The Farewell SERMONS of Mr. Calamy Mr. Watson Mr. Sclater Dr. Iacomb Mr. Case Mr. Baxter Mr. Ienkins Mr. Lye Dr. Manton Mr. Ashes funerall Mr. Collins An EXACT COLLECTION OF Farewel Sermons PREACHED By the late London-Ministers VIZ. Mr. Calamy Mr. Watson Dr. Iacomb Mr. Case Mr. Sclater Mr. Baxter Mr. Ienkin Dr. Manton Mr. Lye Mr. Collins To which is added Their PRAYERS before and after Sermon AS ALSO Mr. Calamy's Sermon for which he was Imprisoned in Newgate His Sermon at Mr. Ashe's Funeral And Dr. Horton's at Mr. Naltons Funeral The last Edition being much Enlarged and more Perfect than any yet Extant 2 SAM 23. 1. Now these are the last Words of David the sweet Singer of Israel Printed in the Year 1662. THE PUBLISHERS TO THE READER THE words of dying men usually are very serious weighty and much regarded The ensuing Notes being the Preachers last Legacies to their several Congregations a little before their Civil though Voluntary Death by reason of the great Concourse of people that were then assembled in all Churches to hear their dying Pastors preach their own Funeral Sermons whilest they were yet alive many being too distant from them or too much disturbea by the crowd fell short of their share and portion in them others having lost much of what they committed to their memories addressed themselves to their friends that writ But it being found too tedious a work to satisfie the desires of all by Transcriptions some who had taken after them as followeth by the importunity of many have been prevailed with for the satisfaction of their friends to expose their Notes to publick view It is not to be expected though all care and faithfulness hath been used that the Picture should answer the Person in all things what defects therefore in any kind may be found herein we humbly pray may not be imputed to the Reverend Authors but unto the Publishers hereof We conceive we need not adde any thing to take off that clamour that is cast upon them as if out of an humour faction or which is worse disobedience to Authority they refused to conform Enough is said by themselves to give an account why they chose to take up their Cross and follow Christ in a way of conscience and fidelity Reader we will detain thee no longer from partaking of the fruit we here present thee with but conclude praying that the Lives of these worthy Ministers Hearers may be their legible Epistles seen and read of all men and that their Conversations may be such as becomes the Gospel of Christ that whether they yet again come and see them or else be absent they may hear of their affairs that they stand fast in one spirit striving together for the Faith of the Gospel Farewell Mr. Calamy's Prayer at Aldermanbury OH most Holy and ever â—…lessed Lord God! thou fillest Heaven and Earth with thy presence we pray thee fill all our hearts with the presence of thy Grace and let it appear that thou art in the midst of us with that powerful assistance of thy Spirit that we may receive a token of love from thee at this time It is a singular favour that the doors of thy Sanctuary are open to us and that yet we may meet together in thy Name we pray thee continue it to us and sanctifie it to us that every Sabbath may add to our Staturâ—… in Iesus Christ. We confess we have forfeited all our mercies we have heard much of God and Christ and Heaven with ouâ—… ears but there is little of God Christ and Heaven in our hearts We confess many of us by hearing Sermons are grown Sermon-proof we know how to scoff and mock at Sermons but we know not how to live Sermons It is a miracle of free Grace that thou hast not taken thy Gospel from us ere this time but thou art a merciful God and though we cannot please thee yet Mercy pleaseth thee and we have no argument to bring along with us to beg thy â—…avour but thy mercy in Iesus Christ. We pray thee that thou wilt glorifie thy Sovereignty in being gracious to us and pardon our many and great transg essions Thou makest use of the malice of men for thy glory thou killest Goliah with his own sword oh help us to put our trust in thee thou that canst kill and cure by killing Bless these Nations of England Scotland and Ireland and find out yet a way to save us pour down thy blessings upon the head and heart of our Sovereign CHARLES by thy Grace King of Great Britain thou hast done great things for him let him do great things for thee bless him in his Royal Consort in his Royal Relations in his Council bless the Magistrates and Ministers oâ—… this Realm Lord forgive us for we live as if we had been delivered to work wickedness we cannot sin at so cheap a rate as others do we pray thee humble us under our great and grievous sins give us Repentance unto Salvation and a lively faith through the bloud of Jesus Christ quicken our graces forgive our sies make alive our souls let us be such as thou wouldst have us to be make us Christians not only by an outward profession but an inward conversation that we may live in Heaven while we are on Earth and come to Heaven when we shall leave the Earth To that purpose bless thy Word unâ—…o us at this time and give us all grace to make conscience what we hear and how we hear And all for Jesus Christ his sake to whom with thy blessed Self and Spirit be all glory and honour Amen Mr. Calamy's Farewell Sermon August 17. 1662. 2 SAM 24. 14. And David said unto Gad I am in a great strait let us fall now into the hand of the Lord for his mercies are great and let me not fall into the hand of man IN which words we have three Parts 1. Davids great perplexity and distress I am in a great strait 2. Davids resolution 1. Affirmative Let us fall into the hand of the Lord. 2. Negative Let me not fall into the hand of Man 3. We have the Reason of Davids choice for the mercies of God are great The mercies of wicked men are cruel therefore let me not fall into the hands of men But the mercies of God are many and great therefore let uâ—… now fall into the hands of God 1. For the first that is Davids great Distress wherein we must speak 1. To the distress it self Then â—… To the person thus perplexed I am in a great strait David a great man David a godly man 1. In the perplexity it self we shall consider 1. The reality of this perplexity 2. The greatness of it 1. For the reality of it after David had sinned in numbring the people God sends the Prophet Gad to him and puts three things to his choice as you may read in vers 12. God was determined to make David smart for numbring
avoid danger â—…hall certainly meet with greater danger Balaam went out of God's way Numb 22. 22. and God sent an Angel with a drawn sword and he riding upon an Ass vers 26. the Angel stood in a narrow place where was no way to go from the right hand or from the left if his Ass had not fallen under him he had been run through by the sword of the Angel Ionah for fear of the King of Niâ—…veh went out of God's way but he met with a mighty tempest he met with a Whale What do you do when you commit sin you make way to be cast into the eternal prison of hell you destroy your precious souls to save your perishing bodies Use. 2. If sin be the father and mother of all perplexity and distresses then I beseech you let us above all things in the world abhor sin all the curses of the Bible are all due only to a sinner and all the curses not named in the Bible for that is observable Deut. 28. 36. every plague that is not written in the book shall light upon him There are strange punishments to the workers of iniquity Iob 31. 3. Is not destruction to the wicked a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity sin it bringeth the sinner to little ease little ease at death little ease at the day of judgement and little ease in hell tribulation and anguish the word in the Greek is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 little ease to every soul that doth iniquity Oh my beloved will you promise me to look upon sin and consider it in all its woful consequents as the father mother and womb out of which come external eternal and internal straits more particularly there are twelve sins I especially command you to take heed of and avoid 1. Take heed of Covetousness the love of the world will pierce you through with many sorows the love of money is the root of all evil the love of the world drowns men in perdition 2. Take heed of the sin of Pride into what woful straits did pride bring Haman God crossed him in what he most desired God made him hold the stirrup while Mordecay rode in triumph and God hanged him on the Gallows which he had made for Mordecay 3. Take heed of Drunkenness look not on the wine when it gives its colour in the cup c. drunkenness will bring you into snares It will bite like a Serpent and sting like an Adder c. 4. Take heed of disobedience and rebellion against the Commandments of God it brought Ionah to his three nights and three dayes in the Whale's belly 5. Take heed of fornication and adultery and all uncleanness this brought Sampson to a woful strait this brought David and Solomon into great perplexity 6. Take heed of oppression and all acts of injustice this brought Ahab into a great strait insomuch that the dogs licked his blood Take heed of unnecessary familiarity with wicked men this brought Iehosaphat into a great strait 8. Take heed of misusing the Prophets of God this made God destroy the children of Israel without remedy 2 Chron. 36. 15 16. 9. Take heed of coming prophanely to the Lord's Table this brought the Church of Corinth into a great distress insomuch as the Apostle saith For this cause many among you are sick and many weak and many fallen asleep 10. Take heed of loathing the Manna of your souls this brought the people of Israel into woful misery that God destroyed all their carcasses in the wilderness save Ioshua and Calâ—…b Take heed of slighting the Gospel this brought Queen Mary's persecution as many learned and godly men that fled for Religion's sake out of the Land have confessed Their unthankfulness for and unfruitfulness under the Gospel in King Edward the sixth's time brought the persecution in Queen Mary's time 11. Take heed of losing your first Love that makes God threaten to take away his Candlestick 12. Take heed of prophaning the Christian Sabbath which is much prophaned every where a day that Christ by his resurrection from the dead hath consecrated to be kept holy to God Certainly if the Jews were so severely punished for breaking the Sabbath which was set apart in memory of the Creation surely God will severely punish those that break the Sabbath set apart in memory of Christ's Resurrection May be some will say I have committed many of these sins but am not brought into any strait Remember it was nine months after David had nâ—…mbred the people before he was in this strait but as sure as God is in heaven sin will bring straits sooner or later though a sinner live au hundred years yet shall he be accursed May be thy prosperity makes way for thy damnation and this is thy greatest distress that thou goest on in sin and prosperest Use 3. If sin bringeth a Nation into marvellous labyrinths learn what great cause we have to fear that God should bring this Nation into great distress because of the great abominations are committed in the midst of it Our King and Soveraign was in great straits in the dayes of his banishment but God hath delivered him God hath delivered this Nation out of great straits but alas we requite God evil for good and instead of repenting of old sins we commit new sins I am told there are new oaths invented oaths not fit to be named in any place much less here Certainly the drunkenness and adultery the oppression and injustice the bribery and Sabbath-breaking the vain and wicked swearing and for-swearing this Nation is guilty of must of necessity provoke God to say of us as he did of them in Ieremiah 15. 