after it Then they Cried unto the Lord in their Trouble and he delivered them out of their Distresses This Trouble and Distress is that same Bondage of Corruption and that Groaning and Travelling in Pain spoken of Rom. 8. 21 22. Which the present State of the Creation is under And we being a part of it this should be our Business all our Life long to Cry unto the Lord and to call upon the Name of the Lord to be delivered and saved from it And that amidst all the Wandering of others or of our selves he would lead us forth through this Earth by the Right Way there is a great deal in that and when God doth lead be you sure to follow and take notice so the Lord alone did lead him and there was no strange God with him Deut. 32. 12. Neither Idolatry nor Covetousness nor Sensuality for these are kinds of Idolatry nor no strange Lust nor no Sin for in the Judgment of our Creator any Sin is a strange God or a strange Thing which should not be there viz. in any of his Creatures Take these two Directions along with you and observe them viz. to follow when he leads and that the Lord alone may lead thee that there be no strange God with thee and I will warrant my Life for yours that he will lead you and also bring you by the Right Way unto a City of Habitation which is Heaven the Habitation of his Holiness for the same Power that sent us here will translate us up to that High and Lofâ—y Place if we shall be found meet and worthy where we shall be no longer Travellers Pilgrims or Strangers but in a proper and true Sence Fellow-Citizens and Inhabitants for ever to abide He led them forth by the Right Way As for my self in my Journeying and Travelling I have mistook the Way but by enquiry and going forward I always arrived at the place at last where I would be It is the very same in our way to Heaven People may yea and they do often mistake the Right Way but if they will keep on in the Way of Holiness which the Vnclean shall not pass over Isa 35. 8. if they will seek out of the Book of the Lord and Read in the sure Word of Prophesie if they will take â—eed to the Day Dawn and the Day Star in their Hearts and do according to the Light which that shews them If they will confer Experiences with the Saints that are on the Earth for they that â—eared the Lord spake often â—â—e to another But above all if they will be sure to be Travelling on and in motion and always making towards it though perhaps in Twenty Miles we may go half a Mile or more about though in Sailing over the Sea of this Life sometimes we cannot go directly forwards by reason of contrary Winds yet we may Sail this way and that way to make towards it and at last God bringeth them to their desired Haven Psal 107. 30. We Read in the Acts of the Apostles of the Fair Haven Put one Letter more in and Haven spells Heaven which indeed is the Fair Haven for it is all Fair and Clear there it being above all Winds and Storms This is our desired Haven or the Haven where we would be More need not to be said to Paralel our Condition here on Earth for Threescore Years and Ten or Fourscore Years with that of the Wilderness for Fourty Years In the Text it is said To Humble thee And this seems to be the very Reason of those several seveâ—e and harsh Dispensations of his Providence as in sending upon us Afflictions Poverty Sickness and such like As also why he made us thus and placed us in such vile Bodies Phil. 3. 21. In the vulgar Latin there for it is Corpus Humilitatis which signifies the Body of our Humiliation or such a Body as God hath prepared ordered and thought fit for this our present State of Humiliation and Imperfection To Humble us We are as it were Men and Women in Carcases And truly if we know our selves and particularly our own outward Frame there is all the reason in the World as God in making us thus and cloathing us with such Garments of Flesh which are so course if I may so express it filthy and weak and little did it on purpose and design to Humble us So we should be indeed Humbled For wherefore is Earth and Ashes Proud Consider what were we whilst in the Womb from thence we were cast out to the loathing of our Person in the Day that we were Born Ezek. 16. 5. What are we now A Breathing Cold of Clay A sink of Flegm and Excrements What shall we be Meat for Worms Ghastliness stink and Corruption Canst thou throughly think upon this and not be Humbled However to such as will be Obedient the Language of Truth speaks on this wise It is the Will of our Heavenly Father and Creator that during this short time we are in this Wilderness of the Earth we should be very Low Trembling and Poor in Spirit Even by thine own Frame and Constitution He hath shewed thee O Man from within thy self what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee to walk humbly with thy God Micah 6. 8. And see that thou comply with his Mind herein The Text goes on to add to prove thee to know what is in thine Heart whither thou wouldest keep his Commandments or no. Here is the Principal Intent Specified and under this is comprised the Reason of almost all his doings towards the Children of Men from the Day he first Created them on the Earth until the End of time He proved our first Parents Adam and Eve to know what was in their Hearts whither they would keep his Commandments or no and they did not keep them And so he did afterward Prove Abraham Isaac and Jacob who did keep them according to the Covenant and Measure as he did accept of For I know Abraham that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the Way of the Lord Gesi 18. â—9 And so it is of all the Descendants from Abraham ever since some did keep his Commandments and some did not Besides that constant and continued Proving them throughout their Life God doth sometimes Prove his Children in an extraordinary manner as he did tempt Abraham to offer up his Son Isaac which was a great Instance of his Faith and whereby he did know that he Fâ—ared God Seeng thou hast not witholden thy Son thine only Son from me even the Best and dearest thing and all that he had of that Nature It is a Wonderful thing to Consider how he doth Prove all the Generations and Persons of Mankind one after this manner and another after that according to their different Circumstances and Condition of Life to know what is in their Hearts whither they will keep his Commandments or no. The whole History
