repented the Lord that he had made Man upon the Earth and it grieved him at his Heart Gen. 6. 5 6. But after that the Lord smelled a sweet Savour and the Lord said in his Heart I will not again curse the Ground any more for Man's sake for the Imagination of Man's Heart is evil from his Youth neither will I again smite any more every thing Living as I have done Gen. 8. 21. This was said upon Noah a Righteous and Perfect Man his building an Altar unto the Lord and offering burnt Offerings on that Altar So that we see and find that it fares better with the wicked World for the sake of the Righteous And after the same similitude of things we may conceive that when the Lord hath been long and sore displeased with the Heathen of former Generations who were at Ease under which word Heathen are comprised all those who know not or who obey not the Lord when the Earth was much corrupâ—ed by reason of their Transgression which did sit heavy â—pon it so that it became as a Smoak or Stink in his Nostrils When the House of Israel dwelt in their own Land they defiled it by their Ways and by their doings Their way was before me as the uncleanness of a Removed Woman Ezek. 30. 17. After God hath born with this a long time then comes and succeeds the Righteous Generation who build an Altar and offer Burnt Offerings on that Altar which like Frankinsence and Myrrh doth take away all the former Stink that the Lord doth smell a sweet Savour from them whereupon he doth abate and mitigate somewhat from that intended Punishment which he had before thought to lay and inflict on the wicked World That he will not stir up all his Wrath nor yet pour on them all and the utmost Evil which he had before purposed to have done Though withal by seeing the exceeding Goodness of the one compared with the Exceeding Sinfulness Evil and Provocation of former Generations it is necessary that some Punishment and Vengeance be actually inflicted on them For the day of Vengeance is in mine Heart Hereby is denoted the futurity thereof and that it is to succeed after the other and the Year of my Redeemed is come Isa 63. 4. Which being expressed in the Present Tense though it is spoken of after the other yet in order of time it will be before that to which agrees the Gospel And the Dead in Christ shall rise first Thess 4. 16. For it is the day of the Lord's Vengeance and the Year of Recompences for the controversie of Sion Isa 34. 8. What is this controversie of Sion It is even the Lord's Controversie with the Inhabitants of the Earth That all both Jew and Gentile Heathen and all other People of every Nation Country and Language and of every Generation should obey him the Lord their God And here it comes to pass that some do Obey him and some do not from whence it is appositely stiled Recompences in the Plural Number there being two sorts of them that is to say a Recompence of Good to those that shall be found to have Obeyed him and a Recompence of Evil to such who have not Obeyed him For the Lord God of Recompences shall surely requite Jer. 51. 56. To all People of every Country Kindred and time one of these two ways So that in short if People do not Obey God it is a Controversie which will be decided to their own Misery as themselves will find in the day of the Lord's Vengeance But if they do obey him unto which knowing the Terrors of the Lord we perswade Men it will be abundantly made up to them in the Resurrection of the Just in the Year of Recompences for the controversie of Sion This Controversie the Lord hath been pleading with Men and Women by his Word and Spirit by his Prophets Son Jesus Christ Apostles Evangelists Pastors and Teachers Ministers and Servants ever since Man was first Created on the Earth The same lot hath fallen unto me from the Forty third Forty fourth and Forty fifth Verses of the Eighteenth Psalm which I have here endeavoured to Handle Faithfully and Truly according to the Grace and Knowledge according to the Ability and Measure which the Lord hath given and committed unto me according to the proportion of Faith and according to that distribution of Spiritual Qualifications and Endowments which was allotted and here I stand in my Lot Dan. 12 13. to me a single Creature What I write unto others I write unto my self also that I may be found obedient in all those things whereunto I exhort others And whilst the desire of my Soul is to this and the same is the endeavour of my Hands it is a well-grounded hope and assurance that both my self and my Works may be accepted of the Lord. If the Lord who hath the residue of the Spirit Mal. 2. 15. doth stir up others also in like manner as he hath done mine This may somewhat prepare and make way for the Vniversal Reformation of the Lives and Manners of Men. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and they that turn many to Righteousness as Stars for ever and ever But thou O Daniel shut up the Words and seal the Book even to the time of the End Many shall run to and fro and Knowledge shall be increased Dan. 12. 3. 4. So that after all these Words also may be shut up and this Book may be Sealed until the appointed time draws near and is actually come when God will indeed bring the same to pass even at the time of the End in the very last days and shutting up of all When Christ the Son of David the root and off-spring of David the Bright and Morning Star shall be delivered from the hands of all his Enemies and from the strivings of the People when his Enemies shall be made his Foot-stool and shall be cast out as the dirt in the Street when all his Members Disciples and Followers shall be delivered from the Hand of Saul See the Title of Psalm 18. that is in a Spiritual Signification from the Devil that like as Christ their Head was preserved from and not overcome by his Temptations so he stall see the Travel of his Soul and be satisfied for in that himself hath suffered being Tempted he is able to Succour them that are Tempted Heb. 2. â—8 Whom he doth accordingly so Succour and Preserve in the hour of Temptation and in the day of Trial till at length they become Conquerors and they are delivered from the hand of all their Enemies and from the hand of the Tempter CHAP. IX A Paraphrase on some of the most Remarkable Verses of Psalm 18. Shewing the Design and Connexion of this Psalm Whereunto is Sub-joined the shutting up and the Conclusion of this whole Book SO that in that day the words of this Song may be spoken unto the Lord I will
all this long Fight and Controversie with the Inhabitants of the Earth wherein the Lord did Fight against them with the Sword of his Mouth even that two edged Sword which is called the Word of God And these Rebels did again fight with him with all their Vngodly deeds which they have Vngodly committed and with all their hard Speeches which ungodly Sinners have spoken against him Jude 15. Yet after all God hath the better and upper Hand Though they did as it were Murder his own Divine Majesty in putting to Death his Prophets Son and Servants God hath raised up his Son already and he will also raise up all them again and bring them along with him Alive to Judgment when When he will tread down his Enemies in his Anger and Trample them in his Fury Isa 63. 3. and He will slay them Luke 19. 27. serving them as they did his Anointed and his Chosen ones Still the Lord liveth and Blessed be my Rock and let the God of my Salvation be Exalted The Psalmist goes on to speak in the Person of Christ who must Reign till he hath put all his Enemies under his Feet It is God that avengeth me and subdueth the People under me He delivereth me from mine Enemies yea thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me Which was eminently fulfilled when those that rose up against him lifted him up upon the Cross and afterwards God lifted him up from the Grave wherein they had put him into the highest Heavens in his Ascension and sitting now at his Right hand where he is now lifted up infinitely above all his Enemies Thou hast delivered me from the violent Man who is as contrary to the Meckness and Gentleness of Christ as a Wolf is to a Lamb. But here God the Everlasting Shepherd who brought again the Lord Jesus from the Dead did deliver and restore this Lamb of God safe again from out of their Mouth after they had taken him and with wicked Hands Crucified him Therefore will I give thanks unto thee O Lord among the Heathen and sing Praise unto thy Name Great deliverance giveth he to his King who in that day in reality and very deed shall be King both of the Jews and also of the Gentiles yea of all the Earth and to his Anointed which is the very Christ to David and to his Seed for evermore By which last word the Son of David is included of whom as concerning the Flesh Christ came and also all the Seed and Children whom the Lord hath given him from the Beginning from thenceforth and for evermore in the most Universal comprehensive and extensive Signification throughout all the Earth and to the end of Time from thenceforth throughout all Eternity Which is here so expressed for our Understanding and Apprehension For there is no passing throughout all Eternity for into that is an entrance and in that is a continuance but no going through any part of what is without Succession of days or ending of time but like God himself the Ancient of days abideth continually the same And they sung a new Song saying Thou art worthy to take the Book and open the Seals thereof for thou wast slaâ—n and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation And hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall Reign on the Earth Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive Power and Riches and Wisdom and Strength and Honour and Glory and Blessing And every Creature which is in Heaven and on the Earth and under the Earth and such as are in the Sea and all that is in them heard I saying Blessing and Honour and Glory and Power be unto him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb for ever and ever Rev. 5. 9 10 12 13. After this I beheld and lo a great Multitude which no Man could number of all Nationt and Kindred and People and Tongues stood before the Throne and before the Lamb cloathed with white Robes and Palms in their Hands and cried with a loud Voice saying Salvation unto our God which sitteth upon the Throne and to the Lamb Blessing and Glory and Wisdom and Thanksgiving and Honour and Power and Might be to our God for ever and ever Amen Rev. 7 9 10 12. FINIS Practical Books Written and Published by Richard Stafford OF Happiness Wherein it is fully and particularly manifested That the greatest Happiness of this Life consisteth in the Fear of God and keeping his Commandments in opposition to the Pleasures of Sin or the pretended conveniency of Disobedience Rules and Directions for the prevention of and Recovery out of Sickness A Discourse against Partial Obedience Or that dangerous Deceit so universal amongst them who call themselves Christians of keeping some of the Commandments of God and neglecting others Some Thoughts of the Life to Come With a brief account of the state of Religion as it 〈◊〉 now in the World The great Benefits of Christ to all that Believe on and Obey him Being a Treatise on Hebrews 2. 15. VVherein it is shewed and made known how People may be freed and delivered from that slavish fear of Death whereby they are subject to Bondage throughout their Life-time And also how they may be saved and preserved from the Evil and Danger of Death when it shall approach nigh and come actually upon them An earnest Call to all the Inhabitants of the Earth to Turn immediately to the Lord their God
The Adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in Pieces 1 Sam. 2. 8. Strength may sometimes prevail against the Son of Man who is weak as we are but yet many times a wise Submission will do more But neither Strength nor yet further Provocation shall in the least prevail against God when true Repentance will always avail and stand in stead Remarkable is that Counsel of our Lord and Saviour And I say unto you my Friends be not afraid of them that kill the Body and after that have no more that they can do But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear fear him which after he hath killed hath Power to cast into Hell yea I say unto you fear him Luke 12. 4 5. The utmost of Mens Malice and Cruelty extends only to this short Time and to this weak Flesh and they use it accordingly in this their Hour and Power of Darkness Whereas God suffers Acts 13. 18. Mens evil Deeds here in the Body but when they are dislodged from that he calls them to Judgment and Account and he hath the Length of a whole Eternity for to inflict Vengeance both on Body and Soul for the same Even here we perceive that at the first time of suffering or when it is short Men may bear up and not sink under it but it is not so of a long and continued Misery But what our God hath threatned is such that if the wicked were Brass and Iron it would make them submit and yield much more will it Flesh and Bone Can thine Heart endure or can thine Hands be strong in the Days that I shall deal with thee I the Lord have spoken it and I will do it Ezek. 22. 14. There is none who doth not sometimes labour under Sorrow and Vexation of Thought much more must they groan under the Worm which shall never die and they can no way be freed from the Sense and Feeling thereof Surely the Wrath of Man shall praise thee the Remainder of Wrath shalt thou restrain Psal 76. 10. God first endued him with Power to rage and to be furious to that Degree he now is and as before he did not ordain it further so even now he can curb what he hath made He will shorten and make it quite to cease When their Rage is against him he will put an Hook in their Jaws and lead them till they shall torment even till they shall quite weary themselves There is no good to be done that way Hear then what the Psalmist saith next Vow and pay unto the Lord your God Let all that be round about him bring Presents unto him that ought to be feared Vers 11. Submit and be obedient unto him have a good Mind and shew all the good will towards him which you can now you are a little while in the Way Draw near and be reconciled ye who were sometimes afar off and averse towards him Let all that former Aversation be done away and come to the Throne of Grace with Reverence and Godly Fear Look diligently lest any Root of Bitterness springing up trouble you Lest there be any Remainder of that which was heretofore in you Cut it off Root and Branch for it doth wholly spring up from your Sin and Ignorance God is good and the same still from everlasting to everlasting Neither doth he alter or change with our several Apprehensions or Assertions concerning him But by our Sin and Iniquity we made him our Enemy The Consciousness whereof did raise a slavish Fear and Dread The less we did know of him the less we did discover of his Goodness and Love towards the Children of Men As again the more we know of him the more that doth appear forth unto us When we seek diligently and come yet more near unto God we do as really perceive Goodness Mercy Love Peace and Joy to flow from him all one as Vertue did proceed forth from the Garment of Christ and all one as we perceive the Heat of the Fire when we make towards it or when we go abroad in a bright shining Day to see the Light of the Sun If Man were verily perswaded of thus much at first he would never depart and go astray from his Maker as when he is truly informed and throughly satisfied hereof He would instantly return unto him For who is he that desires not Good and Happiness and would not willingly at first go the ready way to it Indeed with the shew and appearance thereof he is presently turned aside to transgression and the pleasures of Sin But then it is not long before he finds by sensible experience the vanity and vexation thereof at present and he is further forewarned of Destruction and Misery And then he may alter his steps into the way of Peace and Comfort which leads unto and ends in Glory and Happiness We may taste and see that the Lord is gracious for we do evidently feel and behold with our Eyes that thus it is now at this present time as to what he doth require of us and as to what he hath forbidden And so his promises and threatnings of what are further consequent to the same are confirmed by the Word and Oath of him for whom it is impossible to lie Those who are enlightened do clearly discern all this and they who come to true Repentance when they have set aside all prejudice and carnality and are throughly separated from the perversities of the Spirit When they come to themselves Luke 15. 17. and are such as Men should be They do likewise judge that it is so as here spoken of for it is evident to their real Sense and Disposition Who have experience both of the Way of the Lord and also of the Way of Sin and Satan They do affirm that the first is better The Temptation wherewith Men are drawn over to Irreligion and Ungodliness is that it hath a shew of Liberty and Briskness As again to such the knowledge and fear of the Lord doth seem a confinement and dulness and therefore they refuse and cast it off But this is a most grievous Sin and Provocation to turn Rebel against their God It is monstrous and unnatural to forget God that formed them and all things It is most detestable impiety and the utmost ill-deserving to live in no sense of and subjection unto the Governour of the World This is infinitely worse and more inexcusable than for Subjects to rise up in Arms against a good and lawful Prince for Children to be Rebellious and Froward to a kind good just and wise Father or as is any Action of the most ungrateful Servant against the best of Masters Yet all this proceeds from want of a right knewledge of God and of a true Understanding what his Fear is I speak this to shew the Shame and Degeneracy of Mankind Even those must have their Thoughts altered concerning God and lifted up towards him or he will raise them up to Shame and everlasting
Life what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink is not the Life more than Meat aod so in V. 32. it is inculcated for after all these things do the Gentiles seek They know nothing more no do they discern much more in Life than Meat Drink and Raiment just to receive and use these things and rise up to play But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness for that is more and of longer Concern and this Life and the things thereof is only in order to that A Space only to prove and see whether we will therein seek after Immortality and Glory Sufficient unto the Day is the Evil thereof It brings more Evil than Good so it is not desirable to live only for living sake but to do the Work which the Lord hath sent us here to do And yet such is the false and contrary Practice of Worldlings that they are more concerned hew it goes with this Moment and Inch of Time than how it shall be with them throughout the whole Length of Eternity They are wonderfully careful and afraid of losing a little Good and suffering some small Evil at the present Time then they are fearful least they come short of the true and enduring Blessedness and least they fall into the Damnation of Hell What means that greedy and earnest catching at all the Pleasure or Profit that can be had and running away from all manner of Evil without regard to the Means whether they be sinful or not This is no Consideration or at least no Hindrance to the doing as they list Like natural Brute Beasts they are only mindful of what is just before them but regardless of what is to succeed They act perversely and go just contrary to the Command and Counsel of our Lord and Saviour for they take thought for to morrow and think themselves never sufficiently diligent in making Preparation for the Residue of this Life and how it shall go with them in the few remaining Days but they do not stretch their Care ond Provision further not giving Heed to be received up into the heavenly Kingdom when all these things shall fail Nor do they learn and practise the Righteousness thereof which would stand in stead Whereas Meat Drink and Raiment are for the Body but this Body shall at length drop from them and they shall have no need thereof One would admire how it comes to pass that so much Time and Labour are spent about the things of this Life as usually is When the Meat and Drink are soon received and the Raiment is quickly put on So that there is Time to spare to mind other things but they do as it were procrastinate and lengthen it out of set Purpose They seek out for superfluous and more than necessary things and hope to have this for an Excuse for not minding the one thing needful Nay who have those outward things without their own Care and Labour and have them brought to their Hand yet these do rather consume their precious Time in Sloth or sinful Pleasures or hungry Recreations or vain things But they are not employed in the Work of the Lord nor do they seek after the Pleasures of his House nor yet do they contemplate and seek to get an Interest in the Substance of the things hoped for which only are true and enduring They have some Fancy or seeming Reason for their present Manner of Life It hath a Shew of Pleasure Ease and Quietness but the Christian Course seems to them to meet with Opposition Trouble Hardship and Disturbance Whereas the former sensibly comes to nothing and to the other is promised a great Reward and an exceeding Weight of Glory But even now the idle or sinful Life is vexatious or tiresome It is accompanied with Restlesness and Dissatisfaction for the Mind of Man covets after something more and also hath Regret when he is not conversant about what he ought The Mind soars up above these lower things and though kept down or turned aside thro' the Policy and Deceivableness of Satan yet it is with Pain and Displeasure Those many silent Thoughts and Upbraidings of Spirit that self-Indignation the continual Fear and Doubt of Mind as often as it considers of God above or casts a Glimpse towards Eternity and future Life there is Horror and strange Amazement Every one nay the Worst Sinner or prophane Person doth sometimes think of these things And even who is most sunk into Earthliness or Ignorance his Life is continual