about the Person Natures and Offices of our Redeemer against all Hereticks both Old and New In short we agree in the same Creeds in all the Articles of the Christian Doctrine yea we agree in the Substance of the same Worsâ—â—â— and in the same Sacraments against both Papists Socinians and Quakers We have one Lord one Faith one Baptism And then in Civils we agree in our hearty Approbation of our Monarchy and in a dutifull Allegianâ—â— to our King and in refusing the Supremacy of any other at home or abroad And how many Particulars of the greatest weight are contain'd under these Heads wherein all we Protestants are agreed And if Unity in the Truth be any ground for Love and Charity it is incomprehensible that they who agree in all these things should be more inveterate against one another than against such as differ not toto Caelo but toto tartaro from them both But it is observed that the nearer some men are to a conjunction some difference remaining the greater is their hatred thus a Jew hates a Christian more than he doth a Pagan and a Papist hates a Protestant worse than he doth a Jew and a nominal Protestant hates a Puritan more than he doth a Papist as Dr. Featley notes The Contention of Brethren are like the Bars of a Castle Prov. 18.19 A most unreasonable though a very common thing 2. Consider the Imperfections of our humane Nature Our Understandings were sore wounded by the Fall of Adam and they are but imperfectly and unequally recovered by all the means which the Gospel affords Why should we condemn every one that is not endowed with our Abilities or advanced to our Capacity Do we fall out with one that is purblind because he cannot see so far nor so quick as we we should rather pity him and praise God who hath been kinder to us They that are most intelligent know but in part And if any man think that he knoweth any thing he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know 1 Cor. 8.2 That was therefore a good Answer which Melancthon made to those who objected to the Protestants their Divisions saith he The judicious agree in fundamentals but as in a great Army the skill or strength of all the Captains and of all the Soldiers is not equal but they all agree in their wills and honest designs to serve their Prince so all good men have not the like knowledge but all agree in their sincere love to goodness 3. Consider that you who are so violent do differ from others just as far as they differ from you Do you think that one kind of Government in the Church is best they do as verily think so of another do you hold such and such Ceremonies in Religion to be unlawful they are as confident of the lawfulness of them Do you conclude that all Private mens Opinions in such matters ought to be swallowed up and to acquiesce in the publick Determination they verily believe that the Church should leave them as the Apostles did in their first Indifference Now when such as do not otherwise forfeit their Veracity come and profess that they cannot for their Hearts think otherwise than they do you cannot yield to them they cannot comply with you what remedy then is so proper so Christian as Charity to each other relying upon that Promise Philip. 3.15 If in any thing ye be othâ—â—wise minded God shall reveal even this unto you 4. Consider that there have been greater Differences than Ours among those that were the true Members of Christ's Church Witness Act. 15.1 Certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses ye cannot be saved A material Point and urged you see with great confidence and yet God forbid we should blot these out of the roll of true Christians How resolute were some Great Divines in the Church pro and con in the Case of Rebaptizing those that were lapsed in the Primitive times And what Heart can be so hard as to deny the Lutherans and Calvinists a place in the Church of Christ who yet differ in greater matters than ours Wherefore seeing their Differences were greater than ours we should not aggravate them against one another nor by our violence render them intolerable 5. Consider your own personal moral Failings Hath not each of us some right Eye are we perfectly good are not we all Men of like Passions What if our Judge shall say And why beholdest thou the more that is in thy brothers eye but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye thou Hypocrite c. Matth. 7.3 Alas if we were truly conscious of our own Neglects of many Duties whereof we have been convinced toward our God our Neighbour and our selves and of the many Transgressions and Faults which we frequently commit we should much abate our Rigour towards others and turn our Indignation against our selves How sad a business would it be if any of those who have censur'd and damn'd their Opposites for some dubious matters should prove Slaves to their own Lusts and be found at last to be wretched Hypocrites in the main things of Religion Vse 2. If Uncharitable Contentions do prepare for utter Destruction Then Woe be to the Instruments and Bellows of our Contentions If the Evil of them be so great if the Danger from them be so dreadful then most wicked and wretched are the promoters of them Wo to the World because of offences for it must needs be that offences come but Woe to that Man by whom the offence cometh Matth. 18.7 If those that set an House or Town on Fire be justly reckon'd and treated as Enemies to humane Society certainly they who inflame the Souls of Christians against one another to the ruine of a Church and Nation deserve the worst Character and the worst Punishment But as Ahasuerus once said to Esther c. 7. v. 5. Who is he and where is he that dare presume in his heart to do so And as she answer'd The Adversary and Enemy is this wicked Haman so I may answer 1. Our common Adversary and Enemy in this matter is Satan Our Contentions do plainly smell of fire and brimstone Legions of Devils though we cannot see them are employed herein He is the Old Accuser of the Brethren both to God and to one another that wicked Spirit is the truest Salamander that lives in the fire of Contention Divisions are the Devil's Musick but that which makes the Devil laugh should make us weep How often have there been Essayes and Endeavours to reconcile our unhappy Differences and this cunning and malicious Enemy hath defeated them all I have somewhere read of a Treaty between a former King of England and another of France which was held and concluded in an old Chappel while their several Armies stood ready expecting the issue The Kings agreed and coming out of the Chappel a Snake or Viper crept out of the
save many Lives So many Christians have been preserved from Turkish Fury many Protestants from Popish Rage both in days past and of late So Jeremiah's case was weigh'd by the Chief Captain of the Assyrian Army Fifthly Merchants who travel into far remote parts for their Trade and Gentlemen who travel for their pleasure and to satisfie themselves by an occular survey of Countreys and Cities of which they often heard Reports scarce to be believed on hear-say These have some greater advantages to see and hear the low and sinking State or the rising and flourishing Condition of those Churches which are planted in such Countreys and as Christians they are bound to observe inform themselves and tell others how 't is with the Churches that Prayers and Praises may be offer'd unto God for them But this is very little minded by Merchants when abroad and less minded by them when return'd home with Wealth greater than ever they hoped Though Religion decay and Churches lessen in Number Knowledge Faith and Holiness yet who of them out of their abundance settle a tribute of Thankfulness to God making Provision for the sending and maintaining Preachers and School-masters among them Wo'd the enriched Merchants remember their Duty to God and what Thanks they owe to the People who were kind to them in Travels and Trading there would be some settlements made to encourage such as are fit and willing to employ themselves in promoting the Welfare of the Churches but Poverty and Low Condition in the World forbids them to do it on their own Estate and no due provision is made by others to support them in such a work Some few of this travelling disposition though poor do go abroad Tutors to some young raw Gentlemen who being so unexperienced and imprudent among Strangers and ever endangering themselves if the Tutor be absent he can do little but attend them in every place and spend his time in viewing things that please young fancies and profit none but those that are Door-keepers or Officers about the places One short Tour of a Learned Man now a great Prelate among us gives us assurance that Travels might give us good Intelligence of the State of the Church were there due care taken in this Dr. Burnet Bishop of Sarem by Persons who could bear the Expences of Prudent Experienced and Diligent Persons Lovers of the Truth and Church as well as Lovers of Knowledge we might in a short time have a good account of the true state of all or most of the Churches of Christ and our Praises would be more seasonable and suitable Sixthly There are the whole Tribe of Levi Ecclesiastical Persons who live upon the Emoluments of the Church These above others should concern themselves for the Church These are to manage Publick Prayers and Praises for the Church these are to be Examples to others to kindle the Affections of their people to pray and praise as occasions require They are or should be able to take account of the Church-Affairs written and publisht to the World in several Languages They should be diligent Readers of such Books They more than others should understand the Times and Seasons of the Prophecies and how the Wilderness State ends or the State of Return out of the Wilderness begins especially under such Revolutions as we now are as whither the Witnesses are rising or whether any Vials or how many are poured forth whether we are to encourage the People of God to hope for a speedy Deliverance or to advise them to expect and prepare for sorer and longer Troubles These and such like Enquiries the Learned Clergy are much more fit to make then the Layety and I think they are bound to it more than others But in a more particular manner those of the Clergy who have preferments which will bear the Charges of 1. All sorts of Books that concern this 2. All sorts of Ammanuenses and Helps to read and give account to them 3. All sorts of Intelligencies and Correspondencies with Bishops and Pastors of the Churches abroad 4. Entertaining and Conversing with all Exiles Refugees and Travellers that come from Forreign Churches 5. Sending if need be particular Messengers to know the Truth or falshood of what is reported to them Rich Archbishops Bishops and Deans might and ought to do thus or more for the Church of Christ I do not know how much of this Work is set on foot or whether none I can hardly think among so many and Learned Men as have Great and Rich Preferments in the Church of England 't is wholly omitted They do I believe receive Intelligences from abroad and if these be as true as those that some of them have sent abroad concerning the State of God's Church here in England no wonder they all grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived as the Apostle said of some other Men 2 Tim. 3.13 In giving all Intelligences to others let us keep and in receiving all from them let us desire them to keep to the Apostles Direction Inform 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 speaking the Truth in Love It is an inexcusable Crime to be malicious Slanderers one of another And since the Doctrine of the Church of England in points of Faith and good Manners the Renunciation of Popery as fully as is required are both subscribed and Allegiance to the Government assured by Oath or Subscription let none such be any more misrepresented as of no Principles in Religion Friends to Popery and Enemies to Monarchy and Government Ingenuity and Truth is much wanting both in Words and Writings of Men that should describe their Brethren to Foreigners instead of which they decipher a Monster of their own making and set it up to be abhorred by all that see or hear it A Famous Professor of Divinity in a University and City with which the whole Dissenting Party are often upbraided knew not our State or Cause for many years who when he was informed aright wondred extreamly at our ill usage at home and worse representation abroad I am I confess tempted to suspect very great partiality and falshood in Ecclesiastical Historians both Antient and Modern who have wrote with the Prejudice Enmity and Partiality of sworn Vassals to a Party Were there a Colledge of judicious impartial diligent and able Historians imploy'd and encouraged to search out the truth of all mis-reported parties and tell the world their best as well as their worst hath been told by others it would I think be an Ecclesiastical History far more desireable than any I yet have seen Quis dabit Thuanum Ecclesiasticum After so long a Discourse on the first Direction Enquire as fully as your capacity and opportunity can enable you II. If you would Enquire as Christians ought to affect your hearts in order to pray or praise God for the Church Let your Thoughts be much upon the Importance of what is reported to you Weigh well what influence the New things are likely to have
