The Son of God Walking in the Fire with the Servants of God, Sermon

The Son of God Walking in the Fire with the Servants of God · Sermon

p. 209A SERMON Preached in Norwich, upon the day of the Mayors entring into his Office.

ECCLES. 9. 10.

Whatſoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might: for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wiſdome in the grave, whither thou goeſt.

WE ſhall not ſeek far for the ſence of the words, we ſhall finde the ſence in themſelves: Some conceive that Solomon ſpake in the perſon of the natural man, or the Atheiſt, who keep this Counſel; Follow after the world, enjoy thy pleaſure and thy profit, and do it with all thy might, for thou haſt no long time to enjoy them in; there is nothing in the grave, and therefore now take thy fill. But I rather conceive that Solomon ſpake here as a Prophet, in the perſon of a Prophet, and ſpiritual man, and gives better Counſel then this, from the ſeventh verſe, unto the end of the p. 210Chapter. He gives advice in the ſeventh verſe, to take the comforts of thoſe things that God hath given: And upon this Account, Becauſe the Lord accepts thy works: Goe thy way, eat thy Bread with joy, and drink thy Wine with a merry heart, for God now accepts thy works: And ſo in the ninth verſe: Live joyfully with thy Wife whom thou loveſt, all the days of the life of thy vanity; not with the Harlot, as the Atheiſt would have ſpoken; but with the wife whom thou loveſt: And ſo alſo this Counſel in the Text, ſeems to be given by Solomon, in the perſon of a ſpiritual man: Whatſoever thy hand finds to do, do it with all thy might, for there is no working in the Grave, &c.

The wiſe man here gives counſel unto all men to improve the time of life, he calls all men to activity in the time of life: And firſt he declares wherein men ought to be active, Whatſoever thy hand findes to do: Whatſoever is in thine hand to do (as ſome read it) Whatſoever God puts into thy hand to do, in thy general or particular Calling, more eſpecially in the great Affairs that do concern the world to come, whatſoever thy hand finde to do in relation unto the ſtate of Eternity, whatſoever thy hand finde to do; a man finds that ſometime which he ſeeketh, and ſometimes that which he ſeeketh not: After thou haſt ſought out the mind of God, and doſt know what is his will concerning thee; when thy hand hath found out what to do, then do it with thy might; or if the Lord ſhall prevent thee with his goodneſſe, and ſhall diſcover his will to thee, when thou ſoughteſt not after it; Oh then give up thy ſelf to work the work of God, and do it with all thy might: And then he ſhews in p. 211the ſecond place, how men muſt work theſe works of God; do it with all thy might, with all diligence, with all faithfulneſs; lay forth thy ſelf to the very utmoſt for God; do it with thy might: This he preſſeth with two Arguments.

Firſt, There is no work in the grave, there is no work to be done there, that is the place of reſt, t…ere is no poſſibility of working; if thou wouldſt work afterward, thou canſt not, thou ſhalt not be able to work, there is no poſſibility of working for God, and for thy ſoul, when once in the grave; there is no beleeving, there is no repenting, there is no turning to God, when once in the grave; if it be not done before thou comeſt there, it is like to be undone for ever; There is no work in the Grave.

And ſecondly, as there is no work in the grave, ſo there is no device, nor knowledge, nor wiſdome, there is no means to accompliſh work; if there were any work to be done in the grave; there is no means to accompliſh this work, there is no knowledge in the grave. This Argument is further backed by the conſideration of the haſtening of that eſtate of death, where there ſhall be no poſſibility of working; there is no work in the grave whither thou goeſt: He doth not ſay there is no work in the in the grave whither thou ſhalt go; but whither thou goeſt, thou hadſt need make haſt; for thou art going Thou, and Thou, and every one, thou goeſt to the grave, thou art making poſt haſt thither, thou art going every moment, thou art every moment ſtepping over the Threſhold of Eternity: And therefore the Reſult of all is this.

Whatſoever God ſhall lay before thee to be thy p. 212work, whatſoever thou haſt to do for God, or for thy ſoul, in the great buſineſs of Eternity, do not dally with it, do not defer it, do not put it off, there is no work in the grave, there is no poſſibility of working there: If thou wouldſt, there is no means to accompliſh work there: And this condition is haſtning upon thee, thou art ſtepping into the grave every moment, thither thou goeſt; therefore he ſaith, what thou doeſt, do it with thy might.

I ſhall faſten upon this one conſideration to proſecute at this time.

Obſervat. That it concerns every living man to do with his might, whatſoever he hath to do for God, or for his own ſoul, in that great buſineſs that doth concern Eternity.

It concernes every living man and woman, to do with all their might, what ever they have to do with all their might, whatever they have to do for God, or for their own ſouls in the great buſineſs that doth concern Eternity.

I ſhall here ſhew you, Firſt, what it is for a man to do with his might.

