The Privilege of the Saints on Earth, Part 3

The Privilege of the Saints on Earth · Part 3

p. 303. Exhorted.

We are here Exhorted, and the Point affords Exhortation ſeveral ways.

1To do all the good you are able, during your abode here below, ſeeing death will put an end to all your opportunities. If God enable you to ſpeak a good word to his honour, and to the edification of others, when you lye a dying, you are never like to do ſo much good again to Eternity. When you take your leave of the world, you take your leave of doing good. And therefore you had need beſtir your ſelves, while p. 31your Bodies and Souls abide here together.

Whatſoever therefore thy hand findeth to do,Eccleſ. 9. 10.Eccl 9:10 do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wiſdom in the Grave whither thou goeſt.

And ſuppoſe you have done well hitherto, like a good and faithful ſervant, be not yet weary of well doing, but up and be doing ſtill,Gal. 6. 9.Gal 6:9 and in due time you ſhall reap, if you faint not. What a deal of good had Hezekiah done, before he fell into this ſickneſs? He deſtroyed the Monuments of Idolatry,2 King. 16. 3, 4, 5.2 Kgs 16:32 Kgs 16:42 Kgs 16:5 ſet up a notable Reformation,2 Chron. 29, 30, and 31 Chapters.2 Chr 29:302 Chr 29:31 brought back the Tribes of Iſrael to the Lord God of their Fathers. And yet you ſee here, he is willing to live longer to do more. So Peter had done much good in his time;Acts 2d.Acts 2 you know he converted about three thouſand Souls at the beginning of his Miniſtry,Acts 3d, v.—44.Acts 3 he had a moſt happy hanſel, Acts 2d. And yet he takes another opportunity, and ſped well. And after this, he paſſeth through all quarters, and came at laſt to Lydda, Acts 9th.Acts 9& Saron, and Joppa, Acts 10th.Acts 10& you know what good he did in the houſe of Cornelius, &c. At length he becomes old,2 Pet. 1. 13, 14, 15.2 Pet 1:132 Pet 1:142 Pet 1:15 & then he writes to the Saints; For, ſaith he, I think it meet, as long as p. 32I am in this Tabernacle, to ſtir you up, by putting you in remembrance, knowing that ſhortly I muſt put off this my Tabernacle, even as our Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath ſhewed me. Moreover, I will endeavour that you may be able after my deceaſe, to have theſe things always in remembrance.

Firſt, ſaith he, I am aware of death approaching.

Secondly, I will therefore do all the good I am able, both with my Tongue and Pen.

Thirdly, I will endeavour that the good I do may live when I am dead; that you may be able after my deceaſe to have theſe things always in remembrance.

Even thus we ſhould endeavour to live in this world after our departure. Survive your Funerals, and out-live your deaths. For it is not enough that we ſhall then live in Heaven, but we ſhould endeavour to be doing of that good while we live, that may make us live on Earth; even when we are dead. And in this way the memory of the Juſt ſhall be bleſſed,Prov. 10. 7.Prov 10:7 and the Righteous had in everlaſting remembrance.Pſal. 112. 6.Ps 112:6 It is the Saints happineſs to have Glory, and Honour, and Immortality in Heaven; but it is much to the glory and honour of God p. 33for the Saints to be immortalized on Earth, and to live in their good Examples, good Counſels, good Names, and good Works, when their Souls are ſhining in Heaven. Particularly,

1. Dilate and diffuſe the praiſes of God, and make his Name glorious to the utmoſt of your power. And let this be often ſounding in your ears. The living, Pſal. 149. 6.Ps 149:6the living he ſhall praiſe thee. Speak much, and live much to his praiſe. Let the high praiſes of God be in your mouthes. foreign Hebr.Ainſworth, and the Dutch Interpreters render it, Let the exaltations of God be in your throat, and it ſuits with the Original,foreign. Sept. as alſo with the Tranſlation of the 70.

The Exaltations, i. e. the lifting up of God in his Name, Attributes, Precept, Promiſes, Threatnings, Providences, &c. let them be in your throats, i. e. exalt your voices in exalting theſe praiſes, cry with the throat, Iſa. 58. 1.Isa 58:1and lift up your voices like Trumpets. And this argues, that God's praiſes comes from your hearts, when they are thus ſounded, as it were from your throats. And this work exalteth you, and that as high as the Heavens, for it is the very ſervice of Heaven, only it is a greater ſervice, ſeeing p. 34the Proclamation of God's praiſes upon Earth, tends to the propagation of them, ſo as it is not in Heaven.

And truly, he that is good at this, is good indeed. He is no Hypocritie; for he is a ſelf-denying man, and one that loves God far above himſelf, one that lives in God, and delights in him, and gives him the higheſt place in his heart. Do what you can therefore this way, and it will redound to a ſingular evidence of your ſincerity.

2. Endeavour alſo the Propagation of Chriſt's Kingdom; pray for it, and according to your capacity promove it.

You may remember what is written, Pſal. 72. 15.Pſal. 72. 15Ps 72:15 where it is ſaid of Solomon in the Type, and of Chriſt in the Truth, He ſhall live, and to him ſhall be given of the Gold of Sheba, Prayer alſo ſhall be made for him, and daily ſhall he be praiſed. Why? muſt we pray for Jeſus Chriſt? yes, by all means. Of all that we pray for, we muſt be ſure to pray for Jeſus Chriſt, but not conſidered perſonally, but Myſtically. You know how the people, and the children prayed for Chriſt, when they cryed, ſaying, Hoſanná to the Son of David; Mat. 21. 9.Matt 21:9Bleſſed is he p. 35that cometh in the Name of the Lord; Hoſanna in the higheſt. The words are taken out of the 11th Pſal. ver. 25, 26. They cryed, ſaying, Hoſanna, that is, Save, I beſeech thee. It is as much as, God ſave the King, ſend now proſperity. It is meant eſpecially of Chriſt as King, Chriſt and his Kingdom. And we never ſay, Thy Kingdom come, but thus we pray for Chriſt, who prayeth for us every day, or elſe we ſhould be in a very ſad caſe.

And truly, if the Kingdom of Chriſt be within us, we ſhall be very ſollicitous and active for the Kingdom of Chriſt without us, which Kingdom of his this day is in a very low condition, as to the profeſſed power and purity of the Goſpel. And yet if we can do little or nothing elſe, yet we may pray for the Kingdom of Chriſt. Let us therefore lay the ſtate thereof to heart this day. How often do the Saints under the Old Teſtament, pray for the Kingdom of our Lord Jeſus under the New?Pſal. 67. 1, 2.Ps 67:1Ps 67:2 ſay they, God be merciful to us, and bleſs us, and cauſe his face to ſhine upon us; That thy way may be known upon Earth, thy ſaving health among all Nations, &c.

Mark ye, That ſingular bleſſing, p. 36which God commanded Aaron and his Sons to pronounce upon the people of Iſrael, Numb. 6. 24. 25.Num 6:24Num 6:25The Lord bleſs thee, and keep thee; The Lord make his face to ſhine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The godly in David's time turned it into prayer for the enlarging of the Kingdom of our Lord Jeſus under the Goſpel, accounting it a great bleſſing to themſelves, to have it enlarged by the acceſſion of the Gentiles; though (yet) it was to be accompliſhed in the rejection of the Jews; but it is (as if we ſhould ſay) Let God do what he pleaſeth with a Nation, ſo that his Goſpel may be propagated, and his Kingdom enlarged in the World. If God's way may be known upon Earth, and his ſaving health among all other Nations, We ſhould account that the Lord is merciful to us, aud bleſſeth us, and cauſeth his face to ſhine upon us; We ſhould love the Kingdom of Chriſt above all the Kingdoms in the World,Iſa. 2, 2.Isa 2:2 and That it ſhall come to paſs in the laſt dayes, that the Mountain of the Lords houſe ſhall be eſtabliſhed upon the top of the Mountains, and exalted above the Hills, and that all Nations ſhall flow unto it. You know what great heavineſs p. 37and continual ſorrow of heart Paul had for his Brethren the Jews,Rom. 9. 2, 3.Rom 9:2Rom 9:3 and kinſmen according to the fleſh; and yet he magnified his Office, in that he was the Apoſtle of the Gentiles. Rom. 11. 13.Rom 11:13That is, he accounted it to be a glorious Office to be a Preacher to the Gentiles. So that, Le… the Kingdom of the Lord Jeſus come, whatſoever become of any Kingdom, or of all the Kingdoms under Heaven.

