past recovery abroad when they are at the worst then are they nearest mending When the taske of brick was doubled by Pharaoh upon Israel then came Moses to worke out their deliverance when the Iewes heard newes of their liberty to returne from captivity they were as those that dreamed they could not suddenly beleeve it it seemed so strange a thing in that their hopelesse estate Learne wo then from this dealing of God with his people in the midst of all extremities to alleage unto God the extremitie we are in Helpe Lord for vaine is the helpe of man is a prevailing argument Alledge the pride of enemies the presumption of those that feare not God c. and that hee onely can give issue from death when he will And as God brings us to heaven by contraries so let us in one contrary beleeve another hope against hope In misery looke for mercy in death for life in guiltinesse for forgivenesse Learne to wrastle with God when he seemeth thy enemy oppose unto God his former dealings his nature his Promise c. Iob had learned this Though he kill me yet will I trust in him Be of Iacobs resolution I will not leave hold of thee untill I get a blessing whatsoever wee are stript of let us never forsake our owne mercy This one word I despaire takes a â—ay God and Christ all at once We must remember Our sinnes are the sinnes of men but mercy is the mercy of God God will never leave us but be with us whilst we are with him The world and all comforts in it leave a man when they can have no more use of him nor hee of them Satan leaves his sworne vassals at their wits end when he hath brought them into danger But blessed be for ever our gracious God then of all other times he is nearest to helpe us when we stand most in need of him He was never nearer Moses than when Moses seemed furthest from comfort never nearer Iacob than when heaven was his Canopie and a Stone his pillow never nearer Ioseph than when in prison Ionas then in the belly of the Whale for God went downe with him never nearer Paul than when in the Dungeon A Christian is not alone when left alone not forsaken when forsaken God and his Angells supply them the want of other comforts Is it not a greater comfort that a Prince should come in Person to a subject and cheare him up than send a meaner man And whence is this to me said Elizabeth that the mother of my Lord should come unto me Is it not the greatest comfort to a Christian soule when God in want of meanes comes immediately himselfe unto us and comforts us by his Spirit for in defects of second causes comforts are ever sweetest therefore in all extremities let us wait and hope still for mercy If the vision stay saith Habakkuk wait for it will come This is a maine difference betwixt the Child of God and a person destitute of sound grace for the Child of God in extremitie recovers himselfe as David after a great conflict gets still the upper hand Yet my soule keepe thou silence unto God for God is yet good to Israel as if hee should say Though when I look upon my present outward condition I stagger yet when I consider more deepely of his dealing I am resolved God is good to Israel thus after much tossing they get up upon that rock which is higher than they But those who are not upright-hearted in any great extremity sinke downe with despaire as heavy bodies to the Center of the Earth without stop The reason is in their best estate they never were acquainted with relying upon God but bore themselves up with fleshly helpes which being taken away they must needs fall down right But a sincere Christian in midst of his flourishing estate acquainteth himself with God and sets not his heart upon present things Iob sayes that which he feared in his best case that â—efell unto him Therefore they can rest upon Gods mercy when other props are taken away Yet there be divers degrees of upholding us when we are at a spirituall losse for usually in what measure we in the times of our peace and liberty inordinately let loose our affections in that measure are wee cast downe or more deeply in discomfort when our adulterous hearts cleave to outward things more than becomes chasâ— hearts it makes the crosse more sharpe and extreame For That which is not enjoyed with overmuch pleasure is parted withall without overmuch griefe But for spirituall extremities oftentimes the strongest feele them with quickest sense for God herein respects not alwayes sinnes past or more or lesse measure of grace as in Iobs case who could without much distemper of soule endure extremities of body and estate but when God wrote bitter things against him presently he begins to sinke and but begins onely for when hee was at worst he stayes himselfe upon his Redeemer to the glory of Gods Grace and shame of the devill Thus sometimes God makes his Children triumph whom he sets as Champions in defiance of Satar They in weaknesse thinke they shall utterly faile and perish but their standing our in greatest conflicts shewes the contrary But to come to that which I intend chiefly to insist on The Lord shall deliver me from every evill worke c. wherein we may see 1. The Author of his safety 2. The deliverance it selfe The Author is the Lord No lesse then an almighty power is necessary to deliver from any evill worke For such is our inclinablenesse to joyne with temptation such the malice and strength of our enemy so many bee the snares and so cunningly spread in every thing we deale withall that whatsoever delivereth us must bee above Satan and our owne evill hearts more wise more powerfull more gracious to preserve us than any adverse power can be to draw us unto evill workes In which case well said Moses when God in his wonted glorious presence refused to goe along with them O saith Moses if thou goâ— not with us carry us not hence Deliver supposeth danger possible or present Beloved Our lives are such as stand in need of perpetuall deliverance Our estate here is waving The Church lives alwayes in tents hath never any hope of rest untill the day of triumph therefore after forgivenesse of sinnes followes lead us not into temptation because though sins past be forgiven yet we are in danger to be led into temptation let none promise a truce to himselfe which God promiseth not if Satan and our corruptions joyne we cannot be quiet after sinnes of youth we are in danger of sinnes of riper age for though by grace in some sort sinne be subdued yet untill it be wholly mortified there will be some stirring up untill that which is imperfect in us be abolished But I hasten to that
no matter God will pardon all I care not so I may have my wish this is the heart of many gracelesse persons that are not led with heavenly respects But take a Christian and he had rather beg doe any thing in the world than doe a thing unworthy his profession unbeseeming the Gospell or that high calling whereunto hee is called Shall such a man as I doe this hee will not and therefore his care is to take heed of ill workes for then he is sure to have God his friend who hath riches and honour enough for him because the earth is the Lords and the fulnesse thereof this is the care of a judicious wel instructed Christian But marke the Extent from every evill worke Saint Pauls care is not for one or two but that God would keepe him from every evill worke Why so Because he that truly hates one sinne will hate all the kinds of it both come from the same love of God he that loves God as he should will hate whatsoever God hates and have respect to all Gods Commandements as the Psalmist speakes partiall obedience is indeed no obedience at all for he that obeyes one and not another obeyes not simply because of the Commander to yeeld obedience unto him but onely to satisfie his owne corrupt nature picking and choosing what pleases himselfe which belongs not to an inferiour but to a superiour to doe And therefore such make themselves gods in that they single out easie things that doe not oppose their lusts which are not against their Reputation c. and therein perhaps they will supererogate and doe more than they need onely because they will have a compensation with God that he should quit with them for other things I have done that and therefore he must beare with mee in this Oh but there is no compensation here a man is never so straitned but he may escape without sinne there is no pretence will serve but we must abstaine from every evill worke Satan keepes many men in his snare by this and so he hath them safe in one sinne hee cares not therefore he will suffer them to heare read and pray c. holding them fast in one raigning sinne wherein hee will let them alone till the time of some great affliction or death and then he will roare upon them Oh beloved wee cannot provide worse for our owne soules than to cherish a purpose of living in any one sin for that is enough for the devill to hold his possession in us by and at the houre of death to claime us for his owne If wee regard any iniquity in our heart the Lord will not heare our prayers I beseech you therefore let us labour to have cleare consciences freeing our selves from a purpose to live in any sinne that in all our slips and failings we may say with an honest heart My purpose was not to do this but to refraine from wickednesse Againe he speakes of this for the time to come the Lord will deliver me from evill A true Christian is as carefull to avoide sinne for the time to come as to bee freed from the guilt of sinnes past Iudas may desire to have his conscience freed from former sinnes but Indas cannot desire to be a good man for the time to come Nothing argues a good conscience more than this The most wicked wretch that breathes may desire to have his conscience stilled and yet never have any purpose or power to abstaine from sinne but like a dogge after he hath disgorged himselfe returne to his vomit againe True Repentance is a turning from former evills to a contrary good Our griefe no further yeelds comfort of sound repentance then it hath care attending for prevention of sinne according to that which Christ said to the woman taken in adultery Goe and sinne no more and as David prayes Purge me O Lord and cleanse me but withall establish me with thy free spirit for the time to come As if hee should say Lord I know it is not in man to order his owne wayes I desire not the forgivenesse of my sinnes that there by I might with more liberty offend thy Majesty but with pardoning grace I begge preventing grace No false heart can move such a desire as this to God A gracious heart that prayes aright prayes as well that God would preserve him from future sinne as forgive him his former sinnes It is a ridiculous thing of the Papists to make confession of a sinne which they meane to commit as some late Traitors confessed such and such things which they were to act were straight absolved for it So your cursed duelists that will pray and repent when they meane presently to fall one upon another Is this repentance when a man is inveigled with the sin hee meanes to commit and cannot overcome himselfe in the case of revenge Doe these men thinke they repent No certainely repentance is of sinnes past and the carriage of every true Christian is to avoide evill for the time to come Againe it is here a perpetnated Act the Lord will deliver me still from every evill worke whence you see that In every evil worke we are tempted to we need delivering Grace as to every good worke assisting Grace Indeed our whole life if we look upwards is nothing but a deliverance but if we looke to our selves it is nothing but danger and a warfare and therefore wee have need of a deliverance How little a temptation turnes over a great man as sometimes a little winde turnes over your mighty gallies We see this in David and Salomon and if God leave us to our selves even the strongest man in the world how soone is he overturned in the midst of sinsull occasions how ready are wee to joyne with them and betray our owne soules But from the whole take it as it comes from God altogether the truth is thus much that a Christian who is privy to his own soule of good intentions to abstaine from all ill for the present may presume that God will assist him against all ill workes for the time to come I say a Christian that hath his conscience telling him that he meanes to be better and is not in league with any sin may beleeve this for the time to come that God will keepe him from evill workes I speak this because many who are yet sinners thinke it in vaine to strive for they shall never bee better What doest thou talke man hast thou a minde to be better God will meet thee one time or other is thy will at liberty he that gives thee the will will also give thee the deed is not this the Promise that God will deliver thee from every evill worke and therefore away with all discouragements O but There are sonnes of Anak mighty Giants that molest mee my sinnes are as so many Giants to stop my proceeding I shall never beâ— better Say not so nay rather
