is as when we have him alone what grace is what a good Conscience is as when we have nothing else left us Our Religion never shews so much what is in it as when it 's most put to it When the Adversary hath gotten the greatest advantage of us of the Sun of the Wind of the Ground when he presseth with most violence with most fury upon us then we best know what the weapons of our Warfare are The comforts and supports of Religion are not known either of what strength or of what sweetness they are till they are thus proved Hezekiah had never such a taste of his integrity as when he received the Message of death Stephen had never such a sight of Heaven as through a storm of stones Christ is never so sweet in a Prison When God meets his Saints in a Wilderness then he speaks comfortably to them A patient Christian hath more or less experience of all this and hence is he supported keps quiet under all his sufferings and carried with courage on his way Be patient therefore Brethren unto the coming of the Lord. You have need of patience and no excuse for your impatience The sufferings of the Gospel call for patience and the supports of the Gospel will condemn your impatience If you will be godly count upon it that you have a great fight of afflictions to endure Venture not into the fight without your armour An impatient Creature is a naked Souldier How easily will Sathan destroy whom he hath once disarmed The more you can the less you shall suffer Secure your spirit and you save your self from harm There 's no Dart shall hurt you that does not hit your heart Keep your heart whole and the Devil loses all his shot Be patient and you possess your Souls keep your Souls and the Enemy loses the day Christians 't is of great consequence to you to be of a patient spirit and 't is a great Duty there 's much more in it than every eye observes When I perswade you to Patience know that 't is no smal thing that I am perswading you to 'T is no less than 1. To the whole of Christianity 2. To the height of Christianity 1. To the whole of Christianity To be truly Patient hath as much in it as to be a Christian To be hoâ—y humble meek mortified self-denying crucified to the World heavenly minded all this you must be or you cannot be patient Patient and proud patient and peevish patient and unmortified earthly-minded a self-seeker This is as great a contradiction as to be proud and humble fleshly and spiritual earthly and heavenly a Christian and no Christian If ever you will be possessours of this grace you must be partakers of all grace Get a believing broken self-denying heart get your spirits furnished with the love of Christ the hope of the Gospel the contempt of the World live above in the other World Let Christ Glory Honour Immortality be the portion of your Souls and the pleasure of your lives if ever you would be truly patient 2. To Christianity in the height of it In pressing you to Patience I am herein pressing you to get Assurance Without assurance though patience be possible yet you 'l find it both difficult and very impeâ—fect What Patience when I question whether my sins be forgiven whether God be reconciled and be not dealing with me as an enemy What Patience when I doubt whether my afflictions be not the pension of a bastard rather than the portion of a son when I am not sure but my present sufferings are sent to carry me down to eternal sufferings I am in misery and perpetual torments never a day without its evils I can see no end of it nor it may be never shall this or worse may last for ever Oh if I were sure it would be well at last I could be quiet but for ought I know the Furnace I am in may be the very mouth of Hell The diseases the wounds I am under may be sent to let out my Soul into everlâ—sting burnings how can I be patient under such doubts and fears Make God sure Christian make Heaven sure once and then thou may'st set thine Heart at rest then thou may'st almost as easily exercise as thine Enemies find thee Exercise of thy patience Christians if you will be patient you must be painful give diligence be diligent in making your Calling and Election sure be diligent in duty be vigilant against iniquity If you will be patient be impatient of sin and you will be patient of sorrow make sin sure get it slain by the cross and buried in the grave of your Lord sealing the stone and setting a watch have nothing to conflict with in the day of your affliction but your affliction beware of carrying guilt with you up upon the Cross Let not the gall of guilt be mingled with the vinegar of affliction A mortified spirit will deaden all our pain and a pure Conscience will bear all our burthens Till this be done I must tell you you will find suffering to be hard service 'T is an easie matter to talk of the sufferings of the Gospel and to boast great things afore-hand as you know who did once and what came of it Though I die with thee I will never deny thee But when it comes to the pinch when Troubles come upon us when the hand of the Lord touches us and touches where it 's most tender brings those calamities on us which are most contrary to us strips us of those comforts which are most dear to us takes away all from us and leaves us naked when we feel the smart of the rod when every stroke fetches blood when the feet are hurt in the Stocks and the Iron enters into the Soul when the vinegar and the gall comes when the thorns and the nails of the Cross are struck in when shame and reproach when scorn and contempt when hunger and thirst when cold and nakedness when bodily torment and pain are all measured to you for your portion and mingled in your cup If ever God should call you out to take your part with that Cloud of Witnesses Heb. 11. who were tortured had trialls of cruell mockings and scourgings of bonds and imprisonment who were stoned were sawn asunder were tempted were slain with the Sword wandring about in Sheep-skins and Goat-skins being destiture afflicted and tormented wandring in deserts and mountains in dens and caves of the earth If ever this should be your case then you will know how much there is in Christian Patience and how necessary self-denyall mortification living in the faith and fellowship of God and the power of his spirit and assurance of his love are to your patient possessing of your Souls Believe iâ— Christians the Gospel hath not furnished us with such large provision of Graces Comforts Promises Hopes for nothing you will find need enough of them all Such amazing astonishing trialls you
the Creatures 9. Hath the Law of the Lord been much in my mouth 10. Have I not sent Christ away without an Alms when I had it by me 11. Have I not lost an opportunity of doing or receiving good 12. Have I not neglected nor done any thing against my duty to my Relations 13. What have I done for God or my Soul this day have I not lost one day more 14. Have I been diligent and watchful Christians here is a course prescribed which by the ordinary assistance which the Lord doth not deny you may take up if you will and which if you conscientiously observe will be without doubt through the blessing of God attended with great sucâ—ess And those that do not take up this course or some other equivalent to it let them never think to ease their hearts by idle complaints I can't attain to such a holy even fruitful heavenly life as I desire I would but I cannot God will abhorr such lazy Complaints and look upon them as they are a meer device to keep you quiet under a sloathful heart Set your whole Duty daily before your eyes charge it upon your hearts take an account of your selves how you discharge it set upon it as that which is no other than you have vowed to thâ— Lord commit your selves and your waies to him for success and if this doth not mightily conduce to advance you in point of holiness and establish you in point of peace then say that both the Precepts and Promises of the Gospel have deceived you And thus I have set before you that holy Conversation which becometh the Gospel Take up this holy Course let this be your Life you mean to lead and let it be carried on In an holy Union In an United