of God is for all 1 Pet. 5.7 Cast all your care upon him for he careth for you And againe speaking of his Vineyard the Church Esay 27.3 I the Lord do keepe it I will water it every moment lest any hurt it I will keepe it night and day Now God careth for one as well as the another because all cost a like price the pretious blood of Christ and all are Members of his sonne a man cares for and cherisheth all his Members so Christ Vse 1 This is a ground of great Consolation to all the people of God though meane in the world though sick in body of low esteeme poore in estate though weake in Gifts and graces yet be not discouraged at all these for being within the wall or pale of the Church the orchard or Vineyard of God he preserveth them the same skilfull and carefull hand that pruneth watereth and ordereth the strongest and greatest trees does the same really to the least Yea his care is especially to his weake plants because they are most liable to hurt and danger Secondly such as differ from their brethren in being more eminent Vse 2 in Naturall morall or spirituall endowments if they have many Talents let such often consider who made them to differ and beware of despising or neglecting the lower Saints and beare with the infirmities of the weake Rom. 15.1 and be ready to distribute willing to communicate in temporals and spirituals as good stewards of the manifold gifts and graces of God 1 Pet. 4.10 and be therein like unto their heavenly Father in caring for the lowest and meanest The ninetie first Observation in Nature THe husbandman frequently walks among his fruit-trees and viewes and considers them he takes notice how it is with particulars If any of them be weake and diseased and thrive not as others he considers the cause and sets himselfe to the cure As it is with them he applyes himselfe accordingly towards them This shadowes out unto us That True and faithfull Ministers of the Gospell do diligently looke into the state of their people and deale with them accordingly Proposition shadowed Ministers of the Gospell are imployed by God about his husbandry which is his Church and people 1 Cor. 3.9 ye are Gods husbandry And the Apostle saies we are laborers together with God in this worke Now carefull husbandmen are still looking into the state of their worke how it is in this and that and the other particular that so they may diligently apply themselves so doe faithfull Ministers towards their people They are also Shepheards and it is the duty of Shepheards to watch over their flocks and to consider and diligently to observe how it is with particular sheepe and to apply themselves accordingly so do true and faithfull Ministers according to that in Prov. 27.23 Be diligent to know the state of thy flockes and looke well to thy heards God gives a very strict charge to Ministers of the Gospell Acts 20.28 Take heede unto your selves and to all the flock over the which the holy Ghost hath made you Overseers c. To take heed to the flock and to Oversee it implyes a speciall care to looke into and to examine and consider the state and condition of particulars as well as to have an eye over them in the generall So the Apostle useth the same word thrice in one Chapter Heb. 13.7 them that have the Oversight of you and vers 17. them that have the Oversight of you and againe vers 24. them that have the Oversight of you Though another translation hath it them that have the rule over you but his seemes to carry in it that Lordly power and dominion which Christ will not allow any of his Ministers over his people he hath not set them as Lords over Gods heritage 1 Pet. 5.3 But Overseers and Examples to the flocke which is also agreeable to the words of the holy Ghost in Acts 20.28 the holy ghost hath made them Overseers which carries in it more of care and labour than of authority and rule according to that of the Apostle 2 Cor. 4.5 Our selves your servants for Jesus sake This is also further confirmed by the same word which the Apostle Peter useth 1 Pet. 5.2 Feede the flocke of God which is among you taking the Oversight thereof Now certainely this word so often used carries more in it than only to Preach the Gospell And this is also more confirmed by the Example of the Apostle Paul fully set forth in many places who did not only preach and write to the Churches but also did often enquire and send to know their state yea he went himselfe to particular Churches and families and Persons to whom he had preached to see and consider and know how it was with them 1 Thes 3.5 I could no longer forbeare I sent to know your faith c. And when he heard they stood fast in the faith it was matter of great consolation to him and of many thanksgivings unto God on their behalfe vers 9. and Col. 4.8 he sent Tychicus to know their state So also he sent Timothy for the same purpose Phil. 2.19 That I also may be of good comfort when I know your state He calls upon Barnabas to goe with him to visit poore soules Acts 15.36 Let us go againe and visit our brethren in every Citty where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they doe Yea Paul earnestly prayed for opportunities to performe this duty he longed to see and conferre with the Saints to whom he had preached Rom. 1.9 10 11. Rom. 15.23 24 without ceasing I make mention alwaies in my Prayers making request to come unto you for I long to see you c. Now the Reasons why Ministers of the Gospell ought not only to preach the Gospell but also to consider See Mr Baxsters exhortations unto this duty discorse of true happiness p. 320. 321. and Mr Fener also to same purpose and enquire into the spirituall states and conditions of their People First That so they may be instructed more perfectly in the deepe Mysteries of the kingdome of God they may hereby come to be acquainted with the various methods waies and workings of the spirit of God in the hearts of his people the wiles depthes of Sathan with the nature of grace and corruption Ministers should study men as they study books although they may come to know the generall Nature of these things from the Scriptures Books their owne particular experiences yet unlesse they take in this also to converse frequently with others and looke into their states they can never be so able to deale with soules as they should be Many content themselves with some few particular Cases and Instances mentioned in scripture concerning Job David Human and some others and scarce looke further measuring all others most commonly by these as not being indeed acquainted with the various and different dealings of God
