and run into disorder Communion is broken Prayer is hindred mutual edification neglected Brotherly admonition will not be borne the weak are offended and the mouths of the wicked are opened wide in reproaches and calumnies 6. Preserve oneness in Judgment beware of dividing opinions and dividing in opinion Labour for stability in judgement for rooting in the faith It 's a great honour to be standing Christians in falling times be much and serious in searching the Scriptures much and serious in examining your grounds of profession Look often to your foundation be true to your own experiences Cant. 1.8 and recede not from your approved principles follow the foot-steps of the flock keep close to the Sheapheard tents conforme to the purest times the most primitive and Evangelical practises do not hastily leave the good old way meddle not with those that are given to changes in fundamentals Doctrinal or Practical Errour as one saies is a whirl-pool first turns men round and then sucks them in He has no sure standing who leaves the top of the hill Islebius Agricola the first Antinomian at last turned Papist How gradual has errour been amongst us unto what a monstrous bulk is Heresy now grown both as to persons and opinions which but a few years since was hardly visible now low did some begin who now are mounted upon the highest Pinacles O then stop the first leak least the Ship be immersed quench the first sparks least the maister-timber become a flame not onely keep but contend earnestly for the faith Iude 3. which was once delivered unto the Saints we are the trustees of Jesus Christ the treasure that is committed to our trust is very pretious above the vaule of heaven and earth in the account of the great Truster and that 's an obligation to faithfulness we are not to look onely to our selves but to posterity to that Doctrine which is transmitted to them one generation teacheth another and as we leave them Laws and other National priviledges so it would be sad if we should not be as carefull to leave them the Gospel O then as the Church is terrible as an army with banners so is she beautifull when she marcheth orderly under the Standard-Royal of truth and surely if we remember how we have rejoyced in the salvation of our God and in his name have set up our banners when formidable Armies were drawn up in great fury against us we cannot but charge blame upon our selves if we should forsake his Colours and fly to the painted Pageants of the Prince of darkness 7. Let not evil root in your hearts by the love of money Lay not up your treasures upon earth lest they keep your hearts too much out of heaven seek not great things for your selves with the neglect of greater Let not friendship with the world put you into a state of enmity with God Remember what a friend God was unto you in the midst of your late straits and dangers How little a value you set upon your stocks and lands your shops and trades in the heat of the late dreadfull Warrs how they that rejoyced were as though they rejoiced not they that bought as though they possessed not and will you now doat upon the world and put any trust in deceitfull riches What a sad presage is this of another War what a blemish upon Professours what a Reproach upon Religion There is no sin so contrary to a true Saint as earthly-mindedness whose Conversation ought to be in heaven his inheritance lying there O then roul away this reproach from you be content with food and raiment though none of the finest time was when you would have valued peace and the Gospel as choice mercies though with course dress and Diet make shift a while ere long you shall be cloathed with long white Robes clean and fine and shall drink of that wine which shall be ever new in the kingdome of your Father 8. Lastly Be most intent upon the quatuor nosissima the four last things Let your thoughts be much spent upon death these dying times by way of preparation that it may come without a sting and terrour to you of Judgment by way of preoccupation judging your selves here that you may not be judged hereafter of Hell by way of prevention waiting for and making sure your Interest in Jesus who will deliver you from wrath to come And of heaven by way of prelibation tasting the peace joy and comfort of that blessed Estate living upon the foretastes of heaven living up to the holiness of it and giving all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure that as the Lord hath given you an earnest of his mercy in temporal Preservation so the Lord may give you the full Treasures of his grace in everlasting Salvation To shut up all And indeed 't is time for according to the Rules of Architecture the two porches of it are much too big for the building my witness is in heaven that I covet not the applause of men I am not carried on by a popular spirit to make this publick nor do I designe it to that end which Absalon did his pillar 2 Sam. 18.18 The Lord I trust hath given me a name better then of sons and daughters Isa 56.5 Heb. 2.4 Zech. 1.4 but that like Abel's faith it may speak when I am dead The Prophets do they live for ever Alas we are earthen vessels soon dashed in pieces every Age hath born sad witness to this and none more then the present wherein many honourable vessels that were sanctified and made meet for the Masters use 1 Tim. 2.21 and prepared unto every good work are broken by the hand of heaven as earthen pitchers Lam. 4.2 the work of the hands of the Potter And therefore I have spared some hours from my ordinary pains and studies to prepare this Treatise That when the Lord shall silence me by death that my voice shall no more be heard from the Pulpit I may still speak to the people of God from the Press who are a people lying near my heart whose Stability in the Faith Union in Love Progress in holiness Growth in grace and further ripening for glory is the hearty desire of an unworthy Minister of the Gospel who is yours and the Churches servant in the Lords work N. Whitinge THE CONTENTS of this following TREATISE THE TEXT opened and analised Pages 1 2 3. Three Observations raised Observation 1. That the Saints of God pass through many dangers in this life page 4 1. This shews the folly of carnal men who boldly conclude from their present prosperous estate that they are in Gods favour 5 2. This meets with the mistake of those who think to sail up unto heaven upon a calme sea 6 3. This reproves those stony-ground Professours who cast off Christ when the Cross appears ib. Observation 2. That the people of God are sometimes cast upon such straits that all hopes of
make void the hopes of the wicked Job 36.24 25. that all the world may see and say There is none like unto the God of Jeshurum who rideth upon the heavens for the help of Israel and in his excellency upon the skies The eternal God is their refuge and underneath are everlasting arms and he shall thrust out the enemy before-them and shall say destroy them Deut. 33. ver 26 27. When the wicked thinks to fall upon them and cut them off in the open field then the Lord will be a retreating place unto them the eternal God is their Refuge when they lay load upon them and think to sinke them down with pressing calamities then underneath are everlasting arms to bear them up when they strengthen their leagure and think to cut off all supplies then the God of Jeshurum rideth upon the heavens for their help when they think to starve them out and bring in famine among them then The fountain of Jacob is upon a land of corn and wine when they think to stop up their wells of water and to slay them with thirst Then his heaven drops down dew upon them the Lord filleth their vessels with rain from the clouds so that their water shall not fail thus in all their contrivements The enemies are found lyars and their blossoming hopes are blasted by the Lord so that the Angels in their heavenly Chore may sing this song of triumph in behalf of the Saints Happy art thou O Israel who is like unto thee O people saved by the Lord the shield of thy help and who is the sword of thy excellency Thus have we seen the truth cleared that the appearances of the Lord are eminent and immediate in the time of his peoples greatest distress and the reasons of the point asserted we shall now gather the Vintage and press the full clusters of it to make a cordial wine for fainting Saints in an evill day The Doctrine thus cleared and asserted doth offer us many truths writ with a beam of the Sun known and read of all men As 1. Doct. That the Saints are a people of Gods special care They are much in the thoughts of God and lye near his heart It is a truth God careth for man and beast he exerciseth a general and a providential care towards all his creatures The care of a Creator like the light of the Sun goeth through the whole world his going forth is from the end of heaven and his circuit unto the ends of it and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof Psal 19. vers 6. All men yea the worst of men on this side hell are debtors to God and owe all their safety to his care whose is their breath and in whose hands are all their wayes But he hath a peculiar and paternal care over the Saints That Distich of Musculus cometh in fitly Est Deus in coelis qui providus omnia curat Credentes nunquam deservisse potest A God there is whose providence doth take Care for his Saints whom he will not forsake Saint Paul that he might commend Timothy fully to the Philippians useth these expressions Phil. 2. vers 20. I have no man like-minded he could not finde so choice a spirit not a man of his minde he was a None-such and wherein did this singularity shew it self Why in this who will naturally care for your state as principles of nature carry out the Father carefully to provide for the safety of his children Childless persons drive on a single and selfish interest but parents do wrap up their childrens good in all their actings spending many a careful thought on them how to render their lives safe and comfortable So vers 20. When all seek their own and not the things of Jesus Christ good Timothy naturally tendered the Churches welfare laying out his thoughts and care how to promote her spiritual advantage A singular patern to which the carriages of few men run parallel in these selfish dayes of ours when the publick is too much drowned and swallowed up in private interests A sad deportment and that which ought to be lamented with tears of blood Oh! should the Lord write after this copy what a woe case were we all in but here is our comfort God careth for the righteous and this