The Voice of the Rod, Synopsis (3 of 5)

The Voice of the Rod · Synopsis (3 of 5)

p. 1155. God expects we ſhould renew our Covenant with him. See the holy and pious zeal of Ezra and his people in the like caſe; after that God had begun to turn the Captivity of his people under Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, and had wonderfully reſtored them with a ſtrange and unhop'd-for deliverance, ſee chap. 9.1. The Princes came unto Ezra, ſaying, The people of Iſrael, and the Prieſts, and the Levites, have not ſeparated themſelves from p. 116the people of the lands; — For they have taken of their Daughters for themſelves, and for their ſons; — which they were expreſly forbidden to do, Deut. 7.3. On this report, ſee how his loyal zeal did burn for God; When I heard this thing, I rent my garment, and my mantle, and pluckt off the hair of my head, and of my beard, and ſate down aſtonied, ver. 3. And then having prayed in a moſt humble, and pathetical manner, when he had confeſſed weeping, and caſting himſelf down before the houſe of God; nay, the people wept very ſore, chap. 10.1. Now therefore, ſay they, let us make a Covenant with our God, to put away all the wives, and ſuch as are born of them, according to the counſel of my Lord, and thoſe that tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the Law, ver. 3. Here is not only their Conſideration, Confeſſion, Repentance, Reformation; but their Solemn Covenant; for they ſware, ver. 5. for the perpetual remembrance, and confirmation of it. Oh, that there were ſuch a ſpirit in the hearts of our Ezra's! and in the hearts of our Iſrael! Let us once more make a Covenant with God; if any thing be like to ſtay him with a people, 'tis his Covenant. For he is a God that keepeth Covenant and Mercy for them that love him and obſerve his Commandments, Neh. 1.5. He never did, nor ever will, break his Covenant of mercy, with thoſe that keep their Covenant of love and obedience with him; oh then! Let us vow and pay unto the Lord our God, p. 117Pſal. 76.11. See the bleſſed effects of Aſa's Covenant, when they ſware with all their heart, and with all their ſoul, 2 Chro. 15.12, 13, 14. Here I might tell you what the matter of our Covenant ſhould be; but that I'm ſure it is not for want of competent helps, if you are ignorant. That which I have to ſay at preſent, is, only to mind you of what I preſume you know; that is, If you have ſworn in faithfulneſs, nay, though only your Baptiſmal vow be upon you, you have ingag'd for your ſincere, willing, and impartial obedience to the whole revealed Will of God, both in matters of Faith and Practice, with all the ſpecies, and neceſſary conſequences eſſentially or integrally belonging to this obedience. Now conſider, in what ſpecial reſpects you have broken this Covenant, and draw it out on the Tables of your hearts; nay, were it in Writing, to be ever kept for a Memorial and Remembrancer by you, it might wonderfully advantage your End; and then humbly and ſolemnly offer it unto the gracious acceptance of God, in the name of Chriſt. I might further add, with what ſeriouſneſs, faithfulneſs, conſideration, reſolution, humility, ſelf-denial, we ſhould renew our broken Covenant with him: But I intend not to enlarge. All that I have yet to ſay to this Branch, is but this; Be convinc'd of your groſs breach of Covenant, and your extreme, and …bſolute need of making up this breach; Sit …own, and ſtudy thoſe dreadful miſchiefs, that will certainly and ſpeedily enſue thoſe broken p. 118and forfeited Bonds. When God ſtands diſengag'd, man lies in a deſperate caſe. A Covenant that is not made on due Convictions, is never like to hold long; if the Bonds be drawn and ſeal'd, and yet the debt not heartily acknowledged, 'tis never likely to be honeſtly paid by ſuch beggarly and paultry Debtors as we are.

6. God expects ſomething extraordinary from his people, under extraordinary Providences. We are weighed in the Balance, and are found wanting: Our Falſe Balance and Scant Meaſure, is convicted before God, and now he will no longer be thus ſerv'd by us; The Whip is upon us, and the Spur in our ſides, and ſhall we not mend our Pace? The Fire refines the Gold, and gives it an extraordinary luſtre, and are we altogether, as the houſe of Iſrael, become Droſs? All they are Braſs, and Tin, and Iron, and Lead, in the midst of the Furnace, they are even the droſs of ſilver Ezek. 22.18. to 23. Will not the Furnace melt, nor cleanſe us? Shall we come forth as black and as foul as ever? as proud, as covetous, as ſenſual, as carnal, as careleſs, as crooked and deformed as ever? Will any one think we are more than painted, counterfeit Fire, when the Storms and Bellows will work no change, nor ſtirr the Flames in us? oh, how ſhould our Faith ſhine, our Love, our Patience, our Humility, our Zeal, our Heavenly-mindedneſs, and every grace, like the gloriouſly beſpangled Stars in their proper Spheres and Orbs, in this p. 119Freezing, and Winters night! If ever you intend your light ſhall ſhine that others may ſee it, now let it appear to them that ſit in darkneſs. Well, my Brethren! God will not now be content with our old, formal, heartleſs devotions, our lame zeal, our crippl'd obedience, our luke-warm love, our pur-blind faith, our tender-skin'd patience, our carnal heavenly-mindedneſs. He hath broken our peace, to break our pace; and, if this won't do, he will double his blows, or (which is worſe) will leave us by the way, to periſh under our burden. God will have ſomething now more than ordinary.

By way of Reſignation;

By way of Reſolution.

1. By way of Reſignation; Double thy Sacrifice; I mean not thy Jewiſh or Ceremonial; but thy Evangelical Sacrifice. Let him that hath ſo long woed thee for thy heart, now have thy whole heart; if he ask thy Coat, let him freely take thy Cloak alſo, if it may any way ſerve him: let this be the language of thy Soul to God, as Araunah's to David, 2 Sam. 24.21, 22. Wherefore is my Lord the King come unto his ſervant? — Let my Lord the King take, and offer up what ſeemeth good unto him: Behold, here be Oxen, for Burnt-Sacrifice, and Threſhing-Inſtruments, and other Inſtruments for Wood; All theſe things did Araunah, as a King, give unto the King. Lord, take what thou wilt, that which is moſt for thy advantage, though moſt to my loſs: that p. 120which is meſt for thy glory, though moſt for my preſent diſgrace; if here be any thing for thy turn, ſpare it not, but pleaſe thy ſelf. Behold, here is Liberty, Health, Peace, Eaſe, Friends, Wealth, Houſe, Lands, Life, and whatever elſe, through thy grace and mercy, I am, or have. Lord, here I humbly offer thee all, with the unfeigned conſent and joy of my heart, Thy will be done, and let thy pleaſure ſtand concerning thy Servant. For what thou leav'ſt me, I will bleſs thee; nay, take all, and my Soul ſhall bleſs thee; Spare none of my Luſts, yea, my moſt beloved L'ſts: I would not They ſhould any longer live, whoever dye for't. This, my Brethren, would be your honour, as well as your advantage; All theſe things did Araunah as a King: nay, leſs than this will turn but to bad account another day.

2. By way of Reſolution. Go unto God and ſpread thy Soul at his feet; tell him, … thoſe, Iſa. 26.13. O Lord, our God, other Lords beſides thee, (nay before thee) have had dominion over us; but by thee only will w… make mention of thy name. The world hath had dominion, the fleſh hath over-rul'd me and Satan hath been a ſharer with thee: Thou haſt had but half a heart, but half love, but half fear, but half obedience; nay, hardly that Lord, what Patience is thine! how could'ſt thou ever put it up from the hands of ſo vile, ſo unworthy a worm as I am? oh! I am aſham'd, I am conſounded, to think how thou haſt been made to ſerve with my ſins; Now, p. 121Lord, in thy ſtrength I ſolemnly reſolve and promiſe, that from henceforth it ſhall be ſo no more; but I will make mention of thy name, againſt all other Suits or Claims whatſoever; In vain ſhall the world plead Preſident or Preſcription: or the fleſh, Relation: or Satan, Poſſeſſion: Thy Title and Intereſt ſhall ſtand good againſt all Corrivals. Amen. Lord, ſay Amen.

Thus have you heard what the Voice of the Rod is, in general; Proceed we now to ſhew you in ſpecial what the Voice of this Rod is, under which we are now complaining; And here we may obſerve the ſeveral parts, which are as ſo many ſcourges, or Branches of it: As,

1. The terrible Concuſſion, and Trembling of the Ark.

2. That dreadful, and unparallel'd Beeſom of Plague and Peſtilence.

3. The devouring Sword, and the Strength of Battel: a Land-impoveriſhing, and deſolating Calamity.

4. The miſerable Decay of Trade, and Cry of the Poor, and Complaint of the Husbandman.

5. Thoſe Diſmal Flames that have laid the Glory and Strength of the Kingdom in Aſhes.

6. The ſad Diviſions and grievous Murmurings among the diſcontented Vulgar: with all thoſe Miſeries and Miſchiefs, the natural p. 122Iſſues and Effects of this, and the fore-mentioned Judgments.

7. I might add a ſeventh: The Plentiful Increaſe, which every year hath hitherto afforded; which (though in it's ſelf a mercy, yet) conſidered with the general, and horrible abuſe of it, and compar'd with thoſe other Evils we lye under, ſeems to beſpeak our caſe, as Zophar deſcribes the Portion of the Wicked, Job 20.22. In the fulneſs of his ſufficiency he ſhall be in ſtraits.

Now what the meaning of this complicated Rod ſhould be, as to us, who are exerciſed therewith, is the thing in queſtion. And for the more ſucceſsful management of this great Quaery, I ſhall ſpeak to the Perſons concern'd, diſtinctly: but of the Rod its ſelf, ſomewhat more complexly.

The Perſons, I ſhall conſider, under this twofold general notion.

Friends.

Enemies.

