suffer violence and the violent take it by force so that the kingdome of God is come into the hearts of all the elect of God when the soul uses a holy violence and the Lord does draw the heart to an entertainment of the Lord himself Many difficulties there be between them and Christ and yet they break through all This is the condition of all men by nature they are strangers to Christ and live without God and Christ in the world and Christ from them and so Satan takes possession and rules them and so men are under the kingdome of darknesse so that the divel himself possesses every natural man as the Apostle speaks he worketh in the children of disobedience and runne on so and remain so Now the Gospel of the kingdome and the means to advance Christ in his kingdome makes a free offer of Christ himself indeed it offers pardon grace mercy life glory but all these are in Christ himself and we possesse them by possessing and receiving of Christ himself as a poor woman hath all the wealth of the man by entertaining of the man So that the Gospel firstly and primarily offers Christ himself and faith doth pitch on Christ himself and doth open those everlasting doores that the King of glory may come in Iohn 1.12 't is said So many as received him he gave power to be the sonnes of God 1 Iohn 5.12 He that hath the son hath life so that now let a man refuse or reject the Lord himself as he is thus offered in the Gospel he does refuse the kingdome of the Lord and does refuse to be under the power of the Lord. True it may be said the kingdom of God hath been nigh to him when Christ is offered in the Gospel and God layes as it were nothing shall please me so much as this if thou dost receive me Luke 10. Go and preach to these and these Cities and if they will not receive you shake off the dust of your feet and let them know the kingdome of God hath been nigh to them then Christ comes into the soul when the whole soul takes the Lord for himself Christ and all that Christ hath Christ in a pardon and Christ in a promise at that very day the Lord gave the heart to receive him then is the kingdome of God come in that heart and with him all life peace joy and glory God Spirit and all Now the whole soul receives him when 1. The minde sees him in the glory of his grace that though it had low mean thoughts of Christ before for which it mournes yet the rising of this glorious Sun upon him he esteemes all things losse for him that he may win Christ and be found in Christ I in him and He in me in Vocation and not having my own righteousnesse in Justification And to feel the life of Christ and death also in sanctification and to attain to the resurrection of the dead in glorification and now nothing is dear to the soul but Christ 2. When the will after the soul hath had some hopes the Lord may look towards it in his grace and having had many heart-breaking teares before the Lord the Lord is now pleased by the glad tidings of the Gospel to give the will power not only to receive and entertaine the Lord but gladly to receive him The soul wonders that ever the Lord should bow down to him and offer mercy to him and when as together with this by the sweet savour of his Grace chat he doth let into the heart the soul doth receive the Lord with most dear imbracings into his soul that now there is none like to the Lord. Cant. 1.3 Thy name is like an oyntment poured out where the very feet of the messengers of glad tidings are beautiful But the Lord himself is the only crown and Joy of the soul when the least look of love to a cast-away is more sweet then kingdoms ay and much more that 's love it self Isaiah 52.9 Brtak forth into joy sing together ye Wast places of Jerusalem for the Lord hath comforted his People When kings shall stop their mouths as vile in themselves and not able to set forth that glory they never heard of before and the soul for Joy sells away all to buy this pearl that it sayes with David Hon do I love thy Lan Now beloved when the soul does thus receive the Lord the kingdome of God is come to that soul and therefore try and examine is it thus with you or hath the Lord begun to deal thus with thee to give himself the glory of Angels the wonderment of heaven the mighty God of heaven to come to thy heart thou art then under the government of the kingdome of God But now on the contrary if thou canst be content to receive the ordinances of Christ or the consolations of Christ or some of the commands of Christ and that is all and the Lord never gave thee a heart to close with Christ himself it 's a strange thing to thee that which is the main thing the Diamond in the Ring of the Gospel thou art yet farre enough off from the kingdome of God I dare not say nor think for all the world that ever the kindome of God came to thy heart Again if you have received Christ but not with thy whole soul that now the offer promises blood life grace glory in the Gospel are grown common things to thee that the Lord never sent thee home wondering at the glory of Gods grace to a poor wretch never yet said'st Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord the Lord never yet lay next thy heart or if thou hast had some liking and some love and affections in pangs yet the Lord is not only precious and exceeding dear in thy heart thy heart breaks not for grief that thou hast so much slighted him so little born him on thy heart It is a signe that the Lord hath begun to reveal himself to thy soul when he gives thee a heart to mourne for thy standing out against him but this never came to thy soul Certainly here is the wound of many men The Gospel of God never hath its proper effect till the Lord help thee to give thy whole heart thus to a Saviour to a God to the Prince of peace and till this is done the Gospel is ineffectual it doth nothing It was a sweet prayer of him Make thy Sonne dear very dear exceeding dear only dear and precious or not at all If thou hadst a thousand hearts it was too little for Christ to love him and do'st grudge him one when thou hast imparted thy heart and esteem to thy lusts and creature do'st thou love the Lord with part of thy heart but a vile lust a poor creature must have a share and the remnant will serve Christ is he not the only pearl of thy heart to give him daily communion no this thou art a stranger
our best mercies our choicest and dearest liberties If ever the Lord Jesus which mercy forbid should take his doleful and final farewel of the English-nation as when he laid the tomb-stone upon Jerusalem such as these wil be his mournings over us Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and burnest them that aresent unto thee as they did in the time of Popery how often would I have gathered thy children together by my Word and Spirit therein even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under the wings of my special Government and Protection but ye would not behold your house is left unto you desolate But the Lord who doth not only make the day dark with night but also turneth the shadow of death into the morning even the Lord avert these evils and the Lord make the English nation his Hephsibah the land Beulah which is the prayer of his Mourners in Sion and of Thy Servants in Jesus and for Jesus sake William Greenhill Samuel Mather TO THE Christian READER THe precious memory of the Author of these ensuing Sermons needs no reviving to any gracious heart that had any knowledge of him Yea the world knows in part though but in a little part by some pieces of his formerly printed while he was yet with us who this Author was what it owes to God for him and how justly it might sigh over his grave with that of the Apostle Of whom the world was not worthy His praise throughout all the Churches is farre above any addition by so mean a pen as writes these lines But it is not fit that the first page of any thing published after his death for I doubt not but his death is long ago publickly took notice of should go without some witnesse of a mournfull remēbrance therof which indeed no tears can sufficiently lament We who sometimes sate under his shadow were fed from God by him the poor flock of this Shepherd among whom he lived testifying Repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ and whom he somtimes exhorted comforted and charged every one of us as a father doth his children we cannot but carry sorrow in the bottome of our hearts to this day that we must here see his face no more Neither do we believe that his losse remaines with us alone or only within the limits of this remote wildernesse the benefit and consequently the want of such a burning and shining Light is of more general concernment then we easily apprehend especially in this Age wherein not only many sit in utter darknesse but which is more the new Light thereof is darknesse and the Love of many waxing cold But we must all be silent before Him whose judgements are unsearchable Neither may we presume to say to him What doest thou It is instantly and not without cause desired by many that such reliques of his Labours as do survive him may be at least some of them imparted to the publick To effect any thing considerable that way is not an easie or sudden work But this small piece being at present attained it seemed not amisse to let it passe the Presse These were some of his Lecture-Sermons Preached most of them in the year 1641. They are now transcribed by a godly Brother partly from the Authors own notes and partly from what he took from his mouth The subject in both the Texts is of great use and needfull for these times wherein there is more Liberty then good use of it and much more common and outward then saving and effectual knowledge of the word of God These posthumous editions are farre short of what the Author was wont to do and of what the Sermons were in preaching But though the sense be not every where so full nor every thing so thorowly spoken to nor the stile so good by farre as the Authors manner was yet the intelligent Reader will finde a precious treasure of truth in it not fit to be buried or neglected The Prophets do not live for ever but their words do The Lord make them such ever-living words as may take hold of all our hearts not for judgement but for mercy for one of these wayes they shall live yea rise up at the last day March 29. 1652. Imprimatur EDM. CALAMY A wholesome Caveat for a time of LIBERTY 2 CHRON. 12.8 Neverthelesse they shall be his servants that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the Countrey THe greatest part of this Chapter is spent in setting down that famous Warre which Shishak King of Egypt made against Rehoboam King of Judah The cause of this War in regard of Shishak is not set down probable conjectures there be Jeroboam probably might be treacherous who having a party in Egypt lest Rehoboam should grow too great together with some other pretended wrongs might awaken this Bear from his den but in regard of God you may see the Reason set down Vers 2. Because they had transgressed against the Lord. The time of this War is set down in the 1. Vers When he had established the Kingdome by wholesome lawes erecting Gods worship and countenancing godly men 2 Chro. 11.16 17. which continued three years and strengthened himselfe by fortified places and munition fit for war as in the foregoing Chapter appears Now when he had most peace and quiet he and all Israel suddenly forsake the Lord which was the fourth year and in the fifth year comes Shishak and with a mighty hoast wastes all before him untill he come to the chief City Now in Vers the 5. and 6. is set downe the repentanee of the people with their Princes especially Shemajah who no doubt had spoke against their idolatrous courses before takes his season when they were low and tamed and tells them the true cause of their misery Vers 5. Many sins there were in the Land as Idolatry and Whoredomes c. yet the venom was They had forsaken the Lord Let the sin be what it will be yet let it be such a one as men forsake the Lord by it that 's the provocation hereupon they humble themselves some effectually some hypocritically yet all outwardly and say the Lord is righteous they extenuate not their sinne they lay not the blame on man no not on Shishak but see the Lord justifie his proceedings The Lord is righteous we unrighteous although it were more heavy then it is Now in the 7. Verse and in the words read is see down the mitigation of Gods plague and the moderation of his chastisement I will not poure out all my wrath yet I think it not fit to shew perfect deliverance I 'le make them servants to let them know c. There are two parts in the words read 1. The punishment or chastisement on Judah for forsaking the Lord and backsliding from him which is bondage and privation of the liberty they had they must be Shishaks servants 2. The Lords end it was very gracious