speaks his care with the shrillest Eccho that he naturally careth for them even with the tenderest bowels of an indulgent father See that 2 Chron. chap. 16. vers 9. The eyes of the Lord run too and fro through the whole earth to shew himself strong on the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him his eyes run implying the celerity and swiftness of God in hastening relief to his people Isa 31. vers 5. As birds flying so will the Lord defend Jerusalem his eyes run through the whole earth implying the universality of help not a Saint in a dark corner of the world under any streights but the Lord seeth him nay run to and fro the providence of God moveth in circuitu if it be low water now it will be high water anon there are tydes of mercy So Isa 49. v. 16. Behold I have graven thee upon the palm of my hands thy walls are continually before me We read that the names of the twelve Tribes were engraven upon twelve stones on the breastplate of Aaron when he appeared before the Lord Exod. 28. vers 11. And the shew-bread was kneaded into twelve Loaves being therefore called panis propositionis because it represented the twelve Tribes and set upon the table before the Lord Lev. 24. vers 5. to enminde the Lord of his people We say and it too often proveth true out of sight out of minde but now the Saints cannot be out of Gods minde because ever in his sight Oh! the care of God toward his people how great And oh the comfort of his people from this care of God how sweet and precious is it and wherein appeareth this care of God Why in his eminent and immediate appearances for them in the day of their distress hear at what a rate God speaketh Isa 40. vers 27 28. Why sayest thou O Jacob and speakest O Israel my way is hid from the Lord and my judgement is passed over from my God God cannot indure such a distrustful whining spirit in his people It hath an unhandsome reflection upon God as though he had remitted if not cast off the care of his people therefore the Lord comes on with his high intergatories Hast thou not known what an ignorant people Hast thou not heard what a deaf people What keep no intelligence with heaven That the everlasting God the Lord the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not neither is weary his strength is Almighty therefore he cannot faile his care is everlasting therefore hee cannot be weary of helping afflicted ones how eminent and various was the Lords care in Jonah's preservation There is a storm at Sea Jonah is cast
thankfull Christian he that pondereth most upon mercies prayeth God most for mercies Oh! when you take a serious review of that change which is upon your hearts of the drawings of your soules heaven-ward and holiness-ward and compare time with time state with state what you were with what you are how once you affected sinne but now abhor it how once you loathed Ordinances but now you love them how once the wayes and people of God were distastefull unto you but are now delightfull how little you had once to shew for heaven and how much you have now through grace to shew against Hell Oh! this will give the heart a notable vent and fill the cup of praise up to the brim Psal 103. ver 1 2 3. Bless the Lord O my soul sayes holy David but doth he stay here no and all that is within me bless his holy name every instrument must be put into tune every musical key must be touched every fret must be stopt and every string must be struck to sound forth the praises of God nay again Bless the Lord O my soul and why so what 's the reason of this thankfulness O soul thou hast great cause to be thankfull For 1. He forgiveth all thine iniquities thou hadest the the guilt of many and great sinnes upon thee which would have sunk thee down into Hell and Jehovah hath given thee pardon of them all nay farther 2. He healeth all thy diseases thou wast full of noisome and unclean distempers many running sores of filthy lusts and Jehovah hath vouchsafed healing grace unto thee Thou art now a justified and a sanctified person 3. Thou art now redeemed from Hell and destruction and wearest the loving-kindnesses and tender mercies of God as a royal Diadem upon thy head and therefore Oh my soul bless bless bless Jehovah Oh if ever we come to such a sence of pardoning healing redeeming crowning satisfying and renewing grace from the Lord as David we shall then take up David's harp and awake our glory to the praises of a good God could we but fasten this upon our spirits that distinguishing grace hath severed us from those heaps of rubbish that we were mingled with and cull'd us out from the rabble of the world that we were herded with our spirits would be turned to this evangelical duty and ditty and if so how like heaven it self would the Church look how would the militant resemble the triumphant Jerusalem and how would every nook of the gospel-Gospel-world ring with the praises of God Mr. Baxter Part 4 Saints Rest page 134. The liveliest embleme of heaven that I know upon earth is when the people of God in the deep sence of the excellency and bounty of God from hearts abounding with love and joy do joyn together both in hearts and voices in the cheerfull and melodious singing of his praises 4. You will live best unto God because You will live most to the glory of God sence of grace received will enflame you with a greater zeal for God and will put every wheel into motion We are naturally slow to action upon the best account the best drive on but heavily few drive at Jehu's rate very few there be whose soules make them as the chariots of Aminadab that make haste in Gods work like the roe or young hart upon the mountains of spices If ever Christians drove heavily the Christians of this age do if ever the elementary constitution of the Church was earth and water now it is little of fire appears unless in unhappy contentions and animosities or else in love to the world and thus most are red hot their affections all on a flame the Lord quench them But Oh! where is their zeal for God where is the courage activity and resolvedness for God where 's the minding of the things of God and holy contendings for God which the Puritans of old that were Puritans of the good old way have discovered there is too much of the Laodicean spirit too many Gallio's amongst us men are high indeed to enthrone their own opinions and perswasions whilest Religion in the main duties of it is neglected they are exact in rything mint and commin and annise whilest judgement mercy and faith the weightier matters of the Law are neglected Math. 23. vers 23. The great Zealots of the times are for the most part men of corrupt and Heterodox Judgments who are violent enough to impose their Errours and false conceptions the Lord take them off from their speed least they out run the Constable as they have done the Covenant He 's a stranger in Israel that knows not these things and he 's no true son of Zion that doth not bewail them but now would we have the water run in the right channel would we have our spirits up in a right zeal for God let our meditations be often and serious upon what God hath done for our soules Oh when a Saint fetcheth oyl from experienced loving kindnesses it makes the wheels run glib when he argues Hath God done thus and thus for me hath he left others of my kindred of my contemporaries of my acquaintance who had the same advantages of Education Ordinances and Gospel-Opportunities with me in ignorance and unbelief and hath he enlightened me called me wrought faith in me appointed me to obtain salvation by Jesus Christ and shall not I be active for Christ shall I sit still brooding over a patch of this base world or drive on the interest of mine own honour or advantage when the name of God is blasphemed the honour of Christ is empeached Gospel-truths are corrupted Gospel-Ordinances reviled and the way of God evil spoken of did Croesus his dumb son cry out for the life of his father and shall I that can speak now be dumb Do I thus requite the Lord is this my kindeness to my friend Jesus Saint Paul had another spirit like that of Calebs 1 Cor. 15. ver 8. last of all he was seen of me also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the emphasis lies in Me there 's an accent upon that word of Me vile Me wretched Me sinful me unworthy Me who was a blasphemer a persecutour and an injurious person but by the grace of God I am what I am by the Grace free grace and rich grace of God I am a chosen vessel a servant of the Lord a believer an Apostle of Jesus Christ and what followes doth he lap up this talent in a napkin doth he sing a requiem to his soul and bid her take her case no saies he his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain but I laboured more abundantly then they all minde here how the sense of grace received carries out his soul in activity for God to labour yea to abound in labour for from Jerusalem round about to Illyricum he fully preached the Gospel of Christ and wrote more Epistles then all the other Apostles did hence he exhorteth the Saints vers 58. alway to