Weariness and Vexation And they are willingly more cumbred with the things of this Life They do of set Purpose give way to it and consume the greater Part of their Time herein Because worldly Business is a Diversion from that Sorrow and Fear of Soul which they would otherwise labour under If we could bring out the several Things and Passages of their Life we should discover the manifold Misery of Ungodliness and Disobedience even at this present Time besides the Wrath of God which is now revealed from Heaven and shall be executed upon the Guilty when the Lord cometh with Ten Thousand of his Saints But on the other Hand in the several Steps of the Christian Warfare there is Contentedness Peace Hope and Assurance It hath the Strength and Comfort of God at present and also Application of the Promises which shall be made good and fulfilled hereafter The utmost that can be done in this vain Life which passeth away as a Shadow is but little and if we can possibly do any thing for which we may have the Acceptance of our God and obtain Good at the latter End it it is highly worth our greatest Pains and Labour At is is better to have it hereafter than now at present for as hath been heretofore often observed every thing had now doth pass away but what is to be revealed hereafter doth ever remain Certainly they have the best Portion and make the wisest Choice who are for the greater and more durable things who let the Shadow pass by but make sure of the Substance who are contented to foregoe some things which may endanger or lessen from their heavenly Inheritance Nay if it be strictly and properly considered there is no great Loss or Suffering in this for though the Means may be somewhat diminished or taken away yet our God through his gracious and and bountiful Nature by his wonderful and over-ruling Providence doth supply what is wanting and he doth nevertheless give the thing it self for which the others are esteemed necessary and sought after Such things are desired in order to Contentment and present Happiness and again we decline others lest they should bring on Evil and Misery Now God who maketh all things to work together for Good to them that love and fear him can and also doth give the same Contentment without them and also takes away or softens the pain when the nature of such a thing would inflict it And further When we
turned upside down such are thought not to seek the Welfare of this People but the Hurt Jer. 38. 4. who are not willing that any should Perish but that all should come to Repentance who Study Pray and Teach and do use all the outward means possible to help forward the common Salvation But this is our Comfort and Encouragement that the Spirit of God witnesseth the same which we also find and wish in our Hearts That they do indeed bring Good Tidings and publish Peace and also that they have Good Will towards Men notwithstanding they are esteemed and reproached contrariwise by the World Even the Saviour thereof unto whom this and all Scripture hath more especial Relation witnessed what himself found The World hateth me because I testifie of it that the Works thereof are Evil John 7. 7. But this is a double Iniquity first to do Evil and then what is yet worse To hate him even Jesus whom God sent to bless them in turning away every one of them from his Iniquities Acts 3. 26. In order to which it is first necessary to tell and shew them thereof When God would have Men turn from their evil doings they kill and evil intreat those whom he sends on his Message They hate him that rebuketh in the Gate and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly Amos 5. 10. They cannot endure to be interrupted in their course But is their course Good or Evil right or wrong If the VVorld did that which is Good and Righteous they need not be afraid of the Ministers of God for then they would meet with Praise and Encouragement from them instead of what they now look upon as Trouble and Disturbance Then indeed all three would meet together Glory to God in the highest and on Earth Peace Good Will towards Men Luke 2. 13. When the People are gathered together and the Kingdoms to serve the Lord when they walk and agree in his Fear and Obedience then they have Râ—st and Comfort Then we may do as others do as long as they keep unto the same Rule and so long we have Peace and rejoycing one with another But then we do after this or that manner not because others do the like but we see it thus written and we are so directed This is one considerable difference between the Good and Evil Righteous and VVicked that the first have a set Rule of Action God and his VVord whereas the Evil and VVicked have not so much regard to that but they are led on by the Example of others and by their own Imaginations The Example is the Multitude of the Richer sort who though fewest in Number yet have Influence on many for these crave after VVorldly Goods and have their Their Persons in Admiration the which they bestow and convey down to have others that are thus beholding unto and dependant on them So that here it may be reduced that for Profit and Interest they act after this manner But even this Argument if stretched out throughly would bring them into the right way What is a Man profited if he should gain the whole World and lose his own Soul Matt. 16. 20. Is not Happiness and Salvation more than present Gain and Advantage And what if that should be lost by omission of Duty and commission of Sin They misemploy that Diligence and precious Time which might be spent on a more excellent thing and would tend to better account For every Man shall bear his own Burthen Gal. 6. 5. And likewise every one shall receive the reward of his own Labour And therefore what others do what is that to thee Mind thy self and thine own things Thou wouldst have good to thy self and avoid Misery why then go in the way and use the Means accordingly Anothers Happiness extends not to thee for it rather raises Envy and a greater Resentment So that the Misery of others is but a poor Reiief and Comfort to thine own Still as thou art divided from others so thou must labour to secure and embetter thine own Condition abstracted and separated from that of Others The whole World lieth in Wickedness 1 John 5. 19. Which as sure as God's Word is true will involve them into Condemnation and Misery Even those who now are for living according to the vain Manners and Customs of the VVorld would not willingly have such an End But it is the particular Sins of several Persons which make up the general corruption of Many and they are subject to that Punishment which is now denounced from Heaven and will be inflicted accordingly at the time spoken of Can thine Heart endure or can thine Hands be strong in the days that I shall deal with thee I the Lord have spoken it and will do it Ezek. 22. 14. When thou criest let thy Companies deliver thee But the wind shall carry them all away Isa 57. 13. They are under the same smart and pain themselves and cannot case thee but rather increase your Howlings and cause a deeper sense of that Misery which ye are all plunged into It will not be a sufficient exchange for the loss of Eternal Happiness to be a little puffed up with following the humours and ways of the Multitude for the utmost advantage and conveniency thereof at present cannot recompense for the Danger of what is to come The reputation of Good Nature of being Sociable and Compliant All the Ease gain and Profit thereof cannot countervail so great a Loss and Pain Much less will not those things whereof there is no benefit at all but only to gratifie a sudden transient Humour and barely to conform unto the Example and Practice of others Of which nature are those several things of Ungodliness and that fashioning and corrupting the several parts of the Worship of God The chief Reason why so many continue Ungodly and do not tread God's Courts or they do it only on the Lord's day and not every day as was the manner of the first Christians to Continue daily in he Temple Acts 2. 46. Is because they see that most do the like of the same Age and Circumstances with themselves And they are for not varying from the because they would not be accounted odd and singular nor have their Reputation lessened Now to examine this and other things of like Nature by that often mentioned Rule In every thing one takes in hand or admits of and so in all Debates and doubts of Mind it might be reduced to this Whether the good or evil of a thing will be greater Whether it is better to do or to leave such a thing undone And that taking in the consideration of the time to come as well as the present for that will as certainly be present also And then a Wise Man knoweth what he hath to do or not to Choose or Refuse Now if in the present Case that single Thought only will do a Man as much good and stand him in as much stead throughout a whole Eternity as
Practical Discourses On Sundry TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE Wherein is shewed and made known The absolute Necessity for all People TO Turn Immediately Unto the Lord their GOD. By RICHARD STAFFORD formerly a Batchelor of Arts of Magdalen-Hall in Oxford LONDON Printed and are to be Sold by Ralph Simpson at the Harp in St. Paul's Church-yard 1695. To the Courteous READER THE Subject of this ensuing Book A Call to all the Inhabitants of the Earth to turn immediately to the Lord their God is Great and Good Even what all the Words and Preaching that have ever came forth into the World in all the several Generations and Countries have endeavoured at For Christ also hath once suffered for Sins the Just for the Vnjust that he might bring us to God 1 Pet. 3. 8. Besides the Sufferings of Christ The End and Intent of all the Words which Christ spake or made known and so it is the same of all the Transactions which have ever passed between God and Man are that he might bring us to Himself who is God Though this hath been indeed effected of some few Peculiar People of the several Generations yet it hath not been of the Multitude and Generality of Mankind Notwithstanding God was manifested in the Flesh and put to Death in the Flesh but quickned in the Spirit for this alone End and Purpose How can it then be expected that one who is born out of due Time and the least of all in the Kingdom of God can by publishing a few words more accomplish so great a thing when all the Books and Preaching in the World have not yet done it Especially when the Word it self which was made Flesh and dwelt among us Full of Grace and Truth who spake as never Man spake did not so bring it to pass that all should though some did believe on him Far be it therefore from me to expect or imagine That this little Book or Treatise of mine will ever have so great an Effect But it is only offered as another Mile to be thrown into the Treasury of Divine Truths It is the Thoughts of one single Creature which have arose in his Mind whereby himself is actually perswaded to God and good things and to turn unto the Lord Immediately Luke 12. 