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A79993 The sect every where spoken against or, the reproached doctrine of Ely. As it was held forth in several sermons in the year, MDCLI. By Christopher Cob, lay-man, minister of an united people in Ely. Collected and analized for a private use, by Hampden Reeve, Master of Arts, one of that Society, and a constant hearer. Now published by the assent of the whole Society (as a short character, at present, of them and their way, till an opportunity of a farther and fuller discovery) for satisfaction in general. Cob, Christopher.; Reeve, Hampden. 1651 (1651) Wing C4769; Thomason E1251_1; ESTC R209173 234,596 386

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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
bonds till we are freed and that is our way if indeed we would know it but how foolish and preposterous are we we would be walking before we are made alive But then 3. A man that is alive as He is capable of Instruction and teaching so he is fit for any employment to speak and walk and act what is set before him He may run the ways of Gods Commandments He may speak well of God The Living He shall praise thee saith Hezekiah The father to the children shall make known thy Truth Then indeed there will be a capableness of that other precious Promise to be partakers of Godliness to walk with God to be of his Councel But now is a dead man fit company for God Can God have fellowship with such as lie stinking in their graves Is there any communion to be had with dry bones Can you have any content and pleasure in a dead mans presence No you must first be partakers of Life before you can partake of Godliness to have his minde and nature and disposition in you God commanded Moses to speak to the people not to break into the Mount to gaze lest they were destroyed We are reaching to come neer and neer and plead for it to be taken in to know the minde and counsels of Truth Alass we are not fit Can we dwell with everlasting burning Can we come neer God and not be consumed Alass we know not what we have desired The old bottles would burst in pieces if this new wine should be put in There must be a new Life given before that new minde can grow Before we ●●n partake of godliness to have that God-like minde in all things to love Justice and Mercy and walk humbly with our God we must first be Living Men And it is but yet a promise to us though it be exceeding great and precious the Thing is yet to be done and therefore that which concerns us at present is to sit still in our graves in our bonds and darkness and sorrows till He calls us as They told the blind man Be of good cheer for He calleth Thee In the mean time it is in vain and dangerous for us to run and gaze These precious Promises are not made to all I would not have you all thrust in as sharers you may come and gaze for fashion-sake but I know there are among you in whom the love of God is not as Christ said to the Jews I know you have not the love of God abiding in you You come not out of a love to Truth or minde to be instructed but either as to hear a matter of news or to lie at catch to make a mischief Therefore beware what you do God will not be mocked by you It is dangerous tampering in Holy things with a deceitful heart we have payd dearly for it amongst us and He will surely divide between thoughts and intentions and separate betwixt the sheep and the goats He hath indeed promised all things belonging to Life Godliness Glory and Vertue but to whom Whereby are given TO VS saith the Apostle exceeding great and precious Promises TO VS and not to all And 1. That Promise of Life I told you what it was to Live to be freed of all snares and bonds and fears of Death which keep down the Soul a close Prisoner that it can stir neither hand nor foot But none will come in here but such as are close hunted and put out of all their holes and shiftings that they can no ways get Life at their own hand For so long as there is any fhift that we can either get up hopes or prayers or desires or resolutions of our own so long we are not dead men as God saith Thou hast abased thy self to Hell yet hast Thou not said There is no hope And till a man be dead there is no need of raising Him to Life and now to live is to be brought out of the grave and recovered by this free word of Promise You all live and walk and act but upon what terms Is it by this Promise of Life given to Abraham Have your lives been given you Have you been raised up by the same power that raised up Jesus Christ saith All that the Father hath given me shall come unto me and I will raise them up at the last day They shall be raised up and when at the last day not presently The best wine is not brought out first but at the last Day When Christ who is your Life shall appear then shall you also appear with him in glory and this is an exceeding precious Promise indeed to as many as God hath given it but not by any's thrusting themselves in that were never bidden The King will come and look over his guests and finde the man without the wedding garment 2. The second great and precious Promise is of Godliness to have a God-like minde to be Just Patient Merciful Single Holy as God is Holy c. to be knowing and in the light as he is in the light to be fashioned into the very minde of the Father This is godliness that hath great gain belonging to it having the promises of this life and that which is to come to submit thus to be God-like in all things to pray indeed Thy Will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven We would have our wills reign and be done in Heaven as they are in Earth We would have Gods minde come to ours and Heaven stoop to Earth There is something yet dear to us that we save and keep alive and would not every where and in all cases be like to God But this is the onely happiness and content to attain this life of godliness for a people to joyn together in one heart and Soul strengthening and building up one another in their most holy Faith provoking one another to good works seeking the good of one another as their own and ready to lay down their lives for their Brother How many people have we seen in our day to change and altar their Gods according to their own thoughts and imaginations as the complaint was against Israel According to thy Cities so are thy Gods O Israel such a changing tossing and variable thing is in the heart of man but where the minde of God is planted and spreads it self forth in the Soul and makes it partaker of Godliness that is a standing principle abiding for ever 3. A third great and precious promise is to be partakers of Glory There is a glory that follows and flows from godliness Moses face shone when he came down from God and the Church in her worst day yet says of her self I am black but comely and Christ yet owns and calls Her O thou fairest among women And I am confident however we are found in our selves weak and foolish and sinners yet we sit in the Consciences of our worst Enemies if they would speak their hearts freely That
I would have you consider three Things 1. What is the ground and foundation all the happiness and favour that we or any are ever like to enjoy It must only be from this good-will of God What he hath set and purposed for or against any that shall stand What ever his Soul desires that he doth saith Job therefore he adds When I consider him I am afraid of him Have any of you this favour to have a lot and portion in eternal life It is his will that hath done it his good-will his good pleasure nothing can hinder it If He will have mercy who shall hinder Again are any left to destruction to ruine and undo themselves for ever Alas it is this Will that hath left them out and destruction must then needs follow What if God will harden Pharaoh and make some vessels of wrath If he will not shew mercy who shall turn him 2. As this will is the foundation of all that comes to pass so secondly Consider how resolved it is and all must buckle to it even Things in Heaven and Earth the Son himself must be subject He comes down from Heaven leaves his Crown and Glory and must fulfil this Will by suffering All things must stoop to this great Lord so mighty is he such a Lord Paramount so great a Ruler Alas Things come not to pass according to mens thoughts and propoundings but according to this Will of God 3. Then Consider How this Will of God quite cuts off all our wils Nothing that comes into your thoughts shall be at all saith God And again Many are the devises of mans heart but the Counsel of the Lord that shall stand And He cries out against Jerusalem How long shall vain thoughts lodg within thee All our thoughts are vain if our thoughts are to save our selves or if to condemn and undo