The Voice of the Rod, Synopsis (1 of 5)

The Voice of the Rod · Synopsis (1 of 5)

The Synopſis, or foreign of the whole Enſuing Diſcourſe.

Parts,

The Warning of the Rod.

The Author of the Rod.

From the Scope.

Doct. THat when a People, or Perſon, are come to a formal reſting in the external part of Ordinances, 'tis time for God to take up his Rod.

From the leading words of the Text,

Doct. 1. That the Lord is not wont to ſteal a Rod on his People, but gives them fair, and loud warning.

Doct. 2. That the Voice of Gods Meſſengers, is Gods own Voice.

From the words themſelves.

Doct. 1. That the People of God ought to be ſenſible, not only of the Rod it ſelf, but of the fore-warnings of an approaching Rod.

Doct. 2. That the Afflictions wherewith God exerciſeth his People, are but Rods.

Doct. 3. That there is no Affliction can light on the People of God, without his Divine permiſſion and appointment.

Doct. 4. That the Lords Rod is no dumb Rod.

1. Doct. 1. Proved from Scripture.

2. The Symptoms of an approaching Rod.

1. Drawn from God.

1. The packing up of his Jewels.

2. The withdrawing his preſence.

3. His croſſing the courſe of Nature.

4. A gradual beginning of Judgment.

5. The joint-cryes of the Prophets.

2. Drawn from Man.

1. When Sin is on the thriving hand.

2. When Gods Worſhip is prophaned.

3. When Profeſſors loſe their zeal.

4. When Charity among brethren is dying.

5. When ſolemn Covenant-breaking lies unrepented of.

6. When thoſe ſins, for which God hath taken up the Controverſie, are not removed.

3. How far we our ſelves are under the Symtoms, or ſtrokes of this Rod. Examined by the fore-mentioned Symptoms.

Doct. 1. proved by Argument.

1. 'Tis the beſt way to prevent the coming of the Rod.

2. It will arm thee for the coming of the Rod.

3. It will argue thy care to pleaſe God.

Uſe 1. This reproves,

1. Such as will not acknowledge God in the Rod.

God is to be acknowledged,

1. In his Providence.

2. In his Sovereignty,

3. In his Juſtice.

4. In his ends.

…. Such as will believe no further than they feel.

…. Such as slight any thing whereby God manifests his diſpleaſure.

…e. 2. This exhorts, To ſit down and count what it may coſt to get to Heaven.

Motives.

1. Within a few moments more, all the merry dayes of the wicked, and all the ſad hours of the righteous, ſhall be over.

2. The perſevering Chriſtian, is the only bleſſed Chriſtian.

3. As tall Cedars as thou art, have fallen, and are daily falling.

4. Is there not enough in Hell, to ſoure all thy preſent Comforts? and enough in Heaven, to ſweeten all thy preſent Croſses?

Directions.

1. Take heed of over prizing the World.

2. Clear up thy aſsurance of Gods goodwill to thee.

3. Examine and prove the ſtrength of thy Graces.

Doct. 2. proved, That they are Rods, and but Rods.

1. They are ſo called in Scripture.

2. God uſeth them to no other end.

3. God deals with the Inſtruments, as with Rods.

Demonſtrated what Rods they are.

1. In themſelves; they may be,

1. Sharp rods.

2. Long rods.

3. Strong rods.

2. With Relation to our Sins; they are,

1. Short rods.

2. Light rods.

3. With reſpect to Gods ends in them, the are,

1. Teaching rods.

2. Eſtabliſhing rods.

3. Comforting rods.

4. Feeding rods.

5. Improving rods.

Uſe 1. This informs, The wicked are dec… ved.

1. In themſelves.

2. In the people of God.

U…e 2. This exhorts; Let the people of G… then,

1. Bear the rod.

2. Kiſs the rod.

3. Improve the rod.

Uſe 3. This comforts the Afflicted children God.

1. It proves their Adoption.

2. It ſeals no their Portion.

3. It works for their Good.

Doct. 3. &c.

Doct. 4. The foreign prov'd from the Text.

1. God calls for Audience to his Rod.

2. It is the rod of Gods own deſignment.

foreign prov'd.

1. To glorifie his Attributes.

2. To reach his Ends.

For the underſtanding this Voice, is premiſed,

1. When God ſpeaks to us by his Rod; he ſpeaks as to rational Creatures.

2. We muſt examine Conſcience by the word of God.

3. Though the Rod may be general, yet the Voice is particular.

4. We muſt go to God to interpret it to us.

The Voice of the Rod in general.

1. It calls on us to awake, and conſider,

1. Our Spiritual Eſtate and Relation.

2. Our wayes and carriage toward God.

1. Our Sins, with their Aggravations.

1. Sins of Nature.

2. Sins of Omiſſion.

3. Sins of Commiſſion.

2. Our Duties.

1. The Principle of them.

2. The Rule of them.

3. The Ends of them.

3. Our Graces.

1. The truth of them.

2. The growth of them.

3. Gods wayes, and carriage towards us.

4. What he aims at in us, and expects from us.

2. It calls for an univerſal Reformation.

1. Of the Subject.

2. of the Object.

3. It calls us to humiliation.

4. To ſtir up our ſelves to lay hold on God.

5. To renew our Covenant with God.

6. For ſomething extraordinary.

The Voice of this Rod in ſpecial.

1. To the Church, and People of God, and therein,

1. To the Angels, or Miniſters of it.

2. To the particular Societies of it.

1. What ingaged you in ſuch a Society?

2. What hath been your carriage under ſuch a Relation.

1. Towards your Teachers and Rulers.

2. Towards one another.

3. Towards them that are without.

3. To the Individual Members of this church.

1. How have you improv'd your Talents?

1. Have you conſidered what they are?

2. Whoſe they are?

3. Why intruſted with you?

4. What hath been your eſteem of them?

5. What hath been your care about them?

6. What hath been the encreaſe of them?

1. Your Time, which is the more precious, becauſe,

1. 'Tis borrowed time.

2. 'Tis ſhort.

3. 'Tis uncertain.

4. 'Tis the time of Gods Patience.

5. 'Tis the time of our Viſitation.

6. 'Tis a determined, ſet time.

2. Your Parts and Gifts.

1. How low are they of what they might have been?

2. How little hath God had of them?

3. Your Graces,

4. Your Duties.

5. Your Company.

6. Your Priviledges.

1. Temporal.

1. Health.

2. Peace.

3. Plenty.

2. Spiritual; and theſe are,

1. External.

1. Our Miniſtry.

2. The Sacraments.

3. Good Books.

2. Internal.

1. Convictions.

2. Reſolutions.

3. Vowes.

4. Comforts.

7. Your Afflictions.

8. Your Relations.

2. How have you kept your Watch?

In a good Watchman there muſt be,

1. Diſcretion.

2. Courage.

3. Vigilancy.

4. Faithfulneſs.

What we are to watch for.

1. For Gods Glory.

2. For our own Salvation.

And in order to both theſe,

1. For the Word of God.

2. For the Spirit of God.

1. The Teachings of it.

2. The Quicknings of it.

3. For all opportunities of doing, or receiving good.

What we are to watch againſt.

1. Againſt Sin.

1. In the Fountain of it.

2. In the Acts of it.

3. In the Temptations to it.

4. In the occaſions of temptations.

2. Againſt Satan.

3. Againſt Self.

1. Self-application.

2. Self-relyance.

3. Self-attribution.

4. Againſt the world.

1. The Fears of the world.

2. The Flatteries of the World.

3. The hopes of the world.

4. The Scorns of the World.

5. The Perſecutions of the world.

6. The Cares of the world.

5. Againſt Death.

Reaſons.

1. Becauſe they are Enemies.

2. Mortal Enemies.

3. Spiritual Enemies.

4. Conſtant Enemies.

5. Mighty Enemies.

2. To the Enemies of God.

1. It aſsures them, that they are miſtaken in God.

1. In his Holineſs.

2. In his Juſtice.

3. In his Mercy.

4. In his Patience.

5. In his delight in, and care of, his People.

6. In his glorious Title of Hearing Prayer.

7. In his Ends and deſigns.

2. It calls on them, to conſider; and, on conſideration, to repent.

3. It tells them, that the Dregs of the Cup are like to come to their ſhare.

4. It aſſures them, that God will be too hard for them.

5. It fore-warns them, that God is making ſhort work with them.

Rules to diſcover the particular meaning of this or that particular Rod.

Motives to the Duty.

1. 'Tis an excellent way to gain by the Rod.

2. 'Tis a notable courſe to make the yoke eaſie.

3. 'Tis a ſpecial means to improve Experience.

4. 'Tis the only way to have the Affliction removed, with ad-advantage.

The Rules.

1. Conſider, what were thy laſt miſcarriages?

2. What are the eructations of Conſcience?

3. Sometimes the puniſhment bears ſome reſemblance to the Sin.

4. It may be, God afflicts for prevention.

5. What is thy patience under the rod?

6. It may be God is but trying of thee.

7. Go, and ask it of God by Prayer.

Uſe. 1. This informs of a threefold Miſtake.

1. Such as question Gods Providence.

2. Such as transferr the Cauſe of the Rod from themſelves.

3. Such as apply themſelves to indirect means.

Uſe 2. of Exhort.

Motiv.

1. If you will not have the Rod, you ſhall feel the Rod.

2. If you will thus hear it, you ſhall be ſure of ſtrength to bear it.

Uſe 3. of Exam.

1. Your ends in deſiring the removal the Rod.

2. What good the Rod hath wrought on you.

Uſe 4. Lament.

1. That we ſhould thus provoke God.

2. That we are no more ſenſible of it.

3. Lament your poor poſterities.

p. 1THE VOICE OF THE ROD, OR God's Controverſie, pleaded with Man: BEING A Plain and Brief Diſcourſe on

MICH. 6.9.

Hear ye the Rod, and who hath appointed it.

I Shall not hold you here with any troubleſome ſpeculations by way of Introduction; onelyonly ſo farr, as I humbly conceive neceſſary to help your Underſtandings in ſo plain and important a Concern.

It ſeems that God had then a great Controver…e with his People, which he ſtirrs up the Prophet to plead in his name and behalf, verſ. 1. Ariſe, contend thou before the Mountains, and let p. 2the Hills hear thy voice; ver. 2. For the Lord hath a Controverſie with his People, and will plead with Iſrael. ver. 3. O my People! What have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? Teſtifie against me. With what melting Compaſſions doth God begin with them! how doth his bowels yearn upon them! O my People! Though they be a ſinful people, yet they are my people.

And this is one diſtinguiſhing Priviledge,Obſerv. and ſingular Comfort of the people of God; Though he do correct them, yet he will not caſt them off, though he may diſtreſs them, yet he will not divorce them: What have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? teſtifie againſt me. O the wonderfull condeſcention of the great God! how pathetically, familiarly, convincingly doth he expoſtulate with his children? What have I done unto thee? wherein have I wearied thee? What iniquity have your Fathers found in me? Jer. 2.5, 31.Jer 2:5Jer 2:31have I been a wilderneſs unto Iſrael? a land of darkneſs? what can you charge me with? let us hear it: teſtifie against me. Ver. 4. I brought thee out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the houſe of ſervants, and I ſent before thee Moſes, Aaron, and Miriam. And is this the wrong you complain of? hath my patience, my goodneſs, my mercy, my wiſdom, my power, (which have ever ſtood engaged for you) abuſed you? ver. 5. O my people! remember now what Balaac King of Moab conſulted, and what Balaam the ſon of Beor anſwered him from Shittim unto Gilgal, Numb. 22.Num 22that ye may know the righteouſneſs of the p. 3Lord. Remember how I trod down your enemies before you, and brake all their ſnares for you, and owned you ſtill in all your ſtreights, in all your wants, in all your fears, and under all your provoking unkindneſs and unthankfulneſs: And is this my unrighteouſneſs now? and that wherein I have wearied you?

