like manner David took his leave of Ittai 2 Sam. 15.20 Mercy and Truth be with thee Such was Christ's valedictory Prayer for his Apostles John 17. for Grace to be kept from the evil of sin ver 15. for Sanctification ver 17. for Unity c. Prov. 3.13 15. and 4.7 Wisdom i.e. Wisdom to Salvation Grace is the principal thing Reasons of the Point 1. Grace promoteth the highest end of man which is 1. the Glory of God to which end we were born and for which cause we came into the world 1 Cor. 10.31 Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do do all to the Glory of God Grace helps to serve God acceptably Heb. 12.28 Grace teacheth to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live godly c. Tit. 2.11 2. Reason teacheth to live as men Grace as Christians it enableth to every good work teacheth us to do our duty to God our neighbour to our selves It reacheth to pray acceptably to hear as the Word of God to keep Sabbath to shew mercy to forgive injuries to do all in obedience which maketh much to God's Glory 2. Reason Grace is the best thing for it promoteth the Salvation of the soul which is the best part Sin is the plague destruction of the soul 1 Kings 8.38 Grace healeth sanctifieth saveth the soul Sin infecteth every part faculty Grace sanctifieth all Sin blindeth the eye hardneth the heart poisoneth the affections corrupteth the life defileth deformeth the whole soul Grace enlightens the eyes softens the heart cleanseth beautifieth purifieth maketh lovely what Sin had made odious Eph. 2.5 By Grace ye are saved 3. Grace is the best thing for it makes a man better beneficial to others Riches honours prosperity render few better many worse Grace maketh bad Parents good and good ones better better Children better Husbands Wives better Ministers People Masters Servants better Neighbours Friends better in all Relations Without Grace a man is unprofitable hurtful Lions Bears are wicked men called in Scripture yea Dogs Swine for their brutish qualities Grace rectifies the crookedness of nature Emollit mores c. sweetens mens manners suffers them not to remain wild A heart taught by the Grace of God is full of pity and compassion sheweth mercy the hand helps relieveth the tongue speaks to comfort edification no corrupt communication is heard but gracious words from gracious hearts Col. 4.6 Paul wrought upon by Grace preacheth the Faith he once destroyed Gal. 1.23 Onesimus before Grace received was unprofitable but now by Grace converted is become profitable as his name imports Philem. 10. 4. The Excellency of Grace appears hence It renders a Christian acceptable to God as well as useful to man And that is the highest of a poor Christians ambition that he may find favour in the sight of his God that his services and sacrifices may come with acceptance before God Mal. 3.4 Parts gifts commend us to men only Grace giveth us favour approbation with God And this is the other branch of the Schools distinction Gratiae gratum facientes which they prefer to Gratiae gratis dâ—luâ—ta It is the prayer of the upright heart not of the voluâ—ble tongue that is God's delight Prov. 15.8 The Lord is nigh to all that call upon him that call upon him in truth Psal 145.18 But the sacrifice of the wicked is abomination to God Prov. 15.8 5. Grace is the best thing because it lasteth longest it endures for ever Riches are not for ever nor doth the Crown endure to all generations Prov. 27.24 Pleasures of sin are but for a season Heb. 11.25 Carnal mirth is soon at an end like the crackling of thorns Eccl. 7.6 But Grace abideth 1 Cor. 13.13 And now abideth Faith Hope Charity 1 Joh. 2.17 The world passeth away and the lust thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever 6. Grace is the best thing because it helpeth in time of most need Heb. 4. ult 1. Grace helpeth in time of affliction it comforteth quieteth the heart Psal 27.13 I had fainted unless I had believed Grace giveth interest in God who is a present help in trouble It interesteth in Gods Power Wisdom Mercy Goodness Grace can look up to God see him smile when men frown see him at peace in mans hatred Stephen looked up saw Heaven open Christ ready to receive him Paul saw the Lord encouraging Acts 23.11 Be of good chear Paul 2. Grace helpeth in the hour of death Prov. 14.32 The Righteous hath hope in his death When there is no comfort in Riches Offices Friends vain is the help of man Grace disarmeth the King of Terrors O Death where is thy sting Death is welcome to a gracious person as a messenger sent to conduct him to his Father's house to his own Country to his best Friends to Jesus Christ whom his soul loveth Blessed are they that dye in the Lord. 3. At the day of Judgement Grace will find favour will make the Judge our Friend our Advocate Grace will cloath the soul with Jesus Christ his Robes his Righteousness Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments Rev. 16.15 1. Use of Instruction 1. Take notice what a Blessing it is to enjoy the means of Grace to live in a valley of Vision to sit under a powerful Ministry to have the benefit of good Education religious Parents their Instruction and holy Example to have Bibles Catechisms Sabbath-dayes and Sacramental-dayes the Market-dayes for Grace by the blessing of God upon which the soul may be converted and â—e be made wise to Salvation Happy is that people that are in such a case yea thrice happy are they who improve the means to the Ends aforesaid happy we if we know in this our day the things that belong to our peace 2. Then the best pains labour cost that any of us can bestow is to lay out our selves in the getting of Grace that time is best spent which is spent for Grace With all thy getting get Understanding Prov. 4.7 saith Solomon And a greater than Solomon hath told us That Godliness is the best part Luke 20. ult Mary hath chosen the good part c. Whilest others are laying up riches that perish treasures that vanish away clothes that wax old gold and silver that rust Christians are storing their hearts with Grace Whilst others are making their Lands and temporal Estates sure Christians are making their Calling and Election sure Whilst others are laying hold on advantages for this present life Christians are laying hold on Eternal Life 3. The best portion Parents can lay up for their Children is not riches worldly greatness but Grace the favour of God interest in Christ and the Covenant of Grace The best Trade they can teach them is the fear of the Lord to keep holy the Lords Day to flie Vice to follow after Vertue to exercise them in Godliness The second Use is of Reproof To reprove the too slight esteem men have of the Grace of
