can discern else what meaneth this courting of the great ones while the poor of the Flock stand by disregarded and when a poor man comes to speak with you I am busie come another time when at the same time if a great one comes then make all ready to give them entertainment and all possible respect shewed them Sirs what doth this come short of that charge Jude 16. Having mens persons in admiration because of advantage If it be not really so I appeal to you whether or no you do not give others just occasion to judge so Oh Sirs precious in the sight of the Lord are all his Saints and so should they be to you excuse me that by the by I return to the Apostles evidence they were also of that Spirit to love the Saints 1 John 4.19 We love him because he first loved us Ah but how shall we know that we love him Verse 20. He that saith he loves God and hates his Brother is a lyer How shall we know who loved God Verse 21. He who loves God loves his Brother also and Chap 5.1 Every one that loveth him that begat that is God loveth him also that is begotten of him Soul dost thou love him that is begotten of God then thou dost love God love God may many a man say why I never saw him how then should I love him Chap. 4.12 No man hath seen God at any time Exod. 33.20 No man can see God and live but in John before quoted If we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us Note his love is perfected or compleated in us Ah soul dost thou love thy Brother Saint indeed 't is a good sign thou art a child of God it may be thou thinkest thou hast but little grace it may be but as a Mustard Seed 't is but as a spark of fire in a great heap of ashes a spark of grace in the midst of a great heap of corruption or it may be thou dost not shine in the sight of others so eminently it may be thou canst not discourse nor pray so excellently to appearance as some can I but dost thou love the brethren then I 'le assure thee 't is very well with thee who these brethren are Christ tells us they are they that do the will of the Father Mark 3.35 not thy natural brother if he hath not grace he is not thy brother in Christ 'T is well with thee if thou lovest the Saints so saith the same Apostle 1 Epist John 3.14 And with that I 'le wind up all as to these things We know that we are passed from Death to Life Why how dost thou know John we know by this Because we love the Brethren dost thou love the Brethren of Christ above and beyond all other men and as they are the brethren of Christ meerly upon no false account but only as they are the Brethren of Christ and the Family of God and as they are the Citizens of Heaven 't is a sure sign thou art a child of God and to use the Phrase in the Text One for whom Christ is sacrificed Thus now I have gone over those Carracters that have been found upon some one of the Saints or other that are found in the Word and though it may easily be discerned that they might have been contracted yet let such remember I design if the Lord will the relief of some poor soul that is ready to give up all hope and not what will be spoken either in praise or dispraise For he that will adventure in this sort must not mind mens good or bad report examine thy self therefore soul by what is before thee and if thou canst not find all these things in thee yet if thou findst but here and there one if God set in by his Spirit thou may'st find a little relief to thy poor trembling soul and if thou art found sincere before the Lord thou art a righteous one one that Christ the Righteous is slain for and so comfort is to be ministred to thee and that leads me to a use of consolation Say ye to the righteous it shall be well with him Isa 3.10 So in Eccl. 8.12 Surely it shall go well with him that fears God Here is comfort soul for thee if in Christ who eyer thou art if thou art born of God though but a day old yet surely it shall be well with thee art thou in doubt touching thy condition as in Dent. 28.66 Doth thy life hang in doubt before and thou fearest day and night and hast no assurance of thy life of thy pardon of thy Salvation why behold God hath bid me tell thee to which he hath added this word of assurance surely it shall go well with them that fear God thou saist surely there 's no pardon for me no peace to me and surely it shall go ill with me at last Ah poor soul doth thy life thy pardon haug in doubt and hast thou no assurance of thy life why yet surely it shall go well with them for whom Christ dyed but what consolation is there to be ministred to such truly abundance more then I can tell thee of 1 Cor. 3.9 Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither can the heart of man conceive what is prepared for them that love him but saith the Apostle in the next words 'T is revealed to us by the Spirit 't is the Spirit of God oh soul that revealeth the consolation of God to thee 't is the Spirit that sheweth things and so comfort that is to come and though I cannot tell thee all