THE SON OF GOD Walking in the Fire with the Servants of God IN NINE SERMONS Upon DAN III. XXV BY That Precious and Holy Man Mr TIMOTHY ARMITAGE Late Pastor of a Congregation gathered in the City of Norwich Unto which is added another SERMON Preached by him upon Eccles 9. 10. At the Entrance of one of the Mayors there into his Office LONDON Printed by J. Macock for Henry Cripps and are to be sold at his Shop in Popes-Head-Alley near Lumbard-Street 1656. To the Reader THe Prophets do they live for ever as the holy Prophet Zechariah asks the Question wherein he also implies the Answer Surely they do not live for ever which dayly experience doth bear witness unto For we see that wise and good men dye as well as the foolish and bruitish person And 't is no small Mercy unto them what ever it be to those who remain that they may rest from their Labours yet were it not great pity that all their precious Labors should dye and be buried in the dust together with themselves Now although that gracious and sweet-Spirited Man Mr. Timothy Armitage the late Pastor to a Congregation gathered in the City of Norwich is now gone to his blessed Rest of whose Death it cannot be said as 't was of that King Jehoram That he departed without being desired for his absence is still very much lamented and not without cause unto this day Yet through the Lords good Providence some of his holy Labors that fell from him being taken up by the careful Hand of a Christian Brother of that Congregation who had the Pen of a ready Writer are here presented to the world as some others also may if the Lord please in time be brought to light whereby such as have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil may easily perceive what a good Treasure there was in the heart of that good man whence such good things both new and old have been brought forth I doubt not but such a sweet savour of a gracious Spirit will so evidently appear all along through the Veins of these Sermons to such as are spiritual and can savour spiritual things as that should I go about to write Letters of Commendation of Him or Them I suppose it might be said to me as the Samaritans sometime spake unto the Woman that perswaded them to come and see the Christ Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this was a most choice and precious Man indeed And seeing it hath been the Lot and Portion of the Saints even in all Ages more or less to meet with manifold exercises and sharp sufferings in one kind or other yea sometimes even with Fiery Tryals and what afflictions may also abide us in these latter Times the Lord only knoweth Therefore I cannot but think that the Subject of these ensuing Sermons viz The walking of the Son of God with his Servants in the midst of the Fire may be very seasonable and comfortable to all the Servants of Christ even in these and the after times What this our Dear and Reverend Brother spake herein was as it seems that which he had the experience of not long before having as I am told but newly come out of the Furnace I mean a most violent hot burning Fever so that there is the more cause to hope that what came from his own heart may through the Blessing of Christ go to the Hearts of others also If any seeming Pleonasms or Redundances or deficiency in any Phrases or words may appear to any herein let them please but to consider that these Sermons are put forth not by the Authors own Notes which as it seems are very hardly to be read but as they were taken from his Mouth in Preaching I shall only crave leave to mention one passage lest possibly any might seem to stumble or be offended at it viz. That about the suppressing of Errors in pag. 118 119. as if he did absolutely deny the exercise of the Magistrates Power in any such matters or in any case whatsoever Whereas if his Expressions be candidly taken as they may viz. That the Sword or Power of the Magistrate is not to be exercised against any Person meerly for the very holding of an Error if no more without any manner of Civil disturbance or circumstances of that Nature for he speaks not at all of any such holding spreading of Errors I know not any that wil or can affirm or maintain the contrary and so take any just offence at the Expression I shall add no more but desire that the Blessing of Christ may accompany these holy Labors 13d. 7m. 56y. THO. ALLEN The Table Shewing several things observable in every particular Sermon in this Book The first Sermon SEven Wonders or seven Miracles discovered in the Text. First That the light of the fire continued and not the heat Page 3 Secondly That their number was not diminished but encreased 4 Thirdly That the fire did burn their bands asunder but did not hurt them ibid. Fourthly These men were seen walking in the midst of the fire ibid. Fiftly That the fire did remain fire and yet not burn them ib. Sixtly That they should be in the midst of the fire and have no hurt 5 Seventhly There was one among them like the Son of God ib. The Observation That the Lord doth oftentimes in a wonderful manner rescue the lives of his Servants from death 7 What restraints God lays upon the Creatures that he might rescue the lives of his Servants p. 7 8 9 10 The first Ground of the Point 10 How Gods Name is glorified by delivering his Servants 11 12 13 The second Ground of the Point 15 The third Ground of the Point 16 Quest What God requires when he works Mercies for his people 17 1. Take heed that we neither forget the Mercy nor the God of the Mercy ibid. 2. Not look with a slight eye upon great Mercies 19 3. Give nothing to the Creature but all to free grace ibid. 4. Give back again to God what God lends us 20 5. Be willing that we lay down our lives when God calls for them ibid. 6. We should do something extraordinary for God 21 7. Look upon all outward mercies in reference to some spiritual mercy 22 The second Sermon Use 1. To teach that the lives of the Saints are very precious to God p. 28. This is made out in four particulars 30. Use 2. To teach that the souls of the Saints are much more precious to God and therefore our souls should be very precious to us 34 Use 3. To teach us to set an high price upon our lives 37 4. Rules how to prize our lives 39 Use 4. To exhort the Saints to trust God for ever 45 The third Sermon The former Use further pressed and directions given what to trust God for 1. For all the comforts of their lives 52 2. For overcomming the
affliction so he doth embrace in affliction he commonly never reveaâ—s more of himself never gives out more glorious manifestations of himself then in the time of affliction I will bring her into the Wilderness see that place Hosea 2. 14. I will bring her into the wilderness and speak comfortably to her she shall have my comfortable presence in the Wilderness I will speak comfortably to her and so David he had experience of it in Psalm 23. Thou art with me and I will fear none ill though I walk in the midst of the shadow of death I will fear none ill thy rod thy staffâ— doth comfort me never more consolations of Christ are given out to poor creatures then when the Lord brings theâ— into great tryals he deals as an indulgent Mother with her child never manifests more love then when the child is sick though a Parent does restrain love before yet then she maniâ—ests her love the child shall know that the Parents love it and then she shall bring out all her sweet meats in the time of sickness and so doth the Lord bring out a great deal of sweet meats they have more sweet meats and sweet drinks that the world knows not of then in the day of tribulation in the day of affliction when it is sad and dark with the outward man they have meat to eat that the world knows not of they have the comfortable presence of Christ that the world knows not of they have never more of the comfoâ—table pâ—eâ—ence of Christ then when they are brought into great straits and low conditions I shall have no time to come to the Application but only let me say this to you You kâ—ow not what use you may have of this before another Sabbath the Lord may bring you into afflictions and therefore remember this truth hide it in your heart that so upon all occasions you may make use of it and if God do bring you into afflictions submit willingly and readily to him submit to low conditions submit to tryals submit to persecutions know this that Jesus Christ manifests his presence and this is the way to manifest his presence I will abundantly comfort you in all your afflictions you lay under and that you meet with for his names sake and let it help to strengthen your faith and truly you had need to streagthen your faith in times of affliction there is no time in which the heart of men good men are more ready to faint and give over then in times of tryal how did David cry out and how did Christ cry out in his great aâ—fliction Oh my God my God why hast thou forsaken me In affliction we are apt to think that God hath forsaken us Sion sâ—id in her affliction the Lord hath forsaken me in her affliction she said the Lord hath forsaken me and thus an unbeleiving heart is apt to question in times of affliction Oh is God amongst us as Israel said when they were in wants and great straits Oh then their unbelieving hearts were discovered though they had seen his Miracles they tempted God and said is God amongst us And the best of Gods people in time of temptation and affliction may be apt to question is the Lord with us Now therefore strengthen your faith in the day of adversity that so you may not faint and dishonour God and look unto the Lord Jesus Christ that beholding the Lord Jesus Christ your faith may be strengthened remember that it is his way to give out much of himself to his people in times of affliction and therefore never say is the Lord wiâ—h us but expect to meet with God conclude the Lord is with you and he will be with you in the time of affliction and remember you shall never have more of his supporting presence of his enlightening presence his comforting presence his sanctifying presence and of his quickening presence I say you shall never have more of the presence of Christ then in such sad conditions strengthen the feeble hands and knees and look to the Lord that your faith may be strengthened THE Seventh Sermon On DAN III. XXV He answered and said Lo I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God The handling of the Doctrine lastly named is put off to the next Sermon this not being preached in the same place with it FRom Nebuchadnezzars Testimony of this Miraculous Deliverance that God wrought for his Servants This Proposition was handled the last day God often times works such deliverance for his people as he makes their very enemies to confess that he hath done great things for them He made the very Heathen to confess that God hath done great things for his people When God did turn again our Captivity in the 126. Psalm They said among the Heathen the Lord hath done great things for them I will make them oâ— the Synagogue oâ— Satan saith Christ which say they are Jews and are not but do lie I will make them to come and worship before thy feet and to know that I have loved thee but this Pâ—â—nt is concluded and therefore I shall proceed For I desire to keep time and to be short in these morning Exercises Well then let us go on and look upon the Restraint that God layd upon the fire Consider the effect of Gods command and the effect of his prohibition God had given command that the fire should not burn them that the fire shoulâ— burn and dissolve their chains and their fetters that were upon them they were cast in bound bound hand and foot but God had commanded and the fire obeys it takes part with the three Children to loose their fetters and set them at liberty they were cast in bound And low now says Nebuchadnezzar I see four men loose God had layd a prohibition upon the fire and it obeys the commandment that it should not burn them that it should not touch their bodies it should not stop their breath that it should not so much as singe one hair of their head or scorch their garments and the fire is obedient to the word of the Lord they were walking in the midst of the fire and they had no hurt I shall put the particulars together because I would make hast they hold forth this Proposition Observat 6. That at the Commandment of the Lord the fierceest of Creatures shall not only not hurt his people but shall take part with them and do them good I say At the command of the Lord the fiercest of Creatures shall not only not hurt them but shall side with his people to take their part and do them good The fire cannot hurt nay the fire takes part with them nay the fire sets them at liberty First of all I shall shew you that the Creatures cannot hurt And then secondly That they must of necessity take part with the Saints
