The Crown and Glory of Christianity, Uses · Use and exhortation 3 · Section 4 (3 of 3)
Holineſs is an abiding ſeed, an immortal ſeed; 'tis a royal gift, which being once given, ſhall never be taken away from him that hath it. I readily grant, that the ſtrength of Holineſs, and the luſtre and ſhine of Holineſs,Rom. 11.29. and the ſenſe and feeling of Holineſs, and the comfort and ſweet of Holineſs, and the lively ſtirrings and operations of Holineſs, may bee ſomewhat abated and leſſened in the ſoul; but the ſeed of Holineſs, the ſubſtance of Holineſs alwaies remains in a changed ſoul. There is alwaies a divine fire, though ſometimes it may be raked up under the Aſhes; there is alwaies life and ſap in the root, though there be neither leaves nor bloſſomes on the tree; 'tis true, the beſt of Saints may have their ſpiritual Autumn; and 'tis as true, that after their Autumn, there will certainly follow a Spring of Holineſs. 'Tis moſt certain, that the truth and ſtate of Holineſs remains under all a Chriſtians infirmities, darkneſſes, weakneſſes, ecclipſes, clouds, failings, waverings and wandrings; and the reaſons are clear, becauſe that great and glorious principle of Holineſs flows from Gods unchangeable love, and is a fruit of the everlaſting Covenant, and the price of Chriſts Blood, and depends and hangs upon a perpetual union and communion with Chriſt,Deut. 33.26, 27. Gen. 49.22, 23, 24. and is a ſure pledge and earneſt of a mans eternal enjoyment of Chriſt, and is alwaies maintained and uphel… by the everlaſting Arms of Chriſt; to ſay that the Saints may fall totally and finally from all that Grace and Holineſs they have, is to ſay. 1. That the Surety of the New Covenant is grown very poor and weak, which is very little leſs than blaſphemy, and quite contrary to that Heb. 7.21, 22. 2. It is to ſay that the Promiſes are yea and nay, quite contrary to what the Apoſtle affirms, in that 2 Cor. 1.20. 3. It is to ſay that the Power of God is grown exceeding weak and contemptible,1 Pet. 1.5. Joh. 10.27.—31. yea it is to make ſin and Satan ſtronger than God, which is quite contrary to the current of Scripture. 4. It is to ſay that the Decree of God is mutable, which is croſs and contrary to the Apoſtle, in that 2 Tim. 2.10. 5. It is to ſay that Gods free, eternal and everlaſting love is become changeable and unconſtant, which is expreſly croſs to that Jer. 31.3. Mal. 3.6. Joh. 13.1. with many other Scriptures; and therefore that Arminian Principle is to be for ever deteſted and abhorred. But
Twelfthly and laſtly, If thou art a holy perſon, if thou art one that haſt that real Holineſs, without which there is no happineſs, then know for thy comfort, that all things ſhall work together for thy good, Rom. 8.28. And wee know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpoſe. All the afflictions,Rev. 2.10. and all the temptations, and all the deſertions, and all the oppreſſions, and all the oppoſitions, and all the perſecutions that befalls a godly man, ſhall work for his good: Every croſs, every loſs, and every diſeaſe that befalls the holy man, ſhall work for his good; every device, every ſnare, every method, every depth, every ſtratagem, and every enterprize of Satan againſt the holy man,2 Cor. 12.9.10. ſhall work for his good; they ſhall all help to make him more humble, more holy, more heavenly, more ſpiritual, more faithful,Iſa. 38. Hoſ. 2.5, 6, 7. more fruitful, and more watchful; every day of proſperity, and every night of adverſity, ſhall work for the holy mans good; every ſtorm, and every calm; every bitter, and every ſweet; every croſs, and every comfort, ſhall work for his good that is holy; when God gives a mercy, that ſhall work for his good; and when God takes away a mercy, that ſhall work for his good; when God gives him large commons, that ſhall work for his good; and when God cuts his commons ſhort, that ſhall work for his good; yea and all the falls, and all the ſins of the Saints ſhall work for their good. As I get hurt by my graces, ſo I get good by my ſins, ſaid famous Mr. Fox. 2 Cor. 7.8,—13.O the rare, the fear, the watchfulneſs, the tenderneſs, the zeal, the revenge, that God raiſes in the ſouls of his Saints by their very falls. O the hatred, the indignation, and the deteſtation that God raiſes in the hearts of his children againſt ſin, by their very falling into ſin! O what love to Chriſt, what thankfulneſs for Chriſt, what admiration of Chriſt, what cleaving to Chriſt, what exalting of Chriſt, and what drawing from Chriſt, are Saints led to by their very falls! O what exerciſe of grace, what increaſe of grace, what magnifying of grace, what liftings up of Divine Power, and what a high price are holy men led to ſet upon the precious Blood of Chriſt, and all by their falls! 'Tis the glory of Gods Holineſs, that hee can turn ſpiritual diſeaſes into holy remedies, and ſoul-poiſons into heavenly cordials, that hee can prevent ſin by ſin, and cure falling by falling; one calls that 8th. of the Romans and the 28. The blinde mans Promiſe, and I may call it the lame mans Promiſe, that is holy, and the deaf mans Promiſe, that is holy, and the dumb mans Promiſe, that is holy, and the needy mans Promiſe, that is holy, and the ſick mans Promiſe, that is holy, and the languiſhing mans Promiſe, that is holy, and the dying mans Promiſe, that is holy. O the comfort! O the ſweet! O the content! O the ſatisfaction that this Promiſe hath afforded to many a precious Saint, when other Promiſes have not been at hand! O Chriſtian! what though friends and relations frown upon thee, what though enemies are plotting and conſpiring againſt thee, what though wants like an armed man are ready to break in upon thee; what though men rage, and Devils roar; what though ſickneſs be in thy family, and death ſtands every day at thy elbow, yet there is no reaſon for thee to fear or faint, becauſe all theſe things ſhall work for thy good. Yea there is wonderful cauſe of joy and rejoycing in all the afflictions and tribulations that comes upon thee, conſidering that they ſhall all work for thy good. O Chriſtians! I am afraid, I am afraid, that you do not run ſo often as you ſhould to the breaſts of this Promiſe, nor draw that ſweetneſs and comfort from it that it would yeeld, and that your ſeveral caſes may require; and thus I have done with this uſe of comfort and conſolation to all Gods holy ones. You ſee what comfort, what conſolation, yea what ſtrong conſolation waits upon all Gods ſanctified ones. I have been the longer upon this uſe, becauſe the times require it, and the condition of Gods people calls for the ſtrongeſt cordials, and the choiceſt and the ſweeteſt comforts.
And now I have nothing to do, but to lay down ſome Poſitions concerning Holineſs, which may be of ſingular uſe, for the preventing of ſome Objections and miſtakes, and for the giving of ſatisfaction, eſpecially to ſuch in whom the ſtreams of Holineſs runs low, and who are ſtill a lamenting and mourning under the imperfections of their Holineſs, &c.
And the firſt Poſition is this, Where ever real Holineſs is, it will appear, it will diſcover it ſelf, it will ſhew it ſelf;Eph. 4.15, 16. it is the very nature of Grace and Holineſs, to manifeſt it ſelf; and therefore it is ſet forth in Scripture by the names of light, which ſhines abroad, and of ointment and perfume,Mat. 5.16. Prov. 27.9. Cant. 3.6. which cannot be hid; of Leaven and Salt, which deriveth its own nature and relliſh upon a whole lump: And 'tis very obſervable, that when the Holy Ghoſt was given,Act. 2.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. he was given in tongues, fiery tongues, and with a ruſhing of a mighty wind, all which have a quality of ſelf-manifeſtation, and notifying of themſelves to others.
