Eighteen Sermons, Sermon 4

Eighteen Sermons · Sermon 4

p. 55SERMON IV. VVHITE-HALL. October 12. 1662.

JOHN XV. 14.

Ye are my Friends, if ye do whatsoever I Command you.

THe words are a conditional Assertion of AChrist's concerning his Apostles, and in them all Christians: And they do easily divide themselves into two parts. The First is a positive part, wherein there is a state of great and Blessed advantage, which they are declared to be in present possession of: In these words, Ye are my friends.

In which there are two things that make up that advantage, 1. a Relation, 2. the Person related to. Friends, and BMy friends. The

Second is a Conditional part, wherein there are the terms, upon which that possession is made over, and which preserve the Right and Title to them: in these words, If ye p. 56do whatsoever I command you: in which there are two things required as Conditions.

I. Obedience, If ye do what I command you.

II. That Obedience Universal; If ye do whatsoever I command you.

The first thing that offers it self to our consideration, is the Relation, Friends.

It is a known common-place truth, that a Friend is the most useful thing that is in whatsoever state we are: It is the Soul of life, and of content. If I be in prosperity: We know abundance not injoy'd, is but like Jewells in the Cabinet, uselesse while they are there: It is indeed nothing Bbut the opinion of Prosperity. But 'tis not possible to enjoy abundance otherwise than by communicating it: a man possesseth plenty onelyonly in his Friends, and hath fruition of it meerly by bestowing it. If I be in adversity; to have a person whom I may intrust a trouble to, whose bosome is as open and as faithful to me, as 'tis to his own thoughts, to which I may commit a swelling secret; this is in a good measure to unlade, and to pour out my sorrow from me; thus I divide my grievances which would be insupportable, if I did not disburthen Cmy self of some part of them: Now there is no bosome so safe as that where friendship lodges; take God's opinion in the case, Deut. 13. 6. If thy Brother the Son of thy Mother, or thy Son, or thy Daughter, or the Wife of thy bosome, or thy Friend that is as thine own Soul. This is the highest step in the Gradation. And there is all the reason in the world; for though Parent and Child, are as neer one to other as any thing can be to part of it self; Husband and Wife are but two different names of the same one, yet these may become bitter and unkind: A Parent may grow cross, or a Child refractory, a Mother may be like the Ostrich in Dthe Wildernesse, throw off her bowels with her burthen; and an ungracious Son is constant pangs and travail to his Mother, his whole life gives her after-throws which are most deadly: Dislikes also may rest within the Marriage-Bed, and lay their heads upon two wedded Pillows; but none of these unkindnesses can untie the Relation; that ends not where the bitternesse begins, he is a Parent still though froward, and a Child though stubborn; but a true Friend can be nothing but kind; it does include a deerness in its essence, Ewhich is so inseparable from it, that they begin and end together: A man may be an Husband without loving, but cannot be a lover, that is a Friend, without loving.

And sure to have no one friend in this Life, no one that p. 57is concerned in any of my interests or me my self, none that Ahath any cares or so much as good wishes for me, is a state of a most uncomfortable prospect. The Plague that keeps Friends at a distance from me while I live, out of the sphere of my infection, and after gives me Death, hath yet lesse of Malignity than this; that leaves me the Compassions, the Prayers, all the solitary comforts, all indeed but the outward entertainments of my Friends; that, though it shut the Door against all company, yet, puts a Lord have Mercy on the Door: But this I now described hath none of that, hath no good wishes, nothing else but hate, is worse than a Bperpetual Pestilence.

Yet neither is this state so comfortlesse, in respect of this life, as not to have a Friend in the concernments of the Life to come; none that hath so much kindnesse for my Soul as every man hath for his Enemies Beast, which if he see fallen in a Ditch he will at least give notice that it may be helpt out thence: No one, that when a sin, like to that Falling sickness in the Gospel (and it is such indeed without a Parable) is casting me into the Water, quenching my parts, my Reason, and the Immortal spark within me; or throwing me Cinto the Fire, raising Lascivious heats within, which after will break out into Hell fires; none yet that will stretch out his hand to catch me, or to pull me out: None that does care to see me perish-to Eternity, or that values my Soul, which yet did cost the Blood of God, at a word speaking: This is to be like Dives in the Flames, to whom they would not lend the help of the aaLuk. 16. 24. 25.Luke 16:24Luke 16:25tip of a finger, or give the kindness of a drop of Water: I am as it were on the other side the Gulfe already. Here is the use of Friendship, the only noble one, that's worthy of that blessed quality: When I have Done that will be an assistant Conscience to me, who, when that within me sleeps, or is benummed, will watch over my actions; will testifie them to my Face, will be as faithful to me as the Conscience should be, hold a Glasse to my Soul, shew me the stains and the proud tumours, the foul Ulcers that are there, and then will fret, and rub, or prick, lance, and corrode, to cure those tumours, and do off those spots, such an one is a familiar Angel Guardian, is truely of that blessed Heavenly rank, and onelyonly lesse than the Friend in the Text, the Person related to, and my next part.

