Remains of Joseph Alleine, Treatise 7
A Discourse made by Mr. Joseph Alleine on a night of solemn Thanksgiving, which he held with his people in Taunton, some dayes before the five-mile-Act came in force, by vertue of which he was then to leave them.
MOst dearly beloved Brethren, with no little Joy and Thankfulness have I thought of this time, when I should once more see your faces together: and be so truly glad, with so heart contenting a mercy, as to rejoyce with the Joy of Gods people and to glory with his inheritance.
It is a time, that to some, may seem unseasonable to set up Thanksgivings when our calamities are so near approaching. But surely, if I had never hopes to enjoy one day with you more, the last day should be a day of praise. And if I were sure that we were now to take our farwell of Christians and Ministers, and of all our former liberties, I should exhort you that we might join once more in lifting up hearts and hands in bl…ssing God for all the mercies that we have met with together. Your Condition is never such but your mercies are infinitely greater, and more then your afflictions. Neither may the sence of misery at any time surprise you, so as to drown the Thankful acknowledgement of Gods mercies. God that hath been alwayes good to you, hath never been better then since you have had affliction. Elijah was never so happily fed at a full Table as when it was a time of great Famine: when God sent him every bit of bread and flesh by the mouth of a Raven. Oh how sweetly do you think that every bit of this bread did rellish with the man of God? when he saw that he received it imediately out of Gods own hand?
Brethren, though it hath been a time of great calamity, yet God hath herein heightned his mercy to you; you have seen the Bush of God burning and yet not consumed. The portion of Gods Children hath been taken away, and yet our cheeks have been fat. We have been cast with Daniel into the Lyons den: but God hath sent his angel and shut the Lyons mouth, and we have not been destroyed but are here together to praise the Lord.
Methinks there are several periods of time, …ine the time of our calamities, wherein God hath appeared to us, when we thought all had bin gone. One period was when your Ministers were shut out of publick by the Act of Uniformity. Another when we were cast out of our private Meetings, by the Act made against …ditious Conventicles. So called by the iniquity of the times. Another by this Act that doth now cast Ministers out of their Habitations. And me thinks every period should end with praise. We read, that when they removed the Ark, that when they had passed such a number of paces then they slew a sacrifice: so me thinks as we passe thefe periods of time, at the end of every period we should offer pr…ise. What though God hath separated your preachers from you, ye as he said, if the Souldier dies fighting, and the preacher preaching, and the swan singing, then the Saints should part praising. Oh Christians this is the spirit that should be in you, that what ever God doth with you for the time to come, you should resolve to end in his praise for the mercies past. If it were the last day we should have together, surely methinks we should end in praise. And since the Alarm hath been sounded, by the late unhappy Act, that saying of Sampson hath run often in my mind, let me dye with the Philistines: so methinks I would say, let me dye with praise. And now O God, let my hands and heart be lifted up with thy praise: that I may touch their hearts; that every heart of theirs, may sound forth thy heavenly praise. But 'tis easie to be lost in praise, the mercies of God are a deep that cannot be fathomed. Where shall I begin or end? How shall I reach to the top? or when shall I come to the bottom? however I will not say nothing, because I cannot say all. Let me touch a little of the mercies of God: a little this Evening to shew the mercy of God to you. And let it live upon your hearts as long as you live. Consider now what great things God hath done for you, whether you are the people of God in general; or people of Taunton in particular. How great are the mercies of God to you!
First, As you are the people of God in general. This is the top of all your mercies. In this sayes our Savior rejoyce, not that the spirits are made subject to you: but in this that your names are written in heaven. Brethren we have many mercies to praise the Lord for: but this is that should most affect us, Gods peculiar mercy to us, as we are his chosen generation, and peculiar people. Consider now what the Lord hath done for you. Let me open it to you in six or seven particulars.
