our Vriahs Where are they that lay to heart the dangers of the Ark you complain of Taxes decay of Trading of this civil burden and that civil burden but where is the man or the woman that complains of this misery the loss of the Ark Most of you are like Gallio he cared not for these things if it had been a civil matter then he would have meddled with it but for Religion he cared not for that every man is troubled about meum and tuum about civil concernments but who layes to heart who regards what shall become of Religion There is a strange kind of indifferency and lukewarmness upon most peoples spirits so they have their trading go on and their civil burdens removed they care not what becomes of the Ark. There is a Text of Scripture I shall not spend much time in opening it but I would have you well consider it Hos 7.9 Strangers have devoured his strength and he knoweth it not yea gray hairs are here and there upon him yet he knoweth not Shall I say gray hairs are upon the Gospel I come not hither to Prophecy I say not the Gospel is dying but I say it hath gray hairs for you have had the Gospel a hundred years and above and therefore it is in its old-age and I dare challenge any Schollar to shew me an example of any Nation that hath enjoyed the Gospel for a hundred years together Now that gray hairs is to a hundred years is no wonder well gray hairs are here and there and yet no man layeth it to heart Now shall I spend time to shew you what a great sin it is not to be affected with the danger that the Ark of God is in consider but three particulars First it is a sign you do not love the Gospel if you had any love to it you would be troubled more for the danger of the Ark than for any outward danger whatsoever Secondly it is a sign you have no interest in the Gospel for interest will stir up your affections it is a sign you are not concerned in the Gospel for if you were concerned in it you would be affected with it as those that were interessed in those persons that were in that lamentable fire the last week it is impossible but they should be affected and so it is a sign you have no interest in God and Christ if your hearts do not tremble for fear of the loss of the Ark. But thirdly there is a curse of God pronounced against all those that do not lay to heart the afflictions of Joseph Amos 6 1 2 3 4 5 6. Wo be to them that are at ease in Sion and trust in the Mountain of Samaria ye that put far away the evil day that lie upon beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their Couches that eat the Lambs out of the flock and the Calves out of the midst of the stall that chant to the sound of the Viol and invent to themselves Instruments of Musick that drink wine in bowls and annoint themselves with the chief oyntments but they are nongrieved for the afflictions of Joseph Wo be to you that enjoy your fulness of outward things and make merry therewith and never consider the afflictions of Gods people and the danger of the Ark. Vse 2. For exhortation to beseech you all that God by a providence hath so unexpectedly brought this day to hear me there may be a good providence in it possibly I may do good herein I say let me beseech you all to declare you are the people of God indeed and in truth by following the example of old Eli to be very solicious of the Ark of God and let me exhort you to five particulars First let me perswade you to believe that the Gospel is not entailed upon England England hath no Letters Pattents of the Gospel the Gospel is removeable God took away the Ark and forsook Shiloh and he did not only take away the Ark but the Temple also he unchurched the Jews he unchurched the seven Churches of Asia and we know not how soon he may unchurch us I know no warrant we have to think that we shall have the Gospel another hundred years God knows how to remove his Candlestick but not to destroy it God doth often remove the Church but doth not destroy it God removed his Church out of the East as the Greek Churches were famous Churches but God removed them and now the Turk overspreads that Country Secondly I would perswade you that Englands Ark is in danger to be lost were it not only for the sins of England those prodigious iniquities amongst us and that strange un-heard-of ingratitude that is in the Land but I will say no more of that because I would speak nothing but what becomes a sober Minister of the Gospel Thirdly I would perswade you and O that I could raise you up to old Eli's practice He sate watching for his heart trembled for fear of the Ark He had a thoughtful head and anâ—aking heart for the Ark of God that was in great danger and that I might move you to this consider what a sad condition we are in if the Ark be taken what will your Estate do you good or what will your concernments do you good if the Gospel be gone wherein doth England exceed other places there is more wealth in Turkie than in England And the Heathen Nations have more of the glory of the world than any Christian King hath What is the glory of England what is the glory of Christianity but the Gospel if the Gospel be gone our glory is gone Pray remember Eli's daughter-in-Daughter-in-Law the wife of Phinehas she hearkned not though a man Child was born and would receive no comfort but called his name Ichabod for the glory is departed from Israel The Ark of God is taken O when the glory is gone who would desire to live I am loth to tell you the story of Chrysostome he was but one man yet when he was banished Constantinople the people all petitioned for him and said They could as well lose the Sun out of the Firmament as lose Chrysostom from among them Fourthly let me perswade you not to mourn immoderately neither be discouraged I would willingly speak something to comfort you before I leave you I know not by what strange providence I came here this day and the Lord knows when I shall speak to you again therefore I would not send you home comfortless O therefore mourn not as without hope for I have four Arguments to perswade me that the Ark of God will not be lost though it be in danger of losing First because God hath done great things already for this Nation and I argue like Manoah's Wise surely if God had intended to destroy us he would not have done that he hath done for us He that hath done so much for us will not now forsake us And therefore though our hearts tremble yet let
meek spirits as Christ did take our flesh let us partake of his Spirit Why dost thou imbitter the brest of the Creature to us but that we should finde the sweetness of the Promises There is as much in the Promises as ever let us live upon God let us cast anchor in Heaven and we shall never sink Shower down thy blessings even the choicest of them upon the head and heart of our dread Sovereign Charles by thy appointment of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith let him see wherein his cheifest interest lies let him count those his best subjects that are Christ's subjects Bless him â—n hâ—s Royal Consort in his Royal Relations the Lords of his Privy Council let them be a terror to eviâ— doers and incouragers of those that do well Bless all thy Ordinances to us make them to be fulness of life to every one before thee we are come this day to partake of them Oh pour in Wine and oyl into our souls let us be a watered garden let this blessed Sacrament be a poyson to our lust and nourishment for our Grace Hear us be our God follow us with mercy crown us with acceptance and all for Christ his sake whom not seeing we love in whom believing we rejoyce to Christ with thee and thy holy Spirit be Glory Honour and Praise now and for ever Amen Mr. Lye 's Prayer at Allhallows Lumber-street O Lord our great God thou canst do all things for thou dost dispose and govern all the wayes and works and words of thy Creature to thâ—ne own praise We thy poor Creatures the workmanship of thy hands the price and purchase of thy Sons blood do desire this morning to fall down and humble our selves at the Throne of thy Grace we desire to lift up an eye of Faith to thee that thou mayest dart an eye of Love to us since thou hast commanded us to come unto thee Oh bless us now we come Let it not be in vain for any of us from the high'st to the low'st from the richest to the poorest that we have sought thy Face this morning Blessed Father pour down a spirit of Prayer a Spirit of preaching a Spirit of Rejoycing a spirit of Practising in the midst of us let us not only be enabled to know what to do but to do what we know Thou that distd cure the eyes of the blind with clay and spittle Oh heel that natural dimness that is in the best of us Thy Rod in the hand of Moses brought water out of the Rock Oh do thou strike upon those rocky hearts that our adamantine hearts being softned may gush out into Rivers of tears Oh drown our sins in the Red sea of our saviours blood help us to smite upon our thigh and to ask our selves what we have been and what we have done and humble us under the omission of any commanded duty and the comission of any for bidden sin sins of thoughts wordes and dieds sins against the Law against the Gospel of youth manhood and old-age sins before under and since conversion sins against prayers vows promises covenants and oaths Oh Lord if thou didst prefer thy Bill against us we could not stand if we were weighed in the balance of the Sanctury we should be found too light but holy Father remember not against us our former sins but rather have mercy upon us according to thy loving kindness cross and blot out our iniquities blot them out so fully