Characters in Blood, Pages 57-110
XXI. Is thy heart born up under any affliction, and liveſt above the troubles of this life; and doſt not murmur nor repine at the hand of God, take a Text for this, becauſe I ſhould be …oath thou ſhould ground thy confidence on any opinion of mine, Iſa. 33. 24. The Inhabitants ſhall not ſay they are ſick, the people that dwell therein ſhall be forgiven their iniquity; They ſhall not ſay they are ſick; the ſence of pardon doth take away the ſence of pain, the ſence of ſin being taken away, doth carry them above the ſence of ſickneſs; Oh precious Word, worthy to be writtn in Carracters of Gold, this is a high and noble degree of grace, I do confeſs.
XXII. Canſt thou go on cheerfully in thy way, where God hath ſet thee; canſt thou go on comfortably in thy Calling; and about thy Imployment that God calleth thee too: It may be thou lookeſt on this with a ſlight eye, I know not how it is with thee, but I profeſs I find this as hard as any, when the Eununch was brought home to God, in Acts 8. 39. 'Tis ſaid he went on his way rejoycing, It made the poor man ſo cheerful, that he went on his way rejoycing, but I'le not ſtay on this; try how it is with the… ſoul, if I can but a little help thee, I have what I aime at.
XXIII. Art thou willing to do good, and to communicate to others thy poor brethren the Saints, this they did in the Acts 2. 44. 45. They had all things common, they ſold their poſſeſſions, and parted to them that had need; Oh what is become of this Spirit in our days: where ſhall a man find an old Church in ſo glorious a Spirit as this young Church was in, oh 'tis ſad to tell how the bowels both of People and Miniſters too, are ſhut up at this day, and he is noted to be none of the Lords Children that Hath this Worlds good, and ſeeth his Brother need, and ſhutteth up his bowels of compaſſion from him. 1 Joh. 3. 17. Underſtand this arightt, he doth not ſay to any one, no, but ſeeth his Brother in need, Thy Brother in Chriſt, and 'tis a right Spirit to be ready to diſtribute, willing to communicate, not to be haled to it, as a Bear to the Stake, but to be ready and forward, as Paul ſpeaks of them in 2 Cor. 9. 2. For I know the forwardneſs of your minds, for which I boaſt of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago, To be ſo ready to give that you rather wait to grive, then to be asked, this is a good ſign of thee.
XXIV. Doth thy heart riſe within thee againſt ſin, and the filthy converſation of the wicked, and the company of the wicked too, I put altogether, for 'tis of the ſame Impoſt, the ſoul of that righteous Lot was vexed, and was moved within him, To ſee the filthy converſation of the wicked, 2 Pet. 2. 7, 8. He ſee their ſin and his heart did riſe to ſee their unlawful deeds, and to hear their Ungodly Oaths and ſpeeches, and indeed this is the true nature of a child, to have his heart riſen within him, when his Father is wronged, thou maiſt ('tis poſſible) riſe againſt ſin in thy ſelf, as 'tis an enemy to thy own wellfare, and as 'twill ruine thee, but this is not ſo clear a mark thou hateſt ſin, as when thou hateſt ſin where ever thou ſeeſt it, the true child will not onelyonly hate that he himſelf ſhall wrong his Father, but that others ſhould wrong him, that he hates too; the very affection of a child cannot but ſtir to ſee his Father wronged, which brings to my mind a ſtory I have heard of, a Dumb-ſon of Creſus, that ſeeing one about to ſmite his Father, the affection in him broke the bars of his ſpeech, and made him cry out, (to the aſtoniſhment of others,) in theſe words: O kill not Creſus, thus the genuous childs affections will ſtir within him, if his Father be ſmit at; Oh ſoul, is it thus with thee, is thy ſoul vexed and grieved to ſee the dead of the wicked, and doſt thou loath the company of the wicked, they that are Gods, care not for the company of the wicked, in Jer. 15. 17. I ſat not in the aſſembly of Mockers, ſo David, Pſ. 26. 4, 5. I have not ſat with vain perſons, neither will I go in with diſſemblers, I have hated the Congregation of evil doers, and (will) not ſit with the Wicked, Note the expreſſion (will) not ſit with them, his (will) is not with them, that is, his delight is not in them; poor man, he was fain to be with them, and a great while too, which put him to complain in Pſ. 120. 6. My ſoul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace, if I do but ſpeak of peace they are for war, I would be quiet, but they are all for fighting, A poor ſoul muſt of neceſſity be with them ſometimes, I, but I (will) not, I delight not to be among them, I do not love their company, I care ſo little for them, that I would not be buried with them, that ſeems to be intimated in that Pſal. 26. quoted even now, Ver. 9. ſaith David there, Gather not my ſoul with ſinners, nor my life with bloody men, gathering what is that, by it is mean't burying, 'tis a word that was uſed in Old Teſtament times; Gen. 25. 8. Abraham dyed in a good old age, and was (gathered) to his people; So David ſaith, Gather not my life with wicked Men, I never loved their company in my life, nor do I deſire to have it when I dye; now ſoul, is it thus with thee, 'tis a good ſign thou art a child of good, becauſe thou hateſt the Image of the Devil.
XXV. Doſt thou prefere Gods work before thy own imployment, before thy own advantage; if thou doſt, 'tis a good ſign thou art a child of God, this Spirit was found in Nehemiah, when Samballat and Geſhem ſent to him, he ſent them word back again, That he was doing a great work, and he could not come down, Nehem. 6. 3. Why ſhould the work ceaſe whilſt I leave it, and come down to you; Oh, how many thouſand of profeſſors in our age, doth this one Text condemn, how many profeſſor's in our days will not onelyonly leave Gods work when they are ſent for, but will leave the work of God without being ſent for; Men are ſo far from giving Nehemiah's reply, that they plead for leaving Gods work, to follow their own, and the devil hath not forget his old trade of transforming himſelf into an Angel of light, he can tell them 'tis lawful to provide for their Family, & they are worſe then Infidels that do not, but this Nehemiah might have as many excuſes as thee, who ever thou art, and yet Nehemiah would not leave the Lords work, no, he preferred the Lords work and eſteemed it a great work, this Chriſt would have all his children do, Matth. 6. 33. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteouſneſs; I, and that's the work that ſhould be done in the firſt place before all other things, try how 'tis with thee, if it be thus, 'tis a good ſign thou art a child of God.
XXVI. Haſt thou in any meaſure overcome the World, and doſt thou ſeek the things above; I put theſe together, for they are of the ſame import, 'tis a ſign thou art quickned with Chriſt, if thou ſeek the things that are above, and gett'ſt the world under thy feet; this made Moſes contemn the Treaſures in Aegypt, alas he valued it not, Heb. 11. 26. ſo John 1. 5. 4. He that is born of God overcometh the World, and as they have overcome the World, ſo they ſeek the things of another; Paul would have the Corinthians live in the world like Men and Women of another World, 1 Cor. 7. 29. It remains that they that have Wives, be as they that have none; no, why ſhould they run away from them; no that's not the meaning, but they ſhould ſit looſe from them, if God call for them, be as willing to part from them, in his fear without repining at Gods hand, as if they had none at all, And they that weep as though they wept not, and they that rejoyce as though they rejoyced not, and they that buy as though they poſſeſſed not: and they that uſe this World as not abuſing it; Note well, the Apoſtle doth not ſay you ſhall have no Wives; nor you ſhall not weep, nor receive, nor buy, nor uſe this World; no, but take heed how you have, and do things in the World, as if the Apoſtle ſhould ſay, I would not have your hearts ſet on theſe things, We ſhould uſe the World to carry us to our Fathers Houſe; but we muſt take heed you reſt not here; Ariſe, ariſe Man, this world is not thy reſt. Get wings man and fly up, live like men of another world in this world, ſuch a life as this did Paul live, when he ſaid, Our converſation is in Heaven, Phil. 3. 20. Why Paul are not you among the Saints on earth, & among men on earth, yes, but converſe in Heaven, I trade about Heavenly things; my thoughts Heavenly, my affections Heavenly, my converſation Heavenly, my words they are Heavenly too; they are ſuch as are a Paradox to the Men of this world; the men of the world, ſpeak of the world, & the world hear them, but ſaid the Apoſtle, We are of God; and they that know God hear us; and they that are not of God heareth not us, no poor Creatures they know not what we ſay; 1 John 4. 5. if you ſpeak of God, the world know not what you ſay, theſe are out of their reach; therefore Chriſt ſaid to the poor blind Jews, You do not underſtand my ſpeech, (why) becauſe you cannot hear my Word, in John 8. 43. 'Twas a miſtery that he ſpeak to them, therefore Paul ſaith, 3 Cor. 2. 14. The natural man receiveth not the things of God, becauſe they are Spiritually diſcerned, Talk to him of Meat and Drink, and Sleep, and eaſe, and the pleaſures and ſports of this life; and this he heareth and knoweth, this is ſenſual, not ſpiritual, Jude 19. This his ſence underſtandeth talk to him of a Kingdom that conſiſteth of Meat and Drink, this he is willing ſhall be his Heaven; but alas poor carnal man, thou art miſtaken, The Kingdom of God conſiſteth not in Meats and Drink, Rom. 14. 17. But now ſoul, haſt thou overcome theſe ſower things, and is thy heart ſet on Heaven, haſt thou thy heart ſoaring aloft, I am afraid the moſt profeſſors of this age are great ſtrangers to this, and many other things, that are the life of Chriſtianity, what ever ſpecious pretences they may make, yet their very practices ſpeak it out to loud; but if thou art one whoſe life is in Heaven, then thou art one of wiſdoms children, For the way of life is above to the wiſe, Prov. 15. 22.