1. Friends: or the People and Church of God. 'Tis Gods uſual method to cauſe Judgment to begin at his own Houſe. He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit ſaith unto the Churches, Rev. 2.11, 17, 29. Not to the Kingdoms, or Provinces, but to the Churches of Aſia. The ſame method we ſhall obſerve here, and begin firſt with the Church and People of God; at leaſt, thoſe that are viſioly, and by ſpecial Profeſſion p. 123ſuch. Therefore, unto the Church of Epheſus, Rev. 2.1, 4, 5.Rev 2:1Rev 2:4Rev 2:5(of England) write: Theſe things ſaith he, that holdeth the ſeven ſtarrs in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the ſeven golden Candleſticks: — I have ſomewhat (and that not a little) againſt thee, becauſe thou haſt left thy firſt love. Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the firſt works; or elſe I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy Candleſtick out of his place, except thou repent. Loſs of Love in Conjugal Relations, diſſolves the Union; at leaſt, the Peace and Comfort of it. … Wanton Church, will provoke a Jealous God. And …ealouſie is the rage of a man, therefore he will not ſpare in the day of vengeance, Prov. 6.24. Slay utterly young and old, both maids and little children, and women; but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my Sanctuary; than they began at the ancient men which were before the Houſe, Ezek. 9.6. But more particularly; this Rod hath a ſpecial errand,

1. To the Heads and Governours of this Church: and theſe are either Civil, or Eccleſiaſtical.

1. Civil, or Magiſterial. But I fear what the iſſue of my Meſſage may be here, with ſome, whoſe Luſts and Intereſts lead them another way.Iſa. 59. …Isa 59 He that departeth from evil, marketh himſelf a prey; to thoſe, I mean, whoſe irregular Wills and prejudic'd Paſſions, are their only Rule in their arbitrary Execution, p. 124or Remiſſion of thoſe pious and wholſoth Laws, provided by the Sacred and Honourable Authority whereby they are Deputed. He that reproveth in the City, though never ſo ſeriouſly, ſeaſonably, meekly, loyally, muſt by theſe be put to ſilence. Sin muſt not be ſpoken againſt; we may not ſay that Poyſon is Poyſon, for fear of ſowing, or ſomenting Seditious Principles. God hath ſet us for Watchmen; but we muſt not proclaim what we ſee, for fear of committing a Riot, and diſturbing the common Peace. Oh! how are ſome men afraid they ſhall awake before they come to Hell! Nay, Whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious houſe) yet ſhall they know, Ezecb. 2.5, 6.that there hath been a Prophet among them. And, O Sirs! Give me leave to ſpeak, and then mock on. 'Tis not my own Cauſe I… plead, but Gods; 'tis not any Party or Faction that I purſue, (God knows) I abhorr it from my Soul) but the Intereſt of the Goſpel, and the ſure, and ſettled Peace of theſe poor, afflicted Kingdoms; that the true Cauſe being once throughly diſcover'd and remov'd, the Effects, which we all groan under, may ceaſe.

Oh then! that God would perſwade you to conſider, who it is that hath put the Sword into your hands. There is no Power but of God; the Powers that be, are ordained of God, Rom. 13.1. Promotion cometh neither from the Eaſt, nor from the Weſt, nor from the South, but God is the Judge, he putteth down one, p. 125and ſetteth up another, Pſal. 75.6, 7. Sirs, God hath made you his Vice-gerents in the World; Ye are the Gods among men, Pſal. 82.1.6. The Sword ye bear, is God's Sword; ye are the Stewards of Order and Government, in his Family; the great Affairs of his Houſe are committed to your truſt; the Keys are left with you; the Common Stock and Proviſions of Gods Houſe, are in your hands; ye are our Nurſes, the Bottle and the Bag are in …our Tents; you are the Cedars of our Lebanon, amongſt the Myrtles and Shrubs; you are the Stewards of the five Talents; oh, that …hat you would ſuffer the humble and loyal addreſſes of our hearts to you, that are even …eady to break for you! May I ask you, (God will ſhortly ask you, and Conſcience ſhall make him anſwer) have you duly conſidered the Re…tion ye ſtand in, both towards God, and towards us? Do you know what a Burden lies in your Shoulders? The Earth, and all the …habitants thereof, are diſſolved, ſayes the …ſalmiſt, I bear up the Pillars thereof, Pſal. …5.3. You are the Atlas's of the World; …he Pillars of the Earth are your burden. May …ask now, Whether hath been more admired, more defigned, more deſired by you, the Honour, or the Duty of your Relation? You are Gods Husbandmen, and are to plow, and to …w, for the ſupply of the whole Family. Sirs, this is your charge from the God of Heaven and Earth; in this honourable, and burdenſome Office, God hath placed you, through p. 126what mediation ſoever your ſecular Deputations have been obtained. It is God that puttet… down one, and raiſeth up another.

2. Conſider, I beſeech you, for whom it is you bear the Sword; Muſt not the Judge proclaim his Commiſſion, in the name of him from whom he received it? Doth not the Fountain return through all the Creeks and paſſages of its Circuit, to the Ocean from whence it came forth? this then is both Legal and Natural; Who dares ſay, that he rules for himſelf? who… but God, can claim an Independant Government? Heathens indeed may boaſt themſelves after this rate; Is not this great Babylon, th… I have built, by the might of my power, and for the honour of my Majeſty? But far be it from Chriſtians, ſo to blaſpheme the Authority o… Heaven. We may take this for granted then… that 'tis for God you profeſs to bear th… Sword; but bear with me now, in this one word more.

3. How have you born the Sword? O Sirs! I humbly beſeech you, cenſure not my loyal,… Cor. 5.11 though familiar, boldneſs with you Knowing the terrour of the Lord, we cannot but perſwade men. The day of Judgment … ſhortly coming, and, methinks, I ſhould nee… to ſay no more. Rulers are not a terrour … good work, but to the evil: for he is the miniſter of God to thee for good, Rom. 13.3, 4. Your Honours are not your own, but God's whoſe Stewards you are; and, it is required … Stewards, that a man be found faithful. Yo… p. 127five Talents had need be ten in the day of Account; For unto whom much is given, of him ſhall be much required, Luk. 12.48. That the Judgments of God are ſeveral wayes gone forth againſt us, I hope is not only felt, but in ſome meaſure acknowledged on all ſides: That Sin is the cauſe of this diſpleaſure, methinks, ſhould not be doubted: That both High and Low are guilty before God, I hope will not be denied; For, Nemo ſine crimine vivit, There is not a just man upon earth, that liveth, and ſinneth not, Eccleſ. 7.10. Great men, have great Temptations, and oftentimes great miſcarriages too; the greatneſs whereof is much augmented by their perſonal, or relative greatneſs, foreign, ſayes Ariſtot. It is a very hard matter, for poor Mortals, rightly to deport the burdens of their Honour or Happineſs. 'Twas Plato's anſwer once to the Cyrenians, who had deſired him to write them ſome Political, and Moral Inſtitutions, for the Settlement of their decaying Eſtate; Perdifficile eſt condere leges tam felicibus, It is a very hard matter to lay the obligation of a Law on thoſe that are (in their own account) ſo happy. Sirs, the Lords Oyl is upon you; I may not, I dare not, I will not, touch the Lords Anointed, nor blaſpheme that Authority, under whoſe wings I expect Protection. Rebuke not an Elder, but entreat him as a Father, 1 Tim. 5.1. Far be it from me, for ever, to ſpeak evil of Dignities; or any way to kindle, or abett Seditious Principles or p. 128Practices, either in my ſelf or others: Yet give me leave, in all humility; from the Word of God, to aſſure you, that the only way to a true, and laſting Peace, is to make Peace with the God of Peace. When a mans wayes pleaſe the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him, Proverbs 16.7. The only way to have Judgment effectually removed, is, to remove it in the Cauſe of it; and in happy order unto this bleſſed End, I ſhall ſay no more here, but, The Lord awaken, and direct, both the Rulers and Ruled.

2. To the Eccleſiaſtical, or Miniſterial Heads of the Church; and,

1. To thoſe in preſent being.

2. To thoſe that are laid aſide.

1. To thoſe in preſent Being. I dare not paſs you by unſaluted; though I have no Court-Complement for you. I beſeech you, duly to conſider the Charge of your holy Office; and your Diſcharge of it. Theſe things, Sirs, you are better able to inſtruct me in, than I you; therefore, let my Silence plead my Modeſty, while I humbly paſs by, with the Prayer of the Church for you, That God, at length, would work that Great Marvel, in ſending down upon you, the healthful Spirit of his grace. So farewel, until I meet you on even ground, at the day of Judgment.

2. To thoſe that are laid aſide. My Reverend Fathers, and Dear Brethren! Though I am but a Child, yet ſuffer me to ſpeak as a p. 129Child; whoſe aftections are great, though his ſtrength and deſerts be ſmall. The Meſſage is ſent unto the Angels of the Churches; and theſe are called the ſeven ſtarrs in the right hand of God, Rev. 1.20. Now give me leave but to paraphraſe on this Emblem.

1. Starrs are heavenly Creatures. 'Tis true, there are Starrs (Meteors, or Comets rather) who are heavenly, only as to their preſent Site, or appearance; Theſe are the Wandring Stars Jude ſpeaks of, Jude v. 13. Exhalations, whoſe Compoſition is Earthy and Unclean; whoſe Elevation is Ominous, not only to themſelves, out to the places where they Aſpect: But theſe are none of the Fixed Stars, in the right and of God. Oh, what manner of perſons …ught we to have been, in all holy, and heavenly converſation! No man that warreth, …tangleth himſelf with the affairs of this …fe, that he may pleaſe him, who hath choſen him to be a Souldier, 2 Tim. 2.4. Our Call from Heaven, our Employment is Heavenly, our Lord, our Home, our Happineſs, our Hopes, our All, is in Heaven; ſhould not then our Affections have been Heavenly? our Minds and …ims, Heavenly? our Words, Devotions, and actions, Heavenly? And hath it been indeed … with us? I am ſpeaking now (I hope) … ſuch as know, how how to ſet Conſcience on …ork, in the ſerious, and penitent Reflection …n theſe things. Oh, Sirs! why may not this … one great part of Gods Controverſie with … Pride and Covetouſneſs was the great Cry p. 130the World hath taken up againſt us; the Lord knows, it hath been too true of too many of us. Han't we been too thoughtful, and Gentile-like, what to eat, and what to drink, and wherewithal to be cloathed, while we have preach…, and preſs't the contrary on our Hearers? Why, Hath God broken the Staves in our hands, and ſtript us of our coats and Scrip, without which, we could not truſt him in our journey? Was not our temporizing with the Modes, and Manners of the World, both in our Perſons and Families, become the open, and juſt ſcandal of our holy Calling? Where was that Charity, that Humility, that Self-denial, that Mortification, that heavenly Hearn and Life, that holy, and ſtrict Godlineſs, without which, we were condemning others to the Pit of Hell? Was it not time for God to take down ſuch foul Veſſels, and to ſcour of that duſt and filth they had contracted? No wonder, if our Duſt hath brought us to the Dust; that we are fallen among the Potts, and cauſed to lick the Duſt we were ſo greedy of Sirs, I hope you will not cenſure my plainneſs and liberty of ſpeech. I have taken upon me to ſpeak to ſuch, as can far better inſtruct both themſelves and me; and, I confidenth perſwade my ſelf, that theſe are no ſtrang motions with you, nor Wounds that wi… ranckle.