Thirdly, Live exemplarily, that your 3paterns may ſurvive you, and live when you are dead. Phil, 3. 17.Thus Paul lived, Brethren, ſaith he, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk ſo, as ye have us for an enſample. And he denied himſelf, to make himſelf an example to others. You know, ſaith he, how ye ought to follow us (viz. in orderly walking in your particular Callings) for we behaved not our ſelves diſorderly among you,2 Theſ. 3. 7, 8, 9.2 Thess 3:72 Thess 3:82 Thess 3:9 neither did we eat any mans bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travel night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you. Not becauſe we have not power (that is, night to be maintained at your charge) but to make our ſelves an enſample unto you,1 Cor. 9, 4.—16. with 11. 1.1 Cor 9:4 to follow us. And thus alſo he did unto the Corinthians. For thus did p. 38Chriſt deny himſelf to give us an example, Joh. 13. 14, 15. If I then your Lord and Maſter have waſhed your feet, ye ought alſo to waſh one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye ſhould do as I have done to you. Conſider alſo, 2 Cor. 8. 9.2 Cor 8:92 Cor. 8. 9. For ye know the Grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that though he was rich, yet for your ſakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. And when Paul took his leave of the Elders of Epheſus, who were never like to ſee his face more, he leaves his example with them; I have, (ſaith he) coveted no mans Silver, or Gold, or Apparel; Yea, you your ſelves know, that theſe hands have miniſtred unto my neceſſities, and to them that were with me;Acts 20. 33, 34, 35.Acts 20:33Acts 20:34Acts 20:35 I have ſhewed you all things, how that ſo labouring, ye ought to ſupport the weak.—The like did Samuel. Thus alſo David left his example behind him, 1 Sam. 12. 2, 3.1 Sam 12:21 Sam 12:3for God ſet him up for a patern to all ſucceeding Kings in Iſrael, whoſe Life and Reign God therefore meaſureth by their care to follow him, as you may read frequently in the Books of the Kings and Chronicles. For of ſuch & ſuch Kings it is ſaid, They walked in the ways of David; and of others, that they did not p. 39ſo walk. Examples are very prevalent in utramque partem, either one way or t'other, either for good or evil.

And therefore ſo walk according to God, that others may follow you, ſeeing your example will live whileſt you live, yea, and when you are dead too. For it will be ſaid, ſuch a one lived thus, and walked thus, and thus he behaved himſelf in his family, and thus in his fellowſhip with the Saints, and thus in his dealings with his neighbours, and with all men; and thus he carried it under his tryals and oppoſitions in an evil day, and this and that was the Rule he walked by. For he was a wiſe Man, or ſhe was a wiſe Woman, and very conſciencious, and tender-hearted, and ſincere, and active, and ſtirring, and zealous for Jeſus Chriſt, and fearful to give the leaſt offence, and ready to every good work, and pitiful to the poor Saints, his Heart, and Purſe, and Houſe were open for Jeſus Chriſt. And he was a juſt and peaceable Man, and one that could govern his Spirit, and Tongue, and that could keep down his paſſions, and one that was a mortified perſon, dead to the world, and the things thereof, &c. Now, what a bleſſed p. 40example is this?2 Cor. 8. 23.2 Cor 8:23 and what a glorious report? what an edifying patern, and for the glory of God, and our Lord Jeſus Chriſt? Yea, this example will preach your funeral Sermon, (you need no other to do it) and it will keep you alive when you are dead, and immortalize you upon Earth, make you of bleſſed memory indeed, and to be had with the righteous in everlaſting remembrance; when the names of others ſhall be written in the Earth, which will ſoon be obliterated, and quite blotted out; and when it ſhall be ſaid of them as of Hezekiah's Father, by way of reproach, This is that King Ahaz. And ſuch a good example many have left behind them, and we are ever and anon ſpeaking of ſuch as theſe are, whoſe names are as a precious Oyntment, and which were embalmed when they dyed, with the Graces, Vertues, and good Works of their Lives, that ſtill they ſend forth a ſweet ſavour to ſurviving poſterity. And thus was that good Womans name embalmed, who poured out a very precious Oyntment on the Head of Chriſt againſt his burial. Verily, ſaith Chriſt,Mat. 26. 13Matt 26:13 whereſoever this Goſpel ſhall be preached in the whole world, there ſhall p. 41alſo this, that this Woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. So that this good Woman is ſtill alive in her memory, and ſhe … thus lived theſe 1600 years and more, and ſhall never dye ſo long as the world ſtandeth.Acts. 36. And ſuch another was Tabitha. And the like I may ſay of many more, whoſe names are recorded in holy Writ, who obtained a good report,Heb. 11. 2, 4.Heb 11:2Heb 11:4 and though they are now dead, yet ſtill they both ſpeak, and are ſpoken of.

Brethren, will ye think upon theſe things; And will ye now ſtudy & endeavour to live exemplarily, and to live lives for poſterity, and ſo to live converting lives, and convincing, and edifying lives; yea, and to live the lives of ſuch, as muſt be the world's Judges? And will it not be greatly to the glory of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and to your Eternal Conſolation, to hear of your lives and examples in that great day of Chriſt's appearance, when your examples ſhall have their reſurrection as well as your bodies, when Chriſt ſhall produce your paterns before all the world, and convince and judge the ungodly world by them? As if he ſhould ſay to thoſe on his left hand, who lived in your dayes, p. 42and ſaw your examples; Loe, do you ſee theſe Men and Women on my right hand, who lived thus and thus in your ſight, and gave you a bleſſe… example, which either you cenſured, or were unwilling to follow; they lived and converſed in direct oppoſition to you; they lived ſo and ſo, when you did thus and thus: Therefore they ſhall be your Judges.

Methinks I cannot ſpeak enough of this Subject, which is of very great moment, viz. the tranſmiſſion and recommendation of paterns to poſterity, as one grieved, that I can ſee no more of it, but rather ſuch a common and ordinary kind of walking, as hath little or nothing of ſingularity in it.

Alas! How few, that profeſs the fear of God this day, are writing of Copies for poſterity to walk by? And where is ſingularity of life to be ſeen? Yea, how many are there among the Profeſſors of the Goſpel, by whoſe failings we may learn more than by their Vertues? and this I ſpeak to my grief;…t. 5. 16. Oh, let your light ſo ſhine before Men, that they may ſee your good works, and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven. Jeſus Chriſt there ſpeaks of the light of p. 43good works and good examples, which are viſible to ſtanders-by, and ſuch as do occaſion them to glorifie our Heavenly Father.

And know thus much alſo, That Men live much by example, either on the one ſide or other. And where good examples are given, God expecteth that others ſhould follow them, and that not only the examples of the living, but of the**Such are often reco…ded, Heb. 12. 1.Heb 12:1 dead alſo, For what ſaith the Apoſtle? Remember them which have the rule over you, who have ſpoken unto you the Word of God, whoſe Faith follow, Jam. 5. 10.Jas 5:10conſidering the end of their converſation. Heb. 13. 7.Heb 13:7The Apoſtle there ſpeaketh of ſuch as had been their Guides, but were now dead;foreign. for the words in the Original are not, remember them: that have the rule over you, but, remember your Rulers, i. e. Miniſters of the Goſpel, who are now with the Lord. And he exhorts the Hebrews not to forget their Faith, and holy lives, who had no other end in their converſations and good examples, but God's Glory, and the Salvation of them that beheld them.

But I muſt paſs from this Particular, though ſomewhat loth to leave it, and ſhould much rejoyce, if what I have ſaid p. 44of it, may take place in all your hearts and lives.

Live exemplarily, that your paterns may outlive you, and edifie others when you are dead. And this is a work which cannot be done in Heaven. And take heed of ſcandals and viſible infirmities, which edifie beholders to ruine. For there is a ſinful miſchievous edification,1 Cor. 8. 10.1 Cor 8:10 of which the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, 1 Cor. 8. 10. For if any Man ſee thee, which haſt knowledge, ſit at meat in the Idols Temple: Shall not the Conſcience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat thoſe things which are offered to Idols? The word rendred,foreign. Emboldened, is Edified in the Original. You may ſo live in your Examples, that you may edifie and teach beholders to ſin in following them, as Jeroboam the ſon of Nebat did, who made Iſrael to ſin. And many that profeſs to the Goſpel, do ſo live and walk, the Conſideration whereof is very ſad and miſerable. O beware of giving ſuch examples, for they will diminiſh your glory in Heaven, if you ſhall be ſo happy, at leaſt, as to arrive there. But ſo much for this 3d Particular.

4Embrace and improve all opportunities of appearing and ſpeaking for Chriſt p. 45(another ſervice peculiar to the Saints on Earth, who cannot ſpeak a word for Chriſt in Heaven.) And many ſuch ſeaſons are providentially adminiſtred to us, viz. ſometimes of reproving ſin, both in ſuch as fear God, and ſuch as fear him not. In the Scriptures you find the Saints reproving one another;Exod. 32. 21.Exod 32:21 Moſes reproveth Aaron, and Nathan David, and Hanani Aſa, 2 Sam. 12.2 Sam 12& his ſon Jehu Jehoſhaphat, and Paul Peter, 1 Chron. 16.—19. 21 Chr 16and one private Brother another.Gal. 2. 11.Gal 2:11 And how often alſo do the Saints in Scripture reprove the wicked and ungodly?Lev. 19. 17.Lev 19:17 I need not give you Inſtances for that.Mat. 18. 15Matt 18:15 It is not enough that we have no fellowſhip with the unfruitful works of darkneſs, Epheſ. 5. 11.Eph 5:11but we muſt alſo reprove them. We muſt appear for Chriſt, his Truth, his Rules, and Glory; or where is our love to him? Sometimes you ſhall hear curſing, and ſwearing in your preſence, ſometimes reproaching, ſlandering, flithineſs, fooliſh talking, and ſinful jeſting; ſometimes you ſhall ſee Covetouſneſs, Pride, Paſſion, Anger, and uncomely Language, and ſometimes inordinate affections, and ſomtimes groſs omiſſions of duty either to God or Man. Here now are opportunities of doing a ſervice for Chriſt, and of appearing and p. 46witneſſing for him, ſo as you cannot do hereafter in glory. In ſuch caſes therefore conſider your duty, and what the Lord requireth of you, who will take it very ill, if you have never a Tongue for him. And do not ſay, I am loth, or I am afraid to ſpeak, and it will be ill taken, or I ſhall do no good by teſtifying, or I ſhall be accounted a buſie-body; but attend your duty, and leave the event to God; only beg Wiſdom, which is profitable to direct: And however a Reproof take, or ſpeed, yet you have done a better ſervice for Chriſt, than any Saint in Heaven can do. I know, indeed, that ſuch teſtimonies for Chriſt are ſoldom well taken, but that ariſeth from the pride of Man, and however, that muſt not hinder your duty, for I am ſure, that the with-holding ſuch teſtimonies, when you are called to give them, is very ill taken by Chriſt; and if he take them well, let proud ſpirits take them as ill as they pleaſe.