our selves they are all but vain The Counsel of the Lord that shall stand and the thing is done already before the foundations of the world were layd When we have tryed all and run out all our runs there is but one door to go to in all our needs the Will and Purpose of God and if we find no relief there alas the case is miserable man can never help himself So that the great matter lies there to know what that Will of God concerning us is how that stands what his thoughts are and to be truly informed here and layd submitted to this Will This is all we have to do for the thing is done already In the Salvation of them that are to be saved how contrary are all things to Reason how do they oppose and stand out more then any Had the mighty works saith Christ been done in Sodom and Gomorrah which were done in thee they would have repented them in sackcloth and ashes There would not have been so much opposition from them but yet if he will save he will save nothing shall hinder And so in those that perish though they seek the blessing with tears as Esau did though there be never so earnest a crying and weeping and pleading Lord open to us we have cast out Devils in thy Name and Thou hast taught in our streets yet all will not do if his will be set once and the doors shut then Depart from me I know you not c. If we were but truly informed and principled in this thing it would be a great setling to our minds We have many strange and vain wandring thoughts and troubles for want of a true principling and setting down here that all must come to pass according to this Will Thou wilt perhaps say But I have the Truth in me and that cries and desires and longs Well but the Son himself must be subject the Truth in thee the right desires of thy Soul must submit to his pleasure whether to be answered or denyed The Son himself says Not my Will but thy Will be done And it is said He learned obedience by the things he suffered And if the Son of God the Truth it self which comes out of his Bosom into the world into the man if that cannot alter nor change his minde but must submit its Will to the Will of its Father then sure the man who is but dust and ashes he can do nothing in it his prayers and cries cannot alter this Will Therefore what ever thy desires are set upon and how right and single soever they may be yet this is to be looked at in all but What is the Will of the Lord what is his pleasure Christ according to his tenderness He would have all men saved and come to the knowledg of the Truth He desired many things by his own Will but He must come in again and lay all those desires at his Fathers foot and say Yet not my Will but Thine Now are any of you at a strait and pinch to know what shall become of you Here the thing stands it depends onely upon this minde of God and nothing I know can or will ever satisfie you till that which the Disciples ask for be granted you Shew us the Father and that will suffice Christ had been long with them tendering exhorting instructing and bearing up their heads yet that was not enough to them they are at a want still till that word comes from Christ And I say not that I will pray for you for the Father Himself loveth you And this stays them indeed Now speakest thou plainly and no Parable This is more content and satisfaction then all He had ever spoke before to them this is the ground of all your Happiness if your Souls were but surely principled and setled in it But then III. What is this Will of the Father that He comes to do This is the Will of Him that sent me saith Christ that of all that the Father hath given me I should lose nothings There are two things in this Will 1. A people are given to Christ to be his by this Will of God 2. It is the Will of the Father that none of these should be lost but that Christ should raise them up in the last day That they should be recovered how desperate soever the case be with them And thus far I have gone to shew you who this He spoke of is the heart the minde of God sent forth tht Son of God And 2. What He was sent out for and that is to do the Will of the Father to submit to that And I told you how all stands in this Will of God That if Christ Himself would save a man yet He cannot do it without this Will of the Father Therefore He submits Not my Will but thine c. Christ would that all should be saved and come to the knowledg of the Truth but He must lay it down at his Fathers Will. And had I no more then my own desires and love towards you to carry me forth I should surely have flagged and left you before
that Truth cannot tell where to find you Could it but find you though in a Goal or Stocks amongst Harlots or any where in the dirtiest hole that could be it would be a gladness But to be as runaways every where and yet no where sometime in this Harlots house sometimes in another this is a great woe and sorrow But let 's be merry saith the father for I have found my son again that was lost If you could but come forth and say to the Lord Here I am and declare the very particular place where you lie and stick 't were happy As a man in a mist when quite lost is glad to hallow and call to any to give notice he is lost and tells them where they shall find him But we slight it and say 'T is true I am in a lost condition but what will any telling another do me good We think there must be no crying out But the time will come that you will cry before delivered both to instruct others saying O come not here as the Lepers were to cry out to all O come not to me I am unclean I am unclean and then there will be a crying Can you help me can you tell me which way God delivered you Though the Father sent forth his word to seek up his son yet he came not till he was alive quick and sensible of his wants and this made him arise and go to his father c. The last thing yet remains wherein lies the conclusion of all and it is marvelous to consider how the work hangs together A third Reason why the Father is merry is the safe return of his Prodigal When the other son came out of the field and heard the musick and dancing he asked one of the servants what those things meant Why saith he Thy Brother is come and thy Father hath killed for him the fatted Calf because he hath received him safe and sound And if this should not be all would be an incompleat Salvation still But while I speak the word I sigh to speak it Shall we ever see the day to be thus adorned to have the best robe the shooes the ring and the fatted Calf to sit at the Kings Table and have the presence and favor of the Father to hear that concord between Heaven and Earth that musick and harmony to hear the gladness of the Father and all those holy Angels to see the Earth which is his footstool brought to the Will of the Heavenly to have Heaven and Earth brought together to a meet and close Therefore Let 's eat and be merry 1. Because my son was dead and is alive again 2. He was lost and is found And 3. He hath received Him safe and sound And this is wonderful that one so far gone that had been dead and lost that Lazarus lying four days stinking in his grave should be raised and made a sound man again that there should be no deadness nor confusion nor taint in the Principle of Life but all return sound this will be a wonder That there shall be no taint nor smell of any ill savor in all our words and ways left it will be wonderful indeed to have such a Resurrection There are three things considerable from this word To be Safe 1. That which is safe is well fenced about as Solomon saith The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower the Righteous runneth into it and is safe Prov. 18.10 But what 's the Name of the Lord He proclaims his Name thus The Lord the Lord God merciful and gracious long-suffering abundant in goodness and truth Keeping mercy for thousands forgiving iniquity transgression and sin and that will by no means let the guilty go free c. Exod. 34.6 7. When the Prodigal is compassed about with this Name he is safe to purpose with long-suffering gentleness c. and with remembrance of this also That he will by no means let the guilty go free then is he made to give glory to his Father This will be a strong tower where the Soul may be safe 2. To be safe is to be where no harm can come at him In time of trouble saith David he shall hide me in his pavilion in the secret of his Tabernacle shall he hide me Psal 27.5 A pavilion stands in the midst of the Army and what harm can touch one there To be in the City of Refuge there the Avenger of blood cannot come neer Now he is under the wings of his Father no Witchcraft nor Enchantment can touch him And when ever God shall make such a fence about you your estate will be good indeed when thus fenced about with the Name of the Lord. But 