cleanse me from my blood guiltiness The Father is sensible how the Soul stands trembling therefore Make haste bring the best robe make haste to cover his nakedness saith the Father because our guilt is upon us How do we pull charging of sin upon our selves when God charges not and hide our sin when God would charge us but the best robe clears all it intimates the Father had others It 's said of Elkanah he gave portions to all his wives but to Hannah he gave a worthy portion because he loved her I have loved thee with an everlasting Love saith God therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee That where sin abounded Grace might superabound for yet in the worst day the Soul is made to say but my wisdom remained with me The Prodigal in the worst day retained his sonship still though when he returns he is made to confess the thing as it is But first he arises and that 's beyond all that howl upon their beds In their sickness-time and straits they will cry out Oh what a wretch am I but their iniquities are still upon their backs they arise not they dare not approach before God But the Prodigal though he comes bowing and blushing yet he comes knowing and hoping and he never says that word Father I have sinned but the Father saith presently Bring the best robe But 2. I told you this was considerable the Father saith And put a Ring on his hand Do you consider what Rings are used for They are not put on to strengthen the hands but to adorn them But what is the hand for It 's for work O prosper thou the work of our hands saith David Now what must the hand the work be adorned with There are these three ornaments for it 1. The Prodigal must be adorned with Skill as it 's said of David concerning Israel He fed them in the integrity of his heart and guided them with the skilfulness of his hand Psal 78.72 It has taught the Prodigal skill indeed he can say now as David Come â—y Brethren and I can tell you what God has done for my Soul how he delivered me and instructed me now I am made able to divide the word aright There 's great need of skill to know when to speak how to speak to what to speak for what purpose to speak either for edification or destruction All the while before he had no heart to pity strangers till he was fallen amongst thieves c. and now after his coming home he is able to instruct and teach others If there be a messenger one of a thousand to shew unto man his righteousness c. Now he has learnt expereince by his wandering But all the while we were in the house we were Novices we had learn'd no skill how to instruct others for we had learn'd none our selves But now the burnt child dreads the fire when we have run our rounds tryed what is in madness and folly it brings forth skill And who are fit to bring up a people in the wisdom and fear of the Lord but such as have gone down to the deeps as Joseph did First he had been proved and tryed himself he was separated from his brethren as Christ said of Peter Satan hath desired to sift thee and he shall c. but when thou art converted then strengthen thy brethren But 2. The second thing the hand is to be adorned with is Diligence being now once brought from his prodigality he will redeem the time and be more watchful and diligent then ever Be you vigilant for your Enemy the Devil goes about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour It 's an ornament to the work when it goes on with diligence not sleepingly we say of such a man sure the work is never like to come to perfection The Lord expects a diligent hand in all your services and that beautifies the work but to beautifie a slothful hand is like to the putting a Ring in a swines snout He will not reward the slothful hand but the diligent he rewardeth The Soul that is diligent night and day how to further the work of the Lord therefore Be you always abounding in the work of the Lord saith Paul knowing that your labor is not in vain c. But alass while we are in the Land of Harlots we are ashamed of our work A man that has no meat to eat nor clothes to put on nor a friend to go to to impart his grief what a miserable case is he in such a Land are you in where there 's no growing of any thing that good is nothing but leanness and ill-favoredness because you have outed your selves of all friends But when you shall be brought home then will you say Well I will be diligent Then will you set an high price upon the Truth and say as David O what shall I render to the Lord c. I know how many precious days and seasons you have troden under foot but the time will come that you will be glad to glean them up again and say I will be more diligent to hear and lay up every word and Look The least smile of Truth will be layd up every Mercy will you be made to prize There will be no more a claiming as the Prodigal Give me my portion and saying to me You are bound to preach and look after me and give me this and th' other No there will be a diligent hand prizing and improving to the utmost the least mercy But 3. A third Ring that adorns his hand is the weightiness of employment when the hand shall be employed in things of great concernment When we pass and see a man at work in carving some curious piece and not busied upon baubles and trifles like children that make dirt-pyes we stand and prize the work This will adorn the hand when it shall be employed about things that profit to be about a work which shall abide for ever Let all your words be full of grace seasoned with salt To be employed about such a work which neither fire nor water can hurt this adorns the hand indeed But alass what a little of our work will endure the fire but we shall know the difference I shrink to think what I shall say But must you all go a prodigalling Will you all see your hearts by desperate venturings Indeed Travellers learn experience but they pay dear for it None will know how to distinguish between works and works but they that have traded through them When I was a child saith Paul I did as a child and spoke as a child but when I became a man I put away childish things The Prodigal did foolishly in forsaking his Fathers house and going to Harlots c. but God shall say to him at his return Be not grieved that you sold me c. He has lost nothing by it he is made now to love him the more When God shall say 'T was
among the People and this the Soul shall find true in it self there is a time when Christ is strong and can get away from them a time when the Soul could deal with its lusts and curb and beat them in when ever they appeared and like Sampson when ever the Philistins came to bind it It could but arise and shake it self and get loose again I but there is a time when Sampsons strength is departed and the Philistins prevail and carry him by force and put out his eyes and make him grind in a mill and he cannot withstand such hold do sins lay upon the Soul They take such fast hold on me saith David that I cannot loook up and again speaking in the name of Christ My sinnes are gone over my head as a burthen too heavy for me to bear they stick close to the Soul that it cannot get loose they stick as the flesh to the bones that the Soul is no wayes able to shake off these Lions and Tygers and devouring beasts that lay hold upon it it is impossible for the soul to get them off but it â—s led captive and made to serve and follow whither this wicked rabble will lead it and here Iob cries out That which my Soul refuseth to touch is made my sorrowfull meat and so Paul cries out that he was a slave and sold under sin and that which I hate and would not do that I do saith he such a strange haling is there and leading captive by sin And this you will all have a time to find true that your iniquities will be too hard for you you will not be able to stand before them they will prâ—vail and have the victory else what need that challenge to Death and Hell where is your victory if they had not the victory once yes they surely will have the victory over all but now not to be left in Hell not to be holden of the grave but to be raised up by the same Almighty power which raised up Christ this will be the Salvation but this will be the sad day to the Soul when it shall be thus left in the hands of Sinners In those dayes they shall mourn c. We promise fair I can submit to be ruled ordered and part with this and other and be denyed of my wil and runs of heart alass you know not your heart nor the multitude and strength of your enemies They wil surely come to be too hard for you that you shal not be able to get out of their hands but a base rabble company of unworthy lusts which somtime the Soul hath scorn'd should touch it now lay hold lead it away like an ox to the slaughter and as a fool to the correction of the stocks and it cannot help it nor wring any ways out of their hands 4. They bring him to the high Priest and set him before a partial unequal judg that is set against him and right or wrong will certainly do what he can to put him to death and thus is the Soul dealt with in this day when it is betrayed into the hands of its lusts They presently lead and hale it to be judged by their own King the Devil he sits in the seat of Judgement to hear and cast the matter he who never favoured Truth was never a friend to it but a murtherer from the beginning seeking all wayes and means to destroy yet He must now be Iudge and condemn and accuse and upbraid the Soul in this day of its calamity Now Shimei comes out and upbraids and curses David Come out thou bloody man Now all the blood of Sauls house is come upon thee Alas there was another hand in it he was clear and innocent concerning Sauls blood he had spared his life when it was in his hands to slay him and had done good to Sauls house but yet this false charge must be laid in his dish and he must bear the railing and go away as guilty O Lord if your Souls be awake and do but mark the carriages within you will see what a stir this wicked Judge makes to find some false accusation or other for which he may pass a sentence of death against the Soul how doth he bestir him to prove that all that ever the soul had or did was but a deceit and in hypocrisie and no truth was in the bottome of it and this is a token you were a deceiver saith the Judg and this proves you will come to nothing you ever had a base taint in all you did a base selfish end and here the poore creature stands amazed and silenced at these cruell charges when presently this wicked Judge is upon its back and will not give a breathing time but asks an answer Answerest thou nothing to what these accuse thee of he calls for an answer in a moment when the Soul stands amazed and nonplust and knows not how to get up a sober thought or word at such an instant to plead for it self yet then they press to have the Sentence pass against the Soul as if there were nothing of truth and singleness but a dissembling hypocriticall heart in all 5. When Christ begins to speak for himself presently one smites him upon the mouth answerest thou the high Priest so why saith Christ If I have spoken evil bear witness of it but if good why smitest thou me So if you can read the Parable when ever the Soul in this day goes about to speak a word for it self though never so fairly and soberly and according to truth opening the thing as it is presently one or other of this Rabble multitude flap it on the mouth some base fear or discouragement comes in What dare you look towards God Dare you speak or plead a word for your self Are not you found guilty and deceitfull here and there And do you look for mercy so that when this work must pass of bringing the Soul to death all things must work to that purpose it may not have liberty to speak a word to clear it self how innocent and clear soever it be 6. They crown him with Thorns A Crown of Thorns indeed 'T is said of the Thorns that they choked the seed and made it unfruitful A Crown of cares and pesters come in which way to take and what to do to escape this hand and get from the blow Oh that the King of Glory should wear such a Crown as this He that was born to a Crown of Glory a Crown of Gold yet he too must be rent with these Thorns He was under cares and fears and therefore 't is said He was heard in the things he feared He looked about to his right hand and to his left to see if there were any to help but he found none This Crown of Thorns rends his head the cares and fears which in the day of his flesh did beset him Then they put on a Purple robe in derision and scorn they mock
yet saith the Prophet Come and let us return to the Lord for He hath torn and He will heal c. In this Return these things are considerable First They that return know surely that They are out of the way the Soul must first be made truly knowing and sensible of that when it is met with in its gaddings as Hagar was by the Angel and examined strictly Whence comest Thou Hagar and whither wilt Thou go Thou art quite out of the way in flying from thy Mistress Sarah Return and submit unto her The going out is thus clearly opened and layd upon the Soul But wherein were They gone out of the way that They are called on to return 1. They were out of the way in that they broke prison and ran away from the strait as Chap. 5.10 The Princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound A bound was set to keep them in a narrower compass that God might the better come nigh to deal with them as it is in Job If They be bound in fetters and holden in the cords of affliction then He sheweth man his sin and his transgression how he hath exceeded Then is a time when God can come neer to search and dress the sore when the Soul is layd fast from running away when it is held in the Bond of the spirit then the heart is opened the wickedness discovered what a wretched case man is in hopeless and helpless And this is the way God takes to hide pride from mans eyes and lay him low in the dust And how have we gone out of the way in this We have removed the Bond and run away and would not endure the strait nor stick to our conditions to lie so low and wretched and helpless We have flown out from this and said as They No but we are Lords and will come no more at him Here have we turned out and if ever we return we must come in sensibly guilty under this of removing the bound and running away from our conditions living at our hands and own counsels at a distance from God And now here it is needful for all of you to enquire how it stands with you Have you all turned out here in removing the bound or were you yet never in it I know some of you were never as yet in this Bond of the Spirit but have been left to your own wills and runnings of heart and never yet were brought to this narrow compass But some of you I know have removed this bound have got from your sin and guilt and misery when opened to you You have turned your eyes away from your own sore and looked asquint on anothers faults and pryed into their miscarriages have spyed out the mote there but would not see the beam in our own eye but have covered that close and hid it and therfore is the stroke now come upon us God hath found us out though man could not and there is a secret moth hath eaten and consumed us and spoyled all our good because we have run away and would not endure the bond to be put upon us I know assuredly the time when God would have brought some of you to a strait that nothing should have contented you without the knowledg of the Love of God what the eternal thoughts are concerning you and what should become of us in the latter end that we might not live on notions or words or knowledg or operations nor any thing short of this but here have we broke away and would not endure to come at it But 2. They were out of the way in going about to cure themselves before the day came the time of deliverance Chap. 5.13 When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound then went Ephraim to the Assyrian and sent to King Jareb yet He could not heal you such a reaching hath there been after ease and cure and deliverance before the time was come Therefore saith God I will be as a moth and rottenness to Ephraim a secret hand hath followed us as David says I am consumed by the blow of thy hand a secret consumption and mouldring away and coming to nothing and of all deaths this is most miserable to dye so by degrees fall in pieces and melt away to nothing like a snail and thus hath the Lord dealt with us such a wasting and decaying hath been upon us but yet the thing is not layd heart None speaks aright nor says What have I done what is the cause of this desolation Why is the hand against me How hath a secret moth eaten up all our good Time was there was a tender conscience an awe of spirit and fear to offend a watchfulness over all our ways and thoughts and words but now all is gone The Lord hath smitten us and our flower fadeth And now if this were indeed but sensibly upon us it would make us look home and not have our eyes in every corner to pry into one anothers failings but it would be work enough to look on our own guilt to see how we have broke the bonds and got away from owning our shame and lying under our misery and have not stayd till we were washed from our blood but have washed our selves and forced our selves as Saul did to offer sacrifice when we heard but a report of deliverance Behold this is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the World Yea presently we reckoned all this our own and clambered up to get into the liberty before we were called for our of our prisons and we must therefore down again to our bonds we were but an untimely birth and must not live to see the Sun We tarryed not in our graves till that word came from Christ Damosel Arise Lazarus Come forth but we broke away by force as a Servant runs from his Master and that shews we broke from him in that there is no heart to return we never cared for the Lord nor loved him since but as we have been forced to Him for a little ease and when we have got that we have been gone presently and cared for no more Secondly The second Thing considerable in this Return is from the Call and Counsel of the Prophet Come and let us return c. Being once out we cannot return of our selves without counsel The Soul knows not what to do nor which way to turn being once lost it is in such an amaze so foolish a thing is man and therefore if we are never brought to that strait to cry out for some to counsel and lead and tell us what to do Men and Brethren what shall we do to be saved without this there will be no returning For out we are got that is certain and have miserably lost our selves For some of us were formerly truly touched and visited and taken out of the world were made to see and understand the vanity of our former ways and in what a miserable and dangerous estate
have shew'd you seven Ways by which if the Lord prevent not men may come in upon us to destroy the Body Now I come to the next general Thing Viz. Thirdly The Exhortation given Fear not them that can kill the Body And why should not They be feared 1. Fear not in regard of them that shall do it 2. Fear not in regard it is but the Body they kill 1. Fear not them that can kill the Body Fear not the men the persons that shall do it and that for these four Reasons 1. Because they are but men and man at his best estate is altogether vanity Alas They that go about to kill this body what are they themselves but a vain thing a nothing a shadow how ever strong and high conceited they may be yet alas all Nations are but as the drop of a bucket and what is a man that shall soon fade as the grass that he should be feared 2. Fear them not because they are but the Instrument the Rod in the hand of another and they cannot move nor stir a foot or hand farther then they shall be suffered and permitted and ordered They are but like the wheels of a Clock take off the weights and the Clock stirs not Alas though they may threaten and resolve and take counsel never so strongly yet they are not their own Lords they shall do neither more nor less then the hand will make use of the sword and therefore our Fathers in all their sufferings have looked through and beyond the instrument to the hand that rules and acts all I was dumb saith David and kept silence because it was thy doing 3. Fear them not but rather pity them Alas 't is woe and misery enough to all such as shall have a hand in this work They are imployed about a hard service it is their misery they are hackned by the Devil to do this mischief against the Truth As Christ saith of Judas It had been good for that man he had never been born Who ever shall be an instrument in this work alas 't is misâ—ry enough their case may be pitied by us rather then their malice feared 4. Fear them not in this respect because before their plots be ripe they may be cut off and dye and be layd in their graves How many such Cases have been known Haman what a strange plot and how surely had he layd it to cut off the Jews root and branch I but the mischief returns upon his own head before his plot comes to an issue he is cut off himself Alas how soon is it done His breath is but taken away and man turns to his earth and in that very day all his thoughts perish All plots and designs and contrivances come to nothing Remember O my People saith God what Balack consulted and what Balaam answered And yet see how all their designs were frustrate and blasted and came to nothing And in our own Kingdom how many plots have been thus prevented when they have been even ripe for execution So in that Powder Treason when all was fit and but now a candle only wanting to destroy and blow up all yet in the very nick it is found out and prevented Therefore fear them not if God will prevent he can soon do it be they never so strong and desperate and malicious yet He can but take away their breath and alas they may be rotten and stink in their graves before their plots are accomplished When the wicked flourish like the grass and the workers of iniquity like the green herb yet then it is that they might be cut off for ever So that were we but truly principled and instructed we might have our greatest encouragement where we make our greatest fears viz. from the strength and heighth and flourishing of our Enemies when they carry all before them yet Fear them not 2. Fear not them that can kill the Body in regard of the Body which they can kill They can reach no farther then the Body and what is the Body 1. That is but a poor outside a shadow it is but as the cracking of a shell to kill the Body 2. The Body is a perishing thing that will soon dye of it self if none should take a sword against it it will soon dye and moulder 't will fall of it self like the fruit of a Tree let it but alone till it come to be ripe and you need not shake it the fruit will drop and fall of themselves Therefore Fear not them that can kill the Body They kill but a dead man cut down a little grass like Jonas gourd up in a night and gone in a night 3. Fear them not for they kill but the Body and that is not that which is to enter into glory this body is to turn to dust this flesh and blood which you see is not to inherit the Kingdom this Corruptible must put on Incorruption this Corn must dye before it shall bring forth that Body which is to abide God giveth to every seed his own body as it pleaseth Him He will give a Body but not this body this flesh and blood which is sown in Corruption therefore Fear not them that can kill the Body And I could wish that always in all our fears and threatenings from men these seven Considerations might stick by us to keep us up from fearing both in respect of the men themselves and also the Body that only is in their power to kill Alas it is but a poor Cask when they have done their worst that they can touch that which will soon dye alone and save the labour of being killed and should it hold out never so long yet this is not it that is to enter into glory it must break and go to the grave at the last Earth must go to Earth Corruption cannot inherit Incorruption No unclean thing must enter into that City and this is an unclean house a Body of Death and Sin In my Body saith Paul I find no good thing but a Law of Sin in my members rebelling against the Law of my mind and that must dye and not enter into life And thus far you heard the Negative opened What you are not to fear Fear not them that kill the Body c. And how have most of our days hitherto been spent about this body and how are the world all of them lost and drowned in carings and providings about this what to eat and what to drink and what to put on We have been more foolish in this then the Lillies and Sparrows and Ravens they take not these cutting and perplexing cares and yet they are preserved and provided for and what have all our carings brought about to us but sorrows and misery they have not added the least cubit to our stature But now we come to the fourth thing 4. Who then is to be feared Fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell Fear Him fear the Lord He that
