And when once you have tasted how good his Service is * Psal 34. you will then out of more noble generous principles as I hinted to you before it being not only an easy pleasant profitable but an honourable service so that if you love your selves and who is there that does not then thirst after your own real good and happiness love God with all your Souls and Minds and serve him with all your strength and might express it in your Christian Charity in your hearty love and service to one another and to love your Neighbour as your self * Jam. 2.8 Non habet charitatem Dei qui Ecclesiae non diligit Vnitatem I met with this in that inoffensive Learned Author Dr. Barrow on Unity and as you do expect and would fain have the like from him and to the utmost endeavour for Unity * Eph. 4. to be of one mind so great is the advantage of it but if that is almost impossible and that offences must and will come as the Saviour of the World informs you * Luke 17. but give none and then you 'l be sure to save your own Souls having charitable thoughts of all construing every thing in the most favourable sense that it is capable of * 1 Cor. 13.7 and if there must needs be Emulations and Contentions among you at any time let them be of the better stamp strive which shall out-strip each other in the ways of Piety and real Holiness and frequently offer to overcome one another which is the best sort of Conquest by abundance of love and condescension by frequent acts of kindness and repeated favours to weary out your very Foes with love to load them with Gratuities and Courtesies to do good Offices for bad ones and the like Thus to persevere and hold out to the end is in good earnest to serve the Lord our selves our Families all that we have to do withal the place we are in the Neighbourhood the Country the King and the Kingdom But in the next place Vse 2 by way of Reprehension to calm it with some Advice and to shew you how we have grosly mistaken the service of God Now if miserableness and covetousness if domestick Jars and Discords if little Pikes and Quarrels with our Neighbours if taking that for sin which is duty * 1 Pet. 2.13 if looking upon that to be duty which is none * Jam. 2.9 as for Instance If fondness to a Party and disgust to a contrary Persuasion if hating and disdaining if proud humility and phantastick conceitedness if throwing our selves upon the ground like a Tennis-ball with a design to rebound so much the higher if base Apostacy and downright Revolting if notorious Hypocrisie and famous Dissembling if this be serving of God we have whole shoals of such Professors to produce daily If discontents and murmurings if whining and being on the complaining key if disobedience and untowardness to Superiours in Office Age or Gift to Parents Ministers Magistrates c. if burlesquing and buffooning if miscalling and nick-naming if raising false Reports and spreading them for true ones * James 3. if lying and back biting if blasting mens Credit and plundering them of what is more dear to them than their lives their good Names if censuring casting darts and firebrands at one another as Solomon's Proverbs phraseth it * Pro. 26.18 19 20. if this be serving God we have enough of this Tribe and counterfeit Stamp to present you withal If scandalous Reflections and boldly speaking evil of Dignities * 2 Pet. 2◠Jude if inveighing and letting flie at the Government after a strange rate and saying as it is in the Book of Ecclesiastes * Ch. 7. 10. What is the cause why former times were better than these we do not do wisely in so doing as that place informs you yet if all this be serving of God as 't is matter of fact there 's many too too many do this to some purpose that do or should know better And those too that are pleas'd to stile themselves the only true Protestant Christians thô they act clear contrary thereto they will think me surely never the worse Friend or greater Enemy * Gal. 4. for speaking the Truth but to reprieve your dying Fame transgress sin no more in this kind or any other be no more superstitious lest a worse thing befall you * John 5.14 than ever you dreamt of yet by losing of both worlds the present Canaan in possession and the eternal one in reversion * Deut. 30.19 20. But again to direct my Discourse to those who in their Judgment are for Church-Discipline but in their practice against it which truly does the greatest disservice more by far than the most enraged of our Enemies Now if prodigality and intemperance if rioting and drunkenness if dallying and fornicating if cursing and banning if swaggering and swearing hectoring and rallying at those that are not of their Judgment in every nicety and punctilio and when did we ever see two faces so alike but that they might be distinguisht by a Mole feature a look or the like If this be serving of God there are those that do it with a witness thinking themselves too the best Loyalists but ah poor deluded Souls 't is neither to God nor their Soveraign Those that are bad to themselves cannot be good to their great Lord and Master Take away the wicked from before the King saith King Solomon * Pro. 16.12 13 14 15. and his Throne shall be establisht for ever in Righteousness * Prov. 25.5 So that it is our sins that do most prejudice our Dread Soveraign and do undermine his Government shake his Kingdom