Take a River that is damm'd and ſtopt up, yet if the courſe of it be natural, and if it commonly runs downward, it will at length bear down all, and ride and run triumphantly over all that is in its way: So though real Holineſs in a day of temptation, deſertion, and affliction, &c. may ſeem to bee damm'd and ſtopt up, yet at length it will make its way through all, & over all, and ſhew its ſelf in its native colours. Though fire for a time may lye hid under the Aſhes, yet at laſt it will flame forth, and ſhew it ſelf to be fire; Holineſs is a divine fire, and though in ſome caſes it may for a time ſeem to bee hid, it will at length break forth and ſhew it ſelf to be Holineſſe. I have not Faith enough to beleeve that that man was ever really holy, whoſe Holineſſe is ſtill un…er a buſhel, or in a dark Lanthorn. Look as natural life cannot be ſo hid, but that it will diſcover it ſelf a hundred hundred waies: So Holineſſe, which is a Chriſtians ſpiritual life, cannot be ſo hid, but it will diſcover it a hundred, hundred waies.
The ſecond Poſition is this, That Holineſs riſes by degrees, it riſes gradually in the ſouls of the Saints. Though the firſt Adam was made a man a holy man,Job. 17.9. Pſal. 92.12. Mal. 4.2. Hoſ. 14.5, 6, 7. yea man perfectly holy, and all at once; yet the Holineſs of all that is intereſted in the ſecond Adam, riſes by degrees. 'Tis true in the Creation of the world, all the creatures were made in their full and perfect growth and ſtrength at once; but in the new Creation, Holineſs, which is Gods own creature, is carried on by degrees.Luk. 2.52. Look as Chriſt increaſed in wiſdome and in ſtature, and in favour with God and man, by degrees. So that Babe of Grace, Holineſs, increaſes in the ſoul by degrees. Look as the ſeed which is ſown in the furrows of the earth,Mat. 13.23. Mark 4.28. firſt ſprings into a blade, and then into an ear, and then into ripe Corn: So that immortal ſeed, Holineſs, which is ſown in the furrows of a Chriſtians ſoul, ſprings and grows by degrees. Look as the waters in the Sanctuary riſe firſt to the ancles, then to the knees, then to the loins, then to the chin,Ezek. 47.3, 4, 5. and then to a River that was not paſſable: So Holineſſe riſes higher and higher in the ſoul by degrees. Look as the morning light ſhines more and more unto the perfect day:Prov. 4.18. So the light of Holineſſe ſhines more and more clear, and more and more bright, until all darkneſſe and imperfection be ſwallowed up in perfection. Look as the body of a man grows and increaſes by degrees in ſtature and ſtrength till it comes to its full growth and perfection:Eph. 4.16. So Grace and Holineſſe will grow and increaſe by degrees, till Grace bee turned into Glory, till Holineſs bee turned into Happineſs. Though the Ocean be full, yet the bottle cannot bee filled but by degrees. Wee are poor narrow-mouthed Bottles, and therefore what wee take in of Holineſſe; muſt bee by degrees; our incapacity is ſo great, that at preſent wee are no waies able to take in a fulneſſe of Holineſſe; and therefore God drops in now a drop, and then a drop; now a little, and then a little, as wee are able to take it in. And indeed to difference the ſtate of Grace from the ſtate of Glory, the ſtate of Holineſs from the ſtate of Happineſſe; 'tis neceſſary that Holineſſe ſhould be communicated to us by degrees, an abſolute fulneſs of holineſs will make an abſolute fulneſs of happineſs; when our holineſs is perfect, our happineſs ſhall be perfect; and if this were attainable on earth, there would be but little reaſon for men to long to bee in Heaven.
The third Poſition is this, that there is a great deal of preciouſneſſe in the leaſt degree of holineſſe. For
1. 'Tis the ſpecial work of the holy Spirit; and this I have ſhewed you already at large; and therefore it muſt needs be precious.
2. 'Tis a part of the Divine Nature, 'tis a beam of God, a ſpark of Glory; and therefore it muſt needs be precious.2 Pet. 1.4. Mat. 12.20. Iſa. 40 10, 11. ch. 60.22. Iſa. 35.3, 4. Joel 3.10. Mat. 5.3, 4, 5, 6. Rom. 14.1. ch. 15.7.
3. There are many choice and ſpecial Promiſes that are made over to the leaſt degrees of Holineſſe, as you may ſee by comparing the Scriptures in the Margint together; and therefore the leaſt degree of holineſſe is very precious.
4. It gives a man a right to precious Priviledges, and to all the precious Ordinances of Chriſts houſe. Ergo.
5. 'Tis a fruit of the ſpecial love and favour of God; a man may read more of the heart of God, and of the ſpecial love of God towards him in the leaſt ſpark of holineſſe, than hee can in his higheſt worldly enjoyments. A man may read that ſpecial grace in the leaſt degree of holineſſe, which hee can never read in the honours, profits, pleaſures, delights, and contents of this world. Ergo.
6. The leaſt degrees of holineſſe gives a man as great a right,The little hand of a childe may hold a Pearl as well as the hand of the greateſt Giant in the world. and as good a title to everlaſting happineſſe and bleſſedneſſe, as the greateſt degrees of holineſſe doth, and the reaſon is clear, becauſe the promiſe of happineſſe and bleſſedneſſe is not made over to degrees of holineſſe, but to the truth of holineſſe; and therefore hee that hath but the leaſt ſpark of true holineſſe, may plead the Promiſe, and apply the Promiſe, and ſuck marrow and ſweetneſſe out of the Promiſe, as well as hee that hath the greateſt meaſures of holineſſe in the world. The Promiſes of Salvation are not made over to the ſtrength of Faith, but to the truth of Faith, Joh. 6.35. 'Tis no where ſaid, that only hee that beleeves with the Faith of an Abraham, ſhall bee ſaved; but 'tis often ſaid, Hee that beleeves ſhall bee ſaved; that is, hee that beleeves truly, though hee doth not beleeve ſtrongly, ſhall bee ſaved. Ergo.
7. When unholy perſons are under terrours of conſcience,A little holineſs is like a Diamond very little in bulk but of a very high price and value, &c. and upon their dying-beds, and when they ſhall ſtand before a judgement ſeat, had they as many worlds to give, as there bee ſtars in Heaven, and as there are men on Eart…, they would give them all for the leaſt ſpark of true holineſſe; and therefore without all peradventure, the leaſt degree of holineſſe muſt bee very precious, conſidering what a price the worſt of men would give for it, were it in their power to purchaſe.
8. The leaſt degree of holineſſe ſhall at laſt bee bleſt with a happy triumph over the ſtrongeſt corruptions, the leaſt degree of holineſſe will lead the ſoul to Chriſt, it will bring the ſoul into communion with Chriſt, it will work the ſoul to lean upon Chriſt, and by degrees to draw that life, that vertue, and that vigour from Chriſt, that will inable a Chriſtian not only to combate, but to conquer even Goliah himſelf; and therefore the leaſt degree of holineſſe is doubtleſſe very precious.
Gen. 18. The leaſt finger is of uſe to the whole body.9. The leaſt degree of holineſſe will render a Chriſtian in ſome meaſure ſerviceable and uſeful to the turnings away of the wrath and judgements of God from a People or Nation, and for the bringing down of favours and bleſſing upon a Land; When all the Power, Authority, Greatneſſe, Grandeur and Glory that wicked men have in their hands, can do juſt nothing either to the diverting of wrath, or the obtaining of mercy; and therefore the leaſt degree of holineſſe is precious. But
Tenthly and laſtly, The leaſt degree of holineſſe is a ſure pledge and pawn, of greater degrees of holineſſe, that in time thou ſhalt attain to. The talleſt Oak was once an Acorn; the deepeſt Doctor was once in his Horn-book, and the greateſt Giant was once a childe. Thy ſpark in time ſhall bee blowed up into a flame; thy drop in time ſhall bee turned into a Sea, and thy penny in time ſhall bee multiplied into pounds, and thy pounds into hundreds, and thy hundreds into thouſands, and thy thouſands into millions; and now tell mee Chriſtians, whether theſe ten things do not ſufficiently prove that there is a great deal of preciouſneſſe in the leaſt degrees of holineſſe; and O that you that have but a little holineſſe, would bee often a warming of your hearts at this heavenly fire! and O that you that have a great deal of holineſſe w…uld not deſpiſe thoſe that have but a little holineſſe! O that you that bring forth a hundred-fold, would not deſpiſe thoſe that bring forth but thirty-fold! and O that you that have ten Talents; would not deſpiſe thoſe that have but two Talents, conſidering that there is a great deal of preciouſneſſe in the leaſt degree of holineſs.
