The Godly Mans Portion and Sanctuary Opened, Discourse (2 of 3)

The Godly Mans Portion and Sanctuary Opened · Discourse (2 of 3)

p. 432. In Fidelity, his Work are according to his Word. 1 King. 8. 24. Thou haſt ſpoken with thy mouth▪ and haſt fulfilled with thin… hand in thy faithfulneſs thou haſt afflicted me. Pſal. 119. Not onelyonly in thy faithfulneſs thou haſt ſaved me, in thy faithfulneſs thou haſt comforted me, in thy faithfulneſs thou haſt ſuccoured me; but in thy faithfulneſs thou haſt afflicted me; in thy faithfulneſs thou haſt humbled, and broken me, and caſt me down. The promiſe of God is, that we ſhall want nothing; we ſhall neither want his Staffe, nor his Rod; neither comforts p. 44nor croſſes; neither joys nor ſorrows; we cannot well want either, and we ſhall want neither, becauſe God is faithful. You may not onelyonly write down with the Apoſtle, God is faithfull, and will not ſuffer you to be tempted above that which you are able to bear; but you may write alſo, God is faithful, and will not ſuffer you to want a temptation. When 'tis ſeaſonable, your hear…s ſhall be glad; and if need be, for a ſeaſon you ſhall be in heavineſs. God is faithfull, he will ever be true to himſelf, and therefore to you. 2 Tim. 2. 9. He abideth faithfull, he cannot deny himſelf. Should he be falſe to his People he cannot be true to himſelf, to his purpoſe and promiſe; his Word is not yea and nay. God is not as a man, that he ſhould lye, or the Son of man, that he ſhould repent; that he ſhould ſay, and unſay; that he ſhould ſay, and not do; you may write Gods name upon every word he hath ſpoken, you may write his Name [I Am] upon all that he hath ſaid: It ſhall be.

Now Chriſtians, put theſe three Particulars together, and if you cannot ſpell out the concluſion out of them, the Providence of God will certainly accompliſh his good Purpoſe and Promiſe concerning you: You are of little Underſtanding as well as of little Faith.

If God governs the World, and nothing comes to paſs but by his Providence; if Providence governs according to Gods Purpoſe and Promiſe; if Providence cannot fail of accompliſhing both;

If God be Almighty and can, if God be Wiſe and knowes how, if God be Faithfull and true, let the Devil if he can, with all his Sophiſtry, evade the Concluſion, That he will certainly do all that good p. 45for you, which he hath purpoſed and promiſed: If God be not able to perform, he is not good; if he miſtake his way, if he uſe impertinent, improper means, he is not the All-wiſe God. If he do not actually perform what he is able, and knows how to do, when he hath ſaid it, he ceaſes to be the true God: So that the matter is brought plainly to this Iſſue; If God be God, if God be the All-wiſe God, if God be the true and faithful God, this Word which he hath ſpoken, [All things ſhall work together for good to thoſe that love God,] ſhall not fail of its accompliſhment in its ſeaſon.

Having thus proved the Doctrine, I ſhall, after I have added a few words by way of Caution, and anſwered an Objection or two againſt the Sence, I have given, of this Promiſe, and ſubjoyned a few particular Inferences, deſcend to the general Application.

1. By way of Caution.

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

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

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

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

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

Againſt this bleſſed Truth, there are ſome Objections; as,

Object. 1. Can it ever be ſaid, That the removall of the Goſpel, and the Preaching of it, can be for good?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Firſt, for their Bibles, two Things:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Whatever ſcarcity there be, this is certain not one of them ſhall want a Viaticum, to bring them to the… Journeys end. God will not ſuffer one of his Ele… to ſtarve or periſh in the way: There ſhall not fa… means of one kind or another, till the whole Bod… …e perfected and built up: Till (we all) come unto p…rfect Man, unto the meaſure of the stature of the fulneſs of Chriſt.

