do the least kindnesse to any of his people in vaine but much more when they act with zeale for God in the highest greatest duties he that herein soweth plentifully his labours and diligence shall reape plentifully 2 Cor. 9.6 Seeing this is so then let us labour to find out and understand Vse 2 the designes of God in our generation that so we may joine with him and helpe to carry on the Lords worke thereby great advantages will arise unto us when through ignorance or neglect thereof or opposition thereto we may suffer losse of what else we might have in the enjoyment of God or be otherwise corrected by him Of this see Mr Tillinghast Generation worke p. 45. 46. Now therefore what are the Designes of God in this our generation for understanding whereof we must compare prophesies and promises with the visible dispensations of providence in the age we live in and observe how the actings of God in the world sute or answere to what he hath foretold or promised should come to passe also inquire observe what the most humble holy selfedenying Saints have upon their Spirits how they stand affected for God reveales his secrets to the humble not to the proud though his own people And also by frequent and much conversing with God in walking with him this is best knowne such as have close Communion and fellowship with the father and with the sonne in the spirit shall certainly know much more of his mind of his waies and designes than others of his people who through some unmortified corruptions walke at a distance from him But to touch breifly what we have grounds to believe is Gods great designe which he is now carrying on more especially in this generation it is the enlargment of the Kingdome of his sonne Jesus Christ the setting up Christ as King over the Nations more gloriously than ever heretofore according to many promises Esay 2.11 The Lord alone shall be exalted in that day and Chap. 24.23 Zach. 14.9 The Lord shall be King over all the Earth c. Now in order hereunto many other prophesies and promises must be fulfilled as those concerning the propagation of the Gospell and a great increase of the Gentile Saints together with the comming in of the Jewes Esay 60 3 4 5. c. The abundance of the Nations shall be converted unto thee the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee and many other places Also union and onenesse of spirit among the people of God to serve him with one consent Zeph. 3.9 pulling downe of high and lofty things Esay 2.11 12. c. The haughtinesse of men shall be bowed downe and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day Establishment of Justice Esay 60.18 I will make thine Officers peace and thine Exactours righteousnesse 5. Pouring out of greater measures of the spirit Joel 2.28 whereby will be more and clearer discoveries of Gospell truths Esay 30.26 The light of the Moone shall be as the light of the sunne and the light of the sunne seven-fold So that the exaltation of Christ and the enlargment of his Church and Kingdome being Gods great designe in this age it concernes every one of his people to labour together with God in this glorious worke such as are sincerely and zealously active herein shall find speciall distinguishing love from God Now every one of Gods people will be ready to thinke and say they are for this designe it is their daily prayer that the Kingdome of Christ may be increased but notwithstanding certaine it is that many even of Gods owne people afford God but little or no helpe herein but rather hinder and oppose the worke really and indeed through the darknesse of their Iudgments about it though in some respects they thinke they advance it for such as give no encouragement to persons and things waies and meanes little and low in their eyes which yet God hath chosen whereby to carry on his designes but rather despise them distast and speake against them such may be said to hinder the worke for he that opposeth the meanes opposeth also the End And this indeede is done through the prevailing of selfe love and worldly interests which dimme their sight such have not yet learned that great Gospell lesson of denying all for Christ they have but a small measure of the spirit that Moses Iohn Baptist and Paul had who could be content to lay downe their owne esteeme Numb 11.29 Joh. 3.30 Phil. 1.16.17.18 and interests at the feete of Christ and be willing to decrease so that Christ might increase by any waies or meanes that he shall chuse persons and things which are neglected and despised not only by carnall men but also by the carnall part of spirituall men But such shall have fewer manifestations of the love of God than others of his people that concurre with him they shall not see nor know so much of the mind of God nor find their hearts so refreshed and enlarged in communion with God nor find so much esteeme and love from his people as those that close with God in his great designes The ninetie third Observation in Nature WHen the husbandman intends to plant a very large Orchard out of rough unmanured grounds like a wildernesse full of bushes and wild