A Vindication of Godliness, Sermon 3 · Part 1

A Vindication of Godliness · Sermon 3 · Part 1

p. 451. By way of Caution.

1. Limit not the Lord to your time and way; God will make good his word, but you muſt give him leave to take his own ſeaſon. He that believeſh ſhall not make haſt: believe God, but do nor prejudge nor precipitate, leaſt you fall into temptation. Put no more into the promiſe, neither for matter nor circumſtance, then God hath put in it: put not that into the Promiſe, which God hath not put in it, leſt you miſs and come ſhort of that which God hath put in it. Let others miſtakes and miſcarriages be warnings to you: till God hath manifeſtly ſaid, do not you ſay, This is the time; build not your confidence on conjectures, your Faith on the ſtrongeſt Preſumptions; leſt your Faith prove but a fancy, and your confidence your confuſion: make not the promiſe p. 46of God of none effect, by looking for its effect out of ſeaſon.

Believe not your ſelves into Infidelity: Conſider, Acts 1. 7. It is not for you to know the times and the ſeaſons, which God hath put in his own Power. Study the Word, and its commentary, the Works of God, but be ſober in your Concluſions.

This you may ſafely depend upon, and this will be enough, if you have no more: God will make good his good Word to you, ſooner or later, in one time or other, in one way other; in the beſt time, in the beſt way, in the appointed time, the Viſion ſhall ſpeak and ſhall not lye, Habak. 2. 3. Though it may tarry, wait for it; becauſe it will ſurely come and will not tarry: At leaſt, at the end of the days. When you ſhall ſtand in your lott: when you ſhall be gotten on the banks of Canaan, and ſhall thence look back on the Promiſes and Providences of God, ye ſhall ſee and ſay, God is faithful, there hath not failed one word of all that he hath promiſed: Now I underſtand, though once I could not, how every Wheel was turning, every Inſtrument was moving, every event was working toward my good and everlaſting welfare.

2. Let not your expectation cauſe an abortion. Let not your looking for mercy, hinder the working of your affliction: It is not ſeldom, and the Lord grant it be not too common a caſe, that our door of hope becomes a door of ſin. We do not ſet our ſelves with that ſeriouſneſs, to humble, to purge our ſelves from our iniquities, as we would do, did we apprehend our caſe more deſperate: our feares and our ſorrows have not their kindly work upon us, our hopes hinders it. We might have been more brokenhearted, p. 47had it not been for our hopes of building up: as it is with a perſon, who conceives himſelf to be dying; he then falls to praying and repenting, and ſetting his heart in order, becauſe he muſt dye: but upon a little hope of recovery, he layes by his dying thoughts and preparations.

Chriſtians, When-ever you are under afflictions, take heed that your expectation of deliverance to be near, put it not ſo much the farther off. Watch narrowly over your ſelves, and look diligently to it, that your hope of redemption do not harden your hearts, nor hinder your humiliation and repentance. Hope in God, and wait for the promiſe of his coming: But know, That till the Rod hath done its work, it is not like in mercy to be laid by; and its better to be continued in the Furnace, than to be brought forth with your droſs unpurged away.

Againſt this bleſſed Truth, there are ſome Objections: As,

Object. 1. Can it ever be ſaid, That the removal of the Goſpel, and the preaching of it, can be for good.

Sol. This is an hard, Truth; but yet a Truth: That even this ſhall work for good to thoſe that love God.

1. It's true, That the removal of the Goſpel, and the Miniſtry of it, is a moſt grievous Judgment: and that which carryes with it a greater evidence of wrath and divine diſpleaſure againſt a People, than any thing that ever befals them in this World. How great a Judgment it is, we may gueſs, if we obſerve thoſe Scripture expreſſions by which it's ſet forth It's called the famine of the Word, Amos 8. 11. The glory departed. 1 Sam. 4. The Kingdome of Heaven p. 48taken away, Matth. 6. 41. The Salvation of God ſent away, Acts 28. and can there any thing worſe befal a People? a Soul-famine, an Eclipſe of their ſpiritual glory, the ſhutting up of the Kingdom of Heaven, the carrying away of the Salvation of God: What worſe thing can come unto them? It's a great wonder there ſhould be no deeper Senſe of this moſt dreadful of evils, than is moſtly found: Men little underſtand what they do, who either in away of merit, or inſtrumentally, procure, and bring on this plague; and few underſtand, or are ſenſible, what they herein ſuffer; to be an inſtrument in this helliſh work, is an office for a Devil; and the ſuffering of ſuch a plague, (to them that underſtand it) is an hell above ground. This darkneſs is the very ſame for kind, with the darkneſs of Hell; as the light of the Goſpel is the ſame in kind, with the everlaſting light, as glory under age; ſo is this thick darkneſs, in ſpecie, and in ſemine, the darkneſs of the pit. Oh, what an hell of wickedneſs doth this World then become! the Devil is then in his Region, is let looſe, rules the World at pleaſure, deceives, devours, deſtroys Souls, without contradiction, takes them captive at his will, carries them down by whole ſhoals to deſtruction: Thoſe that obſerve what a World there is, where the Goſpel is not; what oaths, curſes, blaſphemies, belluine luſts then abound; what Lions, Tygers, wild Bulls, wild Boars, Men then become one to another, need not be to ſeek for an Argument, to prove there is an Hell; they ſee an Hell aboveground.

Theſe dark and diſmal ſeaſons, are the Devil's Marts, where he may vent his Helliſh Wares, his p. 49ſnares, and temptations, his deceits and deluſions, and every abominable thing by whole ſale: there's nothing ſo falſe, ſo vile; and abominable, but he can put it off at pleaſure; Adultery, Drunkenneſſe, VVitchcraft, Sodomy, Buggery, Blaſphemy, Idolatry, Atheiſm, any thing that Sathan hath to offer, he'l find Cuſtomers enough to receive: and the truth is the Devil may ſpare his pains; men then need not a Devil to damn them, they'l do it faſt enough of their own accords.

Oh 'twere happy, if Saints were ſo buſie in improving their Light, to haſten them Heaven-wards, as Sinners do their Darkneſs, to hury them to Hell. Oh the ſad proofs, that the VVorld affords of this Dreadfull Truth: Look into all the dark Corners of the Earth, eſpecially there where there hath been Light, and ſee if you find not all this fully proved to your hand. Can he then be accounted a Chriſtian, whoſe heart doth not tremble at the Thoughts and the Fears of ſuch a ſore Judgement? He is both dark and dead indeed, to whom ſuch a Miſt is not as the firſt-born of Death, or the King of Terrours.

Chriſtians, if ever this ſhould be your caſe, make not light of it; and take heed, how ſad ſoever it may ſeem in its firſt approach, that no Tract of Time do wear off the ſence of it.

Thoſe that are weary of the Goſpel, that cry out of too much Preaching, that are ſick of the Light that ſhines unto them, you may know by what hath been ſaid, what Judgement to have of them.

But is it not ſtrange, that there ſhould be any ſuch? That thoſe that have lived in the Light, and ſeen ſomething, what difference there is between Light and Darkneſs, ſhould yet love Darkneſs, rather p. 50than Light? Is it not yet more ſtrange, that any that pretend to be ſet up for Lights, ſhould be for Darkneſs? That the Prophets ſhould be againſt Prophecying? that the Pulpits ſhould ring againſt Preaching? Some there are, that are not aſhamed to tell us, that hence come all our miſchiefs and miſeries; to tell us, and to ſtand to it, that there's now, in ſuch a Land as this, little need of Preaching; that it had its uſe in the firſt publiſhing and planting of the Goſpel; but now that the Goſpel is received, and embraced, and competently underſtood, there's now little more need of Preaching: Praying, and Reading may now ſerve the turn. I would put in a word or two to ſuch.