36. As Paul conferred not with Flesh and Blood but immediately went to Jerusalem So for my part I would utterly lay aside all Carnal and Worldly Considerations and immediately give up my self to the Guidance of the Lord as he leads me in the way to Jerusalem that is above whithersoever that way goes And I do desire that these same Thoughts may be published and made known abroad Out of this Hope and Expectation If Peradventure the God of all Truth who perswadeth us throughout our Life in all the several Circumstances and Conditions thereof That we may be able to perswade other Men and Women by the very same Thoughts wherewith our selves are perswaded of God He fashioneth the Hearts of the Sons of Men alike Psal 33. 15. and it is commonly seen That by what one is perswaded another under the like Thoughts and Circumstances is Perswaded also And if the like things were made known unto and believed by the mixt Multitude and generality of Mankind as is to the elect People and real Servants of God in all outward Likelihood and Probability They would also be brought over unto God To this alone End and Purpose are these Words laid before Men that whosoever will may read And for such who will not read the Saying among the Latins is Pertinaciae nullum Remedium Posuit Deus So we the Ministers of his Word cannot tell what to say to it Nor do we know how to help and remedy it though we would never so fain But we can only warn such Behold ye Despisers and Wonder and Perish Such are in real danger to fall under the same Doom as the Sons of Eli and Amaziah did Notwithstanding they bearkned not unto the Voice of their Father Because the Lord would slay them 1 Sam. 2. 25. But Amaziah would not hear for it came of God that he might deliver them into the hand of their Enemies 2 Chron. 25. 20. And so it is They that will not Hear Read and Receive the Words of Instruction Knowledge and Reproof It is a certain foregoing sign that such will be punished with everlasting Destruction from the Presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his Power It is commonly alledged that there is no new thing under the Sun and there is nothing said especially in Books but what hath been said before for my part I would endeavour somewhat further in what I publish to the World which as yet is not so clearly made known in other Books and Sermons or otherwise I would not publish at all Or at least I would seek out acceptable Words and that which is written may be upright even Words of Truth Eccles 12. 10. If Words or rather Sentences of Truth are indeed brought forth Although they be without Method and Connexion as there are very many of this sort in the following Treatise yet they are never the less worth for want of that All one as pieces of Gold or so many Pearls are not the less valuable although they be not linked and chained together Again Although my writing here is not with enticing words of Mans Wisdom nor yet according to the exact Rules of Oratory But things are expressed so plainly that they may be understood by the meanest Capacity Nevertheless God is more glorified and the Reader may be more edified hereby then in what is called more Learned and Polite Discourses It was both a puzling and also a sudden Question of Pilate What is Truth To me it seems to be the expressing forth the Nature of things as they are with the Connexion between themselves and how they pertain to us Men. Things are again divided into Visible and Invisible Present or Future Now the present and visible things soon pass away and are but little But the great Object of what is commonly called Divine Truth which is the subject of the ensuing Book is only invisible and future things which are the only thing needful even the greatest and nearest Concern All things are Gods for he created them and the principal Matter here insisted on throughout the whole is what God requires of Man with a Word of Exhortation to enforce him the more to the Obedience and Observance of the same and more especially what God will do unto us Men and Women the reasonable Inhabitants of this Earth both hereon in the latter days and also after that they are gone off from this Stage of the middle part of the World As to that great Controversie which the Lord hath had for so many Generations past and foregoing concerning their universal Obedience to Himself their God Psal 50. 7. which all the words that ever came forth and were made known in the World heretofore
that vast and wide Place to which the great and wide Sea is not so much as a small single Pool of Water is now to the whole Ocean Every thing above is so astonishing that all the Wonders of the Deep are not so much as the purling of a little Brook or Stream To see the King in his Beauty and to behold the Land that is very far off Isa 33. 17. is infinitely more delightful than the Gaudiness of Eastern Emperors or all the pleasant Places of all the Earth Our Souls shall mount up there after they have for some time dwelt in this earthly Cottage They now are weary of and get above all things here and do apprehend the other by Faith which will be revealed in Sight and Enjoyment God doth all things in his own Order O that thou wouldst rent the Heavens that thou wouldst come down Isa 64. 1. He might open and display his own Majesty and make himself seen in his Glory or he might infuse his Word and Spirit immediately into the Hearts of every Soul of every Nation under Heaven to give them Knowledge and Assurance that these things are so But he hath spoken to the World by the Prophets his Son and Apostles who lived in the Land of Judea and others are to receive it from them and to publish it forth throughout the World Thus our Lord and Saviour gave Commission and Direction And accordingly his Apostles did travel about on Horses and Ships unto the Places afar off to make known these things and so their Words went out unto the End of the World But we according to his good and gracious Promises do expect a more universal preaching of his Word and sending of his Spirit As He is the Confidence of all the Ends of the Earth and of them that are are afar off upon the Sea Psal 65. 5. So he will manifest and make himself fully known unto them Our selves as yet know him by Faith we hear of him with the Hearing of the Ear we see it written of him we understand and perceive from within but the Words of Life and Knowledge may be sent and published unto others By the Help of Ink and Paper we may speak to those whom we have not seen and to the Nations afar off Men and Brethren of every Country of the Earth let me freely speak unto you of the Patriarch David that he is both dead and buried Whilst he lived he ruled over one single Nation of small Extent and he was likely to have been thrust from that by his Son Absolom but the Lord sustained him He had no forreign and new Conquests nor did he enlarge Territories Himself was not made the Head of the Heathen nor did People whom he knew not serve him Therefore being a Prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an Oath to him that of the Fruit of his Loins according to the Flesh God would raise up Christ to sit on his Throne He seeing this before spake of the Kingdom of Christ that it should extend over all He shall have Dominion also from Sea to Sea and from the River unto the Ends of the Earth and so as is further said in the Seventy Second and Eightieth Psalms Thou hast delivered me from the Strivings of the People It is the general Stile of Prophecies to run in the Present or Preterpefect Tense which saith things are ready or have been when it speaks of things to come which denotes the great Truth and Certainty thereof that it will as really be as if it was at this present Moment or had been already fulfilled It is the Word and Promise of the high and lofty one who inhabiteth Eternity to whom all things are present and before him Who sits above and hath in his Power the Times and Seasons He is above all Difference and Distinction of Times but according to our Capacity and Understanding he expresseth himself in this wise Yet have I set my King upon my holy Hill of Sion Ask of me and I shall give thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance and the uttermost Parts of the Earth for thy Possession Psal 2. 6 8. God hath established his Worship and Kingdom by little and little and ordained that those who submit unto it should do it freely It was a considerable Time before he brought his first Begotten Son into the World and then he endued him with such Power and Excellency that others might believe on him as sent from God and come to serve and honour him for whoso doth honour the Son he doth honour the Father also All People had sufficient Reason and Invitation to come unto him yet none is forced His Throne was set up in the appointed Place for the Law shall go forth of Sion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem Micah 4. 2. Every Man or Woman that will may be obedient to it We are to fear the Name of the Lord whom we have heard of and we are to comply with his Will which is made known unto us Herein is the Kingdom of God superiour and different from that of Men for we ought to obey him that is invisible before those whom our Eyes see And it was never known nor heard of among the Children of Men that those did exercise Authority whom none of their Subjects ever saw God is a Spirit and is manifested unto and in our Spirits and he is also evident to the outward Eye for this sees the things which his Hands hath made Our selves do inhabit in and discern the Temple wherein also he dwells and which he fills with his Presence Heaven is his Throne and the Earth is his Footstool So that we have as great Assurance that the Lord is King as that there are Governours over such particular Nations or as a Son is assured that he had a Father or a Servant that he hath a Master And there should arise the same continued Obligation of Duty towards our God as is actually given to those earthly Relations according to what is written Vnto thee lift I up mine Eyes O thou that dwellest in the Heavens Behold as the Servants look unto the Hand of their Masters and as the Eyes of a Maiden unto the Hand of her Mistress So our Eyes wait upon the Lord our God until that he have Mercy upon us Psal 123. 1 2. A Son honoureth his Father and a Servant his Master If then I be a Father where is mine Honour and if I be a Master where is my Fear saith the Lord of Hosts Mal. 1. 6. which is the most reasonable and natural thing in the World for in him we live and move and have our Being as certain also of your own Poets have said for we are also his Offspring For as much then as we are the Offspring of God we ought in all Times and in all Places to give all Honour and Obedience unto him And so accordingly we should if we had the Knowledge and did not forget God