3. A man may be said to be safe when he cannot run away to harm himself neither When God makes this Covenant with Israel he saith And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them That I will not turn away from them to do them good but will put my Fear into their hearts that they SHALL NOT DEPART FROM ME Jer. 32.40 A man that is lock'd in the Stocks or in a Gaol we use to say such a man is safe because he cannot get away So when God has put his Fear into the heart it 's made as an hook or anchor to the Soul it cannot get away from him But happy are they whom God will bring back again with the Prodigal from the Land of their captivity into his presence There 's the place of rest and quiet there the Father rejoyces over his Prodigal because he has received him safe and sound To be Sound hath these things considerable in it 1. A thing that is sound may be considered thus to be without rottenness without fault firm and durable Now the Prodigal before his return has a heart with a taint in it and 't will be wonderful if ever we shall be brought out clean spotless unblameable c. It 's nothing to keep a man from stealing when he can come at no prize but to have the Babylonish garments and the wedges of gold lie before the Soul and now not to have an Achans heart to covet them here will be the tryal O let me not taste of their dainties saith David The time was he was envious at the prosperity of the wicked But now to see them prosper and enjoy their portions and yet not envy nor cover in nothing to be tainted here will be the wonder But 2. To be Sound is to be compleat and without deficiency as of a Horse that is fit for service we say He is a sound Horse sound wind and limb compleat c. The Prodigal came home compleated as Paul saith That you may be wholly compleat in him not having any spot or blemish or any such thing And My Beloved saith the Church is wholly delectable compleat in beauty O that my heart were so direct saith David that I were sound in thy Law O Lord how far off are we
Truth that searches and tries and will give us no rest They envyed Moses and Aaron the Saints of the Lord c. The heart is unruly and unsubmitted and its life is torn and rent from it but this is not the giving up not the free-will offering that God looks after He loves a cheerful giver and not of constraint When they offered and would by force have made Christ a King he refuseth and Moses chose afflictions with the people of God his heart chose the thing And if you are yet upon those terms to have a hankering mind upon honor or ease or quiet or any seen things you are not Christs followers and you can never build this Ark of Salvation unless you lay the foundation thus low with Christ all you build though never so fair and beautiful it will not stand without this bottom unless there be a heart to take up the Cross and give up your lives unless you are willing to go through Hell with him Many may abase themselves to Hell I but they make that their Heaven they say not There is no hope the pains of Hell are not indeed felt and endured But Christ was brought to that pinch that his Hope was lost My God my God why hast thou forsaken me If the Fear of God seize upon you you will be jealous every step you take in this work it will put an awe upon your spirits lest you should miscarry in any thing from the pattern How ever the words you hear from me may be rude yet the Knowledg is sure so far as God hath led me and if you pass not through the condition the thing spoke of I am sure the building will not stand The man that thrust himself in without the wedding garment when he was enquired into Friend how camest thou hither he was found speechless But those that were compelled to come in from the high-ways and hedges they can answer Lord I came hither thus I was drawn None comes to me saith Christ except the Father draw him I would never have come of my self I stood out to the last and had I not been compelled and forced I had never been here If you cannot give an account you have passed this way That you have been drawn and haled to it contrary to your wills and been made to lay down your lives with Christ your building will not stand This is the way God takes with his own He turns man to destruction and then he says Return you children of men He will give no other sign but the sign of Jonah the Prophet and this way He passes He goes down to the bottom of Hell He cries out I am cast out of thy sight and the Earth with her bars was aboue me for ever as if he was now quite lost and gone and hence deliverance comes but not before And this first story of the Ark you must build go through the Death if ever you think to attain the second and third Stories the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ. It will be afterwards considered II. About the Resurrection Which had three ends in it 1. To shew the mighty power and free Grace in raising when all hope gone 2. That the Man may tread on the neck of his Enemies 3. That the Soul might declare and preach his praise III. About the Ascension of Christ into Glory Three things in it also 1. A taking up of the Soul into the third Heaven from all Earth 2. I heard unspeakable words saith Paul The Decrees of Life opened 3. The Soul is given into Union with the Divinity marryed to Christ Several other things may be observed about the length bredth and height of the Ark the pitching it within and without All which had a meaning of Truth in them Noah's Ark IN THE WORLDS DELVGE OR Truth a Saviour and a Judg. SERM. VIII 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 NOw a proceeding forward to declare the Effects and Consequents of this Ark being built And they were three 1. He did it to the saving of his house a people he had a charge of not himself chiefly 2. By which he condemned the World c. This judges them 3. And became Heir of the Righteousness which is by Faith I. About Noah's saving his house three things considered 1. He saves them by being a Hearer himself He is first warned of God and preaches to them what he received from the Lord. 2. He takes the charge over them makes them as his own Soul 3. He follows on till the thing be brought about He doth the work He doth save them c. II. Another Consequent of this Ark-building is He condemns the World And that in seven Particulars 1. He beleeves God and is warned and this the World is condemned by they do not so 2. He beleeves though the things not seen as yet The World they are upon their Reason and consult with flesh and blood 3. He sets to build the Ark alone The World look for company of wise and learned and follow them onely this judges the World 4. He builds an Ark a compleat one This judges the World to look after a compleat Salvation they content with broken pieces 5. He builds an Ark pitcht within and without a sure and certain condition to keep out all doubtings c. This the World can never reach 6. Noah not satisfied with the Ark but sends out a Dove to enquire of God The World is condemned by this they have no holy Ghost to enquire of God by 7. He condemns the World by doing a Work He doth save his house They build and build but it comes to nothing none are saved by it III. A third Consequent He became Heir of the Righteousness by Faith 1. What is this Inheritance he enjoys The Lord himself The Lord is my portion an Inheritance that fades not away 2. What is it to be an Heir To have an Inheritance fall by right which cannot be sold nor given away This is wonderful 3. How comes he to this By Faith He became Heir That 's the way the Soul is made to prosper in by beginning with Faith HEB. 11.7 Prepared an Ark to the saving c. I Have been speaking from these words all the last week in which many things have been opened to you at large I shewed you how in all ages God hath had some to whom he hath revealed his minde and secrets And here Noah is pick'd out for the man of whom God thus witnesseth Thee onely have I found righteous in this generation and to him he opens his counsel what he intends to do concerning the destruction of the World and that the End of all flesh was come before him I opened to you 1. What the Principle was he went