faith triumpheth in the consideration of it in Psal 23 vers 4. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear none ill Why For thou art with me see what a mighty confidence was raised up in Davids heart and what was the ground of it The presence of the Lord Though I walk in the vally of the shadow of death I will fear none ill why For thou art with me he doth put cases of the most uncomfortablest condition that may befall him valley of the shadow of death though I be brought down from the Mountain and walk in the valley and though this valley be a dark way though it be a shadow of death that is though it be never so dreadful and though it be so nigh that all the world cannot save you even then when I am in such a condition and walk in the valley of death I will fear none ill for thou art with me so long as I have thy presence my soul is upholden you read in the 4. of Revelations at the 6. verse that the world is like a sea of Glass I saw before the Throne a sea of glass there the world is shadowed out unto you and the condition of men that are in the world the world is like to a sea of glass and Oh that men would remember this if it be a Sea of Glass what need have you of a friend to stand by you you that are Travelers in the world you walk upon a Sea of Glass Oh what need have you of a friend to take you by the right hand to uphold you there is none but Jesus Christ none but his presence can uphold you in this Sea of Glass and if this world be a Sea of Glass Oh what need have we to take Jesus Christ into the Ship into the heart that so he may be our Pilot and he may guide you safe Oh do but think in what steed Jesus Christ will stand you when the storms arise and the waves shall beat when it may be the body of the Ship shall be split in pieces Oh what will it be then for a Saviour to uphold the Spirit to bear up the spirit and take the soul upon his own shoulder to bear it above wrath and amazement Now do you apprehend this to be desireable Oh that the Lord would make your hearts to close with Christ to accept of Christ and the tenders of mercy now held forth in these days of grace I tell you the time is coming when you shall see weaknesse written upon the tops of the Mountains they will say look to your selves for we cannot help you now will not the presence of Jesus Christ be desireable to you in such a condition Oh then I say accept of him he freely tenders himself to you now in this day of grace and Oh that the day of grace might not be slighted his presence is desireable in such a strait and is he not now desireable that so you may have him in such a time of need But Thirdly This let 's us see that there is not such great evil in affliction as men apprehend men fear affliction and flee from affliction as from Toads and Serpents and connot endure to think of affliction cannot endure to think of the day of darknesse I say there is not so great an evil in affliction as men apprehend for the Lord Jesus is present with his people in affliction and there is no reason why you that are the people of God should inordinately fear affliction and why you should inordinately seek to be delivered from affliction seeing you may possibly enjoy more of the presence of Jesus Christ in affliction then ever you did in other conditions would â— loving wife be afraid to go into a dark place when she shall meet with her Beloved Why should you be afraid to go into a dark place when you shall meet with the presence of Christ Remember that Expression of tâ—e Martyr when he was ready to suffer death he breaks forth into this expression Come fire and come wild beasts Come rack of the body Come breaking of the bones Come all the torments in Hell that all the Divels in Hell can afflict with I care not so I can meet with the presence of Jâ—sus Christ Remember how many of the Martyrs have ventured into the flames to meet with Christ they have willingly sacrificed their lives that they might meet with Christ shall Peter venture into the water and shall the Martyrs venture into the fire and shall you be afraid to enter into an afflicted condition where you may meet with the presence of Jesus Christ There are two things that make the people of 2 Things that make the people of God to fear affliction God to fear affliction inordinately 1. First of all Either they do not beleeve that they shall meet with the presence of Christ in an afflicted condition Or 2. Secondly They do not beleeve that the presence of Christ will countervail the bitterness of affliction Now I shall endeavour to clear both these and to perswade you that are the people of God First of all that you shall certainly meet with Christ in affliction And then that his presence will countervail the bitterness of affliction First I say You shall certainly meet with Christ in your affliction for first of all he hath spoke it he hath promised it he hath set a part the time and place of his own appointment he hath given out the word the word is out of his mouth and 't is under his own hand written 't is under his hand and seal that he will meet with his people in afflicted conditions he hath said in the 5. of Job vers 19. that he will deliver thee in six troubles and in seven and every Promise is under the Hand and Seal of Christ and so in the 43. of Isaiah God promiseth there to be with his people in all their afflicted conditions in their greatest afflictions In the 43. of Isaiah and the second verse When thou passest through the water I will be with thee and through the Râ—vers they shall not overflow thee when thou passest through the fire thou shalt not be burnt neither shall the flame kindle upon thee the fire that is in the greatest straits in thy greatest affliction when the waters are ready to overwhelm thee I will be with thee and lift up thy head I will be with thee in fiery tryals when flames are ready to consume thee I will be with thee I say you may be confident of it because the Lord Christ hath given it under his hand and seal that he will give your souls a meeting in such a condition is there any thing that can hinder Christ from performing this his promise he cannot forget his word he cannot mistake the time and place he cannot be hindred by any outward impediment I say 1. First of all He cannot forget his Promise
you will seek salvation by works you rest upon your works and if you rest upon your works you break your works and both you and your works are like to be lost for ever and therefore know my Brethren you are to do your utmost for God if you could do ten thousand times more all is too little for God But know that life and salvation is not purchased by your doing work as much and do as much for God be as diligent in doing the work of God as if life were to be purchased by works but when you have done your utmost renounce all and know that by your own works you are no more nigh to Heaven then the very Publicans and Harlots It is by the door of grace only that you must enter into life That is the third Fourthly When God calls you to work with your might he does not call you to work with your own strength I beseech you take this Caution along with you that poor Creatures may not think that they are able to do that which they are called upon to do I say the Lord does not call you to work in your own strength And therefore know that without Christ you can do nothing you are not fit for the least work for the least duty All your sufficiency must come down from Heaven you cannot beleeve you cannot repent you cannot obey you cannot give glory to God unless this power be given you from on high you cannot move towards God in any gracious action unless the Lord comes in with strength O therefore when ever you are to work for God go and set your selves under the promise the promise of strength and assistance Go and look for strength to Christ do not act in your own strength Oh let your souls open to the breathings of the Spirit of Jesus Christ The soul never acts graciously but when it is acted by the Spirit of Christ Oh know that you are as a Ship becalmed upon the Sea and you cannot sayl till the spirit breath upon you and fill the sayle of your affections and carry you God-ward and Heaven-ward and therefore let Christ be your strength wait for his strength that you may say Now I live and yet not I but it is Christ that liveth in me I act and yet not I it is the Spirit of Christ that acts in me I pray and yet not I I beleeve and yet not I I obey and yet not I it is the Spirit of Christ that acts in me it is his strength that helps me This is the fourth Caution I beseech you take heed you do not work in your own strength you will spoil your works Fiftly Take this Caution do not present your works your selves to God When you have done your work go to Jesus Christ and desire him to carry your works home Christians know it is not for you to carry your work home it is the Office of Christ and therefore make use of Christ and say Lord present this Sacrifice this Duty do thou wash it with thine own blood and cover it with thine own righteousness I tell you your works are not pleasing unless they come out of the hands of Jesus Christ Christ must wash your works and perfume your works and sweeten your works and present your works with acceptation to the Father and therefore when you have wrought with all your might let Jesus Christ present it to God your Father and his Father Sixtly Take heed that when you work with all your might you work not for your own end I tell you good works may be spoiled if you work for your own end if self come in a man may work the work of a Magistrate or the work of a Minister but if self come in if vain glory be his end if the praise of men if his own profit If the glory of God be not the end he propounds to himself that man will be called by Christ another day a worker of iniquity We have cast out Devils in thy name and yet saith Christ to them I know you not depart from me ye workers of iniquity Oh this is the dead fly that spoils the Box of Ointment when a man does it for vain glory to be seen of men to get a name in the world and to raise their estates in the world when they do publique works for private ends how ever it seems to be glorious it is abhominable and therefore when ever you work for God make God your principal Begin in his strength and end for his glory The second word is a word of Exhortation and I will conclude with that let me speak in my former order first to Sinners and then to Beleevers and I will be but short First to Sinners You that have not yet wrought the work of God you that have not given up your names to Christ in whose heart the great work of faith is not yet wrought You that are found this day working the works of darkness the works of iniquity Let me speak a word to you let me reason with you thus in the name of the Lord Jesus my Master and yours What do you think of it my dear friends does it not concern you Is not this a work put into your hands to seek after an interest in Jesus Christ to beleeve in his name to give up your selves unto him is not this work that is put into your hands that God hath given you to do in this moment of your life Doth it not concern you to beleeve in the name of Christ think you Without faith it is not possible to please God If you be found in a way of unbelief you are found in the way of wrath It is said the wrath of the Lord does hang over the heads of unbeleevers If in a state of unbelief you are in an estate of wrath if in an estate of unbelief you are lost and your works are lost whatsoever you do without faith your works cannot be accepted without faith you cannot please God without faith you cannot enter into life And now what think you my dear friends is it not a work that concerns you to seek after faith in Jesus Christ If you grant it let me further urge it upon you Oh if this be your work then do it with your might Oh that the Lord would stir up your hearts to do it with your might There is but a moment to seek faith in there is but a moment to seek after an interest in Christ and if this be not done now O when shal it be done If it be not done now it is like to be undone for ever there is no work in this kind in the grave there is no repenting in the grave no beleeving in the grave there is no turning to God in the grave Oh that the Lord would perswade your hearts of a necessity of seeking after Christ and getting an interest in him and do it I beseech you speedily and diligently the