for the Work is as profitable and beneficial to the one as Payment is to the other But the Case is otherstise between God and us for first he hath wrought all our Works in us he brought us into Being and hath fed us up hitherto And one Way or another he hath prevented assisted and directed in those things which more immediately relate unto him though we are heedless as not to discern it no more than we perceive how we live and move in him which yet we do all along that to him belongs all the Glory and Praise thereof The utmost in Man is his Liberty of acting and working together with the Grace of God but still he first implanted that Power and Ability and when it turns towards Good it was God and his Grace that weighed down the Scale and over-ruled it unto the right and true Way Alass We are such small and finite Creatures that the utmost we do is very little and next to nothing For if the best Performances of the greatest and most diligent Saints on Earth be considered what is their Righteousness unto him Or what receives he of their Hands Even they come short of what they might have done yet more for they might have further improved their Talent Therefore I say unto you the Kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a Nation bringing forth the Fruits thereof Mat. 21. 43. But since the preaching and Promulgation of the Gospel to the World no Nation hath yet brought forth such Fruits God knows what will be done in the latter Days as might be justly expected from it Nothing hath been done answerable to the precious Truths contained therein It was the Lord who gave the Word who planted the Trees but the Ground hath not brought forth suitable Increase thereof The Husbandmen have not manured and dressed it as they should have done And what Fruits have been or shall at length spring up from it Lord thou hast but what is thine own They are but living Instruments all one as the Spade or Pruning Hook in the Hands of the Gardiner and at last the Work suffers Loss and Disadvantoge by Reason of those employed therein If they do any thing rightly it is of God that they do so but the Weakness and Fault is of themselves only God worketh in us both to will and to do He hath shewed us how so that all things and all our Works are to be attributed to him only He sits above and Christ at his Right Hand expecting what his Servants will do for him in like manner as till his Enemies are made his Footstool Both which are consequent one to the other for by means of his Servants he will overcome the rebellious and make them submit under him The Lord looketh down from Heaven upon the Children of Men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God Psal 14. 1. That did rightly apprehend the End of their Being in this World and did look after their Maker that by the things known already did ascend yet further That by what is known of God did seek out yet more if they could find out further Trace and Footsteps of this invisible Being As his Way is in the Waters he rideth upon the Wings of the Wind and the Clouds are the Dust of his Feet so we may see God in every thing To behold him not only in the Sanctuary but in every Part of his Temple which is Heaven and Earth and in each Part and Corner thereof To behold him in his visible Works and to perceive him in his invisible things To understand that great Relation of the Creator and his Creatures But more especially how we are concerned with that God with whom we have all to do What he doth require of us and what we are to render unto him The Phrase of looking down to see doth plainly denote that they are left to their Freedom and Liberty The same is likewise signified in the Parable of the Vineyard Isa 5. and Mark 12. 1 2. where God hath done all things that were necessary and reasonable and looks what will come of it Whether those Powers of acting he hath endued the Sons of Men withal will be employed in the right way or in extravagant things or be folded up in Idleness and Sloth Every Branch in me that beareth not Fruit he taketh away and every Branch that beareth Fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more Fruit John 15. 2. To all is committed at first some Grace and Power in order to spiritual things but who do not use it accordingly it is withdrawn from them But to them who manage aright is committed yet more that they should labour according to the Strength given them For whatever is in us is to be used and put forth Knowledge is to be communicated and still further Degrees and Increase thereof is to be sought after in order to impart that forth again Truth is to be declared and spoken out and this also is to be sought after and received for the aforesaid End and Purpose As the Blossom is to the Fruit so is Knowledge to Obedience and good Works The first is the Principle it goes before and gives Hope of the Fruit which is better and accordingly will end in that unless it be blasted and withered So this is the Beginning of our Duty for we cannot do any thing in order to God unless we know somewhat of him We cannot keep his Law till we apprehend what it is As there is an Unwillingness Aversation Forgetfulness of God and good things so there should be something to overcome that to stir up our Remembrance to keep this always in the Imagination of our Heart O Lord God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and of Israel our Fathers keep this for ever in the Imagination of the Thoughts of the Heart of thy People and prepare their Heart unto thee 1 Chron. 29. 18. Nevertheless it is too often seen through the marvellous Subtilty of Satan who doth every way endeavour to beguile and to beat off that many have good and right Knowledge but it remains as it were blasted for it lies dead within and doth not shoot forth into well-doing Many times it drops off and Perishes having no Root or Stalk in them for taking no Delight and apprehending no Good therein they suffer it to pass through their Understanding as Water running through a Pipe which may wet and moisten a little for the Time but returns to its former Driness They may be a little affected for the Time but afterwards they do not mind nor give heed thereafter It makes a goodly Shew and Appearance without but it is meer Leaf and Colour and nothing worth unless it grows towards Fruit and Perfection God is not to be served by halves As he requires the whole Man so he would have his Work finished and compleat or else a tending towards it if it be such as he will
vile and poor Many such like things might be objected against us if we came in our own Name or if we did promise them by our own Merit Excellency and Power But seeing we come in the Name of the Lord who hath created and ordained all things who will do nothing but he will reveal it to his Servants the Prophets Whatever his eternal Purpose and Decree is concerning Mankind he will some way make it known unto them by acquainting it to some who are to publish it unto others He hath so ordered that it might be known They do all hear the Rumour and they might seek after Acts 15. 17. and find it Salvation and the good things of God are forced upon none They may be brought nearer and pressed more urgently upon some than upon others yet still there is Liberty of Refusal Again they are not so far off from any but they may come near and receive them and to whom it is most inculcated and offered yet it is not all done to their Hand For Trial is had whether they will seek yet further There must be somewhat of Man's own Act and willing God doth manifest himself to be friendly and loving unto us by that constant Provision of temporal Mercies and also by doing all that lies on his Part for spiritual good things It is expected what we will do reciprocally as to what he doth require of us Saith the Son of God As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you Continue ye in my Love If ye keep my Commandments ye shall abide in my Love even as I have kept my Father's Commandments and abide in his Love John 15. 9 10. Here we have Assurance of the divine Favour to us and we are instructed how we may continue and express our good Will towards him viz. by keeping his Commandments God is no Respecter of Persons but whosoever of the Children of Men doth this he is accepted with him Whosoever doth the Works of Abraham he is a Friend of God as Abraham was James 2. 23. which Word Friend imports that we do a thing presently and readily at his requiring By much Importunity we we may get a Kindness from a common Neighbour which he will do not out of Affection and Esteem towards us but to be freed from the Trouble which we give him by our Importunity But where is real Love and Friendship there is constant Readiness to do mutual Offices even before the other asks or upon the least Intimation that such a thing would be acceptable unto him Now to apply the Case as it stands between God and Mankind As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me Psal 18. 44. Nothing can be more just and reasonable than that he should require Obedience of his Creatures Is he not more to all of them and to each singly than one Man is to another He is infinitely more kind than Father or Mother Husband Friend or Brother for even he ordained these Relations and stirs up what he first put in those Bowels of Mercy and Compassion one to another Of God are all things and now he ordereth them as it pleaseth him So he is the Author of all good we ever received and as he made he doth now sustain us and loadeth us with Benefits May he not expect something from us even all that we can render unto him To acknowledge him in all things and to walk always in the Way he shews unto us and to observe those Commandments he gives us Lord How strange is it that a Creature should make any Dispute or Controversie concerning it As we live by him so it is meet we should live as he would have us Both the Members of Body and Faculties of Soul should do according as he made and designed them Therefore glorifie God in your Body and in your Spirit which are God's 1 Cor. 6. 20. The Potter makes Vessels to serve for those Uses he intended them and other Artificers which frame moving Instruments make them turn or go as they please Hath not the Lord the same Power and Understanding who hath given such Skill and Capacity to others And he who fashioned every Part of us might also have ordained that all within us should necessarily have so moved according to his Command and Will as the Pulse continually beats to keep Life and Motion Who formed the Heart to turn either way to Good or Evil he might have determined it only to the first who enabled us to think this or that he might have confined us to good only and he might have kept out from thence Wickedness and Vanity all one as we now remain ignorant of many hidden and unsearchable things If we had a right Knowledge of God we might discern how he is the Creator of us and of all things who made my single Person he hath made Millions of the same Sort And who created Mankind he hath also Ten Thousand times ten Thousand several Sorts of Creatures both living and inanimate all which are for his own Glory and to minister unto him Who hath called the Generations from the Beginning Isa 41. 4. and ordained them to succeed one another after that Manner as we see they now do And shall a single Atom an individual Dust and Ashes refuse one Moment to comply with his Will Nay if several do so besides yet it is thine and the other 's single Disobedience which make up and encourage the Corruption of many But let their Number be never so great they are but as a Swarm of Flies and Locusts And if they do mutter forth hard Speeches or commit ungodly Deeds it is but in very little and sudden Acts. And what is all this Sin and Wickedness to the whole World of Creatures which declare the Glory of God and shew forth all his Praise What are the refractory and stubborn Worms of the Earth to those Armies of Heaven which fulfil all the Pleasure of the Almighty When he commands the Children of Men to do after this or that manner they go on frowardly in the Way of their Heart yet his Throne is for ever established above the Circuit of Heaven and there he sits governing the World and for ought we know a Thousand others God exercises the supream and alone Authority over all Who maketh his Angels Spirits and his Ministers a flaming Fire The Spirits are for the sudden and quick Dispatch of what he would have done and for the effectual Performance of the same And the flaming Fire is to burn up and consume all that lets or hinders and so make way for his Purpose He hath already fixed and ordained things in their appointed Courses and Places He hath appointed those several Motions and Bounds He hath sent forth his Word and given a Law He garnished out the Heavens by his Wisdom and laid out the Foundations of the Earth by his Understanding And we see it abideth according to his Ordinance for all things serve
