Living Truths in Dying Times, Tract (2 of 3)

Living Truths in Dying Times · Tract (2 of 3)

p. 777. It is a great mercy to be preſerved through publike calamities, if you conſider God often makes the iſſue of it the inabling the ſoul to be more for God, and to walk more with him than ever at former times, Iſa. 37.31. And the remnant that is eſcaped of the houſe of Judah, ſhall again take root downwards, and bear fruit upward: It hath a ſpiritual as well as a litteral ſence, no doubt, They ſhall be a rooted people, and alſo a fruitful people: it is a mercy when God makes the iſſue of theſe Diſpenſations, the purging of us, to make us bring forth more fruit; the fire of affliction, a means for their purging, and conſequently of their bearing more fruit to th… praiſe of God: So Iſa. 10.20, 21. And it ſhall come to paſs in that day, the remnant ſhall return, even the remnant of Jacob to the mighty God. We are apt to be running from God, but there ſhall be an eſcaping remnant, and what ſhall the iſſue of it be? They that return unto the Lord, God ſhall have more of their hearts then ever he had before. This is a great mercy, and doubtleſs the ſoul ſhould admire it, and ſeek it; which leads me to the third p. 78thing in the Doctrine, namely, that it is that that gracious ſouls ſhould put out hard after, to be delivered and preſerved in the times of publike calamities.

You ſhall find ſometimes the people of Go… have been very earneſt for the dive …ng a judgement, for the taking of it off if it might be; that was the caſe of Abraham, Oh how he pleads for poor Sodom! And in times when that cannot be prevailed for, how do the people of God ſue for particular preſervation! That they may be the ſpared people; the Prophet Jeremiah begs this mercy from God, Jer. 17.16, 17. As for me, I have not haſtened, &c. Oh, ſaies he, I have not done any thing toward the pulling down of theſe troubles: I have not indeavoured to haſten them; Lord let not me feel the dread and terror of them: here I ſay the good man is begging for an immunity and freedom, for a particular preſervation in times and days of evil: So David, Pſal. 71.2. He is alſo lodging ſome requeſts in the boſom of the Lord, Deliver me in thy righteouſneſs, cauſe me to eſcape; let me be of the p. 79eſcaping ſide, and in the number of thoſe whom thou wilt preſerve: and ſo alſo in the prophecy of Joel, ſuch kind of counſel is given, in Joel 2. There was a day of great diſtreſs and trouble in verſ. 1. Blow ye the trumpet in Sion, &c. Well, but what muſ… we do at ſuch a time? why in verſ. 17. Let the Prieſts the Miniſters of the Lord ſtand between the Temple and the Altar, and cry, Lord ſpare thy people, &c. Whatever thou doeſt, and whatever ſad providences be abroad, Oh, ſaith he, Spare thy people: That was the thing they ſhould ſeek and begg at the hands of God; and truely could we pray more, and ſeek more, who knoweth what might be done? In Iſa. 37. you find there King Hezekiah ſends to the Prophet, and bids him lift up a prayer for the remaining remnant, at verſ. 4. It may be the Lord thy God will hear, &c. Wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left: Here are ſome eſcaped out of the hand of the King of Aſſyria, Oh, ſaith he, Pray unto the Lord, and beg hard, that this eſcaping remnant may be delivered from the rage of the King of Aſſyria, and may not fall by the p. 80ſtroke of his hand: Thus we ſhould beg for preſervation in times of common calamity: how and in what manner, and at what rate this prayer is to be managed, will be ſhewed in the next Doct…ine. And if you would know the reaſon why we ſhould beg this mercy, much might be ſaid, but onelyonly this ſhall ſuffice.

1. Becauſe it is a mercy of great worth, and therefore ſhould be greatly ſought; and alſo I might ſay, it is the p…oper means to fetch down this and every other mercy; and therefore if we would have it, we muſt ſet to the ſeeking of it.

But here an Objection may be made againſt what I have ſaid, If we ſhould beg preſervation in times of common calamity, what ſhall we ſay of David? 2 Sam. 24.17. And David ſpake unto the Lord, &c. I have been ſhewing you that Saints ſhould beg preſervation in common calamities, and David here he begs deſtruction, And did he do well in it? I ſay, he begs he may be deſtroyed, or at leaſt it ſeems as if he did; he doth not ſay, Lord preſerve me and my fathers houſe, but, Let thine hand be p. 81againſt me, I pray thee, and againſt my fathers houſe; and therefore now ſh…ll we reconcile theſe, and bring them together?

I anſwer therefore in two or three things plainly thus.

1. David he ſpeaks this, becauſe he ſuppoſed that a ſtrictneſs of ju…tice required it ſhould be ſo; he it was th t was the onelyonly offending perſon, it was the numbering the people that cauſed God to ſend this judgement, and that David did, and no body elſe, therefore he could not but confeſs that in ſtrictneſs of juſtice he ſhould have dyed, and the people have lived, and therefo…e he could not but ſay, Lord let thy hand be upon me, but as for theſe ſheep what have they done?

2. This is to be conſidered, that it is a p…rticular caſe, we have not the like of it that I know; it was the puniſhment of a pa…ticular ſin, and David had choſen the puniſhment, he had ſubmitted himſelf to it, and beforehand given himſelf up to the ſtroke of God; for the Prophet comes unto him, and tells him, he had ſinned, and now he muſt fall under one of the three p. 82judgements, ſword, famine, or peſtilence; and therefore, ſaith he, Let us have the Peſtilence; it was his own ſin, and he choſe the judgement, and therefore he ſuppoſed it was his due to ſuffer becauſe he had ſinned.

And 3. It argues his great love to the people, he would willingly have dyed if their lives might have been ſaved; and I know not but another might ſay in ſuch a caſe, Lord, if the hand of God being upon me, might ſave many others, let it be ſo: Not that he did ſimply deſire to fall under the ſtroke, but conditionally, if his life might ſave the lives of others: But this was a particular caſe. Now the judgement of God as it comes among us, we know not who it is particularly pointed at; it is our duty in the mean time to ſeek unto God that we may be his hidden ones in the day of his anger.

Thus I have diſpatcht the doctrinal part, the Application now remains.

Is it true that it is a great honor, and a mercy much to be ſought for, to out-live a diſtre…s and common calamity? p. 83Then what ſhall we ſay to the deſperate wickedneſs of thoſe that run themſelves upon the judgements of God? I mean, that do the things, and go on deſperately in the ſins that ſeldom find an eſcape under ſuch judgements? Ah, my friends, we are a people wi…h whom God is contending, his hand is lifted up, Oh that the…e were none found among us pertinaciouſly going on in thoſe deſperate ways of ſin and …ebellion, that are uſually attended with deſtruction and deſolation. My friends, let me tell you, the men that adhere to, and are found readily going on in the ways of ſin, that provoke to deſolation, their caſe is very deſperate: Oh that we could all with brokenneſs of heart, mourn over ſuch a generation! That we could lay their caſe to heart! It is a dreadful thing to ſtand before the ſtroke of Divine indignation, a dreadfull thing to dare the God of heaven to his face, to bid defiance to him, as if he ware not a God of power, as if there were no dread in his judgements, as if ſtanding before his rebuke were an eaſie matter. But you will ſay, Are there any ſo deſp…rate in common p. 84calamities to dare God to his face? I wiſh there were none. But I ſhall tell you of ſix or ſeven things that God hath reſolved thoſe that be found under ſuch ſins, they ſhall not be of the eſcaping remnant.

1. Such as grievouſly corrupt the worſhip of God, when he cometh forth in ways of judgement he ſometimes determines againſt them that they ſhall not eſcape, Ezek. 5.10, 11. Wherefore as I live ſaith the Lord God, becauſe thou haſt defiled my Sanctuary with thy deteſtable things, mine eyes ſhall not ſpare, &c. Oh miſerable! how ſad is the caſe of ſuch a people? I will follow thee without mercy, thou ſhalt ha…e no mercy in ſuch a day: here is the ſin, grievous corrupting the worſhip of God, and Gods determination concerning ſuch, he will deſtroy them utterly: Oh ſtand at a diſtance from ſuch a people, it will be ſad to have any thing to do with them in ſuch a day, Iſa. 13.19. And Babylon the glory of Kingdoms, &c. And at verſ. 15. Every one that is found ſhall be thruſt through, and every one that is joyned to her ſhal be thruſt through, &c.

2. Corruption in worſhip, which p. 85God hath witneſſed againſt: when God comes to judge for ſuch things, there is ſeldom any eſcaping, ſer. 11.10, 11, 12. They are turned back to the iniquity of their forefathers &c. Mark, ſaies God, they live in the ſins of their fore-fathers, ſins that I miſliked, reproved, and puniſhed in them; and Therefore thus ſaith the Lord, I will bring evil upon them that they ſhall not eſcape; nay, though they cry to me, I will not hear them: though they would then come to me, and f…wn upon me, and be glad of protection and preſervation, I will not hear them; and wo to them upon whom this lot lights. I may allude to that that you have in Ezra 9.14 Should we again break thy commandments, and joyn our ſelves in affinity with the people in theſe abominations? &c. Mark, we were a vile people, and lived in a great many ſins, what then ſhould we return unto them again? if we ſhould do ſo, the vengeance of God would reſt upon us, ſo that we ſhould be ſure there ſhould ſcarce be any eſcaping for us.