and miscarriages we lie exposed to all ravenous beasts The Avenger of Blood he may justly take us when we are out of our City of Refuge and this wandering hath been the Cause of all our desolation and misery and sorrows 6. The last thing in the Hens calling and gathering and receiving and warming and protecting her chickens all is that she may nurse them up to perfection to be like her self to be able to shift abroad and defend themselves And this end Truth hath had in all its dealings with us and followings after us and waitings upon us that we might grow up to be like-minded to it self to see us wrought and molded and fashioned into the same likeness that the same mind might dwell in us which dwelt in Christ Jesus c. Now look it over again Have you known these things which belong to your Peace Have you known that all these dealings and calls of Truth and strivings with you were in love and goodness that this was the day of Visitation and have you accepted of this Love See 1. Have you not been called out of several places many miles asunder to come together Hath not the sound of Truth gone forth and reached you and called you to it And 2. Do you not see that the Hen is now sat down that the Truth is pitched and hath taken up a setled place and People and now if we should be broken in pieces and shattered hither and thither to our former scattering in the world would it not be sad and miserable And this I fear may befall us because we have slighted and not taken notice of this day of our mercies Then 3. Have we not known and felt the warmings and cheerings of the Powers of Truth How often have we found our hearts touched within and heat and warmed and turned and yet for all this we are loth to come under the wing but are upon our reasonings and deferrings and scruples Then 4. Have we not known what a shelter and safeguard it is to sit under the wing of Truth what a defence and safety how safe we are under the wings of the Almighty We do not at present so consider this But they that are deprived of this mercy and violently taken away from us by wicked hands They now feel the loss and bitterly complain and mourn under it They find what snares and baits and ravenous beasts lie dayly at watch ready to devour them and if the Lord prevent not beyond our deservings we know not what miseries and sorrows may befall us if a scattering day come And lastly I told you the Hen nurses her chickens to bring them up to be like her self And hath not this been aimed at in all the dealings of Truth with us that we might grow up to be like it self and be moulded into the same Image And we can never grow up whilest we live at a distance from the Hen the place where she sits down to warm and brood and cherish her young ones And therefore at what a strait was David when driven into the Wilderness by his son How doth he cry out That his Soul was athirst for the living God How doth he then prize the Sanctuary the Place and People of Gods Worship How doth he envy the Sparrow and Swallow which could make their nests there when he was forced to live at a distance For there he knew the Blessing was commanded and life for evermore Now these are the Things which belong to our Peace to be gathered under this wing of Truth If we should have all the world and yet no Peace in it what were we the better And this we are called to to know this present day of our Visitation lest the Door be shut and that which follows fall upon us But now they are hid from thine eyes O Lord it makes my heart shake to think upon it to have the Eyes shut and closed up to be left to grope and wander and stumble in darkness and not to see when good cometh and all for slipping the present opportunity not knowing the things that belong to our Peace There are yet two other Reasons behind why Christ weeps over Ierusalem Fourthly He weeps from an unsatisfied Love and Desire after Ierusalem O that thou hadst known even Thou in this thy Day c. At length the fire breaks forth and He can hold no longer but must weep over His Brother Benjamin But why Ierusalem above all that He weeps over Her and cries out for her O that Thou hadst known c. Why Jerusalem was the Beloved One the choyce One of her Mother born out of the Love and Heart of God Thou above all others O that Thou hadst harkened then had thy Peace been as a River c. Fifthly Christ weeps from the sight of the miserable and lamentable condition which he knows is coming upon them not only shut out from the day of her mercies and the things that belong to her Peace but now they are hid from thine eyes and that is not all but now God is departing all woes and miseries are coming upon Her 1. Thine Enemies shall cast a Trench about thee And then 2. Compass thee in on every side And 3. Shall lay thee even with the ground and thy children within thee And then 4. Not leave in thee one stone upon another And then 5. This added to all the rest Her own guilt which brought all this evil upon her own head Because Thou knewest not the day of thy Visitation If all these Circumstances and Aggravations were opened and seized upon your hearts it would appear a sad condition indeed and all for slipping the time the day of Visitation Christ Buckling TO HIS FATHER OR THE Absoluteness of the Divine Will SERM. V. April 20. 1651. JOHN 6.38 39. For I came down from Heaven not to do mine own Will but the Will of Him that sent me And this is the Fathers Will which hath sent me that of all which He hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day The Analysis FRom the words was considered I. Who this I spoke of iâ—â— It is the Son of God the Mind the Heart the Will of the Father brought forth This is He that came from Heaven c. II. What doth he come to do Not His own Will but the Will of His Father That Will of God is the sure uncontroulable Rule to which Christ Himself submits Whence three Considerations were proposed 1. To see the ground of all happiness It is this good-will of God 2. All Things must buckle to this Will even the Son Himself 3. This Will of God cuts off all our wills nothing that comes into our thoughts must be at all III. What is this Will of the Father That of all which He hath given me I should lose nothing c. Where two Branches of this Will 1. A People are given to Christ by this Will and that
or four berries on an uppermost bow a few scattered gleanings after harvest when the vintage is over and it is wonderful hard to spy them out unless it be given you to understand the parable unless your understandings be opened to see into the Scriptures into them many read the letters see them without but cannot pierce into the Spirit and meaning of them None can do this but they to whom the new eye is given none else can ever finde this City It is so little a one so clouded and covered over with reproaches and scandals and meanness 't is such a despised unthought-of thing All the world never once dream that God is bound up in so little a compass that he lives in such a little City They plead Is not God everywhere Is he not with us as well as with you No He is indeed every where but he is not seen everywhere he is known in Zion that little City but all others the great and learned of the world see him not they cannot see invisibly that 's nonsense they 'll say He is hid from the wise and prudent and revealed to a few Babes Therefore beware and follow not a multitude to do evil there is great need your whole souls and mindes should be intent and taken up in this thing if indeed you have a minde to find it and to live for ever that you may take no rest nor give any sleep to your eyes nor slumbering to your eye-lids till you have found out this habitation for the God of Jacob. Need there is to keep your eyes fixed and to go weeping and mourning and asking the way to Zion with your faces and hearts thitherward And thus two things in general have been opened to you 1 That God for certain hath his City under the Sun his people in the world however the whole world lie in wickedness and are lost and run the several runs to destruction yet he hath a remnant he hath reserved to himself seven hundred that have not bowed to Baal In the days when Samuel was born it is said The Word of the Lord was precious in those days and there was no open Vision and yet then God will have his Samuel Hannah brings forth this man-child this son in stead of many sons she that was barren hath brought forth seven a compleat number a remnant he will ever reserve 2. It was considered this City was but a little one 1. It makes no great noise nor stir in the world it raises no Armies nor makes Tumults to defend and enlarge it self 2. Little indeed if you consider the vast world the great multitudes and many thousands that fall short and perish It is but a small cloud of a hands bredth in compare to the whole Heavens 3. But little as being hardly seen and found Many shall seek to enter and shall not be able And therefore there is great need were but your Souls sensible of it to cry out with David O lead me and guide me in the way taht I should walk the way that leads to this City of Habitation Now to proceed III. And but few men in it c. The City is but little but that is not all it is weak also there is no might nor strength to defend it self but few men in it and therefore Paul cries out O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me c. He felt how weak he was and unâ—ble ever to deliver himself And therefore there is nothing for any to glory in after the flesh for Who made thee to differ There is no cause for boasting for none ever prevailed by strength they obtained not the field by weapons of war It is said of David when He had slain the Philistin But there was no sword found in the hand of David And he says of himself I will not trust in my Bow neither shall my sword save me But he goes forth against the great Goliah onely in the Name of the Lord and all the saved ones ever have and will cry out Grace Grace Grace That must do all for this City hath but few men in it and they are poor fearful tremblers such as are ready to dye every moment onely they are kept up by the chin and not left quite to be drowned but alass for help to fight and withstand an Enemy little or none can be expected from them This poor wise man must do all he must save the City by his wisdom if it be ever saved it hath no help of it self 1. Let none of you then whom God hath favored glory according to the flesh for there is nothing at all you have to boast in there are but few men in the City and they poor tremblers not able for service so that if this poor man do not the whole work in every one of you use all your wits and plots and power you will never be able to deliver this City 2. But few men in it there was more once but they wasted and wasted away till but few left Whence you may consider Who ever are favoured of God to be his people this little City He will certainly rout and rout out all the old Inhabitants They shall not live quietly in it He will surely bring all the old Inhabitants down all that is sprung from the Man or Devil He will rout it out and thus is the great company within the Wisdomes and hopes and councels the lustings and hunts of the heart the fears and joyes and love all must be searched and fanned and alas but a little will be left of the great bulk There are but few men in it The Poor mans wisdome could not appear nor be taken notice of if a multitude were in the City they would take some of the work to themselves but they must be turned out that it may appear his own arm brings Salvation and none puts a hand to it 3. But few men in it not any considerable Partee to withstand an Enemy especially such a Great King as comes against it no alas they have no might to stand in any temptation if but an Alarum sounds a rumor that an enemie is indeed coming to set down and besiege Oh what a strange uproar and trembling doth it cause within All the Wisdom and hope and faith and experience how do all give back and are not able to stand to look the Enemy in the face without the Lord appear and be Captain himself whoever of you are indeed this City of God you can witness how weak and unable you are to help your selves unstable as water not able to stand to it in the least Tryall there are but few men in it and as Gehazi cryed out to Elisha when he saw the enemies round about the City Alas Master what shal we do so may we cry out indeed if we did but see the danger For IV. A GREAT KING comes against this little weak City and besieges it and builds great Bulwarks
Babylon and the work once hindered and so now sit down and will not venture V. Consider the Miseries that follow them for not building They sow much and bring in little clothe them and were not warmed earn much but all put into a bag of holes a curse in all their ways vers 6 9. This applyed to the present desolation upon us it being impossible for us to prosper without joyning in to be a one People VI. The Priviledges considered which accrue to them that set hand to this work They are these four 1. God promiseth Vers 8. to take pleasure in it This is a great Priviledg 2. Vers 13. he says I am with you saith the Lord His presence goes along 3. He promiseth Chap. 2.19 From this day will I bless you A sure blessing follows 4. He promiseth Zerubbabel Vers last I will make thee as a signet c. In which three great Priviledges considered 1. A Signet hath a neer relation to the hand so He to the Lord. 2. A Signet carries a mans own Arms or some memorable thing in it 3. It is to ratifie and confirm things to make sure such an honor and great priviledges are promised to such as shall set upon this work HAGG. 1.2 3 4 c. Thus speaketh the Lord saying This People say The Time is not come the Time that the Lords House should be built c. SEveral things I would mention to you out of this Scripture 1. I would open what this house is that God complaineth lieth waste 2. What this house is to be built up of of what materials 3. Why do they plead It is not time to build the Lords House yet What Reasons have they for it 4. What misery comes upon them for neglecting this work a blast and curse follows in all their ways They prosper in nothing they set a hand to because of this 5. I would open the great benefits and priviledges that follow upon the beginning to set to this work of building God a house how wonderfully they are prospered and blest and preserved what strange ways God findes out and turns all things that were contrary to help forward his work The Heaven shall hear the Earth and the Earth hear the Corn and Wine and the Corn and Wine shall hear Israel God will turn and order all things for a Blessing I. WHAT IS THIS HOUSE THAT LIETH WASTE AND WHAT TYPES IT OUT Time was when God had his Vine in Egypt his people were in slavery and bondage in a strange Land till their tasks grew too heavy and they cry out under their cruel bondage till at last the cry comes up to Heaven and the Lord can bear no longer but breaks out I have seen I have seen the afflictions of my People Israel and so he sends to deliver them with a high hand and stretched out arm by strange signs and wonders against all the opposition and rage of their Enemies Now when he had brought them through the red Sea and by a visible miracle drowned all their Enemies and saved them with a great Salvation then their hearts were taken and they sing his praise and in their song they make this promise And we will build him an HABITATION and this was never accomplished till Solomons time Though it was in Davids heart and God took it well that it was in his heart yet Solomon was pitched on by God for this work He shall build me an House and here God placed his Name and his Worship and his Presence here he dwelt here he would be sought and enquired of Hither the Tribes came up here their prayers were made and answered c. But after they came once to make an evil use of this House to serve their lusts and own ends contrary to what God had intended it when they come to cry The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord and vainly rest on that outside and make an Idol of it as they did of the brazen Serpent in the wilderness then God departs from this House and gives it into the hand of the King of Babylon who makes havock of all and lays it waste and carries away the vessels of the Lords House into Babylon and breaks all their way and worship in pieces But yet still the Lords minde goes on and is the same he is upon it still to have a House built for his Name and Worship to live in and to this purpose he turns the heart of the King to make proclamation of Liberty to the people to return and gives them encouragement and supplies to farther this work but they no sooner set to it indeed to begin and lay the foundation but there are Enemies appear and great opposition is made so that the work ceased and was layd aside till a new stirring arises and God sends Haggai and other of the Prophets to put them upon it to build this House after it had lien waste many years for the people were now brought out of Babylon and dwelt in their own Land but they let the time slip and pass over and had no heart to the work though they might have built it and this is parallel to our condition that linger and trifle away time and put it off though an opportunity be given us again and again and we are often called and invited and entreated to set on this work of building the Lords House to become a one-hearted people no more to serve our selves but one another II. But WHY WILL THE LORD HAVE A HOUSE BUILT a set place of Worship Why will he not leave his Worship to be performed in any place where men please themselves For these three Reasons 1. That this house might be a pattern of the Life to come a type of the Heavenly Jerusalem where they are all to live in love and peace and unity to be all of one heart and one soul moving from one principle to one end without jars and scatterings and wranglings for in the life to come it will not be as 't is now with us every one living for and to our selves and at a distance and loose end from all others But there the morning stars all sing together without jars and envyings and an evil eye there is a peaceable life a Kingdom of love and peace and this God would have a pattern a rude draught of in this World a people brought into some order and conformity of spirit answerable to the Kingdom to come He would have somewhat here of that union and agreement of Soul of that love to care for one another and bear one anothers burthens to honor and serve and prize one anotehr and all in love Paul had a taste of this life He became a servant to all that he might save some and Christ pleased not himself and David cries out O how I love thy Law and the place where thy honor dwells This life to come was pointed out by this outward Temple and all its beauty
it burns all alike that comes nigh it and here David cries out Hast thou forgotten to be gracious Hast thou shut up thy loving kindness in displeasure The Soul wonders at this day and is amazed what work is in hand It is hemm'd in wiâ—h darkness and gloominess and all things work against it and God he withdraws and leaves it the Father lays aside all his bowels and falls upon his Isaac to bind him and lay him upon the Altar for a Sacrifice 2. He hides himself that the Son may learn obedience by the things he suffers for nothing in the world seizeth so deep upon the sensible Soul as this absence of God when God is indeed made precious and the Soul hath left all and made choyce of him onely then to be left and forsaken O how it grindes the heart and lays it in the dust The Soul is like a foolish childe that so long as the mother is present joys and fliggers greatly but let his mother depart and leave it and then how doth it pensie and sink and nothing will please it So when all sight of God is gone that the Soul can see no more of him O how doth it seize and buckle to the dust Then the Soul cries to all things Labor not to comfort me let me dye in my sorrow It learns by this want to want all things 3. He hides himself that Death may seize and take place for God should he always be present and uphold with his love and favor it were impossible to dye How have the Saints sung and rejoyced in stocks and prisons and fires nothing could terrifie nor affright why God was present and that kept them up He walked in the fire with the three children and so long the fire cannot burn nor seize at all Martha says to Christ Lord hadst thou been here my Brother had not dyed And certain it is were but God with us we could not be in that darkness and confusion in those sorrows and wants and perplexities that now are upon us but he withdraws on purpose that the blow may seize Do you know what this means and what a bitter cup this will be to drink of when the Philistins are upon you and the Lord he is departed To be betrayed by a neer and bosom friend to be given into the hands of sinners to be unjustly put to death to be numbered among Transgressors and left of all friends that ever stood by us and then to add to all the rest to have God withdraw too and hide all love and favor and stop his ears and seem an enemy O who can express the misery My God my God why hast thou forsaken me The Soul cannot get from my God How ever it is delt with though a Father be gone and hid yet it cannot go to another God though it perish 7. The seventh aggravation of this misery to which Christ submits is this He must be dumb and not open his mouth in all these sufferings as a sheep dumb before the shearer He must not complain nor repine nor struggle nor reason the case He must not ask and cry for any ease and favor but be still and let all the waves go over him He may not have so much liberty as the rich man had in Hell he could call out to Abraham for water to cool his tongue but he must be in the fire and yet not cry out but bear it in silence and how hard a lesson is this to have no vent in misery not to complain nor so much as ask pity but this Christ submits to and all your Souls must come to it that shall enter into Life And there are three Reasons for it 1. He must be dumb that he may stand to his word and make that good He had consented and spoke the word Thy Will be done and he should now contradict himself and his heart would reproach his mouth as Job says if he should shrink away and complain for this was to have His Will done and not Gods 2. He must be dumb that he may give no ill example to others He is called the Lamb without spot no flaw must be in the Truth If the Captain turn his back alass this would soon dishearten all his Souldiers If he should complain and murmur who would not learn murmuring and stand to plead for it 'T is certain we learn evil one of another if we see another break out frowardly under a cross we presently learn to be unruly and froward With the froward thou wilt shew thy self froward But now he must bear the hand quietly and meckly and patiently to leave a good example for his people to walk in the same steps 3. He is dumb that he may not forfeit all his work and lose all his reward One dead fly spoyls the whole box of ointment And he that keeps the whole Law and fails in one point is guilty of all Not to go quite through with the work is to lose all and to complain and murmur that is to fly from the hand and shrink from the work and that would hinder the reward and be recorded for an evil Amongst all the other good yet this comes in as a flaw In this thou hast done foolishly And thus you may see a picture of Christ upon the Cross but you cannot feelingly know the thing till you shall come to the execution of it upon your selves and feel the same in all these particulars 1. Then for Use consider Do you beleeve ever to see this day or do you think to come in at some other door I wonder where your thoughts are sure you do not beleeve that ever this condition should be yours If you beleeve it you will be searching and enquiring But what is my Judas what is that false bosom companion that will prove my Betrayer where lies that darling-viper Is it in my Understanding my Light Am I holding and boasting of my knowledg secretly Or is it in my affections in the love and choyce and cleavings of my heart to any seen thing and will that be a Traytor to me Where lurks the Thief under what habit goes he Is he betraying with kisses with tenderness and love and inward pleasings of spirit where I least suspect him Is he in my ease and rest and content Is it he that keeps the bag and is the overseer and provider of all things needful for me which seems the neerest friend and most careful for my good Is the Traytor so nigh me 'T is time to entire for certainly if ever you enter into Life you must pass the same way and you will meet with a Judas that will be your death one that lies close and hid and the man little suspects him to be who he is but 't is said of Christ He knew from the beginning who should betray him Truth in us from the first day we can remember hath ever dis-relished him and found an evil savor in all that he hath done or said therefore enquire out the thing for what ever it be whether wisdom or knowledg or honor or ease or outward enjoyments or husband or wife or childe or what ever else yet certain a Thief is got in and lodges nigh all of you in your very bosoms that will betray you 2. If you are informed you must pass this way and no other then let it not seem strange when it comes to pass when a multitude shall be about your ears floods and swarms of ungodliness that agaster and amaze the Soul will appear hidden and unthought of depths of wickedness and all that man may appear to be a meer nothing and Sin may appear exceeding sinful and Grace may appear to be Grace indeed All your fair carriages and wisdom and moderation will be found to be a stinking puddle and defiled If you have found another way to life I would you could declare it but if there be no other sure it will put your Souls to a strait to look about where you are How do you think to stand in that Day when he shall rise to shake terribly the Earth If you are not then found in those everlasting records if not a Name written in the Book of Life if there be not another spirit in you that can go through the fire that cannot dye that it is impossible it should be holden of the grave Then what will become of you in that Day FINIS
