dust and ashes not worthy to tread thy Courts and it is of thy mercy that we are not consumed How often have we pluckt fruit from the forbidden tree We have sinned presumptnously against the clearest Light and the dearest Love always have we sinned thy footsteps have dropt fatness thou hast shown mercy to us but the better thou hast been to us the worse we have been to thee thou hast loaded us with thy mercies and we have wearied thee with our sins when we look into our selves oh the poison of our natures what ever the Leper did touch was unclean thus do we by our spiritual leprosiâ—… infect our Holy things our Prayers had need have pardon and our tears had need have the blood of sprinkling to wash them how vain are our Vows how sensual are our affections We confess we are untuned and unstrung for every Holy action we are never out of tune to sia but always out of tune to pray we give the world our male affections and our strongest desires we should use this world as if we used it not and alas we pray as if we prayed not and serve thee as if we served thee not there is not that reverence nor that devotion nor that activeness of saith that there should be Lord if thou shouldest say Thou woulâ—…st pardon all our sins to this time only judge us for this prayer we unto us what breathingâ—… of unbelief and hypocrisie is there now when we approach unto thee we pray thee pardon us for Christs sake Who can tell how oâ—…t he dotâ—… offend we can as well reckon the drops of the Ocean as number 〈◊〉 sins we have filled the number of the Nations sins but have not fillâ—… thy bottle with our tears This is that that doth exceedingly aggravate 〈◊〉 sins that we cannot mourn for sin we can grieve for our losses but 〈◊〉 cannot mourn for our unkindnesses we have crucified the Lord of life sin has not only defiled us but hardened us nothing can melt us but the love of Christ nothing can soften us but the blood of Christ oh withold not thy mercies from us oh help us to eat the Passeover with bitter herbs let us look on Christ and weep over him let us look on a broken Christ with broken hearts and on a bleeding Christ with bleeding hearts let us mourn for our dis-ingenuity that we should grieve that God that 〈◊〉 â—…wayes doing us good Oh humble us for our unkindness and for 〈◊〉 sake blot out our transgressions they are more then we can number 〈◊〉 more than God can pardon Though we have lost the duty of Children thou hast not lost the goodness of a Father let us be held forth as patterns of mercy so shall we trumpet forth thy praise to all eternity whatever afflictions thou layesâ—… upon our bodies let not our sins be unpardoned let not sin and affliction be together upon us let there be peace in Heaven and peace in the Court of Conscience we have found this part of thy word true In the world we shall have trouble let us find the other part true In Jesus Christ we shall have peace Oh let peace and holiness go together make 〈◊〉 new creatures that we may be glorious creatures without faith Christ will not profit us when we can call nothing in the world ours let us call Christ ours Lord draw thine Image every day more lively upon us a more lively hope and a more inflamed love to Christ. Let us have a spirit of courage and resolution keep us from the fallacies of our own hearts keep us from the defilements of the times make us pure in heart that we may see God that we may have Gospel-spirits humble spirits meek spirits As Christ did take our flesh let us partake of his Spirit Why dost thou imbitter the breast of the creature to us but that we should find the sweetness of the promises There is as much in the promises as ever let us live upon God let us cast anchor in Heaven and we shall never sink Showr down thy blessings even the choisest of them upon the head and heart of our dread Soveraign Charles by thy appointment of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith Let Him see wherein His chiefest interest lies let Him count those His best Subjects that are Christs Subjects Bless Him in His Royal Consort iâ—… His Royal Relations the Lords of his privy Council let them be a terror to evil doers and encouragers of those that do well Bless all thine Ordinances to us make them to be fulness of life to every one before thee we are come this day to partake of them oh pour in wine and oyl into our souls let us be as a watred Garden let this blessed Sacrament be a poison to our lust and nourishment for our grace Hear â—…s be our God follow us with mercy crown us with acceptance and all for Christ his sake whom not feeing we love in whom believing we rejoyce To Christ with Thee and the holy Spirit be glory honour and â—…raise now and for ever Amen Mr. Watson's Farewell Sermon 2 COR. 7. 1. Having these promises dearly Beloved let us cleanse our selves IT is the Title that I intend now by the help of God to insist upon that sweet Parenthesis in the Text Dearly beloved wherein you have the Apostle breathing forth his affections unto this people he speaks now as a Pastor and he speaks to them as his spiritual Children Dearly beloved where you have First the Title Beloved Secondly The Exhortation to Holiness Let us cleanse our selves Thirdly The Means how we should be cleansed and sanctified Having these promises It is the first of these that I intend the Title that the Apostle gives to his children Dearly beloved From hence observe this Doctrine That the affections of a right Gospel-Minister towards his people are very ardent Dearly beloved there are two things in every Minister of Christ that are much exercised his head and his heart his head with labour and his heart with love his head with labour in the work of the Ministry Iâ—… done aright it is a work fitter for Angels than for menâ—… it is our work to open the Oracles of God even thosâ—… sacred profound things that the Angels search into and if God did not help us we might soon sink under the weight of such a burden and as a Minister's head is exercised with labour so his heart is exercised with love and it is hard to say which of the two exceeds his Labour or his Love Thus is it here in the Text my dearly beloved In these words we have Saint Paul laying siege to these Corinthians and labouring to make a happy victory to conquer them with kindness dearly beloved Saint Paul's heart was the spring of love his lips were the pipe the Corinthians were the cistern into which this spring did run This holy Apostle was a mirror and pattern of love
