Sermon Before His Death, Sermon
A SERMON BY Hugh Peters: PREACHED Before his Death: As it was taken by a faithful hand. And now publiſhed for publick Information.
Entred according to order.
LONDON, Printed by John Beſt in Guiltſpur-ſtreet, without Newgate. 1660.
TO THE Chriſtian Reader.
Chriſtian Reader,
THou haſt here preſented unto thy peruſal a Sermon taken by a faithful hand, from the mouth of Mr. Hugh Peters, who dyed at Charing-Croſs on Tueſaday laſt, being the ſixteenth of this preſent Octob. 1660. Were the Orphant nameleſs, and did but any perſon (that had heard the Parent) take it in his hand and view it with his eye, he would (as its Godfather) Baptize it with the name it bears; let not its decent cauſe your cenſure, but your pitty, good Parents may have bad Children, but as God will not except the bad Children for the good Parents ſake, ſo bad Parents may have good Children, and we muſt not caſt off the good children for the bad Parents ſake, but time is ſhortly coming when God will ſit as Judge, upon Children and Parents: This Sermon is not as a Trumpet ſounding Rebellion, but as a School-Maſter teaching Religion, its call is to beleiving, not to Rebelling.
Paſs not your ſentence upon it before your reading of it, which were to let your paſſion give the ſentence of condemnation, before your judgment hath ſate upon the bench for examination.
Page 3. Line 6, 7. for too ſeldom proclamation,read two ſolemn proclamations.
A SERMON PREACHED BY Hugh Peters.
ISA…AH 55. 1.
Ho every one that thirſteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money: come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price.
IN this whole Chapter there are many things driven at; The firſt a loving and kinde invitation of a company of poor thirſty ſouls to come and buy wine and milk without money or moneys worth; they muſt not bring money in their purſes, but muſt bring hungry thirſty ſouls to come hither. The ſecond is a differing the ways of God from the ways of man; were Gods ways like the ways of men, then a poor ſoul hearing of ſuch rich booties to be had in Chriſt, and at ſo low a rate, will be ready to object and ſay, Oh ſir, the news is good, but I fear too good to be true; what, to come to the market and bring no money, and yet have the commodities, this is ſtrange, men will …t do thus? therefore mark what God anſwers, My ways are not as your ways, nor my thoughts as your thoughts, ſaith the Lord. In your affairs it is not ſo, but in my dealing it is ſo; the comfortable joy and rejoycing theſe poor hungry ſouls ſhall go away with, ver. 12. This, as I conceive, is the meaning of the whole Chapter.
The words in the Text are nothing elſe but a precept and a reaſon.
Theſe words note three things,
1. The Inquiſition, ſeek
2. The prayer, To call upon him▪
3. In reformation, to forſake their evil and wicked ways, verſ. 7. the reaſon is verſ. 8. For Gods thoughts are not as your thoughts, nor his ways as your ways.
In the Inquiſition or Inquiring there are theſe parts conſiderable.
1. Barely an act, ſeek.
2. The circumſtance of time, implying there is a time when he will be found, and a time when he will not be found.
3. The object, The Lord.
4. The ſeekers, Ye.
In the firſt verſe there is ſome comfort for a poor broken ſoul, and I cannot paſs it over; therefore let us a little conſider the invitation which the words of the Text are a part. There is too ſeldom proclaimation made with a O yes, Come all poor and rich, great and ſmall, come without money or moneys worth, bring only neceſſity and deſire to buy; where you may ſee the qualification of the buyers; they are but mean men, poor, hungry, thirſty ſouls that have nothing: from whence take this Concluſion.
Doct. That there is no unworthineſs in an humble ſoul, or a poor broken hearted ſinner, can hinder the work of his redemption.
A poor ſoul he comes, and hath nothing to ſhew what he hath done, no work to manifeſt, he can ſcarce pray, he would fain have a Sermon, fain have a Sacrament, fain have a Chriſt, and that makes him long for him; ſuch a ſoul as this, is moſt fit to receive Chriſt.
Reaſon 1. Becauſe the miſeries of ſuch a poor ſoul is the object of Gods mercy▪ ſin is the object of his Juſtice, but miſery is the object of his mercy; what would become of a poor ſoul if this were not a truth? what need a theif or a murderer cry out for pardon unleſs he were guilty of the crimes.
2. Reaſ. Becauſe all eaſe and refreſhments flows from the free mercy of God in Chriſt▪ Firſt, There is a time when a ſinner is turned off from God, but in mercy God turns to them again, and turns them to himſelf; Ah poor wretch, in this caſe you may ſay, I know God will abundantly pardon, yea I have a promiſe, Rev. 12. 17. Who ever is athirſt, come and drink of the water of life freely.
3. Reaſ. No unworthineſs in a poor ſoul can hinder a poor ſoul from getting Chriſt, becauſe the greater the ſin, the greater honor God will have in pardoning of your ſins, therefore hold up your heads ye great ſinners, if your hearts be broken God will have much glory by you, by pardoning your ſins. Thus Moſes pleaded for Iſrael, Exod. 22. 11. If thou deſtroy them now, what will become of the promiſes made to their Fathers, nay ſaith he, what will the Egyptians ſay. So ſaith a great ſinner, as David, If thou wilt pardon this may hainous ſin, then ſhall many ſinners be converted to thee; I will tell an old drunkard and adulterer what thou haſt done for me.
