and souls and would force you into heaven by frighting you out of your sins Are there not some of you that by often hearing Sermons are become Sermon-proof that know how to sleep and scoff away Sermons I would be glad to say there are but few such but the Lord knoweth there are too â—…oo many that by long preaching get little good by preaching insomuch that I have often said it and say it now again There is hardly any way to raise the price of the Gospel-Ministry but by the want of it And that I may not â—…latter you you have not profited under the means you have enjoyed therefore you may justly expect God may bring you into a strait and take away the Gospel from you God may justly take away your Ministers by death or other wayes Hâ—… you not lost your first love Why did God take away the Gospel from the Church of Ephesus but because they lost their first Love Are you not like the Church of Laodicea that are neither hot nor cold therefore God may justly spew you out of his mouth what God will do with you I know not a few weeks will determine God can make a great change in a little time we leave all to God but in the mean time let me commend one Text of Scripture to you Ierem. 13. 16. Give glory to the Lord your God before he cause darkness and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains and while you look for light he turn it into the shadow of death and make it gross darkness Verse 17. But if you will not hear my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride and mine eyes shall weep sore and run down with tears because the Lords flock is carried away captive Give glory to God by confessing and repenting of your fins by humbling your souls before the Lord before darkness come and Who knoweth but this may prevent darkness Mr. Calamy's Sermon Preached at Alderman-Bury Church Dec. 28. 1662. For which he was Imprisoned in Newgate 1 Sam. 4. 13. And when he came Lo Ely sate upon a seat by the way side waiting for his heart trembled for the Ark of God THat you may the better understand these words you must know that whatsoever God threatn'd against old Ely in the second and third Chapters because he did not restrain hiâ—… wicked Soâ—… from their lewd Courses is here Executed in this Chapter therefore we read there were four thousand Israelites slain by the Philistines And the Elders of Israel met together to consult how to repair this great losse thâ—… confesse it was the Lord that had smitten them 〈◊〉 say they Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to day before the Philistines And they conclude the way to repair this their loss it was to fetch the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh and carry it into the 〈◊〉 whereupon they appoint Hophni and Phinehas to 〈◊〉 it whereby they imagined that the presence of the Aâ—…k would save them from ruin but herein they were miserably mistaken for this judgment befel them not because the Ark was not in the Camp but because thâ—… sin was in the Camp The Ark of the Covenant would not preserve those that had broken Covenant with God And therefore there was a great slaughter of the 〈◊〉 liâ—…es and were slain thirty thousand men and Hâ—… and Phâ—… were slain and the Ark it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But what was old Eli doing He was ninety and eight years old and was not able to go to the Battel but sits upon a seat by the way-side near the Battel and there he sits thinking what shall become of the Ark And lo Ely sate upon a seat by the way side watching for his heart trembled for the Ark of God for fear lest the Ark should be taken He was not troubled what should become of his two Sons or what should become of the people of Israel but what should become of the Ark of God In the words are three parts 1. Old Elies solicitousness for the Ark. 2. Old Elies heart-trembling for fear of the Ark. 3. Old Elies preferring the safety of the Ark before the safety of his two Sons Wife and Children He sate upon a Seat by the way-side watching for his heart trembled for the Ark of God But what was the Ark of God why should old Elies heart tremble for fear of the Ark I Answer This Ark was the holiest of all the things of God it was so holy that it made every place holy where it came 2 Chron. 8. 11 And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharoah out of the City of David into the House that he had built for her for he said My wife shall not dwell in the House of David King of Israel because the places are holy whereunto the Ark of the Lord hath come This Ark was the dwelling place of God it was the habitation of God Psal. 99. 1. The Lord Reigneth he sitteth between the Cherubims Now these Cherubims were placed over the Ark it was the speaking place of God he met his people there and there he gave an answer to them Exod. 25. 21 22. And thou shalt put the Mercy-seat above upon the Ark and in the Ark thou shalt put the Testimony that I shall give thee And there will I meet with thee and I will commune with thee from above â—…he Mercy-seat from between the two Cherubims which are â—…pon the Ark of the Testimony of all things I shall give thee â—…n commandement unto the children of Israel This Ark was Gods Foot-stool and all the people of God worshipt before the Foot-stool of God Psal. 99. 5. Exalt ye the Lord our God and worship at his footstool for he is holy The Ark it was the glory and the strength of Israel Psal. 78. 61. And he delivered his strength into captivity and his glory into his enemies hand And it was the terror of the enemies of God And therefore when the Ark came into the Battel the Philistines were afraid and said Wo unto us for God is come down into the Camp And indeed this Ark was called Iehovah Num. 10. 35. And it came to pass when the Ark set forward that Moses said Rise up Lord and let thine enemies be scattered And when it rested he said Return O Lord unto the many thousands of Israel In a word the Ark was a pledge and a visible symptom of Gods gracious presence with his people as long as the Ark was saved they were saved and when the Ark was with them Gods presence was with them but when the Aâ—…k was gone God was gone his comforâ—…ing presence his protecting presence and his preserving presence And therefore no wonder that this good old man sate watching here for fear of the Ark. I call him good old man Many are of opinion that he was not good because he suffered his Sons to be so wicked and indeed his fault was great but surely he was a good
rusted over with many infirmities is better then all the glistering shews of hypocrites A sincere heart is Gods currant coin he will give it grains of allowance Sixthly as you love your souls be not strangers to your selves be much and often in the work of self-examination among all the books that you read turn over the book of your own heart look into the book of conscience see what is written there Psal. 77. 6. I communed with mine own heart Set up a judgment-seat in your own souls examine whether you have grace or not prove whether you are in the faith be as much afraid of a painted holiness as you would be afraid of going to a painted heaven Do not think your selves good because others think so let the Word be the touch-stone by which you try your hearts let the word be the looking glass by which you judge of the complexion of your souls For want of this self-searching many live known to others and die unknown to themselves Seventhly keep up your spiritual watch Mat. 13. 37. what I say unto you I say unto all watch if it were the last word I should speak it should be this word watch O what need hath a Christian to be ever upon his watch the heart is a subtle piece and will be stealing out to vanity and if we are not careful it will decoy us into sin we have a special eye upon such persons as we suspect thy heart is a supicious person O have an eye upon it watch it continually it is a bosom-traytor Iob set a watch before his eyes Iob 31. 1. We must every day keep sentinel sleep not upon your guard Our sleeping time is the Devils tempting time Let not your watch-candle go out Eightly you that are the people of God do you often associate together Mal. 3. 16. They that feared the Lord spake often one to another Christs Doves should flock together one Christian will help to heat another a single coal of Juniper will soon die but many coals put together will keep life one in another Conference sometimes may do as much good as Preaching one Christian by good discourse drops holy oyl upon another that makes the lamp of his grace to shine the brighter It is great wisdom to keep up the trade in a Corporation Christians by meeting often together setting good discourse on foot keep up the trade of Godliness that else would decay and soon be lost Is not the communion of Saints an Article in our Creed Do not then live so asunder as if thìs Article were blotted out The Naturalists observe there is a sympathy in Plants they say some Plants bear better when they grow near other Plants as the Vine and the Elm the Olive and the Myrtle thrive best when they grow together It is true in Religion the Saints are trees of righteousness that thrive best in godliness when they grow together Ninthly get your hearts screwed up above the world Set your affections on things above Col. 3. 3. We may see the face of the Moon in the water but the Moon is fixed above in the Firmament so though a Christian walks here below yet his heart should be fixed above in Heaven in Heaven there is our best Kindred and purest Joy our Mansion-house O let our hearts be above it is the best and the sweetest kind of life the higher the birds flies the sweeter it sings and the higher the heart is raised above the world the sweeter joy it hath The Eagle that flies in the air is not stung by the Serpent those whose hearts are elevated above the lower Region of this world are not stung with the vexations and disquietments that others are but are full of joy and contentment 10. Trade much in the Promises the Promises are great supports to faith Faith lives in a promise as the fish lives in the water the Promises are both comforting and quickning they are mitralia evangelii the very breasts of the Gospel as the child by sucking the breasts gets strength so faith by sucking the breasts of a promise gets strength and revives The promises of God are bladders to keep us from sinking when we come into the waters of affliction the Promises are sweet clusters of grapes that grow upon Christ the true Vine O trade much in the promises there is no condition that you can be in but you have a promise the promises are like Manna that sute themselves to every Christians palate 11. All you that hear me live in a calling Ierome gave his friend this advice To be ever well employed that when the Devil came to tempt him he might finde him working in his vineyard Sure I am the same God that saith Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy saith also Six dayes shalt thou labour The great God never sealed any warrants to Idleness an idle professour is the shame of his profession 2 Thess. 3. 11. I hear there are some sayes the Apostle that work not at all but are busi-bodies such we exhort by our Lord Iesus Christ that with quietness they work Solon made Laws to punish idleness and Seneca saith of an idle man Spiritum trahit non vivit He draws his breath but doth not live he is not useful but a good Christian acts within the spere of his own calling 12. Let me intreat you to joyn the first and the second Table together piety to God and equity to your Neigbour the Apostle puts these two words together in one verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Titus 2. 12. That we should live righteously and godly Righteously that relates to morality Godly that relates to piety and sanctity alwayes remember this every Command hath the same Divine stamp and authority as another Command hath I would try a moral man by the duties of the first Table and I would try a professor by the duties of the second Table Some pretend faith but have no works others have works but they have no faith Some pretend zeal for God but are not just in their dealings others are just in their dealings but have not one spark of zeal for God If you would go to heaven you must turn both sides of the Table the first and second Table joyn piety and morality together as we blame the Papists for blotting out the second Commandment let not the Papists blame us for leaving out the second Table 13. Joyn the Serpent and the Dove together innocency and prudence Mat. 10. 16. Be wise as Serpents and harmless as Doves We must have innocency with our Wisdom else our wisdom is but craftiness and we must have wisdom with our innocency else our innocency is but weakness We must have the harmlesness of the Dove that we may not wrong others and we must have the prudence of the Serpent that others may not abuse and circumvent us Not to wrong the truth by silence here is the innocency of the Dove not to betray our selves by rashness here
accordingly 5. Love the holiness of the living members be not so much in love with the holiness of wood and timber bricks and stones but wheresoever you see the Image of Christ be in love with that soul whereever the presence of God shines and whereever thou seest one that gives up himself to God in holy duties do thou say Oh! my soul delight to come into the company of these men The righteous is more excellent then his neighbour If there be a heaven upon earth I tell you it is in the company of godly men I remember a famous man hath this expression saith he When I was in the company of the Saints and people of God I was as a living coal but when I was separated from them and was among the wicked swearers and drunkards me-thoughts there was a spiritual coldness and frozenness went over my soul. Though the people of God are best companie in heaven yet they are very good companie here on earth And Christians should stir up one another and be provoking one another to love and good works and where ever you have grace be sure to impart it Endeavour to love the holiness of Saints and be willing to impart your experiences to others for this is your duty Do not make a Monopoly of holiness but carry company with you to Heaven Lastly to name no more labour to preserve the holiness of Gods true Institutions those things which are of a divine consecration What is humane consecration without divine institution The Sabbath day is of divine institution labour to keep it holy this is a holy-day indeed and this labour to keep your families from profaning of but for other holy dayes and holy things they are much alike for holiness The Lords day is a holy day indeed and for shame do not let your children gad abroad on this day Truly I do verily believe that though here be a great company of people in the Congregation yet they are but a handful in comparison of what are drinking in Ale-houses and whoring and walking in the field that one can hardly get home to their house for the crowd of people that are going thither For shame let not this be told in Gath nor published in Askelon What! shall we stand up for the holiness of places and yet oppose the holiness of the Lords day which God hath enjoyned and instituted Oh! that the Magistrates of London Oâ—… that Englands King Oh! that Englands Parliament would do something for the reformation of this to oppose wickedness and prophanesse which will otherwise bring upon us the judgement of Sodom and Gomorrah and make us guilty and worthy of a thousand punishments And labour by prayer in your families to overcome that flood of prophanesse which you cannot by your strength prevent And then for the Sacraments of Christ Baptisme and the Lords Sâ—…pper these are Ordinances of Gods appointment they are holy and therefore should not be given to those that are unholy and yet those who are so much for the holinesse of places do not care who come to the Sacrament if they have but a nose on their face they shall come and partake of the Ordinances let them be what they will this is to prefer mans institution before Gods institution And then for the Lords Message and Word that is a holy thing and therefore love his Messengers the Messengers of God delivering his Message with fear and reverence you are to hear them with the same fear and reverence and resolution to be holy as if Christ were present And for the Word of God it is not enough for you to have a choice Sentence written upon the walls of your Churches but let Gods Law be written in your hearts and consciences and practised in your lives that all the world may see you live as men dedicated to the true God in all the duties of his wayes and obedience Many of these things might have been inlarged What I have given you with the right hand I pray you Christians do not take with the left for if you do you will make your selves guilty of a double sin First Because you do not obey the truth you hear And secondly For putting a wrong construction upon it But I have better hopes of you my Beloved Hearers and hope that the Lord will be better unto your souls then his Ministers Word or any thing else can be God blesse you and his Ordinances and discover his mind and will at this time to you Mr. Jenkins's Prayer after Sermon O Lord our God thou art never weary of doing us good if we either consider the mercies thou givest to us or the miseries that thou keepest from us that yet we have another opportunity of drawing nigh to thee we beseech thee O Lord let not our mis-interpreting of such opportunities as these are cause thee to take them from us or thy self from them if thou dost Lord we cannot but justifie thee and abase our selves and lie low before thee because we have sinned against thee O Lord we bless thee that we are yet alive to bless thee that yet we have not sinned our bodies into a cold grave nor our souls into a scorching Hell thou givest us our beings if thou withdraw thy self we cease to be and shall return to our first nothingness from whence we came the living the living they praise thee as if we know our own hearts we desire to do at this time Praised be God for Iesus Christ that he died and rose again and is now a pleading at thy right hand for poor sinners Praised be God that he is offered to us for his sake O God pardon all our sins let our lusts die that would not let the Lord of life live let not any one of them live one quiet moment in these hearts of ours let us give up our selves and all that we are or can do to the purpose of thy praise we beseech thee prepare us for a blessed eternity that we may not be ashamed before thee nor ashamed of thee nor thy wayes in the midst of a crooked perverse unclean idolatrous generation Dear Father we most humbly pray thee prepare us for communion with thy self assist us in the ensuing duties of this day let all the work be done by thee let all the praise redound unto thee prepare us by hearing for prayer by both for practice by all for glory Lord set up thy truth ruine Babylon build up Sion delight yet to dwell in the midst of us and do us good though we are a sinful back-sliding God-provoking Nation Mayest thou not say of us as of old what couldst thou have done more for us then thou hast done yet how ill have we requited thee for all thy benefits Poure down the richest showers of thy choicest blessings upon the head and heart of our Dread Soverain Charles the Second by thy especial grace of England Scotland France and Ireland King as follows in his Royal
had murdered Christ forty years after they were brought into that distress when the City was besieged by Titus and Vespasian that they did eat one another the mother did eat her child And whereas David had a choice which of the three he would have either Famine Plague or Sword the poor Jews had all three concatenated together in the siege Sin brings all manner of external Plagues 2. Sins bring Persons Nations into internal straits sin brings soul-plagues which are worse than bodily plagues sin brings hardness of heart blindness of mind a spirit of slumber a reprobate sense sinne brings a spiritual famine upon a Land it brings a famine of the Word Amos 8. 11. sin causes God to take away the Gospel from a people Sin brings internal plagues sin awakens Conscience and fills it full of perplexities Into what a strait did sin drive Iudas after he had betrayed Christ Into what a strait did sin drive Spira Saint Paul gloryed in his tribulations for God but when he speaks of his sin he cryeth out O miserable man that I am Who shall deliver me from this body of death David a valiant man when he speaks of sin he saith They are too heavy a burden for him to bear Awounded Conscience who can bear saith the Wise man 3. Sin bringeth eternal straits O the strait that a wicked man shall be brought into at the great and dreadful day of Judgment when all the world shall be on fire about him when he shall call to the Mountains to hide him and to the rocks to cover him from the wrath of God then will he cry out with David I am O Lord in a great strait And when the wicked shall be condemned to Hell who can express the straits they then shall be in Bind them hand and foot and cast them into everlasting darkness Matth. 25. When a wicked man shall be bound with everlasting chains of darkness then he will cry out I am in a great strait Consider what Dives saith to Abraham he desires that Lazarus might but dip the tip of his finger in water and that he might cool his tongue not his whole body but his tongue but that would not be granted It is impossible the tongue of man should set out the great straits the damned suffer in Hell both in regard of the greatness and everlastingness of them This is all I shall say for the Explication Use 1. I chiefly aim at the Application Doth sin bring Nations and Persons into external internal and eternal straits then this sadly reproves those that choose to commit sin to avoid perplexity There are thousands in England guilty of this that to avoid poverty will lye cheat and cozen and to gain an Estate will sell God and a good Conscience and to avoid the loss of estate and imprisonment will do any thing they will be sure to be of that Religion which is uppermost be it what it will Now give me leave this morning to speak three things to these sorts of men and O that my words might prevail with them 1. Consider It is sin only that makes trouble to deserve the name of trouble for when we suffer for Gods sake or a good Conscience these troubles are so sweetned by the Consolations of Heaven that they are no troubles at all therefore in Q. Maries days the Martyrs wrote to their friends out of Prison If you knew the Comforts we have in prison you would wish to be with us I am in prison before I am in prison saith Master Sanders Famous is the story of the three Children they were in a great strait when cast into the fiery Furnace Bind them hand and foot and cast them into the Furnace but when they were there they were unbound Dan. 3. 25. saith Nebuchadnezzar Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire and lo I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God I have often told you when three are cast into the fire for a good Conscience God will make the fourth therefore I say straits and sufferings for God are not worth the name of straits David was often driven into straits 1 Sam. 30. 6. he was sore distressed when his Town was burnt and his Wives and Children taken captive by the Amalekites I but that was a distress of danger not of sin therefore he encourageth himself in the Lord his God Iehosaphat was in a great strait 2 Chron. 20. 12. We know not what to do saith he this was a strait of danger not caused by his sin and God quickly delivered him but the strait that David was in was caused by his sin and that made it so bitter I am loth to enlarge here St. Paul was in a great Strait Phil. 3. 23. but this was a blessed strait an Evangelical strait saith Saint Chrysostom He knew not whether to die for his own sake or to live for the Churches sake were best he was willing to adjourn his going to Heaven for the good of the people of God Nay Christ was in a strait Luk. 12. 15. I have a Baptism to be baptized withall and how am I straitned till it be accomplished I am to shed my blood for my Elect that is the Baptism he speaks of This was a strait of dear affection to the Elect of God all these were blessed straits but now straits caused by sin these are imbittered and eâ—…venomed by the guilt of sin and sense of Gods Wrath. It is sin that maketh straits deserve the name of straits therefore you are spiritually mad that commit sin to avoid straits 2. There is more evil in the least sin than in the greatest outward calamity whatsoever this the world will not believe therefore St. Austin saith That a man ought not to tell a lie though he might save all the world from hell for there is more evil in one lie than there is good in the salvation of all the world I have often told you the story of Saint Austin saith he If hell were on one side and â—…in on the other and I must choose one I would choose Hell rather then Sin for God is the Author of Hell but it is blasphemy to say He is the Author of sin There is a famous story of Charles the ninth King of France he sent a message to the Prince of Condy a zealous Protestant gives him three things to choose either to go to Mass or to be put to death or to suffer banishment all his life long saith he Primum Deo juvante nunquam eligam The first God helping I will never choose I abhor the idolatry of the Mass but for the two other I leave it to the choice of the King 〈◊〉 do 〈◊〉 he pleases there is more evil in the leâ—…st sin then the greatest misery 3. The third thing I would have you consider is that whosoever goeth out of God's way to