No need of Preaching; Why? Is the end of Preaching accompliſh'd? Till the end be attained, there's ſtill need, that the means be continued: and what was the end of Preaching? Was it mens Instruction only, to bring them to the knowledge of Chriſt, to turn them from Darkneſs to Light? Was it not for their Converſion alſo, to turn them from the power of Satan unto God? Yea, and their Edification and Building up in Holineſs to Salvation? Let theſe following Scriptures be conſulted, Acts 26. 18. Eph. 4. 11, 12, 13. The Apoſtle Peter, 2 Pet. 1. 12, 13. told thoſe Chriſtians to whom he wrote, that he would, and he thought it meet ſo to do, to put them in remembrance, as long as he lived, and to ſtir them up to their duty; though ſays he, you know and be eſtabliſhed in the preſent truth. You ſay you need no more Preaching, the Preacher can tell you no more than you know already; and might not theſe have better ſaid it, when the Apoſtle acknowledgeth of them, that they did know, and more than that, were eſtabliſhed in p. 51thoſe very Truths, he meant, to continue Preaching to them? And yet he tells them, it's meet they be ſtill put in remembrance of them: Sure Peters Authority weighs not ſo much with theſe men, as his that pretends to ſit in Peter's Chair: But hath the Goſpel indeed done its Work, and reached its End? Witneſs the Objectors own caſes. Let not onelyonly their Lewdneſs and Impenitency, but their Ignorance and Unbelief, come in and teſtifie, whether it hath or no. They that have moſt need themſelves, are they that ſay, There's no more need of Preaching. There needs no more Argument, to ſtop ſuch Mouthes, but the ſhewing themſelves: Or if it ſhould have done its work upon you, yet hath it done its work upon all: Are there no Unbelievers left? Have all men Faith? Faith comes by Hearing; and how ſhall they hear without a Preacher? If you ſay, they have Bibles to inſtruct them, and their own Conſciences to preach to them: I anſwer,

Firſt, for their Bibles, two Things:

1. Thoſe that are no Friends to the Pulpit, are none of the beſt Friends to the Bible: Thoſe that would not that the people ſhould hear, care not how little they read the Scriptures: And be ſure, whenever Preaching is let fall, the Bible will in a little while be laid aſide.

2. Underſtandeſt thou what thou readeſt? How canſt thou without a Guide? He knows but little of the Scriptures, that doth not underſtand that they are hard to be underſtood. There are, the Apoſtle tells us, foreign in the Scriptures, Things hard to be underſtood: As there are many foreign to all that read, ſo to many that read, all are ſo. The Vulgar can as well read the Scriptures without their own p. 52Eyes, as underſtand them without the Preacher's Lips. Till we come to hold, that Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion, or that Images are Lay-mens Goſpel: till then, let it be granted as neceſſary, that the Preacher's Lips preſerve Knowledge.

2. For Conſcience; let the Word, at leaſt, be Preached ſo long, till it be made manifeſt in the Conſciences of all the Hearers: That Conſcience that hath not been ſufficiently preached to, will prove an inſufficient Preacher: Let preaching be continued, till the Word be manifeſted in the Conſciences of all the Hearers; and if you will needs have it ſo, then let it be forborn.

Secondly, hath the Devil yet given over Preaching, and are the Preachers yet ſilent? Hath the Devil yet given over his Preaching, his deceiving Souls, his perverting the good wayes of the Lord, and diſcouraging perſons from walking in them? Sure there's need that Chriſt be preached, while there is a Devil that impeaches him. Hath the Devil them that preach him every day, and muſt not Chriſt have them that preach him, at leaſt every Sabbath-day? may once a monethmonth, or once a quarter, be enough for theſe, when every day, and all the day-long, does ſcarce ſuffice for thoſe? When, or where are evil men ſilent? Are they not preaching daily? in the Houſe, in the Streets, in the Taverns, on the Stage, in the Stews? Preaching by their Oaths, their Curſes, by their Lyes, by their Scoffs, by their Habits, by their Cups, by their Whores, and almoſt by all their words, and works? And is there no need that Chriſt be any longer preached any where, when the Devil is preached every where? If in ſuch a caſe the Preachers of Chriſt ſhould altogether hold their peace, p. 53might we not expect that the very ſtones would cry out? This is but a ſeaſonable Demand. Let Faith and Holineſs, firſt have none found that preach againſt them, before thoſe that preach them, be concluded, ſuch as may well be ſpared: But what need we reaſon any longer, in a caſe ſo plain, wherein I can have no Adverſaries, but ſuch as the Apoſtle had, when he fought with Beaſts at Epheſus. Whoſoever is an Adverſary to Preaching, is either an Infidel, or a Brute. I ſhall only leave one word for ſuch to chew upon, and ſo leave them and their cauſe to the Judgment of God, Act. 13. 46. It was neceſſary, that the Word of God ſhould have been first ſpoken to you: but becauſe you put it from you, and judge your ſelves unworthy of everlaſting Life, Lo we turn unto the Gentiles? Let all back-friends to Preaching, pauſe ſadly upon that Word; you have prevented the Judgement of God, by putting the Word from you, you have given your ſelves your own Sentence, you have judged your ſelves unworthy of Everlaſting Life. Well, by what hath been ſaid, notwithſtanding all that can be ſaid againſt it, it appears, that the removal of the Goſpel, and the preaching of it, is a grievous Judgement.

2. This grievous Judgment ſhall yet work to the good of Saints: That which comes in Wrath on ſome, may be in Mercy to others: 'Tis the ignorant, the unconverted, the unbelieving part of men, on whom the Vengeance of this Judgment falls: 'Tis thoſe that are weary of the Word, that can worſe it. Sinners, you that ſay to the Seers, ſee not, to the Prophets, propheſie no more to us; let us alone, we have enough of this preaching: if God once ſay, as you ſay, Let it be according to their word, 'tis your p. 54Souls are like to go for it: And 'tis not the leaſt aggravation of the Sorrows of the Saints, the miſery they ſee, hereby coming on you: As for themſelves, (that I may anſwer more diſtinctly)

1. The Goſpel ſhall never be totally removed from them; they ſhall never ſee days of Famine: If they never again hear the joyful Sound from without, they ſhall have it within. The VVord which they have receiv'd, ſhall be in them a VVell of VVater, ſpringing up unto Eternal Life: If the ſhowers and the Rain fail, yet the Spring whic… is within them, ſhall ſupply that want: If they have no Bible in the Houſe, no Preaching in the Pulpit, yet they have a Bible in their Hearts, a Preacher in their Breaſts, that ſhall inſtruct and comfort them. Pharaoh's Dream, and the Interpretation of it, ſhall be to the Egyptians, and not to Iſrael. The lean Kine ſhall not devour the fat ones; there is a Store-houſe, from whence they ſhall be ſupply'd.

VVhatever ſcarcity there be, this is certain, not one of them ſhall want a Viaticum, to bring them to their Journeys end. God will not ſuffer one of his Elect to ſtarve or periſh in the way: There ſhall not fail means of one kind or another, till the whole Body be perfected and built up: Till (we all) come unto a perfect Man, unto the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſs of Chriſt.

2. That Scarcity, that does at any time befall them, ſhall happen to them for the better, and not for the worſe.

1. For who knows, when-ever the Miniſtry is removed, but it may be in order to a greater Glory at it's Return? Perhaps, God's ſending away Paſtors from a People, may be as Paul's abſence from the p. 39Romanes, that they may return, in the fulneſs of the bleſſing of the Goſpel: Or as Oneſimus his departing from Philemon: Perhaps, they therefore depart for a ſeaſon, that they may be received for ever: Or if this ſhould not be the caſe of any particular Church, if they ſhould return no more; yet,

2. Their want of means ſhall ſupply their want of means; their want of means ſhall be their means: When they have no Preacher, their empty Pulpits ſhall preach to them; this moſt ſmarting of Rods will have its voyce. If they have no longer the Light with them, their darkneſs ſhall inſtruct them; if they want their burning Lights, the very Cold ſhall preſerve and increaſe their inward vigour; the wickedneſs of others ſhall make them more holy; the violence of evil men upon ſin, ſhall enkindle their zeal for God; the darkneſs that's here below ſhall make them to live more above; and all this ſhall make to their fuller reward. 'Tis a greater vertue to keep up the heart, to keep on our way, where there is a want, than where there are abundance of means and helps; and an higher vertue ſhall have a greater reward.

3. The failing of the Word will bring back to their Memories, and upon their own hearts, that which they have received; and as the emptineſs of the Stomack, will cauſe a ſecond and better Conc… ction, and turn it into better nouriſhment; when there are no more Loaves, they'l gather up the Fragments, that nothing be loſt; the leſs there is, more to be had; the more reckoning, & the better uſe they will make of what they have; their preſent want, will be a rebuke of their former wantonneſs: their want of remembrancers will help their Memories, & p. 56whet their Appetites. Every old truth, that hath been too much laid by, will then be precious.

4. Whenever ordinary means fail, God will either find extraordinary, or elſe will feed them more immediately on himſelf, Pſal. 34. 9. God hath promiſed, that thoſe that fear the Lord, ſhall want no good thing. If that be meant of temporal good things, yet ſure, it will yield us an argument, that will reach the preſent caſe. If God will provide for their Carkaſes, much more for their Souls. If God will ſupply them with leſs neceſſaries, then doubtleſs he will not be wanting in what is abſolutely neceſſary, Pſal. 23. 1, 2, 3. The Lord is my Shepherd, I ſhall not want; and ſo on through the Pſalm. Surely goodneſs and mercy ſhall follow me all the dayes of my life; and I ſhall dwell in the houſe of the Lord for ever.

