promote the Salvation of his Church in any eminent degree but it is in a way that is cross and contrary to the sense and expectation of flesh and bloud insomuch you know the darknesse of our condition has been the entrance upon deliverance as just before the day dawns it s the darkest of the night when God looked and there was none to help them saies he my arm brought salvation Thus it is with you that are effectually called you have received the sentence of death the entrance upon your deliverance is the darkest time of your condition 3. God can do great things Joel 2. Fear not thy God O Sion can do great things 'T is the disparagement that we offer to God we ascribe more to the Creature than we do to God when we give way to carnal fear◠fear not what man can do because of the power of God which was his shield and buckler Is any thing too heavy for God and when God does great things he usually goes on to do greater though he may seem to suffer his work to be thrown back to confusion and his people may be ready to say we thought he had redeemed Israel that degree of Reformation shall not be lost You know in Luther's time take any special degree of Reformation in the Church and it seemed to be opposed by the gates of hell when it was brought upon the stage to any hopeful degree then it was taken as it were utterly out of sight for a while but it was never lost thus God is but making way for his own glory to appear in these great works O but you will say what shall become of my particular It is enough God hath promised that we shall not want any thing that is truly good and that nothing that is evil shall fall upon us and lie upon us though we do not see deliverance it shall be whatever our sad thoughts and tremblings of heart may be yet give God the glory of his Word Take these few Directions 1. Strive to strengthen thy Faith Faith is that which layes hold on Christ and Christ is your strength therefore Faith is said to do that which Christ does let every day drive thee to a renewed act of Faith Take heed be not shaken in the faith of the Cause be not shaken in the Faith of Christ fides Causae fides Christ◠Be not shaken upon the Cause which upon utmost examination we find to be according to the word hold that Heaven and Earth shall passe away but not one jot and tittle of this Cause And then do not shake in the Faith of Christ that is in your laying hold in your applying your selves to him in your resting and setling upon him beg of God to strengthen your faith 2. Get more Self-denial we must forsake all we must not except any thing A man would part with his life as easily as with a pin off his sleeve if he had but some considerable growth in Self-denial 3. Get a great deal of love towards that Christ that loved us with a love stronger then death get love of that Christ that may be stronger then life Let nothing in the world be of any consideration with you so us Christ may be magnified in your bodies love will breed courage and cast out fear slavish fear before God carnal fear before men Get a true insight into an account of suffering and troubles whence they are they issue from the same love with redemption of your souls from Hell and your glorification God doth every thing in pursuance of the purpose of his love he doth every thing according to the platform and pattern of his thoughts towards us from eternity Consider what troubles are and to what end not to destroy but to try to wean from the world to fit for Heaven 5. Get an infight into the vanity of the creature you reckon the creature some great matter and that is the reason of your love and of your fear 6. Get the fear of God that may over-rule other sears Fear not him that can but kill the body but fear him that is able to cast body and soul into hell fire 7. Keep a clear conscience void of offence towards God and towards men by a heart abasing confession of what is past and the application of the blood of Christ and by mortification and watchfulnesse therein keep your selves from evil for the time to come 8. Get a better assurance of eternal life a glimpse and sight of this would make a man run through the very flames of hell How comfortable was Stephen when a shower of stones was about his ears to see Jesus standing at the right hand of God! I wonder how they dare to venter their life that have no ground of a better life but for those that have a well-grounded hope of the mercy of God they say We reckon these light affections which are but for a moment to work for us a 〈◊〉 more exceeding and eternal weight of glory Fear all any of these things which you shall suffer Pro. 7. Christ does limit Satan he hath him in a string him and all his Instruments The Devil shall cast some of you into prison c. Every word hath its weight Who shall do it The Devil What shall he do Cast you into prison How far Some of you How long Ten dayes For what use That you may be tryed Christ as he hath Satan in a chain of providence so he hath a chain of restraint it is Christ that puts a circle about him he cannot cause a hair of your head to fall he is in the hand of Christ and they are under him and his hand as they are against him If God lets alone his Enemies what shall they not do If God lets alone his People what shall they do 2. God has a special Providence about the things of his Church by way of eminencie by way of permission and ordination 3. You will not deny but there is power enough in God to destroy all that are against him and to limit all and all shall make to the praise of God and to his peoples good The Lord is exceeding merciful he cannot hold when the Enemy comes to insult to blaspheme and revile Now will I arise saith God and set him at liberty from him that puffeth at him There is not only a judging of their Enemies hereafter but a judging of them here the world shall say Verily there is a God that rewardeth righteousnesse verily there is a God that judgeth the earth 3. God has a special design in hand therefore just so far as he will carry on that design God hath towards his people which is alwayes a design of faithfulnesse just so far shall the Enemy go Isai 10 The Enemy means not so he means to cut off a people not a few but Gods end was otherwise and he will over-rule them this is the Comfort there is a set time there is an end
left both of Friends and Foes and that for these Reasons which is the first thing I have to do which is to shew you Why we should hold fast the Truths of God First For the excellency of Divine Truth it is more precious then Gold better â—hen Rubies and all that you can desire cannot be compared with Truth And it must needs be so because it is the immediate Issue of God himself who is the Fountain of Truth and the Fountain of all Perfection and Glory Natural men have said Truth is the Daughter of Time Divines say Truth is the Daughter of God Divine Truth is the Child of God the Issue and Birth of God And whosoever therefore God hath pleased to deliver his Truth unto they must be tenderly careful that it be not deflowred and violated Secondly It is our duty to hold fast the Truth that we have received because we have received it under the notion of those things that have a kind of constancy in them I say we have received the Truth under the nature of those things that have a kind of constancy and perpetuity in them The Scripture speaks of the Truths of God as an Heritage Thy Testimonies have I taken for mine Heritage saith David in the 119. Psalm Though a man's Personal Estate may be alienated yet that which is his Heritage this is unalienable in Law it is a wrong done to his Posterity if he parts with thaâ— Truth is the Inheritance of the Saints therefore they are to hold it fast Again in Scripture the Truth of God is called a thing committed to a man's Trust 2 Tim. 1.14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us That good thing What was that Why the form of sound words which in the Verse before he had bidden him hold fast this is but a Reduplication of the same thing on him The Body of Gospel-Truths that was committed to thee hold it fast that good thing a good thing the Author of it is good and it makes us good all that is contained in it is good Matter and it tend to a good End the saving of our Souls This saith he hath been committed to thee therefore keen it A thing committed to a man's Trust must be so kept that it may be re-delivered and re-delivered intire and whole and re-delivered to the same Person that did commit it to us else we cannot be faithful to our trust The Truth of God is committed to our trust we must so keep it that we may re-deliver it and re-deliver it intire and whole and re-deliver it thus intire and whole to him that committed it to us even to God This 〈◊〉 the Duty of all Christians thus to keep the Woâ—â— There is a committing of the Truth to all 〈◊〉 Church and Saints of God as Jude tells us in 〈◊〉 Epistle verse the third That ye should conteâ—â— earnestly for the Faith which was once deliveâ—â— to the Saints the Faith that is the Doctrinâ— Faith the truth of the Gospel which was delivered to the Saints We have but one Gospel and it was delivered but once God means no more to deliver his Gospel and the Truths of it therfore you had need strive hard to keep them and hold them Thirdly We should hold fast the Truth that we have received because if we do not hold it fast we do wrong God and we wrong our selves and we wrong the Truth and we wrong our Posterity 1. It is our duty to hold fast the Truths we have received because if we do not we wrong God for Truths are more Gods then ours They are ours as to the use of them but they are his as he is the Original and Author of them Truths are God's Jewels there is never a Truth of Religion but God owns it as his and for us to barter away any of these Truths of God it is Sacriledge it is a robbing of God it is a wrong to God This is that God complains of by his Prophet in the second of Jeremiah the eleventh and twelfth Verses Hath a Nation changed their Gods which are yet no Gods but my People have changed their glory for that which doth not profit Be astonished O ye Heavens at this and be horribly afraid bâ—ye very desolate saith the Lord. The Prophet indeed speaks of a total forsaking of God and all his Truths but there is in the forsaking of every Truth a proportion of wrong to God 2. It is a wrong done to the Truths of God when men having received the Truth and embraced it hold it not fast but cast it off this is a wrong to the Truths of God We say it is less reproach to a man when he comes to my house to shut the Door against him and not receive him in at all then when he hath been in a while with me I turn him out all the World will now think I find cause to be weary of him They who have shâ—â— their hearts against the Truth and never gave aâ— entertainment to it they are less injurious to iâ— then they that have received it and professed it and yet turn from it These tell the World that the Truths of God are not so sweet and worthy of their entertainment as they supposed them to be 3. This is an injury and wrong to our selves this is a wrong to our Credit and Reputation Now though we may not make Credit our End in Religion yet we may make use of our Credit or Reproach as an Argument to hold fast the Truth and this is injurious to our own Souls John 8.31 Thâ—â— Jesus said to those Jews which believed on him If ye continue in my Word then are ye my Disciples Indeed here Christ doth seem to distinguish his Disciples he hath some that are so in name that are not so is deed and he hath some that are so in deed and 〈◊〉 truth and of these he gives a Character here If â— continue in my Word You now profess to beliâ—â— my Word but if you hold fast and continueâ— my Word then you are my Disciples indeed 〈◊〉 if you continue not in my Word you have 〈◊〉 name of Disciples onely and that will not save you You can never be saved unless you be indeed the Disciples of Christ and you can never approve your selves to be the Disciples of Christ indeed if ye continue not in the Truth 1 Joh. 2.24 Let that therefore abide in you which you have received and heard from the beginning If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you ye shall continue in the Son and in the Father Hold fast the Truth of God which you have received then shall you continue in the Son If the Truth of God which you have received and believed remain in you and be held fast by you ye shall continue in the love of the Father and Son but not else according to what he expresseth again
and 't is in vain for us to build on any Foundation but this for 't is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure c. Col. 2.12 through the Faith of the operation of God working in you or doing in you or causing in you or making in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight Our work is to depend on God's work our outward working depends on God's inward working Again that which is acceptable in God's sight but 't is only through Jesus Christ Good works themselves though never so good agreeable to the Law and Gospel yet if God look not on our persons and works through Christ they will not serve the turn ye cannot be accepted working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ Will God be pleased with nothing but onely for Christ Jesus his sake and if it do not please Christ will it not please God 'T is truly plainly verily so That which God cannot accept of through Christ he doth not accept of at all But now things are so ordered that God hath put all things into Christ's hands Christ Jesus hath the ordering of the Worship and Government of the Church he hath the making of all the Articles of the Christian's Creed a Christian is bound to believe nothing but what Christ teaches as necessary to Salvation so that in Christ we are compleat if we believe as he teaches us to believe and if we worship God as he teaches us to worship God and have such order and government concerning his house and walk so as we desire in all things to please our Lord and Master and have him before our eye then are we returned unto Christ the Shepherd and Bishop of our Souls But if we present God with any kind of Creed Model of Worship 〈◊〉 Government that hath not Christ's Image and Stamp upon it God will say as Christ concerning the Money Whose Image or Superscription doth it bear If we can say Christ's the way of Worship we have learn'd from Christ that Order and Government in the Church we have learn'd from Christ then the Father and Son will own it If it have Man's Superscription on it not God's or Christ's I cannot tell how we should presume it can be acceptable to God through Christ for God hath so confin'd himself he will not be pleased but through Christ and that all Matters of Religion in the New Testament should be ordered according to Christ's mind as the Old according to Moses ' This necessary we enquire after Christ's mind in what we do If we can do any thing and in doing it are sure it will be acceptable to God through Christ well and good otherwise not This is the Apostle's Prayer That God would make them perfect in every good work to do his will working in them that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ The Doxology Whether we refer it to God or Christ 't is all one we have no body to honour and glorifie in the Church but God through Christ We cannot tell how to divide those that are so nearly united Therefore when we glorifie God we glorifie Christ And this we must observe God hath ordered all man's Concernments so that we have nothing to plead for our Souls Salvation but God's Grace the Rule is his Word his Gospel that he hath made known to us and therefore Let the Word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom There is a great deal of Do in God's Church about This and That he that must determine the business is Christ and there are but two ways the determining of things for the present and for the time to come hereafter by questioning the matter of fact for the present by making of your Rule When the question comes concerning the Matter of Fact these he receives our Rule What hath Christ said How hath Christ provided in things of this nature It 's plainly so and so but in dubious Matter and Customs and the like I know not how to answer them when we come to answer Christ when he shall put the Question Did you not know whom you was bound to fear Did I not speak nothing at all in the Case neither generally not particularly Could you not by any means come to understand my mind I doubt we shall not be able to answer this But we must say we found a certain state in the Word but having Laws and Customs among our selves therein were at a stand Why saith Christ was your Laws and Customs above or below my Word Must your Law be ruled by my Word or my Word by your Doctrine Did not all Christians hold out this that the Word of Christ was above all Authority in the Matters of Christ Shall the Members of the Body become greater then the Head Therefore you could not be ignorant in this Case your own professing me to be so great in all my Natures and Offices but when you come to practice then you will deny me Shall we be able to answer this We must consider of this that if we would please God it must be through Christ and then we must carry our selves as directed by Christ Jesus in his Word and nothing can take us off that Principle no pretence whatsoever for Christian Religion is such a thing in the nature and substance of it as Jesus Christ is the Author of Therefore if Christ be the Author all that belongs to Christian Religion as to its substance we should-account nothing â—â—moment in Reâ—gion but onely that which we can â—â—â—lbe to Christ 〈◊〉 the Author of it The care of 〈◊〉 Church is in thâ— hand of Christ whatsoever Providences are let in on thâ— Church to exercise or try the 〈◊〉 all must be boâ—â— patiently but every Member muâ—â—â—orship him God hath made Jesus Christ a Shepherd c. In what he findâ— fault we must not justifie what he commands we must approve what he calls to be done we must practise what is not his we must not own as his Much may be drawn from this both for Instruction and Consolation that Christ is the great Shepherd Though he dye in his Members he shall rise in his Members I may say though he dye in his Ministers he shall rise in his Minsters Isa 59.21 As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever This is a part of the Covenant that the Word and Spirit of Christ shall be continued among the Members throughout all Ages God will provide his Children shall not live without a Spirit neither without his Word God hath engaged himself for both for the one as well for the other that there shall be a super-addition
