Old Jacobs Altar Newly Repaired, Treatise (5 of 6)

Old Jacobs Altar Newly Repaired · Treatise (5 of 6)

p. 1843. Are you ſummoned by the King of terrors? do his batteries play upon you? are there breaches made in your mud-walls? is there a mine ſprung, and your life in all likelihood to be blown up? Why, the lively ſenſe and evidence of grace received, will like a cordial water, warm your hearts, and ſtay up your ſpirits at ſuch an hour as this is, that light of life within you, if heeded, will clear up the counſels of God unto you, as to your after and eternal well-being, it will convince you of Gods ſoveraignty, conquer your renitency, and make you bow head and heart with much ſubmiſſion to the father of ſpirits; this will ballance and ballaſt your ſouls too, and poiſe them evenly between hope and fear, that neither ſhall be inordinate, and that in two particulars.

1. Where grace ſits at the helm of Government in the ſoul, it brings the unruly paſſions into ſubjection to the divine pleaſure and preſerves the Saints from over-much hoping of life, ſeeing their dayes are determined and their bounds ſet, and antidotes them againſt overmuch fearing of death, ſeeing the number of their mouths are with God, Job 14.5, 6. the indefinite is equivalent to an univerſal, ſo that it was not Jobs ſingle caſe, but the common lot of all mankind, and therefore you may ſafely argue, that all the rare feaſts which Paracelſus profeſſed to do for the lengthening of mens lives, the uſe of all remedies cannot make you out-live, nor the miſſing of them cauſe you to fall ſhort of thoſe bounds; which God in his ſecret and irreverſible decrees hath ſet you: This conſideration will much quiet your hearts in God, when you have the ſentence of death within your ſelves; it will excellently prevent that diſtemper, which is an evil that I p. 185have ſeen, even amongſt the Saints of God, viz. an overeager deſire of life and a greedy catching at any hopes thereof, even to ſome neglect of that preparation, and thoſe precedaneous duties, which the ſeriouſneſs of death and eternity do call for at their hands: not that I condemne a modeſt and humble deſire of life, or a ſober uſe of means and medicines in order thereunto, onelyonly propound this, as a cure of that heart-diſtemper mentioned, and to perſwade my ſelf and others, to ſay with David, Here I am, let the Lord do to me as ſeemeth good unto him, 2 Sam. 15.26.

2. Your gathering up your experiences of converting, renewing, adopting and accepting grace in Jeſus Chriſt will fill your ſouls with raviſhing comforts upon an everlaſting account, even then, when your neareſt friends fill your heads with weepings, ſighings and ſad lamentings, as ſeeing your dying breath draw faint and ſhort, and other ſymptomes of death report your change to be very near, you will then gather up your ſpirits, as old Jacob did his feet, and not be afraid to ſpeak with your enemy in the gate—the gate of eternity: Oh grace improved, will ſhew you your names written in the Lambs book of life; will give you ſome foretaſts of thoſe joys, which are in the preſence of God; will lead you in a viſion of the Spirit, into your fathers houſe, that you may ſee thoſe manſion places of glory which are prepared for you; and will open your eyes that you may ſee the Angels of God, thoſe bleſſed miniſtering ſpirits, waiting at your pillows, to waft your ſouls into the everlaſting embraces of your dear Redeemer; that you may ſay with the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 5.1. (to ſtill the ſobbings of your ſad relations) We know, that if our earthly houſe of this tabernacle were diſſolved, we have a building with God, an houſe not made with hands, eternal in the heavens: Dr. Kendall in his anſwer to Mr. John Goodw…n, p. 53.That with Moſes you may dye upon the mount of viſion, and with David full of riches and honor, in a ſpiritual ſenſe: Oh this conſideration will make death-tokens, love-tokens and repreſent death as a meſſenger from your dear Jeſus; who brings the glad tidings of everlaſting p. 186life: if you fall by an arrow, yet is that arrow ſhot by the hand of God, in more love then Jonathans was to David; if by a ſtroke of the peſtilence, yet that peſtilence is no Plague, but ſomewhat a harſher plaſter of all miſcries: whatever be the fury of the diſeaſe, it is but a chariot of fire to carry you to heaven: None of the bleſſed Fathers ever complained of the untowardneſs of the way; ſo happy are they, in being ſeized of their inheritance among the Saints in light, though they were hurried thither through the darkeſt valley of the ſhaddow of death: Thus that learned Author.

O friends, mind the annointings of the Spirit, the ſealings of the Spirit, the witneſs of the ſpirit, and draw up a fair Copy of all the gracious viſits, actings, and workings of your bleſſed Redeemer, by his Spirit, unto, and upon your hearts, that your ſoules may often read therein, that ſo when you come to die, as needs you muſt, and be as water ſpilt upon the ground, which can be gathered up no more, you may then be ſet down in the valley of Achor, nay, may finde the valley of the ſhadow, of death, as the valley of Baracha; God hath pluckt out the ſting of death, and ſo death is given as a favour unto you: O read your own bleſſedneſs in the light and print of the ſpirit, Apoc. 14.13. Bleſſed are the dead that dye in the Lord, from **foreign, e veſtigio amodo, ab ipſo mortis articulo. Mr. Trap. in locum.henceforth, yea, ſaith the ſpirit, that they may reſt from their labors and their works do follow them. A Chriſtian, ſays one, is here like quick-ſilver, which hath in it a principle of motion not of reſt, never quiet, like a ball upon the rackets, a ſhip upon the waves, but death brings him to his reſt, his body to the grave, which is his bed of reſt, Iſa. 57.2. and his ſoul into Abrahams boſom, That reſt which remains to the people of God, Heb. 4.9. And your works ſhall follow you; mors privare poteſt …pibus, non operibus, death doth ſtrip a Saint of his weal…h, not of his works; there ſhall be a reſurrection of your prayers, and piety, yea honorable mention will be made of your charity to the poor Saints, at the great day, Mat. 25.35. I p. 187was an hungry and ye fed me, &c. Oh comfort your hearts with theſe conſiderations, duly weighing what ye have read, and you will find, when you ſive moſt in a lively ſenſe of grace received, and in the improvement of it, you live beſt to your ſelves, as to a greater freedom from ſin, a cloſer walking with God, and living a life of greateſt comfort.

3. A ſober and ſavourly collection of grace received, will make you live beſt to others, No man is born to himſelf, ſays the heathen, and no man liveth to himſelf ſays the holy Ghoſt, Rom. 14.5. he is a monſter in nature that centers onelyonly upon himſelf, and is fitter to dwell like an Anch…ret in a Cell, or like a leper apart, then in a community with men and Chriſtians; as there is a circulation of the blood in natural bodies, that every part may receive warmth and ſpirits to ſupply its want, and to render it ſerviceable to the whole: So ought there to be a circulation of gifts and graces in the body miſtical, upon ſpiritual accounts; therefore ſays the Apoſtle, We that are ſtrong, ought to bear the infirmities of the w…ak, either bear with them, or bear up the infirm and weak Chriſtians, as pillars do the poiſe of the whole houſe, or parents bear their babes in their armes, and not to pleaſe our ſelves, that is not to live onelyonly in a way of ſelf-pleaſing, as men acted by principles of ſelf-love, but verſ. 2. Let every one of us pleaſe his neighbour for his good to edification, for even Chriſt pleaſed not himſelf: The end of Chriſts coming into the world, was not to ſeek great things for himſelf, upon a carnal and ſelf-pleaſing ſcore; nay though the cup and croſs were diſpleaſing unto him, as man, and he prayed againſt them, yet when he conſidered, that the will of his father was to bring many ſons unto glory, and that by making the Captain of their ſalvation perfect through ſufferings, he preſently ſubmitted, and ſaid, not my will, but thine be done: Here's our pattern in the purſuance of others good; our lives ſhould be as ſo many Sermons on the life of Chriſt, as one ſaith; this is to walk as Chriſt walked, and this will give boldneſs in the day of p. 188Judgment: Now, we ſhall beſt ſeek our neighbours good, to edification, when we keep up a ſence of our own wants and weakneſſes, ſupplies and ſuccours, we ſhall thereby be like the good Scribe, Matth. 13. ver. 52. which is inſtrutied to the kingdome of heaven, who hath things new and old in his treaſury, to bring forth upon every occaſion: The Rabbins Proverb is, Lilmed, le-lammed, Learn, that ye may teach; and the Scribe, foreign, extrudit copioſe & alacriter, freely and fully gives forth his ſtore to the needy hearer: Chriſtians, as well as Miniſters, muſt be like full paps, Mr. Trap. in Mat. 13.52.Matt 13:52which pain the nurſe with their fulneſs, and therefore draw them out to their babes, that they may be drawn; or like Aromatical trees, which ſweat out their ſoveraign gummes and oyls: But alas! how few ſuch ſweating trees grow upon Engliſh ground; how many dry breaſts have we every where? and thoſe that are full have ſore nibbles, that will not give ſuck becauſe of the painfulneſs in drawing? Truely, when I obſerved this great evil amongſt the Chriſtians of our age and Nation, I was preſſed in ſpirit to provoke unto love and good works, and to publiſh my thoughts by way of brotherly advice unto them, that a wiſe and faithful improvement of our own caſes and graces, would excellently advantage the good of our neighbours: I ſhall inſtance, in ſome Particulars.

1. Your own experiences faithfully communicated will ma…veilouſly encourage young Converts, they will be as a ſtaff in the hand of the weak, whereon to ſtay: New beginners have many fears and pull-backs at their firſt ſetting forth for heaven; many adverſaries that do way-lay them, and many enemies that do purſue them; Egypt at the red ſea, and Amaleck in the wilderneſs: Satan levies all his temptation, to render the ſeed of grace abortive in their ſoules, ſo that it would bring forth fruit to perfection, at a ſlow rate, if the Lord Jeſus, who planted it, did not alſo water, and preſerve it, and that every moment, Iſa. 27. verſ. 3. Bendes, when the Lord gives a converted ſinner a viſion of himſelf, lets him ſee p. 189his own vileneſs, the heaps of ſin and luſt, the ſprings and falls of corruption in his nature; how he lies under the guilt of black and horrid ſins, open to the wrath of an Almighty and ſin-revenging God, and ready to drop into the grave and hell, out of which there is no recovery: Oh the fears that are upon his ſpirit! the diſmal thoughts that roul up and down his mind, the dreadfull ſound that is in his ears! but now, if you that are Chriſtians of ſome ſtanding in the grace of God, would impart your experiences, and tell him, what your fears, and terrours, and troubles were, and how the Lord gave you in comfort and eſtabliſhment; ſure, this would mightily encourage a young convert, and have a ſpecial influx to his peace, quietneſs, and conſolation! This was the Apoſtle Paul's way, 1 Tim. 1. ver. 15. This is a faithfull ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jeſus Chriſt came into the world to ſave ſinners; That is the Doctrinal part, which indeed flowes with much comfort into the heart of an humble believing ſinner; as Mr. Bilney, Martyr, found in a great conflict: But now the Applicatory part guſheth out with ſtreams of comfort; and what's that? of whom I am chief; howbeit I obtained mercy, that in me firſt, Jeſus Chriſt might ſhew forth all long-ſ…ffering, for a pattern to them, which ſhould hereafter believe on him to life everlaſting; as if he had ſaid, One great reaſon (next to the ſecret purpoſe of his own free grace) why this grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt was ſo exceeding abundant towards me, even to a pleonaſme of mercy, was, that I might be held forth, as a pattern of free grace, as a monument of pardoning and ſparing mercy to all ſinladen and ſin-loathing perſons (who are the true Penitents): Oh how would a wounded ſpirit, yet healing, a broken heart binding, and a drooping ſoul reviving from ſuch diſcoveries of miſery and mercy, of guilt and grace, ſin and ſalvation! there would no be ſuch ſinking of ſpirit, neither would the wounds of many be ſo long, raw, and bleeding, if experienced Chriſtians would be free in communicating their conditions and comforts p. 190unto them, and would, like the good Samaritan, pour in the wine and oyl of their experienced mercy.