and unless we be truly penitent 't is well if we and our most glorious King do not perish * 1 Sam. 12.25 which the Lord long preserve Him and all his that are truly Loyal whatever Convictions may be upon their Spirits to leave that to God and themselves But how can it be imagin'd they that are false hearted treacherous and disloyal to their own Souls that they should be either true or constant to God in Heaven or to Man on Earth How can it be possibly expected that they that carelesly destroy their own lives should take care of and charily preserve Him His or any others Therefore instead of condemning Providence for being too exact and severe with the poor Church of England or with the King or Kingdom at any time Let 's strive to be religious that 's the only way to appease it to be successful and prosperous * Prov. 11.11 and most serviceable to all three 'T is Righteousness that that great Politician Solomon says exalts a Nation * Prov. 14.34 'T is our backsliding and revoltings that is the downfal and overthrow of any people 'T is sin sin that makes breaches in our poor Protestant walls overturns our bulwarks and
and their Families endeavour to the utmost to transcribe it into their practice to be religious devout and godly to serve the Lord the great Jehovah and not the world themselves or the like which is the best way of expressing our thankfulness for the many Deliverances that the King and Kingdom has been blest withal by our Homage and Obeysance to the Soveraign Lord of Heaven and Earth which does include the same to all that are plac'd in Authority under him our Loyalty and Service to them so that observe 1. Here 's a Resolution to be religious and vertuous not to be wicked vicious or factious 2. By whom By one going the way of all the Earth * Jos 23.14 nay by a Commander the Chief General of the Israelites Forces for himself and his Family not for the Army or the Nation or the Country in general or for any part of it in particular as the Amorites or the Perizzites for the Canaanites or Hittites or for the Gergesites the Hivites or the Jebusites c * Ver. 11. 3. But Thirdly On what was resolved on Service not the Military and War-like but on the Worship and Service of God 4. To whom in the last place To the Lord not one word of serving of self of Parties or Factions of Passions or Prejudices of Interests by sinister ends or the like I do now expect that you will look for it that I should inform you in what particulars the Service of the Lord should be exprest in thô none be exprest in the Text. Besides the people five or six times over in the same Chapter confirm the same promise and protest to serve the Lord * Ver. 16 18 21 22 24. but did not particularize in what only in general against sinning Superstition and Idolatry * Ver. 19 20. which we mostly ought to level our displeasure against at which we will make some attempt before we have done But first of all to intimate and insinuate with some takingness if it might be what we should do And then afterwards secondly in the Application without giving any just offence to shew you what we have done and what the very best of us all are too subject for to do But with the first What we should do as to serving of God All of you know 't is well if you did it that you your selves your second selves your Children your Servants should serve the Lord As old Father Abraham set you long ago a pattern as to himself and his houshold * Gen. 18.19 And that pious Joshua did the same and that we should do so too not only to lay down Precepts to give them good Rules but first of all to give them a good Example and not to rest there but take care of them afterwards to Read to them to hear them Read to Catechize Catechize instruct to pray with and for them to Preach to them direct them and the like c. I mean frequently to mind them of their Duty and earnestly press them to it and as eagerly to put them on it But these things I shall not stand to insist on thô of great consequence they are so commonly known yet the Lord knows too seldom practised thô in the New Testament you are told he is worse than an Infidel that does not take care of his Family and Kindred * 1 Tim. 5.8 Now if provision for persons bodys be so necessary and reasonable what is then due and of absolute necessity for the good and welfare for the well being and well doing of our precious long-liv'd Souls the others being only the shells and carkasses at best but the Cabinets and Lodgings for these if the breach of the former if the over-looking of the Body be so censur'd and condemn'd for worse than Heathenism what What will then the neglect of the other be the Soul but termed the highest ingratitude the most notorious Crime imaginable the most capital offence that a man can possibly be guilty of a kind of spiritual unnaturalness and inhumanity of butchery and Soul murder that few or none would willingly be taxt withal totally ruining the better part of you and yours and that for ever and ever Therefore train up your Children in the way that you would have them to go and they 'l not depart from it when they are old * Prov. 2.6 And Servants be not men-pleasers only but such as know that you have a Master in Heaven that sees all and will first or last call you unto an Account * Eph. 6.6 7 8. And again How shall a young Man cleanse his