Object. It is a comfortable ſaying, ſaith a poor ſoul, but I cannot finde it ſo in my ſelf, my ſins are ſo great.
Anſw. Though all the ſins of the whole world were upon thee, except the ſin of the Holy Ghoſt, thou lying under them with a broken heart, then I tell thee there is a pardon for thee; a merciful God and a Saviour for thee.
Object. True, I know God is merciful, but not to ſuch a wretched ſoul as mine, you know not me; Sir, I have been a prophane perſon, and am ſo ſtill, and an Adulterer, and a Sabbath-breaker, indeed I confeſs my heart hath been a little humbled, but I am not worthy of mercy.
Anſw. I tell thee, if thou wert worthy in thy eſteem then there were no hope of mercy for thee, for then thou wert in a poor caſe; if in thy own eſteem thou wanteſt worthineſs, and if thou wilt ſtay till thou be worthy, certainly thou wilt never finde Chriſt.
Object. But if I could finde ſome lets and impediments taken away, there might be ſome hope of comfort; but alas Sir, when I come to pray, I am like a dead ſtock; and in preaching, and in hearing, I have no life nor power.
Anſw. I pray you conſider, is it becauſe you can pray well, or preach well that thou mayeſt have Chriſt? or is it of Gods free mercy, and that becauſe he delights in mercy? Mic. 7. 17. Never tell me of deadneſs in duties to keep thee from Chriſt, but bring with thee an empty ſoul, and my ſoul for thine, Chriſt will be found of thee to thy comfort.
Object. Sir, I am afraid it will not ſtand with Gods juſtice, to pardon ſuch ſins as I have committed; for if I were in his place, I ſhould not do it.
Anſw. This God anſwers himſelf: Were you in Gods place, you would not paſs by ſuch offences; but ſaith God, My ways are not as your ways; I know a way how to be merciful to ſuch a ſoul in Chriſt, therefore let no unworthineſs hinder thee from coming to Chriſt. Come we then to the words of the Text, Seek ye the Lord, and put all the parts together, the act, agent and object, time, and caſt them up, and ſee what the count will be: I think it will be thus much;
Doctr. 2. That all thoſe that do ſeek for true happineſs, excellent, ſolid▪ and ſound comfort, muſt ſeek the Lord Jeſus to accompliſh their ends.
See this made more plain by a place or two of Scripture, John 3. 16. It is called the g…eat promiſe,God ſo loved the world, that he gave his onelyonly begotten, that whoſoever believeth in him, ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting life; ſeeking and believing in him come very near together; ſo Mat. 11. 28. Come unto me all you that are weary and heavy laden, and I will refreſh you: And ſee what our Saviour ſaith, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, John 14. 6. No man can come to the Father but by me: So Rev. 22. 17. Let every one that is a thirſt come: The ſame is proclaimed,John 7. 37. it is he that comes with healing under his wings. The point is plain, and I think underſtood of all; come we then to Reaſons, for we aim at Application.
Reaſ. 1. Taken from the ground of contraries; becauſe all other things beſides Chriſt, whatſoever they be, cannot give ſatisfaction to the ſoul, they are all ſublunary, all things are ſhort but onelyonly Chriſt: Take what you will, pitch upon any thing, Honour, it paſſeth and comes to nothing; Riches takes the wings of the morning and flies away; Beauty, there comes a diſeaſe, and that is blaſted, whatſoever it be that man can take pleaſure in; there is not a Goa…d under Heaven, but it hath a worm in the root that will eat it up, therefore look to your hearts: Many people truſt in vain things; the old doting dreamer he comes, and he hopes well of his eſtate and condition; why? becauſe he comes to Church, he was baptized, and he pays every man his own, and he receives the Sacrament: Ah, the Lord pity thee, thou yet falls ſhort of Chriſt. This is as if a man come to ſome water ſide, and had much buſineſs to go over, and all in poſt calls for a boat, and he gets in, and he takes a nap in the boat, and goes no farther, though his buſine…s be of great importance: This is the ſtate of many, for want of going over the water, they fall ſhort of Chriſt, and ſo neglect their greateſt buſineſs; much to do they had, but they never ſought Chriſt, there they reſt onelyonly in the boat of the Ordinance; we come to the Temple, but we finde not Chriſt there. Again, thou haſt many outward bleſſings, and thou ſayeſt, I have a good ſtock, and thou reſteth there, well, but there is a worm in that goard that will eat it out; thou haſt a pretty childe, and thou much delights in it, and thou ſeeſt not that it hath a deſperate and curſed heart which it will bring to thee, and as a worm will devour it. Again, ſome dote upon a wife, and beauty in a wife, and then comes a diſeaſe and ſeiſeth upon her, then her beauty is gone, and ſhe expoſed ſo much miſery, and death takes her away, and deprives thee of all thy comfort thou tookeſt in her. Another man, he ſhrewds himſelf under the King or State, for there be but few but have ſome goard or other; for will ſome ſay, and have ſaid, O the Parliament will help us all: Some reſt in the wiſdom and policy of our Stateſmen, but you ſee there is a worm in that goard. Oh, but we come to the Sacrament, and faſt and pray, and that will help all, but a worm eats up that goard; and you ſee our helps are almoſt blaſted, for ſay ſome, we need not come ſo often tegether, and keep Conventicles, as it is called, other matters will ſerve the turn, we need not be ſo ſtrict, but that worm will eat the goard. We truſted on another ſort of people, that have another goard; O, ſay they, we have the Goſpel, and that in a flouriſhing manner, as none in the World have the like; but alas, is there not a worm in that goard? is not the Doctrine of Devils ſet up amongſt us, Arminianiſm and Hereſie will ſoon eat up your Goſpel that is now ready to be devoured with open mouth; If thou haſt all theſe things, and no Chriſt, thou haſt yet an empty ſoul, and unſatisfied for want of Chriſt, thou art yet diſappointed of thy ends and hopes.
