waxeth not old it is now established and never to bee altered and withall it is a living way Herein Jesus Christ is found who is the fountaine of life who lives for ever to quicken dying and refresh weary Travellers They who walke in the good old way by repentance faith and obedience may with boldnesse with liberty expect hereby to enter into the Holiest into the place where Gods Holinesse dwelleth into the Heavenly Sanctuary Jesus Christ came downe from Heaven to open this new and living way to advance them to Heaven Let us now see what emprovement may bee made of this Truth in the application of it to provide you in your journey towards Sion Behold here Beloved brethren and behold it with admiration the rich advantage that poore sinners have by comming into this good way It leads unto God himself and soule-refreshing rest in the enjoyment of him whatsoever God is whatsoever God hath whatsoever sweetnesse there is in God to satisfie a poore troubled soule that is to bee expected if you come to God in Gods own way and therefore doubtlesse they are much their owne enemies that keepe at a distance from God they that will not bee taken off from their old wicked wayes those haunts of sinne in which they have walked all this while they that repulse these offers those admonitions which God giveth the time may come that they will befoole themselves and bemoane their owne unhappinesse that they did not choose the wayes of Gods feare Consider that of Wisdome and tremble what if calamity come on you who shall helpe you God will laugh when your calamity commeth and mocke when your destruction and desolation and feare shall seise on you Why because you would have none of his Counsell you would have none of his reproofe You did not choose the feare of the Lord I wish you would all expostulate the case with your selves now seriously in the presence of God What â—is this true doctrine that the good old way is that which leads to the rest of my Soule What an enemy have I been to my soule that have inslaved my selfe to my lusts all this while that have turned my back on God and his wayes and will not by any importunity though God himself speaks from heaven bee brought into this good way Many please themselves if they walke in such wayes as lead to their own profit and to their owne worldly pleasures O but what will bee the issue Why look into the 4 of Judges ver. 18 19. You shall finde the other wayes wherein you walked are those that deceived that promised good intertainment who will deale with you just as Jael did with Sisera shee came out indeed in the 18 ver. Turne in my Lord turne in to mee feare not Oh what flattering language doe the profits and pleasures of the world speake to ingage young people and to intice others Turne in And when hee is come in hee saith unto her Give mee I pray thee a little water to drinke for I am thirsty shee opened a bottle of milke and gave him drinke and covered him The world hath bottles of milke sweet pleasures satisfying contentments men may suck out of the breasts of the world a great deale of satisfaction for a time but when you are wrapped warme in the world and fall asleepe in the very armes of creature comforts what will bee the issue See how shee deales in the 21 ver. Shee tooke a nayle of the Tent and tooke an hammer in her band and went softly unto him and smote the nayle in his Temple and fastned it into the ground for hee was fast asleepe and weary so hee dyed This is the intertainment that worldly Temptations give to many people They will hugge you for a time and they will give you milke and they will seeme to cover you and wrap you warme but when once you are gotten into a dead sleepe a nayle is driven into your Temples and there is an end of an old worldling there is an end of such a deluded sinner that would not come into Gods wayes but gratifie the devill and still continue in such soule-deceiving wayes I wish rather there were many among you that had Joshua's Heroicall resolution this day for a day of humiliation it is a day to renew your resolutions and to renew your Covenant with your God that would say in defiance to all bad examples with an holy singularity whatsoever others doe I and my house will serve the Lord Joshua did not say onely I must serve the Lord so a terrifyed hypocrite will say or I ought to serve the Lord so a dull hearer it may bee will yeeld a formall assent sometimes or I would serve the Lord so a laziâ— professour will say I would fain serve the Lord But Joshua saith whatsoever others doe if they will go to hell let them goe along for me for I am resolved I and my house will serve the Lord Come therefore I beseech you into this way of God this good way I would bee glad if the Lord would please to prosper my weake and unworthy indevours so farre as to perswade but any one Soule that hath yet been a stranger to these wayes to come and begin to try conclusions It may bee thou hast served three or foure apprentiships in wicked wayes and followed the devill and thy deceitfull heart twenty or thirty yeeres together wilt thou intertaine the Counsell of a Minister of Jesus Christ so as to come and try venture some paines and venture some steps in this way of God possibly thou mayst find so much sweetnesse in the way and advantage by the way that if once you did but taste it you would not for ten thousand worlds turn your backs on this way againe It is a good daies worke even to set your faces on this day toward God to begin to look toward this good way Doe not mind your own profit and your own advantages your owne ends your owne ease let this bee the great businesse you have to doe you have an immortall Soule that is capable of an eternall condition that must either eternally triumph in Heaven or everlastingly fry in Hell Thou canst not say but God hath sent from Heaven this day by his owne word to call thee to stand to consider to looke about thee and to make provision for thy soule Doe not now heare what worldly profit saith or listen only what secular advantage but hearken what God saith for the good of thy soule It may bee if you were now to make your wills some rich man among you hath so many hundreds for such a Childe and such a proportion for Wife and such Legacies for Friends O but what hath your poore Soule all this while Oh! you will bequeathe your bodies to the ground and so much to such and such good purposes and you will give your Soules to God O but what if God will not accept of your