ways but by taking heed unto God's Word and walking accordingly * Psal 119.9 And lastly To you that are Old 't is the Lords service only that crowns your gray hairs and hoary heads with glory * Prov. 16.31 But now you Governours of Families if you cannot by threats or promises by kindnesses or punishments reclaim those about you and under your Roof or Charge will it be much amiss if you follow godly David's practice * Verse 7. as it is in Psal 101. not to suffer a Lyer by naming one I conclude it comprehends all a Swearer a Drunkard a Fornicator an Adulterer no not a Purloiner a Bate-breeder a Tale-bearer a Libeller a State-mender that goes out of his own sphere an Evil-doer to lodge within your doors * 1 Joh. 4.10 11. so as to countenance or encourage them but such either reform and change or as you have opportunity to dismiss and banish out of your presence and society company or custody Having now gone so far towards the explaining this phrase of serving the Lord I will further unravel my meaning Thô 't is true one says it is this to be of this Party and Faction another 't is that to be of that Side and Interest a third declares it is neither a fourth cannot tell what it is is at a loss and so far to seek upon the account of the former and so onwards to many more Now notwithstanding all these variety of different Opinions of thwarting clashing and jarringly contradicting one another it is probable it may seem to some somewhat hard to direct you to keep the Mean and Mid-way amongst these faulty Extreams but with God's Assistance I 'le venture to state the case and it may I hope please and convince or at least all Parties 1 Thes 4.11 the most querulous gainsayers shall have nothing material to object against it whilst I am minding my own business 1 Tim. 2.15 and from the very bottom of my Soul studying to be quiet and peaceable whilst I am imploy'd in my Calling * As ye may see in the Gentleman and Lady's Calling Which is worth the frequent perusing and practising for there is none that are or should be without * 1 Cor. 7.24 whilst I am innocently diverting my self in company whilst profitably discoursing having my conversation
in Heaven * Phil. 3.20 whilst I am boasting what the Lord hath done for my poor Soul * Psal 66.16 that I am not given up to my self to run with the vile world to all excess of Riot to be taken with the Vanities Fopperies Follys of an abused Age how he has rescued me as a Firebrand out of the Jaws of Death and Hell whilst I am instructing the Ignorant reclaiming the Extravagant and advising the Runagate and Prodigal in my Family to return I am serving the Lord whilst I am letting them know what pleasure I have in being truly Religious what secret Raptures ravishing Transports unknown Pastimes and Extasies of Joys I have in doing the will of my heavenly Father it is such a pious Feast and delightful Banquet that the greatest Epicurean knows not of * Luke 14. That I would not be hired off by the wealth of the Indies though a large bribe to do as I have Done or to be as vain simple and foolish as the world to be as earthly sensual and Devilish as they that are in it * Jam. 3.15 I am serving rhe Lord while visiting the Widdow and Fatherless relieving and comforting of them * Jam. 1.27 whilst reaching out mine hand and administring to the necessities of the weak sick and needy whether in Soul or body Whilst I am Sympathizing and strongly phancying my self in their deplorable circumstances and then calling to mind my own happy Condition I cannot chuse but be chearful Bless and Adore my God it is not so with me whilst I am setting my hand to the Plow or to the Needle * Prov. 31. Doing good Offices at home for them Catering for my self the family any body towards clothing the naked feeding the hungry nay giving but a Cup of cold water to the thirsty a poor business yet sufficient If I have no better * Mat. 10.42 Now no Divine or humane Law with us that I know of forbids or restrains any of us from doing any of these things And lastly to instance in no more whilst I am giving a good Example to all that are round about me that either converse with me know me or hear of me and do as I would be done by * Luke 16. Luke 17.10 and when I have done all * Col. 3.11 as if I had done nothing at all to look for salvation through the Merits onely and Intercession of a mighty Saviour and the blessed Spirit and not by my own worthless works and services I am more truly serving my God and doing what he requires of me then were I with my weak hands with my feeble power upholding a tottering Ark * 2 Sam. 6.6 7. though honestly meant poor Vzzah's life dearly paid for it or more plainly thus were I with my shoulders supporting a reeling Church unless extraordinarily called thereto which if otherwise 't is to suspect or Distrust the Lords Ability and that the Almighty God has need of our poor help But more particularly whilst I am Doing the aforenamed things I am as sincerely serving and honouring my God and doing that which is as well pleasing to him as if I was hearing a Well composed Sermon that did hit my humour in every punctillio or as if I was in my study or closet reading a good book or upon my bended knees Devoutly praying or privately keeping a voluntary Fast thô these are excellent things in their places and must by no means be