Name the danger of a loose careless prophane and worldly life let them now speak let their own consciences say if I did not and yet they would not hear they would not obey Oh Sirs how would you be able to look Jesus Christ in the face Nay how would you be able to look me in the face at that day I beseech you think of this seriously before hand before it be too late I profess to you your souls are so dear to me that I would not for a thousand worlds be your accuser before the Judgment Seat of Jesus Christ but yet if you will not be advised your blood shall be upon your own heads and I shall be free I shall now conclude this Particular with that one word of the Apostle 2 Pet. 3.11 14. Seeing then that the Heavens and Elements and Earth and all the Works that are therein shall be dissolved what manner of Persons ought ye to be in all holy Conversation and Godliness Wherefore beloved seeing that ye look for such things be diligent that ye may be found of Christ in peace without spot and blameless 2. The second Word of Advice that I have to leave with you I shall likewise take out of my Text and that is That you would carefully redeem precious Time for God and your own poor souls A common understanding might easily suggest reason enough to follow this Advice Do but consider how little a time we have yet to live in this World how much time we have already spent in vain how sure an account we must give for our time as well as other talents remember that Eternity depends upon this moment we owe God all our time and we cannot lay it out better than for our poor souls Especially consider this grand Argument of the Apostle in the Text that the dayes are evil If it be bad Weather and an unseasonable Harvest and all the Corn upon the ground be like to be spoiled the Husbandman will be sure to raise the price of his good old Corn. Do but use the same Spiritual good husbandry for your souls You may perhaps think that you have many years to live in the world still that is very uncertain Oh but however consider that opportunities of doing and receiving good are few and like to be fewer still and by how much the more rare they are shall they not be the more precious with you God in mercy prevent our fears and jealousies but it is too suspitious that a good Sermon may be rare a good Exhortation or Reproof may be rare a good Minister may be rare an opportunity of Christian Friends praying together may be rare Therefore redeem time while you may lay hold upon every opportunity of good and labour to know in this your day the things that belong to your eternal peace before they be hid from your eyes When Death comes and Judgment comes it will then be too late and therefore in vain to cry out for a little more time for one more good Sermon for liberty of praying once more to God for Grace and Mercy I should have enlarged my Advice in some particulars of strict walking and improving precious time Pray hard set up that great duty of Christianity in your Families Keep Wickedness not only out of your hearts and houses but out of the Town too to the utmost of your power Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy What help you want in publick make up by your holy diligence in private Reade the Scriptures and other good Books much You that have learned your Catechism do not forget it Parents and Masters have a care of your Children and Servants Husbands and Wives watch over one another provoke one another to that which is good Neighbours exhort and admonish one another pray with and for one another and go before one another in an holy Example But I have not time to ennumerate all I have now given you my Advice and I pray God that you may follow it in truth and now I come in the last place to make my last publick Request unto you I bless God I covet no mans Silver nor Gold my Conscience bears me witness that I have not sought yours but you and now at last all that I shall beg of you is your prayers for me and that I hope none of you will deny me I have taken some pains among you I have often prayed for you and by the Grace of God shall never cease praying for you that the Lord would keep you from evil and furnish you with his Grace and afterwards bring you to Glory All the recompence that I ask of you is That you would not forget me at the Throne of Grace but let me have a share in your prayers In many respects I do earnestly and heartily beg your prayers but I must not now mention them all One is this That God would be pleased to pardon my great Unfaithfulness and Unprofitableness among you I beseech you Brethren do not think that I am now complementing with you Something I have done and God forbid that I should not have some ground to hope that God hath blessed my poor Labours to the doing of some good amongst you and perhaps my weak Labours have been acceptable yea and I bless God for that acceptance they have found with you yet truly Sirs God knows and mine own Conscience tells me that I have come much short very much short of that which was my duty to have done which if not pardoned in the Blood of Christ I should never be able to answer before God in the day of my Accounts and therefore I heartily beg your prayers on this behalf Another thing for which I beg your prayers to God for me is That it would please the Lord not to lay me aside as a broken vessel and an unprofitable creature upon the face of the Earth but that yet in what capacity soever the Lord sees good I may do him some service before I go hence and be no more seen I have but a little inch of time to live in this world and my great desire is that while I do live I may be useful for otherwise life will be but a sin or a burden I beseech you pray also that I may be delivered from or strengthened under temptations I am a poor weak creature and cannot stand but by the Grace and Strength of God and I know not what condition the Lord hath allotted for me Only this I have learn'd from the Word of God that they that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer Persecution 2 Tim. 3.12 Pray therefore that what sufferings foever the Lord shall at any time call me to I may be enabled by his Grace and Strength so to behave my self under them as that even by suffering I may glorifie his Name and bear witness to the Truth and practise what I have preached and give a good example to others and credit the Gospel and that Profession which I have made thereof My Brethren methinks I have much yet to say and I know not where to break off yet I must come to a conclusion Leave my Work in publick I must and leave you I must or else I must break with God and my own Conscience This is my great grief but yet it is my greatest grief of all that I must leave any unconverted sinners amongst you I profess to you seriously that if I know my own heart I could with chearfulness and joy forsake not only my Living and Livelihood but even my Life also so that I could but see every Drunkard and Swearer and Curser and Sabbath-breaker