it there prescribed or no Judge then of the goodnesse of the way by the Rules of holy Scriptures and not onely by the seeming light of your owne conscience Conscience may conclude that to bee a lawfull way which is unlawfull and in such a case it doth not oblige thee to practice neither can it warrant thee therein Yet among many other noysome weeds which spring up in the garden of the Church in these luxuriant times this is one very dangerous principle and indeed the more dangerous because the language seemes plausible I am perswaded in my conscience it is the right way and therefore I may walke in it But stay a while Doe you find this held forth in Scripture that your conscience is an adequate and sufficient Rule for your actions No such matter rather thy Conscience by the fall of Adam was defiled Tit. 1. 16. and even in the regenerate is sanctified but in part not freed wholly from darknesse and error and so cannot bee a pure and perfect rule If you make your conscience your only guide you will soone bee mis-led into grosse offences as Joâ— 16. 2. Act. 26. 9. I verily thought with my selfe saith Paul that I ought to doe many things contrary to the Name of Jesus of Nazareth who will say unlesse they be shamefully ignorant that Paul did well herein though he might follow present light which too often proves indeed but darkenesse If you were to deale with a Papist and should aske him Why doe you pray to Images why doe you goe to Masse were this a satisfying answer I am perswaded in my conscience it is lawfull to goe to Masse and therefore I may doe it The good Lord discover and confute such poysonfull opinions Doubtlesse such an erring Conscience doth not warrant will not excuse and justifie thy sinfull practice Conscience is but a subordinate rule and a rule to thee onely so farre as it receives information from the word of God when the subordination is maintained conscience acting according to punctuall instructions from God himselfe theâ— thou maist goe on with comfort and confidence But whilst thou art under an erroneous Conscience thy duty is not to follow it but rather to seeke cleare and full information that thou maist bee delivered from all thy seducing errors Rom. 12. 2. Learned Divines observe that in Negatives conscience may bee more observed then in Affirmatives When it doth judge a thing not to bee lawfull which is lawfull in it selfe wee are not to doe it Rom. 14. 23. wee may sometimes abstaine from a lawfull thing without sin but wee can never doe an unlawfull thing though conscience affirme and conclude it but we offend God therein O then that you and I when so many new and strange wayes are commended may forme a right judgment concerning the good way let us looke above the examples of others not setting our watches by their clocks let 's looke higher then the meere dictates of our owne Consciences Let us appeale to the holy Scripture as the perfect and ultimate rule of our actions and judge of all our controversies let that umpire and arbitrate all Onely here remember an excellent rule of one of the Ancients Hee is the best reader of Scripture who fetcheth the sense out of Scripture not who carrieth the sense unto Scripture On these termes let all the opinions and practices which are now on foot in London in England yea in the whole World be tryed by Scripture When wee read Gods word could we singly and humbly enquire the mind of Jesus Christ and listen impartially what language hee speaks therein and not as too many doe with minds engaged to such a sense which they must either find in Scripture or will impose upon it wee might much more readily learne the good way Heretofore indeed too many of the Prelates and their factors that they might the better put off their adulterate wares having first resolved to practice such Ceremonies and bring in such Innovations would then read Scriptures and Fathers to see what expressions they could thence draw to countenance them Let us all now beware of that which wee condemned in others what way soever of Doctrine Practice or Discipline we are engaged into in our present thoughts whether to a congregational or classical whether to this or that way let us not study and dispute that wee may bring downe the Scripture to our owne sense but rather endeavour to shape frame and raise all our opinions desires and practices to the genuine sense of â—holy Scripture and according to the mind of Jesus Christ therein discovered that will prove the good way which God himselfe makes knowne Secondly the good way is that which leads directly unto God himselfe to interest in God service of God and communion with God The Lord at first made us for himselfe our immortall soules will never find solid satisfaction till they returne backe unto him It is the proper worke of true Religion the good way to bring back the wandring soul unto it s Maker What is Religion but a comming unto God in Christ with engagement of the heart to stay with him And the more steps wee take in this good way of pure Religion the neerer still wee come unto God The prophane Atheist hee wallowes in his sinne prostituting his precious soul to this ignoble service to make provision for his lusts that is his Element and all this while poore creature without God in the World Ephes. 