A Vindication of Godliness, Sermon 3 · Part 2
An Advertiſement.
If you want time to make daily enquiry upon every one of the fore-mentioned particulars, (they being ſo many) ſet a mark upon, or write out ſuch of them, as moſt eſpecially concern your caſe, and let not them be forgotten. Think not thy ſelf excuſed from this courſe, becauſe 'tis too long; when, if need be, thou mayſt thus make it ſhorter: Better cut ſhort, than wholly give out.
For the help of the weaker, I ſhall gather out theſe few of the chief Interrogatories, which when they are ſtraitned for time, they may only uſe; and to which they may add more as they have occaſion and opportunity.
Q. 1. Was I ſerious, and had I any ſenſible Communion with God, this day, in my ſecret and Family Duties?
2. Hath it been my care to keep mine heart in an holy Frame, from Duty to Duty?
3. Have I been much in holy Ejaculations?
4. Have I not given liberty to the working of Pride, ſinful Anger, Diſcontent, or Impatience; nor ſo much as to vain thoughts?
5. Have I not inordinately minded earthly things?
6. Have I kept me from [Mine] iniquity, and not lived in any known ſin?
7. Have I wronged no man in word nor deed?
8. Have I been temperate and ſelf-denying in the uſe of the Creatures?
9. Hath the Law of the Lord been much in my mouth?
10. Have I not ſent Chriſt away without an Alms, when I had it by me?
11. Have I not loſt an opportunity of doing or receiving good?
12. Have I not neglected nor done any thing againſt my duty to my Relation?
13. What have I done for God or my Soul this day? have I not loſt one day more?
14. Have I been diligent and watchful?
Chriſtian, here is a courſe preſcribed, which by the ordinary aſſiſtance, which the Lord doth not deny, you may take up if you will; and which if you conſcientiouſly obſerve, will be, without doubt, through the bleſſing of God, attended with great ſucceſs. And thoſe that do not take up this courſe, or ſome other equivalent to it, let them never think to eaſe their hearts, by idle complaints, I can't attain to ſuch a holy, even, fruitful, heavenly life, as I deſire, I would, but I cannot; God will abhor ſuch lazy complaints, and look upon them as they are, a meer device to keep you quiet under a ſlothful heart.
Set your whole Duty daily before your eyes, charge it upon your hearts, take an account of your ſelves, how you diſcharge it; ſet upon it as that which is no other than you have vowed to the Lord; commit your ſelves, and your wayes to him for ſucceſs: and if this doth not mightily conduce to advance you in point of holineſs, and eſtabliſh you in point of peace, then ſay, that both the Precepts and Promiſes of the Goſpel have deceived you.
And thus I have ſet before you that holy converſation which becometh the Goſpel. Take up this holy courſe; let this be your Life you mean to lead; and let it be carried on,
In an holy Union.
In an United Contention.
In an Holy Boldneſs.
1. In an holy Union; So the Apoſtle there adds, ſtand faſt in one ſpirit with one mind. Never look to thrive in Grace, if you do not live in peace. The decays of Chriſtianityly much upon the ſcore of the diviſions of Chriſtians. The Devil hath alſo taken up that Maxim, Divide & Impera, Rent them and ruine them. The reaſon why our Love is ſo cold, is becauſe our Differences are ſo hot. The reaſon of ſo little zeal againſt ſin, hath been the great ſtrife among Brethren. The combinations of Sinners have not ſo much prejudiced the power of holineſs, as the contentions of Saints. There are not a few who go under the name of Saints, that have maintained diſputes about Religion ſo long, till they have diſputed themſelves out of all Religion; their ſearching for truth, hath been the loſs of both love and life.
Chriſtians, if ever you would be any thing, be one; be of one heart, of one mind, holding the unity of the ſpirit in the bond of Peace. It were greatly to be deſired, that the people of God were both of one heart, and of one way: But if this may not be, if there cannot be Ʋniformity, yet let there be Ʋnity, betwixt all that fear the Lord in truth.
A few words I ſhall leave with you for your dire…on herein:
1. Divide not from the Head, to unite with any pretended Members: hold not with them, that hold not with the Head. Sell not Truth, clear, fundamental Truth, to buy Peace.
2. Divide not from real Members, leſt you hereby prove your diviſion from the Head. Chriſt hath but one body, if you be not in union with the body, you are divided from the Head.
3. See the Head in every Member; ſee Chriſt in every Saint.
4. Prize Chriſt where-ever you ſee him. Love Chriſt, and love his Image; if you will not ſlight Chriſt, ſlight not any Saint. See'ſt thou an humble, m…, patient, broken-hearted, ſelf-denying, mortified Chriſtian; in whatſoever unpleaſing form (as to matters circumſtantial) he appears, deſpiſe him not, reject him not.
5. Prize Peace and Union, a… the ſtrength and honour of the body.
6. Purſue Peace and Union with the utmoſt ſtrength of thy ſoul. And that you may obtain it,
1. Let all parties that are named of Chriſt, be humbled under former Diviſions. What peace ſo long as God is angry? Oh how have we provoked the Lord, by provoking one another! Let him only who hath been without ſin in this matter, be without ſorrow and ſhame.
Sure they are hard hearts, who are not broken under ſuch breaches. Let us not miſtake our ſelves, nor miſ-call that zeal for God, which God will call pride and peeviſhneſs.
I ſpeak not againſt our being offended, either with errour or iniquity; we may not call evil, good, or darkneſs, light, for peace ſake; but at our unreaſonable paſſions, againſt whom we ſuppoſe erring Brethren.
If the reproach of the Goſpel, the hard…ing of the perverſe, the ſtumbling of the weak, if the hindring of edification, the promoting of confuſion, and every evil-work, which have been the ſad effects of our Diviſions; if Pride and haughtineſs, if Vanity and Wantonneſs, if Envy and uncharitableneſs, which have been the Womb from which our contentions have ſp…ung, be matter of Humiliation, then ſure we had need be brought upon our knees: We muſt be melted, e're we can be moulded up into one.
2. Let all parties unite ſincerely in their ends: Let the honour of Chriſt, the advancement of practical godlineſs, the deſtruction of the intereſt of the fleſh, the edification of the whole body, in faith and holineſs, be looked at with a ſingle eye, and purſued with a plain and honeſt heart; let not the intereſt of a party, the affection of ſuperiority and dominion, the carrying on of ſelfiſh or fleſhly deſigns, let the God, or the Chriſt you are driving for, unbiaſs your ſpirits, take the right mark, and let your motions be ſincerely levelled at it. If we were once ſet right in our ends, an accommodation of all our-differences about the means, would be more facile and feiſable, Prov. 11. 3, 5. The integrity of the upright ſhall guide him, the righteouſneſs of the perfect ſhall direct his way. Humble, ſingle, honeſt hearts, are moſt like to hit upon the good and honeſt way: If we had nothing to do, but to pleaſe the Lord, we ſhould not have much to do to pleaſe one another.
3. Let all parties unite in this Rule, Do as you would be done by; that is, as being well informed, and adviſed, and freed from evil, and diſcompoſed affections, (for ſo the Rule is to be underſtood) you would that men ſhould do unto you: Allow to others, what you challenge to your ſelves; or would, if you were in their circumſtances: Deny not what you would demand: The ſame liberty, the ſame charity that you would expect from other Chriſtians, allow to them.
