pregnant Proof that God is with us and Religion in us of a Truth But let thus much susfice to the first general Inquiry viz. what this Exhortation to adorn the Doctrine of our God and Saviour doth presuppose § 2. Proceed we now to the second general Inquiry What doth it imply to adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel in All things To this the answer must be returned in many Particulars 1. That the Doctrine of the Gospel must be Adorned in Civil as well as Sacred Affairs It 's not enough that we demean our selves decently and reverently in Acts of immediate Worship we must walk in the same fear of God under the same holy awe in our secular Businesses Religion must command even our Recreations our Diversions our Converses our particular Callings As carnal earthly Hearts will carnalize their Religious Performances so will spiritual Minds spiritualize their common Employments It 's far short of the Whole Duâ—…y of Man That we Sanctify the Lord's Day we must Sanctify our own God has indeed graciously indulged us six Days in the Week to labour in but not one of those Days nor one moment in any of those hours wherein we may do the Work of the Devil and the Flesh. If ever we will pretend to Credit our Religion we must evidence Holiness in the Shop as well as in the Church in our own Houses as well as the Lord's we must be Holy in Trading as well as Praying we must Sanctify the Name of God at our own Tables as well as the Lord's Table 1 Cor. x. 31. Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the glory of God And again 1 Pet. i. 15. As he that hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation ' Ev 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In all the windings and turnings of your livâ—…s There 's nothing lawful though never so remote from Heaven but may be laid in a right line and due suborâ—…ination to it and when we cannot actually intend our ultimare end yet must we virtually refer all unto it this is that which has reproach'd Religion that what warmth we get in the Worship of God we presently lose it and grow luke-warm perhaps stone-cold when we depart from it And thus whatever we build up at the Church in one day we are plucking down all the week after 2. We must adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things In second Taâ—… Duties as well as those of the first The same God who sees and observes the temper of our Hearts in Dealing with himself observes it also in our Treatings and Dealings with Men would we approve our sincerity before an all-seeing God approve it also in our Treatings Conversings and Transactings with Men. There are some excellent first Table Christians who will not swear lightly not take God's Holy Name into their Mouths profanely that seem to make a Conscience of the Lord's Day that are severe in regulating the Worship of God by his Word And yet if common Fame may be credited are under no such severe Bonds of Conscience in their Covenants Contracts and Engagements with their Brethren but the Doctrine of the Gospel would have taught them another Lesson Tit. ii 12. which teaches us to carry it Righteously towards our Neighbour Soberly towards our selves and Godly towards our God What a rare Pattern was David Psal. ci 2. I will behave my self wisâ—…ly in a perfect way I will walk in the midst of my house with a perfect heart He will be a Holy King upon the Throne a Holy Judge upon the Bench a Holy General in the Field Holy in the City and Holy in the Country for a perfect Heart had taught him to walk wisely in a perfect way If therefore we design to vindicate the Glory of Religion none must go beyond over-reach or defraud his brother 1 Thess. iv 6. our Covenants must be kept tho' we suffer by it Psal. xv 4. Truth must be spoken to and kept with our Neighbour and that Neighbour must be every one that partakes with us of Humane Nature 3. In all things In holy Works as well as holy Words It 's not well-saying but well-doing that must wipe off the Reproach that has been thrown upon our holy Profession 1 Pet. ii 15. So is the will of God that by well-doing ye put to silence the ignorance of foolish men Foolish Men will be lavish of their Tongues they will be reproaching Religion and the Religious this evil-speaking is the effect of their ignorance but the question is how shall we silence them and stop their Mouths for the future This he resolves as the Direction of God himself 'T is by well doing Words are cheap Works are chargeable and will cost us more to perform them It 's a mortal stab that is given to Religion when the Professors of it talk as high as Heaven and yet walk as low as this dirty Earth When our Ntions and Professions seem too high for this World and yet too low for the next Words without Works are a Language which Men do not understand we speak to them in an unknown Tongue but to be Beneficent Charitable to do them good to relieve the Distressed to deliver the Oppressed to make peace among Contending Neighbours This is a Dialect which is Vernacular to all the World Had we judged of a Pharisee by the Ear and not by the Eye he had been the most excellent Saint on Earth but our Saviour notes them for this Matth. xxiii 3. They say and do not Nay our blessed Saviour rebukes his own Disciples upon this Account Luke vi 46. Why call ye me Lord Lord and do not the things that I say Let that therefore be ours which was the Motto of a great Man in his time Non magna loquimur sed vivimus Let Men see as well as hear us that our light may so shine â—…fore mâ—…n that they seeing our good works may glorifie our fathâ—…r which is in heaven Matth. v. 16. 4. In all things In Passive as well as Active Obâ—…dience In suffering according to the will of God as well as acting in obedience to it It 's a very poor Religion that is not worth suffering for We must expect otherwise no better Language than this surely if these Professors did really believe their God to be Faithful and True they would trust him Did they believe thâ—… Râ—…compence of Râ—…ard they would venture their All upon it Did they believe their God able to repay them to reimburse them in what they should lay out and lose for his sake they would generously forsake all at the Call and for the Cause of their God Sufferings have ever been the Test the Ordeal by which Christ has Proved his Disciples Mark x. 17 18. A young man comes running to Christ as if in great haste for Heaven and that he might justifie his Obedience which he hoped would justifie him he avouches
