Balm for Bleeding England and Ireland, Sermon 1

Balm for Bleeding England and Ireland · Sermon 1

p. 1USEFULL INSTRVCTIONS FOR THESE Evill Times.

COLOSS. 1.11.

Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long ſuffering with joyfulneſſe.

PRayer in this Verſe is ſtill continued, and ſtill ſuited to preſent and imminent diſtreſſe. The ſtate of theſe Chriſtians, was a ſuffering ſtate, and like to be more (as our ſtate now is) and therfore Prayer is made for anſwerable reliefe; p. 2for divine ſtrengthening; forbearing and ſuffering grace; for ſhoulders ſuitable to every burden. Strenthened with all might according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long ſuffering with joyfulneſſe.

The termes of this Text are very weighty, I ſhall therefore deale with them one after another: their difficulty lies Et in materia & in voce, both in matter and word; yet one hand, on which we leane, will carry us thorough both, to Gods glory and mans edification. I begin with the firſt word, — Strengthened, foreign Kóbur animi innuit.&c. It points principally at the ſpirit of man, which is the bearer up of all: a man is what he is, from the fortitude of his inward man; according to this ſcope and ſenſe the Apoſtle explains himſelfe, uſing the ſame word to the Epheſians foreign, &c. And applying it to the inner man. That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be [ſtrengthened with might by] his ſpirit in the inner man.

Doct. God exerciſeth a relieving power in a Chriſtian; As he doth exerciſe a creating power, whereby he doth make a Chriſtian; p. 3ſo he doth a ſtrengthening and relieving power, whereby he doth maintaine a Chriſtian;— who are kept by foreign the power of God, 1 Pet. 1.5. 'Tis the ſame word, with this in my Text, foreign ſtrengthned with all might, &c. Divine power makes, and then it upholds; it makes Eſſe, and then it makes porrò eſſe; it brings forth, and breed's up; it travells in birth, once, and againe; My little children of whom I travell in birth [againe. This travaling in birth againe,Gal. 4.19.Gal 4:19 is ſtrengthening and relieving power, to maintaine and finiſh the firſt birth; the ſame that is here ſpoken of in my Text. Strengthened, &c.

Divine power as it works towards a Chriſtian, hath its peculiar properties;Proprietates potentiae Divinae. as it workes towards a Chriſtian, it works tenderly; ſuch a power working about the ſoule, works, and works againe; it makes lambes, and then it makes armes to carry lambes, to preſerve them to be ſheepe for the fold of Chriſt, —He ſhall gather the Lambes with his Armes, and carry them in his Boſome, and gently leading thoſe that are with young. Iſa. 40.11. As there is a carring and a leading power exerciſed p. 4about a Chriſtian; all theſe ſweet expreſſions, aptly point out this in my Text, to wit, that ſtrengthning and relieving power which carries along and finiſhes the firſt worke ſtrengthened with all might, &c.

2Divine power as it workes towards a Chriſtian, works effectually.—The word of God which effectually worketh alſo in you that believe. 1 Theſſ. 2.13. An effectuall power ſubjected to worke for man, works and works again, and never leaves working till it hath effected its worke, which is, preſervation unto ſalvation; grace unto life. This power works, & creando & corroborando creating and ſtrengthening; it maks the ſoule paſſe from ſtrength to ſtrength, till it be above all oppoſing ſtrength, and expired ſafe and compleat into that breaſt from whence it was firſt breathed. This expreſſion — effectuall power, is an expreſſion of dreadfull importance; it notes that divine power works ſometimes by halves; not effectually; Something towards birth, and towards a man-child, ſome pangs and throwes, but makes but an abortive at laſt; ſome things towards p. 5reliefe, but ſinkes and dies, and lets that which ſeemed to be come to nothing; but when it works effectually, it makes grace and carries on that grace to glory: it makes a Chriſtian, and then it ſtrengthens him to abide ſo to death, againſt deadly oppoſition Strengthened] with all might according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long ſuffering with joyfulneſſe.