neglected I Repeat it that I may not be mistaken thôugh these are excellent things in their places and must by no means be wholly neglected and will not be by any Godly Person yet truly the others are the main ones that must be done remembring too that these may not be left undone * Mat. 23.23 for if Comparison are not too distastful may but be admitted of The very Life and Soul the visible Effects and blessed fruits the very juice and quintescence of all these as of Praying Reading Hearing Fasting and the like are the former As it is notably confirm'd in Isaiahs prophesy ch 58. at large from one end to the other and let this one place suffice for many because it takes in all others But now to encourage you in so noble a service as Serving the Lord that is an easy service first * Mat. 11.30 Not onely easy but secondly pleasant * Prov. 3.17 And 3. Not onely pleasant * 1 Tim. 4.8 but profitable And lastly Not only profitable but honourable * 1 Sam. 2.30 What would any of us desire more in any service They are such special Ingredients and taking qualifications that would highly recommend to us any Course of life besides And now what strange ill humour'd Creatures are we that are so averse and obstinately bent against our own Interest here and happiness hereafter But to come to the other thing that was promised Application surely 't is now needless yet for the sake of the meanest I 'll make bold with the quickest of Apprehension as formally to tell you the first use will be of Exhortation the next a mild way of reprehension little exprest but a great deal to be understood and the last a general and particular Direction or two First To begin with the use of Exhortation to exhort us to the service of God whether of Paul Apollo or Cephas or Christ for I conjecture all these kinds and perhaps many more that make up this flourishing Congregation I do not now call you to answer to those unhappy unchristian-like names that you have branded each other withall and as if you delighted in what you have done taking a kind of a secret vaunting pride in being so termed paying it off in thinking and forecasting what you will do * Jam. 4. But whatever your private sentiments may be of the transactions of the world let me prevail with you in this one thing 't is no unreasonable request at all for then I should not Expect to speed * 1 Pet. 3. that we all unanimously agree in this to serve the Lord to serve the Lord And in that way too which he himself hath appointed yea in those very things which I have instanced in before As for imposing or so much as glancing on mens Consciences they are such nice delicate compositions that they must be gently touched very tenderly dealt withal 't is done to my Hands by a more Able Pen called a Discourse on a scrupulous conscience Therefore to wave that By my worthy Tutor Dr. Callamy My Design is only to strike at Mens sinful Actions and practices and I pray you so forward and encourage me in so good a work sa to bring home the blow If you will not for Gods sake for the Churches for the Kings nor for the Kingdoms nor for Christs sake nor for your poor immortal Souls sake yet out of interest and advantage for by sinister ends serve the Lord.
instead of the Lords honourable service yea every poor man in his weather-beaten Cottage has as much Command and Authority there under his thatcht Roof and narrow Confines as the Peer and Noble man has within his spacious Mannor or Princely Pallace Therefore all of you I humbly beseech you Rule well within your own Stations and Territories keep up their good Order and Kingly Government and instruct all under you in Obedience and Duty in Justice and Honesty to your selves and others and what you expect from them to you according to that golden Rule Doing as you would be done by it does not repent me thô this be the second or third time I have had it on this Subject that you by your Examples press it the more on them by doing it and continually practising the same your selves to those above you especially to those to whom you owe subjection to Kings and to all that are plac'd in Authority under them and then this will be to the honour of God to the Advancement of your Religion to the Well being of your selves to the promoting of your Families to the Benefit of your Neighbours to the Glory of our Nation and at last to your own Eternal Salvation And till you have done all this in your own houses be not under any pretence whatsoever drawn out to the reforming and new-modelling of Nations It is too great a work for every Mechanick or single States-man to undertake such grand matters are for the whole Nation to consult on or at least for their Representatives imbodyed into one For what says the wise man that great States man of all others King Solomon by name That in the multitude of Counsellors there is much safety * Prov. 11.14 So that now for you that are present thô many yet scarce the thousandth Man of them that are in His Majesties Dominion Therefore it behoves you instead of mending and new molding of Kingdoms let your Eyes be turned within doors begin at home and you will find such need of repairs there that you 'l not easily be tempted to look abroad for want of better Imployment as the Lord knows all of us too frequently are Grant that the Nation is bad very bad but do not you make it