great a Weight upon this Duty as if it were the one thing the only thing nâ—…cessary Phil. i. 27. only let your Conversation be as it becomâ—…th the Gospel of Christ. And there are two subservient Duties which will much contribute to this great Design 1. The former is Stability stedfastness in the Faith that yâ—… stand fast in the Spirit 2. The other a Holy Zeal that ye strive together for the Faith of the Gospel Stand fast without wavering be zealous without cooling and let your Interest and the Name and Glory of your Redeemer be much upon your Hearts in both these Whatever can be said upon this Subject is compendiously summ'd up in that other place of the same Apostle which I will give you a brief Paraphrase upon and then proceed Phil. iv 8 9. Finally brethren whatsoâ—…ver things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoevâ—…r things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be anâ—… virtue if there be any praise think on these things Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of peace shall be with you This is the abstract of what I can speak or you hear upon this Subject Think on these things and do them Digest the matter well in your Thoughts concoct it throughly in your Hearts and then reduce all to Practice 'T is not Speculation but Action that must recover the Repure of Religion and the particulars wherein you must be active and zealous are such as these 1. Whatsoever things are true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let the Power of Truth in the Heart evidence it self in the Life and the Grace of God in the inward Parts shine through the Body in all suitable demeanor It is Theodoret's Gloss upon 1 Tim. iii. 2. The Apostle says he would have a Bishop to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That his whoâ—… carriage be such so comâ—…ly in his 〈◊〉 in his habit in his looks and gesturâ—…s that the Complexion of his Soul may shine through the Case of his Body 2. Whatsoever things are honest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That we be grave yet not morose serious yet not austere reserved without affectation that as the End of our Conversation is a matter of the greatest Importance and the Rule of our Lives of equal Concern so the Meen and Air of our behaviour may bear some good Conformity to them both 3. Whatsoever things are just 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As we must be Holy towards God so must we also be just towards all Men for Righteousness is Evangelium visibile 'T is the preaching of a Gospel which Men understand our Religion teaches us to give to God and Man what is their due and all the World will conclude that if we defraud them we would if it were in our Power cheat our God too nor can we ever confute those Suspicions which Men will easily entertain of our Hypocrisy but by an exact and punctual discharge of all those Offices of Justice which we owe to them 4. Whatsoever things are pure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chast modest pure clean that our Discourses savour not of Filthiness our Behaviour do not smell rank of inward Turpitude that we admit not the Flesh to mingle it self with our Courses or Discourses but that in all things our Speech be seasoned with Salt Administring grace unto the hearers Ephes. iv 29. 'T is a dirty World we walk in he that will walk clean must pick and chuse his way with great Care and Conscience 5. Whatsoever things are lovely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let a Spirit of Candour and holy Ingenuity breath in all our Actions that we affright not Men from Religion by a sour disobliging way of Converse There is a mean could we hit it between a base creeping fawning prostitution of our selves to the Lusts of Men and a haughty surly Arrogancy which will not stoop or bend to the benefit of Men and this mean is that generosum honestum that greatness of humility which would persuade the prejudiced World to entertain more tolerable Thoughts of God's holy Ways and perhaps in time to try and practise them 6. Whatsoever things are of good report 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To decline those Practices which carry an Appearance of evil with really good Men. Now says the Apostle If there be any virtue If ever your Religion had any commanding Interest in you or has had any sanctifying power upon you And if there be any praise If you expect the acceptation and approbation of God or the moderate commendation of good Men Then think upon and do these things and for your encouragement The God of Peace shall be with you In the managing of this Doctrine I will propose this Method 1. To shew what the Adorning of the Doctrine of the Gospel does presuppose 2. What it is to Adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel in all things 3. What are the particulars of the Doctrine which we must Adorn and how it may be Adorned in each of these Particulars 4. I will lay down the Arguments which ought to prevail with us herein 5. And