thy comfort yet I 'le tell thee some of thy comfort for 't is God that comforteth us in all our tribulations that we may be able to comfort you which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we our selves are comforted of God but in a few particulars I 'le shew thee some of the consolation that pertatineth to thee First I will shew thee a little what thou shalt be delivered from Secondly What thou shalt partake of and be priviledged too very briefly First Thou shalt be delivered from the vengeance threatned against the wicked Ah soul let me tell thee it shall be ill with the wicked Isa 3.11 'T is true the Godly man may be afflicted for his sin for God doth not willingly afflict nor grieve the children of Men Lam. 3.33 No 't is for some sin he will visit you sometimes the Godly Man shall not go altogether unpunished Jer. 30.11 But here is their comfort I will not make a full end of you no many at time hath he turned away his anger and did not stir up all his wrath Psal 78.38 It may be he let out a little of his anger like the leakings of a Floodgate but yet he did not let open the Flood-gates of his wrath that the full stream might sweep all away before it but now he opens the Flood-gate upon the wicked he reserves
but Lord thou hast said Micab 7.19 20. Thou wilt subdue our iniquities and cast our sins into the depth's of the Sea Oh Lord perform the truth to Jacob and the mercy to Abraham that thou hast promised yea sworn to our Fathers in the days of old Now soul if thou dost find in thee a Spirit of Prayer and Supplication that thou canst plead with God in his promises as I have instanced here in one why then 't is a good sign thou art thy self called of God and precious in his sight but I would hasten toward an end of these things XXIX 'T is a good sign thou thy self art in Christ if thou art willing to bring others into Christ grace is of a diffusive nature it will spread it self Peter saith Christ when thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren Luke 22.23 It may be this is of a second conversion and you know Paul speaks of travelling in Birth again till Christ be found in the Gallatians Gal. 4.19 It seems to intimate they were born before but were turned aside to crooked pathes for saith Paul Verse 20. I stand in doubt of you but I will not dispute it here but leave it to the sober wise but however When thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren that is do what thou canst to convert and confirm others in their most Holy Faith Wherefore Brethren edifie one another as also ye do 1 Thess 5.11 Grace will beget and strengthen as many as it can it will draw others what may be to the good ways of God Come saith David and I will tell you what God hath done for my soul His spirit was full it was ready to break before it had vent and thus it was with the Woman of Samaria when she had once heard Christ She run into the City and saith Come oh come and see a man that told me all that ever I did She was willing they should know all that ever she knew of Christ and so saith Paul I would thou wer 't such as I am except these hods Acts 26.29 Oh how did his soul long for the conversion of others in Rom. 10.1 My hearts desire and prayer for Israel is that they may be saved Soul is it thus with thee dost thou know thy friends and relations to be in an unconverted estate and dost thou long and pray they may be converted Is thy fellowship with the Father And dost thou desire their fellowship may be with you with the Father and the Son Jesus Christ and dost thou declare to others what thou hast seen and heard of Jesus Christ that thou mayest draw them into fellowship with Jesus 1 John 1.3 If so 't is a good sign thou art one in Christ XXX And lastly If thou art in Christ thou lovest the Saints of Christ not love them barely as they are men but as they are Saints a man may love another but not upon the account as he is a Christian man he may love him as he is of a sweet behaviour and carriage or as he is a relation or as an aquaintance or as a friend that may be profitable to a man in the World I but I speak of love to a Saint as he is a Saint and therefore Christ saith He that giveth to a Prophet not as he is a man or a friend But as in the name of a Prophet shall receive a Prophets reward Matt. 10.41.42 Now I say if thou lovest Christ's Disciples thus thou art in Christ and Christ saith by this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples how so why If you love one another John 13.35 This Spirit was in Moses which made him say If thou wilt not forgive their sin blot me out of thy Book Exod. 32.32 Which Book we would with submission say 't is the Book of his Temporary Life and truly this was great love that he would lay down his life for Israel in this he was a Type of our Lord so David had a great love to the Saints and a delight in the Saints Psal 16.3 To the Saints and to the excellent in the Earth in whom is all my delight Had David nothing else to set a little of his delight upon yes David was a King he had a Crown and many things else to have delighted in but to the Saints and to the excellent in whom is all my delight Davids delight was all on the Saints and that with good reason because they were most excellent Why had not David many mighty Men of Valour that were excellent ones you may see a whole Catalogue of Davids Worthies in the 1 Chron. 