The fourth Poſition is this, All Saints are not alike holy; ſome are more holy, and others are leſſe holy; in ſome Saints the ſprings of Holineſs runs low, in others the ſprings of Holineſs riſe very high. Holineſs thrives not alike in all Saints;Mat. 13.8.23. Mat. 25.14, 15. Luk. 19.12.—21. in the Parable; ſome brought forth thirty, ſome ſixty, and others a hundred-fold, and yet all was good ground too: And in that other Parable, every one had not ten Talents; ſome had but five, others two, others but one. God never doth diſtribute holineſs alike to all; to ſome hee gives more, to others leſs, according to the good pleaſure of his Grace. God never intended that all ſhould thrive alike in holineſs.Neh. 7.2. Though there were divers that feared God in Nehemiah's time, yet hee tells you that his Brother Hanani feared God above many.Job 1.8. And though Jobs three friends that came to viſite him in the daies of his ſorrows, viz. Eliphaz, Zophar, and Bildad, were doubtleſs all holy men, yet they fell very much ſhort of Job in Grace and Holineſs, as is evident not only by that high teſtimony that God himſelf gives concerning Job, That there was none like him upon the earth, a perfect and upright man, one that feared God, and eſchewed evil. But alſo throughout that whole Book of Job. 'Tis true, all Saints are equally juſtified, and equally pardoned, and equally reconciled, and equally accepted, but all Saints are not equally ſanctified. All Saints are not of equal ſtanding in the houſe of God. All Saints have not been partakers of equal means, all Saints have not had equal gales of the Spirit, all Saints have not alike acted that holineſs they have; and therefore no wonder if all Saints are not alike holy. Davids worthies were not all of equal ſtrength, nor all the ſtones in the building are not of equal proportion, nor all the members in the natural body are not of equal magnitude; and ſo 'tis alſo in the myſtical body of Chriſt. In Gods houſe there are veſſels of Gold, and veſſels of Silver, that is,1 Cor. 12. 2 Tim. 2.20. there are ſome that are more eminently ſanctified, and purified, than others are. You read in Scripture of Babes, as well as of ſtrong Men; of Lambs, as well as of Sheep; of Plants, as well as of Trees. Beſides, you read of a little Faith, and of ſmoaking Flax, and of a bruiſed Reed, and of a grain of Muſtard-ſeed; and what doth all this evidence, but that God gives different meaſures and degrees of grace and holineſs to his people. Chriſt hath not work alike for all Saints to do, nor burdens alike for all Saints to bear, nor mercies alike for all Saints to improve, nor temptations alike for all Saints to reſiſt, nor difficulties alike for all Saints to grapple withall, nor dangers alike for all Saints to encounter withall, &c. and therefore hee gives not a like meaſure of holineſs to all, but to ſome more, to others leſs, according as their condition requires, Some Saints ſtand in need of a great deal more grace and holineſs than others do. Their place, calling, condition, and imployments in the world calls for a greater ſtock, than others need. One man may better keep houſe with a hundred a year, than another who hath a great family, and great reſort to his houſe, can do with a thouſand a year; and ſo 'tis here. A little may ſerve a little Farm; but it muſt be a great ſtock that muſt ſerve a great Farm. A little ſtock of Holineſſe will ſerve ſome Chriſtians, but it muſt be a great ſtock of Holineſs that muſt ſerve to ſupply the neceſſities, and the wants of other Chriſtians; and therefore God gives different meaſures and degrees of holineſs among his people as their needs require. Look as one ſinner excels another in wickedneſs, ſo one Saint excels another in holineſs, and therefore let not thoſe that have much holineſs deſpiſe thoſe that have but little; nor let not thoſe that have but a little holineſs cenſure or judge thoſe that have more holineſs than themſelves.Read the 77. and the 88. Pſalms. And indeed moſt of the Pſalms of David, are a full proof of this Poſition, as all may ſee that will but read them with a ſpiritual eye, and with, and underſtanding heart. All that holineſs that any man hath, whether it bee little, or whether it bee much, is all of Grace, it is all of free-grace; and therefore let every man improve it, bee thankful for it, and walk humbly under it.
The fift Poſition is this; A Chriſtian may bee more eminently Holy at one time, than at another, hee may thrive and increaſe more in holineſs at one ſeaſon, than at another; two men do not more differ one from another, than [the ſelf ſame Chriſtian at ſeveral times differs from himſelf. Now the Spring-tide of Holineſs is riſen high, very high at another time the ſtreams of Holineſs runs exceeding low; now hee is full fraughted with high thoughts of God, with honourable thoughts of Chriſt, with precious thoughts of the Saints, with pious thoughts of the Scripture, with delightful thoughts of Ordinances, with ſerious thoughts of Providences, and with raviſhing thoughts of Eternity;Beſides the examples of Abraham, Jacob, Joſeph, Job, and Peter, with the experiences of all other Saints in all ages, ſpeaks out this truth. and at another time you ſhall have him filled with ſuch hard thoughts of God, with ſuch diſhonourable thoughts of Chriſt, with ſuch low thoughts of the Saints, with ſuch ſlight thoughts of the Scripture, with ſuch undelightful thoughts of Ordinances, and with ſuch confuſed thoughts of Providences, and with ſuch muddy dark and unpleaſing thoughts of Eternity, as if hee were really another man; now hee is very lively and quick, very cheerful and thankful, very fruitful and faithful; now hee is very fearful of offending God, and very careful of pleaſing God, and very circumſpect and watchful in his walking with God, as if hee were a man fully reſolved inſtantly to ſtart from holineſs to happineſs; but now if you pleaſe to look on this man at another time, when hee is either deſerted of God, or tempted by Satan, or worſted by the World, or enthraled by his Luſts; and Ah! how unlike himſelf will you then finde him, for now hee is flat and dull, and dry (though not quite dead) now hee is much ſtreightned and ſhut up, now hee can neither joy in God, nor delight in Chriſt, nor finde ſweetneſs in Ordinances, nor any taſte or reliſh in any of his mercies. Now his Apprehenſions are dark, his Thoughts are diſmal, his Meditations are confuſed, his Words are unadviſed, and his waies are crooked; now hee ſaith the Lord is my Portion, and anon hee ſaith, will the Lord caſt off for ever, and will he bee favourable no more? now hee beleeves, anon hee doubts, this hour hee hopes, the next hee fears, to day hee is upon the mount, joying and triumphing, to morrow you ſhall have him in the vallies, mourning and ſighing; many clouds, many eclipſes, many varieties, and many changes, paſſes upon Gods holy ones in this life. A Childe, a Tree, a Plant, ſhoots up ſometimes more in a month, than they do in many months; and ſo doth many a Childe of God, many a Tree of righteouſneſs, and many a Plant of renown, ſhoots up more in holineſs in a month ſometimes, than they do in many months at another time; they thrive and flouriſh in holineſs more in a year ſometimes, than they do in many years, at another time. Look as many a man gets more mony in one year, than hee doth afterwards get in ſeven; ſo many a Chriſtian gets more grace and holineſs, ſometimes in one year, than hee gets afterwards in ſeven. No Saints have at all times a like the ſame bleſſed gales of the Spirit; 'tis juſt with a holy ſoul, as 'tis with a ſhip, ſometimes the ſhip hath a very fair and freſh gale of wind, and then ſhee cuts her way through the proud waves of the Sea, and the Paſſengers ſail very ſpeedily and merrily towards their deſired Port; but anon the wind is ſlack, and veres about to another point of the Compaſs, and then the Paſſengers are all amote, and they ſail but ſlowly and heavily towards their deſired Harbour? And ſo 'tis with a holy heart, ſometimes the gales of the ſpirit blow very fair and ſweet, very ſtrong and powerful, upon a gracious ſoul; and then a Chriſtian ſails moſt ſweetly, moſt ſpeedily, and moſt ſucceſsfully on in a way of Holineſs, and towards his Port of Happineſs; but anon the ſpirit is either reſiſted or grieved, or neglected, or quenched, or vexed, or diſobeyed; and then his gales, his influences, his breathings are ſlacked, and then a poor Chriſtian ſails but very ſlow on in a way of holineſs, then hee doth but even creep towards the Harbour of everlaſting bleſſedneſs.