My Friends. There are three things from which men use to take the measures of a Friend.

First, From the good things he bestows on them: He that thinks to keep friendship alive onelyonly with air, that gives p. 58good words, but parts with nothing, that entertains onelyonly Awith Garbs and Civilities, is but the pageant of a Friend: They that own having but one Soul, and seem to clasp as if they would have but one Body too, cannot keep such distinct and separate proprieties in other little things, as not to have communication one from the other. And,

Secondly, The friendship of these benefits is rated by the measures of our need of them. When Midas was ready to dye for hunger, his God was kinder to him in a little bread, than in making all that he touch't turn into Gold: Great things engage but little where there is but little use of them: BAnd all these,

Thirdly, Are endeered by the Affection they are given with. Good turns done with design, what need soever I have of them, are hire, and not friendship; it is the kindness onelyonly that obligeth, the gift without the love does but upbraid and scorn my want.

Now to measure the Friend here in the Text, by these, were an impossible undertaking, whose Friendship did exceed all bounds and measures. I shall do no more towards it but read the words before my Text, which were the occasion of Cit, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his Friends, and then it follows, Ye are my Friends. The token therefore of his Friendship, the gift he gave them was his life, rather that was the least he gave: He gave his glory first, that so he might be qualified to give his life, for foreign Phil. 2. 7. He lessened himself from the condition of being Lord of all, into that of a Servant, foreign, Heb. 2. 9. being diminished, made lower, meaner than his Creatures for the suffering of Death. Now with the price of such Divine essential glory to buy onelyonly a life, rather onelyonly a possibility of Death, that after he might give that Dlife for us, and with his Death purchase us an immortal life, is such a gift as no Romance of friendship ever fancied or did aim at: We may have heard of two Companions that would dye for one another, that never quarrelled in their lives, but for this, who should suffer first to save the other, and strave onelyonly for Execution: But for a Person of the Trinity to leave his Heaven to come down to us; to dwell with agonies that he might be at one with us; and be tyed to the Cross, that he might be united to us; this is a friendship fit for Ecstasies of apprehension. Of all the things that Ecourt thy kindness here below, that spread snares, and lay baits for thy friendship, if any bid so fair, so temptingly, if any will give such a price, in Gods name let it have thy love, p. 59I shall not blame him that engageth his Affection there: But Asure Heaven cannot give a greater gift than this; for what can God give greater than himself? Yea I may say God could not give so much, for he must be Man too, to give his life, and this, saith he, he gave for his Friends, even in our stead, who must have perisht else eternally, which intimates the second thing, the need we had of this.

A need great as the gift, necessity invincible, that could break into Heaven, rifle the Trinity to serve it self, throw Death into those Regions of Immortality, and which would not be satisfied but with the Blood of God.

And now is not the kindness and the condescension of Friendship in his expressions too, when he saith, greater love than this hath no man? which was the third endearment.

There never were such wounds of Love as those that tore this Heart; never such meltings of Affection as dissolv'd this Lover into sweats of Blood. There was no motive to all this, but his meer love: For all this he designed to us before we were, and therefore sure before we were deserving: And O our God! thou that from all Eternity didst lay Contrivances Cto give thy Life for us, so to redeem, and then to glorifie us; what were we then that thou shouldst do this for us? what were we then when we were not? and yet that thou from the Abysse of Everlastingness, shouldst think thoughts of such kindness to us, and such blessedness for us, who then were not, and deserved nothing; and who since we were, have deserved nothing but Damnation.