God having thus juſtified himſelf, their own conſcience and experience being witneſs; In the next place we have their ſtrange Reply: ver. 6. Wherewith ſhall I come before the Lord, and bow my ſelf before the high God? See the frowardneſs and fooliſhneſs of their anſwer; much like the language of that wicked and ſlothful ſervant, Matth. 25.24. I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou haſt not ſown. q. d. Why, we know not how to pleaſe thee, thou art alwaies …hiding, alwaies finding fault, and ſeeking occaſions againſt us, every thing is naught that we do, our very Incenſe is an abomination. Why,Iſa. 1.13.Isa 1:13 what wilt thou have of us? ver. 7. Will the Lord …e pleaſed with thouſands of rams? or with ten thouſand rivers of oyl? ſhall I give my firſt-born for my transgreſſion, the fruit of my body for the …n of my ſoul? a flat impoſſibility on the one …and, and a foul impiety on the other; Could they ever imagine that this ſhould be a probable way to attone him? The truth is, it looks like an horrible imputation on the Juſt and Holy God; but that Charity ſuggeſts, it was not their profeſſed, but their interpretative language, not of their …ps, but of their lives. And hence we may obſerve,Obſerv. 1. That it is the courſe and the character of p. 4an hypocritical People or Perſon, to think to make up that with the labour, which is wanting of the life of Religion. And farther, That it is the ſubtilty and ambition of the Devil, to mix his own Immolations and ſuper-erogations with Gods Institutions. But I muſt not inſiſt here.

See now how mildly God replies again, v. 8. He hath ſhewed thee, O Man, what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do juſtly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Theſe words contain both the Tables of Moral duty: and therefore he ſayes, he hath ſhewed thee what is good, what is ſimply, per ſe, foreign, or morally, good. 'Tis true, Sacrifice and Ceremonies were good intra ſuam ſphaeram, if obſerved and performed according to their divine Inſtitutions; good, pro tempore, & virtute mandati: Matth. 23.23.Matt 23:23but not virtute propriae naturae. Theſe things ye ought to have done, and not to leave the other undone; Therefore, the Lords voice cryeth unto the City,—Hear ye the Rod, &c. God hath theſe two great, ſtanding, viſible Ordinances, to reclaim his people, his Word, and his Rod: and when one of theſe will not do, the other muſt. Such is the care of our heavenly Father, that he will not loſe a hoof or a hair of his children, what ever it coſt him or them; if the gentle gales will not ſend us to ſhoar, his rougher ſtorms ſhall.

The Lords voice cryeth unto the City.— But why to the City? 1. The City is the repreſentative head of the whole Political body, therefore the voice is directed to the City; as in our common diſcourſe, the voice is directed from face to p. 5face. 2. The City is the Countrie's admired Sampler or Copy, in reſpect of manners and practice; as the City is, ſo, for the moſt part is the Country about i…, and by this means firſt or moſt …n the tranſgreſſion. 3. The City hath uſually the …aireſt advantages and encouragements to ſerve …nd worſhip God, and to promote the beauty and power of godlineſs. 4. Cities are apt …o look big upon their own ſtrength, riches, …nd fortifications; therefore the City is alarm'd …y name, that they may know that their fig. leaves will not hide their guilt, nor ſecure their peace againſt the ſtrokes and ſtrength of the Lords Rod.

And the man of wiſdom ſhall ſee thy Name. … need not, I ſhall not acquaint you with all the Verſions of this Phraſe; And thy name ſhall ſee that it is, ſay ſome Tranſlations, (nam quod res …st videt nomen tuum. Beza.) foreign. Septuag. The ſcruple deſerves …ot many words: among many varying tranſlations, the ſenſe comes near to one. Thy Name; …is is ſpoken by a Metonymia Adjuncti, for the …ing or perſon named, a very common and uſual …rope in Scripture; and it hath relation by a Autatio perſonae, unto the Perſon expreſt in the …recedent clauſe, The Lords voice cryeth,— And …e man of wiſdome ſhall ſee, foreign. The …an of wiſdom. The word ſignifies, as the Learned obſerve, ſubstantial wiſdom; therefore Beza, quod res eſt: The truly, ſubſtantially wiſe, the …odly man, ſhall ſee, ſubmit to, and tremble at …y great Name; foreign. So that you …ay take the words, either as a Precept, or as a p. 6Promiſe: As a Precept, to ſee and acknowledg God in all his Ordinances, and in all his Providences, with this argument, that it is the onelyonly wiſe courſe, and both the property and character of a truly wiſe man. As a Promiſe, that there ſhould be ſome on whom this ſpirit of wiſdome ſhould reſt; and for whoſe ſakes, by conſequence, God would ſhorten and make up the controverſie.

Hear ye the Rod, and who hath appointed it. Theſe words are the ſumme and tenour of the Lords voice to the City: wherein you have,

1. The Warning of the Rod.

2. The Author of the Rod.

In the warning you have a dutie, Hear: which in Scripture is taken for acknowledging, ſubmitting, or obeying: With the Author you have the authoritative decree, or determination; who hath appointed it?

From this Analyſis we may obſerve,

Firſt, from the Scope;

Doct. 1 That when a People or Perſon are come to reſting in the external and ceremonious part of duties … ordinances, it is time for God to take up his rod. This was the caſe here. Wherewith ſhall I co… before the Lord, and how my ſelf before the high God? ſhall I come before him with burnt-offerings with calves of a year old? which argues the… reſting here, and that their Religion had no higher principle nor aim than theſe beggarly elements therefore hear ye the rod.

22. From the leading words of my Text, The Lords voice cryeth unto the City, Obſerve,

Doct. 1 That the Lord is not wont to ſteal on a rod … p. 7on his people, but gives them fair and loud warning of it.

Doct. 2 That the voice of Gods Meſſengers is the Lords own voice.

33. From the words themſelves, Hear ye the Rod, &c. obſerve;

Doct. 1 That the people of God ought to be ſenſible, not only of the rod it ſelf, but of the forewarnings of an approaching rod.

Doct. 2 That the afflictions wherewith God exerciſeth his people are but rods.

Doct. 3 That there is no affliction can light on the people of God, without his divine permiſſion and appointment.

Doct. 4 That the Lords rod is no dumb rod.

We ſhall begin with the firſt, from the words, That the people of God ought to be ſenſible, &c.

This I ſhall firſt prove from Scripture. 2. Shall ſhew you ſome tokens of an approaching rod. 3. How farr we our ſelves are under the ſymptoms and ſtrokes of the rod. 4. Shall evince the dutie by Arguments. 5. Apply it briefly.

1. For Scriptures, ſee Jer. 3.7, 8, 10. What a ſad complaint does God take up over. Judah on this very account? when for all the cauſes whereby backsliding Iſrael committed Adultery, I had …ut her away, and given her a bill of divorce, yet her treacherous ſiſter Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot alſo. Though God had threatned them, not with words only, but with blows, and had ſet the legible and bloudy characters of their own doom before their eyes; yet all was too little to convince them of their own p. 8approaching miſerie. Ezek. 33.4, 5. Then whoſoever heareth the ſound of the Trumpet, and taketh not warning, if the ſword come and take him away, his bloud ſhall be upon his own head; he heard the ſound of the trumpet, and took not warning, his bloud ſhall be upon him; but he that taketh warning ſhall deliver his ſoul. Pro. 22.3. The prudent man foreſeeth the evil, and hideth himſelf, but the ſimple paſs on and are puniſhed. I need not heap up witneſſes to evidence ſo rational and undeniable a truth.

2. But you will ask me, How ſhall we know when a rod is coming?

I ſhall anſwer in theſe two generals.

1. Something may be gathered from God.

2. Something from Man.

From God; as,

1. The packing up of his Jewels is a ſign of ſome ſtorm approaching. The righteous is taken away from the evil to come, Iſa. 57.1. When God is packing up his Jewells, inbarquing his Noahs, and ſhouldring away his Lots, it's a ſad Omen, that the day of ſome dreadfull viſitation is at hand.Heb. 2.27.Heb 2:27 'Tis true, as we are all mortall, It is appointed to all men once to dye: but when God ſeems to catch them up in haſte, and to gather them by whole Cluſters, and that in the midſt of their ſtrength and ſervice; this is an ordinary Prognoſtick of approaching Judgment.

Gods withdrawing his preſence is another ſign that he hath a rod a making. When he hath ſhut himſelf up, and will not be ſpoken with; I will go, and return to my place, till they acknowledge p. 9their offence, and ſeek my face; in their affliction they will ſeek me early, Hoſ. 5.15. This was the caſe with the Spouſe, Cant. 5.6, 7. I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn himſelf: and what then? The watchmen that went about the City found me, they ſmote me, they wounded me, the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me, &c. When God ſayes to his Moſes, Let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot againſt them, and that I may conſume them, Exod. 32.10. Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry nor prayer for them, neither make interceſſion to me, for I will not hear thee. Jer. 7.16. And what this did preſage, you may ſee, Jer. 11.14. Pray not thou for this people, &c. for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble; And chap. 14.11. Pray not for this people for their good: when they fast I will not hear their cry, &c. but I will conſume them by the ſword, by the famine, and by the peſtilence; Then ſaid I, Ah, Lord God! the Prophets ſay unto them, ye ſhall not ſee the ſword, &c. Then the Lord ſaid unto me, both the Prophets and the people that believe them, ſhall know that my word ſhall ſtand: both the Flatterers and the Flattered ſhall periſh together. O England, know, it muſt not be as thy Prophets, but as thy God will.

3. Gods croſſing the courſe of Nature, is another ſign that Judgment is haſtning: Numb. 17.8. we read that Aarons Rod budded and bloſſomed, and bare almonds: and what? was this a dumb ſign? No: verſe 10, And the Lord ſaid unto Moſes, Bring Aarons Rod again before the Teſtimony, p. 10to be kept for a token againſt the rebells, &c. What did all thoſe prodigious ſigns which God wrought in Egypt, portend? I need not tell you: What did the hand-writing on Belſhazzars wall point at? Dan. 5. Our Saviour himſelf argues a neceſſary connection between ſignes in the Sun, and Moon, and Starrs, and upon earth diſtreſs with perplexity. Luk. 21.25. And that which was here particularly intended, was afterward fully accompliſhed by Titus Veſpaſian on Jeruſalem; that Abomination of Deſolation being uſher'd in by a multitude of ſigns and wonders, as Chriſt had foretold, and credible Hiſtory doth abundantly certifie.