2. Starrs are ordained for light. Ye are the Light of the World, ſayes Chriſt, Matth 5.14. And, Let your light ſo ſhine before p. 131men, that they may ſee your good works, ver. 16. You are the Lamps of the Sanctuafie, whoſe oyl was to be pure oyl-olive; Levit. 24.20. Num. 8.4. Rev. 3.18.Lev 24:20Num 8:4Rev 3:18and the Candleſticks for Light, which were to be of beaten Gold. We are God's Apothecaries, whom he hath ſent with his Eye-ſalve, to recover a poor, blind, World. Now, I beſeech you, let us conſider, what Lights have we been in the Sphears wherein God had plac't us? Did we ſtudy to enlighten thoſe that ſate in Darkneſs? To ſpeak to the Capacities and Conſciences, in the Convicting Evidence, and Goſpel-ſimplicity of the Spirit? Han't we (too many at leaſt, and too often) endeavoured to imblazon our own Parts, or Learning? Han't we been more affected with our own words, than with our Maſter's Work? and dreſt up the pure, and ſimple Truth, as an Harlot? Han't we ſet the Lords Candle under the Buſhel of our private Honour, or Intereſt? No wonder then, that God hath remov'd his Candleſtick, and caus'd our Candle to go out. Hive we been conſtant, burning, and ſhining Lights? or too-like, poor, dwindling Tapers, or the faint Flaſhes of an Ignis lambens, rather burdenſom than uſeful? Have we been like Stars indeed, that appear brighteſt in the moſt told, and bitter night? Oh, my Brethren! that we could ſit down now, and conſider, as we ſit by our Lahai-roi, where thou God ſeeſt us; Why is my Sun ſet at Noon? Why have the black Shades of the Night prevented me? Is not this, much my own doing? Of what p. 132nature or kind was my Light? Had I any other than what I bare in my hand? Of what uſe was my Light, either to my ſelf or others? What can my people witneſs for me? What can my Family, my Wife, my Children, my Sojourners, my Servants, ſay for me? have they, or might they, have walk't in my light? nay, have I even forc't them to light their Candles at mine? Hath the Word of God dwelt richly in my Head, in my Heart, in my Houſe, in all wiſdom? or, han't my Family been much like other mens? as Ignorant, as Idle, as Proud, and, it may be, as Prophane, as many others? Han't the Springs of Knowledg been too much confin'd to, and lockt up in my Pulpit, as if I were a Miniſter no where but there? And is not this much of the matter, that God hath now lockt up the Pulpit from me; that he hath caſt me out of his Eden, and planted his Flaming Sword, which turneth every way, to keep the way of this Tree of life … Oh, that ſuch thoughts might pierce our hearts? now that we are ſitting with out broken Pitchers by thoſe Waters of Affliction!

3. Starrs are appointed for Influence. T… are the Salt of the Earth, ſaies Chriſt, Math 5.13. Oh! what a ſavoury, and ſeaſoning Influence have we had, on thoſe with whom we have had to do? Salt, you know, hath a virtue to ſuck out corrupting humours, and to preſerve from putrefaction; Alas! can we ſay that our Patients have never Gangrenated under p. 133our hands, for lack of proper, ſavory, and ſeaſonable Preſervatives? In Rev. 8.11. We read of a Starr, whoſe name was Wormwood; which fell from Heaven, as it were a Lamp, & it fell on the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters: and the third part of the waters became wormwood. Now hath our influence been like that of the Tree at the Waters of Marah, Exod. 15.25. of a …leanſing, healing nature? or, too much like his Star, whoſe Name, and Nature was wormwood? Hath our Communication and Converſation, both in publick, and in private, …een ſo ſeaſoned with Salt, that our very Preſence, hath daunted the Impudence of Sin? And our Countenances been a rebuke to a Wanton, Licentious, Prophane World? May … be ſaid of us, as of John the Baptiſt, that …erod feared him, and obſerved him? Hath …he auſterity, and holineſs of our lives been …ch, as could command reſpect from an He…d? and faſten Convictions, with Authorial, on the hearts of the proudeſt Sinners? Have we been like the Pleiades, whoſe ſweet …fluence hath overcome thoſe malign,Iob 38.31.Job 38:31 and ſaturnine Spirits, over which God hath made … vertical? Or rather, han't we been like the Moon, whoſe growing big and full, hath …een fatal to the ſick and weak in our Flocks? And now that we are caſt out, as unſavoury ſalt, to be trodden under foot of men; the Lord …umble us! pity us! ſpare us!

p. 1344. Starrs are ordained for Direction. Be ye followers of me, even as I alſo am of Chriſt 1 Cor. 11.1. No Sea in the World is ſo dangerous, and fatal to Mariners, as this Sea of the World to Man. So many Rocks and Shoals, and Quick-ſands, and Hirricane-Storms, as every Paſſage and Step is attended with; what need is there of faithful, and skilful Pilots? 'Twas a ſad Voyage for Paul and his Companions? Act. 27.20. When neither sun, nor Starrs, in many dayes, appeared, and no ſmall tempeſt lay on us; all hope that we ſhould be ſaved, was then taken away. God hath ſet us for Sea-marks, becauſe the Road is dangerous, that ſcarce one of a thouſand comes ſale to Land. Or as the Star in the Eaſt, for the direction of thoſe that are ſo wiſe as to ſteer by ſuch a Point. Alae! how many rich Veſsel… of precious Merchandiſe, have there miſcarried irreparably, and eternally? and, it may be, much through our ſinful Neglects; either we have been obſcur'd, and not to be ſeen, when we ſhould have appear'd for God, in the deſperate hazzard of poor ſouls; or have been ſo general and uncertain, that the purblind World could not apprehend us; or elſe, have been out of the way, and deviated from our ſacred Sphears and ſo led them by an evil Example, either directly, or accidentally, on the very neck of ruin… Oh! how ſhould it cut our hearts, to conſider, how many brave, and hopeful Veſſels, we have ſad cauſe to fear, have for ever miſcarried under our Conduct, and that in ſerene, and p. 135Halcion Floods! The Lord convince us! forgive us! and have mercy upon us!

5. Laſtly, The Seven Stars are an united Conſtellation. Therefore Chriſt compares the Breaſts of his Church, to two young Roes, that are Twins, Cant. 7.3. And, to a company of horſes in Pharaoh's charriots, Cant. 1.9. Not only for their Strength and Beauty, but for their Union, and Oneneſs of Work and Way. And is not this another, and not the leaſt ground of the breach that God hath made upon us? even our Diſſentions and Animoſities, our grievous Diviſions, both in Judgment and Heart; our pertinacious inſiſting on undeterminable, and frivolous Quiddities, and circumſtantial Differences. Beſides, thoſe private Grudges, and ſupercilious Diſtances, ariſing from perſonal Preferments, or carnal Intereſts; And in the mean while, have fed Chriſts Babes with Blood inſtead of Milk, and Stones inſtead of Bread. And, while we have, with ſuch violence, been drawing, every one his own way, have between us, even rent the Chariots of the Church of Chriſt in pieces; and for theſe things hath God rent us in pieces. The ſins of Miniſters, are Nouns of Multitude; they ſin by heaps, and in whole ſums; as the Meaſures and Weights of the Sanctuary are larger than any others, ſo are the Sins of the Sanctuary too.

2. As the Rod ſpeaks to the Heads, and Governours, ſo alſo to the particular Societies of this Church of God: not only to the whole p. 134duplicate page p. 135duplicate page p. 136Body of the Church of Aſia, but particularly to Epheſus, and Smyrna, and Laodicea, &c. the ſeveral Members and Congregations of the Aſian Church. So, when God had promiſed to reſtore his People, Zech. 12. He promiſed withal, to pour out upon them, the Spirit of Grace and Supplication, ver. 10. and the Spirit of Mourning and Repentance, ver. 11. The whole Land ſhall mourn, and not only ſo, but, every Family apart: the Family of the Houſe of David apart, and their wives apart. So, the Family of the Houſe of Nathan, and of Levi; both King, Prophet, and Prieſt, by their Families apart. Now, as we have any of us ſtood related as Members of this, or that Society, or Family, of the Church of God; it concerns us to conſider, what the Voice of the Rod is, by which, he is now calling us to mourning and ſupplitation, by our Families apart.

1. Conſider, whether the Worm of Selfendedneſs hath not been at the Root of the Matter. Brethren! for the Lords ſake, deal faithfully with your own hearts. What was i… that mov'd you, in the firſt place, to engage in ſuch, or ſuch a Society? Was Self wholly laid aſide, and utterly diſown'd, as well in Heart, as in Word, from any partnerſhip, in you Ends? Oh, that I could faſten theſe ſerious Queſtions on your Conſciences! Were you fully convinc'd, from the invincible light of the infallible Rule, that this was the very way of God? and the Scripture-Diſcipline that p. 137he would have you to yield your obedience to, the very Pattern that was given in the Mount? No other Burden, than what we have received by Divine, and Apoſtolical Authority? And was this your End and Aim in Earneſt? that you might be made more conformable unto Chriſt, your Head, in Holineſs, and in the life and power of Duty? and walk in nearer, and more ſpiritual Communion with him? That you might receive more immediatly of his Fulneſs, and dwell nearer the Spring-head of Grace, as well as of Comfort? Had you a real Deſign aganiſt Sin, not only in others, but eſpecially in your ſelves? And is this the very Truth, and Ground of the matter, that did engage you? Dare you look God and Death in the face, appealing from your Conſciences, unto his All-ſearching Tribunal, that this is the very truth? Did you joyn with this, or that Society, out of no proud, undervaluing, or Schiſmatical ſpirit towards your brethren, or over-weening Conceit of your ſelves, or your own party? but becauſe you verily apprehended it, the way of cleareſt Scripture-certainty and ſecurity; and the neareſt, and readieſt way, to joyn in a fuller, and more intimate Communion with Chriſt? And was it the deep ſenſe of that weariſom load of Sin and Guilt, that mov'd you from within, in obedience to a clear Command, to cloſe with this way? Nay, Were all your Expectations alway from above your enjoyments? Oh, Chriſtians! Can your Conſciences comfort you, p. 138concerning all theſe things? Was there not an itching deſire to ſeem as Holy as the beſt, or as a more refined Fraternity of Rechabites, fiſhing for Proſelytes, to build your ſelves a Name? or elſe ſome mercenary fear, of incurring the hard thoughts, or diſreſpects of ſome, whoſe good will you valued? Was it not more to gratifie, or to engage Friends, or to promote ſome worldly Intereſt, or to find out ſome new Diſcoveries, or to inhance the rate of your Gifts and Parts, above the Common ſize? was it not ſomething of this nature, that prevail'd with you, more than any thing elſe? And, could you ever expect, that a Building ſhould proſper, on ſuch a Foundation? Not that I condemn all; but I would that all ſhould condemn themſelves. Oh, my brethren! will you be upright with God, who knows all that is within you; and confeſs to him the whole truth? Oh! take heed, that That be not now conceal'd, which, one day, you will wiſh were pardon'd.

