we are dasheth the rising flames of an holy affection in us to the Lord Jesus 3. You will live best unto God because You will live most in thankfulness unto God when you live in the sence of what God hath done for you it is the consideration of divine grace and mercie which drawes out the soul in praises unto God the thoughtfull Christian is the thankfull Christian he that pondereth most upon mercies prayeth God most for mercies Oh! when you take a serious review of that change which is upon your hearts of the drawings of your soules heaven-ward and holiness-ward and compare time with time state with state what you were with what you are how once you affected sinne but now abhor it how once you loathed Ordinances but now you love them how once the wayes and people of God were distastefull unto you but are now delightfull how little you had once to shew for heaven and how much you have now through grace to shew against Hell Oh! this will give the heart a notable vent and fill the cup of praise up to the brim Psal 103. ver 1 2 3. Bless the Lord O my soul sayes holy David but doth he stay here no and all that is within me bless his holy name every instrument must be put into tune every musical key must be touched every fret must be stopt and every string must be struck to sound forth the praises of God nay again Bless the Lord O my soul and why so what 's the reason of this thankfulness O soul thou hast great cause to be thankfull For 1. He forgiveth all thine iniquities thou hadest the the guilt of many and great sinnes upon thee which would have sunk thee down into Hell and Jehovah hath given thee pardon of them all nay farther 2. He healeth all thy diseases thou wast full of noisome and unclean distempers many running sores of filthy lusts and Jehovah hath vouchsafed healing grace unto thee Thou art now a justified and a sanctified person 3. Thou art now redeemed from Hell and destruction and wearest the loving-kindnesses and tender mercies of God as a royal Diadem upon thy head and therefore Oh my soul bless bless bless Jehovah Oh if ever we come to such a sence of pardoning healing redeeming crowning satisfying and renewing grace from the Lord as David we shall then take up David's harp and awake our glory to the praises of a good God could we but fasten this upon our spirits that distinguishing grace hath severed us from those heaps of rubbish that we were mingled with and cull'd us out from the rabble of the world that we were herded with our spirits would be turned to this evangelical duty and ditty and if so how like heaven it self would the Church look how would the militant resemble the triumphant Jerusalem and how would every nook of the Gospel-world ring with the praises of God Mr. Baxter Part 4 Saints Rest page 134. The liveliest embleme of heaven that I know upon earth is when the people of God in the deep sence of the excellency and bounty of God from hearts abounding with love and joy do joyn together both in hearts and voices in the cheerfull and melodious singing of his praises 4. You will live best unto God because You will live most to the glory of God sence of grace received will enflame you with a greater zeal for God and will put every wheel into motion We are naturally slow to action upon the best account the best drive on but heavily few drive at Jehâ—'s rate very few there be whose soules make them as the chariots of Aminadab that make haste in Gods work like the roe or young hart upon the mountains of spices If ever Christians drove heavily the Christians of this age do if ever the elementary constitution of the Church was earth and water now it is little of fire appears unless in unhappy contentions and animosities or else in love to the world and thus most are red hot their affections all on a flame the Lord quench them But Oh! where is their zeal for God where is the courage activity and resolvedness for God where 's the minding of the things of God and holy contendings for God which the Puritans of old that were Puritans of the good old way have discovered there is too much of the Laodicean spirit too many Gallio's amongst us men are high indeed to enthrone their own opinions and perswasions whilest Religion in the main duties of it is neglected they are exact in rything mint and commin and annise whilest judgement mercy and faith the weightier matters of the Law are neglected Math. 23. vers 23. The great Zealots of the times are for the most part men of corrupt and Heterodox Judgments who are violent enough to impose their Errours and false conceptions the Lord take them off from their speed least they out run the Constable as they have done the Covenant He 's a stranger in Israel that knows not these things and he 's no true son of Zion that doth not bewail them but now would we have the water run in the right channel would we have our spirits up in a right zeal for God let our meditations be often and serious upon what God hath done for our soules Oh when a Saint fetcheth oyl from experienced loving kindnesses it makes the wheels run glib when he argues Hath God done thus and thus for me hath he left others of my kindred of my contemporaries of my acquaintance who had the same advantages of Education Ordinances and Gospel-Opportunities with me in ignorance and unbelief and hath he enlightened me called me wrought faith in me appointed me to obtain salvation by Jesus Christ and shall not I be active for Christ shall I sit still brooding over a patch of this base world or drive on the interest of mine own honour or advantage when the name of God is blasphemed the honour of Christ is empeached Gospel-truths are corrupted Gospel-Ordinances reviled and the way of God evil spoken of did Croesus his dumb son cry out for the life of his father and shall I that can speak now be dumb Do I thus requite the Lord is this my kindeness to my friend Jesus Saint Paul had another spirit like that of Calebs 1 Cor. 15. ver 8. last of all he was seen of me also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the emphasis lies in Me there 's an accent upon that word of Me vile Me wretched Me sinful me unworthy Me who was a blasphemer a persecutour and an injurious person but by the grace of God I am what I am by the Grace free grace and rich grace of God I am a chosen vessel a servant of the Lord a believer an Apostle of Jesus Christ and what followes doth he lap up this talent in a napkin doth he sing a requiem to his soul and bid her take her case no saies he his grace which was bestowed upon me
Samaritans among you hindering you by force of Armes and weakning your hands by false reports when you were building at least repairing the house of the Lord and the walls of our Jerusalem and yet in the things wherein they dealt proudly God was above them and the same God hath by unparalleld providence kept the sword still in your hands and you still upon the seat of Justice Consid 2. Consider how the Lord hath not joyned you in Copartnership with those that were your enemies dividing the government betwixt you and them which surely not long since would have been owned as a great priviledge by you and as a great mercy by us but the Lord hath put the sole Government of the Nation and the ordering of affaires into your hands You have seen Maries Magnificat made good The Lord hath put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree Luke 1. vers 52. Are not some of you those of low degree whom the Lord hath exalted to the seat of the mighty Are not you I hope some of you are Eliakims the servants of the Lord whom he hath chosen in Shebna's room Hath he not cloathed you with their Robes strengthened you with their Girdles committed their Government into your hands and made you fathers to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah Isa 22. vers 20 21. Oh that this might be layed to heart and the goodness of the Lord unto you in it that the abuses of the former Government may be remedied not revived that the pride and pomp which was onely like that of King Agrippa and Bernice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a meer phantasie Act. 25. vers 23. a vain shew all worldly pomp and state being no better of former Governours may be lamented not looked after by you may be mourned for not medled with by you the righteousness of Christ being your Robe his cross being your Crown his Gospel being your glory and that with Nehemiah that good Tirshatha you may not onely procure the peace but prevent the oppression of your people that your loynes may be lighter than the little singers of your Predecessors and that you may speak in your deportments the words of Nehemiah chap. 5. vers 14 15. From the time that I was appointed to be Governour in the land of Judah even twelve years I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the Governòur but the former Governours which were before me were chargeable unto the people Yea even their servants bare rule over the people but so did not I because of the fear of God yea also I continued in the work of this wall neither bought we any land Consid 3. Consider how not Magistrates only but Magistraalso hath been strucken at by men whose-spirits and principles were against both Some of whom it may be have sate in Councel with you and have formerly ventured far to lay the Key of Government upon you and upon themselves but since so strangely are they metamorphosed they have hated it may be your persons and opposed your Government so that you may take up Davids complaint Psal 41. vers 9. Mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted which did eat of my bread hath lift up his heel against me compared with Psal 55. vers 11 12 13. Mine equal my guide my acquaintance we took sweet counsell together and walked to the house of God in company Oh! let these and many other considerations of like import dwell upon your spirits and often meditate that though attempts have been made against your persons and places yet the Lord hath secured you in your present standing Oh then Watch ye stand fast in the faith quit your selves like men be strong 1 Cor. 16. vers 13. Oh remember what opportunities ye once had that had ye acted up unto them and vigorously improved the advantages ye once had much of that evil which in later years hath sprung up might have been buried under ground and the smell of the Nation would have been as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed Gen. 27. vers 27. Yet now there is hope in Israel concerning these things may we not hopefully conclude that the Lord hath thoughts of peace and not of trouble towards us Doth not concurrence of the many providences hint good will from the Lord unto us Is it nothing that no weapon which is formed against us doth prosper Sâ—ndercoms Design that no designe takes place no Mine takes fire no plot how secret soever ripeneth without discovery witness the late project of blood and murther against the Protectors person like the old Powder-plot detected in the very nick of time when the fire-work was prepared and placed and the match lighted that all attempts to involve the Nation into war and trouble have been dashed in peeces that still the Nation enjoyes peace and the Gospel-in peace Stir up all your strength for God rise up in all your might for the interest of Zion and for the honour of the Lord of Hosts who hath carried you through all those great changes which your eyes have beheld and hath still kept the helme of Government in your hands notwithstanding all those storms which have been upon the Nation and hath now put a new opportunity into your hands the Lord make you magnanimous and unanimous in the work of the Lord that yet a blessed Reformation may be brought forth by your means that so the people of this land may be known among the Nations and their off-spring among the people so that all they that seem may acknowledge them that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed Isa 61. vers 9. Suffer therefore an unworthy Son of Zion and Minister of the Gospel for the good of a part of that people over which the Lord hath set you to be a Remembrancer from the Lord unto you that mercies received may be improved by you and enkindle an holy zeal for God in you 1. To make good the Covenants and Oaths of your God which are upon you and into which by your authority and ensample at least many of you we entred that the sense of Covenant-mercies may provoke unto covenant-Covenant-duties for the advancement of the Kingdome of the Lord Jesus in unity peace purity and the power of godliness that Sabbath-strictness may be asserted by you Gospel-Ordinances may be vindicated a Professing-people may be countenanced a faithful Ministry may be still incourageed and protected such bounds may be set to that act for liberty that Heterodox opinions may not like a land-flood overflow the Nation but that horrid Impostors and notorious offenders may be punished that all Israel may hear and fear Deut. 13. vers 11. And that the anointing of God may give you safe rules of tenderness that guilt may not lye upon you from God nor just blame from good men for that softness of spirit you shew towards the Lords people who in these times