them ill with them in life in death and after death A wicked man lives cursed and dies damned Sinners are Gods standing mark that he shoots at and he never misseth the mark You know what the Scripture saith There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth It is a saying of Latimer That is very sad fare where weeping is the first course and gnashing of teeth is the second But whence may this gnashing of the teeth come 1. It ariseth from the extremity of the torments that the damned suffer this makes them gnash their teeth with horrour they are not able to bear it and yet they know not how to avoid it 2. The Wicked gnash their teeth out of envy to think that the godly are happy and blessed those whom they reproached hated and persecuted they are happy in glory and they themselves are thrown down into Hell this cuts them to the heart to think of it and makes them gnash their teeth Luke 10. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you shall see Abraham and Isaack and Iacob in the Kingdom of God and you your selves thrust out And this is the first use shewing the misery of a wicked â—…han if all the curses in the Bible will make him miserable he shall be miserable God will make his Arrows drunk with his bloud Secondly Take heed that none of you here be found in the number of the Wicked Take heed of being of this black Regiment beware of the Devils colours fight not under this Banner It shall be ill with the Wicked the Sinner and the Furnace shall never â—…e parted In a word I beseech you take heed of those sins that bring to Hell fire There are saith St. Bernard fiâ—…ry sins that bring men to hell fire What are these fiery sin Why they are the fire of Malice the fire of Passion the fire of Lust the fire of Concupiscence and the fire of Revenge these fiery sins bring men to fiery plagues to Hell fire When you are tempted to any â—…in think with your selves How can I bear the lying in the fierceness of the Wine-press of Gods wrath for ever I have read a story of a Virgiâ—… that being tempted by a young man to commit folly sayes she to him If you will grant me but one request I will do what you desire What is that said he Why do but hold your Finger one hour in this burning Candle No he would not do that Said she to him Will not you for my sâ—…ke hold your Finger one hour in the Candle and would you have me lay my Soul burning in Hell for ever for the satisfying of your Lust and thus she refuted that temptation Why Doth Satan tempt you to Wickedness hold up this Text against the Devil as a shield to quench his fiery darts Satan it will go ill with the wicked If I embrace thy temptation I must be under thy tormenting for ever O therefore learn to be Righteous It shall be well with the Righteous Take heed of living and dying in sin It shall be ill with the Wicked the God of Heaven hath said it I will conclude all with a saying of Austin sayes he When a man hath been virtuous the labour is gone and the joy remains when a man hath been wicked the pleasure iâ—… gone and the sting remaineth Dr. Iacomb's Prayer at St. Martin's Ludgate BLessed God thou art a God blessed for ever thou givest mercy to all returning and repenting sinners Thou art worthy to be praised by all that draw â—…igh unto thee Thou hast vouchsafed to us one Sabbath more oh that we might all of us be in the spirit upon this Lord's day that whatever we do we may do it in the strength of God that we may offer spiritual sacrifices to God this day through our Mediator the Lord Iesus It is a very great condescention that thou shouldst suffer such as we are to come unto thee O Lord we are unclean we are unclean from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot we are overspread with the Leprosie of sin all the faculties of our souls are defiled our understandings are darkned our wills are corrupted We have affections but they are Carnal we have hearts but they are impure we have consciences but they are seared And as our inward man so our lives are unholy as the fountain is so is the stream besides that our general guilt that we brought into the world we are guilty of innumerable actual transgressions against thy holy Law We think oh Lord there are not greater sinners in the world than we Our sins are attended with many aggravations We have sinned against prayers against vows and promises we have had as much light shining before us as any in the world have had Great is our unbelief Oh that we could â—…ay these things to our hearts We do râ—…fuse to come to Christ we go about to establish a righteousness of our own and neglect the righteousness of God by faith in Iesus Christ how are our hearts glewed to the present things of this world oh what do we do for thy glory how uâ—…reformed are we under all the ways of God that he has taken to make us a holy people Give us a sight of our sins oh Lord we confess sometimes we do make some formal confession but we do not find our hearts melted for sin as they should Oh take away from every one of us this heart of stone and give a heart of flesh give us tender hearts make us sensible of all our departing from thee Oh let us look upon Him whom we have pierced and let us mourn that the water of penitential sorrow may â—…low from us we are strangers to our selves we do not see what a Hell there is in our natures oh how should we put our mouths in the dust and loath our selves if so be there might be hope Oh Lord convince us of sin give us such a sight of sin as may make us fly to thee give us such a sight of our own guilt that may prepare us for the grace of God now we are stung with the fiery Serpent help us to come to Iesus Christ our hrazen Serpent give us thy holy Spirit to bring us out of the state of nature oh let that God that made us creatures make us new creatures oh Lord we are thine own work but we are dead in tréspasses and sins give us grace and speak a word to them that are dead put out thine almighty power and draw some sinner to Christ this day and those that have any breathings after thee oh thou that gavest them that desire carry on thine own work in them where thou hast begun a good work carry it on let sin as the house of Saul grow weaker and weaker and grace as the house of David grow stronger and stronger Oh increase our faith oh Lord in this time we do not only stand in need of grace but of a great
Title inrich his noble Soul with all the graces of thy most holy Spirit the Lord make him as holy as high that he may as much exceed in goodness as in greatnesse O Lord give him a Spirit of Wisdom to know how to go in and out before this great people and be able to discern between friends and flatterers O that he may be a true friend to thy friends and a real enemy to thy enemies the Lord make him the most glorious Instrument for promotion of the power of godliness that ever sway'd the Scepter in these Lands that under him we may live a peaceable and holy life in all godliness and honesty O Lord bless him in his Royal Consort Queen Katharine the Illustrious James Duke of York the Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council the God of all grace give them graces suitable to that high and honourable imployment thou hast intrusted them with do thou rule our Rulers and teach our Senators wisdom any that are in authority over us give them to improve their power for thee blesse the Nurseries of learning Cambridge and Oxford Dear Father bless all thy faithful Ministers thou that art the Lord of the Harvest send forth Labourers and keep out loyterers preserve those that are that they may be faithful to thee and to those over whom thou hast made them Overseers that they may neither be ashamed of thee nor thy ways truths worship however stiled and disowned by men O remember thy ancient people the Iews call in the fulness of the Gentiles that we may be all one Sheepfold under thee the great Shepherd of Souls In mercy look down upon this great City bless the Governour and Government thereof that thy Sabbath may be more strictly observed that piety may be more encouraged and profanesâ—… discouraged in the midst of us Blesse this great Congregation let them be all taught of God and more truly find that thou wert speaking to the heart when that a poor worm was speaking to the ear Bless them in their basket and their store but especially in their souls let them grow heaven-ward every one that hath spread a Bill before us do thou read them over and be a present help according to their several wants and necessities O God pardon all our sins bottle our tears rebuke the Tempter reform our lives and save our souls that by all these enjoyments we may be the more fitted for an immediate un-interrupted enjoyment of thy self in glory whereas there shall be no more tears in our eyes neither shall there be any more sin in our souls these and whetever else thou in thy wisdom sees necessary and good for us we most humbly beg in the Name and for the sake of our dear and blessed Redeemer Iesus Christ the righteous for whom we bless thee to him together with thy self and God the Holy and ever blessed Spirit the Comforter we desire to be inabled to render as we acknowledge to be most due all honour praise power might Majesty and dominion from us and all thine now and for evermore Amen Dr. Manton's Prayer at Covent-Garden OH Lord God all that we can do is-nothing of our selves we can do nothing oh let us have the gracious assistance of thy Spirit at this time let thy love constrain us say unto us thou art our salvation Do not say that we shall fill up the measure of our iniquities and there shall be no hope for us Oh Lord we are ashamed that we have waited so long in thine Ordinances and have got no more profit to our poor souls but we have given up our heart to the pleasures and vanities of this world that are but for a season even those that thou hast drawn out after thee do not walk worthy of thee answerable to that blessed hope of future happiness in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation Iesus Christ is to many of us become a stumbling-block and a rock of offence while our hearts are carried out after the world with such strong affections Oh when shall we carry our selves so as those that profess themselves to be seekers of a better life we come into thy presence now for strength do thou manifest thy self to us thou hast promised to pour out thy Spirit upon all flesh oh let it be unto us according to thy promise Oh Lord our hearts naturally are averse to thee so that of our selves we shall never be able to do any thing that may be well pleasing to thee but do thou regulate us by thy blessed Spirit that we may observe thy Statutes and do them and that thy Commands may not be grievous to us that it may not be burdensom to us to do the work of God O Lord when shall our hearts be made sound in thy Statutes we wait upon thee in the use of thine Ordinances that we may have a new supply from thee that at length we may come to see that thou art at work with us to save our souls O help us to be followers of them who with faith and patience do follow thee and to do nothing unbecoming our holy call suffer us not to swerve from thy Commandments but let us have a constant and earnest desire after thee Let the choicest of thy mercies come down upon our Soveraign CHARLES King of England Scotland France and Ireland let his heart be guided by thee and let him alwaies set thee before his eyes that under the shadow of his Government we may have peace in all godliness and honesty Blese him in his Relations in his Councels teach our Senators wisdom bewith all thy faithful Magistrates and Ministers let them be a terror to evil doers and an encouragement to them that do well Be with us in the way of thy worship we are here met together to hear and handle thy holy word oh do thou command it to light upon all our hearts let it come in the evidence and demonstration of thy Spirit and all for Christ his sake for whom we bless thee to him with thee and thy holy Spirit be praise glory for evermore Dr. Manton's Farewell Sermon Heb. 12. 1. Therefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a Cloud of Witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the Race that is set before us IN the former Chapter you have a Spiritual Chronicle or a Catalogue of the Lord's Worthies and all the emiâ—…ent effects of their Faith and now the Apostle comes to make use of this History that he had produced through â—…o many successions of Ages of all the holy men of God â—…at excelled in Faith Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a Cloud of Witnesses c. The Text is wholly Hortatory In it observe 1. The premisses or principle the Apostle worketh upon seeing we are compassed c. 2. The practical Inferences which are deduced from â—…ence and
conversion sins against prayers vows promises covenants and oaths O Lord if thou didst prefer thy bill against us we could not stand if we were weighed in the ballance of the sanctuary we should be sound too light But holy Father remember not against us our former sin â—…t rather have mercy upon us according to thy loving kindness cross and blot out our iniquitres blot them out so fully and wholly that it may be to us as to Judah in the promise that the sins of Judah should be sought for and not found Oh bathe our souls in that fountain that was set open for Judah and Jerusalem though our sins have been as scarlet let them be as white as snow though they be red like crimson let them be like wool We have read that a flood of sin brought down a deluge of water that they covered the tops of the mountains O let thy deluge of mercy cover the tops of the mountains of our sins It is the glory of a God to pardon great sins we desire to turn unto thee with our whole hearts do thou subdue our iniquities let us be not only cleansed but let us have the efficacy of the Spirit of Christ to wish us from the guilt of sin because we boast we are not under the law but under grace Be gracious to our Soveraign Lord Charles King of England Scotland France and Ireland it is thy promise that Kings shall be nursing fathers to thy children grant that under the shadow of his Majesty thy people may be protected that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty oh let thy people possess the land from Dan to Bersheba oh give us Scripture-Magistrates and Gospel-Ministers as long as the Sun and Moon endures Let thy Word be sanctified to us let it not be only as water to get out our spots but as a refiners fire to purge our dross take away our tin And Holy Father where thou hast begun a good work do thou go on and bring it to perfection let not the light that is in us be like the glimmering light of the evening but as the light of the morning that shineth more and more to the day Let our best wine be kept till the last let the end of our lives be the end of sinning Thou hast cast our lot in the midst of temptations of all sorts thou hast brought many of us through the red Sea but yet we are in the wilderness with Zeba and Zâ—…lmunna and those that dwell at Tyre the children of Ammon Moab and mount Seir and all the forces that Hell can make against us oh put upon us all the whole armour of God Now in these dayes of error gird us with the girdle of truth oh now in these dayes of falsily give us a â—…etmet of hope Now the devil darts at us give us the shield of faith oh give us the sword of the Spirit of the Word of God that it may enable us to confute the gain sayings of foolish men Oh help us to pray with all manner of prayer constantly servently faithfully feelingly that we may stand and not fall and that not in our strength but in Gods To this end be with us upon this thine own day our Manna falls every day and is doubled upon the Lords day oh let us be as thy servant John in the spirit upon thine own day let God by his spirit come into our spirits understandings consciences wills memories and affections that all our conversations without and affections within may be obedient to thy word Enable thy servant to deliver thy word faithfully God forbid thy servant should stand upon so sandy a foundation as the wisdom of man one Iota of thy word has more wisdom in it then all men and Angels have Good Father give thy people a hearing ear it is too much they have played by the light of thy candle and slighted thy Manna so long oh now therefore to day give us to hear and know and believe and do the things that concern our everlasting peace hear us for Christ his sake to whom with thy blessed self and Spirit be glory now and for ever Mr. Lye's Forenoon Sermon Phil. 4. 1. Therefore my Brethren dearly beloved and longed for my joy and crown so stand fast in the Lord my dearly beloved MY Beloved I do very well remember that upon the four and twentieth day of this instant month 1651. I was then under the sentence of Banishment and that very day did I preach my farewell Sermon to my people from whom I was banished because I would not swear against my King having sworn to maintain his just Power Honour and Greatness and now behold a second tryal Then I could not forswear my self the God of Heaven keep me that I never may I am apt to think I could do any thing for this loving Congregation only I cannot sin But since beloved there is a sentance gone out against us that we that cannot subscribe must not subsist this is the last day that is prefixed to us to preach I shall now speak to you God assisting me if my passion will give me leave just as if I would speak if I were immediately to die therefore hearken my Brethren dearly beloved and longed for my Ioy and Crown so stand fast in the Lord my dearly beloved Paul was now a Prisoner at Rome for the Gospel of Christ it was his second imprisonment and he was not far from being offered up a sacrifice for the Gospel he had preached This Gospel the Philippians had heard him preach and the godly Philippians having heard of his imprisonment they sent from Philippi to Rome to visit him and to supply his wants a gracious temper which I hope the eternal God hath given the Saints in London and for which if for any thing God hath a blessing in store for them Paul is not so much concerned in his own bands as in the Philippians Estate Epaphroditus tells him that there were Heresies and false Doctrines got in amongst them but yet the Philippians stood fast and herein Paul rejoyces writes this Epistle bids them go on stand fast keep their ground and to be sure not to give an inch but to stand fast knowing that at a long run their labour should not be in vain in the Lord. A most melting Compellation and a most serious Exhorâ—… 1. A melting Compellation My Brethren dearly beloved c. 2. A serious Exhortation and in it 1. the matter of the duty stand and stand it out and stand fast 2. The manner 1. So stand so as you have stood stand fast 2. In the Lord stand so and stand in the Lord in the Lords strength and in the Lords Cause to stand in your own strength would be the ready way to fall and to stand in your own cause for your own fancy would be the ready way to expose your selves to all manner of temptations Therefore my Brethren dearly
slight of men and cunning craftiness that can cog the Die notable Gamesters there are in the World but you must stand steady in judgement you must be firm to your principles I would have you Stars not Meteors for Meteors are carried about with every blast of Wind. I hope better things of you I shall pray God would make you steadfast in Iudgement 1. Be sure to get good principles and secondly Be sure to stand in those good principles that you have got And though I cannot say but some Tares are sown among this Parish yeâ—… I bless the Lord for the generality I hope I may say I have an Orthodox Ministry 2. 'T is not enough to stand iâ—…â—…udgement but we must be steadfast to our 〈◊〉 1 〈◊〉 15. 58. Be steadfast immoveable such as stand firm on some Basis and foundation that doth not totter and stagger if they find you staggering to be sure the next moment they look upon you as falling Be as they say of one or both of the Poles of the Heavens though all the world turns the Poles are immoveable If I mistake not you may see a great turn in the World â—…nd behold at this day the greatest turn that ever was in England but yet you must not move you must not stir be true to your Resolutions be just to your first love go on in the Lords Work let nothing take you off If I have preached any false Doctrine among you witness against me at the day of judgement but if the things I have preached be true stand to the truths if you do not witness against my Doctrine mine 't is not but rather witnesse for it remember if you leave it that very Doctrine will witnesse against you at the day of Judgement Oh! that excellent Heroe Queen Hester thus and thus I will do and if I perish I perish You cannot imagine against how many thousand temptations a stadfast resolution will guard you 3. There 's a steadfastnesse of Faith too when we so believe as that we do not waver or do not hesitate Will you give me leave to propose to you my dear Friends though my Congregation I cannot call you that question which our Saviour did unto the Jews whom he hated though I love you The Baptism of Iohn whence was it from heaven or of men The doctrines you have heard have they been from Heaven or from men Answer me if from men abhor them man is a false creature man would make merchandize of your faith and souls but if from Heaven why then should you not believe them I blesse the Lord my conscience bears me witnesse I never did so far propose a doctrine to you I would have you believe without Scripture If the doctrines have been from God believe them if not abhor them and any of those that shall dare to bring a doctrine but dare not bring the authority of the Scripture to warrant them You may not be like those in Iam. 1. 6. that mavereth like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed The most godly man may stumble in his way i. e. tread awry but a wavering minded man is never settled concerning his way Blessed be God I am not now on this day that looks as like my dying day as can be in the world to begin to fix upon a Religion to fix upon my way I know my way If God will but keep 〈◊〉 steps and guide me in that way If God be 〈◊〉 I appeal to your consciences worship him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God worship him do not stand disputing and doubting do not say shall I shall I if the ways you have found be the ways of God follow them God hath but one way to heaven there is but one truth if Baal be God follow Baal do not stand wavering do not consult with flesh and bloud 't is an infinite mercie that God will give any of us to leave Relations Estates Congregations any thing for Christ 't is an infinite mercy we do not split upon a rock Be sure to be either for God or Baal a godly man many time halts in his way but never halts between two opinions 4. Steadfastness of Conscience Indeed the genius of my ministry hath lyen this way and here I could easily launch out but I must be short I would speak a word in season to those that are weak it becomes you to be steadfast in conscience then have a God decreeing a Christ redeeming a spirit quickning a gospel promising a heaven prepared a God infinitely more ready to save him then he can possibly be desirous to be saved by him Be steadfast in conscience against the guilt the filth of sin against the temptations of Satan c. Let us draw near with full assurance of faith you can never believe Gods love so much as Gods love doth engage you to believe c. I might adde 5. You must be steadfast in conversation 't is not the Running well but the Running out 't is not the sighing but the conquering that gives you title to the Reward for you to give a great deal of milk and to throw it down all at length with your foot may argue you to have a good dug but a bad foot Never give those beâ—…sts of Babylon occasion to say that a man may be a child of God in the morning and a child of the devil at night that we contradict that Doctrine by our conversation that we assert in our profession But why must we be stedfast Alas why would you have me marshal up all the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 me count the stars or number the sands on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is noâ—… an attribute in God not a precept 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 in the word not an ordinance 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 there is nothing in God or 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or ourselves but all would give a conâ—…ribution of 〈◊〉 to prove the Saints 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I must but hâ—…nt at a few things First I would argue from Iesu Christ. Believers you love Christ and therefore you love the honour of Christ now the honour of Christ is highly engaged in your stedfastness We never cast a deeper blot on the honour of Christ then when we grow unstedfast I need not tell you so the Jesuits those meâ—…k Papists will tell you so those that delight in nothing more then in the milk of the Virgin Mary and in the bloud of Saints they have enough if you be unsteady 1. You dishonour Christ in his sufferings Pray tell me Believers why did Christ swear bloud why did he dye why did he undergo what the wrath of Devils could inflict but for this end to make you steady to give you the conquest of all spiritual Enemies and to make you stand in that conquest triumphing Thus I remember as Ioshuah Jos. 10. 24. Come put your feet upon the necks of these kâ—…ngs and they came near and put their feet upon the necks of them So Christ hath dy'd that you might live
