heard this thing I rent my garment and my mantle and pluckt off the hair of my head and of my beard and sate down astonied ver 3. And then having prayed in a most humble and pathetical manner when he had confessed weeping and casting himself down before the house of God nay the people wept very sore chap. 10.1 Now therefore say they let us make a Covenant with our God to put away all the wives and such as are born of them according to the counsel of my Lord and those that tremble at the commandment of our God and let it be done according to the Law ver 3. Here is not only their Consideration Confession Repentance Reformation but their Solemn Covenant for they sware ver 5. for the perpetual remembrance and confirmation of it Oh that there were such a spirit in the hearts of our Ezra's and in the hearts of our Israel Let us once more make a Covenant with God if any thing be like to stay him with a people 't is his Covenant For he is a God that keepeth Covenant and Mercy for them that love him and observe his Commandments Neh. 1.5 He never did nor ever will break his Covenant of mercy with those that keep their Covenant of love and obedience with him oh then Let us vow and pay unto the Lord our God Psal 76.11 See the blessed effects of Asa's Covenant when they sware with all their heart and with all their soul 2 Chro. 15.12 13 14. Here I might tell you what the matter of our Covenant should be but that I 'm sure it is not for want of competent helps if you are ignorant That which I have to say at present is only to mind you of what I presume you know that is If you have sworn in faithfulness nay though only your Baptismal vow be upon you you have ingag'd for your sincere willing and impartial obedience to the whole revealed Will of God both in matters of Faith and Practice with all the species and necessary consequences essentially or integrally belonging to this obedience Now consider in what special respects you have broken this Covenant and draw it out on the Tables of your hearts nay were it in Writing to be ever kept for a Memorial and Remembrancer by you it might wonderfully advantage your End and then humbly and solemnly offer it unto the gracious acceptance of God in the name of Christ I might further add with what seriousness faithfulness consideration resolution humility self-denial we should renew our broken Covenant with him But I intend not to enlarge All that I have yet to say to this Branch is but this Be convinc'd of your gross breach of Covenant and your extreme and â—bsolute need of making up this breach Sit â—own and study those dreadful mischiefs that will certainly and speedily ensue those broken and forfeited Bonds When God stands disengag'd man lies in a desperate case A Covenant that is not made on due Convictions is never like to hold long if the Bonds be drawn and seal'd and yet the debt not heartily acknowledged 't is never likely to be honestly paid by such beggarly and paultry Debtors as we are 6. God expects something extraordinary from his people under extraordinary Providences We are weighed in the Balance and are found wanting Our False Balance and Scant Measure is convicted before God and now he will no longer be thus serv'd by us The Whip is upon us and the Spur in our sides and shall we not mend our Pace The Fire refines the Gold and gives it an extraordinary lustre and are we altogether as the house of Israel become Dross All they are Brass and Tin and Iron and Lead in the midst of the Furnace they are even the dross of silver Ezek. 22.18 to 23. Will not the Furnace melt nor cleanse us Shall we come forth as black and as foul as ever as proud as covetous as sensual as carnal as careless as crooked and deformed as ever Will any one think we are more than painted counterfeit Fire when the Storms and Bellows will work no change nor stirr the Flames in us oh how should our Faith shine our Love our Patience our Humility our Zeal our Heavenly-mindedness and every grace like the gloriously bespangled Stars in their proper Spheres and Orbs in this Freezing and Winters night If ever you intend your light shall shine that others may see it now let it appear to them that sit in darkness Well my Brethren God will not now be content with our old formal heartless devotions our lame zeal our crippl'd obedience our luke-warm love our pur-blind faith our tender-skin'd patience our carnal heavenly-mindedness He hath broken our peace to break our pace and if this won't do he will double his blows or which is worse will leave us by the way to perish under our burden God will have something now more than ordinary By way of Resignation By way of Resolution 1. By way of Resignation Double thy Sacrifice I mean not thy Jewish or Ceremonial but thy Evangelical Sacrifice Let him that hath so long woed thee for thy heart now have thy whole heart if he ask thy Coat let him freely take thy Cloak also if it may any way serve him let this be the language of thy Soul to God as Araunah's to David 2 Sam. 24.21 22. Wherefore is my Lord the King come unto his servant Let my Lord the King take and offer up what seemeth good unto him Behold here be Oxen for Burnt-Sacrifice and Threshing-Instruments and other Instruments for Wood All these things did Araunah as a King give unto the King Lord take what thou wilt that which is most for thy advantage though most to my loss that which is mest for thy glory though most for my present disgrace if here be any thing for thy turn spare it not but please thy self Behold here is Liberty Health Peace Ease Friends Wealth House Lands Life and whatever else through thy grace and mercy I am or have Lord here I humbly offer thee all with the unfeigned consent and joy of my heart Thy will be done and let thy pleasure stand concerning thy Servant For what thou leav'st me I will bless thee nay take all and my Soul shall bless thee Spare none of my Lusts yea my most beloved L'sts I would not They should any longer live whoever dye for 't This my Brethren would be your honour as well as your advantage All these things did Araunah as a King nay less than this will turn but to bad account another day 2. By way of Resolution Go unto God and spread thy Soul at his feet tell him 〈◊〉 those Isa 26.13 O Lord our God other Lords besides thee nay before thee have had dominion over us but by thee only will wâ— make mention of thy name The world hath had dominion the flesh hath over-rul'd me and Satan hath been a sharer with thee Thou hast had but half a
were we picking What Divisions were we running amongst our selves When there were none to fall out with us we began to fall out with one another and to smite our fellow-servants and therefore is God justly fallen out with us We have stript our own Peace to feather our Nests and now Behold we cannot sit warm in them 3. Our Plenty How fat and wanton are we grown puft up with the conceit of our own strength God hath filled our Barns and laden the Earth with his Mercies and with the Fool we have been ready to say Soul take thine ease Mercies are never more fouly abused than when most freely bestowed What hath God had of all our increase When thou shalt have eaten and be full then beware lesâ— thou forget the Lord Deut. 6.11 12. God hath found that grosse feeding doth produce ill humours and grosse miscarriages As they were increased so they sinned against me Hos 4.7 And therefore he is fain to keep us low I might also mind you of your Priviledges and deliverances extraordinary Hath God never rescued you from the very brink of the grave and reacht you his hand when you were just sinking Hath he never over-answered your Prayers and gone beyond your Faith and Hopes Have you never seen him stepping out of his common way and as it were breaking the bedge of Nature and Reason to haste to your help that you have been forc't to say This is the Lords doing it is marvellous in our eyes Psal 118 23. And do you think this will be forgotten in the day account What wonders of Providence did God work for Israel from Egypt till they came into the Land of Promise But Our Fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt they remembred not the multitude of thy mercies but provoked him at the Sea even the Red-Rea They soon forgot his works they waited not for his counsells Psal 106.7 13. Therefore he lifted up his hand against them and overthrew them in the wilderness ver 26. The abuse of extraordinary Providences whether of Mercy or Judgment on our selves or others for our warning is commonly attended with extraordinary vengeance 2. Your spiritual Priviledges and these are either External or Internal External as 1. Our Ministry is one of your Talents which you as well as we must shortly give an account for This seems to be one special voice of the Rod and that which it chiefly aims at This is one of the main Bones that God hath broken the principal vein that he hath struck us in and therefore our search and attention here should be the more serious and solemne Remember now with what careless customary Indifferency you have bin wont to hear with what drowsy dead secure affections with what unbelief irreverence hypocrifie with what a divided worldly and wandring spirit with what inconsiderate blind zeal Christianl reason thus with thy self what an excellent favour is this that I have thus long enjoyed What way could the poor blind world have grop't out to get to Heaven by what shift could we have made Must not I and all the world with me of necessity have perished to all eternity had it not bin for Christ and the blessed manifestation of his Gospel the bringing in of a better Hope for Faith comes by hearing Rom. 10.17 And if our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that be lost 2 Cor. 4 3. And now what have I done How can I answer for what I have received of this Talent Thus long have I lived under such a mans Ministry and thus long under anothers Besides all those occasional advantages which have been very frequent and precious With what preparation With what care With what humility and self-denyal With what resolution and purpose of heart have I sought God and the everlasting happiness of my own Soul in the injoyment of such Mercies To what purpose hath been all my hearing and praying hitherto Ah! What work have you here to deal plainly with your selves in How might your thoughts run into particulars and every stone you turn â—fford you matter of Lamentation I beseech you Brethren for the Lord Jesus sake let not â—our ears be both the Cradles and the Graves â—f these proposed Confiderations oh let me â—oe open to your eyes only and the curiosity of your ears and censures and pack all up again without any hopes of trading with your hearts This is none of mine but Gods errand I am â—ent in the fruit of his tender care and comâ—assion of your souls Oh let it not return â—mpty from whence it came let me not carry 〈◊〉 back in witness of your ungrateful refusal God will shortly come to reckon with you himself he hath sent me but a little before as the â—oice of one crying in the Wilderness to warn â—ou to prepare his Way and to make his â—iths strait And remember Let Consciâ—nce set it down that this day you have been warned 2. The Sacraments are another and no â—mall part of your Talent How shall we take â—he weight and worth of this Priviledge All â—he World and a thousand more such will never move the Scales against it Oh the height â—nd depth and length and breadth of the love of God in Christ Jesus How might we begin â—fresh to reckon with our hearts here Have you been some of Gods invited Guests that â—ave eaten and drunk at his Table and fed upon â—is Body and Blood Consider then 1. What you have done Have you fed on â—arist like children at his Breasts or prey'd like Vultures on his Flesh and Blood The evidence is clear concerning the Fact you can't deny but that you have eaten at his Table you have had your share and you must expect your Reck'ning 'T is no ordinary fare you have fed upon and you may expect that the account will be some way answerable Salvation or Damnation will be the summ total of your Bill of Fare Sacraments are chargeable Dishes It cost the Great Master of these Sacred Feasts dear his dearest and only Son and the Feast-holder himself his dearest Blood And do you think to sit at these Tables at the same rate as at the Ordinary of the World What! think you to plead your Foederal and Evangelical Right by the seal of the first Sacrament that gave you visible Title to the second Ah but what if this should but aggravate the business Need I tell you that the first admission was upon terms and what these terms were Were you admitted into the Family of God and not bound to the Laws and Discipline of the Family Know my brethren that there was a mutual stipulation in your first Baptismal Adoption Surely 't is no small affront for a Dog to lap of the Master's choiseâ— dish and at the Table of his most solemn Feast though they belong as Dogs to the Family anâ— go in and out at the same door with the children Oh Sirs there are high things that we aâ— stand chargeable
our Souls vvere filled vvith the Odours of thy sweet-smelling Myrrh On this Scent Lord vve follovv hard after thee vvhile our enemies Cant. 5.5 7. the VVatchmen that go about the City pursue O how long how â—ong wilt thou hide thy self in thy displeasure until we acknowledge our offence Hos 5.15 and seek thy face Lord thou knowest we freely acknowledge all that thou hast pleased to convince us of we seek thy face And now what doth the Lord require of us O VVhy is his chariot so long a coming Judg. 5.28 why tarry the wheels of his chariots Psal 68 13. How long shall thy Beloved lye among the Pots and thy children cry in vain O what is the Cloud that covers thee Surely 't is no little cloud that can hide so great a Presence no small offence that can provoke so patient so indulgent a Father Thou wilt not thou canst not be angry for trifles Who where iâ— he that hath been thâ— Make-bate between us â— Come Jon. 1.7 and let us cast lots that we may know for whosâ— cause this evil is come upon â—s Be it our Benjamin â— right hand or a right â—ye let it die and â—et us be the Lord's Bond-men This is the business that is before thy servants vve are come to cast lots on â—ur Selves this day that we may know who and what it is that hath troubled the Camp Give a perfect lot make a convincing Evidence though it be a Jonathan 1 Sam. 14.39 he shall surely dye be it a pleasant Daughter an only child that hath been wont to court us with Timbrels and dances Judg. 11.34 35. it shall be as the Daughter of Jephthah For we have opened our Mouth unto the Lord and vve wall not go back Lord Wilt thou make a Covenant this day with thy Servants that are unfeignedly willing to renevv their broken Covenant vvith the Lord their God Shall it once more be said that the Lord delighteth in England Wilt thou once more betroth us to thy self for â—ver yea Hos 2.19 betroth us unto â—hee in righteousness and in judgment and in loving-kindness and in mercies and in faithfulness Prune us lop us dig us dress us and then try us once more O vvhat a Garden what a Husbandry what a Workmanship mayst thou make of us vvhat a Temple vvhat a Tower mayst thou build to thy great Name in the midst of us hovv Fair how Beautiful mayst thou make us Dear God! Once more â— once more try vvhat thou canst do vvith and for poor England O â— let us once more look from the top of Amana Cant. 4.8 and Shenir and Hermon from the Lions dens from the Mountains of the Leopards and stay thy rough vvind Isa 27.8 in this the day of the East-wind And now that thy vvrath is gone out and thy Plague begun among thy people Numb 16.46 47 48. Suffer thy poor servant to take his Censer â—et thy Spirit put on â—â—e from the Altar and â—hy dear Son my dearâ—st Saviour put on Inâ—ense and so let him be one of those that stand between the dead and the liâ—ing to turn away thy vvrath from Israel Accept of his pleading with Thee and give success to his pleading with Man That thy Rod may not leave us in our Ruins nor in our Sins Lord thou hast us now on the wheel mayest thou