One as ever any Son or Servant did serve his Father or Master according to the Flesh whom he saw every day and was almost continually with him An Obedience of Faith must needs be accepted because it is such an Obedience as God himself hath Ordained and Established and the reasonable Creature in this State cannot render any other But I do believe and conceive that as it is written The Lord will come down in the sight of all the People upon Mount Sinah Exod. 19. 11. And it is afâ—erwards said And Mount Sinah was altogether on a Smoke because the Lord descended upon it in â—ire And the Lord came down upon Mount Sinah on the â—op of the Mount Vâ—r. 18 20. Which Lord in Acts 7. 38. is said to be the Angel Supposed to be the Son of God even Jesus Christ We Read there Verse 16. and Exod. 20. 18 19. Heb. 12. 21. What effect it had upon Moses and upon all the People as to cast a very great Awe Terrour and Trembling â—pon them The like is not to be expected again in this World But this I do believe and conceive that when the Inhabitants of the Earth of all Generations and Countreys from the Creation of the World unto the End thereof shall be Summoned to meet with God by Death and Judgment at the last Trump For the Trumpet shall Sound then they shall have a sensible and more lasting Apprehension of the Great and Infinite God himself in Person then the Israelites had for the time of his Angel on Mount Sinah For that particular Place the whole Mount Quaked greatly but then the Heavens and the Earth and the whole Creation will quake and be dissolved to be changed and Created a new This also I do apprehend and conceive that in the mean while after the several respective Deaths of particular Persons until this great Day as it is written The Devils Believe and Tremble So the Souls of such Men and Women who in the Days of their Flesh were Disobedient and Provoking to God will also Believe and Tremble Yea they will be Magor Missabib Fear round about Jer. 20. 3. Because that in the Invisible World they will have nothing to harden themselves or to forget the sence of their approaching Condemnation and Misery as now they have as also because they will be nearer unto and know more of God unto whom all Flesh shall come The Apostle in 2 Pet. 3. makes the Use and Application of all this to our Hand for he speaking there of the very same admonishes Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved what manner of Persons ought ye to be in all Holy Conversation and Godliness Wherefore Beloved seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of him in Peace without Spot and Blameless Seeing that the Dispensation of the Kingdom and Dominion of God over Men stands on this wise What can be a more forcible Motive and Persuasion then the Knowledge and Consideration hereof for ye to be stedfast Vnmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as ye know that your Labour is not in vain in the Lord. For as much as ye haste unto and draw nearer and must be let into these continuing things the inference here is Reasonable and Natural Wherefore Beloved seeing that ye look for such continuing Things be diligent that your selves continue in the Service of the Lord. I say ye look for continuing things which is opposite unto perishing things as such are all present things and things of this World I hope that none of ye do serve God for any visible present Recompence as to thrive better in your Trades or Callings and that ye are not in hopes to grow more Rich hereby and come to a place where his lively Word is declared and his Spiritual Worship used out of any sinister Respects and present Ends. If there was any thing to be got by it what a Throng would be here If ye do this or the â—ike ye will be mistaken For the Just shall Live by Faith He will seek the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and trust that all these things shall be added unto it The Terms we are to enter upon Gods Service is Grace here and Glory hereafter necessary Accommodations for our Pilgrimage and the true Rest to come the Patriark Jacob's Request Bread to Eat and Raiment to put on and all this is to be had only by Labour and Honest means and no others But when People come to serve the Lord if they have thoughts of any more and they do not find their Ends and Expectations answered then they leave off the Service of the Lord which they would not have done if they had known the Nature of God's Kingdom and the Way of his dealings towards the Children of Men. If there was a present Profit and Gain to be made by Religion by every one that would try after it then none would Fear God for nought Job 1. 9. nor yet serve him for the alone Hope and Expectation of unseen things But People would traffick for Heaven as they do to Jamaica or the Jndies and all still for the Love of themselves and not out of any Love to the Lord of that Countrey What a Company of Mercenary Souls should we have Then the places of Worship or Hearing the Word of God would be Flocked unto even upon Week Days as the Exchange or as Country People go to Fairs and Markets to Buy and Sell and get Gain Then Worldly Minded Men would become the best Christians Those who are all for themselves use Religion only now and then to serve a turn or for a reserve But if there was any thing to be got at present by so doing such would do most therein and still do nothing only for God's Sake There would be then no Work of Faith nor Labour of Love bâ—t all Selfishness But now God hath most wisely ordered it as it is that the Trial of Faith might be had that the Excellency of Obedience may be seen But yet more clearly it will appear how the right Understanding of the Nature of God's Kingdom and Dominion over Men helps to make a continuing Work from this Remarkable Scripture Because they have no changes therefore they Fear not God Psal 55. 19. My Soul hath much Meditated upon this Scripture it being so very Applicable and Suitable to the People abroad in the World for is not this the very Reason of the want of the Fear of God or when they talk of it in a General Way yet still there is not that real Awe and Dread of God upon their Hearts but there is a secret Contempt of him aâ—d a froward going on in the Way of their Hearts as also a turning back from the Ministration of his Word And all is because they have no changes they see no odds whither they do or do not Sometimes in mine own private Prayer every Morning and Evening I have performed the same in a Perâ—unctory Hasty and Careless manner and sometimes I have done it again more Solemnly Awefully and Attentively But I have observed no great matter of difference about the succeeding of my Actions the following day whither I performed them in a due manner or not Nay Perhaps It went more cross and thwart when I was in the Morning before in â—ervent Prayer then when I was remiss or negligent And hereupon an evil Heart oâ— Unbelief hath arose in me as if Prayers did signifie nothing and there would be no great matter of difference if they were said meerly out of custom or not at all Is not this the very same as to other things pertaining to Religion For do we see any odds or difference outwardly between him that Sacrificeth or him that Sacrificeth not Between them that go into the Sanctuary or them that do not Between them who are constant hearers of the Word or who despise the Word of the Lord and refuse to come to the place where it is holden forth or Preached Themselves sometimes make a trial of both and they find no changes and therefore they are Confirmed more and more in their Ungodliness Moab hath been at ease from his Youth and he hath been setled on his Lees and hath not been empâ—ied from Vessel to Vessel neither hath he gone into Captivity therefore his taste remained in him and his scent is not changed Jer. 48. 