The Godly Mans Portion and Sanctuary Opened, Discourse (3 of 3)
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 onelyonly 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. Be 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; h…ve 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; hitherto I will 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, Lands, Portion; ſay concerning 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 to 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 thine own, and rely on his righteouſneſs; as God hath, ſo do thou, lay on him, all thy iniquities. Think not of Sanctification, without ſatisfaction. Think not to ſatisfie in the leaſt, by ought that thou canſt do, let that lie upon him. Judge 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 be 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 die. Count not thy ſelf a Chriſtian, whileſt 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 ſeek a proof of 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 mightily 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 judgments, and do them.
I will not onelyonly command, perſwade, incline you, but [cauſe] you. It ſhall be done, my Spirit ſhall bring you on, and help you through. Ye [ſhall] keep my Statutes, 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 own Salvation, for it is God that worketh in you, to will and to 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 Chriſtianity. Oh reſt not, till thou find thy ſelf in…ued with this power from on high, and inabled to go through with thy work: They are not thy Attempts, but thy Atchievments: They are not thy Offers at an Holy Life, but thy acting it, that muſt prove thee a Chriſtian; He that doth Righteouſneſs, 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 Chriſt's 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 …ow 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 whatever Toſſings and Tumblings, whatſoever unpleaſing or afflicting Changes▪ may be thy Lot in this World, thou may'ſt ſing that Requie… to thy ſelf, Return unto thy reſt, O my Soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee: Go thy way, eat thy Bread with joy, and drink thy Wine with a merry 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 Taſt: 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.
2. To the Godly.
Happy Souls, The God of Peace is with you, all things ſhall work for good to you; onelyonly that he may continue with you, continue you with him, in the obedience of that Goſpel, to which you have deliver'd up your ſelves.
My Exhortation to you ſhall be.
1. General; Reſpecting the whole courſe of your Lives.
2. Particular; Reſpecting your daily Walk.
My general Exhortation ſhall be bottom'd on that of the Apoſtle, Phil. 1. 27, 28. Let your Converſation be, as it becometh the Goſpell of Chriſt; that whether I come and ſee you, or elſe be abſent, I may hear of your Affairs, that you ſtand faſt in one Spirit, with one Mind, striving together for the Faith of the Goſpel. In nothing terrified by your Adverſaries, which is to them an evident t…ken of Perdition, but to you of Salvation, and that of God.
[Let your Converſation be as it becometh the Goſpel] Walk worthy of the Goſpel; let your lives be ſuitable, and anſwerable to the Holy Goſpel which you profeſs.
1. Let your lives anſwer the ends of the Goſpel, the ex…ltation of the Name, and glorious Grace of God in Chriſt; live an humble, ſelf-denying, ſelfabaſing; this is a Chriſt exalting life.
2. Let your Lives anſwer the Dignities, and Honours the Goſpel inveſts you with; You are the children of God, the Heirs of Glory, the Spouſe of Chriſt, the Bride, the Lambs Wife: You are a Royall Prieſthood, an holy Nation, a peculiar people; know your priviledges, and do not live below your ſelves; defile not your glory, by ſtooping to a Carnal and Earthly Life: a Jewel is not more unbecoming a Swines ſnout, than fleſhly Husks a Saints Palate: 'Tis below you, who are a peculiar people to your God, to live in common with the men of this World: humble your ſelves, into the leaſt of Saints, but do not humble your ſelves into Bruits: Live in the Spirit, converſe with God, be dealing for Glory, Honour, and Immortality.
3. Let your Lives anſwer the Names, which the Goſpel puts upon you; Doves, Lambs, Lillies; be harmleſs, peaceable, gentle, beautiful, fragrant, ſending forth a precious ſavour in the World.
4. Let your Lives anſwer the Riches, the Reward, the Crown, the Kingdom, which the Goſpel ſets before you.
Live a contented life, be ſatisfied, be well pleaſed, with what you have here, be it little or much; diſgrace not your portion, the Goſpel allots you, as if it were a poor inſufficient portion: Let your Souls ſay, How ſmall an handful ſoever you have of this Earth, it is enough, Chriſt is mine: A diſcontented Chriſtian ſays, Chriſt is not enough, Heaven is not enough: Let the Contentation of thy Spirit, declare before the World, that the Lines are fallen to thee in a pleaſant place, and that thou haſt a goodly Heritage: Do not put this Scorn upon God, and Glory, that thou muſt be beholding to the Devil, to mend thy portion.
Chriſtian, Either thou art within the Promiſe, or a ſtranger from it: Either thou haſt the God of Peace with thee, or not: If not, me thinks thou ſhould'ſt find other matter to take up thy Thoughts, and not have leiſure to perplex thy ſelf with every …ivial want; that thy meat, or thy drink, or thine houſe, or the carriage of thy Friends towards thee, are not according to thy mind; thy Soul, thy Soul man, thy life is in danger. Oh what an Eternity art thou like to have of it? Canſt thou want a God, a Chriſt, an Heaven, and thine Heart never ſtir at it? And is the disſatisfaction of thy vain mind or appetite ſuch a Burthen? Is the Devil in thine heart, and it never moves thee? and ſhall an ill Neighbour be a vexation to thee? Canſt thou feel a Feather, when thou haſt a Talent upon thee? The Curſe, the Curſe of God is upon thee: I cannot wonder [thou] ſhould'ſt be diſcontent; but me thinks theſe ſmall matters, by a man in thy caſe, ſhould not be minded.
If Chriſt and the Promiſe be thine, is not that enough? Are not all things enough? God is all things: He that hath the Son, hath not onelyonly, with him, but in him, all things: Are all things nothing with thee?
What would'ſt thou have more than all? The Heathens acknowledged, That Vertue is ſufficient. It was a Maxime, among the Antient Philoſophers, foreign, Vertue is ſelf-ſufficient: A vertuous man hath no need to be beholding either to Friends or Fortune: He hath enough in himſelf. The Apoſtle tells us, That Godlineſs, foreign, with its ſelf ſufficiency, is great Gain, 1 Tim. 6. 6. Solomon tells us, Prov. 14. 14. A good man is ſatisfied from himſelf. He hath that within him, out of which his ſatisfaction grows. A Chriſtian hath the whole Goſpel within him, He hath Chriſt, the Promiſe, the Everlaſting God; Heaven, Glory, within him: As rich as he is, he may truly ſay, Omnia mea mecum porto. He carries his [All] in his Heart, and can thence get out a Living, a Sufficiency, for all Times, Caſes, and Wants: Caſt him out naked, out of his Habitation, out of his Countrey, yet he carries all with him, he leaves not an Hoof behind him.
Chriſtians, leave it to the Poor of the Earth, to carnal men, (the richeſt of them is poor enough) leave it to them to be diſcontent: A carnal man hath ſo many to be beholding to, to patch up his contentment, that 'tis no wonder he falls ſhort of it; the Sun, the Clouds, his Fields, his Folds, his Friends, his Enemies, his Honours, his pleaſures, his meat, his drink, his houſe, his mony, yea the Devil & all, & his Luſts, every Creature muſt come in with their part, to contribute to his contentment: if but one thing fails him, there's ſomething wanting to make it up: Nay, if none fail, but they all do their beſt to pleaſe him, yet all will not do, in the fulneſs of his ſufficiency he is in ſtraits. When he hath all he can have, his ſtill hungring Heart cries out of what it hath, Vanity of Vanities, all is Vanity. Leave it to theſe, Chriſtians, who have nothing but emptineſs to fill their Souls withal, leave it to them to be diſcontented. Will you lay the ſame imputation upon the God of Glory? The Diſcontent of a Chriſtian, is a kind of Blaſphemy: it proclaims concerning God alſo, and all the Glory of the Goſpel: This alſo is Vanity; Vanity of Vanities, all is vanity.