Ps v. 10. Then said I so this is my infirmity but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High I will remember those days those years when God did by his Mighty Hand save and deliver me This is an encouragement for the future to trust in God he saved me at such a time at such a low condition Oh he was there the right hand of the Lord was stretched out to What God requires when he works such mercies for his people and how the Servants of the Lord should express their thankfulness for such Mercies received deliver and why should we ever distrust the Lord again surely that power of the Lord can never be nonplust that hath wrought such great things for me Thus you see the Grounds Here is no time for Application I shall adde a fourth Particular and that is this which will yet make the Point more useful before I leave it What doth God require of his people when he works such Deliverances for them And how should the Servants of the Lord express their thankfulness for such Mercies when God doth so and so rescue the lives of his people First of all Take heed that we neither forget the Mercy nor the God of the Mercy I say forget not the Mercy nor the God of the Mercy we are very apt to look upon our mercies with a slight eye we remember our wormwood and our gall but we forget our mercies and the goodness of the Lord that did shine in the Mercy Now know that there is a great provocation to the Lord It was the sin of Israel that they forgot so soon what God had done for them we read of this how they provoked the Lord and they turned back saith the Psalmist and you shall see â—ow God did take it as a great provocation and God threatens them for it See how they forgot what God had done for them Psal 106. 13. They soon forgat his works they waited not for his Counsel and verse 21. They forgot God their Saviour which â—ad done great things in Egypt and therefore the Lord was wroth with them Brethren so should we take heed that we do not forget our Mercies and forget the God of the Mercie forget not what God is and forget not what God hath done for us forget not what God requires of us Did God remember us in low conditions and shall we forget him shall we forget him when he hath raised us up will not this be horrible ingratitude does the Lord remember us continually and shall we forget him Oh! we should get a remembrance of God and a sense of God and the goodness of the Lord written in our hearts Where doth God write the name of his people Why he writes their names there where he will not forget them why see what the Lord says in Isa 49. vers 15 16. Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her wombe they may forget yet will I not forget thee Vers 16. Behold I have graven thee upon the Palmes of my hands See what care God takes that he might not forget his people and so he would have us not to forget his Mercies Behold I have engraven thee upon the palmes â—f my hands When a man would not forget his friend he will ingrave his name upon a Ring but you will say he will not forget that doth not only write it upon a Ring but upon his own flesh And thus the Lord deals with you Behold I have engravâ—n you upon the plames of my hands and doth the Lord thus take care to remember us Let not us forget him Secondly we should not look with a slight eye upon great Mercies Oh view the Mercy compass the Mercy go round about it tell the Towers and see the Bulwarks see what Mountains of goodness and mercie shine in them Oh see how the Attributes of God do shine in them God cannot indure that people should despise affliction his Chastisements My son despise not the chastening of the Lord he cannot abide when men are careless when they are sleighty under affliction and surely he will not endure that men should look sleightly upon mercies My son despise not the goodness of the Lord the mercies of the Lord the deliverances of the Lord Let not them be lookt upon with a sleighty eye look into the height of the Mercy and the depth of the Mercy and all the evil that would have befallen us if we had not enjoyed the Mercy And Thirdly Take heed that we give nothing to creatures but all to the free grace of God this God he requires in thankfulness when he gives such Deliverances ascribe nothing to man nothing to our selves nothing to our prayers nothing to our faith No give all to God give all to free grace look upon Ieb take him for an instance in the 9. of Iob v. 16. If I had call'd and the Lord had Answered if he had given me my Petition given me what I desired yet I would not say he hath harkened to my voice I would not say 't is for my prayers or for my faith No I am poor dust and ashes what 's my voice in Heaven No sure I will give all to him I will say surely the Lord hath heard his own voice the voice of his free grace pleading for me he hath heard the voice of his Spirit pleading in me and the voice of his Son making Intercession for me I will not say the Lord hath heard me but that the Lord may teach his people this he gives Mercies before they have thoughts to seek them as in Ps 21. 3. Yea sometime God he hath exceeded the faith of his people to let them see that it was not for the worthiness of their faith though when God would give Mercies Many times he sets his people a praying and beleeving but he doth not give mercies for these And therefore God he doth prevent their faith as you may see in Psal 126. vers 1. When the Lord turned again the Captivity of Sion then were we like to them that dreamed like to them that dream as much as to say When the Lord brought us back we had not faith enough to believe it we could not think that the Mercy was real when as we came out of Babylon we doubted whether we should believe it or no whether it was real or a dream It was real but it was not for their faith and therefore ascribe nothing to faith nothing to means nothing to prayer but all to the free grace of God Again Fourthly we should give back again to God what God lends us That is the Fourth way to express Thankfulness Hath God given us life let us give it back again to him Hath God given us strength we should give it back again to God we should lay out all our strength for
God Improve it for God and be willing to suffer for God Again Fiftly in the fift place We should be willing to lay down our lives when God calls for them again Thus should we express our thankfulness for life given us I say be willing to lay down life freely and voluntarily the next time when God calls When God hath rescued any of our lives from the grave why all those days that are added are freely given and 't is an addition of free grace more then we thought of more then was expected And therefore we should freely be willing to lay it down when God calls for it we should be willing to lay down our own lives and let them depart and so friends should be freely willing to let that life go that was so freely redeemed Thus we should be Volunteers to death we should freely and willingly submit to God as well as dye in obedience as in faith and let it be our wisdom often to look to what Christ hath done for his people in matter of death and the grave and set faith on work every day to see how the sting is taken out by Christ and the grave is made a sweet resting place 't is sanctified 't is perfumed 't is sanctified that it may be a sweet resting place to the Saints Again in the Sixt place When God hath wonderfully saved our lives we should seek to do something extraordinary for God we should not content our selves with ordinary service saith Christ What do you more then others in the 5. of Mat. and the latter end if you onely love those that love you what do you more then others or what singular thing do you he would have his people do some singular thing for him and especially when God hath done some singular thing for them and what says Hezekiah when God had restored his life from the grave in Isa 31. v. 19. The living the living he shall praise thee as I do this day The living the living he shall praise thee he that hath life once given and he that hath life restored to him again he that hath life given from the grave The living the living he shall praise thee he shall speak of thy glory and testifie oâ— thy wonders something more then ordinary is implyed there That the living he should live to God Seventhly In the last place to conclude Look upon all outward Mercies in reference to some spiritual Mercy and never take up in the outward Mercy but let it lead you to the spiritual mercy Alas what is life if it be not in reference to spiritual Mercies if it be not in reference to get more of God to get more glory to God Life what is it a poor empty thing 't is true life it self is a mercy a great Mercy but yet though life be a blessing a man may dye betimes and be blessed Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord And on the contrary though life be a blessing a man may live long and be a cursed creature â—or all this See what is said in the Prophesie of Isaiah the 65 ch 20. v. 't is spoken of the days of the Gospel There shall be no more thence an Infant of days nor an old man that hath not filled his days For the child shall dye a hundred years old but the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed T is a prophecy of Gospel blessings shewing how it should be in the latter days a child dye a hundred years old That is the young men shall have abundance of the glory of God those that are children in years shall be old in grace they shall have as much grace as those that were a hundred years old and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed a curse though he live a hundred years See then life is not desireable but in reference to spiritual Mercies Oh then rest not in outward Mercies if God at any time hath give any of your lives for a prey resâ— not in outwâ—rd Mercies but labour to see further Mercie in it that mercy is given in reference to further Mercy and waite for the Communication of it It was well when Heâ—ekiah could say that God had done it in love to hiâ— soul in Isa 38. 17. Thâ—u hast in love to my soul delivered it from the Pit of corruption for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy bâ—ck He looked more to the spiritual Mercy then to the outward Mercy Alas it had been a poor small thing for life to be given and my sins not pardoned if God had given me life and not given it out of love Oh it had been a curse to my soul and tâ—is doth David blesse the Lord for in Psal 23. 3. He restoreth my soul he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name sake It was after God delivered him from sickness he blesse God he restored my soul and my life he doth not take up there but he leads me in the patheâ— of righteousnes for his name sake I have further mercy my life is given for further Mercy God he will not restore that mercy of life only but he will convey me to further Mercy seeing he hath given me life he will lead me in the paths of righteousness that I may life to the praise of his name And this should all our desires be when God doth such great things for us THE Second Sermon On DAN III. XXV He answered and said Lo I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God I Made entrance into the words the last Lords day There is witness and testimony given of a glorious Miracle and Wonderful Deliverance that was wrought for three servants of God God had brought them forth to exercise their faith And to suffer To suffer the wrath of the King but yet the Lord delivered them he delivered them from the wrath of the King he wa a violent King from the flames of the Furnace and the Furnace was heated seven times hotter then ordinary they were bound hand and foot and cast into the midst of the fire and yet they became Conquerors The very enemies do witness as much The King Answered and said lo I see fouâ— men loose walking in the midst of the fire Here are many Miracles in one here is heat and light separated one from the other sight remains and yet the heat is taken away and it burned not here is the wonder of mercy it shall be a miracle of judgment in Hell there is fire that hath heat but no light the hotter the flames are it shall be the darker it shall be dark that day but here when God will shew a Miracle of mercy he takes away the heat and the light remains Lo says the King I sâ—e four men c. Imagine their number is increased as another Miracle Whereas they thought that