and perpetuating of them 〈◊〉 and herein we must depend upon the faithfulness of The great Shepherd of the Sheep Doctor BATES's Forenoon SERMON HEB. 13.20 21. Now the God of Peace that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the Sheep through the Bloud of the Everlasting Covenant make you perfect in every good Work to do his Will working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever AMEN IT would give light to these words if you confider the scope and design of the Apostle in this Epistle to the Hebrews the sum of which is He writes to to them that he might Antidore their Spiâ—ies as gainst A postacy from the Doctrine of the Gospel they were liable to this upon a double account 1 Partly in respect of those Persecutions to which they were exposed for the Jews were filled with a bruitish zeal for the Ceremonies of the Levitical Law and exprest the greatest rancour against those who left Moses to follow Christ This is the reason why the Apostle lays down so many Preservatives against their revolting from Religion and he spends one part of this Epistle in a most passionate Exhortation to perseverance and doth in the tenth Chapter insinuate himself into them You have already tasted the first-fruits of affliction ver 34. You took joyfully the spoiling of your goods knowing in your selves that you have in Heaven a better and an enduring substance This is that temper that Martyrs have exprest who have not onely parted with their goods but with their lives for the Gospel When they came to the Stake they would not so much as shed a tear to quench those flames wherein they should ascend to God as in a fiery Chatiot You took oyfully the spotling of your goods knowing in your selves that you have a better and an enduring substance Thus he insinuates himself by represening what they had done to encourage them to perseverance and partly he fortifies them against Back-sliding by those terrible Judgments which he threatned against Revolters as you may read Chap. 6. and 7. 2 As they were liable to this Apostacy upon the account of Persecution so upon the account of the unsettledness and instability of their own spirits There were several 〈◊〉 those who had given up their names to Christ who diâ—â— compare the Ceremonies of the Law with the purity of the Gospel Now the Apostle to secure them from this mixture his great design is to represent the vanity and infectiveness of all the Ceremonial Law and to â—â—press and prove the vertue and efficacy of the Lord â—â—sus his death which was the substance of all the shadows And this takes up one great part of his discourse with them Now in these two Verses he sums up by way of Recapitulation all that which he had discoursed of at large and in them you may observe these two thing 1 A Description of God to whom he addresses this Prayer 2 The Substance of the Prayer it self The Description of God that he amplifies by these two things 1 From the Attributes and Qualities of God if I may so express it Now saith he the God of Peace 2 From the effects of his power and love That brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus that great Shepherd of the sheep And these Titles they are not here set down to adorn his Discourse meerly as an Ornament but they have all a peculiar efficacy as to the obtaining of the request which here he makes for them I shall beâ—â— with the first the Description of God from that Attribute Now the God of Peace The Title that is used in the Old Testament frequently is this The Lord of Hosts but in the New he is called The God of Peace There were darker Representations of the mercy and love of God then the more full discoveries of his grace were reserveâ—â—ll the coming of Christ Their Discoveries under the Old Testament were but as the Day-Star whsch usher'd in the Sun of Righteousness Now this Title of the God of Peace imparts two things 1 That he is the Author of Peace and works it 2 That he loves and desights in Peace First That he is the Author of it And if you consider Peace in all iâ—s notions and kinds it is a fruit of God and that which descends from him First Peace in Nature is the Harmony that is between all the parts of the World the union that is between the dis-agreeing Elements this is from God for without him the whole Creation would presently disband and return to its first Chaos of confusion Secondly Civil Peace which is among the Societies of men that which is so amiable and lovely and which needs no other foil to commend it and set off its lustre than the miseries of War this Peace comes from God also When there is a subjection to just Laws this is from God Every rash hand is able to make a wound or cast a fire-brand but it is onely the God of Peace that is able to heal breaches to allay those storms that are in a Nation You know those showers which render the Earth fruitful descend from Heaven from God so all the counsels of Peace descend from above The fiery Exhalations ascend from the Earth Counsels of War and Disturbance proceed from the â—â—vilish hearts of men Or thirdly If you consider that Rational Peace which is in the spirits of men i. e. when the Understanding exercises a coercion and restraint over our licentious Appetites when all our inferior Faculties are under the Empire and Conduct of Reason this proceeds also from God For since the Fall there is a great deal of Tumult many Ryots and Disorders in the Soul of a man Reason hates a bad Guide and our Appetitoâ— those are evil Instruments and do many times hurry Reason from its regular actings But fourthly much more if you consider Spirituâ—â— Peace that Peace doth not onely import an agreemenâ— of a man within himself but the agreement of the Soâ—â— with God This is the fruit of the Spirit and it I only God that is able to convey this peace to us And upon a particular account this Title is given to him by way of eminency and propriety as 1 He is alone able to allow and dispense this peace to us for all our sins are injuries committed against him against his Crown and Dignity all the Arrests of Conscience are made in the name of God and therefore it is only He that can speak peace As in the Civil State it is an Act of Supremacy to give a pardon only he that can condemn is able to speak a pardon so it is that God that is our Judge provoked and incensed by us he that hath a judiciall power to cast body and soule into hell-fire is alone able to speak peace and passe a Pardon for us in the Court of Heaven and this is experienced
by a wounded spirit it is just with such a person as it is with a Malefactor who stands condemned at the Bar he cannot receive encouragement from any of his Spectators till the Judge speak peace to him So if an Angell from Heaven should come and speak to a wounded Spirit It were impossible unlesse God did order command and dispense it that the Spirit should receive any peace because our sins are immediatly committed against him 2 He is alone able to reveal and discover it There is nothing harder in the world than to calm and quiet a disturbed conscience it must be the same power that makes light to spring out of darknesse that must cause a cheerfull serenity in a dark and disconsolate soul I know there is nothing more easie than that false peace which is so universall in the world for the most amongst us cheat themselves with presumption instead of peace with God and security in stead of peace with conscience but that peace which is solid and true can only be revealed by God himself We have an instance of this in David Psal 51. although Nathan had told him from God Thy sinne is pardoned yeâ— notwithstanding he faith Mark thou me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce He still addresses himself to God that he would cause him to hear the voice of pardon and reconciliation for his soul could not be quiet by the voice of the Prophet There is so much infidelity in the soul of man that when he comes to take a view of his sinnes in all their bloudy aggravations only the Spirit of God himself is able to allay the terrots of the conscience And this he doâ—h by an overpowering light when he doth in an imperative and commanding manner silence all the doubts of the soule and establish it in peace with God Certainly he that shall but consider the terrors the faintings the palenesse of a wounded conscience when you shall see a person dis-relish all the things of the world upon this account â—â—â—ring lest God is his enemy when all discourses that â—â—e addressed to him are ineffectual and but like watâ—â— cloath to a dead carcase cannot inspire any heat into him Oh! this shewes only God is able to reveal peace So Job If he hide his face who is able to be at peace There needs no other fury to compleat the misery of a man than his own accusing conscience Conscience is a verier devil than the devill himself and able more to torment and lash the creature Therefore if that be once awakened 't is only God to whose tribunal conscience is liable which is able to speak peace to the soul Now you see in what respect this Title The God of peace is attributed to him as he is the Author and worker of it 2. As he loves and delights in peace This is that which is so pleasing to him that he adopts those into the line of Heaven who are Peace-makers for they shall be called the Children of God Matth. 5.6 This characterizes persons to be his children to be ally'd to him God he only delights in reflection of his own Image for those things that we admire in the world and delight in do not affect his heart He delights not in the strength of the horse he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man The Lord taketh pleasure in them that feare him in those that hope in his mercy Nothing attracts his eye and heart but his own similitude and resemblance and therefore where he sees peaceable dispositions this is that which indeers the soul to him and makes it amiable in his eyes You may judge of his delight in peace by this it is that grace which in an especiall manner prepares us for communion with him for we can never really honour nor enjoy him unlesse we bring to him those dispositions which if I may so speak are in himselfe And therefore it is no wonder that those have little peace of conscience who make so litle conscience of peace You know when God appeared to Eliah he did not appear in the Storm nor in the Fire but in the small still voice and when Elisha was transported with anger he was fain to allay that passion by Musick that so he might be prepared for the holy motions of the Spirit he call'd for an instrument and then the Spirit moved in him I bring it for this end to shew how God delights in peace and he will only maintain communion with those that are of calm and peaceable spirits So much way as we give rash anger so much proportionably do we let in the Devil and cast ouâ— the God of peace Now the reason why this Title is given to God is upon a double account partly with respect to the Blood of the everlasting Covenant which made peace between God and us partly with respect to the Covenant it self which is founded in that Bloud 1 In respect of the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant For it was the blood of Christ that hath sprinkled Gods Throne and made peace in heaven You shall read therefore when Christ came into the world ' â—is said Luk. 2.14 that the heavenly Host appeared and sang Glory to God in the highest on earth peace c. Since the Fall God and man are enemies there is a reciprocall enmity between God and Man God hates the Creature as it is unholy and man hates God as he is just the avenger of sin the author of the Law Now Christ was the Umpire that composed this difference he was God and Man in one person and so being ally'd to both he was a fit person ro reconcile both He was as Job speaks a Dayes-man between us He hath paid every farthing that was due for he did not compound with God but paid the utmost that was due to him He it is that hath reconciled us to God by the power of his Spirit in châ—nging and renewing our natures and creating in us those difpositions which are like to God so than his Blond is the foundation of this peace And how God appears to us not as a consuming fire but as a refreshing light full of calmness serenity and peace towards us Christ he brought more honour to God by his obedience than we brought dishonour by our transgression and therefore without any injury to God he might be at peace with us You know all our sinnes were but the acts of finite creatures and only infinit in regard of the Object against whom they were câ—mmited But the Bloud of Christ was of infinite value in regard of the Subject for he was God and the inriching Union of the Deity conveyed such vâ—lue and worth to his Blood that he was able to appease God and not only to free us from condemnation but to make us the favorites of God We are not onely pardoned but preferrâ—d upon the account of his Bloud 2 He is the God of
for he that is Lord of Angels is become the Shepheard of the sheep and the humiliation of his Person in this respect is the exaltation of his Office It is looked upon in the World as a mean and low employment to have the care and inspection of a Flock but now herein appears the love of Christ he was pleased to become our Shepheard that so he might secure and bring us to the Fold of Heaven and there make us to feed upon those Pastures and to drink of those Rivers of pleasure which flow from the presence of God 2 In the derivation of his Authority that Authority which is communicated to him whereby he is our Shepheard and that is originally from God himself it is not by any mediate deputation but from God himself He is our Shepheard and hath a Title to his Flock upon a double account 1 They are committed to him as his Charge and custody Joh. 6.37 c. All the Elect of the World were given by God the Father to Christ not by way of Alienation but by way of Opigneration as so many pledges which he was to bring to grace and glory and this Charge he doth most fully execute for there is none missing of those committed to him 2 They are given to him by way of Reward and Recompence for all his Blood and Sufferings Isa 53.10 The Lord Jesus put such a value on souls that he purchased an Interest in them by his own Blood and he thinks himself exceedingly recompenced for all his Pains on the Cross Agonies in the Garden Temptations in the Wilderness c. if Souls will submit to his care And here observe the course of Heaven God would endear Souls to Christ upon all reasons by vertue of his command and that charge he gives to them and by vertue of his own purchase 3 If you consider the extent of his care and affection for all the Saints of the world those who are dispersed in all places in all Ages they are all his Flock and therefore 't is the Royalty of his Administration Joh. 10.16 There shall be one Fold and one Shepheard As Christ is the onely Catholick King so he is the only Universal Bishop for all other Shepheards have but particular portions of his Flock committed to their charge and they should be such portions as they have regard to and are under their inspection And at the last day all his sheep shall congregate together and stand at his right hand All the Saints of God that are now scattered as so many Stars in the Firmament shall be united in one Constellation when they shall appear in glory before him 4 In respect of his endowments and qualifications which fit him for the discharge of his Office And 1 Take notice of his affection and love to us and that is the wonder of Heaven and Earth Christ laid down his life for his sheep Joh. 10 11. This is strange that Christ should be a sheep for the slaughter that he might become our Shepheard that he should be a Sacrifice before he could take this office upon him Other Sheep lay down their lives for the Shepheâ—rd but Christ laid down his life for the Sheep So great was his love that it brought him from Heaven to seek and find those that were lost he left a Palace to come to a Wilderness a Throne of Heaven to come to a Fold here upon Earth We read of David that he exchanged a Sheep-hook for a Scepter but Christ quite contrary he chang'd a Scepter for the Rod and Staffe of a Shepheard It was said by one There is nothing so conspicuous in Christ as the prodigality of his love to us Oh! do but consider how great love that was that should make him to die for us that he might bring us home to his Fold We were all of us like erring Sheep who had strayed from him and fell to the Lord of the soil as strange Cattel we were gotten into the possession of the god of this World the Lord Christ would buy us off from thence though we forfeited our right in him yet he would not lose his right in us but he laid down his life that he might reduce us to his Fold that of Wolves he might make us Lambs and fit us for the comforts of his presence 2 In respect of his exact dilâ—gence and inspection over them When but one sheep went astray from his Fold we read he left the ninety and nine and went and sought for that One Luk. 15. where we have that Parable to express the diligence watchfulness of Christ over his sheep There is no person be he never so mean never so obscure though lost in the number and account of the world if he be one of Christs sheep he is always under his inspection and watchfulness We read of the High-Priest that he carried the names of the Tribes upon his Breast-plate the Lord Christ carries the names of all his sheep in his Heart therefore Rev. 13. speaking concerning the Saints all that dwel upon earth whose names are writ in the Book of Life His diligence and care is so exact that he hath all their names writ in his Book He thâ—t tells the Stars counts their hairs and always exercises the most watchful providence over them for good You know sheep are either lyable to rage or erring and wandring Christ's diligence is such that he protects them from the rage of Satan reduces them from all their wandring and brings them home to himself 3 In making proportionable all their services and sufferings to those degrees of strength which he gives to them Isa 40.11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd he shall gather the lambs with his arms and carry them in his bosom and shall gently lead those that are with young Christ always makes a proportion between the services sufferings and strength he calls them to He it is that with that tenderness speaks to Peter Peter lovest thou me feed my Lambs He hath provided for them the most ample and most satisfying nourishment the Ordinances of the Gospel the Word the Promises which are the Breasts of Consolation these are all provided by him for his People And in this respect he is the great Shepherd for he doth not only allow them means but blesses the means to them he is able to enlighten the dark mind and he can make pliable the stubborn will he can spirituallize drossie affections which all other shepherds in the world are not able to effect 4 He is the great Shepheard if you consider his power to preserve them from danger not only those dangers which respect Satan for that fell under his care before but those diseases to which they are liable which threaten ruine Other Shepheards possibly may cure diseases but not defend them from danger Christ it is thaâ— gives eternal life to his sheep he begins the life of holiness which though at present is but as