4. A gradual beginning of Judgment is another preſage that the full blow is coming. God doth uſually ſend ſome drops, as the Harbingers of the ſtorm of his wrath, and layes not on with his full might at once, leſt he ſhould cruſh us to pieces; but he chides before he ſtrikes, and begins with gentler ſtrokes, and every ſtroke calls louder and louder for repentance; as being loath to ſtrike harder than needs he muſt. Firſt, he removes from the Cherub to the threſhold, Ezek. 9.3. and there turns again, and reaſons the caſe, and takes notice of every weeping eye, and every ſad heart. Set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that ſigh. Then from the threſhold to the cherubims, chap. 10.18. and then falls a threatning and a promiſing; Yet will I be to them as a little ſanctuary in the Countries where they ſhall come. At laſt from the Cherubims he departed to the Mountains, chap. 11.23. and thence he uſeth the utmoſt importunity, if at length by any means p. 11he might reclaim and ſpare them;Chap. 12.3. Therefore thou ſon of man, prepare thee ſtuff for removing, and remove by day in their ſight,—It may be they will conſider, though they be a rebellious houſe. Many ſhall come in my name, ſayes Chriſt, ſaying, I am Christ, and ſhall deceive many, and ye ſhall hear of warrs, &c. Nation shall ariſe againſt nation; theſe are the beginning of ſorrows, Matth. 24.5. to 8. Now the beginning argues both the middle and the end to ſucceed.

5. The joint cryes and warnings of the Prophets is another ſymptom of approaching miſery; Theſe are called Gods Watchmen, and his Seer; Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the houſe of Iſrael, therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me, Ezek. 3.17. I will ſtand upon my watch, and ſet me upon the tower, to ſee what he will ſay unto me, and what I shall anſwer, &c. Hab. 2.1. God doth uſually reveal his purpoſe firſt to them, that they may publiſh it unto whom it doth concern; and therefore he adds verſ. 2. Write the viſion, and make it plain, that he may run that readeth it. We are his Ambaſſadors and Heraulds; he is wont to ſend out his Summons, and bid battel by us. When thoſe Turtles which were wont to bring you the Olive-branch of peace, the glad tidings of the Goſpel, come with a ſword in their mouths, be confident there is war preparing in heaven.

2. Other grounds of Conjecture are drawn from man, as,

1. When ſin is on the thriving hand; God hath a double harveſt; a harveſt of wheat, and a harveſt p. 12of tares; and he will have both ripe before he cut them down; the harveſt of his Grace muſt be ripe before he will ſend in his Sickle. Grace muſt have its full growth. Job 5.26. Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn commeth in his ſeaſon: And the harveſt of his wrath muſt be ripe too; Put ye in the Sickle, for the harveſt is ripe, the preſs is full, their wickedneſs is great, Joel. 3.13. So that we may conclude according to Chriſts Parable of the Figtree, Matth. 24.32. When his branch is yet tender and putteth forth leaves, ye know that Summer is nigh. 'Twas ſin that firſt opened the womb of miſery, and 'tis ſin that ripens and haſtens Judgment; Sin and ſuffering have the meaſures of their growth proportionable; as the one ripens, ſo doth the other too. Now conſider this, ye that forget God; your treaſuring up of ſin, is a treaſuring up of wrath unto your ſelves againſt the day of Gods wrath, Rom. 2.5. O that blind ſinners could but ſee what they are doing! Tophet is ordained of old, the pile thereof is fire and much wood.—Iſa. 30.33. Every ſin brings its faggot to this pile. Little did Perillus think what he was a doing when he was forging the Tyrant Phalaris his curious Inſtrument of Cruelty:…th. 12.36.….4.24.….4.17. Every idle word, every vain thought, every neglect of a known duty, like ſo many Infernal Locuſts, are daily flying from the dead carcaſe of thy heart, where they breed, unto the hive of a ſad eternity, crura veneno plena; and thou ſhalt ſhortly taſte and ſee when Gods vintage and Burning-time is come, what this hony is which now ſeems ſo ſweet in thy mouth.

p. 132. When Gods worſhip, which he is ever moſt tender of, is prophaned or idolized. God calls his Church his Spouſe, Cant. 5.1. and is married to her, Jer. 3.14. His Worſhip and Inſtitutions are his Coition with his Church, whereby he begets children unto himſelf; and therefore the abuſe of his worſhip he juſtly calls Adultery, and ſpiritual Fornication; a violation of Covenants, and a breach of Conjugal union: This was commonly one principal cauſe of Gods Controverſie with his firſt Wife, his ancient Spouſe, and that which he hath moſtly manifeſted his furious Jealouſie about. Several Inſtances might be produced, but examples of this nature are obvious and occurrent almoſt every where in the old Teſtament. Again, Gods Church is his Garden, Cant. 4.12. and a garden incloſed too; he keeps it under lock, it is his own Peculiar, he will allow no plants here, but thoſe of his own ſetting; Humane Inventions and Traditions of men, unſcriptural Ceremonies and ſignificant ſigns farr-fetcht by the under-keepers of this Garden, are weeds which God will root up; he will not have his Garden new modell'd, nor adulterated with mans baſtard ornaments; the wrongs that are done here, are ſacrilegious wrongs.

3. When Profeſſors loſe their zeal for God, and the pure and ſtrict wayes of God. Becauſe Iniquity ſhall abound, and the love of many ſhall wax cold, Matth. 24.12. And then ſhall many be offended, and ſhall betray one another, and ſhall hate one another, ver. 10. This was ſpoken as a preſage of that dreadfull Deſtruction which p. 14Chriſt there foretold, And that day, ſayes the Apoſtle, [that great and terrible day of the Lord] ſhall not come, except there come a falling away first. A general Apoſtaſie is a certain Omen of approaching Miſery. This was part of Gods accuſation againſt Epheſus, Rev. 2.4. Thou haſt left thy firſt love; and what then? ver, 5. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy firſt works, or elſe I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy Candleſtick out of his place, except thou repent. Was not this the cauſe why God put away his own choſen Iſrael, and gave her a bill of divorce? Jer. 3.6, 8. What complaints hath God taken up on this very account? Why is this People ſlidden back by a perpetual backsliding? Jer. 8.5. And my people are bent to backsliding from me, Hoſ. 11.7. How tenderly does God ſeem to take it! Therefore, if any man draw back, my ſoul ſhall have no pleaſure in him, Heb. 10.38. And the more groſs and general this Apoſtaſie is, the more dreadful, the more univerſal, the more ſpeedy execution of wrath it doth portend.

4. When charity among brethren is dying. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed ye be not conſumed one of another, Dulce nomen pacis! Cicer.Gal. 5.15. Diſcord hath a more natural tendency unto ruin than almoſt any other ſin; A houſe divided cannot stand, ſayes Chriſt, and therefore this is one principal ſcope of the Commands of the Goſpel, to beget and quicken love and charity among brethren. You ſhall ſcarce find any one thing in the new Teſtament ſo much preſt as this: For this is the p. 15meſſage that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 1 Joh. 3.11. But when God ſends a ſpirit of diviſion among his children, and daſhes child againſt child, it is ſufficient evidence of his high diſpleaſure.

5. When Covenant-breaking lies unrepented of. What was it that overturn'd Zedekiah and his people? Jer. 34.8. After they had entred into ſacred bonds in the houſe of God, to releaſe all their ſervants, that were of the Jewiſh ſeed, and had for a time performed it; but afterward dealt deceitfully with them, and brake their Covenant, ver. 11. Therefore from ver. 17. to the end, you may ſee the iſſue, Behold, I will proclaim Liberty for you, ſaith the Lord, to the Sword, to the Peſtilence, and to the Famine. Other known Inſtances to this purpoſe might be given; but I forbear.

6. When thoſe ſins for which God hath taken up a controverſie are not removed. Sufferings, as I have ſaid, are the direct and proper effects of ſin; the only ſucceſsful courſe to heal the effect, is to antidote the cauſe. Iſrael cannot proſper,Ioſh. 7.Josh 7 nor ſtand before his enemies, until Achan be executed; There's no ſayling,Ion. 1.4.Jonah 1:4 while guilty Jonas lyes aboard, but death and ruin on every hand. When God is ſhaking his rod againſt a People, and they regard it not, warning them by his Prophets, and, as it were, planting his Ordnance, and ſetting his battel in array againſt them, and they tremble not at it; what is this but a bold challenging of the Almighty, and even a daring him to go on, and to do his worſt; now what can p. 16be expected in ſuch a caſe, but that God ſhould ariſe in the fierceneſs of his hotteſt wrath, and avenge him of his enemies!Iſa. 1.24.Isa 1:24

3. We come in the next place to conſider, How farr, or in what reſpects we our ſelves are under the ſymptoms, or the ſtrokes of the Rod; And in order hereunto, we will weigh our preſent eſtate by the fore-mentioned Prognoſticks.

1. Hath not God been packing up his Jewels? How many hath he taken away of the eminent bearing-Pillars both of Church and State? whoſe lamented funerals have ſet a ſable Aſtraciſm on their ſad Elegies? God hath ſeem'd to begin his harveſt among them, and to fill his hands with ripe Fruit: nay, may I not ſay, in a ſenſe, to ſtrike down thouſands at one blow, even of thoſe that were giving ſuck, without compaſſion either to Nurſe or Babe: but I will not inſiſt here, Res ipſa loquitur.

2. Hath not God ſeem'd to withdraw his preſence? at leaſt in ſome reſpects; Bleſſed be God for any tokens of his quickning preſence among us; that there is yet ſo much of the life of God in us, as to carry us out in an unwearied ſearch after him, yet 'twas ſo with the Spouſe, when her Beloved had withdrawn himſelf, Cant. 5.6. I ſought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no anſwer. And is not this our very caſe? How long have we cryed to God for bread? and as yet we have ſtones inſtead of bread; or if bread, we have it, but as God threatned Jeruſalem in another ſenſe, by weight, and by meaſure, … 15.by crummes, and by drops; yet bleſſed p. 17be God for the crumms that fall from his …able. Hath not God ſeem'd to defeat the …rayers, and fruſtrate the hopes of his people, … that they lye as the ſlain in the ſtreets, at …he feet of the luſts and wills of all that …aſs by.

3. Hath not God been croſſing the courſe of Nature, by ſtrange Signes and Prodigies, ſuch, and ſo many, as no age in England could ever parallel? I need not be large here, yet I would …ot that theſe things ſhould be lightly paſt over, …or eaſily forgotten, for doubtleſs God hath …igh and glorious ends in them; his ſigns are …ot without their ſignifications. He that hath …ot ſet the Rain-bow in the clouds for nought, …or one Star or Comet to appear in vain; but …ath ordained them for ſigns and for ſeaſons; Gen. 1.14. Matth. 10, 29, 30.Gen 1:14Matt 10:29Matt 10:30…o, not ſo much as a ſparrow, or an hair of our …eads ſhall fall to the ground without a Providence; can we imagine that ever he would thus …ill heaven and earth with his ſtrange works of wonder, on no higher deſign, than to be meer …azing-ſtocks and table-talk with unconcerned …an? nay, be confident the dayes are at hand, …nd now are, that God will interpret his own meaning, and clearly unriddle all theſe his Papables to us.