11. Even that Taste and Scent of the Old Corrupt and Ungodly Nature Now as to all this and such like Imaginations in the Hearts of Men for by Thoughts or Imaginations every One is led guided and doth accordingly Here a right Understanding of the Nature of God's Kingdom and Dominion over us Men How by the Ordering of things so as they are he doth prove us to know what is in our Hearts whither we will keep his Commandments or no. By the way any one may choose whither he will keep the Commandments or not but then they must not choose unto themselves that Eternal Life which God hath Promised to the keeping of them nor yet may they choose or refuse to avoid that Eternal Death which is annexed to the Contempt Disobedience and Transgression of them God hath also Ordained an Obedience of Faith hath Permitted all things to happen alike unto all an Hour of the Wicked and the Power of Darkness Luke 22. 53. Prosperity to the Sinners Adversity to the Righteous But above all the Knowledge and Understanding that all things shall be exactly so as they are spoken of in the Scriptures this will engage and oblige People to continue in the Fear of the Lord whither they have any changes or no whither they be at ease from their Youth or empâ—â—ed from Vessel to Vessel even however it is with People in this Life and on this Earth They that know and understand all these things they will continue yet more fixedly firmly and constantly in the â—ear of the Lord and that so much the more as they see the day Approaching FINIS ERRATA Page 23. Line 36. for somirk Read Irksom
upwards or downwards or without doors but we must see them We may behold with our outward Bodily Eyes the Truth and Reality of what he hath affirmed for I lift up my Hand to Heaven and say I Live for ever Deut 32. 40. For we do or may continually see that vast fabrick of the Heavens and the Earth and all therein contained upheld by the Word of his Power in a most Wonderful and Astonishing manner That vast and wide Roof of the Firmament or Sky is kept up by his Almighty and Visible Hand without any Visible Beams or Pillars By the way the declaring of these things unto ye is a proper and useful kind of Preaching Because it is a Publishing the Name of the Lord Ascribe ye greaâ—ness unto our God Deut. 32. 2. And a speaking of the Wonderful Works of God Acts 2. 11. Which the Apostles did to their Hear-ers It is a wonderful thing to Consider how the God who made all things and filleth all things should yet be so little manifested unto Men that he who is all Brightness and Glory should not be seen amongst us that he who made and fashioned us in whom we live and move and have our being should be so little perceived by us that when he filleth Heaven and Earth with his Presence yet any should Live without God in the World Surely Darkness hath covered the Earth aâ—d gross Darkness the People The Sun gives Light upon it by Day and the Moon by Night and yet there is a greater Obscurity round about which the dull Element perceives not There is yet a worse and greater Obscurity in those who see and walk thereon Strangeâ— That Hitherto it should not be as yet Universally fulfilled as to all the Inhabitants of the Earth At that Day shall a Man look to his Maker and his Eyes shall have Respect unto the Holy One of Israel Isa 17. 7. Whom he might see with the Eyes of his Uâ—derstanding being onlightened as he doth with his outward Bodily Eyes behold the Works of God and the Earth which he Treads on By the Air he Breaths and moves in he might have a Sence and Resemblance of him that is Invisible Who doth also beset him behind and before is with him in his going out and coming in and is acquainted with all his Ways The least conceiving and Inward Reasoning will Instantly lead unto the acquaintance of him Lift up your Eyes on High and behold who hath Created these things for it must be some One who made all these things for we do conclude and know of the Houses which we Inhabit that some did Build them although that was before we were Born And this great House of the World must needs have been framed by him who Built all things and that is God Heb. 3. 4. Through Faith we understand that the Worlds were Framed by the Word of God so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appâ—â—r Heb. 11. 2. The Heavens continue standing as they were from the Days of the Creation yet that once was and must needs have been But then further the very continuance and upholding of them doth plainly Demonstrate and Point out his Eternal Power and Godhead Besides the Ignorance Sotâ—ishness and Negligence of Man in Vnderstanding and Seeking God Psal 14. 2. Some Reason why he is not so Known and Apprehended by the Inhabitants of the Earth is through his own Ordering if I may â—o Speak for I gather it from his own Word of Truth Verily thou art a God that hidest thy self O God of Israel the Saviour Isa 45. 15. If I may so express it tho' he is in them and before them yet he doth hide himself behind the Skreen of Created things And it â—ame to pass that in the Morning Watâ—h the Lord looked unto the Host of the Egyptians through the Pillâ—r of Fire and of the Cloud Exod. 14. 24. And so he doth continually look unto the â—nhabitants of the Earth through the material and visible things although we cannot see him Because he is Immaterial and Invisible God seeth us when we do not see him He seeth us always but we do not see him at any time Behold I Go forward but he is not there and backward but I cannot perceive him On the left Hand where he doth work but I cannot behold him He hideth himself on the Right Hand Mark that Phrase again of hiding himself that I cannot see him But he knoweth the Way that I take this again confirms what is aforesaid though we do not see God yet God seeth us when he hath tried me I shall come forth as Gold Job 23. 8 9 10. By annexing which last here his Spirit by the Mouth of Job doth Intimate and set forth that God doth thus on purpose to try Man This same Truth and Observation is yet more clearly Expressed in Deut. 32. 