Here we have the Pſalmiſts concluſion, and it's foundation; or his confidence, and its ground; his foundation or ground is, the Lord is my Shepheard; his concluſion and confidence is, I ſhall not want; that is, neither the Body, nor Soul; as appears by the following part of the Pſalm. If Davids Logick, and his Faith too, does not fail him, the concluſion is firm; let the Lord be his Shepherd, and he ſhall not know famine or want.

Gods Relation to his people, is their ſecurity, for a ſufficient proviſion in all times. If the Lord be their Shepherd, he muſt ſee them fed; he muſt either find them thoſe that ſhall, or do it himſelf. He muſt either find them Paſtors, or be their Paſtor; he muſt either provide them, or be their Paſture. If ordinary means fail, he muſt find extraordinary, p. 57if both fail, he muſt be inſtead of means to them.

Here two things.

1. That God ſtands engaged, as the Shepherd of his people, where ordinary means fail, either to provide them extraordinary, or to feed them more immediately from himſelf.

2. That extraordinary means, or no means, when God brings his people to it, will be better than their ordinary means.

1. That God ſtands engaged, as the Shepherd of his people, where ordinary means fail, either to provide them extraordinary, or to feed them more immediately from himſelf. Feed them he muſt, or he cannot be faithful; and if means fail, he muſt ſupply that want one way or other. Now God is faithful, and will not ſee his Sheep to ſtarve. Iſa. 41. 17, 18. When the poor and needy ſeek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirſt, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Iſrael will not forſake them. I will open Rivers in high places, and Fountains in the midſt of the Vallyes; I will make the Wilderneſs a Pool of water, and the dry Land, Springs of water. Oh what a good Word is here for the poor Saints to live upon in hard times! It is interpreted to have an immediate reference to the outward, and yet a ſpecial reſpect alſo to the ſpiritual wants and diſtreſſes. And it will appear, if we compare it with the like expreſſions. Chap. 44. 3. I will pour water upon him that is thirſty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit on thy Seed, and my bleſſing upon thine off-ſpring.

From the former Scriptures note, p. 581. That the poor people of God, may ſomtimes be (as to the viſible Soul-proviſions) but in a poor caſe. Needy, and hungry, and thirſty, their hearts fainting, their tongues failing for thirſt, and their waters dryed up. [If they ſeek water, and there be none.]

2. All the wants and ſtraits of the Saints, are before the Lord. [I the Lord will hear.] Chriſtians, though thoſe that ſhould will not, yet he that can, will hear the cryes of your Souls: all your faintings, and p…ntings, and longings for the water of life, are before your eyes, and come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath.

3. God hath more wayes than one to relieve the wants, and refreſh the bowels of his hungry ones. He hath extraordinary means for extraordinary caſes. If they can find no common Rivers, he will open, or make new Rivers. The high places, the dry places, the very Rock will yield a River, when God commands it.

4. Gods extraordinary Proviſions ſhall not be ſcanty and penurious, but rich and plentiful. 'Tis not ſome drops, or now and then a draught, a little to ſtay the longing, or barely enough to keep them alive; he prepares them Rivers, Fountains, Pools, Springs of water. [I will open Rivers in the high places, Fountains in the Vallies, &c.] Where-ever they be caſt, in the high Places, in the Vallies, in the Wilderneſſe, in the dry Lands, where-ever they be caſt, I will cauſe proviſion enough to meet them; though they have neither bag, nor bottle, nor any thing to carry with them, they ſhall not want; the Rivers ſhall meet them, Springs ſhall ariſe and break forth to them.

p. 595. They are not the wanting, but the thirſting, the ſeeking Souls, whom God will ſupply. When the poor and needy [ſeek] water, and there is none, Oh Chriſtians! how many poor are there, that fit down by their poverty; who if they ſtarve, yet will not beg, their emptineſs hath taken away their Appetites. Theſe are ſad Souls; 'tis a ſad ſight, to behold a company of hunger-bitten Souls, ſit weeping and ſighing, ſeeking after the Bread and Water of life, and finding none; but to ſee empty, and yet not hungry; fainting, and yet not panting, Souls; to ſee Souls even dying away for want, and yet not deſiring or craving a ſupply, this is a much ſorer ſpectacle. A ſtarving thirſtleſs Soul is next to a Ghoſt.

Well, if ever ſuch Souls find, who never ſeek water, 'tis more than God hath promiſed. 'Tis they that ſeek water, to whom God will open a River.

6. VVhatever difficulty there be, to furniſh the hungry Saints, with a ſufficiency of Proviſion, yet one way or other it ſhall be done. I [the Lord] will hear. I [the God] of Iſrael, will not forſake them. Upon me be all their wants. I am [God] and can, I am [their God] the God of Iſrael, and will provide for them. They muſt and ſhall be provided for: whatever courſe I be put to take, I muſt not ſee them ſtarve.

The Lord will not be wanting to them. If his VVord be not heard, his VVorks ſhall ſpeak; if Preachers cannot, Providence ſhall preach to them; if their friends cannot, their enemies, their ſtripes, their wounds, their rods, ſhall inſtruct them. Thy Rod and thy Staffe comfort me. If they have no p. 60other, the Sun, Moon, and Sta…, the Fouls of the Air, the Beaſts of the Field, ſhall be their Prophets, and Apoſtles. If any ſhould fail, yet the Spirit of the Lord ſhall not fail to be their Teacher and Comforter.

2. Extraordinary means have more in them, than ordinary, and no means more than means.

1. Extraordinary means, when ordinary cannot be had, are ſweeter and better feeding to the Saints, than ordinary would be. The leſs of the Creature, the more of God; the leſs of common Providence, the more of ſpecial Grace. Water out of the Rock was more precious than out of the River; the Manna of the Wilderneſs, was (to them that underſtood it) better than the Milk of Canaan. Elijah never made better meales, than what he got out of the Ravens mouth. I have heard of a woman in great diſtreſs of Soul, who received comfort, when the Word was brought her by the mouth of a Child, which ſhe had failed of receiving from the mouthes of many excellent Miniſters.

2. No means, often prove better than means; when I ſay, no means, I do not underſtand ſimply none, meanes they ſhall have, of one kind or other; their underſtandings, their memories, their ſecret duties, Prayer, Meditation, &c. but by no meanes, I underſtand nothing from without, no Ordinances, Friends, Societies, Books, &c. Gods feeding of a Soul more immediately, is much ſweeter, then when he ſends proviſion by the hands of another; the Samaritans hearing of Chriſts words, from his own mouth, was much more to them, than the ſame words reported by the woman. Du…cius ex ipſo fonte. Water is the purer, the nearer the Fountain; the Bread p. 61that comes down from Heaven, is better Bread, than that which grows up out of the Earth, though that be originally from Heaven alſo. By how much the more immediately our comforts come from Heaven, by ſo much the more they have of Heaven in them. If upon the failing of publick Communion, it b… made up ſo much the more in ſecret, ſure the Saints have no reaſon to complain. And whether this be not ſo, let the Priſons, into which the Saints have bin ſometimes caſt, the Wilderneſs into which they have been ſometimes baniſhed; let Elihu's Songs in the night, Peters, Pauls, Silahs Songs in the Priſon, in the Stocks, ſtand forth and teſtifie. If Priſon joyes, and exile comforts, have not been often both fuller and ſweeter to them, than when they have rolled in Manna, and lived in the fulneſs, and freedom of all helps and means; then not a few Chriſtians, have either miſtaken, or miſ-reported their experiences. To pretend to live above Ordinances, whileſt God affords them, is a wickedneſs that ſome men have to repent of; but where God denies them, he doth, he will provide a better ſubſiſtance without them.

Now lay all this together, and then you will ſee, that even this alſo, this moſt grievous of Judgements, the famine of the Word, when-ever it befalls, ſhall work for good to thoſe that love God.

Chriſtians, chear up your hearts: whatever drought, or dearth may fall upon the World, your are provided for, you ſhall have enough. If the ſhours fail without, you have within you, that which ſhall ſpring up to eternal life. If your ſtreams ſhould be dryed up, if your Paſtures ſhould be trodden down, you have a God, that will be both your Paſtor and Paſture. If the River fail you, the Rock p. 62ſhall ſupply you; what you want in ordinary, you may look to be made up in extraordinary means. The drying up of the waters, ſhall but drive you up to the Spring-head. If ever the Stars fail you, God ſhall but exchange Star-light for Sun-light; while there's light in the Sun, you ſhall not walk in darkneſs. See but to this, make ſure that this God is yours, and he muſt find out a comfortable feeding for you; if you can but ſay Davids firſt words after him, The Lord is my Shepherd; you may then with confidence, ſay the whole Pſalm after him. I ſhall not want, he will make me to lie down in green Paſtures; he will lead me by the ſtill Waters; though I walk through the valley of the ſhadow of death, I will fear no evil: thy Rod and thy Staff ſhall comfort me. Thou ſhalt prepare me a Table in the preſence of mine Enemies: Surely Goodneſs and Mercy ſhall follow me all the dayes of my life, and I will dwell in the Houſe of the Lord for ever.