upon That was Faith by Faith he did it 2. I told you the effect it left behinde the Word from God took place He was warned 3. What things was Noah warned of Not things in present view which appeared to Sense and Reason but of things not seen as yet Though no danger at all could be seen or thought of at present yet he beleeves and is warned Then 4. I told you the great impression it made upon his spirit 't was not a light warning a matter of talk as the Religion of all the World is but it comes neer and toucheth upon his heart deeply He was moved with Fear Work out you Salvation with Fear and Trembling not talking and thinking and resolving but the thing comes to the heart with Fear and Trembling Then 5. I told you what a real work this produces in him he is not onely warned nor onely moved with Fear but goes on to a great work He prepared an Ark. I told you this Ark was a Type and Figure of Christ of a Saviour of a sure and safe condition which will carry through all storms what ever which sure condition I told you was made up of three several works answerable to the three Stories of the Ark. 1. The work of Death of being made conformable to the Death of Christ to dye to all things both lawful and unlawful To let all dye all mans reason and wisdom and hopes and confidence all created enjoyments how dear soever to part with all 2. The second story of this Ark or the second work of Salvation is the work of the Resurrection If by any means saith Paul I may attain to the Resurrection of the Dead To be raised again by the same power that raised up Christ Else if we part with all and give our bodies to be burned and be left there in Death That will be miserable If that word of the Curse threatned to Adam light on us In dying thou shalt dye if left in the grave This is to be utterly lost Many have been brought to that strait that they could not keep alive their own Souls had no ways to turn from the stroak Cain was brought to this Saul brought to this Judas brought to this I but here lay their misery they were left in Hell they dyed in dying and never came to the Resurrection 3. The Ark is not yet fully built the work of Salvation not yet compleat till it is made conformable to the Ascension of Christ into his glory to be accepted there of his Father and for ever setled in an Eternal Life never to dye more And in this last Story of Salvation I opened three things to you 1. That the Soul is here taken up as Paul says into the third Heaven It is quite translated and separated and divided from all seen things the whole World nothing toucheth it below 2. Here the Soul heareth words spoke to it which cannot b uttered Here the seven-sealed Book is opened and the eternal Decrees read This is my beloved Son c. 3. Here the Soul is marryed to Christ joyned into the union with the Divinity the Holy Ghost put in it as a well of living waters springing up to eternal Life And this is that long Life spoke of He asked Life of thee and thou gavest him a LONG LIFE for ever and ever This is that Eternal Life never to dye more Now such a condition may be of having Life but not the eternal Life they may dye again therefore 't is said of some Twice dead plucked up by the roots Therefore the Ark is not compleat the condition not fully sure and safe till the Soul be setled in the Eternal Life as Christ said to his Disciples And I give unto them Eternal Life Then I spake to you of the proportions how the Ark was to be made the length of it three hundred cubits the bredth fifty cubits and the height yet less but thirty cubits All which was not without a farther meaning 1. It was three hundred cubits long pointing out the long Life the eternal Life that all have which attain this safe condition a long walk from Eternity to Eternity 2. But yet the bredth is not so large that but fifty cubits not so large a compass here in this Life not such full room and liberty to walk round about without any straitness not so to run the ways of his Commandments to go on without let and controul But 3. The height less still that but thirty cubits to shew how the Soul is greatly kept down there it can have least room of all upwards The Ark is but low but little liberty Heaven-ward the Soul when it hath attained most yet it cries out O how short am I and this is to pinch it on still not to sit down here but to cry for the Kingdom to come when all bonds and stops shall be taken out of the way and a river of broad streams be given everyways liberty enough but now ever anon darkness and mists rise up an earthly cloud gets between the Soul and its Happiness that it can see but a little way off But then saith Paul shall I know as I am known Then I told you this Ark was to be pitched within and without to keep out all waters which pointed out the exceeding firmness and safety of a good condition That who ever builds such an Ark is so conformed to the Death of Christ and attained to his Resurrection and ascended and established in the same Inheritance made a coheir with Christ in his glory nothing can ever shake this condition no waters can get in 't is so surely pitched round no doubtings nor fears can take place either from within or without to shake it It is built upon the rock and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Then the Ark was to be finished in a Cubit which had this meaning That the nearer and higher we come towards God our way will grow more strait and narrow They came out of Egypt full-handed with Dough on their shoulders and rings on their hands c. but before they enter into Canaan all that trash that came out of Egypt was spent their compass was narrower Therefore the Cryer cries Make streight paths for our God c. But yet I told you there was some compass left it was finished in a Cubits bredth not an Inch not without any bredth at all No All our Fathers have had some flaw or other here their Ark hath had somewhat in it like to this world They have had some sore and weak part some Canaanites left behind to afflict and vex their Souls And this was to put them to a strait to cry for the Kingdom to come where no spot nor wrinkle shalt be left nothing of sin or imperfection but all tears wiped away Then I told you this Ark contained the whole Creation in it All creatures were here to be preserved both clean and unclean
satisfied And therefore ●ohn says concerning some I write unto you that have BELEEVED that you may know you BELEEVE c. But how shall we know this Chosen Generation I shall propose these seven Characters to you to consider 1. In this Chosen Generation there is a certain natural instinct of a close when ever God and the Truth sown in their Souls come to meet when they come but neer one another there is a natural turning and cleaving together The Loadstone and the Iron never meet but they close and feel one another and gather neerer and neerer Now examine if it be not thus with you where ever you meet with a living breath from the Lord doth it not touch something in you Doth it not turn and strike the heart and cause a strange natural close in your spirits When Christ put but his finger in at the hole of the door the Spouses bowels were turned presently 'T is not so to other Lovers The Loadstone will not cleave to all metals nor to wood and straws though you gild them never so fairly Now all the rest of the World are taken here They all wonder after the Beast when it hath any likeness of the Lamb upon it they cannot know Wolves in sheeps clothing They take down all good words and earnest desires and hope and love and zeal that speaks for God They are taken with shadows and pictures and cannot distinguish between words and words voyce and voyce Their gods have no breath pass through their throat they live not to discern and distinguish and divide between things and things all that hath the same shadow to them passes for the same thing but my sheep know my voyce saith Christ That touches them and the voyce of strangers they will not hear Where this chosen Generation is there is a certain distinguishing relish and taste Doth not my ear taste words saith Job Nothing will please nor take this Truth where-ever it is sown in any but its own kinde and there it naturally cleaves and closeth 2. You shall know this Chosen Generation by this They can finde no rest for the sole of their foot no place where to lay their head Though they run and hunt never so about and about for ease and rest yet they can finde none They are certainly disappointed and wearyed out of all things All they come neer cries out to them as the Lepers of old unclean unclean Come not to me I cannot satisfie The Earth says It is not in me and the Sea It is not in me They can sit down no where but the stool is pulled from under them and they hasted up to their journey Vp Elijah why fittest thou here Every thing their hearts would pitch on is made either too hot or too heavy for them to carry either we cannot carry our lusts they have so much lumber and luggage belong to them or else they are too hot and burn our hands the thorns are too sharp it is too hard to kick against the pricks Therefore I have often said of all people in the World it is in vain for those that belong to God to go about to please themselves in any lust for they shall be sure to be hunted out Others may enjoy their wills and sit down in sin and take content in the