4. Is not Judgment already begun at the …ouſe of God? I hope, I need not run out into particulars here, to tell you your own ſorrows, …o pull thoſe groans from your hearts, and to bump thoſe tears from your eyes; I hope that every corner in your houſes, and every Angel p. 18in heaven can bear witneſs with your conſciences, that you are ſome of thoſe whoſe foreheads God hath marked for ſuch as ſigh, Ezek 9.4.Ezek 9:4and cry for all the abominations, miſeries, and calamities of our poor Sion.Lom. 2.1. How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud, in his anger, and caſt down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Iſrael, and remembred not his footſtool in the day of his anger.

5. Hath not this been the joint-cry, and unbelieved report of the Prophets and Watch men for ſeveral years together? And now our Propheſie is accompliſhed, both we, and you all know & feel what the voice meant, & are ſma… ing under the burthen of the viſion; but when, … how it ſhall be removed, we know not: only the far in general we know, When the Rod hat reach'd its ends, either of obduration, or rui… or (which the Lord grant) of thorough. Reformation; Ier. 24.Jer 24When the Figgs are pickt and ſeparated, when the harveſt is ripe, and the Lord people fit for the Mercies they look and lo… for; when the Lords time, even the … time, is come; then, and not till then, … ſhall be.

6. When was all manner of ſin in a … thriving way than now? Drunkenneſs, an Whoredom, and Oppreſſion, and Deceit, Swealing and Lying, Debauchery and Prophanen… of all ſorts and ſizes, is growing ripe apa… being eſtabliſhed by the dormient connivant of wholſom Laws;Moſ. 4.1.2, 3. The Lord hath a cont… verſie with the Inhabitants of the Land, becau… p. 19there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the Land. By ſwearing, and lying, and killing, and ſtealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and bloud toucheth bloud. Therefore ſhall the Land mourn.— What's become of Sabbaths, and Sabbath-duties, Inſtitutions and Celebrations? the beauty and power of them? Are we not like Ezekiels pot,Ezek. 24.6.Ezek 24:6 whoſe ſcum is therein, and whoſe ſcum is not gone out of it? Nay, if we look home on our ſelves, we may find the Leproſie on our own walls: how can we juſtifie our Pride and Worldlineſs, our Wantonneſs, our Cenſoriouſneſs and ſelf-endedneſs, our Unbelief and Impatience? Don't theſe things teſtifie againſt us?

7. Is not the worſhip of God abuſed; and that both practically and doctrinally? But I muſt be ſilent here. Curae leves loquuntur, ingentes ſtupent.

8. Is there not a great declining, and loſing of zeal for God? How ſad and general hath been the Apoſtacy of worldly-minded and worldly-ended Demas's? Who would have thought that ever ſuch hearts had been enkennel'd under ſuch tongues?2 Cor. 11.14.2 Cor 11:14 that ſuch Angels of light had been no other than transformed Devils? Iohn 6.70.John 6:70Who would have thought that Judas the Diſciple had been the Traitor? May not Chriſt ſhew the wounds with which he hath been wounded in the houſe of his friends? Nay,Zech. 13.6.Zech 13:6 let me ask you, whoſe whoſe hearts and minds have been ſavingly inlightned and warmed with the quickning Beams of the Sun of Righteouſneſs, p. 20How have you flouriſhed with your water and pulſe? Dan. 1.12.Dan 1:12Are not your Graces and Hopes ſhivering within you? what's become of thoſe divine ſparks that have been begotten in you? are they as quick and lively, as forcible and ſerviceable, as they were wont to be?

9. Is not charity among brethren dying? partly from the jarring of worldly Intereſts, and partly from the diſagreement of Judgment and Opinion? How few are there, that, like brethren, dwell together in unity? Pſal. 133.1Ps 133:1This hath been a diſeaſe of a long time lamented, and yet lamentations of this nature are as ſeaſonable as ever: Oh! when will God cure the wounds among brethren! we have been licking our ſelves whole indeed, but alas! it hath been with a cankered tongue, ſo that the Leproſie hath ſpread and gotten ſtrength by the means of its Cure.

10. Doth not Covenant-breaking yet lye unrepented of? How many Oaths, Proteſtations, Leagues and Solemn Covenants, have there been impoſed and taken, whereof the one hath neceſſarily and manifeſtly implyed the violation of the other? O! the miſerable and curſed proſtitutions of Conſcience! Thoſe that make ſo light of Oaths, will not make ſo light of the Vengeance of that God unto whom they have ſworn: no Covenant hath, on all ſides, been ſo faithfully kept, as that with Satan and Self: This is a lamentation, and let it be for a lamentation. Beſides, how many private, perſonal, p. 21and occaſional vows and promiſes have there paſt between God and your own ſouls, on ſeveral forlorn ſtraits and emergencies? and have they not all been as eaſily broken as they have been made? Oh! let me lay up theſe things in the cloſets of your Conſciences, and, when you are alone, ſeriouſly a d ſadly conne them over.

11. Are thoſe ſins for which God hath taken up the Controverſie removed? Have we heard the rod, and him who hath appointed it? Have we anſwered Gods demands? nay, have we duely debated the buſineſs, and examined the ground of the Quarrel? Have we been in Parly with God, and executed his VVrits of Inquiry, by the Commiſsion-Office of Conſcience, throughout the Liberties and Precincts both of the outer and inner man? If not, how can we rationally expect a comfortable iſſue? Can a rotten Liver produce ſound bloud?Matth. 7, 16. Gal. 6.7.Matt 7:16Gal 6:7 Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thiſtles? nay, VVhatſoever a man ſoweth, that ſhall he alſo reap; as long as ſin is the ſeed, the harveſt will be wrath; if we ſow the wind, we muſt expect to reap the whirlwind. Hoſ. 8.9.Hos 8:9Can you dry up the ſtreams, as long as the fountain is alwayes ſending out freſh ſupplies? though you may ſeem to bay it back a while, yet, ſinner, believe it, the vengeance of God is all the while pending againſt thee, and thy Bay will not hold long; but when it burſts, look for a ſweeping Judgment. Now lay all theſe things together, and by theſe, and the like, judge how farr we are p. 22under both the ſymptoms and the ſtrokes of the Lords Rod.

2. In the next place, I am to prove the Doctrine, and to evince the duty; That you ought to be ſenſible, not only of the rod it ſelf, but of the ſymptoms of an approaching Rod.

I hope I need not ſpend much time here; Is it not pity that words and threatnings ſhould not prevail with rational creatures, without blowes? why, conſider; ſhould God ſhew his skill to hit, he might ſtrike thee in the ſecret parts unawares, and come upon thee in the dark;1 Sam. 24.4. Iudg. 4.211 Sam 24:4Judg 4:21 how eaſily might he find thee, as David found his enemy, and ſerve thee as Jael ſerved Siſera. He is not bound to ſound his Trumpet, before he takes up his ſword; Gods threatnings are in mercy; he threatens, that he may ſpare; the Ambaſſadours of his Judgements, are conditionally Ambaſſadours of Peace; every Warning offers you reconciliation upon Gods terms, the Motto of his ſword is, Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die? Now I ſhall knit up the Argument of this Aſſertion in this threefold Motive.

1. 'Tis the beſt way to prevent the coming of the rod. What ſworn witneſſes might I produce you from Scripture-Records? Ah! my brethren, ſhall the men of Nineveh riſe in Judgment againſt us? ſhall we juſtifie Sodom and Gomorrah, and Ieruſalem, whom the juſt vengeance of God hath purſued to their utter ruine, and ſet up for warnings unto us? See Joel 2.12. Turn ye even to me with all your p. 23heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning, and rent your hearts, and not your garments. God had threatned to rent them with his Judgments. Blow ye the Trumpet …n Zion, and ſound an alarm in my holy mountain, let all the Inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is …igh at hand. A day of darkneſs, and of gloomineſs, &c. yet, turn unto the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful—Who knoweth if he will return, and repent, and leave a bleſsing behind him? Obſerve Gods method and carriage in the courſe of his Judgments; he threatens that he may not correct, he corrects that he may not deſtroy; if leſs ado will compaſs his ends, he ſits down, and proceeds no farther; he will ſpare every blow that may be ſpar'd, and will not adde one grain more than …s of neceſſity.

2. It will arm thee for the coming of the rod, if it do come. The prudent man foreſeeth the evil, and hideth himſelf. Prov. 22.3. Though thy foreſeeing of it, and humbling thy ſelf under it, may not prevent the coming of it, yet it will be a hiding place for thee when it doth come. 'Tis true, the ſtorm may fall on the fields of thy profits, on the gardens of thy delights, on the houſe of thy reſt and peace; but it can't reach thy ſoul, as long as thy life is hid with Chriſt in God. Indeed Jonas cryes out, that the waters compaſſed him about, even to the ſoul, Jonah 2.5. And David complains, that his ſoul was among lions. Pſal. 57.4. Bus this may p. 24be ſpoken in an Hyperbolical phraſe, and may be true of the animal part of the ſoul, their lives, and the ſupport and comfort of their lives being in extreme hazzard. Nay, and 'tis true too, that the deareſt of Gods ſervants have been ſometimes guilty of Dilapidations, and by their neglects have let it rain in upon them, to the deſpoiling the preſent ſtate of their ſpiritual comforts; and yet the foundation which is of God hath ſtood ſure. Thus oftentimes i… comes to paſs through her own weakneſs, or unwatchfulneſs, that the poor Soul is forced to ſcrabble to ſhoar, like Paul's companions, on the Planks of broken peace and ſhatter'd comforts. 'Twas the bleſſed temper of a holy man now in reſt, under all the tortures wherewith his body was rackt, that he could truly and chearfully bear witneſs for God; Not one dr… of wrath in all this. Though thy loſſes b… great, and thy ſufferings great, though thy Credit be gone, thy Eaſe, thy Plenty, thy Liberty thy Friends, thy Hopes, and all be gone, the are but gone a gathering, as Bees from their hives; anon thou ſhalt ſee them come flocking home as heavy laden with the bleſſed gains and overplus as ever they can flye. Thy Credit with man, hath brought thee home credit and favour with God; thy Broken name is return'd … New name, Rev. 2.17.Rev 2:17a title of honour, and royal dignity; and no bare title neither, as that was thou hadſt loſt:2 Cor. 1, 22.2 Cor 1:22 but the Crown it ſelf is come, and the Seal of the Inheritance. Thy painful, unconſtant eaſe is not come halting, but dancing, p. 25like David before the Ark: 2 Sam. 6.16. Pſal. 24.13. Luk. 12.19.2 Sam 6:16Ps 24:13Luke 12:19from henceforth thy ſoul ſhall dwell at eaſe: other manner of eaſe than what the Fool in the Goſpel could boaſt of, or any other the world can produce: Thy ſpoiled Plenty is come home with a ſpring tide of richeſt increaſe. Oh! who could ever have hop'd for ſuch Advantage? Lord, if thou hadſt given me leave to ask, I had never askt half ſo much! 'Twas but a handfull of duſt thou adventured'ſt, and behold,1 Tim. 4.8.1 Tim 4:8 heaven and earth is now little enough to hold the Increaſe. Thy Liberty which went Captive away, is come Triumphing home: to what a height is Joſeph the poor barter'd Lad advanc'd? See what a Repeal is endorſed by the Parliament of Heaven, on the backſide of thy Mittimus, or Proſcription! He that is called in the Lord, 1 Cor. 7.22.1 Cor 7:22[though a ſervant, though a bond-man, though an exile, yet] is the Lords Free-man. Ioh. 8.36.John 8:36And if the Son ſhall make you free, ye ſhall be free indeed. Eph. 2.19.Eph 2:19Now therefore thou art no more a ſtranger and a forreiner, but a fellow-citizen with the Saints, and of the houſhold of God. Act. 21.39.Acts 21:39A Citizen of no mean City, (ſayes Paul.) Are thy Friends gone? lift up now thine eyes, Gen. 13.14.Gen 13:14and look from the place where thou art, Northward, and Southward, and Eaſtward, and Weſtward. Thouſands, and ten thouſands of Friends for one, and never a one but a Jonathan, 2 Sam. 1.26.2 Sam 1:26whoſe love is wonderful, paſsing the love of women, and whoſe power comes not ſhort of their love. A whole heaven of friends above thee, a whole volume of friends before thee, and a thouſand p. 26witneſſing Friends within thee. Are thy hopes down? why, pluck up thy ſpirits; the waggons are come,Gen. 45.27.Gen 45:27 richly laden, and full fraught with higheſt ſatisfaction. O, bleſſed Adventure! O happy Merchandiſe! O, Chriſtian! if this it be to ſow, never bethink thy Seed; if this be the harveſt, never bethink thy Patience.