29. Shall I not visit for these things saith the Lord Shall not my soul be avenged on such a Nation as this God will not only punish us but be avenged on us There is no way to avoid a national desolation but by a national reformation Lastly learn what cause you of this Congregation and Parish what cause you have to expect that God should bring you into great straits because of your great unthankfulness and unfruitfulness under the means of Grace you that have so long enjoyed the Gospel you have had the Gospel in this place in great abundance Doctor Taylor he served one apprenticeship in this place Doctor Staughton served another apprenticeship and I through divine Mercy have served three apprenticeships and half another almost among you you have had the Spirit of God seven and thirty years in the faithful ministry of the Word knocking at the door of your hearts but many of you haue hardened your hearts Are there not some of you I only put the question that begin to loath the Manna of your souls and to look back towards Egypt again Are there not some of you have itching ears and would fain have Preachers that would feed you with dainty phrases and begin not to care for a Minister that unrips your Consciences speaks to your hearts
that man Forgiveness of sin in Scripture is called The lifting off of sin so it is in the Hebrew Iob 7. Lord why dost thou not lift off my sin It is a Metaphor taken from a weary man that goes under a burthen ready to sink under it and another man comes and lifts off this burthen so doth the great God when the burthen of sin is ready to sink the Conscience Gods lifteth off this burthen from the Conscience and lays it upon Christs shoulders and he carries it now he that hath his burthen thus carryed it is well for him however things go Pardon and forgiveness of sin it is a crowning blessing it is a Jewel in a Believers Crown Pardon of sin is a multiplying mercy it brings a great many mercies along with it whom God pardons he adopts whom God pardons he invests with holiness and with glory Pardon of sin is such a mercy that it is enough to make a sick man well Isa. 32. 24. The Inhabitants shall not say They are sick the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity The sense of pardon takes away the sense of pain it must needs then be well with the righteous his greatest evil is removed Secondly However things go It shall be well with the righteous because God is his portion Psal. 16. 5. The Lord is the portion of my inheritance the lines are fallen to me in pleasant places In God all things are to be found and all that is in God is engaged for the good of the Righteous His power is his to help him His wisdom is his to teach him His spirit is his to sanctifie him and His mercy is his to save him God is the righteous mans portion and can God give a greater gift to us than to give Himself to us God is a rich portion the Angels riches God is a safe and a sure portion for his Name is a strong Tower He is a portion that can never be spent for he is infiniteness and he is a portion can never be lost for he is Eternity Thou art my portion for ever Psal. 73. 26. And surely it is well with them that have God for their portion Is it not well with them that are happy Why if God be our portion we are happy Psal. 144. 16. Happy is the people whose God is the Lord. And so much for the Doctrinal part The Application of this point may afford abundancâ—… of comfort to every godly man to every person fearing God in this Congregation God hath sent me this day with a Commission to comfort you O that I might drop in the oil of gladness into every broken and troubleâ—… spâ—…rit Say to the righteous it shall be well with him Here'â—… good news from heaven however things are yet still iâ—… is well with the righteous But here 's a great question to be answered How dotâ—… it appear that it is well with the righteous for we ofteâ—… see it is worst with him he is deprived of his comforts he is made the reproach of the world for Christ yeâ—… many times he loseth his life how then is it well witâ—… the righteous I answer yet still is it well with the righteous thougâ—… he meet with trouble in the world and one wave riseâ—… upon the neck of another yet is it well with the righteous as appears in these following particulars First All the troubles that a righteous man meets with turn to his good and so it is well with him That 's a famous Scripture Ier. 24. 5. Whom I have sent out of this place into the Land of the Chaldeans for their good Gods own Israel were transported into Babylon among their enemies for their good The troubles of the righteous are only a means to purge out their sins and that 's for their good I have read a story of one Peleus who running at another with a sword to kill him by accident the sword only run into his Impostume and broke that Thus all the evils and troubles of the righteous do but serve to cure them of the Imposthume of pride and to make them more humble When the body of a Saint is afflicted his soul that revives and flourishes in grace like two Lawrel trees that I have read of that when one withered the other flourished so when the body is afflicted yet grace flourishes God doth distil out of the bitterest drugs his glory and our salvation That that the world looks upon as a punishment that God makes medicinal to heal the soul. Well then may it be well with the righteous the rod of God upon a Saint is but only Gods pencil whereby he draws his Image more lively upon the soul. God never stretcheth the strings of his Viol but to make the musick so much the sweeter Secondly In the midst of all the troubles that befal the righteous yet still it is well with them in regard of those inward heart-revivings that God gives them we see a godly man in misery but we see not his comforts we see his prison grates but we hear not that sweet musick that he enjoys in his Conscience God sweetens to his people outward troubles with inward peace It is the title that is given to God 2 Cor. 6. 7. The God that comforteth them that are cast down The Bee can gather Honey as well from the Thiâ—…tle and bitter Herb as from the sweet Flower and a Child of God can gather joy out of his sorrow out of the very Carcass sometimes he fetcheth Honey When the body is in pain the soul may be at ease as when a mans head akes yet his heart may be well Thus it is well with the Righteous God gives him inward comforts that revive him and sweeten his outward pain 3. In times of calamity and trouble yet still is it well with the Righteous because many times God hears his people in the time of trouble in a storm God will have a care of his Jewels he will hide them and suffer them not to be carryed away and thus he makes good that Scripture literally Psal. 91. 4. He shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wings shalt thou trust no evil shall touch thee God oftentimes verifies this Scripture literally he makes his Angels to be his Peoples Life-guard to hide them and to defend them When a Flood was coming on the World God provided an Ark to hide Neah in When Israel was carryed and transported into Babylon God hides Ierâ—…my and gives him his life for a prey Iâ—…r 39. 11 12. And in this sense the Saints of God are called his hidden Ones Psal. 83. 3. Why so not only because they are hid in Gods decree and hid in Christs wounds but oftentimes God hides them in time of common danger and calamity they are hidden Ones Thus God reserved to himself seven thousand that had not bowed the Knee to Baal the Prophet knew not of any but God knew of seven thousand that he
had hid and in this sense it is well with the Righteous in time of publick misery But you will say Sometimes it is worse than all this with them sometimes the Righteous dye and perish and are carryed away with a tempest How is it well with them then Yes yet still it is well with the Righteous though their Life be taken away yet still it is well with them and that in a two-fold sense First Many times God takes away the Righteous by death in great mercy he takes them away that they shall not see the miseries that are coming upon a Land as Virgil the Heathen Poet said They were happy that dyed before their Countrey meaning before they saw the ruins of their Countrey And truly many times God takes away his Children in mercy that they shall not see the miseries that are coming on a Land you have a pregnant and clear Scripture for this 1 King 14. 13. He only of the House of Jeroboam shall come to his grave it is spoken of Aâ—…ijah his Son He only shall come to his grave because in him there was found some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel God would put this man into his grave betimes in mercy because he should not see the evil that was coming upon the Land You have a parallel Scripture to this 2 King 22. v. ult It is spoken of Iosiah I will gather thee to thy Fathers thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace and thine eye shall not see the evil that I will bring upon this place Why Iosiah died in battel How is it said then that he went to his grave in peace the meaning is this because Iosiah was an holy man he had made his peace with God and so went to his grave in peace and because he should not see the evil approaching therefore God gathered him to his grave in peace Ierome speaks thus of Nepotian itseems Ierome lived to see some troubles before he died Meeting with some storms Now said he how happy is my friend Nepotian that sees not these troubles happy is he that is gotten 〈◊〉 of the storm and is in the haven Thus Luther died in mercy before the troubles of Germany began to break forth Thus it is well with the Righteous though they do die God takes them away in mercy that they may not see approaching evils Secondly Though the righteous do die are taken away and perish in astorm yet is it well with them because death cannot hurt them it can neither hurt their Bodies nor yet their Souls the Body is safe it doth not perish though it doth die the bodies of the Saints are very precious dust in Gods account the Lord locks up these Jewels in the Grave as in a Cabinet the bodies of the Saints lie mellowing and ripening in the grave till a blessed time of resurrection How precious is the dust of a Believer though the World mind it not yet 't is precious to God The Husbandman hath some Corn in the Barn and other Corn in his ground the Corn in the ground is as precious to him as that in the Barn Why the Bodies of the Saints in the grave are Gods Corn in the ground and God makes a very precious account of this Corn the bodies of the Saints shall be more glorious and blessed than ever at the resurrection Tertullian says the Bodies shall be then Corpora Angelica the Body shal be angelified in regard of that beauty and lustre which shall be put upon it As it is with a piece of silk or cloth that is died of a Purple scarlet colour it is made more bright and illustrious than it was before Thus it is with the bodies of the Saints they are dyed of a brighter colour at the resurrection they are made like Christs glorious body Phil. 3. 