perceive somewhat more as we come near to the end of our Hope the Day of Death which is indeed to the Children and Servants of God the Birth-Day of Immortality Therefore only it is that we have not more Profit because we did not so much as we should walk Mournfully but we should have walked yet more closely before the Lord of Hosts To walk Mournfully is according to the Reproach and manner of Speech of the People of the World for they imagine and say as if Religion and the Service of God was a Melancholly and Irksome thing whereas if it be True and Universal Inward and Real it is the greatest satisfaction and Peace to the Soul of Man of any thing in this World In a Dying Hour when all things fail and slip from us God and Religion are the only Resort My Soul cleaveth fast unto thee saith the Psalmist by the Spirit But though hardly ever any one in a dying Condition did say that it would have been vain for them to have served God we have heard of Thousands sad Examples on the other Hand crying out upon their Death-beds of the Misery and Deceitfulness of Sin with Anguish Bitterness and Vexation of Spirit that ever they themselves should give way unto it and really and sincerely then wishing that themselves had lived otherwise Then they confess and acknowledge that it was an evil and bitter thing to have forsaken the Lord and that his Fear was not in them And they have not cried unto me with their Heart when they howled upon their Beds Hos 7. 14. That is upon their Sick and Dying Beds By the Phrase of Howling the Holy Ghost doth seem to allude unto that kind of Noise which Dogs usually make when they are in Pain and Misery the Sense or Smart whereof makes them to Howl when they have no Reason of Soul to comfort and mitigate the other Even so the Sinners and Hypocrites when they are under violent Pains of Body or the languishing of Pining Sickness and yet much more from that fearful Expectation of those dreadful things of the Invisible World all this will sometimes make them cry out and howl and yet at the same time they do not cry out with their Heart to God for that hath been a long time at enmity and distance from him and indeed they are ignorant and unacquainted with him In a Dying Hour things will appear in a just and real value and then will be discerned what was best to have been done Then shall ye return and discern between the Righteous and the Wicked between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not In the latter Days ye shall consider it perfectly It is certain that we must give Account for all and the several Talents which we have received as Knowledge Health Riches Time and such like Now to instance in this last which is most proper because we are here speaking of a Dying Hour When Time is ended and shall be no more which do you think will tend to better Reckoning when we come to give an Account for so many Days and Hours spent Either so many Days or Hours were spent in Hearing or Reading or Meditating on the Word of God in his Law doth he meditate Day and Night Psal 1. 2. Item So many Hours in Worship and Prayer Item So many Hours expended in good Works and the Duties of Christianity Item So many Hours in Honest Labour in our Trade or Employment which is a complying with that Prime Ordinance of God In the Sweat of thy Face shalt thou eat thy Bread till thou return unto the Ground Gen. 3. 19. All these will turn to Good and Profitable Accounts that we may find Mercy Comfort and Reward from the Lord in that Day 2 Tim. 1. 18. But then comes in also the Account which some must be forced to make on the other and worse Hand Imprimis So many Hours spent in serving divers Lusts and Pleasures Item So many Hours in Cards and Dice and in other vain and unnecessary Recreations Item So many Hours in Carnal Visits and Company Item So many Hours in Pride and Dressing Item So many Hours in Stage-Plays Item So many Hours in Taverns or Ale-Houses Item So many Hours expended in serving of Mammon Covetousness and getting of unjust Gain All these and such like will tend to Loss and Punishment at that Day This Question is easie to be answered and it will be seen which of these Two will tend most to Mens and Womens Happiness at the Last Day Seeing we must all unavoidably give Account for so many Sabbaths as we have had Will it not tend to better Account to have spent the remaining Hours thereof after the Publick Worship is over in Hearing the Scriptures and what Truths do flow from them for on the Sabbath-day besides the double Burnt Offering was to be a continual Burut Offering Numb 28. 