is a reduplication of this Votum Apostolicum for so some reade it Gratia inquam adsit omnibus c. In words it is more contracted but in sense more comprehensive than the former verse thus I wâ—sh Peace Love Faith to the Brethren yea Grace all spiritual and heavenly blessings to you and all that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity By Grace he meaneth omnimodam Gratiam all sorts of Grace having mentioned already Peace Love and Faith which are excellent graces yet are they not all Grace therefore he adds Grace that he may take his leave of these his beloved Brethren in the same manner as he resolved to come to others Rom. 15.29 In the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ In the Text are two principal parts 1. A Character of a right Christian a Christian indeed as Christ said of Nathaniel Behold an Israelite indeed he is one that loveth our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity For the Apostle wisheth not so great good to all that pretend love to Christ to Hypocrites but to such as love him unfeignedly 2. The subject matter of his wish what it is he desireth for sincere lovers of Christ it is Grace Not outward good things as health long-life riches honour though he excludeth not them nay Peace in the largest sense may include them and Godliness hath the promise of the life that now is and that which is to come But the Apostle willing to give them a brief Epitome of his large heart and good wishes for them doth it in this one word Grace as not knowing any bâ—tâ—er thing for them Doct. 1. Jesus Christ is our Lord. He is Lord of all Aâ—ts 10.36 but especially he is Lord of his Church which is his house Heb. 3.6 1. He built the house it is He that made us not we our selves 2. He hath moreover bought us Acts 20.28 the Church which he hath purchased with his own blood 3. Him hath God the Father exalted to be a Prince c. Acts 5.31 and Phil. 2.9 Wherefore God hath highly exalted Him c. Vse Let all things in the Church be regulated according to the Institutions of our Lord Christ Let Ministers who are Stewards over the House of God be wise and faithful to preach no other Doctrine administer no other Sacraments exercise no other Discipline introduce no other Rites into Divine Worship than what they have good warrant for from the Lord Jesus Christ and can say with the Apostle 1 Cor. 11.23 I received of the Lord that which I delivered unto you 2. Let all that profess hope of Salvation by Jesus Christ receive him for their Lord to rule over them as well as for their Saviour to redeem them Why call ye me Lord Lord and do not the things which I say Luke 6.46 So we profess in our Creed I believe in Jesus Christ our Lord and so in the close of our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord. So let it appear in our Lives and Gospel-becoming-conversations But this I pass over There are two Doctrines arising from the two several parts of the Text which I am to insist upon And as I am to preach this day not knowing whether I shall ever have the liberty to preach again so I would have you to hear as not sure whether you may ever hear again Doct. 1. It is the character of a right Christian to love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity 2. The Apostle wisheth Grace to all that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity as the best thing he could wish them 1. Of the first It is the character of a right Christian to love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity Qu. To love Christ in sincerity what is that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the letter of the Original is as much to say as in incorruption So reade the Interlin and vulgar Jesus Christ the Incorruptible God So reads the Ethiopick Arab. Amore non vitiato neque culpato that love Christ with a love not faulty nor blame-worthy which agrees best with the sense of Interpreters who render 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 incorruptly sincerely not feignedly It being the Apostles purpose by this phrase to exclude all rotten Hypocrites from the benefits he wisheth to good Christians Ubi notandum est hoc Apostolicum votum non in sceleratis hypocritis sed in sinceris tantum Christi Discipulis qui viz. Christum incorrupto animo diligunt locum habere Vorstius More particularly To love Christ in sincerity is the act or affection of a gracious heart whereby knowing the excellency and worth of Christ he desires union with him preferreth him communion with him and obedience to his Commandments before all things in the world 1. What it is to love Christ 2. In sincerity 1. Love of Christ implieth knowledge of him of his Worthiness and high Deserts Right Love is no blind affection but ariseth from Light and Understanding of the loveliness of the Object upon which it is placed and to which it is carried forth Cant. 5.10 The Church describing at large the Excellencies of Christ whom her soul loveth concludes ver 16. He is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 altogether lovely or desirable 2. From knowledge of the worth that is in Christ springeth desire of union and communion with him A man desires to be near his Friend in whom he delighteth loveth his company converseth with him Cant. 2.3 I sate down under his shadow with great delight Psal 86.11 Unite my heart David desired to dwell in the House of God for ever because he loved him Psal 23. ult The wise Merchant buyeth gets into his possession the Pearl which he prized Matth. 13.46 3. Hence followeth an high esteem of Christ so as he preferreth him to all other things whatsoever He seeth no beauty excellency comparable to his Cant. 5.10 The chiefest of ten thousand Psal 63.1 My soul thirsteth for thee 4. Lastly The loving soul is most obedient 2 Cor. 5.14 The love of Christ constraineth him so as he thinketh nothing too hard to do or suffer nothing too dear to part with for Christs sake Amanti nihil durum 2. What it is to love Christ in sincerity 1. It is to love him with the whole heart according to the utmost extent of that phrase Mat. 22.37 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soul c. Isa 26.8 The desire of our soul is unto thee This is to love without dissimulation Rom. 12.9 To love not in word and in tongue but in deed and in truth 1 John 3.18 Where love is sincere there is idem velle nolle as if two hearts were in one body We love Christ sincerely or with all the heart when his will is ours our will is conformable to his when his Laws are so wrirten in our hearts that we are wholly his to be commanded as men subscribe their Letters to their friends Yours to
sincere Love to Christ be a distinguishing character of a right Christian then surely there be but few right Christians for there be few that love Jesus Christ in sincerity 1. There be many complemental lovers of Christ that say They love him withal their heart as the Papists who wear his Picture and bow to a Crucifix yet crucifie him afresh in his Saints the superstitious persons who cringe and make low courtesie at the rehearsing of the syllables of the Name Jesus yet do they not blaspheme that worthy Name by their unchristian practices Do they not take his Name in vain whilst they seem to shew reverence to his Name Did the Jews honour Abraham really to whose memory they pretended much respect We have Abraham to our Father say they we be Abrahams Seed Joh. 8.33 To whom our Saviour answers ver 39. If ye were Aâ—â—ahams Children ye would do the Works of Abraham If these men loved Christ with all the heart they would not hate whom he loves darely nor persecute his faithful Members nor take his Name in vain How canst thou say I love thee when thy heart is not with me said Dalilâ—h to Sampson Psal 78.36 They did flatter with their mouths and lyed unto him with their tongues 2. There are that love Christ but not with a transcendent Love they love Him a little but the world much more 2 Tim. 3.4 Lovers of Pleasures more than lovers of God Joh. 12.43 They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God Can that man be said to love his wife with a conjugal Love that loveth another woman above her Can those be said to love Christ sincerely that love themselves or their lusts and prefer them before Christs Commands that make provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts contrary to Rom. 13. ult Do they love Christ or filthy lucre who laugh in their sleeves and applaud themselves in their covetous practices whilst the Minister is preaching against his covetousness Luke 16.14 The Pharisees who were covetous heard these things and they derided him Do they love Christ or money better who are so void of charity that though they see a Brother or Sister naked or destitute of daily food yet will neither fill them nor warm them nor give those things which are needful to the body but hide themselves from their own flesh Christ will one day confute their fond pretences of love to himself to be meet self-delusion when they shall hear from the mouth of Him the Judge Depart c. for I was hungry and ye fed me not c. 3. There are Christians that love Christ as a Saviour but not as a Prophet as a Priest but not as a King Do these love him in sincerity 〈◊〉 Christ divided Did the Harlot love the Child with the love of a Mother who would have had it divided Solomon was wise enough to discern she was not the true Mother that had not the bowels of a mother And the Lord Christ who is greater than Solomon whose eyes are as a flame of fire Rev. 1.18 Who tryeth the reins and heart will easily perceive that man is no lover of Christ in deed and truth whatever he may affirm in word and tongue who divideth between Salvation and Sanctification who opposeth one of Christ's Offices to another who refuseth to take Christ's Yoak upon him will not stoop to the Scepter of his Rule and Government though 't is a Golden Scepter of Grace and his Yoak is easie and his Commandments are not grievous Christ came to set us an example That we should walk in his steps he came not only to suffer and dye for our sins but to rule over us to take upon him the Government of his Church Isa 9.6 He shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever Luke 1.33 The Gospel is his Royal Law Jam. 2.8 which he establisheth in his Kingdom and to which he expecteth a conformity in all his Subjects The Turks own Mahomet's Law for their Rule and live up to it The Jews receive Moses Doctrine and live exactly according to the letter of it and the sence they have of it And how can those Christians be said to love Jesus Christ sincerely who profess to receive his Doctrine as a Rule but walk contrary to it 4. There are Christians who love Christ not for himself but for something else Some follow him in hope of gain as Judas Demas like those mungrel people that went along with Israel out of Egypt Exod. 12.38 which were the first that fainted and set them on murmuring and lusting Numb 11.4 Some followed Christ for the Miracles they saw him work and professed to believe John 2.24 but he did not commit himself to them because he knew their hearts were not right with him Some followed him Joh. 6.66 but took offence at his Doctrine and so went away Who ever follow Christ for by-ends love him not in sincerity not for himself but as boyes and idle persons love many holidayes not for Holiness sake or Saints sake but for playes sake So these love Christ for commodity sake or credit sake which respects when they faile there is an end of such love Use 2. The principal Use of this Doctrine had need be for tryal Let every one that nameth the Name of Jesus Christ prove the sincerity of his Love Give me leave to perswade you my Beloved as to try your Faith in so your Love to Jesus Christ Gal. 6.4 Let every one prove his own work so shall he have rejoycing in himself c. 1. Christ will not take good words a fair profâ—ssion of friendship for sincere Love He tryeth reins and heart Rev. 2.23 His eyes behold his eye-lids try the Children of men Metaph a palpebris pressis From them that press down their eye-lids that they may look wishly narrowly He will weigh our Love in the Ballance of the Sanctuary and quickly espie if it be too light He can distinguish between flattery and sincere love 2. Many pretenders there are in the world but few unfeigned lovers of Christ Mat. 25.44 Lord when saw we thee an hungry c. Lord we have been in thy Name Baptized we have worn thy Livery we have heard many a Sermon we have been oft feasted at thy Table as Luke 13.27 yet the answer is sad I tell you I know not whence you are depart from me c. Had these loved the Lord with an unfeigned Love they had not received so harsh a doom which they might easily have understood had they in time taken a tryal of their Love 3. Our hearts are also false and deceitful in this very point of love to Christ Peter was as confident of his sincere love to Christ as we can be though all men should deny yet he would dye first yet ye know what proof he made Insomuch that afterwards John 21.15 when our Saviour put to him this question Lovest thou me more then these he being taught more
modesty by the woful experience of his false heart answers not to the degree of love but only that he loved Christ 4. It is possible that many Christians may hate Christ as much as we doâ— the memory of those Jews that crucified him albeit we be strongly perswaded that if we were called to formal trial we would rather dye than openly deny him or his Gospel Do we from our hearts detest the mention of Annas Caiaphas Judas and that rabble which conspired the death of the Lord of life In like manner did those Jews abhor the memory of Korah Dathan Abiram and the rest of those that rebelled against Moses Do our spirits rise in indignation against them that stoned Stephen persecuted the Apostles forbiding them to Preach to the Gentiles that they might be saved 1 Thes 2.16 With no less displeasure were they moved against the memory of Ahab and Jezebel and those though their own Princes who slew the Lord's Prophets Matt. 23.30 If we had been in the dayes of our Fathers c. The name of Abraham they had in high esteem he being the prime person of their Progenitors with whom God Almighty made that glorious Covenant wherein they had the priviledges of the First-Born The memory of Moses was amongst them very precious with whom God was pleased to talk face to face who received the lively Oracles to give unto them Acts 7.38 To have upbraided the softest spirit in that Rebellious people with treachery or disloyalty against the Messias when he should be revealed would as much have moved his choler as to tell some forward professor amongst us he would betray his Lord were he now on the earth for half the money that Judas did yet these men brake first in their love to Abraham so our Saviour telleth them John 8.39 then in their fidelity to Moses John 5.45 46. and the Prophets Matt. 23.35 No marvel then if they took offence at our Saviours life his carriage and conversation amongst them and afforded him such entertainment as they did Let not then Hypocrisie deceive us by suggesting these or the like suppositions they are the words of Dr. Jackson if we should be urged by the Turk or Jew to deny him we would sooner dy the death he did then do it or were he present in person to exhort us to such duties as his Messengers enjoyn us we should sure be as forward as any man living to do them these or the like imaginations do but foretoken our need of that apology and argue our inclination to use it though alas it cannot stead any in that day of tryal Lord when saw we thee naked or an hungred When in the Pulpit or preaching in our streets deterring us from evil and exhorting us unto good Much more to this purpose see in Dr. Jackson of Justifying Faith That we may not therefore deceive our selves with vain pretences of love let us try the sincerity of it and weigh it in the ballance of the Sanctuary Notes of sincere love to Christ. 1. The first shall be that which you have in Psal 97.10 Ye that love the Lord hate evil Lovers have enemies and friends in common Gen. 12.3 I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee God will be a Friend to Abrahams friends an Enemy to his enemies Who love Christ unfeignedly hate sin which he hateth Rev. 2.6 Sin is evil the greatest of evils The work of the Devil which Christ came into the world purposely to destroy 1 John 3.8 If thou art a friend to sin any way of wickedness If thou love Ignorance superstition If thou love a false oath Zech. 8.17 If thou love flaggons of wine Hos 3.1 If thou delightest in scorning Prov. 1.22 if thou make a mock at sin Prov. 14.9 If thou hate knowledge despise duty scoff and scorn at Holiness which Christ commandeth thou lovest him not If thou regard iniquity in thy own heart if thou allow of it in thy children thy friends if thou plead for sin undertake the patronage and defence of it thou proclamest thy enmity and hostility to Jesus Christ But if thou hate and abhor the way of lying Psal 119.163 If thou hate every evil way Psal 119.128 in thy self first then in others as he that hates a Toad hates it most in his own bosome as saith D. Sibbs if thy hatred of it be universal against the whole kind if thy hatred be rooted irreconcilable so as there is no appeasing of it but by the crucifying and abolishing of thy hated corruptions this is right hatred of sin which argueth thy conversion to be sound and thy self an unfeigned lover of Jesus Christ Note 2. Who love Christ in sincerity love what ever hath relation to him As 1. His House and Worship there performed Saints love Communion with Christ love to be where he is The Lord loveth the gates of Zion his People love the threshold of the Sanctuary Psal 120.14 Thy servants take pleasure in her stones they favour the dust thereof Psal 26.8 Lord I have loved the habitation of thy House and the place where thy Honour dwelleth Psal 122.1 I was glad when they said Let us go up to the House of the Lord. Our feet shall stand in thy gates O Jerusalem 2. Saints dearly love the Truth and Word of the Lord. As their voice is sweet to him in prayer Cant. 2.14 So his voice in his Word is sweet to them Psal 119.103 How sweet are thy words unto my tast Yea sweeter then honey to my mouth vers 72. The Law of thy mouth is dearer to me then thousands of Gold and Silver The very reproofs of Christ are precious to them Psal 141.5 Our love to Christ is not right if we be impatient of admonition if we cannot endure reproof for sin but swell against it it is a sign we love sin which cannot consist with unfeigned love to Christ 3. His Messengers are welcom their feet beautiful Rom. 10.14 Because they are the servants of Christ and shew us the way of savation therefore we have them in reputation Phil. 2.29 Because they are over us in the Lord and admonish us therfore we esteem them highly in love for their works sake 1 Thes 5.13 But if we repine stomach or maligne his Embassadors taxing our crimes though in sharpest terms or if we neglect to examine our hearts and consciences at their request or instance it is a sure token our perswasions of Faith and love unto him are but fancies that we are still in the gall of bitterness enemies as cruel to him as these Jews were c. Dr. Jackson 4. His Day the Lords Day Rev. 1.10 is to all sincere lovers of Christ a joyful Day a Day of delight Isa 58.13 On this Day Christ appeared to his Disciples after his Resurrection upon this Day he still appeareth to his People making neer approaches to their souls in his blessed Ordinances teaching them inlightning them comforting their hearts
and perswading the things concerning the Kingdom of God Luke 24.32 Did not our hearts burn within us whilest he talked with us and opened unto us the Scriptures 5. The Lords Table where he feasteth his Friends as Cant. 5.1 and bids them welcome saying Eat O Friends Drink yea drink abundantly O Wel-beloved I appeal to the consciences of many sincere Christians when they have taken most pains with their own hearts to get them into frame against a Sacramental day when they have been deeply humbled in self-abhorrency broken in confessions with sighs and groans that cannot be uttered if God have not spoken peace to their souls Son daughter be of good chear thy sins be forgiven if their hearts have not danced for joy as David did before the Ark 6. The Lord's People his faithful Members are they thy friends thy companions of thy intimate society dost thou prefer them to others Psal 16.3 as the only excellent ones 119.63 I am companion to all that fear thee to all even to poor Saints as well as rich despised as well as honourable dost thou relieve them in want succour them in misery visit them if in Prison and therefore because they belong to Christ have much of Christ in them This he taketh kindly Mark 9.41 because they belong to Christ 7. Dost thou love the Day of Christ's appearing which though it be black and gloomy a terrible day to the proud and all ungodly enemies of Christ yet is it a day much to be desired by all that love the Lord who may rejoyce and lift up their heads in joyful hope of this Dayes approach their Redemption draweth nigh now is their Salvation nearer than when first they believed now shall the Elect receive the end of their Faith and Hope and Prayers and Tears and Sufferings 2 Tim. 4.8 It is made a character of the righteous that they love the appearing of Jesus Christ Heb. 5. ult Unto them that look for him Tit. 2.13 Looking for c. Not only looking for but hasting to the coming of the Day of God 2 Pet. 3.12 3d. Note is in Christ's own words John 14.15 If ye love me keep my Commandments all one as well as another hard as well as easie John 15.14 Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you Abraham is called the Friend of God and his friendship was tried and approved by his obedience to those hard Commandments of leaving his Country and offering up his only son his son Isaac whom he loved The partial obedience of most people is no obedience at all argueth no sincere love to Christ 4. To suffer for Christ to part with our dearest interests for him argueth sincere love to him Jacob endured a hard service of seven years for Rachel which though long because hard yet seemed to him but as a few dayes for the love he had unto her Jonathan endured his father's displeasure for David whom he loved and was well content to part with his hope in the Kingdom because he loved him as his own soul The Martyrs Rev. 12.11 loved not their lives unto the death The Apostles went away rejoycing they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the Name of Christ If we dare not adventure to suffer the spoyling of our Goods dare not hazard the frown or displeasure of a Landlord dare not suffer the loss of Name or Reputation for Christ and his Gospel how dwelleth his Love in us 5. Who love the Lord in sincerity will not easily part with Him his Comforts his Graces his Presence and Power of his Ordinances Exod. 21.5 The servant that loved his master and the family would not go out free Love prevailed above Liberty which is very desirable To sincere Christians the absence of Christ is grievous how they mourn to part with Ordinances in which they have found sweet communion with Christ David in the Wilderness how he longed after God! Psal 63.1 With sorrow and weeping tears the Disciples take their leave of St. Paul Acts 20. ult when they were to see his face no more Those people that with those Jews Acts 13.50 expel Ministers out of their coasts or with them Luke 4.29 thrust Christ out of their City or with the more mannerly Gadarens who besought him to depart from them who can be content to suffer a famine of the Word rather than be at the cost of maintaining a Preaching-Minister they will not buy the Truth so dear who are well enough pleased to see their Ministers removed burning and shining Lights put under a bed or a bushel Teachers driven into corners do give a plain demonstration how little love they have to Jesus Christ it is evident they prefer their Swine their Gain their Money to Jesus Christ Now I beseech you Brethren take a little pains to try the truth of your Love to Christ It will be the greatest comfort to your souls of any thing in this world if upon good ground it may appear you are of them that love the Lord in sincerity What bonefires of joy may such Christians make in their hearts in the saddest times and darkest night of affliction Psal 112.4 To the upright ariseth light in darkness If you love Christ be sure ye are of him beloved Prov. 8.17 I love them that love me To you he will be a never-failing friend in trouble in sickness in all afflictions in life and death and at the day of Judgement to them he will pronounce that heart-chearing sentence Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom c. But if by the foregoing Evidences taken out of the Scriptures of Truth the contrary do appear and we be not found amongst Christs real Friends but however we may flatter our selves among his enemies and of them that hate Him then shall we from his mouth hear that heart-breaking doom Depart from me ye cursed c. I never knew you And if any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha SERMON VI. Ephes 6.24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity VVE come now to speak to the second Doctrine which is this Doct. 2. The best thing in the world is Grace not gifts parts which are Gratiae gratis datae of an inferiour nature which the Apostle elsewhere wisheth for his Corinthians 1 Cor. 14.5 But here being to take his leave of his People wisheth for them saving Grace such as Faith Remission of sins Fellowship with all Saints in the general Resurrection So Haimo in locum That Grace is so excellent a thing appeareth in this That the Apostle in all or most of his Epistles both begins and ends with it His first salutation in the entrance is Grace be unto you and Peace to which he sometimes addeth Mercy Grace to renew our nature Peace of conscience Mercy for pardon of sin If we find sin pardoned our persons accepted our natures altered then may we comfort our selves c. saith Dr. Sibbs In