11.10 to the end and were none of these Noble Princes of valor that were in his Court his delight no saith David to the Saints in whom is all my delight and it will appear by the delight he had in the company of them that fear the Lord Psal 119.63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee Not of Nobles and great Men of whom then Of all that fear thee why David there be some poor Men that fear God dost not thou think scorn David being a King to company with poor Men no saith David I am a companion of all that fear thee and 't is so with others too saith David Vers 74. They that fear thee will be glad to see me or when they see me the Saints be glad to see one another therefore David saith again Verse 79. Let those that fear thee turn unto me be they poor or rich be they those that fear thee Oh let them turn unto me be they Servants or any I 'le keep them company that fear the Lord I but David would it not credit thy Court to keep Ranters and Swearers for the World saith he is no Gentleman that cannot swear no saith David I 'le keep no such as they are My eye shall be on the Faithful in the Land they shall dwell with me Psal 101.6 7. But for those that work deceit they shall not dwell in my house nor he that telleth lyes shall not tarry in my sight This was the Spirit that was in David he loved the Saints let them be poor or rich be they Masters or Servants All that fear thee I am a companion toe by the way give me leave one word to those one 's of this age we live in Sirs how many will Davids practice condemn he was a companion of all that fear God he was a King and it may be thou art some Trades man and yet thou thinkest scorn to converse with the poor Saints if he be some of the great ones of the City then thou art a companion of such but if a poor Saint come to thee then thou art in hast or some one or another stay for me this is a sad Spirit that is crept in among us in these days And from this also may Ministers themselves be rebuked and that sharply too truly among you men of low estate are low in esteem for ought I
the devil hath not forget his old trade of transforming himself into an Angel of light he can tell them 't is lawful to provide for their Family they are worse then Infidels that do not but this Nehemiah might have as many excuses as thee who ever thou art and yet Nehemiah would not leave the Lords work no he preferred the Lords work and esteemed it a great work this Christ would have all his children do Matth. 6.33 Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness I and that 's the work that should be done in the first place before all other things try how 't is with thee if it be thus 't is a good sign thou art a child of God XXVI Hast thou in any measure overcome the World and dost thou seek the things above I put these together for they are of the same import 't is a sign thou art quickned with Christ if thou seek the things that are above and gett'st the world under thy feet this made Moses contenin the Treasures in Aegypt alas he valued it not Heb. 11.26 so John 1 5.4 He that is born of God overcometh the World and as they have overcome the World so they seek the things of another Paul would have the Corinthians live in the world like Men and Women of another World 1 Cor. 7.29 It remains that they that have Wives be as they that have none no why should they run away from them no that 's not the meaning but they should sit loose from them if God call for them be as willing to part from them in his fear without repining at Gods hand as if they had none at all And they that weep as though they wept not and they that rejoyce as though they rejoyced not and they that buy as though they possessed not and they that use this World as not abusing it Note well the Apostle doth not say you shall have no Wives nor you shall not weep nor receive nor buy nor use this World no but take heed how you have and do things in the World as if the Apostle should say I would not have your hearts set on these things We should use the World to carry us to our Fathers House but we must take heed you rest not here Arise arise Man this world is not thy rest Get wings man and fly up live like men of another world in this world such a life as this did Paul live when he said Our conversation is in Heaven Phil. 3.20 Why Paul are not you among the Saints on earth among men on earth yes but converse in Heaven I trade about Heavenly things my thoughts Heavenly my affections Heavenly my conversation Heavenly my words they are Heavenly too they are such