Trials and Triumphs that Accompany the Work of God, Sermon 2

Trials and Triumphs that Accompany the Work of God · Sermon 2

p. 65John 11.16.

—Let Ʋs also go, that We may die with Him.

AS no Privilege can exempt his People from common Calamities, so there is no affliction but what indears the Believer unto Christ's affection; beloved Lazarus, falls sick and dies, and sick and dead Lazarus is beloved, and remembred: Love cannot lodge forgetfulness, nor live at a distance from the Person beloved, especially when in misery; Therefore Christ must go to Judea to see him: It puts on courage, and will go in the face of danger: It arms Power, and stirs it up to act in the dead Man's behalf, and when at length it cannot be prevailed over by reason, it leads p. 66it, and the great Masters of it, Captive: Let us go down, and die with Him.

q. d. Seeing he will be so w…lful to go down, and by so doing, run on his own ruine; then, Let us go down, and die with Him: And, this shall put an end to this wearied life we have, and finish all our sorrows.

For our present purpose, which is to hold forth the best and worst of things that are found in the resolutions of the People of God in the face of danger: I shall first shew you what this precipitant zeal is, as its found in them. A. 1. It's that which keeps the Soul from a cordial closing with Jesus Christ, and his design for a long time; they will not close with Christ here, in that which he call'd them to, for a long time, but disputes with him; it makes even Disciples of another mind from Christ for a time; Shall we pray that Fire may come down from Heaven? You know not, sayes Jesus Christ, what Spirit you are of: It's dull at present duties, that Christ calls for, however it may speak swelling words in hypocrisie.

Secondly, This precipitant zeal is such a thing, as makes men do all in a passion: It eats up consideration, and sober reckoning, p. 67or acting in cold blood. This man must be taken when hot, or then he becomes as the Smith's Anvil, that grows the harder the oftner it be beat: Though all should leave thee, yet will not I, says Peter; it was too passionate and precipitant; therefore he gets time to consider, when brought low for his iniquity. Canis festinans, &c.

Thirdly, This precipitant zeal consists in this, when Men (being at last perswaded to do that which Christ calls them to do) will over-do his commands, he calls them only to go down with him: Now, they that could not be perswaded to go with him, they will now go and die with him: Quantum mutatus abillo—Hectore: And, this is most ordinary, Men are either hard to be perswaded to their duty, or else over-perswaded to that which is their sin and humour, rather than their work, either they will not do what is commanded, or when, in their fits of passion and foolish zeal, they will do more, he that will not go down at first, will now go down and die. Thus much briefly for the first thing propounded from the words.

The Second Thing, is, to enquire unto these things, that were commendable and real p. 68good things, in this their resolution: We will go down, and die, &c.

The first commendable thing in this resolution, is this, That they are clear of Christ's mind, and fully perswaded that he would have them to go down, before they resolve it: And, this is an excellent thing, when a Christian hath the mind of Christ. Secondly, When a Christian yields to the mind of Christ. Thirdly, When a Saint builds all his resolutions upon clear Light about his Master's pleasure: Now they see Christ is determined to go down, and they resolve they will go with him.

Secondly, There is much affection in it, we will go down and die with him: Love had made them quite all for him: Love had made them refuse all, and choose him: And, now it makes them in the face of dangers, cleave to him: Love knows not how to let the beloved, either go alone, live alone, or die alone; We will die with Him. And sometimes it would redeem the life of its beloved, by its own death; or if not, it will go to the Grave with him.

Thirdly, This is commendable in their resolution, that they resolve on the greatest cost they might be put to, they say not, Let us go down, and be pursued with him, or p. 69imprisoned with him, or fired, or confined; but, Let us go down, and die with him. Death is the worst of it. Let us go down; we are resolved Christ shall not die alone, we have counted the cost, and are resolved on the worst of it: Come let us go down, and die with Him.

Fourthly, In this resolution of Thomas the Twin, there is much zeal, in that he is not only free for it himself, but he stirs up all the rest to their duty: Let us go down with him. Let it never be said that we would not follow Christ, others shall stumble, if we draw back, our Master will be offended, and we our selves disgraced; come, let us therefore go down, and die with Him.

Fifthly, In this resolution there was this commendable, That as they were not afraid of death, so they had hope in it, that it should put an end to all their other crosses, they eye the reward, and resolves on the worst, concluding that then it should be well with them, having ended all their Battels, and being entred into their Master's joys, an hundred fold here, and life eternal in the World to come.

A Sixth thing, that is commendable in this their resolution, is, that they put it in present practise; as they resolve it, so they p. 70do perform it instantly, while the opportunity is offered: It's sad, when resolutions die without performance of the thing resolved upon, especially when its present duty, and the opportunity of it, such as is hastning away. Post est occasio calva.

A Seventh, is their unanimity in the thing, notwithstanding of all their former disputes and debates against it, or the probable hazard that did appear in it; Let us all go down with him, as one man, and come of us what will.

Lastly, In that they thought it better to be with Christ in the midst of danger, than to be absent from him, and free of these, as they might suppose. Our security is in our duty, and our principal duty, the duty of duties, is to be neer to our Master, and to keep neer to Him. To let Christ go alone is our sin, our great hazard in going with Him, is of suffering, which is none at all, so long as our day continues. Is there not twelve Hours in the day? &c. v. 15. Thus much for the second particular, propounded for clearing of this their resolution.