and wholly that it may be to us as to Judath in the promise that the sins of Judath should be sought for and not found O bathe our souls in that Fountain that was set open for Judah and Jerusalem though our sins have been as Scarlet let them be as white as Snow though they be red like Crimson let them be like Wool We have read that a flood of sin brought down a deluge of water that they covered the tops of the mountains Oh let thy deluge of mercy cover the tops of the mountains of our sins It is the glory of a God to pardon great sins We desire to turn unto thee with our whole hearts do thou subdue our iniquities let us be not only cleansed but let us have the efficacy of the spirit of Christ to wash us from the guilt of sin because we boast we are not under the Law but under Grace Be gracious to our Soveraign Lord Charles King of England Scotland France and Ireland It is thy promise that Kings shall be Nursing Fathers to thy children grant that under the shadow of his Majesty thy people may be protected that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty Oh let thy people possess the Land from Dan to Beersheba Oh give us Scripture-Magistrates and Gospel-Ministers as long as the Sun and Moon endures Let thy VVord be sanctified to us let it not be only as water to get out our spots but as a Refiners fire to purge our dross and take away our tin And holy Father where thou hast begun a good work do thou go on and bring it to perfection let not the light that is in us be like the glimmering light of the evening but as the light of the morning that shineth more and more to the day Let our best wine be kept to the last let the end of our lives be the end of sinning Thou hast cast our lot in the midst of temptations of all sorts thou hast brought many of us through the red Sea but we are in the wilderness with Zeba and Zalmunna and those that dwell at Tyre the children of Ammon Moab and mount Seir and all the forces that Hell can make against us Oh put upon uâ— all the whole Armour of God Now in these days of Errour gird us with the Girdle of Truth Oh now in these days of falsity give us a helmet of Hope Now the Devil darts at us give us the Sheiâ—d of Faith Oh give us the Sword of the Spirit of the word of God that it may enable us to confute the gain-saying of foolish men Oh help us to pray with all manner of prayer constantly fervently faithfully feelingly that we stand and not fall and that not in our strength but in Gods To this end be with us upon this thine own day our Manna falls every day and it is doubled upon the Lords day Oh let us be as thy servant John in the Spirit upon thine own day let God by his Spirit come into our spirits understandings consciences wills memories and affections that all our conversations without and affections within may be obedient to thy Word Enable thy Servant to deliver thy Word faithfully God forbid thy Servant should stand upon so sandy a foundation as the Wisdome of Man one iota of thy Word hath more wisdome in it then all men and Angels have Good Father give thy people a hearing ear it is too much they have played
that are commanded thee of God Secondly Beg of God to give you such a heart that you may not only say as the people in a good humour once to Moses All that thou shalt speak unto us that will we observe and do but find your hearts such as in Deut. 5.29 O that there were such an heart in them that they would fear me and keep my Commandements always c. it is he by whom the Word is made as James hath it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A fruit-bearing word Begin all your hearing with prayers and conclude them with prayers â—â—â—ause 't is of the greatest concernment â—â—â—â—tly A Vse of Comfort First If we keep this Word this Word will keep us It will keep us in the worst of times yea at all times Prov. 6.22 When thou goest it shall lead thee when thou sleepest it shall keep thee and when thou awakest it shall talk with thee If thou keep his Commands his Commands will keep you if you keep his Promises his Promises will bring you to Glory Secondly If we keep his Word we shall not want present comforts The present gratuities which we have from Christ should be enough to encourage us if there were no future reward Psal 19. Inkeeping them there is great reward Thirdly Jesus Christ promised a blessedness to such persons they shall be a blessed people Rev. 1.3 Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophecy and keep those things which are written therein and so in Luke 11.28 Blessed are they c. and with the best of blessings doth he crown them in the Text My Father will love him and we will come to him and will make our abode with him which is the second Observation God and Christ will make their abode with them that keep his Word In which Observation we shall take notice of these three particulars First How God and Christ do make their abode with them that keep his Words Secondly Why God and Christ will make their abode with such Thirdly What an excellent blessing it is to have God and Christ abiding with us First How God and Christ do make their abode with them that keep his Words in which these three particulars must be shewn 1. How God abides with his People 2. How Jesus Christ abides with them 3. How both God and Christ will make their abode with them that keep his Word First How God the first Person in the Trinity is said to make his abode with them that keep his Word And this will be two wayes seen First It is not here to be understood of his common or general presence as he is the infinite God and being Omni-present fills Heaven and Earth for so he abides with all the works of his hands yea so he is with them that fear him not Secondly It is here properly understood of Gods abode by way of special presence as he is a gracious Father therefore Jesus Christ doth first express the Fathers love and then his abode as the product and fruit of his love My Father will love him and we will come unto him c. He will come and abide with his as a God in Covenant with them therefore hath he put it into a promise in 2 Cor. 6.16 I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my People Secondly How Jesus Christ will make his abode with them that keep his Word which will be shewn also First Negatively Secondly Affirmatively 1. Negatively It is not to be understood of a carnal or corporal presence of Christ as Papists imagine as if the flesh of Christ could be in all places whom the Heavens must contain till the time of the restitution of all things for so sayes the Apostle 2 Cor. 5.16 acknowledging If he had known Christ after the flesh yet so he knows him no more 2. Affirmatively He makes abode with his people after a spiritual manner God the Father makes his abode with his Servants as a Father to them Jesus Christ abides with them as the Head of his Church as it is in Eph. 5.25 He is the Head of the Church and the Saviour of his Body God abides with us in Christ Jesus Christ abides with us by his Spirit A learned Author shews four wayes of Christs abode with Believers 1. Politice ut Rex in Regno As a King in his Kingdom and so he gives Laws as the only Head and King of his Church protects them and orders all their affairs 2. Occonomice ut pater in Domo As a Father in his House and so he takes care and makes provision for his people as a Father for his Family 3. Ethice ut Ratio in Howine As Reason in a Man which is the light that directs man in all his actions Jesus Christ directs and leads his people 4. Physice ut Anima in Corpore As the Soul in the Body which animates and acts the whole man without which the Body is a dead and liveless Trunk so Jesus Christ doth quicken our Souls by whom we have spiritual life And that he is the Head of the Church and thus abides with them First Consider he hath all grace and life in him John 5.26 As the Father hath life in himself so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself Therefore the Psalmist sayes Psal 36.9 With the is thee Well of life and in thy light shall we see light Secondly From him is all grace and life conveyed out unto us Joh. 1.16 Of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace Yea whatsoever we receive from the Spirit of God we have from him originally as in Joh. 16.15 For he shall take of mine and shew it unto you Thirdly How God and Christ are both said to make their abode with them that keep his Word And this I shall shew to be three wayes First By their special providence and inspection with them and so we may see them in several Scriptures abiding with them as in Zach. 1.8 9 10. verses There 's Jesus Christ among the Myrtle trees which represent the Church And in Rev. 1.13 He is there in the midst of his golden Candle-sticks And David tells us of his experience of Gods presence with him Psal 73.23 I am continually with thee thou upholdest me with thy right hand And the Apostle Paul 2 Tim. 4.7 The Lord stood by me Indeed the eyes of the Lord are upon the Righteous and he hath said he will not leave them Secondly They make their abode with them in the Gospel and Gospel Ordinances where these be continued in their power and purity there the Tabernacle of God is among men and when these are taken away Ichabod the Glory is departed We may say God hath forsaken us As the Ark was a type and token of Gods special presence with the Jews so the Gospel and Gospel-Ordinances are a signal token of Gods abode with us for