2. Since you have engag'd your ſelves in a Choiſe Society, and Communion of Saints; How have you behav'd your ſelves,

Towards your Teachers and Rulers?

Towards one another?

Towards them that are without?

1. Towards your Teachers and Rulers:

1. Have you undervalued neither their Perſons, nor their work? The Apoſtle ſeems to begg your Honour; yet not for our, but for your own ſakes, 1 Theſ. 5.13, 14. We beſeech p. 139you, Brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you, in the Lord, and admoniſh you; and esteem them very highly in love, for their works ſake. Eſteem them very highly in love. Not with that Secular Adoration, wherewith the world is wont to court her Darlings; but with your cordial, and unfeigned affection. Honour them, not ſo much with Cap and Knee, and the Elogies of praiſe, and Hyperbolical Encomium's, which, ordinarily, is but the ſtinking breath of a rotten heart. But, eſteem them in love, and for their works ſake. Not ſo much, for their Learning, or Parts, or external Preferments, but for their Work and Office ſake; for their Meſſage, and for their Maſter's ſake. Now begin to reckon with your own hearts, how guilty have you been here? Han't your Oxen, that have laboured but for your back and belly; your Servants, that have been your Drudges for the body; your Appendices of honour and pleaſure, had more of your hearts, than thoſe that have been tugging at the Oars, to harbour you and yours, in the Land of Promiſe? That have been praying, and ſtudying, and watching, night and day, for your Souls? Han't you been ready to ſlander them, to cenſure their Doctrine, Elocution, or Method? and to take up hard thoughts of them, on the leaſt occaſion of offence? Have you never been ambitiouſly laying hands on the Ark; yea, when it hath but ſeem'd to ſhake? and quarrelling with p. 140Moſes, Numb. 1….3…Num 1:3as Korah, and his Faction, Are not all the Congregation holy?

2. Han't you, on the other hand, had their Perſons or Gifts in Admiration? han't you ſo highly admir'd ſuch a man's Abilities, or Eloquence; that you have ſlighted another's Graces? Every one ſaith, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, &c. Is Chriſt divided? was Paul crucified for you? 1 Cor. 1.12, 13. Chriſt hath made us your Watchmen, and your Servants, in the work of your Souls; and hath not ſet us up for Idols, nor Saviours. The diverſity of Streams, ſhould cauſe us to admire the fulneſs, and riches of the Fountain, and not to adore the poor Channel. Oh, let this be a piece of your Chriſtian Learning, Not to think of men, above that which is written, as the Apoſtle adviſes, 1 Cor. 4.6.

2. Towards one another.

1. Where is that exemplary love, and brotherly-kindneſs, that ſhould be between ſuch ſpiritually near Relations? With what perſwading Motives, and compaſſionate arguments, doth the Apoſtle urge his Philippians, chap. 2.1, 2. If there be therefore, any conſolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowſhip of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies: fulfil ye my Joy, that ye be like minded, having the ſame love, being of one accord, of one mind. But how apt have we been to think the worſt, and ſpeak the worſt, by one another, and to aggravate each others p. 141infirmities? How hard a matter is it to take a rebuke at the hand of a brother, eſpecially an inferiour? or to give a reproof with that ſeriouſneſs, prudence, meekneſs, ſelf-denyal, and tender affection, and charitable hopes, and longing deſires of their good, as becomes Chriſtians? Oh, what reaſon had God to take up his rod againſt us, and to let in the Flood upon us, while we have been wandring every one his own way, and magnifying our own Inventions, envying at, and claſhing with, one another!

2. Can you clear your ſelves of an affected ſingularity in your way? Were you not ready to look on your ſelves, as ſome body; and, it may be, ſomewhat more than others? Let me tell you, an affected ſingularity, either in Judgment or Practice, ſavours of a proud, and a falſe heart. Have you never entertain'd that in your hearts or lives, which you were never, from the Word of God, convinc'd in Conſcience, to be a truth, or a duty; only becauſe it liked you, or by your Teachers was offer'd you, or that you might ſeem to be the Authors of ſome new Garb in Religion, and ſuch as act by more elevated Principles? Well! God hath now raiſed a ſtorm, which, I hope, will quench all the ſparks among us, that are not of his own kindling; and let us ſee the pure Lamp of the Sanctuary, from all thoſe Baſtard Tapers, and ſtinking Snuffs of mans invention, or the Devils lighting

3. Hath there not been a ſpirit of Cenſoriouſneſs p. 142towards all others, that have not been of the ſame Society, or Judgment, in, or about ſome Circumſtances; that have been without the bounds of your own Monopolies? What animoſities, and heart-burnings have there been? what glorying, and magnifying your own way? as if Salvation were not attainable, without the verge of ſuch a Society. Certainly, this is no other, than a more ſpiritual, and refined kind of Popery.

3. Towards them that are without.

1. Hath there been that prudent, inoffenſive, winning carriage toward them, that might heap coals on their heads, and commend your holy Profeſſion to them; at leaſt, to leave them without excuſe, in the great day? Walk in wiſdome toward them that are without, Col. 4.5. The Carnal World can't judge of Spiritual things, but in a carnal manner; 'tis the wiſdom therefore, of a Chriſtian, to become himſelf with their Capacities, though not with their Corruptions. Thoſe that live by ſenſe, are led by ſenſe; and judge according to ſenſe, and outward appearance. What is thy Beloved, more than another beloved? Cant. 5.9. They can't ſee that beauty that lies within the skin, whereby the King's daughter is all glorious within. I ſhall not ſtand to anſwer all thoſe Quarrels, that occaſionally you may have with them, only thus; You know the Royal Law, and what reſpect ſhould be had, both to their poor ſouls, and to the credit of the Goſpel, 'T was the Apoſtles complaint, 1 Cor. 6.6. Brother p. 143goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Should we not rather ſuffer wrong on our bodies, than offer wrong to their ſouls? You know how you pray; Forgive us our Debts, as we forgive our Debtors; and what ſtreſs is laid on this Condition? Matth. 6.14. Mar. 11.26. Debts are diſtinguiſhed into Civil and Criminal. The firſt indeed may be retained without ſin, if it be not exacted without Conſcience, and Charity, and due reſpect, and compaſſion to our brethrens Bodies and Souls. But the other is freely to be remitted, on the account of Chriſt, and our obedience to him, and hope in him. O, take heed, that your froward, ſullen, and moroſe carriage and diſpoſition, do not harden, and juſtly prejudice thoſe, that might otherwiſe have been won, even ſuch, as were once ſome of you, be they, at preſent, never ſo vile. I could inlarge my ſelf here, and not without need; But, Verbum ſat ſapienti; A word to the Wiſe. A little Armour rightly applyed, is ſufficient Panoplie.

2. What affectionate pity hath there been ſhew'n to their poor Souls? Certainly, their Souls are formed of the ſame immaterial ſubſtance with ours; as immortal, as pretious, in their own nature and original, as ours; Maſſes of the ſame lump, faſhion'd on the ſame wheel of Divine Power and Wiſdom; were once as fair for Election, and had as juſt a claim to the Kingdom, as we. If ever we are ſav'd, it muſt be through the undeſerved pity, and merits of p. 142duplicate page p. 143duplicate page p. 144another. And ſurely, where Chriſt communicates his merits, he communicates ſome proportion of his Spirit too. In this the children of God are manifeſt, and the children of the Devil; whoſoever doth not righteouſneſs, is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother, 1 Joh. 3.10. Now, we know, that Brother is taken in Scripture, both in a Natural, Civil, and Spiritual ſenſe; nor can I think that it is ſpoken Abstractly as to either, in this place; but rather Comprehenſively of all. For, we know who hath ſaid, Love your Enemies, do good to them which hate you, Luk. 6.27. And matth. 5.24.25. we find, that Brother and Adverſary, are uſed Exegetically of each other. Nay, the cloſe of that chapter ſpeaks exactly, and Argumentatively to my purpoſe. Love your Enemies, &c. that ye may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven; for he maketh his Sun to riſe on the evil, and on the good;—For, if ye love them which love you, what reward have you? do not even the Publicans the ſame? Though we can't find that love of delight and complacency, as there is with thoſe ſpiritual branches, of one and the ſame ſtock; yet there is a love of Benevolence and pity, which is their due from us, their fellow Creatures. O, pity their poor Souls, inſtead of curſing, or exclaiming on them! Would you not pity, and pray for them, ſhould they come with tears in their eyes, to begg your prayers? pity them, and pray for them, now much more, for that they cannot pity themſelves! p. 145Is not a man that is diſtracted, and …nows not what he doth, an object of pity, …nd not of hatred or revenge, though he re…ile, and curſe, nay, though he rent you? Father, forgive them, for they know not what they …, Luk. 23.34.