Secondly what are thoſe things that God requires of every one of you to be done with your might; And that will make way for the Application.

Firſt of all, What is to do with thy might?

To do with thy might; Firſt, is to do with diligence, to do diligently, to take all opportunities of doing for God; yea ſeek opportunities, not only embrace opportunities, but ſeek opportunities of doing for God: Our Lord Jeſus Chriſt went up and down doing good, in the days of his fleſh; p. 213he ſought opportunities to ſerve his Father, and to ſerve the ſons of men.

The Sun carries his light up and down the world, and viſits poor Creatures that are in darkneſs; when a man is faithful in taking opportunities to do for God, in ſeeking opportunities, when a man works with diligence, then he works with his might.

Again ſecondly, To do with thy might; to do with a mans might, is to do or work reſolutely; to do with reſolution, not to be beaten back by diſcouragements, and by oppoſition, that doth lye in the way; never did any work meet with ſo much oppoſition, as the great work of our Redemption by Chriſt; But he brake through Divels and all the powers of darkneſs that were in his way, he did with his might the work of his Father, for he did it with reſolution: To go on notwithſtanding all ſtorms, all winds that blow, though never ſo many dangers lay in a mans way, though there ſeem to be Lions in the way, great enemies, great perſecutions, loſſe of name, loſſe of eſtate, loſſe of friends, to go through evil report, as well as good, to break through the ſtrife of Tongues, and the ſtrife of hands: This is to work Reſolutely, this is to do with a mans might.

Again thirdly, to do with a mans might, is to do faithfully; when a man works faithfully, and ſincerely, when he doth not warp nor turn aſide; when he is not byaſſed nor drawn by the allurements of the world: In the 33. of Deut. it is ſaid that Levi did not know his own Father, nor his own Mother, nor his children: he did the work of God with all his might, for he did it faithfully: And p. 214when the cauſe of God was in hand, he knew no friend, he knew not his Father, he knew not his children; Get thee behind me Satan, ſaith Chriſt to Peter, a dear friend, a choſen Diſciple; yet when Peter will diſſwade Chriſt from doing the work of his Father, Peter is a Satan, he is an adverſary; get th…e behind me Satan▪ And ſo, what do you mean to vex my heart? ſaith Paul, when his friends diſſwaded him, I am ready not only to be bound, but to dye at Jeruſalem for the name of Chriſt. When a man works faithfully, then he works with his might.

Fourthly, when a man works ſpiritually, then he works with his might: When his heart goes into the work, when the ſpirit goes into the work, when a man is content not only to give God the outſide, but his heart ſhall be engaged, and that ſhall bow to God, and ſubmit to Chriſt: If he do not find that his heart and ſpirit is engaged in the work; he cannot be ſatisfied: It is ſaid of good Joſiah, in the 2 of Kings, 23. verſ. 25. there was none like to him, there was none like before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his ſoul, and with all his might: He turned with his heart and ſoul, his heart and Spirit was engaged in it; and therefore now he did it with his might.

Fiftly, when a man works with his might he works ſpeedily; I ſay ſpeedily: Our Lord Jeſus did the work of his Father with his migh…, and he began betimes, in the morning; he was called the Hind in the morning; he was hunted betimes in the morning; He began betimes to work the works of his Father: when he was thirteen years of age, he was found diſputing among the Doctors, and ſaith he, Wiſt you not that I muſt do the work of my p. 215Father? To begin betimes in the day of youth, to take the beſt ſeaſon, the fitteſt opportunity to do for God; when a man doth ſpeedily, then he doth with his might.

Sixthly, When a man doth strenuouſly, when he doth with all his ſtrength, with all thoſe abilities God hath given him; when he is content that God ſhould have all that he hath; that God ſhould ſerve himſelf of the beſt he hath, and rejoyce that he hath any thing for God; when a man lays down himſelf, and lays down all at the foot-ſtool of God, & ſaith, Lord take me, and take mine, and improve me to the utmoſt of thy ſelf; it matters not what become of the Creature, ſo God may be glorified; when a man works thus, he works ſtrenuouſly and with all his might.

Seventhly and laſtly, when a man works conſtantly: When a man holds out unto the end, when he is willing to abide with Jeſus Chriſt, yea to abide with Chriſt in his tribulation; when he is willing to ſerve the Lord all the ſix days of his life; when he is content that his works and his life ſhould be finiſhed together, and not one before the other: Thus it was with our Lord Jeſus Chriſt when he was upon the Croſs, his work and his life were finiſhed together▪ when a man works thus to the end, this man works with his might. That is the firſt Particular, we haſten to the ſecond: You have heard what it is for a man to work with his might.

The ſecond follows: What thoſe things are that every man ought to do with his might.

I ſhall ſpeak firſt to Sinners, and then to Believers, and ſhew both their works: Something the p. 216Lord requires of both to be done thus, with all their might.

