makes any think they have time to spare Eph. 5. 16. Col. 4 5. 13. Make a careful choice of your company you cannot travell well to Heaven alone especially when you may have company Thrust not your selves into every company Eph. 5. 7. converse as much as you can with those that will help you that are warm when you are cold knowing where you are ignorant believing when you are doubtfull c. Especially for your constant companions live with those that will be a frequent help to you Masters chuse the best servants that fear God Servants chuse to live with those that will help you in the fear of God for Husbands and Wives make choice of those that will intend upon Religion take heed of being unequally yoaked and of thinking to get well to Heaven while you presume to unite your selves with those that with great advantage will hinder not help your Salvation 14. Keep a constant guard upon the Tongue especially take heed of those common sins that disgrace hath not dâ—…iven out of the world but have got some kind of credit amongst some professors namely idle talk that wastes precious time makes us unfruitful to one another backbiting especially can they put but a Religious pretence upon it or if they backbite those that differ in opinion Remember that terrible passage Pro. 18. 21. â—…Ia 1. 26. 3. 5 6. Psal. 39. 35. 28. Avoid idle talk backbiting c. Watch over your tongues and if any are by nature addicted to a laxity of tongue and multitude of words there lies a double obligation on you in point of danger and necessity above all others to keep a careful watch over your tongue you should rather speak fewer words then others and if you find your selves inclined to speak against any behind his back reprehend your selves and avoid it 15. Learn the holy skill of improving every condition that God shall cast you into learn how to live to God in every condition â—… you have skill and heart there is advantage to be got by all that prosperity may strengthen you in God encourage you in his service that adversity may wean you from the world help you to repentance raise you to God and give you more then it took away Know the danger and duty of every condition study them before they come upon you that they do not surprize you learn to know what 's the danger duty and particular temptation of every condition and in that condition you are most likely to expect a fall into prepare for affliction as the common lott of the Saints take it as no strange thing when it overtakes you know how to abound and how to want A great deal of a Christians safety and comfort lies in this to study the temptation and duty of every condition before it come that so you may have your remedy at hand and fall to your work and commit your selves to God 16. Be as conscionable and strict in the duties of your relations and dealings with men proportionably as in the duties of holinesse more directly to be performed to God make as much conscience care study diligence about being just that you wrong no man in buying or selling as you do in duties of holinesse hearing praying receiving In your trading make conscience of justice and faithfulnesse as well as in the worship of God and in your own personall behaviour in your calling be diligent not slothful in businesse c. And so in the duties of your relations Oh that Parents knew what a charge lies on them concerning the souls of their Children c. So Masters look to your servants and be as conscionable in doing your duty for their souls good and being faithful to them and compassionate over them as in your duty to God keep up family duties with life seriousnesse diligeâ—…ce and vigor the life of Religion in the world must be kept up very much in families 17. Make it your study and care to do all the good you can in the world let doing good be the principall part of your businesse think that the safest and happiest life in which you can do greatest good suffer not opportunities to slip out of your hands take them where you have them and seek where you may have them Look not only where you may get good but where you may have opportunities to do good to others every Talent must be answered for your knowledge health c. cause it as you will answer for it and know 't is one of the greatest Mercies in the world for God to give you hearts in doing good with that he hath given Heb. 13. 16. not for applause but be good Husbands for God and consider which way you may attain your ends best by what you give or do Thus be rich in good works 18. Live still as before the living God approve your hearts to him as knowing you stand or fall unto his Judgment Avoid carefully all offences unto men for the Lords sake and their conscience sake take heed of scandal and receive all the good from others you can but stick not too much on mans approbation disregard not suspitions or reproofs of Godly men but make not mans praise to be any part of your reward it is a small thing for me to be judged of men Be not much troubled at it if you cannot please all the bawlings of the malicious should not disturb a soul that is quietly housed with God that soul is not well stablished in faith that can be so disturb'd and distempered by the wrath or words of malicious men Remember God himself pleases not all the most of the world are enemies to their Maker upon the accoâ—…nt of his Holiness Justice c. and canst thou think to please all Appeal from the world and your selves unto God for the consolation of his approbation and for your felicity this will save you from hypocrisie and keep you from the temptations and vexations of the censorious world 19. Be every day as serious in your preparation for death and judgement as those that are alwayes certain that it will come and know not the moment when it will come Mat. 24. 49. Use often to think seriously before-hand what Death is what thoughts what trials death will put a man upon what temptations usually accompany our approaching death what you shall most need at such a time as that what thoughts are likeliest to possess you then what you are likeliest to wish for when you must needs die about spending your time expending your estate conversing with others c. Ask your selves What will I wish I had done or been when I come to die Think what will be most dreadful to a dying man for thus you have time to escape his judgement will it not be sad to think on a life lost in vanity drench'd in wordliness unreconciled to God or at least in utter uncertainty of his love God hath not foreshewed what will be a
with every one of you so to carry your selves in your several places and capacities that whatever you do you may please God It was a blessed testimony that was given of Enoch Before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God Oh how happy will they be at the great day of Judgement who shall be singled out by Christ before Angels and Men and Christ shall say of them This was the Man or this was the Woman that pleased God! There is a great deal of pleasing in the World but there are 〈◊〉 very few that make this their business to please God therefore I would have you shun that which is sinfull and press after that which is matter of Duty 1. There are some that mind nothing but to please themselves to promote their own interest to love their own ease to indulge themselves in their own carnal delights but they never mind the good of others or the pleasing of God the Apostle speaks of and against these Rom. 15. 1 2 3. 2. There are others that look no further than the pleasing of men if they can but keep fair with men and shun the displeasure of men that is all they aim at but my Brethren what a poor thing is it to please man and displease God what a poor thing is it to have Man to be our Friend and God to be our Enemy to have the smiles of a poor dying perishing Worm and to lye under the frowns of the great God Indeed there is a good pleasing of men to please them for their Edification as the Apostle speaks Rom. 15. 2. and so the Apostle speaks of himself 1 Cor. 10. 