war the Lord is his name He knoweth the stratagems and postures of warre and like a brave Commander standeth upon his honour and therefore will bring off where he leadeth on Abraham had express order from Jehovah to offer up his son Isaac and we see how the Lord stepped in betwixt the cup and the lip as it were and biddeth him hold his hand when it was now lifted up to slay his Son Gen. chap. 22. Therefore Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-iireh The Lord will see or the Lord will provide ver 14. Moses and the children of Israel received orders from the Lord of Hosts for their march out of Egypt and had their way and quarters assigned by him Exod. 14. vers 1.2 The Lord spake unto Moses saying speak unto the children of Israel that they turn and encamp before Pe-hahireth between Migdol and the sea over against the Sea over against Baal-zephon before it shall ye encamp by the Sea What could be more express then this well what followeth why Pharaoh with all his host pursues them and having got them up into this cramp maketh no doubt but the day is his own and well he might for if we view the ground we shall finde them thrust up into a narrow room and in very sad streights if they look before them and think to save themselves by flight the sea is there and they have neither bridg nor boats to pass over it if they think to wheel on the right hand high mountains are a baracado against them if they think to steal away on the left hand that cannot be done for they must climbe up high and plain hills which will give the enemy a full prospect of them if they think to retreat and to slip back into Egypt by some secret way Mr. Burroughs notes upon Hos 2. p. 30. that they cannot do because Pharaoh's Army is betwixt them and Egypt so that they must march through the head-quarters of the enemy if they attempt that nay to add weight to all they were before Baal-zephon the God of watching an Idol which the Egyptians had high exspectations from being set at the mouth of those mountains before Pe-hahiroth to watch the passage that none might escape without a passport out of Egypt Here Pharaoh overtook them vers 9. These were their streights and 't is plain God brought them into those streights but what doth God leave them in the lurch no God will save them by a miracle he will make a way in the deep for them As they marched between mountains of earth before so they shall march between mountains of water now and they who feared that their enemies would dig graves for them in the wilderness do now stand upon drie ground and behold the whole hoste of Egypt buried under two huge mountaines of water ver 28. and all this the Lord of hosts did to maintain his honour in point of faithfulness to his people and to evidence his power in point of omnipotency upon their enemies as Moses upon another occasion argueth it out with the Lord. Numb 14. vers 15.16 If thou shalt kill all this people as one man then the nations which have heard of the fame of thee will speak saying because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them therefore hath he slain them in the wilderness An high impeachment against God in respect both of power and faithfulness a charge very dishonourable to the Lord and therefore the Lord bringeth them off at least the loyal and obedient ones with honour and safety from all those hazzards he had led them into Hence the Prophet David speaketh in the person of the Church Psal 66. vers 9 10 11 12. Rea. 2. Because sometimes the servants of the Lord meet with troubles in the world for their love to God and management of the Lords work They speed ill with men for their good will to God and are sufferers from men because they will not sinne against God therefore it is that the Lord espouseth their quarrel and taketh part with them This was the case of the three Jewish worthies Dan. 3. vers 12.13 they would not dishonour the true and living God by owning any thing of God in a dumb and dead Idol and therefore are bound and cast into a fiery fornace but how sped they did God suffer them to be cast into that fiery prison and perish there for his debt no God was with them in the fire and fetch'd them out without one peny damage to them their hair was not singed neither were their coats changed nor the smell of fire had passed on them vers 27. In like sort did wicked men deal with Daniel Chap. 6. vers 10. and the Lord brought him off without the least hurt upon this basis the Lord Jesus bottometh that precious promise Luke 21. vers 15. I will give you a mouth and wisdome which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resist and wherefore are the vouchsafements of God so eminent unto them vers 12. because they suffered for his name and his cause which truth hath been more then once attested by suffering saints so much of the spirit and wisdome of God hath been discovered in their answers that their adversaries and accusers have been non-pluss'd by illiterate men nay filled with astonishment Thus the Apostle Rom. 8. vers 36. For thy names sake we are led as sheep to the slaughter and what followeth why Vers 37. in all these things wee are more then Conquerours through him that loved us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we do over-overcome super-superamus if the cause be Gods we may trust our selves and it in Gods hand and possess our souls in patience when we have this assurance that not an hair of our head shall perish Luke 21. vers 18 19. Reas 3. Therefore God steppeth in to the help of his people in their greatest streights that he may give real testimony of his hearty good will unto them that they may know and their enemies also that they have a friend who will stick to them in the day of their distress affliction is the trial of affection Prov. 17. vers 17. A friend loveth at all times * Hebrew in all times that is in every opportune time in the fittest season now the timings of love the timings of acts of friendship addeth both worth and weight unto it Prov. 15. vers 23. A word spoken in season in his time saith the Hebrew how good is it how good is a word of comfort spoken to a drooping soul in a day of mourning How good is a word of peace spoken by the Lord to a wounded spirit and then when its wounds are fresh and bleeding can any heart but the heart of Experiences conceive what healings those words of Christ brought to the poor woman Luke 7. v. 48. thy sinnes are forgiven thee being spake at that season when
seat of Justice Consid 2. Consider how the Lord hath not joyned you in Copartnership with those that were your enemies dividing the government betwixt you and them which surely not long since would have been owned as a great priviledge by you and as a great mercy by us but the Lord hath put the sole Government of the Nation and the ordering of affaires into your hands You have seen Maries Magnificat made good The Lord hath put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree Luke 1. vers 52. Are not some of you those of low degree whom the Lord hath exalted to the seat of the mighty Are not you I hope some of you are Eliakims the servants of the Lord whom he hath chosen in Shebna's room Hath he not cloathed you with their Robes strengthened you with their Girdles committed their Government into your hands and made you fathers to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah Isa 22. vers 20 21. Oh that this might be layed to heart and the goodness of the Lord unto you in it that the abuses of the former Government may be remedied not revived that the pride and pomp which was onely like that of King Agrippa and Bernice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a meer phantasie Act. 25. vers 23. a vain shew all worldly pomp and state being no better of former Governours may be lamented not looked after by you may be mourned for not medled with by you the righteousness of Christ being your Robe his cross being your Crown his Gospel being your glory and that with Nehemiah that good Tirshatha you may not onely procure the peace but prevent the oppression of your people that your loynes may be lighter than the little singers of your Predecessors and that you may speak in your deportments the words of Nehemiah chap. 5. vers 14 15. From the time that I was appointed to be Governour in the land of Judah even twelve years I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the Governòur but the former Governours which were before me were chargeable unto the people Yea even their servants bare rule over the people but so did not I because of the fear of God yea also I continued in the work of this wall neither bought we any land Consid 3. Consider how not Magistrates only but Magistraalso hath been strucken at by men whose-spirits and principles were against both Some of whom it may be have sate in Councel with you and have formerly ventured far to lay the Key of Government upon you and upon themselves but since so strangely are they metamorphosed they have hated it may be your persons