20. Thus shall it be well with the righteous in their bodies they shall not perish Secondly At death it shall be well with the righteous as to their souls O it shall be a blessed time Methinks it is with a Saint at the time of death just as it was with Paul in his voyage to Rome the ship did break into many pieces but yet he got safe to shore so it is with a believer though the ship of his body may be snap't and broken at death yet the passenger is safe the soul gets safe to shore even to the heavenly Ierusalem then surely it is well with the righteous at his death the day of a believer's death is the birth-day of his blessedness it is his ascension-day to heaven his death-day is his mariage-day with Jesus Christ faith doth but Contract us here but at death the Nuptials shall be solemnized in glory and shall it not be well with the righteous they shall see God face to face And says Austin Ipse Deus sufficit ad praemium It will be heaven enough to have the â—…ight of God The Saints shall then enter into joy joy now enters into them here but then they shall enter into joy they shall drink of that pure river that runs from God the ever lasting Fountain Thus you see it shall go well with the righteous however things go though troubles come though death it self come and therefore let those that are the people of God comfort themselves with these words To conclude this first point what encouragement is this to all you that hear me now to begin to be righteous This Text may tempt us all to be godly Say to the righteous It shall be well with him when things go never so ill with him yet still it shall be well with him Grant that all things are ill with you in your estate in your relations yet then if you are righteous all things shall be well with you your pardon is sealed you are an Heir of Gods Promises all things shall work for good you have God for your Father you have heaven in reversion for your inheritance and is it not well with you how may this make us all in love with godliness how may this tempt us to be godly For if ever we would enjoy happiness we must espouse holiness Say to the righteous it shall be well with him And so much for the first proposition The godly mans comfort in life and death Now if this will not prevail with men to make them leave their sins and become righteous I must passe in a few words to the next branch of my Text to scare men out of their sins to affright them out of their wickednesse Wo to the wicked it shall be ill with him for the reward of his hands shall be given him This my beloved is the dark side of the cloud and it may cause in every wicked man that hears me a paâ—…pitation and trembling at the heart Wo to the wicked it shall be ill with him And so the Proposition is this That when things seem to be well with wicked men it shall be ill with
them ill with them in life in death and after death A wicked man lives cursed and dies damned Sinners are Gods standing mark that he shoots at and he never misseth the mark You know what the Scripture saith There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth It is a saying of Latimer That is very sad fare where weeping is the first course and gnashing of teeth is the second But whence may this gnashing of the teeth come 1. It ariseth from the extremity of the torments that the damned suffer this makes them gnash their teeth with horrour they are not able to bear it and yet they know not how to avoid it 2. The Wicked gnash their teeth out of envy to think that the godly are happy and blessed those whom they reproached hated and persecuted they are happy in glory and they themselves are thrown down into Hell this cuts them to the heart to think of it and makes them gnash their teeth Luke 10. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you shall see Abraham and Isaack and Iacob in the Kingdom of God and you your selves thrust out And this is the first use shewing the misery of a wicked â—…han if all the curses in the Bible will make him miserable he shall be miserable God will make his Arrows drunk with his bloud Secondly Take heed that none of you here be found in the number of the Wicked Take heed of being of this black Regiment beware of the Devils colours fight not under this Banner It shall be ill with the Wicked the Sinner and the Furnace shall never â—…e parted In a word I beseech you take heed of those sins that bring to Hell fire There are saith St. Bernard fiâ—…ry sins that bring men to hell fire What are these fiery sin Why they are the fire of Malice the fire of Passion the fire of Lust the fire of Concupiscence and the fire of Revenge these fiery sins bring men to fiery plagues to Hell fire When you are tempted to any â—…in think with your selves How can I bear the lying in the fierceness of the Wine-press of Gods wrath for ever I have read a story of a Virgiâ—… that being tempted by a young man to commit folly sayes she to him If you will grant me but one request I will do what you desire What is that said he Why do but hold your Finger one hour in this burning Candle No he would not do that Said she to him Will not you for my sâ—…ke hold your Finger one hour in the Candle and would you have me lay my Soul burning in Hell for ever for the satisfying of your Lust and thus she refuted that temptation Why Doth Satan tempt you to Wickedness hold up this Text against the Devil as a shield to quench his fiery darts Satan it will go ill with the wicked If I embrace thy temptation I must be under thy tormenting for ever O therefore learn to be Righteous It shall be well with the Righteous Take heed of living and dying in sin It shall be ill with the Wicked the God of Heaven hath said it I will conclude all with a saying of Austin sayes he When a man hath been virtuous the labour is gone and the joy remains when a man hath been wicked the pleasure iâ—… gone and the sting remaineth Dr. Iacomb's Prayer at St. Martin's Ludgate BLessed God thou art a God blessed for ever thou givest mercy to all returning and repenting sinners Thou art worthy to be praised by all that draw â—…igh unto thee Thou hast vouchsafed to us one Sabbath more oh that we might all of us be in the spirit upon this Lord's day that whatever we do we may do it in the strength of God that we may offer spiritual sacrifices to God this day through our Mediator the Lord Iesus It is a very great condescention that thou shouldst suffer such as we are to come unto thee O Lord we are unclean we are unclean from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot we are overspread with the Leprosie of sin all the faculties of our souls are defiled our understandings are darkned our wills are corrupted We have affections but they are Carnal we have hearts but they are impure we have consciences but they are seared And as our inward man so our lives are unholy as the fountain is so is the stream besides that our general guilt that we brought into the world we are guilty of innumerable actual transgressions against thy holy Law We think oh Lord there are not greater sinners in the world than we Our sins are attended with many aggravations We have sinned against prayers against vows and promises we have had as much light shining before us as any in the world have had Great is our unbelief Oh that we could â—…ay these things to our hearts We do râ—…fuse to come to Christ we go about to establish a righteousness of our own and neglect the righteousness of God by faith in Iesus Christ how are our hearts glewed to the present things of this world oh what do we do for thy glory how uâ—…reformed are we under all the ways of God that he has taken to make us a holy people Give us a sight of our sins oh Lord we confess sometimes we do make some formal confession but we do not find our hearts melted for sin as they should Oh take away from every one of us this heart of stone and give a heart of flesh give us tender hearts make us sensible of all our departing from thee Oh let us look upon Him whom we have pierced and let us mourn that the water of penitential sorrow may â—…low from us we are strangers to our selves we do not see what a Hell there is in our natures oh how should we put our mouths in the dust and loath our selves if so be there might be hope Oh Lord convince us of sin give us such a sight of sin as may make us fly to thee give us such a sight of our own guilt that may prepare us for the grace of God now we are stung with the fiery Serpent help us to come to Iesus Christ our hrazen Serpent give us thy holy Spirit to bring us out of the state of nature oh let that God that made us creatures make us new creatures oh Lord we are thine own work but we are dead in tréspasses and sins give us grace and speak a word to them that are dead put out thine almighty power and draw some sinner to Christ this day and those that have any breathings after thee oh thou that gavest them that desire carry on thine own work in them where thou hast begun a good work carry it on let sin as the house of Saul grow weaker and weaker and grace as the house of David grow stronger and stronger Oh increase our faith oh Lord in this time we do not only stand in need of grace but of a great