2. This would be a mighty ſupport to weak believers, the experiences of ſtronger Chriſtians, rightly imparted, and improoved, will exceeding buttreſs up their faith; alas! when God firſt opens their eyes, they ſee men walking afar off, as trees, they have but imperfect apprehenſions of Goſpel depths: Godlineſs is ſo great a Myſtery; the work of Redemption in all its cauſalities, concurrences, and qualifications, is ſo myſterious, wrapt up ſo much in the glory of divine wiſdome, held forth under ſuch ſeeming impoſſibilities to carnal reaſon, and contradictions to corrupt nature, that they are ready to cry out, Nunquam natura mutabit ſic ſua …ura, ut virgo p… reret, nec v…rgin…tate careret: as that Iew ſaid.How can theſe things be? John 3. verſ. 4. And if theſe things be ſo, who then can be ſaved? Luke 18. verſ. 26. and are afraid to give aſſent unto thoſe deep Myſteries, as the truths of God; but when the Lord hath helped them over theſe doubts and difficulties, that they ſet their ſeal to the Goſpel, as ſpoken by the Lord, and confirmed by them that heard him, God alſo bearing them witneſs, with ſignes and wonders, and divers miracles and gifss of the Holy Ghoſt, according to his own will, Heb. 2.3, 4. ſo that they do willingly embrace this ſo great ſalvation; yet alas! the greateſt work of faith is behind, and that is to live upon the promiſes, to appropriate Jeſus Chriſt, to put on Chriſt, to believe that he is made unto us of God, wiſdom, righteouſneſs, holineſs and redempti…n, 1 Cor. 1.30. Chriſtus vivit, Chriſt liveth was Luthers motto, and Chriſt liveth in me, loveth me, and gave himſelf for me, is the language of true faith, Mr. Trap. in Gal. 2. v. 20.Gal 2:20Gal. 2.20. true faith individuateth Chriſt, and appropriateth him to a mans ſelf, this is the pith and power of particular faith: But ah! how long doth many a poor ſoul lye upon the bankes of Jordan, before he can waft over to the land of Canaan: Some of the Saints have many a hard pull for faith; they are fain to tug hard with fears and doubtings; ſometimes faith is up and fear down; ſometimes fear is up and faith is down. Why now, if ſtrong believers, who have the work of faith p. 191fulfilled in their hearts with ſome power, 2 Theſſ. 1.11. who have paſſed through the ſeveral ſtages of fear and faith, and have found thoſe very fears and troubles in their own ſouls; if ſuch would receive the weak in faith affeciu charitatis, into the boſome and embracement of Chriſtian love, not making them queſtion-ſick by doubtful diſputations, Rom. 14.1. but deal tenderly and gently with them, and give them a free and full account of their former fears and preſent faith, recounting their experiences, how, and in what methods, the Lord hath given them an eſtabliſhment in the faith; ſure, it would much conduce, through the grace and bleſſing of God, to the quieting, ſtrengthening, and confirming of weak believers: ſuppoſe I ſhould labor under a diſtemper, which in its nature and to ſome is mortal, and a friend tells me, he hath had the ſame diſeaſe in the ſame height, and accompanied with the ſame pains, and that in the uſe of ſuch and ſuch means, he had cure, and now is a healthful man; though I cannot be recovered by ſuch a narrative, yet I am perſwaded to uſe thoſe medicines, and am raiſed up to an expectancy of cure in the right uſe of them: So when a believer, who hath been upon the rack of fears and diffidences, comes to a doubting Chriſtian, that is torn in peices as it were, with them, and whoſe ſpirit even ſinks within him, and tells him, that it was ſo with him, that he wreſtled long with diſcouragements, and in a pet of unbelief was ready to throw up all, crying out, all men are lyars; that notwithſtanding, what this Prophet and that Apoſtle, this Preacher, and that Preacher hath ſaid, I ſhall periſh in my ſins, and be a caſt-away to all Eternity, and that then, the Lord came in, led him by the hand of his ſpirit, to this and that Promiſe; ſhewed him the ſealed fountain open, Zech. 13. verſ. 1. the bloud of Chriſt, as a fountain, therefore full, and as open, therefore free, both to pardon ſin, and purge uncleanneſs, and that now, he is juſtified by faith, and hath peace with God through Jeſus Chriſ…, Rom. 5. verſ. 1. yea, joy in God, through Jeſus Chriſt, by whom he p. 192hath now received the attonement, verſ. 10. Thou I ſay, a believer cannot ſpare any oyl, out of his own veſſel, to ſupply the want of another with, nor work faith in his heart, (that being the peculiar work of the Lord Jeſus, Heb. 12. ver. 2.) yet ſuch diſcoveries as theſe will mightily raiſe up the heart of a ſinking Chriſtian, and beget in him a hopefull expectancy of faith, in this evidence of it; however he brings him up to the Concluſion, To ſear the Lord, and obey the voice of his ſ…rvant, yea, though he walk in darkneſs, and ſees no light, yet to truſt in the Lord, and ſtay upon his God, Iſa. 50. verſ. 10. And thus is his ſoul quieted in this recumbent act of Faith, untill the day dawn, and the day ſtar ariſe in his heart.

You will live beſt to others, when, in the ſenſe and evidence of Grace received, you communicate your experiences, by way of comfort, unto others, in theſe 4 particular caſes;

1. In the black day of Perſecution.

2. In the ſad hour of Temptation.

3. In the dark night of ſpirituall deſertion.

4. In the bewailed want of the Spirits witneſs to Son-ſhip and ſalvation: which caſes the Saints of God do uſually meet withal, whileſt they are at home in the body, and in the Apoſtles ſenſe, abſent from the Lord, 2 Cor. 5. ver. 6.

1. You that are experienced Chriſtians may much underprop a timorous and faint-hearted Profeſſour in dayes of Perſecution; when his fears are great, his dangers many, and his courage low: Have you not heard a ſervant of the Lord, ſadly ſpeaking this Language, I expect every hour an Apparitour, or Purſevaunt, to fetch me to the Court or Counſel; But I fear I ſhall wrong the cauſe and Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt, in that I ſhall not be able to give an anſwer to them that ask me, a reaſon of the hope that is in me, 1 Pet. 3. ver. 15. nor repel the ſubtil arguments, which will be drawn up againſt the Truth, and thereby ſhall bring ſhame upon p. 193my ſelf, reproach upon Religion, and diſhonour to the Lord Jeſus. Now if an experienced Chriſtian ſhall reply, Is this thy fear? do ſuch thoughts as theſe ſadden thy ſpirit? come, cheer up man; this is a path that I have troden; I have been called out to bear witneſs to the truth, before as learned ſubtil Inquiſitours as theſe be, and was under much trouble what to ſay, and how to anſwer, being then low in knowledg, and weak in judgment, but I found that promiſe made good unto me, Luke 21. ver. 15. I will give you a mouth and wiſdome, which all your adverſa…ies ſhall not be able to gainſay or reſiſt; I was ſupplyed from on high both with Invention and Elocution, that I might… ſay with Luther, Neſcio unde veniunt iſtae meditationes; I know not whence thoſe Arguments, Anſwers, and Objections came; but ſure, it was the Spirit of my Father which ſpake in me, and the Promiſe is univerſal, to all the Saints, when brought to a day of trial; How bravely did Anne Aſcue, Alice Driver, and other poor women, anſwer the Doctours, and put them to a nonplus? Fear not then, For it ſhall be given you in that ſame hour, what you ſhall ſpeak, Matth. 10. verſ. 19.

A Second Complaint of a poor Chriſtian is this; I have wife and children to take care for, my heart goes out exceeding much unto them, it goes very near me, to bring them into an eſtate of want and povertie; and therefore I much fear, that I ſhall grudge exceedingly to ſuffer a confiſcation of mine Eſtate for conſcience ſake; I ſhall be loath to draw up mine own will in mine own bloud, and give away all mine Eſtate from my dear relations, that ſtrangers ſhall inherit my labours, and the children of mine own body ſhall be turned out of doors: a ſad tryal! enough to daſh thoſe generous ſpirits of the Goſpel, in that heart, where fleſh and bloud are conſulted with: But now if an experienced believer ſhall take him to task, and tell him in the word of faithfulneſs; O friend, this was my caſe; I had a fair inheritance deſcended upon me, had much improved it by p. 194my care and induſtry, God gave me a fruitfull vine, with many Olive branches round about my Table, which made my heart full loath to forſake all, and to follow Chriſt; it cut me to the heart to think, that, for Religion and conſcience ſake, I ſhould be cruel to mine own fleſh, and make void their title to any, who, by the Law of nature, and nations, have a right unto all; but through the good hand of my God, when I was called to it; I was crucified to the world, and the world was crucified to me; the Lord had ſo taken the world out of my heart, and fill'd it ſo much with heaven, and drawn up my relations to that height of ſelf-denial, that they ſpake to me the words of Origen to his Father Leonides (who ſuffered in the fifth Perſecution) Cave tibi, Mr. Fox, Act. & Mon. vol. 1. pag. 70.ne quid propter nos aliud quam martyrii conſtanter faciendi pr…ſpoſitum cogites; Beware, leſt for our ſakes, and out of principles of love to us, you take up any other reſolution, then what becomes a faithfull martyr, and confeſſour of the Lord Jeſus; ſo that I was able to take joyfully the ſpoiling of my goods, knowing that in heaven I had a better and more enduring ſubſtance, Heb. 10. ver. 34. and to truſt my ſelf and family in the hands of that Jeſus Chriſt, who hath given this aſſurance to every one, Iulian the Apoſtate put Valentinian out of the Tribuneſhip for his Religion, who afterwardhad the Empire caſt upon him.that hath forſaken houſes or lands, for his name ſake, that he ſhall receive an hundred fold, and ſhall inherit eternal life Matth. 19. ver. 29. and to take his word, who hath ſaid, I will never leave thee, nor forſake thee, Heb. 13. verſ. 5. — and bleſſed be his name, I have found much of this made good by my own experience; I have not loſt by that, which I loſt for Chriſt: Queen Elizabeth would not have wiſhed her ſelf a Milkmaid, when impriſoned for the Goſpel ſake, if ſhe had foreknown, what a happy Raign of four and fourty years the Lord had reſerved her unto.