If Sinners ask what is their work? I anſwer; What the work of ſinners is to be done with their might.Firſt, their work is to know themſelves: To know that they are poor and miſerable, blind and naked, that they are loſt and undone; that they are without light, and without life, and without ſtrength, and without hope for eternity; that they have ſinned, and cannot ſatisfie; that they have loſt themſelves, and cannot return of themſelves; that they have done evil, and cannot do better of themſelves: If free-grace do not prevent them, they are as poor wandring ſheep upon the Mountains; they are like to wander, and wander, and wander for ever, till they be ſeparated everlaſtingly from the Lord, if the good Shepherd of ſouls do not go forth to ſeek and ſave them: That is the firſt thing that doth concern them to know, ſeek after this knowledg, and that ſpeedily, with all your might.

Secondly to know the Lord Jeſus; it concerns the ſinner to ſearch after the knowledg of Chriſt, to know that he is the only Mediator between God and man; to know that all pardon, all peace, and all grace, and all ſtrength, and all holineſſe, it muſt come in through the blood of Jeſus Chriſt; that this Lord Jeſus is freely held forth to loſt ſinners; he is tendred by free promiſe, or Covenant of grace: and that men are invited every where to return to the Lord, to deny themſelves, their own works, their own righteouſneſs, their own worthineſſe, and to ſubmit to the righteouſneſſe of the Son of God, that everlaſting righteouſneſs that Jeſus Chriſt hath brought in by his blood. To ſeek after this knowledg of Jeſus Chriſt, is the ſecond p. 217great work that ſinners have to do.

Thirdly, To beleeve in Jeſus Chriſt; this is an other work: To believe in the name of Jeſus Chriſt, Oh this is the great work! when poor ſinners came to Chriſt, and askt him what work they ſhould do: How they ſhould work the works of God? he tells them, that this is the work of God, To beleeve in the Name of Jeſus Chriſt, Joh. 6. 29. this is the work of God, this is the great work, the firſt work, all other works are not accepted, till this be done: This is the firſt born of graces, this is the beginning of the ſouls ſtrength; and till this be done, all other works are loſt, becauſe, without faith, it is not poſſible to pleaſe God; All the time of their continuance in unbelief in the wilderneſſe, it was a time of temptation and provocation; this is the great work, the work of God, which meets with moſt oppoſition; all within a man, and all the powers of darkneſſe do make againſt it; and therefore it concerns poor ſinners to ſeek after this great work of God, with all their might; they can never begin too ſoon, never begin too ſpeedily; it is a mighty work, if you had hundreds of years to live, you would finde time little enough to beleeve in, to exerciſe faith in. I ſhall go no further with ſinners, for till this work is done, nothing is accepted. And therefore, Oh that God would perſwade the hearts of poor ſinners to know that this is their work, To know themſelves, and to know Chriſt, and to beleeve in his Name! Oh that the Lord would ſtir them up to ſeek after it with their might!

But what is the work of Beleevers? What muſt What Beleevers muſt do with their might.they do with their might?

Firſt of all, To ſeek after further knowledge of p. 218their God, and Communion with him, acquaintance with him, fellowſhip with him; to know more of him in his Attributes, in his Son, in his Word, the myſteries of his Kingdome; to know the truth of the Times, the will of God concerning you. Oh, this is a great work, it concerns you to ſeek after this with all your might: to wait upon God in all means for it.

To wait at wiſdoms Poſts, to climbe upon every Sycamore Tree, where Jeſus Chriſt is wont to paſs by; to ſet your ſouls under every Golden-Pipe, where there is ſaving knowledge of Chriſt to be Communicated to you, or further acquaintance with God; Breath more after him, thus did David, in Pſal. 63. O God thou art my God, early will I ſeek thee, my ſoul thirſteth for thee, my fleſh longeth for thee in a dry and thirſty Land, where no water is; He doth not only thirſt; but he longs: Now longing is a mighty ſtrong deſire; How dangerous is it to the Creature, if longing be not ſatisfied? With this deſire of longing was Davids ſoul carried after further acquaintance with God, further enjoyment of him; That's the firſt.

Secondly, The ſecond work that you have to do with your might, you that have intereſt in Chriſt, is to get your hearts fully rooted, and fully eſtabliſhed upon the promiſes, that you may not be left at uncertainties in the great matters of your everlaſting welfares; to get your hearts built, I ſay, eſtabli…hed upon the Promiſes, rooted in Chriſt, to get your Acquittance cleered up to you, cleerly written, and wait till the Lord ſhall teach you to read it; that you may be able to ſay as the Apoſtle, in Rom. 8. 33. Who ſhall lay any thing to the p. 219charge of Gods Elect? it is God that juſtifieth, it is Chriſt that dyed, and is riſen again, and ſits at the right hand of God, and makes interceſſion for us; I ſay, you had need be perfect in your evidence for Heaven; there may come a time of darkneſs, black clouds may come over all your comforts, and preſent enjoyments: a black night of temptation may be upon you, the Divel may caſt a miſt before your eyes; and therefore you had need be perfect to read your evidence for Heaven, that you may be able to read, and to know your intereſt in Chriſt, in ſuch a condition as that is: Oh do this, make haſt to do this, do it with your might.

