Take heed to thy self and to the Doctrine continue in them for in so doing thou shalt both save thy self and them that hear thee Attributing his own and others mens Salvation to him in his faithful diligence in his work and office which supreamly was to be ascribed to God only and his grace in Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 4.16 After the same race or manner doth he here speak of making others wise as the former word may be rendred and of turning to righteousness justifying or making just many But as these things are all here implyed so it is here plainly and sully expressed and said 7. And lastly That they that turn many to righteousness or make many righteous they shall shine as the Stars for ever and ever That 's the full proposition here asserted That is 1. In the short and sum of it they shall be gloriously rewarded for the good therein done by them their work shall be with the Lord so as he will highly recompence it or reward it with glory Yea both they that are wise themselves and those also more especially that are instrumental causes by their faithful endeavours of making others wife and righteous especially they that make many so shall be rewarded gloriously or with great glory in the resurection of the just and so we shall carry them both on together as I said above and this because Rea. 1. God is not unrighteous to forget their labour after wisdome and especially therein their love to his name He having of his great goodness made precious promises of rewards unto such Heb. 6.10 with 2 Cor. 6.16 17 18. 7.1 Mal. 3.17 4.2 3. He is faithful and cannot nor will forget his word or go back from his Covenant confirmed and ratifyed in and by the blood of his only Son but will make it good and perform it to the utmost Heb. 10.23 with Isa 51.6 For the heavens shall vanish away like smoak and the earth shall wax old as a Garment but my salvation saith he shall be for ever and my righecousness shall not be abolished And He hath promised to accept and reward gloriously such persons as are themselves wise and causes of others being so and that being themselves just and righteous are causes of righteousness to others Psal 91.14 15 16. Isa 62.1 2 3. Because Reas 2. He is a lover of wisdome and righteousness He is himself the only wise God Rom. 16.27 Jude 25. and the just and righteous Lord Zeph. 3.5 and wisdome and righteousness are of and from him Prov. 2.6 Psal 4.1 beams issuing forth from or generated by him and his influxes and therefore loved of him or rather they are the beams and influences of his blessed and beloved Son our Lord Jesus the wisdome of God and his tighteousness or just and righteous one and therefore they are lovely too and delighted in by him so as to render lovely and delightful to him those that are in so as to be made wise and righteous by them As it is said A wise Son maketh a glad Father Prov. 10.1 And my Son if thine heart be wise my heart shall rejoice even mine yea my reins shall rejoice when thy lips speak right things Prov. 23.15 16. And My Son be wise and make my heart glad that I may answer him that reprorcheth me Prov. 27.11 comparing those passages with Chap. 3.11 12. Heb. 12.5 6 7 8. whereas the foolish may not stand in his sight He hateth all the workers of iniquity Psal 5.4 5. The righteous Lord loveth righteousness and the righteous his countenance doth behold the just Psal 11.7 and 146.8 Yea because also Reas 3. He loveth mankind and desires mans welfare and happiness Would have all men saved and come to the knowledg of the truth that being good and acceptable in his sight He would not that any perish but all come to repentance to which purpose he hath interposed his only Son the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransome or price of redemption for all the one and only Mediator of God and man therefore he would have all men wise and righteous that they might be happy 1 Tim. 2.3 4 5 6. 2 Peter 3.9 He would rather that the wicked turn and live than go on in sin and die and perish therefore also he loves those that are so wise as to take the course to be happy as Men loving their Children like it mainly when they see they do well and take the course to live happily and therefore also He loves and likes them mainly who being wise themselves make it their business by holding forth his Word and Doctrine and setting before them the love and goodness of God and the great things he hath done for them and invites them too their need thereof and the misery that will come upon them if neglecting them c. to do their endevour to convert others to righteousness and bring them to be just and good that they may be happy For seeing he loves man and desires his welfare nothing can be more acceptable to him than to endeavour to promote mans happiness And indeed he hath therefore so highly loved honoured and glorified his Son Jesus Christ as man because He in obedience to Him and love to us laid down his life for us as he saith Himself Therefore my Father loveth me because I lay down my life that I might take it again Joh. 10.17 And because he humbled himself to Death the Death of the Cross for us that so he might therethrough be the Saviour of us The Authour of eternal Salvation to all that obey him and bring many sons to glory therefore God hath highly exalted him and given him a Name above every name that every knee should bow to Him and every tongue confess to him that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father Phil. 2.7 8 9 10 11. with Heb. 2.10 and 5.9 so as He is the brightness of his glory and in the fulness of his power and glory for evermore And as any one in listening to and believing on Him becomes a follower and disciple of Him and walks in his steps making it his business according to his capacity to do good to others and win them in to him and so to righteousness so God loves and approves of them the more and will conform them to his blessed Son and give them fellowship with him in his Kingdome and Glory Yea they that come nearest him in likeness of love and charity and good-doing to others here shall doubtless be nearest to him in glory hereafter God so loves man that he likes and approves it and will reward it when men so love one another as to do good to one another in outward and bodily matters He that is good of or hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed for he giveth of his bread to the poor Proverbs 22.9 and He that hath pitty on the poor lendeth to the Lord and what he hath given will he
mâ—… turn again and have compassion aâ—… defer his judgments that the contemâ—… of his Words and Servants have exposâ—… us to that they come not in our timâ—… upon us or upon these Nations I us search and try our ways and tuâ—… from those iniquities which have provoked God in wrath to make such breaâ—… es upon us endeavouring by all the helâ—… â—…n and by them or any other ways afforded that we may obtain the Salvation â—…hat is in Christ Jesus with eternal â—…lory To further you in which I preâ—…nt this Mite of mine unto you and â—…all be glad if it contribute any thing to â—…ur heavenly advantage I cannot â—…mmend it for its worth as composed by â—…e but such as I have I herein offer up to â—…ods service and your helpfulness beseechâ—…g him to pardon its defects or mistakes 〈◊〉 accept of it graciously praying you to â—…ake good use of it Nor can I say that I â—…elivered all this in the Tabernacle that 〈◊〉 contained in this Treatise For neither â—…ould my body tired with the Lordsâ—…ays exercise elsewhere it being but â—…e day before this Funeral nor the time â—…lotted permit me to do that though I â—…as I thought sufficiently tedious both â—…r my self and for my Auditory The â—…eads of it were there delivered and â—…mewhat enlarged upon though some of â—…hem here more largely spoken to the â—…articulars under the second Proposition though then generally spoken to yet aâ—… here more particularly enumerated thâ—… reasons of both added as also all thâ—… Application from the third Use or thâ—… first branch of the Uses under the secoâ—… bracnh of the Text then only propounâ—…ed briefly to the last of all and somâ—…thing also to that time giving me moâ—… advantage now for considering the maâ—…ter further and for setting down whâ—… I thought expedient And now I leavâ—… it to your perusal only begging Goâ—… mercy towards me and blessing with 〈◊〉 and entreating your candour towarâ—… and prayers for Lin Regis At my house August 13. 