enemies though I shall bring glory to thee another way yet I shall not bring glory to thee in this world And therefore Oh Lord do this for thy servant remember me for thine own name and for thine own glory and so the Psalmist David did use the same Argument with God in Psal 30. when he there was sick and ready to go down to the grave he pleads with God in the 8. and 9. vers What profit is there in my blood when I go down to the pit as much as to say Oh Lord what wilt thou not look to thine own glory What shall become of thy gain of thy Rent that should be brought in here in the land of the living if I go down to the pit I cannot lift thee up here in this world there is a long time indeed even for eternity when thou shalt be lift up by the Saints in Heaven but it is but a short time that thou shalt be glorified in the land of the living and thou hadst need spare the life of thy servant to lift up thy name in the land of the living What profit is there in my blood if I go down to the pit So that still you see the lives of the Saints are very precious in the eye of God Oh that you that are the people of God that you would believe this it is worth the pressing it upon you that you would fix this truth upon your heart that your lives are very precious in Gods sight if you be Some particulars to make out to the Saints that their lives are precious in Gods sight not perswaded of it I beseech you consider these particulars First of all consider What a charge God hath given to all his Creatures concerning the lives of his Saints do but remember their former charge He hath given charge to the water and charge to the fire and charge to the beasts in the earth and fishes in the sea he hath given charge to the earth he hath given a charge to violent men he hath given a charge to the Devil to Diseases and Sicknesses surely doth God take such pains and give such charges surely the lives of his Saints must needs be precious to him did a man go up and down in his family and give charge to every one from the greatest to the least Take heed you do not meddle with such a Box take heed that none of you touch it why then certainly 't is precious there is som precious thing in it such a charge haâ—h God given concerning the lives oâ— the Saints he hath taken pains to go up and down in all his family even the whole world Heaven and Earth is his Family and he hath spoken to every one of his Creatures to the highest and to the lowest Take heed you do nothing against the lives oâ— my servants the very meanest of all the Creatures in the whole family shall not say but that they were warned he commands the very stones in the field as it is in Iob making a League with the stones in the field not to hurt his servants doth God take such pains and give such charges you must needs conclude that your lives are precious in his sight Again Secondly Consider what a guard God hath set about the lives of his Servants He hath set a guard of Angels about them He shall give his Angels charge over thâ—e that they shall keep thee in all thy ways See what the Apostle saith in the first of the Hebrews he speaks of the great priviledge of the Saints in the last verse Are they not all Ministring spirits sent forth to Minister to them There is not one of the Angels in Heaven but hath a charge to guard the lives of his Saints are they not all Ministring Spirits Why brethren the best of them have a charge given them from the highest to the lowest they have all a charge given them concerning the lives of his Saints and they are as watchful as may be what says our Saviour Christ in Mat. 26. 53. do you think says he that man can take my life from me whether I will or no I go according as it is written of me I go because my father â—ath decreed it no man can take my life from me if I would rescue my self I could pray to my father and he should send a Legion of Angels to rescue me rather then my life should be taken away from me before my time be come And so the like may be said of all the Saints God would send more then twelve Legions of Angels to rescue the lives of his servants out of every danger and out of the hand of every enemy rather then their lives should be taken from them before it was determined of God certainly the lives of his servants are precious to him he hath set such a guard about them a guard of Angels that God should be pleased rather to want attendance in Heaven then hiâ— Sainâ—s lives on earth should be in jeopardy God he will spare them all out of Heaven for to rescue the lives of his Saints before they shall be cut off before his time appointed â—e come Yea further in the third place Consider that the Lord himself takes a special care of the lives of his children he will not trust the lives of the Saints with the Angels though the Angels be watchful and as faithful as can be desired in creatures yet God himself he will have to do with the lives of his Servants his eye shall be upon them and his hand under them there is never a moment in which God doth not watch over them and himself take a special care of them what he says of his Vineyard in Isa 27. 3. may be said of every particular Saint I the Lord will kâ—ep it I will water it every momâ—â—t least any hurt it I will kâ—ep it night and day See here is a gracious promise I will keep it and I will water it and this shall be every moment this shall be night and day there is not a moment in the night nor a moment in the day in which God hath not special care of his people from first to last from the womb he hath a care of them and so the Psalmist doth confess in Psalm 22. speaking of the watchful care of the Lord of the goodness of the Lord Ps 22. 9 10. Thou art he that took me out of the womb thou didst make me hope when upon my Mothers breasts I was cast upon thee from the wombe thou art my God from my mothers belly See here from the very womb from the very beginning God begins to take the care of his people he brings this to strengthen his faith on God for the future to uphold his soul now in his suffering 't is spoken of Christ surely the Lord he can do it he hath not left me he took care of me when I was in the womb he began then to take the
so much of God as should draw forth your hearts for ever in all conditions to put your trust in God Now know that the outward mercies were given for this end It is one end I say wherefore God gives mercie that so he might ingage his people for the future to trust in him it would be a great discredit to God if his people after all experiences he hath given them shall not trust in him for the future and there is nothing that doth provoke God more then this If Israel after all the experiences that God hath given them after all the wonders they had seen in the Land of Aegypt and in the red Sea and after all this shall distrust God through unbelief God does look upon it as a great provocation See what God says in Ps 78. about the 19 20 verses 't is said in v. 18 That they tempted God yea they spake against God in the 19. vers They said can God furnish a Table in the wilderness behold he smote the Rock and the water gushed out and the streams overflowed can he give bread also can he provide flesh for his people Now 't is said in the next verse therefore was the anger of the Lord kindled against them therefore was the anger of the Lord kindled because they had seen his wonders at the red Sea and his wonders at the Rock yet they distrusted him can God prepare a Table in the wilderness this was a limiting of God and this their unbelief it cost them dear Therefore the Lord sware in his wrath that they should not enter into his rest Object But you will say Whether can any mercies or deâ—iverances that a man hath received be any help unto him for the future Answ I answer they may and I will shew you when When mercies received or deliverances How mercies may be helps to the soul for the future are helps unto the soul concerning his confidence and trusting in the Lord for the future First of all when the soul is careful to lay up the experiences of mercy when a man is careful to remember the goodness of God a man may receive a thousand mercies a thousand deliverances such as he might make experience of for his own benefit and for the help of others and yet be never the beter I say if they be not carefully laid up if they be not carefully treasured up a man looseth all the sweetness of them for there are two things that God doth intend in every mercy First of all There is present comfort and refreshment that he presently gives out and then there is something in the mercy to be laid up for the future there is something in every mercy that God would have his people lay up something that will stand them in stead another day now when a man does not remember the mercy that the Lord dispenceth to him though he may take some comfort in them yet he looseth the greater comfort of them that which he should lay hold on is the fruit of experience or else all the mercy is lost Secondly Mercies become helpful when as the soul can see the love of God in the present â—â—rcy when the soul sees the love of God in every present mercy this puts life into the mercy when the soul receives mercy and doth not eye love in it that mercy it proves a dead mercy or if there be any sence it will not last long because there was not special love seen in it Now when the soul can eye the love of God in the mercy then is the heart affected with the mercy and then is the sence of the mercy most like to be continued When a man can look at every mercy as the off spring of love he will be careful to nourish the sence the remembrance of that mercy one mercy that the soul can see love in is more dear more precious then many mercies See it in Hezekiah he saw special love of God to him in that mercy Is 38. part v. 17. But thou hast in love to my soul delivâ—red it from the pit of corrupâ—ion for thou hast cast all my siâ—s behind thy back Hezekiah was taken with the mercy why because he saw the love of God in the mercy Thou in love to my soul hast doâ— it and therefore he set a high price upon the mercy Those fifteen yeers that God added to his life was more then all his life before because he saw a special hand of God here and he saw the love of God here and therefore this was a long-lived mercy it was remembred it continued it remained in Hezekiahs heart so long as Hâ—zekâ—ah lived Thirdly Again Thirdly present mercies bâ—come helpful to the soul for the future when as the heart is fully convinced of the unchangeableness of the love of God to his people When he is fully perswaded of this truth That where God loves he loves to the end and where he begins in a way of mercy he goes on in a way of mercy he goes all aâ—â—ng in free grace saith the Psalmist All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth unto his people When a soul is once convinced this will help much to turn mercies into experiences and therefore that Doctrine which doth teach falling away from grace that a man may be beloved to day and cast off to morrow 'T is a most uncomfortable Doctrine and 't is impossible then that a man should make any experience at all of the mercies that he hath received If God be changable in his love if he cast off his people that he hath received in his free grace why then though a man hath never so much of God to day and know never so much and have never so much of the presence of God in the mercy he can have no experience and therefore that which concerns the soul it is to be grounded in the unchangeableness of Gods love to his people Fourthly Again Fourthly A man may make use of present mercies to be helpful for the future if he be careful to keep faith in action if he be careful to keep faith upon the wings To act faith in every condition upon the free grace of God and the mighty Righteousness of Jesus Christ it is faith that puts a lustre upon all mercies and if faith be down a man cannot see the goodness of God in any mercy that he hath received if saith be dead then the sense of the mercy is lost precious mercies they become useless they are as a treasure locked up that a man cannot come by to make use of a treasure buried in the earth that will do a man little good and therefore it concerns the people of God to keep faith upon the wings act faith and keep that fresh and lively and then all mercies and all deliverances that you have received they will be fresh in your eye for faith puts a varnish upon the mercy and though they be old yet