Third▪ To ſerve God in your generation, is another work you have to do with your might; to ſerve God in your generation is that you have to do, and Oh that you would do it with all your might, to honour and lift up God upon earth, to make him glorious, to lift him up by your praiſes, to lift him up by your converſations, by your obedience, by your ſhining in the midſt of a crooked and ſinful generation: The Lord he hath put his Name upon you Chriſtians for this end; he put his Spirit into you to inable you to this: He expects more from you then from others; the eyes of the world are upon you, and God ſhall either reap honour, or diſhonour by you; therefore it concerns you, I ſay, to do the work of your generation with all your might, to ſeek wherein you may be ſerviceable to the Lord how you may advance his Name: That is the third work, to lift up God by the ſervice of your Generation.

Fourthly, It concerns you to get your hearts made ſenſible of the periſhing condition of the p. 220Creature, of the fading condition of all things under the Sun, that you are fading Creatures, your life fades, and comforts fade: The Lord would have you ſeek with all your might, to have ſuch impreſſions as theſe made upon your ſpirits: 'tis a hard matter to receive them; and therefore God bids the Prophet cry, in Iſa. 40. The voice ſays cry, What ſhall I cry? all fleſh is graſs, and the glory of it as the flower in the field, the graſs withereth, and the flower fadeth. The Prophet muſt cry, and cry again, before men will hear this, before this impreſſion will be made upon the ſpirits of men, That they are fading men, and their comforts are fading; That they are as graſs, and their comforts as the graſs: You had need live in a continual converſe with your fading condition, dye daily, ſee death at a diſtance, and grapple with death at a diſtance: Put your ſelves into a dying condition, and ſay often, Oh! what if this were my laſt? What if I were now to breath forth my ſoul? What if now to ſhoot the Gulf of Eternity? What have I now to rely upon? What have I to carry me through? How ſhall death be conquered? How ſhall the ſting be taken out for me? You had need I ſay, converſe with death at a diſtance, and live continually in the ſence of your dying condition; that ſo death may not be terrible when it comes, that you may know before hand how to conquer it, and that it is conquered by the blood of the Lamb.

Fiftly, Another work that you have to do with your might, is to do good to your friends, and to your Relations. Chriſtians, give out the good things to your Relations, and do it ſpeedily, do it with all your might: Impart the knowledge of p. 221God to your Relations, Chriſt finds Andrew, and Andrew finds Simon Peter; Chriſt finds Philip, and Philip finds Nathaniel; Oh come, ſaith he, we have found the Saviour, the Meſſias, 1 Joh. 41. 45. You have but a little while to be with your Relations, and they are gone, they are taken from you, and you from them; and therefore with all your might work this work, and do them good, and give out good to your Relations. That is the fifth work that you have to do with all your might.

Sixthly, In all your waitings upon God, ſee that you do there with your might; I ſay, when ever you wait upon God in every Duty, in every Ordinance, whenſoever you draw nigh to God, the Lord requires you ſhould do it with your might. In the ſecond of Samuel, the 13. it is ſaid there, that David when he danced before the Ark, he did it with all his might: And ſo in the ſecond of Chron. 28. It is ſaid there, that David when he offered unto the Lord, he offered with all his might. And ſo that place, in 2 King. 23. and 25. It is ſaid that King Joſiah turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his might; what ever you do in the matters of God, do it not lazily: If you pray, do it with your might, and if you hear, let it not be done, but with all your might; and if you ſpeak, do with your might; becauſe theſe are mighty things, and they have relation to the buſineſs of Eternity.

Seventhly and Laſtly; To mortifie your corruptions, to get your luſts mortified, ſubdued, caſt out, your ſouls more conformable to Chriſt; this is an other work, and the laſt work that I ſhall name, that you Chriſtians and Beleevers have to do, and p. 222that with your might: To get your luſts mortified and ſubdued; Do it with your might, do not look upon it as an eaſie matter, as a frivolous buſineſs; Do not go out againſt ſuch Giants with ſtraw and Bulruſh: But Oh! get the compleat Armour of God, go forth in the name of Chriſt, in the ſtrength of Chriſt, with the blood of Chriſt, with with the promiſes of Chriſt, it is a work of great concernment; and therefore I beſeech you do it in good earneſt, go out in the Name of the Lord, and do this great work in good earneſt, that your corruptions may be mortified, and more of the Image and likeneſſe of Chriſt may be imprinted upon your Spirits. And thus have I ſhewed you (my Brethren) what it is for a man to do with his might, and what are thoſe works the Lord puts into your hands to do with all your might: You have heard what works are put into the hands of ſinners, and what works are put into the hands of Beleevers: And now I ſhall make ſome ſhort Application, and I have two words to ſpeak.