Souls will be at a strait and thirst after the living God But as yet the Door is open to you what is the reason you are no more upon it They are exceeding great and precious Promises in themselves why are they not precious to us Sure they would had we but a Heart Therefore consider of it it is offered to you and if you shall follow on to know the Lord you shall surely know Him Consider the Door is open the precious Promises are given to you of Life and Glory c. Why then are you passing away your days on such low trivial and dying things Josephs blessing was large reached out to the utmost bounds of the Everlasting Hills and why are we so scant-hearted and low in our desires Why are we not upon these great and precious Things promised and to partake of this Divine Nature and thence be fruitful in the Truth and bring forth somewhat that may stand and live for ever after us THE SOULS TRUE Wound and Cure SERM. II. March 30.1651 HOSEA 6.1 2. Come and let us return unto the Lord for he hath torn and He will heal us He hath smitten and He will binde us up After two days will He revive us in the third day will He raise us up and we shall live in his Sight c. The Analysis IN the words were intimated the three days Works of the Father Son and Spirit in their order 1. The Work of the Father to pull down and wound and thither the Return must be to Him that smiteth 2. The Work of the Son to revive After two days He will revive us c. 3. The Work of the Spirit to raise In the third day He will raise us up c. I. In this Returning three Things are considerable 1. They that return must truly know they are out of the way a true sense of that must be And that was here in two things 1. In breaking prison and running from the strait The Princes of Judah like them that removed the bound c. 2. They were out in seeking to cure themselves before the day came Hos 5.13 but a secret moth blasts all The Vses were 1. To look home whether not our own Case have we not removed the Bound run from the strait and not endured c. 2. To take us off of looking on anothers sin and keep close to our own strait lie under our own misery till delivered 2. 'T is considerable in this Return there must be counsel and calling to it Come and let us return else not stir a foot 3. This Return is to the Lord He that had wounded He will heal Many heal themselves but there is a wound too hard And these several ways God takes for healing 1. He removes the ill humor that feeds the sore Sense and Reason 2. He asswages the anguish and smart and pain of the Soul else all in vain 3. He applies a plaister of loving-kindness and mercy 4. He points the Soul to wait for the set time till that come II. The second Work is the Sons He will revive After two days He will revive us c. And that by these means 1. He takes off all bonds and chains fears and perplexities which keep down the Soul from stiring 2. He unswadles and opens Himself I am Joseph your Brother 3. He preaches Peace and Love He the Prince of Peace 4. He revives by preaching the everlasting Gospel the eternal Love and good-will of God to the Soul this enliveneth All was brought home by Vse to see how much of the work had passed on us there all the four Pa ticulars HOSEA 6.1 2 c. Come and let us return unto the Lord for He hath torn and He will heal us c. IN the former Chapter great complaint is made against Israel and Ephraim that they were Revolters that they committed whoredom and will not frame their doings to seek unto their God Vers 3 4. And this is that misery that befalls such as transgress against the Lord that received not the Truth in the love of it that obeyed not counsel the Hand of the Lord will surely meet with such He will teer and wound them There shall be no peace to the wicked When Israel was a child then I loved Him saith God then He was tender and soft and pliable to be ordered but as They called them so They went from them Hosea 11.2 As the Prophets called them indeed to come up and come nigh God then there is a going backward from Him He is bent to a back-sliding heart But Israel and Ephraim shall be sure to be dealt with and made desolate A Time comes wherein God will meet with Him The Pride of Israel testifies to his face therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity v. 5. And this is our case The Pride hath been such we thought we had been Some-body and could live alone of our selves and like the Prodigal have asked to have our portion and we would be gone and shift for our selves But alass all is soon spent with riotous living and desolation and famine have come upon us rendings and teerings perplexities disquiets and troubles in all our ways I will be unto Ephraim as a Lion I will teer and go away I will take away and none shall rescue Hos 5.14 And when thus it shall be in the midst of the Land when this is the Souls condition to be rent and torn by God and then left and forsaken that He cannot be found but He hides Himself though Job go forward and backward to the right hand and to the left yet He is gone and cannot be found He feeds among the lillies â—aith the Church until the day dawn and the shadows fly away As if she should say Alass I am unclean but He feeds among the clean ones among the Lillies that are spotless the Lillies that grow without toyling and caring there are his walks but I am no company for him He is withdrawn from Me until the day dawn c. This is a hard day indeed when the Soul is left in this desolate case there is now need to think of returning The Prophet He feels the need and therefore calls to the People Come and let us return to the Lord. And so all along the Scriptures the Prophets are brought in as sensible and crying under the misery though their People were senceless and careless and stupid How do Isaiah Jeremiah Samuel Hosea and so all the Prophets stand in the gap for their people and call upon them in their desolation to come in and return to the Lord But whom do they call to return not all men not such as never was nigh to the Lord No Onely Ephraim and Israel and Judah his own people that have been once nigh and are backslidden and turned Prodigals from their fathers house Onely to such is the Call and in the worst time of all when torn and wounded and left of God
we lay if the Lord stept not in to help us out and whether this would ever be or not we knew not and here we were made to own and bow and lie under our conditions as undone Persons if Mercy help'd not out Thus we lay low for a time under this bond but soon as ever we heard a report of Deliverance and were pointed out to it as John pointed to Christ Behold the Lamb of God c. Here is one that can cure you and bring you out This is the Saviour of the World when a Light came to shew us this we presently reached at it and called all our own and would not lie in our misery till he called us to come till the Lord Himself delivered us but thought now that we saw the medicine lie before us we were wise enough to take it and to cure our selves we thought we could now live of our selves without being beholding to God that our Light and Instruction into the Truth that the sight of Salvation had been enough And here we went out like Prodigals till all was spent and Poverty came upon us as an armed man We got out and promised our selves liberty and ease as Paul saith of some who promising liberty Themselves became the servants of corruption We were the farther off and the more entangled that which Job speaks of If I wash my self saith he mine own clothes shal defile me We have indeed washed and washed our selves but that will not do we put on our own clothes again and we are presently all dirt as bad as ever Here hath been our going out and now we are out we would never stir home again But the Call and Counsel is to us Come and let us return That Charge is layd against us Thou hast forsaken thy first Love remember whence thou art fallen and repent This I speak is a Deep Parable if the Soul be not led in to read the meaning The Hypocrite he cannot know it he will ever be hoping and clambering up some way or other to get life and never endure these bonds though he perish for ever and how many are thus utterly lost And the Sons of God They cannot know this neither until it cost them dear till a dart strike through their Liver They will taste of the Whores dainties of her sweet morsels till they are made to vomit all up again and lose the sweet words We have taken up words of Scripture and Hopes and Promises to our selves but who gave us them The Door was open and we thought we might venture in and take what we pleased But the Spouse could give a better account He brought me into the banqueting house c. Did He thus take us by the hand and bring us in No no we thrust in without the wedding garment we stayd not till the Angel was sent to roul away the stone from the mouth of the Sepulchre till Christ Himself came to loosen the Prison doors and let the Captives go free And now to all you that have thus turned out and therefore have had a blast a mildew a secret moth consuming and destroying all your greenness and liveliness and freshness in the Truth for how dead and sapless do you now lie to you yet is this Counsel given and the Call made Come and let us return to the Lord for he hath smitten c. Lie under the hand and turn to him that smites you And that is Thirdly The third Thing considerable in this Return It is to the Lord who hath wounded that he may heal Many they are wounded indeed but they can heal themselves run to the Promises and wariness and resolvings and they are presently whole But when the Lord wounds indeed with the wound of a cruel one when he rends and teers and goes away then shall no healing medicine be found out when God comes to a strict enquiry once and searches Jerusalem with candles looks into every dark corner and asks for an account of the bottom of the matter if we know what shall become of us for ever how our everlasting Condition hangs whether all we have all the strong reasons and hopes and conclusions from the operations and enlargements and powers of Truth will all these prove our condition good for ever Was not Saul also among the Prophets and was not the Spirit of God upon Balaam and yet both fell short I wonder sometimes how we can pass it over from day to day and not consider what the end shall be but it is because the wound is not deep we have no sense to feel but are like a post in the wall but when He shall wound home indeed and strike the blow to the heart then it will seize it shall not be so easie getting from it then if ever we be cured the same hand must do it that struck the Blow all other Physicians will be of no value but Come let us return to the Lord for he hath torn and he will heal c. And He will heal us Now What Ways doth the Lord take to Cure this Wound 1. The first Way to cure a Wound throughly is by removing the ill humor that feeds and maintains the sore else all plaisters and salves applyed to heal are in vain and to no purpose So God deals with the Soul He goes first to the Root to stench the corrupt humor the bitter Fountain that feeds and supplies all the streams Sensse and Reason they have been the ill humor which have fed the sore all along whilest we could wring and wrestle and murmur and complain against God saying Why hath he made me thus Why hath he brought us into this Wilderness to destroy us Who hath resisted his Will Whilest these pleadings and reasonings live 't is impossible our conditions should be mended these will fester and corrupt use what means we will for healing therefore God promiseth I will heal their back-slidings that way He takes when he intends a Cure Whilest we go about to cure our selves and flee upon Horses because they are swift so long the case grows worse with us the wound encreaseth but stand still and see the Salvation of God saith Moses Let him alone and He will never leave till he hath met with the bitter Root that spoyls all our prospering 2. Another way of healing a wound is by taking away or asswaging the extremity of the anguish and smart of the sore else the violence of the pain will let nothing take place So is it with the Soul sometimes there is such an extremity of anguish that perplexes and torments it that nothing of hope or encouragement can come near it When it is made to look over all its rebellions and standings out and provocations what it hath done how it hath grieved the Holy Spirit and refused mercy and brought all this that it now lies under on its own head You may thank your self for this saith the Accuser this is your own will and way
made thee He that Rules and Orders all Fear Him but why should we fear him 1. Fear him because we are his Workmanship he is our Maker he is the Potter and we are his clay we had our Being and Frame and mould and all we have from him 2. Fear Him Because he can bring thee down on a sudden He can secretly twist away thy life and all thou hast thou knowst not how How soon was Judas striped and twisted out of all his mercy and presently left to ruine He was but now among the Disciples and lookt upon as one of them for they all questioned themselves as much as him and by and by he hangs himself when he is but left to have his run and therefore saith David Thou holdest our souls in life if he do not hold and maintain and keep up thy life every moment alas thou art soon gone and wilt sink to nothing when thou art in thy jollity and mirth in the midst of thy bouls if a hand writing do but come against thee how soon may thy mirth be quashed the knees tremble and knock together and the face be turned to paleness Alas therefore should'st thou not fear him When I consider Him I am afraid of Him saith Job for He is of one mind and he will bring to pass the thing appointed for me He can turn all upside down in a moment at such an uncertainty stand all our ways and enjoyments when at the best much like a stout resolved Souldier riding up bravely furnished and with a courage to charge in the face of an Enemy but on a suddain a bullet comes and lays him down and all his strength and courage is gone in a moment so soon can this Lord take thee off in any of thy injoyments therefore Fear Him 3. Fear Him because he doth all without let 〈◊〉 controul nothing shall hinder when He begins He will make an end All men and all creatures have a Controuler that can frustrate their enterprises but the great God hath no controuler He gives no account of his matters if he will not favour a man either in Soul or body but lets a blast seize upon him alas the man must fall and all the world cannot help him 4. Fear Him because in thy own Conscience tho◠canst witness Thou hast justly offended Him he hath occasions and advantages enough against thee O Lord how many ways might He justly take thee off might he not stop thy breath when thou sleepest might he not make thy meat to be thy poyson art thou not a sinner in all and liable to Him if He should take advantage therefore Stand in awe and Fear before Him 5. Fear Him because He will certainly bring thee to judgment he wil call thee to an account for all thy ways That which hath been done in secret which no eye saw and no man could ever charge thee with all thy secret thoughts thy covetings and lustings and envyings the secret turnings within He will bring all upon the stage nothing shall pass therefore fear this Judg for Thou knowest not at what hour thy Lord may come And Good Lord if He come in a time unthought of and finde thee froward and fretting and envying and lusting and saving thy life in any creature Alas what then will become of thee if thou beest thus surprized and surprize thee He may For we know not the hour when the Thief will come therefore there is cause to fear 6. Fear Him because there is mercy with Him that He may be feared He will have a reward for them that fear him If thou fear men either they may neglect and not minde to reward thee or else may not be able but the Lord will surely reward them that fear Him and those that wait on Him shall not be ashamed And therefore there is great reason from these several Particulars why He should be feared And now I shall speak of the two other general Points from the words which come in as an enlargement and farther ground of this Exhortation Fear Him that can destroy both Soul and Body in Hell where these two things are yet to be opened What it is to have the Soul destroyed and then what it is to be in Hell Fifthly What is it to have the Soul destroyed what ways doth God take to do that 1. He destroys the Soul by withdrawing the sap which should maintain it when God gives up the Soul to it self and leaves striving and motioning and knocking this is one way by which it is surely destroyed For it will soon dye and sink of it self if it be not followed and hunted and kept up and maintained dayly 2. Another way of destroying the Soul is when God gives it up to beleeve lyes to feed on ashes and that like a canker will soon eat out all the life and power and spirit of Truth The Soul is made uncapable of receiving Truth nothing can enter nor seize Though there be never such a power and strength and clearness in the Word yet nothing can take place and this is the wonder that God speaks I will work a wonder in your days that a man shall not beleeve though it be told him I will destroy the wisdom of the wise And again In hearing they shall hear and not perceive and in seeing they shall not see because a deceived heart hath turned them aside given up to beleeve lyes c. 3. Another way of destroying the Soul is by leaving it alone out of the Nursery out of the heart and care of the People of God that there is none to take it in none to look over it nor enquire after it none to turn aside to ask how it doth Alass this will soon destroy the Soul to be thus cast off and left alone without the care and counsel and pity and encouragement of the Truth to have none to plant nor water nor till it that ground can bring forth nothing but bryars and thorns and so is nigh unto cursing c. 4. Another way God takes when the Decrees are gone forth to undo a Soul is this He shuts out all prayers and intreaties and means that are used to turn his heart to the creature that nothing shall prevail with Him though there should be any to stand up to pray and plead yet He will not hear Though Samuel and Moses and Daniel should stand up yet could not my heart be turned towards this people Put them out of my sight saith God And so to Samuel God answers Why prayest thou any more for Saul I have cast him off And this is a sure way of undoing the Soul indeed If God be against it who can stand for it who can deliver out of his hand 5. Another way the Soul is destroyed by is when God takes away all its gates and fences and lays it open to sin and Satan to have their full course and run without stop or let All the floods of ungodliness and
now what shall I say to you more but this 1. If it be possible that some of you might be warned never to come to this place of torment to taste the sorrows of Death and feel the pains of Hell to have the Soul destroyed to be turned into Hell with the ungodly Oh! who can express the misery What have we been upon caring and fearing about the Body and them that can kill it but alass this is the thing to be feared to have Soul and Body destroyed in Hell 3. Then you that are to be saved and truly belong to God and have had true hints in your selves and a witness from others to that purpose yet see what may befall you how far you may be let go how neer destruction you may come you may be cast into the belly of Hell so was Jonah and feel the pains of Hell so did David and be shut out from all enjoyment of God so was Job that he could not finde him though he went forward and backward on the right hand and on the left yet no entrance could be found but their mercy and salvation was in being brought out of Hell But now because you have yet no certain knowledg of your latter end how God will deal with you if the sense of what I have said were upon you it would put you to a great strait to know the end 3. Stand in awe lest this day overtake you unawares you know not what shall happen therefore stand in awe and fear CHRIST Weeping over JERVSALEM OR Truths Bowels towards its own SERM. IV. April 13. 1651. LUKE 19.41 42 c. And when He was come neer He beheld the City and wept over it Saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace But now they are hid from thine eyes c. The Analysis FRom the words these Things in general observed I. What City this is Ans It is Jerusalem the Beloved City a City compact a City built on a Hill typing out the People of God 1. As they are the beloved and chosen ones of God 2. Compact and made up of the Divinity and Humanity God in Man 3. Built on a sure Rock the everlasting Love and good-will II. And when he came neer c. Whence this observed That the great care and business of Christ is to come neer this City these saved ones to gather Jacob to finde the lost sheep to seek up the sons of Peace III. He beheld the City and wept over it Why weeps He Weeping ariseth either from 1. Joy 2. Grief On both these accounts Christ weeps 1. He weeps for Joy that He had found Jerusalem so Truth when it meets with the sons of peace And that for three Reasons 1. For joy that however now in their blood yet 't is the beloved City they are the people where Christ is to do his great cure 2. For joy that God had left the wise and prudent and chose such Babes Truth rejoyces at it 3. For joy however now they deal with Him that they shall accept and say Blessed be He that cometh in the name of the Lord. 2. He weeps for Grief to finde Jerusalem in her sin killing her Prophets Where these three Aggravations 1. 'T is an unnatural sin in killing the Prophets they kill themselves 2. An ungrateful sin to reward evil for all the good done 3. A desperate and venturous sin to kill their present Prophets and know not whether ever another shall be sent to them or not 3. He weeps to see Jerusalems miserable ignorance that They knew not the things that belong to their Peace how He would have gathered them as a Hen her chickens c. This was parallel'd to Truths Dealings with us 1. A Hen calls and clocks her chickens after her so Truth call'd us together out of several places conditions relations c. 2. The Hen sits down when her chickens gathered so Truth sat down with us 3. She spreads her wings to take in and receive heâ— chickens 4. She gathers them under her wings to cherish and warm and heat them 5. She doth it the better to secure and proteâ—â— them 6. She doth it that she may nurse up and bring them to perfection to shift for themselves In 〈◊〉 these Cases Truth has dealt with us 4. He weeps from an unsatisfied Desire and Love towards Jerusalem O that thou hadst known eveâ— Thou c. 5. He weeps for the miserable Condition He foresaw coming on them that is intimated in severâ—â— expressions 1. But now they are hid from thine eyes 2. Thine Enemies shall cast a Trench about thee 3. And compass thee round and keep thee in on every side 4. And lay thee even with the ground 5. And thy children within thee 6. And not leave one stone upon another in thee 7. This is added as an aggravation of all Because thou knewest not the day of thy visitation Here is a full woe indeed LUKE 19.41 42 c. And when He came neer and beheld the City He wept over it And said If thou hadst known even thou in this thy day the things that belong to thy Peace but now they are hid from thine eyes c. THe occasion of these words from Christ ariseth partly from the Pharisees envying the Discipl s joy singing Hosanna to Christ and rejoycing to see their King come meekly riding on an Asses colt towards Jerusalem Christ tells them If these should hold their peace the very stones would cry out secretly reproving them Well you will not regard it you rejoyce not you are not glad to see your King coming towards you you embrace not the Salvation offered but if you hold your peace and these should hold their peace yet He will have a people though He raise them out of the dust Of very stones he will raise up children to Abraham He will yet have a City a Jerusalem which shall receive him at last and be glad of their King what usage soever at present He may finde from them how sad and miserable soever their case now is And when He came neer He beheld the City and wept over it c. From the words I would have you consider these several Things I. What City this is that Christ beheld and weeps over It is Jerusalem the beloved and chosen Ciey where He had placed his Name and Worship and Ordinances 2. Jerusalem the compact City that is at unity in it self 3. Jerusalem a City built upon a Hill standing aloft on a sure foundation which cannot be moved And this was but a Type of the people of God the Jerusalem which is from above 1. They are the chosen and beloved people chosen out of the World redeemed from among Men gathered out of all Nations and Countries and People and Tongues to be a peculiar treasure to Him 2. The compact City such as are made up and compact of God and Man in one person