worse by being so too Nay further admit of it that it not only has a Mote but a very great Beam in its Eye that it is not at all sensible of it and almost blinded with it that it begins to be frantick and raving with its pricking pain what then shall we like Quacks and Mountebanks long to be medling and tampering with it No no! I hope we are all of us so ingenuous and I do not at all doubt of it but that we will freely acknowledg that there is something thô it be never so little in our own Eyes that each single person in the Kingdom would be pleas'd to pluck out that which is in their own or in their Families and when we come to see clearly by that time there will not be so much as the least Speck Iota in the Eye of the Nation left To conclude We have hitherto been too preposterously imploy'd and begun undiscreetly very odly at the wrong end as if we would Tile the House or Thatch it with Straw or Stubble and then daub up the Walls with our untemper'd Mortar and not only so but to hang it too in the fleeting Air by Geometry before we have so much as laid the very foundation the first corner Stone The New Testament tells you this is not like a Master-builder * Luke 14. We may hold up these light shingles or whiffling straws that the wind blows to and fro up in our hands or support them for a short time with the strong blasts of our foul mouths but in time weary of the Imploy and slavish Service they will at last if not timely taken down fall like heavy Slates upon our heads and dash us ours our Religion our threatned Church our tottering State our poor King and poorer Kingdom into a thousand piece-meals * Nahum making all our Habitations empty void and waste which the Lord in his mercy prevent and grant that we and our Houses may forth with serve the Lord in that manner that may be most acceptable to him that he and his Church has appointed to his Glory and to our own Salvation The Lord grant so great a blessing to the whole Nation for Jesus Christ his sake Amen Amen FINIS
JOSHUA'S RESOLUTION Or the DUTIES of Houshold-Governours Discoursed of and fairly stated Their Failures therein mildly consider'd and without favour or affection impartially weighed The Subject suited to the Capacities of Tamworth Auditory and Preached there and elsewhere By John Wagstaffe A. M. And Rector of Little Wenlock in Shropshire In Sep. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith King Solomon in his Proverbs ch 24.26 He will be befriended not frowned on that declares the Truth LONDON Printed by Thomas Snowden And are to be sold by Henry Mortlack at the Phaenix in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1684. THE Epistle Dedicatory To Religious Conscientious Governours of all Ranks and Degrees among us c. To the Meanest as well as to the Greatest NO Present too great for so worthy Patrons and in particular to my own and that Loyal one where it was first Preacht yet such as I have with all heartiness I humbly present to you you who experimentally know how far easier it is to obey than command Tho it be a Parents Prerogative to command his Children yet it is duty in him to obey a Father or a Magistrate place't in Authority over him tho it be a Magistrates Priviledge to controul and call to account all under his Jurisdiction yet it is his bounden Duty to obey Soveraignty and Kingly Government and tho it be the bâ—st Jewel and the very Diadem of a Crowned King to command his Subjects yet it is his Interest and greatest Happiness to obey his Maker and Creator that most glorious Majesty of Earth and Heaven * Prov. 8.15 that you may easily observe that no Mortal no not the greatest Grandee but a Deity himself * 21.1 that is exempted one time or other from obeying and serving as well as commanding and ruling Therefore what 's offered you in these following sheets 't is to pleasure Friends the befrienders of Godliness and Christianity of Protestantism and Vnity * Phil. 2. and not at all to pretend to inform the Nation of any thing that it knows not but to remember them that are in it that they do what they know It is true the Land abounds in Knowledge I wish I could say the same for the honour of it that it did so too in practice then we should be as happy * Joh. 13.17 and as flourishing as now we begin to be declining and contemptible but that poor England may redeem its lost Reputation let each of us discharge those particular Duties that are incumbent on us and every single person take their own parts that are allotted them and that their own Consciences carve out for them and not to intrench upon anothers right that all of us may act and do like Rational men that have Immortal Souls to save like the true Professors of Christianity like those that do heartily protest against Rebellion and Popery Faction and Phanaticism Enthusiasm and Atheism nay against Irreligion and all manner of Prophaneness whatsoever and not to look one way and with all might and main to row another for we had not been hitherto spared if kind Providence had not stept in between and watcht over us for good safeguarded us one time after another from those apparent dangers wherewith we were compassed that we our selves do now plain enough see we had ere now been engag'd imbroil'd in another Civil War our Hands and Garments by this time to have been dyed in each others Blood which