more fruits Iohn 15.5 Yea he is long suffering towards all looking that the riches of his goodnesse and forbearance and long suffering should lead them to Repentance Rom. 2.4 and make them to bring forth fruits worthy amendment of life Hence we should learne to be thus minded on towards another Vse 2 especially such as are Ministers of the Gospell Masters Governours Tutours they should herein be followers of God as deare children Eph. 5.1 though their expectations and desires be not answered in the profiting and growth of those under their charge yet they should not be discouraged but wait still and prune and dresse and order their young plants still waiting till their profiting appeare as the Husbandman waiteth for the fruit of the Earth and hath long patience for it James 5.7 Vse 3 If God be so patient towards us and waits on us shall not wee be content to waite on God God waiteth for the fruits of our obedience O let us wait for the performance of his promises For they that wait for him shall never be ashamed that is they shall obtaine at length above their expectation Esay 64.4 Since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the eare neither hath the eye seene O God! besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him The eightie third Observation in Nature WIld materiall fruit-trees have no power to engraft themselves but grow from year to year according their wild nature and bring forth sower and naughty fruits neither is there any possibility that such Trees should ever be engrafted and bear good fruits without the skill and paines of the Husbandman This is another Similitude of the state of Mysticall Fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Proposition shadowed Vnregenerate persons of themselves cannot come to Christ nor bring forth one good fruit Naturally every one is dead in sin and hath no more power to come to Christ or do one good worke than a dead Carkase hath to walke or worke Joh. 6.44 No man cancome to me except the father which hath sent me draw him The Naturall fruit-tree can as soone graft it selfe as any soule move towards Christ without the power of the spirit of God The heart of man by nature hath no other but corrupt Principles in it which all the time of unregeneracy daily grow stronger and stronger which are not only altogether indisposed to all that is good but also oppose it and contradict the motions of the spirit As they are alive to all that is evill so they are dead to holinesse there is no more power in the soule by nature to move towards Christ than there is in a stone to move upwards of it selfe What is lesse than to have a good thought of or towards God and yet that we have not without the spirit 2 Cor. 3.5 Not that we are sufficient of our selves to thinke any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God This shewes us the sad and wofull estate of persons out of Vse 1 Christ and out of the election of grace there is no possibility of their escaping hell they are as fast bound in the chaines of naturall corruption as the Devils are in the Chaines of darknesse in which they are reserved unto the Judgment of the great day such have their Portion in this life even all the good things they are like to have Little reason then had David or any of the people of God in their greatest sufferings to envy the prosperity of the wicked He counted himselfe foolish for so doing when he saw their end Psalm 92.7 When the wicked spring as the Grasse and the workers of iniquity do flourish it is that they shall be destroyed for ever Here also we may see the Error of those who hold free will Vse 2 that a naturall man hath power of himselfe to move and come to Christ this is contrary to the doctrine of Christ and takes away his glory from him as might be shewed at large This is and will be a continuall ground of love to God to Vse 3 all eternity in the hearts of his people they being drawn to Christ and fixed upon him by faith it is the spirit that hath donne it we contributed nothing to the worke but it is an effect of free Electing love in God therefore let us shew forth the praises of God in a holy and fruitfull Conversation for he that hath begun a good worke will perfect it unto the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1.6 The eightie fourth Observation in Nature SOme Fruit-trees if they be not carefully lookt unto will break out and the sap will presse upwards in some few branches only or chiefely and leave other branches with little sap which grow poorely and weakly and some die whereas a well ordered Tree should spread and enlarge it selfe in all the Branches This Observation shadowes out unto us That Proposition shadowed Some Christians chiefly pursue some particular duties belonging to them and neglect others Works and actions of spirituall fruit-trees may be considered as Branches as well as seede or fruits Some persons as experience makes too manifest are very carefull and diligent about some particular duties which they carry on from day to day and it s well they do so because those things they ought to do but there are other duties perhaps equally as convenient or necessary to be done which are altogether or very much neglected they shoote forth in some branches but not in all they are content to do some small and easy things sutable to their natures and ends while they neglect great and substantiall matters our Saviour reproves such Mat. 23.23 Ye have omitted the weightier matters of the Law Judgment mercy and faith these ought ye to have done and not to leave the other undone Some Christians are all or most for publique duties and very much neglect the private they heare it may be three or foure Sermons on the Lords day in this place and often on other days and they are to be incouraged in frequent hearing the word but yet many such neglect or slightly performe private duties of Prayer meditation examination of the heart and particular application of the word without which much hearing is to little purpose The heart of man is deceitfull and Sathan is deceitfull and both will be ready enough to perswade and carry on to publique duties all the day seeing they will needs be religious that so they may be hindred of greater spirituall advantages in neglecting the private duties aforementioned which are absolutely necessary to a Christians growth in grace Some other Professors are diligent in duties publique and private in reference to themselves but neglect duties in reference to others as Exhortation Reproofe distributing to their necessities visiting them sometimes especially in their afflictions herein they faile much although these are the great and weighty duties of Christians for if we faile in the
grow there being ready for transplanting because such hinder many other small young plants which might be brought into the Nursery to be ingrafted and prepared if the great ones were transplanted So ought it to be in Vniversities For unlesse the ancient Students having had a convenient time to fit themselves for publique imployments doe remove many hopefull young plants will be kept out which otherwise if brought under the discipline of godly Governours and ingrafted will in due season bring forth much good fruit Thirdly If Fruit-trees after they are prepared in the Nursery for fruit-bearing be removed and transplanted abroad into severall Countries many may partake of their fruits they will be profitable from yeare to yeare which cannot be if they be kept still in the Nursery So if Vniversity men having obtained Gifts and Graces goe forth and exercise their Talents in the Church of God many may have profit and advantage by them who otherwise cannot Besides these Reasons the word requires that able and usefull men should goe forth into the Church of God Luk. 10.1 2. Our Saviour as a Master or governour of a great Society having disciplined and taught his Disciples and made them fit for the Ministrie he sent out Threescore and ten of them at one time having sent Twelve not long before Luk. 9.2 And because the harvest is great and there is need of Labourers we ought to pray the Lord of the Harvest that he would send forth more Luk. 10.2 But such as are fit yet unwilling to goe may be asked sharply by way of reproofe why stand ye here all the day idle Mat. 20.6 Many stand idle in the Market place