Sermon 16 May 1698, Part 1
APPLICATION.
Infer. 1. REAL Christians are united in the greatest things.
THEY are for Christ and his Interests, against Satan and Sin, in the bent of their Hearts and scope of their Lives, To me to live is Christ, hath their joynt consent, Phil. 1. 21.
HIS Kingdom they endeavour to advance, his Royalties they would maintain, and what oppugnes him they would overthrow, they would make the World wiser and better, and set all Men free from Satan's Empire, which is upheld by, and expressed in the Dominion of Mens Lusts.
UNION in these great things may well consist with difference in less considerable Matters, and is more Christian and of higher consequence than Agreement in many disputed Notions, or accord in a Ceremony.
HOW mean a thing and unprofitable is it to be of one Faction, or Party; yea, or Communion among Protestants, compared herewith? Let Men agree in these never so much, they are departed from Christ, and Carnally joined together, if they are divided in a resolvedness to reform the Nation.
AND what a pity is it, that they who are joined in Christ this Head, and in this his Interest and Design, should be disunited in lesser things, especially to mutual Hatred and Detractations?
AND more is it to be bewailed that any Persons who honestly aim at the promoting of Christ's Interests, and opposing of Sin, should by mistakes and temptation at any times be employed by the Devil in serving his Purposes, and disserving Christ, which too too often happens, and ought to caution the most confident to try their own Spirits, and examine their Proceedings, especially when vehement: Ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of, was a Charge against better Men than us, Luke 9. 55.
Infer. 2. ENCOURAGEMENTS in promoting Reformation Work, are very great, notwithstanding the greatness of the Difficulties.
DIFFICULTIES I know are apt to deter from beginning, and to discourage you from proceeding in this Work, tho Honourable; and he is unthoughtful who acknowledgeth not the Difficulties to be great. Great are the struggles of Corrupt Nature; violent, unwearied, and various is the opposition of Satan, that we may say as St. Paul, We fight not against Flesh and Blood, but against Principalities and Powers, Eph. 6. 12.
IN our Land Custom hath heightened the Torrent of Profaness and Irreligion, and makes feeble means incapable to put a stop thereto.
GREATNESS and Multitude still too much support these, as former Authority for unworthy Designs, had a great hand in introducing and making them fashionable.
BUT after all, if your Eyes were open, you would perceive that more are for you, than can be against you; and the ground for Courage much exceeds that of Despondency. For this end review a little.
1. WHO he is that you are for, and with you.
2. WHAT you are striving for, and against.
3. WHOM you have to oppose and sight against you.
4. WHAT present Advantages in this Work you have at this time.
I. WHOM you are for, and is with you.
MY Text tells you it is for Christ; he is your Head, to whom the Kingdom is given, and who is far above Principalities and Powers, Eph. 1. 21, 22. You have him for your Leader, who hath the security of Heaven, that he shall Reign and Overcome, Rev. 17. 14. and of whose Kingdom there shall be no end, Dan. 7. 14. In the Fight you are sure to prosper in the proper Season, which if delayed, he will alike own and reward your Faithful Endeavours, as if your Success were greatest.
CAUSE of fear in this Enterprize you have none, when he can protect you in the utmost danger, and hath a Right to admit you into his Heavenly Kingdom when your Work is over, both which he will infallibly do, for he hath the Keys of David, Rev. 3. 7.
GO on then, for no Faithful Followers can ever be ashamed of this General; nor will he be ashamed of such. His Eye is still upon you, and his Presence ever with you, to renew your strength and afford Supports. Angels think this Employment for him to be their Honour, Rev. 22. 9. And can you disdain it? Millions of Martyrs have esteemed his Service safe, even when they Suffered, and how can you be afraid?
YOU are for him who is the God of the Spirits of all Flesh, able to alter Tempers, and change Mens Minds. Yea, can command unexpected Success to the poorest Instruments.
II. CONSIDER what you are striving for, and against what.
'TIS for what God, and Angels, and all Good Men approve; yea, it's for the Interest of CHRIST on Earth: Things, that when they prevail, will make Mankind happy? And they are what shall most certainly prevail against the utmost opposition of Earth and Hell; what you attempt to advance, will justifie the greatest Expence, Labour and Hazards.