3. Sinning under Gods warnings, … duely minding of them, whether in p. 86his wo…d, or by his works; ſuch a people ſh…ll eſcape very ha…dly, if at all, Jer. 13.10 This ev…l people which refuſe to hear my words, &c. An in v r 13, 14. Then ſhalt thou ſay unto them I will d…ſh them one againſt another, &c. It is a dreadful thing to ſin againſt fair warning, I will ruine them u…terly: Yea if the warning be by the works of God; What then? Why if there be not warning taken, what will come of it? Iſa 5.11.12. Wo to them …hat riſe up early, &…. But re…ard not the works of the Lord nor conſider the operation of his hands. I beſeech you mind it; by the works of God, I underſtand his works of p ovidence, by whic… he ſpeaketh ter…i le t…ings: Well, what …o they do in ſuch a d…y? Why they drown all theſe voices in their cups: Now what ſh…ll come of theſe? that you have in ver. 13.14. Therefore my people are gone into captivity, &c. It is a full text to my purpoſe; a people that God warns by his word and by his works, and yet would not take warning: Hell hath opened her mouth, &c. they ſhall go by thouſands to hell and to the grave, for the original word ſignifieth both.

p. 874. Covenant-breaking is a ſin, that where-eve… God finds it, in the day of his judgements, they upon whoſe skirts thi… ſin is found, do hardly eſcape. In Jer. 34 8. If you read on ſeveral verſes, you ſhall find that Zedekiah made a co…enant, and he after breaks the Covenant; and ſee what comes of breach of covenant, in verſ. 17, 18. Therefore thus ſaith the Lord, &c. This ſhall be your judgement, ſays he, the judgement of the God of heaven ſhall be ſure to light upon you that have broken the Coven…nt: look Ezek. 17.15, 16 But he rebelled againſt him, &c. Shall he break the covenant and be delivered? ſurely no ſuch matter

5. Hard dealings with the people of God, which is ſuch a ſin that when God comes to deal for it, thoſe that are found in that ſin hardly eſcape. There is much in the Scripture to this purpoſe; you have one p…ſſage very ſuitable in …er. 25.12, 13, 14. And it ſhall come to paſs when ſeventy years are accompliſhed, &c. It is a ſtrange Scripture, if you conſider it well: The people of Iſrael by Gods ordination were p. 88to be ſeventy years captive in Babylon, and yet, ſaith he, when this captivity ſhall have an end, I will be ſure to puniſh them, that is Babylon, they ſhall be ſu…e not to eſcape the ſad p ovidences that God will bring them under. Now tho…gh perſecutors in perſecution do nothing bu… by Gods permiſſion, yet he will …uniſh them for it; and the reaſon is in Ezek. 25.15 I will deſtroy them utterly, I will cut off the remnant, &c. Why ſo? B…cauſe thoug… I put my people into their hands, they did not deal with you, becauſe I put them upon it, but they acted from a principle of rage and malice. And truely, ſouls, whoever are found under any ſuch ſins as theſe, the Lord give them repentance, or it is like to go very ill with them: that is the firſt thing in the Uſe, how deſperate is the folly of ſuch who contend with God, wi…h whom there is no conten…ing, and do daringly venture upon thoſe ſins that God will be ſure to puniſh.

2. Is eſcaping ſuch a mercy? well then ſouls, let us look homeward; what honourable marks have we upon us, that may give us ground to hope we p. 89ſhall eſcape? My friends, I muſt deal faithfully with you, and let us conſider if we ſhould be weighed in the balance, what little reaſon may moſt of us have to hold up our heads on high, and to be found with confidence of an eſcape in ſuch a day as this is! Dare we ſay we have ſome of theſe honorable marks upon us, which God hath been pleaſed to honor with preſervation in times paſt? It is not good to build a confidence too haſtily, but it is good to ſee upon what good ground we do conclude our preſervation.

Let me ſpeak a little home to your conſciences, and ask your ſouls theſe queſtions.

1. What ſence have you upon your ſouls of the ſins of the generation among whom you live? It was an honorable character found upon Lot, that he was grieved with the filthy converſation of the wicked; and upon them in Ezekiel, That they did ſigh and mourn for the abominations and the evil of that day: Now is this mark upon you, that the great burthen of your ſouls is the ſin & wickedneſs of the days in which your lot is caſt? It is worth the conſidering p. 90and inquiring into your hearts about it? But if you ſhould ask me how ſhould I know whether my heart be affected wi…h the abominations of the day in which you live?

1. Do you mourn in ſecret becauſe of thoſe abominations? ſaies the Prophet Jerem…ah in Chap. 13.17. If you will not hear, my ſoul ſhall weep in ſecret, &c. Can you ſay when you come into the preſence of God in ſecret, not onelyonly your own, but o…hers ſins aff…ct your heart? You know God is as eminently diſhonored in this Nation, as he hath been in moſt Nations of the world; as noto…ious deſper…te ſinning againſt light, and againſt the goodneſs of God, as almoſt any people have been guilty of; greater breach of Covenant, ſinning againſt light, deſpight done to the Spirit of G…ace, ſlighting of and neglecting of the Go…pel of Chriſt, has ſcarce been found among a people for many years: and by all this, how i… God diſhonored? to have his Goſpel ſlighted, and turned out of doors, and mens poſts ſet up by Gods poſts; for him that departeth from evil, thereby to make himſelf a prey; Can you ſay for theſe p. 91things as the Prophet, My eyes run down with tears, and for theſe things you… ſoul mourneth in ſecret? I would onelyonly put it to your conſcience, and ask your ſouls the queſtion; you would (I believe) be glad to get on the other ſide of this ſtorm that is now …egun, and have ſome aſſurance that you ſhould out-live the preſent providence; why if you would, then labor to get ſome of the marks that are to be found upon thoſe that God doth uſe to deliver from ſuch calamities.

2. What love have you for God? Beca…ſe he hath ſet his love upon me, ſaith God, therefore will I deliver him. Put the queſtion home to your own ſouls, and ſee what anſwer will be made; Can you ſay you have ſet your love upon God and Chriſt? I believe we may ſay moſt of us, We ſee him lovely, we have raiſed affections and deſires after him; but can we ſay we have ſet our love upon him, that he is the center upon which our ſouls have fixed; that we ſee no excellence in any thing that can ſatisfie our ſouls, ſave onelyonly in him? Can you ſay you have lived up to that direction of the Apoſtle, p. 92Set your affections on things above and not on things on the earth? Faith and Love are the two great things that diſtinguiſh a Saint and an empty profeſſor. Now what ſay you? Do you love him? If your heart be not onelyonly running out after him, but ſet upon him, then he is yours, and then you may expect he will look after your preſervation: onelyonly this I would ſay, ſo…e ſouls there are that dare not ſay they love God, they have a great many doubts and fea…s, whether they do truely love God or no; and therefore if you ſhould ask me, But how ſhall I know where my he…t is, and whether I have thi… l…ve or no, I would onelyonly ſay for preſent, What deſires are the…e in thee after acqu…intance with God? And what deſires have you to be found doing the will of God? If thou canſt ſay, Above all things, oh I would know him, and injoy him above all things in the world, I am jealous leſt I ſhould diſhonor him, then I would ſay to thee that thou haſt ground to hope the Lord hath circumciſed thy heart in truth to love him.

p. 93But 3. How do you walk with God? You muſt be in Gods way, if you will have his preſervation, He ſhall give his Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways, that is, in all his ways, for we ſhould have no way, but Gods ways, all our ways ſhould be his ways.

There are ſome things inconſiſtent with the walking with God, and it will be well if none of thoſe things be to be found upon our ſouls.

1. The harbo…ing of boſom-ſins, if thou harboureſt and alloweſt thy ſelf in any ſecret ſin, thou art not one that walkeſt with God.

2. If thou art not one purſuing the death of all ſin; if thou doſt not l…bor to mortifie the deeds of the body, I dare pronounce thee one that art walking after the fleſh.

3. This I add, that if thou art not one that ſtandeſt upon thy w…tch, thou art none of thoſe that walk with God: a careleſs profeſſor, that minds not what he is, nor what he doth, will hardly ever be found in Gods way; the path is too narrow for a ſoul to keep in, without much diligence. Ask your p. 94ſouls, and examine what you have within you, to witneſs to you that you are a people walking with God.

4. Would you be of the eſcaping nu…ber, pray what Faith have you? how ſtands you… Faith? examine that a little; ſome there are that ſay, I bleſs God I can truſt him without any heſitation, without any ſtumbling: but I beſeech you bear with me a little if I try your faith, and help you ſo to do.

There be three things that expoſe men to the ſtroke of the judgement of God, and cut them ſhort of mercy many times, viz. Unbelief, Preſumption, and Secu…ity; and any one of them doth it as well as the other.

1. Unbelief, I ſay that cuts ſhort of a great deal of mercy, particularly in ſuch a day as this: if you will be carryed through the wilderneſs, watch againſt unbelief.

2. Security: a people not being affected with the judgements of God, it lays them as much open to the weight of the judgement, as any thing elſe, Iſa. 5.11. And the harp, and the p. 95viol, &c. a regardleſs, ſottiſh, ſtupid people, that are not affected with the judgements of God, ſhall fall by them.

3. Preſumption alſo, which they call Faith, and that doth as certainly lay open the ſoul to miſery, as any other thing that hath been hinted.

