they may after all attain to the Crown Answ. I shall leave with you twenty Directions and as many as there are there are not more then you must practise and take them as if they were the last Directions I should give you and take them as practicals not as notionals that you must live upon as long as you live First See that the foundation be soundly laid in your head and heart in matters of your Religion In your head i. e. that you well understand what Religion is what the Christian Religion is what God is what it is for God to be yours in his Attributes and Relations unto you what he is and will be unto you what you are and must be unto him what sin is how odious wherein its evil consists what is sin and what not what sin hath done in the world and what state it hath brought transgressors into what Christ is what he hath done for man's recovery and redemption what he hath wrought gives and offers to the world The end and design of God in the work of mans redemption The tender of the Gospel-Covenant of grace freeness largeness and excellency of the grace of this Covenant The end of our Religion the everlasting glory that is revealed in the Gospel what it is how sure and how great When you understand these things get a sound and radicated belief concerning the Truths of the holy Scripture revealing all these things And think it not enough that the Scripture is true or that you are resolved so to believe but get the best grounds for your belief be well established on those grounds Read the Scripture much till you are acquainted with and relish the matter and language and feel the power until all be delightful to your souls in reading And be not ashamed to understand the Fundamentals look to your Catechisms The Fundamentals of Religion you must understand and receive And when you have got them into your head be sure you get them into your heart and never think any truth received as it ought till it hath done some special work on your heart till you believe that God is Almighty Just Holy c. and all the Attributes of God have made their holy impression on your heart that the sanctifying knowledge of God hath warmed your affections captivated your souls that God be inthron'd in your hearts by the belief and knowledge of your minds Know your selves so as to be humble know Christ so as he may be sweet unto you and exalted by you set up Christ in your souls nearest to your hearts know sin so as to hate it c. 'T is the entertainment of the good things of the Gospel by the Will that is the principal part of your Religion 'T is a matter of lamentable consequence in all your lives when there is not a sound work at the heart how little life will there be from any truth in reading or hearing The Fundamentals of Religion must be so received as not only to have an old heart mended but a new heart made Thus understand believe and give up thy heart to that thou believest and understandest 2. Know and remember the work of your Salvation must be as long as you live and that you have never done till you have done living I give this direction because I find something in Christianity the remainds of Carnality is apt to hinder c. and some Professors when converted they are reconciled to God and safe c. but there 's a great deal to be done after c. 3. Understand well Wherein it is your confirmation stability rootedness and growth in Religion doth consist The chief part of your growth in Grace is not to know more things then you knew before but to grow in the knowledge belief entertainment and improvement of the same truths that at first you did receive not that you may not or should not know more for the clear knowledge of the Fundamentals guide you unavoidably to the sight of many other truths which a darker knowledge of those Fundamentals will not discover to you 'T is not an addition to your former knowledge but the clearer knowing sounder believing heartier entertaining and improving of the truths you knew at first as the health of a man consists not in having every day variety of food but in the partaking and digestion of the same food that 's fittest for him get but a more perfect conviction or concoction of what you knew before and this is your growth You may grow in the knowledge of Gods attributes by knowing them more clearly orderly distinctly satisfactorily and believingly then before There is a world of difference in the manner of knowledge between a dark and a clear knowing of things Grow in greater love to them and greater skill in entertainment improvement and practise of them 4. Grow downward in humility and inward in the knowledge of your selves and above all maintain a constant abhorrence and jealousie of the sin of Pride grow in humility and fly from Pride keep a constant apprehension of your unworthiness and weakness of the odiousness and danger of the sin of spiritual pride so called because exercised about spiritual things of being pufft up with pride of any thing in your selves of being too confident in your selves Below in own and expect not nor desire others good thoughts of you Humility lies not in humility of opinion speech garb or carriage but in opposition to high thoughts of our own parts gifts godliness when we think of these above their worth still remember Psal. 25. Prov. 26. 19. Isai. 57. 15. Ioh. 22. 