I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God I Have spoken out of these words We have finished one Proposition Namely That God doth oftentimes in a wonderful manner rescue the lives of his servants from death and destruction I prest you the last day that Christians should therefore trust in God such as have seen his goings should trust him for the future upon former experiences when God speaks once in a remarkable providence he expects we should hear twice again and again In every low condition we should hear That power belongs to God Trust him for the comforts of life and trust him for the preventing the evil of life trust him for the upholding of you in life till his time be come and your work be filled only be not you negligent make hast in your work work the works of God while the day lasts but yet you may be confident the Lord he will not suffer the Candle to be blown out till your work be filled The righteous shall come to his grave as a shock of Corn that commeth in in his season I shewed how far we may make use of former mercies for the future to become great helps of Faith when the soul is careful to lay up the remembrance of them when the soul can eye the love of God special love when the soul is once convinced of that truth of the unchangeableness of the love of God when the soul keeps up the wing of Faith and holds up its communion with God can go and lay before God former mercies and use them as Arguments to plead with God for the future as Gods people have done then do mercies become helpful for the future But how far should we trust Experinces Why look upon them as Earnests of that which God doth intend to give and look upon them as Crutches as helps in the way so though all the experiences of God may be out of fight for God may bring his people into some condition that may be above Experience Experience cannot reach them And therefore do not make your own Experience the first ground of your trust but trust first in the Lord and the word of his grace trust them more then all your experiences the life of a Christian 't is the life of Faith and not of sence the life of sence is in Heaven but the life of Faith is most proper here Blessed are they that beleeve and have not seen and if God do give Experience and manifest his love and goodness to thee it is for this end that he might strengthen Faith he will learn his children to go alone and therefore God many times hath struck the Crutches out of their hands and all sights of God shall be gone and God will make them to trust in his naked word Great use may be made of Experience but yet I say lay the word of the Lord as your foundation and trust that for that will hold in all conditions in the greatest darkness when Experience may be out of sight and you can see nothing We proceed He answerâ—d and said Lo I see four â—en looâ—e c. Who is it here that bears witness of this Miracle of deliverance 'T is Nebuchadnezzer the King it was one that was a proud insolent Monarch one that scorned God and defied the most High in the 15. verse of this 3. Chap. that commanded the people to fall down and worship his Image that he had set up and in the latteâ— end Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hand a persecutor of the Saints one that was filled with wrath against them The King was â—xceeding wrath and commâ—nded the Furnace to be heated seven times hâ—ttâ—r then ordinary Yet here Nebu-Nebuchadnezzer himself is forced to bear witness A Question propounded by Inteapreters of the goodness of God to his people He confesses it before all men Did we not cast in three and loe I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt There is a question propounded by Interâ—â—eters neither Nebuchadnezzer was truely converted or no It seems there is much does make for his conversion First of all Here was a strong work of conviction that past upon him he was convinced of his sin he was convinced of the glorious Majesty of God to shine in this Miracle His conviction makes him cry out before all the world before all that were about him 2. There is Secondly A confession of his Error and an acknowledgment of his sin Now he knows there is no God but the true God There was also in the 3. Third place A rejoycing in his own disappointment he rejoyced in that the Lord had prevented him in the evil that he intended that he was not able to bring it to pass his mischievous device against the Saints as you may see in vers 28 Then Nebuchadnezzer spake and said blessed be the God of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego who hath sent his Angels and delivered his servants that trusted in him c. There is a rejoycing here that they were delivered and that he was disapointed that he did not succeed according to his will Now this seems to be a great measure of self-denial What did not Nebucadnezzar do as much in this as David did when he was disappointed in the first book of Samuel 25. when David had an intention to cut off Nabal Abigal she comes to pâ—rswade him and in the 32 v. David said to Abigail blessed be the Lord God of Israel which sent thee this day to me Nebuchadnezzar did seem to do as much as David did here he blesseth God for his own disappointment Fourthly this seems to make for him that he did rejoyce in the goodnesse of God to his people he does rejoyce in their grace as you may see in the 28. verse Blessed be the God of Shadrach who sendeth his Angels and delivereth his servants that trust in him He seems to rejoyce here in their grace in that constancy of theirs that they did not yeild to his command and serve no God but their own God and he rejoiceth in the deliverance of the Saints Blessed be the Lord that delivereth his servants yea further he seems to give the glory to God He does eye God in the deliverance he takes notice of it as from God and blessed the Lord Blessed be the Lord that sendeth his Angell and delivereth his servants Nay further he takes care of true Religion and of Gods Name to be exalted he makes Decrees and sends it to all people and whosoever does act any thing against God shall be cut in pieces and their houses thrown down and made a jakes Thus you see what a great way he went and what a great deal Nebuchadnezzer did seemingly for God upon this his conviction and yet it may be it was but a conviction and that
should not be only Musquet proof but Cannon proof stand out not only agaiâ—st afflictions lesser judgments but stands out against great judgments many times against miraculous judgments why here is a strange stoutness and hardness in every mans heart Oh what a dead sleep is every man by nature cast into you will say that man is in a dead sleep that though he be shot at it cannot wake him that he should sleep secure when the house is on fire about his ears truly this is the condition of every man by nature though God do lay Cannon shot against him and though God set on fire the world about his ears yet still he sleeps what a strange condition is the state of nature Let us all take notice of it and set us all bewail it in the presence of God seeing how woful it is and what we are like Secondly If Miracles cannot convert a soul Vse 2 then what a Miracle is it that any soul is converted truly we may stand and wonder that any soul should be brought home to God how many Mâ—racles is in this work of conveâ—sion to convert a soul to God 't is a greater Miracle then to open the eyes of the blind to give strength to lame to give life to the dead a greater Miracle then to turn darkness into light a greater Miracle then to beat down strong Cities with seven Râ—ms horns 't is a greater Miracle then to make the world he spake and it was done it was made he spake his word and the world was created but God speaks again and again once and twice and often before the new creature is formed before Many Miracles in the conversion of a soul to God faith is created in the heart of man and truly Brethren you need not wonder that so few are brought home to God that 's not the Miracle but stand and wonder that any should be brought home to God there are many Miracles in the conversion of the soul to God I beseech you take notice of them there is a Miracle of First Miraclâ— of wisâ—dâ—m of wisdome there is a Miracle of wisdom I say in the conversion of a soul that God should find out a way to reconcile himself to a sinner and then reâ—oncile the sinner to himself here is infinite wisdom to finde out a way to reconcile himself to the sinner to find out a way to satisfie both justice and mercy that they should meet each other and kiss each other and both be satisfied that justice should say I have enough and Mercy should say I am well pleased and both be glorified in Christ Brethren here is a way that men and Angels could never have found out here is a Miracle of wisdome to reconcile the sinner to God also here is abundance of the wisdom of God that God should finde out a way to make a rebellious sinner come in and submit when he had stood out long and stood many batteries that God had layd against him that the Lord should bring him in by a word of his grace that God should come and catch a poor soul and take him before the soul be aware here is abundance of holy wisdom truly none could do this but only God And as there is a Miracle of wisdom so there Secondly Therâ— is a Mirâ—â—le of Power is a Miracle of power in every souls conversion Oh wonderful power hath God put forth to overâ—ome the creature and to overcome himselâ— To overcome the creature to make a stubborn stout hearted sinner relent to shake the Oaks of Bashan and make the Cedars of Lebanon to stoop Yet truly this is the work of God he put abundance of power into a word of his and when an obstinate sinner hath stood out boâ—h the allurements of Mercy and hath out stood all the batteries of Judgment that God hath laid against him God hath sent out many Armies of judgments to bring him in and they have returned back again and have not done their work and that yet the Lord at last should be pleased to arme a word of his a poor naked word of his with so much power â—o give such authority and to give such commission as to go and bring in the stout hearted sinner and make him fall down at the footstole of Jesus Christ here is a Miracle of power and then that God should overcome all his wrath and all his fury and indignation and say it is not in me I give thee leave to draw nigh to me in my Son fury is not in me that God should overcome himself to stoop to the creature that the Majesty of Heaven should first stoop to the creature that the Prince should come and beseech the Rebel to accept of mercy offer the first tearms of peace and not looking to the infinite distance that is between him and the creature but lay that aside and beseech a poor creature to accept of mercy here is a Miracle of power And then there is a Miracle of goodness a Miracle of mercy in every souls conversion a Miracle of mercy that God should pardon the sin of his people from Eternity Oh the Miracles of mercy writes the pardon gives the pardon into the Sons hand that he should work it over by Covenant and make all sure for his people in Christ even from Eternity even to give Christ a pardon for his peoples sins many thousand years before the sins are committed I do not say the pardon is given out to them before they are brought in to submit to Christ but it is given out into the hand of Christ that if they come and submit to Christ 't is in his hand to give it out 't is already written and Sealed here is a Miracle of Mercy Again that the Lord should so freely and so fully bâ—ot out transgressions that he should make the sins committed to be as if they had not been committed there shall no more remain of them as if they had never been acted to bury them to cast them behind his behind his back to throw them into the depth of the Sea to carry them into the wilderness into a land of forgetfulness that when they are sought for they shaâ—l not be found they shall be as if they had never been what a Miracle of mercy is this that God should bear no old grudge to a poor sinner a Rebel one that have stood out against him and yet that God should retain no grudge in his heart but receive a poor soul into his Bosom as if he had never been defiled to receive him into his own boâ—els into intimate communion and acquaintance with himself in love as if he had never bin a Râ—bel to bear no old grudg here 's wonderful rich mercy Again for God to account the soul righteous to look upon him as righteous when he is unrighteous to look upon him as righteous in Christ when he is full of spots and polutions and deâ—ormity