towards the sinning Paul's tears did drop towards the praying Corinthians his love did burn holy Panl was a Seraphin his heart did burn in a flame of affection to his people how many passages do we find scattered in his Epistles he tells this people which sometimes he did write to and sometimes he preached to He looked after their souls more then their silver 2 Cor. 12. 14. We seek not yours but you As a tender nurse cherisheth her chlld with the breast so Saint Paul gave his people the breast-milk of the Word in 1 Thes. 2. 8. This man of God did not only bestow a Sermon upon his people but was willing to impart his very Soul to them if it might save theirs 1 Thes. 2. 7. We were willing to have imparted to you our own souls because you are dear unto us Such was Saint Paul's affection to his people that without a complement he loved them more then his life Phil. 2. 17. And if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith I rejoyce with you all that is as if he had said If it be so that my blood be poured forth as a sacrifice if my death may be any way serviceable unto you if it may help forward the strengthening and confirming of your faith I am willing to die I rejoyce to do it so full of affections was this Apostle that he could not choose but love his people though the more he did love the less he should be loved in 2 Corinth 12. 15. oh how did Paul sweeten all his Sermons with love in 2 Cor. 12. 15. if he reproved sin yet he was angry in love he dipt the pill in sugar Gal. 4. 9 10 11. How turn ye again to weak and beggarly elements you observe dayes and months and years I am afraid of you lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain Brethren I beseech you be as I am See how Saint Paul chides their sins and yet at the same time courts their souls No sooner did he laâ—…ce the wound but presently he poured in wine and oyl into it so did Paul love his people that he would not justly give any offence to the weakest believer 1 Cor. 8. 13. If meat make my brother to offend I will never eat flesh more whilst the world standeth Paul was like some tender mother who forbears to eat those meats that she might for fear of hurting the child that she gives suck to Thus you see he was a spiritual father made up of love and surely my brethren this affection in some degree is in all the true Ministers of Jesus Christ they are full of sympathy and bowels unto those over whom the holy Ghost hath made them Overseers I shall only glance at the Reasons why it will be thus and why it should be thus that such flaming affections there should be in all Christs Ministers to their people It will be thus for these two Reasons briefly First from that principle within that teacheth Love Grace doth not fire the heart with passion but with compassion Grace in the heart of a Minister files-off that ruggedness that is in his spirit making him loving and courteous Paul once breathed out persecution but when Grace came this bramble was turned into a spiritual Vine twisting himself about the souls of his people with loving Embraces Secondly there will be this ardent love in a minister heart from that spiritual relation that is between him and his people he is a spiritual Father and shall we think him to be without bowels 1 Cor. 4. 15. Though you have ten thousand instructors yet have you not many fathers for in Christ Iesus I have begotten you through the Gospel Some he begets unto Christ others he builds up in Christ. Doth not a Father provide chearfully for his children can a father see bread taken from his childe and not have his heart affected with it Is it not a grief to a parent to see his child put out to a dry Nurse Secondly there should be this ardent love and affection in all Gods Ministers for this reason because this is the liveliest way to do most good knotty and stubborn hearts will soonest be wrought upon with kindness The fire melteth the hardest metall the fire of love with Gods blessing will melt the most obdurate â—…inner A Boanerges a son of consolation who comes in the spirit of love and meeknesse is the fittest to do a piece of Gospel-chirurgery to restore and put such an one in joynt again that is overtaken with a fault Gal. 6. 1. Restore such a one with the spirit of love and weaknesse Thus much in short for the doctrinal part Give me leave now to make some application And first here are several Inferences that may be drawn from this As First see here the right character of a Gospel-Minister He is full of love he exhorts he comforts he reproves and all in love he is never angry with his people but because they will not be saved How loth is a Minister of Christ to see precious souls like so many jewels cast over-board into the dead Sea of hell A conscientious Minister would count it an unhappy gain to gain the world and lose the souls of his people he saith as the King of Sodome to Abraham Give me the persons and take thou the goods Gen. 14. 21. The second branch of Information is this Are true Gospel-Ministers so full of love then how sad is it to have such Ministers put upon a people as have no love to souls The work of the ministry it is a labour of love Oh how sad is it to have such in the ministry that can neither labour nor love that are such as are without bowels that look more at tyths then at souls It must needs be sad with a people in any part of the world to have such ministers set over them as either poyson them with error or do what in them lies to damn them by their wicked example How can the Devil reprove sin how can the Minister cry out in the Pulpit against drunkenness that will himself be drunk Rom. 2. 22. Thou that teachest A man should not steal dost thou steal Thou that sayest A man oughtnot to commit adultcry doâ—…st thou commit adultery We read that the snuffers of the Tabernacle were to be made of pure Gold Exod. 37. 23. Those who by their calling are to reprove and snuff off the sins of others they should be pure gold holy persons In the Law God did appoint the lip of the Leper should be covered he ought to have his lip covered he should not be permitted to speak the Oracles of God who though he be by office an Angel yet by life is a Leper Thirdly See from hence the happiness of a Minister who is placed among such a people as give him abundant cause of love How happy is he that can say to his people from his heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My