that they may rest from their labour for hera is not our rest Mich. 2. 10. there remaineth a rest for the people of God there is no rest in this world the word quiet wants the plural number Secondly The righteous must die that they may have their reward their Crown of glory that God hath laid up for them they must first fight the good fight and finish their course and then they shall receive a Crown of glory Thirdly They must die that they may be free from sin for they shall never put off the body of sin till they put off the body of flesh Fourthly They must die that mortality may be swallowed up of life that corruption may put on incorruption Fifthly They must die that they may be perfect in grace Lastly They must die that they may see God face to â—…ce and be for ever with the Lord which they cannot do till they die therefore blessed be God that the righteous must perish If a man should bring news to a righteous man That he should alwayes live on earth alwayes be young rich and healthful it would be unwelcome News for while we are in the body we are absent from the Lord and subject to sin and therefore when Peter asked Christ what should be done with Iohn Christ â—…ells him If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to â—…ee from henceforth there went a report abroad that Iohn should not die Iohn 21. 32. Now the Apostle himself was much displeased with this report looked upon 〈◊〉 as a geeat affliction that he should not die and therefore â—…e himself confutes it But yet Iesus said he said not â—…hat he should not die as if he had said God forbid that â—… should not die Before I come to the application of this Point give me leave to speak something to the second Point and â—…o I shall apply them both together The second Doctrine is this That the perishing of a righteous man is nothing but a gathering of him to God Christ and the blessed Society of Saints and Angels in Heaven This is contained in the second expression merciful men are taken away the word in the Hebrew is Colliguntur they are gathered it is exegetical of the former â—…hey did not perish but they are gathered to God and Christ there is a great deal of excellency and a Magaâ—…ine of sweetness in this expression They are gathered It â—…mplies two things First That the righteous are in a scattered condition while they are in this world and that three wayes First They are scattered among the wicked and ungodly of the world as Sheep among Wolves as Limbs among Lions rent and torn in pieces forced to wander up and down in Sheep-skins and Goat-skins Secondly The righteous are scattered in the world one from another and that two wayes 1. They are scattered by their different habitations for the godly are forced to separate one from another as Lot from Abraham 2. They are scattered one from another by the cruel persecution of wicked men and therefore you read Acts 8. that at that time when there was a persecution against the Church at Ierusalem that they were all scattered abroad Thirdly The godly are scattered in this life from the glorious presence of God in Heaven indeed they are never scattered from the gracious presence of God but sometimes they are scattered from the comforting presence of God and as long as we live in this world we shall be scattered from the glorious presence of God for while we are in the body we are absent from the Lord. Secondly This implies a bringing of Gods people out of this scattered condition it is a gathering of the righteous out of this world into another from a sinful persecuted world into a sinlesse glorious world from diversity of dwelling on earth to dwell altogother in one heaven it is a gathering them out of the reach of men and devils a gathering them not only to the gracious but to the glorious presence of God and Christ and to the souls of just men made perfect and to the general assembly of the first-born and to the City of the living God the heavenly Ierusalem where they shall live together never to be scattered again To understand this the better let me offer three things to you shewing you that the godly are gathered to God three wayes In this life at death and at the day of judgement First The righteous are gathered to God in this life and that is at their first conversion for by nature we are all Aliens and strangers to God scattered from any union or communion with God not only scattered from the glorious but from the gracious presence of God God made man at first to enjoy communion with himself but Adam lost this by his sin and now we are all Cains and Vagabonds scattered from the love of God and from union and communion with God but when God converts any of the Elect he gathers them home to himself for conversion is nothing but Gods gathering them to himself in the second Adam that were scattered from him in the first Adam the first Adam was a root of scattering a root of separation from God but the second Adam was a root of union and conjunction Christ is the head and all the Elect are all gathered together in him Ephes. 1. 10. that he might gather together in one all things in Christ so that conversion is nothing but a gathering of the Elect of God to Christ by faith and a gathering to one another by love and charity Secondly Gods people are gathered at death here they are gathered to Christ by grace but at death they are gathered to Christ in glory here they are gathered to God by hope but at death by fruition here Christ is gathered to us he comes down and dwells with us but at death we shall be gathered to him we shall go up and â—…e joyned with him There is a great deal of difference between esse cum Christo and esse in Christo esse cum Christo to be one with Christ is a Christians great security but esse in Christo to be one in Christ it is a Christians great felicity In this life we are gathered to God by â—…aith but at death by vision Lastly We shall be gathered to God at the day of Judgement it is called the day of the gathering of the Saints together a day when all the Saints that are have been or shall be shall all be gathered together 2 Thes. 2. 1. I beseech you brethren by the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him at the great day At the day of judgement we shall all be gathered together and shall be all taken up to Heaven I mean all the Righteous and be ever with the Lord And so much for the opening of the Doctrine But here it may be objected Are not the unrighteous gathered by death as well
those that wait upon thee shall renew their strengths we have no might the Devill bâ—…ffles us our own hearts are treacherous to us the world intâ—…ces us to sin against God Oh! deliver us from all these Enemies and especially from the plagues of our hearts that we may perfect holyness in the fear of God give us Spiritual blessings whatsoever thou givest us or whatsoever thou denyest us thou knowest thou artrather willing to give us Spirituall blessings then any other mercies and we want spiritual mercies most oh give us spiritual mercies that we may say This is the way of God in his Sanctuary Where Grace is not wrought work it where it is begun encrease it Dear Father convince those that are yet not convinced make thy Word a quickning word an ingrafâ—…ed word to the saving of our souls help us to hear as for our lives and as those that long after God Hear Prayers for the King blesse him in his Royal Relations and grant under him we may live a quiet life in all Godlinesse and honesty Bless the Magistrates and help them to remember that causes one day must be heard over again help thy Ministers to keep close to thee in wayes that are well pleasing Be with us at this time Lord assist the meanest of thy Servants let our souls now find that thou dost magnifie thy Word above all thy Name do us good recâ—…ive us quicken us that we may live in Heaven upon Earth that we may know what it is to be filled with the fulnesse of God and know the heighth breadth depth and length of thy love that passeth knowledge Communicate thy selfe to us as thou usest to do to thy people let us feel thy presence let us not think of any thing but the business we are about let us with singlenesse of heâ—…t set our selves to mind the concernments of our immortal souls And all we beg for Christ his sake who has taught us thus to pray Our Father which art in Heaven c. Mr. Cradockt's Prayer at Saint Sepulchres August 10. 1662. MOst glorious and most gracious Lord God who art God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who hast put thine own name and stamp upon this day wilt thou be pleased to appear now and prepare and dispose â—…r unprepared and indisposed souls for holy observation of this thine own holy day will the Lord vouchsafe us the incomes of his spirit and influences of his grace whereby we may be unabled to offer up spiritual sacrifices which may be acceptable to Iesus Christ. Lord thou requâ—…rest praying hearts but thou hast not commanded us to use Prayer-books and if thou wilt give us the spirit of Prayer we shall not need them Lord give us praying hearts at this time let us find by experience that thy Subâ—…ath is a day of souls opportunity that thine Ordinances are full of marrow that thou hast not said unto thy children the seed of Jacob seek my face in vain We acknowledge we are unworthy to lift up our eyes to Heaven we have cause enough to cry out God be mercifull to us sinners undeserving ill-deserving men and women we acknowledge our natures are blots of all wickednesses we are by nature enemies to thy Majesty heirs of dâ—…ath children of darknesse slaves to sin captives to lust dead to sins and trespasses how are our understandings darkned and our hearts hardned what are our hearts but a store-house of â—…licious thoughts a brothel-house of adultery a Pallace of pride we are by nature wholly flesh totally opposite to the holy Lawes of thy Majesty and were it not for thy renewing or restraâ—…ning grace we should break forth into as vile abominations as the vilest of men Our lives have been a continual piece of rebellion against God who didst make us and dost feed and cloath us all thy paths have been paths of mercy to us but we have requited thee evil for thy good and hatred for thy love O foolish men and women that we have bin we acknowledge our Gospel sins are of a deep eye thou hast not bin a wildernesse or a Land of darknesse to us we have been exalted to Heaven in the meanes of salvation but oh how short do we come of knowledge to the time and meanes we have enjoyed and our obedience comes short of our knowledge we have not walked up to that light which thou hast given us We desire to lay our selves low before thee oh do thou open our eyes and presentus to our selves shew us the vilenesâ—…e of our lives Blessed be thy name that thou hast laid help upâ—… 〈◊〉 that is mighty to save all that come to thy Majesty by him and thou hast promised all that beleive on him shall not perish but have everlasting life Oh help us to receive him in all his offices in our hearts help us to give him the keyes of our hearts and help us to live and die to him that dyed for us and let our soules be united to thee by him that his death may be ours and his life ours and his intercession ours Oh let our unity to Christ be demonstrated to us by our communion with him and conformity to him in grace and holiness And we pray thee dearest Lord pardon our sins in the Court of Heaven and in the Court of our own consciences besprinkle our consciences in the blood of Christ and say to all before thee at this time that desire to fear thee more and serve thee better Sons and Daughters be of good cheer your sins are forgiven you And do not only justifie us but sanctifie us purge our consciences from dead workes informe our understandings conforme our wills to thine holy will let our hearts and lives be conformed to the Image of thy Sonne that beholding thereof we may be changed from glory to glory and let us have more knowledge of thy will that we may do thy will and suffer thy will with more patience and be filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are to the glory of God Let us not be empty Vines that bring forth fruit to themselves but let us bring forth fruit to God whereby thou mayest be glorified Oh plant that great grace of selfe-denyal in our souls and let us take the Crosse of Iesus Christ and follow him wheresoever he goes Remember all thine extend thy favour to those thou hast cast on Beds of sicknesse and let there be a saving change wrought in them before that change by death shall come And that are drawing nigh their time of Travel let the arms of the All-sufficient God be under them and be better to them thâ—…s their Faith or our Prayer And look graciously upon poor Children intitle them to an inheritance that fadeth not away make them a blessing in themselves and a blessing to their Parents And those that desire the conversion of Relations that walk in wayes of perâ—…ition do not let them find peace in any way against thy Majesty and let them know that sin will be bitter in the latter end Look upon us that are before thee at this time before we go hence and shall be here no more make thy face to shine upon us let our coming together be for the better and not for the worse to any of us Let thy poor Servant be able to deliver thy message plainly and powerfully and give thy people hearing ears obedient hearts and let us rejoyce that we did wait upon thee in thy worship this day and all for Christ his sake in whose Name and words we call upon thee Our Father c. FINIS
man and I have two reasons to prove it First in thaâ—… he took the punishment of his iniquity so patiently It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good And secondly he was a good man as appears in the Text by his solicitousness for the Ark He sate trembling c. Now this Ark was a Type of three things First Iâ—… was a Type of Jesus Christ for God spake From the Ark so God speaks to us by Christ. Secondly It was a Type of the Church of Christ for â—…s the Ark was the preserver of the two Tables of the Law so the Church of Christ is the preservative of the Scriptures Thirdly The Ark was a Type of the Ordinances of Christ for as God did communicate himself by the Ark so God by his Ordinances communicates his Counsels comforts and graces unto his people The Ordinances of Christ they are the Oraculum by which he conveys himself unto his people Thus I have shew'd you what the Ark was I shall gather two Observations from the words 1. That when the Ark of God is in danger of being lost the people of God have thoughtful heads and trembling hearts 2. That a true child of God is more troubled and more solicitous what shall become of the Ark then what shall become of Wife and Children or Estate I shall begin with the first Doct. That when the Ark of God is in danger of being lost the people of God have thoughtful heads and trembling hearts Or if I may put this Doctrine into a Gospel-dress take it thus That when the Gospel is in danger of losing when Gospel-Ordinances are in danger of being lost and Gospel-Ministers in danger of losing that then the people of God have trembling heads and careful and solicitous hearts about it Mark what I say I say not when the Ark is lost for that was death to old Ely that broke his neck and it cost the life of Ely's daughter in Law when the Ark of God was taken she took no comfort in her child though a man-child she regarded For the glory is departed from Israel the Ark of God is taken I say not when the Ark of God is lost but I say when it is in danger of losing when the Gospel is in danger the Ministers of the Gospel in danger and the Ordinances in danger to be lost then the people of God have trembling hearts and careful heads When God threatned the Israelites that he would not go with them they were troubled for the loss of Gods presence and would not put on their ornaments Exod. 33. 3 4. I will not go in the midst of thee for thou art a stiffneckâ—…d people lest I consume thee in the way And when the people heard these evill tidings they mourned and no man did put on his ornaments 1 Sam. 7. 2. And it came to pass while the Ark abode in Kiriath-jearim that the time was long for it was twenty years and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord that is after the presence of God speaking from the Ark. 2 Sam. 11. 10 11. David would have had Uriah to have gone down to his house and made merry And Uriah said unto David the Ark and Israel and Iudah abide in Tents and my Lord Ioab and the Servants of my Lord are incamped in open fields shall I then go into mine house to eat and to drink and to lie with my Wife As thou livâ—…st and as thy soul liveth I will not do this thing 1 King 19. 10. And Elijah said I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Hosts for the children of Israel have forsaken thy Covenant thrown down thine Altars and slain thy Prophets with the swerd and I even I only am left and they seek my life to take it away Thus you see when the Ark is in danger the people of God mourn and are sorrowful And there be four Reasons why the people of God are so much troubled when the Ark of God is in danger Reas. 1. Because of the great love they bear to the Ark of God As God loveth the gates of Sion more then all the dwellings of Iacob Psal. 87. 2. So the people of God love the Ordinances of God and the faithful Ministers of Christ Psal. 26. 8. Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honour dwelleth Psal. 27. 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord that I will seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple Now love stirreth up the affections As young Croesus though he were dumb yet seeing his Father like to be Killed cryed out Do not kill my Father Such is the love of the Saints of God to the Ark that they cannot be silent they cannot but tremble when they see the Ark in danger And for Sions sake they cannot hold their peace and they cannot be silent until the Lord make the Righteousness thereof go out like brightness and the Salvation thereof as a Lamp that burneth 2. The people of God are troubled at this because of the interest they have in the Ark of God Now interest stirreth up affections as when another mans house is on fire as you had a lamentable and sad providence this last week and it is not to be forgotten how suddenly in all our feastings God may dash all our mirth Now consider how were they affected that had an interest in those that were burned so the people of God have an interest in the Ark God is the Haven of a Child of God the portion and inheritance of a Child of God and when God begins to forsake them they cannot but be afflicted and troubled The Ordinances of God are the Jewels of a Christian and the Treasure of a Christian and the losse of them cannot but trouble them And Jesus Christ is the joy of a Christian and therefore when Christ is departing they cannot buâ—… be much afflicted at it 3. The people of God are much troubled when thâ—… Ark is in danger because of the mischiefs that comâ—… upon a Nation when the Ark of God is lost wo be 〈◊〉 that Nation when the Ark is gone The Heathens haâ—… the Image of Apollo and they conceived that as lonâ—… as that Image was preserved amongst them they coulâ—… never be worsted but be preserved and the Romans had a Buckler upon which they had a Tradition that as long as that Buckler was preserved Rome could not be taken Shall I give a hint and set it out a little in five particulars 1. When the Ark of God is taken then the wayes of Sion mourn and none come to the Solemn Assemblies It was the complaint of the Church Lament 1. 4. That is matter of sadness 2. When the Ark of God is taken then the Ministers of Christ are driven into Corners And that is matter of heart-trembling 3.
When the Ark of God is taken then the souls of many are in danger when the Gospel is gone your souls are in hazzard There is cause of sadness 4. Then do the Enemies of God Blaspheme and are ready to say Where is your God then do the Enemies of God Triumph Psal. 42. 10. As with a Sword in my Bones mine Enemies reproach me while they say dayly unto me Where is thy God 5. Then is Iesus Christ trampled under foot and the Ordinances of God defiled and trampled on and then Blasphemy and Atheism comes in like an Armed man 4. The people of God must needs tremble when the Ark is in danger because of their accessariness to the losing of the Ark and this was that which made old Ely so much troubled because he knew it was for his sin that God suffered the Ark to be taken He knew that his not punishing his two Sons was one great cause of that great slaughter the people of Israel met withall and that made him tremble There is no person here in this Congregation but his heart will tell him he hath contributed something towards the loss of the Ark. None of us so holy but our consciences must accuse us we have done something that might cause God to take the Ark from us And therefore Mr. Bradford that blessed Martyr said in his Prayer Lord it was my unthankfulness for the Gospel that brought in Popery in Queen Maries dayes and my unfruitfulness under the Gospel that was the cause of the untimely death of King Edward the Sixth And those that fled in Queen Maries dayes sadly complained that they were the cause of Gods taking away the Gospel from England O Beloved it is for thy sin and my sin that the Ark of God is in danger and therefore the Lord give us trembling solicitous hearts what shall become of the Ark. I come now to Application Use 1. If this be the property of a true child of God to be solicitous when the Ark of God is in danger and to have such a trembling heart for fear of the Ark then this is a certain sign there are but few that are the children of God in truth O where is the man and where is the woman that like old Ely sits watching and trembling for fear of the Ark And that will appear by these Reasons First In reference to the many sins in this Nation for let me tell you there is not one sin for which God ever took away the Ark from any people but it is to be found in England Did the Church of Ephesus lose the Candlestick because they had lost their first love And have not we lost our first love to the Gospel and to the Ordinances And did the Church of Laodicea lose the Candlestick because of lukewarmness and are not we lukewarm Did the people of Israel as here in the Text lose the Ark because they abhorred the offering of God and do not we do so Are not the sins of Israel amongst us the sins of Germany and the sins of all other Nations about us And can any man here before God this day in this Congregation that considers the great unthankfulness of this Nation and the great prophanesse and wickednesse of this Nation but they may conclude the Ark is in danger and God may justly take the Ark from us I might tell you of the drunkennesse adultery covetousness injustice and uncharitableness c. that doth abound amongst us and I might tell you of Sanctuary sins prophanation of Sabbaths and Sacraments out unthankfulnesse and unfruitfulnesse and unworthy walking under the Gospel And you of this place God may very well take the Ark even from you And indeed it was the great interest I had in you the which while I live I shall ever own and that great affection and respect I had to you that I would not send you home this day without a Sermon and let you go without a blessing Now can any of you in this Parish and this Congregation can any of you say God may not justly take the Gospel from you Secondly Shall I adde the discontents and divisions in the Nation as Christ saith A Nation divided against it self cannot stand but I leave these things to your considerations I do believe there is none here but will confesse the Ark of God is in danger to be lost But now where are our old Elys to sit watching and trembling for fear of the Ark Where is Phinehas his Wife that would not be comforted because the Ark of God was taken Where are our Moses's our Elijah's our Uriah's Where are they that lay to heart the dangers of the Ark You complain of Taxes and decay of Trading of this civil burden and that civil burden but where is the man or the woman that complains of this misery the losse of the Ark Most of you are like Gallio he cared not for these things if it had been a civill mâ—…ter then he would have medled with it but for Religion he cared not for that every man is troubled about meum and tuum about civil concernments but who laies to heart who regards what shall become of Religion There is a strange kind of indifferency and lukewarmnesse upon most peoples spirits so they may have their Trading go on and their civill Burdens removed they care not what becomes of the Ark. There is a Text of Scripture I shall not spend much time in opening it but I would have you well consider it Hos. 7. 9. Strangers have devoured his strength and he knoweth it not yea gray hairs are here and there upon him yet 〈◊〉 knoweth not Shall I say gray hairs are upon the Gospel I come not hither to prophecy I say not the Gospel is dying but I say it hath gray hairs for you have had the Gospel a hundred years and above and therefore it is in its old age and I dare challenge any Schollar to shew me an example of any Nation that hath enjoyed the Gospel for a hundred years together Now that gray hairs is at a hundred years is no wonder well gray hairs are here and there and yet no man layeth it to heart Now shal I spend some time to shew you what a great sin it is not to be affected with the danger that the Ark of God is in Consider but three particulars First it is a sign you do not love the Gospel if you had any love to it you would be troubled more for the danger of the Ark then for any outward danger whatsoever Secondly it is a sign you have no interest in the Gospel for interest wil stir up your affections it is a sign you are not concerned in the Gospel for if you were concerned in it you would be affected with it as those that were interessed in those persons in that lamentable fire the last week it is impossible but they should be affected â—…nd so it is asign you have no interest in
God and Christ if your hearts do not tremble for fear of the loss of the Ark. But thirdly there is a curse of God pronounced against all those that do not lay to heart the afflictions of Ioseph Amos 6. 1 2 3 4 5 6. Wo be to them that are at ease in Sion and trust in the mountain of Samaria ye that put far away the evil day that lye upon beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their Couches that eat the Lambs out of the flock and the Calves out of the midst of the stall that chant to the sound of the Viol and invent to themselves instruments of Musick that drink Wine in bowles and annoint themselves with the chief ointments but they are not grieved for the afflictions of Ioseph Wo be to you that injoy your fulness of outward things and make merry therewith and never consider the afflictions of Gods people and the danger of the Ark. Use 2. For exhortation To beseech you all that God by a providence hath so unexpectedly brought this day to hear me and there may be a good providence in it possibly I may do good herein I say let me beseech you all to declare you are the people of God in deed and in truth by following the example of old Ely to be very solicitous for the Ark of God and let me exhort you to five particulars First let me perswade you to believe that the Gospel is not entailed upon England England hath no Letters Patents of the Gospel the Gospel is removeable God took away the Ark and forsook Shilo and he did not only take away the Ark but the Temple also he unchurched the Iews he unchurched the seven Churches of Asia and we know not how soon he may unchurch us I know no warrant we have to think that we shall have the Gospel another hundred yearâ—… God knows how to remove his Candlestick but not to destroy it God doth often remove the Church but doth not destroy it God removed his Church out of the East as the Greek Churches were famous Churches but God removed them and now the Turk overspreads that Country Secondly I would perswade you that Englands Ark is in danger to be lost were it only for the â—…ins of England those prodigious iniquities amongst us and that strange unheard of ingratitude that is in the Land but I will say no more of that because I would speak nothing but what becomes a sober Minister of the Gospel Thirdly I would perswade you and O that I could raise you up to old Elies practise He sat watching for his heart trembled for fear of the Ark He had a thoughtful head and aking heart for the Ark of God that was in danger And that I might move you to this consider what a sad condition we are in if the Ark be taken what will your Estate do you good or what will all your concernments do you good if the Gospel be gone Wherein doth England exceed other places there is more wealth in Turkie then in England And the Heathen Nations have more of the glory of the world then any Christian King hath What is the glory of England What is the glory of Christianity but the Gospel If the Gospel be gone our glory is gone Pray remember Eli his Daughter in Law the wife of Phinehas she hearkened not though a Man-Child was born and would receive no comfort but called his name Iâ—…habod for the glory is departed from Israel the Ark of God is taken O when the glory is gone who would desire to live I am loath to tell you the story of Chrysostom he was but one man yet when he was banished Constantinople the people all petitioned for him and said They could as well lose the Sun out of the Firmament as lose Chrysostom from among them Fourthly Let me perswade you not to mourn immoderately neither be discouraged I would willingly speak something to comfort you before I leave you I know not by what strange providence I came here this day and the Lord knows when I shall speak to you again therefore I would not send you home comfortless O therefore mourn not as without hope for I have four arguments to perswade me that the Ark of God will not be lost though it be in danger of losing First because God hath done great things already for this Nation and I argue like Manoahs wife Surely if God had intended to destroy us he would not have done that he hath done for us He that hath done so much for us will not now forsake us And therefore though our hearts tremble yet let them not sink within us Secondly I argue from the abundance of praying-people that are in this Nation there are many that night and day pray unto God that the Ark may not be taken and let me assure you God did never forsake a praying and reforming people When God intends to destroy a Nation and take away the Ark he takes away the spirit of Prayer but where God gives the spirit of Prayer there God will continue the Ark. You all know that if there had been but ten good men in those five Cities God would have spared them We have many hundreds that fear God in this Nation that do not give God rest but night and day pray unto God for this Land And who knows but for their sakes God will spare the Ark Thirdly another ground of comfort is this that God hath hitherto dealt with England not by way of Rule but by way of Prerogative We have had unchurching sins all the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and of King Iames and the godly Ministers have been threatned ruine from year to year but God hath hitherto saved England by way of Prerogative God hath spared us because he will spare us according to that Text I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious God will not be tyed to his own rule and Who knoweth but God will deliver us Fourthly another ground of comfort is that God is now pouring out his Vials upon Antichrist and all this shall end in the ruine of Antichrist God is pouring forth his Vials upon the Throne of the Beast and all these transactions shall end in the ruin of Antichrist Though some drops of these Vials may light upon the reformed Churches and they smart for a while and God may severely punish them yet it will be but for a little while but the Vials shall be poured out upon Antichrist God may scourge all the reformed Churches before these Vials be poured oâ—…t and persecutions may go through them all the which I call drops of these Vials but the Vials are intended for Antichrist and shall end in the ruin of Antichrist and whatsoever becomes of us yet our children and our childrens children shall see the issue of the Vials poured out upon the Whore of Babylon This I speak for your comfort Fifthly I am to exhort you that you would all of you