32. Even as I please all men in all things that is in all things that are of an indifferent nature not simply civil nor simply good in all such things This Apostle was of a yielding and complying spirit that he might thereby the better insinuate himself into the affections of men and be more instrumental to the glory of God in the work of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9. 22. To the weak became I as weak that I might gain the weak I am made all things to all men that I might by all means save some and this I do for the Gospel sake But now in matter of Duty such things as are expresly determined by God and so are either good or evil in these things the Apostle would be no pleaser of men If I should please men I should not be the servant of Christ Gal. 1. 10. It is good to please otherâ—… to their Edification but we must not please others to their own ruine and condemnation It is good to please men when we can so do and not grieve God Instead of pleasing men let it be your constant care best endeavour in all things to please God my Brethren this is a duty of so great importance that was I now to take my leave of you and should certainly know that I should never speak to you more as we are come very near to that for though I speak to you as a living man yet I speak to you as a dying Minister this I say is a duty of that weight and importance that I know not what to press upon you more material then this consult but two places of Scripture Col. 1. For this cause we do not cease to pray for you What was the thing the Apostle in this his constant Prayer did begg of God for them It was this That they might please God and when he was taking his leave in the winding up of his Epistle to the Hebrews Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Iesus the great shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant make you perfect in every good work to do his will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight I need not go beyond the Text for Motives to stirre you up to these Endeavours For Motive 1. First Consider what that God is which I would have you endeavour to please He is that God which made Heaven and Earth that God before whom all this World is as nothing but as a little dust in the ballance and as a drop of water to the bucket that God whom Angels adore and worship that God who by a word from his mouth is able to bring the whole Universe into nothing Will not you study to please this God But further consider what this God is to you He is the fountain of your being he is the God of all your mercies he is your Creator and Soveraign he is your Maker Law-giver It is he that by a smile can make you happy and by a frown can make you miserable it is he that hath Heaven and Hell at his disposal who openeth and none can shut who shuts and none can open He that must iudg every one of you either to eternal blessedness or else to eternal torments it is he in whose hands your breath your life your soul your All is will you not endeavour to please this God as the Prophet argueth in point of fear Isa. 51. 12. Who art thou that art afraid of a man that shall die or of the Son of man that shall be made as grass and forgettest the Lord thy maker Oh poor Creature Who arâ—… thou that goest about to please a mortal dying man and dost not go about to please the Great God thy Creator and Soveraign 2. Consider that relation wherein you profess your selves to stand to God he is your Master you his Servants he is your Father you his Children he is your Lord you his Subjects You know all that are in close Relations will study to please them that are above them as the Servant his master the child his father the subject his Prince All persons that are in a state of inferiority will study to please their Superiours especially when they do depend upon them Oh! how infinitely is God above those Relations Alas there is but a very little distance betwixt you and your Servants and yet you expect they should please you will you not therefore please God especially considering your dependance upon him 3. You shall not lose by pleasing God that is enough to put us upon this He that pleaseth God profiteth himself in that very act wherein we please God we profit our selves Men can do but little for us and yet upon what they can do we study to please them Let me open this in a few particulars 1. If you will sincerely endeavour in all things to please God God will give you a gracious return to all your prayers Oh what a mercy is this for a man to have his prayers answered by God! 1 Joh. 3. 22. Whatever we ask we receive of him because we keep his commandements and do those things that are pleasing in his sight Never expect that God should hear any Prayers if we do not endeavour to do those things that
dust and ashes not worthy to tread thy Courts and it is of thy mercy that we are not consumed How often have we pluckt fruit from the forbidden tree We have sinned presumptnously against the clearest Light and the dearest Love always have we sinned thy footsteps have dropt fatness thou hast shown mercy to us but the better thou hast been to us the worse we have been to thee thou hast loaded us with thy mercies and we have wearied thee with our sins when we look into our selves oh the poison of our natures what ever the Leper did touch was unclean thus do we by our spiritual leprosiâ—… infect our Holy things our Prayers had need have pardon and our tears had need have the blood of sprinkling to wash them how vain are our Vows how sensual are our affections We confess we are untuned and unstrung for every Holy action we are never out of tune to sia but always out of tune to pray we give the world our male affections and our strongest desires we should use this world as if we used it not and alas we pray as if we prayed not and serve thee as if we served thee not there is not that reverence nor that devotion nor that activeness of saith that there should be Lord if thou shouldest say Thou woulâ—…st pardon all our sins to this time only judge us for this prayer we unto us what breathingâ—… of unbelief and hypocrisie is there now when we approach unto thee we pray thee pardon us for Christs sake Who can tell how oâ—…t he dotâ—… offend we can as well reckon the drops of the Ocean as number 〈◊〉 sins we have filled the number of the Nations sins but have not fillâ—… thy bottle with our tears This is that that doth exceedingly aggravate 〈◊〉 sins that we cannot mourn for sin we can grieve for our losses but 〈◊〉 cannot mourn for our unkindnesses we have crucified the Lord of life sin has not only defiled us but hardened us nothing can melt us but the love of Christ nothing can soften us but the blood of Christ oh withold not thy mercies from us oh help us to eat the Passeover with bitter herbs let us look on Christ and weep over him let us look on a broken Christ with broken hearts and on a bleeding Christ with bleeding hearts let us mourn for our dis-ingenuity that we should grieve that God that 〈◊〉 â—…wayes doing us good Oh humble us for our unkindness and for 〈◊〉 sake blot out our transgressions they are more then we can number 〈◊〉 more than God can pardon Though we have lost the duty of Children thou hast not lost the goodness of a Father let us be held forth as patterns of mercy so shall we trumpet forth thy praise to all eternity whatever afflictions thou layesâ—… upon our bodies let not our sins be unpardoned let not sin and affliction be together upon us let there be peace in Heaven and peace in the Court of Conscience we have found this part of thy word true In the world we shall have trouble let us find the other part true In Jesus Christ we shall have peace Oh let peace and holiness go together make 〈◊〉 new creatures that we may be glorious creatures without faith Christ will not profit us when we can call nothing in the world ours let us call Christ ours Lord draw thine Image every day more lively upon us a more lively hope and a more inflamed love to Christ. Let us have a spirit of courage and resolution keep us from the fallacies of our own hearts keep us from the defilements of the times make us pure in heart that we may see God