Christ then thou art so long as there is credit for the truth so long it is entertained but now suppose it be costly that it shouldbring beggery affliction with it is it now sweet to you doth this support thy heart I am in Gods way canst lye down and subscribe to the equity of Christs proceedings with thee though he should never shew favour to thee if it be not thus I dare not say thou art under the Kingdome of Christ And so for the correcting will of Christ many sad afflictions the Lord tries thee withall the Lord tries men marvellously when thou art under the hand of the Lord those very things that should make men cry to heaven and wean thee from the world those very things do harden thee and make thee grudge and repine The Lord be merciful to thee if this be thy frame the Kingdome of Christ never came into that heart you are begging for mercy and the Lord sayes you mercy you have abused it no saith the Lord Go to your lust that have despised the day of grace and so now you cast off the Lord because the Lord will not give you mercy when you would have it Will you now quarrel with the Lord no down proud heart pray still and mourn still and turne to the Lord and say Lord do with me what thou wilt I am clay in thine hand thou may'st make me a vessell of dishonour I deserve not the least bit of bread such a one as is above the Lord and his will is not under the Lord therefore submit thy self to the good will of Christ 3. When the soul doth thus submit to the will of Christ by vertue of the power and Spirit of Christ i. e. when the soul doth not submit by vertue of its own power strength or ability for this is forre gne power But as it do h seek to submit to the will of Christ so it would have Christ himself act it and rule it and so inable it to submit there unto Now is the Kingdome of God come neere to that heart And herein Christs Kingdome is different from Princes they give lawes that men may keep them by there own might hence they command no imimpossible things but the will of Christ is so crosse to a carnal heart that 't is impossible man of himself should submit to it But the Lord doth it for this end chat the soul should then come to Christ in its need that he would do all the good pleasure of his will and now the Lord himself reignes and that gloriously Rom. 8 1 2. For the law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death Acts 5.31 A Prince and Saviour for to give repentance and remisspon of sint It is part of his Princely power for to give remission of sins both in turning from sin and to God and all the wayes of God and now you exalt him when he is thus set up 1 Cor. 4.20 The Kingdome of God is not in word but in power The power of Christ Jesus is come into thy soul and the soul is under the Kingdome of the Lord Jesus when it doth lye under the mighty power of the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thess 1. 11 12. We pray alwayes for you that the Lord would work and fulfil the good pleasure of his will and the work of faith in power that Christ may be glorified Yea then is Christ glorified when God omnipotent reignes over sin and unbelief and when the Lord doth this not only the Kingdome of God is now come but the Kingdome of Christ in glory is come there is many a poor soul thinks Christ rules him not because he cannot do this nor that became he findes his heart unable and unwilling for to submit to the will of Christ I finde no strength at all saith the soul and I go to Christ and finde not strength conveyed and now he thinks he is not under the Kingdome of Christ I answer that is not the question but hath the Lord made thee willing in the day of bis power when the soul doth lye under the power of the Lord Jesus Christ when che soul doth lye like wax before the Lord Jesus when the soul saith Lord there was never any change of my nature the good Lord change it and if there be any change the good Lord increase and stir up the graces of thy Spirit in my soul and do thou lead me and guide me Brethren the Kingdome of Christ is come to this soul John 5.40 You will not come to me for life He doth not say you do not quicken your selves or ye cannot come to me but will not here is their wound they will not come to Christ for life Rom. 6.19 As ye have yeelded your members servants to sin and Satan so now yeeld up your selves servants to righteousnesse and to holinesse Psal 119.5 6. Thou hast commanded that we should keep thy precepts continually Oh that my heart were directed to keep thy precepts continually Oh that my heart were directed to keep thy statutes When a Christian is grapling with his own heart ye will never be able to overcome the unsubduednesse thereof but when ye bring them to the Lord Jesus Christ that he would take a course with them 1. Now ye please Christ 2. Ye take a sure course to have the will of God done he being in office for that end for Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and Saviour to Israel When the soul doth look up to the Lord Jesus and lye under the power and Spirit of the Lord Jesus 3. You now make the yoke of Christ sweet and his name glorious nothing glorifies Christ so much as this when Jesus doth work in a Christian now the Kingdome of Christ is come to the soul and that in power But now when men will not submit thus far to Christ 1. They can do nothing but will not come to him on whom God hath laid salvation you say you cannot understand nor edifie by the Sermons ye hear and you cannot part with your lusts Ay but now this is thy condemnation thou wilt not go to a Saviour that he may teach thee and help thee when men will not have the Lord Jesus to reigne over them or 2. If men do come they will not come to him where he may be found but say I can do nothing Christ must do all and so neglect the means wherein he will be found or 3. Will submit and come in means to him but not then at the speciall time when He is to be sought and may be found viz. in time of temptation But then forget and forsake him and cry not Hosanna Lord now save now help me against this lust When temptation comes when passion and pride come do you now go to Jesus Christ When the world begins to draw thy heart away dost thou say thus Lord I have prayed this
the Lord will have it so to be nothing be content thus and though thou dost not finde any benefit from the Ordinance of the Lord as yet yet notwithstanding loath thy own heart but love them yet seek after the Lord and look to the Lord in them And this is certain the Lord hath blessings for his people not only in this life but as he there speaketh to his Disciples when they say to him Lord what shall we have saith the Lord to them You that have followed me you shall sit on thrones But take heed of this if once ye come to slight Ordinances and cast off Ordinances because of these straits and wants and so forth And what are your Ordinances c and a generation of men risen up I think Christians should send forth their gronings to the Lord that the terrour of the Lord may fall upon them they deny all the Ordinances of the Lord and the Spirit must teach us only 'T is true the Spirit must do it but will ye therefore take away the means and hence the very Scripture is made an Alphabet for children and so they do destroy the Ordinances of the Lord. Beloved if it be from this principle take heed of it for if it be ye will certainly finde bondage 4. When men do not thus pull down the Ordinances the throne of Christ but drive the Lord Jesus away out of his Ordinances though they have his Ordinances with them by their secret defilings pollutions spiritual pollutions of the glorious Ordinances of Christ this the Lord frequently complaineth of in Jerem. and Ezek. The very great reason why the Lord did leave his Temple where their fathers did praise the Lord they had polluted and defiled it that was the reason of it They had driven the Lord away from his throne and this doth pull down the princely power of the Lord in his Churches I know there be many sins and defilements and the sons of men have hidden wayes of polluting the Ordinances of the Lord that a man shall sit under all the Ordinances of the Lord and as it is said of Mount Gilboah not any dew fall upon him never see good when good comes the Lord is not dear that is the reason of it Oh thy secret defilements of the Ordinances of the Lord have driven the Lord farre from you There are many I shall only name three principally that there may be a little heed taken of them First When there is a secret contempt grown upon a mans spirit of the Ordinances of Christ attended with a secret wearinesse of them this doth now pollute the Ordinances of the Lord and this doth drive the Lord from his Ordinances Mal. 1.7 Ye have offered polluted bread wherein have we done it say they this was the cause of it Ye say that the Table of the Lord is contemptible the meaning is you do despise my Table and Ordinances and so now do despise me too and so ye do vilifie and contemne the Ordinances of the Lord Therefore saith the Lord in the conclusion of that Chapter vers 11. From the rising of the Sun my name it shall be known As if he should say I am not bound to you I can have a people among whom my name shall be great For saith the Lord I am a great King If one should have asked men in those dayes what good is in your sacrifices what great glory can ye see in them the Saints can see a great deal of glory in mean outsides Now when this is wanting the name of the Lord is polluted and so the Lord driven from his Ordinances Heb. 12.15 Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil root of bitternesse springing up and many thereby be defiled When men do live in secret lusts or open profanenesse a man that hath a profane heart such a heart as doth contemne the portion of mercy the Lord doth offer to him who like Esau did sell his birth-right for a messe of pottage Secondly Unbrokennesse of heart in the enjoyment of Ordinances when men live not in a daily sense of the extreme need they stand in of mercy Isa 66.1 2. Heaven is my throne and the Earth is my footstool Now observe what the Lord doth there speak To him will I look that is poor in spirit and contrite such a poor soul saith the Lord will I look to and to these are opposed such as have not such hearts but do look only to the Ordinances of the Lord Now saith the Lord to such He that offereth a lamb is as if he cut off a dogs neck and he that offereth incense as he that blesseth an Idol These were a people that did plead for the Temple of the Lord and had the Ordinances of the Lord according to his command but here was their wound they were not broken under the Ordinances of the Lord This you shall finde the Saints have many sins and wants under the Ordinances of the Lord but little does the world know their gronings before the Lord and the Lord hath mercy for such soules as are sensible of their need they stand in of the Ordinances of the Lord. But now when men have found the Lord in an Ordinance subduing some particular sin there are other sins remaining in their hearts and they stand unremoveable in their hearts and hence are the strongest and dearest of all the rest Now I say when men having these sins and knowing these sins in their hearts and spirits when as because I cannot subdue these sins and they have attended on the Lord in the use of means and the Lord helps them not and because they hope to be saved at last for all these Hence they come to a truce with their sin and never go mourning to the Lord nor say the Lord hath begun to subdue some of these lusts Now Lord go on but the soul is at truce with his sinnes Beloved if there be any pollution of the Ordinances of the Lord here it is that men come with unbroken hearts to the Ordinances of the Lord that never feel your need of them and wounds and sores that are in your hearts that men do stand with those very sins that they think they cannot subdue and because they cannot ease themselves of them therefore they give way to them When men keep these sins with unsensible hearts of them ye do resist the holy Ghost ye feel not your need of the Lord therefore ye keep your sins and your woes you shall have for them Thirdly Where there is a spirit of unbelief that there is not a seeking to Christ Jesus to wash away the pollutions of his heart and life in his attending upon the Lord in his Ordinances Tit. 1. 15. To the unbelieving nothing is pure but even their minde and conscience is defiled Exod. 30.29 It is said Every thing that touched the Altar was clean and hence without this all is unclean When a poor soul shall come to