trees where never was any before when he resolves and sets on such a huge and vast Plantation such a great worke is not presently effected but by length of time perhaps he may be many yeares about it This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That God is a long time in calling the Gentiles Proposition shadowed and implanting them into Christ according to his purpose and promises All the people of the world are either Jewes or Gentiles under these two all Nations are comprehended As we see Rom. 3.9 19. We have proved both Jewes Gentiles that they are all under sin v. 19. That all the world may become guilty before God Formerly the Jewes only were the people of God the Gentiles were strangers to God and without God in the world wholly overspread with Idolatrie as we see Rom. 1. But in due time this Wildernesse was made the Garden of the Lord. God the great husbandman of his Orchard the Church began to plant the vast wast grounds the wildernesse of the Idolatrous Nations the Gentiles above sixteene hundred yeares agoe and is still about it and will at length finish it and performe all his purpose and pleasures towards them The time when he began this great plantation was in our Saviours daies who gave light to the Gentiles that sate in darknesse but especially after his Resurrection and Ascension he set his husbandmen the Apostles and Disciples on worke Matth. 28.19 Goe teach all Nations and Mark. 13.10 the Gospell must be published among all Nations The Lord told Ananias that Paul was a chosen Vessell unto him to beare his name before the Gentiles Act. 9.15 And Paul himselfe
Garden the Church Joh 5.17 My father worketh hitherto and I worke And though he can doe all his works with a word of his Mouth yet he is pleased to make use of many Instruments in carrying them on Now God doth very much approve of Zealous and active instruments in the works he sets them about their zeale being guided with wisdome and Judgment Jehu because he was Zealous and active for God in destroying Ahabs house God established him 2 Kings 10.30 and his posterity in the Throne unto the fourth generation But Saul an eminent Instrument and set up by God himselfe yet neglecting to doe the Lords work throughly which was in his power to doe God said him aside in displeasure and set up David a zealous and active Instrument in his stead to carry on the works he had to doe And Eli though a good man and an eminent Instrument in the hand of God yet when he grew dull wanted edg viz zeale to suppresse the wickednesse of his sonnes and to honour God in his Office God was exceedingly displeased with him and threw him aside in respect of making use of him any longer and chose another in his stead 1 Sam. 3. But how well was God pleased with Phinehas a man of spirit and zeale for God God himselfe stands up for him and commends him Phinehas and his sonnes were established in the Priests Office Numb 25.13 He shal have it and his seed after him even the Covenant of an everlasting Priesthood because he was zealous for his God God cannot abide indifferency and luke-warmnesse in matters concerning his honour and the interest of his sonne which he himselfe is jealous for a dull flat indifferent spirit in these things is loathsome to God he cannot beare it Rev. 3.16 Because thou art luke-warm and neither hot nor cold I will spew thee out of my mouth Men that act not for God they act against him Luk. 11.23 He that is not with me is against me Use Seeing this is so It is the safety and wisdome of all men in any place of Power higher or subordinate to lay out themselves with zeale for God to be diligent and active Instruments in the designes of God acting according to the directions and leadings of his Word and Providences The advantages will be not only the honour of God in the inlargement and establishment of the kingdome of Christ but also the honour and establishment of such Instruments God will still delight to imploy them in his great works Numb 25.13 The nineteenth Observation in Nature THe Husbandman in Autumn and Winter is Pruning of his trees and boughs and branches are scattered up and downe all the parts of the Orchard He is then digging up the earth and baring the Roots of trees transplanting some and setting others in their roomes and doing many other works which make the Garden lye rough and unhandsomely But all these works tend to the greater beauty pleasure profit in the garden afterwards in the spring and sommer This Similitude shadowes out unto us this Proposition which is cleared by Scripture That the Commotions troubles Proposition shadowed and confusions in the Church of God will end in the settlement peace and glory of it God hath a great work to doe in the world and is now about it even in our daies He hath said he will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land That he will shake all nations and the desire of all Nations shall come Hag. 2.6.7 When were the Heavens and the Earth and the Sea so shaken as they have been of late yeares who knowes not of the overturnings and great alterations that have been among