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
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
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
to get into Christ though it be the scorn of men and burdensomâ—… to nature yet this is that which will 〈◊〉 us pâ—…ace at the laâ—… let us be what we profess our selves to be let us love Christ and evangelically keep his commandements let us live by Faith let us keep thy commandements let us be above tâ—…e woâ—…ld in the would above the love of life and above the fear of death let nâ—…t tâ—…e smilâ—… of the woâ—…ld allure us nor the frowns thereof affright us from thee but in all these things let us â—…e more then Conquerours thâ—…ough Iesus Christ. Let us love him much whom we cannot love too much â—…elp us to be above the power of hell let us evâ—…r say My soul it is goâ—…d for me to draw nigh to God Let us â—…e willing rather to be saved with a few than go to hell in a crowd let us live as if eternity were long and life but shoâ—…t let us thrive in holiness and be brought 〈◊〉 to tâ—…y self by every dispensation let us in tâ—…i our day â—…w the 〈◊〉 that concern our peace before they be hid fâ—…om ouâ—…â—…s and know the time of our visitation and though God suffer lâ—…ng he will strike at last Oâ—… Lord bow the heavens and come down among us at this time and be with the unwoâ—…thiest of thy Servants and gâ—…e unto iâ—… a door of utterance and to this great people a door of â—…t aâ—…e and let them be all â—…aught of God and let them moâ—…e truly finde that tâ—…e great God is teaching to the heart wheâ—… that a weak worm it speaking to the ear let all the work be done by thee anâ—… let all thâ—… praise redound unto thee and let â—…im that is with us be greaâ—… theâ—… he that is in the world behold us in the Son of thy love smell a sweeâ—… savour of rest on these our poor prayers speak peace tâ—…â—…ur consciences rebuke the Tempter tâ—…d him under our â—…eet shortly â—…aise us up to newness of life let us â—…emember whâ—…n that whicâ—… is perfect is come that which is imperfect shall be done away heâ—…r us anâ—…â—…elp us through our dear Redeeâ—… let us live for him here and â—…ith him hereafter and all for his sake whom not seeing we love in whom believing we rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory to whom with thee and thy Spirit be glory and honour now and for ever Amen Mr. Jenkins's Forenoon Sermon Heb. 11. 38. Part of that verse Of whom the world was not worthy THe Apostle in this excellent Chapter that by some is deservedly called a little book of Martyrs doth discover to us the triumph of faith the noble victory of this excellent grace against all the difficulties oppositions it meets withall therein sets down a threefold excellency of faith one is that it doth assent unto truth though never so improbable 2. That it doth put men upon duties though never so irrational or against carnal interest 3. That it enables us to suffering though never so afflicting and difficult and this third part is that which my Text speaks of These worthy men of God they overcame all the bitterness of the world as well as the sweetness of it Now in these verses the Apostle doth these two things 1. He here sets down the greatness and the smartness of their sufferings which are by some learned men reduced to three heads 1. Those sufferings that were to tempt them and to drive them from God and their holy profession by those pains and tortures they were to undergo 2. Those sufferings they underwent in dying and the cruelty of those deaths that were laid upon them 3. Their sufferings in reference to their wandring and leaving of their worldly comforts rather then they would loose God But we need not be so curious in the distribution of their sufferings it may suffice us that they were steadfast in the midst of all and would never be brought to forsake God and his truths for any of them 2. You have here the exâ—…cies of the sufferers and that is here in that expression which I shall God willing make the subject of my discourse this morning that these men these persons when they were under all the distresses and troubles that they were under from the world yet they were such of whom the world was not worthy Brethren this excellency of these Saints and servants of God under their trouble is considerable in my Text two ways that we may proceed clearly and distinctly 1. In reference unto the world unto the wicked and so it is said their excellency was so great that the world was not worthy of them 2. It is discovered from that estimation that judgement that the Apostle doth here pass upon them who tells us that he accounted them to be such as though they were under all these troubles and distresses yet they were a people of whom the world was not worthy I shall pass by the former of these and onely mention it as it falls in with the latter and that is this The due estimate that this blessed Apostle doth raise upon this holy persecuted company of Saints when they were under all their troubles yet this holy man of God who was enlightned by the Spirit of God and so was able to pass a right estimate and due judgement upon things and persons he tells us the world was not worthy of thâ—…m and then from the second I draw this observation That a godly man one truly regenerated doth see an extraordinary beauty worth and excellency in the people of God in the bitterest of all persecutions and troubles that doth bâ—…fall thâ—…m or that a godly man a gracious heart one that hath spiritual spectacles doth see an excellency and worth in the people of God in the midst of all trouble and persecution that can hefall them I know you judge this to be both a necessary and seasonable point In the prosecution of it I shall first handle it Doctrinally and then come to those profitable and useful Improvements of it by way of Application that the Point deserves 1. For the Doctrinal explication of it two things must be spoken to 1. Wherein the high esteem of a gracious heart doth appear wherein it doth discover it self to the Saints and People of God in their sufferings 2. Whence it is and how it comes to passe that godly men have this high and honourable esteem of the Saints and People of God in this trouble and distress of theirs For the first of these wherein it doth appear that they have so high and excellent an estimation of them I shall give it you in five or six particulars 1. It doth appear in this in that they are not ashamed of them in their troubles they are not ashamed to own either their persons or the faith that they do professe in their troubles the sâ—…ciery of the People of God and the fellowship of their very faith and their
the people but leaves it to Davids liberty whether he would have seven years famine or three months to flee before his enemies or three dayes pestilence This was a posing Question and David had cause to be in a great strait for these objects are not amiable in their own nature they are objects to be avoided and declined in the first view of them they seem to be equally miserable therefore David had cause to say He was in a great strait 2. This perplexity was not only real but exceeding great I am in a great Strait and there are two things made it so great 1. The greatness of the punishments proposed Famine Sword and Plague these are the three beesoms with which God sweeps mankind from off the earth these are Gods three iron-whips by which he chastisetlâ—… sinful man these are the three arrows shot out of the quiver of Gods wrath for the punishment of man they are as one calleth them Tonsurae humani generis In Râ—… 6. you shall read of four Horses when the four first Seals were opened A white-horse a red-horse a black-horse and a pale horse after Christ had ridden on the white-horse propagating the Gospel then followes the red-horse a type of War then the black-horse an Hiâ—…roglyphick of Famine then the pale-horse the emblem of Pestilence Now God was resolved to ride on one of these horses and David must choose upon which God should ride this was a great Strait Let me present David lifting up his eyes to Heaven and speaking to God thus O my God what is this message thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou offerest me three things I am in a strait â—… 〈◊〉 which to refuse but which to choose I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Land of Cannan a Land flowing with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall this Land endure seven years famine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into a Wilderness and dis-peopled And shall I whose hands thou hast taught to fight and whose fingers to war shall I that have subdued all my enemies shall I in my old age and all my Captains flie three months before our enemies and be driven to caves and rocks to hide our selves O thou my God who art my refuge shall I and my people be a prey to the pestilence that walketh in darkness and destruction that walketh at noon day O my God I know not what to do I am in a great Strait 2. The second reason why this strait was so great was because of the guilt of sin that lay on Davids spirit for David knew that this severe message was the fruit of the sin he committed in numbring the people But you will say Why was it a sin in David to number the people Moses had often numbred the people three times and it was not counted sin Iosephus answereth The sin of David was because he did not require the half-shekel which he was to have had from all were numbred Ex. 30 12 13. Others say He sinned in numbring all ages whereas he was to number but from twenty years but these are but conjectural Reasons I conceive the â—…in of David was because he did it without a lawful Cal and for an unlawful End Sine causa legitima he sinned in the manner rather then in the matter for there was no cause for him to number the people but 〈◊〉 â—…nd no end but vain glory Go through all the tribes of Israel and number the people that I may know the number of my people ver 2. Davids heart was liâ—…red â—…p with pâ—…ide and creature-confidence he begins to boast of the multitude of his people and to trust in an arm of flesh therefore God sends the Prophet to David to pâ—…ick the bladder of his pâ—…ide as if God should say I will teach you to number the people by lessening the number of your people Now the burden of his sin did add much to the burden of this heavy message Ver. 13. After David had numbred the people his heart smote him the message smites him and his heart smites him and he said I have sinned greatly in that which I have done now I beseech thee take away the iniquity of thy servant for I have done very foolishly If David had been to suffer this great punishment out of love to God or for a good Conscience he would not have been so distressed There are two sorts of straits in Scripture some suffered for God and a good Conscience and there are straits suffered for sin 1. There are straits suffered for God and a good Conscience Heb. 11. 36 37. Those Martyrs there were driven to great straits but these were straits for God and a good Conscience and these straits were the Saints greatest enlargements they were so sweetned to them by the consolations and supportations of Gods Spirit a Prison was a Paradise to them Heb. 10. 34. they took joyfully the spoiling of their goods Act. 5. 