1672. Your unworthiesâ—… Friend and Brotheâ—… in the Christian faiâ—… Jo. Horne TO Mrs. ANNE WEST OF FOX-HALL IN Lambeth â—…race and Peace through the knowledg of God and our Lord Jesus â—…ND SISTER SInce you are pleased our of your love to the Deceased and to the matâ—…s herein contained by your benign and friendly hand to do the office of a Midwife to this my conception to help to bring it into this World which otherwise had either proved as to that abortive or stuck longer in thâ—… Birth I think it but meet and reasonable that your name also be put upon its front and that your love both to the Truth tâ—… the Deceased for the truths sake should be therein acknowledged God give his blessing with it thaâ—… you and many others may havâ—… good thereby and that I maâ—… not labour in vain and by you helpâ—… bring forth this fruit there of for trouble but for edification and benefit to many and that the seed you have sowâ—… thereabouts may also bring forth fruit upon your account in â—…he day of the Lord Jesus Christ â—…hat so you may never have cause â—…o repent you of it And the Lord recompence all your love â—…nd labour of love to the Deâ—…eased as also I wish and desire for that very kind and loving Friend and Brother to him at whose house he died Mr. R. Johnâ—…on and all other his Friends â—…nto your bosomes and fill you â—…nd all that name the Name of Christ with an abundance of his â—…pirit and of the fruits of his â—…ghteousness that you and they â—…ay in the Heavenly and glorious Kingdome hereafter Shine as â—…e brightness of the Firmament and as the Stars for ever and ever So desireth and prayeth for you and them Sister Your Friend and Servant for Jesus sake Jo. Horne At my House in Lin Regis August 13. 1672. To my much Honoured Friend Francis Vnderwood Esq of Thorney-Abbey Grace Mercy and Peace from God our Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ Honoured Sir ALthough I have not of late years used to prefix any Dedicatory Epistles 〈◊〉 the Discourses I have made puâ—…lick yet when I think of your â—…eater nighness and kindness to â—…nd interest in our Deceased Friend and Brother and your â—…xemplary love to him I cannot but judg it meet and right in behalf of my self and mine and the Deceased Friends to testifie our good resentment both of your love to the truth and to the Deceased for the truths sake by such a publick acknowledgment thereof trusting that your interest in him being so dear above others of or near to your rank none will quarreâ—… with me that I single you out above them in this matter I write not this to flatter you but to thank you and to excite you to have such further remembrance of your deceased Friend as never to forgo or neglect those good instructions and helps you have received frequently from him or rather from God by him I know it was great grief to you to part with â—…m and that he died at so great distance from you as your solid â—…ous and loving Letter to him 〈◊〉 have prevented it if it might â—…ve been doth testifie and that â—…u will now have a very great â—…nt of him more than most oâ—…ers though some in Whittlesey 〈◊〉 much or more than you possibly â—…nd therefore you with them and â—…hat I write to you I am willing â—…ey should share in also need the â—…ore comfort and consolation I â—…re presume to believe that He â—…as a watchful a good shepherd 〈◊〉 his capacity over you and his â—…ve was great to you and though â—…od may afford you other helpers â—…t I fear you will scarcely meet with another Mr. Moore among them all to be like him to you Well Sir we have not lost him alâ—… there is much of his spirit yet leâ—… behind him in his Writings theâ—… you may converse with though 〈◊〉 be gone and it s not long befoâ—… you and I shall be in no more capâ—…city to converse with any boâ—… here before you and I must 〈◊〉 after him and I hope to him aâ—… to Jesus Christ the Lord and Sâ—…viour both of us and of him anâ—… therefore let us redeem time anâ—… improve it well that we may 〈◊〉 found in peace of God in Christ And its well for us that thougâ—… God hath taken away this and thâ—… other under Shepherds from us â—…s yet The great Shepherd and â—…ishop of our Souls that loved â—…s so as that he laid down his life â—…r us though He was dead yet â—…e lives and lives for evermore 〈◊〉 take care of his flock and faâ—…ily who being so Great can take are of it all and of every one of it â—…ll over the World yea and beâ—…ng both so Good and so Eternal â—…ill not fail it though others do â—…ither through unfaithfulness or â—…s not permitted to continue by â—…eason of death He is as great â—…n Goodness
any man is in closing with and â—…beying it made in Christ so being thereby â—…rought to and made in him Christ is made 〈◊〉 God to him wisedome righteousness c. 〈◊〉 Cor. 1.30 the Author and Fountain of â—…avenly and true wisdome to him In which wisdome and so in those that are made wise thereby there are among other â—…ings these chiefly observable viz. 1. A right understanding and judgment â—…f things Naturally men in and of themselses and as walking in the principles of â—…e world are blind and darkened in their understandings especially as having reâ—…sed the tenders of wisdome Sathan gets power over them to blind them 2 Cor. 4 4â—… the Gentiles that receive not the Grace 〈◊〉 God have their understandings darkned bâ—…ing alienated from the life of God through thâ—… ignorance that is in them because of the blindness or hardness of their hearts but theâ—… having learned Christ and having heard hiâ—… and been taught by him as the truth is in Jesuâ—… are inabled and helped to put away lying knowing and understanding the truth Ephes 4.17 18 19 20 21 25. Men genâ—…rally as in and of themselves and as walâ—…ing after the course of this world are brâ—…tish and foolish void of all right judgment and understanding Surely every man by 〈◊〉 own knowledg is brutish every founder is coâ—…founded Jer. 10.14 There is none that 〈◊〉 derstandeth none that seeketh after God Râ—…man 3.11 But God sent his only begotteâ—… Son into the world and hath put his Spirit upon him that He might be the light of the world and bring forth judgment to the Geâ—…tiles and having given him a light to the peâ—…ple the Jews or professed Church and 〈◊〉 the Gentiles hath appointed him therein 〈◊〉 be for salvation his salvation or way of â—…aving men to the ends of the earth that whâ—… ever believes on and follows him might 〈◊〉 walk in darkness but have the light of life Isaah 42.1 and 49.6 with Acts 13.46 47â—… John 8.12 and 12.46 and to those that behold and listen to him he brings forth â—…udgment into truth or into victory over all â—…he errors of the world that was in their minds and over all their corrupt passions â—…usts and affections giving them to understand the truth and to discern between the right and wrong good and evil that they might chuse the good and live and so in his might they see light they see where their true interest is where peace and safety felicity and happiness are to be met with by them viz. that it lies not in their having the riches honours or pleasures of this life or world nor in having the science and knowledg of many things or in being morally just among men and approved of them nor in living long here in health and quietness or the like but in having the love favour and approvement of the great God the Maker and Creator of all things and in the being blessed and accepted of him and enjoying him for our portion and they see the way to this peace the way by which they may obtain this love and favour acceptance and approbation with God that it is by coming to believing on and abiding in Christ He being the Way the Truth and the Life so as None can come to the Father but by him for it is through his Blood We have access to the Father by his Spirit which Spirit He in and with this Heavenly Doctrine administers and gives forth to those that yield up themselves according there unto to obey and serve him Joh. 14.6 7. Ephes 2.18 Acts 5.32 Prov. 1.23 〈◊〉 that in this wisdome is a right discerning of and these wise ones know and perceivâ—… their true Interest both as to the end wherein their happiness stands and as to the Way to attain that End yea and theiâ—… want and need of both the emptiness iâ—… themselves and in all other things to relievâ—… and help them for seeking God they knowâ—… all things Prov. 28.5 In knowing Christ and him crucified they know God the only true God and his infinite excellencies his power wisdome and goodness for helping and saving us men and for overthrowing the power policy and malicious contrivances of all his and our enemies his truth and faithfulness for making good his Words and Promises his hatred of sin and wickedness love of purity and holiness c. and they know themselves their own sinfulness death poverty brutishness and misery the emptiness and falsness in their own wisdome righteousness strength c. the vanity of the world the right end and use of all things whom God approves chuses and specially loves whom he hates â—…nd rejects and what not that concerns â—…heir happiness judging that one even Christ died for all they judg also that all were â—…ead at Law and that He died for all that â—…ey who live should not hencefrrth live to themselves but to him that died for them and is â—…sen again and so they know in some measure their ingagements to Christ and to God in Christ yea they know no man