9 10. The Holy Ghost thereby signifying that that Day was to be wholly and throughly spent in the immediate worship of God and Hearing Reading or Meditating on his Word Or the very same Time expended in Worldly Company and therein speaking their own Words contrary to Isa 58. 13. Or in Carnal Perambulation in the Fields Ay but here some will be apt to say Sâ—ould not they who are Working and Trades People all the Week long have some Delight and â—ecreation on this Day of Rest To which I answer they should call the Sabbath a Delight and delight themselves in the Lord Isa 58. 13 14. And delight to do thy Will O my God Psal 40. 8. And so to Hear his Will for if Heaven is not thus begun with them whilst on Earth as to deligâ—t in that which is good it will not be their Portion when they come to die As Isaac went out to Meditate in the Margent there it is to Pray in the Fiâ—ld at Eventide Gen. 24. 63. So it seems to be no Sin to walk out into the Fields in the Evening of the Sabbath if it be for Meditation or Prayer or to discourse together only of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God But it seems to be sinful to spend the Evening of the Sabbath or Lord's Day in Loytering and Idleness or standing by the Walls or in the Doors of the Houses Ezek. 33. 30. when they will not go to hear what is the Word that cometh forth from the Lord as the same is truly and faithfully alledged from the Bible Some of my Kindred according to the Flesh have despised me upon the Account of my Preaching in a little Meeting or Assembly of Christians as if it was mean little pitiful and unbecoming that Birth Education and Family I am off Good God! what kind of Imaginations do lurk in the Heart of Man Can any one be too good to serve thee And is it beneath those of what 〈◊〉 called a Genteel Birth and Extraction which eccho like 〈◊〉 a Voice and nothing else for they
also are formed out of the Clay to come down to the plainness and simplicity of thy Worship As for mine own part I do abhoâ— such a Thought with the utmost Indignation from the very bottom of my Soul but I cannot help the Talk Esteem and Reproach of others But lest it should seem somewhat too trivial to menâ— tron or rehearse these things We may read somewhat alikâ— to this in 2 Sam. 6. 14 15 16. And David danced beforâ— the Lord wiâ—h all his might and David was girded with 〈◊〉 linen Ephod And as the Ark of the Lord came into the City of David Michal Saul ' s Daughter looked through a Wiâ—â— dow and saw King David leaping and dancing before thâ— Lord and she despised him in her Heart and came out tâ— meet him and said How Glorious was the King of Israel who uncovered himself to Day in the Eyes of the Handmaiâ— of his Servants as one of the vain Fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself David was here so far from being discouraged at this sarcastical kind of Saying that he 〈◊〉 more confirmed in his Duty I will play before the Lord will be more vile then thus and will be base in mine own Sight and of the Maid-Servants which thou hast spoken of of them shall I be had in honour Even so will I Preach Righteousness in this little Congregation for that no more are gathered together that is the Sin and Fault of those who refuse to come it is their Stubbornness and Disobedience their Pâ—ide and Abomination of Heart however Vile or Base I shall be thought of by others for it knowing and believing that where Two or Three are gathered together in his Name and in his Fear there God and Christ will be in the midst of them But God hath chosen the foolish things of the World and base things of the World and things which are despised hath God chosen 1 Cor. 1. 27 28. All those afore-mentioned Imaginations of Pride will vanish and disappear utterly and seem as nothing upon a Death-bed Which time is hastening upon them as it hath been already fulfilled as to those of foregoing Generations as to the Rich and Chief of the People As a Dream when one awaketh so O Lord when thou awakest thou shalt despise their Image Psal 73. 20. The Lord of Hosts hath purposed it to stain the Pride of all Glory and to bring into Contempt all the Honourable of the Earth Isa 23. 