blessing of God have an hopefull tendency to the quickening comforting confirming and spiritualizing the Saints the whole Nation over Mal. 3.16 Then in a time bad enough and it may be much worse then ours whatsoever some men say they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard and a book of remembrance was writ before the Lord for those that feared him and thought upon his name c. What an encouraging practice of the Saints and promise of the Lord is here to quicken us up to a suitable carriage we have had much talk of Classical Assemblies of teaching and ruling Elders to advance the discipline of Christ O that we might have bear the word and blame not the wish Classical communions of Ministers and Christians to advance the doctrine and life and holiness of the Lord Jesus and that now the Lord hath given all his Churches rest throughout his Nation we may walk in the fear of the Lord and comfort of the holy Ghost with one lip and one shoulder consulting our mutual edification and the enlargement of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus taking that Primitive practice Act. 9.31 for our pattern and this gives me a leading hint to offer a fourth consideration unto you how you may live best unto those that are yet without 4. You will more advance Religion in your several Towns and maintain good neighborhood upon the best account if you lend a word of seasonable advice to those that are posting to hell and jogging on with more hast then good speed to the chambers of death and thus you will best do if you speak over unto them how it hath been with you how ignorant how carnal how earthly-minded how obstinate how foolish and vain you have been and how you were in the broad way to destruction yet altogether senceless and stupid as to any right apprehension of your danger or right use of means for your recovery untill the Lord convinced you by his spirit of sin of righteousness and of judgement Joh. 16.8 granted you repentance unto life Acts 11.18 and now being justified by his grace you are made heirs according to the hope of eternal life Tit. 3.6 Now by grace you are acquitted from the guilt of sins and have a clear title unto heaven And friends who knows whether the same mercy be not laid up in store for you whether the same blessed change may not be wrought in you whether the same kindness a d love of God our Saviour may not manifest it self to you Surely discourses of this nature which you may enlarge upon occasion according to the teachings of the good spirit of God may work in them a sense of danger and hope of delivery upon a saving account T is much that the Saints do for the profane world much for their unregenerate neighbors as is their duty commanded 1. In communicating unto them in their outward wants in drawing out their bowells towards distressed persons they have a word of command Ecc. 11.1 To cast their bread upon the waters giving a portion to seven and also to eight So Heb. 13.16 To do good and to communicate forget not for with such sacrifices God is well pleased and Gal. 6.10 to do good to all men supposed in distress as objects of mercy though the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the especially in the text directs them to a larger and more liberal charity towards the houshold of faith and I doubt not much water runs out at these two spouts of Mercy and Charity that this testimony may be given of many of the Saints 2 Cor. 8.3 That to their power yea and beyond their power they are willing to supply the wants of their fellow-Christians yea fellow-creatures also and indeed it would be much their shame and more their sin if men of carnal principles and worldly expectancies outstrip them in obedience to this great Gospel command Prov. 19.17 He that hath pitty upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord and that which he hath given will he pay him again Though God be much out of credit with the world yet the Saints dare take his word and do lend much unto the poor upon his single security 2. They have a great hand in procuring the blessing of God upon their carnal neighbors though God is good to all making his Sun to rise on the evil and sending rain on the unjust Mat. 5.45 bearing witness to his goodness and God-head in all nations by giving rain from heaven and fruitful seasons filling the hearts of men with food and gladness Act. 14.17 yet even the mercies of the footstool the neither springs run much for the sake of the godly which are in the world and are much as a return of their prayers Laban the Syrian learned this by experience that the Lord blessed him as to his outward estate for Jacobs sake Gen. 30.27 Potiphar saw this also chap. 39.5 It came to pass from the time that Potiphar had made Joseph overseer in his house that the Lord blessed the Egyptians house for Josephs sake and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that be had in the house and in the field a plain text and that which teacheth great personages to commit their affairs to the trust and care of Josephs as Stewards and Bailiffs it would go better with them then it does But alas Josephs Religious men are not the onely men in great families more 's the pity and more is there loss the Lord help them to see and all men else how much good the Lords Josephs are instrumental unto in the world that they may be more prized by all and masters may labor more to store their families with such servants how desirous soever the profane world is to be rid of the Saints sure I am they would dearly miss them Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are yet he prayed in a great drought and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth fruit Jam. 4.17 make much then of Jacobs Josephs and Elijahs O ye men of the world you 'l miss them in your barns and in your borders I 'le warrant you when they are gone 3. They keep off many a blow from the places where they live they either divert or at least delay the execution of judgements Ten righteous persons would have preserved four Cities from perishing by fire from heaven Gen. 18.32 How did David and the Elders of Israel by their prayer and humiliation keep off the sad stroak of the pestilence from Jerusalem when the Angel was now stretching forth his hand to destroy it 1 Chron. 21.15 16 17. And truely how should we admire the goodness of the Lord that the plague hath rid circuit through most Nations in the world in late years and that by a desolating mortality in some places and yet hath not for this many years broke forth in any raging manner in this Nation of ours ought not this distinguishing
providence of God since reformation first began in the long Parliament be much admired and the Lord be thankfully adored for it and may we not own a remnant in the Land as a blessing from the Lord who stood in the gap Nay farther it is upon the account of the Saints that the world continues that the fire of God doth not kindle upon the whole Creation which is combustible to melt the heavens and burn up the earth with the works that are therein the floud of waters was onely respited until Noah and his family were secured in the Ark which being done the fountains of the great deep were broken up and the windowes of heaven were opened Gen. 7. ver 11. When Lot was entred into Zoar then the Lord rained fire and brimstone upon Sodom Gen. 19. ver 23 24. 2 Pet. 3. v. 9. The Lord is long-suffering to us ward not willing that any of his should perish but when the whole election is brought in then cometh the end when the sealing Angel Apoc. 7. ver 1 2 3. had sealed the servants of God in their foreheads then had the four Angels that stood on the four corners of the earth full commission to fall pel mel upon the earth It will be a dooms day with the world when the cloudes shall catch up the elect to meet their Lord in the air 1 Thess 4. vers 17. 5. And Lastly The Saints of God may mostly advantage their carnal neighbours in promoting their conversion herein they would shew themselves friends indeed if they would use all humble and earnest endeavours to bring them home to God The Judicial Law commanded every Israelite to bring a straying ox or ass home to his master How much more doth the Law of God and Christian love oblige every true Israelite indeed to bring a straggling Prodigal home to his Fathers house All the Saints own it as their duty to glorifie God in their generation and wherein can they bring more glory to God then in helping soules to heaven and how can they find out a readier way to effect this great business then by telling Vnless the Lord had been their help their soules had well nigh dwelt in silence by making a faithfull narrative of their own conditions by nature and by grace when and how the goodness of the Lord was made known unto them upon a saving account Some of the Saints I may boldly affirm have taken this course and prospered Oh that this might be a word from the Lord to awaken up all to this great duty my soul even bleedeth within me to observe the general neglect and great aversness of most to this great business some think their gifts too low and their parts too inconsiderable to carry on a design of this importance others have such honorable thoughts of a Gospel Ministery rightly called and qualified that they judg the anointing of the Lord to be upon them onely for that work and therefore will not take their work out of their hand least they should sin in such an attempt Others cry out let them do the work who receive the wages as though they worked onely for wages which is a very unjust and uncharitable censure Some there be that go higher yet who bid the Ministers sit still for they can do the work better then they and load them with many foul aspersions that they may the better get their work out of their hands I mean their people from under their Ministerial care and oversight indeed the distemper is very sad at this day in the Nation and not a few fall under this last classis I think in no Nation more the Lord rebuke that bold and blaspemous spirit which is gone abroad humble us for our sinnes and shew us the pattern of his house in all the in-goings out-goings and ordinances of it that men of daring spirits may be bounded I like not an invasion upon the Ministry so as to destroy the office of it nor yet an intrusion unto it by men not duly called unto it neither that any who are not in some measure of Gospel-fitness qualified for it should be thrust or thrust themselves upon a people though called by man unto it much less that any should improve their gifts to set up themselves and throw down the faithfull Ministry in the hearts and affections of people least of all that any should be suffered much more encouraged who corrupt the truths and people of God who bring in damnable heresies to draw away disciples after them by reason of whome the way of truth is evil spoken of 2 Pet. 2. vers 1 2. formerly made good in those reproaches which were cast upon Religion by the Pagans in the Primitive times and are now cast upon it amongst us by Papists and carnal Professours and both upon the account of Heresies and therefore as I owne the office of a Pastor as distinct from the people being the great bequeathment of the Lord Jesus to his Church and for the spiritual edification of his Church Eph. 4. ver 8 11 12. Bless God for those able pens who have with much learning gravitie weightiness of Arguments and evidence of divine truth propugned and asserted it in these times of great opposition and also thankfully acknowledg the integrity and faithfulness of the Civil and Supream power which hath been as a covering Cherub to the godly Ministery notwithstanding the many temptations which have been upon them to the contrary so as a suitable return both to God and good men I make it my humble proposal to my reverend brethren of the Ministery that they would strengthen the hands of the Lords people and by encouraging Arguments quicken them up to lay out themselves in their several capacities and in a wise improvement in their several advantages to win over sinners unto God If Eldad and Medad prophesie in the camp why should Joshua dislike it my Lord Moses forbid them Numb 11. ver 25 26. If the Christians of our respective Congregations should keep up private communion amongst themselves at due times and in due order or if sober and experienced Christians should minister words of advice and exhortation to their carnal neighbours provided they do it out of right principles to right ends and in a a due manner would it not hear ill if we should cry to my Lord Moses to forbid them rather let us say Would God that all the Lords people were Prophets Ver. 29. and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them that they may receive abilities from God to minister unto others That God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 4. ver 12. O then my dear Christian brethren rise up in the name and might of our Lord Jesus Christ seek the eternal welfare of your carnall neighbours I will not enlarge upon directions for the right management of this great duty onely entreat you that with modesty and Christian sobriety you