3. But a third Complaint (which, as the great deep, ſwallowes up the two firſt) of a poor Chriſtian is this; though I ſhould not have much to loſe, or the Lord ſhould give me a heart willingly to loſe it for the Goſpel ſake, yet I am afraid I ſhall never burn for Chriſt, but p. 195when I come to the ſtake, I ſhall prove a wretched Apoſtate, and ſhall be farre from the courage of that brave Martyr Biſhop Hooper, who, being brought to the ſtake, Mr. Clar…, in vita patrum.at Gloceſter, a box with a pardon in it was ſet before him, which when he knew, he cryed out, If you love my ſoul, away with it; if you love my ſoul, away with it: Oh! great have been the fears of many in times of perſecution: But now when an experimental Chriſtian ſhall ſay unto the fearfull, Be ſtrong: Let not the ſight of fire and faggot daunt thee: Juſt thus it was with me, I verily feared, that the ſight of a ſtake made ready with fire and faggot for me, would have made me run out of my wits, and Religion too, and yielded to a baſe compliance, to have ſaved this carkaſs: But I bleſs the Lord, when I was haled to the priſon, dragg'd to the dungeon, and threatened with a tormenting death, unleſs I would receive the mark of the beaſt, and worſhip the whore; I then found the incomes of the ſpirit ſo plentifully, received ſuch an Heroick faith, in ſo high a meaſure, and was ſo fraught with Chriſtian magnanimity, that I am humbly bold to perſwade my ſelf, (had I then been call'd to it) I ſhould have ſuffered Martyrdome with much cheerfulneſs, and comfort, I had that ſet upon my heart, which was upon Mr. Bilney's, who being told, that fire was very hot, replyed, I know it, having often tryed it, by putting my ſinger into the flame of a candle; yet I am perſwaded by Gods holy word, and the experience of ſome ſpoken of in it, that, in the flame they felt no heat, and in the fire no conſumption; and I believe, that though the ſtubble of my body be conſumed, yet my ſoul ſhall be purged thereby, and after ſhort pain, will be in joy unſpeakable. — I believed that Promiſe, Iſa. 44. v. 2. When thou walkeſt through the fire, thou ſhalt not be burnt, neither ſhall the flame kindle upon the: doubtleſs, if this courſe was duely obſerved, the people of the Lord would be better prepared for a day of ſuffering: How did the Primitive Martyrs, and our Marian Sufferers comfort and encourage one another againſt the day of ſlaughter? p. 196And certainly, the Chriſtians of our time, would beſt live to their weak Brethren, if, by communicating their experiences unto them, they would endeavour to prepare them for a ſuffering time, not knowing, but the Lord may call ſome of us unto it.

You that are experienced Chriſtians may ſhew much kindneſs, by way of comfort unto tempted ones, if you would impart unto them the goodneſs of the Lord, and the ſuccours from an high, which you have found in an hour of temptation; if you would give your hearts a vent, and pour forth your experiences into their boſomes; Oh, nothing more uſual then to have Chriſtians tempted; nor, then to hear them under temptations crying out, Never was any poor creature tempted as I am; never had any ſuch buffetings as I have; never were ſuch black lines drawn in any Chriſtians ſoul, as are in mine; and indeed, Sathan loves to hear them cry out, was ever grief like mine? did ever any feel ſuch terrours and tempeſts, in their ſoules, as I do in mine? Surely, the day of the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon me, Lam. 1.12. It is the Devils maſterpeice of pollicy, to perſwade tempted Saints, that their ſorrow is great, that their ſorrow is from the Lord, that their great ſorrow is from the Lord, in a way of fierce anger, and that it is a none-ſuch calamity; for hereby he perſwades the Saints to hard thoughts of God, and that God hath hard thoughts of them; this he attempted upon Job, by making his wife, not a miſerable comforter onelyonly, Reverend and learned Mr. Caryl, in his Lectures upon this Scripture gives us the ſeveral judgment of expoſitors pag. 275, 276, 277, 278.but a miſerable counſeller alſo, when ſhe ſayes, Job 2. ver. 9. Doſt thou ſtill retain thine integrity? Doſt thou fear God ſtill? love God ſtill? have honourable thoughts of God ſtill? canſt thou imagine, that God ſhould ſend, or ſuffer all theſe evils upon thee, and yet love thee, yet bear the good-will of a Father unto thee? ſurely no, thou putteſt a wrong Interpretation upon theſe ſad providences, and therefore anſwer hatred with hatred, wrath with wrath, revenge with revenge; curſe God, let fly in the very face of God; let the world know him to be ſuch a God, as thou findeſt him to be, … p. 197harſh God, an unmercifull God, a cruel Maſter to his beſt ſervants, and an implacable adverſary to his beſt friends.

This ſeems to be the ſence of thoſe words, curſe God; for Bereck, as it ſignifies bowing the knee, or ſpeaking ill, as, 1 Kings 21. verſ. 10. The falſe witneſſes laid it to Naboths charge, That he did blaſpheme God and the King, yet the word is, Berekath — from Bereck, Thus Job 1. v. 5. and Ver. 11. the ſame is uſed; ſo that, we need not ſtudy Arguments to acquit our Tranſlatours of blame, for rendring the word Curſe God; This reaſon is given by a learned Expoſitour, Dr Richardſon, in locum.That the crime of blaſpemy was ſo odious, yea execrable in thoſe dayes, that though the Hebrews had a proper word to expreſs it by, yet they choſe rather to expreſs it by a word, which ſignifies, to bleſs or praiſe God: and there is much probabilities, that this is the ſence of the words, Unleſs this S…ory of Iob was before the Law was given, is the judgment of ſome, Mr. Iackson, in the 1 Ch. of Iob. Mr. Caryl, and others. Yet then had they the Law and light of nature, by which they puniſhed blaſphemy with death. Mr. Caryl. in loc. p. 28.becauſe the Law againſt blaſphemy was capital, and puniſhed the offender with death, Levit. 24. ver. 15, 16. Whoſoever curſeth his God, ſhall bear his ſin; and he that blaſpemeth the name of the Lord, he ſhall ſurely be put to death, and all the Congregation ſhall certainly ſtone him; as well the ſtranger, as the dweller in the land, when he blaſphemeth the name of the Lord, ſhall he be put to death: Now then the advice of Job's wife is this, Curſe God, and die; that is, if thou curſeſt God, the law of blaſphemy will reach thee, thou wilt be ſtoned to death, and ſo have a ſpeedy cure of all thy ſores and ſorrows; Thus Mr. Caryl gives the ſence, page 281. and better it is to dy painfully, then live miſerably: if ſhe had intended a word of counſel unto him, that, notwithſtanding all the ſad Providences upon him, yet he ſhould bleſs and praiſe God under them, why ſhould ſhe add, and die? this would not have made him culpable before man, much leſs, more provoked God againſt him: and certainly, Job's reply clears it up, verſ. 10. Thou ſpeakeſt as one of the fooliſh women ſpeaketh: Nabal implies as well a wicked perſon, as a fool, as Pſal. 14.1. Nabal hath ſaid in his heart, there is no God, and ſure this perſon is a fool upon a Religious, and moral as well as a natural account.

p. 1982. Satan by this means would beſt reach the end he propoſed, and prove the truth of what he had aſſerted, chap. 1.11. Put forth thy hand now and touch all his ſubſtance, and he will curſe thee to thy face. So chap. 2.5. Oh the experience of tempted Saints is the beſt Expoſitor of this place; they will tell you, what ſharp and ſad aſſaults have been made upon them, and what hard thoughts of God have been injected into them: Oh that this might more caution us, not to entertain any unworthy thought of God, which in its kind is blaſphemy, as heart-adultery is adultery. Oh bewail and beware of the Ranters ſpirit; tis probable he began with an undervaluing thought of God, which was the Serpents head, and then that finding wellcome, as the ſeed and ſpawn of an opinion and ſect, he wrigled in his whole body and tail alſo, by bold and blaſphemous oaths, curſes, and Atheiſtical concluſions: Ah friends its our wiſdom obſtare principiis, to ſtop the firſt leak that is ſprung, to ſcatter the firſt puff of this ſmoak, which riſeth from the bottomleſs pit, leaſt it gather into ſuch thick clouds about our ſouls, that it dims our eyes, damps our comforts, and deads our hearts alſo; and in all our temptations, it would be much our wiſdom to conſult the experiences of the Lords tryed ones; for ſurely, ſuch may much advance comfort, and much advantage the recovery of tempted ones, if they parallel their condition with their own, and tell them, thus and thus have we been tempted, in all points like unto you, and the Lord ſtood by us in the day of our tryal, and hath now bruiſed Satan under our feet, and hath with the temptation made a way to eſcape, 1. Cor. 10.13. we have found, that it is the common lot of all Saints to be tempted, and that God is faithful in his ſupplies and ſuccors, when they are tempted, and therefore the God and father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the father of mercies, and God of all comfort, who hath comforted us in all our trioulation (through temptation) hath enabled us to comfort you in theſe your troubles, by the comfort wherewith we our ſelves have been comforted of God, 2 Cor. 1.3, 4. for as the croſſes p. 199ſo the comforts of Saints are parallel, as the deſeaſe ſo the cure is the ſame, which experienced grace and ſuccour well applyed, will much advance in the hearts of tempted ones.