in God 1. The foundation of this Interest is laid in the free Love of God to their souls We can shew no other ground of all those rich heavenly priviledges Believers enjoy but only this because God loved them from eternity this is the bottom of all every one of our priviledges is laid in God's love Whom God loved from eternity them he chose from eternity to be a People nigh unto him that should have interest and propriety in him Hence it is Believers are called Elect and Chosen ones Eph. 1.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world 2. ' T is ratified and made sure by the Covenant of Grace When God having brought the soul over to himself and enriched it with Faith and other Graces comes actually to strike covenant with him than is this interest and propriety in God established and made firm this appears from the very tenour of the Covenant of Grace Jer. 31.33 This shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People God hath given his People an interest in himself and he hath confirmed this by Oath and Covenant he hath sworn that he will be the Believers God Come we to apply this Doctrine 1. Have Believers an interest in God We may here stand and wonder at the honour that is bestowed upon Believers Surely the outward glory of Solomon fell short of this to be a People near to God is a high honour to be related to him is a great dignity but to have a right to God and all in God is a priviledge not to be fathomed by humane arms and yet this honour have all the Saints though in their outward condition never so poor and contemtible t is the greatest honour in the world to be able to say My God If David was filled with admiration that he should be son in law to the King How may the hearts of Believers run over when they consider what honour they have in being Sons of God! 2. Have Believers an interest in God Then in vain do Satan and his Instruments labour to make them miserable Can any man be miserable that hath an interest in God Men would have judged David a miserable man but he hath a friend to stand by him in whom he encourageth himself Will God forsake his People will he suffer men to spoil his Jewels No they do but polish them if Satan and his instruments could dissolve this interest and pluck Believers out of God's arms than were their misery at hand but this they cannot do God feels the blows which Believers receive Saul Saul Why persecutest thou me He is touched with all their injuries and surely he is able to save them 3. Have Believers an interest in God Then hath God also an interest in them and this Believers must know and remember this propriety is mutual betwixt God and his Saints as he is theirs so they are his not their own This must put us in mind of our duty that we do not altogether dwell upon priviledges and forget duty We must not boast of our propriety in God and serve our selves and our own lusts As God in his Covenant sayes I will be their God so he adds and they shall be my People and for this end he promiseth to put his Laws in our inward parts and write them in our hearts that so we may yeeld him Covenant-obedience Remember Christian thou art not thine own but God's 't is not for thee to serve love and please thy self but God As we have right to all God hath and can do so hath God right to all we have and can do our gifts parts strength time and estates must be laid out for God 4. Have Believers an interest in God then let them pity such as have not and strive to bring them under this happiness let our souls bleed within us to consider how many thousands are strangers yea and enemies to God and without God in the world Canst thou call God thy God there are many thousands in the world that cannot do this Canst thou call God Father O how many are there that cannot do this in Faith Pity such and pray for them yea labour by all means to bring them home to God See whether there be no such in your families or amongst your kindred and neighbours Are not many of these in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity if so pity such souls and labour to pray them in to God that they also may have an interest in him 5. Have Believers an interest in God This speaks exceeding great joy and comfort to Beleivers such as can say with David The Lord my God If we knew God better we should understand more of this great consolation The serious thought of this interest in God is able to make a Believers joy to exceed all bounds The consolation will empty it self into these four chanels 1. If God be thine thou then art Gods and he will own thee he will preserve thee he will provide for thee thou needest not torment thy self with carefulness who hast such a God to care for thee There is as much comfort in that last branch of the Covenant they shall be my People as their is in the former I will be their God 2. If God be thine then is his Christ thine thou hast an interest in Christ and all his Sufferings his Merits and Righteousness He is made of God to us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption whole Christ is thine Christ and all that he hath done Christ and all that he hath suffered Christ in his Person and in his Portion thou maiest say of him with the Spouse My Beloved is mine and I am his 3. If God be thine then is his Spirit thine to lead thee into all Truth the Comforter to abide with thee the Spirit of Grace to sanctifie thee the Witness to testifie thy Sonship to God and to seal thee unto the day of Redemption this Spirit is thine if God be thine 4. If God be thine then is his Kingdom thine his Glory thine T is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom a Glorious Kingdom whose builder and founder is God an Inheritance incorruptible undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for you such as can call God theirs shall be sure one day to Reign with their God in the Kingdom of his Glory Proceed we to the second Observation from the words which was this 2. There is enough in God to encourage a Believer when greatly distressed 'T is clear from this instance of David he was greatly distressed as you have heard yet he encouraged himself in his God Follow him from hence to the 23. Psal the 4. ver and there you may find him insulting over the
Tokens into the midst of Egypt upon Pharoah and upon all his Servants Why did he smite great Nations and slay mighty Kings Sion King of the Amorites and Og King of Bashan and all the Kings of Canaan Psal 135.8 9 10 11. Was it not because he had chosen Jacob unto himself and Israel for his peculiar treasure ver 4. And again I gave Egypt for thy ransom Ethiopia and Sheba for thee Since thou hast been precious in my sight thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee therefore I will give men for thee and people for thy life Isa 43.3 4. God in his Love thinks nothing too good nothing too great to be done for his Church and People He not only gives famous Kings and potent Nations up to ruine for his Peoples temporal deliverance but in the stupendiousness of his Love hath given his Son for their eternal Salvation John 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life and in and by him hath made a full compleat and abundant provision all things needful for your Salvation He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with him also freely give us all things Rom. 8.32 The faithful apprehension and application of this Love will steel you against all sufferings and make you Reproach-proof and Persecution-proof that you shall not be ashamed of a despised Gospel a reproached Religion and a persecuted Christ and Hope maketh not ashamed because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts Rom. 5.5 This Love will comfort you against all temptations concerning sin in doubtings concerning Gods presence perseverance in Faith and assurance of Salvation I am perswaded saith the Apostle that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jâ—sus our Lord Rom. 8.38 39. To these add the dearness strength constancy and inviolableness of God's Lewe unto his Children dearer than a mothers to her swâ—â—etest babe Isa 49.15 stronger than the mountains Isa 54.19 more constant than the courses of Heaven Jâ—r 31.35 36. 33.20 21. it is as sure as God him self is sure Psal 89.34 35. And for a People to be committed to such a Love is ground of security and comfort When Ministers are taken from you this will â—bide with you 2. To commit you to God is to commit you to the tenderest mercy Mercy is the best refuge to the miserable Whither shall the malefactor flee for pardon but to the mercy of his Prince whither shall the captive go for safety but to the mercy of his Conqueror The pity of an armed Conqueror is better safety than the flinty-heartednes of a naked captive Compassion unarms the Armed blunts sharpened swords enfeebles the strong and sinewy arms when an astorgy arms the unarmed sharpens the sword addes strength to weak arms and blocks up all wayes and means of securiâ—y and comfort A man's pity subdues him when the valour policy strength and weapons of his enemies cannot conquer him and makes him a security to his adversary This encouraged Benhadad to humble himself to Ahab whom and his Kingdom he had twice before attempted to destroy by two formidable Armies Behold we have heard that the Kings of Israel are merciful Kings let us we pray thee put sackcloth on our loins and ropes on our heads and go out to the King of Israel peradventure he will save thy life and it was so 1 Kings 20.31 c. And shall the Kings of Israel have mercy to save their enemies and shall not the KING of the Kings of Israel have mercy on his Children Mercy makes the tender heart partaker of the misery of him that is distressed Misericordia quasi miseria cordi it translates the misery of another into the heart of the merciful and enclines them to relieve and succour them It is pity that makes you to bind up the wounds of the wounded to wash Lazarus his sores to cloath the naked to feed the hungry to refresh the thirsty Now the God to whom I leave you is the God of pity and Father of mercies 2 Cor. 1.3 all the pity and compassion in the creatures is derived from him and were it all contracted into one yet it were but a drop to his Ocean and as the mercifulness of tender Parents causeth them to pitty their sick Children so God like a tender Father pitties them that fear him Psal 103.10 yea he sympathizeth with them in all their sufferings accounting their sufferings his Are they reproached so is he are they persecuted so is he are they imprisoned banished tormented put to cruel deaths he accounts it as done to himself and whatsoever Satan doth to you in tempting you to sin to dispair in buffeting you filling your hearts with heaviness your mouths with sighs and complaints your eyes with showers of tears he takes it as done to himself In all their afflictions he was afflicted Isa 63.9 And as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we from our own suffering learn more to pitty others in the like distresse so Christ's experiences of the worlds hatred and persecution of Satans rage and temptation doth cause Christ to pitty his suffering Members more We have not an high Priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all things tempted as we are yet without sin and in that himself suffered being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted Heb. 4.15 chap. 2.18 Here is a rise of Compassion according to the degree of suffering How do the screechings of a sick Child the deep sighs and groans of a sick tormented Child make the bowels of the Parents roul within them and melt their affections into tears The Harlot whose the living Child was could not endure to suffer and see her Babe to be cut asunder but denied and acquitted her interest in him because her bowels yearned towards him 1 Kings 3.26 God's Pitty to his People is the most intensive when their Afflictions are the most increased His soul was grieved for the Misery of his People Israel Judg. 10.16 It grieves God to see his lie laden with Iron-fetters to lye in long and loathsome Imprisonments under cruel Tortures and Tormenting Deaths When you are buffeted with Satan bewailing your sins and miseries God's Bowels of Compassion are moved towards you Jer. 31.18 19 20. Surely I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised c. After I was instructed I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed yea even confounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth Thus Ephraim bemoaned himself and God heard him and marked his expressions weighed the sorrow and burden of his spirit and pittieth him Is Ephraim my dear
and halt that way in Religion This Oyntment might have been sold for so much says Judas whose mind was chiefly on the Bag. Holy David was of another disposition I will not serve the Lord with that which costs me nothing One thing I must tell you here If our Religion be not such as weans our hearts from the world the world wil deaden them to the exercise of Religion If the love of God we all profess to have be not such as consumes inordinate love to the world our love of the world will smother the love of God not suffer that to live and breath in us See Matt. 6.24 4. A sinful cowardize and fear of man Prov. 29.25 The fear of man bringeth a snare Ponit offendiculum Lavater Tremel it causeth many to stumble Ponit tendiculam it layes many fast As we read John 7.12 13. Among the people some said of our Saviour He is a good man Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews Seducit turbas Ludol Carth. clarius Sonabant Sed Bonus est pressius susurrabant There were great numbers and many of great note in the world that cryed out aloud He seduceth the people But that he was a good man it was whispered amongst some but scarce any found that durst speak it out The fear of man would plainly argue our forgetfulness of God Isa 51.12 13. By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil Prov. 16.6 whereas by the fear of men many depart from the Lord. The former is a Soveraign Antidote against sin an excellent means to preserve us from it Neh. 5.15 Exod. 20.20 The latter greatly exposeth unto sin As we have a sad instance in Peter being surprized with fear how was he whorried into the denial of his Lord and Master when as he should have been more afraid of this than of a thousand deaths Thus you have heard some of the causes of halting in Religion Other might be named but I forbear Demon. 3. Halting in Religion may further appear to be exceeding evil in regard of the evil effects the sad consequences of it And that both in respect of God of the godly of sinners and of ones self 1. In respect of God 1. Hereby God is dishonored his Name polluted It was a Law among the Jews Lev. 21.9 The daughter of any Priest if she profane her self by playing the Whore she profaneth her Father she shall be burnt with fire More holiness would be expected in such a one as the daughter of a Priest thus the crime in her was greater She prophaneth the Name of her Father Then what a prophaning the Name of God is this for such as are called his People to go a whoring from him The sinful slips and falls of Professors cast dirt as it were on the Name of God since they are taken to belong to him And how just a thing it is that God should spit in their faces put them to shame who care not thus to throw dirt in his face Thus indeed the sins of such as profess God's Name and stand in a nearer relation to him are worse than the sins of others The miscarriages of strangers of those that are without reflect not so much on God to his dishonor as the miscarriages of those who are within his Houshold and Family as the Church is called The Commands of God are violated and broken by others also yet the holy Name of God is not so polluted by others But the Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you as it is written Rom. 2.24 Better in this respect men would never take up a Profession than to rest here without taking any care for a suitableness of conversation Ezek. 20.39 As for you O house of Israel thus saith the Lord God Go ye serve every one his Idols and hereafter also if ye will not hearken unto me but pollute ye my holy Name no more q.d. If ye will not be ruled by me then go and serve your Idols altogether appear what you are but make no more shew of being my People to reproach and disgrace me It was a great dishonour to God that it should be said These are the Lord's People Ezek. 36.20 Hence as the sins of those who have his Name called on them are so far worse a greater dishonor to God than others so the more open and publick their warpings are still the more dishonour unto God Therefore the Lord was so quick and smart with Moses with that eminent Saint that faithful Servant of his that Favourite of Heaven Moses who was so far honoured that the Lord spake to him face to face even as a man speaks to his friend Yet Numb 20.12 The Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron Because ye believe me not to sanctifie me in the eyes of the Children of Israel Therefore ye shall not bring this Congregation into the Land which I have given them For this halting of yours before the Children of Israel you shall fall short of Canaan you shall nor have the honour of leading them into the promised Land Now if you do but look back to Numb 11.21 22. you will find Moses bewraying unbelief but privately before God And there the Lord only reasoneth him out of it v. 23. Is the Lord's hand waxed short Whereas in this other place when he smote the Rock twice his sin was publick here Moses and Aaron dishonour God in the view of the People wherefore the Lord clapt that smart sentence on their backs which no importunity in prayer could ever take off again or get reversed See Deut. 32.50 51. 2. Hereby the Truth and Wayes of God are much discredited They are deep wounds which the Truth receives in the house of its Friends It is long ere the scars wear out When any the professed followers of Christ and his Truth are taken tripping Religion it self must bear the blame and the way of Truth be evil spoken of This is their Religion say carnal men How earnestly doth the Apostle exhort Christians in general to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called Eph. 4.1 And Phil. 4.27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel So likewise he layeth a strict charge here upon several sexes estates and conditions The younger women must take heed they give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully 1 Tim. 5.14 Servants that are under the yoke must see to carry so in their places that the Name of our God and his Doctrine be not blasphemed 1 Tim. 6.1 The aged women must be patterns of holiness setting others a good example that the Word of God be not blasphemed Tit. 2.5 Christians halting in the way causeth others to speak evil of the way of Christianity 3. The Kingdom of God and His Interest is by this means weakned It loses more by the haltings and falls of Professors ordinarily than by the fury of Persecuters As Jacob complained of his Sons cruelty
