that perish go on blindly aâ—… ignorantly for twenty forty or sixty years yea througâ—out all their life long in this deceit of being Worshiâ—…pers of God and yet not doing his will of hearing 〈◊〉 word and not obeying it nor yet doing thereafter wheâ—… as the Blessedness is to them that hear the word of God aâ—… keep it Saith David by the Spirit if I regard iniquiâ—… in my heart the Lord will not hear me Now iniquiâ—… signifies the thing that is not equal But too many outwaâ—… Worshippers do not only regard iniquity in their heaâ—… but also practice it with their hand Nevertheless liâ—… the Adulterous Woman Who eateth and wipeth her mouâ—… and saith I have done no wickedness they will not ceaâ—…nor desist to offer up their many and customary Prayâ—…s unto God as aforetime and as if they had never â—…one any such thing Such may be found amongst the â—umber of those of whom it is written Not every one â—…at saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingâ—…m of Heaven but he that doth the will of my Father which 〈◊〉 in Heaven Many will say to me in that day Lord Lord â—ave we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name cast out â—evils And then will I profess unto them I never knew 〈◊〉 depart from me ye that work iniquity All will not be â—…ved that go to Church or Meetings and then where shall â—…e ungodly and sinner appear for of four sorts of hearers 〈◊〉 the word there is but one that bringeth forth fruit â—…to everlasting life Herein also God is glorified when â—…ey bring forth fruit but he is not glorified when they 〈◊〉 not bring forth fruit or when instead of Bringing â—…rth grapes they bring forth wild grapes â—o ye think that the Papists do glorifie God by their Mass 〈◊〉 Idolatrous Worship or by their ignorant mumbling â—…er their Beads when it is the revealed will of God that â—eople should pray with the Spirit and with the underâ—…nding also 1 Cor 14. 15. That whole Chapter is aâ—…inst praying in an unknown Tongue God is a â—…irit and they that worship him must worship him in Spiâ—…t and in truth This is opposite unto and shuts out all â—…eir pompous outside Worship and carnal ordinances â—…ter the institutions and Commandments of Men. For â—…eir Worship stands in divers Washings and Bowings â—…d carnal ordinances imposed on them who would wilâ—…gly always remain in their corruption and errour â—…d never let Reformation come among them although â—… Blessed be God many have reformed from their â—…ays Again May it be thought that the Mahometans by going â—…nstantly to their mosque and by their making a great â—…y and howling in their Prayers unto the God of Heaâ—…n although they are never so earnest in Prayer as they â—…em to be in tone and voice and also by their Waâ—…ings before Prayer as the manner of them is whereâ—… common reason would shew them that the inward â—…urifying and cleansing of the heart of the Worshippers is more required by God and more pleasing and acceptable in his sight then the outward washing of theâ—… Bodies with water And so with all their other rites anâ— ceremonies customs and manners do they glorifie God â—… when all the mean while they know not nor believâ—… on Jesus Christ by whom there is access unto the Fatheâ— he being the alone mediator between God and Man And so we may run over and conceive in our minâ—… as to all the Religions Superstitions and ways of Woâ—ship used in the World together with that manifoâ—… Errour and Absurdity that is joyn'd therewith Do thoâ—… Worshippers glorifie God It would be hard to say soâ—… For the Father seeketh such to worship him as worship him 〈◊〉 Spirit and in Truth And seeing that so much Errour aâ—… Folly Ignorance and Vanity is crept in and interminâ—led with the several Worships of the World especialâ—… among those of the Roman-Church and that vast multâ—tude of others who do not at all name the name of Chrâ—… it may be thought as to them that in God's Sight and 〈◊〉 to his Acceptation He that Sacrificeth a Lamb is as if â—…â—ut off a Dogs neck He that offereth an Oblation as if he â—…fer'd Swines blood He that burneth Incense as if he blessâ—… an Idol Which last is the highest degree of provokiâ—… God that can be So that such Worshippers do rathâ—… displease than please God they do rather dishonour thâ—… glorifie him They make God more angry and furthâ—… off then bring him near or reconcile him unto the Wâ—…shippers But to come home and nearer to our selves even 〈◊〉 us who are called Protestants of the pure Reform'd Churâ—… who come yet nearer to the Pattern shew'd to us in 〈◊〉 Gospel than they aforementioned Altho' our Worship 〈◊〉 in some measure Spiritual and True Yet here agaiâ—… a right Faith and a wrong Conversation a good Naâ—… but evil Doings will not save any of us Nor yet is Gâ—… glorified by the work done or only in the outward coâ—…ing to the Places of Worship for if People do therein drâ—…near to God with their Lips but their Hearts are far frâ—… him if they bring only their Bodies to the place but theâ—… in their Souls do mind other Objects besides the Invisibâ—… â—od then as the Body without the Spirit is dead so such may be â—ore truly called carcaâ—e Worship than Spiritual Worâ—…ip for it is the Worship of a dead Body only or of a â—arcase without the Spirit Acting or being concern'd thereâ—… Saith God Now let them put away their Whoredom â—nd the Carcases of their Kings from me and I will dwell in â—he midst of them for ever Ezek. 43. 9 Lip labour in Prayâ—r or Worship is properly Whordom for it takes away â—he heart from God the right beloved and places it â—n another wrong beloved and so it is a carkase of Worâ—hip for the reason aforeassigned Both which God requires â—o be put away before he will dwell in the midst of us Having abundantly and at large discoursed by what kind of Worship God is not glorified it will easily â—ppear by what Worship he is indeed glorified For if â—…e is not glorified by meer outside Worship as indeed he â—s not it follows that he is glorified by such Worship as is spiritual which denotes inward Worship for if it is performed by the Spirit it must be inward because the Spirit is within and true God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth For the Father seeketh such to worship him and consequently he is glorified thereby so that to Worship God in Spirit and in truth is a part of our glorifying God here on Earth Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the Salvation of God Pal 50. 23. Seeing that they who order their conversation aright will have the Salvation of God shewn unto them it follows hence also that