that we may have Gospel-spirits humble spirits meek spirits As Christ did take our flesh let us partake of his Spirit Why dost thou imbitter the breast of the creature to us but that we should find the sweetness of the promises There is as much in the promises as ever let us live upon God let us cast anchor in Heaven and we shall never sink Showr down thy blessings even the choisest of them upon the head and heart of our dread Soveraign Charles by thy appointment of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith Let Him see wherein His chiefest interest lies let Him count those His best Subjects that are Christs Subjects Bless Him in His Royal Consort iâ—… His Royal Relations the Lords of his privy Council let them be a terror to evil doers and encouragers of those that do well Bless all thine Ordinances to us make them to be fulness of life to every one before thee we are come this day to partake of them oh pour in wine and oyl into our souls let us be as a watred Garden let this blessed Sacrament be a poison to our lust and nourishment for our grace Hear â—…s be our God follow us with mercy crown us with acceptance and all for Christ his sake whom not feeing we love in whom believing we rejoyce To Christ with Thee and the holy Spirit be glory honour and â—…raise now and for ever Amen Mr. Watson's Farewell Sermon 2 COR. 7. 1. Having these promises dearly Beloved let us cleanse our selves IT is the Title that I intend now by the help of God to insist upon that sweet Parenthesis in the Text Dearly beloved wherein you have the Apostle breathing forth his affections unto this people he speaks now as a Pastor and he speaks to them as his spiritual Children Dearly beloved where you have First the Title Beloved Secondly The Exhortation to Holiness Let us cleanse our selves Thirdly The Means how we should be cleansed and sanctified Having these promises It is the first of these that I intend the Title that the Apostle gives to his children Dearly beloved From hence observe this Doctrine That the affections of a right Gospel-Minister towards his people are very ardent Dearly beloved there are two things in every Minister of Christ that are much exercised his head and his heart his head with labour and his heart with love his head with labour in the work of the Ministry Iâ—… done aright it is a work fitter for Angels than for menâ—… it is our work to open the Oracles of God even thosâ—… sacred profound things that the Angels search into and if God did not help us we might soon sink under the weight of such a burden and as a Minister's head is exercised with labour so his heart is exercised with love and it is hard to say which of the two exceeds his Labour or his Love Thus is it here in the Text my dearly beloved In these words we have Saint Paul laying siege to these Corinthians and labouring to make a happy victory to conquer them with kindness dearly beloved Saint Paul's heart was the spring of love his lips were the pipe the Corinthians were the cistern into which this spring did run This holy Apostle was a mirror and pattern of love
whatever he wants God 's his debtor Hos. 6. 13. The want of a Complement undoth them in the midst of honour If we want but one thing our hearts would have surely Nature is proud and ready to pick quarrels with God on the least occasion nay if he will not give that mercy we would take all c. 3. Rebellion God strikes him for sin he strikes against God Ier. 31. 18. God draws one way and he another c. 4. Unbelief He that complains of his punishment never believed sin to be so great an evil or God to be such a One as revealed in the Word 5. Interpretative Blasphemy 1. While we dispute our afflictions and wrangle with the present dispensation what is it but to make our selves wiser than God We seem to tell God how it might have been better and so we do as it were give God Counsel When he calls for Obedience is not that Blasphemy to set up our wisdom against God's 2. While we complain of Punishment we take Sin 's part against God we do as it were justifie sin and judge God God is unrighteous to punish such a sin as this with such grievous Afflictions 3. By complaining we do as it were summon God to our Bar to come give an account of his actions at our Tribunal What poor miserable Creatures are we that in our Afflictions are so far from helping our selves that we commonly add to our own misery No Affliction is intolerable till Sin come in it The yoke God hath made easie we make intolerable and make God to be our enemy while he by Affliction would become our friend Now this being found not to be the way that which God counsels and advises is 1. Self-Examination Let us search and try our wayes Sin and Hypocrisie lies close and deep therefore we must take pains dig to the bottom set up a Tribunal in our own Conscience summon try judg our selves over and over in Gods presence He stands at our Closeâ—… Doores to hear what we will say Ier. 8. 6. before execution what Indictments we will bring in against our selves We can tell what such a Drunkard such an unclean person c. hath done but no man saith What have I done My pride my unthankfulness my unfruitfulness c. 2. Reformation and turn again to the Lord. Sin is aversio à Deo conversio ad creaturam Reformation is a turning again from the creature to God 3. Frequent and fervent Prayer Let us lift up There 's the frequency let do nothing else but pray le ts be continually lifting up our Prayers make your houses houses of Prayer Thus David Thou foughtest against me without a Cause Did he take Counsel against Princes to be disloyal To take up Arms No. But I gave my self unto Prayer Psal. 109. 4. Therefore if you prayed before now do nothing else it notes habitual and constant Prayer our hearts with our hands to crave and as it were to pull down mercy as if we would wrestle with God and say Nay I will not let thee go until thou bless me Gen. 32. 26. it notes our fervency And for our encouragement it is unto God in the Heavens which expresses his Soveraignty Omnisciency Omnipotency Everlastingness c. 4. Judging our selves or Confession of sin We have transgressed 5. Aggravating our sins and have rebelled i. e. we have turned sin into Rebellion Rebellion hath been the aggravation of our sins we have sinned against the clearest light dearest love c. Nehem. 9. Ezra 9. Dan. 9. 6. fastifying God thou hast not pardoned A word not of murmuring complaining or accusing God of hard dealing but by way of justifying God we have transgressed therefore thou hast not pardoned Why should'st thou repent of the evil of punishment when we have not repented of the evil of sin Thou hast punished us less then our Iniquities deserve So in the Text Do the first works Sin is a departure from God Repentance a coming back again to God Turn thou to him from whom the Children of Israel have deeply revolted The soul hath many turnings and windings but that 's the best motion of all when the Soul with the Dove returns to God from whom it came Apostacy is the loss of our first love Repentance is the Recovery of it and Reformation is the doing of our first works I have not time to enlarge as I desired I shall only offer a few things that may help to quicken you to this great duty My Brethren we have no great cause to boast of Englands first love Never so good as it should be yet many can remember when England hath been much better then ' t is Time was when Doctrines have been more sound Discipline more exercised for the suppressing of sin and profaneness Ordinances kept more pure from sinful mixtures when London kept Sabbaths better then now loved their Godly Ministers more then now honoured them that were set over her for their works sake would have thought nothing too good for a faithful Minister when Christians loved one another with a dear hearty fervent love when there was less Complement but more real love and affection among Christians when Christians improved their meetings converse Christian Conferences and other soul-soul-duties to better purpose then now not to foolish disputations or wanton sensual excesses