4. No longer tie up Chriſt to a party. Say not, Lo here is Chriſt, and not there: Say of all Believers, though of different Forms, As we are Chriſts, ſo they are Chriſts. Of all the ſub-diviſions of Proteſtants, that are conſiderable amongſt us, there's no party, the union with which makes us, or the ſeparation from which unmakes us, Chriſtians. We had need to have more to ſhew for our Chriſtianity, than that we are Presbyterians, Independants, Anabaptiſts, Epiſcopal, or Eraſtians; and the Devil muſt have more to prove us no Chriſtians, than this, that we are in union with either of theſe, or inſeparation from them.
5. In matters circumſtantial, be not over haſty in ſtamping a Jus Divinum▪ on things diſputable and doubtful: Put no more weight, nor a greater neceſſity, on any thing, than God hath evidently put on it; and ſpend no more of your zeal about it, than is proportionable to its weight and evidence.
6. Allow for the imperfect ſtate the Church is in. We know but in part; and till that which is perfect is come, and that which is imperfect is done away, we muſt bear with one another, if in any things we be otherwiſe minded.
7. Stretch not your Authority beyond your Line, take not too much upon you: Think not to bring all others, in every thing, to your Standard; impoſe not your conſciences, as a Law upon others.
8. Put not conſcience to the ill office of being a meer Make-bate, catch not up every Notion, and preſently charge it upon conſcience, as that which muſt be maintained, though to the greateſt prejudice of the whole intereſt of Religion, and ſo rent and run away from all thoſe that agree not with you. Be not raſh, be not headie; be tender, but be warie▪ be well inſtructed, if you will be trulie tender: firſt catefullie inform thy conſcience, and then peaceablie follow it.
Of what is that conſcience tender, that is not tender of making wounds and rents in the bodie of Chriſt?
9. Beware of C…nſurings and Judgings, of biting and devouring one another. If ye bite and devour one another, ye ſhall be conſumed one of another. Let him that is without fault, caſt the firſt ſtone at his Erring Brother. Be not bitter againſt the bitterneſs of others: if others ſowerneſs offend thee, yet let it not leaven thee: Be not reviled into a Reviler, ſcoffed into a Scoffer; overcome evil with goodneſs: 'Tis not ſeldom that our invectives againſt others bitterneſs, are more keen and cutting, than that we complain of: Juſtifie not what thou judgeſt; Practiſe not thy ſelf, what in the ſame Breath thou condemneſt in thy Brethren: Throw not back thy Brother's Fire-balls in his Face, leſt in cenſuring him, thou be alſo thine own Judge: Purſue not matters in difference over hotly, but learn modeſtlie and meeklie to differ, where you cannot agree.
10. Let your converſation be ſo holy, humble, and heavenlie, carrie your ſelves in ſuch ſimplicitie and godly ſincerity, towards God-towards one another, and towards all men, that you may command each other to believe, that however you agree not about your Mother, yet you are all the Children of the ſame Father; that you are of God, and that the Spirit of the living God dwelleth in you.
11. Hold Communion in the things wherein you agree, and Charity where you differ: May you not pray, and faſt, and hear, and hold Chriſtian Conferences together? Sure there is not overmuch of Goſpel Spirit, where this will not be granted?
12. Impoſe not on each other any hard and unneceſſary conditions of your Communion. Suppoſe, upon your differing Judgments, there be in ſome things different practiſes, which ſome of you judge leſs warrantable, whilſt the conſciences of others allow and uſe; preſs not the reli…quiſhing ſuch queſtionable practices, as the condition of your communion; eſpecially, if they be not mingled with the Duties wherein you joyn, but are uſed by any of you, at other times, or in other Aſſemblies. Excommunicate not them from you, excommunicate not your ſelves from them, with whom Chriſt holds Communion. Judge not that Chriſt withdraws from all thoſe who are not in every thing of your mind and way. Deſtroy not all communion, by ſeeking after a pure…, than in this our imperfect ſtate, we ſhall ever attain. According to this principle, (no communion at all, if not in all) where ſhall we reſt? In all Societies ſomething will offend.
13. And laſtly, in your communion receive not one another to doubtful Deſputations: Let your prayers, conferences, and all holy Exerciſes, be ſtudiouſly ſo managed, that there may be a ſweet Accord of your Spirits therein: Come not together to ſtrengthen parties, or propagate opinions: Let all matters of controverſie be waved; and hereof let there be ſuch mutual aſſurance given aforehand, that you may be together, without fear of becoming thorns or ſnares one to another: Which, if it be not unanimouſly conſented to, and inviolably obſerved, your Communion will be impoſſible, or dangerous.
Chriſtians, are the clear and fundamental truths of the Goſpel, and the more neceſſary and weighty Duties of Religion, ſufficiently underſtood and practiſed? Are your Souls ſafe? Is your Calling and Election ſure? Is the Love, and Life, and zeal of God grown up to that maturity, that you need not mutual help this way? Have you any ſpare time from thoſe things, to ſpend in perplexing controverſies? Build up one another in your moſt Holy Faith, provoke one another to Love, and to good works; encourage, eſtabliſh, and ſtrengthen one another in the known wayes of holineſs; and if you find not this both better work, and work enough for you, then take your liberty.
Theſe things do, live in peace, and love and the God of peace ſhall be with you.
Hear, Oh …ye freinds of Chriſt, by what oblique Names ſoever unhappily diſtinguiſhed! will you come and be Friends one with another? Are you for peace? Your God is the God of Peace: Your Jeſus is the Prince of Peace: Your Goſpel is the Goſpel of Peace; and will you not be perſwaded to be Sons of peace? Your God is one, your Mediator is one, your Faith one, your Baptiſm one, your Hope one; you are one Bodie, one Spirit, and will you not yet be one Soul?
Oh how hopeful would our condition be, were our hearts generallie ſet upon peace! We ſhould certainly obtain, did we more reſolvedlie purſue it: and what ſhould hinder? have you not yet enough of your contentions, and quarrellings? have not your Souls been ſufficiently neglected, your Luſts ſtrengthened, your Faith weakened, your Love withered, your comforts waſted, your names blemiſhed, your holy Profeſſion blamed? Hath not your God been ſufficiently provoked, and the Devil ſufficiently gratified? are your bellies ſo filled with gall, and your mouths with gravel, and have you not yet enough of your contentions?
Chriſtians, Slight not theſe Counſels and Warnings. As you would prove your ſelves the Friends of Chriſt, be ye followers of peace. Studie, oh ſtudie theſe things that make for peace. Follow peace with all men, as much as in you is, but eſpecially with the houſhold of Faith. Let there be no longer ſtrife betwixt us, for we are brethren.
Yet alwaies remember, I am preſſing you to an holy Union; whilſt I perſwade you to follow peace, I muſt ſtill add [and holineſs:] I perſwade you not to purſue peace, upon tearms diſhonourable or prejudicial to Truth; They muſt have both together, that will be bleſſed in either: Truth without Peace, is as a Jewel without its Cabinet; Peace without Truth, is as a Cabinet with nothing in it. Peace without holineſs, is as a fair and promiſing ſhell, with a rotten, or worm-eaten kernel; holineſs without peace, is as a pretious kernel, under a crack'd and broken ſhell.
They that have peace without truth, have nothing worth the ſecuring; they that have truth without peace, have little ſecurity for what they have. Peace without truth, is beauty without worth: Truth without peace, is worth with its beauty marred. Let both go together, and then they will be, both the Columina Eccleſiae, the Pillar of the Church, rendring it conſiſtent within it ſelf; and the Corona Eccleſiae, its Crown, rendring it comely and glorious before the World.