not novv fashion us on vvhat mould thou vvilt Thou hast us in the Furnace mayest thou not make of us vvhat thou pleasest Thou hast us in the Nets mayest thou not bind us to what thou wilt Thou hast found us in our Month vvilt thou novv take the advantage on us and bring us to thine ovvn terms O Lord Isa 62.3 4. Spare Jerusalem and see it a quiet habitation Say unto England Thou shalt be a Crovvn of Glory in the hand of the Lord and a royal Diadem in the hand of thy God thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken neither shall thy Land any more be termed Desolate but thou shalt be called Hephzibah and thy Land Beulah For the Lord delighteth in thee and thy Land shall be married Look down from Heaven and behold Isa 63.15 16 17. from the Habitation of thy Holiness and of thy Glory Where is thy zeal and thy strength the sounding of thy bowels and of thy Mercies towards me are they restrained Doubtless thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel acknowledge us not Thou O Lord art our Father our Redeemer thy name is from everlasting O Lord why hast thou made us to err from thy from thy wayes and hardned our heart from thy fear Return for thy Servants sake the Tribes of thine Inheritance for thy Mercies sake for thy great Name 's sake for thy Covenant's sake for thy Christ's sake return return Even so Lord Amen! Amen! TO THE READERS Brethren MY hearts desire Rom. 80.1 and Prayer to God for Israel is that it might be saved Ier. 4.14 In order vvhereunto I have cast in this my Mite as so much Nitre to wash your hearts from wickedness For the Voice declareth from Dan and publisheth Affliction from Mount Ephraim Will the Lord sanctifie it and separate it unto this end I have been mending my broken Nets and now this once more I come to Shoot Scene the Lord bless the Venture I intend not to hold you here my Message to you is in that which follovvs If you seek for my Apology 1 Cor. 9.6 you may find it For Necessity is laid upon me yea Wo is unto me if I preach not the Gospel The style indeed is plain and unpolisht Fancies and Flourishes become not our mourning Weeds If thou art a Mourner in Zion thou canst not take it amiss to see a Text cloathed in Sackcloth I have nothing here to stay your eyes for my Errand is to your Hearts at these doors I am come to knock the Word knocks the Rod knocks the Spirit knocks Cant. 5.2 Open to me my Sister my Love my Dove my Undefiled for my head is filled with the dew and my Locks with the drops of the Night 'T was the Rich mans vain Request Luke 16.27 That one might be sent from the Dead to vvarn his brethren and 't was denyed him but in a sence granted you God hath sent you a Messenger from the Dead a Dry Bone to plead vvith you O Let the Dead praise the Lord on your account so shall our dry bones live 1 Thess 3.8 For now â—â—e live if ye stand fast â—n the Lord. Remember He that novv calls you will shortâ—y arraign you when Hills and Mountains shall not hold you Luk 23.30 nor hide you He that how entreats you shall â—hortly Judge you when these things shall be recognized and more fully and convincingly debated 2 Cor. 5.11 Knovving therefore the terrour of the Lord we perswade men And O Sirs be perswaded God's twenty
be large here yet I would â—ot that these things should be lightly past over â—or easily forgotten for doubtless God hath â—igh and glorious ends in them his signs are â—ot without their significations He that hath â—ot set the Rain-bow in the clouds for nought â—or one Star or Comet to appear in vain but â—ath ordained them for signs and for seasons Gen. 1.14 Matth. 10 29 30. â—o not so much as a sparrow or an hair of our â—eads shall fall to the ground without a Providence can we imagine that ever he would thus â—ill heaven and earth with his strange works of wonder on no higher design than to be meer â—azing-stocks and table-talk with unconcerned â—an nay be confident the dayes are at hand â—nd now are that God will interpret his own meaning and clearly unriddle all these his Papables to us 4. Is not Judgment already begun at the â—ouse of God I hope I need not run out into particulars here to tell you your own sorrows â—o pull those groans from your hearts and to bump those tears from your eyes I hope that every corner in your houses and every Angel in heaven can bear witness with your consciences that you are some of those whose foreheads God hath marked for such as sigh Ezek 9.4 and cry for all the abominations miseries and calamities of our poor Sion Lom 2.1 How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel and remembred not his footstool in the day of his anger 5. Hath not this been the joint-cry and unbelieved report of the Prophets and Watch men for several years together And now our Prophesie is accomplished both we and you all know feel what the voice meant are smaâ—ing under the burthen of the vision but when â— how it shall be removed we know not only the far in general we know When the Rod hat reach'd its ends either of obduration or ruiâ— or which the Lord grant of thorough Reformation Ier. 24. When the Figgs are pickt and separated when the harvest is ripe and the Lord people fit for the Mercies they look and loâ—â— for when the Lords time even the 〈◊〉 time is come then and not till then 〈◊〉 shall be 6. When was all manner of sin in a 〈◊〉 thriving way than now Drunkenness an Whoredom and Oppression and Deceit Swealing and Lying Debauchery and Prophanenâ— of all sorts and sizes is growing ripe apaâ— being established by the dormient connivant of wholsom Laws Mos 4.1.2 3. The Lord hath a contâ— versie with the Inhabitants of the Land becauâ—â— there is no truth nor mercy nor knowledge of God in the Land By swearing and lying and killing and stealing and committing adultery they break out and bloud toucheth bloud Therefore shall the Land mourn What 's become of Sabbaths and Sabbath-duties Institutions and Celebrations the beauty and power of them Are we not like Ezekiels pot Ezek. 24.6 whose scum is therein and whose scum is not gone out of it Nay if we look home on our selves we may find the Leprosie on our own walls how can we justifie our Pride and Worldliness our Wantonness our Censoriousness and self-endedness our Unbelief and Impatience Don't these things testifie against us 7. Is not the worship of God abused and that both practically and doctrinally But I must be silent here Curae leves loquuntur ingentes stupent 8. Is there not a great declining and losing of zeal for God How sad and general hath been the Apostacy of worldly-minded and worldly-ended Demas's Who would have thought that ever such hearts had been enkennel'd under such tongues 2 Cor. 11.14 that such Angels of light had been no other than transformed Devils Iohn 6.70 Who would have thought that Judas the Disciple had been the Traitor May not Christ shew the wounds with which he hath been wounded in the house of his friends Nay Zech. 13.6 let me ask you whose whose hearts and minds have been savingly inlightned and warmed with the quickning Beams of the Sun of Righteousness How have you flourished with your water and pulse Dan. 1.12 Are not your Graces and Hopes shivering within you what 's become of those divine sparks that have been begotten in you are they as quick and lively as forcible and serviceable as they were wont to be 9. Is not charity among brethren dying partly from the jarring of worldly Interests and partly from the disagreement of Judgment and Opinion How few are there that like brethren dwell together in unity Psal 133.1 This hath been a disease of a long time lamented and yet lamentations of this nature are as seasonable as ever Oh! when will God cure the wounds among brethren we have been licking our selves whole indeed but alas it hath been with a cankered tongue so that the Leprosie hath spread and gotten strength by the means of its Cure 10. Doth not Covenant-breaking yet lye unrepented of How many Oaths Protestations Leagues and Solemn Covenants have there been imposed and taken whereof the one hath necessarily and manifestly implyed the violation of the other O! the miserable and cursed prostitutions of Conscience Those that make so light of Oaths will not make so light of the Vengeance of that God unto whom they have sworn no Covenant hath on all sides been so faithfully kept as that with Satan and Self This is a lamentation and let it be for a lamentation Besides how many private personal and occasional vows and promises have there past between God and your own souls on several forlorn straits and emergencies and have they not all been as easily broken as they have been made Oh! let me lay up these things in the closets of your Consciences and when you are alone seriously a d sadly conne them over 11. Are those sins for which God hath taken up the Controversie removed Have we heard the rod and him who hath appointed it Have we answered Gods demands nay have we duely debated the business and examined the ground of the Quarrel Have we been in Parly with God and executed his VVrits of Inquiry by the Commission-Office of Conscience throughout the Liberties and Precincts both of the outer and inner man If not how can we rationally expect a comfortable issue Can a rotten Liver produce sound bloud Matth. 