from sinfull workes This we may build on that either God will preserve us in life or if we die he will preserve us in death to his heavenly Kingdome And sometimes God preserves by not preserving from death for indeed death keepes a man from all danger whatsoever hee is out of all gun-shot when he is once dead death is a deliverance and a preservation of it selfe it sends a man to heaven straite and therefore the Apostle knew what he said The Lord will preserve mee to his heavenly Kingdome That is he will preserve me til I be possest of Heaven hee will goe along with me in all the passages of my life he will cary me through all and bring mee thither at last As the Angell that strooke off Peters bolts shined in the prison and carryed him out into the City So God by his Spirit shines into our soules and carryes us through all the passages of this life never leaving us till he have brought us to his heavenly Kingdome And not to open unto you things that are beyond my conceit much more my expression what a state this heavenly kingdome is unto which S. Paul hoped to be preserved observe briefely thus much 1. It is a Kingdome of all conditions the freest 2. The most glorious 3. The most abundant in all supplies 4. It is a heavenly Kingdome 5. It is an everlasting Kingdome Things the neerer the Heavens they are the purer they are 1. heaven is a most holy Kingdome no uncleanenesse can enter there 2. it is a large Kingdome and 3. an everlasting Kingdome Other mens Kingdomes determine with their persons perhaps they may live to out-live their glory in the world as Nero did the king that Paul was under now when hee wrote this Epistle who came to a base end But this Kingdome can never be shaken Gods preservation shall end in eternall glory Here is a speciall ground to Gods children of perseverance in weldoing what doth God undertake even from himselfe to deliver us from evill works which might indanger our salvation and to preserve us untill he have put us into heaven where is the popish doctrine of falling away then Oh but I may sin and so fall away I but God will deliver us from evill workes he takes away that objection Hee that keepes Heaven for us keepes us for heaven till he have put us into possession of it We are kept we are guarded as the word is by the power of God to salvation Salvation is kept for us and we for that If we indanger heaven any way it is by ill workes and God keepes us from them what a most comfortable doctrine is this But to adde a second against that foolish vaine and proud point of Popish Merit we see what a straine they are in first before conversion they will have Merit of congruitie that it befits the goodnesse of God when we doe what we can that we should have grace 2. When wee are in the state of grace they will have Merit of condignity but how can that be when as free grace runnes along in all God preserves us from evill workes and preserves us to his heavenly Kingdome of his meere love and mercy where then is the merit of man Indeed wee doe good when we doe good but God inables us wee speake to the praise of God but he opens our mouth we beleeve but God draws our heart to it as Austin sayes we move but God moves us I beseech you observe further here How compleat Gods favours are to his He deales like a God that is fully and eternally with his children If he deliver it is from the greatest evill if he preserve it is to the greatest good Who would not serve such a master O the basenesse of the vile heart of man that is a slave to inferiour things and affraid to displease men never considering what a blessed condition it is to be under the government of a gracious God that will keepe us from ill if it be for our good for ever Outwardly from evill workes inwardly from the terrors of an il conscience that will preserve us here in this world and give us heaven when we have done I beseech you let this compleate and full dealing of God quicken us to a holy courage and constancy in his service And see here a point of heavenly wisdome to looke when we are in any danger with the Apostle to the heavenly Kingdome When we are sicke look not at death Paul cared not for that but sayes he The Lord will preserve me to his kingdome Hee looked to the bank of the shore as a man that goes through a river hath his eye stil on the shore so the Apostle had his eye fixed upon heaven stil I beseech you therefore in all dangers and distresses whatsoever if you would keepe your soules without discouragements as you should bee much in heaven in your thoughts minding the things above and conversing with God in your spirits Look to the Crowne that is held out to us let our mindes be in heaven before our soules It is a wondrous helpe to our weakenesse in the time of trouble not to thinke I am full of paine I must be turned into the grave and rot and what shall become of me then c. away with this carnall reasoning it much weakens faith and damps the hearts of Christians Againe How doth this arme the soule with invincible courage in any trouble God may call mee to trouble but he will preserve me in it that I shall not staine my conscience What a ground of Patience is this Patience is too meane a word what a ground of joy and triumphing is it We rejoyce under the hope of glory Rom. 5. 2. A Christian should triumph in soule over all evills whatsoever and be as the Apostle faith more than a Conqueror considering that God will be present with him all his life long and after that bring him to an everlasting kingdome what an incouragement is this Heaven is holy and shall we not fit our selves for that blessed estate There is much holinesse required for heaven the sinfull wicked malicious poysonfull world layes reproaches upon holinesse but without it no man shall see God Doth that man beleeve he shall obtaine a heavenly kingdome who never sits himselfe with holinesse for it Oh no Faith and hope have this efficacie in the breast wheresoever they are to frame the heart to the thing beleeved If I beleeve a kingdome to be where righteousnes and holinesse dwelleth this beliefe forceth me to carry my selfe answerable to the state there And therefore saith the Apostle Our conversation is in heaven from whence we looke for the Savioure c. because he was assured of heaven therefore he conversed as a Citizen of heaven before he came there Hee praised God kept himselfe undefiled of the world and conversed with the best people
good and his glory he knowes that Christ is wiser than he therefore hee resignes himselfe to his disposall resolving if he live he lives to the Lord and if he die he dies to the Lord that so whether he live or die he may be the Lords Oh beloved that we had the spirit of S. Paul and the spirit of Christ to set us a worke to doe good while we are here to deny our selves oh it would bee meate and drinke as it was to our blessed Saviour Christ to doe good all kinde of wayes consider all the capacities and abilities wee have to doe good this way and that way in this relation and that relation that we may bee trees of righteousnesse that the more we beare God will mend his owne trees hee will purge them and prune them to bring forth more fruit God cherisheth fruitfull trees in the law of Moses when they besieged any place he commanded them to spare fruitful trees God spares a fruitfull person till hee have done his worke we know not how much good one man may doe though he be a meane person sometimes One poore wise man delivereth the citie and the righteous delivereth the Iland Wee see for one servant Ioseph Potiphars house was blessed Naaman had a poore maid-servant that was the occasion of his conversion Grace will set any body aworke its puts a dexterity into any though never so meane they carry Gods blessing wheresoever they goe and they bethinke themselves when they are in any condition to doe good as he saith in Hester God hath called mee to this place perhaps for this end wee should often put this quaere to our selves why hath God called me to this place for such and such a purpose Now that wee may bee fruitfull as Paul was let us labour to have humble spirits God delights in an humble spirit and not in a proud spirit for that takes all the glory to it selfe God delights to use humble spirits that are content to stoope to any service for others that thinkes no office too meane 2. Get loving hearts love is full of invention how shall I glorifie God how shall I doe good to others how shall I bring to heaven as many as I can love is a sweet and boundlesse affection full of holy devices 3. Labour to have sufficiency in our places that you may have abilitie to doe good oh when these meet together abilitie and sufficiencie and a willing a large and gracious heart and a fit object to do good too What a deale of good is done then 4. And when we finde opportunitie of doing any good let us resolve upon it resolve to honour God and serve him in spight of flesh and blood for we must get every good worke that we doe out of the fire as it were we must get it out with travaile and paines wee carry that about us that wil hinder us let us therefore labour to have sincere aymes in that we doe to please God and then resolve to doe all the good we can To stirre us up to bee more and more fruitfull in our places let us consider wee live for others and not for our selves when wee are good Christians once It was a good speech of that godly Palsgrave great grandfather to him that is Frederick the godly they called him when he was to die satis vobis saith he I have lived hitherto for you now let me live for my selfe we live here all our life for others therefore let us think while we live how we may doe most good in the Church of God For encouragement hereunto consider God will undertake to recompence all the good we doe to a cup of cold water we shall not lose a sigh a groane for the Church God would account himselfe dishonoured if it should not be rewarded hee hath pawned his faithfulnesse upon it Hee is not unfaithfull to be unmindfull of your good workes Nay wee have a present reward and contentment of conscience as light accompanies fire so peace and joy accompanie nie every good action All is not reserved for heaven a Christian hath some beginnings of happinesse here when he doth that that is contrary to flesh and blood how full of sweet joy is a fruitfull soule those that are fruitfull in their places never want arguments of good assurance of salvation It is your lazie luke-warme Christian that wants assurance Therefore I beseech you be stirred up to live desired in the world and die lamented labour to be usefull in your places all you can to be as the Olive and fig-tree delighting God and man and not to cumber the ground of the Church with barrennesse sinnes of omission because men were not fruitfull in their places was a ground of damnation Cast the unprofitable servant into utter darknesse put case hee did no harme I but he was unprofitable such was the cursed disposition of Ephraim hee brought forth fruit to himselfe Oh this looking to our selves whē we make our selves the begining the end of all the good we doe it is an argument of a barren person none ever came to heaven but those that denyed themselves I see I cannot proceed in this point you may by the spirit of God inlarge it in your thoughts and bring home what hath been said to your ownes soules labour that you may bee such as others may make use of you and not be the burthens and calamities of the time as many are that live for nothing but to doe good men good by vexing of them that is all the good they doe by vexing their patience they exercise their grace a contrary way let us not be bryers and unfruitfull plants labouring to be great by the publique miserics As they say great fishes grow bigge by devouring many little ones as a dragon comes to be great by devouring many little serpents so many grow great by the ruine of others Oh beloved it had beene better for such that they had never beene borne Therefore as we desire to have comfort when we die let us labour to be fruitfull while we live S. Paul when the time came that he should die when hee had done his worke you see he that was thus full of selfe-deniall how gloriously he ended his dayes The second Epistle to Timothy was the last Epistle that ever he wrote and when hee had done his worke saith hee I have sought a good fight I have kept the faith I have finished my course from henceforth there is a crowne of righteousnesse reserved for me what a glorious end is here and indeed those that are thus carefull and fruitfull in their lives and conversations end their dayes full of comfort and resigne their soules to God with full assurance of a blessed change and onely those For you have many when they come to die what hinders them Oh I have beene unfruitfull I have not done that good that I might I have not wrought out