would have been small Credit to Christians or to our English Nation * But if after all there be only a shew of Sanctity a meer shadow and Mock-pageantry of Piety and that the Substance and Glory is wanting viz. the practice have we not still great cause greatly to fear that under the colour of Religion which it utterly disowns of having the old abhorr'd Tragedy sham'd upon us afresh if it were not for the prudent Conduct and Mercifulness of one of the most indulgent Princes that did ever sway a Royal Sceptor that I hope will yet vanquish the bitterest of his Enemies by the wonders of his kindness and forbearance * Prov. 19.11 12. that haâ— been hitherto already stretcht out to a miracle that if we at any time miscarry it will soon be found detected to be our disservice untowardness disobedience ingratitude to Powers Ordained of God * Rom. 13.1 to God-like Clemency and Authority therefore if we still persist in our disingenuity inhumanity to put him upon any thing which his Kingly Conscience cannot yield to * Rom. 14.23 and for all that what do we do more by our Jealousies and Whispers * Prov. 16.28 29 30. but still continue to trespass dun and harrass the Lords Anointed * 1 Sam. 24.6 and then what do we do less but dare Majesty it self at length to punish us and provoke him to that which he is loth to undertake viz. our Ruine yet if we perish if we perish * Esther 4. whom have we to blame but our selves And to me 't is as clear as noon-day Light that the wickedness ungovernableness hate and haughtiness of the Peoples Spirits does strangely portend if not timely prevented our misery and downfall which that so dreadful a storm * Jonah 1. may be diverted and rather lighten on the Protestant Foes I am not shy in owning my self one of that Loyal Praying number * 3.10 thô Prayers and Tears by some are made light of already That is an humble Petitioner at the Footstool of Heaven where it is no crime to be a Supplicant tho one of the meanest yet willingly would be one of the Humblest Truest Servants To the GREAT JEHOVAH And to all his Vicegerents here below To the Pater Patriae Pater Familias To the Governours of Kingdoms And to the Governours of Families JOHN WAGSTAFFE Joshua's Resolution c. Joshua 24.14 Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in truth and put away the Gods which your Fathers served on the other side of the floud and in Egypt and serve ye the Lord. Joshua 24.15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord chuse you this day whom you will serve whether the Gods which your fathers served that were on the otherside of the floud or the Gods of the Amorites in whose land ye dwell But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24.16 And the people answered and said God forbid that we should forsake the Lord to serve other Gods Amen Amen THE Text is too long for a single Sermon therefore mostly to enlarge on that comprehensive passage But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord as if he had said As for others let them do what they will the vain obstinate world do as they think good but as for his particular part and his whole house he had undertaken for them to serve the Lord a rare but yet an excellent Copy set before us therefore let Masters
most fortified places so that I need not apologize to such for my plain dealing when calm and sober as they are Now they will scarce forgive themselves but sadly bewail these their former miscarriages as their imbecillity and weakness as their great frailty and inexcusable folly taking these rebukes and buffettings as the highest expressions of the greatest friendship and the heartiest kindness * Prov. 9.8 Pro. 27.5 6. For every one can act the part of a Sycophant to sooth and cajole but few or none that of a faithful friend or true Minister of the Gospel to blame reprove as there is occasion * 1 Tim. 5.20 21. Besides such knowing that the distressed Church of England as to its Doctrine in her lowest ebb will not dispense with such oblique crooked practices this her Sons and Daughters well enough know If our Practices could but reach our Principles oh what manner of persons should we then be in all holy conversation and godliness There would then be more difference betwixt them and too many others as there is betwixt the glorious Sun at noon day in all its bright shining lustre and the poor Glow-worm that is crawling up the ditch bank that mostly sparkles and glitters in the darkest night this is the happiness of ours that is by Law enthron'd I hope so firmly fixt that the Gates of Hell may never prevail against it * Mat. 16.18 though 't is true there is none without its spots and flaws yet those that entirely love her will never cease praying for her peace and welfare * Ps 122. But by our sins oh my particular friends we are very unkind nay cruel to her that we insensibly stab give the deepest wounds to our Religion and Christian Profession * Gal. 2.14 that are almost incurable by our irregular unaccountable lives so that for the future let the innocency of our lives be the Churches best Scutcheon and greatest glory the sweetness obligingness of our conversation win upon Proselite dissatisfied Brethren * Rom. 15.2 Heathens Runagates and the like to gain a Soul Souls And if one be of more worth than a world * 1 Cor. 9 29 what value shall we then