2. 12. at a great distance from him and his owne Salvation The carnall Worldling hee would bee content uti Deo to make use of God but then hee must fâ—ui creatuâ—is enjoy the creatures hee serves God no more then may serve his owne turne gratifie his owne carnall purposes neither minds hee in this way fellowship with God The lukewarme Politician hee would by his politick reconcilements arbitrate betweene God and selfe hoping thereby to drive on his owne designes but in conclusion he likewise in this way falls short of Heaven losing his God in the inordinate pursuing of Carnall-selfe But the good way will lead us off from our sins above creature comforts out of our selves unto God Some may take divers steps towards God insomuch that it may bee said of them as of him Mark 12. 34. Thou art not farre from the Kingdome of God the good way carryes thee further it leads thee even unto God into the wayes of nell-pleasing serviâ—e into union and communion with himselfe It brings thee not onely to serve God but also to enjoy God in an Ordinance not onely to obey him in doing a duty but also to have a swâ—et communion with him in the performance thereof Hence it is that a Saint who travels in this good way is not satisfied unlesse he find and enjoy his God in the duties of his worship he rests not in attending upon so many sermons in making so many prayers but
3. Some other things are onely necessary in that they are commanded by God or may bee deduced from his Word and therefore are to bee obeyed according to that knowledge a man hath or may have of them About some of these such as are of the lowest degree not beeing fundamentall godly and learned Divines may differ in some opinions Againe these opinions are either kept private or made publicke Doubtlesse when they are not published and propagated to the disturbance of others much indulgence may bee showne to dissenting Brethren who peaceably injoy their owne opinions And as divers Truths admit a latitude so likewise some practises into which those Truths lead in both which some differences may bee borne It is observed Paul and Barnabas jarred yet both Preached the Gospel Cyprian and Cornelius differed in judgement yet both pillars of the Christian Faith Chrysostome and Epiphanius disagreed yet both Enemies to the Arians Indeed if men will vent their own conceits as commonly they are bigge with them longing to bee delivered whereby they puzzle and distract others it much alters the case and makes them more uncapable of connivence and that especially when their opinions tend to such practises as undermine the power of godlinesse or peace of the Church Christ blamed it in the Church of Pergamus that such were suffered there Rev. 2814. who held such doctrine as taught one to cast stumbling-blocks before others Quest May any compulsion bee used by Magistrates to draw people into the one good way Answ. It is concluded by most able godly and sober Divines that in some cases power may lawfully and seasonably bee imployed in matters of Religion 1 Power may and must indevour to hinder the blaspheming of the True Religion and to suppresse the propagating of a false Religion Consider Deut. 13. Inticers to Idolatry were to bâ—e stoned to death and that doubtlesse in a judiciall way 2. Though men cannot bee compelled to the profession of the True faith yet by Authority they may bee even constrained to attend upon the meanes of knowing God and that good way which leads to him Consider zealous Josiahs example 2 Chron. 34. 33. If you cannot perswade men to bee good Protestants yet strive to keepe them from acting Popery bring them into the light of the Sunne of Righteousnesse possibly they may learne thereby to abhorre Popish darknesse And now especially when wee have so solemnly Covenanted for the extirpation of Popery far bee it from any to dispute for a toleration thereof or to give way to any such Principles as will by naturall consequence infer it Quest What then shall wee doe with all those in England who are ingaged in different waies both in regard of their opinions and practises Answ. It should make us lye in the dust and melt into teares that wee have so many distractions in the Church by reason of differences amongst us One extremity hath begotten another Many desiring to runne farre from Popery and Prelacy which formerly oppressed their spirits have now before they were aware ingaged themselves in the very quarters of the Arminians and Socinians joyning with them to undermine the Civill Magistracy the calling and power of the Ministery to enervate the Sacraments and question the immortality of the soule Witnesse a dangerous Book lately written pleading for the mortality of the Soule which will open the flood-gates of prophanenesse and so poore hearts are in danger to lose the good way Yet alasse how much doe they perplex themselves and discourage others as if the Reformers in Parliament and Assembly were acting the part of the Hornes Zach. 1. 21. to scatter Judah and Hierusalem uttering these sad expressions Wee shall not bee tolerated wee must bee banished the persecution is like to bee as hot as under the Prelates and so much more inflame the present troubles I shall briefly suggest two things for resolving this great doubt proposed which puzzles so many First Before wee speake or think of tolerating or banishing let us all both Minister and people labour to reduce all those from their errors who are gone out of the good Way Too many weary themselves and others in projecting what shall become of people who are of this and that way but rather let us lay out our most serious thoughts how wee may recover them who are seduced Jam. 5. 