BUT against what do you contend? It's against Profaness and Debauchery; not things good, nay, not disputable, or indifferent; but so plainly evil, that the most brutish would blush to plead for; it's against the Reproach and Leprosie of Humane Nature, the Causes of our past Calamities, and what can alone endanger the Nation for the future: These Sins, themselves are the sorest Plagues. It's Vice you would extirpate, which makes its Abettors Cowardly: It's what Reason, as well as Revelation, testifies against, it's what few Sinners like in their own Children: Who would not be encouraged to reduce and remove such?
2. WHOM you have to oppose and fight against you in this Enterprize of Reformation.
ITS the Devil, and such as he doth actuate, who will resist you; he is the grand Leader, and they his Instruments—And even himself is cast into Chains by the Great God, 2 Pet. 2. 4. your Leader hath trampled on him in the Upper Regions, Col. 2. 15. he hath in a great measure prevailed against him in the Earth already, and will shortly chain him up from his wonted Influences here below, Rev. 20. 3. yea, at last he will entirely baffle, break him, and put him beyond any further Attempts, Rev. 20. 10.
TAKE Courage, it's against one who is an Usurper, and whom his most Obsequious Followers are ashamed to own, and afraid to see.
IN a word, greater, stronger, wiser, and better is he that leads you in this Work, than he whom the World follows in opposing Reformation.
AND as for the Men who engage against the attempt of suppressing Vice, they can be none but the Inconsiderate part even of Brutal Persons; and as they are at this Day restrained by Laws from doing you much open Injury, so their own Consciences will soon approve your Attempts to better them, they'll judge them very kind if they shall reform, and as highly just when they have sinned away the Season of Amendment.
IV. YOU have very encouraging Advantages at this juncture.
THE Parliaments Address, and the King's Proclamation thereupon, with a prospect of more Laws pursuant thereto, are great things, and good signs; the most hopeful Indications England for many Years affordeth: You engage against Evils which the Supream Authority in all its Constituent parts, have testified against; Magistracy is engaged and injoyned to assist you; nay, it's no other than the Execution of many Excellent Laws which you subserve.
THE Number of your Societies are multiplying in the Country, yea, your Example is imitated in Ireland with greater success than here; the main o… your Difficulty is over, and signal Successes have attended you; many Prayer… are on your side, and Invisible Power concerned with you. By many such things Heaven smileth on this Work, and can you faint without the greatest Reproach?
Exhort. LET me therefore Excite and Injoyn you to proceed vigorously in this Glorious Attempt.
I have proved it your Duty past all Dispute, that ought to remove your Backwardness and Sloath. I have shewn you somewhat of your Encouragements, let that allay all fear. Need I tell you? You are hereby endeavouring but due Returns from England for its Eminent Deliverance from extreamest Miseries, and those unavoidable to Humane View.
YOU are preventing those Calamities which will return with Aggravations, if these Evils be not Reformed, Ezra 9. 13, 14.
YOU are providing the surest way to revive our Trade, prolong our Peace, and recover England's Glory. If you succeed, Bodies and Minds will be freed from the sad Effects of the Debaucheries, which are as fatal as apparent.
YOU lay the best Foundation for Peace among the Divided Parties in this Nation, who will when Vertuous, easily coalesce, and be free to take away all unnecessary Causes of Division.
YOUR very Meeting together, and joynt Concurrence in this laudable Employment, will Conciliate yourMinds, and melt them down into Moderation, which is a Temper so necessary, and upon which our Happiness so much depends, that I dare deliver this Prognostick: England can never be fixedly happy in its Religious, or Civil Concernments, but by an UNION between the Moderate Churchmen, and the Moderate Dissenters.
YOU befriend your own Children and Posterity, by preventing the Infection that may ruine them.
MANY other Arguments might be urged—Oh that these and all others made use of by the several Reverend Ministers in both Places of your Meetings, may by the Blessing of God envigorate your Minds in this Attempt, and dispose Transgressors to submit thereto.
AND surely whatever is a Motive to the Physitian to endeavour the Cure, is much more forcible with the Diseased to admit it: Is endeavouring the Reforming of you Oh Sinners! So plainly the Duty of this Society, and worth their utmost Pains and Charge: And can it be a light thing, whether you will be Reformed, or no? Oh the Testimony against you that shall arise from hence, if you be still uncleansed!