Again no Saints have at all times alike the ſame external, helps, advantages, and opportunities of being holy, and of thriving in holineſs: It may bee they have not the word ſo clearly, ſo powerfully, ſo ſweetly ſo faithfully, nor ſo frequently, preacht to them, as formerly they have had; or it may bee they have not other Ordinances ſo lively, ſo purely, ſo ſpiritually, ſo evangelically diſpenced to them, as formerly they have had; It may bee they have had ſtones inſtead of bread, and bones inſtead of fleſh, and chaffe inſtead of wheat, and muddy water inſtead of choice wine, and then no wonder if they do not thrive in holineſs, as they did when God rained Mannah every day about their Tents, and when they were fed with the beſt of the beſt, that their Heavenly Fathers Table, Wine-ſeller, and Houſe did afford. When Children have not as good Food, and as good Phyſick, and as good lodging, and as good looking to, as they have formerly had, no wonder if they thrive not, as at other times. And ſo 'tis here; look as no men have alwaies the ſame helps, the ſame advantages, the ſame opportunities, to grow great, and rich, and high, and honourable in the world, that ſometimes they have had; ſo no Chriſtian hath alwaies the ſame helps, advantages, and opportunities to grow rich, and high in holineſs, as ſometimes hee hath had: It may bee hee hath not that communion and fellowſhip with the people of God, that once hee had, or if hee hath, yet it may bee their communion is not ſo pure, ſo holy, ſo lively, ſo heart-warming, ſo ſoul-inriching, as once it hath been, or it may bee hee hath not as good counſel as formerly, nor as good examples as formerly, nor as good encouragement, as hee hath formerly had to bee holy; or it may bee their calling, imployment, and outward condition is ſo altered and changed from what once it was; that they have not that time for cloſet Duties, and to wait on publick Ordinances, that once they had; or it may bee bodily infirmities, weakneſſes, diſeaſes, aches, and ailements are ſo increaſed and multiplied upon them, that they cannot make that improvement that once they did, of thoſe very advantages, and opportunities, that yet by a hand of grace is continued among them; now theſe caſes being incident to the people of God, there is no reaſon to wonder, if at ſome times, Saints are more holy than they are at others; and if at ſome ſeaſons they ſhoot up more in holineſs, than they do at others: The ſerious weighing of this Poſition, may ſerve to prevent many fears and ſcruples, many debates and diſputes, that often riſe in the hearts of Chriſtians, upon the often ebbings and flowings of holineſs in their ſouls.
The ſixt Poſition is this; There will come a time when in this world, holineſs ſhall bee more general, and more eminent, than ever it hath been ſince Adam fell in Paradiſe; The Scripture ſpeaks clearly, roundly, and fully to this, Deut. 30.5, 6, 8. The Lord thy God will bring thee into thine own Land, and the Lord thy God will circumciſe thine heart, and the heart of thy ſeed, to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy ſoul, and thou ſhalt return and obey the voice of the Lord, and do All His Commandements. This gracious Promiſe was made to the Jews, above two thouſand years ago, and yet to this very day it hath not been fulfilled; and therefore there will certainly come a time wherein God will make it good, Iſa. 11.6. The Wolf ſhall dwell with the Lamb, &c. and they ſhall not hurt, &c. for the Earth ſhall bee Full of the Knowledge of The Lord, As the Waters Cover The Sea. This glorious Promiſe hath not been made good to this day, but there is a time a coming wherein it ſhall bee accompliſhed, Iſa. 35.8. There ſhall bee a high-way, and it ſhall bee called a way of Holineſs, THE UNCLEAN SHALL NOT PASSE OVER IT, Iſa. 59.21. This is my Covenant, my WORD AND MY SPIRIT SHALL NEVER DEPART from thee for ever, Iſa. 60.21. Thy People ſhall bee ALL RIGHTEOUS, Jer. 32.40, 41. I will make an everlaſting Covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good. But I will put my fear into their hearts, So Ezek. 36.23. to v. 30. Mal. 4.1, 2. 2 Pet. 3.13.that they ſhall not depart from mee; yea I will rejoyce over them to do them good, and will plant them in this Land aſſuredly WITH MY WHOLE HEART, AND WHOLE SOUL.
Now it is very obſervable, that this great Promiſe muſt bee fulfilled, when the Jews ſhall return, and bee ſettled in their own Land. And ſo the Prophet Ezekiel ſpeaking of the glorious ſtate of the Church in the laſt daies,Ezek. 44.7, 9. adds, Thus ſaith the Lord, no ſtranger uncircumciſed in HEART ſhall enter into my Sanctuary. Zeph. 3.13. The remnant of Iſrael SHALL NOT DO INIQUITY, nor SPEAK LYES; neither ſhall a DECEITFUL TONGUE bee found in their mouths. Now the context clearly ſhews that theſe words relate to the glorious ſtate of the Church on Earth, and they have never yet received their accompliſhment, but ſhall in the laſt daies, for hee is faithful that hath ſpoken it. Zach. 14.20, 21. Upon ALL SHALL BEE HOLINESSE TO THE LORD. I have opened this Text pretty fully to you already in my former diſcourſes on holineſs; and therefore ſhall paſs it by now, Rev. 21. verſe the firſt,See the Engliſh Annotations on theſe words. and verſe the laſt. And I ſaw a New Heaven, and a New Earth, and I ſaw the holy City New Jeruſalem coming down from God out of HEAVEN. Behold the Tabernacle of God is WITH MEN, &c. and there ſhall in no wiſe enter into it any th…ng that DEFILETH, &c. but they that are written in the Lambs Book. I have formerly proved by ſeveral Arguments, as divers of you knows that this chapter cannot be underſtood of Heaven, but muſt neceſſarily, and beyond all diſpute bee underſtood of the glorious ſtate of the Saints on Earth, which they ſhall certainly enjoy in the laſt daies. By all theſe Scriptures it is moſt evident, that there will come a time when holineſs ſhall bee more general, and at a fuller height than ever yet it hath been ſince man fell from his Original holineſs; and therefore pray and wait, and wait and pray, look and long, and long and look for the breaking forth of this day of glory upon the world.
The ſeventh and laſt Propoſition, is this, That though the people of God ought to bee holy at all times, yet there are ſome ſpecial times and ſeaſons wherein God calls aloud for holineſs, more than hee doth at other times, and wherein hee looks, and expects that his people ſhould be eminently holy, as well as really holy.
Queſt. But what are thoſe ſpecial times and ſeaſons, wherein God calls loudeſt for Holineſs, and moſt for Holineſs?
I anſwer, they are theſe.