The like I may ſay as to the oppoſing of Error and Hereſies, according to your capacities, and of informing and inſtructing the ignorant, when a ſeaſon is offered, and of warning the unruly, &c. And you know not, but you may do p. 47much good in ſuch caſes, and your work may live when you are dead; however your rewerd is with the Lord, for whom you have performed this ſervice.

There are other good and gracious 5Offices to be diſcharged, which ceaſe when you are dead. I did briefly mention ſome of them in the Doctrinal part. Let me now exhort you to attend them alſo; As to pray one for another, which Duty ends with our Lives. For (as I have ſaid) God will have but one Interterceſſor in Heaven, but here he requireth many.1 Tim. 2. 1.1 Tim 2:1 Here we may, yea muſt be trading one with another,Jam 5.. 16.Jas 5 viz. Prayers for Prayers, Miniſters with people, and people with their Miniſters, and one Saint with another: Not but that we muſt pray for others alſo.

Oh! what a trade did Paul drive this way? I have ſometimes thought, what a Catalogue of Churches and Saints he had to commend to God in his daily prayers. How many Churches did he uſually pray for? ſaith he to the Church at Rome, Rom. 1. 9.Rom 1:9God is my witneſs, that without ceaſing I make mention of you always in my prayers. The like for the Church at Epheſus, Eph. 1. 16.Eph 1:16ſaith he, I ceaſe not to give p. 48give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. Col. 1. 3.Col 1:3So for the Church at Philippi, Phil. 1. 3, 4.Phil 1:3Phil 1:4ſaith he, I remember you always in every prayer of mine for you all, making requeſt with joy. And thus too, he ſaith, he prayed for the Church at Coloſſus. 1 Theſ. 1. 2, 3.1 Thess 1:21 Thess 1:3The very ſame for the Church at Theſſalonica, We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembring without ceaſing, your work of Faith, labour of Love, and patience of Hope in our Lord Jeſus Chriſt— And doubtleſs, had he written Epiſtles to all other Churches, we ſhould have heard of his prayers for them. Neither did he pray only for Churches, but alſo for ſeveral Saints in particular; For he ſaith,2 Tim. 1. 3.2 Tim 1:3 that he prayed for Timothy night and day; that is, Morning and Evening, the whole put for the part. And as for Philemon, Philem. v. 4he ſaith, That he made mention of him always in his prayers. What a Catalogue then had Paul of Churches and Saints to recommend to God in his daily prayers? For it is very likely, that he prayed for many more, than we find in his Epiſtles.

And as he prayed for the Churches, ſo he deſireth to be remembred in their prayers. For, as I ſaid, he drove a holy p. 49trade this way. He begs the prayers of the Church at Rome, Rom. 15. 30, 31.Rom 15:30Rom 15:31in the very Language of a Begger for an Alms. Now I beſeech you, Brethren, for the Lord Jeſus Chriſt's ſake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye ſtrive together with me, in your prayers to God for me, Epheſ. 5. 18, 19.Eph 5:18Eph 5:19that I may be delivered. —So of the Church at Epheſus and of the Philippians, Phil. 1. 1…Phil 1:1and of the Coloſſians, Col. 4. 3.Col 4:3and of the Theſſalonians, and of the Hebrews; 1 Theſ. 5. 25.1 Thess 5:25(for the greateſt Apoſtle had need of the prayers of the meaneſt Chriſtian) only he begs no prayers of the Church at Corinth, Heb. 13. 18.Heb 13:18in his firſt Epiſtle to them, as looking upon them under many and great offences, for which he there reproves them: Nor of the Churches of Galatia, whom he look't upon as greatly backſliden from the Faith: And he would not trade with broken men. But here you ſee, I have given you a notable example for your imitation in this Point. Pray therefore for one another, and trade together as you ſhall ſee occaſion. Yea, you muſt pray ſometimes for ſuch as never deſired it. So likewiſe, if you do hear of the afflicted condition of ſuch and ſuch of the Saints, ſuppoſe in great poverty, or in priſon upon the account of Chriſt, and a p. 50good Conſcience, or in ſome great diſtreſs otherwiſe, or under ſickneſs, and in danger of death, look upon your ſelves as obliged to put up one Prayer for them.Heb. 13. 3.Heb 13:3 You know what the Apoſtle ſaith, Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them, and them which ſuffer adverſity, as being your ſelves alſo in the body. Remember them; How? To ſympathize with them, to pray for them, and (to your power) to help and relieve them.

And think it not enough, that you pray for Saints, but perform the like ſervice for ſinners alſo; for your prayers may contribute much to their converſion, as Chriſt's prayer, Luke 23. 34. did to the converſion of many that were his enemies, Acts 2. and Stephens prayer (probably) was heard in the converſion of Paul.

And be ſure to pray for Children, and Childrens Children, that they may live in the ſight of God, and bear up his Name in their generations.

Neither reſt in particular perſons, but pray alſo for the Churches of Chriſt this day, in whom he is ſo much concerned, as exerciſing his ſpecial Government in and over them. Pray therefore p. 51for their peace and purity, and progreſs in holineſs,Acts 9. 31.Acts 9:31 and that they may be edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord,Pſal. 122. 6.Ps 122:6 and comfort of the Holy Ghost, be multiplyed. And this is to pray for the peace of Jeruſalem. And when you hear of a Church bereft of its Paſtor, pray to the chief Shepherd, to ſupply the empty room with a meet ſucceſſour: Numb. 27. 16, 17.Num 27:16Num 27:17As Moſes ſaid in another caſe, Let the Lord, the God of the Spirits of all fleſh, ſet a man over the Congregation, which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in, that the Congregation of the Lord be not as ſheep which have no Shepherd.

Oh ſirs! There is a great ſervice to be done for Chriſt by prayers, during the opportunity of our interceſſion, which dieth together with us. What great things have been, and ſtill are done by prayers? By theſe was the Church delivered out of Babylon, Jer. 29. 12, 13.Jer 29:12Jer 29:13and Peter out of Priſon. By theſe was Zion built. Act. 12. 5—Acts 12:5By theſe is the Goſpel upheld, the enemies thereof brilded, and liberty obtained,Pſal. 102. 16, 17.Ps 102:16Ps 102:17 &c. And when God will do great and wonderful things,Pſal. 50. 5.Ps 50:5 he will gather his praying Saints together, p. 52and pour out a mighty Spirit of prayer upon them.

6Sixthly, Comfort the feeble minded, and ſupport the weak. Speak a word in due ſeaſon to the weary.1 Theſ. 5. 14.1 Thess 5:14 For ſometimes you ſhall meet with ſuch as want it, and who walk in darkneſs and ſee no light, and are ready to complain like Heman, Pſal. 88. at large. In ſuch caſes, Strengthen the weak hands,Iſa. 35. 3, 4.Isa 35:3Isa 35:4 and confirm the feeble knees, and ſay to them that are of a fearful heart, be ſtrong, fear not. And this (it ſeems) was Jobs practice. Job 4. 3, 4.Job 4:3Job 4:4He ſtrengthened the weak, and his words upheld him that was falling.Prov. 12. 4 25.Prov 12:4 And if they were in affliction, the moving of his lips aſſwaged their grief. For, heavineſs in the heart of man maketh it ſtoop,Iſa. 50 4.Isa 50:4 but a good word maketh it glad. And this ſavoureth ſweetly of the Spirit of Chriſt, Mat. 12. 12Matt 12:12who would not break the bruiſed Reed, nor quench the ſmoaking Flax. The words are diminutive, for the meaning is, he would ſtrengthen the bruiſed Reed, and blow up the ſmoaking Flax. For he carries his Lambs in his boſom, that is, he tenders them, and laies them near his heart.