29. As ever you would grow in grace and be confirmed Christians keep a low esteem of your selves be mean in your own eyes be content to be mean in others and hearken not to secret flatterers that would puff you up Take heed of any thing that would puff you up c. 5. You must understand that you are Disciples in Christs School where Ministers are his teachers and guides the Ordinances his means for his peoples good and the Scripture the Book you must learn therefore keep in this order keep under these Guides commit your souls to those that are faithful and fit for souls to be intrusted with And when you have done with humble submissiveness to their teaching keep in this School under those officers in their Discipline and dwell in the Catholick Church and Communion of Saints and understand the duty of Pastors and People Heb. 13. 17 18. 1 Thes. 5. 12. Obey them that have the Rule over you If God had seen the poor Christians sufficient to support themselves he would never have made it the duty of all to be marshalled and rank'd in several Schools Ranks Orders and all to walk in this Order to Heaven If you withdraw from under Christ's Officers and Ordinances you are in danger of being snatcht up as straglers Quest. What shall we do Whom shall we take for our guides
dying man's terror to torment thee but to get out that terror that which will be most terrible at death conquer and destroy it presently They that were ready went in with the Bridegroom and the door was shut Mat. 25. 10. Oh happy thou if while the door is open thou be found ready to go in woe if when the door be shut thou hast thy preparation to make thy graces to seek Bethink what you will either wish or fear when you come to dye and when you will say This should have been done c. Let it now be done 20. Rise speedily after every fall by sound repentance and a fresh recourse to the blood of Christ Covenant of Grace and his intercession Lie not secure in any sin into which thou art lapsed take heed of delaying and trifling when thy particular repentance should be exercised Renew thy Covenant and after thy rising deal faithfully with thy self and God favour not thy sin nor flesh go to the quick leave no corruption at the bottom If called to make restitution to shame thy self before men by confession stick not at it take the plainest course that is the way of God And let not any thought of shame dishonour or losse hinder it for the more it costs thee to rise from sin the likelier it is thou art sound in thy conversion and the more comfort wilt thou have otherwise the fears and pains of thy disease will be upon thee when the through Cure would have prevented it quarrel not at any man's Reproof though they miscarry in it have mentioned thy faults with passion c. take that which is good and be thankful And after every fall sit not down in perpetual distress but as Christ takes the honour of thy cure take thou the comfort of thy cure when recovered See thou art truly risen by repentance and returned to him whom thou hast dishonoured Thy care must be to see thou be sincere in thy return and then walk comfortably See that Satan make thee not to walk so as to rob thee of thy comfort and God of his honour Thus having given you twenty Directions I shall reduce all to these eight Particulars 1. Do not think strength of grace will be got with ease you must do that that in other things is done for the attaining of strength increase and confirmation A man cannot attain Knowledge in Law Physick or any Art without studying diligence unwearied labour and patience through that time that is necessary to attain it Set your selves to the reading of the Scripture and other good Books study good Truths Think not to attain mastery in a day And if ever such a conceit come into your minds that you are strong confirmed Christians do not easily entertain it there must be time industry and diligence ordinarily suspect the conceit you may have of strength and confirmation you must grow by degrees God's Method is to begin like a grain of Mustard-seed we are not born men Labour in the proper means with patience infused gifts are given according to the manner of acquiring them God gives as if our acquisition did attain it never think of having this without patience labour and diligence 2. Grow up in the Church of God and under his Officers and Ordinances and among his people Do not transplant your selves from the garden and Vineyard of the Lord if you will thrive no prospering in the Commons where weeds will choak c. Keep within the Church of God in the communion of his People among his Servants under the guidance of his Ministers for that is the duty of Ministers to bring up train up and help the weak ones till they grow to be strong they are to be God's Nurses and helpers of the weak in the House of God Do not think to prosper by breaking over the hedge under pretence of any right of holiness whatsoever following any party that would draw you to Seperation 3. Make it amongst others the principal study of your lives to study the love of God in the Redeemer the nature of the new Covenant and the infinite goodness revealed in the face of a Mediator how it was his design to attract the hearts of men to the love of God by revealing his infinite love in the Redeemer unto what end Christ came for even to represent God's goodness in sinners hearts of their being reconciled to him and ravishing them with his love Study the glory and ravishing love of God and unspeakable goodness in a Redeemer 4. Live not by sense or upon wordly hopes nor in the exercise of it See that you live a mortified life take heed of glutting your selves with creatures or letting your hearts out to any creature or letting any creature be too dear to you live not too much on any sensible thing or upon any worldly hopes or expectations Shut your eyes to the world let not your desires run out to the world and live as much as you can upon the 〈◊〉 to come 5. Let 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suspition alwayes make you fearâ—… of tempâ—… and keep you out of the Devils way Would you keep