The Third Thing to be considered, is the weaknesses, or faults that are found in this resolution: Let us go down, and die with Him.

p. 71The First fault that you may finde in it, is this, that there is little faith in it: It's true, there is some affection, but little faith, their affection to him, makes him look over infirmities, yet they are weak at the best in faith, or then they should have resolved to go down without any apprehension of dying. Christians may lodg much unbelief under the covert of honest affections: Not so Master, may be, where even so, because it pleaseth thee, is not to be found; and someti… our Lord answers all this with a Get thee behind me, Satan. The strongest basis of our resolutions, is our Faith; Love is sometimes very swift, but when it lacks the eye of faith, it stumbles, and oft-times runs into a snare.

The Second Fault you may observe here, is their ignorance; Come, Let us die with Him, is a fruit of their ignorance at this time: For, 1. This was not the time wherein he call'd them to die for him: The time is coming, Joh. 21.18. When another shall gird thee, and carry thee whether thou wouldest not; but this time was not then come. Nor (Secondly) was this the time wherein their Lord and Master was to suffer, there were yet some hours of the day to run out; and till these were gone, th re p. 72was no hazard of stumbling. And, Thirdly, they were ignorant in this, in that they thought when ever their Master was to die, they must undoubtedly die with him; this is a great mistake, he may set a death pass on himself, and his interest, and yet keep his Disciples alive, that they may publish and preach the Resurrection of that cause and interest, when he shall be pleased to revive them again: They are the Seed that he sowes to Himself, Hos. 2.23. I will sowe her to my self, &c.

A Third Fault I finde, and you may finde it in this resolution, and that's much dissatisfaction and discontentment with the thing now resolved on; they resolve thus, not so much out of choice, as out of necessity: I question not but they did choose this, and that it was their love that made them do so, yet there is something like necessity in the case and discontentment: Let us go down and die with Him: He will be all our deaths, and his own both, savours of little contentment; They had rather go, and die with Him, than be without Him, but if they could have their choice, they would think it far better and wiser, for Christ to go else-where, than to go to Judea: where they spake of stoning of Him the other Day.

p. 73A Fourth Fault that is in this resolution, is this, in that it rises more from their own apprehensions, and fears about things, than from the right rule; it's not right, when we make our own jealous and melancholy apprehensions, the rule of our expectation or resolution; nay, say they, he will go to his own death, this was their apprehension, well then, we will go with him; you lack no more to make you miserable, than to be given up to your own apprehensions, about the Cross. And Note this, that our apprehensions about the Cross, are sader than the Cross it self, Psal. 13.1. How long wilt thou forget me (O Lord) for ever? This is our apprehension, but it is not in our cross, Psal. 77. Wilt thou be gracious no more? that is our misbelieving apprehension. If you go down, they will kill you, and us both; that is, their deluded apprehension: I said, I am cast out of thy sight, Jonah 2.4. This is but his deluded apprehension.

A Fifth Fault, is, their rashness in it, Let us go down, and die with Him: They were rash in it: And that, First, In that they resolve they will die, as if to die for Christ were such an easie business. Secondly, They were rash, in that they will die with him, when he did not call them to any such thing; p. 74Christ call'd them only to go down and see Lazarus; and, they now will die with him. Thirdly, In that they considered not, that they must not, nor cannot die in Christ's company, if ye seek me, Let those go their way.

A Sixth is, that they do reflect on Christ, as rash, inconsiderate, and wilful: First, As rash, in running himself on seen and felt hazards, he could not be ignorant or forgetful of that which the Jews offered to do to him the other day, yet down he will go: And say they, it must be to die. Secondly, As inconsiderate, that he should hazard himself and them both, to see one that was dead and of whom they had little hope, or none that he should be the better for their visit And, Thirdly, As wilful, that he would g… down contrary to the judgment and desir… of the whole Church; for all the Disciple had intreated, and done what they could t… perswade him to the contrary: We woul… beware of any such thing as this, humb… submission dares not say, What does thou and keeps up honourable thoughts of Chr… in all his undertakings.

A Seventh Fault that I find in it, is thi… In that it did proceed from a despera… wearying of their present Lot, which make p. 75them content to rid themselves of it, by sharp sufferings. Truly, it's a sad thing, when we are willing to run our selves on sufferings, because of present discontentment with our condition. Take away my life, says Elijah, for I am no better than my Fathers: And Job himself was under this piece of weakness, Job 3.11. Why died I not from the Womb? Jonah 4.8. It's better for me to die than to live.

An Eighth Fault in this resolution is this, In that they argue a divisis ad conjuncta, they say, nay, Christ shall surely be killed by his Enemies: Ergo, So shall we. Now, this is most false every way; as the issue, in reference to both does clear: For, First, Christ died not at this time: And, Secondly, When He died, they did not die with him, He having died to keep them alive; we would beware of this deceitful way of arguing against our selves, or our duty.

A Ninth Fault is this, that this resolution carried not Christ's word along with it▪ He had told them there is no hazard; Is there not twelve Hours in the Day? And he that stumbles, Does he stumble in the Day? They either in the heat of their passion? forget this word, or then did not consider it so judiciously, as they should, or p. 76might have done; and truly, when we slight Christ's word, it's but sorry company we can be to Christ, when he is going down to Judea: And, Secondly, It's but a sorry expectation you can have in him. And, Thirdly, It's but a sorry estimation you have of Him; as is clear from that I have said.

Lastly, In that the thing resolved upon by them, was so contrary to Christ's design in this whole business, they think Christ and they must die; whereas our Lord's design in staying so long, in permitting Lazarus to die, and in his going down, it was for the… sake and advantage, that they might believe, Vers. 15. Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes, that I was not there, to the intent you may believe: There is nothing less in Christ's design, in his dispensations about you, then what you fear; There is death in your apprehensions, but none in Christ's design: O! for hearts to bless him for this, and to study his design more than ever we have done. Thus much for the Third Thing propounded.