As when the Church was in affliction, and ſick of love,Song 2. 5, 7Song 2:5Song 2:7 he ſtayes her with flagons p. 53and comforts her with Apples; his left hand is under her head, and his right hand embraceth her. Not his right hand under her head, and his left hand embraceth her; Heb. 4. 15. with 5. 2.Heb 4:15for that is not next the heart of Chriſt. He is our High Prieſt, who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, & hath compaſſion on us in juſt proportion. He ſpeaks to the heart of the trembling Haemorrhoiſs, when ſhe fell down at his feet, Luke. 740.and ſaith unto her, Daughter be of good comfort, thy Faith hath made thee whole,Luke 7. 40Luke 7:40 go in peace. And he takes part with that brokenhearted ſinner that ſate behind him at his feet, weeping, and waſhing, and wiping, and kiſſing them, and rebukes cenſorious Simon; and ſaith to her, Thy ſins are forgiven, thy Faith hath ſaved thee, go in peace. Oh the ſweet Spirit of Chriſt! Phil. 2. 5.Phil 2:5Let the ſame mind then be in you which was in him.2 Cor. 1. ….2 Cor 1 And comfort them that are in trouble, with the comforts wherewith you your ſelves have been comforted of God;Rom. 12. 10.Rom 12:10 And be kindly affectioned one toward another in brotherly love. And when the caſe requires it, ſhew your ſelf a ſon of Conſolation.

p. 547Seventhly, In Heaven (you know) are no neceſſities, whereas here are many, which will give occaſion therefore to ſuch ſervice as Heaven hath no need of. For here are poor Saints, and the poor are always with us, who ſometimes want Food, ſometimes Clothing, ſometimes Lodging, ſometimes Money, &c. You then that are able muſt follow Job's example;Job 31. 16,—21.Job 31:16 ſaith he, I have not with-held the poor from their deſire, nor cauſed the eyes of the Widow to fail, nor eaten my morſel alone, but the Fatherleſs hath eaten of it alſo. Neither have I ſeen any to periſh for want of clothing, or any poor without covering, but his loynes have bleſſed me, and he was warmed with the fleece of my ſheep. The ſtranger did not lodge in the ſtreet, but I opened my door to the Traveller, &c. and the eyes of our Lord Jeſus are much upon ſuch good works as theſe;Mat. 25. 35Matt 25:35 for he beheld how the people cast their money into the Treaſury. Heaven affordeth no ſuch objects of your Love and Compaſſion.

There are indeed many Beggers at Heavens Gates, but never a Begger within Heavens doors. And there are many Widows and Fatherleſs Children here, but never a Widow nor Orphan there.

p. 55Brethren,Luke 6. 36.Luke 6:36 Be ye then merciful, … your Father in Heaven is merciful. Mat. 5. 7.Matt 5:7And bleſſed are the merciful, for they ſhall obtain mercy. Deut. 22. 7.Deut 22:7And it is that which will lengthen out your lives. Mercy, even to the bruit, creatures, ſhall prolong your dayes, much more then to Men, eſpecially to the houſhold of Faith. Gal. 6. 10.Gal 6:10Lazarus ſhall riſe,Joh. 12. 2.John 12:2 and have a new leaſe of his life to entertain Chriſt again. And ſo ſhall Tabitha to make Coats and Garments for Widows again.Act. 9.Acts 9 Life is well beſtowed upon merciful ones. And life is the time of acting this Grace, for bowels are ſhut up in Heaven, and no pity ſhall be ſhewed to the neareſt periſhing relations in the day of Chriſt. Again, Here you may entertain Jeſus Chriſt in his Members, and Miniſters. Here you may be fellow-helpers to the Truth and Goſpel.3 Joh. v. 8. And what ſays John of that? We ought therefore to receive ſuch, that we might be fellow-helpers to the Truth.

And,Heb. 13. 2▪Heb 13:2 ſaith the Apoſtle, Be not forgetful to entertain ſtrangers, for thereby ſome have entertained Angels unawares. We cannot entertain Angels in Heaven, (for they have their places there as well as we, and there we are rather entertained by them, Zech. 3. 7.) but here it hath p. 56been done, as by Abraham and Lot. And though we cannot expect to entertain them as they did, yet, (if we could) what is that to the entertainment of Chriſt himſelf?Mat. 24. 40Matt 24:40 And if we entertain his Members at our houſes, or do any Office of Love for them, we do it unto Jeſus Chriſt.

8Eighthly, Let us be willing alſo (if need be) to ſuffer for Chriſt, which is a ſervice peculiar to this life. But I ſay, If need be, becauſe we are not to caſt our ſelves upon ſuffering, uncalled. We muſt take up, but not make a Croſs. But when the providence of God, and his Word calleth us to witneſs for Chriſt to the loſs of ought that is neareſt and deareſt to us, let us remember, that this is one of the ſervices, which termineth with our lives, and cannot be performed in glory. It hath indeed been our portion hitherto to eſcape thoſe ſufferings, which many of our brethren have undergone. But have we been ſufferers in affection? Have we been prepared for the Croſs? Or, have we not been among the fearful? And have we ſympathized with our Brethren in their ſufferings? and have we accounted them happy that have endured, yea, and their ſufferings p. 56honourable for the ſake, and in the quarrel of ſuch a Lord and Maſter? Conſider what I ſay: For it is a very honourable thing to ſuffer for Chriſt, his Goſpel,1 Pet. 4. 14.1 Pet 4:14 and Kingdom. For the Spirit of God, and of glory reſteth upon all ſuch. And what are all the ſufferings of this preſent time, Rom. 8. 18.Rom 8:18in compariſon with the glory which ſhall be revealed in us? But though we have eſcaped what others have undergone, yet we know not what may be our portion, as to ſuffering before we dye. Perhaps there is the more behind.Rev. 6. 11.Rev 6:11 God hath appointed the number of them that ſhall ſuffer for Chriſt. And who knows what God hath appointed for him this way? But what ever it be, Heaven will put an end to it, where are no ſufferings but Crowns, even incorruptible Crowns of glory. You know what is ſaid of them that came out of great tribulation, Rev. 7. 9.Rev 7:9they were clothed with white Robes, and had palms in their hands.

Ninthly, Exerciſe thoſe fruits of the 9Spirit, which are proper to this life. You have heard of ſeveral, as Faith, Hope, Patience, love to Enemies, and to Men out of Chriſt, Sympathy, common gifts for Edification, Communication p. 58of Knowledge, which is mediate in this life.

All theſe are the gifts of the Spirit on this ſide Heaven, in the exerciſe whereof God is much glorified, and others edified, which is that which ſhould be the ſcope and aime of us all.

10Tenthly, and laſtly, There is one thing more, which we are exhorted to do in this world, which cannot be done after death, and it is a very great ſervice, and highly incumbent on us, and I was willing to reſerve it to the laſt place, that it might the rather abide by us; and … this, Endeavour to tranſmit pure Religion and undefiled to poſterity, by commending it to your Children. The Fathers to the Children ſhall make known thy truth. And we may run it through Fatherhood at large. But

1Let me ſpeak of Domeſtical Fathers, that is, Fathers of Families. This is a great matter, and is the ſpecial work of the godly in their generations. How elſe ſhall that be made good, which is written,Pſal. 72. 17Ps 72:17 His Name (that is, Chriſt's) ſhall endure for ever, his Name ſhall be continued as long as the Sun. Some render it, His Name ſhall be continued as a ſon continueth his Father's name, for the Original p. 59Jinnon, or Janin cometh of Nin, … ſon. As if one ſhould ſay, Filiabitur nomen ejus, or ſoboleſcet nomen ejus, as Tremellius renders it; That is, Chriſt ſhall not only himſelf live for ever in his perſon, but his Name alſo ſhall endure for ever, and be derived to his Children,Iſa. 53. 10.Isa 53:10 who therefore ſhall prolong his days, (as Children mete out their Fathers mortality) in bearing his name, being called Chriſtians, Acts 11. 26Acts 11:26and the ſons of God, Heb. 2. 13.Heb 2:13and the Children of Chriſt. And this ſhall be (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) before the Sun, that is, as long as the Sun endureth.

Now God will uſe means to bring this to paſs, and what are thoſe means? one ſpecial one is this, The Father to the Children ſhall make known thy Truth. For how ſhould the Name of Chriſt be childed from generation to generation, (as ſome render it) if care be not taken by Parents to Child Chriſt's Name downwards to their Off-ſpring; that his Name may be put upon their Children, by being not only Chriſtians by Baptiſm, but by Regeneration. And this is one of the great works and ends of our lives; for Hezekiah, here mentioneth, Firſt, Praiſing of God, and Secondly, Making p. 60known the Truth to our Children; which was a great Statute in Iſrael, and obligeth us no leſs then them: ſaith the Pſalmiſt,Pſal. 78. 2, 3, 4.Ps 78:2Ps 78:3Ps 78:4 I will open my mouth in a Parable, I will utter dark ſayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our Fathers have told us: We will not hide them from their Children, ſhewing to the generations to come, the praiſes of the Lord, and his ſtrength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. Here

1. Are ſuch as are worthy of the name of Fathers, viz. who tranſmit to poſterity the Truths of God contained in the Scripture, ſo as theſe here did, as appears in the ſequel of the Pſalm. And

2. Here is the only infallible ſort of Tradition, viz. that which delivereth to poſterity, what God firſt delivered to the Prophets, Apoſtles, and holy men of God, and is now contained in the Scriptures.