41. they departed from the presence of the Council rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name Straits for a good Conscience are great Enlargements therefore Pul gloryeth in this strait Paul a prisoner c. 2. There are straits suffered for sin and these are envenomed by the guilt of sin sin puts poyson into all our distresses and perplexities Now such was the strait into which David was now driven it was a strait caused by sin and that made it so unwelcome and uncomfortable so that from hence I gather this Observation Doct. That sin and iniquity brings Persons and Nations into marvellous labyrinths and perplexities into true real and great molestations a man free from sin is free in the midst of straits a man guilty of sin is in a straâ—…t in the midst of freedom After Adam had sinned in eating of the forbidden fruit the whole world was a prison to him Paradise it self was an Hell to him he knew not where to hide himself from the presence of God After that Cain had murdered his brother Abel he was brought into such a strait that he was afraid that every one that met him would slay him Alas poor Cain how many was there then in the world we read but of his father and mother yet such was his distress that he cryeth out every one that met him would slay him Gen. 4. 14. Into what a strait did sin bring the old world The deluge of sin brought a deluge of water to drown them Into what a strait did sin bring Sodom and Gomorrah The fire of lust raigning in Sodom and Gomorrah brought down fire from Heaven to destroy them Sin brings external internal and eternal straits upon persons and Nations 1. Sin brings external straits sin brings Famine Sword and Plague sin brings Agues and Feavours Gout and Stone and all manner of Diseases yea sin brings death it self which is the wages of sin Read Levit 26. and Deut. 28. and you will see a black role of curses which were the fruit of sin Sin brought Sion into Babilon and when the Jews
avoid danger â—…hall certainly meet with greater danger Balaam went out of God's way Numb 22. 22. and God sent an Angel with a drawn sword and he riding upon an Ass vers 26. the Angel stood in a narrow place where was no way to go from the right hand or from the left if his Ass had not fallen under him he had been run through by the sword of the Angel Ionah for fear of the King of Niâ—…veh went out of God's way but he met with a mighty tempest he met with a Whale What do you do when you commit sin you make way to be cast into the eternal prison of hell you destroy your precious souls to save your perishing bodies Use. 2. If sin be the father and mother of all perplexity and distresses then I beseech you let us above all things in the world abhor sin all the curses of the Bible are all due only to a sinner and all the curses not named in the Bible for that is observable Deut. 28. 36. every plague that is not written in the book shall light upon him There are strange punishments to the workers of iniquity Iob 31. 3. Is not destruction to the wicked a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity sin it bringeth the sinner to little ease little ease at death little ease at the day of judgement and little ease in hell tribulation and anguish the word in the Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 little ease to every soul that doth iniquity Oh my beloved will you promise me to look upon sin and consider it in all its woful consequents as the father mother and womb out of which come external eternal and internal straits more particularly there are twelve sins I especially command you to take heed of and avoid 1. Take heed of Covetousness the love of the world will pierce you through with many sorows the love of money is the root of all evil the love of the world drowns men in perdition 2. Take heed of the sin of Pride into what woful straits did pride bring Haman God crossed him in what he most desired God made him hold the stirrup while Mordecay rode in triumph and God hanged him on the Gallows which he had made for Mordecay 3. Take heed of Drunkenness look not on the wine when it gives its colour in the cup c. drunkenness will bring you into snares It will bite like a Serpent and sting like an Adder c. 4. Take heed of disobedience and rebellion against the Commandments of God it brought Ionah to his three nights and three dayes in the Whale's belly 5. Take heed of fornication and adultery and all uncleanness this brought Sampson to a woful strait this brought David and Solomon into great perplexity 6. Take heed of oppression and all acts of injustice this brought Ahab into a great strait insomuch that the dogs licked his blood Take heed of unnecessary familiarity with wicked men this brought Iehosaphat into a great strait 8. Take heed of misusing the Prophets of God this made God destroy the children of Israel without remedy 2 Chron. 36. 15 16. 9. Take heed of coming prophanely to the Lord's Table this brought the Church of Corinth into a great distress insomuch as the Apostle saith For this cause many among you are sick and many weak and many fallen asleep 10. Take heed of loathing the Manna of your souls this brought the people of Israel into woful misery that God destroyed all their carcasses in the wilderness save Ioshua and Calâ—…b Take heed of slighting the Gospel this brought Queen Mary's persecution as many learned and godly men that fled for Religion's sake out of the Land have confessed Their unthankfulness for and unfruitfulness under the Gospel in King Edward the sixth's time brought the persecution in Queen Mary's time 11. Take heed of losing your first Love that makes God threaten to take away his Candlestick 12. Take heed of prophaning the Christian Sabbath which is much prophaned every where a day that Christ by his resurrection from the dead hath consecrated to be kept holy to God Certainly if the Jews were so severely punished for breaking the Sabbath which was set apart in memory of the Creation surely God will severely punish those that break the Sabbath set apart in memory of Christ's Resurrection May be some will say I have committed many of these sins but am not brought into any strait Remember it was nine months after David had nâ—…mbred the people before he was in this strait but as sure as God is in heaven sin will bring straits sooner or later though a sinner live au hundred years yet shall he be accursed May be thy prosperity makes way for thy damnation and this is thy greatest distress that thou goest on in sin and prosperest Use 3. If sin bringeth a Nation into marvellous labyrinths learn what great cause we have to fear that God should bring this Nation into great distress because of the great abominations are committed in the midst of it Our King and Soveraign was in great straits in the dayes of his banishment but God hath delivered him God hath delivered this Nation out of great straits but alas we requite God evil for good and instead of repenting of old sins we commit new sins I am told there are new oaths invented oaths not fit to be named in any place much less here Certainly the drunkenness and adultery the oppression and injustice the bribery and Sabbath-breaking the vain and wicked swearing and for-swearing this Nation is guilty of must of necessity provoke God to say of us as he did of them in Ieremiah 15. 29. Shall I not visit for these things saith the Lord Shall not my soul be avenged on such a Nation as this God will not only punish us but be avenged on us There is no way to avoid a national desolation but by a national reformation Lastly learn what cause you of this Congregation and Parish what cause you have to expect that God should bring you into great straits because of your great unthankfulness and unfruitfulness under the means of Grace you that have so long enjoyed the Gospel you have had the Gospel in this place in great abundance Doctor Taylor he served one apprenticeship in this place Doctor Staughton served another apprenticeship and I through divine Mercy have served three apprenticeships and half another almost among you you have had the Spirit of God seven and thirty years in the faithful ministry of the Word knocking at the door of your hearts but many of you haue hardened your hearts Are there not some of you I only put the question that begin to loath the Manna of your souls and to look back towards Egypt again Are there not some of you have itching ears and would fain have Preachers that would feed you with dainty phrases and begin not to care for a Minister that unrips your Consciences speaks to your hearts
's the wisdom of the Serpent how happy is it where these two are united the Dove and the Serpent the Dove without the Serpent is folly and the Serpent without the Dove is impiety 14. Be more afraid of sin than of suffering A man may be afflicted and yet have the love of God but he cannot sin but presently God is angry sin eclipses the light of Gods countenance in suffering the conscience may be quiet When the hail beats upon the tiles there may be musick in the house and when there is suffering in the body there may be peace and musick in the conscience but when a man sinneth wilfully and presumptuousâ—…y he loseth all his peace Spira abjured his faith and he became a terrour to himself he could not endure himself he professed he thought Cain and Iudas in hell did not feel those terrors and horrors that he felt He that will commit sin to prevent suffering is like a man that lets his head be wounded to save his shield and his helmet 15. Take heed of Idolatry In 1 Ioh. 5. 21. Little children keep your selves from Idols Idolatry is an Image of jealousie to provoke God it breaks the mariage-knot asunder and makes the Lord disclaim his interest in a people What kind of Religion is Popery it is the mother of many Monsters What Soul-damning doctrines doth it hold forth as the meriting of salvation by good works the giving of pardons the worshipping of Angels Popish indulgencies Purgatory and the like it is a Soul-damning Religion it is the breeder of ignorance uncleanness and murder the Popish Religion is not defended by strength of Argumenr but by force of Arms keep your selves from Idols and take heed of Superstition That is the Gentleman-usher to Popery 16. Think not the worse of Godliness because it is reproached and persecuted wicked men being stirred up by the Devil do maliciously reproach the ways of God such were Iulian and Lucian though wicked men would be godly on their death-beds yet in the time of their life they revile and hate godliness but think not you the worse of Religion because it is reproached by the wicked Suppose a Virgin should be reproached for her chastity yet chastity is never the worse if a blind man â—…eer the Sun the Sun is never the less bright Holiness is a beautiful and glorious thing It is the Angels glory and shall we be ashamed of that which makes us like the Angels There is a time coming when wicked men would be glad of some of that holiness that now they despise but they shall be as far then from obtaining it as they are now from desiring it 17. Think not the better of sin because it is in fashion think not the better of impiety and ungodliness because most walk in those crooked wayes Multitude is a foolish argument Multitude doth not argue the goodness of a thing the Devils name is Legion that signifieth a multitude Hell-road is this day full of Travellers esteem not the better of sin because most go this way do we think the better of the Plague because it is common The plea of a multitude will not hold at Gods bar when God shall ask you Why did you prophane my Sabbath why were you drunk why did you break your Oaths to say then Lord Because most men did so will be but a poor plea God will say to you Then seeing you have sinned with the multitude you shall now go to Hell with the multitude I beseech you as you tender your souls walk Antipodes to the corruptions of the times if you are living Fish swim against the stream dead fish swim down the stream Ephes. 