Now conſider a little how it is with you; is your Faith true Faith, or is it not Security? Is it not Preſumption? Are you ſure it is Faith? if not, it will do you no ſervice. You may think it is Faith, when it may prove ſomewhat elſe, it may prove ſecurity: you think you have faith, becauſe you have not fear: I tell you ſouls, there may and ſhould be an aw of God, and yet be faith, as I will tell you by and by. You may think it faith, becauſe you are ſecure, and not much affected; but take heed leſt it ſhould diſappoint thee: if it be not faith, it may lay you open to the judgement of God, and cut you ſhort of being one of the eſcaping remnant, as well as any thing elſe whatever.

If you have true Faith, you will know it by one or two things.

p. 961. You will be ſenſible of your great unworthineſs to receive any thing at the hand of God, or to be preſerved by him; that is the property of faith, it is an humbling Grace, a ſelf-abaſing Grace, Lam. 3.22. It is of the Lords mercy we are not conſumed: Here was faith at work, and what effect had it upon their ſouls? Oh it made them very ſenſible of their unworthineſs, to receive any mercy at the Lords hand, It is of the Lords mercy that we are not conſumed. Call thy confidence what thou wilt, if it have not ſome effect upon thee of this kind, it is not true faith.

2 If thou haſt faith, it hath an allay and mixrure of a holy aw of the judgements of God; faith is not a thing that makes a man ſtupid, but ſenſible and tender; faith as it looks to the promiſe for preſervation, ſo it ſeet… God in the judgements, and it is aff…cted with that Glory and M…jeſty of God, that ſhines forth in ſuch a judgement: it ſeeth it is the hand of the great, glorious, mighty, ter…ible God, and therefore the ſoul that knows who he is, and what he is, cannot but have an awe of p. 97his judgement reſting upon him. David was no Infidel, yet a man of fear, Pſal. 119.120. My fleſh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of all thy judgements. David had this, and it was no unbecoming fear; he had a holy awe of God: a dread of the judgements of God upon the ſoul, is ſo far from being inconſiſtent with faith, that it is a neceſſary concomitant of it.

Again 3. Faith cuts not the throat of the uſe of means, but whilſt thou believeſt for preſervation, thou art waiting on God in the uſe of that means that he directs thee to; faith it puts upon the uſe of means, but doth not call off from it: You believe God for ſalvation, What then? you wait upon God in the uſe of Ordinances: Now by theſe things ask your hearts whether you have faith or no. Two or three things more, and I have done. Is preſervation ſuch a mercy? I would firſt ſay to you, Labor then to be Saints in earneſt, for if you ſhould be preſerved and not be Saints, you looſe the mercy of your preſervation, Iſa. 15.4. His life ſhall be grievous unto him, &c. The caſe of evil men is ſuch ſometimes, p. 98that the very living is a burthen to them: and ſuch may be the caſe of a ſinner, though he may not be cut off, their life may be worſe to them then cutting off, Jer. 8.3. And death ſhall be choſen rather then life, &c. the life of a ſinner is not worth the living.

2. Above all things, have as little to do with ſin as you can, that is one of the beſt preſervatives, Job 11.14. If iniquity be in thy tabernacle, put it far away from thee.

3. And laſtly, while you are in the world, and diſtreſs is in the world, eſpecially remember and be ſollicitous for the Sion of God. Oh ſtand up and plead for the poor people of Sion, Jer. 51.50. Let Jeruſalem come into your minds. Oh my friends, while the diſtreſſes of this day laſts, Let Jeruſalem come into your mind! If God preſerve you, I ſay, while he p…eſerves you, think of Jeruſalem, plead with God for his poor people, that that intere…t may be ſecured, that the Lord would be to his people the ſhadow of a great rock in a weary land.

p. 99And thus I have diſpatched the third Doctrine, namely, that it is a great honor, and an eſpecial mercy, and that that Saints ſhould put out hard for, to be delivered in times of common calamity.

I ſhall now go on with the fourth Obſervation from the words, That watchfulneſs and prayer are rare preſervatives, and excellent means for ſafety in the time of common calamities. I dare not ſay they are never-failing means, but they are the beſt means, and that as ſeldom fail as any; they are the beſt preſervatives you can have, and will do you moſt ſervice of any thing; if there be any ſafety to be had, it is in the uſe of theſe means. That is the note I would ſpend a little time upon; the God of all our mercies knows how to make it of uſe to us.

I would treat a little diſtinctly on each of them, and ſhew how far each of them ſerve to this deſign; what part prayer hath in it, and what part watchfulneſs: I ſhall begin with the firſt, viz. Prayer; and in what I have p. 100to ſay to that, I ſhall propound three things to be treated on.

1. Conſider a little what prayer is, becauſe if we miſtake the thing it ſelf, we are out in the whole, as if a skilful Phyſician preſcribe one potion, and it be miſtaken, and another taken for it, inſtead of doing good it may do much harm; therefore it is good to know what prayer is.

2. Conſider, what prayer is wont to do: When Phyſicians preſcribe a remedy, they will tell you what great cures ſuch medicines have effected; and therefore I ſhall ſhew you what prayer hath done, and then how it comes to be particularly uſeful in this caſe of a common calamity.

For the firſt then, what is Prayer: we oft ſpeak of going to prayer, but what is praying? Why prayer it may be thus deſcribed: It is the breathing of a gracious ſoul, in the help of the Spirit of Grace, whereby it is inabled to go to God in a promiſe, in the Name of Chriſt, to begg ſuitable mercy as the caſe may require. I will take this deſcription in parts, and confirm each part unto you, that you may ſee it is a deſcription p. 101conſonant and agreeable unto the word of truth.

Firſt of all, I ſay, prayer is the breathing of the ſoul; heartleſs prayer is no prayer, it is the work of the ſoul, the work of the heart; and that in which the heart is not, is not prayer at all: hence you have that expreſſion in Jam. 5.16. The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much; it may be better rendred, The Inwrought prayer of the righteous; prayer it is an Inwrought thing, it is firſt wrought in the heart, before it is brought forth into petitions; and if it be not firſt wrought in the heart before it is brought forth into deſires and petitions, it is not prayer. The heart muſt go whatſoever is w…nting; whether you pray with the voice or not, you muſt pray with the heart; ſuch a thing you read of in the known caſe of Hannah, 1 Sam. 1.13. Hannah ſhe ſpeaks in her heart onelyonly, her lips moved, her voice was not heard, ſhe ſpake in her heart, her heart was in the prayer, and it was a ſign it was, by the good iſſue it had. David Pſal. 119. 145. hath an expreſſion that looks that way, I cryed with my whole heart, Oh p. 102Lord I will keep thy ſtatutes: If you cry, it muſt be with the heart, that muſt not be wanting; for if that be wanting, truely the beſt ingredient of prayer is wanting; hence you have that expreſſion in Pſal. 25.1. I lift up my ſoul unto thee: the meaning is, I pray unto thee, I call unto thee; but he doth expreſs it by lifting up the ſoul, becauſe the ſoul was ingaged in the work, I lift up my ſoul unto thee; the like expreſſion you have Pſal. 86.4.

Now that is the firſt thing in the deſcription, it is the breathing of the ſoul.

2. It is the breathing of a gracious ſoul: it is not every heart, but a gracious heart that knoweth how to pray, the breathings of a gracious ſoul, and therefore whatever name the deſires of a wicked man may have, yet alas it doth not amount to prayer, Prov. 15.8. The ſacrifice of the wicked it is an abomination unto the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight: A wicked man may bring his ſacrifice, may think to put up his petition, but what is it? It is an abomination unto the Lord, but the prayer of the upright that is his delight. p. 103When God comes to ſpeak of the prayer of the wicked, ſee h…w he is pleaſed to phraſe it, Hoſ. 7.14. Says he, They have not cryed u…to me with their hearts, when they have houled upon their beds: The prayer they put up is no better then the howling of a dogg; if it be not the voice of a gracious heart, it is but the voice of a dog, and you know it is ſo called in the Scripture; and hence in Zach. 12.10. it is ſaid, he will pour out upon the houſe of David the Spirit of Grace and of ſupplication; fi…ſt the Spirit of Grace, and then the Spirit of Supplication; if there be not firſt a ſpirit of grace, truely there can be no ſpirit of ſupplication: and it was hence that Saul when he was effectually wrought upon and the work of grace was begun in his heart, the ſpirit of God takes notice of it, Behold he prayeth: doubtleſs he had made many a long prayer, and done ſomething that he called prayer before that time, being a Phariſee, and one of the ſtricteſt Sect, but yet he never prayed untill now; now there is grace in his heart, and he prayeth to purpoſe: that is the ſecond thing, it is the breathing of a gracious ſoul.

p. 1043. It is done in the help of the Spirit of Grace: for if a gracious ſoul come and ſpeak his own words, that is not praying, it muſt be ſpeaking the words of the Spirit of God, the breathing out the petitions that are put into the heart by the Spirit of God. Zach. 12.10. a place I quoted even now, you read that it is a Spirit of Supplication; Gods good Spirit it helps and furthers, and forwards the ſoul in this great work, Rom. 8.26. We know not what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit it ſelf helps our infirmities; and truely ſouls, this is very conſiderable, when praying is as it ſhould be, it is done in the help of the Spirit of grace.