are grieved they that touch them touch the Apple of his eye in all afflictions he is afflicted Saul Saul Why persecutest thou me Every blow that is given to them God bears a part of it himself As they are sensible of Gods dishonour so God is sensible of their sufferings it pains him to the heart to see his Children wronged and abused by a malicious world Seventhly He is with them by his sanctifying presence all their troubles are to do them good and to make them good and therefore the furnace it is but to refine them from their dross the pruning hook of affliction is but to cut off their luxuriant branches God takes the sharp knife into his hand and lances them but it is only to fetch out their corruption By this shall the iniquity of Iacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sin Eighthly God is with them by his quickening presence to make their Prayers more servent to make their requests to the throne of Grace more importunate The children of God cry most to him when they suffer most from men and their prayers are best when their condition is worst Prayer shortens affliction and affliction heightens Prayer God is with them to hear their Prayers Oh the Prayer of the afflicted that comes up to Heaven God hears the sighs and gâ—…ones of his oppressed ones their tears pierce the Heavens they call upon God in time of trouble and pour out their sorrows before the Lord and he doth hear them Ninthly God is with them by his raising presence to raise up their hearts higher to elevate their souls and bring them more near to himself Gods people when they meet with troubles in the world oh nothing so sweet unto them as the enjoyment of God then no life so sweet unto them as the life of faith then they relish a sweetness in the promise then every smile of God oh how welcome is it then all the affections of their souls center in God and run to God as in winter time all the sap of the tree runs to the root in summer time it spreads it self in the body but in the winter it goes to the root when a man is sick all the blood goes to the heart so in a suffering condition all the affections of the soul go to God But now what are the Reasons why God will not leave his people that thus desire to please him Why 1. God loves them therefore he will not leave them persons we love we cannot leave especially when they are in a distressed condition and as God hath set his love upon them so they have set their love upon God they love God Psal. 91. 15. you hâ—…ve there an expression Because he hath set his love upon mâ—… therefore I will deliver him he shall call upon me and I will answer him I will be with him in trouble God is â—… God of bowels of great pity and compassion and therefore he will not leave his people in a time of distress you know bowels how they stand in you towards them that are in misery it goes to the heart of a mercifull man to leave a person in misery Oh how great are the bowels and compassions of God Is Ephraim my son is he a pleasant childe Oh my bowels are turned within me I will have mercy on him 2. Such as please God shall have his presence under suffering because now they need God most if God will not leave his people as to temporal supplies because they need such and such things they need meat and they need cloathing surely much more God will not leave his children as to spiritual supplies under times of distress because then they need God Oh what can a Believer do or what can a Believer suffer when God leaves him his strength is in God his support is in God his comfort is in God his All is in God and therefore if God now leave him what will become of him he needs God at all times but never so much as when his condition is dark and troubled What was Sampson that man of so great strength when his hair was gone And what is a Believer when his God is gone 3. God loves to see his people chearfull in a time of suffering and therefore he is with them he loves not that they should walk dejectedly When God is present Paul and Silas can sing in prison the Apostles can rejoyce that God honours them to be reproached for him When God is present the people of God are not only cheâ—…rfull under tribulation but can glory their Cross is their Crown but if God be withdrawn what can there be drooping hearts and pensive sorrows 4. God will not leave them because they will not leave God God will not leave them because they suffer for his sake were they not tender of Gods glory and carefull to please him they might be free from suffering as well as others but it is for Gods sake they suffer For thy sake we are killed like sheep all the day long Lastly It is thus because God will make it appear to all the World that he puts a difference between them that desire to please him and other men God hath a value for such Do but see how Moses argues the case with God Exod. 33. 13. and so on where he comes to God with a great request that God should shew him his way that he might know it Why saith God to him My presence shall go with thee Moses said unto him It is well thou art pleased to promise so great a mercy If thy presence go not with me carry us not hence for wherein shall it be known that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight Is it not in this that thou goest with us Observe Moses pleads with God How his favour and love and mercy should be with them unless he were present with them And so God he walks with his people in trouble for how should the world see that God regarded them and did favour them unless he manifested his presence unto them in a time of trouble and affliction Dr. Iacomb's Afternoon Sermon JOHN 8. 29. And he that sent me is with me the Father hath not left me alone for I do alwayes those things that please him I Was upon these words in the morning having spoken something to them as they referre to Christ who spake them here of himself I then brought them down to his Members Believers and so propounded this Observation from them That whoever they are that desire to please God to do the things that are pleasing to him God will be with such end the Father will not leave such alâ—…ne especially in a time of suffering and trouble In the prosecuting of this point I spake to four things which I shal not now repeat but come to the mark which I intend at present that is to make some Application 1. Let me endeavour to prevail
all his people in these three Nations should lay to heart and repent of before the Lord. I gave you in a list eleven special sins that we should repent of and humble our selves for before the Lord. As 1. Omission of duty Prayer reading the Word Meditation c. Any thing will be for excuse to lay by duties and we are secretly glad of an excuse 2. Remisness in duty In things of the world we are all in all and all in every part a man cannot thrust another thought into us but in Prayer how many things are we doing 3. Hypocrisie How unlike are we at home to what abroad and in company to what in secret 4. Pride In apparel houses parts bloud birth-right yea of grace it self of humility Ministers Ordinances c. 5. Covetousness Never did covetousness invade the professing party as now The more goods men get the less good they do 6. Sensuality Voluptuousness wantonness Christians let themselves loose to the Creature lay out their affections on things below as if that part in the Serpents curse to lick the dust of the earth were theâ—…r own ss well as his 7. Animâ—…sities and divisions amongst Christians many have been active to kindle but few to quench divisions 8. Uncharitable censuring one anothâ—…r 9. Formality in duty Witness 1. Unprepared coming 2. Unsutableness of spirit to And 3. Want of reflection after duty how we have sped what we have got Sabbath Sacraments come and goes Monday morning finds us the same as before Misspent-Sablaths Some prophane others idle away the Sabbath c. 11. Neglect of our Bibles in our 〈◊〉 and Closets I pray God it forego not some great evil coming upon you as before the massacre in Germany it was observed c. I proceed 12. The want of mutual forlearance among Christians Alas Christians know not how to bear one with another in the least kind of measure Oh the short-spiritedness amongst Christians they cannot bear one anotherbâ—…rdens they cannot bear with one another 'T is very sad that we that stand in need of so much forbearance should express so little to our Brother 'T is an Argument we know not of what spirit we are of as Christ told his Disciples Oh! how unlike to are we that God whom we profess to be our God He is long-suffering patient full of goodness gentleness mercy c. we can bear nothing we can suffer nothing one from another 13. Our great murmuring against Reformation and Reformers God hath heard the voice of our Murmuring Exod. 16. As if there had been nothing that would have undone us but Reformation and truly God seems to speak such a word as that was Numb 7. 5. in displeasure and anger I will make your murmurings to cease I will take away the cause of your murmuring I would have reformed you and you would not be reformed As Christ to Iernsalem I would but you would not Mat. 23. The time may come when we would and God will not when we shall cry Other Lords have had dominion over us c. Isa. 26. 13. but thou Lord set up thou thy government rule thou over us and God may say No 't is too late I would have healed you and you would not be healed 14. The great neglect of the care of our Families Truly 't is not the least sin that threatens the removal of our Candlestick How generally have the duties of Religion been let fall in our Families reading the Word singing Psalms c. Time was when one could not have come through the streets into London on an evening in thee week-day but we might hear the praises of God singing of Psalms now it 's a stranger in the City even upon the Lords own day Oh! how have Governours of Families cast off the care of the souls that God hath committed to them How careless are they of the souls of their yoak-fellows that lie in their bosoms of their children the fruit of their loins Masters of their servants c And in the mean time are ready to stand up and justifie themselves with the boldness of Cain to say to God Am I my brothers keeper Am I the keeper of my yoak-fellow children servants souls yes thou art the keeper c. God hath put them unto thy trust and if they perish through thy fault they may die in their sins but their bloud shall be required at thy hand God will say to thee as he did to Cain Thy brothers blood cryeth in my ear 15. Our indifferences as to matter of faith and doctrine That we have not been more zealous for the truth of Christ that great trust and depositum which hath been committed to us We have accounted it no matter of what opinion or judgment men be in these latter times 'T is an universal saying No matter what judgment men be of so they be Saints as if truth in the judgment did not go to the making up of a Saint as well as holiness in the will and affections As if Christ had not come into the world to bear witness of the truth which was his great design as if it were no matter if God have the heart so the Devil be in the head as if no matter that be full of darkness so the heart be for God 16. The unsutableness of our conversations to the Gospel of Christ 'T is the only thing the Apostle puts the Philippians in mind of and commits to their care Phil. 1. 27. And truly in these unhappy dayes it hath been the only thing men have neglected and despised How little care that our conversations should honour the Gospel c. 17. Our living by sense and not by faith Surely my Brethren among all the sins in England that the people of God have cause to be humbled for there is not any whereby we have more provoked God than by that sin of Unbelief Murmuring and Infidelity have been our two great sins for which it is the wonder of Gods mercy that he hath not caused our carcasses to fall in the wilderness He may take up that complaint of us that he did of Israel Numb 14. 22. Because all those men which have seen my glory and my miracles which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness and have tempted me now these ten times and have not hearkened to my veice surely they shall not see the land c. And this is the lamentation we may take up that truly to this very day we have not faith enough to carry us from one miracle to another from one deliverance to another from one salvation to another let one deliverance pass over our head and no sooner one wave rises higher than another but we are ready to cry out with Peter Lord save mâ—… I perish and well were it if our fears did issue into tears and cryes after Christ we rather are ready to cry out as those in Ezek. 37. 11. Our bones are dryed and our hope is lost we are cut