Contention In an Holy Boldness 1. In an holy Union So the Apostle there adds Stand fast in one sâ—irit with one mind Never look to thrive in Grace if you do not live in Peace The decayes of Christianity lye much upon the score of the divisions of Christian The Devil hath also taken up that Maxim Divide et Impera Rent them and Ruine them The reason why our love is so cold is because our differences are so hot The reason of so little zeal against sin hath been the great strife among Brethren The Combinations of Sinners have not so much prejudiced the power of holiness as the Contentions of Saints There are not a few who go under the name of Saints that have maintained disputes about Religion so long till they have disputed themselves out of all Religion their searching for Truth hath been the loss of both love and life Christians if ever you would be any thing be one be of one heart of one mind holding the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace It were greatly to be desired that the people of God were both of one heart and of one way But if this may not yet be if there cannot be Vniformity yet let there be Vnity betwixt all that fear the Lord in truth A few words I shall leave with you for your direction herein 1. Divide not from the Head to unite with any pretended Members hold not with them that hold not with the Head Sell not Truth clear fundamental Truth to buy Peace 2. Divide not from real Members lest you hereby prove your division from the Head Christ hath but one body if you be not in union with the body you are divided from the head 3. See the head in every member see Christ in every Saint 4. Prize Christ where ever you see him Love Christ and love his Image if you will not slight Christ slight not any Saint See'st thou an humble meek patient broken-hearted self-denying mortified Christian in whatsoever unpleasing form as to matters circumstantiall he appears despise him noâ— reject him not 5. Prize Peace and Union as the strength and honour of the Body 6. Pursue Peace and Union with the utmost strength of thy Soul And that you may obtain it 1. Let all parties that are named of Christ be humbled under former Divisions What Peace so long as God is angry Oh how have we provoked the Lord by provoking one another Let him only who hath been without sin in this matter be without sorrow and shame Sure they are hard hearts who are not broken under such breaches Let us not mistake our selves nor mis-call that Zeal for God which God will call Pride and peevishness I speak not against our being offended either with errour or iniquity we may not call evil good or darkness light for peace sake but at our unreasonable passions against whom we suppose erring Brethren If the Reproach of the Gospel the hardning of the perverse the stumbling of the weak if the hindring of Ediâ—ication the promoting of Confusion and every evil work which have been the sad Effects of our Divisions if Pride and Haughtiness if Vanity and Wantonness if Envy and Uncharitableness which have been the Womb from which our Contentions have sprung be matter of Humiliation then sure we had need be brought upon our knees We must be melted e're we can be moulded up into one 2. Let all parties unite sincerely in their ends Let the honour of Christ the advancement of practical Godliness the destruction of the interest of the flesh the edification of the whole body in Faith and Holiness be look'd at with a single Eye and pursued with a plain and honest heart Let not the interest of a party the affection of Superiority and Dominion the carrying on of selfish or fleshly Designs let the God or the Christ you are driving for unbyass your Spirits take the right mark and let your motions be sincerely level'd at it If we were once set right in our endsâ— an accommodation of all our differences about the means would be more facile and feisable Prov. 11. 3 5. The integrity of the upright shall guide him the Righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way Humble single honest hearts are most like to hiâ— upon the good and honest way if we had nothing 〈◊〉 do but to please the Lord we should not have much to do to please one another 3. Let all parties unite in this Rule Do as you would be done by that is as being well informed and advised and freed from evil and discomposed Affections for so the Rule is to be understood you would that Men should do unto you Allow to others what you challenge to your selves or would if you were in their Circumstances Deny not what you would demand The same Liberty the same Charity that you would expect from other Christians allow to them 4. No longer tie up Christ to a party Say not Loe here is Christ and not there Say of all Believers though of different Forms As we are Christs so they are Christs Of all the Subdivisions of Protestants that are considerable amongst us there 's no party the union with which makes us
thee here will add to the horrour of thine everlasting darkness Every drop of Honey thou hast tasted in Religion will be thy Gall and Worm-wood in the day of thy condemnation Be not more miserable hereafter for that thou hast been less wicked here the remembrance how fair thou wert once for Glory will be one of the sharpest Teeth of thine everlasting Worm 6. Lastly Be all or nothing come up hither or get thee Down to thy lot particularly 1. Be all unto Christ 2. Let Christ be all to thee 3. Let all Christ be accepted and improved by thee 1. Be all unto Christ have none to please but Christ and for Christ hâ—ve nothing to seek but Christ and for Christ resolve against Reserves and limits give up all and keep back nothing say not thus much I can spare and no more hitherto I will go and no farther Divide not thy self thy love thy care thy aims betwixt Christ and any thing else Let thy whole Soul run in one Channel Rest not short of a full resignation and when thou hast resigned repent not 2. Let Christ be all to thee say not I must have an Estate too my Friends too my pleasures and my ease too let Christ be enough and all to thee Father Mother House Lands Portion say concerning all thou hast else Be thou mine Lord and let these go their way 3. Let all of Christ be accepted and improved by thee Divide not thy self and divide not Christ leave not any thing of thy self for any but Christ refuse not any thing of Christ for thy self Think not thy all too much for thee to give nor Christ's all too much for thee to embrace Thy half will not satisfie Christ nor will half of Christ suffice thee Thou must give and have and therefore resolve to give and take all or none Let all Christ be accepted and improved by thee 1. The merit of his blood 2. The light and Authority of his Law 3. The power of his Spirit 1. Accept the merit of his blood renounce thine own and rely on his righteousness as God hath so do thou lay on him all thy iniquities Think not of Sanctification without satisfaction Think not to satisfie in the least by ought that thou canst do let that lie upon him Judge thy self but seek to be justified alone through faith in his blood Say unto the Lord what I owe to thee put it upon his account my Christ must answer for me 2. Accept and submit to the light and authority of his Law Think not he is thy Priest unless he be thy Prophet and thy King If he must answer for thee let him instruct thee and be thou willing to learn of him since he hath bought thee let him govern thee say not of any thing he requires this is too much to do since he said not to thee 't is too much to die Count not thy self a Christian whilest thou art unwilling to receive the utmost light or to submit to the utmost of thy duty say not of any one thing of all that Christ requires This I must have abated and then I will be his 3. Accept and exert the power of his Spirit the Spirit of the Lord is a Spirit of Power The same Argument which the Apostle uses to prove himself a Minister of Christ is necessary to prove thee a Christian 2 Cor 13. 3 4. Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me which to you ward is not weak but is mighty in you Though he was crucified through weakness yet he liveth by the power of God for we also are weak in him but we shall live with him by the power of God Ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me ye put me to prove that I am a Minister of Christ why here 's the proof of it My preaching hath not been weak but mighty in you It hath been followed and attested by the power of Christ which hath wrought mightily in you as weak as we are yet the power of Christ hath been manifested and magnified in us Doest thou seek a proof of thy Christianity why here must be the proof that though thou art weak of thy self yet thou livest in the power of God which is mighty in thee Though thou canst do nothing of thy self yet thou art able to do all things through Christ which strengthens thee Thou sayst thou art willing but thou art weak thou desirest to be and to do what God would have thee but thou canst not perform This may comfort and support thee much under thy failings and miscarriages in some particular duties but if this be thy case in ordinary in the main of thy life that to will is all thou hast thou art not a Christian He that hath not the Spirit of Christ is none of his And he that hath the Spirit of Christ it is in him as the living power of God actually carrying him on in an holy life Ezek. 36. 27. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my judgments and do them I will not onely command perswade incline you but cause you It shall be done my Spirit shall bring you on and help you through Ye shall keep my Statutes and do them Where ever the Spirit of God hath breathed in the life of Grace there are more than breathings out after a gracious life Sincere grace hath more in it than wishings and wouldings than Attempts and Overtures Life is a power to act Phil. 2. 12 13. Work out your own Salvation for it is God that worketh in you to will and to do Where ever God worketh the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 velle he works also the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 operari Where ever God works in he gives us a power to work out the Works of Christianity Oh rest not till thou find thy self inâ—ued with this power from on high and inabled to go through with thy work They are not thy Attempts but thy Atchievments They are not thy Offers at an Holy Life but thy acting it that must prove thee a Christian He that doth Righteousness is Righteous Be it thus with thee be all to Christ let Christ be all to thee let all Christ be accepted and improved by thee heartily accept the merit of Christ's Righteousness submit to the Light and Authority of his Law get thy self possest with and live in the power of his Spirit Be it thus with thee come up hither and then thou art safe Thy almost is now come to altogether and if I must â—ow leave thee thou wilt be the better able to spare me These things do and the God of Peace shall be with thee Thou art gotten into Sanctuary and now whatever Tossings and Tumblings whatsoever unpleasing or afflicting Changes may be thy Lot in this World thou may'st sing that Requieâ—â— to thy self Return unto thy rest O my Soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Go thy
of Peace The greatest of Blessings is the Blessing of Peace Peace hath all blessings included in it It hath possession fruition and security it hath plenty pleasure and sâ—fety where there 's no peace there 's no security for the holding nor opportunity of enjoying what we have Whatewe have we have it as if we had it not Peace is the greatest of Blessings Peace with God is the most glorious of Peace What is there that 's excellent what is there that 's desirable that is not comprehended in this Peace with God Where there 's Peace there 's Pardon guilt cannot consist with this Peace being justified by Faith we have peace with God Where there 's Peace there 's Grace and holiness there 's no Peace saith my God to the wicked Where there 's Peace there 's Love and good will As love so peace is the union of hearts The God of Peace is with you signifies no less then this the Almighty God beares you good will These two peace and good will are Twins On Earth peace good will towards men Where there 's peace there 's life everlasting life Internall is the seed of eternall peace This peace is a Portion peace with God is our possession of the God of Peace This peace is a Sanctuary if the God of Peace be with us the Peace of God will keep our hearts Christians in the Woâ—ld you must have trouble suppose you have yet in him you shall have peace who hath overcome the World Isa 26. 3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace in peace peace 't is in the Originall whose mind is stayed on thee Psal 85. 8. I will hear what the Lord God will speak he will speak peace to the People and to his Saints What a clattering is there in the World what tumults and commotions are raised about the followers of Christ as if the World were falling about their ears The Devill speaks wrath evill men speak death and bonds to them breathing out threatnings reproaches persecutions against them In the midst of all this fearful noyse I le hearken saith the Psalmist what the Lord God will speak Whatsoever men or Devils speak I le hearken if the Lord God speak at the same rate Oh no he will speak peace to his Saints Let the Sons of contention do what they can the Sons of God shall be Sons of Peace they shall live in peace they shall dye in peace they shall dwell in peace for ever Isa 32. 17. 18. The work of Righteousness shall be Peace and the effect of Righteousness shall be quietness and assurance for ever And my people shall dwell in a peaceable Habitation and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places Oh how great is the peace that they have who love thy Law Christians fear not to follow God let not that sad word nor the fulfilling of it scare you out of your duty All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution What if they do whâ—lest you are able to say I am persecuted but I have peace I am poor but I have peace in a Prison but I have peace in a Wilderness but I have peace though all the World be against me God is at peace my Soul is in peace what discouragement should all that be to you 2. He that is the God of peace is the God of power He promises peace and he promises no more then he can perform He can create peace he can make their enemies to be at peace with them He can make a league for them with the Beasts of the field with the Lions with the Wolves with the most brutish among the people He can say to the proud Winds and Waves peace be still and they obey him He can give them rest from the dayes of adversity he can give them rest in the dayes of adversity he can give his Beloved sleep upon the points of Swords and Spears 3. He that is the God of peace is the God of patience This is my great fear that though God gâ—ves yet I shall break my peace The God of peace with me oh this is he whom I dishonour and disoblige daily by my distrusts discontents impatiencies murmerings and what peace to such an heart what peace so long as such unbelief so much iniquity as I find daily within me remains upon me Will he with whom no iniquity can dwell dwell in that heart where there is so much iniquity by which he is provoked every day but he that is the God of peace is also the God of patience who though he will not bear the iniquities of his adversaries yet he will bear much with the infirmities of his People Psal 89. 30. c. If his Children forsake my Law and walk not in my Judgments if they break my Statutes and keep not my Commandements then will I visit their transgressions with a Rod and their iniquities with stripes Nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail 4. He that is the God of peace is the God of hope I have no peace in possession whatever there be in the promise I live in the fire am born a man of contention What likelyhood is there that I should ever live to see a good day my comforts are broken my Estate is lost my liberty is gone friends I have none enemies I have many and mighty I dwell in Mesech I have my habitation in the Tents of Kedar I am for peace they are for War whither ever I look round about me before me behind me on the right hand or on the left all speaks trouble and errour to me I have no peace What nor no hope of peace neither where is thy God man hast thou a God in thee and yet no hope in thee the God of peace and yet no peace the God of hope and yet no hope the God of hope will yet fill thee with joy and peace in believing Rom. 15. 13. Why art thâ—u cast down oh my Soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Psal 43. 11. The God of hope will open a Window of hope in the darkest times a door of hope in the most desperate cases The God of hope will bear up the spirits of his Saints in hope against hope and this hope will never disappoint them It shall never be said there is no peace there is no hope till it can be said there is no God in Israel But how or in what sence is it to be understood that this God of peace will be with us I answer in 3. particulars 1. The heart of God will be with you Josephs blessing the good will of him that dwelt in the Bush will be thy portion Deut. 33. what was that Bush the Church or Israel of God What case was the Bush in 't was all on a light fire 't was all in