4. In prayer the ſoul goeth to God, as the Father and fountain of mercy; he goes to him, directs a prayer unto him, therefore David ſays in Pſal. 25.1. To thee, O Lord, I lift up my ſoul; and we are taught when Chriſt teacheth us how to pray in Mat. 6.9. to go unto God, Say, ſaies Chriſt, Our Father; we are bid to go to him, and to go to him as to a Father.

p. 105And further, 5. Prayer is going to God, and a going to him in a promiſe; you muſt have a promiſe to incourage you to pray: mark this as a certain rule, you have no warrant to ask that of God of which you have not a promiſe, or ſomething that is in the nature of a promiſe: and if you ask me what I mean by ſomething in the nature of a promiſe, why it is the experience of the Saints of God, what he hath done for them, and wrought for them; this is in the nature of a promiſe, and you may plead it with God, that what he hath wrought his ſervants of old, that he would do again: now by promiſe I mean the Word of God, to plead for ſomething that God hath given h…s word to give: Jacob in Gen. 32. 11. he was in a ſtreight, and he goes to God, and what hath he to plead with God? Why he had a promiſe, And thou ſaidſt, I will ſurely do thee good, &c. verſ. 12. He urgeth God with his promiſe, Lord thou haſt ſaid thou wilt do me good, and make my ſeed as the ſand of the Sea; If Eſau come and kill my children, How ſhall this promiſe be fulfilled? Therefore deliver me, I pray p. 106thee, &c. And in Rev 22.20. He which teſtifieth theſe things, ſaith, Surely I come quickly: Even ſo, come Lord Jeſus. Mark, here is the promiſe, and the pleading of it alſo, both in this verſe; the promiſe, Chriſt ſaies, Surely I come; the pleading of the promiſe, Amen, even ſo come Lord Jeſus: ſo if we come to God in prayer, we muſt plead a promiſe, or ſomething in the nature of a promiſe, or elſe it is not praying.

6. We muſt go to God in the name of Chriſt: now that is not (you will eaſily grant) the bare ſaying we ask this in the name of Chriſt, and beg it for Chriſts ſake; but the putting forth an act of f…i…h upon Chriſt, as he to whom all promiſes are made, and who hath pu…chaſed for us an intereſt in the promiſes; that is what I mean when I ſay we are to come in the name of Chriſts, Joh. 16.23. Whatever you ſhall ask the Father in my name, that you ſhall have; come to God, and tell him, Lord thou haſt made a great many promiſes to poor ſouls through Chriſt Jeſus; Chriſt hath purchaſed theſe promiſes at thy hand, therefore we come to beſeech p. 107thee, for the merit and righteouſneſs of Jeſus Chriſt, that thou wouldeſt make good thoſe promiſes that thou haſt made, 2 Cor. 1.20. In him are all the promiſes Yea and Amen; in him, that is, in Chriſt; and in him they are Yea and Amen, that is, they are made good to the ſoul through Chriſt; firſt the ſoul believes in Chri…t, and hath intereſt in him, and then hath intereſt in the promiſes.

7. They go for ſuitable mercy, according as their needs and neceſſities are: The neceſſities of the Saints are not always the ſame, ſometimes they are of one kind and ſometimes of another, and the ſpirit of grace helps the ſoul to begg mercies ſuitable to its wants; ſometimes not to be led into temptation, as Chriſt teacheth us to pray, and ſometimes to be delivered from trouble, as David Pſal. 59.1. Deliver me from mine enemies, O God, defend me from thoſe that riſe up againſt me.

And thus I have given you an account what prayer is, and ſhewed you that it is the breathing of a gracious ſoul in the help of the ſpirit of grace, p. 108whereby it is inabled to go to God in a promiſe, in the name of Chriſt, to ask ſuitable mercy as the caſe requireth. That is the firſt thing propounded, what p…ayer is.

But 2. What can prayer do, what hath it done? To that I anſwer, Very great things.

1. Prayer hath prevailed to pull down very dreadful judgements upon a people: Thus they that mocked the Prophet and ſcoft at him, a little prayer of the Prophet brought very dreadful things upon thoſe people, 2 King. 2. And he went up from thence, &c. at verſ. 23. it is ſpoken concerning Eliſha, and it is ſaid, that He turned back and curſed them in the name of the Lord, that is, he prayed that God would meet with them for this; and wh…t came of it? you read, There came two ſhe-bears out of the wood, and tare fourty and two children of them, that mocked the Prophet. David with a very ſhort prayer, he b…i…gs down judgement and evil upon Achitophel, 2 Sam. 15. it was a very ſhort prayer he puts up at verſ. 31. O Lord I pray thee turn thee counſel of Achitophel into fooliſhneſs. It was, you ſee, p. 109a very ſhort prayer, and yet if you look to Chap. 17.23. you ſhall find how it was ſucceeded; He went home and hanged himſelf, becauſe his counſel was not followed: And thus you find in other caſes, prayer hath brought down judgement upon a people: the ſingle prayer of the Prophet Elijah brought down judgement upon all Iſrael, 1 King. 17.1. As the Lord God of Iſrael liveth, before whom I ſtand, there ſhall not be dew nor rain theſe years, but according to my words, that is, according to my prayer; and Elias you read in Jam. 5.17. he prayed down a judgement for three years and ſ…x months, He prayed earneſtly that it might not rain, and it rained not for the ſpace of three years and ſix moneths: And let me tell you, all the dreadful judgements that come upon the world, they come down as an anſwer to the prayer of the people of God: Look Pſal. 65.5. By terrible things in righteouſneſs wilt thou anſwer us, &c. I quote this for this purpoſe, to tell you that the terrible judgements that fall upon the world, they do come in anſwer to the prayer of the Saints: yea let me p. 110tell you, this very judgement on foot at this day, at which our hearts do tremble, it comes in anſwer to the prayer of the people of God; I mean thus, the people of God have prayed that God would promote his intereſt, that he would advance the ſcepter of his Son, that he would pull down his enemies; and they leave him to do it which way he pleaſeth: Now this is Gods way to advance his intereſt, and you will find it ſo; and I ſay moreover, the dreadful things that ſhall be in the world, and ſhall come upon the heads of the ungodly of the world, they come all in anſwer to the prayer of the Saints. The ninth Pſalm is a Pſalm concerning Antichriſt the great deſtroye…: Well, what ſaies it of him? in verſ. 11, 12. Sing praiſes to the Lord which dwelleth in Sion: when he maketh inquiſition for blood, he remembreth them, he forgetteth not the cry of the humble: There is a time, ſaith David, when he will make inquiſition for blood, that is, when he will contend with Antichriſt, the great deſtroye…, for all the ſlaughter that hath been made upon his people; he will come and recompence p. 111them for this blood; and which way ſhall it come to paſs? He forgetteth not the cry of the humble; he heareth them, and that ſtirreth him up to make inquiſition for blood; ſo that I ſay many great judgements that have been in the world, they have many times come in anſwer to the prayer of the Saints.

Again 2. Prayer it ſometimes prevents the evil we fear. Jacob in the inſtance given but now, had a great deal of fear upon him, Gen. 32.6, 7, 11, 12. he was greatly diſtreſſed, and then he goeth to prayer, and what cometh of it? in Chap. 33.4. Eſau ran to meet him, and falls on his neck and kiſſes him; here was the worſt of their meeting: he thought verily Eſau would have come to kill him, and therefore ſet himſelf to ſeek the Lord, and …hen God prevented his fear, for Eſau fell on his …eck and kiſſed him. Thus God ſometimes prevents the thing that we fear; and ſo in 2 Chron. 20. in the caſe of Jehoſaphat, when many Nations combine to fight againſt him, verſ. 3. Jehoſaphat feared, and what then? He ſet himſelf to ſeek the Lord, and p. 112proclaimed a faſt thorow out all Judah: And what came of it? truly God delivered him very wonderfully: in verſ. 17. Yee ſhall not need to fight in this battle, &c. And God makes thoſe men that came againſt him to deſtroy one another, at verſ. 12. I quote all this, to this end onelyonly, to tell you what great work and mighty ſervice ſometimes prayer doth, it helps to keep off the things that we fear.

3. It helps to remove the evils we feel, as well as prevents what we fear: you know when Iſrael was in bondage, what was a means to help them out, Exod. 2.23. They cryed, and their cry came up; they cryed, and it was not in vain, for God heard them, their praying and ſeeking his face it did not prove fruitleſs: in Judges 5. you have a notable expreſſion of Deborah, O my ſoul, thou haſt troden down ſtrength: the people of Iſrael were greatly oppreſſed and dealt hardly with, and there were ſome ſtirred up to go out and oppoſe; but what got the victory? Oh, ſaith ſhe, My ſoul, thou haſt trodden down ſtrength! It was her ſouls going to God in prayer, it was that did the work, p. 113and it was inſtrumental for the removing that great oppreſſion that was upon them; and therefore the Prophet in Iſa. 10. When he foretells their deliverance from the yoak of the Aſſyrian bondage, ſaith he, the yoak ſhall be deſtroyed becauſe of the anointing, verſ. 27. that evil ſhall be removed, How! by the anointing, one part of the ſenſe whereof is, that a part of the ſpirit of grace and ſupplication ſhould be powred forth on the people, they ſhould plead with God, and becauſe of that anointing, they ſhould be delivered, Pſal. 40.1, 2. I waited patiently for the Lord and cryed unto him, and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry: he prayed and God heard him, and this was the iſſue, He brought me up alſo, &c. verſ. 2, 3. that is a third thing, it delivers from many evils felt as well as feared.