Firſt, After great and ſore falls, O now God calls aloud for holineſs.Jer. 3. …ſal. 51. Job 3. & ch. 12.4, 5. Iſa. 38.14. Mat. 26. ult. David after his great falls greatly humbles himſelf before the Lord. And Job after his bitter curſing, and heavy complaining abhorrs himſelf in duſt and aſhes. And Hezekiah after his great miſcarriage, did chatter like a Crane and mourn as a Dove▪ And Peter after his helliſh curſing hi… deſperate ſwearing, and his hideous lying, goes forth and weeps bitterly. So Origen, after hee had denied the Truth, and ſacrificed to an Idol, hee …ame to Jeruſalem, and being deſired to preach, and having opened his Bible, the firſt Scripture that his eye was fixt upon was that Pſal. 50.16, 17. verſes. What haſt thou to do to take my Word into thy mouth, ſeeing thou hateſt to bee reformed; whereupon hee ſhut his Book, ſate down, and fell into a paſſion of weeping, and ſo came out of the Pulpit, as not being able to ſpeak to the people. After great falls God expects and looks that his people ſhould bee more fearful of ſin than ever, and more careful of pleaſing and honouring of him than ever, and more reſolute in reſiſting of temptations than ever, and more conſtant and abundant in a way of duty, than ever, and more thankful and fruitful under mercies, than ever, and more quiet and ſilent under afflictions than ever, and more ſtout and couragious in the face of all oppoſition than ever, & more wiſe and circumſpect in their walkings than ever, and more vigilant and diligent to prevent & avoid future falls than ever; how elſe will the honour of God bee repaired, and the glory of Religion bee vindicated, and the Credit of the Goſpel be raiſed, and the grieved Saints bee rejoyced, and young beginners in Religion be afreſh incouraged, and ſecure ſinners bee awakened, convinced and converted. But
Secondly, When God ſhews ſingular mercy to his people, and when hee doth great things for his people, then hee expects and looks that his people ſhould bee a holy people, and then hee calls loudeſt for Holineſs, Exod. 19.3, 4, 5. And Moſes went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the Mountain, ſaying, Thus ſhalt thou ſay to the houſe of Jacob, and tell the children of Iſrael, Yee have ſeen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bare you upon Eagles wings, and brought you unto my ſelf. Now therefore of yee will obey my voice indeed, and keep my Covenant, then yee ſhall bee a peculiar treaſure unto mee, above all people; for all the Earth is mine. Here Moſes makes uſe of a very elegant expreſſion, to ſhew the ſingular love,Vide Ariſtotle. l. 9. de Hiſtoria Animalium. care, kindneſs, and goodneſs of God towards his people; Hee bare you upon Eagles wings; the Eagle is a very Princely, Noble Bird, ſhee fears no Birds from above to hurt her young ones, and becauſe ſhee fears the Arrow from beneath, therefore ſhee carries her young ones upon her wings; ſo that there is no hurting, nor harming, nor no killing of them, but by ſhooting through the body of the old one; other Birds carry their young ones in their talons, and ſo expoſe them to danger, but the Eagle carries hers upon her wings, that they may bee ſafe and ſecure. Moſes, to ſhew how choice and chary God was of Iſrael; and how much hee ſtood upon their ſafety and ſecurity tells them, that he carried them upon Eagles wings; that ſo none of their enemies might ruine or deſtroy them, yea that they might not ſo much as in the leaſt hurt or harm them; hee carried them out of Egypt, and hee carried them through the Red-Sea ſweetly, ſwiftly, ſtrongly, and tenderly, as the Eagle carried her young ones when danger is at hand. Now God having expreſt ſuch love, ſuch care, ſuch bowels, ſuch tenderneſs, ſuch ſweetneſs, and ſuch kindneſs to his people; hee looks and expects that they ſhould bee a holy people, and therefore hee ſtrongly urges them to obey Gods voice indeed, and to keep his Covenant; now what is it for a man to obey Gods voice indeed, and to keep his Covenant, out to bee really holy, yea to be eminently holy, So in that 10th. of Deut. where Moſes had made a large Narrative of the ſingular favours and mercies of God to Iſrael, in the eleven firſt verſes of that chapter; hee falls in the 12, and 13. verſes upon preſſing of them to bee a holy people. And now Iſrael, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his waies, and to love him, and to ſerve the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy ſoul? To keep the Commandements of the Lord, and his ſtatutes, which I command thee this day. The word in the 12th. verſ. rendred require, is foreign Shoel from Shaal, which ſignifies to ask, to requeſt or petition a perſon. Now here …ſes brings in God asking, requeſting, and petitioning of Iſr… l that they would fear him, and walk in his waies, &c. and what is that but that they would bee a holy people to him, that had done ſuch great and glorious things for them; the word in the 13. verſ. rendred keep is foreign Shamar, which ſignifies to keep carefully, diligently,Job 7.12. 1 King. 20.39. faithfully to keep as watch-men keep the City, or as Souldiers keep their Garriſons, or as Jaylors keep their Priſoners. Now God would have his people thus to keep his Commandements, and his Statutes, and this God would have them to do upon the account of thoſe high acts of favour and grace, that hee had ſhewed unto them; and thus to keep his Commandements, and his Statutes; what is it but to be a holy people, yea to be a very holy people unto the Lord? And ſo in that Ezra. 9.13, 14. Seeing that thou our God haſt puniſhed us leſs than our iniquities deſerve, and haſt given us ſuch deliverance as this, ſhould wee again break thy Commandements, and joyn in affinity with the people of theſe abominations? wouldeſt thou not bee angry with us, till thou haſt conſumed us, ſo that there ſhould bee no remnant, nor eſcaping? Free and rich mercy calls hardeſt and loudeſt for duty, the more merciful God hath been to his people, the more fearful they ſhould be of offending of him, and the more careful they ſhould be in pleaſing of him, Divine bleſſings ſhould be the greateſt obligations in the world upon a Chriſtian to keep at a diſtance from ſin, and to keep cloſe to a holy God; the greater the mercy is, and the more miraculous the deliverance and the ſalvation is, that God crowns his people with, the greater are the ingagements that God hath put upon them to be a holy people to him. So in that 116. Pſal. David gives in a bill of particulars in the eight firſt verſes, hee gives you a choice Narrative of the ſingular favours and bleſſings of God both in reſpect of his inward, and his outward man; God had been good to his ſoul, and hee had been kind to his body; hee tells you of Gods ſparing mercy, and of his preventing mercy, and of his preſerving mercy, and of his delivering mercy, and of his ſupporting mercy, and of his multiplying mercy, and of his pardoning mercy; hee tells you that God hath heard his prayers, and wip'd off his tears, and preſerved his feet from falling, and his ſoul from death. And then in the following words hee tells you what his reſolution is, upon the whole. I will walk before the Lord in the Land of the Living, verſ. 9. or rather as the Hebrew hath it (Ethhallech Liphne Jehovah) I will walk before the face of the Lord; The Hebrew word that is here rendred walk, ſignifies a continued action, or the reiteration of an action. David reſolves that hee will not only take a turn or two with God, or walk a pretty way with God, as Orpah did with Ruth, Ruth 1.10,— 15.and then take his leave of God, as Orpah did of her Mother; but hee reſolves whatever comes on it, that hee will walk conſtantly, reſolutely, and perpetually before God, or before the face of the Lord; Now walking before the face of the Lord, doth imply a very exact, circumſpect, accurate, and preciſe walking before God; and indeed no other walking is either ſuitable, or pleaſing to the eye of God. But is this all that hee will do upon the receipt of ſuch ſignal mercies? O no! for hee reſolves to take the cup of ſalvation, and to call upon the Name of the Lord, and …o offer the ſacrifice of thankſgiving, v. 13. and 17. but is this all that hee will do? oh no! for hee reſolves that hee will preſently pay his vows unto the Lord in the preſence of all his people, v. 14, and 18. but is this all that hee will do? O no! for hee reſolves that hee will love the Lord better than ever, and more than ever, v. 1. Hee loved God before with a real love, but having now received ſuch rare mercies