and Worldling and Prophane person among you converted to a life of Faith and Holiness I dare not not onely for fear of man but chiefly out of conscience I dare not open my lips to utter one word to encourage you to Faction or Schism or any unquietness but with the Apostle I exhort you to follow the things that make for Peace and to wait upon God for the mending of what is amiss But this I must tell you withall that if you do not follow after the things that make for Holiness also you shall never see the Face of God to your comfort Therefore follow after Holiness Follow not that which is evil but that which is good 3 John 11. In the midst of all my other griefs and troubles I shall have no greater joy than to see or hear that any of you walk in the Truth I have preached the Word of Truth to you according to that understanding in the Scriptures which God hath given me I beseech you remember what I have spoken to you in the Name of God and Christ and look to your selves that we lose not those things which we have wrought but that we receive a full reward Let me use the following words of the Apostle to you 2 John 8 9 10 11. Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God he that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Son If there come any unto you and bring not this Doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds I must conclude though unwillingly my Farewelwords to you shall be the same with the Apostle's last Farewel to the Elders of Ephesus Acts 20.32 And now Brethren I commend you to God and the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified Amen Amen FINIS
You must not believe every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God When either Doctrine or Worship is corrupted in a Church the way to reform both is not to fly to humane Authority or Antiquity but to the golden Rule of the Word this is the only safe Rule Other rules may erre but this is infallible Vse 2. The second Use is of Reproof To reprove forgetful hearers such as seem very eager in hearing and receiving Divine Truths attending on Gospel-Ordinances but are not careful to remember what and how they have received and heard such who return not on the things they have heard but leave all behind them Such as a Divine expresseth it who come from Duties as from a Grave where they leave their dearest Friends behind them not as from a Dole from whence they carry somewhat with them Of such hearers as these the Apostle James speaks Jam. 1.22 23 24. Yet I speak not here of that forgetfulness which proceeds meerly from weakness which is bewailed and is the burden of their souls This is indeed an infirmity to be bewailed yet deserves rather pity and compassion from men than reproof but the forgetfulness this Doctrine reproves is that which proceeds from carelesness when men do not make conscience of the duty pressed in the Text namely remembring how they have received and heard Vse 3. But the third and last Use of this Doctrine which I shall further make and insist on is a Use of Exhortation To exhort all of you to the practice of the Duty in the Text. Oh labour to remember what and how you have received and heard I am like no more to speak to you publickly in the Name of the Lord. Let me therefore leave this Counsel and Exhortation with you as that which may be of great use to you in hours of temptation that may come upon you I beseech you Beloved by the mercies of God in the bowels of Christ and out of the respect you bear to your own precious and immortal souls that you would labour and endeavour to remember those soul-saving Truths and precious Ordinances you have received heard and enjoyed and those impressions you have felt upon your hearts from them Oh be not forgetful hearers let not the Truths of God slip out of your minds Beloved I may say to you there is scarce any Truth necessary to salvation but you have heard of it once and again from some or other of Gods Messengers that have been sent unto you though not without the mixtures of sin and weaknesse as to the instruments which God in mercy pardon You have heard what God is and how he will be worshiped even in spirit and in truth and not according to the inventions and traditions of men you have heard the Doctrine of God's Decrees and of his works of Creation and Providence opened and applied You have heard of the sinful and miserable condition of a man in a natural condition You have heard the Doctrine of the Covenant of Grace and of the means of our recovery by Christ alone You have had Christ set before you in his Person Natures Offices Obedience Sufferings You have heard many other both Theoretical and Practical Truths set before you in Preaching Expounding Catechising and by these you have been antidoted against Popish Socinian and Arminian errors and many others Oh labour to remember these keep them by you as a choise treasure lay them up in your heads and hearts that you may be able to bring out of your treasury things both new and old O! let not any of the Truths of God slip out of your minds or be as water spilt upon the ground Ministers must dye but let not the Truths of God dye in your hearts Ministers may be forcibly parted from you and have their mouths stopt as ours and many others are and are like to be yet let not the Word of Truth depart out of your minds when we are gone Let the Word of God even that Word of his we have spoken to you in his Name abide with you for ever Let it live with you and let it dye with you also Oh let truths be written on your hearts as with the point of a Diamond never to be razed out A stony heart is a grievous plague but an iron memory is a great mercy Oh therefore remember what you have heard in point of Doctrine and remember also the counsels and directtions you have had given to you as to the performance of publick family secret relative Duties Remember the warnings you have had against sin Sinners you have been warned against your sins Thou Drunkard Swearer Sabbath-breaker Vnclean person thou enemy to Godliness thou scoffer at and persecuter of Religion yea you Formalists Hypocrites that rest in civility morality or outside-performances you have been warned of the danger of your condition of the wrath of God hanging over your heads for these sins of the necessity of repentance for and from your sins and of faith in Christ if ever you be saved Remember the fore-warnings you have had of God's Judgments of the things you now fear yea feel Have you not been told many a time Christians what wantonnesses in opinion and practice the deadnesses worldlinesses decaies carnal policy divisions of Professors would bring upon them And you that are Saints remember what soul-refreshing comforts you have had in and from the Word of God Remember how plainly purely powerfully plentifully the Word of God