Old Jacobs Altar Newly Repaired, Treatise (2 of 6)

Old Jacobs Altar Newly Repaired · Treatise (2 of 6)

p. 47The other Scripture is that, Pſal. 30. verſ. 6, 7. In my proſperity, I ſaid, I ſhall never be moved, Lord, by thy favour thou haſt made my mountain to ſtand ſtrong. David thought himſelf cock-ſure, as we ſay, of Gods favour, and ſafe from the fear of any change, becauſe the Lord by his favour had made his mountain to ſtand ſtrong: He was not long fince a little hillock, of a mean family in Iſrael, and now he was grown up to be a mountain, both in honour and power, to be above all men in his preſent ſtanding, as the hills are above the vallies; he was brought to this high and raiſed pitch by the favour of God, nay had an eſtabliſhment in that ſtate and eſtate, not by man, but by God himſelf, who hangeth the earth upon nothing, ſupporting that weighty body without any Baſis, but his own will, and word of power; and all this, not according to the courſe of his ordinary providence, but in a way of ſpecial favour, and that by the concurrence of many and glorious providences: Yet for all this, becauſe he abuſed theſe mercies, and came not up in his deportments to the Lords expectation, God hid his face, withdrew his covering Cherub, and providential ſupplies, and then his mountain, his ſtanding-ſtrong mountain met with an earthquake; though the houſe of Saul was gone, yet his own houſe was a ſeed-plat of troubles unto him: Amnon defiling Thamar, Abſolom ſlaying Amnon, uſurping the Crown, and driving David from Jeruſalem, &c. The Lord ſet this home in much mercy.

Ʋſe 3. I ſhall come now to an Uſe of Exhortation; Are the appearances of God eminent and glorious to his people in the day of their diſtreſs? Haſt thou experienced them to be ſo in thine own caſe? canſt thou witneſs this truth, Except the Lord had heen thy help, thy ſoul had well night dwelt in ſilence, thou wert within a hairs breadth of death: Oh conſider what thy ſtraights have been; haſt thou been in perils of waters, or in perils of robbers, or in perils of the p. 48City, or imporils in the wilderneſs, or in perils amongſt falſe brethren, in perils of war, at home by thy own Country-men, and abroad by ſtrangers; and hath the Lord been ſeen upon the Mount? hath he come in with ſeaſonable ſupplies, and brought thee off from the borders of the grave? Oh! what have thy returns to God been? what improvement haſt thou made to his glory, and thy own ſpiritual growth? how hath thine heart gone after the God of thy ſalvation? If thou haſt taken up the cup of bleſſing, and praiſed the name of the Lord; if thou haſt paid the v…ws, which thou madeſt in the day of thy diſtreſs: If the ſenſe of mercy hath had a kindely work upon thy ſpirit, and brought forth the bleſſed fruits of ſanctity, newneſs of life, new obedience, and a total reſignation of thy ſelf unto God; if thou liveſt in a lively ſenſe of theſe things, reſolving in the ſtrength of grace received, to ſpend that life which thou receivedſt from the dead, not to the luſts of men, but to the will of God, and from a ſenſe of thy temporal, doeſt work out thine own eternal ſalvation with fear and trembling, my work is done; my end attained, I have nothing to urge by way of exhortation upon thee, onelyonly deſire to bleſs the Lord with, and for thee, endeavouring to draw up after thee, exhibiting thy pattern as exemplary to my practice: I profeſs my ſelf to be much at the foot of the hill, and far below ſuch high at …inments, although my obligations to the moſt High God are very many, and my experience of preſerving mercy hath been very ſignal, the ſenſe whereof hath led me out to this Diſcourſe, and made theſe meditations publick: Hence then by a frequent converſe with mine own heart, and often feeling the pulſe of mure own ſpirit; I have grounds to beleeve that a word of advice may be ſeaſonable upon this ſubject, to others, and to my ſelf, ſeeing too little of this nature doth come either from Preſs or Pulpit; there being very few, who ſay, Where is the Lord that brought us out of Egypt? that led us through the wildernes, through a land of drought, and of the ſhadow of death? And therfore in the ſtrength of the Lord, p. 49conduct of his teaching Spirit, I ſhall improve this Doctrine by way of advice.

1. To ſome peculiar Chriſtians in a diſtinct capacity from other m…n, I mean to ſome ranks and orders of men.

2. To Chriſtians in general, without ſuch particular references, onelyonly as they meet in Chriſt the common head, and in the Church, the common hody.

In my firſt addreſs, I ſhall onelyonly ſingle forth five ranks of men to ſpeak unto.

1. The Magiſtrates.

2. The Miniſters.

3. Military-men.

4. Mariners and Merchants, whoſetraflick and imployments lye at Sea.

5. The reſtored ones of the land, whom the Lord hath ranſomed from the grave in theſe late dayes of Viſitation.

1. I humbly crave leave to be-ſpeak the Magiſtrates with a word of Exhortation: Ye that be the Rulers of the people, and Judges of Iſrael; let me beſeech you ſeriouſly and often to conſider the worth and weightineſs of your office, that though this, or that title, this or that form of adminiſtration be foreign, an humane creature, an ordinance of man, 1 Pet. 2. verſ. 13. yet Government and Magiſtracy it ſelf is an Ordinance and Inſtitution of God himſelf, Rom. 13. verſ. 1, 2. That the cauſe which cometh before you is the cauſe of God, Deut. 1. verſ. 17. That ye judge not for man, but for God, who is with you in judgement, 2 Chron. 19. verſ. 6. that the dignity of place unto which ye are advanced, is exceeding high, ye being the Vicegerents of the moſt High God, in all Civill adminiſtrations, and upon whom the Name of God himſelf is called, Pſ. 82. v. 1, 6. I have ſaid ye are Eloh'm, Becauſe God had conferred a part of his … and Judic…ary power upon them, Mr. Iackson in lec.Gods, and all of you are children of the m…ſt High (not by adoption of grace, but by adminiſtration of office) That the expectation of the Lords people is great from your That (now the Lord hath turned his hand ſo much and often upon you, as the Potter turns and faſhions his veſſel upon the wheel) your droſs ſhould be purely purged away, and all your p. 50tin waſted, and that their Judges ſhould be as at the firſt, and their Counſellors as at the beginning, ſuch as David, Hezekiah, and Joſiah were amongſt the Kings, and ſuch as Joſhuah, Zerubbabel and Nehemiah were amongſt the Judges and Governours of Iſrael, that ſo their Jeruſalem may be called the City of righteouſneſs, and their Nation, an habitation of Juſtice, That Zion may be redeemed with judgement, and her converts with righteouſneſs, Iſa. 1. verſ. 25.26, 27. and let it not be ill reſented, that I intreat you to conſider, how ſmall your ſprings were, which are now ſpread into broad Rivers, how Jacob-like the paſſage of ſome have been over this Jordan, Gen. 32. verſ. 10. How much of truth there is in Hannah's Song, 1 Sam. 2. verſ. 7, 8. And in Davids Pſalm, Pſal. 113. verſ. 7, 8. one ecchoing to another, like the Seraphims in Iſaiah; The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich, he bringeth low, and lifteth up, he raiſeth up the poor out of the duſt, and lifteth up egentem, the needy from the dunghil, to ſet them among Princes, to make them inherit the throne of glory: As David, Agathocles, Numa, Maximinianus, &c. and that ye would alwayes keep a freſh ſenſe of theſe three Conſiderations upon your ſpirits, you that have owned the cauſe of God, and acted in the work of this generation.

1. Conſideration. Couſider how eminent and glorious the appearances of God have been unto you, how the arm of God hath been mightily out-ſtretched for you, when you met with oppoſition to blood and waſting in the Land, and that from a numerous and inraged enemy: How often the Lord defeated the plots, befooled the Councels, and broke the power and Armies of them, who lifted up themſelves againſt you, and Amalek-like fought you in Rephidim, when you were upon your march through the Wilderneſs, to the land of promiſe, and who were as Samaritans among you, hindering you by force of Armes, and weakning your hands by falſe reports, when you were building, at leaſt repairing the houſe of the Lord, and the walls of our Jeruſalem, and yet in the things wherein they dealt proudly, God was above them, and the ſame God p. 51hath by unparalleld providence, kept the ſword ſtill in your hands, and you ſtill upon the ſeat of Juſtice.

Conſid. 2. Conſider how the Lord hath not joyned you in Copartnerſhip with thoſe that were your enemies, dividing the government betwixt you, and them (which ſurely not long ſince would have been owned as a great priviledge by you, and as a great mercy by us) but the Lord hath put the ſole Government of the Nation, and the ordering of affaires into your hands: You have ſeen Maries Magnificat made good, The Lord hath put down the mighty from their ſeats, and exalted them of low degree, Luke 1. verſ. 52. Are not ſome of you thoſe of low degree, whom the Lord hath exalted to the ſeat of the mighty? Are not you (I hope ſome of you are) Eliakims, the ſervants of the Lord whom he hath choſen in Shebna's room? Hath he not cloathed you with their Robes, ſtrengthened you with their Girdles, committed their Government into your hands, and made you fathers to the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, and to the houſe of Judah? Iſa. 22. verſ. 20, 21. Oh that this might be layed to heart, and the goodneſs of the Lord unto you in it! that the abuſes of the former Government may be remedied, not revived; that the pride and pomp (which was onelyonly like that of King Agrippa and Bernice, foreign, a meer phantaſie, Act. 25. verſ. 23. a vain ſhew, all worldly pomp and ſtate being no better) of former Governours may be lamented, not looked after by you, may be mourned for, not medled with by you, the righteouſneſs of Chriſt being your Robe, his croſs being your Crown, his Goſpel being your glory, and that with Nehemiah that good Tirſhatha, you may not onelyonly procure the peace, but prevent the oppreſſion of your people, that your loynes may be lighter than the little ſingers of your Predeceſſors and that you may ſpeak in your deportments the words of Nehemiah, chap. 5. verſ. 14, 15. From the time that I was appointed to be Governour in the land of Judah, even twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the Governòur, but the former Governours which were before me, were p. 52chargeable unto the people: Yea even their ſervants bare rule over the people, but ſo did not I, becauſe of the fear of God, yea alſo I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land.

Conſid. 3. Conſider, how not Magiſtrates only, but Magiſtraalſo hath been ſtrucken at, by men whoſe-ſpirits and principles were againſt both: Some of whom, it may be, have ſate in Councel with you, and have formerly ventured far, to lay the Key of Government upon you, and upon themſelves, but ſince (ſo ſtrangely are they metamorphoſed) they have hated, it may be your perſons, and oppoſed your Government, ſo that you may take up Davids complaint, Pſal. 41. verſ. 9. Mine own familiar friend, in whom I truſted, which did eat of my bread hath lift up his heel againſt me; compared with Pſal. 55. verſ. 11, 12, 13. Mine equal, my guide, my acquaintance, we took ſweet counſell together, and walked to the houſe of God in company.