and opposed your Government so that you may take up Davids complaint Psal 41. vers 9. Mine own familiar friend in whom I trusted which did eat of my bread hath lift up his heel against me compared with Psal 55. vers 11 12 13. Mine equal my guide my acquaintance we took sweet counsell together and walked to the house of God in company Oh! let these and many other considerations of like import dwell upon your spirits and often meditate that though attempts have been made against your persons and places yet the Lord hath secured you in your present standing Oh then Watch ye stand fast in the faith quit your selves like men be strong 1 Cor. 16. vers 13. Oh remember what opportunities ye once had that had ye acted up unto them and vigorously improved the advantages ye once had much of that evil which in later years hath sprung up might have been buried under ground and the smell of the Nation would have been as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed Gen. 27. vers 27. Yet now there is hope in Israel concerning these things may we not hopefully conclude that the Lord hath thoughts of peace and not of trouble towards us Doth not concurrence of the many providences hint good will from the Lord unto us Is it nothing that no weapon which is formed against us doth prosper Sindercoms Design that no designe takes place no Mine takes fire no plot how secret soever ripeneth without discovery witness the late project of blood and murther against the Protectors person like the old Powder-plot detected in the very nick of time when the fire-work was prepared and placed and the match lighted that all attempts to involve the Nation into war and trouble have been dashed in peeces that still the Nation enjoyes peace and the Gospel-in peace Stir up all your strength for God rise up in all your might for the interest of Zion and for the honour of the Lord of Hosts who hath carried you through all those great changes which your eyes have beheld and hath still kept the helme of Government in your hands notwithstanding all those storms which have been upon the Nation and hath now put a new opportunity into your hands the Lord make you magnanimous and unanimous in the work of the Lord that yet a blessed Reformation may be brought forth by your means that so the people of this land may be known among the Nations and their off-spring among the people so that all they that seem may acknowledge them that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed Isa 61. vers 9. Suffer therefore an unworthy Son of Zion and Minister of the Gospel for the good of a part of that people over which the Lord hath set you to be a Remembrancer from the Lord unto you that mercies received may be improved by you and enkindle an holy zeal for God in you 1. To make good the Covenants and Oaths of your God which are upon you and into which by your authority and ensample at least many of you we entred that the sense of Covenant-mercies may provoke unto Covenant-duties for the advancement of the Kingdome of the Lord Jesus in unity peace purity and the power of godliness that Sabbath-strictness may be asserted by you Gospel-Ordinances may be vindicated a Professing-people may be countenanced a faithful Ministry may be still incourageed and protected such bounds may be set to that act for liberty that Heterodox opinions may not like a land-flood overflow the Nation but that horrid Impostors and notorious offenders may be punished that all Israel may hear and fear Deut. 13. vers 11. And that the anointing of God may give you safe rules of tenderness that guilt may not lye upon you from God nor just blame from good men for that softness of spirit you shew towards the Lords people who in these times of light and liberty do conscientiously act under different perswasions in indifferent things and therefore do much stand in need of Christian and prudent Moderators who may keep our fingers out of one anothers consciences may protect us from the violence of imposing spirits and principles and that uniformity may not be pressed with a Prelatical but with an Evangelical spirit in disciplinary points
THE SAINTS Dangers Deliverances and DUTIES Personall and Nationall Practically improved in severall Sermons on Psalm 94. ver 17. Useful and seasonable for these times of Triall By Nathanael Whiting Mr of Arts and Minister of the Gospel at Aldwinckle in Northamptonshire Gen. 35.3 Let us rise and go up to Bethel and I will make there an Altar unto God who answered me in the day of my distress and was with me in the way which I went And Verse 7. He built there an Altar and called the place El-Bethel London Printed for Nathanael Ekins and are to be sold at his Shop at the Gun in Paul's Church-yard 1659. To the Right Worshipfull Sr. WILLIAM FLEETWOOD Knight the Right Honourable Sr. GFORGE FLEETWOOD Baron of Swonholme in SWEADLAND and Lieutenant General of the King of SWEADLAND's Army there and to his Excellency CHARLES Lord FLEETWOOD Lieutenant General of the whole Army in ENGLAND and Scotland and one of his HIGHNESS Privy-Council Noble and Honoured I Am taught by the best Teacher the Holy Ghost not to forsake mine own friend and my fathers friend the Authority of which advice hath a great influence upon me being under the direct Aspect of it therefore do I own your antient and obliging favours in this publick Address under this hope That good wine will taste never the worse because presented in a wooden cup nor Truth lose any of its rellish because served up in an earthen dish If any charge blame upon me because I have not observed the Rules of Honour in the ordering of your names according to your Titles of Honour and standings in the world my Reply is this I pretend not to skill in Herauldry nor is it my business to dispute Titles I have therefore set Eliab in the Front because I may not give away the Honour of Primogeniture from Manasseh seing he hath not with Esau sold nor with Reuben lost the excellency of dignity He still weares with Zarah the scarlet thread upon his hand though his younger Brethren have broken forth and gotten the Precedency Besides though I owe much to your Honours I am much yours yet I am more your Brothers and my Obligations more to him which I must owne and I am sure such is your Justice that you will not entrench upon the right of other men much less upon your Elder Brothers And if your Honours be not offended why should others Again If any take offence that I preface this Treatise with Three Hnourable Names one of which would have been an honour to a more polite and elaborate Discourse my Answer is this When I had designed this Piece unto the Press I knew none whose Experiences could more fully comment upon the Subject treated on then your selves Your Preservations have been many and signal at home abroad by land by water few persons have had such remarkable Deliverances as you have had and few Families can instance in three Brethren who can give forth narratives of such notable and numerous Escapes as you can give And therefore seing you have equally shared in the marvellous Protections of a good God I am bold to make this Application to you All in which I do humbly Remember you of engaging mercies that the sence thereof may be awakened in you that like that Persian Monarch you may often read over your Diaries gather up your memorable preservations own the Lord in them and by suitable actings improve them to his glory The improvement of Mercies makes them to be Mercies indeed Then are the appearances of God glorious when they are visible and may be known and read of all men in our noble and vigorous actings for God What life for God was in old Jacob how did he purge his family set up Religion erect an Altar at Bethel and all this by way of thankfull return to the Lord who answered him in the day of his distress and was with him in the way which he went And how bravely did King David draw up after the Presidency of that noble Patriarch when he sate in his house seriously reviewing his former frights and flights his Dangers and Distresses his Banishments and Battels comparing them with his present peace safetie and honour and considered from what hand he had received all that good he took up a resolution to build an house for the Lord that the Arke of his presence might no longer dwell within curtains He often looked down upon the cave of Adullam and Engedi the wilderness of Ziph and Maon his straits at Gath his dangers at Keilah his fears at Ziglag c. even then when God had set him on high upon the Throne of Israel and Judah these reviews kept his heart in a warm and and lively frame for God Ah! How little of David's spirit is to be found in England even amongst many who have largely experienced David's mercies how seldome do many review their hazzards and heart-terrours their tears and fears dangers and deliverances how have the tides of worldly pomp peace and pleasures washed off the Sculpture of personal and national mercies in most mens hearts Oh 't is sad and sadly