as are a Paradox to the Men of this world the men of the world speak of the world the world hear them but said the Apostle We are of God and they that know God hear us and they that are not of God heareth not us no poor Creatures they know not what we say 1 John 4.5 if you speak of God the world know not what you say these are out of their reach therefore Christ said to the poor blind Jews You do not understand my speech why because you cannot bear my Word in John 8.43 'T was a mistery that he speak to them therefore Paul saith 3 Cor. 2.14 The natural man receiveth not the things of God because they are Spiritually discerned Talk to him of Meat and Drink and Sleep and ease and the pleasures and sports of this life and this he heareth and knoweth this is sensual not spiritual Jude 19. This his sence understandeth talk to him of a Kingdom that consisteth of Meat and Drink this he is willing shall be his Heaven but alas poor carnal man thou art mistaken The Kingdom of God consisteth not in Meats and Drink Rom. 14.17 But now soul hast thou overcome these sower things and is thy heart set on Heaven hast thou thy heart soaring aloft I am afraid the most professors of this age are great strangers to this and many other things that are the life of Christianity what ever specious pretences they may make yet their very practices speak it out to loud but if thou art one whose life is in Heaven then thou art one of wisdoms children For the way of life is above to the wise Prov. 15.22 XXVII Art thou a new creature then 't is a sign thou art in Christ Are all old things done away the old Companions the old lusts the old love of the folly of this world is turned into the love of Heavenly things 2 Cor. 5.17 It may be thou canst not shed tears so plentifully why man repentance doth not so much consist in that but is thy nature changed and dost thou abhor thy self as Job 42.6 Dost thou find in thee a hatred to thee way of wickedness that thou wast wont to love and a love to the things of God that of old thou wast wont to hate dost thou loath sin and loath thy self for sin 't is a good sign thou art in Christ it may be formerly thou wouldst not have this man to reign over thee but now give me Christ or else I dye formerly thou wer 't alive and active in sin But now thou art dead to sin and alive to God Rom. 6.11 Now you do not alow your selves willingly in any known sin Oh soul is well with thee thou art pure in heart though not perfect yet in part XXVIII Hast thou a spirit of prayer and supplication poured out upon thee when Paul was converted to Christ whom before he persecuted Ananias was bid to go and enquire for Saul of Tarsus for behold he prayeth why did he never pray before possible he might utter words before but he had not the Spirit of Prayer before there be many from the invention of memory or in a form seem to pray excellently that yet do not pray in the Holy Ghost Acts 9.11 And you know Jude speaks of praying in the Holy Ghost Jude 20. So that men cannot pray but by the Holy Ghost Men may as I said mumble over a form of words it may be I but a man cannot pray but by the Holy Ghost 't is the Spirit of God that will help souls to pray to confess sin and to plead promises the Spirit helpeth our infirmities with groans that cannot be uttered he that hath the Spirit can come to God as a Friend and say Father I have need of such and such mercies I have need of strength against sin and such and such corruptions are like to overcome me he that hath the Spirit of God is the Friend of God as Abraham was called the friend of God often times take one place for the rest that comes next to my hand 2 Jam. 23. Now a friend of God can go and plead with God and say Lord such and such sins and corruptions are to hard for me
Modish as the Court in their white Shoos and white Coats like so many Mag-pyes or fools in a play and indeed professors in general are too too guilty in laying out for the back Sirs let me ask you all one question and answer your consciences if not me as you will one day answer the great God do you think Gods poor people do not stand in more need of relief than your backs do of toys I do not ask you so much whether it be an odious thing in the sight of God and true Christians but I ask you what answer you will give when the eternal God shall say I gave you or made you Stewards of so much of the worlds goods I say Stewards for the proudest of you all have nothing of your own for all you say I have riches I have this and that but what answer will you make which will it be best to be able to say I laid it out on Gallantry and Grandure to make a pompous shew or else to say I have laid it out on the poor members of Christ and indeed 't is observed that at Collections for the Poor that the finest folks give the least I am not ignorant of your many evasions and tricks to favour your Pride but though you may put of me with these yet remember how will you be able to answer the eternal