20. Which also comes directly to the sence of my Text to Prove thee to know what is in thine Heart whither thou wilt keep his Commandments or no Here God speaks on this wise I will hide my Face from them I will see what their End shall be for they are a very froward Generation Children in whom is no Faith Now put all this together and we are given to understand that whe 〈…〉 God hideth himself and hideth his Face as he hath done since the Creation hereby he doth Try and Prove the Children of Men and knows what is in their Hearts and sees what their End will be In Deut. 32. There is as it were a History and Reâ—earsal of all that Ignorance Disobedience Sottishness Blindness Folly and Ingratitude of Mankind towards their God and the Reason of all is as it were summed up and Rendred in the Twentieth Verse because God hideth his Face and because they are a froward Generation Children in whom is no Faith For had they but any Faith they might find out God notwithstanding he is Invisible and he hideth himself and he hideth his Face and if they did but once find him out and know him it is impossible that ever Man a Reasonable Creature should carry himself thus perversly and contrariwise towards God as he hath done Although the People of the World do reckon upon Sin as a thing of Naught of no Significancy and of no Account yet all Sin is against God And I am persuaded that notwithstanding it is so riâ—e common and customary in the World as alas now it is People would no more commit Sin against God if they did see him with his Bow bent and his Sword drawn the Scripture hath described him in that manner ready to take Vengeance on them for the same and if they did throughly know and believe how that there is a Just Recompence of Reward annexed to every Transgression and Disobedience than now they dare Curse the King to his Face for which they should incur his severe Wrath and Displeasure Immediately But if God was as
Assurance that all things are indeed so as they are spoken of in Scripture And I do through this which hath been a Cloud and Stumbling Block to some see clearly and apprehend plainly the Nature of God's Kingdom and Dominion over Men to be on this wise viz. As about the time of Forty Years he suffered the manners of the Israelites in the Wilderness Acts 13. 18. saith our Text To prove them In like manner for about the time of Threescore Years and Ten or Fourscore Years he doth suffer the manners of all the several Persons of Men and Women of all Countreys in this Wilderness of the Earth letting them go on as they will to see what they will do and what their End will bâ— This is his Eternal Decree which seems to be Establiâ—â—eâ— upon great Wisdom for hereby â—e doth Effectuaâ—â—y prove them to know what is in their Heart whither tâ—ey will keep his Commandments or no. This very same Order and Dispensation of the things of God towards us Men may be understood from that of the Apostle as indeed the whole Series Design of Scripture hath a Relation and Tendency to what he hath written For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ that every one may receive for the things done in the Body according to that he hath done whither it be good or bad 2 Cor. 5. 10. Whereby it is clearly shewn forth and intimated that People do not receive in this Life according to the things that they have here done in the Body but they will receive for them in the Day of Judgment and in the succeeding Eternity There will be nothing done of this until these Bodies are laid in the Graves and an Hour is coming after that in the which all that are in their Graves shall hear his Voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the Resurrection of Life and they that have done Evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation John 5. 28 29 God will make one Work and Reckoning of it altogether according to Mat. 25. 32. And before him shall be gathered all Nations c. And the Destruction of the Sinners and Transgressors shall be together Isa 1. 28. Even of all Generations and Countries although now they Live out their appointed time and Dye as other Men. The Spirit of God saith by the same Isaiah The Sinner being an Hundred Years Old shall be accursed Isa 65. 20. The Word of God doth Speak Evil of him now and Evil shall befal him hereafter although as yet he hath felt nothing of outward Harm or Evil. Good Men have been offended at the present Prosperity and Impunity of the Wicked We hear frequently thereof in the Old Testament but not altogether so much in the New Those who had chiefly Temporal Promises to encourage them to Obedience might well Startle and Stumble when the Disobedient received the same in Effect Verily I have cleansed my Heart in vain Psal 73. 13. There was not then so clear a Revelation of the Judgment to come and of the succeeding Eternity which is to make a wide Decision and vast Difference between the Righteous and the Wicked This would have instantly satisfied all their doubts But now Christians who are assured of all this have no Reason to be Envious at the Foolish when they see the Prosperity of the Wicked Yet Do ye think the Scripture saith in vain The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to Envy Jam. 4. 5. The difference between the Sins of the Regenerate and Unregenerate is the Regenerate have little motions and tendencies towards the same Sins which they crush and keep short but the others suffer them to break forth into opâ—n Act. And so there are at this Day in sincere good People some little Inclinations or Lustings to Envy They are apt to be Grieved that they who Provoke or Despise God should Flourish and seem outwardly in better Plight then themselves There is a carnal Intermixture something for themselves when they Cry out O Lord How long shall the Wicked Triumph How long wilt thou suffer them to do on this wise Perhaps they have their Portion in this Life Psal 17. 14. As Augustine did observe that was the Reason of the long Prosperity and Continuance of the Roman Empire for their Exercise of Moral Vertues Like as we Read in One of the Prophets That God did give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar for Wages in serving him with his Army in such a Work as he would have done And this same is the very Reason why many People have Health and Prosperity Riches and long Life who will yet never go to Heaven but they are Rewarded here for that little good they have done And therefore the Psalmist Prays by the Spirit Deliver my Soul from Men which are thy Hand O Lord from Men of the World which have their Portion in this Life and whose Belly thou fillest with thy hid Treasure They are full of Children and leave the rest of their Substance to their Babes This would not content and satisfy him but he was rather afraid of it As for me By which kind of Speech he would Distinguish and Exempt himself from them I will behold thy Face in Righteousness I shall be satiâ—fied when I awake in thy Likeness I have Read of a certain Godly Man who when he was Exalted to great Perfeâ—ment and Revenues he did very much fear least thereby God meant to give him his Portion in this Life and thereupon he was doubtful whither he should accept of it yet afterwards he did However we are to let God alone with the Ways of his Providence for he and not we poor Wretches knoweth what he hath to do How he deals with others what is that to us We may rest fully satisfied and most certainly assured with what the Wise Man saith Though a Sinner do Evil an Hundred times and his Days be Prolonged yet surely I know it shall be well with them which Fear God which Fear before him Eccles 8. 