Chriſtians, ſtudy your Riches more, count over your Treaſures; dwell more in your God, and his Goſpel: Read over your Priviledges, Promiſes, and Hopes; feed more on that Bread of Life, drink more freely of thoſe Living Springs, which are broken forth to you: Prove more what Godlineſs hath in it: Get out the ſweetneſs and the pleaſure of it, (none in the World live ſuch a voluptuous Life, as he that lives moſt with God) get out the pleaſure of Godlineſs▪ lie more at the Breaſts, ſuck harder; preſs the Cluſters and the Wine, and Milk will come; make the moſt of Religion, and you will have enough; never blame it for empty, or unſatisfactory, while there is more to be h…d.
Gad not into other Paſtures, …un not from Flower to Flower, keep you Home: Let not your God find you in another Field: If you keep with God, the leſs you have of Creature-vanities, the more full will your Contentment be. Chriſtian, Honour thy God, and his Goſpel, let his Breaſts ſatisfie thee, and erre thou always in his Love. Let the World read the Goſpel-ſufficiency in thy Souls pleaſure, and ſatisfaction with it alone.
5. Let your Converſations anſwer the ſupports of the Goſpel, and its ſuccours. Live a patient life; Jam. 5. 7. Be patient, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Patience is a Grace ſuited to our preſent Goſpel ſtate. I may call it, a Friend that's born for the day of adverſity. If you are Chriſtians, you have need of Patience; and if you have Patience, you need no more. Jam. 1. 4. Let Patience have her perfect work, that you may be entire, lacking nothing.
Patience, is a ſubmitting, ſedate, and calm frame of ſpirit, whereby a Chriſtian, from Goſpel grounds, is born up under all his Troubles, and born throug… all his Duties.
Betwixt Patience and Contentedneſs, there is this difference; Contentedneſs is the quiet of the heart, and its ſatisfaction with its ſmalleſt portion of good things. Patience is the quiet of the heart under the greatest preſſure of evill things.
A patient ſpirit is a ſubmitting ſpirit; It's heartily content that God ſhould have his Will. With whatſoever God is pleaſed, it will not be diſpleaſed. It's the Lord, let him do whatſoever ſeems good in his Eyes. What ſeems good in God's eyes, ſhall not ſeem evil in mine.
It is a Calm and quiet ſpirit: It will not ſtrive nor cry, nor lift up its voice in the ſtreet; it can mourn, but it does not murmur; it can feel, but it will not fret at the hand of God. A patient perſon is ever composmentis; has the command and government of his ſpirit; keeps it ſober, and in due order; doth not rave, and rage. Impatience is a kind of frenzy; ſuch perſons are beſides themſelves. In our patience we poſſeſs, and by our impatience we loſe our Souls: we loſe the rule and government of them, the peace and the uſe of them. An impatient man is beſides himſelf, both as a Man and as a Chriſtian.
1. He is beſides himſelf as a Man: Impatience turns Reaſon out of doors; and for the Affections, they are all in an uproar, and will know no command or government.
2. He is beſides himſelf as a Chriſtian; turned quite out of courſe: Duties, Comforts, Experiences, Hopes, all are laid aſide. Keep you quiet, keep the peace in your heart, and you keep your heart.
In this calmneſs and quietneſs, it bears up under troubles. Patience hath Fortitude in it, it neither frets, nor faints, under all its …ur…hens. Chriſtians [muſt] bear, and patient Chriſtians [can] bear any thing that comes on them. The proper exerciſe of patience, is enduring: he endures not that ſuffers only, but that can bear what he ſuffers.
It bears through its Duties: The paſſion of a patient perſon doth not hinder his action. He holds his courſe, keeps on his way, whatever load he hath in his back. He (runs) with patience, the race which is ſet before him; he is not diſcouraged nor diverted from his holy courſe by any ſuffering it coſts him.
And indeed, Chriſtian Patience ſtands not in a bare forced quiet, in a biting in, or keeping down, our fretting aeſtuations, from venting themſelves in word or carriage, or in a ſullen ſilence or ſtupidity; but in the maintaining ſuch a tranquillity of ſpirit, under all we ſuffer, as that we can ſtill, both enjoy and ſerve the Lord. He is a patient Chriſtian, that is as much a Chriſtian in a ſtorm, as in a calm; that can pray, believe, love, bleſs God, follow God, and keep his way, when he ſmites, as when he ſmiles.
Laſtly, in all this, a Chriſtian is upheld and carried on, from Goſpel grounds. 'Tis not a naturall hardineſs apathy, 'tis not the ſpirit of a man that does ſuſtain his infirmities; 'tis upon the everlaſting Goſpel that he ſtands.
There are three Things eſpecially, that bear him through. His viewing,
The Hand of the Lord.
The End of the Lord.
The Help of the Lord.
1. He ſees the Hand of the Lord in all that befalls him: Whence was Davids patience? Pſal. 39. 9. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, becauſe thou Lord didſt it. Whence was Elie's patience? 1 Sam. 3. It is the Lord, let him do what ſeems him good. Whence was Job's patience? Job 1. 21. The Lord hath given, the Lord hath taken away, bleſſed be the Name of the Lord. By the way Note, That a godly man is not only patient under his afflictions, but thankful. He is not only thankful for Mercies, but for Chaſtiſements. 'Tis not only, the Lord hath given, bleſſed be his Name; the Lord hath built me up, the Lord hath filled me, the Lord hath hedged me, bleſſed be his Name: but alſo, the Lord hath taken away, the Lord hath humbled me, broken me, undone me, left me naked, left me nothing, bleſſed be the Name of the Lord. This by the way.
2. He ſees the End of the Lord; that God intends his good by all that comes upon him. He knowes that all things, and therefore this which is upon him, whatever it be, ſhall work to him for good.
3. He feels the Help of the Lord. When the hand of the Lord is upon him, he feels alſo the hand of the Lord under him: underneath the everlaſting arms, Deut. 32. 27.
The Goſpel, as it hath allotted him many Tribulations, ſo it hath allowed him mighty Supports. A mighty God, who is the rock of ages, Iſa. 26. a merciful high Prieſt, who being tempted himſelf, is able alſo to ſuccour thoſe that are tempted, Heb. 2. 18. pretious Promiſes, 2 Pet. 1. gracious experiences, Rom. 5. 4. patience worketh experience. This laſt ſupport, [experience] hath all the reſt in it. Experience is the whole Goſpel proved. A patient, experienced Chriſtian, hath proved all things, what they are; hath proved the World, and what it is, and the worſt it can do: hath proved the Word, and what there is in it: hath proved what God is, what Chriſt is, what grace, and peace, and a good Conſcience are: Tribulation often takes away God, and his Goſpel; and we never ſo well prove what God is, as when we have him alone; what grace is, what a good Conſcience is, as when we have nothing elſe left us. Our Religion never ſhews ſo much what is in it, as when it's moſt put to it. When the Adverſary hath gotten the greateſt advantage of us; of the Sun, of the Wind, of the Ground; when he preſſeth with moſt violence, with moſt fury upon us, then we beſt know, what the weapons of our Warfare are. The comforts and ſupports of Religion are not known, either of what ſtrength, or of what ſweetneſs they are, till they are thus proved. Hezekiah had never ſuch a taſte of his integrity, as when he received the Meſſage of death. Stephen had never ſuch a ſight of Heaven, as through a ſtorm of ſtones, Chriſt is never ſo ſweet in a Priſon. When God meets his Saints in a Wilderneſs, then he ſpeaks comfortably to them. A patient Chriſtian hath more or leſs experience of all this; and hence is he ſupported, keps quiet under all his ſufferings, and carried with courage on his way.