but to their mutual edification when they improved their time for comparing their evidences communicating their experiences and building up one another in their most holy faith when there was more industry in Professors than now to bring in Converts when private Christians thought it their duty to be subservient to the work of their Ministers to bring in others to Christ especially their Family Time was when more care of Young Converts then now when none could have looked out after Religion but some or other ready to lend them their hand and shew them the way explaining it clearly to them but now Young Converts may be snapt into separations and errour and none looks after them Time was when more care of the truly godly poor when errour was more odious when Popery was more hated then now when the name of a Toleration would have made Christians to have trembled when Christians were better acquainted with their Bibles when more time spent in secret Prayer when more tender of one anothers Names and Honours would heal one anothers Reputations and would spread the lap of Charity over those mis-reports and scandals that might be cast upon them when Christians rejoyced more in one anothers good and mourned in one anothers sufferings when Christians did more earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints c. Oh do you not onely your first works but our fore-fathers first works Be as zealous for God and his truths as tender mutually careful of one another as they Our fears be very great but truly our provocations be greater our dangers are great but our sins greater yet here is
here This is the Love of God that we keep his Commandements It is not love in Word and in Tongue but in reality a love discovering it self by a consciencious care to hold conformity to all the Will of God And if any should object This is a hard saying Who can bear it saith the Apostle No such matter there is never a Believing Soul will say The Commandements of Christ are grievous or burdensome no they are leight to them that are brought over to the faith of the Gospel And the last thing I have to charge upon you upon the account of your Gospel-believing and being brought over to a closing with Christ it is this and so upon the matter I have given you an account of the substance of this precious Chapter having reduced it to that general Doctrine I propounded before I say the last thing is this That you would walk suitable to a Believing state by being very carefull concerning your Worships that you do perform that they be according to God and according to the Gospel and this is that which the Apostle closes the Chapter withall in the 21 Verse Little Children keep your selves from Idols Amen As I take it in the former Translation it was Babes Babes keep your selves from Idols Here it is Little Children I observe in this Epistle the Apostle makes a distinction of Believers into three Ranks as you shall find in the second Chapter I write unto you Little Children I write unto you Young men and I write unto you Fathers in the close of the Epistle he concludes with this Charge to Little Children Now whether he includes all the rest under this Title of Little Children I forbear to dispute But sure I am it is a duty lies upon one and other whether they be Babes or Young men or Aged Fathers in Christ Whatever our rank and condition be I am sure of this This is a great Duty that lies upon all that will approve themselves in Godliness and to be brought over to the faith of the Gospel that they look to their Worships and that they take heed of Idols as if he should say He that is born of God he keeps himself that the wicked One doth not touch him Oh Little Children shew forth that spiritual Ability that by grace you are furnished withal by being able to keep your selves from Idols It might be said What is this to us Are we in danger of Idols True well might the Apostle give in such a Charge to them in those times when the greatest part of the World were in a state of Heathenism and in estrangement from Christ and the mysteries of the Gospel But this I say It doth really concern Christians in Gospel-times that have had the breakings out of the Gospel-light and the knowledge of Gospel-mysteries to be careful of this Charge that they keep themselves from Idols There were the Idols of the Heathens grant it and so still there are a generation of People that our Souls should mourn over to consider their state that are wrapt up in ignorance of God know nothing of the true God and of our Lord Jesus Christ and it is the state and condition of the Jews at this day and what a sad condition are they in Grant it that they do not worship Idols after the manner of the Heathens yet they worship not the true God because they worship not God in Christ for saith the Apostle Whoever sins and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ he hath not God He that abides in the Doctrine of the Christ he hath the Father and the Son And so the Jews at this day they not abiding not owning the Doctrine of Christ they have not God because they have not the Father and the Son this is their condition And thus I say there were not only the Idols of the Heathens Oh! but sadly be it spoken there are Idols among Persons pretending to Christ and Gospel-faith and the Doctrine concerning Grace by Jesus Christ. How many Idols and Idolaters are there I might tell you the Covetous person 〈◊〉 an Idolater the Voluptuous person and the Self justitâ—…ary sets up his own Righteousness and Idolizeth that But I say this there are Idols among Christians Papâ—…sts hold forth the Name of Christ but yet what woful Idolatry there is among them There was the Dragon-worship in the time of the Heathens and in the room of that there is come up the Beast-worship and of that Worship the generality of the world runs upon and it concerns us to keep from Popish Idolatry it being the grossest Idolatry that ever was because there is the fairest pretence of worshipping JESUS and yet they turn him into an Idol What else means their worshipping and bowing to Images their breaden gods and the like Oh! therefore it concerns us to keep our selves from Idols And there is a Scripture if it were but well studied would cause trembling of Heart and make all that have any care of their Souls to look about them that Scripture I refer you to it is in Revel 13. compared with the 20th In Revel 13. 11. whereas before there was Dragon-worship it is said here I beheld another Beast comming out of the Earth and he had two Horns like a Lamb and he spake as a Dragon and he exerciseth all the Power of the first Beast before him and causeth the Earth and them that dwell therein to worship the first Beast whose deadly wound was healed now look at the 8. verse saith he And all the dwellers upon the Earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the Book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world Oh! it is a terrible word and that that should make us to fear and tremble lest in any kind we should be drawn into the Worship of the Beast for as many as were not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb they were drawn into the Worship of the Beast This is that that should make us keep our selves from Idols from whatsoever hath but so much as a Tincture of Superstition and Idolatry and the rather considering that other Scripture in the 20th of the Revelation and the last verse And whosoever was not found written in the Book of life was cast into the lake of fire All that are not written in the Lambs Book of life are prevailed to perform the worship with the Beast and not being writ there must be tumbled into the Lake for ever This therefore concerns us to keep from Idolatry from whatsoever hath a tendency that way and that hath any tincture of Superstition upon it and consider with your selves that our Duty is in matters of Worship and in things concerning the Worship of God to see to it that we keep a humble dependance upon God that we walk not according to the will of men but according to God You were bought with a price be not Servants of Men. We are to walk by