a spark in the Sea yet he keeps it alive till it shall break forth into a triumphant flame That life that is encompassed with so many enemies and liable to so many weaknesses the Lord Jesus will bring forth judgment to victory and will make them to be powerful over spiritual and eternal enemies The sum is this The Lord Christ is so perfect a Shepheard so compleat as to all the qualifications of that office that the Prophet David breaks forth into exaltation Psal 23. The Lord is my Shepherd c. and then afterwards expresses all those provisions which are made for him by God as a Shepheard He makes me to lie down in green Pastures he leadeth me beside the still waters So that you see Christ whether for diligence love tenderness for preserving us from danger for securing us to life eternal he is only the great Shepheard he is the God of shepheards as well as the God of sheep and all other shepheards are but inferior to him and must be accountable to him for the souls of his sheep which are more valuable than all the world It follows The great Shepheard of the sheep I shall not spend any time in making any resemblance between the people of God and ths sheep only 1 They are sheep in respect of their Innocency You know of all creatures the sheep are unarmed other creatures either they are armed with strength or skin or swiftness to guard themselves and offend others but the sheep hath neither the strength of the Lion the craft of the Fox swiftness of the Deer and of all creatures is most weak inoffensive and most liable to dangers and injuries Of all persons Gods people are most liable to danger and when out of Christs protection the weakest persons in the world 2 In respect of their Meekness A sheep is an emblem of meekness that 's their temper and therein they imitate Christ who hath propounded himself to be their pattern Learn of me for I am meek and lowly both these qualities are exprest by the Prophet Isa 11. where speaking concerning the times of the Gospel saith The Lamb shall lie down with the Wolf now where the Prophet expresses their safety there he expresses their innocency meekness This is the reason why the Prophet saith For thy sake we are killed all the day long we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter because of all Creatures most liable to injuries that which doth least resent them And where ever the Grace of Christ comes it sweetens the most cruel nature and polishes the most rough disposition and makes them to be like Christ meek and lowly 3 In regard of their profitableness for of all Creatures they are most profitable the food as to their flesh the cloth as to their fleece And the people of God however they are exposed to the contempts and injuries of the World they are the most profitable for were it not for them the whole frame of Nature would fall into pieces the Stars would fall like leaves in Autumn and all the Elements would fall into confusion we see it by one Lot who kept showers of fire and brimstone from falling on Sodom till he was got out of it And it is the people of God for whom this frame of Nature is continued and when they are brought into the Fold of Christ the Justice of God will have a solemn triumph over all the World 4 As they are liable to wandring Sheep are wandring Creatures and when strayed not able to reduce themselves And in this respect the people of God are sheep they have a thousand allurements to draw them from the ways of God and if God should not guide them by his eye 't is impossible they should go in the way that leads to Heaven Therefore David saith I have gone astray like a lost sheep seek thy servant Psal 119.176 This shall suffice to make the Parallel and Resemblance of the people of God and Sheep The second Argument is this That he hath design'd Christ to be the Shepherd of the Church The great Shepherd of the sheep this is another Argument and Evidence that he is reconciled to us and that he is the God of Peace For when God gave Christ to be our Sacrifice and raised him up to be our Shepherd these are the most clear testimonies of his love For although Christ now sits in Heaven and all the Angels of God worship him yer he doth not disdain to exercise the same care and to express the same love to his people that he did when he was upon Earth All the Offices of Christ express God's love to us for he feeds us as a Prophet dyed for us as a Priest governs and defends us as he is King and all these meet together in this Title feeding of us dying for us defending of us as he was God he loved us as he was Man he dyed for us This doth express the effects of his two Natures in this Title and therefore an admirable Evidence that God is at peace with us It follows Through the Bloud of the Everlasting Covenant The Bloud of Christ is that which cements God and us together For you must remember our original peace with God was broken that peace we have with him now is called Reconciliation it is as a broken bone which well set is stronger than before because Nature conveys most liberal supplies to the weakest part so now being reconciled to God through the Bloud of his Son we stand upon surer terms with him then we did in Innocency The Bloud of Christ speaks better things for us than all our sins speak against us it speaks peace to our souls and that in Heaven purchased by his Death Christ dyed as a Testator and bequeathed to the Church a Legacy of Peace he lives as the Executor of that Covenant and now in Heaven conveys to us that blessing of peace which he bequeath'd in his Death And as our peace was founded in his Bloud so it is conserv'd by his Intercession he appears in the Court of Heaven as out Embassador to make up all those differences which fall out between God and us for you know Amity and Friendship is kept between Foreign States bp their Residents and Agents that are kept in their several Courts so we have an Agent in the Court of Heaven the Lord Jesus Christ that was raised from the Dead And as a Believer falls into sin which is a breach of peace between God and us so that Peace is made up by the Exercise of Repentance on our part and by sprinkling of Christ's Bloud upon us on God's part The renewed Exercise of Repentance and Application of Christ's Bloud preserves that peace that is between God and Believers And to sum up the force of the Argument when we had fallen from God and it did not consist with the Majesty of God to make peace with us without satisfaction then was he pleased to pay out Ransom
c. 8 The strange and wonderful Affections and tenderness that God hath wrought in his Children to the Gospel What meltings and mournings and what a spirit of Prayer hath God put upon his People 9 There are many young tender Plants and Buds of grace such in whom the Spirit of God hath stirred a hungring thirsting and longing after the great Concernments of Eternity I would upon these grounds with others of the like import hope and believe that the Lord will not remove his everlasting Gospel however he may correct his People for their trifling with and slighting the glorious Gospel I have several times thought what a day of darkness was upon the World in respect of Sin and Superstition When Christ brought the everlasting Gospel what a day of Darkness and Superstition was on the whole Earth But you know what the Apostle speaks 1 Cor. 1.21 For after that in the wisdom of God the World by wisdom knew not God it pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe When it is nearest day then it is darkest There may be an hour of Darkness that may be upon the Gospel as to its liberty purity and glory and yet there may be a Sun-shining day ready to tread on the heels of it And so much for the Resolution of those Queries I shall proceed as I said and leave some Legacies with you which may by the finger of the Spirit be made advantageous to you whom we are not advantaged to speak unto you LEGACY 1. The first Legacy I would leave with you shall be this Secure your Interest in Christ Make it your great business your work your Heaven to secure your interest in Christ This is not an Age an Hour for a man to be between fears and hopes between doubting and believing Take not up in a name to live when you are dead God-ward and Christ-ward Take not up in an outward form and outward priviledges They cryed out The Temple of the Lord The Temple of the Lord that had no interest in or love to the Lord of the Temple Follow God leave no means unattempted whereby your blessed interest may be cleared up Leg. 2. Make Christ and Scripture the onely foundation for your souls and faith to build on as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 3.11 Other foundations can no man lay then that which is layd even Jesus Christ Isa 28.6 Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone a tryed stone a corner stone a pretious stone a sure foundation Ephes 2.10 Since its a very dangerous thing as much as your souls and eternity is worth for you to build on any thing besides Jesus Christ many will say Come build on this authority and that on this saying and that but take heed Leg. 3. In all places and company be sure to carry your soul-preservatives with you go into no place or company except you carry your soul-preservations with you that is a holy care and wisdom You know in infectious times men will carry outward preservatives with them you had need to carry your preservatives about you else you will be in danger of being infected with the ill customs and vanities of the times wherein you live and that is a third Leg. 4. I would leave with you is this look that all within you rises higher and higher by oppositions threatnings and sufferings that is that your faith your love your courage your zeal your resolutions and magnanimity rises higher by opposition and a spirit of prayer this it did Acts 4.18 19 20 21 29 30 31. compared all their sufferings did but raise up a more noble spirit in them they did but raise up their faith and courage So Acts 5.40 41 42. they looked on it as a grace to be disgraced for Christ and as an honour to bâ— dishonoured for him They say as David If thâ— be to be vile I will be more vile If to be found in thâ— way of my God to act for my God to be vile I will be more vile Leg. 5. Take more pains and make more Conscience of keeping your selves from sin than suffering from the pollutions and defilements of the day then from the sufferings of the day this Legacy I would beg that you would consider take more pains and make more conscience of keeping your selves from the evil of sin than the evil of punishment from the pollutions and corruptions of the times than the sufferings of the times Acts 2.40 Save your selves from this untoward generation Phil. 2.15 The Children of God must be harmless and blameless without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation Heb. 11. speaks full to the poin in hand Rev. 3 4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis that have not defiled their garments and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy White was the habit of Nobles which imports the honour that God will put on those that keep their garments pure in a defiling day Rev. 8.4 And I heard another voyce from Heaven saying Come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues If you will be tasting and sipping at Babylon's Cup you must resolve to receive more or lesse of Babylons plagues Leg. 6. I would leave with you is this Be alwayes doing or receiving good Our Lord and Master went up and down in this world doing good he was still doing good to body and soul he was acted by an untired power be still doing or receiving good this will make your lives comfortable your deaths happy and your accompt glorious in the great day of our Lord. Oh how useless are many men in their generation oh that our lips might be as so many Honey-combs that we might scarter knowledge Leg. 7. I would leave with you is this Set the highest examples and patterns before your face of grace and godliness for your imitation In the business of Faith set an Abraham before your eyes in the business of Courage set a Joshua In the business of uprightness set a Job of meekness a Moses c. There is a disadvantage that redounds to Christians by looking more backwards than forwards Men look on whom they excel not on those they fall short of Of all examples set them before you that are most eminent for grace and holiness for communion with God and acting for God next to Christ set the pattern of the choisest Saints before you Leg. 8. Hold fast your Integrity and rather let all go than let that go A man had better let liberty estate relations and life go than let his integrity go yea let Ordinances themselves go when they cannot be held with the hand of integrity Job 27. 5 6. God forbid that I should justify you till I die I will not remove my integrity from me my Righteousness I will hold fast and I will not let it go my heart shall not reproach
me so long as I live look aâ— the drowning man holds fast that which is cast forth for to save him as the Souldier holds fast his Sword and Buckler on which his life depends So saith Job I will hold fast my integrity my heart shall not reproach me I had rather all the world should reproach me and my heart justify me then that my heart should reproach me and all the world justify me that man will make but a sad exchange that shall exchange his integrity for any worldly concernment Integrity maintained in the soul will be a feast of fat things in the worst of dayes but let a man loose his Integrity and it is not in the power of all the world to make a feast of fat things in that soul Leg. 9. That I would leave with you is this Let not a day passe over your head without calling the whole man to an exact accompt Well where have you been acting to day Hands what have you done for God to day Tongue what have you spoke for God to day this will be an advantage many wayes unto you but I can only touch on these Legacies Leg. 10. Labour mightily for a healing Spirit This Legacy I would leave with you as matter of great concernment Labour mightily for a healing spirit away with all discriminating names whatâ— ever that may hinder the applying of Balm to heaâ— your wounds labour for a he ling spirit discord and division become no Christian for Wolves tâ— worry the Lambs is no wonder but for one Laâ—â— to worry another this is unnaturall and monstrous God hath made his wrath to smoak against us for the divisions and heart-burnings that have been amongst us Labour for a onenesse in love and affection with every one that is one with Christ let their forms be what they will that which wins most upon Christs heart should winn most upon ours and that is his owne Grace and Holinesse The question should be What of the Father What of the Son What of the Spirit shines in this or that person and accordingly let your love and your affections run out That is the tenth Legacy Leg. 11. Be most in the spirituall exercises of Religion Improve this Legacy for much of the life and comfort joy and peace of your souls is wrapt up in it I say be most in the Spiritual exercises of Religion There are externall exercises as hearing preaching praying and conference and there are the more spirituall exercises of Religion exercise of Grace Meditation Self-judging self-tryall and examination Bodily exercise will profit nothing if abstracted from those more spirituall The glory that God hath and the comfort and advantage that will redound to your souls is mostly from the spirituall exercises of Religion How rare is it to find men in the work of Meditation of Tryall and examination and of bringing home of truths to their owne soules Leg. 12. Take no truths upon trust but all upon tryall 1 Thes 5.21 So 1 John 4.1 Act. 17.11 It was the glory of that Church that they would not trust Paul himself Paul that had the advantage above all for externall qualifications no not Paul himself Take no truth upon trust bring them to the ballance of the Sanctuary if they will nor hold weight there reject them Leg. 13. The lesser and fewer opportunities and advantages you have in publique to better and enrich your souls the more aboundantly addresse your souls to God in private Malac. 3.16 17. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another c. Leg. 14. Walk in those wayes that are directly crosse and contrary to the vain sinfull and superstitious wayes that men of a formall carnall lukewarm spirit walk in this is the great concernment of Christians But more of that by and by Leg. 15. Lock upon all the things of this world as you will look upon them when you come to dye At what a poor rate do men look on the things of this world when they come to dye What a low value do men set upon the pomp and glory of iâ— when there is but a step between them and eternity Men now may put a maske upon them but then they will appeare in their own colours Men would not venture the losse of such great things for them did they but look on them now as they will doe at the last day Leg. 16. Never put off your Conscience with any plea or with any argument that you dare not stand by in the great day of your accompt It 's dreadfull to consider how many in these dayes put off their consciences We did this and that for our families they would have else perished I have complyed thus and wronged my conscience thus for this and that concernment Wil a man stand by this argument when he comes before Jesus Christ at the last day Because of the souls of men many plead this or that Christ doth not stand in need of indirect wayes to save soules he hath wayes enough to bring in soules to himselfe Leg. 17. Eye more minde more and lay to heart more the Spirituall and Internall workings of God in your soules than the externall Providences of God in the world Beloved God looks that we should consider the operations of his hand and the despising the works of his hands is so provoking to him that he threatens them to lead them into Captivity for not considering of them But above all look to the work that God is carrying on in your soules not a soul but he is carrying on some work or other in it either blinding or enlightning bettering or worstening and therefore look to what God is doing in thy soul All the motions of God within you are steps to eternity and every soul shall be blest or curst saved oâ— lost to all eternity not according to outward dispensations but according to the inward operations of God in your souls Observe what humbling work reforming work sanctifying work he is about in thy spirit what he is doing in that little world within thee If God should carry on never so glorious a work in the world as a conquest of the Nations to Christ What would it advantage thee if sin Sathan and the world should triumph in thy soul and carry the day there Leg. 18. Look as well on the bright side as on the darke side of the cloud on the bright side of Providence as well as on the dark side of Providence Beloved there is a great weaknesse amongst Christians they doe so pore on the dark side of the Providence as that they have no heart to consider of the bright side If you look on the dark side of the Providence of God to Joseth How terrible and amazing was it But if you look on the bright side his forescore yeares raign How glorious was it If you look on the dark side of the Providence of God to David in his five yeares banishment much will arise to startle
you but if you turne to the bright side his fourty yeares raign in glory How amiable was it Look on the darke side of the Providence of God to Job Oh how terrible was it in the first of Job but compare this with the last of Job where you have the bright side of the cloud and there God doubles all his mercies to him Consider the patience of Job and the end that the Lord made with him do not remember the beginning only for that was thâ— darke side but turne to the end of him and there was his bright side Many sinnes many temptations and much affliction would be prevented by Christians looking on the bright side of Providence as well as on the dark Leg. 19. Keep up pretious thoughts of God under the sowrest sharpest and severest Dispensations of God to you Psal 22.1 2 3. My God my God Why hast thou forsaken me Why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring oh my God I cry in the day time but thou hearest not and in the night season and am not silent There was the Psalmist under smart dispensations but What pretious thoughts hath he of God under all But Thou art holy O thou that inhabitest the prayses of Israel though I am thus and thus afflicted yet thou art holy Psal 65.5 By terrible things in Righteousness wilt thou answer us O God of our salvation Leg. 20. Hold on and hold cut in the wayes of well-doing in the want of all outward encouragments and in the face of all outward discouragments It s nothing to hold out when we meet with nothing but encouragements but to hold out in the face of all discouragements is a Christians duty Psal 44. Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of Dragons and covered us with the shadow of death yet have we not dealt fasly in thy Covenant our heart is not turned back neither have we declined from thy wayes t is perseveravce that crownes all Be thou faithfull to the death and I will give thee a crown of life Rev. 2.10 And he that endureth to the end shall be saved Mat. 24. It s perseveranâ—◠〈◊〉 well-doing that crownes all our actions If 〈…〉 began in the Spirit don't end in the flesh do not go away from the Captain of your salvation follow the Lambe though others follow the Beast and the false prophets Leg. 21. In all your naturall civill and Religious actions let divine glory still rest on your soules Rom. 14.7 8. 1 Cor. 10.31 In all your hearings in all your prayings let the glory of Christ carry it in all your closet-dutyes let the glory of Christ lye nearest your hearts Leg. 22. Record all Speciall favours mercies providences and experiences T is true a man should do nothing else should he record all the favours and experiences of God towards him and therefore my Legacy is Record all Speciall favours peculiar experiences Little doe you know the advantage that will redound to your soul upon this account by recording all the experiences of the shinings of his face of the leadings of his Spirit many a Christian looseth much by neglecting this duty Leg. 23. Never enter upon the tryall of your estate but when your hearts are at the best and in the fitest temper T is a great designe of Sathan when the soul is deserted and strangely afflicted to put the soul on trying wroke Come see what thou art worth for another world what thou hast to shew for a better state for an interest in Christ a title for heaven this is not a time to be about this worke thy work is now to get off from this temptation and therfore to pray and believe and wait upon God and to be found in all those wayes whereby you may get off the temptation Leg. 24. Alwayes make the Scripture and not your selves nor your carnal reason nor your bare opinion the Judges of your spiritual state and condition I cannot see my condition to be good I cannot perceive it What must your sense and your carnall reason be the Judge of your spiritual state Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this rule it is because there is no light no morning in them John 12.48 The word that I have spoken the same shall judge you in the last day The Scripture is that which must determine the case in the great day whether you have grace or no or whether it be true or no. Leg. 25. Make much conscience of making good the terms on which you closed with Christ you know the terms how that you would deny your selves take up his Cross and follow the Lamb wheresoever he should go Now you are put to take up the Cross to deny your selves to follow the Lamb over hedge and ditch through thick and thin do not turn your backs on Christ the worst of Christ is better then the best of the world make conscience of making good your terms to deny your self your natural self your sinful self your religious self and to follow him and if you do so oh what an honour will it be to Christ and advantage to your souls and a joy to the upright Leg. 26. Walk by no rule but such as you dare dy by and stand by in the great day of Jesus Christ You may have many wayes prescribed to worship by but walk by none but such as you dare dye by and stand by before Jesus Christ walk not by a multitude for who dare stand by that rule when he comes to dy Make not the example of great men a rule to go by for who dare dye by and stand by this in the great day of accompt Do not make any authority that stands in opposition to the authority of Christ a rule to walk by for who dare stand by this before Jesus Christ Ah Sirs walk by no rule but what you dare dye by and stand by at the great day Leg. 27. And lastly sit down and rejoyce with fear Psal 2. Let the Righteous rejoyce but let them rejoyce with fear Rejoyce that God hath done your souls good by the everlasting Gospel that he did not leave you till he brought you to an acceptance of to a closing with and a resignation of your souls to Christ and the clearing up of your interest in him Rejoyce that you have had the everlasting Gospel in so much light purity power and glory as you have had for many years together Rejoyce in the riches of grace that hath carryed it in such a way towards you And weep that you have provoked God to take away the Gospel that you have no more improved it that you have so neglected the seasons and opportunities of enriching your souls When you should have come to Church-fellowship any thing would turn you out of the way Oh sit down and tremble under your barrenness under all your leanness notwithstanding all the cost and