while they might and ought to goe and labour in the Lords Vineyard Having a Talent or more they must one day be called to an account what use they have made thereof and if they have not well imployed them nor gained by them they will make but a sad reckoning Mat. 25.19 the Lord commeth and will reckon with them Vse 1 The Inference hence is in every mans eye that such whom it concernes doe consider what their duty is in this regard and accordingly apply themselves It is my humble advice with all love Let not any now as too many in former times having gotten Fellowships in Colledges account them as t were their free-hold for life having accommodations to set up their rest and say its good being here what can I expect better if I goe forth as though selfe were all a man should ayme at If any man be offended and object why should I meddle thus far I answer I am within the bounds of my Orchard and the subject at first proposed Not only to treat of Ordering Materiall Fruit-trees but also to make a spirituall use of them where I judge the Similitude apt and pregnant I am a friend and no adversary in speaking the truth in Love The Husbandman having purged his Nursery and planted therein many choice plants ingrafted into the true Vine he expects better fruits there than former ages have afforded And it may be spoken to the honour of the Husbandman and of the Reformation hitherto carried on by him that there are pleasant and wholsome fruits brought forth by many Trees of righteousnesse of his planting Oh that it might be said Esay 61.3 Jer. 2.21 Ho. 10.1 there are no Wild Vines among them bringing forth sower and bitter Grapes or empty Vines which bring forth fruit unto themselves That the adversaries of the truth might not have occasion to charge any especially such as have the name of godly persons with Pride high carriages earthly mindednesse and such like grosse corruptions which are the fowlest Blots that can light upon Professors and bring most dishonour to God to his Gospell and to themselves If men in these places have sincere and right ends in their eye and pursue them accordingly even the interest of our Lord Jesus Christ in the increase of his kingdome As they may thereby bring much honour to God happinesse to themselves edification to his Church So also the same is the right and ready way to establish and perpetuate Universities Therefore take my counsell and not mine but the Apostles 2 Tim. 1.6 stirre up the gift that is in thee and againe 1 Tim. 4.4 Neglect not the gift that is in thee Such as have Talents whereby they may profit the Church of God ought to employ them for that purpose according as God hath fitted them It is true indeed Some able men in Vniversities as godly Tutors in every Colledge besides Governours may be as profitable to the Church of God there as if they went forth but this reacheth not the generality of men in such places Therefore the exhortation may be seasonably carried on I know the best men had need of stirring up to their duties And that this may willingly be imbraced Consider what neede there is of faithfull able and painfull Teachers abroad in every Country The Harvest truly is great and such labourers are but few Multitudes Multitudes of people lye in the gall of bitternesse and bond of iniquity and would it not be a glorious worke to be instrumentall in turning them from darknesse to light and from the power of Sathan unto God yea and the worke also will make such Instruments glorious Dan. 12.3 They that be wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament and they that turne many to righteousnesse as the starrs for ever and ever I shall say no more verbum sat sapientibus there are a world of Encouragements to this worke rewards and wages are in it besides infinite Treasures laid up for them to all Eternity Use 2 Secondly such as are Governours in Vniversities ought to take speciall care that men goe forth who are fitted for publique imployments and not to leave it to their wills and pleasures for although some are carried out by the spirit and spirituall Principles to spend and be spent in the work of the Lord yet some others even good men give way to selfish carnall Principles and neglect it Therefore Governours ought herein to follow Christs Example and to * by making Orders and Rules in the severall societies for that end and not to walke in this great respect by statutes made in darke corrupt times Is it likely such should be meete Rules for these Gospell times these times of light and Reformation send them forth to preach Christ It be asked whither shall they goe it Answered to preach the Gospell to every creature to all mankind wheresoever it is wanting For if they are Ministers of the Gospell a necessity lyes upon them to preach it 1 Cor. 9.16 yea woe unto them if they preach not the Gospell whether they have a setled maintenance or no If they be faithfull herein then Christ whose worke it is will certainely see they have all necessaries ministred unto them As the earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof so all hearts
Meeke to bind up the Broken hearted to proclaime liberty to the Captives and the opening of the Prison to them that are bound to proclaime the acceptable yeare of the Lord to comfort all that mourne c. Now the reason hereof is because soules lying under apprehensions of wrath for sin their doubt is mainely of Gods willingnesse to save them they know not his Will in the thing therefore to labour to convince them of his Love of his willingnesse and readinesse to receive and save sinners that come to him by Christ is the great businesse in case of distresse and doubting Vse 1 This being so then those who goe about to direct and comfort weary soules laden and burthened with the sense of sin and wrath are to beware how they presse the duties of the Law to such in order to settlement and peace some are ready still in such Cases to tell the partie distressed in conscience you must walke strictly take heed of Sin give not way to corruptions not so much as any motions or stirrings of them within and be diligent in all duties of hearing the word reading meditation c. and so put them on the duties of the Law or Covenant of workes whereby to get peace and acceptance with God making God appeare as a hard Master and thereby lay one burthen upon another in stead of easing of them Whereas the sweete refreshing Promises of the Covenant of grace the infinite Love of God in our pretious Lord Jesus Christ should be laid open and held forth clearely to such a weary soule that such a one might see the great workes of fulfilling the Law and satisfying divine Justice done to his hand in case he lay hold upon and close with Christ by faith This is the ready way to settle such a soule to make the Graft take hold of the stock from which it may receive life This the Apostle shewes us by a plaine instance Gal. 3.2 Received ye the spirit by the worke of the Law or by the hearing of faith as if he should say ye know this course was taken with you before ye beleived The doctrine of free grace was preached to you ye heard that Justification came not by the workes of the Law but by faith in Christ even so it is now Secondly Soules thus in distresse ought to harken to and receive offers of grace when they heare them made and not to Vse 2 put them off and neglect them as very many doe They will not or dare not close with the free promises of grace because say they I wretch