us both in Church and State It is God that changeth the times and the seasons it is he that putteth downe one and setteth up another and all these things are but in order unto the glory of his Church Yea he will still shake and overturne the Nations untill he hath established and setled his sonne Christ Lord and King over all the Earth This is his great designe now in hand Thus saith the Lord God remove the Diadem and take off the Crowne this shall not be the same exalt him that is low and abase him that is high Ezek. 21.26 I will overturne overturne overturne it and it shall be no more untill he come whose right it is I will give it him Christ alone hath right to raigne and God hath promis'd him the Heathen for his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the Earth for his possession Psal 2.8 And such as oppose him and stand out in rebellion against him though they be Kings and Monarch's and say we will not have this man to raigne over us he will break such with a rod of Iron and dash them in peeces like a Potters vessell Psal 2.9 Christ now meets with opposition in coming to enter upon his kingdome and thence are all the stirres commotions and confusions among us but he will at length prevaile and the government shall be upon his shoulders and of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end the zeale of the Lord of hosts will performe this Esay 9.7 His Kingdome shall at length be established upon the tops of the Mountaines and be exalted above the hills Mica 4.1 And after he hath rebuked the strong nations of the earth and brought them into subjection Then they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their speares into Pruning hooks and shall learne war no more but they shall sit every man under his Vine and under his Fig-tree and none shall make them afraid for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it Mica 4.3 4. and againe Esay 32.18 My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places Let all take notice of the great designe that God hath in hand Vse 1 in the enlargement of the kingdome of his sonne and establishing him in it and beware they be not found fighters against God And though men contrive and bend their strength against God yet will he carry on his work and they shall be broken Esay 8.9 Associate your selves O ye people and ye shall be broken in pieces Gird your selves and ye shall be broken in pieces Vse 2 This truth is full of Consolations to the Church of God which hath been long oppressed and kept under by the enemies thereof For surely the time of deliverance is neere As by the budding and blossoming of the Fig-tree and all other Trees we know that the Sommer is neere so the terrible shaking of the Nations declare that the redemption of Gods people drawes neere these being the last daies The day of the Churches deliverance from under the power of Antichrist hath dawned Esay 60.1 Arise and shine for the light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated so that
Charets like a Whirle-wind vers 16. For the Lord will judg with fire and with his sword all flesh Now when shall this be even when the Lord will enlarge his Church when he will extend peace to Ierusalem as a River and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing streame Esay 66.12 When the isles a farre off shall declare his glory among the Gentiles and brethren shall be brought out of all Nations when the new heavens and the new earth shall be made the Church of God enlarged and beautified as we may see at large vers 19.20 c. The Prophet Jeremiah speakes likewise to the same purpose c. 23.19.20 Behold the tempest of the Lord goeth forth in wrath a violent whirles wind shall fall downe upon the head of the wicked and the anger of the Lord shall not returne untill he have executed and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart Now when these things shall be we see vers 20. in the latter daies when God is enlarging his Church ye shall understand it plainely This God will doe that he may glorifie himselfe in shewing forth his power and justice towards his enemies love to his people This may informe us and give some light unto us why all the Vse 1 destructions confusions and overturnings which have beene in these Nations of late yeares have come to passe and what other Nations shall shortly find also The great husbandman is about the enlarging of his Orchard according to the many Prophesies and promises in his word Now therefore who or whatsoever hinders and stands in the way shall certainely be removed 2 Thes 2.7 The Lord shall consume him Antichrist with the spirit of his mouth and destroy him with the brightnesse of his coming Vse 2 As this is unspeakable consolation to the saints who are the goodly fruit-trees in this large garden so is the same cause of trembling and astonishment to all opposers of God in this his great worke Weeds and wild Plants in a garden that 's carefully ordered are not so sure of plucking up as these persons are of a downfall for God hath said it he will plant his Garden and enlarge it upon an high mountaine and