owned and received and prized He shall be welcom to them then even the feet of such as bring glad tydings of peace Then will the Soul say with Abigail Let me wash the feet of the servants of my Lord the King He shall be welcom indeed in that day And this glads and rejoyces and keeps up his spirit to think on this time I had verily fainted saith David unless I had beleeved to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living That bare up his heart There is hope in the latter end saith God to Rachel that thy Children shall come again to their own borders How ever they are now in captivity and lie scattered broken as if utterly forsaken yet they shall return And for these causes Christ weeps over Ierusalem over his people out of joy where ever and in what case soever he finds them yet this joy lives in the bottom I would you might never forget these Particulars But 2. And when He beheld the City He wept Another Reason why He weeps is out of sorrow because He findes them in their blood He grieves to see Ierusalems wickedness to see her hands embrued in blood to see her killing the Prophets and opposing and fighting against her own good There is no other way for Her ever to be saved but by hearing the voyce of her Prophets and obeying them And now to thrust these away saying We will not have this man rule over us for Truth to finde the sons of peace the saved ones in this strange condition hating and striking against their own chief good and best friends This causes a weeping It is a gladness indeed to finde the sons of peace to see a Nathanael an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile one in whom the Spirit of Life the Seed of God is planted Truth joys at this and if this be not in the bottom there is no ground for Truth to work upon No Physician goes about to take a dead man to cure If there be not a Seed of Life there is nothing for Truth to care for and pray and weep over But now where that seed is yet to finde such a Soul or such a people stoning their Prophets to finde his own Children rebelling and standing against Him this causes Truth to weep And when He beheld the City He wept c. Now this Sin hath three Aggravations in it which cause Truth to weep 1. It is an unnatural sin for them to kill their Prophets which came to instruct and inform them in the way of Life Alass in killing your Prophets you kill your selves you murther your own Souls And what murther is so cruel and unnatural as that Who shall save you if you kill your Saviour Him whom God hath sent to be a Saviour and Deliverer If you thrust away this Moses who shal bring you out of Egypt and lead through the Wilderness Nothing so unnatural as for a man to cut his own Throat such a thing is it for any to slight and contemn that Truth which comes to save them 2. It is an ungrateful Sin It is not right nor allowable to render evil for evil to hate our Enemies But to reward evil for good to return hatred for love and mercy and bowels shewed us Am I therefore your Enemy saith Paul because I tell you the truth This is wonderful ungrateful I will send my Son sure they will reverence Him but now after all to take this Son too and kill Him that was sent out of love and exceeding tenderness this is the ungratefullest sin in the World To refuse Him that speaks from Heaven that can open to you the minde and heart and love and good-will of God this Christ weeps at to finde them in so ungrateful a sin 3. It is a venturous and desperate sin That moves Christ to weep to see the hard venture what to sleep upon the top of a Mast To venture to kill their Prophets and the present offer of Grace and know not whether ever another Prophet shall be sent them or no O what a venture is it God hath truly sent me to you to warn you to come out of Sodom and to tell you God hath purposed to destroy the City and will you venture to linger in it still Had Lot stayd but one hour longer he had been destroyed with them but the Angel layd hands on him and pulled him out the Lord being merciful to him This is the next to that unpardonable sin which David prays against O keep me from presumptuous sins that I may be innocent from the great Transgression The Lord warn and prevent you and lay it to your heart to consider how guilty we are in all these Particulars how unnatural we have been and cruel to our own Souls to murther the Truth sent to gather us and then of all transgressions 't is the most ungrateful What people in all the world have been so kindly dealt with so followed and waited on and born with Line upon Line Instruction and Counsel and Love have followed us and to murther this Truth after all how ungrateful is it And then how desperate have we been and venturous in a Passion like the profane Esau to sell all for one morsel of bread to venture all at a blow and what ever comes on it desperately resolve We will not have this man rule over us Well may God say to us Because I would have purged you and you would not be purged therefore you shall not be purged till you dye Do you hear what is spoke It concerns all you are all guilty the Lord lay it not to your charge I know not a People in the World so venturing all at a cast as we have been Come Life or Death yet there hath been a punctual standing out and slighting the Call of Truth to have our wills Thirdly Another Cause Christ weeps over Jerusalem is to find her in that miserable condition of ignorance that she knew not the Things which belonged to her Peace O that Thou hadst known even Thou in this thy day c. But They knew not the day of their Visitation they knew not their time this Christ grieves at Work whilest it is day whilest you have the Light with you for the night cometh wherein no man can work But they had played in Summer they slighted their seasons and opportunities and knew them not knew not the Things belonging to their Peace Man naturally looks after the things that concern his ease but is not so minding what belongs to his peace But it is this Peace only that must stick by us in a strait in a time of need when ease and enlargements and all fail then will this Peace abide and this Christ weeps for to see their ignorance though it is well in one respect that they were ignorant I obtained mercy saith Paul because I did it ignorantly And had we done what we have done fully knowing we had sinned
in three Relations 1. As His Children and so Christ stands as a Mother 1. A Mother brings forth her Children out of her own Bowels 2. She nurses up her Children to perfection So Christ 2. A People are given to Christ as his Sister and hence three Priviledges spring up to them 1. That they are of the same stock and kindred with Christ 2. They have right to the same portion and priviledges 3. Hence they are liable to be Christs Wife He must not marry out of his own kindred 3. A People are given to Christ as his Wife In which two Things called for 1. Serviceableness the woman is to be subject to her Husband 2. Fruitfulness no children without a Husband and no name to live after us if not children in the Truth to keep it alive 2. Another Branch of the Will of the Father is That none of these that are thus given to Christ should be lost Where two Things considered 1. What it is to be lost Opened in these Particulars 1. To be lost is to be left out of that good-will of God 2. Not to be of that stock which the Lord Christ is sent to gather 3. To have the eyes blinded Our Gospel hid to them that are lost 4. To be given up to believe a Lye to feed on ashes 5. To have in evil eye and grudg all done to Truth as Judas 6. To be left without any to gather up or take the care of the Soul 7. To be left without restraint that wickedness may take its full course and grow to cursing and madness against God 2. Why are not all lost since all wander and turn Prodigals It comes from these Grounds 1. From this Will of God it is his Will to give Christ a People 2. They are nigh related to Christ He cannot see them lost 3. They must not be lost because Christ cannot be perfect without his Members He must have a Body c. The Vses were 1. Throughly to understand on what bottom Salvation stands 2. To enquire Do you know your Lot here Are you given to Christ 3. To comfort all drooping hearts that lie under sense of their misery as if quite lost No Christ is to lose none given to Him JOHN 6.38 39. For I came down from Heaven not to do mine own Will but the Will of Him that sent me c. I Am daily and continually minding you that you might understand the sure principles and ground of Things that you might know the Foundation and Cause whence all springs in those that are saved and those that are lost For whilest we are judging according to appearance and effects all is uncertain and doubtful till we come to be unmoveably principled into the Foundation of all how that stands For Things are not as man judgeth for it is not what man would if he would be saved and labours and struggles to press in alas that is not the thing It is not in him that wills nor in him that runs And then it is not what man would not if he stands out and opposes and would never come in yet if the word goes forth Go and compel them it must be done It stands upon the Will of God what He will what He hath ordered and appointed all must stoop to that Christ himself submits here I came not to do my own Will but the Will of Him that sent me c. Where consider I. Who this I spoke of is I came not c. This I is the Son of God the Mind of God the Heart and Will of the Father brought forth and this Mind of his He hath pleased to put into earthen vessels into his People in all days This Son of his it was that spake in his Prophets and opened the Counsel and Purposes of God to them that which was hidden and layd up in his own Bosom from the foundations of the world that is now made manifest by the appearance of Jesus Christ by this Bosom and Heart and Mind of his sent forth into his Prophets that opened and doth yet open what was before the world began and what shall be after that comes to an end This opens the deep things of God None knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son shall reveal him There can be no coming near to God no knowing no being like him unless this Son this Mind and Heart be sent out and opened and grow up in the Soul Alas the Deity in it self is too large and infinite for man to conceive of If ever you come to have apprehensions of the Godhead it will drink and swallow you up No man can see my face and live saith God to Moses therefore He hides him in the cleft of a Rock till his Glory pass before him Man is not able to come nigh that infinite Majesty and therefore He is pleased to send forth of Himself His own Heart and Mind His Son into his People As He was once sent out in the flesh of Christ our elder Brother so is He now to be sent into his People the same Mind of God to grow up by degrees and degrees as we are able to bear II. What is this Son of God this Mind of His sent out to do what comes it for I came not saith Christ to do my own Will but the Will of Him that sent me It is a strange Mystery if you know not somewhat of it in your selves That this Heart and Mind of God that comes forth from God and is God Himself that yet this Son must not do his own Will but the Will of the Father that the Truth and Christ Himself though his desires be just and good and right yet He must not have them unless his Father please His will must suffer and be cross'd and denyed therefore it is said He learn'd obedience by the things he suffered It is strange how God seems to contradict himself that his own Heart and Mind and Truth must yet be denyed and suffer and submit to do this Will of the Father though it be against it self so great and Lord-like and commanding is this Will of the Lord our God He doth saith David what ever pleaseth him both in Heaven and Earth What ever he will do that comes to pass If he bring some far on in the way to Life that they come even to the door yea into the very room yet if he will then turn them out and enquire Friend how camest thou hither without the wedding garment The man is speechless and must be turned out presently if He will not have mercy c. And on the other hand if a man run never so far from him with Jonah into the bottom of Hell that all seems utterly lost yet if he will recover and bring back from thence if He will have mercy nothing shall hinder so absolute uncontroulable and over-ruling is this Will of the great Lord without giving any account of his matters And hence
got beyond you all that you have cared for has been that you might have meat for your lusts as Eve she did not sell her birth-right but the serpent beguiled her and she did eat If indeed there is to be a return in you I beseech you consider for it 's in vain to think of returning if no fathers house if thou wert never born to see the Kingdom there can never be an entering in 2. This encourages him in his Return when he considers with himself thus How many hired servants in my fathers house have bread enough and to spare Who have no portion they have been followed and dandled upon the knee but I being a son have been cheated of my portion How are you made to cry out sometimes Woe is me for the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously with me You have been enchanted your iniquities have hindred good things from you but when he considers these two things then he says I will arise and go to my father And this is beyond all that went before for while he was under the judgment under the plague pinched with want yet this makes him not arise but now he saith I will arise and go when he considers he is a son and that he is worse then any hired servant in his fathers house that hath no portion Oh that the Lord would be pleased to call you according to purpose that you might have no rest till you return When Jacob saw the charets that were sent from Joseph he could not beleeve for all the former reports but his heart fainted still yet now the spirit of old Jacob revived Genes 45 27 28. He resolves I will arise and go what ever it cost me In this arising of the Prodigal these things are considerable 1. He is made sensible of the want he is in that there 's neither bread nor clothing nothing that 's good where he is therefore he saith Well I will arise and go to my father for there the servants have bread enough c. much more I that am a son might Now he bethinks himself where he is how beset on every side And here consider what a stubbornness there is in man an evil malignity against God for we may say Why cannot he return without this stir Why because of that evil-disposedness in the heart that would not love the Lord Why What evil have I done saith God to you that you would none of me Have I been a wilderness or a land of darkness to Israel No all arises from an evil will that lieth in the bottom and is at enmity with God But when the Soul is brought to such a pinch that there 's no remedy for God will never leave hunting and hunting as a blood-hound till he findes out its iniquity then the Soul is made at last to say as David Whither shall I fly from thy presence If I take the wings of the morning and fly up to Heaven thou art there if I go down to Hell there will thy hand find me out c. At last when pinched out of all and no other shift I will arise saith he and go to my father 2ly I will arise c. As though he should say Well against all my fears and gainsayings c. I will arise what ever I shall meet with I will forget all my shame all my ill dealing c. nothing shall stand in my way to hinder now there 's a going as Benhadads servants with ropes about their necks and as Esther though it was death for any to go in before the King yet in such a case of necessity she is resolved to venture and goes thus If I perish I perish O all you Prodigals that have gone astray from your fathers house c. when will you venture into the hands of Justice as the Prodigal here and say I will arise We are like a man that stands betwixt hope and fear that would â—ain venture to leap over a ditch but dares not a great while but when his minde is strong enough then at last he is made to venture When you shall consider and say Why should I not hope Is he not my father If we sit here said the Lepers we perish and if we arise and go upon our Enemies we can but dye Need forces them at last So here saith the Prodigal I will arise see prove him if he will not open the windows of Heaven to you and receive you But 3ly Does he take off his filthy garments when he arises No but though he be naked and desolate yet I will arise saith he and go to my father and say Father I have sinned c. He does not lay his grievings of his Father aside how ill he has delt with him but that he carries on his back When ever your Souls shall arise think not to leave your iniquity behinde you and come clear but come as you are owning and confessing the thing as it is saying I once lived nigh thee in the house in the counsel but I thought it not good to keep there but have chosen rather to wander from thee I have sinned against Heaven thy people and before thee c. For now being once born again and turning out we defile not only our selves by our sin but one another either by our evil counsel or not standing or not helping others to stand yet thus he arises and goes to his father he bears his sin and sight of it he goes as he is And when his father saw him a great way off he ran and met him and fell upon his neck and kissed him And the son said Father I have sinned against Heaven and in thy sight and am no more worthy to be called thy son Make me as one of thy hired servants Here appears the pride of our hearts we would not begin with a morsel of bread But when the father saw him a great way off saw his mind coming he ran and met him He waits to be gracious And If any man say I have sinned and perverted that which was right and it did not profit me then he will deliver his Soul from death c. Job 33.27 28. But now consider If you should lie owning and confessing all your life-time and should not stir in your ownings there would be no meeting of you there 's a certain savoring of a returning minde but while he was feeding swine and pined with hunger he might have said Sure my father will look for me he will not leave me No no there 's no looking after him so long as he is loving to feed swine No saith God Ephraim is joyned to Idols let him alone Therefore all you Prodigals think upon this Truth does not regard you while you love darkness rather then light but as soon as the Prodigal does but return then saith the father Come bring the best robe and put it on him c. But did he think to finde such entertainment as this He proposed
Jeremy my leanness my leanness the treacherous Dealers have dealt treacherously c. God gave Israel their hearts desire but sent leanness into their Souls How uncomely does a lean man look 'T was not so with the Spouse Let me see thy countenance let me hear thy voyce saith Christ for sweet is thy voyce and thy countenance comely she was in the banqueting house and her looks shew it How often does Christ commend her though she saith I am black yet still she is comely I look like one of thine saith David If a mans heart be down and under how feeble is his countenance but when he is up and refreshed how is he bold as a Lion The Righteous are bold as a Lion c. When we are in by-paths how do we hang down the head and creep into a corner and are loth to be seen But surely the Promise is that we shall be fat and well-liking and bring forth more fruit in old age But what a day of leanness is it now with us We spend our days in a Consumption a lingering disease has taken hold but when we shall return then shall the flesh come again as the flesh of a young child When you shall look over all the Entertainment and view it well together it will be wonderful but you must first be wearied out of all and when they shall be weary then they shall curse their King and their God and look upwards 5. The Entertainment of this Prodigal still goes on And let us eat and be merry which is more strange then all the rest and hath more in it and yet that this joy should accompany his Return who had so slighted his father and abused all his mercies now to be entertained thus this is strange The Father sets him up again amongst the Princes at his own Table Now he needs not be ashamed to sit with them in the gate when they all see how the King smiles upon him This is beyond all expression that ever he that was a begger should be so adorned so accepted and incompassed with mercies on all sides The Father calls all his friends to see his glory and invites them to this great feast Come let 's eat and be merry he calls his servants all the Angels those noble Spirits he makes them ministring Spirits But to which of them does he say Sit thou at my right hand But to man he says Thou art my son this day have I begotten thee There 's more joy in Heaven over one sinner that repents then over the ninety and nine just persons the Angels that need no repentance Those glorious Angels are made but ministring Spirits to attend dayly upon those that shall be saved But to be born of God to be co-heirs with Christ this is beyond all the Angels portions Come saith the Father let us eat and be merry But for what Cause must there be so much mirth c. It arises from these two Causes 1. From the liberty the Father had in himself And 2. From the contentedness he had in his son It signifies he was now eased of his grief for when he went out he grieved for him he had no content in that as if he had said Well my son will never be at quiet till he has had his run in Prodigality well I will let him go though with many a sad and a king heart for him He yet cries after him O Jerusalem Jerusalem that thou hadst harkened to me then had thy Peace been as a River And as David for Absalom O my son Absalom my son Absalom would God I had dyed for thee c. It appeared well that he loved him for how does he at his Return give him the best of every thing clothes him with the best robe puts rings on his hands kills the fated Calf for him and now has full contentedness in receiving his son Let 's eat and be merry as though he should say I have enough I have my son again But What particular Grounds are there of all his mirth why these three 1. Saith the father Because this my son was dead and is alive again And 2. He was lost and is found 3. Because I have received him safe and sound Here 's cause indeed of Joy if all this be true What to have recovery after banishment Here 's Joy indeed both in his recovering and in the fathers receiving him But 1. Because he was dead and is alive c. If any of you should have a child fall into a Well and in all appearance should be drowned now to have this child revive again how would you prize him above all you did before and above all your other children A man that is dead is without hearing seeing savoring of any thing A dead man is burdensom to every one yea to his dearest friends every one is weary of his company and afraid of getting a taint from him There 's no hope of a dead man Things dead turn to rottenness presently Such was this Prodigal he was dead without sense unsuitable to any society The dead cannot praise thee but saith Hezekiah the living the living they shall praise thee c. Well may the father rejoyce when he considers the case his son was in This my son was dead well might they eat and be merry at the receiving of this dead son alive again When I consider how you lie as dead men so voyd of understanding and sensless would I not rather say as Jeremy O that I had a Cottage in the Wilderness c. that I might fly away from this people and be at rest rather then to endure with you But if ever deliverance be would there not be rejoycing in me indeed to receive you as Moses drawn out of the water or as Jonah out of the Whales belly There 's cause indeed of mirth when the graves shall give up their dead and the Sea give up its dead then shall we sing in the height of Sion Why the Promise is that God will comfort the mourners But 2. This is not all neither but This my son was lost and is found A man that 's drowned in a River and cannot be found again whosoever was the friend of that man it 's a far greater grief to him if any of you have experience of it to have him lost then to have him drowned it 's a great and restless disquiet to think what is become of his friend So the father cannot find this son he is such a fugitive he goes to Heaven to Hell to seek his Church and cannot tell where to find them Such runagates are you the Lord knows not where to meet with you that he might say to the dead Arise your heart is so lost and setled upon nothing But if once Christ could but come to your graves as to Lazarus and find you there if you were but brought to a narrow compass there were hope But to be lost that 's above all your misery