7 16. Gal. 6.7 Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles nay VVhatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap as long as sin is the seed the harvest will be wrath if we sow the wind we must expect to reap the whirlwind Hos 8.9 Can you dry up the streams as long as the fountain is alwayes sending out fresh supplies though you may seem to bay it back a while yet sinner believe it the vengeance of God is all the while pending against thee and thy Bay will not hold
these three wayes 1. By belying them Thus the Sorcerers and Magicians of Egypt endeavoured to belye God to the hardning and ruining of Pharaoh and his People Are there none of these Politique Magi to be found among us who beyond the Impudence of the Chaldean Astrology will undertake to interpret the hand-writing pro lubitu suo These are some of Israels Prophets of whom God speaks Jer. 14.15 The Prophets that prophesie in my name and I sent them not yet they say Sword and famine shall not be in this Land by Sword and Famine shall those Prophets be consumed These sons of Chenaanah that with their horns of iron will push the Syrians untill they have consumed them will at Ramoth be of another mind 1 Kin. 22.11 If God threatens 't is in vain for us to flatter our selves you may call evil good and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the evident prints of the Finger of God Fortune Chance or Casualty the threatnings of Scripture old Antiquated Riddles the plain-dealing of Michaia a spirit of ill will and disloyal affection but you will not call Hell Heaven nor everlasting Burnings the Blessedness you promised your selves 2. By deriding them When Israel was rotten-ripe for Judgment and God was sending his harvest-men to make a smooth field of them 't is recorded to their shame but for our warning 2 Chron. 36.15 16. The Lord God of their Fathers sent to them by his Messengers rising up betimes and sending because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling-place but they mocked the messengers of God and despised his words and misused his Prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy Which way went the spirit of the Lord from me said Zedekiah to speak to thee 1 Kin. 22.24 The day is coming that thou shalt know by what spirit we are acted that we speak not of our selves nor run like Ahimaaz on a feigned or begged errand And if we must be mockt and derided and smitten on the cheek for our labour yet for our own sakes we rejoyce but for our sacred authorities sake and for your own souls sake we cannot but tremble and weep both over it and you 3. By taking a wrong course to evade them These were some of Saul's practical Politicks God had threatned to rent the Kingdom from him and to give it to a neighbour of his that was better then he 1 Sam. 15.28 and now the wisest course he can advise on to secure his Kingdome is to destroy the man were it possible whom God had chosen to succeed him So when God withdrew his presence from him at Gilboa and answered him not neither by dreams nor by Vrim nor by Prophets 1 Sam. 28.6 which is one ordinary symptom as I have shewn you of some Judgment at hand away he runs to forbidden means nay by his own law forbidden and condemned and sues to the Devil for counsel in his desperate case I might enlarge my self here but what might farther be added I shall reserve for another place You have heard your duty Brethren but Vse 2 duty heard and in the notion of it acknowledged and yet not practically imbrâ—ced is the God-â—rovoking sin and the heart-plague of this our Sceptick Age. Duties are obligatory on the Conscience and Conversation O take heed of breaking Gods bonds and casting his cords from you We have heard nay in some measure we feel both the symptoms and strokes of the Lords Rod Sit down now and begin to count the cost There is a Wilderness and a Jordan and it may be a Red Sea yet before us gird up the loyns of your minds now and be strong in the Lord. Watch and be sober Watch for the word of command and resolvedly stick to your choice and holy profession whatever come oâ—â—t And for your awakening and encouragement consider 1. Within a few moments more all the merry dayes of the wicked and all the sad hours of the righteous shall be at an end for ever the Field shall be tried and the Battel shall be over and the old Quarrel never to be reviv'd more between the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent The pleasures of sin are but for a moment Heb. 11.25 and How are they brought down into desolation as in a momentâ— Psal 73.19 He seems to be ravisht at the conceit of it Those Vipers that even now were threatning thy destruction and greedily thirsting for thy blood see with the turn of a hand they are gone and are now crawling in the fire O wonderful and glorious change For when they shall say Peace and Safety then sudden destruction commeth upon them as travel upon a woman with child and they shall not escape 1 Thes 5.3 O Sinner One moment more and then succeeds thy wofull Eternitie One game more and then turns up thy undoing Card. One hour's pastime more and then farewell to all thy pleasures for ever not one song not one dance not one pot not one glimpse of joy not one merry thought nor word more then On this one Cast lies thy whole Estateâ— Spend out this as thou art doing and thou haâ—â— never a farthing more to spend nor to save iâ— this world nor in the world to come So on thâ— other hand the troubles of the righteous are under the same Date and determination the oneâ—s hell is altogether as short as the others heaven For as the one Bucket goes down the other comes up His anger endureth but a moment Psal 30.5 Our light affliction which is but for a moment 2 Cor. 4.17 For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer Isa 54.7 8. Pluck up thy spirits then O Christian and turn to thy strong hold thou Prisoner of hope Zech. 9.12 Cant. 2â—8 Behold yonder comes thy Redeemer leaping upon the mountains and skipping upon the hills See what haste he makes he is come he is come Behold he standeth behind our wall he looketh forth at the window He is nearer than thou art aware Arise O drooping Soul â— view the heavens 't is all cleer and serene above us In portu navigas Are not these the gates of thy Father's Kingdom Is not the smell of the Country already in thy Nostrils Are not the golden Instruments of Joy a tuning to welcome â—ome the lost Son O hold out Faith and Patience Luk. 15.25 one League farther one Tide more and then thou art safe for ever Reason thus with thy self Were This my Portion and all that I were ever like to see or hope for were my whole Venture in this Leaking bottom Had I no settled Inheritance another where I were miserable indeed yea of all men the most miserable but blessed be the freeness of rich Grace