Be it thus wi…h us, and then Sathan look to thy ſelf, thy Kingdom ſhall down amain; when thou canſt no longer hold up diviſion, thou loſeſt thy dominion. Then Saints lift up your heads, your Communion ſhall be ſweet, your glory ſhall be great, your light ſhall ſhine, your fruit ſhall abound, the ſmell of your ſpices ſhall flow forth; your adverſaries ſhall envy, and your King ſhall greatly delight to ſee your beauty. Oh may this Grace, this Peace be granted us from the Lord; and let all that love the proſperity of Sions▪ ſay Amen.
2. In an an united Contention▪ Striving together (ſaith the Apoſtle) for the Faith of the Goſpel. Unite, but ſtrive: ſtrive not one againſt another; Chriſtian againſt Chriſtian, but ſtrive together; Let your Contention be in Communion. Strive together againſt ſin, and unbelief: againſt Hypocriſie, and earthlineſs: ſtrive againſt ſtrife, and debate, and envyings, and judgings; ſtrive together with God, in your prayers and ſupplycations: We often pray, but our prayers do not agree: by keeping at ſuch diſtance we know not one anothers hearts, and are, ſo many men, ſo many minds: every one prayes according to his ſingle apprehenſion, and affections: What one prayes, another unprayes; inſomuch that we ſhould put the Lord to do contradictions, if he muſt give particular anſwer to all our prayers. And poſſiblie that may be the reaſon, why the Lord defers his anſwer ſo long, he will ſtay till we are better agreed what we would have, Matth. 18. 19. If two of you agree on earth, touching any thing that they ſhall ask, it ſhall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven. Strive together in all holy and united endeavours to comfort, confirm and eſtabliſh one another in the Faith of the Goſpel. Keep up the Communion of Saints, and an united contention againſt ſin and unbelief; Remember Heb. 10. 25.
3. In an holy boldneſs, in nothing terrified by your Adverſaries. In nothing, that is, either in no degree; not at all terrified: or elſe in nothing that you have to do; be frighted out of no part of your duty: or elſe at nothing that they do, or threaten to do againſt you. Be not afraid to be holy. Tell your Adverſaries, when they have ſaid and done their worſt, you muſt, and you will, make bold to ſerve your God. Fear them not, and they cannot hurt you; they never hurt you, unleſs they divert you from your duty.
To eſtabliſh your hearts in this holy boldneſs, and againſt your carnal fears.
1. Conſider, That,
1. By how much the more you fear God, by ſo much the leſs you will fear men.
2. By how much the more you fear ſin, by ſo much the leſs you will fear trouble.
3. By how much the leſs your adverſaries fear God, by ſo much the leſs need you to fear them.
2. Believe: Pſal. 27. 13. I had fainted, but that I believed. Faith is a buckler againſt fears and faintings; Epheſ. 6. 16. Above all, take the ſhield of faith, whereby you ſhall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the Devil.
[The ſhield of faith] A ſhield is a wall of partition, interpoſed betwixt a perſon and harm; 'Tis only our apprehenſions of harm that raiſe our fear; Faith will ſave a Chriſtian harmleſs, and thereby preſerve him fearleſs. The ſhield is ordained for a ſecurity to all parts and againſt all aſſaults. Some pieces of our armour are appropriated to one part only; the Helmet is for the head, the Breaſt-plate for the breſt, the Girdle for the loins, the Shooes for the feet; but the ſhield is a moveable, that is to be lifted up, where-ever the blow comes. Faith is an univerſal ſecurity.
Faith may be ſaid to be a Shield,
1. Inſtrumentally; As it provides us of a ſhield, as it lifts up a ſheild and ſets a guard upon the Soul to ſecure it▪ It holds up Chriſt for a ſhield; it holds up the Promiſes for a Shield: the very Commands and Inſtitutions of God, for a Shield and Safe-guard to the Soul.
Sometimes the ſenſe of guilt aſſailes and weakens the heart: It is not ſo much any thing without us, as ſomething within us, that raiſes our fears. How ſmall a matter will fright a guilty Soul? Guilt will make every ſtroke a ſtab. It's the barb of the arrow, the venome on the dart, or the ſore of the heart, that makes every ſtroke formidable and terrible. 'Tis the guiltleſs Soul that hath courage, and boldneſs. Hic murus ahoeneus eſto—Now againſt this dreadful dart, Faith holds up a Buckler, with a Crucified Jeſus upon it; and ſo that's quenched.
Sometimes darkneſs and uncertainties, about the way that we are in, raiſes our fear. A Chriſtian that knows himſelf in his duty, in his way, is out of fear. Clearneſs gives boldneſs. Whilſt we queſtion the warrantableneſs of the way we are in, every ſhadow of danger will ſhake us: Againſt ſuch feares, Faith holds up a Buckler with this inſcription, Have not I commanded thee? It ſhews the Command, and in that, our warrant, and in our warrant our ſecurity.
When we queſtion whether our Worſhip, for which we are like to ſuffer, be right or no, Faith holds up an Inſtitution for our Shield.
If this Fear (oh I ſhall not hold our, I ſhall deny my Lord, and his faith, if put to it) aſſailes the Soul; here faith holds up the Promiſe for a Buckler: He hath ſaid, I will not fail thee, nor forſake thee, ſo that we may boldly ſay, The Lord is my helper.
2. Formally; Faith not only lifts up a ſhield, but is our ſhield; The very believing in a crucified Jeſus; the very believing the Command, the Juſtification, the promiſe, ſtays and ſupports the heart againſt whatſoever may befall it; I had fainted but that I believed.
Chriſtians, whatever your duties, difficulties, deſpondencies, ſtraits, temptations, afflictions, weakneſſes are; believe, and you ſhall be carried through; believe, and you ſhall be eſtabliſhed: Believe in Chriſt, and you ſhall dare to follow Chriſt; believe in Chriſt, and you ſhall go through with Chriſt, and hold out to the end. Believe, and you ſhall neither fear, faint, nor fall. Your Faith will both keep you faultleſs, and ſave you harmleſs, and thereby ſecure you from ſinking, and fainting in your minds.
If this be not enough, let me add, that Faith will yet farther ſcatter all your fears, by this double Act:
1. It will put your reward into your hands.
2. It will put all your troubles to a preſent end.
1. It will put your reward into your hand; it will ſet the Crown on your head, even whileſt the Croſs is on your back. Faith makes things to come preſent, Heb. 11. 1. It is the ſubſiſtence, or being, of things hoped for; it gives being to the good things promiſed, before they are. Hope carries the eye to the object; looks on things to come, as to come; Faith b…ings the object to the eye, looks on things to come, as com… ▪ it looks on diſtance of time, as God looks on it; on a thouſand years but as one day. It looks on Gods ſaying and doing, on Gods promiſing and performing as all one. It antidates Glory, and gives a kind of preſent poſſeſſion of it in hand, Rom. 8. (In) all theſe things we are more than Conquerors: In Tribulation, in Per…ecution, in Famine, in Nakedneſs; (In) all theſe things we are more than Conquerors: Not only afterwards we ſhall be, but in all theſe things, even whileſt we are under them, we are more than Conquerors: The conqueſt is obtained in the very entrance of the Combat. This is the Victory that overcometh the World, even our Faith. Believe Chriſtian, and thy Faith will be thy Victory, thy Shield will be thy Palm.