be commanded 2. It is to love him more than all other things to love him with a transcendant love John 21.15 Lovest thou me more than these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more than these Nets Gain Profits Pleasures Credit or Life it self or more than these persons thy fellow Disciples Luke 14.26 If any man come after me and hate not his father and mother wife and children brethren and sisters yea and his own life also he cannot be my Disciple So Mat. 4.20 22. The Disciples left their Father Nets Ships they forsook all to follow Christ Abraham forsook his Country and his Father's house in obedience to God's Call Acts 19.19 Those Converts forsook their Gain and their gainful Trades for Christ and the Gospel 3. It is to love whole Christ Christ in all his Offices to love him as our Prophet to submit to his instruction Acts 3.23 every soul that will not hear that Prophot shall be destroyed from amongst the People It is to love him as our King to submit to his Goverment to be ruled by his Laws to live according to his Gospel to suffer no other Lord besides him to have Dominion over us Luke 19.27 Those mine enemies which would not that I should Reign over them c. It is to love him as our Sanctification to be as willing to save 〈◊〉 from our sins as from Hell 1 Cor. 1.30 Christ is made of God to us Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification c. 4. To love him for himself and not only for his benefits This is love of complacency love of delight when we love Christ as the Apostles and the good Women who loved him in disgrace in his poverty that ministred to him of their substance Luke 8.3 who followed him naked stripped condemned hanging on the Cross Luke 22.33 Lord I am ready to go with thee into prison to death That is Amor concupiscentiae Love of our selves when we love him only foâ— gaine for what he brings along with him as the People John 6.26 who followed him for the loaves who would needs have made him King when he fed so many thousands with a few loavs they thought him a fit man to victual a camp to maintain an Army with light charge to deliver them from their subjection to the Romane Empire This is not sincere love such love is not lasting when the hope of gain and advantage is gone this love will be gone Now follow the Reasons of the Point 1. It is the character of a right Christian to love Jesus Christ in sincerity Because he is altogether lovely In him concurre what ever is requisit to the object of love As 1. Goodness is lovely Non amatur certe nisi bonum c. What ever we love we look upon it as good It either is so indeed or it appears so to us Jonâ—â—han upon this account loved David for his Vertue his Valour Prov. 24.26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer Wisdome Learning Ingenuity and such like graces procure Love Mark 10.21 Jesus beholding him loved him for his ingenuity Therefore Saints love the Lord Jesus Christ for he is good goodness it self Psal 45.2 Grace is poured into thy lips Cant. 1.3 Therefore do the Virgins love thee There is none good but God and Jesus Christ he is eminently good infinitely good he received not the Spirit of Grace by measure but in him dwelleth all the fulness of the God-head bodily He is the Fountain of all goodness the good in the creature is derived from his goodness a drop of his Ocean a beam from the Sun of Righteousness of his fulness we all receive 2. Beauty is amiable therefore Jacob loved Rachel Ahasuerus loved Esther Upon this account Jesus Christ is most lovely who is the brightness of his Fathers Glory the express Image of his Person Heb. 1.3 Though carnal eyes see not his beauty Isa 53.2 3. He hath no form nor comeliness and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him But the Faithful who looked on him with spiritual eyes beheld his Glory The Glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth John 1.14 3. Similitude likeness of nature and manners procureth love except it be by accident as a proud person hateth one that is as proud as himself and so doth one of the same calling envy another of the same profession Non in quantum est similis sed in quantum est proprii boni impeditivus as Aquinas gives the reason Now in this respect Jesus Christ hath highly merited a Christians love because he took on him humane nature and became like to us in all things save sin Heb 2.16 For verily he took not on him the nature of Angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham Noah by falling into sin fell into shame and lay uncovered in his tent to the derision of his ungracious son Ham Sem and Japhet his better-natured sons took a garment and for grief went backward not enduring to look upon their Fathers nakedness Our First Parents by disobedience exposed themselves to shame and derision and all their Posterity to ruine remediless had not the Lord Jesus gone backward that is from Heaven to earth and so covered poor man with his skirt lest the shame of our nakedness should appear There is a Law Lev. 25.25 If thy brother be poor c. Our Father Adam was seized on a fair Possession but he sold it for no valuable consideration he was never able to redeem it nor any of his kin for it cost more to redeem a soul The good Angels though as friends they might commiserate lost man yet were they not able to recover for him his forfeited inheritance Gods Favour and Eternal Happiness and if they had been able yet by Law they might not do it being not in a capacity because they were no kin to man The Son of God therefore being able to do this unspeakable kindness for fallen man as being God blessâ—â— for ever mighty to save took on him our flesh that he might be of kin to us and so by right in Law redeem that possession which our Father sold O therefore love the Lord all ye his Saints For 4. He hath loved us Magnes amoriâ— amor Love bâ—getteth love We love him because he loved us first 1 John 4.10 Lord he is worthy Luke 7.5 much more is Christ worthy For he loveth our Nation Gal. 2.20 Who loved me and gave himself for me The tongue of men and Angels is not able to set forth the height and length depth and breadth of the Love of God in Christ God so loved the World c. Rev. 1.5 To Him that loved us and washed away our sins in his own Blood be Glory and Love Service c. I purposely spare to add more Reasons of the point it being of it self so agreeable to reason and a thing confessed by all Christians Use 1. Of Instruction If
Calls his Sheep hear his Voice and know not the voice of strangers give him your eye look unto him and be saved give him your hand and feet to do what he commandeth and come when he calleth give him your knee to bow to him not meerly in a complement but to submit to his Laws and obey him as King and Lord especially give him your hearts let him be enthroned there Lift the everlasting Doors that the King of Glory may enter With the tongue you must confess and with the heart believe that you may be saved And take him for yours for ever abide for him for many dayes Beware of Apostacy by which Judas lost the Blessing and went to his own place You see Brethren al blessings are to be expected only through Christ I beseech you go home and work these things on your hearts by meditation wrestle for a Blessing say Lord Jesus who blessedst thy Disciples bless me even me also I will not let thee go unless thou bless me cry to him as the blind lame and diseased cryed when he was on earth Jesus have Mercy on us and believe that he is able willing and ready to bless you As for me God forbid I should cease to pray for you that the Lord would put his Blessing on you One thing further let me mind you of That you be much in blessing God for his Love and Faithfulness in giving his Son and ascribing Blessing and Praise to the Lord Jesus for all spiritual Blessings and for going to Heaven blessing his People Especially I charge you be careful to spend the Lords Day which is precious time which he hath sequestred and set apart for himself in a thankful Commemoration of Jesus Christ his Grace and Compassion to poor sinners and not in sports and past-times study what you shall render to him in lieu of such superlative and incomparable Love and in a due Sanctification of the Lord's Day endeavour that the Name of Christ may be remembred through out all Ages The third and last Use is Consolation for I would not leave you comfortless 1. Here is abundant Encouragement to poor sinners to come to Christ you that have trembling hearts and dare scarce look up to Christ by reason of your sins lest he call you Dogs and cast you out who are ready to say There is indeed Consolation in Christ and he hath Blessings enough to bestow but they are not for me let me tell you it is good to be humble and sensible of your own vileness but not to be faithless and unbelieving for unbelief is highly derogatory dishonourable to Jesus Christ and wrong to your own souls a rejecting of your own mercy I could also tell you it is the most unreasonable thing for you to question Christ's pitty and tenderness towards poor heavy laden sinners after that he hath from Eternity had his delights with the sons of men Prov. 8.31 And in Noahs time he was preaching to save souls would they have believed and obeyed He sent all his Prophets of old to testifie remission of sins to all that believe in Him Acts 10.43 The Prophets testifie his tenderness Consult Isa 55. the seven first verses Ho every one that thirsteth He will abundantly pardon Isa 40.11 He shall gather the Lambs and carry them in his bosome Isa 42.3 A bruised Reed shall he not break Isa 61.1 2 3. He hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted Ezek. 18.23 Have I any pleasure that the wicked should dye Psal 72.12 13 14. He shall save the souls of the needy You have his own Testimony John 6.37 Them that come to me I will in no wise cast out You have the Experiences of the Saints recorded for your encouragement The Apostle Paul who was a Persecutor and confesseth himself the chief of sinners yet he obtained Mercy The thief upon the Cross though before he reviled Christ yet praying obtained a very gracious Answer Nay consider what Christ hath done to shew himself in good earnest to save souls He knew what a bitter Cup he must drink yet Loe I come he became our Surety and longed to have our debt paid and his People redeemed Luke 12.50 He was wondrously straitned till his Baptism of Blood was accomplished He hath sent his Apostles after such signal Manifestations of Grace to testifie it And in his Name my Beloved I am this day declaring to you That he is very willing and ready to receive any that will come to him and would gather you as a Hen doth her Chickens under her wings never did any find him backward nay He is more willing to bless you than you are to receive his Blessings It 's some satisfaction when men will come that he may see the travel of his soul Isa 53.11 He taketh it ill that we are so backward in coming He loved the young-man that came running kneeling enquiring Good Master what shall I do c. and had the young-man liked the terms the match had been made the breach was not on Christ's part Nay Luke 15. he sheweth there is joy in Heaven over one repenting sinner in three Parables Draw near then thou drooping dejected soul come and see not only the Hands and Feet of thy Saviour put not only thy hands into his pierced Side But behold the heart of thy Redeemer behold thy Lord lifting up his Hands and Blessing and see if there be not ground to cry out My Lord and my God Had you seen Him after sweating drops of Blood for you ascending with such Expressions of hearty Love could you have doubted Had you seen his Hands lifted up in blessing his People on Earth at his last farewel could you doubt of his willingness to bless you 2. Here is Comfort for the People of God amidst all the Curses and Persecutions of the world Be not afraid no matter who curse so Christ bless Psal 109. Let them curse but bless thou Christ's Blessing is your Pavilion from the strife of tongues For first Christ blesseth effectually Psal 37.22 when Christ will bless men cannot let Secondly Irrevocably When Christ blesseth men cannot reverse it Balaam could not curse Israel when God had blessed The Blessings of Christ are without Repentance Men now cry Hosanna anon crucifie but they whom Christ blesseth shall be blessed everlastingly Thirdly he blesseth such as bless his Servants and curseth them that curse them Gen. 12.3 Fourthly He blesseth his People for mens cursing 2 Sam. 16.12 Fifthly He turneth the Curse into a Blessing Deut. 23.5 Sixthly He hath variety of Blessings Blessings of the Dew of Heaven and of the Deep Esau cryed Hast thou but one Blessing bless me also O my Father But Christ's Blessings are an Ocean never exhausted He is a Sun full of Light after so many thousand years emanation of Blessings and irradiation of the World therewith he is as full as ever He is a Fountain always flowing and ever full He hath national Blessings pardon of sin
Jacob to all the Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles to such as are the most Excellent of the Earth the Worlds wonder Angels delight the Chariots and Horsemen of the Nations the brazen walls and gates of the Kingdoms they live in Grace investeth us with the same priviledges as the richest Saints of the world ever have enjoyed the same Justification the same Reconciliation the same Adoption the same Life eternal and Glorification Secondly If true Christians be Brethren than this may exhort us to several duties 1. To live in love amongst our selves the very term bespeaketh affection and the affection should never cease so long as the relation endures Who should love more than those who are united in the same Head and Hope and cemented with the same blood of Christ It was an honour to Religion once and therefore the Heathens said Aspice ut se mutuo diligunt Christiani See how these Christians love one another But alas may we not say See how they hate one another O take heed of discreditting your Profession of opening the mouths and hardening the hearts of the wicked by envie hatred or want of love one to another It was the Exhortation of John to his People when he could preach no more in the Pulpit that they love one another and it shall be mine in these my dying words that you love as Brethren And as the foundation of this relation is more excellent than others so let our love be more fervent and intensive 2. Labour to maintain peace and unity This is good and pleasant to behold Psal 135.1 Let it not be said that a legion of Devils can live in one man in peace and unity and yet Christians cannot Let not inferiours go beyond the bounds of their duty and place neither let Superiors stand too much upon their Prerogatives but rather for peace sake to abate of what they might justly chalenge upon their superiority the richer the elder the nobler you are the more endeavor to be good examples to others condescending to the infirmities of the weak that the golden bond of peace be not broken we see this in Abraham who though he was elder yet for peace sake gave liberty to Lot his younger to chose which way he would go to feed his cattel And Abraham said to Lot Let there be no strife between me and thee between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen for we are Brethren Gen. 13.4 Labour to be of the same judgment in matters of Religion it is pleasant to see Brethren of the same mind in matters of Religion Consonant sounds upon Musical Instruments sweeten the melody there was no hammer nor ax nor any tool of Iron heard in Solomons Temple while it was in building neither should there be heard or seen discords in the House of God Divisions of judgments blunt the edge of Christians love abate the fervency of affection create distance and shiness of society amongst familiars gratifies Satan grieves the Spirit of God weakens Christ's Kingdom and exposeth a People to ruine A Kingdom divided against it self cannot stand and if one member of the body should fight with another and each member of the body scratch tear and rend one another how deformed weak and near to ruine would that be Unapt sounds upon Musical Instruments spoyl the melody the divisions of the Church of Corinth sounded harshly in the Apostles ears some said they were of Paul others of Apollos others of Cephas If you would be comforts and helps one to another if you would be a credit to your Profession and comfort and rejoyceing to your Minister live in unity of judgment in matters of Religion contend not for the shadow and lose the substance Be not substantial about circumstances and circumstantial about Substances In the language of the Apostle I beseech you Brethren that there be no divisions among you but that you be perfectly joyned together in the same judgment 1 Cor. 1.10 4. Be ready to help and succour one another Nature hath created a Sympathy and Compassion in every relation The mother pitties and abundantly tenders her sick child doth all she can to do it good to ease it under pain to recover it from pain and sickness One brother is ready to condole with the sufferings of another to supply his wants to defend him in danger As Moses the Israelite whom the Egyptian wronged Exod. 2.11 12. and how much more should Brethren in Grace the dearer the Relation the more tender Affection As Brethren sympathize ye one with another Succour such as are tempted reduce such as wander satisfie the scrupulous confirm such as are staggering and raise such as are fallen by Prayers for them by Counsels by Exhortations Improve your Gifts and Abilities your Graces and Experiences to relieve and succour them in spirituals as you would be ready to assist them in temporals with your estates 5. Ministers should not lord it over Gods Heritage 1 Pet. 5.3 they should not imperiously lord it over them nor lay greater burdens upon their Consciences than Jesus Christ hath impos'd We must do all things for their edification not any thing for their destruction We must further not hinder them in their progress to Heaven take away occasions not lay stones of stumbling before them How disgraceful and intolerable would it be to see one Brother to grow proud lordly and domineering over the other would not every one cry shame upon it And shall those whom Grace hath made equal usurp Authority and rule one over another when Christ hath not given such authority and jurisdiction And as Ministers must not lord it over the Consciences of their Flock so one Minister must not act Authority over another The Apostle Paul was a man extraordinarily called and qualified and so had an Authority over other Ministers but when this extraordinary Mission ceased the Superiority of Jurisdiction ceased also And though he was an Apostle yet he acted not imperiously over the Presbyters but called them Brethren neither had he Jacobs voice and Esaus hand he spake not as a Lamb and acted like a Lyon but his carriage and deportment was a comment upon the name Where Christ hath given no superiority of power and jurisdiction let no man claim it lest he be found an Usurper whom the Apostle calls in one place Bishops in another place he calleth Presbyters as in this place he calleth the Ministers of the Church of Ephesus Presbyters ver 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He called together the Presbyters of the Church And in ver 28. he calls them Bishops Take heed therefore to your selves and to all the flock over whom the holy Ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath made or placed you Bishops or Overseers And the same Apostle in his Epistle to Titus calls Ministers Presbyters Chap 1.5 and the same he calls Bishops ver 7. Now if Presbyters Bishops had not been one and the same but names of dinstict Office Jurisdiction and Power the Apostle's reasons
conscienciously discharge duties towards them See your duty in Ephes 6.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. and practise it 2. Live in Love This was Christ's Command to his Disciples when he left them John 13.34 35. A new Commandment I give unto you that you love one another By this shall all men know ye are my Disciples if ye love one another Hate not any of your Brethren in your heart Hatred makes us like the Devil Murderers The wicked love one another entirely and shall not Christians much more The great Exhortation of John the Divine was even when he was so old as he could scarce say any thing else Little Children love one another little Children love one another 3. Esteem and maintain Peace among one another as a precious Jewel Beware of Animosities and Heart-burnings of Jealousies and Jarrings one with another Many evils follow this one of strife Jam. 3.16 Where Envying and Strife is there is every evil work It 's the nature of Christianity to be meek and peaceable ver 17. Strifes are a work of the flesh Gal. 5.20 Now the works of the flesh are manifest Hatred Variance Strife Now it s the property and duty of true Christians to put off the works of the flesh To this end avoid the occasions of Strife Contentions Put up Injuries hearken not to Tale-bearers The Tale-bearer separateth very Friends Prov. 26.20 But when there is no Tale-bearer the Strife ceaseth Moreover deny your selves sometimes of that which may be your right that so you maintain brotherly Love Ever suspect your own Judgment Man is usually partial in his own cause Never think thy self so much in the right but that thou mayest sometimes over-shoot thy self and be in the wrong Be not wise in thy own conceit Consider as long as there is Jars and Contentions amongst Brethren and Neighbours they are not in a capacity of doing good to or receiving good from one another Contentions fill that mind full of Prejudice and then neither Instruction Advice Reproof or any courtesie will be well accepted but will be in danger of rejection with abundance of contempt As long as men are prejudiced against one another they will not believe that any good thing done by the other proceeds from a good principle or hath a good end In a word I conclude this in the words of the Apostle As much as is possible live peaceably with all men 4. Study to unite 1 Cor. 1.10 Bring your minds to meet in one point Bring them to the Center of God's Word The wider we go from God's Word which is the Center of Unity the further we go from one another It cannot be expected while the world stands that Christians should agree in every punctilio but labour to meet in the main meet in the root The branches of a Tree grow several ways and are at a great distance from one another but they all agree in this that they came from the same root So Christians may in some things seem to be a great distance from each other O labour to meet in the Root agree in Substantials study the things that make for peace whereby ye may edifie one another 5. Exhort one another Heb. 3.17 Instruct warn strengthen comfort one another take that advice 1 Thes 5.11 Comfort your selves together and edifie one another do not straggle one from another run together against a storm be assured it is not safe for Christians to be alone two are better than one if they be together they shall have heat 6. Be righteous in all your dealings with each other Defraud not one another Mich. 6.8 Deal justly lye not one to another but speak the Truth 1 Cor. 6.9 The unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God In buying and selling and all your civil contracts do as you would others should do unto you set your self in the buyers stead and see how you would have others act towards you and so do to them 7. Be sensible of the loss which you and others about you sustain this day Our Church is parting with many Ministers that were willing and in some measure able to do God service Their Iniquities I confess may have a great hand in putting them forth and I hope they are in some measure sensible of the Plague of their hearts But see if your hands have not helpt to lift them out have not you weakned their hands many a time It may be you have made them preach and pray weakly and feebly by your coldness and deadness It may be your barrenness provokes God to take away his Vine-dressers your leasiness might cause these Candles to be taken away Is not England weary of Ministers do not we count them troublers Alas we have raised winds to blow out these Candles And then as you should be sensible of your sin so of your loss Why what do we lose this day We lose Shepherds and Sheep are likely to do poorly without we lose spiritual Fathers My Father My Father And how do poor Children cry at the loss of a Father We lose some of the Pillars of the Church and Nation As David I bear up the Pillars of it And how can a House stand without Pillars they are our best defence The Chariots of Israel and the Horsemen thereof Cant. 3.7 they defend souls against Sin and Satan and bodies from many Judgments How can a Nation do without Watchmen It 's well if the taking away so many Prophets be not as the pulling so many Lots out of Sodom Object But what needs all this what a needless stir do you make Though you and others like you be silenced yet there are others to succeed you your Places will not be vacant Do you think there are not as good as your selves to stay behind we do not see but you may very well be spared Answ 1. Let it be as you have spoken It is the hearty desire of our souls that better may succeed us it would much elevate our souls if it might be so 2. Suppose there may some holy and painful Labourers stay behind it s to be thought it will be but some the Harvest is great and it is not reasonably to be imagined that there should be suddenly raised a competent succession of able experienced Pastors to supply so many Congregations as are like to be left destitute It 's much to be feared that we shall have cause to sit down and weep over many poor Towns and Parishes being left as Sheep without Shepherds 3. Are you sure that those that stay behind us shall continue long amongst you How do you know but that within some months or a few years some stumbling-block or other may be laid in their way over which they cannot possibly go if they will retain a good conscience 4. However this Dispensation of God is a wonderful affliction It is not the manner of God ordinarily to deal thus with his Ministers and People God doth not use to light