his Word but warming us with his Rod how near should it go to our very hearts to think what a strange and unpleasing work we have put God upon Oh methinks we might hear the sounding of his Bowels within him◠how loath is he to part with us or to depar◠from us How shall I give thee up Ephram 〈◊〉 how shall I deliver thee Israel how shall 〈◊〉 make thee as Admah how shall I set thee as Zeboim Mine heart is turned within me my repentings are kindled together Hos 11.8 What dear ingagements of love hath God laid upon us When Israel was a child then I loved him I taught Ephraim also to go taking them by the arms But they knew not that I healed them The people that will not consider are nigh unto Cursing oh that God would now awaken us that we might know the things that belong to our Peace When Parents correct their children they do or should reckon with them and remember them of those old scores which have been past by with an angry look o◠a bare threatning This is that my Brethren which God is now insisting on with us no◠but that the present Provocations are high enough to have exhausted a far greater proportion of wrath but he will have us to know that this is not all he hath to reckon with us for there are old miscarriages behind which wer◠never yet accounted for Exod. 32.34 a thousand debts and trespasses which it may be were never once entred on your Books How many years war how many years peace how many years scarcity how many years plenty and how many thousands of Items are there set under every one of these heads O! methinks the very thought of these things is enough to amaze us and strike us dead 2. We should consider our Duties This was good Hezekiah's practice 2 King 20.3 I beseech thee O Lord Remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which is good in thy sight Christian these are things that require thy exactest examination and the rather because on these thou art apt to lean When all thy outward comforts lie at the mercy of thine enemies hither thou thinkest to flie and beginnest to look big on thy Duties not as to their Merit but as to their Evidence Don't all thy hopes seem to hang on this pin Besides by these God hath been more immediately honoured or dishonoured Nothing reflects so much on his honour either to the praise or dispraise as that which participates or pretends the nearest Relation to him Now make the case Suppose thou shouldst be mistaken in thy duties as 't is possible thou mayst what if there should be a Flaw found in them at last which will spoil all in what a case art thou then Canst thou believe that there are none so mistaken O Christian let me tell thee Hell is called the place of Hypocrites even such as were for the most part thus mistaken Nay the best of Saints may in a great measure be mistaken too they may overween their duties and miss of much of that peace and support they expected in a day of tryal therefore bring thy duties to the Test and try them these three waves 1. By the Principle from which they have proceeded Canst thou truly say with the Apostle 2 Cor. 1.12 This is our rejoycing the testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and godly sincerity and not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our Conversation in the world 'T is possible there may be a carnal rejoycing in a false supposition but art thou sure thy rejoycing is not in vain Hath Duty proceeded from a Principle of Love and Obedience and filial awful Respect unto God Hath his Sovereign Command and the conscience of Duty been the Terminus à quo◠Can you look back on your duties and appeal to God that all this hath been done in an humble obedience to his command Had Self-love or Blind Custom or Slavish Fear no◠hand nor interest in them Those are questions that God and Conscience can bes◠answer 2. By the Rule by which they have been directed Hath the Word of God been thy Rule in all thy duties not only of Solemn Worship but of thy Calling and Relation in all the transactions of thy Common and Civil Affairs And hath this Rule had a Casting-Voice against all the Votes of carnal Reason and Interest Hast thou us'd the Word of God as thy Rule As many as walk according to this Rule peace be on them Gal. 6.16 Hath it been your Walking-staff a Rule at hand where-ever you go A Carpenter you know is distinguished much by the Rule he carries in his hand which is not only for his support but for the measuring and trying of any work he may meet with in his walk And shall a dry stick be of more use and service in the hand of a Carpenter than this Olive-tree whose labour never fails in the hand of a Christian But as for me my feet were almost gone my steps had well nigh slipt sayes the Psalmist until I went into the Sanctuary of God then understood I their end Psal 73.2.17 This is a tryed staff in such cases thou mayst depend upon it and trust thy life and soul with it if it break under thee or start aside with thee or any way deceive thee without thy horrible abuse of it then never believe God more As for God his way is perfect the Word of the Lord is tryed he is a Buckler to all those that trust in him Psal 18.30 And again Is not thy whole life one continued course of work Whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do ye must do by rule eat and drink by rule and sleep by rule talk by rule and work by rule Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy word Psal 119.9 Those that will work for God must work by Gods Rule Ghess-work will never vse under a crocked and blind eye and in a crocked and unhappy hand Now consider how have you employ'd your Rule the Tradesman will understand every Figure and Point in his Rule and the use of it have you thus improv'd your Judgments about it doth the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom Col. 3.16 Hath it been a Commanding a Transforming Rule have you with open face beheld your selves in this Glass that you are changed into the same Image from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Cor. 3.18 Ha'nt it been a Rule to talk and to reprove others to censure your brethren and to condemn your enemies rather than to reform your selves by Hath it been your only rule han't your own habituated Lusts and Wills and Customes been as much your rul as this Han't the Genius of the Times the Examples of Great ones or thy Byas of thy Interest been as much
scour of that dust and filth they had contracted No wonder if our Dust hath brought us to the Dust that we are fallen among the Potts and caused to lick the Dust we were so greedy of Sirs I hope you will not censure my plainness and liberty of speech I have taken upon me to speak to such as can far better instruct both themselves and me and I confidenth perswade my self that these are no strang motions with you nor Wounds that wiâ— ranckle 2. Starrs are ordained for light Ye are the Light of the World sayes Christ Matth 5.14 And Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works ver 16. You are the Lamps of the Sanctuafie whose oyl was to be pure oyl-olive Levit. 