3. From theſe words we are taught, that the godly in every age ought to have the ſame care to tranſmit the Word of Truth to their poſterity, as their Anceſtors had to transfer it unto them; and ſo to pay the debt which they owe to their godly Anceſtors, unto their ſucceeding Children: for our Children are p. 61here called their Children, verſ. 4th. And if you deſcended not from ſuch Parents immediately, yet (peradventure) mediately you did. However, this here is your duty, out of love to God, to Truth, and your Poſterity. Mark therefore what followeth in the ſame Pſalm.Ver. 5, 6. For God eſtabliſhed a Teſtimony in Jacob, and appointed a Law in Iſrael, which he commanded our Fathers, that they ſhould make them known to their Children, that the generation to come might know them, even the Children which ſhould be born, who ſhould ariſe and declare them unto their Children. You ſee this tranſmitting of the Truth and true Religion to Poſterity, is God's love and Teſtimony, becauſe it teſtifieth and witneſſeth for God, and againſt us, if we break it. And this Law and Teſtimony we have ſeveral times in Moſes. So that the Law and Teſtimony is,Exod. 12. 26, 27—13. 14.Exod 12:26Exod 12:27 to tranſmit the Truth to Poſterity. For God did not deliver the Truth,Deut. 4. 9.—6. 9.Deut 4:9 and true Religion to a perſon or people for the uſe of themſelves alone,Joſh. 4. 6, 7.Josh 4:6Josh 4:7 but for the benefit of their Children alſo: And he never loved the Truth truly, who is careleſs, whether it dye with himſelf, or out-live him.

p. 62Let ſuch Parents and Maſters look to it, who have been negligent in inſtructing their Children and Families. The handing of Religion from Parents to Children, & from the Living to the next ſucceeding Age, is a ſtanding part of our Generation-work. It is ſaid of David, Act. 13. 36Acts 13:36That after he had ſerved his generation, he fell aſleep. And truly, ſuch as fall aſleep before, go to bed before they have done their work, and that is the way to make them ſtart, as many do, when they are newly ſetting themſelves to ſleep.

Oh ſirs! care and pains for the godly being of poſterity, is a great and neceſſary buſineſs. I many times think of the care and endeavour of the nine Tribes and half, Joſh. 22. 22—30.Josh 22:22leſt their Children ſhould loſe their intereſt in the God of Iſrael. To which end they built the Altar Ed, as they tell the two Tribes and half in their Apology. Say they, The Lord, God of Gods, The Lord, God of Gods he knoweth, and Iſrael he ſhall know that we have not done it in rebellion, to turn from following the Lord, &c. But we have done it rather for fear of this thing, leſt in time to come your Children might ſpeak unto our Children, ſaying, What have you to … with the Lord God of Iſrael? For the p. 63Lord hath made Jordan a border between us and you; ye Children of Reuben, and Children of Gad, ye have not part in the Lord: So ſhall your Children make our Children ceaſe from fearing the Lord: Therefore we ſaid, Let us now prepare to build us an Altar, not for burnt-offering, nor for Sacrifice, but that it may be a witneſs between us and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the ſervice of the Lord before him with our Burnt-offerings & our Sacrifices, and with our Peace-offerings, that your Children might not ſay to our Children in time to come, ye have no part in the Lord, &c. Here you ſee the care and endeavour of the two Tribes and half for the preſervation of the true Religion, and way of God's Worſhip among their poſterity, which is the Point that I am now preſſing. I beſeech you lay it to heart; for I fear that many are guilty in this matter, and that poſterity is like to be little beholding to them. Admit of a few Expoſtulations, and conſider,

What will your Children and Servants 1ſay, when they come to ſucceed you, and peradventure dye at laſt in ther… ſins?

Lord, our Parents and Maſters did p. 64not make known the Truth to us; they did not Catechize and Inſtruct us; they did not deliver to us the form of ſound words, nor any brief ſum of the Articles of Faith, and true Religion; but we lived and dyed in ignorance, for they had no care of our Souls; and if others dealt thus with their Children and Servants. Religion it ſelf might have periſhed, as we have done. Now would not this be moſt miſerable? And are you willing to be thus indited by your Children and Servants in that great day.

2Doth not Hezekiah here ſay, The Father to the Children ſhall make known thy Truth? And is it not expreſt as a duty, and a great one too? And doth not Hezekiah look upon this as one of the great works to be attended in this World, without which it is not worth while to live? Hezekiah indeed had no ſon at this time, but he reſolveth here, that if God ſhall give him one, he will make known the Truth and Faithfulneſs of God to him; for he looks upon it as his duty, when he ſaith, The Father to the Children ſhall make known thy Truth. And what is the reaſon, that p. 65many are ſo ignorant this day, but becauſe they wanted Family-inſtruction from Parents and Maſters? For it is not enough, that ſuch do live under the preaching of the Goſpel, if they want inſtruction in the Families wherein they have lived; the want whereof makes the Miniſters Plow to go ſo heavily. Oh let not the Children and Servants riſe up in judgment againſt you, and charge their ignorance and damnation upon the neglect of your duty towards them.

Thirdly, Conſider with whom God 3hath betruſted the Goſpel and true Religion.

1. He puts his Miniſters in truſt with it.1 Theſ. 2. 41 Thess 2:4 For, ſaith the Apoſtle, We are allowed of God to be put in truſt with the Goſpel. And it is a great truſt, and we muſt be faithful in the diſcharge of it; and you muſt not be offended if we deal plainly with you.

2. He betruſteth all his people with his Goſpel and pure Religion, expecting their diſcharge of this truſt by their utmoſt endeavors to tranſmit it to poſterity, as you heard but even now from that Text, Pſalm 78. 3,—7. For he doth not, as I ſaid, put the truſt into your p. 66hands for your ſelves only, that you ſhould make uſe of it during your lives, and then dye, and let others that ſhall come after you ſhift for themſelves; for this were to be cruel, like the Oſtriches in the Wilderneſs, who leave their Eggs in the Earth, and warm them in the duſt, forgetting that the Foot may cruſh them, and the wild Beaſt break them; but he expecteth and requireth your faithfulneſs, and utmoſt care and labour to recommend the ſame Religion to your Children and Servants that live with you. And what ſaith Solomon? My Father taught me, and ſaid thus and thus to me, Prov. 4. 4. And my Mother alſo taught me, and ſhe ſaid ſo and ſo to me, Prov. 31.—But how have you taught thoſe that are under your care? and what have you ſaid to them? And where is the Altar Ed, that you have built for them, as a witneſs and memorial of the true Religion and Worſhip of God, which you have commended to them? No marvel that Religion decayeth in many Families, when their Governours have wrapt up their Religion in a Napkin, and profeſſed only for themſelves, and not for them that ſhould come after them. You that are guilty in this part, p. 67will have a ſad reckoning to make, when you ſhall be called to give an account of your diſcharge of that truſt, which is commended to you, and have never an Ed to witneſs your care of conveying the Truth to the generation to come. Know therefore, that it is your duty, according to this truſt committed to you, to turn and wind your Religion for God's Glory & the advantage of poſterity; which, if you neglect, take beed you be not numbred among the wicked, and ſlothful ſervants, and have your portion with them.

Conſider the common care of Parents 4to bequeath their Houſes,Pſal. 17. 14Ps 17:14 Lands,Pſal. 49. 12Ps 49:12 and Goods to ſuch as are to ſucceed them. They leave their ſubſtance to their Babes, ſaith the Pſalmiſt. And the inward thought is, that their houſes ſhall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations, and they call their Lands after their own names. That is, they are thoughtful for the upholding of their Families, and the continuing of their names from one generation to another. But as for the Goſpel, which they profeſs, and the Religion which they own, they have little or no care at all. They leave their Earthly ſubſtance p. 68to their Children, but that which is the moſt ſubſtantial thing of all, they leave it not to them; and they leave their names to their Children, but the Name of God and Chriſt they leave not, nor have they any care, that Chriſt's Name be named upon them, by endeavouring to make them Chriſtians indeed, according to their duty,Pſal. 45. ult.Ps 45 as the Pſalmiſt ſaith, I will make thy Name to be remembred in all generations. Pſal. 72. 17Ps 72:17They care not that his Name ſhould be childed from generation to generation. Truly it were juſt with God, that their names ſhould be blotted out from under Heaven, who love their own names better than Chriſt's.

5Conſider the Covenant that pious Parents are entred into with God. For when God ſaith,Gen. 17. 7.Gen 17:7 I will be thy God, and the God of thy Seed; He expecteth and requireth, that Parents do not only give up themſelves, but their Seed alſo unto God. As Hannah ſaid in her prayer,1 Sam. 1. 11.1 Sam 1:11 If thou wilt give unto thine Handmaid a Man-child, I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life: She ſpake indeed of more then an ordinary devoting him to the Lord, viz. in the way of Nazariteſhip: But yet ſhe p. 69bound however, to have given him back to the Lord, in and by an ordinary way of dedication, common to her ſelf with all Parents, who are bound to this duty by the Law of Nature, and by many commands in the Word of God, which I have already mentioned. Train up therefore a Child (or Catechize him) in the way he ſhould go. Prov. 22 6.Prov 22:6So did David deal with Solomon, 2 Tim. 1. 5.2 Tim 1:5as you have heard,Pſal. 44. 1.—78. 3.—Ps 44:1 and ſo Lois with Eunice, and Eunice with Timothy, and ſo the godly Fathers in their generations. It was as you have heard, a Teſtimony and a Law in Iſrael. And when you brought your Children to Baptiſm, you did ſolemly engage unto this duty. For the Covenant which gave your Children right to that Ordinance, and which ſealed it to them, ſtrongly obliged you to give them up to God in the uſe of all ſuch means as he hath appointed.