12. God cannot be Unrighteous and if he deals more Bountifully with the Wicked in this Life then with you certainly you will fare better then they in that Life which is to come It will be better for those who in the Days of their Flesh Lived before him in Righteousness and true Holiness then with those who in the same Days of their Flesh did Despise God or Lived in some Transgression or Disobedience the same while Shall not the Judge of all the Earth do Right Yea He shall do Right and make an exact Distribution Judgment will I lay to the Line and Righteousness to the Plummet to every Man according as his Work hath been Doth any wise or knowing Man envy Oxen or Sheep as he sees them Feeding in good Pastures but he rather Pities the poor Creatures because he apprehends what it is for to Fat them for the Shamblâ—s This is the very case as to the Prosperity of the Wicked
fron within which shall fetch out the Soul to receive for its Sinful Evil Deeds Saith one It is easy for the Lord to recompence a Man according to his ways in the day of his Death Nay He doth it not so properly in the exâ—ct and particular day of Ones Death as afterwards for as when we begin an Action or Commence a Suit at Law against any Man we do first Arrest him by such a Bayliâ— or Inferiour Officer So God hath his Sergeant or Messenger who sits upon a Pale Horse whose Name is Death and enters into Palaces all One as common Houses for no Place or Person is Priviledged against him who arrests severally all the Men and Women of all Generations and Countries and fetches out their Souls from their Bodies Luke 12. 20 And then God begins his Process or Proceedings against them according to what they have done in this Life whither Good or Evil. God could have Punished Man in this Life and on this Earth If he had so pleased But his general Decrâ—â— is to spare them here expecting that his Goodness Forbearance and Long Suffering should lead them to Repentance but when he hath given them a space to Repent and they Repented not then comes Retribution and Punishment In this Life man doth Despise and Provoke the Lord God but by Death God takes Vengeance on Man For the Wrath of God is Revealed from Heaven against all Vngodliness and Vnrighteousness of Men Rom. 1. 18. Mark here diligently how it is expressed It is Revealed that is as much as to say It is made known from Heaven but it is not yet executed and sensibly felt which will then be after the Breath of Men is gone out of their Nostrils and their Souls are departed from their Bodies or rather when they come to rise up and be Reunited again then they shall receive according to what they did in them in this Life and on this Earth On this wise all the great Promises aâ—d Threatnings of God do stand The Promises are now revealed or made known from Heaven they belonging unto Godliness and Righteousness but are not yet Actually given But they shall be certainly given in the appointed time or rather at the End of time And so the Threatnings are Revealed or made known from Heaven against all Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of Men by which last Word is signified all that is contrary unto that great and compleat Rule of Righteousness in Scripture Comprehending all our Duty to God as well as to our Neighbour and not only Injustice and Wrong between Man and Man although this is included also it being contrary to that great and compleat Rule of Righteousness therein mentioned but God doth not execute his Threatnings presently nor yet are they sensibly felt by the Children of Men. Which yet some of them will sensibly feel Smart and Groan under after that their Spirits are deceased or departed from these Bodies of Clay and are removed to another place then this Earth God hath another place besides this Earth and another time besides this Life to fulfil and make good every thing to the least little that he hath now spoken unto the Inhabitants of this Earth in his written and Revealed Word The Bruitish Man and Unbeliever and Ignorant Persons are apt to put off all this with a transient Jest or their way of Proverb What Shall I speak of it after I am Dead Shall I feel Punishment when my Body can feel nothing Implying as if there was an Impossibility in this No such matter Behold I shew you a Mystery Neither they nor we shall Dye but we shall be all changed How now What dost thou contradict Scripture and the Experience of all Mankind It is appointed to Men once to Dye Notwithstanding that I will however make out what I before said and affirmed that neither we nor yet Unbelievers shall ever Dye We that is our selves our Souls shall not Dye This is most true For it is only the Body that Dies then shall the Dust return to the Earth as it was and the Spirit to God who gave it Then the Soul doth only decease or depart from this Earthly House God knows where Hence Death is properly called a Decease or Departure Our Life is only taken off from the Earth Acts 8. 33. but continued elsewhere And so the Soul is equally alive the next Hour or Day after her departure from the Body all one as she was when she was in it And it returns to God who gave it And then she hath a more Lively Hope or Comfortable Assurance of good things from him or a Fearful Expectation of Evil things according as she hath behaved he self well or ill in the Body The shewing unto ye this Mystery doth also answer those two other Imaginations in the Children of Disobedience which emboldens them to Sin or Transgress against him because he is out of sight and he now keeps Silence For besides that the same Word of Truth which saith No Man hath seen God at any time Joh. 1. 18. doth elsewhere acquaint us with the Glorious Appearing of the Great God Tit. 2. 13. And how that it shall be one day said to the Cities of Judah Behold your God Isa 4â—â—9 The same Word which doth take notice how that God hath a long time refrained himself and held his Peace even of Old Isa 57. 11. There it is added And thou fearest me not Even for that same Reason because he hâ—ld his Peace And so he holdeth his Tongue when the Wicked Devoureth the Man that is more Righteous then he Hab. 1. 13. And also whilst that Evil Iniquity and Treachery are Transacted which is mentioned in the very same Verse And so it is whilst the whole course of Sin and Transgression goes on as the same is committed by the Generations of Mankind Thâ—se things hast thou done and I kept Silence Psal 50. 