lastly I will endeavour to improve the whole Discourse and reduce it to Practice § 1. Let us inquire what the Exhortation to Adorn the Doctrine of the Gospel does presuppose There was something more than ordinary in the matter that the Apostle so earnestly and frequently presseth this one Point Some Injury had been offered from which it needed to be vindicated something amiss in their Conversation that needed Reformation and we have cause to fear that the Case is our own Some notable Affront has been put upon the Gospel some indignity offered to the Profession of Religion which will render our present Discourse too pertinent That which is presupposed may be reduced to these Heads 1. That the Doctrine of the Gospel of Christ considered in it self is a most beauteous and lovely Doctrine 2. That this Doctrine has been miserably blackened and blemished by those that should have given it a better treatment 3. That whoever professeth this Doctrine is obliged to wash off that dirt and filth which has been cast upon it 1. That we are so earnestly urged to Adorn the Doctrine of our God and Saviour presupposeth that as it came first out of the Hands of Christ it was altogether lovely representing the sweetness and expressing the holiness of him that gave it forth And 1. One eminent Beauty of the Doctrine is this That those Truths which soar the highest in Speculation yet in their design and tendency aim at a holy practical Conversation Those which in the Theory reach the highest Heavens yet in their Scope stoop down to the Earth It was said of Socrates Primus Philosophiam è Nubibus in Terras deduxit He was the first that brought down Philosophy from the Clouds and made it an useful thing to Humane Life It was
be convinced that they are treasuring up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God 2. When Man will be and do evil that God may be good in pardoning such there are who say Rom. iii. 8. Let us do evil that good may come Let us Sin that Grace may abound Against this presumption the Apostle thunders out a just Damnation and because that they might pretend that this was only the Consequence of that Doctrine of Free Grace which he Preach'd he abhors it as a scandalous report and that his Doctrine abetted no such abominable Inferences he owns indeed Rom. v. 20. That where sin aboundâ—…d grace did much more abound but he denies the Consequence chap. vi 1. That therefore any should continue in sin that grace might abound The Apostle Jude ver 4. notes those ungodly ones who turned the grace of God into lasciviousness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where it will deserve observation 1. What it was they thus wretchedly abused It was the grace of God not the work of Grace upon their Hearts for that they were Strangers to they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as had thrown off all worship of God but it was the Doctrine of Grace which is indeed sometime called Grace because it is a revelation of free rich Grace offered to the Sons of Men. 2. Into what did they turn this Grace into Lasciviousness or an unbridled Licence to commit all manner of iniquity with greediness 3. But how could they do this Abominable thing They did it by a Metathesis most wickedly transposing inverting and perverting the Order Method and design of God and his Gospel in every thing and what should have been the strongest Argument to withdraw them from sin they made their great encouragement to sin and thus they turned the point of God's argument upon himself 2. Secondly When Men take up a Profession and form of Religion but deny the power of it upon their Hearts and in their Lives this is one of the Characters of those perillous those last and worst of days 〈◊〉 Tim. iii. 5. Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof for the great end of the Gospel is to Convert Sinners unto God to subdue them to the Authority of Christ but these Wretches represent it as a weak and inefficacious Doctrine that has no power nor prevalency upon their Souls they deny the power of it There 's nothing more certain than that if Mens Religion does not drive out their Lusts their Lusts will drive away their Religion and yet these will be lovers of their own selves covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents unthankful unholy without natural affection truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce and despisers of them that are good and yet which is wonderful they will maintain a form of godliness If you ask them Do you believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth They will tell you they firmly believe it Ask them again Do you believe in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary that he suffered under Pontius Pilate was Crucified dead and buried that he descended into Hell And all the other Articles of the Creed All these they stedfastly believe But when this Doctrine commands subjection of Soul to all these Truths That we should live to him that died for us and rose again 2 Cor. v. 15. In this point they desire to be excused which is an evident affront to the Gospel whose design is to turn them to God from Idols to serve the living and true God 1 Thess. i. 9. This is it which evidences that the Gospel comes not in word only but in power and in the holy ghost ver 5. And so the same Apostle Rom. vi 17. gives thanks to God that they who had once been the servants of sin had obeyed from their heart that form of Doctrine which was delivered unto them or rather that unto which they had been delivered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Men may be sound and Orthodox in their Heads and yet Heterodox and rotten in their Hearts They can afford to lend Christ an Ear and give him a civil hearing still