good glosse upon the text both as to the quod and quando of a duty shewing that it ought to be done and that then is the time for the doing of it thus Abraham when he had received a prohibition from heaven not to sacrifice Isaac and beheld a ramme caught in a thicket by the horns interprets the mind of God by that providence and offers up the ramme in the stead of Isaac Gen. 22. ver 12 13. by a divine Prolepsis anticipating that law of redemption which afterwards was enacted and published by God himself Exod. 13. ver 13. all the first born of man amongst thy children shalt thou redeem thus when the Lord met Moses by the way as he was going down to Egypt and would have slain him Exod. 4. ver 14 15 then Zipporah his wife probably by her husbands appointment circumcised her son concluding the neglect of that duty to be the speakings of God in that providence as appeared Read Babbingtons notes upon the place for when the child was circumcised the Lord let Moses go When Gideon heard the Medianites dream and the interpretation of it Judge 7. ver 15. he worshipped and returned into the host of Israel and said Arise for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host He concludes this providence as a clear exposition of the mind of God and a full confirmation of former promises How did the Elders of the Jews now being in Babylon interpret the Lord's mind in setting Cyrus the Persian upon the throne of Babylon and stirring up his heart to publish that gracious edict concerning their return to Jerusalem and rebuilding of the temple Ez. 1. ver 2 3. why they concluded that God had now put an opportunity into their hands both to quit the waters of Babylon by which they had sate down and wept and to enjoy the freedome of Gods worships in their own land ver 5. Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin and the Priests and Levites with all them whose spirit God had raised to go up to build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem they owned this providence as a true paraphrase upon that passage Psal 102. ver 13. Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Zion for the time to favour her yea the set time is come being penned as is thought by Daniel or some other holy man about this time of Cyrus's proclamation Now to bring this home to our selves that the reformation of State-abuses and male-administrations is the mind of God appears Isa 1. ver 17. Cease to do evil learn to do well seek judgement relieve the oppressed judge the fatherlesse plead for the widow that the worships of God should be established in liberty and purity that Gospel-truth should be winnowed from the chaffe of errours and heresies that the people of God should walk in the fellowship of the Gospel and advance Religion and the power of Godliness the Scriptures plainly declare to be the will of God that such things are seizable that there is hope of a good issue in such undertakings we have the word of Gods faithfulness for Isa 1. ver 25 26 27. Isa 60. ver 11.19 20 21 22. Chap. 54. ver 11 12 13. Zech. 13. vers 2 3 4 5. Ezek. 11. vers 19 20. Zeph. 3. vers 9.11 12 13. If these and other Scriptures be consulted with they will afford matter of great encouragement to the Saints of God which breathe after Zion's beauty and glory And that it is a duty incumbent upon the Lords people to endeavour these things besides the inward witness of the Spirit in their own hearts we have the testimony of the Spirit in the Scripture of truth And that this is the period of time in the secret appointments of the onely wise God and the Saints of this generation the people assigned by him for the carrying on of these works may be read in the dispensations of God amongst and toward us what have the people of God had more in former Ages by way of call from God or encouragement from men then we have Did God give them rest and peace from their enemies forraign and domestick So hath he given us in some measure Did the Lord pull down those persons and powers amongst them who authorised or abetted Idolatry and profaneness hath he not done the same amongst us Did the Lord give them the protection and encouragement of prudent and pious governours is it not so with us had they the Prophets of the Lord to quicken them up and strengthen their hands have not we also faithful and learned Ministers who from press and pulpit call upon us and excite us to do great things for the Lord Oh what glorious work would those blessed Spirits who are now at rest have made in England if they had enjoyed our opportunities Let me commend the practise of the Saints unto you Acts 9. v. 31. Then had the Churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samariah And how did they improve their Halcyon dayes why they were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the holy Ghost were multiplied the superstructures were carried on and new foundations laid old converts arrived at greater growth and new converts were dayly added Oh what a blessed peace would ours be if these two fruits were the products of it Oh ye servants of the Lord whom he hath ransomed from the grave and from the sword Magistrates Ministers and Christians lay aside your private interests and animosities and fall upon these great works as your respective stations give you advantage and opportunity that ye may have this Motto engraven on your tombes Here lie such and such who David-like served their own generations by the will of God And let me adde these two Corrolaries 1. That God hath assigned you your particular times for working Stat sua cuique dies 2. That when ye have lived up that time your working tooles must then be laid aside When David had served out his generation he fell asleep And therefore I shall shut up with the Preachers advice Eccl. 9. ver 10. Whatsoever thine hand findeth to do do it with all thy might for there is no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdome in the grave whether thou goest and though thou beest lately come from thence be not secure the winde may suddenly turn and waft thee back again Alas What is your life it is even a vapour which appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away Jam. 4. ver 14. How easily can the great God disperse that vapour and melt that cloud into dew there is a great Arbitrer of all things that can thunder the proud Emperour under his bed and write the great King in three or four words into trembling that can send a fly to fetch the triple crown before his Tribunal make an hair or the kernil of a raison as mortal as Goliah's spear that can unspeak
who have cunningly drest up their opinions with such an Evangelical trimming that nothing of the Wolf appears even to them which hold him by the ears 7. That it is much blame-worthy in shepherds when they suffer their sheep to go astray and run themselves into danger the Lord chargeth high as a piece of great unfaithfulness in the over-seers of his flock when through their default his sheep do straggle and become a prey to the beast of the field you may hear him expressing himself in words of greatest distast Ezek. 34.10 Thus saith the Lord God Adonai Jehovah or Jehovah who is your Lord behold I am against the shepherds and I will require my flock at their hands and cause them to cease feeding my flock t is known to most that in Scripture-language Magistrates and Ministers are termed shepherds and have in their respective capacities a joint over-sight of the flock committed unto them by the chief shepherd but alas how have ye Magistrates shuffled off the care of the flock to the Ministers and how have the Ministers shifted back the over-sight of it to the Magistrates and betwixt them both many sheep have wandered and some have been worried Though most were desirous that the Foxes should be taken yet it came under dispute who should take them and though at all hands it was agreed that deceiving Jezebel should be dealt withal yet how and by whom hath hitherto been the question Ask the Magistrate and he will tell you Ministers must do it by the sword of the spirit and ask the Minister and he will tell you that the Magistrate must do it by the sword of his civil power And whilst we have been disputing what to do and who should do it errors have sadly spread and a considerable part of the flock hath straggled and is become a prey to the beasts of the field the blame whereof is laid by some at the Magistrates door upon account of his tenderness and gentleness of spirit and countenance to such as differed onely in disciplinary points refusing to establish by his civil sanction that way of discipline as universal and imposing upon all which they own and would enthrone as the government of the Lord Jesus as also for their remisness and too much indulgence to evil persons and opinions in not punishing the one nor suppressing the other which amounteth to a toleration And many charge the blame hereof upon the Ministry by reason of morose austere and rigid carriage toward those who differ from them in the way of discipline or onely in some lesser doctrines that are not fundamental or because they remit much of that care watchfulness and oversight which the duty of their places and the present necessity obliged them unto but the day will declare it and t is not good for either to plead not guilty the Lord help us to mourn that the folds are broken up and that the flocks are scattered The Lord teach us all our duty and by his own spirit in the word determine that great question what is to be done and by whom That the sick may be healed the broken bound up the lost may be sought up those that are driven away may be brought again and the residue secured against future scattering And the Lord give stability of spirit to his people that they may be kept from topling in these tottering times when so many backslide some in profession not in opinion some in opinion who yet retain a profession and some in opinion and profession both stepping into Religion without any precedaneous and inward change and so soon in soon out making that good 1 John 2.19 They went out from us because they were not of us And now you will finde upon due trial this an excellent means to fix your spirits when you read over those acts of grace which the Lord hath drawn out upon your hearts in the blood of his own Son How did this fix the Apostles Joh. 6.67 Many of the disciples went back and walked no more with the Lord Jesus upon which he puts the question to them will yee also forsake me there was need of such a question for Nemo errat sibi-ipsi sed dementiam spargit in proximos the heathen could say no man errs to himself but evil men and erring do spread their madness unto their neighbors as weeds endanger the good corn bad humors the good blood and an infected house the whole neighborhood Therefore the Lord Jesus tryes their pulses whether this great defection had not tainted them with some infection and behold the fixedness of their spirits in Peters reply 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lord to whom shall we go thou hast the words of eternal life and we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ the Son of the Living God we have certainly and experimentally known by those glorious works which thou hast wrought before us and by the saving communication of thy grace and light unto us when we were in a dark and dead estate that thou art Christ the Son of the living God and therefore we will not leave thee this cemented and knit their hearts unto Christ it was a brave speech of old Polycarpus when the Proconsul perswaded him to deny the Lord Jesus Eighty and six years have I served Christ and he never did me hurt but good and shall I now deny him Oh! absit God forbid Thus Saint Paul argues back the Galathians Gal. 3.1 2. O foolish Galathians who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth See Mr. Baxter in loc crucified among you This onely would I learn of you received ye the spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith c Oh did ye much and often read over the passages of divine love unto you and would be true to your own experiences it would antidote you against many errors of the times and keep your hearts close with God 3. This serious recognition and review of the Lords mercies brings most comfort unto the soul and sure he lives best to himself who lives most to his own comfort a life of comfort is the sweetness the desireableness and life of life What is life to the bitter in soul which long for death and dig for it more then for bid treasures which rejoyce exceedingly and are glad when they finde the grave Job 3.21 22 23. And what comfort have men in living upon a natural account when those dayes are come wherein they say we have no pleasure in them Eccl. 12. ver 1. and is it not so in a spirituall sense a wounded spirit who can bear but a good conscience is a continual feast and the Kingdome of God is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14. vers 17. Then do we come nearest heaven and live in the suburbs of it when we are filled with peace and joy in our soules