Reaſ. 2. The ſecond Reaſon is, Becauſe that in Chriſt there is all that a ſoul can long for, or heart can deſire; therefore if you would have your hearts filled with joy, it muſt be drawn out of the excellency and fulneſs in Chriſt; for there is in him a balm to heal all our dumb and deaf, lame and blinde diſeaſes; he is onelyonly able to ſatisfie a thirſty ſoul.
There be three things that will not be ſatisfied without this all-ſufficient remedy:
Firſt, the juſtice of God, it comes and claims its right, this ſoul was forfeited to me, and ſo it cryes out for condemnation againſt ſuch a ſoul, becauſe it deſpiſed mercy when it was offered, therefore juſtice claims his right. Here the poor ſoul is loſt, no ſtay in the World, but if the ſentence of juſtice be propounded, then the Lord have mercy on thee, as we ſay of a condemned man: Then in comes Chriſt and brings a pardon, and he anſwers Gods juſtice, and ſays, this is an humbled ſoul, it is mine, I have ſatisfied juſtice for it, and thou haſt nothing to do with it; here a poor ſoul were loſt for ever, if Chriſt had not come in.
Secondly, The Devil comes, Oh, thou art mine, for thou art forfeited to me in Adam, and haſt been lead by me, and art a wretched ſinner, and a damned creature, and therefore muſt ſhare with me in torments for ever: Well, what will help thee? now call all thy friends together, thy wife and children, and ſee if they can help thee; call all thy ſtate together, and offer it for a ranſome to the Devil, alas, it will all be nothing, all thy ſilver, and gold, and friends, cannot redeem thy ſoul from Hell; ah poor wretch, miſerable is thy caſe: Well, but in ſteps Chriſt, and ſaith, Avoid Satan, this ſoul is mine, I have dyed for it; time was when it was thine, but I have redeemed it out of thy hands; this is a poor broken ſoul, and I have dyed for ſuch ſouls: Here is a Saviour indeed in time of need.
Thirdly, Here is another thing to be ſatisfied, and that is, the raging power of ſin. This ſoul is mine, ſaith Sin, and I will dwell here, I will make it a hypocritical heart, and a murderous heart, and a proud and unclean heart, I will keep it from mending; it hath been a proud heart, and it ſhall be ſo ſtill, a Drunkard ſtill, a Blaſphemer and unclean ſtill, and no means ſhall do him good. Then comes Chriſt; Nay, ſaith he, I have redeemed this ſoul from the power of ſin, and ſin ſhall have no more power over it: tell me if any thing can help thee; for without Chriſt no help, no ſalvation.
Ʋſe. If this be ſo, That no thing can help us, or do us good but Chriſt, and is all other things eſteemed above him, and he onelyonly neglected? I cannot tell whether I ſhould weep or exclaim againſt you. I anſwer, we have all cauſe to weep, we ſpeak to a people that are dead, and almoſt paſt feeling: Oh, it is a comfortable doctrine, Chriſt came into the world to ſave ſinners: It is true, but this belongs not to all. A man looſe his purſe, and many jevvels in it (its found) every one would have ſome, vvhen as they are all but one mans; ſo in this caſe, vvhen vve offer Chriſt, every one is ready to claim right in Chriſt, but he belongs but to fevv. Novv therefore that vve may not be deceived, let us mark this point is of ſingular uſe, let us knovv to vvhom Chriſt belongs. There be four ſorts of people in a miſerable condition, and though Chriſt have caſt abroad ſo many excellent jevvels, yet they are never a vvhit the better: I could vviſh you ſtood out by your ſelves, you that are not for Chriſt; I vvould I did knovv vvho vvere for Chriſt, and vvho for the Devil, but ſuch of you as hear me, take your portion vvhere it falls, for you beſt knovv your ovvn caſe: Chriſt comes, and he offers healings, and vvould fain do you good.
The firſt of people, are ſuch as are ſick, and are like a company of mad frantick men, they have no ſenſe at all, their caſe is very deſperate: As if a grave Phyſician comes in and offers them good phyſick, intreats them to take it, or elſe they are all dead men; yet theſe mad Patients refuſe to take it, and kick out the Phyſician, and throvvs the glaſſes againſt the vvalls, and vvill not accept of his phyſick; ſo ſay I to a poor ſoul, now for the Lords ſake take Chriſt, or elſe thou art a damned wretch for ever. Oh, but ſaith one of theſe mad Ruffins, we take Chriſt? get you out of our Towns, what have we to do with Chriſt? we cannot endure this earneſtneſs for Chriſt, keep your Chriſt to your ſelf if you will, and ſee if others will take him: O the Lord have mercy on thee poor wretch: Let Miniſters ſay what they will, and preach themſelves whorce, yet we will drink, and ſwagger, and ſvvear; are not all theſe the conditions of no ſmal fools? What, they take on them the yoke of Chriſt, no, no, not they, they vvill not: but alas for you that make ſo light of Chriſt; yet many ſuch there be in the World.
