that you may escape these things As if he should have said My brethren my poor disciples with whom my heart is and for whose weal and welfare I am greatly ingaged it is true sad things must be in the world but I would take a little care of you and stand by you and be a help to you by what means I may that you may ride safe in and through that storm and when the world shall be in a flame and every corner of it full of trouble I would that things might then go well with you and your weal might go forward notwithstanding that is the second 3. But note this that the escaping of common calamity it is a great honor and great mercy and that that gracious hearts ought to put out earnestly for I gather this note thus that it is a great honor a great mercy from that expression That ye may be accounted worthy to escape I tell you souls those that God thus in a way of mercy shelters and preserves and carries through days of evil and times of common calamity it is a mark of honor that God puts on them and it is a mercy also that gracious souls should make after and put themselves forward for the attaining of that I gather thus Watch ye and pray always make out after this mercy put out earnestly for it look not upon it as an indifferent thing whether you escape or not but look upon it as a mercy worth the seeking after that is a third thing that lyeth plainly in the words Again 4. Note that watchfulness and prayer are the necessary mediums the proper means at least a part and great part of the proper means to which we are directed for preservation in times of common calamity 5. And then one thing more I would also recommend to you from these words and that is this that it is not the escaping common calamities only that we are to be solicitous about but also and above all and more especially how we may after all stand before the Son of man c. Alas my brethren what if God should satisfie and assure you or me and tell you from heaven you shall survive and out-live the distresses of your day but yet when this is done and you are past this storm you must stand before the judgement-seat of Christ every soul must appear at that great Tribunal from which there is no exemption by any means whatever and the presence and glory the dread and majesty of that day is more and another kind of thing then any dispensation upon earth can be supposed to be therefore how to hold up the head and stand with comfort at such a time is the great thing that we are especially to be solicitous about and that which our souls should be making out the hardest after Now I confess the two latter of these notes will be most spiâ—itual and that that the soul and its concernments lye most in and therefore I shall be much the shorter in the three former though it is requisite to spend sometime on them considering the dispensations of God at this day I shall begin with with the first and shall be brief in the speaking unto it viz. That some dreadful providence muâ—â— break in upon the world there are times and seasons when dreadful things must come upon the earth such as shall sink the souls of many of the inhabitants of the earth and there is a threefold reason of it 1. Because God hath spoken it and he must not be a lyer he is true therefore what he hath said must come to pass I tell you though it were the razing up the foundations of the earth or the most dreadful evil that the heart of man can imagine if God have said it his word must stand that must be effected rather then any reflection should be upon the truth and faithfulness of God therefore saith our Lord Jesus in Luk. 21.33 Heaven and earth shall pass away but my word shall not pass away God stands so much upon his word that he will not give any on earth occasion to reflect upon him as unfaithful and wanting in his truth not the least Iota or tittle of the Lords word shall fail but shall be fulfilled to every letter of it and therefore Mat. 25.18 it is thus written I say to you Vntil heaven and earth pass away one jot or title shall in no wise pass from the law untill all be fulfilled The Law is taken here in a comprehensive sence for the whole book of Scripture and heaven and earth shall pass away but not one title of the mind and will of God that he hath revealed shall be made void but shall stand and be accomplished and it is sufficiently bound and confirmed in that the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it You shall find in Scripture that God stands greatly upon his word what he speaketh touching a particular people or person he will be sure to accomplish it whether it be good or evil and therefore in Gen. 18. it is said of Abraham that he will command his children to keep the way of the Lord c. that he may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him in verse 19. as if he should have said God hath spoken a great deal of good concerning Abraham now having spoken it he must bring it to pass Truely God hath been wont to do so he is accustomed to it he is used to confirm his word unto his servants and to do to them according to what word is gone out of his mouth and therefore when discreet Abigail comes to plead with David that he should not take revenge upon Nabal 1 Sam. 25.30 she tells him that when the Lord should have done according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning him it should then be a grief to him that he had shed blood causelesly she concludes that God would do David