transgress you the commandments of the Lord that ye cannot prosper Were it otherwise Gods Name would not be Sanctified no order in this lower World would be kept But further Impenitence is not onely a Moral Obstacle to good as it provokes God to with-hold it but it s a Natural Obstacle the wickedness of men is efficient of Wo to a People and is in many senses destructive of Mercies and inconsistent therewith Many Enormities of a Nation are its Plagues as bad Laws wickedness in Magistrates a corrupt Ministry Oppression c. It s Iniquity is even materially its Ruin APPLICATION Many Inferences are obvious As How dreadful an Evil is Sin How dangerous to a Land are multitudes of Offenders A Nation is foolish that discountenances Piety and destroyeth the godly Party whereby it strikes at its own Refuge How good and long-suffering is God that calls the vilest Nations to return waits long for their Answer and destroys not till their Repentance be even hopeless What Enemies to themselves Neighbours and Posterity bound up in their doom are an impenitent people What sottish and Atheistical Men are they that guide their hopes and fears of a Nations Welfare by Fancies or second Causes but without regard to Gods Favour or Anger or the influence that Repentance or Impenitence have upon the wayes of God towards a People What a dismal Prospect is a Wicked Nation sporting with their Provocations and Warnings How uncertain a Tenure do most Nations hold their Mercies by But I have not time to insist on these I shall briefly apply the Resolution of the Case to our own Nation We are a Nation we have National Sins Repentance of these Sins is a presage of our future State as well as others I know no exemption or peculiar allowance we can expect at the hands of the righteous Governour of the World Oh that our Hearts were under the Power of this awful Truth that our iniquity may not be our ruin Ezek. 18.30 In order to this 1. I shall insist on some things in order to our Repentance 2. Enquire Whether we may groundedly expect National Mercies from our present Frame 3. Conclude with an Use of Lamentation of our National Impenitency and Dangers In order to our Repentance I shall 1. Represent to you the National Sins we ought to Repent of Hereby you 'l know what we should be humbled for resolve against and reform What a Terror ought it be but to mention our Provocations Oh that a Land of Light should be chargeable with such Enormities and yet be secure and hate to be reformed Where shall I begin the Charge We and our Fathers for some Ages have been guilty of the same sins yet unrepented of Against whom shall I level the Inditement Alass we have all sinned and done wickedly as we could Magistrates and Subjects Ministers and People the Unbelievers and Believers To what sorts of Sins shall I confine my self to Wo is us what Sins did God ever destroy a Land for that are not National with us But that the sound may not appear uncertain I account my self bound in Conscience to be more particular My subject forceth me not any uncharitable design Oh that my own heart were more filled with Zeal for God and deepest sorrows for the Nations Sin whiles I am recording what may offend the guilty though the Charge be too plain to admit a Denial Let us Enquire Is England altogether innocent as to its Laws Do not we see that some of the terms of Conformity are far other than our blessed Lord hath instituted Are they not remote from a tendency to advance real Piety and exclusive of some things that would much conduce thereto Is not a Diocesan Bishop set up whose sole Jurisdiction barrs all the other Ministers from the Exercise of a great part of their Office while the Bishop is utterly unable to perform it through the largeness of his Diocess Is there not more than an Umbrage of Lying and Perjury imposed on all Ministers when they must Assent Subscribe and Swear to what is more than suspicious yea utterly false Are not a heap of Ceremonies and corrupt Usages re-assumed though once cast out to the facilitating of the return of Popery dividing of Protestants and the scandal of the weak who are too apt to place Religion yea all their Religion in those Vanities How many severe Laws were made against Dissenters and severely executed to the ruin of Thousands Was it no provocation to silence Two Thousand Faithful Ministers when their Labours were so necessary and their places were to be filled up with many young Men who have proved fatal to serious Religion The Sacrament is made a Politick Engine to further the Damnation of unworthy Receivers that all such may be kept out whom they suspect any way hazardous to excessive Pomp and Ecclesiastick Pageantry Can the Land be Innocent where Atheism is so professed the most Blasphemous Oathes are fashionable Perjury Uncleanness Drunkenness Malignity against all credible Holiness so common and consistent with Reputation VVas it not among us that the Covenant was burnt by the hands of a Common Hangman and horrid Murthers committed as legal Executions Is not that Christian Nation guilty where prophanation of Sabbaths is so notorious yea pleaded for as warrantable Most Families have nothing of Gods VVorship the plainest Essentials of Religion by few understood the Operations of the Spirit turned into Ridicule and Religion placed in things that bear not a faint resemblance of the very form of it while Sobriety its self is meer matter of Scoff and the Fountains of Learning send forth many more fitted to Infect than Reform the Age Is it to be concealed that Men enter on the Ministry as Apprentices on a Trade and use it as a meer means for a Livelihood How many are Pastors without the peoples Consent And too many preach while unacquainted with the Gospel as a Law of Faith and Rule of the Recovery of Apostate Sinners The Labors of such have no tendency to Convert or Edifie their Hearers yea alass Conversion is judged a Foolish thing to urge All the most Debauched and Prophane are Regenerate if they were Baptized and come to Church Many Souls eternally perish by the influence of this one principle and the Ministry is diverted from its greatest end Have we not seen the Ministry too much laid out to serve the late Governments in designs of enslaving the Nations and ruining the Life of the Protestant Religion Though amazing was the Providence which almost too late opened some Mens Eyes by a close attempt against their own places and so swayed their Minds that they contributed to save the Land from that Ruin which a few more Sermons of Non resistance if believed by the Nation had rendred unavoidable The good Lord continue that impulse least our Miseries become greater by the beginnings of our Deliverance I design not this Account of all our publick Ministers blessed be God
low vallies that are most fruitfull (a) 1 Cor. 27.28 God hath chosen the foolish things of the world God picks up those that seem to others to be the Refuse of the World to confound the wise As Christ chose the poor Fisher-men to convince the most knowing part of the World God hath chosen the weak things of the world such Persons as seem most uncapable of understanding the Mysteries of the Gospel to confound the things that are mighty to put to silence those that are far above them And base things of the world and things which are despised God hath chosen Yea and things that are not to bring to nought things that are God by those who are as contemptible as if they had no Being to be taken notice of manifests the emptiness of those that seem most excellent Pray consider when the whole World was drown'd and when Sodom and the neighbour Cities were burn'd there was not one Servant saved But now under the Gospel (b) Tit. 2.10 they are in a special manner charged and honoured by the charge To adorn the Doctrine of God in all things and they stand upon even ground as to Spiritual Priviledges with any rank of men in the World There is (c) Col. 3.11 neither Greek nor Jew circumcision nor uncircumcision Barbarian Scythian bond nor free but Christ is all and in all It 's neither the Grecians being the most learned part of the World nor the Jews being the only National Church in the World 't is neither the observing the Ceremonial Law t is not the Barbarian that wants Accomplishments nor the Scythians who are of all Barbarians most barbarous t is not bond i. e. those who are in the worst of humane slavery nor free i. e. those who were never in bondage to any but Christ is all and in all i. e. He infinitely supplies all outward defects he 's infinitely better to them than all outward Priviledges so that you have comparatively nothing else to do but to clear up your Union with Jesus Christ 2. Practise what you know tho it be never so little improve what helps you have thô they be never so few 〈◊〉 your Graces will grow more than you are aware of (d) Mar. 4.26.27 So is the Kingdom of God as if a man should cast seed into the ground and should sleep and rise night and day and the seed should spring and grow up he knoweth not how Those that receive the good Seed of the Word into good honest hearts or the Word hath made 'em so it hath an insensible efficacy which produceth a gradual increase of Grace even beyond observation But you complain that you see no such thing in some respect I may say The less you take notice of your own Graces the better provided you do not bely the Spirit of God in overlooking and denying what he hath wrought Things necessary to Salvation are but few and plain easie to be thrô Grace sufficiently understood and practised thô there is not any thing so inconsiderable but may exercise the greatest Parts and Learning attainable in this life yet there is not any thing necessary to be known but Jesus Christ who is our Prophet to teach us will both give Instruction and Capacity to receive it to all his willing Disciples and Christ will require an Account for no more Talents than he gives 3. Endeavour to make a true Observation how those things which are in their own nature Hinderances to the Soul are graciously and powerfully governed by God for our Souls profiting by them that as the Apostle I would ye should understand (e) Phil. 1.12 brethren that the things which happened to me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the Gospel When Paul was first taken off from preaching and cast into Prison who would not at first hearing be ready to cry Oh! many a poor Soul will rue this day this is the blackest Cloud that ever darkened our Gospel day The Apostle doth as it were tell 'em They are greatly mistaken at present the same of his Sufferings rung through Court City and Countrey and persons were so far from forsaking the Truth through discouragement that they boldly own the Gospel And now was he more at leisure to write those Epistles which would benefit the Church in future Ages But to bring this down to ordinary Christians You know that groundless fears and trembling mis-givings of heart are the ordinary diseases of a scrupulous Conscience these now dispirit us and hinder us from that chearful behaviour that might render Religion more amiable and so hinder the spreading of it And besides this Satan that subtile Angler for Souls strikes in with our Spiritual Diseases and plyes the Soul with next to overwhelming temptations and he never fails of success through want of skill or through want of industry But blessed be God for over-ruling all this God by but upholding the Soul under not delivering the Soul from its fears keeps it humble and makes it more usefull throughout the whole course of its Regeneration and as for the advantage that Satan takes God is pleased to give the poor trembling Soul those experiences that it is our sin not to take notice of them e. g. That Christian that is in his own eyes the poorest weakest filliest Sheep in Christs Fold shall out-wit Satan in all his Stratagems and over-power him in all his Assaults though he knows not how he does it Thus the poor Soul when he is hard beset retreats to Christ and though he dare not call his carriage an acting Faith upon Christ Christ will own it as such and reward it as such For how is it that such a poor Soul hath held out so many years under its own fears and Satans Temptations but that Christ upheld both it and its Faith Here 's Faith not discern'd yet victorious 4. Endeavour thankfully and impartially to take notice of the Advantages of your Condition Do not so much look at what you apprehend more desireable in anothers Condition as to know and consider the circumstances of your own Condition Anothers condition is better for them God sees your condition to be better for you 't is the station wherein God sets you (f) 1 Cor. 7.24 Brethren let every man wherein he is called therein abide with God your station in the World is not so high as others and your distractions in the World are not so great as others God hath not set you in his Church so high as others God doth not require so much of you as he doth of others But alas you have not the Graces that others have neither have you the temptations nor desertions that others have Those who have the largest measure and the highest degrees of Grace have always exercises suitable to their Receipts they have sometimes the sorest Tryals sometimes the greatest Corruptions and if not that yet you 'll find 't is such as Job and Asaph and Heman