that their Corn and their Wine increased Thou hast put gladness in my heart Peace is that gladness that peace smooths the brow but this fills the breast as the Sinner has trouble within in the midst of all his peace without so a Believer has Peaâ—â— thin in the midst of all his Troubles with 〈…〉 World you shall have trouble but in me 〈…〉 have peace Thirdly The Worlds peace has onely a neather Spring arising out of the Creature out of Worldâ— comforts therefore it must needs be unclean for an unclean Fountain cannot bring forth clean Water But the peace of Christians his an upper Spring it flows from the manifestation of the love of God in Christ it 's from the sprinkling of Christ's Bloud on the Conscience it flows upon the workings of Christ's Spirit upon the Soul which is first a Counsellour then a Comforter Oh! how pure must this Peace be in a Believers Soul that flow from so pure a Spring Fourthly The Worlds peace is a peace given to Sinners it 's a peace in sin and it 's a peace with sin as the Prophet Isaiah tells us It 's a Covenant with Hell and an Agreement with Death God deliver us from that peace Again Christ's peace is given to none but Believers it 's their priviledge onely a stranger don't intermeddle with his Joy Prov. 14.10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness but a stranger doth not intermeddle with his Joy Fifthly The Worlds peace is a fading dying transitory thing it withers in the Sand The triumphing of the Wicked is but short and the joy of the Hypocrite is but for a moment Job 20.5 Solomon does elegantly liken it to the cracking of Thorns under a Pot which is but a blaze and is gone Eccles 7.6 So is the Sinner's peace it is for a spurt and is soon gone but the peace that Christ gives to Believers is durable and abiding peace Your Joy no man shall take from you it appears in Life in Death and after Death First it 's our peace in Life grace brings forth present peace It 's said of the Primitive Christians They walked in the fear of the Lord and in the Comforts of the Holy Ghost Acts 9.31 It 's a remarkable expression Psal 19.11 In keeping thy Commands there is great Reward he does not fay for keeping them which respects the end of the Work but in keeping of them which looks at the Work it self My Brethren Every Duty done in sincerity reflects a peace in Conscience as every flower carryes its own sweetness It 's possible I grant a Believer may not always find and feel this peace few do some seldom find it few find it so always the remains of corruption breaking forth to interrupt or Temptations to hinder And God's desertion may darken and hide it and a Believer may seem to be totally lost yet in this condition which is the worst a Child of God can be in he hath a double peace First a Peace in the Promises in this very Condition and what you have in Bonds and Bills you account as good as money in your Pockets Secondly he has it in the Seed Light is sown for the Righteous and gladness for the upright in heart Psal 97.11 Grace is the Seed of Peace which Christ has sown in the furrows of the Soul and therefore Peace shall spring out of the furrows of the Soul Indeed this Seed springs up sooner in some then in others yet every Saint shall have a reaping time sooner or later Psal 126.6 He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious Seed shall doubtless come again with rejoycing bringing his sheaves with him If he stays long for the Fruit he shall have a greater Crop at last if he reaps not now he shall be sure to reap hereafter Psalm the 37.37 Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the and of that man is peace Secondly by this peace which is the peace of a Child of God it s a peace of death grace will minister to us then and that ministration shall be peace The Sinners peace leaves him when he comes to the grave though in Life it fills him yet in Death it leaves him A believer has a two-fold spring of peace The first is from above him the other is from within him That spring that runs with peace above him is from the bloud of Christ sprinkled on his Conscience the other that is from within him is from the sincerity of his heart in the wayes of obedience My Brethren when we lie on our Death-beds and can reflect on our sincerity in all Gods wayes this will be peace at last so it was in Hezekiah Isaiah 38.3 Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a prefect heart and have done that which was good in thy sight There 's nothing makes a Death-bed so hard and so uneasie as a life spent in the service of sin and lust and nothing makes a Death-bed so pleasant as a life spent in the service of Christ Grace will bring forth Peace if not in this life yet certainly it will be sure after Death if Time brings not this fruit to ripenesse yet Eternity shall grace in Time will be glory in Eternity Holinesse now will be Happinesse then what ever it is a man sows in this world that he reaps in the next world Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life â—verlasting Gal. 6.7 8. When Sin shall end in sorrow and misery Grace shall end in peace in joy in glory Well done thou good and faithfull servant enter into the joy of thy Master Mat. 25.21 Whosoever shares in the grace of Christ in this world shall be sure to share with the joy of Christ in the next world and that joy is joy unspeakable and full of glory I will wind up all in a threefold Application by way of exhortation to three sorts of persoâ—s First To such as have this grace and peace Secondly To such as have this grace and no peace Thirdly To such as have neither grace noâ— peace First To such as have both grace and peace I l'e speak to them in two or three things First Admiâ—e thankfully the Father and Son the Fathers Grace and the Sons Love for both had a hand in this therefore blesse both the Father for willing it to us and the Son for working it in us Grace and Peace are the fruits ' of Gods eternal Election for this blessing the Father gives but the Aplication of it to us is the fruit of Christs Redemtion and Intercession How can you think of Hell and damnation and see your self freed from it And how can you think of the Dreadfull Fury and Vengence of God your self not under it How can you look on your state
keep their Garments undefiled and live in high favour with Christ they shall walk with Christ we favour those that walk with us Walking with Christ notes to us three things 1. That we have peace with him 2. That we have intimacy with him 3. That his being so much above us we should have this favour from him And hence I noted the great priviledge of the People of God that they shall walk with Christ 1. It notes the great satisfaction of the Saints to walk with Christ they shall be filled with his company 2. How safe it is and what safety there is to walk with Christ he hath a Wing to spread over them 3. What opportunities such have as walk with Christ 4. What liberty such have as walk with Christ 5. Such as walk with Christ may be sure he will communicate his secrets to them he will shew them what they have to do 2. We shewed you the great goodness of Jesus Christ that he would take such Creatures to walk with him such defiled Creatures 3. Then let us take heed of keeping our Garments undefiled lest Jesus Christ cast us out of his company and we can no longer walk with Christ any more Oh! take heed of walking blameless in the ways of Christ These things were spoken from the first Point Now I come to the walking with Christ in white In opening the Text I told you white might be considered two ways 1. As it respects our state and so that by way of Justification and thus they shall walk with Christ but this is not the walking in white the Text means 2. Here is a further walking in white and that is matter of reward to the people of God 1. To walk with Christ in white it is matter of honour white garments are matter of honour Princes great Kings walk in white garments so the Saints of God shall walk in white Christ will honour them and give them honour among them because they have kept their Garments undefiled They shall walk in white like great Princes and honoured Persons A good name is better then precious Ointment They that are good indeed they shall have a good name they shall walk in white To keep the Conscience clean is to keep the Credit clean and they who are careful 〈◊〉 blot their Conversations Christ will take 〈…〉 their Reputations that they be not blotted that they walk with me in honour 'T was worthily spoken in the 11. of the Hebrews They kept their garments undefiled and it was by the power of Faith and they obtained a good report by Faith keeping themselves from the pollutions of the World they kept themselves a good report This honour and good report which we get by keeping our Garments undefiled is sure Abraham had an honourable Title Abraham My Friend and a man after my own heart Isa 45.4 Since thou wast precious in my sight thou wast honourable and not onely so that the people of God are honourable in his eyes but they also sometimes walk in white in the eyes of the men of the World he can give his people room in the opinions of men he moves their hearts to think well of them and he opens their mouths to speak well of them though indeed the honour which they who keep their Garments undefiled have in this World it is most usually from good men from godly men and indeed honour of them is most honourable It is not much to us what others say or think of us what the wicked World judge of us yet I say God can and doth sometimes raise a Testimony of honour for his people amongst carnal men of the World Joseph would not defile his Garments he walked in white amongst men true he was cast into Prison what of that he was respected by the Keeper of the Prison and afterward he walked in white In the whole Persiâ—â— Court Daniel was one that walked in white with 〈◊〉 men of the World first with the Prince of the Eunuchs he had tender favour with him he told him he would not disobey God to please men yet he did not rail against him and call him a stubborn fellow because he would not bow to Baal and afterwards Daniel was as great a man as any in all that Province he walked in white God hath created Testimonies of honour for his people from some men of the World yea they many times put white Garments upon them so it was with Christ Matth. 27.4 common-men put a good report upon Christ a white Garment Truly saith the Centurion this was the Son of God Truly this was a righteous man saith he when he saw how he carryed himself at his death he gave him a good report Thus it doth come to pass God doth sometimes keep up their honour in the World who will not defile their garments nor touch the Sacrifice of Baal and it falls out so with them that the Lord shall clear up their credit and reputation and they shall walk in white in honour before the men of the World Rev. 6.11 where the Souls under the Altar are spoken of who were miserably used in this World white Robes were given them to every one of them that is their Evidences were cleared This may teach us the readiest way to the white Robe to the Robe of Honour it is to keep us from being defiled with sinful practices certainly they who please God he can make he World to honour them if God approves us he can make the world approve us too yet we must not think to have all men speak well of us yet this we may say if we keep our Garments undefiled we shall walk in white in the eyes of men if God see our Garments in the dirt and spotted with the filth of the World it will spoil the honour we should have in the World as it was said of Arius when his garments were defiled they called him Satanarius that is to say devilish Thus it may be for the Lord hath a time to take our good name from us to cause our light of honour to be taken from us And as he hath caused us to walk in the white of honour in the world so he doth sometimes cause us to walk in reproach with the World they who defile their Garments lose their honour with men and they lose their joy they should have hereafter Mal 2.9 You have departed from my Law therefore will I make you contemptible in the eyes of all men It is a design of the spirit of wickedness to draw men to sin that they may upbraid them that I conceive is the sense of the Apostle Gal. 6.13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the Law but desire to have you circumcised that they might glory in your flesh saith he Oh there are some of this wicked Spirit that would draw men to such and such wickedness not that they joy in their returning but that they might glory in their flesh
when as they who stand fast do even force a good Testimony from their Enemies So it was the unhappy chance of Cranmer the Papists did perswade him to subscribe and did he get any honour by it No truly they did upbraid him and reproach him and so he had dyed in a raving condition had not the Lord been merciful to him I remember a speech of St. Austin about drinking of Healths Oh! say they 't is upon the King's Birth-day and we cannot avoid it If we deny it say they we shall be reproached and scorned of men He gives them many Answers to it but one as I remember was this God will so work that if you will not comply with them they in their hearts will honour you and whereas if you did comply with them they would dishonour you and say you are base spirited That is one thing of this Point that keeping close to Jesus Christ will get you this Reward you shall walk with him in the white of honour they shall walk in the white of honour with his People and it may be with the World too 2 They shall walk in white in the white of peace and joy and inward comfort I shewed you in the opening of the Text how the Scripture calls that walking in white Then the Point is this What ever becomes of the other white of honour in the World they shall be sure of this that abundance of peace and joy and comfort shall possess their souls that keep their garments white they shall walk in the inward white of joy and peace with Jesus Christ and this is a blessed Reward Indeed now this joy this white of joy arises in the Soul three ways 1. From the Testimony of their own Consciences Oh! they who have a good Testimony from their own Consciences walk in white 2 Cor. 1.12 We have this for our rejoycing the Testimony of our Consciences that in all simplicity and godly sincerity we have our conversation in Heaven that is walking in white this is our rejoycing our Conscience speaks well of us and kindly to us and who is able to express the sweetness of this thing None can know what this is but they that have it as it is said of the New Name written upon the white Stone Rev. 2 1â— 'T is a thing beyond expression what the joy anâ— peace of a good Conscience is Now this I say that our white Garments and our walking in white ariseth from the Testimony of our Consciences 2. As from the Testimony of our Consciences so from that Testimony which is greater than out Consciences the Spirit the shedding abroad of Divine Love thus it is with those that do not defile their Garments but endure any thing rather then defile their Garments Rom. 5.3 4 5. And not onely so but we glory in Tribulations knowing Tribulation worketh Patience and Patience Experience and Experience Hope and Hope maketh not ashamed and whence was all this because of the Holy Ghost which was given to us this causeth joy unspeakable The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God This Witness doth cause wonderful joy much more then the witnesses of our own Consciences 3. This ioy doth arise from that well-grounded hope which that Soul hath that keeps himself clean hope of enjoying Heaven at last hope of future glory is our present joy Rom. 5.2 By whom also we have access by Faith into this Grace wherein we stand and joyce in hope of the glory of God Now they who keep their Garments white have good ground of hope of the love of God therefore this must needs cause them to walk comfor ably as they who have this hope purifie themselves so they who purifie themselves have good ground of this hope and therein great cause to rejoyce Pet. 1.5 6. Who are kept by the power of God brough Faith unto Salvation ready to be revealed in â—e last times wherein ye greatly rejoyce though now for 〈◊〉 season if need be ye are in heaviness through many emptations We walk in white in the hope we have of that Inâ—eritance Now lay these three things together â—f they who keep their Garments undefiled have â—he Testimony of their own Consciences and the â—estimony of the Spirit shedding the Love of God â—n their hearts and a well-grounded hope of fuâ—ure â—lory how can it be but these must walk in white â—ith Jesus Christ that is in comfort and joy of â—e Spirit and of their own spirits Thus David walked he had abundance of joy upâ—n the Conscience of his own integrity and keeping his heart and hands clean from those iniquities â—is enemies charged him with Ps 3. The Lord shall â—udge his people Judge me O Lord according to my â—ighteousness and according to mine integrity that is in â—â—e He appeals to the Lord the Lord shall judge â—is people Judge me O Lord according to my â—ighteousness Thus he appeals to God himself he â—ad so much confidence and his heart gave him â—hat he kept himself from those iniquities So Job walkt in white though his Friends blackt him exceedingly yet he walked in white in his Conscience Job 16.19 Behold my Witness is in Heaven and my Record is on high I have not onely a Witness in my Conscience but my Witness is above He walked in white notwithstanding all his afflictions from God and his Friends Hezekiah walkt in this white when death 〈◊〉 him in the face Lord thou knowest I have we upright with thee I need not stay in the proof of the thing let 〈◊〉 make some Use and Improvement of it Vse Is this blessed reward to those who keâ—â— their garments white to walk in the white of peacâ— and joy then here we see the happiness of all thoâ—â— who are true to Christ and his wayes Psal 119. â— Blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in thâ— Law of the Lord. 'T is just in the Language of 〈◊〉 Text they indeed shall walk in white it is a greaâ— part of our blessedness to have peace of conscience and inward joy Oh how much better is it that the peace and joy of this world and the comforts of this world Prov. 15.13 A merry heart or as another Translation saith A good Conscience and indeed a merry heart and a good Conscience do but one explain the other a merry heart or a good Conscience is a continual Feast Here is noâ— surfeiting in this feast but a continual Musick coâ—tinual joy and comfort oh how blessed are theâ— who are undefiled in the way That which Christ said of the Lilly Solomon 〈◊〉 all his glory was not arrayed like one of these so may I say of the Lilly-white soul that keeps himself white in the world who keeps himself white iâ— matter of practice and worship Solomon in all 〈◊〉 glory was not arrayed like one of these Lilly-white ones Oh the Rivers of Consolations that flow to them that keep themselves out of