2. It will put all our troubles to a preſent end: Faith looks on things to come as preſent, and thereby, on things preſent as paſt: It looks on all things, according as they will be in their iſſue and end: It looks on things to come, according to what they will be, when they are come. It looks on things preſent according to what they will be, when they are paſt. It ſees all paſſing, and conſiders it as paſt already. It ſees all paſſing, the World upon its wing, the Faſhion of it paſſeth away. It ſees the Riches of the world upon their wings: the Pride, and the Pomp, and the Gallantry, and the Glory of the World, upon their wings: And it ſees the Poverty of the world, the Troubles of the World, all upon the wing. It looks on the blackeſt Clouds, as flying Clouds, and it conſiders all as gone already. It looks on the clear that is beyond the Clouds; it ſays, as God ſays, Babylon is fallen, is fallen: Not only it ſhall fall, but it is fallen, and ſhall not be able to riſe.
Aed what place can there be then left for fear or fainting? Was the Red Sea a Terrour to Iſrael, when they ſaw themſelves gotten to the other ſide? Did Sampſon's [dead] Lion fright him? Will the Remembrance of what you [have] ſuffered be a Terrour to you, when you are gotten through and are come out of Tribulation? Why, open the E…e of your Faith, and ſee the Coaſt already clear; You will ſee the Red Sea behind you, the Wilderneſs behind you, Jordan behind you, and your ſelves gotten ſafe on the banks of Canaan.
Come on Soul, what ſhould hinder thee? May be, thou ſuppoſeſt, thou haſt a great fight of affliction to endure; grant thou haſt, yet fear none of thoſe things [thou ſhalt] ſuffer, till thou canſt fear thoſe things thou haſt ſuffered. Though thou be now putting on thy Armour, believe, and thou maieſt boaſt as if thou hadſt put it off: Death, where is thy sting? Grave where is thy victory? Where is the Fury of the Oppreſſor? Thine enemies are already under thy feet man, Death it ſelf is ſwallowed up in Victory.
Chriſtians, Cheriſh, improve, increaſe your Faith, and this will clear your way of all you… fears. Wherefore didſt thou doubt, oh thou of little faith? Oh 'tis a ſign our faith is but low, when our fears are ſo high. The day the Lord hears you in this Prayer, Lord encreaſe our Faith, he delivers you from your fears: Wax ſtrong in faith, and you will wax bold in your God.
3. Be humble; 'twill be your advantage, that you ſtand on the lower ground: he whoſe heart hath already laid him in the Duſt, will not fear how low his enemies can lay him.
4. Be peaceable; your Preces & Lachrymae, will be your beſt weapons; the guilt of your unquiet and unwarrantable reſiſtance, will weapon your hearts, more than all your partakers will ſtrengthen your hands, Prov. 20. 22. Say not, I will rec…mpence evil, wait on the Lord, and he will ſave thee. Patient and peaceable ſuffering, will be the beſt way to abaſh your Perſecutors, and embolden your Souls.
Now gather up …ll theſe Particulars, and you have the converſation that becometh the Goſpel; wherein that I may perſwade as well as direct you▪ conſider theſe following Arguments;
2. This is to them, to your Adverſaries, an evident token of perdition; this united, humble, peaceable, unanimous boldneſs, in your holy courſe, whereby you walk in the Spirit and power of the Goſpel, and are not frighted or terrified out of it; this is, and will be to your Perſecutors, an evident token of Perdition. The falls and flaws in the Lives of Saints, and their Quarrelings and Diviſions amongſt themſelves do ſtrengthen the hands and the confidence of ſinners againſt them: The fears and faintings of Saints are the fluſhings of ſinners; when Saints hang the wing, ſinners lift up the head.
The Majeſty and Beauty of an holy life, joyned with and humble and patient Magnanimity and undantedneſs, will be a dart in the Liver of the Enemies of it. It is an evident token [to them] of Perdition: It is not only a Death-Token [upon them,] Perſecution is a black mark of a Son of Perdition; but it is an evident Token [unto them]: It will read them their Doom; it will make their own hearts to fall upon themſelves, and their own conſciences to give them their Sentence.
2. This is to you an evident Token of Salvation, [but to you of Salvation] The word is ſure▪ To him that ordereth his Converſation aright, will I ſhew the Salvation of God. If we be dead with Chriſt, we ſhall alſo live with him; if we ſuffer with him, we ſhall alſo be glorified together with him. To him that overcometh, will I give to ſit with me on my Throne, even as I have overcome, and am ſet down with my Father on his Throne. Fear none of thoſe things which thou ſhalt ſuffer. Be thou faithful unto the death, and I will give thee a Crown of Life.
[Salvation, and that of God] There's much in that Addition [and that of God] it notes, that the Salvation of the ſuffering Saints ſhall be
Sure,
Great.
1. It notes, That their Salvation ſhall be ſure: You ſhall certainly be ſaved, for God hath undertaken for it; that's the import of the expreſſion. If it be God that juſtifies, who ſhall condemn? If it be God that will ſave, who ſhall deſtroy? The matter is ſure, you ſhall be ſaved, and that of God. It may be Sathan will promiſe, Hearken to me, and I will ſave you harmleſs. But he is a Liar and a Deceiver; he is weak and cannot, falſe and will not. It may be the evil World will tell you, If thou wilt caſt in thy Lot with us, take our Advice, follow our Example, come along with us, thou may'ſt ſave thy ſelf all this harm and loſs. But there is as much truſt to the children, as to the Father of Lies: But if the Lord God, the God of Power, the God of Truth, ſayes, I will ſave, who will ſay nay?
2. It notes, that their ſalvation ſhall be great: The great God will do for them great things; He will ſave them by a mighty Salvation. He will ſave them againſt all thoſe mighty hindrances that lie in the way. Who art thou, O great Mountain! before Zerubbabel; thou ſhalt become a plain. All the difficulties and unlikelihoods, all the aſtoniſhing, and fleſhnon-plus-ing Obſtacles, that ſtand in the way of their Redemption will be nothing before the mighty God. He will ſave them from their mighty ſins, ſufferings, and fears; from the vanity and vexations of this Earth, and from the vengeance of eternal fire.
Chriſtians, Do but go on, walk with Chriſt, ſuffer with Chriſt, and …ear none of thoſe things, which you ſhall ſuffer: and this ſhall be to you an evident Token of Salvation, and that of God.
3. Conſider again▪ the Argument of the Text; Theſe things do, and the God of Peace ſhall be with you.
What encouragement there is in this promiſe, I have already ſhew'd you.
Two things I ſhall only mention here, one of which hath been inſiſted on already.
Conſider,
Firſt, If God be with you, all ſhall make for you.
Secondly, If God be with you, you ſhall ſhortly be with God.
1. If God be with you, all ſhall make for you: Remember what you have heard out of Rom. 8. 28, 31. Chriſtians, perhaps you will not know, how to make a good Conſtruction of ſome Providences that may poſſibly befal you, before you dye. Such Caſes there may be▪ that Providence may ſeem to be a plain Contradiction of the Promiſe. Suppoſe the People of God, in any Nation under Heaven, ſhould at any time have, not only an I…undation of temporal Calamities, Famine, and Peſtilence, and Sword, Oppreſſion, Rapine, and Cruelty; but a Floud of Spiritual Judgments alſo, breaking in upon them; a Famine of the Word, an Eclipſe of the Light of the glorious Goſpel among them; their green Paſture trodden down, their pure Waters puddled, God's Spiritual Worſhip made to give place to Will-worſhip, Superſtition and Idolatry; the Inſtitutions of God, to the inventions of Men: his Houſe made an Habitation for Dragons, for the Scritch-Owl, and Bittern▪ for Ziim and Jim, and every unclean thing.