of wrath will fall upon us O Lord how many ways hast thou used to reclaim us what Arts hath thy blessed Spirit used how many times hast thou approached to our souls and shewed us something of thy glory and the glory of heaven and the terrours of hâ—ll the one to allure us and the other to scare us But Oh! how many times have we grieved thy blessed Spirit who came to seal us and despised thy Son who came from heaven to earth and liv'd a sorrowful life and died a shameful death how often hath he offered us grace and glory if we would how to his Scepter but we have preferred a base lust before that excellency that he hath purchased us Oh how often hast thou condescended so far as to intreat us to be reconciled how easie hast thou been to forgive and how hard have we been to be forgiven VVe confess thou mighâ—est pass an eternal Doom upon us for we are sensible of the dishonour that we have brought upon thy Name Do thou at this time strike upon all these rocks that are in thy presence at this time give us hearts of flesh let our repentance pâ—eprare us for corversion let there be such a through conviction that thy grace and Mercy may be admirable in our eyes VVe intreat thee hear us pardon all our iniquities let us be monuments of thy grace and favour speak peace to our Consciences convey those clear evis dences of thâ—â—â—ve unto us that may inable us to scatter all our fâ—aâ—s that we may rejoice in God and have hope of glory Let the image of thy Son be engraven on all our hearts and let our souls be made subject to him while we are in the world preserve us from the evil of it If thou givest us out ward happiness give us withat inward holiness and if we do suffer help us with patience to bear all knowing we are in our journey and our passage to a better life and let our whole time be spent in a serious Preparation to appear before thy Tribunal and let us consider the unchangableness of that state hereafter Remember thy whole Church make the Name of Christ glorious in the world shed abroâ—d thy light and thy truth heavour back-slidings and love us freely Let thine Ordâ—nances continue among us and let thy blessing descend upon our sovereign Lord the King of England Scot and France and Ireland Defender of the Faith Incline his heart to thy Law make him an instrument of publick good protect his person and give him prosperous affairs Bless his Royal Consort his Relations his privy Counsel let them promote solid Piety and real Godliness Bless the Minister of thy Word and Sacraments Let their labours be precious in thy sight and remember all afflicted ones revive thy Mourners and let thy grace answer all their fears Let thy presence be in the midst of us and help us to hear as our last and let us be raised nearer heaven and make thy word powerful and effectual to all our souls and let thy word subdue our lusts and aâ—l we beg for the sake of Jesus Christ in whose Name and words we sum up our imperfect Prayers Our Father which art in Heaven c. Dr. Jacomb's Prayer at Martins Ludgate BLessed God thou art a God blessed for ever thou givest Mercy to all returning and repenting sinners thou art worthy to be praised by all that draw nigh unto thee Thou hast vouchsafed to us one Sabbath more Oh that we might all of us be in the spirit upon the Lords day that whatever we do we may do it in the strength of God that we may offer spiritual Sacrifices to God this day through our Mediator the Lord Jesus It is a very great condescention that thou shouldst suffer such as we are to come unto thee O Lord we are unclean we are unclean from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot we are overspread with the leprosie of sin all the faculties of our souls are defiled our understandings are darkened our wills are corrupted we have affections but they are carnal we have hearts but they are impure we have consciences but they are seared and as our inward man so our lives are unholy as the fountain is so is the stream besides that our general guilt that we brought into the world we are guilty of innumerable actual transgressions against thy holy Law We think O Lord there are no greater sinners in the world than we our sins are attended with many aggravations We have finned against Prayers against vows and promises we have had as much light shining before us as any in the world have had great is our unbelief Oh that we could lay these things to our hearts We do refuse to come to Christ we go about to establish a righteousness of our own and neglect the righteousness of God by faith in Jesus Christ how are our hearts glewed to the present things of this world Oh! what do we do for thy glory How unreformed are we under all the ways of God that he hath taken to make us a holy people Give us a sight of our sins O Lord we confess sometimes we do make a formal confession but we do not find our hearts melted for sin as they should Oh take away from every one of us this heart of stone give a heart of flesh give us tender hearts make us sensible of all our departing from thee Oh let us look upon him whom we have pierced let us mourn that the Water of penitential sorrow may flow from us we are strangers to our selves we do not see what a hell there is in our nature Oh! how should we put our mouths in the dust and loath our selves if so be there might be hope O Lord convince us of sin give us such a sight of sin as may make us flie to thee give us such a sight of our own guilt that maâ—â— prepare us for the Grace of Godâ— now we are sâ—ung with the fiery Serpents help us to come to Jesus Christ our brazen Serpent give us the holy Spirit to bring us out of the state of nature to let that God that made us Creatures make us new Creatures O Lord we are thine own work but we are dead in trespasses and sins give us grace and speak a word to them that are dead put out thine Almighty Power and draw some sinner to Christ this day and those that have any breathings after thee Oh! thou that gavest them that desire carry on thine own work in them where thou hast begun a good work carry it on let sin as the house of Saul grow weaker and weaker and grace as the house of David grow stronger and stronger Oh! increase our faith O Lord at this time we do not onely stand in need of grace but of a great measure of grace Oh! help us by faith to relie upon God that thou mayest help us at last Bless
it is said Exod. 23.17 Three times in the year all thy Males shall appear before the Lord. And Acts 27. the Eunuch there went unto that place that God had commanded 5. He doth command that he would have these places reverenced and no civil employments used there when the holy service was doing and that after the service was done at that very time the place should be only for God 6. And lastly He annexed a promise unto that place that he would accept of a duty done there rather than in any other place even because it was done there hence they prayed in the Temple rather than in their private houses Luke 2.27 and when they could not be present by reason of Gods providence in the Temple if they do but look to the City and the temple God accepted of their duty 1 Kings 8.48 So that God did promise that that place that he had instituted for his worship and service that the service performed there should be more acceptable to him than else-where This shews the reason and foundation of a places holiness the precept of God and the promise and presence of God And thus I have opened to you the second thing Now having thus explained and opened the Question to you 2. I come to resolve the Question according to what I think in my conscience to be the truth of God and this I shall do two ways 1. By granting that which must not be denyed 2. By denying what must not be granted 1. By granting what must not be denyed and here I grant willingly these four things 1. That in the time of the Gospel it is not onely lawful but it is often very commendable and necessary to design and dedicate places unto God Now when I say it is lawful to design them and to dedicate them I pray you bear me witness I do not say it is lawful to consecrate them or to sanctifie them but I say it is lawful to design and dedicate them Now for this take notice That between 1. The designing and appointing of a place 2. the dedication of a place and 3. the consecrating of a place there are these differences 1. Concerning the designation of a place then is a place designed when it is appointed to be made use of for the most convenience for such a service as Tuesday and Wednesday may be appointed for Lecture-days not consecrated Now you must know that this designation of a day may be altered and so may a place if such a place be designed it is in our power to make use of it so as to leave off the use of it when we please 2. As to dedication I mean so lawfully to dedicate a place which is of our own right to dispose of so to dedicate it as not again to be able to revoke it or call it back from such a use and purpose It is lawful and commendable for a rich man to dedicate so much ground or money for building a House for a Free-School or for the poor and to give it away from our selves and from our own right and power and if so be that a man hath power or propriety over a place or thing it is lawful for a man to alienate such a thing And yet this you must know by the way that this Dedication that now is in the time of the Gospel doth very much differ from that dedication of Free-will-offering unto God in the time of the Law for they were dedicated to God in the time of the Law immediately that is to his immediate Worship it was part of Gods Worship it was a part of Religion to do that thing whereas it is not now dedicated to the immediate Worship of