hitherto hidden from some because they would not search the Scriptures for there they might have found it so and accordingly have prepared to have given up their Accounts The good may be hence quickned to do more to take hold of every Opportunity to lay up a greater Foundation against the Time to come to seek and do the Work of the Lord diligently and to improve every Talent to the utmost And the evil might presently have ceased to do wickedly turn and be more zealous in the other Way Faith apprehends so of things future as Memory and Recollection is to the past Herein appears the Excellency of the Understanding and reasonable Soul that she sees things afar off and remembers those behind But those things here are scarce worth our Remembrance but what things we are further told of they are all Wonder and Astonishment because they are so exceeding great and enduring Which will fill the Soul though opened wide and to the utmost and satisfie every Wish and Desire and these things are always to remain When these things shall be present before us we shall admire and be vexed within our selves that we did not more towards the obtaining them Even thus it will be of those who considered and did most that usually Men do Our Fathers received the Promises and saw them afar off they now stand more abundantly confirmed unto us being so indubitably made known that we are more fully perswaded of them and do embrace them So the Exhortation runs yet more forcible to cleanse our selves from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God and to do all things that we may be found accepted of him at the last Day Even thus much we may discern at present that the Lord sitteth above all his Creatures He hath revealed how we the Inhabitants of the Earth are to behave our selves towards him He hath prepared his Seat for Judgment and his Kingdom ruleth over all neither is any Creature that is not manifest in his Sight But all things are naked and opened unto the Eyes of him with whom we have to do We cannot know him as he knoweth us for he seeth us and all our Ways clearly but we now see thro' a Glass darkly And as we are mere Creatures who have nothing but what we have received so we know nothing but what he first made known and revealed unto us Our Saviour abode on the Earth Forty Days after his Passion on the Cross and Resurrection from the Grave speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God Acts 1. 3. very few of which are recorded And though many things are written which he made known in the Course of his Ministry yet the beloved Disciple John saith Many other things truly did Jesus in the Presence of his Disciples which are not written in this Book John 20. 30. So before his coming into the World God discovered his Will by Prophets and holy Men spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost And there have been since further Manifestations of divine Knowledge and Truth And yet still the Skies will be more opened and Righteousness shall be poured down Drop down ye Heavens from above and let the Skies pour down Righteousness Let the Earth open and let them bring forth Salvation and let Righteousness spring up together I the Lord have created it Isa 45. 8. He shall come down like Rain upon the mowen Grass as Showers that water the Earth Psal 72. 6. Truth shall spring out of the Eorth Psal 85. 11. Both as to the Element it self and also as to the Inhabitants thereof Let the People praise thee O God let all the People praise thee Then shall the Earth yield her Increase and God even our own God shall bless us Psal 67. 5 6. He shall make known those Arts and Means that the Earth shall yield her Increase so abundantly that there shall be no hungry and empty Soul but there shall be more than sufficient for every Creature whatever He shall give such a plentiful Fleece on the Sheep and may discover those other Ways for cloathing as to cover all the naked in our Land Bring ye all the Tithes into the Store-House that there may be Meat in mine House and prove me now herewith saith the Lord of Hosts If I will not open the Windows of Heaven and pour ye out a Blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it Mal. 3. 10. Mankind hath been hitherto proved wihther they will obey and trust in their God The poor hath been a long while suffered among them to see whether they will will provide for and do them good and they have not yet been so obedient and trusted unto him as they should But let them once do so let all the People praise him and then prove him whether he will not do those great things for us Whether he will not deal yet more bountifully even in those things for the sake of which People now transgress against him The Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof Psal 24. 1. The Silver is mine and the Gold is mine saith the Lord of Hosts Hag. 2. 8. so he can disclose it whensoever he will perhaps more than hath been yet seen and talked of And I will give thee the Treasures of Darkness and hidden Riches of secret Places Isa 45. 3. He can shew us where are the several rich Mines and some way bring to our Knowledge whatever Worth and Excellency lies hid at present in the Bowels of the Earth So there may be sufficient yea and abundance for all And there may be such exceeding Plenty even of the formerly beloved Mammon that they shall even loath and not esteem it because there is no such intrinsick Goodness in it as was supposed And things will be as readily done without as heretofore they were greedy and eager after it The Nature and End of every thing relating to us shall be perfectly understood and how they conduce to our real Good and Happiness As things shall be fully made known which tend to the Use Well-being and Delight of the Body so the same will be discerned concerning the Soul The hidden Man of the Heart will come forth and as that even now doth clearly appear in the Sight of God so it will be yet more manifested to our View that we may also know what is in Man as we see his outward Face The Thoughts of many Hearts shall be revealed so we may as evidently perceive them as we behold the working of their Hands or their goings up and down upon bodily Feet The Lord saith behold all Souls are mine Ezek. 18. 4. He challengeth a peculiar Property in them and yet he hath sent forth a peremptory Decree The Soul that sinneth it shall die The Soul hath a Knowledge of this which cannot be shaken off so imprinted that though it may be somewhat defaced yet it cannot be worn out The Desire and Tendency
better lay the Law before them and then themselves may consider their variation from it Sometimes they are at a stand and as it were amazed and they know not what to do they may first see and fully perceive and then acknowledge according to that Example in Ezra 10. 2. We have trespassed against our God and have taken strange Wives of the People of the Land yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing So of every Iniquity Transgression or Sin whether it is complicated or single whether many or few are concerned therein still there is hope that God will do what he declares which he also will as certainly as he is God For he is abundant in goodness and truth keeping Mercy for Thousands forgiving Iniquity Transgression and Sin But then they must make a Covenant with their God to forsake their sins for the time to come and hence forward to tremble at his Commandments and to do according to the Law But if they cover their sins if they keep and hold fast to them then they are still guilty whom the same Truth hath here said That he will by no means clear Exod. 34. 7. The word Forgiving respects what is past but doth not allow for the present or future What then Shall we continue in Sin that Grace may abound God forbid That God may shew the more mercy in our manifold and greater sins that we may love much when much is to us forgiven But this and such like is a perverse wicked proud and disdainful way of Reasoning Because God will forgive we will sin yet more because he is Gracious therefore we will provoke him because he is Good we will presume to offend him yet more because he will pass by the Transgression of the remnant of his Heritage and make it up again we will break and at no time continue stedfast in his Covenant And knowing that he will pass it over we will forget the Name of the Lord and hold up our hands to strange Gods we will idolize and labour to please Men without any regard had to him Shall not God search this out for he knows the secrets of the heart He doth see and discern all such kind of Imaginations which shoot forth into alike practices We should do well to consider with our selves Wherefore do we desire any forgiveness at God's hands Because we would partake of his Mercy and avoid his Wrath. We would be happy and are unwilling to be miserable Why know we not that the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him to such as keep his Covenant and to those that remember his Commandments to do them Psal 103. 17 18. And the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men Rom. 1. 18. and Disobedience Colos 3. 6. And therefore we must fear God if we would partake of his gracious Attribute and carefully eschew all the other that we do not fall under the severity of his Vengeance If we would be happy we must be holy and to prevent misery the only way is to sin not We are but meer Creatures All that we have is from God and so is all that we expect further We are but perishing and imperfect at present and we shall be yet somewhat more as our hopes and desires our fears and aversations give us notice of So that if we would have the good-will and love of God the consequent is natural and easie for our selves to shew love and good-will towards him in the mean while And then we must sin as little against him as possible Ye that love the Lord bate evil Psal 97. 