am not worthie I am not fitted my heart is hard my Corruptions are strong I am full of sin my whole life is nothing but sin Why thou shalt never have it otherwise so long as thou standest off and refusest to close with Christ If thou think to get thy heart into an humble melting frame and temper and to subdue Corruptions and then to close with Christ thou wilt but deceive thy selfe that 's not the way but seeing thy want of Christ and thy sinfull undone condition without him and a true desire in thee to get out of it and to be sanctified as well as justified to be saved from sin as well as wrath let it be the very first thing thou doest to venture on him and close with him accept of his love and doe but touch him by faith and thou shalt find thy selfe healed of all thy spirituall diseases but without this course notwithstanding all thy owne strictnesse and endeavours in duties thou wilt find thy selfe to be worse and worse The five and twentieth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman having laboured and taken much paines about Engrafting his Plants when in the spring he sees they begin to bud and shoote forth when he observing of them perceives they have closed with and taken hold of the stock he is glad of it this is a ground of rejoycing to him he is very well pleas'd to see the good successe of his labours about his Fruit-trees This discovers to us That A sinners Repentance and closing with Christ causeth joy both in heaven and Earth The Lord the great husbandman is alwaies at worke labouring to draw soules to Christ by all waies and meanes And his sub-husbandmen the Ministers of the Gospell and all his people one way or other do labour in the same worke they are Co-workers fellow labourers with him in this great Gospell worke Now when they see their works and labours have good successe they rejoyce and are glad 1. The people of God rejoyce when they see unregenerate persons come in to Christ because they are renewed themselves and it 's naturall for every Creature to be glad of and rejoyce in its like Secondly they rejoyce at the conversion of others because they love God The Reason and Love is alwaies glad at that which pleaseth and makes for the beloved God hath honour hereby and therefore they rejoyce Secondly the faithfull Ministers of the Gospell rejoyce at the conversion of soules not only upon these accompts but also because they are more immediately concerned in it it is their proper worke and businesse to winne soules to Christ Now when they see the successe of their Labours they say as the Apostle 3 Epistle of John 4. I have no greater joy then to heare that my Children walke in the truth So the Apostle Paul 1 Thes 2.19 what is our hope our joy our Crowne of rejoycing are not yee c v. 20. For ye are our glory joy Thirdly The good Angels also rejoyce when sinners turne to God This our Saviour tells us Luk. 15.7 I say unto you that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth c. vers 10. There is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth Fourthly God the father sonne and spirit rejoyce at the Repentance of sinners The spirit to speake after the manner of men is said to be greived with sin when soules reject his motions so on the contrary when they hearken to him he is well pleased Our Saviour having taught his disciples and brought them to understand and receive the things of the kingdome of God he rejoyced Luk. 10.21 In that houre Jesus rejoyced in spirit c. Also we see how God the Father is wel pleased when sinners come in to Christ this is at large made out unto us in the Parable of the Prodigall Luk. 15.20 the father seeing his sonne returning to him how glad is he of it he ran to meete him and fell on his neck and kissed him then there was Musicke and dancing and feasting c. all this is but to let us know how welcome a soule is to God when it returnes from its wandrings Esay 65.19 I will rejoyce in Jerusalem and joy in my people and Zepth 3.17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty he will save he will rejoyce over thee with joy
wilt find it otherwise Thy pleasures now out of Christ are but shadowes of Pleasures and there is nothing but bitternesse attending them these are reall and substantiall pleasures unspeakably more and better in the measure and nature of them and yet they are but tasts and beginnings of Eternall joyes and satisfactions All the waies and walkes in this Communion with God are waies of pleasantnesse and all the pathes are peace Prov. 3.17 Here thou maist walke or sit under the great Appletree Jesus Christ be refreshed with his shade fruits Heare what the Church saies come to her Ca. 2.3 I satedown under his shadow with great delight his fruit was sweete to my tast yea here is wine to the fruits to make up a compleat Banquet v. 4. He brought me into a Banqueting house where are mixed wines and wine of the Pomegranate Prov. 9.2 Cant. 8.2 If thou delight in feasts and Banquets here they are A feast of fat things of wine on the Lees well refined Esay 25 6. And the Master of the feast saies freely Eat O freinds drinke yea drinke abundantly O beloved Cant. 5. Therefore delay not to come that thou maist be filled with this joy in Communion with God Vse 2 Will God indeede dwell with men and have fellowship and Communion with them Does the holy and blessed God who cannot have any addition of happinesse by the society of all the Angels in heaven condescend so low as to have Communion with sinfull man and to dwell with him as Psal 132.14 This is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have a delight there O how should we stand admiring at his free grace and love And what an Engagement is this unto us to walke humbly and holily with him Let us therefore be diligent to improve this Communion it will be our unspeakable happinesse and Glory hereby we are enabled to act for God with chearefulnesse and life all duties are easy and pleasant to us which when this is wanting we carry on but heavily This lifts us up above the reach of Temptations the flesh is downe or very much weakned Sathan is at quiet in respect of many suggestions which at other times he drives on and watches his season when he perceives the soule in another frame being in Communion with God the world is then under our feete the daintiest baits of it have no tast nor relish with us Yea the greatest outward Afflictions which when Communion is wanting doe load us and presse us downe and which break the bark or the heart of others these are but light and are easily borne By close Communion with God we live in another spheare in another world then the Common sort of Christians who improve not Communion it lifts Beleivers as it were into the third heaven where are unspeakable pleasures and contentments and the soule saies its good being here O that I might build and rest here and goe no more downe from this Mount from this Mount the soule takes a view of the holy Land and sees the beauty and glory of it the soule sees it selfe interessed in the kingdome and all the riches and Treasures of it O the Priviledges that Christ hath purchased for the beleiving soule they cannot be numbred nor conceived for God is the great everlasting Portion of his people and in him are all desirable things sutable to the soule which are plainely laid open to the eye of the soule the spirit sealing an assurance thereof unto it in this Communion which is satisfying and filling more then can be