And therefore you are a Covenant-breaker in the neglect of this duty, which is the ruine both of many Children and Families,1 Sam. 2. 23. with 3. 13.1 Sam 2:23 as of Elie's in particular, and yet Eli did reprove his ſons, but did not do his utmoſt. And this is the reaſon why many Children of godly Parents prove lewd and vicious, and p. 70their Families at laſt, loſe all power of godlineſs, if they grow not looſe and prophane. For it is with Children, as with the Flowers in your Gardens, which without care and culture will ſoon degenerate. Remember therefore your Covenant, and attend the terms thereof, which concern you in relation to your poſterity. And ſay, I am not only naturally, but alſo federally bound to uſe all means to train up my Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and to ſerve the purpoſe of God as to their Eternal Salvation.

For do you think it enough, that you breed them up to live in this world? And is it enough that you provide Meat, and Drink, and Apparel, Portions, and Trades, aud ways of livelihood for them? Or, that you give them civil Education, and teach them how to carry themſelves as men? will you love their bodies, and neglect their ſouls? Do you know the price of your own ſouls, and not of theirs too? Or, are not theirs as precious as yours? Or, is it all one to you where you ſpend your Eternity, and whether you go to Heaven or Hell? In the mean-while, where is your Religion? where your love of God, and p. 71Godlineſs? Where your Conſcience as to your Covenant? Or, what care have you, that Godlineſs may flouriſh in the next generation, who take not the courſe that it may thrive in your own Family? Take heed leſt you prove to be an Hypocrite at laſt. Oh, remember the care of good Manoah, Judg. 13. 12.Judg 13:12when the Angel told him, he ſhould have a ſon; But, ſaith he, How ſhall we order the Child? and what ſhall we do do unto him?

And ſeeing you are a Covenanter with God, and have given up your Children to him,Ezek. 16. 20, 21.Ezek 16:20Ezek 16:21 who hath accepted of them, and ſealed the Covenant to them; you ſhould now conſider, that they are his Children, his Sons and Daughters, as well as yours, as he expreſly calleth them. And he puts them out to you to Board and Breeding, and you muſt give an acount to him, how you have bred them up for him.

And what? will ye rob God of his Children, and beſtow them upon the world, or ſacrifice them to devoured, and cauſe them to paſs through the fire, as God challengeth thoſe Parents in the aforeſaid place of Ezekiel. I mean to be devoured of that roaring Lion, and (not to paſs through the fire, but) p. 72to dwell with devouring fire, and with everlaſting burnings. Doth not Nature teach Men to propagate their kind? And doth not Grace teach them to propagate the Truth, and true Religion? without the firſt, Mankind would periſh; without the ſecond, Religion would ſoon be extinguiſhed: or, have you more care to uphold the World, than to propagate the Goſpel of Chriſt's Kingdom? if ſo, you are no better than a Man or Woman of this generation.

I perceive, there are many Bills preſented for prayers in behalf of ungodly Children. It is well, if their Parents have not been wanting in their duty towards them. If they have not, let them not deſpond as to the ſucceſs of their endeavours. I have lived to ſee the bleſſed fruits of pious Education, and that though Children ſo Educated have gone aſtray for a while, yet they have been graciouſly reduced at the laſt, & made their Parents joyful. And I think, it is not uſual, that a Father ſhould be a true fearer of the Lord, and one that conſcionably diſchargeth his duty towards his Children, and yet all of them ſhould prove ungodly, and none of them be converted ſooner or later, but periſh p. 73in the uncircumciſion of their hearts. Perhaps Parents may not always live to ſee it, but it is well enough if their Children come to Heaven after them.

I have inſiſted the more upon this Point, it being the great duty of my Text, and of ſuch concernment as to generation-ſervice.

The Exhortation reacheth Eccleſiaſtick 2Fathers,1 Cor. 4. 15.1 Cor 4:15 ſuch as are the Miniſters of the Goſpel.Gal. 4. 19.Gal 4:19 For ſuch Fathers alſo to their Children ſhall make known the Truth. And that is the reaſon why we make known thoſe Truths to you, viz. that we may diſcharge our duties to our Children, that you may diſcharge the like to yours. And every week, and every Sabbath, and every Sermon we preach can teſtifie, that we are careful to make known the Truth unto you.Act. 20. 27▪Acts 20:27 For we have kept back nothing that was profitable for you, nor have ſhunned to declare unto you all the Counſel of God. 3 John v. …3 John 1:5For as John ſaith to Gaius, We have no greater joy, than to hear that our Children walk in truth, even in the Truth that we make known unto them. And let all that fear the Lord, bleſs his Name, that in ſuch a day as this is, there are yet ſuch Spiritual Fathers, who know the Truth, and p. 74labour to make it known to their Spiritual Children. For the time may come, that you may want them, when the Truth which is now made known to you by us, may be impugned by them that ſhall come after us.

3There are alſo Scholaſtick Fathers, who have the care of training up Children in Learning, and theſe have their place as well as the former in the fifth Commandment. And a great advantage is put into their hands to make known the Truth unto their Children, as well as to inform their underſtandings in a way of Humane Learning. And I know no Calling, nor Relation, excepting that of the Miniſtry, that hath the like opportunity of making known the Truth unto poſterity.

4There are likewiſe Fathers Political. For there is the Father in the Family, the Father in the Church, the Father in the School, and the Father in the Common-wealth, or Countrey. And ſome think, that Naaman's ſervants called him Father, 2 Kings 5. 1. with v. 13.2 Kgs 5:1becauſe he was a great Commander and Prince in his Country, to which alſo he had been a Father, having wrought great deliverances for the ſame. However, ſuch a Father was the good p. 75King in my Text, and he owns himſelf as ſuch an one in the very entrance of his Reign, when he was but 25 years old: For ſaith he to the Prieſts and Levites (exhorting them to their duty) My ſons, 2 Chron. 29. 11.2 Chr 29:11be not now negligent, for the Lord hath choſen you to ſtand before him, to ſerve him, and that you ſhould miniſter unto him, and burn Incenſe. They were (themſelves) Fathers, for Hezekiah calls them God's Miniſters, and ſo they were Fathers to Hezekiah; but as he was their King, he was their Father, and they his ſons. They his Spiritual Fathers, he their Political, and ſo, he was not only Pater patriae, but alſo Pater patrum, not only the Father of his Countrey, but the Father of his Fathers, i. e. the Political Father of thoſe who were his Fathers Eccleſiaſtically. But here is no opportunity of ſpeaking to ſuch Fathers as theſe, whoſe duty it is alſo to make known the Truth unto their Children, as Hezekiah did, as appears at large in his Reformation, 2 Chron. 29th, 30th, and 31th Chapters.

There are Fathers in age, gravity, & ſeniority, 5viz. ſuch as are well ſtricken in years. Such are they, 1 Tim. 5. 1. Rebuke p. 76not an Elder, 1 Tim. 5. 1.1 Tim 5:1but entreat him as a Father, the younger Men as brethren, the elder Women as Mothers, the younger as ſisters. The Elder here is not a Church-Officer, as ſome (perhaps) may think. For though it is Presbyteros in the Original, yet the ſame word is applyed to Elder Women alſo, in ver. 2. foreign, the Elder Women, or (as if I ſhould ſay) The Presbytereſse…. So that the Apoſtle here ſpeaketh only of the ſeveral degrees of Age in each Text, Elder and Younger, calling the Elder Men Fathers, and the Elder Women Mothers, and the younger Men and Women, Brethren and Siſters. And that this is the true meaning of the Apoſtle, appears alſo, Titus, 2. 2, 3. where the Elder here, is called Aged there.

Now there is a duty alſo incumbent upon theſe, as touching the tranſmiſſion of the Truth to the generation to come. Make it known therefore by your Examples, Counſels, Encouragements upon all occaſions; for you have heard much, and ſeen much, and known much, and treaſured up experiences, and therefore certainly, you ſhould have much to ſay to ſuch as are p. 77of the younger ſort, and your years, gravity, wiſdom, experiences will the better recommend the Truth unto them; for there is an honour due to you alſo,See Lev. 19▪ 32.Lev 19:32 by vertue of the fifth Commandment.

Let me commend to you that Text of Scripture,Pſal. 71. 17▪ 38.Ps 71:17Ps 71:38 Oh God, thou haſt taught me from my youth, and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works; Now alſo when I am old, and gray-headed, Oh God, forſake me not, until I have ſhewed thy ſtrength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. The Pſalmiſt was now an old Man, one of much experience, being taught of God from his youth; and as God taught him, ſo he taught others: For ſaith he, Hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works; Hitherto, that is, to old Age, for now he was aged, and gray-headed. And had he not done well? and was it not time now to dye? Yes, he had done very well, but yet he is willing to live a little longer, to do more, and therefore (ſaith he) Forſake me not, until I have ſhewed thy ſtrength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. As if he ſhould ſay, I am willing yet to live a little longer to do more generation-work, p. 78there is a care and zeal for poſterity upon my heart, there are young people ready to come after me, and peradventure they will liſten to the Counſel of an old experienced ſervant of God; and upon this account I am willing to ſpend a few days more upon Earth, to ſerve God and Poſterity, without which it were not worth while to live.