Oh! let theſe and many other conſiderations of like import dwell upon your ſpirits, and often meditate, that though attempts have been made againſt your perſons and places, yet the Lord hath ſecured you in your preſent ſtanding. Oh then! Watch ye, ſtand faſt in the faith, quit your ſelves like men, be ſtrong, 1 Cor. 16. verſ. 13. Oh remember what opportunities ye once had, that had ye acted up unto them, and vigorouſly improved the advantages ye once had, much of that evil, which in later years hath ſprung up, might have been buried under ground, and the ſmell of the Nation would have been as the ſmell of a field which the Lord hath bleſſed, Gen. 27. verſ. 27. Yet now there is hope in Iſrael concerning theſe things; may we not hopefully conclude, that the Lord hath thoughts of peace, and not of trouble towards us? Doth not concurrence of the many providences hint good will from the Lord unto us? Is it nothing, that no weapon which is formed againſt us doth proſper? S…ndercoms Deſign.that no deſigne takes place? no Mine takes fire? no plot, how ſecret ſoever ripeneth without diſcovery? witneſs the late project of blood and murther againſt the Protectors p. 53perſon, like the old Powder-plot, detected in the very nick of time, when the fire-work was prepared and placed, and the match lighted; that all attempts to involve the Nation into war and trouble, have been daſhed in peeces? that ſtill the Nation enjoyes peace, and the Goſpel-in peace? Stir up all your ſtrength for God, riſe up in all your might for the intereſt of Zion, and for the honour of the Lord of Hoſts, who hath carried you through all thoſe great changes, which your eyes have beheld, and hath ſtill kept the helme of Government in your hands, notwithſtanding all thoſe ſtorms which have been upon the Nation, and hath now put a new opportunity into your hands, the Lord make you magnanimous and unanimous in the work of the Lord, that yet a bleſſed Reformation may be brought forth by your means, that ſo the people of this land may be known among the Nations, and their off-ſpring among the people, ſo that all they that ſeem may acknowledge them, that they are the ſeed which the Lord hath bleſſed, Iſa. 61. verſ. 9. Suffer therefore an unworthy Son of Zion, and Miniſter of the Goſpel, for the good (of a part) of that people, over which the Lord hath ſet you to be a Remembrancer from the Lord unto you, that mercies received may be improved by you, and enkindle an holy zeal for God in you.

1. To make good the Covenants and Oaths of your God which are upon you, and into which, by your authority and enſample (at leaſt many of you) we entred; that the ſenſe of Covenant-mercies, may provoke unto Covenant-duties, for the advancement of the Kingdome of the Lord Jeſus in unity, peace, purity, and the power of godlineſs, that Sabbath-ſtrictneſs may be aſſerted by you, Goſpel-Ordinances may be vindicated, a Profeſſing-people may be countenanced, a faithful Miniſtry may be ſtill incourageed and protected, ſuch bounds may be ſet to that act for liberty, that Heterodox opinions may not like a landflood overflow the Nation, but that horrid Impoſtors, and notorious offenders may be puniſhed, that all Iſrael may p. 54hear and fear, Deut. 13. verſ. 11. And that the anointing of God may give you ſafe rules of tenderneſs, that guilt may not lye upon you from God, nor juſt blame from good men, for that ſoftneſs of ſpirit you ſhew towards the Lords people, who in theſe times of light and liberty, do conſcientiouſly, act under different perſwaſions in indifferent things, and therefore do much ſtand in need of Chriſtian and prudent Moderators, who may keep our fingers out of one anothers conſciences, may protect us from the violence of impoſing ſpirits and principles, and that uniformity may not be preſſed with a Prelatical, but with an Evangelical ſpirit in diſciplinary points; when the winde bloweth high and croſs, if the Pilot doth not wiſely govern the helme, the ſhip is in danger to be ſplit, at leaſt much of the precious lading to be loſt.

2. That a ſenſe of eminent preſervations, may ſtir you up to a careful ſuppreſſion of ſin and wickedneſs, by a vigorous purſuit of ſuch penal Laws as are now in force, and by enacting more ſevere, or adding to the former wherein they are defective; that the Nation may not abound with oaths, pride, drunkenneſs, thefts, uncleanneſs, oppreſſion, by depopulating, incloſures, and other abominations, as it hath done, and ſtill doth, nor mourn under a ſad fear of that great controverſie, which the Lord may juſtly take up againſt it for them, Hoſ. 4. verſ. 1, 2, 3. That in order to this, active and conſcientious Magiſtrates may be placed in every County, godly and ſtirring officers may be choſen and encouraged in every Town, which affordeth perſons meet for ſuch a truſt, that the number of Ale-houſes, which have been the ſeminaries and ſeed-plots of vice and villanies, may ſtill be ſuppreſſed, as they have lately been in great meaſure by the care of ſome worthy perſons among us, and that in order to both the Tables, you may be a terrour to evill works, not bearing the ſword in vain, Rom. 13. verſ. 3, 4. having this inſcription engraven upon all your Judiciary proceedings, as was upon the ſword of Charles the Great, Decem preceptorum p. 55cuſtos Carolus, Charles is keeper of the ten Commandements, and that upon account of your lenity and remiſneſs to offenders, that may not juſtly be ſaid unto you by the Saints, as was by the poor Smith to the Lantgrave of Thuring, Dureſce, Dureſce, O infoelix Lantgrave!

3. Improve your ſhare in National mercies and perſonal, yea Magiſtratical preſervations, to the comfort and countenance of the good people of the land, though poor and inconſiderable upon any worldly account: Theſe all along have prayed for you, and ventured all under you; that you may ſpeak thoſe words, Zech. 12. verſ. 5. The Governors of Judah ſhall ſay in their heart, the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem ſhall be my ſtrength in the Lord of Hoſts their God. Surely the people of the Land, who have a Covenant-intereſt in the Lord of Hoſts, have been much your ſtrength under God, both upon the Mount by praying, and in the valley by fighting, when your ſtraights have been the greateſt: Oh then! what Rabſhekah ſpake in a bad ſenſe, give me leave to ſpeak with ſome change of words, in a good ſenſe, Iſa. 36. verf. 9. How then will ye turn away the face of one Captain of the least of my Maſters ſervants? So, juſt how then will ye turn away your faces from the complaints of the leaſt of my Maſters ſervants? the Saints and ſubjects of the King of Zion? or how then will you diſ-ingage the leaſt of them, that they ſhould turn away their faces from praying for you, much leſs turn their prayers againſt you? Oh remember, they have been your ſtrength in the day of battel, your ſleighting of ſuch in their addreſments unto you, and not pleading their cauſe in caſe of wrong and oppreſſion, when their Adverſaries have been too mighty for them, and relief could only be had from a Court of Equity, and in a courſe of equity, hath been much complained of upon earth, and will hear very ill in heaven in the ears of the Lord of Hoſts their God: Oh then! be Eliakims to the poor of the flock, and make good that Propheſie, That upon you may be hanged all veſſels of ſmaell quantity, from the p. 56veſſels of cups, even to all the veſſels of flaggons, Iſa. 22.24. Great veſſels can ſtand upon their own bottoms: And ſurely the freſh records of thoſe glorious things, which the Lord hath brought forth by you and for you, will engage you to the things propounded, yea, to greater then theſe, if ſet home by the Lord upon your hearts, and that, as returns for received mercies.

I ſhall apply this doctrine to my brethren of the Miniſtery, ſuffer I beſeech you a word of exhortation from one, who is low in name and gifts in Iſrael, yet your brother and fellow labourer in the Lords vineyard, for the bringing in and building up of ſouls, that I may give up my accounts with joy, and through rich grace and free mercy in Jeſus Chriſt, may receive a crown of glory, which fadeth not away, when the great Shepherd ſhall appear, 1 Pet. 5.4. whoſe glorious appearance we look for and long after, and which (according to Cronological computation and the opinion of ſome) draweth near, and indeed to believers ought to be ever at hand in the meditation and expectancy of it, and moſtly to the Miniſters, that we may be quickened up to duty and diligence, That when our Lord cometh he may finde us doing his own works: The elders therefore I exhort who alſo am an elder, as the Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Pet. 5.1. (though unworthy of that honor and office) that you would improve the appearances of God, which have been eminent and immediate in the day of his peoples diſtreſs. Ah brethren! hath a day of diſtreſs been upon us? and hath the Lord ſtood by and ſtrengthened us in all attempts which have been made againſt us? Have we been ſtars and ſtill are we, in the hands Jeſus Chriſt? hath the Lord made us a fenced brazen wall unto the people of this nation, when we have taken forth the precious from the vile, in obedience to Gods command and Goſpel-Order? have they fought againſt us and not prevailed? and whence was it that attempts againſt us ſucceeded not? Why? Becauſe the Lord hath been with us to ſave us and deliver us, Jer. 15.19, 20. Oh brethren! what have our returns been? what ſence have we of theſe mercies p. 57upon our ſpirits? what apprehenſions of our preſent ſtanding?

1. Oh, Let us conſider, How deep a ſhare we have had in all the National mercies and preſervations, if the ſhip had been wrackt we ſhould hardly have eſcaped to land on broken boards; if the enemy had prevailed; that party had been conquered, that intereſt daſht in pieces which we owned and adhered unto, what quarter, think ye, ſhould we have had? however men of other capacities might have ſped, it would have been ill enough with us, we ſhould not onelyonly have ſuffered in a common capacity, as thoſe who abetted the Parliamentary intereſt againſt the Royal Cauſe and Party, but as Incendiaries, as men (in the ſence of our adverſaries) who had blown the trumpet of rebellion, and preach't up a ſpirit of Sedition amongſt our people; nay, men of our own coat, and many of our own charge, would have helped forward our calamity: But now through the appearances of a good God, thoſe ſtorms of blood and war are ſcattered; peace is reſtored, and we enjoy as large a ſhare as any, in the ſafety and tranquility of the Nation.

2. Conſider what reſtraints were upon us, as to the exerciſe of our gifts and callings; few, though perſons eminent in grace and learning, that would not pronounce the Shiboleth of the times, had any opportunity to preach, with any encouraging maintenance in preaching, and thoſe that had, how were they confined as to doctrines and matter of preaching; bound up as to days, and limited as to times, to wit, a Sermon hour, which they muſt not under penalty exceed: But now that Monopoly is taken off, thoſe boundaries broken down, and a great door and effectual is open to us; we have Pulpets of our own, and the liberty not onelyonly of our own but of others alſo, we have the freedom of Sabbaths, and alſo may without the check of authority do the work of a Sabbath on every week day; every day may be a Lords day, a day of the ſon of man to us; who amongſt us have received a check from the Rulers for preaching too often and too much, if p. 58the matter delivered was not offenſive upon a Civil account? which doubtleſs would have been owned as a ſingular mercy, by thoſe worthies of the Lord, who have gone before us.

3. Conſider, what yoaks have been put upon our necks, what impoſitions upon our conſcierces, what innovations and offenſive ceremonies have been obtruded up…n us: How many godly Miniſters have been courted, ſilenced, ſuſpended, ejected, exiled? not becauſe their principles were vitious, their lives ſcandalous or their doctrines erroneous: not becauſe they could not preach, as being ignorant, or becauſe they would not preach, as being negligent; but becauſe they would not kiſs the Calves, and ſubmit to that which was then called Uniformity, and that in every punctilio and ceremony: How many choice Divines have had great reaſonings within their own ſpirits, and much arguing one with another, whether they ſhould yield to all impoſed ceremonies, to gain an opportunity to honour God in the courſe of their Miniſtery, or elſe quit their places and people, yea the nation alſo rather then diſhonour God, My reverend Grandfather Mr. Whiting late Miniſter of Etton in Northamptow ſhire being one.and burden their own conſciences with them? How many did chooſe rather to be put out of their livings, then to put on their Surpliſs? and how did ſome chooſe rather a voluntary exile, even into America, rather then conform to innovated ſuperſtitions? but now the Church is ſwept, and all that traſh is carried out of the doors; and nothing now in ſacris, impoſed, which is not agreeable to Scripture truth and pattern; So that, if our ſpirits be wounded, they are from the ſence of our own ſins, or from differences among our equals, not from the ſmart of impoſed Ceremonies from Superiors.