God but it is dedicated immediately to such a Priest or Minister or Place or company of people that we have a good will to gratifie and so it more remotely redounds to Gods glory not immediately For God hath not declared in his Word the same acceptation in the Gospel of things done in an immediate way as he had in the time of the Law of which acceptation now we have no such promise And therefore it is observable as one speaks concerning that Benefactor in the Gospel to the Jews He hath loved our Nation and builded us a Synagogue it is not said for God but for us This man out of love to us hath bestowed these things to God which though a giving our selves out of our own power yet it doth differ from the Free-will-offering in the time of the Law Ay but now Sirs ye must know that sanctification or consecration that is a great deal more when we sanctifie a thing or consecrate a thing this thing that is so consecrated it is so holy that there must nothing at all of unholiness or of a civil or secular employment and concernment be done in it Now we do not dedicate a thing but there may be secular things in an ordinary and civil way done in them and our services are not more acceptable for the place nor the places less holy because of those civil employments There is the first concession that in the time of the Gospel there may be a designment and dedication of places and it is not only lawful but commendable 2. I grant that in times of the Gospel some places are to have Religious services performed in them rather than in other places I mean places of natural conveniency and fitness for the meeting of people together whereby they may be free from disturbance from the violence of Enemies and from tempestuous weather As publick meetings whereby we have the society of Gods people their examples to stir us up to zeal and their joynt help in prayer and holy performances to go along with us that we may joyn our forces together and with a great force wrestle with God and overcome him which is invincible And therefore my Brethren I desire you to bear me witness this day that I plead for publick Ordinances for the purity of Gods Ordinances to be administred in publick places rather than other places so that I do here profess that I do avowedly and openly declare my judgement to be for publick meetings in publick places and the purity of Gods Ordinances if they may be enjoyed without humane mixture which may hurt and pollute them 3. I grant that in the time of holy service we are not then to use secular employments at that time in those places as eating drinking and talking it being unsuitable to the work in hand and howsoever they may be lawful at another time yet unlawful then because against the Apostles command Let all things be done in decency and in order and that which is unsuitable to the commands of God the taking his Name in vain My Brethren I will go further with you we are to abstain from all other Religious Services when not in season and therefore when the Minister is in Preaching we must not run into
the Lord Then First by way of Lamentation 1. Over our own Souls 2. Over hundreds of Congregations Lord we do say hundreds nay thousands of Congregations that are this day though they do not accompany us in person yet mingling tears with us and especially as I hear in the West of England 1. Over our hearts We must stand that is our Duty Oh how should it cause us to lye low by reason of the instability of our hearts and their cursed declining from the true foundation every day Alas Beloved this is that God complains of They are a Generation whose spirit is not stedfast with God and therefore we have very much reason to complain of it Oh what an unsetled people have we been to day we have been apt to cry Hosanna ' Hosanna to the son of David to morrow our note is changed crucifie him crucifie him give us Barnabas to day the Lord is God to morrow Baal any thing is God provided we may keep our Estates Oh Lord what wilt thou do with such a people as this certainly it is a lamentation and ought to be a lamentation Believe it beloved I can now count seven years if not something more wherein I have most clearly expected the days I now see no way but the severest ways to be taken with such a false people as we have been Judge in your own thoughts whether we have been true to God or man to Saints or sinners to the Church of God at home or abroad whether or no this be not matter of Lamentation 2. With respect to our Congregations It is not against the Law yet to call them our Congregations This I confess I can rather weep than speak too I cannot speak my heart is too big for my head here Lord is it the duty of people of saints to stand to be stedfast how then should we mourn over their poor souls that because their Pillars are taken away must needs for ought we know Fall unless thou dost support them what Lord dost thou complain of a flock of sheep that are scattered there is no wonder in it their Shepheard is gone Do you look on it as a strange thing to see a poor Ship tossed here and there in the Sea when her Pilot is destroyed why mothers is it a strange thing for your children to fall and knock their arms legs their brains out why their mother is taken from them Oh poor people good God provide for this Congregation I and for this City that let defacing abominable wretches say what they will is certainly one of the best Cities God hath in the world and therefore they hate it so desperately because God loves it and because they hate that God that loves it I bless God I can speak of my own people they are not a mad pestifferous people for the most of them How many thousand have their hearts at their mouths now at this time before God in England Alas alas that we should have our Seers carried away from us but what think you when poor people shall be exposed to greater temptations to an Vlcer in the very Kidneys to a Plague in the very Heart or Head you now fear it but when you feel it what then 2. By way of Exhortation Beloved I remember good Jacob when he was come into Egypt ready to die calls his Children together and before he dies blesseth his children I cannot say you are my children but I can say in the strength of God you are dearer to me than the children of my own bowels I remember what poor Esau said hast thou but one blessing my Father bless me even me also Oh my Father Oh Beloved I have a few blessings for you and for Gods sake take them as if them dropt from my lips when dying it is very probable we shall never meet more while the day of Judgement what ever others think I am utterly against all irregular ways I have I bless the Lord never had a hand in any change of Government in all my life I am for prayers tears quietness submission and meekness and let God do his work and that will be best done when he doth it Therefore be exhorted to stand fast in the Lord my own people hear me now though you shall never hear me more be exhorted to stand fast in the Lord you are not a schismatical heretical people I do not know the least person among you inclining to Popery therefore be exhorted as ye have been a people that have waited upon the Ordinances of God that have not persecuted your poor Ministers that have made it your design and business to live lovingly quietly and as it becomes Christians I am confident a Minister may live as comfortably among you as among any People in England So be ye stedfast unmoveable alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as you know that your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. Here I had prepared I confess several arguments to have moved you to this stedfastness 1. I could have told you that withdrawing of any one of you back you will meet with great temptations which will very much unfit you for Heaven If any man or woman draw back my soul saith God shall have no pleasure in him I could have urged you with examples from the Heathens Alexander being in Indea bid them tell him the greatest rarity in their Country Sir go tell them say they when you come to Greece there are many here that cannot be forced by the prowess of Alexander to change their minds I know there are some here that cannot be easily perswaded to change their Religion Saith Lactantius Our very women torment their tormenters I would never desire a more able Disputant than a woman against a Monck I could tell you of those injoyments God hath put on you our miseries have been great but our mercies have been greater I could tell you of six troubles and of seven of six wherein God hath stood by and of seven wherein he hath not forsaken and the truth is he cannot forsake his people he may forsake them as for comfort he will never forsake them as for support let him lay on a burden he will be sure to strengthen the back 3. I hope it is not dangerous if I tell you you are engaged to God there are vows upon you Baptismal vows to say no more you have sworn to God you have lifted up your hands you are those that have undertaken that you would be true to God to your lives end if these vows have been any way strengthened Oh! remember Zedekiahs case Ezek. 17.18 19. Seeing he despised the Oath by breaking the Covenant when lo he had given his hand and hath done all these things be shall not escape therefore thus saith the Lord God as I live surely mine Oath that he hath despised and my covenant that he hath broken even it will I recompense upon his own bead Remember it