thy Soul choose it however thou art found That 's the thing If thou canst but come in this Name of the Lord then be encouraged that he will receive thee he will make thee a feast of fat things and of wine well refined on the lees He will sit down at Table with thee and say Eat my friends eat abundantly Come and let 's be merry c. for Fury is not in him as we suppose He waits to be gracious and is more glad of one sinner that repents then of ninety nine just persons that need no repentance O therefore return thou Prodigal return say to thy Soul a thousand times over O return to thy strong hold Take hold on the horns of the Altar as thou art and be safe Say not If I were clothed I would come if I were shod and had Rings on my hands and were filled with the spirit of power then I could come But enquire Is there not life in thee Is not the principle quite dead then be encouraged for where there 's life there 's hope the Father will entertain thee But O Lord how long shall we neglect so great Salvation O Lord the thing is too much to expect That ever the sinner should be so received to stand before him spotless and blameless safe and sound But surely the Scripture has not said it in vain nor is that principle in you in vain that gasps and pants after it O therefore minde and consider that we might enjoy this portion and return from our Prodigality and the good Lord bring you in at the right door for there onely will he finde you and where 's that Why in the Name of the Lord. But so long as this pride and envy c lives we would never come to admire and say O the forbearance and long-suffering of our God! We would never clear him and own the thing as it is but this is the door by which the righteous enter and are safe Noah VVarned OF Things not Seen OR Faith piercing into Invisibles SERM. VII April 27. 1651. HEBR. 11.7 By Faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with fear prepared an Ark to the saving of his house by which he condemned the world and became heir of the Righteousness which is by Faith The Analysis FRom the words was observed in general I. What Things Noah was warned of by God And they were these three 1. That all flesh was corrupt how fair and specious soever to sight 2. That the end of all flesh was come though all seem'd quiet and well 3. He is warned to prepare an Ark to the saving of his house None of these things were yet seen but Noah sticks to the Word This brought home to shew we have been warned in all these Cases 1. That all flesh is corrupt We have been warned of that three ways 1. By the Word of the Cryer that hath witnessed it 2. We have proved it over and over again by Tryal in our selves 3. Warned by Providence the world let out against us and the breach begun 2. We have been warned the end of all flesh is at hand often witnessed to us That He will not always wink and bear but call to an account 3. The warning hath oft been to us to provide an Ark a sure resting place and shelter from storms to know our portion in the eternal Love II. How is Noah affected Moved with Fear c. A Fear and awe seizeth on him and that in five Particulars 1. From the warning that all flesh was corrupt All in the man sin a Fear touches the Soul Lord is the case so with me 2. Moved with Fear because the end of all flesh was come Judgment ready to seize the Flood coming this moves a Fear 3. Because he was naked and had not an Ark provided 4. Moved with Fear lest he should slip over the present day and Call 5. Lest the Flood should come before his Ark be finished And this moves the Soul and makes it haste to the work All this brought home to Particulars to enquire whether we were moved with this Fear with much power and searching III. Consider He prepared an Ark the Fear took place The Ark was a Type of Christ It had three Stories which expressed the three Conditions Christ went through and All His must follow 1. A day of weakness sufferings and Death and this lowest story all that will prepare an Ark must first build In this Death of Christ was considered 1. He dyed to all things not only unlawful but lawful just Rights and Priviledges became poor for others 2. He did it willingly and quietly not grudging none took his Life from him This the pattern of the first story of the Ark. 2. The day of his Resurrection to Life that a second story 3. His ascending into Glory answerable to the third HEBR. 11.7 By Faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with Fear prepared an Ark c. IN all Times God had some to whom He hath been pleased to communicate his mind about what was to befall the world and therefore he saith He will do nothing but he will reveal it to his servants the Prophets and to them the forewarning they have had from God hath not been a slight Thing an idle Tale or a Fable but it hath taken impression As with many of the Prophets how have they cryed out in bitter distress That they were pained at the very heart and their bowels shook within c. at the sight of the miseries which were to come on a People before the thing was done or any present danger in view And so here Noah is warned of God of things to come though not at all yet seen and see what place it took He was moved with fear and that fear was not in vain neither but put him upon a work He prepared an Ark to the saving of himself and his house And therefore where ever we hear of great high words of great discoveries and revealings of God to any which many now in the world pretend to and yet all they speak of takes no place upon their spirits there is no fear nor awe nor dread no paining of heart nor shaking of inwards but they can live still as loosely and vainly as ever after their own fleshly wills this is a token God hath not spoke there but speak a false Vision of their own hearts But God hath in all Ages had some to whom he hath revealed what he hath intended to do to give warning to the world before-hand that when the Judgment comes they may know it comes not by chance and hap but that he hath a hand in it So Christ to his Disciples When these things come to pass you may remember that I have told you And it is often mentioned That such and such things came to pass that the Scriptures might be fulfilled The Word which God had spoke to his servants
wisdom and will believe God no farther then we can see him but keep off our misery though we are warned by the voyce of the Cryer and warned by our own hearts to know how deceiveably they have dealt with us yet we will hold our hold and not give up all flesh for corrupt and wretched and cry out In me that is in my flesh dwells no good thing Till this we must welter in our misery no Cure will come 3. We have been warned by Providence of this an ordering Hand of God hath preach'd That all flesh is grass How hath it taken away some of us by Death and how hath the world a late been let loose upon the rest What plots and contrivances are there on foot to break us a pieces if the Lord prevent not What stirings are there and waitings for our halting And what mean all these stirs and hurly-burlies Sure they have an end they come for the destruction of the flesh they come to shew that flesh yet lives that there is a fleshly coming together fleshly hearing and trusting in our outward mercies crying The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord and so rest in the shadow and come not to the preparing of an Ark indeed And therefore you see how it hath fallen upon some of us to be divided and taken away by force and carried to strange Tryals And think not with your selves that they were greater sinners then the rest No but certainly unless we repent that are yet left together the Hand will go against us and the men of the world shall have their wills to root us out from being a People Therefore if we shall be warned this day to lay it to heart it will be well if the Word and the Work and the present hand of Providence if all make you consider and know that all flesh hath corrupted its way and that out of flesh you must come then it 's well Out of Sodom you must come that is certain and if one thing will not do it another shall We have certainly lived all of us besides the mercies afforded We might have been Teachers of others for the time but alas we have been dull of hearing and have need to be taught into the first Principles of repentance from dead works Therefore there is need now at the last you should be warned That all flesh is grass and this you will grant in a word But come to particulars and there your fleshly wisdom wilâ— be Judg what is right and what is wrong and flesh will never judg it self and so all is kept off from seizing upon the heart for certainly else you could never keep up to live alone as you do upon your own thoughts and counsels without the Lord As it is said God is not in all their thoughts Oh therefore Consider this all you that forget God! And whilest it is called to day harden not your hearts Fall under the mighty hand and own your misery and if you know it not be jealous and enquire with fear What means this voyce of the Cryer ' Am I indeed so corrupt and miserable and know it not Say with Job What I know not teach thou me till the Thing be opened for some way or other this Lesson must be learn'd you That All flesh is grass and the Lord spares none of you and nothing in any of you but All flesh the whole House of Israel have corrupted their way You are all guilty and have turned aside to vain things and have forsaken the Lord days without number and the strait is not yet upon you The Lord make you sensible where you stand But then 2. We have been warned of that too as Noah was That the End of all flesh is come before God How often hath this been told you That He will not always bear His Spirit will not ever strive The Patience will wear out at the last nay it is even expired and if the Lord move you not with fear as Noah was moved to prepare an Ark desolation will surely come the Flood will overtake you some way or other either Death will come and bind us fast from our wills in the grave or sufferings from unreasonable men will come to shatter us asunder and break us in pieces and then whither shall we turn for counsel and help in our straits How may we then prize the days which we now slight Surely one way or other God will take to bring All Flesh to an end And if we have no other hope nor confidence but in the flesh if we stick still in our self-wills and fleshly minds we shall not be able to stand in that day It is not your high looks nor great thoughts that will then carry you out not your knowledg of Scriptures nor understanding of Mysteries none of your carnal hopes nor carnal fears nor carnal reasonings will now stand as they have done formerly but the Flood will sweep away all that is born of the flesh Therefore if we shall be made to judg our selves before-hand and cry out O search me and try me if there be any way of wickedness in me and bow under the Judgment then it 's well for us But if there be such a saying within I shall have peace in the way of my own heart this evil shall not come that is spoke of I shall have ease and rest and dye in my nest saith Job if thus you put the evil day far from you it will surely overtake you unawares in a day when you think not of it when they were eating and drinking and marrying the Flood came c. 3. We have been also warned as Noah was to prepare an Ark We have been minded often both from a Word without and stirrings within to look after a sure testing place a Refuge a shelter that which will keep off all Floods and storms and Tryals Though the Earth be moved into the midst of the Sea yet saith David I will not fear His heart is fixed trusting in the Lord And in another place My heart is fixed O God my heart is fixed There is sure such a place whither the Righteous can flee and they are safe In the Name of the Lord in that Tower under his wing in the secret of his Pavilions in his Bosom in his Love when that is opened to the Soul and a mansion given it there Now if thou hast all parts and knowledg and operations and good desires and good resolvings all these will not save thee in the day of the Flood The Waters will get above over all the high Mountains the whole Earth how high soever it be yet if it be of the Earth if it be born of the flesh and the will of man it will not stand But There is a Rest for the People of God Wast thou ever brought into that Hath the Lord Jesus ever shewed thee thy lot and portion in that Eternal Love that thou art chosen there
the Hypocrites hope 4. Another thing that might move Noah to fear might be this lest he should slip over the present instruction and warning given him lest he should neglect the present day and then it may be too late Therefore the Soul that is sensible is afraid a jealousie strikes the heart O what would come on me if I should withstand my Mercy How were many envited to the Feast but because they made excuses and neglected the offer the door is shut and he swears They shall not taste of his Supper But now Josiahs heart was tender when the Judgments were read before him out of the Law it took place in his Soul And Mordecai says to Esther Who knows but thou wert raised up for such a time as this If now thou shewest not thy self thou mayst never have another offer And here the Fear comes in Lest the day slip and can never be recalled again and therefore Christ weeps over Jerusalem O that thou hadst known in this thy Day the things that belong to thy Peace but now they are hid from thine eyes Now see doth this Fear touch your Souls Are you struck with an awe of spirit lest you should slip away the present day of Mercy Doth it press upon you That whilest it is called to day you harden not your hearts and then the word go forth You shall never enter into his Rest Truly the venture is hard were our Souls but awakened If thou slip the nick and knowest not the time of thy Visitation He may never speak more of the things concerning thy Peace but that sad conclusion may come Now they are hid from thine eyes 5. Noah might be moved with Fear out of this consideration lest the Flood should take him unawares before his Ark was finished and therefore he sets to the work presently And Noah did as the Lord commanded him so did he lest he should be prevented and not finish his Ark in time and then all his labor and pains are lost this strikes him with fear Now consider doth it take this place upon thy spirit Doth it set thy Soul to the work presently now this very season to say Men and Brethren what shall we do to be saved Doth it make you look out for a guide to lead you on and counsel you in the work For an Interpreter one of a thousand to shew to man His Righteousness Sure the Idol gods keep the room some base lusts or hopes or promising your selves Peace or else you would be afraid and all that God intends that everlasting good to sure the strait will come That they shall not be suffered to let their eyes sleep nor their eye-lids slumber till they shall finde out an habitation for the God of Jacob. Do these things take place upon you or not if not what is the cause what hinders you are not baptized Are you sensless and carnal living in the flesh upon any seen thing Alass That is miserable the Flood will come and sweep away all of that kinde Whilest they were eating and drinking and marrying and giving in marriage unawares the Flood came Or canst thou give a good account what will be thy latter end and canst say with the Apostle We know that if this earthly Tabernacle be dissolved we have a building not made with hands eternal in the Heavens I would you could say that word indeed But O Lord when I think of it what if he should come now unawares this night where are your mindes Are you fit to go out and meet the Bridegroom Are not your Hearts either cavilling or reasoning or murmuring or hunting and lusting after somewhat or fearing and sinking under your bonds But who has a minde prepared to meet the Lord in the ayr and so be for ever with him Thus I have shewed you what the things not seen were of which Noah is warned 1. God tells him All flesh is corrupt 2. That the end of all flesh is come 3. He invites him to build an Ark to save himself And this I applyed to our present condition for Noah is dead and this is written for our instruction I told you how we have been warned in these cases And that 1. By a word that hath cryed long to us All flesh is grass 2. By the proof of our hearts 3. By a voyce of Providence letting out the world and the out-cries of men against us if it be possible to break us asunder and not leave a stone upon a stone Then I told you how the thing took place with Noah He was moved with Fear from five Considerations all which might seize upon us and cause an awful dread and enquiry in our spirits 1. To see what is our confidence and hope that we lean on Is it not born of the flesh And then though it be never so fair-spun a threed though never so wise and sober and patient and meek yet if it spring not from a good root if it be born of the flesh all is nothing You cannot love Him unless it be opened that He first loves you Now many pretend that they love God and prize and honor him do you so but are you sure that he loves you What if he shall answer you in that day when you plead Lord we have eat and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets well but for all that I know you not saith Christ Depart from me c. How will your Love to God then stand Have you indeed an Ark prepared to receive you in the great overflowing Deluge in the day of desperate sorrow that shall come to try all that dwell upon the Earth The Day will surely come ere long now are you sure you have that which will carry you through 'T is not your Learning nor Knowing if you knew all Mysteries 't is not your Parts nor Hopes nor mans conclusions will do it Many measure themselves by themselves they are not as they were they are more strict and observant I but what then Will that carry you out And many measure themselves with others and say I am better then such and such I am not like this Publican Well but they that thus measure themselves with themselves and others are not wise saith Paul the root and principle may yet be Self and then what the better Then 2. This might move us to fear That the end of all flesh is come God will not always wink as he hath done in the days of Ignorance if he should we would never come up to any thing And will not this strike upon you an awe That the Judgment lies at the door Death is entring in at the windows and nothing of flesh nor mans Will though never so fairly painted and gilded over will be able to stand Is it not time to fear 3. Have you an Ark prepared to shelter you a sure resting place from all storms if not is there not great cause of fear and trembling I know not
And this man would never chuse to have these contrary beings live so near together If the soul be once in the Ministry of circumcision with Peter then it would by no means touch any thing common or unclean But the Promise is That the Lion and the Lamb and the Ox and the Bear shall lie down together and yet do no hurt in all the holy Mountain Yet observe there is a difference made but two of a sort of all the unclean were to be kept but of all the clean seven couple which had this in it to shew That however here sin and righteousness dwell together in the Ark yet there are more for us then against us Seven couple of the clean sort a compleat number of the righteous seed and but some few reliques of sin yet a spawn lives to keep the Soul in awe always lest it should increase and multiply and that there might ever be a crying out against this Body of Death for 't is a wearisom condition at best and full of snares These unclean Beasts cannot but be ill companions for the clean having always a devouring mind if it were possible to destroy them Then in this Ark Noah had a Dove to send out to bring tydings to him how it went abroad which had this meaning in it That who ever have indeed built this Ark attained to a certain estate of Salvation the Holy Ghost is given them to go to God for them in all straits We know not how to pray but the Spirit it self helpeth our infirmities This is the Messenger between God and the Soul in all straits and distresses What time as I am afflicted saith David I will pray unto thee O Lord if you had but a heart to consider it When your house is on fire and the Enemies at hand when you are compassed about with fears and miseries and distresses as you will be and yet no Messenger is at hand to send to enquire of God and know his meaning and what he intends and what the end shall be O how miserable is it to be left alone without this Comforter There are many that set themselves to pray and speak words but alas he hears not any for their much babbling if there be not this Holy Ghost that proceeded from him to go to him He hears not other cries and noyses Though they howl on their beds and abase themselves to Hell he matters not The Father will hear none but his own Spirit and that knows how to get nigh him to hold him fast and plead with him I will not let thee go unless thou bless me And if this Dove return once without the Olive branch yet it hath no rest but goes out again till it obtain a blessing and bring tydings of Peace Now can any of you answer that question of Peters Have you received this Holy Ghost after you believed You have believed indeed I know and it lives in your Consciences that Truth is here and God is amongst us that here are the words of eternal life But now hast thou received the Holy Ghost after this believing Else what a miserable plunge must thou needs be at when straits and Tryals come as thick as Hail and thou hast none to send to God to enquire the meaning none to intercede for thee and plead thy Cause but art left as the whole world to live in darkness and judg all things like beasts which know no farther then they feel in all that befalls them Now I would proceed to speak of the Consequents or Effects which follow this building of the Ark and they are layd down in the words to be these three 1. Noah did it to the saving of his house 2. He condemned the world by it 3. He became Heir of the Righteousness which is by Faith 1. He saved his house by it it is worth noting It is not said He did it to the saving himself though that was included in it yet a farther thing was in it to save his house The servants of God in all times have had that reward of their labor to save a People That hath been their care and work to seek up the lost sheep to turn others to Righteousness And in this saving of his houshold three Things are considerable How Noah did it 1. He saved his house that great work by being a Hearer first himself He was first warned of God himself and had an ear open to receive and learn the lesson before he can teach his house What I received of the Lord saith Paul that I delivered to you Many go to teach others and were never taught themselves Alas how can their work stand They preach they know not what nor to whom They would be Teachers of the Law not knowing the things whereof they affirm They never heard his voyce at any time nor saw his shape as Christ said to the Jews and how can they save a People They are blind Leaders of the blind and therefore wo to the Preachers that have not first learn'd of the Lord themselves and woe to the People that are left to such Guides for both the wall and the Dawber shall fall together But Noah was first warned of God himself 2. He saves his house by taking charge of them and standing engaged for them as for his own Soul Take heed saith Paul of the flock of whom the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers The Holy Ghost lays the charge upon Gods Ministers and they are made to receive it and wait and tend and look after their People as their own Souls As Judah saith of Benjamin If I bring him not back again to thee let me bear the blame for ever Such a weighty charge they take upon them But where is now in our days such a Noah such a Preacher of Righteousness Many Preach indeed and they take the charge of a People as they say but how long Till another hundred pound a year comes and then they are gone or till some suffering and hardship or inconvenience come and then they are gone They fly at the sight of the Wolf O wicked generation God will find them out But Noah takes charge of his People they are his house his family his life and therefore sticks to the saving of them 3. That is the third thing He sticks close to them and follows on till the thing be done till he hath indeed saved them till brought them into the same condition with himself He will lay down his life for his sheep and this is a true Shepherd indeed that cries out with Moses Nay rather blot my name out of the Book of Life then that this People should be destroyed And Paul he is at a strait and could wish himself accurst from Christ for his Brethrens sake Now to have such a Saviour to stand in the gap to travel for a People and never leave till Christ be formed in them this is the great Mercy and after this sort do the Noahs
in all Ages save the People committed to them Moses he stands up in the gap and the anger is turned away Phinehas he stands up and the Plague ceased David he stands up and takes the sin and the blow upon himself 1 Chron. 21.17 It is even I that have sinned and done evill but as for these sheep what have they done Let thine hand be upon me I pray thee c. Thus he stands up till the destroying Angel puts up his sword till the thing be done he requests for and thus Noah and all the preachers of righteousness prepare an Ark to the saving of their House the people committed to them II. Another Consequent upon Noahs building an Ark is this by which he condemned the world all the world is condemned by it and that in these seven particulars 1. Noah beleeves Gods Word and is Warned God tels him Noah all flesh hath corrupted his way and it repenteth me I have made man wherefore their end is come before me and I will surely bring a Deluge to destroy them all now therefore look to it stay not in all the plain get away from the tents of these wicked men hasten and build an Ark to keep off the danger that thou perish not with them and he believed God 't is said c. But who will beleeve this report now if God Himself should speak or an Angell from Heaven if one from the dead should come we would not beleeve if we beleeve not Moses and the Prophets Now who will beleeve if such a certain word as this be witnessed to them Well deceive not your selves I can surely tell you from God that misery and destruction is certainly coming on if you stick in this condition if you get not an Ark a sure shelter and refuge astrong Tower to flye to you will never be able to stand therefore Knowing the terrors of the Lord we perswade you lay the thing to heart defer it no longer I but who will be warned by all this none of the world will the world within us and the world without that will go on its old way do and say what you can Charme the charmer never so wisely the Blackmore will not change his skin nor the Leopard his spots this carnall and sensuall and Devilish mind within us it wil yet feed on carrion though it be a thousand times warned it will not be warned though it be told and told and told Well this way will surely undo you if you stick on any seen things and come not to give up all and lay down your lives you will certainly be miserable and loose your lives yet this spirit in us will not beleeve but it will put the evill day far off and mock at the making of an Ark. It will plead what need is there of this ado and God he is merciful one shift or other this world will ever finde to be at ease but wo to them that are at ease in Syon c. Noah he is warned the new Heart the sensible Spirit that heares the Word and stands alwayes in awe and trembling that is warned and this is that which Judges the world for they are not 2. Noah beleeves though he be warned of things not seen as yet he disputes not with flesh and blood about the matter but beleeves and this condemns the world who would not argue But what shall we have if we leave all and what need is there of it yet till more danger appears who would build an Ark when no flood is seen and not say with Job No I am well I shall dye in my nest who that is strong and in health and hath all enjoyments about him will then beleeve a change will come Who breaks through all snares and entanglements and says Let me go stand aside all is uncertain all may soon be taken from me this life is a mortal life and all my enjoyments are nothing if the Deluge come therefore strive not to comfort me let me go about the work to prepare an Ark Who breaks through thus resolvedly No the heart stands rather to dispute Sure this man says he knows not what there 's no such danger And thus the time is reasoned out And if you will stand thus pleading till the Flood come unawares and take you yet remember I have told you these things I have dealt truly in warning you And as Christ saith all this have I said that you might be saved But yet you are disputing and reasoning Alas what can I do to help my self And thus we linger and come to nothing Sure all this which I speak to you is as a Tale that is told Lord how I feel the hardness of your heart and that the Word enters not into the stone But sure it is if the Word take no place the Blow shall the Flood will come and destroy this world 3. He condemns the world in this He sets to build an Ark alone He stays not for great and wise ones to joyn with him in the work but builds alone though all scoff and say What will this Babbler say what is this fool doing Will he bring in new Laws and Ordinances and go contrary to all Customs and Orders and Rules of our Fathers and Leaders and wise ones Well but this moves him not Do ye what you will saith Joshuah I and my house will serve the Lord I must go on saith Noah The Soul that is indeed at a strait must go through all Lets and set upon the work It must leave all Relations Father and Mother and Friends and say to all If you will not go with me I must leave you Let the dead bury their dead but follow thou me saith Christ But this is the pleading of all the world Do any of the great ones the Scribes and Pharisees beleeve on him Do the Minsters and godly Divines go this way And here they sit down saying We 'l not be wiser then all men but follow our Teachers Well saith the Soul that is indeed at a strait Go they as they will yet I must go this way there is a press within I know not what shall become of me and 't is time now to look out if neither Father nor Brother if none in the World will joyn with me yet I must go to Zion Alass I am at a strait Alass what shall become of me in the latter end This strait will surely come upon your spirits and run through all enjoyments your eating and drinking and buying and selling nothing shall give you rest And were you indeed here you would not stay for company you would look out for bread to eat were you ready to starve And who ever is thus pressed on through all to build this Ark he condemns the World who all sit down at ease And thus that world in us is condemned by that restless spirit of Truth that is always reaching and crying and pressing forward 4. This condemns the World That Noah