hath been preached and Ordinances dispensed among you And remember also with what seriousness of spirit high estimation holy affection readiness of mind strong resolution powerful impressions you have heard and received the Word and Ordinances of God and what Gracious effects you have found of them Now to press this Exhortation as a lesson I would leave with you I shall first lay down some Motives 2ly Some Directions 3ly Helps to inable to performance of this duty The Motives shall be what I might have laid down as Reasons of the Doctrine Mot. 1. The first Motive to stir you up to this Duty of remembering how you have received and heard is this That the Truths you have heard and Ordinances you have partaken of they were not of use only for the time past or present while you were or are hearing or receiving of them but they are of use a great while after The Sermons you have long since heard and Sacraments you have received may do your souls good the longest day you live The vertue and use of the Word and Ordinances may and doth often put forth it self long after the participation of them and therefore you should remember them that you may bring them forth for use in the time to come which you cannot do if you let them slip out of your heads and hearts The Truths of God are as Treasuries and storehouses which are not onely for present use but for time to come for men to live on
is as the driving home of the nail That which one forgets another may remember Improve private conference and speak often one to another and when you meet together be more spiritual savory and profitable in your discourse than heretofore you have been and then especially when you may have fewer publick opportunities Time may come when this may be one of the best helps you may have It may be God may cut you short of many publick advantages to chasten you for your not using or improving private communion of Saints and to quicken you to use and improve holy conference and other private duties more and better 5. A fifth means to help you to remember what and how you have received and heard is Earnest and fervent prayer to God that He would strengthen your memories and give his Spirit to you according to his promise to bring all things to your remembrance Commit Truths to the Spirit 's keeping and trust not onely to your own memories Often plead that promise with God John 14.26 Christ would not trust his Disciples alone with his Sermons He knew their memories were slippery But He intrusts his Spirit to bring things to their remembrance and the Spirit can and will bring Truths to your remembrances in the most seasonable time And lastly Endeavour to practise the things you have received and heard and that will be a means to help you to remember them Labour to get good by the Word and Ordinances and you will not soon forget them He who daily writes after a Copy wil be better able to remember it long after Psal 119.93 I will never forget thy Precepts for by them thou hast quickned me Those Sermons Sacraments and other Ordinances in and by which God hath quickned and comforted you you will not forget So much for handling this Doctrine Might I have had liberty to preach to you as long as I hoped and the Law allowed I should have handled the two other Directions in the Text Hold fast and Repent But seeing I am like to preach to you no more I shall briefly touch upon them and leave them with you in a way of Exhortation A fourth Direction Christ gives to this Church in order to recovering of her from her deadness and formality is To hold fast what she had received The Doctrine is That it is the duty of Christians and a means to recover declining Churches and Christians to hold fast what they have received and heard And indeed without this you cannot be strengthned by it That which you have lost and let slip will do you but little good You must not onely remember but also hold fast I shall not handle this Doctrinally Time will not permit it And besides I have formerly insisted on this Doctrine and duty from the 13th and 25th verses of the second Chapter I shall therefore onely leave the Exohortation with you Hold fast what you have received and heard And here I shall briefly shew you first What you should hold fast 2ly Against what 3ly How you may do it First What you should hold fast 1. Hold fast the Doctrine of the Gospel you have received and heard Do not let go any Truth of God Buy the Truth but sell it not at any rate Prov. 23.23 You may meet with those that would pluck it from you but be sure you hold it fast 2 Tim. 1.13 14. 2. Hold fast the plain pure and powerful Ordinances of God Oh do not let these go at least not through your default Let them not go for want of prayers and tears to keep them But may some say How if they should be gone How if God for our sins should take them away Why however yet 3. Be sure you hold fast a high estimation of the Word and pure Ordinances of God If ever you should want them yet prize and esteem them as your treasure let the want of Spiritual Mercies teach you more to value the worth of them Though you should lose many of your mercies and opportunities yet be sure you do not lose your esteem of them 4. Be sure you hold fast your love to the Truths and Ordinances of God as wel in the want as in the enjoyment of them Love the Word and love the Ministers of Christ even then when you may be deprived of them 5. Hold fast your appetite and stomach to the Word Ordinances of God though you should lose some of your meat take heed you lose not your stomach with your meat If you have lesse food yet you should labour to have the better stomachs Oh beg of God that though he should suffer your food to fail yet that he would not take away your appetites but keep them fresh and lively In temporals it would be a mercy if men wanted meat to want a stomach but in Spirituals it will be a mercy though you should have little food yet to have a good stomach continued This will be a pledge of Gods returning and restoring wanted and desired mercies For God hath said He will satisfie the hungry soul with bread 6. Lastly be sure you hold fast the good you have got by the Word Prayer Sacraments the Ministers and Ordinances of Christ Though you should part with these things themselves yet be sure you retain and hold fast the good you have got by them and those impressions of God's Spirit that have bin made on your hearts through under them And all this you must hold fast which leads to the 2d Particular against 1. The fraud and deceit of Seducers and Deceivers who would go about to cheat and cozen you of the great and precious Truths of the Gospel and of the true instituted Worship of God The Apostle tells you that such will a rise that will privily bring in damnable heresies 2 Pet. 2.1 2 3. and the Apostle Paul speaks of the