to be lamented The Lord give you with Caleb another spirit that seing he hath given you not onely a safe but an Honourable standing after such amazing dangers with liberal advantages of doing and receiving good your Honours may follow the Lord fully you may act up more and more to the Presidencies proposed that you may not move in too narrow Orbes but shew forth largeness of heart according to the largeness of Gods mercies towards you that like starres of the greater magnitude you may cast abroad your warming and prolifick Influences that all neighbouring persons and places may be the better for you and your selves much the better in your spirits for God I am not ashamed Right Worshipfull to tell the world how ancient and how affectionate a Moecenas you have been to me that I received many encouragements from you when I was student in the Universitie how ready I have alwayes found you to lay forth your power and Interest for me how freely and speedily you placed me at Aldwinckle and how much I have found the favour of a Patron and the affections of a friend I might go higher for the space of many yeares which is much considering what hard measure some good Ministers have found from their Patrons though good men in these times of difference both upon a civil and Religious account and indeed I think it to be ingenious whatever others think and well comporting with the standing of a Minister whilest the jus praesentandi by a Law is vested in Honourable hands as to own God in his providential disposure so to acknowledge the favour of man in that Liberty he obtaines to do his Master's work Sure I am this was a mercy which some godly and gifted Ministers did long want whilest the Episcopal Monopoly lasted and long waited for yea after all their waiting could hardly
so deep and low that they are not visible either in promises or in providences Nay when they are open and run yet in some cases the Saints eyes are closed that they cannot see them all seemeth to be dry ground to them Indeed these fountains are shut up to the unbeleeving world alwayes sealed to the wicked so great a stone is rolled by an Almighty arm upon the mouth of this Well that all the strength of nature cannot remove it to dip a bucket in it but to the faithful it is alwayes open they need no Jacob to roll it away See that Zach. 13. vers 1. A fountain opened to the house of David for sin and for uncleanness This great Gospel fountain the blood of Jesus is open to beleevers to them that dwell at Jerusalem in the Spirit not in the letter of profession Now if this great Fountain be open which feedeth all the lesser springs referring to the blood of the Lord Jesus then sure no lesser springs shall be shut up to them He is the fountain of Gardens the Well of living waters Cant. 4. vers 15. What a precious priviledge is this to have all Gospel-springs open unto us yet here is our misery and it is very great though the springs be open our eyes are sometimes shut now what is a spring of water to a thirsty traveller if he see it not But you will say How shall the Saints get their eyes opened 3 God alone openeth the eyes of his people that they may see these open Fountains that they may behold these streams from Lebanon Hagar saw not the fountain neither could she untill God opened her eyes He that opened the heart of Lydia Act. 16. vers 14. opened Hagars eyes Jesus Christ who hath the Key of David can onely open and shut eyes by his anointing Spirit Apoc. 3. vers 18. This is true in the first work of conversion Act. 26. vers 18. So also in the passage of after comforts 2 King 6.17 The Lord opened the eyes of the young man that he saw and behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha The providences and protections of God do circumvallate and encompass the faithful His Angels encamp round about them yet the Lord must open their eyes else they cannot behold them A truth falling in with our own experience how many amongst us saw not that wall of fire which hath been round about us nor those Chariots of fire which have been so eminent a protection unto us in times of greatest danger But 4. God will open the eyes of his people to behold these springs of mercy when they stand in most need of them What had it been to Hagar if her eyes had been opened to have seen many Wells of water when she was in Abrahams family or if she had been in a land of fountains but to be in a wilderness in a land of drought to have the water in the bottle spent and knew not where to fill it nor how to keep her lad alive without supplies of water and then in this streight to have her eyes opened to see not a little water in a pitcher to fill her bottle once with and no more but to see a Well a spring of water where she might have constant supplies Oh! this was a seasonable and therefore a welcome mercy to her this was life to her self her son and to her hopes of after safety Oh this is marvellous sweet and an excellent means to get up the heart in sinking times and conditions 6. Her eyes are opened shee seeth the Well What doth she now do why she obeyeth the voyce of the Lord in filling her bottle with water and giving the lad drink this teacheth us That it is the duty of Gods people to lay hold â—n offers of mercy from the Lord to close in with to own and improve the providential dispensations of God for good unto themselves What is she in a wilderness her bottle-store spent a fountain opened and her eyes opened and doth she sit still is she sullen or is she pettish because supplies came not her own way or at her own time will she not dip her bottle in the fountain because it ariseth in this and not in that plat of ground doth she stand upon such niceties no no but presently she snatcheth up her bottle and goeth to fill it A commendable practice Oh! what we see her do do we likewise in all our streights let us haste to the Throne of grace and when mercy is offered help seasonably tendered let us imbrace it and improve it when Christ opened that fountain of grace shewing the wounds in his hands and in his side to Thomas presently he runneth to the fountain and dippeth his bucket in the Well acting faith by a personal application My Lord and my God Joh. 20. vers 28. So when the Lord openeth his Mercy-fountains to us and our eyes to see them let us not onely sip a little but fill our buckets yea brim our bottles drawing with joy and thankfulness of heart water out of those Wells of salvation Isa 12. vers 3. not quarrelling with men or means but owning the goodness of the Lord in the seasonableness and fulness of our distress What should I mention the Angels staying Abrahams hand when it was lifted up to slay his beloved Isaac What should I name Jacoh's Mahanaim the Host of God which appeared to him when he feared his brother Esau lest he should slay the mother with her children or Joseph in the pit or in the prison or Israel at the red Sea what should I say more the time would fail me if I should reckon up what the Holy Ghost hath recorded of this kinde How often may the saints and how many of them may truly speak the words of my Text Vnless the Lord had been my help my soul had almost dwelt in silence but God appeared relief came and deliverance was sent from the Lord in the very nick of time Oh! if God had deferred his help for one hour nay one minute nay less then one minute if time could be parcel'd out into a lesser moment I had been undone life and all had been lost But you will say what moveth the Lord to this full and seasonable appearance for his people in their greatest streights I answer Reason 1. Because God sometimes leadeth his people into streights therefore it is for his honour to fetch them out again Some Commanders have been very bold and forward to lead an Army on but have had little care and skill to bring them off by means whereof many thousands have been slain in some desperate assaults but the Lord of hosts will not do thus he will not fall back with his reserves and suffer his Vriahs to perish by the sword of the children of Ammon he will bring off with safety when he putteth his own people upon danger Exod. 15.3 The Lord is a man of