3. There is a third caſe wherein experiences imparted and improved would ſingularly tend to the comfort of others, and that is, in the dark night of ſpiritual deſertion: it is not always clear day with the Saints; the Sun of righteouſneſs is often clouded, ſometimes eclipſed to them: and ſurely the voiage is very uncomfortable, when for many days together, neither Sun nor Moon, nor Star appear unto them; it is the preſence of God, that giveth light and life unto the ſoul, and therefore when God hides his face they are troubled, Pſal. 30.7. This caſt the Spouſe into a ſwooning fit, you may finde her dead up the ground, Cant. 5.6. My ſoul failed, ceaſed all vital operation; and if you inquire into her diſtemper, what it was that came ſo near her heart, ſhe will tell you My beloved hath withdrawn himſelf and is gone; he hath hid himſelf and I cannot finde him, he hath broke up houſe and gone; and if Chriſt be gone all is gone with her; ſhe had ſuch panges of love, ſuch a Paroxiſme of conjugal affection, that the abſence of her beloved ſtruck cold to her very heart: juſt as it was with Micha, Judg. 18.23, 24. When the Danites had plundered him of his Prieſt, his Ephod and his Teraphim, he runs crying after them, and when they ſaid unto him, what aileſt thou? O ſays he, you have taken away my God, and my Prieſt, and are gone away: and what have I more? Alas! ye have undone me, ye have left me God-leſs and Prieſt-leſs, and what have I more? All I have left is but lumber, is but as empty caskes; my eſtate, my riches, my comfort, my happineſs lay in theſe: So it is with a gracious ſoul, wife is nothing, children nothing, friends nothing, honor nothing, eſtate nothing, all nothing, when Chriſt is gone; what have I more ſays a poor believer? and if ever poor, now is he ſo in his own apprehenſion: Ah! Chriſt is ſo his all, that when Chriſt is gone (though indeed he is but ſtepped aſide, p. 200a little, he loves his unto the end, and therefore never leaves them) all is gone with him; peace gone, joy gone, comfort gone, hope gone, faith gone, I, and heaven too in his thoughts, and what are all his enjoyments then, but dorſs & dogs-meat, but traſh and lumber? many ſad ſtories may be told on this ſubject: the bitterneſs of ſoul that the Saints have felt in the withdrawings of Chriſt, hath been exceeding ſad: How at ſuch a time as this, if Miniſters and Chriſtian friends apply promiſe after promiſe, ſpeak comfort in the ſweeteſt and moſt Evangelicat ſtrain that can be, yet no plaiſter will ſtick, no cordial will ſtay, no comfort will be taken; he will tell you, they are bleſſed who have a right to promiſes, but I have none Goſpel-priviledges are a precious portion, But not to me: they are bleſſed whoſe unrighteouſneſs is forgiven, and whoſe ſin is covered, but mine is charged; there is fullneſs of joy in the preſence of God, but I am a caſt-out: they are happy indeed that ſhall ſpend eternity in heaven, but I ſhall never come thither: Many expreſſions of this nature, ſpeaking much diſtreſs of ſoul, and much diſpair, have faln from the lips of Saints in times of great deſertion: If Iſrael make them a golden calf, it is in the abſence of Moſes, and if ever Satan gain upon the Saints, it muſt be when Chriſt is withdrawn, he knows that, and therefore he preſſeth hard upon them at ſuch a time, now I am much perſwaded that if an experienced Chriſtian would make an humble and faithful narrative of his own condition to a deſerted Sain…, and tell him, ſuch hath been my caſe; time was when the Lord hid his face from me, when the lovingkindneſſ…s of God were ſhut up in diſpleaſure againſt me, when I had loſt all communion with God, all ſenſe of pardoning and accepting grace with God, when I could not poure forth my ſoul in prayer unto God, and when I had no incomes by way of comfort from God; though Miniſters and Chriſtians ſpake comfortably unto me, ſpread the precious truths, promiſes and priviledges of the Goſpel before me, and argued clearly and convincingly concerning my ſpirituall p. 201eſtate, proving by evident demonſtrations that I was in a ſtate of grace, a child of God an heir of life, and under the peculiar love of God, though at preſent the ſence thereof was ſuſpended for a little while: yet ſuch a damp had ſeized upon my ſpirit, my ſoul was ſo filled with horrors, and ſuch ſad apprehenſions had I of ſin and wrath, that I lay at the very gates of hell; nay ſo ſubtle a diſputant was I, being prompted by that old Sophiſter the devil, that I could frame ſuch arguments, ſo full of fraud and fallacies, that all my friends could not anſwer them, and could with that readineſs anſwer all their arguments, that there was none could tell how to oppoſe me, ſo that I triumphed, as it were, in that ſad victory, that I had baffled all my opponents, and held up the cudgels againſt all comers: But by the goodneſs of the Lord, the miſt is broke up, the clouds are ſcattered, the face of God appears again, and I finde joy, and peace, and comfort in my ſoul: yea the beams of Gods favor ſhine brighter, and the ſtreams of conſolation run more freſh and freely then ever they did; I found that precious promiſe made good to me, Iſa. 54.7, 8, 9. For a little while have I forſaken thee, but with great compaſsion will I gather thee, for a moment in mine anger, I hide my face from thee for a little ſeaſon, but with everlaſting mercy have I had compaſsion on thee, ſays the Lord thy Redeemer, for this is unto me as the waters of Noah: for as I have ſworn that the waters of Noah ſhould no more go over the earth, ſo have I ſworn that I would not be angry with thee, nor rebuke thee; for the mountains ſhall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindneſs ſhall not depart from thee, neither ſhall the covenant of my peace be removed, ſaith the Lord that hath mercy on thee: And therefore be comforted O thou deſerted Saint, the Lord Jeſus ſtands at thy door and knocks; open, open then unto him, and he will come in to thee and ſup with thee and thou with him, Rev. 3.20. There is a table ſpread, his comforts are diſhed out, the chairs are all ready ſet, and I am ſent as a meſſenger from the Lord, to invite thee to this banquet, and to aſſure thee, in the name of thy dear p. 202Jeſus, that thou ſhalt eat many a meal at his table, and thy countenance ſhall be no more ſad, Prov. 12.25. Heavineſs in the heart of man maketh it ſtoop, but a good word maketh it glad: Oh ſure! theſe experiments, as to deſertion, and as to conſolation, as to the withdrawings, and the returns of Gods favour, would marvailouſly revive a drooping Saint, and make his ſtooping heart glad: my reaſons are theſe.

1. Becauſe the methods of God in correcting and comforting his people are the ſame, their tryals and their triumphs are alike; as face anſwers face in a glaſs, ſo the condition of one Saint anſwers another: There is no new thing under the Sun; that which is now hath been: there is no temptation happeneth to any, but what is common to man, 1 Cor. 10.13. Yea, the beſt of men.

2. Becauſe experiments gain much authority with us; we are apt to expect good from a probatum eſt, in order to natural, ſo to a ſpiritual cure; Come ſee a man which told me all things that ever I did, is not this the Chriſt? ſays the woman to the Samaritanes, Joh. 4.29. and upon this they went out of the City and came unto him; this was the method of Saint John in his firſt Epiſtle ch. 1.1, 3. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have ſeen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the word of life, that which we have ſeen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye alſo may have fellowſhip with us; and truely our fellowſhip is with the father and with his Son Jeſus Chriſt.

3. Becauſe God will hereby ſet a greater mark of honor upon the Saints, and make them with more affectionateneſs love one another, when they find that the eye hath need of the hand, and the head of the foot, 1 Cor. 12.21. that they are mutually dependent upon, and mutually ſerviceable one to another: It is much my thoughts, that in the way propoſed, the people of God would be more comforted one by another, and their hearts would be more knit up in love one to another.

4. You will live beſt to others, when you draw forth p. 203the ſenſe and experience, which ye have found of the love of God, by way of hope and helpfulneſs unto thoſe that mourn under the want of the ſpirits witneſs to their Son-ſhip and ſalvation; with what holy earneſtneſs doth many a ſervant of the Lord preſs after aſſurance? how would he accept of it, as a good bargain indeed, if purchaſed with the loſs of all outward enjoyments? and how is it with many as it was with Paul, in another caſe, 2 Cor. 2.13. I had not reſt in my ſpirit, becauſe I found not Titus my brother: Certainty of ſalvation is this Titus, the abſence whereof fills the ſoul with a ſtrange unquietneſs, breathing after it in every duty, in every ordinance, in every promiſe; they are ſtrangers to the prayers and practices, tears and troubles of the Saints, that are ignorant of this. That certainty of ſalvation is attainable, is a clear truth, 1 Joh. 5.13. Theſe things write I unto you, that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know ye have eternal life, not with the certainty of hope onelyonly (as the Papiſts ſay) but of faith alſo, in the foretaſtes of after-bleſſedneſs, Apoc. 2.17. To him that overcome will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white ſtone, with a new name written in it, which no man knoweth, ſaving he that hath received it; indeed, this ſealing of the holy Spirit of Promiſe, is a certain divine impreſſion of light, a certain unexpreſſiable aſſurance that we are the Sons of God; a certain ſecret manifeſtation that God hath received us, and put away our ſins; I ſay, ſays worthy Dr. Preſton, tis ſuch a thing, which no man knows, Ne Covenant, p. 399.but he that hath received it: it is a wondrous thing, and if there were not ſome Chriſtians, that do feel it and know it, you might believe that there was no ſuch thing, that it were but a fancy and Enthuſiaſme; but it is certain that there are a generation of men, which know, what this ſeal of the Lord is; now then if ſuch as do experimentally know it, and know how they attained unto it, would be but free in their communications, how might they be as faithful guides unto thoſe, Who ask the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward? how might they ſet up p. 204way marks for them, and led them by their ports within the view, yea to the ſuburbes of heavenly Jeruſalem? telling them, this courſe we ſteered, we were much in prayer, much in an humble attendance upon Goſpel-appointments, much in ſearching of the Holy Scriptures, much in conteſting againſt all corruptions, much in a due and ſerious tryal of our own ſpiritual eſtate, and gave much diligence to make our calling and election ſure, 2 Pet. 1.10. We did not go to the univerſity of election, untill we had been at the Grammer-School of vocation (as one ſaith) we began below at our ſanctification, at the work and truth of grace in our hearts, and ſo gradually aſcended ſtep by ſtep unto the top-ſtone of our election; we framed a Sillogiſme of aſſurance from the witneſs of water and blood, and the Lord at length, ſuperadded the witneſs of his ſpirit: This we did and bleſſed be the Lord, we are ſealed with that holy ſpirit of promiſe, which is the earneſt of our inheritance, untill the redemption of the purchaſed poſſeſſion, Eph. 1.13, 14. and therefore go you and do likewiſe; pray in hope, wait in hope, and believe in hope, under the perſwaſion, that the viſion is for an appointed time, but at the end, it ſhall ſpeak and not lye; though it tarry, wait for it, becauſe it will ſurely come, and will not tarry, Hab. 2.3. we can ſet our ſeal of experience to this truth, though we waited long, yet the viſion hath ſpoken; our ſouls have heard the ſpeakings of God by his ſpirit, in peace and joy: and a rejoycing hope of glory to come; and bleſſed be God it doth not lye, it is not a preſumptuous brag, an opinionative boaſt, which vaniſheth into ſmoak and air in a time of tryal; but a real evidence of divine love, and demonſtrative aſſurance of our eternal bleſſedneſs: Therefore fear not, ye ſervants of the Lord, Who walk in darkneſs and as yet ſee no light, light is ſown for the righteous, and gladneſs for the upright in heart, Pſal. 97.11. the ſeed time is paſt, and the harveſt is drawing on, you ſhall have your ſheavs of joy alſo; the viſion that hath ſpoke to us, will ſpeak to you alſo; Our Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, and God even our Father, which hath loved us, and given p. 205us everlaſting conſolation, and good hope through grace, will comfort your hearts and ſtabliſh you in every good word and work, 2 Theſſ. 2.16, 17. O how may the Saints of God, in all theſe caſes, mutually contribute to the comforting, councelling, ſupporting, and edifying each other in their moſt holy faith, if they would be free in communicating their experiences to one another, and more frequent in holding up communion one with another: The wiſe man tells us, As Iron ſharpeneth Iron, ſo a man ſharpeneth the countenance of his friend; the point of moſt Chriſtian zeal is very blunt; they are ſharp enough in cenſures, and contentions, to draw blood of the credit, yea the conſciences of their brethren: But what edge would be ſet upon their zeal in the beſt ſenſe, and for the beſt things, if they would often meet together in love, and ſharpen each other by holy conferrences? may not the neglect of Chriſtian communion rightly managed, be much a cauſe of our diviſions, and animoſities? and would it not be a healing means, as to love and union amongſt the Saints? would it not procure a right underſtanding to prevent Schiſms and parties? would it not meeken the ſpirits of diſſenting brethren? would it not daſh thoſe hot vapors, which fly up into the heads of many, and diſtemper their brains with notions and niceties? and may it not through the bleſſing of God, have an hopefull tendency to the quickening, comforting, confirming, and ſpiritualizing the Saints, the whole Nation over? Mal. 3.16. Then (in a time bad enough, and it may be, much worſe then ours, whatſoever ſome men ſay) they that feared the Lord, ſpake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard, and a book of remembrance was writ before the Lord, for thoſe that feared him and thought upon his name, &c. What an encouraging practice of the Saints and promiſe of the Lord is here, to quicken us up to a ſuitable carriage? we have had much talk of Claſſical Aſſemblies, of teaching and ruling Elders to advance the diſcipline of Chriſt: O that we might have (bear the word, and blame not the wiſh) Claſſical communions of Miniſters, and Chriſtians, p. 206to advance the doctrine, and life, and holineſs of the Lord Jeſus? and that now the Lord hath given all his Churches reſt throughout his Nation, we may walk in the fear of the Lord and comfort of the holy Ghoſt with one lip and one ſhoulder conſulting our mutual edification, and the enlargement of the Kingdom of the Lord Jeſus, taking that Primitive practice, Act. 9.31. for our pattern; and this gives me a leading hint to offer a fourth conſideration unto you, how you may live beſt unto thoſe that are yet without.