and God must needs lay that upon them Lam. 1. 12. 3. 1. 5. 10. 2. Sometimes of instruments thus Esau complains of his brother Is he not rightly called Iacob a Supplanter of his Father Hast thou but one blessing c. Gen. 27. 3 4. of any thing rather than of himself he doth not say Am I not rightly called Esau What a wretch am I that have despised and sold my blessing Mostly we complain of that which deserves no blame the guilty of the innocent 1 King 18. 7. Isa. 10. 5. Ier. 8. or we pore too much upon second causes or complain of instruments not of our selves or of wicked men not of wickedness of their Cruelty more than of their Blasphemy of their injuries against us more than as Gods enemies or more of revenge in our Complaints than murmuring our complaints concerning their afflicting us not accompanyed with our Prayers for their Conversion c. 3. Sometimes of God himself not as one of his children who complains 1. To God not of God thus Christ My God my God c. 2 With a holy Considence My God my God two words of faith for one word of fear c. 3. In his complaints is very tender of Gods glory affraid to think or speak a hard or uncomely thought or word of God 4. Carefully distinguishes between what God doth and what man doth observes and separates the unrighteousness of men from the righteousness of God 5. With humble inquiry what cause there may be of this dispensation Iob 10. 2. 34. 31. 6. With a disposition to bring up his will to God not that God should bring down his will to him if it be possible let this Cuppass however glorifie thy Name provide for thy own glory and do with me as thou pleasest But a sinful Creature is sometimes ready to call Providence in question Ezra 8. 12. or to break forth and charge God foolishly either of too much severity Ez. 18. 2. 25. or of too long delay Isa. 49 14. or their mournings are turned into murmurings Numb 14. 27. or their complaints are mixed with unbelief Psal. 78. 19. or their punishment not for their sin and nothing will satisfie them but deliverance Now this is not the way for this way of complaining is 1. Fruitless a House on Fire is not quenched with tears Murmuring will not scatter the Clouds 2. Causeless Thou hast thy life for a prey Ier. 4. 5 6. What a living man and complain and that when 't is for the punishment of his sins This kind of complaining is causeless if you compare sin and punishment together there 's no proportion for sin is a transgression against an infinite God punishment but an affliction upon the finite Creature Sin is an evil-against God punishment an evil against the Creature Or if you consider what sin is in its nature 't is a contrariety to Gods natureâ—… God is holy Sin impurity A contradictiou to God's will God saith Do this the Sinner saith I will not God saith Do not this abominable thing which I hate the Sinner saith I will It is the transgression of God's pure and holy Law nay it is a practical blaspheming against all the Names of God the rape of God's mercy and the dare of God's Iustice the challenge of God's Power Sin gives the lye to God's Truth and the fool to God's Wisdom And what can Sin do more than to take away God's good Name God's Being and that Sin would do Or 't is causeless if you consider against whom sin is i. e. God himself who is a jealous God now a Sinner takes another Lover into his bosom before his eyes yea he is a holy righteous omnipotent almighty living God Thoughts of this may well keep us from complaining Indeed whatever our affliction be we have as much cause to give thanks as to mourn whether you consider whatever the punishment be it might be worse or do but look well into it you will see more Mercy than Affliction Psal. 119. 75. 3. Sinful There is in it 1. Unthankfulness while we complain of one Affliction we overlook a thousand Mercies whereas true Grace is ingenuous and can see a little Kindness mingled with a great deal of Severity The Church of God in captivity comparing her afflictions with her mercies breaks forth It is of the Lord's mercy that we are not consumed Lam. 3. 22. Blessed be God it is not yet so bad but it might be worse 2 Cor. 4. 8. We are troubled on every side yet not distressed though laid wait for beset on every side put to strive aud struggle yet we escape God gives an issue in the Temptation we are perplexed but not in despair we are not so helpless that we know not whither to turn our selves we have a God to go to as bad as things are the name of the Lord is a strong Tower persecuted but not forsaken we are shaken out but not to shivers persecuted but not conquered our God hath not utterly forsaken us Cast down but not destroyed Ps. 118. 13. we are cast down but not cast off Thus Luther They may thrust me back but they cannot thrust me down they may crush me but they cannot kill me or they may kill me but they cannot hurt me they may shew their teeth but they cannot devour Is it a Feaver it might have been eternal flames Is it Scarcity it might be universal famine Is it the danger of losing the Gospel 't is the mercy of God it is not gone already Are we in Captivity we might have been in Hell Are we in Prison it might have been Tophet The Lord hath chastened me sore but he hath not given me over unto death Psal. 118. 18. Though men have lost their Bowels Gods compassions fail not God's as faithful as ever he hath taken away some of our mercies but he hath not taken away all he hath left us more than he hath taken They are new they are renewed every morning when old mercies are spent God sends us new he is the Father of Mâ—…rcies begets new mercies every moment Who can number or measure his mercies of one day whatever our Fears are Oh blessed be God he loads us with mercies Now the Complainer over-looks all these there 's much unthankfulness in it and that 's a kind of Atheism She knew not that I gave her corn and wine c. Hos. 2. 8. 2. Pride Only by pride comes contention men never quarrel with God about their Condition but 't is long of the pride of their heart Proud man would fain sin and not hear from God would take liberty to sin but would not have God take liberty to punish I say 8. 3. God must take notice of our Duties not our Sinâ—… God shall hear of it if he take not notice of our prayers but it shall be by complaining if he take notice of our sins A proud man whatever he hath it is no more than his due and
a word here is matter of encouragement that yet there is Balm in Gilead Physick of Christs own composition for the reviving and healing of a back-sliding people Christians Christ Jesus is become your Physitian he hath prescribed you a potion made up of these 3. ingredients Self-Reflection Holy Contrition Thorow Reformation Christians now take this Receipt Christ advises you if you will not there is no way but one Or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick There is yet a means or two I find in Scripture for the preventing of threatned ruin that hath been very near that God hath prescribed for a people or person in great danger when ready to be cut off and destroyed Now that which I would commend unto you in reference to what you should beg of God for England is First In your addressing your self to God for that mercy your souls are set upon and you wrestle with God for that you would make some special Vow to God I find the Saints have done so when reduced to great Straits not knowing what to do Thus Iacob vowed a Vow saying If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go and will give me bread to eat and raiment to put on so that I come again to my fathers house in peace then shall the Lord be my God And this Stone which I here set for â—… pillar shall be Gods house Gen. 28. 20 21 22 The specialed thing Iacob vow is that he would continue in the pure worship of his forefathers that he would still honour God as his God in that way he would be worshipped the special thing is that he would build a house for the worship of God here he would erect a place of publick worship And thus Israel vowed a vow unto the Lord and said if thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand then I will utterly destroy their Cities Numb 21. 2. They vowed a vow they would not spare any of the enemies of God it he would deliver them into their hands Thus Iepthah Hannah David c. Iudg. 11. 30. 1 Sam. 1 11. Psal. 132 1 2. Certainly in times of great distress 't is not improper or uncomely but that which God may expect and take well that you make some special Vow if God would prevent your fears if God would continue forfeited mercies dearer to you then your lives you would set apart some special thing for God something for the propagation of the Gospel abroad for the maintenance of a godly Ministry at home for setting up the preaching of the Gospel in the dark coâ—…ners of the Kingdom c. This must have some cautions with it as 1. We must be sure our Vow be of what is in our own power we must not make vows of that which is none of our own I hate Robbery for burntâ—…offerings We must not make a vow to God of that which hath been unjustly or untighteously taken away or withheld from any 'T is Sacriledge instead of a Sacrifice 2. It must be of things warrantable and justifiable by the Word 3. It must be of such things that we are not bound to do before vows by the standing obligation of Religion and of our Profession but of something that is in our own choice that we will voluntarily make a free-will offering to God 4. We must take heed that we do not entertain a fupeâ—…itious thought of our own Vows as if we had merited a mercy at Gods hands by our vowes God looks for some special vow at our hands that we may shew how much we prise and value the mercy we would have that we would be content to part with any thing though to the half of our Estate for it 2. Another thing I find is that in the mean time we should do something by way of extraordinary bounty and charity to the relief of Gods indigent Servants Thus the Prophet Daniel Wherefore O Kingâ—… let my counsel be acceptable to thee Breakoff thy Sins by Righteousness and thine Iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity Dan. 4. 27. The Prophet advises him to break off his sins by righteousness there 's Reformation besides Reformation that he would do something in an extraordinary way to the relief of the poor Mercy to the poor what 's that Interpreters conceive by the poor here he understands Gods poor i. e. the poor Iews that were now in the Babylonian Captivity he advises he would do something by way of sympathy to the Iews to ease their yoaks and oppressions break off thy iniquities by pitying shewingâ—… mercy to thy poor Captives under thy power now at this time take off their yoak ease their burdens and restore them to their liberties again Thus do ye to those that have been the instruments of your Conversion or Edification set apart something extraordinary for their relief and supply The Prophet Daniel seems to advise this to the King as it were by way of satisfaction Theâ—…e be two things in Repentance in wrongs we have done there must be Confession and Satisfaction or Restoration He seems to advise this to make up compleat Repentance namely to make Restoration and Retribution of what he had injuriously taken from the Iewes Oh then let me say without breach of Charity that whatsoever except it be in this case of extraordinary supplyes for his poor it will be found but making Restitution and Satisfaction It may be upon a two-fold ground 1. With some it may be truly Restitution and Restoration of what he hath taken away by unjust means God knows how that 's between God and their own Souls what unlawfull means hath been used to augment the heap and swell their Estate If there be any that hears me this day whose Consciences shall tell them that they have increased their Estate by undue and unwarrantable means Oh Restoreâ—… Restore break off your Iniquities by shewing mercy c. by making Reparation as you can it will be but like Zacheus giving half his goods to the poor and restoring four fold c. in a liberal Contribution to the poor 2. It will be Restitution in another sense in reference to an unjust withholding some have got injuriously and I am afraid too too many have kept injuriously Have we not rob'd the poor by an unjust denying of what God hath commanded us to distribute to their necessities There is that withholdeth more then is meet c. Prov. 3. 17. 11. 24. It may be God hath given you so much there 's God's share there 's the Ministers portion c. Now all that you have withheld beyond the Rule of Scripture is all stoln goods and like a Wheat-sheaf on fire will burn down the whole baâ—…n of Corn. That which I would exhort you to is Every one to set apart some considerable part of your Estate and account it as a hallowed thing dedicated