but will bee ruled partly by carnall wisedome and partly by the Spirit it leaves them at last altogether 3. But some there are who give up themselves wholly to the government of Christ to be ruled in all things by his blessd Spirit highly esteeming the treasures of heaven and comforts of a better life above all the fading outward felicities which this world can afford who would not to gaine any earthly thing hurt their consciences or once defile themselves with unfruitfull workes of darknesse fearing lest they should in any thing dishonour Christ or grive his good Spirit and to such only hath the Gospell come in power Therefore I beseech you seriously coÌ„nsider of this truth if you would not disobey the Gospell disobey not the Spirit accompanying the same deale faithfully with your owne soules Which of you al hath not some time or other had his heart warmed with the sweet motions of Gods Spirit Oh doe not resist these holy stirrings within you give way to the motions of the blessed Spirit of God second them with holy resolutions to practise the same let them sinke deepe into your hearts roote them there and never give over the holy meditation of them till you make them your owne till you come to see Grace and the state of Christianity to be the most amiable and excellent thing in the world sin carnall courses to bee the most accursed thing in the world worse than any misery than any beggery tormeÌ„t or disgrace whatsoever Beloved til we have our spirits wrought upon to this high esteeme of good things to a base undervaluing of all things else we shal rebell against Christ first or last for untill such time as the heart of maÌ„ is overpowred with Grace hee cannot but disobey the Gospel either by shutting it out altogether or by making an evill use of what he knoweth thereby turning the grace of God into wantonnesse or else by revolting from the truth received altogether When times of temptation come unfound Christians wil do one of these three either despise refuse or revolt from the truth Therefore I beseech you let your hearts be cast into the mould and fashion of the Gospell of Christ let it bee soundly bottomed and ingrasted in you that so you may grow more and more obedient to the truth revealed and so your end shal not be theirs here which obey not the Gospell of Iesus Christ. But how may I come to obey the Gospell Begge earnestly of God in the use of the meanes else prayer is but a tempting of God that thy soule may bee convinced of what evill is in thee and what evill is towards thee unlesse thou repent Labour for sound conviction for you shall not need to stirre up a man that is condemned to seeke out for a pardon or a man that seeles the smart of his wound to get balme to cure it oh no when our hearts are once truly humb'â—d and pearced with a sight of our sinnes then Christ will bee Christ indeed unto us mercy is sweet at such a time any thing for a Saviour then and not before Therefore labour every day to see more and more into the venemous filthy nature of sin make it as odious to thy soule as possibly thou canst hearken to the voyce of conscience give it full scope to speake what it can that so thou maist fly to Christ. Consider how God plagueth us in this world for sinne how it fils us with feares and horrors causing our consciences to torment us and fly in our faces consider what threatnings are denounced against sinne and sinners for the time to come Consider the fearfull judgements of God upon others for sinne how it cast Adam out of Paradise the Angels out of heaven being so offensive to God that it could no otherwise bee expiated then by the death and blood shedding of the Lord Jesus I beseech you let your hearts dwel upon these things and consider with your selves how bitter you have found it to offend God though now it be a time of mercy Secondly coÌ„sider how the Gospell layes open Christ unto us this is his coÌ„mandement that we beleeve in the Lord Iesus he that coÌ„mands us to doe no murther not to â—teale c. commands us likewise to beleeve in Christ Hee commands us to love our owne soules so much as to take the remedy which may cure them so that now it is our duty to be good to our poore soules and wee offend God if wee bee not mercifull to our owne soules Oh what a favour is this that God should lay a charge upon me noâ—â—o reject my owne mercy as it is in Ionah They who follow lying vanities forsake their owne mercies If I doe not love my owne soule and accept of mercy offered I make God a lyar and offend his Majesty Againe consider how God allures those that might except against mercy Alas I am laden with sinne will some poore soule say why Come unto mee all you that are heavy â—aden and I will case you But I have offended God I have broken my peace c. yet I beseech you be reconciled to God though you have offended yet there is hope do but consider how ready God is to helpe you how continuall his mercies are and how he stretcheth out his hands to receive us Consider further what a sweet regiment it is to be under Christ as a King and as an Husband will hee not provide for his owne family for his owne Subjects Beloved it is not meere dominion that Christ stands upon he aymes at a Fatherly and Husband like soveraignty for the good of his children and Spouse it is their welfare he lookes after therefore I beseech you be in love with the government of Jesus Christ and his blessed Spirit oh it is a sweet regiment the Spirit of God leades us quietly inlightning our understandings upon judicious grounds what to doe by strength of reason altering our natures and bettering us every way both in our inward and outward man it never leaves teaching and guiding of us till it hath brought us to heaven and happinesse To conclude marke what the Apostle saith here What shall bee the end of those that obey not the Gospell he cares not what they know Many say we have heard the Word and wee have received the Sacrament c. it is no matter for that how stands the bent of your soules what hath your obedience beene this is that God lookes after every man can talke of religion but where is the practice a little obedience is worth all the discourse and contemplation in the world for that serves but to justifie Gods damning of us if we live not answerably value not your selves therefore by your outward profess oÌ„ neither judge of your estate in grace by the knowledge of good things nothing but the power of godlinesse expressed in our lives will yeeld reall comfort
till wee come to the haven None comes to heaven but they know how they come there Now God will have it thus to sweeten heaven unto us after a conslicting life peace is welcome heven is heaven indeed after trouble wee can relish it then Because God will discard hypocrites in this life who take up so much of ReligioÌ„ as stands with their case and credit in the world avolding every difficulty which accompanyes goâ—linesse but so they may swimme two wayes at once goe on in their lusts still and bee religious withall this they approve of therefore God will have it a hard matter to bee saved to frustrate the vaine hopes of such wretches Alas it is an easy matter to bee an hypocrite but not to live godly If the righteous bee saved with much adoe then never enter upon the profession of Religion with vaine hopes of ease and pleasure that it shall be thus and thus with thee c. herein thou doest but delude thy owne soule for it wil prove otherwise Forecast therefore what will fall and gett provision of grace before hand to sustaine thee As if a man were to goe a dangerous journey hee provides himselfe of weapons pons and cordialls and all the incourageâ—ents he can least hee should faint in the way where as hee that walkes for his pleasure provides nothing hee cares not for his weapon or his cloake because if a storme comes hee can runne under shelter or into a house c. He that makes Religion a recreation can walke a turne or two for his pleasure and when any difficulty arises can retire and drawe in his hornes againe An hypocrite hath his reservations and politike ends and therefore what needs hee any great provision to support him when he knows how to winde out of trouble well enough rather then to stand couragiously to any thing But a true Christian that makes it the maine work of his life to please God armes himself for the worst that can befall him and will be saved through thicke or thinne smooth or rough whatsoever comes on it so God will save his soule hee cares not but rejoyceth with Paul if by any meanâ—s he can attain the resurrectioÌ„ of the dead by any meanes it is no matter what Let fire and fagott meete with him yet hee is resolved not to retire for any trouble or persecution whatsoever that standes betweene him and happinesse Hee is purposely armed to breake through every opposition to the best things and what ever may separate his soule from the favour of God I beseech you beloved think of these things and let it bee your wisedome to make the way to heaven as easy as you can to this end begge the Spirit of Christ you know the holy spirit is full of life and strength it is a spirit of light and comfort and whatsoever is good the spirit of God is like the winde as it is subtle in operation and invisible so it is strong and mighty it beares all before it Oh therefore gett this blessed spirit to inlighten thee to quicken thee to support thee c. and it will carry thy soule couragiously along above all oppositions and discouragements whatsoever in the way to happinesse Get likewise the particular graces of the Spirit which will much cheere thee in thy Christian course above all labour for a spirit of humility an humble man is sit to doe or suffer any thing a proud man is like a gouty hand or a swelled arme unfit for any Christian performance he is not in a state to doe good but an â—uÌ„ble maÌ„ is thankfull that God will honour â—im so farre as to let him suffer for the cause of Christ hee is wondrous empty and vile in his owne eyes and admires why God should reserve such infinite matters for so base a worme as hee is When Christ would have us take his yoake upon us he advises us to learne of him to be meeke and lowly c. Some might say This yoake is heavy it will pinch mee and gall me No saith our Saviour it shall bee very light and easie but how shall I get it to be so Why get but an humble and meeke spirit and that will bring rest to your soules Againe labour for a spirit of love Love is strong as death it will carry us through all The love of Christ in the Martyrs when the fire was kindled about them made them despise all tormâ—nts what soever this will warme our hearts and make us goe cheerfully to worke Let but a spirit of love be kindled in Gods childe and it is no matter what he suffers cast him into the fire cast him into the dungeon into prison whatsoever it bee hee hath that kindled in his heart which will make him digest any thing We see the Disciples when they had the spirit of Christ within them to warme their hearts what cared they for whipping or Stockes c You see even base carnall love will make a man indute poverty disgrace what not and shall not this fire that comes from heaveÌ„ when it is once kindled in our hearts prevaile much more what will make our passage to heaven sweete if this will not Nothing is grievous to a person that loves Exercise your hope likewise set before your eyes the crowne and kingdome of heaven those admirable things contained in the Word of GOD which no tongue can â—xpresse let hope feed upon these deâ—cates cast Anchor in heaven and see if it will not make thee goe on cheerefully in a Christian course Faith will overcome the world all the snares of prosperity that would hinder us on the right hand Faith it presents things of a higher nature to the soule better than they faith likewise overcomes temptations on the left hand all terrours and discomforts whatsoever it considers these are nothing to the terrour of the Lord therefore faith is called the evidence of things not seene because it presents things that are absent as present to the soule If life and happinesse be once truly presented to our hearts what can all the world doe to hinder our passage thither Lastly we should much endeavor the mortificaâ—â—oÌ„ of our lusts for what is it that makes the way to heaven irk some unto us Is it not this corrupt and proud flesh of ours which will indure nothing no not the waight of a straw but is all for ease and quiet c. It is not duty which makes our way difficult for it was meate and drinke to Christ to doe the will of his father Why is it not so with us Because he was borne without sinne when Sathan came he found nothing of his owne in him but when hee sollicites us hee findes a correspondency betwixt our corrupt hearts and himselfe whereby having intelligence what we haunt what we love he will be sure to molest us the lesse wee have of the workes of Sathan in us the lesse
thou wilt serve thy selfe of my credit and reputation I will adventure it for thee If thou wilt have my life of thee I had it to thee I will restore it I will not limit thy Majesty come of it what will I leave it to thy wisedome use mee and mine as thou wilt onely be gracious to my soule that it may goe well with that and I care not Thus wee should wholly resigne our selves to the Lords disposall and thereby wee shall exceedingly honour his Majesty and cause him to honour us and to shew his presence to us for our good which hee will assuredly doe if we absolutely yeeld up our selves to him But if a man will have two strings to his Bow and trust him so farre but not so farre so hee may bee kept from this danger or that trouble c. this is not to deale with God as an Omnipotent Creator For hee that doth a thing truely in obedience to God will doe it generally to all his commands so farre as the reason of his obedience reaches his trust extends hee that commits any thing to God will commit all to him he chooseth not his Objects but upon the same ground that hee commits his soule to God when hee dies hee commits his estate liberty and all hee hath while he lives Hee can never relye on God for greater matters that distrusts him in lesser Againe a man that truely trusts God will commit all his wayes unto him hee will take no course but what hee is guided in by the Lord hee lookes for wisedome from above and saith Lord though it is not in mee to guide my owne way as thy Word shall leade mee and the good counsel of thy Spirit in others direct me so I will follow thee Hee that commits not his wayes to God will not commit his comforts to him God must bee our Counsellor as well as our Comforter Therefore the Wise man bids us Acknowledge God in all our wayes and leane not to our owne wisedome Most men looke how safe their counsels are not how holy and agreeable to God is this to trust in him Will God save us at last and yet suffer us to live as wee liâ—t now Deceive not your selves hee that will have his soule saved must commit it to GOD before hand to bee sanctified Againe those that commit themselves aright to God will commit their posterity to him their wives and children c. Why doe not men make their Wils and commit their goods to them Oh but how doe they resigne them how covetous and full of distrust are they I must leave such a childe so much and so much