exprest your gladness did ye not sing and drink and swear and roar when your fear was past hath the sence of deliverance wrought you into an humble holy praising and thankfull frame which hath been the first place ye have visited when come to land the Tavern or the Temple and which hath been your first work pouring forth your soules in praises to God or pouring in of ale or wine to intoxicate your brains have ye been drunk with wine wherein is excess or have ye been filled with the spirit speaking to your selves in Psalmes and Hymnes and spiritual songs making melody in your hearts and singing to the Lord Eph. 5. ver 18 19. Oh sirs is this all the return that God expects Is this all the improvement ye should make of so great a mercy surely no ver 31. The holy Ghost directs to a better O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his works unto the children of men that they would confess it to the Lord both in secret and in Societies so the word importeth O friends if ye read this doctrine read also your own duty in it If deliverances ingage any unto duty sure yours do yours are as eminent as any as immediate as any Ther 's nothing but the hand of God seen in your preservations in land-deliverances something of the creature is seen and man steps in for a share either by his power or policy prudence or providence but who can rebuke the windes and the seas but onely their great Creatour Caesarem vehis will not calme a rough sea such charmes will not be obeyed by the wilde Ocean That King found this true when walking upon the shore he commanded the tide to stop his course but so little the sea regarded the commands of this proud king though within his own Dominions that he found his safety lay more in his heels then in his head He alone who hath placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetuall decree can stay the tide in its full carreer and still the windes in their loudest bluster Jer. 5. ver 22. How apparently did the windes and sea fight for us in Eighty eight so that the enraged Spaniard said Christ was turned Lutheran Oh then Octogessimus octavus mirabilis annus Beza Silete ne Dii vos hâ—c navigare sentiant was the Speech of an Heathen to wicked persons that sailed in a storm with him own God in all your sea-deliverances be awakened to a sence of them improve them upon a spiritual account wipe off that imputation which is cast upon you by men of In-land Countries that there is little of Religion among you Look after and lay hold on the Lord Jesus Christ least yea be thrown over-board in a state of impenitency and unbelief and sink down not onely like lead into the bottome of the sea but into the bottomless pit also Oh 't is sad going to Hell by land or water O get into Christ who will be a Noah's ark unto you in which ye shall not onely sail safely to an earthly haven but into heaven and when the Lord brings you off from a sea-voyage with broken masts torne sails and a wether-beaten ship let the sense of that great deliverance affect your hearts and if ye have not already done it Give diligence to make your calling and election sure T is the Apostles advice to all 2 Pet. 1.10 and mine to you shew your seriousness in a point of so great importance it was well said by a reverend Divine Thy bed is very soft Mr. Trap. in loc or thy heart very hard if thou canst sleep soundly in an uncertain condition Oh minde this as the main for this being obtained though you should suffer a wrack at sea yet verse 11. An entrance shall be administred unto you into the everlasting kingdome of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ The Metaphor is accommodated unto you ye shall not get into Heaven as a ship hardly puts into the haven with Anchors lost Cables rent sails torn and masts broken which is the case of many but shall sail in with masts up Cordage whole Tacklings sound Sails full Flags displayed top and top gallant trumpets sounding and so shall everlastingly rejoyce in the everlasting Kingome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 5. The naturall improvement of this Doctrine gives much by way of advice to the recovered ones of the land to those whom the Lord hath brought off from beds of languishment and fetched up even from the gates of death And truly the number of such is great scarce ever greater the Providences of God have been sad and humbling sundry times in the land and in particular places yet seldome hath avisitation been so generall both as to persons and places The pale horse and his Rider have passed through our several Towns and Countries like an army in their march and taken up short quarters but of late they have billetted amongst us taking up not onely their summer but winter quarters also so that we may take up the Churches complaint Jer. 8. vers 20. The harvest is past the summer is ended and we are not saved sickness and death have not removed their quarters neither is there any amongst us that knoweth how long their abode shall be Psal 74. vers 9. Their commission being under the Privy Seal of Heaven and if their hostilities be so great this winter season what wasting and desolation may we fear at the time when Kings go forth to battle 2 Sam. 11. ver 1. if winter agues be so violent what will the summer feavers be if these diseases sweep our Townes so much what will the besome of destruction do If we have run with the footmen and they have wearied us then how shall we contend with horses If we have been wearied in the land of Jordan O that the sence of our present sickness and the fear of an approaching mortality invading the land was set home upon all our hearts that we might improve the Lords counsel Hos 14.2 to take with us words and turn to the Lord and say unto him take away all iniquity and receive us graciously that we might prepare to meet our God with an entreaty of peace before the decree come forth Oh that all especially the men of wisdome in the Nation would hear the rod and who hath appointed it Mic. 6. vers 9. and receive teaching from it My humble advice from the Lord to those who have been sick and now are west who are now in the land of the living when as many labouring under the said distempers are gone down to the chambers of death is this I. That you would own with thankfulness the healing mercies of God whereby you have been restored Let your thoughts often reflect upon your former weakness what pains and faintings seased upon you what the opinion of your Physicians and the fears of your Relations were when your pulses beat low
enough as I believe too many be yet it will be more your honour to square a knottie peice of timber and polish a churlish stone when ye smooth a rugged spirit and make that plyable to the wayes of God it will more redound to your comfort And consider ye plough in hope and have a bottome from Jacob's success for hope to rest upon for he not onely commanded his houshold to wit children and moenial servants but also all that were with him some of whom probably came out of Mesopotamia with him and many of those Shechemites also that were lately taken captive by his sonnes were in company with him yet his command was given unto all and all submitted unto it for as well the strangers that were with him as his own houshold gave unto him all the strange Gods which were in their hands they freely yielded up all their Idols into the hand and power of Jacob their Governour never to see them more nor worship them more And the text sayes Jacob hid them t is like without their privity under an oak which was by Shechem now then take pattern from hence and act up in your families unto it How know you but the power of the mighty God may so awe the spirits of your servants that the most rugged and rebellious among them may stoop under your reproof How know ye but that they may deliver up their pride oaths drunkenness wilfull ignorance and Gospel enmitie into your hands if in the name of the eternal God as Christian Governours ye demand them And what a noble conquest would that be What a quieting consideration will this be to you at a dying hour 4. Observe further That great deliverances lay great obligations upon Governours to act high in personal and family Reformation If ye say here 's a great deal more urged then needs why did Jacob do this and why must we do this the enforcement is laid down by Jacob who answered me in the day of my distress and was with me in the way that I went as if he had said I cannot discharge my self of that debt I owe unto God nor render my self a person in any measure worthy of his mercies if I should tolerate such principles and practises in my house which are dishonourable unto him and destructive to the very interest of Religion Oh! I will remember the day of distress which was upon me when my brother Esau threatned my life for the birth right and blessing which I obtained from him I well remember mine afflicted estate when I was in the day time consumed with drought and in the night by frost and my sleep departed from mine eyes whilest I served a churlish Laban and had my wages changed ten times by him Being an Hebrew Proverb taken from killing the bird upon the nest with her young ones Hos 10.14 I remember those fears yea great fears which seized upon me when Esau came against me with four hundred men at his heels at which time I wrastled with the Angel and spake before the Lord that I feared greatly least Esau would come and smite me and the mother with her children or ghnal-Bunim upon her children heaps upon heaps And now seing God was with me and answered me in all these dayes of my distress and hath brought me off in a wonderfull way of mercy with safetie to my life and security to my estate I dare not fail in this great duty of family-Reformation I cannot bear any longer the dishonours which are done to God in my Family nor quit my spirit any longer with my personall Religion and therefore I lay it upon you all by way of command as a Magistrace in my own family that ye put away the strange Gods which are among you and be clean and change your garments and let us arise and go up to Beth-el Thus David 2 Sam. vers 1 2. When the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies The sence thereof was so lively upon his spirit that he suddenly and seriously resolved to build an house to the Lord and establish the worship of God in the Land to which he was encouraged by Nathan the Prophet at first but afterward received a flat prohibition that he should not build it yet see how the sence of mercies carried him out to prepare abundantly for that magnificent building charging and encouraging Solomon to the work and quickening up his Princes unto free-will offerings 1 Chron. 