contribute your utmost endeavour to keep the Ark of God from being taken and here I shall shew you 1. What the Magistrate should do 2. What the Minister should do 3. What the People should do First What the Magistrate should do I shall say but little of them because I am not now to speak to them They are to use their Authority for the setling of the Ark for the Ark of Covenant will be like the Ark of Noah always floating upon the waters until the Magistrates settle it Thus David 2 Sam. 6. 1 2. he gathered together all the chosen men of Israel thirty thousand to fetch home the Ark. So Solomon he assembleth the Elders of Israel and the heads of the Tribes the Nobles the chief of the Fathers of the children of Israel unto Ierusalem with a great a deal of pomp to bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord into its place O that God would incourage our Nobles and Magistrates that they might be solicitous to settle the Ark Magistrates must not do as the Philistines they had the Ark but what did they do with it They set it up in the house of Dagon but Dagon and the Ark could never agree Where false Religion comes in at one door the true Religion goes out at the other you must not put the Ark and Dagon together Secondly What must the Ministers do to keep the Ark from losing They must endeavour after holiness the Ark will never stand steddy nor prosper upon the shoulders of Hophni and Phinehas A wicked prophane drunken Ministry will never settle the Ark it must be the sober pious godly ministers that must do it How holy must they be that draw nigh to the God of holiness Thirdly What must the people of God do that the Ark may not be lost There be five things I shall commend unto you and then commend you to God 1. You must not Idolize the Ark. 2. You must not undervalue the Ark. 3. You must not pry into the Ark. 4. You must not meddle with the Ark without a lawful cal 5. You must keep the Covenant of the Ark. First You must not Idolize the Ark that was the sin of the people in the Text they thought the very presence of the Ark would excuse them and keep them safe and therefore they carryed the Ark into the Camp though they reformed not and repented not yet they thought the Ark would save them So many there be that think the Ark will save them though never so wicked but nothing will secure a Nation but repentance and reformation Secondly Do not undervalue the Ark this was Michals sin 2 Sam. 6. 14 15 16. When David danced before the Ark and Michal mocked him and despised him in her heart but saith he it was before the Lord and if this be vile I will be more vile Some men begin to say What need we any Preaching will not Prayers serve Others say What needs so much Preaching will not once a day serve Now this is to undervalue the Ark therefore let us say as David If to Preach the Word if to fast and pray for the Nation If this be vile then I will be more vile Thirdly We must not pry into the Ark this was the sin of the men of Bethshemesh 1 Sam. 6. 19. They looked into the Ark and God smote them and cut off fifty thousand and threescore men Be not too curious in searching where God hath not discovered or revealed For example there be great thoughts of heart when God will deliver his people and set his Churches at liberty And many men talk much of the year 1666. that shall be the year wherein Antichrist shall be destroyed And there are strange impressions upon the hearts of many learned men as to this year some go to the year 1669. and others pitch upon other times but truly if you will have my judgement and I am glad of this opportunity to tell you This is to pry too much into the Ark Remember the Text Act. 1. 17. It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power And thus to conclude upon any particular time if you find you are deceived it is the way to make you Atheists and that afterwards you shall believe nothing And those Ministers do no service or rather ill service to the Church of God that conclude of times and seasons A Popish Author saith that in the year 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there was a general belief over the Christian world that the day of judgement should be that year but when they saw it hapned not they fell to their old sinning again and were worse then before and believed nothing Well Gods time is the best therefore let not us pry too much into the Ark. Fourthly you must not meddle with the Ark unless you have a lawful Call to meddle with it This was the sin of Uzza 2 Sam. 6. 6 7. the Ark was in danger of falling and the goodman meaning no hurt to keep up the Ark took hold of it but he destroyed himself and made a breach and hindred the carrying of the Ark. We had a great disorder heretofore abundance of well-meaning people usurped upon the Ministerial Office they were afraid the Ark was falling and therefore they touched the Ark they laid hold on the Ark but their touching the Ark hath undone the Ark and themselves too O take heed of touching the Ark. Fifthly If ever you would preserve the Ark then keep the Covenant of the Ark keep the Law which the Ark preserves the Ark was a place wherein the Law was kept the two Tables keep the Law and God will keep the Ark but if you break the Law you will forfeit the Ark The Ark was called the Ark of the Covenant keep Covenant with God and God will preserve the Ark but if you break the Covenant of the Ark the Covenant made in Baptism and that Covenant often renewed in the Sacrament if you break Covenant God will take away the Ark. Mr. Watson's Prayer at Walbrook O Lord God All our springs are in thee It is good for us to draw â—…igh to thee through Iesus Christ Thou art all fulness the quintessence of all sweetness the Center of all blessedness thou art the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ and in him our Father thou art our light thou givest us these blessed opportunities of enjoying communion with thy self God blessed for ever These mercies are forfeited mercies we have abused the blessings of thy house we have grieved thy blessed spirit therefore it is just with thee to deprive us of these comforts and to make us know the worth of these mercies by the want of them Lord we desire to judge our selves that we may not be condemned with the world righteous art thou O Lord and just in all thy judgements we confess we are unworthy to have any converse with so holy a God we are polluted
measure of grace oh help us by faith to relie upon God that thou mayst help us at last Bless with us all thine remember thy people from one end of the world unto the other thy people are very low this is a time of Jacob's troubles the bush is burning every day 〈◊〉 thou the hope of Israel and the Saviour thereof shew thy self in mercy to these nations We bless thee for all thy meroies that thy judgements do not feize upon us every day that thou dost not sweep us away that thou dost not rain fire and brimstone on England as thou didst on Sodom our sins cry aloud to Heaven for vengeance God is greatly provoked every day and it is a miracle of patience that yet thou hast not destroyed us God can pardon the sins of the Nation at once but we are not fit for pardon we dâ—… not humble our selves oh Lord humble us Give repentance to England from the highest to the lowest that we may return unto thee We desire to bless thee that our enemies have not had their wills over us they said they would pursue and overtake and satisfie their lusts but God did blow upon them and they did sink in the mighty waters and thou hast yet preserved thy Church we pray thee do not leave us nor remove thy Gospel whatsoever thou dost Pour down the best of thy blessings upon thy Servant and our Soveraign Charles by thy Grace of England Scotland France and Ireland King bless him with the blessings of Heaven and Earth make Him a blessing to all of us bless him in all His Relations the Lords of the Privy Council Look on them that have desired an interest in our prayers Known to thee are all of them know their souls in this time of adversity make their beds in their sickness give faith to them that complain of unbelief give the spirit of Prayer to those that complain they cannot pray Be a Counsellor to those that want Counsel in their affairs either by Sea or Land let thy blessing go with them whereever they go spare the lives of children if it be thy will Prepare us for thy good and holy Word let it be a savour of life unto life and let it come with power unto us Oh let us hear it as Thy Word nâ—…i as the word of a poor man but as the Word of God And all for the Lord Christ his sake for whom we bless thee to whom with thee and the Spirit of Grace be given Glory and Honour for evermore Amen Dr. Iacomb's Forenoon Sermon JOHN 8. 29. And he that sent me is with me the Father hath not left me alone for I do alwayes those things that please him THese are the words of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are spoken by himself they are spoken of himself though yet in a sober and modest sense they are applicable to all his members That which Christ here affirms is that the presence of God was alwayes with him and this is first propounded He that sent me is with me and then it is amplified and the Father hath not left me alone and then thirdly the reason of this is annexed for I alwayes do those things that please him I shall speak but very little of the words as they do refer to Christ he tells us his Father was with him he did not leave him alone in all the troubles and difficulties that he met withal in the finishing the great work of man's Redemption still God was with him It is true there was a time when Christ was without the sensible manifestation of his Father's presence when he cried out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Why but yet even then in truth and in reality his Father did not leave him for though he had not the evidences of his Father's presence yet he had the influences of his Father's presence It would take up much time to shew you how in all Particulars the the Father was present with Christ I will only speak this one word and instance in this one thing God's assisting presence was alwayes with him both in his active and also in his passive obedience and indeed he had that work to do and those miseries to suffer that if God had left him if he had not been mightily assisted by the Divine Nature Christ as meer man could neither have done nor have suffered what he did but the Father was with him to support him Isa. 42. 1. Behold my servant whom I uphold You shall find that Christ did act faith upon this in Isa. 50. 7. The Lord God will help me therefore shall I not be confounded Ver. 9. The Lord will help me So to the same effect is Psal. 16. 9. And you shall find this made good to him in the Scriptures in his greatest necessities Take a Double Instance In the first place After he had been engaged in that Combat with Satan you read of in Matth. 4. The strongest Combat or Dueâ—… that ever was fought wherein you have the Prince of Peace and the prince of darkness the Lion of the Tribe of Iudah and the roaring lion that seeks how to devour both of them putting forth their utmost strength and endeavouring to overcome each the other Now I say in this Combat the Father did not leave Christ but he helps him for he sends an Angel for to minister unto him Mat. 4. 11. So in Christ's bitter Agony in the Garden just before his bitter passion and death upon the Cross the Father did not leave him alone for he sent an Angel unto him to strengthen him Mat. 22. 43. and so in several other places and in several other things I might instance but I shall pass this by I but now Why did the Father thus stand by Christ he gives you the reason of it in the Text because he alwayes did the things that pleased him This I shall open in a double respect First Christ's undertaking the Work of our Redemtion it was very well pleasing unto his Father that poor lost und oâ—…e sinners should be brought back again unto God and restored unto his love and favour I say the Father was infinitely well-pleased with Christ in this undertaking Isa. 53. 10. The pleasure of the Lrrd shall prosper in his hand the pleasure of the Lord that is the Work of our Redemption wherein God the Father took great pleasure or delight therefore when Christ was publiquely in â—…he eye of the world to enter upon this great Work the Father sends him out with this witness This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased He speaks not only of his well-pleasing to his Person but also to his well-pleasing as to his Undertaking Secondly as the Work it self was pleasing unto God so Christ's managing of â—…his Work was all along pleasing unto his Father and that doth appear in this that Christ in all things kept to his Father's Commission and to his
please him 2. Do you please God and he will please you Mercy pleaseth us and Duty pleaseth God Now when we please God in a way of Duty he will please us in a way of Mercy If we order our wayes so as to please God he will order his wayes so as to please us 3. Great is the benefit of pleasing God even as to men and this Solomon sets before you Prov. 16. 7. When a mans wayes please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him and he hath such another expression Prov. 22. 11. He that loveth pureness of heart the King shall be his Friend the meaning of this Scripture is this When we keep close to God and walk in complyance with his will and make it our great design to please him He will give us to find favour in the eyes of men He that maketh God his Friend God will make that mans Enemies to be his Friends Men are possibly full of anger revenge and exasperation be it so do you desire to please God God can turn their hearts towards you God can sweeten them in their spirits and take away that venome that is in them so you know he did in the case of Esau to his Brother Iacob 4. This is the way to Heaven and Happiness God will be pleased before the Sinner shal be saved Heb. 11. Enoch before his translation had this testimony that he pleased God there is no way to Heaven but by this way the Child pleaseth the Father and then the Father giveth him the Inheritance So it is here 5. Let me return to the argument in the Text God will never 〈◊〉 them alone that desire sincerely to please him 〈◊〉 this should be a very prevailing Motive to you 〈◊〉 now Please God and he will never leave you no not in a time of distress and trouble Here is the great difference betwixt a faithfull God and a false Man In time of trouble adversity men leave us forsake us in time of prosperity then they flatter as and pretenâ—… a great deal of friendship and kindness But as no man looks upon the Dial when the Sun is under a cloud so these very men that pretend so much of Kindness and friendship if so be we do but come under a frown or into trouble then their Friendship and Kindness is at an end as Paul said No man stood by him when he came to be tried before Nero all men forsook him but God did not forsake him The Wiseman hath an expression Prov. 17. 17. A friend loveth at all times and a brother is born for adversity But where shall we find such a friend and indeed where shall we find such a brother But now if you will please God God will stand by you when all men leave you When you have the greatest need of God he will then stand by you If you be in a Prison he will be with you If you be banished he will be with you If Sin doth not part God and you certainly no Affliction shall part God and you Study to please God Oh is it not a sad thing for God to leave you that is the saddest of all when we lose God we lose all Hos. 9. 12. Wo unto them when I depart from them What are all your mercies if God leave you no more than if a man should have a fair pleasant House and never see the Sun more Oh do the things that alwayes please the Lord and he will never leave you under mercies under afflictions he will be with you and then your mercies shall be very sweet and your afflictions shall not be very bitter You know how earnest Moses was Num. 10. 31. with his Father in law Hobab the Midianite Leave us not I pray thee forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness and thou maist be to us as eyes Oh keep God to you especially when you are entering into the wilderness of trouble God will be to you instead of eyes he will be your Counsellor your Comforter your Guide your Treasurer your Portion your All. I might add one thing more in the last place Study to please God because he is so easie to be pleased this is a motive to us to endeavour to please those persons who are easie to be pleased a Child that hath a Father that is easie to be pleased a Servant that hath a Master that is easie to be pleased will study to please them Sincerity pleaseth God though in the midst of much infirmity He is so gracious and merciful that whensoever a poor sinner doth but desire to please God he will accept of those desires If we can but please God it is no great matter whether we please men or not I shall conclude this branch with 1 Thes. 4. 1. We beseech you brethren and exhort you in the Lord Iesus that as you have received of us how you ought to walk and please God that you would abound more and more Use. By way of direction I should here shew you how you are to please God I told you in general in the morning this pleasing of God lieth in two things 1. In suitableness to his Nature 2. In subjection to his Law If you would please God in all your Actions look to this That what you do may bear some resemblance to his Nature and hold forth obedience to his Law Consult the Will of God and in all things act in conformity to that Will do not allow your selves in the Commission of any known sin for that will certainly displease God as it was said of David when he took Bathsheba to Wife but saith the Text The thing displeased the Lord. Do not bauk any known duty for that will displease God In a word be holy in all manner of Conversation This being too general I shall not insist upon it only in a word more particularly Do those things now make Conscience of those Duties which now lie upon you in the doing of which you will certainly please God And they are such as these Be stedfast in the good wayes of God in the midst of a backsliding and apostatizing age stand fast to the law of God Phil. 4. 1. Contend for the faith which is delivered to the Saints the 3d. Verse of the Epistle of Iude. Be not ashamed to own Christ before all the World if you be ashamed of him on Earth he will be ashamed of you in heaven and wo be to that Sinner whom Christ is ashamed to own Reckon Reproaches for the Name of Christ better than the Pleasure of sin that is but for season When God calleth you to it assert the purity and spirituality of Gospel-worship Do not place Religion in a few Shadows where the Substance is neglected but chiefly mind Self-denial Mortification Crucifixion to the World keeping up close Communion with God Love the people of God whatever the World say or think of thee for God is
highly pleased when he seeth his Children loved Keep up Religion in your Families whatever scorn or contempt is cast upon you Oh that you would labour to be of Abrahams spirit I know saith God he will command his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord Gen. 18. 19. I do not know any one better means for the keeping up of Religion in this Nation than for Masters of Families to be consciencious in the discharging of this Duty Be good in bad times be Patterns of good works to those that shall behold you Let no Reproach or Obloquy make you to abate your exact walking with God whatever you meet withall in the wayes of Holiness and a strict life say If this be to be vile I will be more vile Make Conscience of a strict observation of the Lord's day take heed of that Sacriledge of stealing away holy time of prostituting that to common and civil use which is impropriated and dedicated to the service of God Pray for and love all those that have been instrumental for your spiritual good in the work of the Ministry whatever dirt is now thrown in their Faces and though you never get more good by them Forget not to distribute to the necessities of God's people that are many of them in a low condition for this is a sacrifice of a sweet Odour and well-pleasing to him Carry your selves with all Patience and Christian Meekness towards them that wrong you Pray for them that are your Enemies and when you are reviled revile not again but commit your selves to that God which judgeth Righteously Do your Duty to Superiours and to those that are in Authority So carry your selves that it may be with you as it was with Daniel they had nothing against him saving in the matter of his God Bauk not any Duty for Suffering Chuse the greatest of Suffering before the least of Sin In a word So walk as it becometh the Gospel And finally I speak to you as the Apostle spake to them Phil. 2. 16. Holding forth the word of life that I may rejoyce in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain nor laboured in vain The third Use is for comfort to all those that do cónscienciously endeavour in all things to please God the comfort lies in this you may suffer but whenever you suffer the Father will not leave you alone pleasing of God does not secure a man from suffering from men sometimes it rather exposes a man to suffer from men But now though it does not prevent suffering yet it takes away the sting and venome of suffering it makes it to be like Sampson's Lion when it was slain he found nothing but honey in the belly of it Oh! the presence of God in a time of affliction is exceeding precious it turns gall in honey thorns into roses Be not troubled into your thoughts about what you may undergo if God be with you all will be well if God comes when the cross cometh the weight of it shall never hurt you what is a prison when God is there My brethren though estate leave you relations leave you all your comforts leave you so long as God doth not leave you it will be well therefore do not fear be not dejected or discouraged Isa. 43. 1 2. Fear not O Iacâ—…b why so when thou passest through the water I will be with thee We have more reason to be afraid of prosperity with God's absence than of adversity with God's presence A good God will make every condition to be good it is not a prison but a pallace where God is they that do the things that please God whatever condition they may be brought to the Father will not leave them alone Ministers may leave you the Means of Grace and Ordinances in a great measure may leave you your creature-enjoyments and comforts may leave you but here is a God that will never leave you Oh bless his holy name Fourthly is this pleasing of God a duty of so great importance and benefit Then be tender and charitable in judging of those that do differ from you and others upon this account because they dare not displease God I may seem in this caution to aim at my self and others of my brethren in the work of our Ministry but I am not here at present to take my last farewel I hope I may have a little further opportunity of speaking to you but if not let me require this of you to pass a charitable interpretation upon our laying down the exercise of our Ministry there is a greater Judge than you must judge us all at the great Day and to this Judge we can appeal before Angels and Men that it is not this thing or that thing that puts us upon this dissent but it is conscience towards God and fear of offending him I censure none that differ from me as though they displease God but yet as to my self should I do thus and thus I should certainly violate the peace of my own conscience and offend God which I must not do no not to secure my Ministry though that either is or ought to be dearer to me than my very life and how dear it is God only knoweth Do not add affliction to affliction be not uncharitable in judging of us as if through pride faction obstinacy or devotedness to a party or which is worse then all in opposition to authority we do dissent the Judge of all hearts knows it is not so But it is meerly from those apprehensions which after prayer and the use of all means do yet continue that doing thus and thus we should displease God therefore deal charitably with us in this day of our affliction If we be mistaken I pray God to convince us if others be mistaken whether in a publick or private capacity I pray God in mercy convince them but however things go God will make good this truth to us in this work he will not leave us and our Father will not leave us alone for it is the unfained desire of our soul in all things to please God Mr. Case's Farewell Sermon REVEL 2. 5. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove the Candlestick out of his place except thou repent CHrist here prescribes pretious physick for the healing of this languishing Church of Ephesus 'T is compounded of a threefold ingredient 1. Self-reflection Remember from whence c. 2. Holy-contrition and humiliation before the Lord Repent 3. Thorough-Reformation Do thy first works I left the last time upon the second of these namely Repentance and that which I did upon this part of Christs advice was not so much to open to you the nature of Repentance which is not so proper for this place as to give in a catalogue or list of such special sins as Christ doth expect that