Firſt, The one a word of Caution and Direction. The other a word of Exhortation.

Firſt in the firſt place, a word of Caution and Direction is needful; and let this be the firſt Caution.

That though God call upon you to work with your might, yet he doth not put you upon it, to work to pay your debt, To diſcharge that great debt of ten thouſand Talents of tranſgreſſions: My Brethren, if you had a thouſand hands to work with, if you could work as much as the very Angels, it is not poſſible you ſhould work ſo much as ſhould diſcharge the debt: for you could not pay p. 223the leaſt farthing of that which is owing to God: No, know my Brethren, the Father of mercies hath pittyed poor Creatures, he ſent his Son, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt for this end, to marry poor Widdow-ſouls, that were left in an infinite debt, and could not diſcharge it; he hath ſent his Son to to pay the debt of every widdow-ſoul, that is content to be eſpouſed to Chriſt; he came from Heaven for this end, he wrought with his hands, he had no other way to pay the debt, he left himſelf poor; The L…rd Jeſus was rich, but for your ſakes he became poor; he had no way to pay the debt, but by working with his hands; he wrought hard, he wrought till he ſweat, he wrought till he ſweat drops of water and blood; he wrought three and thirty years together, that he might pay this great debt that was owing, that his people did owe to the Father. And therefore take heed you do not go about, to work to diſcharge your own debt: do not work to pay your debt; but work becauſe your debt is paid and diſcharged by Jeſus Chriſt.

Secondly, Take heed you do not work for your living; God calls upon you to work with your might, but he does not put you upon it to work for your living: Life is not from your works, neither ſhould Chriſtians live upon their works; The life of your joy, and the life of your peace; the life of your comforts, the life of your righteouſneſs, it is not from your works; the Lord never put you upon it, to work for this end: no, Chriſt hath wrought enough for his people, that they might live as his people: he hath provided for their maintenance, to fill their cup; he hath provided for their cloathing; he put mighty righteouſneſs, p. 224everlaſting righteouſneſs upon you; It is not now to do, and live, this is not the Covenant. But the Covenant of grace is, live and do: fetch life from Chriſt, and then do, and do with all your might, becauſe life is given freely by Chriſt.

Thirdly, God doth not put you upon it to work to purchaſe love, to purchaſe favour, or to purchaſe Heaven: I ſay, you are not to work to purchaſe the favour of God by your works, to purchaſe Heaven by the works of your hands; Alas Adam in innocency could not do it: he could not yearn life by working: And how ſhall poor Creatures in a fallen eſtate be able to purchaſe, and yearn life by their own works? No▪ if you will ſeek ſalvation by works, you reſt upon your works; and if you reſt upon your works, you break your works, and both you and your works are like to be loſt for ever: and therefore know my Brethren, you are to do your utmoſt for God; if you could do ten thouſand times more, all is too little for God: But know, that life and ſalvation is not purchaſed by your doing; work as much, and do as much for God, be as diligent in doing the work of God as if life were to be purchaſed by works; but when you have done your utmoſt, renounce all, and know, that by your own works you are no more nigh to Heaven then the very Publicans and Harlots; It is by the door of grace only, that you muſt enter into life: That is the third.

Fourthly, When God calls you to work with your might, he does not call you to work with your own ſtrength: I beſeech you take this Caution along with you, that poor Creatures may not think that they are able to do that which they are called p. 225upon to do: I ſay, the Lord does not call you to work in your own ſtrength; And therefore know, that without Chriſt you can do nothing; you are not fit for the leaſt work, for the leaſt duty: All your ſufficiency muſt come down from Heaven: you cannot beleeve, you cannot repent, you cannot obey, you cannot give glory to God, unleſs this power be given you from on high, you cannot move towards God in any gracious action, unleſs the Lord comes in with ſtrength: O therefore, when ever you are to work for God, go and ſet your ſelves under the promiſe; the promiſe of ſtrength and aſſiſtance, Go and look for ſtrength to Chriſt; do not act in your own ſtrength: Oh let your ſouls open to the breathings of the Spirit of Jeſus Chriſt: The ſoul never acts graciouſly, but when it is acted by the Spirit of Chriſt: Oh know that you are as a Ship becalmed upon the Sea, and you cannot ſayl, till the ſpirit breath upon you, and fill the ſayle of your affections, and carry you God-ward, and Heaven-ward; and therefore let Chriſt be your ſtrength, wait for his ſtrength, that you may ſay, Now I live, and yet not I, but it is Chriſt that liveth in me: I act, and yet not I, it is the Spirit of Chriſt that acts in me: I pray, and yet not I: I beleeve, and yet not I: I obey, and yet not I, it is the Spirit of Chriſt that acts in me, it is his ſtrength that helps me. This is the fourth Caution: I beſeech you take heed you do not work in your own ſtrength; you will ſpoil your works.