endure So Christians you should do as you are exhorted Heb. 10.32 Remember what baths of godly sorry and compunction of spirit you found in hearing what earnest pantings after Christ and his Ordinances Could you not once say as the Psalmist Psal 42.1 2. 63.1 2. 84.1 2. Remember what flames of Divine Love to God Jesus Christ and his People you once felt burning in your hearts Remember those Raptures of Joy you have felt while you have been with joy drawing Waters out of the Wells of Salvation Remember with what delight and complacency you conversed in holy duties what zeal you had for God and his Ministers how even the zeal of Gods house eat you up O when you begin to feel your affections cool and grow flat say Why am I thus Is not God and Christ as lovely and desirable the Wayes of God as delightfull and pleasant as ever Such a remembrance how you have received will be a means to keep up a lively frame of heart in most dead times 4. Christians should remember with what readiness of mind they heard and received the Word of God with what holy resolutions to obey the Truth and to give up themselves to be guided by it and to walk with God to live and die in Gods wayes and for them too if God called them to it Thus God's People have received the Word So did those mentioned Isa 2.2 3. Acts 10.33 and so have you if ever you received it savingly Oh remember this as a means to quicken you when you find holy resolutions to cool in you 5. Christians should remember with what impressions upon their hearts they have received the Word and Sacraments Oh remember Christians what impressions Truths and Ordinances were wont to leave upon your hearts what work they made in your souls what wounds were given to sin what heart-meltings and heart-revivings you have found while one while your hearts have been melted yea even dissolved into penitential tears and another while filled with raptures of spiritual joy What workings of Faith Love Desires Hath it not been thus with you sometimes Christians Oh remember this to quicken you when you grow dead and can yea do sit under Ordinances with few if any such impressions as these are 6. And lastly Remember with what efficacy you have heard and received the Word and Ordinances of God You should remember what gracious effects have been wrought in and produced on your souls by these Oh Christians you should remember what good you have got by the Word Sacraments Prayer Communion of Saints what communion with God you have enjoyed in them and what of God you have received by and through them what quicknings what comforts you have been made partakers of while you have been attending upon them Have you not found the Word and Sacraments and other Ordinances of God wounding yea killing your corruptions enabling you to overcome temptations strengthening of grace enabling you to duty Hath not God spoken Peace to your souls in and through these Hath he not administred comfort to your souls in times of dissertion under sore afflictions against most bitter sufferings and most hot and fiery persecutions Oh remember this to keep your hearts alive in and your love warm and lively unto those precious Truths and Ordinances you have received so much good through how much soever they may be despised and scorn'd by others SERMON II. Preached Lords-day July 6. 1662. Rev. 3.3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent c. BEloved when I entred on this verse in my coâ—â—â— of the Friday-Lecture I little thought that I â—aâ—â— so short a time to preach among you I hoped I shoâ—â— have enjoyed some further opportunities for some â—ew weeks at least as long as the Act of Vniformity â—llowes But it hath pleased God by his wise and holy Providence to order it otherwise I being suspended from preaching here from this day forward for Non-conformity how regularly or legally on mans part I shall not dispute but leave to the righteous God to determine I desire that both you and I may not eye man but God in this dispensation I did not think to have preached my Farewel-Sermon to you from these words but having begun this Text and finding the matter of it so seasonable and suitable to rhis sad occasion I shall by God's assistance proceed in the handling of it Being probably like to preach no more unto you I judge it very seasonable to leave the Exhortation in the Text with you to call upon you that you would remember what and how you have received and heard and 〈◊〉 hold fast those wholsom Truths you have heard and those precious Ordinances at least the remembrance impressions and gracious effects of them that you have enjoyed and been priviledged with and also to repent of those sins which have provoked and may further provoke God to come on us as a thief to take away many of his Ministers from among us The words as I have already shewed are Christs counsel to a languishing Church and to decaied Christians to repair decaied Godliness and Religion in a Church and in the hearts and lives of particular Christians which renders them more seasonable to these days we live in and to the condition of many of our souls I have already opened the Doctrine and confirm'd it by several Scriptures Namely That it is the duty both of Churches and particular Christians and a special means to recover them from formality decaies and deadness in Religion and the exercise of Grace to remember what and how they have received and heard I should now proceed to give you the reasons of the Doctrine but I shall chuse rather to reserve them to the Application and then press them as Motives to inforce the Counsel and Exhortation grounded on the Text and Doctrine and so shall immediately proceed to Application Vse 1. The first Use is of Information 1. It informs us that there is somewhat more required of Christians than bare hearing of Sermons receiving and partaking of Sacraments and other Ordinances It is not enough to hear and receive but it is the duty of Christians also to remember what and how they have received and heard what good they have got by and what communion with God they have injoyed in the use of the Word and Ordinances 2. It informs us what it is we are to make the rule of our Faith Practice namely the Word of God contained in the Scriptures and the Truths you have heard rightly grounded theron They ought to be the Standard to which we should bring all Doctrines preached all things introduced into Divine Worship and imposed upon us in practice Bring all things to this Test It is your duty to search and study the Scriptures and bring all things to the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to these it is because there is no light in them
will bear up you hearts under and fortifie them against all Sufferings and Persecutions you may meet with in the wayes and for the sake of Christ when you shall remember the warnings Christ hath given you John 16.1 2. and the grounds of comfort you have found in the Word of God Improve your remembrance of Truths for this end So much for the Motives to stir up to the practice of this duty in the Text. And these eight last particulars may serve also to direct you what use you should make of the remembrance of what and how you have received I shall proceed to add some few Directions to direct you how and after what manner you should remember what and how you have received 1. Direction Remember what and how you have received and heard Thankfully Oh be thankful Christians that you have enjoyed the Word and Ordinances of God so long and that with so much plainness power purity and plenty Though you should never enjoy them more yet you have cause to bless God that have enjoyed the Word Sacraments Ministers so long above not onely your desiâ—â—s but also your expectations Especially be you thankful that have received Christ and Grace through these that you have received Grace before you have lost any of the means of Grace that Christ and your souls have met before you and Ministers have parted 2. Direction Remember how you have received and heard Penitentially and sorrowfully 1. Penitentially and sorrowfudly That you prized and improved Truths and Ordinances no better got no more good by them grew no more in grace under them gained no more power against corruptions or ability to do and suffer by them while you did enjoy them 2. Remember how you have received sorrowfully if you have lost or should lose any of your opportunities When the Wayes of Sion mourn sure the Sons of Sion should mourn You should be sorrowful for the Solemn Assemblies the reproach of them should be a burden unto Christians You should remember your Gospel-enjoyments with tears as those Psal 137.1 2. even weep when you remember Sion As the Psalmist Psal 42.3 Chrstians in such a case should bewail the loss of Ordinances and of so many of God's Ministers 3. Christians should especially remember Gospel mercies Penitentially in the want of them when and that they by their sins have helped to sin them away by their unfruitful and unworthy walking Know Christians they are the sinnes of Ministers and People that stop the mouths of Ministers and deprive a People at any time of any of the tokens of God's presence You should in such a case and condition with sorrow of heart say we once enjoyed comfortable dayes of the Son of man but by our deadness spiritual wantoness and unfruitfulness we have now sinned them away 3. Direction Remember what and how you have received Affectionately and Practically It is not a meer notional but an affectionate and practical remembrance of Truths received and Ordinances enjoyed that I now press to Remember them with burning and inflamed hearts So remember Truths as to practise them to love Truth and to live in Truth and Ordinances so as to live up to them so as to have pure hearts answerable to pure Ordinances the power of Religion in your conversation sutable to powerful administrations Remember the Word of Truth to direct your practice even as a Compass to sail by in a troublesom Sea a dark night and as a copy to write after So remember what you have heard as to set on the practice of duties you have been exhorted to and directed in and to avoid the sins you have been warned against So remember as to improve your remembrance of Truths to those eight Uses before specified namely as an Antidote against error in Doctrine corruption in Worship to humble for keep from sin quicken to duty make you prize love pray for long after the Word for your comfort and support under Sufferings Having given you some Directions how you should remember what and how you have received and heard I shall now close this Doctrine by adding some Means and Helps to enable you to the performance of that duty I have been exhorting you to 1. A first Means or Help to enable to remember what you have received and heard is Labour after a sincere love to the Word Ordinances and Ministers of Christ Love Truth and you will the more easily remember it You will not suddenly or easily forget that you dearly love Affection is a very great help to Memory Receive Truth in your love and affection and then you will keep it in your minds and memories A man will remember what his mind and heart is set upon A special means to keep Truths in your heads is to labour that they may be engraven in your hearts Look upon the Word and Ordinances of God as your Treasure and you will be sure then at least practically to remember it Men scarcely forget where they have laid their Treasure or their Jewels though they may where they have laid things of lesser moment Love doth and will renew and revive the object loved in the mind and in the thoughts Affection to Divine Objects is the safest Lock and Key to secure Spiritual Treasures Psal 119.97 David loved the Law and then he could do no other but make it his meditation all the day long 2. A second help or means to enable you to remember what and how you have received and heard is Application to apply and appropriate Truths and Ordinances to your own souls Labour to insure your interest in Christ the Covenant of Grace and the great Truths of the Gospel and that will much further your remembring of them You will be careful to remember what you look on as your concernments Though men may forget others business they will hardly forget their own especially if they be matters of great concernment a matter wherein their whole estate is concerned or a matter of life and death And such are the things you have received and heard in the Gospel When you hear the Word say there God spoke to my soul Men forget truths because they are apt to put them off to others and not to look on themselves as as concerned in them Oh therefore look on thy soul as concerned in what thou hast heard and received and this will help thee to remember it 3. A third means to help you to remember what you have received and heard is Serious and frequent meditation and contemplation on what you have heard This is a great help to memory Divine meditation fixes Truths in the head and fastens them in the heart Luke 2.19 she kept those things because she pondered them Be therefore much in meditation 4. A fourth means to further your remembrance of what you have received and heard is Holy conference This Moses directs to as a means to keep the things of God in the heart Deut. 6.6 7 8 9. This
our duty which is a sin we cannot follow the dictate of Conscience here but we sin Nor can we go against Conscience though erring but we sin too And therefore wo unto them that call evil good and good evill that put darkness for light and light for darkness But this is one cause of halting in Religion Corruption of the mind and judgement When a man cannot well discern his way no wonder if he be oft turning aside 2. From an evil heart The corruptions of the heart are like a strong byass drawing the soul off from God Here 1. Unbelief An evil heart of unbelief is one cause of halting Heb. 3.12 Take heed Brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God q. d. Would you not depart from the living God O then take heed of unbelief the cause of souls departing from him As it is by Faith that men come to God Heb. 11.6 so it is by unbelief that they depart from God In Heb. 10.39 They that draw back and they that believe are opposed to one another Pray mark what it was that kept the Disciples close to Christ when others fell off from him We believe and are sure say they that thou art the Christ Lord to whom should we go Thou hast the words of eternal life John 6.68 69. If we are halting in our course it would argue us full of unbelief That we do not believe the Word of God Do we believe God's promises and yet turn aside for the vain proffers of a deluding world Do we credit Divine threatnings when yet these are not of so much force to deter us from sin as the frowns and threats of men to drive us into sin Did men fully believe there is so much evil and danger in every sin as the Word of God declares there is they would immediately see cause to be more afraid of the least sin than of the greatest sufferings in the world Did men really believe what the Lord has said of such as obey him sincerely and follow him fully they must necessarily conclude thence that integrity is the best policy and Godliness the greatest gain But when men chuse either to decline a way of duty or to comply with a way of sin for fear of sufferings or in hopes of some worldly advantage this bewrayes abundance of unbelief Thus men really call in question the truth of what God hath spoken and interpretatively give him the lye And is not that a wicked heart that dares give God the lye Again Halting argues we believe not God that he is such a God as indeed he is So holy that he hates all sin so just that he will not acquit the wicked A gracious God rich in mercy to reward his faithful servants Infinite in Power to protect those that fear and put their trust in him but to destroy all those that forsake and rebel against him A God every-where present omniscient that eyes and observes us in all places companies employments Who would forsake or turn aside from the living God that believes him to be such a God But unbelief is the root of disobedience as in the Greek the same word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies both This is the cause of inconstancy the root of Apostacy How is it possible that any other than bad fruit should spring from such a bitter and poysonous root 2. Hypocrisie is another cause of halting As Constancy is the daughter of sincerity so unstaidness is the natural off-spring and product of Hypocrisie Psal 78.37 Their heart was not right with him then it follows neither were they stedfast in his Covenant As on the other hand the upright in heart are opposed to such as turn aside into crooked wayes Psal 125.45 Hypocrisie makes men zealous about needless ceremonies but careless of the substance of Religion The Scribes and Pharisees who are therefore called hypocrites Matt. 15.7 were earnest for the observation of their traditions while they regarded not to go cross to known express commands of God They were not afraid in sundry cases to set aside God's command to hold up mens traditions Matth. 15.2 3. Mar. 7.8 Hypocrisie wil put men upon some duties while there is an allowed neglect of others and those more weighty Mat. 23.23 Hypocrisie will take men off from some sins while other sins are still retained As Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel but departed not from the sins of Jeroboam 2 King 10.28 31. It wil teach men to avoid open gross scandalous sins while they have no care to get cleansed from secret sins from inward heart-corruptions Matth. 23.25 c. Hypocrisie will allow men to condemn will put them upon speaking against the sins of former times while it teacheth compliance with the sins of the present times Hypocrisie will suffer men to live in those sins which they condemn in others Matt. 23.29 c. And what is all this but shameful halting Hypocrisie will teach men to make a fair shew sometimes to act a part in Religion for the compassing of some carnal end which being once obtained the Play is done and they are found other men than they appeared and personated before Hypocrisie is a paint that wil not endure the fire Let fiery tryals come and these soon marre its beauty lay open its deformity Hypocrisie is but the putting of the sheep-skin on a Wolf or Swine which if once it be shorn you would not expect it should grow again The last estate of the Hypocrite ordinarily is worse than the first Matth. 12.45 3. Base sinful self-self-love and inordinate love of the world Carnal self is a great hinderance and pull back to us in a Christian course Therefore Christ calls upon every one that would follow him to deny himself Matth. 16.24 Our base hearts will seem to comply with a Divine Command at one time but out of self-respect and dispence with the same command at another time out of self-respect Some that were constant in the performance of Family-duties seemingly strict in the observation of Sabbaths c. while these things have been in fashion can readily lay all religious duties aside when they become a matter of reproach Some that seem to stear their course Heaven-wards while they meet with prosperous gales who can soon tack about when the winds are contrary How should they do other than halt in Religion who have more respect to their Credit and Reputation in the world than to God's Honour See John 12.42 43. How can ye believe sayes our Saviour who receive honor one of another John 5.44 As the Apostle James Whosoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God â—am 4.4 Many love their carnal ease more than their work more than God's service These are only for the easie part of Religion and so halt in Religion Many have more love to their Estates their earthly possessions And these will be only for the cheap part of Religion
doth he preach Christ afterwards as you see Acts 2. c. 4. Walk circumspectly If you would not halt observe every step you take take heed of falls yea of the least stepping awry Give not a little way to sin O fear at any time deliberately to venture upon any sin or on any temptation to sin Do not wilfully dash your foot upon the stones To be afraid of the least sin to be ready to flee from temptations is no argument of cowardise or pusillanimity of spirit but a proof of spiritual wisdom a necessary piece of Christian Policy And the more we are afraid of sin the less danger of our shrinking at sufferings Indeed it is wisdom to take heed of the least slips When we begin to fall none knows how far we may fall or how long it may be ere we recover our selves again The sin is great to account any sin little We ought to be so afraid of sin as not to venture on those things that have the appearance of evil 1 Thess 5.22 5. Set to the mortification of thy beloved sin especially Cut off the right foot that would offend thee and cause thee to stumble It is thy beloved sin that right eye that right foot which most enclines thee to halt is the greatest impediment to even upright walking He that sets up any Idol in his heart and puts the stumbling-block of his iniquity before his face estranges and separates himself from the Lord Eâ—ek 14.4 5 7. Covetousness the love of money seems to have been Judas his beloved sin and what did this bring him to at last not onely to the forsaking but further put him upon the betraying of his Master Where any darling-lust is spared and indulged there a Barabbas is preferred to Christ This may seem a very hard saying as it is sharp service to mortifie ones earthly members to pluck out a right eye and cut off a right foot yet it is indispensibly necessary for the cure of halting while men favour the right foot they cannot but halt in their course On the other hand we shall then walk uprightly before God when we keep our selves from our own iniquities Psal 18.23 6. Set forth in Religion with a serious purpose and fixed resolution never to draw back There is a force and vertue a vis impressa that comes from an holy resolution here that carries the souâ— on in a more even course The stronger our resolutions are provided they be not taken up in our own strength the more steady and uniform will our motion be Therefore Barnabas exhorted them Acts 11.23 that with purpose of heart they would cleave to the Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is as much as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sayes the Psalmist Psal 119.106 I have sworn and I will perform it that I will keep thy righteous Judgements So Dan. 1.8 But Daniel purposed that he would not defile himself with the portion of the King's meat nor with the wine which he drank Daniel purposed resolved and this kept him free amidst temptations to defilement that way offered Holy resolution for God is a strong Bank against a flood of Temptations is a good Bulwark against the shot and assaults of Adversaries And no taking of the Garison till a breach is made here Yea it is to be noted that though to sin against clear conviction doth very much aggravate sin yet not so to sin besides ones serious purpose and resolution When the heart is resolved for God devoted to his fear hath freely chearfully sworn Alleagiance to him and yet is drawn to some sin this would rather argue weakness than wilfulness or the violence of temptation rather than any eagerness of such a soul to break forth in a way of transgression Therefore as we read of engaging the heart to approach to God Jer. 30.21 so let us see we engage our hearts to stick close to God Say not alwayes Shal I shal I but at last come to this resolve If the Lord be God to follow him If this or that be the Truth to stick to it if this or that be a sin to avoid it and in our places oppose it If such a thing be a duty and well-pleasing to God to countenance and practise it come on 't what will 7. Walk humbly with thy God Be ever sensible of thine own weakness how unable thou art to stand or go alone Take this along with the foregoing Direction When you have resolved on your way yet you ought to consider that the way of man is not in himself It is the Lord that keepeth the feet of his Saints 1 Sam. 2.9 A proud creature one that is lifted up in his own conceits is near a fall Vzziah's heart was lifted up to his destruction Hab. 2.4 Behold his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him While he would seem some great Mountain he is a meer empty bubble Junius Ternov that cracks and breaks and vanisheth into air We reade of some of the Martyrs that when they saw the storm coming were very jealous of themselves that they should never be able to endure the brunt that they should never hold out who yet stood unmoved in the evil day Again others there were as full of self-confidence as the former were of self-suspition who triumphed before the victory or fight that in the day of tryal soon turned back and forsook their colours Some that boasted very much before they put on their Armour who put it off with shame We may say of this sin of Pride It hath cast down many wounded yea many strong ones have fallen by it 8. Set the Lord ever before you as the Psalmist did Psal 16.8 The Lord before whom I walk sayes Abraham Gen. 24.40 See Gen. 48.15 And particularly eye and get clear apprehensions of these Attributes of God c. 1. His Alsufficiency Gen. 17.1 I am God Alsufficient walk before me and be thou perfect or upright If you should meet with enemies with opposition in a way of upright walking yet know God is Almighty to defend you If you should be put upon straits or sustain great losses here God is alsufficient to supply your wants repair your losses and every way to bestead you 2. His unchangableness Mal. 3.6 I am the Lord I change not However men may vary from what they have formerly professed He is still the same However the times may change the Lord changes not And so the Truth is as dear to him integrity and constancy in his Servants are of the same value and account with him as ever they were 3. His faithfulness He is the Faithful God that keepeth Covenant that forsaketh not his Saints unto whom we may most safely commit our selves in wel-doing 1 Pet. 4.16 And these Divine Attributes presented to the soul would increase Spirits very much encourage us to close and even walking with God Moses endured as seeing him who is invisible And had we such a sight of