Vineyard I the Lord will keep it I will watch over it every moment least any hurt it I will keep it night and day least any hurt it I will keep it night and day See then there is a special eye of providence over the Saints that are the Lords Vineyard and therefore 't is not possible the Creatures should hurt it God he watches over his Vineyard for this end least any hurt should befall it I will watch over it every moment 't is true other wicked men they are kept from harm by a common providence of God they have rheir lives preserved but still 't is but a common providence But there is a special eye and a special providence of God over his people least any hurt should befall them there is no time no moment that God doth lay aside his watchful eye and not watch over his people And therefore there is no time that any harmful creature can step in to his people to do them hurt they all come under the providence of God every creature comes under the providence of God and therefore the Lord he is able to prevent the harm Fourthly The Creatures they are all given to Jesus Christ as he is King as he is the great King All power is given to him in Heaven and earth Now Christ he hath reconciled the Creatures and therefore the creaâ—ures cannot be hurtful to the Saints the Lord Jesus Christ hath reconciled the creature He hath reconciled all things in Heaven and Earth and made them all friends and therefore the creature shall not do harm to the people of God See the Promise that is made to the Church in a special manner it shall be fulfilled in the latter Ages Hosea 2. 18. And in that day will I make a Covenant for â—hem with the beasts of the field aâ—d with the fouls of Heaven and with the creeping things of the ground and I will break the Bow and the Sword and the Battle cut of the â—arth and I will make them to lye doâ—n safely This Promise is made to the Churches in the latter days When they shall enjoy abundance of Jesus Christ when they shall shall enjoy abundance of Jesus Christ when they shall have abundance of the Spirit of Christ why then shall those promises be fulfilled in a great measure they shall enjoy peace with the Creatures In that day I will make a Covenant with them in a special manner with the beasts of the field and with the fouls of Heaven and with the creeping things of the ground and I will break the bow and sword and there shall be no hurt in all my holy Mountain we are all reconciled to God by the blood of Jesus Christ And therefore they cannot hurt the Saints but do them good Briefly to make Application and so conclude If the fiercest of Creatures you see cannot hurt Application The fire it cannot hurt but it must do good when God commands take notice then of the mighty power of the Lord Oh know that he is a great King and his name is dreadful over all the world do but look upon the powerful command of God what effect it hath upon the Creatures 'T is impossible they should transgress he hath set them bounds that they cannot pass they are all ready to obey his Command if he say go they go and if he say come they come why this will make it evident That God is a God of infinite power to command so many Creatures so many thousand thousand Creatures as God doth order every day and that God should make them obedient to every command of his that none can transgress the least command but they must fulfill his word when he sets them about it Oh this declares that God is a God of infinite power and doth what he pleaseth Secondly What a shame is it to the sons of men that they will not submit to the Lord Will not the Creatures rise up in judgment against men When the Creatures fulfil the word of the Lord and you disobey the word of the Lord shall God have more service from senceless Creatures then from the sons of men that was made Lord over them Certainly this will be their iniquity another day and the very creatures will condemn them See what God says to that fire fire burn not it cannot so much as touch the hair of the head If God say to the fire fire burn their bands asunder set my children at liberty the fire it burns their bands and fetters and sets them loose that they were able to walk in the midst of the fire And so all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth and the Sea they all keep their bounds Hitherto shalt thou go and no further the Sea a raging Element it obeys the word of the Lord The Lord says to the Sun Sun run thy race it obeys stand still it stands still and is obedient Now shall all Creatures in their places obey the word of the Lord and shall not man Oh what a shame is this to the sons of men that they should disobey the word of the Lord That God should speak but one word to the Creatures and they should obey and that he should speak so many to the sons of men and they not obey That God comes again and again and speaks in his Ordinances and still man walks contrary to God when he lays a command upon them this is the command That you beleeve in Jesus Christ and renounce all your own righteousness and rely upon the Righteousness of the Son of God and still men disobey What a shame is it for man to disobey and all the Creatures that the Lord hath given to him to obey Thirdly Here is a great Incouragement and strong Motive to those that are strangers to God to come in and submit to him Oh that the Lord would perswade your hearts to come in and submit to him So long as you are strangers to God see the danger you are in you are liable to be harmed by all Creatures in Heaven and Earth they are all at the command of the Lord they all obey his word If God say to the least of Creatures go and take away the life of man avenge my quarrel upon such a Rebel the Creatures obey The Lord can arm the least of his Creatures a fly he can make that take way the life of man And therefore 't is a miserable condition to be a stranger to God and Christ to be out of Covenant with God you have no Covenant made for you and therefore you are left to harm of the Creatures every day Oh that the Lord would perswade you to come in to cast away your own righteousness and to submit to the righteousness of the Son of God and to make a close with him and with his Son and then all Creatures will take his part and if God be your freind they will be your freind and if God will not curse they
will not curse and if God will not hurt you they will not hurt you for they are all obedient to the command of their Maker Again in the fourth place To make haste This may let us see that it is not in Creatures to do us good without I say 't is not in the power of Creatures to us the least good without God We are apt to look too much upon Creatures you expect too much from Creatures and too little from God and therefore it is that oftentimes we are disappointed I tell you they cannot do us the least good without the command of God the very meat you eat it cannot refresh you unless it have a command from God and a blessing from God and the very clothes that you wear cannot warm you unless they have a command from God there is no creature can do you good unless it have a command from God and a blessing fâ—om God I beseech you take notice of it Oh we are apt to propound such and such things to our selves if we had such a portion of the creature men think Oh if they had such an Estate so much riches and if they were in such places of honour and if they had so much wealth and such and such a creature such and such freinds and relations such meat to eat and such drink to drink and such clothing to put on then they should be satisfied and their lives made comfortable I tell you my Brethren 't is a great mistake if you had those very creatures you would have still they could not satisfie you nor make your lives comfortable If God do not come along with the Creature the Creature cannot satisfie you God he can make your lives comfortable in the want of Creatures 't is as God will come in and 't is as God will bless See what Job propounded to himself in that 7. of Job vers 1â— When I said my bed shall comfort me my Couch shall ease my complaint Though Creatures be never so likely of themselves to comfort a man if God will not make use of them they cannot comfort What more likely to give Job ease then his Couch then his Bed he had wearied his body and his Bed and his Couch is a place of ease but I cannot finde it so saith Job I expected that it should ease me I will lay my head upon my Pillow and take my rest but I could not finde it no it terrified my thoughts and truly freinds you may think of all the Creatures you enjoy you may think that the Creatures will comfort but if God doth not make use of it it cannot comfort you and if God will make use of any Creature it shall comfort you If God make use of imprisonments bonds and fetters they shall be ingagements to you and make you sing in the Stocks at midnight God can say to the Creatures go and comfort You know when God commanded the heaps of stones that Jacob layd his head upon to give him comfortable sleep he slept well that night he slept better upon his heap of stones then he did upon his pillow when God makes use of the Creature to comfort and therefore do not think you have comfort from Creatures as Creatures 't is God that must come in and bring comfort to you for God can make every Creature comfortable and the best of Creatures cannot comfort if God do not come in To Conclude all Fiftly Here is matter of great comfort to the people of God it may be a Prop to their faith to their confidence if they consider this that all the Creatures are at Gods command and God can make use of any Creature to do them good he â—an make use of their Bonds it is a mighty comfort to you that are the people of God to remember this upon all occasions where ever you arâ— in your way in your journey in your voyages whether you be at Sea or Land still remember that all the Creatures they are your Fathers Host they all fulfil his Command they cannot disobey his Law they cannot hurt you without commission Nay though they be hurtful yet he can do you good by them Oh how quietly may Gods people walk in the midst of all Creatures when they are at Sea and when they are on land in the midst of dreadful Creatures they may wall safely for why they are at your Fathers command and they cannot do you the least hurt though they be hurtful in themselves in their own nature and therefore upon all occasions strengthen your faith in the Lord What shall we say to these things saith the Apostle in the 8. of the Romans the latter end If God be for us who can be against us I tell you you may challenge all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth if God be with you if he be your portion if he hath received you into Covenant and you have made a close with God And therefore in all places and dangers walk by faith strengthen your faith in the mighty power and goodness of God that hath the Command and Rule over all Creatures THE Eighth Sermon On DAN III. XXV He answered and said Lo I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God I Have handled many Propositions out of these words The last day we considered that Addition that God made unto these Martyrs while they were suffering for his Name sake There were but three cast into the fire where as their enemies looked that they should have been all consumed and none left to bear witness any longer against their Idolatrous ways the Lord makes an addition to them there is a fourth that joyns himself to them to bear witness with them unto the truth of God which they suffered for Hence we raised this Proposition That all the opposition persecution that the peopl of God meet with for the Name and Truâ—h of Christ shall not diminish thâ—ir number but shal increase them I shewed how the children of Israâ—l were multiply'd by those oppressions and heavy burdens â—hat wer layd upon them in Aegypt the more they oppressed them the more they encreased saith the Text I gave you an instance in Christ what counsel did the Scribes and Pharasees use in the 11. of John to hinder the number of beleevers If we let him alone all men will beleeve in him Now they thought they would take a sure course that none should beleeve in Christ They put the Lord of life to death smite the Shepheard and the sheep will soon be scattered but this did not diminish the number of Believers no God did out reach them and made this the way to bring in men to believe in Christ If I be lifted up saith Christ I will draw all men to me The Lord Jesus by dying becomes a suitable Object to poor guilty unclean sinners which durst not else have drawn nigh
