The Poor Mans Cup of Cold Water, Text (2 of 3)

The Poor Mans Cup of Cold Water · Text (2 of 3)

But here I must be abrupt, and leave the matter to be dilated and dwelt upon by you in yo… Meditation: OnelyOnly let me say, that the serious minding of these things would not onelyonly prove a happie diversion, and prevent the fretings of your mind, by an unprofitable poreing upon your fiery af…liction; But, it would be the certain way to give you meat out of this eater… Your mind would not onelyonly be keep 't from being grangrened into impatience, and galled with the load which lies upon your loins; But you would be made glade and comforted over all yo…r sorrowes, & sufferings, by beholding the end of the Lord, & the gracious designe he is driveing about you, which is, to make you up for ever, by b…ing …us undone: And to order these light afflictions, which are but for a moment, so, as th…y shall work for you a far more exceeding, & eternal weight of glory. This is that wheel wi…hi… all …ese wheels; & this is his purpose towards you, the thoughts of whose heart take place in all Generations: These things are upon his heart, & he cannot misse what he aimes at; & therefore you cannot be miserable, amidst all the miseries you suffer from them, who cast iniquitie upon you, & in wrath ha…e you: Nay therefore you cannot misse to be happy, amidst all these, he hath blessed you, & you shall be so.

But, deare friends, besides this general Consideration of your sin, & mine, which is necessary for our profiting by every touch of his hand, suffer me to sugg…st the necessity of a particu…ar enquiry; for when ever the Lord doth pursue a Church or a Land, wi…h such a Church-desolating, & Land-destroying stroke, as we have been under, these so many yeers (thou…h wickednesse & violence, in this assault upon you, is come to such a Prodigious height, as it is a surprise & matter of astonishment to all who look on; nay I am perswaded, if no… many yeers ago, it had been told these who have given the o…ders, that they would do what now …h…y bo…h do & defend, they would have given H…zaels answer) he is then particularly pointing at some high and p…blick Provocation, which his soul hates, wherein that Church & Nation is involved, and wh…reby th…y have made themselves deeply guiltie: There is some accursed thing amongst that People, & Church, when he breaks down what he had built, & gives up the dearely beloved of his soul, into the hand of her en…mies: (which is our present condition) And when it is thus, It is high time to awake out of sleep, & to consider, …hat this is; & to enquire, and accomplish a diligent search for finding that out, for which his anger is fallen upon them, lest God both search out the iniquitie of that people, till he finde none; & search out the iniquity of their refusing to search, & then sweep them away, as a generation of his wrath, & seperat them for evil, as those in whom his soul hath no pleasure: Nay, that which will certainly make a generation, a generation of his wrath, & cause him heap misch…ifs upon them, & spend his arrowes upo… them, is, when after such a fire is kindl…d, as threat…ns the consumption of all, with its flame, men are not awakened to enquire, what meaneth the heat of this great anger? O, when they are so unfaithful, as either to be silent, when they see it; or are so oraculous, in their …inting at the guilt (in stead of acquiting them…elves so faithfully to God, & so affectionatly to the souls of the unconcerned, as to point it forth, & be so plain, as th…y may thereby cause them to know their abominations) as if they designed not to be understood. I grant, men may mistake in assigning causes; and happy is that land, which ha…h these amongst them, in such a day, to whom the mou…h of the Lord hath spoken, that they may d…clare it, for what the land perisheth: And yet, if we will search the Scriptures, and consult the records of the Church in her several periods, we will finde, that publick Church-desolating judgements, had ever the guilt of that people so evidently engraven on them, as he who did run might have read i…; so that the dispensation seemed to cry every one into the consideration of the clearly procuring provocation, and say, O Generation, see the Word of the Lord! When he executs the judgement writen, then he cloths his word with such a visible Garment, as the man of wisdom must read his name of righteousnesse upon his rod, and the g…lt of that people, whom he so punisheth. All of us therefore are called to a serious consideration of the caus…s of Gods displeasure, drawne out to such a length. and arisen to such a height against us: What then doeth such a stroke? What doth such a Church-ruine, after such a blessed reformation (I neither feare nor blush to call it blessed, notwithstanding of an act rescissory made to bury it, and the belchings forth of enemies against it, and all the Blashphemings of that great and good work of God by the Adversaries thereof) I say what doth it say to us? I cannot give the answer, in more proper and plaint ermes, than in the Prophet Jeremiah his words, Chap. 22. where the question is proposed, v. 8. by all that passe by, wherefore thath the L…rd done this unto this great City? The Answer is given, v. 9. Because they h…e foresaken ehe Covenant of the Lord their God: Which is …his upon the matter; they had made themselves monsters for sin, and God hath made them marvells for judgement, and se… up a monument to the commendation of his righteousnesse, over the ruine of these Covenant…breakers: what means this sad change; that the Lord, who rejoyced over us to do us good and to multiply us, is now turned against us, as if he were rejoyceing over us to destroy us, and to bring us to nought? Oh! This his anger with such a witnesse doth give a distinct sound! It palpably decl…res, and plainly proclaimes our Defection from God, and Apostasie from him, after we had bound our souls with an oath to the contrare: It is not onelyonly because we were not answerable to our Covenant-engagements, to studie holinesse in the feare of God, and walk like a people dedicat and devo…ed to him, (though such a breach goes alwayes before, and the other followes af…er) Bu… because we dealt unfaithfully in thar Covenant made for Reformation in his house; we be…ame lukewarme in the cause, & so the curse of dete…table ne…trality hath over taken us: our solemne acknowledgement of sin, and engagements to dueties, were forgotten: Yea, we proceeded from one degree of unfaithfulnesse & infixed…esse in our Covenant with the most High, to another, till the whole of that Covenanted-work of Reformation was surrendered, and put in their power, who have destroyed all, and razed and overturned the blessed foundations of that beautiful structure: and this was done, with such a hast and precipitation; as he was looked upon as a peevish Ridicule, who would have advised, in that day, to see previously to the securitie of Religion, before these were put in power, who were it's known and constant enemies: And so, what ou… worthy Fore-fathers (of truely blessed memory) by their zeal, their wisdome, their courage for God, their valient contendings for the truth, their prayers, their witnessings, their sufferings, had by the good hand of their God upon them wrought out for us, and put us in possession of, we blindly and basely abandoned all, and suffered our selves to be fooled out of the cause, and out of our faithfulnesse to Christ, with a flourish or small parcel of good words. And it is for this iniquitie, that the holy and righteous Lord pursues us this day: it is for this, that he doth punish us by these very hands, into whose hands we put power, to overturne his work, and left them at liberty to do so. Now O generation, see the word of the Lord. It is not my purpose here… to give an account of the several steps of our defection, or to draw the lineaments