A ſecond ſort are ſuch as can be content to hear of Chriſt, and to receive him a little; they are like to a people of fine ſtomacks that can take phyſick but it muſt be ſweetned, courſe fare will not down with them; ſo theſe men can be content to hear of Chriſt by this or that man, and receive him ſo far as he ſuits with them, but in all things they cannot indure him; if he come to courſe fare, they cannot endure this chear; of going to heaven and deliverance from hell, this they can reliſh. I profeſs men would have ſuch a Chriſt as I never heard of, he muſt be a giving Chriſt, a Chriſt that ſtands with their pride, hypocriſie and prophaneſs, or he is no Chriſt for them; if they cannot have Chriſt and their eaſe and gain, but muſt part with theſe, then take Chriſt to your ſelves; rather then they will part with theſe baſe luſts they will have no Chriſt; if they may have him upon ſweet terms well and good, if not, then farewel Chriſt. You ſhall have one come to a Chaplain in a great mans houſe, and he will ſay, Oh ſir beware that you ſpeak ſweetly and fairly, take heed you touch not the Governours by any means; you may have leave to preach in forenoons, but in the afternoons let them hunt and hauk and take their pleaſure; but if you abridge them of their liberty, you will ſcarce be heard any more; alas poor ſoul, never think to receive Chriſt, if thou canſt not receive him but when he is a pleaſure and gain unto thee. Such deal with Chriſt as Inn-Keepers do with paſſengers ſo long as they have money, and ſpend it willingly, they have what they will call for, and you are welcome Gentlemen, but if their money be ſpent, and no more gain gotten by them, then let them be gone, there is no more entertainment for them: So if you may have eaſe, and pleaſure, and profit, and Chriſt too, he is welcome; but if he will not, if he will carry away any thing, though never ſo baſe a luſt, yet we had rather part with Chriſt then that which we may a great deal better ſpare. Oh if they cannot have Chriſt but hazard their eſtates, expoſe their bodies to impriſonment, theyle have no Chriſt. Like the Soldiers they will follow Chriſt to the Hall, but it was for his garments, when they had got that then they let Chriſt go; ſo many will follow Chriſt ſo long as there is any thing to be gotten, but when they muſt part with any thing they will go no further: Its with theſe as with a childe, the childe having cut its finger and ſeeing it bleed, it will cry and bemoan the mother; but if the mother require but an apple out of the childs hand, it turns the back to the mother, and the mother may bleed to death before the childe will give her ſo ſmall a matter: And ſo likewiſe if Chriſt bring you gain, it may be you will receive him, but if he would have you part with prophaneſs, pride or a baſe luſt, then Chriſt may bleed his heart out before they will look after him.
A third ſort of hearers that are to be reproved are ſuch that will not meddle with Chriſt at all; they take up a principle from the Country people it is a dangerous thing to take phyſick, but let nature work, and ſo far as nature will work they are willing to go, and no further: They ſay they are well-meaning men, that keep good houſes, come to the Church, and pay every man his own, and the like: Alas poor wretch that crys out ſo for nature, and thinks it needleſs to look any further for Chriſt, your condition is lamentable and deſperate.
A fourth ſort of people here reproved are ſuch as ſeem to have received Chriſt, but tbey diſgorge their ſtomacks of what they have received; now phyſick being received, and preſently coming up again it doth no good at all; even ſo let Chriſt come but to be a little coſtly unto us, and croſs us, in any thing then up comes profeſſion, and Chriſt and all muſt lie in the floar. Further to illuſtrate the ſame; Say we do ſeek Chriſt; well, what time didſt thou ever ſet apart to ſeek him in? how many ſolemn days and hours haſt thou ſet apart for that work? but art not thou ſuch a one that doth not greatly care whether thou haſt Chriſt yea or no, thou ſeeſt no great benefit by having of him, nor no leſs if thou have him not, but if Chriſt will have thee ſo it is, if not, well and good: O poor wretch, that thou makeſt no more reckoning of Chriſt: You ſee a man poſting to the Phyſitian, riding as faſting as he can: Why, whats the matter? O my wife or my childe lieth at the point of death; but where is the man that maketh ſo much haſte to the Miniſter for the ſouls of his wife and children that are dead; nay where is the Miniſter that took ſuch pains with their people, and ſay, Oh neighbors look about you, you are going to hell, you had need take heed; now get a Saviour, take pains for him, and that ſpeedily, or elſe you periſh; but Miniſters are ſo lazy and dead hearted that they have no courage for Chriſt, but if the Miniſter did ſee one ſtand at the Church door ready to chop off his neck if he did not convert one at his Sermon, O what zeal and earneſtneſs