dearly Beloved And here let me speak by way of encouragement to you of this Parish I find St. Paul commending the good he saw in his people 1 Thess. 1. 3 We are bound to thank God alwayes for you beloved because your faith grows exceedingly Here Paul is commending his people In imitation of this Apostle let me at this time speak a commendatory word to you I have exercised my Ministry now among you for almost sixteen years and I rejoice and bless God that I cannot say The more I love you the less I am loved I have received many signal demonstrations of love from you though other Parishees have exceeded you for number of houses yet I think not for strength of affection I have with much comfort observed your reverent attention to the word preached you rejoiced in this light not for a season but to this day I have observed your zeal against error and as much as could be expected in a critical time your unity and amity this is your honour and if for the future there should be any interruption made in my Ministry among you though I should not be permitted to preach to you yet I shall not cease to love you to pray for you but why should there be an interruption made where is the crime Some indeed say that we are disloyal and seditious Beloved what my actings and sufferings for his Majesty have been is known not to a few of you but however we must go to Heaven through good report and through bad report and it is well if we can get to glory though we pass through the pikes I shall endeavour that I may still approve the sincerity of my love to you I will not promise that I shall still preach among you nor will I say that I shall not I desire to be guided by the silver-thread of Gods word and of Gods providence my heart is toward you there is you know an expression in the late Act that we shall be now shortly as if we were naturally dead and if I must die let me leave some legacy with you before I go from you I cannot but give you some counsel and advice for your souls and I hope there is no hurt in that There are my beloved these twenty directions that I desire you to take special notice of which I would leave as advice and counsel with you about your souls First I beseech you keep your constant hours every day with God the godly man is a man set aparâ—… Psal. 4 3. not only because God hath set him apart by election but because he hath set himself a part by devotion Give God the Aurâ—…rae filium begin the day with God visit God in the morning before you make any others visits wind up your hearts toward heaven in the morning and they will go the better all the day after O turn your Closets into Temples read the Scriptures the two Testaments are the two lips by which God speaks to us these will make you wise unto salvation the Scripture is both a glass to shew you your spots and a laver to wash them away besiege heaven every day with Prayer thus perfume your houses and keep a constant intercourse with heaven Secondly get good books into your houses when you have not the spring near to you then get water into your cistern so when you have not that wholesome preaching that you desire good books are cisterns that hold the waters of life in them to refresh you When Davids natural heat was taken away they covered him with warm clothes 1 Kings 1. so when you find a chilness upon your souls and that your former heat begins to abate ply your selves with warm clothes get those good books that may acquaint you with such truths as may warm and affect your hearts Thirdly have a care of your company Take heed of unnecessary familiarity with sinners we cannot catch health from another but we may soon catch a disease the disease of sin is very catching I would be as fraid of coming among the wicked as among those that have the plague Psal 106. 35. They were mingled with the heathen and learned their works if we cannot make others better let us have a care that they make not us worse Lot was was a miracle he kept fresh in Sodomes salt-water My beloved take heed of the occasions of sin evil company is an occasion of sin The Nazarites in the old Law as they might drink no wine so they were forbidden grapes whereof the wine was made as you read in Numb 6. to teach us that all occasions of sin must be avoided evil company is â—…ellus animarum the Devils draw-net by which he draws millions to Hell How many families and how many souls have been ruined and undone in this City by evil company many there are that go from a Playhous to a Whorehous from a Tavern to Tyburn Fourthly have a care whom ye hear it is our Saviour Christs counsel Mat. 7. 15. Beware of false Prophets that come to you in sheeps cloathing but inwardly are ravening wolves Let me tell you the Devil hath his Ministers as well as Christ Rev. 12. 15. The Serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman that is as the learned exponnd it Satan by his Ministers and Emissaries cast out the flood of Arrian doctrine to drown the Church There are some who by the subtilty of their wit have learned the Art to mix error with truth and to give poyson in a golden cup. Take heed who you hear and how you hear be like those noble Beroeans that searched the Scriptures whether the things that they preached were so or not Acts 17. 11. Your ears must not be like spunges that suck in puddle-water as wel as wine but your ears must be like a fan that fans out the chaffe but retains the pure wheat you must be like those in the Parable Mat. 13. 48. that gathered the good fish into vessels but cast the bad away The Saints are called Virgins for their wisdom they will not let every one defile their souls with error they have a judicious ear and a critical palate that can distinguish betwixt truth and error and put a difference betwixt meat of Gods sending and the Devils cooking Fifthly study sincerity Psal. 51. 6. Behold thou desirest truth in the inward part be what you seem to be be not like Rowers in a Barge that look one way and row another Do not look heaven-ward by your profession and row hel-ward by your conversation do not pretend to love God and not love sin Simulata sanctitas duplicata iniquitas Counterfeit piety is double iniquity Let your hearts be upright with God the plainer the Diamond is the richer it is and the more plain the heart is the more doth God value this jewel A little rusty gold is far better then a great deal of bright brasse a little true Grace though