God did we see him to be an alsufficient unchangable faithful God it would help us to hold out to follow him fully 4. Again eye His Omnisciency His eyes are upon the wayes of man and He seeth all his goings Job 34.21 He telleth all our wanderings When Peter was turning his back on Christ his Lord and Master looked on him all the while As he beheld guile-less Nathaniel under the Fig-tree So he likewise beheld Peter halting in the High Priests Palace 5. His Omnipresence O that we had Moses eyes to see him that is invisible Doubtless he is not far from any of us No fleeing from his presence Psa 139.7 c. That we cannot sin but in the face of our Judge What are ye not afraid to turn aside from God his Truth his Commands while the Lord himself stands by and observes all our carriage 6. His Holiness Justice and Severity against sin If any draw back his soul can take no pleasure in that man Only such as are upright in the Way that are his delight Pro. 11.20 As God is displeased at mens halting before him so he is ready to manifest his displeasure And what a fearful thing is it to fall into the hands of the living God even as to fall into a consuming fire Such of God's Attributes as these last mentioned would very much awe us make us fear to depart or turn aside in the least from him But so much of the eighth Direction 9. Look to Jesus as your best guide And strive to follow his steps Observe how Christ carried in this world He did no sin neither was guile found in His mouth His love to man without dissimulation His zeal for God free from the least mixture of self-seeking He had the wisdom of the Serpent and the Doves innocency most exactly contempered duly proportioned in him He knew how to converse with sinners without the least communicating in their sins He was one and the same in all places at all times Far from studying a compliance with a corrupt and sinful generation rather he made it his work to do all that might be to change and amend it to set a crooked generation streight He was ever more careful to discharge duty than to provide for his own safety here In doing the work his Father sent him about into the world he wav'd and set aside self-respect John 5.30 8.49 50. The Truth and Honour of God was dearer to him than his own life O Christians follow this your Guide If we are Christians we ought to walk as Christ also walked 1 John 2.6 We are unworthy of the name of Christians if it be not our care and indeavour to follow Christ Now wherein we are followers of Christ we may be confident we go right so far we halt not in our course Therefore observe and eye Christ more Consider how he carried upon earth And where you are at a stand think if you can how Christ would have carried what he would have done in the like case with yours 10. Reckon upon troubles in this world Expect to meet with crosses in your Christian course As Paul and Barnabas confirmed the souls of the Disciples and exhorted them to continue in the Faith and that through much tribulation we must enter into the Kingdom of God Acts 14.22 When we look to meet with the Cross in our way we shall not so soon stumble at it On the contrary the Disciples were offended at Christs passion and shrunk away from him being in a great measure surprized with it for as many fair warnings and express items as they had from our Saviour to prepare for his sufferings yet they would not let those sayings sink down into their hearts still their thoughts were upon Christs reigning here as an earthly King and on some great worldly advancement which they expected under Christ 11. Be going forward The way of the Lord is strength to the upright Though I do not determine this to be the sense of the place yet it is a truth if we take it thus The further we go on in the ways of God the more strength we shall find to hold out and continue in them The way of the Lord is strength to the upright The Righteous shall hold on his way and wax stronger and stronger Here they that run fastest are least weary Whereas if we sit still we shall soon grow lame and stark O take heed of standing still Be going forward Grow in Grace Let it be your care to grow in Grace as you fear to fall from your own steadfastness Weaklings are aptest to stumble and fall Therefore let us be going on from strength to strength It is a good thing indeed that the heart be established with Grace Heb. 13.9 Where note it is one property of Grace to establish the heart And the more Grace the more inward establishment Adde to Faith Vertue sayes the Apostle Peter Let these things be in you and abound And if ye do these things ye shall never fall 2 Pet. 1. Here I might instance in sundry particular Graces that you should be growing in especially You heard before what corruptions especially and most frequently are a cause of halting Now strengthen those Graces that are opposite thereunto Labour to increase and excel in Faith By Faith Enoch walked with God By Faith Moses chose rather to suffer affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin In sincerity Being really what we seem to be The more truth in our inward parts the more Evenness and Uniformity in our outward Conversations In self-denial They that would follow God fully as Moses did must deny themselves as he did who refused to be called the Son of Pharaohs Daughter that he might be found the faithful Servant of God In an holy contempt of the world Labour to sit looser in your affections to the world if you would stick close to God Demas falling in love with this present world and affecting its embraces shook off holy Paul once and as some tell us turned Priest afterwards in an Idols temple Though others suppose he fell not so far but soon recovered again However the danger was very great see 1 Tim. 6.9 10. Many alas stick fast in the world stick fast here so that they know not how to take a step how to set a foot forward in the way to Heaven In love to God his Truth and Wayes This would cause you to cleave to him In Patience We have great need of Patience too that we be not wearied nor faint in our minds We must run with patience the race set before us Without patience we should soon be run out of breath 12. Lean ever upon Christ As you would not halt in your course lean hard upon Christ While we desire to grow in Grace yet we should fear to trust to Grace received It was the cause of Peters foul and shameful fall his self confidence conceiting that he was
strong enough now to stand alone A Christian is stronger in the Grace that is in Christ than in the greatest measure of grace inherent and derived from him Our Cisterns would soon fail were they not fed with an Everlasting Spring Rest not in what you have received ceived but be continualy going out to Christ for more It is not enough that his Grace and Spirit hath once entered into us to set us on our feet but he must also take us by the hand There is a promise Zech. 10.12 I will strengthen them in the Lord and they shall walk up and down in His Name saith the Lord. And as the little Child soon falls if it holds not by its Nurse or by its Father so we have met with many a knock many a fall many a slip and strain by letting go our hold of Jesus Christ A Believer never walks safely but in the hand of Christ or leaning on his arm 13. Get under the sense of God's love to walk in the Light of his Countenance as it is Psal 89.15 The joy of the Lord would be your strength This would make His Wayes Paths of pleasantness Did we but see all fair and clear over head how might it encourage us to go on in our Christian course though it should be a little foul under foot Yea if the Lord had once cast his mantle had cast a skirt of Love over us this would engage us to follow him we could not chuse then but follow hard after Him If enemies rise up against us though a multitude of dangers and outward evils should surround us yet we should not be dismaied but think our selves safe enough under the Banner of His Love We might more quietly repose our selves under the Banner of his Love than under the protection of an Army with Banners It is something to have a sense of the Truth of Religion but more to have experience of the Goodness thereof How hardly should any perswade or draw us contrary to our own experience should we not resolutely stick to continue and persevere in those wayes wherein we have met with God and have many times been delighted ravished with his presence 14. Be much in the duty of self-examination Be frequent in that noble spiritual act of self-reflection Often ask your hearts this question Whether they are in the way or no and how uprightly they carry in it One that hath a jealousie a suspition of his servant would not let him go long without calling him to a reckoning Our hearts are very wily and deceitful we had need every day take account of them as Achish of David Whither have ye made a rode to day Though we should fear being deluded by them as Achish was by him Without often reckoning with without a serious and strict examination of our hearts we shall never keep them true to God or our selves 15. Desire others of the Faithful to watch over you to admonish you and tell you of it when at any time they see you starting aside Let the Righteous smite me Entreat those your fellow-travellers to put forth their helping hand when they see you slipping and ready to fall 16. Lastly Let this be your earnest suit daily unto God that he would hold up your goings that your footsteps slip not As the Psalmist prayes Teach me thy way O Lord and lead me in a plain path He must not only shew us our way but also lead us on in it So again Psal 143.8 10. Let us be earnest with God here As the Psalmist Psal 63.8 My soul followeth hard after thee and mark what follows thy right hand upholdeth me And here let us plead that Branch and Article of His Gracious Covenant where he promiseth I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Jer. 32.40 The Lord is faithful to establish you and keep you from evil Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His Glory with exceeding joy To the only wise God our Saviour be Glory and Majesty Dominion and Power now and ever Amen SERMON V. Ephes 6.24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity I Shall look no further back to the precedent verses than may give light to the present Text. Ver. 21. The Apostle drawing to a conclusion of this Epistle giveth an honourable Testimony of Tychicus one dear to him and faithful in his Ministry shewing the causes moving him to send him to them 1. That by him they might know the state of his affairs how it went with him 2. That he might minister comfort to their hearts Ver. 23. contains his Valediction to his beloved Ephesians in which he desires all health and happiness for them Peace be to the Brethren In which words we may consider 1. What he desires Peace Faith and Love By Peace some understand according to the Hebrew phrase of the Old Testament Salutem faelicitatem all kind of good Others more sutable to the New Testament phrase understand Peace of Conscience acceptation of our persons and reconciliation to God in Christ Rom. 5.1 Being justified by Faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ By Faith and Love he means the increase of those Graces Pacem â—c faelicitatem fratribus omnibus exopto una cum Charitatis Fidei incremento c. as one paraphraseth on the place 2. For whom he desireth these things to the Brethren that is the Faithful in Christ whether Ministers or others who are sometimes distinguished from private Christians Acts 15.23 The Apostles Elders and Brethren But here we may take them joyntly For at Ephesus were many Ministers Acts 20.17 Ministers and private Christians are all Brethren in Christ Gal. 3.28 Paul though not inferiour to the chief of the Apostles is not ashamed to own Christians of the lowest form for his Brethren Philem. 16. he calls Onesimus a servant a brother beloved Faith by which Believers are united to Christ is a like precious in the highest Apostle and the lowest Christian 2 Pet. 1.1 To them that have obtained like precious Faith with us Nay Christ himself disdains not to call his poorest members Brethren Heb. 2.11 3. From whom he desires these Graces from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ even from the Fountain of all Grace which is God the Father as the first cause and Jesus Christ as the second cause as he is Mediator between God and man by and through whom the Father is wont to dispense to us all things necessary to Salvation all things pertaining to life and godliness As all the plenty of Egypt passed through the hands of Joseph Gen. 41.55 Go to Joseph what he saith to you do said Pharoah to the People when they cryed to him for corn So if any man lack Wisdom Love Faith let him go to God the Father by Christ Heb. 13.15 By him c. The Text
given because Jesus was not yet glorified Whether we take the holy Ghost there for gifts and spiritual endowments or the Efficacy of the Spirit accompanying those gifts in neither sense was the holy Ghost given so plentiously before as after Christ's Ascention on the day of Pentecost and afterwards Eph. 4.8 When he ascended on high he gave gifts unto men God the Father reserved the â—aâ—â— donative of his Grace for honour of his Sons Ascention unto the last times as the Gospel-times are called whereby so many millions of souls have been converted to Christ So then it being our lot with Capernaum to be lifted up to Heaven in regard of spiritual enjoyments take heed with the same people lest we be cast down to Hell for want of good improvement of so high priviledges Take with us therefore these brief Directions that we may not fail or come short of Grace 1. Be sure thou have an high esteem of Grace for God will not cast his Pearls before Swine carnal people that prize them not We may easily over-value these sublunary things bestow more serious thoughts labour sweat time money on them than they are really worth But we cannot possibly set too high a rate on Grace which we are bidden to covet follow or pursue seek ask knock for strive for 1 Cor. 12. ult Heb. 12.14 2. This estimate we shall not set upon Grace except we be sensible of our want of it We need not seek a thing we have in our hands Most men perish through lack of Grace which they seek not labour not for because they perswade themselves they have it already Be thou poor in spirit destitute blind naked If any man lack wisdom let him ask it of God who giveth liberally viz. to them that ask so in sence of want God is not like unto man in this respect Men send gifts and presents where is least need and so for them they that are poor may be poor still Semper eris pauper si c. God giveth Grace where most need is He feedeth the hungry he inviteth the poor Isa 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth Survey the state of thy soul when thou goest to Prayer to the Word Saâ—â—ament As when you go or send to the Market you consider what is wanting that supply may be made When thou goest to God's Ordinances thy Spiritual Market enquire what is lacking and there pour out thy heart to God put up earnest cryes for the work of Grace and Conversion for a new heart God hath promised no less than the holy Spirit to them that ask Luke 11.13 i. e. that ask so as in that parable our Saviour teacheth with fervency and importunity 3. See thou hunger and thirst after Grace keep a continued desire and longing after it for so the Participle implyeth Matth. 5.6 Blessed are they that are hungring and thirsting Psal 143.6 My soul thirsteth after thee as the thirsty Land How is that When the Earth is chapt and gapes through long drought it never ceaseth gaping and craving till the Heavens hear the Earth according to Hos 2.21 So let the thirsty soul do Psal 123.2 As the eyes of a servant c. so our eyes wait on the Lord until he have mercy on us 4. Delay not the time take the first opportunity slip not one Market-day to gain so excellent a Commodity Seek the Lord while he may be found call on him while he is nigh When Shops are shut up it is too late to make our Markets Many are afraid of having Grace too soon they are loth to be holy too soon to be sanctified too soon as if Grace were a burden But why not rather fear we lest we should come too late as did the foolish Virgins who dearly rued it as all shall who in this their day will not know the things of their peace 5. If thou wilt have Grace be content to buy it though without money without price in buying you part with one thing for another whereof you have more need so must thou here though heavenly commodities are not to be valued for Silver you know what Simon Peter said to Simon Magus Thy money perish with thee c. yet must thou part with that which it may be thou valuest above Silver i. e. thy lusts Isa 2.20 Idols of Silver costly sins must be parted with of them thou hast no need if thou part not with them they wil ruine thee if thou cast not them away they will cast thee away Sin and Grace reigning sin a way of wickedness is inconsistent with Grace God and Belial the Ark and Dagon will not agree under the same roof The Spirit of God is a holy pure delicate Spirit will be grieved and at last will be gone if that unclean spirit the Devil be entertained by a voluntary resignation of thy heart to the love of any course of sin or impiety If the blessed Spirit of Grace will vouchsafe to be thy guest O prepare him a lodging as Paul writes to Philemon ver 22. of that Epistle Purge thy self from all filthiness of flesh and spirit 6. Diligence in the use of means constant attendance on the Ordinances of Grace is necessary to the obtaining of Grace Frequent daily the Throne of Grace by fervent prayer wait duly at the posts of wisdoms house by attentive hearing the Word make conscience of sanctifying the Lords day be not thou absent from Gods house when he deals his dole of Grace and Blessing to his People use the society of Gracious persons whose communication is savory and their words minister Grace to the hearers and be constant in exercises of Godliness follow Pauls counsel to Timothy 1 Tim. 4.15 Meditate on these things continue in them give thy self much unto them that thy profiting may appear The diligent hand maketh rich when drowsiness clotheth a man with rags which is as true in spiritual as in temporal things 2d Branch of Exhortation If Grace be the best thing in the world let Christians that have Grace already labour for further degrees of it Grow in Grace 2 Pet. 3.18 Grace and sanctification is not perfect at once but hath its several ages and periods of growth We read of the Embrio or the forming the new man in the womb Gal. 4.19 The new-born babe 1 Pet 2.2 little children 1 John 2.13 young men ib. aged Christians ib. and Psal 92.14 shall bring forth more fruit in old age To this purpose are the commands in Scripture to abound more and more 1 Thess 4.1 that your love may abound Phil. 1.9 alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 15. ult They are likewise commended who are rich in Grace and fruits of holiness Matt. 15.28 O woman great is thy Faith Matt. 8.10 I have not sound so great Faith no not in Israel So on the contrary dwarfs in Christianity are blame-worthy Matt. 6.30 O ye of little Faith 1 Cor. 3.4 Are ye not yet carnal that is babes in