that make most dolefull complaints of the hidings of God's Face (g) 1 Cor. 7.21 therefore take the Apostle's counsel Art thou called being a Servant care not for it q. d. Be not troubled at it as if thy mean condition in the Word rendred thee less acceptable unto God poor Lazarus is in rich Abraham's Bosom (h) James 2.5 Hearken my beloved brethren q. d. This is a matter worthy your special notice Hath not God chosen q. d. dare ye deny it the poor of this world i. e. In the things of this World or in the esteem of this World rich in Faith i. e. they have abundance of the Grace of Faith and of the Priviledges of Faith they have no Inheritance on Earth but they have at present a Title to and they shall soon have the Possession of the heavenly Kingdom The Case I am to discourse of this Morning is this Quest Wherein and wherefore the Damnation of those that perish under the Gospel will be more Intolerable than the Damnation of Sodom or the worst of the Heathens at the day of Judgment SERMON II. MATTH XI 24. But I say unto you It shall be more tolerable for the Land of Sodom in the day of Judgment than for thee WE read in the foregoing Chapter our Saviour giving Commission to his Twelve Disciples whom he called Apostles Where we have their Commission asserted Instructions about it and Encouragements to the Discharge of it But by his Commission given to them he did not thereby excuse himself By his sending them forth to preach and work Miracles he did not forbear and indulge himself Others labours did not excuse his own For we read in the first Verse of this Chapter When he had made an end of commanding his Disciples he departed thence to teach and preach in their Cities And some of the Cities are these mentioned in this Chapter Corazin Bethsaida and Capernaum three Cities in Galilee And he begins his speech to them in a way of Exprobration Then began he to upbraid the Cities wherein most of his mighty works were done v. 20. Whence we may note That this was not his first time of his coming to these Cities he had been with them before both teaching and working Miracles else how could he now upbraid them And also that these were not the only Cities where he had thus been present but here the Text saith were wrought 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 most of his mighty works And he begins with Corazin and Bethsaida and puts them both together either because they were near one another about two miles distant Or because they both had equal Priviledges of his presence with them and so equally under guilt And in his upbraiding them 1. We may consider what he upbraids them for that they repented not notwithstanding the mighty works they had seen done before their Eyes and the heavenly Doctrine they had heard preached in their Ears 2. Who he upbraids them by it is Tyre and Zidâ—n the Tyrians and Zidonians who were Phoenicians inhabiting Syria none of the Jewish Nation out of the Pale of the Church brought up in the Ignorance of God and true Religion yet if the works done in these Cities had been done among them they would have repented and repented in dust and ashes when these Cities repented not at all Whereupon our Saviour denounceth a Woe against them Woe to thee Corazin c. 3. He upbraids them by name and not in general with other impenitent Sinners for Particulars affect more than Generals Next he proceeds to Capernaum and because it may be this City was under greater guilt than the two former or any other in Galilee therefore Christ names it by it self and doth not only name it but notifie it 1. As being lifted up to Heaven not in outward Grandeur Pomp or Power but by signal Favours and Priviledges from Christs Presence his Preaching and mighty Works done in it 2. As a City to be cast down to Hell Thou shalt be cast down to Hell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or hurled down by force and violence as the Greek word imports And to Hell or as low as Hell A great fall indeed What so high as Heaven and what so low as Hell Though by Hell some understand a temporal destruction some fatal Calamity that should carry it to the grave of Oblivion and bury it in ashes out of sight which was executed upon it by the Assyrians Caldaans and then by the Romans But seeing Christ speaks in the Text of the day of Judgment I suppose he rather speaks of the Aeternal Hell and Damnation it should be hurled then into 3. He notifies it by the form of his Speech directed to it in a way of indignation And Thou Capernaum As if he held up his hand shook his head and contracted his brow against it Ah! Capernaum Capernaum of all Cities thou art likely to have the severest doom 4. And again by comparing it with Sodom and representing it as worse than Sodom If the mighty works done in thee had been done in Sodom it would have remained unto this day Sodom would have repented or had so many righteous persons in it whereby not to be destroyed with Fire and Brimstone Now as all these three Cities were in Galilee so they belonged to the Tribes of Zabulon and Naphtali which are foretold by the Prophet Isaiah as such as would first fall into the dimness and darkness of Affliction in the Assyrian Captivities and as such as should fâ—rst have the Gospel Light shining amongst them in Christs publick Ministry Isai 9.1 2. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light And therefore are first upbraided and rebuked by our Saviour because they repented not But I pass from the Context to the Text wherein we have our Saviour looking to the day of Judgment and the rewards of Sinners to be then distributed But I say unto you it shall be more tolerable for the Land of Sodom in the day of Judgment than for thee Which words he speaks to Capernaum and are a Prediction of its doom in the day of Judgment And we might take up several Notes from them There shall be a day of Judgment Whether men will believe it or Note 1 not yet it shall be Christ here saith it and the Righteousness of God makes it necessary it hath a witness in every man's Conscience Felix trembled though an Heathen when Paul discoursed of it It is one of the Articles of the Creed and one of the Principles of the Christian Religion Heb. 6.2 call'd Eternal judgment But I shall not insist on this In the day of Judgment some Sinners shall fare worse than others Note 2 Of those that shall be Condemned some will fall under sorer Condemnation Of those that go into Everlasting fire some as in Nebuchadnezzar's Furnace shall be cast into hotter flames And those that are cast into utter darkness yet for some is reserved the blackness of
seeing Right and â—â—stice can be but with one of the contending Parties both ought to find it out and to acquiesce therein and to beware lest private Ends preponderate the Publick Good that Princes be not fond of unlimited Power nor Subjects fond of unlimited Liberty 2. Some Contentions are of a Spiritual Nature concerning Religion and matter of Conscience And these are either about things that are Essential and Fundamental therein that is about such Truths as are plainly revealed and necessary to Salvation for these indeed we must contend earnestly but yet charitably with the softest words and hardest Arguments we can even for these things we must not bite and devour one another Such were some of the Points in debate among the Galathians Or else they are about things that are Controversal in Religion that is that are not Essential or Fundamental or that are not plainly appointed of God as matters of Order Ceremony and such other circumstances About which in these latter Ages of the Church there have been in divers places the greatest Contentions Now as it is very culpable to be Circumstantial in Fundamentals so it is very ridiculous to be Fundamental in Circumstantials 2. We must Distinguish of the Manner of these Contentions They are either 1. Charitable when there is Love in the Heart when there is Kindness in the Tongue and Pen when there is a civil and sweet Behaviour in the Carriage of the Parties that differ and these may be called rather Dissentions than Contentions rather differing from one anothers Conceptions than contrary to one anothers Persons Or else they are 2. Vncharitable when rancour is in the Heart reviling in the Tongue or Pen rage at least all manner of rudeness and disobligation in the Carriage when men speak and write so as if they would bite and devour one another And of these the Conclusion is to be understood that they prepare for utter Destraction and this now is the First thing to be opened 2. What Destruction those do prepare for which is the Predicate of the Proposition And the Destruction they threaten is 1. Mutual or Total All that the one opposite Party aims at is to disgrace to run down and to ruine the other but take heed that ye be not consumed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 each by other or that ye perish not one under another Satan the old Apollyon who blows the bellows of Contention designs and endeavours the ruine of both neither of you will have cause to boast in the end 2. The Destruction that these lead unto is Final eternal Destruction so the Word in the Text doth frequently signifie The Wrath of God kindled hereby may inflict it and the Infidelity and Scepticism that results from them may procure it So saith a Great Divine (a) Luther in loc abroad that ye perish not utterly so saith a Great Divine (b) Bp. Hall par in loc at home Take heed lest ye be the Authors of each others endless Confusion And so much for the Explication II. The Amplifying and Confirming of this Point shall be done under these following Propositions 1. That there ever were are and will be Differences amongst God's own People in the matters of Religion 2. That these Differences may and should be managed with Charity 3. That these Contentions are Vncharitable when men bite and devour one another 4. That such Contentions do prepare for Destruction Propos 1. There ever were are and will be Differences among God's own People in the matters of Religion Even amongst the Jews who had such punctual Rules prescrib'd before them yet the School of Hillel went one way and the School of Shammai went another and their Contentions sometimes were sprinkled with the Blood one of another And no sooner was the Gospel planted but the Professors of it fell at variance about matters of Religion Plain in the Controversies about Circumcision for the quieting whereof that famous Council met at Jerusalem Act. 15. The like Differences arose in the Church at Rome about Meats and Dayes the strong Christians despising the weak and the weak censuring the strong Rom. 14. The like Dissention in the Church of Corinth about eating Meats offer'd to Idols 1 Cor. 8. and about the exercise of spiritual Gifts 1 Cor. 14. In the Church of Galatia you may perceive by this Text to what height their Differences did rise that they were in danger to devour one another At Philipi Colosse and Thessalonica matters were much at the same pass Scarce any single Church in the New Testament was clear of Difference in matters of Religion And this whilst the Blood of Our Saviour was warm and divers of the Apostles were yet alive Shortly after what dreadful Combustions were kindled in the Church by Novatus then by Donatus to say nothing of other Hereticks who not holding the Head cannot reasonably be reckon'd in the Body Mystical of Christ his Church The Story is sadly remarkable of Chrysostom and Epiphanius two Bishops that contended so bitterly with one another that Epiphanius in his fury wisht that Chrysostom might never dye a Bishop and Chrysostom in his Passion wisht that Epiphanius might never go home-alive and the History tells us that it fell out to them both accordingly So that no considering man will admire or be offended at a Disease which hath been incident to the true Church of Christ in all ages past Let not the present Church of Rome too much boast of her Vnity for the Case hath been no better there For as there hath been more Schisms among them than in any other Church whatsoever so there have been Collected out of the very Writings of their Eminent Doctors some Hundreds of Differences among themselves in Points of Religion and they are Strangers in the World that are ignorant of the Quarrels between the Thomists and the Scotists between the Dominicans and the Jesuites and many can still remember the fewds between the Jansenists and Molinists all of them within that Communion And it is not only among Christians that these Differences in Religious matters are to be found but the like Dissention is to be met with among Turks and Infidels The Persian Kingdom and divers Others following Haly and the Grand Seignior and his Dominions following Osman the two great Sect-masters in that sorry Religion insomuch as the Persian Turks do execrate the other in their daily Prayers saying Cursed be Ebubeker Omar and Osman and God be favourable to Haly and be well pleased with him Yea it is no better among the very Heathens even the most learned of them to wit the Philosophers of whom One of their Own saith Tunc inter Philosophos conveniet quando inter Horologia Well therefore doth Athanasius answer them when they objected Diversity of Opinions to the Christians in the Primitive times that even they did some of them worship one God and some of them another and could neither agree about the Object nor the Manner of their