put upon thousands that will amount to more than ten thousand Kingdoms or Worlds therefore let such a spirit of Godliness Condescension Moderation * Mal. 16.26 Brotherly Love * See what the Reverend Bishop Wilkinson saith on that subject recommended by the very much admired Dr. Tillotson Christian Piety Honesty Charity Sobriety so fill our veins as to run through all our actions yea through all the Stages of our life and so brightly shine forth upon all the by-standers as to influence them to do the same But again thirdly If the worshiping Stocks and Stones being form'd hammer'd out into a God or a Saint which is no less than Idolatry if perjury or forswearing which the Land ought to mourn for * 1 Thes 4.9 10. if Treasons or Conspiracies * Jer. 23. which are almost as common with some as drinking to one another if Murders and Massacres against those that will not be guilty of the same things if unwearied Plotting and Counter-plotting to help forward a bad Cause if deposing of Kings overturning of Kingdoms may pass for Reformation if doing these things themselves when trac'd to the head yet now and then confidently fathering the same on others Now if all this be an Ordinance of God and doing God good service there are those that do it to the life I am not so meal mouth'd as to be afraid of naming of them * Luk. 12.4 5. but to do Justice to a Jew Greek or a Turk * Lev. 19.15 Thô Popery had got the whip hand of Presbytery * Deut. 1.17 and was ready to out-top the Reformed Episcopacy which God forbid * Prov. 24. God forbid yet a true English Christian like Spirit * Rom. 10.12 13. will soon tell you they are the Roman Factors the Popes Priests and Jesuits his Vassals and Hackney Agents * Luk. 12.9 Or by those that fain would be so or the most genuine construction that can be put upon it that act and formally do the same things thô they know it not If this be serving of God there is no doubt but they out-do us all and according to their old Stale State Tenets Beloved Principles Wedded Politicks they think they merit Heaven by it consecrating the very Instruments for so holy or rather horrid imploy But the Lord preserve us from so much as being tainted with so bloody blasphemous lying Idolatrous * Look into Dr. Stillingfleet's works the Protestant Champion against Idolatry onâ— the one hand and Superstition on the other scandalous and tyrannical Religion that is for Lording it over mens Consciences as well as Lives and Estates Now contrary to all these which the Church strictly enjoyns and which the well constituted Laws of the Nation does approve of and highly recommend to us and which God himself does absolutely command are these that follow which without hyperbolizing and more gentilely straining are the best strongest Bulwarks to Protestanism the best of Religions if crowned Loyalty and most renowned Fidelity if upright Honesty * Psal 15. and unshaken Piety if excellent Sobriety and admirable Charity if courteous Affability and friendly Correspondency if the deepest unfeigned Humility and bountiful chearful Liberality * Gal. 6.10 if universal Charity and a true generous Spirit of Christianity * 1 Cor. 13. is that which passes currant with all men for the Service of God how have all or at least most of us swerv'd warpt and strangely digress'd from it yea gone a whoring after our own Inventions * Psal 106.38 Again if thinking well of every body and speaking so too so far as Truth will bear us out or otherwise to be silent * Titus 3. for Christian Love will cover a multitude of sins and misdemeanours * 1 Pet. 4.8 if bearing and forbearing if real patience and long suffering if forgiving and forgetting if good turns for bad ones if sincerely loving Enemies * 1 Thes 5.15 Matth. 5. Matth. 18. the Dissenters nay the very Papists their Persons thô not their Principles instead of downright hating them if heartily prâ—ying for their Conversion instead of their Confusion if readily blessing of them instead of cursing them and at last gasp with the famous Martyr St. Stephen on our knees to beg of the Lord not to lay it to their charge * Acts 7.60 thô at the same time they were killing butchering and stoning of us to death if this be to serve the Lord as really it is and that all of you know it too in the highest Instances if of Self denial and Mortification which far exceeds all Ecclesiastical Censures Popish Pennances or Pilgrimages to seal the Lord's Service with our Blood which is so very precious to
us that we are loth to part with the least drop of it unless it be in the defence and quarrel of our lusts or for our dearly beloved passions so that we may cull out of the thinnest or if you please out of the fullest Congregation those that are Doers of thy Word O Lord and do thus serve thee to their lives end and they would scarce be mist much more would it be so should we search into Forreign Countrys how few or none would then be met withal of so choice a number nay it is well in some measure instead of meeting with Proselites and Professors to Protestanism if they were not Rengeadoes a kind of Heaven Traitors to serve the Lord as Christ's own Disciples did that instead of owning and boldly confessing him sneakingly to desert and forsake him yea basely cowardly to abandon and forswear him * Math. 26.70 72 74. Nay who is there among many among all