of it's black visage: that is an undertaking above my pen and parts: let the Lord, with whom is the residu… of the spirit, finde out and furnish some for it: and O that for my interest in the defection, and my accession to the cause of Gods contending this day with poor S…otland, I may ob…ain mercy to go mourning to my grave! This may be cried out upon as Treason: well; if the mentioning of the Land's treacherous dealing with God be called Treason, all my Apologie is, that that makes the necessitie of doing it double, and indispensible dutie: let me be a Traitor, if that be Treason: But I know this may be particularly bogled at, and abom…nat, as if it were the reviving and raking againe out of the ashes, wherein they were burnt, and by the burners designed for ever to lye buried, of the causes of wrath: I need say little as to this; But that the Causes of wrath need neither my patrociny, nor Apologie; they carry alongst their own s…d aud certain evidence with them: and I judge many, who did not then see so far, as these Seers did, who drew them up, and mourned before the Lord, under the conviction of the gu…lt therein held forth, have since been convinced to their cost, that the secret of the Lord was with these his Servants, and that they stood in his Counsel: and if any of them be …ot, they may be ere all bedone. O the burning of the Covenant in p. 19England and the Causes of wrath in Scotland, shall certainly be followed, with a fire and siercenesse of indignation, as shall make Authors, Actors, Abettors, and Rejoycers thereat, know what it is, to give such an open defiance to the Almighty. A Covenant burnt, and burnt by Authority, in the sight of heaven, with such hell-black solemnities, where the great God is Altera pars Contrahens, for Reformation of Religion accord…ng to his word, and righteounesse in walking before him, is such a sin, as may make every soul to tremble, at the fore-thoughts of what God will do, for vindicating his glory from that contempt thereby cast upon him. My present businesse is not to addresse my self by way of Testimony, or representation to them, who have done such horrid things: OnelyOnly I wish, that the burning of that City into ashes, where that Covenant was burnt, together with that non-such plague, and war, may make them take warning, ere it be too late, who did this wickednesse: for Alas! all that is come, will be forgotten, when the wrath and vengeance that is yet coming shall be execute and mentioned. O England, England, I feare, I feare thy wo hasteneth! the wrath of God is upon the wing against thee. both for breach of Covenant, and wipeing thy mouth, as if thou hadst done nothing amisse! Thou hast stood and seen thy brothers day: Alas for thy day, when others shall stand aloof from thee, for feare of sharing in thy judgements! O how unexamplified must the plagues be, wherewith they shall be pursued, whose wickednesse hath such a singularitie of hainousnesse in it, on the ground of the Righteousness and Veracity of God! The burning of a Covenant made with God, is a sin, which I believe never had precedent or parallel; and I also believe, that the terrible tempest of the wrath of God, falling from Heaven, and following this guilt, shall for ever fright men, from following their steps, who for this shall be made spectacles of his displeasure, and documents to the coming of Christ, what a dreadful and fearful thing it is, for men, taken red-hand in this wickednesse, to fall into the hands of the living God! And as for burning the Causes of wrath, I grant that wickednesse hath a perfect parallel but of a tremenduous consequence, in …ehojakim's practice, recorded Jer. 36.23. where that ungodly King (of unhappy memory) upon his apprehended restitution to freedom, and deliverie from the judgem…nt of God, pursuing him for his wickednesse, is so grated with the prophets faithfulnesse, as he burnt the causes of wrath: Now let it be taken notice of, how the anger of the Lord burnt against this bold burner: see his burial and Epitaph Ier. 22.18.19. but more particularly, see how for this very consumating wickednesse, he, and his posteritie for ever, are deprived from Crown and Scepter Ier. 36.30. 2 Chro 36. His b…othe… Zedekiah, it is true, was made King for a time; but he also continued to do evil in the …ight of the Lord, and broke the Covenant of God (though he burnt it not) and then, the Lord sweeped that race, for these rebellions against him, together with the throne, off the face of the earth: thus the burning of the Causes of wrath, and the breach of God's Covenant, brought down the fire of the wrath of God from heaven, which consumed with its flame these, who had dared the Almighty after such a manner. As the Kingdome of Israel was put to a period and perished, because of Hosheah his breach of Covenant; so the Throne of Iudah was riding post the last stage to ruine, when it came to the breaking of Covenant, and burning of the causes of wrath: God would beare with them no longer; But for adding this evil to all the other evils they had done in his sight, he overturned that throne of iniquity, and cast them out of his sight for ever:

But, my Friends, that which we are called to mind, in this day of our visitation, is, seriously to recollect our thoughts, and remember, what was our frame, in the day, when these things were carried on, and done before our eyes, what were our feares for the work of God; what were our cares, and solicitousnesse about the preservation of that precious interest. I judge, you will allow me to say it to you, that it might have been expected from the West of Scotland, in a particular manner, that they would have given some evidences, of a peculiar concernednesse in the interest of Christ, and for the preservation of our pure and p. 20blessed Reformation, purged from the plague of usurping Erastianisme, and its wretched brat… abjured Episcopacy. L…r us call ourselves to the remembrance of our carriage, in that day: were we frighted at the dismal appea…ances of these dangers, wherewith the work of God was thre…tned, by i…carce…ating some of the most eminently faithful and useful Instruments in that work? Or were we wakened out of our dreame of halcyon dayes of liberty, &c. when the blood of these wor hies was shed? Where are the evid…nces of our love and loyaltie to Jesus Christ? are they extant? are they u…on record? can we say in this day, w…en we are as broken in the place of dragons, and cove…ed as with the shadow of death, that we did neither deal faintly nor falsely in …i… Covenant? Alas! what can we say? what should we say? shame and confusion of face belong to u… a blushing silence will be a fit expression, for a stupiditie, which we cannot sufficiently lament by words, nor make language of: we were in that day under such an universal distraction, a… both did presage and procure the desolations of this day: we were fooled into such a frolick, as in th…se irreligious transports, we never remembered there was an Interest of Christ to be seen to, or secured in the first place, till we saw it was irrecoverably lost: And now, God is righteous, in l…shing us by these very hands, into which we put power to destroy that, which we were bound to have preserved, with the loss of all things, life it self not excepted. O for the spirit of repen…ance to be poured out upon all of us that rem…in! for, if we were weeping upon him for pardon, taking vengeance on our own inventions, and wre…tling with him by prayer, and supplication; if we were much upon our knees before him, when we are fallen into the hands of these, from whom we are no able to rise up, our enemies should not stand long upon their feet, who now trod under foot his preciou… interests and people; for a Saint is a Hercules in genu; that foot o… p…ide come against us should soon slip, if the slippings of our own feet, and backeslidings were mourn…d over.