from God, hee is reſolved to love God with a more raiſed love, and with a more inflamed love, and with a more active and ſtirring love, and with a more growing and increaſing love than ever. And ſo the Apoſtle, in that Rom. 12.1, 2. I beſeech you therefore, Brethren, by the mercies of God, that you preſent your bodies a living ſacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reaſonable ſervice. And bee not conformed to this world▪ but bee yee tranſformed by the renewing of your mind, that yee may prove what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. When this great Apoſtle would work up the Romans to a full reſignation of themſelves to God, and to his ſervice, and would ſence and arm them againſt the ſinful faſhions, cuſtomes, examples, diſpoſitions and practices of a corrupt and wicked world; hee ſets the mercies of God before them; the Apoſtle very well knew that there was no ſuch ſpur to holineſs, nor no ſuch preſervative againſt wickedneſs as this was; the Apoſtle could have ſet threatnings before them, and the curſe before them, and wrath before them, and former and latter judgements before them, and hell before them, and yet hee paſſes over all theſe things, and preſents the mercies of God before them, as the moſt effectual means under Heaven to engage them to holineſs, and to fortify them againſt all ſinful conformity, and worldly vanity. O Sirs! you are all under ſeveral ſignal mercies this day; you are out of Hell, and is not that a ſignal mercy? you have many mercies that others want, and is not that a ſignal mercy? yet God rains Mannah every day about your Tents, when others wander ſeveral miles, and are too often put off with ſtones inſtead of bread, and is not that a ſignal mercy? That wicked mens hearts ſhould be ſo full of wrath, rage, revenge, envy and malice, and you caſt at their feet, and yet not trod to death, is a ſignal mercy; that you ſhould ſtand when others fall, that you ſhould be faithful, when others are falſe, that you ſhould perſevere, when others backſlide, that you ſhould be for God, when ſo many are for Baal, and that you ſhould be followers of the Lamb, when ſo many thouſands are dancing after Antichriſts Pipes, are all very rare and ſignal mercies, and calls aloud upon you to be holy, yea to be eminently holy, &c. But
Thirdly, Times of perſonal afflictions, are times wherein God calls aloud for holineſs, when the Rod of God is upon our backs,See my Mute Chriſtian under the Smarting Rod, &c. it highly concerns us to look that our words are full of grace, and that all our waies and works are full of holineſs. Now God looks that his people ſhould be divinely fearful of offending him, and divinely careful in pleaſing of him, and divinely willing to reſign up themſelves to him, and divinely patient in waiting on him, and divinely humble in ſubmitting to him, and divinely wiſe in juſtifying of him, and divinely reſolute in ſerving of him, Heb. 12.10. But hee afflicts us for our profit, that wee might be made partakers of his holineſs; why they were before partakers of his holineſs, that's true; and theſe words declare that the great reach and deſign of God in all the afflictions that hee brings upon his people, is to make them more and more holy; and therefore for Chriſtians to be proud under the Rod, and carnal under the Rod, and worldly under the Rod, and froward under the Rod, and ſtupid under the Rod, and wanton under the Rod, and wicked under the Rod, is to croſs and fruſtrate the great deſign of God in afflicting of them. In afflictions God looks that his people ſhould ſhine brighter and brighter, and grow better and better, and holier and holier; O there is nothing that pleaſes God more, that delights God more, that affects God more, or that wins upon God more, than to ſee his people a holy people in the daies of their afflictions,Well-waters are hotteſt in the winter, &c. Jer. 2.2, 3. Go, and cry in the ears of Jeruſalem, ſaying, Thus ſaith the Lord, I remember thee, the kindneſs of thy youth, the love of thine Eſpouſals, when thou wenteſt after mee in the wilderneſs, in a Land that was not ſown. Iſrael was holineſs unto the Lord, and the firſt-fruits of his increaſe: all that devour him ſhall offend; evil ſhall come upon them, ſaith the Lord. God was wonderfully affected and taken with the love of his people, and with the kindneſs of his people, and with the holineſs of his people, when they were in their wilderneſs condition. Look as ſtars ſhine brighteſt in the darkeſt nights, and as Torches are the better for beating, and Spices the ſweeter for pounding, and young Trees the faſter rooted for ſhaking, and Vines the more fruitful for bleeding, and Gold the more glittering for ſcouring: So God looks that his childrens graces ſhould ſhine brighteſt in the darkeſt nights of afflictions, hee looks that his children ſhould be the better for his Fatherly beating, and the ſweeter for being pounded in the morter of affliction, and the faſter rooted in grace and holineſs, by all divine ſhakings, &c.
In times of affliction God looks that his children ſhould be true Salamanders that live beſt in the fire. Where afflictions hangs heavieſt, hee looks that there corruptions ſhould hang looſeſt; hee looks that that grace and holineſs which lies hid in nature, as ſweet water doth in Roſe leaves, ſhould then be moſt fragrant when the fire of affliction is put under to diſtil it out, &c. But
Fourthly, When perſons that are under a great Profeſſion, or in Church Communion, ſhall …all preſumptuouſly and ſcandalouſly, when they ſhall not only do weakly, but wickedly, when not only infirmities, but inormities may be juſtly and righteouſly charged upon them. When ſuch perſons walk ſo looſely, and vainly, as that they occaſion the Name of God to be blaſphemed,Rom. 2.21, 22, 23. Religion to be ſcorned, the Goſpel to be deſpiſed, Profeſſion to be abhorred, the Saints to be reviled, and young comers on to be diſcouraged, and the ungodly in their wickedneſs to be hardened and confirmed. O this is a time wherein God calls aloud upon his people to be holy! O now God expects an extraordinary meaſure of holineſs in his people! O now hee looks that his people ſhould rather walk like Angels, than live like Saints, that ſo they may in ſome meaſure repair, and make up the ſad breaches that have been made upon his honour, and the credit of Religion, and that they may live Profeſſion into honour and eſteem once more in the world. Such bleſſed effects as theſe, the horrid ſin of the inceſtuous perſon did occaſionally work in the hearts and lives of the Corinthians, as you may ſee by comparing the Scriptures in the Margint together.1 Cor. 5.1, 2, 3. 2 Cor. 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. & ch. 7.11. O Sirs! in theſe daies are there not many that have made a very high Profeſſion, that have ſhined as the ſtars in the Firmament, who are now fallen from their Profeſſion, from their Principles, and from all things that are good? How many now do build the things that they have deſtroyed? what betraying of Chriſt, what betraying of Truth, and what betraying of Saints is there this day among many that have pretended very high to Religion? how many now approve of thoſe things that before they would never own, and that juſtifie thoſe things now that they have formerly condemned, and that comply with thoſe things now that formerly they have abhorred, yea that contend for thoſe things now for which they have formerly ſuffered; and therefore certainly theſe are the very times wherein God calls aloud upon his people to be holy, yea to be eminently holy, &c. But