And as there was no other motive to all this design but love, so neither was there any thing but love in the fulfilling. Look on your Saviour in the Garden, and upon Mount Calvary, Dand you shall find him there in as great agonies of Affection as Torment, and hanging down his head upon the Cross with languishments of kindness more than weakness. His Arms stretched out and rack't, as if on purpose to the posture of receiving you to his embraces, and his side opened not only to shed Blood for you, but to make you a passage to his very Heart. Look on him offering up his Tears, his Prayers, and his Soul for Sin, and in the midst of all, projecting happiness to you, as it were praying, O my Father, here I charge my self with all the guilt of those my Friends, I thy onelyonly Son God, one with thee, am content to suffer Torments that they Eall may be acquitted; Here I lay down my Life that they may have eternal Life, let me be Crucified, so they be Glorified. Which was the purchase and the gift of this his Passion p. 60to all his Friends, even to those that do what he Commands; Awhich is the first Condition that entitles to his friendship, and my next part.

Ye are my Friends if ye do what I command you.

I shall not urge, that Great-men upon Earth will not take any to their Friendship but upon these terms; nor will I plead the reasonablenesse of this in Christ, there being no cause why he should be a Friend to any that will daily disoblige him and dishonour him: Nor will I press the whole Oeconomy of Scripture, which sayes, all the advantages Christ ever gave or meant us, and all the acts of Friendship that he Bever did for us were with this design. He gave his grace that brings salvation to save us into an estate of sober virtue. Tit. 2. v. 11, 12. He gave himself also to Ransom us from our own evil doings, and to redeem us into his obedience, Tit. 2. v. 14. Without which no dependance on him will avail. Mat. 7. 21. He will own no acquaintance with, nor services from them who have friendship with sin; though they have cast out Devils in his Name, if they retain their vices; though they do miracles, if they do wickedly, he will bid them depart, professe he never knew them, v. 22. 23. He will not Clet such have a bare relation to his Name, nor have the friendship of a Title, 2 Tim. 2. 19. All his Rewards also that he will give are promised to none other, but them that do what he commands, Apoc. 22. 14. that is, do Evangellically, heartily and faithfully endeavour it, and do this with all diligence exprest by words, that import all strife imaginable, as Running, Wrestling, Fighting, Warring. And persevere also by patient continuance in well doing, Rom. 2. 7. and he hath nothing else but vengeance for all others. 2 Thes. 1. 8. and we have neither Christ, nor Gospel, nor Religion, but Dwith these terms.

But I shall wave all this, and bound my self within the present words, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his Life for his Friends. Ye are my Friends if ye do what I command you. When Christ is boasting of his love, making comparisons, and vying friendships with mankind, nay more, contriving heights and depths of Mercy, such as Man hath no comprehension, nor fathom for; when he was preparing to do an act of compassion almost equal to his Divinity, when he had resolutions of so much kindness as to give Ehis life that he might shew kindness. Yet could he not then find in his heart to offer or declare one jot of kindness to the men that will not do what he commands, but in the midst of such agonies of compassion, he thought of nothing but infinite p. 61indignation and eternal vengeance to the disobedient. I have Abut now given my Body and my Blood even to the Traitor aaLuc. 22. 19, 20, 21.Luke 22:19Luke 22:20Luke 22:21Judas to one who is a bbJoh. 6. 70.John 6:70Devil: I am going to give my life even for my ccRom. 5. 10.Rom 5:10Enemies, for the ddJoh. 3. 16, 17. & 6. 51. & 2 Cor. 5. 19.John 3:16John 3:17John 6:512 Cor 5:19World: But I will give no love to any, have no friendship with any but the virtuous: no, though they be my own Disciples, ye are my Friends, ye my companions and Apostles are my Friends, onelyonly on this condition, if ye do what I command you.

And then is it not matter of Astonishment, to see men fancy they have a right in all Christ's Actions and Sufferings, presume upon his favour and their own happy condition, Bthough they do nothing, or but very little towards this, and the main of their life be disobedience, as if all Christ's commands, appointed them to do no commands, and Christianity were but a liberty from virtue. To pass by those that do nothing but Evil, that which the Devil does suggest, or their flesh dictate, and to consider the Demurer sort of Christians, that pretend a respect to Christ, and to Religion, and see what they will do.