sleights and cunning craftiness of men their methods to deceive They will perhaps plead Antiquity Tradition the Authority of the Church the Suffrage of Ancient Fathers Custom Example yea seeming Reason for many Opinions and Practices But Christians be not cheated of your Religion but that which you have received of the Lord Christ and hath been delivered to you by the Apostles in the Word those Truths and instructions of Christ do you hold fast Secondly Hold fast the Truths and Ordinances of Christ as against the fraud of Deceivers so against the force and violence of Persecutors As you should not be fawned so neither should you be frighted out of any one Truth or Ordinance of God or out of your love to desires after or owning of them Thirdly And the means to enable you to hold fast what you have received are 1. Diligent attendance on the publick Ordinances and Worship of God if and when you can enjoy them in any measure according to Gods will though not altogether in that manner you desire and they should be administred in I hope that for those many praying
profiting by affliction may appear to all men when we our selves shall appear 2. Let us labour to be patterns of courage and constancy to others and not only so but indeed examples of the Beleivers in word in conversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity 3. Let us study our own hearts dress our own Vineyard better than we have done that we may be other kind of men and Ministers hereafter than formerly we have been By these means amongst others I told you the restraint of the Ministers of the Gospel might fall out to the furtherance of the Gospel O be not wanting in the improvement of so good means for so good and blessed an end The rest concern private Christians cheifly 1. Be hard at prayer with God and cease not till you have prayed us into our liberties in the Gospel again For this as for all other mercies God will be sought unto nay it may be for this in a more especial manner For it seems that God hath appointed prayer as a special means for the restoring of his restrained Ministers Heb. 13.19 I beseech you the rather to do this to pray hard that I may be restored to you the sooner Prayer is that form of speech which Christians ought to use that God would bring back his banished This restraint for ought I know may have come upon the Ministers of the Gospel because of them that have restrained paryer before God as the phrase is Job 15.4 However assure your selves that God will not open our mouths again to preach till you have well opened wide opened your mouths to him in prayer 2. Be united amongst your selves To have had Ministers of different perswasions hath doubtless maintained and kept alive differences amongst Professors which otherwise either had not been or at least had not been so long live'd And I earnestly pray God that upon the unhappy laying aside of Ministers of one perswasion and another may follow a happy laying aside of differences amongst their followers that upon the ceasing of Paul and of Apollos that unsavory speech I am of Paul and I am of Apollos may cease also Do not only pray but joyn in prayer each with and each for other And however you may have too much pleased your selves to be known and distinguished by other names and titles yet now if you agree in the common appellation of men fearing God I charge you in the Lord that ye speak often one to another converse familiarly and freely each with other watch no longer for each others halting but watch over each other to prevent and heal all haltings Let this separation of Ministers from People be for the kniting and curing of that separation that is between People and People 3. Be much in the Scriptures and in other good Books How this may be for the informing and setling of the judgments of affectionate Professors I have already hinted and but hinted I am now onely to exhort you to it to press you to take that course whereby the Gospel of Christ may be furthered Even Reading is an Ordinance of God and therefore you may pray for God's blessing upon it nay therefore ye ought I speak not of transient cursory viewing of Books but of a serious solemn reverent deliberate religious exercise of Reading Be often smelling to that sacred and fragrant bundle of Myrrhe the Bible of God by somewhat in which each spiritual sense shall be refreshed Ply your Book this Book the harder now that they are taken off that taught you reade your Bibles and bless God that you have Bibles to reade skil to reade them and liberty to use your skil that you have your Fathers Will in your Mother-tongue which all Christians have not which God grant we may alwayes have And now let good savory practical Divinity find some room more room than sometimes in your houses hands heads hearts you have professed a great while it 's time to begin to know somewhat now And this is a way of getting knowledge which will maintain zeal and affection If it be not the only way I am sure it is one of the best means that we have left us to preserve our selves from the corrupt Doctrines and false Opinions by which we shall be strongly assaulted and the minds of many sorely shaken A well-read Scholar is but a jejune commendation indeed but a well-read Christian is a noble character Acts 17.11 These were more noble c. 4. Preach you now in your places by your communication and conversation Out of your calling go not out of Gospel-Order go not shew forth a sober-spirit in all things confound not the difference which God himself hath made between Ministers and People But exhort one another consider one another to provoke not to anger and jealousie as heretofore but to love and good works Heb. 10.24 Somewhat more you ought to do now that we must no more do what we were wont Watch over each other lovingly tenderly faithfully in this absence of your Watchmen Study to promote the cause of Religion and to carry on the Kingdom and Interest of Jesus Christ as God hath given you talents and shall give you occasion to lay them forth If it must be so indeed that God will take off the Keepers of his Vineyard for a time let each man of you become his Brothers Keeper 5. Reflect upon your former slight and common thoughts of the Gospel and Gospel-Ordinances and be humble for that careless and drowsie temper and labour to beget and encrease in your souls more earnest longings after and more sutable valuations of the Ministry and dispensation thereof To have good stomachs sharp appetites towards spispiritual food will both get meat and give a relish to it whereas the hunger of the body can only do the latter Doubtless God's will concerning you in withdrawing the Table is to reprove your wantonness and surfetings and to make his Word precious in these dayes and to the men of this generation If you would yet again have bread ask long and cry for bread They that would have bread of Joseph must buy it give money cattle lands and all for it Gen. 47. But they that would have bread of God must be hungry for it As Christians get rest by being weary Mat. 11.28 so they get food by being hungry Mat. 5.6 6. Be more frequent more fervent in private Duties in Family Duties in what 's most secret Usurp not the Office and be as much of a Minister to your Families as you can I do not say that you now may do somewhat which formerly you might not but that you must do somewhat more than formerly you did Pray oftner Catechise more read more press the Word read more upon your Families and labour to bring them acquainted with it If you will but be convinced of a necessity of mending your pace and doubling your diligence and will but up and be doing you may make the Gospel a gainer