2. There is another Objection, that ſeems to have one difficulty in it. Suppoſe a Saint to fall into Diſtraction, and thereby to be deprived utterly of the uſe of his Reaſon, and ſo to live and die:

How can it be imagined, that this can work for his good, either in this World, or in the World to come? Can any good ariſe, out of an incapacity of any longer doing or receiving good, or patiently ſuffering Evil? Can either his Grace here, or his Glory hereafter, be increaſed or advanced, by a mans being converted into a meer Bruit?

1. There's no doubt at all, but this may make for the Churches good: Is there nothing that others may learn out of ſuch a ſad Providence? If others may reap good by my evil, is it nothing to me? May it p. 63not be ſaid to be good for any particular Saint, to bear the ſoareſt affliction by which the Church may have benefit? He hath not much of a Saint, to whom, if it were afore-hand propoſed, whether for the benefit of the Church, he would be content, if God ſee it good, to fall into ſuch a calamity: He hath little of a Saint, that would deliberately refuſe it. Doubtleſs, a ſincere Chriſtian, who would count his uſefulneſs to the good of the whole Body, to be his good, would ſay even concerning ſuch a Meſſage, were it brought to him, Good is the word of the Lord: And that which afore-hand, he would judg to be good for him to ſubmit to, may it not be good for him to be under?

2. It may alſo be more directly for his particular perſonal good. For,

1. It may do him the ſame good, which Death will do for him: Concerning which the Apoſtle ſays it is yours, 1 Cor. 3. that is, it is for your advantage: It may take him from the evil to come; from thoſe ſorrows, and that trouble of heart, which God might fore-ſee falling upon him, by any calamities, coming either on the Church in general, or himſelf or Family in particular: which being deprived of his Reaſon, and power to reflect on, he cannot feel, or in the leaſt be afflicted by. If you reply, But the Remedy is worſe than the D…ſeaſe: To be uſeleſs and unſerviceable is leſs eligible, than to be ſorrowful and afflicted: Will any man chuſe to fall into a Lethargy, or Apoplexy, becauſe 'twill ſecure him from the torment of a Feaver? If there be any weight in this Reply, I ſhall add a further Anſwer; which, if I miſ-judge not, will cut off all Replyes,

p. 642. Who knows, what Sins and Temptations he might have fallen into, and fallen by, had not the Lord by this means prevented it; he might poſſibly have been a back-ſlider, have fallen into groſs ſin, by which he might have been a Terrour to himſelf, and a Scandal to the Goſpel; and is it not good for him, that this is prevented? Is not that affliction a mercy, which ſecures from ſuch iniquity?

Who can ſay it is not thus? that the Lord foreſaw he would have fallen into ſin, and for prevention, brought him into this affliction: Who can ſay, it is not thus? If none can, then this is no Objection. If you Reply, You ſay [it may be] this is the caſe; and I may as well ſay [it may be not] there might be no ſuch thing, that God fore-ſaw, as the Reaſon of this Providence. 'Tis but a Conjecture, and an uncertainty, when you have made the moſt of it: Be it ſo; yet it will fully anſwer my end: I am not now proving, that all things work for good to the Saints, that's ſufficiently done already: But you are objecting againſt it; and till you prove your Objection, which you can never do, unleſs you prove that this is not the caſe; you muſt give me leave again to tell you, your Objection comes to nothing.

And ſo at length you ſee this Bleſſed, Glorious, Comfortable Truth, ſtands its Ground, and Triumphs over whatever hath any ſhadow of Contradiction to it.

By the way, learn hence two things.

1. Rejoyce in this Promiſe of God: Hath the Lord put in thy name here, let thine heart ſay, It is enough. Be more joyful in this, that God hath thus undertaken the Care of thee, than if God had wholly p. 65put thee to thine own hand; giving thee power to help, and liberty to chuſe for thy ſelf. In what wilt thou rejoyce, if not in this, that the whole Creation are ingaged to do thee a kindneſs, to help thee into the poſſeſſion of thy God? Thou maiſt now not onelyonly ſubmit to, but thankfully embrace every Providence, knowing upon what Errand it comes to thee: for good, and not for hurt. Thou maiſt now triumph, not onelyonly in the Conſternations▪ but in the Triumphs of thine enemies. Whether they ride over thy back, or thou tread on their neck, 'tis all one, the iſſue will be the ſame. Thy Troubles and thy Conſolations differ only in their Countenance; with what ever Grim face thy afflictions look, there are ſmiles under: learn to ſee through them, and thou maiſt ſee light on the further ſide. Believe this Word, thou maiſt read it written upon every thing that befals thee: there's no Meſſenger that comes, but brings this promiſe in his hand, Even this ſhall work for good. Read it, and rejoyce.

2. Lay thy ſelf down quietly under it. No more perplexing or diſtracting cares, what ſhall become of thee: no more unwarrantable ſhifting for thy ſelf: Let God alone. Shift not for thy ſelf, leſt God leave thee to thine own ſhifts. Let not the violence of evil men diſturb thy Peace, or provoke thee to unpeaceableneſs. What-ever provocations thou maiſt have▪ avenge not thy ſelf, neither give place unto wrath, murmuring, or fears. In thy patience poſſeſs thy Soul, thy God, and his good Word: Thy ſtrength is to ſit ſtill. Stand ſtill and ſee the Salvation of God: thou haſt nothing to do but to be Holy, let that be thine only care: thy God will ſee to it thou ſhalt be happy: he is faithful that p. 66hath promiſed. Love God, and leave thy ſelf and thy whole Intereſt in this bleſſed Word, All things ſhall work to thee for good.

By this time you ſee ſomething of the Riches of this Promiſe: God is in the Promiſe; the God of Peace, the God of Power, the God of Patience, the God of Hope; the heart of God, the help of God, the preſence of God; by vertue whereof, all that ever befals them ſhall work for their good. Methinks the hearing of this Promiſe opened, ſhould ſet your ſouls, and all that is within you a crying our, Oh that this were my portion! Where-ever my Lot do fall, as to outward things, though in a Priſon, though in a Deſert, though on a Dunghil; let the lot of my Soul lye in this Promiſe, The God of Peace ſhall be with you. Why Brethren, will you take up with Godlineſs: you have learned and rec…ived, and heard the Word of the Lord; the Word of Faith, the Word of Righteouſneſs and Holineſs, will you hearken to, will you obey theſe words? Theſe things do, and the God of peace ſhall be with you.

Oh what fooliſh Creatures are we, that ever we ſhould be afraid of Religion, afraid of Holineſs, afraid to own, obey, and follow God and his holy wayes. What unreaſonable fears are theſe, to thoſe that believe the Scriptures? If the Scriptures be true, this is the only way, this following God in holineſs, to put your ſelves out of all danger, to put your ſelves into the heart, arms, preſence, protection, of the Almighty God of Heaven and Earth.

Oh that I could perſwade you in thither, and there leave you; if you are once in the Lords Arms, you are ſafe en…ugh, into whatever hands you fall.

p. 51Ʋſe. By way of Application, let me once more ſpeak a few words,

1. To the Ungodly.

2. To the Godly.

1. To the Ungodly; my work with them ſhall be to perſwade and direct them, how to get into this peaceful and bleſſed ſtate: Amongſt the ungodly,

1. There are ſome who are far from the Kingdom of Heaven; as,

1. Thoſe upon whom the Miniſtry of the Goſpel hath done nothing at all; that miſerable forlorn multitude of the groſly ignorant; who as they were born blind, have had all their dayes ſuch a miſt of thick darkneſs abiding upon them, that they are uncapable, without a miracle, of being ſavingly wrought upon. Speak unto them of Faith in Chriſt, of Repentance unto life, of obeying the Goſpel, in the plaine…t way poſſible, and you will be as a Barbarian to them, as one of a ſtrange Language, they know not what you ſay; if you ſhould ſpeak Greek or Latine to them, they would underſtand it as well, as the plaineſt truths of the Goſpel: A poor Miniſter of Chriſt may break his heart, and rend his bowels, in mourning over them; may draw forth his Soul in the moſt melting expreſſions of his compaſſions to them, may break his brains, in ſtudying how to convey a little light unto them, and yet cannot help them, cannot make them to underſtand ſo much, as that they underſtand nothing. Their minds are ſo wholly blinded by the God of this world, that the light of the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt, though it ſhine round about them, cannot find ſo much as a crany into their hearts; but being alienated from p. 68the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, they give up themſelves to laſciviouſneſs, to work all uncleanneſs with greedineſs; walking in the luſts of their hearts, after the courſe of this World, in riot, luxury, exceſs of Wine, revellings, banquettings, covetouſneſs, lying, blaſphemies, and abominable adulteries, and Idolatries; and yet remain without any conſcience of ſin, or fear of their danger; being as natural bruit Beaſts, as if they were made for ſlaughter and deſtruction.