4. Conſider, what oppoſition we met withal, in the years that are paſt, by men of carnal ſpirits and principles, even in our own places, when we have reproved their wickedneſs and conteſted againſt their adored vanities: How have many godly Miniſters beenſlighted by the prophane Rabble, rebuking their Sabbath-breaking, when they could plead the book of liberty and the Royal Sanction? Nay, how many p. 59have been ſecretly traduced and openly reproached by men of our own profeſſion? how have they poiſoned the mindes of our hearers, and have laboured to pull down what we have built up, or build their own hay and ſtubble, as ſuperſtructures, on that foundation which we have laid? How have they branded us with names of infamy, that ſo they might loſen the affections of our people from our perſons, and their regards from our Miniſtry? How ſad have the complaints of ſome been for want of a good neighbor-hood? Good Miniſters were thin in moſt places, for one faithful, honeſt, painful, and conſcientions Miniſter; ten yea twenty bad enough might be found in every County: But now, though ſome of our people are the ſame in ſpirits and principles, yet are they far more tame and quiet under reproof; though they run away, like wild horſes with the Bit in their mouthes, yet they do not caſt their Riders; and where the ſtream is ſtopt in its wonted courſe; yet it ſilently recurs without ſwelling over or breaking down the banks; Bryars and thorns may now be touched without an iron Gauntlet, and we dwell ſafely, though among Scorpions, Ezek. 2.6. Wickedneſs hath no eſtabliſhment now by a law, but meets with the check and frowns of Authority in all the kinds of it; And now for one bad one, we have five, yea ten good neighbors; yea many Counties being now planted, yea filled with godly Miniſters; ſo that was it not for our private differences, and thoſe unhappy Animoſities which they kindle amongſt us, what ſweet communion might we maintain? How might we improve our Lecture-meetings to peace and union? And how free might we be in asking and adviſing one another? The Lord heal thoſe Paroxiſmes of pride and paſſion, which cauſe Paul and Barnabas to break company, even for a John, Mark, Act. 15.39.

5. Conſider, what ſmall allowance ſome of us have had when we ſerved as ſtipoudiaries, under Prelatical Miniſters; out of two, or three hundred pound per annum, ſearce twenty would be allowed us by ſome as wages for all the work; haud ignota refero; The Hebrews have a Proverb, Bos debet p. 60edere ex tritura ſua, the Ox ſhould eat of the corn he treadeth out, But now adays, by ſlight or might, they ſo muzzle the labouring Ox, that they make an Aſs of him, ſays one: in many places they allow him nothing but ſtraw, for treading out the corn, and ſo much ſtraw as themſelves pleaſe, ſaith another; did not men deal with thoſe faithful Miniſters, as thoſe Gre…ians did with their ſervants, that put an Engine about their necks (called foreign) which reached down to their hands, that they might not ſo much as lick of the meal when they were ſifting it? It was long ſince complained of, Dr. Stoughton.That many dealt with their Miniſters, as Carriers do by their Horſes, they lay heavy burthen; upon them, and then hang bells about their necks: So they require hard work and onelyonly give them good words: But now the Lord hath prepared a table before us in the midſt of our enemies, and cauſed our cup to overflow, Pſal. 23.5. The whole land is before us and the Lord hath made us to dwell in the beſt of the land many of us, Gen. 47.6. which is envied by many, and is much the ball of contention, But though I own the goodneſs of the Lord in that plentiful proviſion which his bounty hath now made for us, and conclude the Apoſtles aſſertion to be Goſpel and Authentick, 1 Cor. 9.7. Who goeth a warfare onelyonly at his own charge? doth the ſouldier fight without his pay? or who planteth a vineyard and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Do not many bunches of Grapes and flagons of Wine go to the Maſters table? And who feedeth a flock and eateth not of the milk thereof? Hath now the Shepherd his wages either in milk or mony or both? Say I theſe things as a man, or ſaith not the law the ſame? And if ſo, it is not a gain of oppreſſion upon which Miniſters live, ſeeing Gods law and mans law both aſſert their property; yet I would not be miſtaken, as though I affirm the Jus Divinum of Tythes; or plead for a maintenance to ſuch a proportion; or, that Miniſters ſhould work onelyonly for wages, feed the flock only for the Fleece ſake; I hate ſuch a mercinary ſpirit, and ſo do many of my brethren; and I truſt we ſhould ſtill do, as ſome of us have done, even p. 61be as zealous for God and faithful in our Miniſtery, with a little as with a liberal maintenance, if providence ſhould alter the ſtate of affairs amongſt us; and ſhould rejoycingly own a liberty to preach as a choice mercy, though we had not a Living to preach for; but, why a godly Miniſter ſhould caſt off an eſtabliſhed maintenance to humor a ſort of people; and why they ſhould have a command to be hoſpitable, 1 Tim. 3.2. and have nothing to ſupport it, I know not; I think we may without ſin before God, or offence to good men, own with thankfulneſs our preſent fulneſs; and I beſeech you my brethren to conſider, that ſince the Lord hath given us the places and people of many Idol-Miniſters and lazy drones; what new tricks have been invented, and new Engines contrived to pluck that bread of allowance out of our mouths? Tythes, yea all ſetled maintenance hath been decryed; and how had we been reduced to our former indigency, if theſe mines had taken fire? The bill for ſetling Miniſters inſequeſtred livings for their lives being paſſed.but that the Lord by our Chriſtian Magiſtrates, hath ſtill ſecured our propriety and an eſtabliſhment provided for them, who are but tenants at will, at leaſt but for the lives of others; the want whereof hath much ſadned, both good Miniſters and good people, and hath given opportunity to corrupt Patrons upon vacancies, to thruſt in formal if not carnal Miniſters upon them.

6. Laſtly, Conſider, how not onelyonly our perſons have formerly been ſhot at by the Archers, and our lives in jeopardy, many of us every day; but that of late times, our office hath been much oppugned; attempts have been made once and again, to prove not our maintenance onelyonly, but our Miniſtery alſo Antichriſtian, and this not onelyonly buzzed among our people by ſome errant Sectaries, but publiſhed in print with all virulent Sarcaſmes and invectives againſt us; plots have been laid, and parties made (formidable enough) to have carried it againſt us in a Parliamentary way: Oh! let us ſeriouſly and often reflect upon theſe and many other eminent acts of divine favour and bounty towards us, and p. 62let us make a wiſe and holy improvement of all, to excite and quicken us up.

1. To a more faithful diſcharge of our Miniſterial truſt: have we had our lives given unto us for a prey in all places where we have been? Jer. 45.5. Oh let us conſecrate them now to the glory of a good God, in ſeeking the lives of thoſe dead ſouls, which are in our reſpective congregations, foreign Si quo modo Syrus interpres.Let us in meekneſs inſtruct thoſe that oppoſe themſelves, if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth, and that they may recover themſelves out of the ſnares of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will, 2 Tim. 2.25, 26. Oh 'twill be our honour to be daily fetching in our ſouls unto Chriſt out of the devils quarters.

2. Again are the doors of the Lords houſe opened unto us, which were formerly ſhut upon us? Oh let us enter in and let our …et ſtand in the courts of the houſe of our God. Is there a preaching liberty gained for us? Oh let us improve it with all diligence? Let us often con over Saint Pauls leſſon, and own it as a duty, 1 Cor. 9.16. Though I preach the Goſpel, I have nothing to glory of, for a neceſſity is laid upon me, and wo is unto me if I preach not the Goſpel; Preach man, preach, thou wilt be damned elſe, as one ſaid to his friend: How can we bear witneſs againſt the negligent, which are ejected, but by our diligence? what honour will it be to the Lord Jeſus? What credit to the Church? or what advantage to our people, if lazy droans have been caſt out, and we ſucceed them in their lazineſs? Oh lets not ſtand idle in the Market-place when there is ſo much work to be done in our Maſſers Vineyard: Lift up your eyes and look upon the fields, for they are white unto the harveſt, Joh. 4.35. O then let us beſtir our ſelves, that we may reap with joy what others have ſown in tears: That we may gather fruit unto eternal life: Oh what joy is there, when God gives a full harveſt and good weather to gather it in? They joy before me according to the joy of harveſt, Iſa. 9.3. But O conſider, what a joy it will be to us at a dying hour, and more, at the great day of our p. 63accounts, if we have been faithful unto our Lord, and brought in a full harveſt of ſouls unto him? Oh then, we ſhall have a welcome to heaven, with that bleſſed euge, Well done good and faithful ſervant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord, Mat. 25.23. Let us apply the Apoſtles charge as given to us in his Apoſtolical viſitation, 2 Tim. 4.1, 2. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, foreign nem…e quod ad carms prudentiam utinet, B. … in loc. Luther.who ſhall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and in his kingd…m, preach the word, be inſtant in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon, reprove, rebuke, exhort withall long ſuffering and doctrine; the Miniſtery is not an eaſie trade, an idle mans occupation, Sudor aeconomicus eſt magnus, politicus eſt major, Eccleſiaſticus est maximus, as Luther was wont to ſay, the Maſter of a family hath a great work lying upon his hands (the Lord lay it upon his heart) the Magiſtrate hath a greater, the Miniſter hath the greateſt of all: Oh then let the ſence of that great freedom we now injoy, and the dear rate it hath been purchaſed at (the blood of many Saints) quicken us up to duty and diligence, and perſwade us to act up to the rules laid down by a Reverend Brother, Mr. Baxter in his Gild. Salvi.and to work after the patterne of our Worceſter-ſhire Brethren.