and as he lived so he dyed holily even as the ancient Patriarks that dyed in the Faith and endured faithfully unto the death Now this excellent Minister of Christ thus beautified with these Jewels is now perished as to his outward man gathered to God to Christ and the blessed company of Saints and Angels The application that I shall make of this Discourse is this 1. To us Ministers 2. To you of this Parish and Congregation First to us Ministers God hath of late years taken to himself many famous men Seven of the Lecturers of Cornhill are dead Mr. Burroughs Dr. Bolton Mr. Sedgâ—…wick Mr. Whitaker Mr. Cranford Mr. Vines and now Mr. Ash. I might name many other excellent Ministers that are dead as Dr. Gouge Mr. Walker Mr. Gataker Mr. Marshal Mr. Robinson and lately Mr. Cook with many more Now all these are warning-pieces from heaven of judgements approaching For the righteous perish and no man lays it to heart and merciful men are taken away none considering that the righteous are taken away from the evil to come Thus Methuselah dyed a year before the Flood now Methuselah in Hebrew signifies a Messenger of death Thus Austin dyed a little before Hippo was taken and Pareus a little before Hiddleburge was taken and Luther a little before the Wars in Germany began The death of the godly is like the separating of the Israelites from the tents of Corah and his company like the taking of Lot out of Sodom When the Israelites departed from Corah and his company the earth swallowed them up and when Lot departed out of Sodom God rained down fire and brimstone upon them Let the thoughts of these things cause us to provide our Arks to get our Zoar's Let it teach young Samuels to rise up in the room of old Elyes young Elisha's in the room of old Elijahs and young Timothies in the room of Paul the aged that there may be a succession of Gospel Ministers to hold forth the Word of life to this Nation And let us labour to be inheritors of of these twelve Excellencies that beautified this our reverend Brother Secondly Let me speak a few words to you of this Parish the Auditors of this worthy Minister There is scarce one man of a hundred that understands the tie and obligation that is betwixt a Minister and his people O the love and affection that ought to be betwixt them Paulâ—…ells â—…ells the Galatians that they could a pluckt out their eyes for him if need were Chrysostom tells us that when Mileâ—… was taken away by death from his people their hearts sunk with sorrow and such love had they to him that they called all their children by his name and got his picture engraven on their rings And I have read of Chrysostome that when he was banished from his people there was not a corner in the City but was full of people weeping and lamenting The losse of a godly Minister is a publick losse therefore there ought to be publick mourning it is a soul-losse and therefore methinks every one of you should weep and mourn you have lost your common father you of this congregation have lost your spiritual father your spiritual shepherd you have lost your eyes your guide and indeed it is you that are his flock that must commend your Minister by practising that which he preached said the Apostle 2 Cor. 3. 1. Do we again begin to commend our selves or need we as some others Epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you Ye are our Epistles written in our hearts known and read of all men As if the Apostle should say do we need letters of commendation is it necessary that we should spend time in commending our ministry you are out letters of commendation your holiness and piety commends a Minister above all other things As when a man comes into an Orchard or Vineyard said Chrysostome and sees every thing skilfully handled and neatly â—…fimmed he need not spend time in commending the Vine-dresser or Carpenter the work it self commends them So ought it to be among you when we preach the Funeral Sermons of Ministers we must look into his Parish or Congregation and see what letters of commendation there are whether the proficiency of the Auditors commend their Ministers I grant it is not alwayes true God doth not alwayes give successe to a godly Minister but the worst is yours I had almost said the curse is yours but I will speak modestly the worst is yours Tell me how many of you are able to say I blesse God that ever such a Minister was sent among us blessed be God that ever we heard him preach what seal of his ministry is there here among you he was in another and another place in this City and it may be here are people from all places that have been his Auditors what seal of his ministry is there now to be found among you how many souls hath he pluckt out of the snares of the devil how many of you have gone away weeping from a Sermon knocking your breasts and pricked at the hearts for sin crying out Men and Brethren what shall we do to be saved your tears and mourning for sin these are the Auditors that commend your Ministers Go home now and think with your selves what can I remember of all the Sermons that I have heard from Mr. Ash and give me leave to tell you woe be to you if as your Minister be dead so all the Sermons that he made die with him For as Abel being dead yet speaketh so shall the Sermons of this worthy Minister at the great day speak for you or against you for they are spiritual talents that God hath betrusted you with and you must be accountable both he and you shall appear before the Tribunal of God your Minister shall be examined how he can free himself from the guilt of soul-blood and you shall be examined what fruit you have brought forth answerable to the means that you have enjoyed and if it appear that you have been unprofitable and unfruitful hearers Châ—…ist will say Cast the unprofitable servant into utter darkness But I hope better things of you and things that accompany salvation Whatever was good in this reverend Minister let it live in you and though he be dead yet let not his Sermons that he preached die with you but let them be in you that at the great day when he and you appear before God he may be able say Here am I and the Children that thou hast given me Dr. Horton's Sermon at Mr. Nalton's Funeral Rich Treasure in Earthen Vessels c. 2 Cor 4. 7. But we have this Treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us THere is nothing so excellent or compleat in this world but hath its diminishment and qualifications and something that doth disparage it and abates of the excellency thereof not the things
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
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.