Are there none ſuch in this place? Doth not the Earth every where groan, our Land mourn, our Congregations travel in pain? Is not this Congregation black'd and burthen'd with ſuch miſerable creatures; who after all the inſtructions, counſels, wooings, warnings, threatnings and Judgments of God, which have been in their ears, and before their eyes, remain to this day a ſtupid, blockiſh, brutiſh generation, without the leaſt ſenſe of their ſin, or wiſh to be delivered from it?

Oh you blind and dark Souls, conſider and underſtand, if it be poſſible, theſe two Scriptures, 2 Cor. 4. 3, 4. If our Goſpel be hid, it is hid to thoſe that are loſt. In whom the god of this World hath blinded the minds of thoſe that believe not, leſt the light of the glorious Goſpel ſhould ſhine unto them. This darkneſs is from Hell; the Prince of darkneſs hath held you under your blindneſs; and this darkneſs leads to bell, to the blackneſs of darkneſs for ever: You are loſt, you are loſt Souls, loſt for ever, if the Goſpel leave you in this ſtate of blindneſs in which you have ſo ſecurely continued to this day. Iſa. 27. 11. It is a people of no underſtanding; therefore …e that p. 69made them will not have mercy on them, he that formed them will ſhew them no favour.

2. Thoſe upon whom the Goſpel hath ſeemed to have done its work; but it is its ſtrange work.

There are two works which the Goſpel doth: ſome it enlightens; others it ſmites with blindneſs: ſome it ſoftens; others it ſeals up under hardneſs: ſome it gains over to Chriſt; others it gives up to the unbelief and impenitence of their hearts. Iſa. 6. 10. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and ſhut their eyes; leſt they ſee with their eyes, &c. Go and preach to this people, but preach them into hardneſs and blindneſs: becauſe they refuſed to ſee or hear, let the light put out their eyes; let the joyful ſound ſtrike them deaf, and ſtop their ears: never leave hammering them, till thou haſt hammered them into rocks, or anvills. Some there are that have ſo trifled with Convictions, baffled Conſcience, and ſuffer'd their luſts ſo to reſiſt and bear down their light; that have had ſo many heats and colds, ſo many thawings and freezings; that have taken up ſo many purpoſes, and made ſo many promiſes, and yet all comes to nothing; that the Goſpel hath received a Charge from the Lord, to make an end of its work: Go, ſayes God, and make an end with theſe men; I'le be mocked by them no more; I'le be trifled and dallied with by them no longer, wound them no more, fright them no more: pe…ſwade them no longer, make their hearts fat, their ears heavy and ſhut their eyes, and give them up to their hearts luſts, that they may walk in their own counſels, and fill up the meaſure of their iniquities.

p. 70you, that after all the warnings you have received from the Lord, and after ſome workings of them, ſometimes upon your Conſciences, are yet going after your luſts, proſtituting your ſelves to your belluine and ſenſual pleaſures, filling up daily the meaſure of your iniquities. Oh tremble and conſider ſadly, whether this be not likely to be your caſe; that the Goſpel hath even done with you, and given you over unto an impenitent heart, and reprobate▪ m…d. In hope, that how near ſoever you are to this dreadful ſtate, you may be yet one ſtep at leaſt ſhort of it, I ſhall this once more adventure a few words upon you, together with them that I have already mentioned: And firſt let me reaſon a …ittle with you.

1. Art thou one of them that obey the Goſpel, or not? Art thou one of them that love God, one of the called according to his purpoſe, or not? Art thou not an Alien, an adverſary againſt God, & a Rebel againſt his Word? Let thy Conſcience ſpeak, ſet thy ways ſpeak, let thine Oaths, and thy Drunkenneſs, and thine Adulteries, thy ſcoffing at God, and his holy ways, thy hating his Inſtructions, and kicking at his Reproofs, thy hardnings againſt his Calls, thy treacherous dealings in his Covenant, and the Vows of God that are upon thee; let theſe ſpeak what thou art: Is this that which God hath choſen and called thee to? Are theſe the Things thou haſt learned, and received, and heard of him? Did he ever ſay, Theſe things do, & the God of peace ſhall be with you? Thou needeſt no other Conviction, than that of Iſraels, Jer. 2. 23. How canſt thou ſay, I am not polluted? See thy way in the valley, & know what thou haſt done How canſt thou ſay, that thou art not a Wretch? With what Face canſt thou deny, but thou art an Enemy p. 71of God, and of all Righteouſneſs? See thy way in the Valley, trace the Foot-ſteps of thy Life; behold thy practices and thy courſe: Sure thou art very blind, if thou behold thy ſelf in this Glaſs, and doeſt not ſee thy Face, as the Face of a Devil.

There are ſome, whom it may be harder work to convince, who have the Face of a Chriſtian, the Tong…e of a Saint, but within, the heart of a Beaſt. Hypocrites are as hard to be convinced, as Hypocriſie is hard to be detected.

But thou who carryeſt thy wicked Heart in thy Forehead, upon thy Tongue, upon the Palms of thine Hands, and in the very prints of thy Feet, whoſe Malice againſt God and his Holineſs, may be read in every look, in every word, in every Line of thy life; needeſt thou any further proof, that thou art not of God? Thou mayſt as well put me to prove, that Hell is not Heaven, that the Devil is no Saint; as that thou art no Chriſtian. Doſt thou love God, art thou under the hope of the Promiſe? Ask thy ways man, and let theſe tell thee.

2. Doeſt thou mean to keep at this diſtance from God to the Death? Doeſt thou in earneſt? Is there nothing in thoſe rich Promiſes, that have been laid before thee, which thou canſt with 'twere thine? Is there no ſuch word in thine hear…, Oh that my Lot were here! Art tho… content thy name ſhould be left out for ever? Is there ſo little in the peace of God, that thou canſt fell it for the pleaſures of ſin? Art thou content that nothing ſhould proſper with thee, but that every thing ſhould be a Gin, and a Snare, and a Curſe to thee? Art thou content that the Pi… ſhould be thy place, Eternal Wrath thy Portion, and that every Creature, every Comfort, every Croſs that p. 72comes, ſhould give thee a pluck down from Heaven, and a kick towards Hell? canſt thou think they mean thee any thing elſe, when all does but harden thee in thy ſin, and make thee kick againſt thy God? Art thou ſo unwilling to leave thy ſins, for the hope of the Promiſe of God, that thou art content to give up thy hopes, for the love of thy ſins? Dareſt thou ſay, Let me have my part in the pleaſures and contentments of this life, and I am contented to relinquiſh my part in Chriſt? Let God let me alone in my ſins, and let him damn my Soul? Let me live at my eaſe, and my liberty, and let my name be blotted out of the Book of Lifo: I am content to take my place, and my lot, among the damned in another world, ſo I have my pleaſure with them in this World? And doſt thou ſay leſs, or other than this, whileſt thou refuſeſt, or reſolveſt againſt following thy God? He that refuſes to accept of the Redemption of Chriſt, upon the holy Terms, upon which 'tis offer'd, ſays, in effect, I am loſt, I am ſold for a Captive to the Devil; my firſt Father ſold me for an Apple, Chriſt would now buy me back again to my ſelf: but for my part, I am cont…nt that the firſt Bargain ſtand: As to my intereſt, I confirm the Bargain: As for my Soul being ſold to the Devil, to the Devil let it go. This is the voice of every wilful Refuſer of the Terms of the Goſpel. Oh Wretch does not thy heart tremble? does not thy hair ſtand on end? do not thy knees ſhake? and are not the Joints of thy Loins looſed, to conſide…; what thou haſt done, and art ſtill a doing?