makes any think they have time to spare Eph. 5. 16. Col. 4 5. 13. Make a careful choice of your company you cannot travell well to Heaven alone especially when you may have company Thrust not your selves into every company Eph. 5. 7. converse as much as you can with those that will help you that are warm when you are cold knowing where you are ignorant believing when you are doubtfull c. Especially for your constant companions live with those that will be a frequent help to you Masters chuse the best servants that fear God Servants chuse to live with those that will help you in the fear of God for Husbands and Wives make choice of those that will intend upon Religion take heed of being unequally yoaked and of thinking to get well to Heaven while you presume to unite your selves with those that with great advantage will hinder not help your Salvation 14. Keep a constant guard upon the Tongue especially take heed of those common sins that disgrace hath not dâ—…iven out of the world but have got some kind of credit amongst some professors namely idle talk that wastes precious time makes us unfruitful to one another backbiting especially can they put but a Religious pretence upon it or if they backbite those that differ in opinion Remember that terrible passage Pro. 18. 21. â—…Ia 1. 26. 3. 5 6. Psal. 39. 35. 28. Avoid idle talk backbiting c. Watch over your tongues and if any are by nature addicted to a laxity of tongue and multitude of words there lies a double obligation on you in point of danger and necessity above all others to keep a careful watch over your tongue you should rather speak fewer words then others and if you find your selves inclined to speak against any behind his back reprehend your selves and avoid it 15. Learn the holy skill of improving every condition that God shall cast you into learn how to live to God in every condition â—… you have skill and heart there is advantage to be got by all that prosperity may strengthen you in God encourage you in his service that adversity may wean you from the world help you to repentance raise you to God and give you more then it took away Know the danger and duty of every condition study them before they come upon you that they do not surprize you learn to know what 's the danger duty and particular temptation of every condition and in that condition you are most likely to expect a fall into prepare for affliction as the common lott of the Saints take it as no strange thing when it overtakes you know how to abound and how to want A great deal of a Christians safety and comfort lies in this to study the temptation and duty of every condition before it come that so you may have your remedy at hand and fall to your work and commit your selves to God 16. Be as conscionable and strict in the duties of your relations and dealings with men proportionably as in the duties of holinesse more directly to be performed to God make as much conscience care study diligence about being just that you wrong no man in buying or selling as you do in duties of holinesse hearing praying receiving In your trading make conscience of justice and faithfulnesse as well as in the worship of God and in your own personall behaviour in your calling be diligent not slothful in businesse c. And so in the duties of your relations Oh that Parents knew what a charge lies on them concerning the souls of their Children c. So Masters look to your servants and be as conscionable in doing your duty for their souls good and being faithful to them and compassionate over them as in your duty to God keep up family duties with life seriousnesse diligeâ—…ce and vigor the life of Religion in the world must be kept up very much in families 17. Make it your study and care to do all the good you can in the world let doing good be the principall part of your businesse think that the safest and happiest life in which you can do greatest good suffer not opportunities to slip out of your hands take them where you have them and seek where you may have them Look not only where you may get good but where you may have opportunities to do good to others every Talent must be answered for your knowledge health c. cause it as you will answer for it and know 't is one of the greatest Mercies in the world for God to give you hearts in doing good with that he hath given Heb. 13. 16. not for applause but be good Husbands for God and consider which way you may attain your ends best by what you give or do Thus be rich in good works 18. Live still as before the living God approve your hearts to him as knowing you stand or fall unto his Judgment Avoid carefully all offences unto men for the Lords sake and their conscience sake take heed of scandal and receive all the good from others you can but stick not too much on mans approbation disregard not suspitions or reproofs of Godly men but make not mans praise to be any part of your reward it is a small thing for me to be judged of men Be not much troubled at it if you cannot please all the bawlings of the malicious should not disturb a soul that is quietly housed with God that soul is not well stablished in faith that can be so disturb'd and distempered by the wrath or words of malicious men Remember God himself pleases not all the most of the world are enemies to their Maker upon the accoâ—…nt of his Holiness Justice c. and canst thou think to please all Appeal from the world and your selves unto God for the consolation of his approbation and for your felicity this will save you from hypocrisie and keep you from the temptations and vexations of the censorious world 19. Be every day as serious in your preparation for death and judgement as those that are alwayes certain that it will come and know not the moment when it will come Mat. 24. 49. Use often to think seriously before-hand what Death is what thoughts what trials death will put a man upon what temptations usually accompany our approaching death what you shall most need at such a time as that what thoughts are likeliest to possess you then what you are likeliest to wish for when you must needs die about spending your time expending your estate conversing with others c. Ask your selves What will I wish I had done or been when I come to die Think what will be most dreadful to a dying man for thus you have time to escape his judgement will it not be sad to think on a life lost in vanity drench'd in wordliness unreconciled to God or at least in utter uncertainty of his love God hath not foreshewed what will be a
others die in horrour Mr. Jenkins's Prayer at Christ-Church Iuly 13. 1662. MOst blessed and holy Lord God thou art infinitely beyond our apprehensions who wast infinitely â—…ppy before the world was made and wantest none oâ—… thy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their services 〈◊〉 make thee more excellent tâ—…en thou art in thy self we dâ—…ily wâ—…nt thee thou never wantest us thou a 〈◊〉 to make use of Ordinanceâ—… Ministers Sâ—…baths as thy Institutions to accomplish 〈◊〉 bring about the great work of thy glory and maâ—…s Sâ—…lvation yet Lord thou dost not need them thy Spirit is not made â—…fficacious by these things but it is that that makes these things 〈◊〉 though thou art pleased to tye us to them when we may 〈◊〉 them and duly enâ—…y them yet thou dost not tye thy self to them we desire in these our addâ—…esses tâ—… eye the happiness of Saints that depends â—…on him that depends upon none We are here in thy presence by thy goodness and grace Oâ—… whether should we go but to thee and how should we come but by thee oâ—… strengthen our saith kill ouâ—… corruptions inflame our love give us assurance of thy love to our souls oâ—… that God would teach us â—…ow to pray that we may tastâ—… and seâ—… how â—…ood the Lord is t iâ—… day that ouâ—… souls may be filled 〈◊〉 with marrow the we may by ouâ—… own experience be able to say it is good foâ—… us to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…o God and that a day in thy house is better thâ—…n a thousand elsewhere that there may be a commâ—…ion between us and God let there be a diâ—…union between us and siâ—… we confess we brouâ—…ht sin enough into the world with â—…s to cause theâ—… to withdraw thy bleâ—…ed self from us and to cast such unprofitable servants as we are into uttâ—…r darkâ—…ss we have bin 〈◊〉 long time in thy school and yeâ—… how dull are 〈◊〉 we migâ—… have bin teachers of others but we need our selves be tauâ—…ht wâ—…ich aâ—…e the fiâ—…st Principles of the Oracles of God we lâ—…ve less â—…en we know and we do less then we love we have neither done 〈◊〉 good nor received that good which we should or might have done and received we have been trees that have cumbered the 〈◊〉 iâ—… thy Orchard but we have brought foâ—…th no fruit â—…o unto us that we have not known the day of our visitation many of us have one foot in the grave and yet we have lived without God in the woâ—…ld we are wise in every thing but in our own salvation we live as if â—…ell were a priviledge those of us that have some knowledge of thee have great cause to repent that we have walked so unworthily of God which of us pray continually and fervently or live the life of faith we confess we nâ—…ither take our afflictions humbly nor our mercies thankfully nor â—…ant our comforts contentedly nor fill up our relations fruitfully we live as if hell were a scare-crow as if all the threatnings of thy word were an empty noise as if there were a either sâ—…ess in heaven nor bitterness in hell When we come into thy prâ—… 〈◊〉 are our hearts what earthly dispositions do wâ—… 〈◊〉 aâ—… with 〈◊〉 the sins of our prayers cry louder then the suppâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prayers what hypocrisie and formality