19 20. It is an high act of Mercy to convert a sinner from the error of his way wee shall save a soule from death and shall hide a multitude of sins doe what you can to save them as Jude directs ver. 22 23. Secondly Let us indevour not onely to reduce some from their grosse errors into the good way but also seek such a reconciliation of lesser differences with others that Brethren who hope to spend eternity in Heaven together may walke peaceably and lovingly in this good way Inquire what latitude in opinion and practice the Scripture allows No good Christian will desire more Some things the Apostles commanded as being necessary some things they commended and advised as being expedient some other things which were meerely indifferent they left indifferent without the least violation of the Churches Liberty Let every one of us please â—iâ— neighbour for his good to edification Rom. 15. 2. O that wee could all indevour to keepe the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peaâ—â— Paul presseth this upon us by seven strong reasons in three short verses Ephâ—s 4. 4 5 6. and indevours to ingageus hereunto with most sweet affectionate expressions in Phil. 2. 1 2. If therfore any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the spirit if any bowâ—ls and mercies fulfill yee my joy that yee may bee like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind A reducing of some into the good way that leads to Soule-refreshing rest a composing of differences amongst others who walk therein will so answer this question as to prevent the inconvenience of such a toleration as some desire and the danger of that banishing which others feare Give me leave Right Honorable and beloved to bespeake the improvement of your wisedome and zeale of your interest and influence for the carrying on of this soule-refreshing designe Doe not satisfie your selves that God hath brought you into the good way It is indeed an admirable mercy worthy of everlasting praises that when your faces were Devill-ward and Hell-ward hee hath turned so many of them Christ-ward and Heaven-ward I hope you love the soules of your children friends servants and people so well that you wil easily be perswaded to bestirre your selves seriously how to bring them who yet goe astray by ignorance prophanenesse or security into the good way that they may all find rest with you therein It will stand upon record for the honour of this renowned Citie what you have done since these publique troubles began for the good of the Church and for the good of
the State what you have given to quench these sparkes ere they brake out into devouring flames And I question not but when ever the Chronicles of these times shall come to be written the zeale the fidelity the self-deniall the courage the diligence of this famous Citie will fil whole Pages with your just and due commendation Not only families but houses of Parliament not onely Countries but Kingdomes are sensible of your forwardnesse and doe daily blesse God for it Well! give mee leave now as a poore Minister of Jesus Christ to presse one thing more upon you viz. that you would erect some further monument holding a proportion with what you have done already something worthy of this religious this renowned Citie That you would lay a traine how to reduce poore soules that goe astray and how to bring them into a good way that leads to eternall rest It is my advantage that I have the opportunity to speake in such an auditory upon such an argument There is great reason that wee should take notice of what cost and charges you have beene at this last yeare in the foure Hospitalls of this Citie and in the maintenance of the great number of poore children and others I need not goe over all the particulars they have been read againe and againe to your honour many whose wounds have been healed by you are blessing God for you and many hungry bellies which you have fed are magnifying him and many children I hope are learning to blesse the name of that God that hath put it into your hearts to do so much good for them and I am confident you will heare comfortably of it hereafter at the day of Judgment Possibly all this may be done and yet some further care to bee taken for the reducing of soules into such a good way that might lead them to their eternall rest and to this purpose I will be bold to suggest some few directions First Lay a traine for the education of youth in the knowledge of this good way for the multiplying of such faithfull guides as may discover and lead others into this way It is a peece of Luthers counsell if ever you would have a good Reformation looke to the education of Children You cloath their bodies and you feed them It is mercifully done it is good Gospel fruit it is worthy of Christianity But I beseech you withall take care for their precious soules Acquaint them betimes with Gods wayes And you more especially that have the government of this famous City look to your Citie Schooles looke that there be principles of Religion as well as Learning laid and sown and scattered among these young Generations So you will lay a traine indeed to bring their soules into the good way and to this purpose provide that there may bee more faithfull guides to steere and direct them in this way That were indeed an enterprise worthy of such a Citie as this is Let us not bee ashamed to learne any thing from the Jesuites which is fit to bee learned from them who are most studious in this art they goe up and downe and observe what youths are most pregnant who are likely to bee good disputants and who are likely to bee good Statesmen and who are likely to bee good Oratours and out of each of these they will take a number whom out of the publique charge they will maintaine that their parts and abilities may bee improved to the greatest advantage both to themselves and