eminent and then up goe the wild trees though never so high and beautifull Ezek. 17.24 Then all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought downe the high tree have exalted the low tree have dryed up the greene tree and made the dry tree to flourish I the Lord have spoken it and have done it Vse 3 Thirdly yee that stand out and oppose the worke of God be perswaded to deliver your selves from destruction beware of hardnesse of heart in refusing to see and acknowledge the hand of God in his dispensations for as Pharaoh the inhabitants of Egypt Canaan and others were destroy'd in their opposition against the plantation of old so shall it be with all hardned sinners in these latter daies Those being but Types and shadowes of things that shall come to passe in these gospell times Heb. 10.1 The law hath a shadow of good things to come Not only as they shadow forth Jesus Christ but also the things of Christ in his Church Vse 4 And further Let this Caution Gods owne people It is to manifest and evident that even some of them doe in some respects oppose the worke of God we see what divisions and contentions there are amongst them about the things concerning the kingdome of Christ Now therefore take heed of opposing the mind of God for if he be displeased with those who help not the Lord against the mighty will he not be much more displeased with those that oppose him and are against him in any of his designes It may hinder them of much good which otherwise they might have received from God See Pag. yea it may provoke God to cut them off though his owne people The husbandman sometimes cuts off a Branch or cuts downe even a good tree when it is in his way and hinders any of his great workes so doubtlesse does the Lord with some of his owne people when through any worldly interest or corruption they oppose his designes Therefore take heede speake not neither act against God and his waies through mistakes be not unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is Eph. 5.17 The eight and twentieth Observation in Nature WHen rare and excellent fruit-trees and fruits are first knowne there being but few of them they are more valued and esteemed then afterwards when they are multiplyed and growen common though the commodities are still the same in goodnesse as at first This shadowes out unto us That The constant enjoyment of the best things from God through corruptions makes them lesse noted and esteemed Proposition shadowed The nature of man is much taken with new things which having beene a while used and enjoyed are not afterwards of so much value with us though the things remaine in their former goodnesse and worth health peace and plenty and the best good things of this life yea the Ordinances of Christ society of the saints seasons and oportunities of grace spirituall priviledges are lesse observed and prized after a long enjoyment of them then at the first Though Manna was a pleasant bread Angels foode and the people of Israel were well pleased with it for a time yet afterwards they were weary of it Numb 21.5 Our soule loatheth this light bread When the people of God see the necessity and want of good things and earnestly pray and waite for them and at length God satisfies their desires and gives out the mercy longed for then they are much taken and affected with it their affections are raised and enlarged they put a price and value upon it greatly rejoycing in it and blessing God for it But after a certaine time of enjoyment the heart is lesse upon it the streames of affections are abated and run lower there is not that frequent notice taken of it neither when the mind reflects upon it at any time are the affections stirred as at the first when the thing was new Thus it is even in respect of the best and choicest things wee receive from God in this life even the sence and evidences of the love of God pardon of sin intrest in Christ Communion with the father and the sonne through the spirit These things after an habituall long enjoyment of them are lesse noted and lesse affect the heart then upon their first discovery so that God expostulates with his people about it he takes notice of it and observes the difference of the frame of their spirits what it hath beene and what it is afterwards Jer. 22. I remember the kindnesse of thy youth the love of thine espousales c. when thou wentest after me in the wildernesse time was when we were first acquainted and thou didst take me for thy Lord and Husband thou didst expresse much love towards me and