3. What ſerious pains have you taken, to …nvince, and perſwade them? Would you not …en hazzard your lives, to ſave a mad man …om murdering himſelf, or your neighbour's …ouſe from burning? Would you not lay vio…t hands upon them, and ſuffer abuſes from …em, if you found them ſleeping, in ſuch 2 …e? And are their Houſes, and Bodies, of …re worth than their Souls? Ah! with what …ter looks and curſes, will theſe poor wretches …art from you, at the great Day! who, having …tained mercy your ſelves, did ſhew no mer…; that having the ſnares broken for you, …erein you, as well as they, were once bound, … being happily eſcaped your ſelves, had ne… a hand to help a periſhing brother! Cer…nly; our Cruelty towards the Souls of thoſe … call our Enemies, may well be inſerted as … Item of that Rod that lies upon us. I may … inſiſt here, on all the Caſes, and Cavils, … might be objected; only let me caution …. Take heed of excuſing your ſelves from … Duty, which God will require in the great … of Account. And, let me alſo tell you, …, though you can't do for them, what you …ld do; yet, were you as prudent, as hum… as compaſſionate, as vigilant, as ſelf-denying, p. 146as active, as you ſhould be, and, as on… day, you may wiſh you had been, you migh… have done far more, than you have done … them.

3. The Rod hath alſo a Voice to the Individual Members of this Church of God. As every Family, ſo every Soul of the Family, ſhall mourn apart. God hath not only Family-offences, Congregation-ſins; but Perſonal Miſcarriages, to reckon with us for. He is calling us out, one by one, as thoſe that accuſe… the woman, Joh. 8.9. What I have to ſay here, I ſhall couch under theſe two Queſtions.

How have you beſtowed your Talents?

How have you kept your Watch?

1. How have you beſtowed your Talents The Kingdom of Heaven is as a man travellin… into a farr country, who called his own ſervants, and delivered unto them his goods; a… unto one he gave five Talents, to another two, Matth. 25.14, 15. Our Lord hath intruſt… us with his Goods; He hath left all the Rich of his houſe in our hands; We have receiv… our Talents, our Meaſures, and Proportion… Now let me ſeriouſly ask you, and my ſelf, the… following Queſtions.

1. Have we weigh'd our Talents, and conſider'd what they are? You will tell your Mon… though it be after your own Father; eſpecially it be but borrowed, or entruſted Mony, wh… muſt again be accounted for. Chriſtian! … aſide, and tell thy Mony from the hands … p. 147thy Heavenly Father. Take a juſt account of …hat, for which thou muſt ſhortly give a juſt …ccount. Book down thy Receipts, both for Number, Nature, and Weight. Thus much …n Ordinaries, and thus much in Extraordina…ies; Thus many years Time, Health, Pro…iſion, Quiet; Thus many Offers of Grace …ath God made me, and thus long waited for …y return; Thus many ſignal Deliverances …om Enemies, Diſaſters, and Sickneſſes, and …om unſeen Dangers, God only knows how …any. What large Inventories might the …eaneſt of us draw, of our external enjoyments, which is but the leaſt part of the Ta…nt we have received? If we look into the …ittle-World of the Soul, we ſhall find it ful…r of Mercies, than the Heavens are of Starrs. …eſides all that Goodneſs that God had pre…red to meet us at the very Womb, there hath …en a continual Acceſſion and Succeſſion of …ew Mercies, with the gracious preſervation of …e old. Alas! we may as well number the …ops of an hours thickeſt Rain, as the Mer…es of an hours Time. Yet take as particular …nd diſtinct knowledge of them as you can; …r doubtleſs the Account will be particular: …od hath when, and where, and what, and …ow often, in his Book, even to the utmoſt …arthing, Matth. 5.26.

2. Have we conſider'd whoſe our Talents …e? So far the ſlothful ſervant was in the …ght; Lo, there, thou haſt that is thine, Matth. 25.25. But han't we rather greedily p. 148ſwept Mercies into our Laps, as Thieves, tha… are robbing the houſe; and taking all for ou… own, as thoſe, that never think to be reſponſible; as if we were the abſolute Lords of … the Mercies we enjoy? And is not God concern'd in ſuch a caſe, to vindicate his own Intereſt? Remember, Chriſtians, 'tis Gods ground you tread upon, and plant, and build, and …ow… upon; his Creatures you feed on; his Woo… and Flax, and Silks, you cloath and deck you… ſelves with; his Gold and Silver, you an… hoarding, or trading with; his Air you brea… in, and not your own. 'Tis his Word, hi… Promiſes, his Sacraments, his Graces, his Spirit, his Help, and all the hidden Treaſuries o… his Goſpel, the bleſſed Proviſions of your Sou… they are his, and not yours. You never made you never purchaſed, you never repair'd any … theſe, nor can you do it.

But, may you ſay, Obj. This is true indeed of th… men of the World; they have only a Civi… but no Evangelical Right, to any thing the poſſeſs: But, what, Hath the Child no mo… right than the Servant? Godlineſs hath t… promiſe of the life that now is, and of th… which is to come, 1 Tim. 4.8. And God ha… promiſed, with Chriſt, to give us all thing and that freely, Rom. 8.32. So ſays the Apoſtle; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, … the World, or Life, or Death, or things preſent, or things to come; all are yours. 1 Co… 3.23.

The ſame Apoſtle alſo ſaith, Anſw. that, The He… p. 149long as he is a child, differeth nothing from … ſervant, though he be Lord of all, Gal. 4.1. …od hath not given us the Impropriation, but …e Uſe of his Goods. The heir hath no more …tual propriety than the ſervant, as long as he … under age, only here's the difference; what …e Child enjoyes, he enjoyes by virtue of his …elation, and this Relation is grounded on …t Covenant between the Father and Chriſt, …d between Chriſt and his choſen; by virtue …ereof, they ſtand the Adopted Children of …d, through Chriſt; ſo that what we receive, … receive on the account of this Covenant, …ich hath made us over unto God and Chriſt, …d God and Chriſt, and all his Promiſes, over …o us; the Inheritance of all is ours, though … actual poſſeſſion be reſerved, till we are, …ough Grace, capacitated for it; all things …t are neceſſary, pro hîc, & nunc, unto Life, … Godlineſs, we have in Hand, the reſt in …e; yet, both what we have in Hand, and in …e, we hold in Capite, and were never de…ed for the Abſolute Lords of it. He that …eived the five Talents, could no more call …n his own, than he that received but one; …ther could the Improvement alter-the Proper… but both the Principal, and the Increaſe, …re their Lords, Matth. 25.27. Our Title …Evangelical indeed, and therefore not Le…: Legal, as to man, but not as to God. why …n doſt thou glory, as if thou hadſt not received … 1 Cor. 4.7.

p. 1503. Have you conſider'd, why thoſe Talen… were intruſted with you? The reaſon why wit… you, rather than with others, is, becauſe yo… are his foreign, own ſervants, his houſhold-Hinds. You have been brought up at his hand and know his Work, and his Will; his Expectations are great from you, he ſeems to have greater confidence of our Care, and Skill, and Diligence, and Faithfulneſs, than of Strangen… And then the Reaſons, why he hath, as it were, p… it out of his own hands, and caſt it into ours, are Becauſe he will learn us, by theſe ſmaller things to merchandize and trade, with and for Heaven he hath adventured this little ſtock with us, t… begin with, and to train us up for higher Employments. And, that his Goods might not … dead, and uſeleſs, he hath committed the Factorage to us, that the Returns might be mad… to his Advantage. Now this is that ſhoul… have taken up our thoughts; What a R… hath God ſet on ſuch, or ſuch a Mercy? An… how ſhall I manage my Courſe, to bring the… up to Gods price? what a circumſpect ca… ſhould I have, to commerce with honeſt, an… ſufficient Dealers! The World is a Bro… Merchant, and its Wares are of no value in … Lord's Country. The Devil is too ſubtil, … dare not truſt him; his deſign is to decei… The Fleſh will baſſle, and my own heart d… upon Day, and is wont to pay with Promi… and Delayes, and Proteſtations of his go… Meaning; How dare I venture my Lords … in ſuch hands? My goodneſs ſhall extend to t… p. 151Saints, that are in the Earth, and to the Excellent, in whom is all my delight, Pſal. 16.3. A froward heart ſhall depart from me, I will not know a wicked perſon, Pſal. 101.4. I will have no fellowſhip with the unfruitful works of darkneſs, but rather reprove them, Eph. 5.11. Oh, my brethren! how many thouſand Merties have we beſtowed on our Luſts? how many Packs of our Maſter's Goods have we rid our hands of, which we are never like to ſee one penny for? And can we wonder then, that our Lord is come to reckon with us? May not God juſtly charge us with Riot and Unfaithfulneſs, and take the Talents from us? Certainly, that accurſed, ſlothful ſervant, that hid his Lord's mony, ſeems far more excuſable than we; for, though he did no good with his Talent, yet he was accus'd of no hurt he did with it. Surely, Pride had never ſo impudently dared God to his face, had it not been for us. The Fleſh had never took ſuch head, had not we pamper'd it. The World had never claim'd ſuch Corrivalty with God, had it not been trading with us, in our Faith, Hope, and Love. May not God charge us, as once he charged his own People? Ezek. 16.17, 18, 19. Thou haſt alſo taken thy fair Jewels, of my gold, and of my ſilver, which I had given thee, and madeſt to thy ſelf Images of men, and didſt commit whoredom with them; And tookeſt thy broidered garments, and coveredſt them; and thou haſt ſet mine oile, and mine incenſe before them. My meat alſo, which I gave thee, fine flower, and p. 152oyl, and hony, wherewith I fed thee, thou ha… even ſet it before them, for a ſweet ſavour… and thus it was, ſaith the Lord God. Surely, had our Maſter no other ſtock, but this that is in our hands, we ſhould quickly have undone both him and our ſelves. Therefore, I will return, and take away my Corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the ſeaſon thereof, and I will recover my Wool, and my Flax, given … cover her nakedneſs, Hoſ. 2.9. Ah… wha… ſerious reflections, and thoughts of heart, do… theſe things call for! What ſad, and general complaints, are there of bad Trading in th… world? God hath broken the ſtaff in the mid… of us, and hedg'd us in on every ſide; the labour of the Artificer ceaſeth, and the Merchan… begins to mourn: Men of great Engagement and Dependance, are ſhattering, like broken Reeds, and the Plagues of God, both at home, and abroad, have waſted us. Are not theſe ſome of your complaints to God? And may not God retort the ſame Complaints on us and ſpread our very tears, as dung, on o… faces? The Plague of our heart is ſpread to ſuch a height, that he hath even nail'd up the Doors of his Houſe againſt us, that there is little Trading for Heaven. What hath my Beloved to do in my houſe, ſeeing ſhe hath wrought lewdneſs with many? and the holy fleſh is paſſed from thee, Jer. 11.15. God ſeems to ſtand off, and to avoid his own High-way, as if he were afraid we ſhould come near, to touch his holy things, and pollute them, as we have done.