5. 11. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them 18. In the business of Religion serve God with all your might Eccl. 9. 10. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with thy might for there is no work or device in the grave whither thou goest This is an Argument why we should do all we can for God serve him with all our strength because the grave is very near and there is no praying no repenting in the grave our time is but small and therefore our zeal for God should be great David Danced with all his might before the Ark and so should we act vigorously for God in the sphere of Obedience Rom. 12. 12. Fervent in spirit serving the Lord. Take heed of a dull lazy temper in Gods service you must not only say a prayer or read a prayer but you must pour out your soul in prayer not only love God but be sick of love to God God in the old Law would have the coals put to the Incense Lev. 16. 13. why so to typifie that the heart must be inflamed in the worship of God your Prayers must go up with a flame of Devotion I confess Hell will be taken without a storm you may jump into Hell with ease but it is all up hill to Heaven and therefore you must put forth all your might Mat. 12. 11. The violent take heaven by force Heaven is not taken but by storm do you no see men zealous and very active for the Devil and for their Lusts and shall they take pains for Hell and will not you take pains for Heaven 19. Do all the good you can while you live to others God hath made every Creature useful for us the Sun hath not its light for it self but for us the Fountain runs freely and so does the myrrhe drop from the Tree every Creature doth as it were deny it self for us the Beast gives us its labour the Bird gives us its musick and the Silk-worm its silk Now hath God made every thing useful for us and shall not we be useful one for the good of another O labour to be helpful to the souls of others and to supply the wants of others Jesus Christ was a publique Blessing in the world he went about doing good we ate all members of the body politick nay are we not members of the body mystical and shall not every member be helpful for the good of the body that is a dead member that doth not communicate to the good of the body O labour to be useful to others while you live that so when you die there may be a miss of you many live so unfruitfully that truly their life is scarce worth a prayer nor their death scarce worth a tear 20. Every day spend some thoughts upon Eternity O Eternity Eternity All of us here are ere long it may be some of us within a few days or hours to lanch forth into the Ocean of Eternity Eternity is status interminabilis sayes Roetius no prospective-glass can see to the end of Eternity Eternity is a sum that can never be numbred a line that can never be measured Eternity is a condition of everlasting m sery or everlasting happiness If you are godly then shall you be for ever happy
whatever he wants God 's his debtor Hos. 6. 13. The want of a Complement undoth them in the midst of honour If we want but one thing our hearts would have surely Nature is proud and ready to pick quarrels with God on the least occasion nay if he will not give that mercy we would take all c. 3. Rebellion God strikes him for sin he strikes against God Ier. 31. 18. God draws one way and he another c. 4. Unbelief He that complains of his punishment never believed sin to be so great an evil or God to be such a One as revealed in the Word 5. Interpretative Blasphemy 1. While we dispute our afflictions and wrangle with the present dispensation what is it but to make our selves wiser than God We seem to tell God how it might have been better and so we do as it were give God Counsel When he calls for Obedience is not that Blasphemy to set up our wisdom against God's 2. While we complain of Punishment we take Sin 's part against God we do as it were justifie sin and judge God God is unrighteous to punish such a sin as this with such grievous Afflictions 3. By complaining we do as it were summon God to our Bar to come give an account of his actions at our Tribunal What poor miserable Creatures are we that in our Afflictions are so far from helping our selves that we commonly add to our own misery No Affliction is intolerable till Sin come in it The yoke God hath made easie we make intolerable and make God to be our enemy while he by Affliction would become our friend Now this being found not to be the way that which God counsels and advises is 1. Self-Examination Let us search and try our wayes Sin and Hypocrisie lies close and deep therefore we must take pains dig to the bottom set up a Tribunal in our own Conscience summon try judg our selves over and over in Gods presence He stands at our Closeâ—… Doores to hear what we will say Ier. 8. 6. before execution what Indictments we will bring in against our selves We can tell what such a Drunkard such an unclean person c. hath done but no man saith What have I done My pride my unthankfulness my unfruitfulness c. 2. Reformation and turn again to the Lord. Sin is aversio à Deo conversio ad creaturam Reformation is a turning again from the creature to God 3. Frequent and fervent Prayer Let us lift up There 's the frequency let do nothing else but pray le ts be continually lifting up our Prayers make your houses houses of Prayer Thus David Thou foughtest against me without a Cause Did he take Counsel against Princes to be disloyal To take up Arms No. But I gave my self unto Prayer Psal. 109. 4. Therefore if you prayed before now do nothing else it notes habitual and constant Prayer our hearts with our hands to crave and as it were to pull down mercy as if we would wrestle with God and say Nay I will not let thee go until thou bless me Gen. 32. 26. it notes our fervency And for our encouragement it is unto God in the Heavens which expresses his Soveraignty Omnisciency Omnipotency Everlastingness c. 4. Judging our selves or Confession of sin We have transgressed 5. Aggravating our sins and have rebelled i. e. we have turned sin into Rebellion Rebellion hath been the aggravation of our sins we have sinned against the clearest light dearest love c. Nehem. 9. Ezra 9. Dan. 9. 6. fastifying God thou hast not pardoned A word not of murmuring complaining or accusing God of hard dealing but by way of justifying God we have transgressed therefore thou hast not pardoned Why should'st thou repent of the evil of punishment when we have not repented of the evil of sin Thou hast punished us less then our Iniquities deserve So in the Text Do the first works Sin is a departure from God Repentance a coming back again to God Turn thou to him from whom the Children of Israel have deeply revolted The soul hath many turnings and windings but that 's the best motion of all when the Soul with the Dove returns to God from whom it came Apostacy is the loss of our first love Repentance is the Recovery of it and Reformation is the doing of our first works I have not time to enlarge as I desired I shall only offer a few things that may help to quicken you to this great duty My Brethren we have no great cause to boast of Englands first love Never so good as it should be yet many can remember when England hath been much better then ' t is Time was when Doctrines have been more sound Discipline more exercised for the suppressing of sin and profaneness Ordinances kept more pure from sinful mixtures when London kept Sabbaths better then now loved their Godly Ministers more then now honoured them that were set over her for their works sake would have thought nothing too good for a faithful Minister when Christians loved one another with a dear hearty fervent love when there was less Complement but more real love and affection among Christians when Christians improved their meetings converse Christian Conferences and other soul-duties to better purpose then now not to foolish disputations or wanton sensual excesses but to their mutual edification when they improved their time for comparing their evidences communicating their experiences and building up one another in their most holy faith when there was more industry in Professors than now to bring in Converts when private Christians thought it their duty to be subservient to the work of their Ministers to bring in others to Christ especially their Family Time was when more care of Young Converts then now when none could have looked out after Religion but some or other ready to lend them their hand and shew them the way explaining it clearly to them but now Young Converts may be snapt into separations and errour and none looks after them Time was when more care of the truly godly poor when errour was more odious when Popery was more hated then now when the name of a Toleration would have made Christians to have trembled when Christians were better acquainted with their Bibles when more time spent in secret Prayer when more tender of one anothers Names and Honours would heal one anothers Reputations and would spread the lap of Charity over those mis-reports and scandals that might be cast upon them when Christians rejoyced more in one anothers good and mourned in one anothers sufferings when Christians did more earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints c. Oh do you not onely your first works but our fore-fathers first works Be as zealous for God and his truths as tender mutually careful of one another as they Our fears be very great but truly our provocations be greater our dangers are great but our sins greater yet here is