Creatures their eyes may swell with fatness they may have their hearts desire I but the Davids may not I am chastened every morning and plagued every moment They have no rest in this World but are always like strangers and Pilgrims though weary and tired yet alass they must not take up till they come home All grows wearisom and tiresom to their Souls nothing can ease nothing quiet nothing satisfie nor fill up their want no pleasure nor enjoyment If I say My Bed shall comfort me yet there he is met with and affrighted If I go up to Heaven or down to Hell or fly to the utmost parts of the Earth yet no where can he sit down for ease but this spirit findes him out he can finde rest and satisfaction no where Job hunts through all places and searches the perfections of the choycest Creatures he findes the place of Gold and a place for Silver a place for Pearls and Treasures but yet all this is too short for the want where is the place of Wisdom still He had tryed all things and yet findes them wanting Now many through idleness sit still and will not take the pains to hunt thus they will not try whether the Creatures can content them or not but saith David I have seen an end of all perfections I see that all things come to an end When all means and ways and plots are proved out to the utmost yet then the Soul is weary of all its labors and cries out Ye are all Physicians of no value you cannot help me 3. By this you shall know the Chosen Generation God is their utmost their utmost Hope utmost Proposal the utmost thing of all his People but he is not the utmost of others they follow Christ but for loaves some base selfish thing or other is their highest If they may have but what their hearts run after they could sit short of God well enough Give them ease give them peace of Conscience give them Knowledg and great enlargements of spirit and they have enough This contents them I but this Chosen Generation give them what you will nor Gifts nor Parts nor Enjoyments of the World nor enlargements of Truth no not Heaven it self to be saved would not be enough to them but God is the utmost thing the Center to which their Souls tend To see the Kings face is their desire else what will their lives avail And this I would propose to you Whether ever any thing thou mettest with in all thy life was enough to thee whether it was the utmost thing That thy Soul could sit down in No sure I am nothing can stop the cry of this Elect It cries night and day when straitened and when enlarged still it cries When Jacob had wrastled all the night with God and now he says to him Let me go for the day breaks Is not that enough Will not the day the light content thee to know and see and be enlarged No it will not I will not let thee go unless thou bless me He wanted a farther blessing yet I would have you weigh the thing in your own Souls whether it be thus or no with you and do not always stagger be not faithless but beleeve 4. This is another sign of this Chosen Generation it always gathers and cleaves closest to them that are most excellent All my delight saith David is with the Saints and them that excel in vertue It chooseth to come up to the foremost to the worthies of Israel Now others drozel away their time without any such aspiring desires If they might but come to Heaven and be saved at last That were enough to them
day to find this City of the living God They sought a City that had foundations no other would content them They left all other dwellings all other contents delights enjoyments wherein the world live chusing rather to wander in a wilderness where there was no way till they might come to this City of habitation they rested in no place no condition nor honour nor pleasure could hold them till they might come to this City and sit down in their own house O when shall I come and appear before God! saith David Though he had a strong Army now with him of the valiants of Israel and they faithful and ready to venture their lives for him through a whole host yet he is at a strait for the Temple of God for the place where the Lord dwelt and his Name and Power and Truth lived There are many Cities in the world that are easily found Cities of wisdom and fear and rest Cities of knowledge and great enlargements but none of these will serve the true wanderers they seek a City from Heaven whose builder and maker is God Where God dwels And where doth he dwell Why where two or three are met together in my Name there am I in the midst Where Brethren live together in unity where they be of one Heart and one Soul Here he hath commanded the Blessing and life for evermore This is Sion saith God here will I take up my rest I will dwell in it for ever Now in a City three things may be considered 1 A City is an habitable place where many dwell 't is not like a waste Forrest or barren Wilderness but a place of concourse and meeting of people And thus are the people of God his City where He dwells and inhabits and all his train with him Peace Love Joy Singleness Hope Meekness c. this City is full of inhabitants It is said in the Proverbs He dwelt in the habitable part of the Earth and there dayly was his delight and he calls his people out of Babylon Come out from amongst them and ye shall be my people and I will be your God And again I will dwell in them and walk in them They are his habitation where he takes up his abode Time was when he came and went as a wayfaring man that stays but for a night and is gone and thus he is now in many of your souls he comes and goes presently but there is a time and there are a people when and in whom he takes up his abode in whom he settles never to remove more Though he may lie in the bottom of the ship lie covered up and buryed under sorrows and tryals yet he is still there I will never leave thee nor forsake thee that 's the Promise 2 A City is a place of free traffique where men may buy and sell freely without any molestation if they are made Free of the City trade where they will and when and in what they will Such a City hath God in his people such a freedom he hath to deal with them at his pleasure Sometimes he will trade in tryals and sorrows to bring forth the riches of the deeps beneath sometimes he will trade in chearings inlargings and revivings of Spirit Sometimes Gold and Silver and Pearls come out to sale sometimes Camels Hair and blue Silk as he pleaseth but some trade or other is ever going on in his City It is never left wholly desolate but he will be free to buy and sell and trade in what ever he pleaseth such a place as this he hath where he is not bound in or to any thing as we would bind and limit him to our measure we will hear him so far and come up to such a pitch but not a jot further therefore we are not this City yet he dwells not so in us though visits and passes too and fro often for the Spirit of the Lord cannot be bound it will have liberty to stir and act at pleasure he will be free to binde and straighten to loose and inlarge to raise up or cast down as he pleaseth and pleased he is sometimes to run his dearest people through wonderful strange conditions and cases to shew his great power and wisdom and faithfulness in standing to and recovering them out of all that he may bring forth all his rich wares and make his Name manifest but he dwells not in any heart where he hath not this freedom to trade in what he will sorrows and afflictions as well as inlargements and injoyments but in his own City he is free there he can trade in what he will and when he will and how he will they always submit and say Not my will but Thine they ever justifie him Good is the Word of the Lord and with Eli It is the Lord let him do what seems him good 3 A City is a place of safety and security it is expected a man may be safe from theeves and robberies there Such a City are the people of God to his Name and Honour and Truth they are bound to secure them It is expected by God as Lot saith of the Angels that came to him when the wicked Sodomites pressed to the door to do them violence see how earnest he is how he labours What will he not give to save them out of their hands Nay take my two daughters rather take all I have onely let these strangers alone disturb not them For for that very cause came they under my roof that they may be safe Where this City is indeed what will not the soul venture to keep the truth alive and safe that it suffer not and therefore the Church writes of Paul and Silas that they were men which had hazarded their lives for the Gospel nay let all go to keep this Name up I count not my life dear saith Paul to finish this course with joy Now the enemies great plot is to kill this Name of truth that the name of Israel may be no more in the earth that the devil and all his instruments aim at to destroy it root and branch utterly but I have called you friends saith Christ therefore I can intrust you with all my minde and counsels you will be faithful and not betray me not deal as the men of Keilah when David inquired of God whether they would deliver him I they will saith God but these citizens will be more faithful they will not deliver up their David their King the Lord Christ they will die rather then be false to the Lord. Such a City as this will God have such a people he seeks that will build him a sanctuary where he may be safe out of all dangers that will in deed and not in word venture their lives and all they have for his Name Oh that your souls were but taken that the desires and longings were but up in you that you might be such a Citie to the Lord and sing as Israel did when