XXVII. Art thou a new creature, then 'tis a ſign thou art in Chriſt. Are all old things done away, the old Companions, the old luſts, the old love of the folly of this world, is turned into the love of Heavenly things, 2 Cor. 5. 17. It may be thou canſt not ſhed tears ſo plentifully, why man repentance doth not ſo much conſiſt in that; but is thy nature changed, and doſt thou abhor thy ſelf, as Job 42. 6. Doſt thou find in thee a hatred to thee way of wickedneſs, that thou waſt wont to love, and a love to the things of God; that of old thou waſt wont to hate, doſt thou loath ſin, and loath thy ſelf for ſin, 'tis a good ſign thou art in Chriſt, it may be formerly thou wouldſt not have this man to reign over thee, but now give me Chriſt or elſe I dye, formerly thou wer't alive and active in ſin, But now thou art dead to ſin, and alive to God, Rom. 6. 11. Now you do not alow your ſelves willingly in any known ſin; Oh ſoul 'tis well with thee thou art pure in heart, though not perfect, yet in part
XXVIII. Haſt thou a ſpirit of prayer and ſupplication poured out upon thee, when Paul was converted to Chriſt whom before he perſecuted, Ananias was bid to go and enquire for Saul of Tarſus, for behold he prayeth, why did he never pray before, poſſible he might utter words before, but he had not the Spirit of Prayer before, there be many from the invention of memory, or in a form ſeem to pray excellently, that yet do not pray in the Holy Ghoſt, Acts 9. 11. And you know Jude ſpeaks of praying in the Holy Ghoſt, Jude 20. So that men cannot pray but by the Holy Ghoſt; Men may as I ſaid mumble over a form of words it may be, I, but a man cannot pray, but by the Holy Ghoſt, 'tis the Spirit of God that will help ſouls to pray, to confeſs ſin, and to plead promiſes; the Spirit helpeth our infirmities, with groans that cannot be uttered, he that hath the Spirit, can come to God as a Friend, and ſay, Father I have need of ſuch and ſuch mercies, I have need of ſtrength againſt ſin, and ſuch and ſuch corruptions are like to overcome me, he that hath the Spirit of God is the Friend of God, as Abraham wa; called the friend of God often times: take one place for the reſt that comes next to my hand, 2 Jam. 23. Now a friend of God can go and plead with God, and ſay Lord, ſuch and ſuch ſins and corruptions are to hard for me, but Lord thou haſt ſaid, Micab. 7. 19, 20. Thou wilt ſubdue our iniquities, and caſt our ſins into the depth's of the Sea; Oh Lord, perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham that thou haſt promiſed (yea ſworn) to our Fathers in the days of old, Now ſoul, if thou doſt find in thee a Spirit of Prayer and Supplication, that thou canſt plead with God, in his promiſes; as I have inſtanced here in one; why then, 'tis a good ſign thou art thy ſelf called of God, and precious in his ſight, but I would haſten toward an end of theſe things.
XXIX. 'Tis a good ſign thou thy ſelf art in Chriſt, if thou art willing to bring others into Chriſt, grace is of a diffuſive nature; it will ſpread it ſelf, Peter, (ſaith Chriſt) when thou art converted, ſtrengthen thy Brethren, Luke 22. 23. It may be this is of a ſecond converſion, and you know Paul ſpeaks of travelling in Birth again till Chriſt be found in the Gallatians, Gal. 4. 19. It ſeems to intimate they were born before, but were turned aſide to crooked pathes, for ſaith Paul Verſe 20. I ſtand in doubt of you, but I will not diſpute it here, but leave it to the ſober wiſe, but however, When thou art converted, ſtrengthen thy Brethren, that is, do what thou canſt to convert and confirm others in their moſt Holy Faith; Wherefore Brethren ediſie one another, as alſo ye do, 1 Theſſ. 5. 11. Grace will beget, and ſtrengthen as many as it can; it will draw others what may be to the good ways of God; Come, ſaith David, and I will tell you what God hath done for my ſoul, His ſpirit was full, it was ready to break before it had vent; and thus it was with the Woman of Samaria, when ſhe had once heard Chriſt, She run into the City and ſaith: Come, oh come, and ſee a man that told me all that ever I did; She was willing they ſhould know all that ever ſhe knew of Chriſt, and ſo ſaith Paul, I would thou wer't ſuch as I am, except theſe hods, Acts 26. 29. Oh, how did his ſoul long for the converſion of others, in Rom. 10. 1. My hearts deſire and prayer for Iſrael, is that they may be ſaved; Soul, is it thus with thee, doſt thou know thy friends and relations to be in an unconverted eſtate, and doſt thou long and pray they may be converted, Is thy fellowſhip with the Father, And doſt thou deſire their fellowſhip may be with you, with the Father, and the Son Jeſus Chriſt, and doſt thou declare to others what thou haſt ſeen and heard of Jeſus Chriſt, that thou mayeſt draw them into fellowſhip with Jeſus, 1 John 1. 3. If ſo, 'tis a good ſign thou art one in Chriſt.
XXX. And laſtly, If thou art in Chriſt thou loveſt the Saints of Chriſt, not love them barely as they are men, but as they are Saints, a man may love another, but not upon the account as he is a Chriſtian man, he may love him as he is of a ſweet behaviour and carriage, or as he is a relation, or as an aquaintance, or as a friend that may be profitable to a man in the World; I, but I ſpeak of love to a Saint, as he is a Saint, and therefore Chriſt ſaith, He that giveth to a Prophet; not as he is a man or a friend, But as in the name of a Prophet, ſhall receive a Prophets reward, Matt. 10. 41. 42. Now I ſay, if thou loveſt Chriſt's Diſciples thus, thou art in Chriſt, and Chriſt ſaith, by this ſhall all men know that ye are my Diſciples; how ſo, why, If you love one another; John 13. 35. This Spirir was in Moſes, which made him ſay, If thou wilt not forgive their ſin, blot me out of thy Book, Exod. 32. 32. Which Book we would with ſubmiſſion ſay, 'tis the Book of his Temporary Life, and truly this was great love that he would lay down his life for Iſrael, in this he was a Type of our Lord; ſo David had a great love to the Saints, and a delight in the Saints, Pſal. 16. 3. To the Saints, and to the excellent in the Earth, in whom is all my delight, Had David nothing elſe to ſet a little of his delight upon, yes, David was a King, he had a Crown and many things elſe to have delighted in, but to the Saints and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight, Davids delight was all on the Saints, and that with good reaſon, becauſe they were moſt excellent; Why had not David many mighty Men of Valour that were excellent ones, you may ſee a whole Catalogue of Davids Worthies in the 1 Chron. 11. 10. to the end; and were none of theſe Noble Princes of valor (that were in his Court) his delight; no ſaith David, to the Saints in whom is all my delight; and it will appear by the delight he had in the company of them that fear the Lord, Pſal. 119. 63. I am a companion of all them that fear thee, Not of Nobles and great Men, of whom then: Of all that fear thee, why David, there be ſome poor Men that fear God, doſt not thou think ſcorn David (being a King) to company with poor Men, no ſaith David, I am a companion of all that fear thee, and 'tis ſo with others too, (ſaith David) Verſ. 74. They that fear thee will be glad to ſee me, or when they ſee me: the Saints be glad to ſee one another, therefore David ſaith again, Verſe 79. Let thoſe that fear thee turn unto me, be they poor or rich, be they thoſe that fear thee, Oh, let them turn unto me; be they Servants, or any I'le keep them company that fear the Lord; I, but David would it not credit thy Court to keep Ranters and Swearers, for the World ſaith, he is no Gentleman that cannot ſwear, no ſaith David I'le keep no ſuch as they are, My eye ſhall be on the Faithful in the Land, they ſhall dwell with me, Pſal. 101. 6, 7. But for thoſe that work deceit, they ſhall not dwell in my houſe, nor he that telleth lyes ſhall not tarry in my ſight: This was the Spirit that was in David he loved the Saints, let them be poor or rich, be they Maſters or Servants, All that fear thee, I am a companion too: by the way, give me leave one word to thoſe ones of this age we live in: Sirs, how many will Davids practice condemn, he was a companion of all that fear God, he was a King, and it may be thou art ſome Trades man, and yet thou thinkeſt ſcorn to converſe with the poor Saints, if he be ſome of the great ones of the City, then thou art a companion of ſuch, but if a poor Saint come to thee, then thou art in haſt, or ſome one or another ſtay for me; this is a ſad Spirit that is crept in among us in theſe days. And from this alſo may Miniſters themſelves be rebuked, and that ſharply too; truly among you; men of low eſtate, are low in eſteem, for ought I can diſcern, elſe what meaneth this courting of the great ones, while the poor of the Flock ſtand by diſregarded; and when a poor man comes to ſpeak with you, I am buſie, come another time; when at the ſame time if a great one comes, then make all ready to give them entertainment, and all poſſible reſpect ſhewed them: Sirs, what doth this come ſhort of that charge, Jude 16. Having mens perſons in admination, becauſe of advantage; If it be not really ſo, I appeal to you, whether or no you do not give others juſt occaſion to judge ſo: Oh Sirs, precious in the ſight of the Lord are all his Saints, and ſo ſhould they be to you, excuſe me that by the by; I return to the Apoſtles evidence, they were alſo of that Spirit to love the Saints, 1 John 4. 