your standing grow better and strong in grace Let not the pride of your hearts or confidence of your strength make you to meet among any unlawfull communion see any enticing spectacle or thrust your selves upon temptation you are never safe if you thrust your selves upon temptation Think with your self My weakness is great I must not gaze upon this entising object lest my heart take fire I am not so strong as to be able to stand against such c. 6. When you cannot attain unto that heat of internal affection you should be sure to walk uprightly with God sin not wilfully keep your garments clean Set his Law before your eyes sin not wilfully for a World be but found in the way of duty and God will blesse you and meet you in that way be as exact in obedience as if you had that frame of soul you desire 7. In a special manner keep all your bodily senses and desires in subjection mortifie the flesh keep under your carnal desires in due subjection to the Spirit let none of your senses take the reins out of your hands Keep a dominion over your Senses 8. Lastly All your life long be longing to die let the work of your life be to learn to dye Consider what necessity to the safety and comfort of death it is to consider frequently what assaults will be made upon dying men that you may every day fortifie against it to consider what graces and duties will be most needfull and usefull then that you may be most conversing with and exercising those graces and duties He that hath well learn'd to die is no weak Christian. The strength of your grace lies in the exercise of these things faithfully practise them and you will stand when others fall you will have comfort when others cast away their comfort you will die in peace when
but there may be secular things in an ordinary and civil way done in them and our services are not more acceptable for the place nor the places less holy because of those civil employments There is the first concession that in the time of the Gospel there may be a designment and dedicating of places and it is not onely lawfull but commendable 2. I grant that in times of the Gospel some places are to have Religious services performed in them rather then in other places I mean places of natural conveniency and fitness for the meeting of people together whereby they may be free from disturbance from the violence of Enemies and from tempestuous weather As publick meetings whereby we have the society of Gods people their examples to stir us up to zeal and their joynt help in Prayer and holy performances to go along with us that we may joyn our forces together and with a great force wrestle with God and overcome him which is invincible And therefore my Brethren I desire you to bear me witness this day that I plead for publick Ordinances and for the purity of Gods Ordinances to be administred in publick places rather then other places so that I do here profess that I do avowedly and openly declare my judgement to be for publick meetings in publick places and the purity of God's Ordinances if they may be enjoyed without humane mixture which may hurt and pollute them 3. I grant that in the time of holy service we are not then to use secular employments at that time in those places as eating drinking and talking it being unsuitable to the work in hand and howsoever they may be lawfull at another time yet unlawfull then because against the Apostles command Let all things be done in decency and in order and that which is unsuitable to the commands of God the taking his Name in vain My Brethren I will go further with you we are to abstain from all other Religious services when not in season and therefore when the Minister is in Preaching we must not run into our places and kneel down as some people do and fall a Praying And I cannot but wonder that they that do so much cry up Uniformity and Sanctity of places that yet they should confute their judgement by their practice that they should pray secretly when the whole Congregation is a praying vocally and it may be the Congregation is singing a Psalm or the Minister Preaching and then they go to their Prayers I pray where is the Uniformity Decency and Order they so much stand for Lastly I grant that after the performances of holy duties in places wherein we meet for the worship and service of God it is our duty to abstain not onely from filthy and indecent actions of a natural or moral filthiness unseemly as looked upon by men against God's Law but from all those civil moral lawfull actions at other times that may reflect any dishonour upon the work that hath been done or upon the work that shall be done or that may render the place unmeet for religious services afterwards And this is that that one calls a Negative or a Privative reverence a reverence or not doing something not because the place is more holy but for decency and order considering the religious duties performed in that place So that things subservient to Religion call for a Negative reverence and are not so to be used as that the Religious services which are there performed and transacted should be made disgracefull and dishonourable as the Bread of the Sacrament after the Sacrament is done is not lawfull to be cast unto unreasonable creatures because it reflects dishonour upon the religious service which we were before doing so dirty water is not to be put into the Communion Cup not that the Cup is holy but because it is a reflection of disgrace upon that holy service wherein that Cup is made use of and that Cup is not to be made use of to drunkenness But in all this bear me witness that I say all this is but a civil reverence and so due to any place where there is any honourable Convention as