And that, in ſuch a time, when they had given themſelves to more than ordinary praying, and faſting, and humbling themſelves, and repenting of their iniquities; when they had ſet their faces towards Sion, and were full of hopes, that the Lord was about to build, and to plant; to caſt out their rubbiſh, to repair their ruins, to bring in their peace like a River, and to eſtabliſh his Tabernacle amongſt them. Suppoſe that in ſuch a time, the Lord ſhould even ſpit in their faces, ſhould daſh all their hopes, and put into their hands a cup of trembling▪ ſhould bring trouble upon their loyns, and cauſe darkneſs to cover their faces; ſhould expoſe them to ſco… and contempt, make them a reproach, and a byword; ſhould ſuffer them to be trampled upon, as the filth of the World, and the off-ſcouring of all things.
Suppoſe you ſhould have liv'd in ſuch times and places, and have heard them complaining thus; All things work for good, why we ſee all things fall out for the worſe; ſo far are our evil things from working for good, that our good things have wrought our hurt. Not only our outward good things, our peace, and our plenty, but our ſpiritual good things, have undone us; our ſpiritual Liberties, and Priviledges, our Ordinances, our Duties, our Prayers, our Faſtings, our Zeal for the Lord of Hoſts; not only our ſins, but our Prayers, our repentings, our reformings have undone us. We have prayed, and faſted, to good purpoſe; we have even prayed our ſelves into poverty, contempt, darkneſs, confuſion; into the ſnares that have been laid for us, and into the hands of thoſe that hate us. All theſe things are againſt us; all our fears are come upon us; all our comforts, yea, and our hopes too▪ are running from us; the whole courſe of Providence, ſeems to be driven on to our utter ruine; every day, every hour, it grows darker and darker, worſe and worſe; every ſpoke of the Wheel, every turn of the wheel, renders our condition more helpleſs and hopeleſs. Our adverſaries are become rampant; our Soul is filled with their ſcorn and fury; our friends, are as a broken tooth, or a foot out of joynt; our hopes are a Spiders Web, or as the giving up the Ghoſt; the Almighty cauſes all his ſtorms and billows to paſs over us; one day telleth another, one night certifieth another, and propheſies to us nothing but deſtruction upon deſtruction, deſolation upon deſolation; and where is the promiſe of his coming? the hope of Iſrael is aſleep, her Saviour is a ſtranger; the Ark of God is taken, the glory is departed, yea, and God himſelf ſeems to be gone over to the Camp of the Philiſtines, and marching againſt us; we have waited for light, but behold obſcurity; for brightneſs, but we walk in darkneſs; the Harveſt is paſt, the Summer is ended, and we are not ſaved, neither is there yet any to tell us how long.
Suppoſe you ſhould have ſtood by, and have ſeen or heard any ſuch things any where in the World, would you not have ſaid, can any good come out of ſuch a dark abyſs? out of ſuch a concatination of ſo many dreadful and diſmal Providences? Why, by what hath been already ſaid, you might have anſwered thus, Stay but a while till the whole wheel be come about, till God hath brought off his work from the wheel; and then you ſhall ſee, Providence and the Promiſe meeting together, and kiſſing each other, and ſhall be able to ſay in this caſe, what Solomon did in Iſraels, 1 Kings 8. 56. Bleſſed be God, that hath given reſt to his People Iſrael, according to all that he promiſed; there hath not failed [one word] of all his good promiſe, which he promiſed by the hand of his Servants.
Chriſtians, whatever may come upon you, at any time while you live in this World, di…truſt not your God, nor be at all diſmayed; you ſhall ſee the day either here or hereafter, and 'twill be never the worſe, if it be not till hereafter (take it upon the credit of this word, All things ſhall work together for good) You ſhall ſee the day when your hearts ſhall rejoyce and ſay, O… 'twas happy for us, that matters went ſo croſs with us; 'Twas happy we were ſo poor, and brought ſo low, and laid in the dark, and ſtrip'd ſo naked, of all that we either took pleaſure or put confidence in.
Now we ſee that the Lord hath a more glorious deſign, that he was carrying on for us ſtep by ſtep, by every thing that came upon us, than we were aware of, or could have imagined. It's true, the Shimei's have been curſing, the Iſhmael's have been mocking, the Rabſhaka's have been railing, the Ploughers have been ploughing, the Hunters have been purſuing, and had almoſt overtaken, overcome, and ſwallowed us up quick; but bleſſed be our God, that hath not turned our captivity, and ſaved us by a mighty Salvation; but hath done us good, by all their mocking, and curſing, and raging againſt us: Now we ſee, there was ſuch light ſowing in our dark dayes; ſuch a Peace a ſowing in thoſe deep furrows; ſuch an Harveſt of joy ſowing in the dayes page missing watch is over, your race is run, come and enter into my reſt.
The firſt Come is, Come down with me, from the pride, from the pomps and jollities, of this preſent World; come with me into the Wilderneſs, into the valley of tears, come and ſuffer with me, come and dye with me.
The ſecond Come is, Come up with me, up out of the Wilderneſs, up out of your Priſons, up from your bonds: your Jubilee is come; come up with me: Come, put off your priſon-garments, and put on your robes; ſhake off your fetters, and take up your palms; lay down your Croſs, and take up your Crown: from your Priſons to your Palace; from the Stocks to the Throne: You that have deſcended with me, are the ſame who ſhall now aſcend with me to my Father, and your Father, to my God and your God.
The firſt Come, is the Come of a Suitor; Come, grant me your love; give me your hearts, and accept of mine: This is the Errant upon which his Ambaſſadors are diſpatched; As Abraham's ſervant to take you as a Wife for your Lord. This is the meaning of all thoſe Jewels, and the Bracelets, they bring in their hands; the Lord ſends Servant upon Servant, Epiſtle upon Epiſtle, Token upon Token, and all ſpeak the ſame word, Come, come, come away and accept of your Lord, and be married to him.
The ſecond Come is, the Come of the Bridegroom▪ Come home with me, into my holy City, into my Royal Manſion; come into my Chamber, come into my Boſom; come and lodge between my Breaſts, live in my preſence, and reſt in my love for ever.
Chriſtians, my buſineſs while I have been with you, hath been to bring you to God, to eſpouſe you to Chriſt; and you that have already▪ or will yet at laſt be perſwaded to give your conſent, and wil give me leave to make up the Match, I can give you aſſurance, That he will ſhortly come and make up the Marriage; and muſt ſay to you, as Naomi to Ruth, Ruth▪ 3. 10. Sit ſtill my Daugther, till thou ſee how the matter will fall; for the Man will not be in reſt, till he have finiſhed the thing this day. Sit ſtill Chriſtians, till you ſee how matters will fall, and however they fall, know, your Lord will not be in reſt till he have finiſhed this thing, and brought you home to be with him where he is.
I am now parting from you in this confidence▪ that however, after a few dayes I ſhall ſee your faces no more in this world▪ yet I ſhall ſhortly meet you in the Bride-Chamber of Glory▪ where we ſhall ever be with the Lord.