I come now to the Fourth; What were the grounds and causes of this their Resolution? Secondly, What are the grounds and causes of the weaknesses and infirmities thereof.

p. 77For the First, What makes them so resolute, that they will go and die with him? A. 1. They had dedicated themselves to him, they had left all to follow him, and they knew there was none but he that had the words of Eternal Life. Now, dedication must be without retractation, or limitation; we must go wheresoever he goes, as the Wife does with the Husband. 2dly, They thus resolve, because of their love and affection to him; they resolve, nothing but death shall part them, as Ruth said to Naomi, As the Lord liveth, nothing but death shall part us: A man that hath no love to Christ, may do much, and suffer much for him, but he cannot go down and die for him, or with him, and keep up his heart, when he sees both Christ and he must die. A Third Reason of this their Resolution, was this, because they know not how to live without Christ; and seeing he will go, we will rather go die with him, than live without Him: And truly, it's a brave thing, when the Christian is so much in love with Christ, that he can choose any lot or cross with Him, rather than a Throne, or Kingdom without Him.

Thus much for the Reasons or Grounds of their Resolution, We will go down and die with Him.

p. 78The Second Question is, What is the cause of all this weakness, that attends so honest a resolution? A. 1. They do not mind the word that Christ had spoken to them, and truly one great cause of our manifold failings, is our slighting of the word that he speaketh to us. Secondly, They did not consider that Christ had an appointed time for his work, which none could shorten or lengthen, so long as his Twelve Hours lasts, there is no stumbling, Vers. 9, 10. Thirdly, They did not consider Christ's call, to work at that time, and in a such a place, therefore they did mistake, for if they had considered his call, they would not have keeped up disputes with Christ; and in fine, fall unto such a passionate resolution, so full of reflections against Him. Fourthly; The… did not consider that a Man following his calling, (be the seeming difficulties wha… they will) He stears a safe course, 1 Pet. 3.13. Who is he that will harm you, if you be doer… of that which is right: Duty hath a doubl… security in it; The First, is from its ow… nature, it's of a securing, and heart-keeping property, the word of his patience keeps thee, if thou keep it. And then Secondly, Your duty hath a promise annexed to it, which does strengthen thy strong hold; p. 79Therefore will I keep thee, Rev. 3.10. And there be Four Things, that rash Professors are much doubtful about; The First is, that if they go down to Judea, and follow Christ to a cross, they shall not get their day finished, nor their work either; but assure your self, so long as you have a day, you shall have work; and so long as you have work, you shall have a day, as Christ particularly teacheth, Luk. 13.31, 32, &c. Go ye and tell that fox, behold, I cast out Devils and I do cures to day, and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Secondly, They may be in doubt for whose cause this storm is, but a Christian in his duty, however he be not kept from difficulties, yet (following his calling) he is kept from the guilt of procuring them sinfully. It may be our suffering, to go down, but it's not our sin. Thirdly, One following his duty, may be assured of a blessing, but if you run out to suffering without a call, you can have no such assurance. Fourthly, A man in his duty, may be assured of one, that will make up all his losses, in following of him; So says Christ to his Disciples, Not one of you that hath, &c. Mat. 19.27, 28. But a Man that runs on, suffering without a call, he shall suffer loss, though he himself be p. 80saved, as thorow fire, so that the clearness of God's call, to go down, if well considered, might have afforded them more peace, then all the difficulties, they could meet with in their calling, can make void. Thus much for the Fourth Particular.

I shall come now to the Application of all.

1 Use. Here you may see and be informed about the case, and condition of the poor People of God, that are here represented by Lazarus, who not only sickned, but died, and did now lye in the Grave, and though there were some to condole and lament the loss of him; yet none there were that did, or effectually could bestir themselves for his recovery. O how many of us are dead, and have no more but a name, that we are living! Rev. 3.1. Is not the holy flesh gone from us? Is there not lewdness in our iniquity, for when he would have purged us, we would not be purged? Ezek. 24.13. Is not the holy beuties from the Womb o… the morning, gone? and not only gray hairs, here and there, but pale death, sitting as the King of Terrors upon our Eye-lids: Is not the beating of the Pulse Heaven-ward gone, and instead of these breathings, for so much p. 81of Heaven every day, and for so much communion; Is there not a beating of the Pulse and breathing of the Soul for so much of the World? For otherwise, saith one, I cannot live, and pay so much Rent. My Friends, if there were such an intermittant Pulse amongst the sick Patients in London, and of so long a continuance, I suppose, (with the consent of the best Physicians) many should be interred before they were really dead, our sounding fits are likest them that go down to the Pit: Is not our sleep so deep, that nothing but death seems to parallel it? Shall I say that our friend Lazarus sleepeth, and not be mistaken, as Christ was? I tell you plainly he is dead. And the dead of the Lord shall be many, and is it not so now? you should think it sad; if in every House the first born were dead; but, is it not a far greater lamentation, that in the most part of Houses, Husband and Wife, Children and Servants, are all dead? And, is it not yet sad, when in one Person, that was a pleasant, lively Childe, there be many dead; as, dead faith, dead convictions, dead resolutions, dead affections: O thou beautiful love, that was fair as the morn, clear as the Sun: what! hast thou died for cold, in the midst of a hot Furnace, p. 82Hath not all the Flames of London kindled thee again? O precious tenderness, What is become of thee? died thou as a fool, by doting on Paramours. Oh inriching painfulness, and diligence in the ways of God, Hast thou died? And, where now is the work of faith, seeing thou art gone? Where now is the labour of love, seeing thou art gone? Where now is the patience of hope, seeing thou art gone? Shall ever this Generation be exalted to honour, that are so negligent in business? You cannot stand before a King.