p. 1534. Shall I ask you, What hath your eſteem of your Talents been? how have you valued them? Poſſibly ſuch as have related to the …uter man, the preſent carnal eaſe, or advan…age of the Fleſh, have been over-rated; yet …is ſtrange to ſee on what baſe, and low terms, they are parted with. Tell me, Chriſtian, Haſt thou never ſold thy Ambition a good penny-worth of theſe things, for a little honour, or preferment; nay, for the bare promiſe, or hopes of it, which thou mayſt now ſet among thy deſperate Debts? Haſt thou never ſold thy Luſts … huge bargain, for a little pleaſure, though it were entail'd with ſhame, and pain enough? Are there none of thy Maſter's Goods to be redeem'd out of the hands of Revenge, and Injuſtice? Is there none of thy Lord's Money to be …ak'd out of the Draught of thy Gluttony and Drunkenneſs? Ah, Sirs! Are theſe things …ut poor, empty notions, think you? will they …ome to nothing in the great day of Account? …dan't you dealt, in your repoſed truſt, as the injuſt Steward, Luk. 16.6, 7. written fifty, …r three ſcore, for an hundred, on your Maſter's Bill? and will Conſcience witneſs for …ou, that all hath been right and juſt? though …ow it lie under your Bribes and Flatteries, or …ears; certainly, when God ſhall examin it …pon Oath, it will ſpeak the whole truth: When every Corner ſhall be ſearcht, and every …ill ſumm'd up, and every Mite accounted, …ther thou, or thy Surety muſt be reſponſible. As for our Spiritual Talents, at what a rate p. 154have they been proſtituted? Such as have not been for the Common Market of the World, as the convictions, the humbling, and mortifying Motions of the Holy Spirit, ſuch as are not for Caeſar's turn; no friends to the Fleſh; theſe have been often ſent back, by the hand that brought them, as unprofitable Druggs, the great burdens that have troubled us. Surely, prophane Eſau never prophaned his Birthright, as we have prophaned ours. Han't we dealt with Gods moſt precious Gold, and thoſe rich Jewels, that have been lockt up in the Cabinet of Divine Counſel and Love, from all the Ages of the world, and reſerv'd for ſo unworthy, unthankful a generation as we, even thoſe glorious priviledges, and liberties of the Goſpel, the price of the precious bloud of Chriſt; as we deal with the ſtones and rubble wherewith we mend our High-wayes; and made them to pave the way of our Luſts? O Damnable Ingratitude! O curſed unfaithfulneſs! O horrible impiety! Is this the way to provide for a day of Judgment? to conſult the comfort of a death-bed; the glory of a Church, or the Peace of a Nation? The Lord awaken us! the good Lord forgive us!

But, Obj. it may be, you have other thoughts of your ſelves: God forbid it ſhould be ſo; ſure we make an higher account of our Talents than ſo, eſpecially the ſpiritual part of them.

What I ſay to you, Anſ. I ſay to my ſelf; I would to God you could all plead Guiltleſs but I, wh… p. 155an conſcious to the guilt of this, and far more than I can expreſs. But, for your further conviction, conſider; Have you had ſuch an eſteem of your Talents as you ought? Let me ask you then, On what account, or reaſon is it, that you ſo eſteem them? Do you prize them as they are Talents, and the things wherein your duty and diligence, and the glory of God, is bound up? Do you eſteem your work in them, as well as your enjoyment of them? Chriſtian! Ask thy heart, in earneſt, What is it that thou defireſt, or prizeſt, thy Time, Health, Peace, Plenty, or any other Priviledges or Enjoyments, for? Can you ſay, you prize them more for their ſervice, than for their ſweetneſs? more for Gods ſake, than for your own? The Excellency, and therefore, the deſirableneſs of theſe things, lies in their End; Now the End of theſe things is not in themſelves, but they are ordained Means unto a higher End. To prize Health, for it ſelf, is not to prize it aright; Theſe are the only riches that a ſpiritual heart can take true content, and delight in, that are laid out for God. The Tradeſman, that means to thrive, will turn all he can into ſtock; a penny here, is of more value with him, than a ſhilling, that muſt lie dead by him. I ſhall ſay no more but this; You may judge of your own caſe, by your faithful, and practical applying of all theſe things unto their great and high End.

5. What hath been your care about your Talents? Your care of them, and your care in p. 156them? Han't your Dogs been maintain'd with the childrens bread? I mean, the unreaſonable, and ravenous deſires, and luſts of the Fleſh; han't they liv'd upon your Parts and Gifts! nay, on the very heart and blood of your duties and profeſſion? What care have you had of your Maſter's Goods, to keep them clean, and ſpotleſs, from the pollutions of your own Natures, and conſtitutions; and from the abomination of the Times, and Places wherein you live? O, with what a Hiew do they look? are they ſuch as will credit the Owner of them? mayn't you be aſham'd to ſee them? would any one think, that the God of Glory ſhould be the Author of them? oh! let us ſit down, with Mary, and waſh them out in our Tears! What care have you had of them, to keep them repaired? han't you worn out your Talents, and are ready to cry for new? for New Lights, to do the works of Darkneſs by; for new Diſcoveries, and new wayes, and are weary of the good old way? Plain, and common truths, though never ſo neceſſary, or ſeaſonable, are lookt upon as poor, thred-worn rags. Are they not new things, though never ſo notional, or circumſtantial; nay, though never ſo dubious and dangerous; that do moſt affect you? Are there not many among us, that have worn out Repentance, and all Duty and Obedience, and caſt them aſide, for aboliſh'd Legal Rags? And Chriſt, who was obedient unto Death, even the death of the Croſs, muſt be their Sumpter, to carry their old ſhooes, and mouldy bread after p. 157them. O ſenſual Impietie! O helliſh Pride! O horrible Ingratitude! Can thoſe Gibeonites think thus to deceive God? Again, What care have you had in your Talents? Have you been trading for God, and your Souls, with that warineſs and diligence, with that watchfulneſs and unweariedneſs, with that life and activity, as you have traded for, and with, the World? Have you been careful to basket up all thoſe Fragments at your Maſter's Table, all thoſe odd Ends of Time, Truths, and Experiences, that nothing be loſt? or han't the world devour'd the main Feaſt, and the Fleſh and the Devil had the reſt? Have you dealt wiſely, and ſparingly, with thoſe that have dealt deceitfully with you? Ah, my Brethren! can you ſay it was for want of no care in you, that you fell into ſuch, or ſuch a temptation? that you miſcarried in ſuch, or ſuch a duty or deſign? Why hath God made us to eat our bread with carefulneſs, and drink our water with aſtoniſhment, and threatned to make our Land deſolate, of all that is therein? as he threatned Iſrael, Ezek. 12.19. but to convince us of our ſinful careleſneſs? I will ſend a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell careleſly in the Iſles, Ezek. 39.6. How little hath it troubled us, which End hath gon forward, ſo that our own Ends have been accompliſhed? how little hath the Glory of God been ſet by, when our own Concernments have ſtood in Competition with it?

6. What hath been the Increaſe of your Talents? p. 158What have you gained? where arenthe other five you have multiplied? what have you gotten by Sabbaths and Sacraments? where's that Love, that Faith, that Patience, that Humility, that Heavenly-mindedneſs, that Prudenct, and Zeal, and Brotherly-kindneſs, that you have been trading with, and trading for? Where are the ſlain, and the ſpoils of your ſpiritual Battels? the luſts you have ſubdued, the temptations you have conquer'd? where are your experiences, and yourſongs of deliverance? Ah, my Brethren! Where are the returns of your Prayers, and the victorious Trophies of your Faith? what have you gotten from God, and for God? where's the Fruit you have ſo long ſtood in Gods Garden for? where's the ſmell of your Spices, and that ripe Fruit you have to preſent your Lord, your Beloved with, now that he is come down into his Vineyard? Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field: let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards, let us ſee if the Vine flouriſh, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves. And can you aſſure him, The Mandrakes give a ſmell, and at our gates are all manner of pleaſant fruit, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my Beloved? Cant. 7.11, 12, 13. Can you look back, and ſay, This I have gotten by this weeks mercies and duties; this I have gain…d by this day's opportunities… this fruit, this bleſſed crop, I have to ſhew for this years husbandry and patience? Or, are you p. 159not walking in a Round of Duties and Mercies, and returning to the ſame point ſtill? going from Flower to Flower, and returning as empty home, as you went out? O that I could perſwade my ſelf, and you, to ſpend more ſerious hours in our Counting-Houſe, to retire our ſelves with God, that we might prove our ſelves entire at laſt, and wanting nothing.

Now take up your Talents, one by one, and weigh them in theſe Scales.