Be patient therefore Brethren unto the coming of the Lord. You have need of patience, and no excuſe for your impatience. The ſufferings of the Goſpel call for patience; and the ſupports of the Goſpel will condemn your impatience. If you will be godly, count upon it that you have a great fight of afflictions to endure. Venture not into the fight without your armour: An impatient Creature is a naked Souldier; How eaſily will Sathan deſtroy, whom he hath once diſarmed. The more you [can] the leſs you [ſhall] ſuffer. Secure your ſpirit, and you ſave your ſelf from harm. There's no Dart ſhall hurt you, that does not hit your heart. Keep your heart whole, and the Devil loſes all his ſhot. Be patient, and you poſſeſs your Souls; keep your Souls, and the Enemy loſes the day.
Chriſtians, 'tis of great conſequence to you, to be of a patient ſpirit, and 'tis a great Duty; there's much more in it, than every eye obſerves.
When I perſwade you to Patience; know, that 'tis no ſmal thing that I am perſwading you to: 'Tis no leſs than,
1. To the whole of Chriſtianity.
2. To the height of Chriſtianity.
1. To the whole of Chriſtianity: To be truly Patient, hath as much in it, as to be a Chriſtian: To be ho…y, humble, meek, mortified, ſelf-denying, crucified to the World, heavenly minded; all this you muſt be, or you cannot be patient. Patient and proud? patient and peeviſh? patient and unmortified, earthly-minded, a ſelf-ſeeker? This is as great a contradiction, as to be proud and humble, fleſhly and ſpiritual, earthly and heavenly, a Chriſtian and no Chriſtian. If ever you will be poſſeſſours of this grace, you muſt be partakers of all grace. Get a believing, broken, ſelf-denying heart; get your ſpirits furniſhed with the love of Chriſt, the hope of the Goſpel, the contempt of the World; live above in the other World: Let Chriſt, Glory, Honour, Immortality, be the portion of your Souls, and the pleaſure of your lives, if ever you would be truly patient.
2. To Chriſtianity in the height of it. In preſſing you to Patience, I am herein preſſing you to get Aſſurance. Without aſſurance though patience be poſſible, yet you'l find it both difficult, and very impe…fect.
What Patience, when I queſtion whether my ſins be forgiven? whether God be reconciled, and be not dealing with me as an enemy? What Patience, when I doubt, whether my afflictions be not the penſion of a baſtard, rather than the portion of a ſon? when I am not ſure, but my preſent ſufferings are ſent to carry me down to eternal ſufferings? I am in miſery and perpetual torments: never a day without its evils; I can ſee no end of it, nor it may be never ſhall; this or worſe may laſt for ever. Oh if I were ſure it would be well at laſt, I could be quiet; but for ought I know, the Furnace I am in, may be the very mouth of Hell: The diſeaſes, the wounds I am under, may be ſent to let out my Soul into everl…ſting burnings; how can I be patient under ſuch doubts and fears? Make God ſure, Chriſtian, make Heaven ſure once▪ and then thou may'ſt ſet thine Heart at reſt; then thou may'ſt almoſt as eaſily exerciſe, as thine Enemies find thee Exerciſe of, thy patience.
Chriſtians, if you will be patient, you muſt be painful: give diligence; be diligent in making your Calling and Election ſure: be diligent in duty, be vigilant againſt iniquity: If you will be patient, be impatient of ſin, and you will be patient of ſorrow; make ſin ſure; get it ſlain by the croſs, and buried in the grave of your Lord, ſealing the ſtone, and ſetting a watch: have nothing to conflict with, in the day of your affliction, but your affliction: beware of carrying guilt with you up upon the Croſs; Let▪ not the gall of guilt be mingled with the vinegar of affliction: A mortified ſpirit will deaden all our pain, and a pure Conſcience will bear all our burthens.
Till this be done, I muſt tell you, you will find ſuffering to be hard ſervice. 'Tis an eaſie matter to talk of the ſufferings of the Goſpel, and to boaſt great things afore-hand; as you know who did once, and what came of it; Though I die with thee, I will never deny thee. But when it comes to the pinch, when Troubles come upon us, when the hand of the Lord touches us, and touches where it's moſt tender; brings thoſe calamities on us, which are moſt contrary to us, ſtrips us of thoſe comforts which are moſt dear to us, takes away all from us, and leaves us naked; when we feel the ſmart of the rod, when every ſtroke fetches blood; when the feet are hurt in the Stocks, and the Iron enters into the Soul; when the vinegar and the gall comes, when the thorns and the nails of the Croſs are ſtruck in; when ſhame and reproach, when ſcorn and contempt, when hunger and thirſt, when cold and nakedneſs, when bodily torment and pain, are all meaſured to you for your portion, and mingled in your cup: If ever God ſhould call you out, to take your part with that Cloud of Witneſſes, Heb. 11. who were tortured, had trialls of cruell mockings and ſcourgings, of bonds and impriſonment; who were ſtoned, were ſawn aſunder, were tempted, were ſlain with the Sword; wandring about in Sheep-skins, and Goat-skins, being deſtiture, afflicted and tormented; wandring in deſerts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth: If ever this ſhould be your caſe, then you will know how much there is in Chriſtian Patience; and how neceſſary ſelf-denyall, mortification, living in the faith, and fellowſhip of God, and the power of his ſpirit, and aſſurance of his love, are to your patient poſſeſſing of your Souls.
Believe i…, Chriſtians, the Goſpel hath not furniſhed us with ſuch large proviſion of Graces Comforts, Promiſes, Hopes, for nothing; you will find need enough of them all. Such amazing aſtoniſhing trialls you may be called out to, as nothing leſs, than the richeſt ſtock of Promiſes, the greateſt treaſure of Experiences, the higheſt pitch of ſpiritual Graces, your greateſt conqueſt over Luſt and the World, your living under the fulleſt influences of Divine Power, and the cleareſt Senſe of Divine Love, will furniſh you with an enduring ſpirit; nothing leſs will, but this will do it. Get Sin, and the World under, make God ſure, make the Promiſes ſure; live in a daily conflict with Sin, contempt of the World, and exerciſe of all Graces; Live in the obedience, viſion, and fruition of your God, and then you are ready for the Enemy. Let your Sufferings be what they will, come when they will, your Souls are at Anchor, and ſhall have a continual Calm within, how Tempeſtuous ſoever the Weather be.
As a farther Encouragement, and Help to this great Duty, conſider, that your patient ſuffering will be,
1. Your witneſs to the Goſpel.
2. Gods witneſs to your Adoption.
3. The cure of your Corruption.
4. Your triumph over Temptation.
5. The improvement of your Sanctification.
6. The advance of your Glory.
1. Your patient ſuffering will be your witneſſe to the Goſpel▪ Who were that cloud of Witneſſes, mentioned Heb. 12. 1. but the ſuffering Saints; that Army of Martyrs recorded Chap. 11. whoſe patience is ſet forth as a Pattern to thoſe that ſhould come after: Theſe are the Witneſſes.
What was it by which they bare Witneſs, but by their patient ſuffering?
To what did they bear Witneſs, but to God and his Goſpel?
What Witneſs did they bear? Why, That the Goſpel is true: The ſufferings of the Saints, are their Seal to the Goſpel: As he that believeth, ſo much more, he that ſuffereth in Faith, hath ſet to his Seal that God is true. In the Faith and patience of the Saints, may be ſeen (as the Seal in the Wax) the prints and impreſſions of the Truth, and Faithfulneſs of God. God hath ſaid, He will uphold, he will not forſake them: and their patience ſhews, he doth uphold, he hath not forſaken them. 2. That the Goſpel is a Glorious Goſpel: That God is a good Maſter, that it's good being with Chriſt any where; That they are no Loſers by their Religion, but that it's Wages are above it's Work, and its pay above its pain.