Gospel see there what Christ is and thy necessity of him Believing will open the door to entertaining of him assent will procure thy consent Thirdly Keep up no Idol in thy heart against him Turn out that that keeps out Christ. How dear soever it seems now at last thou wilt see it more necessary to detest than keep it I come now to exhort all poor weak Christians that they would make after confirmation and grow to a greater measure in Grace as they have received Christ. It is not enough to be conceited that you have been converted and it will not be enough to the assurance of your conversion or safety of your souls that you think you are converted and sit down there he that is content with the opinion that he hath Grace and therefore desires to have no more because the promise of salvation is made to the Truth of Grace it 's a sign he never had Grace strength in Grace is your own felicity 't is part of your happiness Your eternal happiness will partly consist in your personal perfection and without personal perfection all heavenly glory will not be a perfect felicity If you have fixed your Anchor in Gods Promises this engages you to look up make after and proceed c. Take these Motives First Consider there is the same reason to move thee to grow and proceed as there was to move thee to thy first believing Why did you become Christians but because of the necessity of the riches and excellencies of Christ and that there was better things in Christ than in the World And are they not so still Is the case changed If Christianity was reasonable then it is reasonable now if it was necessary to begin it is necessary to hold on and proceed in your Race till you have obtained the Crown Secondly Your receiving Christ essentially contains in it an obligation to proceed and go further actually to trust and obey him whom you have taken for your Lord and Saviour from the very offices and relations of Christ received If I be a Father where is my fear If I be a Master where is my Honour If I be a Saviour where is your Confidence in me Submission to my saving-work Obedience to my healing Precepts If I be your Lord and Master why do not you learn of me as your Master c Your first Covenant engages you to proceed in fulfilling the things promised in your Covenant c. Better not to have promised to be his people than to promise and break this promise The very Mercies also you received from him pardoning your former sin entertainment in his Church and all the blessings there found are as so many obligations to proceed 3. Ever since we came home to Christ we have had an addition of Reasons besides the first Reason we had to believe Every day brings in new c. Certainly if a little were desirable more were more desirable If the people that stood afar off and never tried what Christ and Grace is were bid to come in those that have tried and tasted are bound to proceed much more You have the Spirit of God experiences of his love tasted the bitterness of sin have had some trial of the truth of such things of which we speak when others have eyes and see not c. And will you turn back that have tasted c. 4. Consider how much hath been lost upon many a soul for want of care to take rooting and to proceed How much labour of the Ministry mercies of God pains and care of their own I speak of those that have seemed sincere not been indeed so that have many times comforted the hearts of their Ministers and Friends and have had some kind of comfort to themselves in that taste they have had of the good Word of God How many times hath the Preacher been gladded to see such a one come to him seemingly with a broken heart seeming to set himself in the way of life yet the flesh prevailed for want of Confirmation How many years have some spent in duty in hearing prayer gracious society profession of Religion yet afterwards the World hath drown'd all What cause have you to see you lose not the things you have wrought 5. Consider how much of the Work of your own salvation since you are converted is yet undone Though you are sure your conversion is true how many temptations to resist enemies to conquer duties to perform and Heaven to be taken upon all those terms as is the tenour of your Christianity therefore you had need to stand fast and having done all to stand you had need not only to believe but to wait and be patient in believing and to proceed in the way you have chosen 6. The want of strength and building up makes the lives of many full of lamentable languishingweaknesses scandals unto others pain calamity and trouble to themselves How long in healing And how much smart and pain while the fruit of their own folly is cured How easily and how frequently do temptations prevail And hence as in a Wilderness they are going one step forward another backward no evident keeping in God and all through the fruit of their own languishing weakness The fruits of the sins of Professors have been such that it should make you do all you can possibly to escape the troubles at home and reproaches abroad 7. A life of spiritual weakness is usually a burden unto him that hath it it doth not only occasion his falling into sin and so renews the wounds of his soul but is a constant burden to him not that any measure of Grace is troublesome but that which consists with so great a measure of remaining corruption this is the burden Sickness is burdensome though there be life Methinks you should not then be reconciled to your fears you should methinks see so great a difference between the sick and well that for your own peace-sake you should seek after confirmation Every duty they do is their pain which is anothers pleasure prayer c. their burden sometimes tired wearied dull c. presently overwhelmed with temptation every duty is a grievance to them through the weakness of their grace and by their corruption 8. Christians that are weak and not confirmed lose abundance of the fruit of Gods Ordinances that are improved by others How many a truth that tasts exceeding sweet to others hath no great relish to them nor growth by it A healthfull man hath more relish in ordinary fare then a sick person in varieties The full stomack loaths the Honey-comb 9. The weak and unconfirmed Christian is unprofitable comparatively unto others not that the Church would wish the weakest Member out but comparatively unconfirmed Christians are very unprofitable unto others like little children in the family that must be looked to make work for a great many more about them What doth a sick person but the work of others is to feed support and be
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
they may after all attain to the Crown Answ. I shall leave with you twenty Directions and as many as there are there are not more then you must practise and take them as if they were the last Directions I should give you and take them as practicals not as notionals that you must live upon as long as you live First See that the foundation be soundly laid in your head and heart in matters of your Religion In your head i. e. that you well understand what Religion is what the Christian Religion is what God is what it is for God to be yours in his Attributes and Relations unto you what he is and will be unto you what you are and must be unto him what sin is how odious wherein its evil consists what is sin and what not what sin hath done in the world and what state it hath brought transgressors into what Christ is what he hath done for man's recovery and redemption what he hath wrought gives and offers to the world The end and design of God in the work of mans redemption The tender of the Gospel-Covenant of grace freeness largeness and excellency of the grace of this Covenant The end of our Religion the everlasting glory that is revealed in the Gospel what it is how sure and how great When you understand these things get a sound and radicated belief concerning the Truths of the holy Scripture revealing all these things And think it not enough that the Scripture is true or that you are resolved so to believe but get the best grounds for your belief be well established on those grounds Read the Scripture much till you are acquainted with and relish the matter and language and feel the power until all be delightful to your souls in reading And be not ashamed to understand the Fundamentals look to your Catechisms The Fundamentals of Religion you must understand and receive And when you have got them into your head be sure you get them into your heart and never think any truth received as it ought till it hath done some special work on your heart till you believe that God is Almighty Just Holy c. and all the Attributes of God have made their holy impression on your heart that the sanctifying knowledge of God hath warmed your affections captivated your souls that God be inthron'd in your hearts by the belief and knowledge of your minds Know your selves so as to be humble know Christ so as he may be sweet unto you and exalted by you set up Christ in your souls nearest to your hearts know sin so as to hate it c. 'T is the entertainment of the good things of the Gospel by the Will that is the principal part of your Religion 'T is a matter of lamentable consequence in all your lives when there is not a sound work at the heart how little life will there be from any truth in reading or hearing The Fundamentals of Religion must be so received as not only to have an old heart mended but a new heart made Thus understand believe and give up thy heart to that thou believest and understandest 2. Know and remember the work of your Salvation must be as long as you live and that you have never done till you have done living I give this direction because I find something in Christianity the remainds of Carnality is apt to hinder c. and some Professors when converted they are reconciled to God and safe c. but there 's a great deal to be done after c. 3. Understand well Wherein it is your confirmation stability rootedness and growth in Religion doth consist The chief part of your growth in Grace is not to know more things then you knew before but to grow in the knowledge belief entertainment and improvement of the same truths that at first you did receive not that you may not or should not know more for the clear knowledge of the Fundamentals guide you unavoidably to the sight of many other truths which a darker knowledge of those Fundamentals will not discover to you 'T is not an addition to your former knowledge but the clearer knowing sounder believing heartier entertaining and improving of the truths you knew at first as the health of a man consists not in having every day variety of food but in the partaking and digestion of the same food that 's fittest for him get but a more perfect conviction or concoction of what you knew before and this is your growth You may grow in the knowledge of Gods attributes by knowing them more clearly orderly distinctly satisfactorily and believingly then before There is a world of difference in the manner of knowledge between a dark and a clear knowing of things Grow in greater love to them and greater skill in entertainment improvement and practise of them 4. Grow downward in humility and inward in the knowledge of your selves and above all maintain a constant abhorrence and jealousie of the sin of Pride grow in humility and fly from Pride keep a constant apprehension of your unworthiness and weakness of the odiousness and danger of the sin of spiritual pride so called because exercised about spiritual things of being pufft up with pride of any thing in your selves of being too confident in your selves Below in own and expect not nor desire others good thoughts of you Humility lies not in humility of opinion speech garb or carriage but in opposition to high thoughts of our own parts gifts godliness when we think of these above their worth still remember Psal. 25. Prov. 26. 19. Isai. 57. 15. Ioh. 22. 29. As ever you would grow in grace and be confirmed Christians keep a low esteem of your selves be mean in your own eyes be content to be mean in others and hearken not to secret flatterers that would puff you up Take heed of any thing that would puff you up c. 5. You must understand that you are Disciples in Christs School where Ministers are his teachers and guides the Ordinances his means for his peoples good and the Scripture the Book you must learn therefore keep in this order keep under these Guides commit your souls to those that are faithful and fit for souls to be intrusted with And when you have done with humble submissiveness to their teaching keep in this School under those officers in their Discipline and dwell in the Catholick Church and Communion of Saints and understand the duty of Pastors and People Heb. 13. 17 18. 1 Thes. 5. 12. Obey them that have the Rule over you If God had seen the poor Christians sufficient to support themselves he would never have made it the duty of all to be marshalled and rank'd in several Schools Ranks Orders and all to walk in this Order to Heaven If you withdraw from under Christ's Officers and Ordinances you are in danger of being snatcht up as straglers Quest. What shall we do Whom shall we take for our guides