1. Your Time, What hath been your Eſteem, your Care, your Improvement, of this Talent? Suppoſe, that God were now calling you to an account for your Time; What can you ſay? Thus many years you have enjoy'd it, it may be, twenty, thirty, or forty years; divide this into dayes, and hours, and how few can you pick put, that have been faithfully employed, in the ſerious work of God, and your own Souls? how little will there redound to the comfort of your account? Was not the moſt, or a great part of your Time, ſpent in an unregenerate …ſtate? Every hour of that time is loſt: and, ſince God hath open'd your eyes, how much of your time have you ſlept away, beyond what would have refreſhed Nature? How much hath the world, carnal pleaſures, needleſs viſits, unprofitable diſcourſes, and unneceſſarie recreations eaten up? That little time, that you have …n any meaſure improved; with what faintneſs, inconſtancy, and luke-warm in differencie, hath …t been done? Oh, Chriſtians! Look back on …he many hours you have loiter'd away, and p. 160ſported, and jeſted, and ſinn'd away; are you ready to anſwer the Juſt God for all this? Have you never been, even burden'd with your time, that you have invented ſuch things as Pastimes, to rid your hands of it? as if God had not allotted you work enough for your day: Nay, have you never begrutcht him, and your own Souls, any of that time which hath been their unqueſtionable due? Have Sabbaths and Duties, hath Prayer and Faſting, never been a wearineſs to you? Let Conſcience ſpeak now, and judge uprightly between God and us. And can we think, that God hath taken this well at our hands? Are not all theſe things written on that bloody Sword that is drawn out againſt us? What Talent have we more precious than our Time? 'tis that, wherein all the reſt are wrapt up. Were the day of Grace over, all the offers of Grace, and means of Grace, and hopes of Grace, ſhould be over too. Ah! could you but hear thoſe heart-melting groans, and fruitleſs wiſhes of the Damned, for one of your idle hours; how would it affect you? and, ſhould God at laſt ſend us thither, to learn the worth of Time; how ſadly ſhould we repent it, and rue it to all eternity! Oh! methinks it ſhould ſtrike a terrour into our very ſouls, whenever we ſee the Sun ſet, to conſider, Now there is a day more gone, and I am not ſure to ſee the dawning of another; can I tell, whether God hath ſaid of me, Thou Fool, this night ſhall thy ſoul be required; and an exact account required too? p. 161… know, I am one day older; I cannot ſay, I …m one jot better, than I was this morning: …ut, it may be, have no ſmall cauſe to fear, that I …m ſome degrees worſe. Do ſuch thoughts as …eſe never lie down with you, and keep you …aking, when others are aſleep? God is now …ome forth againſt us, with his Glaſs in one …e hand, and his Sword in the other, to mea…re our Time, and to cut it off. The Glaſs runs pace; nay, ſome of the laſt ſands ſeem to be reparing for a fatal motion; and when once …is out, who knows, whether ever he will turn … up for us more? God is now reckoning with …r neighbours, for their time; and, for ought …e know, may call at our doors, on the very …me Errand, before he return to his Place. Be …re; he will ſhortly come, and make all …ven with you; and are your Accounts ready?

There are theſe five or ſix things e…ecially, that ſet up the rate, and price of …me.

1. 'Tis the more precious, becauſe 'tis bor…wed time. Did you never hear Conſci…ce crying out to you, for the loſs of your …me, as the man did to Eliſha, for the loſs of …s Axe-bead, 1 Kin. 6.5. Alas! for it was …rrowed. The Candle, you loiter, and play way, is but borrowed Light, The Time you …profuſely ſpend, is but the time of your Re…ival. The Sentence of Death is paſt upon …. Rom. 5.12. So death paſſ… upon all men, … that all have ſinned. A… a condemned …n, between the Sentence and the Execution, p. 162whether ever time were more precious with him; how vile and ſecure ſoever he was before 'tis ſtrange, if now he be not ſerious. Why, … your caſe, Chriſtians; you are caſt by God… Law, and condemn'd, Body and Soul, in the Court of his Supream Juſtice; only, here w… are reprived a while, and held in this priſo… of the world, that we might provide for the other world, and ſue out our pardon, while i… may be had; 'tis meerly the Indulgence of ou… gracious Judge, that hath ſhewn this reſpect … our Souls, and lent us this repenting, and returning time. And, is this our caſe, brethren? How precious, and how dear an eſteem then ſhould we have of our borrowed Time!

2. The Shortneſs of Time, adds to the Excellency of it. The time paſt, was ours, b… is now gone, and ſhall never be ours more. The time to come is none of ours, nor do w… know whether ever it ſhall; onelyonly the preſen… is ours, which is but a momentany time. W… live by Moments, the ſhorteſt diviſion o… time that is imaginable. O, Sirs! if you could but ſee, in what a narrow Track you are going methinks it ſhould amaze you; Would you n… think a man in deſperate hazzard, that wen walking on the higheſt Tower, from one Pinad… to another, and had no other footing to ſec… himſelf? would you not expect to ſee him tu… ble, every moment? This is your very caſe, y… are walking fr… one pinnacle of Time to am… ther, and your graves are open underneath, … receive you; nay, are you ſure that Hell … p. 163…ot at the bottom too? Never was there one …hat eſcap't the firſt; few, but meet with both …t once; the leaſt trip, or ſtep awry, nay, the …aſt withdrawment of that hand that upholds …ou, may coſt you as much as Bodies, and Souls, …nd all your hopes are worth, in a moment. …h, the value, and conſequence of one Mo…ents time! oh, the deſperate blindneſs, and …ldneſs of our ſecure hearts! Nay, if you mea…re your whole time in the world, at one …raught, you will find it very ſhort. Are not … dayes few? ſayes Job, chap. 10.20. Be…ld, thou haſt made my dayes as an hand…eadth, and mine age is as nothing before thee, …ſal. 39.5. Again, by that time you have diſ…unted all that time you have loſt, while you … dead in treſpaſſes and ſins; in your Mate…â primâ; beſides thoſe Deliquia animae, the …intings, and ſwoonings of the Soul, and in…miſſions of its ſpiritual, and regular motions, …d operations; you will find, I fear, a very …all pittance of time left you; for, tam diu …ximus, quàm bene viximus; We never have …'d longer, than we have liv'd well.

3. The Excellency of time lies much in the …certainty of it. Time is a golden Chain, …ich is let down out of Heaven to us, but by …e end, like Jacob's Ladder; we are walking …m ſtep to ſtep in it, and can ſee no farther …n we go; the very next, for ought we know, …y be the Top-round, which may lodge us, in … endleſs, if not an eaſeleſs eternity. My …es are in thy hand, ſayes David, Pſal. 35.15. p. 164And, have we liv'd as thoſe, that can't promiſe themſelves one hour more in the world? as thoſe, that have taken their laſt, and ſolemn leaves of all the world? as thoſe that do but look for a good hour? that lie afloat on the Borders of another world, and verily expect that the next Tide ſhall ſet them on Shoat … Or, han't we been building on that which is none of our own, and preſuming on that unſeen time, that is in Gods hands? Oh, the madneſs! oh, the effaſcinated madneſs of ſuch adventurers! How is it that rational Creatures ſhould ever act ſo irrationally!

4. Gods Patience contributes much to th… glory of Time. This is the time of his Pati… ence: God is now bearing, and forbearing … Sparing us, as a man ſpareth his own ſon tha… ſerveth him, Mal. 3.17. How many thou… ſand juſt occaſions of ruining us, bodies and ſouls, hath every day of our lives offer'd him … and yet he is content to ſhut his eyes at ou… infirmities, our unthankfulneſs, unfaithfulneſs inconſtancy, and ſtubborn undutifulneſs. W… are every day trying the ſtrength and leng… of his Patience; and thruſting a Sword in… his hands, even daring him to ſtrike. O… what affronts have we given! and what Patience hath he ſhewn? Had we been but ſenſi… of one drop of that wrath, that thoſe damn… ſouls in Hell are deſpairing under; we ſhou… know, that the time of Patience, is precious ti… indeed. Were you never ſet on the Rack of a… p. 165…ormenting pain, or diſtreſs of body, or mind? …nd don't you remember what thoughts you …ad then? Han't you ſound a vaſt difference …etween ſickneſs and health, pains and eaſe; …hough there be a great ingrediency of Mercy …nd Patience in all this? Surely, we ſhall …nortly know the odds between the day of Gods …atience, and the time of his Vengeance. When …nce we know what Hell is, whether by our …eliverance from it, or our ſuffering in it, we …all then better know the worth of a dayes …atience. Nay, let me ſay, that one day here, … of far greater conſequence and moment, at …aſt, as to our ſelves, than a thouſand dayes …were there any ſuch Meaſures of Time in …ernity) in Heaven.

5. This is the time of our Viſitation, and …erefore moſt precious time. Suppoſe all your opes, and poſſibilities of ſalvation, ſhould end …ith this day, what would your care and Ac…unt be of this day! and how very ſhort would … ſeem to be? How would you watch the poſting ours, and bethink the declining ſhadows? a then, if you could but cry unto the Lord, and …revail with him, as once Iſaiah did for Heze…ah, 2 King. 20.11. that the Sun might go back …me ten degrees, whilſt you might work out …ur Salvation, and make your peace with God. …ow 'tis a little more ſlumber, a little more …eep; but Then it would be, a little more time, …ittle more ſpace to repent, One Sabbath more, …e offer of Grace more, one tender of Chriſt p. 166more, one repenting, one returning hour more all the world then for ont inch of time; Riches, Honours, Eaſe, Pleaſures, and all for a little of this precious Time. Why, Chriſtians! now is the accepted time; this is the day of Salvation; What is it that God hath been calling for, and expecting from you, all your lives hitherto? what hath been the language of every day of your time? and why hath he added thi… one day more, but that you might now hear… and live? How long, ye ſimple ones, will ye lov… ſimplicity! Open to me, my Sister, my Love, my Dove, my undefiled; for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops … the night — Behold, I ſtand at the door, an… knock. My Son, give me thy heart. Awake thou that sleepest, and ariſe from the dead and Chriſt ſhall give thee light. Hath not thi… been the voice that hath waited at your door all your lives long? What hath God been doing in you, and with you, and for you, bo… here and in Heaven, but to prepare you for Glory, and to prepare Glory for you?

Had you a great, and a dear Friend, in a fa… Country, whom you had a long time longe and looked for, and now at length had receive… a promiſe of his ſpeedy return; if you had but … day, or ſome ſhort time, to prepare for his coming; how carefully would you improve eve… part of that day, or time, in all poſſible preparation? Every Servant ſhould do his part, an… every thing ſhould ſtand in its place and orde… for the beſt accomodation they are capable of… p. 167and how little would you bethink ſuch a dayes work? what fears would there be, leſt night ſhould come on you too ſoon for your work! you would hardly have time to eat your meat …midſt ſuch Imployments; much leſs, would you …c down, and talk, and jeſt away your time: Oh, methinks I ſee, with what life and activity, with what delightſome labour, and over-curious …eal, you are taken up in ſuch a caſe! And …ow, Chriſtian, hath Conſcience nothing to ſay …oncerning theſe things? This is your caſe; …ath this been your courſe, and your care? This …ath been your Preparation-day; hath this been …our Preparation-work? Shall the Devil find …is Houſe empty, ſwept, and garniſht, Matth. … 2.44, and ſhall God find a foul houſe at …is return? Why! what haſt thou elſe to do …a the world? what buſineſs of greater conſe…uence, than thine everlaſting happineſs? what …are more weighty, than the care of thy Soul? …nd what is it thou wanteſt for the doing of …his work? what direction, what ſupport, what …ncouragement? O be ſure, that when thy Lord cometh, he find thee ſo doing.