10. And ye are to decline every false way we are to endeavour to set forth his glory and to honour him which shuts out all manner of stubbornness and the least despising of him Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved let us have Grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear Heb. 12. 28. We have the Promise and Assurance of that Kingdom and to us is committed in the mean while what is preparatory to that The work and service is given and shewed that we may do it and as we are put in the condition of Servants to so great and honourable a Master as he is in Heaven so it is required of us that we be faithful and willing that is true in the management of what is committed unto us and ready in the performance of the same Another Character that belongs to a Servant is That he be Wise whereof our Saviour speaks and promises to set such over his Houshold Accordingly the Apostle intimates as much negatively See that ye be not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is Eph. 5. 17. This must be in order to do the will of the Lord And also we are to be in a readiness against his time of coming to demand an account By doing of God's Will we learn to know it better and the performance is more easie we can correct what was amiss heretofore and perform it more exactly for the time to come From the quality of Servants we come to a more intimate Relation of Sons which the Scripture to assure us of God's Love and Familiarity to Mankind doth more often make use of than the other comparison of Servants I will spare them as a Man spareth his own Son that serveth him Mal. 3. 17. Now former miscarriages are passed over and forgotten when there is a sincere and actual service for the time to come where there is a constant desire to please and be accepted with God Agreeable hereunto is the stile of the promises and calls to Repentance Thus saith the Lord shall they fall and not arise shall he turn away and not return Why is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual back-sliding They hold fast deceit they refuse to return Jer. 8. 5. But if they do return they have forthwith assurance of Pardon and Forgiveness according to what is written But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed and keep all my statutes and do that which is lawful and right he shall surely live he shall not die Ezek. 18. 21. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon Isa 55. 7. There are innumerable Promises scattered up and down in the Old Testament and also in the New to give hope and encouragement unto sinners to return unto the Lord their God which do answer all their particular doubts and fears Whatever be their multitude and aggravation If they have played the harlot with many lovers yet return again to me saith the Lord Jer. 3. 1. Or if their sins be as scarlet or crimson of the deepest die and guilt he will make them white as
known unto God and we are to wait his good Pleasure what he will do yet further for his Creatures He gives us all things richly and sufficiently to enjoy and hinders from nothing which is really Good and Profitable for us Nay Lust and Coveting is but an Extravagant and Unreasonable Desire for we had enough before and whatever is more is Evil. If we did instance in the several kinds of Sin with the way how they did prevail over Man we should find that it did proceed from a wrong and false Imagination of more Good than really is therein and they make a shew of Happiness which they do not perform All those Works of the Flesh recited in Gal. 5. 19 20 21. carry with them a little Pleasure seeming Good and Advantage which are thought necessary to make Man Happy So Covetousness with its several kinds of Injustice and Wrong do promise Gain and Profit which likewise are supposed to contribute unto the same end The like may be observed of Pride and Vain Glory and all other kinds of Evil they come in to Please and Gratifie or they are some ways esteemed convenient Now Happiness is the End and more than all these put together but they are ignorantly and falsly judged as several parts to constitute unto the whole and that each doth conduce somewhat toward it Herein may be perceived the Usefulness and Excellency of a right and thorough Knowledge for that apprehends the same thing before which the Man is fully convinced of afterwards by Practice and Experience If he comes to Repentance otherwise he is Damned and Miserable This includes hearty Sorrow and Shame for what is past and a real unfeigned Resolution to do so no more Seeing he now knows it to be as it is he doth really and sincerely wish that he had never done it and he is fully resolved not to do so any more It is truly said a Wise Man should never do any thing to repent of it for he should know before-hand what would be the evil Consequent of such a thing and this should oblige him at first to refrain and not to do it Now all of us should first look up and have respect unto God above and consider how that we are Creatures under him and we should obey him and keep his Commandments which extend unto all that we have here to do in this World And we may thus judge either this is reasonable and fit to be done or it is not No Man dare or will deny that God is to be obeyed and that presently and at all Times Neither can they gainsay but that his Commandments are Holy Just and Good which if a Man do he shall even live by them They are suitable unto and preserve our Nature and lead up unto Eternal Life and Blessedness Now this may be discerned at first as well as at last And so he may conclude it both reasonable and make it his actual determined Choice to observe them I have Sworn and I will perform it that I will keep thy Righteous Judgments Psal 119. 106. And if this be done at first there is no need of Repentance It is certainly better to Sin not than to have sinned for otherwise those many Commands Cautions and Directions in Scripture of abstaining from all appearance of Evil would not have been for our Good So he is in the more Happy Condition who hath kept himself Innocent all along according to the Tenor of Gospel Righteousness who never did continue in Sin and therefore cannot so properly turn from or repent of it This is the thing which God requires of Man is well pleased with him now and will reward him hereafter That he should be enlightned and fully apprehend God's ways and also walk in them That he should make his word the constant Rule of his Actions to do thus because of such a Commandment or Direction and again to refrain from that which is either Forbidden or Doubtful or doth no ways tend to God's Glory In whatever he takes in hand to have a secret Respect unto God's Statutes according to which he will live and act and suffer that the Lord shall guide him continually and then be sure to follow his Guidance If the Man is indeed perswaded that it is better for him thus to do he will also sincerely endeavour to do thereafter for there are so many things which â—urge to this that whoso considers must act accordingly In the several times of Trial and Deliberation he might thus Reason within himself which is better and safer to be done Had I not better wait on and seek after the Lord than let it alone If I should neglect at this Moment shall I not hereafter wish that I had not neglected Will not an Hour and so of the residue of my Time spent in the Service of God turn to better account than if the same had been lavished away in Sloath or Neglect impertinent Business or Vain Pleasures or in hungry Recreations And so would it not be better accepted with God if I were governed by his Commandments than if I did walk after mine own Thoughts according to mine own Stubborn Will or Vain Humour All that we have already is from God and therefore Thankfulness doth oblige to as much and what we expect further is from him and then Hope and a due Preparation for our selves do forcibly exhort to Duty We are now in an imperfect and wanting Condition which desires for what is Perfect and Compleat and of whom should we seek for this but of the God who made us he also hath promised that he will perfect that which concerneth us Thy Mercy O Lord endureth for ever Forsake not the Works of thine own hands Psal 138. 8. What did move him at first to Create the same doth continue and will engage to add yet more until he hath finished the Work in Perfection and Happiness But he will be sought unto and also we must endeavour to please him before he grant this thing The Lord is good to them that wait for him to the Soul that seeketh him Lam. 3. 25. All the things of this World cannot make a Man Happy for they are not satisfactory nor yet enduring The first would be more perceived if Men were not after the manner of Beasts transformed into Sloth and Stupidity or sunk into gross Darkness and Ignorance The latter is sensibly felt by every one Neither the Pleasures of Sin nor Profits of Transgression nor the seeming Ease or Conveniency of Irreligion and Ungodliness not each singly nor yet all put together can give the true Happiness therein is esteemed more Good than really is and if it were not so much as imagined yet even that could not render satisfied and truly Blessed Nay contrariwise Destruction and Misery are in their ways and the way of Peace they have not known It is a Deviation and Wandring from the way of Salvation and Happiness It may for a while promise
Isa 65. 5. which he could not endure and would have behind or a far off from him Indeed the infinite Holiness and Uprightness of God is in no wise reconcileable to Man's Sin and Corruption and he doth the more abominate and loath it when he beholds it covered with the Mask and Visour of Hypocrisie Who is all-Wise and all Knowing he doth pity and despise our Folly and Ignorance but it is a further Aggravation so that he cannot or rather will not endure therewith when Worms of the Earth would be wise beyond their Maker or pretend to know otherwise than he knoweth and hath decreed or purposed It doth provoke him justly to Anger That when the Sun Moon and Stars and the whole Family in Heaven so much Greater and more Excellent Creatures than we do observe the Law which he hath made And seeing he hath given unto Men Laws which are Holy Righteous and Good he hath shewed unto us strait ways yet stubborn and disobedient Man will not keep and walk in them but every one is for walking after the Imagination of his own evil Heart And as they live and are joined together in Civil Society so this carries on the course of the World and each Person doth make a part of and contribute unto the universal Sin and Wickedness The word Imagination doth import no set Rule of Action but it is a Wandring or Guess Now it thinks it may be thus but is afterward mistaken And this is so much the worse as the End is more excellent which it aims at Now that End is Good and Happiness Every Soul as aforesaid is in pursuit thereof and his several Actions are intended accordingly There is One God over all One rule of Action in his Word One End of everlasting Happiness or Misery and all the deeds done in the Body are as so many Steps to one or the other This is actually so though too many perceive it not nor consider thereof in the time of Probation and Tryal To walk all along in a vain and false Imagination and be deceived at last when this is but once for all Eternity when there is no possible Redress of this Errour must very much enhanse the Folly and Misery of such a Man The first Errour and Evil is in having departed from God and casting away his Fear and exempting himself from his Obedience For though it is so suffered in this Life to prove Mankind more perfectly that it may be seen It is possible for him to run out his days here without having due regard and respect to his Maker and Preserver yet it is known unto God and also Revealed unto us how he will be pleased to deal further with them Even according as we order our Conversation and as our doings are That Word by which we are to Live be Judged and receive accordingly doth now forewarn and acquaint us that things will be otherwise or contrary to what they appear now For that which is highly esteemed amongst Men is abomination in the sight of God Luke 16. 