Why sometimes you may find them troubled at their vices and themselves; and those troubles breath out in Sighs, Cand in warm wishes that they could do that which Christ prescribes; to will is sometimes strongly present with them, but to perform they know not how. Alas Christ does not tell you that you are his Friends if you wish well to him, and his Commands, but he requires that you shall do them. These are but vapours of a troubled Soul, which howsoever they may chance rise warm, catch a strong suddain heat, breath up in flashing thoughts. They are but meteors, little shooting flames that onelyonly do catch fire and fall and dye; shew fair, but they warm nothing: And so these thoughts do never heat the heart into Devotions and holy resolutions, Dthe fire is not strong nor does it live enough, to melt and work away the filthinesses of the Soul: No, though they grow to aversations; For you may find such men, when wearied with the pursuite of their sins, hating their customes, and the engagements to the practise of them; complaining thus, I know 'tis ill, and 'tis against my heart, that I obey the motions of my passions or Lusts: The incitations of my Appetite, the usance of the World, the obligations of civility or mistaken honour do indeed prevail upon me, but 'tis with Egreat reluctancy of mind that I yeild to them, but I cannot avoid it. There are not few that satisfie themselves with this condition. Now sure Christ does not say Ye cannot be my Friends except you sin against me and against your Knowledge, p. 62and your Conscience too. 'Tis strange that men should think the Heathen instance of a Witch that cryed.

—Video meliora, proboque, Deteriora sequor—

I know, and do approve of better things, but cannot choose but follow these that are the worser; strange, that this Fury that had the Devil for Familiar, should make Christ a friend; that this should be the state of Gospel Saints, and of Gods favourites. 'Tis possible some therefore go yet further to good purposes towards Obedience, and have holy Intentions, Bbut this is not sufficient neither, if to do his Commands be necessary: for to purpose and intend to do them, is not certainly to do them. Yet where are any that do aim at doing any more? and there is none of these but does presume upon his interest in Christ, and satisfies himself and is secure.

Yet is it hard to find a ground of this their confidence, unlesse it rise from the unhappy use they make of Gods preserving Mercies, and his kindness to them in the concernments of this life. They see without their cares, and upon very Cweak intreaties indeed against all provocations both of God and danger; yet his protections secure them, although they neither mind the asking them, nor mind the walking worthy of them. The man whose Sins, not Prayers, prepare him for his Bed, he sleeps well; perhaps more soundly than he who at his Bedside throws himself on his face into Gods arms, and there bequeaths himself to the Securities of the Almighty: And he, whose Sleeps onelyonly refresh him for returns to Sin, does often live as long, as safely, and as merrily, as he that daily most Religiously does beg Protections from above. DAnd others that afford the Lord some little homages, themselves some Prayers when their pleasures or occasions permit, God hath a care of them, and their desires flow into them, all does succeed well with them. Now they take confidence hence to conclude, these are the tokens of Gods friendship, and all his mercies will come in at the like easie rates; that such a short▪ petition as committed them to the refreshments of the night, and after which they wak't into renewed strengths and pleasures, such another shall lay them Edown in safety, to the sleeps of that long night, that afterwards will break in happy Resurrection: For why? God will not sure fail his own mercies, but be as friendly to their Souls as he is to their Bodies.

p. 63And thus God's Preservations here, in meer defiance of Aour provocations, which are the arts of his long suffering, his strivings of Compassion, meerly to give us opportunities of being reconciled to him, and to invite us to be so, while we make them occasions of carelesness and security, they are so far from being pledges of his Friendship, that they have all the aggravations of affronted goodnesse, become temptations and degrees of Ruin. 'Twere fine indeed if Christ's eternal preparations for his Friends, would come in to us, without care or doing any thing, as an accession to our pleasures; if when we had lived many years as in a Garden, our Bdayes all flower'd with delight; we might expire into Paradise, and in soft airs of Musick breath into Hallelujah's. But alas! the smooth easie way leads down the Hill, and the must strive and pant that will get up into the Mansions and the Bosome of his Saviour, and whosoever will be his Friend, must do what he commands.

But is there nothing lesse indeed will qualify? The Scripture saith, that Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for Righteousness, and he was called the Friend of God, James 2. 23. and then, is Christ more inaccessible, and harder to be made a Friend?

