away from the Jews and turned to the Gentiles as Acts 13.4 3. Sometimes by deprivation A time there was when the good