this plague and few understand or are sensible what they herein suffer to be an instrument in this hellish work is an office for a Devill and the suffering of such a plague to them that understand it is an hell above ground This darkness is the very same for kind with the darkness of Hell as the light of the Gospel is the same in kind with the everlasting lighâ— as glory under age so is this thick darkness in specie and in semine the darkness of the pit Oh what an hell of wickedness doth this World then become the Devil is then in his Region is let loose rules the World at pleasure deceives devours destroyes Souls without contradiction takes them captive at his will carries them down by whole shoals to destruction Those that observe what a World there is where the Gospel is not what oaths curses blasphemies belluine lusts then abound what Lions Tygers wild Bulls wild Boars Men then become one to another need not be to seek for an Argument to prove there is an Hell they see an Hell above-ground These dark and dismal seasons are the Devill 's Marts where he may vent his Hellish Wares his snares and temptations his deceits and delusionâ— and every abominable thing by whole sale there 's nothing so false so vile and abominable but he can put it off at pleasure Adultery Drunkenness Witchcraft Sodomy Buggery Blasphemy Idolatry Atheism any thing that Sathan hath offer hee 'l find Customers enough to receive and the truth is the Devil may spare his pains men then need not a Devil to damn them they 'l do it fast enough of their own accords Oh 't were happy if Saints were so busie in improving their Light to hasten them Heaven-wards as Sinners do their Darkness to hurry them to Hell Oh the sad proofs that the World affords of this Dreadful Truth Look into all the dark Corners of the Earth especially there where there hath been Light and see if you find not all this fully proved to your hand Can he then be accounted a Christian whose heart doth not tremble at the Thoughts and the Fears of such a sore Judgment He is both dark and dead indeed to whom such a Mist is not as the first-born of Death or the King of Terrours Christians if ever this should be your case make not light of it and take heed how sad soever it may seem in its first approâ—ch that no Tract of Time do wear off the sence of it Those that are weary of the Gospel that cry out of too much Preaching that are sick of the Light that shines unto them you may know by what hath been said what Judgment to have of them But is it not strange that there should be any such That those that have lived in the Light and seen somthing what difference there is between Light and Darkness should yet love Darkness rather than Light Is it not yet more strange that any that pretend to be set up for Lights should be for Daâ—kness That the Prophets should be against Prophecying That the Pulpits should ring against Preaching Some there are that are not ashamed to tell us that hence come all our mischiefs and miseries to tell us and to stand to it that there 's now in such a Land as this little need of Preaching that it had its use in the first publishing and planting of the Gospel but now that the Gospel is receiv'd and embraced and competenâ—ly understood there 's now little more need of Preaching Praying and Reading may now serve turn I would put in a word or two to such No need of Preaching Why Is the end of Preaching accomplish'd Till the end be attained there 's still need that the means he continued And what was the end of Preaching Was it men's Instruction onely to bring them to the knowledg of Christ to turn them from Darkness to Light Was it not for their Conversion also to turn them from the power of Sathan unto God Yea and their Edification and Building up in Holiness to Salvation Let these following Scriptures be consulted Act. 26. 18. Eph. 4. 11 12 13. the Apostle Peter 2 Pet. 1. 12 13. told those Christians to whom he wrote that he would and he thought it meet so to do to put them in remembrance as long as he lived and to stir them up to their Duty though says he You know and be established in the present Truth You say you need no more Preaching the Preacher can tell you no more than you know already and might not these have better said it when the Apostle acknowledgeth of them that they did know and more than that were establish'd in those very Truths he meant to continue Preaching to them And yet he tells them it 's meet they be still put in remembrance of them Sure Peter's Authority weighs not so much with these men as his that pretends to sit in Peter's Chair But hath the Gospel indeed done its Work and reached its End Witness the Objectors own cases Let not onely their Lewdness and Impenitency but their Ignorance and Unbelief come in and testifie whether it hath or no. They that have most need themselves are they that say There 's no more need of Preaching There needs no more Argument to stop such Mouthes but the shewing them themselves Or if it should have done its work upon you yet hath it done its work upon all Are there no Unbelievers left Have all men Faith Faith comes by Hearing and how shall they hear without a Preacher If you say they have Bibles to instruct them and their own Consciences to preach to them I answer First for their Bibles two Things 1. Those that are no Friends to the Pulpit are none of the best Friends to the Bible Those that would not that the people should hear care not how little they read the Scriptures And be sure when ever Preaching is let fall the Bible will in a little while be laid aside 2. Understandest thou what thou readest How canst thou without a Guide He knows but little of the Scriptures that doth not understand that they are hard to be understood There are the Apostle tells us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Scriptures Things hard to be understood As there are many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to all that read so to many that read all are so The Vulgar can as well read the Scriptures without their own Eyes as understand them without the Preacher'â— Lips Till we come to hold that Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion or that Images are Lay-mens Gospell till then let it be granted as necessary that the Preacher's Lips preserve Knowledg 2. For Conscience let the Word at least be pâ—eached so long till it be made manifest in the Consciences of the Hearers That Conscience that hath not been sufficiently preached to will prove an insufficient Preacher Let preaching be conâ—inued till the Word be manifested in the Consciences of all the