are above us a Love of Condescention and forbearance to those that are below us and a Love of hearty Good-will and Kindness to those that are equal to us for Aquinas well saith that that Concord which is the Effect of Charity is the union of Affections not of Opinions There may be the same Love in the Heart where there are not the same Notions in the Head and this will keep the strong Christian from despising the weak and this will keep the weak Christian from censuring and judging the strong They may be of the same Heart who are not every way of the same Mind or else there could scarce be real Affection between any two Persons in the World Pax non est consensio ingeniorum sed conjunctio animorum sentire in omnibus tecum nunc quidem non possum sed amare debeo as Naeranus well said This is that more excellent way which the Apostle doth so divinely describe and advance 1 Cor. 13. throughout a whole Chapter But yet this Method is Hard and very rare and that chiefly by reason of our Pride Most men thinking too well of themselves and consequently of their Opinion and Practice and thereupon vilifying all others that differ from them Every man would be a Law-giver a God to another would prescribe to them and quarrel with them for their Dissent insomuch as the Wise man affirms Prov. 13.10 that Only by Pride comes contention If we had but that lowliness of mind whereby to esteem others better than our selves then nothing would be done through strife or vain-glory which the Holy Ghost doth earnestly require Philip. 2.3 But we are as apt to be fond of our own Notions as of our own Children and as rarely to value others as if we were the only People and Wisdom must dye with us and all others must strike sail unto us And from this root springs Passion and distemper of spirit and then perit Judicium cùm res transit in Affectum when mens Passions are once kindled then Wrath and Revenge manage the Controversie and one Christian is ready to bite and devour another But certainly it should not be thus Religious Differences should be managed religiously that is piously and charitably This may be 't is possible for it is prescrib'd and press'd Rom. 14.13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more And why dost thou judge thy brother or why dost thou set at nought thy brother and ver 19. Let us therefore follow after the things that make for peace And this should be for Charity is a Grace of an universal extent we owe it to all to the weak to the ignorant to the peevish to the proud to the good and to the bad Rom. 13.8 Owe no man any thing but to love one another And it is of that necessary Connexion with other saving Graces that we can neither have Faith nor Hope unless we have Charity yea the greatest of these is Charity 1 Cor. 13.13 And herein the true Church of Christ hath ever excelled The Fathers of old in their dealing wit the Donatists would account them their Brethren when they could not prevail with them for a Reciprocation And it is a Golden saying of Bernard Adhaerebo vobis etiamsi nolitis adhaerebo vobis etsi nolim ipse cum turbatis ero pacificus dabo locum â—rae ne diabolo dem I 'le cleave to you against your Will I will cleave to you even against my own Will when ye are moved I will be quiet I 'le give place to anger that I may not give place to the Devil And there is great Reason for such a Temper for every Difference in Religion creates not a different Religion While Men do hold the Head they must needs be of the Body Where the same substantial Doctrine is avowed accidental variety is very tolerable especially where the Peace of God's Church is not infringed It was worthy Bishop Reynolds's Conclusion Where the same straight road to Heaven is kept a small difference of paths hinders not Travellers from coming to the same Inn at night So neither should they bitterly contest about the next way who steadily own the same Guide the same Rule the same End only every one hath not so clear an Eye nor such opportunity to know the more obscure Points pertaining to the Christian Religion which others have Therefore in these things Luther's Motto is best In quo aliquid Christi video illum diligo where there is any thing of Christ there I love And this Love will cover not one or two but a multitude of sins and infirmities Propos 3. These Dissentions are Vncharitable when Persons bite and devour one another The spring of all this Poyson is in the Heart for out of the abundance of the Heart the Mouth speaketh and the Hand acts There 's a Defect of real and fervent Love and an Excess of Selfishness within Self-opinion Self-will and Self-interest And this Arrogance breeds Insolence and all the biting and devouring mentioned in this place Now if these two Expressions do bear a distinct signification then 1. Men do Bite one another by keen and venomous Words When Men do whet their Tongues like a Sword and bend their bows to shoot their Arrows even bitter words Psal 64.3 The Tongue unbridled is a fire a world of Iniquity it sets on fire the course of Nature and it is set on fire of Hell Jam. 3.6 What flames of Strife have the Tongues and Pens of Men kindled and continued in the World Sometimes by Censuring their Brethren they are time-servers proud covetous superstitious or they are conceited peevish factious Especially if any one be really scandalous by imputing it presently to all his Party as if they were all such which is the most Unjust and Uncharitable Inference imaginable for what Party of Men is there on Earth wherein there are none that are foolish false and wicked In short there is no Vice more common and mischievous not only among different Parties but with all sorts of People than in their ordinary Conversation to let fly their censorious Arrows against others insomuch as it 's very rare to speak of any one behind their back without some reflection upon them which is not only a biting but a back-biting one another and so the more base and mischievous Sometimes Men Bite one another by plain Slandering one another charging them with Crimes which they abhorr thus One Party reckons all their Opposites to be presently Enemies to the King and to the Church who on the Other side are as ready to count them Enemies to God and to his People monopolizing Godliness to One Party and Loyalty to Another Nay each is ready to appropriate all Religion and good Conscience to themselves and to unsanctifie and vilifie all of the contrary mind A common course of Hypocrites first to degrade a godly Man into ungodliness that so they may have room to hate him Though the same Law and
tongues that devise mischief like a sharp Razour working deceitfully Ver. 4. Thou lovest all devouring words O thou deceitfull Tongue I should somewhat suspect their Divinity whose Ethicks are no better Thus you see the manifold Sinfulness and base Vileness of this sin truly but imperfectly described And now 2. Consider the Certainty and Sadness of the Danger You were assured of the Certainty of Ruine from these Contentions in the fourth Proposition that it is in vain to expect safety to be exempted from the calamity threatned Do but weigh this very Scripture and that determination of our Saviour Matth. 12. and you will conclude That nothing but a miraculous interposition of God's Power and Mercy can prevent it As when a Disease is in its nature and degree mortal the Physician adviseth the Man to settle his Conscience and Estate for his danger is imminent so when we see that Charity broken which is the Girdle that binds a Nation together when we see the black and blew spots of Rancour and Revenge on the faces and looks and in the words and carriage of so many it sufficiently proclaims our danger that if we escape more sudden and violent destruction yet we are sure of a Consumption Take heed ye be not consumed one of other And though you may be dead in your own Persons before this denunciation take effect yet you will so far as guilty herein intail ruine upon the Generation to come And if you would but consider that you must be sick and dye your selves at which time in all likelihood you will have different apprehensions of these controversies when Conscience shews you the History of your sinfull Life and discovers an Holy God before whom you must immediately appear and the strict account which you must presently give and the Ocean of Eternity which is just before you then you 'l see that these other points were but of small moment in comparison and not worth that heat and vigour you spent upon them And as the Danger signified by this word Consumed is sure so it is very sad and great For 1. It includes the Ruine of our outward Comforts We know not when we are well To have Houses Plenty Liberty Peace and Quiet are to be reputed for very great mercies but these fewds and quarrels tend to dispossess you of them Our sad Experience shews us how our Body politick languisheth by reason of the uncharitable Contentions of the Members thereof What Decay of Trade what breaking of Trades-men what sinking of the Rents of Land and what a general Consumption invades us The Judgments of God are already as a mouth to us well if they break not forth as a Lion upon us as was once threatned and fulfilled upon Ephraim Hos 12.14 We are rendred by our Contentions suspitious of one anothers Integrity doubtfull of one anothers Ability and some have proceeded to that height of Animosity as to forbear all dealing and commerce with those of an opposite Party Whither must this tend where must this end but in Desolation If the blood do not circulate the whole body will suffer for it and if but a part be miserable the whole cannot be happy And if all your present Adversaries were ruin'd and gone yet consider that the Benjamites were all save six hundred destroyed and that for maintaining a bad Cause and the Men of Israel had sworn in their fury that none of them would give his Daughter to Wife to any of them yet when their hot blood was cooled they lamented and said There is one Tribe cut off from Israel this day and then they used all their wits and policy to restore that Tribe again We shall be worse than Jews if we have not such like Resentments 2. It threatens the Ruine of our Religion the only true and safe Religion on Earth which should be dearer to every man than his Life Upon the occasion of such Distempers in his time Greg. Nazianzen cried out I fear Antichrist will come upon us And they drew from him that pathetical expression whereby he wisht that he might with Jonah be thrown into the Sea if thereby the tempests then in the Church might be calmed Our common Enemies are Powerfull Cunning and Malicious and they gape for our destruction This Island is the great shelter and bulwark of the Protestant Religion what madness then seizeth us to destroy our selves Who hath bewitched us Every wise woman buildeth her house but the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands Prov. 14.1 Would to God that we had but the honest policy of Aristides and Themistocles who though they were often jarring yet being imploy'd abroad together about their Countreys affairs made an agreement to leave their quarrels upon the Mountains which they were then travelling over till the common business was dispatcht which they wenâ— about and then agreed afterwards to examine them Let us be so wise and charitable as to let fall our contests against one another till our common Profession be out of imminent danger and then we may with more leisure and safety adjust our differences How shall we bite our Nails yea our very Tongues for indignation if we shall first exasperate and then weaken one another to that degree that the cruel Enemies of both shall have made an easie conquest of us It is no new thing for Truth like Christ John 5.13 to slip away in the throng of mens Contentions 3. This Destruction inferrs the Ruine of our Posterity They are imbark'd with us in the same Vessel and are in a fair likelihood to be sunk with us And this must greatly affect any considering person That your sinfulness should not only provoke God to deliver his Ark into his Enemies hands and deprive you of the Gospel but also that your Children and Posterity who have been faultless herein should be left to live in Egyptian darkness Inherit your Estates and the Curse that is intail'd upon them We have been contending about the Shadow of Religion and they must fuâ—â—er for the Substance of it The Providence of God hath several times most expresly called us to Unity to Charity and to Concord In the Year 1660. our general Union in Civils and our general Flexibleness to a mutual agreement in Religious matters was a plain direction of Providence to us to bury our debate and strife and to put up the Temporal and Spiritual Sword together But we have been biting and devouring one another ever since now almost thirty years When it pleased God to contend from Heaven with us by the Plague and Fire and to permit men to contend with us by Warr it was a sufficient Item to us to make our Peace with God and to be at peace among our selves but we have been biting and devouring one another for all that In the Year 1678 when there appeared deep and strong designs and endeavours to subvert Religion and to bury both Parties in the same grave Divine Providence did thereby