reserving their Lusts to themselves and their Hearts for the World and when the Word demands entrance into and to have a Throne in their Hearts they deny it the commanding power and bid it sit below at the Footstool sending away the blessed Gospel disappointed and ashamed 3. Thirdly The Gospel has been exceedingly stained when it 's entertained for no other end than to subserve some base low design of the Flesh and made a slave to some worldly interest This Reproach the Pharisees cast upon their own Religion Mat. xxiii 14. who under the Covert and Colour of long Prayers devoured widows houses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A pretence indeed they had but it was so thin and transparent that an ordinary Eye might see through it and discover the wicked Design at the bottom Such were they 1 Tim. vi 5. who supposed Gain to be Godliness But most notable was the Instance of Simon the Sorcerer Act. viii 13. This famous Hypocrite was baptized nay believed and adbered to Philip and was free of his Money too but all was that he might make his Markets of Religion that he might purchase the Gift of Miracles for himself and his Disciples and so maintain his former Repute that he was some Great Thing the very Power of God amongst the deluded People But all this Project was defeated and blown away with one breath of St. Peter's Mouth thy Money perish with thee We have a Generation of Men in our Age denominated from this Simon who have driven a mighty gainful Trade by the Gospel who buy or sell the Superintendency of Souls whose Money and we may justly fear their Souls too and those of their Flocks perish together These are a horrid Scandal to Religion not seeking Christ but themselves not feeding the Flock but their own Pride and Ambition who when the Great Shepherd shall appear must be compelled to stand before his presence but will not dare to lift up their Faces with a holy and humble Confidence and shall receive a just Recompence of Reward 4. A fourth thing that has blemish'd the Doctrine of the Gospel is those swarms of damnable Doctrines which have been poured out upon the World of these the Apostle 2 Pet. ii 1 2. has prophesied That there shall be false teachers who privily shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction And many shall follow their pernicious ways by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of That they shall bring upon themselves swift destruction is very sad but the least part of the evil they have justly deserved it but that the way of Truth should be evil spoken of which
and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do ye And we have added to that Scandal which we have brought upon our Holy Religion that we have intitled Christ to all our reproachful Disorders and the Argument runs now to divide to quarrel for Christ's sake when 't is for Christ's sake that we should Unite and be at Peace And yet farther have we aggravated our Guilt in a foolish thought to exonerate and justify our selves by burdening and loading others when the impartial can easily judge that all are wrong but never determine who is in the Right Thus are we blindly falling upon one another when every Man should strike his hand upon his own heart and cry out What have I done Wherein have I contributed to that Reproach and Scorn that has been thrown upon our Religion We are sharp-sighted to espy the slips of our Brethren but blind to observe our own scandalour Falls And as the Rain that falls upon the Hills is discharged upon the Valleys the Valleys again empty themselves into the Rivers the Rivers throw all into the Sea Thus are we discharging our selves charging our Brethren who with equal Zeal and Passion and perhaps with equal Justice and Reason are retorting the same Crimes upon us In the mean time we are mutually throwing Dirt in one anothers Faces tossing of Firebrands at one anothers Heads and thereby setting all in a Flame that may â—…nvolve us all our Liberty and Churches in the saâ—…ne common Desolation I cannot comfortably yet know not how to forbear enlarging a while upon this ungrateful Subject First Let us bitterly Lament that any of the Precious Doctrines of the Gospel have been so miserably abused their Gracious Designs frustrated upon us and perverted by us For Instance 1. What more endearing Truth than that of the Patience of God waiting upon and striving with Sinners to lead them to Repentance Rom. ii 4. And yet what Doctrine more impiously abused God is long-suffering and Men will be long sinning God waits and they will find Work for his Patience Thus he gave Jezâ—…bel space to repent and she repented not Rev. ii 21. He affords Day after Day to repent in and they turn them into Days to be repented of Like zealous Gamesters that have but an Inch of Candle left and they will play it out and if the Light had laâ—…ted longer they would have drawn out their Sports longer and go to Bed in the Dark Such are all impenitent Sinners who having a Day of Grace an Hour of Mercy a Moment of Life wherein to turn to God sport away those precious Hours and Moments not lent them for those Ends and if Life were prorogued a thousand Years they would sin those thousand Years if their Days were Eternal their Provocations would be Eternal And thus that Goodness of God which should mollify hardens their Hearts and they will be worse and therefore worse because God is better As if it were not enough to be Evil tho' God be Good but they will be therefore Evil because God is Good But this Treatment of the Divine Patience has been foretold 2 Pet. iii. 4. There shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts and saying Where is the promise of his coming For sincâ—… the Fathers fell asleep all things continuâ—… as they were from