Fifthly, In all our approaches, addreſſes, and drawings neer to God; God calls aloud for holineſs, Levit. 10.…3. Then Moſes ſaid to Aaron, This is it that the Lord ſpake, ſaying, I will bee ſanctified in them that come nigh unto mee▪ …nd before all the people I will bee glorified; and Aaron held his peace. There is nothing more evident than this, throughout the Old Teſtament, that the people of God were alwaies to ſanctifie themſelves, when they were to draw nigh to God.Joh. 4.23, 24. God is a holy God, and there is no drawing nigh to him without holineſs; the worſhip that God ſtands moſt upon, and that is moſt pleaſing and delightful to him, is Spiritual Worſhip, and none can offer this but a holy people. Such as draw nigh to God without holineſs, may, if they were not deaf, hear God ſaying to them,Pſal. 50.16, 17. What have you to do to take my Name into your mouths, ſeeing you hate to bee reformed? And who required theſe things at your hands? Iſa. 1.12. The Renians taught, that a man might be ſaved in any Religion. Iſa. 29.13, 14. Mat. 15.8, 9.The Perſians every morning worſhip the riſing Sun, and the Turks their Mahomet; and the Papiſts their Images, and ſome of the Indians worſhip the firſt thing that they meet with in the morning, and others of them worſhip a red Ragge, and others of them worſhip the Devil. The Romans uſed to worſhip Jupiter, a hurtful god amongſt them, not becauſe they loved him, but becauſe they would not be hurt or harmed by him. And Praxitelles the Painter made the ſilly people worſhip the Image of his Strumpet under the title and pretence of Venus. And verily all the worſhip that thou offereſt to God, is little better, if thou draweſt nigh to him with thy body without holineſs in thy ſoul. O Sirs! remember that in all your publick duties God calls aloud for holineſs, and in all your family duties God calls aloud for holineſs, and in all your cloſet duties God calls aloud for holineſs; times of drawing neer to God ſhould be alwaies times of much holineſs; you may come to a duty, but you will never come to God in a duty without holineſs; you may come to an Ordinance but you will never come to God in an Ordinance without holineſs; and therefore in all your drawings nigh to God, remember that God calls for holineſs in a ſpecial manner then. But
Sixthly, When God eminently appears in the execution of his judgements upon wicked and ungodly men; O that is a time that God calls aloud for holineſs, when hee is a raining Hell out of Heaven upon unholy perſons; God now lo…ks that his people ſhould be holy, yea eminently holy. So in that Exod. 19.4, 5. Yee have ſeen what I did unto the …gyptians; you have been eye-witneſſes of my dealings with them in Egypt, you have ſeen how I have followed them with plague upon plague, becauſe they did ſo ſorely oppreſs you, and would not let you go to worſhip mee;Exod. 24. ult. and ſerve mee according to my own preſcriptions. And when they were judgement-proof, you ſaw mee drown them in the Red Sea before your eyes, and upon this very ground hee urges them to obey his voice, and to keep his Covenant, verſ. 5. And ſo in that Rev. 15.1, 2, 3, 4. And I ſaw another ſign in Heaven, great and marvelous, ſeven Angels having the ſeven laſt plagues, from them is filled up the wrath of God. And I ſaw as it were a Sea of glaſs, mingled with fire, and them that had gotten the victory over the Beaſt, and over his Image, and over his Mark, and over the number of his Name, ſtand on the Sea of glaſs, having the harps of God. And they ſing the ſong of Moſes the ſervant of God, and the Lamb, ſaying, Great and marvelous are thy works Lord God Almighty, just and true are thy waies thou King of Saints. Who ſhall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorifie thy Name? for thou onelyonly art holy; for all Nations ſhall come and worſhip before thee, for thy judgements are made manifeſt. In this and the following chapters the utter overthrow of Antichriſt is deſcribed. In this chapter you have a new Viſion of the Goſpels reſtoring, and of Antichriſts ruine. By the Sea of glaſs mingled with fire, wee are to underſtand the fiery trials, and dreadful perſecutions by fire and faggot that Antichriſt will inflict upon ſincere and faithful Chriſtians. The alluſion is to the Red Sea, and Pharaohs perſecuting of Iſrael, but the addition of fire is plainly to diſtinguiſh the Popes perſecution from Pharaohs; for though Pharaoh did ſorely oppreſs the people of God both in their liberties and conſciences, and though hee had plotted and contrived a way to deſtroy their male children, yet hee was never ſo cruel, hee was never ſo bloody as to burn the people of God with fire and faggot, as Antichriſt hath done in all ages. But now mark, when the vials of the wrath of God comes to be poured out upon Antichriſt, yea upon what ever ſmells of Antichriſt, or looks like Antichriſt, why then the people of God will in a very eminent way lift up God as the great object of their fear, and then the generality of the Nations ſhall be ſo deeply affected with the dreadful amazing and aſtoniſhing judgements of God upon Antichriſt, that they ſhall repent, worſhip him, and give glory to him. O Sirs! when God ſtrikes ſlaves, Sons ſhould tremble; great judgements upon ſinners ſpeaks out a great deal of the juſtice and holineſs of God; and the more the juſtice and holineſs of God appears, the more holy his people ſhould grow. Ah Chriſtians! had you grown more holy by thoſe ſevere judgements of God, that hath been inflicted upon others before your eyes, you had not been under thoſe ſmart rebukes of God that now you are under this day. But
Seventhly, When men are called forth to war by God, O! that's a ſpecial time and ſeaſon wherein God calls aloud for holineſs. The man of war muſt have holineſs written upon the bridles of the horſes, Zach. 14.20. When men carry their lives in their hands, they had need of holineſs in their hearts; when in every encounter a man muſt expect to enter upon a ſtate of eternity; hee had need be very holy, that ſo if hee ſhould fall in the encounter,The Romans lived more orderly in time of war, than in the times of their greateſt peace. hee may be ſure to be happy, Deut. 23.9, 14. When the H…ſt goeth forth againſt thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing. For the Lord thy God walketh in the midſt of thy Camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee: therefore ſhall thy Camp be holy, that hee ſee no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee. When the ſword devoureth on both hands, when it eats the fleſh of Nobles, and drinks the blood of Nobles; when it feeds upon the fleſh of the poor, and drinks the blood of the needy, then every ſouldier had need be a Saint, when an eternity of glory and miſery is every moment before every ſouldier; every ſouldier had need walk very accurately, hee had need live very holily. Mark, though the people of God were to keep themſelves from every wicked thing, at all other times, yet when they went out againſt their enemies, then in a ſpecial manner it highly concerned them to keep themſelves not from ſome, but from every evil thing, or rather as the Hebrew hath it, from every evil word, foreign Da…ar; hee that is in danger of death every ſtep hee takes, and that carries his very ſoul in his hand, had need preciſely to abſtain not onelyonly from every evil work, but alſo from every evil word, as here God expreſly charges Iſrael to do. When God findes holineſs in Iſraels Camp, then God will quickly give up Iſraels enemies into Iſraels hands; but when the Camp becomes a Den of iniquity, then God will depart from the Camp; and when God who is the bulwrk of a Camp, is departed, all the world cannot preſerve that Camp from being deſtroyed.Rev. 17.14. The Lamb looks that all thoſe brave hearts that ingage with him againſt Antichriſt, ſhould be called, and choſen, and faithful; there is no armour of proof to that of holineſs; let a man be never ſo well mounted, cloathed; armed, weaponed, yet if hee be unholy, hee lies naked and open to all diſaſters, calamities and miſeries. O Sirs! 'tis one of the dreadfulleſt things in the world to hear ſuch a curſing, ſwearing, lying, and damning of themſelves, and to ſee ſuch a giving up themſelves to work all manner of wickedneſs with greedineſs, who carry their lives in their hands every hour in the day yea at whoſe elbows damnation ſtands every moment. O Sirs! when God gives the ſword a Commiſſion to eat fleſh, and drink blood, to ſtay both old and young, to ſpare none that come before it, and to pitty none that come nigh unto it; it highly concerns all men to be holy; this is a ſpecial ſeaſon wherein God calls aloud for holineſs.
I confeſs I am for Peace and Truth, for Peace and Righteouſneſs, for Peace and Holineſs againſt all war in the world, but when ever the Lord ſhall call forth his people to fight his battels againſt Antichriſt,1 Sam. 25.28. Dan. 2.31.—ult. and to ſmite Daniels Image in peeces, it ſtands them very much upon to be a holy people, yea to be eminently holy, as they would have the preſence of God with them, and the power of God ingaged for them, and the mercy, goodneſs, and bleſſing of God ſucceeding and proſpering of them, though hee that goes to war had need carry his purſe with him, yet hee muſt be ſure to leave his ſins behinde him, or elſe his ſins will do him more miſchief than all his enemies, for they will ſet God againſt him; and how can ſtraw and ſtubble poſſibly ſtand before a conſuming fire?