4. It prevails for ſtrength to ſtand up under, and grapple with great difficulty: when God thinks not fit to remove difficulty, then the ſoul prays for ſtrength to ſtand up under thoſe difficulties, Iſa. 40.31. They that wait on the Lord, ſhall …enew their ſtrength, &c. they may have difficulty, but if they wait on the p. 114Lord, they ſhall have ſtrength as well as difficulty, Pſal. 138.3. In the day when I cryed, thou anſweredſt me, and ſtrengthnedſt me with ſtrength in my ſoul. David was under many difficulties and ſtreights, but yet in calling upon the Lord, the Lord gave him ſtrength: to which add that, Heb. 11.34. That ſome out of weakneſs were made ſtrong; that is the fourth thing that Prayer doth.

5. It prevails alſo for preſervation in common calamities; that mercy Jeremiah had in a way of Prayer, Chap. 17. he doth addreſs himſelf unto God by prayer, in verſ. 17. Be not a terror unto me, thou art my hope in the day of evil: And God gave him a promiſe of preſervation, and was with him according to his promiſe. Thus you ſee what great things prayer doth.

1. It hath pulled down dreadful judgments.

2. Prevented evils feared.

3. Removed evils f…lt.

4. Prevailed for ſtrength to bear up under difficulties.

And 5. Prevailed alſo for preſervation in times of great diſtreſs.

To the third thing. Then how comes p. 115prayer to b…ſeful for our preſervation in common calamity? It comes to be uſeful in that, as in all other caſes, theſe four or five wayes:

1. From a great deal of efficacy that is in it; it is a thing that hath a great deal of efficacy and power going along with it, Mat. 7.7. Mat. 21.22. Jam. 5.16.

But, 2. It comes to be effectual, in that it ſues out and pleads the Promiſe: the prayer of Faith it challengeth God with his word, it pleads out the Promiſe in the preſence of God; it goes to that, and takes hold of it; and many p…omiſes I have heretofore quoted you, that God hath given for preſervation in common calamity. Now it is the work of the people of God, to go to God and ſue them out, to remember him of his promiſe, 2 Chron. 20. Jehoſaphat, when he is at prayer there, he remembers God of his promiſe, verſ. 8, 9, 10. he goeth to prayer, and there he pleads the promiſe; Lord, ſaith he, at the dedication of this Temple, didſt thou not engage, that if we ſtood by this houſe, called by thy Name, in a time of calamity, didſt thou not promiſe that thou wouldſt be with us? This is that p. 116that he remembers God of; and the people of God they are called Gods remembrancers, in the Propheſie of Iſaiah, Chap. 62. v. 6. You that make mention of the Lord; it is in the margent, You that are the Lords remembrancers: Prov. 18.10. it is ſaid, The Name of the Lord is a ſtrong Tower, the righteous run thither and are ſaved: this running is a running in prayer, in a prayer of faith, when the ſoul in prayer doth put the Lord in mind, that he hath ſaid, he is a ſtrong Tower, and will be a Refuge, and therefore beg of him to be according to his word; that is a ſecond thing, it prevails for preſervation, in that it pleadeth the promiſe.

3. It prevails, in that it is Gods own Ordinance and appointment, the means that he hath given us to prevail in any caſe; and he is pleaſed to put that honour upon the head of prayer, that it ſhall be a door to let in mercy to us. When he had promiſed to do a great deal for Iſrael, yet, ſayes he, for all this I will be ſought of them; it is prayer fetcheth in the mercy, Job 11.13. If thou prepare thine heart, and ſtretch out thine hand towards him, &c. And in p. 117verſ. 15. Thou ſhalt be ſtedfaſt, and ſhalt not fear. Mark, particular preſervation is promiſed to …e given forth in a way of prayer.

4. As it is uſeful to remove that that may pull on a calamity, and may make the Lord ſtrike us with ſuch a ſtroke: you know ſin is that that brings all judgment; now the prayer of Faith is very inſtrumental and ſerviceable in order to the taking away of guilt, and removing of ſin; and by faith in prayer we go to Chriſt, and take hold of him, and leave our guilt upon him, leave him to grapple with the Fathers diſpleaſure: This we do by Prayer. David you know, when he would be preſerved himſelf from the Plague, he goeth and offereth a Sacrifice; I think I have hinted to you what that was

5. Thus it comes to do us ſervice: if it be right, and as it ſhould be, we put up no petition but what God firſt puts into our hearts. Now, if prayer be right, it is God's work, and he is obliged to ſtand to his own act; if God put me upon pleading for preſervation, it is a tye upon God to anſwer it, for it is his own work, and therefore he p. 118muſt not diſown his own work. Upon this account it is that prayer comes to be uſeful to our preſervation; I ſhal now proceed to ſhew you a litle the great uſe of watchfulnes, in order to preſervation. 1. In that it helps to prayer; prayer is a great means to our preſervation, and watchfulneſs is a hand-maid to prayer; there is no praying well without it: It is a furtherance and help to us, 1. In that it finds out the moſt apt and fit ſeaſon for pray…r: there are certainly fit, and apt, and proper ſeaſons in which the ſoul may do much more in prayer then it can do at other times; and it is the part of watchfulneſs to ſpie and finde out thoſe opportunities; and therefore you have a notable expreſſion in 1 Pet. 4.7. The end of all things is at hand, be ye ſober therefore, and watch unto prayer; that is, let your watch ſerve you to find out the beſt, fitteſt and apteſt ſeaſons, and the greateſt advantages to further you in prayer: doubtleſs there are ſeaſons in which the heart is beſt framed for the duty▪ and ſeaſons in which God ſeems to give ſome ſecret inclinations to the ſoul▪ that he will pleaſe to be beſought▪ p. 119Now when the ſoul hath any great ſuit to go forward with, and any great requeſt to preſent at the Throne of grace, the ſoul then watches to find out ſuch a ſeaſon; and this doth further the duty of prayer exceedingly.

2. It furthers prayer, in that it keeps up the heart when it is engaged in that work; and therefore you find them coupled together, in Mat. 26.41. Watch and pray, ſaith he. Souls, let me tell you, if you pray, and do not watch, you will hardly get the heart to pray; but if you do get the heart there, you will hardly keep it there, unleſs you ſtand upon your watch. It is a truth much experienced, that a ſoul is no longer kept to duty, then a watchful eye is born over it: conſider it, it may help you many times, if it be remembred, that watchfulneſs conſiders how the heart is, how the Tempter deals with the ſoul, what pains he takes to diſtract, and get the ſoul out of a duty in which it is engaged; ſometimes you are dead, it is watchfulneſs findes it out; and therefore David being upon his watch, as well as in the way of his duty, he prays often in Pſal. 119. p. 120Quicken thou me; ſometimes the heart is diſtracted, wandring and getting aſide from the work that is before it, it is watchfulneſs that makes this diſcovery; it obſerves how Satan moves, & how the ſoul moves in a duty, whether to God or no; I may allude to that you have, Gen. 15.9. when God comes to confirm the Covenant unto Abraham, and bid him ſacrifice and divide the H…ifer, and the Turtle-doves, and young Pigeons, in verſ. 11. When the fowls came down upon the carcaſes, Abraham drove them away. I may allude to it thus: When you come to ſacrifice, fowls come down upon the ſacrifice, oft-times temptations, diviſions, diſtractions, attend you; they are fowls upon the ſacrifice that do ſpoyl it, and it is watchfulneſs that muſt help you to keep off the fowls from the ſacrifice, and it is that that muſt obſerve how the caſe ſtands with you. Now this is that which watchfulneſs doth in prayer; it keeps the heart unto God.

3. It helps to take in, and improve anſwers of prayer; the ſoul when it hath prayed, hath not done all its work, but it is to look after anſwers of prayers, p. 121and that is the part of watchfulneſs; watchfulneſs looks after the petitions put up, and obſerves how they ſpeed, and what comes of them: ſayes Habakkuk, I will ſtand upon my watch-tower, and will watch to ſee what he will ſay unto me: you muſt watch unto prayer, watch in prayer, and watch when you have prayed▪ watch to ſee what comes of the petitions you have put up, and what anſwer you have received, and how God comes into your ſouls in a way of return to the requeſts you have lodged with him, Mich. 7.7. Therefore I will look, &c. I will look unto God by Faith and Prayer; and when I have done, I will watch to ſee what the God of my ſalvation ſaith to me. Pſal. 40.1. I waited patiently for the Lord, and he heard me. I cryed, and when I had done, I waited to ſee what would come of it, Pſal. 5.3. I will direct my prayer unto thee, and I will look after it; I will ſee how it will ſucceed. Well, you will ſay, what if watchfulneſs do help to look after anſwers of prayer, how doth this farther preſervation? Why, theſe two wayes it's helping you to ſee what anſwer God makes to p. 122prayer, furthers your preſervation two ways.

1. If you have no anſwer, it puts you upon praying again, untill God doth give you a word to hope in for you… ſafety in days of evil.

Or ſecondly, If when you have prayed, and are upon your watch, ſo that you have found an anſwer, it helpes you to improve it for your preſervation; it helpes you to plead the anſwer that God hath given you: if you find he h…th anſwered you in the deſire of your hearts, it helps you to hang upon God, and plead it with God as did David, Pſalm. 119.49. Remember thy word unto thy ſerva…t upon which thou haſt cauſed him to hope: God may gi…e anſwer; and if thou art not upon thy watch, thou mayeſt not ſee it.