19. We love him, becauſe he firſt loved us: Ah, but how ſhall we know that we love him, Verſe 20. He that ſaith he loves God, and hates his Brother, is a lyer, How ſhall we know who loved God, Verſe 21. He who loves God, loves his Brother alſo, and Chap 5. 1. Every one that loveth him that begat (that is God) loveth him alſo that is begotten of him, Soul, doſt thou love him that is begotten of God, then thou doſt. love God, love God, may many a man ſay, why I never ſaw him, how then ſhould I love him, Chap. 4. 12. No man hath ſeen God at any time, Exod. 33. 20. No man can ſee God and live, but in John before quoted: If we love one another; God dwelleth in us; and his love is perfected in us, Note his love is perfected, or compleated in us, Ah ſoul doſt thou love thy Brother; Saint indeed, 'tis a good ſign thou art a child of God: it may be thou thinkeſt thou haſt but little grace, it may be but as a Muſtard Seed, 'tis but as a ſpark of fire in a great heap of aſhes, a ſpark of grace in the midſt of a great heap of corruption, or it may be thou doſt not ſhine in the ſight of others ſo eminently, it may be thou canſt not diſcourſe nor pray ſo excellently to appearance, as ſome can; I, but doſt thou love the brethren, then I'le aſſure thee 'tis very well with thee, who theſe brethren are, Chriſt tells us, they are they that do the will of the Father, Mark. 3. 35. not thy natural brother, if he hath not grace, he is not thy brother in Chriſt; 'Tis well with thee if thou loveſt the Saints, ſo ſaith the ſame Apoſtle, 1 Epiſt. John 3. 14. And with that I'le wind up all as to theſe things; We know that we are paſſed from Death to Life; Why, how doſt thou know, John, we know by this, Becauſe we love the Brethren, doſt thou love the Brethren of Chriſt above and beyond all other men, and as they are the brethren of Chriſt meerly upon no falſe account, but only as they are the Brethren of Chriſt and the Family of God, and as they are the Citizens of Heaven, 'tis a ſure ſign thou art a child of God, and to uſe the Phraſe in the Text: One for whom Chriſt is ſacrificed. Thus now I have gone over thoſe Carracters that have been found upon ſome one of the Saints or other that are found in the Word, and though it may eaſily be diſcerned that they might have been contracted, yet let ſuch remember I deſign (if the Lord will) the relief of ſome poor ſoul that is ready to give up all hope, and not what will be ſpoken either in praiſe or diſpraiſe.
For he that will adventure in this ſort, muſt not mind mens good or bad report, examine thy ſelf therefore ſoul, by what is before thee; and if thou canſt not find all theſe things in thee, yet if thou findſt but here and there one, if God ſet in by his Spirit, thou may'ſt find a little relief to thy poor trembling ſoul; and if thou art found ſincere before the Lord, thou art a righteous one, one that Chriſt the Righteous is ſlain for, and ſo comfort is to be miniſtred to thee, and that leads me to a uſe of conſolation; Say ye to the righteous it ſhall be well with him, Iſa. 3. 10. So in Eccl. 8. 12. Surely it ſhall go well with him that fears God, Here is comfort ſoul for thee if in Chriſt, who ever thou art, if thou art born of God, though but a day old; yet ſurely it ſhall be well with thee, art thou in doubt touching thy condition, as in Deut. 28. 66. Doth thy life hang in doubt before, and thou feareſt day and night, and haſt no aſſurance of thy life, of thy pardon, of thy Salvation, why, behold God hath bid me tell thee, (to which he hath added this word of aſſurance,) (ſurely) it ſhall go well with them that fear God, thou ſaiſt (ſurely) there's no pardon for me, no peace to me, and ſurely it ſhall go ill with me at laſt; Ah poor ſoul doth thy life, thy pardon hang in doubt, and haſt thou no aſſurance of thy life, why, yet ſurely it ſhall go well with them for whom Chriſt dyed; but what conſolation is there to be miniſtred to ſuch, truly abundance, more then I can tell thee of, 1 Cor. 3. 9. Eye hath not ſegrave;en, nor ear heard, neither can the heart of man conceive, what is prepared for them that love him; but, ſaith the Apoſtle in the next words: 'Tis revealed to us by the Spirit, 'tis the Spirit of God oh ſoul, that revealeth the conſolation of God to thee, 'tis the Spirit that ſheweth things, (and ſo comfort) that is to come; and though I cannot tell thee all thy comfort, yet I'le tell thee ſome of thy comfort, for. 'tis God that comforteth us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort you, which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we our ſ…elves are comforted of God; but in a few particulars, I'le ſhew thee ſome of the conſolation that p…rtaineth to thee:
Firſt, I will ſhew thee a little what thou ſhalt be delivered from.
Secondly, What thou ſhalt partake of and be priviledged too: very briefly.
Firſt, Thou ſhalt be delivered from the vengeance threatned againſt the wicked; Ah ſoul, let me tell thee, it ſhall be ill with the wicked; Iſa. 3. 11. 'Tis true, the Godly man may be afflicted for his ſin, for God doth not willingly afflict nor grieve the children of Men, Lam. 3. 33. No 'tis for ſome ſin he will viſit you; ſometimes the Godly Man ſhall not go altogether unpuniſhed, Jer. 30. 11. But here is their comfort, I will not make a full end of you, no many at time, hath he turned away his anger, and did not ſtir up all his wrath, Pſal. 78. 38. It may be he let out a little of his anger, like the leakings of a Floodgate, but yet he did not let open the Flood-gates of his wrath, that the full ſtream might ſweep all away before it; but now he opens the Floodgate upon the wicked, he reſerves them for the ſtroke of wrath, he takes away the wicked with his ſtroak, The wicked is reſerved (till when) tell the day of deſtruction, Job 21. 30. Yea, he ſhall be brought forth to the day of wrath, or as the Hebrew is, the day of wrath's, That is more then one, wrath upon wrath, one upon the neck of another, oh wicked man hear, and conſider, and tremble, if theſe lines fall into thy hands, that there is wrath upon wrath for thee, and whilſt' thou liveſt in thy luſt, and thy ſin, thou doſt but Treaſure up wrath againſt the day of wrath, Rom. 2. 5. Yea, wrath to thy (ſoul) man, as you may ſee in Verſe 9. I put in that now becauſe I have met with ſome that have diſputed it, that only the bodies of men ſhall be puniſhed, and not the ſoul: Oh, but here is a word, that there is not ſuch another in the whole Book of God to confute thee, ſo emplatically laid down, Terribulation and anguiſh upon every ſoul that doth evil, upon every ſoul of man that doth evil. Where art thou now that wilt cavil againſt the ſouls being puniſhed? where is the ſoul that ſhall not ſuffer now? if it be of an evil man; Oh I am afraid the hearts of many ſpeak this: that the ſoul ſhall not ſuffer, as doth plainly appear by their lives; but 'tis clear as the day, that the wicked ſhall ſuffer, Pſal. 9. 17. The wicked ſhall be turned into Hell, and all the Nations that forget God, Oh thou that forget God, God will not forget you to turn you into Hell; and make; you that forget God, ſhall have the ſame, portion with the wicked, God's wrath is hot againſt them that forget him; hearken you that forget to pray to God; Mark what's your doom, nothing but wrath, Jer. 10. 25. Pour out thy wrath (or fury) on whom, on the Heathen that know thee not, and on the Families that call not on thy Name; Oh, hearken you prayerleſs Families, you are reckoned with Heathens on Gods account, count your ſelves what you will, wrath ſhall come upon you, certainly ſinners ſhall be deſtroyed, if wrath will do it, Pſal. 37. 8. The tranſgreſſors ſhall be deſtroyed together, and the end of the wicked ſhall be cut off, You that have tranſgreſſed together, you that have been unclean together, you that have been jovial, and carouſ'd it together, profaned my day together; why, you ſhall be deſtroyed together, and your end ſhall be to be cut off; and he that hardeneth his neck againſt this or other reproof, ſhall be deſtroyed without remedy; a Godly man hath Chriſt for his (remedy,) I, but a wicked man hath no remedy, he never looks after Chriſt for his remedy, and therefore he ſhall be deſtroyed without remedy, Prov. 29. 1. Oh Sinner, there are hundreds of threat's againſt thee, but I ſhall ſtand to give thee but one more, Iſa. 1. 28. They that forſake the Lord ſhall be conſumed, Not (may) be, but (ſhall) be, conſumed, a Godly man may be afflicted, but he ſhall never be conſumed, God will not make a full end of him, but a wicked man may be, ſhall be conſumed, but now oh ſoul thou that art in Chriſt, thou ſhalt be delivered from all theſe threatnings, much more from the things threatened, that will unavoidably come on the wicked; and when ever thou readeſt any threatnings elſe, (that would require abundance of time for me to recite) thou may'ſt look on them, and ſay, theſe I am delivered from: and is not here comfort ſoul? ſoul, remember I have told thee, a Godly man may be afflicted, but a wicked man ſhall be conſumed; I'le wind up this head with a Sentence: they that hold thee Faith of Chriſt may ſuffer perſecution, 2 Tim. 3. 12. But they that caſt off the Faith of Chriſt, they have damnation, 1 Tim. 5. 12. That's the firſt thing for thy comfort.