and why I pray you because God cannot blesse him else Oh fearefull Is God â—yed to meanâ—s cannot heblesse with a little as well as with a great deale Is not the earth the Lords and the fulnesse thereof Why must God have so much in hand or else hee cannot inrich and raise up thy Children Oh consider he hath declared himselfe to bee the father of the fatherlesse and lookes to the Widdow in a speciall manner he doubles his Providence there hee provides for all but takes speciall notice of them therefore quiet thy selfe they are in covenant with God and God is thy God and the God of thy seed also therefore if thou wilt commit thy soule why not thy Wife Children goods c. Looke into the course of Gods people in all times those that have left but little with honest dealing God hath blessed the same exceedingly whereas those that have left great matters ill gotten in stead of a blessing have often left a curse and a snare behinde them Why then should men take indirect courses and wound their consciences for worldly pelâ—e Consider 1. thy children are Gods and not thine hee gave them to thee at first and he can provide hereafter when thou artgone thou art the father of their body but he is the father of their soule 2. He provided for them before they were borne doth not hee provide care and affection in the Mothers heart doth not he provide suck in the Mothers breasts and will hee not care for them now they are borne as well as he did before they came into the world it is Atheisme to thinke such a thought Those that commit themselves to God in one thing will doe so in all things otherwise they deceive their owne soules for it is a universall Act that runnes through their whole life Committing is an Action of trust and there is a kinde of entercourse of trust betweene God and a Christian continually Lastly those that commit themselves to God wil be faithfull stewards in whatsoever hee hath trusted them withall Thou committest thy selfe and thy health and estate to God and at length thou wilt commit thy soule when thoudiest unto him very well but what doth God trust thee withall hath hee not trusted thee with a Body and a soule with a portion of goods with place time strength and abilities to doe good Hast thou not all thou hast from God as a Steward to improve for thy Masters advantage If ever thou expectest the performance of what thou hast put in him bee faithfull in that trust which hee hath committed to thee Those that have misused their bodies and wounded their soules in their lives how can they commit theÌ„ to God at their deaths How dares the soule looke up to him when the life hath beene nothing else but a perpetuall offending of his Majesty I beseech you let us learne this wholesome lesson great is our benefit thereby Hee that trusts in the Lord shall be as Mount Sion that cannot bee moved wee may be shaken but shall never be removed The earth is shaken with Earthquakes but the earth keepes its owne Center still Our best peace is in God and our chiefest safety in his protection I laid mee downe to rest because thou Lord watchest over me saith the Prophet and Returne O my soule to thy rest for the Lord hath beene very beneficiall to thee Is it not a good thing to have a sweete security of soule that whether I sleepe or wake whether I bee at home or abroad live or die I have a Providence watching over mee better then mine owne When I yeeld my selfe up to God his wisedome is mine his strength is mine whatsoever hee hath it is for me because I am his What a heaven upon earth is this that a Christian out of a holy familiarity with God can resigne up his soule to him upon all occasions Set heaven and salvation aside what greater happinesse can be desired How sweet is a mans rest at night after he hath yâ—elded himselfe to God by faithfull prayer I beseech you let us bee acquainted with the practise of this duty and labour to bee in such a state as God may owne us and receive our poore soules to himselfe Let us keepe them pure and undeâ—iled
the world to hate them 3. They are strangers here and therefore no wonder if they finde strange entertainment from them that thinke themselves at home There hath ever beene from the beginning of the world a continuall conspiracy of Sathan and his instruments against God and goodnesse Emperours and Kings became Christians but Satan never yet became a Christian but hath alwayes bestirred himselfe to maintaine the first division and never yet wanted a stronge faction in the world Secondly observe that it is the character of a man wicked in an high degree to contrive wickednes the reason is 1. because it is a disposition of such as are given up by God to a reprobate sense and it is reckoned among other vile sinnes that they are full of maliciousnesse and inventers of ill c. A sonne of Beliall carries a froward heart and devises mischiefe 2. It shewes that malice is so connaturall to such that they cannot sleepe unlesse they cause some to fall wickednesse comes from the wicked as naturally and speedily as poyson from a spider 3. It argues such kinde of men worke out of a vicious habit which is a stamping of a second ill nature upon the former when as their hearts are exercised to doe mischiefe 4. It shewes they are of the devills trade whose onely worke it is to hurt and mischiefe all he can those that are broken loose from him Certainly such people as these are the children of the devill in an higher degree than ordinary It is said when Iudas began to betray Christ the devill entred into him he was the child of the devill in some degree before but now the Devill tooke stronger possession of him his unnatural treason did in some sort change him into the very forme of the devill When Simon Magus sought to turne away the deputy from the faith Saint Paul had no fitter termes for him than to style him Thou full of all subtlety and mischiefe and child of the devill And indeed there is no disposition so contrary to the sweet spirit of God which is a spirit of love and goodnesse as this is Learnâ— hence therefore as you love God to abhorre this hatefull disposition The serpent indeed was wiser then al the beasts of the field yet when hee became an instrument of mischiefe he was cursed above all the rest Satan labours to serve his turne of the best wits but what greater curse can befall a man than to serve the basest creature in the basest service and that with our best abilities Men of a devilish spirit carry Gods curse under zeale yea they cary the devil in their braine in all their workes of darknesse for alas what should the subtlety of Foxes and fiercenes of Lyons and malice of Devils doe in an heart dedicated to Christ Such men worke from a double principle the illnesse of their owne disposition within and Satan going with the tyde of that whose chief labor is to make a prey of meÌ„ of the best parts that by theÌ„ he may either snare others or else vexe them that have so much wit or grace as not to bee catched by his baites this is a course contrary to humanity as we are men contrary to ingenuity as we are civil men and contrary to Religion as we are Christian men and plainly argueth that such persons are lead with another spirit than their owne even by the Prince that ruleth in the ayre Our care and duty therefore should be to submit our spirits to the sweet guidance and government of Gods good spirit to be contented that every device and imagination of our hearts should be captivated to higher and better reasons than our owne Wee are not wise enough of our selves that our owne wils and wit should be our first movers Every thing is perfitted by subjection to a superiour where there should be a subordination to higher wisedome there to withdraw our understanding and wills is meere rebellion That which the Prophet speakes is too true of many in these dayes Thy wisdome hath made thee to rebell such are too wise to bee saved Wee need not bee ashamed to learne some things of our very enemies If they be so pragmaticall for evill why should not wee be as active for good I am sure we serve a better Master true love is â—ull of inventions it will be devising of good things so soone as ever our nature is changed the streame of the soule is turned another way the bent of it is for God Alas it is a small commendation to be onley passively good and it is a poore excuse to bee onely passively ill A good christian thinkes it not enough to see good done by others but labours to have a hand in it himselfe and he that suffers evill to be done which he might have opposed and hindered brings the guilt thereof upon his owne head Curse you Meroz saith God for not helping the Lord against the mighty c. What shall wee thinke then of those that helpe the mighty against the Lord that cast oyle to kindle where they should cast water to quench that inflame the rage of great persons when they should labour to reduce all to â— moderation Of this spirit was that Apostate which stirred up the Emperour to kill man woman and child of the Protestants with all their kindred and allyance fearing left any living should revenge the others quarrell Wee see God hath stooped so low as to commend his cause unto us as if hee stood in neede of our helpe and usually what good hee doth to us is conveyed by men like our selves therefore wee should labour to appeare on his side and owne his cause children In the house of God there be vessels of al kinds some are of more honorable use than others some make the very times and places good where they live by an influence of good others as malignant Plannets threaten misery and desolation where ever they come these are the calamities of the times Men may know whether they be vessels of mercy or no by the use they are put too the basest of people are sit enough to be executioners the worst of men are good enough to be reds of Gods wrath how much better is it to bee full of goodnes as the Scripture speakes of Iosiah and Hezekiah c. Indeed what is a man but his goodnes such men live desired and dye lamented yea their very name is as the oyntment of the Apothecary poured out they leave a sweet favour in the Church behinde them Now I come to their miscarriage they brought forth a lye a lye in regard of their expectation their hopes deceiving them but a just defeating in regard of God it was contrary to their desire but agreeable to Gods justice Neither were they disappointed onely so as to misse of what they intended but they met with that misery they intended not yea even with that very misery which
had put his hand to the Plough Alexanders opposing because it sprung from extremity of malice towards the profession of godlinesse him he curseth The Lord reward him c. Weaker Christians who failed him from want of some measure of spirit and courage tetaining still a hidden love to the cause of Christ their names he conceales with prayer that God would not lay their sinne to their charge But whilst Paul lived in this cold comfort on Earth see what large encouragement had hee from Heaven Though all forsooke me yet sayes he God did not for sake me but stood by me and I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion And the Lord will deliver me c. In the words wee have in Pauls example an expressing of that generall Truth set downe by himselfe Rom. 5. 3. And not onely so but we glory in tribulations also knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope c. So here affliction breeds experience of Gods mercy in our deliverance experience breeds hope of deliverance for the time to come and both his Experience and Hope stirres him up to glorifie God who was his deliverer so that here offer unto us to be unsolded 1. Pauls experience of Gods loving care of him in his deliverance past 2. His assured hope built upon his experience for the time to come set downe in two Branches 1. The Lord will deliver me froÌ„ every evill work 2. He will preserve mee to his heavenly kingdom 3. The issue hee maketh of both as they flow from Gods grace so he ascribes him the glory of both To whom be glory for ever and ever Amen For the first I finde that most both Ancient and Moderne writers by Lion understand Nerâ— that cruell Tyrant thirsty of blood especially of Christians Some also understand it to be a provetbiall speech to expresse extremitie of danger both which are true but if wee take the words in the just bredth of the Apostles intent we may by Lion understand the whole united company of his crull enemies as David in many places hath the like and by the mouth of the Lion the present danger he was in by reason of their cruell malice Whence observe 1. That enemies of the truth are oft for power alwayes for malice Lions 2. That God suffers his dearest children to fall into the mouthes of these Lions 3. That in this extremity of danger God delivers them For the second his hope built upon his experience both Branches thereof hath its limitation and extent The Lord shall deliver me not from evill suffering but from evill workes this hee could boldly build on he could not conjecture what he should suffer because that was in the power of others but he could build upon this what God would give him grace to doe and so he limits his considence He will deliver me from evill workes and he will preserve me from what from daâ—ger from death no here is the limitation He will preserve me to his heavenly Kingdome He will not preserve me from death and yet he will doe that whilst I can doe his service by my life but sure I am hee will preserve me beyond death to a state of security and happinesse He will preserve me to his heavenly Kingdome And then for the third after his experience confidence and hope wel built as his fashion is when his heart was once warmed