Beloved in the Lord, I muſt now leave you, but give me leave e're I go, to deal freely with you, and yet a little farther, in the cloſe of my day, this once more to open my heart to you; and to tell you,
1. What my parting Feares,
2. What my parting Wiſhes for you are, which I carry upon my ſpirit.
1. My parting Feares I go off from you with, are eſpecially theſe:
1. I am afraid, that there are many of you, upon whom I have beſtowed my labour in vain: I am afraid that I have inſtructed you in vain▪ exhorted▪ perſwaded, beſeeched, and reproved you in vain: 'Twas the Apoſtles caſe, and his fear concerning the Galatians, Chap. 4. 11.
It is my grief, that when I would have no more to ſpeak, but an healing word, a comforting word; I muſt yet drop down a bitter word on ſome of you; that when I would ſpeak only from Mount Gerizi…, I muſt yet again ſpeak to ſome from Mount Ebal; that when I would leave a Bleſſing behind me upon you all, I am like to leave ſome bound under a Curſe. It's grievous to me thus to ſpeak; yet for the diſcharge of my duty, and for your own neceſſity, bear with me: I am afraid, that whilſt I have been preaching to you, of an incorruptible Crown, of an everlaſting Reſt, a Kingdom of Joy and Glory: I am afraid there are many of you, That have no part nor lot in this matter, but are ſtill in the gall of bitterneſs; and bond of iniquity: If the Goſpel be hid, it is hid to them that are loſt. And are there none among you from whom this Goſpel is hid? hid as to the light of it, hid as to the ſaving power and efficacy of it? I am afraid there are too many; I am afraid there's many a blind eye, many a hard heart, many a Spirit ſtill in Priſon, under the Power of their Luſts, and Bruitiſh Senſuality: I am afraid there are many ſuch among you, and are not you afraid ſo too? Oh that you were!
2. I have a greater fear than this; I am afraid of ſome of you, that not only all my paſt Labour, but this laſt will be loſt alſo. Thoſe that ſtand it out to their laſt day, do uſually ſtand it out in their laſt day. Bleſſed be God that there are amongſt you thoſe, over whom my Soul is comfo…ted: To whom I can ſpeak in the words of the Apoſtle, Rom▪ 6. 17. God be thanked, that ye were the Servants of ſin, but ye have obeyed from the heart, that from of Doctrine that hath been delivered unto you, and being now made free from ſin, you are become the Servants of Righteouſneſs. Oh that I could thus ſpeak! Oh that I could thus rejoyce over you all! But as the Apoſtle ſaid to the Corinthians, 2 Cor. 12. 20. I fear, left when I (come) I ſhall (find) you ſuch as I would not. So muſt I ſay, with a grieved hear…, I fea… that now I am going I ſhall leave you ſuch as I would not. I would not leave one blind perſon, one vain perſon, one looſe liver, not one unbeliever, or impenitent, amongſt you an. Oh what a good day would this day of my departure be? what Light would there be in this dark Evening, were it thus with you? If I might ſee you all recovered out of the Snares of the Devil, every man's Eyes open'd▪ every man's Fetters off, every man's Priſon broken, and his Soul eſcaped from that deadly bondage: if every poor deadly Creature among you, who yet lies bound hand and foot in his Grave Clothes, might now at laſt ſtand up from the Dead, and live the Life of God, this would be mine and your great rejoycing▪ But oh I fear with this Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 12. 21. My God will humble me, and grieve me, and afflict me, to ſee in what a woful plight, I muſt leave divers of you.
Oh ye ſons of the Night, you poor, ignorant; and dark Souls▪ upon whom the Light hath ſhined; but your Darkneſs comprehendeth it not: Oh you poor, obſtina…e, & hardned Souls, upon whom I have been ploughing, as upon Rocks, & hewing as upon Adamants, who ſtill remain under as great hardneſs, as if no Dew nor Rain had ever fallen on you. Oh you poor, half-bak…ed, almoſt Chriſtians, that have taken up your ſtand in your preſent Attainments: my Soul is under great fears, and muſt weep in ſecret for you, whilſt my Tongue muſt be henceforth ſilent: Oh every Soul, that is without fear of himſelf, my Soul is afraid for you, the fearleſs Soul, is in a fearful ſtate.
Sinners, let my fears be your fears: What, is there ſuch aſtoniſhing guilt upon you, and yet not afraid? Such a dreadful Roll writ againſt you, and yet not afraid? So many Sabbaths, Sermons, Warnings loſt, and never to be recalled; nor any Aſſurance left of one Sermon▪ or Warning more, and yet not afraid? Such a ſubtil Devil, ſuch a deceitful heart, ſuch a tempting world that you have to deal withall; ſuch a black and bottomleſs Pit into which you are falling, and yet not afraid? Oh what Stocks and Stones hath the Goſpel to deal withal…
Beloved, have laboured much with you, both publickly, and from houſe to houſe, to bring you under a due fear and jealouſie of your ſelves; but hitherto your hearts have been too hard for me: Oh yet for trembling hearts, tremble and ſin not; fear and pray, fear and hope, fear and repent; Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling! Oh if my fears were once become your fears, your fears would become my hopes! Oh what a Day-ſpring of hopes, would ariſe from the ſhaking of ſecure hearts! Theſe fears would be as the thicker Darkneſs, forer…nners of break of Day.
2. My parting wiſhes, and deſires for you, are,
1. That the good Seed, which hath been ſown amongſt you, were well rooted in every heart: I wiſh that my Twenty years Miniſtry among you, may not be loſt labour, to any of your ſouls.
2. I wiſh that your next Seeds-man may be more skilful and ſucceſsful: that the good Lord will provide you a man, that may teach you in wiſdom, gain you in Love, lead you on to life by an holy Example; and if the Lord grant you this mercy, I wiſh that ſuch a one may be dearly priz'd and chearfully accepted by you. God keep this Flock from a Ravening Wolf, and a deceitful Shepherd.
3. I wiſh that there may be no Root of Bitterneſs ſpringing up amongſt you; that there be no Diviſions or Contentions, but that you may live in peace and love, that the God of peace and love may be with you.
4. I wiſh that this place, where ſo much good Seed hath been ſown, may become a fruitful Field, that the Fruits of Faith and Repentance, the Fruits of Righteouſneſs and Holineſs, may be in you, and abound; that you may be neither barren, nor unfruitful; that Religion, in the power and practice of it, may ſo viſibly flouriſh, in the ſeveral perſons, in the ſeveral Families of this Congregation, that they that go by, may ſee and ſay, This is the Field which the Lord hath bleſſed.
5. I wiſh, that whatever Clouds may at any time gather over you, may not fall down in a withering Storm, or a ſweeping Floud, but may paſs away in a Miſt, or diſſolve into a fruitful Dew; that no Perſecutions or Temptations may ever carry you down the Stream with evil men, nor blight any hopeful beginnings, that are budding forth in any of your Souls. If Tribulation ſhould be any of your Lots, I wiſh that it may not be to you, as the Hail of Egypt, but as the Dew of Hermon.
6. I wiſh you a joyful Harveſt, that you may reap in Eternity, what hath been ſown in time; may you now ſow in Righteouſneſs, and therefore reap in Mercy: May every one of you that is now ſowing in Tears, for ever reap in joy: May you that go on your way weeping, bearing pretious Seed, return with joy, and bring your Sheaves with you: May the Showers of this day, be the watering of your Seed, that it may ſpring up to Eternal Life.