Finally Divine power as it works about 3a Chriſtian works perpetually;foreign to the utmoſt, as you have it expreſſed, which is very lively:Heb. 7.25.Heb 7:25 it layes out it ſelfe to the furtheſt; all vires Divinoe potentiae are ſtretcht, and made to beare and carry to eternity, to carry unto death, thorough death, beyond death, above death, as that mighty expreſſion is, Pſ. 48.14.foreign Supra mortem. To reſolve it ſelfe into everlaſting Armes; that is, a power ſubjected to uſe; a Divine power ſubjected to humane uſe everlaſtingly; ſo as to leave no place, no poſſibility of miſcarrying to a Chriſtian, let what will be or can be, on this ſide death, in death, or beyond death, ſo long as the ſoule is. Divine power is ſo ſubjected to worke about a Chriſtian as not p. 6to loſe its worke; no whit of its worke; what ever loſſe he made otherwiſe upon the man, as a man: troubles may make loſſe upon a man as a farmer, as a Gentleman, as a Noble-man, but not upon man, as a Chriſtian; power is ſubjected ſo to worke, as to carry up, carry on, carry out all its own works about the ſoule, in perpetuum. To all eternity.

Argumen∣tum. Power ſubjected to worke about a Chriſtian, works from ſpeciall love; power which workes from ſuch a love can never leave working, till it has its end, becauſe love workes to the end, and it works by power and all other attributes for the good of the beloved Upon this ground the Apoſtle Paul was confident of the Phillippians perſeverance in the truth, being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good worke in you, will performe or finiſh it, unto the day of Ieſus Chriſt. Phil. 1.6.

1Divine power as it workes ſtrentheningly and relievingly,Media explicandi. is peculiar to Chriſtians; its the ſame power which began a good worke, continued working to finiſh it. Where Divine power works not creatingly, it works not relievingly; p. 7hence 'tis that one which is not a Chriſtian indeed, holds not out alwayes to be a Chriſtian in ſhew: hence 'tis likewiſe that Chriſt ſaith I have loſt none, but a loſt Creature; one that was never found; a child of perdition, loſt from the beginning, a child of wrath, unto wrath, had he ever had grace in truth, I would have ſtrengthened it, and kept it—thoſe which thou gaveſt me I have [kept, &c. Ioh. 17.12. Keeping power waites about thoſe that the Father hath given to the Son, and none elſe; all others are loſt, and to goe for loſt.

Strengthening power works towards 2all Chriſtians ſucceſſively; that is, from Generation to Generation by act of ſolemne interceſſion. Chriſt made it a ſolemne buſineſſe, to make free way in Heaven, for a relieving and ſecuring power to worke here on Earth, as long as any Saints ſhould be in it. And now am I no more in the World, but thoſe are in the World, and I come to thee. Holy Father keepe through thine owne Name thoſe whom thou haſt given unto me, that they may be one as we are, &c. Neither pray I for theſe alone, but for them alſo which p. 8ſhall believe on me through their word. Ioh 11. & 20. The ſtate of a Chriſtian is botom'd in bloud; founded in Chriſts death, made out by life, by Prayer and interceſſion; all is merited by Chriſts bloud; particulars are drawne out and conferred, upon ſolemne interceſſion. Chriſts interceſſion ceaſed not, when he was on Earth; the requeſts above mentioned (I conceive) to be a continuation of ſolemne interceſſion, which muſt laſt, till all the Saints be above all wants.Heb. 7.25Heb 7:25 He ever lives to make interceſſion for them; he that lived on Earth was an interceſſor; he that dyed, lives againe and goes on with that worke, which he began, from the wombe of the morning, from the beginning of love breathing upon fallen Adam: he that lives, prayes; he has done ſo from the firſt Saints, and will doe ſo to the laſt on Earth; hee makes all Prayers of Chriſtians, Gods reſt, and mans relief; pleaſing to God, and ſtrengthening to man: Strenegthned with all might, &c.