your God and his Gospel Read over your Priviledges Promises and Hopes feed more on that Bread of Life drink more freely of those Living Springs which are broken forth to you Prove more what Godliness hath in it Get out the sweetness and the pleasure of it none in the World live such a voluptuous Life as he that lives most with God get out the pleasure of Godliness lie more at the Breasts suck harder press the Clusters and the Wine and Milk will come make the most of Religion and you will have enough never blame it for empty or unsatisfactory while there is more to be hâ—d Gad not into other Pastures â—un not from Flower to Flower keep you Home Let not your God find you in another Field If you keep with God the less you have of Creature-vanities the more full will your Contentment be Christian Honour thy God and his Gospel let his Breasts satisfie thee and erre thou always in his Love Let the World read the Gospel-sufficiency in thy Souls pleasure and satisfaction with it alone 5. Let your Conversations answer the supports of the Gospel and its succours Live a patient life Jam. 5. 7. Be patient brethren unto the coming of the Lord. Patience is a Grace suited to our present Gospel state I may call it a Friend that 's born for the day of adversity If you are Christians you have need of Patience and if you have Patience you need no more Jam. 1. 4. Let Patience have her perfect work that you may be entire lacking nothing Patience is a submitting sedate and calm frame of spirit whereby a Christian from Gospel grounds is born up under all his Troubles and born througâ— all his Duties Betwixt Patience and Contentedness there is this difference Contentedness is the quiet of the heart and its satisfaction with its smallest portion of good things Patience is the quiet of the heart under the greatest pressure of evill things A patient spirit is a submitting spirit It 's heartily content that God should have his Will With whatsoever God is pleased it will not be displeased It 's the Lord let him do whatsoever seems good in his Eyes What seems good in God's eyes shall not seem evil in mine It is a Calm and quiet spirit It will not strive nor cry nor lift up its voice in the street it can mourn but it does not murmur it can feel but it will not fret at the hand of God A patient person is ever composmentis has the command and government of his spirit keeps it sober and in due order doth not rave and rage Impatience is a kind of frenzy such persons are besides themselves In our patience we possess and by our impatience we lose our Souls we lose the rule and government of them the peace and the use of them An impatient man is besides himself both as a Man and as a Christian 1. He is besides himself as a Man Impatience turns Reason out of doors and for the Affections they are all in an uproar and will know no command or government 2. He is besides himself as a Christian turned quite out of course Duties Comforts Experiences Hopes all are laid aside Keep you quiet keep the peace in your heart and you keep your heart In this calmness and quietness it bears up under troubles Patience hath Fortitude in it it neither frets nor faints under all its â—urâ—hens Christians must bear and patient Christians can bear any thing that comes on them The proper exercise of patience is enduring he endures not that suffers only but that can bear what he suffers It bears through its Duties The passion of a patient person doth not hinder his action He holds his course keeps on his way whatever load he hath in his back He runs with patience the race which is set before him he is not discouraged nor diverted from his holy course by any suffering it costs him And indeed Christian Patience stands not in a bare forced quiet in a biting in or keeping down our fretting aestuations from venting themselves in word or carriage or in a sullen silence or stupidity but in the maintaining such a tranquillity of spirit under all we suffer as that we can still both enjoy and serve the Lord. He is a patient Christian that is as much a Christian in a storm as in a calm that can pray believe love bless God follow God and keep his way when he smites as when he smiles Lastly in all this a Christian is upheld and carried on from Gospel grounds 'T is not a naturall hardiness apathy 't is not the spirit of a man that does sustain his infirmities 't is upon the everlasting Gospel that he stands There are three Things especially that bear him through His viewing The Hand of the Lord. The End of the Lord. The Help of the Lord. 1. He sees the Hand of the Lord in all that befalls him Whence was Davids patience Psal 39. 9. I was dumb I opened not my mouth because thou Lord didst it Whence was Elie's patience 1 Sam. 3. It is the Lord let him do what seems him good Whence was Job's patience Job 1. 21. The Lord hath given the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord. By the way Note That a godly man is not only patient under his afflictions but thankful He is not only thankful for Mercies but for Chastisements 'T is not only the Lord hath given blessed be his Name the Lord hath built me up the Lord hath filled me the Lord hath hedged me blessed be his Name but also the Lord hath taken away the Lord hath humbled me broken me undone me left me naked left me nothing blessed be the Name of the Lord. This by the way 2. He sees the End of the Lord that God intends his good by all that comes upon him He knowes that all things and therefore this which is upon him whatever it be shall work to him for good 3. He feels the Help of the Lord. When the hand of the Lord is upon him he feels also the hand of the Lord under him underneath the everlasting arms Deut. 32. 27. The Gospel as it hath allotted him many Tribulations so it hath allowed him mighty Supports A mighty God who is the rock of ages Isa 26. a merciful high Priest who being tempted himself is able also to succour those that are tempted Heb. 2. 18. pretious Promises 2 Pet. 1. gracious experiences Rom. 5. 4. patience worketh experience This last support experience hath all the rest in it Experience is the whole Gospel proved A patient experienced Christian hath proved all things what they are hath proved the World and what it is and the worst it can do hath proved the Word and what there is in it hath proved what God is what Christ is what grace and peace and a good Conscience are Tribulation often takes away God and his Gospel and we never so well prove what God
thou may'st call thine Iniquity Find out what it is and know that there thy main Work lyes In vain wilt thou strive in other duties till that which hinders be removed out of the way Fight neither against small nor great but against the King of Israel Where the Enemy most ordinarily makes his breach upon thee set the stronger Guard Let thy daily conflicts be here and observe diligently with what success 6. Walk on thy course in the Name and strength of the Lord Jesus Live by Faith Depend on Christ for the assistance of his mighty Spirit Forget not this for otherwise thou wilt go but lamely on These things premised I shall now give you the particular Directions 1. Directions for the Evening Every Evening before you sleep withdraw your selves from the World and having set your heatts as in the Presence of God Charge them before God to answer to these following Interrogatories 1. Concerning your Duties Q. 1. Did not God find me on my bed when he expected me on my knees 2. Was there not more of Custome and Fashion than of Conscience and Affection either in my Secret or Family Duties 3. Had I any sensible Communion with God in my duties 4. Have I not neglected or been careless and overly in reading the Word and Holy Meditation 2. Concerning your Sins Q. 1. Do I live in nothing that I know to be a sin 2. Have I kept me from MINE Iniquity What victory have I yet gotten over it 3. Am I a mourner for mine own and the sins of the Land 3. Concerning your Temptations Q. 1. Have I feared watched against and not run into temptation 2. What Temptations have I overcome this day 3. Have I had a care of my Company 4. Concerning your Heart Q. 1. Have I held mine heart in a serious spiritual gracious frame have my calls to Duty ever found me in a preparation to Duty 2. Hath the Lord been ever before mine eyes and Eternity upon mine heart 3. Have I been much in holy Ejaculations 4. Have I not given liberty to the workings of Pride Sinful anger Discontent or Impatience 5. Have I made conscience of evil thoughts 5. Concerning