proud Senacherib and upon what occasion to wit the vaunting of his success in wars and what follows why vers 16. Therefore the Lord the Lord of Hosts shall send among his fat ones principal Officers leanness and under his glory he shall kindle a fire May not that contempt which the Lord hath poured upon some ones of you spring much from this root of pride I onely interrogate and such are the respects I bear to the Restorers of our peace and liberty that I wish the Dream may be to those that hate you and the interpretation unto your enemies Dan. 4.19 2. Own the people of the Lord who have owned you and the cause ye have ventured in They have had a large share in the fraughtage of that ship which by the blessing of God hath been steered by you through stormy Seas into safe harbour Read often Prov. 27. vers 10. Thine own friend and thy fathers friend forsake not You cannot own God fully if you dis-own his people who under him have assisted in the work ye have had many Auxiliaries who have helped the Lord and you against the mighty Some have jeoparded their lives unto death with you in the high places of the field Judg. 5.18 It would be very disingenuous to lay such aside as depontani and over-look them as men unworthy of your knowledge now ye sit in the high places of the Nation An heathen mans conscience smote him for this crime The Popish Souldiers that went against the Angrognians said that the Minities with their prayers conjured and bewitched them that they could not fight And did not ye at Edge-hill say with others now for the fruits of prayer and did not ye receive the fruit of it Gen. 11. vers 9. and shall the guilt thereof rest upon you And some again have been upon the Mount when you have been fighting with your enemies in the valley and they have not been your worst friends neither have ye received the least aid from them When Moses held up his hands Israel prevailed and when he let down his hands Amalek prevailed Exod. 17. vers 11. Ye owe much of your success and safety in the late wars to a praying people It was observed and it was very observable that immediately after monthly Fasts ye got ground of the enemy in some places did not the Lord proclaime in your Camp that this and that victory was as well the procurement of a praying Assembly as of a fighting Army And that it was as well fetched from heaven by the tears of his Sanctuary as finished upon earth by the blood of his Souldiery Indeed ye deserve blame if ye sleight them who have wept and mourned fasted and prayed yea wrastled hard for you and by whom the war hath been much carried on in heaven and we are equally blame-worthy if we slight you who have laboured and marched and run the hazzard of limbs and lives yea fought and bled and by whom the war hath been carried on upon earth The Lord heal all hard-thoughtedness betwixt you and us and make us one as ever in the truth and cause of Jesus 3. Be humbled before the Lord A great Queen said she feared more the prayers of Ioha Knox and his Complices than an Army of thirty thousand men Trap in Mat. 18.19 for all the acts of violence and injustice either acted or permitted by you in the heat of war for all the breaches of Oaths or Covenants with God or man for all your failing in or falsifying of the Vows which ye made to God in the day of your didistress And that there hath been any root bearing wormwood or gall springing up among you that of your selves men have arose speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them Act. 20. vers 19. It is too evident and hath been that the File-leaders and heads of many errours that I say not of all have been either of or found shelter in the Army both have many witnesses at this day living It took no great impression upon us that some stragling persons blurted off their pot-guns at us but when we were drawn upon by the Souldiery or by a sort of men abetted by them and marching under their protection this was great grief of heart unto us this was a sword in our bones and drew tears from our eyes in our secret mournings before the Lord This made our prophane neighbours scoffe at us when they heard those truths opposed those doctrines contradicted those wayes of the Lord evil-spoken of and those Ordinances sleighted for which ye and we had contested so long with tears and blood This made the Cavalier-Minister laugh in their sleeves and deride when they beheld the faithful Ministers faithful to the Lord to you and to the cause contended for vilified disdained and traduced and that by a party of our own Army when they themselves met with no such trouble from them This we looked upon as very disingenuous to us and as unsuitable returns to the Lord. The Lord clear up his great Gospel truths above all possibility of mistake by his own people and fill the earth with the knowledge of the Lord as the water covers the Sea Isa 11.9 that ye and we may go forth by the footsteps of the flocke that ye may feed your kids by the shepherds tents and all of us may know where the Lord Jesus feedeth and where be maketh his flock to rest at noon Cant. 1. vers 7 8. For why should any of you be as they that turn aside by the flocks of strangers 4. Quicken up that ancient zeal those burning affections and that fixedness of spirit in you for the Lord his truth his cause his Ministery and his people which once ye had O if ye find your present peace and pleasure honor and full estates dignity and dominion to begin raise unwholesome damps in your souls the sense of grace received and mercies received so eminent as yours have been and the Nation in you will excellently scatter them if well improved Oh then the Champions of Israel who have vanquished Christ and his Churches enemies in the field draw up gallantly against corruptions in your own hearts As ye have subdued Kingdomes so work righteousness As ye have bled for Christ in time of war so bow down to Christ in time of peace As ye have sealed the walls of the mighty so pull down the strong holds of sin within your own bosomes As ye have cast down the high ones of the earth from their seats so cast down imaginations and every high thought which exalteth it self against the knowledge of God As ye have captivated Nations and people to the obedience of your commands so bring all the thoughts the Nations and people of those little worlds your hearts into captivity to the obedience of Jesus Christ and his Gospel-commands 2 Cor. 10. vers 5. Your war is an In-land war now the weapons of your warfare are not now
her heart was poured out under a deep sence of sinne Who can calculate what revivings of spirit the saint-thief felt from that seasonable Promise To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Luke 23. ver 43. being so rightly timed even in ipso articulo mortis in the very moment before his death and when his conscience was both awakened and wounded with sinne Oh! surely the timeing of love doth marvellously add to the beauty of it and when is it so seasonable as in a day of distress A cup of cold water with one morsel of bread given to a weary and thirsty Traveller is more then a full meal at another time How pleasantly did Iael's milk relish upon Siserah's pallate when he was thirsty Judg. 4 vers 19. A small piece of silver given to a poor man when he wanteth to buy bread for his family is more then a great sum given at a time when his cupboard is full of bread Abrother is born for adversity and sure kindness shewed to a brother in a day of adversity speaketh up love with the loudest accents Now God reserveth his paternal love to such a time and then he unbosometh himself unto his people and at such a time his people read the love of God in the most legible Characters some drops of love taste sweeter then and are owned more then full draughts of love at another time Good Asaph experienced and acknowledged this Psal 73. vers 25 26. Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee None in heaven none on earth No God is above all in this good mans esteem How cometh it to pass that God hath such a glorious high throne in Asaphs heart Oh saith he there is good reason for it and you will say so too when you know what love and good will God hath shewed unto me Oh! I was in such a sinking and dispairing condition That my flesh and my heart failed me heart and hope and help and all were gone I but then The Lord was the strength of my heart my heart stayed upon God as upon a firm rock the Lord was unto me as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land and he is my portion for ever he hath put in security for my everlasting safety Oh behold what manner of love is this and therefore he draweth up this conclusion It is good for me to draw nigh to God to rowle upon God in all my streights These appearances of God do make his love so visible and glorious that Angels and men may read it and say Behold how he loveth them 4. Again God doth hereby more engage his people unto him Reason 4 he maketh them more his own getteth into their very hearts and setteth up his royal standard there There is nothing layeth stronger engagements upon an ingenious person then friendship in a day of adversity Jonathans interposures for David when Saul hunted for his life were so powerful upon Davids spirit that he wanted ways and words to express his sense of them his heart like a vessel of new wine sought for vent even when Jonathan was dead 2 Sam. 9.1 He putteth the question or rather maketh general proclamation Is their yet any left of the house of Saul What Is David afraid of a Corrival in the Kingdom Would he cut of the whole family of Saul to secure the crown upon his own head No this is not the ground of his enquiring but That I may shew him kindness not a word of revenge notwithstanding the hatred and hostility of Saul their father But why kindness Why he explaineth himself For Jonathan sake and again he reneweth his enquiry vers 3. To which Ziba replieth Jonathan hath yet a son who is lame of his feet A son of Jonathan that 's well but he is lame yea lame of his feet and so serviceable neither in Court nor Campe fit neither to stand before a Prince nor to march in the head of an Army No matter I will shew the kindness of God unto him and vers 7. when the lame son of Jonathan is brought David said unto him Fear not it seemeth the remembrance of Sauls cruelty caused a trembling upon his Grand-sons spirit therefore David meets him with a cordial at the very door Fear not for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy fathers sake Oh! Jonathan was my friend a dear friend he hazarded his own life to save mine and therefore I am obliged to shew kindness to him even in his posterity in like manner the hearts of Gods people are drawn out unto him under the sence of great deliverances See how Moses and Israel were up in their spirits unto the Lord when they were now brought off from Egypt and beheld their cruel Taskmasters quackened in the red Sea Exod. 15. ver 2. Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song c. The Lord is my strength and my song and he is become my salvation What then Oh! He is my God and I will prepare him an habitation God shall keep house in my heart there shall be the dwelling place of the Lord even of that God who is become my salvation and thus Psal 116. vers 1. I love the Lord my heart flameth out with hot affection to the Lord and why for vers 8. Thou hast delivered my soul from death mine eyes from tears and my feet from falling There 's nothing hears and heightens like unto a lively sense of the mercies of God in a day of distress The Saints are much wanting to themselves and more unto God in the neglect of this did we do this more God would have more of our hearts and hands too then he hath the love of Christ would constrain if we did often read over the story of it writ in his own blood Lastly Reason 5 The Lord cometh in seasonably and fully to his peoples relief in the day of their distress That he might blast the hope of their enemies and give their expectation the lye when they look for the down fall of Zion when adversity knocketh at the Saints door yea breaketh in forceably upon them then is the time come that the wicked looked for the day that they have longed after for surely the Serpents seed are true to their own principles they do really desire that the name of Israel was blotted out Cooperite cooperite diruite eximis sabvertite fundamentis Buchan and that their remembrance might perish from off the earth This was the language of Edom in the day of Jerusalem rase it rase it even to the foundation thereof Psal 137. vers 7. Thus did the Egyptians gape and gaspe after prey Exod. 15. vers 9. I but God cometh in and dasheth their expectations in pieces yea beateth out the brains of that Leviathan and this maketh the hearts of their enemies melt and run like wax before the fire and thus God reacheth his great end which is to
creatures in its highest advancements and advantages yea from the multitude of mountains which Harim Metaphorically relate to the greatest persons and to thing of greatest height and excellency upon worldly accounts Mich. 6.2 Yea combined and associated they shall certainly fail in their hopes and meet with disappointments because Sheker it is in vain they lye or deal deceiptfully there 's falshood in their promises and feebleness in their power which is confidently asserted by that holy man Psal 62.9 Surely men of low degree are vanity Bem-Adam sons of Adam this being a common name to all mankind is used here for men low in the world in respect of estate or power which are as the valleys or hillocks of earth these are vanity little can be expected by way of help from them because of their emptiness who can expect water out of an empty vessel or safety from a mole-hill when a Cannon bullet flyeth at him But what shall we say to the great ones of the world Why men of high degree are a lye Beni-Ishi The sons of Ish men of highest advancements in the world are but a lye they will speak you fair no doubt David had many complements from Sauls Courtiers lift you up into great expectations by their plausible promises and pretensions but in a day of distress their words vanish into smoak and they appear to a needy petitioner as a dry lake to the thirsty traveller Oh! how sadly can thousands now alive with sad hearts bear witness to this truth And Oh that it were not a spot in Gods people What volumes may be writ upon this subject with the tears yea the blood of the oppressed The Lord humble us for this sin and so manage the spirit of our Rulers That they may loose the bands of wickedness under the heavy burdens let the oppressed go free and break every yoak then shall their light break forth as the morning and their health shall spring forth speedily their righteonsness shall go before them and the glory of the Lord shall be their Rere-ward Isa 58.6 8. Then shall the poor and oppressed say the Lord bless thee O habitation of Justice O England where Justice dwelleth See that Isa 9.10 The bricks are fallen down but we will build with hewen stones the Sicamores are cut down but we will change them into Cedars They run from creature to creature and change creature for creature the weak for the strongest yea do what Art and Nature improved to the best advantage can do for safety but with what success truely very little For vers 12. The Syrians before and the Philistins behind shall devour Israel with open mouth So true is that Hos 5.13 applied to an expectancy of help from any creature disjunctively from God When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah saw his wound then went Ephraim to the Assyrian and sent to King Jareb or to the King that should plead their cause or their defender But how sped they Yet could he not heal you nor cure your wounds it is the way of carnal hearts to shift out to the creature for help in times of straights Mr. Burrogh in loc and a sad evidence of a carnal heart so to do But it is a truth handed down from father to son that creature-recumbency avileth not no healing no curing nay 't is not onely not encouraged with a blessing but thundered against with a curse Jer. 17.5 6. Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his Arm and whose heart departeth from the Lord wherein doth this curse shew it self It followeth For he shall be like the Heath in the desart Heath-ground is usually barren but Heath-ground in a desart upon which nothing of cost or culture is spent addeth to the barrenness of it nay further And shall not see when good cometh the showers of mercy fall upon this place and the dews of good-will from the Lord distil upon this person in such or such comforts or enlargements I but creature-relyers shall not taste the least of all the noble mans punishment 2 King 7.2 shall be their portion They shall see it with their eyes but they shall not taste thereof no they shall inhabit the parched places of the wilderness in a salt land and not inhabited Oh apply this and let the consideration of this caution you from a creature-dependency use the means but do not trust in them there is nothing provoketh more to wrath nor rendereth the choisest means unserviceable more then this Oh! let us be humbled for this fault for sure it hath been much our fault and our folly which doubtless hath caused the Lord in displeasure to us to dash many excellent instruments in pieces like earthen pitchers and in all our creature-improvements let us wisely sail betwixt these two extreams in tempting of God and an overt rusting to means both which are very dangerous 4. Lastly Take heed of abusing providential appearances and preservations to wantonness by a neglect of those duties you owe to God for them besides the general there is a particular command and call to duty to holiness to repentance to faith to thankfulness c. in every mercy as in afflictions so in preservations the Lords voyce cryeth and the men of wisdome see his name they see and own God in this and that dispensation and hear the rod yea and hear the staffe too and take notice both who and wherefore he hath appointed it what the intendments of God are in such or such a providence otherwise the fruit yea and comforts of both are lost We must not behave our selves like children who when they perceive the hearts of their parents run out in a great deal of tenderness towards them take liberry from thence to play the wantons or Absolom like to act rebellion against them such a frame is very unsuitable to such dispensations and no wayes answering the intendments of the Father of mercies how ill the Lord resents this carriage is evident in many Scriptures See that Deut. 32. vers 10. He found him i.e. Israel in the wilderness he kept him as the apple of his eye I but vers 15. Jeshurum waxed fat and kicked as a wanton colt that is high fed and lusty turneth his heels upon his own damn so played Israel with the Lord his Maker God calleth him Jeshurum from Jashur rectitude or uprightness as expecting this from every true Israelite especially under such engaging providences but in what a cross way doth Israel walk how doth he turn the heels upon God both by murmuring Idolatry and manifold disobediences what then doth God take it well no vers 19. When the Lord saw it he abhorred them because of the provoking of his sins and daughters Oh! to be sons and daughters near and dear to the most high God under eminent discoveries of divine favour and yet kick this provokes unto great wrath read and inlarge this Scripture in your own thoughts God cannot indure to