9. When Pride will profit them nothing but rather sink them down into the lowermost Hell and Riches with all their Vaunting will do them no Good As Socrates that real Martyr for the one God against the vain Polutheism of the Gentiles told his Judges immediately after they had passed the Sentence of Death upon him I go away to die but ye to live a little longer but which will be the better for us God knows My Answer is alike to this scornful Reproof of those that are at ease and the contempt of the Proud concerning this matter I am resolved by the Divine Grace to go on in this manner of way Reproach it in as pitiful and mean a manner as you will and ye will continue a little longer in your Contempt of Gods Word and Commandment in your going on according to the fashion and course of this World and in the way of the Multitude but which will be better for us at last God knows But the same Word of God which speaks not one Tittle of Good of this kind of Conversation and manner of Acting doth make known to me that as long as I continue faithful in his Service and am not weary of well-doing for in due Season we shall reap if we faint not If I fear not the Reproach of Men nor am afraid of their Revilings Then the same God who chose David before Michals Father and before all his House to appoint him Ruler over Israel the People of the Lord he also may choose me to reign in his Kingdom before such Scoffers and Reproachers of me only for serving God in the Word of his Ministry and of the Saints and Servants of the Lord I may be had in Honour in the day of Eternity when such like shall be thrust down into shame and everlasting Contempt and become an hissing to Angels and Men. In a word Let People do so in all the several things pertaining to God as they will wish they had done when they come to be Sick unto Death or in a dying Day or as soon as they are let slip into Eternity Remember this great End and thou shalt never do amiss SERMON II. ON Isaiah XXXVIII 2 3. Then Hezekiah turned his Face toward the Wall and Prayed unto the Lord And said Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in Truth and with a Perfect Heart and have done that which is good in thy sight and Hezekiah wept sore THere is not a Sentence or Word in Scripture but what is observable and somewhat may be gathered from thence Yea the very Iota's Points and Stops thereof are to be heeded and attended unto for some meaning and signification may be also drawn and conceived of according as they are and do stand And so when we here Read that Hezekiah turned his Face towards the Wall and Prayed unto the Lord some Use and Word of Instruction is hereby conveyed and made known unto us namely that in our Worship of the Invisible God whether it be Publick or Private we should turn our Face to the Wall that is as saith the Psalmist Turn away mine Eyes from beholding Vanity and quicken me in thy way Psal 139. 37. This we should do at all Times and in all Places but yet more especially in and amidst the Worship of God we should turn away our Eyes from so much as beholding other Men and Women not looking about as the manner of many is at every one that comes into the Church or Congregation Nor yet should we stare about on this side or that side to observe other Peoples Devotions to the neglect of our own Nor yet should we look about what Vestments Clothes or Apparel such an one or such an one is in In a word we should turn away our Face from all outward and other Objects unto the Wall which being the same still and there being no great variety therein will not distract the Mind nor yet much divert it from its being more intent and fixed on its proper Object the Vnseen God whom we there come to bow down before and worship in our Soul And this I speak for your own Profit and that you may attend unto the Lord without Distraction 1 Cor. 7. 35. It is the manner of some to shut their Eyes in Prayer to hinder and prevent themselves the more from Wandring and Distraction in looking on outward Objects But Satan who hinders still can and also doth fill the Mind with other Thoughts and inward
For both past and future things are present unto 〈◊〉 High and Lofty one who inhabiteth Eternity Which 〈◊〉 ternity one defines to be a Perpetual now Even the h 〈…〉 of our head are all Numbred and not any thing is 〈◊〉 gotten before God And as we Remember each thing our past Lives both the Good and the Evil to more 〈◊〉 the one and yet more eschew the other we do the 〈…〉 come nearer to his similitude and likeness And so we 〈…〉 again as we cast an Eye forward upon the things that 〈◊〉 to come Hereby we make the things that as yet be 〈◊〉 to be as tho' they were for shortly they will come 〈◊〉 pass and it is but a little time and He that shall co 〈…〉 will come and will not tarry Talk no more exceeding Proud let not Arrogancy 〈◊〉 out of your mouth for the Lord is a God of Knowledge 〈◊〉 by him Actions are weighed And so the Lord is a God 〈◊〉 Remembrance and a God of Prescience and by him A 〈…〉 on s are weighed And seeing that Actions are weighâ—â— by him our Actions ought