after 〈◊〉 Flesh themselves or others but if any â—…an be in Christ that he is a new Creature old â—…ings passed away and all things become new â—…nd that all things are of God 2 Cor. 5.14 15 16 17 18. Other men as to these things 〈◊〉 fools and walk in darkness Eccles 2.14 â—…ey neither know aright their own misery â—…or what it is will do them good they have 〈◊〉 learned that Precept of the Heathen 〈◊〉 teipsum to know themselves much 〈◊〉 do thy know God and him whom he hath 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ there is no judgment in thier â—…ings Isa 59.8 they take a Cloud for Ju 〈◊〉 as is the Proverb they worship some 〈◊〉 instead of God this world with its â—…easures honors riches or some such thing 〈◊〉 their summum bonum their greatest good 〈◊〉 spring of good to be enjoyed by them 〈◊〉 their apprehensions Or if they have â—…ard of and believe a God and that the happiness of the Soul stands in his favour and blessing yet they know not the way how to obtain that and enjoy him for their portion but seek and think to please him with their own or other mens inventions even with doing those things that he hath forbidden choosing the things which he delight not in yea which his Soul abhors Isa 66 4â—… having false imaginations and conceptions oâ—… him as some think to pacifie him and hiâ—… anger by making Groves Altars and 〈◊〉 mages and offering up corrupt Sacrifices yea some have thought to please him and obtain his favour by slaying and sacrificing their Sons and Daughters to him yeâ—… sometimes to Idols and Devils instead of him Mic. 6.6 7. Jer. 19.4 5. Isa 17.8 Psal 106.36 37 38. others by establishing their own righteousness according to the Law and so by their own goodness even the deeds of the Law whereby no man living can be justified a mans own righteousness being a bed
too short whereupon he cannot stretch himself a covering too scaâ—… wherein he cannot wrap himself Isa 28.20 Thus the Jews sought after righteousness bâ—… obtained it not because they sought not bâ—… faith in believing Gods testimony but 〈◊〉 it were by the works of the Law and submitteâ—… not to the righteousness of God even to Christ who is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes Rom. 9.31 32. and 10.3 4. with 3.20 Gal. 3.10 Psa 143.2 and so some not believing Jesus Christ the Son of God to be the Saviour of the world and to have died and given himself a ransome for all and to be the propitiation for the sins of the whole world though fully and plainly attested of God in the testimony of the holy Scriptures but through their ignorance how to make those sayings according to their plain import agree with other sayings of Scripture which they rightly understand not or having an high esteem some of them of such holy and precious men as they believe them to be and possibly in the main some such may be or have been God not imputing their ignorances and mistakes that have found out some uncouth ways of interpreting those plain sayings to elude the evident voice of them as that by All is meant only some of all sorts by Every one every one that believes and by the world and whole world only all the Elect whereas the Scriptures speak of the Elect as a party taken and chosen out of the world and so no part of it but distinct from it as in Joh. 15.16.19 they hinder themselves and others from the right and clear understanding and perception of that love and pity of God to man that as reacâ—…ing and including them would be powerful to reconcile them to God and save them being believed and perceived by them Titus 2.11 12 13. and 3.4 5. 1 Joh. 4.14.19 and put themselves and others upon other by-courses to find out that Christ dieâ—… for them and that they have good ground to believe on and hope in him and so theâ—… run to the Law or Works or endeavour to lay a row of frames and good qualitieâ—… below him to lay him upon not having him for the bottome foundation for while they think Christ died only for the Elect they also necessarily think they must know their Election before they can know that He died for them and so that they have any right to come to or believe on him and so oftentimes it happens that some conceiting themselves to be better framed that others think with the Pharisees they are more beholden to God than they despiâ—…sing them and trusting in themselves that they be righteous and his Elect ones and others not able to find any such goodness or betterness in themselves as may persuade them that God loves them better oâ—… hath elected them are ready to distract themselves or run to desperation and indeed how should any works or frames not proceeding from and begotten by the first appearance of Gods love in Christ to men but preceding the perception thereof be good evidences of their Election which is in Christ Jesus and not before or out of him Surely whereas the Apostles say they were after the appearance of the love and pity of God to mankind saved by his mercy those may rather say they were so far saved before as to know their Election or else for their believing on Christ as a Saviour appointed of God for them they have no foundation and what a pudder they put themselves and others into about knowing the rightness of their frames too is wonderful so that as the Wise man saith * Though I do not judge so rashly as to conclude either all of the one apprehension wise nor all of the other in these points to be fools or wicked The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them because be knoweth not how to go to the City Eccl. 10.15 While he who is the way to it and the gate for admission and the openness of it for all men as sinners and enemies and lost ones in themselves though in respect of the parting with all in entring it and the persecutions or trials thereupon attending it is strait and that Grace of God towards all mankind displayed in him which being believed and minded engages moves and strengthens to enter it is rejected of them But they that are truly in Christ and wisâ—… in Him so far as in Him understand all things in a measure though not all as yet to perfection But from this right judgment proceeds also and is found in these wisâ—… men 2. A renewing of the mind Ephes 4.23 Rom. 12.2 Naturally and according to the course of this world while mens understandings are dark and void of judgment and discretion the mind is full of vanity air and emptiness exercised about things that cannot profit save or do good because vain Loving vanity and following after leasings Psal 4.2 Ephes 4.17 18. Yea noâ—… only Vanity but wicked works possess it Col. 1.21 The minding of the flesh Rom. 8.7 and of earthly things Phil. 3.19 setting the mind on things below savouring and nursing on them are mentioned as things that men ignorant of the truth are guilty of Coâ—… los 3.2 Men of corrupt minds are they that are destitute of the truth 1 Tim. 6.5 even as Children Fools mind Bables Toys Butterflies Trifles and the like while understanding men are exercised in considering weightieâ—… and more useful matters even so the foolish unrenewed mind being destitute of the â—…rinciples of truth for want of understanding and credit given to them is taken up with sensual earthy and worldly vanities â—…eglecting and not taking good heed to â—…hat is of greatest worth and concernment â—…o the Souls happiness like to that foolish â—…mperour that busied himself with catching â—…lies while others were busie to catch away is Empire so fares it with fools or evil â—…ersons which are all one in Scripture language they are busie in minding the riches â—…onours or pleasures of this life Sciences falsly so called or notions of truths crotâ—…hets and conceits elegancy of phrase and â—…peech and such things while remaining â—…gnorant of the truth and not setting their minds to the things of eternal life Sathan â—…atches away their Souls and eternal life from them even while they set not their â—…earts to seek and get the knowledg of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ to obey his heavenly calls and counsels and walk in the exercise and practise of these things that are well-pleasing in his sight But they that are truly wise persons are renewed in some measure in the spirit of their minds so as their hearts and affections are taken with and their minds are exercised about the things which they see in the light of the Gospel of God to be excellent and glorious they are minding the Spirit and thâ—… things thereof which is life and peace