Nay 2. Reason From the requisites in the Gospel its self 2. All the Priviledges of the Gospel do include or presuppose departing from Iniquity An unholy Person whilst such Ipsa salus non potest salvare Salvation its self cannot preserve How did the Jews search every hole and corner of their houses to find out leaven and how earnestly did they cast it away or else the Paschal Lamb would not have availed them and the destroying Angel would not have pass'd from them 1 Cor. 10.6 And these things are our Examples and tell us that unless we industriously search out and cast away the leaven of sin and wickedness the very Death of Christ the Lamb of God will profit us nothing 'T is as the first Principle of the Christian Religion that the Unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God which the Apostle took for granted the Corinthians could not but know Vers 10. And what a Bead-roll is there of such as he declares shall not inherit the Kingdom of God! No less than ten abominations are there mentioned to exclude from Heaven and some of them valued in common account but as Peccadillo's Men are apt to say of any sin Is it not a little one and my Soul shall live But as the Apostle there cautions Be not deceived deceits of this nature are frequent but very dangerous And this is the Gospel to which we appeal when we are scared and frighted by the Law But in all the Gospel there is nothing that can take away or lessen our Obligation to God's Commandments but what does every way straighten and strengthen it Now we are bound with a double Cord which is harder to be broken and it shews that sin under the Gospel hath acquired greater strength when it snaps it asunder Let us take a view of the Priviledges of those that are saved by the Gospel and see how they are obliged to Holiness by them Eph. 1.4 1. Election is the first and if we are chosen in Christ Jesus the Apostle tells us that We are chosen in him that we should be holy and without blame before him 2 Pet. 1.10 and if we should make our Calling and Election sure it must be with fear and trembling The Book of Life is with God in Heaven thou canst not see thy Name there but it is transcribed for thy comfort in thy Heart when thou art sanctified and the more thou proceedest in Holiness the more legible it will be unto thee 2. Our Vocation is unto Holiness Does God call any of his to come from the World and Sin unto him As Christ called Saul and His Sheep do hear his voice they are called to be Saints Rom. 1.7 they are called to be made holy and to be sanctified whatsoever they were before when once they come to Christ 1 Cor. 6.11 but ye are washed but ye are sanctified Christ comes by Water and Blood and not by Water or Blood only and Christ is made of God unto us not only Righteousness but Sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 3. Our Regeneration or being Born again which the Gospel insists so much upon is in being made like unto God 2 Pet. 1.4 partakers of the Divine Nature enabled to love what he loves and to hate what he hates and to be conformed unto him in all things So that God and regenerate Ones have but one Will Thus they are said to be created again unto good works 4. And what is Glory which we seek for and endeavour after Rom. 2.7 but only Holiness in perfection Grace is Glory in the Bud Glory is Grace in the Flower hence they are put together and we are said to be called to Glory and Vertue Wheresoever true Grace is 2 Pet. 1.3 there will be Glory and in whomsoever Glory is there hath been Grace God hath put these two together and let no Man put them asunder As Laban's two Daughters were disposed of the Elder thô less lovely must be first accepted by Jacob Gen. 29.26 so God deals with his two Grace and Glory Grace is the elder and thô not so desireable every one would covet Glory yet this is the Law of the Land the Younger must not be given before the Elder you must woo for and obtain Grace before you can be admitted to the enjoyment of Glory Nay we are only so far Christians as we are like Christ in Principle and Practice as we partake of the Spirit which he had and lead such a Life as he did Christian is not an empty name and being called so makes us not to be so Every one is not a Scholar or an Artist in any faculty who is called so Besides Christianity is a practical Science and thou hast no more of it than thou dost practise Oh how little have most men The Heathen painted their Deified Heroes with this sentence proceeding from them Si feceritis sicut nos eritis sicut nos We may imagine we hear our Saviour telling us from Heaven If ye do as I did ye shall be as I am And certainly thô Heaven and the Glory of it be freely promised and 't is no contradiction to say that it is fully purchas'd and sufficiently paid for Eph. 1.14 being the Apostle calls it a purchased possession yet there must be a meetness and suitableness to it in every one that shall be admitted to the fruition of it We must be made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in Light Col. 1.12 What should an unholy heart do in Heaven Heaven would not be Heaven unto it that is it could not be a place of Bliss and Joy unspeakable unto such There are no carnal delights not so much as the here lawfull because necessary ones of eating and drinking marrying and giving in mariage there is no Gold and Silver to fill the Bags of the covetous Earth-worms no Dalilah's for the Wantons no Company to debauch and carouze with If a Sermon or a Lord's day be so tedious when will it be gone How unhappy would an unchanged unsanctified Soul think its self to hear perpetual Hallelujah's and Praises to be confined amongst the Souls of just men and Holy Angels God certainly will not cast his Jewels before such Swine Heb. 12.23 14. Besides the Gospel does by no means take away the ground of that Discrimination which will be at the last between the Sheep and Goats between them that shall stand on the right hand and on the left of the Judge of the quick and dead In the final Sentence there must be a Truth in what shall be said to the Blessed I was an hungred and ye gave me meat Mat. 25.35 vers 42. as well as the final Condemnation of the Cursed I was an hungred and ye gave me no meat c. But I need not multiply Reasons to prove that every one must depart from Iniquity even such as hope to be saved For
influence the Faith of some confident Professors has upon their Lives they are not they will not be governed by the Faith which they profess the Devil allows of such a profession and 't is all the Religion he will admit of in his followers provided they don 't touch upon the power of godliness all forms are alike to him and in some cases the purest and most Scriptural serve his turn best when separated from the power of godliness then he has some Scripture on his side to perswade them that all is well then he cries The Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord are ye setled in a Church way according to all the Rules of Discipline laid down in the Word and is not this Religion enough to save you Thus the Devil will sometimes give the best form its due commendation from Scripture when it may serve as an Argument to perswade a formal Christian to sit down short of the power of Godliness he knows God's own form will not save us then though he would make them believe otherwise He put the Jews upon pleading this and possessed them that all was well while they held to the outward form of Worship that God had appointed which made the Lord himself so often to declare against them and the outward forms of Worship that he had appointed because he saw they rested in them and played the Hypocrites under them Let us have a care in these Gospel-times that we do not rest in Gospel-forms only placing the whole of our Religion in that which God has made but a part of it and such a part that should never be divided by us from the Power and Spirit of the Gospel We talk of damnable Heresies and there are such the Lord keep us from them but let me tell you you may pass though more silently into Hell through a formal Profession of the Truth and have your porticn with Hypocrites who profess'd what you do had the same form of Godliness that you have but deny'd the power of it I don't say as some of you do I hope otherwise of you all but let every one examine himself what powerful Influence those Gospel-truths have upon him which he has lived so long under the profession of you know this best and others may more than guess at it by your Lives and Conversations but I spare you having laid my finger upon the soar place I take it off again and leave every one to his own feeling Obj. You seem as if you would put us off from our Profession Answ It may be better off than on in some respects but my design is to bring you up to your Profession that you may be real in it and not mock the Lord nor deceive your selves I have often thought that he who makes a solemn Profession of his Faith and says I believe in God and in Christ had need consider well what he says lest he lie unto the Holy Ghost though what you profess be truth yet your Profession may be a Lie if you say you believe what you do not believe with the Mouth Confession is made but with the Heart Man believes believing is Heart-work which the Searcher of Hearts only can judge of therefore you should consult your Hearts whether you do indeed believe before you tell God and Man that you do 't is a sad thing that the frequeut repetition of our Creed and the renewed Profession we make of our Faith should be charged upon us as so many gross Lies as Psal 78.36 37. Thirdly They who count it an easie matter to believe are destistute of Saving Faith I prove it thus 1. They who have never found any Conflict in themselves about believing are destitute of saving Faith But they who count it an easie matter to believe have never found any Conflict in themselves about believing ergo If Faith did not act in opposition to carnal Reason and carry it against all the strong reasonings of the Flesh to the contrary Supernatural Truths which never enter never be admitted never find acceptance in the Soul we should never be brought over to assent to them so as to make them the sure ground of our trust and confidence in God but Faith captivates all rebellious thoughts that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God 2 Cor. 10.5 as if they could disprove all that the Gospel says but the demonstrations of the Spirit are with that power that we cannot resist them Christ teaches as one having Authority besides the instructive evidence of Truth in clear reasonings and full demonstrations of it by the Spirit there is Authority and Power to back all this so that having nothing to object that is and fully answered we dare not but obey because of his Authority lesh Power over us were it not for this Authority and Power proud F the would pertinaciously stand out against all the Reasonings of the Spirit but when the Rationale of the Gospel is made out by art Spirit beyond all contradiction from Flesh and Blood the carnal p et is nonplust and silenced cannot speak sense against the Gospel y e however 't will be muttering and kicking against the Truth her comes in the Authoritative Act and Power of the Spirit suppressing the insolence of the Flesh and commanding the Soul in the Name of God to obey and not stand it out any longer against such clear evidence resisting the Wisdom of the Holy Ghost You must know that Flesh and Blood i. e. that carnal corrupt part that is in every Man is never convinced 't is not capable of any such thing but the Power of the Spirit of God brings on a Conviction upon the Soul from a higher Light notwithstanding all that the Wisdom of the Flesh can say to the contrary Flesh is Flesh still in all chose who are born of the Spirit but 't is overpower'd and kept under by the stronger reasonings of the Spirit which is the cause of that continual Conflict that is between the Flesh and Spirit to talk of easie believing without any resistance from our own corrupt minds is to talk of that that never was nor can be in any man whatever Saints are inclined two contrary ways though one Principle be predominant yet the other is not extinct has not yet lost all its power 't will stir and fight and resist though it can't overcome and Faith it self feels the struglings of unbelief and bears up with more Courage against them 2. They who were never convinced of the sinfulness of sin and of the dreadfulness of God's Wrath against Sinners are destitute of Saving Faith but they who count it an easie matter c. ergo I don't mean that all must pass under the like terrors of Conscience some have a more easie passage from a state of Nature to Grace from Death to Life from Terror to Comfort they may sooner get over their Tears and attain to peace than others may But this I say that