cleaves unto us â—…f thou dost not look upon the iniquities of our holy things with an eye of pitty wâ—…t 〈◊〉 â—…ecome of us O Lord be pleased to smell a swâ—…t â—…avour of â—…est and peace through thy dear Son O Lord it is onely his precious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 can sprinkle our hearts and quiet our consciences and no other thing we do renounce all our own works and we cry in our selves unâ—…one undone It is through thy beloved Son that we are accepted and therefore to that end bring us to him by a saving operation on thy part and by our lively trust through the Covenant of thy grace on our part let there be such a unity between Christ and us that all the power of bell may not be able to separate us from thee speak peace to our hearts stiâ—…l our consciences 〈◊〉 I have received a sacrifice for you I shall befâ—…iend yâ—…u I will be just and faithful to â—…or â—…ive your sins my lawis â—…elly fulfilled by another though broken by you my justice is fully satisfied â—…y another though provoked by yâ—…u my wrath is ceased by the means of another though inceâ—…sed by you Oh Lord what a cordial would this be â—… caâ—…st not thou amongst this great multitude of people espy some that through the Spirit of thy Son would worship thee in â—…ine owâ—… way speak peace to every such soul. Is there any soul before thee O Lord to whom thou hast given the grace of desire O Lord give them grace according to their desire and thou which diâ—…t regard us when we were running from theâ—… do not reject us now we are drawing near thâ—…e and thou which bidst us believe by the command of thy â—…ord help us to believe by the operation of thy Spirit draw us that we may be able to follow thee thy loving kindness is better then life Some do say Who will shew us any good but Lord lifâ—… thou up the light of thy countenance upon us and that will glad our hearts more then in the time when increaseth Corn or wine or Oyl Let it be sâ—…ir above head when it is dirty below lâ—…t us see one contrary in another let us confute an eye of sense with an eye of â—…aith and when we come to see nothing here that can gratifie our senses let us have something to quiet our souls We would â—…ain be at war with sin that we may be at peace with thee though we cannot return as much as we have received yet help us to return as much as we can give us repentance unto life repentance from dead works a mourning far greater for the remembrance of sin then we had pleasure in the committing of sin those secret distempers in our souls that no eye sees but thine let us cry out wretched men that we are who shall deliver us from this body of sin And as the fear â—…f condemnation doth decrease so let the fear of transgression in crease and because O Lord that thou hast not made us to bleâ—… with thy greatness O Lord make us to blush with thy goodness let us as truly desire that heaven would enter into us in the way of holiness here as we desire to enter into heaven in the way of happiness hereafter Let us see that our kindness to sin is cruelty to our Saviour let not that live quietly one minute with us that would not let Christ live let us see there is nothing small by which thâ—… great God is 〈◊〉 and an immortal soul is damned we are to be in the wâ—…rld but â—…r a while to take a 〈◊〉 or two and bâ—… goâ—… oh that we miâ—…ht make it the business of our life
child sees that man come he will not love him and so if the father loves such a man the childe will love him too As now the Courtiers they follow the example of a King and whom the King favours they honour and cringe too why so whom God favours a godly man favours God doth not judge of men as men do by his gay apparel or gold ring or great birth alas he that wants bread is more highly esteemed of in Gods sight then such and so he is in a godly mans account A godly man is conformable to God and a follower of God as a dear child now you shall see what an estimate God puts upon his people God is more taken with one humble broken hearted sinner and one humble contrite breathing of a soul then with all the gold and silver in Solomons Temple not many noble not many mighty doth God set his heart upon but where he sees his Image he who hath the Image of God he hath the love of God there is the first reason in regard of the people of God that are beholders of others A second reason is taken from the people of God that are beheld and here I shall name you five or six Considerations 1. The people of God they that are truly such in the midst of all their present distresses let them be what they will yet their end shall be happy now men do not regard men according to what they have in present possession but according to what they shall have the poorest man here in the world that is rich in faith he shall be rich in glory and honour the people of God are heirs of glory and therefore they are said to be heirs of God and co-hâ—…irs with Christ 1 John 3. 2. Beloved now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be The people of God are to be looked upon according to what they shall be not what they are here they are Princes though under a disguise they are coming though not come to their Crown those saith a Saint that are now scorned reproached and buffeted and libell'd shall shine in heaven when Christ shall appear they shall appear with him in glory they are heires born to great Estates The second reason is this They are for the present very useful and beneficial to the world they are those for whose sake the world was made they are the very pillars of the world to hold it from shattering about your ears they are the great common blessings of the world as the Sun and Stars are the common blessings of the world and fire and water so these are the common blessingâ—… of mankind for which he will spare the world those that are pulled down by the world are they that keep the world from being pulled down they are the soul of the world the wicked are but the carcass of it and if God had gathered in all the world of his people once the world should not continue one hour as Sodom was destroyed when Lot was taken out Third Reason is The highness and excellency of their performances and of all the good things they do there is a worth in every holy work in every supernatural employment in every holy prayer in every thing a godly man doth there is such a goodness in the work that all the wealth in the Indies cannot recompence and therefore saith Luther I had ratber do the least truly good work then obtain all the Conquests and Victoâ—…ies of Cesar and Alexander Now if their good works shine so before men is it possible a gracious heart should see it and not be taken with it There is nothing doth so much take with holy men as holy performances and therefore as a man that is learned when he sees another learned man make a learned Oration he wishes he could do so too so a godly man when he sees another man can pray and live holily Oh saith he that I could do so too and be so holy as he is 4. A fourth Reason is The present priviledges of the people of God not only what they have in reversion but their present priviledges Why but are the priviledges of the people of God so great Yea the very present enjoyments of the Saints and people of God the explanation of them would deserve many Sermons they shall be freed from all evil there shall nothing hurt them their lusts may be destroyed but their souls shall never be destroyed What a priviledge is this for a man to be shot-free do with him what you will you can never hurt him you may disgrace him you may torture him kill him but yet you cannot hurt him whatever befals them turns to their benefit they may be afflicted but not hurt by affliction the greatest hurt the world doth to them tends to their greatest good worldlings may take away their head but they cannot take away their crown there is nothing of evil can be evil to him that hath a good God this a Child of God hath for the present and not only so but there is the real communication of a saving interest in all that is good all that God is all that he hath and all that he doth is theirs Is not this a glorious priviledge The power of God is his to protect him his love his so as to be set upon him the righteousness of God his so as to acquit him from his sins the very righteousness of God is a very great blessing and happiness to the Children of God and they may not only appeal to the Bowels of Gods Mercy but to the Bar of his Justice So that now I say all that God is is his the faithfulness of God is his in keeping his Promises the care of God in defending and protecting of him and so all the providences of God all that he doth shall tend to the good of his people as he saith All is yours life is yours and death is yours and all these things shall do you good Psalm 25. 10. that is a rare Scripture All the wayes of God are mercy oh sweet and truth oh very comfortable to them that are in covenant with him Mercy so that they are enough Gods Providences shall do them good and Truth so as that they shall certainly do them good In one word Earth Heaven and God and all shall be laid out to do them good Is not this a great priviledge In this world they may go to God and tell him wherein they are troubled and pained or afflicted and they are never so welcome to God in their petitions as when they ask most from him when they come to ask riches and the like God will give them to them so far as they may be for their good but so great is the priviledge of a believer that God doth delight in him most when he doth ask most from him and he will give him whatever he desires that may make them good