Secondly, Thou art delivered from ſin, from the power of ſin …ow, and ſhall be delivered from ſin perfectly, they for whom Chriſt is ſlain, have their ſin taken away, if not out of their converſation; yet out of their conſciences, 1 Cor. 15. 3. For I delivered to you firſt of all how that Chriſt dyed for our ſins, that was it that made Paul triump and ſay, Oh Death where is thy ſting, now the ſting of Death is ſin, and Chriſt hath taken away that, therefore he is called a, Lamb, that taketh away the ſins of the World; and his name is called Jeſus, For he ſhall ſave his People from their ſin, Mat. 1. 21. Now oh ſoul, is it not a mercy to be ſaved from thy ſins, is not this comfort for thee, thou doſt not ſave thy ſelf, but another loveth thee, Mark (he) ſhall ſave (his) people, not ſave himſelf by the light within himſelf, but he ſhall ſave his people, that is, thoſe whom the Father giveth him; Now if ſin doth ſometimes overthrow thee, yet Chriſt will help thee up again, that it ſhall not deſtroy thee; thou ſhalt be the Conquer or at laſt: and therefore, though the Devil and Sin, doth upon ſome advantage foil thee, yet ſay to him in the words of the Church, Mic. 7. 8. Rejoyce not againſt me oh mine enemy, when I fall I ſhall ariſe, I have one to help me up: When a wicked man falls, he cannot riſe again, he has none to help him up: but here is comfort for the Godly man, he hath one to help him up: Solomon ſaith, Eccl. 4. 9. Two are better then one (why ſo) for if they ſall one will help up his fellow, but wo to him that is alone; Wo to that man that falls, and hath no ſtrength to riſe again, and more he hath none to help him up▪ …o to him that is alone, but the Godly man hath another to help him up a now ſoul, haſt thou this Chriſt, is he indeed ſlain for thee, here is comfort for thee then: thou art delivered from ſin, that it ſhall not ruine thee; though it may wound thee, yet thou ſhalt overcome; yet do I not ſpeak this to ſew: Pillows under profeſſors Elbows, as if it were tollerable to fall by ſin, nor will this bolſter up any profeſſor in willfull ſin, under a pretence of failings; oh what a ſad thing is it to ſee a profeſſor ſhake the head in the Congregation, as if the Word affected his heart, and yet he will purſue the World hotter then the Devil doth perſue him with temptations, or as if there were no other happineſs then theſe; and what a ſad thing is it to ſee in the refined'ſt Congregation, fooliſh Pride with an impudence face, place it ſelf in the uppermoſt Seat; Oh what outſtreched necks are there and what a great deal of laying on of apparrel, Oh how ſad is it to tell, that profeſſors and their Families come as gaudy as the profaneſt Gallants, and what ſcraping acquaintance will there be with theſe, and for ought I ſee, theſe find as good acceptance with the Preacher as any, nay with many more; for theſe are like themſelves, and their Wives many of them are as Modiſh as the Court, in their white Shoos, and white Coats: like ſo many Mag pyes, or fools in a play; and indeed profeſſors in general are too too guilty in laying out for the back; Sirs, let me ask you all one queſtion: and anſwer your conſciences, if not me, as you will one day anſwer the great God: do you think Gods poor people do not ſtand in more need of relief, than your backs do of toys? I do not ask you ſo much whether it be an odious thing in the ſight of God, and true Chriſtians, but I ask you what anſwer you will give, when the eternal God ſhall ſay, I gave you or made you Stewards, of ſo much of the worlds goods, (I ſay Stewards) for the proudeſt of you all have nothing of your own, for all you ſay I have riches, I have this and that, but what anſwer will you make; which will it be beſt, to be able to ſay, I ſaid it out on Gallantry and Grandure, to make a pompous ſhew; or elſe to ſay, I have laid it out on the poor members of Chriſt: and indeed 'tis obſerved, that at Collections for the Poor, that the fineſt folks give the leaſt; I am not ignorant of your many evaſions and tricks to favour your Pride; but though you may put of me, with theſe; yet remember how will you be able to anſwer the eternal God, the ſearcher of all hearts; you that are the Lords Miniſters, me thinks you ſhould loath ſuch perſons when you meet them; as I have read of a great Man, that was ſuch a lover of Juſtice, that when he met an unjuſt man, he would vomit up choller; methinks you that love plainneſs ſhould vomit up choller, when you meet Pride and not complement it: I would not have thus diſgreſſed, but that profeſſors are ſaying (when they are forced upon it,) this is our failing; this is a groſs falling to follow the multitude to do evil, and to do as the moſt do, but yet remember ſtill believer, if thou fall'ſt thou haſt a help, a Saviour to ſave thee from thy Sin.
Thirdly. Thou ſhalt be delivered from ſorrow, it may be poor ſoul, thou art now ſorrowing and morning, thou haſt on thy black Sute, though it may be for thy breakings with God, and thy untoward walking, art clothed with black down to the ground; Jer. 14. 2. Well, but bear up ſoul, the day is haſtening that there ſhall be no more ſuch complaints; There ſhall then be no more oh my back, my head and heart, for all ſorrow and ſighing ſhall fly away, Iſa. 35. laſt, And God ſhall wipe away all tears from thy eyes, Revel. 21. 4. For there ſhall be no more ſorrow nor mourning: For ſo it may be read, now it may be inſteed of ſuch Oyntment that run down Aarons Beard, even to the skirts of his Garments, Pſal. 133. 2. Tears it may be are pouring down to the ground, yet if thou be one that Chriſt is ſlain for: all this ſhall be done away, thou ſhalt ſee no more ſorrow nor fear, and will not this a little comfort thee.
Fourthly, Thou ſhalt be delivered from Wrath to Come, do the thoughts of death and darkneſs terrifie and afright thee, why Jeſus that is ſlain for thee, Hath delivered thee from the power of darkneſs, Col. 1. 13. Oh what a mercy is it, but he will (yea he hath) Delivered from Wrath to Come, 1 Theſ. 1. 10. And is not here comfort ſoul? let this bear thee up that art in trouble, it may be thou feeleſt ſome of the wrath and fury of an inraged enemy here, for a time: but here' is matter of rejoycing for thee, they cannot make thy ſorrow laſt long, and the wrath that is to come, that Jeſus hath delivered thee from; thus now I have ſhewed thee what thou ſhalt be freed from by Chriſt.
In the next place, I would a little ſhew thee what thou art priviledged unto; and indeed I can ſhew thee but little of it, oh what tongue can tell what it is indeed.
1. Thou art priviledged to be a Son of God; and what dimenſions of Glory is this, 'tis to be an… Heir and a joint Heir with Jeſus, To ſit on the ſame Throne with him, and have a Crown put on thy head by him, Rom. 8. 17. And thus 'tis with believers, John 1. 12. As many as recieved him, to them gave he power to become the Sons of God, To them gave he power, or right, or priviledged, (for the Word will bear it) to become the Son of God, And let me ſay this, 'tis no ſmall honour, nor no ſmall priviledge to be a Son of God, Gal. 3. 26. For we are all the children of God by Faith in Chriſt Jeſus; and in Eph. 1 5. Having Predeſtinated us unto the adoption of Sons, or Children, by Jeſus Chriſt, And oh what an honour is it to be a Son, or a child of God, which made the Apoſtle John 1. 3. admire, oh 'tis a wonder, Behold what manner of love is this, that the Father hath beſtowed: or conferred, upon us, that we ſhould (be) and not onelyonly (be) but be called the Children of God, or Sons of God; and is not this comfort for thee oh ſoul, that art a child of God; it is looked upon as no ſmall honour, to be the ſon of a Prince, but what is it to be a ſon of the Prince of the Kings of the Earth.