one glimpse thereof in the Transfiguration put Peter in a trance Christ ascended to be glorified 3. It was expedient for us that Christ should ascend Obj. O but how can these things be how much better had it been for us to have had Christs bodily presence still on Earth What a deal of good did he by his Life Doctrine Miracles Compassion on the Poor Blind Diseased that cryed for help for themselves children and servants Lord hadst thou been here my brother had not dyed said Martha So may poor desolate souls say Lord hadst thou been on Earth still this evil and that storm had not come upon the Church or particular members of it Expedient Christ go O leave us not Answ In general Saddest providences and most terrible things whereby God answereth his People often carry a great deal of sweetness and comfort in them which we through ignorance and unbelief hardly discern Christians often loose much by poring on present or imminent evils and not looking to the sweet Result and glorious issue thereof We walk too much by sence and too little eye by Faith the things that are not seen Thus the Disciples were loth to hear that Christ must be put to death When he was buryed We trusted say two of them Luke 24.21 it had been he that should have redeemed Israel Their Faith was low not considering that he came to give his Life a Ransome for many Such fools so slow of heart are we to believe Thus when Christ told the Disciples I go my way to him that sent me They asked him not whither goest thou and therefore sorrow filled their hearts John 16.5 6 7. they did not look to the sweet Fruit which they should reap of his Departure they would have found cause of joy had they seriously considered that Christ went to his Father and their Father to his God and their God But particularly You have Christ's Word for it which should silence all objections and questioning thoughts John 16.7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth it is expedient for you that I go away There were four Expediencies of Christ's Ascension in respect of us 1. It was expedient for us that Christ should ascend that he might in our nature as our Head and Surety take possession of Heaven for us Heb. 6.20 Whither the fore-runner is for us entred even Jesus He had purchased the Inheritance and paid the price and he went to have seizen and possession for us John 14.2 I go to prepare a place for you 2. Christ's Ascension was expedient for us that he might intercede for us in Heaven and now appear in the Presence of God for us Heb. 9.24 and that we might have that consolation 1 Joh. 2.2 If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous And Heb. 7.25 He ever liveth to make intercession We have a constant and skilful faithful Sollicitor in the Court of Heaven pleading our cause Is the Church militant oppressed Jesus the Angel of the Covenant pleadeth How long Lord wilt thou be angry Zech. 1.12 and he is answered with good and comfortable words I am returned with Mercies to Jerusalem as it follows ver 16. The Lord Christ standeth as with a golden Censer having much Incense which he offereth with the Prayers of Saints on the Golden Altar before the Throne the Smoak of which Incense with the Prayers of the Saints ascendeth before God out of the Angels Hand When his People pray on Earth He as their Sollicitor procureth a Grant in Heaven which he sometimes sendeth down by a swift Messenger So he did to Daniel and Cornelius So that now being ascended Believers may triumph Who shall condemn It is Christ that died is risen again is at the Right Hand of God who also maketh intercession for us 3. It was expedient for us that Christ should ascend that he might send the Spirit the Comforter Joh. 16.7 If I go away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him to you The sending of the Spiriâ— to lead Believers into Truth to convince the World to help Believers Infirmities to quicken to comfort to stablish them and to abide with them to the end of the World is the fruit of Christs Ascension 4. Christ's Ascension was expedient to assure us that he hath fully satisfied Justice for the sins of his Elect and left nothing undone of the great Work which he undertook Heb. 9.12 By his own Blood he entred once into the holy Place having obtained Eternal Redemption for us His sitting at the Right Hand of God is an evidence that he hath obtained for us Eternal Redemption In his Ascension he triumphed over all Enemies He had spoiled Principalities spoiled them of their Prey having rescued his Elect spoiled them of their Dominion and Power over his Sheep He had cast out the Prince of this World the Accuser of the Brethren and He made shew of them openly Col. 2.15 Christ having overcome Death and Hell declareth his Conquest in ascending as a Conqueror into Heaven Take the Application in four Particulars briefly 1. Christ is gone to Heaven Be not deceived by false christ's Such shall come Mat. 24.24 O remember he is not here but ascended as he told his Disciples Seek not then a bodily presence in the Sacrament The Heavens must contain him Acts 3.21 The Martyrs who burned at the Stake not for ceremonies c. as some would have it but for denying Transubstantiation or the bodily Presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper however now-a-dayes some bespatter them had a sure Foundation to build on The Scripture makes it plain that Christ's Body is in Heaven 2. Christ is gone into Heaven Christians let your hearts be there Seek those things that are above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God Col. 3.1 Why do ye grovel on Earth when Christ your best Friend is in Heaven What on Earth can satisfie or what is to be desired when Christ is gone Well may Believers desire with the Apostle Phil. 1â— 23 to be dissolved and be with Christ which is far better 3. Let us prepare for Christ's Coming from Heaven Phil. 3.20 Behold He cometh quickly in like manner as he ascended but more gloriously attended more manifest every eye shall see him Blessed is that Servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find watching Luke 12.37 We are left to trade with talents our Lord will come and reckon with us Mat. 25.19 Be ready for the Son of Man cometh in an hour when ye think not Luke 12.40 O let us watch 4. Lastly Be comforted Christ our Fore-runner is in Heaven He is gone but he went about our business This providence of Christ's departing looketh with a bitter aspect it is doleful to consider Christ is Gone But as Jacob's Spirit revived when he knew Joseph was alive so it is exceeding comfortable for drooping distressed souls to consider Christ hath taken possession of a