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
child sees that man come he will not love him and so if the father loves such a man the childe will love him too As now the Courtiers they follow the example of a King and whom the King favours they honour and cringe too why so whom God favours a godly man favours God doth not judge of men as men do by his gay apparel or gold ring or great birth alas he that wants bread is more highly esteemed of in Gods sight then such and so he is in a godly mans account A godly man is conformable to God and a follower of God as a dear child now you shall see what an estimate God puts upon his people God is more taken with one humble broken hearted sinner and one humble contrite breathing of a soul then with all the gold and silver in Solomons Temple not many noble not many mighty doth God set his heart upon but where he sees his Image he who hath the Image of God he hath the love of God there is the first reason in regard of the people of God that are beholders of others A second reason is taken from the people of God that are beheld and here I shall name you five or six Considerations 1. The people of God they that are truly such in the midst of all their present distresses let them be what they will yet their end shall be happy now men do not regard men according to what they have in present possession but according to what they shall have the poorest man here in the world that is rich in faith he shall be rich in glory and honour the people of God are heirs of glory and therefore they are said to be heirs of God and co-hâ—…irs with Christ 1 John 3. 2. Beloved now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be The people of God are to be looked upon according to what they shall be not what they are here they are Princes though under a disguise they are coming though not come to their Crown those saith a Saint that are now scorned reproached and buffeted and libell'd shall shine in heaven when Christ shall appear they shall appear with him in glory they are heires born to great Estates The second reason is this They are for the present very useful and beneficial to the world they are those for whose sake the world was made they are the very pillars of the world to hold it from shattering about your ears they are the great common blessings of the world as the Sun and Stars are the common blessings of the world and fire and water so these are the common blessingâ—… of mankind for which he will spare the world those that are pulled down by the world are they that keep the world from being pulled down they are the soul of the world the wicked are but the carcass of it and if God had gathered in all the world of his people once the world should not continue one hour as Sodom was destroyed when Lot was taken out Third Reason is The highness and excellency of their performances and of all the good things they do there is a worth in every holy work in every supernatural employment in every holy prayer in every thing a godly man doth there is such a goodness in the work that all the wealth in the Indies cannot recompence and therefore saith Luther I had ratber do the least truly good work then obtain all the Conquests and Victoâ—…ies of Cesar and Alexander Now if their good works shine so before men is it possible a gracious heart should see it and not be taken with it There is nothing doth so much take with holy men as holy performances and therefore as a man that is learned when he sees another learned man make a learned Oration he wishes he could do so too so a godly man when he sees another man can pray and live holily Oh saith he that I could do so too and be so holy as he is 4. A fourth Reason is The present priviledges of the people of God not only what they have in reversion but their present priviledges Why but are the priviledges of the people of God so great Yea the very present enjoyments of the Saints and people of God the explanation of them would deserve many Sermons they shall be freed from all evil there shall nothing hurt them their lusts may be destroyed but their souls shall never be destroyed What a priviledge is this for a man to be shot-free do with him what you will you can never hurt him you may disgrace him you may torture him kill him but yet you cannot hurt him whatever befals them turns to their benefit they may be afflicted but not hurt by affliction the greatest hurt the world doth to them tends to their greatest good worldlings may take away their head but they cannot take away their crown there is nothing of evil can be evil to him that hath a good God this a Child of God hath for the present and not only so but there is the real communication of a saving interest in all that is good all that God is all that he hath and all that he doth is theirs Is not this a glorious priviledge The power of God is his to protect him his love his so as to be set upon him the righteousness of God his so as to acquit him from his sins the very righteousness of God is a very great blessing and happiness to the Children of God and they may not only appeal to the Bowels of Gods Mercy but to the Bar of his Justice So that now I say all that God is is his the faithfulness of God is his in keeping his Promises the care of God in defending and protecting of him and so all the providences of God all that he doth shall tend to the good of his people as he saith All is yours life is yours and death is yours and all these things shall do you good Psalm 25. 10. that is a rare Scripture All the wayes of God are mercy oh sweet and truth oh very comfortable to them that are in covenant with him Mercy so that they are enough Gods Providences shall do them good and Truth so as that they shall certainly do them good In one word Earth Heaven and God and all shall be laid out to do them good Is not this a great priviledge In this world they may go to God and tell him wherein they are troubled and pained or afflicted and they are never so welcome to God in their petitions as when they ask most from him when they come to ask riches and the like God will give them to them so far as they may be for their good but so great is the priviledge of a believer that God doth delight in him most when he doth ask most from him and he will give him whatever he desires that may make them good
indulgence therefore break the force of sin by a serious resistance check it and let thy soul rise up in indignation against it my businesse is not to pleasure the flesh but to please the Lord. 4. Bewail the involuntary lapses and falls with penitential teares as Peter went out and wept bitterly Mat. 26. 57. Godly sorrow is of great use for laying aside of sin as salt potions kill wormes when children are troubled with worms we give them salt potions so these bitter penitential tears are the means God hath appointed to mortifie sin that is the reason the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 7. 10. Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of 'T is not only a part of repentance but worketh persevering durable resolutions a walking closely with God 't is a means God hath blessed to this end and purpose 5. Recover from thy falls renew thy combate as Israel when they were overcome in battel they would try it again and again Iudges 20. 28. Take heed of ceasing for the present for though thy enemy seems to prevail though the flesh seems to prevail against the Spirit in the battel yet thou shalt have the best of it in the war by the power of grace thou shalt have the victory Thus I have gone over the privative part of our duty Let us lay aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset us I should have come to the positive Let us run with patience the race that is set before us there is the duty Let us run the Race that is set before us and there is the manner of the duty Let us run with patience I should have shown you That a Christian-life is like a Race from Earth to Heaven in a way of holiness and exercise of Grace This Race it continues as long as we continue in the world from our nativity to our death after death the strife is ended Now in this Race we must run and so run that we may obtain the Crown 1 Cor. 9. 24. Running is a motion and a speedy motion there is no lying sitting or standing but still there must be running We must make a further progress in the way to Heaven Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before Phil. 3. 1. 3. The Runner was not to enquire how much of the way already was past but to strain himself to overcome what was yet behind And so should we consider what sins are yet to be mortified what duties yet untouched almost untouched what hard conflicts are yet to be undergone and still to hold on our way without twining aside or halting because of difficulties discouragements stumbling-blocks And there are fellows and co-partners with us that run this Race with whom we may strive in a holy emulation who should go forwardest who should be most forward in the course of pleasing God Oh Christians there are many contentions amongst us but when shall we have this holy contention Heb. 10. 24. In a Race there is the Agonotheta the Judge of the sports so here God observes all no matter what the standers by say the Judge of the sports must decide who must have the Crown 1 Cor. 14. 3 4. And then at the end of the Race there is the Crown 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness c. In a race there are spectators so there are here God Angels and Men 1 Cor. 4. 9. We are a spectacle to the world to Angels and to men c. Thus for the similitude of our Race in our way to Heaven Now wherein it differs This is a Race not undertaken out of wantonness but out of necessity God hath called us to this course and if we run not in this Race we are undone for ever And in other Races but one had the Crown here all are crowned 2 Tim. 4. 8. though they be not so eminent as the Apostle here all are crowned that run in the manner God hath required Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall give me at that day and not to me only but to them that love his appearing 2. For the manner with patience Let us run with patience Patience is necessary 1. Partly because of the length of the Race and the distance between us and the promised Reward Our Race cannot be ended but after some degrees of time long waiting is troublesome to the flesh and therefore we have need of patience 2. Because we meet with many impediments troubles and temptations by the way there are spiritual adversaries with whom we must fight for we go on we not only run but fight therefore run with patience c. 3. Because the spectators will be ready to discourage us We are set forth not only as a spectacle to God and Angels but to the world and they will be ready to deride scorn and oppose us for oâ—…r zeal to God and our forwardness in the wayes of God to discourage us by bitter mockings c. therefore let us run with patience the Race that is set before us Mr Lye's Prayer Iuly 20. 1662. at Allhallows Lombard-street O Lord our great God thou canst do all things for thou dost dispose and govern all the wayes and works and words of thy Creatures to thine own praise We thy poor Creatures the workmanship of thy hands the price and purchase of thy Sons blood do desire this morning to fall down and humble our selves at the throne of thy grace we desire to lift up an eye of faith to thee that thou mayst dart an eye of love to us since thou hast commanded us to come unto thee O bless us now we come Let it not be in vain for any of us from the highest to the lowest from the richest to the poorest that we have sought tâ—…y face this morning Blessed Father pour down a spirit of Prayer a spirit of Preaching a spirit of rejoycing a spirit of practising in the midst of us let us not only be enabled to know what to do but to do what we know Thou that didst cure the eyes of the blind with clay and spittle oh heal that natural dimness that is in the best of us thy rod in the hand of Moses brought water out of the rock oh do thou strike upon these rocky hearts that our adamantine hearts being softened may gush out into rivers of tears O drown our sins in the red Sea of our Saviours blood help us to sinite upon our thigh and to ask our selves what we have been and what we have done and humble us under the omission of any commanded duty and the commission of any forbidden sin sins of thoughts words and deed sins against the law against the Gospel of youth manhood and old age sins before under and since