2. Thou haſt a right to all the promiſes of God: and there are given to believers exceeding great and precious promiſes, 2 Pet. 1. 4. And all are made to them in Chriſt, look through all the Book of God, and you will find abundance of promiſes, why they are all made to him that is in Chriſt, and in Covenant, For all the promiſes of God in him, are yea, and in him Amen, 2 Cor. 1. 20. That is they are all made through him indeed and in truth; and is not here comfort oh ſoul, to have all the promiſes to be thine, thou haſt a right to them all.
3. All things ſhall work together for good unto thee, Rom. 8. 28. All things this is ſtrange language will ſome ſay, marry, it may be will every man ſay, will work for good, but affliction will come ſome times; and will that work for good: yes David could ſay, It was good for me that I was afflicked, Pſalm 119. 71. I, and God will bring the evil deſigns of wicked men, to work for the good of his Saints, I might have gathered this up into particulars; but ſpare me that; but to return, God will work good out of the evil will of other men to the Saints, Gen. 50. 20. Saith Joſeph to his brethren that ſold him, but as for you (malicious you: envious you;) you thought evil againſt me, but God meant it unto good, God can bring good out of evil to his Saints, nay let me ſay more, God can bring good out of the ſins of his Saints; I ſpeak not this to encourage thee to ſin, 'tis a ſign thou art a child of the Devil and not of God, if thou ſin that grace may abouned; But God makes the ſins of his people ſerve, to humble his people; Oh, ſaith the Church in Mi…. 7. 9. I will hear the Indignation of the Lord, becauſe I have ſinned againſt him, Oh, it makes a ſoul ſilent from complaining; yea, it humbles him, and ſo it works for good to the Saint; now ſoul, is not this a comfort, when all things ſhall work together for good to thee.
4. Thou art honourable in the ſight of God, Iſa. 43. 4. Since thou waſt precious in my ſight, Precious by vertue of my Sons precious Blood and Covenant, applyed by a precious Faith, Since thou waſt precious in my ſight, thou haſt been honourable, A man in the ſight of Men may be honoured, I, but he that is Chriſt's is honourable, and precious; Yea, his very Blood ſhall be precious in Gods ſight, Pſal. 72. 14. And is this no priviledge oh foul, and doth it not comfort thee, but I haſten to the next, and as faſt as I may towards a cloſe of this.
5. The things of this life are bleſſed to thee, therefore David ſaith, Pſal. 37. 16. A little that a righteous man hath is better then the riches of many wicked, The little the righteous man hath is as gold, but what the wicked man hath is like droſs, what compare is there between gold and droſs, a little gold is much better then a great Mountain of Droſs and Dung; alas a wicked man when he is fulleſt is inneed, he hath ſome little crevice that want's filling, ſo Job faith, Job 20. 22. In the fulneſs of his ſufficiency he ſhall be in ſtrait's, not only in his ſufficiency, but in the fulneſs of his ſufficiency, if a wicked man hath much ſubſtance, yet there is a canker eat's at the root: and therefore as one obſerves a ſhilling will go as far with ſome, as five will with ſome other, but the righteous is bleſſed in this, that his ſtore is increaſed in the ſpending, the little that the righteous man hath, is like the handful of Meal in the Barrel, and the Oyl in the Cruſe, that did increaſe in the pouring forth, 1 Kings 17. 12. Oh Sirs, there is many a man that hath an eſtate, and never enjoys it, he knows not which way it goes; but the little …he Godly man hath increaſeth, and doth him good, when he eat's and drinks, in the ſtrength of his meat, and drink, like Eliah goes for many days; and is not this a mercy, but may ſome ſay; you ſay that we have is bleſſed to us: but we have but a very ſmall pittance of theſe things below, we are fed 'tis true, we cannot deny, but 'tis as we ſay, but from hand to mouth, to that let me add.
6. The day is haſtning that the righteous ſhall inherit the Earth, Much Scripture looks this way: I'le onelyonly hint a few, Mark 10. 30. Though a man looſe all for Chriſt ſake; yet he ſhall receive an hundred fold, I, but when, mark the next words, Now in this time, note that this time, is meant the time of this life: Matth. 5. 5. The meek ſhall Inherit the Earth, and if my Memory fail not, no leſs then ſix times is the fame thing hinted, nay ſpoken plain in the 37. Pſal. how this ſhall be, and when, I ſhall not now ſtand to diſpute, but they ſhall enjoy peace in it; and none ſhall vex and trouble them, I'le give you one Text, not to trouble you with more, Iſe 32. 17, 18. The effect of nighteouſne's ſhall be quietneſs, and mark it, this is meant of a time the Saints ſhall have here, and if you obſerve it, it is the time of Chriſt's Kingdom, Verſe 18. And my People ſhall dwell in a peaceable Habitation, and in ſure dwellings, I, but …ough your dwellings may be ſure; yet you …y be diſturbed, no the next words ſaith in quiet reſting places; ah ſoul is not this comfort that thou ſhalt live in peace, but I forbear any further proceeding on theſe things, leaſt they ſhould not be born, among the Godly themſelves, 'twould be ſad Sirs; if any of you ſhould fall ſhort of this for want of faith in it, but another priviledge is this:
7. All your prayers ſhall be heard, the wicked may pray as long as they live, yea, tell their hearts ake, yet God will not hear them, Eſek. 20. 31. As I live ſaith the Lord, I will not be enquired of by you, (you) what you, Verſe 30. Them that have been polluted after the manner of your Fathers, Hear this, you that plead for the Whoredom of your Fathers, which whoredom is meant Spiritual whoredom, oh how many are there that go on in Idolatrous and in Ceremonious ways, and can give no reaſon for ſo doing, but becauſe their Fore-fathers did ſo, hearken what God ſaith to you that ſay; thus did our Fathers, and ſhall we be wiſer then our Fathers, God will not be enquired of by you, or hear you when you pray to him, for 'tis all one, but now Godly Mens prayers are heard, I'le give thee Scripture, for on my word I deſire to urge nothing on thee, and if the Word ſpeak it, tremble man to doubt it, or to contradict it, Jer. 29. 12. 13. Then ſhall ye call upon me, and pray to me, and I will hearken unto you, and ye ſhall ſeek me and find me; when you ſearch for me with all your heart, Note that (ye) and (you,) what you? why, (you) that are my people, that are in Captivity, Verſe 14. Poor ſoul, are you in Captivity, and in Bondage, and in a weary Land, do Task-maſters impoſe burdens upon you, doth the ſcorching heat of affliction come upon you, why the man Chriſt will be as the ſhadow of a great Rock in a weary Land, Iſa. 32. 2. Nay, doth the wrath of God begin to break out upon the world, yet yet ſeek the Lord all ye meek of the Earth; Why, what if we do, it may be ye ſhall be hid in the day of the Lords anger, Zeph. 2. 3. Is the Lords anger breaking in upon the Nation, doth he begin to frown upon us with plagues, why, yet ſeek the Lord, do others dye and go down to the grave apace, why, ſeek the Lord and ye ſhall live, Amos 5. 6. Wouldſt thou have more comfort then this; if thou wilt but ſeek him, his ears are open to thy cry; His ears are open to their prayers, 1 Pet. 3. 12. And are thy prayers heard, and will not this comfort thee a while; Stay but a little, and he will give thee the deſire of thy heart, Pſal. 37. 4. What's that, why that leads me by the hand to the top of all thy comfort, which is the laſt.