Conversion of Heathens to press nothing upon them except the presupposed Light and Law of Nature right Reason and Discipline to cultivate civilize and prepare them save the naked Truths Ordinances and Rules of the Gospel in all plainness and simplicity So much for the second Obstruction 3. To symbolize or comply with those whom we would perswade to embrace the Gospel in their Superstitious Customs and Observances is not the way to promote the entertainment of it but to obstruct it Under the name of Customs I do not comprehend the using of the same Diet or wearing the same Stuff or Fashion in Apparel for possibly the Temperature of the Climate and other considerations may make them Necessary Nor do I mean meerly Political Customs which are subservient to publick order justice and tranquillity But I intend Superstitious customs and observances wherein somewhat of Religion or sanctity is placed There are some things which may pass in the rank of indifferent in their own nature which yet become Superstitious when men place Religion or Holiness in them It is well known that Tertullian wrote his Book De Coronâ militis to justifie the practice of a Christian Souldier who refused to wear a Crown or Garland of leaves on his Head because the Gentiles were wont to go so adorned in their Solemnities and Processions accounting it a Religious Rite But in regard that the Jesuites are reported to practice and applaud their Method of Compliance with their Converts as they call them in India or China and other places so far as to allow them to retain their Pa-gods and to worship them with some Mental reservations and the right direction of their Intentions it will be necessary to say something more of this because I have mentioned it as an Obstruction that hinders the entertainment of the Gospel I shall therefore briefly set before you 1. What we may collect from the Authority of the Scripture touching the case we are upon 2. What have been the Sentiments of some in after-ages 1. What the Scripture hath determined touching the compliance of the people of God with the superstitious customs of the Heathen whether it be in way of approbation or allowance of them or of symbolizing and conforming to them tho under the pretence of taking that course to gain them over to the true Religion e. gr I suppose that none will deny That it was the duty of the Jews to endeavour to proselyte others to the Faith and Worship of the true God Let us then observe what God did prescribe in order thereunto Did he allow them to imitate their Rites or Customs No but quite contrary He severely chargeth That in no wise they should symbolize with them lest they should be entangled or corrupted with their manners Deut. xii 30 31. Learned men have bestowed much study and diligence to find out the Reasons of many Injunctions and Prescriptions which God appropriated to the Jews In some of them they have clearly discovered a Typical use that they prefigured Christ or his Church In others they find Vertue and Morality to be instilled In others Provision to be made for Health Decency c. But for several of them they have resolved that God imposed them on purpose to set them at a greater distance from Idolaters and to guard them from those evil impressions which the Familiarizing of their customs might make upon them as they might not wear a garment of linnen and woollen wrought together Deut. xxii 11. because as is said the Egyptians used such So they were forbidden To round the corners of their head or to mar the corners of their beard Levit. xix 27. because Idolaters and particularly the Egyptians were so trimmed It seems also that other nations who offered up their hair to their Demons out of devotion were polled after some such manner It is undeniable as might be argued from these and several other reasons That it was utterly unlawful for the Jews to symbolize with the heathen in their Superstitious Rites Neither is there a greater latitude for Christians under the Gospel They are certainly obliged to flie as far from Idolatry as the Jews were Some indeed in the Church of Corinth took too great a liberty in their compliances with Idolaters for they went with their friends into the Idols Temple and feasted there with them on the Remainders of the Sacrifices which had been offered to the Idols And it is probable That they pretended that by such a condescention in a thing indifferent they designed to engage their friends affections the better to recommend the Christian Religion to them But the Apostle doth severely censure such Temporizing 1 Cor. viii 10 11. with chap. x. 20 21. Thus ye have had a short account of the Scripture Authority resolving the Case 2. Let us now hear what have been the Sentiments of some in after-ages They were of opinion That to adopt some heathenish observances into the Christian worship was not only warrantable but also commendable provided that care should be first taken to deal with them as the Jews were to treat those captive heathen-women whom they intended to marry and that was to shave their heads and pair their nails Deut. xxi 11 12. Thus they converted many Heathenish Rites into Christian Ceremonies when they had cleansed and varnished them as by changing their Object End or Mode For instance A learned man of our own hath proved That the Invocation of departed Saints was nothing else but the old doctrine of Demons revived Mr. Joseph Mede's Apostacy of the latter times Let not any one surmize That this is an undue Reflection or a false Insinuation seeing a very learned English Prelate hath written a small Tract to shew That the Ecclesiastical Government observed by the British and ancient English Pagans they being converted unto Christianity many of the Paganish Ceremonies and Usages not contrary to the Scripture were still retained in their Christian policy By means whereof tranquillity and peace were preserved and the alteration in the state less dangerous or sensible Bishop Andrews his learned Discourse of Ceremonies retained and used in the Christian Churches How far those reasons did influence some when we departed from Popery I know not But I suppose some things were retained which seem not to have been desirable upon any other account than to make the change less sensible in its self and less dangerous to the State As for the Thing it self For some Centuries before the Reformation there was so much borrowed from Jews and Pagans and lodged in the Church that at last the Christian Religion became much like to that of the Samaritans 2 Kings xvii 24. to verse 35. A compound of the worship of the True God and of Idols blended together So that the Church of God groaned for a Reformation Much was done at first by our Worthies possibly as much as the Times could then bear What they could not do they left to be
Object my mistake and misapplication of this Text in that men our fellow Christians are the object of this Love and Service here to be provoked unto And I deny it not but it is Gods Image Interest and Service in and by them in reference to the pleasing of his will so good so acceptable and so perfect Rom. xii 1 2. that is the great inducement to this love And as these things are discernable in them communicable to them and followed or neglected by them so are they related to and all of us concerned in this Love and good Works either as Agents or Objects or both and of this Love and Service is God the Original Dirigent and Vltimate End Quest What is the duty of Magistrates from the highest to the lowest for the suppressing of prophaneness SERMON XV. Rom. 13.3 For Rulers are not a terrour to good works but to the evil REligion if right doth excel all other things in the world upon the account of its universal usefulness and the powerful influences it hath upon them that are true to it for the promoting of their present future and everlasting happiness Of all other the Christian Religion which we own and profess is the best and most worthy of our engaging in and immoveable cleaving to being pure and undefiled before God and the Father as the Apostle James speaks Chap. 1.27 v. Unspeakably profitable it is and advantageous to the Kingdoms that receive it and to the Persons who are sincere in it and studious of conforming themselves to its holy Precepts and Rules The sacred Scriptures drawn up and left by men divinely inspired and infallibly assisted from which alone we fetch it not from Fathers or Councils whatever esteem and Veneration we have for them do commend themselves unto the judgments and consciences of men who have not shaken hands with reason and fetch so great a compass as to contain and reveal either in particular or general directions all that which is necessary for us to believe or do in order to our full satisfaction and endless felicity in the next world and our present safety peace and comfort in this foolish and troublesome one David tells us Psal 119.96 The Commandment is exceeding broad It is long for its duration being aeternae veritatis of everlasting truth not any thing shall be diminished or cut off from it not any thing shall be chang'd or alter'd in it and it is broad for its usefulness extending to and spreading it self over all the occasions of men for it hath comforts Sovereign and proper in all distresses though never so pinching together with directions adapted to and fitted for all conditions and affairs though never so difficult and abstruse The blessed Word of God will teach you how to order and demean your selves in your personal capacities and in your relative too how to walk alone and how to draw in the Yoke It presents us with the best Ethicks Oeconomicks and Politicks in the World Aristotles and Machiavels are fooleries if compared with it This precious word being well attended to and obeyed will make comfortable Families flourishing Kingdoms and States Oh that all those unto whom the Lord hath in his goodness vouchsafed these Oracles would be so wise as to make them their delight and Counsellors Sure I am we should then be blessed with better Husbands and Wives better Parents and Children better Masters and Servants better Friends and Neighbours better Ministers and people better Magistrates and Subjects The beauty of the Lord our God would be upon us and that would make our faces shine Of the last mention'd Relation viz. That between Magistrates and Subjects the holy Apostle Paul treats at the beginning of this Chapter and so on to the 8th verse In the first verse he issueth out his precept from which it appears that Christ is no enemy to Caesar and the principles of Christian Religion not inconsistent with those of Loyalty The best Christians will be found at long run to be sure the best Subjects None so true to their Prince as those that are most faithful to their God for what saith our Apostle Let every Soul be Subject to the higher powers Every one Man Woman and Child that is capable of understanding what subjection means and of expressing it Be he of what rank and in what station he will high or low noble or base rich or poor of the Clergy by the Popes leave or of the Laity as some love to speak let him be Subject not overtop not exalt himself over that which is called God but be subject to the higher powers Who are they the Civil Magistrates Antichrist hath put in his claim here but he is justly non-suited by Protestants It is the Civil Magistrate whose interest and right our Apostle here asserts and pleads Kings as he speaks in another Epistle and all that are in Authority These we are to pray for to these we ought to be Subject to these we must pay tribute these we must honour support and assist these we are bound to obey not only for wrath but also for conscience sake and that in all things in which obedience to them doth not carry in the bowels of it disobedience unto God whom the greatest and highest of them are infinitely below This precept he backs and binds upon Christians with sundry arguments drawn 1. From the Institution Of Magistracy of what kind soever the Government be whether Monarchical or Aristocratical c. Still Government is of divine Institution It is Gods Ordinance and Appointment There is no power but of God the powers that be are ordained of God It is not of the Devil who is an enemy to order and delights in confusion nor is it only by the will of man whatsoever they may and do contribute toward it nor is it ony of those who possess the Throne and sway the Scepter but it is of God who in his infinite wisdom and goodness to mankind hath determined and ordered it should be so who according to the pleasure of his will without giving account of his matters putteth down one and setteth up another and who hath infused such an instinct and principle into men living together in a Community as powerfully and effectually leads to the electing of one or more and setting him or them over them arming and intrusting them with power and authority for the administration of justice and publick affairs that by them common safety and good may be both secured and promoted and from them as from the head vital and comfortable influences may be conveyed to the whole politick body yea to the meanest and lowest of its members who grind at the Mill and handle the Diffaff 2. From the sin of those who refuse this required Subjection and oppose and resist the Magistrate v. 2. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God He doth herein run counter and Cross to the all-wise God and his declared will He doth as