28. ver 20. and Chap. 29. vers 1 2. and so forward Oh then I make it my humble request to all that read this passage that ye would improve mercies received and deliverances received according to Jacob's pattern that it may quicken you up to family care to set up Religion in your Families and promote it in the Nation that the Lord may feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father Isa 58. ver ult Think often and seriously what your Dangers and what your Deliverances have been and surely if there be any heat and life in the soul for God this will bring it forth there would not be that heart-deadness neglect of Family-discipline and that Formality even amongst Professours and Christians of long standing they would not sit down in such a lazie Profession and tolerate that Ignorance that profaneness and those abuses in their Families and Towns if they were throughly awakened by a due collection and serious communication of experienced mercies how often and how signal their deliverances have been from the jaws of death Oh receive in love this word of exhortation from an unworthy hand and the Lord set it home upon your hearts 2. I come now to the pure spiritual part of the exhortation Are the appearances of the Lord eminent and immediate for the help of his people in their greatest straights have you experienced this can you set your seal to this truth hath the Lord engaged for your help and brought you off with safety and comfort when you were under the greatest hazards then make a good use of such mercies and take my advice in these following particulars 1. Make a serious and speedy enquiry whether you are brought of from sin and wrath by Jesus Christ and what have been the methods of God toward you in your spiritual deliverance 2. Quicken up your selves to duty in all your deadness and damps of spirit 3. Be much in the sence and meditation of grace received keep up the consideration thereof To the first Improve your temporal preservatious by way of inquiry after your spiritual safety whether the Lord who hath made bare his Arm in signal deliverances for the life of your bodies hath also stretched forth the right arm of grace for the life of your souls and how the Lord hath methodized the ways of his grace unto you make these two particulars the matter of your great enquest 1. Put this question unto your souls and be serious in it as a matter
Luke 15. you cannot do a work that will find greater acceptation with God then acts of mercy Hos 6. ver 6. I desired mercy and not sacrifice the word in the Original is the same with that in Isaiah forementioned implying to will and desire a thing with a greatdelight and complacency Mr Eurroughs in Hos ver 6. pag. 599. so that a reverend Expositour upon the place brings in God speaking thus mercy is a thing so pleasing to me that I desire it at my heart nothing in the world is so pleasing to me as mercy shews that God had rather have it then all instituted ordinances and worships which by sacrifice are synechdochically meant and then instancing in cases of mercy His fourth case is the case of souls and that is in Christs case Mat. 9.13 Pag. 605. Go and learn what that meaneth I will have mercy and not sacrifice for I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance we are ready to think that all things must give way to instituted worship but certainly immortall souls are of more worth then ordinances O surely the greatest act of mercy which we receive from God is our reconcilement to him whereby we are translated from darknesse into the kingdome of his dear son that being justified by his grace we may be made heirs according to the hope of eternall life Tit. 3. ver 7. and so the highest piece of mercy which we can shew to sinners for God is to be instrumentall in the saving of them bowels of mercy in us evidence Gods electing grace unto us Col. 3. ver 12. Put on as the elect of God bowels of mercy and sure we cannot shew more bowells in any act of mercy to man then in endeavouring his salvation Consider Consid 2. There is a great honour to the Lord Jesus Christ when sinners are savingly brought in unto him it is a jewell added to the glorious diadem of King Jesus Psal 45.3 David speaking in the spirit unto ' King Jesus bids him gird his sword upon his thigh which was the Ensign of his prowesse and regal power and adds with thy glory and thy Majesty implying that when people fall under him i. e. are converted and submit unto him it tends to advance his glorious Majesty Prov. 14. ver 28. In the multitude of people is the kings honour Zion and Babylon are the two great Empires of the world that under Christ this under Belial now one great part of Christs honour as he is King of Zion consists in the multitude of converts who being brought over from the devils quarters become his subjects it is said 1 Sam. 31. ver 12. That all the valiant men of Jabesh-Gilead went all night and took the bones of Saul and the bones of his sons from the walls of Bethshan and came and brought them to Jabesh let me allude this how is the glory of Christ advanced when all the valiant men Ministers and Christians go forth in the strength of the spirit of Christ to fetch off not the bodies onely but the souls also of men and women from Bethshan and bring them to Jabesh from sin to sanctity from Beth-aven to Bethel Converted ones are as Trophees after victory living monuments of honour to a conquering Christ Phil. 1.20 2 Thes 1.11 12. in the places where they live how then should the sence of that honour which is gained for Christ in gaining sinners from Sathan unto Christ act and spirit the Saints in this great undertaking Consid 3. Consider that the providences of God which have gone over and through these Nations in the years last past do speak the Saints duty and their hope of successe in what is now proposed how many storms of warre have been upon the land how fierce and full of rage hath the enemy been how many plots and engines of policy have been contrived how have men of popish and prophane principles and spirits struck at the very root of profession how have they designed the extirpation of the godly Being confident and insolent they bear their noses high in the air uttering loud and lofty languages as Rabshekah did 2 King 18. to which times this Psalme is referred by some Mr. Trap. in loc They that hate thee have lift up their heads I do not say nor think that all they which lifted up their heads in the late warres under the royall banner were haters of God nor of his people as such though they were lifted up very high in their mistaken zeal for Kingly interest and in conscience of the oath of God which they judged lay'd such obligations upon them yet certainly without any breach of charity we may boldly affirm that there were a company of men not inconsiderable for number who took crafty councel against the Lord's people and consulted against his hidden ones ver 3. and spake out doubtlesse their very hearts and desires come let us cut them off from being a nation or from having any place of residency in the nation that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance was not this attempted at least against the godly party as Schismaticks and rebells so I limit their attempt for we had many pittifull Parliamentarians who might have gone in the throng of the most ungodly Cayaliers and in likelyhood would have found favour both for life and estate if the issue of the warre had gone for the King and hath not the Lord broken them and their plots in pieces hath he not fastened his people as a nail in a sure place Isa 22. ver 23. what think you then are not these mercies obligations upon you from the Lord to pursue his honour are they not opportunities put into your hands to advise exhort and perswade your families friends and neighbours and help them to heaven O what a pattern of Gospel-charity is good Cornelius Act. 10. ver 24. He had called together his kinsfolks and near friends to partake with him in that word of salvation which Peter from the Lord was to bring unto him how desirous was he to take them all into the Gospel-wherry that they might all be wafted over to the Lord Jesus therefore ver 33. he tell 's Peter We are all here present before the Lord to hear all things that are commanded thee of God O that such a gaining spirit such a winning carriage was in all the Saints Indeed when Religion was under the hatches in the nation and the old Puritans were underlins in every town they might have feared Lot's return from the wicked Sodomites and that dogs would have snarled at them if they had given holy things unto them but now that godlinesse is advanced to the throne that the people of the God of Abraham are as Princes among the people Psal 47. ver 9. and that the Kingdome and the Dominion in a considerable measure is given to the people of the Saints of the most high Dan. 7. ver 27. they