the puddâ—â—â— of this world If you keep your selves from the puddles of the world from the dung of the woâ—â— ye shall have Rivers of joy flowing into your souls I may say to all such as Solomon saith Eccles 11.9 Go thy way it is a familiar speaking to them Go thy way blessed soul eat thy bread with joy though the world feed thee with the bread of adversity and though the world give thee nothing but the water of affliction yet let thy garments be alwayes white though the world cloath thee in mourning and cause thee to prophesie in sackcloth with the Witnesses yet be of good comfort O Lilly-white soul for God now accepteth thy works now drink thy Wine with a merry heart thy labour thy ambitious labour is that whether present or absent thou mayest be accepted of him thou hast the fruits of thy labour the Lord accepts thy works therefore rejoyce in it Here is the happiness to those who keep themselves clean from a defiled and a defiling world 2. This Point gives us an account why the servants of Christ stand so strictly upon their terms with the world even while some call it peevishness others ignorance others wilful stubbornness What is the reason The reason is because they understand in some measure and have had experience in some measure what it is to walk with Christ in white and it hath left such a relish upon their souls that they would not lose it for all the dainty morsels of this world they had rather indeed walk with Christ in white then walk with the world in scarlet therefore they must stand upon their terms Prov. 10.32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable The lips are instruments of Speech not faculties of knowledge Ay but 〈◊〉 is a great deal of commerce and converse beâ—â—â—â— the Speech and the Understanding and a rigâ—â—ous man will speak nothing with his lips but wâ— he understands therefore he is said to understaâ—â— The lips of the righteous know what is acceptaâ—â—â— To whom The lips of the righteous know what is 〈◊〉 ceptable to God for they are acquainted with 〈◊〉 Rule and God hath shewed them his Covenâ—â— he hath shewed them the pattern of his House aâ—â— the way of his Worship now because they aâ—â— pretty well skilled and know what is acceptabâ— to God therefore they will run any hazard undergo any affliction rather then do any thing that will not please God or be hurtful to their own consciences they are afraid of losing their peace and comfort and joy with God therefore they will not let go the wayes of God as Job saith Job 27.6 I 〈◊〉 hold fast my integrity and my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live as if he had said You my friends have reproached me but I am resolved my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live The Heart or Conscience is a busie faculty and hath many offices it records what we do and come as a witness the Conscience is judge of what 〈◊〉 do and accordingly reproves what we do amâ—â— therefore saith Job I 'le take care of this I am more afraid of the report of conscience then of any mâ— whatsoever therefore I will not do any thing 〈◊〉 may cause my conscience to reproach me as 〈◊〉 as I live This is upon the heart of Gods peopâ—â— they are resolved let men reproach and rail agaâ—â— them as much as they will their hearts shall not reproach them 3. In the third place let it be a word of Caution and Admonition to all at this day to take heed of defiling their garments If you defile your garments Christ will pronounce another sentence he will pronounce a sentence against you he hath threatnings for those who defile their garments in the place of rewards for those who keep them clean They who defile their garments shall walk in garments of black in the black of dishonour as Job saith I walk all day mourning without the Sun the Sun of righteousness shall not shine upon them Oh what bitter and sowre things have many tasted for defiling their garments when for favour of men or to please men they have stained their own garments What sad bitter things hath been upon them how hath conscience risen up against them Oh take heed of the After-claps of conscience I may say take heed of the Thunder-claps of conscience for they will come upon you one time or other if you defile your garments As they who to please men defile their garments often fall into their displeasure whose favour they sought so oftentimes such fall into displeasure with themselves or to be sure they shall at last there is many a one lives under the dis-favour of his own conscience many a one that his conscience will not give him a good word or good look whence hath it been they have defiled their garments They who venture to do things displeasing to God shall not long be pleasing to themselves The story speaks of Francis Spira that to pleaâ— men to save an estate he defiled his garmentsâ— and he presently fell into rebuk of himself and lived under the rebuke of his Conscience a long time Job 8.15 speaks of the Hypocrite â— his hope shall be cut off The word signifies to loath so some translate it His hope shall be a loathing to him he shall loath his hope There is a two-fold loathing First a loathing to repentance that is a gracious loathing a loathing our selves for our sins against God And there is a loathing of despair and that is the loathing there meant the Hypocrite shall loath his own hope that is he shall loath it despairingly 'T is an affliction to be loathed by men but 't is a dreadfull judgement to be loathed of our selves despairingly this is the suburbs of hell for this will be the portion of the damned for ever for their vanity for their madnesse 't is next to the Regions of Hell for their worm dyeth not and that is the worm of Conscience Oh therefore take heed Conscience may be silent yea it may flatter for a time but when Conscience is provok'd it will speak yea thunder There is no such thundering-Preacher in the world as Conscience is The Thundering of Mount Sinai is not like the thundering of our Conscience Fourthly and lastly Let it be for Exhortation and incouragement for Christ here makes it an incouragement so let this be an incouragement to keep our garments undefiled the remembrance that we shall walk with him in white in the white of peaceâ— and joy in this world Who would not walk in thâ—â— white Who would not be among those who keep their garments white in the midst of a defiled and defiling world Let me give you but a three-fold Considerâ—aion to stir you up to an exceeding Exactness and Carefulnesse not to defile your garments seeing there is such a reward promised such a Habit of White promised as this
earth at clear day Good Ministers they are called the Light of the world and they are called 3. Stars as in Revel 3.1 And who are meant by the seven Stars Rev. 1 ult they are the Angels that is the Ministers of the seven Churches Now the Stars are said to affect those inferiour bodies 1. By their influence And thus godly and faithful Ministers by the influence of their lips they feed many with the bread of life 2. By their regular motives of their lives they confirm many 3. By the light of both they confirm many one while their employment is to instruct poor souls and so they are like Stars shining in a dark winter night another while they are to converse in their courses Judg. 5.20 Now to enjoy and live under the Ministry of such Stars and yet to walk in darkness and to have fellowship with the works of darknesse to remain unconvinc'd unconverted unhumbled unmortified unfruitful this is woful this is a very lamentable state 4. They are called the Lords Messengers and Embassadours Mal. 2.7 And the Ministers of the Gospel for indeed the Ministers of the New Testament they are no where called Priests they are called Embassadours for Christ 2 Cor. 5.20 Godly faithful Ministers are the Lords Messengers and Embassadours in matters concerning the soul the precious immortal never dying soul of man not in the matterâ— of this life but for the soul Now this is no mean employment to treat with God for the soul 5. They are called the Lords Husbandmen Gods Church is his husbandry 1 Cor. 3.9 And Ministers are Gods Husbandmen naturally we are like a barren wilderness now the Lord sends his Husbandmen to those barren wildernesses to make it a fruitful Paradisâ— Now for Gods Husbandmen to plow fow and 〈◊〉 row and yet no fruit no crop Isa 5.6 When Gods Vineyard brought forth no fruit I will take away all their rainy clouds saith God you shall have clouds but you shall have clouds without rain you shall have Ministers still but such as shall never do your souls any good Well you see the titles given to them in Scripture they are câ—lled the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World and Stars and the Lords Messengers and Embassadours and Husbandmen all which doth import a very great obligation lying on a people who live under such a Minister and who live under and practice every commanded duty 1. Inference 2. Dangerous and fearful is the estate of those who have enjoyed and lived under and have not been wrought upon by such a Ministry And this will appear if we consider 1. How fearful a sentence the Lord Jesus Christ hath given to those that live under but despise and proâ—t not by the Ministry of his faithful servants Mat 10 14 15. And do not think that Christ said this touching the Ministry of the Apostles only certâ—inly the Lord Christ would have it to be understood of the Ministry of all his faithful servants whom he fâ—ndeth to teach his people John 13.20 whomsoever he sends and 16 He that despiseth whomsâ—evâ—◠〈◊〉 send desâ—iseth me Then is the message of the Lords faithful Messengers received aright when people do not only â—eaâ—â—â— but receive it and bring forth fruit as our blested Loâ—d speaks of good hearers Mark 4.20 Those are they that hear and receive the fruits â—own in good ground â—nd thus our blested Lord expounds himself Mat. 11 24. He telleth us there that they of Caperâ—â—um shall be in a worse case than they of Sodom and Gomorrah and why because they repented not at Christs Sermons and Miracles they were not to be seen in their lives notwithstanding Christs Ministry notwithstanding Christs preaching and his thiracles among them they did not amend their hearts and ways Oh how fearful a sentence hath our Lord Jesus Christ denounced against such 2. If a people be not wrought upon by such a Ministry what hope can such a people have that any thing shâ—â— do their souls any good for is not the Ministry of Gods faithful servants the power of God to salvation and the ministration or the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.8 That is that Ministry whereby the spirit of grace and holiness is infused into the hearts of the Father 's chosen ones in Christ Jesus The Poet speaks of excellent Musicians who by power of their musick made stones to leap into a wall A godly faithful Ministry hath done more it hath taken the stone out of mans heart and hath given them new hearts it hath made all the commandments of God easie to many a poor soul because it loves its Father its Redeemer and â—omforter There is a kind of obedience in a godly faithful Minister and if this will not do nothing will as in Luke 16.31 3. Is not the cause of the non-proficiency of such a people under such a Ministry in themselves Oh men do hinder the fruit of the word of their own souls the powerful operation and working of the word on their own souls the Lord prophecies that sentence on the Jews Matth. 13.14 He layes all the blame on themselves and assigns their own sins and the reason and cause of it as in Verse 13. And thus our blessed Saviour expounds the Parable of the Sower shewing how many that hear the word are never the better for it and be layâ—th the blame on themselves as in Luke 8.14 what then hast thou not profited under the Ministry of the Lords faithful servants Oh lay the blame on thy 〈◊〉 4. Consider hath notâ— the Lord himself a hand in 〈◊〉 proficiency or non-proficiency under such a Ministâ— surely the Lord hath a chief hand in making the Minâ—â—stry of his servants fruitful or not fruitful to them 〈◊〉 enjoy it Now to enjoy and not enjoy is it not a feaâ—ful sign that ye are not of God as Joh. 8.47 Is it not a sign that thou art not of Gods Elect at least of Regeneration But you will say did not the Jews hear Gods word Yes they did with their bodily cars but they heard it not with faith submission and fruitfulnesse and therefore our blessed Saviour tells them they were not of God that is they were at least in 〈◊〉 unregenerate if not in a reprobate condition And so John 10.26 Ye are those Goats saith Christ that must stand at my left hand in that great day And then Unbelievers shall teflect on themselves not on Christ Ministry by the mouths of his servants But if any should say what then will you say thâ—â— all of us are Reprobates that are not wrought on by your Ministry I say not so for that seed which hath been sown on you may do your souls good hereafter though â—t hath done them little or no good as yet But secondly this I may boldly say that if any of you die in your present state unconverted unregenerate you will carrie with you to your grave as fearful marks of reprobation as any we can find
in sin that he is a stranger to the life of Grace hence ariseth all his spiritual troubles now the Spirit of God comes in and resolves the case comes into the soul by his bright Reflections and fills our souls with comfort Now 〈◊〉 have received not the spirit of the world but the Spâ—â— which is of God 4. The Spirit of God is a comforting Spirit as he openeth the vein of godly sorrow in the soul Truly this is the next way to spiritual comfort when a man can once spiritually mourn for sin Matth. 5.4 Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Godly forrow opens the vein and le ts out the matter that hinders comfort and causeth inward trouble in the soul A gracious man takes a great delight in godly forrow Oh! it s a matter of marvellous comfort to a Child of God when he can kindly mourn for his sins 5. The Spirit of God comforts the soul as he is 〈◊〉 mortifying Spirit Thus he takes away that that is the ground and matter of Believers trouble mortifying that sin that is the cause of his sorrow pride unbelief inordinate love to the world 6. The Spirit of God works comfort in the hearts of his people by setting their own spirit to seek for comfort in Gods own wayes The last thing I did for the Explication of the Doctrine was to add some Propositions and they were 〈◊〉 as these 1. Many a gracious heart that hath fellowship with the Spirit of God in his sanctifying work may feel 〈◊〉 find none in his comforting work The Sun 〈◊〉 operate where it doth not shine A ma◠〈…〉 of salvation when he doth not feel the joyâ—â— of 〈…〉 Isa 51.3 You shall find those that fear the Lord and had the comforts of the Holy Ghost yet walked in darkness 2. Even those gracious souls that have the fellowship of the â—nnforting Spirit to day may want it to morrow This is not daily bread while the Saints are on this side Heaven The Solstice of a Christians comfort doth not last all the day long they are not feasted with this every day they have the night as well as the day there is a night as well as a day in the heart of a gracious soul as it is in natural in the common course of nature the Sun may shine to day but it may be clouded to morrow Thus it was with that holy man Psal 30.7 Lord by thy favour thou hast made my mount ain 〈◊〉 stand strong thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled And God doth this in infinite wisdom to put a difference between Earth and Heaven this valley of tears and that state of glory that so the hearts of Gods people may be kept in a frame of longing after the state of Heaven Godâ—wil have his people be groaning here that his people may groan after that condition when all sorrowing and sighing shall flee away God reserves perfect comfort to be the reward of perfect holiness while our graces are imperfect we most make account that our comfort will be so too Tears will be never wiped from our eyes til sin be quite takeâ— out of our hearts 3. Those that have had this spirituall comfort in their souls they may lose not only the impression of the Spirits comâ—nt but they may feel impressions of Gods anger Heman complaâ—â— that the wrath of God did hang upon him and that the 〈◊〉 of God had cut him off A gracious heart hath real grouâ—â—â—â— of consolation though he hath not present sensible comfort A child of God hath alwayes that that if he did see he could not be without comfort the Promises are his support he hath the first fruits of the Spirit and right to eaâ—â—nal life A child of God shall always have so much to keep upâ— hopes and affiance upon God a child of God in the daâ—est condition though he doth not see enough to make 〈◊〉 rejoyce in God yet he sees enough to make him trust iâ— God though he walk in darkness and see no light yet he trusts in God Job sayes Though the Lord slay him yet be would trust in him David was in great trouble while â—e was in that disquiet expostulation Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me trust in God 5 Those that have inward comforts from the spirit may at the same time have little comfort from Gods outward dispensations It may be dark without when it 's light within while Stephen sees nothing but blood here below he saw Heaven above And Christ tells his Disciples In the world they should have tribulation but in him they should have peace 6 And lastly Though this be one great work of the spirit of God to comfort the hearts of Christs Disciples yet there are some speciall seasons where in the Spirit of God gives out this comfort There are seasons of sadnesse there is a season of heavinesse there is need of it There is a time to weep and a time to laugh and a time to mourn and a time to dance I shewed you some of the Seasons 1 One special Season of the Spirits comforting the renewed soul is presently upon the souls first salvation After the Spirit is become a Spirit of Adoption presently it becomes a Spirit of Consolation after the Spirit hath come into the Soul in the Law it then nextly appears a Spirit in the Gospel 2 Another season when the Spirit gives out this comfort is just before the Lord layes upon his people any great afflictâ—â— on When was it that Christ was transfigured and his face did shinc as the Sun it was immediately before his blood passion Christ was first taken into the Mount before 〈◊〉 was up lifted upon the Crosse When was the 〈◊〉 heard This is my beloved Son in whom I am well 〈◊〉 but just before he was led into the wildecessâ— to be tempted When was Paul lifted up into Heaven it was immediately before Satan was sent to buffer him Thus God gives his people somthing before-hand to support their spirits that they may not faint the Disciples were full of comfort Acts 5.41 and when was this immediately just before they were carried before the Council and whipt up and down like Vagabonds Rogues for Preaching the Gospel 3. Another Season when the Spirit gives out this Comfort is in the time of suffering God comes in the nick of time especially if a man suffer for righteousnesse sake if his suffering be upon the account of Christ he seldome fails to send the Comforter for the relieving of his spirit 1 Pet. 4.13 But rejoyce in as much as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding joy Bodily confinement and inward streights are the time of the Souls greatest enlargement John had his Vision iâ— the Isle of Patmos When a child of God is brought to a piece of bread then