'Tis threatned as the plague of the wicked, that their miſeries ſhall come upon them, as pangs upon a woman in travel, 1 Theſ. 5.7. irreſiſtibly, and unexpectedly. In a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, Matth. 24.50. Yet not for want of warning: God ſcorns to ſteal upon them; he comes openly, and blows his Trumpet before him: but 'tis, for not taking warning: and hence it is,Iob. 5.14.Job 5:14 that they meet with darkneſs in the day time, and grope, and ſtumble, and fall, in the noon-day as in the night.

3. It will argue thy care to pleaſe God, and that thou ſtandeſt in ſome holy fear, and filial awe of him. 'Tis a token of an Ingenuous ſpirit in a child, to obſerve the looks and carriage of his Father towards him; when a look or a nod is enough to intimate the parents mind, and to cauſe the dutiful child to obey, or ſubmit and humble himſelf. As the eyes of ſervants look unto the hands of their Maſters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her Miſtreſs, ſo our eyes wait upon the Lord our God. Pſal. 123.2. O my brethren! If it be not all one with you whether God be pleaſed or diſpleaſed, p. 27whether you ſtand or fall before him; if you …ould be hid in the day of his wrath; take notice of his frowns, and of his ſmiles, and which …ay his rod leans when his hand is lifted up. Walk with him, and follow after him, in the …aths of his Providence: walk with him, I ſay, …ut take heed of ſtepping before him, or parting from him, and humble your ſelves under …he tokens of his fatherly diſpleaſure. O how …indly would God take this at your hands! …nd how ſoon would he lead you through …neſe thickets and bryars, into more open and …leaſant walks?

Thus far for the Doctrinal part, I ſhall ſpeak …ut briefly in the application of it, that I may …aſten to what principally I intended in the …hoice of this ſubject.

This truth then argues three ſorts of people under juſt reprehenſion.

Ʋſe 1 1. Such as will not acknowledge God in, and under, the Rod: That cry out under the ſmart of it, but are blind as to the real Ends and Deſignes of it: and herein the beſt are very guilty, if we throughly conſider theſe four things, wherein God is to be acknowledged in his Rod.

1. In his Providence, as he is the Author of it. Shall there be evil in the City, and the Lord hath not done it? Am. 3.6. It is the Lord, ſaid Eli, let him do what ſeemeth him good: 1 Sam. 3.18. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. Job 1.21. not the Sabeans, nor the Chaldeans, here was no quarrelling p. 28with ſecond cauſes, nor falling out with Inſtruments: O ſuffer me, Chriſtian, now to deal a little plainly and faithfully with thee. 'Doſt thou acknowledge God in his Providence? are thou really perſwaded, that he is the Author of every ſtroke thou ſuffereſt? Have thine Enemies a Commiſſion from heaven, even the …road ſeal, for what they do? (though they act not intentionally in proſecution of any ſuch Commiſſion). O Aſſyrian, the rod of mine anger, &c. I will ſend him (not onelyonly ſuffer him) againſt an hypocritical nation, and againſt the people of my wrath will I give him a charge to take the ſpoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire in the ſtreets, Iſa. 10.5, 6. Are Inſtruments but the Charriot-wheels whereon God is riding out to correct, and to chaſtize? what means then this ſnarling at the ſtone? this contending with the rod, as if that were in all the fault. If it be God that ſtrikes thee, as thou acknowledgeſt, how dareſt thou oppoſe thy ſelf againſt thy Maker? What is it that your complaints are ordinarily ſo full of, when, like Turtles, you are bemoaning your ſelves together? But, the cruelty and oppreſſion of Enemies, exclaiming on the ſubtilty and unfaithfulneſs of one, or on the malice, revenge, or ſelf-ſeeking of another; this argues your half-acknowledging of God. I was dumb, and opened not my mouth, ſayes David, becauſe thou didſt it. Pſal. 39, 9. He obſerves the hand as well as the rod; God had to do with him, and he has to do with p. 29God again, in the affliction: here lyes the Quarrel, and therefore he hath nought to ſay …o Inſtruments, he dares not once to open his mouth.

2. God is to be acknowledged in his Sovereignty. His authority is abſolute and unlimited: Heaven and Earth, and all created beings, Souls and Bodies, and whatſoever we are or …ave, are peculiarly his. Shall the thing formed ſay unto him that formed it, Why haſt thou made me thus? hath not the Potter power …ver the clay? Rom. 9.20, 21. Now acknowledging, implyes a ſubmitting to, an acquieſcing and reſting under, ſome clear and full perſwaſion. It is not only an act of the lip, or of the …udgment, but is comprehenſive of the whole man, the heart and life, the aſſent and content: When a Question is granted, the diſpute … ended: if Gods Sovereignty in the Latitude and univerſal fulneſs of it, be throughly acknowledged, we have nothing then to gainſay …im in his arbitrary execution of it; if he …ke our health, or our wealth, or peace, or friends, or lives from us, we are thus far ſatisfied, that he takes but his own, he doth but …etch in what he had lent out; and we do no more than we are bound to do in honouring him, though with the expence of all thoſe borrowed enjoyments. Wo unto him that ſtriveth …ith his Maker; let the Potſheards ſtrive with …he Potsheards of the earth; shall the clay ſay to …im that fashioneth it, What makeſt thou? or by work, He hath no hands? Iſa. 45.9.

p. 303. God will be acknowledged in his Juſtice Wilt thou condemn him that is moſt juſt? ſay… Elihu to Job: Surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment, Job 34.17. and 12. 'Tis true, men may be unjuſt: If thou ſeeſt the Oppreſsion of the poor, and violent perverting of Judgment and Juſtice in a province, marvel not at the matter… Eccleſ. 5.8. 'Tis no ſtrange thing to find u… righteouſneſs among men, nay, too often among the beſt of men; but to impeach God of injuſtice, or to charge him with hard meaſure, … moſt neſarious Blaſphemy.Gen. 18.25.Gen 18:25 Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Nay, after all thi… that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and f… our great treſpaſs, ſeeing that thou, O God, haſt puni…hed us leſs than our iniquities deſerve. Ezr. 9.13. Yet who is there that will not acknowledge that God is juſt, even in his ſevereſt providences? But alas, my brethren! 'tis one thing to ſay that God is juſt, another thing to ſit down fully ſatisfied under the clea… conviction of the Equity and Reaſonableneſs of it.

4. God muſt be acknowledged in his ends. Now his Ends are either ſecret or revealed. A… for thoſe ſecrets of God, thoſe Arcana Imperii, they are infinitely above us, lockt up in th… Cabinet of divine Counſel: all that is viſible in God are his back parts; his works are in the dark, à parte poſt; we can ſee no further than is revealed. And in this ſenſe is God to be acknowledged in his Ends: and what thoſe p. 31revealed Ends are, with reference to his Rod, both in general and in ſpecial, the enſuing diſcourſe may more at large diſcover: at preſent I ſhall only ſhevv you vvhat it is to acknovvledge God in his revealed ends, vvhichwhich imports, as I conceive, theſe tvvo things.

1. To ask Counſell of God. God hath given you his Oracles, his Ʋrim and Thummim, the Law and the Teſtimony; and hither you are to have recourſe. Search the Scriptures. Acknowledging preſuppoſeth knowledge, as every rational act of the will implyes the precedent act of the underſtanding.

2. To joyn iſſue with God, to drive on the ſame End, and to manage the ſame deſign with God. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Act. 9.6.Acts 9:6ſayes St. Paul, thy Will ſhall be my will, and thy Intereſt my intereſt.Matth. 26.42.Matt 26:42 If this Cup may not paſs away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. Is it thy Will that I ſhould bear this Croſs? ſo it ſhall be mine too. Is this thy way to humble and reform me, to make me perfect through ſufferings? bleſſed be thy Wiſdom… bleſſed be thy care! If this may be the fruit, to take away my ſin, ſpare me not: let the Fleſh ſay what it vvill, let the World adviſe how it vvill, I vvill not ask counſell at thoſe ſtocks: O my ſoul! come not thou into their ſecret; unto their Aſſembly, be not thou united. Lord, take thine ovvn courſe, abate me not one grain that may be for my good. If poverty, if ſhame, if baniſhment, if death be the vvay, Thy will be done. Lord, take me at my p. 32word, and let it appear that thou haſt honoured me,Pſal. 119.75.Ps 119:75 and that thou in faithfulneſs (according to thy Promiſe and Covenant) haſt afflicted me.

2. This reproves thoſe that will believe no more than they feel, but like that Horſe that Job ſpeaks of, Job 39.21, 22. —Rejoyceth in his strength, he goeth on to meet the armed man, (nay, the armed God); he mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted, neither turneth he back from the ſword. Of this generation are thoſe Scoffers, walking after their own luſts, and ſaying, Where is the promiſe of his coming? for ſince the Fathers fell aſleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the Creation. 2 Pet. 3.3, 4. Well ſinner! Whether thou wilt believe, or whether thou wilt not believe, this ſhall ſtand on record within thee for ever, that thou haſt been warn'd. The dayes are at hand, and the effect of every viſion; when God shall make this Proverb to ceaſe, The dayes are prolonged, and every vision faileth. Ezek. 12.22, 23. The time is coming, when God ſhall be as good as his word with thee; and if Faith can have no entrance at thy Hearing, it ſhall by thy other ſenſe of Feeling. Though Hell be the portion and place of unbelievers, yet there thou ſhalt, as the Devils, and the reſt of thy curſed brethren do, believe and tremble. 'Tis true, God doth ſometimes drive the nail with his axe, when the hammer will not do: but know this too, that the nail that turns at the hammer, is wont to break under the axe.

p. 333. It reproves ſuch as ſlight any thing whereby God manifests his diſpleaſure. You have heard in eleven particulars, what Gods ordinary courſe is in predicting his diſpleaſure, with a people or perſon; and, to ſlight the threatnings of God, is to deſpiſe both the perſon and authority threatning. He therefore that deſpiſeth, deſpiſeth not man, but God, 1 Theſ. 4.8. And theſe warnings and threatnings of God are deſpiſed theſe two wayes:

1. Privately, and that in theſe three reſpects.

1. In the want of Faith to believe them, either in the Reality of them, or in the Ends and meaning of them. Though I would not you ſhould proſtitute your Faith and Credence, and ſet open theſe doors to every Baſtard-Page of …ying Fame, yet neither ſhould you obſtinately nail up your doors againſt all ſtrangers; as 'tis ſtoried of the Amyclaei, who being often terrified and wearied with falſe reports, at length by Law condemned all Reports, and then quickly became their enemies prey. But in this ſurmiſing, inquiring, credulous, and yet unbelieving Age, this is all I ſhall add at preſent, as to this caſe; Thoſe things that are inevident, and improbable in the Fable, may yet be certain, and ſeaſonable in the Moral: therefore what will not ſerve for a ſtaff to ſupport thee, may yet, one way or other, ſerve for fuel to warm thee. But how diſputable ſoever God's warnings may ſometimes, and to ſome perſons, ſeem to be, We have a ſure word of Propheſie, p. 34whereunto ye do well that ye take heed. 2 Pet. 1.19. Yet, alas! who hath believed this report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? Though the Watchmen cry from the Tower, and blow the Trumpet from the Walls; yet, Where are the ſo…ls that take themſelves to be ſo deeply concerned in the buſineſs? Sinner! thou ſhalt ſhortly know which way the malign and fatal Aſpects of thoſe fierie Comets of Divine threatnings look, when God ſhall bring thee out with Agag, and tell thee, as Nathan told David, Thou art the man, the very perſon I aim'd at; and though thou wouldſt not hear thy caſe pleaded, thou ſhalt both ſee and ſuffer the ſentence executed.