4. You will more advance Religion in your ſeveral Towns, and maintain good neighborhood upon the beſt account, if you lend a word of ſeaſonable advice, to thoſe that are poſting to hell, and jogging on, with more haſt then good ſpeed, to the chambers of death; and thus you will beſt do, if you ſpeak over unto them, how it hath been with you, how ignorant, how carnal, how earthly-minded, how obſtinate, how fooliſh, and vain you have been; and how you were in the broad way to deſtruction, yet altogether ſenceleſs and ſtupid, as to any right apprehenſion of your danger, or right uſe of means for your recovery, untill the Lord convinced you by his ſpirit of ſin, of righteouſneſs and of judgement, Joh. 16.8. granted you repentance unto life, Acts 11.18. and now being juſtified by his grace, you are made heirs according to the hope of eternal life, Tit. 3.6 Now by grace you are acquitted from the guilt of ſins, and have a clear title unto heaven: And friends, who knows whether the ſame mercy be not laid up in ſtore for you? whether the ſame bleſſed change may not be wrought in you? whether the ſame kindneſs a…d love of God our Saviour may not manifeſt it ſelf to you? Surely diſcourſes of this nature (which you may enlarge upon occaſion, according to the teachings of the good ſpirit of God) may work in them a ſenſe of danger and hope of delivery upon a ſaving account: Tis much that the Saints do for the profane world, much for their unregenerate neighbors; as is their duty commanded.

p. 2071. In communicating unto them in their outward wants, in drawing out their bowells towards diſtreſſed perſons; they have a word of command, Ecc. 11.1. To caſt their bread upon the waters, giving a portion to ſeven, and alſo to eight. So Heb. 13.16. To do good and to communicate forget not, for with ſuch ſacrifices God is well pleaſed, and Gal. 6.10. to do good to all men, ſuppoſed in diſtreſs, as objects of mercy, though the foreign the eſpecially in the text directs them to a larger, and more liberal charity towards the houſhold of faith; and I doubt not, much water runs out at theſe two ſpouts, of Mercy and Charity, that this teſtimony may be given of many of the Saints, 2 Cor. 8.3. That to their power, yea and beyond their power, they are willing to ſupply the wants of their fellow-Chriſtians, yea fellow-creatures alſo: and indeed it would be much their ſhame, and more their ſin, if men of carnal principles and worldly expectancies, outſtrip them in obedience to this great Goſpel command, Prov. 19.17. He that hath pitty upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he hath given, will he pay him again. Though God be much out of credit with the world, yet the Saints dare take his word, and do lend much unto the poor upon his ſingle ſecurity.

2. They have a great hand in procuring the bleſſing of God upon their carnal neighbors though God is good to all, making his Sun to riſe on the evil and ſending rain on the unjuſt, Mat. 5.45. bearing witneſs to his goodneſs and God-head in all nations, by giving rain from heaven and fruitful ſeaſons, filling the hearts of men with food and gladneſs, Act. 14.17. yet even the mercies of the footſtool, the neither ſprings run much for the ſake of the godly, which are in the world, and are much as a return of their prayers; Laban the Syrian learned this by experience, that the Lord bleſſed him as to his outward eſtate, for Jacobs ſake, Gen. 30.27. Potiphar ſaw this alſo, chap. 39.5. It came to paſs, from the time that Potiphar had made Joſeph overfe…r in his houſe, that the Lord bleſſed the Egyptians houſe for Joſephs ſake and the bleſſing of the Lord was upon all that be had p. 208in the houſe, and in the field; a plain text and that which teacheth great perſonages to commit their affairs, to the truſt and care of Joſephs, as Stewards and Bailiffs; it would go better with them then it does: But alas! Joſephs, Religious men are not the onelyonly men in great families, more's the pity and more is there loſs: the Lord help them to ſee and all men elſe, how much good the Lords Joſephs are inſtrumental unto in the world, that they may be more prized by all, and maſters may labor more to ſtore their families with ſuch ſervants: how deſirous ſoever the profane world is to be rid of the Saints, ſure I am, they would dearly miſs them; Elias was a man ſubject to like paſsions as we are, yet he prayed in a great drought, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth fruit, Jam. 4.17. make much then of Jacobs, Joſephs, and Elijahs; O ye men of the world, you'l miſs them in your barns and in your borders, I'le warrant you when they are gone.

3. They keep off many a blow from the places where they live, they either divert, or at leaſt delay the execution of judgements: Ten righteous perſons would have preſerved four Cities from periſhing by fire from heaven, Gen. 18.32. How did David and the Elders of Iſrael, by their prayer and humiliation, keep off the ſad ſtroak of the peſtilence from Jeruſalem, when the Angel was now ſtretching forth his hand to deſtroy it, 1 Chron. 21.15, 16, 17. And truely how ſhould we admire the goodneſs of the Lord, that the plague hath rid circuit through moſt Nations in the world in late years, and that by a deſolating mortality in ſome places, and yet hath not for this many years, broke forth in any raging manner, in this Nation of ours; ought not this diſtinguiſhing providence of God, ſince reformation firſt began, in the long Parliament, be much admired, and the Lord be thankfully adored for it? and may we not own a remnant in the Land, as a bleſſing from the Lord, who ſtood in the gap.

p. 209Nay farther, it is upon the account of the Saints, that the world continues, that the fire of God doth not kindle upon the whole Creation, which is combuſtible to melt the heavens and burn up the earth, with the works that are therein, the floud of waters was onelyonly reſpited, until Noah, and his family were ſecured in the Ark, which being done, the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windowes of heaven were opened, Gen. 7. ver. 11. When Lot was entred into Zoar, then the Lord rained fire and brimſtone upon Sodom, Gen. 19. ver. 23, 24. 2 Pet. 3. v. 9. The Lord is long-ſuffering, to us ward, not willing that any of his ſhould periſh; but when the whole election is brought in, then cometh the end; when the ſealing Angel Apoc. 7. ver. 1, 2, 3. had ſealed the ſervants of God in their foreheads, then had the four Angels, that ſtood on the four corners of the earth, full commiſſion to fall pel mel upon the earth: It will be a dooms day with the world, when the cloudes ſhall catch up the elect, to meet their Lord in the air, 1 Theſſ. 4. verſ. 17.