are grieved they that touch them touch the Apple of his eye in all afflictions he is afflicted Saul Saul Why persecutest thou me Every blow that is given to them God bears a part of it himself As they are sensible of Gods dishonour so God is sensible of their sufferings it pains him to the heart to see his Children wronged and abused by a malicious world Seventhly He is with them by his sanctifying presence all their troubles are to do them good and to make them good and therefore the furnace it is but to refine them from their dross the pruning hook of affliction is but to cut off their luxuriant branches God takes the sharp knife into his hand and lances them but it is only to fetch out their corruption By this shall the iniquity of Iacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sin Eighthly God is with them by his quickening presence to make their Prayers more servent to make their requests to the throne of Grace more importunate The children of God cry most to him when they suffer most from men and their prayers are best when their condition is worst Prayer shortens affliction and affliction heightens Prayer God is with them to hear their Prayers Oh the Prayer of the afflicted that comes up to Heaven God hears the sighs and gâ—…ones of his oppressed ones their tears pierce the Heavens they call upon God in time of trouble and pour out their sorrows before the Lord and he doth hear them Ninthly God is with them by his raising presence to raise up their hearts higher to elevate their souls and bring them more near to himself Gods people when they meet with troubles in the world oh nothing so sweet unto them as the enjoyment of God then no life so sweet unto them as the life of faith then they relish a sweetness in the promise then every smile of God oh how welcome is it then all the affections of their souls center in God and run to God as in winter time all the sap of the tree runs to the root in summer time it spreads it self in the body but in the winter it goes to the root when a man is sick all the blood goes to the heart so in a suffering condition all the affections of the soul go to God But now what are the Reasons why God will not leave his people that thus desire to please him Why 1. God loves them therefore he will not leave them persons we love we cannot leave especially when they are in a distressed condition and as God hath set his love upon them so they have set their love upon God they love God Psal. 91. 15. you hâ—…ve there an expression Because he hath set his love upon mâ—… therefore I will deliver him he shall call upon me and I will answer him I will be with him in trouble God is â—… God of bowels of great pity and compassion and therefore he will not leave his people in a time of distress you know bowels how they stand in you towards them that are in misery it goes to the heart of a mercifull man to leave a person in misery Oh how great are the bowels and compassions of God Is Ephraim my son is he a pleasant childe Oh my bowels are turned within me I will have mercy on him 2. Such as please God shall have his presence under suffering because now they need God most if God will not leave his people as to temporal supplies because they need such and such things they need meat and they need cloathing surely much more God will not leave his children as to spiritual supplies under times of distress because then they need God Oh what can a Believer do or what can a Believer suffer when God leaves him his strength is in God his support is in God his comfort is in God his All is in God and therefore if God now leave him what will become of him he needs God at all times but never so much as when his condition is dark and troubled What was Sampson that man of so great strength when his hair was gone And what is a Believer when his God is gone 3. God loves to see his people chearfull in a time of suffering and therefore he is with them he loves not that they should walk dejectedly When God is present Paul and Silas can sing in prison the Apostles can rejoyce that God honours them to be reproached for him When God is present the people of God are not only cheâ—…rfull under tribulation but can glory their Cross is their Crown but if God be withdrawn what can there be drooping hearts and pensive sorrows 4. God will not leave them because they will not leave God God will not leave them because they suffer for his sake were they not tender of Gods glory and carefull to please him they might be free from suffering as well as others but it is for Gods sake they suffer For thy sake we are killed like sheep all the day long Lastly It is thus because God will make it appear to all the World that he puts a difference between them that desire to please him and other men God hath a value for such Do but see how Moses argues the case with God Exod. 33. 13. and so on where he comes to God with a great request that God should shew him his way that he might know it Why saith God to him My presence shall go with thee Moses said unto him It is well thou art pleased to promise so great a mercy If thy presence go not with me carry us not hence for wherein shall it be known that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight Is it not in this that thou goest with us Observe Moses pleads with God How his favour and love and mercy should be with them unless he were present with them And so God he walks with his people in trouble for how should the world see that God regarded them and did favour them unless he manifested his presence unto them in a time of trouble and affliction Dr. Iacomb's Afternoon 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 I Was upon these words in the morning having spoken something to them as they referre to Christ who spake them here of himself I then brought them down to his Members Believers and so propounded this Observation from them That whoever they are that desire to please God to do the things that are pleasing to him God will be with such end the Father will not leave such alâ—…ne especially in a time of suffering and trouble In the prosecuting of this point I spake to four things which I shal not now repeat but come to the mark which I intend at present that is to make some Application 1. Let me endeavour to prevail