others may call it let them call it what they will Then hearken to my words as the words of a dying man yet not dead but alive and perhaps shall not die but live and declare the Word of the Lord and hold forth the Word of the Lord to you many a time in this place when-ever it pleaseth God to set open a door for me If it be so That the Ministers foundness in Doctrine and holiness of life and conversation do lay great obligation on a people duly and conscienciously to practice every commanded duty Then from this Doctrine I would suggest and leave with you several words and hints of counsel And on that the Lord God of Heaven would effectually engage and set them home on every one of our hearts My first Counsel is this That when the Lord taketh away such Ministers whose Doctrine is sound and their lives exemplary holy you would then be duly apprehensive and deeply sensible both of the inflicting cause and also of the meritorious deserving cause thereof 1. For the inflicting cause and that is the Lord himself Isa 3.1 2 Who is it that taketh away from the people the natural staff and the civil staff the spiritual staff saith the Prophet The Lord the Lord of Hosts Whoever it be that is the Instrument it is certain it is the Lord himself that is the principal efficient cause of this judgment on a people and this will appear if we consider 1. The Lord hath threatned this judgment on a rebellious people Amos 8.11 12. I saith the Lord will bring this judgment on them A most dreadful spiritual judgment Gods Word is the spiritual food of our spiritual lives and therefore as the granting of it is a blessing indeed so the with-holding of it is a judgment This ireful dreadful judgment of the Lord we see threatens yea that is not all the Lord hath not oly threatned it but 2. Inflicted it as the Lord takes away his faithful Messengers and Embassadors 1. Sometimes by death out of the world out of the Land of the living And thus the Lord took away the Prophet Enoch Gen. 5.24 And 2. Sometimes by removal Thus the Lord took away the Prophet Jonas from Israel and sent him to Niniveb as Jona 1.2 And thus Paul and Barnabas went away from the Jews and turned to the Gentiles as Acts 13.4 3. Sometimes by deprivation A time there was when the good Priests and Levites were forced to flee their own places and possessions 2 Chron. 11.13 14. 4. Sometimes by suspension Thus a time there was when it was said to the Seors see not and to the Prophets prophesie not Isa 30.9 10. Thus a time there was when people would have Pastors but would not endure faithful Jeremiah and a time there was that there was a Law made Look ye speak no more in the name of Jesus Act 4.11 And a time there was when Paul and Timotheus and Silvanus were forbid to preach to the Gentiles 1 Thess 2.15.16 Thus we see the Lord himself hath inflicted this dreadful Judgment on a people and the Lord hath divers wayes and methods and means to inflict it 3. Consider The Church and people of the Lord hath been very sensible of the Lords hand in this judgment as we may see in Psal 74.1 and 9. verses compared Why what is the matter as if they have said God was wont heretofore to give us signs and tokens he would even work miracles for us the Lord would send us some Prophets to converse with and instruct us we had those that could tell us how long our troubles should last but now we see no sign the Lord leaveth us as it were to the wide world and how sensible was the Lords Church in this judgment as ver 1. of that Psalm This is the first endeavour We are to be duely sensible and deeply apprehensive of the afflicting cause of such a judgment and that is the Lord himself 2. Of the meritorious Cause and that is sin Say not we it is long of such and such but it is long of our selves we may thank our selves for this and we appeal to your selves whether this judgment may not be charged 1. From the general inflexibleness and untractableness of people under the Ministry of the Word For this very cause the Lord plagued and poured his vengeance upon the ten Tribes as in 2 Kings 17. from v. 13. to 19. The Lord testified against Isreal by all the Prophets and by all the Sters saying Turn you from your evil wayes notwithstanding they will not hear And for this very cause did the Lord afterwards plague all Judah as Jer. 20.17 18 19. And for this very reason did the Lord Jesus Christ remove Paul from Jerusalem because the people were a stiff-necked people and they would not receive Pauls testimony concerning Jesus as Acts 22 18. Paul had a great desire to stay at Jerusalem as appeared by his reasoning with the Lord as ver 9 20. But what saith the Lord Christ ver 21. Now can England can London plead not guilty of this hainous provocation a general inflexibleness untractableness under a Conscience-ransacking a Conscience-searching Ministry What shall the Lord do with such a people under such a Minister Is it not just with God to let them alone that are prophane and superstitious Let there be like People like Priests Let the blind lead the blind and let the wicked rebellious Minister lead a wicked loose people that both may perish together everlastingly 2. The unfruitfulness formality lâ—ke-warmness declining of Gods own people and for this the Lord threatens the Church of Ephesus Rev. 2.4 5. I have saith Christ somewhat against thee thou hast left thy first love though not absolutely for nature yet eminent for measure And can England can London plead not guilty of this sad provocation Now indeed we cannot but observe and approve of your flocking to the Lords Ordinances as Doves to the holes of a Window but did you do so some Months agone Oh your voluntary and fearful distractions avocations diversions from the Worship and Service of God! And is it not just with the Lord to take away that abundance and choice of Spiritual helps a people had when they approved not of them yea when they undervalued and despised and abused them Oh the Lord God help us all to affect our souls and lay our selves low before his All-seeing Majesty for our provoking him to do this and endeavour to be duly apprehensive and deeply sensible of the inflicting cause and meritorious cause thereof 2. Take heed of a prophane delight in loose lewd wicked dissolute Ministers And here we will premise two or three things 1. Too many people are too ready to cavil at many Ministers without a cause The life of our blessed Lord and Saviour was it not traduced Did not some say he was a friend to Publicans and Sinners We see Christ was cavilled at and quarrelled with by some And thus
while Stephen sees nothing but blood here below he saw Heaven above And Christ rells his Disciples In the world they shall have tribulation but in him they shall have peace 6. And lastly Though this be one great work of the Spirit of God to comfort the hearts of Christs Disciples yet there are some special seasons wherein the Spirit of God gives out this comfort There are seasons of sadness there is a season of heaviness and there is need of it There is a time to weep and a time to laugh a time to mourn and a time to dance I shewed you some of the Seasons 1. One special season of the Spirits comforting the renewing Soul is presently upon the Souls first salvation After the spirit is become a Spirit of Adoption presently it becomes a Spirit of Consolation after the Spirit hath come into the soul in the Law it then nextly appears a Spirit in the Gospel 2. Another season when the Spirit gives out this comfort is just before the Lord layes upon his people any great affliction When was it that Christ was transfigured and his face did shine as the Sun it was immediately before his bloody passion Christ was first taken into the Mount before he was lifted up upon the Cross When was the voice heard This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased but just before he was led into the Wilderness to be tempted When was Paul lifted up into Heaven it was immediately before Satan was sent to buffet him Thus God gives his people something beforehand to support their Spirits that they may not faint the Disciples were full of comfort Acts 5 41. And when was this immediately just before they were carryed before the Council and whipt up and down like Vagabonds and Rogues for preaching the Gospel 3. Another Season when the Spirit gives out this Comfort is in the time of suffering God comes in the nick of time especially if a man suffer for righteousness sake if this suffering be upon the account of Christ he seldom sails to send the Comforter for the relieving of his Spirit 1 Pet. 4.13 But rejoyce in as much as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding joy Bodily confinement and in ward straits are the time of the souls greatest inlargement John had his vision in the Isle of Patmos When a Child of God is brought to a piece of bread then is the season for God to feed him with heavenly Manna Jacob had glorious Visions while he was flying from the wrath of his Brother when he had nothing but a heap of Stones for his Pillow It was in the Wilderness that God speaks to his Church thus I told you of Mr. Glover a Prisoner who found no comfort in the time of his imprisonment but when he was going to the stake he cryed out He is come be is come meaning the Spirit the Comforter 4. Another season of Comfort is after some special exercise of grace godly sorrow-for sin free actions in the pardon of sin and new Engageme â—â—s and Resolutions and Promises of more close walking with God after declining from him 5. Another season of Comfort is After some great Tryals and Afflictions Light is then most pleasant when we newly are come out of a dark place after Thunder comes Lightning after a Storm