3. Again, hath the Lord broken the ſtaff of our oppreſſors, and their yoaks from off our necks? Oh! let us not lay the ſtaff of oppreſſion upon one another, nor put yoaks on one anothers necks; leaſt our bands be made ſtronger, Jeruſalem is in deed a glorious City, when the buildings thereof are compacted together and contiguous, and the Inhabitants thereof are at unity among themſelves, Pſal. 123. Wring not men conſciences you may hap to break the wards of them if you do Dr. Sibs.but we muſt not ſo purſue unity as to neglect purity, nor preſs uniformity ſo, as to degenerate into Tyranny: Order in diſciplinary points is beautiful, and agreement defirable, but to force it begetteth confuſion and breedeth animoſities: How can we bear witneſs againſt the Prelates Lordſhip, if we ſhould Lord it over one another … or againſt the Popes infallibility, if we ſhould impoſe upon one another? if we ſhould preſcribe laws to one anothers conſciences, or make our own intetpretations, in doubtful p. 64Scriptures, and relating to order onelyonly, canonical and binding to all? Mr. Clarke in v…ta patrum.it would be indeed a crown of beauty, and Diadem of glory upon our heads, if there was that peace among us as was betwixt Miconius and his Colſeagues, concerning whom he uſeth theſe words, Currimus, certavimus, laboraviwus, pugnauimus, vicimus & viximus ſemper conjunctiſsime, when the watchmen of Iſrael do lift up their voice, and with their voice together, they do ſing, when they ſee eye to eye, Iſa. 52.8. When they all do ſpeak the ſame things, when there are no diviſions among them, but are perfectly joyned together in the ſame minde, and in the ſame judgemen, 1 Cor. 1.10. But if we cannot attain this unity in circumſtantials, let us bleſs God, that we do it infundamentals, and let our union in the head, untie us in the heart, carrying it with all tenderneſs one toward another, in differences of ſmaller moment under this aſſurance, that, Ibi tandem c…nveniemus, ubi Luthero cum Zuinglio optime jam convenit, there's no claſhing in heaven betwixt Luther and Zuinglius about the Sacrament, we ſhall all be of one minde in heaven, and why ſhould we claſh upon earth? Though ſome of us diſpenſe the Supper to a ſelect company, judging it moſt agreeable to Goſpel order and pattern, yet why ſhould we urge this upon our brethren, who judge otherwiſe? or why ſhould our Brethren urge a general admiſſion upon us, Why ſhould the diſputes be ſo hot and conteſts ſo high among brethren about modelling the Congregations, whether by caſting out, or leaving out the ſcandalous and profane, when as we all own the Lords Supper to be a ſtanding ordinance, and do not antiquate it with the Quakers, nor withhold the cup from our people with the Papiſts, nor maintain a Conſumbſtantiation with the Lutherans nor diſpenſe it promiſcuouſly, to all of age in our pariſhes (mad men and fools onelyonly excepted) with ſome Epiſcopal men, but endeavor a pure adminiſtration agreeing in that as our great end) that it may be diſpenſed onelyonly to viſible Saints. Why ſhould ſuch wormwood and gall appear in our pens and Pulpets one againſt another upon this ſubject? have we not other p. 65work to do? may we not imploy our ſtock better? would it not add more to Gods honour and our own alſo, if we did lay out that zeal which we ſpend one againſt another, againſt Papiſts and Impoſtors? Is it a time for Shepherds to quarrel, about folding of their Sheep, when Wolves are broke into the flock? Is it a time for Officers of an Army to diſpnte titles and trifles, when the enemy appears in the field with a formed Army againſt them? Is it a time for us to ſpend our ſtrength in anger and animoſities one againſt another, when the Nation ſwarms with Hereticks? when they make ſuch havock of the flock in many places? and when they all combine againſt us? for however they differ among themſelves, they agree in their hatred, and oppoſition of us; like a Brigado of horſe, that Scout up and down in ſeveral parties, yet meet together at the head quarters: Surely the undermining of a Goſpel-Miniſtery is the general Rendevouz of all our Sectaries, at leaſt moſt of them; Oh then let the ſence of danger perſwade us to body in love, and the ſence of duty provoke us to improve our perſonal ſafety, preaching opportunity, Goſpel-liberty, freedome of communion, maintenance and Miniſtery moſt to the glory of a good God, and this we ſhall beſt do, and beſt reach the great end of God in our great deliverances, if we ſet up the Apoſtles counſel as our great way-mark, Act. 20.28. Take heed unto your ſelves and to all the flock over which the holy Ghoſt hath made you overſeers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchaſed with his own blood, and we ſhall better underſtand this text and our duty by peruſing Maſter Baxter upon it, in his Gildas Salutanus.

3. This Doctrine hath a word of friendly advice to military men, which I hope ſhall meet with a friendly reſentment, becauſe it comes from a friend, with a friendly intent: I am no Cynick, nor apt to quarrel, if I was, I would be more prudent, then to enrage them by tart language, who have ſo often fought an enraged enemy in the open field; and more ingenuous, then to ſpend my choler againſt them, who have ſpilt their blood for my ſafety: And p. 66therefore O ye valiant ones of Iſrael; conſider how far this doctrine is applicable to you in that capacity; are the appearances of God eminent and immediate in the day of his peoples diſtreſs?

1. Conſider how rare and skilful you were in all martial affairs, at your firſt entrance upon the war; how little of a Soldier as to the ſlights and ſtratagems of war, Never hardly did an army go forth with leſsconfidence on their own ſide, or more contempt of their enemys & did more bravely deceive both, for in theſe following ſucceſſes they proved ſuch, as would too much poſe antiquity among all the Campes of the famed Heroes, Heroes to finde a parallel of this Army, T. M. in the hyſtory of the Civil war, p. 114.were found in you, at leaſt moſt of you, when you firſt took the field; and yet what a teaching ſpirit from the Lord came upon you; how ſuddainly, even to admiration, did the Lord of Hoſts teach your hands to war, and your fingers to fight? Pſal. 144.1. So that a ſhort time did make you expect, in all the councels and carriages of a well-ordered Battail; that ye were able to countermine all your enemies; and prevent and purſue advantages with much warlike prudence: Oh let this be owned in peace, as a ſignal mercy from the Lord, and as that which tended much to yours and our preſervation, and to the gaining of all thoſe freedoms which we now enjoy; Tis a ſpecial owning providence, when the Lord qualifieth perſons for imployments.

2. Conſider how low your ſpirits were at your firſt taking up of Armes; what fears and troubles and terrors were upon your ſpirits, when ye firſt heard the ſound of the trumpet and the Alarum for war; how terrible the ſight of an Army with banners diſplayed was, and how dreadfully the claſhing of Armor ſounded in your ears, were not many of you like the men of Iſrael who followed Gideon, Judg. 7.3. Who when proclamation was made in the Army, Whoſoever is fearful and afraid, let him return early from mount Gilead? there returned of the people twenty and two thouſand? would not ſuch a lieence for a retreat have found acceptation with many of you? did not you wiſh your ſelves in your ſhops again? at your employments p. 67again? did you not blame your ſelves for your raſh and forward undertaking ſo dangerous a ſervice? and yet how did the Lord heighten your ſpirits? how did he cloath you with valour and undaunted courage? how did the ſpirit of the Lord come upon you, as upon Savl, 1 Sam. 11.6. What kindlings of anger and warlike indignation were in you, as in Saul when he ſaw the deſigne of the Ammonites to thruſt out the right eyes of your brethren, and lay it for a reproach upon all Iſrael? and how did the progreſs of the war declare both your skill and valour, your enemies themſelves being Judges? Valiant men of the valiant of Iſrael, expert in war, marching and watching with your ſwords upon your things, becauſe of the fear in the night? Can. 3.7, 8.

3. Conſider what Midiantiſh Armies for multitude, ye have encountred with? what numerous bodies have drawn up againſt you? how the Nations round about have been called in againſt you? How many Armies of men of different languages, intereſts, and Religions have been formed againſt you? And yet the ſword of the Lord and of Gideon hath broken them in pieces, the Lord by you hath done unto them, A unto the Midianites as to Siſera, as to Jabin at the brook of Kiſon, which periſhed at Endor and became as dung for the earth; their nobles have been made like Oreb and like Zeeb, and all their Princes like Zeba, and as Zalmunnah, who ſaid let us take to our ſelves the houſes of God in poſſeſsion, Pſal. 83.9, 10, 11, 12. Nay, how have ye with the ſharp threſhing inſtrument of the power and juſtice of the moſt high God, thraſhed the mountains, and beat them ſmall, and made the hills as chaff? How have ye fanned many of them? how hath the winde carried them away and the whirlewinde ſcattered them? Iſa. 41.15, 16. How hath this been made good, at home, abroad, by Land and by Sea, that ye and we may rejoyce together and glory in the Holy one of Iſrael.

4. Conſider what perſonal perſervations ye have had, how the Lord hath covered your head, in the day of Battail: How many bullets have been guided by the hand of God to miſs your p. 68bodies, when they have flown like ſtorms of hail about you; how they have glided off your Armor and not torn your garments, or rent your garments, & not rippled your skin or raſed your skin, & not reach't your fleſh or though your fleſh hath been laſhed, yet your lives have been ſecured; Oh conſder the diſtinguiſhing providences that have been toward you, ſometimes a right hand man dropping down, ſometimes a left hand man, ſometimes a piſtol hath been fired at your breaſts and would not go off; ſometimes a ſword hath been lift up to cleave your heads, and the Lord hath ſtayed the hand, as once he did Abrahams, ſometimes your horſes have been ſlain under you, and ye have been mounted again or made an eſcape on foot: O let your perſonal deliverances be gathered up and recorded by you.

5. Conſider all thoſe great things, which the Lord hath wrought for you, and by you in this and other Nations; What fieges have been raiſed by you, when the diſtreſſes of your brethren have been very ſad, as Gloceſter and other places: What ſtrong Towns and Cities have been carried by you, as Colcheſter and other Forts and Cittadels: What eminent battails have been fought and won by you? what ſlangther hath been made in the Camps of your enemies? with what unequal numbers have ye taken the field ſometimes? and at all times, almoſt, come off with far different loſs? How, again and again Armies have been raiſed, and thoſe Armies have been routed; forces levied, and thoſe forces have been levelled even with the ground; the proudeſt and ſtouteſt of them, Moab-like have been trodden as ſtraw for the dunghill: How various, how voluminous have the mercies of the Lord been to you? that in all encounters ye have come off with the conqueſt, at leaſt the iſſue of the war proclaims you Conquerors; ſo that the Lord hath made good that promiſe to you, Joſh. 1.5. There ſhall not be any man able to ſtand before thee all the days of thy life, Nay Chap. 2.10. The hearts of all your enemies have melted, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, becauſe of you; for the experience of many p. 69years and many wars hath proved the truth of that great promiſe, Iſa. 54.15. Behold they ſhall ſurely gather together, but not by me; that all the gatherings together and muſters of the enemy have been without the Lord, for whoſoever hath gathered together againſt you; hath faln before you; No weapon that hath been formed againſt you, hath hitherto proſpered, this hath hitherto been your heritage, and that it may be continued in mercy unto you, and ye may be continued as a mercy to the land, and to the Saints; let me commend ſome few things unto you.

1. Do not ſacrifice to your nets, nor burn incenſe to your own drags; do not ſay your own ſword and your own bow hath gotten you the victory, and ſo ſhut out the King of Saints and his anointed ones from any ſhare in your many victories: Take heed of Elations and up liftings of ſpirit, in aſcribing too much to your own proweſs and policy, and ſo, carry away the honor of the day from the Lord of Hoſts: it is much a fault in many, who will not own God in you, nor acknowledge you as a Battle-ax in the hands of the great God, whereby he hath broken the enemy, and daſht in pieces the powers of the world which hath ſtood up againſt the Lord and his people: and it would be much your ſin, if ye ſhould (by a proud Monoply) engroſs the glory of the work wholly to your ſelves: if any thing of this nature hath been upon your ſpirits, or faln unwarily from your lips, let me beſpeak you in the words of an excellent woman, and think it not diſhonour to be counſelled by the mouth of a woman, though Abimelech did to fall by the hand of a woman, 1 Sam. 2.3. Talk no more ſo exceeding proudly, let not arrogancy come forth of your mouth, for the Lord is a God of knowledge and by him actions are weighed: He that trieth the heart and weigheth the ſpirits, will certainly weigh ſuch carriages, and finde them too light; if ſouldiers ſay with Ajax, I know no God but my ſword, they ſhall ſurely finde, that the ſword of Gideon, is but a wooden blade, if the ſword of the Lord be not with it; be much in working that paſſage upon your hearts, Iſa. 10.15. Shall the ax boaſt p. 70it ſelf againſt him that heweth with it? or ſhall the ſaw magnifie it ſelf againſt him that ſhaketh it? &c. Ye know, concerning whom theſe words were ſpoken, proud Senacherib, and upon what occaſion, to wit, the vaunting of his ſucceſs in wars; and what follows? why verſ. 16. Therefore the Lord, the Lord of Hoſts ſhall ſend among his fat ones (principal Officers) leanneſs, and under his glory he ſhall kindle a fire: May not that contempt which the Lord hath poured upon ſome (ones of you) ſpring much from this root of pride? I onelyonly interrogate, and ſuch are the reſpects I bear to the Reſtorers of our peace and liberty, that I wiſh the Dream may be to thoſe that hate you, and the interpretation unto your enemies, Dan. 4.19.