which they suffer to go and proceed no farther not to bring forth fruit unto Death as they would if they were not hindred and restrained and if care was not taken against them For when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth Death But in unregenerate people these motions of sins do break forth into outward act and Lust in them goes forward and conceives and brings forth sin and sin in them is finished and bringeth forth Death and involves them into ruin of Body and destruction of Soul As for instance in the Regenerate it is concupiscence or a little inward Lust which they are sure to let go no farther but in the Unregenerate the same concupiscence issues forth into Lasciviousness Uncleanness Fornication and Adultery Even in the Regenerate concupiscence is sin this being one kind of those motions of sins the Apostle speaks of 〈◊〉 Rom. 7. And it is one on those secret faults which David Psal 19. 12. Prayes to be cleansed from and also one of â—ose Secret sins which God doth set in the light of his countenaâ—e and which he will bring into Judgement Do ye think â—…at the Scripture saith in vain the Spirit that dwelleth in 〈◊〉 lusteth to envy the Apostle speaks in behalf of himself and of the other Regenerate for in truth there are â—…en in them Lustings and tendencies to envy and hatred â—hich in Unconverted people do break forth into actual â—…nvy and Hatred And so there is likewise in the Reâ—nerate motions and inclinations lustings and tendâ—…cies to almost all manner of sin and evil to gluttoâ—… and drunkenness a longing after the Fleshpots of Aegyâ—… and a secret inward liking of them by the fleshly corâ—…pt Nature and by the old Man but still and along â—…ey prevent that they do not come forth into the seveâ—…l acts of Sin to which again way is given by sinners â—…d the Children of disobedience Nevertheless it is the will of God and accordingly â—s word which is very pure doth direct it so That his â—hildren and Servants should strive and sincerely enâ—eavour what they can Cursed is he that doth the work of â—…e Lord deceitfully Against all these motions of sins that are in our members and against these inclinations evil and against the inward lusting and tendency transgression The Commandment of God is not only this wise Cease to evil but extends farther Abstain frâ—… all appearance of evil Which takes in all the occasioâ— beginnings enticements and tendencies to evil 〈◊〉 as he which hath called you is Holy so be ye Holy all manner of conversation Now there being in God motions to sin nor inclinations to evil it being Im 〈…〉 sible for God to lye or to commit sin or evil it follows certain consequence that we can never obey and 〈◊〉 fil this his Commandment of being Holy as he is Holy 〈◊〉 we get utterly rid off and clear from these motions sins and inclinations to evil and yet we should whatever we can that we may partake of his Holinesâ— we would partake of his blessedness for without Holiâ—… no Man shall see the Lord. Again it is Commanded Stand in aw and sin not 〈◊〉 the word of God doth not rest there as only to proâ—… against the outward act of sin but it goes yet farâ—… Mortifie therefore your members that are upon the Earth 〈◊〉 if the members are mortified upon the Earth then there no motions of sins in these members according to 〈◊〉 other Scriptures witness If Christ be in you than i 〈…〉 Body dead because of sin or as to sin Now again 〈◊〉 certain that in a dead Body there are no motions of 〈◊〉 at all and it being the will of God that Christ 〈◊〉 be formed in us Little Children of whom I travail in 〈◊〉 till Christ be formed in you And except Christ be in yâ—… are reprobates it follows therefore that we should be 〈◊〉 as to sin and then also we should have no motions sins in us in which sence also it is that the Apostle 〈◊〉 I dye daily That is he did dye daily unto sin He not only cease from the outward act of sin but also had less and less motion and inclination to sin unt 〈…〉 length he had no motion nor inclination to it at which is like dying continually untill one is actu 〈…〉 dead For as than life goes away and lessens by liâ—… and little so in such not only the acts but the ha 〈…〉 bit also yea the Life and Power of Sin goeth and â—isheth away until it becomes none at all This is be diligent that is by still labouring and endeavour 〈…〉 after it until we attain it That we may be found â—…m in peace without spot and blameless 2 Pet. 3. 14. God 〈◊〉 his people in Hosea 8. 5. How long will it be ere they â—…in to innocency Which though it be long and he exâ—…s much before they arrive unto it yet at length â—…e of his Peculiar people Redeemed from all iniquity after much labour and endeavour first had and used â—…rds it attain to that measure and degree of inâ—…ncy till they become Israelites indeed in whom is no 〈◊〉 and they arrive unto that state in this life for â—…ven must be begun here though it be perfected and â—ummated hereafter to which God shall add and annex â—he highest Heavens that in their mouth was found no 〈◊〉 for they are without fault before the Throne of God 〈◊〉 die unto sin and to be alive again unto God to â—ur after till we actually attain unto Holiness and â—…cency of Life is one main part of doing and fini 〈…〉 that work which God sent us on this Earth to do subdue the Power and Acts yea the very motions inclinations to sin and to root out utterly as far possible the corrupt Nature For flesh and blood shall not â—it the Kingdom of God neither shall in any wise enter â—in any thing that defileth As aforesaid Heaven must â—egun here in us if we will enter into Heaven here 〈…〉 And in order to that this is our business and 〈◊〉 which God sent us on this Earth for to do By â—ing together with his grace to labour and endeavour â—ever we can that we may become meet to be par 〈…〉 of the inheritance of the Saints in light His word therefore given to Build us up and give us an inheri 〈…〉 amongst all them which are sanctified and to make 〈◊〉 a people prepared for the Lord. This work we are â—o and finish By the help of the same word our â—s are to become ready a people prepared for â—ord And while they went to buy the Bridegroom came they that were ready Observe that went in with him 〈◊〉 marriage and the door was shut We are to be ready and prepared against what time God shall call a summon us to appear before himself Like as the s 〈…〉 of the Earth grow on till they become ripe and