the beginning of the creation Where is the promise A Promise indeed it is a most Gracious one to them that wait and prepare for his coming but a Threatning a most dreadful Threatning to them that harden their Hearts by it Impenitency turns a Promise into a Threatning But upon what Presumptions do they thus harden their Hearts Because all things continue as they were from the beginning of the Creation O most perverse Gloss upon the Text of Divine Forbearance for ver 9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness but is long-suffering to us ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 2. And what more comfortable Doctrine than that of the Free Pardon of Sin and Justification through Faith in the Righteousness of Christ. Rom iii. 24. Bâ—…ing justifiâ—…d freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ. We cannot mention this without bitter Tears that Men will therefore freely sin because God will freely pardon If his Grace abound they will abound in Ungraciousness His Mercies are Great and they will therefore provide great Sins to employ and exercise his great Mercy What a poisonous Heart must that be that converts or rather perverts so sweet a Doctrine into Mortal Poyson 3. Nor has it fared better with the Doctrine of the Perseverance of Saints which has not been cried down only by such as deny it but Reproached by those that own it The Gospel would teach us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling because it 's God that works in us to will and to do of his own good pleasure Phil. ii 12. Not to be slothful because God works but to work more diligently because we have the Divine Assistance The same Gospel would engage us 2 Pet. i. 5. To make our calling and election sure To make it out that we are effectually brought home to God and from thence to infer our Election and not to delude our Souls with the Sophistry of Hell If I be elected I shall be saved tho' I wallow in all manner of abominable Filthiness Secondly Let us renew our Lamentations that the Lives of Professors express no more of the Power of the Truths and Precepts of that Gospel which they do Profess The Temper of Religion as described in the Scripâ—…are is Meekness Humility Compassion Beneficence Charity Heavenly-mindedness but these are so ill Copied out by them that we may seek for Religion among those that are Religious and not find it And by this means Christ himself is represented unlovely undesirable and the inward Enmity in the Hearts of Men is provoked exasperated and inflamed in Persecution And from hence it is that wicked Men think they have got sufficient Matter to justify all their Revilings their Blasphemies against our Saviour and his Doctrine and think they do God Service while they are endeavouring to root out of the Earth a Religion which is rendred Odious by the unsuitable Conversations of those that seem to glory in it The Offences that are given will not justify those that take them There is a Woe denounced against the World because of Offences and there is a Woe denounced against those that give them Matth. xviii 7. Wo be to the world because of offences for it must needs be that offences come but woe unto them by whom the offence cometh Thus they that take the Offence fall into Hell and Justice sends him thither that gave it II. Improvement by way of Exhortation I Must conclude with one word of Exhortation To all
God what you must Avoid if you would not Defile It remains now that I lay down those Directions which you must observe If you will Adorn the Doctrine of our God and Saviour in All things 1. And first severely Govern your selves and the whole Tenor of your Conversations by that Royal Law Matth. vii 12. All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you do ye even so unto them for this is the Law and the Prophets A Law which Christ has transcribed out of the Codè of Nature into his own A Law which once grew upon the stock of Morality but he has transplanted and inoculated into the Gospel Called therefore by the Apostle St. James ii 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture thou shalt love thy neighâ—…our as thy self ye do well A Law that carries the fairest Stamp and Signature both of the Divine Nature and Authority A Law that shines with its own Light into the Soul of Man No Man would Defraud Oppress Persecute another if he would give his Conscience leave to put this Question to him Would I be thus treated thus dealt with my self A due Attendance to this Rule would not only teach us to do Justice but to shew Mercy to Others upon this single consideration I expect Justice and may need Mercy and Pity from others for certainly I am obliged to give what I expect and to shew what I my self may need And nothing would more reclaim Men from their Unchristian their Antichristian Barbarities than to put our selves into the same Condition and Case to suppose our selves chained in the same Prison labouring under the same pressures with others of our Brethren 1. Whatever Mercy Pity Charity we may possibly need in our Extremity let us learn to shew it to others in theirs If we shut up our Bowels of Compassion what may we expect but that God will shut up his and that will restrain the Bowels of Compassion of all the World to us as the first Cause either draws nigh to us or recedes from so will the second either assist or forsake us This Reason the Apostle offers Heb. xiii 3. why we should Remember these that are in bonds and sympathize with them as if we were bound with them and them that suffer affliction as being your selves also in the body Suppose we are not actually bound yet we are in the body and may be so We are not Sick as others are yet we are in the body and may be so and shall then need those Charitable Visits that Relief which we now forget or neglect to Administer Or perhaps we now abound dwell at ease yet still we are in the body and may soon in that very Kind need Compassion And this may seasonably lead us into the Admiration of the Pity Compassion and Bounty of our gracious God who being out of the reach of our Necessities yet can exercise Bowels of tender Mercy to us poor sinning and suffering Worms and into the Admiration of the pities of Christ who now upon the Throne and out of the way of those Afflictions and Temptations wherewith we are encompassed yet has not left the Humane Nature behind him but taken it with him into Heaven that he might therein compassionate his distressed Members whom he is not ashamed to call his brethren Phil ii 11. 