3. It is ſerviceable to preſervation as it helps to keep you from the ſin and provocations, that might, if lived in, provoke God to cut you off among the number that fall. I tell you ſouls, there are many provocations; when a ſoul is found under them, they do wonderfully ſtir up the Spirit of God againſt p. 123him, and provoke God to cut them off in the time of his anger; and it is the part of watchfulneſs to keep you from them, Rev. 16. Bleſſed is he that watches and keepeth his garments; you cannot keep your garments if you do not watch; ſuch are the corruptions of your hearts, and the ſubtilty of the tempter, that he will quickly make you defile your garments, 1 Theſ. 5.6. Let not us ſleep as do others, but let us watch and be ſober. All kind of ſin it is an intemperance, if you are not upon your watch you will be wanting in your ſob…iety, you will quickly run into ways of ſin, if you are not found upon the duty of Watchfulneſs. Watchfulneſs doth eſpeci…lly keep you from the ſins, which if you are not kept from, will lay you open to the judgements of God; conſider Luk. 21.34, 35. compared with my text, Mark: Chriſt my brethren, a day of d…eadful judgements is coming, it will come upon the world, when they little think of it, when they are not well aware of it; and there are many ſins that provoke God to pull down theſe judgements on you, ſurfeting and drunkenneſs, p. 124and the cares of this life; but, ſay they, how may we be preſerved? Oh, ſaith he, watch, that will keep you from the ſin, from ſurfeiting and from drunkenneſs, and whatever other ſins may be a provocation to the Divine Majeſty.

There are four or five ſins that it is very bad to be found under, againſt all which watchfulneſs is an excellent preſervative.

1. The ſins of the times, the very ſins for which God doth primarily contend, and at which he directs his judgements; Come out of her my people, and be not partakers of her ſins, leſt you partake of her plagues: It will be bad being found in Babylons ſins, they do provoke God mightily, Therefore partake not of her ſins: Murmuring was the ſin of Iſrael of old, a ſpecial ſin that God contends for; you find that Moſes ſtept but once into that ſin in Numb. 27. and for it he muſt dye in the wilderneſs, in verſ. 14. Whatſoever ſin it is that God eſpecially contends for in any day of common calamity, Oh ſouls as you love tender and regard your own preſervation, p. 125come not nigh it: But of this before.

2. Leaning unto your own wiſdom, that is a very bad thing; we are to truſt the wiſdom of God, and lean upon him for all our preſervation. The people of Iſrael, ſome of them when there was a great part carryed captive by the King of Babylon in Jer. 42.15, 16. Hear the word of the Lord, ye remnant of Judah, &c. I quote it to this purpoſe, to ſhew you that when a man ſets up his wiſdom in direct oppoſition to Gods wiſdom, he thereby forfeits his preſervation; but w…en a ſoul comes and ſays, Lord I will be what thou wouldeſt have me, and do what thou requireſt of me; this is a good frame: but I ſay to lean unto our own underſtanding, and not to ask counſel of God, not to walk as he directs, it is the direct way to forfeit our preſervation.

3. Not conſidering the judgements of God, is another ſin that watchfulneſs will keep the heart from; you know how ill God takes it at the hand of a people to be inſenſible under his judgements, Iſa. 5.11, 12. Wo unto p. 126them, &c. they are a ſottiſh people, a people that are not affected with Gods judgements, and therefore what then? at verſ. 14. The Lord will deſtroy them, Therefore, ſaies he, hell hath inlarged her borders, &c. Now I tell you ſouls, a watchful ſpirit will not eaſily run into this evil; no, no, it looks out, it ſpies the hand of God; watchfulneſs keeps the eye of faith open, it keeps the ſoul from ſl…mbering and keeping, and inables the ſoul to ſee that mercy that ſhines forth in the diſpenſations of God.

4. Unthankfulneſs for daily preſervation, this is a great evil, and that that watchfulneſs will excellently preſerve you from; God uſually walks by this rule, he that prizeth and improveth a little, to him he gives more; ſo he that prizes and improves, and thankfully owns, the daily preſervation and protection of God, ſuch a one is in the way to receive more at the hand of God; but when the daily goodneſs of God is ſlighted and paſt over, without conſideration, and being carefully heeded and regarded by any ſoul; ſuch a ſoul is like to be left to fall under the p. 127ſtroke of Gods indignation; it was the care of the Church in the Lamentations to give God his glory, Chap. 3.22, 23. It is of the Lords mercies that we are not conſumed, &c. his mercy every morning ſhould be prized and improved by us.

And laſtly, A proud unhumbled frame of ſoul, is that that watchfulneſs will help us againſt: ſouls, wherever that is found, it is a grievous provocation; God he delights to do good unto his poor broken humble ſouls, He reſiſts the proud, but he gives grace unto the humble; and therefore watchf…lneſs being an excellent means to keep us from theſe and other ſuch like ſins, which lay a people exceedingly open to the ſtroke of Gods indignation; it ſo becomes very uſeful and ſerviceable to our preſervation.

And thus I have diſpatched the doctrinal part. Give me leave to conclude this Doctrine in a little Application, and to inforce theſe duties of watchfulneſs and prayer. Let me hence, firſt, take up a few things for information.

p. 128And if ſo be that watchfulneſs and prayer are means that have ſo great a tendency to preſervation, it may inform us of two things.

1. How ill it is like to fare with poor ſinners, that can neither watch nor pray: if the infinite over-flowing goodneſs of God prevent not, they muſt periſh, they cannot make uſe of the means of preſervation: What can we expect but that they ſhould periſh? Oh that we could put on bowels of pitty for ſuch ſouls! the ſacrifice of the wicked, what is it, but an abomination unto the Lord: ſinners in the day of their proſperity they will not look after God, nor his counſel, neither will they mind his dealings; if they do come in a day of diſtreſs, and cry and howl, and make much ado, they may do ſo, but yet God hath told them it ſhall be little to their comfort, for Prov. 1.26. he hath told them, that he w…l laugh at their calamities, and mock …hen their fear cometh.

2. We may infer alſo that here is room for the fall of Saints: whatever promiſe of preſervation is made, upright ſouls may fall; and why ſo? Why p. 129we m…y neglect the being found in our duty; we may not watch, and pray, as we ſhould and ought; we may pray, but it may be coldly, and without any fervour of ſpirit; we may not follow cloſely our duty with God; and therefore miſſing in the means, we may miſs in the end alſo: and that is my firſt Uſe, a Uſe of Inference.

2. It ſhould ſtir us up to commune with our hearts a little: what do we? do we watch and pray? are we in the Uſe of the Means? whatever other means we uſe, we ſhould not let this be neglected; it is not preſervatives and removing from place to place, that can do you that ſervice, that watchfulneſs and prayer can. You will ſay, you do pray; let me ask you again, do you watch unto prayer? I hope you can ſay you do.

And if you ſhould ask me how you may know watchful prayer, I ſhall give you a few Characters of it.

1. If it be watchful prayer, there is an exciting, ſtirring and calling up the heart unto the Duty, Judges 5.12. Awake Deborah awake; ſhe calls up her ſelf, and ſtirs up her ſelf to this p. 130Duty, as you finde the Servants of God have done, they ſtirred up all the faculties of their ſouls, Pſal. 57.8. Awake up my glory, ſaith David; It is the Soul he calls his glory: And Daniel in the ninth chapter, he ſaith, I ſet my face to the Lord God, at the third verſe; the ſetting a mans ſelf, is the provoking and calling a mans ſelf unto the Duty. Now do you ſtir up and call up your hearts to the work of God? If you be in a watchful frame you will do ſo.

Again, if it be watchful prayer, it is accompanied with much fervency; if you watch at prayer, it is not a cold lifeleſs Duty; it is a Duty hath heat, and vigor, and life in it, if you watch unto it: the Rule is, Not ſlothful in buſineſs: but fervent in ſpirit, ſerving the Lord, as it is in the Rom. 12.11. And if there be a watchfulneſs in the Duty, there will be fervency going along with it. It is ſaid of Elias, James 5.17. that He prayed earneſtly; you read alſo of an effectual prayer, and if it be watchful, it muſt be a fervent prayer.

3. If it be a watchful prayer, it is attended with much importunity, you p. 131preſs God and wreſtle with him: Jacob watched all night at it, and it was an importunate prayer; I will not let thee go unleſs thou bleſs me: The poor woman of Canaan, hers was an importunate prayer, ſhe followed and purſued her requeſt although ſhe had ſome repulſes, Mat. 15.22, 23, 26, 27.

Now conſider how it is with you, for hereupon much of your ſafety may depend for ought I know; If you would be preſerved in this day of calamity, as you pray for it, ſo you muſt watch in prayer, and ſee that there be that watchful frame of ſoul that is ſuitable unto this Rule and Counſel of Jeſus: that is the ſecond Uſe.

Thirdly and laſtly, ſhould we watch and pray always in every ſeaſon?

I would then firſt ſay, Make ſeaſons for prayer; ſpare them out of ſome other things, rather then want them.

2. I would ſay, Take ſeaſons for prayer when you may beſt attend the Work, and hope moſt to prevail with God. If you ask me what are the ſeaſons? a word or two of that, and I ſhall come to the fifth Propoſition from the words.

p. 1321. I ſay your leiſure-ſeaſons, when you are not engaged in buſineſs.