did he make unto the Lord he acted vigorously 2 Chron. 19.4 5 c. not onely as a prudent but also as a pious Covernour in the cause both of God and man Ah what a blessed change would be made in England how would it be a land of righteousness and how would the poor of the flock rejoyce in it if all that had been eminently delivered and dignified by the Lord would make such returnes to him and his people though your excellency be not upon the Throne yet you are near unto it you stand in a publick capacity both Civil and Military and are eminent in both and so have great opportunities of doing good I hope you lose none I am sure you have improved many God hath led you to the second Chariot much in Josephs way be still a Joseph to the house of your brethren let the Israel of God be dear unto you be a covering Cherub over them and an Advocate for them they are a considerable number in the Land yea the most considerable in the Census of Heaven It was Job's Honour Iob 29.25 compared with Verses 15 16. when he sate chief and dwelt as a King in the midst of the Army to comfort the mourners to be eyes to the blinde feet to the lame and a father to the poor and your Excellency knows it will be your advantage Isa 59.6 7 8. to loose the bands of wickedness to undoe the heavie burdens to let the oppressed go free to break every yoke c. for then shall your light break forth as the morning and your health shall spring up speedily And your righteousness shall go before you the glory of the Lord shall be your Rereward Freedome from Oppression is a choice mercie and owned to be such by the poor whose flesh hath been torn by that iron tooth but 't is more eminentlie such upon a spiritual account and so owned by the Lords people whose soules have mourned and whose Consciences have bled under former Impositions a light burthen weighs heavy when 't is laid on weak shoulders and a little yoke presseth hard upon tender necks Tenderness of spirit when drawn forth unto right Objects is a fruit of Electing Grace Col. 3.12 a precious Cement to strengthen Communion of Saints and past all peradventure of rare use and real necessity that Christians of known integrity and of different perswasions in lesser matters may not be imposed upon but protected The Gospel spirit is a healing spirit a spirit of love and tenderness Jesus Christ will own those persons in an honourable way who carries his lambs in their bosomes that they may not become a prey to the Foxes and gently lead those that are big with young according to the right method and not beyond the bounds of Gospel-tenderness but 't is not the minde of Christ that seducing Jesabel should be suffered and 't is gravel in the teeth yea as a sword in the bones of many gracious ones to hear men of undermining Principles as to truth and of debauched practises as to holiness make use of names honourable before God and precious with good men as a shelter to themselves and blasphemies Cities of Refuge for such offenders are not set apart by God in his Israel nor is his Temple to be a Sanctuary for such Delinquents Zech. 13.2 The Lord cause the false Prophet and the unclean Spirit to pass out of the Land and ship them away to the Land of Shinar superadde this to his many mercies that he may turn to us a pure Language that we may serve him with one consent Zeph. 3.9 and that we may with one minde and one mouth glorifie God Rom. 15.6 even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ The Lord make your excellency eminently instrumental to repair Zions breaches and bless you out of Zion with peace and joy in your own spirit Heb. 12.22 23. and when you shall have served out your own generation according to his will receive you up into heavenly Jerusalem amongst the spirits of just men made perfect I shall shut up this Address Dear and Honoured with this one Request that you will accept the humble tender of real Respects in this smal bundle of goats hair was it better I know no persons in the world that can lay a fuller Challenge unto it then you can nor to whom I should more readily offer it then unto your selves If in the perusal of this Treatise you shall finde one spark to encrease your warmth of spirit for heaven and holiness own the Lord in it and let me be but a poor sheard in which the coal is brought from the hearth If any passage in it takes your soules aside and gives them a review of your Dangers and Deliverances offering any hint to direct or incite you to those Duties which the Lord calls for from his ransomed ones I have my end my Exspectations terminate in Gods glory and your spiritual good and growth The Lord make you progressive in Greatness but more in Grace that Religion in the life and spirit and power may be cherished in your hearts and houses that your practises may be a Paraphrase upon Psalm 101. your families may be Ecclesia Aula Schola as was the family of George Prince of Anhalt or like Cyrus his Court where if a man chose blind-fold he could not miss of a good man or like the Family of your Noble Parents where many were Proselited to the Faith and some now alive do own that Providence as happy which planted them under their roof That your children may keep up sincere Profession in your name and race and that the Lord who hath often delivered you out of the mouth of the Lion would deliver you out of every evil work and would preserve you unto his heavenly kingdome that you may be presented faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy is the hearty Prayer of Your Worships Honours and Excellencies humble and devoted Servant in the Lords work and for his honour NATH WHITING To the Ransomed ones of the Lord with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Dear Friends WHen with my own people I thankfully owned before the Lord an eminent Deliverance from an imminent Danger I then entred uppon this Discourse which was suited to that Providence And having often reflected upon that signall mercy duely considering the opportunities of doing and receiving good which I have had since that gracious reprieve from death I have since drawn up my Meditations which then were short suddain and confused into a more enlarged orderly and methodicall Treatise I do not covet the applause of men nor court your Acceptance with strains of wit an affected Eloquence new lights put into a dark Lanthorne or Seraphicall Notions high and sublimate but present you with a plain and practical Discourss desiring to speak from the heart to the heart The Treatise is
Tripartite thereby resembling the heart which is Triangular and 't is my single designe to endeavour that upon the points or corners of your hearts may be engraven your Dangers Deliverances and Duties that so the mercies of God which are Records of greatest Import may be preserved with greatest care and you may be provoked to act with greatest Conscience for God We cannot look back upon Adam in his lapsed Estate but we may see a deluge of wrath breaking in upon whole mankinde at the breach of the first Covenant we cannot read over our own Diaries but we may read our own Dangers drawn up in black Characters of our sins as provoking God unto displeasure against us nay the times that lately passed over us presented us with danger from the sword of men in the heat of warr and now are we in dayly hazards from the arrows of the Almighty in various and violent distempers Again we cannot seriously study the Gospel but our great Deliverance from wrath to come by the precious bloud of our Crucified Jesus presents it self unto our view nor can we considerately survey our own Soules but we may read the counterpane thereof transcribed by the Eternal Spirit nor own Experiences but we may meet with large Volumes of eminent Deliverances personall and Nationall wrought for us by the outstretched arme of an Almighty God Again if we turn over those holy leaves of the Scriptures of Truth if we consult the Experiences of Gods people in the Ages that are past or seriously advise with our own spirits when in a right frame we shall finde many Duties charged upon us as our returnes to God for our great Deliverances The great God will not be a loser by his mercies he exspecteth some incomes into the bank of his glory if he have it not from us he will have it out upon us If we do not give it he will take it Deliverances are a great Talent put into the hands of men to trade withal for God They that lap up this Talent in a napkin by forgetfulness or squander it away by unsuitable actings heap guilt upon their own soules and shall be sure at the reckoning day to finde this sin as the Israelites did an ounce of their golden calf in all the rebukes of God upon them The sad Consideration whereof hath been and is much upon my heart and hath been a principall inducement to thrust this Treatise into the world which is not Polemical in the main intention of it my Standard bearing this Motto Zech. 8.19 LOVE THE TRVTH AND PEACE nor is it provoking I hope to any Iames 3.17 being the product of that wisdome which is first pure then peaceable c. I have avoided all bitterness that I might not stirr up any prejudice my business is to be a Remembrancer from the Lord unto you and to provoke unto love and good works as the genuine improvement of grace and mercy received I have not exactly methodised this Treatise nor cast it into the mould of the Title Page but laid down all Sermon-wise handling the Saints Dangers and Deliverances in the Doctrinall and their Duties in the Applicatory part of it in which I have respect as well to Spiritual as to Temporal Dangers and Deliverances and with respect to all as they stand in a personall or Relative capacity I will not Cramben bis coctam dare by Epitomizing in the Epistle what is largely pressed in the body of the Discourse I shall therefore onely entreat you to bewail before the Lord that root which bringeth forth wormwood and gall amongst us that discontent and sullenness of spirit by means whereof God is not owned in nor honoured for those glorious vouchsafements of mercy which have been matter of envie and astonishment in all the Nations about us that land-flood of corrupt Principles and practises which like a swift and spreading Torrent hath laid a great part of the Nation under water that spirit of bitterness and enmity against Godliness in the power and Religion in the purity of it and those sad divisions about which sadly hinder the work of a thorough Gospel-Reformation c. all which are sowre grapes yea clusters of Gomorrah and not such a Vintage which the Lord might reasonably exspect from a people of such rich mercies such signal preservations and under the enjoyment of such encouraging advantages as ours have been O that your souls would mourn in secret places for these things O that you were so affected with them that you would refuse your pleasant bread O that you would so reprove a carnal and careless Generation of men by your lively acttings for God that many yea all who have experienced the goodness of the Lord in eminent preservations may glorifie the name of the Lord by an Evangelical conversation that so the presence of God may still give us rest that our English Zion may be made an Eternal Excellency a joy of many generations Isay 60.15 18. that our walls through the divine Custodiency may still be called Salvation and our gates praise But though this spiritual Lethargy be incurable in many yet be ye O ye Ransomed ones of the Lord awakened unto duty and let the sense of mercy in the eminent appearances of God to your help in the daies of your distress carry you like wind and tide full sail in your zeal for his Glory in order to which I shall humbly offer these hints unto you and I entreat the people of my own charge to take special notice of them as being mainly intended for them 1. Be frequent in your reveiws of those feared dangers and fretting distempers those painful sicknesses and perplexing sorrows from which the good Hand of God has fetcht you gather up your dangers and deliverances your pressures and preservations how the Lord has granted you life and favour life with the comforts of it to make it sweet and desireable Iob 10.12 and his visitation has preserved your spirit has secured your lives in the midst of many dangers which surely have been many from infancy to gray hairs that so you may visite him in duty who hath so often visited you in mercy there are frequent visites past betwixt friends God is your best friend account that day lost wherein you do not visit him and keep up sweet communion with him It was a gallant speech of a brave man Marquess of Vico. accursed be that man who values the wealth of the world worth one daies communion with God Psal 34.2 4. and act up unto David's pattern I will bless the Lord at all times c. I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me out of all my feares which were many and lay hard upon him when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech and acted the part of a mad man which so sober a person as David would not have done had not his fears been strong and his faith weak 2. Get your Spirits
they are not exempted from common calamities 100 6. Labour to make sure of heaven 101 The second part of the exhortation 1. in a mix'd sence referring both to temporal and spiritual Preservations in some Particulars 102 1. To perswade the Lords people to keep up memorialls of the Lords mercies ibid. 2. To communicate and impart them unto others 103 104 105 106 Psalme 66. enlarged upon From whence is observed That 't is a duty by way of special incumbency to commemorate and communicate the vouchsafements of the Lord unto them ibid. Arguments to perswade to this Duty 1. It will bring a Saint into more heartacquaintance with God 107 108 109. 2. It will more draw out the heart in love unto God 110 111 3. It will more strengthen faith 112 113. 4. It is a notable friend to Religion 114 Gen. 35. opened in some Particulars ibid. 1. That Family-Reformation lies by way of special care and duty upon the Governours of it 114 115 2. That it hath a great tendency to the promoting of Religion when Master and Family walk together in the wayes of God 116 117 3. It administers great hope of much good when Inferiours obey their Superiours command and call to Religion and family-Reformation 128 119 120 4. That great Deliverances lay great Obligations upon Governours to act high in personal and family-Reformation 121 122 2. The pure spiritual part of the Exhortation speaks in three particulars 1. It exhorts to make enquiry whether you are delivered from wrath and misery to come by Jesus Christ 123 1. To clear it up that you are brought home to God 124 125 2. How and when the Lord brought you home to himself 126 127 2. To quicken up your hearts to duty in all heart-deadness and damps of spirit 128 Canticles 5.3 4 5. Hos 8.5 7. insisted upon 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136. 