the Common-wealth I doubt not but this City might honour God and honour themselves in some such course as this is In all your Hospitalls in all your Schooles let there bee a wise observing by those that are able to discerne what is the proper genius spirit and disposition of young Youths where is any of speciall parts that hath not onely seeds of piety but singular indowments of nature And though I would bee loath to presse upon so bountifull a City as this any thing that might adde to your vast charges which you have been already at yet I could wish with all my heart that some publique Stocks were raised in some way most suitable that such as I speake of might bee maintained and consecrated to the study of Learning and being sent to the Universities might prove in their generations faithfull guides in this good way God hath beene pleased already to shine upon us in the hopefull beginning of Reformation of Universities and every one of us in our way and place are to further that worke wherein we are all more or lesse especially concerned This will most Succesfully bee done by sending such persons thither as may bee most capable of improvement there which may not for want of parts bee discouraged from following those studies which shall there bee required of them and then for want of imployment in their studies runne-out into such vicious courses as may make them to rue the day that ever they came thither The rule which Parents have gone by formerly in making such and such Children Scholars has beene a respect to their owne education They have been Scholars it may be themselves and therefore thinke that their Sonnes however qualifed must needs be so also and others by very sinister respects Gentlemen if they have divers Children to make Scholars of those which are the youngest as a shift rather then a calling and somewhat whereby they might rather provide for their worldly subsistence then for the service of the Church Common-wealth Now that which I commend to your Wisdomes in this point of publique Education is to bee carryed by another Consideration to wit of the pregnancy of parts and capacity in Children such being cherished and promoted in Learning they may by Gods blessing prove able guides to bring others into the good way Secondly looke to your Family Religion For as your Schools have a subordination to Universities so Families to Schooles The reformation of the one will not so much availe without reformation of the other And both have a subordination to the Church To this intent let Masters let Parents Oh that Husbands and Wives likewise would love one anothers Soule so well as to bee quickning and helping forward one another in this good way I say let Masters let Parents catechise their Children and Servants and instruct them in the principles of Religion Doubtlesse this is the way to make them fit to bee usefull Church-members You expect the Minister should doe all truly there will not so much bee done unlesse you maintaine an harmony of Ordinances When a Minister shall Preach and Catechise and instruct in Publique and when a Father shall deale with his Children when hee commeth home in private and call them to an account of their profiting by the publike administrations Oh this harmony being maintained it will still lay a better traine how to reduce those that goe astray It is a most unhappy
hotly debated and when it comes to tryall men will deny themselves in any thing rather then their will yea they will deny God himselfe rather then suffer themselves to bee crossed therein Wee are all ready to returne that unmannerly answer with them Jer. 44. 16. thus they here Verse 16. Wee will not walke the language not onely of dull sloath but even of impudence it selfe And when God had set watchmen over them speculatores Priests and Prophets both ordinary and extraordinary saith Junius O the admirable riches of Gods patience towards such unthankfull rebells Yet Verse 17. they adde obstinacy to their impudence doubling it with a sturdy emphasis Wee will not hearken Who would have expected such an answer as this to have been the ecâ—ho to such soule-refreshing counsell Yet thus they put off the great God as enemies to him and their owne soules peremptorily rejecting him and his Law No wonder if according to the third generall part their wretched carriage towards God bee of such dangerous consequence In Vers 18 the Righteous God calleth the Congregation the Nations to take notice of what is among them sâ—il what sinnes what Judgements This is an high straine of Rhetorick which God sometimes useth that hee may give a visible account of the justice of his proceedings hee will make as it were a publikâ— appeale to others how just hee is against them They were not ashamed Verse 15. now hee will expose them to open shame Then Verse 1â— hee calleth upon the Earth tâ— behold what evill hee is bringing upon them Patience and indulgence being abused is turned into fury They shall know that it is an evill and bitter thing to forsake God Jer. 2. 19. Hee will be sanctified either in an active way by them or in a passive way upon them If they will not doe what hee requires for his honour and their good hee must dâ—e what hee intends for his owne glory though in their confusion Some might possibly mis-interpret Gods severity against them wondring that they who had beene his darling people in a Nationall Covenant with him should now bee broken with judgements by him hee will let them know the holinesse of his Justice now calls for it somtimes the sinnes of a people grow so great they make themselves as it were uncapable of mercy Jer. 5. 7. How shall I pardon for this God is now resolv'd to give them the wofull fruits of their owne thoughts Verse 19. Hee brings upon them fructum cogitationum ipsorum The fruit of their owne thoughts As they did sow so shall they reape Prov. 1. 