15. And so what is universally received and fashionable among us will be rejected and even loathed by him He hath left another Rule to follow than the Multitude or the meer Example of others An Holy Man of God doth speak on this wise Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ 1 Cor. 11. 1. But no otherwise for Christ had done no Violence neither was any deceit found in his Mouth He was the Holy one of God and in him was found no Sin So that if we do the same which he did we may be assured that it is not Sinful Again his Meat and Drink was to do the will of God and he did always the things which pleased his Heavenly Father So that if therein we follow his Steps as we have him for an Example and do the like things that he did we may hereby know that we do the will of God also and what is pleasing and acceptable in his Sight But every Man besides is a Liar for they have all both Saint and Sinner none excepted varied and gone aside either in some single transient Instances or in many continued ones from the Word of Truth and from the right way It is Written And thou shalt not go aside from any of the Words which I command thee this day to the right hand or to the left Deut. 28. 14. That is neither to one Extream nor yet to the other But where is the Man or Woman who have not gone aside from any of the words wich the Lord God hath Commanded in the Bible both as it comprehends all that is written in the Old and New Testament Both Jews and Gentiles yea all Mankind of every Generation and Country are under Sin and have come short of what God requied in his Law So that whoever doth follow any of these Examples in all things even of the most Perfect and Upright among the meer Sons of Men he will go aside with them even unto the Transgression So that the word of God is to be our Rule and not the Example of others However prone and subject the People of the World are to follow the Examples of their Fellow Creatures and to do what others do of near the same Age Condition and Circumstances of Life yet in these times of the Universal Reformation of the World which is now drawing on in these latter days we must labour and endeavour Mightily to beat off and dissuade People from acting according to that dangerous and mistaken Principle of following the Multitude and being led by the Example of others For besides that to follow the Multitude is a sure token that such are amongst those many which go in the Broad way which leads unto Dsstruction and they are not amongst those few in the Narrow way which leadeth unto Life Matt. 7. 13 14. This seems to lye as the greatest Prejudice against the ways of God That though all his Commandments are Just Holy and Good And it is meet and right for all People at all times to observe the same Yet still nevertheless very few People do observe them When the Scripture speaks of those glorious times Thy People also shall be all Righteous Isa 60. 21. And how that the Sinners will be consumed out of the Earth and the wicked will be no more Psal 104. 35. For in what Prayer the Spirit of Truth doth Dictate is included a Promise that so it shall be As we read these and alike Places what in the Prophet's Phrase is a very lovely Song Ezek. 33. 32. And Peter reciteth from the faying of others As if the Scriptures were a cunningly devised Fable So in our way of speaking those Scriptures seem to be as a pleasant Romance which contain things that were to be indeed wished and desired but at first sight they do not seem to be grounded on Truth for the thing neither as yet is so and there is no
the assured Promise that these shall come to be acquainted and submit themselves that is to yield Obedience unto God and his Christ according to what he hath afore spoken of in another Scripture I will say to them which were not my People Thou art my People and they shall say Thou art my God Hos 2. 23. The Strangers shall fade away and be afraid out of their close Places Besides that abundant Conversion of them at last those which shall be converted before they shall so fade away and come off from their former Strangeness towards God as that it shall not be perceived Like Men Ashamed which Steal and flee from Battel so they shall be ashamed of their former Ungodliness and sinful doings So that they would rather seem on the contrary as if they had obeyed and served God from the very first When these come to be acquainted with and to believe a future State and condition of Happiness and Misery they shall look about how to make sure for themselves that they may be happy and sure therein And they shall be afraid out of their close Places or of those Imaginations and Deceits in which heretofore they trusted and built a false Hope on Thou puttest away all the wicked of the Earth observe the Particle All like Dross Psal 119. 119. As wax melteth before the Fire so let the Wicked perish at the presence of God Psal 68. 2. All this will be done more suddenly and as it were at an instant when the times of universal Reformation come on and God doth bow the Heavens and come down and he poureth out his Spirit upon all Flesh Then all VVickedness will so vanish and disappear that the place thereof shall know it no more and it will seem as if there had been never any such thing on the Earth All that gross Darkness and Error will be utterly and for ever gone off from the face of it when this true Light shall begin to shine universally and openly in all the habitable parts thereof The People shall then shew forth their Zeal for the Lord God of Hosts VVho is he that said but so much as in his Heart Shall the invisible God reign over me Or shall I obey his standing and written word Let these People be brought forth that the Saints of the most High may inflict some Punishment on them But they shall not do it in the least For Vengeance belongeth unto me I will recompence saith the Lord. And again The Lord shall judge his People Heb. 10. 30. Deut. 32. 35 36. And the Lord will not begin to execute it then presently when he is glorified in his Saints and had in Honour by all that are round about him As an unknown Malefactor amongst a great multitude of People when he is asked for who did such a Theft or Murther Which being known and evident must be concluded that some one did it he is sure to keep Silence and seem all one as the other innocent People lest he should be betrayed and discovered In like manner it will be when the Lord shall Plead with the Inhabitants of the Earth who will be a vast number gathered together of all Generations and Countries and he maketh Inquisition for so much Sin Iniquity Transgression and Wickedness as hath been actually done on the Earth So much hath been committed and it must have been by some Persons Who was it by Name that did it Then shall they be exceeding sorrowful and afraid and begin every one of them to say Lord is it I The particular Guilty themselves shall keep Silence and they shall be found Speechless Matt. 22. 12. Or if they are asked as concerning another Matter then they will perhaps speak out or deny hereby to wave and take of the suspicion of that also whereof they were indeed Guilty In that day there will hardly be found any who will own themselves to have been amongst the Enemies and Adversaries of the Lord. The Adversaries of the Lord shall be ashamed which as they shall be then conscious of themselves so they will endeavour to hide it as much as they can But they shall be afraid out of their close Places of shelter and absconding whether it be the Clefts of the Rocks or the Holes of the Mountains For though their Fellow Creatures would be puzled hereby end be at a loss and difficulty to whom to assign such hidden things of Dishonesty or many secret acts of Sin and Wickedness And when even the Persons themselves who committed the same shall make such a goodly outward shew of having Worshipped Honoured and served the Lord and they not knowing the limits of his Mercy nor the periods of Time of holding forth his Scepter of Grace nor yet discerning for the Heart of every one is deep the reality and sincerity of their Repentance it is hence impossible that they should either find out or judge Righteously and render accordingly to the several People But the Judge of all the Earth will do Right He is not as Man but a God of Knowledge by whom Actions are weighed 1 Som. 2. 3. Who sees Hearts as clearly as we see the outward Faces and he knows things long since past or yet to come as we do the present Moment In opposition to their Hiding Concealing and Dissembling Thine hand shall find out all thine Enemies Thy Right hand shall find out those that hate thee thou shalt make them as a fiery Oven in the time of thine Anger the Lord shall swallow them up in his Wrath and the Fire shall devour them Psal 21. 8 He will first find and set them out and then afterwards take his own time to punish them According to that Divine Method Having a mind to revenge all Disobedience when your Obedience is fulfilled So he will first have that Seed which shall serve him It shall be accounted to the Lord for a Generation And when the days of their Obedience and Service are fulfilled then he will begin to call to account the former Generations For it is first said Zion shall be redeemed with Judgment and her Converts with Righteousnesness and then afterwards it follows And the destruction of the Transgressors and of the Sinners shall be together Isa 1. 27 28. And I will punish the World for their Evil and the Wicked for their Iniquity Isa 13. 11. But like as it is written I will leave a few Men of them from the Sword and from the Pestilence that they may declare all their Abominations among the Heathen whither they come and they shall know that I am the Lord Ezek. 12. 16. So here it may be supposed that God will have one Righteous Generation after so many Rebellious and Sinful ones that by comparing both those Contraries together I do here speak after the manner of Men He may know how to proceed to Recompence and Punishment We read that when God saw that the wickedness of Man was great in the Earth it