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
slight of men and cunning craftiness that can cog the Die notable Gamesters there are in the World but you must stand steady in judgement you must be firm to your principles I would have you Stars not Meteors for Meteors are carried about with every blast of Wind. I hope better things of you I shall pray God would make you steadfast in Iudgement 1. Be sure to get good principles and secondly Be sure to stand in those good principles that you have got And though I cannot say but some Tares are sown among this Parish yeâ—… I bless the Lord for the generality I hope I may say I have an Orthodox Ministry 2. 'T is not enough to stand iâ—…â—…udgement but we must be steadfast to our 〈◊〉 1 〈◊〉 15. 58. Be steadfast immoveable such as stand firm on some Basis and foundation that doth not totter and stagger if they find you staggering to be sure the next moment they look upon you as falling Be as they say of one or both of the Poles of the Heavens though all the world turns the Poles are immoveable If I mistake not you may see a great turn in the World â—…nd behold at this day the greatest turn that ever was in England but yet you must not move you must not stir be true to your Resolutions be just to your first love go on in the Lords Work let nothing take you off If I have preached any false Doctrine among you witness against me at the day of judgement but if the things I have preached be true stand to the truths if you do not witness against my Doctrine mine 't is not but rather witnesse for it remember if you leave it that very Doctrine will witnesse against you at the day of Judgement Oh! that excellent Heroe Queen Hester thus and thus I will do and if I perish I perish You cannot imagine against how many thousand temptations a stadfast resolution will guard you 3. There 's a steadfastnesse of Faith too when we so believe as that we do not waver or do not hesitate Will you give me leave to propose to you my dear Friends though my Congregation I cannot call you that question which our Saviour did unto the Jews whom he hated though I love you The Baptism of Iohn whence was it from heaven or of men The doctrines you have heard have they been from Heaven or from men Answer me if from men abhor them man is a false creature man would make merchandize of your faith and souls but if from Heaven why then should you not believe them I blesse the Lord my conscience bears me witnesse I never did so far propose a doctrine to you I would have you believe without Scripture If the doctrines have been from God believe them if not abhor them and any of those that shall dare to bring a doctrine but dare not bring the authority of the Scripture to warrant them You may not be like those in Iam. 1. 6. that mavereth like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed The most godly man may stumble in his way i. e. tread awry but a wavering minded man is never settled concerning his way Blessed be God I am not now on this day that looks as like my dying day as can be in the world to begin to fix upon a Religion to fix upon my way I know my way If God will but keep 〈◊〉 steps and guide me in that way If God be 〈◊〉 I appeal to your consciences worship him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God worship him do not stand disputing and doubting do not say shall I shall I if the ways you have found be the ways of God follow them God hath but one way to heaven there is but one truth if Baal be God follow Baal do not stand wavering do not consult with flesh and bloud 't is an infinite mercie that God will give any of us to leave Relations Estates Congregations any thing for Christ 't is an infinite mercy we do not split upon a rock Be sure to be either for God or Baal a godly man many time halts in his way but never halts between two opinions 4. Steadfastness of Conscience Indeed the genius of my ministry hath lyen this way and here I could easily launch out but I must be short I would speak a word in season to those that are weak it becomes you to be steadfast in conscience then have a God decreeing a Christ redeeming a spirit quickning a gospel promising a heaven prepared a God infinitely more ready to save him then he can possibly be desirous to be saved by him Be steadfast in conscience against the guilt the filth of sin against the temptations of Satan c. Let us draw near with full assurance of faith you can never believe Gods love so much as Gods love doth engage you to believe c. I might adde 5. You must be steadfast in conversation 't is not the Running well but the Running out 't is not the sighing but the conquering that gives you title to the Reward for you to give a great deal of milk and to throw it down all at length with your foot may argue you to have a good dug but a bad foot Never give those beâ—…sts of Babylon occasion to say that a man may be a child of God in the morning and a child of the devil at night that we contradict that Doctrine by our conversation that we assert in our profession But why must we be stedfast Alas why would you have me marshal up all the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 me count the stars or number the sands on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is noâ—… an attribute in God not a precept 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 in the word not an ordinance 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 there is nothing in God or 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or ourselves but all would give a conâ—…ribution of 〈◊〉 to prove the Saints 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I must but hâ—…nt at a few things First I would argue from Iesu Christ. Believers you love Christ and therefore you love the honour of Christ now the honour of Christ is highly engaged in your stedfastness We never cast a deeper blot on the honour of Christ then when we grow unstedfast I need not tell you so the Jesuits those meâ—…k Papists will tell you so those that delight in nothing more then in the milk of the Virgin Mary and in the bloud of Saints they have enough if you be unsteady 1. You dishonour Christ in his sufferings Pray tell me Believers why did Christ swear bloud why did he dye why did he undergo what the wrath of Devils could inflict but for this end to make you steady to give you the conquest of all spiritual Enemies and to make you stand in that conquest triumphing Thus I remember as Ioshuah Jos. 10. 24. Come put your feet upon the necks of these kâ—…ngs and they came near and put their feet upon the necks of them So Christ hath dy'd that you might live
the stress of my Salvation upon these t is true I cannot in conscience conform but I do not lay the stress of salvation on it as I did not lay the stress of my salvation on my being a Presbyterian I confess I am so have been it hath been my unhappiness to be alwaies on the sinking side yet I lay not the stress of my salvation upon it 'T is my conscience but it may be I have not so much light as another man and I profess in the presence of God could I conform without sin to my own 〈◊〉 I would if I should do any thing against my conscience I should sin and break my peace and conscience and all and never see good day do not then spend the strength of your zeal for your religion in censuring others That man that is most busie in censuring others is alwayes least employed in examining himself Remember good Iohn Bradford he would not censure Bonner nor Gardiner but saith he they called I. Bradford the hypocritical I. Bradford c. I do not speak this as though I can or did in conscience approve of those things for which I must suffer that I cannot approve of them but to take off people from those things that are so far from the foundation Look you but to the main things and look but into your own hearts examine them and then you need not be much perswaded to look about to others 2. You must take heed you be not loose Christians will you remember one thing from me the God of Heaven grant you never live to see it verified A loose Protestant is one of the fittest persons in the world to make a strict Papist Tell not me of his Protestantisme being a drunkard it is because his King oâ—… Countrey are Protestants where they live There is no Religion in a loose liver if ungodliness be in the heart it is no difficult thing for error to get into the head A loose heart can best comply with loose principles see if they will not be of any Religion in the world that is uppermost let the Turkâ—… prevail they would soon be of his Religion 3. Take heed of being worldly Christians oh this is the David that hath â—…lain his ten thousands A worldly heart will be bought and sold upon every turn to serve thâ—… Devils turn Come to a worldly heart and but promise him thirty pieces of silver he will betray his Saviour The temptations of the world are great upon us at this time you that are husbands and parents know it the world is a 〈◊〉 temptation but if we be overcome by the world and the world not overcome by us we shall never be able to overcome any one temptation that is offered to us Therefore that 's an admirable support In the world you shall have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world I have overcome the world for you and likewise I have overcome the world in you Oh Lord if thou wilt but overcome the love and the fear of the world if thou wilt but arm us against the smiles of the world then come what will we shall stand stedfast 4. Take heed you be not hypoeritical Christians i e. take heed you do not receive the truth and only receive the truth and not receive the truth in the love of that truth 2 Thess. 2. 