in affliction hast not been supported by Christ in affliction and is that nothing saist thou to support a poor creature under affliction Hast thou not been suppâ—â—â—ed by the strength of Christ or by some word â—â— Christ in affliction And hast thou not said as David said I had perished in my affliction if thy word had not been my stay hath not Christ given thee some secret Refreshment in affliction surely he hath been nigh to thee and thou wett not aware he hath fed thee in affliction and thou didst not take notice of it Joseph he sed his Brethren and they did not know it was Joseph And so Christ he doth give sweet refreshments to his people and they do not take notice of it they do not consider that it is Christ that supports them Oh thy Spirit had sunk under affliction if it had not been Christ that had upheld thee Object Ay But if it had been Christ that had supported me in my affliction I should hâ—ve gained by my affliction I should have seen the benefit of my affliction but I see nothing at all affliction is come and gone and left nothing behind Answ Hast thou seen nothing no benefit Why resolve again to walk through though thou hast not seen thou maist see and these afflictions that have been layd upon thee though they be gone the fruit of them may be to come When man takes Physick you cannot expect that he should have health the same day strength the same day he must wait some days after and see how his strength comes in and then afterward he perceives the benefit of his Physick and so it is with affliction God may and doth do his people good by affliction though they saw little benefit while they were under affliction The rain doth make the earth fruitâ—â—l but the growth of the corn 't is not seen presently wait a while stay a Week or a Fortnight and then look into the Field and you shall see the rain was beneficial to the Field and so 't is with afflictions they are as rain when the Lord Jesus comes along with them he makes them very beneficial to his people Ay but the growth is not discerned presently No stay a while But do not thou say in unbelief I shall get no good by my affliction no thou hast got good by thy affliction The Lord hath said it he hath said That All things shall work together for their good he hath said that He will purge away their sins he hath said that We are made partakers of his Divine Nature by affliction and therefore give not way to unbelief do not by unbeâ—ief shut out the blessing but beleeve that it shall be as God hath spoken and though thou hast not seen the accomplishment of the promise go and wait upon God watch over thine own heart look to thy self the Weeds grow as well as the Corn you know how it was with Hezekiah and therefore we had to need watch over our own hearts and know thou shalt get good by affliction for God hath spoken it and it shall be accomplished unto thee in the Lords due time for the Lord wll fulfill his word THE Ninth Sermon On DAN III. XXV He answered and said Lo I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God YOu may remember the Proposition in hand Namely That Christ is never rigler his people thâ—n when they are in great afflictions in fiâ—ry tryals He entred into the Furnace here into the fiery Furnace that he might save his people harmless I gave you the Grounds the last day why Christ draws nigh to his people and why he doth communicate most of himself in their afflicted lowconditions First of all he knows that they have most need of him they have most need of him because of the weakness of the flesh and because of the strength of temptation he knows the flesh is weak and therefore he expresseth pity and compassion to his Disciples when they could expect nothing but fury from him they could not watch one hour when he stood in need of them and yet the Lord Jesus pities them The flesh is weak but the Spirit is strong he knows what the weakness of the flesh is and he himself was partaker of our flesh that he might know experimentally what the weakness of the flesh is and therefore well might Isaiah say He was a man of sorrow a man of sorrow and acquaâ—nted with grief he was a man of sorrow all his days and he had no other acquaiâ—tance almost but grief and sorrow when all his acquaintance left him his grief and sorrow followed him even to the very grave and therefore there is no grief no sorrow but the Lord Jesus had experience of it that he might know how to pity his people in their weakness and when they lye under their burdens Again He knows the strength of temptation he knows what it is for a poor creature to be tempred for he was in all things tempted like unto us saith the Apostle He had experience of all manner of temptations he knows how to releeve his people under temptation he knows their straits when they are besieged he knows how the force of Satans Batteries are he knows that in their weaknesses the Devil takes advantage against them and then above all other times indeavour to drive home the darts of his temptation into their Spirits and therefore the Lord Jesus because they have most need of him he pities them and relieves them at that time Again He remembers the kindness of his Father to him in his low condition and therefore will shew the like kindness to his people in their low conditions he remembers that his Father did not leave him in his straits and therefore he will not leave them in their straits The kindness that God the Father shewed to his Son when he was upon earth took such an impression made such an impression upon the heart of Christ that he can never forget it but he will always labour to requite it by shewing the like kindness to the people of God in their distress Oh how was he taken with that kindness that The Father would not leave him alone how often doth he make mention of it I am not alone but the Father is with me and therefore he enquires for some of the Saints of God that he may shew the like kindness unto them David remembers the kindness that Jonathan shewed him when he was in his low condition and therefore David enquires for some of his children Is there none left of the house of Soul that I may shew kindness to for Jonathans sake though there be but one poor lame Mephibosheth one that is lame of his feet that is no fit companion for a King yet for Jonathans sake and for the kindness Jonathan shewed to David David shews great kindness to
though he hath spoken many years ago yet the Lord he cannot forget his promise he is always mindful of his promise See in the first of Chron. and the 16. Chapter and the 15. verse He is mindful always of his Covenant the word which he commanded to a thousand generations though the promise be given out never so long ago suppose it be a thousand generations yet the Lord he is always mindful of his promise always mindful of his Covenant to a thousand generations a man may promise his friend to meet with him but it is possible a man may forget his promise but so cannot God he is ever mindful of his promise Again He cannot mistake the time happily a man though he hath promised yet he may mistake the time he knows not how the time passes and so may be deceived but it cannot be so with God he knows all times all creatures Foreknowâ— unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world Acts 15. 18. Nay he cannot be hindred by any impediment his Father will not hinder him he was willing to spare him out of Heaven for many years together that so he might be present with his people and all creatures cannot hinder him from performing his promise see the 27. of Isaiah verse 4. Fury is not in me who would set the Bryars and Thornes against me in battel I would go through them I would â—urn them together The greatest opposition was bryars and thorns to Jesus Christ bryars and thorns before devouring fire will soon be burnt and therefore upon this you may be confident seeing the Lord Jesus hath given out his word he will keep time and place with you Again Secondly You may be confident of his presence in affliction because affliction is for this end it is the main end that Christ in affliction may meet with his people that he may draw them into â—igher communion with himself that they may see more of him that they may enjoy more of him and he enjoy more of them that he may make use of affliction to remove that which is in the way between him and the soul to subdue corruption and to strengthen faith and to draw forth grace to heighten the holiness and the grace of the soul and to comfort the heart and all that the soul may enjoy more communion with Christ he doth take his people into a by-Lane as I may say in every affliction that he may speak unto them he took the Spouse into the wilderness that he might speak to her and so doth Jesus Christ when he takes his people into a by-way it is that he may speak something more to them that he may speak freely and speak something that may be for their good he doth not speak in affliction because he delights in affliction he doth not delight in their afflictions he doth not afflict that he may be satisfied no afflictions they are not their punishments for God hath satisfaction at the hand of Jesus Christ and therefore it relates to something to come that he may with this Chastisement draw the soul more nigh and see more of him and enjoy more of him more of his presence of his love more communion with him that he may comfort strengthen and support and sanctifie and therefore seeing it is the end the main end of affliction that Jesus Christ and his people may meet and converse together certainly Gods people must not slight this his afflicting them must not slight this main end of God Object But if Christ do meet with his people in affliction the presence of Christ cannot countervail the bitterness of the affliction Answ But it will to the full for there is that in the presence of Christ which may supply the wants of all creatures I say there is all goodnesse all sweetnesse gathered together in the Son of God which is scattered up and down in Creatures and therefore in Heaven the Saints need no creature comforts they need not the light of the Sun nor the light of the Moon and there all recomfortable relations are broken a pieces there is no husband nor wife nor child Master nor servant why because the good of â—ll these lations do meet in Christ and the good of all these relations shall be supplied by the presence of Christ and therefore Christ tells his Disciples in Mat 22. 30. In the Resurrection saith he they neither marry nor are given in Marriage but are as the Angels of God in Heaven they neither marry nor are given in Marriage that which is the most comfortable relation in earth there is no need of in Heaven 't is too poor too needy for Heaven there shall be no marrying nor giving in Marriage and â—o the comfort of all other relations shall be found in Christ In him there is a perfection of all goodnesse of all sweetnesse now you cannot meet with the fulnesse of these in any condition there is a fulnesse of joy in Christ a fulnesse of good in Christ what says the Psalmist in Psalm 16. v. last In thy presence is fulnesse of joy at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore there is a fulnesse of joy in the presence of Christ there is not a fulnesse of sorrow in any condition no there is a mixture of Mercy in every condition the evil that a Soul meets with is not infinite there is not a fulnesse of sorrow but in the presence of Christ there is a fulnesse of joy there is that which can abundantly countervail the evil that is met with in any condition if all the evil under the Sun were met together in one condition and a Soul brought into it yet it might find in the presence of Christ that which may answer that condition the presence of Christ will comfort and support and raise up a Soul in that evil condition and therefore you shall find that the presence of Christ hath made the Saints to rejoyce in Tribulations to joy abundantly The Apostles rejoyced that they were counted worthy to suffer for the Name of the Lord Christ it doth fill the Soul with holy joy heavenly Raptures yea the presence of Christ hath been astonishment to the Soul many times when it hath been in a sad condition see what Paul saith of himself in 2 Cor. 12. 2. I knew a man in Christ about 14 years ago whether in the Boâ—y I cannoâ— tâ—ll or whether out of the Body I cannot tell God knows such a man whether in the Body or out of the Body was caught up into the third Heaven some think this vision of Paul was when he was in a sad condition it was immediately after his conversion when the light of his Body was taken away by blindnesse Now it is supposed when Paul was blind in hiâ— Body he had this Vision of Christ you may see what abundance of sweetnesse he found in Christ it carried him beyond himself he wâ—s carrâ—ed out with holy Raptures I knew not