21. Why here the same Word that expresses how God holds his Peace holds â—is Tongue and keeps Silence doth also mention and assure us Our God shall come and shall not keep Silence I will Reprove thee and set them in order before thine Eyes Psal 50 3. 21. Even all the things that were done in this Life and on this Earth Behold how one Scripture answereth to another for it is even so in the Order and Determination of God And we shall see it accordingly so fulfilled as it is written in the Scriptures when the Lord God of Elijah shall take away all the Generations of Mankind from this Earth and shall cause the Dead to arise and the great Day of his Judgment is come and the after State It was before mentioned that though God is now out of sight yet at this very time he hideth himself and standeth behind the Skreen of his Visible Creatures yet Faith would find him out and perceive him for all that As also an Obedience of Faith would approve our selves unto and please him all
THE NATURE OF God's Kingdom AND Dominion over MEN Clearly laid Open and Explained as the same Relates unto these following Particulars God hath Established for all Nations an Obedience of Faith a Life of Probation and Trial wherein all things happen alike unto all He hath also Permitted the Prosperity of the wicked and Ordained Adversity unto the Righteous IN A Discourse on Deut. 8. 2. Wherein is likewise shewed what Influence the Knowledge of these things ought to have upon our Life and Conversation By RICHARD STAFFORD To make known unto the Sons of Men his Mighty Acts and the Glorious Majesty of his Kingdom Thy Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom and thy Dominion endureth throughout all Generations Psal 145. 12 13. And thou shalt Remember all the Way which the Lord thy God led thee these Forty Years to Prove thee to know what is in thine Heart whither thou wouldest keep his Commandments or no. Nihil tam dignum Deo quam Salus Hominis Tertullian LONDON Printed and Sold By E. Whitlock near Stationers Hall 1697. Advertisement THese are to give Notice that I have several other Practical Sermons or Discourses of mine own Composing Lying by me in Manuscript Which if they who have the Plenty or Competency of this World would thus Consecrate some part of their Gain and Substance unto the Lord Micah 4. 13. As to be ready to Distribute and willing to Communicate towards the outward Labour and Charge of the Printing and Publishing of them it would be for the Glory of God in making known his Truth Isa 38. 19. and for the Edification and Benefit of his Church and People and consequently it would be a Good Work in such Persons who shall be Helpful and any ways Assistant herein for which they would be Rewarded by God in the Life that is to come Charge them that are Rich in this World that they do Good that they be Rich in good Works ready to Distribute willing to Communicate laying up in Store for themselves a good Foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on Eternal Life 1 Tim. 6. 17 18 19. This is a Faithful Saying and these things I will that thou affirm constantly that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good Works these things are Good and Profitable unto Men Titus 3. 8. THE NATURE OF God's Kingdom c. And thou shalt Remember all the Way which the Lord thy God led thee these Fourty Years in the Wilderness to Humble thee and to Prove thee to know what was in thine Heart whither thou wouldest keep his Commandments or no Deut. 8. 2. THE whole Oâ—conomy Dispensation and Establishment of all the Things of God and of the Things pertaining to his Kingdom in that manner as they now are do all seem to be to this very End and Intent to prove Man to know what is in his Heart whether he will keep the Commandments of God or not This also cometh from the Lord of Hosts who is Wonderful in Counsel and Excellent in Working for in great Wisdom and Contrivance hath he Ordained and Ordered Things accordingly By the Passage of the Children of Israel through the Wilderness was tipiâ—ied and signified that Passage of the several Generations of Men and Women of the several Countries through this Earth where they may remember all the way and all the several Steps and Stages of this Life which the Lord God of all Creatures doth lead or carry them on these Fourty Years in the Wilderness or these Threâ—score Years and Ten or Fourscore Years which is twice Fourty Years for so the Days of Man are computed in Psal 90. and it holds still thereabouts in the Wilderness of this Earth which is reckoned to be about the middle part of the World Where he hath made of one Blood all Nations of Men for to dwell on all the Face of the Earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the Bounds of their Habitation The Condition of Mankind whilst they are a little time Breathing on this Earth is fitly compared to that of the Isâ—aelites in the Wilderness on divers Respects But particularly from that Description which is given of it in Psal 107 4 5 6 7. They wandered in the Wilderness in a solitary Way they found no City to dwell in Hungry and Thirsty their Souls fainted in them Then they cried unto the Lord in their Trouble and he delivered them out of their Distresses and he led them forth by the Right Way that they might go to a City of Habitation Now here we have no continuing City but Heaven is that City of Habitation and this Earth is but a through fare unto it as we now go through a little Town or Village unto a great City This is now our present Condition on Earth as we stand towards God We wander in the Wilderness in a solitary Way As we are meer Men abstracted from the Assistances of his Word and Spirit Our Thoughts concerning God are but Imaginations Our Words are Mistake or Falshood Our Actions are but Errors and Turnings aside from the Right Way This appears by those Mahometants Pagans and Indians who are the Workmanship of God as well as we but for want of the Scriptures and the Light of the Gospel as to that Invisible Being who made them or as to that Invisible World they and we are all entring into They Grope for the Wall like the Blind and they Grope as if they had no Eyes Isa 59. 10. Even where is an appearance of the outward Worship of God and Christianity How many do wander in their Acts pertaining to Religion For even that of the Generality Multitude is so defiled with the things which savour of Men and comes so short off that Religion which is to the saving of the Soul that the small Remnant is either forced to come out of it and touch not the Unclean thing or else see well to it that their Righteousness do exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees that their Religion do exceed the Religion of the World as it is commonly Preached and Practised at this Day that even his Elect Children and Servants do wander here in the Wilderness in a Solitary Way being Destitute Afflicted and Tormented they are People by themselves as the usual Phrase is which indeed agrees to that Character the Holy Ghost gives of them Feed thy People with thy Rod the Flock of thine Heritage which dwell Solitarily in the Wood in the midst of Carmel Micah 7. 14. The People of God Dwell Solitarily although they are in the midst of Neighbours and Acquaintance such as they are Hungry and Thirsty their Souls fainted in them This is as to God and as to that good Satisfactory and Enduring Thing which he hath Promised to the Sons of Men which on this Earth is kept in Suspence and not actually or at least not fully given but we are all along seeking and labouring