fit their Masters use So it is accordingly expected 〈◊〉 us that we work together with his Grace and Sp 〈…〉 which would work in us mightily if we do not rebel 〈◊〉 vex his Holy Spirit that we may become meet re 〈…〉 prepared fit and ripe for God the great proprietou 〈…〉 our Souls who gathereth them up to himself He b 〈…〉 the Father of Spirits and accordingly the faithful speak Into thine hand I commit my Spirit That they 〈◊〉 become also when our Bodies drop into the grave shock of Corn in its season That when it is slipt 〈◊〉 dislodged from the Body it may be such as himself spe 〈…〉 of Behold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth 〈◊〉 42. 1. Or which is to the same benefit or significat 〈…〉 for the Lord Jesus who is the Son of God to say 〈◊〉 ye Blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for from the foundation of the World What comfortable w 〈…〉 are here We would unless we be such fools as not to k 〈…〉 the worth thereof give Thousands of Rams and ten T 〈…〉 sand Rivers of oyl yea all we have in the world for assurance thereof But though Rich people have the vantage as to this world they have none as to the wâ—… to come for the corruptible things of Gold and Sâ—… We were not Redeemed by these but by the precious Blood of Lamb of God will not purchase Heaven nor yet pr 〈…〉 the favour of God Which is to be had by no 〈◊〉 way then that of Obedience and Holiness Obey my 〈◊〉 and live An Holy God loves an Holy Soul For thâ—… fore it was that God speaks this of Jesus Christ Behold Servant whom I uphold Mine elect in whom my Soul del 〈…〉 eth Because he than knew from the beginning 〈◊〉 his Son Jesus Christ would finish the work that God 〈◊〉 him to do as Christ makes the return thereof thâ—… had finished it Wherefore when he cometh into world he saith Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not a Body hast thou prepared me In burnt offerings and Sâ—… fices for Sin thou hast had no pleasure than said I Lo 〈◊〉 In the volume of the Book it is written of me Tâ—… will O God From which and many other places of â—…pture it may be truly Reasoned that God hath not much pleasure in outward acts of Worship neiâ—…r doth he so much insist upon and require them I 〈◊〉 not reprove thee for thy Sacrifices or thy burnt offerings have been continually before me as in the doing his will â—…is is the chief thing which God requires of Man Hath 〈◊〉 Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and Sacri 〈…〉 as in obeying the voice of the Lord Behold to obey is 〈…〉 r than Sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of Rams â—ow this is true Christianity to imitate Christ For as was the first Born amongst many Brethren so he â—…self saith I have given you an example that you should 〈◊〉 I have done Seeing therefore that Christ did all which 〈◊〉 his Father sent him about and finished his work 〈◊〉 did his will So we ought also severally as we his Creatures but more especially as we profess our â—…es to be the Servants of God For his Servants shall â—e him Do all which he sends us about on this Earth 〈◊〉 finish his Work and do his Will all the days of our 〈◊〉 For 't is not sufficient to be good or godly for a seaâ—… but the promise is To them who by patient continu 〈…〉 in well doing seek for Glory and Honour and Immorta 〈…〉 Eternal Life that towards the end of this present 〈◊〉 we may also make the like comfortable return unto 〈◊〉 I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do 〈◊〉 the other Blessed consequent may be also And now 〈◊〉 I to thee â—o him that shall hear or Read these lines the word â—exhortation saith Go thou and do likewise Be upon 〈◊〉 and finishing the work which God gave thee on 〈◊〉 Earth for to do and finish For if this should be â—…ected Wo unto us for the day goeth away for the shadows â—he Evening are stretched out Thou nor yet I know 〈◊〉 little sand there is the Glass of our life as yet to 〈◊〉 out A great deal of our life is past and the day Immortality is at hand The night is far spent let us â—efore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the â—our of light I say again Be upon the finishing part your work endeavour to have them polished and compleat The Church of Sardis was admonished Be watâ—… ful and strengthen the things which remain that are reâ—… to dye for I have not found thy works perfect before Gâ—… Now this finding fault doth instruct us on the other haâ—… that we should have our works perfect before God which we do endeavour with all our Heart and with all our Sâ—… and all our might God himself will perfect and add uâ— it untill it become acceptable in his sight Being confidâ—… of this very thing that whatever good work he hath beguâ—… any of you he will perform it untill the day of the Lord â—…s And again it is written Lord thou wilt ordain 〈◊〉 for us For thou also hast wrought all our works in us 〈◊〉 der which word peace the things that belong to our pe 〈…〉 are comprehended and included even future Salva 〈…〉 and Glory Who are kept by the power of God thr 〈…〉 faith unto Salvation ready to be revealed in the last tiâ—… Receiving the end of your faith even the Salvation of 〈◊〉 Souls I do hereby exhort the people of this my Gener 〈…〉 on and Country to be upon the finishing part of yâ—… work which God hath given you severally on the E 〈…〉 for to do For so an entrance shall be ministred unto abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ Wherefore I will not be negligent to you always in Remembrance of these things though ye 〈◊〉 them and be established in the present truth Yea I think it 〈◊〉 as long as I am in this Tabernacle to stir you up by putting yoâ— Remembrance knowing that shortly I must put off this my â—…bernacle even as our Lord Jesus Christ who is the word of Gâ—… hath shewed me Moreover I will endeavour for which saâ—… reason I desire that this profitable Book of a contentâ—… and willingness to dye may be Printed and Published 〈◊〉 you may be able after my decease to have these things always remembrance And seeing that it is but a very little while fore that I shall certainly depart of from the Stage of 〈◊〉 Earth I commend you to God and to the word of his grâ—… which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritanâ—… mong all them which are Sanctified I commend you also the teaching of the Spirit Lord evermore give us this Brâ—… Lord evermore give us the teaching of thy