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

1. For who knows, when ever the Miniſtry is removed, but it may be in orde… to a greater Glory: it's Return? Perhaps, God's ſending away Paſto… from a People, may be as Paul's abſence from the p. 55Romans, that they may return, in the fulneſs of the bleſſing of the Goſpel: Or as Oneſimus his departing from Philemon: Perhaps, they therefore depart for a ſeaſon, that they may be received for ever: Or, if this ſhould not be the caſe of any particular Church, if they ſhould return no more; yet,

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

3. The failing of the Word, will bring back to their Memories, and upon their own Hearts, that which they have receiv'd; and as the emptineſs of the Stomach, will cauſe a ſecond and better Concoction, and turn it into better nouriſhment; when there are no more Loaves, they'l gather up the Fragments, that nothing be loſt; the leſs there is, more to be h…d; the more reckoning, and the better uſe they will make of what they h…ve; their preſent want, will be a rebuke of their former wantonneſs: their want of Remembrancers, will help their Mercies, and p. 56whet their Appetites. Every old truth, that hath been too much laid by, will then be pretious.

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

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

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

Here two things.

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

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

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

From the former Scriptures note,

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

2. All the wants and ſtraits of the Saints, are before the Lord. [I the Lord will hear.] Chriſtians, though thoſe that ſhould, will not, yet he that can, will hear the cryes of your Souls; all your faintings, and pantings, and longings for the water of life, are before your e…es, and come up into the eares of the Lo…d of Sabbath.

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

4. Gods extraordinary Proviſions ſhall not be ſcant…, and penurious, but rich and plentifull. 'Tis not ſome drops, or now and then a draught, a little to ſtay the longing, or barely enough to keep them alive; he prepares them Rivers, Fountains, Pools, Springs of water, [I will open Rivers in the high places, Fountains in the Vallies, &c.] Whereever they be caſt, in the high places, in the Vallies, in the Wilderneſs, in the dry Lands, whereever they be caſt, I will cauſe Proviſion enough to meet them; though they have neither Bag nor Bottle, nor any thing to carry with them, they ſhall not want; the River ſhall meet them, Springs ſhall ariſe and break forth to them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And ſo at leng…h you ſee this Bleſſed, Glorious, Comfor…able Truth, ſtands it's Ground, and Triumphs over whatever hath any Shadow of Contradiction to it.

By the way, learn hence two Things:

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

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

By this time you ſee ſomething of the Riches of this Promiſe: God is in the promiſe; the God of Peace, the God of Power, the God of Patience, the God of Hope; the heart of God, the help of God, the preſence of God; by vertue whereof, all that ever befalls them ſhall work for their good. Methinks the hearing of this Promiſe opened, ſhould ſet your Souls, and all that is within you a crying out, Oh that this were my portion! Where ever my Lott do fall, as to outward things, though in a priſon, though in a deſert, though on a dung-hill; let the lott of my Soul lye in this Promiſe, The God of Peace ſhall be with you. W…y Brethren, will you take up with Godlineſs: you have learned, and received, and heard the Word of the Lord; the Word of Faith, the Word of righteouſneſs, and holineſs, will you hearken to, will you obey theſe words? Theſe things do, and the God of Peace ſh…ll be with you.

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

Oh that I could perſwade you in thither, and there leave you; if you are once in the Lords Arms, you are ſafe enough, into what ever hands you fall.

p. 67Uſe. By way of Application, let me once more ſpeak a few words,

1. To the Ungodly.

2. To the Godly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2. Give a preſent Bill of Divorce to every ſinne; hug not Death one minute longer in thy Boſom: If thou loveſt thy Life, ſay not of any one ſinne, Nothing but Death ſhall part thee and me: No, nor ſo much as this, Yet a little while, and I will let thee go. To day, to day, if you will hear his voice▪ hearden not your hearts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

p. 78Convinced Soul! How wilt thou bear the revenges of an awakened abuſed Conſcience? all thy bafflings of it here will be repeated over in eternity: How will all this look when it ſhall meet thee before thy Judge? Save thy ſelf from that hour: Baffle not Conſcience once more.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Remember theſe Seven Words when I am gone:

1. Get a deep Senſe of thy dreadful ſtate.

2. Abandon preſently every ſin.

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

4. Shake off every ſinful Companion.

5. Baffle not Conſcience once more.

6. Make a preſent Cloſe with Chriſt.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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