to be weighed by us also the Ballance of the sanctuary and of his word so that 〈◊〉 may not be found wanting SERMON III. ON Isaiah XXXVIII 2 3. Then Hezekiah turned his Face toward the Wall and Prayed unto the Lord And said Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in Truth and with a Perfect Heart and have done that which is good in thy sight and Hezekiah wept sore Come now to shew and discourse 1. What it is to walk before God in Truth 2. With a perfect heart 3. What it is to do that which is good in his sight And then of the Consequent upon the whole And Hezekiah wept sore As to the first Remember O Lord how I have walk 〈…〉 before thee in Trâ—th We Read in sundry places of Scripture of this Thing â—â—uth But from these words this Doctrine will preâ—â—tly appear That it is the Duty of all who call themselves Servants of the Lord to walk before the Lord in Truth throughout the whole course of their Life So did Hezekiah not for a Season or at such a Ti 〈…〉 only but throughout the general Course Bent and 〈◊〉 nour of his Days Even as long or for the most pa 〈…〉 he walked at all he walked before the Lord in Truth Now the Scripture mentioning this Word Truth so 〈◊〉 often and in all places it doth recommend the same 〈◊〉 exhorts us to the Receiving and Practice thereof as alsâ— finds fault and Reproves where it is wanting or wh 〈…〉 the Truth is not obeyed Gal. 3. 1. Or People do not 〈◊〉 cording to the Truth We may hereby see and un 〈…〉 stand that exceeding great Stress aâ—d Necessity is 〈◊〉 hereon in order to our Eternal Salvation and Happi 〈…〉 Open ye the Gates that the Righteous Nation which 〈◊〉 eth the Truth in the Margent it is Truths may enter 〈…〉 Isa 26. 2. That is Enter into that strong City menti 〈…〉 ed in the foregoing Verse which the Lord hath buil 〈…〉 and prepared for such of the Inhabitants of the Eart 〈…〉 he shall judge and find worthy And here the word 〈◊〉 Promise and the Condition annexed is That is must 〈◊〉 to the Righteous Nation that keepeth the Truth or Tr 〈…〉 Which word Keepeth denotes a constant heed adhere 〈…〉 unto and Observance thereof And not to chop 〈…〉 change with the wind or to turn with the Fashion 〈◊〉 titude and Course of this corrupt world as to say 〈◊〉 thing is Truth to day and another contrary unto or 〈◊〉 ferent from it is Truth at another time No such â—â—ter for his Truth endureth to all Generations Psal 〈◊〉 Like God its Author with the Truth there is no V 〈…〉 bleness nor shadow of Turning And like unto 〈◊〉 Christ who is the Way the Truth and the Life it is 〈◊〉 same yesterday to day and for ever So that this man 〈…〉 them to be Children that are corrupters they have fo rs 〈…〉 the Lord Isa 1. 4. That they have Prevaricated 〈◊〉 turned aside from his Truth They are gone away 〈◊〉 ward who speak thus and thus concerning it as the 〈◊〉 ner of many is in these our Days And that they 〈◊〉 not the Righteous Nation or the Righteous People 〈◊〉 keep the Truth to whom this Precious Promise is ma 〈…〉 for such kept it or rather did by Chance happen 〈…〉 light thereon for a Time but they did not keep it 〈◊〉 tinually Blessed are they that keep Judgment and he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Righteousness at all times Psal 106. 3. and so they 〈◊〉 no Lot and Share nor Right to enter into that â—â—ong City which the Lord hath made for Judah and â—â—rusalem yea for all the Inhabitants of the Earth who â—ould keep the Truth or walk before him in Truth For this Good and Sweet Word of Promise is made â—t only to the Righteous Nation but to every and each â—â—rticular Soul therein that keepeth the Truth So that â—â—ese Two Consequences must necessarily arise That even 〈◊〉 the Unrighteous Nation which Keepeth not the Truth 〈◊〉 those few Inhabitants and Souls therein who are â—â—ghteous and do Keep the Truth shall enter into the 〈◊〉 of our God Again Suppose it were a Righteous 〈…〉 tion and did Keep the Truth here the Denominati 〈…〉 is taken from the greater part and it is called a Righâ—â—â—us Nation where the Multitude or most are so But 〈◊〉 some â—ew therein were Unrighteous and did not Keep 〈◊〉 Truth here the Promise would be only to the for 〈…〉 sort and not to the latter The Reason whereof is 〈…〉 dent Because the Soul that sinneth it shall die The 〈◊〉 shall not bear the Iniquity of the Father neither shall 〈◊〉 Father bear the Iniquity of the Son the Righteousness â—he Righteous shall be upon him and the Wickedness of 〈◊〉 Wicked shall be upon him Ezek. 18. 