2. Own the people of the Lord who have owned you, and the cauſe ye have ventured in; They have had a large ſhare in the fraughtage of that ſhip, which by the bleſſing of God, hath been ſteered by you through ſtormy Seas into ſafe harbour. Read often Prov. 27. verſ. 10. Thine own friend, and thy fathers friend forſake not: You cannot own God fully, if you diſ-own his people, who under him have aſſiſted in the work; ye have had many Auxiliaries, who have helped the Lord and you againſt the mighty. Some have jeoparded their lives unto death with you in the high places of the field, Judg. 5.18. It would be very diſingenuous to lay ſuch aſide, as depontani, and over-look them as men unworthy of your knowledge, now ye ſit in the high places of the Nation: An heathen mans conſcience ſmote him for this crime, The Popiſh Souldiers that went againſt the Angrognians ſaid that the Minities with their prayers conjured and bewitched them that they could not fight. And …id not ye at Edge-hill ſay with others, now for the fruits of prayer? and did not ye receive the fruit of it?Gen. 11. verſ. 9. and ſhall the guilt thereof reſt upon you? And ſome again have been upon the Mount, when you have been fighting with your enemies in the valley; and they have not been your worſt friends; neither have ye received the leaſt aid from them; When Moſes held up his hands, Iſrael prevailed, and when he let down his hands Amal…k prevailed, Exod. 17. verſ. 11. Ye owe much of your ſucceſs and ſafety in the p. 71late wars to a praying people; It was obſerved (and it was very obſervable) that immediately after monthly Faſts, ye got ground of the enemy in ſome places: did not the Lord proclaime in your Camp, that this and that victory was, as well the procurement of a praying Aſſembly, as of a fighting Army? And that it was, as well fetched from heaven by the tears of his Sanctuary, as finiſhed upon earth by the blood of his Souldiery? Indeed, ye deſerve blame, if ye ſleight them, who have wept and mourned, faſted and prayed, yea wraſtled hard for you, and by whom the war hath been much carried on in heaven; and we are equally blame-worthy, if we ſlight you, who have laboured and marched, and run the hazzard of limbs and lives, yea fought and bled, and by whom the war hath been carried on upon earth: The Lord heal all hard-thoughtedneſs betwixt you and us, and make us one, as ever in the truth and cauſe of Jeſus.

3. Be humbled before the Lord, A great Queen ſaid, ſhe feared more the prayers of Ioha Knox, and his Complices, than an Army of thirty thouſand men, Trap in Mat. 18.19.Matt 18:19for all the acts of violence and injuſtice, either acted or permitted by you, in the heat of war; for all the breaches of Oaths or Covenants with God or man, for all your failing in, or falſifying of the Vows, which ye made to God in the day of your didiſtreſs: And that there hath been any root bearing wormwood or gall ſpringing up among you, that of your ſelves men have aroſe ſpeaking perverſe things, to draw away diſciples after them, Act. 20. verſ. 19. It is too evident, and hath been, that the File-leaders and heads of many errours (that I ſay not of all) have been either of, or found ſhelter in the Army; both have many witneſſes at this day living: It took no great impreſſion upon us that ſome ſtragling perſons blurted off their potguns at us; but when we were drawn upon by the Souldiery, or by a ſort of men abetted by them, and marching under their protection, this was great grief of heart unto us; this was a ſword in our bones, and drew tears from our eyes in our ſecret mournings before the Lord: This made our prophane neighbours ſcoffe at us, when they heard thoſe truths oppoſed, thoſe doctrines contradicted p. 72thoſe wayes of the Lord evil-ſpoken of, and thoſe Ordinances ſleighted, for which ye and we had conteſted ſo long with tears and blood: This made the Cavalier-Miniſter laugh in their ſleeves, and deride when they beheld the faithful Miniſters (faithful to the Lord, to you, and to the cauſe contended for) vilified, diſdained, and traduced, and that by a party of our own Army, when they themſelves met with no ſuch trouble from them: This we looked upon as very diſingenuous to us, and as unſuitable returns to the Lord.

The Lord clear up his great Goſpel truths above all poſſibility of miſtake by his own people, and fill the earth with the knowledge of the Lord as the water covers the Sea, Iſa. 11.9. that ye, and we may go forth by the footſteps of the flocke, that ye may feed your kids by the ſhepherds tents, and all of us may know where the Lord Jeſus feedeth, and where be maketh his flock to reſt at noon, Cant. 1. verſ. 7, 8. For why ſhould any of you be as they that turn aſide by the flocks of ſtrangers?

4. Quicken up that ancient zeal, thoſe burning affections, and that fixedneſs of ſpirit in you, for the Lord, his truth, his cauſe, his Miniſtery and his people which once ye had: O if ye find your preſent peace and pleaſure, honor and full eſtates, dignity and dominion to begin raiſe unwholeſome damps in your ſouls, the ſenſe of grace received and mercies received (ſo eminent as yours have been, and the Nation in you) will excellently ſcatter them, if well improved: Oh then! the Champions of Iſrael, who have vanquiſhed Chriſt and his Churches enemies in the field draw up gallantly againſt corruptions in your own hearts; As ye have ſubdued Kingdomes, ſo work righteouſneſs: As ye have bled for Chriſt in time of war, ſo bow down to Chriſt in time of peace: As ye have ſealed the walls of the mighty, ſo pull down the ſtrong holds of ſin within your own boſomes: As ye have caſt down the high ones of the earth from their ſeats, ſo caſt down imaginations, and every high thought which exalteth it ſelf againſt p. 73the knowledge of God: As ye have captivated Nations and people to the obedience of your commands, ſo bring all the thoughts (the Nations and people of thoſe little worlds your hearts) into captivity to the obedience of Jeſus Chriſt, and his Goſpel-commands, 2 Cor. 10. verſ. 5. Your war is an In-land war now, the weapons of your warfare are not now carnal, but ſpiritual: your enemies are not High-landers, but In-landers, not Cavaliers, but Corruptions, not the wilde Iriſh, but the wilde Aſſes Colr, principles of proud, corrupt nature: And now, as your conflicts are harder, ſo your conqueſts will be happier: As your enemies are more dangerous, ſo your victory will be more glorious, Prov. 16. verſ. 32. he that ruleth his own ſpirit, is better than he that ſcaleth a City: Oh it would be very ſad, and much ſadden the hearts of many of your Chriſtian friends, if any of you who Sampſon-like, have ſlain the Philiſtins, ſhould yourſelves be ſlain by a Philiſtin Delilah; that your locks ſhould be cut, and the ſtrength of the Lord ſhould depart from you; Oh how would the Daughters of the Philiſtins rejoyce, how would the Daughters of the uncircumciſed triumph, when this ſhould be told in Gath, and publiſhed in the ſtreets in Askelon, and how would the Daughters of Iſrael weep over you, and ſay, How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battel! the ſpiritual warfare: How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war periſhed! 2 Sam. 1. verſ. 24.25, 27. Oh then, ſtand to your Armes! make good your Sacramentum militare, your military oath to be true to Chriſt and his cauſe; there is not ſuch a thing in a Goſpel-ſenſe, belonging to your Chriſtian warfare, as an honorable retreat; Mr. Gurnab part. 1. of his Chriſtian in Compleat Armour, pag. 374.not ſuch a word of command in all Chriſts military Diſcipline, as fal back, and lay down your arms, till called off by death, as a Reverend Divine ſaith: Oh then! now the war is ended, and the Lord hath given us peace by your means, attend that ſpiritual work, and ſpiritual war, and go to the Armoury of the great Captain of our ſalvation, opened by St. Paul, Eph. 6. verſ. 11, 12, 13. &c. and take out p. 74ſuch peeces as you want, yea every peece of Armour, that you finde in that ſpiritual Magazine, that ye may be able to withſtand in the evil day, and having done all to ſtand; that ſo having fought the good fight of faith, ye may hold on eternal life, and receive that Coronam militarem, that Crown of righteouſneſs, which the Lord will give to all thoſe, who love his appearing, 2 Tim. verſ. 4.7, 8.