2. In the want of fear, to reverence and ſtand in awe of them, as the Majeſty of God, and the importance of the iſſue require. Hear now this, O fooliſh people, and without underſtanding! which have eyes and ſee not, which have ears and hear not. Fear ye not me? ſaith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my preſence? Jer. 5.21, 22. Foraſmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord, thou art great, and thy name is great in might; who would not fear thee? O King of Nations! Jer. 10.6, 7. O the ſtrang… ſtupidity! the atheiſtical madneſs of an unbelieving heart! Surely, if any created Being be worſe than the Devil, 'tis this unbelieving Heart. The Devils believe and tremble. O how is it, that the miſerable Proſelyte hath ſo far out-ſtript his curſed T… tour!

p. 353. In the want of Repentance to ſubmit. When either through the ſtoutneſs of the heart men ſcorn to ſtoop; or through the blindneſs of their minds know not how to do it, farther than the bare Ceremony and externity of it; unto whom God ſeems, as Lot to his ſons in law, but as one that mocks with them. Yet ſuffer God to ſpeak, nay, he will ſpeak, and, after that he hath ſpoken, (as Job ſaid to his friends, and performed his word) mock on, Job 21.3. But unto this man will I look, (with an eye of mercy and ſalvation) even to him that is poor, and of a contrite ſpirit, and trembleth at my word, Iſa. 66.2.

2. Poſitively; and thus likewiſe theſe three wayes:

1. By belying them. Thus the Sorcerers and Magicians of Egypt endeavoured to belye God, to the hardning and ruining of Pharaoh and his People. Are there none of theſe Politique Magi to be found among us? who (beyond the Impudence of the Chaldean Aſtrology) will undertake to interpret the hand-writing, pro lubitu ſuo. Theſe are ſome of Iſraels Prophets, of whom God ſpeaks, Jer. 14.15. The Prophets that propheſie in my name, and I ſent them not, yet they ſay, Sword and famine ſhall not be in this Land; by Sword and Famine ſhall thoſe Prophets be conſumed. Theſe ſons of Chenaanah, that with their horns of iron will puſh the Syrians, untill they have conſumed them, will at Ramoth be of another mind, 1 Kin. 22.11. If God threatens, 'tis in vain for us to flatter p. 36our ſelves: you may call evil good; and the foreign, the evident prints of the Finger of God, Fortune Chance or Caſualty; the threatnings of Scripture, old Antiquated Riddles; the plain-dealing of Michaia, a ſpirit of ill will, and diſloyal affection; but you will not call Hell Heaven, nor everlaſting Burnings the Bleſſedneſs you promiſed your ſelves.

2. By deriding them. When Iſrael was rotten-ripe for Judgment, and God was ſending his harveſt-men to make a ſmooth field of them, 'tis recorded, to their ſhame, but for our warning, 2 Chron. 36.15, 16. The Lord God of their Fathers ſent to them by his Meſsengers, riſing up betimes, and ſending: becauſe he had compaſſion on his people, and on his dwelling-place; but they mocked the meſsengers of God, and deſpiſed his words, and miſuſed his Prophets; until the wrath of the Lord aroſe against his people, till there was no remedy. Which way went the ſpirit of the Lord from me, ſaid Zedekiah, to ſpeak to thee? 1 Kin. 22.24.1 Kgs 22:24The day is coming, that thou ſhalt know by what ſpirit we are acted; that we ſpeak not of our ſelves, nor run, like Ahimaaz, on a feigned, or begged errand. And if we muſt be mockt, and derided, and ſmitten on the cheek for our labour: yet, for our own ſakes we rejoyce; but for our ſacred authorities ſake, and for your own ſouls ſake, we cannot but tremble, and weep both over it and you.

p. 373. By taking a wrong courſe to evade them. Theſe were ſome of Saul's practical Politicks. God had threatned to rent the Kingdom from him, and to give it to a neighbour of his that was better then he, 1 Sam. 15.28. and now the wiſeſt courſe he can adviſe on to ſecure his Kingdome, is, to deſtroy the man (were it poſſible) whom God had choſen to ſucceed him. So when God withdrew his preſence from him at Gilboa; and anſwered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Ʋrim, nor by Prophets, 1 Sam. 28.6. which is one ordinary ſymptom, (as I have ſhewn you) of ſome Judgment at hand; away he runs to forbidden means, (nay, by his own law forbidden and condemned) and ſues to the Devil for counſel in his deſperate caſe. I might enlarge my ſelf here: but what might farther be added, I ſhall reſerve for another place.

You have heard your duty, Brethren: but, Ʋſe 2 duty heard, and in the notion of it acknowledged, and yet not practically imbr…ced, is the God-…rovoking ſin, and the heart-plague of this our Sceptick Age. Duties are obligatory on the Conſcience and Converſation; O take heed of breaking Gods bonds, and caſting his cords from you. We have heard, nay, in ſome meaſure, we feel, both the ſymptoms and ſtrokes of the Lords Rod: Sit down now, and begin to count the coſt. There is a Wilderneſs, and a Jordan, and, it may be, a Red Sea yet before us; gird up the loyns of your minds now, and be ſtrong in the Lord. Watch and be ſober. Watch for the p. 38word of command, and reſolvedly ſtick to your choice and holy profeſſion, whatever come o…t. And for your awakening and encouragement, conſider;

1. Within a few moments more, all the merry dayes of the wicked, and all the ſad hours of the righteous, ſhall be at an end for ever; the Field ſhall be tried, and the Battel ſhall be over, and the old Quarrel never to be reviv'd more between the ſeed of the woman, and the ſeed of the Serpent; The pleaſures of ſin are but for a moment, Heb. 11.25. and, How are they brought down into deſolation, as in a moment… Pſal. 73.19. He ſeems to be raviſht at the conceit of it. Thoſe Vipers, that even now, were threatning thy deſtruction, and greedily thirſting for thy blood; ſee! with the turn of a hand, they are gone, and are now crawling in the fire. O wonderful and glorious change! For when they ſhall ſay, Peace and Safety, then ſudden deſtruction commeth upon them as travel upon a woman with child, and they ſhall not eſcape, 1 Theſ. 5.3. O Sinner! One moment more, and then ſucceeds thy wofull Eternitie. One game more, and then turns up thy undoing Card. One hour's paſtime more, and then farewell to all thy pleaſures for ever; not one ſong, not one dance, not one pot, not one glimpſe of joy, not one merry thought nor word more then. On this one Caſt lies thy whole Eſtate… Spend out this, as thou art doing, and thou ha… never a farthing more to ſpend, nor to ſave, i… this world, nor in the world to come. So on th… p. 39other hand, the troubles of the righteous are under the ſame Date and determination; the one…s hell is altogether as ſhort as the others heaven: For as the one Bucket goes down, the other comes up. His anger endureth but a moment, Pſal. 30.5. Our light affliction which is but for a moment, 2 Cor. 4.17. For a ſmall moment have I forſaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath, I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlaſting kindneſs will I have mercy on thee, ſaith the Lord thy Redeemer. Iſa. 54.7, 8. Pluck up thy ſpirits then, O Chriſtian! and turn to thy ſtrong hold, thou Priſoner of hope. Zech. 9.12. Cant. 2…8.Zech 9:12Song 2:8Behold! yonder comes thy Redeemer, leaping upon the mountains, and skipping upon the hills. See what haſte he makes! he is come! he is come! Behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the window! He is nearer than thou art aware. Ariſe, O drooping Soul … view the heavens, 'tis all cleer and ſerene above us: In portu navigas. Are not theſe the gates of thy Father's Kingdom? Is not the ſmell of the Country already in thy Noſtrils? Are not the golden Inſtruments of Joy a tuning, to welcome …ome the loſt Son? O hold out Faith and Patience!Luk. 15.25.Luke 15:25 one League farther, one Tide more, and then thou art ſafe for ever. Reaſon thus with thy ſelf; Were This my Portion, and all that I were ever like to ſee or hope for; were my whole Venture in this Leaking bottom; Had I no ſettled Inheritance another where, I were miſerable indeed, yea, of all men the moſt miſerable; p. 38duplicate page p. 39duplicate page p. 40but, bleſſed be the freeneſs of rich Grace,… Sam. 23.5. the caſe is otherwiſe; The Covenant is ordered in all things, and ſure. This hath been my Trading time, my ſowing ſeaſon, my yeares of Service; and now the Jubilee is at hand, and the Fields look white to the harveſt. Awake then, O North wind, and come thou South, fill my Sails, and drive me once to ſhoar.