8. A Crown of Glory, and to be for ever with the Lord, art thou loaded with trouble and ſuffering here, thou ſhalt have a Crown of glory, ſhall outweigh all thy ſuffering, for the ſufferings of this preſent time, are not worthy to be compared with that glory, Rom. 8. 18. And our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory; Oh the Dimenſſons of this glory, 'tis glory, and 'tis a weight of glory, and 'tis an exceeding weight of glory: nay! 'tis a weight of glory that will laſt as long as eternity, For 'tis an eternal weight of Glory; 2 Cor. 4. 17. 'Tis not ſhort that will ſoon begone, neither is it a light and fethery thing; like the things of this world, that the wind will blow away; but 'tis a weight that will outweigh all that ever we met with in our way to it; You ſhall have joy unſpeakable and full of glory, 1 Pet. 1. 8. There are things unſpeakable, here we cannot ſee, nor are we able to utter the unſpeakable things that are above, we cannot ſee the beauty and that ſplendour of the Majeſty of God, I might ask you whether you do believe, Bleſſed are they that have believed and have not ſeen, (but Faith is the evidence of things not ſeen,) If thou believeſt, thou ſhalt ſee greater things then theſe, greater things then theſe, earthly droſſy things, nay be they the beſt things thou canſt imagine, thou ſhalt ſee greater things, John 1. 50. For thou ſhalt ſee God: Thou ſhalt ſee him as he is; ſee him thou wilt ſay, I ſee him now in his Creation and Providence, and all his great and wonderful works: I, but thou ſhalt ſee him as he is, that is as he is in his glory, Alas his glory is vailed now, but thou ſhall ſee him as he is in his glory, 1 John 3. 2. Alas, now we can only ſee him in the glaſs of his Word and diſpenſations, but then Face to Face, 1 Cor. 13. 12. Ah ſoul, to be in (and to ſee) the preſence of God, is a Heaven on Earth: nay more, it would be a Heaven in Hell; Oh, what a tranſporting ſight would it be to ſee the Viſion of the Almighty, to behold the beautifical Viſion, 'tis that which hath ſuch an influence, that had Adam beheld it, he had not had room to turn aſide to ſin, (as ſome are of opinion,) 'tis ſo glorious, ſo bright that not only Moſes, but the very Angels cover their Faces at; ſurely here is the Crown of all, In thy Preſence is fulneſs of joy, ſaith David, Pſa. 16. 11. Poſſible thy fleſhly part doth pleaſe it ſelf in the preſence of thy relations, thy Wife, thy Children, thy Parents, &c. and thou mayſt think there is reaſon to rejoyce in them; nay, it may be ſome may rejoyce in the preſence of their companions in wickedneſs, it may be thou may'ſt rejoyce in thy cups, or in thy Harlots, or in the preſence of them that are thy Brethren in iniquity: nay, it may be in the company of them that help to bring thee in ſome of the Worlds gain, though it be by lying, and unwarrantable, nay curſed ways; oh, but here is the onelyonly true ground of rejoycing, God is the chief good, and he that hath him hath all, and therefore in his Preſence is fulneſs of joy, 'Tis a joy that ſtrangers ſhall not intermeddle with, Prov. 14. 10. I tell thee, thy joy ſhall be ſuch, that ſtrangers to God, ſtrangers to Chriſt, and to the Covenant, ſhall not intermeddle with; theſe indeed may have a little ſhadow joy; but no ſubſtantial joy, a little fethery, but no ſolid joy; they may have ſome what may tickle the fancy, but nothing that will revive the heart, they may have joy, but none of (thy) joy; ſtrangers ſhall not intermeddle with thy joy, there is a joy peculiar to the Saints, others may have joy, but it may be taken from them, men may take it from them, but thou ſhalt have joy in his preſence, that no man ſhall take away, John 16. 22. Wicked man may have joy; as they think in their Wine, and their Women: but an Allarm of War, the ſound of a Trumpet at the Gate of their Court, or the voice of Fire, Fire, as was but lately experienced, will put a damp to all their mirth, and terrifie them in the midſt of laughter; Oh hearken to this thou voluptuous wretch, that will ſell all and venture thy ſoul and all, for a little pleaſure, what if (when the glaſs of Wine is in thy hand) thine enemy ſhould ſtand at the door with a naked Sword in his hand, and thou ſhouldſt be made ſenſible of it, would it not make thy countenance change, and thy face to gather paleneſs; Ah, but thou that art a believer needſt not fear, for neither perſons nor things ſhall damp nor take thy joy from thee, here is great ſupport for thee ſtill, ſoul, thou that art in Chriſt, thou that art one for whom Chriſt dyed, ſhalt have all this joy, and glory, and much more; and prethee do not take my word for it, but take Chriſt's own word for it, and with that I will conclude this uſe, John 17. 24. Father I will, thou wilt Son, what wilt thou, I will that they alſo whom thou haſt given me, be with me where I am, to behold my Glory, not be with my people, and my Miniſters, which many place much of their happineſs in, I wiſh they do not Idolize them, not be with my Angels above, which is a degree higher, but be with me where I am, is not here incouragement, that you ſhall be and do as Chriſt doth, when a Child, a Servant, or Souldier, ſeeth the difficulty that ſome times lyeth before him, and he thinks he ſhall ſink under the weight of it, yet what new reſolutions doth it put into him, when he ſhall hear the Father, Maſter, or Captain ſay: come my Children, come Servants, come Souldiers, though the work be difficult, yet ſtill remember you are with me, and you ſhall do no worſe, nor fare no worſe then I; why ſoul, is this comfort to hear ſuch words, on a Croſs, what is this then to have ſuch words on a Throne, to hear Chriſt ſay on a Croſs, you ſhall do no worſe then I: that's no ſmall comfort, but how much more, when Chriſt ſaith, you ſhall be on my Throne with me to behold my glory, time was indeed? may be when thou ſaweſt my Servants Blood ſhed for their Teſtimony of me, and brought before Kings and Rulers for my name ſake; ah, but now there is an end of that ſight with thee, thou ſhalt be with me to behold my glory; well ſoul, 'tis poſſible thou mayſt have troubles without, and corruptions within, yet here is comfort for thee; theſe ſhall have an end, thou that art in Chriſt mayſt therefore lift up thy head; For thy Redemption draweth nigh, Luke 21. 28. And now a word of exhortation and I have done; I have but three things to exhort and perſwade Saints unto, and as many to perſwade ſinners to, and I have done, becauſe I doubt I am tedious; and I beſeech you all to ſuffer the word of exhortation, which firſt ſpeaketh to the Saint on this wiſe: if it be ſo that the ſins of believers are paſſed over by Vertue of the Blood of Jeſus.
Firſt, Then be exhorted and perſwaded to mix nothing of thy own with Chriſt's Blood; men are exceeding apt to be doing themſelves; Oh no ſoul, there is nothing in thee that will help thee, unleſs it be to damn thee; 'tis him, and him alone, that muſt ſave; there are men that are ſprung up lately, that would be their own Saviours, and yet thy will cry glory to others, as I heard one of them ſay not long ſince: glory, glory, to the Blood that purchaſed us, and yet they will tell you that the Blood of Jeſus hath no vertue nor efficacy to Save, what confuſion and contradiction is here among them, that ſay other Teachers Teach contradictions, but a little, to note the expreſſion, and their folly in betraying themſelves: ſometimes they ſay, the Blood of Jeſus was no better then that of Peter and Paul, why what vertue had their blood to purchaſe a people; 'tis true, their prayers might avail much, and their exhortations might prevail much, but wherein did their blood purchaſe us? If thou ſaiſt it did confirm their Doctrine to us, that's not purchaſing …s: and beſides, their Doctrine was ſufficiently teſtified by the Miracles they wrought; doſt thou know what a purchaſe is? is it not the obtaining of any thing, by a price of equal value to what is purchaſed? and doſt thou think the blood of one man is of equal value, to purchaſe a thouſand mens ſouls; and beſides this, I take notice of that word (glory) to the Blood that purchaſed us: wilt thou dare to aſcribe glory to the Creature, why, that's Idolatry, prethee mark the dillemma; thou art fallen into, if thou ſaiſt, Chriſt dyed only to confirm his Doctrine; I anſwer thou ſaiſt alſo, thou art purchaſed by blood, if thou ſaiſt Chriſt was not God but Man: I anſwer, thou ſaiſt glory to the blood that purchaſed us; thus out of thy own mouth will I judge thee, for this I heard one of their publick Teachers ſpeak on his knees in their publick Meeting in Devonſhire Houſe, thus theſe ſilly ſouls would make us believe they are ſo perfect in their order, when indeed they are imperfect therein, I do not ſpeak this with any delight, no I beg the Lord would open their eyes and undeceive them, and ſaint I would ſay to thee, what ever others do; yet let Chriſt be all in all to thee, 1 Cor. 1. 30. 'Tis him who of God is made wiſdom to guide and direct thee in all thy ways; and 'tis he that is the righteouſneſs to cloth and cover thee, all thy own righteouſneſs is to ſhort man; and 'tis he that is Senctification to cleanſe thee, and though thou art called upon to cleanſe thy ſelf, yet it is not by the might and power of thy own repentance, but by my Spirit ſaid the Lord; and he is redemption to redeem thee from ſin and wrath, as hath been ſhewn thee; what ever ſome may tell thee, aſſure thy ſelf no leſs then that blood is a price of value to lay down, and the Apoſtle ſaith, We are bought with a price, I confeſs this looks ſtrange to humane reaſon, but remember man, and forget not, 'tis a miſtery, Great is the miſtery, and if you obſerve the Goſpel calls not ſo much for wiſdom and reaſon about this miſtery, but it calls for Faith, for pray you mark in Eph. 3. where this Miſtery is once and again mentioned; and that it had lay hid from the beginning of the world: bat now I bow my knee ſait Paul, that this Miſtery may be made known, how and in what way, why ſaith Paul this way, Verſ. 17. That Chriſt may dwell in you hearts by Faith; as if the Apoſtle ſhould ſay: 'tis true under the adminiſtration of the Law, our Salvation did depend very much on our own working out, then 'twas do and live; but here was no miſtery in that, the Miſtery was hid then in a great meaſure; I, but now the miſtery is to be revealed, and now Faith is called for, That Chriſt may dwell in your hearts by Faith: Alas, the way of doing is no miſtery at all, if I have wronged my Neighbour, in any caſe, humane reaſon preſently finds out this way, and ſaith I will one way or other requite him; but here is no Miſtery to pay the damage or work it out; no Salvation cometh not this way by working, but by believing; and I am perſwade many ſouls do run themſelves into errors, becauſe they look ſo much at Salvation in a way that ſutes with their humane reaſon, and conſider not that it is in a miſterious way that we are Saved; but oh ſoul, what ever thou doſt, look to Chriſt, and lean not to thy own underſtanding; oh man in thy ſelf is nothing, But in him is all fulneſs, 1 Col. 19. Reply on him, being nothing of thy own; He that will be his Diſciple muſt deny himſelf, Matth. 16. 24. Thy ſelf cannot ſave thy ſelf, no, he is every way able to ſave thee; he needs not thy help, it muſt be Chriſt, God hath laid help upon one that is Mighty, Pſal. 89. 19. This is ſpoken of Chriſt, and ſaith Chriſt, If you are comely, 'tis through my comelineſs that I have put upon you, You it may be think to waſh your ſelves and adorn your ſelves; and make your ſelves beautiful and comely, no, no, 'Tis my comelineſs that I have put upon you; All this he ſpeaks, becauſe he is very jealous of his own glory; Oh ſaith he, My Glory will I not give to another, Iſa. 42. 8. And ſo Jeremy ſaith, The way of man is not in himſelf, That is, the way of man to Heaven, to Glory, is not in himſelf, but in Chriſt; Alas 'tis not in man to direct his ſteps, Jer. 10. 23. And therefore in all our ways we ſhould acknowledge him, he will have man have nothing to do in his own Salvation, 'tis true, man muſt move in the ſtrength of God; but he muſt not look to himſelf, who muſt he look to then? he himſelf tells you, Iſa. 45. 22. Look unto me all ye ends of the Earth, And be ye ſaved; no, may we not do ſomewhat our ſelves? no, no, ſaid God: why Lord? For I am God, and there is none elſe, Plainly intimating that none can ſave but God himſelf; oh then, take heed of bringing in any thing with Gods Salvation, in the time of the Law, God commanded, that men ſhould not wear a Garment of divers ſorts, as of Wollen and Linnen together, Deut. 22. 11. An excellent word to teach us that we ſhould not wear the Wollen of our's (which will gall to the bone) with the Linnen of Chriſts own righteouſneſs; no, he would have us have nothing of ours for righteouſneſs, but all his for righteouſneſs, and on that do thou truſt, though he kill thee, as Job ſpeaks, Job 13. 15. Yet truſt in him for he will ſave by himſelf, therefore take heed and mix nothing with Chriſt's blood.