to say All shall work for my good it would enable thee to get advantage and be bettered by them Hadst thou strength enough to improve them thou wouldst take comfort from them and support thy self under them but when thou hast not strength enough to understand God's meaning to see the Duty then called for to improve all for God to do that service to God thou shouldst do in such a condition no wonder if thou have not grace to support and comfort thee in that condition Whereas the confirmed Christian by strong faith love and patience can carry great burthens c. 6. They are helpful to many and troublesome unto few They are the useful Persons in the family and place where they live it is they can counsel others in their doubts help them in their straits that can bear up the weak when ready to sink that can hold others by the arm when not able to go upright that tend God's little ones And if it were not for these what would God's little ones do They are so furnished with patience which God hath given them for the use of the weak ones in his family and though they are troublesome or do that which might be a disturbance to them they will not thrust them out It is they that comfort the feeble support provide for strengthen and confirm the rest and were it not for these what back-sliding hearts should we have c. And they are comparatively troublesome to few though while corruption cleaves to them they shall sometimes be It is not they that are censuring their Brethren that are stirring up division and make all that feud that is in the Church if they might be hearkened unto and regarded there would be quietness and composure for if ever there be peace it will be by the strong ones But weak ones in grace are the burdens and troublers of the family you may know they are the weak ones in God's house in that they are those that are alwayes crying complaining making fire-work in the family back-biting censuring their Brethren quarrelling with one or other c. these peevish troublesome souls are the weak ones c. 7. The strongest in grace are the best able to stand work and suffer alone Though in duty they should not be alone when they can have society and though they are most humble therefore sensible they need of others and will not throw away any of their helps yet if all forsake them they will stand to it still they go not to Heaven meerly for company sake they be not Christians meerly because such and such are Christians If all the world forsake Christ they will stick to him unless Christ leave them to their own weakness But the weak Christian hath a great deal more need of comfort and support and lives a more dependent life they cannot stand work suffer alone if their Minister fall they fall if their Relations change they change if there be not some body at hand to confute an Adversary they yield if there be not some body to keep life and warmth they grow cold in every duty in affliction they can step on no longer then led by the hand c. have Christians to support and to quiet and moderate their passions and to teach them the Doctrine of patience they can hold up no longer than they are refreshed with cordials What would become of you should God let you stand by your selves c. 8. The strong Christian is one that can best live without creatures upon God alone and a weak Christian is one that hath most need of the creature and can least live upon God alone under the censures of the godly frowns of the wicked without riches honours pleasures can have quietness and contentment in God whether he have any thing or nothing where-ever he is c. The more necessity thou art in of having something besides God for thy consolation the more weak thou art there must be comfortable provision in the family health ease liberty there must be supply I know not how to be poor disgraced c This impatient soul is the feeble soul Impatience is nothing but the fruit of weakness The strong Christian can live upon God alone therefore if men make as if they were undone if lost in their estates 't is a certain sign of a lamentable weakness of a sick soul. 9. That is the best and strongest Christian and most confirmed in grace who is most employed and abides in love of God in love to God That hath the fear of God but goes beyond fear and loves most and abides most in the love of God That makes it his great business to feed upon and study the love of God to him and to return love to him again The more God's Love is on thy heart and the more thou livest in the fruit of that love the stronger Christian. But he that lives most by a kind of constraining fear though he may be sincere he is but weak where there is nothing but fear and no love there is no sincerity but where there is some little measure of love fear is such a tyrant that it will many times cloud it so that almost all his life seems to be moved and managed by fear and in this there is much lothness and unwillingness and they had rather do otherwise then they do According to the measure of love is the strength of grace 10. He is the strongest Christian that hath most pure and most universal Love to others that can love all men even an enemy with true unfeigned love even with such love as belongs to a Christian that can love every Christian and not a party only with the pure and fervent love which belongs to Believers that can love every child of God and not those only that are of his own opinion or have done him good but all because they are children of God with a sincere and special hearty love That is the weak Christian that picks and chuses that is staggering when he comes to loving an enemy that takes in those that agree with him in judgement and makes those almost the only object of his love that would confine his affections to some narrow society some little Sect party or parcel of Believers and cannot love Christians as Christians And hence it is division is the effect of enmity or of weakness in grace for want of the universality of love I would make no question to prognostick the healing of all divisions within this Nation could I but advance all that are concerned in it to the right temper of Christian love 'T is the weak Children in Christ's Family that falls out when we have not enough love to reach to all and to love a Christian as a Christian c. Quest. What must be done by those that are converted to keep them where they are to help them unto growth to make them letter to further their confirmation to secure their salvation that