But ah, what smell do I find, Lazarus stincketh: O sir, he hath been these four days in the Grave; nay, Ten, Twenty, or more Years in the Grave, and there is none to anoint him, that his smell may be as the smell of Lebanon, and as of a green Field, that the Lord hath blest.

There be three Questions I shall here propound, and answer them to you about this present case.

The First is, wherein does the case in my Text, parallel the present condition of the People of God?

Secondly, What are those things, that in this case the People of God must beware of?

p. 83Thirdly, What are the duties, that in this case, are call'd for at our hand, concerning our friend Lazarus?

For the First, There are Seven Things wherein the parallel does hold.

The First is this, that in Judea, where poor Lazarus was the better for Christ's company, and was willing to have him continue there, Jesus Christ is badly entertained, they spake of stoning of him: And is it not so with the poor People of God this day, that where they have entertained Jesus the Lord, and have been entertained by him, he meets with such sad entertainment; And, may it not be for a lamentation, that our Lord and Master should be so badly requited for all the good deeds he hath done amongst us? May he not say, for which of these good deeds is it, that you speak of stoning of me? Is it for making you Christians, when Pagans? Is it for making you Protestants, when Papists? Is it for making you serious and spiritual, when formal and carnal? O tell it not in Gath, neither publish it in Askelon, least the Daughters of the Whore should rejoyce; And what Nation hath used their Idols that are not God's, as we have used him? Do you thus requite the Lord, O foolish and unwise? p. 84And shall not his Soul be avenged on such a Generation as this?

The Second is this, While Christ was in Judea, it went well with Lazarus, he is neither sick, nor dies, nor stinks; so, while Christ was in his House, and amongst his People; O how well did it go with them! the Wall went up, and was builded, because the People of God had a mind to work: And as Error, that work of Darkness on the one hand, durst not appear before this shining Sun of Righteousness, so profaness, and all iniquity stopped her mouth, had nothing to say, but this, Surely He is a great Prophet, and never Man spake as he speaks; Did not then the barren sing for joy? Was not our Wilderness turned into a fruitful Field? Did not sorrow and sighing flee away? Did not we prevail as Princes with God? and we had Power with Men: Did not the poor and needy sing in our Streets, because of the joyful sound? Did not loving kindness utter its voice in the morning? And was not our Sons of his faithfulness at Night? O how can we remember these things, and not say with the Church, Lam. 1.16. For these things I weep, mine eye, mine eye runs down with tears: But let us remember the days of old, and the p. 85Hill Mizar, Psal. 77. and 12. Vers. And rejoyce that ever he was with us, hoping that he is now for us, and will yet return unto us; We shall plowed again and sowen, Ezek. 36.10.

The Third thing is this, That Christ being badly entertained, he departs from Judea. And, is it not so with us? Hath not our strength departed from us? Hath he not forsaken his House, Jer. 12.7. and gone to his Place? Hos. 5.15. Hath he not torne us, and gone away? It's long since Christ said, How long shall I be with you, and that I am wearied with holding in. I will depart from you; and woe to you, when I depart from you. Are you yet ignorant of this? Or, will you command me to hold in Peace, because we must not make mention of the Name of the Lord: If I should, these spiritual woes of blindness, obduration of heart; unperswadableness, deadness, dulness, and stupidity, Atheisme and formality, should call aloud in your ears: And these temporal woes, on all your civil interests your trading, &c. should call aloud to you; for, because you were not sensible of the spiritual woes, God hath now smitten you so, as you do feel it, Jer. 10.18. For behold, I will slinge out the Inhabitants p. 86of the Land at this once, and will distress them so, as they shall feel it. But what shall I speak of Zion's barrenness, she hath not a numerous issue, as when her Husband was with her: May she not say, I have been in pain, and brought forth but Wind. The Work of Conversion hath been at a stand; what shall I speak of the many spiritual distempers amongst Professors, as to matters of opinion and practise, and what shall I more say to the removing of the Spirit far from us, both in its influences and operations, time would fail before I should give you a compleat account of the many sad evidences of his departure: Only this I shall say, that thus it is, and thus it will be, until the Spirit be poured out from on High, Isa. 32.15.

The Fourth thing is this, That when Christ is gone, Lazarus sickens, and dies; And is it not so with as? Hath it not gone very ill with us, since he departed? Have we not call'd, but he made us no answer? Have we not sought him, but could not finde him? Hath he not been angry with our Prayers? Hath he not answered them with terrible things in his righteousness? Hath he not made us sick with smiting of us? And are not many things dead and buried, p. 87that use to be alive in our Souls? Is not that lively Conscience dead, that used to be so lively in accusing, or excusing, as the matter required? Are not all our Lord's interests, and the interest of the Gospel dead? Now, if the crie of the living will not awake us, let the crie of the dead at the head of every Street; I shall then look on it, as a token for good, when these things shall begin to be revived in the hearts of the People of God, by the pouring out of his Spirit upon them.

The Fifth is, That our Lord and Master permits all this to fall out, and seems never to Notice poor Lazarus his case, until it be altogether hopeless to sense: Now he is dead, when Christ says, Let us go down and see him. And, is it not so with us this day? If I should ask some of you, what are your thoughts of Christ's carriage, I suppose it's somewhat like this; Master, carest thou not that we perish? You think Christ hath no care of his work and People. It's possible you may think it strange, that Christ should let it come to this pass, Lazarus is dead, if he mind to do any cure on Lazarus; But what, is there any thing too hard for him? and if it be marvelous in p. 88your eyes, must it be so in his? As our Lord is God alone, so sometimes he loves to work his work alone, Isa. 63. Amongst all the People, there was none to help him; and when there is no Intercessor, then his right hand brings salvation.