It were not poſſible, when they prove how much the Goſpel coſts them, but they ſhould be weary of it, and repent of their Faith, and renounce their profeſſion, if they did not find the Lord a good pay-maſter.
The Apoſtle tells us, 2 Cor. 3. 3. that Chriſtians are the Epiſtles of Chriſt, or his Letters of Commendation to the World, in whom may be read his Excellencies and Glory, and the incomparable advantages of his Service. And as all Chriſtians, ſo eſpecially ſuffering Chriſtians: The Character of Chriſt is never ſo viſible and legible, as when 'tis written in Bloud. The Bowels, and Bounty, and Kindneſs of God our Saviour, never appear'd in more Glory, than upon [his] Croſs; and there's no ſuch lively Tranſcript of them, as upon [our] Croſs. On his Croſs, his Bloud; on our Croſs, his Spirit, and the precious grace and comforts of it, are moſt plentifully ſhed forth, 1 Pet. 4. 14. If ye be reproached, that is, and endure it▪ the Spirit of Glory, and of God, resteth upon you. The Spirit and influences of a Crucified Jeſus, do never ſhine forth to ſuch advantage, as in his Crucified Saints. Upon the patience of a Saint, under the ſufferings of Chriſt, he that runs may read, this written, I ſerve a good Maſter. Our patient ſuffering is our witneſs to Chriſt and his Goſpel.
Chriſtian, when God ſends thee to Calvary, he ſends thee thither as a choſen veſſel, that thou ſhould'ſt there bear his Name before the World. Art thou impatient at this? What canſt thou not bear this honour thy God hath laid upon thee? Hath God choſen thee, thee amongſt all they Brethren, to do him this honour, and wilt thou be angry, that he did not ra…her chooſe ſome other? 'Twas an unworthy Anſwer, of a good Man, M…ſes, when God ſent him to Egypt, to appear for him before Pharaoh, and to be the Deliverer of his People, Exod. 4. 13. Send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt ſend. Send whom thou wilt, any body but me. By our ſinful ſhifting our ſelves of Trouble, or our Murmurings under them, we ſay the like; Send whom thou wilt to witneſs for thee, but let me go free: Let me have my eaſe, and my quiet, and my liberty, and take this honour, who will for me. Unworthy Spirits! Oh me thinks, Chriſtians, we ſhould rather ſtep one before another; and when our Lord demands, Who will go with me? Who will bear my Croſs? Me thinks we ſhould readily anſwer; I will go; let me bear it Lord; and not grudge as we do, that he puts us to it.
Our Impatience bears falſe witneſs againſt God, and his Goſpel; what's the voice or the meaning of Impatience, leſs than this?
Whatever is ſaid in honour of the Goſpel, what a bleſſedneſs, what an ineffable advantage 'tis, to all that heartily own it; yet having prov'd it, I find it even as much as nothing, by that all the coſts and charges of it are caſt up: The Comforts of it will never ballance them; ſet one againſt any other, the bad againſt the good, the bitter againſt the ſweet: Set one againſt another, and I have made but a bad Bargain, by becoming a Chriſtian. This is the Voice of Impatience. Chriſtian, Thou paſſeſt over thy Murmuring, as a light Evil; as if thy pain might excuſe they pettiſhneſs: As if it were, becauſe 'tis ſo common, a very ſmall thing: But is it nothing to bely God, to bear falſe Witneſs againſt his Goſpel? Thy Repining at the Sufferings of Chriſt, is next to Repenting that ever thou wert a Chriſtian.
Brethren, Let us do the Lord this Right, by the patience of our Spirits, to confeſs before the World, That all the ſufferings of this Life, are not worthy to be compared to the Glory that ſhall be revealed; And looking unto Jeſus, the Author and Fi…ſher of our Faith; Let us learn of him, for the Joy that is ſet before us, to indure the Croſs, and deſpiſe the Shame: That we may ſit down at his, as he is ſet down at the Right Hand of the Throne of God.
Secondly, Your patient ſuffering, will be God's Witneſs to your Adoption, Heb. 12. 7. If ye endure chaſtening, God dealeth with you as with Sons: The LORD doth not uſe to deal ſo with ſtrangers.
Afflictions are Gods Family Diſcipline. Yet mark, 'tis not, if the ſuffering alone will not prove our Son-ſhip, (the Rod is for the fools back, as well as the childs;) but patient ſuffering will, for
1. Patient ſuffering is it ſelf, an evidence of our adoption: it is the mark of the Lord Jeſus upon us. If thou haſt both the ſame lot, and the ſame ſpirit, that was upon Chriſt, there's thy Lords mark upon thee, whereby he marks thee out for one of his own. Men had need of other marks to prove them Chriſtians, than what the Rod hath made on their backs; 'tis our quiet ſubmitting to it, and that upon Goſpel grounds, as hath been before ſhewed, that muſt do it, and this will be evidence enough. None but a Son will thus ſubmit.
2. The ſuffering ſtate of Chriſtians, is ordinarily attended with other evidences. Sufferings will ſet patience on work, and patience will ſet every other grace on work. Whatſoever it be, that findes work for patience, will therein find work for faith, and love, and hope, and ſelf-denyal. Chriſtians never appear ſo much believers, ſo humble, ſo mortified, as under the Croſs. If there be any faith, or love, or hope in the heart, 'twill appear in the day of adverſity. If there be any fire under the aſhes, throw on water, and then you ſhall hear it, when, it may be before, you could ſee none there. As Solomon ſayes, folly, ſo we may ſay, wiſdom, grace is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction will fetch it out. We ſeldom know, either how bad, or how good our hearts are, till they are thus proved; This I did to prove thee, and to know what was in thine heart.
Beſides, this is the ſeaſon, when ordinarily there are moſt plentiful illapſes, and incoms from above. God ſeldom ſends ſuch Tokens of his love, as to his Children in priſon. The light of his Countenance he often reſerves for their darkeſt eſtate, he ſets to his Seal, when the Wax is on fire. There have been Chriſtians, that would never believe that they were ſuch, till God hath told it them at the ſtake; the higheſt joyes, the fulleſt ſence of everlaſting kindneſs, have been moſt ordinarily the portion of Gods Martyrs. When Hell is let looſe upon them, then Heaven is moſt open. Many Chriſtians have met with ſuch refreſhings in their bonds, that their enlargement hath been their Priſon.
If this be ſo Chriſtians, who would fear ſufferings? who would not be patient? would it comfort you, to know that God is your Father? Be patient, and you ſhall know it. What would you not bear, ſo you might be ſure you are the Lords? It may be you have been held under doubt and fears, and ſad uncertainties, hitherto all your dayes; you have gone about from duty to duty, from Ordinance to Ordinance, from Chriſtian to Chriſtian, enquiring, and mourning, and complaining, and crying out. Oh if I were ſure that Chriſt were mine; that my faith, and my love, and my hope, and my obedience were ſound, and ſincere, ſuch as would prove my adoption, then I could be quiet: Why, if ever GOD calls thee to Sufferings, follow him chearfully: He calls thee out, to prove to thee, that thou lov'ſt him: Fear not to go up with him on the Croſs, Aſſu…ance is a Fruit, that moſt ordinarily grows on that Tree.