comes a Calm God led his people first into the Wilderness and then into the Land of Canaan It is often so in Gods Dispensations towards his people their greatest Afflictions go before their greatest Deliverances And therefore let not the Saints of God despair when they are at the lowest when they walk in darkness and see no light yet let them trust in the Lord. 6. Another Season of comfort was when men were conscienciously diligent in their particular Callings then they walk with God To this I gave you an instance in the Shepherds they were faithful and diligent in their Callings they were watching over their flocks by night and then the Angel comes and tells them To you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord Luke 2.11 A company of poor Shepherds keeping of their Sheep God appears unto them and manifesteth his comforting Presence when the Scribes and Phaâ—isees notwithstanding all their long prayers and their strict Rites and Ceremonies hear not a word of him 7. Another Season of comfort is when we are either preparing for or in the spiritual act of some duty When grace is exercised to prepare the heart to pray and in attendance upon such an Ordinance then oftentimes the Spirit of God is with them to let poor souls in their endeavors finde acceptance with God Hannah had been praying to God But what melody did she finde in her heart When Mary sate â—at Christs feet how doth Christ fill her heart with comfort sealing up her salvation to her I now come to close with some Application Vse of Information Use If it be the work of the Spirit of God to comfort the hearts of Christs Disciples then by way of Information I gather this That a poor soul is very hardly setled and satisfied in point of Comfort Sure it is a hard matter to comfort a poor soul when one of the Persons of the blessed Trinity must be employed on purpose to do it This is an office belonging to the Holy Ghost when he is to be the Paraclec the comfort of the Holy Ghost This sure is a hard matter to comfort the wounded spirit when the soul is full of the spirit of bondage Oh! the hesitates the jealousies the doubts and fears the objections that a poor soul makes against his spiritual peace and comfort now it begins to take comfort then it doubts again now he believeth and takes courage but anon he is afraid there is a great deal ado to fasten comfort upon a poor soul 2 Cor. 1.22 23. What a heap of Words are there together and it is all little enough to comfort a poor soul Now he that establisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us is God and hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the spirit in our hearts It is not without much tugging and drawing that the soul is first brought to believe and then when it doth believe it is a hard thing to perswade it that it doth believe There is a strange kind of squemishness upon the heart he thinks that there is no comfort to be taken that doth belong to him Luther says It is a harder thing to comfort a troubled Conscience than to raise the dead Surely it must be as hard when nothing but the same power must do it The soul is hardly convinced but all the glad tidings of the Gospel are golden streams and all the Promises are but pleasant Fancies without any Reality but that these things should belong to him this he cannot believe for want of faith
The promise of the Spirit which shall supply his absence such a Spirit as shall reach them comfort them and be in stead of All to them give them such Joy Courage and Peace as the World can neither give nor take away ver 27. Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you c. Thirdly In the 23. ver in the Text We will come and make our abode with him while you keep my words which is the great promise here If a man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him The words of the Text are an Answer to the Question of Judas not Iscariot Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self unto us and not unto the world Jesus Christ gives the Answer If a man love me he will keep my words c. To him the Promise is made That the Father will love him They love him that keep his words and to these he hath said He will manifest his love to them and make his abode with them In which word there are three parts considerable First A Supposition If a man love me c. Secondly A position which is the effect of that love He will keep my words Thirdly A promise which is two-fold First Of the Father's love My Father will love him Secondly The Co-habitation of the Father and Son with such a Person We will come unto him and make â—ur abode with him The Observations that I intend to insist upon are two First That it is the duty and special property of them that love Jesus Christ in sincerity to keep the words of Christ Secondly That God and Christ will make their abode with them that keep his words First Of the first of these That it is the duty and special property of them that love Jesus Christ in sincerity to keep the words of Christ If any love me he will keep my words he will do my will walk in my ways treasure up my truths and counsels This Doctrine requires three things to be spoken to in their order 1. That Jesus Christ must be truly loved 2. What it is to keep his Words 3. Why it is both the duty and property of them that love him to keep his words First That Jesus Christ must be truly loved there is such an indispensible necessity for this that the Apostle says 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus let him be Anathema Maranatha let him be accursed But because every one pretends highly to love Jesus Christ and but few that love him indeed I shall shew two things more briefly 1. Who is he that truly loves him 2. Why we should all truly love him First Who is he that truly loves Christ First He truly loves Jesus Christ who upon the discovery and tender of Jesus Christ in the Gospel as King Priest and Prophet can willingly deny all for him as the Merchant Mat. 13.45 46. sold all that he had for the goodly Pearl And so Paul Phil. 3.8 accounts all dung his parts his righteousness by the Law his greatest excellencies he loves Christ in deed and not in shew only who can leave the world his dearest lusts his best righteousness for Christ This is a true conjugal love Psal 45.10 Hearken O daughter and confider and encline thine ear forget also thine own people c. When Christ sees that we have such love to him that we will part with all for him then he sees a beauty in us that delights him Secondly He truly loves Jesus Christ who having received him will rather lose all than part with him again who accounts Jesus Christ better than his best things as he sayes in Mat. 10.37 He that loves Father or Mother more than me is not worthy of me c. therefore sayes the Spouse Cant. 8.6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart as a seal upon thine arm let me be so united to thee that I may never be sever'd from thee It is a very hard lesson and an irksome duty for the best of men to part with friends liberty peace life all these or either of these sweet mercies but to part with Christ nothing can perswade or enforce the soul that truly loves him that 's a thought more cruel than the Grave witness the holy Martyrs a whole cloud of witnesses that notable and eminent Galeacius Marquess of Vico c. Thirdly He that truly loves Jesus Christ takes abundance of delight in communion with him No pleasure like the kisses of his mouth No sweetness like that of his bosome all his ways are peace and his paths pleasantness Christ makes every condition comfortable there is no comfort of life but in that little enjoyment of Christ that the soul hath in his life 't is communion with Christ converse with him that is all my comfort and pleasure in the world O how doth the Spouse take care that he be not disturbed in Cant. 2. â— I charge you O ye daughters of Jerusalem by the Roes and the Hinds of the field that ye stir not up nor awake my Love till he please The words are an allusion to one that would not have her Friend disturbed and speaks to her companions and charges them by all that is dear and pleasant to them not to break the rest of her best Beloved and shews the wonderful delight the soul takes in communion with Jesus Christ and the special care that it alwayes hath that no tentation break in nor corruption break out to interrupt that sweet communion or occasion Christs departure who will not for any profit commit any sin or cause Jesus to depart from him Fourthly He that truly loves Jesus Christ having lost the sight of him is never satisfied till he come to the re-enjoyment of him is alwayes at a loss and is never quiet till he enter into acquaintance and communion with him as in that of Joseph and Mary they having lost their Son went seeking till they found him So Cant. 3.1 2 3 c. By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth I sought him but I found him not I will rise now and go about the City in the streets and in the broad ways c. I said to the Watchmen Saw ye him whom my soul loveth c. By all which is expressed the sedulous care and industry of a living soul seeking after Christ First By night in her bed Jesus Christ hath her best thoughts in her closet and private duties of Prayer serious Meditations spiritual Ejaculations and secret self-Examinations in all these the soul enquires As one that loves the world by night his meditation is of the world so the man of pleasures and honours is pursuing his lusts in the night season the wicked man is contriving mischief upon his bed so the soul that loves Christ his are still at work after Christ Secondly I will rise now and go about the