if God take them away c Answ. 'T is not the denyal of publick liberty that loses that loses that relation between a Pastor and his Flock nor any word from man should cause a poor soul to trust it self for guidance of Salvation to one that is not able a man's soul is not to be hazarded upon damnation by being deprived of the Officers and Ordinances of Christ and cast upon the conduct of a blind guide meerly for the pleasuring of a meer man 6. Be sure you understand the nature of Church-union and necessity of maintaining it and abhorr all wayes that are truly Schismatical that would rent and divide the Church of Christ. As you must not under pretence of avoiding Schism cast your soul upon apparent hazard of damnation so you must maintain the necessity of Church-Union and Communion when Christ's members walk in Communion with Christ's members supposing that which is singular to the generality of judicious men Take heed of any thing that would withdraw you from the Communion of the generality of those that are sound in the Faith Take heed of withdrawing from the main body of Believers Christ is the Head of his Church he will never condemn his Church walk in those substantials Christ's Church hath walked in Divisions among Christians is a sin God hath described as odious and tending to the ruine of Christians Be very suspicious of any that would draw you from the main body of Believers and keep Communion with the Universal Church of Christ with the generality of the godly in love and affection c. 7. Be sure your own hearts and ways be the matter of your dayly study and when hypocrites have their work abroad let yours be much at home while they make it their business to censure this and that man let the main of your business be in dressing the inward of your own hearts in keeping all right between God and you Observe your hearts inclinations if any inordinate inclination after any thing set a special guard mark which way your thoughts go that you may know your inclinations by your thoughts In an especial manner preserve tenderness of Conscience fear of sin loathfulness to displease God let truth have the mastery maintain such a Conscience that dares not sin to save your lives be sure you sin not willfully obey the light 8. Be sure to keep up continually a lively apprehension of the state and place of your everlasting happiness to live by faith upon the unseen world Know where your happiness lies and what it is that you grow not to carnal apprehensions of your happiness Live upon Heaven and let that be it that shall animate your faith to duty and all that you may still be weary of vexations and sensible of the vanities here below Let your conversation be above Be confirmed in your apprehensions of the certainty and excellency of eternal blessedness grow more in Heavenly-mindedness and in satisfaction of soul in the hopes you have of these things 9. Understand the nature method and power of temptations how to resist them and live in watchfulness Be not a stranger to Satan and his methods of tempting what you have to watch against and oppose where you must be armed Understand the nature of Christian watchfulness keep up a constant resolution and courage in resisting especially the temptations you carry about with you of your calling constitution company and of the times set them down remember them keep a special Observation of them all and say This and this it is I am in danger of and 't is my integrity and salvation that 's in danger and here place a special guard and make it your business to resist The principal cause of Christians negligence in this is the security of their Consciences and love of their Sins did you know your danger you would better look after your safety 2 Cor. 2. 11. 10. Especially understand how much the flesh and carnal self is an Enemy to God and your souls and how much you are engaged by the Christian Covenant to live in a warfare against your selves and against your flesh You must not think the life of self-pleasing is consistent with Religion understand how you are bound to take the flesh for your enemy to watch against it and to live in a continual combat with it Col. 3. 5. The flesh is your chiefest enemy the very senses themselves are all grown inordinate and the work of faith is very much seen in its exercise this way if you get an opinion that you may eat and drink and cloathe c. and do all things to gratifie your selves c. then no wonder if you find but little increase in spirituals while you grow so carnal Understand and practise the duty of Self-denial Self is the very heart of sin Humor it not under pretence of liberty in Religion 11. Give not way to a formal heartless seeming Religiousness Customariness without the life but keep your souls in a continual seriousness and awakedness about God Immortality and your great Concernments If one duty be dead take heed lest that incline you to a deadness in another and so grow to a customary deadness Take heed of spiritual slothfulness that makes you keep your hands in your bosom when you should be doing for your souls stir up to and in duty when you have but little time for life eternal do not pray as if you prayed not or hear as though you heard not but when upon duty doing Gods service do it with all the seriousness and vigour you can To grow lazie and negligent is the declining way Use such considerations as may stir you up Rom. 12. 11. Tit. 2. 14. 12. Remember alwayes the worth of time and greatness of your work and therefore so value time as not negligently or slothfully to lose a moment it will quickly be gone and when you are at the last you will better know its worth harken to no temptation that will draw you to any trifling abusing wasting of your precious time If thou hast no argument against thy sports trifling pleasures c. but this It loses my time take it for a greater argument then if it lose thee thy money friends or any thing in the world especially value the preciousest of your time your Youth your morning hours especially the Lords day lose not any part of it but improve it with your selves and families lose not a moment of the Lord's-day nor any of thy precious time thou canst spare and redeem if thou hast lost any be humbled for it and be carefull to redeem the rest look back Do you approve of the time that is past could you not have spent it better remember what you have lost let that quicken you look before you remember what is to be done and do that first which must be done and then leave trifles to that time you have to spare It is ignorance and idleness and not want of work that