I have read of Xerxes that viewing almoſt an innumerable Army of men, hee fell a weeping, ſaying, Where will all theſe men be within a hundred years; hee wept to think that all that mighty Army would be in their graves within a hundred years. Ah what cauſe of weeping is there, when wee behold moſt Armies in the world, conſidering that within a few years yea months, for any thing wee know, they may be moſt in Hell, except there be ſound repentance on their ſides, and pardoning mercy on Gods, they are ſo abominable, debauched and wicked. But
Eightly, When God hath ſeparated and ſevered his people from the corrupt and ſinful cuſtomes and manners of the world, and brought them into fellowſhip with himſelf, and into Goſpel-Communion with one another, O then in a ſpecial manner hee calls aloud upon them to be holy, Levit. 20.23, 24, 26. And yee ſhall not walk in the manners of the Nation, which I caſt out before you; for they committed all theſe things and therefore I abhorred them. But I have ſaid unto you, ye ſhall inherit their Land, and I will give it unto you to poſſeſs it, a Land that floweth with milk and hony: I am the Lord your God, which have ſeparated you from other people. And yee ſhall be holy unto mee: for I the Lord am holy, and have ſevered you from other people, that yee ſhould bee mine. Diſtinguiſhing mercies ſhould breed and nouriſh diſtinguiſhing qualities. O Sirs! 'tis not for you who are ſeparated and ſevered from the world by God, to be proud and carnal, and formal, and diſtruſtful, and hypocritical, and earthly, and froward, &c. as the world is, 'tis not for you to deny your principles, to debauch your conſciences, to change your notes, to turn your coats, to defile your ſouls, to blot your names, and to ſcandalize your profeſſion: O Sirs! if God hath ſeparated you, and ſevered you from the world by a call from Heaven, it highly concerns you not to think as the world thinks, nor to ſpeak as the world ſpeaks, nor to judge as the world judges, nor to walk as the world walks, nor to worſhip as the world worſhips; but ſo to think, ſpeak, judge, walk, and worſhip as may make moſt for the honour of God, the glory of the Goſpel, and as beſt becomes thoſe that have had the honour and the happineſs of being ſeparated and ſevered by God from the world. But
Ninthly, When the day of the Lord draws neer, and when wee look for the accompliſhment of great things; O then! God calls aloud upon his people to bee holy; 2 Pet. 3.10, 11, 12, 13, 14. But the day of the Lord will come as a Theif in the night, in the which the heavens ſhall paſs away with a great noiſe, and the Element ſhall melt with fervent heat, the Earth alſo, and the works that are therein, ſhall bee burnt up. Seeing then that all theſe things ſhall bee deſolved, what manner of perſons ought yee to bee in all holy converſation and godlineſs. Looking for, and haſting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the Heavens being on fire ſhall bee deſolved, and the Element ſhall melt with fervent heat. Never-the-leſs, wee, according to his promiſe, look for a new Heaven and new Earth, wherein dwelleth righteouſneſs. Wherefore (Beloved) ſeeing that yee look for ſuch things, bee diligent that yee may bee found of him in peace, without spot, and blameleſs. The neerer the day of Chriſt is to us, and the more great and glorious things wee expect from God,Iſa. 65.17, 18, 19, 20. the more holy, the more ſpotleſs, and the more blameleſs wee muſt labour to bee. I know there are many that look for new heavens, and a new earth, that is, for a glorious Church-ſtate here on earrh, wherein ſhall dwell righteouſneſs; 'tis certain that the higheſt Heavens, where God keeps his Royal Court, was never without righteouſneſs; righteouſneſs hath been alwaies the habitation of his Throne, righteouſneſs hath alwaies dwelt in the higheſt Heavens; and indeed Heaven would bee no Heaven, yea, it would rather hee a Hell than a Heaven, if righteouſneſs did not alwaies dwell there: neither can the higheſt Heaven ever wax old, neither were they ever made of Earth, or Brittle mouldering matter; the Pallace of the great King will bee alwaies new, freſh, ſhining, and gloriouſneſs; but indeed the Earth in all Ages, have been full of injuſtice unrighteouſneſs, wickedneſs, tyranny, cruelty, and oppreſſion; ſo that righteouſneſs ſeems to have been baniſhed out of the world, ever ſince Adam fell from his primitive righteouſneſs and holineſs: O! but there is a glorious day a coming, wherein the Earth ſhall bee full of righteouſneſs and holineſs, as I have formerly proved at large, from other Scriptures. Now Chriſtians the more great and glorious things you expect from God, as the downfall of Antichriſt, the converſion of the Jews, the conqueſt of the nations to Chriſt, the breaking off of all yo…ks, the new Jeruſalems coming down from above, the extraordinary pouring out of the ſpirit, and a more general union among all Saints, the more holy, yea, the more eminently holy in all your waies and actings it becomes you to bee; many there bee that will talke high, and ſpeak big words, and tell you ſtories of great things that they expect, and look for in theſe daies which are the laſt of the laſt times, and yet if you look into their lives, you ſhall finde them looſe and vain, and what not? O! that theſe would for ever remember, that the more great and glorious things wee expect and look for from God, the more holineſs God expects and looks for from us; and therefore as wee would not have God fail our expectation, let not us fruſtrate his, and the higher your expectation riſes, the higher alwaies let your holineſs riſe,Eccle. 12, 2, 3, 4, 5. for there is nothing that will haſten that deſirable day of glory upon the world, like this. But
Tenthly, and laſtly, When you draw neer your end, when there are but a few ſteps between you and the Grave, between you and Eternity; when you have but a little time to live, when death ſtands at your backs, and treads on your heels, and knocks at your doors, when the eyes begin to grow dark, when the grinders begin to ceaſe, when the keepers of the houſe, the hands, and the arms, begin to tremble, and when the ſtrong men, the legs and thighs, begin to bow, and ſtagger, and totter, as being too weak to bear the bodies burden: O then! what a holy people ſhould you bee? this very conſideration, had a very great influence upon that great Apoſtles ſpirit, in that 2 Pet. 1.12, 13, 14, 15. Wherefore I will not bee negligent, to put you alwaies in remembrance of theſe things, though yee know them and bee eſtabliſhed in the preſent truth, Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle *foreign To rouſe you up The Greek word ſignifies, to awaken, rouſe, and raiſe ſuch as are a ſleep. There is a ſinful ſlugiſhneſs and drouſineſs, that often hangs upon the beſt of men, and therefore they ſtand in much need of being awakned and rouſed up, to look after their ſpiritual and eternal concernments.to ſtir you up, by putting you in remembrance; knowing that ſhortly, I muſt put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhewed me. Moreover I will endeavour, that you may bee able after my deceaſe, to have theſe things alwaies in remembrance. The Apoſtle having the ſentence of death in himſelf; O! how doth hee beſtir himſelf, and how doth hee ſtir up all that grace and holineſs that was in his heart, yea, and all his Miniſterial and Apoſtolical gifts, and all to better himſelf, and to make thoſe that were really holy, to bee eminently holy? Peter being very ſenſible of the neer approaches of death, did very earneſtly deſire, and greatly endeavour ſo to act his part before he went off the ſtage of live; that (when his head was in the duſt, and his ſoul in heaven) thoſe Saints that ſhould ſurvive him, might bee very famous in grace and holineſs. That of Eleazer is very remarkable, who would not do any thing which might ſeem to bee evil, becauſe he would not ſpot his white head: O Sirs! when once the Gray hairs of holineſs and righteouſneſs are upon you, it highly concerns you to ſhun the very ſhews and appearances of evil, that ſo you may not ſpot nor ſtain the honour of your white head. I have read of Joſhua that valliant Souldier, that when hee was a young man, and in the prime and flower of his daies, when his bones were full of marrow, and his breaſts full of milk (as Job ſpeaks) that then hee was leaſt in vigour and valour for God, and how that ſometimes in caſes of eminent danger, hee would conceal himſelf, but when hee grew older, and found the ſtrength of nature declining and decaying, then hee beſtired himſelf exceedingly for God: O Sirs! when you have one foot in the Grave, God calls aloud upon you to beſtir your ſelves exceedingly for his honour and glory, and for your own internal and eternal welfare. Solon was not aſhamed to ſay that hee learned much in his old age. And Julianius (the Lawyer) was wont to ſay, that when hee had one foot in the Grave, hee would have the other in the School: O Sirs! ſhall nature do more than grace, ſhall morality excel real piety? 'Twas the glorious commendation of the Church of Thiatira, that her laſt works were more than her firſt; Rev. 2.19. I know thy works, and charity, and ſervice, and faith, and thy patience, and thy work, and the laſt to bee more than the firſt: O the happineſs! of that man that is beſt at laſt, that brings forth moſt of the fruits of Righteouſneſs and Holineſs in old age. O the bleſſedneſs of that man, whoſe Faith is more ſtrong at laſt than at firſt, and whoſe love is more inflamed at laſt than at firſt, and whoſe hopes are more raiſed and elevated at laſt than at firſt, and whole knowledge is more clear at laſt than at firſt, & whoſe zeal is warmer at laſt than at firſt, and whoſe thoughts are more heavenly at laſt than at firſt, and whoſe heart is more ſpiritual at laſt than at firſt, and whoſe communion with God is more high at laſt than at firſt, and whoſe life is more holy at laſt than at firſt.
If there be any man in the world that is ripe for Heaven, and that injoyes a Heaven (in his own ſoul) on this ſide Heaven, this is the man whoſe graces, and whoſe gracious works are more at laſt than at firſt. Well Chriſtians, for ever remember this, the neerer death makes her approaches to you, the louder God calls upon you to be holy. And thus by a hand of grace, that hath been in mee, upon mee, and with me, I have ſhewed you what thoſe ſpecial times and ſeaſons are wherein God calls loudeſt for holineſs, and ſo according to my weak meaſure, I have given out all that the Lord hath graciouſly given in concerning that moſt neceſſary, that moſt noble, that moſt glorious, and that moſt uſeful point of points, viz. Holineſs; and therefore I have nothing more to do, but earneſtly to pray, that what hath been ſpoken and written, may be ſo bleſt from on high, that it may work mightily to the internal and eternal welfare both of Writer, Reader, and Hearer, that ſo when their Race is run, and their Work done here on earth, they may be everlaſtingly bleſt with a happy ſight of the Beatifical Viſion of God in Heaven. Amen.
FINIS.