would be put forth! You can tell every man of his bodily dangers, and bid him look about, and tell him ſuch and ſuch will deceive him, but his poor ſoul is going poſt to Hell, and that moves you not; you preſs no neceſſity on him then to take heed. A beggars very neceſſity makes him to beg; but we are idle, and will not pray, nor preach, nor hear a Sermon as we ought to do; why, what is the matter? we ſee not the neceſſity of Chriſt, and this is the reaſon why we are ſo dull becauſe our hearts are not poſſeſt with the need of the Lord Chriſt; ſome ſay they can ſeek Chriſt, they can weep, pray, and mourn, and yet walk looſly: Well, as hard a matter as it is to find out an hypocrite from a true ſeeker of Chriſt, yet you may know him, for though they agree in many generals, but in particulars there is a broad difference between them; the one comes out of love to Chriſt, the other out of love to himſelf: Look as a condemned man comes to the King for a pardon, he loves not to ſtay long in the Kings preſence, but ſo ſoon as he gets his pardon he is gone. So an hypocrite comes to God in a ſpirit of bondage, and anguiſh of conſcience, and oh he would fain have a pardon out of his own eaſie end, not any love to God, having eaſe you ſhall not oft ſee him deſire to come in Gods preſence. As I once ſaw a drunken wretch when the torments of hell lay upon his conſcience, I coming in, they told him ſuch a one is coming to ſee you, methinks I hear him ſtill cry, It is too late, it is too late; Oh ſir, what ſhall I do? and when he had gotten a little eaſe he turned to his filthineſs again, ſuch as thoſe never knew what the love of God in Chriſt was: Oh what a ſtir is there if an houſe be on fire, though before all aſleep, then, oh ſave my wife or my childe; ſo when the conſcience breaks out into terrors, then oh help, help, but eaſe that and you ſhall hear no more of him.
Again, it may be an hypocrite prays, but either he ruſhes into Gods preſence without any preparation, or elſe paſſeth over the duty very ſlubberingly of any faſhion ſo it be done, or elſe after the duty more proudly, ſaith, I have prayed and preached, &c. but if he have not what he would have, he leaves all. Like as Suiters coming to a widow, ſome come for wealth, ſome for grace: Now vvhen ſhe expreſſeth her eſtate, and ſaith, My eſtate is not that it is taken for, it is but ſmall, but if you like me as I am, ſo it is; then he that comes for vvealth makes no further labour, but ceaſes his …; ſo we hear of Chriſt that he bring▪ heaven, and delivers from Hell, we would fain have him, yet if there be no preſent gain to be had, we are loth to take him as he is, if he comes once to be naked, and poor, and bare Chriſt; then, what is this all the gain, then farewel Chriſt? Ah poor wretch, the Lord pitty thy ſoul. But now faith a poor ſoul, the poor humble ſoul, a broken hearted Ch…iſtion ſaith, Oh let me have Chriſt though I have nothing elſe in the world.
Ʋſe. If the ground of all contentedneſs and happineſs ſtands in ſeeking Chriſt, then I muſt make ſure work with thoſe that have Chriſt and th…ſe that have him not; and we may conſider who have found Chriſt a Saviour by theſe parts of ſeeking here ſet down.
1. Seeking conſidered barely as an action.
2. As a Chriſtian action.
3. As a particular action.
4. The object, the Lord.
5. How, By rule of Scripture.
1. As an action barely conſidered: There were three things obſerved of the Heathen in every action, Firſt, A ſerious deliberation. Secondly, A ſerious conſultation. And thirdly, A preſent execution. Try your ſelves by theſe particulars. Firſt, Tell me I pray thee, when didſt thou deliberate about Chriſt whether he was worth the having? tell me, what time have you taken to deliberate to think with your ſelves how to come by him? tell me in what cloſet, in what field, under what hedge haſt thou been caſting about this point? you can caſt about how to pay your rents, but tell me when didſt thou conſider thy ſoul was going to Hell without Chriſt being a Saviour to thee?
Secondly, Who is he that makes ſerious conſultation how he may get Chriſt and ſalvation to his ſoul? and who is he that goes to the Miniſters or neighbors, and conſults how and by what means he may obtain Chriſt: Phyſicians may have their Patients, Lawyers their cliants come by twenties knocking at their door before they be up, and good ſir follow my ſuit, I muſt beg elſe; but your Miniſter may cool his heels in his ſtudy all the week long before you come with ſuch a queſtion, Alas fir, what ſhall I do? and cry out good ſir help me to Chriſt or elſe I periſh: But alas poor wretch thou haſt meat and drink, and a deal of worldly traſh, and that contents thee, is this a ſeeking of Chriſt?
Thirdly, And who puts this in execution, we ſtand dreaming about it; it is good he ſaith, but we hope all ſhall be well, and many other good thoughts; but alas thou haſt a miſerable poor ſoul; ſo that take it as an act we may in ſome meaſure ſee whether we ſeek Chriſt or not.