2. This ought to teach us to do that Justice to others which we expect others should do to us for with what judgment we judg we shall be judged Matth. vii 2. This one thing would marvellously Adorn the Gospel when we can Convince all the World that our Religion has made us better Men when it made us Christians and that we brought along with us Morality when we espoused and came over to Christianity 2. Secondly Maintain a heavenly Mind and Conversation Let all see that though your Root be in Heaven yet you bring forth Fruit here on Earth It has reflected highly upon our Profession that we believe well but live ill we have got a Systeme of heavenly Truths in our Mouths but we disparage them with Earthly Lives A heavenly Mind a heavenly Frame of Heart would support a heavenly Conversation now because this is that great thing that must recover the Credit and Honour of the Gospel I will in few words shew you what it is 1. A heavenly Mind has unmoveably fixt and pitcht upon Heaven for its great and commanding end this is his Fathers House whither he is always Travelling 't is the Port for which he is Bound And because there may be a mistake in the Notion of Heaven as that it may be only a place of Ease a state of Rest from the Troubles of this Life he is satisfied that the enjoyment of God in that Place and State makes the real Heaven Psal. lxxiii 25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee 2. The heavenly Mind and Heart is always vigorously pursuing that great Design and because there are many impertinent avocations that would seduce or steal his Heart from his end he shakes them off with indignation as those that would divert him in that Holy pursuit nor does he so much consider how much of his Race he has run as he ties up himself to run the rest Phil. iii. 14. Forgetting the things that are behind and looking unto those that are before we press towards the mark for the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus 3. The heavenly Mind endeavours especially to maintain a heavenly Temper and frame of Heart which is the life of all heavenly pursuits The Habits of Grace must be reduced into Act and Exercise and Grace must be laid out to its highest and noblest end as the best Instrument must be in Tune before the skilful Hand can make Melody upon it so must the Heart be kept in Frame suitable to the services which are proper to it 4. A heavenly Mind must Conform it self to and Exercise it self in those imployments here below which are the proper Work of Heaven always recovering it self when it deviates from its main end with this Question My soul How do the Angels and the Spirits of just Men made perfect spend their blâ—…ssed Eternity above They are surely Praising Blessing Admiring Adoring Loving and Serving their God their Redeemer their Sanctifier and Comforter and why do not we Conform our selves to their Pattern The great Law of Heaven governs them and every Thought and Motion of their Wills why do we not then more fervently Pray that we may do the Will of God on Earth as t is done in Heaven With the same chearfulness and perseverance And though we come short of their Perfect Love Praise and Service yet let us be Practising and tuning our Hearts and Harps for those Hallelujahs The Work of Eternity must be begun in time upon us and done in time by us nor is there a wilder Fancy that can delude the vain Heart of Man than to
imagine we shall leap at once from a Life of murmuring and repining here to a State of Praising and Glorifying God for ever We cannot doubt but such a Life as this would put a New Face upon the Christian Religion and convince the most obstinate that we suppose Everlasting Life and Glory to be the most Real Certain and Excellent Thing when we can live at the Holy Heavenly and Chearful Rate which supposes it to be all these That we do firmly believe that whatever are the inconveniencies of our Pilgrimage a Portion in Heaven will answer them and repay us And that therefore we look upon our selves as dwelling in Tents and Tabernacles without any fixed City here below as those Holy Patriarchs once did Heb. xi 9. and dare not drive our Stakes too deep into the Earth because we look long and pray every Day to be called away home to our own Countrey 3. Let us study and follow after the things that make for Peace our God is the God of Peace our Redeemer the Prince of Peace the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Peace the Gospel is a Doctrine of Peace which reveal'd peace on earth and good will towards men Luk. ii 14. But to our shame and the shame of our Profession we have represented it as a Civil War We say we own one God one Lord Jesus Christ one holy Spirit and one hope of salvation why then do we not keep the unity of spirit in the bond of peace Ephes. iv 3 4 5. Peace is that which every one will commend but very few will entertain If we regard the Orations of Men one would think it the most precious and desirable thing in the World but if we observe their Divisions one would conclude it the most Pernicious and Dangerous All Differences in Opinion do not infer a Difference in Religion nor all Local Separation a Schism but when the smallest Differences are managed by proud and froward Spirits and they influenced by secular Interests it 's a wonder to see what Flames a little Spark kindles The sum is this Perhaps we cannot syncretize in the Minutes of Religion nor express the finer Stroaks of Uniformity in our Sentiments yet let us Religiously keep up a Spirit of Love to Peace and Truth Christ has declared Love to be the Livery of his Disciples by which they are known to be His Joh. xiii 35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another As it was the Livery he enjoyn'd them whilst living so was it his Legacy bequeath'd to them when dying John xiv 27. Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you 4. Let us all most fervently cry unto God that his Holy Spirit may be poured out upon the Professors of Religion and that it may accompany the Preaching of the Gospel then will the Doctrine of God our Saviour shine gloriously when the Spirit shall be its Light then will it Conquer and Triumph when the Spirit shall second it with his Might This is that which subdues the Pride the Passions the unruly Lusts of Men and brings down whatever exalts it self against the Truth in subjection to God This influence attending the Word shall make Persecutors become Preachers Scoffers of Religion become Admirers of what they have Scorned and Blasphemers to justify that Name which they have Reproached this will give the Doctrine of the Gospel a Throne in their Hearts who have trampled it under their sordid Feet And this St. Paul well understood when he so earnestly entreats the Churches Prayers 2 Thess. iii. 1. Brethren pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified When the Light shall scatter the Darkness that like a thick Cloud sits upon Mens Minds when the Power of it shall bear down that Opposition that rages in their Hearts when it shall break through all Impediments and make its way to the Conscience then will the Doctrine of our God and Saviour Adorn it self and not need any other Ornaments we can put upon it I profess my self unwilling to dismiss this Argument till it has had its proper Effects upon the Hearts and Consciences of the Readers but I must draw to a Conclusion which I will do with a few Considerations humbly praying that the Great Lord and Master of the Assemblies would drive every Nail to the Head and so fasten it in the Heart that the Power and Policy of the Devil may never draw it out 1. Consideration What great Reason have we to Adorn the Doctrine of our God and Saviour when we have been the Cause or given the Occasion to its Dishonour Juâ—…tice demands that we should heal it because we have wounded it I persuade my self that there are many under the Rebukes of their own Hearts that the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ has been evil spoken of through their irregular Conversations I hope too that many have repented and that God has pardon'd the Iniquity of their Sin but yet God will bear a Testimony against their careless and common Behaviour tho' he has pardon'd the Sin Thus he dealt with David 2 Sam xii 13 14. The Lord hath put away thy sin thou shalt not die Nevertheless because by this dâ—…ed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme the Child that is born unto thee shall die In what way the Jealous God will bear Witness against the present Generation of Professors for the Scandals they have given I presume not to determine most certain it is he will not put up the Affront without Repentance and Reformation The safest Course for every one of us is to confess our Sins to take Shame to our selves to give Glory to God and not to blush at our Repentance when the only thing should make us blush is our Sins 2. Consideration Adorning the Gospel by a suitable Conversation will prove the best expedient to secure its Presence with us If we think it not worth the Adorning we may question whether God will think it worth his Continuing and Protecting 'T was disingenuous in Absalom to spurn his poor Sister out of doors when he had defiled her but the Justice of God will be manifest if he removes our Gospel which we have basely prostituted 'T is his own threatning to the Church of Ephâ—…sus Rev. ii 5. Remember from whence thou art fallen and repent or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick out of its place except thou repent A Father takes away the Childrens Bread when they crumble it in scorn upon the Ground and if he indulges them Candle to play yet will not allow them it to fight and quarrel Let us consult the Histories of Antient Times they will inform us that Religion was never rooted out by Persecution till it had been made cheap by the Profanation of Professors The Primitive Christians proved this Truth that Religion flourisht fairer and grew