each other there will be divisions amongst God own people upon this accompt they seeing but in part and with different degrees of light as well as between them and carnall persons Where the spirit of God in any of his people strikes at the Corruptions of others in any respect where their Names interests and concernments are toucht this occasions divisions and contentions All which God will by his wisdome power and goodnesse over rule and order for the good of his people making them to sift and try things more throughly that so thereby both truth and Error may be more manifest Also many things which some godly men have heretofore caled Errors they afterwards upon examination and a more full discovery of them imbraced for Truths and many â—hings which good men in former ages never saw not understood are now made manifest and evident to be the Truths of God the Spirit of God in these Gospell daies being according to his promise powred out more abundantly light is more cleare than heretofore and consequently things hid in darknesse mysteries of the Gospell are more discovered Though the day as yet as to many things is not cleare nor dark but it shall come to passe that at evening it shall be light Zech. 14.6 7. And the light of the Moon shall be as the light of the sunne and the light of the sun shall be seaven fold Esay 30.26 And further In answere to the former Objection Though some among us have feares and doubts of Gods departure from us yet if they do but consider all things well weighing one thing against another and looke upon them with a spirituall eye not dimmed with selfish worldly interests they shall then see many more and more evident tokens of Gods drawing neerer to us in these Nations and of his abiding with us than of his departing from us which ought to be observed and thankfully acknowledged by all as it is by many of his choicest servants For certainly were there the contrary to what we see and have of late yeares seene among us then we should and we might indeed accompt them fatall signes of Gods departing from us should we see wicked men governe and have the supream power in those Nations to be chosen and Commissionated in all the great affaires and concernments among the peoples should we see the people of God discountenanced curbed and restrained in every place and the wicked encouraged and upheld should we see the choicest ministers of the Gospell and the most eminent holy men of all ranks imprisoned and persecuted by all the powers of the Nation as they have been heretofore should we see and behold all the dispensations of God towards us to be a weakning the hands of his people and giving strength and rule into the hands of evill men then indeed we might have cause to feare that God had surely a great controversy with us and a departing from us but now while we behold the contrary to all these things why may we not conclude and expect the contrary We should make such a conclusion as Manoahs wife did when she had seene and observed many evidences of Gods favour towards her her husband and her selfe when he who should have taught her had groundlesse feares Judges 13.23 If the Lord would have destroyed us he would not have done all these things for us So though we are indeed a sinfull people worthy to be destroyed yet God having given us so many so great and so wonderfull evidences of his grace and favour and of his comming to dwell among us we ought to observe them and thankfully to acknowledge them with a full confidence that God will abide with us and no more depart from us There is a time and that at hand when the Church of God shall be so free from the power of Antichrist as never to be any more subject to him God will make his Church an eternall excellency and the daies of her mourning shall be ended Esay 60.15 20. and Esay 62 4. According to the Prophesy in Dan. 7.22 The time came that the Saints possessed the Kingdome and Rev. 5.10 We shall raign on the earth God hath begun to fulfill this word which shall go on to the ends of the earth his Name is ingaged in it and he will do great things for his people though they are unworthy yet for his own great Names sake The two Witnesses being now arising as it is the Judgment of many pretious Saints that they are the Church will be more and more glorious notwithstanding all opposition Seeing it is a signe that God is comming neerer to us and that he will dwell among us when he supplants carnall men and carnall things and sets his owne people and worship in their stead then Vse 2 those whom God hath set and planted in the rooms of others in highest places for the government of the Nations in the Vniversities and all the Land over these persons have a speciall Obligation upon them to bring forth better fruits than their Predecessors upon severall accompts first that the Husbandman who planted them may have the honour of his worke Secondly for their own sakes and those with whom they lives for in case they bring forth as bad fruits as those trees in whose roome they grow it will provoke God against them but when God likes of and delights in the fruits of his people he will then continue his presence with them which is their life happinesse and glory he will then delight to walke in his garden and eat his pleasant fruits Cant. 4.16 and say this is my resting place here will I dwell for I have a delight therein Psal 132.13.14 The sixtie seventh Observation in Nature THe ground of some Orchards is not levell but shelving or declining so that some part of the ground is higher than the rest and accordingly some of the trees grow upon higher ground than some others Now tht husbandman values not