he breakes our into thanksgiving in the consideration of Gods favours past and to come his tongue is large thereupon and God hath the fruit of it To whom be glory for ever and lastly he seales up all with the word Amen I was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion c. Beloved by nature we are all Lions and nothing will alter us save the effectuall knowledge of Christ Education may civilize but not subdue A Sound knowledge of Gods Truth hath a changing power for when the spirit becomes tender and when the heart which lyes in a cursed estate under and in danger of the wrath of a iust God whose eye cannot spare iniquity unrepented of is cited and affrighted effectually by the spirit of bondage it will cast downe and pull sorrow from the strongst spirit making it melting and tender Againe in this estate when the soule hath felt favour shining upon it when the eye is opened to see the high prerogatives and exceeding riches of Christ when we finde ourselves that we are delivered from the Lions mouth wee cannot but shew that pity to others which wee felt from God our selves Paul thirsts as eagerly after the conversion of others now as ever he did for their blood before The Iaylor also a man by nature custome and calling hardened in the practice of cruelty yet after hee had felt the power of Gods blessed truth shewed forth those bowels of pitie hee felt from Christ which were shut before Let us then be thankfull that God hath changed us from being Lions and with meeknesse submit our selves unto Gods ordinances desiring him to write his Law not onely in our understandings but in our very hearts and bowels that wee may not onely know that we should walke harmelesse and full of good but be so indeed resembling him by whom we hope to be saved in a right serviceable plyablenesse to all duties of love And because our impersect measure of mortification in this life hinders us from a full content in one anothers communion let this make us the more willing to be translated to Gods holy Mount where being purged from all such lusts as hinder our peace and love we shall fully enioy one another without the least falsenesse or distrust then shall wee see totall accomplishment of these promises which are but in part fulfilled in this life That God suffereth his children to fall into the mouth of Lions or into some danger proportionable where in they shall see no helpe from him is a truth cleare as the Sunne The History of the Church in all ages shewes as much Was not Christ in the mouth of the Lion so soone as borne when Herâ—d sought to kill him Did not satan and all the spirituall powers of Hell daily come about him like ramping roaring Lions And hath it not been thus with Gods Church from Abel to this present as appeares by the children of Israel in Egypt at the redsea and in their iourney to Canaan being invironed round about with cruell enemies and dangers on every side like Daniel in the midst of Lions So farre God gave them up to the power of their enemies that the wisest of the Heathen iudged them a forlorne people hatefull to God and men For particular instances see Iob and David so neare as there was but a step betweene them and death Besides God often awakens the consciences of his children and exerciseth them with spirituall conflicts their sins as so many Lions stand up against them ready to teare their
souls Nay rather then those that belong to God shall want that which will drive them unto him God himselfe will bee a Lion unto them as unto Ephraim Hosea 5. 14. which made David pray O Lord rebuke mee not in thine anger neither chasten me in thy het displeasure Of all the troubles which a child of God undergoeth in his way to heaven these bring him lowest when the body is vexed and spirit troubled it is much but when God â—rownes when neither Heaven nor Earth yeelds comfort to a distressed soule no evill in the world is like to this Imagine the horrour and straits of such a soule when all things seeme against it and it selfe against it selfe as neare to the paines of the very damned in hell The reasons of this dispensation of God are 1. because we are so desperately addicted to present things and so prone to put conâ—idence in the arme of flesh that unlesse God driveth us from these holds by casting us into a perplexed estate wee shall never know what it is to live by faith in God alone when all other props are puld away and when the streame of things seeme crosse unto us That God therefore may traine us up to live the spirituall life of the just which is by faith in him when all else faile he suffereth us to fall into the Lions mouth that so our prayers which are the flame of faith may bee more ardent and peircing rather cryes than words Why cryest thou unto me faith God to Moses when was this even when hee knew not what way to turne him It was out of the depths that David cryed most earnestly unto God and Christ in the dayes of his flesh cryed unto God with strong cryes and teares in a deepe distresse and was also heard in that which he feared strong troubles force from the afflicted strong cryes even experience shewes in prosperity and a full estate how faint and cold the prayers and desires of men are 2. Besides it is meet that the secrets of mens hearts should bee discovered for when all is quiet we know not the falsehood of our owne hearts Some over-value their strength as Peter others underprize themselves and of the gifts and graces of Gods spirit in them thinking that they want Faith Patience Love who yet wheÌ„ God calleth theÌ„ out to the crosse shine forth in the eyes of others in the example of a meeke and faithfull subjection The wisdome of God therfore judgeth it meet that there should bee times of sifting that both the Church and our selves may know what good or ill is in us what soundnesse or loosenesse remaines in our hearts When therefore we are wanting in fanning our selves God in love takes the fanne into his hand It is likewife behoovefull that false Brethren may be discovered Afflictions are wel called tryalls because then it is known what metall men are made of whether Pure of Reprobate silver thinke it not strange then when our estate seemes desperate it is but with us after the manner of Gods dearest ones why should we have a severed condition from them Remember this that God as he suffers his children to fall into the Lions mouth so he delivers them out and that hee never leaves his especially in extremity but in fit case of soule to receive the greatest comfort and to render him the greatest glory for then it is knowne to be Gods worke our extremity is his opportunity God will especially shew himselfe at such a time and make it appeare that the Church stands not by mans strength When Christians are at a losse and know not which way to turne themselves then is God nearest hand and careth most for them And this the Lord doth both for the greater shame of those that contrive mischiefe when they make themselves sâ—rest to bring their wicked plots and purposes to passe then their designes are most frustrated As also to draw on others not yet called that they seeing Gods immediate care over his Church and children may come in and obtaine like protection and deliverance The manner how God delivereth his children out of the Lions mouth is divers 1. By suspending their malice for the time as in Noahs Arke the fiercenesse of the wilde creatures was stopt by Divine Power from preying upon the tamer so the Lions mouthes were stopt from preying upon Daniel in the Lions Den. 2. By stirring up one Lion against another as the Persians against the Baby lonians Grecians against Persians Romancs against the Grecians and the other barbarous nations as the Gothes and Vandals against them so whilst Lions spit their fury one upon another the Sheepe are quiet Thus the Turke and other enemies have kept Popish Princes from raging and tyrannizing over the Church to the height of their malice 3. By casting something unto these Lions to divert them another way from their intended prey as when a man is in danger a Dogge is cast unto the Lion Thus when Saul was ready to devoure David the philistines made a breach upon him invaded the Land and turned his fury another way 4. By altering and changing Lions to be Lambes as when Paul was set upon havock and mischiefe God by changing his heart gave the Churches cause to glorifie God for him of whom before they were most affraid 5. God shewes himselfe a Lion to these Lions by breaking their teeth and Jaw-bones striking them with sudden and fearefull judgement as Herod and the persecuting Emperors and as in 88 when God with his foure windes fought for us against the enemies of his truth 6. By making them Lions to themselves witnesse Achitâ—phel Saul and other such like enemies of Gods children 7. Againe God maketh them friends without changing their disposition by putting into their hearts some conceit for the time which inclineth them to favour as in Nehemiah God put it into the Kings heart to favour his people Esau was not changed onely God for the time changed his affections to favour Iacob so God puts it into the hearts of many groundedly naught to favour the best persons 8. Lastly God maketh his owne children sometimes Lions to their Adversaries for the Image of God shining in his children hath a secret Majesty in it and striketh an awe upon wicked men so Pharaoh at length could not endure to see Moses and Aaron any more and Foelix trembled whilst Paul disputed of temperance and judgement Thus we see the Lord knows how to deliver his and can if he will and will doe it in their extremities when is most â—or his glory his peoples comfort and confusion of his owne and their enemies never despaire therefore of thy selfe or the Church of God it shall rather than faile breed in the Lions den Paul salutes the Philippians from the Church in Caesars house a place in appearance little fitter for a Church than hell it selfe what though things seeme
thou wilt not be better thou art in league with some secret sinne thy heart riseth against those that reprove thee of it thine owne conscience tells thee that thy heart is naught for if thou wouldst set thy selfe to obey God in truth assuredly he would deliver thy soule And therefore the Apostle to prevent such doubts speakes of deliverance from evill workes as comming from God But some may object we sin every day and if we say we have no sinne wee deceive our selves and the truth is not in us You must not understand this Phrase Legally in the vigor of it as that God will deliver us from every ill thought or rising in the heart or from every outward slip and failing c. But by every evill worke the Apostle meanes every reproachfull sinne that breakes the peace of our conscience that swallowes up a mans salvation from such kinde of sins that bring a staine and discredit unto a mans profession that wound his soule and may discourage others the Lord will deliver his he will keepe them from greater sinnes altogether and from being in league with lesser You know in falls there are severall degrees there is a slip a falling and a falling on all foure as we say a flat falling Now God will deliver his children from falling so fouly Nay Sometimes he will deliver them from evill workes by not delivering them from evill workes Hee will deliver from great ill workes by letting them alone in losser ill workes God delivers from evill divers wayes he delivers from falling into ill and he delivers out of ill when we are fallen he delivers from ill likewise by supporting us nay which is more he delivers from ill workes by ill workes How is that How doe Physitians deliver from an Apoplexie â— from a Lethargâ—e Is it not by casting the sicke person into an Ague to awaken that dull sicknesse so God to cure the conscience of a man when he sees him in danger of security by those soule-killing sinnes Pride Covetousnesse Loosenesse Hypocrisie and the like suffers him sometimes to fall into lesse offences to awake his conscience that being rouzed up he may fly to Gods mercy in Christ so infinite is Gods care this way that he will deliver either from ill workes or from the evill of ill workes or if hee deliver not from ill workes yet hee will deliver us from worse workes by those ill workes Austin saith I dare presume to say it is profitable for some men to fall if a man be of a proud peremptory disposition or of a blockish dull and secure nature it is good he should bee acquainted what sin he carryes in his breast where his corruptions are c. that so he may know himselfe and his danger the better I beseech you make use of this to helpe your faith and thankfulnesse when we are delivered from evill workes it is God that doth it The consideration whereof mee thinkes should strengthen our faith against Satan and all his fiery darts and incourage us to set confidently upon any corruption that we are moved to by others or our owne naturall inclination It is Gods enemy and it is my enemy it is opposite to Gods will and it is an enemy to my comfort God will take my part against that which is opposite to him he hath promised me to assist me against every evill worke by his holy Spirit A Christian is a King and hee hath the triumphing Spirit of Christ in him which will prevaile over all sinne in time But some poore soule may object Alas I have beene assaulted by such a corruption a long time in a grievous manner and am not yet delivered from it God doth by little and little purge out corruption as every stroke helpes the fall of the oak the first stroke helpes forward so every opposing of corruption never so little helpes to root it out and it is weakned by little and little till death accomplish more mortification