Conscience Q. 1. Hath my Conscience neither been blind nor dumb nor my heart deaf or headstrong against it 2. Have I done nothing against nor with a doubting Conscience 3. Have I neither defiled mine own nor wittingly scandalized my Brother's Conscience 6. Concerning your Tongue Q. 1. Have I bridled my Tongue 2. Have I spoken Evil of no man 3. Hath the Law of the Lord been in my mouth as I sate in mine House or went by the Way as I was lying down and rising up 7. Concerning your Talents Q. 1. Have I not wasted or vainly spent any part of my Estate hath neither my Pride had a share nor my Appetite more than its share 2. Have I not sent Christ away without an Alms when I had it by me 3. Have I redeemed my time from Needless Visiâ—s Idle Imaginations Fruâ—â—leâ—s Discourse and Unnecessary Sleep 4. Have I not lost an opportunity this day of doing or receiving good have I not neglected to exhort or reprove when occasion hath been given and if I have been reproved how have I born it 8. Concerning your Tables Q. 1. Did I not sit down with no higher ends than a Beast only to please my appetite Did I eat and drink to the Glory of God 2. Did I not eat or drink to excess 3. Did I not rise from the Tablewithout letting fall any thing of God there 4. Did I not mock God when I pretended to crave a Blessing or return Thanks 9. Concerning your Calling Q. 1. Have I been serving the Lord this day in my particular Calling 2. Have I not been Idle 3. Have I not over eagerly minded my earthly affairs 4. Have I defrauded no man wronged no man 5. Have I dropped never a Lye no broken promise in all my dealings 10. Concerning your Relations Q. Have I Faithfully discharged and done nothing against my duty to my Relations Have I behaved my self As a Christian Husband Wife Parent Child Master Servant 11. Concerning your carriage to those Within Q. Have I carried my self towards all Saints 1. Lovingly Delighting in them Bearing with them Covering their Infirmities 2. Peaceably not provoking them to Envy 3. Profitably provoking them to love and good works 12. Concerning your carriage to those Without Q. Have I carried my self to those without 1. Wisely that they have not been a snare to me nor I through my fault become a Prey unto them 2. Inoffensively Have I not been a stumbling-block to them 3. Courteously and compassionately that I might the better win upon them 3. Concerning Providences Q. 1. Have I diligently observed all the remarkable Providences of God towards me especially such as have come in as the Returns of Prayer 2. Have I been thankful for my daily Mercies 3. Have I born this dayes crosses 14. Concerning the use of your Liberty Q. Have I kept my self far enough within my bounds In Summe Q. 1. What have I done for God or my Soul this day have I not lost one day more 2. Have I led this day A Diligent Watchful Self-denying Life Directions for the Morning 1. If through necessity or carelesness you have omitted the reading and weighing these Questions in the Evening be sure to do it now 2. Ask thy self Waht Sins have I committed what Duties have I omitted Against which of these Rules have I offended the day foregoing And renew thy Repentance and double thy Watch. 3. Examine whether God were first and last in thy Thoughts Morning and Evening 4. Be careful to set thine Ends right for all the day An Advertisement If you want time to make daily enquiry upon every one of the forementioned Particulars they being so many set a mark upon or write out such of them as most especially concern your Case and let not them be forgotten Think not thy self excused from this course because 't is too long when if need be thou may'st thus make it shorter Better cut short than wholly give out For the help of the weaker I shall gather out these few of the chief Interrogatories which when they are straitned for time they may only use and to which they may add more as they have occasion and opportunity Q. 1. Was I serious and had I any sensible Communion with God this day in my Secret and Family Duties 2. Hath it been my care to keep mine heart in an holy Frame from Duty to Duty 3. Have I been much in holy Ejaculations 4. Have I not given liberty to the working of Pride sinful Anger Discontent or Impatience nor so much as to vain Thoughts 5. Have I not inordinately minded Earthly things 6. Have I kept me from Mine Iniquity and not liv'd in any known sin 7. Have I wronged no man in word nor deed 8. Have I been temperate and self-denying in the use of
or the seperation from which únmakes us Christians We had need to have more to shew for our Christianity than that we are Presbyterians Independents Anabaptists Episcopal or Erastians and the Devil must have more to prove us no Christians than this that we are in union with either of these or in separation from them 5. In matters circumstantial be not over-hasty in stamping a Jus Divinum on Things disputable and doubtful Put no more weight nor a greater necessity on any thing than God hath evidently put on it and spend no more of your zeal about it than is proportionable to its weight and evidence 6. Allow for the imperfect state the Church is in we know but in part and till that which is perfect is come and that which is imperfect is done away we must bear with one another if in any things we be otherwise minded 7. Stretch not your Authority beyond your Line take not too much upon you Think not to bring all others in every thing to your Standard impose not your Consciences as a Law upon others 8. Put not Conscience to the ill office of being a meer Make-bate catch not up every Notion and presently charge it upon Conscience as that which must be maintained though to the greatest prejudice of the whole Interest of Religion and so rent and run away from all those that agree not with you Be not rash be not heady be tender but be wary be well instructed if you will be truly tender first carefully inform thy Conscience and then peaceably follow it Of what is that Conscience tender that is not tender of making Wounds and Rents in the Body of Christ 9. Beware of Censurings and Judgings of biting and devouring one another If ye bite and devour one another ye shall be consumed one of another Let him that is without fault cast the first stone at his Erring Brother Be not bitter against the bitterness of others if others sowerness offend thee yet let it not leaven thee Be not reviled into a Reviler scoffed into a Scoffer overcome Evil with Goodness 'T is not seldom that our Invectives against others Bitterness are more keen and cutting than what we complain of Justifie not what thou judgest Practise not thy self what in the same Breath thou condemnest in thy Brethren Throw not back thy Brother's Fire-balls in his face leâ—t in censuring him thou be also thine own Judge Pursue not matters in difference over hotly but learn modestly and meekly to differ where you cannot agree 10. Let your Conversation be so holy humble and heavenly carry your selves in such simplicity and godly sincerity towards God towards one another and towards all men that you may command each other to believe that however you agree not about your Mother yet you are all the Children of the same Father that you are of God and that the Spirit of the Living God dwelleth in you 11. Hold Communion in the Things wherein you agree and Charity where you differ May you not pray and fast and hear and hold Christian Conferences together Sure there is not overmuch of Gospel Spirit where this will not be granted 12. Impose not on each other any hard and unnecessity Conditions of your communion Suppose upon your differing Judgments there be in some things different practices which some of you iudge less warrantable whil'st the Consciences of others allow and use press not the relinquishing such questionable practices as the condition of your communion especially if they be not mingled with the Daties wherein you joyn but are used by any of you at other times or in other Assemblies Excommunicate not them from you excommunicate not your selves from them with whom Christ holds Communion Judge not that Christ withdraws from all those who are