the fruit-trees at all the more for thar scituation he esteemes not those on the highest ground more than those on the lowest ground but he priseth his Trees according to their fruits His care for his trees on the lowest ground is as much and sometimes more as for those on the higher ground Proposition shadowed This shadowes out unto us That The free love and care of God is as much towards his people in the meanest outward condition as towards those who are most eminent in the world The great Mysticall husbandman hath a large Orchard he plants his Fruit-trees where he pleaseth over all the parts of the world and some of them are planted on high and some on low grounds which he valueth not according to their Eminency or meanesse that with him is not considerable but according to the truth and sincerity of their hearts according to their fruits Poore Lazarus and rich Abraham are both cared for and beloved of God one as well as the other The poore
but of all believers to labour to enlarge the kingdome of Iesus Christ and to be faithfull diligent laborers in the Lords Vineyard This is the Lords great designe and the very worke of this generation in a particular respect who so hinders or neglects it even of Gods owne people shall suffer for it who so faithfully acts in it shall meete with speciall manifestations of the Love of God towards them The ninetie fourth Observation in Nature THe husbandman does not much stand upon the outward forme of his Orchards and Gardens to have them all just of one fashon and shape either round or long or square or otherwise He having divers Orchards and gardens they are some of one forme and some of another as some are larger than others so some are of one cut or shape and some of another he accompts it not necessary that they be all Vniforme but so the inward forme be good so the trees have good Natures and properties bringing forth good fruits that 's it he values it s all in all This shadowes out unto us this Proposition That Externall Vniformity in the Churches of Christ Proposition shadowed is of small accompt with him in respect of Vnity and spirituall worship Severall congregations or Churches of Christ having the spirit of Christ faith love unity of doctrine and ordinances may have divers formes and waies of outward administrations and every Church is to be left to its owne liberty therein and not to be in joyned such or such Formes Methods and waies of proceedings in the worship of God or in the discipline and goverment of the particular Churches For now in the time of the New Testament the worship of God consisteth not in Externals neither are they commanded as heretofore under the old administrations of the law But our Saviour tels us John 4.23 The houre commeth and now is when the true worshipers shall worship the father in spirit and in truth Many in the Apostles time had vaine and needlesse disputations about meat and drink and observation of daies and such like Rom. 14.1 3 5 10 13. c. he tels them vers 17. The Kingdome of God is not meat and drinke it consisteth not in any externall thing but it is righteousnesse peace and joy in the holy Ghost So that he leaves them to the using or not using of such outward things to their owne pleasures being of an indifferent Nature vers 5. let every man be fully perswaded in his owne mind Now so it is in respect of External Vniformity in Churches the worship of God being Now spirituall he leaves the externall part of it unto the choice and pleasure of his people to concurre in one way or Externall forme or to vary as they judg meete and convenient every particular Church among themselves in respect of time b As for one day in seven to be dedicated to God in worship that is the morall part of the fourth commandment and was changed from the seventh to the first day of the weeke by Christ himselfe and observed by his Apostles and Disciples place manner and forme and would not have his people to fall out and differ about tything Mynt Anise Cummin petty and indifferent things while they neglect the weighty and great matters of the Law unity and spirituall worship The Apostle Paul sharply reproves the Corinthians for standing so much upon Men Names Titles 1 Cor. 1.12 One saies I am of Paul another I am of Apollo another of Cephas another of Christ even as many in our daies they stick in the outside in Names and Formes Lutherans Calvinists some are for the Episcopall way some for the Presbiterian some for the Independent some for the Rebaptized way some reject all these as the b These people proceede further in censuring others then ever any did for they judge and condemne not only the Fortunes outward administrations of all Churches but also the whole sirituall state conditiō of all persons that are not of their way and that suddenly and rashly without knowledg of the persons contrary both to Scripture and Reason crying up a dimme Naturall light within and neglecting the true light of the word and spirit of Gods who not trying the spirits whether they be of God or not they in many things put darknesse for light and light for