Why, truely God and Christ both are so much Friends to all true Believers, that the Life of Christ was given for them, for, God so loved the World that he gave his onelyonly begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life, John 3. 16. Nor are there any qualities more signally peculiar to friendship, more engaging than confidence and trust, dependance and relying, embosoming my self in him: Now these are but the excercise of Faith; and 'tis most certain if we heartily endeavour to do what he commands, there is employment then for all this work of Faith, Dplace for its applications and assurances. My Text does make this good. But when his friendship is made over on Conditions, as 'tis not onelyonly in these words, but every where in Scripture; (there being not one promise absolute that does concern Gods favour, justification, and eternal Life: he does not once offer Remission of sins, but to those that amend their lives; nay, does express as if he could not give it otherwise, peradventure they will repent that I may forgive them, Jer. 36. 3.) The promises therefore being conditionali, Faith must be answerable to the Promises that it does Erest on and apply; and at the most, can be but an assurance that you shall be partaker of what's promised, that is to say, partaker of the favour and the life of Christ, if ye do his p. 64commands. But then if I perform not this condition, to Atrust upon his friendship which I am not qualified for; to think by Faith to receive a Pardon, which in that case I am, was never offered me; to apply to my self promises which were never made me, for none were ever made to them that do not do; and to assure my self Christ will transgress his everlasting Covenant for my Vices sake, meerly to give me leave to enjoy my sins; will do that which God may not do, forgive one that will not repent: If I believe thus against promise, and against Decree, am confident whether Christ will or no, and will rely upon him in despite of him, if such Ba faith will make us friends, affronts do reconcile. This is indeed to lay violent hands on his favour, and to invade his friendship, and without metaphor, take Heaven by force.

But sure I am, that this is not the Faith made Abraham be called the friend of God in that place of S. James, but a Faith that was perfected by doing, v. 22. of that Chapter, a Faith that made him offer up his onelyonly Son upon the Altar, v. 21. 'Tis true, he did in hope believe against all hope, Rom. 4. 18. So that his faith was stronger than a contradiction, Cbut yet his resolutions of obedience seem stronger than his faith; for he did that even to the cutting off the grounds of all his faith, and hope. He trusted God would make his promise good to him, make all the Nations of the Earth be blessed in the seed of Isaac; though Isaac had no seed, nor could have, if he should be slain: And he resolved at Gods command himself to slay that Isaac, so to make him have no seed. His Faith indeed did not dispute the great impossibility; but his obedience caused it. He did not question, how can God perform with me when I have offered Dup my Son? I cannot look that a large Progeny should rise out of the Ashes on the Altar; nor will those Flames that devour all my Seed at once, make my seed numerous, lasting, and glorious as the Stars in Heaven, which he aaGen. 15. 5.Gen 15:5promised me: But much less did he question, why should I obey in this? He that does his commands, can but expect what he hath promised; but if I should do this Command and slay my Son, I make his Promise void, and destroy my own expectations: And if I disobey I can but suffer what he bids me do; my own obedience will execute all that his Indignation would Ethreaten to my disobedience. Though Abraham had bbGen. 22. 4.Gen 22:4three dayes time and journey to the Altar, that Nature might have leisure the mean while to reason with the Precept thus, and his Affection might struggle with his Duty; yet he goes on, p. 65resolves to tear out his own Bowels, and cut off his hopes, Awill Sacrifice his onelyonly Son, and Sacrifice Gods Promises to his Commands.

And then, he that will trust to Abraham's example of believing, yet will not follow him at all in doing, will obey no Commands; that is so far from offering up an onelyonly Son, he will not slay an onelyonly evil Custome, nor part with one out of the herd of all his vicious habits; will not give up the satisfaction to any of his carnal, worldly, or ambitious appetites; not Sacrifice a passion or a lust to all the Obligations that God and Christ can urge him with, he hath, nor faith, nor Bfriendship, no, nor forehead. 'Tis true indeed, he that hath Abraham's faith may well assure himself he is Christs Friend; but 'tis onelyonly on this account, because he that believes as Abraham believed, he will not stick to do whatever Christ commands; which is that universality of obedience, that is the next condition that entitles to Christs friendship, and my last part.

Ye are my Friends if ye do whatsoever I Command you.