5. And Laſtly, The Saints of God may moſtly advantage their carnal neighbours, in promoting their converſion, herein they would ſhew themſelves friends indeed, if they would uſe all humble and earneſt endeavours to bring them home to God. The Judicial Law commanded every Iſraelite to bring a ſtraying ox or aſs home to his maſter: How much more doth the Law of God and Chriſtian love, oblige every true Iſraelite indeed, to bring a ſtraggling Prodigal home to his Fathers houſe? All the Saints own it as their duty, to glorifie God in their generation; and wherein can they bring more glory to God, then in helping ſoules to heaven? and how can they find out a readier way to effect this great buſineſs, then by telling, Ʋnleſs the Lord had been their help, their ſoules had well nigh dwelt in ſilence? by making a faithfull narrative of their own conditions, by nature and by grace? when and how the goodneſs of the Lord was made known unto them upon a ſaving account? Some of the Saints, I may boldly affirm, have p. 210taken this courſe and proſpered: Oh that this might be a word from the Lord, to awaken up all to this great duty! my ſoul even bleedeth within me, to obſerve the general neglect, and great averſneſs of moſt to this great buſineſs: ſome think their gifts too low, and their parts too inconſiderable to carry on a deſign of this importance; others have ſuch honorable thoughts of a Goſpel Miniſtery, rightly called and qualified, that they judg the anointing of the Lord to be upon them onelyonly for that work, and therefore will not take their work out of their hand, leaſt they ſhould ſin in ſuch an attempt: Others cry out, let them do the work, who receive the wages, as though they worked onelyonly for wages, which is a very unjuſt and uncharitable cenſure: Some there be that go higher yet, who bid the Miniſters ſit ſtill, for they can do the work better then they, and load them with many foul aſperſions, that they may the better get their work out of their hands, I mean, their people from under their Miniſterial care, and overſight, indeed the diſtemper is very ſad at this day in the Nation, and not a few fall under this laſt claſſis, I think in no Nation more: the Lord rebuke that bold and blaſpemous ſpirit, which is gone abroad, humble us for our ſinnes, and ſhew us the pattern of his houſe, in all the in-goings, out-goings, and ordinances of it, that men of daring ſpirits may be bounded; I like not an invaſion upon the Miniſtry, ſo as to deſtroy the office of it, nor yet an intruſion unto it, by men not duly called unto it; neither that any who are not in ſome meaſure of Goſpel-fitneſs qualified for it, ſhould be thruſt, or thruſt themſelves upon a people, though called by man unto it; much leſs, that any ſhould improve their gifts to ſet up themſelves, and throw down the faithfull Miniſtry in the hearts and affections of people; leaſt of all, that any ſhould be ſuffered, much more encouraged, who corrupt the truths, and people of God, who bring in damnable hereſies, to draw away diſciples after them, by reaſon of whome the way of truth is evil ſpoken of, 2 Pet. 2. verſ. 1, 2. formerly made good in thoſe p. 211reproaches, which were caſt upon Religion by the Pagans in the Primitive times, and are now caſt upon it amongſt us, by Papiſts, and carnal Profeſſours, and both upon the account of Hereſies; and therefore, as I owne the office of a Paſtor, as diſtinct from the people, being the great bequeathment of the Lord Jeſus, to his Church, and for the ſpiritual edification of his Church, Eph. 4. ver. 8, 11, 12. Bleſs God for thoſe able pens, who have with much learning, gravitie, weightineſs of Arguments, and evidence of divine truth, propugned, and aſſerted it in theſe times of great oppoſition, and alſo thankfully acknowledg the integrity and faithfulneſs of the Civil and Supream power, which hath been as a covering Cherub to the godly Miniſtery, notwithſtanding the many temptations which have been upon them to the contrary; ſo as a ſuitable return, both to God, and good men, I make it my humble propoſal to my reverend brethren of the Miniſtery, that they would ſtrengthen the hands of the Lords people, and by encouraging Arguments quicken them up to lay out themſelves in their ſeveral capacities, and in a wiſe improvement in their ſeveral advantages, to win over ſinners unto God: If Eldad and Medad propheſie in the camp, why ſhould Joſhua diſlike it, my Lord Moſes forbid them? Numb. 11. ver. 25, 26.Num 11:25Num 11:26If the Chriſtians of our reſpective Congregations ſhould keep up private communion amongſt themſelves, at due times, and in due order; or if ſober and experienced Chriſtians ſhould miniſter words of advice, and exhortation, to their carnal neighbours, provided, they do it out of right principles, to right ends, and in a a due manner; would it not hear ill, if we ſhould cry to my Lord M…ſes, to forbid them? rather let us ſay, Would God, that all the Lords people were Prophets, Ver. 29.and that the Lord would put his ſpirit upon them, that they may receive abilities from God, to miniſter unto others, That God in all things may be glorified through Jeſus Christ, 1 Pet. 4. ver. 12. O then, my dear Chriſtian brethren, riſe up in the name and might of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, ſeek the eternal welfare of p. 212your carnall neighbours, I will not enlarge upon directions, for the right management of this great duty; onelyonly entreat you, that with modeſty, and Chriſtian ſobriety, you would obſerve the boundaries that the Lord himſelf hath ſet betwixt a called Miniſtery, and a Chriſtian Laity: that in your undertaking of this great charge, you would be much and earneſt in your addreſſes unto God, and be faithfull in diſcourſing over experienced mercies from God: If you meet with ſinners, that are hardened in their wayes, obſtinate, wilfull, and ſermon-proof; tell them, ſo it was with you, (I doubt not it hath been ſome of your caſes) but when the Lord came in upon you by the thorow convictions of his Spirit, he awakened your conſciences to ſuch a ſight of ſin, and ſence of wrath, filled your ſoules with ſuch terrours from the Law, and ſoftened your hearts with ſuch a ſhower of Goſpel grace, that you were immediately humbled, broken and brought in, you threw down your weapons, begg'd a parly, and ſubmitted to the Lord Jeſus: You found ſuch a ſtrange and ſecret work upon your hearts, that you cryed out with Saul, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Acts 9. ver. 6. and Ephraim-like, Though you had been as a young bullock unaccuſtomed to the yoke, yet now the Lord hath turned you, and you are turned, Jer. 31. ver. 18.—and tell them, thus it will be with them, if ever they have a conviction unto Converſion; God will break their ſtomachs, ſoften their iron ſinews, ſubdue their Goſpel-enmity, and give them a ſpirit of holy compliance with his bleſſed wayes and will; and that God can bring forth this work in their hearts, though obſtinate, and obdurate, as well as he hath brought it forth upon yours; and then they will be of another mind, however at preſent they ſtand it out with that boldneſs and daringneſs of ſpirit againſt Law and Goſpel: If you meet with ſinners, whom the arrows of the Lord have wounded, his Spirit hath throughly awakened, and his Word hath filled with ſuch ſad apprehenſions of ſin, and wrath, that they cry out with them, Acts 2. verſ. 37. p. 213Men and brethren, what ſhall we do? or with the Jaylour, Acts 16. v. 30. Sirs, what muſt I do to be ſaved? tell them, this was your caſe; tell what methods of mercy the Lord uſed, to the healing up of your wounds, and to the quieting of your conſciences, that ſo, they may be encouraged to the uſe of Goſpel-means, and to an hope of the ſame grace and goodneſs of the Lord, towards them: If you meet with, (as you will with many) proud, preſumptuous Formaliſts; that fill their ſails with vain hopes of Salvation, without any ſaving change wrought upon them, without any inward principles of life & light planted in them, or without any lively Acts of Faith, Repentance, Self-denial, Mortification, &c. put forth by them; tell them, this was your caſe, you had the ſame perſwaſions, you were ſuch fooliſh Virgins, and that then, you thought your penny as good ſilver for heaven, as the beſt, deriding the preciſe Puritan, and ſcoffing at the power of Godlineſs; but when the Lord opened your eyes, and ſhined into your ſoules with a beam of ſaving light, you ſoon diſcovered your Errour, how you had built upon the ſand, that your Infantbaptiſme was but ſand, your outward Priviledges were but ſand, your Formal Profeſſion was but ſand; yea, all you built upon was but ſand; ſo that, had death and Judgment like windes and waves forcibly beat upon your houſe, it would certainly have fallen, and you had been ruined to all eternity; but now you have digged deep, and laid your foundation ſure upon a rock; you have built upon a new foundation for heaven, now you finde a new creation wrought in you; now you mourn over thoſe ſins, which formerly you made your ſelves merry with; now you conteſt againſt thoſe luſts which formerly you cheriſhed, now you are broken off from thoſe lewd Companions, with whom you were formerly bound up in wayes of ſin; now you act faith upon Jeſus Chriſt for the pardon of ſins, rejoyce in him, and have no confidence in the fleſh, Phil. 3. ver. 3. Now you are convinced, that grace is the onelyonly way to glory, and, that without holineſs no man ſhall ſee God, Heb. 12. ver. 14. you now owne Religion in p. 214all the duties of it; love the Ordinances which formerly you loathed, delight in the ſociety of the Saints, which formerly you derided; maintain communion with God, in the Spirit, which formerly you mocked at; and that now, The God of hope hath filled you with peace and joy through believing, Rom. 15. ver. 13. and you find Chriſt in you, the hope of glory, Col. 1. ver. 27. Purſue this method, as the Lord puts opportunities into your hands, and as you meet with new caſes, ſuit your experiences according to what you have been, and now are; and I doubt not, you will finde encouraging ſucceſs; for though I honour the word, (I hope, as much as any,) as having the greateſt authority upon the conſciences of men, and as being the great inſtrument of new birth, eſpecially when it is faithfully diſpenſed by faithfull meſſengers, (Jeſus Chriſt giving a clear proof of his ſpeaking in them, 2 Cor. 13. ver. 3.) yet certainly, Chriſtians as ſuch, (though they do not invade the miniſterial Office, nor looſen one ſtone in that partition wall, which Chriſt hath raiſed up with his own hands, betwixt a called Miniſtery and converted Layity) may be inſtrumental to much ſpiritual good among their carnal relations: It was much that the Church did towards the gaining over the daughters of Jeruſalem, by her commendatory oration of Jeſus Chriſt, Cant. Chap. 5. For. Chap. 6. they put the queſtion, Whether is thy beloved gone? Oh thou faireſt among women, whether is thy beloved turned? that we may ſeek him with thee: The woman of Samariah did much in ripening thoſe fields, which began to be white unto the harveſt, John 4. ver. 28, 29. compared with ver. 39. Surely when the experiences of believers, do run in a paralel line with the words, and as counterpains do bear a full teſtimony to the truth of it, men give a more willing entertainment unto it, when they hear Chriſtians affirm, what Miniſters aſſert, men liſten more after it: Oh then break your pitchers, that your candles may ſhine, and give lights to the world, Phil. 2 ver. 15, 16.Phil 2:15Phil 2:16holding forth the word of eternal life unto others, in your ſeveral ſtandings and capacities, p. 215relative and religious: And give me leave to lay down theſe conſiderations, by way of inducement unto you. Conſider.

Con. 1. That the converſion of a ſinner is a matter of great well-pleaſingneſſe unto God; Iſa. 53. ver. 10. it is termed the pleaſure of the Lord, ve-caphets, Leigh Crit. Sacr.the will of the Lord, that which he wills with greateſt pleaſure and delight; it notes the higheſt content that may be, to wit, delight which is the intention, and ſtrength of affection: hence Iſa. 62. ver. 4. the Church is called Hephzibah, that is, my pleaſure in her; the parables of the loſt ſheep and loſt ſon, do fully evidence this, Luke 15. you cannot do a work, that will find greater acceptation with God, then acts of mercy, Hoſ. 6. ver. 6. I deſired mercy and not ſacrifice: the word in the Original is the ſame with that in Iſaiah forementioned, implying to will and deſire a thing with a greatdelight and complacency; Mr, Eurroughs in Hoſ. ver. 6. pag. 599.ſo that a reverend Expoſitour upon the place, brings in God ſpeaking thus, mercy is a thing ſo pleaſing to me, that I deſire it at my heart, nothing in the world is ſo pleaſing to me as mercy, & ſhews that God had rather have it, then all inſtituted ordinances and worſhips, which by ſacrifice are ſynechdochically meant, and then inſtancing in caſes of mercy. His fourth caſe is the caſe of ſouls; and that is in Chriſts caſe, Mat. 9.13. Pag. 605.Go and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy and not ſacrifice, for I am not come to call the righteous, but ſinners to repentance: we are ready to think, that all things muſt give way to inſtituted worſhip: but certainly, immortall ſouls, are of more worth then ordinances; O ſurely the greateſt act of mercy which we receive from God, is our reconcilement to him, whereby we are tranſlated from darkneſſe, into the kingdome of his dear ſon, that being justified by his grace, we may be made heirs according to the hope of eternall life, Tit. 3. ver. 7. and ſo, the higheſt piece of mercy, which we can ſhew to ſinners for God, is to be inſtrumentall in the ſaving of them: bowels of mercy in us evidence Gods electing grace unto us, Col. 3. ver. 12. Put on, as the elect of God, bowels of mercy; and ſure we cannot ſhew more bowells, in any p. 216act of mercy to man, then in endeavouring his ſalvation. Conſider,

Conſid. 2. There is a great honour to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, when ſinners are ſavingly brought in unto him: it is a jewell added to the glorious diadem of King Jeſus, Pſal. 45.3. David ſpeaking in the ſpirit unto 'King Jeſus, bids him gird his ſword upon his thigh, which was the Enſign of his proweſſe and regal power, and adds with thy glory and thy Majeſty, implying, that when people fall under him, i. e. are converted and ſubmit unto him, it tends to advance his glorious Majeſty, Prov. 14. ver. 28. In the multitude of people is the kings honour: Zion and Babylon are the two great Empires of the world, that under Chriſt, this under Belial: now one great part of Chriſts honour, as he is King of Zion, conſiſts in the multitude of converts, who being brought over from the devils quarters, become his ſubjects; it is ſaid, 1 Sam. 31. ver. 12. That all the valiant men of Jabeſh-Gilead, went all night and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of his ſons, from the walls of Bethſhan, and came and brought them to Jabeſh: let me allude this; how is the glory of Chriſt advanced, when all the valiant men, Miniſters, and Chriſtians, go forth in the ſtrength of the ſpirit of Chriſt, to fetch off not the bodies onelyonly, but the ſouls alſo of men and women from Bethſhan, and bring them to Jabeſh; from ſin to ſanctity? from Beth-aven to Bethel? Converted ones are as Trophees after victory, living monuments of honour to a conquering Chriſt, Phil. 1.20. 2 Theſ. 1.11, 12.Phil 1:202 Thess 1:112 Thess 1:12in the places where they live: how then ſhould the ſence of that honour, which is gained for Chriſt, in gaining ſinners from Sathan unto Chriſt, act and ſpirit the Saints in this great undertaking.