Sinners, I have but a little more to ſpeak to you, but ſhall that little be nothing? Hither to you have ſtood it out, and will rot be perſwaded, by ought that God hath ſpoken by me: But oh! muſt I leave you p. 73thus? Why may not a word at parting, do more than all that hath been ſpoken? Oh that it might! Shall neither my firſt, nor laſt words prevail with you? What if [my] laſt, ſhould be [your] laſt? If the laſt that I muſt preach, be the laſt that you muſt hear? There is a day ſet, that will be your laſt day: There is a Sabbath, that will be your laſt Sabbath; There is Sermon, that will be your laſt Sermon: There is a VVarning, that will be your laſt warning: Oh what if this ſhould be it? If the Lord ſhould take your this dayes denial, for your final Anſwer, and never ask your conſent again for ever? But whether it be your laſt, or no, I muſt be henceforth ſilent to you? And oh will you ſend me away with ſo ſad an Heart, with the ſorrow and ſhame of the diſappointed? Will you break my Heart, by perſiſting to hearden yours? Is this all I ſhall have, to return to the Lord, that ſent me unto you? I have declared thy Name unto them, but they did not regard it: I have invited them to come to thee, but they would not follow me; I have warned them to return from their ſins, but they would not hearken? Are you willing that I ſhall give in this Anſwer, and bear this Wi…neſs againſt you at the Great Day? ſinners hearken; is there not one blind perſon among you, that is yet willing to have his Eyes open'd? Is there not one Captive to Luſt & Vanity, that's willing to be ſet free from his Bondage? Is there not one more that will be perſwaded to be wiſe, and to prefer an immortal Soul, God, Glory, Eternity, before his bruitiſh periſhing pleaſures? Is there not one Drunkaad more, that will yet be perſwaded to be ſober? Not one vain perſon that will be perſwaded to be ſerious? Am I making my laſt Draught p. 74among you, and ſhall I take nothing? Not one Soul more? If you will not yet be prevailed with, then hear the Word of the Lord, Ezek. 3. 19. If thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedneſs, he ſhall dye in his iniquity, but thou haſt delivered thy ſoul.

But if there be any few relenting hearts among you, who are brought but thus far, to cry out, Why what muſt I do? I would leave with ſuch, theſe few words of counſel▪ and oh that my counſel might be accepted by them.

1. Get a deep ſenſe of thy dreadful ſtate: What art thou ſinner? What is thy ſtate? at eaſe? in peace? out of fear? in pleaſure? What, and yet a ſinner? In the bond of iniquity? Captive to the Devil? without Chriſt? without the Promiſe? under the curſe? Study theſe Scriptures, Joh. 8. 34. He that committeth ſin, is the ſervant of ſin, verſ. 44. Ye are of your Father the Devil. 2 Tim. 2. 26. Held captive by him at his will. Act. 8. 23. In the gall of bitterneſs, and in the Bond of iniquity. 1 Joh. 5. 19. The world lyeth in wickedneſs. Pſ. 11. 6. Ʋpon the wicked he ſhall reign Snares, Fire, and Brimſtone, and an horrible Tempest, this ſhall be the portion of their cup. Pſal. 49. 15. Like Sheep they are laid in the Grave, Death ſhall feed upon them.

Riſe Sampſon, the Philiſtims are upon thee; awake ſleeper, the Devil is upon thee, Death is at thy back, the Gin is at thy heel, the Curſe is over thy head, the very next ſtep may be Hell; Thou lyeſt in wickedneſs to day, & mayſt be in fire and brimſtone before to morrow: Sure thou art in a dead …leep, that canſt take thine eaſe in ſuch a Lodging. Is this the ſtate thou art ſo loath to change? Is this the ſtate thou ſo boaſteſt of, and bleſſeſt thy ſelf in? When thine heart is merry with thy Wine, ſwel'd with thy p. 75pride, jollity amongſt thy Companions; put in ſuch a ſerious Queſtion: But what am I all this while? Let this thought, ſawce thy ſweet Morſel, ſpice thy pleaſant Cups, & be the Burthen of thy merry Songs; After this, Hell, Snares, Fire and Brimſtone, the Vengeance of Eternal Fire. Oh an Heaven, a Paradiſe, oh my dear pleaſures, oh my ſweet Laughter, oh merry dayes, what Mortal can part with you? I but what comes after? What is there at the bottom? Look a little before thee, and if that ſight turn not thy ſtomack, ſure thou art ſufficiently hardy.

Study thy caſe, and tremble; and when thou trembleſt, there's hope thou wilt turn. Think not of Repentance, or eſcaping from thy ſinful ſta…e, till thou ſee and fear it. We read, Iſa. 42. 7. that Chriſt was ſent, to open the blind eyes, and to bring out the Priſoners out of Priſon. If the Priſoners eyes be ſhut, 'tis to little purpoſe that the Priſon doors be open: Their Eyes muſt be firſt open'd, not only that they may ſee their way [out] but that they may ſee themſelves [in] Priſon. Open thine Eyes, Sinner, if ever thou wilt eſcape; open thine Eyes, and ſee where thou art? Thy Fools Paradiſe, wherein thou bleſſeſt thy ſelf, is thy Souls Priſon, where thou art like to be held under Eternal Bondage.

2. Give a preſent Bill of Divorce to every ſin; hug not Death one minute longer in thy Boſom: If thou loveſt thy Life, ſay not of any one ſin, Nothing but Death ſhall part thee and me: No, not ſo much as this, Yet a little while, and I will let thee go. Today▪ to day, if your will hear his voice, hearden not your hearts.

4. Dread it as Hell, that thy hope in Chriſt, ſhould leſſen thy fear of ſin. Let not thy hope of a p. 76Saviour be thy damnation. Make not Chriſt the Pandor of ſin; continue not in ſin becauſe Grace hath abounded.

4. Break off from thy Companions in ſin; wilt thou love them to the death? Chriſt and thy Soul can never be married, till thy Soul and Sinners be parted. Eſcape for thy life, get thee up from the Tents of theſe men; linger not. Thou art held under the power of the Devil, by cords, and by knots; by the cords of thy ſinnes, and by the knots of thy Companions. There's no hope that the cords of ſin will be broken, till the knots of evil Companions be looſed. Sinner, theſe binding Cords will, if thou look not to it, become whip cords to torment thee. Oh take heed thou never come to be laſhed with ſuch knotted cords!

Thy Companions in ſin, as they now heighten thy pleaſures, ſo will they hereafter ſharpen thy plagues▪ Sinners comfort their hearts with this thought, That if they be damned, they ſhall have ſtore of company▪ but let them know, That the fire of Hell will burn juſt ſo much the cooler, for the multitudes that are there; as the fire of their Chimney does, for the ſtore of fewel. When thou art charmed with the roaring of thy Companion… in the Ale-houſe, think what muſick their roaring with thee will make, when you ſhall all meet in your eternal Priſon. Away from evil company; you will remember hereafter, when …is too late, how much, and with how little ſucceſs, I have laboured with you in this thing.

5. Baffle not Conſcience once more. Awakened Sinner, Charm not thy Conſcience into ſilence, nor daſh it out of countenance. Thy Conſcience is p. 77the only Friend that God or the Soul hath left within thee. Thy will, and thy affections, and thine appetite, are all gone; the Devil hath ſtoln them away, and hired them all againſt thee, thou haſt nothing but poor Conſcience left.

Thy Conſcience hath been often upon the pleading with thee for God, and for pity to thy Soul: It hath warned thee, reproved thee, and often whiſper'd thee in thine Ear? What doſt thou mean? whither art thou going? when wilt thou return? Away with thy ſins, have done with thy Companions, no more of this drunkenneſs, this riot, this covetouſneſs; Thou art a loſt man, thy Soul is loſt, if thou go on. Thus Conſcience hath warned thee, and thou haſt ſometimes hearkned to it, and ſpoken it fair. The throbs, and the pangs, and the wounds thou haſt felt and received from it, have wrung from thee, now and then, a promiſe: Well, through the Grace of God; I'le hearken to Conſcience, I'le be a new man: Away from me ye ſinners, I will keep the Commandments of my God. And yet ſhortly after, when thy Temptations return, thy Companions come, all's forgotten; and along thou goeſt, as a fool to the Stocks, or an Ox to the ſlaughter; and this hath been thy way and thy mann…r, from time to time: Now and then Conſcience draws a ſigh, or a …ear from thee; and by and by receives a kick or a ſtab.

Beware Sinner; Conſcience will not alwayes be thus us'd. If ever it ſpeak again, ſay it not Nay; It's next word may be it's laſt; if ever thou wearieſt it into perpetual ſilence, then farewel all for ever. Conſcience is the only Friend thou haſt left.

p. 78Convinced Soul! How wilt thou bear the revenges of an awakened abuſed Conſcience? all thy b…fflings of it here will be repeated over in eternity: How will all this look when it ſhall meet thee before thy Judge? Save thy ſelf from that hour: Baffle nor Conſcience once more.