all his people in these three Nations should lay to heart and repent of before the Lord. I gave you in a list eleven special sins that we should repent of and humble our selves for before the Lord. As 1. Omission of duty Prayer reading the Word Meditation c. Any thing will be for excuse to lay by duties and we are secretly glad of an excuse 2. Remisness in duty In things of the world we are all in all and all in every part a man cannot thrust another thought into us but in Prayer how many things are we doing 3. Hypocrisie How unlike are we at home to what abroad and in company to what in secret 4. Pride In apparel houses parts bloud birth-right yea of grace it self of humility Ministers Ordinances c. 5. Covetousness Never did covetousness invade the professing party as now The more goods men get the less good they do 6. Sensuality Voluptuousness wantonness Christians let themselves loose to the Creature lay out their affections on things below as if that part in the Serpents curse to lick the dust of the earth were theâ—…r own ss well as his 7. Animâ—…sities and divisions amongst Christians many have been active to kindle but few to quench divisions 8. Uncharitable censuring one anothâ—…r 9. Formality in duty Witness 1. Unprepared coming 2. Unsutableness of spirit to And 3. Want of reflection after duty how we have sped what we have got Sabbath Sacraments come and goes Monday morning finds us the same as before Misspent-Sablaths Some prophane others idle away the Sabbath c. 11. Neglect of our Bibles in our 〈◊〉 and Closets I pray God it forego not some great evil coming upon you as before the massacre in Germany it was observed c. I proceed 12. The want of mutual forlearance among Christians Alas Christians know not how to bear one with another in the least kind of measure Oh the short-spiritedness amongst Christians they cannot bear one anotherbâ—…rdens they cannot bear with one another 'T is very sad that we that stand in need of so much forbearance should express so little to our Brother 'T is an Argument we know not of what spirit we are of as Christ told his Disciples Oh! how unlike to are we that God whom we profess to be our God He is long-suffering patient full of goodness gentleness mercy c. we can bear nothing we can suffer nothing one from another 13. Our great murmuring against Reformation and Reformers God hath heard the voice of our Murmuring Exod. 16. As if there had been nothing that would have undone us but Reformation and truly God seems to speak such a word as that was Numb 7. 5. in displeasure and anger I will make your murmurings to cease I will take away the cause of your murmuring I would have reformed you and you would not be reformed As Christ to Iernsalem I would but you would not Mat. 23. The time may come when we would and God will not when we shall cry Other Lords have had dominion over us c. Isa. 26. 13. but thou Lord set up thou thy government rule thou over us and God may say No 't is too late I would have healed you and you would not be healed 14. The great neglect of the care of our Families Truly 't is not the least sin that threatens the removal of our Candlestick How generally have the duties of Religion been let fall in our Families reading the Word singing Psalms c. Time was when one could not have come through the streets into London on an evening in thee week-day but we might hear the praises of God singing of Psalms now it 's a stranger in the City even upon the Lords own day Oh! how have Governours of Families cast off the care of the souls that God hath committed to them How careless are they of the souls of their yoak-fellows that lie in their bosoms of their children the fruit of their loins Masters of their servants c And in the mean time are ready to stand up and justifie themselves with the boldness of Cain to say to God Am I my brothers keeper Am I the keeper of my yoak-fellow children servants souls yes thou art the keeper c. God hath put them unto thy trust and if they perish through thy fault they may die in their sins but their bloud shall be required at thy hand God will say to thee as he did to Cain Thy brothers blood cryeth in my ear 15. Our indifferences as to matter of faith and doctrine That we have not been more zealous for the truth of Christ that great trust and depositum which hath been committed to us We have accounted it no matter of what opinion or judgment men be in these latter times 'T is an universal saying No matter what judgment men be of so they be Saints as if truth in the judgment did not go to the making up of a Saint as well as holiness in the will and affections As if Christ had not come into the world to bear witness of the truth which was his great design as if it were no matter if God have the heart so the Devil be in the head as if no matter that be full of darkness so the heart be for God 16. The unsutableness of our conversations to the Gospel of Christ 'T is the only thing the Apostle puts the Philippians in mind of and commits to their care Phil. 1. 27. And truly in these unhappy dayes it hath been the only thing men have neglected and despised How little care that our conversations should honour the Gospel c. 17. Our living by sense and not by faith Surely my Brethren among all the sins in England that the people of God have cause to be humbled for there is not any whereby we have more provoked God than by that sin of Unbelief Murmuring and Infidelity have been our two great sins for which it is the wonder of Gods mercy that he hath not caused our carcasses to fall in the wilderness He may take up that complaint of us that he did of Israel Numb 14. 22. Because all those men which have seen my glory and my miracles which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness and have tempted me now these ten times and have not hearkened to my veice surely they shall not see the land c. And this is the lamentation we may take up that truly to this very day we have not faith enough to carry us from one miracle to another from one deliverance to another from one salvation to another let one deliverance pass over our head and no sooner one wave rises higher than another but we are ready to cry out with Peter Lord save mâ—… I perish and well were it if our fears did issue into tears and cryes after Christ we rather are ready to cry out as those in Ezek. 37. 11. Our bones are dryed and our hope is lost we are cut
this upon us in the thirteenth verse of this Chapter These things have I written to you that believe on the Name of the Son of God that you may know that you have Eternal Life Here is your duty according to what the Text it self doth charge upon you if you be such as by grace are brought over to a Gospel-believing the Apostle Iohn that did write this Epistle and I from it preach unto you into the Name of the Lord and by authority from him thaâ—… this is your duty to know that you are Persons that have Eternal Life that you are such as Christ by his blood hath made a purchase of Eternal Life for that he hath by his blood once for all entred into the Holy place that is not made with hands that he might prepare for you and that youmight have the possession of those blessed mansions that he hath made preparation of Eternal Life it is yours and you may be bold to claim it and you are bound to hope and rejoyce in the expectation of the full enjoyment of it and not to be alwayes upon the question and disputing point but to go on with a holy confidence towards God according to what the Apostle expresses 1 Câ—…r 2. We know that when this Earthly Tabernacle shall be dissolved we shall have an house not made with hands c. But then a second thing that I have to charge upon you is this That you would acknowledge with all thankfulness and enlargedness of heart to God the riches of his mercy and grace to you that hath been pleased to cull you out of an unbelieving world and bring you over to the Gospel and to the participations that are by Christ according to the Gospel Oh! This you should set your hearts upon by admiring the riches of God's grace and say Lord Why shouldst thou manifest thy self to me and not to the world That many thousands should live and die in the total ignorance of Christ and the Gospel-mysteries or else live and die in an empty profession and yet that God should be pleased to pitch upon me This is that that the Text doth hint unto us in the nineteenth verse of this Chapter Oh! saith he in a triumphing manner We know that we are of God and that the whole world lies in wickedness Oh! our mercies and the riches of grace that hath appeared to us while the whole world that lies in wickedness is put into the Malignant evil One lies in the Devil for he is the malignant evil one while the whole world lies in the Devil in malignity Oh! It is a sad condition infinitely more sad than for a man to lie in the most noisomest stinking ditch or in the loathsomest kennel why this is that that heightens the mercy to poor souls that are called by grace according to the purpose of God that while the whole world lies in wickedness and so are like to lie yea and to lie in hell to all Eternity that God should please to lay you in the bosom of his Son and to take you into the arms of his mercy this is that that should heighten our thankfulness I may make use of that expression which we find in Acts 14. when Paul and Barnabas came unto a company of Heathens and they saw what great things were done by them and took notice of the gracious spirit that they discovered sure say they The Gods are come among us in the likeness of men Considering the state of times and what an height of wickedness many at this day are grown up unto the dreadful swearing blaspheming of God and his ways Truly judge of it your selves Whether we may not say The devils are come among us in the likeness of men Why now oh How should we heighten our love and thankfulness to God that should please in free grace to bring us over to close with Jesus Christ But then fourthly As many as are brought over to Gospel-believing this is your duty To study and endeavour what you can your advantages in Faith and so the Apostle gives it in charge here in the Chapter in verse 13. These things have I written to you that believe on the Name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may believe on the Son of God This is that you should set about If God hath brought you over to a closing with Christ and an embracing of the testimonies concerning him believe more and more labour for your advancement and let it be your Prayer Good Lord increase our Faith Labour that you may be clear in your apprehensions of Gospel-mysteries and that you may be more strong in your adherence to Christ of whom those Gospel-testimonies are given and that you may not only come to have an adhering-faith but to an assuring-faith that you may not be like waves tossed and tumbled up and down but that you may come to be rooted and established and grounded in your faith that you may not come to be unsetled by Heresie corrupt Doctrines or the Apostacy of others but that you may be stedfast and unmoveable Yet further fifthly This is to be given in charge to such as do believe according to the Gospel that they carry it sutably to a believing state as in those particulars that I have insisted upon so in a deportment congruous and sutable to the priviledges which belong to believing You are born of God carry it as men and women that are so indeed What! Born of God the Sons and Daughters of God What! and not live according to God and not study conformity to God I remember what he speaks there concerning Amnon How is it that thou being the Kings Son art lean from day to day How is it that we that profess to be the Sons and Daughters of God are lean and lank not more improved that we do not shew forth God and express Christ This lies in the beginning of the Chapter If you be born of God remember that you be born of him that is the God of Love And therefore you are to manifest this birth and your believing and your being born of God by loving God and by loving them that are born of God He that believeth is born of God and he that loveth him that begat loveth him that is begotten of him The God of Love doth beget a People of Love a loving God a loving People And this is that that you should express your Believing by and your Adoption by by the Love you bear to God and the children of God A hatefull spitefull spirit where it doth discover it self speaks those persons not to be born of God but of the Devill carry it as Believers as persons of God by studying a conformity to God and by keeping his Commandments subjecting your selves to his Authority not living according to your own Lusts but according to the Lawes and Rules which God hath given you saith the Apostle
to get into Christ though it be the scorn of men and burdensomâ—… to nature yet this is that which will 〈◊〉 us pâ—…ace at the laâ—… let us be what we profess our selves to be let us love Christ and evangelically keep his commandements let us live by Faith let us keep thy commandements let us be above tâ—…e woâ—…ld in the would above the love of life and above the fear of death let nâ—…t tâ—…e smilâ—… of the woâ—…ld allure us nor the frowns thereof affright us from thee but in all these things let us â—…e more then Conquerours thâ—…ough Iesus Christ. Let us love him much whom we cannot love too much â—…elp us to be above the power of hell let us evâ—…r say My soul it is goâ—…d for me to draw nigh to God Let us â—…e willing rather to be saved with a few than go to hell in a crowd let us live as if eternity were long and life but shoâ—…t let us thrive in holiness and be brought 〈◊〉 to tâ—…y self by every dispensation let us in tâ—…i our day â—…w the 〈◊〉 that concern our peace before they be hid fâ—…om ouâ—…â—…s and know the time of our visitation and though God suffer lâ—…ng he will strike at last Oâ—… Lord bow the heavens and come down among us at this time and be with the unwoâ—…thiest of thy Servants and gâ—…e unto iâ—… a door of utterance and to this great people a door of â—…t aâ—…e and let them be all â—…aught of God and let them moâ—…e truly finde that tâ—…e great God is teaching to the heart wheâ—… that a weak worm it speaking to the ear let all the work be done by thee anâ—… let all thâ—… praise redound unto thee and let â—…im that is with us be greaâ—… theâ—… he that is in the world behold us in the Son of thy love smell a sweeâ—… savour of rest on these our poor prayers speak peace tâ—…â—…ur consciences rebuke the Tempter tâ—…d him under our â—…eet shortly â—…aise us up to newness of life let us â—…emember whâ—…n that whicâ—… is perfect is come that which is imperfect shall be done away heâ—…r us anâ—…â—…elp us through our dear Redeeâ—… let us live for him here and â—…ith him hereafter and all for his sake whom not seeing we love in whom believing we rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory to whom with thee and thy Spirit be glory and honour now and for ever Amen Mr. Jenkins's Forenoon Sermon Heb. 11. 38. Part of that verse Of whom the world was not worthy THe Apostle in this excellent Chapter that by some is deservedly called a little book of Martyrs doth discover to us the triumph of faith the noble victory of this excellent grace against all the difficulties oppositions it meets withall therein sets down a threefold excellency of faith one is that it doth assent unto truth though never so improbable 2. That it doth put men upon duties though never so irrational or against carnal interest 3. That it enables us to suffering though never so afflicting and difficult and this third part is that which my Text speaks of These worthy men of God they overcame all the bitterness of the world as well as the sweetness of it Now in these verses the Apostle doth these two things 1. He here sets down the greatness and the smartness of their sufferings which are by some learned men reduced to three heads 1. Those sufferings that were to tempt them and to drive them from God and their holy profession by those pains and tortures they were to undergo 2. Those sufferings they underwent in dying and the cruelty of those deaths that were laid upon them 3. Their sufferings in reference to their wandring and leaving of their worldly comforts rather then they would loose God But we need not be so curious in the distribution of their sufferings it may suffice us that they were steadfast in the midst of all and would never be brought to forsake God and his truths for any of them 2. You have here the exâ—…cies of the sufferers and that is here in that expression which I shall God willing make the subject of my discourse this morning that these men these persons when they were under all the distresses and troubles that they were under from the world yet they were such of whom the world was not worthy Brethren this excellency of these Saints and servants of God under their trouble is considerable in my Text two ways that we may proceed clearly and distinctly 1. In reference unto the world unto the wicked and so it is said their excellency was so great that the world was not worthy of them 2. It is discovered from that estimation that judgement that the Apostle doth here pass upon them who tells us that he accounted them to be such as though they were under all these troubles and distresses yet they were a people of whom the world was not worthy I shall pass by the former of these and onely mention it as it falls in with the latter and that is this The due estimate that this blessed Apostle doth raise upon this holy persecuted company of Saints when they were under all their troubles yet this holy man of God who was enlightned by the Spirit of God and so was able to pass a right estimate and due judgement upon things and persons he tells us the world was not worthy of thâ—…m and then from the second I draw this observation That a godly man one truly regenerated doth see an extraordinary beauty worth and excellency in the people of God in the bitterest of all persecutions and troubles that doth bâ—…fall thâ—…m or that a godly man a gracious heart one that hath spiritual spectacles doth see an excellency and worth in the people of God in the midst of all trouble and persecution that can hefall them I know you judge this to be both a necessary and seasonable point In the prosecution of it I shall first handle it Doctrinally and then come to those profitable and useful Improvements of it by way of Application that the Point deserves 1. For the Doctrinal explication of it two things must be spoken to 1. Wherein the high esteem of a gracious heart doth appear wherein it doth discover it self to the Saints and People of God in their sufferings 2. Whence it is and how it comes to passe that godly men have this high and honourable esteem of the Saints and People of God in this trouble and distress of theirs For the first of these wherein it doth appear that they have so high and excellent an estimation of them I shall give it you in five or six particulars 1. It doth appear in this in that they are not ashamed of them in their troubles they are not ashamed to own either their persons or the faith that they do professe in their troubles the sâ—…ciery of the People of God and the fellowship of their very faith and their
or do them good and may be for his good God is exceedingly taken with them when they ask peace and pardon peace of conscience and pardon of sin strength against sin power to overcome their lâ—…sts and to withstand temptation the people of God may have from him all that they want or can regularly wish for 5. Here is something more considerable these people that lye under troubles and distresses they are such now as have an incomparable near and dear relation unto God they are the elect of God set apart for him and though God hath a common propriety in and relation to all the world yet he hath a peculiar relation to his people and therefore they are called his jewels his house his garden and his portion and indeed as God is his peoples portion so his people are his portion they are those that God hath laid out a great deal for and that he hath been at a great deal of cost to purchase In one word they are the glory of God they are his spouse children house treasure portion vineyard garden they are his all can we look upon these now and not look upon them as excellent Lastly They are such as have the image of God set upon them imprinted upon them and all the good they do it is an immanation or ray from that incomparable holiness that seed of God that is in them you read concerning righteousness and holiness that we are renewed in it according to his image now I remember one observes excellently upon this portion of Scripture an image doth not represent any under excellency in a man but it doth represent something that is eminent about his body If you were to take the picture of a man you would not take the picture of his back or of his feet or hands but of his face the people of God they discover Gods bounty indeed in some regards as they are men and have wit and wealth and worldly dignity but this is not the image of God the image of God is that which is the representation of 〈◊〉 excellency as the power of God is the hand of God and the wisdomâ—… of God is the eye of God so the holiness of God that is the 〈◊〉 of God now the people of God â—…re his beauty in 〈◊〉 they are the representation of his holiness 2 〈◊〉 1. 4 Be ye holy as your heavenly 〈◊〉 is holâ—… Rom 3. 23. 〈◊〉 likeness to God is a likeness to him in the 〈◊〉 of his excellency in having the divine nature in having â—…he life of â—…od in having the gloâ—…y of God which is grace and there is more of God in grace then in all the works that ever God did in the world there is much of God seen in the making of the Sun Moon and Stars but in giving a man a new nature in changing his heart and sanctifying of him and giving him a principle of regeneration and the making of him become a blessed Saint and from a cursed nature to sit him for heaven God shews more the excellency of his name in this then if he should have made ten thousand suck visible transient wâ—…rlds as we look upon Thus I have given you the Doctrinal explication of the words now give me leave to make some little Application and I would raise these following inferences 1. What excellency shall there be seen in the people of God in heaven at the day of Judgement if there be now such a beauty upon them are they now so amiable when they are in their rags what shall they be then in their Robes are they now so amiable upon a dunghill what shall they then be upon a throne and therefore saith he the Loâ—…d Jesus Christ shall be admir'd in all them that believe as a house keeper is admir'd in his entertainment so at the day of Judgement the Lord Jesus will so cloath this people with glory that he shall be wondred at Oh what a head is he that hath such members that are so beautifull what a Lord is he that hath such attendance and therefore remember the next world is the day of the people of Gods appearance here they are in their non appearance it doth not yet appear what they shall be the very wicked themselves shall admire them 2. I gather from hence what we are to 〈◊〉 of those that have no regard either for religion or religious ones either for godly men or godliness any further then it is adorn'd with outward beauty and 〈◊〉 ornament there are some that if religion and the ways of God be persecuted and frown'd upon by the great men of the world and be not lookt upon with a favourably eye from authority farewell Religion then these love the childe for the nurses sake When Religion is in faâ—…hion then they can come to Gods people and â—…ringe to them and the like But as the shot Deer when iâ—… hath the arrow sticking in its side all the rest will run from it so when godly men have an arrow in their side and are under persecution and oppression then farewell Religion What is this but to look upon Religion as inferiour to worldly grandeur and dignity If I love Religion for prosperity and for the countenance of authority it is certain I love these things more their Religion All that I shall say is this thou shalt never 〈◊〉 communion with those in their glory whom thou dost undervalue for their grace if Religion here be your contempt happiness shall never be your reward and if the people of God be too bad for you here they shall be too 〈◊〉 for you 〈◊〉 2. I would note the excellency of holiness and Religion and godliness above all worldly excellencies whatsoever If a man be in reproaches and persecutions he is never the better for all his worldly endowments these all leave him but now holiness the excellency of it lyes in this that it draws forth an admiration for its excellency notwithstanding all opposition Set a gyant in a valley he is a gyant still a pearl is a pearl though on a dunghill and a holy man is a holy man though never so much disgraced and contemned by men But now let a wicked man be never so high and honourable this man is a base man in the account of God and in the sight of Gods people Dan. 11. 21. It is said of Antiochus Epiphanes who was accounted the admir'd great prince of his time yet he is called a vile person And that Iohn the Baptist who had a jeathern girdle and locusts and wilde honey was his food yet Christ saith of him he was the honourablest man born of women and on the other side when Herod was cried up the voice of God and not of man what was he in the account of God and the Spirit why he is struck dead and made meat for worms There is a silent Majesty and dignity in reproached piety when there is a silent ignominy and