not in every thing of your Mind and Way Destroy not all communion by seeking after a purer than in this out imperfect state we shall ever attain According to this principle No Communion at all if not in all where shall we rest In all Societies something will offend 13. And lastly in your communion receive not one another to doubtful Disputations Let your Prayers Conferences and all Holy Exercises be studiously so managed that there may be a sweet Accord of your Spirits therein Come not together to strengthen Parties or propagate Opinions Let all matters of Controversie be waved and hereof let there be such mutual Assurance given aforehand that you may be together without fear of becoming Thorns or Snares one to another Which if it be not unanimously consented to and inviolably observed your communion will be impossible or dangerous Christians Are the clear and fundamental Truths of the Gospel and the more necessary and weighty Duties of Religion sufficiently understood and practised Are your Souls safe Is your Calling and Election sure Is the Love and Life and Zeal of God grown up to that maturity that you need not mutual help this way Have you any spare time from these things to spend in perplexing Controversies Build up one another in your most Holy Faith provoke one another to Love and to good Works encourage establish and strengthen one another in the known ways of Holiness and if you find not this both better work and work enough for you then take your Liberty These things do live in peace and love and the God of Peace shall be with you Hear oh all ye Friends of Christ by what oblique Names soever unhappily distinguished will you come and be Friends one with another Are you for peace Your God is the God of Peace Your Jesus is the Prince of Peace Your Gospel is the Gospel of Peace and will you not be perswaded to be Sons of Peace Your God is one your Mediator is one your Faith one your Baptism one your Hope one you are one Body one Spirit and will you not yet be one Soul Oh how hopeful would our Condition be were our Hearts generally set upon peace We should certainly obtain did we more resolvedly pursue it and what should hinder Have you not yet enough of your Contentions and Quarrellings Have not your Souls been sufficiently neglected your Lusts strengthned your Faith weakned your Love withered your Comforts wasted your Names blemish'd your Holy Profession blamed Hath not your God been sufficiently provoked and the Devil sufficiently gratified Are your Bellies so filled with Gall and your Mouths with Gravel and have you not yet enough of your Contentions Christians Slight not these Counsells and Warnings As you would prove your selves the Friends of Christ be ye followers of peace Study oh study these things that make for peace Follow peace with all men as much as in you is but especially with the houshold of Faith Let there be no longer strife betwixt us for we are brethren Yet alwaies remember I am pressing you to an holy Union whil'st I perswade you to follow peace I must still add and holiness I perswade you not to pursue peace
upon tearms dishonourable or prejudicial to Truth They must have both together that will be blessed in either Truth without Peace is as a Jewel without its Cabinet Peace without Truth is as a Cabinet with nothing in it Peace without holiness is as a fair and promising shell with a rotten or worm-eaten kernell holinesse without peace is as a pretious kernel under a crack'd and broken shell They that have peace without truth have nothing worth the securing they that have truth without peace have little security for what they have Peace without truth is beauty without worth Truth without peace is worth with its beauty marred Let both go together and then they will be both the Columna Ecclesiae the Pillar of the Church rendring it consistent within it self and the Corona Ecclesiae its Crown rendring it comely and glorious before the World Be it thus with us and then Sathan look to thy self thy kingdom shall down amain when thou canst no longer hold up division thou losest thy dominion Then Saints lift up your heads your Communion shall be sweet your glory shall be greâ—t your light shall shine your fruit shall abouâ—d the smell of your spices shall slow forth your adversaries shall envy and your King shall greaâ—ly delight to see your beauty Oh may this Grace thiâ— Peace be granted us from the Lord and let all that love the prosperity of Sion say Amen 2. In an united Contention Striving together saith the Apostle for the Faith of the Gospel Unite but strive strive not one against another Christian against Christian but strive together Let your Contention be in Communion Strive together against sin and unbelief against hypocrisie and earâ—hliness strive against strife and debate and envyings and judgings strive together with God in your prayers and supplications We often pray but our prayers do not agree by keeping at such distance we know not one anothers hearts and are so many men so many minds every one prayes according to his single apprehension and affections What one prayes another unprayes insomuch that we should put the Lord to do contradictions if he must give particular answers to all our prayers And possibly that may be the reason why the Lord defers his answer so long he will stâ—y till we are better agreed what we would have Matth. 18. 19. If two of you agree on earth touching any thing that they shall ask it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven Sâ—rive together in all holy and united endeavours to comfort confirm and establish one another in the faith of the Gospel Keep up the Communion of Saints and an united Contention against Sin and Unbelief Remember Heb. 10. 25. 3. In an holy boldness in nothing terrified by your adversaries In nothing that is either in no degree not at all terrified or else in nothing that you have to do be frighted out of no part of your duty or elâ—e at nothing that they do or threaten to do against you Be not afraid to be holy Tell your adversaries when they have said and done their worst you must and you will make bold to serve your God Fear them not and they cannot hurt you they never hurt you unless they divert you from your duty To establish your hearts in this holy boldness and against your carnal fears 1. Consider That 1. By how much the more you fear God by so much the less you will fear men 2. By how much the more your fear sin by so much the less you will fear trouble 3. By how much the less your adversaries fear God by so much the less need you to fear them 2. Believe Psal 27. 13. I had fainted but that I believed Faith is a Buckler against fears and faintings Ephes 6. 16. Above all take the shield of faith whereby you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the devill The Shield of faith A shield is a Wall of partition interposed betwixt a person and harm 'T is only our apprehensions of harm that raise our fear Faith will save a Christian harmless and thereby preserve him fearless The Shield is ordain'd for a security to all parts and against all assaults Some pieces of our armour are appropriated to one part only the Helmet is for the head the Breast-plate for the breast the Girdle for the loins the Shooes for the feet but the Shield is a moveable that is to be lifted up where ever the blow comes Faith is an universal security Faith may be said to be a Shield 1. Instrumentally As it provides us of a shield as it lifts up a shield and sets a guard upon the Soul to secure it It holds up Christ for a Shield it holds up the Promises for a Shield the very Commands and Iâ—stitutions of God for a Shield and Safe-guard to the Soul Sometimes the sense of guilt assails and weakens the heart It is not so much any thing without us as something within us that raises our fears How small a matter will fright a guilty Soul Guilt will make every stroke a stab It 's the barb of the arrow the venome on the dart or the sore of the heart that makes every stroke formidable and terrible 'T is the guilâ—less Soul that hath courage and boldness Hic murus ahaeneus esto Now against this dreadfull Dart