vexing for all the estate he hath if he hath any eye or tendernesse in it so those small matters for which the Saints have suffered and for which God is provoked and under which some have roared and others have been loaded one after another 't is worth a world oh blesse God for it but consider those that be under the dominion of sin and Satan so strong and miserable sinne so dear that there is not so much as a sigh under that be thankful for that 3. Labour to maintain in the heart a holy feare of abusing liberties every one in his place for what makes them despised but principally the abuse of them in such a Congregation there was such contention such affront to the Elders there is that degenerating of spirit and back-sliding from God that men grow worse under meanes then ever I and so must be if men grow not better Deut. 6.10 12. The Lord exhorts them that when they be at liberty they would not then forget the Lord but then feare 'T is Luthers note on the place When in trouble you rejoyce but when in peace you feare I 'le only name the sins of liberty 1. Take heed of a Prayerlesse spirit and that that lamp go not out Men under some pressures cry and 't is long before they do cry under them and under their sin but then at last they do and when the Lord gives liberty though they have the guilt of the same sins and more sins lie on them yet then like Marriners when the stormes are over fall asleep It s strange that Israel under Pharaoh cried and under Gods afflicting hand in denying them water murmured True thankfulnesse will help to prize what liberty affords 2. An unloving spirit to the Saints It 's that I have oft said souldiers when they are set against a common enemy are all one but when at liberty then they fling javelins at one anothers heads differ in opinion and in heart and affection and 't is not death so to do Take heed of a rigid censorious unloving spirit 3. Extreme ignorance how to use our liberties and hence running to extremes As we say of Christ There is good enough in him but men know not how to fetch and improve it so there is great advantage in liberties but men misse of it through their ignorance and abuse Hence many times more hurt done by an Admonition then by the sin when administred in passion and without compassion Hence under pretence of liberty extream licentiousnesse 4. Imperiousnesse of spirit arising from a frothy emptinesse and an overweening opinion and conceitednesse of their own abilities and wisdome above others and hence will not be led being at liberty by the Councel and Advice of others It 's natural for man to affect sovereignty and when the time comes of liberty then it hath a vent Who made thee a Lord and Judge over us though in bondage much more in liberty they think Wills Common-wealth is in their heads chiefly and hence will not be ruled by Gods ordinances and hence if once taken with an opinion hardly ever removed c. 5. Resting with liberties and in liberties We were never in bondage John 8.33 yet servants to sin We be Abrahams seed better then all the world yet under all the power of sin and Satan and must not be told of their wayes but hate them that censure them for their sins Men in bondage are like sick men that will cry if they were in another bed oh then they should be well but they must first be cured of their disease 4. Make use of liberties He that hath them but sees not so much glory in them or gets not much good from them he wil be no more thankful then one that hath large grounds may walk at liberty but the trees for want of manuring bear no fruit nor ground corn through sloth such a man wil starve there Look as they Deut. 15.5 10 11. they were to bring the first fruits present them before the Lord and rejoyce in all so should you if ever you be thankful for them bring the first fruits to the Lord and think there is more behinde and more in heaven Object But our outward straits are many Object and temptations sad Answ If Christ himself should come on earth what would you have with him Answ would you have him come and set up an earthly Paradise would you have better entertainment then he who had not that which foxes and birds had or would you have him come from his Crosse and then you will make him King if you despise his ordinances and liberties because of wants you would despise himself if he were present But you will reply and say What if we can have both If that can be and Christ calls to take both refuse not his love But it may be an heavy indictment against some at the last day in that they forsake Christ because he is poor and naked for they are therefore called to cloath him and this will be your Peace and you will be no losers your selves another day 2. Suppose he doth keep us low yet Psal 145.13 14. His dominion is alway and raiseth up all that are bowed down Oh be humbled he is said Deut. 32.13 to make the people such honey out of the rock and oile out of the flint sweetnesse and mercy out of the hardest condition 3. They that are not recompenced for their enjoyment of liberties by the spiritual refreshings which the Lord gives shewing them more of their own hearts the Lord proclaims liberty to them to depart I am perswaded the whole Countrey would flourish the more 4. Lament rather your own vilenesse who in the midst of all mercy know not how to use but abuse our liberties and hence the Lord forsakes us as Ezra 9.8 10 11. What grace hath been shewed us what shall we say that after this c Wouldest thou not be angry with us till thou hast consumed us Psal 81.13 16. Oh that my People had heard my voice I would have subdued their enemies God would not be wanting unto us if we were not to him Take therefore that example to imitate in Acts 9.31 Having rest they were edified if we be not so truly as none have the like liberties so no bondage so sad no where such poverty no where such anguish of conscience no where such spirit and power of sin no where such sad anger if in practice we be unthankful or can mouth and speak against long Sermons and against the Countrey and Christians or in hearts undervalue them and when you see Indians rise Brambles Abimelechs and Shebnas raised c. then know this is for abuse of liberty Vse 7. Of exhortation to come under Christs Government Vse 7 and be in his service lest ye come to know the difference between it and some other by experience Mot. 1. You must be either under Christs yoke or Satans and sins Mot. 1. and so
he sets the soul at an everlasting distance with his sin never to be reconciled and looks to the Lord that by his Word and Spirit he would subdue them that so he may see the death of them and he sides with the Lord in the use of all means comes to the Word and comes to Prayer and sayes Speak against my sin Lord Lord waste these distempers and so the soul is thus at variance with his sin although his temptations do get winde and hill of him he goes again and to them again and though he perisheth and never have mercy from the Lord yet Lord that I may never sin against thee more help therefore Lord by this promise and mercy and meanes and here he keeps him and here he holds Truly brethren here is an eternal vertue and such a vertue as no hypocrites have that have some sting of conscience and after they have some peace they are at truce with their sins No there is an everlasting conflict and warfare and I do assure you there is an everlasting power gone forth Mat. 12 20. Christ will not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoaking flax till judgement come to victory Therefore there may be judgement but it may not come to victory there may be smoak and fire and it may almost go out and he Lord he blowes it up again and at the last though it be weak and little and he think with himself he shall never get strength again yet the Lord will give victory in his time Only becautious here I told you there is an incompleat victory the Lord never sets his people at variance with their sin but they have victory but it is an incompleat victory Saith the Lord I will drive out the Hittites and Canaanitess and Perizzites before you but I will do it by little and little There is many a Christian that findes within himself a Spirit of warfare against his sin and did he examine himself he should finde a Spirit of victory but he thinks he hath none because his victory is not compleat If he had a heart so to believe as never to doubt more and such quickning as never to be dead more never to depart from God more now I should think the Word comes with power but I finde that these evils prevaile against me There is many a one does scorn the kindnesse of Christ because he findes not compleat victory but darknesse remaines still and sinful lusts remaine still therefore the Word doth me no good at all saith he The Lord he hath given thee a Spirit of Conflict and hath set thee at an everlasting distance with thy sin and he doth give thee some victory Beloved a Christian may decay in the power of the grace of Christ which he hath received from the Word and voice of God in the Word and he may decay and grow to a very low estate yet be shall finde this the Word of the Lord hath come with power to him it will recover his soul again and so the efficacy of the Word is eternal Psal 72. it s said of Christ that his People shall feare him so long as Sun and Moon shall endure that is continually all their life-time It may be said there he many that finde decay of their service and obedience and they lose their feare of the Lord and their dread and their humble walking before him He shall come as the raine on the mowen grasse many times a Christian hath his flourishing time as the grasse but when the grasse is mowen it is as a dry chip so the soul it may grow dry as dry as a chip Now where is your sap and savour but I tell you if you belong to the Lord Jesus the raine it will fall again the Word of God set on by the Spirit of Christ it shall fall up on you as the raine on the mowen grasse and you know that it recovers little by little and puts on a green coat again Here is the eternal love of the Lord Jesus to his People and thus the eternal efficacy of the word does continue 3. Vse is of exhortation 3. Vse Oh Brethren and beloved in the Lord Jesus may a Christian heare the Word of God spoken and yet never hear God speak may he hear it externally and not internally then rest not in external hearing and with some little movings and affections and stirrings of the Word of Gods grace in hearing Let not the Word be to you as the sound of many waters and a noise no efficacy of the Word that do remaine on your soules Brethren and beloved in Christ I lay my finger on the sore in these times Oh the contempt of the Gospel of Christ though I believe it hath its efficacy in the heart of the Elect that is the thing that I presse never be content with external hearing though thou mayest have some affection and know new things unlesse thou finde the Lord speaking with an eternal efficacy to thy soul I conceive two things are to be done that the word may come with an everlasting efficacy although something is to be done by Ministers that is to preach truth and Gospel-truth fetch 't from heaven wich many prayers and soaked truth with many teares Ye shall know the truth and that truth shall make you free Convicting truth We preach saith the Apostle in the demonstration of the Spirit The Spirit of God when he cometh he convinceth the world of sin Let Ministers do so Preach convincing truth and Gospel-truth fetch'd from heaven and bathed in teares Oh brethren let the fire burn clear let there not be more smoake then fire it will never come with power then convincing Gospel-truth set on by the demonstration of the Spirit of the Lord and this will set a Christian at liberty there is never such a Sermon that the faithful ones of God preach to you if it come not with a power to loosen you and call you home it comes with a power to blinde you it is an axe at the root of the trees but I leave this What means ought the people to use that the Word of God may come with efficacy Them that are in their unregenerate estate the Lord only knowes how to work on their hearts they must come to the outward meanes I speak to the Saints of God I leave others to the infinite mercy of the Lord It is not in him that willeth or runneth but in the Lord that sheweth mercy In the use of meanes 1. Meanes Do not only see thy infirmities and weaknesse but pray to God to give thee a heart bleeding under the sense of thy many infirmities Many times men slight them and are not sensible of them I do not say wickednesses and wilfulnesses but thy infirmities and weaknesses get a heart mourning under them A Christian is made up of infirmities and weaknesses a man would not think there is that in another which he knowes by himself Oh brethren
That they may know my service c. For explication 1. What is meant by service Answ There are two things in service 1. Government 2. Subjection cheerfull obedience to that government Both the Hebrew word as also the nature of the thing it selfe hath these two God sets up his government over a people his people do or should subject cheerfully to this government By my service is therefore meant my government and your subjection wrought by me to this government 2. They shall know 1. Not by the knowledge of the brain for that they know now but knowledge of experience as it 's said in Ezek. 6. ult When I shall have made the Land desolate in all their habitations they shall know that I am the Lord. Now what shall they know of it Ans The difference between them the sorrow of the one the sweet of the other the misery of the one and blessednesse of the other the bondage of the one and the liberty of the other There might be many things observed from the words but I note only the generall Obser Doctr. 1 That when any people of God forsake the Lord and cast off his government over them they provoke the Lord to put them under the bondage of another government They that abuse Gods liberty must be under bondage the Lord hath a Kingdome in this world most glorious hence when men will not be under it if they will not be ruled by him they must be ruled by the whip and if Christs laws cannot binde Christs chains must Jer. 5.19 And it shall come to passe when ye shall say Wherefore doth the Lord all these things unto us then shall thou answer them Like as ye have forsaken me and served strange gods in your land so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours Psal 107.10 11. Such as sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death being bound in affliction and iron because they rebelled against the words of God and contemned the counsell of the most high Ezek. 20.24 25. Because they had not executed my Judgments but had despised my Statutes and polluted my Sabbaths c. Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good and judgements whereby they should not live c. Zach. 11.15 16. And the Lord said unto me Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish Shepherd Vers 16. For lo I will raise up a shepherd in the land which shall not visit those that be cut off nor seeke the young one nor heal that that is broken nor feed that that slandeth still c. When people break covenant with God and loath him then saith the Lord I 'le not feed and then he sets over them Idol-shepherds This is certain when the soule will not subjecl it selfe to God he goes about to subject God to him nay to his Iusts Isa 43.24 Thou hast made me to serve with thy sins For one of them must stoop and a man would have the Lord be mercifull patient and pittifull to him when he is in league with his lusts now this the Lord will not do And hence if he does not destroy him he with-draws himseif from serving of the creatune and hence other evils take hold of it and bring it under When Adam stood and was for God all creatures served him and the riches of Gods goodnesse preserved him the Lord communicated the sweet of his government or service to him but when he turned away from the right ways of God Now if the Lord should serve him by governing of him in goodness he should serve a lust and bow to the creature nay to a lust which is a vilet thing then for one creature to fall downe and worship another Therefore now hence it comes to passe because the Lord will not be a servant to any mans lust there must be some other government that must seize upon them Hence set all the Saints in the Churches with their faces subjected to the Lord his good will and righteous wayes and then his goodness shall flow down upon them in and through Christ for otherwise we have nothing to do with good but when we are set right for God Hos 2.19 I will betroth thee unto me for ever yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteousnesse in judgment in loving kindnesse and mercy c. The Lord will then command all creatures to be serviceable to his Church and people Vers 21 22. But on the contrary misery must needs seize upon the soule that doth cast off the government of the Lord Jesus Thus much for the general explication of the point Now in particular 1. What is this government or service of God 2. What is that bondage he captivates his unto 3. Why doth the Lord do thus Quest 1. What is this government or service of God Quest 1 which being shaken off the Lord gives them over to bondage Ans There is a double government of the Lord over his people Answ 1. Internall or inward of which our Saviour speaks Luk. 17.21 The kingdome of God saith Christ comes vot by observation and outward pomp For behold the kingdome of God is within you And this is nothing else in generall but when the Lord doth bv his Spirit in the word of his grace cause the whole soule willingly to submit and subject it self to the whole will of God so farre as it 's made known to it this is the inward kingdom of God government of Christ in the soul Rō 8.14 So many as areled by the Spirit are the sont of God Ps 110.2 The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion c. 2 Cor. 10.4 Far the weapons of our warfare are not carnall but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds Vers 5. Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ There are mighty boisterous distempers but the Lord when he comes in his Kingdome to sit upon the royall throne of the hearts of his people now they flie and this is the inward Kingdom of Christ like a poore Subject pardoned and received to favour he is before the face of the Prince continually attending on him Revel 7.14 15. These are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Vers 15. Therefore are they before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his Temple c. Now this is meant in part by Gods service in these dais do you think the Lord cared for thousands of Rams no but to walke humbly Mica 6. Did he care for Temple and Ordinances no but Isa 1.19 If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eate the good of the land Neb. 9.20 In those dayes he gave them his good Spirit to instruct them 2. Externall or outward the end and institution of which was to set up and help forward the inward for externall Ordinances are nothing in themselves meane
bitter as death as sharp as arrows the Lord is pleased for the forsaking of his righteous wayes to make a mans self rip his own bowels the father against the childe the master shall be a scourge to the servant and the servant shall be a scourge to his master weary him of his life the government of the Lord in a mans heart or family being cast off Mic. 7.4 5. Trust not in a friend No greater bondage in the world then for men professing the Lord to be desperately set one against another 4. By taking from a people all that righteous power of government the Lord hath set over them when a people despising the Lord and inward government first for there all begins and so not prizing what they have nor praying for them nor subjecting to them the Lord hereupon sends some sicknesse or some other evill that they are either suddenly taken away or gradually and when they are gone all sink or else such crosse carriages that as Moses said so say they I cannot beare this people Thus Judges 21.25 Men did what was right in their owne eyes when there was no King in Israel No State so miserable as an Anarchie when every one is a slave because every one will be a master Thus Isa 3.1 2.6 Be a ruler to us No I 'le not undertake to rule So 2 Chron. 15.3 5. when without a teaching Priest then no peace at all men will not be under government of them you shall not have them they shall rest in peace and you shall then know the want of them 5. By giving them over to Satans and their own hearts lusts that seeing they will not serve the Lord they shall serve their lusts their sins that now the Lord he hath left off chastising of men and conscience shal check no more prosper saith the Lord and go on in thy sin Psal 81.12 So I gave them up to their own hearts lusts and they walked after their owne counsels Rev. 22.11 Let him that is filthy be filthy still When the Lord shall give a man over to Satan not only to winnow him to let out the chaffe and so to make the grain the purer or to buffet them as he did Paul but to insnare them and hold them that he shall not only tempt but his temptations shall take and not onely take but hold 2 Tim. 2. ult Who are taken captive by him at his will taken alive as a snare doth that now a man is beyond the reach of all means only peradventure God may give repentance Isa 1.5 Why should ye be stricken any more ye will revolt yet more and more The Lord leaves smiting and sayes Go on and prosper in thy sinne and which is the worst of all Satan shall so blinde him and harden him fill him with pride passion lying hatred of Gods people cavilling against the Lords wayes of grace slighting of his betters despising of wholesome counsell from his dearest friends that he knowes not that gray hairs are upon him And after this when God hath cast out it may be the Church doth also a most fearfull bondage that the Lord gives such a soule over unto There are two reasons of this point which I collect only from the story in this Chapt. Reason 1. Reas 1 Inregard of the righteous Judgement of God It 's just and equal that he that will not be ruled by this blessed Lord Jesus he should be ruled by his lusts he that will not be in subjection to a merciful Christ he should be in bondage to unmerciful men this an humbled heart will acknowledge as these do here Verse 6. They acknowledged the Lord to be righteous Mam being fallen it had been righteous with God to have left all men as the Angels that fell in chains of darknesse for ever But among his church and people the Lord sends the Gospel to proclaime liberty and with it sends Christ with his Spirit to come to the prison-doores of poor sinners to give repentance as well as remission of sinnes and now if they will not come out of their bondage accept of the Lords liberty 't is exceeding righteous to deal with them as we do with prisoners condemned to die if the Prince comes to the prison-doores and saies I am come to give thee thy life nay and here is pardon nay favour and to pull off thy chaines also now if he saies no I had rather be in prison every one will say it is just and as it was in the yeare of Jubile he that would not go free was to be a bondman for ever 'T is very righteous to give men their own choice 't is no wrong to let them have their own will If indeed the lawes of Christ were Draco's lawes hard and heavy there were something to object but they are most sweet and for which of all other blessings men have cause to blesse him Psal 147. ult Reason 2. Reas 2 In regard of the mercy or merciful wisdome of the Lord towards his Church and people especially his peculiar ones that hereby they keep the closer to the Lord set a higher price upon the rules and government of the Lord love his kingdome the more and the liberties thereof and use them better when they have them again so here that they may know my service c. 1. How sweet it is Experience we say is the Mistris of fooles such is the foolishnesse of mens hearts that men are many times never truly taught a truth till they are taught it by sense Prov. 5.11 and thou mourn at last when thy flesh is consumed tell a man of all the glory of the Saints they never understand it till they feel it tell men of the wo of their wayes they will not beleeve it till they see it Psal 32.9 Be not as the horse or mule that hath no understanding whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle Hosea 10.11 Ephraim is like an Heifer that is taught Like untamed Horses that will cast their rider unlesse they be held under and backt and then they are gentle so 't is here and truly 't is long before a man can learn the sweet of Christs government hence Israel must be long in Egyptian bondage and many long miseries so that if there be either justice or mercy in the Lord he will do this and this point shall be true Vse 1. Vse 1 Hence then see that the greatest liberty and sweetest liberty is to be under the government of Christ Jesus although men do not think so hence the Lord tells them here they shall know my service they might have replyed we do know it No till they be in bonds they know it not nor cannot learn it So 't is now and hence let men observe whiles they live loosly and are guided by their own wisdome for their own ends according to their own will at peradventures at rovers as they please they do think this liberty very sweet and 't
not be thus and purpose never to live thus again yet notwithstanding all their purposes and resolutions they fall again and never get any real conquest their untamed hearts wils are never a whit more subdued Isaiah 63.7 8. For he said Surely they are my people children that will not lie So he was their Saviour but they soone rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit their wills were never subdued But now the Saints either the Lord preserves them from such falls and apostasies Or if they do depart from the Lord by reason of the prevailing power of any temptation they ever get real conquest by their fall their sinful corruption thereby gets its deadly wound Rom. 11.10 Their backs are not alwayes bowed down but the Lord raiseth their bowed down spirits Psalm 145.14 and upholdeth their spirits for them when they think they shall one day fall by the hand of such Saul-like sins and distempers A carnal heart may carry a faire profession and be in subjection to Christ for a time but his back stands alwayes bowed down under his profession it is his burthen and hence at last he casts it off as a man doth his wearisome burden but on the contrary childe of God being indeed weary of his sinne and carrying that up and down with him as his burden with his soul bowed down in the sense of his own vilenesse by this means through the helpe of Christ at last he comes to get real conquest over his sinne and cast it off 5. When the Lord in this case lets them alone without inward or outward troubles this is a fearful signe Hosea 4.17 Ephraim is joyned to his Idols let him alone the Lord will take no more paines with them he is wearied out with striving Isaiah 1.5 Why should ye be stricken ye will revolt yet more and more when the Lord sees men the worse for his merciful corrections he deales like parents that have have striven long with their children and can do no good on them they then resolve to let them take their own course and will own them no longer to be of their family the Lord never deales thus long with his but if their sinne will not waste by words the Lord will then try what chaines will do and now they shalt finde good now they shall remember their backslidings and apostasies from God and their impenitency in finne in fecret sinnes especially in the dayes of their peace and prosperity now the Lord will make finne as bitter as ever it was sweet Oh consider this you that are prosperous and because the Lord is good to you therefore you think the Lord likes well of your wayes No greater plague then for the Lord to give a man peace in his sinne or if the Lord begins to afflct thee in thy name or estate begin to be blasted and thou canst see Gods hand on thee and knowest it and yet thou remained unhumbled this is a signe thou art under the bondage of thy finne Vse 5. For examination whether we do Vse 5 or when a people do cast off the government of the Lord and destroy his kingdome it's needful to know the sinne that we may prevent the misery and 't is certaine let New-England be watchful and make sure here to advance the Prince of peace and to keep the right and government in his hand and you shall have the blessing of God and his ordinances peace and mercy in your times and continued to your children for his kingdom is an everlasting kingdome and of the