of the Bible and of all his Servants and Reasonable Creatures mentioned therein are to this purpose The Servants of God did keep his Commandments but all his Creatures whom he had endued with Reason did not And so it is of all the Men and Women that ever trod upon this Earth whose Names though they are not Recorded in that â—ook yet they are in the Register of him Who bringeth out that greâ—t Host of his Creation by number and calleth them all by their Names So likewise besides the ordinary manner of dealing with his People he did tempt and prove Job by his great and extraordinary Afflictions who in all them Sinned not nor yet Charged God foolishly for indeed God did well and wisely as to him What is Man that thou shouldest Magnifie him and that thou shouldst set thine Heart upon him and that thou shouldst Visit him every Morning and try him every Moment Job 7. 17 18. All things are full of Temptation even to the necessary Victuals which we Eat for there may be Gluttony and to the Clothes which we wear for there may be Pride even to all our Thoughts and we do think continually for there may be and too often is Vanity and Evil. To our Words for in the multitude of them there wants not Sin and we may soon Speak Falshood or Folly and so to our Actions and Doings for there Sin Iniquity and Transgression do beset us round and it is easy falling into any of them And so all Companies and Conversation with our fellow Creatures do prove a Snare unto us or there is Man Pleasing and Perverting the thing that is Right to humour and comply with those that are above us in outward Degree or Riches As also there is a fear of Bearing Witness unto the Truth and Speaking it out least they should fall under the Displeasure of Men. Many such like things do shew that the Trial of Man is had every Moment as also it is had when he is at and amidst the Worship and Service of God and at Religious Duties It is properly and truly a Life of Probation and Trial. And we are here upon or according to our good or ill Behaviour so we shall have the Eternal Favour of God or be rejected by him Like as Apprentices are commonly put out a Month before hand for Trial to see whither the master will take them for Seven Years or not so these Seventy Years on this Earth we Men and Women are upon Trial for all Eternity God hereby Proving us whither we shall be meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light or Reprobates Reprobate Silver shall Men call them because the Lord hath Rejected them Jer. 6. 30. As it is with the Earth it self so it will be with the Men and Women the Reasonable Inhabitants thereof For the Earth which drinketh in the Rain that cometh oft upon it receiveth Blessing from God But that which beareth Thornes and Briers is Rejected and is nigh unto Cursing whose End is to be Burned Heb. 6. 7. 8. The good Fishes are to be gathered into Vessels and the bad are to be cast away So shall it be at the End of the World The Angels shall come forth and shall Sever the Wicked from among the Just Mat. 13. 41 42. So God will do at the End of World but all this mean while during which the Generations pass through here whither it be Six or Seven Thousand Years it is the time of their Probation â—nd Trial but after that is over and finished God will then proceed to a Decision and Sentence For the more effectual Trial and Probation of Mankind He hath also ordained a Life of Faith and a State of Absence from the Lord which is Grounded from 2 Cor. 5. 6 7. Whilst we are at home in the Body we are absent from the Lord for we Walk by Faith and not by Sight The right Understanding of these two things This Life of Trial and Probation and this walking by Faith do clearly open unto us the Nature of God's Kingdom and Dominion over us Men. It was never known in any Nation Country and Language that the People there should obey a King or Ruler whom neither they themselves nor yet any of his Subjects ever saw Which last it put in because whereas Earthly Kings do Rule over Countreys of vast Extent and Circumference and of Millions of Inhabitants who are dispersed all over it and he being but little and Circumscribed in Passion as other Men it seldom or never happens that he doth see all his Subjects nor yet do all his Subjects ever see him But yet a very great many do and have seen him So that all the others having them for undoubted Witnesses and Assurance that there is such an One they do and must obey him nevertheless although they have not seen him But as to God tho' he fills Heaven and Earth and all things and all places with his Presence though his Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and his Dominion endureth throughout all Generations yet no Man of any Generation or Country did ever see him No Man hath seen God at any time The Only begotten Son which is in the Bosom of the Father he hath declared him John 1. 18. And yet he reqires and expects to be obeyed by all Nations Kindred and Languages yea by all the Inhabitants of the World Whom we are to Obey though we do not see him and all One as if we did see him And though God gives no present Visible Recompence but contrariwise We often sustain outward Loss Inconvenience and Hardship for performing Service unto him yet he Requires it Hereby God is Glorified and here is the Faith and Patience of the Saints to perform it nevertheless Now Faith is the Substance of things hoped for and the Evidence of things not seen And this Faith doth properly terminate upon an Unseen God as it 's Object Whom having not seen ye Love in whom though ye see him not yet believing ye Rejoyce with Joy Unspeakable and full of Glory Receiving the End of your Faith the Salvation of your Souls 1 Pet. 1. 8 9. We Read very often in Scripture of the Name of the Lord The Heathen shall fear the Name of the Lord so declare the Name of the Lord in Zion Psal 102. 15 21. And of calling oâ— the Name of the Lord. Which Name of the Lord to speak after the manner of Men doth suppose and import as much as if his Person were distant and not seen by us But here to pursue the like Reasoning as is in Psal 75. 1. Vnto thee O God do we give Thanks Vnto thee do we give Thanks for that thy Name is near thy Wonderous Works declare So here it is Unto thee O God do we yield Obedience and render Worship for that thy Name or rather thy Person included in that Name is real thy Visible Works declare which we cannot so much as look