31. they shall eate the fruit of their owne way and bee filled with their owne devices They may seeke to palliate their sinnes with some pompous specious formalities of Religion and fetch Incense and other most noble fruits from farre yet find no better entertainment then Verse 20. To what purpose commeth there to mee Incense from Sheba and the sweet Cane from a farre Countrey Notwithstanding all these complements God knowes the corrupt fruits of the thoughts of their hearts and will accordingly reward them As Jer. 17. 10. I the Lord search the heart I try the reinâ—s even to give every man according to his wayes and according to the fruit of his doings After this generall account of the words let us more particularly enquire what genuine and seasonable observations they tender to our consideration Whereas the Lord here calleth on them to stand in the way see and aske for the old paths the good way this is obvious In the concernments of your soules the Lord would not have you over-credulâ—â—s but very carefully inquisitive after the good old way Before I produce reasons for confirmation hereof I will for the clearing of the passage premise and resolve a question In what wayes should you stand and see First it 's good beginning with your selves â—ixe your thoughts at least for some time on your owne wayes wherein you have walked Religion as well as reason appeares in self-reflecting in considering our selves in Hag. 1. 5. 7. Thus saith the Lord consider your wayes Hebr. set your heart on your wayes Read them over compare your actions with the rule that you may find out your owne obliquities and accordingly bee broken hearted for them and broken off from them Too many ordinarily mind their comforts more then their duties and consider much more other peoples wayes to câ—nâ—ure them then their owne to judge themselves for them But you will never learne to bee happy travellers in Heaven way unlesse you sometimes looke back even with weeping eyes upon your owne former wayes The Prophet David found benefit in this course Psal. 119. 59. I thought on my wayes aâ—d turned my feet unto thy Testimonies A serious consideration is the Scripture method to a sound conversion This Jeremy commends unto the people of God Laâ— 3 4â— let us search and try our wayes and turn againe to the Lord let us reâ—urne into our selves that wee may returne unto the Lord Secondly It 's very sit likewise to stand in the wayes of your Forefatherâ— the good old Servants of God that you may write after their Copie As Deut. 32. 7. Remember the dayes of old consider the yeeres of many generations ask thy Father and he wil shâ—w thee thy Elders and they will tell thee As what God has done for thee in his paths of truth and goodnes so proportionably what thou shouldst do for him in thy waies of obedience thankefulnes It was a prudent direction the heathen Doctors gave to their Disciples consider what Socrates Catâ— other reâ—ined Mâ—ralists did and how they behaved themselves wee have better Oracles to consult with patterns more worthy of our Imitation Enquire what Abraham did who was a friend of God what Jacobs wayes were who was so potent with God himselfe what paths Galebs were who was a man of another spirit more excellent then ordinary following God fully Aske what wayes David walked in who was a man after Gods own heart fulfilling all his will Thirdly and most especially stand in the severall paths which God makes known unto you as tending to the good way and seriously conâ—ider them Hierome hee distinguisheth plures semitas viam unam divers paths but one good way To the same purpose Theodoret There are many Prophets which point to this way As there is the Kings high-way which leads to great Cities but divers lesser paths comming from Villages which will bring you into that way Hilarie makes these wayes to bee the many commandements of God and many Prophets which lead to Christ the way truth and life Iohn 14. 6. According to Cyrill these wayes are the wholsome writings of the Prophets if any one will set his mind on them he shall find the good way Christ Jesus Doubtlesse there is one Soveraigne Soule-saving way which leads to God the center
soules then thou art utterly and everlastingly undone This you should know and consider seriously The first meeting between God and the Soule must bee here on earth in this Good way they runne a desperate hazzard that will venture an immortall Soule and hope of Heaven upon a Lord have Mercy upon them at the last day when they know not whether God will then accept of it or imbrace and owne their Soules yea or no Oh it is a sad thing to think wee should put off God with the dregges of our old age and after our Soules have beene drenched and steeped in prophanenesse and covetousnesse and ungodly coursâ—s forty fifty yeares together then to think hee ownes our prayers to be as cock-sure of Heaven as any Doe not deceive thy selfe on such uncertaine termes if thou wilt have the right Method to obtaine indeed rest for thy soule Oh! come into Gods way and the sooner you come the better Whatsoever competition commeth betweene thee and secular advantage let all stand by and resolve first to provide for the rest of thy Soule There is a Story of one Marinus a Souldier having hopes of preferment to some place being a Christian It was suggested to him that hee must first forsake his Religion before hee should bee invested in his preferment It was so strong a temptation to him that hee beganne to stagger between his preferment and his Christianity But by the providence of God there commeth one Theodistus to him brings him into the Temple and layeth by him a Sword and the Gospell the Sword was the Ensigne of his place and preferment hee was to have but one now saith hee whether will