increase of his kingdome there is no end and on the contrary if New-England cast off the government from over them and refuse his service the Lord will then take the kingdome from you and you shal then know the want of what now ye injoy Now because Christs government or kingdome is 1. Inward 2. Outward in Church in State I shall let you know 1 when the inward kingdome of Christ is set up and when 't is tazed down which I shall do by giving you a briefe view of the nature or it and wherein it consists and so you may the better Judge of your own hearts in this particular As Satan hath an inward kingdome in the hearts of those that are without so the Lord Jesus hath an inward kingdome in the hearts of all his Saints Col. 1.13 Blessed be God saith the apostle which hath translated us from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan into the kingdome of his dear sonne which is very spiritual little seen a man may be under all outward government and yet naught here and therefore attend this inward kingdome therefore consists in four things or when the whole soul submits it self to God in these four particulars 1. When the whole foul gives entertainment unto the Lord himself to come into it for if a people shall say they are under such a government and yet will not admit the Prince himself to come amongst them but keep him out of the kingdome they cast off his government and his kingdome 2. When the whole foul closeth with the whole will of the Lord for if a people shall receive a Prince amongst them but he shall make no wholesome Laws to governe them but will be led by their own wills and lusts they pull down his kingdome 3. When the whole soul thus closeth with the will of Christ by vertue of the power and Spirit of Christ for if a people submit to the will of their Prince but 't is not by vertue of his authority over them command of them and helps he hath given them for that end but it is by reason of some forreign power that underhand incourageth them to yield this is poore subjection 4. When the soul thus submits to Christs will for the Lords ends denying its own wisdome or will and is-led by the Lord to his end for if a people shall submit to their Prince but 't is to set up other princes he is cast off from his throne When a man shall serve God and be under his government because it is profitable or honourable it suits his own end this is poor service in the Lords account 1. I say then the soul is under the inward kingdome or government of Christ when the whole soul gives entertainment to the Lord of Lords the Lord himself with all his traine in and by the Gospel of graâ—e the royal sword and Scepter of Christs kingdome for when Christ himself is thus received the kingdome of God is come to that soul and entred into that heart and hence Marke 1.14 15. the Gospel is called the Gospel of the Kingdome and when John and Christ preached believe and repent for the kingdome of God is at hand Under which word is comprehended much but principally Christ Jesus ready to enter the souls of his people and hence Iohn preached Christ Now 't is said those that were effectually wrought upon Matt. 11.12 that the kingdome of heaven did
day against this sin and Lord I have no strength against it now Lord help me but here is the misery of the soul it doth not go to Christ and by this means live in complaints all their life-time 4. If lastly any thing be to be done they will do it themselves as Paul Gal. 1.12 Not but that a Christian should put forth himself a Christian is not a dead-hearted Christian at all times but the grace of God which comes from Christ doth act the soul in a continuall dependance on Christ and where Christ acts not there Satan doth Now I say the Kingdome of God is come when the soul doth thus submit to the stream of the blessed Spirit of the Lord that the Lord may guide it Oh beloved here is the skill that poseth the Angels how to tell you so to yield your selves to Christ as that Christ may come so to abide in the stock that all your fruit may be from him So to lye under the Lord as that the stream of the Spirit of life may fall on thee so to be implanted in the Lord as to fetch life from him and bring forth fruit to him But try this course submit to the will of the Lord Jesus be nothing in thy own eyes and if the Lord do give thee any thing blesse the Lord for it if any strength against thy sin be vile in thy own eyes and try and see if ye finde not the Kingdome of God the glory of Heaven come into thy soul Oh the light life prayers you might have the heavenly conference ye will have together that it would do a mans heart good to be with such a Christian that those that are with you might say Verily God is in this man verily there is joy in Heaven when the Saints keep in this frame 4 When the soul yeelds thus to the will of Christ for Christs ends for such is the subtil wretchednesse of mens heart that men would have Christ glorifie himself that he may glorifie and honour them like Simon Magus that would give any money for Apostolical gifts that he might be some tody that way also Now if a man shall submit go to Christ for gifts and parts that 's to set up another King to advance a mans self and so also sin and the devil and Christ must be made a servant for this end He is now no King like a Rebel that is not content that thousands of the Kings Subjects should serve him but he will have the Prince serve him also Every man will say this doth utterly overthrow the Kingdom of such a Prince When a man shall secretly fight against the Lord and be for himself and for the devil and sin within When a man shall make all the creatures serve him the souldiers of his army meat drinke and outward comforts this is a marvellous thing Ay but when a man shall make Jesus Christ and God himself and profession of Christ make these to serve him to raise up his name this the Lord takes very ill Only this I would adde when the soul doth look at Christ with a single eye that Christ is sweet and precious and lyes under the blessed Spirit of Christ for that end and now looks up to Christ that he may submit to him with a single eye that the name of Christ may be glorified by life and death true it is self will be in every duty and so is contrary to the Lord in all and not for the Lord. Yet though it be thus there is another thing in the soul that is wholly for God and Christ and hence seeks that he may do his work his heart loves him and so seeks him and he begs it with many teares Oh that my children might serve and love this God nay that all the world might see and blesse and admire this God and the Lord inlargeth his heart herein Psal 72.19 and truely now the Kingdome of God is come to thy soul Rom. 5. 17. As sin and Satan do reigne by death So Jesus Christ doth reigne by life to eternall life Matth. 25.14 He is the true Subject that improves his Talents for the King Christ will subdue all his to himself Psal 66.3 Through the greatnesse of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves to thee Rom. 14.17 For the Kingdome of God is not in meat and drinke but in righeousnesse and peace and joy in the holy Ghost When a man shall be picking fault with things and this and that offends him get ye gone the Kingdome of God consists not in that But when the soul do's go to the Lord maintain his peace with God and love to the people of God and joy in the holy Ghost here is the Kingdom of God He that serves Christ in these things the Kingdome of God is come into his soul He that thus submits to the Lord Christ he must first be a man wearie of his own counsels and must loath himself When the Lord hath wearied a man of his own wayes he sayes What am I that the Lord should shew me any mercy And when the Lord calls him to any service Lord What am I that I should now pray to thee Blesse the Lord when the Lord doth keep thy heart in this frame but now when men will honour Christ and yet Saul-like have Christ honour them Many poor creatures they think it a credit to be in Church-fellowship and they will seek to know Christ that they may attaine Church-fellowship and have honour but know it till the Lord do pull down thy base ends and make thee loath thy self and so to submit to his blessed will truely till then the Kingdome of God is not come to thy soul Think of these things for if the Kingdome of God be in our hearts then look for good dayes Brethren let New-England be confident of it but if this be gone from the soules and hearts of men and women in their severall families and places though they may have the outward Kingdome of Christ yet the inward Kingdome being not set up I say no more but what he said Go to Palestina and Bohemia Certainly if they had not cast off the Lords government they had nevever seen those lamentable dayes they had outward Ordinances Oh but here was the thing the inward Kingdome of the Lord Jesus Christ and subjection to the will of the Lord Jesus and to be for the Lord Jesus this the Lord saw was not in them therefore the Lord hath left them to be lamentable spectacles Therefore dear brethren I do beseech you pray and beg for this Kingdome Thou sayest I fall short of this Know this Kingdome of God is at first like a grain of Mustard-seed some little lying under the will of Christ if it be in truth blessed be God for it The Kingdome of God is come and the soul doth weep and mourne after the Lord that the Lord would bring every thought into subjection Know it the Kingdome of
God is come to thy soul and know it thou hast Jesus Christ at the right hand of God the Father interceding for thee therefore go home and blesse the Lord and wonder at his grace that hath translated thee from the Kingdome of darknesse to the Kingdome of his dear Son If the Lord hath let thee finde the beginning of these things in truth go home and blesse the Lord for it 2. Try when the external Kingdome of Christ in his Church is cast off for we told you this was Christs Kingdome 'T is called the Kingdome of Heaven Matth. 25.1 And 't is it which the Lord gives up at the last day to God the Father and hence Mat. 8.12 the members thereof are The children of the Kingdome and hence we read of the rulers and governours of it and the keys not only of doctrine but of power and jurisdiction committed by Christ Jesus to it punctually exprest in Scripture Now we know in the Church there is a three-fold power of Christ in Government 1. The supreme Monarchical absolute power of Christ in and by his Ordinances 2. There is some derivative power of the Church from Christ joyntly together 3. There is a Ministeriall power of the officers of the Church it self Hence the Kingdome of Christ is overthrown when these three are when this three-fold cord is broen by the sons of men and if whole America cast off these or any of these then they fall to bondage and if particular persons in Churches do the Lord will do the like to them much more 1 Kings 9.4 5. When Solomon had been praying much the Lord tells him If he would walk before him as David his father had done to keep his statutes and obey his commandments then he would be a God making good his promise but if not then the Lord would cast off him and that place So Zach. 14.17 And it shall be that whoso will not come up of all the families of the Earth to worship the King the Lord of Hosts even upon them shall be no raine The Lord is quick in his judgements and will spare none 1. There is a supreme power of Jesus Christ in his Church and Ordinances thereof Isa 9.6 The Government is on his shoulders it is true this power is on others also but he is the maine Heb. 3. Moses was only a servant in his House Christ as a Sonne The guidance of all things in the Church doth lye chiefly on him or else it would never be carried along Christ is a Son and that in his own House into whose hands the supreme power of guiding and ordering all things in the Church of God is put the experience of Gods Saints and People doth finde another power which shewes that the Lord Jesus hath and doth exercise a mighty power in the ordinances of his Worship the supreme and kingly power which he exerciseth in the hearts of his people Now cast off this kingly power the Lord himself is cast off I speak not immediately as in the internal Kingdome but mediately And for this the Lord will bring into bondage Luk 19.17 Those mine enemies saith Christ which would not that I should reigne over them bring them hither that I may slay them which is meant of the Lords external administration by his servants Quest Quest When is this done Answ 1. When men impenitently break Covenant made with the Lord. Answ 1 Especially in his Ordinances of cleaving and submitting to him therein and remain so with impenitency This is the maine and first Original of all the rest Now it is manifest the power of Christ Jesus the supreme power of Christ is cast off for a man do's professe by this that not the will of Christ but his own will shall rule him Christ shall not be Lord but as they said Jer. 2.31 We are Lords we will come no more at thee When the League and Covenant between Prince and People is broke then he is cast off from being King this is certain the Lord never did receive any people to himself from the beginning of the world to this day but he hath done it by some Covenant Nor never any people took the Lord to be their God but by some Covenant they bound themselves to the Lord. Whereby they were either made his people or continued to be his people and he their God but I cannot now stand to clear this Now look as when the Lord breaks his Covenant he casts them