good as he had spoken And it is as if she should have said I know the word of God having gone forth he will do good unto David according as he hath said And therefore you shall find David doth wonderfully rejoyce in a word from God if God do but speak it David is comforted Psal 60. David is in the beginning of the Psalm under some kind of diffidence and distrust and a little discouraged but in vers 6. God hath spoken saith he in his holiness and I will rejoyce Why saith he it is true my condition is sad it was a time when David was in distress and trouble but now God hath spoken and given me a word that it shall go wel with me and in that I am satisfied in that I can bear up my heart I will rejoyce I will divide Sechem and mete out the valley of Succoth Judah is mine c. so when God hath spoken a word to a people he will make it good hence is that of Balaam Numb 23.19 You know he was sent
I have built c. vers 30. Well but what course doth God take to humble him Why in vers 31. while the word was in his mouth he was took from men and turned to graze among the beasts this was Gods way to stain the pride of Nebuchadnezzar to bring him down in a way of judgement the like we never read or heard of and you find when his seven years were accomplished then he comes and adores God in a calm spirit and gives glory to him the man was cooled and humbled and it was this dreadful stroke upon him that did it Take one Scripture more and that you have in Isa 2. you may peruse the whole Chapter and you shall there see how the judgements of God are designed to humble men but particularly at vers 17. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down c. Now how shall this be brought to pass look back to vers 12. and there he tells you The day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty c. the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon him that is the day of Gods indignation of his judgements the day of his breaking forth in great displeasure that shall bring them down We poor creatures a little thing lifteth us up but it must be a great thing must bring us down it must be the day of the Lord of hosts he that commands the Armies of heaven and earth he that commands the Armies of Angels and sends them out to do execution he that commands judgements they are his hosts the creatures are his hosts and the Angels are his hosts he sets the sword to work and the pestilence to work and by fighting against them with these hosts he humbles them and brings them down and layeth the heart of the haughty and lofty low and so in the 19 20 21. verses They shall go into the holes of the rocks c. What is it makes them do it It is for fear of the Lord and for the glory of his majesty when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth then all men they throw away their Idols Oh that we might all throw away our idols have we mâ—de the world riches honors pleasures our idols Oh it is time to throw them to the Owls and to the Bats it is fit for them onely to live upon such things as these are when God comes forth thus in judgement then they shall throw their idols to the Owls and to the Bats and why so it is because they shall then be convinced of the vanity and emptiness of these things That is my second reason why such providences must be it is to stain the pride of all glory God hath reserved himself no other way to do it for ought we know and the heart of man will not be brought down at any cheaper rate Alas the great men of the world they think they may do as they please but when God comes thundering with his judgements he makes them to tremble and confess that they are but as other men But then one reason more why such such things must come to pass in their time and season why it must be 3. To vindicate Gods holiness that there may not be a reproach left upon the God of heaven as if he were pleased with the sin and wickedness of an evil generation With reverence be it spoken the God of heaven hath no other way to vindicate his holiness but by the execution of these judgements of his I say that is the Lords way do but mark how the wicked of the world do sometimes challenge God to shew himself in his judgements if he be a holy God and therefore God is constrained to do it In Mal. 2.17 You have wearyed God with your words and wherein even when you say every one that doth evil is good in the sight of the Lord or where is the God of judgement Wicked men they say that God loves men that walk wickedly and though we sin he loves us never the worse why if he do not love the workers of iniquity where is the God of judgement If our evil doings displease him why doth he not execute judgement why doth be not let us see his displeasure God may say in his word what he will wicked men will not understand that They better understand the language of his judgements and therefore if he be not the God of evil and do hate all iniquity why doth he not shew it by his judgements Now I say God is put upon this he is constrained to vindicate his own holiness by his judgement Because sentence against an evil-work is not executed speedily therefore the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil Eccl. 8.11 The meaning of the Text is plainly this because wicked men are not punished in ways of sin say they we may live as wickedly as we will for ought we see we shall fare as well as those that are more precise This is the desperate wickedness of the heart