109.8 Though he had the honour to be one of Christ's Disciples dignified with gifts ordinary and extraordinary yet his Apostacy procured him that dreadful Curse Wo be to that man it had been good for that man he had never been born They that were the constant followers of Christ whom he led out they are his blessed ones 3. Here is the action 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he blessed them and in blessing or while he blessed twice mentioned that we should well consider it 4. The circumstances of this Farewel and they are three the Place the Time the Gesture 1. The Place Bethany it was a Village about fifteen furlongs from Jerusalem the Town of Mary and Martha and Lazarus where Christ raised Lazarus John 11.1 8 18. Bethany at the mount of Olives so it is called Mark 11.1 Reverend Beza upon Act. 1. 12. where the Ascension of Christ seemeth to be from Mount Olivet understandeth by Bethany not strictly the Village but the whole tract containing the Mount of Olives and that from the Mount near Bethany Christ ascended You see Christ could make a house of affliction or poverty as Bethany signifieth a place of blessing he is not tied to places but where two or three are gathered in his Name there is he amongst them where true Worshippers are worshipping him in Spirit and Truth there will he come unto them and bless them He preached and pronounced blessing in the Monnt The Disciples John 20.19 were met in a house and had the doors shut for fear of the Jews and Christ came and said Peace be unto you He might at his Ascension have Blessed his Disciples in the Temple or holy City but he led them out to mount Olivet where or nigh to which Bethany stood And why Some say lest being seen new troubles should arise but the main reason is because he would have a select number to be eye witnesses to testifie to the world that he ascended according to Acts 10.40 41. Him God raised up the third day and shewed him openly not to all the People but unto Witnesses chosen before of God even unto us so Beza on Acts 1.12 Historia ipsa The History it self sheweth that Christ would not ascend into Heaven from some place where there were many Inhabitants or other Witnesses of his Ascension but took only his Disciples into some part of the Mount Olivet to be Witnesses of his departure from us in respect of the humane nature till the last day 2. The Time when he blessed them Just at his Ascension he had blessed them before and doth it now solemnly with hands lifted up it was the last thing he did on Earth He was seen of his Apostles forty dayes after his Resurrection and now that they must see him no longer on earth he would shew them not only his hands and his feet as sometimes he did for the strengthening of their Faith but his heart enlarged in love and compassion his bowels yearning towards them he here kisseth them with the kisses of his mouth and his lips drop sweet smelling Myrrhe on them he speaks kindly to them Blesseth them and while he Blessed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he departed 3. The Gesture used in Blessing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He lift up his hands Where observe it is arrogance and great presumption in the Papists to say for the upholding of their Crucifixes and Crossings that its very like that Christ Blessed them with his arms cross as Jacob Blessed Joseph's Sons Gen. 48.17 See Rhem. Testam Where Jacob as is evident from the text laid his right hand on the head of the younger by a Spirit of prophecy fore-telling that he should be the greater and at not all in favour of any their superstitious use of the sign of the Cross whereof Valentinus the Heretick was the first that made any great account as Dr. Fulke relateth out of Irenaeus We have Christ's Blessing in the Text twice mentioned and the gesture not omitted of lifting up his hands but a total silence of the sign of the Cross We may then conclude it is a cursed addition of the Rhemists who presume to father that upon Jacob nay on the Lord Christ which is indeed but a Novel fancy not in any estimation with the Apostles nor the Godly in their time How can they reade and not tremble Rev. 22.18 If any man add God shall add to him the plagues Nor can Christ's using of this gesture warrant humane Inventions in the Worship of God nor the rigorous enforcing of a heap of Gestures Vestments and other unnecessary and ungrounded Ceremonies so as men must not worship at all nor enjoy their properties without them since lifting up of the hands is but a natural gesture of Reverence and Authority neither is there any consequence in arguing from things written to things Apocryphal But as bodily exercise profiteth little so large discourses about it are but little to edification of common hearers Only let me mind you that Jesus Christ was faithful as Moses and his Apostles kept back nothing that was profitable for us Scripture must not cannot be taxed with deficiency And little children keep your selves from Idols O be not tainted with Romish Superstitions when her plagues are so nigh at hand But the Doctrine which I would this day commend to you from these words is this Doct. The Lord Jesus Christ went to Heaven solemnly blessing his Disciples In this Doctrine you have two branches 1. Christ ascended into Heaven 2. Christ blessed his Disciples at his Ascension 1. Jesus Christ went into Heaven 1 Pet. 3.22 There are three Reasons why Christ ascended The first is that he might fulfill the Scriptures In his Ascension he fulfilled Scripture-Types and Scripture-Prophesies Christ was typified in the High-Priest's going into the second Tabernacle alone once every year not without blood Heb. 9.7 24. Christ is entred not into those Holy places made with hands which are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the figure of the true but into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us It was prophesied of Christ Psal 68.18 Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led captivity captive The Apostle Eph. 4.8 9. expoundeth this Text accomplished in Christ's Ascension 2. Christ ascended that he might be glorified He had glorified his Father on Earth and finished the work which the Father gave him to do and then went to be glorified with his Father John 17.4 5. He had been manifest in the flesh and then is received up into Glory He descended dwelt among men was a man of sorrows and again ascended and sate down at the Right-hand of the Majesty on high when he had purged our sins by himself Heb. 1.3 As it was impossible he should be held of Death so it was impossible he should be held in a state of Humiliation Ought not Christ to suffer and enter into his Glory Luke 24.26 The Vision of Christ's glorified Body is reserved for Heaven in mercy
glorious House incorruptible Inheritance and a biding Kingdom for us We have an Advocate with the Father our Redeemer liveth and we shall see him All his Enemies shall be made his footstool Christ is glorified his Members however vilified on earth shall be like Him and abide with Him and He will be admired in his Saints He is gone to prepare a place for us and will come again and receive us John 14.3 And thus much briefly for this first branch Christ Ascended The second is Christ blessed his Disciples at his Ascension But may some one say How did Christ bless them I answer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To bless is to speak well So Christ alwayes spake well Never man spake like Him Grace was poured in his lips and gracious Words proceeded out of his mouth But it hath a more special Importance 1. To bless is to acknowledge the Blessedness and Perfection of another So the greater is blessed of the less So with the tongue we bless God even the Father and our Souls bless the Lord. 2. To bless is sometimes to pray for a Blessing So Isaac blessed Jacob when he prayed God give thee of the Dew of Heaven Gen. 27.27 And God Almighty bless thee Gen. 28. The 1st and 3d. Thus Jacob blessed Josephs Sons when he prayed The Angel that redeemed me from all evil bless the lads Gen. 48.9 16. 3. To bless is to pronounce a blessing and that either in the way of an ordinary Ministry Thus Aaron and his Sons were to bless the People saying The Lord bless thee and keep thee c. Numb 6.23 So Simeon Levi and Judah Issachar Joseph and Benjamin were appointed to stand upon Gerizzim to bless the People Deut. 27.12 Or else by an extraordinary Spirit of prophesie So Jacob blessed his Sons when he told them what should befal them in the last dayes Gen. 49. And Balaam prophesying the prosperity of Israel is said to have blessed them altogether Numb 24.10 4. To Bless is to make blessed to give as well as speak a blessing So Israel was blessed effectually Numb 22.12 Curse them not for they are blessed Thus there are Blessings spiritual and Blessings temporal Blessings of basket and store c. 5. To bless is to set apart from a common to a holy and spiritual use So Christ blessed the Bread when he set it apart to signifie his Body Mat. 26.26 Now when Christ blessed his Disciples the four last of these acceptions of Blessing may very well be comprized and intended The gesture used in blessing them lifting up his hands may well suit with pronouncing of a Blessing in way of prayer The Gifts and Graces poured on them soon after his Ascension speak the efficacy of his Blessing and that it was not empty words but Spirit and Life And it is evident that at his Ascension he set them apart and gave them a Commission to go and preach the Gospel Other Texts might be cited proving that Christ's Ascending did 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speak well to his Disciples as Mark 16.17 18 19. and Acts 1.8 9. But the Text so fully assureth us that Christ lifted up his hands and blessed just at his Parting and Ascension that we need no other Confirmation To come then to the Reasons why Christ Ascended blessing The two main springs whence his Blessing slowed are his Love and his Faithfulness which two were the reasons of his Humiliation and Transactions He loved his Elect and He was faithful to him that appointed him Heb. 3.2 Out of Free-grace and Faithfulness He laid down his Life a Ransome for many He loved us and washed us from our sins in his own Blood Rev. 1.5 His Father had appointed Him and promised Him to bless and he faithfully performed it He came to bless and went to Heaven blessing There are eight special Reasons or Ends which Christ had in his eye in blessing his Disciples so solemnly when he was leaving Earth to go to his Father 1. He would assure his Disciples that his affection to them was the same now at parting as they had found it from his first choosing them they might have thought it strangeness had he gone and not left a Blessing behind him after all his kindness and compassion And this is one end to which are directed all those gracious and comfortable Expressions recorded in the 12 13 14 15 16th Chapters of John with that pathetical Prayer John 17. shewing him as tender-hearted towards them at last as ever He displayeth his Banner of Love over them in this gracious Valediction going to Heaven Blessing 2. Jesus Christ would have his Disciples and all that should believe in his Name to know that he carried the same Heart to Heaven with him that he had on Earth so that though his bodily presence was removed yet his Love continued and he would be as mindful of them in his Kingdom as ever he had been on Earth And this is another End of his gracious Expressions at and a little before his Ascension He knew how ready they might be through weakness and temptation to question his care and doubt of his Love as the Israelites about Moses Exod. 32. As for this Moses we wot not what is become of him He would not have them think Now Jesus Christ is gone and his Mercy is at an end he hath forgotten to be gracious and so sink in despairing thoughts No He assureth them John 16.26 I say unto you I will pray the Father for you rest satisfied question not but I will remember you and set you as a seal upon my Heart as a seal upon mine Arm I will carry your names engraven on my Brest-plate and make intercession for you and here he would assure them of lasting Love in parting from them with the most notable expression of it He solemnly blessed them 3. Jesus Christ would have his People assured that he is the Messiah the promised Seed in whom all Nations shall be blessed Gen. 18.18 The Apostle mentioneth this Covenant with Abraham Acts 3.25 26. and sheweth that Christ came to bless in pursuit of that Covenant and to fulfil Scripture It was prophesied of Christ Psal 72.17 Men shall be blessed in Him And Blessing was his beginning and conclusion in his Ministry upon Earth the beginning of his first Sermon and the close of his Last 4. He blessed them that he might not leave them overwhelmed with grief nor swallowed up of sorrow at his departure John 14.1 18 27. I will not leave you comfortless let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid He knew the loss of his Presence might strike cold to their hearts The Children of the Bridechamber might mourn alas the Bridegroom is taken away they might cry after so good a Teacher and Master My Father my Father the Horsemen of Israel and Chariots thereof and sorrow most of all that they must see his face on Earth no more Well The Lord God had
the occasion of a Sermon that enlightened me quickened me This breach brought me to Christ acquainted me with my necessity of interest in Christ I am not of the temper of that Emperour who said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when I dye let the Earth be burned But O that my Civil Death might minister occasion of your Spiritual and Eternal Life O that this divorcing day betwixt you and me might be the day of your Espousals to Christ Dying David bespeaketh Solomon I go the way of all the Earth Keep the charge of the Lord thy God that thou mayest prosper 1 Kings 2.1 2 3 4. My loving People I am this day going the way of all that will live godly in Christ Jesus the way of tribulation I charge you keep the Lord's way as you expect any blessing and prosperity look for them only through Christ the Way the Truth and the Life I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge both quick and dead as the Apostle when his time of departure was at hand charged Timothy that ye rest not without Interest in Christ and I leave this Sermon as Joshua did the Pillar as a Memorial that I admonished and besought you to come to Christ and become his Servants O let not the Word I have spoken to keep my self pure from your blood condemn you in the day of Christ You cannot plead We were not bidden to the Wedding-Feast we were not called to Christ No if you be found out of Christ at that great day how will it torture you to consider How have we hated Instruction and have not obeyed the voice of our Teachers In vain may you wish O that we had the day of Grace once again Domine cur non modo c. said Augustine at his conversion Lord why not now an end of my filthiness So say I to you Why not now a parting with sin and closing with Christ Take these Considerations or Motives 1. The Lord Christ calleth you whilst we are testifying these things to you Whilst Noah was preparing the Ark Christ was preaching See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh from Heaven 2. Others who have had as great hindrances as you have followed Christ at his Call James and John Mat. 4 22. left the ship and their father immediatly and followed Christ neither enjoyments not imployments nor relations could hinder them Zacheus a rich man of low stature in a great press yea of a wicked Sect a Publican great obstacles yet he breaketh through all he runs and climeth to see Jesus If you come not to Christ you will be inexcusable 3. Let the Loveliness of Christ draw you he is the Rose of Sharon the Lilly of the Valley the bright and morning Star the Sun of Righteousness chiefest among ten thousands and altogether lovely O let his Fulness and Perfections win your hearts and attract your affections 4. Let the Love of Christ constrain you his condescending and dying for you to save you from everlasting death Will not such bonds of Love hold you 5. The Lord taketh exact notice how long your Teachers are labouring with you what means you have and what fruit appeareth These three years have I come seeking fruit Luke 13.7 6. You must shortly appear before the Judge to give account how you have profited by all the Sermons and Lectures you have heard c. 7. Now is the Ax laid at your roots Judgment begining at the house of God your Teachers ready to be removed into corners possibly you may go from Sea to Sea and not find that refreshing food for your souls nor those advantages which you have had Now therefore what mean you O sleepers are you set on fire round about and not lay it to heart Let the time past of your life suffice you to have been servants of sin It is high time for you to awake out of sleep and to follow Christ 8. If you will not come this day what if the Lord should write you Christless and swear in his wrath You shall never enter into his Rest nor tast of his Supper saying I would have purged you and ye were not purged never be purged dye in your sins he that is filthy let him be filthy still 9. Christ is willing to be yours if you will be his he will not reject you if you come you have as fair Encouragement to come as ever any had 10. They are very fair terms propounded Is it not fit you serve him if you expect him to save you that you obey him if you hope for his Salvation Had he bidden you do some great thing should you not have done it how much more when he requireth nothing but what is your reasonable service befitting you as his Creatures They are fair terms Repent and be conuerted that your sins may be blotted out Come to me and find rest Believe in the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved Be faithful unto death and obtain the Crown of Life 11. And lastly Let your necessity drive you to Christ Is there but one Ark in the world to save you from drowning but one City of refuge to keep off Vengance from you O hie thither apace Is there but one day-Star to shine into your hearts but one Son of Righteousness with Healing under his wings but one Sacrifice for sin accepted But one Mediator betwixt God and Man the Man Christ Jesus O get interest in Him Oh! why do any of you linger and not hasten to this Zoar when Fire and Brimstone are so nigh so certain to all that reject Christ Oh! why do you draw back when drawing back is unto Perdition Know my Brethren these things as much concern you as ever any souls in the world what need have you of Christ to be your Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption without Him you are cursed captivated and condemned John 3.18.36 without Christ ye are deaf and dead poor and polluted and have no title to Heaven to the Promises nor any thing but sin and its wages Death Nay if you obey not whilest Christ calleth Come unto me you must with honour hear that other voice Depart ye cursed Those mine enemies that would not that I should rule over them bring forth and slay them before me Let me hint to you on what terms you must be in your coming to Christ 1. You must be divorced from your sins make sure you take off the heads of your dearest lusts 2. Disclaim all other Saviours besides Christ renounce confidence in the flesh Phil. 3.3 rest not in your outward priviledges nor performances but when you have done all you can say We are unprofitable servants 3. Rest not in a bare notion of Christ take heed lest you sit down with Fancy instead of Faith 4. Take a whole Christ Christ to rule you to teach to sanctifie you as well as save you 5. Give your selves wholly to Christ without reserve give him your ear open to his
by shall have 3. Who are meant by You ye shall have 4. What is meant by In the world 1. What is meant by Tribulation The word in the Original is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Greek word signifieth Tribulation Affliction trouble distress whether by loss of estate liberty c. It signifieth any sort of tribulation or affliction that is for ones casting down Mat. 24.21 1 Cor. 7.28 Acts 14.22 2ly The Syriack word is Aulzono it cometh of the root Alaz which signifieth he hath forced constrained as in Gal. 6.12 And so this word is used for Oppression Persecution And the same word is used 2 Thess 1.6 And so here as appears from the scope of Christ's discourse 2. What is meant by Shall have The word in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the theam is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shall have being the future tense implyeth that the suffering was to come It is not you have had but shall have tribulation This you are sure and certain of And so the Syriack how e l koun there shall be to you it shall come 3. Who are meant by You doth it imply that the Apostles and they only should have tribulation in the world or are we to understand it of Christians or Christ's Disciples in general I answer This discourse is principally to the Disciples yet with relation to all Christians that will be stedfast or constant in the Christian Faith Matth. 28.19 20. And lo I am with you alwayes c. i. e. with you whilst you live and with the Ministers that shall succeed you in this work to the end of the world And so in this chapter from ver 22. to 28. is hinted that Christ will by his Spirit give comfort and a spirit of prayer and gracious answers and though the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit were proper to the Apostles yet these belong to the Church in common and to Christians in all ages 2. Christ assureth his Disciples yea all that should be his Disciples hereafter as Mat. 16.24 that they should meet with the cross and so adviseth all that resolve to be his Disciples beforehand to prepare for sufferings As in Luke 14.25 to the end And so the Apostles Acts 14.22 2 Tim. 2.12 So that all that will be sincerely godly however they may now be free from yet they shall have tribulation 4. What is meant by In the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is put for this world in opposition to the world or life to come as John 12.25 and 2 Cor. 1.12 In the world is a limitation it is to last only whilst Christians are upon Earth it ceaseth when they leave the world 1 Pet. 1.6 Now for a season ye are in heaviness Now. And it is said of the Saints 2 Cor. 5.1 We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved we have a building of God c. And so the Apostle Phil. 1.23 and Rev. 21.4 God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away After a Christian hath passed over this life all his Afflictions and Tribulations are over It is but in the world that is the time and date of them Again In the world you shall have It is not all the time you are in the world though sometimes the tribulations of the Faithful begin at their conversion and continue till their death yet more ordinarily they are but as storms Revel 2.10 Yet this is certain in the world Christians shall have tribulation though when and how long it is not for us to know aforehand as Christ told his Disciples Acts 1.7 The times and seasons are in God's power Secondly The Reasons why 1. Because there is an enmity in the world against Piety and Holiness ever hath been and will be and that is the ground of Persecution and of Christians Tribulation Gal. 4.29 As the world hated Christ John 15.18 19. The world as it is taken for the irregenerate 1 John 5.19 So every irregenerate man Rom. 8.7 And this is the ground of their tribulation in the world 2. In the world they have Tribulation for the tryal of their Graces As all Job's were for his tryal And indeed Hypocrites and sincere Christians cannot be discovered assunder but by persecutions and tribulations as in Rev. 2.10 and that is the reason that the Devil and wicked men may prove Liars for though God hath sufficiently confuted them yet are they ready to say as Job 1.9 10 11. Doth Job fear God for nought c. and Job 2.4 5. 3dly They are in Tribulation because they stand in need of it 1 Pet. 1.6 especially when they grow proud sensual and their hearts are lifted up as Psal 30.6 7. So when David had committed murder c. 2 Sam. 12.10 11. God keeps as it were a stricter hand over him than before 2 Sam. 24. As we say of children that correction is sometimes as necessary as food so is Tribulation for God's Children Fourthly because it is for their good As Frost and Snow is seasonable in winter profitable for the Corn killing the Weeds so is Tribulation Jer. 24.5 Like these good Figs so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah whom I have sent out of this place into the Land of the Caldeans for their good As all things shall so afflictions do work together for good Rom. 8.28 Psal 119.67 And the Faithfull should never be in Tribulation but that God aims at their good 1. To work them to humiliation and repentance as in 2 Chron. 7.13 14. Deut. 8.2 3 16. so this is God's end to break our proud spirits to work us to humiliation for sin and to a hatred forsaking of it as a main cause of all our troubtes And is not this more for our good than if we should be let alone in our sins 2. Again for the increase of patience experience hope as Rom. 5.3 4 5. And to keep us in obedience to keep us up in duty afflictions make Christians more watchful Psal 119.71 And indeed for practical Godliness the Church flourished most under the ten Persecutions and what tendeth to this is clearly for a Christians good 3. Again it is for their good to wean them from the world to draw out their desires after Heaven Nature doth encline us to love and like the world and constant prosperity doth encrease our love of it as seems to be implyed in Psal 62.10 If Riches encrease set not your hearts upon them But now tribulation weaneth our affections from the world helpeth to raise them unto things above according to our duty Col. 3.2 maketh us with the Apostle Phil. 1.23 desire to depart and to be with Christ 4. Again it for their good as it doth further their assurance and hope of Glory For a Christian may doubt of his