Scorner loveth not one that reproveth him neither will he go unto the wise though it be He that heareth reproof getteth understanding and he that hateth reproof is brutish Prov. 15.12.32 and 12.1 and so though â—…he seek for wisdome he findeth it not in his way and manner of seeking it Prov. 14.6 for God scorns the scorners but gives grace to the lowly Prov. 3.34 this self-conceit and â—…leaning to our own wisdome and understanding which makes us swerve and carries from attending to Gods word and its instructions and those that bring them to us so as not to listen to or be guided thereby must needs therefore be parted with by us if ever we will be wise as it is said Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding In all thy ways acknowledg him and He shall direct thy paths Be not wise in thine own eyes fear the Lord and depart from evil Prov. 3.5 6.7 And if any man among you seem to be wise in this world let him become own and acknowledg himself to be a fool that he may be wise 1 Cor. 3.18 Naaman the Syrian thinking himself wise enough so as he could fore-understand how the Prophet must deal with him for healing his leprosie was put into a rage and passion through his scornfulness and turned away from the means of healing which the Prophet directed him to so as he had missed of healing doubtless how or which way soever else he had sought it had he not upon the wise advise and persuasion of his servant laid down that high thought and scornfulness of the Prophets counsel and submitted himself thereto 2 Kings 5 10-14 read the relation there And see how dangerous a thing it is to lean to our own thoughts aâ—… the conceits of our own knowing and thâ—… scorning contrary counsel that seems ridiculous to us and how good it is to hear the good counsel of God and his holy servants and receive their instructions as what tends to make us wise in the latter end Prov. 19.20 the leaning to and retaining these two evils their own imaginations and the authority of their Fathers and Masters so as to forsake Gods law and disobey his voice was the occasion of Gods heavy judgment upon the land of Israel See to this purpose Jer. 9.12 13 14. It s good with David to hate thoughts and love Gods law Psal 119.113 3. We must also part with and let go evil company and counsellors such as cause us to erre from the way of wisdome and knowledge for He that walks with wise men shall be wise but a companion of fools shall be destroyed Prov. 17.20 Thence wisdom calling the simple and them that have no understanding to come to her house and partake of her provision which is fit and virtuous to give them understanding saith Forsake the foolish and live and go in the way of understanding Prov. 9.5 6. as implying that there is no living nor walking in the way of understanding while foolish persons are our companions and delighted in by us And by the foolish are meant all that are ignorant of or disobedient to the grace of God however otherwise learned or wife they may seem to be to themselves or others As those that have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge that being ignorant of Gods righteousness go about to establish their own righteousness and make that stand in Gods sight or make it a sufficient stay or support the ground of their hope and foundation of their confidence towards God and submit not to the righteousness of God even Christ the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth Rom. 10.2 3 4. as well as also other grosser transgressors Thence the holy Spirit also pronounces them happy that walk not in the counsel oâ—… the ungodly nor stand in the way of sinners noâ—… sit down in the seat of scorners but their delighâ—… is in the Law of the Lord and therein their exercise night and day Psal 1.1 2. implyinâ—… that men cannot exercise themselves in thâ—… Law or Doctrine of the Lord and delighâ—… themselves therein so as to attain the blesseâ—…ness of being made wise thereby excepâ—… they avoid the counsels of ungodly personâ—… the ways of sinners the seat or teaching 〈◊〉 the scorners Solomon also instructing in thâ—… book of the Proverbs men in the way wisdome which he highly commends to 〈◊〉 and wills us above all things to get givâ—… this as one of his first instructions My soâ—… if sinners entice thee consent thou not My sâ—â—walk not thou in the way with them refrain â—…hy foot from their paths Prov. 1.10 15. and when he had said Hear thou my son and â—…e wise and guide thy heart in the way then â—…e immediately adds as necessary thereto â—…e not among Wine-bibbers among riotous eaâ—…ers of flesh for the glutton and the drunkard â—…all come to poverty Prov. 23.19 20. as also 〈◊〉 ch 22.34 he exhorts to make no friendship â—…ith an angry man nor go with a furious man â—…nd else where to go from the presence of a â—…lish man when we perceive not in him the lip â—…knowledge ch 14.7 and to cease to hear â—…e instructions that cause to err from the words 〈◊〉 knowledge ch 19.27 And when the Apoâ—…e would have the Corinthians not receive â—…e grace of God in vain but be enlarged in â—…eir hearts towards God and his Servants â—…d to what is good he warns them that â—…ey be not yoaked unequally with unbelievers â—…hey being such persons as from whom no â—…od or spiritual profit such as that of wisâ—…me is to be expected but to come out â—…m among them and be seperate and not touch 〈◊〉 unclean thing and so God would receive â—…m and be a Father to them and they should to him for sons and daughters 2 Cor. 6.1 〈◊〉 .17 18. 4. We must part with our love of Ease and Pleasures put away Slothfulness and Daintiness for slothfulness casts into a deep sleep and an idle soul shall suffer hunger and not be filled with that wisdome whose fruits do satisfie Prov. 19.15 Wisdom is not attained to but through diligence and therefore we must put away slothfulness love oâ—… ease pleasures and such things Thence Wisdom instructing us how we may attaiâ—… her of God requires besides a hearing 〈◊〉 her a watching daily at her gates and waiâ—…ing at the posts of her doors Prov. 8.33 34 And besides the inclining the ear and applyiâ—… our hearts unto her sayings and calling to Gâ—… for her that we seek for her as men seek silveâ—… and dig for her as for hidden treasures Proâ—… 2.4 And surely men that love silver aâ—… seek for it are industrious and not slothâ—… in business and did a man know there iâ—… treasure hid in a place where he might haâ—… opportunity of digging for it and whâ—… digging diligently he should find it oh hâ—… diligent would he be at it early
and what to drink and where-with to be cloathed but seek not the advancement of Gods Kingdom or its increase nor the glorifying of Gods righteousness to men that they might be saved Whither through coveteousness and desire after the getting and keeping of the world they cannot look after Gods glory or their own and others good or through sloathfulness and loathness to undergo hardship and the difficulties and services requisite to be performed by them or through fearfulness and unbelief thinking the work and service of the Lord too dangerous and Him no certain or sufficient protectour of his servants and this often goeth with the other The sloathful man saith there is a Lyon in the way I shall be slain in the Streets Prov. 22.13 fearing what men may do unto them more than him that can cast body and soul into hell fire and so conceal the words of the Holy one â—…er hide them so within a bushel that they â—…are not sown abroad in Gods field to bring forth an increase Have received light but smother it and will not suffer it to shine forth and therefore set it not on a Candlestick but hide it underâ—… bed or a bushel or the like Or through want of Charity to and â—…are or desire of their neighbours good And â—…ruly if he that having the worlds good seeth his Brother have need and administreth not to him but shuts up the bowels of his compassion from him is injurious to God and men and hath not the love of God well abiding in him 1 John 3.17 How much more worthily may it be said of such as having that which is far better than all this worlds good the knowledge of God and his truth where-with to help men to heaven by instructing them in and unto wisdom and righteousness and see their brethren and neighbours have need thereof and yet shut up the bowels of their compassions against them and leave them for want of instruction and vision to die and perish how dwelleth the love of God in such men And oh what a reproof may this be to many Pastors or Ministers such as the Prophets have cryed out against that feed themselves but feed not but starve the Flock that either have not knowledge oâ—… mission from God and yet run and speak but not out of his mouth of whom more by and by or that having the words of God to speak to them withold them and speak them not Yea and such as causelesly leave and desert their Flocks or neglect their opportunities of teaching men knowledge and of turning them to righteousness such aâ—… that Shephard that Idol Shephard thaâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shephard of no worth spoken of in Zech. 11.13 that leaves the Flock Surely the loss of the great glory here set before the faithful and diligent servants of God the loss of shining as the brightness of the Firmament and as the Stars for ever and ever might sufficiently awaken men from such neglect of their duty But much