But to proceed God doth not onely deliver from evill workes but preserves us to his heavenly Kingdome We must take preserve here in its full bredth he preserves us whilst he hath any worke for us to doe in this life and when he will have us live no longer he will preserve us to heaven howsoever by death he takes us away yet even then the Lord still preserves us Hee will preserve us in our outward estate by himselfe and by under-preservers for there be many such under God as Angels that are his ministring spirits and Magistrates who are the shields of the earth they may preserve under God and likewise Ministers that are the Chariots and horsemen of Israel and good Lawes c. but God is the first turner of the Wheele we must see him in all other preservers whatsoever And therefore the Apostle in the language of the holy Ghost and of Canaan saith here The Lord will preserve me And rather than a man shall miscarry when God hath any thing for him to doe God will worke a miracle The three men could not be burned in the fire God so suspended the force thereof Daniel could not bee devoured of the greedy Lions c. rather than Gods purpose shall faile that a man should perish before the time that God hath allotted him the Lions shal not devoure and the fire shall not burn God hath measured our glasse and time even to a moment and as our Saviour Christ out of knowledge of this heavenly truth saith My time is not yet came so let us know that till 〈◊〉 houre comes all the Devils in hell cannot hurt one haire of our head And this is a wondrous ground of confidence that we should carry our selves above all threatnings and above all feares whatsoever Thou canst doe nothing except it were given thee saith Christ to bragging Pilate who boasted of his power alas what can all the enemies of Gods people doe except God permit them If a King or a great man should say to an inferiour Goe on I will stand by thee and preserve thee thou shalt take no harme what an incouragement were this Oh but when God shall say to a Christian walke humbly before me keepe close to my word be stedfast in the wayes of holinesse feare not man you are under my protection and safeguard what an incouragement is this to a beleeving soule But put case wee cannot bee preserved from death for so it was here with the Apostle hee dyed a bloody death Why let us observe his blessed carriage in all this and doe likewise I regard not that saith hee doe your worst God will preserve me still So it should be the bent of a Christians soule to come to God with this limitation in his faith and in his prayer Lord if thou wilt not deliver me from suffering ill preserve me from doing ill If thou wilt not preserve mee from death preserve me
farre better And is it much farre better to die that we may be with Christ than to live here a conflicting life Why should we then feare death that is but a passage to Christ It is but a grimme servant that lets us into a glorious pallace that striks off our bolts that takes off our rags that wee may bee clothed with better robes that ends all our misery and is the beginning of all our happinesse why should we therfore be affraid of death it is but a departure to a better condition It is but as Iordan to the children of Israel by which they passed to Canaan it is but as the red-sea by which they were going that way therefore we have no reason to feare death of it selfe it is an enemy indeed but now it is harmelesse nay now it is become a friend amicable to us a sweet friend it is one part of the Churches joynture death All things are yours saith the Apostle Paul and Apollos life and death death is ours and for our good it doth us more good than all the friends we have in the world it determines and ends all our misery and sinne and it is the suburbs of heaven it lets us into those joyes above It is a shame for Christians therefore to bee affraid of that that Paul here makes the object of his desire But may not a good Christian feare death I answer Not so farre as a Christian is led with the spirit of God and is truly spirituall for the spirit carryes us upward but as farre as wee are earthly and carnall and byassed downward to things below wee are loath to depart hence In some cases Gods children are affraid to die because their accounts are not ready though they love Christ and are in a good way yet notwithstanding because they have not prepared themselves by care as a woman that hath her husband abroad and desires his comming but all is not prepared in the house therfore she desires that he may stay awhile so the soule that is not exact that is not in that frame that it should be in saith Oh stay awhile that I may recover my strength before I goe hence and bee no more seene but as farre as wee are guided by the spirit of God sanctifying us and are in such a condition as we should be in so farre the thoughts of death ought not to be terrible to us nor indeed are they Beloved there is none but a Christian that can desire death because it is the end of all comfort here it is the end of all callings and employments of all sweetnesse whatsoever in this world If another man that is not a Christian desire heaven he desires it not as heaven or to â—e with Christ as Christ he desires it under some notion sutable to his corruption for our desires are as our selves are as our aymes are no carnall worldly man but hath carnall worldly aymes a worldly man cannot goe beyond the world it is his spheare a carnall man cannot goe beyond the flesh therefore a carnall man cannot desire heaven a man that is under the power of any lust can desire nothing but the satisfying of that lust heaven is no place for such none but a child of God can desire that For if we consider heaven and to bee with christ to be perfect holines can he desire it that hates holinesse here can he desire the Image of God upon him that hates it in others and in himselfe too can he desire the communion of Saints that of all societies hates it the most can he desire to be free from sinne that ingulfes himselfe continually in sinne he cannot and therefore as long as he is under the thraldome and dominion of any lust he may desire heaven indeed but it is onely so farre as he may have his lusts there his pleasures honours and riches there too if he may have heaven with that he is contented but alas brethren heaven must not be so desired S. Paul did otherwise he desired to be dissolved to be with Christ hee desired it as the perfection of the Image of God under the notion of holinesse and freedome from sin as I said before Which is farre better Againe we see that God reserves the best for the last Gods â—aâ—t workes are his best workes the new heaven and the new earth are the best the second wine that Christ created himselfe was the best spirituall things are better than naturall A Christians last is his best God will have it so for the comfort of Christians that everyday they live they may think My best is behinde my best is to come that every day they rise they may thinke I am nearer heaven one day than I was before I am nearer death and therefore nearer to Christ what a solace is this to a gracious heart A Christian is a happy man in his life but happyer in his death because then he goes to Christ but happiest of all in heaven for then hee is with Christ. How contrary to a carnall man that lives according to the sway of his owne base lusts he is miserable in his life more miserable in his death but most miserable of all after death I beseech you lay this to heart mee thinkes considering that death is but a way for us to be with Christ which is farre better this should sweeten the thinking of death to us and we should comfort our selves daily that we are nearer happinesse But how shall we attaine this sanctified sweet desire that Paul had to die and be with Christ Let us carry our selves as Paul did and then we shall have the same desires S. Paul before death in his life time had his conversation in heaven his minde was there and his soule followed after there is no mans soule comes into heaven but his minde is there first It was an easie matter for him to desire to bee with Christ having his conversation in heaven already Paul in meditation was where he was not and he was not where he was he was in heaven when his body was on earth 2. Againe S. Paul had loosed his affections from all earthly things therefore it was an easie matter for him to desire to be with Christ I am cruciâ—ied to the world and the world is crucified to me c. If once a Christian comes to this passe death will be welcome to him those whose hearts are fastened to the world cannot easily desire Christ. 3. Againe holy S. Paul laboured to keepe a good conscience in all things herein I exercise my selfe to have a good conscience towards God and men c. It is easie for him to desire to be dissolved that hath his conscience sprinkled with the blood of Christ free from a purpose of living in any sinne But where there is a stained defiled polluted conscience there cannot be this desire for the heart of man naturally as the Prophet saith
away thee and take away Christ if I should despaire I should make thee no GOD and make Christ no Christ if I should not accept of mercy for Christ is given to me and I labour to make him mine owne by laying hold of him Faith hath a power to make every thing it s owne that it toucheth particular faith which is the only true coÌ„fortable faith makes generall things mine when the soule can lay a particular claime to God as his GOD by giving himselfe to him onely then wee may plead in Christ better satisfaction to Gods justice than if hee should cast us into hell What a stay is this for a distressed soule to make use of Beloved the Church of God the mysticall body of Christ is thus forsaken in other Countries besides many particular humble broken-hearted Christians at home who finde no beames of Gods love and mercy what shall we doe Let the body imitate the head even goe to GOD in their behalfe and powre out your complaintâ— before him Lord where are thy mercies of old where are thy ancient bowels to thy Church why should the enemy triumph c. GOD delights when wee lay open the miseries of his people and our owne particular grievances before him If there be a spirit of faith in it oh it workes upon his bowels If a Child can but say Oh father oh mother though hee can say not a word more the bowels are touched there is elâ—quence enough so when wee can lay open the pittifull state of Gods poore Church what a blessing may we obtaine for them It is thy CHVRCH Lord thine owne people thy name is called upon them and they call upon thy name though they have sinned yet thou deservest to bee like thy selfe and Christ hath deserved mercy for them Thus if wee contend with GOD and keepe not silence and give GOD no rest faith would work wonders The state of the Church would not be long as it is if wee would all improve our interest in heaven in their behalfe Beloved Christ strugled with the powers of darknesse and the wrath of his father a while but presently after all was finished so let us contend boldly Fight the good fight of faith and not yeeld to desperate suggestions let faith stirre up prayer and prayer goe to GOD and ere long it shall be said of the CHVRCH and of all particular troubles All is finished then wee shall enjoy the sweet presence of GOD Where is fulness of joy and that for evermore the presence of GOD is that the Child of GOD desires above all things in the world it quickens and strengthens him it puts zeale and fire into him it doth all What will not the presence of GOD doe when a man enjoyes his face Therefore let us bee content to conflict here to bee exercised a while in faith and prayer wee shall surely say ere long I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth is laid up for me a Crowne of righteousnesse I beseech you learne these lessons and instructions from our blessed Saviour wee cannot have a better pattern than to be like him by whom wee all hope to bee saved another day So much for this time FINIS THE CHVRCHES VISITATION 1 PET. 4. 17 18 19. For the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God and if it begin at us what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospell c. OUR nature as it is very backeward to doe good so likewise to suffer evill therefore the Blessed Apostle exhorts us at the latter end of this Chapter Not to thinke it strange concerning the fiery tryall but to rejoyce in as much as wee are made partakers of Christs sufferings wherein are many grounds of patience and comfort to the children of God 1. That the thought of troubles should not be strange but familiar to them Acquainting our thoughts with them taketh away offence at them though it bee a fiery tryall yet it shall consume nothing but drosse 2. Then Christ joyneth with us in suffering better to be in trouble with Christ then in peace without him 3. The issue will be glorious for the spirit of glory will not only support us with his presence but rest still upon us To other grounds of comfort hee addeth some in the words of my text as First that the Church is Gods house and therefore he will have a care of it 2. That he will doe it in the fittest season Such is the exigence of the Church and people of God that they require a sharp visitation and therefore such is Gods love that he appoints out a certaine time for them 3. From the different condition of the godly and ungodly in suffering both suffer but differ much 1. in order God begins with his owne house 2 in measure where shall the ungodly appeare their judgmeÌ„t shall be most terrible certaine it is set downe by way of interrogation and admiration What shall their end beâ— And as Pharaohs dreames weâ—â— doubled for more certainty 〈◊〉 here is a double question to make the matter more out of question 1. What shall their end be that obey not the Gospell 2. Where shall the ungodly and sinners appeare Here is no unnecessary waste of words and arguments for the spirit of God knowes that all is little enough to fortifie the soule against the evill day unlesse the soule be well ballaced it will soon be overturned when stormes arise Therefore the Apostle in these three verses sets downe 1. some foundations of comfort and 2. an incouragement to build upon them wherefore let them that suffer c. The points considerable in the 17. verse are these 1. That Gods Church is his house 2. That this house of his will neede purging it will gather soyle 3. When God sees the exigent of it that it must be so he will be sure to visite and judge his owne house 4. That there is a certaine time when he will doe it which those that are wise may easily gather for God comes not upon his Church on the suddaine as a storm or tempest c. but he gives them faire warning there is a season when God begins judgment with his owne house Lastly Why God begins with his owne Church and people Of these in order First The Church of God is Gods house God hath two houses the Heavens which are called his house because hee manifests his glory there and the Church here below wherein he manifests his grace yea the whole world in a sort is his house because he manifests his power and wisedome in it but Heaven and his Church in a more peculiar manner and that in these respects 1. Because God by his grace hath residence in his Church 2. Because by the meanes of salvation the word and Sacramets there administred he doth seede his Church as in a house 3. A man rests and takes contentment