expressed Seeing such a Fellowship and communion may be had with God Vse 3 through Christ many Christians reall believers have reason to take shame unto themselves for that they looke so little after it It is cleare to the eye of discerning Christians who know by Experience what this Communion is that some have little Communion with God for their Communion is so much and so hartily with the Creature that it cannot be also with God their speeches their daily course and practises their deadnesse in duties their cold and hartlesse acting for God for the interest of Christ their starven love to the saints and their eager and serious pursuite of their owne interests in things of the world so highly prising every petty advantage as that rather then they will part with it they will let the glory of God the Gospell Religion and all Gods people suffer blemishes and disparagement These and such like things I say doe too clearely evidence and prove their Earthly mindednesse and consequently that they are at a distance from God and enjoy not this Communion For it is as possible that darknesse should abide upon the earth where the sun shines as that earthly mindednesse and Communion with God should abide together The seven and twentieth Observation in Nature WHen the Husbandman hath a plantation in hand or intends to enlarge his Orchard he does then remove and take out of the way whatsoever hinders his worke all the shrubs and bushes wild trees hedges stones Roots or whatsoever else lies in the way Hee sets himselfe and his workmen to cut them downe roote them up and remove them that so he may plant his Fruit-trees and have a large and faire Orchard This may teach us That Proposition shadowed Who or whatsoever hinders the inlargment of the Church of God he will certainely and sometimes with great anger take out of the way The workes and people of God in all ages have beene opposed by his enemies and hindred for a time but God hath ever appeared for his people and helped them and carried on his designes by them and for them and the opposers of God and his people have been brought downe When God went about to plant and enlarge his Church the people of Israell how did he cut downe and destroy their enemies that hindred and opposed them When Kings and Princes with great Nations rose up against them to stop the plantation these great Mountaines were levelled before them these tall Ceders and barren trees were hewen downe on every side Pharaoh and his great Host Syhon and Ogg with their Armies Josh 12. one and thirty Kings with much people even as the sand of the sea for multitude Iosuah 11.4 all fell before Israell If Rivers or Seas hinder their passage they shall be dried up Armies of Gyants are cut off Luk. 10.17 men and devills are made subject unto them Who art thou O great Mountaine before Zerubbabel Ezek. 21.17 thou shalt become a plaine Zecha 4.7 God will Overturne Overturne Overturne all persons and things that oppose him The husbandman will cut downe and roote up the wild Plants and trees with Anger and great fury he will come with fire and sword as the Prophet speakes Esay 66.14.15 The hand of the Lord shall be knowen among his servants and his indignation towards his enemies the Lord will come with fire and his
beene and saies of him that David walked before him with a perfect hear t and departed not from him in any thing save in the matter of Vriah 1 Kings 15.5 How wonderfully did God beare with Jonah and how mild was God towards him when Iona was up in an angry sturdy humour and would needs maintaine it and answere God peremptorily I do well to be angry Jonah 4.9 So Christ passeth by the ignorance and prejudice of Nathaniel concerning himselfe and insted of a reproofe gives him a commendation Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile Joh. 1.46.47 And as this is the love of Christ towards particular persons so also towards his whole Church though the Church be as full of spots as the Moone yet the exceeding love of Christ covers a multitude of faults Prov. 10.12 and saies thou art all faire my love there is no spot in thee Can. 4.7 Love beareth all things endureth all things 1 Cor. 13.7 God doth not only conceale the failings of his people very much but he takes notice of and commends the most secret good they doe and sometimes publisheth the secret and closet good works of his people upon the house top Luk. 12.3 Do that which is good and thou shalt have praise of the same Rom. 13 3. Yea praise not only of men but of God Rom. 2.29 As it is our duty to speake well of God and the things of God to his praise so it is the pleasure and good will of God to speake well of his people to their praise and commendation so he spake of Abraham Gen. 18.19 I know that he will command his children and houshold to walke in my waies c. The like commendation is given of Moses My servant Moses is faithfull in all mine house There are many instances of Gods concealing the faults and failings of his people with commendation of the good that is in them Now God judgeth righteous judgment therefore 't is our true honour to be commended by him Not he that commendeth himselfe is approved but he whom the Lord commendeth 2 Cor. 10.18 Vse 1 This should make us very carefull to avoid what may offend this our indulgent and gratious father seeing he shewes his love in concealing our faults let us shew our love in suppressing and declining what is evill let this be one fruit of our Love to God Let it be far from us to turne this grace and kindnesse of God into wantonnesse to be the more bold and take more liberty in sinning because God is so ready to pardon and passe it by Psal 97.10 Yee that love the Lord hate evill the hatred of evill is a fruit of love Vse 2 The consideration of this is a speciall meanes to support the people of God against discouragements and droopings in looking upon sins failings seeing we serve so good a master that is not rigorous and severe as some earthly Masters are that all their poore diligent servants can do will not please them but our Master is of a sweete nature passing by the infirmities and accepting the sincere indeavours of his servants and that with commendation Vse 3 Hence we should be greatly encouraged in all well doing and be the more diligent and industrious to please God in all things an ingenuous and good nature will do more for love than for feare a servant though but morally honest and of a good disposition will do more for a mild Master that beares with him than if he were harsh and hard to please The Cords of love and kindnesse will draw a man of an honest mind in the way of obedience faster than scourges can drive him Vse 4 We should set this before us as a patterne for our imitation if God be so kind and forbearing towards us betweene whom there is such an infinite distance shall not we mete the same measure towards our fellow brethren it is the use the Apostle makes of the same doctrine 1 Joh. 4.11 Beloved if God so loved us we ought also to love one another Let us beare with one anothers infirmities and take notice of all the good we can in each other This is to be like God Shall God forgive Talents of sins to us and shall not we forgive a few pence to our brethren See the reproofe and punishment of the want of this duty Matth. 