Communion shall receive a dissolution the dearest Friends and sweetest Relations as of Husband and Wife of Parents and Children of Ministers and People whom Nature Providence and Election like a threefold-cord hath joyned together and this strengthned with the strongest cement of true intensive love and affection shall sooner or later either by Satan's rage the malice of wicked men or the stroak of death be parted asunder Here is no certainty of long continuance in this world or of long enjoyment of any society or relation The Tabernacle made by Moses had no continued abiding but was carried up and down from place to place til it was placed in Solomons temple in the Land of Canaan God's People in Scripture are called Pilgrims and Strangers Whilst they are in this world they are in a strange Country like Abraham in Canaan and Israel in Egypt they have no continued abiding until they come to Heaven the Celestial Canaan that place of durable and uninterrupted Rest And amongst these God's Ministers have no assurance of their unchangeable residence among and ministration to their loving and beloved People A plain demonstration whereof we have in the example of Paul concerning whose many journeys from one Nation and Church to another we have abundant mention made in this History of the Acts of the Apostles And in this chapter we have mention made of four the first into Macedonia where the Jews laid wait for Paul ver 1 2 3. The second to Troas where Paul preached in the night administred the Lord's Supper and Eutichus sleeping falleth down from an high window ver 6 to 13. The third to many places to Assos Mitylene Chios Samos and Trogyllium vers 13 14. The fourth and last more famous than the rest was to Miletum ver 15. from whence he sends to Ephesus and calls together the Ministers of the Churuhes there ver 17. and when they were come together he takes his Farewel of them in which speech he first declares his former manner of life amongst them how he had discharged the duties of his Ministry with meekness and compassion with diligence and innocency with courage and resolution despising all dangers for the Gospel-sake c. In which example of his he insinuates not only to the Presbyters of Ephesus but unto all Ministers unto the end of the world how diligently they ought to watch over the Flock serving the Lord in all humility that is not to pride in their gifts abilities not to despise the wants and weaknesses of others to sympathize with the poor and afflicted to be valiant and heroically constant in preaching defending the Truth notwithstanding the many temptations and oppositions they were to meet with ver 19 20 21. Secondly he shews the condition of his life at present that he had a mighty impulse and perswasion of the Spirit upon him that bonds abide him in every City ver 22 23. and his Christian magnanimity he was not moved with any of these things nor counted his life dear unto him that he might finish his course with joy and the Ministry he had received of the Lord to testifie the Gospel of the Grace of God ver 24. In the third place he prophesieth concerning the future And first what should befall himself this was the last time they should enjoy him And behold all ye among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God shall see my face no more ver 25. And secondly what should befal them after his departure As the absence of the Shepherd invites the wild beasts to fall upon devour and scatter the Flock and as the death of the Husband invites the wicked to oppress wrong and defraud his Widow and Fatherless So the departure of Paul a vigilent and painful Shepherd a loving and tender Father opens a way and ushers in an opportunity for wicked men to enter in and play the part of Wolves and Oppressors against the Church of God For I know that after my departure shall grievous Wolves enter in among you not sparing the Flock c. ver 29 30. and hence exhorts them unto all diligence and care for the due performance of their Ministerial Calling Take heed therefore to your selves and to all the Flock of God ver 28. as if he should say You must not only take heed to others but to your selves also To others you must take heed that they be not seduced with Errours and Heresies and to your selves you are to take heed that you incur not God's Displeasure and Rod for a neglect or ill performance of your duty And this he presseth with divers Arguments first from their Name and Office they were Bishops and Overseers over the Flock Secondly from the great Appointer and Designer of them unto this Office the Holy Ghost Thirdly from the end of their appointment and call to this Office to feed the Flock Fourthly from the Owner of the Flock God himself Fifthly from the great Price paid to redeem and purchase this Flock which was neither Silver nor Gold these were poor and mean things but Blood not the blood of a mean-man nor of a nobleman nor yet of a King but the Blood of God! Take heed therefore to your selves and all the Flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath redeemed and purchased with his own Blood Sixthly from the consideration of the Churches enemies that should arise after his departure which were either foreign or domestick Foreign were the Jews or Gentiles not yet converted to the Christian Religion Such as these he means in ver 29. Their domestick enemies were such as were brought up by the Ministers of the Gospel but by ambition covetousness and ignorance should apostatize and fall into erroneous and heretical doctrines superstitious opinions calling themselves Apostles but are not mixing Christ and Moses together asserting the doctrine of the Nicholaitans Such as these he means in ver 30. Men of your own selves shall arise speaking perverse things and shall draw away Disciples after them And these Enemies in respect of their nature are called Wolves and that in respect of certain resemblances what Wolves are unto the Flock the same are Persecutors and Seducers to the Church of God These by Persecution would be grievous and intolerable these by the Errours and Heresies would be contagious and infecting And after these motives renews his former Exhortation that they would remember and watch ver 31. As if he should say Seeing Christ hath redeemed his Church by his Blood and I by my great labours have builded up a Church among you and seeing you are appointed by the holy Ghost to be Overseers to the Flock to feed it and seeing after my departure grievous Wolves shall arise to destroy the Flock some by open hostility and persecution some by errours and infection be so much the more vigilant and industrious to save and preserve them and your selves Let not Christ's Blood
People This I shewed you before and applied it Now in the last place and my last opportunity I come to the Grand Cure and Sovereign Remedy for the above named Maladies God and the Word of his Grace The Doctrine is this That God and the Word of his Grace are the best Security and Comfort a departing Minister can commend his People unto The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath divers significations in the New Testament but in this place and some others it properly signifies Fidei alicutus depositum servandam trado committo we commit something to the care and fidelity of another for security and preservation Thus our blessed Saviour when he dyed on the Cross 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Father into thy hands I commend my Spirit Luke 23.46 And the Apostle Peter exhorting the Christians not to be dispondeâ— and dejected under the Sufferings they met with for Christ's sake but in the midst of their sufferings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls unto him as to a Faithful Creator 1 Pet. 4.19 Thus the Apostle commits these Ephesian Ministers and all the Christians in Ephesus their souls their bodies and all the affairs and concernments of that Church both under Persecution and in the midst of contagious Heresies and Doctrines to the defence and protection of God and to the direction light and preservation of his holy Word So that if you please to give a name to my Text let it be this The departing Pastor's Security and Comfort for his left People c. When the Father of a family lies upon his death-bed and ready to take his ultimum vale of the world commends his Wife and Children to the care counsel and direction to the defence and protection of his most trusly faithful and assured Friends saying I am now going the way of all flesh and my deare Wife will become a discousolate Widow and my tender Children will be fatherless and I shall no more return to perform the duties of an Husband and Father to them no more to counsel and direct them no more to manage and order their affairs for them No more to provide for and maintain them no more to succour and comfort them No more to defend them from injuries and oppressions No more to right them in their wrongs And therefore I leave and commend them to you to be as a Husband to my Widow and a Father to my Fatherless I leave them to your love to pity them I commend them to your wisdome and prudence to counsel and direct them To your care and faithfulness to manage their affairs for them I commend them to your justice to right them in wrongs and defend them from injuries Even thus this blessed Apostle going to Jerusalem these Ephesians should see his face no more No more he should fight with beasts after the manner of men at Ephesus He should confute the Erroneous and Hereticks no more No more should he be with them to appease their dissentions reconcile their divisions he should maintain the Doctrine of Free-Grace the purity and simplicity of Gospel-Worship no more No more to vindicate the Resurrection of the dead No more to perform amongst them the duties of a vigilent Watch-man and faithful Minister to rebuke the Obstinate and such as walk disorderly to comfort the Mourners to strengthen the Weak to reduce the Wanderer to raise and recover them that are fallen And therefore seeing I shall be no more with you to do any of these things for you I leave and commend you to God and the Word of his Grace the best security from and comfort under both Persecution and infectious and seducing Doctrine He is a Watchman and Shepherd instead of all Shepherds and Watchmen He is a Teacher instead of all Teachers And for a people to be left with such Guardians when their Minister must depart from them is good security and comfort for them And this I shall shew first in respect of God 2dly in regard of his Word First To commit you to God is to commit you to him who is furnished with every thing necessary for Security and Comfort 1. It is to commit you to the greatest Love And Love is a strong Security To be committed to the defence of an enemy that hates us with deadly hatred there can be no comfort no security but a fearful and trembling expectation that our defence should prove our destruction But Love addeth strength and security to mud-walls when hatred makes stone-walls full of danger Hatred seeks the destruction of the object hated when Love seeks the welfare and protection of the object beloved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Birds build their nests on high in close obscure places and spare their own crâ—ws to secure and fill their young ones The most timerous creatures grow most resolute and expose themselves to danger and death in combating to preserve their young ones and all from that storgie and affection Nature hath implanted in them What will not Parents do and venture to preserve their tender babes in danger they 'l venture upon pikes and swords upon wild beasts they 'l venture through fire and water to save them And if there be such love in the creature surely there is much more in the Creator their greatest plenitude is but a drop to his immeasurable Ocean Love in the creature is a concrete finite and imperfect but in God it is an abstract infinite and Perfection it self God saith John is Love 1 Joh. 4.8 and this Love of God to his People is an all-conquering Love this stirrs up God to stand as a skreen between his People and danger and primum mobile of their protection What is the reason that all the policies and power of infernal spirits all the stratagems of the Devil's Agents all the black cursings and bloody execrations of ungodly men all the Popish Fulminations and thundrings of Anathema's against God's People take no more effect what is the reason that there is no Inchantment against Jacob nor Divination against Israel It is God's Love that shields off all Balaam you know following the wages of unrighteousness attempted to have cursed Israel but this Love of God opposed it and turned the Curse into a Blessing Deut. 23.5 The Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam but the Lord thy God turned the Curse into a Blessing because he loved thee Hence it is God opposeth the opposers of his People and destroyeth their destroyers saying Touch not mine Anointed and do my Prophets no harm The most glorious Potentates prosperous Kingdoms have become contemptible and heaps of ruine for their opposing oppressing and persecuting God's Church God's Love puts an higher estimate upon the poorest Saint than upon all the Sinful though sceptred crowned adorned and adored Monarchs of the world Why did he smite the first-born in Egypt both of man and beast why did he send his
diminish from it we may not close with added substantial parts of worship Whatever power a Church hath about natural Circumstances they have none about the substance of worship either to add or take away by putting in or putting out To add new Ordinances or parts of Worship is a breach of the second Commandment The Pharisees ered on this hand Mat. 15.19 teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of men they pressed Gods Commandments as indifferent and mens Traditions as necessary God commanded to Honour Father and Mother they teach contrary to this ver 4. this was a diminishing They teach that the washing of hands before meat the cleansing of cups c. as necessary to Salvation this was to err by addition See Rev. 22.18 To add in God's Worship is to make our selves wiser than God and to accuse Christ of unfaithfulness in God's House Moses was a faithful Minister in God's House much more was he who was Mose's Master Well be sâ—re in all your worship that it be according to the Parâ—â—â— shewed in the Mount viz. according to â—he â—â—â—script and Standard of the Scriptures 〈◊〉 very dangerous to offer strange fiâ—â— such as God commands not Levit. 10.2 Give not God cause to say to any of us Who hath required this at your hands 8. Be spiritual and zealous in God's Service Take not God's Name in vain either by vain praying hearing or reading Bring your hearts to and keep them at prayer I will pray with my spirit Psal 25.1 Unto thee O Lord do I lift up my soul Prayer consists more in the elevation of the understanding and desires than in the lifting up of the eyes and hands and so bring your hearts to the preaching and hearing of the Word Rom. 1.9 Paul served God with his spirit in preaching and we should serve God with our spirits in hearing When Paul preached Lydia's heart was opened that she attended to the things spoken by him Acts 16.14 When God's Embassadours deliver their Embassy imploy your understandings to discern your memories to retain your wills to choose your affections to love and delight in your consciences to apply what you hear And so sing Psalms with your heart as well as with your voice Col. 3.16 Singing with Grace in your hearts to the Lord. God complains of those who bring their bodies before him but leave their hearts behind them Isa 29.13 They draw near me with their mouth and honour me with their lips but their heart is removed far from me this is a mocking of God Therefore be fervent in spirit when you serve the Lord rest not in bare enjoymment of the Means but get Grace by the Means Labour to enjoy the God of Ordinances in the Ordinances of God God is much displeased with eareless heartless and superficial worship If we offer ignorant heartless and distracted prayers will he accept them Cursed be the Deceiver that hath in his flock a Male and voweth and facrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing Mal. 1.13 14. Well then rest not in a formal customary way of serving God serve him out of Conscience and give him your heart in every duty 9. Maintain an high esteem and make great Conscience of the Lords-Day Keep the whole day holy morning and evening It 's not said remember to keep part of the Sabbath Day But keep the Sabbath viz. the whole Sabbath holy sanctifie it in private as well as in publick in your own houses as well as in Gods House in your Closets as well as in your Families do not only keep a Rest but sanctifie that Rest How By Meditation meditate on the Sabbath of that Sabbatism that remains for the People of God Heb. 4.9 Muse upon the Joys of Heaven which are pure spiritual constant and perpetual Think of the sweet Company you shall have even Angels and Saints besides God and Christ whose Presence makes Heaven Dwell upon your Immunities and Freedom from Sin Temptations of Satan and the World from troubles as Sickness Poverty Crosses and every thing that makes your life uncomfortable Imitate the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ by raising your hearts from Earth and ascending into Heaven by spiritual Comtemplations Moreover continue the day by reading and singing of Psalms attend upon God in publick also let not private duties hinder you from publick neither strive to attend so much upon publick Ordinances as to abridge your selves of private secret Opportunities I think those Christians do much wrong themselvs who spend all the day in attending upon publick prayers and hearing I would not have you strive to hear four or five Sermons a day unless you can take so much time besides as is necessary to meditate of and apply what you hear so order the day that secret Communion with God may fit you for publick and publick Ordinances fit you again for private and secret converse with God It is not much eating but eating moderately and digesting what we eat that encreaseth strength Two or three Sermons seriously heard and ruminated upon in secret do more good than ten Sermons heard without meditation Brethren what shall we think do those sanctifie a Sabbath to the Lord who hear a Sermon and a few prayers and then go to the Alehouse they who drink sleep sport walk or work away the Sabbath all these are forbidden Isa 58.13 Thou shalt call the Sabbath a delight not finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words nor doing thine own works Again Christ and his Disciples did not spend this Day partly in religious Exercises and partly in Recreations or Workings John 20.18 and Acts 20.7 we find there that Christ came amongst the Disciples on the First day and that Paul and the Christians used to spend this Day in Prayer preaching and receiving of Sacraments Moreover God will bless us inwardly and outwardly if we conscienciously observe it Isa 58.14 He will curse us inwardly and outwardly in soul and body if we prophane it See Jer. 17.27 Well then my Brethren do not prefer a Holy-day before the Lords-Day It s sad to think that hundreds should more scruple to work on a Saints-day which is of humane institution than on the Sabbath which is of God's Sirs you of this place have got shall I say an undeserved name of more than ordinary piety but I assure you that if you fall to neglect and prophane the Sabbath as some of our neighbours do you shall lose your very Name I should be very sorry to hear when I am gone that you should prove a Sabbath-breaking-People 10. Make great Conscience of Prayer family and secret Let your houses be Houses of Prayer Those families are called Heathenish Families that call not upon God Psal 79.6 Power out thy Fury upon the Heathen the Families that call not on thy Name Let God have a morning and an evening Sacrifice from you Under the Law God called for the first Fruits and there was a Feast of Ingathering or of the Last Fruits