Fiftly, Take this Caution, do not preſent your works your ſelves to God: When you p. 226have done your work, go to Jeſus Chriſt, and deſire him to carry your works home: Chriſtians know, it is not for you to carry your work home, it is the Office of Chriſt; and therefore make uſe of Chriſt, and ſay, Lord preſent this Sacrifice, this Duty; do thou waſh it with thine own blood, and cover it with thine own righteouſneſs: I tell you, your works are not pleaſing, unleſs they come out of the hands of Jeſus Chriſt; Chriſt muſt waſh your works, and perfume your works, and ſweeten your works, and preſent your works with acceptation to the Father; and therefore when you have wrought with all your might, let Jeſus Chriſt preſent it to God your Father, and his Father.

Sixtly, Take heed that when you work with all your might, you work not for your own end: I tell you, good works may be ſpoiled if you work for your own end, if ſelf come in: a man may work the work of a Magiſtrate, or the work of a Miniſter, but if ſelf come in, if vain glory be his end, if the praiſe of men, if his own profit: If the glory of God be not the end he propounds to himſelf, that man will be called by Chriſt another day, a worker of iniquity: We have caſt out Devils in thy name, and yet ſaith Chriſt to them, I know you not, depart from me, ye workers of iniquity Oh this is the dead fly that ſpoils the Box of Ointment, when a man does it for vain glory, to be ſeen of men, to get a name in the world, and to raiſe their eſtates in the world, when they do publique works for private ends; how ever it ſeems to be glorious, it is abhominable; p. 227and therefore when ever you work for God, make God your principal: Begin in his ſtrength, and end for his glory.

The ſecond word, is a word of Exhortation, and I will conclude with that; let me ſpeak in my former order, firſt to Sinners, and then to Beleevers, and I will be but ſhort.

Firſt to Sinners, You that have not yet wrought the work of God; you that have not given up your names to Chriſt, in whoſe heart the great work of faith is not yet wrought, You that are found this day working the works of darkneſs, the works of iniquity; Let me ſpeak a word to you, let me reaſon with you thus, in the name of the Lord Jeſus, my Maſter, and yours: What do you think of it my dear friends? does it not concern you? Is not this a work put into your hands, to ſeek after an intereſt in Jeſus Chriſt? to beleeve in his name, to give up your ſelves unto him? is not this work that is put into your hands, that God hath given you to do in this moment of your life? Doth it not concern you to beleeve in the name of Chriſt, think you? Without faith it is not poſſible to pleaſe God: If you be found in a way of unbelief, you are found in the way of wrath: It is ſaid the wrath of the Lord does hang over the heads of unbeleevers: If in a ſtate of unbelief, you are in an eſtate of wrath; if in an eſtate of unbelief, you are loſt, and your works are loſt; whatſoever you do without faith, your works cannot be accepted; without faith you cannot pleaſe God, without faith you cannot enter into life: And now what think p. 228you my dear friends, is it not a work that concerns you, to ſeek after faith in Jeſus Chriſt? If you grant it, let me further urge it upon you; Oh if this be your work, then do it with your might: Oh that the Lord would ſtir up your hearts to do it with your might; There is but a moment to ſeek faith in, there is but a moment to ſeek after an intereſt in Chriſt; and if this be not done now, O when ſhal it be done? If it be not done now, it is like to be undone for ever: there is no work in this kind in the grave; there is no repenting in the grave, no beleeving in the grave; there is no turning to God in the grave: Oh that the Lord would perſwade your hearts of a neceſſity of ſeeking after Chriſt, and getting an intereſt in him; and do it I beſeech you ſpeedily, and diligently; the Lord hath put it into your hand, and therefore now ſeek after an intereſt in Chriſt with all your might.

To you that have an intereſt in Chriſt, I ſhall ſay no more, but what I ſaid before: I laid you your work before you, get more acquaintance with God; get your hearts eſtabliſhed upon the truth of the promiſes, that you may not be left at uncertainties; and lift up God in your generations; and get your hearts made ſenſible of your frailty, to dye daily, to wait upon God with all your might in Ordinances; to get your hearts ſubdued, and your corruptions mortified: This is your work; and Oh that the Lord would help you to do it with all your might.

To you that are the Fathers of the City:

I have one word to you from the Father of p. 229Heaven: Oh that the Lord would make you willing to receive it, and to do it with all your might: There is ſomething that is your work, that the Lord requires you ſhould do with all your might: I ſhall but briefly give you a few hints, and ſhal leave it to the bleſſing of the Lord.