Let hypocrites only fear ſufferings, 'twill be ſad indeed to them; there's many a ſelf-deceiving Profeſſor, that never ſuſpected himſelf to be an hypocrite, till perſecution made him an Apoſtate: that's a woful caſe, to have Sufferings come upon him for the Goſpel's ſake, only to tell him, That he hath no part in Chriſt nor his Goſpel. Let hypocrites be afraid and unquiet, but let Saints be patient. The ſame trialls which will prove them baſtards, will prove you ſons.
3. Your patient ſuffering is the cure of your Corruption. Sufferings are our medicine for corruption, and patience our cure: To what degree of patience a Chriſtian hath attain'd; that degree of power hath he gotten over iniquity. Till luſt be conquered, there's no patience: If there be but one unmortified corruption remaining, and an affliction comes and grates upon that, this will provoke; there's no bearing it. Whence is impatience, but from this, for the moſt part, that we cannot bear any violence that's offered to luſt? What is Patience, but this, that we can bear that pain, that Luſt, when pinch'd, will put us to? quietly to ſuffer, our pride, our envy, our paſſion, our ſenſual appetities, to be cut ſhort of what would gratifie them; and freely to leave them under that which comes to kill and crucifie them; to be able to want that fuell that feeds, and endure that water that doth quench theſe fires; This is Patience. When our Pride is ſtrip'd of its ornaments, our appetites depriv'd of their delicates, our covetouſneſs of its ſubſtance, our fleſh of its …aſe; and we either feel no ſmart, or can bear the ſmart of it, then we are Patient. And when we can thus leave our Corruptions, to whatever ſufferings come upon them, without taking part with them in their ſufferings; then luſt is conquered. Luſt no longer lives nor maintains its power and intereſt in us, than whileſt, in all its afflictions, we are afflicted; when we feel its ſufferings as our ſufferings, its diſappointments and diſſatisfactions as our own, and fly out againſt whatſoever falls upon it, as if it fell upon our Souls. When we can ſay, 'tis my paſſion that ſuffers, but not I; 'tis my Covetouſneſs that ſuffers, my Pride that ſuffers, but not I; and let them ſuffer (for me), let them be pinch'd, and pain'd, and ſtarved, and die; none of all this ſhall move me: nay, herein I do and I will rejoyce: There's patience. Patience is Luſt conquered.
Chriſtians, you complain of Corruption, you tell one another ſad ſtories, what a Burden, what a bondage 'tis you are under, whileſt Luſt hath ſuch power in you; what Briars and Thornes, what plagues and ſtings they are in your hearts! You pray, and you mourn, and groan, and ſigh in your ſelves, waiting for your redemption from this bondage and miſery. Oh for an humble heart; oh for a broken mortified ſpirit! oh this earthlineſs, this envy, this peeviſhneſs, this ſlothfulneſs… I am weary of my life becauſe of theſe daughters of Heth. Wretched man that I am! who ſhall deliver me from this body of death? Why, would you be delivered?
Be patient under Afflictions; they are the Executioners ſent from God to ſlay your Enemies, the M…dicines ſent from you… Phyſician to cure your Diſeaſes: Never quarrel with Affliction, unleſs you Reſolve to be friend Corruption. W…at, will you be ſo fooliſh, as not to be patient of your Diſeaſe, nor your Remedy; either bear the Croſs, or elſe never make your ſelves believe, but you can bear your ſins well enough? Whatever your Complaints are, 'tis a ſign they come not very deep; 'Tis an Argument, that ſinne ſits light, where the croſs lies ſo unſupportably heavy.
4. Your patient ſuffering, will be your Triumph over Temptation: A patient Chriſtian is a Conquerour over all the World▪ By this alone▪ naked Job overcame the Devil: When Sathan and his Inſtruments have perſecuted you into patience, they have therein brought their Neck… under you… Feet. This Brazen Wall will make their ſhort recoil on their own heads and hearts: Your Patience will be a Shield to yours, and a Sword in your Enemies Souls. Be patient, and you have won the field, and gotten the day. They will have no hope to drive you to ſin▪ where they ſee you can ſuffer. This was Job's Triumph, and ſhall be yours; In all this Job ſinned not, nor charged God fooliſhly. You may now make your boaſt in the words of the Apoſtle, Rom. 8. 35. Who ſhall ſeparate us from the love of Chriſt? Shall Tribulation, or Diſtreſs, or Perſecution, or Famine, or Na…edneſs, or Perill, or Sword? In all theſe things, we are more than Conquerours through him that loved us.
5. Your patient ſuffering, will be the improvement of your Sanctification, Heb. 12. 9, 10. We have had Fathers of our fleſh, which corrected us, and we gave them Reverence: Shall we not much rather be in ſubjection to the Father of Spirits and live? For they verily, for a few days, chaſten'd us after their pleaſure; but he, for our profit, that we might be partakers of his Holineſs. The Fathers of our fleſh correct us, and ſo doth the Father of Spirits; they, at their pleaſure; he, for our profit. You'l ſay, it may be, for what profit? What profit is there in our Blood? in our Bonds, in our Poverty? Why, there is this profit; we are hereby made partakers of his Holineſs. There's ſeldom any towardlineſs in a Child, till it be whipt into him. God's School of Affliction, is a Nurſery for Heaven: Were it not for his Houſe of Correction, Sion would quickly become as Sodom. Seldom does any come out thence, but their Complexion ſhews where they have been. 'Tis with them that feel the Hand of the Lord, as 'twas with him that ſaw his Face; his Face did ſhine; his very ſpitting in their Faces; doth waſh them the cleaner. Of all Saints, there are none raiſed ſo high towards the Third Heaven, as thoſe that have been in the Deep: No Providences give ſuch a lift to the Soul, as thoſe that moſt humble.
Chriſtians, What ever pains you travail under, believe it, the Births may be ſuch, as will make you forget your Sorrow.
I have heard of an Holy Woman, who uſed to compare her Afflictions to her Children; They both put her to great pain in the bearing; but as ſhe knew not which of her Children to be without, notwithſtanding her. Trouble in the bringing forth, ſo neither which of her Afflictions ſhe could have wanted, notwithſtand the Sorrow they put her to in the bearing, Heb. 12. 11. No chaſtning for the preſent is joyous, but grievous; but afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable Fruit of Righteouſneſs, to them that are exerciſed thereby.
Oh when you ſee the Fruit, where then will your Sorrow be? Joh. 16. 21. A Woman when ſhe is in Travail hath Sorrow, becauſe her hour is come; bue as ſoon as ſhe is deliver'd of the Child, ſhe remembreth no more the anguiſh, for joy that a Man-child is born into the World.
If the Joy of the Birth will make you forget, why ſhould not the hope of the Birth make you to bear the pain?