comfort yet you have little in comparison of what you may have if you seek for it 2 Study the excellent nature of the comfort how little soever a man hath of this spiritual comfort it will sweeâ— his condition be it what it will be When a man hath communion with the Spirit of God he hath comfort in all conditions then though a mans condition be never so bad yet it is very good Hab. 2.17 Though the Fig-tree shall not blossome though the fruit be not in the Vines the labour of the Olive shall cease and the fields shall yield no meat the flock shall be cut off from the Fold and there shall be no Herd in the stalls yet will I rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation He can fetch hope and ground his faith upon the Promises though the Providences and Dispensations of God be never so mysterious the comfort of the Spirit doth make up the want of all other comforts the comforts of Ordinances are sweet comforts Sermons-comforts are sweet comforts Sacraments-comforts are sweet comforts Ah but the comfort of the Spirit can supply the want of all these all outward crosses do not hinder these inward comforts a man that hath these comforts may have a feast with bread and water a little of this comfort is able to sweeten a whole Ocean of sorrow In the multitude of the thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul Psal 94.10 So that when the hearts of Gods people are filled with sad thoughts what will become of themselves What will become of their Families what will become of the Church of God what will become of the Ministry of the Gospel and of the Ordinances of Christ they are full of sad fears and distracting thoughts when they have a multitude of thoughts in the midst of all these spiritual comforts can comfort and refresh the soul Oh labour after a greater share of this comfort God hath cast us upon sad times wherein we shall have need of more than ordinary comfort we are like to have troubles without if we have not peace within it will be very sad we are like to lose much of Christ bodily presence I mean in his Ordinances many of those Messengers that represent the person of Christ and stand in his stead if we should not enjoy the other Comforter our estates would be doleful If we have darkness without and darkness within how sad will that darkness be 3. Labour to get more communion from the Spirit of God This will raise and sublimate your natural comforts and turn them into spiritual comforts A man never relisheth these outward comforts till he come to taste the ravishment and sweetness of the holy Ghost till he taste the love of God these give them a higher lustre than the men of the world though they enjoy much comfort yet they do not enjoy half that a Child of God doth the litttle that the righteous hath is better than the great revenues of the wicked to a Child of God a Dinner of green hearbs is more savory and pleasant to him than the stalled Oxe because a Child of God hath better sauce with it Worldly men they smell to their flowers it is only the godly man that sucks out the honey that all things are given to him in love out of this he sucks comfort A gracious heart sees all these outward comforts that they are purchased with the blood of Christ and therefore these should do him good and he may take comfort that he hopes for what he hath not as well as for what he may have and he may take comfort in his condition be it what it will he sees all is for his good such a one believeth what he feeth not So he believeth Gods wayes are wayes of truth though some more sweet and some more bitter Labour after communion with the Spirit in his comforting work is another This is the best preservative against all intanglements of sin whatsoever It is a great hour of temptation and if our comforts do not lie above the world we shall be greatly ensnared by the world If a man 〈◊〉 sweet meats he cannot relish ordinary food so while these sweet comforts lie upon the soul he cannot relish these ordinary things in the world What do ye tempt me with these things sayes a Child of God what are these to the comforts of the Holy Ghost The heart of man will seek comfort one way or another and if he hath it not from the Spirit of God he will seek it some other way it he hath not comfort from the Spirit of God he will seek somâ— sparks of his own kindling rather then they will sit in darkness without comfort they will light their candle at the Devils sire And as he delivereth from temptation on the right so he delivereth from temptation on the left hand he that is filled with the comforts of the holy Ghost what are sufferings to such a man He hath that within him that wil carry him through all danger here is that comfort and that life by Christ which may ease us in our greatest crosses this will make a child of God speak of the sufferings of this World as a light matter Our light affliction which is but for a moment shall work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory they took joyfully the spoyling of their goods because in heaven they had a better and more enduring substance Heb. 11.35 Some were tortured receiving no deliverance because in heaven they had a better substance Oh if you would be kept from the snares of the world let your comforts be above the power and danger of temptation from any thing here below 3 By way of Direction How shall we have communion and act Faith upon the holy Ghost as our Comforter The holy Ghost is designed and appointed by God the Father to this Office Now you know none love to be slighted in their office and if we do not act Faith upon the holy Ghost we slight his Office therefore we should have recourse to him in a way of believing As we should act Faith upon Christ for the pardon of sin so we should act Faith upon the holy Ghost for a sense of that pardon 2 Go often to Jesus Christ and beg him and beseech him to intreat the Father for you Go to God the Father in the name of Christ and beg it upon the account of Christs prayer and intercession that he would send the Comforter and you have good argument to enforce the Petition the very same as the Disciples That Christ would when he wâ—â—â— away pray the Father and he should send you another Comforter Christ tells them that some there were that would kill theâ— and in so doing think they did God good service therefore Christ in compassion to them in the state that he left them in prayes the Father that he would send the Comforter So now we
must go to God those Ministers that were wont to comfort us are now to be taken from us our Barnabaâ—'s Sons of consolation their mouths are to be stopped though Ordinances are now to be dammed up the houses of God made places of defilement our Teachers are removed into corners our troubles increase and we have none to tell us how long the light of our eys the comfort of our hearts in respect of the outward means are going from us whither shall we go we want bread for our souls we want cordials for our hearts blessed Saviour pity us and since thou wilt not come to us in thy own presence as thy Ambassadors do come to us by thy Spirit do now in heaven as thou didst on earth pray the Father for us do not leave us as so many Orphans without father or mother but send thy Spirit to refresh our souls see how we are hated and reviled and we must suffer these things now Let us have thy spirit 3 If you would have communion with the Spirit of Christ in his comforting work Take heed that you do not lay up your comforts in the creature This is for to seek for the living among the dead those that rejoyce in the creature rejoyce in a thing of nought and you that have an interest in God God will not take it well at your hands to seek it any where else no not in Ordinances though God would have you to seek comfort in Ordinances yet he would not have you to seek comfort from Ordinances 4 Sit down and be much in duty Psal 63.5 6. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips when I remember thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the night watches If you look at the beginning of the Psalm you shall find this Psalm was penn'd when David was deprived of the Ordinances of God Many a man complains that he lives uncomfortably no wonder when he little thinks on Christ 5 Be much in the exercise of grace Then they walked in the fear of the Lord when they walked in the comfort of the Holy Ghost 6. Take heed of quenching and grieving the Spirit your Comforter by neglecting his motions or by acting any thing against the mind of the Spirit Do not sin against him as your enlightning Spirit that will hinder him as your Comforter I close with a word of Comfort to the people of God If it be one of the great works of the Spirit of God here is matter of great comfort to those that stick close to Jesus Christ 1. Sure your comforts will be satisfying Comforts sufficient because they are comforts of the Spirits working The Lord Jesus hath promised to make up the want of his bodily presence by sending his Spirit He was now going from them and tells them That he could not stay and this was sad newes to the Disciples who where ready to break their hearts and the best comfort that he could afford them was to tell them That he would send the Comforter If Christ can comfort his people in the absence of himself surely he can comfort them in the want of all other comforts that relate either to soul or body and so in the want of mercies in the want of outward Ordinances he can comfort the soul It is the Spirit of God that can comfort in the use of these and if he will he can do it in the want of them he can comfort us in the wildernesse where no water is when he doth deny the meanes he can cumfort us without where he denies the stream he can make us drink out at the Fountain 7. And Lastly The people of God find hereby that their comforts are abiding Your liberty your friends ah Ordinances and Ministers may be taken from you your Ministers may be banish'd your Ministers may be imprison'd but here is a Comforter that abides for ever And though they may keep your Ministers out of the Pulpit yet they shall not take the Comforter out of your hearts So that when I shall not Preach any more to you I shall Pray the Father that he would send you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever Mr. Bull of Newington-Green His Farewel Sermon in the afternoon Acts 20.32 And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his Grace who is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified THe words are part of S. Pauls Farewel-Sermon or discourse to the Elders of the Church of Ephesus one of those famous seven Churches of Asia that we read of in the book of the Revelations It is not to be doubted as Calvin doth Comment upon the place that though the Apostle speaks immediately to the Elders yet he doth comprehenâ— the whole Church in the Speech Our holy Apostle had been a long time with the Church preaching among them taking pains with them both in publick and private as you may see in the 20 verse and declares to them the whole Counsel of God verse 27. and now being called away taken off by divine Providence by the will of his Master the last and best office that he thought he could do for them was to commit them to the care of God and to leave them in his arms and to recommend them to his Grace It would be more then the time would permit to look over the whole Apostles Sermon which is partly Narrative and partly Consolatory Narrative to put them in mind in what manner he had preached to them from verse 17. to verse 27. And it s partly Consolatory from the 27. to the Text wherein the Apostle could hold no longer but his love constrains him and makes him to break forth into this pathetical wish or rather prayer And now Brethren I commend you to his grace As if he had said I am just now going 〈◊〉 you not knowing that I shall see your face any more now I am a dying man as to my conversing with you anâ— more now I am departing this is the best Legacie I can bequeath unto To commend you to God and to his grace And he speaks to persons as standing in the same relation with God and Christ and having the same Father and the same elder Brother As if he should have said you are as dear to me as my own flesh as if you were my brethren by consanguinity and it is my sorrow that I must leave you but as it is my greatest grief to part with you yet I must leave you and this is the comfort that I shall leave you in safe hands I do not leave you to the wide world I do not leave you as Orphans without a Father as Sheep without a Shepherd but I commend you to God and to his grace O happy word Though I must leave you yet I trust God who is able will keep you as God is present every-where
offended when troubles come Job 16.1 I told you that you might not be offended Look for them that you may not be terrified by reason of the unexpectednesse of them 2. That he might convince us that there is nothing befalls us without his privity he that foresees them he must needs see them he that forecasts them he must needs have the ordering of them Not a hair of your heads falls to the ground without his counsel without his hand That we might provide for them Know you not the coming of the Son of Man When Christ comes with notable mercies usually he sends his harbingers we must thereore be as Noab Being warned of God believing his word he was moved with fear and built an Ark. Pro. 6. What ever troubles come upon the people of God they have no cause to fear Fear none of these things thou shalt suffer Be careful for nothing it's very comprehensive there is a feat that we cannot be without and there is a fear we may not admit A fear there is of dependance this furthers our preparation prayer renouncing our selves flying to the Lord Jesus under his wings that 's a blessed fear of trouble that makes us to come nearer to God But then there 's a fear of Dispondency Apostasie a fear of Distraction so as to be dismayed discouraged There 's no ground of slavish fear as to God no ground of a fatal fear of man of any thing that man can do to us And the Reason is 1. All our sufferings are ordered by a Father 't is the Potion that thy Father gives thee to drink whatever bitter Ingredient there is in it still it 's of thy Fathers procuring why wilt thou suspect it to be poyson and afraid of it no be encouraged 2. Fear not Christ stands by thee in all thy sufferings The Angel stood by Christ in his Agony to comfort him but Christ stands by us in our Agony in our contending for the Faith Fear not saith God O Worm Jacob I will be with thee He is alwaies with us though sometimes as to sense 't is otherwise nay if Christ be nearer to us at any time 't is when trouble is most near us O Lord be not far off for trouble is near saith the Psalmist That trouble is blessed that engages God to be nearer to us that engages us to come nearer to God 3. Fear not whatever 't is that we suffer there shall be sufficient strength given to bear it to go through it God will never lay more upon thee than he will enable thee to bear and if thy strength be encreased proportionably it is all one for thee to lift a pound weight and to lift a hundred pound weight 4. Fear not any of these sufferings because none of them shall hurt thee God hath said he will stave off all evil from thee no evil shall come nigh thy dwelling and he that fears the Lord shall not be visited of any evil Prov. 19.23 No hurt shall come nothing shall come to thee amiss that is as to thy Soul and the Soul is the man there shall be no imparting to thy Soul to thy best interest thou shalt lose nothing but that thou canst not keep nothing that enters into the other world to make up thy happinesse thou shalt lose nothing to do thee good no losse of communion with God no losse of Communion shall not be diminished But why do I speak of no hurt there shall come a great deal of good by these troubles When God calls thee to suffer and thou wilt put him off with doing make it up that way God loses by it and thou dost but if you would buckle your self to that service God calls for active when 't is active passive when 't is passive this is that piece of godlinesse that is great gain Thou wilt either live or die and shalt gain both wayes if thou liveâ— thy graces shall be better the spirit of God shall rest upon thee if thou die thy glory which is weighty shall be double the weightier the Cross the weightier the Crown be content to go as Christ did from the Cross to the Crown Let us strive against our carnal lusts those few things that are ready to choak our faith disparage God and cut the sinews of our endeavour to any service God calls us to 1. Consider our troubles are like to be great here is the symptoms of Gods displeasure upon us here is the pouring out of such a providence among us as is usually attended with destructive Judgements Sodoms calamity was coming when one Lot was discharged Germany's calamity was coming when one Luther was taken away Lord then what woe is this to sleep away so many faithful painful labourers at once but it 's our duty to suffer patienttly and not complain 2. As our troubles must be great so many will fear and in fearing faint we see it come to passe and you will find it more and more There are those that run with the Foot-man that will not keep pace with the Horse-men that may be left behind and be trod under foot our troubles are likely to arise according to all we can learn from Scripture and Providence and very many there be that will shrink 3. Consider 't is a very difficult thing to stand stedfast in a day of evil you cannot name any of Gods Children but when they have indeed come to it their carnal fears have been working so as their feet have almost slipt they have been almost gone but that for the promise of God that he would lay no more upon them than he would enable them to bear O but you will say What will become of the publick interest of the name and Church of God what will become of my private interest I answer you have no ground of fear according to Scripture in either of these respects First as to the publick name of God the interest of his Church of his truth of righteousnesse of a real Reformation interest of our prayers hopes be not afraid 1. God bears a dear respect unto his people they are represented in Scripture by all names that may import dearnesse and nearnesse unto him the interest of his glory is bound up in his people he calls Israel his glory We know the interest of men is that which moves the world but the interest of God of his Glory no doubt will be the ground of safety and security unto us even till God take us to Heaven For the interest of Gods Justice God made Hell and for the interest of his mercy and grace he gave Jesus Christ to die to take effect here amongst the Children of men do you think God will forget his interest 2. Remember Gods wayes are in the deep you cannot tell what God is doing when you think thoughts of destruction and confusion my thoughts towards you saith God are thoughts of peace And truly God he does not save a Soul nor does not