or Sinners Righteous art thou O Lord when I plead with thee yet let me Talk with thee of thy Judgments Wherefore doth the Way of the Wicked Prosper Wherefore are all they happy that deal very Treacheroâ—sâ—y thou hast planted them Yea they have taken Root they grow yea they bring forth Fruit. Thou art near in their Mouth and so they were outward Worshippers and did talk of God in a general Way and far from their Reins But thou O Lord knowest me thou hast seen and tried my Heart towards thee whereby the Prophet doth import his own sincere Service towards God and yet it was not outwardly so well with him But he goes on to add Pluck them out like Sheep for the Slaughter and prepare them for the Day of Slaughter Jer. 12. 1 2 3. Aâ—d so the Apostle James saith by the Spirit unto the Rich Men Ye have Lived in Pleasure on the Earth and been Wanton and Nourished your Hearts as in the Day of Slaughter Jam. 5. 5. Tremble at this ye Gentry and Sensualists and Merry Men of this present Age and Generation Though those Bruitish Men know it not neither doth a Fool understand this What It follows When the Wicked spring at the Grass and when all the Workers of Iniquity do Flourish it is there it is Pointed out that they shall be destroyed for ever Psal 92. 6 7. So it will be for ever at last although they are not presently destroyed at the very same time when they commit their Wickedness and Iniquity Amâ—lek was the first of the Nations but his latter End shall be that he perish for ever Num. 24. 20. The Decree and Purpose of God stands on this wise For the Lord God of Recompences shall surely Requite Jer. 51. 56. At the time Appointed when they come Dye and after that the Judgment As by a Right Understanding of the Nature of God's Kingdom and Dominion over us Men we come to know the very Reason why he doth not presently Punish Sinners but oftentimes suffers them to Prosper So by the same Reason of things we may learn wherefore he suffers or inflicts Afflictions and Calamities on Godly and Righteous People It is hard and somirk to think in ones Mind Verily I have cleansed my Heart in vain and washed my Hands in Innocency for all the Day long have I been Plagued and Chastned every Morning Psal 73. 13 14. That when Man serves God diligently and faithfully and leads an upright and innocent Life that thâ—n he should meet with greater and sorer Troubles To think this is Painful to One. Our Nature is Impatient thereat and Resents it hardly But this was the Lot of the Generation of thy Children in former Days and therefore we are not to think that any strange or new thing hath happened unto us But call to Remembrance the former Days in which after ye were Illuminated ye endured a great fight of Afflictions Partly whilst ye were made a gazing Stock both by Reproaches and Afflictions and whilst ye became Companions of them that were so used Heb. 10. 32 33. The Apostle writes this to those precious and best Saints and Servants of God which were in that Day And I know a Man who hath had a good Mind towards God from his tender Years who hath made it his business and constant endeavour to keep and also to do the Commandments from his Youth up who when he hath been Persecuted in Body and been oppressed and rendred Poor in his outward Estate It hath been Tauntingly and Sarcastically said unto him Is this all that your Prayers Religion and Fasting hath come unto The Scoffer did go on to add If I were to be Religious I would be Religious for somewhat and not thereby to be Rendred Miserable which might indeed be done in their meaning by close Methods of Hypocrisy but not by continuing whole and stedfast in God's Covenant without Transgression of or Variation from some part of his written Word considering how the World hath been and is but they who talk after this manner have not Faith and they know not what it is to Live by Faith or to â—ender an Obedience of Faith We Read somewhat like hereof in the Book of the Lord. Many there be which say of my Soul There is no help for him in God Selah Psal 3. 2. My Tears have been my Meat Day and Night while they Continually say unto me Where is thy God When I remember thâ—se things I pour out my Soul in me as with a Sword in mine Bones mine Enemies Reproach me while they say Daily unto me Where is thy God Psal 42. 2 3 10. I Remembred God and was Troubled I Complained and my Spirit was Overwhelmed Sâ—lah I have considered the Days of Old the Years of Ancient Times I Call to Remembrance my Song in the Night I Commune with mine own Heart and my Spirit made diligent search Psal 77. 3. Yea I have sometimes observed that when I have walked with God yet more closely and have waited upon him more diligently bâ—ing conscious of no Sin or Fault yet a greater Affliction or Vexation hath ensued immediately thereupon Truly this was a very sore Trial that when one should more expect and hope for Good from the Hands of God then to meet with Evil. Yea An horrible Thought and Temptation hath hereupon arose in my Mind which indeed hath had that Effect as to make me abate and diminish somewhat from my former Zeal and Fervency like unto that Saying of him Behold This Evil is of the Lord What should I wait for the Lord any longer 2 Kings 6. 33. If only this comes of my Serving of God shall I desist and leave it off and betake my self to the like Uâ—godly Careless Life or Formal Outside Religion which others do of my Circumstances Condition and Years God for bid I abhor the thoughts of it from the bottom of my Heart But I will rather on the contrary make the true and right Inference That Evil Opposition and Trouble came from Satan the Adversary which God did suffer and overrule to prove and try me yet more wherefore I will yet more Resist Satan and act yet greater Revenge upon him for there is a good sort of Revenge mentioned in 2 Cor. 7. 11. To the overthrow of his Kingdom hoth in my self and others Hitherto I have served the God of Israel a little but now I will serve him much and cleave yet more closâ—ly unto him for this Trouble and Affliction which hath befaln me I will hear the Rod and who hath appointed it Come and let us yet more Return unto the Lord for he hath broken and he will heal us he hath smitten and he will bind us up After two Days will he revive us in the third Day he will raise us up and we shall Live in his Sight Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord. Hos 6. 1 2 3. We may see and know more of God