more if withal the woe and misery contrary hereto threatned to such and allotted for their portion be considered it might alarm us all to take heed of these evils both that judgment threatned and predicted by our Saviour Take that Talent from him and cast ye that unprofitable servant into outer darkness there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth Mat. 25.24 25 28 30. and that Woe in the Prophet Zechary pronounced Woe to the Idol Shepherd or Shepherd of no value Idolized and worshipped perhaps of men but of no worth in himself and as to his way and practise that leaves the Sheep or Flock the Hireling that seeing the Wolf come shifts for himself but leaves the Sheep to the danger of him or that for any cause whatsoever voluntarily deserts and leaves the care of mens souls committed to him A Sword shall be upon his arm and upon his right eye his arm shall be utterly dryed up He shall lose his force power and virtue for doing good and his right eye shall be utterly darkned He shall lose all right understanding or shall be bound as it were hand and foot and cast into outer darkness where his eye shall see no light A sad heavy sentence is either of them and such as might awaken us to consider our ways and be fervent in spirit serving the Lord with all diligence seeking to do all the good we can to others Yea and to take the best advantages that Providence affords and that we may lay hold of for doing good to all or as many as may be Like the Apostle that pleased not himself but pleased all men in all things not seeking his own profit but the profit of many that they might be saved 1 Cor. 10.33 the more the better For they that turn many to righteousness have the more excellent promise that they shall shine as the Stars for ever and ever They therefore are faulty and foolishly defective to themselves and their own good who for any fleshly or worldly considerations of ease honor greater profits here or the like content themselves to do good to a few when they are in a capacity and may have opportunities to do good to many more It was the great blessing promised of God to Abraham that he should be the Father of many Nations Gen. 17.4 Rom. 4.17 18. And the glory of Christ that through his sufferings He brings many sons to glory Heb. 2.10 And David when God went so forth with him in his reproving and instructing men that Many said who will shew us God Lord lift up the light of thy countenance upon us tells us that God put more gladness thereby into his heart than in the time that their Corn and Wine increased Psal 4.6 7. The servant that with his pound well imployed gained ten pounds was made Ruler over ten Cities when he that gained but five with his pound was made Ruler but of five Cities Luke 19.17 19. 3. But if they that neglect to do what good they can are faulty and to be reproved hence what shall we say then to such as not only do not what good they can or might to make others wise and righteous but even do their endeavors to hinder men from wisdom and righteousness or to turn them therefrom surely such are far more exceedingly faulty And if they that make others wise or instruct them thereto shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament in the judgment and they that turn many to righteousness as the Stars for ever and ever then they that hinder or pervert men from being wise or righteous shall rise to shame and everlasting contempt as was said of some verse 2. And here divers sorts of persons fall under sore reproofs as to say 1. They that by force and violence endeavor to hinder men or do drive them from being wise or righteous they that make Laws and Edicts against and so in prosecuting them or otherwise persecute men for righteousness
sake forcing men to forbear those ways by which they might attain wisdom and righteousness or in which they might practise them and compelling men to practise unrighteous matters Such as walk in Pharohs course who would not let the people have liberty to wait upon and worship God but put other burthens upon them to take up all their time that they might not have leisure for that whither Masters of Families parents or higher powers Ezod 5.17 18. Or do like Jeroboam set up devises of their own and compel all men to conform thereto and thrust out those who would more rightly serve God 2 Chron. 11.14.15 13.9 with 1 King 12.28 31 32 c. Or like Ahab and Jezabel that threw down Gods Altars and killed his Prophets Or like Nebuchadnezzar who threatned the fiery Furnace to them that would not do unrighteously in bowing down to and worshipping his Image Dan 3.5 6. Or like the Princes and Presidents of Babylon under Darius that procured a Law to forbid the practise of Gods worship also for a time upon pain of being cast into the Den of Lyons and prosecuted it against Daniel for not observing it Dan. 6. Or like the Jews and Pharisees who made a Law to put out of their Synagogues any that would confess Jesus to be the Chpist John 9.22 12.42 Or the Council that afterwards upon severe penalties forbad the Apostles to preach in his name punishing those that do wisely and righteously according to God and those that endeavor to bring others to do so likewise Acts 4.18 21. 5.28 40. Or like the Beast or the false Prophet that setting up an Image or form of Religion of their own devising compel all to submit to â—…t and cause the refusers to be killed And such as will not some way or other acknowledge and submit to their unjust doings that they shall neither buy nor sell trade nor traffick Rev. 13.15 17. these are greatly faulty in so doing As we find the Apostle Paul divers times aggravates his own sin of this nature whilst a Pharisee and ignorant of Christ judging himself for it the chief of Sinners the least of the Saints unworthy the â—…ame of an Apostle c. Because he through â—…he ignorance of his unbelief practised after this sort to persecute and be injurious to the Church of God Persecuting them to death and delivering them both men and women into Prisons punishing them oft in every Synagogue and compelling them to blaspheme And being exceedingly mad against them he persecuted them into strange Cities Acts 22.4 26.10 11. with 1 Tim. 1.13 14 15. Eph. 3.8 1 Cor. 15.10 11. Oh then how great is their guilt and sin that wickedly and wilfully against light and knowledge do such matters how sad their case and how heavy and dreadful will be their judgment They that forbid men to speak to others that they may be saved and persecute them that do so because forbidden by them and take away by such acts and ways of force from men the Key of knowledge the Gospel Doctrine and neither enter into the Kingdom of God themselves nor suffer those that would Upon such wrath comes to the utmost not doing it in aâ—… false zeal so as to be excused in a measure by their mistake and ignorance Mat. 23.13 1 Thes 2.16 1 Tim. 1.13 But of that last mentioned charge others besides such persecutors may also be guilty As 2. They that being Teachers of or Preachers to the people seduce them from the truth and not only do not preach it but preach against it and traduce it Thus did the Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites and the Lawyers too Luke 11.46.52 Lading men with heavy burthens and grievous to be born worse than Pharohs Task-masters while they put them upon getting such and such holy frames and lives such brokenness godly sorrow love and the like to be the grounds of their knowing Gods love to them as indeed are good and needful in their way and place but withold from them and preach against that discovery of the grace of God towards them as and while sinners and ungodly that should truly and genuintly effect them putting men upon getting them that they may be the foundation of their believing that the Gospel of the grace of God appertains to them or which is the same that Christ was sent and dyed and gave himself a ransom for them and God would have them saved which indeed are but the effects of those things first known and believed For it is the appearance of the love and grace of God to man that is the spring from whence all right frames and works do flow and by that they are taught Tit. 2.11 12. 