2. Conſider this as it is a Chriſtian and good action, three things herein very neceſſary to be conſidered. 1. A clear ſight or knowledge of the thing we go about. 2. A ſincere affection to it. 3. Quickneſs in diſpatch of it. 1. Conſider the thing we go about is weighty, and of great importance; to find Chriſt pardoning ſin, and working our redemption; now there muſt be a true knowledge of this, elſe there can be no true ſeeking: Herein are reproved all ignorant Maſters and Miniſters. I met lately with a man of eighty years of age ſave one, I asked him how many Gods there were, he could not tell. It is a pittiful caſe; one day their children will cry out, Oh murdering parents, you might have made me better had you catechiſed me, I had never come to theſe flames; Oh curſed Father and Mother it is you that ſent me to hell; I might have had a Saviour had it not been for you for ought I know. Shall the Lord give you children and will you give them to the Devil? Your ſervants they moil and toil for you, and you ſend them to hell for their labour; well they will one day curſe you and ſay, I had not been here but for my bloody Maſter; Oh the Lord help you to think of this better. How good a courſe is it for a Miniſter to quarter out his Pariſh, and ſet himſelf and make it his daily work to go to four or ſix houſes in the afternoon, and ſee how it ſtands with their families, and deal plainly with the poor ſouls of his people, you will finde much good follow this, you will deliver many ſouls from hell, and meet with them you never met withal: Ah the Lord help us, we want a ſpirit of love to their poor ſouls. What is the reaſon ſo many make haſte to hell? it is through ignorance and want of better inſtruction; many old doting fools are ready to ſay of theſe times, Never was good world ſince there was ſo much preaching. But alas it is becauſe they know no better of Chriſt; but alas for thee, poor ignorant old man or young man who ever thou art, look to it, thou art going to hell, if no knowledge of Chriſt, there is no love to him. Now let me intreat you to buy orthodox books, make ſtore of them, get Bibles into your houſes, get your Miniſter to catechiſe you, and to inſtruct you, to have a care of your poor ſouls. And thus much let me ſay to Miniſters, If ever you would ſpend your ſelves or be ſpent for the ſouls of your people: Now is the time, the Palatinate and other Countries are ſhaken already, and England begins to ſhake faſt, and it is likely it cannot hold out, therefore labour as much as you can to bring them to Chriſt; for Popery gets head and grows faſt, therefore never more need.
2. To ſeek Chriſt argues ſome ſincere affection after Chriſt. Judas had knowledge, but for want of practice he died in a halter. Would you think your ſervant dealt well with you, if you ſend him to look your loſt cattel, and he goeth ſtep by ſtep, and ſpend half the day before he get to the place where he ſhould look them. Should not Miniſters now come and lift up their voyces, and cry Oh get Chriſt you periſh elſe? yet ſee how undiſpoſed we go about it, and we will take our own time; now here wants affection for Chriſt.
But finally, for quickneſs in diſpatch of this action, it is too much ſeen what long delays, and excuſes, and pretences we have, it is ſoon enough we hope, ſo that any thing will hinder that work.
Come we to the third rule of this ſeeking, and ſo to the metaphor, which ſtands in three things:
Firſt, It requires a good light: we have cauſe of great thankfulneſs for the light we enjoy, God hath been merciful to this Nation, light inſtead of darkneſs; many a poor ſoul hath had light, when moſt of the Kingdom have been in darkneſs: Now if God intend to ſave thee, he will ſend thee a light where thou dwelleſt, or elſe remove thee to a light in a family; if God intend to ſave thee, he will ſend a light, ſome good husband, or wife, or childe, or ſervant: If you would have Chriſt, you muſt have light, and walk in the light while you have it; for it darkens apace, and our Sun is decliming: Now for the Lords ſake look about you; if ever you had need to get Chriſt, and we to preach Chriſt, now is the time, for it is almoſt paſt time already, and yet we believe it not, ſee it not. If thou ſayeſt thou haſt Chriſt, I ask thee how thou cameſt by him; either thou haſt Chriſt by the Word, or elſe thou haſt him not at all: This may be proclaimed to all the World, If any man come to Chriſt, it muſt be by the light of the Word.
Secondly, In a particular action there is required a good eye: A blinde man cannot tell how to do any thing. Now this eye is the eye of Faith; for no faith, no Saviour, no Chriſt: Now it is this faith that lays hold on a particular promiſe, and gets Chriſt: It fares with faith pitched on a particular promiſe, as it is with a childe; a father dyes, and leaves ſix children, and in his Will he bequeaths to every one of his children a portion: When the Will comes to be read, Item, I give to my eldeſt ſon John ſo much Land, that is mine, ſaith he: I give to my daughter Elizabeth ſo much money, that is mine, ſaith ſhe: So in this caſe, when Gods Will is read, that is his Word, wherein his legacy is bequeathed to his children, and there is read, Whoſoever is a thirſt, let him believe, and here is water of life for him: Oh, ſaith the thirſty ſoul, that is mine: And ſo when he hears, That whoever believes in Chriſt, ſhall not periſh, but have everlaſting life: Such a ſoul as believes in Chriſt, he takes and receives Chriſt to the uſe and benefit of his ſoul, as act and deed; and therefore he claims his right in everlaſting life: Such a ſoul will adventure any thing for Chriſt. Oh, ſaith ſome to ſuch a ſoul, what need you be ſo earneſt in runing to Sermons? it was a better world when there was leſs. Ah poor hearts, you will not come together to ſeek; well, when Gods judgements fall heavy upon you, then it will drive you together pell mell; then, O good Sir help, but help will not be found. And thus much let me ſay to Chriſtians, learn to prize the good eye, there is many curious tunicles in this eye: What faith to procure me a Saviour? O preſerve it.