in the Parliament-house or presence-Chamber or the like Having yielded this 2. I must come now to deny what must not be granted and I likewise deny four things 1. It is not now in the times of the Gospel in any mans power to set apart a place for Religious duties so as that it should be unlawful upon a due occasion to use it for civil imployments or that it should be alwaies unlawful to alienate to other uses besides those uses that are Divine the Bread and Wine sanctified by Gods own institution by the Minister after the publick use and administration of them in the Ordinance are not only holy but they may be eaten in a civil use and way as our ordinary and common food The Synagogues among the Jews were as holy as our Churches they were for holy duties as Prayer Preaching and the like and dedicated to Gods Worship and yet you must know there are civil imployments used in those places after the Religious Worship was done and therefore in Matth. 23. 34. saith our Saviour some of them you shall scourge in your Synagogues Hence we use to keep Courts and Consistories in Churches amongst us and some of them none of the best and and we use here among us in this City constantly in our Churches and I doubt not but it is lawful for an Alderman in his Ward to meet about secular business as to choose Common-Council-men or the like But where there hath been a dedication of a place to Gods worship it is only God that can make it so holy as that it should be sinful to employ it to other uses and if the Governours of the Church upon due occasion and reason shall substitute other places more fit then the former for Divine Worship then the former places may return to their former proper uses but it is not so in things consecrated by God If the Font Table or Pulpit wax old they may be laid aside and looked upon as common things and may be used for other imployments and suppose the Surplisse be a lawful garment in Gods worship which yet I am perswaded none of you believe doubtless it is not to be burned when it is old and past wearing and the ashes put into a pot or some such like thing and be buried under the Altar but it may be used as other linnen may And so the common Utensils as the Cup and the like when they are come to be old they may be used to other imployments without fear of sin And therefore it is an excellent speech of one saith he so to Consecrate moveable or immoveable goods as that it should be a sin for the Church to use them in any secular imployments it is an execrable and abominable Superstition God hath not consecrated any thing in the Gospel
so as that it is a sin to use it otherwise It was a sin in them to make use of the Cups in the Temple in any secular way but it is not so for us the reason is because those things were set apart by Gods own Institution but there can be nothing so consecrated by men as that it may not be made use of in secular things without sin 2. A second thing I deny is That no place now in the time of the Gospel hath such an holiness either from the Institution or Use as to sanctifie or make more acceptable or effectual the services therein performed This is not in the time of the Gospel God is present at places of Religious performances not with respect unto the Place but the performance by him instituted and injoyned and therefore he doth not say Where two or three are met together I will be in the midst of that place but among them God will be present in the place for the Duties sake not among them for the Places sake but the Duties sake in the place to bless the Ordinance for his own Institutions sake Prayers and other Duties in the Ceremonial Law were regarded for the places sake but now we must abhor this piece of Iudaism For a man to set a place apart by Consecration that this place makes the duty any thing the more excellent or acceptable to God this is to make the Traditions of men equal to the Institution of God The Temple sanctified the duty but not the Synagogue and the Altar did sanctifie the gift and the person and service because it was by Gods Institution and so the Temple and Altar did add efficacy and worth to the work but for men to consecrate the Church it is to make the appointment of men equal with the Institution of God Our Churches and Meeting-places are not holy if they be holy at all without relation to the duties performed but our duties are holy without relation to the Church or the place None but God can consecrate a place to be an effectual means of worship The Jews worshipped God by the Temple but we worship God in the Church as the place doth afford a natural conveniency for our meeting together the place then hath no influence at all upon our duties and if any of you should think so you erre exceedingly It is but only a Physical Act of duty or a natural Adjunct of duty which is but at most helpful to the bodies conveniency 3. The third thing I deny is this That there is no place so holy as to exclude another place from being as holy in a way of proper sanctity and holiness which we have been now opening God now makes not one place properly more holy then another there is not now properly any religious difference of places We have not now the Precept of God to sanctifie and separate one place from another to prefer one place before another we have not now the miraculous presence of God his appearing as at the bush God hath not given us under the Gospel those Symbols of his standing presence and residency as by the Ark and Mercy-Seat and Altar of old he gave unto his people And as for his Ordinances if they make a place holy in regard of performance of duty to God there and his spiritual presence in that place then my Parlour Chamber or Closet