Beloved, Would you bring forth Fruit unto God, and will you not bear the Plough and the Harrow? Will you expect an Harveſt, and yet muſt God let you lye Fallow, and ſtill ſow among Thorns? Let me ask you, and anſwer deliberately: Would you be more holy than you are, more fruitful than you are, or would you not? If you would not, you are no Chriſtian; Si dixeris ſufficit, defeciſti: If you would, is that Deſire conditional? You would increaſe, ſo it co… you not overmuch labour and pain; That deſire comes to juſt ſo much, as no deſire at all: Or is your deſire of an increaſe, abſolute? Would you be more holy, whatever it coſt you: Do you ſo prize, and love an holy, and fruitful life, that you are heartily content, that God ſhould take his own courſe with you, ſhould take any courſe that's needful, to bring you on to it? Can you freely ſay, Oh Lord, I am weary of this Tri…ling, I am weary of this dead and barren life; Lord quicken me, Lord inlarge me, Lord perfect thy work, and fulfill in me all thy good pleaſure of thy▪ Will: So thou wilt but hear me in this thing, I freely put it into thy hand, to take thine own way, and uſe thine own means. Uſe the Word, or the Rod. Command me, or chaſtiſe me, ſpare not this fleſh for all its crying, ſtrip me of what thou wilt, inflict on me what thon wilt, throw me whither thou pleaſeſt, let me not want the moſt bitter Pill that's needful, any thing, any thing Lord; I hope I can be poor, if thou wilt have me ſo; I can be in pain, in diſgrace, if thou wilt have me: But I cannot be unholy, I cannot bear it to be ſuch a ſtarveling in the ſta…e of my Soul. Lord, for more holineſs, Lord for more life, and care, and zeal, and fruit, let me have it, upon what terms thou pleaſeſt; onelyonly let me have it. Can you ſay thus to the Lord? I hope you can; what, and yet be diſpleaſed, if he take you at your word? can you pray thus, and yet repine and murmur that the Lord hears your Prayers? Chriſtian, when the Lord comes to deal roughly with thee, entertain his chaſtiſements, whatever they be, with this thought. Now the Lord is about to give me my hearts deſire; now is my day of hope. This diſtreſs, this ſorrow and anguiſh, the Lord hath brought upon me, may be come to perform that work which I have long'd to ſee: What the Word hath been ſo long a doing, and yet is not done. What Sacraments, Prayers, Mercies, have been ſo long a doing, and yet is not done. Now is the time, this may be the means to bring it about. This bitter Cup hath health in the bottom; this Plough, and theſe deep furrows it makes, look towards an Harveſt. The work is doing that I have been ſo long a begging. This froward, this ſenſeleſs, this ſloathful, this earthly, barren heart, which I feel to day, I hope now, in a little time, I ſhall be rid of for ever. If this be the meaning of my troubles, I hope it is, I will wait, I will wait for this fruit, and if this be the fruit, oh welcome, welcome this bleſſed Providence.
6. Your patient ſuffering ſhall be the advance of your glory. Remember what I have told you already, Your ſuffering ſhall go into your reward; according to your deep poverty, ſo ſhall your riches be: As 'twas ſaid concerning Babylon, Rev. 18. 7. How much ſhe hath glorified her ſelf, and lived deliciouſly, ſo much ſorrow and torment give her. So ſhall it be ſaid concerning you; How much they have been abaſed, and afflicted for me, ſo much Joy and Glory give them. As ſure as the perſecutings of the ungodly ſhall meet them in hell; ſo certainly ſhall the Perfecutions of the Righteous, meet them before the Throne of God. This ſhall be written on their everlaſting Crowns, Here is the Patience of the Saints.
By this time you ſee Chriſtians, that a ſuffering ſtate is not ſo formidable, nor patience under it ſo impoſſible, nor your impatience ſo excuſable, as your hearts are apt to tell you. Suffering you cannot avoid, but you may abide them; your carnal hearts will cry out, I can't endure, and therefore whatever ſhift I make, I muſt avoid them. The Goſ…el tells you, You may endure; but (if you will be Chriſtians) you can't avoid them. All that will live godly in Christ Jeſus, muſt ſuffer perſecution. Well, ſince it's thus, Gird up the loins of your Minds, and follow your Lord. Conſider him that endured ſuch contradictions of Sinners, and be not weary, nor faint in your Minds: The Captain of your Salvation was made perfect through ſufferings; and (if ye will be patient) ſo ſhall you his followers. Turn to your ſtrong hold, ye Priſoners of hope; Prove to the World that your Faith is no fancy, nor▪ your Rock a refuge of lies; that your profeſſion o… holineſs is not a meer talk, or vapour. Fear not to bear yours, and thankfully accept your Lords Teſtimony; when the Lord hath fulfilled his ſad Predictions, let your faith and patience ſeal to the fulfilling his Promiſes. When…ver the hand of the Lord touches to the quick, and you feel in earneſt, that 'tis hot ſervice to be a Chriſtian; when your fleſh begins to fly in your face, and cryes out againſt your Soul, either as Zipporah againſt Moſes, … bloody Husband hast thou been to me; or as Job's Wife to him, Curſe God and die, chide it into ſilence; Thou ſpeakeſt as one of the fooliſh Women ſpeaketh. If it will ſtill kick, and fling, and groan out to thee, doeſt thou ſtill retain thy integrity? hearken not to it; leave it to groan alone; as thy fleſh hath left thy Soul to groan alone under ſin; ſo let thy Soul leave thy fleſh to groan alone, under affliction. While thy Soul is quiet, there's the glory of patience, though extremity of torment make thy fleſh to roar; nay the more the fleſh roars, and the Soul yet keeps ſilence, the more patience.
If your fears affright you, and prophecy to you before hand, oh I ſhall never be patient; if the foreſight be ſo dreadful, what will the encounter be? yet be not diſcouraged. You ſay you could be content to ſuffer, if you were ſure you could be patient; that is, you would venture into the water, if you had firſt learn'd to ſwim; why when you are in, then you will learn, and not before.
Tribulation worketh patience, where it findeth none; when you are in the fight, you'l find your Weapons; your very ſufferings will learn you to bear. 'Tis the fleſh that flings, and frets, but by that it hath been tamed in the houſe of affliction, it will be quieter. Be jealous of your ſelves while you will; let not fore-hand preſumption, hinder fore-hand prep…ration. But whileſt you ſuſpect your ſelves, diſtruct not your God; follow the Cloud of Witneſſes, and lean on the Rock of Ages; and when you are put hardeſt to it, let your Soul take Sanctuary here, When my fleſh and my heart faileth me, God is the ſtrength of mine heart, and my portion for ever.
Laſtly, As that wherein I ſhall take in moſt of theſe former particulars. Let your lives anſwer that Spirit of holineſs which the Goſpel hath powred forth upon you; Let your lives be gracious and holy lives. Particularly,
1. Let the grace of the Goſpel be viſible, and conſpicuous in your lives; ſhew forth the vertues▪ of him that hath called you out of darkneſs, into his marvellous light; Let your lives be the Image of that holy Doctrine, or the holding forth of that word of life, which you have received. Admire that grace of God, which hath appeared to you; and let his Grace appear, and be admired in you; let Grace appear in you, in its
Purity,
Power.
1. In its Purity, repreſent your God, and your Chriſt, and your Religion, in its holineſs, to the World. Teach the World to love, or at leaſt, to reverence holineſs, by letting them ſee it before their eyes.
Holineſs hath ſuch a glory in it, that it will command reſpect and reverence, when it is clearly ſeen. Let your paths be pure; as God hath ſeparated you, ſo ſeparate your ſelves from the luſts of men, to the Law of your God. Keep your ſelves upright in thee ſight of God; keep your ſelves unſpotted of the World; if they will be ſpotting of you, let it be onelyonly with your beauty ſpots; your Wiſdom, Truth, Holineſs, Mercy, Meekneſs, Patience; the Excellencies, and Vertues of your god appearing upon you. Let this, that you are too pure, too preciſe, too tender, too watchful, too fearful of ſin, too zealous againſt ſin, be all they have to charge you with.
Keep thee from thine own Iniquities; ſay not ſo much as this, I am my beloveds, and my beloved muſt be mine. Kick out thy Dalilahs. Thou muſt part with thy darling, or thy God; Let there be no ſecret league, let there be no peace, betwixt thy Soul and any Iniquity; to which thou mayſt either ſteal out, to delight thee, or turn in to hide thee; let no iniquity be thy leiſure or protection; if when thou art purſued by a perſecuter, any ſin, as Jacl to Siſera, ſhould call to thee, turn in hither, and thou mayſt eſcape, remember the nail, and the hammer; let no iniquity find a corner in thee to lodge in quiet, that thou mayſt not think to find a corner with it, where thou mayſt lodg in ſafety; ſay to all thy ſinful delights, and ſinful hopes, get you gone, I will neither love you, nor truſt you; however thy ſin may pleaſe thee, whatever it may promiſe thee, be ſure thou wilt find it a ſting in thy Soul, and a ſtain upon thy glory.