do Dr. Sibs but we must not so pursue unity as to neglect purity nor press uniformity so as to degenerate into Tyranny Order in disciplinary points is beautiful and agreement defirable but to force it begetteth confusion and breedeth animosities How can we bear witness against the Prelates Lordship if we should Lord it over one another or against the Popes infallibility if we should impose upon one another if we should prescribe laws to one anothers consciences or make our own intetpretations in doubtful Scriptures and relating to order onely canonical and binding to all Mr. Clarke in vâ—ta patrum it would be indeed a crown of beauty and Diadem of glory upon our heads if there was that peace among us as was betwixt Miconius and his Colseagues concerning whom he useth these words Currimus certavimus laboraviwus pugnauimus vicimus viximus semper conjunctissime when the watchmen of Israel do lift up their voice and with their voice together they do sing when they see eye to eye Isa 52.8 When they all do speak the same things when there are no divisions among them but are perfectly joyned together in the same minde and in the same judgemen 1 Cor. 1.10 But if we cannot attain this unity in circumstantials let us bless God that we do it infundamentals and let our union in the head untie us in the heart carrying it with all tenderness one toward another in differences of smaller moment under this assurance that Ibi tandem conveniemus ubi Luthero cum Zuinglio optime jam convenit there 's no clashing in heaven betwixt Luther and Zuinglius about the Sacrament we shall all be of one minde in heaven and why should we clash upon earth Though some of us dispense the Supper to a select company judging it most agreeable to Gospel order and pattern yet why should we urge this upon our brethren who judge otherwise or why should our Brethren urge a general admission upon us Why should the disputes be so hot and contests so high among brethren about modelling the Congregations whether by casting out or leaving out the scandalous and profane when as we all own the Lords Supper to be a standing ordinance and do not antiquate it with the Quakers nor withhold the cup from our people with the Papists nor maintain a Consumbstantiation with the Lutherans nor dispense it promiscuously to all of age in our parishes mad men and fools onely excepted with some Episcopal men but endeavor a pure administration agreeing in that as our great end that it may be dispensed onely to visible Saints Why should such wormwood and gall appear in our pens and Pulpets one against another upon this subject have we not other work to do may we not imploy our stock better would it not add more to Gods honour and our own also if we did lay out that zeal which we spend one against another against Papists and Impostors Is it a time for Shepherds to quarrel about folding of their Sheep when Wolves are broke into the flock Is it a time for Officers of an Army to dispnte titles and trifles when the enemy appears in the field with a formed Army against them Is it a time for us to spend our strength in anger and animosities one against another when the Nation swarms with Hereticks when they make such havock of the flock in many places and when they all combine against us for however they differ among themselves they agree in their hatred and opposition of us like a Brigado of horse that Scout up and down in several parties yet meet together at the head quarters Surely the undermining of a Gospel-Ministery is the general Rendevouz of all our Sectaries at least most of them Oh then let the sence of danger perswade us to body in love and the sence of duty provoke us to improve our personal safety preaching opportunity Gospel-liberty freedome of communion maintenance and Ministery most to the glory of a good God and this we shall best do and best reach the great end of God in our great deliverances if we set up the Apostles counsel as our great way-mark Act. 20.28 Take heed unto your selves and to all the flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood and we shall better understand this text and our duty by perusing Master Baxter upon it in his Gildas Salutanus 3. This Doctrine hath a word of friendly advice to military men which I hope shall meet with a friendly resentment because it comes from a friend with a friendly intent I am no Cynick nor apt to quarrel if I was I would be more prudent then to enrage them by tart language who have so often fought an enraged enemy in the open field and more ingenuous then to spend my choler against them who have spilt their blood for my safety And therefore O ye valiant ones of Israel consider how far this doctrine is applicable to you in that capacity are the appearances of God eminent and immediate in the day of his peoples distress 1. Consider how rare and skilful you were in all martial affairs at your first entrance upon the war how little of a Soldier as to the slights and stratagems of war Never hardly did an army go forth with lessconfidence on their own side or more contempt of their enemys did more bravely deceive both for in these following successes they proved such as would too much pose antiquity among all the Campes of the famed Heroes Heroes to finde a parallel of this Army T. M. in the hystory of the Civil war p. 114. were found in you at least most of you when you first took the field and yet what a teaching spirit from the Lord came upon you how suddainly even to admiration did the Lord of Hosts teach your hands to war and your fingers to fight Psal 144.1 So that a short time did make you expect in all the councels and carriages of a well-ordered Battail that ye were able to countermine all your enemies and prevent and pursue advantages with much warlike prudence Oh let this be owned in peace as a signal mercy from the Lord and as that which tended much to yours and our preservation and to the gaining of all those freedoms which we now enjoy T is a special owning providence when the Lord qualifieth persons for imployments 2. Consider how low your spirits were at your first taking up of Armes what fears and troubles and terrors were upon your spirits when ye first heard the sound of the trumpet and the Alarum for war how terrible the sight of an Army with banners displayed was and how dreadfully the clashing of Armor sounded in your ears were not many of you like the men of Israel who followed Gideon Judg. 7.3 Who when proclamation was made in the Army Whosoever is fearful and afraid let him return early
great ignorance and pardon it and quicken up all to keep up a sense of those great things God hath done for us 2. Fruit. This frequent discoursing of mercies healing redeeming quickning and soul-converting mercies c. will more endear God unto the Saints it will unite the heart into a more holy affection unto God Cant. 8. vers 5. When the Church came out of the Wilderness leaning upon her Beloved when Christ was with her in the Desart and brought her forth from a wilderness where she was at loss in her self which way to go and what to do how to get her wants supplied how to have her life secured how to get her feet directed and how to free her self from those briars and thorns wherewith she was intangled and Christ had then come in had born her up upon everlasting Arms and had brought her forth into the plain field Oh how is she affected with this at what a pitch of love doth her spirit soar how doth she press upon Christ how would she get into the heart of Christ and bring Christ into hers vers 6. she puts up this request unto him Set me as a seal upon thy heart for love is strong as death which conquers all men jealousie is cruel as the grave which spares none and is never satisfied the coals whereof are coals of fire which have a most vehement flame many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown it if a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would be utterly contemned What a Pyramid of love is here What an unquenchable flame What a pearl of great price is here and what is the fuel of this great fire What oyle doth kindle it and what preserves it Surely a strong and lively sense of Christs great affection to her when in the wilderness So were our thoughts and discoursings more upon wilderness-grace wilderness-convictions wilderness-illightenings wilderness-preservations and wilderness-deliverances our hearts would be more heated with holy affections towards God then they are Oh sure If there be any water at the bottome of the Well this Bucket will draw it up if any love in the heart sense of mercies will bring it forth and the more we discourse of mercies the greater will be our sense of them Nay farther a serious pondering of and a savoury discoursing over mercies received will bring forth a strong affiance in the people of God it will marvellously scatter those fears and desponding thoughts which too often seize upon the best in a day of distress and will excellently prevail with the heart to bring it off from creature-shiftings and seekings to stay upon God Tribulation worketh patience and patience experience we should never so fully experience the power providence goodness and faithfulness of God if we should alwayes sail upon a quiet sea if our estate was ever prosperous if the scale of adversity were not sometimes the heavier but when we are cast upon rough and rocky seas when we are brought into streights and know not what to do why then we see what a God can do what bowels mercies and tender-heartedness there is in a good God toward us Alas men as men and the best men are but men sometimes and in some cases are apt to fancy God to be like themselves as streight-hearced and incompassionate as themselves to persons in distress but now when an adverse condition hath put it to the trial then they have found it otherwise That as high as the heaven is above the earth so great is his mercy toward them that fear him Psal 103. ver 11. Nay as the heavens are higher than the earth so are Gods wayes wayes of mercy to his afflicted ones higher than mans wayes And his thoughts thoughts of goodness and good will to his oppressed ones above mans thoughts Isa 55. vers 9. Now this experience workketh hope hope of succour and relief from the Lord in an evill day this works an holy boldness in the Saints makes them lift up their heads and hearts with comfort and say Supplies will come Deliverance will come we will stand still and wait for the salvation of our God They rowl themselves upon God when new troubles do arise quiet their spirits with an expectancy of help from the Lord their sure friend their tried friend their good friend and in an high way of beleeving speaks Davids language Why art thou cast down O my sonl why art thou so disquieted within me hope thou in God for mercy will come supplies will come I have found the Lord to be a good God a faithful friend that never failed me a present help in the needful time of trouble Indeed men may fail as not being able to help but God is Omnipotent he can do abundantly above what we can ask or think or men may fail as being wearied out with often helping I but the everlasting God the Lord the Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not neither is weary Again man may fail as not knowing the straits we are in or how to bring us out I but our heavenly Father knoweth the things we stand in need of and how to deliver his out of every temptation Lastly man may fail being changed in his affection unto us I but there is no variableness nor shadow of turning with God he loves with an everlasting love These Considerations do caray on the Saints with an holy triumph in their saddest pressures and they say with David I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God Psal 43. vers 5. I might multiply Scripture presidences abundantly upon this head but that it is done already in another place Oh friends gather up your experiences and lay them by you among your choisest treasures you will finde them to be singularly useful to you in an evill time and to others also your experiences being faithfully reported to them will comfort quiet and beget holy affiances in them when they are brought into greatest streights Psal 34. vers 2. My soul shall make her boast of God the humble shall hear thereof and be glad Rejoyce in tribulation This was the end proposed by the onely wise God Psal 78. vers 7. why his people should shew forth his marvellous works namely that their posterity might be taught that excellent lesson of living by faith that they might set their hopes on God that they might beleevingly expect help from a faithful from an Almighty God Fruit 4. A lively sense of mercy received leads the soul on in Gods wayes it is a notable friend to Religion and provokes unto love and good works That soul thrives best heaven-ward which is most in the sense and serious meditation of the goodness of the Lord this will carry on the soul amain for God What a gracious frame was Jacobs spirit in when he had the lively apprehensions of rich mercies and great deliverances upon it Gen. 35. vers 2 3. Jacob said
unto his houshold and all that were with him put away the strange gods that are among you and be clean and change your garments and let us arise and go to Bethel and I will make there an Altar unto God and why to Bethel or why make an Altar unto God Oh there is good reason for it He answered me in the day of my distress and was with me in the way which I went There is very much in this passage and much to the present purpose and therefore I shall intreat your stay a while to observe the carriage of this good man there being much teaching in it and that in many particulars 1. Observe from hence That Family-reformation lyes by way of special care and duty upon the Governour of it The Master of a Family is vested with authority from the Lord to command the exercise of Religion in his own house he may authoritatively act within his own precincts and that for God It will not answer the demands of God nor satisfie conscience when awakened that he hath walked in the wayes of God himself and kept up close and closest communion with the Lord if he voluntarily connive at the wickedness of his family and leave them to their own carnal liberty in the things of God he ought to put to his own hand and move the wheels of Religion in his family and command his houshold to fear the Lord God himself gave this testimony of Abraham whose children we are if beleevers and ought to walk in the footsteps of his faith I know him that he will command his children and his houshold after him that they shall keep the way of the Lord Gen. 18. vers 19. ut faciant that they shall do it that they shall keep close to the way and act up to the commands of God It is too much the fault of Family-governours though good to slacken their family care in matters of Religion the best are too remiss in this point and if dealt withall what is the answer of many I hope my family walks orderly I see no ill carriages among them I do not observe a spirit of opposition in any of them to the wayes of God I allow them not in any vicious course they have no command nor countenance from me in any wayes that are evill This is something and more than a great many can say and speak in truth but this comes short of the pattern here proposed besides in matters that relate to your own interest you will see them do your own business you will often stand by them when they dress your horses it may be when they feed your hawks and your hounds ye will observe whether your worldly affairs prosper in their hands ye will follow them into the fields and meadows and see that your own work be done and that seasonably and throughly now why do you not see to the work of the Lord also if a groom be wanting out of your stable ye will misse him and ask for him nay if he give you not a good account ye will chide him or turn him away but when do ye misse him at the worships of God he may come late or not at all to the publick ordinances or family duties and hardly be mist or if mist get off upon easie terms a soft reproof will serve the turn like that of Ely's to his sons 1 Sam. 2.23 24. Why do you such things and do no more so Oh this is a Nationall fault and I fear there is much wrath bound up in it ye see another manner of spirit in Abraham he commands both children and servants to keep the way of the Lord I question not but ye use the imperative mood in your own and why not in the Lords work Ye are good Gramarians for your own and why not for the Lord's interest Masters may in civility entreat and gently treat their servants but if they refuse and be stubborn both the authority of a Master and the duty of a Christian obligeth them to command in the case of religion and if commands prevail not David's practice is a worthy pattern Psal 101. ver 7. He that worketh deceit shall not tarry in my house he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight now to defraud God and their own souls is the greatest Mirmah the highest peice of cousenage if they pack for any fraud let them pack for that Surely if they do not couzen you in temporalls they make you go much to back-harrow in spirituals they steal away much of your comfort hinder much of that sweet communion which ye and your family might keep up with God if they do not set fire on your houses they make the wrath of God impendent over them for the curse of God which is the most dreadfull scarefire hangeth over the house where the swearer dwelleth and how few families can be found out wherein a swearer dwells not Oh that such a spirit of reformation in the power of it was upon all Governours of families as was here upon Jacob Oh that they were men of resolution like unto Joshua who resolvedly concluded though he stood alone I and my house will serve the Lord Joshua 24. vers 15. Oh that they were men of religion like unto Cornelius who feared God and all his house Act. 10. ver 2. I never hope to see religion flourish in the life and power of it and spread it self over Towns and Provinces untill great men be good and their families grow better Oh how sadly can some villages witness that popery and profanenesse have come down the hill from Lordship-houses and spread like a contagious disease almost over all the families the Lord reform this 2. It hath a great tendency to the promoting of religion when master and family walk together to the house of the Lord when publick worships are frequented by the heads of families and a due regard to Gospel-ordinances be kept up by them in the hearts of their whole retinue Oh 't is a sight that heaven and earth rejoice at to see great persons march in good aray to Bethel in the very front of their families It sadned David's spirit when an exiled person to remember how he had gone with his train to the house of God Psal 42. ver 4. as the meeter gives it and 't is pressed by way of patheticall exhortation by the Apostle Heb. 10. ver 25. upon believers not to forsake the assembling themselves together as ever they look for comfort at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ the time whereof draweth nigh and to be gathered together unto him at his appearing and in his kingdome Ah how little is that prophecy made good in our dayes Isa 60. ver 8. That people flee as a cloud and as the doves to their windows where can ye find a town of which it may be affirmed paralell to that pattern 2 Chro. 20. ver 13. All Judah stood before the Lord with their
sence of Christs dear affection to her and her disloyal carriage to him did so seize upon her that she sinks under it And being come to her self she seeks and enquires after him suffers for him breaths out her soul in strongest affection towards him breaks forth into highest Eulogies and commendations of him and through the whole Song you never finde her under any of this heart-deadness any more but full of love and full of life Thus it was with the Church of Israel Hos 2. The Lord brings her in vers 5. speaking forth such resolutions as these I will go after my lovers that give me my bread and my water my wooll and my flax mine oyle and my drink as if she had said I am resolved to stick close to mine Idols who have recompenced my service with such plenty and abundance The allusion is to a man and his wife betwixt whom before there is a final divorce and departure there is usually some decay of conjugal affection some neglect of conjugal duties some eminent failing in conjugal offices and thereupon follows a strangeness and at length a parting asunder So heart-deadness damps of zeal flatness of spirit freezings of affection neglect of communion in the Gospel-duties and appointments formality in profession earthly-mindedness and some kind of liberty and boldness to sin are usually precedaneous to an Apostacy and departure from God Thus it was with Ephraim But how doth she recover her self Why verse 7. she argues her spirit into a returning frame Mr. Ier. Burroughs in loc I will go and return unto my first husband for then was it better with me then now Hence it is the note of a late godly Divine That the sight and sence of this how much better it was when the heart did cleave to Christ then it is now since its departure from Christ is an effectual means to cause the heart to return unto him He brings in a repenting backslider under these reasonings of heart Heretofore I was able through Gods mercy to look upon the face of God with joy when my heart did cleave to him when I did walk close with him then the glory of God did shine upon me and caused my heart to spring within me every time I thought of him But now now God knows though the world takes little notice of it the very thoughts of God are a terrour unto me the most terrible object in all the world