Secondly, my deare Friends let me beseech you, vvithout being mistaken, as if …t l…ed to the griefe of …hose, whom he hath wounded, seriously to reflect on your frame, and carriage afterward; and let us consider, whether we walked mournfully before the Lord, and endeavoured to make our sorrow swel to a just proportion, with the growing desolation of the San…tuary, and the growing defection and grievous Apostasie of the Nation from our Covenant, and solemne Engagements to God: for, of whom and from whom might this have been exspected, if not of us? We saw the blood of these precious Saints and Martyrs of Jesus shed: vve savv the frame of our Government dissolved and overturned: vve savv an Act res…issory (the vvickednesse vvhereof reached heaven:) vve savv abominable and abjured Episcopacy re-established by Lavv, and the faithful Ministers of Christ driven from their flocks: thus vve savv Iericho rebuilt; and so the Nation became a Curse, being so deeply and so deliberatly involved into the guilt of open, ovvned, avouched, and by Lavv established, perjurie: Novv vvhat did vve in rhe mean time? Alas vve had not the spirit of the day in its day! vve carried not as knovving the times and vvhat the Israel of God ought to have done: But for all that vvas yet acted and done, Satan had not driven our Apostasie from God the full length he intended; and therefore he still drove on; and remembring vvel hovv he had been put to flee often seven vvayes, before the flameing zeal, and holy fervour of these vvorthies, vvho had wrestled that poor Church into a state of freedom, from an Exotick hardship, and the base bondage of Prelacy; and hovv it had come to that amongst us, tha… Jesus Christ vvas ovvned by all the Authoritie in the Nation, as sole and absolute Soveraigne in his own house, and hovv his Throne… Crovvn and Scepter had been secured unto him, and that Prerogative, onelyonly competent to the Son of God, setled upon him by Lavv; vvhichwhich vvas a National Declaration, emi…ted in the sight of the vvorld, of this import, let him who built the house beare the glory: Let him sit and rule upon his Throne: Satan, I say, envying that blessed settlement, vvhichwhich he had found so hurtful to his Kingdom of darknesse, and vvhichwhich vvas the Crovvn of that poor Church, vvhose Reformation in this vvas beyond all the Churches of Christ I knovv p. 21upon the earth (though now Alas! we may take up this Lamentation over our selves, the Crown is fallen …rom our head, w…e unto us, for we have sinned) to the end the mountain of Zion might once for all be desolat, and the foxes, wi…h every beast of prey, be at liberty to walk upon it, prompted men, h…ving once set them a going in a course of defection, to run to such a height of opposition to the Lord's anointed, as never since man was up…n the earth, was there such a Supremacy f…amed into a Law, whereby name and …hing of all K…ngly power is plainly, and explicitly taken from, and exto…ted out of the hand of ou… blessed Lo…d Jesus Christ, and g…ven unto, and setled upon the King: (O dangerous and unsetl…ng setlement!) no… the incommunicable Prerogative of Him, who is King in Sion and whose right it is, to give Lawes to rul… his own Church and House, is alieanat, and appended to the Imperial …rown of t…e Nation; and it is now declared for ever, to be its inherent right, to dispose of, and do in all Church matters, as our King in his Royal wisdom shall think fit: The most manifest, u…m…sked, high, and horrid usurpation of t…e Throne of Christ, that ever the world saw: An… th… most down righ… contradiction to that declared decree Psal. 2. that ever was framed or cast in…o the mo…ld of a Law, or emitted to the view of men. Nay, let any m…n of judgemen… r…ad our Supremacy and that Psalme, and he must say one of two; that either thi… Supre…acy is m…ant of Ch…ist, (tho…gh his name be not in it, as was above noted) seing it com…rehend… all that Church-powe…, and a…cribs it unto some one person, without a competitor, which onelyonly belongs to him, whose Throne is set in Zion, by an everlasting decree: for his is the Kingdom, his is th… p…wer, a…d his is the glory; Or he must confes…e, that it is the most pure, pe…fect, and unpa…alleled contradiction to that decree, that ever the world saw: neither do I remember any thing …o like it, in sense and sound, as what is recorded by the Holy Ghost Is…. 14: v. 13, 14. to have been the language of the heart of the King of Babylon: thou hast said in thy heart (saith the H: Ghost) I will ascend into Heaven: I will ex…lt my Throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the Congregation, in the sides of the North: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds: I will be like the most high: It was certainly a very congruous and happie notion to come into a hea…hen's head, that whosoever set… his throne in th… mount of the Cong…egation, and sits supreme in the sides of the North, wh…ch is the Citie of th… great King, who hath there setled his Throne, and set the Ornament of his beautie in Majestie amongst his subjects, should also ascend above the height o… the clo…ds, and be like the most High; But it was an unhappie mist…ke in him, to think he would set himself down in that Chair o… state, and si… upon that Ro…al Throne: But to curb this Insolent, and to cure him of this ma…nesse, the Lo…d s…t him some where else; and therefore it is added, with an Emphasis, declarative of his high indignation against the pride of that petulant Babylonian v. 15. Yet shall thou be …rought down …o hell to the sides of the pit: And thus his Majestie bec…me a mocking stock, and the Nation… are brought-in insulting over him and singing in derision: How art thou …allen from H…aven, O Lucifer, &c. O its impossible he can sit long, who sets himself down upon the Mediators Throne! for, the arme of Iehovah, shall snatch and hurrie him thence; and h… must catch a …ore …all, whom the great God throwes down, in his indignation! Be wise now ther…fore, O ye Kings, &c… is a necessar caution here.

But to my purpose: You and I saw all this perpetrat in our sight; We saw also what wayes & methods were taken to slatter or force us into some compliance wi…h this usurpation: How did we behave, while we beheld this Idol of jealousy and abomination set in the holy place? did our eye affect our heart, to see our blessed Lord Jesus put to more open shame, in our land, then ever he had been put to in the earth? to see the exalted Prince Messiah so formally divested, and spoiled of his sole Soveraigni…i…, and tha… b… that very power, and principally by these very persons, who had sworn fidelitie, subjection and loyalty to our Lord Jesus Christ as King in his own house: whose alone it is to give lawes to his Church, yea to give the Law to Kings, as Church-Members, if they have that honour to be Members of his Church… Now, when this iniquitie reached unto heaven, were the rendings of the Cauls of our hearts heard also in heaven, because of the hainousnesse of this high wickednesse? did we tremble at the thoughts of what the zeal of the Lord, for the establishment of the Mediators throne, would doe, against the Nation and Church, where this wickednesse had been done, and Christ so dealt with? What stiring up of one another to mourne together and apart, was there, when now the glory was departed? Were we ashamed to be seen without the teare in our eye? yea or vvith our heads upon us, vvhen the crovvn vvas taken from our Master's head? or had vve no use for them but, that they might keep… tvvo eyes in them, to mourne? or did our carriage witnesse we were willing to lay them down, and lose them, as a Testimony against the wrong done to our Master? Alas had we neither teares, nor blood to bestow upon such an honourable cause and quarrel?