come unto you this day as a dying man for you know when this day is gone I must no more preach among you and I know you are come to see what I shall leave you for your Legacy which that I may do take these Twenty things as Counsel and Advice from a dying man and O that they may remain with you when I am dead First I shall give you Ten by way of Caution and secondly Ten by way of Counsel my Cautions are First Beloved I beseech you as you tender the welfare of your Souls take heed of breaking the Sabbath day of Prophaning the Lords day it hath been observable that whereever Religion hath flourished among any people there they have ever been careful and conscientious of the Sabbath day and on the contrary side where Religion is gone to decay and people grown to prophanenesse there they are alwaies loose on the Sabboth day pray remember I hope you will remember for God calls upon you and commands you so to do Exod. 20. v. 8. Remember the Sabboth day to keep it holy do not you take so much liberty as some will give you whoever you are that refuse thus to do I will leave this assertion upon you thou wretched man hath God given thee Six dayes and reserved but one for himself and wilt thou Rob him of that too what if he had given thee but one kept six for himself would you be so vile as not to keep them how much more then when God hath given thee so much preheminency in time this is the first be conscious in keeping the Sabboth day Secondly Take heed and beware of Idolatry this was John's caution to his beloved Children 1 Epist 5. v. 21. Little Children keep your selves from Idols There is no sin to which nor no sin by which we are in more danger than Idolatry First there is no sin to which we are in more danger than Idolatry Moses's back was no sooner turned but the people made them a brazen calf and bowed down to it and worshiped it as their God Exod. 32. v. 4. Jehojada was no sooner dead but Ioash returned to Idolatry if we were not prone to this sin what is the reason all the world turns Antichristians so Universally Secondly As there is no sin to which we are in more danger so there is no sin by which we are in more danger than Idolatry I do confesse if you will keep your garments clean undefiled with the mark of the Beast it may be you may come under shrewd temptations yet I intreat you as a dying man as you love your Souls and for God's sake flee from Idolatry notwithstanding your temptations for God hath promised that under all the temptations that happens to you he will support you if you flie and withstand the thing you are tempted to 1 Cor. 10. v. 13. there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to men but God is faithful Will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able to bear but will with the temptation also make way to to escape that you may be able to bear it now see what use the Apostle makes of this promise in the next verse he follows with these words my dearly beloved flee from Idolatry seeing God will uphold us let us withstand any temptations to this end that God may uphold us this is the second Caution Thirdly Take heed of Apostacy of a degenerating backsliding spirit that ye do not fall off from the truth and ground of the wayes of God which ye have known and professed it is true it may be for standing to your principles you may lose the love of man I acknowledge it may be so but hear what God saith If any man fall back my Soul shall have no pleasure in him if thou goest on mans Soul may have no pleasure in thee but if thou fallest back Gods soul wil have no pleasure in thee thou doest by Apostacy declare to all the world that thou hast made trial of the wayes of God and thou doest not find them to be as good as thou thoughtest they were nay not so good as others O take heed of scandalizing the wayes of God here how God complains of those that so do Jer. 2.10 Go unto the Isles of Chittim and behold and send unto Kedar and take diligent heed and see whether there be such a thing hath a Nation changed their God for those which are no Gods but my people hath changed their glory for that which will not profit Hear O Heavens and be astonished at this for my people have committed two evils they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters and have hewed to themselves broken cisterns that will hold no water Whatever it is that would lead thee to Apostacy beware and flie it especially evil company of which I shall speak more anon let your love to Christ be augmented and love of your selves abased for unlesse you love Christ very much and your selves very little I cannot hope that you will stand to your principles Fourthly Beware of Covetousnesse it is Christs Caution Luke 2. ver 15. Take heed and beware of Covetousnesse here is a Caution with a double action take heed and beware believe me Brethren it stands upon us so to do for it steals upon us before we be aware of it there is no person will deal more injuriously with a Christian than a covetous man will he will betray his Life if it were in his hands into his Enemies hands for Money as Judas did A covetous man he will injure Christ in his Ordinances he will not come at them for the love he bears to the World will not suffer himstruly quoth he I have lost this or that while I was hearing a Sermon I 'le go no more I must stay at home and look after my businesse I could give you many instances of this but time will not give me leave I shall only touch this one what was it but the Love of this World that kept those who were bid to the Marriage Feast of the Great King of Heaven from coming One had bought a piece of Ground and he must needs see it another had bought Oxen and he must go to prove them a third had Married a Wife and therefore he could not come Of all persons in the world a covetous man cannot nor will not endure to bear the Crosse of Christ Phillippians 3. v. 8. For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you weeping that they are the Enemies of the Crosse of Christ whose end is destâ—uction who are these what manner of persons are they why they are such who make their Belly their God whose glory is their shame and who mind earthly things A covetous man he will lie with Ananias and Sarhira he will steal with Achab he will murther with Ahab he will betray with Judas what will he not do to attain his covetous
Phaâ—isees which is among you Oh that I had no cause to say the leaven of the Pharisees is among you I mean that there are many here that are but bare professors let me ask you that are only professors this one question Is Religion good or bad if it be not good what is the reason thou art not ashamed to profess it if it be good what is the reason thou dost but professe it by thy bare professing thou losest the love of man by no more then professing thou canst never gain the love of God so that on all sides thou art like to be miserable The world will hate thee for being so good and God will hate thee for being no better What a sad thing is it that thou losest thy comforts in this life by professing so much and thy comforts in the life to come by no more then professing Thus you have heard what I have to say by way of Caution I shall now speak to you by way of counsel The former ten were Negative these shall be Positive First I intreat you all that above all things you would mind the one thing necessary that you would not trouble your selves so much with many things of little concernment but mind the great thing for which you came into the world Oh my friends will you spend your time for that which will not profit you and your money for that which is not bread Look after Grace labour to get an Interest in Christ of which if you be unprovided you will be undone for ever and it will be better for you you had never been born Oh gain Christ and then you will be fitted for all times all troubles and all conditions that can happen unto you you will be endued with all wisdom and with all riches if you gain not Christ all that God doth to you and for you will nâ—ught at all avail you Secondly My second advice and counsel unto you is this That you would live as you would die live to day as if you must die to morrow Let me ask you would you be content to die in the state you are in if my soul doth not desire to be in a better state wheâ— I come to die then now I am in I may very well sit down satisfied if not then surely it greatly concerns me to look after a better would any man be content to die a Drunkard I ask you that are Drunkards I do believe you will answer no why then do you live in drunkennesse How know you that God will spare you when you are drunk until you are sober again we may read of many that have died in their drunken fits God doth not alwayes send his Herauld to warn thee before he sends his Serjeant to arrest thee how knowest thou but Death may strike thee on a sudden what will then become of thy Soul Oh Beloved I beseech you live not in that you are unwilling to die in Balaam waâ— not such a wretch but he could cry out Good Lord let me die the death of the Righteous are so bad husbands but will lay up for a rainy day I mean against a time of sicknesse comes wherein you will be unable to work are you thus careful to maintain your bodies and will you be carelesse of your souls Oh be careful to provide for stoâ—my weathers you have winter garmeâ—s for your bodies to preserve them from cold â—h let patience be your winter garment to preserve and keep your selves warm in afflictions I know that he that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution and that through tribulation and sufferings we must enter into the Kâ—ngdome of Heaven shall I not then provide for them but you may say what doth persecution attend all the godly a man may escape them as well as suffer them put case affliction should not come thou wilt be never the worse for the being provided for them for he that is fit to die is fit â—o live and that man that is fiâ— to suffer afflictions is fit to live without them It was Pauls exhortation to the Ephes 6.10 Finally my brethren put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand the wiles of the Devil And it is wisdome in a man to provide for a misery before is comes there is mention made of a Nation the Spartans I think that useth to chuse their King as we do our Lord May or every year and whilst they are in their annual Government they live in all abundance of state have all the sulnesse their hearts can wish but when their year is over all their pomp and glory is over too and they banisht into some obscure remoâ—e place for ever Where they spend the remainder of their lives in great want and misery One King knowing this being called to rule over that Nation made such use of his time wherein he reigned as King that by his provident living he heaped up so much treasure and sent it besore him to the place where he knew he should be sent as maintained him all his life time Thus it is God hath appointed to every one a time to live in and that but a short time too and in that time he hath appointed afflictions to attend us if we will live godly in Christ Jesus is it not wisdome in us then to provide for them Take heed then that to avoid suffering you do not commit sin â—o commit sin to avoid suffering is as if a man should run out of the mouth of a barking Dog into the mouth of a devouring Lion what is the wrath of man to the wrath of God Man can but destâ—oy the body and no more but God can destroy both body and soul into hell fire to all eternity Fourthly My fourth word of counsel and direction is this be serious in serious things when you come to perform serious things do â—â—em seriously I do not know that ever I saw a man fall a sleep while he was telling of mony for if he should how could he tell whether it were right or no Yet alas too too many sleep when they should be taking truth not only by natural sleep but also by spiritual sleep they are so caâ—elesse in receiving the word they hear and so laâ—y withal that rather then they will try the word they â—ear they will take all for truth their Ministers tell them Beloved I believe you will scarce put so much coufidence in a man as to receive a sum of money without telling it because he saith it is right and yet will you receive all that your Minister tells you is truth for truth without trying it you must not be sluggish in your working for God but put forth your selves to the utrermost You must make the Kingdome of Heaven suffer violence and take it by force but then Fifthly The fifth Direction which I shall give you is about hearing the Word how you must behave your selves when you
Sermon 2 Cor. 12.9 Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon mee FRom this Text you had this truth That a Christians chiefest glory under his infirmities is in the power of Christ resting upon him In the prosecution of this Point there was these four particulars propounded to be opened and prosecuted First What kind of power of Christ it is which Christians may hope to have experience of notwithstanding all their infirmities To this Question it was thus answered a power that Christ hath with his Father with whom hee is extraordinarily prevalent more than the fondling is with his dearest affectionate Mother A power of Christs Spirit which inables us to do what God requires and to suffer what God commands a powerful application of Jesus Christ himself unto his people and that not onely of light to them but of living of spiritual growth of spiritual strength of strength unto Conquest yea to be more than Conquerours Secondly What is it for the power of Christ to rest on the soul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. for the power of Christ to come and take its residence in the soul to make the soul to bee that which a Tent or Tabernacle is to him who takes up his repose therein to come and lodge in the soul of a Beleever as in his Tent or Tabernacle Thirdly What is it for a Beleever to glory in the power of Christ resting on him that is 1. To have the heart so full of Christ that it cannot contain it self but it must be bursting out as it were and running over in holy Exaltations and Triumphs 2. To bee so much in the admiration of Christ as that to a carnal eye it makes a man seem to bee ridiculous what a goodly person was David in Michals eye when hee danced before the Ark. 3. To rest on Christ so as to look out for nothing else c. to terminate and confine all the desires of the soul in and upon and towards Christ Jesus 4. To oppose Christ to any to every thing that doth in any way in the world either injure or indanger him 4. Why should a Christian rather glory in this power of Christ resting upon him than in any inherent grace that is given unto him upon these Accounts 1. Because all that a Christian by inherent grace is able to do himself is through Christ I can do all things through Christ that strengthens mee 2. Because if there be any acceptance of what a Beleever doth with the Father this also is through Christ the gift is accepted not for the gift sake but for the sake of the merit of Christ 3. If so be a Beleever should glory in his graces there is a possibility of falling but being clad with and resting in the power of Christ there 's an impossibility of miscarrying Thus the Saints of God have their infirmities frailties their multitude of frailties and infirmities yet have they reason to glory in that power of Christ which rests on them on earth but much more reason if they will look up and see the tongue of Christ ingaged for them i. e. interceding for them in Heaven And that lets mee into The third Sermon John 17.15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil I Pray not that thou should take them out of the world let them stay there and glory even in their very infirmities but I pray that thou shouldest keep them from the evil In this Scripture you have our Saviours Intercession for his Disciples Preservation And in this his Intercession two things observable 1. In the negative part for what Christ doth not pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world 2. In the Affirmative part that thou shouldest keep them from the evil of the world For the negative part wherein you have 1. So 〈…〉 implyed not that thou shouldest take them out◠〈…〉 â—orld This implies that God hath the disposal of 〈◊〉 continuance in the world else Christ would never addresse himself to his Father that hee would not take them out of the world If so then 1. Live constantly Beleever above the slavish fear of death Times are not in thine Enemies hands no not in the Devils hands but in Gods hands 2. Bee patient under the loss of thy dearest Relations God hath taken them that hath the disposal of our continuance 3. Seek to God for a blessing on all those means which at any time are prescribed or used for your preservation 2. There 's something mainly intended I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world and that 's this That God will have his people oftentimes continue in the world though they meet with much trouble in the world And if so this should teach you Beleevers how to carry your selves in the midst of a sinful wicked rude God-hating Saint-persecuting World that is 1. Patiently to wait Gods leasure you must stay his time 2. Carry your selves Innocently be sure you in a salt Sea like good fish retain your freshnesse 3. Carry your selves Wisely you walk among Devils Snares c. walk wisely And 4. Walk Serviceably continue you must but 't is Gods time how short you know not therefore walk Serviceably For the Affirmative part but I pray that thou shouldest keep them from the evil of the world Wherein something Absolutely and something Relatively Take the words Absolutely thence these four notions That thou shouldest keep them from the evil 1. Sin is an eminent evil the 〈…〉 2. That we are utterly unable to 〈◊〉 our selves But 3. God can keep his people in and from the evil of a sinfull world 4. That 't is the godly onely that are kept from the evil that is in the world But Relatively especially I pray c No great matter of their sufferings but their sins that 's the thing let them be preserved from that Thence observe preservation from sin is a far greater mercy then exemption from suffering And if so Then 1. See the folly the madness of those that embrace sin to avoid suffering Take a stab in their hearts that they may avoyd a scratch upon their singer 2. See the folly of those that desire the removal of their Sufferings rather than of their Sins Take away the Froggs not my hard heart 3. This shews what should be our greatest complaint in the midst of a troublesome world not my sorrows plunderings imprisonments Lord but the scarcities of my soul c. 4. This shews the grand mistake of the nature of true safety Men think safety to be mearly to sleep in a sound skin but 't is not safety to be preserved from danger but from Sin True the men of the world yea the best of Saints are too too apt to mistake in this case there 's a heart within them that is very apt to think sometimes Sinning to be