Secondly, Be perſwaded not to draw back from him, if any draw back his ſoul will have no pleaſure in him, Heb. 10. 38. Ah ſoul, I know not ſo well what thou haſt, as I know what I have, but I have (mine iniquity) and I do fear ſo haſt thou, few that ever I met with, but had (one) beloved above all other, this is that David kept himſelf from Pſal. 18. 23. I kept my ſelf from mine iniquity; Oh take heed that (thine iniquity) do not draw thee back, but follow the Lord, and keep on his way, not only begin but follow on, Heſ. 6. 3. Then ſhall we know if we follow on to know the Lord: there is the mark of the prize of the high calling in Chriſt before, but take heed and look forward, for if thou look back there is Hell behind at thy heels, if thou draw back it will be to perdition; Oh, that we may never draw back, for if we do the fault will be ours, for God if he hath begun a good work will go on to perform it; or as it may be read finiſh it, Phill. 1. 6. Let us then go on after Chriſt, and not draw back from him, but
Thirdly, And laſtly to the Saints, live as it becometh thoſe that are called by him; and make profeſſion of him; hath he loved thee with an everlaſting love, and therefore with loving kindneſs hath he drawn thee, Jer. 31. 3. And wilt thou not anſwer his love by thy Life; Oh ſoul, wilt thou not ſtand for him and own him in bad days: wilt thou not plead his cauſe againſt all enemies that plead's thy cauſe with the Father, hath God given thee a gift, oh, improve it for Chriſt; thy Lord he hath dyed for thee, and wilt not thou live to him? doth he appear before God for thee, and wilt not thou appear before Men for his Name ſake? 'tis ſad to ſee how men ſneak away and diſeart Chriſt's cauſe, under fine ſpecious pretences; 'tis not prudence to do things ſay they, when Authority would not have it ſo, and ſo they have a pretence to cover themſelves with that pretence; this kind of Spirit was found in ſome of old, in Holy Philpots time (ſaid he) ſome perſons make themſelves a Clock to keep of the Rain, with pretence of obeying Magiſtrates, whom we ought to obey, though they be evil and wicked, but ſaith he ſuch muſt learn to give Caeſar his, (and God his) due, and with Peter obey the higher powers in the Lord, &c. this he ſpeaks by reaſon of the cowardneſs of their Spirits in their Maſters cauſe, but oh ſoul, that I could prevail with thee and my own ſoul, to ſtand to Chriſts cauſe; Oh, I call Heaven and Earth to witneſs this day, bear witneſs all ye that ſee or hear of this, that I call upon you to plead Chriſt cauſed, and hold faſt his Name, and not run away, and leave Chriſt; oh live as thoſe that become the Goſpel in this very thing: oh, ſad 'tis to tell, there be ſome that in this reſpect have cauſe the very adverſary to ſpeak reproach fully, and to blaſpheme, and as theſe are cowardly in Chriſts cauſe, ſo there are others very debauched in their practices, would to God there were no cauſe to ſay profeſſors keep looſe company; many there are that keep a Club with vain Fellows: I, and I am afraid many times drink to exceſs, oh take ſhame to your ſelves who are guilty, this is loathſom in the ſight of the truly Godly, and I tell you, you give them juſt occaſion to judge you Hypocritical and rotten at the heart: and to ſpare no rank; let me be plain with you, who take it upon you to be the Lords Watchmen, you of the Miniſtry, 'tis ſad that you that ſhould be reproevers, ſhould fall juſtly under reproof, or rather (for I am on exhortation now,) you that ſhould exhort others ſhould need be exhorted, and yet what lives do ſome of you lead, I am aſhamed to ſay debauched of you; Oh, inſteed of a holy ſelf denying life, how many of you, live an Earthly fleſh pleaſing life? and how are your Families trained up? inſteed of the School of Chriſt, it may be in a Dancing-School, or at the Muſick, is this a life that becometh Profeſſors? but by this time I think I hear ſome of you begin to ſay, is not it lawful to recreate our ſelves: I am not minded here to anſwer all the cavils that the fleſh will raiſe, but this I'le ſaid, Paul ſaid indeed, All things were lawful, that is as I conceive with reſpect to conſcience of his own, but not expedient, that is with reſpect to conſcience of anothers, and to my knowledge there are ſome hardened by your practices; Oh how ſad is it to ſee Miniſters Wives, Children, and Families, as well as other Profeſſors come into the Congregation, and inſteed of being patterns of piety, are patterns of Pride, that inſteed of having it ſaid of them; they were Modeſt, and adorned with meekneſs and humility, in modeſt apparel, ſhameful, it might be ſaid they were proud, high-minded, and clad in gaudy Robes, like pictures ſet to ſell: but I leave you to diſpute it with one that will nonpluſſe you in all your diſputations, and ſilence all your objections; but Saint, thou that art truly ſuch, what ever others do, though they Eclipſe and darken the Glory of God and Religion, yet do thou let thy light ſo ſhine that others may ſee thy good works and glorifie God: Oh ſoul, have a ſhinning converſation, ſo ſaith the Apoſtle, Phill. 1. 27. Only let your converſation be as becometh the Goſpel, Art thou Chriſt's, live as one that wouldſt honour Chriſt, it will be an honour to Chriſtian profeſſion, it will be a comfort to thoſe that were inſtrumental in begetting thee to God, they will be able to ſtand up one day and ſay, behold here I am, and the Children that thou haſt given me, Heb. 2. 13. Oh, I call upon profeſſors now to adorn Religion, when the wicked ſcorn it, do you adorn it, and you that are members of Churches, I do not ſay of Chriſt, for it doth not appear by you: how do you honour Chriſt when there is no order nor government in your Families? no Juſtice, no pitty, or if any but a meer carcaſe: inſteed of having the Maſter in the Family at even, when the duty of his particular calling is over, he is in the Coffee-houſe, which may juſtly be called the Night Exchange, not ſo much to Traffick as to quaffe it; inſteed of an exhortation to thy Family and Servants, it may be thou ſit telling, or elſe hearing a merry jeſt among thy Company, or at beſt inſteed of thy Bible in thy hands, asking thy Children and Servants what's God, or Chriſt, or the Holy Ghoſt, it may be thou ſitteſt with Cards in thy hands, asking who deals, who …eads the Table, or what's Trump: Sirs, take it …ow you will, I ſpeak not groundleſly, is this …o honour Chriſt, and the profeſſion of Religion: Oh, let it not be told in Gath, nor publiſhed in Askelon: Oh, never wrong Religion ſo much, as to take the name of profeſſion on you, and yet live ſo like ſenſualliſts under your profeſſion.