is to behold the face of God Oh it was better with me then it is now Before this my Apostacy I had free access unto the throne of grace I could come with humble and holy boldness unto God and pour out my soul before him such a chamber such a closet can witness it but now I have no heart to pray ye I must be haled to it merely conscience pulleth me to it yea every time I go by that very closet where I was wont to have that access to the throne of Grace it strikes a terrour to my heart I can never come into Gods presence but it is out of slavish fear Oh it was better with me then then it is now Before Oh the sweet communion my soul enjoyed with Jesus Christ one dayes communion with him how much better was it then the enjoyment of all the world but now Jesus Christ is a stranger to me and I a stranger unto him Before Oh those sweet enlargements that my soul had in the Ordinances of God! when I came to the word my soul was refreshed was warmed my heart was enlightened when I came to the Sacrament oh the sweetness that was there and to prayer with the people of God it was even an heaven upon earth unto me but it is otherwise now the Ordinances of God are dead and emptie things to me Oh it was better with me then then it is now Before Oh the gracious visitations of Gods spirit that I was wont to have yea when I awaken'd in the night season oh the glimpses of Gods face that were upon my soul what quickening and enlivenings and refreshings did I find in them I would give a world but for one nights comfort I sometimes have had by the visitations of Gods spirit but now they are gone Oh it was better with me then then it is now Before Oh what peace of Conscience I had within whatsoever the world said though they railed and accused yet my conscience spake peace to me and was as a thousand witnesses for me but now I have a grating conscience within me Oh the black bosome that is in me it flyeth in my face every day after I come from such and such company I could come before from the society of Saints and my conscience smiled upon me now I go to wicked company and when I come home and in the night Oh the gnawings of that worm It was better with me then then it is now Before The graces of Gods spirit how were they sparkling in me active and lively I could exercise faith humility patience and the like now I am as one bereft of all unfit for any thing even as a dead log before God made use of me and employed me in honorable services now I am unfit for any service at all Oh it was better with me then then it is now Before I could take hold upon Promises I could claim them as mine own I could look up to all those blessed sweet Promises that God had made in his word and look upon them as mine inheritance But now alas the Promises of God are little to me before I could look on the face of all troubles and upon the face of death I could look upon them with joy But now the thoughts of affliction and of death God knowes how terrible they are to mee Oh it was better with me then then it is now Before in all creatures I could enjoy God I tasted the sweetness and love of God even in my meat and drink I could sit with my wife and children and see God in them and look upon the mercies of God through them as a fruit of the Covenant of Grace Oh how sweet was it with me then But now the creature is as an empty thing unto me whether it come in love or hatred I do not know It was better with me before then now Before I was under the protection of God wherever I went but now I do not know what dangers and miseries I am subject to dayly what may befall me before night God onely knowes Before the Saints rejoyced in my company and communion now every one is shie of me Before I was going on in the wayes of life now these wayes I am going in God knows and my conscience tells me are the wayes of death Oh it was better with me then then it is now I have been large in transcribing these excellent and precious passages because the times we are cast upon do much abound with backsliders and who knows whether
in them which he doth find by those strong repulses the heart gives to his secret temptations which are his spies sent forth to search the land by whom he learns what frame the heart is in Though he sees his strong holds beat down and defaced by a conquering spirit though he observes the stream running in another channell and that the soul is now in armes against him believing repenting mourning praying watching hearing and all against him yet he will play an after game and not be wanting in skill or will to reduce the soul And he ploughs in hope and sowes in hope for he cannot read the Lambs book of life he knowes not the decrees of God they are Secret to him untill death brings forth a discovery and the soul is taken up to God and therefore though he fears such or such a Saint that is gone off from his quarters is under electing grace yet he hopes the contrary Yee see how busie he was with Joshua the High Priest Zech. 3. ver 1. and how hard he pressed upon him probably not without some hopes to have got him or the day against him until Christ rebuked him and told him he was a brand plucked out of the fire singled out by the purpose of the eternal Father to be a vessel of grace then he sleared away and left him Yet as our Saviour probably but for a time Luke 4.13 nay though he should read their names writ in heaven though he knowes the immutability of Christs love that whom he loves once he loves to the end John 13. ver 1. and of Gods counsel that his gifts and calling are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without repentance irreversible Rom. 11. ver 29. yet such is his malice and so great is his rage against the Saints that if he cannot keep them out of Canaan hee 'l sting them and scratch them in the wilderness before they get thither though he cannot put out their light hee 'l be a thief in their candle to swail away much of their comfort though he cannot reach them in heaven he will reckon with them on earth if they must to heaven he will send them cripples thither he will have a leg or an arm out of joint or broken or he will want of his will some way or other he will vex them buffet and disquiet them many long stories and sad ones too may be told of his exploits against the Saints my own experience can witness something of his trains and treacheries of his malice and the Lords mercy of his black designs and of the Lords gracious support and disappointments blessed be his holy name and adored for ever be his goodness O then in the name of the Lord lift up your banners buckle on your armour stand with your weapons in your hands ready to receive and charge your adversary and that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day gather up your experiences of God and meditate upon the great things God hath done for you in the day of your outward troubles what that power that wisdome that goodness of the Lord hath been which hath appeared unto you and engaged for you in the time of your greatest streights and what those streights and distresses how sharp and how pressing from which the Lord hath wrought your deliverance And then go to your spiritual Logick frame such an argument as this The Lord gives help to his distressed Saints in their outward troubles therefore also will he help them in their inward temptations now if Sathan shall argue that God doth not give in succours to the Saints in their outward troubles it 's true they and it may be ye had help and deliverance but it came not from God when ye were cast upon such and such sick-beds that ye despaired of life and your friends gave you up for dead then the Physician came and by his great skill administred such physick which wrought your recovery or when ye were in such streights the liberality of your friends relieved you or in such exigencies the wisdome and potency of your allies brought you off God was not seen in all your deliverances what will you do now why your business is to secure this fort by summoning your experiences and placing them upon the works saying that ye beheld the face of God in such deliverances that your help was onely from on high that men and means stood off and came not in no not for a reserve or though men and means were seen upon the wall yet God acted by the instrumentality of them though Christians were consulted with yet the blessing of God upon the means brought forth the cure be sure ye own God in every preservation how visible and potent soever creature-helps are or have been entrench your faith in this perswasion that whatsoever secondary causes contributed the chief agency was from God If Sathan beat you out of this trench he will soon take your standard and rout your whole army but if ye make good this ground if ye have the advantage of the hill ye are out of gunshot all his murthering pieces will not reach you ye may then quiet your spirits in any assault when ye can say in your greatest distresses as Paul 2 Tim. 4. ver 16 17. No man stood with me but all men forsook me notwithstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthened me Here 's a clear appearance of God Or with Daniel My God hath sent his Angel and stopped the mouthes of the Lions that they have not hurt me or with David in my distress I cried unto the Lord and he heard me Psal 120. ver 1. And surely some of the Saints deliverances have been such I can instance in mine own which were singly and signally wrought by God But now in other cases where instruments have been used as many such cases there have been be sure you give them even all created helps the name of instruments and own God as the principal Agent that his arm moved everey wheel and his hand guided and wrought with every tool do this and ye are well enough Psal 77. ver 20. Thou leddesi thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron to wit through the the red sea Moses struck the waters with his rod I but God divided the sea thou leddest is onely applicable to God and by Moses onely intimates an instrument so Psal 88. ver 65 66. Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep or like as a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine and he smote the enemies in the hinder parts he putteth them to a perpetuall shame However the army is marshalled the stroak is from God the horse is prepared against the day of battel but safetie is of the Lord Prov. 21. ver 31. But suppose Sathan should deny the consequence of the Major for he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a subtle opponent and argue though God did deliver in temporals yet he will not