darknesse Quakers say their's is the way So that may we not say as the Apostle said 1 Cor. 3.3 Are ye not carnall for whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions are ye not carnall and walke as men In as much as they differ about Names and Formes and neglect and breake love and unity they are herein carnall though there may be truth of grace in and among them yet in this thing they are weake they are carnall this is knowing and approving of men after the flesh which the Apostle Paul allowes not 2 Cor. 5.16 I suppose it may be said of this or that Forme of worship as Paul saies of Circumcision 1 Cor. 7.19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but keeping the Commandments of God and Gal. 6.15 In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a New creature neither this or that forme or externall way of worship availeth any thing but faith love spirituall worship righteousnesse peace and joy in the holy Ghost an interest in Christ regeneration or becoming a new Creature unity and love with and towards one another walking with God in fellowship with the father and with his sonne Jesus Christ in spirituall worship these are the things that God requires of his people Not but that God cals for the service and worship of the outward man and some Externall formes and waies in his spirituall worship as well as inward worship but he ties not his people to one way or forme as men would do and stand for and make divisions amoung the Churches about it which God no where requires in his word and as for Examples in the Apostles times they vary in every Church as occasions required ther 's no one forme only established As for that Command 1 Cor 14.40 Let all things be done decently and in Order the meaning is not that the worship of God in his Ordinances or practises in all Churches should be all in one manner way or forme but that they should observe Order among themselves in every particular Church or congregation As in Cities and Townes Corporate though their Customes differ one from another yet there is Order in and among themselves in each particular place The Apostle tels us Acts 10.34 35. That in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him Now in many or severall Nations there are many and severall waies and formes in and about the worship of God in the administrations of the Ordinances of Christ yet all are accepted of God when the worsh p is in spirit and in
Of this see at large 100 101 c. up from the Roote to preserve the tree in life against all anoyances by the aire extracting out the sap or by dry cold winds frosts mildewes blasting or the like that els would destroy the tree This shadowes out unto us That There is a continuall secret supply of strength from Christ Proposition shadowed to every believer in time of desertion and temptation to preserve from totall falling away The Lord hath foretold his people that through many tribulations they must enter into the kingdome of God and hereafter in heaven it shall be said of them these are they that came out of great tribulations They must goe through many tryals and temptations in this world yea some of them go through fiery tryals very sharpe hot terrible temptations both in reference to the outward and inward man when not only all creatures seeme to be against them but even God himselfe also God sometimes hides his face and answers not yea seems as an enemie and yet in all these deepe Ps 69.2 Lam. 3.54 Waters flowed over mine headâ— then I said I am cut off waters and flouds that runne over them they are preserved from drowning their head is above water yea and a secret hand underneath upholds them from sinking God bids all his redeemed ones take notice of this Esay 43.2 feare not for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee and through the Rivers they shall not overflow thee when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt c. David was in great distresse when he said I am forgotten as a dead man out of minde I am like a broken vessell Psal 31.12 yet helpe was neerer then he was aware of which he afterwards perceived and acknowledged v. 22. I said in my hast I am cut off from before thine eyes neverthelesse thou heardest the voice of my supplications In the winter of desertion and distresse of soule when the sunne is clouded yea and gone a farre off too as to the soules apprehension when a poore creature can perceive no motions of the spirit nor workings of any grace when there 's no buds not blossoms no leaves nor fruits to be perceived upon the tree no signe of life no sun-shine nor showers no dewes no refreshing but contrariwise Clouds and darknesse round about cold boysterous winds sharp hard frosts stormes of snow and haile all discouragements deadnesse hardnesse of heart all kinds of temptations from within and without yet even then there are secret supports from and by the hand of Christ he is there present and oversees all and manages all for the good of the poore soule for otherwise the spirit would faile it could not be able to beare up under the weight of these temptations Vse 