Brethren, My hearts deſire for you all is, that you may be ſaved; and if there be any perſons that bear evil will to me, my particular wiſh for them is, The Good-will of him that dwelt in the Buſh be thoſe Men's Portions for ever.
Theſe are ſome of my Wiſhes for you; will you joyn your Wiſhes with mine: will you turn your Wiſhes into Prayers, and let this be your prayer; The Lord grant thee thine hearts deſire, and fulfill all thy Mind.
Brethren, do I wiſh you any harm in all this? If not, if it be to be wiſhed, that the word of Chriſt were rooted in your hearts, and your Souls thereby rooted in the Grace of God; if it be to be wiſhed, that your Luſts were rooted out, your ſins dead and dried up, your foot gotten out of the Snare, your Souls brought into the Fold, your fruits of righteouſneſs and holineſs abounding, and growing up unto eternal life: If all this be to be wiſhed, then give in your votes with mine; wiſh and pray, pray and preſs on, preſs on and wait for the accompliſhment of this grace in you all. I tell you again▪ I wiſh you well; and not only I, but the Lord God that hath ſent me to you: The Lord Jeſus wiſhes you well; he wiſhes and wooes, woes and weeps, weeps and dyes, that your Souls might live, and be bleſſed for ever: He hath once more ſent me to you, even to the worſt amongſt you, to tell you from him, that he's unwilling you ſhould periſh; that he hath a kindneſs for you in his heart, if you will accept it: He hath Blood and Bowels for your Blood to expiate you; guilt, to waſh away your filth; and Bowels to offer you the benefit of his Bloud; with this wiſh, Oh that it were theirs! Oh that they would hearken and accept! Only I muſt add, That the Lord hath two ſorts of Wiſhes concerning ſinners: The firſt is, Oh that they would hearken! Oh that they would come in, be healed, and be ſaved! Deut. 5. 29. This wiſh is an Olive Branch that brings good …idings, and gives great hopes of Peace and Mercy.
His laſt Wiſh is, Oh that they had hearkened! that they had accepted! Pſ. 81. 13. O that my People had hearkened to me! Luk. 19. 42. Oh that thou hadſt known in this thy day, the things that concern thy peace! This Wiſh hath nothing but Dread and death in it: it is the Black Flag hung out, that proclaims External Wars. The ſence is, Iſrael had once a fair time of it; a time of Love, a time of Grace, a time of▪ Peace: Oh that they had hearkned then, that they had known the things that concern their peace! But wo, wo to them, 'tis too late, the door is ſhut, the Seaſon is over, the Day is paſt; But now they are hid from thine Eyes.
There are three deadly darts in this Wiſh [oh that thou hadſt] it includes in it theſe three cutting words,
Thou haſt not.
Thou mighteſt.
Thou ſhalt not for ever.
1. There is this in it, [Thou haſt not.] What have I not? why, thou haſt not known the things that belong to thy peace. Thou haſt had the door of Glory, the Gate of Heaven open to thee, and haſt been call'd for, and invited in, but thou haſt loſt the opportunity. Thou kneweſt not when thou wer… well offered, nor would'ſt take notice what a day was before thee, what a price was in thine hand; thy peace, the Goſpel of peace, the Prince of peace, a Kingdome of peace was ſet open, offered, and brought home to thy doors, but thou hadſt ſo many other matters to look after, that thou tookeſt no notice of it, but haſt let it ſlip. There's one Dart. [Thou haſt not known.] There's a Goſpel gone, there's a Chriſt gone, there's a Soul, a Kingdom loſt.
2. There is this in it, [Thou mighteſt.] Oh that thou hadſt? why, Might I? Ye, thou mighteſt, if thou wouldſt thou mightſt. Thy God did not mock thee, when he preach'd peace to thee; he was willing, and wiſh'd it thine, if thou wouldſt, thou mightſt have made it thine own; but whilſt he would, thou wouldeſt not.
There's another Dart. [I might have known] I have none to thank but my ſelf for the loſs, mine undoing was mine own doing. There are no ſuch torments as when the Soul flies upon it ſelf, and takes revenge on it ſelf; oh the gaſhes that ſuch ſelf reflections make! Soul, how cameſt thou in hither, into all this miſery? oh 'tis of my ſelf▪ my ſelf, that my deſtruction is! The door was open, and I was told of it, and was bid come in, but I would not. That I am loſt and undone, was not my Fate, which I could not avoid, but my Fault and my folly. It ſeems to give ſome eaſe of our torment, when we can ſhift off the fault. It was not I, but the Woman, ſaid Adam; It was not I, but the Serpent ſaid the Woman; if it had been true, it would have given eaſe, as well as ſerve for an excuſe. This thought ['Twas mine own doing] tears the very caul of the heart. Oh I have none to blame but my ſelf, mine own fooliſh and froward heart. This is my ignorance, this is my unbelief, this is my willfulneſs, my luſts, and my pleaſures, and my Idols, that I was running after, that have brought me under this dreadful loſs. 'Twas my own doing.
3. There is this in it, [Thou ſhalt not for ever] Oh that thou hadſt! why, may I not [yet?] Is there no hope of recovering the opportunity? not one word more, not one hour more; may not the Sun go [one] degree backward? No, no, 'tis too late, too late; thou haſt had thy day, from henceforth no more for ever. There's the laſt Dart, [Time's paſt] there's the death, the Hell, the anguiſh, the Worm that ſhall gnaw to eternity.
This one word [Time's paſt] ſets all Hell a roaring; and when its once ſpoken to a ſinner on Earth, there's Hell begun. Go thy way wretch, fill up thy meaſure, and fall into thy place; The Goſpel hath no more to ſay to thee, but this one word, Becauſe I have called, and thou refuſedſt, I have ſtretched out my hand, and thou regardedſt not, but haſt ſet at nought all my Counſels, and wouldſt none of my reproofs; I alſo will laugh at thy calamities, and mock when thy fear cometh; when thy fear cometh as deſolation, and thy deſtruction cometh as a whirle-wind; when diſtreſs and anguiſh cometh upon thee, then ſhalt thou call, but I will not anſwer, thou ſhalt ſeek me early, but ſhalt not find me.
Beloved, my hopes are, and I am not able to ſay but that you are yet under the firſt wiſh; Oh that they would. Chriſt is yet preaching you to faith, and ſends his Wiſh along with his Word, Oh that they would believe! Chriſt is yet preaching Repentance and Converſion to you, and wiſhes, O that they would repent, that they would be converted; and to this wiſh of my Lord, my Soul and all that is within me ſays Amen.
Brethren, will you yet again ſay your Lord nay? ſhall Chriſt have his wiſh? ſhall your Servant for Jeſus ſake, ſhall I have my wiſh? will you now at laſt con…ent to be …anctified, and to be ſaved? let me have this wiſh▪ and I dare promiſe from the Lord, you ſhall have yours, even whatever your Soul can deſire.
Brethren, this once hear, this once be prevailed upon; be content that your luſts be rooted out, and your Lord planted into your Souls. Be content to be pardoned, content to be converted, content to be ſaved. This once hear, leſt if ye now refuſe, ye no more be perſwaded with, oh that they would! but be for ever confounded with, oh that they had! Leſt all our wiſhes and wooings of you, be turned into weepings and mournings over you; this once hear; Oh that you would.