Sixthly, When Christ's time is now come, for his appearing for Lazarus Resurection. The chief Men in the Church, and these that were as Doctors, in comparison of the rest of Christ's followers; they oppose him, and disputes against Christ. There be two ways, that friends do hinder, and oppose this work now, when Christ's time is come to do it: The First is, by disputing, as the Disciples did; if he sleep, it's well he will awake again: This comes in course; and so it's with many, let the dead work lie, it will revive again, and I hope so it will: Salvation shall arise to the People of God, whether thou be concerned or not, but take heed what may come of you, or that time, you may forsake him, and flee away.

A Second Argument is this, It's most imprudent to run your selves on danger and hazard: Truly, I know no good work, or greak work, that ever our Lord did, but with its own hazard: one while he is in p. 89hazard, they will make him a King, if they be well pleased with him; and at another time, they will stone him, if they be displeased.

The Second way, that Friends do hinder Christ, when entred to work, it's by their unbelief; Martha, by her unbelief, she keeps her Brother in the Grave, for till Christ cure her of her unbelief, he raises not up Lazarus: O, the unbelief of the People of God! It hath laid many in their Grave, and keeped many longer than they might have been in it: Christ layes Lazarus in the Grave, because of his Disciples unbelief, I am glad that you may believe; and he keeps him in the Grave, because of Martha's unbeliefe: O that I could perswade you of the Virtue of Faith, and of the hurt that unbelief does to a dead Lazarus.

The Seventh thing is this, that at last, Christ ingages all his Disputants, that were against the cause, to be for it, and they will now do more then Christ for it, for they will die for it, their resolution is not without weakness, as you have heard: And, is it not so amongst us? Some Men they are so unwilling to do any thing, that they would be content to die, to be free of all p. 90these fears and dangers they are daily in: Could not our hearts smile on a Prison, if we could get there with credit, before we were at work in the heat of the Day? Now, put all these together, and you may have some small discovery of the estate of affairs, this Day. And thus much for the first Question propounded.

I come, in the Second Place; to the Caution, What is it that the Disciples of Christ have need to beware, and have a care of, when Christ begins to act for a dead Lazarus?

The First thing that the Disciples of Christ would Caution against, is this, never dispute duty, after that Christ hath declared his mind about it: The Cross sometimes produce two things, as to our duty; Either First, the Cross darkens us, and it is not so much, because of any thing in the Cross, as because of our aversation to it; and it's not so much duty we are in the dark about, as that we are seeking a duty without a Cross, that may carry some resemblance to the duty of the day, and bear us out in our profession, with some applause only now, of a zealous man, thou art changed to be a prudent man; take heed unto p. 91this, for our God will not be mocked. Secondly, Sometimes the Cross makes us dispute, (but very modestly at first) our duty with Christ himself, If he sleep Master, &c. And, now we must consult about a most clear thing, and this clear duty must be debated; and, this you may observe, that clear duties debated upon the account of the Cross, either fall in the dispute, or then are sent off the Field mutilate & mank in one thing or another. O for a silent Amen to all Christ's calls, and if he does not call, let us not go.

A Second Caution is, We would at such a time watch well, that our Resolutions flow not from a bad Spring, such as misbelieving fear; they have a misbelieving fear, and that is the guid of their resolutions, Isa. 8. Fear not their fear: It will produce some woful effect; This is but a poor thing for a Christian, in Christ's company, to fear what flesh can do unto him: Surely in this was their snare, and would to God we were free of it.

Thirdly, We would beware of making our own apprehensions, the rule of God's providence, about future contingencies: I said, says Abraham, the Men of the place will kill me for thy sake; this was a bad p. 92rule for him to judge by: One Day, sayes David, I shall fall by the hand of my Enemy, this was his mistake, not the rule, I said, in the cutting off of my days, Isa. 38. I shall go down to the Gates of Death: This was his mistake; We are out off for our parts, Ezek. 37. This was the cause of it, they judged of future contingencies by the wrong rule. It is our great folly to make our apprehensions the rule of God's providence, for it shall not be so, because thou thinks so, but because he hath determined or premised, that it shall be so, when apprehensions thus prevail, it produceth much sin.

Fourthly, Beware of misjudging, or condemning of Christ, because he will not follow your umbers, that pass with you for grave Counsels; Master, pity thy self, looks high with us, as savouring of affection, when our Lord looks on it, as a Satanical device, wherefore he saith to Peter, Get thee behind me, Sathan: That may seem to be a very wise and grave counsel to thee, that tends to the marring of that great work of Redemption, and the undoing of all that work, that Christ had wrought, in order to the finishing of it. And how good may thou judge that to be, that is not only the p. 93fruit of thy self-seeking, but deadly and ruining to the whole design of the Gospel? It's good to be here, say they, and they would gladly have staid there, but they were mistaken, and did quickly find it was not a place to rove in, by a sudden Cloud that covered the Mount, that made it as terrible a place to them, as ever it seemed pleasant; so that they all trembled, Mat. 17. Have we not then reason to be jealous of our good things, least we change our Mount of Vision, unto a Mount of consternation and trembling.

Fifthly, Beware of judging any thing unworthy of your hazard or pains, that our Lord counts worthy of with all his cost and travel, they thought it a poor business to undertake so dangerous a journey, to awake one that is asleep, or to see the Grave of one that now stinketh in it, yet Christ thinks it worthy of his while: And is it not for a lamentation, that we should think so little of these truths, that Christ Jesus the Lord thought worthy of death, and did actually die for. That he is a King, and hath appointed his own Laws and Ordinances: But alas, our love to himself hath decayed, and no wonder that we admit p. 94of that wosul distinction, of smaller and greater truths, when truth is brought to the Market to be sold. It's true indeed, that there is smaller and greater truths, but none so small, as to be undervalued, not contended for, or sold, be the Price above XXX. Pieces of Silver, that was all that was given for the Master.