thy walls are continually before me 9. Expect and prepare for Troubles A Christian's way to Heaven is not alwayes strewed with Roles Piety hath heen persecuted from the beginning of the world Wicked Cain killed righteous Abel because Abel's deeds were righteous Ishmael persecuted Isaac even in Abraham's family Christ left this Lesson to his Disciples when he left the world John 16.2 These things have I told you beforehand that ye should not be offended They shall excommunicate you from the Synagogues Yea the time comes when he that kills you shall think he doth God service If you resolve to follow Christ you must resolve to bear his Cross after him as Simon did Forgo the love of friends rather than the love of God 2 Tim. 3.12 Christ doth not always call His do die for him but he expects they should be willing and prepared to do so if he require it See Luk. 14.26 27. Whosoever leaveth not father and mother cannot be my Disciple Leaveth not that is in affection and disposition and when the time comes in execution and reality Every Christian must be an habitual Martyr though all are not so actually To this end lay up suffering Graces as Faith Love Patience c. get your hearts warmed with a sense of Christs love to you in doing and suffering so much for us let your love be so vehement that many waters may not be able to quench it and then sit loose to every creature A man will with ease part with that to which he is dead already 10. Prove all things 1 Thess 5.21 Take not upon trust do not jurare in verba Doctoris believe any Doctrine meerly because such an one delivers it as is cryed up in the world for some-body Be like the Bereans who searched the Scriptures daily to see whether the things they heard were so or no. Whoever shall preach to you if he brings any Doctrine or adds any new Article of Faith try them Every Christian hath a Judgment of discretion left him whereby he may try whether that which is pressed upon him either for belief or practice be according to the Analogie of Faith We must not rest in a blind implicit faith it 's for Romanists to believe as the Church believes and what it is the Church believes they understand not Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to that it is because there is no light in them And so if they preach any new Worship bring it to the Touch-stone see if it be not without Warrant from the Scriptures try whether it be not gilded Superstition or will-worship under the cloak of Decency and Order If any scruple arise in your minds and you not able to satisfie your selves consult with able Christians or some able and faithful Guide Seek knowledge at the Priests lips even in private as well as publick All is not Gold that looks like it See what the great Doctor of his Church saith Matth. 23.7 9. Call no man Rabbi that is do not tye your Faith to his Dictates do not believe because he saith it Many dubious and controverted things are creeping even at this time into the Church therefore â—â—y them Satisfie your minds and judgments before you proceed to practice Be sure that what you do shall have God's approbation Worship God from Judgment not from Presidents 11. Be frequent and diligent in reading and meditation For ought I know this may be one of the greatest helps we may have 1 Tim. 4.13 Take that advice of Paul to Timothy Till I come give attendance to Reading So till God's Ministers be returned to you again give attendance to Reading When you cannot have Scriptures read and preached in God's House then make a Church of your own house Phil. 2. Paul commends himself to Philemon and the Church in his house this is a high Commendation of him that he had Domesticam Ecclesiam a house-hold Church As Calvin in loc In Mal. 4.4 we meet with this Exhortation Remember the Law of Moses my Scrvant which I commanded to all Israel with the Statutes and Judgements Doubtless they had been commanded frequently before this time to remember the Commandments of God therefore there is a peculiar reason why the Prophet repeats it and concludes his Prophecy as it were with this Exhortation the reason is this Malachi was the last of the Prophets after him the Jews were not to have any more Prophesying till the coming of the Messiah he knew how prone they were to follow the dictates of their own hearts and to walk in their own inventions to swerve from God's Institution as how soon did Israel fall to Idolatry when their Prophet Moses was absent from them but forty dayes Exod. 32.1 2 3. he therefore adviseth them in this interim to attend to the Law of God delivered by Moses and the Writings of the Prophets which were as Commentaries upon that Law that they would continue to reade and meditate and act according to that Law till the great Prophet should come Brethren I cannot say that we that are about to be silent are the last Ministers you shall hear no I suppose you may have others succeed us whose Apprehensions and Judgments concerning the things in controversie may be different from ours and may suffer them to condescend to and close with more for the continuance of their Opportunities than others can Now if God doth provide you a Successor if he be one that speaks according to the Law and prophesies according to the Analogy of Faith I would not advise you to separation from publick Ordinances no when they may be had in God's Way when the preaching of the Word is sound and the Substantials of the Ordinances observed and may be enjoyed without sinful Appendixes though you should take pains to fetch them or go some considerable way to enjoy them they are to be prefered before private exercises But this I say if it should be your hard lot after our departure from you to be deprived of publick Ordinances at home and to be out of a capacity to enjoy them abroad then I say you may freely and comfortably close with the advise propounded In this fore-mentioned case let the Bible preach to us when Ministers cannot when we cannot hear living Prophets let dead Prophets preach to us I mean this see what good you can get out of the wholesome Discourses of God's departed Prophets Many Ministers preach by their surviving Works when they themselves are in their Graves by their works though they be dead do yet speak Let the Bible be your rule alwayes refer to that in things to be believed and in things to be practised Scholars use to study their Rules well and then they cannot do amiss 12. Endeavour to walk in the Comfort of the Holy Ghost This was Christ's advice to his Disciples when he was about to leave them John 14.1 Let not your hearts be troubled In the world ye shall
his People a love to above Private Worship He loves it Psal 87.2 He loves the dwellings of Jacob but especially the Gates of Zion He will meet his People in secret but he hath made a more peculiar Promise to meet them in their Meetings Mat. 18.20 Exod. 29.42 Private Duties want not a blessing but Publick Worship is honoured by God to be the main Conveiance of Blessings Publick Ordinances are the great Veins wherein the Blood of Christ runs Psal 128.5 Psal 133.3 The Mount of Zion is the Mount of blessing The Gleanings of Ordinances are better than the Vintage of other Helps There he commanded the Blessing 1. There is Conviction 1 Cor. 14.23 24. 2. There is Conversion Rom. 10.14 Private Means want not their Encouragements but God sets the most seals to his Publick Worship Hearing is not the only way but it is the most ordinary way of Faith God's chief Doles are at Wisdoms Gates Psal 87.5 Of Zion it shall be said This and that man was born I may say new born there These are as it were the troughs as once Jacob did wherein God layes the Rod of his Strength and transforms hearts 3. There is Consolation The Ordinances are the breasts of Consolation Isa 66.11 There in the Banqueting-House God stayes his with Flagons and comforts them with Apples as in Cant. 2.4 5. There God puts the teat into the mouth and stills the Whimperings of his Children The Comforts that are given in Assemblies are most satisfactory as things done in open Court are most Authentick Hannah 1 Sam. 1.18 went away and her countenance was no more sad 4. There God carries on his work begun God feeds his People where he breeds them gives them Strength where he gave them Life Psal 84.7 Growth where he gave them truth of Grace Psal 92.13 To talk of over-thriving Ordinances is a mistake 'T is decay not thrift 't is death not growth We must be and may learn in Christ's School till we be sent to the University of Heaven Secondly And as God loves it and hath set his Broad-Seal to it so God hath wrought in his People a Love to it God's People cannot live without Secret Corners nor comfortably without Publick Meetings if they be cooped up at any time they are as a Child in the wombe strugling to get forth Hezekiah was more loth to leave Worship than to leave the world He mentions his Isa 38.11 loss of Converses with Men but not so emphatical as the other as you may observe I shall not see the Lord even the Lord He redoubles the word Lord to express his ardent Affections to God's Service and to intimate his desire of life that he might go to Church again Reade ver 22. of that Chapter Now can we part with such a Dorcas for good deeds and such a Jonathan for pleasantness without sorrow Can we suffer such a Right-hand to be cut off such a Right-eye to be plucked out without grief Shall such a Darling-Blessing dye unlamented Thirdly As Publick Worship is in the Heart of God and in the hearts of his People so Publick Worship is that which all need be their personal Abilities be their private Helps what they will 1. All need it Publick Worship is a publick Good and so a publick general Loss our persons our families will feel it it will be soon every where in a little time The Publick Worship is like Husbandry of which it is said The profit of the Earth is for all The King himself is served by the field Eccles 10.9 'T is well noted That the Ministry of the Word or rather the Ministers of the Word are set forth by common Blessings such as are Light and Salt and Harvest-men Bread so that the removal of such away is a common Mischief it is as if no Sun no Tillage no Labourers to reap down our Fields It is like the bellies want in the Apologue no member can do its office The Minister himself will want this Mercy The Light is profitable to him that carrieth it as well as to others They may in saving their Hearers save themselves 1 Tim. 4.16 But Oh how will all sorts of People want it Solemn Assemblies are the great Banks against Sin the main Quickners to Duty Ministers are both God's and mans Remembrancers Isa 62.6 2 Pet. 1.12 13. The want of them turns our Palaces into Hell for Darkness and Prophaness as Egypt was when it wanted Light Solemn Assemblies are the Directors of all sorts to their duties How soon shall we find this want in our Children and in our Servants nay in our selves We that have had so much a do to get or keep any life or sence what shall we do when we want those Rubbings Chasings Joggs Wheels Quicknings that we have had in the publick Ordinances Read and apply to this present purpose that speech which your dying dead Ministers may use to you Deut. 31.27 Mutatis mutandis For I know thy Rebellion and thy Stiff-neck Behold whilst I am yet alive with you this day ye have been rebellious against the Lord and how much more after my death Nay Furthermore I say it is that which all need be their personal Abilities never so great and be their private helps never so many It is a choice observation of a Man of God Hildersham on John 4. now with God a Man mighty in the Scriptures concerning David that though he was a Man of Excellent Gifts a Prophet a Pen-man of Scripture You have his Character and Portraiture in 2 Sam. 23.1 2. A man of incomparable Abilities vast Experiences singular Integrity A man after God's own heart and yet this man was a lover of the Habitation of God's House Psal 268. Nay besides these his own treasures he had wâ— h him sometimes if not alwayes an extraordinary 〈…〉 to be his Chaplain even God 1 Sam. 22.5 〈…〉 had likewise Abiathar a Priest to enquire of 〈…〉 hâ—m 1 Sam. 23.9 Yet he longs after the Orâ—â—â—â—nces bewails the want of Publick Worship and speaks as if he wanted God in many Psalms as if he had nothing of God comparatively to what he enjoyed there Oh who like David Great men that have much within themselves yet cannot quite keep off the Markets Verily the best stored heart or house will not live fully without these spiritual Markets All private helps may say to the publick Ordinances as Gideon to the men of Ephraim Judg. 8.2 What have I done in comparison of you Lay all this together strike â—â—eâ—e conâ—iderations on the heart as Moses did the Roâ—â— with his Rod and conclude the heart is a Rock indeed if it yeeld no water after these strokes Oh if any thing should open springs of sorrow in the heart iâ— should be the stopping up of such Wells But I stay too long upon things I proceed to the second Particular that sheweth how considerable the Loss of Solemn Assemblies are and that is Secondly In wanting the Solemn
Sun of Righteousness that will make our eyes run over Complain to him of the hardness of our hearts Did I ever think my heart could have stood under such a Blow as this O I see it is not the weight of my Afflictions but the working of thine own Grace that will humble I had thought I had had more love to Ordinances than I see I have that thy Concernments had lain nearer my heart than I see they do 3. Go about this Loss cast up and compute what it comes to mark well its Aggravations tell its Circumstances dissect it and you will find it big with many sore Evils It is a whip of many cords wherewith we are whipped out of the Temple Scourge our hearts with the Considerations that offer themselves to us when we sit down to think of it These Mourners remembred Zion they were oft handling the stones of Zion calling Jerusalem to mind Mercies or Judgments in the bulk and taken up in gross do little affect us till we take them in pieces Cordials are sweetest when kept upon the tongue and Pills most bitter when chewed Think of the Nature of the Affliction and think of the Cause of it and then of the Time in which it is fallen upon us and then of the Consequents and Concomitants of it and then of that Degree of it and each of these will shew you that this sad Providence like Ezekiels Roll is written within and without with Lamentation and Mourninig and Wo. 2. As to the manner how we should mourn take it thus 1. Be sure it be for the Solemn Assemblies Not for our reproach but their reproach It may be some of us are losers as to our wordly interest in the loss of our Spiritual advantages that may help to raise the waters but take heed it be not the Head and Spring Zech. 7.3.5 There were some of the Mourners and Weepers that God chargeth as doing it to themselves Did ye mourn unto me Diana was the Crafts-mens cry but Gain was aâ— the bottom Dear respects to God is as the Salt in these Springs Self is as Poyson in them 2. Be troubled but take heed of perturbation The dregs of carnal passion will mud these waters Passions are like Barm that sets affections a working and makes them work over but then they mud the sorrow much Be as Jesus at John 11.33 the occasion of Lazarus death He was troubled or he troubled himself Perturbation raises the soul and stirs up that corruption which was as sedement at the bottom of the Glass Perturbation makes even a Moses speak unadvisedly it makes us as the Sea cast out mire and dirt makes us chide with any body as the People with Moses at Marah Exod. 15.23 In all the occasions of sorrow that you may have be sure you fall upon sin be worthy of that Place but I am worthy of such a Minister O it is a bad Sermon that is not better than the frame of my heart hath been sometimes yea many times under a very warm Ministry 3. Keep the Nether-Springs of sorrow open whilst the Upper-Springs of Ordinances those heavenly Bottles seem to be stopped or as a Fountain sealed Pangs of sorrow upon such occasions are common things but it is as a frame only that is evidencing That sorrow that is but a dayes work is not the sorrow God hath chosen Isa 58.5 margent My Tears saith David have been my meat Psal 42.3 Think of your spiritual refreshments when you sit down to meat and make it appear that we esteem the words of his mouth more than our necessary food Job 23.12 The word here in the Text notes habitual grieving If the departure of Ordinances be grievous what is their long stay Surely the loss of Ordinances is like the loss of a good Husband or a good Wife least at first It is not like that you should weep so much as you did at first but you may mourn more you may have a deeper resentment of the loss you may encrease your displicency against your selves O grave your Assemblies upon the palms of your hands let their Walls be continually before you take in all remembrances that may renew your grief Let your eye affect your hearts when you see the stones of Sion poured out at the top of any streets conclude you are upon the losing hand in Grace when you are losing your sense of this loss People cannot but be growing strange with God when such losses grow familiar with them 4. Let our sorrow put us upon the lively exercise of Grace and the more diligent use of all private Helps that may in any measure compensate this loss 1. Set upon the too much neglected duties of personnal humiliations and family humiliations Our publick losses call loud upon us for secret and private duties If ever the house of Levi weep apart and their wives apart it should be at such a time Zech. 12.12 13 14. When Israel wanted their Smiths they must then with more diligence use their Files use all sharpning whetting wayes 2. Use all occasional Meetings better When the Disciples Luke 24.17 c. were sad upon the loss of their Master what profitable and edifying discourses have they Away now with impertinances and steal a word or two of God and Heaven in our occasional meetings and turn our Civil converse into Christian communion 3. Catch at all opportunities of private communion and be not willing to let them go without a blessing It is said of the Followers of Christ Acts 1.14 They continued in Prayer and Supplication Only manage all wayes of private communion not in opposition to but in subordination to the publick and likewise pray with the publick Worship much in your eye and heart Daniel hath his window in private devotions towards the Temple opened let us have our faces Sion-ward in all our private Supplication 4. Be warming the meat you have by meditation and beg the Spirit as a remembrancer John 14.29 Chew the Cud now love your Bibles peruse other good books bewail the slenderness of your store considering your mighty wayes of trading In a word in all private duties avoid that which we are apt to condemn in publick Worship formality driness saplesness Look upon it as a mighty engagement upon us to watch against that in private and secret Worship which we think makes the publick Worship less lovely in our eyes Look upon dulness and straitness now as a double sin being against the Precept of God and against the Providence of God we have many fewer hands then we had to help on our work and should ours be slothful Our sails are many of them taken down we had need to ply our oars 5. Sorrow into Humiliation but not to Dejection David wept but withall he reasons with his soul Why art thou cast down O my soul Psal 42.4 5 11. and 43.5 Sorrow not as those that are without present staies and future hopes 1. As for present Stayes
of sin to avoid the evil of trouble This is to make a covenant with Hell and to be at an agreement with Death But when the overflowing scourge shall pass through the Land God shall disanull their Covenant and break their Agreement Isa 28.15 18 19. This there carnal wisdom shall be destroyed the iniquity of their heels shall compass them about and they shall be taken in the snare of Vengance so much of this fourth Observation the next is this Doct. 5. That it is a special part of Christian Wisdom to redeem Time to know and discern time and Opportunities doth very much conduce to this redeeming of Time but this the Wise man makes the property of a wise mans heart Eccles 8.5 Redeeming of Time implies some kind of recovering that time which is already lost a diligent improvement of that which is present to the best advantage and a getting before hand with time by making sure of Eternity I would have told you how to redeem Time in three particulars 1. The loss and former misspending of precious time must be heartily bewailed and repented of 2. Those lusts and affections by which time hath The Conclusion My Brethren I have now finished my Text and my Work together for so it hath pleased God in his wise Providence to order affaires that I may not be any longer amongst you in that capacity in which I have been I dare not murmur nor repine I desire with the holy Psalmist to be dumb and not open my mouth because the Lord hath done it Neither men nor any other creatures can do any thing but what God is â—â—â—â—sed to permit them to do I profess seriously from my soul that could I have kept a good Conscience and my station among you also I do not know what good this World could afford that could have prevailed so far upon my affections as to have drawn me away from you In that little time that the Lord hath been pleased to give me an abode among you I have had very great comfort and contentment in my relation to you I desire to bless God from my heart who hath made you teachable and tractable willing to be instructed and informed for that is my rejoycing above all other things which will be my rejoycing in the great Day of the Lord Jesus Though I forget not your Love to me as your Minister expressed in common Courtesies and Civilities yet this is not a place and time to make mention of them But your diligent attendance on God's Word and Ordinances in publick your willing submission to private Instruction and Reproof the flocking of many of you to Repetion the chearful coming of the younger sort to Catechising and the progress they have made therby in the knowledge of God and Christ and the way to Life these things and whatsoever good it may have pleased God to have wrought in you by my poor labours among you have been the comfort of my heart and the remembrance of them will be my joy when I have other sad thoughts enough to press if not oppress my spirits after this day Well my Glass is run my time is short and I have but a few more words to speak to you I am now for ought I know preaching my last Sermon and my face which you have often seen in this Pulpit you are never never like to see here any more I would fain speak one word that might stick by you longer than ordinary as the last words of a dying Friend are wont to do A dying man especially a dying Father hath commonly some word of advice to give to his Friends and Children about him and something to request of them before he leaves the world God hath made me in the room of a spiritual Father to you and now I am as a dying Friend that must never speak in publick to you again I have a word of advice to give you and something to intreat of you and this Advice and Request I shall leave with you as my last Legacy 1. My first Word of Advice shall be the same which the Apostle hath here given us in the Text That you would with all seriousness endeavour to walk circumspectly and to live exactly according to the Rule of Gods Word in performing all holy Duties that God hath required and in avoiding all sins that God hath forbiâ—den This Advice is for your own good and yoâ— cannot reject it without rejecting the Command of God himself and therefore I do the more earnestly press it upon you You know not what Temptations and Tryals you may come to meet withal and therefore get it fast fixed and rooted in your hearts and consciences that you ought to live exactly and strictly Perhaps the time may come when you may neglect Duties and no body put you in mind of them when you may sin freely and none check or reprove you for it when you may swear and curse and blaspheme the Name of God and be drunk and prophane the Sabbath and have no body to tell you of your sins or to warn you of the danger of them nay perhaps you may be encouraged to these sins or perswaded to them or led to them by the evil example of those who should draw you from them and you may be hated and reproached for Fanaticks and Puritans and I know not what if you make any scruple of running into all excess of riot God forbid that this should ever come to pass but if it should and you not have a principle of Circumspection Exactness within your own breasts and consciences to restrain you my heart trembles to think what a sad condition you would be in and in how great danger you would be of being led away with the errour of the wicked to the utter and everlasting undoing of your poor Souls Well God write this Memento upon every one of your hearts and Consciences I beseech you my Brethren for Christ's sake and for your own poor Souls sake that you will not slight or forget this Advice Oh remember remember I beseech you that it is but a little a very little while before you and I and all the world shall meet together and stand naked before the Judgement Seat of Jesus Christ to give an account of this very thing and to answer to this very question Whether we have lived circumspectly and exactly or no Oh how sad a thing would it be if I should meet any of you there who having neglected this Advice and gone on in your sinful wayes and lived loosely and dyed impenitently if I should meet you I say trembling with guilt before the face of Jesus Christ and should be necessitated to confess and say Lord these very men and women I did advise warn perswade intreat beseech with all seriousness and earnestness that they would break off their sins by repentance and spend the rest of their dayes in walking circumspectly and living exactly and told them in thy