THE Great Useful and Blessed DUTY OF A Contentment Willingness and Desire TO DIE Set forth upon true and assured Grounds in several Discourses on these following Scriptures Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace according to thy word For mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation Luke 2. 29 30. Into thine hand I commit my Spirit Thou hast Redeemed me O Lord God of truth Psal 31. 5. I have glorified thee on the Earth I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do John 17. 4. By RICHARD STAFFORD A Servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ Recommended as more proper and Beneficial to be given at Funerals than Gloves or Rings LONDON Printed and are to be sold by the Book-sellers of London and Westminster 1700. Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace according to thy Word For mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation Luke 2. 29 30. FRom these Words I shall treat through God's Assistance and according to the Knowledge given me O continue thy loving kindness to them that know thee and thy Righteousness to the upright in heart of our contentment and willingness to Die or depart from off this Earth Why Is there any need to perswade or exhort People to a Willingness and Desire to surrender back their Spirits unto the God who gave them This seems to be but what is Natural and Reasonable Yet still there is a reluctancy and backwardness in our Spirits to do this because the Spirit is conscious of having offended God and is afraid to meet with him Angry or as a God that â—aketh Vengeance And therefore until this same God is perfectly Reconciled unto and at Peace with her and he is sensible and assured thereof the Soul must needs be affraid and backward to come and appear before him A diversity is to be observed when it is written Into thine hand I commit my Spirit Thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of Truth The Psalmist doth not here say Thou hast Created me O Lord God of Truth Though indeed this is true yet that is not altogether so satisfying 〈◊〉 Reason for him to willingly commit his Spirit into God's Hand as the consideration of his having Redeemed him is Because that by Nature we are the Children of Wrath as well as others and we are shapen in Iniquity and in Sin doth our Mother conceive us So that until this same Sin and Iniquity which is the Object of God's Hatred Displeasure and Punishment be done away and we are Redeemed from it for by his Redeeming us we are in a state of Reconcilation again as this is God's Act also as well as of Creating us we are not meet and consequently there cannot be a Willingness upon good and true Grounds to give up our Spirits unto God or to say with old Simeon in the Text Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace Even this old Simeon though he had already lived long on this Earth yet he would not have been so contented and desirous to have departed out of it unless he was to depart in Peace Not to depart generally as most People do in doubt fear and trouble but to depart in Peace If we could have our choice and it were so in our power as to be Immortal here and never to Die as for my part I should desire and pray unto God either to depart in Peace or not to depart at all Foâ—… as it is said of the Son of Perdition It would have been good for him if he had never been Born so it may be here affirmed of those who do not depart in Peace It would be good for them not to depart or not to dye at all Not but that some may go off disturbedly and yet go off safely The Soul may be sometimes in a state of Peace and yet not be sensible thereof Who feareth thâ— Lord and obeyeth the voice of his Servant and yet walketh in darkness and have no light Isa 50. 10. But when one hath true and assured Grounds of Departing in Peace as Simeon here had there one may pray and appeal to God for him to let our Soul depart from the Body What were those true and assured Grounds which Simeon had of departing in Peace They are contained in the following Verse For mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation From hence it appears that the true and assured Groundâ— for which any one is willing and contented to Dye is Because he hath seen the Salvation of God or for the committing our Spirit into the Hand of God is Because he hath Redeemed us Now to see the Salvation of God or for God to Redeem us do amount to near one and the same thing As it is written The Kingdom of God cometh not with Observation in the Margent there it is with outward shew Neither shall they say Lo here or Lo there for beâ—old the Kingdom of God is within you So here it may be reasoned and supposed The Salvation of God is not outward nor yet cometh with Observation but the Salvation of God is within us It is wrought and accomplished within us And thou shalt call his Name Jeâ—us for he shall save his People from their Sins Mat. 1. 21. Who is a Prince and a Saviour and the Author of Eâ—ernal Salvation to all that obey him and the Salvation of God As to all this Christ is no otherwise a Saviour â—r doth save us or is the Salvation of God than as he â—oth save us from our Sins and turn us from our â—aiquities For this is laying the Ax to the Root of â—…e Tree and digging to the very Ground-work and â—oundation because that only by reason of Sin we beâ—…me liable and obnoxious to Death Misery and Punishment So that by certain and necessary Consequence 〈◊〉 we are saved from Sin then also we are saved from â—eath Misery and Punishment Hence again appears that this is the Salvation of God to save us from our Sins â—nd to save us from the Guilt and Corruption of our â—ature from whence these same Sins do proceed forth and so in those many places of Scripture where Salvation belongeth unto our God and is ascribed unto him 〈◊〉 he is called the God of Salvation there it is meant of â—…ving us from our Sins Where he saves from our Eâ—…mies Sin is the greatest Enemy for 't is Sin in such a â—…an or Woman which only makes him or her to be our â—nemy Thou hast led captivity captive Psal 68. 18. that 〈◊〉 God hath led Sin and Corruption which doth inâ—lve the Children of Men in Captivity Captive by 〈◊〉 having received gifts for Men. And then it follows â—lessed be the Lord who daily loadeth us with Benefits and â—…imating thereby that to be saved from our Sins or to â—…d that Captive which before held us in Captivity is 〈◊〉 greatest Benefit And then it follows Even the God of our Salvation Selah He that is our God is the God of Salvation and unto