1 The consideration of this may be a Cordiall to poore distressed soules Psal 69.2 when they sinke and stick fast in the deepe mire where there is no standing when they are fallen into deepe waters where the floods runne over them Let them know and consider that the thoughts of God towards them are not as their thoughs They sometimes say or are ready to say and think as the distressed Church did Esay 49.14 The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me But what are their thoughts of God in the meane time towards such poore discouraged soules his thoughts are thoughts of love even the most tender love passing the love of the most tender Mothers towards their deare Children Esay 49.13 Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the sonne of her womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee Though God withhold sometimes the evidence of his love from his people yet his love changeth not though he seeme to cast downe and overthrow yet he doth secretly uphold Vse 1 Therefore let such of his people that walke in darknesse and have no light trust in the name of the Lord and stay themselves upon their God Esay 50.10 and in the use of all good meanes waite for deliverance for as God giveth now a sure and secret support in and under the affliction so he will give in his time a full deliverance that his people may praise him The hundred Observation in Nature FRuit-trees give forth their fruits as freely to the poore as to the Rich they naturally beare as much and as good fruit in the poore mans Garden or Orchard as in the rich mans They are all one as free and liberall to the poore as to the Rich and greatest persons Hence we may learne That True Christians doe communicate of their good things as freely to the poore as to the Rich. There are Rules and commands to use and improve our Talents of all good things for the good of all Poore and Rich but especially to give out and distribute to the Poore and meaner sort and more especially to those that are Godly Gal 6.10 Do good unto all but especially to the houshold of faith 1 Tim 6.18 Be ready to distribute willing to comunicate He. 13.16 To do good communicate for get not This is a just Reproofe unto those who call themselves Christians and it may be are so and yet have little regard to the Poore and meaner sort of persons who live amongst them in any the good things Vse 1 they communicate Many of the greater sort of persons Professors and others are free in their Gifts and benefits one towards another frequently inviting and feasting one another but few or none of the Poore or meaner ranke of Christians are the better for all such expences directly contrary to the Rule and command of our blessed Saviour as though they had never heard of any such thing where he saies plainely Luk. 14.12 When thou makest a dinner or a supper call not thy rich neighbours and freinds least they bid thee againe and a recompense be made thee but call the poore c. and thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just Though this place be not so to be taken as though the rich might not be invited yet it is much more strong for the poore But how far are many Rich Professors from walking by this rule or the Example of Job Chap. 31 17. who tels us he eat not his Morssels alone but the poore had part with him and this was a ground of comfort to him in his greatest troubles What will such persons answere our blessed Lord at the last day when he tels them ye were ashamed of me in my poore Members ye owned them not yee invited and entertained one another freely and frequently but my poore brethren were not amongst you although ye knew your Masters will in this thing yet ye did it not but walked contrary to it Vse 2 This is for the honour comfort of those who communicate of their good things as well or much rather to the poore and meanest Members of Jesus Christ as to the Rich And according to the Example of Christ owne them for brethren To these he will say come ye blessed Children of my father inherit the kingdome for in as much as ye shewed kindnesse to these my brethren ye did it unto me Mat. 24 34. Thus have I through the assistance of God performed my promise to make up what was formerly published an 100 Observations in Nature with Similitudes together with their improvement to spirituall uses I have many more in my Nursery but most are yet in the seede or Bud which when they are growen up and enlarged as these into a Body and Branches I shall if the Lord please communicate them also that others if they will but receive them be content to have them planted in their owne Gardens may partake of their Fruits such Fruits as the Apostle speakes of Gal. 5. and Col. 1.6 And it is my desire and supplication to the great husbandman that he will engraft every truth into our hearts and cause it to grow and thrive by the Sunshine and Raine of heaven and to bring forth much good fruit unto himselfe pleasant savory fruits such as he loveth and will eat of that his soule may blesse us yea whereof we our selves may also feede not only heâ— but to all Eternity FINIS