nor death things present nor things to come None can pluck them out of my Fathers hand saith Christ This is wonderful 3. How came Noah to this Inheritance He became Heir of the Righteousness which is by FAITH He came to it by beleeving That is the way how this Portion is made over to all the Noahs even by Faith Though it belongs to them before yet they enjoy but as they receive and they receive as they beleeve Be it unto thee according to thy Faith They begin but with a little flock a little beleeving O ye of little Faith saith Christ but a small grain of mustard-seed A little Faith to set up with and that too of things not yet seen things out of sight out of hand and yet by improving this little how doth it grow and grow and spread to a large Tree What encrease comes of it It leaves not growing till it brings up the Soul and joyns it in to God himself till Noah is made an Heir of Righteousness And therefore O Lord that you were but brought to stick to this small beginning to beleeve the word of Prophecy which is gone forth concerning you How might it grow and encrease to a mighty and large Portion I have thus spoke many and great things to you from these words but the Sum of all hath been to this purpose 1. To shew how short you yet are where you lie and stick in the mire and have no Ark to receive you know not what shall become of you in the latter end 2. That your Souls might be put to a strait to look after such an Ark as Noah prepared such an Assurance and Security as may hold out in a Deluge such a sure certain and unquestionable estate as may stand in all storms and judg all the false ways and rotten shelters of the World And now if the Lord seize not the thing upon your hearts but it slip off like water as many words do then I know you will have no peace in your own consciences and you will never be Judges of the World nor come to Honor Noah was moved with Fear to the building of an Ark but now if that will not do it if Fear move not yet Will not such an Inheritance such a security move you as may be attained to There is a sure place there is a Rest there is a way of Wisdom which no fowl hath seen where no ravenous beast destroys which nothing can reach nor disturb The Lord seize it home upon your hearts to consider it THE Chosen generation AND ROYAL PRIESTHOOD WITH THEIR True Marks and Characters SERM. IX May 11. 1651. 1 PET. 2.9 But ye are a Chosen Generation a Royal Priesthood a Holy Nation a Peculiar People that ye should shew forth the Praises of Him who hath called you out of Darkness into his marvelous Light The Analysis I. A CHOSEN GENERATION At first all lay in one lump till the choyce made by God In choosing seven things considered 1. Men weigh and consider before they choose so God pitched on a people to be his with deliberation and advice not at random 2. Men affect what they choose what ever the thing be in it self so the Lord set his love upon a people delighted in his portion 3. Men separate and take out of other things what they choose so God pulls the Brand out of burning takes His out of all the World 4. In choosing that which is chosen hath no hand at all so God chose his people freely nothing in them to move him 5. Things chosen are set apart for some special use so the Lord had an End an use intended for the vessels of honor 6. Men promise themselves something in the things they choose so God expects fruit from his Vine Love and entertainment from his Chosen 7. Men have a special eye and care of things they choose so Gods Eye is after his Chosen in all Tryals and Sorrows II. A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD of the royal race sprung from the Lord himself of that stock Whence three things considered 1. They have an Interest in God can go to a Father not a Judg. 2. Hence great boldness to go to God fear and shame are cast out 3. Hence they prevail in what ever they ask according to his Will All was brought home to Particulars And lest all thrust in seven Notes were layd down to distinguish this Chosen Generation 1. A certain close in their Souls to Truth onely no shadows can deceive them 2. A certain weariness always upon them giving no rest in all enjoyments A want still 3. God is ever their utmost thing All others are content with Parts and Gifts c. 4. This Spirit presses on to the highest and most single way though never so sharp to it 5. This Generation have secret hintings spring at times That they belong to God 6. In greatest falls and sins no hintings as if utterly cut off because of sin 7. A witness always in their Souls That when ever they have a heart to return they shall be received The Father stands ready to receive the Prodigal He waits to be gracious this Hope ever speaks not thus with the Cains or those that belong not to God 1 PET. 2.9 But ye are a Chosen Generation c. GO round about Zion tell her Towers Mark ye well her Bulwarks that ye may tell it to the generation following For this God is our God for ever and ever He will be our Guide unto Death Psal 48.12 And again The Lord hath chosen Zion And again He will surely hear the afflictions of the afflicted and answer their cry Though they may now seem forsaken and forgotten though abjects and out-casts in the eyes of the World disallowed indeed of men but chosen of God and precious So was it with our Lord and Master and so will it be with all them on whom the Father hath set his Love in like manner However the World may look on them or they judg of themselves yet in the Eye of God 't is thus Ye are a chosen Generation c. Now there is great need to distinguish between things and things that the Trumpet may give a certain sound who are this chosen People that are thus beloved for it belongs not to all men I came not but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel Many widows were in Israel but onely to one poor widow of Sarepta was Elijah sent And it is not meet saith Christ to take the childrens bread and give it to the dogs Some are dogs as some are children and Peter tells Simon Magus plainly Thou hast neither lot nor part in this matter Lest every one should thrust in there are bounds set not All but YE are a chosen Generation Not every one that says Lord Lord shall enter Not every one that comes and hears and sits in the house among the children is of this chosen Generation of that blessed seed No but in Isaac shall
would break presently they were not intended for that use You see Saul had of this wine in him he was among the Prophets the spirit of God was upon him but the Vessel broke and all ran out and was lost so Judas he was a Preacher and went in and out with Christ and had enjoyments and seasons of Truth but the vessell had holes and all was lost and came to nothing and therefore it is said of some that they make shipwrack of faith and a good Conscience All is shattered and broken and gone as if it never had been some are compared to the Corn that grows on the house top though it be green and flourishing yet soon withers and comes to nothing It was sown there by some chance or carried by some fowl the Husbandman never intended to have a Crop from thence so may it be and hath been with many that are very green they have Light and Knowledge and parts and Forwardness I but they grow upon the house top the place was not intended for that purpose to bear a Crop the stony ground flourished for a time but soon dies for want of root ye did run well saith Paul but they were left and soon turned aside but now whoever is pitched upon by God and made a chosen vessel he is set apart for some end some service say ye saith Christ the Master hath need of him and he speaks to Ananias concerning Paul He is a chosen vessel to carry forth my name whoever of you are thus chosen and pickt and gathered by God out of the world out of relations and all your straglings Do you think God hath no end in it Is it think you you should still live to your wills as you did and walk as other Gentiles no sure it is that you may do him service be his and no more your own 6. Things that are chosen men expect more from them then from other refuse they leave behind A man when he is hungry chooseth bread and not a stone and he looks for more refreshment and nourishment from that then he would from a stone God expects not to gather grapes of thorns he looks not to reap where he never sowed the unjust Servant accused him falsly in that but if he please to take advantage he may he may come in an hour unthought of as Christ came to the Fig tree and cursed it because no fruit was on it though it is said it was not the time of fruit it seems strange but such a Lord is he if he will take the advantage if he will be extream to mark what is done amisse then who may stand He can if he please cast a man into sickness and torments of body or let loose horrours upon his Soul there is cause and advantage enough to be taken if he will make a man an example a witness of his power and severity for the Gospel hath that in it too it is to be preacht for a witness to all as well as for Salvation to some but now from his own his Chosen Generation He expects somewhat out of Love If I be a Father where is my Honour he expects fruit from you he looks for sweet grapes from his Vine he expects you should hear Sure they are my people they 'l be ordered and perswaded and prevailed with he expects better entertainment from them then from the world and though it falls out that they are the chief of Sinners and found the most ill requiting of all People I but it is their shame and their sorrow and their Sin he looks for other fruit he looks for more where he trusts with more where he trusts with Heavenly Treasure I sayd They are my People Children that will not lye and in all things he expects their moderation that at all times they stand open and ready to receive him that alwayes their Lamps be burning and their Loyns girt as those that expect their Lords coming and he is grieved if they disapoint him therefore he complains The Ox knows his Owner and the Asse his Masters Crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not consider This grieves him to be thus dealt with at their hands 7. Things that are chosen are more looked after and more carefully minded then other things they are not layd scattering about but charily reserved So doth the Lord deal with his chosen He takes them into his bosom hides them under the shadow of his wings Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints and if their Death be precious if an eye after them then in their blood if the minstration of condemnation be glorious if there be Love in that work of bringing to Death Then how much more Love will be seen in bringing them again to Life He says of his Vineyard that He watches it night and day And in the Canticles My Vineyard which is mine is continually before me There is no time he watches it not night and day take in all In the Light and in the Darkness in their sorrows and in their enlargements still he watches whether we sleep or wake yet the Keeper of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps If they are sent into captivity it is for their good there his eye is after them If the three children are cast into the furnace there is a fourth like the Son of God He will walk with them there If Daniel be cast into the Den of Lions his God is there to shut the Lions mouths If Joseph be sold into Egypt God goes with him if he be cast into prison he is with him there and findes favor for him where ever these chosen go a special eye is after them when they wander from one Nation to another from one Kingdom to another People yet there He suffers no man to do them harm but reproves even Kings for their sakes Touch not mine anointed c. His charge is given out to secure them a guard is set about them that nothing may harm them He shall give his Angels charge over thee and they shall preserve thee in all thy ways This is his care of his chosen and this is their safety and happiness Before I come to make Use of this I would speak something of the next words A Royal Priesthood This chosen Generation is intended for that to be a Royal Priesthood to offer up Prayers and Praises to God Hitherto saith Christ you have asked nothing in my Name because as yet they were not brought to beleeve the words of Christ They knew not they were a Chosen Generation till at the last when he was about to leave them then he says to God And these have beleeved that thou hast sent me There is no coming to your Priesthood till you are first brought to know and beleeve you are a Chosen Generation A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD Royal of the royal Blood born of God sprung from that stock and kindred And hence three great Priviledges belong to
thine own kind wherever thou findest it as Paul says we cannot do any thing against the truth but for it though the heart would be spurning and shrinking away saying he is a hard Master yet where this Spirit of Christ is it will joyn to his own the heart will be taken with him and cannot get off quite to leave him 4. Where Christ is He is a searcher he discovers al the inward and secret workings all the plots and stratagems of the Devil that all are but to destroy the soul is made to take notice of the secret carriages of things within it sees all the Train of his wyles and tricks and inventions how they are laid and how they work and whither they tend the world is blinded in all they see no danger they know not whither they go but Christ he is a divider in the souls of his People he will not believe every good word and fair promise that the enemy may make Master save thy self and cause these stones to be bread no but he will weigh and try what runs in all he will not take all for gold that glisters though you speak never so good words and fair promises and all seems right yet the Spirit of Christ where it is will try and examine whence it comes from what root all spings whether from heaven or hell c. 5. Where Christ is he will never yield up his City though it cost him his life he wil stand to his charge what ever comes on it as the three children answer though our God should not deliver us yet this their souls are resolved in we will not fall down and worship the golden Image what ever it cost yet they cannot turn to a Lie to worship an Idol Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of Dragons and covered us with the shadow of death yet cannot we lift up our hands to a strange God c. though the Soul may be taken and carryed Captive by force yet where Christ is it still breaths with Paul but with my mind I serve the Law of God I chuse not this Service though halled to it it is the burthen it cryes under that is certain it cannot go backward though it cannot get forward neither though made to yield and say well this is your hour and the power of darkness yet the soul consents not it will not fall down and worship an Idol God Jacob will not go back again to Labans service what ever comes on it though Laban pursues behind and Esau meets him be-before and God seems to leave and discouraged him yet he will wrastle it out with God and never give over without the blessing 6. Where ever Christ is though the Soul be never so low in the bottom of hell yet there is a strange looking towards God out of the belly of hell saith Jonah I looked toward thy holy Temple where truth is sown in the Soul it cannot but look thither ward towards God bind it and fetter it and keep it down and shâ—ke it as you will yet it will never leave turning and turning and looking thither ward as the Needle ever bends towards the Northpole I remember in my lowest day and it was low indeed when all appeared as if I were quite lost and should sit down in Hell for ever among the damned yet I said in my Soul sure I shall love God th re I shâ—ll â—p ak something well of him amongst all that cursed and hatefull crew such a strange turning God ward is there in the worst of times 7. Where Christ is though all enemies beset it though all the Legions oâ— H ll and darkness of fears and doubttings come about it as a swarm yet the Soul is able to look beyond and through all to a Deliverance that it is yet possiâ—le it says still well yâ—t if he will deliver he is able thâ—re is a strange long Prospective Glass by which the Soul looks beyond all Seas and Mountains and impossibilities and fears and sees the Land that is very far off the good Land of rest and Peace and says well if the Lord delight in us he will bring us thither he is able still who can tell but he may be gracious Sure if the Lord Christ that Poor Wise Man be in you you cannot but savour and understand these words you will know the Language and though not able to express them plainly yet you cannot but know and feel these Leadings in your Souls It would now follow to speak of the Deliverance what way he takes how he delivers this City from the great King and that is not by force nor might nor multitudes but by his wisdom by a sleight that great Goliahs head is presently taken off by a wyle an unexpected way If thine Enemy hunger give him meat who would think this was the way to destroy him Yet this is the way he takes he gives the Enemy his Will lets him take his own course and run out his run thus he feeds him till he be insnared in his own net and so taken This can the Poor man do by his Wisdom but I would wish none of you to take it in hand 't is too hard for you to put your hand in the fire and not be burnt Mans Backwardness TO THE Lords House OR The Little Good-will to Truth SERM. XI May 25. 1651. HAGG. 1.2 3 4 c. Thus speaketh the Lord saying This people say The Time is not come the Time that the Lords House should be built Is it time for you O ye to dwell in your sieled houses and this house lie waste c. The Analysis THese general things were observed from the words I. What this house of God was and what it typed out It was a house built and separated to the Worship of God typing out the uniting of a people into one heart and soul where God may dwell II. Why will God have this House built For three Reasons 1. To be a Pattern of the Life to come where all live in Love and Peace 2. To be a standing place of Worship whither the Tribes go up 3. For a Witness to condemn the World in all their false ways III. What are the Materials of this House 1. Not of all but onely living stones such as will abide in whom the spirit of life is sown A living Dog is better then a dead Lion 2. In this House are to be vessels of all sorts and all for their proper use none in vain none unfruitful IV. Why do they plead It is not time to build this House For these three Reasons 1. From their ignorance They knew not that all their blastings and mildews and curses came for want of this This is our case 2. From love to their ease easier to sit still at home then go up to the mountain for wood to build The heart loves to be at ease 3. Fear hinders because yet they were under Tribute to the King of
walked and been seen and found by them and the remembrance of this enforceth tears being now deprived being now in a strange Land out of this enjoyment Alass if we belong not to this City this Habitation of God if not a stone in this building it had been good for us we had never been born for without are Dogs Then again this House is to condemn the world let men be never so wise and strict and religious yet if they live alone keep all close and live to themselves the world will never be judged and convinced by this but a spirit of love and union to serve another and deny my own will as 't is said of Christ He pleased not himself and Moses chose afflictions with the people of God and Paul though he was free from all yet made himself a servant to all he made himself a servant he chose the service it was his joy to serve others And no man saith Christ takes my life from me but I lay down my life for my sheep And if we shall ever be brought to this to forsake and willingly give up all our enjoyments and liberties and enlargements and choose afflictions choose to bear anothers burthen though I am free when we shall be glad to be counted worthy to suffer for the Name of Christ when we might have ease liberty and honor and pleasures yet to say Farewel all Friends life and liberty farewel all you are nothing to me neither count I my life dear in compare of my God my Truth my Brethren that I may serve in this work and help to build this house This I say wil condemn the world their consciences accuse them that this mind is not in them they live not this life of love and union There are many that cry for corn and wine and oyl enlargements and flourishings in the Truth but all is for themselves to feed their own bellies but all this is too short this is but fruit that may be shaken a mans Soul may be lost for all this and the House of God lie waste But next III. Consider WHAT WILL GOD HAVE THIS HOUSE BUILT OF WHAT ARE THE MATERIALS OF IT All that come are not the Materials No though they make a fair shew though wise and honorable and great in the eyes of men yet this is not enough this House must be built 2. Of living stones stones that wil abide and endure not soon rot and putrifie Better is a living Dog then a dead Lion Not every one that makes a great shew and comes to hear and seems forward No no onely such which have this spirit of life in them to keep them from stinking and corruption to make them lasting stones they are the materials for this house all others will fall off in a day of tryal There were many followed Christ into Jerusalem when in his triumph and Hosanna was sung before him but very few that went out of Jerusalem with him that follow him to Golgotha to his Cross No none but a few pickt and chosen stones that have a spirit of life to make them last and endure no others are for this building but such as the Lord shall choose to it whom he takes out of many David was chose out of all his Brethren he was a fit stone for the use a man after Gods own heart he loves Truth in the inward parts and this mind he sees in David and him he pitcheth on such a company of choyce stones will he have for this house a chosen generation of lasting stones that may make a Tabernacle never to be pulled down more never to be lost The gifts and calling of God are without repentance such â—s God chooseth for materials of this building are such as are never to be lost and thrown away No man can pluck them out of my Fathers hand saith Christ not such a dead stone as Saul proved when the spirit of life was taken from him he mouldred away and came to nothing but living stones a stable enduring and fixed spirited people he looks for that are not ever hanging and waving and reeling to and fro in their minds but such as are tryed stones and will endure the storms not like Ephraim who being armed and carrying Bows yet turned their back in the day of Battel Then 2. Consider In this House are to be vessels of all sorts and sizes some to hold less and some more some to receive much and to give out and supply and fill up others He will have vessels for every service and every use none are to be barren but all useful and helpful to one another and therefore the thing is weighty and need we should consider it and lay it to heart for he will not build his House of any rubbage but onely of living and tryed stones And then all are to be of use all the vessels of his House are for his own service they are not to be looked on and baubled with and made to serve our wills and lusts Remember what befell the King Belshazzar for venturing to call for the Lords vessels to make up his mirth and jollity the hand-writing appears on the wall and makes him tremble 'T is dangerous trifling in weighty matters God will not be mocked But next consider IV. WHY DO THEY PLEAD IT IS NOT TIME TO BUILD THE LORDS HOUSE What Reasons have they These three 1. Their Ignorance hinders Thence their pleadings come It is not time to build c They knew not that the blastings and Mildews and curse that followed them in all their wayes was because this house lay waste they were ignorant whence all this evill befell them they enquired not into it Lord what is the meaning of the hand against me Why go all things thus contrary Why prosper I not in any thing I take in hand They knew not this was the cause of all Ye looked for much and it came to little and when ye brought it home I did blow upon it why saith the Lord of Hosts because of mine House that lies wast and ye run every man to his own house Vers 9. and so on And this is a great block in our way our ignorance we enquire not why am I so barren and desolate and perplexed in all my wayes Why goes all so cross to me I meet with nothing but troubles and fears and tormenting thoughts Alas it is because we live Scattered alone and follow our own Counsells our own wills are our own guides and rulers and come not to build the House of the Lord to be counselled and ordered and appointed there Hence is all our misery 2. Love of their ease hindered it was a great deal an easier way to sit at home in their own ceiled houses then to go up to the Mountain and cut wood down and bring and hew and square it to build the Lords House and who would indeed choose to venture to leave all to give up all ease and