3. To be much in the sense of Grace received 137 138 139 140 141 142. Three Considerations to provoke unto thankfulness for grace received Consid 1. The danger we were all exposed unto by the breach of the first Covenant 143 144. From hence is inferred That the necessity of sinfull man required that Christ should dye ibid. 1. Because man is under the first Covenant as he hath his standing in the first Adam ibid. 2. Because man in a state of nature is under such weakness and impotency which renders a perfect obedience unto the Law of works impossible unto him 145 3. Because as man stands in the first Adam and in the first Covenant he is a Childe of wrath ibid. 146 1. This shews the Saints how little they are beholding to old Adam for their spiritual comeforts and attainments 147 2. This shews us That eternal life is the free gift of God by Jesus Christ 148 149 Ten short considerations to prove this 150 3. This confuteth that opinion which adâ—anceth corrupt nature into the throne and makes it at least co-partner with Christ in the great work of Salvation 150 4. This shews the dangerous estate of all men whilest in a state of nature and unregeneracy 152 153 Consid 2. Consider what sad distractions the sense of this danger brought forth in you at your first awakening 154 155 Consid 3. Consider how welcome and unexspected grace and the good news of a Saviour were unto you in those bitter agonies ib. 156 157 Hosea 6.1 2 3. opened 158 159 From whence we may draw this Inference That the sence of recovering and relieving Grace is of excellent advantage to a Christian 160 The truth whereof is evinced in 3 particulars 1. It makes him live best to God ibid. 2. It makes him live best to himself ibid. 3. It makes him live best to others ibid. That he will live best to God appears 1. Because he will live most by faith upon God 161 2. because his heart will be drawn out more in love unto God 162 163 3. Because he will live most in thankfulness unto God 164 165 Psalm 103.1 2 3. spoken to ibid. 4. Because he will live most to the glory of God 166 167 2. That he will live best to himself is evinced 168 169 1. Because he will live most off from sin 1 Cor. 6.13 14 15. urged 170 171 2. Because his heart will be more fixed for God 172 173 Some Observations suiteable to our times drawn from Ezek. 34.5 6.174 175 176 3. Because he will live best to his own comfort 1. In Prayer 2. In Hearing 3. In receiving the Sacrament 177 178 179 180 4. This will give him comefort in every estate 181 1. In breaking afflictions from God ib. 2. In battering temptations from Sathan 182 1 Pet. 5.10 11. opened in five Particulars 183 3. In the sense of approaching death in 2 Particulars 184 1. It prevents a two-fold distemper an overmuch hoping for life and an overmuch fearing of death 185 2. It fills the soul with ravishing comefort under the assurance of a blessed eternity 186 3. A sober and serious Consideration of grace received will make a Saint live best to others 187 1. By encouraging young Converts 188 189 2. By supporting weak believers 190 191 3. By way of comfort unto others 192 1. In the black day of Persecution in Three Particnlars ibid. 193 194 2. In the sad hour of temptation 195 Job 2.7 ibid. 3. In the dark day of spiritual dissertion 199 200 201 202 4. In the bewailed want of the spirits witness to Sonship and Adoption ib. 203 204 205 4. By way of advancing Religion in the place where he lives 206 The Saints are the best neighbours 207 1. In communicating to the outward wants of the poor ibid. 2. In procuring the blessings of God upon the Families and places where they live ibid. 3. In diverting or delaying of Judgements impending 208 4. In lengthening out the day of Gods Patience to the prophane world 209 5. In promoting the Conversion of their carnall neighbours 210 Considerations to stirr up Saints to endeavour the Conversion of sinners 211 112 213 214 Consid 1. It is a matter of great well-pleasingness unto God 215 Consid 2. It is an honour to Jesus Christ 216 Consid 3. The Providences of God which have gone over the Nation ib. 217 Consid 4. That we ought to do unto others what we would have others do unto us 218 219 Consid 5. That what your carnal neighbours are you were 220 Consid 6. That it is a piece of good friendship to your selves 221 1. It is an high point of spiritual good husbandry ibid. 2. It makes much for your personall safety ibid. 3. It makes much for your personall comfort 222 4. It layes a good foundation for posterity 223 224 5. It hath a tendency towards your everlasting comfort 225 Prov. 7.30 compared with Dan. 123. 126. Six positions laid down 127 Consid 7. That bad men are very active and industrious to gain over others to their bad Principles and worse Practises 229
speeches and hard dealings as I meet withall Oh! this man that complaineth now on earth might ere now have cryed out in Hell He that weepeth on earth might long since have wailed in hell and he that gnasheth his teeth against God for his present sufferings might have had gnashing of teeth in endless and easless torments Oh then Wherefore doth living man complain Oh! this is a quieting Consideration to keep down all impatient risings of heart against God in a day of distress and will lead out the spirit to submit unto and trust God in the greatest streights For as it followes in the second head of Doctrine Doctrine 2 The Saints of God do sometimes meet with such distresses that cut off all hopes of deliverance from man Reason is at a stand heart and flesh fail carnal policy is at a loss all proud helpers stoop in vain yea Faith it self beginneth to flagge Thus Gen. 21. vers 14 15 16. Hagar with her sonne are cast out of Abraham's family and are now in a wilderness a place inhabited onely by wilde beasts their stock of provision spent and no supplies to be had What then what courss will Hagar take why she layeth down her beloved boy under a bush And what then she goeth a distance from him not being able to bear his dying groanes and cryes and having emptyed her bottle of water she seeketh to emptie her moaning heart by teares seeing nothing but the death of her Sonne as knowing no way to prevent it a great distress a sad streight but not her case alone Many of the Saints of God have come to the emptying of their bottles to cases of utmost extremitie a parralel case was that of the poor widow 1 Kings 17. vers 12. her whole store was spent and markets shut up as to new supplies a handfull of meal in the barrel and a little oyl in the cruse was her whole livelihood and she is now gathering a handfull of sticks to bake one cake for her self and her Sonne and what will she do when that cake is eaten did she see relief coming some other way no these were her thoughts she and her sonne would eat that cake and die It were easie to multiply presidencies of this kinde upon both accounts temporall and spirituall streights of bodie and pressures of spirit have been matter of the Saints complaint 1. Oh then thou that art a servant of the Lord who hast not been brought into these streights upon whom such a day of distress hath not been but findest the incomes of the spirit dost take in comfort from the promises walkest in the light of God's countenance and hast the candle of the Lord shining upon thy Tabernacle as 1 Kings 1.6 That hast been the Lords Adonijah Oh! charge it home by the way of thankfulness upon thy heart that the Lord should lead thee unto the land of rest and not by the way of the wilderness 2. Let thy bowels yearn toward the distressed of the Lord pity them pray for them and administer seasonable supplies of comfort to them considering thy self as being in the body especially let thy heart go out in tender compassions towards the afflicted in spirit to those who are brought into soul streights whose case runneth parallel with that of Heman Psal 88. ver 3. My soul is full of troubles Heb. is satiated with evills hath its fill is brimm'd up yea running over and these so pressing that my life draweth nigh to the grave and then vers 8. I am shut up I am a prisoner under restraint I but it is libera custodia he may go forth with his keeper no I cannot go forth Oh! t is a sad thing to be a close Prisoner to be so shut up that he cannot steppe one foot beyond the grate to take any contentment in the creature any delight in outward enjoyments or any comforts in relations Ah but Heman's case is far sadder he is so shut up that his spirit cannot go forth in prayer to fetch in comfort from the Promises nor healing from the Spirit nor life from Jesus Christ nor pardoning mercy from the God and Father of mercies nor evidence of Electing love nor assurance of Redeeming grace nor demonstrations of Adopting grace nay nor satisfying and soul-quieting conclusions of truth of grace but free amongst the dead like the slain in the grave whom God remembreth no more Dead to duty dead in duty dead from duty spirit dead and heart dead affections dead desires dead comforts dead hope dead faith dead yea all dead Oh! this is sad above what words can express onely the heart knoweth its own bitterness yet this day of distress hath been upon many precious Saints Oh! then draw forth the breasts of consolation to such sad souls Stay them with flaggons comfort them with apples And let this give you incouraging hopes of success in all your applications that the appearances of God are eminent and immediate in the day of his peoples greatest distress which is the main point I pitch upon as being the chief scope of the Text. Doct. 3 The Lord comes in often with seasonable and suitable mercies in times of greatest miseries He loveth to be seen on the Mount to be a present help in the needful time of trouble to help when none else can help when refuge faileth and hope is now at the giving up the ghost See that Gen. 21. vers 17 18. When Hagars fears were highest and her faith lowest as too oft is seen that when fear is up then faith is down when death was coming and life going when the water was spent her patience spent and all spent when she had received the sentence of death within her self for her self at least for her son whom she had given up for a dead childe Then then God heard the voyce of the lad and calleth unto her and biddeth her lift up the lad yea her own faith and hope and spirit for there was an universal sinking in her and telleth her he will make him a great Nation as if he had said Fear not the life of the lad for there are many lives bound up in his life if I should let him perish I should lose a Nation yea a great Nation and that distrustful thoughts might not arise in her heart God openeth her eyes and she saw a Well of water and gave the lad drink Let us pitch down a little upon this Quotation for it is a place of pleasant springs and draw these Observations 1. That the goodness of God is a springing fountain unto the Saints even in a wilderness Psal 107.35 There is alwayes water in this fountain Psal 36. vers 9. With thee is the fountain of life There are springs of providence and springs of promises both which do send forth refreshing streams unto the Saints There are alwayes supplies in the Lords store-house fresh cordials in the Lords closet yea he can and will create deliverances for his Jacobs though
dye ye must as many of great eminency in this age of ours have dyed who are yet lamented by some now alive and will be more unless the Lord fill up their empty rooms with others of choice and noble spirits 2. In particular I shall briefly commend these few things unto you as 1. That the best and choicest of Gods saints are not exempted from service God exspects to have work done by every servant he will not suffer idle drones to live in his family he will not allow any lazy loiterers to sleep within the walls of his vineyard he doth not keep any idle Serving-men in his house no he appoints them all to labour and 't was well if the patterne of God's house was observed if the Lawes of his family were executed by our Great Ones much sin would be prevented which is nursed at the breasts of idleness nay places of great eminency are no exemption from Gods work The nobles of Tekoah have a brand set upon them because they put not their necks to the work of the Lord Neh. 3. ver 5. And the Lord puts this as the highest mark of honour into the scutcheons of his greatest Saints that they were his servants Moses my servant my servant David c. Matth. 25. ver 20 21. He that received five talents traded and at the day of accounts his labour was not onely honourably accepted but gloriously rewarded entrance was granted unto him into his Masters joy 2. That Gods will is and must be the only rule of our work The Master expects as to have his work done so to have his own orders and directions observed in the doing of it to neglect the work of the Lord and to do it cross to divine order is equally sinful Vzziah died upon the place for touching the Ark and Vzziah was stricken with the leprosie for attempting to burn incense upon the Altar of incense both which expresly thwarted the appointment of God It was the peoples sin to eat the Passeover otherwise then it was written 2 Chron. 