10. You have received truth but have you received the truth in the love of that truth which you have received want of this is that damnable occasion to Popery And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved and for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they shall believe a lye that they all might be damned who believed not the truth 'T is just with God they should fall into errours whose hearts did never love real truths Better never receive the truth then to receive it and not in the love of it Take heed of being venturous and God tempting Christians what 's that when do I tempt God I tempt God when I do run into a Pest-house and say God will preserve me from the Plague Take heed of running upon temptations to sin whether it be in principles or in practice I could tell you of two spiritual Pest-houses in England if I had time for principles one and for practices another I do not say that I mean Play-houses on the one hand or Mass-houses on the other hand Certainly Bretâ—…ren I read of Iulian that wicked bloudy Apostate that he sunk into that his Apostacy first by going to hear Libanius preach mistake me not I am not against your hearing the Ministers of Christ for a man may be a true Minister though he be a bad man all the world can never answer the instance of Iudas who was a true Minister though a bad man while I plead for the truth of his Ministry I do not spread a skirt over the wickedness of his life The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses Chair hear them But that which I mainly aim at is this do not you go and run and venture your selves upon temptations you have heard of superstitious or Idolatrous worship you have a months mind to see this and what if so be when you are found in Satans way Satan should lay his â—…aw on you and claim to you what do you there in Satan's ground Would you be found when you come to die in a Play-house or in such a place where the true God is Idâ—…latrously worshipped 'T is a great truth if you would not be found in the Devils power do not be found in the Devils pound Brethren we must know Satan is bâ—…sie enough to tempt us we need not go to tempt him Eve lost all that she had by hearing one Sermon but 't was from the Devil Therefore if you would not have your pockets pickt do not trade amongst Cheaters 1 Tim. 6. 3 5. If any man â—…each otherwise c. then that ye have received and we preached from such withdraw thy self that 's a good honest laudable separation from such withdraw thy self 6. Where God doth not find a mouth to speak do not you find an ear to hear nor an heart to believe pray mind it this I am sure is of concernment This is one of the grand points in my Card or Compass on which I hope I shall venture all If any man come with a Doctrine not according to the word of God let him carry it whither he will what have I to do with it Either you come from God or no If you do shew me his word and I 'le believe it if not open your pack where you please c. where God doth not find a mouth to speak where you have not a precept promise threatning or example in the word of God let them talk their hearts out 't is nothing to me to my Religion
that they may rest from their labour for hera is not our rest Mich. 2. 10. there remaineth a rest for the people of God there is no rest in this world the word quiet wants the plural number Secondly The righteous must die that they may have their reward their Crown of glory that God hath laid up for them they must first fight the good fight and finish their course and then they shall receive a Crown of glory Thirdly They must die that they may be free from sin for they shall never put off the body of sin till they put off the body of flesh Fourthly They must die that mortality may be swallowed up of life that corruption may put on incorruption Fifthly They must die that they may be perfect in grace Lastly They must die that they may see God face to â—…ce and be for ever with the Lord which they cannot do till they die therefore blessed be God that the righteous must perish If a man should bring news to a righteous man That he should alwayes live on earth alwayes be young rich and healthful it would be unwelcome News for while we are in the body we are absent from the Lord and subject to sin and therefore when Peter asked Christ what should be done with Iohn Christ â—…ells him If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to â—…ee from henceforth there went a report abroad that Iohn should not die Iohn 21. 32. Now the Apostle himself was much displeased with this report looked upon 〈◊〉 as a geeat affliction that he should not die and therefore â—…e himself confutes it But yet Iesus said he said not â—…hat he should not die as if he had said God forbid that â—… should not die Before I come to the application of this Point give me leave to speak something to the second Point and â—…o I shall apply them both together The second Doctrine is this That the perishing of a righteous man is nothing but a gathering of him to God Christ and the blessed Society of Saints and Angels in Heaven This is contained in the second expression merciful men are taken away the word in the Hebrew is Colliguntur they are gathered it is exegetical of the former â—…hey did not perish but they are gathered to God and Christ there is a great deal of excellency and a Magaâ—…ine of sweetness in this expression They are gathered It â—…mplies two things First That the righteous are in a scattered condition while they are in this world and that three wayes First They are scattered among the wicked and ungodly of the world as Sheep among Wolves as Limbs among Lions rent and torn in pieces forced to wander up and down in Sheep-skins and Goat-skins Secondly The righteous are scattered in the world one from another and that two wayes 1. They are scattered by their different habitations for the godly are forced to separate one from another as Lot from Abraham 2. They are scattered one from another by the cruel persecution of wicked men and therefore you read Acts 8. that at that time when there was a persecution against the Church at Ierusalem that they were all scattered abroad Thirdly The godly are scattered in this life from the glorious presence of God in Heaven indeed they are never scattered from the gracious presence of God but sometimes they are scattered from the comforting presence of God and as long as we live in this world we shall be scattered from the glorious presence of God for while we are in the body we are absent from the Lord. Secondly This implies a bringing of Gods people out of this scattered condition it is a gathering of the righteous out of this world into another from a sinful persecuted world into a sinlesse glorious world from diversity of dwelling on earth to dwell altogother in one heaven it is a gathering them out of the reach of men and devils a gathering them not only to the gracious but to the glorious presence of God and Christ and to the souls of just men made perfect and to the general assembly of the first-born and to the City of the living God the heavenly Ierusalem where they shall live together never to be scattered again To understand this the better let me offer three things to you shewing you that the godly are gathered to God three wayes In this life at death and at the day of judgement First The righteous are gathered to God in this life and that is at their first conversion for by nature we are all Aliens and strangers to God scattered from any union or communion with God not only scattered from the glorious but from the gracious presence of God God made man at first to enjoy communion with himself but Adam lost this by his sin and now we are all Cains and Vagabonds scattered from the love of God and from union and communion with God but when God converts any of the Elect he gathers them home to himself for conversion is nothing but Gods gathering them to himself in the second Adam that were scattered from him in the first Adam the first Adam was a root of scattering a root of separation from God but the second Adam was a root of union and conjunction Christ is the head and all the Elect are all gathered together in him Ephes. 1. 10. that he might gather together in one all things in Christ so that conversion is nothing but a gathering of the Elect of God to Christ by faith and a gathering to one another by love and charity Secondly Gods people are gathered at death here they are gathered to Christ by grace but at death they are gathered to Christ in glory here they are gathered to God by hope but at death by fruition here Christ is gathered to us he comes down and dwells with us but at death we shall be gathered to him we shall go up and â—…e joyned with him There is a great deal of difference between esse cum Christo and esse in Christo esse cum Christo to be one with Christ is a Christians great security but esse in Christo to be one in Christ it is a Christians great felicity In this life we are gathered to God by â—…aith but at death by vision Lastly We shall be gathered to God at the day of Judgement it is called the day of the gathering of the Saints together a day when all the Saints that are have been or shall be shall all be gathered together 2 Thes. 2. 1. I beseech you brethren by the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him at the great day At the day of judgement we shall all be gathered together and shall be all taken up to Heaven I mean all the Righteous and be ever with the Lord And so much for the opening of the Doctrine But here it may be objected Are not the unrighteous gathered by death as well
others also Hath God committed any thing to you a treasure of Learning or Grace commit it to young Ministers that they may commit it to others that so there may be a succession of gifts and graces Do as Physicians do that labour to communicate their skill to their children and to others so should we that so there may be a succession of godly ones that godliness may be entailed upon us and our Relations Thirdly and lastly Let us all labour to be such that when we dye when we come to be gathered we may be gathered to Christ and his Angels and not to the Devil and his Angels And for that purpose let us labour to be merciful and righteous and let us be gathered to Christ by faith and to one another by love and dear affection and then we shall be gathered at the great day to Christ and the blessed company of Saints and Angels There are four observations yet behind but I must wave them at this time I have now another Sermon to preach and I cannot without injury to you that are alive and without wrong to the memory of my dearly beloved Brother but speak something of him at whose Funeral we are met this evening not so much for his commendation he needs it not but for our imitation it is pitty great pitty something should not be said that this Reverend Minister though dead may yet preach this night and I have so much to say of him that I know not where to begin and when I have begun I hardly know how to make an end I must confesse the little time allotted me for the providing for this solemn Work and the necessary avocations in this little time have hindered me from informing my self about his breeding and manner of education at Emanuel Colledge under Mr. Stooker and his excellent carriage and converse with Mr. Hildersam Mr. Dod Mr. Ball Mr. Langley and other Ministers famous in their generations and the many pressures and hardships that he suffered in those parts and times for the keeping of his Conscience pure from that which he counted sin and therefore I must draw a vail over that part of his life and confine my discourse onely to the time since his coming to live with us in London which is about the