God the searcher of all hearts you that are the Lords Ministers me thinks you should loath such persons when you meet them as I have read of a great Man that was such a lover of Justice that when he met an unjust man he would vomit up choller methinks you that love plainness should vomit up choller when you meet Pride and not complement it I would not have thus disgressed but that professors are saying when they are forced upon it this is our failing this is a gross failing to follow the multitude to do evil and to do as the most do but yet remember still believer if thou fall'st thou hast a help a Saviour to save thee from thy Sin Thirdly Thou shalt be delivered from sorrow it may be poor soul thou art now sorrowing and morning thou hast on thy black Sute though it may be for thy breakings with God and thy untoward walking art clothed with black own to the ground Jer. 14.2 Well but bear up soul the day is hastening that there shall be no more such complaints There shall then be no more oh my back my head and heart for all sorrow and sighing shall fly away Isa 35. last And God shall wipe away all tears from thy eyes Revel 21.4 For there shall be no more sorrow nor mourning For so it may be read now it may be indeed of such Oyntment that run down Aarons Reard even to the skirts of his Garments Psal 133.2 Tears it may be are pouring down to the ground yet if thou be one that Christ is slain for all this shall be done away thou shalt see no more sorrow nor fear and will not this a little comfort thee Fourthly Thou shalt be delivered from Wrath to Come do the thoughts of death and darkness terrifie and afright thee why Jesus that is slain for thee Hath delivered thee from the power of darkness Col. 1.13 Oh what a mercy is it but he will yea he hath Delivered from Wrath to Come 1 Thes 1.10 And is not here comfort soul let this bear thee up that art in trouble it may be thou feelest some of the wrath and fury of an inraged enemy here for a time but here is matter of rejoycing for thee they cannot make thy sorrow last long and the wrath that is to come that Jesus hath delivered thee from thus now I have shewed thee what thou shalt be freed from by Christ In the next place I would a little shew them what thou art priviledged unto and indeed I can shew thee but little of it oh what tongue can tell what it is indeed 1. Thou art priviledged to be a Son of God and what dimensions of Glory is this 't is to be an Heir and a joint Heir with Jesus To sit on the same Throne with him and have a Crown put on thy head by him Rom. 8.17 And thus 't is with believers John 1.12 As many as recieved him to them gave he power to become the Son of God To them gave he power or right oâ— priviledged for the Word will bear it to become the Son of God And let me say this 't is no small honour nor no small priviledge to be a Son of God Gal. 3.26 For we are all the children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus and in Eph. 1 5. Having Predestinated us unto the adoption of Sons or Children by Jesus Christ And oh what an honour is it to be a Son or a child of God which made the Apostle John 1.3 admire oh 't is a wonder Behold what manner of love is this that the Father hath bestowed or conferred upon us that we should be and not onely be but be called the Children of God or Sons of God and is not this comfort for thee oh soul that art a child of God it is looked upon as no small honour to be the son of a Prince but what is it to be a son of the Prince of the Kings of the Earth 2. Thou hast a right to all the promises of God and there are given to believers exceeding great and precious promises 2 Pet. 1.4 And all are made to them in Christ look through all the Book of God and you will find abundance of promises why they are all made to him that is in Christ and in Covenant For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him Amen 2 Cor. 1.20 That is they are all made through him indeed and in truth and is not here comfort oh soul to have all the promises to be thine thou hast a right to them all 3. All things shall work together for good unto thee Rom. 8.28 All things this is strange language will some say marry it may be will every man say will work for good but affliction will come some times and will that work for good yes David could say It was good for me that I was afflicted Psalm 119.71 I and God will bring the evil designs of wicked men to work for the good of his Saints I might have gathered this up into particulars but spare me that but to return God will work good out of the evil will of other men to the Saints Gen. 50.20 Saith Joseph to his brethren that sold him but as for you malicious you envious you you thought evil against me but God meant it unto good God can bring good out of evil to his Saints nay let me say more God can bring good out of the sins of his Saints I speak not this to encourage thee to sin 't is a sign thou art a child of the Devil and not of God if thou