Firſt of all, There is a work of Judgment and Juſtice that the Lord hath put into your hands: I ſay, the firſt work that God hath put into your hands, it is a work of Juſtice, to puniſh ſin; to puniſh ſin is the work that is in your hand to do, to pu…iſh the breaches of the moral Law, and the contempts thereof: that Law of nature which is written in the heart of all men, the Lord hath put it into your hand to puniſh the breach of this Law: What ever your hand finds to do in this caſe, I beſeech you do it faithfully, do it with your might: God requires it of you, that you ſhould do it with your might; yea let your hand find out ſinners, let your hand do this work of the Lord, to puniſh the drunkards, and the ſwearers, and the prophane perſons, the deceiver, the lyar, and the ſtealer, and all other workers of iniquity: here is no fear of ſmiting Chriſt; ſmite here and ſpare not; where there is no danger of ſmiting Chriſt, ſmite on and ſpare not, do it with all your might; the Lord lays it before you as your duty.

Secondly, There is a work of Righteouſneſs and Equity, that the Lord puts into your hands to do: and Oh that you would do this alſo with all your might: to judge betwixt man and man; do it faithfully, to accept no mans perſon, to know p. 230no friend in the matter of Juſtice, but to decide every mans cauſe with wiſedom, and with faithfulneſſe, and with ſincerity; not to know Father, nor Brother, nor Son, nor Daughter, as Levi did not in the cauſe of God: That ſo Juſtice and Righteouſneſs may run down as a mighty ſtream: That there may be no oppreſſion, that there may be no complaining in our ſtreets; This is the ſecond work that the Lord puts into your hand: And Oh that you would do it with your might.

The third work is a work of Mercy; There is a work of mercy; the Lord puts into your hands to relieve the poor, and the needy, and the fatherleſs, to take care that the poor be provided for, that they may have work, that they may have employment, and that they may have maintenance; this is a work of mercy, that the Lord puts into your hands to do: Oh it is one of the crying ſins of England; it is the ſin of the whole Land; and Oh that it were not the ſin of this City, that the poor are not yet imployed and provided for; that God would put it into your hearts to do it: Oh that ſome bleſſed hand might find out this way to employ the poor; this would be an acceptable work of mercy: Know that the Lord hath given you ſomething for the poor, though I think every man hath a propriety in his eſtate, yet I alſo think that God hath given every man ſomething for the poor: and truly before God, the poor hath a right in it, though not to take, yet it is your duty to give, and to provide for them: And I fear if this work do not go through the whole land, that there be not p. 231ſome proviſion made for the work of the poor, and for the relief of the poor; That God will level this Land, and that God will bring down all the pomp and pride, and ſtain the glory of all fleſh in it; this is a work of mercy.

There is a fourth work; and that is a work of Piety that God puts into your hand, to ſeek the good of poor ſouls; to provide that all that are under your power in this City, may be inſtructed in the knowledg of the Lord Jeſus, to ſend into the dark corners, (the Suburbs of this City, and not only to confine men to the heart of the City) but ſend to them that will not come out for it: The Lord Jeſus came to ſeek as well as to ſave; and therefore ſend forth to ſeek them; they know not what they do in rejecting the means of life: But Oh ſend to ſeek them, and inſtruct them in the knowledge of the Lord, that they may not periſh for want of proviſion: And what though (my Fathers and Brethren) every man cannot ſee his way clear to take a Paſtoral charge of ſuch a people, where he knows there is but little of Chriſt, yet if he do the work, what though he do it not under that notion: If he preach Chriſt to them, if he bleed for them; If his deſires be to inſtruct them, and be willing to inſtruct them in publique and private, and to pray for them, that the Lord would give them repentance, and bring them into the number of Chriſts Sheep-fold: I ſay, if this work be done, what though it be not done under that notion? why ſhould the work of the Goſpel be hindred? If in all other things men be conſcientious, and p. 232able, and fit to teach and inſtruct the people in the knowledg of Jeſus Chriſt, this will be a work of Piety,, to ſend into the dark corners of the City, that there may be no place in which the word of the Lord ſhall not be heard.