space of twenty two or three twenty years all which time I have had the happinesse to be intimately acquainted with him insomuch as that I can freely and clearly professe and that with a sad heart that I and many others have lost a real wise and godly friend brother and fellow-labourer in the Lord j the Church hath lost an eminent member and choice pillar and this City hath lost an ancient faithfull and painfull minister who by his prayers and holy life did seek to keep off the Judgements of God from falling upon us and the lesse sensible the City is of this losse the greater is the losse I fear we may too truly repeat the words in the Text The righteous perisheth and no man layes it to-heart and mercifull men are taken away none considering that the righteous are taken away from the evil to come I have read of Philo the Iew and by chance met with the same in the life of S. Ambrose that when they came to any City or Town and heard of the death of any godly man though never so poor they would both of them mourn exceedingly because of the great losse that place had by the death of that godly man and because it was a warning-piece from God of evil approaching But we have had many godly men and godly ministers taken away of late and yet I fear me but few lay it to heart and therefore as I said the loss is the greater to this City because it is so little sensible of it It is a great loss also to his relations his wife hath lost a dear and loving husband his sister a dear brother his parish and congregation a faithful pastour The ministerial excellencies of many ministers were collected and concentred in one Simeon Ash he was a Bezaleel in Gods tabernacle a master-builder an old disciple a Polycarp a Christian of long standing in the school of Christ a burning and a shining light one whom many ministers and other good Christians called father insomuch that it was a common proverb in this City father Ash and I believe many experimentally lament over him as the King did over the Prophet Elisha My father my father the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof For he lived desired and died lamented not only in the City but I believe in very many places in the Countrey where he was known But more particularly there were twelve excellencies that I observed in this Reverend Minister and my dear brother that were as twelve Jewels or precious pearls in that crown with which God had crowned him I shall name them for your imitation and benefit he needs them not for he is above our Eulogy The first and chief Jewel that did beautifie and adorn this our brother was his sincerity and uprightness of heart which indeed is not a single grace but the soul of all grace and the interlineary that must run through all grace for what is faith if it be not unfeigned what will love to God profit you if it be not without dissimulation what is repentance worth if it be not in truth as the body without the soul is a rotten carkass so is all grace without sincerity this is the soul of all grace this is the girdle of truth Sincerity is that which girts all our spiritual armour together and makes them useful what advantage is it to have the brest-plate of righteousness the shield of faith the helmet of hope if they be but painted things it is the girdle of sincerity that makes all the other parts of our armour useful Now this excellent grace of sincerity was eminent in this our dear brother he was a true Nathanael in whom there was no guile I mean no allowed hypocrisie and this was that which carried him throuoh the pangs of death with a great deal of comfort for he was able to say with Hezekiah Remember O Lord how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart He could say with Paul This is my rejoycing the testimony of my conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity I have had my conversation in the world Secondly another Jewel was his humility this is a grace that he was cloathed withall and it is a rare grace for God dwels with the humble he resists the proud but he gives grace to the humble This reverend Minister was low in his own eyes and therefore very high in Gods eyes he had a mean esteem of himself and therefore he was in high esteem with God He was as Iacob said of himself less then the least of Gods mercies and therefore he was made partaker of the best of Gods mercies He was like
those that wait upon thee shall renew their strengths we have no might the Devill bâ—…ffles us our own hearts are treacherous to us the world intâ—…ces us to sin against God Oh! deliver us from all these Enemies and especially from the plagues of our hearts that we may perfect holyness in the fear of God give us Spiritual blessings whatsoever thou givest us or whatsoever thou denyest us thou knowest thou artrather willing to give us Spirituall blessings then any other mercies and we want spiritual mercies most oh give us spiritual mercies that we may say This is the way of God in his Sanctuary Where Grace is not wrought work it where it is begun encrease it Dear Father convince those that are yet not convinced make thy Word a quickning word an ingrafâ—…ed word to the saving of our souls help us to hear as for our lives and as those that long after God Hear Prayers for the King blesse him in his Royal Relations and grant under him we may live a quiet life in all Godlinesse and honesty Bless the Magistrates and help them to remember that causes one day must be heard over again help thy Ministers to keep close to thee in wayes that are well pleasing Be with us at this time Lord assist the meanest of thy Servants let our souls now find that thou dost magnifie thy Word above all thy Name do us good recâ—…ive us quicken us that we may live in Heaven upon Earth that we may know what it is to be filled with the fulnesse of God and know the heighth breadth depth and length of thy love that passeth knowledge Communicate thy selfe to us as thou usest to do to thy people let us feel thy presence let us not think of any thing but the business we are about let us with singlenesse of heâ—…t set our selves to mind the concernments of our immortal souls And all we beg for Christ his sake who has taught us thus to pray Our Father which art in Heaven c. Mr. Cradockt's Prayer at Saint Sepulchres August 10. 1662. MOst glorious and most gracious Lord God who art God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who hast put thine own name and stamp upon this day wilt thou be pleased to appear now and prepare and dispose â—…r unprepared and indisposed souls for holy observation of this thine own holy day will the Lord vouchsafe us the incomes of his spirit and influences of his grace whereby we may be unabled to offer up spiritual sacrifices which may be acceptable to Iesus Christ. Lord thou requâ—…rest praying hearts but thou hast not commanded us to use Prayer-books and if thou wilt give us the spirit of Prayer we shall not need them Lord give us praying hearts at this time let us find by experience that thy Subâ—…ath is a day of souls opportunity that thine Ordinances are full of marrow that thou hast not said unto thy children the seed of Jacob seek my face in vain We acknowledge we are unworthy to lift up our eyes to Heaven we have cause enough to cry out God be mercifull to us sinners undeserving ill-deserving men and women we acknowledge our natures are blots of all wickednesses we are by nature enemies to thy Majesty heirs of dâ—…ath children of darknesse slaves to sin captives to lust dead to sins and trespasses how are our understandings darkned and our hearts hardned what are our hearts but a store-house of â—…licious thoughts a brothel-house of adultery a Pallace of pride we are by nature wholly flesh totally opposite to the holy Lawes of thy Majesty and were it not for thy renewing or restraâ—…ning grace we should break forth into as vile abominations as the vilest of men Our lives have been a continual piece of rebellion against God who didst make us and dost feed and cloath us all thy paths have been paths of mercy to us but we have requited thee evil for thy good and hatred for thy love O foolish men and women that we have bin we acknowledge our Gospel sins are of a deep eye thou hast not bin a wildernesse or a Land of darknesse to us we have been exalted to Heaven in the meanes of salvation but oh how short do we come of knowledge to the time and meanes we have enjoyed and our obedience comes short of our knowledge we have not walked up to that light which thou hast given us We desire to lay our selves low before thee oh do thou open our eyes and presentus to our selves shew us the vilenesâ—…e of our lives Blessed be thy name that thou hast laid help upâ—… 〈◊〉 that is mighty to save all that come to thy Majesty by him and thou hast promised all that beleive on him shall not perish but have everlasting life Oh help us to receive him in all his offices in our hearts help us to give him the keyes of our hearts and help us to live and die to him that dyed for us and let our soules be united to thee by him that his death may be ours and his life ours and his intercession ours Oh let our unity to Christ be demonstrated to us by our communion with him and conformity to him in grace and holiness And we pray thee dearest Lord pardon our sins in the Court of Heaven and in the Court of our own consciences besprinkle our consciences in the blood of Christ and say to all before thee at this time that desire to fear thee more and serve thee better Sons and Daughters be of good cheer your sins are forgiven you And do not only justifie us but sanctifie us purge our consciences from dead workes informe our understandings conforme our wills to thine holy will let our hearts and lives be conformed to the Image of thy Sonne that beholding thereof we may be changed from glory to glory and let us have more knowledge of thy will that we may do thy will and suffer thy will with more patience and be filled with the fruits of righteousnesse which are to the glory of God Let us not be empty Vines that bring forth fruit to themselves but let us bring forth fruit to God whereby thou mayest be glorified Oh plant that great grace of selfe-denyal in our souls and let us take the Crosse of Iesus Christ and follow him wheresoever he goes Remember all thine extend thy favour to those thou hast cast on Beds of sicknesse and let there be a saving change wrought in them before that change by death shall come And that are drawing nigh their time of Travel let the arms of the All-sufficient God be under them and be better to them thâ—…s their Faith or our Prayer And look graciously upon poor Children intitle them to an inheritance that fadeth not away make them a blessing in themselves and a blessing to their Parents And those that desire the conversion of Relations that walk in wayes of perâ—…ition do not let them find peace in any way against thy Majesty and let them know that sin will be bitter in the latter end Look upon us that are before thee at this time before we go hence and shall be here no more make thy face to shine upon us let our coming together be for the better and not for the worse to any of us Let thy poor Servant be able to deliver thy message plainly and powerfully and give thy people hearing ears obedient hearts and let us rejoyce that we did wait upon thee in thy worship this day and all for Christ his sake in whose Name and words we call upon thee Our Father c. FINIS