I guilty For though it chiefly concern the Leaders and chief ones to consider and take it to heart yet something belongs to all to look after What is my place Where am I to stand Am I faithful in the work entrusted me To be faithful in little things is the way to be trusted in greater Surely surely 't is time to bethink our selves we have no good nor peace in our way though we live and are kept together by a mighty hand yet we live loose and scattered and consume in our spirits Certainly if we could but meet with the very root of all these ill humors and get that cleared then we might hope for cure if we were but once brought to leave the cumber about many things and minde the one thing necessary then we might prosper O Lord that he would sink it on your hearts as God saith here Consider your ways you that are called to for all are not materials for this House not any dirt and rubbish but you that the Prophecy hath taken in That you are living stones and that witness is born It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a Kingdom will not you build him a House you that he hath bestowed all this cost on you are called upon to begin and set upon the work and lay the foundation of this House that your children may have a pattern to build after and a foundation to build upon We pretend to love our children and Oh how tender are we of them but alass we do what we can to undo them utterly if we come not up to this work to begin a House for the Lord and leave a way behinde us for them to walk in Hence come all our blastings we eat and are not satisfied put on clothes and are not warmed we have no good runs in all we enjoy the life and spirit is stoln from them because there is not a true and single and clear coming off from the world but we stick and linger and put off the time and look back to our old Lovers and hanker and still love our selves and come not forth resolvedly to build this House and thus in stead of leaving a good example a blessing to our children we are like to leave them a curse and a blast if the Lord prevent not The way is open at present there is no outward persecution that hinders but we might build this house in peace but we trifle and dringle and loyter and say It is not yet time Good Lord when shall we say It is time but we plead we have no heart Have we no heart and what is the reason of that We have a heart to our ease a heart to our own wills we have a heart to build sieled houses for our selves to dwell in and shall we dye thus with this old heart and never see a new heart given a heart wholly to follow the Lord But then lastly If any thing will invite and move us to stir VI. Consider THE GREAT PRIVILEDGES THAT ACCRUE TO THEM THAT SHALL SET THEIR HAND TO THIS WORK And they are these four The first is mentioned Vers 8. Go up to the mountain saith God and bring wood and build this house and I will take pleasure in it Now to have the Lord accept our sacrifice and take pleasure in our work what a high favor is it Were it but truly layd to heart That the God of the Heavens and Earth whose all creatures are to command and turn at his Will That I should do any thing may the Soul say to please him in which he will take delight who can express this favor c. 2. Another Priviledg is mentioned Vers 13. I am with you saith the Lord Will he be with them in it that they shall not go nor stir a step in this work but he will go along with them Is not this enough to carry them on If thy presence go not with me said Moses send me not hence I but if that presence go along then send do and command me whither thou wilt What would not a man do that loves God indeed what would not he suffer and part with and undergo to have God always with him to have his Friend his Counsellor Life and Protector to have him always stand by him in all that befals If God be for us saith the Apostle who can be against us what can be too hard Therefore we see our Fathers have rejoyced in prisons in fires in bonds because the Lord was with them and so long affliction is no affliction 3. A third great Mercy is promised v. 19. From this day will I bless you From that day that the foundation of the Lords house was layd Consider it now saith the Lord from this day and upward will I bless you In all thou takest in hand shall a sure blessing follow in thy going out and coming in when thou walkest abroad and when thou sittest at home when thou sleepest and when thou wakest from that very day you shall be helped to set a hand to the work indeed He will surely bless you We have forsaken all and followed thee saith Peter what shall we have Have you shall have enough you that have endured with me in my Temptations you shall sit on Thrones you shall be blest in all your way and what can you desire more 4. The fourth Mercy is mentioned in the last verse I will make thee as a signet upon my hand saith God to Zerubbabel And in that these three Priviledges lie couched up 1. A Signet hath a neer relation to the hand it is worn always and carryed upon the finger 2. A Signet carries the image and superscription either of a mans self or some friend or some weighty thing or other is carved in it 3. A Signet or Seal is to witness confirm and ratifie to make things sure and unalterable that are once sealed with it And now 1. To be thus neer to God as the signet upon his hand to lie so close so nigh him in his heart and bosom and love as his delight his jewel his ornament This is wonderful And then 2. To bear forth his own image and stamp to be like him to own our Father by our faces as 't is said of Moses His face shone when he came from talking with God in the Mount It will appear to all whose we are to whom we belong by the image and likeness we shall hear in us all our words and carriages savoring of God bearing forth his image his minde and heart And then 3. To be as a seal to witness and ratifie the deeds of God to confirm and make all sure This is a mighty honor that man should ever be employed in such a service Whose sins ye remit they are remitted in Heaven and whose sins ye binde in Earth they are bound in Heaven I will make thee as a God said the Lord to Moses to act and order and counsel and confirm
in my place Lo thus shall the man be blest that feareth the Lord he shall be as a Signet upon his hand O then that your Souls were at a strait indeed that you might cry out O who will give me of the waters of Bethlehem to drink Who will help and counsel and direct who will shew me how to begin to build this House of the Lord that I may share in all these blessings and escape all the great curses and stand in that day That the Lord may take pleasure in me and be with me and bless me in all my ways and bear me as a Signet on his hand so nigh himself and make me so like himself so serviceable and highly impowered to act for him O that it were in your hearts to cry this night every Soul apart O that he would count me worthy to help on this building That is the next thing if God will please to give us a heart to cry together and strive with him and not let him go until he bless us till we shall be counted worthy to begin to build and made to say and feel My heart is ready O God my heart is ready That you may say to all Idols Get you hence Friends and relations and ease and honors farewel all let the dead bury their dead you are but dead enjoyments and I am called and must go to build a living House to the Lord God Speaking BY A PROPHET OR Truths way of instructing the Soul SERM. XII June 1. 1651. DEUT. 5.27 Go thou neer and hear all that the Lord our God shall say and speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee and we will hear it and do it The Analysis FRom the words in general was considered I. That the way of the Lord in speaking to his people is by a PROPHET And that for these Reasons 1. It is his pleasure his ordinance as for bread to nourish 2. It is a gentle familiar way suitable to their weakness 3. His power and wisdom more appears in such weak means 4. By this he brings his people into an oneness order and government 5. Hence the distinct way of their being saved appears They know who was their own Guide and Leader II. This Prophet is to go NEER TO GOD Go thou neer c. And that implies three things 1. To be free and familiar with God Fear and guilt are removed 2. To stand in an awful and reverent frame of spirit 3. To learn the carriage and minde of God his wisdom meekness c. III. HEAR ALL that the Lord our God shal say to thee Now the Lord speaks three things in general which they should hear 1. The Lord would have them know where they now are 1. Saved out of Egypt brought out of the rude world 2. That no returning back thither what ever come on us 3. Know we are still in the wilderness In which two things 1. To know this is the day of proving our hearts 2. That this is not our Rest we are far from home 2. God would have them know what way they are to go all along by Enemies Amalek and Ammon and Moabites all will rise and stand in their way This they must lay down the way of the Cross 3. Know the end whither they are going what the latter end will be Hence three things considered 1. Know there is surely an End a Rest for the people of God 2. This cannot be till Christ have put down all other Rule and Authority 3. Then is the Kingdom to be delivered up to the Father and God to be all in all this is the end IV. Consider the Promise And we will hear it and do it About this Hearing five things were considered 1. To hear who it is that speaks to be sure to know the voyce of Christ 2. Hear what he speaks thy particular lesson 3. Hear to whom not every one to thrust in but Is it to me 4. Hear when the thing is to be done now or afterwards 5. Hear for his sake that calls so lovingly O that my people would harken All brought home in five particular Uses DEUT. 5.27 Go thou neer and hear all that the Lord our God shall say and speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee and we will hear it and do it TWo things I have already mentioned to you out of this Scripture I. Why it is that God will speak to his people by a Prophet why not alone by himself without outward means and help of man No but Go thou neer to the Lord our God for us and speak thou unto us c. and God approves of the thing as good They have well spoken in all that they have said I shewed you five Reasons why this was so 1. Because it is his pleasure his ordinance the way he hath appointed for that purpose where he hath commanded the Blessing and if we neglect that way we can prosper in no other 2. It is a gentle and familiar way suited to mans capacity and weakness God in himself is too dreadful and dazling but a Prophet will the Lord raise unto you out of your Brethren him shall you hear 3. The Wisdom and Power of God is more manifest by using such weak means a worm a nothing That this rich treasure should be put in earthen vessels it makes the glory wholly to appear Gods 4. By this he brings his people into an union an order and government else all would live loose alone and scattered to themselves but now all are brought under one Guide one Shepherd one Interpreter between God and them 5. By this the particular work of Salvation is made more distinctly to appear Of Zion it shall be said such and such a man was born there The particular characters shall be set down In such a place at such a time by such a man from such a word the Soul shall distinctly know all its leadings on Then something hath been spoke of that II. Go thou neer This Prophet is to go neer to God They hit on the right nick God will have it so And that for these Reasons 1. To testifie his freeness and open-heartedness to them To you it is given saith Christ to the Disciples to understand the mysteries of God but to others in Parables They come not so nigh to read his heart and bosom They that travelled with Paul to Damascus they saw the light that shone about him but none heard the voyce That was whispered unto Paul alone Saul Saul why persecutest thou me None else was taken to be delt with in that manner in whom the Word entered and searched and came nigh to the inwards but they that would indeed know the minde of God the inward meaning there is need they should have a heart raised to search and enquire of God privately What is the very thing he intends in all Many enquire no farther then the Scriptures
the outward letters and the light of their Reason joyned together but alass I cannot finde out the meaning of the heart of God concerning me by all this Therefore if there be not an Interpreter one of a thousand that can shew to man his righteousness if there be not a days-man for us that can come nigh to God and enquire his minde and thoughts towards us then are we miserable for alass we cannot go neer our selves who of us can stand before everlasting burning No saith God to Moses Thou canst not see my face and live No self no flesh no evil thing can live in the presence of God the fire is too hot He will have no fellowship with the stool of iniquity If you will come neer God there is need of a heart without all guile and deceit that intends what it pretends Will you be my people indeed saith God Indeed Nothing else will pass He will divide between words and thoughts between thoughts and intentions if there be but a tittle against thee he 'l be sure to finde it out I know thy Works and Love and Patience saith Christ I but yet I have a few things against thee He spies out the least flaw and therefore it is dreadful coming neer him without that garment of Love which can cover a multitude of sins for else alass he may take advantage every moment and consume us 2. This is another end of coming thus neer God That the Soul may stand reverently and with deep attendance of minde as in the Kings presence Were you but aware that God was so neer you sure it would strike a great awe and wariness upon your spirits What is the Lord in this place and I knew it not Is this no less then the gate of Heaven Am I in the presence of the great God and have to do with him in all my words and thoughts hearings O what need is there of an awful spirit Holiness becometh this House for ever Many go to Church it may be twenty or thirty years and never yet were their hearts affected with the least true fear and awe 't is because they come not nigh God in their service but make it a meer custom and May-game but he will have his people come nigh him he will have them stand in his presence with awe and reverence and godly fear he will have their words and prayers weighed and scan'd to a tittle How carelesly and inconsiderately do many venture on praying as men cast bones from them to a dog never think of the thing never look to see what becomes of their prayers but God will have his stand in another kind of posture As the eyes of a maid are unto the hands of her mistress so are our eyes up to thee O Lord He will have them wait and look and attend when ever a word shall drop from his mouth and touch upon them 3. They are to go neer to God for this end to learn his behavior and carriage Be ye holy as I am holy saith God Learn of me saith Christ I am meek and lowly I will go down to Sodom saith God and see whether it be altogether so as the cry is come up unto me Why did not God know Doth he need to go and see No but it is to teach us how to behave our selves in such cases to teach us to be sure and wary and just in judgment before we pass sentence against any to know what we do to learn his tender-heartedness and compassion and forbearance to learn his manners and ways and if ever you are brought neer him it will be for these purposes III. The next thing to be considered in general is AND HEAR THOU ALL THAT THE LORD OUR GOD SHALL SAY UNTO THEE Hear all Every tittle let nothing be lost that he speaks Now there are three general things which the Lord speaks and would have all his people know that stand in the same condition as Israel now did 1. He would have them know where they are that they are yet in the Wilderness yet not at home but far from Rest 2. What is their way to attain it 3. Their latter end what they are intended for what they are to come up unto for else the Soul cannot go on with any strength and courage but will faint and feeble Abraham followed the Lord at first going out not knowing whither he went but it was a mighty power of God that carryed him out to it and afterwards he saw the minde meaning of God plainly and that the Lord delights in he would not have his people grope in the dark always but see and know their way and have the mark in their eye and be wise to understand their latter end 1. The Lord would have his people know where they are They are now brought out of Egypt they have escaped that cruel bondage under Pharaoh This the Lord would have you take notice of how far you are saved and delivered not to pass that over slightly without regarding it 1. He would have you consider how he hath brought us out of the rude world when we lay all together in one lump and why should the Lord put a difference why hath he brought us off of our false hopes and confidences and false ways of worship worshiping Idols the works of our own hands the contrivances of our own wisdom and thoughts and reason as all the world do Why hath he saved us here that what ever become of us we can never again go back to those flesh-pots the Garlick and Onyons of Egypt 2. He would have us know what we are brought to as well as brought from to consider how far he hath led us That we can surely stick to though it should cost our lives whether we can say that word with the three children what ever becomes of us though our God should not save us though we should never attain the thing set in our view yet we will not fall down to this Image we cannot turn again from the worship of the living God to worship Idols This the Lord would have us know and stick to 3. He would have us know that notwithstanding all we are brought off from and all we are brought on to that yet we are but in the Wilderness that is the place and no farther And in this two things are to be known by us 1. That this is the day in which he will prove our hearts Now will he open the fountains of the great Deep the low channells of the earth are now made to appear as Psal 18. Now he discovers what man is what a helpless wretched thing Now he opens the strange wickedness that lay hid in the heart the fire makes the scum rise the fiery trialls the great and sore temptations as God calls them these stir and fetch up all the poyson that lay buried before Now the Lingrings and drawings back the murmurings the ill will the frettings and
madness of the heart shews it self when there must be no water given but what comes out of a rock a flint such a strange unthought of way and impossible to reason and that they must have no bread but what is given them new every morning that they can turn them no wayes from their miseries nor to their mercies that they cannot reach out a hand to help themselves but though they dye and starve and perish yet there is no remedy but they must lie at the foot of God and take what he gives and no more this is a day that will prove the heart indeed and what is in it 2. As it is a day of Triall so God would have us know it is not our rest our home there is a great journy to be gone up Elijah why sittest thou here Alass you are far from home you are not come to the good Land yet which brings forth of it self milk and hony and this greatly displeased the Lord that they should here in this wilderness sit down to eat and drink and rise up to play Is this a place Is this a time to sit down in and feast Alass as if God should say you know not how long you shall enjoy any thing what I give you to day I can take away and deny to morrow and then what becomes of you you know not yet my Heart and Mind and Good-will and Eternal Thoughts how they stand towards you and can you sit down here to take content and pleasure in any thing This God would have them and us know in what a dangerous place we are still in the Wilderness 2. Hear all The second thing the Lord would have them hear is what way they are to go And all along they are to pass through their enemies Lands they must go by Amaleck and by the children of Ammon and Moab all along stand enemies in their way to oppose and hinder All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution they must take up their Cross and follow him He could have led them another way a nearer cut to Canaan if he had pleased but he chooses this way to go through the Lands of theâ—r enemies and they must follow him if ever they will come to their journies end they must through the Cross through hunger and thirst and Serpents through sore temptations and sorrows and sins Now this you are to hear if you will hear all hear what your way is and submit to it if he will lead through hunger and drought if he will deny and shut up if he will destroy our next companions if Korah Dathan and Abiram must be swallowed up yet murmur not be not affrighted nor skared but go on still and know the way is through strairs and sorrows Expect no bettter 3. God would have them know their latter end whither they are going he hath given an expected end And here three things are to be known 1. That there is surely a Rest for the people of God that they shall not alwayes be as a rowling stone not always vagabonds and wanderers following the Prince of the Air with those restless tossing Spirits this God would have his people know that there is a Rest there is an expected end a day of freedom when all bonds and chains shall be broken Sin shall not alwayes reign the enemy shall not afflict and torment for ever I would not live alwayes saith Job by any means I am weary of it This God would you should hear but now whilst we are in that horrible pit the pit of noise we can hear nothing but destruction upon destruction one storm and wave comes upon the neck of another there is no respite given no time to swallow the spittle as Job complains so that the soul is as it were distracted to see no way of escape that it is like alwayes to be thus with it But is there not an appointed time for man upon earth Yes God would have you hear and be surely set down in that that there is an end 2. He would have you know when this end is to be It is said when Christ shall have put down all rule and all authority all power then to comes the end a time is to be when Christ shall reign in the world in his glory and his Saints reign with him and all Scepters and Kingdoms shall be made to bow and stoop under him but there is a time of his reigning in the particular souls of his People when all that opposes and offends shall be taken out of the way no end will come till then we shall find no rest in our Souls till the word of Life shall come and put down all other rule and government to bring every thought into subjection every Lust and Hunt of heart all Pride and Envy and self-love all those lords that have ruled over us must down before this end shall be and till this be done there will be nothing but wars and rumours of wars Nation against Nation and Kingdome against Kingdome and famine and pestilence and earthquakes nothing but troubles and perplexities and trialls till this end come now to be kept through all these is the Salvation He that endures to the end the same shall be saved 3. What is this end What is the Rest of the People of God Hear and know that and that rest is the sole raigning and rule of God in the soul when Christ shall deliver up the Kingdom to the Father and God shall be all in all Now the Heir is under Tutours and Governours now up and now down under fears and faintings and Terrors because the Kingdome of God is not yet come that Kingdom of Peace and Truth God is not yet all in all we are yet stragling after our wills and lustings and covetings to our selves and so can have no peace in all our wayes till we shall be brought under that peaceable Government to submit to that one Lord in every thing to give the Crown out of our hand unto him whose due it is that God may be all in all Now hear all that the Lord shall say not by halves and piecemeals but hear all every word of God is good how many of you content your selves when you have but a little Light to see where you are how your condition stands but alas that is misery if you hear only your shortness that you are in a Wilderness if you hear not of a rest too of an end if you perish and fall short in the mid way what shall then come of all but oh how impossible is it to make any thing seise upon a flint to make a word enter upon an iron heart I wonder sometimes the word should sink no more being it is told you over and over again and yet all passes away as an idle tale but that I know it is impossible to be otherwise till there be a new heart given and an ear bored by God to