18.32.33 Consider the sweet exhortation of the Apostle to this purpose Eph. 4.23 Be ye kind one to another tender harted forgiving one another even as God for Christs sake hath forgiven you The eightieth Observation in Nature FRuit-trees bring forth their fruits in their seasons some at one time some at another some sooner some later in sommer and Autumne every kind observes the Law of Nature which God hath fixed in them in respect of times and seasons of bearing fruits From hence we may observe That Trees of the Lords planting bring forth fruits seasonably Proposition shadowed All that are branches of the true Vine doe not only bring forth good fruits and by the purging and ordering of the husbandman bring forth much good fruit John 15.2 but also they bring forth good fruit in due season good fruits brought out unseasonably loose thereby much of their beauty and goodnesse therefore observe the season The Prophet David describing a Godly man one of his properties is this he brings forth his fruit in due season Psal 1.3 Solomon saies a foole utters all his mind but a wise man keeps it in till afterwards Prov. 29.7 A wise man brings forth the fruit of his lips seasonably The voice of a foole is in the multitude of words while others are speaking that 's no good season but a man should stay and wait for a fit time for an opportunity when his words may be heard yea and when the minds of the hearers are best prepared to hear such or such a truth when its most like to take impression Believers have spirituall wisdome wisdome from above Esay 50.4 The Lord hath given me the tongue of the learned that I might know how to speake a word in season to him that is weary Though this be principally meant of Christ the head yet his members have from him the same spirit of wisdome to speake seasonably to weary soules and to speake in the cause of God when there is occasion and season This is to admonish every one to consider and observe the season Vse 1 the fittest season for every duty looking unto God for direction therein This will be much to the beauty and worth of them Every thing is beautifull in his season To every thing there is a season Eccl. 3.1 Circumstances commonly make or marre things and sometimes that which is a duty as to the substance and matter is turn'd into sin in respect of the manner and time of performance so that this is of very great consequence to observe a due season in duties Prov. 15.23 A word spoken in season how good is it
it is like Apples of gold in pictures of silver Prov. 25.11 The husbandman lookes and calls for fruits in their season Mar. 12.2 At the season he sent a servant that he might receive of the fruits of the vineyard So Mat 21.41 We ought in private meetings to consider what discourse is most seasonable what questions exhortations reproofs are most sutable and seasonable and accordingly apply our selves our spirits at some seasons are farre more apt to receive impressions than at other times Now therefore we should be seasonable in publique and private duties but some take little heed to this when the subjects they hold forth in Sermons suite neither with persons nor things to which they ought to apply their doctrine if they will speake seasonably but are like snow in harvest or singing songs to an heavy heart Many things materially good for want of due circumstances and seasonablenesse in performance are of little worth Those doctrines in publique and discourses and duties in private which are not only agreeable to the word in generall but also concurre with and carry on Gods maine designes in the generation we live in such fruits are seasonable fruits otherwise though good in themselves they are not seasonable Also when the word is so divided as to give to every one his portion and application is made to particular and different cases and Conditions of persons then these fruits are seasonably brought forth The eightie first Observation in Nature FRuit-trees yeild forth their fruits as well to the wicked as the godly The unholy and profane do yearly eat and drinke of their fruits and have profits and advantages by them as well as the most holy This shadowes out unto us Proposition shadowed That The godly are profitable not only one to another but the wicked also faire the better for them They that feare God have great and precious promises made to them concerning the good things of this life as well as of the life to come which God performeth to them as he sees is best for them of which outward good things the wicked who grow amongst them as Tares amongst the Wheate are partakers Also being partakers of the divine nature and having the spirit of their heavenly father dwelling in them they imitate God in some measure who doth good to the just and unjust and lets his raine fall and sun shine upon the wicked and the good Matth. 5 25. They do good to all according to the command Gal. 6.10 and that of Matth. 5.44 Love your enemies blesse them that curse you do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you Wicked men share both of privative and positive blessings among the godly Even Sodome was spared for a time while righteous Lot was among them How many fared the better for Josephs sake David was kind to churlish Nabal in keeping his Cattle from spoile while he remained by them Laban was blessed in outward things for Jacobs sake Gen. 30.27 Potiphar and his house Pharaoh and all Egypt fared the better for Joseph Gen. 39.5 and 41. c. Also they reprove exhort and admonish the ungodly as well as the godly they give and lend and doe good not only to them that will do good and lendâ— and give to them but also to their enemies if their enemy hunger they will feede him if he thirst they will give him drinke Vse 1 Hence we may take notice of the noble and excellent nature of Gods people in that they do good to all to those who do hurt to them the ungodly are not so the righteous is more excellent than his carnall neighbour Prov. 12.26 and Prov. 17.27 He is of an excellent spirit Herein he holds forth some resemblance of the Nature of God his father who does good to the just and unjust Vse 2 We may also hence take occasion to observe the basenesse and unworthinesse of the spirits of ungodly persons who hate the righteous notwithstanding all their love they returne evill for Good Psal 109.4 for my love they are mine adversaries This is the highest aggravation of mans sin against God to sin against love against mercy and kindnesse God calls Heaven and Earth to wonder at it Esay 1.2 Here O Heavens and give eare O Earth c. I have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against me so in a proportion is the sin aggravated in respect of men it is the highest ingratitude to returne hate for love evill for good The eightie second Observation in Nature SOme fruit-trees are slow in bearings fruits many yeares passe ere they beare any considerable quantity of fruits but notwithstanding the husbandman does not presently cut them downe but prunes them diggs about them waters and orders them from yeare to yeare and waits for their fruits This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That When men are slow in the duties of obedience God is patient towards them Proposition shadowed and in the use of all meanes waits for their fruitfulnesse God is the great Husbandman of his Vineyard the Church and having many fruit-trees in it he prunes orders and gives them convenient culture from yeare to yeare by his word spirit Ministers Providences favours frownes Chastisements and all meanes and lookes every one should be fruit-full under all his dispensations