4. Here is a word from the Lord to Mariners, and Seatrading men: And O that our Sea-Commanders and Souldiers would rightly improve this truth! If this poor Treatiſe ſhall come into any of your hands, the good Lord ſet it upon your hearts; If the appearances of God be eminent and immediate to any in a day of diſtreſs, ſure they have been ſo to you; ye of all men do ſee much of the power and providence of God, at leaſt may ſee it, if your eyes be opened, and your mindes ſavingly inlightned: The Pſalmiſt tells us (and though I be not a Seafaring man yet I beleeve it) they that go down to the Seas in ſhips, that do buſineſs in great waters, theſe ſee the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep; for he commandeth and raiſeth up the ſtormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof, they mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths, Pſal. 10. verſ. 23, 24, 25, 26. Cannot ye comment upon this Text? cannot ye ſeal to this truth? their ſoul is melted becauſe of trouble, runs as thin as water, they are ready to dye for fear of death. Junius underſtands it of extreme vomiting, as if they were caſting up their very hearts: One doubted, whether he ſhould reckon Mariners, who were put to Sea, amongſt the living, or the dead, in the cenſure or Regiſtry of a Nation: Another ſayes, that a man will go to the Sea at firſt, I wonder not, but to go a ſecond time, it is madneſs? They reel to and fro, and ſtagger like a drunken man, nutant nautae & vacillant cerebro & pedibus, there is a great deal of elegancy in the phraſe, and it is very ſignificant; men that are full of drink, that are loaden with liquor, they go with a very unſteady and tottering gate; reeling now againſt this wall, and now againſt that, if they walk in a narrow p. 75ſtreet; ſo Mariners in a ſtorm, are thrown firſt on one ſide, then on the other ſide of the ſhip: A tempeſt is a ſad Sea-quake which throws all on heaps, nothing hardly keeps due order, and its right place in the ſhip: again a man that is down drunk (as the phraſe is) is reaſon-ſtruck, his intellectuals are ſhattered, he is fit for no head imployment; ſo Mariners in a ſtorm, are at their wits end, all their skill and ſtrength fail them at once; All their wiſdom is ſwallowed up, Heb. that is, the art of Navigation is now of no uſe unto them: Card and Compaſs and all laid aſide, and forced to let the ſhip run a drift: hath not this been your caſe in great ſtreſs of weather? Have ye not met with ſuch a ſtorm at ſea, which hath brought forth all theſe fears and terrors in you? have ye not often thought ye ſhould have been entombed within walls of water, and your bodies ſhould have become a prey to ſea-Monſters? eſpecially when engaged in a dreadful Sea-fight. But was the ſea alwayes rough, the windes always high, the ſhip alwyes in danger to be ſplit or ſunk? no, Ver. 28. Then they cryed to the Lord in their trouble; then if ever, a ſtorm at ſea will make ſeamen pray, though they ſeldome do it on dry land; yea cry: thus Jonah Chap. 1. Verſ. 5. Then, to wit in a ſtorme, The Mariners were afraid, and cryed every man to his God; Qni neſcit orare diſcat navigare, Rarae fumant felicibus arae.He that cannot pray, let him go to ſea; if he fears God or danger, he cannot but pray: but what? doth God hear their cry? yea, he bringeth them out of their diſtreſs, ver. 29. He maketh. the ſtorme a calm, ſo that the waves thereof are ſtill: Thus it was in that great ſtorme, Matth. 8. verſ. 26. when the ſhip was covered with waves, through the violence of windes, which rolled and daſhed them over it, The Lord Jeſus rebuked the windes and the ſea, and …; was a great calme; he did but once chide thoſe creatures, and they ſubmitted; but againſt how many chidings of the Lord do theſe rebellious hearts of ours ſtand out? winde and ſea will riſe up in judgment againſt us at the great day, and will condemn us, every drop of water in that ſea, upon which you ſail, will be a witneſs of your p. 76monſtrous rebellion and diſobedience: But to go on; how do the Marriners improve this mercy? why, ver. 30. then are they glad, becauſe they are quiet, ſo he bringeth them to their deſired haven: Hath this been your caſe? hath the Lord calmed a tempeſtuous ſea, and ſteered your courſe by a good hand of providence, to your deſired harbour? Let me ask you, not whether you were glad, but how you expreſt your gladneſs? did ye not ſing, and drink, and ſwear and roar, when your fear was paſt? hath the ſence of deliverance wrought you into an humble, holy praiſing, and thankfull frame? which hath been the firſt place ye have viſited, when come to land, the Tavern or the Temple? and which hath been your firſt work, pouring forth your ſoules in praiſes to God, or pouring in of ale or wine, to intoxicate your brains? have ye been drunk with wine, wherein is exceſs, or have ye been filled with the ſpirit, ſpeaking to your ſelves in Pſalmes and Hymnes, and ſpiritual ſongs, making melody in your hearts and ſinging to the Lord, Eph. 5. ver. 18, 19. Oh ſirs! is this all the return that God expects? Is this all the improvement ye ſhould make of ſo great a mercy? ſurely no, ver. 31. The holy Ghoſt directs to a better; O that men would praiſe the Lord for his goodneſs, and for his works unto the children of men! that they would confeſs it to the Lord, both in ſecret, and in Societies, ſo the word importeth: O friends lif ye read this doctrine, read alſo your own duty in it: If deliverances ingage any unto duty, ſure yours do; yours are as eminent as any, as immediate as any; Ther's nothing but the hand of God ſeen in your preſervations in land-deliverances ſomething of the creature is ſeen, and man ſteps in for a ſhare, either by his power or policy: prudence or providence; but who can rebuke the windes and the ſeas, but onelyonly their great Creatour? Caeſarem vehis, will not calme a rough ſea: ſuch charmes will not be obeyed by the wilde Ocean: That King found this true, when walking upon the ſhore, he commanded the tide to ſtop his courſe; but ſo little the ſea regarded the commands of this proud king, though within his own Dominions, p. 77that he found his ſafety lay more in his heels, then in his head: He alone who hath placed the ſand for the bound of the ſea, by a perpetuall decree, can ſtay the tide in its full carreer, and ſtill the windes in their loudeſt bluſter, Jer. 5. ver. 22. How apparently did the windes and ſea fight for us in Eighty eight, ſo that the enraged Spaniard ſaid, Chriſt was turned Lutheran— Oh then! Octogeſſimus octavus m…rabilis annus, Beza. Silete, ne Dii vos h…c navigare ſentiant was the Speech of an Heathen to wicked perſons, that ſailed in a ſtorm with him.own God in all your ſea-deliverances, be awakened to a ſence of them; improve them upon a ſpiritual account; wipe off that imputation which is caſt upon you, by men of In-land Countries, that there is little of Religion among you: Look after, and lay hold on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, leaſt yea be thrown over-board, in a ſtate of impenitency and unbelief, and ſink down, not onelyonly like lead into the bottome of the ſea, but into the bottomleſs pit alſo; Oh 'tis ſad going to Hell by land or water! O get into Chriſt, who will be a Noah's ark unto you, in which ye ſhall not onelyonly ſail ſafely to an earthly haven, but into heaven; and when the Lord brings you off from a ſeavoyage, with broken maſts, torne ſails, and a wetherbeaten ſhip, let the ſenſe of that great deliverance affect your hearts, and if ye have not already done it, Give diligence to make your calling and election ſure; Tis the Apoſtles advice to all, 2 Pet. 1.10. and mine to you, ſhew your ſeriouſneſs in a point of ſo great importance: it was well ſaid by a reverend Divine, Thy bed is very ſoft, Mr. Trap. in loc.or thy heart very hard, if th… canſt ſleep ſoundly in an uncertain condition. Oh minde this as the main; for this being obtained, though you ſhould ſuffer a wrack at ſea, yet verſe 11. An entrance ſhall be adminiſtred unto you, into the everlaſting kingdome of our Lord and ſaviour Jeſus Christ: The Metaphor is accommodated unto you; ye ſhall not get into Heaven, as a ſhip hardly puts into the haven, with Anchors loſt, Cables rent, ſails torn, and maſts broken, (which is the caſe of many) but ſhall ſail in with maſts up, Cordage whole, Tacklings ſound, Sails full, Flags diſplayed, top and top gallant, trumpets ſounding, and ſo ſhall everlaſtingly rejoyce, in the everlaſting p. 78Kingome of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt.

5. The naturall improvement of this Doctrine gives much by way of advice to the recovered ones of the land, to thoſe whom the Lord hath brought off from beds of languiſhment, and fetched up even from the gates of death: And truly the number of ſuch is great, ſcarce ever greater; the Providences of God have been ſad and humbling, ſundry times in the land, and in particular places: yet ſeldome hath aviſitation been ſo generall, both as to perſons and places. The pale horſe and his Rider have paſſed through our ſeveral Towns, and Countries, like an army in their march, and taken up ſhort quarters, but of late they have billetted amongſt us, taking up not onelyonly their ſummer but winter quarters alſo, ſo that we may take up the Churches complaint, Jer. 8. verſ. 20. The harveſt is paſt, the ſummer is ended, and we are not ſaved, ſickneſs and death have not removed their quarters, neither is there any amongſt us, that knoweth how long, their abode ſhall be, Pſal. 74. verſ. 9. Their commiſſion being under the Privy Seal of Heaven: and if their hoſtilities be ſo great this winter ſeaſon, what waſting and deſolation may we fear, at the time, when Kings go forth to battle? 2 Sam. 11. ver. 1. if winter agues be ſo violent, what will the ſummer feavers be? if theſe diſeaſes ſweep our Townes ſo much, what will the beſome of deſtruction do? If we have run with the footmen, and they have wearied us, then how ſhall we contend with horſes? If we have been wearied in the land of Jordan? O that the ſence of our preſent ſickneſs, and the fear of an approaching mortality invading the land, was ſet home upon all our hearts, that we might improve the Lords counſel, Hoſ. 14.2. to take with us words, and turn to the Lord, and ſay unto him, take away all iniquity, and receive us graciouſly; that we might prepare to meet our God, with an entreaty of peace, before the decree come forth! Oh that all, eſpecially the men of wiſdome in the Nation, would hear the rod, and who hath appointed it, Mic. 6. verſ. 9. and receive teaching from it: My humble advice from the Lord, to thoſe who have been ſick, and now are weſt; p. 79who are now in the land of the living, when as many, labouring under the ſaid diſtempers, are gone down to the chambers of death, is this,

I. That you would own with thankfulneſs the healing mercies of God, whereby you have been reſtored: Let your thoughts often reflect upon your former weakneſs, what pains and faintings ſeaſed upon you; what the opinion of your Phyſicians, and the fears of your Relations were; when your pulſes beat low and ſoftly, when you drew your breath ſhort and painfully; when paleneſs had covered your faces, when the graſhopper was a burden to you, ſuch was your weakneſs, Job 16. verſ. 16. when the ſhadow of death was on your eye-lids, and all the ſymptomes of death appeared in you; and all this, at ſuch a time, when graves were opened very many in moſt places; when God himſelf was the preacher, and that upon this text, Iſa. 40. verſ. 6, 7. All fleſh is graſs, and the goodlineſs of it as the flower of the field; the graſs withereth, and the flower fadeth, becauſe the ſpirit of the Lord bloweth upon it; which was fully confirmed; every paſſing bell being a proof of the point, and every dead corps a reaſon of the doctrine; ſo that if ever, now it might ſafely be affirmed, the people is graſs; and you, as graſs might have withered into dead hay; and though flowers, might have faded into loathſome Carcaſes, if the Lord had not preſerved a ſecret ſap at the root: Oh conſider! to receive a meſſage of life from the Lord, when you had received a meſſage of death from man; to be kept alive by his almighty power, when you were within an hairs breadth of death, is a mercy worth the owning at all times, but calls for more abundant thankfulneſs, at ſuch a time as this was, when ſo many, ſome out of the ſame houſes, and many out of the ſame Towns, have been carried forth unto the places of burial; when many of thoſe had the ſame advantages, for life, yea greater, ſome from men and means, then ye had, yet they are dead, and ye are alive, Oh theſe conſiderations lay great ingagements of thankfulneſs upon you, eſpecially if you ſeriouſly take notice p. 80what your ſickneſs was, by which ye received an arreſt from the Lord; it was not an ordinary diſeaſe; it hath been very much ludibrium medicorum, few Phyſicians have found out the true cauſe, and the right cure of it; the diſtempers have ſo varied, and the effects have been ſo different in ſeveral perſons and places; ſo that with the Egyptian Sorcerers, all have been forced to confeſs, it was no other then the finger of God: The Lord having made good upon us that threatning, Deut. 28. Verſe 61. In bringing a ſickneſs among us, which is not written in the book of the Law, a Scripture, parralel whereof, in every particular, cannot be found; I ſhall repreſent it to you under theſe Conſiderations;

1. It was general: no County no Town, no Family ſcarcely eſcaped the rod; nay almoſt all perſons found ſome alterations in their bodies, as tendencies to that diſeaſe, having as large a Commiſſion, as to ſmiting, as the deſtroying Angel had, Ezek. 9. verſ. 5, 6. Go ye through the City, and ſmite: let not your eye ſpare, neither have ye pity: ſlay utterly old and young; both maids, and little children, and women.

2. It was ſuddain: Many Diſeaſes have their Prodromio's, their forerunners, which bring news of their coming ſome dayes or weeks before they ſeize a man; but when men were in their apprehenſions perfectly well, and at their labour, perceiving no ſymptomes of a ſickneſs, they were ſuddenly ſurpriſed, ſome in the Towns, ſome in the fields, and brought home ſick; As if a man ſhould walk in a Corporation, and ſuddenly ſhould be ſnapt by the Sergeants and carried to the Jaile, when he feared nothing leſs, 1 Theſ. 5.3.

3. It was violent: It ſeized many ſtrong men with that violence at the firſt onſet, as though it would ſtrike but once; many thinking, at their firſt ſurpriſall, they had been dropping into the grave, like that Job 16. v. 12, 13, 14. I was at eaſe, Read Mr. Jakson's notes, in loc.but he hath broken me aſunder; he hath alſo taken me by the neck, and ſhaken me to peices, and ſet me up for his marke; His archers compaſs me about, he cleaveth my p. 81reins aſunder, and doth not ſpare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground; He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a Giant.

4. It was weakning; the ſtrength of the ſtrong man was ſuddenly taken from him, that he was either chained to his bed, or like an old man, walked with his ſtaffe in his hand through age, Zech. 8. ver. 4. for Job 6. ver. 4. the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poiſon whereof drinketh up my ſpirit. And Pſal. 38.8, 10. I am feeble and ſore broken, &c. My heart panteth, my ſtrength faileth me, by reaſon of inappetency, Pſal 107. ver. 18. Their ſoul abhorreth all manner of meat.