it concerns every living man to do with his might whatsoever he hath to do for God or for his own soul in that great business that doth concern Eternity It concernes every living man and woman to do with all their might what ever they have to do with all their might whatever they have to do for God or for their own souls in the great business that doth concern Eternity I shall here shew you First what it is for a man to do with his might Secondly what are those things that God requires of every one of you to be done with your might And that will make way for the Application First of all What is to do with thy might To do with thy might First is to do with diligence to do diligently to take all opportunities of doing for God yea seek opportunities not only embrace opportunities but seek opportunities of doing for God Our Lord Jesus Christ went up and down doing good in the days of his flesh he sought opportunities to serve his Father and to serve the sons of men The Sun carries his light up and down the world and visits poor Creatures that are in darkness when a man is faithful in taking opportunities to do for God in seeking opportunities when a man works with diligence then he works with his might Again secondly To do with thy might to do with a mans might is to do or work resolutely to do with resolution not to be beaten back by discouragements and by opposition that doth lye in the way never did any work meet with so much opposition as the great work of our Redemption by Christ But he brake through Divels and all the powers of darkness that were in his way he did with his might the work of his Father for he did it with resolution To go on notwithstanding all storms all winds that blow though never so many dangers lay in a mans way though there seem to be Lions in the way great enemies great persecutions losse of name losse of estate losse of friends to go through evil report as well as good to break through the strife of Tongues and the strife of hands This is to work Resolutely this is to do with a mans might Again thirdly to do with a mans might is to do faithfully when a man works faithfully and sincerely when he doth not warp nor turn aside when he is not byassed nor drawn by the allurements of the world In the 33. of Deut. it is said that Levi did not know his own Father nor his own Mother nor his children he did the work of God with all his might for he did it faithfully And when the cause of God was in hand he knew no friend he knew not his Father he knew not his children Get thee behind me Satan saith Christ to Peter a dear friend a chosen Disciple yet when Peter will disswade Christ from doing the work of his Father Peter is a Satan he is an adversary get thâ—e behind me Satan And so what do you mean to vex my heart saith Paul when his friends disswaded him I am ready not only to be bound but to dye at Jerusalem for the name of Christ When a man works faithfully then he works with his might Fourthly when a man works spiritually then he works with his might When his heart goes into the work when the spirit goes into the work when a man is content not only to give God the outside but his heart shall be engaged and that shall bow to God and submit to Christ If he do not find that his heart and spirit is engaged in the work he cannot be satisfied It is said of good Josiah in the 2 of Kings 23. vers 25. there was none like to him there was none like before him that turned to the Lord with all his heart with all his soul and with all his might He turned with his heart and soul his heart and Spirit was engaged in it and therefore now he did it with his might Fiftly when a man works with his might he works speedily I say speedily Our Lord Jesus did the work of his Father with his mighâ— and he began betimes in the morning he was called the Hind in the morning he was hunted betimes in the morning He began betimes to work the works of his Father when he was thirteen years of age he was found disputing among the Doctors and saith he Wist you not that I must do the work of my Father To begin betimes in the day of youth to take the best season the fittest opportunity to do for God when a man doth speedily then he doth with his might Sixthly When a man doth strenuously when he doth with all his strength with all those abilities God hath given him when he is content that God should have all that he hath that God should serve himself of the best he hath and rejoyce that he hath any thing for God when a man lays down himself and lays down all at the foot-stool of God saith Lord take me and take mine and improve me to the utmost of thy self it matters not what become of the Creature so God may be glorified when a man works thus he works strenuously and with all his might Seventhly and lastly when a man works constantly When a man holds out unto the end when he is willing to abide with Jesus Christ yea to abide with Christ in his tribulation when he is willing to serve the Lord all the six days of his life when he is content that his works and his life should be finished together and not one before the other Thus it was with our Lord Jesus Christ when he was upon the Cross his work and his life were finished together when a man works thus to the end this man works with his might That is the first Particular we hasten to the second You have heard what it is for a man to work with his might The second follows What those things are that every man ought to do with his might I shall speak first to Sinners and then to Believers and shew both their works Something the Lord requires of both to be done thus with all their might If Sinners ask what is their work I answer What the work of sinners is to be done with their might First their work is to know themselves To know that they are poor and miserable blind and naked that they are lost and undone that they are without light and without life and without strength and without hope for eternity that they have sinned and cannot satisfie that they have lost themselves and cannot return of themselves that they have done evil and cannot do better of themselves If free-grace do not prevent them they are as poor wandring sheep upon the Mountains they are like to wander and wander and wander for ever till they be separated everlastingly from the Lord if the good Shepherd of souls do not
such as fear the Lord and desire to walk conscientiously It is your work to be a wall to them and to protect them so they walk regularly and in the fear of the Lord The people of God they are the strength of the Land who ever they be they are the strength of the Land they are the strength of a City They protect you and therefore it is your work to protect them The godly in a City they protect the City they are the safety of the City God said he could not destroy Sodom so long as Lot was there and could do nothing so long as righteous Lot was among them they are the strength of a City I beseech you see what is said in the second of Zechariah verse 5. And the Governours of Judah shall say in their hearts the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of Hosts their God Such as fear the Lord of all ranks they are the strength of the City and the time is a coming when the Governours of Judah shall say so The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the Lord of Hosts their God they have great interest in God and therefore they are my strength they are the strength of the Governours and they are the strength of the City And now let me say to you as Paul said to Agrippa Beleeve you this Oh you Fathers of the City do you beleeve this that the Inhabitants of Jerusalem they are your strength and the strength of the City in the Lord of Hosts their God do 〈◊〉 beleeve this I know you beleeve it 〈…〉 the Lord will cause you all to beleeve 〈…〉 people of God what ever they be they are 〈◊〉 strength of the City you shall say it one day all the Governors of Judah shal say That the Inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the Lord of Hosts their God And now I have humbly presented this Counsel as from the Lord I have laid before you what is your work 1. There is a Work of Justice 2. A Work of Equity 3. A Work of Mercy 4. A Work of Piety 5. A Work of Love to Christ in the protection of his people And a work of Wisedom to your selves which will be your strength And now let me say to all Christians and Christian Magistrates Let me say to you all what ever is your work what ever is in your hand to do Oh that the Lord would help you to do it with all your might What is in your hand to do as Christians as Magistrates Oh that the Lord would help you to do it with all your might I shall not need to press it further upon you both as Christians The Devil worketh with all his might and shall not Christians work with their might and Magistrates work with their might He goes about night and day seeking whom he may devour and shall not you go about night and day seeking whom you may save And seeking whom you may punish for contemning the Law of the Lord your God The Divel compasses the earth Whence comest thou I come from â—â—â—â—â—assing the earth And Oh shall not Christians 〈◊〉 â—ith all their might when Satan doth with all his might sinners do with all their might and shall not Christians do with their might It is said of sinners That they draw iniquity as with Cart-ropes It is the expression of the Prophet and in the seventh of Micah it is said they sin with both hands they do evil with both hands aye earnestly and they do it with both hands and if they sin with both hands shall not Christians do good with both hands Shall they sin with all their might and shall not you do the work of God with all your might Let me say further to you Christ did the work of the Father with all his might and your work with all his might the work of your salvation he wrought three and thirty years together he sweat hard And Oh! shall not you in a way of love in a way of obedience labour to do for God with all your might seeing Christ hath done for you with all his might Let me say to you you are not put upon it to work for life and righteousness or for Heaven but only to express your thankfulnesse your love and obedience and therefore well may you work for God you have a great deal of work and you have but a little time to do it Sinners you are hastning to the grave Oh work for God with all your might Christians you are hastning to the grave Magistrates you are hastning to the grave Oh then do what ever you find to do for God with all your might There is no work as a Magistrate nor as a Minister nor as a Christian in the graâ—e whither thou art going here is all the working time that you shall have for eternity you have six days to work in And you that are Beleevers shall have a long rest you may well work a while though you sweat hard for it there is no more time to work in but a long time to rest in an everlasting Rest eternity of Rest that shall never have an end your rest is long And Oh make hast there is no possibility of working more for God hereafter If you do not finish your work now you cannot finish it in the grave You had need work the Candle is set up and you have but little of the Candle left Oh if you do not finish this work of God before this Candles end be out there is nothing but darknesse in the grave There is no wisedom no device c. If there were work you could not see But there is no beleeving no repenting no doing for God no further time to be serviceable to God but a time of receiving for the Saints and a time for the wicked to be punished And therefore What ever thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might for there is no work nor device nor wisedom in the grave whither thou goest And so much for this time FINIS ERRATA PAge 1. line 12. read seemeth p. 4. l. 17. r. bonds p. 5. l. 15. r. act p. 6. l. 10. r. was p. 9. l. 22. r. grave p. 11. l. 31. r. the. p. 16. l. 5. r they for now p. 17. l. 28. r. this p. 21. l. 15. blot out as r. in as dye p. 41. l. 26. r. open p. 43. last v. r. get p. 49. last v. blot out time p. 68. l. 27. r. grace p. 73. l. 6. r. whether p. 74. last v. r. superstition p. 75. l. 7. r. past and l. 9. r. not p. 77. l. 13. r. though and l. 25. r. to p. 78. l. 18. r. terrible and l. 30 r. in a. p. 81. l. 27. blot out either p. 93. l. 25. r. done p. 99. l. 6. r. off and l. 28. r. his p. 100. l. 3 and 4. blot out the thought of p. 101. l. 5. r. but for that p. 103. l. 30. r adversity p. 107 last line but one r. to us p. 115. l. 29. r. whether p. 119. l. 10. r. our p. 121. l. 22. r. condition p. 125. l. 19. r. comforting p. 130. l. 22. r. Lo for Low p. 132. l. 2. r. quiet p. 133. l. 6. blot out been and put it into the end of the next line and l. 8. r. Jonah last line but one r. improbable for impossible p. 135. l. 24. r. so it might and l. 26. r. keep p. 143. l. 18. r. without God p. 144. l. 32. r. encouragements p. 148. l. 28. r. Father p. 149. l. 14. r. they for their and l. 16. r. their for thy and l. 21. r. contrary to their p. 150. l. 27. r. deliver his poor p. 154. l. 23. r. poor p. 156. last line but one r. are p. 160. l. 4. r. be though p. 161. l. 22. r. puts p. 162. l. 2. r. Lord. p. 164. l. 26. r. Gods p. 165. l. 17. r. fed p. 166. last line r. need to p. 173. l. 5. A Goldsmith p. 181. l. 11. r. relations