(First.) You are the Election of Grace. (Secondly,) You are the first born of God. (Thirdly,) You are the first fruits of the Creation. (Fourthly,) You are the Remnant of escape. (Fifly,) You are the Burgesses of heaven. (Sixthly,) You are the Members of Christ. (Seventhly,) You are the living stones of the Temple. Blessed is the man, you will say, whose happiness this is. But this damps my Joy and comfort, lest I should not be the man. Now lest this should damp thy Joy, let me give thee two Characters, by which thou mayst come to know whether this be thy case. Thou mayst know it by the Transactions that have passed between Christ and thy Soul: and by the Treasure that hath been made choyce of by thee.
First, By the Transactions that have passed between Christ and thee. Hast thou passed under the Bond of his Covenant? as Christ hath offered himself to thee, hast thou again delivered up thy self to him? hast thou renounced all thy known sins? And took the Lord Jesus Christ for …hy Head and Husband, to love, honor, obey him above all? hast thou considered the conditions of Christ, and accepted of them all? and sayest as my Lord saith, so I will do. Doth thy heart close with the selfdenying laws of Christ, and art resolved not to allow thy self in any known sin; but to rise again by repentance? If so, thou art the man I am speaking of.
Secondly, Thou mayst know it by the Treasure that hath been made choise of by thee. Every man is known by what he pitcheth his heart upon for his Treasure. What is it, man, that carryeth thy heart? The things seen, or the things unseen? Who hath most of thy heart, God or the world? Which way stands the bent of thy heart? a godly manmust not judg of himself by what he is at worst, under a prevalent Temptation: Nor others by what they are at best in a fit: but where is thy constant bent? What is thy chiefest care and delight? Is it to converse with God? And be like to God? VVhat doth please thee best, when thou art contriving thy happiness? Doth this, that God is thine? Or is it something here below? VVhat is thy care? Is it to please God? If it be thus, thou art the man that I am speaking to. And now you that are thus, that have passed under the bond of Gods Covenant; and have made choice of him for your happiness, know and understand.
First, That you are the election of Grace. The election h…th obtained it, saith the Apostle, but the rest were blinded. You are the handful that God hath taken out but the heap are left. Oh Christians, the great Transaction of God from all eternity hath been about you. And the great transactions of God in time have been about you. The Lord did from all eternity enter into a league with his Son for you: and did give him to you. God was laying the foundation of your happiness before he laid the foundation of the world. God was making provision for you from all eternity. Our Saviour is often speaking of this gift in John 17. so John 10. 29. My father which gave them me is greater then all, John. 6. 39. And this is the Fathers will that of all that he hath given me I should loose nothing. And so, All that the Father hath given me shall come unto me. Oh Christian, doth not this assect thy heart? that the eternal Counsel of the great God should be taken up about thee? that God should be bargaining and agreeing with his Son about thee! that thou shouldst be mentioned by name from all eternity? Christ knows his sheep by name. And he bids such rejoice, because their names are written in heaven. O man, did God design thee from all eternity by name! How should this affect thy heart? what did God build all this world for? It was that Christ might have a seed. And why do he continue the world? 'tis because Christ might have the elect sinished, when the elect are numbred the Trumpet shall sound, and away he comes togather his elect. Christs coming, what was it for? that he might ransom his sheep. And his second comming, what is it sor, but that he might receive his elect? John 14. 3. I will come again and receive you to my self, that wher I am ye may be also, Math. 24, 31. He shall send his angels, with a great sound of a Trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. What was the end of Christs low Humiliation, even to death, but to save his people from their sins? Math. 1. 21. And what is the end of Christs glorious exaltation, to all power and greatness? it was all for the elect, John 17. 2. Christ hath all power in heaven and earth delivered to him for your sakes; for the elect. That he might give eternal life to the elect. Oh man, what a heart hast thou, if all this cannot move thee! if thou hadst stood by, when he laid the foundation of the fabrick of this world, wouldst thou not have said surely 'tis for some great end? if thou hadst stood by when Christ was Crucisied, and known the mistery, wouldst thou not have said, surely this is for some great end? why all this was for thee.