difference onely in the point insisted upon I do not I dare not But t is probable this Text of Daniel referres to some after priviledg or different estate of honour in heaven which they that turn many unto righteousness shall receive from the Lord from what they that are turned unto righteousness shall have for though every vessel shall be filled yet these may be more capacious then others unless we fit down with what sense is put upon it by a late godly Divine as to the first Resurrection and that in order to the personal reigne of Christ upon earth But suppose that Text should not speak fully to the assertion yet certainly to have a mediate hand in saving an immortal soul is a noble work and shall be honoured by the Lord with highest acceptation as that which brings the creature into some degree of conformity to the Lord Jesus who is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour Acts 5. vers 21. Besides there is much in that of our Saviour John 4. vers 36. And he that reapeth receiveth wages and gathereth fruit unto eternal life that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoyce together he quickens up his Disciples to diligence in Gospel work First By propounding wages for their work though not by way of merit yet of grace Secondly By that common joy which Patriarchs Prophets Apostles and all the Lords servants who are instrumental in the conversion of sinners shall have in heaven Consider That bad men are very active and industrious to gain over others to their bad principles and worse practises The spirit of the world is a gaining spirit Wicked men are true to their own Interest and serviceable to their own Master Wicked men are the Devils fetters or like that little beast which hunts the prey for the old lyon Many persons of hopefull ingenuity and carriage are decoy'd by the sleights and subtilties of some old sinners See how the wise man sets them forth to the life Prov. 1. ver 10 11. 1. By their manner of deceiving expressed in their fair and flattering words they entice blanditiis phaleratis verbis decipiunt they deceive with their smooth tongue and fair speeches so the force of the word in the Hebrew implies hence it is rendered si te pellexerint referring to the fawning carriage and flatteries of an Harlot fully held forth Chap. 7. ver 14. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lusts and is inticed as the silly fish is by the bait upon the hook Thus do wicked men like fishers and fowlers cunningly deceive the simple 2. Their manner of deceiving is expressed by their call unto sin come with us they call the tradesman out of his shop and the ploughman out of the field to querry and mate with them in their sinfull practices much of this language may be heard abroad in the world and some is upon record in the word as that ale-bench call Isa 56. ver 12. Come ye say they I will fetch wine and we will fill our selves with strong drink and to morrow shall be as this day and much more abundant This is the drunkards oratory and promise to toll in and enter their young quaffers with 3. They are set forth by their methods of deceiving by the artifices they use First they perswade those that they draw in that they will drive on such close designes carry things with such privacy that the guilt of blood shall never be charged upon their score implyed in these phrases let us lurk privily let us swallow them alive as the grace c. as if they had said we will manage our affairs with that secrecy that strangers may as easily know the dead by their faces and what deaths they died of whom the grave hath swallowed up and the pit hath covered as men shall know who did this murther and how it was done doubtlesse this hope of secrecy hath undone many Secondly they give great assurances of much gain and advantage we shall find all precious substance we shall fill our houses with spoil Alas thou art a poor fellow hast not a penny scarce to help thy self withall but come come with us we 'l help thee to money enough thou shalt be a rich man presently yonder is a booty will make us all men Thirdly they promise to be very honest to give him his full share cast in thy lot among us we will all have one purse Wee 'll divide the spoil thou shalt have thy lot nay more thou shalt never want while we have it we 'll have a community of goods a common stock these are winning wayes prevailing arguments gilded pills and tempting poisons where the heart is not in some measure antidoted by grace against them and doubtlesse the devil gains much ground in the world by such artifices catcheth many a fowl in his nets by means of these decoyes his servants are true to his interest they spare neither pains nor purses to advance it nor are his headservants I mean Hereticks and Impostours those that are the chief factours and head men among their brethren lesse industrious into how many shapes Proteus like will the Jesuite cast himself how many hazzards of his neck will he run and how many hard journeys will he take to reconcile a poor Protestant to the Church of Rome neither do some others fall short of the Jesuites either pains or zeal to proselyte men to their opinions we have seen that made good in our dayes which our Saviour spake of the Scribes and Pharisees Matth. 23. ver 15. Ye compasse sea and land to make one proselyte What wanderers among the Nations have some of our Sect-Masters been what labours and hardships have some undergone what journeys tedious and dangerous by land and sea have some undertook what errand have they gone on what merchandizes have they exported but some old drugs and antiquated errours which the Saints in former ages and forreign parts have exploded but now being in-land commodities of the growth of our own Nation and being now put into a new dresse by men of English birth pretending hatred to the Romish Hierarchy are become vendible in most parts O what marts and markets have been kept by them in many of our towns to put off their stale and stollen wares and what sale have they had in some places who le towns almost in some places have come in to truck and barter with them the more is the pity that the spirit of delusion should gain so farre upon English ground O how should this provoke all that fear the Lord in truth to pursue salvation-work with utmost diligence to endeavour with much seriousnesse of spirit the winning over souls to God! How shall we answer the charge of our own consciences at a dying hour how shall we look our dear Redeemer in the face at the last day nay how shall we stand against the great accuser before the great tribunal when he
in them which he doth find by those strong repulses the heart gives to his secret temptations which are his spies sent forth to search the land by whom he learns what frame the heart is in Though he sees his strong holds beat down and defaced by a conquering spirit though he observes the stream running in another channell and that the soul is now in armes against him believing repenting mourning praying watching hearing and all against him yet he will play an after game and not be wanting in skill or will to reduce the soul And he ploughs in hope and sowes in hope for he cannot read the Lambs book of life he knowes not the decrees of God they are Secret to him untill death brings forth a discovery and the soul is taken up to God and therefore though he fears such or such a Saint that is gone off from his quarters is under electing grace yet he hopes the contrary Yee see how busie he was with Joshua the High Priest Zech. 3. ver 1. and how hard he pressed upon him probably not without some hopes to have got him or the day against him until Christ rebuked him and told him he was a brand plucked out of the fire singled out by the purpose of the eternal Father to be a vessel of grace then he sleared away and left him Yet as our Saviour probably but for a time Luke 4.13 nay though he should read their names writ in heaven though he knowes the immutability of Christs love that whom he loves once he loves to the end John 13. ver 1. and of Gods counsel that his gifts and calling are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without repentance irreversible Rom. 11. ver 29. yet such is his malice and so great is his rage against the Saints that if he cannot keep them out