6. Let not the g…eatneſs of thy ſins, nor the difficulty of Chriſts terms, hinder, or diſcourage thee, from making a preſent cloſe with Chriſt. Say not, his Yoke is too heavy, his Croſs is too grievous for me to bear; or my ſins are too great for him to bear. Set the Throne againſt the Yoke, the Crown againſt the C…oſs, infinite Merit and Mercy, againſt mighty ſins; and go unto Jeſus, caſt thy ſelf on his bloud, and bowels, and put thy ſelf under his Yoke and Scepter. If he will give Life to thee, be content that he give Laws to thee: and as ever thou expecteſt to live by him, be reſolved to live to him, and no longer to thy ſelf. Go to Jeſus, and when thou goeſt, take with thee theſe two Scriptures, Mat. 11. 28. Come unto me all ye that are weary, and heavy laden, and I will give you reſt; Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, and you ſhall find reſt unto your Souls. Joh. 6. 37. Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wiſe caſt out.

7. Fall cloſe to Duties, and keep cloſe to Ordinances.

1. Let ſecret, and Family Prayer be thy daily exerciſe. Count not thy ſelf a Chriſtian, till thou give thy ſelf to prayer.

2. Let not reading the Word, Catechiſing, &c. be ſtrangers in thy houſe.

3. Prize improve, and ſanctifie the Sabbaths; The Lord on thoſe dayes comes down upon his Mount, p. 79to meet thy Soul, to commune with thee, to bleſs thee, to feed thee, and fill thee with whatſoever thy Soul deſireth or wanteth. Get thee up to meet thy God: But remember when thou goeſt, leave thy ſtaff behind thee.

4. View often, and take an account of thy ſelf, of the in-come and ſucceſs of all thy Duties: What is all my praying, reading, hearing, &c. come to? What is brought forth? Is the work done, for which all theſe are? Are my Sins and my Soul parted? Are my Companions in ſin abandoned? Is Chriſt and my Soul united? Beware you never make Praying, and Hearing, to ſerve you inſtead of believing, and Repen…ing. But to help you on to it.

Remember theſe ſeaven Words when I am gone.

1. Get a ſenſe of thy dreadful ſtate.

2. Abandon preſently every ſin.

3. Let not thy hope in Chriſt leſſen thy fear of ſin.

4. Shake off every ſinful Companion.

5. Baffle not Conſcience once more.

6. Make a preſent cloſe with Chriſt.

7. Fall cloſe to Duties, and keep cloſe to Ordinances.

Theſe things do, and the God of peace ſhall be with you: But remember, There's no peace, ſaith my God, to the wicked.

2. There are others that are near the Kingdome of God. Thou art not far from the Kingdome of God. There are ſome that are like Ephra…m, Hoſea 7, 8. Cakes half baked; like Agrippa, almoſt Chriſtians; Acts 26. 29. Almost thou perſwadest me to be a Chriſtian; foreign, Thou haſt brought me within a little p. 80of Chriſtianity. They are come to the threſhold of ſaving Faith, within a ſtep of ſincere Godlineſs. They have been profeſſing, and praying, and hoping, and wiſhing themſelves in, and yet are ſhort of it. They have been enlightned in the knowledge of Chriſt, have taſted of the heavenly gift, have felt ſomthing of the ſweetneſs of Chriſt, have been made partakers of the Holy Ghoſt, of many excellent and uſeful gifts, have taſted of the good Word of God, and the powers of the World to come. They have ſet out after Chriſt, have left the blind and prophane VVorld much behind them, have eſcaped much of the pollutions of this VVorld, left many ſins, taken up with many duties, have a name among the Saints, have ſuffered many things for the Name of Chriſt, and notwithſtanding all this, here they ſtick, they cannot give themſelves up fully to Chriſt; ſomthing or other, either the VVorld, or their Companions, or their pleaſures, or their eaſe, or their ſloth hath ſuch hold on them, that they cannot, unreſervedly, reſolvedly, give themſelvs up to the dominion of Jeſus Chriſt, nay, it may be, they cannot tell why, yet they cannot do it. Though they can ſay, I would be, yet they cannot ſay, I will be the Lord's. Theſe are near the Kingdome of God, but yet ſhort of it. He that cannot ſay, I will be, can leſs ſay, I am the Lords.

But here I muſt diſtinguiſh of two ſorts of almoſt Chriſtians.

1. There are ſome that have reached to almoſt, and are ſtill reaching forwards: the ſtate of ſuch is hopeful, though it be not ſafe. Oh that we could ſee more ſuch almost Chriſtians!

p. 812. There are others that have reached to, and reſt in almoſt; who miſtaking almoſt, for altogether, do there take up their ſtand. Theſe are far from the Kingdome of God.

Brethren, I much fear▪ that among the number of Profeſſors, there are more of theſe almoſt Chriſtians, than we are aware of: Oh it would make our hearts ſhake to conſider, how far many go, to what degree of reſignation, reſolution, affection, action, ſubmiſſion to ſufferings, they attain; and yet fall off at laſt, and thereby ſhew they were ſtill ſhort of Chriſt; They went out from us, becauſe they were not of us.

I particularly pity… many of the more ſober Gentry, who have a good will to Religion, and a fai… reſpect for the Profeſſors of it; countenancing holineſs, doing many worthy things for the Name and Servants of God; refraining from the viciouſneſs, and vanity of many of their Rank and Quality; who yet dwelling in temptations, being entangled in carnal correſpondencies, entertained with an affluence of carnal delights and pleaſures; and finding hereby a ſtrict ſelf-denying and mortified life, to be of greater difficulty to them, than to men of lower rank, are apt to think it not of ſuch neceſſity; who may poſſibly upon a narrow enquiry diſcern, after all their good hopes of themſelves, and the great opinions of others concerning them, that they are yet ſhort of that ſimplicity and godly ſincerity, which alone will prove them Chriſtians indeed.

Bleſſed be God there are amongſt us ſuch, thoſe who have broken through all temptations, have adventured upon the diſobliging all the World; have laid down their honours, pleaſures, friends, and all p. 82their carnal intereſts whatſoever, at the feet of Chriſt; and preferring a cloſe Communion with God, the peace of a good Conſcience, the joyes of Religion, yea the very reproach of Chriſt above all their worldly Honours, and fleſhly pleaſures, have given themſelves up to the power of the Goſpel, and an exemplary Spiritual and Heavenly life. But it is to be feared, leſt there be alſo ſuch, who have deſervedly gam'd great reſpect among the Saints, and gone far along with them, who yet are come but to the threſhold of Chriſtianity; and being afraid to put in, there they are in danger to periſh everlaſtingly. Quod fere fit non fit, He that is but almoſt ſaved, is damned for altogether.

Oh Friends, what do you mean? will you loſe all the ground you have gotten, all the things you have wrought? ſhall all your ſufferings for the name of Chriſt be loſt, and in vain? after you have taſted the bitterneſs of the Cro…s, will you not go one ſtep farther, and take the joyes of the Croſs? Is the work of Regeneration brought to the Birth, and ſhall it at laſt miſcarry, and prove an abortion? would one ſtep more land your Soules in the Kingdom of God, are you gotten ſo near a ſhore, and will you periſh in the Harbour? Are you gotten off from the tents of the Edomites, and gotten even to the borders of Canaan, and will you not enter? Are you gotten to Piſgah, and have a view of the Land of Promiſe, and ſee that it is a good Land? are you come ſo near as to ſee, that true holineſs is ſuch a beautiful State, ſuch a bleſſed State? and do you wiſh your ſelves in, and will you yet die on the other ſide Jordan? you have prayed; put on, a little more prayer may do it: you have laboured, and reaſoned with, and perſwaded p. 83your hearts, give not over, a little more labour may prevail. Oh that I knew what to ſay more that might bring you on. Oh that the Lord would yet put one word or other in my mouth, that might overcome you! th…t I might ſhoot one Arrow more, that might ſtrike home, uſe one Argument more, that might be cogent, and gain your full conſent to Chriſt; that I might ſee you ſafely landed ere I be parted from you. Oh think, think what a dreadful diſappointment this will be for you, that are come ſo near to godlineſs, as that you verily think you have attained it; if after all the joys, pleaſures and hopes, the little Religion you have had, hath fed you withal; you ſhould at laſt have a TEKEL written for your doom, and hear that cutting word pronounced upon you, Thou art weigh…d in the ballance, and art found wanting. With you alſo would I leave a few words.

1. Loſe not both Worlds: this World thou haſt loſt already, by leaving them ſo much behind thee; loſe not that which is before, for want of coming on a little farther: think not of hanging always betwixt Heaven and Hell; In the other World there's no middle, either go back, or come on, turn thee to the right hand or to the left.