5. It was languiſhing: many diſeaſes do their work in a few dayes, either the diſtemper wears off, and health returns, or elſe ſickneſſe prevails and death comes; In ſome caſes, the Malefactour is committed till the next Goaldelivery, and then ſet free with a little ſcarre in his hand: But in other caſes, a man is kept priſoner from Seſſions to Aſſizes, and from Aſſizes to Seſſions, and knows not when he ſhall have his freedome, or whether his life will be ſpared at laſt. So ſome diſeaſes have their fixed periods of time, after which health is reſtored, but in this diſtemper, many have been referred from Seſſions to Aſſizes, have had many hopefull intervalls, and yet are detained, bound over from the feaver to a quartan ague, and after long detainment, find little ſtrength, and as little hopes of life at the laſt: See Job 13. ver. 26, 27, 28. and chap. 16. ver. 8. thou haſt filled me with wrinkles, which is a witneſſe againſt me: grief had made ſurrows in his face, and his tears filled them.

7. It was inevitable: No way to avoid the ſtroke: Vid. Trap. in loc.no Antidote would prevent it; no cloſet could ſecure againſt it, as 1 King. 22. ver. 34. like that Pſal. 90. ver. 5, 6. Arrows fly ſwiftly and ſecretly: though Ahab had diſguiſed himſelf that he might not be known, and armed himſelf that he might not be wounded, yet a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and ſmote him between the joynts of the harneſſe.

p. 827. It was mortall to many perſons in many places: 1. In the preſent ſtroke ſome never came off from their ſickbeds, till they were carried to their death beds, to wit, their graves: 2. In the effects and conſequents of it; though the diſeaſe it ſelf kill'd not ſome preſently, yet it ſlipt them into Dropſies, Conſumptions, and Quartans, which have ſince been mortall to many: Now then ſet home theſe conſiderations, & give God the glory of your lives in the words of the text; aſcribe your healing onelyonly unto him, in the words of Eliphaz, Job 5. ver. 18. He maketh ſore, and bindeth up, he wonndeth and his hands make whole; and go ſing good Hezekiahs ſong to the ſtringed inſtruments, all the dayes of your life in the houſe of the Lord, Iſa. 38. ver. 20.

II. Make good your ſick-bed thoughts, and purpoſes; what you intended when ſick, be intent upon now well; what you then purpoſed, now practiſe: ſick people uſually have the beſt minds, but the worſt memories; when they are under an arreſt from the Lord, and brought within ſight of the Priſon; then conſcience is awakened, then their debts to God lie heavy upon their ſpirits, then their thoughts are how to make even with God, and fly to their ſurety; then if mercy will but put in Bail for them, if God will but ſpare them a little, before they go hence and be no more; if he will but have patience, they will pay him all: No Saint under heaven can promiſe fairer and further then they, what they will do, and what they will be if the Lord reſtore them to health, Luke 11. ver. 24. The unclean ſpirit often goeth out upon a ſick-bed; there is a ceſſation from ſin, that work goes not on then, but alas, ſad experience hath let us ſee too often, that words are but winde, and all the ſick-bed reſolutions vaniſh into air; the unclean ſpirit returns, when reſtored to health, and finds the heart ſwept and garniſhed, then goeth he and taketh to him, ſeven other ſpirits more wicked then himſelf; and they enter in and dwell there; and the last eſtate of that man is worſe then the firſt. As health comes on Religion goes off, and they forget the vows of the Lord that were upon p. 83them: Indeed it fares thus very often with the Saints themſelves; what a vow did Jacob bring his ſoul under when in diſtreſſe, Gen. 28. ver. 20, 21, 22. Mr. Calamy Con. in Pſal. 119.92. I knew a man who in the time of his ſickneſs was ſo terrified in his conſcience for ſin that he made the very bed to ſhake, upon which he lay and cried out all night long, I am damned. I am damned and made many and great proteſtations of amendment of life, but became as wicked as ever.Ps 119:92yet this good man made ſlow haſte to perform it, until God was fain to jog him, and be as a faithful remembrancer unto him, Gen. 35. ver. 1, 2, 3. then and not till then did Jacob purge his family, and go up to Bethel to perform his vow, which computing the time, was about ſeven and twenty years after he made it; good Hezekiah fell into this diſtemper alſo, you ſhall hear how his ſpirit was up in thankfulneſs to God, Iſa. 38. ver. 19. The living, the living, they ſhall praiſe thee, as I do this day, the father to the children ſhall make known thy truth (that is) I will perpetuate the memoriall of this mercy, by handing down the knowledge thereof to my children; yea, my command ſhall be upon them, as a ſpeciall charge in my laſt will, that they ſhall give God the glory of my recovery; good words ſpoken, and probably from a reall intention at that time; But alas! the ſence of this great mercy was but an Ephimera, it ſoon wore off, 2 Chron. 32. ver. 25. Hezekiah rendred not again according to the benefit done unto him: for the recovery was ſignal, attended with many remarkable circumſtances, as

1. The ſentence of death was reverſed, which was paſſed in foro externo, for God had ſent him a ſpeciall meſſage by the hand of Iſaiah, to ſet his houſe in order, for ſaith he, thou ſhalt die and not live, chap. 38.

Object. But did not the Prophet ſpeak his own apprehenſions onelyonly, conſidering the mortality of that diſeaſe which had ſeized upon him?

Sol. No, he prefaceth his meſſage with, Thus ſaith the Lord, and 'tis certain, he knew the Lords mind concerning him, (at leaſt ſo much as was then revealed) there being not any perſon then alive, who was Conſiliarius è ſecretioribus to the moſt high God, more then Iſaiah was, and who knew more of the councels of Heaven, witneſſe his glorious and Evangelicall promiſes, and Predictions.

p. 842. The reverſall of the ſentence of death, was the ſingle return and procurement of his own prayers and tears. for ver. 5. The Lord gives a ſecond command to the Prophet, to go to Hezekiah, and deliver this meſſage from him: Thus ſaith the Lord, the God of David thy father; I have heard thy prayers, I have ſeen thy tears, ſo that as Hannah ſaid of Samuel her ſon, 1 Sam. 1. ver. 27. For this child I prayed, and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him: The ſame might Hezekiah, for my life I prayed and wept, and the Lord hath given me my petition.

Nay the Lord makes a large addition to his life, Pſal. 21.4. he asked life and the Lord gave him length of days, the life of man twice told, in our ordinary law compute, even fifteen years, which did very much accent the Lords mercy, ſeeing Hezekiah was ſo exceeding earneſt for life, having then no Son to ſucced in the throne and the affairs of Church and ſtate being very unſetled.

4. This alſo gave a great Emphaſis to the mercy, in that he had ſuch a ſuddain return to his prayer; The Lord did not make him wait long for anſwer, thereby tormenting his ſpirit with perplexing fears, but before the Prophet was gone out into the middle Court, 2 Kin. 20.4. the word of the Lord came unto him, the Lord met him and ſent him back with a meſſage of life to Hezekiah: Oh tis matter of great comfort to have a quick diſpatch of buſineſs, eſpecially in things relating to life and death.

5. Yet further, the immediate appearance of power from the Lord, in effecting the cure, doth marvailouſly greaten the mercy; that Hezekiah ſhould be viſited with ſo ſharpe a diſtemper, Leigh Crit. Sac.probably the plague of peſtilence (for Shechen ſignifies an hot ulcer, boil, or puſh, and may refer to a Plague ſore alſo) however the diſeaſe in it ſelf was mortal; and that ſo ſlight an application, as a plaiſter of figs ſhould perfect his recovery, and that ſuddainly within three dayes, 2 King. 20.5. whereas we finde lighter diſtempers are long in carrying off, where able Phyſitians are conſulted with and all means attempted.

p. 856. And then, that the great God ſhould work a miracle in heaven, to confirm his faith in the certainty of the cure, that he ſhould command the Sun to a retrograde motion, to go back ten degrees, not onelyonly the ſhadow upon the dyal of Ahaz, for that had not been ſo viſible and univerſal, but the body of the Sun in the heaven, for ſo tis, Iſa. 38.8. So the Sun turned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down; Dr. Richardſon in locwhereby that day became ten hours longer, then otherwiſe it ſhould have been, allowing half an hour for a degree, and the motion of the Sun regular in its going backward and coming forward: which things with ſafety may be ſuppoſed, ſeeing the miracle was ſo notable and amazing, that the King of Babilon (put on 'tis likely by his Aſtrologers) ſent Ambaſſadors on purpoſe, as to congratulate Hezakiahs recovery, ſo to know the certainty and manner of that great wonder (a brute or flying report whereof he had heard) 2 Chron. 32.31.

Now though Hezekiah was a good man (few better) and had obtained of the Lord ſuch a notable cure, circumſtantiated with ſo many miracles, yet he was no ſooner come into the world again, but the Pompe, and Grandieur of it waſh't away the ſenſe of this great mercy; for being taken with the King of Babylons complement, Tales eſſe perſeveremus ſani, quales nos futuros profitemur infirmi.he ſhews his Embaſſadors all his treaſures, and that out of pride and oſtentation, 2 Kin. 20.12, 13. And therefore friends, watch narrowly over your own hearts, and be earneſt in prayer, that the Lord would keep them in an humble and holy frame, or elſe, you'l ſoon finde that as health comes on, holineſs and humility will go off, and your old companions and corruptions will complement your ſpirits into their former frame.

III. Commune with your own hearts, be very ſtrict and ſerious in your enquiries, why the Lord hath ſo afflicted you; God doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men, Lam. 3.33. It is foraign to the nature of God, who is a God of mercies, to delight in acts of cruelty towards his creatures, or cauſleſsly to chaſtize his own children: A p. 86diſcreet Father doth not take the rod, untill his child provokes him by ſome miſcarriage; nor doth the Father of ſpirits (by whom actions are weighed) correct his covenant ones untill they have offended, Pſal. 89.30, 31, 32. He will not viſit with the rod untill they have tranſgreſſed; nor with ſtripes, untill iniquity hath been committed: The widdow of Sareptha, ſo ſoon as ever her ſon was dead, preſently chargeth her ſins with his death, and laies his blood at ſins door, 1 King. 17.18. What have I to do with thee thou man of God? Art thou come to call my ſins into remembrance and to ſlay my ſon? Holy David toucheth the ſame ſtring in that mournful ditty of his, Pſal. 38.3, 4, 5. There is no ſoundneſs in my fleſh becauſe of thy anger, neither is there any reſt in my bones becauſe of my ſins, for mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden, they are too heavy for me; here he ſpeaks of his ſins in the groſs ſum, but afterwards deſcends to particularize that ſin, which he owned as the introducent cauſe of his ſickneſs; My wounds ſtink and are corrupt becauſe of my fooliſhneſs: The word ſignifieth unadviſed raſhneſs, ſaies Mr. Trap. And tis probable he meaneth that particular ſin in the buſineſs of Ʋriah: Thus the Apoſtle writeth the Corinthians ſin in their unworthy receiving the Lords Supper, upon the teaſters of their fickbeds; and the cauſe of their death upon their grave ſtones, For this cauſe many are weak and ſickly among you, and many ſleep, 1 Cor. 11.30. Oh then, let your ſpirits make diligent ſearch, as Aſaph did, be much in ſearching untill you have found out the true cauſe of your late diſtempers.

I ſhall lend you ſome help in your ſerious enquiry, by ſhewing you what ſins are mentioned in Scripture, as introducent of ſickneſs, and which God either threatneth or puniſheth with diſeaſes: As,

1. Covetouſneſs, Iſa. 57.17. For the iniquity of his covetouſneſs was I wroth and ſmote him, I hid me and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.