Conſid. 3. Conſider, that the providences of God, which have gone over and through theſe Nations, in the years laſt paſt, do ſpeak the Saints duty, and their hope of ſucceſſe in what is now propoſed: how many ſtorms of warre have been upon the land? how fierce and full of rage hath the enemy been? how many plots and engines p. 217of policy have been contrived? how have men of popiſh and prophane principles and ſpirits, ſtruck at the very root of profeſſion? how have they deſigned the extirpation of the godly; Being confident and inſolent they bear their noſes high in the air, uttering loud and lofty languages, as Rabſhekah did, 2 King. 18. to which times this Pſalme is referred by ſome, M…. Trap. in loc.2 Kgs 18They that hate thee have lift up their heads. I do not ſay nor think, that all they which lifted up their heads in the late warres under the royall banner, were haters of God nor of his people, as ſuch; though they were lifted up very high in their miſtaken zeal, for Kingly intereſt, and in conſcience of the oath of God (which they judged) lay'd ſuch obligations upon them; yet certainly, without any breach of charity, we may boldly affirm, that there were a company of men not inconſiderable for number) who took crafty councel againſt the Lord's people, and conſulted againſt his hidden ones, ver. 3. and ſpake out (doubtleſſe their very hearts and deſires) come let us cut them off from being a nation (or from having any place of reſidency in the nation) that the name of Iſrael may be no more in remembrance: was not this attempted, at leaſt againſt the godly party, as Schiſmaticks and rebells, ſo I limit their attempt; for we had many pittifull Parliamentarians, who might have gone in the throng of the moſt ungodly Cayaliers, and in likelyhood, would have found favour both for life and eſtate, if the iſſue of the warre had gone for the King: and hath not the Lord broken them and their plots in pieces? hath he not faſtened his people as a nail in a ſure place? Iſa. 22. ver. 23. what think you then? are not theſe mercies obligations upon you from the Lord to purſue his honour? are they not opportunities put into your hands, to adviſe, exhort, and perſwade your families, friends, and neighbours, and help them to heaven? O what a pattern of Goſpel-charity is good Cornelius! Act. 10. ver. 24. He had called together his kinsfolks and near friends to partake with him in that word of ſalvation, which Peter from the Lord, was to bring unto him: how deſirous was he to take them all into the Goſpel-wherry, that they might all be wafted over to the Lord Jeſus! therefore, ver. 33. he tell's Peter, We are all p. 218here preſent before the Lord, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God: O that ſuch a gaining ſpirit, ſuch a winning carriage was in all the Saints! Indeed when Religion was under the hatches in the nation, and the old Puritans were underlins in every town, they might have feared Lot's return from the wicked Sodomites, and that dogs would have ſnarled at them, if they had given holy things unto them; but now that godlineſſe is advanced to the throne, that the people of the God of Abraham; are as Princes among the people, Pſal. 47. ver. 9. and that the Kingdome and the Dominion, (in a conſiderable meaſure) is given to the people of the Saints of the moſt high, Dan. 7. ver. 27. they have an eaſier acceſſe to their prophane neighbours, and more hope of faſtening good upon their ſpirits: would God you would every where take up this practice, that you would make this, as one of your returns to a good God! not to proſelyte others to your particular opinions and perſwaſions (if in any thing you be Heterodox) but to win them over to the power of godlineſſe, and to embrace that Jeſus Chriſt, who is ſo fully and clearly offered in the Goſpel; O think you hear the Lord ſpeaking ſingly to you, by way of encouragement in this work, and in reference to your reſpective towns, as he did to Paul, Act. 18. ver. 9, 10. Speak and hold not thy peace, for I have much people in this city: Let's not limit the election of grace to the called ones, but hopefully believe, that the names of many are in the Lamb's book of life, whoſe natures are yet unrenewed, and who walks not after the Lambe in Goſpel-paths; and let us improve, yea own our naturall preſervations, as a fruit of Gods-longſuffering, that all his elect ones in the Nation, might be brought off from a periſhing eſtate, and might all come to repentance, 2. Pet. 3.9,

Con. 4. Conſider, that it is a maxime both in grace and nature, that we muſt do unto others, what we would have others do unto us; we muſt make other mens caſes our own; this our Saviour lay's down, Matth. 7. ver. 12. All things whatſoever ye would have men do unto you, do ye even p. 219the ſame unto them, for this is the law and the Prophets; this is the Royall law; the ſtandard of equity in this kind, a ſealed weight and rule according to which we muſt converſe with all men as one ſaith; Charity (tis true) begins at home in regard of order, but not of time; for ſo ſoon as you begin to love your ſelves, in the beſt ſenſe, you muſt then love your neighhours as your ſelves; now then put the caſe by way of ſuppoſition; ſuppoſe you were ignorant, carnal, and unbelieving, and had a ſenſe of that miſery you were haſtening unto, that you ſaw your ſelves upon the brink of the grave and borders of hell; would you not thank that Chriſtian that would reprove you in love, adviſe you in love, inſtruct you in love, and that would pull you out of the fire, though he ſaved you with fear, Jud. ver. 23. would you not own it as a piece of higheſt love, and good will in any, that would endeavour your everlaſting welfare? why then, what you would others ſhould do unto you, do you the ſame unto them; if you ſhould caſually ſlip into the river, and be near unto drowning, would you not have your neighbour lend his hand to help you out? if a neighbour ſhould ſee a fire kindled upon any of your houſes, when you and your whole family were faſt aſleep, and ſhould ſuddenly awaken you, by crying fire, fire, by which means you and yours are preſerved from the flames, would you quarrel with him for breaking your ſleep, or coming upon your ground? I trow you would not; but rather own it as an act of ſingular love; why, go you and do likewiſe, to your ſinking and ſleeping neighbours; hand them out of the depths of ſin, and awaken them, that everlaſting flames may not catch hold upon them: The law of love will never rightly be fulfilled, until Chriſtians are acted by a principle of fellow-feelingneſſe; he that conſiders himſelf, leſt he be tempted, will reſtore a brother that is overtaken in a fault, with a ſpirit of meekneſſe, Gal. 6. ver. 1. He will remember thoſe that are in bonds, who by a ſympathizing ſpirit is bound with them; and will conſider them which ſuffer adverſity, who himſelf is alſo in the body, and as a fellow-member feels the p. 220ſmart of their miſery, Heb. 13. ver. 3. O this is the way to continue brotherly love and advance it, when your endeavours are ſerious to ſave ſouls from hell, and when you wiſh your neighbours well as to their everlaſting eſtate, when with …a…l your hearts d…ſire and prayer to God is, that they may be ſaved, Rom. 10. ver. 1.

Conſid. 5. Conſider, that what your carnall neighbours are, you were; ſome of you have been as vile as any, and yet you have now obtained mercy; the ſpirit and grace of God have put you into a hopefull way for heaven; and why may it not be ſo with them? are ſome of your neighbours fornicatours and adulterers? why, ſo were ſome of you: are ſome of them idolatours? why ſo were ſome of you: are ſome of them thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners? Why, ſo were ſome of you, 1 Cor. 6. ver. 9, 16. I ſpeak not this to ſhame any ſervant of the Lord; nor do I caſt his former ſins into his teeth to reproach him, Iſti homunciones invident mihi gratiam Dei; were Beza's words to the Papiſts who upbraided him for his youthfull Poems, De me fabula narratur.(there are enough will do that) but to enmind him of the endeavour of good to them, who at preſent are what he once was—but ye are waſhed, but ye are ſanctified, but ye are juſtified, in the name of the Lord Jeſus, and by the Spirit of our God, ver. 11. and why may not they be ſo? can you give any other reaſon but free-grace, and the meer foreign, the good pleaſure of God, that you are waſhed, whileſt they continue filthy; that you are ſanctified, whenas they are all over polluted; or that you are juſtified, whereas the guilt of ſin lies upon them ſtill? and cannot the name of Chriſt and Spirit of God, do all that in them and for them, which is done in and for you? Titus 3. ver. 3. the Apoſtle gives this in charge unto Titus, that he ſhould enmind the Brethren of this as their duty, to ſhew all meekneſſe unto all men, in their dealing with them, under an hopefull expectancy, that a gracious change may be wrought in them, though little of God appears at preſent in them, and this he inforceth by leading them back, to conſider what themſelves once were, for we our ſelves alſo were ſometimes fooliſh, diſobedient, deceiving, ſerving divers luſts and pleaſures, p. 221living in malice, and envy, hatefull, and hating one another.

Con. 6. Conſider, that it is a piece of good friendſhip to your ſelves, to endeavour the ſpirituall good of others; you do very much conſult your own advantage by it, and this I ſhall offer in ſome particulars.

It is an high point of ſpirituall good husbandry, an excellent way to encreaſe your own ſtock; a good Miniſter cannot preach a good Sermon, nor a ſober Chriſtian manage a ſpirituall diſcourſe, Nepheſh Berachah, the ſoul of bleſſing.but they do or may receive good to themſelves, Prov. 11. ver. 25. The liberall ſoul ſhall be made fat, and he that watereth, ſhall alſo be watered himſelf; it is not the liberall hand, though it be true as to acts of common bounty, if rightly ordered; but the liberall ſoul, anſwering to that, Prov. 10. ver. 11. The lips of the righteous feed many, by wholeſome counſell, ſeaſonable exhortations, and ſpirituall inſtructions; now this is a fatning diſcourſe, the ſoul thrives bravely that obſerves this method; your own graces will be more exerciſed; your own conſciences will be awakened, your own knowledge will be more enlarged, and your own ſpirits will be more quickened unto, and eſtabliſhed in the good wayes and truths of God; you cannot be ſerious in reproving others, but it will give corruption a wound in your own hearts; you cannot perſwade others to repent of their fins, but it will ſtirre you up to renew repentance for your own ſins; you cannot exhort others to duty, but you will be admoniſht of your own; and you cannot deal ſeriouſly with others about ſalvation, but it will quicken up an holy diligence in you to mind your own ſalvation. Surely theſe improvements are well worth your labour.

2. It makes much for your perſonall ſafety; the more there be to ſtand in the gap, the better the breach will be made up; ten would have preſerved Sodom, when as nine could not do it: the Saints do much with God when numerous and unanimous: when the whole Church prays for Peter, an Angel procures his Goal-delivery: you helping p. 222together with your prayers, is Paul's expreſſion, owning the joint addreſſes of the Corinthians, 2 Cor. 1. ver. 11. ſtriving together for the faith of the Goſpel, Phil. 1. ver. 27. Paul layes much ſtreſs upon number and unity, when many ſtrive, and ſtrive together like valiant Champions, and a well ordered army; it is like to go well with the Goſpel in the Doctrines and liberty of it: Therefore caſt your bread upon the waters, for you know not what evil ſhall be upon the earth, Eccl. 11. ver. 1.2. Take this in a ſpiritual ſenſe, and you will find an inforcement in it to the duty propoſed; for in a time of ſtraight, Zech. 12. ver. 5. The Governours of Judah ſhall ſay in their heart, even from the heart acknowledg it, Legio fulminea.the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem ſhall be my ſtrength in the Lord their God: By vertue of their Intereſt in the Lord their God, evils have been diverted, Judgments have been removed, and bleſſings in their right ſeaſons have been procured.

3. It makes much for your ſpiritual comfort, The ſoul of righteous Lot was vexed, from day to day, with the unlawfull deeds of the Sodomites, 2 Pet. 2. ver. 8. Is not this your caſe? Do not your eyes run down with tears, becauſe men keep not Gods Law? yea, in that abundance, that they ſwell into rivers? Holy David's did, Pſal. 119.136. Is not every profane wretch an Hazael to your eyes, and a Hadadrimmon to your hearts: and can you ſtep out of your door, (in many places it is ſo) and not ſee ſome piece of wickedneſs, which cuts you to the heart? or hear every man ſpeak vanity to his neighbour, Pſal. 12. ver. 2. now how would it revive your ſpirits, how would it rejoyce and comfort your hearts, if you could ſee the face of things changed amongſt you? that you might go to this neighbours houſe, and finde them praying, to anothers, and find them praiſing God; to a third, and find! them reading and diſcourſing of the word, and things of God; nay, that you could not walk in the ſtreets, but you ſhould hear the Inhabitants of one city ſaying unto another, let us go ſpeedily to pray before the Lord, and to ſeek the Lord of Hoſts, Zech. 8. ver. 21. p. 223This ſets forth the zeal and charity of thoſe converts, who would not come alone, but draw others along in company with them to the worſhip of God, which is lively expreſſed in a Mimeſis, Mr. Pemble, in loc.or imitation of the encouragements and invitations they ſhould uſe one to another: — I will go alſo; every one was as forward for himſelf, as zealous for another, as a learned Expoſitour hath it: O bleſſed frame of ſpirit, O religion would then flouriſh indeed, when Miniſters have their comes and calls, each to other, to the ſervice of God: nay, that ſuch an awakening ſhould be upon your neighbours, that here one ſhould take hold of the skirts of your garments; and here another, (as children catch hold on their Mothers gowns, hang upon them, and run after them,) ſaying, we will go with you, to ſuch an Ordinance, to ſuch a Chriſtian meeting, for we have heard that God is with you; we heard it formerly, but believed it not, yea, derided it, but now we have heard from the ſecret teachings of the Spirit of God within us, and are convinced of it, that God is with you; with you in prayer, with you in the word preached; with you in all the duties of Religion, with you in your private waitings upon him, with you in the way of holineſs; Of a truth God is in you, 1 Cor. 14. ver. 25. and therefore we will go with you: your God ſhall be our God, your wayes ſhall be our wayes, and your company ſhall be our company: what a rejoycing of heart would this be to the truly godly! and if the Lord give his bleſſing to the painfull endeavours of his faithfull Miniſtery, and if you that are Chriſtians act up with zeal to the courſe propounded, how might the communion of Saints be maintained, the Commonwealth of believers be enlarged, and the places of our habitations be as the ſuburbs of heaven!