Sixthly, Take heed that you do not offer your selves to suffer, when not call'd to it: Christ's call is, to go down; Now, they do run themselves on sufferings, without a call. I say, it's good for us to count the cost, and to be always ready on a call, but to run without a call, may be of dangerous consequences. First, It may be the ready way to some terrible Apostacy, and falling away; Peter will follow afar off, when Christ commanded them to be gone, if you seek me, let these go their way, and he tells them, he would see them again at Galilee: Nay, but this resolute Man, that the other day will die with him, he now follows; and, What comes of it? he denies his Master with an oath. Secondly, This makes suffering comfortless, when Men run without a call; for, what is more comforting, and incouraging, then when you can read your Master's p. 95call, to endure what hardness the trial may put you to. Thirdly, This deprives you of God's presence in your sufferings; I will not say, but God (out of pity) may give in some testimony of his presence, but let him do in his soveraign goodness what he will, thou cannot expect, nor confidently plead for his Presence in the fiery Furnace, or in the Prison, but when thou can produce his call, and say, that it's for his Name sake you are killed all day long.

Seventhly, Take heed, that when call'd to it, your offering your selves to die with him, be not out of weariness with your present condition, or the fruit of a fit of discontentment, as it seems it was here: Sometimes our Lord will have us to do, and suffer both at once; a Minister must preach with the peril of his life, and the People must eat their bread with the peril of their life: Now, the silence and security of a Prison is sweet unto them, they are so out-wearied with their present condition; albeit, the Lord blesses their work, and gives them a good gourd, like Jonah's, to play themselves with; and yet, like him, they are ready to say, Take away my life, for it's better to me to die than to live: or like Elijah, p. 96Take away my life, for what better am I than my Fathers, when their gourd is withered: This is a most subtil tentation, and we have reason to beware of it, and to watch against it, and to be doing, what-ever our hand findes, to do with all our might and courage; having learned to be content, with whatsoever condition the Lord puts us in, judging always our present condition to be our best.

Eighthly, Take heed that you do not argue thus; Christ and his interests are or shall be in hazard there, e're he must die, and all of us die with him, though many are the troubles of the righteous, and yet the Lord delivers them out of them all; What a great hazard was Isaac in, when the Knife was lifted up to give the blow? yet he died not; And, what hazard was Moses in, when exposed to the reverence of the Waters, when a Childe? yet he died not: And, what hazard was the Church in, in Esther's time? and yet she did not die: Was not the Apostle at perils by Sea, at perils by Land, and at perils by his own Countrey-men? yet God delivered him out of them all: you cannot do your work without hazard, but you may he in hazard, p. 97and yet escape with a King on your head, and the Lord Jehovah going forth before you, Mich. 2. last. Don't fear, thou may finde in the issue, that these hazards have been so far from being thy death, or Christ's, that they may be an Ordinance for good to thee, that thou may believe in Christ, better than ever before.

Ninthly, Let never the sense of your present hazards, make you slight the word: Christ had spoken a word to them before, that might have prevented this mistake; He is dead: v. 15. And I rejoyce for your sakes, that you may believe, but the thoughts of their hazard, swallows up all thoughts of what Christ had said to them. And I fear, the hazard that many have apprehended, they have been in, in following Jesus, hath made many a savory word useless, and to be forgotten: O that we could trust God with our safety, and make more conscience of our duty! when hazard distracts us with fear, and this fear indisposes, and unfits us for our work; then God is provoked, and that which we feared, does justly come upon us.

Lastly, Take heed of rash resolving, on the greatest of sufferings, in your own p. 98strength; Let us go down, and die with him; They don't come, and beg strength of Christ to inable them, to suffer death with him; but, Let us go down, and die with him; It's not good to resolve in our own strength, you may be found suddenly to break it by your own folly; The consequences of this way of resolving hath been such, that some hath been frighted, from resolving any more: Thus much for the word of Caution.

I come in the last place, to commend to your serious care and study, these Seven excellent things, for a Disciple under the Apprehensions of hazard in the way of duty.

The First thing, that from this instance in my Text, I would call you to, is, to study to be much in love, in a time of danger and tentation, love to Christ at such a time will keep you from six sad things, that Disciples are incident to, in a time when danger and duty come together.

The First whereof is this, They are … danger of self-seeking; their own things, ofttimes for want of that heat of affection which here you are call'd to pursue, gets more of them then Christ does, Joh. 16.32. And, is it not thus with us this day? Are p. 99we not turned to our own things, and left Christ to plead for himself? Is not our practise, like Israel's and Judah's to your Tents, say they, and let the House of David, the House of God, the interest of Christ see to themselves? Do we not in all companies, duties, and under all tryals turn to our own things, seeks them more, mindes them more, and are more affected with them, than with his: O Israel! Is this the love thou bearest to thy Friend?

A Second Evil that it will Cure, and that is want of sympathie; If the Lord take some of us up to the Mount, we forget them that are in bonds, and at the Foot of the Mountain, and call out, It's good for us to be here, you would build Tabernacles, and enjoy Christ alone, but there is little mind of your little Sister, that hath no Breasts to suck at; or, of the many thousands that know not the right hand from the left, that are perishing for lack of knowledge: More love Christians would make you more in sympathie.