2. Deceit, Mic. 6.10, 11, 12, 13. Are there yet the treaſures of wickedneſs in the houſe of the wicked, and the ſcant meaſure p. 87which is abominable? ſhall I count them pure with the wicked ballances, and with the bagge of deceitful weights? The inhabitants have ſpokenlyes, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth: Therefore alſo will I make thee ſick in ſmiting thee, in making thee deſolate becauſe of thy ſins.

3. Murmuring, 1 Cor. 10.10. Neither murmure ye as ſome of them murmured and were deſtroyed of the deſtroyer, Num. 14.27. &c. Say unto them, as truely, as I live, ſaith the Lord, as ye have ſpoken in mine ears ſo will I do unto them; your carcaſſes ſhall fall in this wilderneſs, and all that were numbred of you according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward which have murmured againſt me, doubtleſs ye ſhall not come into the land concerning which I ſware to make you dwell therein. Lay this to heart, for this ſin is as Epidemical as our ſickneſs.

4. Neglect of Religious education of children, Ezek. 16.20, 21. Moreover, thou haſt taken thy ſons and daughters, whom thou haſt born unto me, and theſe haſt thou ſacrificed unto them to be devoured; Is this of thy whoredoms a ſmal matter? That thou haſt ſlain my children, and delivered them, to cauſe them to paſs through the fire for them? therefore verſe 23. Wo, wo unto thee, ſaith the Lord God.

5. Covenant breaking, Levit. 26.25. And I will bring a ſword upon you that ſhall avenge the quarrel of my Covenant, and when ye are gathered together within your Cities. I will ſend the peſtilence among you.

6. Formal profeſſion, and hipocrifie, Ananias and Saphira his wife ſo ſadly bear witneſs to this, who for their ſpiritual juggling and deceit, were not onelyonly ſmitten with ſickneſs, but with ſuddain death, Act. 5.1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

7. Undue receiving of the Lords Supper, 1 Cor. 11.30. For this cauſe many are weak and ſickly among you and many ſleep.

8 Hereſies, Apoc. 2.22. Behold, I will caſt her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her, into great tribulation.

9. Want of due reſpect unto, and fear of, the great name of God, Deut. 28.58, 59. If thou wilt not obſerve, to p. 88do all the words of this Law, that are written in this book, That thou mayeſt fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD; then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy ſeed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and ſore ſickneſſes, and of long continuance. Cauſe theſe ſins, as Joſhuah did the Tribes of Iſrael, 7.16. to paſs before your conſciences, to finde out the Achan, for which the Lord hath ſo ſorely afflicted you, and having found out thoſe particular ſins, be humbled for them, repent of them, and carefully avoid all future tendencies unto them, as Samuel adviſed Iſrael, 1 Sam. 7.3. Put away the ſtrange gods from among you, and Aſhteroth; So do I you, put away from you the love of all ſins, and eſpecially Aſhſteroth, that ſin which hath been the root of your diſeaſe, and think you hear the Lord Jeſus by his ſpirit, ſpeaking theſe words unto you, Behold, ye are made whole, ſin no more leaſt a worſe thing come unto you, Joh. 5.14. And improve your late viſitation with the preſent opportunities of grace, That ye may be partakers of Gods Holineſs, Heb. 12.10. Conſecrate your lives which ye have received a new from the dead unto the Lord, devote your ſelves wholly to the ſervice of the great God; let me beſpeak you in the words of the Apoſtle, 1 Pet. 4.2. That ye live no longer the reſt of your time in the fleſh, to the luſts of men, but to the will of God: and that not onelyonly in the general duties of your general Callings as Chriſtians, but with a ſpecial eye to your particular ſtandings, and capacities, as Magiſtrates, Miniſters, or as Chriſtians ſo and ſo related, and qualified: Three things are hinted in this verſe.

1. That the time of mans abode in the fleſh is fixed and dedetermined by God, That foreign, and reſidue of time is ſtated in heaven; I may here allude by way of reſemblance, unto a piece of cloath, which, as to the number of yards, is laid in the warp ſo ſoon as brought to the Weaver, and every hour he works in the woof, he leſſens the bulk of yarn that is wrapped upon the beam, untill at length, he finiſheth the whole piece, and cuts it off, leaving p. 89nothing but the thrums behind: the heathen had this in their three fatall ſiſters: And Job alludes to it, Chap. 7.6. My days are ſwifter then a Weavers ſhuttle; before man is born into the world, whilſt his ſubſtance is yet imperfect in the wombe of his mother, like raw yarn in the ſhop, as all his members are in Gods book; ſo the meaſure of life is fixed in the appointment of his great Creator, and every day he lives, Weaves off ſomewhat of his life, until at length nothing is left upon the brain, but the thrums of a crazy and putrid carcaſs, which is cut off and thrown into the grave: Hezekiah alludes to this, Iſa. 38.10, 12. I ſaid in the cutting off of my days, I ſhall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the reſidue of my years; mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a ſhepherds tent, I have cut off like a Weaver my life.

2. Whileſt man lives to the luſts of men, he lives not according to the Law of his Creator: Ego te non Catelinae genui, ſed Patriae, as he ſaid to his ſon, I begat thee not to ſerve Cataline but thy Country, ſo ſpeaks the Lord Jehovah to man, I created thee not to ſerve man but thy Maker, not to live according to thy own or other mens luſts, but according to my laws, now the luſts of the fleſh, and the laws of an holy God, they are inconſiſtent and oppoſite each to other: It is a ſad thing to be a ſervant of men in many caſes, but in none ſo ſad as in this: It was the great Engliſh Cardinals complaint, in the day of his diſtreſs, If I had ſerved my God with half that faithfulneſs, as I have ſerved my King, he would not have left me now, or to this ſence: Many men have rued it, and will at the great day of accounts, that they have been ſuch ſlaves to the luſts of men; their pride, avarice, ambition, uncleanneſs, &c. And have ſo caſt off the eaſie and noble yoak of Gods laws, many ſervants have much to anſwer for, the Lord give them timely repentance, and maſters too, elſe their own and their ſervants ſins will ſtand upon their ſcore.

3. He only lives up to the rule of his creation, who lives up to the will of God: this is the royal ſtandard, under which p. 90we all muſt march: This is the maine wheel, which muſt govern all our motions; Obedience to this, is that which denominates us both men and Chriſtians; and as our duty obligeth us to obey the will of God in the groſs and general, ſo far as it is revealed: ſo our Allegiance to God, as men, and more as Chriſtians, binds us to obſerve our particular calls and cries, as God revealeth things to be his minde and will; there are indeed ſtanding commands which run through all ages of the world, without the leaſt variation, & to obey which, all men, eſpecially Chriſtians, ſtand equally obliged But the wiſe God is pleaſed to parcel out his will in particular commands to perſons, as to time, manner and matter in many things, as his own councels ripen, and bring forth his pleaſure into the world; now a Chriſtian muſt not onelyonly obſerve the will of God, as it ſpeakes to him in common with other men, but as it ſpeaks unto him, and calls for ſomething from him, in ſuch a ſtanding and capacity, and not onelyonly obſerve the will of God which hath been owned in all ages (as the entertainment of his Son, ſanctifying his Sabbaths, waiting upon his own appointments, &c.) But alſo to act up unto it in our reſpective ſtations, as he makes it known to us in the preſent providences and products of it: Mr. Hamner in his preface to his excerbitations on confirm.And therefore as a learned Writer lately obſerves, That God committed the receiving and refining of truth from Antichriſtian power and mixture, to the forgoing worthies of this and foraign Nations, which were happily performed by them, but diſcipline and order ſeem to belong unto us, and which, the Lord hath preſerved for this period of time, wherein the work of reformation is to be carried on to greater perfection; this doubtleſs, the late providences ſpeak to be the Lords will, and his expectation from the men of this generation; Oh then! ye ſervants of the Lord, whom he hath ranſomed from the grave, in theſe late ſickly times, live the reſt of your time in the fleſh to the will of God, in the advancement of Goſpel-purity, and the power of godlineſs; let this be your return to the Lord; obſerve his finger pointing p. 91to this, as the eſpecial work of your generation; and believe, that God hath brought you again from the dead, that ye may give life to reformation, national, at leaſt Congregational, which for many years hath laboured under painful throes and pangs, and yet is not delivered, The Apoſtle Paul in that excellent Sermon of his preached at Antioch, Act. 13. Speaking honorably of holy David, verſe 22. produceth letters teſtimonial under Gods own hand, concerning him in theſe words, I have found David the ſon of Jeſſe, a man after mine own heart, who ſhall fulfill all my wills, foreign; and gives this farther account of him, verſ. 36. That after he had ſerved his own generation by the will of God, he fell aſleep. Whence I note, in general, that the beſt men and moſt eminent, both for parts, place, and piety muſt dye, Joſh. 1.2. God tells Joſhua this news, Moſes my ſervant is dead, what he was and how eminent, the ſpirit of God fully declares: And David full of days, riches, and honor died, 1 Chro. 29.28. And go therefore work whilſt it is day, walk in the light whilſt ye have the light, beſtir your ſelves for God; for though eminent, dye ye muſt, as many of great eminency, in this age of ours have dyed, who are yet lamented by ſome now alive, and will be more, unleſs the Lord fill up their empty rooms with others, of choice and noble ſpirits.

2. In particular, I ſhall briefly commend theſe few things unto you, as,

1. That the beſt and choiceſt of Gods ſaints are not exempted from ſervice; God exſpects to have work done by every ſervant; he will not ſuffer idle drones to live in his family; he will not allow any lazy loiterers to ſleep within the walls of his vineyard; he doth not keep any idle Serving-men in his houſe; no, he appoints them all to labour, (and 'twas well if the patterne of God's houſe was obſerved, if the Lawes of his family were executed by our Great Ones, much ſin would be prevented, which is nurſed at the breaſts of idleneſs) nay, places of great eminency are no exemption from Gods work; The nobles of Tekoah p. 92have a brand ſet upon them, becauſe they put not their necks to the work of the Lord, Neh. 3. ver. 5. And the Lord puts this as the higheſt mark of honour, into the ſcutcheons of his greateſt Saints, that they were his ſervants: Moſes my ſervant, my ſervant David, &c. Matth. 25. ver. 20, 21. He that received five talents traded, and at the day of accounts, his labour was not onelyonly honourably accepted but gloriouſly rewarded, entrance was granted unto him, into his Maſters joy.

2. That Gods will is, and muſt be the only rule of our work; The Maſter expects, as to have his work done, ſo to have his own orders and directions obſerved in the doing of it; to neglect the work of the Lord, and to do it croſs to divine order, is equally ſinful: Ʋzziah died upon the place for touching the Ark; and Ʋzziah was ſtricken with the leproſie, for attempting to burn incenſe upon the Altar of incenſe, both which expreſly thwarted the appointment of God: It was the peoples ſin to eat the Paſſeover, otherwiſe then it was written, 2 Chron. 30.18. Therefore David in the perſon of the Lord Jeſus, joyns both together, Pſal. 40.8. I delight to do thy will, yea, thy law is in my heart, as the ſtandard by which I work; and our Saviour writes vanity upon the forehead of all ſervice, which is performed to God upon the ſingle authority of man, without a warrant under Gods own hand for it, Mat. 15.9. In vain do they worſhip me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men: what bundles of vain worſhips are layed upon Gods Alter by the Pontificians? And how ought we to be humbled alſo for the vanity of many ſervices which have been performed by us in this Nation?