Let me tell you, m… Deare Friends, that as I see cause of wondering and weeping over my own stupiditie, who was so little affected with such a heart-melting sight, and can attribut it to nothing, but want of a proportioned zeal, that I did not either die of griefe, or onelyonly lived by choice, to lame…t the departing of the glory; so, I cannot forebeare to tell you (and now is the proper time for you to think-on it, and be touched with it) that I beheld the strange unconcernednesse of many amongst you, in that day, with amazement: will you not blush to remember that the Parliament of England, though for the most part highly Erastian, were yet so surprised at the sight of our Supremncy, being then apprehensive of a designe to introduce popery amongst them, as they no sooner saw it, but they perceived that Scotland, by their newly moulded Supremacy, so prodigious for size and shape, had not onelyonly impowered his Majestie for doing that, but more also; if so be, he in his royal wisdom saw it fit? This I say, together with that Act, for having so many thousand men ready to m…rch at his Majesties call, into any part of his Dominions, did much startle tha… Parliament. But what did you in the meantime? Alas! it was observed, particularly of not a few amongst you (I do not charge all, nay nor any person in particular, let eve…y on reflect…on himself) that never was there, more graspeing after the World, never more eagernesse to build your own houses, than in that day, when before your eyes, the house of your God was taken in possession, together with an unbrotherly unconcernednesse, in the sufferings of such, who were most active in testifieing against …his wickednesse, and counteracting its de…igne: And, my Friends, I must be this far plain with you, that as with much greife of soul, I then beheld this amongst you; so, I then said it, and often have said it and thought it since, that, for that your carriage, in such a dismal day, when we should all have been crying, and what wilt thou doe for thy great name? and such a manifest leaving of your first love, if God should bring an enemy from the riseing of the Sun, to punish the West of Scotl…nd with a witnesse, they should smart, for what had been observed amongst them, in that hour: he should so order the matter, as, escape who would, they should not: But the Judgement of God, which begins at his own house, should either land and light there, or lye and rest there: My Deare Brethren, mistake not the designe of this plain dealing, I dar not daub with untempered mortar, because I would not have you dally in the m…tter of Repentance: I may say, my record is in heaven, that I have not allowed my self, to be at ease; since you were in trouble: Let me speake therefore to you, in …he words of the Holy Ghost: Heare ye the rod, and who hath appointed it: Learn to understand the Language of this Dispensation, which if you doe, your finger will ce…tainly be upon this sore; and your eye toward the alone remedy; so shall you comply with his noble Designe, and blesse him eternally for what hath befallen you.

But Thirdly, beloved sufferers for Christ, as a further proof, I have not mentioned these things, on purpose you should be grieved, and have sor…ow upon sorrow, suffer me to adde. That, as I had often been made sad, by that nnconcernednesse in the Matters of God, and p. 23in the Sufferings of your Brethren, observed with much sorrow and regret amongst you… unanswerable to the Kindenesse of your youth, and the love of your espousals; so, I was refre…hed, upon your behalfe, and comforted to heare, that there was a begun reviveing, for some time, observed amongst you, and that now at the last, your care of, and concernednesse in the precious Interests of Christ, began to flourish againe; and some thing of old life and lustre began to appeare, before this enemy broke-in upon you… and that he who had been ri…eing Prosperously, in many places of the Land, going forth conquering souls, to a compliance with the blessed besigne of the Gospel (which is to crown the conquered) was returning, to give you a new visite, and to make you …avourie, as in the dayes of old: But more particularly, what ever be the wickednesse of men, and your innocency as to them, that our blessed Lord Jesus hath graciously condescended to take a great Testimony at once, from his old friends and followers in the West of Scotland: he would not put such a Discredit and Discountenance upon you… as to have you behinde other parts of the land, in filling up that, which is behinde of the a…lictions o… Christ, in your sufferings for his names sake, & the noble Interest of his crown. O now happie and honourable favourits of so glorious a King! would you have wish…d, that the delivery of Scotland should have gone before this your distresse? And that it should have been your reproach, that you had been last in bringing home the King, and had suffered least for his sake? But now he hath rolled away your reproach, and enrolled you amongst the honourable company of his witnesses: O! what would you think to heare the Mediator make such a report of you in Heaven (for his commendation makes beleevers and su…ferers f…mous there) as this? Now, what was lacking of a full and faithful Testimony, what was wanting in witnessing a good Confession, amongst my Disciples and Friends in t…e West of Scotland, is supplied, with full measure, heaped up shaken together, and runing over: They have not onelyonly given, and given cheerfully, but the very poor amongst them have given as Kings unto God, because they have given him themselves, and their little All. O my Friends, if you knew what report he is making of your suffering in heaven, in stead of sincking into a despondency, you would be in hazard to be di…tracted with joy! However, now Brethren rejoyce, and now be glade, in as much as he hath coun…ed you worthy to suffer for his sake? He hath set … crown and garland upon your head, which is not set on the head of every one, whom he yet crowns with loving kindnesse, and tender me…cies, and which is denied to many, who will yet get the immortal crown. To you it is now given `(O blessed be the Giver, and happy are the receivers!) not onelyonly to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake: To you it is given, not onelyonly to lodge him in your house, and heart; but, because you have done so, you are honoured to have your ho…ses taken in possession by others; and your bodies, which are temples of the Goly Ghost, trod upon and abused by such, who, while they have the faces of men, have the fashions of Devils. But, Deare Friends, you are not so much debased and humbled, when you lay your bodies as the mire, and as the street to those that go over, and when men does the equivalent of rideing over your head; as you are highly honoured, and exalted: You are not so much hurt, what ever harme they have done you… as you are made happie. Remember whose these words are (which contain in them a noble Cordial for you and an excellent remedie; swallow it down, and it will both seeke to the sore, and make an inward jubilee in your soul) Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousnesse sake; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven: Look upward you may, and Laugh: Look upward… that you may be in case to look all your trouble out of countenance: Look u…ward, and see who is Looking downward, and his heart in his eye, on purpose, to take notice of all that is done to you for his sake: their very hard speeches shall be remembered, none of your sorrowes, nor sufferings escape his observation; but he takes notice of all these, on purpose to comfort you over them, and support you under th…m: many a poor man amongst you durst never have evened himself …o this degree and height of honour, as either to have been drive… p. 24out of his hut, or little hole-house, or to have been oppressed in it, & that upon …o noble an account, as it shall be recorded in heaven, & reckoned, as his Testimonie against the usurpation of the Mediators throne: This is so great an honour, I …ay, and a thing of so noble an import, as many a poor man dar not suffer himself, to believe it for joy: He dare not allow himself to think, that his name, who had so little to lose, will be enrolled amongst the company of Confessors: but doe not wrong his love, nor rob thy self of the rich con…olation, he allowes upon thee: For if thou hast lost but a hair …or him, if one of these have f…llen, or hath been plucked from thy head, let be thy old ble… …onnet, he will both reco…d it, & reward it: he will not onelyonly remember, who have taken joyfully the spoiling of their goods; But who, when they had nothing of their own to lose, had compassion upon them who were spoiled, & became companions, by choice, of them who were so used: You cannot without blushing thi…k upon the value he will put upon your suffering: & how (if I may say so) he will magn…fie your poor mite, which you are ashamed to mention. Can you think, without a kinde of pleasant confusion, of the warme & wonderful welcome, you will get in