A Third Evil is this, In times of danger there is not that antipathy at sinful courses that should be, I hate the work of them that turn aside, it shall not cleave unto me: Why, what makes this? It's love. O how p. 100love I thy Law! It's my Meditation day and night: Horror took hold on me, when I see the wicked forsake thy Law; this was that holy antipathy, that his love to his Master gave life unto: It's most grievous to see, how the holy Seed hath mixed themselves with the Sons of Men, and how hath Ephraim mixed himself with the common People? But, what is the cause of it? Hos. 7. Ephraim is as a Cake unturned, he is all fired …n his affections, as to things below, but hath none to the things above.

A Fourth Evil, that affection to our Master will cure or prevent, is, the evil of apostasie; Many went from him, and came no more after him, Joh. 6. Why? because they had not love to him, but to the loaves wherewith he did feed them. I am afraid that when Christ shall give his Flesh and Blood for Loaves, that is, when he shall call us to live on spiritual things for themselves, choose them for themselves, and with-hold the Loaves of external advantages from us, that then this shall be fulfilled in us; and, many went from him, and came no more after him.

A Fifth evil, is, in time of hazard, we are apt to follow Christ afar off, Luke 22. But Peter followed afar off, Why? Peter's p. 101love had grown cold, and all the hear… of that cursed Fire he sat down at, cannot inflame it: There is ano…her kin…led▪ whose sparks are as the Flames of Hell that makes him deny his Master, with an Oath. There is nothing but love that constrains the Soul to fulfill to follow after God, 2 Cor. …. The love of Christ constrains us to fellow-God fully: Numb. 14.24.

The Sixth and Last Evil, that we are in hazard of, in a time when danger and duty go together, is the quitting of something of duty, either to prevent danger, or to extenuate it, this was Moses his tentation, Pharaoh would let him and the People go, if they would leave their Flocks behind them; but, What was it that brake this tenta… on? Love to his Masters command, whi…h made him say, nay, not so much as o…e Hoof will we leave behind; What Moses, you are too strait laced, Will you indanger your self, and the People, for so small a thing? Not: it's our security to part with nothing, God will work out our liberty and freedom; and for us to quit any thing that he commands, were to provoke God, and to loose our selves, and liberty, both in our sin. Thus much for the first thing, I wou d recommend to your serious study.

p. 102The Second Thing I would exhort you unto, from this instance in my Text, is, seriously to sit down, and count the cost of your following of Christ, in the face of danger, when Christ calls you to go down to Judea, where you have found danger before, and now apprehends more; it's time for you to consider, what your going down with Christ must cost you, or may cost you: Christians, there is a two-fold cost you must resolve upon. The First, is, that necessary cost, without which you cannot be Christ's, nor serious Christians; And this consists, First, In this, you must be at the necessary cost of digging of the ground, Jer. 4.3. Hos. 10.12. Break up your fallow ground; it is impossible you can be Christ's Disciples, till this be; If Christianity be a new building, it necessarily calls for this, that you must be at pains to dig up these corruptions, and break down these old high imaginations, and disputings, that are found in the heart, against Christ, his commands, and that Righteousness that is by Faith; when you build on old ruins, this▪ makes a breach in your new walls, and is a building of gold on stubble, that the Fire will burn up; There are (says Solomon) that makes themselves pure, and yet they are not washen p. 103from their old iniquity; I doubt not, but the neglect of this, is the cause of many's turning aside to error in judgment, and to loosness practise, that have bid fair for Heaven.

A Second Piece of this necessary cost, is this, that Christians that would be so indeed, and follow Christ, in midst of danger, they must be at the cost of laying a sure foundation, this is most necessary; for, if the Disciples had not laid this Foundation, they could never have continued with Christ, when many others have gone from him, but this keeps all sure; Whether shall we go from thee, for thou hast the words of Eternal Life: This is the Foundation that must be laid, after all thy humbling work. And this Note, that what ever measure of this humbling work does convince thee of, thy need of Christ, makes thee willing to close with him, and restles till you get him, is sufficient, and all other debates about Law-work are utterly vain. O blessed Soul, that is fitted to receive Christ for thy wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

Thirdly, It's necessary you build a superstructure on this foundation, therefore the Holy-Ghost presseth us, to build up our p. 104selves in the most Holy Faith, Jude 20. It's not enough to lay the Foundation, but there must be a superstructure; This evidenceth the truth of the foundation; and that it's well laid, when you build on it: And whosoever he be that pretends to Christ for a foundation, and does not build his assurance of God's love, his peace, his joy in the Holy Ghost, his increase of grace, his perseverance therein to the end, together with a High Throne of preheminency for the Master-builder, and that in reference to the Souls love and subjection, and the beautifying Hangings of Holiness to the Lord, may much suspect, whether ever the Foundation was laid or not.

Fourthly, There is this piece of necessary cost, that we must be at pains for, and that is, to get the North and South Wind to blow on our Souls; work we must, but our strength to do it, depends on God's assistance, and the influences of the Spirit: Without thee I can do nothing, but with thee I am able to do all things, all things through Christ that strengtheneth me. The neglect of this is the cause of our deadness, and disputing against our duty: It should make us as the Chariots of Aminadab, and make every day, a day of his Power; but, for this, mine p. 105eye, mine eye poureth out tears, because the Comforter that relieveth our Soul, is far away from us: And, this I must say, that there is no hope of better days, of more fruitfulness and zeal for God, until this Spirit be poured out from on high, Isa. 32.15. And till he rain down Religion and Righteousness upon the Earth, that of all commodities are the rarest, Hos. 10.12.