Think upon this Text of Scripture, you that are old and gray-headed, and improve the little remainder of your lives to ſerve the ſucceeding generation. For you do not love Religion, if you do not love that it ſhould live when you are dead; neither are they worthy of experiences, who dig and hide them in the Earth. When God had ſhewed his ſingular care and power in the preſervation of his Church againſt her Enemies that attempted the ruine thereof, ſaith he,Pſ3l. 48. 12, 13.Ps 3 Walk about Zion, go round about her, tell the Towers thereof, mark ye well her Bulwarks, conſider her Palaces, that ye may tell it to the generations following. So when God ariſeth to build up Zion, and appears in glory upon the prayers of his poor people, This muſt be written for the generations to come, Pſal. 102. 16, 17.Ps 102:16Ps 102:17that the people which ſhall be created may praiſe the Lord.

p. 79Laſtly, There are ſuch, who though they are not called Fathers, Rev. 4. 4.Rev 4:4yet are called Elders, viz. the Members of the Goſpel-Churches. And they are ſo called, not in reſpect of age, but of ſtate in theſe Goſpel-times, wherein the Church is paſt her non-age, and is now in an Elderly ſtate, requiring more Knowledge, Wiſdom, Strength, Seriouſneſs, Gravity, and Solidity in the things of God. How ſhould ſuch, as theſe walk before others, ſo as to anſwer the Character of Elders? Let ſuch take heed then of carrying it below their ſtate. It is not for Elders to behave themſelves like Children. I have thought many times of that deſcription of the Goſpel-Churches in the Revelations, and how little it is anſwered this day by many that relate to ſuch Societies. Take heed then of ſcandals, anſwer your State, live up to your Priviledges, ſhine in Holineſs, that you may adorn the Doctrine of God and our Saviour, and commit and commend your State, Examples, and holy Lives unto the Generation to come, that they may attain to the knowledge of the Truth, by your walking in it; and ſay, Theſe Truths and Ways of holy Walking were p. 80made known to me by the Gracious, Grave, and ſerious Lives of ſuch as did relate unto the Churches of Chriſt.

The Exhortation hitherto hath been to do all the good we are able, during our abode here below, ſeeing death will put end to all our opportunities. And I have propounded to you ſeveral Particulars wherein to be exerciſed this way.

Now before I proceed to any further Uſe of Exhortation, Let me mind you of that which may conduce to the attendance of this Duty, and that is, an heart enlarged unto publick ſervice. For that which greatly hinders the proſecution of this work, is the narrowneſs and ſtraightneſs of the Spirits of Men, whoſe concernments are commonly bounded within themſelves. Therefore you muſt endeavour to abound in love.

1Firſt, To the glory of God. For this was at work in Hezekiah's heart, when he ſaid, The living, the living, he ſhall praiſe thee. This was uppermoſt, this was the firſt thing that was in his Eye, in his deſire of prolongation of life. For indeed, it is the chief good of Man, whom God made for himſelf, and who therefore is to have this end continually p. 81in his aim,Rom. 11. 36.Rom 11:36 and to be often thinking, What ſhall I do to glorifie God? For of him, and through him, and to him are all things, to him be glory for ever, Amen. And all is loſt that ends not in him that is Omega, to whom you may well afford this honour, when you conſider that he is Alpha. He that is the firſt, muſt be the laſt. Take heed then of a narrow ſelfiſh Spirit, which never looks ſo far as to this end; and that makes many ſo unactive for God, and his Glory. You muſt therefore believe more, and love more, and then you will act to this end more, &c.

Secondly, Your love to the glory of 2God muſt extend to the Generations to come. You muſt not therefore limit it to the preſent Generation, and never be concerned that God may be glorified in future Ages, even to the Worlds end: But your deſires herein muſt reach to the very end of the World. For note the words of the Apoſtles Paul, Eph. 3. 21.Eph 3:21To God be glory in the Church by Chriſt Jeſus, throughout all ages, world without end, Amen. His love to God's glory ran through all Ages even to Eternity. And ſo ſhould your love do, or elſe you do not ſincerely love it; neither indeed can p. 82you love that his Glory be upheld during your own time, and not love the continuance of it to the Worlds end.

And ſuch was the love of the Saints in the Scriptures,Pſal. 79. laſt.Ps 79 to the praiſe and glory of God; ſay they, We will ſhew forth thy praiſe to all generations. And therefore,

1. They deſired the continuance thereof to the Worlds end.

2. They would alſo endeavour it. With my mouth, Pſal 89. 1.Ps 89:1ſaith the Pſalmiſt, will I make known thy faithfulneſs to all generations: Pſ. 102. 18.Ps 102:18And this hath been their care ſtill, That the people which ſhall be created may praiſe the Lord. Thus you muſt love God's Glory both Intenſively, and Extenſively.

2As you muſt love the Glory of God, & that it may be extended to future Ages; ſo likewiſe you muſt love his Kingdom, or elſe you will never attend this great work unto which you have been exhorted. God's Kingdom, Power, and Glory muſt go together in your prayers.

And this was much upon Hezekiah's heart, when he ſaid, The Father to the Children ſhall make known thy Truth. For p. 83he doth not ſay, I will make known thy Truth to my Children, though he purpoſed ſo to do, but the Father, that is, every Father that feareth God, not only in my time, but in the generations to come. Thus muſt your love be extended to the Kingdom of God, and, Thy Kingdom come, muſt be always in your deſires and endeavours. Come; how long? even to the end of the world, and never ceaſe coming, till Chriſt himſelf come. Now if this be upon your heart, and if you love that Chriſt ſhould reign in the world, you will do your utmoſt to promote it, in your capacity, in attending to the ſeveral Particulars propounded.

As you love God's Glory and Kingdom, 3ſo muſt you love his Goſpel. For it is the Word of the Kingdom; Mat. 13. 19Matt 13:19That is, The Word whereby God's Kingdom is erected, enlarged, governed, perfected. It is that in which, and by which our Lord Jeſus doth reign in the world, viz. as to his Spiritual Kingdom therein, of which I now ſpeak eſpecially. And you ſee in my Text, Hezekiah's love to the Truth, and to the making of it known from Generation to Generation; whereas the Goſpel is the p. 84Truth, foreign, the Truth with an excellency,Eph. 1. 13.Eph 1:13 called therefore,Col. 1. 5.Col 1:5 The Word of Truth, Jam. 1. 18.Jas 1:18and The Word of the Truth of the Goſpel: The Truth made known not by the Light of Nature, but by Revelation; a myſterious Truth, and therefore a great Truth, that we uſe to ſay, As true as the Goſpel. Now if you love this Truth, (as you have cauſe enough ſo to do) you will do any thing that may tend to the publication and propagation of it, by your praiers, pains, purſes, Counſels, &c.

4Fourthly, As you muſt love God's Glory, Kingdom, and Goſpel, ſo you muſt love Souls. The Father to the Children ſhall make known thy Truth. Therefore the Father muſt love the Souls of poſterity, and have a zeal for the ſalvation of them that ſhall ſucceed. And this will quicken your endeavours to the ſervice of your Age, when you ſhall look upon the Souls of ſucceſſours as of equal value with your own,Exod. 30. 13, 15.Exod 30:13Exod 30:15 ſeeing the ranſom given for all Souls is the ſame.

And it is a bleſſed thing to be a lover of ſouls: it makes a man like unto Jeſus Chriſt, whoſe love to Souls ſhines in his own blood,Tit. 3. 4.Titus 3:4 wherein the kindneſs and love p. 85God our Saviour towards Man appeareth. His kindneſs and Philanthropy, i. e. love towards Man. For God and our Saviour are great lovers of Men; ſo ſhould we be. And Chriſt's delights were with the ſons of Men from eternity. Prov. 8. 31.Prov 8:31We ſhould not therefore terminate our love in Men's bodies; we ſhould love the Jewel far above the Cabinet, and be frequently looking upon Mens Souls.

1. In compariſon with our own, and

2. In the Blood of the Son of God; and

3. In relation to Eternity; eſpecially the Souls of ſuch as are near to us. And the enlargement of our affections this way will amplifie our endeavours. In Heaven we ſhall love Souls that are ſaved, but here we muſt love Souls that they may be ſaved; A work which determineth in Glory.

Now all this requireth a publick Spirit, and an heart carried far beyond our ſelves. For a narrow Spirit acteth within a narrow compaſs, and is limited to private concernments▪ And that is the reaſon why there is ſo little Generation-ſervice performed. All Men ſeek their own, Pſal. 2. 21.Ps 2:21and not the things which are Jeſus Chriſts. Whereas our care ſhould p. 86extend far beyond our own ſalvation; and love to God's Glory, future Ages, Chriſt's Kingdom, Goſpel, and precious Souls, ſhould all have a large room in our hearts and affections.