baseness in advanced wickedness a poor minister of Jesus Christ when he is cast out by the world and thinks he shall be counted the scum of the world yet let him not be troubled as it was with Christ it is with the servants of Christ the Lord Jesus when he was here upon earth no man under so much ignominy and reproach and persecution yet all this while Jesus Christ had a secret glory that shined through all these ignominies and disgraces you read he was laid in a manger but then he was worshipped sometimes you shall read he had no money but yet then he could command that a fish should be caught and he could have money somtimes a weary and yet at that very time converts a woman Look through the whole course of his life there was a secret glory under all his ignominy when he was brought before his enemies yet then they fell down before him take heed of dishonouring God Thus it is with the people of God they are in distress and poverty but there is a secret dignity that beams forth as the Apostle saith the Spirit of God and glory rest upon you If you be persecuted for righteousness sake blessed are you on the other side when rich men are in high esteem is there not a secret disgrace to be in a high place and yet to be a swearer a drunkard a whoremaster 4. You see the way of it how a man may get a good name would you be as those holy men are said to be that obtained a good report through faith I will tell thee the way be a holy man take heed of sinning take heed of dishonouring God this will make thee that thy name shall never rot and God will have thee in everlasting remembrance 5. I note from hence the certain happiness of those beholders that do see this excellency and worth in the people of God under worldly contempt and under worldly ignominy and disgrace for the comfort of these let me tell them if there be any thing in the world a sign of a gracious heart it is this to love holiness for holiness sake when it is advanced is good but to love holiness when it is upon a dunghil and is spit upon and persecuted that man shows the truth of grace and the strength of grace too It is a sign not only of a true sight but of a strong sight to pierce so as to see a godly man beautiful in sufferings and remember this for certain the Lord will have an eye to thee There is a great deal of comfort may come to thy soul in all thy distresses here is a ground of comfort First In thy infirmities Dost thou love holiness when it is compassed about with sorrows and troubles and persecutions Certainly Christ will see the truth of thy grace in the midst of all thy infirmities and he will know a little of his own in the midst of a great deal of ours but then in our outward trouble there is comfort Do you think if you regard not Gods people in their sufferings that he will regard you in your sufferings If you remember the godly poor God will make your bed in your sickness God will remember what you did at such a time such a visit thou gavest to such a one of mine in priâ—…on and such a time thoâ—… didst so â—…nd â—…o those that have kâ—…pt close to â—…od in their outward highness he will never câ—…st them off for their lowneâ—…s you â—…an see nothing of grace in our selves nothing but hypocrisie yet câ—…st â—…ou say Lord I love thee in thy Image I love the Lord Jâ—…s Christ in his woâ—…st 〈◊〉 I love him in his Members this hath brought many a servant of God comfort in the â—…wangs of his conscience But then there is abundant comfort to the people of God at the last day when they shall appear before all the world when they that have persecuted Christ and his Church and â—…eople do fear and tremble yet then mayest thou say Remember Lord what I have done it is a token I am one that thou inâ—…endest good too because thou hast kept me faithful to thee and thy cause Do you think a Judge will condemn that man that hath saved the life of his dear Wâ—…fe but when you shall appear before the Judgement seat at the great day and every pot of water and every rag that thou hâ—…st given to the Spouse of Christ shall be remembred do you think he will not reward it To conclude all let me note but this one thing that now the people of God from hence should learn and that is not to be discouraged in any outward reâ—…roach or trouble that can befal them in this world remember at that very time God hath a good opinion of you though you be never so mean and low in 〈◊〉 account of the world yet the Saints of God who are the only wise men in the world these have a good opinion of you and love you and pray for you and pitty you I profess the love of one Saint is that that makes amends to a gracious heart for all the hatred and persecution that he endures from all the sinners in the world and then remember that even the wicked themselves will have a good opinion of you when you do not comply with theiâ—… superstitious wayes and practises and if all this will not comforâ—… you remember your own consciences which is as a thousand witnesses will one day comfort you and though you are under disgrace and contempt and reproach from wicked men yet remember no man is a miserable man for any opinion another hath of him so long as God keeps thee close and faithful to him either thy conscience doth comfort thee or it shall and it is a good conscience that will give the best acquittance And then to conclude all for thee to have the whole number of Godâ—… people to look upon thee to be an unworthy and vile man I look upon it to be a greater disgrace then to have all the ignominy and disgrace that the world can lay upon you remember when godly men are â—…fraid of you you have very much cause to be afraid of your self and remember there is much reason for you to put you upon the looking and narrow enquiry into your own hearts and wayes when the people of God that God hath given his Spirit too stands at a distance from you and are afraid to come nigh you Mr. Jenkins's Afternoon Sermon Exod. 3. 2 3 4 5. And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a Bush and he looked and behold the Bush burned with fire and the Bush was not consumed And Moses said I will now turn aside and see this great sight why the Bush is not burnt And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see God called unto him out of the midst of the Bush and said Moses
place may be said to be holy or holier then another And truly I am not put on this employment willingly nor the handling of this subject and if it were not extorted from me by something I do not say that I have seen but that I have read that was written by men and those none of the meanest neither the learnedst of the Papists I should not now have chosen to have entred upon this task concerning the holiness of places in opposition to whom I have entred upon this discourse I will give you two expressions which one of the devoutest and the other of the learnedst of them hath the learnedst of them accounted so at least though blessed be God his weapons have not been formidable to the Church is Bellarmine his words are these Templum consecrandum merito venerabile divina virtute praeditum est The Temple consecrated is deservedly holy and venerable in worship and endowed with divine virtue and efficacy the Temple ought to be looked upon as honourable and venerable And for the other Durandus he tells us So great is the Religion and Holiness of Churches that those things should be and may be forbidden to be done in them he means perpetually or else he saith nothing for we grant as much which in other places may duly and lawfully be done In the handling of this Question How we are to judge and conceive of the holiness of places in the times of the Gospel I shall endeavour first to explain it and then faithfully and truly endeavour to resolve and determine the same First then for Explanation I shall here endeavour to open these two things to you first what it is for a place to be holy or wherein the nature of the holinesse of places consists secondly what that is that is the foundation or cause of the holiness of places and both these must in our discourse and likewise apprehension be accurately distinguish'd I. What it is for a place to be holy this is two wayes to be considered 1. generally 2. more particularly 1. More generally The holiness of a place doth consist in the separation thereof the setting it apart the distinction and discrimination in the way of some excellent preheminence or the exaâ—…ting of it before and above all other places Thus the notion of the holiness of places is taken in Scripture Exod. 30. 31 37 38. you shall there read that the Lord tells them in the 31. verse concerning the oyntment that he prescribed and likewise the composition of it for his service This shall be an holy anointing â—…yl unto me throughout your generations Now see how God doth discover this to be holy On mans flesh it shall not be poured neither shall you make any other like it after the composition of it Here was a discrimination as well to the using of it as to the making and composition of it as none was to 〈◊〉 such an oyntment as this was so none was to use it in their ordinary and common employment so that now the holiness thereof did consist in the distinction and discâ—…imination of it from other uses and likewise from all other oyntments And this is further expressed concerning the holy perfumes in the 37. and 38. verses there was to be a difference between this and other perfumes and this was the holiness thereof And so you shall find it not only concerning holy things but likewise concernig holy persons Levit. 20. 24. 25. I am the Lord your God which have separated you from other people you shall therefore put a difference between clean beasts and unclean 〈◊〉 herein is the holiness of the people that they were a diffeâ—…ced and severèd people And hence it is you read in Deuteronomy chap. 26. 18 19. that God is there said to avouch his people openly to discover himself to assert it that they are his people their holiness was a discrimination a separation from the rest of the people And in Deut. 7. 6. and 14. 2. you have there the very same things described and discovered to you And now for this I shall desire you to take notice of comparing two places of Scripture which discovers the holiness of places in Deut. 19. 2 7. Thou shalt separate three Cities for thee in the midst of thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee to possesse it And at the seventh verse Wherefore I command thee saying Thou shalt separate three Cities for thee Now you shall have this again propounded to you in Ioshua chap. 20. 7. And they sanctified Kedesh in Galilee in Napthaly and Sechem in mount Ephraim and Kiriath-arba which is Hebron in the mountain of Iudah Mark the Scripture that that was called Separation in Deut. 9. 2. 7. is here called Sanctification therefore the word in the Hebrew is And you shall sanctifie or make holy these places that is holy by the separation or them unto that employment that I shall appoint Hence a thing is said to be unholy in Scripture when it is common is not separated and set apart to holy employments and services and from every thing that is of a civil concernment And hence you read in Acts 10. 14. in the Vision that Peter had God bids Peter kill and eat But Peter said Not so Lord for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean That that is unclean and unholy in a way of legal unholiness is said to be common not set apart Heb. 10. 29. you shall there read this notion clearly discovered to you in the New Testament Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing An unholy thing is a common thing So that now what is sanctification in the former part of the verse is called commonness and uncleanness in the latter part But not to give you any more instances of this nature the general nature of holiness is discrimination or separation 2. To answer it more particularly this setting apart or discrimination or separation of places for holy uses must have these two properties 1. A place that is holy it must have such a separation from other places as that it must be alienated from all uses but holy uses it must not at all be employed to civil uses for the employing of it unto civil uses must be looked upon as sinful and unlawful Thus in the Scripture when times things or persons are reputed as holy they are to be exempted from common employment the Sabbath day a holy day In it thou must not do any manner of work The Vessels and Utensils of the Temple were holy and therefore were not to be used to ordinary uses and this as some think was the great sin of Belshazar that he would offer to drink in the Vessels of the Temple And so the garments of the Priests were holy and not to be used by secular
persons And the Tabernacle and the Temple were holy and not to be used in civil employments 2. More particularly concerning this holiness I desire to shew you what it is by shewing you it must be such a holinesse and separation as that the service done to God in those places must be accounted and looked upon as a better service and more accepteble then if so be it had been done elsewhere more acceptable to God and advantagious to our selves Now as places are said to be holy in regard they are only to be for holy services so 2. Holy in regard that holy services are only to be done there with acceptation or advantage at least with so great acceptation And therefore I desire you to take notice that places in Scripture were said to be holy which did sanctifie the Worship which was done in them and sanctifie the Worshippers and so the very places are part of worship and so not only places in which God was worshipped but by which God was worshipped And thus the Sabbath was sanctified and so the performance of Gods worship therein made Gods service more acceptable and sanctified And so the Altar when it was holy it made the gift the more holy and sanctified and so the more acceptable the Altar sanctified the gift Mâ—…t 23. 18 19. And so the Incense was acceptable to God as being put into such a Censor And so the service done to God in such Garments was more acceptable because done in them which God had instituted and appointed for Aaron and his Sons to wear And so I have opened the first thing in the explanation and that is to shew you wherein hoâ—…iness consists and how it is that places or things may be said to be holy and I think I have sufficiently cleared the notion to you 2. To shew what the cause or the foundation of this holinese is for this my Brethren I shall desire you also to take notice of it more generally and then more particularly 1. More generally That the cause and the foundation of a place or any other things holiness it is its belonging to God Gods peculiar relation to it and propriety in it declared as he shall please And therefore to be holy and to be Gods are words of the like importance or equivolent its being Gods and his having a relation to it is the foundation and cause of its holiness And therefore if you look into Exodus 13. 2. you shall there find God commands that they should sanctifie unto him all the first-born it is mine there now is that which is the cause and reason and ground of its being sanctified or holy it is God himself God hath a propriety in it And therefore I desire you to look into Luke 2. 23. it will open this notion to you there you shall see that this command is again repeated but yet in other words and therefore ye saith As it is written in the Law of the Lord Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord that which is said in one place to be sanctified or separated is here said to be holy and therefore holy because separated to God Levit. 27. 30. All the Tithes of the land is the Lordâ—… it is holy unto the Lord it is holy and therefore holy because because it is the Lords So that here is the general answer This is the foundation ground and cause of its holiness Gods peculiar propriety in it it is the Lords 2. More particularly That the declared propriety that God hath in any place or his relation to a place or its belonging unto God that is the foundation of its holiness This belonging unto God or Gods propriety in it is declared two wayes It s belonging unto God is declared 1. From his presence 2. From his Precept 1. By his presence Now the presence of God that was the foundation of the holiness of a place was twofold 1. Extraordinary 2. Ordinary 1. The Extraordinary presence of God was by his miraculous Apparitions and discovering himself by some miraculous token vision sign or manifestation of his presence as now here in this burning and not coâ—…sumed â—…ush here was a miraculous â—…oken of Gods presence We shall and in the fifth of Ioshua â—…nd the last verse God commands Ioshua to put off his shooes Loose thy shooes from off thy feet for the place wheâ—…eon thou standest is holy ground And Ioshua did so And therefore as I conceive hence it is the Mountain in which Christ was transfigured is called The holy Mountain 2 Pet. 1. 18. And this voyce which came from Heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy Mount Why holy Not as if it were holy at that time when the Apostle writ that Epistle but it were manifest there was an extraordinary manifestation and sign of Gods presence and so long as this extraordinary manifestation of Gods presence continued it was called holy And this miraculous manifestation of the gloriousness of Christs Godhead ceasing the holiness of that place ceased also And remember this place now of Gods extraordinary miraculous manifestation of himself in the Bush was holy for that time and no longer wherein he did manifest himself for otherwise in the time of the Law it were unholy to offer up sacrifice there 2. As the presence of God was extraordinary so it is ordinary which is two fold 1. The presence of his standing residence in a place by some visible or external Symbole or else 2. The presence of God is a spiritual presence in the religious services and performances of his people in the place of their Meetings and Assemblies Now concerning the first of these 1. The presence of God by the more visible and lasting tokens of his presence which was chiefly afforded in the time of the Levitical Pedagogue so the Altar Temple Ark and Mercy-seat were symbols of Gods presence among that people by them God signified his presence he recorded his name there by those visible tokens of his presence and therefore the Ark was said to be Gods face and when the Ark was lifted up it was said Let God arise and let his Enemies be scattered Hence they so much rejoyced when the Ark came intâ—… the City of David because it was the sign of Gods presence and mourned when it was taken away captive And God is said to deliver his glory into captivity that is the token of his glorious presence and as long as this continued God was looked upon as there present and thither the people went to pray and offer Sacrifice And thus God more fixedly declared his durable relation to a place by these tokens and while these continued in a place he was looked upon to be there 2. Gods ordinary presence is considerable in the Religious services of his people and this I call the rather the more spiritual presence of God this is that presence of God in the Ordinances which we have we hope this day
and which Christ did promise Mat. 18. 20. Where ever two or three are met together in my name there am I present in the midst of them not in the midst of the place but of them when they do perform holy and institute worship This spiritual presence of God is that that is afforded in the use of those Ordinances of Praying Hearing and Administration of Sacraments his presence is there to accept of these and to bless them and make them operative and to assist in these and to enable both Minister and people to go through their duty by his own power Nor can Gods presence be ordinarily expected but in this his own way Now then 2. You must know that as the presence of God is the foundation of a places sanctity and as it is several so you must know Gods propriety in and relation to a place is declared by his Precept the precept of God is Gods propriety in a place as well as his presence thus it belongs to him by command to make it holy he may do what he will and choose out what places he will to be holy He to whom all things belong surely may have some places and things more proper to himself and peculiar so the Temple of old and the Tabernacle those places of Levitical and Ceremonial worship was separated and set apart by God by Divine Institution Hence we have many commands 1. God commands thâ—…t such a House and such a Tabernacle shall be built and this had been unlawfull to do had it not been commanded 2. He directs the manner and the mode and that all things should exactly be done according to the pattern in the Mount And 3. God doth command it should be in such a place in the thrashing floor of Arumnah the Jebusite and that place that himself had chosen 4. He commands that he will be served in these places peculiarly rather then in any other place he would not have these places changed for others Herein this place typifi'd Christ one that is onely able to make our services acceptable Hence it is said Ex. 23. 17. Three times in the year all the Mâ—…ies shall appear before the Lord. And Act. 27 the Eunuch there went unto that place that God had commanded 5. He doth command that he would have these places reverenced and no civil employments used there when the holy service was doing and that after the service was done at that very time the place should be only for God 6. And lastly He annexed a promise unto that place that he would accept of a duty done there rather then in any other place even because it was done there hence they prayed in the Temple rather then in their private houses Lu. 2. 27 and when they could not be present by reason of Gods providence in the Temple if they do but look to the City and the Temple God accepted of their duty 1 Kin. 8. 44 48 So that God did promise that that place that he had instituted for his worship and service that the service performed there should be more acceptable to him then elsewhere This shews the reason and foundation of a places holiness the precept of God the promise presence of God And thus I have open'd to you the second thing Now having thus explained and opened the Question to you 2. I come to resolve the Question according to what I think in my conscience to be the truth of God and this I shall do two ways 1. By granting that which must not be denied 2. By denying what must not be granted 1. By granting what must not be denied and here I grant willingly these four things 1. That in the time of the Gospel it is not only lawful but it is often very commendable and necessary to design and dedicate places unto God Now when I say it is lawful to design them and to dedicate them I pray you bear me witness I do not say it is lawfull to consecrate them or to sanctifâ—…e them and say it is lawfull to design and dedicate them Now for this take notâ—…ce that between 1. the designing and appointing of a place 2. the dedication of a place and 3. the consecrating of a place there are these differences 1. Concerning the designation of a place Then is a place designed when it is appointed to be made use of for the most convenient for such a service as Tuesday and Wednesday may be appointed for Lecture-dayes not consecrated Now you must know that this designation of a day may be altered and so may a place if such a place be designed it is in our power to make use of it so as to leave off the use of it when weplease 2. As to dedication I mean so lawfully to dedicate a place which is of our own right to dispose of so to dedicate it as not again to be able to revoke it or call it back from such a use and purpose It is lawfull and commendable for a rich man to dedicate so much ground or money for building a House for a Free-School or for the poor and to give it away from our selves and from our own right and power and if so be that a man hath power or propriety over a place or thing it is lawful for a man to alienate such a thing And yet this you must know by the way that this Dedication that now is in the time of the Gospel doth very much differ from that Dedication of Free-will-offering unto God in the time of the Law for they were dedicated to God in the time of the Law immediately that is to his immediate Worship it was part of Gods Worship it was a part of Religion to do that thing whereas it is not now dedicated to the immediate worship of God but it is dedicated immediately to such a Parish or Minister or Place or company of People that we have a good will to gratifie and so it more remotely redounds to God's glory not immediately For God hath not declared in his Word the same acceptation in the Gospel of things done in an immediate way as he had in the time of the Law of which acceptation now we have no such promise And therefore it is observable as one speaks concerning that Benefactor in the Gospel to the Iews He hath loved our Nation and builded us a Synagogue it is not said for God but for us This man out of love to us hath bestowed these things to God which though a giving our selves out of our own power yet it doth differ from the Free-will-offering in the time of the Law Ay but now Sirs ye must know that sanctification or consecration that is a great deal more when we sanctifie a thing or consecrate a thing this thing that is so consecrated it is so holy that there must nothing at all of unholiness or of a civil or secular employment and concernment be done in it Now we do not dedicate a thing
and therefore I say it is boldness for us to go about to tye Gods presence to a place where God hath â—…ever tyed it I cannot but wonder how it is possible for 〈◊〉 of reason and learning to be so blind as to hold 〈◊〉 the Lords day which was set apart by God for the Sabbath as you may see in the fourth Commandment and afterwards by Christ and his Apostles which doth amount to no lesse then an Institution is not holy after the Service or Sermon is ended but then you may go to play at Foot-ball and Cudgels and Drinking and what not and yet that they should say that the place of performing religious duties in is so holy after religious performances as that you cannot come into it without bowing the knee and putting off the hat and bowing to the Altar and Communion-Table and the like this I cannot apprehend how it should be and I wish any of you that are of this mind would in private give me your reasons for it why it should be so Now having explained the point and given you a resolution of the question in these prrticulars give me leave to wind up all wich some Uses First We infer the great difference that is between sanctity of places under the Old Testament and sanctity and holiness of places under the New Testament they under the Old Testament had the immediate presence of God the standing Symbols and visible signs of his presence so long as these lasted which was set apart by Gods special Commandment and so they were holy though they were not employed in a way of worship but you cannot say so now our places for performance of holy duties have no such holiness places now differ from places then Secondly By way of inference I note the great goodness of God to give us such a sweet and gracious indulgent dispensation in the time of the Gospel under the New Testament as that he doth not tye us to Ceremonies or places he doth not bind us as he did the Jews to go three times in the year to the furthermost part of the Nation to worship No my Brethren no Land 〈◊〉 ground is now unholy as famous old Dr. Raynolds said every place is now a Iudea no Coast but is a Iudea every house is a Ierusalem every Congregation is now a Zion see here the goodness of God in indulging of us so far as to take any service done by us in a solemn and real manner as if it had been done in those places which were formerly appointed for it to be done in Thirdly I infer hence there are several persons to be reproved 1 We find hereby that all the holiness of reliques of Saints doth fall to the ground and we see the folly of those that make Pilgrimages unto Saints and Reliques as the Papists do there was a time say they when such a Saints reliques were laid up in such a place and these are more holy then other places so that this you see falls to the ground in it self I might tell you concerning their lying about their Reliques as one aid that there were as many Reliques as would fill an hundred Carts but supposing so all that would not make the place the more holy 2. Hence the Superstition of those is to be reproved which put holiness in places of burial and make it more holy to be buried in one place then in another it is more holy say they to be buried in the Church then in the Church-yard and more holy under the Communion-Table then any other part of the Church 3. This reproves them which cannot pray any where but in the Temple and they that use private prayer in Churches If you have houses and rooms at home what is the reason that if Pauls or any other Church stand open you must run in thither and drop down behind a Pillar to say your Prayers 4. This reproves them that have reverence towards any place more then another as if they did deserve more holinesse in one part then in another as bowing to the Altar or Communion Table or the like 5. It reproves those that have reverence for scituation of these places they must stand East and West and why not North and South all these things fall off like fig leaves if what I have said be true that there is no holiness in places and this I have made known to you not only as my judgement but as my duty Now for Exhortation I shall desire you to take notice of four things and I have done and shall leave you to God and commit you to the word of his grace If this be so that there is no holiness in places then first of all be the more encouraged to serve God in your families in those places where God hath set you where God is as well pleased with your service as in publick places serve God upon your knees with devotion humility and reverence And therefore though I am against Superstition and Popish practises and those wicked cursed traps of Innovations that the men of the world have disturbed the Church of God with yet I am against putting on your hats in Prayer and sitting in Prayer Those that are for holiness of places do not with Abraham in every place they come build God an Altar But let us in every closet and room build God an Altar let no morning nor evening go without a prayer in thy family pray often and pray continually let your houses be as so many Churches as you read in Rom. 16. 5. Likewise greet the Church that is in their house and in the second verse of Philemon's Epistle To the Church that is in thy house there the houses of the Saints are called Churches This will bring a blessing upon your families And if you be not willing to have that curse denounced against you in Ier. 10. 25. Pour out thy fury upon the Heathen that know thee not and upon the families that call not upon thy name then neglect not family prayers be much in prayer and pray with frequency and encouragement because God binds you to no place The second Exhortation is this Labour to promote personal holiness as well as family devotion I am against local holiness As one said that I heard once when I was a youth Happy are those garments that can carry away any of the dust of the Temple but they think not that many of their garments are unclean in wallowing in the mire of sin But I say do you labour to promote holiness in your lives in your hearts and conversations The holy Ghost saith Unless you be pure in heart you shall not see God And therefore put away sin for if you regard iniquity God will not hear your prayers It is not your ducking or bowing or cringing never so much or your going with your hat off through the Church that will make God hear your prayers these will but dishonour you because you live not