where am I how far gone and taken off of my self and where stick I and am loath to give up He that will be wise let him be wise for himself 'T is not your way to put it off to another and say this concerns such a one they are sinners and guilty here and there and so the discouraged drooping Soul puts off hope and reviving and says I it may belong to another but as for me I am cut off c. Zion said my God hath forgotten me c. but our way is quietly and sobâ—rly to listen to whom is the message sent doth the Lord speak to me or not 4. Hear this when the Lord calls to stir when his voice is to be obeyed we hear sometimes and know and are convinced that this is his will that we must come up to such a deniall and take up such a cross and do such a service but we hear not the time when we put it off till to morrow Alass to morrow is not yours you may be dead in your graves by to morrow therefore consider and whilst it is called to day hear his voyce Ask now what is the meaning of the Parable what is his mind concerning thee let not the Sun go down upon your wrath How many of your souls at present stand unreconciled to God an enmity is in your minds now if advantage should be taken if the Sun go down upon you if Truth should depart and you be left to dye in your sins oh how miserable would it be to morrow may never be ours and then are we undone for ever 5. Consider why for whose sake I should hear for his sake that invites so lovingly and waits so patiently and calls so earnestly Oh that my people had hearkened to my voyce O Jerusalem Jerusalem that thou hadst known the day of thy visitation Hear for his sake that comes with intreatings and bewailings and love and tenderness that comes in the still voice gently not in thunder and earthquakes to crush all a pieces and shake us to nothing as he might do but the good-will the love of him that speaks might move us to hear he that after many rebellions and many gainsayings and many withdrawings yet stands at the door and waits and calls and would not by any means the death of a sinner but useth all wayes that he may return and live Hear for his sake that is thus gracious Thus something hath been spoke to the opening of that word and we will hear it and do it it is a very good saying indeed and God approves of it well they have well spoken and if this come not in the last place if we are not brought to do what we hear to be the thing then is all our labour lost as good we had never heard at all and if it come in the first place it is to as little purpose if we set upon doing before we hear then all is in a confusion and lumber we worship we know not what God regards it not and therefore he says I hate your new moons and solemn assemblies my soul loaths your sacrifices and Samuel said to Saul for his blind and hasty venturing to sacrifice Hath the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings as to hear the word of the Lord no to obey is better then sacrifice and these are the two great Rocks that the whole world are split upon one sort will do nothing another are doers indeed but they do they know not what they worship an unknown God Now it is said that he will come to render vengeance on all that know not God they live loosely and do nothing at all and such as obey not the Gospel The Gospel comes to them and they hear and know it I but they obey it not they obey their own thoughts and will-worship they seek and ask I but they ask amisse Israel hath not obtained what it sought after but if ever you would obtain and do any thing which may please the Lord then you must hear first hear soberly what is his will and way 't is a blind preposterous way to do first and then go to hear whether we have done right or not no but hear what he would have thee do and therefore how long have I cryed and waited to hear but that word come from you Lord what wouldest thou have me to do O Lord have we been all this while have not heard yet I to this day we have not soberly and calmly sat down to hear the voice of the Lord we have been like wilde creatures all our dayes that though he hath been calling and going after some of us this twenty or thirty years yet he could not come nigh to speak with us charm the charmer never so wisely till he shall bind us in fetters and hold us in the cords of affliction that we cannot get away and then will he open the ear to discipline I know many of you have had calls again and again and been made to say sure It is the voyce of my Beloved but we would not rise nor hear the call out to this very day not come to do it and if we are not brought to this we are miserable c Thus have I opened to you the several circumstances bâ—longing to hearing and first you are to hear who it is that speaks to know the Lords voyce Now to bring it to use 1 Iâ—quire do you believe that it is indeed the Lord that calls and invites and speaks now to you else why hear you if it be only man that speaks wherein is he to be accounted off What are mans promises what are mans threats buâ— if you are indeed convinced as I know some of you are that it is the Lords voyce then why obey we not if we are fully set down in our consciâ—ncâ—s that it is the Lord that speaks then we must nâ—eds come to one of these two points 1. Either to do and anâ—wer the thing called for from us by God or else 2. To lie under our guilt and shame and accept of the punishment and bow under the hand If the Lord spâ—ak â—o this purpâ—se to any soul why thou knowest not yet the latter end what shall become of thee for ever what â—â—pes bear thee up what livest thou upon why takest thou any câ—nâ—ent in any thing till this thing be opened If this be his voyce why then hear it and obey it own thy condition as it is take thy place quietlâ— when he calls Friend sit down lower Certainly you will all be called to the touchstone God will search and see the bottom of things how they stand the word wiâ—l come to shâ—w our shortness that we are not yet brought to that Reign of Christ all power and auâ—horitâ— and rule is not put down in us but yet our wills and huntings of heart and self-loving Principles live and rule Doth the voyce say thus why hear it and obey it bow under
fair he should soon be delivered and get thorow the Battel and see an end of sorrow I but he little thought of this day as Job cries out He hath given me over into the hand of the ungodly when the devil has power given to try and afflict and torment to let in what beasts he will to destroy the vineyard O wo indeed when a Leopard is set to watch over the city when the Devil is suffered to keep watch and guard that nothing can stir nor pass in or out without his leave Power is given him he hath a time to lead into captivity at his will But the day will come when he that led into captivity shall be led into captivity himself He that spoiled and wasted and cried Down with it down with it to the very ground A turn will come and then Blessed shall he be that serveth thee as thou hast served us But Oh what havock doth this murtherer make when it is his day How doth he make the earth utterly waste and empty and not a stirring of Truth may live If you minde it we cannot sometimes speak a word nor breathe a groan towards God but he flaps on the mouth presently so cruel is he when the power is put into his hand But now saith Job now I am their song they mock at me the rascal and vile rout whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock every base lowe unworthy trifling lust can now lord it over the soul and make their song on it Oh this is a woful day indeed when the enemy has power to serve himself of the soul without any controuler when he can carry captive at his will this Christ cries out against If it be possible let THIS CVP pass And here David cries out Oh let not the pit shut her mouth upon me 4. Another Wo lies in this he keeps the houe he is in possession ' The spirit that rules in the HEARTS of the children of disobedience There is a rotten and tainted sore within that is seated in the soul and sends forth such an unsavoury stink if it were possible to choak all that is good The Devil hath got the dwelling-place in the heart is in possession it is his house and therefore whence hear you of all your enemies whence come your troubles and perplexities and wars and fightings Come they not from your lusts saith Saint James Is not all the mischief from within Out of the heart come adulteries and murders and thefts an evil eye c. all comes out of the heart Whence come all the pesters and torments out of the air or from another as we often put it off No the taint is within Look not without thee for the enemy nor for the devil no but within IN THE HEART there 's the seat that 's his palace A time indeed is to be of his casting out but at present he keeps the house and therefore neither good can come in nor good come out not a breathing of Truth stir but he presently cries Get you to your tasks to your tasks that 's the word that stops all He would not let a groan live and this brings the soul into great bitterness that neither good can come into it nor a groan go out from it but presently the Devil flaps Christ on the mouth some base taint or guilt comes in and stops the rise and liberty of Truth Alas to have the Devil dwell so neer a man in his bosom this is a misery indeed Here the soul cries out Wo is me that I am constrained to dwell with them that hate peace This is the present day and time with some of you your enemies sit chief and Zion is in the dust I beseech you let the Word sink into your hearts for it will have a time to sink upon you all Consider where you are under what rule and government If under the Mans reign still then no marvel indeed you can live loose and free and gird your selves and go whither you will But a time will surely come when you shall know and feel this reign of the enemy For till this Day be over you can never indeed come under the reign of Christ the Day of Christ will not be till there be a falling away first from the Mans reigning and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God this is the time of the devils reign And until this wicked one be revealed whom the Lord Christ shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming till this you will never see that day of Christ nor come under his time of reigning 5. A fifth great Wo is this He hath goods in us his goods are in peace the Prince of this world comes and findes of his own in us though he did not in Christ And that he hath goods in us appears by that unsavoury smoak that always is coming up out of the bottomless pit their throat is an open sepulchre saith David a continual ill savour and stink comes forth As the Church is described to be full of sweets her garments smelling of myrrhe aloes and cassia and all sweet perfumes so in this condition the soul is clothed with nothing but stinking rags and polluted garments The soul that is indeed awake and sensible knows not how to endure its own stinking smell it is almost choaked and overcome with an ill savour which comes from that abundance of rottenness those goods of the Devil and wares of Hell that lie up in the heart so that the poor man knows not how to speak a word sometimes nor think a thought but an evil taint gets in first or last that spoileth all all the thoughts and inwards are so poisoned by the devil Here David cries out My wounds stink and are corrupt In mars heart is that soul sepulchre of dead mens bones full of loathsome rottenness Do you know this have you felt and seen it in your selves There is that cage of unclean birds there is the Bittern the Screech-owl the Satyr there all the beasts of the Forest creep forth there is the Lions den and all the bones he hath gnawn and scattered Our bones are scattered at the pits brink saith the Psalmist All is corrupt and become abominable there are the goods of hell packt together there he lays up envie and wrath and stubbornness and deceit and lyes Now who will believe this report Who thinks his soul and heart to be the devils shop the ware-house of hell But they that feel it feel it and they that know know and the day will surely come to finde out every man How fair soever we may speak and mince the matter and wipe our mouthes yet the fruit will discover the root Samuel will ask What mean the bleatings Though we would hide and cover the Devil never so close and paint
and garnish him over with never so many fair pretences yet he cannot be so whited do what we can but his black 〈◊〉 appear to them that have eyes and can discern Paul was brought to own and discover these goods of the devil he cries out In me dwells no manner of good thing all is corrupt And God saith of Jerusalem As a fountain casts out its water so Jerusalem casts forth her sin Now a fountain casts out water naturally it flows without pumping and continually it never slacks night nor day and 3ly a fountain casts out abundantly no measure of it and 4ly irresistibly who can stop it So the heart casts out sin such a stock and endless store of the devils goods are laid up in the heart Do you believe this 6. Another great Wo is this He is not onely a strong enemy and most maliciously bent and power put in his hand and in possession and hath stuffed the house with his goods but 6ly he is armed too he hath armour to defend and maintain himself and keep off all assaults that are made against him Now his Armour may be expressed under these three Notions 1. He hath a coat of male upon him which covers him quite over that no word of Truth can come to touch and enter into him and finde him guilty though you try again and again and shoot and shoot bullet after bullet yet nothing shall enter his scales are so close to one another that not the least air can come between until the Lord shall direct an arrow thorow the joynts of his armour and come to the heart but it 's out of the reach of any creature to do it his coat of male keeps off all And though you may crush his coat a little sometimes and hurt him a little yet he presently gets up again and shakes himself and he is well the wound is healed for it never came to his heart his coat of male hath a thousand twistings and windings to keep off all guilt from coming so nigh him 2. He is armed with a helmet of brass upon his head his wisdom fences him that he is mighty able to plead the cause and reason and dispute for himself you shall never out-speak nor out-reason him he has so many subtil windings and ways to put off the guilt The fool is wiser in his own eyes then a man that can give a reason He hath a brazen brow that be the case never so clear yet he will not blush nor ever yeeld he is guilty but some way or trick or shift is ever at hand to put it off and save himself from being a sinner some plaister or other he will finde to heal the wound and keep the guilt from sinking to his heart though the case be never so plain against him and though seven a compleat number witness and accuse him yet his helmet of brass keeps off all he will not be guilty 3. He is armed with a great spear in his left hand like a weavers beam and with this he dare challenge all Come neer him who can By this spear he 'll seem to be for Truth and fight the Lords battels with Saul and slay the Philistims And who dare charge him now He is on our side he cries A friend a friend He hath the Watch-word and the Colours he 'll come and build the wall with you and who shall set upon him here He 'll be zealous and forward in the Truth he 'll plead and answer and prove and condemn others for being thus and thus as the Pharisees did Christ And this spear reaches out so far that there is no way to come nigh to reach or once question him Will you speak wickedly for God saith Job to his friends There is a wicked speaking for Truth many times a preaching of Christ out of envie to snare another or finde another guilty and keep up our selves some base selfish end or other lies in it that spoils all Therefore God says He will be Judge himself he will judge between ends and ends between thoughts and intentions The Word of the Lord is quick powerful that pierceth between marrow and joynts that can get between and meet with this enemy when the time is come But the work is wonderful He is so sorely armed all over 1. with a coat of male 2. with an helmet of brass 3. this long spear like a Weavers beam that alas what man shall come near to deal with him 7. The last great Wo is that this enemy is desperately ventrous dares venture upon any strange designes He 'll set on Christ and hurry him about to a high mountain to a pinacle of the Temple into the wilderness This Leviathan is made without fear being thus armed and fenced he cares for nothing Whilst his armour is so close about him he can venture on the mouth of a Canon and is safe enough He can vent out all his malice and poison and rage and do all his mischiefs and none shall touch nor controul him nor come nigh to search his heart He 'll be a friend to God and Truth and his People come not nigh to judge him And this is the armour of the whole world they are thus cheated by the devil and think all is well and right with them and under this covert he can work all his pranks and bring about all his mischiefs and murtherous plots against the Truth And this is a great misery the desperate ventrous spirit of this enemy that rushes on all mischief without fear and dread Now minde whilst this strong man armed keeps his Palace his goods are in peace all is at rest and quiet there 's no trouble nor perplexity no fears the whole earth is at quiet and if it were possible he would never be disturbed nor pitch battel with Christ but keep his goods in peace I but a time comes when a stronger then he comes upon him and then the war begins and the battel stirs and the clashings appear but this is the great happiness that there is one that is stronger then this strong man that can deal with him one that hath all the keys of hell and can open and unlock all the doors one that can take away all his armour in which he trusted and utterly overcome and rout him Then saith Job the poor hath hope and all iniquity stops her mouth And the way by which Christ accomplisheth this is twofold First He doth it as I told you by taking away all his armour in which he trusted He trusted in his armour that that should save him and keep off all blowes He trusted no arrow should ever pierce that and come into his heart and finde him guilty He trusted in his wisdom that he could reason and plead the case and maintain his Way to be right and just He trusted his speaking good words for God and pretending for Truth and his love zeal and forwardness should never have been questioned
with flesh and blood and go back in any of these we surely perish III. Consider the great Submission and Bowedness of Heart in these Lepers Let us fall into the hoast of the Syrians we can but dye c. About this three things considered 1. They rise in this strange leprous out-cast famish'd forlorn case as they are Come and let us fall into the Hoast c. 2. They venture upon Death it self the mouth of Cannon need makes them run they fall upon the Sword of their Enemies 3. Yet they go at a peradventure without any conclusions either that they shall live or shall dye but leave it and venture And thus the Soul truly buckled comes in these three cases The Uses were 1. To enquire whether the sense of our misery be upon us as it was with the Lepers and that noise ever in our ears If we sit here we dye 2. If sensible then learn What did the Lepers they ventured upon the Sword You 'l never have bread by ease but venturing to endure 3. Learn the way of their going without conclusions for or against our selves to say Sure we shall be saved or sure we shall fall short stand between both and go at a peradventure 2 KING 7.3.4 And there were four Leprous men at the entring in of the gate and they said one to another Why sit we here untill we die c. THere are three main things in generall which this day I would open to you from these words 1. What an estate of misery the Lâ—pers were in at the present 2. How hopeless and helpless all wayes and meanes seemed in their view for a recovery If sit here we dye if we go into the City the famine is there and we dye also Death hedges them in on both sides 3. Take notice of their submitted minds how they are bowed to the hand that is against them .. They venture and fall under the Lords Sword the Hoast of the Syrians come what will if they kill us we can but dye a great buckling of heart was upon them and they go not knowing the end but carry their lives in their hands But consider I. What their present condition is and how suitable it is to ours in these five particulars For this that befell them came not upon them for their sakes only but was writ for ensample to us which are fallen in the same condition 1. Then observe these Lepers sate without the City they were out-casts a people forgotten cast off as it were and not left to share in the mercies of the Common-weal of Israel Now the Common-wealth of Israel injoyed many priviledges they had the Ordinances the Temple the Worship and there was a common blessing that ran in these to them not as though the Word had taken no effect saith Paul it did take some effect but now to be separated and shut out and to have the heart hardened that the Word and all Ordinances slip over and take no effect this is to sit out of the City and be separated from the common good of Israel not to partake of the power of the Word but the heart hardened and left without all sense and feeling and motion that whilest it is in the Ordinance yet it is as not in it In hearing it doth not hear and in seeing it doth not see but is as a stone in a wall that what ever weight lyeth on it it feels nothing and in such a day as this to be left as an out-cast to have no fellowship from heaven and no fellowship from earth no society either with God or Man this is the Lepers sad condition destitute afflicted tormented Heb. 11.37 But now to come home to our selves for that is the life of all For what is it to me to hear of the mercy or judgment or sin or misery or recovery of another if I have not my share in the condition it will never seize but passe over as a Tale that is told now therefore see if this be not our present condition do we not stand some of us as out-casts are not we cast out of the favour and nearnesse of God of the Truth and of our Brethren I am a stranger to my brethren saith David and so Iob and Christ and our Fathers tasted of this Cup. How senseless and stupid is the heart under this Word and Ordinances They take no place at all like a dead man out of mind saith David as like a dead man as may be only not dead Spare his life saith God concerning Iob the life is maintained strangely by a secret invisible unaccountable power the root of the matter is in me saith Iob I but his bough is not green nor doth the dew lie all night upon his branch his ways are not washt in butter as in months past where are all our former operations and powers and flourishings in the truth where is the Love the tender heart the single minde the cryes and groans to be satisfied with substance indeed and no shadows have not all our riches made themselves wings and are flown away and are not we left miserably naked and destitute of all the power of the Word that reaches us not the love and help from one another the bowels of compassion they are shut up how miserable forlorne are we both within and without we looke and gaze on one another but if we come but near to speak and breath a word together either heart-rising or envy or some evil taint or other gets in do what we can this is our present condition if we were but sensible of it all good is separated from us and we are like the clung and frozen earth hardned and hardened that nothing can enter though the Light appears and shines bright to shew us our way yet are we but like the earth in a winter night the hardest Frost many times is upon it when the Moon shines clearest and brightest the Sun the warm and enlivening beams of that are far off we stand out of the City and are not partakers of the common mercies of Israel the hired Servants had bread enough and to spare but the Prodigall wanted that the ordinances were in Israel there were widows in sad cases to mourn and make lamentation there were Prophets to bring a word from God to enquire and tell how long the sufferings were to endure and what the meaning of the hand was and what the end would be as Peter saith Ye have a more sure word of Prophesie to which do wel to take heed c. though in the dark yet it was a great mercy to have that sure word of Prophesie to have entercourse there but alas the Lepers they must sit without the City where they can hear no word from God nor have any notice of good there is none to turn aside to ask how they do for it is all one in the mystery to be out of the house to be out of the ordinance out