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 un●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
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 sh●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 sh●ll ●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 o● 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 possi●le it says still well y●t if he will deliver he is able th●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
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
is more miserable still but then to be in a Famine too that the Soul can turn no whither for bread the Nobles come to the pit and there is no water the poore and needy seek water and there is none c. This is a wonderfull hard case indeed 4. Another misery of these Lepers was They were encamped round about with the host of the Syrians their enemies were all about them on every side and though they were such sorry worthless things so full of woes and miseries that it might scarce seem worth the while to kill them yet they stand in great fear of their Lives too lest their enemies should fall upon them and slay them for an Host was now come forth a sworn company of profest enemies against all that belong to Israel and have entred a League to cut off and destroy both root and branch and though the Soul be but as a dry leaf a Partridge upon the mountains a thing of no worth as David pleads with Saul Alas against whom is the King of Israel come forth against a flea such a sorry thing as I am So the Soul sometimes pleads alas what a wretched creature am I I am destitute of God and truth shut out from his people all overspread with a loathsome Leprosie ready to dye for hunger dryed up to nothing with want and famine and is not this misery enough Is there need of other force and violence an Host to come against me the Soul sometimes seriously debates the Case What is the meaning that all should thus conspire against a poor desolate creature a thing of nothing a few sorry Lepers that will soon dye of themselves though all should let them alone are you come out against me with Swords and staves saith Christ alas they might have spared that labour he was now in a most painfull agony in a bloody sweat his Soul was sorrowfull unto death under the sense and burthen of sin no need of a Sword against him The Soul that is indeed sensible knows and feels it is miserable enough though no enemy from without should ever strike a blow against it to be void of God a stranger to the Common-wealth of Israel to be a Leper full of sores to be ready to starve for hunger is not here load enough But to all these to be in continuall fears of death from an Host of enemies who can utter the miserie of this condition Surely if the Lord remove us not hence we cannot long live and continue here But 5. Another thing considerable in their present condition is The lively sense and feeling of their misery they were not asleep then the woe had been lesse but they feel where the shoe pinches As for our iniquities we know them the misery and fears lie hard upon their Souls If we sit here we dye and if we go into the City we dye the famine is there if we fall to the Army of our enemies in all appearance we dye they will surely kill us a great Strait it is truly if your Souls were sensible of it to lie still in a barren wilderness is to dye surely and if you stir a foot to get out there are pits to fall into and wilde beasts ready to devour and it is a thousand to one if one mischief or other do not destroy But all spoke in the general I told you had no force nor power in it if it come not home to us in our own conditions therefore I shewed you how the Case was ours we were the men we are the Lepers La. 3.1 I am the man that have seen affliction saith Jeremy by the rod of his wrath I told you 1. How we were out-casts cut off cast out from the common blessings which belong to Israel the word takes no effect hearing speaking and praying together they take no place touch not the heart but all we get is put into a bag of holes It comes in at one ear and goes out at another nothing abides to be blest unto us we said in our prosperity in the day of our flourishing we should never be moved nor see sorrow I but now how desolate are we voyd and destitute of all good how do we sit many a day not one good and sober thought doth passe through us because we sit as outcasts 2. An evill disease hath taken hold of us we are all overspred with the leprosie so that we cannot speak nor have any dealings with one another but we are in danger of being infected and tainted whatever we do or say or designe a selfish taint get● in and spoils all Let all your words be seasoned saith the Apostle but how unsavoury a breath runs in all ours unsavoury to our selves and unprofitable if not infecting to all that hear us 3. The famine is sorely upon us also and like to that which was in Samaria a Famine that puts us to it so hardly that we are made to eat our own children the fruit of our own thoughts and wisdom and reason we have no Bread from Heaven now rained upon us but Bread from the earth that is from beneath our own fleshly thoughts and counsells we have nothing else in a Strait to refresh our weary Souls withall all is spent and the Prodigall seeks to fill his belly with the Husks that the Swine eat and they fail him also 4. There is an Host of enemies hath beset us Troops that continually seek our lives and wait for our halting both from within and from without and they threaten like Goliah never to give over till they have given our flesh to the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air till they have undone us when the poor soul sits sadly bemoaning it self alas I am an outcast shut out from the favour of God and of his people and am made to sit alone in my chains Alas I am a Leper and unclean My wounds stink and are corrupt a loathsome disease hath all over-run me there is no sound part from head to foot Alas I am ready to dye of the famine the word takes no place hearing is not blest to me that which was once dearer then thousands of Gold and Silver sweeter then the Hony and Hony comb more sought for then necessary food yet now all is gone the Soul is empty and dry and heartless the famine hath consumed all and yet must an Host too come against the Soul in this case this adds to all our misery greatly Here new fears perplex the Soul lest the enemy come unawares and slay it The Lepers know not what shall befall them and they are sensible of all these miseries now upon them Alas you that go and come and sit here as pictures and are no more sensible then the stones in the wall all this is nothing to you and I am wondering sometimes how it is possible you should thus sleep away your time and never consider you are going apace to Hell and