2. The ſeaſons when your ſpirits are moſt ſerious, and leaſt diſtracted; it is not good to ſet to duty in a croud, if you can help it.

3. When the Spirit of God provokes you to come into the preſence of God; you that are experienced Chriſtians, can ſay, that you have found ſometimes your ſouls longing to be in his Preſence; You have hungred after Communion with God in Duty; Oh, take that time! that is a fit ſeaſon.

4. When God hath warmed and refreſhed thy heart in a Duty, under any Ordinance with any tokens of love, it is I ſay a fit ſeaſon for thee to improve with the Lord: God doth ſometimes give the ſoul a look of love to incourage it to wait upon him; Now take that ſeaſon: it is a great part of Wiſdom to know a ſeaſon; and if you ſhall finde a ſeaſon offering it ſelf to you apt, and fit, and proper for your going to God, take it and bleſs God for it, and improve it with all your ſoul and might; it is much Mercy, and a great deal of goodneſs may come in to you at that door.

p. 133And thus now I have diſpatced the fourth Obſervation, namely, that watchfulneſs and prayer are the beſt means and have the greateſt tendency to preſervation in times of common calamity.

I come now to the fifth and laſt Note from the words, namely this, That the eſcaping common calamities, is not the only thing, nor the chief thing that we are to be careful about, but eſpecially, and above other things, how we ſhall ſtand before the Son of man.

Alas! to ſtand in a day of calamity is one thing, …ut to ſtand before the Son of man is another, and a far more weighty thing, as I purpoſe to ſhew anon.

This is that the Lord ſaies in this Scripture, Do what you may, watch and pray, and uſe the beſt means you can, to eſcape in a day of calamity; but remember, when that is done, all is not done, nor is the great thing done; remember after all, whether you ſtand or fall in a calamity, you muſt ſtand before the Son of man: If you fall in a calamity, that will not end all. It is appointed to all men once to dye, and p. 134after that the judgement: if you do eſcape a calamity, there will be a time when you muſt ſtand before the Son of man; ſo that whether you ſtand or fall, that is not the main thing, nor eſpecially conſiderable buſineſs, but the great and main thing about which you are to be eſpecially careful, is how you may do to look Chriſt in the face at laſt, how you may do to hold up your head before the Son of man. Standing before the Son of man is taken three ways in Scripture.

1. Meerly for appearing before him, for appearing at his Tribunal; ſo it is taken ſometimes in the Scriptures, for inſtance, that in the Rom. 14.10. We ſhall all appear before his …udgement-ſeat. So, 2 Corinth. 5.10. For we muſt all appear before the Judgement-ſeat of Chriſt, &c. Revel. 20.12. verſ. And I ſaw the dead, both ſmall and great, ſtand before God, &c. That is the firſt ſence it is taken in in Scripture, meerly for appearing before the Son of man.

2. To ſtand before him, it is taken for an eſtate of honour and promotion, as to ſtand before a P…ince, we reckon p. 135ſuch a perſon is preferred and highly honoured, as it was ſaid of Solomon's ſervants, Happy are thy ſervants, which ſtand continually before thee, and hear thy Wiſdom, as you have it, 2 Chron. 9.7.

And thirdly, it is taken for ſtanding with joy, and comfort, and boldneſs; and it is upon that accompt, that you have that expreſſion, Pſal. 1.5. The ungodly ſhall not ſtand in the judgement, nor ſinners in the Congregation of the Righteous; They ſhall ſtand in one ſence, though not in another; they ſhall all ſtand in it, ſo as to come to it; but they ſhall not ſtand with comfort, ſo as to hold up their heads: ſtanding here is oppoſed to adjection of ſpirit, of falling before the dreadful Majeſty of God, and our Saviour: They ſhall not ſtand; that is, ſuch dread ſhall ſeize upon their ſouls, that they ſhall not be able to lift up their heads, they ſhall be ſo filled with confuſion and ſhame, that they ſhall not be able to hold up their heads in that day. So ſtanding before the Son of man is taken in this ſence in my Text, eſpecially; that you may be able to ſtand before the Son of man, is, that you may be p. 136able to ſtand before him with comfort, that you may lift up your head with joy, when the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhall appear.

In the proſecution of this great truth, I ſhall propound the conſideration of ſeveral things to you; and I would do it ſo, as I may beſt keep to the deſign of the text, as the Lord ſhall inable me.

1. I would indeavor to ſhew you that the ſtanding before Chriſt is a much more ſerious and weighty thing, then any calamity in this world can be; whatever dread there is upon the heart at the thoughts of a calamity, we may have much more fear, and many more thoughts of heart upon the account of ſtanding before the Son of man at his appearance and Kingdom.

2. I ſhall indeavour to ſhew you that they that will not tremble at a judgement, that they that are like to laugh a calamity in the face, will yet tremble when the Son of man ſhall appear, that will put ſuch out of countenance as are not abaſhed by any calamity they meet with in the world.

p. 1373. I ſhall ſhew you who they are that ſhall never be able to ſtand before the S n of man.

4. Who they are, and what they muſt be that ſhall ſtand before him.

And fifthly, What is the beſt frame a ſoul can be in, in o…der to a meeting with Ch…iſt, with the greateſt confidence and boldneſs.

And ſixthly and laſtly, conclude all in a little Application.

But firſt of the fi…ſt, namely to ſhew you that the ſtanding before Chriſt is a much more ſerious and weighty thing, and ought to be more ſeriouſly thought of, and more ſolemnly provided for, then any common calamity whatſoever: Many gracious hearts do tremble at the thoughts of a common calamity; and truely there is reaſon why they ſhould do ſo; David himſelf did thus, Pſal. 119.120. My fleſh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgements: but you ſhall find that ſometimes ſinners themſelves do tremble more, and are much more affected with the thoughts of induring the preſence of Chriſt, then the bearing up under any common calamity that can p. 138befall them, Iſa. 33.13. ſaies the Spirit of God there, Hear ye that are afar off what I have done, and ye that are neer acknowledge my might, that is in my judgements which I execute; ſaies he, conſider them, ſee what weight and force there is in them: But mark, how is it with ſinners? in verſ. 14. The ſinners in Sion are afraid. Afraid of what? Fearfulneſs hath ſurpriſed the hypocrite, What is he afraid of? Who ſhall ſtand before the devouring fire? who ſhall dwell with everlaſting burnings? as if they ſhould have ſaid, There is a might, and there is a power and majeſty of God appearing, and ſhining forth in all his judgements; but if you would have us ſpeak our hearts, and tell what we dread moſt, it is ſtanding before him in that great day, when he ſhall appear as a devouring fire; it is the being able to hold up the head at that ſeaſon, that doth diſtreſs us moſt, and fill us with dread and fear: I ſay, the ſtanding in the day of Chriſt is a much more difficult thing, then the ſtanding in a common calamity; and I ſhall ſhew you in ſeveral particulars how that day will out-do every thing p. 139that can be in a common calamity: I ſhall ſhew it you in eleven or twelve particulars.

1. The day of Chriſt is more dreadful then a calamity in this reſpect, that every calamity in this world is a call to repentance, but the day of Chriſts appearance is onelyonly a call unto judgement: I ſay calamities in this world, they are calls to repentance, to a ſinful people to return; the voice of the word is the firſt call, and ſinners are deaf and will not hear that call, and therefore God ſounds an alarm by his judgements, and by them he calls unto poor ſinners to repent and turn unto him; but now I ſay in the day of Chriſt there is no call unto repentance, nor place for repent…nce, he onelyonly then calls to judgement: you ſhall find calamities are calls to repentance, and that is the fruit that God expects from them, that they ſhould work upon a rebellious people, and turn them to himſelf: look Amos 4. in divers verſes of that Chap…er, you have God ſetting down the calamities he exerciſed the people with, and what he expected from them, Amos 4.6. Here was a p. 140famine, a dreadful calamity that is, upon whomſoeve… it lights; what doth he expect from thence? Yet have you not returned unto me; as if he ſhould have ſaid, this calamity I have exerciſed you with, but it hath not brought forth its deſired fruit, it hath not anſwered my deſign upon you; I expected you ſhould have been a broken people, but yet have you not turned unto me: he goes on in verſ. 7, 8. Alſo I have withholden rain, &c. yet have you not returned unto me; and ſtill God intends the ſame thing, to call in, and bring over a rebellious people unto himſelf: In verſ. 9. I have ſmitten you with blaſting, &c. Here was another judgement, God ſmites them in the fruits of the earth, …nd …ook …way the creatures of the earth from them, and what was Gods exp…ct…tion from them? yet have you not returned unto me: In verſ. 10. I have ſent among you the peſtilence, and what doth the expect that ſhould do? your young men have I ſlain with the ſword; and what work did this do? yet have ye not returned unto me. I gather from all this, that the deſign of God in publike calamities, is to make a rebellious p. 141people turn unto him; calamities are loud calls to repentance, 2 Joel 11.12, 13. It was a day of calamity, a day of outward diſtreſs, that is here ſpoken of, and a dreadful day, therefore ſaies the Lord in verſ. 12. Turn you unto me with all your hearts, &c. You ſee here there was a dreadful judgement of God upon the backs of this people, and Gods call was, return unto me: Gods expectation from this people incompaſſed about with theſe judgements, was that they ſhould be a repenting, relenting, returning, broken-hearted people, that they ſhould come in unto God, and that their uncircumciſed hearts might be turned. Rev. 9. dreadful Plagues the Lord ſent forth, and for ought we know, we may be at this ſeaſon, in this time (and many holy men are of that perſwaſion) God was ſending forth ratling judgements under the ſecond wo: there are many things in the Revelations, that point out the periods of time, the knowing of which tells us what times we are in, and what God is doing: now this text relates to the ſecond wo, which the judicious do ſuppoſe relates to thoſe that we are under; p. 142and now what it is God expects, you may judge by the complaint is made, They repented not of the works of their hands, verſ. 20, 21. God expects that his people ſhould be a repenting, relenting people: to which add that Rev. 19.9, 10, 11. Men were ſcorched with great heat, &c. in the pouring out of the vials, that are the laſt judgements that God will execute; they are the gteateſt: and mark now, even from the greateſt and laſt calamities that ſhall come upon the world, what is it God expects? it is a relenting, repenting, reforming, he ſtill calls to it; the greateſt calamities that he brings upon the world, that is the effect that he looks they ſhould have. But the coming of Chriſt will be another thing, when he comes it will not be a call to repentance, but a call to judgement; not a call to reform what thou haſt done amiſs, but to receive a doom for thy miſs-doing. Therefore when mention is made of appearing before the Son of m…n, it is called appearing before his judgement-ſeat; not to get thee an intereſt in Chriſt, but to be judged by Chriſt, 2 Cor. 5.10. For we muſt all p. 143appear before the judgement-ſeat, &c. That is the firſt thing, the day of Chriſt will be a much more ſerious thing then any judgement in the world, becauſe judgements are calls unto repentance, but when we come to ſtand before Chriſt, it is a call unto judgement.