but God will make known himself by his judgements and thereby he will take off this reproach and therefore that is a notable place Psalm 9.16 I think you have not this word Higgaion Selah above once more in the Scripture this Higgaion doth import Consider Meditate upon this why what is it we should take such notice of why it is this The Lord is known by the judgements that he executes that is God is known by his judgements in his holiness in his purity and it is that that sets him forth in the glory of his attributes when God brings judgement on the wicked then they must confess that God is a holy God and therefore take that Scripture more where you have this confirmed Psal 58.9 10. Before your pots can feel the thornes it is a metaphorical expression and I suppose the meaning is this before the thornes or any other combustible matter put under the pot can heat it that is in a very little time God shall take away the wicked what shall be the effect of this The righteous shall rejoyce when he seeth the vengeance and a man shall say Verily there is a reward for the righteous verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth See what effect Gods judgements have that a meer man that hath not any thing of grace in his soul shall be forced to say that there is a reward for the righteous They that say Where is the God of judgement when God comes forth in ways of judgement he will make them change their note and say There is a God that doth righteously Now here you have my reasons why God will bring great judgements upon the world having spoken it as also to stain the pride of all flesh and lastly to vindicate his own holiness Now we will try a little how this may be improved what use we may make of it truely I think it may inform
thâ— they Shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter day VVhen theâ— shall in the latter days be brought neâ— unto God there shall be a holy awâ— of God upon their hearts that shâ— keep them and preserve them and lâ— a restraint upon them that they shâ— not be left â—o do the things that aâ— grievouâ— in his sight Now it is goâ— to inquire whether you finde such 〈◊〉 awe upon your sâ—â—ls that you câ— look upon what â—e hath done aâ— thereby find a kâ—nd of restraâ—â—t lâ—id uâ—on you to keep close to â—im to aâ—â—eâ— his work and â—â—itâ—â—â—â—he things thâ— are pleâ—sing in his siâ—â—â— A â—econd 〈◊〉 is thiâ— Is sâ—andiâ— before Christ suâ—â— a serious thing may help a little for the support them that tremble at the thoughts of â—tanding before him There are some â—ouls that do conclude or at least are very apt to conclude they shall never stand before Christ with comfort that they shall never be able to bear his presence that that day will be a day of such dread and terrour to them that they shall fall before his great and glorious Majesty I would say Is there any that have such workings of heart Why what is the ground of it what is it that fills you with this fear Why saies the soul I am full of fear that his appearance and coming will have so much dread in it that I shall not be able to bear it Unto such I would say It is true the appearance of Christ will be dreadful but unto whom 2 Thes 2.8 It is the wicked that the Lord will consume with the brightness of his coming The dread of the day will not light upon his people but his enemies it will be upon them that know not God And therefore soul thou needest not tremble though it will be dreadful unto them that are his enemies thou mayst notwithstanding hold up thy head I but saies the soul this is my case I have a rebellious heart a hard heart that will not stoop and subject it self to Christ and therefore his coming will be terriblâ— unto me To thâ—â— I answer Paâ—â— â—â—â—er he was converted â—â—d â—ebeâ—â—â—â— in his â—eaâ—t lusts in hiâ— heâ—â—t riâ—â—â—g uâ—â—gainâ—t God as well as thou haâ—â— Rom. 7.19 I finde a law in my members warâ—â—ng against the law of my mind Christs coming into the soul doth not dispossess sin all at once it doth begin the work but it doth not turn sin wholly out of doors no that it doth not but it doth give an earnest of what shâ—ll be done that he will at length subdue thy corruptions throughly But consider this though thou hast a rebellious heart is it not that that thou mournest over is it not that that is thy burthen that that is grievous unto thy soul if it be fear not Christ will come and refine thee not destroy thee he will take away thy dross he will destroy thy corruption but not thee Malach. 3.2 3. But who may abide the day of his coming He will sit as a Refiner of silver c. So I may say unto such a soul as I am now speaking to he will sit as a refiners fire he will purifie but he will not destroy he will take away thy dross he will conquer thy corruption but thee he will save I but saies the soul I dread the thoughts of his coming and therefore sure it will not be to be born by me To that I answer Thy present apprehension is no ground from whence thou mayst make a certain conclusion for wicked men observe it they do not dread the coming of Christ they make a light matter of it and yet it shall be dreadful unto them So thou dost dread his coming and the thoughts of it are irksome to thee but it may be it may not be dreadful when it doth come we have other thoughts of God then we should have many times and therefore the Prophet in Jer. 17.17 he prayes Be not thou a terrour unto me He did mistake God