they are two 1. One concerning the privative part of our duty â—…et us lay aside every weight c. There is something external and without like to clog us in our way to Heaven â—…very weight and something within that will hinder and â—…ouble us within therefore he saith and the sin which â—…h so easily beset us 2. Here is the positive part Let us run with patience 〈◊〉 Race that is set before us There 's motion Run the manner with patience the stage or way the Race that is set before us My purpose is to give you some brief thoughts upon this usefull and practical inference of the Apostle from the Histories of the faithfull before recorded Therefore I will sum up the whole Text in this point Doct. The people of God that have such a multitude of examples of holy men and women set before them should prepare themselves to run the spiritual race with more patience and chearfulness There are two things in this Doctrine the Encouragement and the Duty I shall open both with respect to the circumstances of the Text. First the Encouragement A multitude of examples or as in the Text Seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses Mark here are witnesses a great cloud of witnesses and these compassing us round about First here are witnesses by that term we are to understand those worthy Saints mentioned and reckoned up in the former Chapter Abel Enoch Noah Abraham Moses c. all the Saints of God that have had experience of the goodness of his providence to them and the fulfilling of his promises they are all called Witnesses Why because they depose a Testimony for God and speak to future generations to be constant as they did that they might receive the like reward This witness was partly in their faith and partly in the fruit of their faith 1. They witnessed by their Faith Iohn 3. 33. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true A man that hath soundly digested the promises that expresses his faith by chearfulness and patience under all difficulties troubles delaies and those sundry trials that he meets with he gives it under hand and seal proclaims it to the world that he hath to do with the true God And 2. They witnessed in the fruits of their faith as they give us an instance of Gods fidelity towards them that faithfully adhere to and firmly believe in his promâ—… so it is said Heb. 6. 12. Be not sloathfull but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promise Let faith but set patience a work do but hold out a little while with God and you may learn by the example of all those holy men we shall inherit the promises they shall be made good to a tittle and not one thing fail of all that the Lord hath spoken as these holy men were exercised and tossed to and fro but it succeeded well with them at the last Oh! then let us hearken to the deposition of these worthy witnesses that are recorded in the Scripture and with such an invincible resolution as theirs was let us hold on our course towards true happiness If we do not they that are now propounded as witnesses to us will at the day of judgement be produced as witnesses against us And pray also let us remember that we are to continue and keep afoot that Testimony to succeeding generations for not onely the Prophets and holy men of God were witnesses but all Gods people also are his witnesses Isa. 43. 10. by their faith patience diligence constancy and a chearfulness under afflictions they are to give it under hand and seal to the world that God is a true and faithfull God But now if we either by our sinfull walking or by our drooping discouragements discredit Christ and his profession then we are witnesses against him we deny that Religion which we would seem to profess and cry up Tit. 1. 16. They profess they know God but in works they deny him and the more dangerous because deeds are more deliberate then words and so a greater evidence of what we think in our hearts If we by drooping discouragements and sinfull walking discredit Religion we deny it and do in effect put the lie upon Christ. Therefore let us remember they were witnesses and so must we 2 By a figurative speech they are called a cloud havâ—… a cloud of witnesses why so I might trouble you with many conceits Interpreters have had of this word cloud say some because of the raisedness of their spirits because clouds fly aloft Clouds for the fruitfulness of their doctrine as clouds send down fruitfull showers upon the earth and clouds because they cool and cover us from the heat so some would gloss for our comfort others with more judgement say a cloud with allusion to the pillar of cloud which conducted the Israelites to Canaan yet neither doth this come up fully to the scope of the Apostle for the Apostle speaks not of a cloud that goes before us but of a cloud that compasses us round about and therefore a cloudy the reason why 't is called so is the number and multitude of those witnesses as a cloud is made up of a multitude of vapors gathered together and condensed into one body and so the expression is often used Ezek. 38. 9. thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land c. noting the increase of the people when God would restore them the multitude of converts and so in profane Authors Livie hath such an expression an army of men is called a cloud but this is enough to shew the intent of this expression that there are a multitude a very great number though the godly comparatively and with respect to the wicked are a few yet considered in themselves they are a great number for if the Martyrs and those glorious instances of heroick faith and that under the Old Testament when God's interest was more confin'd to one people if there were such a Church then of so great a number what will the whole Church of the Old and New Testament be when we shall meet together in Heaven We are often discouraged with the paucity of Professors and are apt to think our selves to be left alone 1 Kin. 19. 10. But let us remember there is a Cloud of Witnesses we are not solitary now and certainly we shall not want company when we come to Heaven To the innumerable company of c. Again it meets with an ordinary and strong temptation which Satan suggests to the hearts of the godly that they are singular and matchless in their afflictions that none of the people of God have ever undergone such difficulties as they are expos'd unto and this makes them question their Father's affections and put themselves out of the number of his children I but all these things are accomplished in the Saints of God before you here is a Cloud of
beloved in the Lord stand and so stand fast in the Lord my dearly beloved In the next place by way of observation from the words and if there be any wicked catchers here let them know that I shall speak no more then I shall draw from and is the mind of my Text I would not give occasion to be a greater sufferer then I am like to be But for the words First For the melting Compellation My Brethren my dearly beloved Paul was an Apostle and an high Officer in the Church of God and he writ unto the Philippians to all the Philippians to the poorest of them and see how he bespeaks himself unto them my Brethren From hence take this observation That the highest Officers in the Church of Christ though they are indeed by office Rulers over them yet by relation they are no more then brethren to the meanest Saint Here we have no such Rabbies to whom we must swear because they say we must swear it Paul calls them Brethren and so writes to them Col. 1. 2. and Iames a Scriptural-Officer one of the highest Apostles Christ ever made saith Hearken my beloved Brethren Iam. 2. 5. so Peter an Apostle of Christ Wherefore the rather Brethren and Iohn the beloved Disciple Brethren I write no new commandment c. 1 Joh. 〈◊〉 7. Well then 3. If this be so that the highest officer in the Church of Christ such as Christ approves of are but brethren to the meanest Saint then certainly they are but brethren to their fellow-Officers If no more relation to the toe in the body then no more to the eyes If there be any of a light spirit will bear rule that love to have the preheminence I would desire them to read two Scriptures the first is Luke 22. 26. the second Mat. 20. 26 27. doth Christ say Whosoever will be chief among you let him be one that will domineer over your estates over your persons over your consciences doth not Christ say so no but whosoever will be chief among you let him be your Minister let him be your servant Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministred unto but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many You have this also Luke 22. 25. And he said unto them the Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them i. e. over their slaves over their vassals but ye shall not be so but he that is greatest among you let him be as the younger and he that is chief as he that doth serve Sure if Paul be but a brother to Philip then he is no more to Timothy 2. If the highest Officers in the Church of Christ be but brethren to the meanest Saint then it is not for those brethren to Lord it over their fellow-brethren Lord it over Gods heritage Remember 't is Gods Heritage I hope your consciences will bear me witness that I have laboured as much as in me lies to be a helper of your joy not to Lord it over your faith 2 Cor. 1. 24 to presse or cause you in believe this or that because I believe it if this be allow'd then may I turn Papist tomorrow Saith Christ to him that would have had him speak to his brother to divide the inheritance with him Man who made me a Iudge over 〈◊〉 Luke 12. 14. So say I Man who made thee a Tyrant a Lord over thy fellow-brethren 1 Pet. 5. 3. Neither as beâ—… Lords over Gods heritage c. 3. If the highest Officers in the Church of Christ be but Brethren and no more then there should be no discord between those brethren Behold how good and pleasont it is for brethren to dwell together in 〈◊〉 And truly I may comfortably speak that and it is one of the greatest comsorts I have in the world I hope we have lived together in love blessed be God Let us not fall out saith Abrahim the elder to Let his younger Cousin for we are brethren Beloved the discords between Pastor and people have made the best musick in the ears of the Jesuits 4. Are Pastors nay the highest Officers that Jesus Christ hath and doth own in his Church but Brethren Oh! then let those brethren if they will appear before the Bar of their Father in Heaven with comfort take care of offending the souls of their Brethren for at the hand of every Brother God will require the soul of his Brother Ezek 33. 6. His blood will I require at the Watchmans hand We that are called by some the dogs of the flock what shall we prove dumb dogs What a comfort will it be to my dying brethren this day if they can but say Lord we are clear from the blood of our Brethren The Officers of Christ should never behave themselves so that they should give their people occasion to say We are brethren to Dragons But Ier. 9. 4. Take ye heed every one of his neighbour c. I would commend one Scripture to all my Brethren in the Ministry 1 Cor. 8. 13. A Scripture that I would have writ in letters of gold on the lintel-posts of all Ministers doors Wherefore if meat make my brother to offend I will eat no flesh while the world stands left I make my brother to offend Rather then to endanger his soul I 'le away with all these toys and gew-gaws 5 From the terms of dearest affection dearly beloved longed for c. Take this observation that It becomes the highest Ministers much more the lowest to bear a most tender vehement ardent strong melting affection towards that stâ—…ck or people that God hath committed to their change Thus Paul to the Philippians in the Text My Brethen dearly beloved c. You shall find Paul in all his Epistles in a thawing frame to his people melting in love unto them The Corinthiâ—…ns were so in his heart noâ—… only to live with them but if God called him to die for them so abundantly did he love them 2 Cor. 12. 15. That he would very gladly spend and be spent for them carried them in his heart and longed after them all As for the Thessalonians 1 Thess 2. 8. He as a Nurse tendreth and nourisheth them as children and is so affectionately desirous of them that he is willing to impart them not only the Gospel but his own soul because they were dear to him Then 1. Is this so ought the Pastors so to love their people Give me leave to bespeak you in the words of Iob in respect of those hundreds of Ministers that are to be plucked from their people Have pity upon me have pity upon me ohâ—…ye my friends for the hand of God hath touched me Iob 19. 21. What will nothing serve but plucking out our very eyes our very heart being so much the objects of the Peoples love How sad is it for the Father to be plucked from the Childe the Shepherd from the Flock the Nurse from the Childe this is a Lamentation and
that you might stand and what dishonour to the eternal Saviour of the world to a dying Savâ—…ur to see a flying Christian. 'T was never heard of that souldiers should â—…lye before a conquered enemy whose legs were cut off whose arms were broken whose sword taken from them 2. 'T is a dishonour to the spirit of Christ The same spirit that was with Christ in all his Agonies this very spirit he hath given to believers that he might bring them through with some victory therefore when we stand not 't is a high dishonour to Christ's Spirit 3. 'T is a dishonour to Christ's truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what a dishonour doth it bring â—…o the Truth 〈◊〉 but thought of some late experiments of poor 〈◊〉 that I hâ—…ve heâ—…rd of carried about in triumph look here 's the man here 's the man that hath done this that and tâ—…other thing and now look here 's his I cannot excuse Noah from his drunkenness yet me thinks 't is the part of a Cham to shew his fathers nakedness I remember that one hath told me 't is a great Truth That Religion never sâ—…ffers greater wounds then by the hands of her professed friends Oh? what advantage have the wicked Papists taken against us by the falls of English Professors both in principles and practice 4. ' I is a very great dishonour to Christs all-sufficiency Tell me man is thy Christ able to protect thee against all evil and is he able to supply thee with all good or is he not if he be not then deny him and whatever thou hast said concerning him if he be then stand close to him in the mount he will be seen 2ly I would argue from Saints the infinite advantage that at a long run I do not say presently will redound to those that are steady in judgment in resolution in faith in conscience in practice so far as all these are conformable to the word of God and no further The greatest advantage appears upon these four grounds 1. Whatever thou thinkest a steady condition is the safest condition 2. The fullest condition 3. The strongest condition 4. The freest condition Oh! that I could beat this into my heart as well as â—…tis in my head The safest condition in the midst of dangers the fullest condition in the midsâ—… of wants the strongest condition in the midst of assauts and the freest condition in the midst of straights I profess in the presence of God I have felt these things and knew them to be true many years ago 1. It is the safest condition never do the Saints take hurt but by declining moving from their center while at their center the Devil cannot touch them departing thence is like the poor Bird from her nest every one hath a fling at them Remember this let but a man once leave his Scriptural station and what temptation is he able to stand against it is just like a man thrown down from the top of an house no stopping till he come to the bottom 1 Joh 5. 18. He that is begotten of God keepeth himself and the wicked one toucheth him not 2. It is the fullest condition Oh! my Brethren Saints living steadfastly on their foundation are continually supplied by God as the fountain doth continually issue out it self into the streams I know 't is best living upon a single God How many thousands be there yet living in England that can tell you they never enjoyed more of God then when they enjoyed least of the Creature Some have professed to me their prison was to them as a palace that were troubled more with these things then ever you were and the God of heaven grant you never may 3. 'T is the strongest condition A man that stands steadfast is like a man on a Rock the waters come they may dash themselves in pieces but never shall be able to dash him in pieces he is fixed on a Rock and therefore stands A man that stands steady to his Scriptural principles is like Sanpson with his Locks about him let all the Philistines come what cares he he is able to conquer them all 4. 'T is the freeest condition A man that deserts his principles is a slave to every condition afraid of every humour of every Aspine leaf in the world thinks all those are informers that converse with him is afraid of some promooter or other But he that stands fast where the Spirit of God is there is liberty and freedome such a man in chains as Paul at Rome is in a far freer condition then others not in that restraint Well then 't is rational that you stand but it may be your lâ—…st and interest can hardly swallow these things if we stand we shall not fall nay if you do not stand be sure you shall fall at last The next thing I would do is to apply this truth Is it the most important duty of all sincere professors in the most shaking seasons to stand stedfast in the Lord then First by way of Lamentation and that 1. Over our own souls 2. Over hundreds of Congregatioâ—…s Lord must do we say hundreds nay thousands of Congregations that are this day though they do not accompany us in person yet mingling tears with us and especially as I hear on the West of England 1. Over our own hearts We must stand that 's our duty oh how should it cause us to lie low by reason of the instability of our hearts and their cursed declining from the true foundation every day Alas Beloved this is that that God complains of they are a generation whose spirit is not stedfast with God and therefore we have very much reason to complain of it oh that this sin might be forgiven oh what an unsetled people have we been to day we have been apt to cry Hosanna Hosanna to the Son of David to morrow our note is changed crucifie him crucifie him give us Barabbas to day the Lord is God to morrow Baal any thing is God provided we may keep our Estates Oh Lord what wâ—…lt thou do with such a people as this certainly it is a lamentation and ought â—…o be a lamentation Believe it Beloved I can now count seven years if not something more wherein I have most clearly expected the daies I now see no way but the severest waies to be taken with such a false people as we have been Judge in your own thoughts whether we have been true to God or Man to Saints or Sinners to the Churches of God at home or abroad whether or no this be not matter of lamentation 2. With respect to our Congregations 't is not against the Law yet to call them our Congregations This I confess I can rather weep then speak to I cannot speak my heart is too big for my head here Lord is it the duty of people of Saints to stand to be stedfast how then should we mourn over those poor souls that because their pillers are taken away must needs
for ought we know fall unless thou dost support them What Lord dost thou complain of a flock of sheep that are scattered oh there 's no wonder in it their Shepherd is gone Do you look on it as a strange thing to see a poor Ship to be tossed here and there in the Sea when their Pilot is destroyed why Mother is it a strange thing for your Children to fall and knock their Arms Legs their Brains out why their Mother is taken from them oh poor people good God provide for this Congregation I and this City that let defacing abominable wretches say what they will is certainly one of the best Cities God hath in the world and therefore they hate it so desperately because God loves it and because they hate that God that loves it I bless God I can speak of my own people they are not a mad pestiserous people for the most of them How many thousands have their hearts at their mouthes now at this time before God in England alas alas that we should ever have our Seers carried away from us but what think you when poor people shall be exposed to greater temptations to an Ulcer in the very Kidneys to a Plague in the very Heart or Head you now fear it but when you feel it what then 2. By way of Exhortation Beloved I remember good Iacob when he was come into Egypt and ready to die calls his children together and before he dies blesseth his children I cannot say you are my children but I can truly say in the strength of God You are dearer to me then the children of my own bowels I remember what poor Esau said Hast thou but one blessing my Father Bless me even me also oh my Father Oh! beloved I have a few blessings for you I have a few words of Exhortation for you and for Gods sake take them as if they dropt from my lips when dying 't is very probable we shall never meet more while the day of Judgement what ever others think I am utterly against all irregular waies I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bless the Lord never had a hand in any change of Government in all my life I am for prayers ears quietness submission and meekness and let God do his work and thiâ—… will be the best done when he doth it Therefore be exhorted to stand fâ—…st in the Lord My own people hear me now though you should never hear me more be exhorted to stand fast in the Lord you are not a Schismatical Heretical people I do not know the lesst person among you enclining to Popeâ—…y Therefore be exhorted as ye have been a people that have waited upon the Ordinances of God that have not persecuted your poor Minister that have made it your design and business to live lovingly quietly and as it becomes Christians I am confident a Minister may live as comfortably among you as among any people in England So be ye stedfast unmovable alwaies abounding in the Work of the Lord for as much as you know that your lahour shall not be in vain in the Lord. Here I had prepared I confess several arguments to have moved you to this stedfastness 1. I could have told you that with drawing of any one of you back you will meet with great temptations which will very much unfit you for Heaven If any man or woman draw back my soul saith God shall have no pleasure in him I could have urged you with examples from the Heathens Alexander being in India bid them tell him the greatest rarity in their Countrey Sir go tell them say they when you come to Greece there are many here that cannot be forced by the prowess of Alexander to change their minds I know there are some here that cannot be easily perswaded to change their Religion Saith Lactantius our very women torment their tormentors I would never desire a more able disputant than a woman against a Monk 2. I could tell you of those enjoyments God hath put on you our miseries have been great but our mercies have been greater I could tell you of six troubles and of seven of six wherein God hath stood by and of seven wherein he hath not forsaken and the truth is he cannot forsake his people he may forsake them as for comfort he will never forsake them as for support let him lay on a burden he will be sure to strengthen the back 3. I hope 't is not dangerous if I tell you you are ingaged to God there are vows upon you Baptismal vows to say no more you have sworn to God you have lifted up your hands you are those that have undertaken that you would be true to God to your lives end if these vows have been any way strengthened Oh! remember Zedekiahs case Ezr. 17. 18. 19. Seeing he despised the oath by beeaking the covenant when lo he had given his hand and hath done all these things he shall not escape therefore thus saith the Lord God as I live surely mine oath that he hath despised and my covenant that hâ—… hath broken even it will I recompence upon his own head Remember it you may play fast and loose with man you must not think ever to carry it away by playing fast and loose with God 4. If you should not stand you loose all you have wrought all your prayers tears professions practises sufferings are all gone if you give out at last c. 5. While you stand by God God hath promised to stand with you and the truth is if I have but one God 't is no great matter for all the tyles in worms There be a 1000 devils but all those devils are in one chain and the end of that chain is in the hand of one God oh God will shew himself strong 2 Cor. 1. 69. For the eyes of the Lord run too and froâ—…through the whole earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him Quest. But what shall I do to stand Ans. 1. If ever you would stand if ever you would be firm standing Christians indeed take heed you be not light and proud Christians a feather will never stand against a whirlwind Errour and Prophaneness are most apt to breed in proud hearts The Proud and Blasphemers are put together 2 Tim. 3. 2. Be but humble Christians that 's the way to be standing steady Christians if ever you would be steady in your stations you must be low in your own eyes do not you go and judge And now we shall have another kind of Religion come up as we have had it a great while such a man cannot be an honest man alas he is a Presbyterian he 's an Independant he 's an Anabaptist c. Now all our great business will be such a man cannot be a good an honest man for he doth not conform on the other side he cannot be an honest man for he doth conform These are poor things I bless God I lay not