Gospel see there what Christ is and thy necessity of him Believing will open the door to entertaining of him assent will procure thy consent Thirdly Keep up no Idol in thy heart against him Turn out that that keeps out Christ. How dear soever it seems now at last thou wilt see it more necessary to detest than keep it I come now to exhort all poor weak Christians that they would make after confirmation and grow to a greater measure in Grace as they have received Christ. It is not enough to be conceited that you have been converted and it will not be enough to the assurance of your conversion or safety of your souls that you think you are converted and sit down there he that is content with the opinion that he hath Grace and therefore desires to have no more because the promise of salvation is made to the Truth of Grace it 's a sign he never had Grace strength in Grace is your own felicity 't is part of your happiness Your eternal happiness will partly consist in your personal perfection and without personal perfection all heavenly glory will not be a perfect felicity If you have fixed your Anchor in Gods Promises this engages you to look up make after and proceed c. Take these Motives First Consider there is the same reason to move thee to grow and proceed as there was to move thee to thy first believing Why did you become Christians but because of the necessity of the riches and excellencies of Christ and that there was better things in Christ than in the World And are they not so still Is the case changed If Christianity was reasonable then it is reasonable now if it was necessary to begin it is necessary to hold on and proceed in your Race till you have obtained the Crown Secondly Your receiving Christ essentially contains in it an obligation to proceed and go further actually to trust and obey him whom you have taken for your Lord and Saviour from the very offices and relations of Christ received If I be a Father where is my fear If I be a Master where is my Honour If I be a Saviour where is your Confidence in me Submission to my saving-work Obedience to my healing Precepts If I be your Lord and Master why do not you learn of me as your Master c Your first Covenant engages you to proceed in fulfilling the things promised in your Covenant c. Better not to have promised to be his people than to promise and break this promise The very Mercies also you received from him pardoning your former sin entertainment in his Church and all the blessings there found are as so many obligations to proceed 3. Ever since we came home to Christ we have had an addition of Reasons besides the first Reason we had to believe Every day brings in new c. Certainly if a little were desirable more were more desirable If the people that stood afar off and never tried what Christ and Grace is were bid to come in those that have tried and tasted are bound to proceed much more You have the Spirit of God experiences of his love tasted the bitterness of sin have had some trial of the truth of such things of which we speak when others have eyes and see not c. And will you turn back that have tasted c. 4. Consider how much hath been lost upon many a soul for want of care to take rooting and to proceed How much labour of the Ministry mercies of God pains and care of their own I speak of those that have seemed sincere not been indeed so that have many times comforted the hearts of their Ministers and Friends and have had some kind of comfort to themselves in that taste they have had of the good Word of God How many times hath the Preacher been gladded to see such a one come to him seemingly with a broken heart seeming to set himself in the way of life yet the flesh prevailed for want of Confirmation How many years have some spent in duty in hearing prayer gracious society profession of Religion yet afterwards the World hath drown'd all What cause have you to see you lose not the things you have wrought 5. Consider how much of the Work of your own salvation since you are converted is yet undone Though you are sure your conversion is true how many temptations to resist enemies to conquer duties to perform and Heaven to be taken upon all those terms as is the tenour of your Christianity therefore you had need to stand fast and having done all to stand you had need not only to believe but to wait and be patient in believing and to proceed in the way you have chosen 6. The want of strength and building up makes the lives of many full of lamentable languishingweaknesses scandals unto others pain calamity and trouble to themselves How long in healing And how much smart and pain while the fruit of their own folly is cured How easily and how frequently do temptations prevail And hence as in a Wilderness they are going one step forward another backward no evident keeping in God and all through the fruit of their own languishing weakness The fruits of the sins of Professors have been such that it should make you do all you can possibly to escape the troubles at home and reproaches abroad 7. A life of spiritual weakness is usually a burden unto him that hath it it doth not only occasion his falling into sin and so renews the wounds of his soul but is a constant burden to him not that any measure of Grace is troublesome but that which consists with so great a measure of remaining corruption this is the burden Sickness is burdensome though there be life Methinks you should not then be reconciled to your fears you should methinks see so great a difference between the sick and well that for your own peace-sake you should seek after confirmation Every duty they do is their pain which is anothers pleasure prayer c. their burden sometimes tired wearied dull c. presently overwhelmed with temptation every duty is a grievance to them through the weakness of their grace and by their corruption 8. Christians that are weak and not confirmed lose abundance of the fruit of Gods Ordinances that are improved by others How many a truth that tasts exceeding sweet to others hath no great relish to them nor growth by it A healthfull man hath more relish in ordinary fare then a sick person in varieties The full stomack loaths the Honey-comb 9. The weak and unconfirmed Christian is unprofitable comparatively unto others not that the Church would wish the weakest Member out but comparatively unconfirmed Christians are very unprofitable unto others like little children in the family that must be looked to make work for a great many more about them What doth a sick person but the work of others is to feed support and be
to say All shall work for my good it would enable thee to get advantage and be bettered by them Hadst thou strength enough to improve them thou wouldst take comfort from them and support thy self under them but when thou hast not strength enough to understand God's meaning to see the Duty then called for to improve all for God to do that service to God thou shouldst do in such a condition no wonder if thou have not grace to support and comfort thee in that condition Whereas the confirmed Christian by strong faith love and patience can carry great burthens c. 6. They are helpful to many and troublesome unto few They are the useful Persons in the family and place where they live it is they can counsel others in their doubts help them in their straits that can bear up the weak when ready to sink that can hold others by the arm when not able to go upright that tend God's little ones And if it were not for these what would God's little ones do They are so furnished with patience which God hath given them for the use of the weak ones in his family and though they are troublesome or do that which might be a disturbance to them they will not thrust them out It is they that comfort the feeble support provide for strengthen and confirm the rest and were it not for these what back-sliding hearts should we have c. And they are comparatively troublesome to few though while corruption cleaves to them they shall sometimes be It is not they that are censuring their Brethren that are stirring