Three things hurt the bodily eye, 1. Looking upon water. 2. Wind. 3. Duſt. The like to theſe hurt the ſpiritual eye; if you take water for the fleeting luſts, profits, and pleaſures of this life, looking much on theſe hurt the eye of faith; as David looked on Bathſheba, ſhe was a pearl wind. Secondly, that is pride that puffs a man up, now faith and a proud heart cannot ſtand together, theſe cannot agree; gifts received puffs a man up, and much hurt a mans faith: A ſhip is caſt away ſometimes by the ſame wind that brings him into the Harbour; there is an evil fountain in mens ſtudies, and that is covetouſneſs, when men preach for hire and gain; when they are afraid to truſt God with their wives and children, this hurts faith: Take heed you ſtand not over long, leſt you loſe the benevolence of ſuch a one; and in proſperity a man had need have a good eye, to ſee through ſo much thick clay.
There be three objects whom we muſt ſeek; and that is the Lord, he muſt be ſought in three particulars: 1. Nothing before him. 2. Nothing beſides him. 3. Nothing with him. Thus doth a good ſoul ſeek Chriſt; every one can ſay they ſeek Chriſt, but when I pray you? One day, ſaith the Worldling, but I would have ſome thing elſe firſt. Saith the young man, it is time enough yet, I will take ſome pleaſure, and when I can do little elſe, I will ſeek Chriſt. Oh, ſaith the old doting fool, when I married all my daughters, then will I ſeek Chriſt; alas, for thee it ſeems Chriſt muſt be laſt ſought, as if he were leaſt worth: a lamentable condition.
5. Some rules from Scripture, whereby a man may know whether he have Chriſt or not, or whether he ſeek him: You muſt ſeek him after his own manner preſcribed in his Word; you muſt not pick and chuſe with God, take and leave as you liſt: You would ſeek Chriſt, but it muſt be on your own terms, you are loath to be at coſt: But to prevent this, take four or or five rules in ſeeking Chriſt.
1. The Church muſt be ſought, as the Spouſe in the Canticles ſought him, Cant. 5. 8. I charge you if you ſee my beloved, tell him I am ſick of love: If a man ſhould meet one in ſuch a condition for Chriſt, you would think him almoſt mad; but a poor ſoul muſt be thus raviſhed with the love of Chriſt. A Lawyer poſting up to the Term, O if I loſe my fees, I beg: Or if a poor woman have many children, and all of them live upon her husbands hand labour, alas, if he be ſlain in the way, then I am undone: Thus muſt we ſeek Chriſt, without him we have nothing, ſuch a ſoul is never at reſt, till he finde Chriſt. Firſt, we muſt ſeek Chriſt, as a thirſty man would ſeek for drink; will you agree to this, will you promiſe to ſeek Chriſt thus. A man that is ready to periſh for want of drink, will part with any thing for drink: He comes into a room, and ſpies a cup of drink, he ſaith, O good Sir, take my clothes off my back, or any thing, ſo I may have but a cup of drink: So a poor ſoul comes to ſeek Chriſt, O that I might have but a Chriſt, give me but a Chriſt, and take what you will from me; then away with this faſhion, or that garment, ſo I may have but a Chriſt, away with all this dung and droſs; ſo I may have Chriſt, take Simeon and Benjamin too, or any thing, ſo I may have but a Chriſt, for it is Chriſt I want, onelyonly Chriſt, onelyonly Chriſt, ſaith the poor ſoul.
2. A thirſty man will be ſatisfied with nothing but drink; let a man come and offer him gold, and ſilver, and precious ſtones, alas, this ſatisfies him not, though you ſtop his mouth full; but good Sir, give me a little drink, or elſe I periſh; for ſaith a poor ſoul, wherefore do you offer me gold, the World, and all theſe outward things, its Chriſt I want to ſave me: O what hard ſhift will a man make for drink in extremity; As once I heard of three men that went a fiſhing from the Summer Iſlands in a boat, and being from the Land by a ſtorm, and continued at Sea eight or nine days, at length one dyed, and the other threw him over board; a ſecond dyed, and then the third takes up the dead and unbowels him, and ſets open his body to catch rain water; in ſo doing, he lived with water and blood, and ſo came to Land: Thus a poor thirſty ſoul vvill make hard ſhift for Chriſt.
3. We muſt ſeek Chriſt, as a man vvould dig for treaſure, Wife and children, all muſt dig: Oh it vvill enrich me, vve muſt take all pains to get Chriſt, vvhy vvhat is the matter? What? vvhy he vvill ſave me.