faster when it was watered with the Blood of the Martyrs Proâ—…perity and that Loosness which commonly attends it was the Poyson poured out into the Church The frequent mowing down of Christ's Field makes it come up the thicker and greener Plures efficimur quoties metimur was Tertullians Observation Debauching Prosperity has been the greatest Enemy that ever Religion had in the World Isa. v. 4. when God looked as after all his Cost and Pains he might well look that his Vineyard should bring forth grapes and it brought forth wild grapes Go to now saith he I 'll tell you what I will do to my vineyard I will take away the hedge thereof and it shall be eaten up and break down the wall thereof and it shall be trodden down and I will lay it waste The Politicks of Earth are vastly different from those of Heaven both in the Securing and the Adorning Religion The Methods of humane Wisdom to secure Religion proceed thus They hedge it about with strict Laws and severe Penalties which sometimes are as cruel as the Crimes they would restrain are Enormous and whilst by these Artifices they would entail Religion upon Posterity corruption of Doctrine defiling of Worship and loosness of Manners provokes God to cut off the Entail And thus when we have lost the Power of Religion upon our Hearts and the Purity of it in our Lives our Care is to supply the Defect by trimming and tricking it up with gaudy ceremonial Ornaments How much more beautiful were our first Parents in their Original Nakedness than when the Sense of Sin and Shame taught them to patch together a few Fig-leaves to cover it but Religion is its own Strength it s own Beauty 'T is its own Ornament and Muniment nothing adorns nothing secures Religion but Religion Let us therefore shew an Exemplary Conversation and this will Beautify this will Fortify it better than all our politick Contrivances and fruitful Inventions It was a Glorious Promise which God gave to the Gospel-Church under the Notion of Jerusalem Zech. ii 4 5. Jerusalem shall be inhabited as Towns without walls and bulwarks For I saith the Lord will be a wall of fire round about her and will be the glory in the midst of her Holiness engages God's special Presence and that Presence is our Protection Secure God's Glory in the Center and we shall have a Wall of Fire in the Circumference A parallel Promise we have Isa. iv 5. Upon all the Glory there shall be a Defence If therefore we are careless of that Glory let us make what Walls we can our Walls of Water and of Wood will deceive us nothing but such a Holiness as will engage the Divine Presence and Protection can secure us and the Gospel of God our Saviour unto us 3. Cansideration Nothing but a holy exemplary Conversation can possibly propagate the Gospel abroad our Lives speak louder than our Words and we may with more ease live Men over than dispute them over to Christ. Let us be never so Zealous in our Arguings they will readily retort it upon us Why do you persuade to go to Zion when you your selves are running to Babylon In vain did we plead with others to Turn and look towards Heaven if we are treading the broad way that leads towards Hell Do we then indeed wish well to the Kingdom of Christ Should we rejoyce to see the heathen given him for his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possessions First remove the stumbling Blocks we have laid in the way of their Conversion then win them over by an Heavenly Holy Sober Righteous Conversation speak so that Men may see that what you speak you believe to be Truth There were more brought in and converted in the first Twenty Years of the â—…eformation than in the last Century and of our few Modern Converts it's to be fear'd some of them need Conversion This was the Glory of the early Days of Christianity Act. 2. 46. They continued daily with one accord in the Temple and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart praising God And the Lord added daily to the Church such as should be saved And the same Success the Gospel had upon the same reason Act. ix 31. Then had the Churches rest and were edified and walking in the fear of the Lord and the comforts of the Holy Ghost were multiplied 4. Consideration The Adorning of the Gospel by a holy practical Conversation would contribute much to the healing of our present deplorable Divisions our scandalous Separations and that Spirit of frowardness and perverseness which has possess'd this present Generation The Differences amongst us are not so great as are imagined nor yet so small as not to be lamented Wisdom Humility and a temper of Moderation might have managed as great Matters as these came to without any notable Scandal but a Spirit of Pride Hatred uncharitable Censoriousness has inflamed these little things to a prodigious height Now the process was thus Some Professors had given Offence by their remiss or perhaps some irregular Walking there began the Offence first at the Person then at the Profession The Disgust at one grew up to a Disgust against all of the same Denomination from an Ossence at the Persons it grew up into a Distaste of their Worship and Administrations and when this dividing Zeal had usurpt the Title of Divine Fervour then Heaven and Earth Church and State must be involved in unquenchable Flames This was therefore the generous Spirit of the Apostle 2 Cor. xi 12. What I do that I will do that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion that wherein they glory they may be found even as we But I must shut up this Discourse which a sincere desire to restore our Holy Religion to its due Honour and Repute has made to grow under my hands to a bulk far greater than at first designed Give me leave to reassume my Exhortation I beseech you Brethren by the Mercies of God and the Bowels of our Lord and Saviour that you would consider and pity the sad Case of his blessed Gospel which has been wounded either by our hands or through our sides and make it your great Business to Adorn it in All things I deny not but though you should walk like Angels there are a Generation of Men would reproach you as Devils but yet there are many Curable Souls whose Reconciliation to the Ways of God wants nothing waits for nothing so much as that you should shew them the way to Heaven by your Heavenly Example And that our Endeavours may be successful let us all join with the Prophet in his Pious Prayer Hab. iii. 2. O Lord I have heard thy speech and was afraid O Lord revive thy work in the midst of the years in the midst of the years make known in wrath remember mercy Amen FINIS