are holy where I use to pray and where God doth afford his assisting blessing and comforting presence So that if you make the spiritual presence of God to make a thing holy in regard of Gods spiritual presence going along with those services then your Houses are holy and the Field is holy where you walk when you meditate and praying by the River side makes it holy Humane consecration makes no place truly holy If the spiriturl presence of Christ makes one place more holy then another then the Communion-Table and Font are more holy then another place in the Temple And so when Gods presence hath been enjoyed at the Font that is more holy then the Communion-Table and so when the presence of God hath been enjoyed at the Communion-Table that is more holy then the Font and so you must bring in Iudaisme If the presence of God makes a thing holy a new Communion-Table upon which the Sacrament was never administred cannot be so holy as the old Table Nay by this the mouths of the Communicants are holy having eaten the Bread and drank the Wine which was dedicated to an holy use and so it will be finful for you to eat any other food I conclude all with this That the difference and holinesse of religious places in the times of the Gospel is not given but taken away by the Gospel 1 Tim. 2. 8. I will therefore that men pray every where lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting You may pray and that with as much acceptableness to God in one place as in another John 4. 21. Christ saith The time comes when you shall neither in this Mountaâ—…n nor yet at Ierusalem worship the Father That is Gods worship and service shall not he confined and limited to those places as if others were not as good and holy as they 1 Cor. 1. 2. To them that are sanctified in Christ Iesus called to be Saints with all that in every place call upon the name of Iesus Christ our Lord both theirs and ours One place for the calling upon Christ is as good as another and therefore Where two or three are gathered together I will be in the midst of them And this is foretold in Zeph. 2. 11. and in Mal. 1. 11. So that this is the sum of all Gods institution makes the Sabbath holy And the Bread and the Wine set apart by Gods own Institution after the duty may be used in secular uses But lastly to name no more no place is so sanctified by God as that after the ceasing of that presence of God any holiness should belong unto it as now when the signs of Gods presence ceased and was gone the holiness of that place was gone and then it was lawful for Moses to put on his shooes And so when Gods presence ceased in the Ark the Altar and Mercy-seat the places became no other then secular and civil And now for us to go about as the Papists do a Pilgrimage to Ierusalem as if that place had any more holiness then others is a foolish and abominable thing How many bloudy Battels have been fought to the disgrace as well as losse of Christianity for the re-gaining of the Holy-land Nay let me add those places where the presence of God hath been formerly when it hath been taken away and those places have been used to Idolatry they are the worse and the more unholy for this is turning the House of God into vanity The conclusion of all is this whatever places are in holy duties out of them they loose and leave all their â—…oliness
accordingly 5. Love the holiness of the living members be not so much in love with the holiness of wood and timber bricks and stones but wheresoever you see the Image of Christ be in love with that soul whereever the presence of God shines and whereever thou seest one that gives up himself to God in holy duties do thou say Oh! my soul delight to come into the company of these men The righteous is more excellent then his neighbour If there be a heaven upon earth I tell you it is in the company of godly men I remember a famous man hath this expression saith he When I was in the company of the Saints and people of God I was as a living coal but when I was separated from them and was among the wicked swearers and drunkards me-thoughts there was a spiritual coldness and frozenness went over my soul. Though the people of God are best companie in heaven yet they are very good companie here on earth And Christians should stir up one another and be provoking one another to love and good works and where ever you have grace be sure to impart it Endeavour to love the holiness of Saints and be willing to impart your experiences to others for this is your duty Do not make a Monopoly of holiness but carry company with you to Heaven Lastly to name no more labour to preserve the holiness of Gods true Institutions those things which are of a divine consecration What is humane consecration without divine institution The Sabbath day is of divine institution labour to keep it holy this is a holy-day indeed and this labour to keep your families from profaning of but for other holy dayes and holy things they are much alike for holiness The Lords day is a holy day indeed and for shame do not let your children gad abroad on this day Truly I do verily believe that though here be a great company of people in the Congregation yet they are but a handful in comparison of what are drinking in Ale-houses and whoring and walking in the field that one can hardly get home to their house for the crowd of people that are going thither For shame let not this be told in Gath nor published in Askelon What! shall we stand up for the holiness of places and yet oppose the holiness of the Lords day which God hath enjoyned and instituted Oh! that the Magistrates of London Oâ—… that Englands King Oh! that Englands Parliament would do something for the reformation of this to