There is no quality so necessary to a Friend, or so appropriate Cto friendship, as sincerity. They that have but one Soul, they can have no reserves from one another: But disobedience to one Precept, is inconsistent with sincerity, that hath respect unto all the Commandements; and he that will not do whatever Christ prescribes, hath reserves of affection for some darling sin, and is false to his Saviour. He is an Enemy indeed, so that there is no friendship on either side. S. Paul sayes so of any of one kind; the minding of the flesh, saith he, whether it be providing for the Belly, or any other of the organs of Carnality, is desperate, incurable Rebellion aaRom. 8. 7.Rom 8:7: Now such a Rebel, is, we know, the worst of DEnemies. S. James does say as much of any of those vicious affections that are set on the world: Whosoever will be a Friend of the World, is an Enemy of God, James 4. 4. And he calls them Adulteresses and Adulterers, who think to joyn great strict Religion to some little by love of an Honour, or a profit of this world? Such men are like a Wife, that not contented with the partner of her Bed, takes in another now and then, she must not count her self her Husbands Friend, though she give him the greatest share in Eher affections; no, she is but a bosome Enemy: And so any one vice allowed is a paramour sin, is whoredom against Christ, and our pretended friendship to him in all other obediences, is but the kindness and the caresses of an Adulteress, p. 66the meer hypocrisie and treachery of love. If it be necessary Ato the gaining of Christ's friendship, that thou do his commands, 'tis necessary that thou do them all, that thou divorce thy self from thy beloved sin, as well as any other: Because his Friendship does no more require other obedience than it does that, but is as inconsistent with thy own peculiar vice as with the rest. Indeed it is impossible that it should bear with any, they being all his murderers. If thou canst find one sin that had no hand in putting Christ to Death, one vice that did not come into the garden, nor upon Mount Calvary, that did not help to assassin thy Saviour, even take thy fill Bof that: But if each had a stab at him, if no one of thy vices could have been forgiven, had not thy Jesus dyed for it, canst thou expect he should have kindness for his Agony, or friendship for the man that entertains his Crucifiers in his heart? If worldly cares which he calls aaMat. 13. 22.Matt 13:22Thorns, fill thy head with Contrivances of Wealth and Greatness, of filling Coffers, and of platting Coronets for thee, as the thorns did make him a bbMat. 27. 29.Matt 27:29Crown too, wouldst thou have him receive thee and these in his bosome, to gore his Heart as they did pierce his Head? If thou delight in that intemperance, which Cfilled his deadly Cup, which Vomited Gall into it, can he delight in thee? That ccMat. 26. 38. 39.Matt 26:38Matt 26:39Cup which made him fall upon his face to deprecate, will he partake in as the pledge of mutuall love? He that sunk under, could not bear this load of thine, when it was in his Cross upon his shoulders, will he bear it and thee in his armes, when thou fallest under it? When thou wilt cast a shameful spewing on his glory too, if he own such a Friend? Thou that art so familiar with his Name, as thou wer't more his Friend than any in the world, whose Oaths and imprecations, Moses sayes, ddLevit. 24. 16. foreignLev 24:16strike through that Name, which they so often call upon, thou mayst as well Dthink his heart did attract the Spear that pierced it, and the Wound close upon its head with unions of Love, as that he hath kindness for thee. If Christ may make Friendship with him, that does allow himself a sin, he may have fellowship with Belial: For him to dwell in any heart that cherisheth a vice, were to descend to Hell again. But as far as those Regions of Darkness are from his Habitation of Glory, and the Black Spirits of that place from being any of his Guard of holy Myriads; so far is he from dwelling with, or being Efriend to him, that is a friend to any wickedness, to him that will not do whatever he commands.

And now if these conditions seem hard, if any do not care to be his Friend upon these terms, they may betake p. 67themselves to others. Let such make themselves friends Aof the Mammon of unrighteousnesse: A Friend indeed that hath not so much of the insincerities as many great ones have: For this will furnish them with all that heart or lust can wish for, all that necessity or wantonnesse proposeth to it self to dress out pomp or vice: But yet when with enjoyment the affections grow, and become so unquiet, work them so, as not to let their thoughts or actions rest, make them quicken themselves, and like the motions of all things that go downwards tending to the Earth, increase by the continuance, grow stronger, and more violent towards the end, Bthen when they are most passionate, it fails them: And having filled their life with most unsatisfied tormenting cares, it leaves them nothing but the guilt of all: When their great Wealth shall shrink into a single sheet, no more of it be left, but a thin shroud, and all their vast Inheritances but six foot of earth, be gone, yet the iniquity of all will stick close to them; and this false Friend, that does it Self forsake them, will neither go aaPsal. 49. 17.Ps 49:17along, nor will let its pomp follow them, raises a cry on them as high as Gods Tribunal; the cry of all the Blood, all the oppressed rights that bribery till then Chad stifled, the groans of all those Poor that greatness, covetousness, or extortion had groun'd and crush't; the yellings of those Souls that were starv'd for want of the Bread of life, which yet they payed for, and the price of it made those heaps which will that day appear against their Friends and Masters, and prove their Adversaries to eternal Death.

Let others joy in Friends that Wine does get them; such as have no qualification to endear them, but this, that they will not refuse to sin and to be sick with their Companions: DMen that do onelyonly drink in their affections, as full of friendship as of liquor, and probably they do unload themselves of both at once, part with their dearness and their drink together and alike. I know not whether it be heats of mutual kindness that inflame these draughts, and the desires of them, so as if they did drink thirst; but sure I am, that these hot draughts begin the Lake of fire.