destruction but like the Smiths dog sleep quietly though the sparks fly about your ears the words of the Curse and the words of the Blessing all are al●ke nothing seiseth and this is your great misery that you cannot come near your selves to enquire how is it A deceived heart hath turned him aside that he cannot possibly come to that word to say is there not a lye in my right hand Isa 44.20 But now you that are made sensible and know where you stand and cry for bread to eat somewhat that may cure and heal and satisfie you every where you that are under the sense and pain of this felt-want and misery you clearly know these two things 1. You see how an evill taint hath gone along with you all your dayes from your childhood which you never yet were cured of and if you be not cured it will surely undo you And then 2. We are under the sense of the great thing we are short of of knowing the very inward mind and heart of God towards us how we stand in that eternall favour of his acceptance for till we shall have a clear and full certainty what these everlasting thoughts of God concerning us are whatever else we have had or may have of powers inlargings refreshings and operations of truth yet all will be too short to satisfie and set down our Souls we must still lie as the Lepers here did at a peradventure and hazard with our Lives in our hands They can but kill us c. We know not what the end will be how God will deal whether save or destroy but all our Life long we shall stand in fear of death till we are freed from him that hath the power of Death till we are satisfied by an everlasting witness of good-will towards us and that nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ and to have the sense of this shortness upon us sure it would make us stir and look about us I wonder truly how you can passe over a day a night an hour and let the case lie at such uncertainties and that you are not alwayes crying out with these Lepers If we sit here we dye if we are not freed from this selfish taint from an evil heart that hath ever been nursed up with us that will surely be our ruine and if we are not in that eternall Good will of God favoured and accepted that love which still cover a multitude of sinnes and never fail but save to the utmost if we are not found written in this book of life we surely perish And can we lie in this miserable condition to be outcasts Leprous under a sore Famine beset round with an Host of enemies from within and without for do you not see and know how the world are up and stirred against us if it be possible to break us in pieces from being a people yet have we no sense nor feeling of all this II. I told you a second thing in generall to be considered was not only the present misery these Lepers lie under but the hopeless condition of any way or means to help them They are at their wits ends If we sit here we dye if go into the City we dye if fall into the Host of our enemies we can but dye c. which implies they could promise and expect no other thing And thus are our souls hemmed in with straits on all hands If we sit where we are we certainly know and feel we are short and perish and if we turn back to the world and draw back from the place Truth hath brough us up unto there we are sure to perish and if we go on an host of enemies is before us what shall we do in this Case There are three things which Truth hath surely led us up to and if we go back again and turn in any of those Cases we are sure to fall short and dye 1. As I told you we are brought to a true light and information of our present misery in what a wretched polluted leprous case we stand what a base selfish ta●nt is with us in all our way how short we are of the life of God and if we shall turn back from this the heart be left to reason and plead and blind it self saying sure I am not so miserable the case is not so bad as I may judge c. and so shuffle away and get off the strait This is to be undone that is certain 2. We are informed in the great thing we want that without a clear and certain witness from heaven sealed upon our spirits of the everlasting thoughts of Good will towards us that nothing else can be enough to stay and settle our Souls this we are come to to see nothing short of this will serve and this there is a true close to and cry for at times in our minds in our inward man However we are led captive yet all along the eye is open to see what we want and if here we shall be left to turn back and reason with flesh and blood and say all reach not to the same pitch why may not we be saved though we are not led up so far as some others if we get off the strait thus and turn to carelessness and security this is the way also surely to perish 3. We are brought to a Proclamation of and have begun to enter into a killing and self-denying way the Proclamation hath sounded to leave all things and take up the Crosse and follow Truth not to please our selves not to take content or sit down in any of the creatures not to have a Kingdom in this world but to walk always as strangers and pilgrims seeking another country this we have chosen according to our Light and this we have professed to the world and if we shall be left to fall back here and say This is a hard saying who can bear it to be ever dying to be killed all the day long c. and so shall turn again to vanity to the beggarly elements to make a Captain go back to Egypt to turn with the dog to the vomit c. I say to be left to this is a certain token of being undone Many of you might have dyed in peace and been truly saved formerly short of this conversation before the Light came up and the thing was called for to leave all but now to resist and withstand the light that arises in your day to rebell against the Lords call this is certainly to be undone and therefore if the Lord help you not out and bring you not up to the next step and buckle your hearts to the dust and make you lie under and submit to the hand and venture your lives and say Let him do what seemeth him good without you come to this you are undone if you shall make a Captain to return into Egypt then remember what befell He sware in his wrath that
they should not enter into his rest and so they that were invited to the Feast and draw back and make excuses see what comes of it he swears they shall not taste of his Supper I could desire you might never come hither to hear unless there be a heart indeed to go on it is not easie dallying with the truth not like going to ordinary Chu●hes and meeetings there you may hear many years and never be touched to the heart nor found so guilty for not going on in the Truth but it will not be so here the Word will surely take place and be either a savour of life to life or of death unto death And thus I have opened to you the present miserable condition the Lepers sit in and brought it home to our own case and the case indeed is miserable to sit down in it and if ever we rise it will be a wonderful recovery You that are sat down O consider and think of it for if you are left here it had been good for you you had never been born Then I have shewed you how they were hem'd in with Death if they go back they dye if fall to their Enemies in all appearance they dye I apply'd it to our particulars and shewed you three Things we were brought to from which if we turn back it is no less then Death 1. We have seen the end of all the Doctrines of the world an end of all the ways of false worship 2. We know how we are short and what we want and that nothing but a certainty and clear evidence of the love of God opened and sealed to our Souls and that we may be made like to him nothing else can ever content and satisfie us 3. We are come to receive and entertain the Proclamation of a self-denying way to bid farewell to ease and quiet and self-pleasing and take up the Cross dayly and if in any of these Cases we fall back we are surely undone And now to speak of the last Thing observed from the words III. THE GREAT SUBMISSION AND BUCKLING OF THEIR SPIRITS Come and let us fall into the Host of the Syrians for we can but dye Can but dye Alas and is that little How are their Souls ground to powder and their hopes layd in the dust and they venture with their lives in their hands In this Buckling of the Lepers I would observe to you three Things 1. They rise for they were set down but are made to look about and say If we sit here we dye And must they rise now This is a strange time and case to stir in what when out-casts when Lepers when almost starved when cast off on all hands I now they rise need makes the naked man run They do not stand to dispute the case as our hearts sometimes do Alas I am unclean and an out-cast and filthy and should I now look towards God But if the famine pinch'd you to the heart it would make you up and be going and not reason the case I am ragged and torn and uncomely 't is not a time to look for any message from God whilest the case is thus with me Alas Hunger stands not upon manners and modesty it says Give me bread or I dye The sore famine buckles the heart and makes it stoop to any thing It turns to the hand that smites it falls at the foot and says Let him say and do with me what seems him good Lo here I am 2. In this submission of theirs they fall into the Host of the Syrians they fall upon the sword Now the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God with this it cuts and divides and pierces to the heart and when the Soul is brought to this pinch it bows indeed it accepts of all Let him read and say and do what he will let me hear all his mind the judging part the cutting part that which most strikes to the quick The heart is not now coy and nice and stands upon those terms of picking and choosing it says not This is too sharp and the other too cruel I cannot bear that hard saying or the other dealing No but now to the hungry Soul every