20. So that as 〈◊〉 being an Inhabitant of a Righteous Nation which keep 〈◊〉 the Truth will not give thee Admission or Entrance in 〈◊〉 City of God unless thou be Righteous and keepest the 〈◊〉 thy self So although thou Livest in an Unrighte 〈◊〉 Nation where most are so which Keepeth not the â—â—uth yet if thou art Righteous thy self and Keepest 〈◊〉 Truth yet thou wilt enter into the City of God alâ—â—â—ugh never so few are besides The Marginal Reading 〈◊〉 Truths in the Plural Number shews That it is not the 〈◊〉 Keeping of One or Some of the Truths of God but 〈◊〉 Keeping all of them which is requisite and necessary 〈◊〉 we enter therein It was the same Spirit of God â—â—ich spake that in Isaiah 26. 2. as also which spake that Isaiah 38. 3. and which probably gave Hezekiah that â—â—owledge How necessary was Keeping the Truth or the 〈…〉 king before God in Truth in order to enter into the Ci 〈◊〉 of our God And
the appointment and foreknowledge of our God yet that we may in these Days of our flesh offer up continually unto him strong Crying and Tears that we may be heard in that we fear before him That when these Days of our Flesh the time of our Ministration and Warfare here on Earth are Ended the Lord would add unto each of us a Blessed Eternity which He will to such and only to such as he shall find and judge worthy to obtain that Resurrection For we must of necessity be raised up and restored to Life and Being again so to remain throughout the Vast and Infinite Duration thereof As to the first Think always and very much upon Eternity As often as you think upon time which is every Day and as often as you hear the Clock strike Do you also think upon Eternity and let that enter into your thoughts And compare the vast odds and difference between them both the Natural result and consequent whereof is That ought to be most minded which is of most concern As the Days are now passing on so the duration of Eternity will quickly begin but never End And we are continually breathing and moving towards it till at length the body like the shell doth actually break and â—all from it and the Soul is as it were hatched and brought forth into Eternity I my self and so ye who now dwell â—n time must be Launched forth into that State and that â—nfinite duration where time shall be no longer And as this is certainly true in the order and decree of God concerning us Mortal Creatures so we should always think much of it and have it continually in our Minds Bâ—â— this is the unhappiness and fault that People are so usually cumbred with the little things of time that they forget and do not heed the great things of Eternity Anâ— the things Temporal do Choak and stifle the sense 〈◊〉 things Eternal But here we should all along use tâ—â—â— Godly Discretion and Soul saving wisdom as to renouncâ—â— abstract and separate from them in order to think more anâ— have yet greater searching of heart how to secure oâ—â— selves a blessed Portion in the good things of Eternity Secondly Pray without ceasing Or Be ye always in 〈◊〉 Praying Posture of Mind having your heart lifted up unto God Which use doth hence arise that if God hea 〈…〉 Hezekiahs Prayer so as to add to his Days Fifteen Yearâ— more This is Encouragement and Invitation to us also for us to offer up continually Prayers unto God that 〈◊〉 would add unto these few and evil Days remaining of oâ—â— Life Fifteen Millions of Millions of Years yea that vaâ—â— exceeding infinite duration which no Man could Numberâ— of a Blessed Eternity It is very well worth while Praying throughout our Life that we may gain Heaven Thâ—â— Duty of Praying without ceasing may be performed by havâ— ing the heart always fixed on or lifted up unto God Tâ— have it always Bent towards and intent on him that is Invisible And continually breathing forth Desires Supplications Intreaties and Intercessions unto him That as thâ— Pulse continually Beats the Mouth continually Breathâ— so the Heart and Soul may continually Pray unto Godâ— Even for Grace and Glory That is not so much to Prâ—â— for Heaven immediately or per saltum to leap into it 〈◊〉 once For there is no such doing but for all the mean thingâ— which are Necessary and Preparatory towards it Even 〈◊〉 wrestle with God in Prayer until the breaking of the Dâ—â— of Immortality and not to let him go Except thou blâ—â— me with the blessing which the Lord hath Commanded evâ—â— Life for Evermore As soon as and against the time thâ— life which is as a Vapour and continueth not is Ended 〈◊〉 That the same Lord the God of David our Father as 〈◊〉 did add Fifteen Years to the Days of Hezekiah so that 〈◊〉 would be pleased to add unto thee or me or such of us 〈◊〉 are of his Elect when this Temporal life of ours is Eâ—ded Life Eternal Amen