oppose wickedness and prophanesse which will otherwise bring upon us the judgement of Sodom and Gomorrah and make us guilty and worthy of a thousand punishments And labour by prayer in your families to overcome that flood of prophanesse which you cannot by your strength prevent And then for the Sacraments of Christ Baptisme and the Lords Sâ—…pper these are Ordinances of Gods appointment they are holy and therefore should not be given to those that are unholy and yet those who are so much for the holinesse of places do not care who come to the Sacrament if they have but a nose on their face they shall come and partake of the Ordinances let them be what they will this is to prefer mans institution before Gods institution And then for the Lords Message and Word that is a holy thing and therefore love his Messengers the Messengers of God delivering his Message with fear and reverence you are to hear them with the same fear and reverence and resolution to be holy as if Christ were present And for the Word of God it is not enough for you to have a choice Sentence written upon the walls of your Churches but let Gods Law be written in your hearts and consciences and practised in your lives that all the world may see you live as men dedicated to the true God in all the duties of his wayes and obedience Many of these things might have been inlarged What I have given you with the right hand I pray you Christians do not take with the left for if you do you will make your selves guilty of a double sin First Because you do not obey the truth you hear And secondly For putting a wrong construction upon it But I have better hopes of you my Beloved Hearers and hope that the Lord will be better unto your souls then his Ministers Word or any thing else can be God blesse you and his Ordinances and discover his mind and will at this time to you Mr. Jenkins's Prayer after Sermon O Lord our God thou art never weary of doing us good if we either consider the mercies thou givest to us or the miseries that thou keepest from us that yet we have another opportunity of drawing nigh to thee we beseech thee O Lord let not our mis-interpreting of such opportunities as these are cause thee to take them from us or thy self from them if thou dost Lord we cannot but justifie thee and abase our selves and lie low before thee because we have sinned against thee O Lord we bless thee that we are yet alive to bless thee that yet we have not sinned our bodies into a cold grave nor our souls into a scorching Hell thou givest us our beings if thou withdraw thy self we cease to be and shall return to our first nothingness from whence we came the living the living they praise thee as if we know our own hearts we desire to do at this time Praised be God for Iesus Christ that he died and rose again and is now a pleading at thy right hand for poor sinners Praised be God that he is offered to us for his sake O God pardon all our sins let our lusts die that would not let the Lord of life live let not any one of them live one quiet moment in these hearts of ours let us give up our selves and all that we are or can do to the purpose of thy praise we beseech thee prepare us for a blessed eternity that we may not be ashamed before thee nor ashamed of thee nor thy wayes in the midst of a crooked perverse unclean idolatrous generation Dear Father we most humbly pray thee prepare us for communion with thy self assist us in the ensuing duties of this day let all the work be done by thee let all the praise redound unto thee prepare us by hearing for prayer by both for practice by all for glory Lord set up thy truth ruine Babylon build up Sion delight yet to dwell in the midst of us and do us good though we are a sinful back-sliding God-provoking Nation Mayest thou not say of us as of old what couldst thou have done more for us then thou hast done yet how ill have we requited thee for all thy benefits Poure down the richest showers of thy choicest blessings upon the head and heart of our Dread Soverain Charles the Second by thy especial grace of England Scotland France and Ireland King as follows in his Royal
of Heaven against men What the Pharisees that pretended they had the Keys of Heaven and to be the Guides I that is it because there is nor room enough in Heaven for us and them too No saith Christ there is no such matter For ye neither go in your selves neither suffer ye them that are entring to go in I dare not tell you at this time what it is to shut up the Kingdome of Heaven against men you may better imagine it tâ—…en I can speak it but this did the Pharisees they would not go in themselves nor suffer them that werâ—… 〈◊〉 to go in I remember when I was a Childe we hâ—…d â—…uch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that would one Lords-day preach up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 next Lords-day would preach against the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And now my 〈◊〉 I am come in the next place to speak to â—…he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stand fast and because I see a Hurricane a 〈◊〉 â—…eep your ground stand fast and live in the Lord here that you may live with him hereafter Mr. Lye's Afternoon Sermon Phil. 4. 