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
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
ought to be for a Lamentation That there must be a parting between David and 〈◊〉 who loved one another as their own Souls this cuts them unto their very heart And this I may say with respect to my self I blesse God I cannot say as she of her Husband A bloody Husband hast thou been unto me but a loving Congregation have you been unto me I know none of you have desired my destruction nor to taint my name never did I hear three in this Congregation speak of pressing any thing against me that was contrary to my conscience nor can I say that there are four in this Parish that did ever deny to pay me my legal dues blessed be God for such a people you have not encroached upon my conscience as I hope I have not upon yours Pastors must love their people do not blame them if their hearts be almost broken when they are to part with such a people 2. Must the Pastor love his people then the people must love their Pastor 'T is true it lies in the power of man to seperate the Pastor and people but not to separate their hearts I hope there will never be a separation of love but that will still continue if we do not see one another yet we may love one another and pray for one another I hope a husband doth not cease from loving his wife because she is absent from him But oh for my Brethren hundreds of them think that you are undone though you cannot see as far as other men you may live in love and keep your consciences quiet 3. Must Pastors love their People then you see from hence what should be the grand object of the Pastors affection i. e. the people not what the people have this is great inquiry what is the benefice worth What 's the preferment Do they pay well c. Whereas we should not seek so much the Fleece as the Flock we should not take oversight of a Congregation for love of their pay but of their souls nor 't is an excellent good living as one said I have heard of Let me have their Tythes and let their souls go to the Devil but as the Apostle I seek not yours but you 2 Cor. 12. 14. And I hope there be many hundreds can say it hath been the peoples souls they have more loved and affected than any thing what the people had 4. Once more We must love them and love them tenderly Why and yet leave them Yes my beloved We are so to love our people as to venture any thing for them but our own damnation I come not here to throw firebrands I bless God I have a most tender affection for all my Brethren in the Ministry and though I am not satisfied my self yet I condemn no man I believe there be many of them do as conscienciously subscribe as deny to subscribe I protest in the fear of God I cannot subscribe perhaps it is because I have not that light as others have for he that doubts saith the Apostle is damned My beloved I hope you would not have us sin against God and our Consciences It is not my living that I desire but my office to serve my Lord and Master but if we should to keep communion with you lose our communion with God this is the ready way to have all our labour and pains lost but as David said and oh that I could speak it with as good hopes as David Zadok carry back the Ark of God if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord he will bring me again and shew me both it and his habitation but if he thus say I have no delight in thee behold here am I let him do to me as seemeth good unto him 2 Sam. 15. 24. Brethren I could do very much for the love I bear to you but I dare not sin I know they will tell you this is pride and peevishness in us and that we have preacht against it and are tender of our reputation and we would fain all be Bishops and forty things more but the Lord be witness between them and us in this Beloved I prefer my wife and children before a blast of air of peoples talk I am very sensible what it is to be reduced to a morsel of bread Let the God of heaven and earth do what he will with me if I could have subscribed with a good conscience I would I would do any thing to keep my self in the work of God but to sin against my God I dare not do it 3. My joy and Crown therefore my dearly beloved and longed for my joy and Crown my present joy and future Crown my joy which I value more then a Crown my principal joy Hence observe this Doctrine that The fixed standing flourishing growth of Saints in Gospel-practice and Gospel-obedience is or ought to be matter of transcendent joy to their Pastors It was so to the Apostle Paul Paul heard how they stood though there was a plague amongst them yet they were not infected and though he was in the Gaol ready to be beheaded yet this was his joy and Crown that his people did stand and I hope my Brethren it will be our joy and Crown to heâ—…r of your standing and growth in Gospel knowledge and Gospel-profession And 1. If this be so as Iohn said I rejoyced greatly that I found of thy Children walking in the truth It should be the prayers and endeavours of all Pastors really to love the souls of their people and to pray for them that when they cannot look after the souls of their Children yet that good Nurses may be looked out for them What a joy was it that Moses Mother was made his Nurse and who can tell it may be thought not out of any merit of ours yet of their own clemency our Governours may give us to be Nurses over our own Children but if I cannot nurse my Childe my self I will wish it well and as good a Nurse as I can far be it that those that are to succeed should not prosper Lord it shall be the prayere of thy Servant that those that are to succeed may have a double and treble portion of thy Spirit that he may be both painful and faithfull c. 2. If the peoples growth in grace and knowledge be matter of joy to a faithful Pastour then what do you think of those that hinder their thriving I shall give you two Scriptures Iohn 12. 19. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves they durst not speak publickly but who was it against why it was against Christ perceive ye how ye prevail nothing behold the world is gone after him But we will order him for that we will be sure to lesson his Congregation if we cannot do that we will shut the doors against him see Matth. 23. 13. Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites for ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men What! shut up the Kingdome