they may Minister unto him And ver 41. Thou shalt take the Levites for me I am the Lord instead of all the first-born among the Children of Israel And as this is the way to prevent Judgments when upon their way so to remove them when they are already come For the proof hereof you have a famous instance in Numb 25. The Case was this The People did double their Transgression in committing Idolatry and Whoredom at once It is indeed no cause of wonder to see Spiritual and Corporal Uncleanness going together in Company This kindled the Wrath of God against them which rose to that height that it brake out into a Plague The Plague did not stop the Sin wicked men will harden themselves against God and run upon the mouth of the Cannon on the bosses of his Buckler Notwithstanding the Judgment Zimri one of the Children of Israel a Prince too that should have set a better Example impudently and daringly brought a Midianitish Woman in the sight of Moses and of all the Congregation of Israel while they were weeping before the door of the Tabernacle While the Congregation was drown'd in Tears these two Wretches burned in Lust Phinehas was an eye-witness of it and his Heart was hot within him upon the sight thereof he took a Javelin in his hand entred their Tent and ran both of them thorow With this remarkable Act of Justice and holy revenge God was exceedingly pleased As appeared by the happy consequences which were two healing Mercy upon Israel with a Blessing upon himself and his Posterity You may read what God himself said upon this occasion Numb 25.10 11 12. The Lord spake unto Moses saying Phinehas the Son of Eleazer the Son of Aaron the Priest hath turned away my wrath from the Children of Israel while he was zealous for my sake among them that I consumed not the Children of Israel in my Jealousie Wherefore say Behold I give unto him my Covenant of Peace and he shall have it and his Seed after him even the Covenant of an Everlasting Priesthood because he was zealous for his God and made an atonement for the Children of Israel Do you stem the Tide of prophaneness and in so doing you will stop the Bottles of Divine Wrath. And then hereupon it followeth Eighthly The Suppression of prophaneness is an excellent way for the making Rulers an eminent and choice Blessing unto the People over whom the Providence of God hath set them By this means they will indeed prove as our holy Apostle speaks in the verse immediately following our Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ministers of God to them for good For it is a great deal of good that is ministred and conveyed by them golden Oil that is communicated by and through these golden Pipes the whole Land is the better for them every Mothers Child hath reason to rise up and call them blessed Briefly thus By this means they confirm and establish it They are strong supporters while others are wicked and cursed underminers Psalm 75.2 3. When I shall receive the Congregation i. e. The Government of it when I shall be once seated upon the Throne I will judge uprightly or Righteousness a vein of Righteousness shall run through every one of my Actions they shall be done according to the Rule of Equity The Earth and all the Inhabitants of it are dissolved The Reins are now let loose there is a visible apparent disorder both in Church and State all things are for the present in Confusion and therefore running apace to Ruine and Dissolution I bear up the Pillars thereof Some do look upon Religion and Righteousness as the Jachin and Boaz those great and mighty Pillars which uphold a Nation and Magistrates are the Persons appointed to bear up those Pillars if those be the Pillars these are the Basis upon which they stand and these bear up them by judging uprightly In this way it is they bear up the Fabrick and keep it from crumbling into pieces and falling to nothing And further as by this means they bring unto a Nation the Blessing of Stability so they also yield that other lovely and very desireable Blessing of Peace So that all good men shall sit under their own Vines and Fig-trees without others making them afraid they shall have a quiet and comfortable enjoyment of themselves and the good things which God hath graciously vouchsafed to them Unto this I say Magistrates both supreme and subordinate the higher and inferiour Officers in a Kingdom do very much contribute by the Diligent and Faithful discharge of the Work and Duty of their several places This is evident from that Psalm 72.3 The Mountains shall bring Peace to the People and the little hills by Righteousness That Word Peace is very comprehensive carrying in it not only a freedom from War Commotions Quarrels and Disturbances but Prosperity too and Happiness Plenty and Abundance of all good things so that there shall be no complaining in our Streets This is to be brought to a People and sure when it is they will bid it welcome but who shall bring it The Mountains and little Hills i. e. The Metaphorical Ones the Magistrates the King and all that are in Authority under him but it will come only in a way of Righteousness Gods Peace always keeps Gods Way This you learn from that of the Prophet Psalm 85.10 Righteousness and Peace kiss each other They meet and embrace and so go hand in hand Righteousness in the Throne in the Senate and Courts of Judicature is accompanied with Peace in the City yea and all the Countrey over Lastly A Conscientious care for the Suppression of prophaneness in a Land is the way to engage the great and Holy God on the behalf and for the good of those Rulers in whom that care is found And this Argument will I am sure signifie much with all those with whom God signifieth any thing As the place of Rulers is high so the work of their place is hard It carrieth a great deal of difficulty and of danger along with it As wicked men are very filthy so the Psalmist tells us they are always grievous They are like the raging Sea which is continually casting up Mire and Dirt specially when there is a Storm upon it Let there be endeavours used to put a stop to them in their sinful course by a vigorous Execution of Righteous Laws their Hearts do presently swell against those that restrain and punish them and they break out into a rage whereupon they often study to avenge the quarrel of their sordid and impetuous Lusts upon those Worthies who would promote the cleanness of their Lives and the welfare of their Souls Upon this account it is no more than necessary for the Omnipotent God to stand at their right hand for the encouragement of their Hearts and the preservation of their Persons Now see Psalm 7.10 My defence is of God who saveth the upright in Heart
on the good or evil to the comfort or the discomfort of the Church-Catholick or any particular Churches near to or far from you Nehemiah no doubt weigh'd the importance of the News brought to him from Jerusalem and it was thought reasonable that Israel in Egypt on the first appearance of Moses should have considered what Importance it was to see such a Man as Moses was how likely he might be to bring them out When the Edict for Israel's return out of Captivity was first spread as good News to the Jews none of them resented it aright who considered only his personal advantage by it They pray'd and prais'd God aright who look't into the Import of it to the whole Church The News of the death of Ahaz and Succession of Hezekiah is not enquired after till the certainty of the Reformation of Religion and the great change for the better in the Church is lookt into Julian's death was great and good newes to the Church and called for praise to God but those that considered not the influence it would have upon the Church for good if God rais'd up a Christian Successor must needs fall very far short in their prayer and praise When the News of the death of Edward the Sixth afflicted the hearts of Gods children in England and they mourn'd and pray'd as apprehensive of the consequences of the death of a pious Prince a Zealous Reformer a Hearty Lover of Truth and professor of it whilest he lay sick these considerations quickken'd them of that Age to beg his life So when the sickness of Queen Mary was the News on the Stage and her death would be the safety of the Church no wise Protestant enquired after the News without a thought how much it would benefit the Church to lose her III. Who Enquires as a Christian in order to manage Prayer and Praise should I think Enquire of those who can and will inform him the best most truly and sincerely of any News he knoweth There ever have been and now are persons who abuse the world with false Reports to amuse the more simple-hearted they dare coin Lies and cry out Wo Wo or Peace Peace very unagreeably to the nature and aspect of Affairs If you have a Friend who dares not wittingly spread a Lye nor deny a Truth and knows much of publick Occurrences thou mayest rely somewhat on his word thou mayest with greater confidence pray for the Church in deep Distress and Praise God for bringing it out of its Distress When we know the Church needs our Prayers it is most agreeable to God that we do pray If when we praise God for the Church in any particular if afterwards it appear we were deceived by false Reports the Enemy scoffs at us we should to the best of our knowledge pray and praise suitably to the real state of the Church It was a common practice in our late Civil Wars upon a fight that both Parties kept Thanksgiving Days when 't was not possible both should have the Victory this was highly Scandalous and each upbraided others with Hypocrisie Let us as much as in us lieth prevent such a reproof what we cannot be Eye-witness of but must take on Hear-say let us endeavour to be truly informed that both prayer and praises may be grounded on the Truth of things as they proceed from Truth of Heart Tragical Stories of Catholicks prosecuted in England when Garnet and some few others were executed for their unparallel'd Hellish Powder-Plot and Treason set many a deceived Papist into Tears and Prayers who had they known the Truth of things would have prais'd God for preserving their King and Countrey condemned the Traitors and own'd the Hand of God in the Discovery of the Plot and punishment of Plotters On the other side when bloody Men imbru'd their Hands in blood of many Thousand Innocents in the Parisian Massacre and the Irish Rebellion destroy'd Innocent Protestants by Hundreds of Thousands it is palliated with false Rumors to lessen the Horrour of the Fact the Barbarous Cruelty of the Actors as if a few turbulent persons had been prevented and fallen by the hands of Self-Defenders Which had it been a Truth who could have found in their hearts to pray for such But with respect to all such bloody usage of the Innocent Church in all Ages past and in this of ours we will pray with the Psalmist Let God be known by the avenging the blood of his Saints Psal 70.10 IV. Who Enquires as a Christian must Enquire with a Compassionate Affection to the suffering Churches of Christ or feeling their Wounds as living Members feel the griefs and wounds of the Body in what part soever preparing to help the whole and bear his own part as one who prefers Jerusalem above his chief â—oy and can heartily rejoyce in her prosperity as one whose heart is wounded with the same sword that woundeth Jerusalem and therefore bitterly bemoaneth and heartily prayeth for the bleeding Church Give us an Nehemiah who chap. 1. ver 4. sate down and wept when he heard sad tydings great distress and long desolations of Jerusalem When you Enquire with Jeremiah's wish Oh that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountain of tears Jer. 9.1 To weep for the slain of the daughter of my people Such an heart doth as naturally pour out it self in prayers as it doth into tears and doth as naturally rejoyce with the rejoycing Church as it either wept or pray'd before When Christ foresaw and foretold the doleful state that Jerusalem should fall into he wept over her and so must every Christian weep over desolate and disconsolate Jerusâ—lem when he hears her Sorrows and prays for her Relief Among Natural Relations few there are who are not affected with grief for the Sorrows and troubles of a Brother there should not be one among Spiritual Relations but should with hearty grief entertain the News of Sorrows and distress upon the Church and give God no rest till he make her a quiet Habitation till he turn her Mourning into Joy till he take away the garments of her Widowhood and cloth her with the garments of his Salvation When we hear the sad Tydings with such a Heart as Josiah heard the Threats of the Law read in his presence 2 Chron. 34.27 ver then we are like to do as he did to seek the Lord to return to him and make a Covenant with him to serve him that he may turn away his displeasure and spare his people Josiah heard the news with a tender heart a melting heart and sent to Enquire of the Lord that he might know what was to be done by him and his People to prevent or defer or lessen the threatned Evil. V. When you Enquire into the present News that concerns the Church that you may the better pray for the Church or praise God on behalf of the Church Enquire into the sins of the Church with an humble mourning and repenting Heart So