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
Preservation in dispersions God sets his Mark not only on them that mourn for the evil done in Sion but them also that mourn for the evil done to Sion Brine preserves meat God keeps his People in brinish salt tears There were many that lived to see the Temple ruined and repaired as you see in Ezra 3.11 but it appears by their tears and weeping that they had their hearts much upon the former Temple and it upon their hearts not as if all the mourners were preserved but many mourners were and none but such have any ground to expect it 2. It notes Restauration after their Dispersions 1. They shall meet in their own place and places again No matter how far removed though cast out to the uttermost part of Heaven God will gather thence Nehem. 1.9 He will bring them from the East and gather them from the West he will say to the North Give up c. Isa 43.5 6. No matter who lies in the way nor how strong they are that holds them Jer. 31.10 11. He that scattereth Israel will gather and ransome him from the hand of him that is mightier than he 2. They shall meet in their Solemn Assemblies again I will gather and bring to their Folds Jer. 23.4 I will feed them upon the Mountains of Israel in a good and fat Pasture Ezek. 34.12 13 14. God will build Jerusalem and gather together the Out-casts of Israel Psal 147.2 They shall take down their Harps and have a naile in God's holy place 3. Nay this Gathering implies some Restitution for the losses of their Mercies I will settle you after your old Estate and do better to you than at the beginning Ezek. 36.11 As 1. There shall be more purity in Ordinances than formerly They shall not defile themselves any more with their Idols nor detestable things Ezek. 37.23 11.16 17 18. 2. More Glory Hag. 2.7 9. I will fill this House with Glory The Glory of this latter House shall be greater than the former 3. More Power and Efficacy I will assemble her that halteth and gather her that is driven out and the Lord shall reign over them in Mount Zion from henceforth even for ever Mich. 4.6 7. 4. More Condescention and larger Testimonies of his Acceptation I will accept you with your sweet Savours when I bring you out from the People and gather you out of the Countryes wherein you have been scattered Ezek. 20.40 41. Neither will I hide my face any more from them Ezek. 39.29 5. More Unity I will gather them and make them one Nation and they shall be no more two Nations Ezek. 37.21 22. And I will give them one heart as in Ezek. 11.19 I will gather them and give them one heart and one way that they may fear me for ever for the good of them and their Children after them Jer. 32.37 38 39. 6. More security Be no more a prey to Heathens but dwell safely as in Ezek. 34.27 Then will God undoe all that afflict them Zephan 3.19 God will raise up his Hedge of Protection much higher 7. More Honour and Reputation He will get them Praise and Fame in every Land where put to shame Will make them a Name and a Praise among all people of the Earth Zephan 3.19 20 For your shame you shall have double Isa 61.7 Oh what Sheaves are here what a rich Harvest for them that under such Dispensations do sow in Tears Psal 126.5 6. What Wine will God brew his People out of these Tears Fill your Water-pots to the brim they shall be turned into Wine I will but hint one distinction which shall be as my Porch to enter upon Application and that is this The want of Solemn Assemblies is either a total want when God removes the Candle-stick such through Mercy our want is not Bread is something more scarce in some places but through Mercy it is not a Famine in all places or 2. a partial want when God by death natural or civil puts out or whelms many Candle-sticks under Bushels And this is the condition of divers Assemblies in these three Nations Now though the first be naturally meant in the Text and Doctrine and that which calls for most tears yet the latter may consequently be taken in as that which being some degree of the former want doth call for some yea great sorrows Scarsity is sad though Famine be most grievous APPLICATION Having thus far at some distance opened and confirmed this Truth I shall come a little nearer to you that are more especially concerned in it and first I shall tell you what errand it doth not come upon and then secondly what errand it doth come upon to you First The errand of this Truth my dear People is not to alarm you into Sedition or to gather you into any unlawful Assemblies upon the account of the loss of your Solemn Assemblies of Conventicles truly so called i.e. Meetings to plot Disturbance to the State I would say and have every one of you to say as Jacob Gen. 49.6 7. O my soul enter not into their secret and to their Assembly mine honour be thou not united If I may not be a Trumpet to call you to the Assembly I will not be a Trumpet of Rebellion to sound an Alarm If I may not call you to the Mountain of the Lord I will not say To your Tents O Israel If I may not have Aarons Bells I will not take Peters Sword The scars that the Sword hath given Religion are but too conspicuous If I may not warm you and be as an heavenly Spark I will not be an hellish Incendiary I had rather give no light than appear in a flame and be a fire-brand As Paul saith in another case 2 Cor. 13.6 So I with changing one word in the Text I trust yeâ— shall know we are not seditious Though we cannot do all that man requires we dare not do what God forbids We have minded you in our Doctrine amongst you to be subject to Principalities Powers and we hope in our Practice never to teach you to forget it God admonished this People against all discontented and seditious Practices during the Captivity But let God alone to bring about his good Thoughts Reade Jer. 29.7 And so do I you Do not smite others with the tongue but smite on your own thigh In your want of spiritual Bread throw stones at none but your selves Be not as those Desperadoes in Isa 8.21 that when they are hungry fret themselves and curse their King and their God Do not call for fire upon others heads but for Springs of Water in your own hearts Oh that God who hath stopped the upper Springs would open the nether Springs It is for our Rebellions that we dwell in a dry Land Psal 68.6 Do not smite with the hand This Doctrine bids you shed tears not blood it bids you not draw blood but draw water and pour it out before the Lord Not make places Acheldama's