There will abuses and disorders creepe into it so that it will need Reformation And this the Apostle seemes to insâ—nuate when hee saith The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God The Lord saw cause for what he did For First such is the weaknesse of mans nature that evill things soone discourage us and good things except wee wrastle with our spirits prove a snare to the best Even the Church of God after a long time of peace is apt to gather corruption as water doth by standing and as the ayre it selfe will doe if it have not the winde to purge it And as it is in the bodyes of men if they be not curiously looked unto after a certaine time they will gather such a burthen of humors as will rise to a distemper so that they must be lett bloud or purged c. So it is with the Church of God Such is the infirmity of mans nature and the malice of Sathan that enemy to mankinde that the best of Gods people will quickly gather some distemper or other and stand in need of purging You know a house wil gather dust of it selfe though cleane at the first 2. Most certaine it is that the Church of God cannot be long without some affliction considering that it is now in a state of Pilgrimage absent from God in another world as it were Wee live in a grosse corrupt ayre and draw in the corruption of the times one defiling another I am a man of polluted lips saith Esay and dwell with men of polluted lips ill neighbours made him the worse This should stir us up to lament the miserable estate of mans nature that even the best of men the Church and people of God whilest they remaine in this world stand in need of continuall purging and winnowing Crosses are as necessary to us as our daily bread because we carry that about us which wants them Wee are as much beholding to Gods corrections as to his comforts in this world the Church needes keeping under for the most part God will not have us settle upon our dreggs This should teach us to bewaile our condition and to desire to be at home where we shall need no purging where wee shall be as free from sorrow as from sinne the cause of it Observe wee further that as the Church will stand in neede of chastisements so God will come and visite his Temple when need is and but when need requires neither for God is no â—yrant yet he wil shew that he hates sinne wheresoever hee finds it even in his owne deare children and servants If God should beare with the abuses and sinnes of his owne Church and People it would seem that sinne was not so contrary to his holy disposition as it is Therefore in whomsoever hee findes sinne hee will punish it Our blessed Saviour found this true when hee tooke upon him the imputation of our sinnes and became but onely a Suertie for us you see how it made him cry out My God my God why hast thou for saken mee Those glorious Creatures the very Angels themselves when they kept not their owne standing God would indure them no longer but thrust them out of heaven But why doth God chiefly afflict his owne people more then others Because they are of his owne family and are called by his name Now the disorders of the family tend to the disgrace of the Governour of it the sinnes of the church touch God more nearly then others And therefore judgments must beginne at the santuary first I will be sanctified in all that come neere mee saith God when hee smote Aarons sons The nearer wee come to God if wee maintaine not the dignitie of our profession undoubtedly the more neare will God comes to us in judgment Wee see the Angells who came nearest to God of all others when once they sinned against him they were tumbled out of heaven and cast into the bottomlesse pit Heaven could then brook them no longer Beloved the Gospel suffers much through the sides of professors What saith the wicked worldling These be your professors see what manner of lives they lead what little conscience they make of their waies c. Little doe men know how much Religion is vilified and the wayes of God evill spoken of through the loose cariage of Professors of the Gospell as if there were no force in the grace and favour of God to make us love and obey him in all things as if Religion consisted in word onely and not in power What a scandall is this to the cause of Christ It is no marvell God begins with them first You have I knowne above all the families of the earth and therefore will I punish you A man may see and passe by dirt in his grounds but he wil not suffer it in his dining Chamber he will not endure dust to be in his Parlour The sinnes of Gods house admit of a greater aggravation then the sinnes of others For 1. They are committed against more light 2. against more benefits and favours 3. their sinnes in a manner are sacriledge what to make the temple of God a den of theeves to defile their bodies and soules that are bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ Is this a small matter Againe 4. their sinnes are Idolatry for they are not onely the house of God but the spouse of God Now for a spous to be false adulterous this is greater then fornication because the bond is nearor So the nearer any come to God in Profession the higher is the aggravation of their sinne and as their sin growes so must their punishment grow answerables and proportionable They therefore that knew Gods will most of all others must looke for most stripes if they doe it now Hence therefore learne that no Priviledge can exempt us from Gods judgments nay rather the contrary where God doth magnifie his rich goodnes and mercy to a people and is notwithstanding dishonoured by them he will at last magnifie his righteous justice in correcting such disobedient wretches Some of the Fathers were forced to justifie God in visiting his Church more sharply then other people because Christians are so much worse then others by how much they should be better Their sins open the mouths of others to blaspheme Wee should not beare out our selves on this that wee are Gods house but â—eare so much the more to offend Him else all our priviledges will but increase our guilt not our comfort Secondly if God begins with his owne house let the Church besevere in punishing sinne there most of all because Gods wrath will break out first there What a shame is it that the Heathen should make such sharp lawes against Adultery and other sins and wee let them passe with a slight or no punishment at all No doubt but God blesseth a state most
of God never departs â—here hee once takes up his loâ—ging there is no question therefore of the salvation of the righteous they are as it were saved already Let this teach us thus much that in all the changes and alterations which the faith of man is subject unto hee is sure of one thing all the troubles and all the enemies of the world shall not hinder his salvation If it bee possible the Elect should bee deceived but it is not possible Oh what a comfort is this that in the midst of all the oppositions and plottings of men and Devils yet notwithstanding some what we have that is not in the power of any enemy to take from us nor in our owne power to lose namely our salvation set this against any evill whatsoever and it swallowes up all Put caâ—e a man were subject to an hundred deaths one after another what are all these to salvation Put case a man were in such griefe that hee wept teares of blood alas in the day of salvation all teares shall be wiped from his eyes Set this I shall be saved against any misery you can imagine and it will unspeakably comfort and revive the soule beyond all But it is here said hee shall scareely be saved This is not a word of doubt but of difficulty it is not a word of doubt of the event whether hee shall be saved or no there is no doubt at all of that but it is a word of difficulty in regard of the way and passage thither so it is here taken which leads mee to a second point that the way to come to salvation is full of difficulties Because there is much adoe to get Lot out of Sodome to get Israel out of Egypt it is no easie matter to get a man out of the state of corruption oh the sweetnesse of sinne to an unregenerate man oh how it cuts his very heart to thinke what pleasures and what profits what friends and what esteeme amongst men he must part withall what a doe is there to pull him out of the kingdome of Sathan wherein the strong man held him before Againe it is hard in regard of the sin that continually cleaves to them in this world which doth as it were shackle them and compasse them about in all their performances They would doe well but sinne is at hand ready to hinder stop them in good courses so that they cannot serve God with such cheerfulnesse and readinesse as they desire to doe Every good worke they doe it is as it were pulled out of tho fire they cannot pray but the flesh resists they cannot suffer but the flesh drawes back in all their doing and suffering they carry an enemy in their owne bosomes that hinders them Beloved this no small affliction to Gods people how did this humble Paul when no other affliction laid upon him Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death it was more troublesome to him than all his irons and pressures whatsoever Besides it is a hard matter in regard of Sathan for hee is a great enemy to the peace of Gods children when they are once pulled out of his kingdome hee sends flouds of reproaches and persecutions after them and presently sends hue and crie as Pharaoh after the Israelites oh how it spights him What shall a piece of dust and clay bee so neare God when I am tumbled out of heaven my selfe though I cannot hinder him from salvation I will hinder his peace and joy he shall not have heaven upon earth I will make him walke as uncomfortably as I can thus the Devill as hee is a malignant creature full of envy against Gods poore Saints so hee is a bitter enemy of the peace and comfort which they enjoy and therefore troubles them with many temptations from himselfe and his instraments to interrupt their peace and make the hearts of Gods people sad all he can TheÌ„ by reason of great discouragement il usage which they finde in the world form wiâ—ked men who are the Devils pipes ledd with his spirit to vexe and trouble the meeke of the earth for though they thinke not of it Sathan is in their divellish natures hee joynes and goes along with their spirits in hating and opposing the Saints of God for indeed what hurt could they doe but by his instigation How are good men despised in the world How are they made the onely Butt to shoot at Alas beloved wee should rather incourage men in the waies of holinesse wee see the number of such as truly feare God is but small soone reckoned up they are but as grapes after the vintage or a few berryes after the shaking one of a City two of a Tribe they have little incouragement from any but discouragements on all sides Besides this Scandall makes it a hard matter to bee saved to see evill courses and evill persons flourish and counten anced in the world Oh it goes to the heart of Gods people makes them slagget at Gods providence it is a bitter temptation and shakes the faith of holy men as wee see Psal. 73. Againe it makes the heart of a good Chrisâ—ian bleed within him to see scandalls arise from professors of the Gospell when they are not so watchfull as they should bee but bring a reproach upon Religion by their licentious lives Yea Gods children suffer much for their friends whose wicked courses are layd to their charge and sometimes even by their friends for whilest they live here the best of all are subject to some weakenes or other which causeth even those that are our inâ—ouragers through jealousy or corruption one way or another to dishearten and trouble us in the way to heaven This likewise makes the way difficult we are too to apt to offend God daily giving him just cause to withdraw his spirit of comfort from us Which makes us goe mourning all the day long wanting those sweet refreshments of spirituall joy and peace wee had before the more comfort Gods child hath in communion with God the more hee is grieved when hee wants it When Christ wanted the sweet solace of his Father upon the Crosse how did it trouble him My â—od my God why hast thou for saken mee How did hee sweate water and bloud in the garden when hee felt but a little while his Fathers displeasure for sinne Thus is it with all Gods children they are of Christs minde in their spirituall desertions And when they have gotten a little grace how difficult is it to keepe it to keepe our selves in the sense of Gods love To manage our Christian State aright to walke worthy of the Gospell that God may still doe us good and delight to bee present with us What a great difficulty is it to bee alwaies striving against the Streame and when wee are cast backe to get forward still and not bee dâ—scouraged