And yet so it is that many are unfruitfull or beare but few and small fruits though God expect much they returne but little now notwithstanding God of his infinite patience tarries and waites upon them for their fruits Many yeares did the Lord waite for the fruits of Repentance from the old world 1 Pet. 3.20 The long suffering of God waited in the daies of Noah And Esay 30 18. The Lord will wait that he may be gratious He Plants and waters and prunes and dresses his fruit-trees and then waits for their fruits in their seasons Luke 13.7 These three yeares I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree God cuts not downe fruit-trees suddenly for their unfruitfulnesse but sends his word and spirit and causeth the dewes and raine of Heaven to fall upon them in manifold mercies and Providences and then waits for and expects fruits God is as the Apostle saith 2 Pet. 3.9 Long suffering to us ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance This should make us observe and admire the abundant kindnesse Vse 1 and love of God towards us that God who is infinite in power wisdome justice and absolute of himselfe having no neede at all of his Creatures and in a moment able to bring to nought whatsoever shall oppose him shall yet wait upon his Creatures as if he had some need of them or expected some advantage by them whereas it is for our profit and advantage he is indulgent towards his Children bearing with them Ps 103. when they beare some good fruits he purgeth and pruneth them that they may bring forth
great duties of love and charity towards our fellow members what do we wher 's our Religion Pure Religion and undefiled before God even the father is this to visit the fatherlesse and widdowes in their afflictions c. James 1.27 See what our Saviour saies of these duties Matth. 25.36 Magistrater ought not only to restraine and punish what is to Gods dishonour but also to contrive stand for and uphold what is acceptable to him Ministers of the Gospell ought not only to preach the Gospell in the publique congregation but also to take all occasions in private to exhort rebuke instruct and encourage the people in the things of God to be instant in season and out of season inquiring how the worke of grace goes on in the hearts of their people and to know their state which Paul so much enquired after in his owne person and by others that he might speak and write more sutable to their conditions Phil. 2.19 Col. 4.8 how Sathan works what dispensations they have from God and to learne experiences from them studying men as they study books by which course they may become wise and skillfull workmen and know those waies and workings of God of Sathan of Grace and Corruption which otherwise they can never know Pastors of congregations have a strict charge Acts 20.28 Take heed to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers Now to oversee the Church imports more than only to Preach in publique that is but a part of their worke A speciall care should be had of the different state of particular persons Vse This should put us upon Examination what works and duties God requires of us in our generall and particular Callings that knowing them we may observe one as well as another and have respect to all Gods Commands Let us not suffer one duty to justle out another which is frequent among Christians Many think if they are still doing what is good and about the worke of God they look not so much about them nor consider what is necessary besides or what is more necessary and profitable and so many times neglect the maine worke They let some branches of duties wither and dye while the sap and strength of the Tree presseth forth and spends it selfe in other branches lesse fruitfull The eightie fifth Observation in Nature WHile fruit-trees remaine ungrafted all the labour and culture the husbandman can bestow upon them will not make them bring forth good fruits though they grow in the best place of the Garden and be watred pruned and ordered never so well yet because they are ungrafted and wild trees they will beare sower and noughty fruits This is another Similitude of the state of spirituall fruit-trees and shadowes out unto us this Proposition That While persons remaine in an unregenerate state all the meanes of grace is unprofitable to them Proposition shadowed Many make a profession who yet have nothing of the power of godlinesse they attend the Ordinances they heare the word pray have priviledges among the Saints yet bring forth no good fruit Judgments Mercies favours outward providences inward workings of the spirit by reproofes counsells inlightnings c. all is in vaine to them they cannot receive these things nor profit by them because not engrafted they reject the word Psal 50.17 Thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee And Heb. 4 2. The word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it And as they reject the word so also they resist the spirit Acts 7.51 Ye do alwaies resist the Holy Ghost as your fathers did so do yee Yea Judgments and punishments are ineffectuall to them Esay 9.13 The people turneth not unto him that smiteth them neither do they seeke the Lord of Hosts Amos 4 9. I have smitten you with blasting and mildew c. yet ye have not returned unto mee saith the Lord I have sent amoung you pestilence and ye have not returned unto me And vers 11. I have overthrowne some of you c. yet ye have not returned unto mee saith the Lord. So we see all that God doth for or against persons out of Christ all the meanes of grace is unprofitable to them they neglect the mercies of God reject the word spirit Judgments of God and all the reproofes admonitions Counsels Exhortations and Examples of his people Hence we see the miserable condition of persons out of Christ Vse 1 seeing nothing will do good upon them would it not be accompted a heavy curse if the Lands of some men should bring forth nothing but bryers thorns and weeds with all the good husbandry that could be bestowed on them with raine sunne and dewes when by the same meanes other mens grounds are made fruitfull this spirituall curse upon the soules of unregenerate persons is infinitely greater such without Repentance are nigh unto cursing and everlasting burnings Heb. 6.8 Labour then with all thy might to get this evidence of Regeneration Vse 2 even to thrive and profit by the meanes of grace The eightie sixt Observation in Nature FRuit-trees when they prosper well and grow in a decent comly forme and bring forth much good fruit as they do profit many so also hereby they credit the husbandman they bring some reputation to him who orders them but if they grow poorely and bring forth little they discredit their keeper This teacheth us this Lesson That Christians by walking holily and fruitfully Proposition shadowed they bring much honour to God but if otherwise dishonour Every one of the people of God that professeth Christ is as a City upon a hill as our Saviour said of his disciples and therefore their waies are seen and observed by all sorts of persons so that if they walke wisely circumspectly and fruitfully they bring honour to God and credit to their profession Matth. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your father which is in heaven And againe 1 Pet. 2.12 having your conversation honest among the Gentiles c. they may by your good works which they shall behold glorify God in the day of visitation But if on the contrary professors walke loosely and negligently these things reflect upon God to his dishonour As a servant to a great person if he behave himselfe licentiously by drunkenesse swearing and the like it reflects in some sort upon his Master who keeps such a person in his house So it is betweene God and his people if they walke circumspectly in a holy and fruitfull conversation they glorifie the name of God to whom they have relation but if they walke vainely and loosely if they walke in pride minding earthly things the two grand sins of many professours in our times scraping and holding together the trash of the world as though there were no better things to be had in the waies of God then they cause the name of God to be