God the Lord belong the Issues from Death In saving us from Sin God doth save us from Death also inasmuch as Death is by reason of Sin And therefore Jesus Christ in whom was no sin he being the Holy one of God Therefore he should not see corruption and it was not possible that he should not be holden of Death as Peter doth truly averr it So that as God and Christ do save us from sin unto God do belong the Issues from Death for there is a flowing and rising and deliverance from that again As health is an holding together of Temporal Life so Holiness or freedom from sin is the Principle and beginning of Eternal Life It is an act of Salvation or saving to subdue And as to this also we have God speaking on this wise He will turn again he will have compression upon us he wiâ—… subdue our iniquities Micah 7. 19. which indeed is the greatest instance of compassion that can be shewed unto us Men for unless God did subdue our Iniquities we must die perish and be miserable for ever Now to Subdue our Iniquities is to conquer and subdue the reigning Nature and Power of them so that they shall not involve us into the Death of Sin here nor yet into the Damnation of Hell hereafter Having thus Explained what Salvation is in order that we may the better understand those true and assured grounds of a willingness to dye when we have seen the Salvation of God wrought and accomplished upon and within our Souls Proceed we to speak 〈◊〉 the Nature of Redemption which is also another trâ—… and assured Ground of committing our Spirit into thâ— hand of God because thou hast Redeemed us O Lorâ— God of Truth The signification of which Redemption may be Understood from what is written Forasmuâ—… as ye know that ye were not Redeemed with Corruptibâ—… things as Silver and Gold from your vain Conversation receivâ—… by tradition from your Fathers And as the same Apostâ—… doth elsewhere phrase it By these you might be partâ—kers of the Divine Nature which none can be unâ—… be is first Redeemed from the corrupt Nature aâ— from the Body of Sin which we carry about us having escaped the Corruption that is in the World through lust So that to be Redeemed from Corruption and from Lust both which are very much in the World this â—s Redemption Upon my Discoursing these things Examine your selves whoso shall hear or Read these Lines can ye thus find and witness Redemption in your own Souls That is do ye feel and Experience inwardly a Redemption in ye from that vain Conversation which is so much used and practised by other People and also a Redemption from Corruption and from Lust If it is so Indeed and in Truth then ye have purchased a good degree in the Faith and ye have made a considerable Advancement and Proficiency in the Christian-Life So that ye are in a readiness and willingness to Commit your Spirits into the hand of God because he hath Redeemed them And then in Psal 31. 5. He is called the Lord God of Truth Intimating thereby that he doth Redeem and Sanctifie them by his Truth There is another Scripture which doth clearly open the Nature of Redemption These were they which were â—…ot defiled with Women these were Redeemed observe that â—…rom among Men being the first Fruits unto God and to â—he Lamb. And in their Mouth was found no Guile for they were without fault before the Throne of God Rev. 14. 4. 5. â—t is here to be taken notice of how the Scripture in â—his and many other places doth in a wonderful manner Instruct People in these things of Holiness perâ—ection and Innocency It is the Point or End which â—…ll Scripture doth drive at and lead unto But in this â—lace to be Redeemed doth import to be Redeemed â—…om among Men and not to be defiled with Women That is not to be Tainted or Touched with the Temptation of either to be freed from Lust Concupicence and from the motions of Sins in our Members and to have in our Mouth no Guile found and to be without fault before the Throne of God Such are his Redeemed and Sanctified ones And the Ransomed of the Lord elsewhere called the Redeemed of the Lord Isa 51. 11. shall return and comâ— to Zion with Songs and Everlasting joy upon their Headâ— They shall obtain joy and Gladness and Sorrow and Sighâ—ing shall flee away Isa 35. 10. In truth none havâ— such Reason to be joyful as these Redeemed of the Lord for nothing can possibly hurt them Not Meâ— nor Devils nor yet Death it self which is the moâ—… Melancholy thing and of doubtful Expectation as tâ— other People for by Death they are received into God hand the place of Everlasting joy There is yet another Scripture which Explains thâ— Nature of Redemption Who gave himself for us that 〈◊〉 might Redeem us from all Iniquity and Purifie unto him self a peculiar People zealous of good Works Titus 2. 1 The Scripture is all along consonant and agreeable to 〈◊〉 self for this Redeeming from all Iniquity and Purifyiâ—… answers exactly to that place aforementioned of beinâ— without Guile and to have no fault A state of Innocenâ—… is a state of Redemption for it is a state of Redeâ—ption from Sin Guilt and whatever may hurt or maâ—… the Soul miserable It is a Redeeming from Captivitâ— Bondage and Thraldom from the Vassalage of Sâ—…tan and the Imprisonment of Hell which as we 〈◊〉 come Obnoxious unto only by reason of Sin Iniquiâ—… and Transgression So as we are Redeemed from theâ—… we are consequently Redeemed and saved from tâ—… other also Besides these two Grounds of having seen the Salvâ—tion of God and his having Redeemed us there is anothâ—… for our willingness and contentment to dye from whâ—… is written I have Glorified thee on the Earth I haâ—… finished the Work which thou gavest me to do And nâ—… come I to thee John 17. 4. 13. Now seeing that whoâ—… God did foreknow He did also Predestinate to be confâ—…med unto the Image of his Son that he might be tâ—… first Born amongst many Brethren So that we mâ—… assuredly Reason that every Servant of God may upâ—… true grounds be willing to dye and to come unto Gâ—… when he hath before Glorified him on the Earth aâ—… finished the Work which God gave him to do Aâ—… now come I to thee Words full of consolation and rejoycing Like as when a Servant is sent out to such a place about his Masters Business when he hath done it he returns to his Master with rejoycing and complacency of mind Even so God our Creator sent us Reasonable Creatures to do his Work and Business Wist ye not that I must be about my Fathers Business Luke 2. 49. Said Jesus Christ his beloved Son who herein left us an Example that we should follow his steps Now certainly it must be a Satisfaction to the Creature when he hath