God he intended to deliver him and not to be a terrour to him and so we are apt to think that Christ will be a terrour unto us when it is no such matter when he comes only to take us unto himself to set us with himself in glory And that is the second 3. Will the day of Christs appearing be so dreadful How should it quicken and stir up our hearts then to get into some readiness for that day Motives I might give you many but let this suffice the coming of the Lord draweth nigh not according to that expression A thousand years is as one day and so God may say it iâ— nigh but really and in truth the Judge stands at the door and surely there is but a little time between us and that notable day of the Lord. Oh the signs that we have of the Son of man Immediately before the tribulation of that day The Sun shall be darkned and the Moon shall not give her light c. Luke 21.25 Truely this hath been abundantly of late in a more then ordinary manner 2. Distress of Nations which is added God seems to sound an Alarum to the world by that distress that he brings upon Nations And if the report at least be true a spirit stirring among the Ancient Jewish people is as eminent a sign of Christs coming as any that wâ— have met with before This I am satisfied about that things do look as if the day of the Son of man did hasten greâ—tly as if it weâ—e even at the door and I am sure it doth call loudly unto us to pâ—ck up for Eternity and make ready for that solemn day There are preparations in heaven towards it all things are setting in order against that great Assize and let not us be behind-hand Oh saies the soul what shall I do I a rebel against Christ is there any hope for me that I may yet make peace my heart is full of fear what I shall do when Christ shall sit upon the Throne I will give thee answer soul in allusion to that case between Adonijah and Solomon Adonijah rises up in rebellion scrambles for the Crown but Solomon was crown'd before him and in the 1 King 1.15 52. It was told Solomon saying Adonijah saith Let King Solomon swear I shall not dye c. I allude to it and I think it doth point to what I am speaking of Thou hast been a rebel against Christ thou hearest the Father will set the Crown upon his head that he shall be inthroned And now thy heart trembles and â—hou cryest Oh that King Solomon would swear unto me that I shall not dye Oh that Christ would assure me that I should finde Grace and Favour with him It may be that is thy language take the answer of Christ the true Solomon If thou shew thy self a worthy man there shall not a hair of thine head fall to the earth that is if thou wilt lay down thy arms and come and submit unto Christ heartily and sincerely if thou wilt come and bow before him and acknowledge him for thine Head Lord and Law-giver the Lord Jesus gives his royal Word Not a hair of thy head shall fall to the ground But if thou wilt continue in thy rebellion and iniquity be found in you you shall dye Now soul what is the answer of thy heart art thou purposed in the strength of the Lord to come and submit to Jesus If so thou shewest thy self a worthy man and things shall then go well with thee and thou mayst meet him with comfort and stand before â—im with joy And one Use more If standing before Christ will be so serious a work then to you that are able to say Through Grace things are at that pass that you have ground â—o think you can and â—â—all stand before him with comfort What thankfulness doth this call you up unto What a day will that be to you a wonderful day a day filled with Wonder a day rich and glorious in a way of mercy to you the wonders of that day unto you will be many These two or three among others 1. A wonderful freedom from all your burthens both of sin and suffering 2. Wonderful meeting with all your friends the Saints of all ages shall be gathered together before the throne if the sight of one friend be so refreshing what will it be when all the Saints of all ages shall meet together 3. A wonderful injoyment of Christ and God and this to all eternity never more complaining of â—bsence and distance of hiding and withdrawing but you shall be caught up to the Lord to be for ever with â—im therefore do as is the exhortation of the Apostle 1 Thess 4.18 Comfort one another with these words you may have your burthens of sin and outward trouble for a while there mâ—y be breakings and scatterings of Saints from one another for a time and some hidings of Gods face but in the end these things will end and God and you and the Saints and you shall sit down together to rejoyce in one another to all eternity Soli Deo gloria FINIS