Secondly, You are the first born of God, Heb. 12. 23. you are come to the general Assembly, the Church of the first born which are written in heaven, The Apostle speaks of our priviledges as if we were come to heaven already. You [are] come &c. you are Gods Israel; and beside, you areadmitted to have fellow ship with Jesus Christ, and by faith are made one with him. Now Christ is Gods first born, and we being joyned to him are made one with him. We are joynt heirs with Christ. Now the first born had many priviledges, As.
(First,) The sirst-born had the dearest affestion, Zach. 12. 10. They shall be in bitterness as one for his sirst-born. There is the great sorrow, because there run out the great stream of affection, in this respect you are the firstborn of God: you are they that have his dearaffection, Eph. 5. 1. You are called the dear children of God. O the dear expressions, that he useth to you, and the dear affections that he hath for you! you are called the dearly beloved of his soul. O what drops of love doth God drop in these sacred leaves of this book? how full is the book of the Canticles? My love, My dove, My undesiled. God doth out bid the love of all the parents in the world. Can a woman forget her sucking child? sho may; but I will not forget thee, saith the Lord. The dearest mother when she lets her child out of her hands may forget it, but you are never out of my hands: you are engraven there. O what rouling bowels are there in those words, Jer. 31. 20. Is Ephraim my Son? is he a pleasant child? For since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still: therefore My bowels are troubled for him, I will surely have mercy upon him saith the Lord. Oh man dost thou consider that all this is spoken to thee? All this love, God hath in his heart for thee; yea beyond all expression dear art thou to God.
(Secondly,) The first-born do carry the inheritance. This is your case, the inheritance is for you. Though a man have many Sons, yet not many heirs: 'tis his first-born is his heir, though a King hath many Sons, yet but one King: 'tis the first-born that is King after him. In this refpect Gods children are the first-born: for they are all heirs, you are all Kings, you that are begotten again, you are begotten to an inheritance, to a heavenly, that fadeth no… away.
(Thirdly,) The first-born had a special blessing. Gen. 27. 19. I am Esau thy first-born. And you know when Esau knew that Jacob had got the blessing of the first-born, he accounted himself undone: and he lifted up his voice and wept. Brethren, you have the blessing. Let others glory in their wealth and riches; who ever have these benefits 'tis you have the blessing. Beloved, you are the Jacobs, when others are the Esaus: you carry the blessing of the first-born. Nay and God ratisies the blessing on you as that upon Jacob. I have blessed him and he shall be blessed. Balaam was sensible of this; He hath blessed and I cannot reverse it. You that are Gods firstborn, God hath made you unchangeably happy, you are unalterably blessed, God hath blessed you and it cannot be reversed.
(Fourthly,) The first-born did carry the honor, and were accounted the excellency and strength of the f…ily. Gen. 49. 3. Reuben, thou art first-born, my might and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power. And God says of his first born as Jacob of his. Thou art the excellency of dignity. So God sayes of you: I will make of you an eternal excellency. You know if a Knight have m…ny Sons, there is but one Knight. And so of a Lord 'tis the first-born is Lord after him: he carries the honor of the family. So you my Brethren, you carry the honor: you are the onelyonly honorable persons in Gods account. Since thou hast been precious in my sight thou hast been honorable. And, those that honor me I will honor. Brethren, put this together, and see if there be not reason to lift up the praise of God on high: and to say Now I will l…t up thine horn on high. Surely God hath listed up your horn on high.
Thirdly, You are the first sruits of the Creation. Jam. 1. 18. Of his own will beg at he us with his word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his Creatures. Now there were several things observable in the first-fruits, As.