off from being his people though this he never doth to the Elect So when people break Covenant with him they cast him off as much as in them lyes from being their God they do as much as in them lyes make the Lord to be no God You shall see therefore Hosea 10.3 They say we have no King because we feared not the Lord. It is the speech of Conscience and that at a sad time wherein they did not fear the Lord They have spoken words swearing falsly and breaking the Covenant In their time of Covenanting with the Lord there seemed to be much sorrow and humiliation yet in these very Covenants Hemlock did spring up and hence captivity came Many times the Covenants that are made there is such outward seeming reality that not only men but the Lord speaking after the manner of men He thinks certainly these Promises these Covenants will never be broke yet they are broken Isa 65.8 9 10. I said surely saith the Lord This is a people that will not lie Such profession and such acknowledgements c. so it is said In all their afflictions he was afflicted and the Angel of his presence did redeem them But afterward they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit They cast off the Government of the Lord they would not be under the bonds of the Lord and so he was turned to be their enemie this is that which brings captivity and bondage Jerm 2.14 15 c. Is Israel a servant saith the Lord ye shall see the reason why he was so I have broken their iron yoke saith the Lord and I have burst thy bonds and I have planted thee a noble Vine yet hast thou degenerated and this is that which doth make them vassals or slaves And in truth you never see Churches laid desolate but when that time comes men shall see and shall professe it When other Nations shall aske Why hath the Lord dealt thus with his people The answer shall be clear They have broken the Covenant of the Lord. When many miseries come upon particular persons what is the cause of it then remember the Covenant thou hast broken with the Lord. Isa 24.5 6. They have transgressed the Law speaking of the whole earth And they have changed their Ordinances and broken the everlasting Covenant A people that might have had everlasting mercy they would not submit to the Lord they have broken this everlasting Covenant of the Lord Now what followes The earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof
shall lose that life and strength which it had not but that a Christian do's lose to his feeling but it will returne again When he is a hearing some affection but he goes away dead as he came no but when the Lord comes by his everlasting power and mercy and life in any Ordinance now Christ comes in his power and now ye receive the King in his power and Christ attaines his end in the Ordinance This is all that I would say I do beseech you brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ Oh seek for this blessed life everlasting life Lord everlasting power Lord beg for that and seek for that and pray for that and weep for that do not content thy self with sippings and tastings look for everlasting life and power to come with the Ordinance though means be weak in themselves do not therefore vilifie them Look upon the brazen serpent what a poor thing was that to heal the people that were stung yet the institution of Christ did put vertue into it So do thou attend on the Ordinances and never be content till thou dost finde the Lord and feel the Lord and say as some have said though I feel not the Lord now as I have done yet I think I shall for ever blesse the Lord. Never be content till ye finde the Lord bringing your heart to this passe and then the King of glory the Prince of peace is come though ye finde not the fame power at all times yet if ye finde that power which do's inure your heart for ever to blesse the Lord here is everlasting power Jesus is now come to thy soul Ay but when ye content your selves with some movings and beginnings and sin and Satan as strong again as ever and ye finde not your sin wasting and consuming in truth the Lord Jesus is cast off and ye have not the end for which ye come to the Ordinances of the Lord. But then ye are blessed for ever when ye finde this 2. There is a derivative power of Christ to the Church joyntly considered together Matth. 18.17 Go and tell the Church is the highest tribunal Christ hath on earth in the Kingdome of Saints 'T is Christs high Court of Parliament beyond which there is no appeal to any higher power then the Church and it cannot be meant of the Officers of the Church which is the fairest interpretation For the case may be that there is but one Officer and is he the Church as also that he may sin and not hear of his sin and must they leave him to himself at least to judge of his sin The power of Keys was given to Peter quà fidelis and the power to binde and loose to two or three gathered together in Christs name Mat. 18. but these things are known For the clearing up of this know that there is a threefold derivative power which the Lord bath given to the Church joyntly and not to Elders only Which may be miserably abused and so provoke the Lord to take it away from their hands till they know better how to use it yet when 't is used according to Christ now not to be under the power of it which is Christs power delegated to it is to cast off Christs Government And I am confident the bondage of all the Churches in Christendome if ye examine the Churches is continued because the Lord sees hearts unwilling to submit to him in the government of Churches and will continue it till Churches know how to use it and men lye down to the power of it 1. They have a power given them from Christ of opening and shutting the doores of the Church the Kingdome of God on earth i. e. of letting in and keeping out any according to Christ into or out of their communion and this I conceive to be one part of the power of the Keys committed to the Church The chief office of which is to open and shut to receive in and keep out according to Christ and hence the three thousand were added to the Church though the Apostles were guides therein and Acts 9.26 Paul would have joyned himself but they would not accept of him because they were afraid of him No body natural or politick but they have power to receive to them the usefull and keep from them the hurtfull so much more Christs spirituall body And hence the Church of Ephesus is commended Revel 2.2 together with their Angel for trying those that seemed good and were not Now 't is true this power may be miserably abused in opening doores too wide or locking them up too long or too fast and in many sad disorders this way yet there is this power Now when men shall refuse Church-tryal and so communion with the Church and that not from sense of their unfitnesse and unworthinesse or some other reason which is in the sight of God of great weight but from a carelesse contempt of Gods Ordinances or Gods people a man sayes What care I for the one and what are the other and from a resolution never to grow better they know they are not like to be accepted of them and they are resolved they will grow no better they think themselves as good as they and from a secret unwillingnesse to come to the light they know things are amisse and will not be known of it they appear better then they are and hence they are loath to be seen and judged as they are Certainly this is to cast off Christs power and if continued in the salvation of your soules is also cast off Acts 2. ult The Lord added to the Church daily such at should be saved To the Church i. e. not the universal Church but visible Church where it may be had such as should be saved Isa 60.14 15. For the Nation and Kingdome that will not serve thee shall perish yea those Nations shall utterly perish Lamentable is the condition of many not so much for not joyning themselves to the Church as not seeking of the Lord for that mercy that they may be first joyned to the Lord and so to his people for the Lords sake There are great heaps of people amongst the Churches here that do stand guilty of this the Lord humble us for it that content themselves to stand Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel Eph. 2.12 Strangers from the Covenant of Promise having no hope and without God in the world The Lord is slow to wrath but there is a threefold bondage 1. Of sin and Satan Rev. 22.14 15. Let him that is filthy be filthy still Nay though there be some beginnings yet apt to fall back because not planted in the courts of the Lord And hence Col. 2.5 Joying and beholding your order and the stedfastnesse of your faith in Christ order and stedfastnesse are joyned together 2. Of misery Zach. 14.17 And it shall be that whosoever will not come up of all the families of the Earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King the
all other miseries and therefore as Joshua said so say I to you Choose you whom you will serve Mot. 2. Consider the difference between the service of the Lord and Shishak Mot. 2. 1. The government of others tyrannical proud men or sin or Satan or outward miseries 't is full of rigour force and cruelty Ezek. 34.4 With force and cruelty have ye ruled them But Christs Government is there shewen to be in mercy and full of mercy though sometimes lost he will fetch thee in again though sick and weak he will heal thee again vers 16. Deut. 4.6 'T is for thy good the Lord hath no need of thy service c. True it is the Lord may shew his people hard things and give them sad miseries but these wounds do not kill them only make way for healing the distempers of their hearts that are in his poor weak ones and his end is to bring them to himself 2. Their government is in it self hard and bitter To serve a lust now 't is a torment sometimes to conscience if that be awake if not 't is a curse of curses much reluct ancy against it much chiding after it and God hides himself dreadful fears and heart it self unquiet but Christs yoke is easie and his burden light his assistance and presence and love and peace makes it so and that daily and at death especially 3. There is little recompence for their service the best that Saul can give are Olive-fields and Vine-yards but anguish of conscience after the work is done But the Lord gives a Kingdome and not a word or thought but there is a book of remembrance writ not a cup of cold water or rag to any of Christs naked servants but it will be recompenced You have followed me you shall sit on thrones Mot. 3. Consider how fain the Lord would have you under his Government Mot. 3. for many will say I have refused so oft and what shall I now do the Lord will cast me by True he may do so and you may be glad if the Lord will honour you in doing his work Yet Prov. 2.23 Returne you scorners at my reproof and I 'le power out my Spirit upon you Jer. 36.3 7. Read sayes God the words of the Roll to them It may be they will hear and present their supplications before the Lord and turne every man from his evil way that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin Read the place if you can without tears You that have departed from God and Christ and provoked Gods wrath when there is but little hope left it may be Oh yet read the Roll. Mot. 4. Once Christs and under his Government Mot. 4. you shall never be cast off As sin hath reigned unto death so shall grace reigne unto eternal life Rom. 5.21 He will bestow on you the sure mercies of David by an everlasting Covenant Isa 55.5 Quest But wherein should I submit to the Lord Quest Answ None have power to rule conscience but Christ Answ give him therefore this glory that wherein he bindes conscience conscience not out of fear but love may indeed submit I have instanced the particulars formerly yet more distinctly There be two great commands or charges of Christ that ly upon all mens consciences to whom the Gospel comes and therein lyes our service of him generally Which two I name because there we think we are free or do not know our liberty First The command of Christ is that every one to whom the Gospel comes and is preached do believe i.e. receive Christ Jesus in all his fulnesse in the Gospel John 1.12 For that is to believe in which command lies Gods offer 1 John 5.23 This is his commandment that ye believe John 6.25 37 38. This is the work of God that ye believe Now here men think they are free 1. They say they are unworthy and hence they say Depart from me Lord I am a sinfull man as if Gods grace was built on mans worthinesse 2. Because unhumbled whereas Gods grace calls in men unhumbled Rev. 8.17 18. For Gods call and offer is general though none but the humble wil hearken to it But there are none but it may be said to them If they can believe let them 3. Because Christ is not theirs and are they bound to believe he is Whereas the first act of faith is not to believe Christ is mine then men were bound to believe a lie But to receive Christ as a woman her husband that he may be mine by faith and so a man may know and say he is mine The Gospel doth no where say to any man Christ is thine but if thou receive him he is thine and consequently the Spirit speaks so also 4. Because they cannot believe unlesse they should presume as if the Gospel bound the conscience of none to believe but them that were able to believe it and receive Christ in it yet 't is otherwise for it bindes all to receive Christ Jesus to go up and possesse him to feed eat and drinke and live for ever And I will leave this one undeniable argument If men are liable to eternal condemnation at the great and last day and to bear the eternal wrath of God and Christ also for disobeying the Gospel for refusing Christ and the offer of his grace therein Then those mens consciences are bound to obey the Gospel i. e. to believe and receive Christ now in this life But all that have the Gospel preached to them are liable to eternall condemnation for disobedience to it John 3.18 19. Psal 2.12 Kisse the Son lest he be angry So 2 Thess 2.8 9. He comes to render vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel Rom. 2.16 The Lord shall judge the secrets of all hearts by my Gospel That is whereever the Gospel comes for they that have no law having no law shall not be judged by it But men that have had the Gospel shall be judged by it and therefore are bound o obedience thereunto The serious consideration of which one truth is enough to draw all to Christ from the power of unbelief especially they that say I cannot or ought not to believe For the reason why men do not come is 1. They think the Gospel concerns not them what doth the Lord say to me come so vile and sinful yes that he doth if there was no such law there could be no transgression or condemnation 2. They think they shall presume No if conscience be bound to it 't is no presumption to keep a Sabbath aright or to receive Christ as God offers him Oh this quiets conscience 3. The Lord layes his chain on the most tender place of conscience as it will answer it at the great day or will have any peace take heed you refuse not so great salvation 4. 'T is a chaine not of bondage but of liberty and mercy and love Come and receive not a Kingdome but Christ Peace pardon and grace