Title inrich his noble Soul with all the graces of thy most holy Spirit the Lord make him as holy as high that he may as much exceed in goodness as in greatnesse O Lord give him a Spirit of Wisdom to know how to go in and out before this great people and be able to discern between friends and flatterers O that he may be a true friend to thy friends and a real enemy to thy enemies the Lord make him the most glorious Instrument for promotion of the power of godliness that ever sway'd the Scepter in these Lands that under him we may live a peaceable and holy life in all godliness and honesty O Lord bless him in his Royal Consort Queen Katharine the Illustrious James Duke of York the Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council the God of all grace give them graces suitable to that high and honourable imployment thou hast intrusted them with do thou rule our Rulers and teach our Senators wisdom any that are in authority over us give them to improve their power for thee blesse the Nurseries of learning Cambridge and Oxford Dear Father bless all thy faithful Ministers thou that art the Lord of the Harvest send forth Labourers and keep out loyterers preserve those that are that they may be faithful to thee and to those over whom thou hast made them Overseers that they may neither be ashamed of thee nor thy ways truths worship however stiled and disowned by men O remember thy ancient people the Iews call in the fulness of the Gentiles that we may be all one Sheepfold under thee the great Shepherd of Souls In mercy look down upon this great City bless the Governour and Government thereof that thy Sabbath may be more strictly observed that piety may be more encouraged and profanesâ—… discouraged in the midst of us Blesse this great Congregation let them be all taught of God and more truly find that thou wert speaking to the heart when that a poor worm was speaking to the ear Bless them in their basket and their store but especially in their souls let them grow heaven-ward every one that hath spread a Bill before us do thou read them over and be a present help according to their several wants and necessities O God pardon all our sins bottle our tears rebuke the Tempter reform our lives and save our souls that by all these enjoyments we may be the more fitted for an immediate un-interrupted enjoyment of thy self in glory whereas there shall be no more tears in our eyes neither shall there be any more sin in our souls these and whetever else thou in thy wisdom sees necessary and good for us we most humbly beg in the Name and for the sake of our dear and blessed Redeemer Iesus Christ the righteous for whom we bless thee to him together with thy self and God the Holy and ever blessed Spirit the Comforter we desire to be inabled to render as we acknowledge to be most due all honour praise power might Majesty and dominion from us and all thine now and for evermore Amen Dr. Manton's Prayer at Covent-Garden OH Lord God all that we can do is-nothing of our selves we can do nothing oh let us have the gracious assistance of thy Spirit at this time let thy love constrain us say unto us thou art our salvation Do not say that we shall fill up the measure of our iniquities and there shall be no hope for us Oh Lord we are ashamed that we have waited so long in thine Ordinances and have got no more profit to our poor souls but we have given up our heart to the pleasures and vanities of this world that are but for a season even those that thou hast drawn out after thee do not walk worthy of thee answerable to that blessed hope of future happiness in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation Iesus Christ is to many of us become a stumbling-block and a rock of offence while our hearts are carried out after the world with such strong affections Oh when shall we carry our selves so as those that profess themselves to be seekers of a better life we come into thy presence now for strength do thou manifest thy self to us thou hast promised to pour out thy Spirit upon all flesh oh let it be unto us according to thy promise Oh Lord our hearts naturally are averse to thee so that of our selves we shall never be able to do any thing that may be well pleasing to thee but do thou regulate us by thy blessed Spirit that we may observe thy Statutes and do them and that thy Commands may not be grievous to us that it may not be burdensom to us to do the work of God O Lord when shall our hearts be made sound in thy Statutes we wait upon thee in the use of thine Ordinances that we may have a new supply from thee that at length we may come to see that thou art at work with us to save our souls O help us to be followers of them who with faith and patience do follow thee and to do nothing unbecoming our holy call suffer us not to swerve from thy Commandments but let us have a constant and earnest desire after thee Let the choicest of thy mercies come down upon our Soveraign CHARLES King of England Scotland France and Ireland let his heart be guided by thee and let him alwaies set thee before his eyes that under the shadow of his Government we may have peace in all godliness and honesty Blese him in his Relations in his Councels teach our Senators wisdom bewith all thy faithful Magistrates and Ministers let them be a terror to evil doers and an encouragement to them that do well Be with us in the way of thy worship we are here met together to hear and handle thy holy word oh do thou command it to light upon all our hearts let it come in the evidence and demonstration of thy Spirit and all for Christ his sake for whom we bless thee to him with thee and thy holy Spirit be praise glory for evermore Dr. Manton's Farewell Sermon Heb. 12. 1. Therefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a Cloud of Witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us and let us run with patience the Race that is set before us IN the former Chapter you have a Spiritual Chronicle or a Catalogue of the Lord's Worthies and all the emiâ—…ent effects of their Faith and now the Apostle comes to make use of this History that he had produced through â—…o many successions of Ages of all the holy men of God â—…at excelled in Faith Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a Cloud of Witnesses c. The Text is wholly Hortatory In it observe 1. The premisses or principle the Apostle worketh upon seeing we are compassed c. 2. The practical Inferences which are deduced from â—…ence and
for ought we know fall unless thou dost support them What Lord dost thou complain of a flock of sheep that are scattered oh there 's no wonder in it their Shepherd is gone Do you look on it as a strange thing to see a poor Ship to be tossed here and there in the Sea when their Pilot is destroyed why Mother is it a strange thing for your Children to fall and knock their Arms Legs their Brains out why their Mother is taken from them oh poor people good God provide for this Congregation I and this City that let defacing abominable wretches say what they will is certainly one of the best Cities God hath in the world and therefore they hate it so desperately because God loves it and because they hate that God that loves it I bless God I can speak of my own people they are not a mad pestiserous people for the most of them How many thousands have their hearts at their mouthes now at this time before God in England alas alas that we should ever have our Seers carried away from us but what think you when poor people shall be exposed to greater temptations to an Ulcer in the very Kidneys to a Plague in the very Heart or Head you now fear it but when you feel it what then 2. By way of Exhortation Beloved I remember good Iacob when he was come into Egypt and ready to die calls his children together and before he dies blesseth his children I cannot say you are my children but I can truly say in the strength of God You are dearer to me then the children of my own bowels I remember what poor Esau said Hast thou but one blessing my Father Bless me even me also oh my Father Oh! beloved I have a few blessings for you I have a few words of Exhortation for you and for Gods sake take them as if they dropt from my lips when dying 't is very probable we shall never meet more while the day of Judgement what ever others think I am utterly against all irregular waies I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bless the Lord never had a hand in any change of Government in all my life I am for prayers ears quietness submission and meekness and let God do his work and thiâ—… will be the best done when he doth it Therefore be exhorted to stand fâ—…st in the Lord My own people hear me now though you should never hear me more be exhorted to stand fast in the Lord you are not a Schismatical Heretical people I do not know the lesst person among you enclining to Popeâ—…y Therefore be exhorted as ye have been a people that have waited upon the Ordinances of God that have not persecuted your poor Minister that have made it your design and business to live lovingly quietly and as it becomes Christians I am confident a Minister may live as comfortably among you as among any people in England So be ye stedfast unmovable alwaies abounding in the Work of the Lord for as much as you know that your lahour shall not be in vain in the Lord. Here I had prepared I confess several arguments to have moved you to this stedfastness 1. I could have told you that with drawing of any one of you back you will meet with great temptations which will very much unfit you for Heaven If any man or woman draw back my soul saith God shall have no pleasure in him I could have urged you with examples from the Heathens Alexander being in India bid them tell him the greatest rarity in their Countrey Sir go tell them say they when you come to Greece there are many here that cannot be forced by the prowess of Alexander to change their minds I know there are some here that cannot be easily perswaded to change their Religion Saith Lactantius our very women torment their tormentors I would never desire a more able disputant than a woman against a Monk 2. I could tell you of those enjoyments God hath put on you our miseries have been great but our mercies have been greater I could tell you of six troubles and of seven of six wherein God hath stood by and of seven wherein he hath not forsaken and the truth is he cannot forsake his people he may forsake them as for comfort he will never forsake them as for support let him lay on a burden he will be sure to strengthen the back 3. I hope 't is not dangerous if I tell you you are ingaged to God there are vows upon you Baptismal vows to say no more you have sworn to God you have lifted up your hands you are those that have undertaken that you would be true to God to your lives end if these vows have been any way strengthened Oh! remember Zedekiahs case Ezr. 17. 18. 19. Seeing he despised the oath by beeaking the covenant when lo he had given his hand and hath done all these things he shall not escape therefore thus saith the Lord God as I live surely mine oath that he hath despised and my covenant that hâ—… hath broken even it will I recompence upon his own head Remember it you may play fast and loose with man you must not think ever to carry it away by playing fast and loose with God 4. If you should not stand you loose all you have wrought all your prayers tears professions practises sufferings are all gone if you give out at last c. 5. While you stand by God God hath promised to stand with you and the truth is if I have but one God 't is no great matter for all the tyles in worms There be a 1000 devils but all those devils are in one chain and the end of that chain is in the hand of one God oh God will shew himself strong 2 Cor. 1. 69. For the eyes of the Lord run too and froâ—…through the whole earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him Quest. But what shall I do to stand Ans. 1. If ever you would stand if ever you would be firm standing Christians indeed take heed you be not light and proud Christians a feather will never stand against a whirlwind Errour and Prophaneness are most apt to breed in proud hearts The Proud and Blasphemers are put together 2 Tim. 3. 2. Be but humble Christians that 's the way to be standing steady Christians if ever you would be steady in your stations you must be low in your own eyes do not you go and judge And now we shall have another kind of Religion come up as we have had it a great while such a man cannot be an honest man alas he is a Presbyterian he 's an Independant he 's an Anabaptist c. Now all our great business will be such a man cannot be a good an honest man for he doth not conform on the other side he cannot be an honest man for he doth conform These are poor things I bless God I lay not