(First,) The fir…t fruits, they were the choice of the fruits. And therefore God, that did ever require them to bring the best, would require them to bring the fir…t-fruites of the Creatures. Beleivers are the first fruits of Gods works. And God sets more value upon this workmanship then upon any thing else beside. Other things they shew some footsteps of God: but the new cre…ture th…t hath the very Image of God, and so is the fir…t fruit of all. The first fruits are of a more higher price and esteem than any other. So are you: you are those that he cals his excellent ones. Those whom he binds up amongst …s Jewels. The Saints are the desire of his eyes, and the joy of his heart. Christians, I speak this to you and you must apply it. You are the desire of Christ Psal. 4. 5. 11. He asks no other portion but you, Psal. 2. 8. And you are his delight as well as his desire. Prov. 8. The wisdom of the Father from all eternity, had his delight in the habitable part of the earth. Isaiah 53. He shall see his seed, and he shall see of the Travail of his soul and be satisfied. You are his seed, you are the Travail of his soul. Christ is content and satisfied to have this portion. And as the woman forgets her sorrow when she sees her seed, that a man child is born: so Christ forgets all his pain and trouble, when he sees his seed the travail of his soul.
(Secondly,) The first fruits were but few in number, in comparison of the full number and harvest. So 'tis here, the Saints are but few Thou art the fewest in number of all people, saith Moses to Israel: so may I say to you, you are as two or three Olives upon the uppermost boughs, or four or five upon the outmost branches. Gods first fruits are but few. Ah Christian, stand still and admire free grace, that thou shouldst be one of this few. Christ doth manifest himself to you, and not to the world. He prayes for you, and not for the world, you are a peculiar people to him. O what a little flock of kids hath Christ, in comparison of the herds and droves, and swarms that Satan drives before him to destruction! and art thou one of that number that stand with the lamb upon mount Sion? O how shouldst thou cause the praises of the Lord to be heard? they are but few of the number of mankind that are admitted into this grace wherein you stand. Therefore as you have special favor from God, engage in the praise of God.
(Thirdly,) The first fruits were holy to the Lord. These God did reserve for himself, as it were, for his own eating. As you know, the first fruits are preserved for to be presented to Kings at their table for their eating. So are you. Thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God, Psal. 4, …. Know ye that the man that is Godly, God hath set apart for himself. God sayes as it were, set this man by for me. God says of his sirst fruits, these shall be set aside for me. These shall be mine, Mal. 3. 17. As God would put a special honor upon the Sabbath day above all other dayes, because upon this day he rested from his Labor: so you are the honor of all the Creation: because you are a people that God hath set apart for himself. Ah Brethren, here is your dignity and priviledge above all people, that you are seperate to the Lord: that you have special relation to him. This makes you to be above all other people, because the Sun of Gods favor shines peculiarly upon you.
(Fourthly,) The first fruits were to be gathered into the Sanctuary, Deut. 26. God had in his Temple, the Chambers into which was to be gathered the first fruits, as peculiarly dedicated unto God. So we read, in Neh. 12. 44. Thus you are Gods first fruits. And God will gather his first fruits into his Chambers, into his glory shortly. He shall gather his wheat into his garner, Math. 3. 12. Math. 13. 30. The husbandman there, (who is no other than God himself) he speaks to his servants, that they should let alone the tares for a season, and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, gather you together first the Tares, and bind them in bundles, and burn them but gather the wheat into my Barn. This harvest is the end of the world: and the angels are the reapers; and heaven is the barn; and you are the fruits, and God will send shortly, and gather you into his barn; when the wicked shall be turned into hell in bundles, they shall be cast into Tophet; but you shall be gathered into Gods barn; into his glory. God do but stay awhile till the fruits be ripe and ready, and then you shall be all brought safe into his Treasury.
(Fifthly,) The first fruits were to be set before the Lord as a monument of his faithfulness, Deut. 26. 1. &c. Where you may observe these particulars. First, The first fruits, they were to be presented before the Lord as a thank-offering, so you. Secondly, The first fruits were to be brought to the priest, though you are the first fruits, yet you can expect nothing of God but at the hands of the priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thirdly, They were to be offered up with a thankful acknowledgement of Gods mercy, and their former misery, the priest shall take the basket out of thine hand, and set it down before the altar of the Lord thy God; and thou shalt speak and say, A Syrian ready to perish was my Father, and he went down into Egypt and sojourned there with a few, and became there a Nation great, mighty, and populous. Fourthly, They were to be set before the Lord as a monument of his faithfulness: thus beleivers, my Brethren, they shall be taken by Christ, and presented by him unto God as a monument of his faithfulness. And thou shall profess before the Lord thy God, I am indeed come unto the Country concerning which the Lord sware unto me: surely the Lord is faithful in all that he hath promised: and there hath not one word failed of all that he hath said by the mouth of all his prophets.