30.18 Therefore David in the person of the Lord Jesus joyns both together Psal 40.8 I delight to do thy will yea thy law is in my heart as the standard by which I work and our Saviour writes vanity upon the forehead of all service which is performed to God upon the single authority of man without a warrant under Gods own hand for it Mat. 15.9 In vain do they worship me teaching for doctrines the commandments of men what bundles of vain worships are layed upon Gods Alter by the Pontificians And how ought we to be humbled also for the vanity of many services which have been performed by us in this Nation 3. That the great God commands us not onely to work but to do the work of our own Generation David served out his own Generation he did the work which was allotted by the Lord to him in that particular age he lived in which was to fight the Lords battels to subdue the enemies of his Church settle the Nation in peace establish the worship of God provide for the service of his Sanctuary and prepare for the building of the temple these were the works of his Generation in those 2 capacities of Prophet and King and therefore the holy Ghost engraves this Epitaph upon his sepulchre which shall not be defaced so long as the world endures that David served his own generation by the will of God Instances of like nature the Scripture affords many Quest But the great Query is How shall we know what are the proper works of our Generation Answ I answer much of this nature hath been offered by learned and judicious Divines in severall Treatises and though they have not been so harmonious as was defired in their judgement as to the manner yet they have agreed in one as to the matter Indeed repentance toward God and faith towards our Lord Jesus with those generall duties of Religion which are comprehenhended under these two heads none deny or dispute except some of prophane or perverted spirits and judgements and that things of order and Government in the Church should be reduced to the Primitive Pattern and Practice few of sober and Orthodox principles do oppose yea most desire and surely that this is the generation which God hath called forth to act in these transactions may be spell'd if not legibly read in the dispensations of his providence towards us I do not set up providence as a standing rule to work and walk by when it is either crosse unto or receives not approbation from the written word for that was to perswade the Traveller to sleep all day when the sun shines bright and clear and to take his Journey in the night when the starres do onely twinckle and the wayes are dangerous and difficult to find mistakes have been sad and many of this kind Numb 14. ver 40 41. the mistake of Gods minde in that dreadfull message ver 39. occasioned the slaughter of many men for the people apprehending that God was offended with them for not going up to take possession of Canaan rose up early in the morning and gat them up unto the top of the mountain saying Lo we be here and will go up into the place which the Lord hath promised for we have sinned and what followed why their attempting to invade their enemies under this mistake cost them many of their lives Thus did Saul mistake the mind of the Lord 1 Sam. 23. ver 7. when it was told him that David was come to Keilah presently he infers that God had delivered him into his hand for sayes he he is shut in by entring into a town that hath gates and bars but it proved otherwise Yea Davids men would have put him upon the same mistake chap. 24. ver 4. when Saul came into the cave to cover his feet where David and his men lay hid they presently conclude behold the day of which the Lord hath said unto thee behold I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand that thou maist do to him as it shall seem good unto thee A like passage ye have chap. 26. ver 8. when David and Abishai came into Sauls army by night and found them all fast asleep not a Sentinell waking and Saul asleep also Abishai said to David God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day now therefore let me smite him I pray thee with the spear unto the earth at once and I will not smite him a second time but David durst not slay the Lords Anointed under the protection and warrant of this providence as the following verses declare because it would have been an expresse violation of Gods will Instances of this nature might be multiplied But now when the speakings of God in his works run in a paralell line with the speakings of God in his word when they fall in with his revealed will they do then safely interpret the mind of God and are a
from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us What a hystory of his personal dangers and deliverances doth he make 2 Cor. 11.23 to the end That to commemorate and communicate the mercies of God is our duty appears because it is of divine establishment it is the appointment of God himself he hath not left it Arbitrary nor is it a meer humane constitution but it is the institution of the great Law-giver so that to fail in the duty is a transgression of his law and fastens guilt upon the soul And sure 't is the Saints wisdom to take heed of sin and to comply with the whole minde of God Deut. 32.7 8 9. observe also Psal 78.5 6. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel which he commanded our fathers Here is a law established and a commandment given to inforce the observance of it here 's the people pointed out upon whom the obligation of this law taketh hold and here 's the explanation of this law what it imports to wit That they should not hide but shew forth the wonderful works which the Lord hath done and that not onely to their brethren whose lives might probably be finished as soon as theirs and so the remembrance of those great things might dy also but to their children who according to the course of nature might live to celebrate the memorial of them when their carcasses were mouldred unto dust As the great works of God are not usually the work of one generation onely but begun in one and compleated in another so God would not have them be the wonder of one generation onely he would not have one age wear out the remembrance of those great deliverances upon which he hath laid out so much of his wisdom power mercy goodness justice c. Therefore their children must know them nay the children which were yet unborn must hear of them nay it must not stay here but even they must stand up and declare them to their children and so a careful remembrance must be kept up of mercies by a succession of ages until time be swallowed up into eternity much of the Passeovers institution had an eye to perpetuate the memoriall of Israels Exodus out of Egypt so the golden pot of Manna the twelves stones set up at the brink of Jordan and many other things were the appointment of God as standing records of some glorious mercy which fully speak forth the mind of God that he would have his people report his acts of kindness and good will unto them O then be exhorted to the practice of this duty the fruits it bringeth forth are very precious 1. Fruit. It will bring a Saint into more acquaintaâ—ce with God the soul hereby comes to a more experimental knowledge of God when he beholds the banner of love displayed over him and considers those precious attributes of mercy goodness wisdom and power which were engaged for him in the day of his distress Oh! this begets more heart-familiarity and makes a servant of the Lord more earnest in his enquiries after God as it is among men when a man is brought into great straights either for estate or life and a stranger takes pity on him and through many difficulties procures safety and diliverance for him Oh how great a sence of this kindness will be upon the spirit of an ingenuous person how will he be often speaking of it and the more he thinks and speaks of it the more earnestly will he desire to know the man that hath done such great things for him Just so it will be with a good man when he hath been in a necessitous condition knew not what to do nor which way to turn him Refuge failed him no man cared for his soul he looked on his right hand and beheld but there was no man that would know him as was Davids case Psal 142.4 Nay farther his brethren were far from him his acquaintance utterly estranged his kinsfolks failed him his familiar friends forgot him his own servants counted him for a stranger Nay his breath was strange to his own wife as was Jobs case Job 19.13 14 15 16 17. when a Saint hath been brought to these exigents and then the Lord hath come in brought him off with his own arm hath brought salvation to him Oh what a sence of mercy will this beget How will a Saint awak his glory to speak of this How will he bewail his ignorance of God and follow on to know the Lord How will he press after a most inward acquaintance with the Lord who hath done such great things for him when Moses was fled into Midian and beheld the flaming bush on mount Horeb Exod. 3.3 He said I will turn aside and see this great sight why the bush is not burnt he contemplated the power and omnipotency of God in it and what farther meaning the Lord had in that great miracle and when the Lord had spake with and commissioned him to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt he enquires into the name of that God who proffers so far on the behalf of an afflicted people vers 13. and would not sit down untill God had told him that his name was I AM THAT I AM or I will be what I will be Eheieh being the same with Jah and Jehovah which imply First Gods perfect absolute and simple being in and of himself Secondly Mr. Leigh 2. book of his body of Diuâ—nity page 133. Such a being which giveth being unto other things and upon whom they depend Thirdly Such a God as is true and constant in his promises ready to make good whatsoever he hath spoken nay when Moses had been upon the mount with God forty days ank forty nights And the Lord had spoke unto him face to face as a man speaketh to his friend Exod. 33.11 yet having experienced so much the power and wisdom of God and having brought forth the children of Israel by so many signs and wonders out of Egypt and all by the immediate commands and communications of God himself he could not rest in that knowledge of God he had already attained but goes higher vers 18. And beseecheth God to shew him his glory he would not stay a little until he came to heaven which could not be long his glass being now almost run out but he would have a full vision of God in all his glory here he would know all and a great deal more then frail man was capable to know of that God from whom he and his people had received such glorious such eminent deliverances Oh sure if people did more observe and count over the mercies of God Personal and National there would not be such a dedolent ignorance of God as there is God would not be such a stranger in our hearts houses towns and countries Ah how many houses may a man come into nay how many towns may he
notable friend to Religion and provokes unto love and good works That soul thrives best heaven-ward which is most in the sense and serious meditation of the goodness of the Lord this will carry on the soul amain for God What a gracious frame was Jacobs spirit in when he had the lively apprehensions of rich mercies and great deliverances upon it Gen. 35. vers 2 3. Jacob said unto his houshold and all that were with him put away the strange gods that are among you and be clean and change your garments and let us arise and go to Bethel and I will make there an Altar unto God and why to Bethel or why make an Altar unto God Oh there is good reason for it He answered me in the day of my distress and was with me in the way which I went There is very much in this passage and much to the present purpose and therefore I shall intreat your stay a while to observe the carriage of this good man there being much teaching in it and that in many particulars 1. Observe from hence That Family-reformation lyes by way of special care and duty upon the Governour of it The Master of a Family is vested with authority from the Lord to command the exercise of Religion in his own house he may authoritatively act within his own precincts and that for God It will not answer the demands of God nor satisfie conscience when awakened that he hath walked in the wayes of God himself and kept up close and closest communion with the Lord if he voluntarily connive at the wickedness of his family and leave them to their own carnal liberty in the things of God he ought to put to his own hand and move the wheels of Religion in his family and command his houshold to fear the Lord God himself gave this testimony of Abraham whose children we are if beleevers and ought to walk in the footsteps of his faith I know him that he will command his children and his houshold after him that they shall keep the way of the Lord Gen. 18. vers 19. ut faciant that they shall do it that they shall keep close to the way and act up to the commands of God It is too much the fault of Family-governours though good to slacken their family care in matters of Religion the best are too remiss in this point and if dealt withall what is the answer of many I hope my family walks orderly I see no ill carriages among them I do not observe a spirit of opposition in any of them to the wayes of God I allow them not in any vicious course they have no command nor countenance from me in any wayes that are evill This is something and more than a great many can say and speak in truth but this comes short of the pattern here proposed besides in matters that relate to your own interest you will see them do your own business you will often stand by them when they dress your horses it may be when they feed your hawks and your hounds ye will observe whether your worldly affairs prosper in their hands ye will follow them into the fields and meadows and see that your own work be done and that seasonably and throughly now why do you not see to the work of the Lord also if a groom be wanting out of your stable ye will misse him and ask for him nay if he give you not a good account ye will chide him or turn him away but when do ye misse him at the worships of God he may come late or not at all to the publick ordinances or family duties and hardly be mist or if mist get off upon easie terms a soft reproof will serve the turn like that of Ely's to his sons 1 Sam. 2.23 24. Why do you such things and do no more so Oh this is a Nationall fault and I fear there is much wrath bound up in it ye see another manner of spirit in Abraham he commands both children and servants to keep the way of the Lord I question not but ye use the imperative mood in your own and why not in the Lords work Ye are good Gramarians for your own and why not for the Lord's interest Masters may in civility entreat à nd gently treat their servants but if they refuse and be stublorn