2. Remember, The perſevering Christian is the only bleſſed Chriſtian. Ye ſhall be hated of all men for my names ſake, but he that ſhall endure unto the end, the ſame ſhall be ſaved, Mar. 13.13. All is well that ends well. O that I could drive a nail here, that might hold! There's no Fruit fit for Gods hoard, but that which hangs till Gathering-time; that which falls before, is loſt, or ſent to the Mill to be beaten to pieces. If any man draw back, my ſoul ſhall have no pleaſure in him. Heb. 10.38. If any man, whatever he be, whatever he hath been, or ſeem'd to be, whatever he intends to be in fairer weather and better leiſure, foreign, ſayes the Original; if the Righteous, or Just man, he that ſhould live by Faith, foreign, if he draw back, ſi ſe ſubduxerit, if he ſhall ſlink away; the word ſignifies aliqua ex parte diſſimulare, to deſire to be excuſed under ſome fair, it may be religious yet falſo, Pretence, to run away behind one's back, a… a Coward or Traitor from his Colours: if any man thus draw back, my ſoul ſhall have no pleaſure in him: Here is a Liptote; under this p. 41calm Negative lies a Taboroh, Num. 11.3.Num 11:3even the fire of the Lords Jealouſie. q. d. It is the higheſt affront and diſpleaſure that can be offer'd unto my very ſoul, (ſpeaking after the manner of men) and ſo I take it, and ſhall record it unto the Judgment of the Great Day. No man having put his hand to the Plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdome of God. Luk. 9.62. foreign. looking on thoſe things which are behind (the Fiſh, and the Cucumbers, and the Melons of Egypt:) or which tend to a ſinful Retrogradation, for ſo much the words Grammatically import; therefore, ſayes Chriſt, Remember Lot's wife, Luk. 17.32. This one thing I do, Hoc ago, ſayes the Apoſtle, forgetting foreign, thoſe things which are behind, and reaching forth to thoſe things which are before, I preſs toward the mark, Phil. 3.13, 14. O my brethren! if ever you intend to preſs forward, take heed of looking backward; as ever you hope to reach the mark, take heed you fall not by the way. Remember Chriſtian! thou art under bonds and Covenants with God for thy faithfull and conſtant ſervice, during the whole and full term of thy life: Thou art under Liſt with him as thy lawful Captain and commander; Thou haſt his Preſſe-mony and his Livery, and he hath thy Name, and thy Hand and Seal too, for thy loyal and impartial obedience: be ſure, God will find thee out among the trees of the Garden, and woe be to thee, when he begins to manage ſuch a Tryal againſt thee, either he will whip thee home p. 42by weeping Croſs, the higheſt favour thou art capable of in ſuch a caſe; or elſe, (which is more to be feared) will let thee alone till thy meaſure be full, and then reckon with thee for all together. O remember! Gifts are nothing, Duties are nothing, all external Priviledges are nothing; Truth and Perſeverance is that which crowns all.

3. Conſider, As tall Cedars in Gods Lebanon as thou or I, have fallen, and are daily falling. In the later dayes ſome ſhall depart from the Faith, 1 Tim. 4.1. Under the ſixth Seal the Starrs of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a Fig-tree caſteth her untimely figs, when ſhe is ſhaken with a mighty wind, Rev. 6.13. Is not God now opening this ſeal, and ſhaking the fig-tree? What year, what age, had the Devil gotten ſuch windfalls as of late he hath gotten? The third part, nay more than the third part of the ſtarrs are ſmitten, (If it were poſſible) they ſhall deceive the very elect, Matth. 24.24. But, bleſſed be God, who hath made it impoſſible; Who are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation, 1 Pet. 1.5. We are kept, but not by our own power. We live, yet not we, but Chriſt liveth in us, Gal. 2.20. O take heed how you adventure away on your own feet. Wherefore let him that thinketh he ſtandeth, take heed leſt he fall, 1 Cor. 10.12. Many. nay, moſt of thoſe that fall, never riſe more, but are of them who draw back unto perdition. 'Tis true, A Peter may fall, a Noah, a Lot, a David, a Solomon may fall … p. 43the Devil may lay ſnares and ſtumbling blocks in their path, and get them down; But, though he fall, he ſhall not be utterly caſt down, for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand, Pſal. 37.24. Though he fall, yet he ſhall riſe again; and obſerve, though he riſe, yet not by his own power, for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. O take heed then! if you fall, there you muſt lye, nay, there you muſt dye; unleſs that Grace which you have abuſed help you up: thou mayſt riſe, but thy loſſes will almoſt undo thee. Peter got up again, with good help, but he wept bitterly for it. Gods choiſeſt children have fallen, but it coſt them dear to riſe, yet 'twas well they did riſe; nay, and it may be well that it coſt them ſo dear. O, let theſe be your warnings! even thoſe thouſands that ſtumble at, and fall, and break their necks over the Croſs, which they ſhould, and might have taken up, and carried on, both with eaſe and honour; and thoſe hundreds that thus fall, and break their peace. Now all theſe things hapned unto them for enſamples: and are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come, 1 Cor. 10.11. O take warning by others, that others may not hereafter take warning by you!

4. Let me ask thee, Is there not enough in Hell to ſoure all thy preſent comforts? and enough in Heaven to ſweeten all thy preſent croſses? Tell me, Chriſtian, if thou art not aſham'd to tell, What is it thou art at a ſtand about, whether thou mayeſt go forward or backward? p. 44Is it that which is not common to Man? Hath God made thee no way to eſcape with it, unleſs thou take one of the Devils blind wayes to eſcape from it? What Lions are theſe, that it ſhould ſeem impoſſible to paſs them? Are the pleaſant looks of the World ſo fair, ſo raviſhing, ſo real, ſo beatifying, that the eternal frowns of the Almighty God can't daunt nor change them? Haſt thou gotten a heaven on this ſide Heaven, and entail'd it on the other World too? Haſt thou procured an Act of Repeal on all thoſe Scriptures, and unalterable Statutes of Heaven, which have provided the Contrary? As, Job 3.21. Eccleſ. 5.15. 1 Tim. 6.7. Pſal. 49.17. &c. Oh! how ſoon will all theſe Dreams and Apparitions vaniſh, when once the dawning of Eternity is broken upon thee! When once that light ſhall appear, every thing will look like it ſelf; Sin will then be Sin, and Heaven will be Heaven; this old Hag, the World, ſhall then be ſtript of her Harlots Vail, and ſhall deceive no more: Hell will be Hell indeed, and Chriſt will then be Chriſt. When thine eyes be once open'd, thou wilt ſee that thou art naked. And is there not enough in Heaven to make thee amends at laſt? Will not the End defray the charge of the Means? Canſt thou think it will never quit coſt to be a Chriſtian in all places and in all caſes? If Heaven be not worth this, I would never perſwade thee to adventure for it: Alas, Chriſtian! were thy heart as big as thy head, didſt thou but believe thy own Confeſſions, all p. 45theſe If's and And's would be laid aſide; thou wouldſt ſtand no longer a chooſing; the Queſtion would be no more a Queſtion with thee. What the World hath, and what the World can do, we know; we know the utmoſt of it; we can ſee both ends of it at once, and wrap up all it's arrows in one Syllable, Death, which, at worſt, is but an Anticipation of Nature. Alas, alas! I am almoſt aſham'd to diſparage that infinite Glory above, by ſo vile, and diſproportionable a Compariſon; Well might the Apoſtle reckon, That the ſufferings of this preſent time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which ſhall be revealed in us, Rom. 8.8. What this glory is, I cannot yet tell you; He that had ſeen farther than ever I yet ſaw, knew not how to expreſs his raviſhing ſight, and unſpeakable works;foreign, 2 Cor. 12.4.2 Cor 12:4 neither ſhall I here begin to tell you that little that I might, onelyonly I ſay it is Heaven. And, as it is written, eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, neither have entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him, 1 Cor. 2.9. And now, if thou art reſolved to ſtand faſt in the Lord, if thou wilt own thy profeſſed Choice, unto the death; take with thee this three-fold Cord, and gird up the …oyns of thy mind with it; bind it upon thy heart, and let it be thy Cable in the Storm.

1. Take heed of over-prizing the World. Rate it not higher than thou art ſure to make …on't. If God be come to deal with thee for it, p. 46be ſure, take him at his firſt Offer. Don't outask, nor out-ſit thy Market; convince thy ſelf of the real value of it. And, in order hereunto, conſider it, 1. In its ſelf. 2. In the price offer'd for it. In its ſelf, Wherein is it to be eſteemed farther than the bare uſe of it? and as for the uſe of it, this concerns the Body only directly, the Soul indirectly; neceſſary it is, as to thy natural Being, but not as to thy future happineſs; an old decaying Poſt, that may ſtand a while; and for no higher uſe than to prop up thy Working-houſe, I had almoſt ſaid thy Priſon-houſe: nay, it ſits as a Nail in the door, to keep thee out of thy Dwelling-ho…ſe. Lo! this is the Palladium, the Pearl of ſuch great worth! Conſider it again, in the price offered for it, Matth. 19.29. And every one that hath forſaken houſes, or brethren, or ſiſters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my names ſake, ſhall receive an hundred fold, and ſhall inherit everlaſting life. Here's a Trade for wiſe Merchants, that are complaining they know not wherein to deal to get a penny; here's an Enſuring Office, that ſhall ſecure thee an hundred pounds for the adventure of one. With whom canſt thou deal elſe in all the world, at ſuch an advantage… And if this be not enough, there is thy Lif… ſettled on an Everlaſting inheritance. Nay, believe it, Brethren, Chriſt makes the leaſt on't… Give me but thy ſelf, ſayes God, and I will give thee my ſelf; give me all thou haſt, and I will give thee all I have; let me command thee and p. 47thine, (which yet is but my own, and my proper right, and ever under my abſolute diſpoſe) and thou ſhalt command both me and mine;Iſa. 45.11.Isa 45:11 let me have this Earth at my uſe, and thou ſhalt have both it and Heaven too, at thy uſe and ſervice for ever. On this account it was, that St. Paul cryes out, Phil. 3.8. Yea, doubtleſs, and I count all things but loſs, for the excellency of the knowledg of Chriſt Jeſus my Lord: for whom I have ſuffered the loſs of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Chriſt. O my brethren! are you like to loſe by ſuch a bargain? O, whence is it then that every Shop is full but God's? that every other trade is ambitiouſly ſued, or patiently ſerved for, and this only goes a begging? None but the worlds fools have wit enough to adventure this way.

Ay, but your worldly hearts would ſay,Ob. might they but ſpeak out; We may look long enough for this: A little in hand is better than a great deal more at ſuch a diſtance.

This I ſhall anſwer briefly, Anſw. but as fully as I can.

1. Though it be future, yet it is ſure. Thou haſt the word of a God for it, who is truth it ſelf, and cannot lie. Nay, thou haſt his Hand and Seal for it; his Word, his Covenant, and all …he Promiſes and Priviledges of them ratified and ſealed with his own Seal of Divine Inſpiration and Inſtitution, and that in the blood of the Lamb, in whom all the promiſes are …ea and Amen, 2 Cor. 1.20. What thou p. 48haſt not yet in thy hand, is certainly forthcoming.

2. Thou art ſure to have it into hand as thou haſt real need on't. It is not for the credit of a Father to let his children go naked and famiſht, unleſs it be in order to ſome greater good; though I might interpoſe, by the way, that God ſeldome or never turns out any ſtark naked. Nemo tam pauper vivit quam natus eſt. The Covenant of Grace hath provided as well for this life, as for the life to come. I have been young, and now am old, yet have I not ſeen the righteous forſaken, nor his ſeed begging bread, Pſal. 37.23. He hath given meat to them that fear him, he will ever be mindful of his Covenant, Pſal. 111.5.

But we often ſee the deareſt of Gods children in lack, Ob. and that not only of conveniencies, but even of neceſſaries; 'tis a common Caſe.

Let God be true, Anſw. and every man a lyar. Men are not held to be competent Judges in their own caſe. Thy Parum, may be Satis in God's Tranſlation. Though they be ſometimes without conveniencies, yet 'tis improper, I had almoſt ſaid, falſe, to ſay they want them, for there is no want to them that fear him, Pſal. 34.9. This Scripture is the word of God, and therefore true. If there be any want, 'tis from within, not from above; miſtake not, Chriſtian, 'tis the Ship moves, not the Shoar. I hope you confeſs that that is not neceſſary that God doth not ſee neceſſary: Well then, can it poſſibly p. 49conſiſt with his glorious Attributes, to ſee any thing really neceſſary pro hic & nunc, and yet deny it to ſuch as are in Covenant with him, when he hath plainly aſſerted, and faithfully engaged the contrary?