up division and make all that feud that is in the Church if they might be hearkened unto and regarded there would be quietness and composure for if ever there be peace it will be by the strong ones But weak ones in grace are the burdens and troublers of the family you may know they are the weak ones in God's house in that they are those that are alwayes crying complaining making fire-work in the family back-biting censuring their Brethren quarrelling with one or other c. these peevish troublesome souls are the weak ones c. 7. The strongest in grace are the best able to stand work and suffer alone Though in duty they should not be alone when they can have society and though they are most humble therefore sensible they need of others and will not throw away any of their helps yet if all forsake them they will stand to it still they go not to Heaven meerly for company sake they be not Christians meerly because such and such are Christians If all the world forsake Christ they will stick to him unless Christ leave them to their own weakness But the weak Christian hath a great deal more need of comfort and support and lives a more dependent life they cannot stand work suffer alone if their Minister fall they fall if their Relations change they change if there be not some body at hand to confute an Adversary they yield if there be not some body to keep life and warmth they grow cold in every duty in affliction they can step on no longer then led by the hand c. have Christians to support and to quiet and moderate their passions and to teach them the Doctrine of patience they can hold up no longer than they are refreshed with cordials What would become of you should God let you stand by your selves c. 8. The strong Christian is one that can best live without creatures upon God alone and a weak Christian is one that hath most need of the creature and can least live upon God alone under the censures of the godly frowns of the wicked without riches honours pleasures can have quietness and contentment in God whether he have any thing or nothing where-ever he is c. The more necessity thou art in of having something besides God for thy consolation the more weak thou art there must be comfortable provision in the family health ease liberty there must be supply I know not how to be poor disgraced c This impatient soul is the feeble soul Impatience is nothing but the fruit of weakness The strong Christian can live upon God alone therefore if men make as if they were undone if lost in their estates 't is a certain sign of a lamentable weakness of a sick soul. 9. That is the best and strongest Christian and most confirmed in grace who is most employed and abides in love of God in love to God That hath the fear of God but goes beyond fear and loves most and abides most in the love of God That makes it his great business to feed upon and study the love of God to him and to return love to him again The more God's Love is on thy heart and the more thou livest in the fruit of that love the stronger Christian. But he that lives most by a kind of constraining fear though he may be sincere he is but weak where there is nothing but fear and no love there is no sincerity but where there is some little measure of love fear is such a tyrant that it will many times cloud it so that almost all his life seems to be moved and managed by fear and in this there is much lothness and unwillingness and they had rather do otherwise then they do According to the measure of love is the strength of grace 10. He is the strongest Christian that hath most pure and most universal Love to others that can love all men even an enemy with true unfeigned love even with such love as belongs to a Christian that can love every Christian and not a party only with the pure and fervent love which belongs to Believers that can love every child of God and not those only that are of his own opinion or have done him good but all because they are children of God with a sincere and special hearty love That is the weak Christian that picks and chuses that is staggering when he comes to loving an enemy that takes in those that agree with him in judgement and makes those almost the only object of his love that would confine his affections to some narrow society some little Sect party or parcel of Believers and cannot love Christians as Christians And hence it is division is the effect of enmity or of weakness in grace for want of the universality of love I would make no question to prognostick the healing of all divisions within this Nation could I but advance all that are concerned in it to the right temper of Christian love 'T is the weak Children in Christ's Family that falls out when we have not enough love to reach to all and to love a Christian as a Christian c. Quest. What must be done by those that are converted to keep them where they are to help them unto growth to make them letter to further their confirmation to secure their salvation that
accordingly 5. Love the holiness of the living members be not so much in love with the holiness of wood and timber bricks and stones but wheresoever you see the Image of Christ be in love with that soul whereever the presence of God shines and whereever thou seest one that gives up himself to God in holy duties do thou say Oh! my soul delight to come into the company of these men The righteous is more excellent then his neighbour If there be a heaven upon earth I tell you it is in the company of godly men I remember a famous man hath this expression saith he When I was in the company of the Saints and people of God I was as a living coal but when I was separated from them and was among the wicked swearers and drunkards me-thoughts there was a spiritual coldness and frozenness went over my soul. Though the people of God are best companie in heaven yet they are very good companie here on earth And Christians should stir up one another and be provoking one another to love and good works and where ever you have grace be sure to impart it Endeavour to love the holiness of Saints and be willing to impart your experiences to others for this is your duty Do not make a Monopoly of holiness but carry company with you to Heaven Lastly to name no more labour to preserve the holiness of Gods true Institutions those things which are of a divine consecration What is humane consecration without divine institution The Sabbath day is of divine institution labour to keep it holy this is a holy-day indeed and this labour to keep your families from profaning of but for other holy dayes and holy things they are much alike for holiness The Lords day is a holy day indeed and for shame do not let your children gad abroad on this day Truly I do verily believe that though here be a great company of people in the Congregation yet they are but a handful in comparison of what are drinking in Ale-houses and whoring and walking in the field that one can hardly get home to their house for the crowd of people that are going thither For shame let not this be told in Gath nor published in Askelon What! shall we stand up for the holiness of places and yet oppose the holiness of the Lords day which God hath enjoyned and instituted Oh! that the Magistrates of London Oâ—… that Englands King Oh! that Englands Parliament would do something for the reformation of this to oppose wickedness and prophanesse which will otherwise bring upon us the judgement of Sodom and Gomorrah and make us guilty and worthy of a thousand punishments And labour by prayer in your families to overcome that flood of prophanesse which you cannot by your strength prevent And then for the Sacraments of Christ Baptisme and the Lords Sâ—…pper these are Ordinances of Gods appointment they are holy and therefore should not be given to those that are unholy and yet those who are so much for the holinesse of places do not care who come to the Sacrament if they have but a nose on their face they shall come and partake of the Ordinances let them be what they will this is to prefer mans institution before Gods institution And then for the Lords