2. Standing before Chriſt is a thing of much more ſeriouſneſs and weight, then the ſtanding under a common calamity, upon a ſecond accompt.

In outward calamities we deal with God remotely, and at a diſtance; but in the day of Chriſt, we muſt deal with Chriſt immediately. Oh that we could conſider this thing ſeriouſly! it is a weighty thing indeed to have to do with God immediately.

Beloved, let me tell you, you would not be able to bear the preſence of Chriſt, if he ſhould but ſpeak to you immediately, you would not be able to bear his preſence; it would be ſo full of Glory and Majeſty, that you would not poſſibly ſtand up under it; much leſs ſhall we be able to bear the immediate preſence of Chriſt, when he comes to judgement. You cannot, I ſay, p. 144bear the immediate preſence of Chriſt, if he were only to ſpe…k to you Exodus 20.19. Speak thou unto us, and we will hear: but let not God ſpeak to us, leſt we dye: Mark the requeſt they make; Let not God ſpeak to us, they were not able …o hear a word immediately from God, Speak thou to us, but let not God ſpeak to us, leſt we dye. And therefore it is that God ha…h graciouſly ſo ordered it, that we ſhould have the Goſpel delivered to us by Creatures like our ſelves, becauſe we are not able to bear the immediate preſence of God: And therefore ſaith the Apoſtle, We have this treaſure in earthen veſſels, 2 Corinth. 4.7. VVe are not able to bear the communication of it otherwiſe, but onelyonly by poor Creatures like our ſelves; you are not able to bear the immediate preſence of Angels, who are infinitely leſs in glory then the God of Glory, and his Son Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Chron. 21.20. And Ornan turned back and ſaw the Angel, and his four ſons that were with him hid themſelves; they were not able to endure the preſence of the Angel, they run away from him, as a ſight too glorious for them to bear.

p. 145But my Brethren, in the day of Chriſt you muſt have to do immediately with Chriſt himſelf; you muſt have to do with him immdiately, nothing ſtanding between Chriſt and you. Alas! in a common calamity it is not ſo; God deals with you remotely, and at a diſtance: you do not ſee him in his Glory and Majeſty; but in that day you muſt have to do with him immediately: and therefore it is ſaid, We muſt ſtand before His Judgement-ſeat. God executes his judgements now in ſecret and hidden ways, but then he will himſelf execute it immediately.

3. The day of Chriſt will be much more dreadful then any calamity, upon this account, becauſe in any calamity the Majeſty of God is veiled and hid; but in the day of Chriſt, God and Chriſt will appear in all their Majeſty, Beauty and Glory, in all their Excellence: I ſay, in a day of calamity the Majeſty and Glory of Chriſt is veiled and hid; it cannot be ſeen, they that ſee moſt of it, ſee but little: but in the day of Chriſt he will appear in all his Royalty and Glory. Wicked men will not ſee what of the Glory and Majeſty of God may p. 146be ſeen in a judgement, Iſai. 26.11. Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not ſee; that is, in a judgement, they will not ſee: Why, what will they not ſee? they will not behold the Majeſty of the Lord, as it is in the 10. verſ. What of God may be ſeen, and what of his Majeſty doth ſhine forth in a day of common calamity, they will not ſee, that they will not conſider: and Saints ſee but very little of God in a judg…ment neither, Micah 6.9. The Lords voice cryeth to the City, the man of wiſdom ſhall ſee thy Name. A Saint doth ſee ſomething of the Name and Glory, ſomething of the greatneſs and Majeſty of God that doth ſhine forth in a calamity: but of that that they do ſee, as was ſpoken in another Caſe, Job 4.12. Now a thing was ſecretly brought unto me, and mine ear received a little thereof. So muſt I ſay, as to the Majeſty of God in a judgement, we Receive a little thereof: it is a ſmall part of the Majeſty of God, that we are able to conceive of, and to take in, as it is ſaid in Job 26. ſpeaking about the Works of God, Lo, theſe are parts of his ways; but how little a portion is heard p. 147of him? In the laſt verſe. So I may ſay of the judgments of God, Lo, theſe are parts of his ways, but how little a portion is ſeen of him? When we conſider Gods creating Works, his work of Providence, an… his works of Judgement; How little a Portion can we take in of God? but Chriſt when we ſhall come to ſtand before the Judgement-ſeat, he will then appear in all his Royalty and Glory, his Majeſty and Beauty ſhall then diſcover it ſelf eminently: Therefore in Revelations 20.12. it is ſaid, I ſaw the dead both ſmall and great ſtanding before God: Chriſt ſhall then appear in his Royalty, as he is God, and equal with the Father; he ſhall appear not onelyonly cl…d with his humanity, but with his God-head in that day. It is true, we are ſaid to appear before the Son of man; He ſhall ſit as the Son of man, but yet he ſhall alſo ſit as God; which how ſhall it ſtartle every Chriſtleſs ſoul, that ſhall ſtand before the glory of that day! Matt. 25.31, 32. When the Son of man ſhall come …n his Glory, &c. Jeſus Chriſt he is King in the world, and he governs the Providences in the world, and ſends about p. 148the judgements that are abroad: but who ſees the Majeſty and Glory of Chriſt, that is now hid? but in the day of Chriſt that ſhall appear; then his Glory ſhall ſhine forth eminently, Matt. 24.30. Then ſhall appear the ſign of the Son of man, &c. They ſhall ſee the Son of man coming in Power and great Glory. Now that is another difference: in a calamity, the Majeſty of Chriſt is veiled; but in the day of Chriſt, Chriſt will then appear in his Glory.

4. In the foreſt calamity that ever was, or ſhall be in the world, the Lord doth not deal in ſtrictneſs of juſtice, not doth he come forth with all his wrath; but in the day of Chriſt he will then ſit upon the Throne, judgeing with exactneſs of Juſtice, and rendring to every one according to the utmoſt extent of all that they have done: There is much of the wrath of God is kept in, in the moſt wrathful providenc… that cometh upon the world: wha… Ezra ſpeaks in the 9th. chap. and 13. v. thou Haſt puniſhed us leſs then our iniquities deſerved, &c. So it may be ſaid with reſpect unto any judgement that ever was, is, or may be upon earth, the p. 149Lord puniſheth leſs then iniquity dedeſerves; the moſt dreadful calamity hath not that terrour in it, that inquity calls for, and deſerves at the hand of God: And therefore the people of God in the Lament. 3.22. do acknowledge, It is the Lords mercies they are not conſumed. Any thing on this ſide being conſumed, and cut off from the preſence of God, is Mercy.

Ah my Friends! however ſevere the Lord may ſeem in any of his providences, he is not ſo ſevere as he might be, if he did ſtir up all his wrath, and deal in ſtrictneſs and exactneſs of ſeverity; but when Chriſt comes to judgement, every man ſhall have according to his work: Poor ſinners ſhall then receive the utmoſt peny, 2 Cor. 5.10. We muſt all appear before the judgement-ſeat of Chriſt, that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he hath done, whether good or bad. Upon earth men do not receive according to what is done, according to the ſinfulneſs of ſin, but God in wrath remembers mercy; but at that day all men ſhall receive according to what they have done; there ſhall p. 150be a retribution according to the ſtrictneſs of Juſtice, Rom. 2.5, 6. But after thy hardneſs, treaſureſt up wrath againſt the day of wrath, &c. and ſo, Matt. 16.27. For the Son of man ſhall come in the Glory of his Father with his Angels: and then he ſhall reward every man according to his works: That is another thing in which the greateſt day of common calamity, and the day of Chriſt differ exceedingly.