1. Therefore my Brethren dearly beloved and longed for my joy and crown so stand fast in the Lord my dearly beloved FRom this Scripture you have had these 3. Doctrines 1. That the highest officers of the Church of Christ though they are Rulers of them yet they are but brethren to the meanest Saint 2. That it becomes a true Scriptural Minister of Christ to have a most vehâ—…ment ardent strong melting tender affection to that Flock or People which the Providence of God hath committed to his charge 3. That the fixed standing flourishing and thriving of that Flock in the profession and practice of Gospel-knowledge and obedience is matter of transcendent joy and triumph to such a godly Pastor The fourth which is that I would now prosecute is this That it is the grand and indispensible duty of all sincere Saints in the most black and shaking seasons to stand fast fixed and stedfast in the Lord. This is the grand thing St. Paul had to say to his Philippians when he was ready to have his head cut off for so it was he was beheaded for the testimony of Jesus this is all he had to say when in Jayle when in bonds and that under Heathen Romans you are now my Joy you are now my Crown oh do but stand and my joy which is but two notes above Gamut will get to Ela. Oh! do but stand and my Crown 's studded with Diamonds We live if you stand though we die when you stand It is the great and indispensible duty c. Whether these are black and shaking seasons I have nothing to say but I am wholly now upon your duty beloved and for God's sake let the words of a Civilly dying Minister prevail with you There is a kind of a Maxim among some that in case a person dye seemingly and revive again that the last words that was heard of that person when in a rational temper are the only things that that person will remember when brought to life again It is most probable beloved whatever others may think but in my opinion God may work wonders neither you nor I shall ever see the faces of or have a word more to speak to one another till the day of Judgement Therefore I beseech you hear me as those that would and may live with me to eternity Mark your duty I have spoken something concerning the Pastors duty in the morning now for the Peoples It is the indispensible duty of all sincere Saints to stand fast c. I confess I have a love for the whole Auditory I have a Mess for them but my Benjamin's Mess is for those I once called my own people you are my Benjamins I wish I had a greater than a fifth for you This Proposition I shall 1. Prove and then 2. Improve In the worst of times in the most shaking seasons and if I do not greatly mistake there is an hour of temptation threatned by God now beginning to be inflicted if ever you would stand stand now and for your comfort let me but hint that a Christian may stand comfortably when he falls sadly that is he may stand by God when he falls by man I knew that a great many years ago First then 't is your duty to stand There be Scriptures more then enough to prove this to be your duty Col. 4. 12 Stand perfect compleat in all the will of God Ph. 1. 27 Only let your conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ that whether I come and see you alas poor Paul thou come see them thou wast beheaded before thou couldst come see them but or else be absent I may hear of your affairâ—… that ye may stand fast in one spirit with one mâ—…nd striving together not to pluck out one anothers throats no more of that but striving together not against one another but for the faith of the Gospel So 1 Cor. 15. 58. Therefore my Brethren be Steadfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch is you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 'T is our duty to stand But. Secondly Wherein must we stand steadfast I have no new Doctrine to preach now I shall but mind you of what I have formerly spoken when you would not believe I confess I do not begin to be of a new judgement now and should I be continued in the Ministry a mercy I can hardly hope for I should be of the same judgement and preach this doctrine Stand fast God will certainly bring the people of God in England to his own terms or else â—…are them well for ever What 's that we should be steadfast in I would advise to a steadfastness 1. Of Iudgement 2. To steadfastness of Resolution 3. To a steadfastness of Faith 4. To a steadfastness of Conscience So stand fast in the Lord in your Iudgement in your Resolution in your Faith in your Conscience 1. I would advise to a steadfastness of Iudgement Strange Doctrines are the greatest fetters that do assault a sound judgement they are like waves if they do split they will shake the Ship to purpose therefore your way is to cast anchor well to stand firm on the rock of truth I had almost said all in a word Protestant truth though the market may rise somewhat high yet stand firmly there while strange Doctrines like so many impetuous Waves are beating upon you break themselves in pieces they may but if you stand can never hurt you I am not now to begin to warn you against Pâ—…pery not that I have the least reflection on any thing in the world but on the Scriptures I am apt to think the wound of the beast must be healed however do not you spread a plaister for the Beast to heal his wound Be no more children tossed to and fro carried about with every wind of Doctrine with every wind or windy Doctrine by the