3Finally all powers which worke in man, worke to an eternall end: powers of darkeneſſe; all powers judiciarie, p. 9which worke in ſinners, are to finiſh ſin, and bring ſinners to their place.To a condition miſerable as neere the Devill as may be. So all the powers which work in Chriſtians ſubduing power, ſtrengthening power, leading, keeping, carrying, boſoming power, are to perfect grace, and bring them to glory. Holy Father keepe through thine own Name thoſe whom thou haſt given me that they may be one as we are: the end of keeping power,Ioh. 17.11.John 17:11 (you ſee) is a compleate ſtate; that they may be one as we are. Divine powers worke ſhapingly, to the higheſt and happieſt ſimilitude, as their end, and never leave working and ſhaping this way, till they have made the felicity of the elect together, the neareſt and the livelieſt emblem of the felicity of the Trinity which each perſon hath in and with each other.

Vſe. 1 Chriſtians walke humbly; (this is the firſt thing that I would commend to you from this point) your ſtate needs reliefe; your beſt ſtate, your graces need ſupporting and ſtrengthening. You had your being by grace; ſo you have your ſtanding by grace; as ſtrengthening and relieving mercy and compaſſion work towards you, ſo will yee doe well; as this p. 10declines ſo will yee faint and doe ill.2 Cor. 4.1.2 Cor 4:1 As we have received mercy we faint not, ſaith our Apoſtle. Our ſtrength and ſupply of ſpirits, is from relieving mercy; if this be ſuſpended, we faint. As we are humble, ſo are our relieving receptions, as thoſe are, ſo we faint not: as we have received, ſo we faint not: our ſtrenth is by daily bread, by daily divine concurrence, this ſuſpended, your life and lively-hood are gon,

1Eying too much what you have will ſoone make this ſad ſuſpenſion: Forget all, truſt not in parts, no, truſt not in graces; your beſt ſtate is vaniſhing; your gold ruſtes; your grace, needs grace; your ſtate as a Chriſtian, needs ſtrengthening power to carry it along: this Houſe upon the Rock will elſe fall too, when ſtormes and winds beate.Eſſe et porrò eſſe ſunt ex gratia. Mercy and compaſſion began your bleſſed ſtate, this muſt finiſh it; walke as thoſe that have all your fortune, at the feet of mercy. A Chriſtian is ſtrongeſt indeed, when he is weakeſt in his own ſenſe: When I am weak then am I ſtrong. Moſt gladly therefore will I rather glory in mine infirmity, that the power of Chriſt may reſt upon me. 2 Cor. 12.2 Cor 12'Tis great p. 11matter of gladneſſe and lightſomeneſſe**To a good heart. to be deveſted of proud cumberſome ſelfe: as a Chriſtian can looke over all, that is in him, and be nothing ſo is he in capacity of the ſtrenthening power of God, to reſt upon him.

Walke cheerefully. Troubles bee 2many, like to be more. Chriſtians hearts begin to ſhake, and faint, I like it not, I wiſh I could ſpeake from this point, to the comfort of ſuch; what ſhall I ſay? what can I ſay more then this point bids me? infinite power is your ſervant; 'tis ſubjected to work ſtrengthningly in you; 'tis not for a man to plead his own weakneſſe that hath ſuch an attendant; every one is to hardſhip, as the divine power that relieves him.—out of weakeneſſe were made ſtrong, &c. Relieving power how ever it find a Chriſtian below his work,Heb. 11.34Heb 11:34 yet it leaves him above it; —out of weakneſſe were made ſtrong. What can you ſay weake ſoules, more then this, that you are weake, very weake? why 'tis meete that you ſhould ſay of your ſelves as you are, and 'tis as meete that you ſhould ſay of divine power as it is. You are far below your worke, your worke is farther p. 12below that divine power which waits upon you. Come what can, can come worſe then what did to theſe worthies, or finde men worſe? They were weake, yea, weakneſſe, and yet out of weakneſſe made ſtrong,Debiles in abſtracto. and carried through all bravely, ſcorning baſe deliverance.