gives but a little consolation consider'd in it self it shall give marvelous consolation One would wonder to see what one word will do when the Lods time of blessing it is come 2. After that a Christian hath had the feeling of the efficacy of the word he may lose the feeling of it again and yet the being of it may remain and the reason is this partly because there is not alwayes need of feeling the like efficacy in the word A man may have by the word a marvelous deal of assurance of Gods love and sense of mercy and joy in the holy Ghost he may have this in the feeling of it This word it did ly hid for a time afterward it springs up and gives him peace But he loses his peace again his Sun do's set and it is midnight with him within twenty four hours and he is as much in the dark as before Now the being of this peace is there but he hath no need of the feeling of it at all times the Lord he will reserve that till some time of tentation that he shall meet withall As Paul he had marvelous Revelations but Paul had more need of humiliation then exaltation and there was not that use of Pauls having those glorious manifestations to him I will glory in my infirmities There was need for Paul to know the evils of his heart that he might walk humbly and it did not make so much for the glory of the Lord as this that Paul should say I have this misery and darknesse and sins and yet Jesus Christ he will take away all There was not need for Paul to have those joyes at all times that he had at one time So the Lord he gives a Christian joy and peace now there is no need for a Christian to have it alwayes I will pour floods of water on dry ground Beloved if there should be nothing but raine raine every day and night the ground would be glutted with raine and so turned into a puddle but when the land is dry and thirsty now the ground hath need of raine Let the Earth make use of that raine it hath and when it is dry and thirsty I will give more saith the Lord. So the Lord he gives the soul joy and peace Now if it should continue the very peace and joy of God would not be pleasant to the soul or at least not so pleasant as it will be when the Lord takes it away and gives it the soul again A Christian comes to the meeting-house and the Lord fills the sailes of a poor soul that he wonders the Lord should meet him and speak so suitably to him But as soone as he is gone out again this is the complaint of the soul all is lost again now the soul it falls a mourning again It is not for the glory of God to give the soul such peace out of his Ordinances as he doth in them the soul it would not prize the Ordinances of the Lord so much yet there it is and when they come again the Lord he either gives them the same refreshings again or else there is a new spring 3. The eternall efficacy of the word and voice of God it may be preserved in an internall spirit of prayer for the continuance of it while a man hath it and for the return of it when it is lost Ps 119.4 5. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently David he knew his own weaknesse yet he intimates with what power it came on his heart Oh! that my soul were directed to keep thy statutes When the soul sees the beauty of a command and the good will of God how sweet it is and how amiable the way and work of God is Oh that my heart were directed to keep thy statutes And so when it is gone Psal 63.3 My soul thirsteth after thee Lord saith David that I may see thy glory and power as I have seen thee in thy sanctuary He doth not say that I may see thy glory and power in thy sanctuary though that might be too no but that I may see thy glory and power as I have seen thee in thy sanctuary David he did finde a want of seeing him as he had done yet the vertue of it did remaine in a spirit of thirsting and desire My soul thirsteth for thee as in a dry land where no water is that I may see thee A Christian may have at sometime such a glimpse in hearing the word of Gods grace of the exceeding riches of Gods grace and the love of God to him that he may be in a little heaven at that time ravished in the admiration of that mercy that ever God should look to him It is so and the word sayes so and the soul is ravished with wonderment at it yet God is gone again and the soul loses it Now the soul thinks I have lost the efficacy of Gods word but it is not so for thus it may be preserved Oh that I may see this God as I have done And all his life-time the soul may finde the want of this and yet it may be preserved in a spirit of prayer For whom the Lord hath given once a glimpse of his glory the soul it cannot be at rest but it breatheth for more of that mercy and presence a Christian may finde his spirit marvelously refreshed at the word he may taste how good the Lord is and he may lose it again but this may be preserved in a spirit of longing after this God and presence again And I will say this Brethren A Christian may finde no good by the word to his apprehension he sees the admirable blessed estate of the Saints and exceeding riches of God in Christ sees the swetnesse of the wayes of God goes home and thinks within himself Happy they that are in this condition Blessed are they that can walk thus with God But I cannot saith the soul I say it may finde it thus when he cannot finde the reall efficacy of the word as he would do he may receive the benefit of that word if the Lord do but only give him a heart to desire it Oh that the Lord would but thus manifest himself to me the soul may go away poor and hungry from the word and the Lord may yet reserve a spirit of thirsting after that good which a man desires to finde and there is the efficacy of the word there As now there are two golden vessels one a man fills and it is everyday dropping and he preserves it another vessel he do's not fil but with something that he hath he is every day widening of it So some Christians the Lord he 's a filling of them others the Lord he do's not fill them with such peace and joy ay but though the Lord is not filling of them he is a widening of them there is such a vertue that the lord do's enlarge the heart with secret desires and longings after more of Gods
grace and Christs The Lord he saith I intend to make this man a vessel of glory and I intend he shall have a great deal of glory and peace at the last The lord he leaves such an impression of the word upon him as that thereby he enlargeth the heart Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it 4. A Christian may have the everlasting efficacy of the word and voice of God preserved in a spirit of thankfulnesse and love to the Lord for those joyes and good that it findes by the word sometimes When it feels that the sweet and savour of the word is gone a spirit of thankfulnesse and love to the word that doth remaine The Lord he preserves the efficacy of the word in this way Psal 119.7 I shall saith David then praise thee with uprightnesse of heart when I shall have learned thy righteous judgements The Lord he may teach his people his righteous judgements and the savour and feeling and strength of them to their feeling may be gone and yet it is preserved in a spirit of thankfulnesse and praise that ever the Lord should shew it such mercy When the Spirit is gone the spirit of love and thankfulnesse remaines As now a man hath heard the word the Lord he hath effectually wrought on him and changed his heart and drawn him to himself a Christian it may be he may lose those sorrowes and humiliations and the remembrance of those things yet there remaineth to his dying day this Spirit he blesseth God and wondereth at God that ever he should make the word effectual that he should leave so many thousands in the world and cast his skirt over him and say to him Live this do's remain still Brethren the Lord do's sometimes let light into a mans minde to discover his sin now this light it do's not sensibly overcome the power of sinne But now the soul blesseth God for that word which hath convinced it had I never seen my sinne saith the soul I should never a sought for power a-against it and pardon of it and this continues now and cannot but continue here is the efficacy of the word the word of Gods grace though the flower of it be gone yet there is an eternal power of the word that the soul can say It hath come to me and helped me against these sins and the soul wonders at the Lord it should be so much as it is So again a Christian he findes marvelous refreshings and affection whiles he is a hearing when he is gone away he findes not the same but he blesseth God for those affections he findes and there remains an eternall efficacy of the word 5. The eternall efficacy of the word it may be and is preserved by nourishing increasing and restoring the new man that is eternall There is a double efficacy that the word hath the first is to beget a Christian to life and this new man is eternall I conceive all the actions of the new man may be suspended and the increasings of the new creature may be decayed though God doth renew it again But this never do's decay it never dies He that is born of God cannot sin because he is borne of God and because the seed of God remaines in him 2. There is efficacy in the word when it hath begotten a man to nourish him up and so the word it is food to him that was seed to him to beget him which food is eternal How is it eternal Is it in this that now the sweetnesse savour and remembrance of every thing that doth refresh him shall last in it self No buâ— in this respect it is eternall in that it leaveth its secret vertue in the nourishing of that which is eternall As now Adam when he was in innocency and had an immortall body his food it should have been an immortal food to him but how should that have been should he alwayes have had the same strength from the same diet which he ate long before No but in this respect it should have been an immortall food to him in that it was to nourish that which was to be eternal So it is here the word of Gods grace it begets a man it humbles a man and drawes the soul to Christ but afterwards there are many things that God speaks to the soul in the word that hath an eternall vertue in that it doth nourish up the new creature the word hath a secret vertue in it for this end I will shew it you thus Isa 58.11 The Lord he professes to his People Thy soul shall be at a watered garden The Lord will make the souls of his people like watered gardens in peace and joy and life Now look as if so be trees by water or by some springs that run by it and slide away and ye cannot tell which it is that makes them to grow yet yâ— know this there is in all of them joyned together a secret insensible vertue that every one of them addes something to the flourishing of the tree So it is here the Saints of God the word of God it comes to them and passes by them and ye cannot tell whether this part or that part of the word leave any vertue but many times a man feels no vertue yet it is manifest here is aflourishing Christian here is heart and life and peace that it hath with God and the soul it remains flourishing there is a secret vertue all the words that run by and passe by the souls of Gods people they do leave a marvellous vertue to make the soules of Gods people like watered gardens and to increase in grace Note it by the way you that live under the means of grace your soules shall be like watered gardens if God have spoken to you first or last the Lord speaks many times to you sometimes affecting and sometimes warning sometimes convincing and humbling and speaking Peace and there is a vertue that remaines and if ye finde it not know that God hath not spoken to you 6. The eternal efficacy of the word may be preserved in a power of Conflict against the power of sin for therein the Lords power of the Word does principally appear in this life though not in a power of victory I mean a compleat victory yet an imperfect and incompleat victory there ever is first or last whereever there is a power of Conflict I mean thus the Word it singles a man out and speaks to his heart and sets him at variance with his sin and with himself for his sin and he joynes side with God in the use of all meanes that his unbelieving heart and proud Spirit may be subdued it sets him at variance with his sin now there is many a Christian thinks there is no power of the Word oh my unbelief continues still and my vain minde and I can finde little strength no ye must not look for a power of compleat victory but yet there is a power of Conflict God