3.4 5. But truly while men teach others that Christ died but for a few they know not who a secret number known only to God and they must all by an irresistible power be infallibly and necessarily brought in to God and for all the rest Christ having not died they must necessarily perish What do they but lay snares for men to render them careless of righteousness and of the knowledge of God and to reason as some do that if they be of the Elect they must needs be saved and cannot miscarry let them live at the present as debauehedly as they will or can and if otherwise what will all their seeking after God and breaking off from their sins avail them They can be but hypocrites and reprobates do what they can If it be said but the Elect may make themselves obnoxious to greater punishments here by sinning and the Reprobates by endeavouring to be good lessen their future punishments From their own Principals mistaking and perverting that that is right they that are skilled in their Doctrine may retort that to the Elect all things shall work together for good and their greater unrighteousness shall but the more commend the righteousness of God and the Reprobate shall have no less punishment than God hath decreed to them inevitably And so they that preach to men a necessity that those that are once brought truly to believe must abide in the love of God without any such If as Christ puts upon his Disciples when he saith If ye keep my Commandments ye shall continue in my love John 15.10 But they will go higher than our Saviour and say tush away with these Ifs here ye shall keep Christs Commandments and continue in his Love Or if ye break them as at other times they will grant for they read that David and St. Peter did so yet ye must be brought in again so as ye cannot possibly fail of Salvation and all those sins also shall work together for your good what do they but strengthen the hand of Sathan and corruption in cases of temptation to prevail with such as have high persuasions that they are Elect and true Believers to presume to sin and do unrighteousness as that that in the issue shall not hurt them nay
light was with them John 12.35 36. and not as the Poet observed to be the common practise of men Presentem virtutem odio habere absentem quaerere invidi Horat. Slight present good out of envy of it and then when it is withdrawn seek for it when it cannot be had Surely it 's matter of lamentation for the Church and World to be deprived of any useful persons in them As also cause of sadness we have as the taking away such may presage judgments approaching upon us as is often found and as is implyed in Isa 57.1 2. The righteous man perisheth namely from among men and no man layeth it to heart And men of mercy or kindness are taken away none considering that the righteous is taken from the evil either the evil that is already predominant as Lot from the evil that vext his righteous soul or as we read it the evil to come as Lot also was and Noah when taken into the Ark from the approaching deluge He shall enter into peace c. In respect of him therefore we have cause of gladness as our Saviour said to his Disciples John 14.28 But in respect of our selves cause to grieve And God grant that that of our Saviour when the women wept for him when he went to his death may not be applicable to us Weep for you selves and for your Children for behold the days come in which they shall say Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bare and the paps that never gave suck c Luke 23 28 29. Well what of judgment and correction to us there is in it it is good for us to bear Searching and trying our ways and turning again to the Lord who in divers such strokes and breaches made upon us hath been smiting us Blessing him that we enjoyed him so long and that he lived to fill up so fully the number of his years in which respect there is the less of judgment I conceive in his being now taken away And whereas we can now have no farther usefulness of him by any personal care of or service among us let us bewailing our unprofitableness under what we have had have the more regard to his Relicks I mean those good and useful Books and Writings the best and truest Relicks of the Saints to be made much of by the surviving lest behind him In and by which we may yet be minded of the sum and substance of what he spake to us and hear him as it were yet instructing us and reap the labours of his spirit for us Luke 16.29 2 Pet. 1.15 And let it be also our care as being in this his Death and Burial aptly minded thereof and provoked thereto so to number our days as to apply our hearts unto the heavenly Wisdom So as we following after the knowledge thereof and walking therein we may be accepted of God also and be accounted worthy to have our lot and portion among those that be wise who shall shine as the brightness of the Firmanant in the Kingdom of God and if it may be that we also may be instruments of turning many unto righteousness that we may shine then too as the Stars for ever and ever Amen Blessed be God for his unspeakable gift THE END A DOUBLE ACROSTICK Thy Race is Run and Having thy work done Oh may we too do Merit we can't but At Christs appearance Shall rise again and Thou full happily Home t' Heaven didst ply Ours so as we may Mercy find that day At that day when we Shall judg'd by him be More more such useful Once was the Prayer of Old Master Power 't was Rome's and Geneva's Even when thou dst shewd their Moores to us God send One who did attend Of old Bullinbrook Rocks when thou dst shook Errors by Gods Book So be it may we Either with us or Neither the Learned In many places On whom like gifts were Rarer endowments Say for few there be Else where like to thee Nor Vnlearned can Instance such a man Of Gods grace so show'd Richer parts bestow'd 〈◊〉 Epitaph on Mr. Tho. Moore Sen. HEre lies a man wrapt up in dust Whose better part 's in heaven we trust â—…he who through Grace with diligence â—…tain'd to great experience â—…d was with heavenly gifts indu'de â—…ove the common multitude â—…undantly Yea few there were â—…ny in Gods truth more clear 〈◊〉 many wisely did instruct â—…nvert to righteousness conduct â—…ways of Truth and Piety â—…herein himself did live and dy â—…d therefore though as all else must 〈◊〉 now be laid in clay and dust 〈◊〉 at the coming of the Lord 〈◊〉 make good what He in his Word â—…th promised He shall no doubt â—…m thence to glory be rais'd out â—…d then in brightness as the sky â—…ll shine and as the Stars on high â—…h gain hath godliness So good God to such as here have stood â—…his good counsels and have chose â—…th Christ above all things to cloâ—… â—…ving their sins his truth to 〈…〉 〈◊〉 minding seek the things 〈…〉 〈◊〉 such as read these 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Faith and pure Câ—… 〈…〉 To follow after Christ believing God will be faithful none deceiving Who trust to his good Word and so Let 's chuse in such good ways to go As this deceased Friend and all Whom holy men the Scriptures call For there 's no glory may compare With theirs who truly godly are John Horne Another Here lies a Father Friend and Brother Where 's he can shew me such another Learn'd not i' th' learning of the School But in that which who wants are fools His preaching writing walking-one His hands did not bely his tongue Christ in whom's all in all be blest And having done his work 's at rest Bâ—… Thomas Moore Anagr. O harm to some A Help he was to many Souls who His heavenly teaching had their heaâ—… 〈…〉 unto Christ in whom they met 〈…〉 â—…enly peace and blessed safety 〈◊〉 〈…〉 in 's such a sense 〈…〉 as a rock of offence â—…o such as his good counsels did reject â—…ot suff'ring them to have their due effect â—…or better not to have Gods grace set forth â—…han to reject or count it little worth â—…nd o to some his death's harm who depriv'd â—…f what advantage by him while he liv'd â—…hey had in Gods good ways are likely now â—…heir former love thereto away to throw â—…ea to the countries 't is more generally â—…harm where good men live for them to dy â—…r good mens worth and usefulness is oft 〈◊〉 such like names as these in Scriptures taught â—…ch treasures jewels lights o'th'world or stars â—…ods grain earths salt and sometimes its pillars â—…oss of which O what a harm t' would be â—…ightless heaven or grainless earth to see 〈◊〉 loose our jewels or rich treasures and â—…ose pillars whereon our choice buildings stand â—…d yet no less Churches or world's less when â—…d takes away therefrom his godly men â—…n such in Sodom had its safety been â—…r had