Our Seas rage, likely to rage more; let them rage never ſo much, ſo much that yee be caſt into them, out of your veſſels, as Ionas was; yet a relieving power ſhall boſome & belly you, and caſt ye up Ionas'es, Chriſtians, yea, better Chriſtians then yee were. There be two things in relieving power, which if conſidered, methinks, ſhould comfort any diſcouraged 1Chriſtian; it works to relieve when you need it, and as you need it, When] thou paſſeſt thorough fire; and when] thou paſſeſt thorough water, thē divine power wil be with thee; when] thou art weake then thou ſhall be ſtrong; when thou art in the Furnace, then will Chriſt be there; relieving power ſhall worke opportunely, that's double reliefe: thou ſhalt have an arme ſtretch't out to reſcue, aſſoone as ſet upon; a breaſt worke raiſed, aſſoone as ſhot at. Likewiſe, divine power p. 13ſhall worke as you need it; it ſhall yield as much ſtrength as your burden requires 2to beare it; as many ſpirits as your heat and ſweating ſhall waſt; it ſhall be ſhaped every way to ſerve your turne; it ſhall be made to endure fire and water, to go whither ſoever you goe, and to ſave it ſelfe & you too: whē you paſſe thoroguh the water, yee ſhall have a power that can ſwim, and carry it ſelfe and you too thorough all: ſtrengthening power ſhall worke ſtill ſuitable and proportionable to your diſtreſſe, that what is wanting in you, ſhall alwaies be made up by one that ſtands by; let Lions gape never ſo wide, you ſhall ſtop their mouthes; let fire be made never ſo violent; you ſhall quench the violence of it. The ſeaſonable and al-ſufficient working of Divine power, me thinks, ſhould take off all feare and objections in Chriſtians.

Chriſtians chide your feares, kill them with Faith in this point, they will kill you elſe, and doe you more hurt then the things you feare can poſſibly doe. There is a relieving power ſubjected to waite upon you, and you are ſubjected to waite upon it, and your enouragement p. 14is certaine reliefe.—they that wait on the Lord, ſhall renew their ſtrength, &c. You have a ſpring of power running towards you, nothing can dam it up but unbeliefe, this will cut the throat of a Samſon, and make him as weake as other men: Sampſons haire off, and he is deadly weak; faith in Gods power out, and Gods people are as fainting and fearing as other men which have no ſuch advantage attending them.

God exerciſeth ſtrengthening power, and hee doth it but upon condition of faith, which is as reaſonable and as cheap a condition as can be; but the more reaſonable, the worſe, if not obſerved; a mans ſoule ſhall ſinke with a witneſſe, that leans not upon his allowed reliefe. 'Tis Davids expreſſion often, my ſoule had fainted, had I not put forth Faith. The ſoule never ſinkes, let troubles be never ſo weighty, but when it lets goe God Manage faith in that power which is ſubjected to ſerve you, and you can never be made miſerable.

3You which finde this ſtrengthening power of Chriſt working in you, acknowledge your mercy, You are to be p. 15file-leaders, to help guid them that are behind you. Chriſt beares lambes in his boſome, ſo muſt you. Thoſe that cannot relieve themſelves, you ſhould. The ſtrong ſhould ſupport the weake. Wee ſhould comfort others, with our comforts; Chriſtians ſhould ſhare in one anothers ſweeteſt mercies: ſweete meates ſhould be given about. What you have from Heaven, ſome may have from you. Divine power workes ſtrengtheningly, ſometimes more immediatly, ſometimes more mediatly, the wind blowes where it liſts, and as it liſts, tis alwayes welcome to a diſtreſſed ſoule. Sometimes a lame Chriſtian hath a ſtaffe of ſupport and comfort more immediatly out of Gods owne Hand—thy] rod, and thy] ſtaffe comfort; at another time more mediatly; he hath a ſtaffe, legs and eyes, lent him by a friend as Iob ſpeakes. Soule-ſtrength the better uſed, the longer kept, take heede you loſe not the great bleſſing of aſſiſting and ſtrengthening power.