our Mercies Bona a tergo formosissima Virtutem incolumen odimus sublatam exocculis quaerimus invidi Give me leave to strike your Hearts as Moses the Rock with a few quickening Questions Quest 1. Did they mourn and should not we What were their Assemblies to ours Answ Surely the Spirituality Power and Blessing of our Assemblies far exceed theirs Though the Jew was the elder Brother it is the Châ—â—â—â—an that hath the Fatted-Calfe The double Portion â—ow far do Ezekiels measures exceed Solomons or Zâ—â—ubbabels work the Temple of the Christian Church â—â—rely he aimes at We may say of Gospel Ordinâ—â—â—es as Jacob of himself Gen. 49.26 The blessings of them have prevailed above the blessings of their Progenitors Theirs were but carnal ordinances comparatively Heb. 9.10 and the least Christian Assembly as Christ said of John the Baptist is greater than they Quest 2. Did they mourn that knew the set-time for the return of their Mercies and shall not we that are uncertain what God will do Have we any to tell us how long Answ There are many but too bold in their calculations it s well if they be any better than those in Jer. 27.16 that set a short period to the Captivity of the Sanctuary-Vessels but they lied and were good for nothing but to feed presumption it is said The time was long and they lamented after the Lord 1 Sam. 7.2 Mercies long ere they are attained little improved when they are compassed it may well be as one said of faithful Friends uncertain when they will return Quest 3. Is it likely they should return back any other way than by streams of Tears sent after them Answ Did not this Peoples Mercies come back swiming in their Tears Reade Jer. 31.8 9. and 50.4 They shall come with weeping and they shall come going and weeping There Tears of sorrow for their sins and calamities helped them now to weep Tears of ingenuity and so when the Tide is at highest they go forth towards their old enjoyments again The higher the Waters of sorrow do Rise the nearer Mercy is to Landing Psal 102.13 14. The set time is come How doth that appeare see ver 14. for thy Servants take pleasure in her stones and favour the dust thereof When God's People can most tenderly weep over the Churches Ruines Râ—pairation is near Quest 4. Should they return and not find us in Tears for their absence would they not be joyless and comfortless Mercies Can the Harvest be joyful to any but them that have sown in Tears Answ God calls the Mourners of This People to rejoyce with her Isa 66.10 Rejoyce ye with Jerusalem and be glad with her but who all ye that love her and rejoyce for joy with her all ye that mourn for her God tells this People Zech. 8.19 that their several Fasts shall be turned into joyful Feasts the Women that are called to the Travel are bidden to the Up-sitting and to the Feast and indeed proportionably to the sorrow at parting wil be the joy at meeting again the Tide will be according to the Ebb. The tidings that Joseph was not was so lamentable that the news of Josephs being alive was abundantly more reviving No Mercy comes to us with such advantage as that of which we may say as the Father of the Prodigal This Ordinance was dead and is alive this Mercy was lost and is found The City Shushans perplexity made their Good Day a great deal better Quest 5. What are all our joyes that we seemed to have in them when we had them if we sorrow not at the loss of them Surely they were but seeming joyes Surely we did but seem to welcome the light surely our joy was but that or the stony ground or like that of John Baptists hearers Can we take the loss of things so upon which our hearts really are how should one measure the truth and degree of our affections but by the strength of our afflictions in the removal of a thing When I see a careless Soul or People under such a bitter dispensation methinks I have occasion to say to them as the Apostle to the Galatians chap. 4.15 Where is the blessedness you spake of you have sometimes seemed as if you could have plucked out your eyes and have given them to your Ministers and have you no Tears in your eyes when they are removing from you that have been as your eyes Where is the blessedness you spake of Quest 6. Are you fit for the improvement of them if God should gather you before you have got a sense of the want of them could it be in mercy Mercy is lost upon unhumbled hearts Could we be thankful could we be fruitful The returned Ark was a gladsome sight to the men of Bethshemesh 2 Sam. 6.13 19. but they not knowing how to use it it was almost as ill a neighbour to them as to the Philistines Probably they had the People after the Lord is not mentioned till the next chapter 1 Sam. 7.2 The Word to unhumbled hearts is as the Seed to unbroken ground it is thrown away and not sowed Winter time soaks and steeps the earth and so makes it fruitful in Summer Ground under water and much floated in Winter is most rich many times If ever our Winter be past they will make the best use of Summer that have bin under water No feet so fit to stand in Jerusalems Courts as theirs that in their wanderings have been putting Tears into God's Bottle as David did Psal 56.8 Tender-ey'd Leah was fruitful Truly tender-hearted blear-ey'd Christians are most like to be fruitful If ever God delight in us and our poor Assemblies be married again if ever Hephzibah and Beulah be writ upon us instead of Forsaken as I may allude to Isa 62.4 Quest 7. Are there not many things that may shame us for and O that they might shame us out of our senslesness upon this account As first Are there not those that mourn for want of their Idolatries Can we not find Women weeping for Tammuz Ezek. 8.14 Can we not reade of Micah taking on for the loss of his gods and his priest Judg. 18.23 24. and what no Tears for our present loss of Worship and God Will not a Fathers seeming to bid some of our places farewel make us mourn Do we not reade of those that have committed Fornication and lived Deliciously with Babylon that they shall lament and bewail her Rev. 18.9 and shall not we that have tasted of the fatness of God's House bemoan our loss 2 dly Are there not those to be found that have mourned for want of their wicked meetings what a prison is many a Drunkards house to him what lowings of heart after them under any restraints It is said in Isa 24.11 There is a cry for wine in the streets all joy is darkned the mirth of the Land is gone or as some translate is gone into Captivity Mirth is gone with the liquor And what shall