chosen rather then Suffering not in wicked men onely but in the best of men for as in water face answereth to face so the heart of man to man which lets mee into The fourth Sermon Prov. 27.19 As in Water face answereth to face so doth the heart of man to man IN this Proverb two things 1. The Proposition and that by a Similitude As in water face answereth to face 2. The Redition So doth the heart of a man to man Or in the words these two generals to be observed 1. A Glass 2. An Object to be seen in this Glass 1. A Glass a notable one that 's two fold A dead Glass Water A living Glass the Heart of Man 2. The Object to be seen in these Glasses In the dead Glass the face of man is to bee seen In the living Glass the heart of man There 's all the Species and Complections of the Sons nay of the Souls of the Sons of men to bee seen That as by looking into the water you may discern your own and other mens Countenances and that plainly and clearly So by looking into your own hearts if you could have a Casement into the hearts of other men there may you see of what Spiritual Complection Constitution and Make you are as clearly as a man may see his face in Water As in Water c. From these words this great Truth that the heart of every man in the world is a looking-Glass 'T is such a looking-Glass wherein he may see himself his Condition Constitution special Complection whether it be morally spiritually scripturally good or evil For the right improvement of this looking-Glass three things necessary which are optick principles but clear to those that have either phisical or natural light 1. There must be an Object that must bee seen And oh what visible objects are there in the hearts of men Man is call'd a little world a compendium of the whole world The heart of man is the man The heart of man is like the Ark of Noah which contains all sorts all kinds of clean and unclean Beasts 'T is an Epitomy of Heaven and Hell What is there in the heart of man Who but God can fathom the depth of it There are more objects in the hearts of men then Stars in Heaven or drops in the Ocean 2. There must be light to actuate this object If it were dark we could never see it There must be light both to actuate the eye and object Now this light that actuates the eye and object 't is either the natural light the light of Nature the light of Conscience the light of common Illumination the light of the Word or the light of the Spirit of God By all these lights we come to look into this looking-glass our hearts 3. There must be an Irradiation from the object i. e. a beaming forth from that object some Species or Ideas that carries the object to the eye and clearly makes out to the sence what that object is this beaming is by action from the heart mark it for it may be as necessary truth as was Preached among you that look what the stream is to the Fountain what the beam is to the Sun that the action is to the heart whether the act be manent or transient whether Internal in thought purpose election affection in joy in love in fear or External in the life in the practice and in the conversation So that look as a puddle stream alwaies declares a corrupt Fountain So all your humble holy faithful thoughts speak a clear spiritual heart within a holy Conversation speaks a holy Affection and a holy Affection declares a heavenly Constitution a new Nature Now for the Use of this is the heart of man a looking-Glass 1. See from hence of what concernment the actions of men are whether Internal or External The actions of men are like the streams you may certainly find the Fountain by them they speak the heart as the Root bears the fruit 'T is of infinite concernment 't is the Fountain of what principles within and conversation without descend but into thy own heart c. 2. This shews the sad condition of all natural poor souls your hearts are looking-Glasses but they are looking-Glasses in a Dungeon of darkness there be Toads Vipers and Devils there but thou canst not see them that hast no spiritual Light 4. Here is Consolation to Gods People Is the heart of man a looking-Glass What reason have they to rejoyce in their hearts that are the best looking-Glasses in the world not like our Gallants looking-Glasses that must not bewray their wrinkles sports c. But theirs will represent their Hearts Complexion Condition and Nature to them Nay in that Glass may be seen the face of a God Nay further because thy heart doth answer to another heart and his to his what ever Grace in any Beleevers it is there in thy heart semine there 's the seed 4. By way of exhortation Is the heart a looking-Glass then keep the looking-Glass very chary make much of it above all keepings keep thy heart and that with all diligence in all places at all times and in all things If any thing under Heaven will keep thee holy it is the keeping of thy heart There thou mayest see all thy spots defects desperate Hipocrisies Infernal Atheism all the deliques of thy Soul How prone to commit as vile sins as ever committed by the vilest of the sons of men once more keep it clean and keep it close Look into thy heart and thou shalt find it to bee a Coppy of the Role of Eternity where thou shalt see thy very name written in Letters of Gold or Blood for wee looking into our hearts may and do know that we are passed from death to live and that upon this ground because we love the Brethren And thus I advance to The Fifth Sermon 1 John 3.14 We know that wee have passed frâ—â— death to life because we love the Brethren IN these words five things 1. A supposed Estate in which we are all by nature and that is an Estate of death spiritual 2. A peaceable Recovery or mention of another state an Estate of life 3. A real Transition from this state of death to life we are passed c. 4. An inseparable property of all Regenerate souls in the world they do not hate but love the Brethren 5. A comfortable Conclusion that a Christian may make from that property he may know hee may be assured by this that he is passed from death to life because he loves the Brethren The observation thus a Christian may know his real Conversion and Transition to eternal life by this Character among the rest because he loves the Brethren This proposition was slipt into these two particulars 1. That every Beleever may have an assurance of his Transition from death to life 2. That love to the Brethren is one of the great eminent Symptomes of mans
them in regard of its Want and Scarcity There was no open Vision Hence observe 1. There hath been there may be such a day overtake a Church and People of God wherein the Word of God may be precious that is may be Scarce Rare and hard to come by 2. 'T is most just with God to teach them how to prize the Word by the want of it that know not how to prize the Word of God by the worth of it The Use was for Direction what to be done to prevent this judgement of a Scarcity and Famine of the Word of God 1. Learn to prize the Word by the worth of it 2. Improve the Word as to the fruit of it 3. Adorn the Word in your lives and conversations 4. Be earnest with God in publick and private for the blessed continuance of that Word Learn to prize the Word by the worth of it We do prize the Word c. Do you prize the Word in truth Then 1. What hath meant that horrible wicked general contempt of the Word of God and Ministers of that Word through the Land though blessed bee God they have not taken the vilest of the people and made them Priests yet the best of Ministers have been esteemed as the worst and vilest of people 2 What means the want of the Word Read Repeated Looked into 3. What means that general disobedience to the Word 4. Why are you so ready to sell the Truth far more ready than to buy it 5. What means that easie forsaking of the blessed Truths of the Gospel That a Popish Jesuite cannot come and vent one of his wicked opinions but presently let it be vomited it must be sucked up by one or other 6. What means the having of the Faith of Christ in so much respect of Persons as hath been here amongst us judge our selves then for what is past and for the future learn to prize the Word according to its worth consider what an admirable excellent thing this Word of God is and that may be known 1. By the metaphors unto which it is resembled in Scripture which speaks either its profit pleasure usefulness or necessity Thy Word is a light to my feet what more precious than light without which the world were but one great Dungeon c. 'T is compared to Bread Manna Food Water Precious Stones Rain c. Nay 't is more necessary As they formerly we can better be without the Sun then without Chrysostom Love for God makes us sensibly to say we can as well be without fire or water as without the Word of God And it is the more excellent because compared to those things what they are naturally it is spiritually so it is spiritual Bread spiritual Water spiritual Pearl c. 2. By its precious Properties and operations There is a Scripture to mee tastes like honey in my mouth Psal 19.7 8 9. Where the Word is discovered by its properties and operations The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the Soul the Testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple the Statutes of the Lord are right rejoycing the heart The Commadements of the Lord is pure Inlightning the eyes The fear of the Lord is clean enduring for ever The Judgements of the Lord are true and Righteous altogether What are these the Metaphors to which the Word is compared Are these the Properties and Operations of the Word No wonder then Job sets such a high valuation upon them as he doth in our Twelfth Sermon Job 23.12 I have esteemed the Words of his mouth more then my necessary food hi IN these words you have the matter and the measure of Job's valuation 1. The matter of Job's valuation i.e. The words all the words of his mouth precepts as well as promises threatnings and directions as well as promises and priviledges 2. The measure of his valuation as his food as his necessary food nay more than his necessary food Hence this truth was raised The Ordinances of God are exceeding precious to all truly Religious persons All the Ordinances of God and amongst them his Word which is not the least part of his Worship This appears 1. From their desires after the Ordinances My soul panteth longeth after c. 2. From their hearty content and satisfaction in them 3. From their bitter lamentation under the want of them 4. From their diligent endeavours to enjoy them Religious persons really understand their worth and want of them They know the Ordinances of God to be the food the spiritual fodder of the soul The walks of God where God is pleased to take his Turns The Instruments of Divine Glory The Legacy of Christians their Christian Armour and Acoutrements to contest with Sin Satan the World and as Starrs that lead to Bethlehem no wonder the Ordinances are so precious in the esteem of all truly Religious Then 1. Know your priviledge yet you enjoy Ordinances 2. Lament the sad condition of those poor titular Christians on the one hand that have Ordinances but enjoy them not they know not the worth of them And true Christians on the other hand from whom the Ordinances are gone and whether ever they will return they know not 3. This reproves those to whom they are not precious But how shall I know the Ordinances are precious to mee Answer If thou carries thy self towards them as towards what thou lookest on as precious tell mee 1. Art thou greedy of all opportunities of enjoying them 2. Heartily troubled when hindered of enjoying them 3. Hast thou a dear respect of those that help thee to the enjoyment of them 2. By way of Conviction to those mad men that tell us of being above i. e. without Ordinances what was it ever heard of any of Gods Saints in Scripture that ever they said they were above Ordinances 3. For instruction to Christians It will be seasonable to consider what you ought to do if God should deprive you of Ordinances Hee did not say 't is probable but such a thing is possible therefore make provision lay in provision before-hand provision of Knowledge of Grace of Comfort of Light against a day of darkness And if it should come here 's counsel given to us and Consolation laid before us 1. Counsel given us if ever it should be 1. Lament bewail mourn over the Lords absence weep till you can weep no longer 2. Seek after pursue them let them go where they will be sure follow thou the Ordinances 3. Be more frequent and serious in the use of private Ordinances 4. Frequently reflect back on thy former enjoyments oh the House the Tabernacle of God c. And reflect 1. To excite your thankfulness to God that ever you did enjoy them 2. To suck strength from the Ordinances to chew the cud and get strength of them 3. For humiliation for sinning away and provoking God to take them away 2. For Consolation that the people of God may not utterly fail then 1.
Know in such a condition that though your condition be exceeding bad yet better than many thousands they never had Ordinances 2. God is able in such a case to support without Ordinances when hee calls into the Wilderness hee can carry along without Circumcision 3. Remember those that have had them but not now what 's become of Sion of the Church of c. 4. Your salvation may be carried on without Ordinances 5. There 's a time coming when you shall have no need of Ordinances In the mean time if you cannot get up to the Ark of God take heed of bowing to the Calves at Dan and Bethel If you cannot serve the God of Israel take heed you serve not the Gods of the Amorites What you will do I know not be sure Joshna would not chuse you saith hee this day whom you will serve whether the Gods which your Fathers served that were on the other side of the flood or the Gods of the Amorites in whose Land yee dwell But as for mee and my house wee will serve the Lord which brings mee to The Thirteenth Sermon Josh 24.15 As for mee and my house wee will serve the Lord. IN the words two things 1. An indefatigable Retortation Take your own choice follow your own discretion If you will go and bow down to a dumb Idol to a Captive God c. 2. An admirable Dehortation wee are at a pitch wee are resolved and if there be any Attractive in mee or my family you have it in this I and my house-hold wee will serve the Lord. The Observations were 1. Pious Governours of families are very zealous that their families as well as themselves should serve the Lord. Never hope of thriving in godliness till you bring your Families right for God to be of the same Religion with your selves 2. A true sincere Christian is resolved to chuse and follow God what ever else the world chuse and follow 1. Sincere Christians have much more satisfaction in the judgement and practice of God his Word Saints than in the judgement and practice of the World Hee knows their judgement to be depraved their choice and practice corrupt their end and conclusion worst of all therefore no wonder hee makes a better choice 2. They have the best Testimony in the world for their choice the Spirit and Son of God that this is their choice therefore no wonder c. But how do they chuse God Answer they chuse God as the object of their souls love as the chiefest of ten thousand as the lot of their inheritance as the companion of their souls to converse with him as the Commander of their waies to be guided by him as a shelter of their hearts as a refuge to flye unto in the time of danger The first Use was by way of Examination is God chosen as the chief object of our souls love can we truly say there is none in Heaven but thee none upon Earth I can desire besides or in comparison of thee Can wee say in having a God the lines are fallen unto mee in a pleasant place yea I have a goodly heritage Is communion with God our Heaven upon Earth Is God the Commander of our waies as well as wee hope to be the Saviour of our souls Is God our shield our buckler our retreat in danger The second Use was by way of Consolation Beleevers have you made choice of God Happy are the people that are in such a case thou hast the best assurance in the world to come to the best possession in this world peace and joy Peace without if not Peace within And Joy the best Joy in the world Joy unspeakable and full of glory And truly if so be that this be thy portion in having chosen God 't is no wonder thou dost not Apostatize from him 'T is no wonder that what ever comes upon a Beleever yet for that his heart is not turned back neither his steps declined from Gods way And this leads to The Fourteenth Sermon Psalm 44.18 Our heart is not turned back neither have our steps declined from thy way FRom these words two Observations 1. In times of sufferings and afflictions true Christians are to make a narrow inspection into their hearts to see how they stand affected Thus did the Church here 2. To keep stedfast and close with God notwithstanding all afflictions and sufferings wee undergo either from or for God is the duty and commendation of Saints 'T was our duty and 't is our honour Lord c. In prosecution of this point these seven preliminary Thesis was laid down 1. When man was first created his heart stood rightly bent towards God as his great center and mark 2. When man fell his heart immediately drew off and turned back from God 3. Though this be the case of fallen man yet poor creature he sees it not 4. The very Formalis Ratio of sin that wherein the formality of sin consists is in this not so much in sinning against God by outward Acts as in the hearts departing from God 5. All true Conversion to God begins at the heart 6. 'T is an argument of infinite love in God to bring back our hearts to him 7. When once the heart of a Beleever is brought back to God no suffering or affliction is able to turn that heart from him Quest When may a mans heart be said not to bee turned back notwithstanding all sufferings and afflictions Answ 1. When a man still retains the same esteem and estimate of God that ever he had When Job looks upon God as a God fit to bee blessed though God be plundering of him 2. When a man retains still the same affections the same love to him delight in him fear of him as much as ever 3. When wee hope and trust in God as much as ever Though hee kill mee yet will I trust in him 4. When we have the same resolutions to cleave to God as ever If a God in Israel as long as a God in Israel 't is all one makes not to the Gods of the Philistines this is for a mans heart not to be turned back from God By way of Use 1. Learn the heart of man is very apt to turn from God in daies of affliction our heart is not though their's were 2. It concerns us in time of affliction and suffering to see if our hearts be not turned back from God But what means shall I use that I may not turn a base Apostate Answ 1. Be watchful over your hearts they are exceeding slippery and deceitful The veryest Theeves in the World 2. Bee still bending of your hearts from the world and the flesh unto God As you bend a crooked stick to make it streight 3. Do not onely bend but binde your hearts tye them shackle them as you would one that hath broken Prison by holy serious scriptural necessary vows 4. Converse much with God That man that converses much with God it is not
e. when the soul opens more and more for there 's no door but it s shut as close on him when after entrance that 't is as much as ever Christ can do to creep in This opening appears 1. In parting with and putting away what ever keeps possession of the heart against Christ The strong man must be turned out 2. The soul freely consents to Christ by an intire resignation to his Will and Spirit to take him upon those tearms And when Christ doth thus knock and call at the door of our hearts 't is our duty and interest thus to open admittance to him The Use was for Exhortation to plead with poor sinners that yet oh yet they would open to Christ Jesus knocking and calling Arguments here there was used if they did not melt 't was not because they were not powerful but our souls marble 1. 'T is a matter of greatest importance more than your earthly Joyntures it concerns your everlasting souls souls that are more worth than ten thousand worlds whether you will now beleeve it or no you will hereafter 2. Consider the person that comes to call who is it 'T is a King that stands at your door 't is the King of Kings God of Gods that stands there 3. 'T is hee that deserves admittance a God of abundant superabundant love by his undertaking hee hath deserved admittance will you keep out your Father your Mother thou wretch that wast rescued the other day wilt thou keep out thy Redeemer 4. 'T is hee that hath a great love and affection for you how ever you have dealt with him Thou that brought him Hell yet can hee never bee at quiet till he hath brought you to Heaven 5. Consider the posture I stand must you sit and I stand 6. I have stood a long time I have been staying and waiting for you so many years I can reckon every day and night I have stood and waited for you you would have abhorr'd to have waited on the greatest man in the world as I have waited on you a worm nay I stay still waiting for you And This one thing sticks yet with mee I stand ready to depart I have knocked a great while but now knock no more what if this should be the last knock you should hear How many did knock and the last knock'd yet I stand I knock this once more 't is very questionable whether Christ will ever knock again at least in such a way and by such means never did Christ knock more louder 7. I stand at the door a poor cold place I stand despised and contemned but besides many in the mean time are let in and I kept out and that out of my own house 8. I stand at the door ready to have my patience turned into fury therefore let mee come in quickly 9. I stand I that am blessed in my self I that can make thee infinitely eternally blessed I that am c do stand therefore prethee prethee open What 's that 'T is hear and know remember beleeve and do And this would give mee a fair Retreat into my Text If you know these things happy are yee if yee do them I beseech you to consider you have known these things cursed wretched for ever are yee if yee do not do them happy for ever if you do them Thus I have given you a short account of these things lately delivered to you you must not impute any of my weaknesses to my Reverend Brethrens labours that went before the God of Heaven bless you and reward them a thousand-fold And oh what ever God doth keep up this exercise in the midst of us You have abundantly reaped Gods Spirit I hope there is something done in this Congregation that Eternity it self shall never bee able to blot out I confess this is no fasting day but yet however wee may make it such a day as since God is pleased to give us an Ocean to return to him some drops Beloved 'T is very probable that it will bee the last motion that ever I shall make to you while I live in this way If I were now to go from my Pulpit to my grave this would bee the double motion I would make to you 1. For Gods sake prize the Word of God 2. Labour to prize the Word of God by the worth of it that you may never come to prize the Word of God by the want of it And if you would express your prizing of the Word express your love charity bowels to poor Ministers of the Word never any man repented hee had given so much to a good use doubtless my children wants it now or my wife wants it now c. And I can assure you I think there was never so many thanksgivings made to God for this City of London as for their abundant charity in this respect FINIS