24.20 Num. 8.4 Rev. 3.18 and the Candlesticks for Light which were to be of beaten Gold We are God's Apothecaries whom he hath sent with his Eye-salve to recover a poor blind World Now I beseech you let us consider what Lights have we been in the Sphears wherein God had plac't us Did we study to enlighten those that sate in Darkness To speak to the Capacities and Consciences in the Convicting Evidence and Gospel-simplicity of the Spirit Han't we too many at least and too often endeavoured to imblazon our own Parts or Learning Han't we been more affected with our own words than with our Master's Work and drest up the pure and simple Truth as an Harlot Han't we set the Lords Candle under the Bushel of our private Honour or Interest No wonder then that God hath remov'd his Candlestick and caus'd our Candle to go out Hive we been constant burning and shining Lights or too-like poor dwindling Tapers or the faint Flashes of an Ignis lambens rather burdensom than useful Have we been like Stars indeed that appear brightest in the most told and bitter night Oh my Brethren that we could sit down now and consider as we sit by our Lahai-roi where thou God seest us Why is my Sun set at Noon Why have the black Shades of the Night prevented me Is not this much my own doing Of what nature or kind was my Light Had I any other than what I bare in my hand Of what use was my Light either to my self or others What can my people witness for me What can my Family my Wife my Children my Sojourners my Servants say for me have they or might they have walk't in my light nay have I even forc't them to light their Candles at mine Hath the Word of God dwelt richly in my Head in my Heart in my House in all wisdom or han't my Family been much like other mens as Ignorant as Idle as Proud and it may be as Prophane as many others Han't the Springs of Knowledg been too much confin'd to and lockt up in my Pulpit as if I were a Minister no where but there And is not this much of the matter that God hath now lockt up the Pulpit from me that he hath cast me out of his Eden and planted his Flaming Sword which turneth every way to keep the way of this Tree of life 〈◊〉 Oh that such thoughts might pierce our hearts now that we are sitting with out broken Pitchers by those Waters of Affliction 3. Starrs are appointed for Influence Tâ—â— are the Salt of the Earth saies Christ Math 5.13 Oh! what a savoury and seasoning Influence have we had on those with whom we have had to do Salt you know hath a virtue to suck out corrupting humours and to preserve from putrefaction Alas can we say that our Patients have never Gangrenated under our hands for lack of proper savory and seasonable Preservatives In Rev. 8.11 We read of a Starr whose name was Wormwood which fell from Heaven as it were a Lamp it fell on the third part of the rivers and upon the fountains of waters and the third part of the waters became wormwood Now hath our influence been like that of the Tree at the Waters of Marah Exod. 15.25 of a â—leansing healing nature or too much like his Star whose Name and Nature was wormwood Hath our Communication and Conversation both in publick and in private â—een so seasoned with Salt that our very Presence hath daunted the Impudence of Sin And our Countenances been a rebuke to a Wanton Licentious Prophane World May 〈◊〉 be said of us as of John the Baptist that â—erod feared him and observed him Hath â—he austerity and holiness of our lives been â—â—ch as could command respect from an Heâ—d and fasten Convictions with Authorial on the hearts of the proudest Sinners Have we been like the Pleiades whose sweet â—â—fluence hath overcome those malign Iob 38.31 and saturnine Spirits over which God hath made 〈◊〉 vertical Or rather han't we been like the Moon whose growing big and full hath â—een fatal to the sick and weak in our Flocks And now that we are cast out as unsavoury salt to be trodden under foot of men the Lord â—umble us pity us spare us 4. Starrs are ordained for Direction Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ 1 Cor. 11.1 No Sea in the World is so dangerous and fatal to Mariners as this Sea of the World to Man So many Rocks and Shoals and Quick-sands and Hirricane-Storms as every Passage and Step is attended with what need is there of faithful and skilful Pilots 'T was a sad Voyage for Paul and his Companions Act. 27.20 When neither sun nor Starrs in many dayes appeared and no small tempest lay on us all hope that we should be saved was then taken away God hath set us for Sea-marks because the Road is dangerous that scarce one of a thousand comes sale to Land Or as the Star in the East for the direction of those that are so wise as to steer by such a Point Alae how many rich Vesselâ— of precious Merchandise have there miscarried irreparably and eternally and it may be much through our sinful Neglects either we have been obscur'd and not to be seen when we should have appear'd for God in the desperate hazzard of poor souls or have been so general and uncertain that the purblind World could not apprehend us or else have been out of the way and deviated from our sacred Sphears and so led them by an evil Example either directly or accidentally on the very neck of ruinâ— Oh! how should it cut our hearts to consider how many brave and hopeful Vessels we have sad cause to fear have for ever miscarried under our Conduct and that in serene and Halcion Floods The Lord convince us forgive us and have mercy upon us 5. Lastly The Seven Stars are an united Constellation Therefore Christ compares the Breasts of his Church to two young Roes that are Twins Cant. 7.3 And to a company of horses in Pharaoh's charriots Cant. 1.9 Not only for their Strength and Beauty but for their Union and Oneness of Work and Way And is not
more for that they cannot pity themselves Is not a man that is distracted and â—nows not what he doth an object of pity â—nd not of hatred or revenge though he reâ—ile and curse nay though he rent you Father forgive them for they know not what they 〈◊〉 Luk. 23.34 3. What serious pains have you taken to â—nvince and perswade them Would you not â—en hazzard your lives to save a mad man â—om murdering himself or your neighbour's â—ouse from burning Would you not lay vioâ—t hands upon them and suffer abuses from â—em if you found them sleeping in such 2 â—â—e And are their Houses and Bodies of â—re worth than their Souls Ah! with what â—ter looks and curses will these poor wretches â—art from you at the great Day who having â—tained mercy your selves did shew no merâ— that having the snares broken for you â—erein you as well as they were once bound 〈◊〉 being happily escaped your selves had neâ— a hand to help a perishing brother Cerâ—nly our Cruelty towards the Souls of those 〈◊〉 call our Enemies may well be inserted as 〈◊〉 Item of that Rod that lies upon us I may 〈◊〉 insist here on all the Cases and Cavils 〈◊〉 might be objected only let me caution 〈◊〉 Take heed of excusing your selves from 〈◊〉 Duty which God will require in the great 〈◊〉 of Account And let me also tell you 〈◊〉 though you can't do for them what you â—ld do yet were you as prudent as humâ— as compassionate as vigilant as self-denying as active as you should be and as onâ— day you may wish you had been you mighâ— have done far more than you have done 〈◊〉 them 3. The Rod hath also a Voice to the Individual Members of this Church of God As every Family so every Soul of the Family shall mourn apart God hath not only Family-offences Congregation-sins but Personal Miscarriages to reckon with us for He is calling us out one by one as those that accuseâ— the woman Joh. 8.9 What I have to say here I shall couch under these two Questions How have you bestowed your Talents How have you kept your Watch 1. How have you bestowed your Talents The Kingdom of Heaven is as a man travellinâ— into a farr country who called his own servants and delivered unto them his goods aâ— unto one he gave five Talents to another two Matth. 25.14 15. Our Lord hath intrustâ— us with his Goods He hath left all the Rich of his house in our hands We have receivâ— our Talents our Measures and Proportionâ— Now let me seriously ask you and my self theâ— following Questions 1. Have we weigh'd our Talents and consider'd what they are You will tell your Monâ— though it be after your own Father especially it be but borrowed or entrusted Mony whâ— must again be accounted for Christian 〈◊〉 aside and tell thy Mony from the hands 〈◊〉 thy Heavenly Father Take a just account of â—hat for which thou must shortly give a just â—ccount Book down thy Receipts both for Number Nature and Weight Thus much â—n Ordinaries and thus much in Extraordinaâ—ies Thus many years Time Health Proâ—ision Quiet Thus many Offers of Grace â—ath God made me and thus long waited for â—y return Thus many signal Deliverances â—om Enemies Disasters and Sicknesses and â—om unseen Dangers God only knows how â—any What large Inventories might the â—eanest of us draw of our external enjoyments which is but the least part of the Taâ—nt we have received If we look into the â—ittle-World of the Soul we shall find it fulâ—r of Mercies than the Heavens are of Starrs â—esides all that Goodness that God had preâ—red to meet us at the very Womb there hath â—en a continual Accession and Succession of â—ew Mercies with the gracious preservation of â—e old Alas we may as well number the â—â—ops of an hours thickest Rain as the Merâ—es of an hours Time Yet take as particular â—nd distinct knowledge of them as you can â—r doubtless the Account will be particular â—od hath when and where and what and â—ow often in his Book even to the utmost â—arthing Matth. 