There is a work of Love to Chriſt, and of wiſedome to your ſelves, and I will name no more; I commend this to you, as the laſt; And Oh that your hand would finde to do it, a work of love to Chriſt, and of wiſedom to your ſelves; And that is to protect the Saints, and thoſe that have an intereſt in Chriſt, and deſire to walk unblamably before you, if they be ſuch as walk according to the Law of God, and not diſobey the Law of Magiſtracy, it is the work of the Magiſtrates to protect them: The Magiſtrate is ſet up to be a praiſe to them that do well; What though they may differ from you in particular opinions? I am p…rſwaded it will not excuſe before Chriſt, not to have protected them: If you be convinced that they are ſuch as fear the Lord, and deſire to walk conſcientiouſly, It is your work to be a wall to them, and to protect them, ſo they walk regularly, and in the fear of the Lord: The people of God, they are the ſtrength of the Land, who ever they be, they are the ſtrength of the Land, they are the ſtrength of a City; They protect you, and therefore it is your work to protect them. The godly in a City, they protect the City, they are the ſafety of the City; God ſaid he could not deſtroy Sodom, ſo long as Lot was there, and could do nothing ſo long as righteous Lot was among them; they are the ſtrength of a p. 233City: I beſeech you ſee what is ſaid in the ſecond of Zechariah, verſe 5. And the Governours of Judah ſhall ſay in their hearts, the inhabitants of Jeruſalem ſhall be my ſtrength in the Lord of Hoſts their God: Such as fear the Lord of all ranks, they are the ſtrength of the City, and the time is a coming, when the Governours of Judah ſhall ſay ſo, The inhabitants of Jeruſalem are my ſtrength, in the Lord of Hoſts their God; they have great intereſt in God, and therefore they are my ſtrength, they are the ſtrength of the Governours, and they are the ſtrength of the City: And now let me ſay to you as Paul ſaid to Agrippa, Beleeve you this? (Oh you Fathers of the City) do you beleeve this, that the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, they are your ſtrength, and the ſtrength of the City in the Lord of Hoſts their God? do … beleeve this? I know you beleeve it, … the Lord will cauſe you all to beleeve … people of God, what ever they be, they are … ſtrength of the City: you ſhall ſay it one day, all the Governors of Judah ſhal ſay That the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem are my ſtrength in the Lord of Hoſts their God: And now I have humbly preſented this Counſel, as from the Lord: I have laid before you what is your work,

1. There is a Work of Juſtice.

2. A Work of Equity.

3. A Work of Mercy.

4. A Work of Piety.

5. A Work of Love to Chriſt in the protection of his people; And a work of Wiſedom to your ſelves, which will be your ſtrength.

p. 234And now let me ſay to all Chriſtians, and Chriſtian Magiſtrates; Let me ſay to you all, what ever is your work, what ever is in your hand to do: Oh that the Lord would help you to do it with all your might: What is in your hand to do as Chriſtians, as Magiſtrates; Oh that the Lord would help you to do it with all your might! I ſhall not need to preſs it further upon you both, as Chriſtians: The Devil worketh with all his might, and ſhall not Chriſtians work with their might, and Magiſtrates work with their might? He goes about night and day ſeeking whom he may devour, and ſhall not you go about night and day, ſeeking whom you may ſave? And ſeeking whom you may puniſh, for contemning the Law of the Lord your God? The Divel compaſſes the earth, (Whence comeſt thou? I come from …aſſing the earth) And Oh ſhall not Chriſtians … …ith all their might, when Satan doth with all his might? ſinners do with all their might, and ſhall not Chriſtians do with their might? It is ſaid of ſinners, That they draw iniquity as with Cart-ropes; It is the expreſſion of the Prophet, and in the ſeventh of Micah, it is ſaid, they ſin with both hands; they do evil with both hands, aye, earneſtly, and they do it with both hands; and if they ſin with both hands, ſhall not Chriſtians do good with both hands? Shall they ſin with all their might, and ſhall not you do the work of God with all your might? Let me ſay further to you, Chriſt did the work of the Father with all his might, and your work with all his might, (the work of your ſalvation) p. 235he wrought three and thirty years together, he ſweat hard: And Oh! ſhall not you in a way of love, in a way of obedience, labour to do for God with all your might, ſeeing Chriſt hath done for you with all his might? Let me ſay to you, you are not put upon it, to work for life, and righteouſneſs, or for Heaven: but only to expreſs your thankfulneſſe, your love, and obedience; and therefore well may you work for God, you have a great deal of work, and you have but a little time to do it: Sinners you are haſtning to the grave: Oh work for God with all your might.

Chriſtians you are haſtning to the grave: Magiſtrates, you are haſtning to the grave; Oh then do what ever you find to do for God, with all your might: There is no work as a Magiſtrate nor as a Miniſter, nor as a Chriſtian, in the gra…e, whither thou art going; here is all the working time that you ſhall have for eternity, you have ſix days to work in: And you that are Beleevers, ſhall have a long reſt, you may well work a while, though you ſweat hard for it; there is no more time to work in, but a long time to reſt in▪ an everlaſting Reſt, eternity of Reſt, that ſhall never have an end: your reſt is long; And Oh make haſt, there is no poſſibility of working more for God hereafter: If you do not finiſh your work now, you cannot finiſh it in the grave: You had need work, the Candle is ſet up, and you have but little of the Candle left: Oh if you do not finiſh this work of God before this Candles end be out, there is▪ nothing but darkneſſe p. 236in the grave: There is no wiſedom, no device, &c. If there were work, you could not ſee: But there is no beleeving, no repenting, no doing for God, no further time to be ſerviceable to God; but a time of receiving for the Saints, and a time for the wicked to be puniſhed: And therefore, What ever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor wiſedom, in the grave, whither thou goeſt.

And ſo much for this time.

FINIS.