Let others please themselves in an affection that Carnality cements. These are warm friendships I confess, but Solomon will tell us whence they have their heat. Her house, saith he, doth open into aaProv. 7. 27.Prov 7:27Hell, and Brimstone kindles those libidinous Eflames. There are strait bands, fetters in those affections indeed; for the same Wiseman sayes, The Closets of that sinner are the Chambers of Death: That bbProv. 2. 19.Prov 2:19none that p. 68go unto her return again, or take hold of the paths of life; Ait seems she is a friend that takes most irreversible dead hold, she is not onelyonly as insatiate, but as inexorable as the Grave, and the Eternal Chains of Fate are in those her embraces. But God keep us from making such strict Covenants with Death; from being at friendship with Hell; or in a word, that I say all at once, with any that are good Companions onelyonly in sinning. Such men having no virtue in themselves, must needs hate it in others, as being a reproach to them, and therefore they are still besieging it, using all arts and stratagems to undermine it: and having nothing else to recommend Bthem into mens affections, but their managery of vice, no way to Merit but by serving iniquity, they not onelyonly comply with our own evil Inclinations, that so they may be grateful, and insinuate into us, but they provoke too and inflame those tendencies that they may be more useful to us, having no other means to work their ends. And then such friends by the same reason, must be false and treacherous, and all that we declaime at, and abhor in Enemies, when that shall be the way to serve their ends; because they have no virtue to engage them to be otherwise: And to be such, is Cto be constant to their own designs, their dispositions and usances. These are the Pests of all Societies, they speak and live infection, and friendship with them is to couple with the Plague. These do compleat and perfect what the Devil but began in Eden: Nurse up Original sin, chafe inclination into appetite and habit, suggest and raise desires, and then feed them into Constitution and Nature: In a word, are a brood of those Serpents, one of which was enough to destroy Paradise and Innocence. 'Tis true, a man would think these were our Friends indeed, that venture to Gehenna for us: DAlas they are but more familiar devils, work under Sathan to bring us to Torments, and differ nothing from him, but that they draw us into them, and he inflicts them. And when sinful contents come home in Ruine, and pleasures dy into Damnation; then men will understand these treacherous loves, and find such Friends are but projectours for the Devil; then they will hate them as they do their own Damnation, discerning these are but the kindnesses of Hell. Nay it is possible, I may slander that place in speaking so ill of it. Dives will let us see there are affections of a kinder and Emore blessed strain in Hell, Luke 16. from the twenty seventh verse; you find he did make truce with Torments, that he might contrive and beg onelyonly a message of Repentance for his Brethren; he did not mind at all his own dire Agonies, p. 69he minded so the reformation of his Friends. Good God! Awhen I reflect upon these pieties of the Damn'd, together with the practises of those who have given their names in to Religion, when I see Fiends in Hell do study how to make Men virtuous, and Christians upon Earth with all their art debauch them into vice and ruine; I cannot choose but pray, Grant me such Friends as are in Hell. Rather grant us all the Friendship in the Text. But then, we must have none with any vice. Friendship with that, engageth into enmity with God and Christ I shew'd you. And to pass over all those after retributions of Vengeance Christ hath studied Bfor his Enemies, when he, that now courts us to be our friend and we will make our Adversary, must be our Judge: For were there none of this, and should we look no further than this life; yet sure we of this Nation know, what it is to have God our Enemy; who for so many years lay under such inflictions, as had much of the character of his last executions; they had the Blasphemies and the Confusion, the dire Guilts, and the black Calamities, and almost the Despair and Irrecoverableness of those in Hell. And though He be at Peace with us at present, at least there is a Truce; yet I beseech Cyou in the presence and the fear of God, to think in earnest, whether the present provocations of this Nation do not equal those that twenty years ago engaged him into Arms against us, and made him dash us so in pieces: Whether those Actions of the Clergy be reformed, that made the People to abhor their Function and their Service, the Offerings and Ministers of the Lord, and made God himself spew them out. 'Twere endless to go on to the prophanness, to the loose impieties and the bold Atheismes of the Laity, especially of the better sort; in short, what one degree, or state or Sex is better? Sure I am, if we are not better, we Dare worse beyond expression or recovery; who have resisted every method, and conquer'd all God's arts of doing good upon us, been too hard for his Judgments and his Mercies both.