the other world; when you shall be advanced to reigne with him, & heare him speake these words to you, you are they who have continued with me in my Tentations, & I appoint unto you a Kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me, that you may eat and drink at my table, in my Kingdom, & judge them, who now judge & cond…mne you: you are the poor company, who were not ashamed to be put to shame for my …ake; & therefo…e I will not be ashamed of you; but I will confesse you before my Father and before his Angels: You are they they who have witnessed your love and loyaltie to me, & your zeal for my crown and Scepter, when your Rulers, as incensed against me, did by their Law Un-king me, & in persecuting of you crucified me againe; come, you shall enter into my joy, you sh…ll fit with me upon my throne, & to the everlasting confusion of these my enemies, who would not that I should reigne over them, they shall not onelyonly see you crowned; but crowned upon the account of what they put you to suf…er: Yea, in the day when they shall be sisted before my tribunal, sentenced & shut out of my sight for ever, …hey shall have this added to make their shame unspeakeable, they shall not onelyonly see you glorified with me, when I am set upon the throne of my glory; but sitting also as my Assess…rs to judge these your proud persecuters, & saying Amen to the righteousnesse of my sentence: All their savage severi…ies, & all your sorrowes & sufferings, will come in remembrance in that day, to be accordingly rewarded: Not onelyonly shall you, much honoured Gentlemen, who, in testimony, that you dare not concurre in this opposition to Christ, & give it under your hand to obstruct …he coming of his Kingdom, by subscribing such bonds, as Tests of your Loyalti… to men, which would bring upon your soul, the crime of les…e Majesti… ; and conclude you guil…ie of disloyaltie against the Lord's anointed, (for which noble opposition to that course of iniqu…tie, some of you are shu… up in prison… others are denounced) not onelyonly shall you have all your losses made up, by that far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory: O the eternal weight, and the infinit worth of that glory, to which, all the sufferings of thi… life are not worthy to be compared! O how much is the inheritance of the saints in light, and that hope laid up for you in heaven, above your houses & inheritances …nd lands, which you have ventured to lose for him! But you Tenants also, yea the Poorest Co…tar likewise, who hath sufferred any thing for him, sh…ll have no lower reward, than the Confessors crown, that crown of glory, that fadeth …o… away: He will no… on…ly take no…ice of all the horrid plunderings, of all the ba…barous and inhumane beatings, woundings and unheard of insolencis, of these savage Saracens, who have been made use of against you; But of all your sore hea…ts, of all your smothered sighs, (for he does not hide his eare at his peoples breathing, when the ene…y cuts o… their life in …he dungeon, and casts a stone upon them) of all your overwhelming greifs, and teares shed, not so much beca…se that the enemie had entered …nto your houses, and …aten up your bread; as because they had robb…d you of the Gospel, caused your solemne and sweee… as…embl…es to cease, and did not suf…er your bread for your soul to come into the house of the Lo…d: For though the …o…d had given you the bread of adversitie, and the water of af…liction; yet, if the …ospel had been left you, if your teachers p. 25had not been removed into corners, if your eyes had seen these, and if you did still heare the joyful found, & had acces…e to be made glade in his house of prayer, it would have comforted you, over all these things you have suffered: But it is for being robbed of the bread of life you weep, the desolation of the mountain of Zion makes your eyes dim: And will he hold his peace at such teares? will he not heare the voice of such weeping? nay all your wanderings are marked, and all your teares, if there were but one that had trickled down from your eye, aswell as your blood is regairded: Thou tellest my wandering, (said that persecuted man) thou putest my teares (the word is my teare, to shew, that not one drop falls by; and that if it were but one, it is keeped and well keeped) in thy bottle: he doth in great tendernesse towards you, keep all the teares you weep in his bottle, that in due time, he may poure them out to you, in the wine of strong consolation. His eye hath seen, who have been made to suffer these things from the enemies of humanitie, aswell as Christianitie, which I forbeare to mention by their proper names, as not knowing (if I should) how to comfort those, who have suffered such things, leaving that to him vvho can, and vvho vvill. He hath taken notice of all the thefts committed amongst you, the least brat of old cloths, that hath been stollen from you, or stript off you, hath not escaped his observation; this is marked by him, and marked on purpose, that he may in place thereof cloth you with rich and glorious robs, and classe you in that beautiful company Rev. 7. of whom it is said, these are they who came out of great tribulation &c. You are novv Princes in Pilg…ims weeds, because, under your rags, lies hide a tittle to the glorious crown; but in that day your rags will be taken away, and you vvill appeare illustrious Princes indeed: nay the beatings, yea, outragious boastings, and threatenings of the poorest Lad or Lasse, shall not be forgotten, it had been better for them who gave the orders, & put them in execution, that a milston had been hanged about their neck, and they cast into the midst of the Sea; than thus to have handled one of his little ones, upon such an account: nay, the weeping of poor little Children, for want of food (while the mothers milk was dried up, or was as poison) their pale faces, pat…ly with feare, partly with famine, shall be remembred, as a part of your …estimonie, and that which shall certainly fill up the cup of these Amorites.

But vvhat should I say? Beloved Sufferers, right honourable Nobles, (if any of your names be found in that rol, …d found out of the roll of the Banders, for now, it is not many noble, and the more the shame, and pitie; but if there be but one o… two of that tribe, the more noble) much honoured and happi… Gentlem…n, who to m…k… it appeare you have first given your own selves unto the Lord, would not prig with him, a…out your hou…es, your inheritances, nor your lands; but carried as at a point to par… with h…s th…ng for him, which you had received from him, as having but little pleasure to be poss…ssed of any thing, after he vvas dispossessed by law of his house, & heritage; [o wicked and vain attempt! their hands shall not be able to performe their interprise, but the counsel of these frowards, who will wrestle with him, to wring the scepter out of his hand, shall be carried head long: Hath he said it, And will he not doe it? hath he purposed it, and shall it not come to passe?] And you Tennants, vvho are turned out of all, and put in the condition of beggars (O rich and to be ambition at beggarie!) yea you poor Labourers and Servants, who have parted with your all; and it may be, you thought it to little. (For vvhen love to Christ gives, it is so liberal and open handed, as it gives all: It first gives the heart to him, and then the house and goods for him, & hath a kinde of sorrow it hath no more to give; & therefore at last, to fill up the measure the giver throwes in himself, and that with a blush, to be made use of in doing and suffering for God) and therefore did it, vvith a kinde of sh…me, and regrete, you had no more to lose for him: be assured, he vvill not forget this your wo…k and labour of love, shevved for his names sake: nay, be assured, he vvill repay it with an inconceivable over-plus of everlasting advantage: Feare not, little flock it is the Fathers good pleasure, to give you the Kingdom, are the words of your Lord and Master: O! hovv great is your revvard in heaven! it exceeds both your faith & your fansie, both your imagination and expectation, in the dimensions of infinit goodnesse, and eternal endureance! O! hovv great is that Goodnesse; vvhichwhich he hath laid up for you, (vvhere theeves cannot break p. 26thorow nor steale; nay, it is above the rage of men or loose handed devils to reach it) who now have been helped to give such a proof, that he, who alone is to be feared, is your feare and your dread; and which he hath wrought for you, who have witness…d before the sons of Men, that you can follow him, whither soever he goeth, and that where the King is there will you be, whether in Life or in Death, and trust him with all your concerns, when exposed to the worst that the violence of the vilest of men can make you suffer. What should I say? He hath pronounced you blessed, who makes you so, amidst all your miseries; and therefore blessed you must be, and shall be; so that you have no more to say, but be it unto thy suffering servants according to thy word; neither have I, but Amen and Amen.