Faith holds up a Buckler with a Crucified Jesus upon it and so that 's quenched Sometimes darkness and uncertainties about the way that we are in raises our fear A Christian that knowes himself in his duty in his way is out of fear Clearness gives boldness Whil'st we question the warrantableness of the way we are in every shadow of danger will shake us Against such fears Faith holds up a buckler with this Inscription Have not I Commanded thee It shews the Command and in that our warrant and in our warrant our security When we question whether our Worship for which we are like to suffer be right or no Faith holds up an Institution for our â—hield If this Fear oh I shall not hold out I shall deny my Lord and his Faith if put to it assails the Soul here Faith holds up the Promise for a Buckler He hath said I will not fail thee nor forsake thee so that we may boldly say The Lord is my helper 2. Formally Faith not only lifts up a Shield but is our Shield The very believing in a crucified Jesus the very believing the Command the Institution the promise stayes and supports the heart against whatsoever may befall it I had fainted but that I believed Christians whatever your duties difficulties despondencies straits temptations afflictions weaknesses are believe and you shall be carried through believe and you shall be established Believe in Christ and you shall dare to follow Christ believe in Christ and you shall go through with Christ and hold out to the end Believe and you shall neither fear faint nor fall Your Faith will
you shall be saved and that of God It may be Sathan will promise Hearken to me and I will save you harmless But he is a Liar and a Deceiver he is weak and cannot false and will not It may be the evil World will tell you If thou wilt cast in thy Lot with us take our Advice follow our Example come along with us thou may'st save thy self all this harm and loss But there is as much trust to the Children as to the Father of Lies But if the Lord God the God of Power the God of Truth says I will save who shall say nay 2. It notes that their Salvation shall be great The great God will do for them great Things He will save them by a mighty Salvation He will save them against all those mighty hindrances that lie in the way Who art thou O great Mountain before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a Plain All the difficulties and unlikelihoods all the astonishing and flesh-non-plus-ing Obstacles that stand in the way of their Redemption will be nothing before the Mighty God He will save them from their mighty sins sufferings and fears from the vanity and vexations of this Earth and from the Vengeance of Eternal Fire Christians Do but go on walk with Christ suffer with Christ and fear none of those Things which you shall suffer and this shall be to you an evident Token of Salvation and that of God 3. Consider again the Argument of the Text These things do and the God of Peace shall be with you What encouragement there is in this Promise I have already shew'd you Two things I shall onely mention here one of which hath been insisted on already Consider First If God be with you all shall make for you Secondly If God be with you you shall shortly be with God 1. If God be with you all shall make for you Remember what you have heard out of Rom. 8. 28 â—1 Christians perhaps you will not know how â—o make a good Construction of some Providences â—hat may possibly befall you before you die Such Cases there may be that Providence may seem to be 〈◊〉 plain Contradiction of the Promise Suppose the People of God in any Nation under Heaven should â—t any time have not onely an Innundation of Temporal Calamities Famine and Pestilence and â—word Oppression Rapine and Cruelty but a Floud of Spiritual Judgments also breaking in upon them A Famine of the Word an Eclipse of the Light of the Glorious Gospel among them their green Pasture trodden down their pure Waters â—uddled God's Spiritual Worship made to give place to Will-Worship Superstition and Idolaâ—ry the Institutions of God to the Inventions of Men his House made an Habitation for Dragons for the Scritch-Owl and the Bittern for Ziim and â—im and every unclean thing And that in such a time when they had given themselves to more than ordinary praying and fasting and humbling themselves and repenting of their iniquities when they had set their faces towards Sion and were full of hopes that the Lord was about to build and to plant to cast out their rubbish to repair their ruines to bring in their peace like a River and to establish his Tabernacle amongst them Suppose that in such a time the Lord should even spit in their faces should dash all their hopes and put into their hands a cup of trembling should bring trouble upon their loyns and cause darkness to cover their faces should expose them to scorâ— and contempt make them a reproach and a by-word should suffer them to be trampled upon as the filth of the World and the off-scouring of all things Suppose you should have liv'd in such times and places and have heard them complaining thus All things work for good why we see all things fall cut for the worse so far are our evill things from working for good that our good things have wrought our hurt Not onely our outward good things our peace and our plenty but our spiritual good things have undone us our spiritual liberties and Priviledges our Ordinances our Duties our Prayers our Fastings our Zeal for the Lord of Hosts not only our sins but our Prayers our repentings our reformings have undone us We have prayed and fasted to good purpose we have even prayed our selves into poverty contempt darkness confusion into the snares that have been laid for us and into the hands of those that hate us All these things are against us all our fears are come upon us all our comforts yea â—nd our hopes too are running from us the whole â—ourse of Providence seems to be driving on to our 〈◊〉 ruine every day every hour it grows darker â—nd darker worse and worse every spoak of the Wheel every turn of the wheel renders our condiâ—â—on more helpless and hopeless Our adversaries 〈◊〉 become rampant our Soul is filled with their â—â—orn and fury our friends are as a broken tooth 〈◊〉 a foot out of joynt our hopes are a Spiders Web 〈◊〉 as the giving up the Ghost the Almighty causes 〈◊〉 his storms and billows to passe over us one day â—â—lleth another one night certifieth another and â—â—ophesies to us nothing but destruction upon deâ—â—ruction desolation upon desolation and where i◠〈◊〉 promise of his coming the hope of Israel is â—â—leep her Saviour is a stranger the Ark of God is â—â—ken the glory is departed yea and God himself â—â—ems to be gone over to the Camp of the Philistins â—nd marching against us we have waited for light â—ut behold obscurity for brightness but we walk in â—arkness the Harvest is past the Summer is ended â—nd we are not saved neither is there yet any to â—ell us how long Suppose you should have stood by and have â—een or heard any such things any where in the World would you not have said can any good come â—ut of such a dark abysse out of such a concatenaâ—â—on of so many dreadful and dismal Providences Why by what hath been already said you might have â—nswered thus Stay but a while till the whole wheel â—e come about till God hath brought off his work â—rom the wheel and then you shall see Providence â—nd the Promise meeting together and kissing each other and shall be able to say in this case what Solomon did in Israels 1 King 8. 56. Blessed be God thaâ— hath given rest to his people Israel according to all thaâ— he promised there hath not failed one word of all his good promise which he promised by the hand of his Servants Christians whatever may come upon you at any time while you live in this World distrust not youâ— God not be at all dismayed you shall see the dayâ— either here or hereafter and 't will be never the worse if it be not till hereafter take it upon the credit of this word All things shall work togetheâ— for good You shall see the day when your hearts shall rejoyce and say oh 't was happy for us that matters