6. It is a determined, ſet time, and therefore the more precious. God hath meaſured …hee out thy time, and thou muſt be accounta…le for every Minute of it. He that hath ſet …ounds to the Sea, hath ſet bounds alſo to thy …ime; that hitherto thou ſhalt go, and no …urther: He that hath numbred the hairs on thy …ead, hath numbred the hours, and minutes of …hy dayes; he hath determined thy laſt hour, p. 168and thy laſt breath, and thou ſhalt not paſs one ſtep beyond it. When that appointed Period is once come, the very next moment lands thee on thy endleſs eternity; there is no maſtering, corrupting, or intreating of Death; when God ſends it, it muſt perform its office and meſſage, let the work of thy Soul, or the concernments of thy Body, lie how they will: Where-ever thou art, at home, or abroad; whatever thy promiſes, or reſolutions be for the future; the hour that God hath determined, ſhall ſtand. Oh, with what terrour ſhould this awaken us, to lay hold on preſent time! Now, Chriſtian, tell me, haſt thou thus ſeriouſly weigh'd thy time… Queſtionleſs, theſe common Notions are no ſtrangers to you; this is not the firſt, nor the third, nor, it may be, the twentieth time, that you have heard the preciouſneſs of Time, thus, and more fully diſplayed. But, let me ask you, Have you been ſo thorowly acquainted with it, that I might well have ſpar'd my pains about it now? what ſolemn times have you taken, to exerciſe your moſt ſtudious, and retired thoughts about it? what an influence hath the knowledg… of it had upon you? This is an every daye… Mercy, and therefore ſhould be thy every daye… Work, as it is thy every dayes Duty. Think thus of your Time oft'ner, and you will ſpend your Time better. Oh, that I could ſo river theſe nails, on my own and your hearts, tha… they might never ſtart back more; that they may live, and dye with us! O, never forget you… Time! the worth of it, and your approaching p. 169account for it! Can you forget to draw your breath, or to eat your daily bread? Will a Cripple forget his Crutch, or a Traveller his Paſs? As long as you have time, remember your Time; and that Time, when Time ſhall be no more.

This, in general. I might ſhew you, that there are ſome ſeaſons, more eſpecially precious than others: As,

1. The Time of Youth. The Firſt-fruits are Holy, and more precious than all the Crop befides; on the account of Divine Choice, Conſetration, and Propriety. Nay, on a Natural, and Moral account too; This is the ſeaſoning of the Veſſel, the initiating, chooſing, covenanting-time. Here, ordinarily, are the founcations of eternity laid; and the firſt Goale toward another world, on which the whole Race after doth much depend; the time of greateſt ſervice, or diſ-ſervice.

2. Sabbath times, are moſt precious times indeed. The Day of Gods own ſeparation. This is the Jewel in the Ring; though every part be precious, yet the Jewel out-values all the Ring beſides. The moſt pure Elixir, if I may ſo ſpeak, refined two degrees above the Quinteſsence of Time. The Authority, and the End of its Inſtitution, together with the adjunct Priviledges of this part of Time, do highly advance the unvaluable price, and worth of it.

3. The times of the Goſpel, are glorious, and precious times. Times of glorious Light; of p. 170glorious Hopes;Heb. 7.19. Ioh. 1, 17. 2 Pet. 1.4.Heb 7:19John 1:172 Pet 1:4 of precious Graces; of exceeding great, and precious Promiſes; nay, and Performances too. This is the Glory of the later Houſe, propheſied of by Haggai, chap. 2.9. Life and immortality is brought to light by the Goſpel, 2 Tim. 1.10. Theſe are the times ſo much looked, and longed for, of old. Lord, now letteſt thou thy ſervant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have ſeen thy ſalvation, ſaid old Simeon, Luk. 2.29, 30. This is the Summer, the Harveſt of the Church, one day loſt now, is of ſadder conſequence, than ſeven in the Winter of former times.

4. Times of affliction, are alſo eminently pretious. When the Iron is hot and malleable, then hath the Artiſt an advantage to ſhape i… to his mind; The daies of the Saints greateſt M…ſeries, are wont to be the daies of Gods greateſt Mercies: their moſt painful, their moſt gainful hours; both in reſpect of their ſupporting Cordials under them, and the bleſſed Ends of them. I might have eninlarg'd on theſe things, but my preſent haſte and ſtraits prevent me.

Thus we have briefly examined our firſt Talent of Time. And, oh, Sirs! may we not dip our pens in tears of blood, and write Tekel on it?

2. How have you improv'd your Parts and Gifts? If Conſcience might but ſpeak freely here, it would make you bluſh before God.

1. Conſider, how low and mean are they, of what they might have been? When for the time, p. 171ſayes the Apoſtle, for the helps, the means, the light, the high and glorious Priviledges you have enjoyed; ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again, which be the firſt Principles of the Oracles of God, Heb. 5.12, How low is your knowledge! how weak are your reaſon and capacities! We are ſtill like children, and babes in Chriſt; like Trees, at a stand, though by the Fountain's ſide, and in the midſt of the Paradiſe of God; like narrow-mouth'd Bottles, that receive but by drops, and, it may be, leak it out as faſt again.

2. How little hath there been return'd to the Glory of the Donour, of what we have received! May not God ſay of us, as Chriſt, of the ten that were cleanſed? Luk. 17.19. Were there not ten cleanſed? but where are the nine? Were there not ten Gifts beſtowed, but where are the nine? May not Conſcience anſwer, The World hath had a ſhare, and Self a ſhare, and the Fleſh a ſhare, Luſt a ſhare, and the Devil a ſhare too. Have not theſe divided the ſpoils? Tell me, Chriſtian; Where haſt thou beſtowed thy Wits moſt? thy Learning, thy Reaſon? han't the Pleaſures, the Profits, the Eſteem and Credit of the world, had more of thy ſtudy than God, and thy Soul? Is there no work for Repentance here? how doſt thou? how dareſt thou anſwer this before the great God? Art thou not ſenſible, what a damnable deal of Self-confidence, Self-attribution, and Self-ſeeking, hath crept into thy moſt ſpiritual Duties? and have theſe things never troubled p. 172thee? Have thy parts never puff… thee up with ſome bigg thoughts of thy ſelf, and an undervaluing account of thoſe that are weaker? Haſt thou never been ready to flatter, and adore thy ſelf, and pleas'd thee with the Reflections of thy own beams, and the good opinion of others concerning thee? Have you no Experiences that can comment on what I ſay, and run parallel with me here? have your dayes of private Humiliation never afforded you juſt cauſe of ſecret Lamentation? have you never been forc't to ſeek for a corner, to weep over your own prayers and rears, on this very account? han't you been ready to reſt in the bare exerciſe of Gifts, without Grace, and to miſtake Gifts for Grace? have you never had reaſon to queſtion, from the ſelfiſhneſs, or flatneſs of Duties, whether it were God, or Nature only, the ſpirit of Chriſt, or the natural, and acquired elevations of the rational Soul that acted and ſteer'd you? have you liv'd on the heart and vitals of Duty? Can you ſay with Bernard, Bern. Ep. 116.Nunquam abs te abſque te recedo, I never go away from thee, without thee? Oh, my Brethren! can you pick up nothing here, that deſerves to be ſet among your Corrigenda, the ſcapes, and blemiſhes of your Duties and Lives?

3. How have you improv'd your Graces? Theſe are your diſtinguiſhing Talents, which difference you from all others in the World. The Nether Springs of Time, and Parts, and external Enjoyments, are common to the Strangers; but theſe Ʋpper Springs are the childrens p. 173Priviledge. Look over your Graces now, and conſider, what care, what account, what increaſe, have you made of them? Have you perfected holineſs in the fear of God? 2 Cor. 7.1.

What can you ſay of your Repentance? hath it been a Repentance from dead works? Heb. 6.1. a mortifying Repentance? What's become of the ſins you have ſo often confeſſed, and complained of to God, and made as if you were ſo exceedingly wearie and aſham'd of, and troubled about? Would you willingly give God leave to ſearch every corner of your hearts and lives for them? Are there none of thoſe Stollen Images you have ſo conſtantly, and confidently denied, and defied, to be found in your Tents? None, but thoſe you have ſerved, as Jael ſerved Siſera, that lie dead at your feet! Where are the lively Fruits of your Repentance unto life, which may teſtifie for you, that it hath been in faithfulneſs, and in truth? han't your Repentances been like a Cake not turn'd, bak'd only on the top? or, like the Tears of the Crocodile, that ſeems to weep over the Prey, he inwardly rejoyceth in? Have you repented unto God, or unto men only? hath your Sorrow proceeded from the evil, and ſinfulneſs of ſin, or meerly from the danger of it? Oh, Chriſtians! as ever you expect comfort from any of your Graces, make theſe things clear to your ſelves. All your hopes of Pardon, and Juſtification, and conſequently, of all that good you expect in this World, or another, are built on the ſincerity p. 174of your Repentance. What have you to do with Pardon without Repentance? I even tremble, to think of thoſe many thouſands in the world, that have made their own Pardons, and ſeal'd them with all their confidence; with what ſhame and horrour will their faces be appalled, when God ſhall tear theſe forged Indulgences out of their hands, and burn them, and their lying Pardons, together. Are not you ſome of thoſe that defie the Beaſt, with all his Lies and Effaſcinations? and what! will ye turn Popes to your own Souls? and ſell your Luſts the Indulgences of your own Inſcription? Ah, Brethren! Remember, A bare Confeſſion is but an external concomitant of Repentance; and a bare ſorrow for ſin, is but a part of Repentance. Your words, your tears, and your hopes, may all deceive you. Repentance, is a wonderful changing and transforming thing. See, how the Apoſtle deſcribes it, 2 Cor. 7.11. For, behold, this ſelf ſame thing that ye ſorrowed after a godly ſort, what carefulneſs it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of your ſelves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement deſire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge? Oh! what a difference is there between our ſorrowing for ſin, and our ſorrowing for the croſſes and troubles of the world? how naturally do we grieve for theſe things! we need no Monitors here; our ſorrows ſeldom keep within their bounds. But when we come to mourn for ſin; how are we ſtraitned! how cold and dead are we! how p. 175hard muſt we wring for a tear! what a tugg have we, to rub a little life into our frozen affections! like ſtones caſt into the air, they fly no farther, than the very dead force drives them, and then make haſte to their old Center again. Oh, my Brethren! what can we think of ſuch forced Repentings? If we repent, as it were, againſt our Wills, will God pardon againſt his Will?