2 Chr. 8.11 And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the City of David into the house that he had built for her for he said my Wife shall not dwell in the house of David King of Israel because the places are holy whereunto the Ark of the Lord hath come This Ark was the dwelling place of God it was the habitation of God Psal 99.1 The Lord reigneth he sitteth between the Cherubins Now these Cherubins were placed over the Ark it was the speaking place of God he met his people there and there he gave an answer to them Exod. 25.21 22. And thou shalt put the Mercy-seat above upon the Ark and in the Ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee And there will I meet with the and I will commune with thee from above the Mercy-seat from above the two Cherubins which are upon the Ark of the Testimony of all things I shall give thee in Commandment unto the children of Israel This Ark was Gods Foot-stool and all the pleople of God worship him before the Foot-stool of God Ps 99.5 Exalt ye the Lord our God and worship at his foot-stool for he is holy The Ark it was the glory and the strength of Israel Psal 78.61 And he delivered his strength into captivity and his glory into his enemies bands and it was the terrour of the enemies of God And therefore when the Ark came into the battel the Philistines were afraid and said Woe unto us for God is come down into the Camp And indeed this Ark was called Jehovah Num. 10.35 And it caâ—e to pass when the Ark set forward that Moses said Rise up Lord and let thine enemies be scattered and when it rested he said Return O Lord unto the many thousands of Israel In 〈◊〉 word the Ark was a pledge and a visible symptom of Gods gracious presence with his people as long as the Ark was saved they were saved and when the Ark was with them then Gods presence was with them but when the Ark was gone God was gone his comforting presence his protecting presence and his preserving presence And therefore no wonder that this good old man face â—â—â—ching here sort fear of the Ark. I call him good old man many are of â—pihion that he was not good because he suffered his Sons to be wicked â—and indeed his fault was great but surely he was a good man and I have two Reasons to prove it First in that he took the punishement of his iniquity so patiently It is the Lord let him do what sâ—em 〈◊〉 good And secondly he was a good man as appears by the Text his solicitousness for the Ark He sate trembling for fear of the Ark. Now this Ark was a Type of three things First it was a Type of Jesus Christ for God spake from the Ark so God speaks to us by Christ Secondly it was a Type of the Church of Christ for as the Ark was the preserver of the two Tables of the Law so the Church of Christ is the preservative of the Scriptures Thirdly the Ark was a Type of the Ordinances of Christ for as God did communicate himself by the Ark so God by his Ordinances communicates his Counsels Comforts and Grace unto his people The Ordinances of Christ they are the â—raculuin by which he conveys himself unto his people Thus I have shewed you what the Ark was I shall gather two observations from the words 1. That when the Ark of God is in danger of being lost the people of God have thoughtful heads and trembling hearts 2. That a true Child of God is more troubled and more solicitous what shall become of the Ark than what shall become of Wife and Children or Estate I shall begin with the first Doctrine That when the Aak of God is in danger of being lost the people of God have thoughtful heads and trembling hearts Or if I may put this Doctrine in a Gospel dress take it thus That when the Gospel is in danger of losing when Gospel-Ordinances are in danger of being lost and Gospel-Ministers in danger of losing that then the people of God have trembling heads and careful and solicitous hearts about it Mark what I say I say not when the Ark is lost for that was death to old Eli that broke his neck and it cost the life of Eli's Daughter-in-Law when the Ark of God was taken she took no comfort in her child though a man-child she regarded it not For the glory is departed from Israel the Ark of God is taken I say not when the Ark of God is lost but I say when it is in danger of losing when the Gospel is in danger the Ministers of the Gospel in danger and the Ordinances in danger to be lost then the People of God have trembling hearts and careful heads When God threatned the Israelites that he would not go with them they were troubled for the loss of Gods presence and would not put on their Ornaments Exod 33.3 4. I will not go up in the midst of thee for thou art a stiff-necked people lest I consume thee in the way And when the people heard these evil tidings they mourned and no man did put on his ornaments 1 Sam. 7.2 And it came to pass while the Ark abode in Kiriath-jearim that the time was long for it was twenty years and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord that is after the presence of God speaking from the Ark 2 Sam. 11.10 11. David would have had Vriah to have gone down to his house and made merry And Uriah said unto David The Ark and Israel and Judah abide in Tenis and my Lord Joab and the servants of my Lord are incamped in open fields shall I then go into mine house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife as thou livest and as thy soul liveth I will not do this thing 1 King 19.10 And Elijah said I have been very jealous for the Lord of hosts for the children of Israel have forsaken thy Covenant thrown down thy Altars and slain thy Prophets with the sword and I even I only aâ—n left and they seek my life to take it away Thus you see when the Ark is in danger the people of God mourn and are sorrowful And there be four reasons why the people of God are so much troubled when the Ark of God is in danger Reason 1. Because of the great love they bear to the Ark of God As God loveth the gates of Sion more than all the dwellings of Jacob Psal 87.2 so the people of God love the Ordinances of God and the faithful Ministers of Christ Psal 26.8 Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honour dwelleth Psal 27.4 One thing have I desired of the Lord that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the dayes of my life to behold the beauty of the
and by our lively trust through the Covenant of Grace on our part let there be such a unity between Christ and us that all the powers of Hell may not be able to separate us from thee speak peace to our hearts still our consciences say I have received a sacrifice for you I shall befriend you I will be just and faithful to forgive your sins my Law is sully fulfilled by another though broken by you my Justice is fully satisfied by another though provoked by you my wrath is ceased by the means of another though incensed by you Oh Lord what a cordial would this be canst not thou amongst this great multitude of people espy some that through the Spirit of thy Son would worship thee in thine own way speak peace to every such soul Is there any soul before thee O Lord to whom thou hast given the grace of desire O lord give them grace according to their desire and thou which didst regard us when we were running from thee do not reject us now we are drawing near thee And thou which bidst us believe by the command of thy Word help us to believe by the operation of thy Spirit draw us that we may be able to follow thee thy loving kindness is better than life Some do say Who will shew us any good But Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us and thou wilt glad our hearts more than in the time when Corn or wine or Oil increaseth Let it be fair above head when it is dirty below let us see one contrary in another let us confute an eye of sense with an eye of faith and when we come to see nothing here that can gratifie our senses let us have something to quiet our souls We would fain be at war with sin that we may be at peace with thee though we cannot return as much as we have received yet help us to return as much as we can give us repentance unto life epentance from dead works a mourning fat greater for the remembrance of sin than we have pleasure in the committing of sin those secret distempers in our souls that no eye sees but thine let us cry out Wretched men that we are who should deliver us from this body of sin And as the fear of condemnation doth decrease so set the fear of transgression increase And because O Lord thou hast not made us to bleed with thy greatness O Lord make us to blush with thy goodness let us as truely desire that Heaven would enter into us into a way of holiness here as we desire to enter into Heaven in the way of happiness hereafter Let us see that our kindness to sin is cruelty to our Saviour let net that live quietly one minuite with us that would not let Christ live let us see there is nothing small by which the great God is offended and an immortal soul is damned We are to be in the world but for a while to take a turn or two and be gone Oh that we might make it the business of our life to get into Christ though it be the scorn of men and burdensome to nature yet this is that which will bring us peace at last Let us be what we profess our selves to be let us love Christ and evangelically keep his commandements let us live by faith let us keep thy Commandements let us be above the world in the world above the love of life and above the fear of death let not the smiles of the world allure us nor the frowns thereof affright