Message and Word that is a holy thing and therefore love his Messengers the Messengers of God delivering his Message with fear and reverence you are to hear them with the same fear and reverence and resolution to be holy as if Christ were present And for the Word of God it is not enough for you to have a choice Sentence written upon the walls of your Churches but let Gods Law be written in your hearts and consciences and practised in your lives that all the world may see you live as men dedicated to the true God in all the duties of his wayes and obedience Many of these things might have been inlarged What I have given you with the right hand I pray you Christians do not take with the left for if you do you will make your selves guilty of a double sin First Because you do not obey the truth you hear And secondly For putting a wrong construction upon it But I have better hopes of you my Beloved Hearers and hope that the Lord will be better unto your souls then his Ministers Word or any thing else can be God blesse you and his Ordinances and discover his mind and will at this time to you Mr. Jenkins's Prayer after Sermon O Lord our God thou art never weary of doing us good if we either consider the mercies thou givest to us or the miseries that thou keepest from us that yet we have another opportunity of drawing nigh to thee we beseech thee O Lord let not our mis-interpreting of such opportunities as these are cause thee to take them from us or thy self from them if thou dost Lord we cannot but justifie thee and abase our selves and lie low before thee because we have sinned against thee O Lord we bless thee that we are yet alive to bless thee that yet we have not sinned our bodies into a cold grave nor our souls into a scorching Hell thou givest us our beings if thou withdraw thy self we cease to be and shall return to our first nothingness from whence we came the living the living they praise thee as if we know our own hearts we desire to do at this time Praised be God for Iesus Christ that he died and rose again and is now a pleading at thy right hand for poor sinners Praised be God that he is offered to us for his sake O God pardon all our sins let our lusts die that would not let the Lord of life live let not any one of them live one quiet moment in these hearts of ours let us give up our selves and all that we are or can do to the purpose of thy praise we beseech thee prepare us for a blessed eternity that we may not be ashamed before thee nor ashamed of thee nor thy wayes in the midst of a crooked perverse unclean idolatrous generation Dear Father we most humbly pray thee prepare us for communion with thy self assist us in the ensuing duties of this day let all the work be done by thee let all the praise redound unto thee prepare us by hearing for prayer by both for practice by all for glory Lord set up thy truth ruine Babylon build up Sion delight yet to dwell in the midst of us and do us good though we are a sinful back-sliding God-provoking Nation Mayest thou not say of us as of old what couldst thou have done more for us then thou hast done yet how ill have we requited thee for all thy benefits Poure down the richest showers of thy choicest blessings upon the head and heart of our Dread Soverain Charles the Second by thy especial grace of England Scotland France and Ireland King as follows in his Royal
or faint in it Sin you know is twofold Original and Actual Actual sin is not meant primarily for that is not peccatum agens sin that easily besets us but peccatum transiens the sin that passes from us and Original sin is that which is emphatically called sin Rom. 7. 8. Now this original corruption may be considered as meerly native or as acquired and improved into evil customes and habits for according to mens tempers and constitutions as they are severally disposed so by the corruption of nature they are inclin'd to one sin more then another as the channel is cut so corrupt nature finds a vent and issue in every man there is some predominant sin and in every regenerate person some relicks of that sin from whence is the greatest danger of his soul thus David speaks of his iniquity Psalm 18. 23. Well then this is that sin that doth easily beset us Original sin improved into some tyranny or evil custome which doth encrease and prevail upon us more and more Now this is said easily to beset us for three reasons Partly because it hath a great power and restraint over us and implies the whole man the members of the body the faculties of the soul so great an interest hath it acquired in our affections it doth easily beset us it hath great power and command over us Partly because it sticks so close that we cannot by our own strength lay it aside Ier. 13. 23. Can the Ethtopian change his skin or the Leopard his spots c A man can as â—…oon change his skin as lay aside his customes that are so deeply engraven as the blackness of an Ethiopian or the spots of the Leopard And partly because it mingles it self with all our motions and actions Rom. 7. 21 c. It easily besets us 't is present with us it impels us and solicites us and draws us to sin further and further and make us negligent in what is Gods we cannot do or speak any thing but it will infest us in all our duties of piety charity justice on every side it is interposing vexing thwarting the motions of the Spirit and so abates our strength vigour and agility and retards our course towards heaven and glory therefore lay aside as every weight so every sin c. Quest. Now what is it to lay aside or how can we lay aside since sin sticks so close to us and is engraven in our natures Ans. Certainly something may be done by us for this is every where pressed as our duty Ephes. 4. 4. 22. Put off the old man and 1 Pet. 2. 11. we may put it off more and more though we cannot lay it aside Then we are said to lay aside the sin that so easily besets us when we prevent and break the dominion of it that it shall not raign over us Rom. 6 12. Let not sin reign c. Though it dwells in us lives in us and works in us yet it should not overcome us and bring us into bondage and so it will not be imputed to our condemnation and at length when the soul shall be separated from the body we shall be wholly free from it Quest. I but what must we do that we may so repress it the question returns that we may break the domonion of it Ans. I answer this is the work of the Spirit of God but we must know the Spirit of God doth work the work of mortification two wayes By Regeneration and after Regeneration By Regeneration and so he doth immediately without any co-operation of ours mortifie the deeds of sin gives sin its death-wound That which is left is as a thing mortified it is broken the Scripture often speaks of this first work of Regeneration Rom. 6. 6. Col. 2. 11. First when we are planted into Christ then we put off the body of sin and though it doth not presently dye yet it is weakened that it cannot reign though it be not destroyed 2. After Regeneration the Spirit doth more and more destroy sin the reliques of sin this crucified body of sin till it dieth wholly away this he doth in us but not without us Rom. 8. 13. Through the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the body Not the Spirit without us nor we without the Spirit but ye through the Spirit What is then required of us 1. Seriously purpose not to sin and promise to God to yield him unfeigned obedience Especially should we make this promise in the use of those solemn Rights by which the Covenant between God and us is confirmed Take up a solemn purpose not to grieve the Spirit nor to break his Law Psal. 119. 106. I have sworn and I will perform it that I will keep thy righteous Iudgements This purpose of heart is the root of all good actions therefore in the confidence of Gods help in the sence of thy own weakness Psalm 119. 32. we cannot lay Wagers upon our own strength yet it is our duty to engage our hearts to God To sin against the light of our own Conscience and illumination of the Spirit and the chastening and instruction of our own reins that aggravates our sin but to sin against and besides our fixed purpose of not sinning that lightens sin for then it is a sin of weaknesse and infirmity not of wilfulness and malice and then we can say as Paul Rom. 7. 