that you might stand and what dishonour to the eternal Saviour of the world to a dying Savâ—…ur to see a flying Christian. 'T was never heard of that souldiers should â—…lye before a conquered enemy whose legs were cut off whose arms were broken whose sword taken from them 2. 'T is a dishonour to the spirit of Christ The same spirit that was with Christ in all his Agonies this very spirit he hath given to believers that he might bring them through with some victory therefore when we stand not 't is a high dishonour to Christ's Spirit 3. 'T is a dishonour to Christ's truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what a dishonour doth it bring â—…o the Truth 〈◊〉 but thought of some late experiments of poor 〈◊〉 that I hâ—…ve heâ—…rd of carried about in triumph look here 's the man here 's the man that hath done this that and tâ—…other thing and now look here 's his I cannot excuse Noah from his drunkenness yet me thinks 't is the part of a Cham to shew his fathers nakedness I remember that one hath told me 't is a great Truth That Religion never sâ—…ffers greater wounds then by the hands of her professed friends Oh? what advantage have the wicked Papists taken against us by the falls of English Professors both in principles and practice 4. ' I is a very great dishonour to Christs all-sufficiency Tell me man is thy Christ able to protect thee against all evil and is he able to supply thee with all good or is he not if he be not then deny him and whatever thou hast said concerning him if he be then stand close to him in the mount he will be seen 2ly I would argue from Saints the infinite advantage that at a long run I do not say presently will redound to those that are steady in judgment in resolution in faith in conscience in practice so far as all these are conformable to the word of God and no further The greatest advantage appears upon these four grounds 1. Whatever thou thinkest a steady condition is the safest condition 2. The fullest condition 3. The strongest condition 4. The freest condition Oh! that I could beat this into my heart as well as â—…tis in my head The safest condition in the midst of dangers the fullest condition in the midsâ—… of wants the strongest condition in the midst of assauts and the freest condition in the midst of straights I profess in the presence of God I have felt these things and knew them to be true many years ago 1. It is the safest condition never do the Saints take hurt but by declining moving from their center while at their center the Devil cannot touch them departing thence is like the poor Bird from her nest every one hath a fling at them Remember this let but a man once leave his Scriptural station and what temptation is he able to stand against it is just like a man thrown down from the top of an house no stopping till he come to the bottom 1 Joh 5. 18. He that is begotten of God keepeth himself and the wicked one toucheth him not 2. It is the fullest condition Oh! my Brethren Saints living steadfastly on their foundation are continually supplied by God as the fountain doth continually issue out it self into the streams I know 't is best living upon a single God How many thousands be there yet living in England that can tell you they never enjoyed more of God then when they enjoyed least of the Creature Some have professed to me their prison was to them as a palace that were troubled more with these things then ever you were and the God of heaven grant you never may 3. 'T is the strongest condition A man that stands steadfast is like a man on a Rock the waters come they may dash themselves in pieces but never shall be able to dash him in pieces he is fixed on a Rock and therefore stands A man that stands steady to his Scriptural principles is like Sanpson with his Locks about him let all the Philistines come what cares he he is able to conquer them all 4. 'T is the freeest condition A man that deserts his principles is a slave to every condition afraid of every humour of every Aspine leaf in the world thinks all those are informers that converse with him is afraid of some promooter or other But he that stands fast where the Spirit of God is there is liberty and freedome such a man in chains as Paul at Rome is in a far freer condition then others not in that restraint Well then 't is rational that you stand but it may be your lâ—…st and interest can hardly swallow these things if we stand we shall not fall nay if you do not stand be sure you shall fall at last The next thing I would do is to apply this truth Is it the most important duty of all sincere professors in the most shaking seasons to stand stedfast in the Lord then First by way of Lamentation and that 1. Over our own souls 2. Over hundreds of Congregatioâ—…s Lord must do we say hundreds nay thousands of Congregations that are this day though they do not accompany us in person yet mingling tears with us and especially as I hear on the West of England 1. Over our own hearts We must stand that 's our duty oh how should it cause us to lie low by reason of the instability of our hearts and their cursed declining from the true foundation every day Alas Beloved this is that that God complains of they are a generation whose spirit is not stedfast with God and therefore we have very much reason to complain of it oh that this sin might be forgiven oh what an unsetled people have we been to day we have been apt to cry Hosanna Hosanna to the Son of David to morrow our note is changed crucifie him crucifie him give us Barabbas to day the Lord is God to morrow Baal any thing is God provided we may keep our Estates Oh Lord what wâ—…lt thou do with such a people as this certainly it is a lamentation and ought â—…o be a lamentation Believe it Beloved I can now count seven years if not something more wherein I have most clearly expected the daies I now see no way but the severest waies to be taken with such a false people as we have been Judge in your own thoughts whether we have been true to God or Man to Saints or Sinners to the Churches of God at home or abroad whether or no this be not matter of lamentation 2. With respect to our Congregations 't is not against the Law yet to call them our Congregations This I confess I can rather weep then speak to I cannot speak my heart is too big for my head here Lord is it the duty of people of Saints to stand to be stedfast how then should we mourn over those poor souls that because their pillers are taken away must needs