Fourthly, You are the remnant of escape, 'tis Ezrahs phrase. Brethren, you know that all mankind was interested in Adam: all in one common bottom. Adam miscarryed and so all mankind is shipwracked at once. And O how few are the number of those that escape! and art thou one of them? O how should you bless the Lord! methinks, you that God hath taken out of all the kindreds of the earth, you should run to God, as the several messengers to Job, Thy Sons and thy Daughters were eating and drinking wine, and the house fell upon them, and they are dead; and I onelyonly am escaped to tell thee. So should you say, oh so many of the Tribes of the earth are famished, and I am lest alone to tell thee: to praise thee. O methinks so should the redeemed of the Lord compass him about. O methinks I should see you in the posture of those redeemed, lifting up your voices together as the voice of many waters. Oh Christians, look back to your former bondage. Do not forget the Egypt that you were in bondage in: and the bonds of your lu…s, that you were held Captive in. O look back to the house of bondage and to the Iron furnace, the cruelty and tyranny from whence y… have made your escape, and now lift up the praise of your Redeemer. How should you stand upon the brink and look down into the horrible pit from which God hath plucked you! Brethren, you all suffered in that common shipwrack; yet, as in the voyage of Paul, they all escaped safe to land, so God hath ordered you, that all that were with Jesus Christ are escaped. O methinks you are like the world full of corn, and in comes Satan, and mows down whole swarfs, and you are left as a single ear here and there upon a ridge. O remember …ire and brimstone is coming down upon the world, and God hath laid his hand upyou and made you escape, and provided a Zoar for you. O while you see the Egyptians drowned upon the shore and you escaped, how should you be much in praising the Lord? the deluge is coming down upon the world, and but one Ark of men shall be saved. And are you the men that God hath purposed to save? are you the men that God hath put forth his hand and took in? O …less the Lord for this mercy.
Fifthly, You are the Burgesses of heaven. Heb. 12. 23. To the general assembly and Church of the first born, which are written in heaven. We read of a City that hath foundations; whose builder and maker is God, of that City art thou a Denizen. Thou art no more a stranger and forreigner but a fellow Citizen, and of the houshold of God: though heaven and earth are so distant in place, yet there is a real communio… the Saints here are free burgesses of heaven. Christian, thou art the man, that art made free of heaven: and who art born free.
Sixthly, You are the members of Christ, we are members of his body; of his slesh and bone. Consider Christian, beleivest thou this? if thou dost, thou needest not be called u…on to praise. O what to be a real member of Christs living body! yet so 'tis. If thou be touched 'tis Christ suffers wrong. Saul, Saul, why … thou me? He is as tender of you as of a member of his own body: and as dear doth he love you. And as sure as he carryed the members of his body into heaven, so sure will he carry thee. And as sure as the members of his natural body are glorified in heaven, so surely will he glorisie thee.
Seventhly, You are the living stones of the Temple, 1 Pet. 2. 5. Thou art cut out of the common quarry with others, as rugged a stone as the rest: but thee hath God pitched upon and chosen to be a polished stone for his own building. VVhen God hath left others he hath pitched on thee. Christian, it little mat…rs though thou art undervalued of men; yet herein God hath honored thee, those that men rejected God hath made the chief of the building.