Now, Deare Brethren, though your not having keep, as became you, the Word of his Patience hath provoked him, not to keep you from this hour of Temptation, which is come upon you; yet, how hath he both multiplied to pardon, and magnified his grace, even while he punished, in keeping you in it? And as the observation of your former way occasioned great feares on your behalfe, lest there should have been a further defection; so, when it was seen and p…t beyond all debate (though no man would suffer himself to believe, that ever such a thing, which had no colour of reason to cover the barbaritie of it's rage, would be put in execution; lest an easie credulitie of what was not to be beleeved, till rage had quite extinguished reason, should have argued a weaknesse unworthie of a man: For to have said they are men, who Rule, though stated enemies to the wayes of God, might have secured a person against the feares of such a course) that this evil was determined against you, wherein Religion and Reason had the defiance at once, in the resolution of your ruines: I judge, there were never moe payers put up to God, on the behalfe of a partie in the land, then there were for you, that you might be keept in this hour of temptation, & strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, & helped without fearing the wrath of those, whose furie was armed with all the force of the Nation, and to be execute by the most formidable and barbarous Instruments, to stand it out, and to endure as seeing him who is invisible. And now, in that God hath not turned away these prayers, nor his mercy from you: But hath stood by you, helped you, held your hand, with held you from that Bond of disloyaltie to Christ, strengthened you, and keept you from the snare laid for you, and this grin of these workers of iniquitie: for this gift, I say, bestowed upon you, by the means of m…ny persons, thanks also are given unto God, by many, on your behalfe: And this aboundance of heart-establishing, and hand-strengthening Grace, bestowed upon you, by the thanksgiveings of many, redounds to the Glory of God: Deare Bre…hren, you are now in a manner become our joy and crown: This eminent exercise of your faith and patience, in that, while cr…shed by these cruel men, you have carried, as not being moved by any of these things, which have be fallen you; but as knowing you are appointed thereun…o hath comforted your Brethren over you, in all your a…liction and distresse: And your stand…ng fast in the Lord, hath put many, who stood in doubt of you, lest the temper by this means should have tempted you, and turned you aside to a compliance with the crooked wayes of these workers of iniquitie, who shall be led forth with all that …oine with them, to condigne punishment, (but what that shall be is unutterable:) hereby, I say, your friends, the favou…ers of the dust of Zion, are put to a new di…icultie on your behalfe; for his doing for you, above what they could ask or think: now, this is the Echo of their pulse: O what thanks, can we render again to God for these, who ha… been thus helped to glorifie him, by standing and withstanding in this evil day! and for all the joy, where with we joy for their sakes, before ou… God: Yea, what gladnesse, what glorying is there amongst the saints for your patience, and fai…h… in all your persecutions, and tribulations that you endure?

But now, Deare Brethren, to the end that you may hold on, and hold out, and so be more than conquerours, through him that hath loved you, let me put you in mind you have not yet done, although you have been helped to doe much, by suffering much; yet, there is a much behinde to be done, and suffered: Having therefore taken joyfully the spoiling of your goods, and carried as knowing in your selves, that in heaven, you have a better and an enduring substance. p. 27Now consider, that you have yet need of patience; for you see, that the enemies teeth i… hereby set on edge to teare you, they are still eager in the pursuite: There is need of patience, I say therefore, that after you have done the will of God (which hath been by a suffering of his will in this juncture) you may receive the promise. Now take unto you the whole armour of God, that you may be able, having done all these noble things, to stand: Stand therefore, as resolved through grace, and in the power of his might, to keep your grou…d, and to withstand, that you lose not the things, which you have wrought, and let not go a victory so neer gained. Read over R…v. 12. and see, how that after Michael and his Angels have encountred the Dragon and his blake Legions (and I must say, however these who marched against you were called, a glorious host, I doubt, if ever there were legions, who more compleatly were clothed in Satans livery, and it was very suteable, since there was never a company of men gathered together, since man was upon the earth, wherein the quarrel was so formally stated against the Prince Michael) and have overcome by the blood of the lamb, &c. A victory, in kinde and qualit…, much like yours: Now take notice, that the Devil thus cast down, even while he casts them down, that with stood him; and thus defeat in the death of those, who loved not their lives unto the death, studies a revenge, and comes down having great wrath: Be su…e the…efore, he will endeavour to be avenged upon you, for the broken head got, at this bout: He will make war upon you, and mannage it with all the fo…ce and …urie he can, yea wi…h all the fraud and Hellish S…ratagems (whereof yet I am most afraid) against that remnant… by whose keeping the commandment of God, and holding fast the Testimony of Jesus Christ, he finds hi…self cast down. He hath had great wrath, against a poor feeble company, these many years, by whom, after he had hurried all the Representatives of the Nation, into this di…ch of dread…ul Defection, & A…ostasie & carried them the length, of that heaven-daring act of Supremacy, he found him…e…f resisted: all the homage he got by this Apostasie did avail him nothing, so long: as these base-l…ke and beggarly Mordecaies did not onelyonly not bow the knee to him; but resisted him, and wi…hstood him; and by their runing to and fro, he found the knowledge of God (hi… great eye-sore) encreased, his old nests herried, his ordinary haunts invaded, and these da…ke De…s, wherein he had dwelt without disturbance, taken in …ossession; and his old servants and slave… vindicat into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God. Seeing himself at such a loss, & that by a company of un doughts, as they are judged; yea nothings (the fittest things for this opposed Christ to work by, and the fittest …ime too; for by his reigning and conquering thus, and by these noble and notable inroads he makes upon Satans …erritories, he proves himself the Captain of Salvation, and that King who is in Zion, against whom there is no rising up, against whom there is neither counsel nor strength, and so no prevailing; however exautorat by ou… Law, & that Law put in execution by all the methods and strength, that they who f…amed the Law can enforce it by) he is more incensed: And as to you, my Deare Friends o… the We…t o… Scotland more particula…ly, suffer me to say, That he seems to have devised that this storme should have first fallen upon you, not onelyonly because of old Long-syne; But, as ho…ing, that now, after so much ease you have had, while others were in trouble, and some rema…kable abatemen of that zeal, which sometime was observed to be amongst you, (O let never such a sight be again seen…) he would finde you unprepared to stand it out, and withstand such a furious assault; and so, by your fainting and being …oiled, he expected, that all the rest of your brethren should have been either frighted into the like compliances, with this course of defection, and have been made to couch as Asses between the burdens; or their resistance, when relinqu…shed by you, to be but feeble at best, and at last such as would end in their own ruine. But now, being so far disappointed, in finding that you have been helped, not with a little help, but with a great help; and that you have been enabl…d through Grace, to shake your selves, as at other times; and that the Lord hath stood by you, while …uch a Lion was let loose upon you; and hath strengthened you, and helped you, …o aquite your selves, in this conflict, as the good Souldiers of Jesus Christ, he hath now more wrath against you, than ever: How doth he now meditat revenge? How doth he now grin and gnash his teeth p. 28upon you? when having stretched out his hand against you, as nothing doubting of the victory, he finds himself foiled, and made to draw in a stump. You may expect then, to meet with all that the Gates of hell can do to u…do you: therefore, be upon your guard: you may expect to be attacqued upon all quarters, now battered with fury, then underminded b… fraud, Be sober therefore, be v…gilant, for this roaring Lyon is walking about, seeking how he may devour you: whom resist stedfast in the faith: and to the end he may get no advantage again…t you, see that you carry as not ignorant of his devices, beware of his wiles, beware of his smoothnesse; for when he speakes you fairest, then there are seven abominati…ns in his heart: Be sure where ever you watch, or what ever you do, to double your gairds at this passe; for it may be, you shall be yet assaulted at this post… and be in greatest hazard, to be put out of your posture by his smooth insinuations: And in order to your resistance, and standing it out… both against the wiles of the Divil, and against his open wrath, let me drop these things, and bring them to your mind.