Keep your ſelves from the ſins of others, beware of the Leaven, of the proud Phariſee, of the formal and vain-glorious Scribe, of the extorting Publican, of the debauched Prodigal, the ambitious Diotre…hes, the vir…lent Tertullus, the backſliding Demas; beware of all Epidemical Leaven, the ſickneſs of the Times you may live in: Take heed leſt you be dtawn away with the Errours of the Wicked, and ſo ſwimming down the Stream, you fall from your own ſtedfaſtneſs: Let ſinners come up to you, go not you down to them.
Let them never ſay of any of you, The Man is become as one of us; our ſpot is become the ſpot of his Children. Let your Lives be a rebuke to the ungodly World, whil'ſt you live as the Children of GOD, without rebuke in the midſt of the World.
2. In its Power; Let the power of Grace be ſeen, in its preſerving its ſelf, in its Being, and vigorous Exerciſe, againſt all the Powers of Hell: The ſt…ength of a Man is ſeen in this, that he can bear Wind and Weather; can live any where, without impairing his Heal…h: The ſtrength and mettal of a Sword is ſeen in this, that Iron will not turn its edge: True Grace is ſuch a Plant, that all the Weeds of the Field, and Thorns of the Forreſt, are not able to choke: That will indure not onelyonly the Summers Heat, but the Winters Froſts.
Chriſtians, prove your Gr…ce to be a right Plant, the right Seed, the Seed of God; let it bear up againſt all the World▪ Let not the Winds of Perſecution put out your Light; nor the Waters caſt out of the Serpents Mou…h▪ quench your Love, nor ſo much as cool your Zeal; eſpecially take heed, that the D…agon's Tail do not draw you down amongſt the Falling Stars. You know what a World you live in; You know the old Quarrel, betwixt the Seed of the Woman, and the Serpent, both what it is, and that it hath been kept on foot, through all Ages, to this day.
You know the [White] at which Sathan, and all his Archers, have been ſo long Levelling, and ſo ho…ly diſcharging; The White Stone in your Breaſts, the White Robe on your Backs: A good Conſcience, and a Holy Life, are the Mark, upon which all the Fury of Earth and Hell is ſpent. Oh now prove your Grace to be Grace, by its preſerving it ſelf againſt all this Violence. Let the Devil ſee you will be Holy, whether he wil or no: Let the evilworld ſee, you wily be godly, do what they can; though they may make you poor, and deſtitute, and naked, yet let them deſpair of ever making you ungodly: Let G…ace hereby appear to be Grace, and the mighty power of God in you: Which that it may do,
2. Let Grace ripen towards Glory; let not the ſcorching Sun wither your Bloſſoms, but ripen your F…uit. If you would hold out, get you on: If you would not have your ſomething to come to just nothing, increaſe your Store. Let your Spark grow up into a Flame, your Grain of Muſtard-Seed into a Tree. I tell you a Myst…ry, The talleſt Cedars on God's Mountain will beſt eſcape the Wind, whil'ſt the lower Shrubs are in greater danger of being overturned; if you would ſtand ſure, get you up on the higher ground.
Chriſtia…s, Befool the Devil, let him ſee himſelf a Loſer, by all his ſtirs he makes againſt you. It is not the fi…ſt time, that his croſs Winds have prov'd the moſt auſpicious Gales, to put the Saints the ſooner into Harbour. What he hath intended for a withering Storm, hath often prov'd a fruitful Dew: Thoſe very Clouds he expected ſhould rain down Snares, have often drop'd down Fatneſs: If you will go on, Hell ſhall hel… you forward; the Devil's Rods on your back, ſhall but help to mend your pace; his Thorns ſhall be Spurs in your ſides: By ſtripping you of your fleſhly Delights, he ſhall but ſtarve your Luſts, his Friends; his Burthens ſhall be your Ballaſt, to make your Courſe more ſteady: Chriſtians are ſeldom in ſuch a thriving and proſperous ſtate, as when they are juſt come out of the hands of a perſecuting Devil.
Chriſtians, grow in Grace; there's no Seaſon▪ but may be a growing Seaſon: Grow in Grace, and in the knowledg of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt: Let that Living Spring, which is broken forth in you, be like the Waters of the Sanctuary, Ezek 4. 7. Which at their firſt Riſing, were but up to the Ankles; but a little further were up to the Knees, a little further they were up …o the Loins, and at length they grew to a g…eat River, Waters to ſwim in, the bottom whereof could not be felt. It may be the Waters of Grace do yet run low with thee, a little Bay will ſtop, or turn the ſtream; thou art yet gotten but to Ankle deep, or Knee deep, get thee on, ſtay not, till thy Spring become a River; let every Day, every Duty, every Experience, yea every Affliction, adde to thy ſtreams; that as the acceſſion of every little Brook to the main Channel, raiſes the Water as it paſſes along, ſo it may be with thy Soul; that the farther thou goeſt on, the fuller thy Banks may be, till thou comeſt to be like Jordan in the Harveſt, whoſe Waters fill all its Banks. To quicken thee on in this growth in Grace, conſider,
1. That a little Grace will make but poor work with thy mighty ſins; where Grace is low, Luſt is high; and how is an Infant like to ſtand before a Man of War?
2. That a little Grace will not ſuffice, to bear thee up in great Afflictions; that which thou may…ſt make a ſhift with in a Calm, will not ſerve thee in a Storm.
3. That a little Grace will be ſadly put to it, if ever thou come to have but little means of Grace.
4. That he that hath but little Grace, is like to have no Aſſurance that he hath any at all. If thou would'ſt have power over Corruption, if thou would'ſt ſtand in the Day of Temptation, if thou would'ſt not ſtarve in the day of Famine, if thou would'ſt have the comfort of the Grace thou haſt, let it grow up to its fuller ſtature; Grace, when it is come to Age, will ſpeak for it ſelf, and ſhift for it ſelf the better; which whil'ſt it is in its Infancy, neither knows, nor can help it ſelf.
Chriſtians, let your Grace grow, and let the Fruits of it increaſe: Let your Fields ripen to the Harveſt. I may ſay concerning Sinners, no… as our Lord ſaid, Behold, the Fields are already white to he Harveſt; but behold the Fields are already black to the Harveſt. The Word is ready to be given▪ Come, put in thy Sickle, the Harveſt is ripe, the wickedneſs is great. The Fields of Tares are already black to the Harveſt: But oh when ſhall it be ſaid of you: Behold the Fields are white to the Harvest? Shall evil Weeds grow ſo faſt, and ſhall onelyonly the good Corn be at a ſtand?
Brethren, Let your Fruits grow more plentiful, and more perfect daily: Let that Scripture be verified in you, Prov. 4. 18. The path of the Juſt is a ſhining Light, that ſhineth more and more unto the perfect day. Let your hearts be ſo fill'd with the fulneſs of God, that your Paths may drop fatneſs. Let it be ſaid of you, as of the Spouſe, Cant. 4. 18. and Chap. 5. 5. Her Lips dropped as the Honey Comb, and her hands dropped ſweet ſmelling Myrrhe. Let your Lips drop as the Honey Comb; as you have drunk in the Milk and Honey, that comes down from above, ſo be ever dropping it down to others: Let ſomething of the ſweetneſs, ſomething of the fatneſs, that you have receiv'd from above, be always dropping down: Be dropping▪ according to what you have drank: As you ſee Sinners, of whom 'tis ſaid, They drink iniquity, to be always dropping iniquity; dropping Oaths, dropping Lies, dropping Scoffs and Reproaches: So let it be ſaid of you, They drink the Dew of Heaven, and this they are dropping down. Let no Child, no Servant, no Friend, come into your Company, and go away without ſome ſweet Drops from your Lips: A word of Heavenly Inſtruction, a gracious Admonition, a word of Encouragement, or a quickning Word, let them have; or lift up a prayer, and drop down a bleſſing upon them. Something or o…her of the Dew of Heaven let them feel flowing from our Lips.