'Tis true, when we lay gasping under his severe revenges, we then pretended to be humbled, begg'd to be reconciled and be at peace with him, and vow'd to his conditions, promising obedience, and aliened our selves from our old sins, his Foes. But then, when Christ came to confirm this amity, came drest with all his courtships brought all the invitations Eof Love along, our Prince and our Religion, our Church and State, Righteousness and Peace, and the Beauty of Holynesse, every thing that might make us be an Happy and a p. 70Pious Nation, thus he did tempt and labour to engage Athat Friendship which we offered him and vowed to him: And we no sooner seiz'd all this, but we break resolutions as well as duty, to get loose from him; and laden with the spoyls of our defeated Saviour's goodness, we joyn hands with his Enemies, resume our old acquaintance-sins, enrich and serve them with his Bounties, make appear that we only drew him in, to work such miracles, but to assist our Worldlyness, Ambitions and Lusts, to be our opportunities of vice and provocation of him. And being thus affronted and refused, his Enemy preferr'd, not this God, but Barrabbas, any Bthe vilest thing for Friend, rather than Christ, must he not needs be more our Enemy than heretofore? And if he be, that question will concern us, aa1 Cor. 10. 22.1 Cor 10:22Are we stronger than God? It should behove us not to fall out with him till we are. See how he does prepare himself for the encounter, Wisd. 5. Taking his Jealousie for Armour, putting on Justice, severe and v. 17. 19. 20.vindicative Justice, as a Breastplate; and, his Wrath sharpening as a Sword; and, arming all the Creatures for Auxiliaries. Alas! when Omnipotence does expresse it self as scarcely strong enough for Execution, but Almightyness will be armed Calso for Vengeance, will assume Weapons, call in Aids for fury, who shall stand it? Will our Friends, think you, keep it off us, and secure us? did we consider how uneasie God accounts himself, till he begin the Storm, while he keeps off his Plagues from overrunning such a Land, we would expect them every moment, and they must come. bbIsai. 1. 20.Isa 1:20Ah, sayes he, I will ease me of mine Adversaries, and avenge me of mine Enemies; and then in what condition are we if God can have no ease but in our rnine, if he does hunger and thirst after it, go to his Vengeance as to a Feast? And if you read the 25. DChapter of Isaiah, you will find there a rich Bill of Fare, which his Revenge upon his Enemies does make; view the sixth verse. He that enjoyes his morsels, that lays out his Contrivances, and studies on his Dishes so as if he meant to cramm his Soul, let him know what delight soe're he finds, when he hath spoyled the Elements of their inhabitants, to furnish his own Belly, and not content with Natures Delicacies neither, hath given them forc't Fatnesses, changing the very flesh into a marrow, suppling the Bones almost into that Oyle that they were made to keep; all this delight the Lord by his expressions does seem to take in his dread executions Eon his Enemies, a sinful People.

And if the vicious Friendships of the World have so much more attractive than Christ's love and favour, and the happy p. 71consequences of it, as to counterpoise all the danger of such enmity, you may joyn hands with them: But if His be the Asafer and more advantageous, then hearken to his Propositions and beseechings; for He does beg it of you: As he treated this reconciliation in his Blood, so he does in Petitions too. For saith S. Paul, 2 Cor. 5. 20.2 Cor 5:20We are Ambassadours for Christ, as if God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, Be you reconciled, and then be Generous towards your GOD and Saviour; and having brought him as it were upon his knees, reduc'd him to entreaties, be friends, and condescend to him and your own Happiness. If He be for you, take no care then, who can be against you. His Friendship Bwill secure you not onelyonly from your Enemies but from Hostility it self; for, when a man's wayes please the Lord he will make even his Enemies to be at peace with him. Prov. 16. 7. He will reconcile all but Vices. And afterwards see what a blessed throng of Friends, we shall be all initiated into, Heb. 12. 23. To an innumerable company of Angels, to the general Assembly, and Church of the First-born that are written in Heaven, to God the Judge of all, and to the Spirits of Just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant, C&c. And of this blest Corona, we our selves shall be a noble and a glorious part, inflamed all with that mutual love, that kindles Seraphims, and that streams out into an heavenly glory, filling that Region of immortal love and blessednesse; and being Friends, that is, made one with Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, that Trinity of Love, we shall enjoy, what we do now desire to ascribe to them, All Honour, Glory, Power, Majesty, and Dominion, for evermore.

Amen.