First, Let me beseech you to consid…r, what your treasure is, and see to the securing of that, in the right …and and the right place: for if that be safe, an… well laid up, all is well: you may then su…fer and sing, we will not feare what fleshe in do unto us I need not t…ll you that your treasure is yo…r precious and immortal so… and that you have nothing wo…th keeping, nay, n…thing that is truely tenable, or that can be keep't, but that, for it is Christ's own account, who knew the worth of souls, what hath a man profited saith he, if he should gaine the whole world and lose his own soul? and the words added, or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? are resolveable in this other question, wh… ha…h a man lost, if he should lose the whole world, and save his own s…ul? O what can be gaine, where …he …ainer is eternally lost? or what can be loss, where the loser is saved, and for ever made up! Nor need I tell you, that it is for this precious treasure, that loose handed Devils …unt; and to the end your enemy may get hold of this, and run away with it, he hou…ds…out such emissaries, as you have had to deale with, that you may be hurried, by their ho…rid savagenesse, into a solicitousnesse, how to preserve some things out of their grips, till he run away with his prey, while you are noised into an oblivion of your g…ea… Interest. Nor need I te…l you, that the alone way to secure this your treasure, is, to commit the keeping of it to Jesus Christ: for when it is in his hand and custodie it i… so sure, as no ma…, no Devil, can pluck it out; for he is stronger then all: Ye see that in a day of fiery trial, and when judgement must begin at the House of God, and when there is a must be of suff…ring according to his will for all that would do his will, this is the happie advice given, and alone expedient that will answer the end propounded 1 Pet. 4. last, wherefore (saith he) let them who suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their soul to him in well-doi…g, i. e. in doing these very thin…s, for which they suffer all these evils of affliction; for that is particularly the present well doing according to his will, and so often as the doing of his will may infer danger, let this act of commiting the soul to him be renewed… that so his will may only be done, and his way keept, with a holy undauntednesse of courage, in the day of mo…t desperat danger O! bu… the soul is safe that is committed unto him: we can…ot pos…esse our souls in patie…ce… while we keep them in our own possession in such a day… because, we cannot secure them; but then are they truely our own, when we have given them away to him to keep… and we may then possesse them in patience, when they are in his possession; this made the Apostle 2 Tim. 1.12. enjoy a sweet serenitie in a very stormy day, the perswasion of His being faithfull to his trust, and able to keep that, which he had committed …nto him, fo…ified his soul against all feare of what could befall him, in following the Lord, and hardened him, into a holy misregaird and contempt of the shame of the Crosse. Therefore… deare Brethren, let this be the greatest hast with you, and the first hast too; for he will do nothing …or a man, nor undertake to concerne h…mself in him, or his affairs, till he have committed his soul to hi… in the first place: And when you have done this, and to the end you may in this warfare attend p. 29upon the Lord without distraction, commit all beside to him, that you would have safe: if a man love any thing, then the onelyonly way to keep it, from being lost, is to put it into his hand; fo… he not onelyonly keeps all their bones, who entrust him with their persons, that none of them are broken; (when he intends not a greater good to them by the contrare) but the very hairs of their head are numbe…ed, and not one of them can be touched, or fall to the ground without him. Therefore having trusted him with your soul, which is your treasure, trust him with all your other li…tle …ri…les too: He will take it ill, if you doe other wise: And if it be good for you, to have these preserved, he will keep them, even to your old shoes: the Angel will not let P…er lose his Sandals, or leave them behinde him, in the prison: Put your wives, your children, your estats, your names, and reputation, yea, whatsoever is deare un…o you, in his hand; and all is safe. O but that person may be secure, ami…st the b…i…te…ous blasts of affliction, and the tempestuous rowlings of the raging seas of trouble, whose p…rson and estate is insured in the insureance chamber of heaven? Sure, he who hath com…tt…d all to him may slee… sweetly, (because he is safe) amidst all dangers; since the peace of God (flowing from, a…d fol…owing such a commitment) which passet… all understanding, gaird… the h…t and mind, through Christ …esus.