and labour to improve our Talents that when we give any thing to God we may say Lord according to the grace I have received I have kept it and therefore now returne it to thee againe Beloved when trouble of conscience comes when sicknesse and death comes what will become of a man that hath not this sweete acquaintance with God hee was a stranger to God in the time of prosperitie and God is now a stranger to him in adversitie Saul was a prophane spirited man hee did not acquaint himselfe with God in the time of his happinesse and therefore in time of distresse he goes first to the Witch and then to the sword poynt So fareth it with all wicked wretches in their great extremities no sooner doth any evill beâ—ide them or the least danger approach them let conscience never so little fliâ— in their faccs c. but presently they goe to cursed meanes and runne upon desperate conclusions Therefore as we desire to die even in Gods armes yeeld up our selves into the very hands of the Almighty with comfort let us daily inure our selves to this blessed course of committing our selves and all our wayes to him in doing good Come and see saith the Scripture Beloved if you will not beleeve me make tryall of this course a while did you once taste the sweetnesse of it how would your drooping spirits be cheared up Let a man continually keepe a good conscience and hee shall bee satisfied with peace at last Suppose hee meetes with danger and opposition in the world this may seeme harsh at the first ô but he shall know afterwards what it is to part with any thing for Christs sake to commit his cause or whatsoever hee hath unto God as to a faithfull Creator Then wee â—aste of God to the purpose when wee put him to it for God will not be indebted to us wee never finde such sweete immediate comfort from him as when wee deny our selves comfort of the Creature for his sake Little doe wee know what times may befall us there is much danger abroad and wee have cause to feare not farre from us It may bee the clouds even now hang over our heads Oh if wee would be hidd in the day of the Lords wrath have no evill come nigh our dwellings let us above all things in the world make sure our interest in Christ and title to the promise Wee should seeke to know God more and then wee would trust him more They that know thy name will trust in thee saith David Oh the blessed estate of a Christian that now he may bee acquainted with God that through Christ there is a Throne of Grace to flie unto I beseech you improve this happy priviledge and then come what will come famine come danger of warre or pestilence c. God will bee a Sanctuary and an abiding place to you A Christian carries his Rocke and sure defence about him I will bee unto them a little Sanctuary in all places saith God What a comfort is it to have a wall of fire still compassing us about a Sheild that our enemies must breake through before they can come at us Hee that trusts in God shall bee recompensed with mercy on every side it is no matter what dangers compasse him though hee be in the midst of death and hell or any trouble whatsoever if he commits himselfe to God in obedience out of good grounds of faith in his Word he shall be safe in the evill day THE TABLE A ABsence of Gods Spirit discourageth us in the way to salvation Part 1. Pag. 111 Affliction necessary 1. 16 17 It happens in the Sunsnine of the Gospell 1. 25 Small ones not regarded make way for greater 1. 27 Our carriage therein must bee good 1. 140 God will deliver his out of all 2. 94 How 2. 95 96 Godly afflicted more than others and why 1. 18 This discovers false brethren 2. 93 Art aggravates sinne 2. 7 Assurance of Gods love is to bee sought betimes 1. 197 Atheisme brings judgement 1. 28 Attributes of God are to be applyed to our selves 1. 17â— B A Christians best things are last Part 1. Pag. 47. Part 2. Pag. 196 Brethren thâ—â— are false discovered by affliction 2. 93 C Calamity in the common calamity the wicked dare not appeare 1. 122 Christianity contrary to nature 1. 145 Children of God are knowne by Gods correcting them 1. 46 The Devill their enemy 1. 107 These must be committed unto God 1. 232 Church of God is his house 1. 5 Why 1. 6 He provides for it 1. 7 Whether the English Church bee Gods house 1. 13 Proved 1. 14 The Church needs purging 1. 15 God clenseth it when need is 1. 17 It should severely punish sinne 1. 23 It is Gods Spouse 1. 80 Impregnable 2. 31 Commonnesse of sinne is a signe that it is ripe 1. 30 Conception of minde is like the body 2. 2 Conscience good feares not death 2. 189 Constancy in sinne to be shunned 2. 7 Correction shewes we are Gods Children 1. 46 Covenant wee must bee in Covenant with God 1. 187 Creator comfort from God as a Creator 1. 168 180 184 D Death is a departing 2. 184 How Paul desired it 2. 186 Not to bee feared by a Christian 2. 192 It may be desired by a wicked man but for some by-ends 2. 194 Our ends must be considered 1. 58 The death of the godly to be lamented and why 1. 209 211 Their deaths a signe of judgment approaching 1. 28. 2. 23 Deliberation in what things to bee used 2. 179 Deliverance we have dayly from God should cause us to glorifie him 2. 151 Desire what 2. 182 Despaire to be avoided 2. 101 Devill an enemy to Gods Children 1. 107 Diligent we are diligent to sinne 2. 7 Disobedience against the Gospell the greatest sinne why 1. 68 How knowne 1. 86 Division 1. 44 in a land is a forerunner of judgement 2. 29 Doctrine we should keepe sound that doctrine which was left us pure 2. 162 Doubting Romish doubting disallowed 1. 198 E End our end must bee considered 1. 58 Enemies to be prayed for 1. 146 147 Enemies of the Church represented two waies 2. 68 Envy snarles at greatnesse when joyned with goodnesse 2. 13 Eternity our desire of Gods glory should be carried to eternity 2. 158 Evill we must not plot to doe it 2. 48 The difference betwixt evill done and suffered 2. 113 Manifestation thereof aggravates it 2. 114 Examination of the grounds of Religion a meanes to escape judgement 1. 40 Examples of Governours prevaile much 2. 163 Experience of Gods care and love exprest we may collect the future â— 201. 2. 1â—â— F Faith it 's efficacy 1. 119 It takes hold by a little 1. 182 Active and Passive 1. 188 It is strengthened by deliverance 2. 129 It is a signe of our interest in heaven 2. 147 Faithfulnesse of God to bee trusted to 1. 177 He is faithfull 1. 171 Wee
must bee faithfull in what hee trusts us 1. 233 Feare disturbs peace 1. 220 Fruitfulnesse required 2. 217 Meanes to attaine it 2. 218 Future care and love in God collected by things past 1. 207. 2. 108 G Gospell in rejecting it wee reject God 1. 63 68 To sinne against it is worse than against the Law 1. 72 It layes open Christ 1. 90 Disobedience there unto a great sin 1. 68 How knowne 1. 86 Glorifie GOD for his deliverances 2. 151 Our desire of Gods glory should bee infinite 2. 158 Our glorifying him makes others doe so too 2. 168 Vide Honour Away to glorifie God 2. 153 God the Church is his house 5 And he ours 9 Our bodies and estates must bee committed to him 1. 156 He is faithfull 1. 171 Wee must bee our owne ere wee can give our selves to him 1. 185 We must commit our selves to him if we would have him keepe us 1. 204 We must eye him in all that wee doe 1. 221 226 Relie on him in all our courses 1. 229 He will be known in his Attributes 2. 28 29 His love to his 2. 28 He is overcome by prayer 2. 29 He is Author of our deliverance 2. 106 Our glorfying him makes others doe so 2. 168 We must bee faithfull in what hee trusts us 1. 233 Gods Attributes are to be applyed unto our selves 1. 175 We must be in covenant with God 1. 187 Comfort from God as a Creator 1. 168 180 184 He must bee glorified for his deliverances 2. 151 Trust to Gods faithfulnesse 1. 177 Godly afflicted more than others why 1. 18 Their sinnes greater than others 1. 20 21 They may seeme neglected by God but their end is peace 1. 213 They shall not be subdued 2. 34 Their prosperity makes way for the subversion of the wicked 2. 39 They suffer 2. 88 Yet differing from the wicked 2. 102 Sometimes in straits 2. 179 Their death how to bee lamented 2. 209 They bring good to the place where they are 2. 211 They can deny their best good for the benefit of the Church 2. 213 Good men dying is a signe of ensuing judgement 1. 28 We must be Actively good as well as passively 2. 23 Governours their examples availe 2. 163 Government it is good to bee under Christs government 1. 92 Gâ—aces of the Spirit make the way to heaven easie 1. 116 Delivering graâ—e requisite against temptation 2. 123 Greatnesse whâ—â— joyned with goodnesse envyed at 2. 13 Gâ—â—-powder Trâ—ason 2. 64 H Happinesse present aggravates eternall misery 1. 59 Heart of a Christian is Gods Closet 1. 8 Discovered in affliction 2. 92 Heaven how to make the way thither easie 1. 115 Faith a signe of our interest therunto 2. 147 Pride purged a signe of our interest 2. 146 Honouring God we honour our selves 2. 167 It is a signe wee are in a good estate 2. 160 Vide Glorifie Hope must be exercised 1. 119 Humility requisite to a Christian 1. 116 I Idolatry brings judgement 1. 29 Impudency a signâ— of the ripenesse of sinne 1. 30 Infidelitie negative is lesse than disobedience against the Gospell 1. 71 Judgement how to know when neare 1. 27 How to prevent it 1. 37 It will begin at Gods house and why 1. 46. What it 〈◊〉 and its division 1. 48 Wicked shall not appeare in the day of judgement 1. 123 Consideration and examination meanes to escape judgement 1. 40 Mourning for our owne and others sinnes another way 1. 42 No priviledge can exempt from judgement 1. 22 L Love decay therein a signe of judgement 1. 33 Requisite for a Christian 1. 117 It descends why 1. 166 Assurance of Gods love to bee sought betimes 1. 197 Wee love things present too much 2. 91 Law it is a lesser sinne to offend against that than the Gospell 1. 72 Lyons we are all naturally such 2. 86 M Magistrates needfull in the Church 2. 205 Mercy of Christ must not bee presumed on 1. 76 Exceptions against Christs mercy refeld 1. 91 Gods merâ—y must be especially noted 2. 56 Consideration thereof is the way to glorifie him 2. 153 Ministers they are hardly beleeved 2. 47 Mischiefe to contrive mischiefe is the signe of a man notoriously wicked 2. 18 And therefore to bee abhorred 2. 20 Moderators Catholique 1. 67 Mortification necessary 1. 121 Mourning for our owne sinnes and of others is the way to avert judgment 1. 42 N Nature and Christianity different 1. 145 O Obedience to the Gospell what 1. 63 Who have it not 1. 65 'T is not of our selves 1. 82 But wrought 1. 88 It must be free 1. 94 And cheerfull 1. 95 Active and Passive 1. 136 One good man may doe much good 2. 217 Opposition is bitterest amongst those that are nearest 2. 11 Others matters how to bee minded by us 2. 214 P Peace is a signe we have committed our selves to God 1. 218 Disturbed by cares and feares 1. 220 Peace is the end of the godly man 1. 213 Particulars from particulars we must rise to generals 2. 59 Policy carnall to bee eschewed 1. 191 It hinders our safety 1. 193 Posterity must be committed to God 1. 230 Motive 1. 232 Pray we must eâ—e wee shall obtaine 1. 204 Yea for our enemies 1. 146 c. God is overcome by prayer 2. 29 Present we are too much addicted to things present 2. 91 Preservation is from God 2. 131 Vide Providence Pride if it be purged it is a signe of our interest in heaven 2. 146 To be avoided 2. 215 Priviledge none exempts from judgment 1. 22 Prizing religion a way to avert judgement 1. 43 Professors their loose life wounds the Gospell 1. 20 Providence God will keepe us if wee commit our selves unto him 1. 204 Eye him in all we doe 1. 221 226 Rely on him in al our courses 1. 229 Committing posterity to God 1. 232 Vide Preservation Prosperity the seeming prosperity of the wicked shall have an end 1. 55 208 We must not grieve at it 1. 57 Continuall prosperity a signe of a bad estate 1. 129 R Religion must not bee enâ—red on with hopes of pleasure and case 1. 113 Reformation thereof hath brought blessings 2. 73 Repentance is a way to turne away wrath 1. 38 Righteous what meant thereby 1. 97 They are saved 1. 101 Yet hardly why 1. 106 112 S Saints hated of wicked men 2. 17 Salvation certainty of salvation 1. 104 Scandall makes it hard to bee savâ—d 1. 109 Security a marke of the ripenesse of sinne 1. 31 Selfe-denyall required in a Christian 2. 215 Sinne God punisheth it wheresoever he findes it 1. 18 When ripe 1. 31 Sinne against the Gospell is against Gods Attributes 1. 68 Sinne is greatest when against the greatest light 1. 70 The nearest must bee parted with 1. 77 The effects 1. 89 It is sweet 1. 105 It stickes to all 1. 106 Sinnes of the second Table are grounded on sins of the first 2. 10 It is full of deceit 2. 45