Fifthly, There is this necessary piece of cost you must resolve upon; and that is, to fetch wind from all providences, to hasten your journey home, and to advance your building; Does the wicked prosper? then you must fear the Lord, and speak often to one another, Mal. 3.16. Have such as turn aside to them, waters of a full Cup poured out, then say, It's good for you to draw neer to God? Are you killed all the day long, then say, In all this we are more than Conquerors? Rom. 8. and that neither death nor life, shall separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Lastly, Take this piece of necessary cost, you must go about the building, with a circumspect eye, beholding your failings, and with a mournful eye lamenting over them, thou must water every stone with thy tears of repentance, as thou must build up by p. 106thy Faith: Now, if these things be in thee, be the danger what it will, thou shalt never fail, 2 Pet. 1. Thus much for the necessary cost a Believer must resolve upon, and must be put to.

The Second is, that contingent cost; as, for Example, his being stoned at Judea, or going down thither again: This is but an accidental piece of expenses, that a Christian must resolve upon, but it's only possible, but not always necessary, that every Christian meet with them, such as fighting with Beasts at Ephesus; such as that, at my first Answer, no Man stood by me; such as that, to have Master-builders falling at difference about the building, as here, and Gal. 2. such as that, Psal. 73. last. 25.26. My heart and flesh fails me, yet I must follow Christ, notwithstanding it fall out so to be: And such as that, we see not our signs, neither have we a Prophet that can tell us how long, yet in dark we must follow Christ, as in the clear day, Mich. 7.8, 9. I sit in darkness, yet the Lord will be a light unto me: We may be put to die for Christ indeed, and it may be otherways we must resolve it.

Summum crede nefas animam praeferre pudori

Et propter vitam vivendi perdere causas.

p. 107I only name these, First, Because they are not every Christians tryal, and I love not to trouble you with that which you possibly may never see. Secondly, Because when they come, they come with fear enough, and I have no will to torment you before the time; Only thus, I press upon you, that you would be resolute, come of you what will in Judea, count upon it, and it shall make your Cross easie when it comes, and your disappointment sweet, if it don't come.

The Third thing that I call you unto, from what is said, is this, when you have counted what is the cost, then resolve on it; they count that it will be death to them, yet say they, Let us go down, and die with Him: What, die with him! why not die for him, and keep him alive: if he live, he can raise you again: Nay, say they, it will be his death, and ours both; but, seeing he will die, he shall not die alone, We will go and die with Him: Are you resolved to follow Christ on any tearms, at the dearest rate? Thou shall never repent it.

Fourthly, I would press you unto this, from what is said, judg the loss of Christ's company, upon the slighting of your duty, as the greatest loss of all; if we go with p. 108him, we may die with him; but, if we don't, we shall surely loose his company and fellowship; Therefore, say they, Let us go down and die with Him: It's prodigious to see, for how small a trifle, we loose Christ's company, and when we have done it, how little we are moved with it; though every thing says, thy strength is departed from thee, thou wilt not regard this, till thy dead be brought in, in companies to thee, with his account of them, My Brother had not died, if Christ had been here; my tenderness, zeal, diligence, painfulness, and love had not died, if Christ had been here: The loss of Christ is a matchless loss, you cannot loose such another in Heaven, or in Earth.

Fifthly, I pray you, be much in stirring up one another to known duties, especially when they are dangerous; so does Thomas here, Let us go down, says Thomas, to the rest of the Disciples; It's not enough for us to stir up our selves, but we should stir up one another; Provoke one anotner to love and good works, we must look diligently, least not only we our selves fail in the grace of God, but least any Man fail in the grace of God, Heb. 12.15. When thou art converted, strengthen thy Brethren: Oh p. 109for more of this amongst the Professors of this Generation, but be sure to do it without vain-glory, or that supercilious contempt of these, to whom you owe that duty of love, remembring this, that one may rise many hours after you, that may go to Bed before you; for, such as are first shall be last, and the last first.

Sixthly, I pray you consider, that the worst you can suffer, in following of Christ, it's but death that puts an end to all your desertions, distractions, afflictions, and tribulations: It's that blessed out-let from sin, and that in-let to glory; well, this made the Disciples willing to go down, when death looked them in the face, that if it came, and the matter sell out so, that they should die, why then, they should bid a farewel to all their other tryals, fears, darknesses, tentations, and wearyings, and wandrings they were subject to. Christians, Why are you so moved at the approach of your friend and servant? Was Rebecca so moved, when she understood that Abraham's Servant was come for her, to the Marriage of his Master's Son, and what a greater than Abraham or Isaac is here? what Christians should we be so afraid of the King's Chariot, that is come to carry us home to that place, he p. 110hath prepared for us? No, let us be more acquainted with death, and understand, and take up the right notions of it, and then it shall not be a difficult thing for us, to go down, and die with him.

Lastly, When ever Christ calls for duty, and you resolve upon it, make conscience of performing your duty resolved upon, without delay; they say not, stay till the heat of the fury go over, and then go down; or send down, thou needs not go thy self; or, if thou go down, we will stay here and do some work, and we will come to thee, when we see the danger is over, but presently they put that in practise, they had resolved upon, and resolves they will take the first brunt of the Battel with Christ: O how commendable is this in a Christian, when he doth not defer to pay, Eccl. 5. I was not, says David, as one that lingers, I made haste to keep thy Statutes; The more we shift present duty, the more indisposed we grow, and unfit for it within, the more tentations we have against the performance of it from without, and the smaller measure of assistance, we have for doing of it from above. And therefore, as I would recommend to you the study of your duty in your day; so make conscience of doing that which is the p. 111duty of the day in its day. And by this, you shall finde your work easie, tentations few and weak, influences strong, and God's Presence with you in it, preventing, prevailing, and sufficiently protecting you against all these feared dangers, that made you dispute against Christ's commands and promises, the other day. And thus much for this Resolution of the Disciples about their duty in the face of danger; Let him that reads understand.

FINIS.