according to what the same Apostle elsewhere witnesseth of himself which is also applicable to other People who would have and enjoy the same good things For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand I have fought a good Fight I have finished my course I have kept the Faith henceforth there is laid up for me aâ—… Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the Righteous judge shall give me at that day and not unto me only but unto aâ—… them also that love his appearing The Crown of Righteousness will not be had by any one until he hath first fought the good fight and kept the Faith There is no departing in peace according to the word of God or according to the understanding desire of the Reasonable Creature without having first seen the Salvation of God The second true and assured ground of a contentment willingness and desire to dye is when the Lord God of truth hath Redeemed us Sanctifie them through thy truth Thy word is truth And so the same God that doth Sanctifie his People through his truth doth also Redeem them through his truth or by his word of truth When we are once throughly Redeemed and Sanctified by the truth of God then we may commit our Spirits into the hand of God For then these Spirits of ours are Redeemed and Sanctified from whatever Defilement and Corruption they had from the Body and from the things of this Earth Then the Spirit returns to God again the same as it was when he gave it The Temple of God is Holy which Temple ye are And so God expects that that Spirit which he Created Holy for so it was before it is defiled with the Body of Death should be kept and preserved Holy but chiefly it should be Sanctified that is made Holy just as it comes to be surrendred and given back unto God Every Like loves its Like and an Holy God loves an Holy Soul The Scripture expressly affirmeth it Without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord which implyes the contrary that with Holiness or when the Soul is endued or clothed with Holiness it shall then certainly see the Lord to its endless Comfort and Rejoycing The great and principal Business we have to do here on this Earth and as we are going off from it which we do continually as soon as we are Born is to dye to Sin I dye Daily saith the Apostle and to get Holiness ingrafted into the Soul As we are day after day approaching nearer and nearer unto the Grave here let us examin and prove our selves whether we are yet more Dead unto Sin and have Holiness yet more ingrafted into our Souls Whether as our desires grow more languid and unaffected as to Creature Comforts and to creature enjoyments by having had them over and over so often already So the same desires are more from Sin and Vanity and the more thirst after God And after the Enjoyment of him in his Kingdom so as to cry out from the real sense bent and inclination of our Souls As the Hart panteth after the Water Brooks so panteth my Soul after thee O God! When we can say in truth and seelingly within our self there is none upon Earth I desire besides thee And when in old Age we cannot tast what we Eat or what we Drink When the Keepers of the House shall tremble and those that look out of the Windows are Darkened when the Grashopper shall be a burthen and desire shall fail My Flesh and my Heart faileth if then God is the strength of our Heart and our Portion for ever For so the right Consequence is and Endeavours should be used accordingly That as our outward Man decays day by day so we should be more renewed in the inward Man As the day approaches continually nearer and nearer when we shall outwardly go off from this Earth the more we should be Redeemed from the Earth that is we should be Redeemed from the Evil and Defilement and Corruption of this Earth before we can upon Assured grounds commit our Spirit into the hand of God Besides this of being Redeemed from our vain conversation and from the Corruption of our Nature and of being without Guile and Fault before the Throne of God The chief and especial Redemption is that which was wrought and accomplished by Jesus Christ who in his Love and Pity hath Redeemed them and he bare them and he carried them all the days of old Isa 63. 9. Even Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come Who bought us with a price and purchased us with his own Blood As God the Father Redeemed and brought up the Israelites out of the Land of Aegypt Whereby he was in a more especial manner their God for the Redeemer hath a right in the Redeemed Even so God by his Son Jesus Christ hath Redeemed Mankind from Spiritual Aegypt from the Slavery and Bondage of Sin and Satan and Death Christ hath Redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us And it was this Redemption wrought and accomplished by Jesus Christ who was of the seed and linage of David whom the Scripture therefore calls the Son of David which David speaks of by the Spirit and had respect unto when he said Into thine hand I commit my Spirit Thou hast Redeemed me O Lord God of truth To pursue the very same Reasoning here as is in Acts 2 25 30. 32. For David speaketh concerning him Thou hast Redeemed me O Lord God of truth For being a Prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an Oath to him In fulfilling of which he is here fitly called the Lord God of truth That of the fruit of his loins according to the Flesh he would raise up Christ to sit on his Throne and to Redeem Mankind by him He seeing this before spake of the Redemption of Christ Thou hast Redeemed me O Lord God of truth It being the usual stile of Prophecies to speak of that as already past which is to come Whereby is shewn forth the immutable truth of the Eternal God for what he hath decreed in his Eternal counsel and purpose it is as certain as if it was already past and fulfilled As Abraham saw his day and was glad so here David saw his day and was glad And truly well they might for saith the Apostle in the Persons of the Regenerate for we were by Nature Children of wrath as well as others So that Abraham and David were Children of wrath also And then both of them might well be glad to foresee by Faith this Jesus Christ who was to Redeem them from the wrath to come The word Redemption is a relative term and doth presuppose captivity thraldom or the being sold from all which Redemption doth lose and set free again And so this Jesus Christ travelled in the greatness of his strength and was mighty to save he led Captivity Captive that is he led even Sin