more particularly and expresly and heartily you do this the better you will be able to give account of your attendance upon the Word This will be like the washing or scouring of a Vessel before you fill it that what you put into it may not be spoil'd According to that of the Apostle James (n) Jam. 1.21 Lay apart not only restrain and keep in but put off and throw away all filthiness ◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sordes 'T is a Metaphor borrowed from the filth of the Body and thence transferr'd to the Soul Sin is a sordid thing and we must not only lay aside all things that defile us but all superfluity of naughtiness Some interpret of it those Excrements which we are in pain till we are rid of them q. d. Wash off all outward filth and purge out all inward for without this we can never savingly receive the Word 2. Propose to your selves such an End for your hearing that you will not be ashamed of If God should give you your Liberty propose what End you will to your selves provided it be such as upon serious reflection you will not be ashamed of e. g. You go to hear a Sermon to see a Mistriss is not that an End to be ashamed of or you fetch a Walk for your Recreation and sit down to rest you at the end of it to hear a Sermon and when you have rested you return may you not be ashamed of this You go to a Sermon for the Language or Notions of it though both these may be excellent your End is sinfull But yet I 'll close this with this Advice viz Hold on to hear Sermons though with an end to be repented of for while you play with the Bait you may be caught with the Hook while you are in the way of Grace you may be graciously surprized 3. Above all preface your hearing with Prayer As praying is the last thing the Minister doth before he Preacheth let praying be the last thing you do before you go out to hear Neither is he that planteth any thing neither he that watereth but God that giveth the increase (p) 1 Cor. 3.7 Many times our profiting is according to our praying But here again I advice you to hear though you pray not at all for by hearing you 'l be convinced that 't is your Duty to pray you 'l be instructed and incouraged in it 2. In hearing When you are engaged pray don't gratifie Satan then by a diversion for Preparation No tho it be by Prayer any other than Ejaculatory that must have been before herein likewise take these three Directions 1. Set your selves before God to hear Christ speaking to you from Heaven The more actually and seriously you presentiate Christ unto your selves the more you will give up your selves to him I grant we can't preach as the Apostles wrote by the immediate guidance of the Holy Ghost without all error and mistake Query whether all their popular Sermons were so infallibly guided it seems not (*) Gal. 2.11 yet Christ speaks through us as through a crack'd Trumpet though we betray our own frailties yet for the main of our Sermons we dare say Thas saith the Lord which is a proof of Christ speaking (q) 2 Cor. 13.3 in us this will be matter of thansgivings by both your Ministers and your selves when (r) 1 Thes 2.13 you receive the Word of God which ye heard of us not as the word of men but as it is in truth the Word of God then 't will certainly work effectually 2. Mix your hearing with Ejaculatory Prayers Ejaculations to God and Soliloquies to your selves will help to make and keep the heart tight Jogg your own hearts as you do your sleeping Neighbour call in your thoughts while they are within call and as far as 't is possible think of nothing but what you are about A Heart thus confin'd is like to be most enlarged both with Grace and Comfort 3. Be sure to hold fast the Seope of what you hear Not only those passages which more particularly affect you but that which is the main design of the Sermon I think this the weakest Memory may retain and I think this will do most good when 't is retained In short be be sure you retain something Do thus or somewhat like it in hearing 3. After hearing These Questions were proposed by Christ both negatively and affirmatively some months perhaps some years after they had heard John And Christ proposeth that with some vehemency That you may give a good answer I shall commend to you but two things 1. Consideration Chew the Cud this is the Metaphor that 's commonly made use of (ſ) Lev. 11.3 The Beasts that chewed the cud were clean for food and sacrifice◠these Creatures gather up their food into a kind of inward bag and then they sit down and bring it up to chew it over again and then convey it into the stomach for nourishment So that Christian whose self and service is a Sacrifice acceptable to God gathers up what he thinks the Best in a Sermon and when retired chews it over again for his spiritual nourishment and growth in Grace As your considering thinking Man is the only wise man so your considering thinking Christian is the only thriving Christian 2. Add something to your practice and continue that till it give way to something else of greater moment I am far from laying any stress upon any spiritual Prudentials that I can offer but I would humbly propose it to thinking Christians whether if every Lord's-day I do not exclude other days but Query Whether we may not expect more from Lord's-days Sermons than any other The Lord's-day being the time of Divine appointment and other days of humane conveniency The business of the Lord's-day is Devotion on other days we make a scape from worldly business to a Sermon and then rush into the World again as if we would redeem that time for the World that we spent with Go◠I query therefore If we do charge our selves upon what we hear on the Lord's-day to practise something more or something more carefully than before and to keep to that till that give place to something else of greater moment Did we begg something of God more this week than the last Did we single out some sin for mortification more this week than the last Did we do something enjoyned on the Lord's-day This would be to us like the Shew-bread to Israel which was made thus They brought twenty four pecks of Wheat-meal out of which they sifted twenty four Pottles of fine flower of which they made twelve unleavened Cakes every one was ten hand breadth long and five broad and seven fingers high which signified the multitude of the Faithfull presented unto God in his Church as upon a pure Table continually serving him (t) Lev. 24.8.9 as also the Spiritual repast which the Church of God obtaineth from
and before God who feedeth them with Christ the Bread of Life especially every Sabbath day Were this or some such course taken from week to week would not this hook into your practice all the great Duties of Religion And so you would give a good account of your hearing but 3. My third Direction is this Do not only satisfie your selves but carry on your enquiry that it may thrô grace satisfie Christ My Text is a question proposed by Christ and to him must we give our answer You may give a plausible account to Ministers but 'pray ' remember you must give an account to Christ You may by leading questions mislead Ministers as persons that go to Law do their Lawyers and they lose their Cause by it but when by studied Hypocrisie you mislead Ministers to gratifie you with a mistaken judgment you lose your Souls by it 'T is Christ that asks the question not to be informed by you for he knows what is in man better than they themselves Christ would have you to be plain-hearted and ingenuous that wherein you see cause to complain he may help you When the trembling Soul after the hearing of such Ministers as would undeceive them is like Jeremy for his peoples being deceived by false Prophets (u) Jer. 23. ◠My heart within me is broken because of the Prophets all my bones shake I am like a drunken man and like a man whom wine hath overcome because of the Lord and because of the words of his Holiness q. d. Fear and trembling takes hold of me I am ashamed I am at my Wits end the word of God calls for so much Holiness and I have so little Thou enquirest Lord what I hear for I dare not say that my intentions and ends are so serious as they should be I am afraid to own any thing that is good Christ in a way of compassion is ready to encourage such a Soul Canst thou but sincerely say thou comest to meet Christ and to learn of Christ Jesus Christ welcomes such to him and they may answer him with comfort Under this head consider 1. Christ asks thee here in this World that thou mayst now be able to give such an answer as thou mayst stand by at the last day when there will be neither Hopes nor Time to rectifie it if it be insufficient 'T is in this something like our Pleadings in Courts of Judicature we must put in our Plea and stand to it Thou knowest Lord there is through Grace something of sincerity but for any thing else do thou Lord answe◠for me 'Pray ' mark this when once the Soul can bring the question back again to Christ thus Thou askest me what I come for Lord I come for thee to answer for me I can't satisfie my own Conscience 't is ready to fly in my Face much less can I satisfie my Jealous Master unless tho◠compassionately answer for me Lord thou usest to answer for thine own May we then suppose Christ thus to enquire Who shall lay any thing to the charge of any one who sincerely comes to wait for me in mine Ordinances Can we suppose any one to be so daring as to perk up and say I charge all these to be a company of proud conceited Hypocrites they 'll needs be wiser than their Neighbours they spend their time in running up and down to hear Sermons Christ doth as it were answer Dost thou make this a Crime What he did 't was out of Love to me and Obedience to me He hath chosen that good (w) Luk. 10.42 part which shall not be taken away from him and for you who are so ready to accuse others and excuse your selves for slighting or ill managing all the means offered for your Salvation (x) Mat. 22.13 Bind him hand and foot that he may make no resistance take him away that he may neither make an escape nor have any hopes of Mercy and cast him into outer darkness where shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth 2. If you do not give Christ an answer which he will accept of 't is in vain to expect relief from any other If the Father be offended Christ interposeth himself bears the wrath of God and prevents it from us Christ is the days-man between God and us If the Spirit be grieved by our quenching his motions and striving against his striving with us to hear and obey the Lord Jesus provided that rise not to THE Sin against the Holy Ghost which the greatest part of trembling Christians often fear they have committed though by the way let me tell them that their fear they have committed it yields them sufficient assurance they have not committed it for this sin is always attended with such hardness of Heart that they sin without remorse So that while the Spirit overcomes their resistances and prevails with them to comply with Christ through Christ their sins against the Spirit shall be pardoned But (y) Exod. 23.20 21. when the Angel of the Covenant Jesus Christ was promised to be sent before the Israelites in the Wilderness to keep them in the way and to bring them into the place prepared for them they are expresly charged to beware of him and obey his voice provoke him not for he will not pardon your Transgressions but severely punish them Not that sins against Christ shall never be pardoned though repented of but to keep us from adventuring upon sin as if it should easily be pardoned whereas the Apostle tells us (z) Heb. 10.26 If we sin wilfully there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin i. e. Those that reject and renounce Christs Sacrifice for sin there 's no other Sacrifice can atone God for them I grant that this Text chiefly concerns the unpardonable sin But I pray you consider those that do not make it the main business of their Lives to give Christ such an account as he will accept of what improvement they have made of his Word if they live and dye in that neglect they shall as certainly perish as they who commit the sin against the Holy Ghost There are but very few can commit that sin but an incredible number commit this without considering the danger of it Now Christians is your time to make up such an account as you must stand or fall by to Eternity Oh that I had but one Minutes such conception of Eternity as 't is possible to be had in this World I reckon 't would influence my whole Life Christs Sentence at last will be according to 〈◊〉 account we give him here and if his Sentence ben't as you would have it there will be no altering of it Your Repentance then will be no small part of your Torment Object I can't think that Christ will be so sharp and severe This affrights me more than any thing This is the most terrible Consideration that ever I heard I expected relief from Christ at last and that Christ should hear me at my