Secondl…, when you have thus committed all …o… would have to his keeping, to the end, you may keep his way, when assault…d by Adver…aries, and carry with that Gallantry, which becomes th… Sou…diers of the Captain of Salvation… make use of your allowed strength and furniture: For you are no… called to this wa…fa…e on your own ch…rges: The King beares all the cost; so that you have a bro…d boord to take a sufficiency of supply for all wants and weaknesse off: and the…efo…e you are not so much to consider what you ha…e or want in your selves, in o…der to you… t…orow bear…ng, a…d what you can do or endure, in order to the obtaining of the vict…y; …s what he will …e …o …ou, in that hour, and do for you; and accordin… to this re…ko…ing you m…y say, wh…n we are weake th…n are we strong: And when we can do not…ing, ye… we can do all things, and endure all things, through Christ stre…gthening, or putting power in us: and we may reckon also upon the victory; you even you, little ones, have overcome them, (sa…h he) b…c…u…e s…ronger is he tha… is in you, then he that i… in the world: Be stron… ther…fo…e in the Lord and in the power of his might: Lay in store of suffering Graces, put on the whole Armour of God (saith the Apos…le) that you may be able to stand: he hath prepared that Armour for you, and it is proof, and he orders you to put it on, and t…e…efore he doubles the exhor…ation, take unto you there…ore the whole armour of God, th…t you m… be able t… st…d i… t…e evil day, and having done all to stand. I shall not insist on the particulars; but leave that known place Ephes. 6. to your meditation: OnelyOnly see well to these three C…r…in… G…aces as ever you would look for the Conquerours Crown: first, See well to …our Faith… a…o…e a…l (saith he) taking the shield of Faith: I cannot here hint the universal usefulne…e of fai…h, in th…s wa…f…re; nor how it st…ls the soul with so much stoutnesse; as it can m…ke a person look the very King of terrours out of countenance, with a fearlesse mis…e…a…rd: In God I hav… pu… m… trust (said that holy Man, in a very des…erat danger; and then he adds) I will not fe…re what flesh can do unto mee Faith not onelyonly sees that, thorow all darke and di…mal appearances, which is of infinit value above all sufferings; but, as it interesteth the …oul in that grea… goo…nesse, it prompts with a holy fortitude, and with a peremptorinesse of resolution and courage forceth its passage, in order to possession, thorow Devils, Dangers, and Death i… …elf: But consider particularly, how faith is a shield, that you may use it as such, (O bles…ed be He eternally, though your ene…ies can take your, old rusty swords, they cannot spoil you of …our faith, and …o they cannot conquer you: For this is the victory whereby you over come the world, even your faith!) Now faith is a shield, and a shield of salvation, because it interposeth God and his omnipotent power to protect, betwixt the man and all that oppose him… and whatsoever would hurt him: When David is put to flee from the face of ungodly Saul and his Court Grandees, and hides himself in the Cave p. 30P…. 57:1. — my soul trusteth in thee (saith he) yea in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, till these calamities be overpast. O when there is nothing standing up between God and the soul, and God stands up between it and all that would harme it, but the man is safe! This blessed shield, it both beares the man who bears it, and it beats back all the blowes of adversaries, so as by a rebound their sword enters into their own heart: He knew of what use this was to a soul, who said — I have prayed that thy faith fa…l no… : And the pe…son to whom this was said, having got a dangerous fall, and having been shamefully foiled, through the failing of his faith, yet being by grace recovered, gives this advice to …e…e who …ould stand, when the devil is assaulting them on all hands: 1 Pet. 5:8, 9. whom r…sist sted…ast in th… faith: And when he is thus resisted… he flees: he sees, its in vain to t…r…w his fiery da…ts at him, who can make use of this shield: hold up thy shield, and Satan canno… hold up his face; but will flee: why? because, as God hath in mercy and love engaged himself to the soul… to stand by it, and with his omnipotent strength support it in the evil day; so faith laies hold on his promise, and takes him at his word; and thus interposeth an omnipotent God, betwixt it and all enemies, and then he stretches out his right hand against the wrath of an en…aged enemy… hence amongst the rest of the great things a…cribed to faith Heb. 11. these are not the least v. 33, 34. Who through faith subdued Kingdomes — stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, ou… of weakenes… were made strong, waxtd v…liant in fight: turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens: in a word, he that makes use of thi… shield is safe, and compleatly sheltered, with the saving strength of the right hand of an omnipotent Go…: and shall be made to sing, when all his enemies, that compassed him about as bees, buzing and burning in their hatred, are quenched, as the fire of thornes; the right hand of the Lord hath done valiantly, the right hand of the Lord is exalted, the right hand of the Lord hath done valiantly. O what a compleat securitie is this shield, in an ill day; and therefore, when the Apostle was solicitous about the Th…ssalonians, at a time, when their Adversaries dealt with them, as men of the same Spirit, and malice, deale with you, he saies 1 Thess. 3:5. …or this cause when I could for…eare no longer, I sent to know your faith: Importing, that all would be well, and they would be victors, if that was well. Secondly, see well to faith's companion, and that is Love; this is faiths second: or the way how faith engages and goes to action… is by affection: O Love is a great Champion! It will not be boasted or bu…e…ed into a base deserting of the beloved, by what all the power on the earth, in a conjunction with the gates of hell can do: It hath said it, and sworne it, where ever Jesus Christ is, there will I be, whither in life or in death: And Satan is so wise as not to assault a soul in it's warme fits, knowing well, that many waters of affliction cannot quench that flame; but resistance will make love the more fervent, and the Lover the more fervid and forward; and therefore, to the end he may prevaile, his metho… is, how to make souls first luke-warme, by stealing away the fewel, whereby that holy fire is fed; or by his slight, turning the current of the affections that they may …un in another channel, than God-ward and Christ-ward and heaven-ward: as knowing well hovv poor and pusilanimous crea…ures they quickly become; vvhen their coal is cooled o… quenched, and hovv easily they are overcome and foiled, when they fall from first love: O my Brethren, see to get and keep your hearts warme, worke hard in gathering fewel for loves fire. O how much is it of the concernement of every Saint, to have fire burning in his bosome, in this day, when the fire of fiery tryals is burning abroad, and about him; when enemies are in rage, and hell hot, this flame of God, this holy Love, burning heaven-hot, will afford the soul true courage to resist that rage, whereby they assault and are acted. And to this purpose, it is remarkable, that the Apostle Iude, having written his Epistle for this end alone, to excite to an earnest contending …or the faith; In order to a readinesse and resolutnesse to undertake this heavy work of holy contention, he onelyonly exhorts to this one for all v. 21. Keep your …elves (saith he) in the love of God: It is is true, he mentioneth faith in the foregoing verse, but it is as relating to this love, and as that which furnisheth p. 31fewel to its fire: And he speaks of prayer in the Holy Ghost also, as that, which blowes away the ashes, and blow…s up that fire into a holy flame: And then he subjoines hope, as that, which poures oile upon the fire, and makes the soul …horowly candent. And this leads me in the Third place, to say, See to your hope also: When ever you get an allarm, or are called to the conflict, call …or your helmet, and clap it on your h…ad, and claspe it well, and so, the head being gairded, the heart is much withou… feare: while love to Ch…ist makes a man venture upon swiming thorow the salt sea, in following of him: And faith is his skill in svvimeing, and the strength of his armes; so, when the waters goe over his head, hope is the Cork that keeps his head above, till he swime safe to the other shore, and thorow all the seas betwixt him and heaven. And therefore, the Psalmist, perceiving himself ready to sink, saith, why art thou cast down o my Soul? hope thou in God, &c. O how vvell will this helmet of lively hope guard the head, against all the da…ts shot from the fury of enraged Adversaries, and likevvise against all their fraud and flattery (for these are the two deadly enemies hope hath to deale with) by raiseing the soul into a contemp… of what the vvorld can offer, from the noble and none such expectation it hath laid up in heaven! Nay, this Grace is of so much use to the saints as the Apostle saith, we are saved by hope: Now therefore make use of your hope, yea, hold fast the re…oycing thereof firme unto the end, and it shall prove to you a helmet of Salvation indeed: It's exercise is, to raise up the desponding soul above all dark and dismal appearances, and to strengthen faith; and therefore we are said, in hope to believe against hope.