But I leave you to the Lord, and according to my promiſe, ſpeak a word to Sinners, to poor Sinners, and what have I to ſay to you: but the Lord pitty you, I may ſay to you (now we have been ſpeaking of the ſins of true believers being paſſed over, and aquitted by the Sacrifice of Jeſus,) poor ſinners I may ſay to you, what is this to you, you have neither part nor lot in this matter, yet would I perſwade you to do theſe three things:
Firſt, Pray to the Lord, ſeek to him; but you will ſay, thou ſaidſt before God heareth not ſinners,: I anſwer 'tis true, not with an ear of acceptation, thou whoſe perſon is not accepted, canſt not have thy Sacrifice accepted, yet 'tis not the leſs thy duty to pray, becauſe thou findſt not acceptance; if thou lyeſt in the hands of an inraged Enemy, thou wilt not ſay 'tis in vain to intreat him, before thou haſt intreated him, before thou haſt tryed him: no, but thou wilt beg the more, and the harder, by how much the more thou thinkeſt he is enraged, and wilt thou not much more cry to God, who is more ready to hear then thou art to ask, Jonah 3. 8. 9. Cry mightily to God, Why will he hear us? why, who can tell, if thou canſt not pray in Faith, (as one ſaith) pray that thou maiſt pray in Faith, in Jerem, 65. 1. He hath been found ſometimes of them that ſought him not, and how canſt thou tell but he may hear thee that pray'ſt to him, as well as thou canſt; pray, perhaps thou ſhalt have an anſwer of Grace, and a return of Peace and Pardon, this was the very counſel that was given by the Apoſtle to that wretch Simon Magus, Acts 8. 22. Elſe why ſhould I give it thee, if it had not foundation on the Scriptures of Truth; but I haſten to a cloſe.
Secondly, Break of thy ſins by repentance, when thou haſt got a ſight of thy ſtate, then break of thy old Companions and Sins; Sinner let me put one Text before thee, that after all that can be ſaid, to prevail with thee, yet wilt be merry in thy ſins, and with thy old jovial companions, if the joyful news of a Saviour will not allure thee; yet, oh that the vengeance of God might amaze thee, oh hear it with trembling, Mallac. 4. 1. Behold the day cometh that ſhall burn as an Oven, and all the proud, and all that do wickedly, ſhall be ſtubble, and the day that cometh ſhall burn them up, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts; that it ſhall leave them neither Root nor Branch; Oh hearked to this Sinner, behold it, look well, and conſider it, the day cometh (and apace too) and that day that cometh, is a burning day, a more dreadful burning then that of Jeruſalem, or of London, and who can abide this burning, who will this burning be upon, this burning as of an Oven, that hath Walls to keep Men in, that there will be no eſcape, why in general, all ye wicked of the Earth, but eſpecially and particularly, all the Proud ones: Oh hearken you proud ones, will your pride endure the fire, will your Gay-gaws, your Bracelets, and your Necklaces, and your Round-lies like the Moon, and your Criſpin-pins abide the fire, I doubt your ruſhing Silks will not abide the burning; nay more, it will burn you Root and Branch, and leaſt thou ſhouldſt put me of and ſay: thou telleſt us ſo, but we will not believe thee, I tell thee ſinner, … call not on thee to believe me, believe the Lord, 'tis the Lord that ſaith all this, therefore 'tis added in the end, ſaith the Lord of Hoſt, Oh ſinner, 'tis not I a poor periſhing Creature like thy ſelf, but 'tis the Lord of Hoſt; Oh, hearked now ſinner, God ſtandeth and ſaith it, even now in the cloſe of the Old Teſtament, therefore be adviſed, taked notice of his words, why what doth he ſay? why, he ſaith all the wicked of the Earth, or all Earthly wicked ones, ſhall be burned up with the Earth, and all proud ones ſhall be burned, ſurely God always ſpeaks with amazing words to the proud, which made a learned and Holy Man cry out, God loaths and hates all manner of wickedneſs, but 'tis never ſaid he reſiſts any ſin but pride, pride is ſo odious in Gods ſight, that he not only hates it, but reſiſts it; and this I ſay note Sinner, the Lord ſaith it, but if thou art in thy wits, and art come to thy ſelf, I would hope thou art not paſt all hope of recovery, and with that I'le conclude.
Thirdly, And laſtly, Do not give up all for loſt, hearken to him ſinner, he calls thee, he tells thee, He hath no delight in the death of a Sinner, he doth not delight to deſtroy thee, Ezek. 33. 11. 'Tis true thou haſt no delight in our death but art thou willing we ſhould live? yea, he bid… thee come, come whoever will come for the Wate… of Life, he ſtands (if I may ſo ſay) even as one in the latter end of a Market, and ſaith come Chapman, come now and buy of me, be ſure you do not forget the onelyonly Commodity that you ſhould buy: do not think it to dear (for as we ſay the beſt is beſt cheap,) and to urge them to buy, he uſes this argument, 'tis the later end of the day the evening draws on, come buy now for I am juſt going to pack up my Wares, and there are none other ſuch: now come then and buy, or elſe thou art undone; excuſe me in borrowing the Shop-keepers Rhetorick: thus in the cloſing up of the Book, our Lord ſeems to ſtand and ſay, come buy Life, nay rather then carry it away with him again, he ſaith come take, I'le give it you, if you will but take it, oh wonderful, ſhall the Pearl of Price be offered thee Gratis; for thanks (as we ſay) and ſhall we not take it? Oh wonderful, that the beſt Commodity: Life, Righteouſneſs, Pardon, Peace, ſhould be at ſuch a low price, nay, at no price, and yet not received, and which is more that any man ſhould have it, too; that would but take it, whoſoever, a word of a large extent, he forbids none, but bids any, whoſoever will, not only the Prince in his Robes, but the Beggar in his Rags ſhall he welcome, not onelyonly the Rich, but the Poor, not only the Noble, but the Baſe, not only the Beautiful, but the Deformed, not only the Free, but the Band-man, not only my Lord, but his Man is here invited, not the Strong man only, but the Weak, not onelyonly the Learned, but the Unlearned and Ignorant, not only the Wiſe, but the Simple, and them that want underſtanding, are bid to turn in hither; Oh how free and how full is the invitation, even beyond expreſſion; and yet how ſad is it, that Sinners ſhould put our Lord, nay, force him to make complaint, and ſay ye would not come to me, that ye might have Life, nay, you were ſo far from coming to me, that you would not take Life of me, when I brought it to you, oh that ever ſinners ſhould be thus beſotted and bewitched, let me ſay to you as Paul to the Gallatians: Oh fooliſh Sinners, who hath bewitched you; and to teſtifie his willingneſs, that it is real, and not a complement he doth declare in divers Scriptures, that he is not willing any ſhould periſh, that are willing to receive him, take one inſteed of many, 2 Pet. 3. 9. He is long ſuffering to us ward; not willing that any ſhould periſh; (no, what then,) but that all ſhould come to repentance, oh ſinner whoever, or whatever thou art, as ever thou wouldſt look God in the Face that made thee, or Chriſt that hath offered Salvation to thee, or as thou loveſt thy ſoul do not refuſe nor ſlight, but accept and receive the Salvation that is offered.
And remember I'le tell thee, I have written this in love to thee, to perſwade thee, and I tell thee if I am found a ſlighter, or neglecter of this offer, this will be a ſwift witneſs againſt me, and if thou art found a Deſpirer and neglecter of this Chriſt, that is Sacrificed, both I, and it, ſhall be forced one day, (and that day may be very neer) to witneſs againſt thee; remember, if thou haſt read all of theſe Lines hitherto, and wilt now at laſt deſpiſe all, and caſt all off, and wilt reſolve to keep thy ſins, and wilt have none of Chriſt, thou wilt one day rue that ever thou readſt thus far: Oh, remember thou haſt had warning, therefore ſeek the Lord while he may be found, he may be found yet, Grace is offered, the Door is not ſhut: therefore to day, Now or Never, Man; the Night cometh when no man can work, take the preſent time, 'tis a ſad day of calamity in the World, God and Mans Sword is drawn againſt us: and thou carrieſt thy life in thy hand, and now my heart even akes, to think whether I ſhall looſe my labour, and thou thy God, and thy Soul; but be not, oh for the Lords ſake be not ſo cruel to thy ſelf, nor ſo unkind to Chriſt, but receive him that offers himſelf to thee, and if thou entertaineſt him, thou mayſt aſſure thy ſelf, he is a Sacrifice for thee, as well as for Believers, whom I have been endeavouring to comfort here, and they ſhall be ſure to ſing Hallellaiah for ever, ſaying Glory, and Bleſſing, and Honour, and Praiſe to Jeſus our Paſs-over; who is Sacrificed for us.
Conſider of what I have Written to thee, and the Lord by his Power perſwade thy ſoul to cloſe with him.
FINIS.
End of the text · Robert Ottee, Characters in Blood (1671)