of Canaan hee 'l sting them and scratch them in the wilderness before they get thither though he cannot put out their light hee 'l be a thief in their candle to swail away much of their comfort though he cannot reach them in heaven he will reckon with them on earth if they must to heaven he will send them cripples thither he will have a leg or an arm out of joint or broken or he will want of his will some way or other he will vex them buffet and disquiet them many long stories and sad ones too may be told of his exploits against the Saints my own experience can witness something of his trains and treacheries of his malice and the Lords mercy of his black designs and of the Lords gracious support and disappointments blessed be his holy name and adored for ever be his goodness O then in the name of the Lord lift up your banners buckle on your armour stand with your weapons in your hands ready to receive and charge your adversary and that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day gather up your experiences of God and meditate upon the great things God hath done for you in the day of your outward troubles what that power that wisdome that goodness of the Lord hath been which hath appeared unto you and engaged for you in the time of your greatest streights and what those streights and distresses how sharp and how pressing from which the Lord hath wrought your deliverance And then go to your spiritual Logick frame such an argument as this The Lord gives help to his distressed Saints in their outward troubles therefore also will he help them in their inward temptations now if Sathan shall argue that God doth not give in succours to the Saints in their outward troubles it 's true they and it may be ye had help and deliverance but it came not from God when ye were cast upon such and such sick-beds that ye despaired of life and your friends gave you up for dead then the Physician came and by his great skill administred such physick which wrought your recovery or when ye were in such streights the liberality of your friends relieved you or in such exigencies the wisdome and potency of your allies brought you off God was not seen in all your deliverances what will you do now why your business is to secure this fort by summoning your experiences and placing them upon the works saying that ye beheld the face of God in such deliverances that your help was onely from on high that men and means stood off and came not in no not for a reserve or though men and means were seen upon the wall yet God acted by the instrumentality of them though Christians were consulted with yet the blessing of God upon the means brought forth the cure be sure ye own God in every preservation how visible and potent soever creature-helps are or have been entrench your faith in this perswasion that whatsoever secondary causes contributed the chief agency was from God If Sathan beat you out of this trench he will soon take your standard and rout your whole army but if ye make good this ground if ye have the advantage of the hill ye are out of gunshot all his murthering pieces will not reach you ye may then quiet your spirits in any assault when ye can say in your greatest distresses as Paul 2 Tim. 4. ver 16 17. No man stood with me but all men forsook me notwithstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthened me Here 's a clear appearance of God Or with Daniel My God hath sent his Angel and stopped the mouthes of the Lions that they have not hurt me or with David in my distress I cried unto the Lord and he heard me Psal 120. ver 1. And surely some of the Saints deliverances have been such I can instance in mine own which were singly and signally wrought by God But now in other cases where instruments have been used as many such cases there have been be sure you give them even all created helps the name of instruments and own God as the principal Agent that his arm moved everey wheel and his hand guided and wrought with every tool do this and ye are well enough Psal 77. ver 20. Thou leddesi thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron to wit through the the red sea Moses struck the waters with his rod I but God divided the sea thou leddest is onely applicable to God and by Moses onely intimates an instrument so Psal 88. ver 65 66. Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep or like as a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine and he smote the enemies in the hinder parts he putteth them to a perpetuall shame However the army is marshalled the stroak is from God the horse is prepared against the day of battel but safetie is of the Lord Prov. 21. ver 31. But suppose Sathan should deny the consequence of the Major for he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a subtle opponent and argue though God did deliver in temporals yet he will not
blessing of God have an hopefull tendency to the quickening comforting confirming and spiritualizing the Saints the whole Nation over Mal. 3.16 Then in a time bad enough and it may be much worse then ours whatsoever some men say they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard and a book of remembrance was writ before the Lord for those that feared him and thought upon his name c. What an encouraging practice of the Saints and promise of the Lord is here to quicken us up to a suitable carriage we have had much talk of Classical Assemblies of teaching and ruling Elders to advance the discipline of Christ O that we might have bear the word and blame not the wish Classical communions of Ministers and Christians to advance the doctrine and life and holiness of the Lord Jesus and that now the Lord hath given all his Churches rest throughout his Nation we may walk in the fear of the Lord and comfort of the holy Ghost with one lip and one shoulder consulting our mutual edification and the enlargement of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus taking that Primitive practice Act. 9.31 for our pattern and this gives me a leading hint to offer a fourth consideration unto you how you may live best unto those that are yet without 4. You will more advance Religion in your several Towns and maintain good neighborhood upon the best account if you lend a word of seasonable advice to those that are posting to hell and jogging on with more hast then good speed to the chambers of death and thus you will best do if you speak over unto them how it hath been with you how ignorant how carnal how earthly-minded how obstinate how foolish and vain you have been and how you were in the broad way to destruction yet altogether senceless and stupid as to any right apprehension of your danger or right use of means for your recovery untill the Lord convinced you by his spirit of sin of righteousness and of judgement Joh. 16.8 granted you repentance unto life Acts 11.18 and now being justified by his grace you are made heirs according to the hope of eternal life Tit. 3.6 Now by grace you are acquitted from the guilt of sins and have a clear title unto heaven And friends who knows whether the same mercy be not laid up in store for you whether the same blessed change may not be wrought in you whether the same kindness a d love of God our Saviour may not manifest it self to you Surely discourses of this nature which you may enlarge upon occasion according to the teachings of the good spirit of God may work in them a sense of danger and hope of delivery upon a saving account T is much that the Saints do for the profane world much for their unregenerate neighbors as is their duty commanded 1. In communicating unto them in their outward wants in drawing out their bowells towards distressed persons they have a word of command Ecc. 11.1 To cast their bread upon the waters giving a portion to seven and also to eight So Heb. 13.16 To do good and to communicate forget not for with such sacrifices God is well pleased and Gal. 6.10 to do good to all men supposed in distress as objects of mercy though the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the especially in the text directs them to a larger and more liberal charity towards the houshold of faith and I doubt not much water runs out at these two spouts of Mercy and Charity that this testimony may be given of many of the Saints 2 Cor. 8.3 That to their power yea and beyond their power they are willing to supply the wants of their fellow-Christians yea fellow-creatures also and indeed it would be much their shame and more their sin if men of carnal principles and worldly expectancies outstrip them in obedience to this great Gospel command Prov. 19.17 He that hath pitty upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord and that which he hath given will he pay him again Though God be much out of credit with the world yet the Saints dare take his word and do lend much unto the poor upon his single security 2. They have a great hand in procuring the blessing of God upon their carnal neighbors though God is good to all making his Sun