1. Want of compaſſion will endanger the loſſe of it. 2. Sinning againſt it, will certainly loſe it. I am affraid of this p. 16above all, I ſee Chriſtians fall into conſumptions apace, by fellowſhip with ſin; as weake as water, as if there were no power of God at all in them, which is a moſt dolefull condition. How weake is thine heart (ſaith the Lord to the Iewes) ſeeing thou doeſt all theſe things, Ezek. 16.30.Ezek 16:30the worke of an imperious whoriſh Woman? So may I ſay of many Chriſtians; how weake are your hearts, ſeeing you doe all theſe things, play the worldlings as doe others, play the time-ſervers as doe others? you can turne and winde your lives and conſciences as you liſt, ah Lord, what ſtrength of God is in ſuch ſoules. You have loſt aſſiſting power, by your looſeneſſe, and baſeneſſe, you had beene better have loſt your lives, yea, ten thouſand lives; you had beene better have died any death, and never have ſeen that day nor houre in which you began to decline, to ſinne, to greive and loſe that power and ſtrength of God which wrought in you.

Unwarranted courſes ſtrip the heart of Divine ſtrength. Light will have no fellowſhip with darkeneſſe: God doth not ſtrengthen to ſinne. Man ſtript of p. 17God, is deadly weake; he runnes to any courſe. When God leaves a man, man becomes a beaſt. Why you are ſo eaſily drawne to ſinne you may ſee by this point; the power of God is gon from your ſoules; your Delilah hath cut off your ſtrength; your exorbitancy to this and that, hath checkt, grieved, and killed the working of a lively power.

This heavy ſtroke, is not a firſt but a laſt ſtroke for thine unrulineſſe; Sampſon had many brunts, about his Delilah before that deadly brunt, that gave him up. Thou haſt had other puniſhments for thy Delilah without, ere it came to this heavy ſtroke within; hadſt thou made a right uſe of them, this laſt and deadlieſt ſtroke might have beene ſaved. Ah! forſaken ſoules, 'tis a thouſand pities that things had not beene timely lookt to, ere they came to ſuch an inward extremity, to ſuch a ſoule-blow, to ſuch a ſpirit-woūd. Things thus far run, a man recovers not in haſt; it may be not all a mans life, to be as he was, and to enjoy divine power working ſo lively and ſweetly as it did. Repenting and doing a mans firſt workes is p. 18a likely way to doe well, but whether it ſhall riſe to be as well with the ſoule as 'twas, that reſts wholly upon divine pleaſure; what divine engagement the ſoule can plead for this, would be worth his beſt ſearch. We finde David praying hard for wonted favour, but whether granted, thats doubtfull.

Strengthening power loſt, the ſoule hath loſt its ſoule: the ſpirit of man, hath loſt the ſpirit of God; God doth not breath in the heart, the man cannot live, not live a jot better then hee does, though reproved by his deareſt friends every houre. That which did this great miſchiefe] that which made this ſoule-death, was no ſmall ſin; it muſt be ſought out and cryed out of above all evills.—bloud guilt, that one ſin that killed two, Vriahs body and Davids ſoule, O how he cryes out of this ſin, at the throne of grace! This bloudy ſin that hath killed thy ſoule, ſeparated betweene God and thy ſoule, this muſt thou with all fervency cry out upon, and with all care renew faith in an ever-bleeding Saviour, all will be little enough to keepe thee from bleeding to p. 19death by deſpaire. One thing is all, if thou canſt receive it O forſaken ſoule, thou art made. Thou muſt obey divine injunction; believe, and expect good even in thy bad ſtate. Let Iſrael hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption: and he ſhall redeeme Iſrael from all his iniquities. A more deſerted ſtate then Iſraels was and is, cannot be; yet faith and hope are both by Divine command to be exerciſed in this forlorne condition, with promiſe of full mercy—and he ſhall redeeme Iſrael from all his iniquity. Pſal. 130.7.8.Ps 130:7Ps 130:8Whatſoever thy ſin hath been, whatſoever the puniſhment of thy ſin is, hope in the Lord, as the expreſſion here is, that is, truſt in Chriſt, and expect good in this way, and he ſhall redeeme thee from all thine iniquity, even from that iniquity which hath killed the working of Gods ſtrengthening and relieving power in thy ſoule? I judge the expreſſions of the Pſalmiſt, to have ſuch wide ſcope given them of purpoſe, that any deſerted Chriſtians whatſoever, might ſuck relief and ſupport from them.