us from thee but in all these things let us be more than conquerers through Jesus Christ Let us love him much whom we cannot love too much Help us to be above the power of Hell let us ever say My soul it is good for me to draw nigh to God Let us be willing rather to be faved with a few than go to Hell in a crowd let us live as if Eternity were long and life but short let us thrive in holiness and be brought neerer to thy self by every dispensation let us in this our day know the things that concern our peace before they be hid from our eyes and know the time of our visitation and though God suffer long he will strike at last O Lord bow the heavens and come down among us at this time and be with the unworthiest of thy servants and give unto him a door of utterance and to thin great people a door of entrance and let them be all taught of God and let them truly find that the great God is teaching to the heart when that a weak worm is speaking to the ear let all the work be done by theo and let all he praise redound unto thee and let him that is with us be greater than he that is in the world behold us in the Son of thy love smell aswee savor of rest on these our poor prayers speak peace to our consciences rebuke the tempter tread him under our feet shortly raise us up to newness of life let us remember when that which is perfect is rome that which is imperfect shall be done away Hear us and help us through our dear Redeemer let us live for him here and with him hereafter and all for his sake whom not seeing we love in whom believing we rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory to whom with thee and thy Sprit be Glory and Honour now an for ever Amen Mr. Cradocott's Prayer at St. Sepulchres MOst glorious and most gracious Lord God who art God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hast put thine own Name and stamp upon this Day wilt thou be pleased to appear now and prepare and dispose our unprepared and indisposed souls for holy Observation of this thine holy day Will the Lord vouchsafe us the incomes of his spirit and influences of his Grace whereby we may be inabled to offer up spiritual Sacrifice which may be acceptable to Jesus Christ Lord thou requirest praying hearts but thou hast not commanded us to use Prayer-books and if thou wilt give us the Spirit of Prayer we shall not need them Lord give us praying hearts at this time let us find by experience that the Sabbath is a day of Souls opportunity that thine Ordinances are full of marrow that thou hast not said unto thy Children the seed of Jacob seek my face in vain VVe acknowledge we are unworthy to lift up our eyes to heaven we have cause enough to cry out God be merciful to us sinners undeserving ill-deserving men and women we acknowledge our natures are blots of all wickednesses we are by nature enemies to thy Majesty heirs of death children of darkness slaves to sin captives to lust dead to sins and trespasses how are our understandings darkned and our hearts-hardened what are our hearts but a store house of malicious thoughts a brothel house of adultery a palace of pride we are by nature
will report it all my familliars or as in the Margent every man of my peace watched for my haltings saying peradventure he will be enticed and we shall prevail against him and we shall take our revenge of him While they pretended friendship and peace they intended nothing but mischief even the taking of their revenge on him So the Presidents and the Princes watched righteous Daniel to mischief him Dan. 6.4 where first they seek to find occasion against him concerning the Kingdom they would gladly have found any occasion against him to have accused him of Disloyalty Sedition Treason Rebellion or at least falshood and unfaithfulness but here they could find no fault his very enemies being Judges ver 5. In the next place therefore they plot to find occasion against him from the Law of his God and therefore enticing the King to make a Law against the Law of Daniels God they quickly catch him So you may see the Scribes and Pharisees watched the Lord Jesus that Just One Luke 67. And the Scribes and Pharisees watched him whether he would heal on the Sabbath day that they might find an accusation against him It seems they had a Law against doing good on the Sabbath day So Luke 20.19 20. And the chief Priestâ—es and the Scribes sought to lay hands on him and they feared the people for they perceived that he had spoke this parable against them and they watched him and sent forth spies which should fain themselves just men that they might take hold of his words that so they might deliver him to the power and authority of the governour They endeavour to trapan him that they might give him over to the secular Power Time would fail to show how they watched the Apostles and the Saints all down along throughout all Ages Neither need we search the Records of former ages in this matter for evidence our own times affording pregnant proof more then enough in this thing and as it hath been and now is so it will be to the end of this wicked world the guise and manner of the Wicked thus to watch the Righteous to do him a mischief 1. For that there is the same principle of hatred and enmity in the Wicked against the Rigeteous now as ever yea and ever will to the worlds end That enmity that we read of in Gen. 3.15 is a lasting enmity as long as there is any of the seed of the Serpent in the world it will work it is an enmity in nature Prov. 29.27 He that is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked and the wicked must cease to be wicked ere this will cease to be As there are some Creatures that have an enmity in nature as the Woolf and the Sheep so that enmity is propagated to all of the kind that partake of that nature So is the enmity that the children of the wicked one have against the children of God As therefore the Wolf need not be taught to watch to devour the Sheep it being natural to him so the wicked need not be taught to do the Saints a mischief having a principle within them inclining and instructing them thereunto 2. There is the same necessary ground and occasion of their hatred of them though there be no just ground of the wicked hatred of the righteous hence David speaks of their hating him without a cause Psal 69 4. that is without just cause on his part yet there is a necessary ground of their hatred and that continueth now as heretofore and will continue as long as there are any truly godly and what that is you may see in that Psal 38.20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries because I follow the thing that good is The true ground and reason of their being adversaries unto David was this Because he followed that which they hated Thus our Saviour shewing his Disciples how they should be hated of the world acquaints them with the true cause and ground of the worlds hatred John 15 19. If you were of the world the world would love his own but because you are not of the world but I have chosen you out of the world therefore the world hateth you And that this is the proper ground of the worlds hatred is most manifest for that the same person whom the world loved while he was of the world when called out of the world into the Kingdome of Christ then is he hated of those that before loved him as in Paul And if a person that professeth himself the Disciple of Christ and is hated of the world shall forsake the assembly of the Saints and turn back from the way of righteousness and run into the same excess of riot with the prophane world none more the worlds darling then he 〈◊〉 So that it is Godliness Holiness and true Religion that is the true ground of the worlds hatred So 1 Joh. 3.12 Not as Cain who was of the wicked one and slew his brother and wherefore slew he him because his own works were evil and his brothers righteous This was the true cause of his hatred and while that the cause remaineth while godly men continue to walk in the ways of godliness the wicked will continue to hate them 3. The Devil whose Children these wicked ones are 1 John 3.8 10. is still as malitious and industrious as ever to put them upon this We read of Satan in that 1 Pet. 5.8 that he goeth up and down like a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour and as far as the Lord permits him he acts wicked men in whom he ruleth Ephes 2.2 to do what mischief they can to the Godly yea and in the last times he is so far from abating his rage as that we read his wrath groweth the hotter because he knoweth he hath but a short time Rev. 12.12 While therefore the principle of enmity which is in the wicked against the Saints remaineth and while the ground of their hatred continues aâ—d Satan is as industriously stirring them up as ever nought else can be expected but that they watch the righteous to do them a mischief But now what shall the righteous do shall he render evil for evil and watch the wicked that he may mischief them God forbid what shall he forsake his righteousness and leave off to be godly no in no wise But if you would know O ye Saints and righteous Ones what to do in this case I am sent of God at this time to instruct you That it will be your best way to wait on the Lord and keep his way And so I come to what is expresly asserted in this point That however it go with the truly godly here in this world more especially when the wicked watcheth the righteous to mischief them it is their best way to wait on the Lord and keep his Way Here I shall speak by way of Explication in shewing 1. VVhat it is to wait on the Lord. 2.