Jerusalem such sorrowâ—… seen â—…t for the want of such O then to some â—…eat harm by such mens death doth use to come While of their good instructions when thâ—… liâ—… And of their good examples they 'r deprivâ—… 〈◊〉 And profit of their often fervent pray'r O what a harm'ts to some who can declaâ—… Another Anagr. Thomas Moore O home a storm or Thomas Moore O home to arms WHen God's about upon the world bâ—… A storm of wrath some sad destructive thâ—… Because of their refusals of his grace While his good words find in their hearts pâ—â— O then it is his often wont to take Home to himself those who do conscieâ—… Sin to avoid and follow what is good So Noah God took home before the Floâ—… Into an Ark of safety and just Lot To Zoar that with Sodom he might noâ—… By fire and brimstone be from heaven stâ—… So good Josiah from a people void Of goodnes he by death did first take hoâ—… Before on Judah his fierce wrath did coâ—… And on Jerusalem the like we find In Jeroboams child when God did mind Upon his wicked house ruine to bring He took him first by death cause some gâ—… thing â—…him was found yea oft men merciful Isa 57.1 〈◊〉 love from harms approaching doth he pull â—…herefore we a storm suspect may when â—…e see him home to take such godly men this our friend deceased was whose name â—…epresented in this Anagram 〈◊〉 well we may cry out O Home when we â—…orm approaching nigh upon us see â—…k Papists cry to Protestants O Home 〈◊〉 the lap of Mother Church to Rome â—…f some storm were sodainly to fall â—…hich would at unawares destroy us all 〈◊〉 God himself doth on the contrary â—…haste you home to Zion loudly cry 〈◊〉 she 's our Mother thence that divine law â—…herefrom we first our heavenly breath did draw 〈◊〉 oh at how great distance live all they â—…m thence who to Romes city go astray â—…sk the way to Zion that way let â—…r faces and not towards Rome be set â—…ence we did first proceed inquire the way 〈◊〉 which to that pure truth return we may 〈◊〉 saith and practise which from thence did come â—…ither to shun a storm O haste we home â—…cutting whirlwind thence we 'r told on all â—…he heads of wicked men with pain will fall Jer. 30.23 O home to God ye sinners therefore fly That ye may shun approaching misery For why that dreadful storm doth stronâ—… sâ—… Of fire and brimstone even of death Hâ—… O might this voice throughout these Islaâ—… riâ—… And reach from meanest beggar to the Kâ—… All to repentance all excite before A storm of wrath the judgment of whâ—… Upon us fall lest Death and Hell oretake And do for ever miserable make us O England home to God thou heavily Hast sinn'd against his holy Majesty Thou divers sad blasts hast already felt Wars Pestilence decay of Trade have dâ—… Within thy borders besides divers mo Dismal presages of ensuing wo If thou repent'st not yet thou worse oâ—… grâ—… O home lest thee a storm quite overthrow Patience may stay Gods hand a while 〈◊〉 If thou sin on ' stroy thee at length He wâ—… O London home the heavens on thee dofroâ—… Both pestilence and fire have brought 〈◊〉 doâ—… And yet thou liftst thy head aloft again Though all thy filthiness doth still remaiâ—… Unpurged from thee nay is' t not increast 〈◊〉 home to God make haste repent thee lest 〈◊〉 sad a storm from heaven upon thee blow 〈◊〉 may thy stately buildings quite o'rthrow â—…is name to thee O Home the rather calls â—…ecause it lies interr'd within thy wall 〈◊〉 Home ye servants of the Lord who ere â—…e stragling in this world and seeking there 〈◊〉 satiate your souls a storm will break â—…our hopes in pieces if you don't betake â—…ou home to God cleave to him more fast 〈◊〉 home a storm is threatned a strong blast 〈◊〉 home to arms to stand upon your guard 〈◊〉 on Gods armour lest ye be quite mard â—…st to Gods anger ye expose you so 〈◊〉 to your selves to cause exceeding wo. 〈◊〉 let us all attend the heavenly charms â—…f our dear Saviour Home to his Arms â—…etake us quickly So we safe shall be â—…om all that 's evil and destruction flee Jo. Horne Thomas Moore Anagr. O arm those mo LOrd thou hast weakned now our strength It will be proved so 〈◊〉 we return not now at length For help where shall we go 〈◊〉 thou go'st further on to break Our companies what will Become of such as yet are weak And very ignorant still Even for thy Name those are increast With many a bitter foe And many helpers now are ceast With thy strength Arm those mo Thou saist if our iniquities We do acknowledg so As that we clear thy contraries In walking as our foe Thou wilt remember for us then Thy mercies great of old And plant us as thou diddest when Thou broughtst us to thy fold We have as did our Fathers-fore Prov'd plants degenerate And like thy Vine such grapes we bore As thou couldst not but hate Lord purge us for thy holy Name From every bitter root Break us not further for the same In mercy do not do 't O magnifie it in this way Though we have grieved thee And with thy Children Lord we pray Let us still numbred be O arm those-mo who are most try'd They need thy help chiefly With fresh strength let them be supply'd Thy Word now verifie O arm those mo who weak are made By taking such away Be thou O Lord their present aid And in their stead a stay O arm those mo who yet have space To gather strength and to go on That they may now go mend their pace And hold out till their race be run Arm us all mo for to persist Till we thy will have fully done That at the last we may be blest Even when thou sendst again thy Son F. Brigge An Elogy upon the Death of Mr. Tho. Moore Sen. by the same OUr former cry may be renew'd For God renewed hath his stroke We are not more increast but few'd With greater breach He hath us broke O pass it not with lightness o're Though this was gather'd in his season There is not such another Moore Then to lament we have great reason The ancient and the honourable Do fail they are remov'd away Is not our case then deplorable When none but babes to be our stay And i' st not almost come to this O Lord how have we thee offended In whom iniquity none is But all thy ways to be commended Thou righteous art thy judgments true Yet give us leave with thee to plead Oh execute not what is due Thy heavy wrath we well may dread Wilt thou this way encourage such As with their tongue think to prevail While thou afflictest very much The poor that ready are to quail With taunts men ready are to fright Or with their
flatt'ries to allure Foundations being out of sight A mountain they present secure What can the righteous do say they Now their upholders are destroy'd All will come down they are our prey Our snares and baits they can't avoid But these did not build us upon Themselves to Christ as surely laid The standing good foundation They us directed for our aid He is the holy Temple where God is and with respect to whom His chastisements now ordered are And so shall be the wickeds doom Let us likewise now in our Grief Direct to him our earnest pray'r To send unto us some relief And this our grcevous Breach repair The Father who out liv'd the Son Is in like manner taken hence He who hath turned many a one To God from sin and ignorance But Death him always shall not keep Nor yet his glorious splendour hide When he is raised out of sleep His shining brightness shall abide An Acrostick by the same hand The breach before was much to be bewail'd His taking from us that was fil'd with skill On all occasions and who never fail'd Minding men daily of Gods holy will And have we not a fresh occasion now Since that presented to lament afresh May we not fear God with a further blo Our hearts will humble for our stupidness O Let us hast our selves to humble then Returning to the Lord acting like men Ere he come over with his blow agen Surely God is beginning for to rise Even up from off his Mercy-seat No greater sign is set before our eyes In holy Writ than gather'ng thus his whea O when he takes his precious Grain away Ruine is threatned unto them that stay An Epitaph by the same HEre breathless lies our Brother dear Who spent his breath to make us hear The joyful sound our hearts to chear But of how few was it believ'd Nay by our deafness we him griev'd Aâ—â— he by death is now repriev'd Death put an end unto his pain Which while he liv'd he did sustain And is to him an endless gain In service he did oft go forth Setting before us Christs great worth But God with us shew'd himself wroth Which he of times hath done before But in this stroke He wounded Moore The wound to us was very sore Oh may it now be laid to heart That with our Idols we may part Before we feel a further smart So may we meet with in the end The good God doth by all intend And be made happy with our Friend But we awhile must bid Adieu And bide the sorrows that ensue The Death of him like whom there 's few Which few the Lord continue still To publish his most blessed will Till they their numbred years fulfil An Anagram upon the name of his Honoured Friend Tho. Moore Son by Thom. Goddrick O man t is love Homo amor est or Homo est amor The man is love 1. The man is love this is too much to say Of any man but one though some may be Conformd so farto him through grace this day That much of 's image men in them may see Who Being with his Father always one Is truely love even Jesus Christ alone 2. God manifested in the flesh is love In Him thereto is nothing contrary He is the light that shineth from above In Him 's no darkness nor obscurity O man its love as it in him doth shine That thou shouldst mind to it thy heart encline 3. Tongues Prophesie and knowledge bounty faith With constancy to death continued in If Love be wanting so the Scripture saith Advanceth nothing doth nor profit win Nor Circumcision nor its contrary Availes but faith which works by Charity 4. Love 's the fulfilling of the holy Law What it to God what it to man doth bind us That worship service reverence and aw Which is our Makers due as it doth mind us To love the Lord with all the soul heart Comprehends all includeth every part 5. Love to our Neighbour never worketh ill What 's due to