I heartily thank you for your good wiſhes, and good will towards me; for your willing and chearful entertainment of my perſon, and attendance on my Miniſtry; and particularly, for your paſſionate deſire of my longer ſtay among you: Which deſire if God had not, my Soul could not have denied you. Though the Almighty, to whoſe pleaſure it's meet that we all ſubmit, hath ſaid nay to that wiſh of yours; yet let your Souls ſay Amen, to this laſt of mine, that the Lord God would dwell among you, and in you, both now and for ever.
And having thus finiſhed my Labours among you, I ſhall now cloſe up with this double account.
1. Of my diſcharge of my Miniſtry in this place.
2. Of my deprival. And ſhall ſo commit you to God, and to the word of his Grace, which is able to huild you up, and to give you an Inheritance amongſt all them that are ſanctified.
1. Of my diſcharge of my Miniſtry. What my Doctrine and manner of life hath been, is known to you; and what my aim and intent hath been, is known to God. The ſearcher of hearts, knows, that 'tis the ſalvation of Souls, that hath been the mark at which I have levelled. My way hath been to uſe all plainneſs, that I might be made manifeſt in your Conſciences: Weakneſſes and infirmities, both natural and ſinful (the Lord pardon it) I have had many. I am ſenſible that much more might have been done, both in publick and in private, had it not been for a weakly body, and a ſloathful heart.
I repent that I have had no more zeal for God, no more compaſſion to Souls; I repent that I have been no more conſtant and importunate with you, about the matters of Eternity. Oh Eternity, Eternity, that thou wert no more in the heart and Lips of the Preacher, in the hearts and ears of the hearers. But while I thus judge my ſelf for my failings, Bleſſed be God for any ſincerity to his name, and good will to your Souls, that he hath ſeen in me. Bleſſed be God, I have a witneſs in my Conſcience, and I hope in yours alſo, that I have not ſhunned to declare to you, the whole Counſel of God. Brethren, I call Heaven and Earth to witneſs this day, that I have ſet before you life and death, good and evil, and have not ceaſed from day to day, to warn you to chooſe life, and that good way, that leads to it; and to eſcape for your lives, from the way of ſin and death. Oh remember the many inſtructions I have given you, the many Arguments whereby I have ſtriven with you, the many Prayers that have been offered up, for the guiding and gaining your Souls, into the path of life, and the turning your feet out of the way of deſtruction. Oh might I be able to give this Teſtimony concerning you all, at my departure, they have trodden in the right path, they have choſen the good part that ſhall not be taken from them.
Beloved Brethren▪ with whom I have travelled in birth, that Chriſt might be formed in you; I muſt ſhortly give up my account in a more ſolemn Aſſembly: will you help me to give it up with joy, by ſhewing your Souls before the Lord, as the Seal of my Miniſtry. Every ſincere Convert among you, will be a Crown of rejoycing to me in that day? So let me rejoyce, and let my joy be the joy of you all.
What ſhall I ſay more? If there be any conſolation in Chriſt, if any comfort of love, any bowels and mercies; if the Glory of the Eternal God, the Honour of the everlaſting Goſpel, the ſafety of your immortal Souls, the incorruptible Crown, the exceeding, eternal weight of glory, weigh any thing with you, then once more let me beſeech you, by all this to hearken to that word of the Goſpel, which God hath ſpoken to you by me.
2. Of my deprival. The moſt glorious morning hath its evening; the hour is come wherein the Sun is ſetting, upon not a few of the Prophets; the ſhadows of the evening are ſtretched forth upon us, our day draws, our work ſeems to be, at an end: Our Pulpits and our places muſt know us no more.
This is the Lords doing, let all the earth keep ſilence before him.
It is not a light thing for me, Brethren, to be laid aſide from the work, and caſt out of the Vineyard of the Lord; and it muſt be ſomething of weight, that muſt ſupport under ſuch a ſevere doom.
I know there are not a few, that will add to the affliction of the afflicted, by telling the world, tis their own fault, they might prevent it if they would: whether this be ſo or no God knoweth, and let the Lord be Judge. Bleſſed be God, whatever be, this is not laid to our charge as the reaſon of our ſecluſion, either inſufficiency or ſcandal.
You are not ignorant, what things there are impoſed on us, as the condition of our continuing our Miniſtration; which how lawful and expedient ſoever they ſeem in the Judgment of many, yet have the moſt ſpecious Arguments that plead for them, left me utterly diſſatisfied in my Conſcience about them.
I muſt profeſs before God, Angels and Men, that my non-ſubmiſſion is not from any diſloyaltie to Authoritie, nor from pride, humour, or any factious diſpoſition, or deſign; but becauſe I dare not contradict my light, nor do any thing concerning which my heart tels me, the Lord ſays, do it not.
After all my moſt impartial Enquiries, after all my ſeeking counſel from the Lord, after all my conſidering, and conſulting with men of all perſwaſions, about theſe Matters, I find my ſelf ſo far ſhort of ſatisfaction, that I am plainly put to this choice, to part with my Miniſtry or my Conſcience. I dare not lie before God and the World; nor come and tell you I approve, I allow, I heartily conſent, to what I neither do, nor can; but muſt chooſe rather▪ that my Miniſtry be ſealed up by my Sufferings, than lengthned out by a Lie: Through the Grace of God, though men do, yet my heart ſhall not reproach me while I live; If our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things. But however, though I muſt now no longer act as a Miniſter, I ſhall, through the Grace of God, endeavour peaceably, and patiently, to ſuffer as a Chriſtian.
I ſhould, to teſtifie my Obedience to Authority▪ have become all Things to all Men, to the uttermoſt that I could with any clearneſs of heart: But ſince Matters ſtand ſo that I muſt loſe my place, or my peace, I chearfully ſuffer my ſelf to be thruſt off the Stage.
And now welcome the Croſs of Chriſt, welcome Reproach, welcome Poverty, Scorn, and contempt, or whatever elſe may befall me on this account. This Morning I had a Flock, and you had a Paſtor; but now behold a Paſtor without a Flock, a Flock without a Shepherd: This Morning I had an Houſe, but now I have none; This Morning I had a living, but now I have none: The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken away; Bleſſed be the Name of the Lord.
Beloved, I am ſenſible of my Weakneſſes and Diſadvantages I am under, which may render a ſuffering ſtate the harder to be born; help me by your Prayers; and not me only, but all my Brethren alſo, with whom my Lot muſt fall; Pray for us, for we truſt that we have a good Conſcience, in all things willing to live honeſtly. Pray,
1. That God would make our Silence ſpeak▪ and preach the ſame holy Doctrine that we have preached with our Lips.
2. That he would give Supports anſwerable to our Sufferings; that he who comforteth thoſe that are caſt down, will alſo comfort his Servants that are caſt out.
3. That according to our earneſt expectation, and our hope, as always, ſo now alſo, Chriſt may be magnified in us, whether it be by Life or Death.
And thus, Brethren, I bid you farewel, in the words of the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 13. 11. Finally, Brethren, farewel, be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of Peace and Love ſhall be with you.
And that God of Peace that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jeſus, that great Shepherd of the ſheep, through the blood of the Everlaſting Covenant, make you perfect in every good work, to do his will; working in you that which is well-pleaſing in his ſight, through Jeſus Chriſt; to whom be glory, for ever and ever, AMEN.
FINIS.
End of the text · Richard Alleine, A Vindication of Godliness (1665)