Let your Lips drop as the Honey Comb, and your Hands drop ſweet ſmelling Myrrhe. Let your Holy Practices, your Holy Examples, ſecond, and ſet on your wholeſom Counſels and Inſtructions. Let your words be ſavoury, and your works be gracious: Let Lip and Life ſpeak the ſame things, and lead on the ſame way.
Chriſtians, By your nurſing up the Souls, and Fruits of others, you will ripen and increaſe your own. If you ſhould look on all the Fruit as little, which your ſelves have brought forth to God, you will have this to comfort you, That you have born more upon your Brethren's knees: The Fruits of thoſe Fields which you have planted, or water'd, will abound to your account.
Bring forth much Fruit unto God, and be much in immediate converſe with God, Phil. 3. 20. Our Converſation is in Heaven. Be more elevated and raiſed in your Spirits daily, above Things Senſual and Carnal.
Above Carnal Delights.
Above Carnal Diſcouragements.
1. Above Carnal Delights; Live more purely in the Spirit, let your Hearts be wrought up to ſuch a Spiritual Frame; That all the Joys, Pleaſures, and Comforts, of your Lives may be Spiritual. Let the Lord be all your delight, Pſal. 37. 5. Let it be with you as much as may be, as it is with the Saints already in Glory; to whom God is all; who being changed into his Image, and dwelling in his preſence, are ſatisfied in him. Let God alone, be as much to you, as God and all the World. Let the Faſhions, and Pleaſures▪ and Delights of this World, be ſo much beneath your Spirits, that it may neither be an abatement of your Joy, to want; nor an Addition to your Content, to poſſeſs them. Let the Light of all theſe lower Sparks, be ſwallow'd up in God; when the Sun ſhines, all the Stars diſappear, and are not needed.
Lift up thine Eyes Chriſtian, and ſee, what pleaſures there are within the Veil: Come, drink thy fill of this new Wine, let thy Faith draw the Curtains of Eternity, and take a view of thoſe heights, & depths, …nd lengths, and breadths, of that Glory and Joy, which there it may diſcover. Look on him that ſits on the Throne, and thoſe everlaſting Treaſures of Light, Holineſs, Goodneſs, and Mercy, which are …treaming from his Face▪ on thoſe overflowing Bowels of Kindneſs and Compaſſion; on thoſe Rivers of pure and Ete…nal Pleaſures, Reſt, and Peace, that riſe from that Glorious Throne, and run through the City of God. Behold the Tree of Life, and feed thy Soul on its pretious Fruit, whoſe very Leaves are for the healing of Nations. Hearken to, and fill thine Ears and Heart with, thoſe Triumphs and Exultations, thoſe Reptures and Extaſies, of unſpeakable and glorious Joys; thoſe Bleſſings and Praiſings, thoſe Hallelujahs that are tuned upon the Hearts and Tongues of the Heavenly Chore, the glorious Angels, and the Spirits of juſt men made perfect, by the viſion and fruition of thy God, the God of Glory.
Look on, and poſſeſs, this Joy and Glory; Say to thy Soul, as God … Abraham, Gen. 13. 14. Lift up thine Eyes, and look from the place where thou art, Northward, and Southward, and Eaſtward, and Weſtward, though all the Coaſts, and all the Dimenſions of the Bleſted Land of Promiſe, and Holy City; and then ſay, Come Soul, take up thy reſt here, all this is thine,
Look and love, love and long, long and hope, hope and rejoyce in hope, of this glory of God. Look on thy God, and never leave looking, till thou art changed into his Image, and ſatisfied with his Image; And here let thy delight and thy dwelling be.
2. Above all carnal diſcouragements, from any adverſaries, or dangers, wherewith you are baited and affrighted, as you walk in the Lord; let the joy of the Lord be your ſtrength, let your Sun be your ſhield, let your hope be your confidence, and fear not your du…y nor danger. Look to your hope, and you will laugh at fear. Dwell in your Reward, and you will not be afraid to dwell in your Duty: But of this, a word more by and by. Thus much for general Directions.
2. I ſhall next give you ſome ſpecial Directions for your daily walk.
Generalls neceſſarily depend on, and ſubſiſt in, Particulars. As there can be no Religion in a Kingdome, unleſs it be firſt in particular Families, nor none in Families▪ unleſs it be in particular perſons; ſo a general courſe of Chriſtianity there cannot be, unleſs it be ſupported in our particular daily walk.
The Advice I am giving you, I have in part borrowed for your uſe, which ſome of you may poſſibly have received elſewhere.
Before I give you the particular Directions, I ſhall firſt premiſe theſe things:
1. Count upon this, That the Directions I am now giving you, (if you ever mean to bring it to any thing) will coſt you pains and labour: and how can you count your ſelves Chriſtians, if you refuſe to be at the neceſſary coſt of Chriſtianity? If you think to be Chriſtians without labour, or if you wil… ſtand out from Chriſtianity, to ſave your labour, you are alike wiſe in both. Either come to a Reſolution to fall upon an induſtrious painful life, or 'twill be in vain to give you counſel.
2. Practice▪ the Directions I ſhall give you in purſuance of your Covenant with God; wherein you have engaged to take the ſtricteſt ſevereſt Laws of Chriſt, for the Rule of your Life. What I am preſſing on you, for the matter of it, is no more than you have bound your ſelves to, as Chriſtians. Remember your Bonds, and let this holy practice be followed on by you, as the paying your Vows. Remember daily, the Vows of God are upon you, and there is not any material thing here preſcribed to you, which falls not under your vows. Your Covenant, if your eye be much upon it, will be a cord to hold you to your work.
3. Preſs hard for ſenſible Communion with God in all your Duties.
4. Keep up a ſpiritual and holy Frame from Duty to Duty. Remember what I have elſewhere ſpoken to you more at large, on theſe two Particulars. See that there be Religion in your Duties, and confine not your Religion to your Duties.
5. Be Watchful. The Life of all Religion lies much here; whatever you reſolve upon, will come to nothing without it. Watchfulneſs is the Executioner of your Will. Let your eye be upon your Rule, and your Work. Eſpecially watch againſt your prevailing ſins. There's no Chriſtian that obſerves himſelf, but may find ſome one ſin or more, that in regard of their power over him, are taller by the head and ſhoulders than all the reſt. In ſome Pride, in others Worldlineſs, in others Paſſion, in others Slothfulneſs. It may be, if thou ſearcheſt, ſome one of theſe four, or poſſibly ſome other, may be it, that by a Specialty thou may'ſt call [thine Iniquity.] Find out what it is, and know, that there thy main Work lyes. In vain wilt thou ſtrive in other duties, till that which hinders be removed out of the way. Fight neither againſt ſmall nor great, but againſt the King of Iſrael. Where the Enemy moſt ordinarily makes his breach upon thee, ſet the ſtronger Guard. Let thy daily conflicts be here, and obſerve diligently, with what ſucceſs.
6. Walk on thy courſe in the Name and ſtrength of the Lord Jeſus. Live by Faith. Depend on Chriſt for the aſſiſtance of his mighty Spirit. Forget not this, for otherwiſe thou wilt go but lamely on.
Theſe things premiſed, I ſhall now give you the particular Directions.