both the authority of a Master and the duty of a Christian obligeth them to command in the case of religion and if commands prevail â—ot David's practice is a worthy pattern Psal 101. ver 7. He that worketh deceit shall not tarry in my house he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight now to defraud God and their own souls is the greatest Mirmah the highest peice of cousenage if they pack for any fraud let them pack for that Surely if they do not couzen you in temporalls they make you go much to back-harrow in spirituals they steal away much of your comfort hinder much of that sweet communion which ye and your family might keep up with God if they do not set fire on your houses they make the wrath of God impendent over them for the curse of God which is the most dreadfull scarefire hangeth over the house where the swearer dwelleth and how few families can be found out wherein a swearer dwells not Oh that such a spirit of reformation in the power of it was upon all Governours of families as was here upon Jacob Oh that they were men of resolution like unto Joshua who resolvedly concluded though he stood alone I and my house will serve the Lord Joshua 24. vers 15. Oh that they were men of religion like unto Cornelius who feared God and all his house Act. 10. ver 2. I never hope to see religion flourish in the life and power of it and spread it self over Towns and Provinces untill great men be good and their families grow better Oh how sadly can some villages witness that popery and profanenesse have come down the hill from Lordship-houses and spread like a contagious disease almost over all the families the Lord reform this 2. It hath a great tendency to the promoting of religion when master and family walk together to the house of the Lord when publick worships are frequented by the heads of families and a due regard to Gospel-ordinances be kept up by them in the hearts of their whole retinue Oh 't is a sight that heaven and earth rejoice at to see great persons march in good aray to Bethel in the very front of their families It sadned David's spirit when an exiled person to remember how he had gone with his train to the house of God Psal 42. ver 4. as the meeter gives it and 't is pressed by way of patheticall exhortation by the Apostle Heb. 10. ver 25. upon believers not to forsake the assembling themselves together as ever they look for comfort at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ the time whereof draweth
enjoined neither would Governours of Families command their young people to attend upon it and hence it hath been that the children of Christians as to the general Profession have like the children of the Jews Neh. 13. ver 24. spake half in the speech of Ashdod Heathen-like and could not speak in the Jews Language to wit the pure Idiom of the Gospel But suppose your servants be bad enough as I believe too many be yet it will be more your honour to square a knottie peice of timber and polish a churlish stone when ye smooth a rugged spirit and make that plyable to the wayes of God it will more redound to your comfort And consider ye plough in hope and have a bottome from Jacob's success for hope to rest upon for he not onely commanded his houshold to wit children and moenial servants but also all that were with him some of whom probably came out of Mesopotamia with him and many of those Shechemites also that were lately taken captive by his sonnes were in company with him yet his command was given unto all and all submitted unto it for as well the strangers that were with him as his own houshold gave unto him all the strange Gods which were in their hands they freely yielded up all their Idols into the hand and power of Jacob their Governour never to see them more nor worship them more And the text sayes Jacob hid them t is like without their privity under an oak which was by Shechem now then take pattern from hence and act up in your families unto it How know you but the power of the mighty God may so awe the spirits of your servants that the most rugged and rebellious among them may stoop under your reproof How know ye but that they may deliver up their pride oaths drunkenness wilfull ignorance and Gospel enmitie into your hands if in the name of the eternal God as Christian Governours ye demand them And what a noble conquest would that be What a quieting consideration will this be to you at a dying hour 4. Observe further That great deliverances lay great obligations upon Governours to act high in personal and family Reformation If ye say here 's a great deal more urged then needs why did Jacob do this and why must we do this the enforcement is laid down by Jacob who answered me in the day of my distress and was with me in the way that I went as if he had said I cannot discharge my self of that debt I owe unto God nor render my self a person in any measure worthy of his mercies if I should tolerate such principles and practises in my house which are dishonourable unto him and destructive to the very interest of Religion Oh! I will remember the day of distress which was upon me when my brother Esau threatned my life for the birth right and blessing which I obtained from him I well remember mine afflicted estate when I was in the day time consumed with drought and in the night by frost and my sleep departed from mine eyes whilest I served a churlish Laban and had my wages changed ten times by him Being an Hebrew Proverb taken from killing the bird upon the nest with her young ones Hos 10.14 I remember those fears yea great fears which seized upon me when Esau came against me with four hundred men at his heels at which time I wrastled with the Angel and spake before the Lord that I feared greatly least Esau would come and smite me and the mother with her children or ghnal-Bunim upon her children heaps upon heaps And now seing God was with me and answered me in all these dayes of my distress and hath brought me off in a wonderfull way of mercy with safetie to my life and security to my estate I dare not fail in this great duty of family-Reformation I cannot bear any longer the dishonours which are done to God in my Family nor quit my spirit any longer with my personall Religion and therefore I lay it upon you all by way of command as a Magistrace in my own family that ye put away the strange Gods which are among you and be clean and change your garments and let us arise and go up to Beth-el Thus David 2 Sam. vers 1 2. When the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies The sence thereof was so lively upon his spirit that he suddenly and seriously resolved to build an house to the Lord and establish the worship of God in the Land to which he was encouraged by Nathan the Prophet at first but afterward received a flat prohibition that he should not build it yet see how the sence of mercies carried him out to prepare abundantly for that magnificent building charging and encouraging Solomon to the work and quickening up his Princes unto free-will offerings 1 Chron. 28. ver 20. and Chap. 29. vers 1 2. and so forward Oh then I make it my humble request to all that read this passage that ye would improve mercies received and deliverances received according to Jacob's pattern that it may quicken you up to family care to set up Religion in your Families and promote it in the Nation that the Lord may feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father Isa 58. ver ult Think often and seriously what your Dangers and what your Deliverances have been and surely if there be any heat and life in the soul for God this will bring it forth there would not be that heart-deadness neglect of Family-discipline and that Formality even amongst Professours and Christians of long standing they would not sit down in such a lazie Profession and tolerate that Ignorance that profaneness and those abuses in their Families and Towns if they were throughly awakened by a due collection and serious communication of experienced mercies how often and how signal their deliverances have been from the jaws of death Oh receive in love this word of exhortation from an unworthy hand and the Lord set it home upon your hearts 2. I come now to the pure spiritual part of the exhortation Are the appearances of the Lord eminent and immediate for the help of his people in their greatest straights have you experienced this can you set your seal to this truth hath the Lord engaged for your help and brought you off with safety and comfort when you were under the greatest hazards then make a good use of such mercies and take my advice in these following particulars 1. Make a serious and speedy enquiry whether you are brought of from sin and wrath by Jesus Christ and what have been the methods of God toward you in your spiritual deliverance 2. Quicken up your selves to duty in all your deadness and damps of spirit 3. Be much in the sence and meditation of grace received keep up the consideration thereof To the first Improve your temporal preservatious by way of inquiry after your spiritual safety
dropt with myrrhe and her fingers with sweet smelling mirrhe that is she had new tokens of Christs good-will refreshing consolations from a comforting spirit which being added to her former experiences of love had such a force upon her heart that she breaks off all delay runs to the door and opens and not finding her beloved there she fails poor heart she sinks down and swouns the sence of Christs dear affection to her and her disloyal carriage to him did so seize upon her that she sinks under it And being come to her self she seeks and enquires after him suffers for him breaths out her soul in strongest affection towards him breaks forth into highest Eulogies and commendations of him and through the whole Song you never finde her under any of this heart-deadness any more but full of love and full of life Thus it was with the Church of Israel Hos 2. The Lord brings her in vers 5. speaking forth such resolutions as these I will go after my lovers that give me my bread and my water my wooll and my flax mine oyle and my drink as if she had said I am resolved to stick close to mine Idols who have recompenced my service with such plenty and abundance The allusion is to a man and his wife betwixt whom before there is a final divorce and departure there is usually some decay of conjugal affection some neglect of conjugal duties some eminent failing in conjugal offices and thereupon follows a strangeness and at length a parting asunder So heart-deadness damps of zeal flatness of spirit freezings of affection neglect of communion in the gospel-Gospel-duties and appointments formality in profession earthly-mindedness and some kind of liberty and boldness to sin are usually precedaneous to an Apostacy and departure from God Thus it was with Ephraim But how doth she recover her self Why verse 7. she argues her spirit into a returning frame Mr. Ier. Burroughs in loc I will go and return unto my first husband for then was it better with me then now Hence it is the note of a late godly Divine That the sight and sence of this how much better it was when the heart did cleave to Christ then it is now since its departure from Christ is an effectual means to cause the heart to return unto him He brings in a repenting backslider under these reasonings of heart Heretofore I was able through Gods mercy to look upon the face of God with joy when my heart did cleave to him when I did walk close with him then the glory of God did shine upon me and caused my heart to spring within me every time I thought of him But now now God knows though the world takes little notice of it the very thoughts of God are a terrour unto me the most terrible object in all the world is to behold the face of God Oh it was better with me then it is now Before this my Apostacy I had free access unto the throne of grace I could come with humble and holy boldness unto God and pour out my soul before him such a chamber such a closet can witness it but now I have no heart to pray ye I must be haled to it merely conscience pulleth me to it yea every time I go by that very closet where I was wont to have that access to the throne of Grace it strikes a terrour to my heart I can never come into Gods presence but it is out of slavish fear Oh it was better with me then then it is now Before Oh the sweet communion my soul enjoyed with Jesus Christ one dayes communion with him how much better was it then the enjoyment of all the world but now Jesus Christ is a stranger to me and I a stranger unto him Before Oh those sweet enlargements that my soul had in the Ordinances of God! when I came to the word my soul was refreshed was warmed my heart was enlightened when I came to the Sacrament oh the sweetness that was there and to prayer with the people of God it was even an heaven upon earth unto me but it is otherwise now the Ordinances of God are dead and emptie things to me Oh it was better with me then then it is now Before Oh the gracious visitations of Gods spirit that I was wont to have yea when I awaken'd in the night season oh the glimpses of Gods face that were upon my soul what quickening and enlivenings and refreshings did I find in them I would give a world but for one nights comfort I sometimes have had by the visitations of Gods spirit but now they are gone Oh it was better with me then then it is now Before Oh what peace of Conscience I had within whatsoever the world said though they railed and accused yet my conscience spake peace to me and was as a thousand witnesses for me but now I have a grating conscience within me Oh the black bosome that is in me it flyeth in my face every day after I come from such and such company I could come before from the society of Saints and my conscience smiled upon me now I go to wicked company and when I come home and in the night Oh the gnawings of that worm It was better with me then then it is now Before The graces of Gods spirit how were they sparkling in me active and lively I could exercise faith humility patience and the like now I am as one bereft of all unfit for any thing even as a dead log before God made use of me and employed me in honorable services now I am unfit for any service at all Oh it was better with me then then it is now Before I could take hold upon Promises I could claim them as mine own I could look up to all those blessed sweet Promises that God had made in his word and look upon them as mine inheritance But now alas the Promises of God are little to me before I could look on the face of all troubles and upon the face of death I could look upon them with joy But now the thoughts of affliction and of death God knowes how terrible they are to mee Oh it was better with me then then it is now Before in all creatures I could enjoy God I tasted the sweetness and love of God even in my meat and drink I could sit with my wife and children and see God in them and look upon the mercies of God through them as a fruit of the Covenant of Grace Oh how sweet was it with me then But now the creature is as an empty thing unto me whether it come in love or hatred I do not know It was better with me before then now Before I was under the protection of God wherever I went but now I do not know what dangers and miseries I am subject to dayly what may befall me before night God onely knowes Before the Saints rejoyced in my company and communion now every