5.26 2. Have we consider'd whose our Talents â—e So far the slothful servant was in the â—ght Lo there thou hast that is thine Matth. 25.25 But han't we rather greedily swept Mercies into our Laps as Thieves thaâ— are robbing the house and taking all for ouâ— own as those that never think to be responsible as if we were the absolute Lords of 〈◊〉 the Mercies we enjoy And is not God concern'd in such a case to vindicate his own Interest Remember Christians 't is Gods ground you tread upon and plant and build and â—owâ— upon his Creatures you feed on his Wooâ— and Flax and Silks you cloath and deck youâ—selves with his Gold and Silver you anâ— hoarding or trading with his Air you breaâ— in and not your own 'T is his Word hiâ— Promises his Sacraments his Graces his Spirit his Help and all the hidden Treasuries oâ— his Gospel the blessed Provisions of your Souâ— they are his and not yours You never made you never purchased you never repair'd any 〈◊〉 these nor can you do it But may you say Obj. This is true indeed of thâ— men of the World they have only a Civiâ— but no Evangelical Right to any thing the possess But what Hath the Child no moâ— right than the Servant Godliness hath tâ— promise of the life that now is and of thâ— which is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 And God haâ— promised with Christ to give us all thing and that freely Rom. 8.32 So says the Apostle Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas 〈◊〉 the World or Life or Death or things present or things to come all are yours 1 Coâ— 3.23 The same Apostle also saith Answ that The Heâ— long as he is a child differeth nothing from 〈◊〉 servant though he be Lord of all Gal. 4.1 â—od hath not given us the Impropriation but â—e Use of his Goods The heir hath no more â—tual propriety than the servant as long as he 〈◊〉 under age only here 's the difference what â—e Child enjoyes he enjoyes by virtue of his â—elation and this Relation is grounded on â—â—t Covenant between the Father and Christ â—d between Christ and his chosen by virtue â—ereof they stand the Adopted Children of â—d through Christ so that what we receive 〈◊〉 receive on the account of this Covenant â—ich hath made us over unto God and Christ â—d God and Christ and all his Promises over â—o us the Inheritance of all is ours though 〈◊〉 actual possession be reserved till we are â—ough Grace capacitated for it all things â—t are necessary pro hîc nunc unto Life 〈◊〉 Godliness we have in Hand the rest in â—â—e yet both what we have in Hand and in â—â—e we hold in Capite and were never deâ—â—ed for the Absolute Lords of it He that â—eived the five Talents could no more call â—n his own than he that received but one â—â—ther could
the Improvement alter-the Properâ— but both the Principal and the Increase â—re their Lords Matth. 25.27 Our Title â—Evangelical indeed and therefore not Leâ— Legal as to man but not as to God why â—n dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 4.7 3. Have you consider'd why those Talenâ— were intrusted with you The reason why witâ— you rather than with others is because yoâ— are his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 own servants his houshold-Hinds You have been brought up at his hand and know his Work and his Will his Expectations are great from you he seems to have greater confidence of our Care and Skill and Diligence and Faithfulness than of Strangenâ— And then the Reasons why he hath as it were pâ—â— it out of his own hands and cast it into ours are Because he will learn us by these smaller things to merchandize and trade with and for Heaven he hath adventured this little stock with us tâ— begin with and to train us up for higher Employments And that his Goods might not 〈◊〉 dead and useless he hath committed the Factorage to us that the Returns might be madâ— to his Advantage Now this is that shoulâ— have taken up our thoughts What a Râ—â— hath God set on such or such a Mercy Anâ— how shall I manage my Course to bring theâ— up to Gods price what a circumspect caâ— should I have to commerce with honest anâ— sufficient Dealers The World is a Broâ— Merchant and its Wares are of no value in 〈◊〉 Lord's Country The Devil is too subtil 〈◊〉 dare not trust him his design is to deceiâ— The Flesh will bassle and my own heart dâ—â— upon Day and is wont to pay with Promiâ— and Delayes and Protestations of his goâ— Meaning How dare I venture my Lords 〈◊〉 in such hands My goodness shall extend to tâ— Saints that are in the Earth and to the Excellent in whom is all my delight Psal 16.3 A froward heart shall depart from me I will not know a wicked person Psal 101.4 I will have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them Eph. 5.11 Oh my brethren how many thousand Merties have we bestowed on our Lusts how many Packs of our Master's Goods have we rid our hands of which we are never like to see one penny for And can we wonder then that our Lord is come to reckon with us May not God justly charge us with Riot and Unfaithfulness and take the Talents from us Certainly that accursed slothful servant that hid his Lord's mony seems far more excusable than we for though he did no good with his Talent yet he was accus'd of no hurt he did with it Surely Pride had never so impudently dared God to his face had it not been for us The Flesh had never took such head had not we pamper'd it The World had never claim'd such Corrivalty with God had it not been trading with us in our Faith Hope and Love May not God charge us as once he charged his own People Ezek. 16.17 18 19. Thou hast also taken thy fair Jewels of my gold and of my silver which I had given thee and madest to thy self Images of men and didst commit whoredom with them And tookest thy broidered garments and coveredst them and thou hast set mine oile and mine incense before them My meat also which I gave thee fine flower and oyl and hony wherewith I fed thee thou haâ— even set it before them for a sweet savourâ— and thus it was saith the Lord God Surely had our Master no other stock but this that is in our hands we should quickly have undone both him and our selves Therefore I will return and take away my Corn in the time thereof and my wine in the season thereof and I will recover my Wool and my Flax given 〈◊〉 cover her nakedness Hos 2.9 Ahâ— whaâ— serious reflections and thoughts of heart doâ— these things call for What sad and general complaints are there of bad Trading in thâ— world God hath broken the staff in the midâ— of us and hedg'd us in on every side the labour of the Artificer ceaseth and the Merchanâ— begins to mourn Men of great Engagement and Dependance are shattering like broken Reeds and the Plagues of God both at home and abroad have wasted us Are not these some of your complaints to God And may not God retort the same Complaints on us and spread our very tears as dung on oâ—â— faces The Plague of our heart is spread to such a height that he hath even nail'd up the Doors of his House against us that there is little Trading for Heaven What hath my Beloved to do in my house seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many and the holy flesh is passed from thee Jer. 11.15 God seems to stand off and to avoid his own High-way as if he were afraid we should come near to touch his holy things and pollute them as we have done 4. Shall I ask you What hath your esteem of your Talents been how have you valued them Possibly such as have related to the â—uter man the present carnal ease or advanâ—age of the Flesh have been over-rated yet â—is