bitter thing is sweet Every word of God is good saith Agur. And Paul under this buckling of heart cries out The Law is holy just and good but I am carnal c. Thus the Leper crouches down and lays his neck to the block if the sword will spare it well if not it lies to take the blow I can but dye and with Esther If I perish I perish 3. Consider the carriage of the Lepers in this great strait They rush not on furiously and desperately and say Come all shall be well they take not the Kingdom by force nor do they go utterly fainting and despairing shutting out all hopes of their lives by hard conclusions but with a sober submitted spirit they venture ready to take up what ever befalls b●● whether life or whether death that they leave and conclude not the matter And in this posture doth the Soul truly buckled ever draw near to God And therefore when ever you are upon your hasty conclusions one way or other saying Sure I shall come to nothing or sure all will be well with me you say you know not what both are alike false and come not from a submitted heart that stands in the strait and gives not up all for lost in the worst time How did Josephs Brethren expostulate the case and plead with him when he seemed most harsh to them and though they buckle and own We are all my Lords bondmen we are guilty yet they plead and hang on him and cannot give over but O my Lord saith Judah let thy servant I pray thee speak a word in my Lords ears c. This is a token of a Soul that is at a want indeed Many talk of a Heaven of a God and of an eternal life but 't is but in way of complement they are not at a want indeed their Souls are not fired with a thirst for the living God but want will carry through all Though the Soul be an out-cast and the enemy reproach it and upbraids how ill it hath dealt with God and how can it ever hope for mercy yet nothing can stop or hinder it the needs press it on and the noyse continually rings in its ears If we sit here we dye Now for Use of this Consider 1. Do you indeed hear this voyce in your Souls ever living and speaking and giving no rest If I sit here I dye O that it were the Lords will to thunder it in your ears that you might ever hear it sounding If we sit here we dye Who of you have attain'd to that certainty that are sure you shall never fall short There is a two-fold Death A Death of your good and light and love and enlargements and attainments that may be come to in the Truth and here you
at him Hail King of the Jews and make a sport at his misery And thus many times the cursed Lusts within insult and triumph and mock the poor Soul when it is in this miserable strait and upon the nick of Life and D●ath Can you read it 7. They sought false witness against Christ They were busie to search and enquire out all that could come against him right or wrong they matter not And if you mind in this day there will be a most strict search and enquiry made if any can come in against the Soul to prove it a Deceiver and Hypocrite in all it hath done or said for Truth Can you not read the Parable What inquisition is made by the high Priests to prove against the soul that all its best good was tainted all it hath ever done or spoke for God that all this was in deceit and a base selfish taint ran in all that there is no singleness in the bottom to carry it through This is the thing the Enemy main●y aims at and this cuts to the heart as a sword to be thus upbraided and dog'd with accusations and outcries within that all was but deceit and the Soul shall come to nothing c. And this I would have you mark what will surely befall us in the day of our calamity what dealing we may look for and expect if we will follow our Master and tread in his steps Many speak much of the Death of Christ but they come not to it to know and feel it in themselves But if we never be planted together with him into his death never shall we partake of his resurrection if we come not to the same submission of heart to say Thy Will be done And in this word I told you seven Things were considerable which Christ accepts of and consents unto though the Execution was yet to come and pass upon him 1. He submits to be betrayed by one of his own House by a Disciple one of the Twelve one that goes for a Friend and had another heart given him though never a new heart 2. He submits to be betrayed into the hands of sinners a multitude come against him and there I opened to you seven particular Aggravations Now to come to the next Thing 3. He submits and yeelds to be put to death wrongfully He is falsly accused falsly judged falsly condemned They bring nothing truly but only lyes against him and yet he submits to take up death though never so unjustly condemned They lay that to my charge which I never did and therefore their Witnesses could not agree there is ever a jar will be between lyes One comes and witnesses This man blasphemed and said I am the Son of God another says This man said I will destroy the Temple of God made with hands and in three days raise one made without hands And this was a lye He had said no such thing but spake of the Temple of his Body And thus is the Soul dealt within this day false Witnesses come against it and upbraid it Well you said once you should never be moved you should never be left nor forsaken of God but that he was your Father for certain and you should be saved When alas the Soul that is to be saved never durst conclude any such thing till it be sure indeed but in its best day ever it stands in fear and jealousie what the end shall be Other Witnesses come and bring in a false charge on the other hand ' Well you said once there was no God no ' Heaven no Hell nor Life to come And this is a flat lye also The Soul to be saved could never nor durst ever say there was no God though it hath truly complained and bewailed that it knew not God nor Heaven nor the life to come it was dark and ignorant in these cases as a blind creature and this was its heavy woe and bitterness And all this while the Witnesses agree not they differ in their Tale and their Accusations are all false and unjust and groundless no one true thing is brought against him and yet he must dye still they cry Crucifie him crucifie him and he submits to take it up But what is the reason why must he dye when no just Cause is found against him 1. Because it is determined so it is the determinate Counsel of God it should be thus though brought about by wicked hands 2. He dyes for the glory of God that his Power and Might and Truth and Faithfulness might appear the clearer in raising up from the dead As Christ said of the blind man Not for this mans sin nor his parents was he born blind but for the glory of God Alas were man to dye for sin for that very cause and no other he might dye again and again ten thousand times over and never have done the work No but precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his Saints They dye not to satisfie for their sin but for the glory of God Did the Father lay any thing to the Prodigals charge when he came home No his sin was that he came no sooner the father was ready to receive him notwithstanding all his rags and riotous behaviour this hindered not his acceptance but his keeping away from his father that was his great sin When they accuse Christ as a glutton a wine bibber a Companion of Publicans and Harlots a Breaker of the Sabbath a Blasphemer and would put h●m to death for these alas they charge him unjustly he is not guilty of these So all that is layd to the charge of the Soul in that day by the Enemy all the hypocrisie and deceit and envyings and coverings and lustings alas all this belongs not to the Son of God the Truth is clear But these are the Devils goods his ware and he and his goods must perish together The Truth is free and disowns and hates all and the man take him as separate from that evil Spirit as standing alone and he is harmless and innocent only his woe add misery is to be cumbered and pestered and plagued with these goods of the Devil lodged within him But now the Accusation and Charge is never layd rightly and truly for then the Enemy must accuse himself which he will never do He never hits rightly on the sore where the Souls great woe and misery and weakness lies that is hid from these false Witnesses but they venture to speak desperate and punctual lyes if it were possible to destroy the Soul by them if you do but mind how the wheels move within when ever the man is indeed put to a strait and stands in anguish then the Lyar steps up and witnesses falsly then they say acted by this Spirit 'T is you Moses and Aaron that have made our savor stink in the nostrils of Pharaoh and his servants and you have brought us into this Wilderness to slay us with thirst It was all