these that we have taken notice of that are but devoutly praying and praising God Luke 6.21 praying to the Almighty to amend and rectifie what is amiss amongst us and at the same time to praise him * 1 Tim. 2. that it is no worse with us whose sins do so abound superabound so loudly call cry for vengeance speedily to be executed upon us He has born long he will not bear always * Gen. 6. yet we have not as yet forborn sinning but the more incenst him by our daring Crimes and repeated Provocations * 1 Joh. 5.19 as if we would defie Heaven it self to punish us thô he is long lifting up his hand yet upon that very account it will at last fall the more heavy upon us If you think this now too high a Charge it is well if the best of us all can come forth one single person and say that he has done this or the other duty or abstain'd from this or the other sin so as to become a new Man that was a bad one before because he sees God is angry with his People or the Nation and threatning them very sorely and that a dismal Cloud is hanging hovering over our heads by a twined Thred only that if it be once suffered to pour forth its Vials of Wrath and Fury upon us as if it were Fire and Brimstone to humane appearance it would consume us and our posterity if not feasonably prevented by a real Reformation There 's no question at all now to be made but many of us would do dare talk for our Religion and if need were could fight for God the Country the King and Kingdom but thô we name all these yet it would be with most at last found to their lasting disgrace and eternal infamy that it was mostly for their near and dear selves for where are these in what corner of the World are they to be met withal that would chearfully suffer and die for it that with their Weapons in their hands could lay them and their Lives at the footstool of Heaven and say as they profess so for to do daily thy Will thy Will not ours be done Christianity asserts it I wish and pray that my heart and yours when it comes to it may say so too For St. Paul to Timothy a man of sufferings in that known place * 2 Tim. 3.12 13. tells us positively All that will live godly must suffer persecution That all of us must expect to be buffetted either in the act or in the intention or in both as there is occasion or as we are call'd to it but upon no pretence whatsoever to run head-long upon it yet at last how many more will be found Martyrs to their lusts and Phancies to their unruly humours and untoward passions than to their God their Saviour to their King or Country You may easily gather by what has been already tendred you I do not at all intend to befriend any Party or Faction I had rather my faltering Tongue should cleave to the roof of my Mouth * Psal 137. than so for to do my design is only to press on you uncounterfeit Piety and real Holiness Christian Loyalty and ready Obedience whatever comes on 't that I would have you not to be byassed to flag or be turn'd aside at any thing but to weather-beat and to endure the brunt and shock of the most threatning dangers * Eph. 8.6 for had I so much as a thought to become a popular Preacher to be the Worlds * Jam. 4.4 Minion or Favourite and to serve my self instead of serving my God * Gal. 1.10 I would go another way to work * Psal 82.6 7. to keep at as great a distance as might be from mens sins or sore places As to give you but a tast * Mat. 24.23.24 like a fair spoken Jesuit in Masquerade that has his full Commission to act any part whether Atheist Fanatick or Papist that makes nothing at all of wresting the most Sacred Records so as to force them to speak as he would have them 1. As first to one Club rendezvouz of boon Companions I would comply with them as far as I could And by my Example I would encourage them to take their swing to eat drink play Exod. 32. and be merry * 1 Luke 12.9 20. and do whatever they had a mind to * 1 Cor. 15.32 thô one does not know what a day may bring forth and that to morrow one may die for 't * Pro 27.1 2. Again to another select number and Tribe I would hearten them on to take not their Christian * Jam. 1.26 but the Libertines Liberty and tell them of luscious promises fine pleasing things to tickle their effeminate fancies and if this did not sound well I would in Scripture Language claw their itching Ears * 2 Tim. 4. by crying Peace peace thô sudden destruction was ready to befal them * 1 Thess 5.3 yet I would flatter them that thô they were perverse and froward peevish and passionate self will'd and head-strong in private in their Families if it did not come to the worlds knowledge I would not boggle seriously to tell and tantalize 'em too that whatever they did they were God's Jewels * Mal. 3.17 the Heirs of Promise * Heb. 1.6 yea the very Darlings of Heaven thô to their unspeakable sorrow and amazing disappointment * Jer. 5.2 they 'd find the bottomless Pit to be the only place of their Inheritance * Mat. 23.14 and the Lot and Portion of Hypocrites to be their Doom * Mat. 24.51 3. But again especially to a third gang and parcel that I should expect the greatest Harvest from that stile themselves the most Christian-like people thô the most carnal and diabolical * 1 Tim. 4. both in their Principles and Practices I would Saint 'em and pretend to inroll them in Heavens Calendar bearing them in hand as if it did