in his day will have to do with both It will not be as it is in outward calamity in which the body falls onely but Christ will sit in judgement upon the inward man also And therefore it is said in Mat. 23. Fear not him that can kill the body onely but him that can cast both body and soul into hell Christ is able to reach souls as well as â—odies and he will make it known that he is able to do it in the day of Christ 6. Common calamity and the day of Christ differ upon this account if in outward calamities upon the body any sin be brought to remembrance it is not such a bringing sin to remembrance as shall be in the day of Christ I confess in days of outward calamity there is a bringing of sin to remembrance but not such as shall be in the day of Christ God did bring sin to Jobs remembrance in the time of his calamity Job 13.26 Thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth This was the case of poor Job he was under outward afflictions and God also did set home some sin upon his soul and brought that to remembrance And this was also the case of David Look upon my pain saies he and forgive me my sin and therefore he prays in another verse Forgive me the sins of my youth In his affliction God made him remember the sins of his youth but in the day of Christ there will be another kind of bringing sin to our remembrance then there is in any calamity whatsoever All the sinners sins shall then be presented to him at once with all their aggravations with every circumstance attending it and what dread what confusion will it bring upon the heart when it shall be at this pass Psal 50.21 These things thou hast done and I kept silence and thou thoughtest I was altogether such a one as thy self but I will set them in order before thee Now the great day of setting them in order it will be the day of Christ that will be the special season when the Lord will set them in order before the soul 7. Farther there is this difference In outward calamities God deals secretly with men but in the day of Christ he will deal with them in the sight of the whole world In a calamity God deals secretly and cuts off a sinner now and then and there is no great noise about it but in the day of Christ he will deal with them in the sight of all now the publikeness or solemnity of an action makes it the more eminent and terrible It puts a great deal more of dread and terror into the malefactor to be tryed and executed in the face of the Country the solemnity increaseth the terror Oh my friends when you come to stand before the Son of man you shall stand also before men and Angels the work of that day shall not be done in a corner but whole heaven and earth shall be spectators and witnesses of what is done and what passes in that day and therefore it is said in that forementioned place Rev. 20.12 I saw the dead both small and great standing before the Lord they were all standing before God Mat. 25.31 32. The Son of man shall come in his glory and all his holy Angels with him the whole host of Angels shall be present And what more And before him shall be gathered all nations This shall be a great appearance and in the sight of God Angels and men all shall be done at that day and in that respect there is a great deal of difference 8 There is a great deal of difference upon this account as for common calamities it is possible they may be escaped you may live in the midst of Gods judgements and yet be preserved yea possibly a sinner for the sake of some that fear the Lord may be preserved in a common calamity as was Noahs case he and his wife and his sons and their wives all escaped the flood but it was Noah was the righteous person the rest were given in for his sake it may be a righteous soul beggs preservation for some poor sinners or other and for their sakes God gives them a preservation but none can be indulged in the day of Christ every one must then fall under the sentence that shall be pronounced by Christ whatever it be There is no way to prevail for indulgence for thy absence at that day Heb. 9.27 It is appointed for all men once to dye and after that the judgement good and bad all must pass through the gate of death and must all appear before the judgement-seat of Christ and as the wise man speaks of death so may I speak of succeeding judgement Eccl. 8.8 No man hath power in the day of death and there is no discharge in that war so may I say No man hath power in the day of Christ and there is no discharge from that war Thou must ride out that storm and see and bear the worst of it for thou must appear before the judgement-seat of Christ 9. There is yet this difference some that fall under a common calamity suppose this of the Plague God takes away their reason so that they do not feel the dread of it it is no more to them nor are they sensible of any more pain then those that are in health and strength but in the day of Christ we shall all stand before him in our sences we shall then know and understand and feel what the weight and dread and majesty of Christ is in that day and at that time Rev. 1.5 He comes in the clouds and every eye shall see him and they also that pierced him they that would be most willing not to see and behold Christ they must see their sences shall all be set at work to understand what the dread glory and majesty of that day is 10. There is this difference also in a common calamity it may be if it lights upon thee some friend some indulgent relation will stand by thee to help support thee and bear thee up but in the day of Christ thou must stand single My friends though these be plain things they may do our souls a great deal of good if God will bless them it is a great relief in a calamity when the hand of God is upon you when you are sick and weak and full of pain if some friend will stand by to help thee to bear thee up and indeavour to relieve the outward man but in the day of Christ all will stand at a distance the knots of all relations except those onely that are spiritual must be at an end when life ends and when thou comest to stand before Christ thou must stand singly nakedly and alone none to stand by thee thou wilt have none to befriend thee at that hour unless Christ be thy friend it is well for them that have a