Power relieving and ſtrengthening p. 20is ſometimes loſt not really but ſeemingly,Cautio eſt. that is, according to a tempted ſoules apprehenſion, this muſt bee lookt to, that ſo none judge worſe of their condition then 'tis, and lay load needlesſly upon themſelves. Power relieving is conſiſtent with power invading and tempting, and yet when this is violent, a poore ſoule overlookes him that ſtands by him, and mournes and prayes as if nothing were his that is Gods. God was faine in a temptation to tell the Apoſtle Paul, what hee enjoyed, which was all the anſwer he could have — And he ſaid unto me my grace [is] ſufficient for thee, and my ſtrength [is] made perfect in weakeneſſe,2 Cor. 12.92 Cor 12:9 Soule-anguiſh with ſtrength of temptation, and ſtrength of deſire to have it removed, made him over-looke that mighty aid of God, by which he was enabled to ſtand under all; which is many a tempted ſoul's caſe, he cannot ſee the reliefe and ſtrength he hath, becauſe he hath not totall freedome from the evill he groans under. This temptation muſt be obſerved, God will otherwiſe bee a loſer and man too: God will loſe the glory of his grace, and man p. 21the comfort. Is it not reliefe and ſtrength, that thou art upheld to encounter in any meaſure, with ſtrong temptation? That thou art taken from them into the armies of Chriſt, though they not from thee? from the evill of temptation, though not ſimply from temptation it ſelfe? This was that power which Chriſt did principally pray for, not to take out of a wretched World and wretched condition but to uphold in it. I pray not that thou ſhouldſt take them out of the World, but that thou ſhouldſt keep them from [the evill, &c.

Object. If I were ſo relieved and ſtrengthened in my temptations, as kept and borne out againſt ſin, I ſhould acknowledge a ſtrengthening power of God working in me, but alas! when I am tempted I am overcome.

Sol. 1 It is one thing to ſin, it is another thing to be overcome by ſin. Chriſtians which thus complaine ſhould well obſerve how Chriſt keepes their will and affections; a man is loſt when theſe are won and not before. The Apoſtle Paul did eye this in the like conflict; what he was in will when nothing in deed. He found p. 22God in affection, though ſin in action; the heart may be ſound, when more externall and inferiour parts are not. What J doe I allow not; what I would that doe I not, but what I hate that doe I, and upon this ground comforts himſelfe in a ſad condition, and diſclaimes ſin as none of his, though acted by him. Tempted ſoules muſt remember this, The heart kept, all is kept; what is done againſt this by meere ſtrength of corrupt nature, 'tis ſins, 'tis not the ſoules act: the holy Ghoſt makes this diſtinction, a weake ſoule muſt not call it too nice to comfort him: It is one thing to be taken by an enemy, and another thing to yield and lay downe weapons to an enemy: this was the Apoſtles caſe, which though ſad, yet he made it to yield its own reliefe, ſo muſt we in like caſes. I am ſaith he a forc't man, a priſoner, a captive; I doe what I did never intend, what I can never allow, this may make me a wretched man, but it cannot make me a damnable man; it may put me into a ſtraite, but my poore ſoule may finde a way out through Chriſt—I thanke God through Ieſus Chriſt, &c.

p. 23Againe remember this, to wit, how the point in hand is propoſed, and ſo take it. God exerciſeth a relieving power in a Chriſtian, I doe not ſay, a power preſently conquering; by degrees it riſes to this. Reliefe is renewed, and more and more time after time brought in ſtill, till the ſoule be made victorious over all enemies. That place is very obſervable to this purpoſe.Mat. 12.20Matt 12:20 A bruiſed reed ſhall he not breake, and ſmoaking flax ſhall he not quench, [till] he bring forth judgement into victory. That Chriſt Keeps alive thy will and affection towards him in the midſt of ſo much corruption, and ſo many foiles, is it not mighty power and love? yet this hee doth, and this he will doe, till he hath made thee in action, what thou art in affection; indeed, what thou art in will: he will not leave what he hath begun till he hath made thee victorious.