Thus you have had a great deal of work ſet before you, which will dye together with you. And to quicken you to it,

Conſider,Conſid. 1. That you know not how ſoon you may leave this world:Gen. 27. 2.Gen 27:2 As Iſaac ſaid to Eſau, I am old, and know not the day of my death, and yet he lived 43 years after that. Few men in Scripture knew the day of their death, ſo as Hezekiah here did, to whoſe life 15 years were added, and he reſolveth to ſpend them for God's Glory, and the good of Poſterity. So do you as for the remainder of your days, which may not be a quarter ſo many as his.

Only have a care to perform better than he did.Caution. 2 Chron. 32. 25.2 Chr 32:25 For when he was recovered, he rendred not again according to the benefit done unto him. Why? what was the matter? His heart was lifted up. Hezekiah ſaith here, The living, the living he ſhall praiſe thee, as I do this day; Yea, but how many days did this continue: For by and by he is praiſing p. 87himſelf. Ye ſee the deceitfulneſs of the Heart of Man. This by the way.

Only conſider the uncertainty of the opportunity, and how ſoon it may be at an end, and that the dead cannot praiſe God, nor they that go down into ſilence.Pſal. 11▪ 5. 17.Ps 11:5Ps 11:17 Now your Tongues may ſpeak for God, and ſo may your Lives, and Examples too; but ſhortly there will be nothing but ſilence.

Oh! be not ſilent before death, for then you will be ſilent for ever. Peradventure you have ſpoken too little already, in order (I mean) to the work of your day. Speak therefore and act to God's honour, and the benefit of others, whil'ſt you live, or for ever hold your peace.

I have laid ſeveral particulars before you, concerning the ſervice of this life; & have you not been wanting in many of them? And is not your day alſo far ſpent? and are not the ſhadows of the evening ſtretched out? make it up for the future, as far as your remaining dayes will give you leave. And to this end▪

Conſider the account you are to give 2when your opportunity is ended. What p. 88ſaith the Apoſtle?Rom. 14. 12Rom 14:12 Every one of us ſhall give an account of himſelf to God. And this is the very next thing after death▪ It is appointed unto Men once to dye, Heb. 9. 27.Heb 9:27and after this the judgment. Once to dye, not twice; for there is an Emphaſis in that little word,Ver. 28. once, as appeareth by the next verſe, So Chriſt was once offered, &c. And after this the judgment. 1. Dye. 2. But once. 3. Men, that is, all Men. 4. Then to judgment; and there is a ſtatutum eſt upon all this four. And the judgment will paſs upon your managing your preſent opportunities.Mat. 25, 19Matt 25:19 For when the Lord cometh, he cometh to reckon; ſo when you go to the Lord, you go to reckon, viz. how you have praiſed him here among the living, how you have endeavoured to further his Kingdom, according to your capacity, how you have lived exemplarily, embraced and improved all opportunities to appear and ſpeak for Chriſt; how, and for whom you have prayed, how you have comforted the feeble minded, and ſupported the weak, ſupplyed the outward wants of the Saints according to your ability, how you have ſtood for Chriſt in a ſuffering time, how you have improved thoſe Gifs of Grace p. 89which are proper to this Life, how you have endeavoured to tranſmit pure Religion and undefiled to your Poſterity, by recommending it eſpecially to your Children.

I tell you theſe are the great things, and all of them are the Work of the Living, and not of the Dead. How far you have attended them hitherto, you beſt know; If you have been wanting, you had need to make up in repentance, what hath been lacking in duty; and a great part of your repentance muſt be exerciſed in fruits worthy amendment of life. For ſo ſoon as ever your Soul is quit of its earthly Tabernacle, you muſt preſently appear before God's Judgment-Seat.

Conſider the greatneſs of the reward 3of good and faithful ſervants. They ſhall have as much joy as their hearts can hold.Mat. 25. 2…Matt 25:2 For they muſt enter into it, ſeeing it cannot enter into them. Neither the Sufferings, nor the Duties and doings of this preſent time are worthy to be compared with the glory which ſhall be revealed in us. But our Eyes are too ſeldom upon the recompence of reward, nor do we conſider what God hath prepared for them that p. 90love him: Whereas, did we ſeek for Glory, Honour, Immortality, we ſhould continue patiently in well-doing. But few that fear God have Faith enough to take in the exceeding eternal weight of Glory that is prepared for them. If glorified Saints were to return to live again upon Earth, they would double and treble their duties beyond what they did in former times. For, what do they think when they are entring into the joy of their Lord? what? All this Glory, all this Joy, an Heart full, and a Heaven full, and to Eternity alſo, and that for ſo few imperfect ſervices? And muſt I now ſpend Eternity in the enjoyment of God, and do none of thoſe ſervices any more for him, which were proper and peculiar to my temporal life? And muſt I be on the receiving hand as to all this Glory for ever and for ever? Certainly, if it were poſſible, This would make the Saints repent in Heaven, that they had done no more for Jeſus Chriſt on Earth. But if ſuch thoughts were incident to glorified Saints, they come too late, when once they are in Heaven: Now is your time to be working for that ineſtimable reward. When therefore you come to God, you muſt p. 91have a full perſwaſion, not only of his Being,Heb. 11. 6.Heb 11:6 but Bounty, that he is a rewarder of them that diligently ſeek him, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks. But remember that it muſt be diligently. And be you never ſo diligent, he will abundantly reward it. And if Saints could but look into Heaven, and ſee how 'tis there, before they come thither, they would ſoon double their diligence, and work their fingers to the ſtumps for Chriſt. But many want Faith to believe ſo great a reward, or to apply it to themſelves, as that which God will certainly beſtow upon them after their work is ended.

Conſider yet further, That the good 4you do upon Earth may encreaſe when you are dead; and as that encreaſeth, ſo ſhall your glory ſtill be enlarged. For though the leaſt Glory above is unconceivable, and the words there ſpoken unutterable, 2. Cor. 12. 4.2 Cor 12:4yet there are aboundance of Argumentations in Heaven, and the ywho at their firſt entrance, wore but ſingle Crowns,Jer. 17. 10.Jer 17:10 after a while wear double ones. For it is ſaid, God will give to every Man according to his wayes, and according to he fruits of his doings. So that, if their former doings on Earth do fructifie p. 92after they are dead, God will reward them according to the Fruit thereof. For not only their works, Rev. 14. 13Rev 14:13but the fruit of them alſo doth follow them. And ſo do the evil works of wicked men follow them, as Jeroboam's did for above three hundred years together after his death; for that at laſt he felt a ſevenfold Hell for what he did at firſt. Upon this account it is conceived, that Dives deſired Abraham to ſend Lazarus to go and preach to his five brethren, that they might avoid that place of torment; why? is there charity in Hell? no, it was not out of love to his brethren, but to himſelf, becauſe he had corrupted them with his wicked life, and left a bad example behind him, which they followed, therefore he deſired, that they might (if not be ſaved, for that I think a damned Soul cannot deſire, yet that) they might not for his cauſe and example be brought into that place of torment, becauſe this would be the encreaſe of his torment too. In like manner on the other hand, the glory of the Saints receives encreaſe as their labours and pains are fruitful, as Divines ſay of Paul's glory. One Heaven is too much for the beſt Saint that ever lived, were not the p. 93reward of Grace, and yet your Heaven ſhall multiply according to the fruit of your good doings which you left behind you.

And this will be inſtead of doing good in Heaven, when the Saints leave that behind them, which keeps fructifying after they have left this world.

Why?Queſt. what is that which they may thus leave behind them?

Their good Works and Words,Anſw. and Examples, and holy Lives, their Inſtructions, Exhortations, Counſels, Encouragements, their remarkable Actions and Sufferings for Chriſt. By all which they act and ſpeak even after death. Heb. 11. 4.Heb 11:4And there is no other way that I know whereby to do good when you are in Heaven. And in this way ſhall the glorified Saints know in Heaven, whether the good works which they left behind them do fructifie, for they ſhall find and feel it in their enlarged Crowns, further Augmentations, and additional Glories. And then they ſhall break out into new Songs of praiſe to God and the Lamb, for helping them to ſow their Seed on Earth, which ſtill fructifieth after they are gone to Heaven. And in this way a Father may convert his p. 94Child, or Children after his death, as (as I doubt not, but) many have done. And then he heareth of it in Heaven, two wayes.

1. By his additional Glory.

2. By the joyful Acclamations of the Angels for the converſion of a ſinner.Luk, 15. 10

Wherefore let us endeavour ſo to live here a little while, that our good Works may live when we are dead, and act when we are at reſt, and ſpeak when we are gone down into ſilence, and bring forth fruit unto holineſs, when we are in endleſs happineſs; and bring Souls to Heaven after us to tell us that our good Works, and Words, and Examples, Inſtructions, Exhortations, Counſels, ſufferings, Graces, are yet all alive and well, and like to yield a further Crop and Harveſt of Joy and Honour to them that ſowed them before their death. Oh, it is a bleſſed thing, and the Wiſdom of Saints to leave a ſtock of good Works behind them, whereby to have a Trade going here on Earth, which will afford them freſh Incomes of Glory, whil'ſt they are already ſhining as the Sun in the the Kingdom of their Father.

p. 95And thus much for the firſt Uſe of Exhortation, to do all the good we are able, during our dwelling here on Earth.