19. when the heart is fixedly bent towards God The evil which I would not that do I. Two wayes may we be said to sin against purpose either when we are over-born besides our purpose our purpose still remains to please God As when the water breaks over the bank the bank remaining in such a case the fault is not in the bank but in the violence of the flood Or secondly when we break off our purpose or consent to do evil as when we cut through the bank the water may easily make through There is a great deal of difference between sin dwelling in us and sin entertained by us between sin remaining and sin reserved and when you have a firm purpose against all sin there is sin remaining but it is not reserved but it is not kept and allowed 2. Watch over thy self with a holy self-suspition because thou hast sin within thee that doth easily beset thee therefore consider thy wayes Psal. 119. 59. Guard thy sences Iob 31. 1. but above all keep thy heart Prov. 4. 23. Conscience must stand Porter at the door and examine what comes in and what goes out watch over the stratagems of Satan and seducing motions of thy own heart 3. Resist and oppose strongly against the first risings of the flesh and the tickling and pleasing motions of sin that doth easily beset us when it doth intice us away from God or do any thing that is unseemly and contrary unto the duties of our heavenly calling Oh! remember we are not debtors to the flesh Rom. 8. 20. Thou art tyed to the Lord by all obligations and
the Apostle Paul Do I yet strive to please men Gal. 1. 6. Am I then the Servant of Christ You cannot be the Servants of Christ if you strive to please men Wo be to you that please men and displease God He that would be my Disciple let him deny himself and take up his Cross c. What 's that deny Wife Children Learning Relations Comforts he must be willing to go out of all Those duties the Lord Jesus Christ is most glorified in they are either those your slothful hearts are most unwilling to do or that our fearful hearts are most unwilling to suffer for Therefore arm your selves with resolutions to suffer I intended to have taken up four Appearances and coverings that Saints usually take up for to hide themselves as under a covert to beat down the Gospel warrants and commands to suffer for the Faith delivered 1. The notion that a Christian hath of indifferency of things that they are but toyes and trifles that they may be done or not done It is not my work to tell you what is indifferent or name any thing in particular As I remember in the Book of Martyrs the usual argument was Why cannot you worship the Idol why cannot you bow down as well as others it's a small matter cannot you shew your outward reverence and keep your heart to your self Indeed if there were any thing that 's indifferent a Christian hath a marvellous latitude in point of Doctrine in point of Worship I would caution you therefore The term of indifferent I suppose 't is devised as a pillar to rest the conscience on which otherwise would startle and look with a broad face upon them Things that come under this notion had need well to be weighed and considered If they tell you plainly they came out of Rome and had the plague of Popery upon them they â—…ame from Hell were hatched there and the curse of God is upon them no body would entertain them They must pretend they came from the Church from the Apostles descended from the Scriptures and hence they are entertained with that freedome and willingness as that most Christians take no notice but fall down under them and so the very power and life of Religion and holy practise is eaten out The Devil hath three waies whereby he makes men seek after him 1. Commonly he doth cover holiness with other names 2ly He perswades that sins are but little 3ly That they may repent hereafter The first is suitable to my purpose That vertue or grace is covered with other names therefore if a man be holy he is called precise if zealous he is said to be rash and if it be really a sin it shall come under the name of indifferency a toy a trifle and things of that nature therefore you had need be cautious for 't is no matter what name the sin is what title it goes under as what it is really As to things of Doctrine and Worship I know there is no medium every man must give an account to the Lord of what he does therefore I do not tell you what is indifferent and what not but search the Scripture take heed what you receive for indifferent The second thing Christians will say is I hope without danger I may comply with them considering I bear them as my burthens This is very like the Young man in the Gospel he came to Christ and would have him come up to his terms and when Christ told him Yet he lacked one thing Go sell all c. he went away sorrowful So many Christians they would follow Christ but they cannot because there is not such security in it but they will go away sorrowful Thou Hypocrite art â—…hou willing to forsake all for Christ yet cannot leave life liberty and some of these small things Will you wound the name of Christ and pretend to be sorrowful for it I conclude thy pretence shall not excuse thee for so was Pilate loth to crucifie Christ and as a means and expedient he calls for water and washes his hands saying I am innocent from the bloud of this just man But do you think God excused Pilate no more will he you Whatever is brought to you is either forbidden or commanded by God If forbidden by God why do you meddle with it If commanded of the Lord why are you burdened with it why do you it heavily for the Lord loves one that is chearful in his service neither man nor God is pleased with such A third thing it is which satisfies many That they may follow in some things the opinions of wise men holy men and good men That they may do as they do I shall say but these two words First Many men are reputed good wise and honest that are not so A man may be accounted an honest man that yet may be covetous he may be accounted a very good man yet be really corrupt in heart and in his lusts therefore 't is good to try men I dare not trust mine own heart unless God give strength of grace and assistance every moment least I should betray the truth of Christ upon some advantage when the Devil would set abroach an evil opinion or practise it 's his common way to tun it up in some clean Vessel men of civil honesty and goodness You read the old Prophet drew the young one in though expresly forbidden by God himself When you do not fear a young Christian it may be the example of an old Minister shall draw you therefore 't is good to mind who you follow Secondly Grant they are all good and real they are men fearing God as there are some yet God will not let his people know all his mind There are some that would but cannot know all his mind and will the Lord is free and voluntary he reveals things necessary to salvation but for oâ—…her things he withholds But what is your rule Call no man Master you are to follow no man further then he follows Christ And indeed for a man to follow the example of others wherein they sin and do not know it it is just like the case of holy Noah who was a gracious man and knew not the strength of the Grape he was drunk with his own Vineyard But what is the fruit of it His son Cham saw his nakedness and discovered it If good and holy men taste of the intoxicated Wine that is too strong for them and know it not will you sip after them unlesse you will discover your nakedness and proclaim it from generation to generation and make your selves Chams not sons of the Prophet Therefore I know not what warrant you have to follow such examples The fourth thing is this Christians usually they do no good by standing out Answ. Whether we get or do good or no we are to do our duty The Lord will honour you for suffering for the truth 2 Thes. 1. 3 4 5. And by suffering you shall confirm the