him it therefore comprehendeth Our Lord to us the substance of his will In those two words alone briefly commendeth On which the weight and stress of what was said By Moses and the Prophets both is laid 6. The man whose name you see prefixed here Was exercis'd in shewing forth Gods love In its extent making it to appear That charity descendeth from above That men in knowing God might somewhat be In love mercy perfected as he 7. The Scriptures only made him wise to be An instrument of winning souls and sure without the help of vain philosophy Through faith in Christ their virtue doth endure Throughly to perfect and to furnish us To each good work This man was furnisht thus 8. Who more than half the age of man assayd By word and pen the mists to drive away Which do obscure the true foundation laid By God for men to build on in this day That men might neither slight not yet mis-place The precious corner-stone that gift of grace Who hold forth truth in its simplicity Unveil the love which mens traditions hide Turn many to Gods righteousness and by His special favour ever shall abide Even as the brightness of the firmament And shine as stars in glory permanent READER my absence from the Press â—…ath occasioned these following Errata's which thou art hereby desired to mend As also the Learned Reader may easily discern â—…me Hebrew Letters in p. 84. l. 26. 122. l. 15. â—…rossly mistaken which I leave to his ingeâ—…uity to mend PAge 14. line 30. read that which was p. 25. l. 20. for thy r. they p. 30. l. 21. for nursing r. musing p. 34. l. 7. â—…seeth p. 37. l. 20. r. that that p. 43. l. 1. r. Mat. 18.20 l. 18. â—…or Joh. 2. r. 2 Joh. p. 25. l. 26. dele him p. 46. l. 7. for can r. 〈◊〉 l. 18. for deprives r. can deprive p. 60. l. 22. d. 〈◊〉 p. 66. l. 〈◊〉 8. r. understand p. 68. l. 18. r. orderly p. 7. l. 28. r. and did p. 73. l. 12. r. other l. 7. for race r. rate p. 76. l. 27. for to r. too p. 81. l. 1. set the figure 2 before pure p. 85. l. 9. r. Psal 49. p. 88. l. 20. d. got p. 97. l. 11. for Isa 45.14 r. 45.19 p. 102. 〈◊〉 3. for or r. as l. 10. r. kept p. 105. l. 13. for to r. too p. 106. 〈◊〉 19. d. that l. 29. r. my sayings p. 124. l. 10. r. Gentiles p. 125. l. 2. for Luk. 29. r. 24. p. 127. l. 8. for 2 Cor. 44. r. 2 Cor. 6.14 p. 136. l. 15. for an r. and. at folly d. Comma p. 140. 〈◊〉 18. for has r. hast p. 141. d. be l. 29. r. this iâ—… p. 142. l. 6. 〈◊〉 things p. 155. l. 5. for God r. good
pay him again Chap. 19.17 especially they that out of love to Christ and them relieve his Members and Brethren though but with outward bodily reliefs for they shall hear that heavenly Sentence Come ye blessed of my Father inherit ye the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world Matt. 25.34 35 36. Oh how much more then shall they be rewarded that have hazarded their lives and spent their time strength to do good to the Souls of others to turn them in to Christ to the making them righteous and so his friends and brethren and preserving them from hell and destruction Surely the wise and wisemakers shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament and they that turn many to righteousness or make many righteous as the stars for ever and ever they shall be glorious abundantly glorious that 's the substance of what is asserted here of them and signified in both the Metaphors used for illustration and in what is added thereto wherein we have also 2. The manner of their being glorified or rather the exceeding great measure of it We may speak to both the Metaphors together as to what is common to both first and then take notice of something peculiar and special in which there is some difference 1. Common to both namely to the â—…rightness of the Firmament and to the â—…tars is that they are 1. High above us â—…nd so it may denote and signifie that both â—…he wise and they that turn many to God â—…hall be highly honoured and glorified even â—…s Christ the great turner of many to God â—…e perfect one in wisdome and maker of â—…ise men is highly glorified above all so 〈◊〉 He is far above all Principalities and Poâ—…ers Thrones and Dominions and every name â—…at is named both in this world and in that to â—…me Ephes 1.20 21. Angels Principaliâ—… and Authorities being made subject to â—…im 1 Pet. 3.22 And all things put under his feet He being glorified with Gods own self even with that glory He had with him before the world was Heb. 2.8 John 17.5 and therein exalted extolled and made very high Isaiah 52.13 So also they that here are wise and means and instruments of making others so and they that in their endeavours turn many to righteousness shall be highly glorified God will exalt and honour them and set them on high because they have known and glorified his Name Psal 91.14 15 16. Yea their glory shall be as high above all the glory of this earth as the Heavens are higher than the earth and the stars above our common lights and torches and that iâ—… exceeding high as it is said Is not God iâ—… the heigth of heaven and behold the heigth oâ—… the Stars how high they are Job 22.12 anâ—… yet as high as the Heavens are above the earth so great is his mercy or kindness toward theâ—… that fear him Psal 103.11 Their glorâ—… shall be above the reach of men either 〈◊〉 give to them or take from them Ahâ—… suerus having promoted Haman and set hâ—… feat above all the Princes that were wiâ—… him yet could pull him down thence aâ—… command him to the gallows But the glâ—…ry of the Saints shall be above the reach 〈◊〉 either Men or Devils to pull them doâ—… from Pure and unmixt bodies and their splenâ—…our or glory in which they shine is pure â—…nd elear there is no fuliginous smoaky â—…isty matter mixt with the Firmament specially the brightness of the Firmament â—…nd the glorious Stars neither is there any â—…ixture of mans invention and endeavour 〈◊〉 their splendour or shine as in the shinâ—…ngs or brightness of fires or candles and â—…orches here below even so also shall the â—…lory and splendor of the Saints and holy â—…en the truly wise and such as have turnâ—…d many to righteousness be a pure and â—…nmixed glory and splendour nothing of â—…orldly casualties changes or vicissitudes â—…all it be obnoxious to neither shall there â—…e any thing so weak as that that is of mans â—…aming and devising put upon them as â—…ow there is put upon the sons of the glory â—…f this world human wreaths and crowns â—…tles dignities robes and the like But â—…l shall be there and upon them divine â—…nd heavenly pure and unmixed the new â—…erusalem the Bride the Lambs wife shall â—…ave on her the glory of God and her light â—…lendor or lustre shall be like that of a stone â—…ost precious like a Jasper stone in part â—…e representation of the glorious God upon is throne Rev. 4.3 clear as Chrystal Reâ—…elat 21.11 3. Most manifest and conspicuous such is the brightness of the Firmament and the Stars above they may be seen by their own light at the greatest distance and remoteness even a man as it were with half an eye may see their shining splendour so as the brightness of candles and torches at a great distance cannot be seen even so the glory of the wise and faithful ones that are instruments of turning many to Christ it shall be most bright and manifest it shall be seen and beheld of all for when Christ shall appear in glory they shall also appear in glory with him Coll. 3.4 Therefore that time and state is called the manifestation of the Sons of God when they shall all be seen and known who and how excellent they are Rom. 8.19.21 then men that could see no glory in and upon the servants and fearers of God nor no profit accruing to men by his fear and service but said It is in vain to serve God and what profit to keep his ordinances and walk mournfully before him and that call the proud happy shall tack about and turn and gaze upon the strange change that shall be then and discern plainly between the righteous and the wicked the wise man that is truly and spiritually so and the fool him that serveth God and him that serveth him not For then the day of the Lord shall burn like an oven and all the proud and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of Hosts so as it shall leave them neither root nor branch But unto them that fear the Lord shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing under his wings So as to render them bright and conspicuous also Yea then the righteous shall shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father So as their glory cannot possibly be any longer hid Matt. 13.43 Mal. 3.14 15 17. 4.2 Now the life of the Saints and holy men of God is hid with Christ in God but then Christ their life appearing it shall appear also to be very glorious when He shall come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe their glory shall be so great clear and wonderful and so discerned to be by all Coll. 3.3 4. 2 Thes 1.10 And then the sons of them that hated them shall come