3Finally remember this, that ſtrengthening power according to ſenſe and obſervation, comes in by Prayer, fervent Prayer. The Apoſtle Paul found it ſo. Upon ſeeking of God again and again, God made knowne what he was, and p. 24what he would be to him—and he anſwered me my grace, &c. That is, to his prayer, God thus anſwered. So the Spouſe ſhee fervently prayes for reliefe, and then in the next Verſe breakes forth as one feeling it. Stay me with flaggons, comfort me with Aples for I am ſick of love. Then in the next Verſe you have her ſenſibly expreſſing her enjoyment,Cant. 2.5.6.Song 2:5Song 2:6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me. God in manifeſtation of the firſt power, is found unſought; but in manifeſtation of the ſecond power he is found as ſought; he ſpeakes to our heart, as we ſpeake to his; he reveales his compaſſion, as we reveale our ſtate. You may want ſtrengthening power if you ſeeke it not. You may live without the lively ſenſe of it long, if you pray not fervently. You muſt not diſclaime a good ſtate wholly, becauſe 'tis badly manag'd. Chriſtians ill managing a good ſtate, makes them often conclude 'tis ſtarke naught; this is ill and lies heavy upon the heart, and yet does no good, but much hurt; it diſcourages to prayer and other duties, in and by which comes p. 25in, the experience of Gods ſtrengtheing power, which they want.

I have now but one or two things more to ſpeake to the wicked from this point, and ſo I ſhall conclude it. You will never beate the godly out of heart; they have a relieving and ſtrengthening power comes in ſtill, freſh force from Heaven, they will never be conquered. They are upon a Rock: winds may blow and ſtormes beate, they will never fall; the Rock is foundation, and ſide-props too. Chriſtians are ſtill kept in that hand, that made them Chriſtians; and none can pluck them out of that Hand. The wicked have a great deale of worke, more then they will conſider they muſt quench two everlaſting burnings ere they will be conquerours; will they doe either? There is an everlaſting fire burning in the hearts of Saints; can all the Waters you power upon it quench it? There is an everlaſting fire burning in Hell; both theſe fires kindled, and maintained by the breath of God; can you ſtop the breath of the Almighty? then may you be conquerors, not before.

p. 26I would wicked men would be wiſe and acknowledge the principles and priviledges of Saints, and ſtrike ſaile to them. What they are they will be; what they are they ſhall be, to execute the righteous judgement of the Lord upon you this honour hath all the Saints. What honour? why? to be borne along reſolutely and victoriouſly by everlaſting armes, to bind Kings with chaines and Nobles with fetters of Iron, Pſal. 149.8.9.Ps 149:8Ps 149:9to execute the judgement written. To be reſolute to death is naturall and neceſſary to them becauſe of that relieving and ſtrengthening power which workes in them: to be reſolute to their own temporall death, to accompliſh your eternall death; to be reſolute to all hardſhip, to helpe you to your place. The ſpirit of a Lion is in Chriſtians; I would Dogs did know this: 'tis ſtill, 'twill be ſtill maintained ſo, will wicked ſpirits ever believe this? Ah wicked wretches, the Saints will be Divells to you here; they will rend you and teare you, and never let goe their hold, God ſtrengthens them to it: you might avoid this Hell if you were wiſe, though you cannot, p. 27that to come. Who would contend with everlaſting burning? with ſuch fiery ſpirits as can never be quencht? with ſuch men, as are more then men, who have the ſtrength of God, the ſpirit of the Almighy working within them? The unhappineſſe of wicked men is double, treble, I know not how manifold; They are liable to the wrath of God and of his people; and have no ſtrengthening, power to ſuccour them. When tortured without, they are more tortured within; 'tis a fattening, hardning, condemning torturing power that workes in wicked ſoules; every drop**From providence ſcalds, not one cooles their ſoules. The powers which worke mightily in them, are powers of darkeneſſe, and lead to utter darkeneſſe; there I leave theſe, and goe on with my Text.

The end of the firſt Sermon.