Lord negligently and therefore spending usually two or three whole dayes in preparing for the work of the Sabbath and having his sermons finished upon friday night He hath sometime exprest himself thus in publicke God will curse that mans labours that lumbers up and down in the world all the week and then upon Saturday in the afternoon goes to his study when as God knows that time were little enough to pray and weep in and to get his heart in frame c. He affected plainenesse together with power in preaching not seeking abstrusities nor liking to hover and soare aloft in dark expressions and so to shoot his arrowes as many Preachers do over the heads of his hearers It is a wretched stumbling block to some that his Sermons are somewhat strict and as they terme it legal some souls can relish none but meal-mouth'd Preachers who come with soft and smooth and toothles words byssina verba byssinis viris But these times need humbling Ministeries and blessed be God that there are any for where there are no Law-Sermons there will be few Gospel-lives and were there more Law-peaching in England by the men of gifts there would be more Gospel-walking both by themselves and the People To preach the Law not in a forc'd affected manner but wisely and powerfully together with the Gospel as Christ himself was wont to do Mat. 5. and elsewhere is the way to carry on all three together sense of misery the application of the remedy and the returnes of thankfulnesse and duty Nor is any doctrine more comforting then this humbling way of God if rightly managed It is certain the foundations of after-sorrowes and ruines to the Church have ever been laid in the dayes of her prosperity and peace and rest when she injoyes all her pleasant things This the watchmen of Israel should foresee and therefore what should they do but seek to humble and awaken and search and melt mens hearts and warne every one night and day with teares that in the day of their peace they may not sinne away the things of their Peace There are therefore three requests which we would desire to beg of God with bended knees for England to perpetuate the present prosperity and peace thereof and let us commend them to the mourning and praying ones amongst us that they would be the Lords remembrancers in these Petitions I. A right understanding and sober use of liberty For when People come first out of bondage they are apt to be not only somewhat fond of their liberties but to wax giddy and wanton with liberty and instead of shaking off the bloody yokes of men to cast off at least in part the Government and blessed yoke of Christ also Hence it comes about that a day of rest from persecution which should be a day of liberty to the Saints to serve God may become a day of great seduction and of liberty to seducing Spirits to deceive and damne and mislead them from the truthes and wayes of God But the machinations of men though in conjunction with the powers and gates of hell shall certainly fall at last before Truth and Prayer And of this is the first Treatise which is seasonably publish't To be fast bound to the rule with all the bonds and cords of God and Man is the Perfection of liberty Hence there is not a surer Corner-stone of ruine to a Christian Common-wealth that God will break them with unparallell'd destructions by some overflowing scourge when the day of vengeance is in his heart then to think that Religion is none of their Liberties and yet how maay sonnes of Belial are there void of counsel neither is there any understanding in them who imagine vain things and say Let us break his bands asunder and cast away his cords from us How do men run into extremes either stretching and paring every one to the Gyants bed and thereby denying liberty to the Saints to serve him according to the measure of their stature in Christ or else on the other hand opening the door so wide as to plead for liberty to all the disguised enemies and sins against Christ thereby instead of uniting the Saints in one indeavouring through a dreadful mistake to unite Christ and Belial It is a sad thing when a man is come to this passe that he is not able to resolve his conscience whether Baal be God or the Lord be God and therefore would not have the worshippers of Baal punisht for fear lest Baal should be God Is liberty nothing but indifferency irresolution of spirit in the things of God wo to the valley of vision even to a sinful Nation laden with iniquity and led away from the truth as it is in Jesus and to the Host of the high ones that sit on high in the day of his visitation if this be the spirit of these times for in the day when he visits God will visit for these things 2. That his Word especially the Word of his Gospel may be precious and powerful may run and be glorified in England Alas as there is much preaching but few serious few heart-breaking Sermons so there is much hearing but little effectual hearing Men stand like the Oakes of Bashan before the words of the God of Israel no terrour of the Lord no newes of everlasting destruction no evidence of the fierce anger of God upon them which burnes down to the bottom of hell can take hold upon their spirits or awaken their consciences to make inquiries after God in this their day yea if the barres of the pit of hell were broken and if the devils of hell should come flying up amongst us in our solemn Assemblies from the fiery corners of the Pit below with everlasting burnings about their eares and with chaines of darknesse ratling at their heels they might fright men out of their wits perhaps or from the acts of sin it may be for a time but it would not work upon their hearts their desperate dead besotted hearts The fooles in Israel will have their swinge in their lusts and go to hell in a full cariere let God do his best Oh the hardnesse of mens hearts And the maine reason of it is because they hear but a sound of words but they do not hear the Lord in that Wrrd they hear words that are spoken by God but they heare not they see not God himself therein If ever thou wouldest profit by reading or hearing take every word as a special message to thee from God and of this fruitlesse hearing and the rules of hearing aright is the other Treatise 3. Conscience of his Sabbaths Of which there is an elaborate discourse of this Author formerly publish't by himself Therefore we shall adde no more The blessing oâ— heaven go with these to make us a willing People in the day of his power to submit to his Word and to come under the wing of the Government of Jesus Christ as esteeming these spiritual mercies
the Lords Ordinances and prepare himself before he come and in all it hath many weaknesses yet it doth leave it self with Jesus Christ every thing that doth touch this Altar is sanctified and is not polluted But now when men shall enjoy Ordinances and make no great matter of sins in Ordinances especially if secret such is the venemous nature of sin it doth defile the earth a man doth tread on Now when men shall have these sins and know them and yet never leave themselves with Christ and lay themselves on this blessed Altar by faith they do pollute the Ordinances of the Lord. Fourthly When the soul doth not so openly manifestly drive away the Lord but when men shall come to the Ordinances and never come to the Lord Jesus in them now the Lord is cast off A great Prince that comes to a mans house though he be not driven out of doors yet if not attended on he accounts himself cast off The Lord Jesus Christ is in his Ordinances Ezek. 48.35 The Lord is there the Saints they come to God in them and are carried to him by them Therefore 't is said Acts 10.33 34. Now therefore we are all present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God and Psal 84.7 Every one of them in Sion appeareth before God Now the Saints and people of God when they do thus come to the Lord they finde many difficulties to break through a vallie of Baca. Sometimes their heart is turned from the Lord and sometimes God is turned from them so that now the Saints when they do come to the Lord in his Ordinances They go through the vallie of Baca that they may see God in Sion But now when men do never break through difficulties but give way to a sluggish heart when it is thus with a people it is certain the Lord is now cast off and ye do as good now as live without Christ in the world Amos 5.21 saith the Lord I hate your new Moons and Sabbaths For these fourty yeares ye never sacrificed to me vers 25. Did they not sacrifice those fourty yeares to the Lord in the wildernesse It was the very thing they came out of Egypt for that they might sacrifice to the Lord Yet saith the Lord ye did not sacrifice to me truely here was the thing they did sacrifice but to enjoy communion with a God that they did not the Lord he saw none of that and this is the frame of many a man ye never heard a Sermon ye never broke through your difficulties to come to a God in Ordinances therefore in truth though you had them yet it is as if you never had them because ye never did enjoy the Lord in them Therefore this is that I would say Oh Brethren let the Saints let it be the care of all the faithful and people of God the first thing that ye do before ye come to hear a Sermon or receive a Sacrament or to any Christian communion or other Ordinance of God Before thou do'st come indeavour it at least co bring thy soul to a God to Christ above all Ordinances and break through the difficulties heart is dead and minde is blinde and God is gone but yet break through difficulties and wrestle with the Lord in prayer and then ye will finde the blessing of the Lord. The great reason why we enjoy not that mighty presence of the Lord in his Ordinances it is this Men come to Ordinances and would enjoy Ordinances but they never broke through difficulties to come to a God When men shall come to Ordinances only and blessed be God we have the temple of the Lord truely this will do you no good in the world The 5th Degree of casting off the supreme power of Christ in his Ordinances many times when the soul cannot come to Christ the Lord comes to it Now then the supreme power of Christ is cast off when the soul is unwilling or carelesse to receive the stroke of the Eternall power of the life of Jesus into his heart but contents himself with some beginnings some sips and tastes and doth not lye under the stroke of the eternal Spirit of the life of Christ Look as it is with a company of Subjects they are in some great Town that stands it out against a Prince If the Prince send to them and they parlie with him and they are thankfuil for his gifts and glad of his parlie but yet notwithstanding they are unwilling to receive the Prince with all his power to come into the Town if they be unwilling to do that and are loath to joyn sides against the other party they cast him off from being King So it is here when men come to the Lord in Ordinances the Lord he parlies with them the Lord he sends promises and they are marvellous precious things and they have some taste of what the Lord do's send and it is sweet to them But now because they have lusts in their hearts the Lord saith make warre against thy lust and open the gates that I may come in If so be a man now out of secret love to his sin he content himself with the promises of Christ but the life of Christ he cares not for that he uses not ail meanes that he may finde that the supreme power of the Lord Jesus is now casl off and I know no difference between such a people and Capernaum they did enjoy the Gospel of God but now to entertain the Lord Jesus in his spiritual power this they were loath to come to therefore saith the Lord Wo to thee Capernaum the mighty work of Jesus Christ in their hearts this they never cared for Saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 10.5 The weapons of our warfare they are mighty through God As poor things as you think the Ordinances of the Lord to be they are mighty through the Lord When Christians shall not be willing to receive this mighty power of the Lord Jesus Christ truely now the Kingdome of Christ is cast off John 6.49 Your fathers are Manna in the Wildernesse and are dead that was outward Manna but he that eateth me shall live for ever In one word thus this is certaine a man never gets good by any Ordinance nor the Lord Jesus doth never attainc his end in any Ordinance till there bean everlasting power and life of Christ Jesus communicated by the Ordinance There saith he God commandeth his blessing Psal 133. ult life for evermore mercy for ever comforting and light for ever teaching and humbling for ever continuing and a man will never think he doth receive any good till he doth it For If a man be healed of his blindnesse and be blinde presently again what is be the better So if a man hath some flash of light in the Ordinance blesse the Lord for it The Lord quickens up the heart to walk with the Lord Blessed be the Lord for it Ay but when the heart now