who have made the practising every opinion to be their trying of it till they have run themselves into all opinions but 't is by the Scripture you are first to try and then to practise who are like the Noble Bereans that were more noble then those of Thessalonica because they searched the Scripture To bring the Truths that have or shall be taught you or the Doctrines that shall be imposed upon you to the word of God to see whether they be according to the Truth or no for false Doctrines and false Worship of all things they hate the Scripture most they are like falâ—…e coyn or false Jewels which go best in the night false coyn will not endure the Touchstone nor false Jewels the day no more will false Doctrines the Scripture therefore it will be a great way to discover them 2. It will be a great way to vanquish them Eph. 6. Above all take the sword of the Spirit the word of God is the sword of the Spirit by which we slay Heretical Doctrines and by which we are to slay sinful practises All those stones that the Davids of God have flung at the Geliah's of Error they have been taken out of the brook of the Scriptures therefore reduce all Doctrines offered you to believe all worships that are taught you to practise to the word of God 1. All Doctrines that are taught you to believe reduce them thither there 's no profession of faith to be built but the stones must be fetched from that mountain If you believe divine truths but not because the Scripture propounds them your faith is but humane If you believe any thing the Scripture doth not speak your faith is Diabolical the word of God and your faith must run parallel All that is written you must believe and you must believe nothing but what is written This was the Rule of the Old Testament Isa. 8. 20. To the Law and to the Testimony to the Law that is to Moses and to the Testimony that is to the Prophets if they speak not according to these there 's no light in them When any thing was offered to Christ by way of enquiry his common answer was How readest thou Luke 10. 26. How is it written When the holy Apostle Paul would redresse the abuse of the Lords Supper he does not carry the Corinthians to these and these Fathers to this and that use and custome but brings that how it was delivered from the Lord he reduces them to the institution What I have received from the Lord that I have delivered to you The word of God is perfect in respect of Doctrine and in respect of worship So that whatsoever is offered you to believe you must try it by the perfect rule for 't is given by Divine institution to make the man of God perfect and wise to Salvation it is such a Canon about Doctrines to be received as nothing must be added nor taken from it Rev. 22. Therefore it 's called a Testament Now no man dares add to another man's last Will and Testament who shall dare to add a faith to the Faith of Gods Elect to that which Christ hath delivered I will give you this as a certain observation that there never was any thing of false Doctrine brought into the Church or any thing of false worship imposed upon the Church but either it was by neglecting the Scripture or by introducing something above the Scripture 2. Bring hither all practice of worship as well as Doctrines to be believed try the wayes and forms of Christs house by the word of Christ he shews us the patterns thereof the outgoings and returnings thereof he was faithful in all his House even as Moses was who did not leave a pin of the Tabernacle but did appoint it There is nothing decent and comely in the Church which is so much pleaded for but what comes in by Christs institution Whatever you worship without a warrant from the word of God or by whatever means you worship without a warrant from the word of God you worship you know not what Ioh. 4. 2 't is Will-worship and by the same Rule you receive one Will-worship you may receive twenty 't is vain worship it will never reach the end of your Communion with God for he is a Spirit and seeks such worshippers it will never bring you to the enjoyment of God therefore in point of worship bring it to the word of God and as to faith and worship say Hitherto my faith and my worship shalt thou go and no further This rule rightly improved it will dis-intangle you from the hooks and take you off from the baits of those cunning Fowlers for to such the Apostle doth compare them in the New Testament who seek to betray souls from the simplicity of Gospel-faith Never any did invent false doctrine but to put up them they put down the Scripture and they put out the eyes of Christians to make them bend to it before they use other means to compel them their great work is to darken the light of the truth and in the room of the Scripture to be your rule they set up other Rules which because there are three marvellous Popular I desire to mention them in opposition to this Rule I have given you There 's a three-fold Rule men would set up to deceive poor souls The name of a Church Ancient Customes The Generality of those where they live 1. The specious Name of a Church to make that a rule to Doctrine and to worship It was the plea of the Popish party in the Marion daies What will you not believe the Church hath not the Church power to make Institutions and Canons about this and that and the other will you not believe the Church will you go out from the true Church Thus do men that go about to deceive nothing like it as to the catching and deluding many poor souls by making the Church their rule It was the way of of the Popish party of old and if Antichrist ever hath power again over the Church of Christ in that measure and degree it has had you must expect it again therefore let me caution you against it Can we enquire who this Church was It was only the decree of the proud Church Antichrist of old and the Antichristian Clergy who as you may read in their Stories would Lord it over the Faith of Gods heritage I must tell you the name and custome and way of the Churches of Christ is a reverend holy thing even of that that is a true Church 'T is a weighty Argument when the Apostle saith We have no such Custome nor the Churches of Christ And therefore I do fully close with him that said No sober man will go against Reason No Christian against the Scripture and no peaceable minded man against the Church But then the Church must shine by a Divine Scripture Light If that be a rule it must be ruled by
the Apostle Paul Do I yet strive to please men Gal. 1. 6. Am I then the Servant of Christ You cannot be the Servants of Christ if you strive to please men Wo be to you that please men and displease God He that would be my Disciple let him deny himself and take up his Cross c. What 's that deny Wife Children Learning Relations Comforts he must be willing to go out of all Those duties the Lord Jesus Christ is most glorified in they are either those your slothful hearts are most unwilling to do or that our fearful hearts are most unwilling to suffer for Therefore arm your selves with resolutions to suffer I intended to have taken up four Appearances and coverings that Saints usually take up for to hide themselves as under a covert to beat down the Gospel warrants and commands to suffer for the Faith delivered 1. The notion that a Christian hath of indifferency of things that they are but toyes and trifles that they may be done or not done It is not my work to tell you what is indifferent or name any thing in particular As I remember in the Book of Martyrs the usual argument was Why cannot you worship the Idol why cannot you bow down as well as others it's a small matter cannot you shew your outward reverence and keep your heart to your self Indeed if there were any thing that 's indifferent a Christian hath a marvellous latitude in point of Doctrine in point of Worship I would caution you therefore The term of indifferent I suppose 't is devised as a pillar to rest the conscience on which otherwise would startle and look with a broad face upon them Things that come under this notion had need well to be weighed and considered If they tell you plainly they came out of Rome and had the plague of Popery upon them they â—…ame from Hell were hatched there and the curse of God is upon them no body would entertain them They must pretend they came from the Church from the Apostles descended from the Scriptures and hence they are entertained with that freedome and willingness as that most Christians take no notice but fall down under them and so the very power and life of Religion and holy practise is eaten out The Devil hath three waies whereby he makes men seek after him 1. Commonly he doth cover holiness with other names 2ly He perswades that sins are but little 3ly That they may repent hereafter The first is suitable to my purpose That vertue or grace is covered with other names therefore if a man be holy he is called precise if zealous he is said to be rash and if it be really a sin it shall come under the name of indifferency a toy a trifle and things of that nature therefore you had need be cautious for 't is no matter what name the sin is what title it goes under as what it is really As to things of Doctrine and Worship I know there is no medium every man must give an account to the Lord of what he does therefore I do not tell you what is indifferent and what not but search the Scripture take heed what you receive for indifferent The second thing Christians will say is I hope without danger I may comply with them considering I bear them as my burthens This is very like the Young man in the Gospel he came to Christ and would have him come up to his terms and when Christ told him Yet he lacked one thing Go sell all c. he went away sorrowful So many Christians they would follow Christ but they cannot because there is not such security in it but they will go away sorrowful Thou Hypocrite art â—…hou willing to forsake all for Christ yet cannot leave life liberty and some of these small things Will you wound the name of Christ and pretend to be sorrowful for it I conclude thy pretence shall not excuse thee for so was Pilate loth to crucifie Christ and as a means and expedient he calls for water and washes his hands saying I am innocent from the bloud of this just man But do you think God excused Pilate no more will he you Whatever is brought to you is either forbidden or commanded by God If forbidden by God why do you meddle with it If commanded of the Lord why are you burdened with it why do you it heavily for the Lord loves one that is chearful in his service neither man nor God is pleased with such A third thing it is which satisfies many That they may follow in some things the opinions of wise men holy men and good men That they may do as they do I shall say but these two words First Many men are reputed good wise and honest that are not so A man may be accounted an honest man that yet may be covetous he may be accounted a very good man yet be really corrupt in heart and in his lusts therefore 't is good to try men I dare not trust mine own heart unless God give strength of grace and assistance every moment least I should betray the truth of Christ upon some advantage when the Devil would set abroach an evil opinion or practise it 's his common way to tun it up in some clean Vessel men of civil honesty and goodness You read the old Prophet drew the young one in though expresly forbidden by God himself When you do not fear a young Christian it may be the example of an old Minister shall draw you therefore 't is good to mind who you follow Secondly Grant they are all good and real they are men fearing God as there are some yet God will not let his people know all his mind There are some that would but cannot know all his mind and will the Lord is free and voluntary he reveals things necessary to salvation but for oâ—…her things he withholds But what is your rule Call no man Master you are to follow no man further then he follows Christ And indeed for a man to follow the example of others wherein they sin and do not know it it is just like the case of holy Noah who was a gracious man and knew not the strength of the Grape he was drunk with his own Vineyard But what is the fruit of it His son Cham saw his nakedness and discovered it If good and holy men taste of the intoxicated Wine that is too strong for them and know it not will you sip after them unlesse you will discover your nakedness and proclaim it from generation to generation and make your selves Chams not sons of the Prophet Therefore I know not what warrant you have to follow such examples The fourth thing is this Christians usually they do no good by standing out Answ. Whether we get or do good or no we are to do our duty The Lord will honour you for suffering for the truth 2 Thes. 1. 3 4 5. And by suffering you shall confirm the
others also Hath God committed any thing to you a treasure of Learning or Grace commit it to young Ministers that they may commit it to others that so there may be a succession of gifts and graces Do as Physicians do that labour to communicate their skill to their children and to others so should we that so there may be a succession of godly ones that godliness may be entailed upon us and our Relations Thirdly and lastly Let us all labour to be such that when we dye when we come to be gathered we may be gathered to Christ and his Angels and not to the Devil and his Angels And for that purpose let us labour to be merciful and righteous and let us be gathered to Christ by faith and to one another by love and dear affection and then we shall be gathered at the great day to Christ and the blessed company of Saints and Angels There are four observations yet behind but I must wave them at this time I have now another Sermon to preach and I cannot without injury to you that are alive and without wrong to the memory of my dearly beloved Brother but speak something of him at whose Funeral we are met this evening not so much for his commendation he needs it not but for our imitation it is pitty great pitty something should not be said that this Reverend Minister though dead may yet preach this night and I have so much to say of him that I know not where to begin and when I have begun I hardly know how to make an end I must confesse the little time allotted me for the providing for this solemn Work and the necessary avocations in this little time have hindered me from informing my self about his breeding and manner of education at Emanuel Colledge under Mr. Stooker and his excellent carriage and converse with Mr. Hildersam Mr. Dod Mr. Ball Mr. Langley and other Ministers famous in their generations and the many pressures and hardships that he suffered in those parts and times for the keeping of his Conscience pure from that which he counted sin and therefore I must draw a vail over that part of his life and confine my discourse onely to the time since his coming to live with us in London which is about the space of twenty two or three twenty years all which time I have had the happinesse to be intimately acquainted with him insomuch as that I can freely and clearly professe and that with a sad heart that I and many others have lost a real wise and godly friend brother and fellow-labourer in the Lord j the Church hath lost an eminent member and choice pillar and this City hath lost an ancient faithfull and painfull minister who by his prayers and holy life did seek to keep off the Judgements of God from falling upon us and the lesse sensible the City is of this losse the greater is the losse I fear we may too truly repeat the words in the Text The righteous perisheth and no man layes it to-heart and mercifull men are taken away none considering that the righteous are taken away from the evil to come I have read of Philo the Iew and by chance met with the same in the life of S. Ambrose that when they came to any City or Town and heard of the death of any godly man though never so poor they would both of them mourn exceedingly because of the great losse that place had by the death of that godly man and because it was a warning-piece from God of evil approaching But we have had many godly men and godly ministers taken away of late and yet I fear me but few lay it to heart and therefore as I said the loss is the greater to this City because it is so little sensible of it It is a great loss also to his relations his wife hath lost a dear and loving husband his sister a dear brother his parish and congregation a faithful pastour The ministerial excellencies of many ministers were collected and concentred in one Simeon Ash he was a Bezaleel in Gods tabernacle a master-builder an old disciple a Polycarp a Christian of long standing in the school of Christ a burning and a shining light one whom many ministers and other good Christians called father insomuch that it was a common proverb in this City father Ash and I believe many experimentally lament over him as the King did over the Prophet Elisha My father my father the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof For he lived desired and died lamented not only in the City but I believe in very many places in the Countrey where he was known But more particularly there were twelve excellencies that I observed in this Reverend Minister and my dear brother that were as twelve Jewels or precious pearls in that crown with which God had crowned him I shall name them for your imitation and benefit he needs them not for he is above our Eulogy The first and chief Jewel that did beautifie and adorn this our brother was his sincerity and uprightness of heart which indeed is not a single grace but the soul of all grace and the interlineary that must run through all grace for what is faith if it be not unfeigned what will love to God profit you if it be not without dissimulation what is repentance worth if it be not in truth as the body without the soul is a rotten carkass so is all grace without sincerity this is the soul of all grace this is the girdle of truth Sincerity is that which girts all our spiritual armour together and makes them useful what advantage is it to have the brest-plate of righteousness the shield of faith the helmet of hope if they be but painted things it is the girdle of sincerity that makes all the other parts of our armour useful Now this excellent grace of sincerity was eminent in this our dear brother he was a true Nathanael in whom there was no guile I mean no allowed hypocrisie and this was that which carried him throuoh the pangs of death with a great deal of comfort for he was able to say with Hezekiah Remember O Lord how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart He could say with Paul This is my rejoycing the testimony of my conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity I have had my conversation in the world Secondly another Jewel was his humility this is a grace that he was cloathed withall and it is a rare grace for God dwels with the humble he resists the proud but he gives grace to the humble This reverend Minister was low in his own eyes and therefore very high in Gods eyes he had a mean esteem of himself and therefore he was in high esteem with God He was as Iacob said of himself less then the least of Gods mercies and therefore he was made partaker of the best of Gods mercies He was like
Moses And he said Here am I And he said Draw not nigh hither put off thy shooes from off thy feet for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground LET us take a short view of the foregoing Verses and that this may be the more useful and profitable â—…o us we may take notice That as in the former Chapter therâ—… is described Moses's preservation to his future employment so in this Chapter there is described his preparation â—…nd his sitting for that employment i. e. by a Vision or raâ—…her a suitable Apparition in which God discovered unto Moses his care of the people of whom Moses was to be a speedy deliverer You have here in the wordâ—… read unto you the preparation afforded to Moses for the great work of being called to be Israels deliverer and in this preparation you may take notice of these three principal parts 1. An Apparition that is here presented to the view of Moses A burning though not a consumed Bush. 2. Moses care to observe it I will turn aside and see this great sight why the Bush is not burned And then 3. Gods Monitory Precept or Admonition which he afforded unto Moses when he was drawing near to see this wonder in which we have principally considerable two parts 1. This Precept propounded 1. Negatively That be should not draw near 2. Affirmatively That he should put off his shooes from off his feet 2. You have considerable the Reason or Argument whereby God doth back this Precept or Admonition i. e. Because that place whereon he stood was holy ground The time would fail me if I should go over all these parts we shall only touch on the two former the Apparition which Moses saw and Moses's desire to observe it of which I shall only speak transitorily and insist on the latter more fully which I chiefly intend 1. For the Apparition or emblematical discovery of the estate of the Church in the burning and yet unconsumed Bush. And herein take notice of three things 1. The lowness and weakness of the Church represented by a bush 2. The cruelties of the Churches enemies signified and represented by Fire 3. The eminency of its preservation though in the fire yet unconsumed And in this only take notice that the Church is compared to a bush for two reasons 1 In regard of its deformity and blacknesse and uncomlinesse 2. In regard of its weaknesse and brittleness The Church is uncomly in regard of sin and weak in regard of suffering and God seeâ—… it best that it should be thus with them to humble them and to shew his goodnesse to accept them and to love them and make them long for their future beauty and hereby God makes them more conformable to their Head hereby he makes them endeavour to look after inward beauty and glory hereby he puts them on a life of faith and takes them off from living by sense and creature comforts and from being entangled with creature comfort and hereby he shows how little he regards the beauty and glory of this life which he denies to the best of his people And hereby he shows that there is a better state of appearance and glory approaching and therefore the people of God are not to be censured under their blackness and deformity either in regard of sin or suffering their happinesse is not to be judg'd by its outward appearance because this life is but the obscurity of the Church we see them like the Tents of Kedar but we do not see how like the Curtains of Solomon they shall be 2. The people of God should take heed of expecting that glory of this world which is not promised to them and to set their hearts on Heaven And you may see the reason why wicked men stumble so much at the outside of God's Worship because there is no outward bravery and beauty to allure them to the true Worship 2. The Church is compared to a Bush in regard of its weaknesse and brittlenesse Note That it is not compar'd to a strong sturdy Oke but to a weak brittle Bush. God loves to bring his Church into a low and weak estate and condition as it is here compared to a Bush so other where to a Vine a Dove a Lamb and a Sheep all weak creatures Somtimes the Church is said to be fatherless and destitute and as our Lord Jesus Christ the Head of the Church was said to be weak a worm and no man and as the Apostle said Suffered through weaknesse And this makes them to trust in God and puts them to rest on his strength When we are weak then are we strong outward weaknesse will make us look the more to Christ for spiritual strength the weaknesse of our state doth shew the spiritual strength God gives to his people for the upholding of them And this weaknesse of his Church doth exceedingly confound his enemies when so weak a company shall be delivered not only against but by the strength of men and hereby God doth gain to himselfe the greater glory in their deliverance for remembering them in their weak estate Hereby the people of God aâ—…e made the more thankfull both for their preservation in and deliverence from their powerfull adversaries You â—…ee here is a large field opened unto me for the discoursing upon the Church's weaknesse which whether it be more sutable to the Text or to the Times I leave to you to judge But 2. Consider the cruelty of their opposition that is set forth and â—…epresented by the fire that burned in the Bush. Afflictions and especially persecuting oâ—…es are in Scriptuâ—…e fâ—…equently set out by fire as The fiery tryal the fire of Affliction This doth not onely discover the rage and cruelty of men but also the benefit and utility that comes to the Church by Affliction for the Afflictions of the Church are not as consuming but trying fire as the fire in a Furnace is to Gold it only takes away the dross nor like the fire of hel which hath heat without light but the School of persecution hath light as well as heat the School of affliction is the School of teaching God teacheth his Saints excellent Lessons by the light of that fire But I passe by that I might now insist upon the third thing 3. Consider the eminence of their preservation It was not consumed the Church of God was hot but not altogether and wholly consumed let the fire be never so hot and spreading the Church of God shall have a being if the Church be lesse in one place it will be greater in another what it loses in one place it gets in another and God will have a Name among his people on earth A man may as well attempt to blow out the light of the Sun with a pair of bellows or batter it with snow-balls as to root the Church out of the world for it is impossible to root Christ's Church out of the world And if you take notice of