It layes a good foundation for poſterity, you are now ſowing that ſeed, the harveſt whereof may be reaped by your children; you are digging that well, of which your Infants may fill their buckets: Perſonall piety is profitable to poſterity, 2 Kings 10. ver. 30. It was very p. 224much that was promiſed to Jehu, for cutting off Ahab's wicked Family, and deſtroying the temple and worſhippers of Baal: And the Lord ſaid unto Jehu, becauſe thou haſt done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and haſt done unto the houſe of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation ſhall ſit on the throne of Iſrael: And what a bleſſing doth the Lord entail upon the ſeed of the righteous, Pſal. 112. ver. 1, 2. Bleſſed is the man that feareth the Lord: that delighteth greatly in his C…mmandements: his ſeed ſhall be mighty upon the earth, the generation of the upright ſhall be bleſſed: But that Religion which you now advance, may be of ſpiritual advantage to them, when you are dead, Pſal. 102. ver. 18. This ſhall be written for the generation to come, and the people which ſhall be created, ſhall praiſe the Lord, even for your faithfull endeavours in raiſing Zion out of her duſt, and Religion out of the rubbiſh, in the places where you live: How would you have bleſſed God, if you had found Religion in ſuch a poſture! how would you have honoured the memory of your Predeceſſours, if they had travailed to have brought that to paſs, which you are now encouraged unto! nay more, you may lend that word of ſaving advice to a carnal neighbour, which may be paid you in again, by the bringing home of a Prodigal childe. Your covenants for money run to you and to your heirs, the Debt is not loſt, if your heirs receive it; ſo your heirs may receive (in a ſpiritual ſenſe) the Principal with the loan, when you are dead: happy is he who makes ſuch proviſion for his children: one, whom you have in the way propoſed, brought off from vile and vicious courſes, may ſee a childe of yours, when you are at reſt, running in the ſame wayes, and tell him, ah friend, juſt thus it was with me, I was running headlong upon mine own deſtruction, and your Father pittied me, reproved, inſtructed, adviſed me, brought me off from my deſperate wayes, and put me into a good way for heaven: And now I deſire to ſhew the kindneſs of the Lord to you, by dealing as plainly and faithfully p. 225with you, as I was dealt with by your father, and who knowes, but the ſame courſe, may through grace, produce the ſame good effects: If David remembred and requited the kindneſs of Jonathan, in ſhewing love to his lame Mephiboſheth, after Jonathan's death; why not the ſpirit of David ſtirre up bowels in thoſe, whom you have helped heaven-ward, to requite that kindneſs in your lame Mephiboſheth? there is ground of hope.

5. It hath a tendency towards your everlaſting comfort; it beareth fruit unto eternity; the ſavour of this ointment doth not ſpend it ſelf in this life, Apoc. 14. ver. 13. Bleſſed are the dead, that dy in the Lord, their works follow them: This work of mercy which you ſhew in converting a ſinner from the errour of his way, and ſaving a ſoul from death, Jam. 5. ver. 20. ſhall follow you to eternity; it ſhall be had in everlaſting remembrance; it ſhall be regiſtred in that book of Records, which was writ before the Lord, for thoſe that feared the Lord, and thought upon his name, Mal. 3. ver. 16. They ſhall be mine, in the day that I make up my jewels: The Prophet Daniel ſpeaks fully to the Saints after recompence upon this accompt, Dan. 12. ver. 3. They that be wiſe, ſhall ſhine as the brightneſs of the firmament; they that be teachingly wiſe, of Maſcil, that do prudently inſtruct; ſo it propperly referres to the teaching Miniſtery, but may not unfitly be referred unto inſtructing Chriſtians, and I hope, without any force to the Word, or any violence offered to a called Miniſtery: Now, wherein doth the wiſdom of the wiſe ſhew it ſelf, ſo as to entitle them to this firmamental brightneſs? why, the onelyonly wiſe among the ſonnes of men doth determine it, Prov. 11. ver. 30. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, the genuine fruit of the righteous is to bring forth life in thoſe he converſeth with; Salvation wiſdome is the higheſt wiſdome, and he that winneth ſoules is by the Holy Ghoſt ſtiled, Chacam.the wiſe man; and indeed Daniel himſelf expoundeth it to the ſame ſence, and they that turn many unto righteouſneſs, as the ſtarres for ever: Though there be ſome difficulty in p. 226this Text, and ſome difference among expoſitours, about the ſenſe of it, yet ſure, I may with much ſafety, offer theſe poſitions from it,

1. That man by nature runs off from his primitive and created righteouſneſs, unto by-paths of ſin and unrighteouſneſs, — This is clearly ſuppoſed.

2. That Converſion mainly conſiſteth in our turning from ſin unto righteouſneſs, from the power of Sathan unto God.

3. That men are inſtrumental in the converſion of men, to wit, in turning them from ſin to righteouſneſs.

4. That this turning of men from ſin to righteouſneſs, hath a ſure promiſe of future honour.

5. That the work of Converſion is not onelyonly limitted to a teaching Miniſtery; it is not ſo proper to them, as that it is excluſive to all others, to have any hand or inſtrumentality in it: Read Mr. Baxter, in his Gild. ſalv. Page 469, 470, 471.It was much, that the woman of Samaria did towards the gathering of thoſe fields which our Saviour ſaw beginning to be white, as they that read, John 4. may obſerve: an unlikely means to effect ſo great a matter; but whats that to the Almighty? as Mr. Trap ſpeaks; and brings in Junius profeſſing that the firſt thing that turned him from Atheiſme, was conference with a country-man of his not farre frrom Florence, — enquire into Acts and Monum. Fol. 767. Experience doth very much confirme this, many ſervants may bleſs God, who brought them under godly acquaintance: I hope none will think that by this, I derogate ought from the office of a called Miniſtery; if the ſeed be ſown by others, it is ripened by them; If the firſt courſe of ſtones be laid by others, the building is finiſhed by them: Eph. 4. v. 12. a called Miniſtery doth perfect the Saints, and edifie, or build up the body of Chriſt; If others are inſtrumental to their ſpirituall birth, yet the Miniſtery goes forth in the ſpirit and power of Elias, to make them ready, as a people prepared for the Lord, Luke 1. ver. 17. and that, though men have ten thouſand Inſtructours, yet a Godly Miniſtery, p. 227doth in Chriſt Jeſus beget them through the Goſpel, that is, perfect the birth, 1 Cor. 4. ver. 15. the Spirit makes the ſeed of the Word by them prolifical, and generative.

6. That the honour of converting ſinners unto God ſhall be an everlaſting honour, 1 Pet. 5. ver. 4. ye ſhall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away: But I deſire the Reader not to miſtake me herein, as though,

1. I did poſitively aſſert, that none can ſubſerve to the converſion of others, Aliorum ſalutem ſedulo nunquam curabit qui ſuam negligit: Calvin. in Act. 20. ver. 28.Acts 20:28who are unconverted themſelves; though ſome think, and I among the reſt alſo, that God will not honour, at leaſt, very rarely doth, the Miniſtery of an unregenerate perſon, with the Converſion of others; though the called ones may be comforted, and farther built up by gifted Miniſters, yet I think Inſtances be but rare of ſecond-birth-Chriſtians, who call them Fathers:

2. Neither do I affirme, that to be inſtrumental in the ſaving of others, hath any thing of merit in it, toward the ſaving of a mans ſelf:

3. Nor, that it is evidence enough in it ſelf for heaven; ſo that, he who hath the ſeal of his Miniſtry, may without farther enquiry into his own eſtate, conclude, he hath the ſeal of the living God in his forehead, and is upon that ſingle account, ſure of heaven:

4. Nor, that we ſhould be ſo wholly taken up with the ſaving of others, as to neglect our own ſalvation:

5. Nor, that the glory of them, who are ſubſervient, through grace to the converſion of ſinners, ſhall exceed the glory of all other Saints, for though different degrees of glory be clear, 1 Cor. 15. ver. 41. yet to lay the ground of that difference, onelyonly in the point inſiſted upon, I do not, I dare not: But tis probable this Text of Daniel referres to ſome after priviledg, or different eſtate of honour in heaven, which they that turn many unto righteouſneſs, ſhall receive from the Lord, from what, they that are turned unto righteouſneſs ſhall have; for though every veſſel ſhall be filled, yet theſe may be more p. 228capacious then others; unleſs we fit down with what ſenſe is put upon it by a late godly Divine, as to the firſt Reſurrection, and that in order to the perſonal reigne of Chriſt upon earth: But ſuppoſe, that Text ſhould not ſpeak fully to the aſſertion; yet certainly, to have a mediate hand in ſaving an immortal ſoul is a noble work, and ſhall be honoured by the Lord with higheſt acceptation, as that which brings the creature into ſome degree of conformity to the Lord Jeſus, who is exalted to be a Prince, and a Saviour, Acts 5. verſ. 21. Beſides, there is much in that of our Saviour, John 4. verſ. 36. And he that reapeth, receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto eternal life, that both he that ſoweth, and he that reapeth, may rejoyce together, he quickens up his Diſciples to diligence in Goſpel work;

Firſt, By propounding wages for their work; though not by way of merit, yet of grace:

Secondly, By that common joy, which Patriarchs, Prophets, Apoſtles, and all the Lords ſervants, who are inſtrumental in the converſion of ſinners, ſhall have in heaven.

Conſider, That bad men are very active, and induſtrious to gain over others, to their bad principles, and worſe practiſes: The ſpirit of the world is a gaining ſpirit: Wicked men are true to their own Intereſt, and ſerviceable to their own Maſter: Wicked men are the Devils fetters, or like that little beaſt which hunts the prey for the old lyon: Many perſons of hopefull ingenuity and carriage are decoy'd by the ſleights and ſubtilties of ſome old ſinners: See how the wiſe man ſets them forth to the life, Prov. 1. ver. 10, 11. 1. By their manner of deceiving, expreſſed, in their fair and flattering words, they entice, blanditiis & phaleratis verbis decipiunt, they deceive with their ſmooth tongue, and fair ſpeeches, ſo the force of the word, in the Hebrew implies; hence it is rendered, ſi te pellexerint, referring to the fawning carriage and flatteries of an Harlot, fully held forth Chap. 7. ver. 14. Every man is tempted, when he is drawn p. 229away of his own luſts, and is inticed, as the ſilly fiſh is by the bait upon the hook: Thus do wicked men like fiſhers and fowlers cunningly deceive the ſimple.

2. Their manner of deceiving is expreſſed, by their call unto ſin, come with us, they call the tradeſman out of his ſhop, and the ploughman out of the field to querry and mate with them in their ſinfull practices: much of this language may be heard abroad in the world, and ſome is upon record in the word, as that ale-bench call, Iſa. 56. ver. 12. Come ye, ſay they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill our ſelves with ſtrong drink, and to morrow ſhall be as this day, and much more abundant! This is the drunkards oratory and promiſe, to toll in and enter their young quaffers with.