4. Chriſt muſt be ſought, as a condemned man vvould ſeek for pardon. I have ſeen ſtout Gallants, being condemned, deſire to fight vvith three or four, and be ſlain; rather dye any death, then a Dogs death: O Sir, is there no hope of pardon for me? O that I had but a day more. I have been vvith ſome in that caſe, and they have greatly complained of three things, 1. They vvould take no counſel. 2. They lived in profaning the Sabbath. 3. They have loſt their time. I have lived 20, 30, 40 years, but my time is novv gone over; bring vvhat you vvill to a man in this caſe, bring a ſilken, ſattin ſhute, and tell him he may have wife worth ſo much by the year, alas, what do you mock me? this will do me no good: I am going to dye, if you bring me a pardon, I will ſay ſomething to it. So I may tell you, the great day is coming, when fire and faggot is about thine ears, a Chriſt will then be worth ſomething: Thou that haſt not Chriſt, tell me what thou wouldſt do, if thou waſt to dye this night; without Chriſt thou art a condemned man; without Chriſt what will become of thy poor ſoul? if thou haſt not a Saviour, Hell is fit to receive thee, the Devil fit to carry thee thither; and then a Chriſt to ſtep in and challenge thee, were worth thouſands: Now ſeek the Lord while he may be found. Now let me proclaim to you, in the name of the Lord, That if there be any man in this congregation that doth mean and intend to ſeek Chriſt from this day forward, well and good; but if you purpoſe to be drunkards and ſwearers ſtill, and Sabbath-breakers ſtill, and reſolve to live ſo, let me entreat you to depart out of the congregatien, let me ſee it, I have nothing to do with you: I pray you once again, let me ſee it, who are for Chriſt, and who are not: Well, why do you not ſtir? you do not all mean as you make a ſhew of: What, will you all take Chriſt on this condition, to be drunk no more, to ſwear no more, to break the Sabbath no more? Well, I ſee none of you ſtir, if this be in truth, you are able to ſave a whole Nation; but if it be not in truth, you are horrible hypocrites before God: Therefore look to your hearts; now therefore take notice of the day of this monethmonth, this preſent Thurſday, that you have made a covenant with God to forſake all your poophane courſes▪ which at your perils break not. I deſire again to know your minde, Whether you are reſolved on this or no. I tell you, its no jeſting with God; and remember what you do, we are making or receiving a covenant, do not gratifie vice with your preſence, unleſs on this condition, Well, I ſee none ſtir, therefore fore this covenant is ratified; therefore look to it, for I tell you, I my ſelf at the laſt will witneſs againſt you, that on ſuch a day, and in ſuch a houſe, you made a covenant with God to be drunkards no more, nor ſwearers no more, &c. therefore take notice what you have done.
Ob. But ſome may ſay, It is ſtrange Miniſters ſhould ſpeak thus, after ſuch a manner: What, is it poſſible to have Chriſt, and keep my pleaſe, my pride and hypocriſie ſtill, this is marvellous ſtrange.
Anſw. I tell thee thou muſt forgo all, and vvhat hath been paſt, and novv to redeem out of the Devils hands, and take this day to begin; delay no longer, its almoſt paſt time already. Were it not a folly for a Mariner to have his ſhip girt, rigged, and victualled, and he lie ſleeping all the Summer, till proviſion be ſpent, and Winter ſtorms and rumours, and Worms eat holes in the ſhip, and then go out: So doſt thou think its a meet time to ſeek the Lord, vvhen thy body is rotten and decayed; no, no, the Lord vvill not alvvays be found; nay, it is very likely the Lord vvill not give thee a heart to ſeek him, then vvill you ſleep in Summer, vvhen the harveſt is paſt. Will any man vvhen there is catching Weather, bid his ſervants reſt? nay, vvill he not rather ſay, get you all into the field, and vvork hard, for you ſee vvhat catching Weather vve have; get all the Workmen you can, and vvork hard, though you reſt for it aftervvards, that you may have the harveſt in the barns before the ſtorms come. Why truly brethren, theſe are catching times as ever men lived in; how ſoon the ſtorms may fall, I cannot tell, but I believe very ſuddenly: I would I might be a Falſe Prophet, but I am ſure there are dark clouds abroad; therefore now ſet to work, and live no longer in ignorance. I once lived in a place, where they had not a Sermon once in ten or twelve years ſpace; What a company of non-reſidents are there, that live a hundred miles off their flock, that ſcarce ſee them once in a year? and when they do come, it is with ſuch tuff-taffity phraiſes of Hebrew, Greek and Latine, that ſcarce any one underſtands them, but need bring Greek and Latine ears with them: And theſe I cannot tell what better to compare to, then a great pair of Braſs Andirons; a compariſon though homely, yet ſometimes uſed by me: You know theſe Braſs Andirons ſtand for ſhew, and not for uſe, and the little creepers that ſtand by them muſt hold up the fire: So theſe men make a ſhew, as if all were done by them, when one Sermon in the year, and quarter, will ſerve turn; as in Wales, which is moſt woful, you may have one ride and ſerve four or five Pariſhes, and read a little Starvis, or Service, as they call it. O the Lord help you, time will come when the Lord will not be found; How is he found of the Palatinate? One day you will ſay, I had ſweet times, I had a good Miniſter, but the time is gone. Well, I tell you, it is now high time, it is good making hay while the Sun ſhine; the times are marvellous catching, therefore be not afraid of coming together, but do any thing for Chriſt, he will ſtand you inſtead. A poor man threſheth, and takes great pains; what is the matter? it is to maintain my poor family: But who are ye that ſeek Chriſt, to get him into your houſes? Stand not hawking with God, as a Woman is loth to part with her old gold to buy commodities; why? it was a token of an old Friend; for we would have Chriſt, but we are loth to part with the Devils tokens, the World, and our Luſts: Take heed thou haſt not the Devil, and Hell and all, one day for it.
FINIS.
End of the text · Hugh Peters, Sermon Before His Death (1660)