most people apprehend and practice concernâ—…g it yet that Man who will be saved by his Reliâ—…on must make a work of it yea and hard work it is 〈◊〉 climb up the Holy Hill and to get to Heaven Inâ—…ed too many do not take more Labour and Pains in â—…eir Religion than in putting on their Cloaths and 〈◊〉 dressing and undressing themselves which is a custom 〈…〉 usual thing but there is no toil or sweat therein 〈◊〉 more do they make of their outward Worship But â—…s alone is not sufficient to obtain the benefit and â—…sired end of Religion that is the Salvation of their â—…uls For the Scripture which makes wise to Salvation and â—…aches the way to Heaven doth assure us that we must â—…ive if we would enter in at the strait gate Luke 13. 24. The â—ord in the original signifies Putting forth the utmost â—…rength which meer outward Worshippers do not God is a â—…warder of them that diligently seek him Heb. 11. 6. Which â—…plyes on the other hand that he is not a Rewarder 〈◊〉 them who seek him carelesly or who do it only accorâ—ing to custom and outward fashion as the manner of â—any is Be ye stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the â—ork of the Lord forasmuch as ye know that your labour is â—…t in vain in the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 48. In this Scripture it is â—…lled both a Work and a Labour and it imports thus â—uch that they who make a Labour and work of it 〈◊〉 them it will not be labour in vain As again on the â—ther hand to such who make no work nor labour thereâ—f it will be labour in vain I mean that little which â—uch people do in Religion for almost all people do someâ—hat or other therein will be in vain because it will â—ot be sufficient to obtain the desired end which is the â—aving of their Souls There is no going to Heaven by â—afe and sloth by custom or fashion Son Go and â—ork in my Vineyard But thou endure hardship as a good Souldier of Jesus Christ And not to multiply more Scriptures to confirm the point in hand take it for a certain â—ruth and affirmation as the end of things will more clearly shew and manifest That it is a hard work and Labour to serve God accceptably with reverence and Godly fear and to be Religious indeed that it may become a Religion to the saving of the Soul as people do really work and labour when in the sweat of their face they eat their Bread or as it is in any hard labour of the hands and this must be a continued work and labour in Religion extending and running throughout all our Life long The labour and work of the mind is as toilsome and difficult as that of the Body Now the work of Righteousness for so the Holy Ghost calleth it Isa 32. 17. Or the labour of Religion or the service of God is purely and chiefly of the mind it is heart work and Soul work and so it is labour of the Heart and labour of the Soul And here Bodily exercise profiteth nothing but the Soul execise that is the lifting up her self towards God and that most earnest desire which she hath to please him and find acceptance with him hath the promise of that life which is to come And here must be labour and care that thiâ—… may be accepted with God In Bodily exercise pertaining to Religion there is but little labour or work but in the Soul exercise thereof which is the principal part and the only thing required by God My Son give me thy Heart There must be labour and work to render it acceptable and pleasing in the sight of the Lord. A for instance when we go to Worship to bring our Bodies to the place or after we are come there to sit still and sleep or to have our thoughts a Wandering and Roving or to have our eyes staring and fixed on the several outward objects there is not much work and labour in all this For in the bare going to the place of Worship there is no more labour than in Going or Walking to a place for our Recreation or Pleasure and then it is noâ— more labour and work in sitting still there then in the Houses of our several Habitations But herein consists the labour and work of the Soul to keep it always lifted up and fixed on the invisible God and to keep it close and attentive to the word preached or when the Law and the Prophets Acts 13. 15. The Gospel and Apostles artâ— Read than to mind only the things which are therein spoken of and nothing else And when the vanity and inclination of our corrupt Nature this being also one device of Satan that the word preached becomes as seed sown in â—…ony ground for it hath not entrance into and takes â—o root in the heart would turn us aside to stare upon â—…tward objects Here again to deny our selves and â—ith Hezekiah to Turn our face towards the wall that we â—ay be the more attentive and earnest in our Prayer unâ—… God and in hearing his word there is some work and â—…bour in this before we can bring our corrupt and deâ—…tfull heart throughly unto it O turn away mine eyes â—…at they behold not Vanity And when the Worship of â—od and the hearing his word is Irksome and Weariâ—…me to our corrupt Nature which is the great temptaâ—…on to ungodliness and prevails upon people of unâ—…dly minds And we could spend the same tune in carâ—…l Perambulation in the fields In finding our own â—leasure or speaking our own words at the doors or in the â—…oms of our Houses both which the Spirit of God finds â—…ult with in Isa 58. 13. Ezek 33. 30. Yet here again 〈◊〉 deny our selves of this kind of pleasure and agreeableâ—ess to our Nature as it is corrupt and willingly submit â—…r selves at the same time to the Tediousness and Irksomâ—…ss of Religious duties there is some labour and work â—…erein for it is of the same Nature as labour is to be Toilâ—…me and Irksome for no Labour which was inflicted 〈◊〉 us as a chastening and punishment after the fall for the â—resent seemeth to be joyous but grievous nevertheless â—…terward it Yieldeth the peaceable fruit of Righteousness 〈◊〉 them who are exercised thereby For afterwards the Creaâ—ure is inwardly satisfied because he hath herein complied â—ith the ordinance of God and also herein he hath subâ—itted to some part of the punishment of God which 〈◊〉 now sweetned unto us in Christ In the sweat of thy â—…ce shalt thou eat thy Bread By the sweetness and comfort â—hich both is intermixed with and amidst honest labour â—nd chiefly it may be perceived after it is over for there 〈◊〉 no such satisfaction in the world like unto the review 〈◊〉 looking back upon well spent time the reasonable Creature may cry out Righteous art thou O Lord 〈◊〉 thou hast punished us less than our iniquities