you have rather the Bible or the Sword and dealt so seriously with him that it pleased God at last to overcome him hee would rather have the Bible and let goe the Sword and preferment and hopes and all worldly pompe and chose the Gospell that so hee might save his Soule Oh that there were many in this Congregation raised to this Heroick resolution this day whatsoever the competition bee Is it a place is it preferment is it an Office Lay the Testament by it and thinke if ever thou wilt save thy Soule thou must let goe thy hopes preferment and possession and deny thy selfe in them rather then let goe thy share in the Gospell whereby thou hast a title for the eternall happinesse of thy immortall soule Let soule bee more deare and precious to thee and the injoyment of God and finding communion with him then all other worldly blessings whatsoever It was a rare disposition worthy of imitation in that great Souldier Terentius when hee might have asked what he would of the Emperour this petition hee would onely beg a Temple for the Orthodox Christians when the Arian persecution did so much prevaile the Emperour denying him that in the behalfe of Christians though he had leave he would not ask any thing more for himself here is a man that did value Religion and the good of soules at an high rate what ever becommeth of his own preferment of his own dignitie Let us say let Religion flourish let the Gospell of Christ runne and bee glorified in the power and purity of it what ever become of our preferment And truely did you know the excellencie the sweetnesse the goodnesse of walking in the wayes of God you would not now like lukewarme reconcilers and moderators accept of a reformation upon any termes so you might save your owne advantages and promote your owne designes there is many a Cassande that would bee such a reconciler that would undertake the arbitration betweene God and man so hee might drive on his project hee would be content to abate somewhat in Religion so hee might serve his owne carnall purpose But let us not bee thus penny wise and pound foolish and in the meane time neglect comming into Gods way this is the onely method that leads to this great advantage to soul-refreshing rest If walking in the good way be Gods method to find soule-refreshing rest then shew your selves good travellers and bee sure you doe indeed walke in this way doe not satisfie your selves in that you know the way but rather say as they in Micah 4. 5. every one will walke in the name of his God Come we will walke in the name of our God for ever and ever you must bee walking stirring moving on many people if they have but got a little smattering knowledge and have their tongues tipped with some Gospell Language that they are able to discourse of Religion they thinke they have made great progresse therein wee know indeed so much as wee practise they onely are good Schollers in Christs Schoole that have learned to turne the knowledge into action and turne precepts into practice to draw confidence out of promises and imitation from good examples Neither is it enough to come into the way when known and to stand still there Many men if they bee once got into a religious forme if they bee but accounted professors they move in such a track of duty and goe plodding on from yeare to yeare and if you had a picture drawne of them now and a picture seven yeares agoe no more light nor no more heate nor no more spirituall vigour then formerly they had this is not to walke in Gods way what progresse make you what addition to the stock of graces what fruit bring you forth the Apostle giveth this counsell in 2 Pet. 1. 5. Adde to your faith vâ—… c. First indeed if you would be good Christians you must have faith for the justification of your persons faith for the warranting of your duties faith to carry you to Christ to fetch strength to inable you to your duties But then adde to your faith vertue there must bee grace conforming the dutie to the rule of Gods Word doe it in a graâ—ious manner vertue adde to your vertue knowledge you must rightly circumstantiate your actions doe them with a proper hiâ— nunc and adde to your knowledge temperance you must bee sober and temperate in the exercise of gifts and in the injoying of comforts and adde to your temperance patience as you must have sobrietie in the use of comforts so you must have patience in your tryals and adde to your patience Godlinesse you must not have a sullen Stoicks patience be patient of affliction be impatient of sinne and therefore adde to your patience godlinesse and then further adde to your godlinesse brotherly kindnesse Oh love all the members of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 17. Love the brotherhood the corporation the societie of Saints And what must you have no love to them that are not yet Saints adde to your brotherly kindnesse charity you have a love of complacencie to them that are Saints but you have a love of pitie to them that are without what though they scoffe at you pray for them what if they cannot