with his people Secondly By looking into the particular state of their people they may speake more sutably and seasonably to them when they know their particular Lusts and corruptions their Temptations Cases doubts c. their degrees of knowledg and other graces they may then apply the word more properly and effectually than otherwise they can upon all occasions As Physitians when they have enquired into and know the state of their Patients may administer Physicke more effectually than otherwise they can So Though Ministers may speake many good things generall truthes according to the Scriptures yet they may be and are many times very much besides the particular cases and present concernments of many or most of their hearers as not knowing their particular states Use 1 By what hath beene said it is manifest that some Ministers of the Gospell even good men do but the one a See Observ 84. halfe or but a part of their work They preach the Gospell but they looke not they enquire not into the state of their people To preach the word is not to performe the Office of an Overseer nor to follow the Example of the Apostle Paul shewed in all those places afore mentioned who laid out himselfe with diligence to know the state of the people in every place where he had preached But many thinke it sufficient to be diligent in their studies composing of Sermons to preach in publique laying out their time and strength that way but greatly neglecting this other duty of enquiring and looking into the particular state of soules and applying themselves thereunto accordingly I speake it upon knowledge and experience with griefe of heart and indignation against the grosse neglects of some in this matter who have beene so farre from enquiring after the state of others as that when poore soules have come to them to acquaint them with their doubts feares and troubles of spirit they have neglected them and given them a very slight answere and sent them away much more burdned than before which opportunities they should most gladly have imbraced and have been very tender of such wounded sick and weary soules and have come and sent often to them and taken care of them as a Nurse cherisheth her Children Vse 2 Let us blesse God notwithstanding so many seeke their owne things and neglect the things of Jesus Christ Phil. 2.21 that yet we have some Paul's Timothies among us who lay out themselves diligently to looke into the particular state of soules and naturally take care for their welfare These are wise and skilfull Physitians of soules and know how to apply sutable and seasonable things to them whereas those that neglect this duty are but as Emperique Physitians who have but only some few generall notions which they apply in all Cases Let such therefore who are diligent in this worke be encouraged to go on as faithfull and wise stewards to give every one his portion in due season and they shall in due time receive a great Reward Lu. 12.44 even when the cheife Shepheard shall appeare they shall receive a Crown of glory that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5.4 The ninetie second Observation in Nature THe husbandman values and approves most of those Trees and fruits that are most for his purpose most proper for his designe and end that he hath in his eye admit his great designe be to make wine of the fruits Cyder Perry c. then he likes those best that are fittest for that use Or if his designe be to transport them into other parts for sale then he approves most of good hard lasting fruits c. He had rather loose divers trees of other kinds than one of those which beare fruits sutable to his great end and designe This shadowes out unto us Proposition shadowed That God discovereth a speciall care of and love unto those of his people whose Judgments and waies concurre with his great designes in their generation In every generation God is carrying on some particular and speciall designe or other and some of his people help on the worke more than others some rather hinder it they preach and pray and act against it through ignorance of it being darkned with some lusts or worldly interests Now though God cannot forsake any of his people though they oppose him yet they shall loose by it they shall have lesse of God than others whose Judgments and waies concurre with God in his designes Such of the people of God as are active for and with God in his designes they shall have speciall distinguishing care and love shewed towards them which others who neglect the worke of God or oppose it shall not find Nay such are in danger not only of losse but also of some visible testimonies of Gods displeasure towards them Such who fall in with Gods speciall designe in their generation shall find speciall grace kindnesse from God such distinguishing love Daniel found when he prayed and labored so earnestly for the restoring and enlargement of the Church then in Captivity Dan. 9. which was Gods great designe then in that generation he found skill and wisdome and understanding which others had not the care and love of God was eminently discovered towards him even to a miracle in preserving him in the Lyons den and an Angell was sent as a messenger from God to tell him he was a man greatly beloved Chap. 10.11 What speciall care and love did God manifest towards Moses who was eminently instrumentall for God in his generation in gods designe of bringing Israel out of Egipt and carrying them to Canaan Moses had peculiar honour above others of Gods people yea above other Prophets in his time Numb 12.6 7 8. If there be a Prophet among you I the Lord will make my selfe knowne unto him in a vision and will speake unto him in a dreame My servant Moses is not so who is faithfull in all my house with him will I speake mouth to mouth even apparently and not in darke speeches and the Similitude of the Lord shall he behold Caleb and Joshua who followed the Lord closesy and constantly in his designe which was the worke of their generation of setting Israel in the promised Land what distinguishing respect honour and love had they above others The Lord himselfe gave a testimony of them that they wholly followed him Numb 32.12 they possessed that good land when others who would not believe nor act for God in the worke of that generation were cut off Other proofes and instances might be brought Now the reasons hereof God gives out distinguishing mercy to his people that joyne with him in his great worke because thereby they most please him and honour him and give the greatest evidence of their love to him that can be God will reward the obedience of his people in the least and lowest duties they shall not kindle a fire on his altar in vaine nor give a Cup of cold water nor