to rise on the evil and sending rain on the unjust Mat. 5.45 bearing witness to his goodness and God-head in all nations by giving rain from heaven and fruitful seasons filling the hearts of men with food and gladness Act. 14.17 yet even the mercies of the footstool the neither springs run much for the sake of the godly which are in the world and are much as a return of their prayers Laban the Syrian learned this by experience that the Lord blessed him as to his outward estate for Jacobs sake Gen. 30.27 Potiphar saw this also chap. 39.5 It came to pass from the time that Potiphar had made Joseph overseer in his house that the Lord blessed the Egyptians house for Josephs sake and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that be had in the house and in the field a plain text and that which teacheth great personages to commit their affairs to the trust and care of Josephs as Stewards and Bailiffs it would go better with them then it does But alas Josephs Religious men are not the onely men in great families more 's the pity and more is there loss the Lord help them to see and all men else how much good the Lords Josephs are instrumental unto in the world that they may be more prized by all and masters may labor more to store their families with such servants how desirous soever the profane world is to be rid of the Saints sure I am they would dearly miss them Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are yet he prayed in a great drought and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth fruit Jam. 4.17 make much then of Jacobs Josephs and Elijahs O ye men of the world you 'l miss them in your barns and in your borders I 'le warrant you when they are gone 3. They keep off many a blow from the places where they live they either divert or at least delay the execution of judgements Ten righteous persons would have preserved four Cities from perishing by fire from heaven Gen. 18.32 How did David and the Elders of Israel by their prayer and humiliation keep off the sad stroak of the pestilence from Jerusalem when the Angel was now stretching forth his hand to destroy it 1 Chron. 21.15 16 17. And truely how should we admire the goodness of the Lord that the plague hath rid circuit through most Nations in the world in late years and that by a desolating mortality in some places and yet hath not for this many years broke forth in any raging manner in this Nation of ours ought not this distinguishing
providence of God since reformation first began in the long Parliament be much admired and the Lord be thankfully adored for it and may we not own a remnant in the Land as a blessing from the Lord who stood in the gap Nay farther it is upon the account of the Saints that the world continues that the fire of God doth not kindle upon the whole Creation which is combustible to melt the heavens and burn up the earth with the works that are therein the floud of waters was onely respited until Noah and his family were secured in the Ark which being done the fountains of the great deep were broken up and the windowes of heaven were opened Gen. 7. ver 11. When Lot was entred into Zoar then the Lord rained fire and brimstone upon Sodom Gen. 19. ver 23 24. 2 Pet. 3. v. 9. The Lord is long-suffering to us ward not willing that any of his should perish but when the whole election is brought in then cometh the end when the sealing Angel Apoc. 7. ver 1 2 3. had sealed the servants of God in their foreheads then had the four Angels that stood on the four corners of the earth full commission to fall pel mel upon the earth It will be a dooms day with the world when the cloudes shall catch up the elect to meet their Lord in the air 1 Thess 4. vers 17. 5. And Lastly The Saints of God may mostly advantage their carnal neighbours in promoting their conversion herein they would shew themselves friends indeed if they would use all humble and earnest endeavours to bring them home to God The Judicial Law commanded every Israelite to bring a straying ox or ass home to his master How much more doth the Law of God and Christian love oblige every true Israelite indeed to bring a straggling Prodigal home to his Fathers house All the Saints own it as their duty to glorifie God in their generation and wherein can they bring more glory to God then in helping soules to heaven and how can they find out a readier way to effect this great business then by telling Vnless the Lord had been their help their soules had well nigh dwelt in silence by making a faithfull narrative of their own conditions by nature and by grace when and how the goodness of the Lord was made known unto them upon a saving account Some of the Saints I may boldly affirm have taken this course and prospered Oh that this might be a word from the Lord to awaken up all to this great duty my soul even bleedeth within me to observe the general neglect and great aversness of most to this great business some think their gifts too low and their parts too inconsiderable to carry on a design of this importance others have such honorable thoughts of a Gospel Ministery rightly called and qualified that they judg the anointing of the Lord to be upon them onely for that work and therefore will not take their work out of their hand least they should sin in such an attempt Others cry out let them do the work who receive the wages as though they worked onely for wages which is a very unjust and uncharitable censure Some there be that go higher yet who bid the Ministers sit still for they can do the work better then they and load them with many foul aspersions that they may the better get their work out of their hands I mean their people from under their Ministerial care and oversight indeed the distemper is very sad at this day in the Nation and not a few fall under this last classis I think in no Nation more the Lord rebuke that bold and blaspemous spirit which is gone abroad humble us for our sinnes and shew us the pattern of his house in all the in-goings out-goings and ordinances of it that men of daring spirits may be bounded I like not an invasion upon the Ministry so as to destroy the office of it nor yet an intrusion unto it by men not duly called unto it neither that any who are not in some measure of Gospel-fitness qualified for it should be thrust or thrust themselves upon a people though called by man unto it much less that any should improve their gifts to set up themselves and throw down the faithfull Ministry in the hearts and affections of people least of all that any should be suffered much more encouraged who corrupt the truths and people of God who bring in damnable heresies to draw away disciples after them by reason of whome the way of truth is evil spoken of 2 Pet. 2. vers 1 2. formerly made good in those reproaches which were cast upon Religion by the Pagans in the Primitive times and are now cast upon it amongst us by Papists and carnal Professours and both upon the account of Heresies and therefore as I owne the office of a Pastor as distinct from the people being the great bequeathment of the Lord Jesus to his Church and for the spiritual edification of his Church Eph. 4. ver 8 11 12. Bless God for those able pens who have with much learning gravitie weightiness of Arguments and evidence of divine truth propugned and asserted it in these times of great opposition and also thankfully acknowledg the integrity and faithfulness of the Civil and Supream power which hath been as a covering Cherub to the godly Ministery notwithstanding the many temptations which have been upon them to the contrary so as a suitable return both to God and good men I make it my humble proposal to my reverend brethren of the Ministery that they would strengthen the hands of the Lords people and by encouraging Arguments quicken them up to lay out themselves in their several capacities and in a wise improvement in their several advantages to win over sinners unto God If Eldad and Medad prophesie in the camp why should Joshua dislike it my Lord Moses forbid them Numb 11. ver 25 26. If the Christians of our respective Congregations should keep up private communion amongst themselves at due times and in due order or if sober and experienced Christians should minister words of advice and exhortation to their carnal neighbours provided they do it out of right principles to right ends and in a a due manner would it not hear ill if we should cry to my Lord Moses to forbid them rather let us say Would God that all the Lords people were Prophets Ver. 29. and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them that they may receive abilities from God to minister unto others That God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 4. ver 12. O then my dear Christian brethren rise up in the name and might of our Lord Jesus Christ seek the eternal welfare of your carnall neighbours I will not enlarge upon directions for the right management of this great duty onely entreat you that with modesty and Christian sobriety you