as to love and union amongst the Saints would it not procure a right understanding to prevent Schisms and parties would it not meeken the spirits of dissenting brethren would it not dash those hot vapors which fly up into the heads of many and distemper their brains with notions and niceties and may it not through the blessing of God have an hopefull tendency to the quickening comforting confirming and spiritualizing the Saints the whole Nation over Mal. 3.16 Then in a time bad enough and it may be much worse then ours whatsoever some men say they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard and a book of remembrance was writ before the Lord for those that feared him and thought upon his name c. What an encouraging practice of the Saints and promise of the Lord is here to quicken us up to a suitable carriage we have had much talk of Classical Assemblies of teaching and ruling Elders to advance the discipline of Christ O that we might have bear the word and blame not the wish Classical communions of Ministers and Christians to advance the doctrine and life and holiness of the Lord Jesus and that now the Lord hath given all his Churches rest throughout his Nation we may walk in the fear of the Lord and comfort of the holy Ghost with one lip and one shoulder consulting our mutual edification and the enlargement of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus taking that Primitive practice Act. 9.31 for our pattern and this gives me a leading hint to offer a fourth consideration unto you how you may live best unto those that are yet without 4. You will more advance Religion in your several Towns and maintain good neighborhood upon the best account if you lend a word of seasonable advice to those that are posting to hell and jogging on with more hast then good speed to the chambers of death and thus you will best do if you speak over unto them how it hath been with you how ignorant how carnal how earthly-minded how obstinate how foolish and vain you have been and how you were in the broad way to destruction yet altogether senceless and stupid as to any right apprehension of your danger or right use of means for your recovery untill the Lord convinced you by his spirit of sin of righteousness and of judgement Joh. 16.8 granted you repentance unto life Acts 11.18 and now being justified by his grace you are made heirs according to the hope of eternal life Tit. 3.6 Now by grace you are acquitted from the guilt of sins and have a clear title unto heaven And friends who knows whether the same mercy be not laid up in store for you whether the same blessed change may not be wrought in you whether the same kindness aâ—d love of God our Saviour may not manifest it self to you Surely discourses of this nature which you may enlarge upon occasion according to the teachings of the good spirit of God may work in them a sense of danger and hope of delivery upon a saving account T is much that the Saints do for the profane world much for their unregenerate neighbors as is their duty commanded 1. In communicating unto them in their outward wants in drawing out their bowells towards distressed persons they have a word of command Ecc. 11.1 To cast their bread upon the waters giving a portion to seven and also to eight So Heb. 13.16 To do good and to communicate forget not for with such sacrifices God is well pleased and Gal. 6.10 to do good to all men supposed in distress as objects of mercy though the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the especially in the text directs them to a larger and more liberal charity towards the houshold of faith and I doubt not much water runs out at these two spouts of Mercy and Charity that this testimony may be given of many of the Saints 2 Cor. 8.3 That to their power yea and beyond their power they are willing to supply the wants of their fellow-Christians yea fellow-creatures also and indeed it would be much their shame and more their sin if men of carnal principles and worldly expectancies outstrip them in obedience to this great Gospel command Prov. 19.17 He that hath pitty upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord and that which he hath given will he pay him again Though God be much out of credit with the world yet the Saints dare take his word and do lend much unto the poor upon his single security 2. They have a great hand in procuring the blessing of God upon their carnal neighbors though God is good to all making his Sun to rise on the evil and sending rain on the unjust Mat. 5.45 bearing witness to his goodness and God-head in all nations by giving rain from heaven and fruitful seasons filling the hearts of men with food and gladness Act. 14.17 yet even the mercies of the footstool the neither springs run much for the sake of the godly which are in the world and are much as a return of their prayers Laban the Syrian learned this by experience that the Lord blessed him as to his outward estate for Jacobs sake Gen. 30.27 Potiphar saw this also chap. 39.5 It came to pass from the time that Potiphar had made Joseph overfeâ—r in his house that the Lord blessed the Egyptians house for Josephs sake and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that be had in the house and in the field a plain text and that which teacheth great personages to commit their affairs to the trust and care of Josephs as Stewards and Bailiffs it would go better with them then it does But alas Josephs Religious men are not the onely men in great families more 's the pity and more is there loss the Lord help them to see and all men else how much good the Lords Josephs are instrumental unto in the world that they may be more prized by all and masters may labor more to store their families with such servants how desirous soever the profane world is to be rid of the Saints sure I am they would dearly miss them Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are yet he prayed in a great drought and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth fruit Jam. 4.17 make much then of Jacobs Josephs and Elijahs O ye men of the world you 'l miss them in your barns and in your borders I 'le warrant you when they are gone 3. They keep off many a blow from the places where they live they either divert or at least delay the execution of judgements Ten righteous persons would have preserved four Cities from perishing by fire from heaven Gen. 18.32 How did David and the Elders of Israel by their prayer and humiliation keep off the sad stroak of the pestilence from Jerusalem when the Angel was now stretching forth his hand to destroy it 1 Chron. 21.15 16
Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 4. ver 12. O then my dear Christian brethren rise up in the name and might of our Lord Jesus Christ seek the eternal welfare of your carnall neighbours I will not enlarge upon directions for the right management of this great duty onely entreat you that with modesty and Christian sobriety you would observe the boundaries that the Lord himself hath set betwixt a called Ministery and a Christian Laity that in your undertaking of this great charge you would be much and earnest in your addresses unto God and be faithfull in discoursing over experienced mercies from God If you meet with sinners that are hardened in their wayes obstinate wilfull and sermon-proof tell them so it was with you I doubt not it hath been some of your cases but when the Lord came in upon you by the thorow convictions of his Spirit he awakened your consciences to such a sight of sin and sence of wrath filled your soules with such terrours from the Law and softened your hearts with such a shower of Gospel grace that you were immediately humbled broken and brought in you threw down your weapons begg'd a parly and submitted to the Lord Jesus You found such a strange and secret work upon your hearts that you cryed out with Saul Lord what wilt thou have me to do Acts 9. ver 6. and Ephraim-like Though you had been as a young bullock unaccustomed to the yoke yet now the Lord hath turned you and you are turned Jer. 31. ver 18. and tell them thus it will be with them if ever they have a conviction unto Conversion God will break their stomachs soften their iron sinews subdue their Gospel-enmity and give them a spirit of holy compliance with his blessed wayes and will and that God can bring forth this work in their hearts though obstinate and obdurate as well as he hath brought it forth upon yours and then they will be of another mind however at present they stand it out with that boldness and daringness of spirit against Law and Gospel If you meet with sinners whom the arrows of the Lord have wounded his Spirit hath throughly awakened and his Word hath filled with such sad apprehensions of sin and wrath that they cry out with them Acts 2. vers 37. Men and brethren what shall we do or with the Jaylour Acts 16. v. 30. Sirs what must I do to be saved tell them this was your case tell what methods of mercy the Lord used to the healing up of your wounds and to the quieting of your consciences that so they may be encouraged to the use of Gospel-means and to an hope of the same grace and goodness of the Lord towards them If you meet with as you will with many proud presumptuous Formalists that fill their sails with vain hopes of Salvation without any saving change wrought upon them without any inward principles of life light planted in them or without any lively Acts of Faith Repentance Self-denial Mortification c. put forth by them tell them this was your case you had the same perswasions you were such foolish Virgins and that then you thought your penny as good silver for heaven as the best deriding the precise Puritan and scoffing at the power of Godliness but when the Lord opened your eyes and shined into your soules with a beam of saving light you soon discovered your Errour how you had built upon the sand that your Infant-baptisme was but sand your outward Priviledges were but sand your Formal Profession was but sand yea all you built upon was but sand so that had death and Judgment like windes and waves forcibly beat upon your house it would certainly have fallen and you had been ruined to all eternity but now you have digged deep and laid your foundation sure upon a rock you have built upon a new foundation for heaven now you finde a new creation wrought in you now you mourn over those sins which formerly you made your selves merry with now you contest against those lusts which formerly you cherished now you are broken off from those lewd Companions with whom you were formerly bound up in wayes of sin now you act faith upon Jesus Christ for the pardon of sins rejoyce in him and have no confidence in the flesh Phil. 3. ver 3. Now you are convinced that grace is the onely way to glory and that without holiness no man shall see God Heb. 12. ver 14. you now owne Religion in all the duties of it love the Ordinances which formerly you loathed delight in the society of the Saints which formerly you derided maintain communion with God in the Spirit which formerly you mocked at and that now The God of hope hath filled you with peace and joy through believing Rom. 15. ver 13. and you find Christ in you the hope of glory Col. 1. ver 27. Pursue this method as the Lord puts opportunities into your hands and as you meet with new cases suit your experiences according to what you have been and now are and I doubt not you will finde encouraging success for though I honour the word I hope as much as any as having the greatest authority upon the consciences of men and as being the great instrument of new birth especially when it is faithfully dispensed by faithfull messengers Jesus Christ giving a clear proof of his speaking in them 2 Cor. 13. ver 3. yet certainly Christians as such though they do not invade the ministerial Office nor loosen one stone in that partition wall which Christ hath raised up with his own hands betwixt a called Ministery and converted Layity may be instrumental to much spiritual good among their carnal relations It was much that the Church did towards the gaining over the daughters of Jerusalem by her commendatory oration of Jesus Christ Cant. Chap. 5. For. Chap. 6. they put the question Whether is thy beloved gone Oh thou fairest among women whether is thy beloved turned that we may seek him with thee The woman of Samariah did much in ripening those fields which began to be white unto the harvest John 4. ver 28 29. compared with ver 39. Surely when the experiences of believers do run in a paralel line with the words and as counterpains do bear a full testimony to the truth of it men give a more willing entertainment unto it when they hear Christians affirm what Ministers assert men listen more after it Oh then break your pitchers that your candles may shine and give lights to the world Phil. 2 ver 15 16. holding forth the word of eternal life unto others in your several standings and capacities relative and religious And give me leave to lay down these considerations by way of inducement unto you Consider Con. 1. That the conversion of a sinner is a matter of great well-pleasingnesse unto God Isa 53. ver 10. it is termed the pleasure of the Lord ve-caphets Leigh Crit. Sacr. the will of the