thing that many times the Master and Mistris come to Church themselves when it may bee the servants in the mean while are in Tavernes and Ale-houses and up and downe in one corner of the Suburbs or other and possibly you never so much as question them at night where they have beene and what accompt they can give of the Sermon which has been Preached what Manna they have gathered this day if you would reduce your Servants Soules if you would have them obtaine happy rest love them so well as to bee preparing them by Religious principles to walke in this good way Dâ—ale not with your Servants as you doe with your Horses let them work out their strength spirits when they have served you so long there is an end what becomes of their soules and eternall condition many of you care very little whereas indeed you should rather consider you are as well intrusted with their Soules as they intrusted with your Estates may bee thy Servants Sinnes stand upon thy account some of them may now bee roaring in Hell for those offences which either they learnt from thee or were borne in by thee O bee intreated to have an eye upon your Families too many of them looke too like the Devils Chappels give diligence rather that they may bee little Churches to the great God How sweet will this Rest bee if after thy praying and use of all good meanes that thy Children may bee found Gods Children thy Servants Gods Servants walking in the good way Parents and Children Masters and Servants may keep house together eternally in heaven Thirdly incourage your faithfull Ministers not onely in Preaching but in short Catechising briefe expounding the Scriptures such exercises might prove a very compendious method to lead many into the good way Let able Ministers study to Preach plainly yet ordinary hearers are not at the first capable of the series of a set Discourse unlesse they bee prepared for this by teaching them the A. B. C. of Christanity in the very principles and by giving them line upon line and precept upon precept in some easie and familiar manner If the Lord please to blesse us with this fruit of Reformation that reading of long Liturgies bee turned into short expounding of Scriptures when they are read in the publike Assemblies by some briefe hints to cleare difficult and presse most seasonable places upon the hearers doubtlesse it might reduce many and much edifie other peoples soules in the good way Many parts of England have already tasted the sweetnessâ— of this exchange I know no place which might more easily obtaine this precious advantage then this City where you have so many able Teachers who know how to divide the word aright Why should not you have such morning Exercises in London as are lately set up in your Neighbour City wherein your good Scribes might open their Treasures bringing forth new and old to the enriching of your soules Hereby you might recover much precious time out of the hands of sleepe and sloathfullnesse and without making any great breach in your ordinary employments get a good Gospell breakefast next your heart in the morning You would trade the better all the day if you begin first to trade with Christ in the morning Yea hereby your Soule-Nurses giving you the sincere milke of Gods word drop by drop you would be better prepared for strong meat and inabled to walk actively in the good way Fourthly forget not to throw stumbling blocks out of the good way If ever you would reduce soules represent Religion as a lovely and beautifull thing that so you may commend it to the hearts and consciences of them among whom you live O this might gaine many into the good way People judge of Religion as they find you may spend many houres in your Closet and they taste it not You may spend many dayes in publike Fasts they tast not that presently but now if your Religion makes you also just and maketh you mercifull and good Neighbours and good Landlords and good in your Relations all you deale with will taste of your Religion but though such a man or woman heareth so many Sermons and such a Lord and Lady frequents so many Fasts if still as hard hearted and as proud and as censorious and as vaine as ever here you cast a stumbling blocke in the way of Religion O that this might be the varnish of every ones Religion the more you professe the Gospell labour to bee the more exact and just in your walking expressing a Gospell conversation It is a great scandall to the Gospell when every good man is not a good husband to his wife and every good woman is not a good wife to her husband nor every good man when he is called to it is not a good governour nor every good Christian in his place is not a good servant why there are graces fit for every condition there are conjugall graces a spirit of government a ministeriall spirit now I heartily commend this to you as you would commend Religion and winne reputation to it throw all stumbling blocks out of the good way expreâ—sing such a gracious carriage as your relation and condition requires In Col. 3. 12 13. see what a chaine of graces there the Apostle linkes together Put on as the elect of God bowels of merciâ—s It were an excellent thing for al good Christians to have a mercifull disposition Oh pity poore wounded men pitie poore blind soules pitie those that go astray And as you should have bowels of mercy so kindnesse have not onely a meere pitie of them but also do kindnesse to them And withall put on humblenesse of mind towards them It may bee if you are able to doe them good and kindnesse you will proudly insult over them therefore put on humblenesse of mind and if you bee kind to them and they injurious to you adde meeknesse to it and what if they bee very injurious put on long-suffering here is Christianity in that you will have bowels of mercy and kindnes and though you be able to be kind you will not bee proud of it and if they bee not so thankefull as they should yet you will bee meeke and if they goe on to adde injury to injury you will bee long-suffering And I pray forget not the rest and forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrell against any even as Christ forgave you you will say you will forbeare at least for a time but though you forgive you will not forget but you will watch an opportunity to revenge Oh but you must both forbeare and forgive one another thus to represent Religion that it may bee knowne In such an house there dwels such a people they are famous for Religion and blessed bee God not onely religious but just and mercifull and meek and not rash and censorious and precipitant and the like doubtlesse