2. Miſtake not almoſt, for altogether, ſuch a miſtake may be mortal. Do not too …ily conclude, thou haſt already attained; if thou takeſt ſomething of Chriſtianity to be all, thy all is nothing. 'Tis a wonderful thing, to ſee how eaſily men ſatisfie themſelves in a matter of ſuch weight and intricacy. Thine heart is deceitful, try it thoroughly before thou truſt it▪ One grain too light, and thou art undone. p. 84God, Glory, Soul, Eternity, all lie at ſtake; one tittle ſhort of ſincerity, and all loſt. Be jealous of thy ſelf, never give over ſuſpecting thy State, till thou haſt put it paſt ſuſpition: Conclude not, till thou haſt thoroughly diſputed the caſe, give not over the diſpute, till the matter be no longer diſputable. Canſt thou be too ſure? the leaſt miſtake is as wide as Heaven and Hell; the bottomleſs Gulf reaches home to the Threſhold of glory; thy tantum non, will be as much as the Devil looks for, only not in, though never ſo near, will be thy eternal perdition.

3. Beware that this thought, one time or other, I ſhall have more power, ſlacken not thy preſent care and labour. Let not thy hopes undo thee. Loſe not a preſent opportunity, in hopes of future ability. Labour each day to bring the matter to a preſent Iſſue; and that with no leſs earneſtneſs, than if this day were to give a final determination, and thou wert ſure, that thou wert juſt come, to thy now or never.

4. Let not a ſmall matter part Chriſt and thee. Heaven may not coſt thee half ſo much more as it hath coſt thee already. Art thou come within one peny of thy Lords price, and ſhall that break the bargain?

5. Let not thy Oyl thou haſt gotten, ſerve only for fewel for thy fire. Let not thy common grace thou haſt obtained here, be of no other uſe, but to add to thy confuſion hereafter: every beam of light that hath ſhined to thee here, will add to the horrour of thine everlaſting darkneſs. Every drop of Honey thou haſt taſted in Religion, will be thy Gall and Worm-wood, in the day of thy condemnation. p. 85Be not more miſerable hereafter, for that thou haſt been leſs wicked here; the remembrance how fair thou wert once for Glory, will be one of the ſharpeſt Teeth of thine everlaſting Worm.

6. Laſtly, Be all or nothing; come up hither▪ or get thee down to thy lot, particularly,

1. Be all unto Chriſt.

2. Let Chriſt be all to thee.

3. Let all Chriſt be accepted and improved by thee.

1. Be all unto Chriſt; have none to pleaſe but Chriſt, and for Chriſt; have nothing to ſeek but Chriſt, and for Chriſt; reſolve againſt Reſerves and limits; give up all, and keep back nothing; ſay not thus much I can ſpare, and no more; hither…o I wi… go, and no farther. Divide not thy ſelf, thy love, thy care, thy aims, betwixt Chriſt and any thing elſe. Let thy whole Soul run in one Channel. Reſt not ſhort of a full reſignation, and when thou haſt reſigned, repent not.

2. Let Chriſt be all to thee; ſay not, I muſt have an Eſtate too, my Friends too, my pleaſures and my eaſe too, let Chriſt be enough, and all to thee; Father, Mother, Houſe, …nds, Portion; ſay con… ing all thou haſt elſe, Be thou mine Lord, and let theſe go their way.

3. Let all of Chriſt be accepted and improved by thee. Divide not thy ſelf, and divide not Chriſt; leave not any thing of thy ſelf, for any but Chriſt, refuſe not any thing of Chriſt, for thy ſelf. Think not thy all, too much for thee to give, nor Chriſt's all, too much for thee to embrace. Thy half will not ſatisfie Chriſt, nor will half of Chriſt ſuffice thee. Thou muſt give and have, and therefore reſolve p. 86to give and take, all or none. Let all Chriſt be accepted, and improved by thee.

1. The merit of his blood.

2. The light and Authority of his Law.

3. The Power of his Spirit.

1. Accept the merit of his blood; renounce thin… own, and rely on his righteouſneſs; as God hath, ſo do thou, lay on him, all thine iniquities. Think not of Sanctification, without ſatisfaction. Think not to ſatisfie in the leaſt, by ought that thou canſt do, let that lye upon him. Judg thy ſelf, but ſeek to be juſtified alone through Faith in his blood. Say unto the Lord, what I owe to thee, put it upon his account; my Chriſt muſt anſwer for me.

2. Accept and ſubmit to the light and authority of his Law. Think not, he is thy Prieſt, unleſs he …e thy Prophet, and thy King▪ If he muſt anſwer for thee, let him inſtruct thee, and be thou willing to learn of him; ſince he hath bought thee, let him govern thee; ſay not of any thing he requires, this is too much to do, ſince he ſaid not to thee, 'tis too much to dye. Count not thy ſelf Chriſtian, whilſt thou art unwilling to receive the utmoſt light, or to ſubmit to the utmoſt of thy duty; ſay not of any one thing, of all that Chriſt requires, This I muſt have abated, and then I will be his.

3. Accept and exert the power of his Spirit; the Spirit of the Lord is a Spirit of Power. The ſame Argument which the Apoſtle uſes to prove himſelf a Miniſter of Chriſt, is neceſſary to prove thee a Chriſtian. 2 Cor. 13. 3, 4. Since ye ſeck a proof p. 87of Chriſt ſpeaking in me, which to you ward is not weak but is mighty in you. Though he was crucified through weakneſs, yet he liveth by the power of God; for we alſo are weak in him, but we ſhall live with him by the power of God. (Ye ſeek a proof of Chriſt ſpeaking in me,) ye put me to prove that I am a Miniſter of Chriſt; why, here's the proof of it, My preaching hath not been weak, but mighty in you; It hath been followed and atteſted by the power of Chriſt, which hath wrought migh…ly in you; as weak as we are, yet the power of Chriſt hath been manifeſted and magnified in us. Doeſt thou ſeek a proof of thy Chriſtianity? why, here muſt be the proof, that though thou art weak of thy ſelf, yet thou liveſt in the power of God, which is mighty in thee. Though thou canſt do nothing of thy ſelf, yet thou art able to do all things through Chriſt which ſtrengthens thee.

Thou ſayſt, thou art willing, but thou art weak; thou deſireſt to be, and to do, what God would have thee, but thou canſt not perform.

This may comfort and ſupport thee much under thy failings and miſcarriages in ſome particular duties; but if this be thy caſe in ordinary, in the main of thy life; that to will is all thou haſt, thou art not a Chriſtian. He that hath not the Spirit of Chriſt, is none of his: And he that hath the Spirit of Chriſt, it is in him as the living power of God, actually carrying him on in an holy life, Ezek. 36. 27. I will put my Spirit within you, and cauſe you to walk in my Statutes; and ye ſhall keep my judgements, and do them.

p. 88I will not only command, perſwade, incline you, but cauſe you. It ſhall be done, my Spirit ſhall bring you on, and help you through. Y… ſhall keep my Sta…utes, and do them. Where-ever the Spirit of God hath breathed in the life of grace, there are more than breathings out after a gracious life. Sincere grace hath more in it, than wiſhings and wouldings, than attempts and overtures. Life is a power to act. Phil. 2. 12, 13. Work out your ſalvation, for it is God that worke…h in you, to will and …o do. Where-ever God worketh the foreign velle, he works alſo the foreign operari. Where-ever God works in he gives us a power to work out the works of Chriſti…nity. Oh reſt not, till thou find thy ſelf endued with this power from on high, & inabled to go through with thy work: They are not thy Attempts, but thy Atchievements; they are not thy Offers at an holy life, but thy acting it, that muſt prove thee a Chriſtian; He that doth right… ouſneſs, is righteous.

Be it thus with thee; be all to Chriſt, let Chriſt be all to thee; let all Chriſt be accepted and improved by thee; heartily accept the merit of Chriſ… Righteouſneſs, ſubmit to the light and authority of his Law; get thy ſelf, poſſeſt with, and live in the power of his Spirit; be it thus with thee, come up hither, and then thou art ſafe: Thy almoſt is now come to altogether, and if I muſt now leave thee, thou wilt be the better able to ſpare me: Theſe things do, and the God of peace ſhall be with thee. Thou art gotten into Sanctuary; and now what-ever Toſſings and Tumblings, whatſoever unpleaſing or afflicting changes may be thy lot in this World, thou may'ſt ſing that Requiem to thy ſelf, Return unto thy reſt, O my p. 89Soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee: Gothy way, eat thy Bread with joy, and drink thy Wine with amerry heart, for God now accepteth thee.

Though thou walkeſt through the ſhadow of Death, thou may'ſt now ſit thee down under the ſhadow of thy Lord, with great delight, and with great ſecurity, whoſe fruit ſhall be ever ſweet to thy taſte: Though thou dwelleſt in Meſech, and haſt thy Habitation among the Tents of Kedar, yet thou may'ſt lay thee down in peace and take thy reſt, for the Lord doth, the Lord will make thee to dwell in ſafety.