deserâ—… Herein also the Plowman Artificer and day Labourâ—… will give up unto God a better account of spending thâ—… time and the days of their life then idle Gentry aâ—… Rich People Who have lived in pleasure on the Earth aâ—… have been wanton and have nourished their hearts as in 〈◊〉 day of slaughter Who sit down to eat and to drink and rise up to play Here again it is to be desired that peopâ—… would willingly as out of duty and obedience to thâ—… primitive Commandment and ordinance of God su 〈…〉 mit themselves to labour and pains and not do it so muâ—… out of necessity to get a livelihood and that they wou 〈…〉 submit themselves to the same labour and pains in t 〈…〉 immediate service of God and in doing good and 〈…〉 all this purely for God's sake and not as an hireling 〈◊〉 hire or reward For God more approves of such se 〈…〉 vice and obedience as we may gather from what written The Kings came and fought then fought the Kin 〈…〉 of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo they 〈◊〉 no gain of mony Judges 5. 19. And from the example Nehemiah who saith Moreover from the time I was appoinâ—… to be their Governour in the land of Judah that is twe 〈…〉 years I and my Brethren have not eaten the bread of 〈◊〉 Governour but the former Governours that had been befoâ—… me were chargeable unto the people and had taken of them Bre 〈…〉 and Wine beside forty shekels of Silver yea even their servaâ—… bare Rule over the People But so did not I because of 〈◊〉 fear of God Neh. 5. 14 15. These things are recorded to for ensamples and they are written for our admon 〈…〉 tion yea and imitation also upon whom the ends 〈◊〉 the world are come The God of Israel said He thâ—… Ruleth over Men must be just Ruling in the fear of G 〈…〉 2 Sam. 23. 3. Such should not be chargeable unto the peop 〈…〉 For whereas the former Governours had been chargeabâ—… unto the people Nehemiah would not because of the fear God But to return again from whence I have seemed to digâ—… eâ—… As bodily labour doth by use and exercise become mo 〈…〉 Habitual and easy so in the service of and obedience to God it would be work and labour well bestowed to somewhat remove and take off that Irksomness and Wearisomness that is in the same which is done by beginning and then continuing in this good kind of life Hereby it comes to pass that when people in their unregenerate state say of the Worship and service of God Behold what a weariness is it Mal 1. 13. Saying when will the new Moon be gone that we may sell Corn and the Sabbath that we may set forth Wheat Amos 8. 5. They come â—o be so changed and renewed and altered in their mind that they call the Sabbath a delight not doing their own ways nor find their own pleasure nor speak their own words but they delight themselves in the Lord and take delight in approaching unto God Which heretofore was unpleasant â—o them and they were backward and hard to be brought unto it this is a change indeed Formerly they grudged at every hour of time which was not spent in pleasure and now they grudge at every hour which is not spent in the service of God and doing good to their immortal Souls All other things perish and nothing else remains â—n a Man or avails any thing The Grass withereth the Flower fadeth but the word of our God shall stand for ever There must be work and labour and succession of time before the Soul comes to be thus Born again and renewed in the Spirit of her mind after that she hath been depraved by the Body and by our corrupt sinful and sinning Nature There must be a great deal of hard work and labour before we can put off and be delivered from this Body of Sin and Death which we carry continually about us O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Intimating thereby that no Mortal Creature could do it yet the grace of Jesus Christ could and also would do it for this purges out the old leaven and sinful and corrupt Nature until it becomes whole and healthful and than it will grow up to Blessed immortality There must be work and labour to lay aside every weight for can any weight be laid aside without some labour in no wise And the sin which doth so easily beset us and to resist unto Blood striving against sin T 〈…〉 last requires the utmost labour and hardship To go 〈…〉 farther and lay the Ax to the Root of the Tree thâ—… must be work and labour to get rid off and free fr 〈…〉 the motions of Sin and the inclinations to Evil wh 〈…〉 are in our members For when we were in the flesh 〈…〉 motions of sin which were by the law did work in our me 〈…〉 ers to bring forth fruit unto Death This is the mis 〈…〉 evous effect of those motions of sins in our members 〈…〉 bring forth fruit unto Death It may be of edificati 〈…〉 and benefit to narrowly consider the Nature of thâ— which also will not be altogether going aside from 〈…〉 intended matter for to get clear from those motions sins is one part of finishing that work which God ga 〈…〉 us to do They are called the motions of sins So that they a 〈…〉 not properly actual sins but the motions of sins that 〈…〉 a motion or inclination unto sin like to the first sprin 〈…〉 ing forth of a Bud or as in the breaking forth into a S 〈…〉 or Sore The matter and root and cause thereof from within So here the Law of God is perfect convert 〈…〉 the Soul and in order to that it would prevent the ve 〈…〉 first rise and beginnings of sin or the motions of sins in 〈◊〉 members For it doth not only provide against the outwa 〈…〉 breaking forth of actual transgression but also it wou 〈…〉 suppress and stifle and hinder the motions of sins in o 〈…〉 members If these little ones that is the motions 〈◊〉 sins in our members are dashed against the stones as hap 〈…〉 py is he that doth so Then they can never grow inâ—… Presumptuous sins or into the great transgression And 〈◊〉 if these motions of sins are suppressed and stifled whi 〈…〉 they are but yet working in our members than it 〈◊〉 impossible that ever they should come forth into actuaâ—… sins Truly this to do is very hard work and labouâ— yet still there should be a pressing and endeavour afteâ—… it This is the difference between the sins of the regenerate and unregenerate between the spot of thy Children and which is indeed Corrupting of themselves Deut 32. 5 Such as are the Children of God have only some little motions and inclinations to the same sins