3. Nay, let me add, This hundred-fold encreaſe thou haſt already; and that not only in the promiſe and title, but in the poſſeſſion. Mar. 10.29, 30. Here you have a large Edition of the fore-cited Text: Verily, I ſay unto you, Here's the Oath, there is no man that hath left houſe, or brethren, or ſiſters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my ſake and the Goſpel's, but he ſhall receive an hundred fold: now in this time, houſes, and ſiſters, &c. with perſecutions; that is, He that ſhall leave Lands, or Relations, &c. for my ſake, ſhall find as good again another where. Strangers ſhall be to him as Father and Mother, &c. as tender, as careful, as friendly, as thoſe Relations he left. Their houſes ſhall be his houſes, and their lands his lands. Theſe …re your perſecution-Fathers, and your perſecution-Brethren, the Relations begotten in, and …y your bonds, the lands and houſes purchaſed …y your poverty and want's as God dealt with Joſeph, Gen. 39.4. And Joſeph found grace … his ſight. Here Joſeph found the Father and Brethren which he had loſt: Thus in the ſame …ind; and yet if this be not enough, or if it be …ot alway made up this way, yet be ſure it ſhall in that better part: if thou be not paid in …ounters, thou ſhalt in Gold. Godlineſs with p. 50contentment, Godlineſs in all its Conſequences, or Appurtenances; Perſecutions with contentment is great gain. That little, that never-ſo-little that a righteous man hath, is better than the riches of many wicked, Pſal. 37.16. Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a ſtalled Ox… and hatred therewith, Prov. 15.17. I might … forth the vaſtneſs of the over-plus of this advantage, both in reſpect of the Nature, and the Meaſure of it; but I muſt not Digreſs too far….

2. Clear up thy Aſſurance of Gods good-wi… to thee. 'Twill be a hard matter to ſuffer long, … to ſuffer much, for One, of whoſe ſpecial love you are not well, and convincingly perſwaded. Herein ſtands the ſuperlative Excellency and commendation of the love of Chriſt, that he dyed … Eremies, Rom, 5.8. But 'twill be hard for you to drink of this Cup. I am not of their mind, who own no ſuch thing as the Doctrine of Aſſurance but would cut God's Standard, and reduce it unto Antichriſt's Peck. Neither am I of their Perſwaſion; who make Aſſurance the Genus of Juſtifying Faith; Theſe are the Scylla and Chary… dis, which have ſlain their thouſands, nay, the… ten thouſands. Nor ſhall I digreſs ſo farr, as … inſiſt on the confutation of either: onelyonly this … ſay, Give diligence to make your calling and Election ſure; as the Apoſtle exhorts, 2 Pet. 1.1…. For if ye do theſe things, ye ſhall never fall. Ma… your Calling and Election, foreign, firm and ſt… ble. Not, Objectivè; For, the Foundation of G… ſtandeth ſure, 2 Tim. 2.19. Election is Election, p. 51and Calling is Calling, whether we know it or no; neither is it founded on opera praeviſa, or peracta. But Subjectivè, That ye may believe, and beſure; foreign, as St. John ſpeaks, Joh. 6.69. that ye may certainly know, and fully teſtifie your Calling and Election. And that this is the truth of this Scripture; Obſerve, firſt, his Inverſion; …ot Election and Calling, in their natural Order, but Calling and Election, q. d. Make evidence of your Election by your Calling; and then give diligenceto make it ſure. foreign [foreign as Steph. Diverſ. lect.]: for if ye …o theſe things, (before adviſed and enjoyned, …er. 5, 6, 7. you ſhall never fall; not only from …our Elected and Juſtified Eſtate, but not from any proportionable and comfortable ſenſe of it: Keep …he Clouds of ſin from interpoſing; keep the lower Regians clear, and the Sun ſhall caſt thy ſhade … the way wherein thou art walking. As ever …hou hopeſt to find that Cordial at the Bottom, and … hold out with Courage and Patience till the …oyls ſhall come to be divided; get ſome infallible Evidences, that thy Captain's heart is …ith thee. Alas I Chriſtian, thou art little a ware, … what uſe Love will be in hard ſervice. Now thou loveſt, but conſidereſt not what ſtanding …edges and Reciprocations thy love hath gotten …om above; onelyonly thou haſt thy eaſe, thy health, …y liberty: God hath made a hedge about thee, …d thou art not ſerving him for nought; thou …ſt thy Priviledges, and Spiritual Advantages in …mmon with others; the ſame Sun that is ſhining … the wicked, ſhines on thee too. Theſe are p. 52to thee ſome tokens of Fatherly Love and care, on the account of Covenant-Intereſt and Relation; Ay, but when thy Goſhen is become a Wilderneſs, and theſe tokens ceaſe, what infallible Evidence… haſt thou then, on which thou canſt boldly caſt thy Body, and Soul, and Hopes and all! If eve… you fall, it's like to be under your burden, or over ſome Rock of offence: and now that your old Staff is broken, what have you to truſt to? O… keep in with God; give diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure, and ſo, Y… ſhall not, not at any time fall, foreign.

3. Examine, and prove the ſtrergth of thy Graces. Haſt thou nothing to try thy Faith and Patience with? no ſmaller Burdens to begin with … no broken Papers to try thy Pen upon? Taur… feret, qui Vitulum tulit. Take on thy whole Armour, and prove it; thou art called to fight … thy life; this is it muſt defend thee, or thou m… dye for't. Thine Armour is invulnerable, … thou knoweſt how to uſe it. Young Souldiers, th… have only the Theorio of Arms, will find themſelves miſerably to ſeek, when they come … Practice. Haſt thou no Perſonal troubles, … Family-Croſſes, no Scorns nor Contempt, no… that Wrong thee, or Speak Evil of thee, no Pai…, no Diſeaſe, no Fear art thou in, no trouble … other men? If thou haſt no burden conſiderable of thy own; haſt thou no aſſiſting work offer… Are there none of thy poor brethren overladen … thee, whoſe burden thou art commanded to bea… Gal. 6.2. Try now what thy Faith and Pa… ence, thy Humility and Self-denial, thy H… p. 53and Charity will do, in theſe common and leſſer caſes. It may be thou art hoping to hold out well enough at laſt, and in greater Trials to ſtand thy ground with the beſt. O conſider! how ſadly thou wilt befool thy ſelf? Firſt, He that will not ſerve in his own File, whereunto he is called, may look to be disbanded, and caſt out of the Service for ever, like one of Gideon's ſupernumerary Cowards; and what then? He that is not with me, is againſt me. Secondly, It argues thy mercenary hopes, as well as thy ſlaviſh fear; and what thou doſt at laſt (ſhould…ſt thou make good thy glorying) would appear to proceed from no Love or Loyalty to thy Captain or to thy Cauſe; out a ſervile, and baſe fear, of loſing the glory, or advantage of the Victory: and how little art thou like to be thankt for ſuch ſervice? Laſtly, It ſeems very irrational, nay, ſomewhat impoſſible, to …ring thy boaſting to paſs. For, If thou haſt run with the Footmen, and they have wearied thee, …hen how canſt thou contend with horſes? Jer. … 2.5. How canſt thou think to bear blows, that …t not able to ſtand under a frown? Is the great…r more tolerable than the leſs? Sure, if à minori …d majus be true arguing, thou wilt be deceived. Thou art commanded to lay aſide every weight … that hinders thee) and run with Patience, Heb. … 2.1. and doſt thou think to tugg it along, till …y back break under it, and the Prize be won? What will running avail thee when the Race … over? Once behind hand, and ever behind and. When thy Veſſel is ſull, and begins to p. 54ſink, then 'twill be time to ſhuffle thy undoing wares over-board.

That the Afflictions wherewith God Exerciſeth his People, Doct. 2 are but Rods.

I have gone beyond my purpoſe on the firſt Doctrine, therefore ſhall be the more ſuccinct here; where I have but theſe three things to do: 1. I ſhall ſhew you that they are Rods, and but Rods. 2. What Rods they are. 3. Apply it.

That they are Rods, and but Rods, appears;

1. Becauſe they are ſo called in Scripture Pſal. 89.32. Then will I viſit their tranſgreſſion with the rod, and their iniquity with ſtripe… and Pſal. 125.3. The rod of the wicked ſhall not reſt on the lot of the righteous … and Iſa. 10.5. O Aſſyrian! the Rod of mi… Anger, &c.

2. God uſeth them to no other end about his people, but as Rods. Solomon tells us what th… end and uſe of the Rod is, Prov. 22.15. Fooliſhneſs is bound in the heart of a child, but the r… of correction ſhall drive it from him. This is th… very deſign of the Rod in Queſtion. Zion ſh… be plowed like a field— Jer. 26.18. You know what Plowing means, though it be to lay the fir… fallow a while, yet it is in order to a Crop. Th… Plow is an Inſtrument of Husbandry; where … ſee God's Plow, we may conclude he intends bo… the Seed and the Harveſt in their Seaſon. I know there is a vaſt odds between foreign and foreign amending and avenging; curing and curſing o… p. 55Perſon or People; but we are ſpeaking of ſuch afflictions as are common to the people of God, as ſuch, whether perſonal or natural: of which the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Heb. 12.10, 11. For they verily, for a few dayes, chaſtened us after their own pleaſure; but he, for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holineſs: for no chaſtening for the preſent ſeemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheleſs afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteouſneſs.

3. God dealeth with the Inſtruments as with Rods. When the Child is ſufficiently beaten, the Rod is burnt, or laid aſide. 2 Theſſ. 1.6. It is a righteous thing with God to recompenſe tribulation to them that trouble you. This was the end of the Egyptian rod, as you may read at large, Exod. 14. So God dealt with the Aſſyrian, the rod of his Anger, Iſa. 10.27. And it ſhall come to paſs in that day, that his burden ſhall be taken away from off thy ſhoulder; and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke ſhall be destroyed becauſe of the anointing. When Gods areing time is over, he will burn the yoke, that ſate too heavy, and gall'd the necks of his children: when the long Furrows are turn'd, and the ſeed is in, and covered; he will drive off the Beaſts, and they ſhall oppreſs no more, but be fed for the day of ſlaughter.

2. The ſecond thing propoſed, was, to ſhew you what Rods theſe are; This I ſhall do under theſe three heads.

1. In themſelves.

2. With relation to our ſins.

p. 563. In reſpect of Gods ends in them.

In themſelves, they may be,

1. Sharp rods. No chaſtening for the preſent, or in its ſelf, ſeemeth joyous, but grievous. Affliction is the burden and diſtreſs of Nature. Every Croſs hath its nails with it, according to its kind and degree: yet God hath ſome greater and ſharper than others, that will not only ſcratch the skin, but tear the fleſh, and break the bones. All his rods are not of a ſize; that he may proportion himſelf to the ſtrength of the Offendent, and the height of the Offence. God may ſet a Bramble over thee, and hedge thee about with Thorns. Wonder not, Chriſtian, if the Rod ſmart, that is dipt in the Guilt of ſin, and Divine diſpleaſure.