Lord that which he wills with greatest pleasure and delight it notes the highest content that may be to wit delight which is the intention and strength of affection hence Isa 62. ver 4. the Church is called Hephzibah that is my pleasure in her the parables of the lost sheep and lost son do fully evidence this Luke 15. you cannot do a work that will find greater acceptation with God then acts of mercy Hos 6. ver 6. I desired mercy and not sacrifice the word in the Original is the same with that in Isaiah forementioned implying to will and desire a thing with a greatdelight and complacency Mr Eurroughs in Hos ver 6. pag. 599. so that a reverend Expositour upon the place brings in God speaking thus mercy is a thing so pleasing to me that I desire it at my heart nothing in the world is so pleasing to me as mercy shews that God had rather have it then all instituted ordinances and worships which by sacrifice are synechdochically meant and then instancing in cases of mercy His fourth case is the case of souls and that is in Christs case Mat. 9.13 Pag. 605. Go and learn what that meaneth I will have mercy and not sacrifice for I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance we are ready to think that all things must give way to instituted worship but certainly immortall souls are of more worth then ordinances O surely the greatest act of mercy which we receive from God is our reconcilement to him whereby we are translated from darknesse into the kingdome of his dear son that being justified by his grace we may be made heirs according to the hope of eternall life Tit. 3. ver 7. and so the highest piece of mercy which we can shew to sinners for God is to be instrumentall in the saving of them bowels of mercy in us evidence Gods electing grace unto us Col. 3. ver 12. Put on as the elect of God bowels of mercy and sure we cannot shew more bowells in any act of mercy to man then in endeavouring his salvation Consider Consid 2. There is a great honour to the Lord Jesus Christ when sinners are savingly brought in unto him it is a jewell added to the glorious diadem of King Jesus Psal 45.3 David speaking in the spirit unto ' King Jesus bids him gird his sword upon his thigh which was the Ensign of his prowesse and regal power and adds with thy glory and thy Majesty implying that when people fall under him i. e. are converted and submit unto him it tends to advance his glorious Majesty Prov. 14. ver 28. In the multitude of people is the kings honour Zion and Babylon are the two great Empires of the world that under Christ this under Belial now one great part of Christs honour as he is King of Zion consists in the multitude of converts who being brought over from the devils quarters become his subjects it is said 1 Sam. 31. ver 12. That all the valiant men of Jabesh-Gilead went all night and took the bones of Saul and the bones of his sons from the walls of Bethshan and came and brought them to Jabesh let me allude this how is the glory of Christ advanced when all the valiant men Ministers and Christians go forth in the strength of the spirit of Christ to fetch off not the bodies onely but the souls also of men and women from Bethshan and bring them to Jabesh from sin to sanctity from Beth-aven to Bethel Converted ones are as Trophees after victory living monuments of honour to a conquering Christ Phil. 1.20 2 Thes 1.11 12. in the places where they live how then should the sence of that honour which is gained for Christ in gaining sinners from Sathan unto Christ act and spirit the Saints in this great undertaking Consid 3. Consider that the providences of God which have gone over and through these Nations in the years last past do speak the Saints duty and their hope of successe in what is now proposed how many storms of warre have been upon the land how fierce and full of rage hath the enemy been how many plots and engines of policy have been contrived how have men of popish and prophane principles and spirits struck at the very root of profession how have they designed the extirpation of the godly Being confident and insolent they bear their noses high in the air uttering loud and lofty languages as Rabshekah did 2 King 18. to which times this Psalme is referred by some Mâ— Trap. in loc They that hate thee have lift up their heads I do not say nor think that all they which lifted up their heads in the late warres under the royall banner were haters of God nor of his people as such though they were lifted up very high in their mistaken zeal for Kingly interest and in conscience of the oath of God which they judged lay'd such obligations upon them yet certainly without any breach of charity we may boldly affirm that there were a company of men not inconsiderable for number who took crafty councel against the Lord's people and consulted against his hidden ones ver 3. and spake out doubtlesse their very hearts and desires come let us cut them off from being a nation or from having any place of residency in the nation that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance was not this attempted at least against the godly party as Schismaticks and rebells so I limit their attempt for we had many pittifull Parliamentarians who might have gone in the throng of the most ungodly Cayaliers and in likelyhood would have found favour both for life and estate if the issue of the warre had gone for the King and hath not the Lord broken them and their plots in pieces hath he not fastened his people as a nail in a sure place Isa 22. ver 23. what think you then are not these mercies obligations upon you from the Lord to pursue his honour are they not opportunities put into your hands to advise exhort and perswade your families friends and neighbours and help them to heaven O what a pattern of Gospel-charity is good Cornelius Act. 10. ver 24. He had called together his kinsfolks and near friends to partake with him in that word of salvation which Peter from the Lord was to bring unto him how desirous was he to take them all into the Gospel-wherry that they might all be wafted over to the Lord Jesus therefore ver 33. he tell 's Peter We are all here present before the Lord to hear all things that are commanded thee of God O that such a gaining spirit such a winning carriage was in all the Saints Indeed when Religion was under the hatches in the nation and the old Puritans were underlins in every town they might have feared Lot's return from the wicked Sodomites and that dogs would have snarled at them if they had given
a spirituall discourse Nephesh Berachah the soul of blessing but they do or may receive good to themselves Prov. 11. ver 25. The liberall soul shall be made fat and he that watereth shall also be watered himself it is not the liberall hand though it be true as to acts of common bounty if rightly ordered but the liberall soul answering to that Prov. 10. ver 11. The lips of the righteous feed many by wholesome counsell seasonable exhortations and spirituall instructions now this is a fatning discourse the soul thrives bravely that observes this method your own graces will be more exercised your own consciences will be awakened your own knowledge will be more enlarged and your own spirits will be more quickened unto and established in the good wayes and truths of God you cannot be serious in reproving others but it will give corruption a wound in your own hearts you cannot perswade others to repent of their fins but it will stirre you up to renew repentance for your own sins you cannot exhort others to duty but you will be admonisht of your own and you cannot deal seriously with others about salvation but it will quicken up an holy diligence in you to mind your own salvation Surely these improvements are well worth your labour 2. It makes much for your personall safety the more there be to stand in the gap the better the breach will be made up ten would have preserved Sodom when as nine could not do it the Saints do much with God when numerous and unanimous when the whole Church prays for Peter an Angel procures his Goal-delivery you helping together with your prayers is Paul's expression owning the joint addresses of the Corinthians 2 Cor. 1. ver 11. striving together for the faith of the Gospel Phil. 1. ver 27. Paul layes much stress upon number and unity when many strive and strive together like valiant Champions and a well ordered army it is like to go well with the Gospel in the Doctrines and liberty of it Therefore cast your bread upon the waters for you know not what evil shall be upon the earth Eccl. 11. ver 1.2 Take this in a spiritual sense and you will find an inforcement in it to the duty proposed for in a time of straight Zech. 12. ver 5. The Governours of Judah shall say in their heart even from the heart acknowledg it Legio fulminea the Inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord their God By vertue of their Interest in the Lord their God evils have been diverted Judgments have been removed and blessings in their right seasons have been procured 3. It makes much for your spiritual comfort The soul of righteous Lot was vexed from day to day with the unlawfull deeds of the Sodomites 2 Pet. 2. ver 8. Is not this your case Do not your eyes run down with tears because men keep not Gods Law yea in that abundance that they swell into rivers Holy David's did Psal 119.136 Is not every profane wretch an Hazael to your eyes and a Hadadrimmon to your hearts and can you step out of your door in many places it is so and not see some piece of wickedness which cuts you to the heart or hear every man speak vanity to his neighbour Psal 12. ver 2. now how would it revive your spirits how would it rejoyce and comfort your hearts if you could see the face of things changed amongst you that you might go to this neighbours house and finde them praying to anothers and find them praising God to a third and find them reading and discoursing of the word and things of God nay that you could not walk in the streets but you should hear the Inhabitants of one city saying unto another let us go speedily to pray before the Lord and to seek the Lord of Hosts Zech. 8. ver 21. This sets forth the zeal and charity of those converts who would not come alone but draw others along in company with them to the worship of God which is lively expressed in a Mimesis Mr. Pemble in loc or imitation of the encouragements and invitations they should use one to another I will go also every one was as forward for himself as zealous for another as a learned Expositour hath it O blessed frame of spirit O religion would then flourish indeed when Ministers have their comes and calls each to other to the service of God nay that such an awakening should be upon your neighbours that here one should take hold of the skirts of your garments and here another as children catch hold on their Mothers gowns hang upon them and run after them saying we will go with you to such an Ordinance to such a Christian meeting for we have heard that God is with you we heard it formerly but believed it not yea derided it but now we have heard from the secret teachings of the Spirit of God within us and are convinced of it that God is with you with you in prayer with you in the word preached with you in all the duties of Religion with you in your private waitings upon him with you in the way of holiness Of a truth God is in you 1 Cor. 14. ver 25. and therefore we will go with you your God shall be our God your wayes shall be our wayes and your company shall be our company what a rejoycing of heart would this be to the truly godly and if the Lord give his blessing to the painfull endeavours of his faithfull Ministery and if you that are Christians act up with zeal to the course propounded how might the communion of Saints be maintained the Common-wealth of believers be enlarged and the places of our habitations be as the suburbs of heaven It layes a good foundation for posterity you are now sowing that seed the harvest whereof may be reaped by your children you are digging that well of which your Infants may fill their buckets Personall piety is profitable to posterity 2 Kings 10. ver 30. It was very much that was promised to Jehu for cutting off Ahab's wicked Family and destroying the temple and worshippers of Baal And the Lord said unto Jehu because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel And what a blessing doth the Lord entail upon the seed of the righteous Psal 112. ver 1 2. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord that delighteth greatly in his Câ—mmandements his seed shall be mighty upon the earth the generation of the upright shall be blessed But that Religion which you now advance may be of spiritual advantage to them when you are dead Psal 102. ver 18. This shall be written for the generation to come and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord even for your