Now put all this together and see whether God hath not done much for you, you are the election of grace, the first born of God, the first fruites of the Creation, the remnant of escape, the Burgesses of heaven, the members of Christ, the living stones of the Temple. O whence should God have praise if not from you? who should lift up his name if not you? but,
Secondly, Consider what God hath done for you as you are the inhabitants of Taunton in p…rticular. Though the former should ever ring loudest and carry the principal part in your praise; yet the other may not be forgot…n.
Now will I sing a song to my welbeloved, touching his vineyard, Isa. 5. 1. The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the Town of Tau…ton, and the inhabitants thereof his pleasant plant. And now I will tell you what God hath done sor his vineyard. He hath plucked up the fence thereof, and yet it is not eaten up. Her hedges are broken down; yet they that passe by the way do not pluck her, nor the wild Boars of the sorrest eat her: nor the beasts of the sield devour her. Shee is burnt with fire; and yet is not burnt up. O what hath God done for his vineyard here? O remember now, O people what the enemy consulted, and what the Lord answered; they said come let us curse Taunton and let us defie the people of God: But who shall curse whom the Lord hath not cursed? And … whom the Lord hath not defied? God hath blessed, and who shall reverse it? happy art thou O people: who is like thee O Taunton, saved by the Lord the shield of thy power, the sword of this excellency? The archers have shot at thee, yet they have not hurt thee.
Shall I particularize the mercies of God to Taunton? why, consider he hath been a Savior to you: a shepheard to you: a keeper to you.
1. He hath been a Savior to you. He hath saved your throats from the sword, your habitations from the flames, your lives from the plague your persons from the prison. (1.) He hath saved your Throat from the sword, have you forgotten that you were a people devoted to destruction, by the sons of violence? but God disappointed them and gave you your lives for a prey.
(2.) Your habitations from the flames. The flames have been set in Ambush against you, and yet your habitations are not burnt down to this day.
(3.) Your lives from the plague. It hath been devoured by the plague heretofore, and yet it hath not devoured you. How eminently hath God preserved you in this place in the time of common calamity that hath been among others. O think not that it was because those were greater sinners than are in Taunton: No, but because God hath a peculiar intention of saving you. Yet I say to you as Christ …o them, think not that those upon whom the Tower in Siloam fell, were greater sinners than any in Jerusalem. I tell you nay, but except you repent ye shall all likewise perish. We have had the same sins, and yet God hath preserved us.
(4.) Your persons from the prison. How often hath God preserved you? he hath been like the cloud upon Israel: and upon all the glory there hath been a defence. Once indeed some of you have tasted of a prison: but what a mercy was it, that it was but once? I might tell you what a mercy 'tis to you, that you have not been troubled with the prelates Courts. but,
Secondly, God hath been a shepheard to you. Therefore you have not wanted. VVho is it that drives you by the still waters, though you are as a lamb in a large place, 'tis because God is your shepheard VVhence is it that you lye down in green pastures? 'tis because God is your shepheard. How hath God provided for you formerly and of late?
Thirdly, God hath been a keeper to you. VVhen you were sent to prison God did keep you. O do not forget the mercies of a prison. I beleive, that of all the passages of our lives, many of us have no such experience of Gods mercy as in a prison. O the provision that God did make for us there! O the constant meals, the sweet meals that God did make for us there.
Brethren now let us thankfully commemorate all these mercies. Let me call upon you as the Psalmist, rejoyce in the Lord, ye righteous; and again rejoyce O ye people, let your voyce be heard on high. Let us worship and fall down before the Lord our maker. Let it be said, praise waiteth for thee a God in Taunton. VVell might praise wait for God in Taunton, for God hath waited to be gracious to us. There was the place that he chose to put his name there. There break … the Arrows and the spear. VVho is like our God who rideth on the Heaven for our help, and on the sky for our aid? Blessed is the people that heareth the joyful sound, they shall rejoyce in thee O Lord. The Lord is our deliverance, and the holy one of Israel is our King. Shout therefore, O inhabitants of Taunton, for great is the work of the Lord with you. And now, O Lord, Bless them, and accept the work of their hands, and lift them up: and let them lift thee up for ever.