strange to see on what base and low terms they are parted with Tell me Christian Hast thou never sold thy Ambition a good penny-worth of these things for a little honour or preferment nay for the bare promise or hopes of it which thou mayst now set among thy desperate Debts Hast thou never sold thy Lusts 〈◊〉 huge bargain for a little pleasure though it were entail'd with shame and pain enough Are there none of thy Master's Goods to be redeem'd out of the hands of Revenge and Injustice Is there none of thy Lord's Money to be â—ak'd out of the Draught of thy Gluttony and Drunkenness Ah Sirs Are these things â—ut poor empty notions think you will they â—ome to nothing in the great day of Account â—dan't you dealt in your reposed trust as the injust Steward Luk. 16.6 7. written fifty â—r three score for an hundred on your Master's Bill and will Conscience witness for â—ou that all hath been right and just though â—ow it lie under your Bribes and Flatteries or â—ears certainly when God shall examin it â—pon Oath it will speak the whole truth When every Corner shall be searcht and every â—ill summ'd up and every Mite accounted â—ther thou or thy Surety must be responsible As for our Spiritual Talents at what a rate have they been prostituted Such as have not been for the Common Market of the World as the convictions the humbling and mortifying Motions of the Holy Spirit such as are not for Caesar's turn no friends to the Flesh these have been often sent back by the hand that brought them as unprofitable Druggs the great burdens that have troubled us Surely prophane Esau never prophaned his Birth-right as we have prophaned ours Han't we dealt with Gods most precious Gold and those rich
incredible to carnal reason Yet seem it never so incredible what God hath promised and his people ever experienced we dare we must we do believe The righteous cry and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their troubles Psal 34.17 I cryed unto the Lord with my voice and he heard me out of his holy Hill Psal 3.4 Here was his experience as a witness of Gods truth Therefore I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about Psal 3.6 Marvail not then ye Sonnes of Pride that we fear none of your threatnings Our God is a God hearing Prayer and wo be to those that have such a God for their Enemy The prayers of God's people were wont to be terrible to his Enemies Exod. 17.11 2 King 1.13 In the first Reformation of Scotland it is reported that the Queen-Mother in her warrs confessed that she feared more the fasting and prayer of Knox and his Disciples than an Armie of twenty thousand men The Prince of Wales being perswaded to make warr with Henry the 3d. acknowledged that he was more afraid of his Prayers and Alms than of his Armies So the Bishop of Magdeburgs Fasting and Prayer was the terrour of Frederick Elector of Saxony But however it be grown less terrible now it is not grown less fatal God is the same still and his Promise is the same and his enemies even the proudest of them shall one day know that he is a God Hearing Prayer Wo be to thee Sinner when God shall rain upon thee the tears of his oppressed Saints and wo to thine House when God shall beat upon it with the sighs and groans of his persecuted children Wo to that man by whom the offence cometh Matth. 18.8 7. They are mistaken in Gods Ends and Designs Howbeit he meaneth not so neither doth his heart think so but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few Isa 10.7 God's end is to reform theirs to destroy But here is our comfort these are but his Executioners and none of his Jury God hath not acquainted them with his mind It is not for them to know what he intends to do with his people Their wills are none of his Rule nor are their false accusations any evidence with our Judge God hath a hook in their Nostrils and hath appointed them their bounds If the pardon come at the very top of the Ladder the Executioner must obey And if the Judge will that the righteous shall be delivered out of trouble and the wicked come in his stead Pro. 11.8 his Will must stand 2. The second voice of the Rod unto the Inemies is this It calls upon them to Consider and on consideration to repent Methink that Generation is com or an other well like it which was spoken of under the fourth vial Rev. 16.9 And men were scorched with great heat and blasphemed the name of God which hath power ever these Plagues and repented not to give him glory Han't the Plagues of God scorched us both at home and abroad in City and in Country yet who hath repented to give him Glory I have but these four things at present to propose to your sober Confideration and very briefly 1. What manner of Persons are they whom God takes to be his Enemies Phil. 3.18.19 For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the Enemies of the Cross of Christ Here the Apostle complains of Enemies in the next verse he describes them by their way and by their end Their way they walk a kind of Professors they are but their God is their Belly their Lust and uncleanness Their Glory is in their shame either passively their Glory shall end in shame or actively they glory in that which is the shame of their profession Who mind earthly things Carnal men carnal in their affections and in their conversations to which answers Rom. 8.7 The carnal mind is enmity against God And their end is destruction The end of these things is death Chap. 6.21 Again Luk. 19.27 But those mine enemies bring them hither and slay them before me Here 's their Doom The Persons were such as would not that Christ should reign over them And how doth Christ reign but by his word and spirit and the Laws and Statutes of them Well then such as yield not both visible and invisible obedience in heart and life unto the laws of Christ but walk by their own laws or the laws of men in things pertaining to the Kingdom of Christ are the Enemies of his Kingdom Nay every man in an unconverted estate is an enemie to Christ Rom. 5.10 Col. 1.21 Now I befeech you if your Souls and the securing of your eternal peace be so much worth make a little pause here and soberly consider what infallible nay probable evidences you can produce to prove your pretended Conversion whether they are such as God in his word speaks peace through and on which after serious and due deliberation you can boldly and safely adventure your fouls on for ever Nay are there not many and I think never more amongst a Christian people that even hate and disdain the imputation of Repentance and Conversion and yet cannot so much as question whether they are the enemies of Christ or no. Well the day is at hand that will separate the Sheep from the Goats and then it shall fully appear who are friends and who are foes 2. Whether Gods Enemies be not concern'd in his Rod as well as his friends Doubtless the Proposition is affirmed by all the Reason in the world If Judgment begin at the house of God what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel 1 Pet. 4.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God Psal 9.17 Will a Lyon roar in the Forrest when he hath no Prey Shall a Trumpet be blown in the City and the people not be afraid The Lyon hath roared who will not fear the Lord God hath spoken who can but prophesie Am. 3.4.6.8 3. Whether the course you are taking be the way to the mercies you are exspecting By swearing and lying and killing and stealing and committing adultery they break out and blood toucheth blood Therefore shall the Land mourn Hos 4.2 3. If all manner of prophaneness and oppression be the way to mercy and peace then Scripture shall be no longer Scripture nor God any longer God who hath both threatned and executed the contrary There is no peace saith the Lord to the wicked Isa 48. ult Hear this O ye that swallow up the needy even to make the poor of the Land to fail that ye may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of shoes Shall not the land tremble for this and every one mourn that dwelleth therein Am. 8.4 6 8. Righteousness exalteth a nation but Sin is a