Calebs Integrity in Following the Lord Fully, Sermon
Die Mercurij, 30 Novemb: 1642.
IT is this Day Ordered by the Commons now Aſſembled in Parliament, that M. Ʋines ſhall be deſired from this Houſe, to print the Sermon hee preached before this Houſe at St. Margarets Weſtminſter this Day at the publike Faſt; And it is further Ordered, that he ſhall have the uſuall privledges as others formerly have had, that none ſhall Print or reprint his Sermon, but thoſe whom he ſhall appoint.
Hen: Elſyng, Cler. Parl. D. Com.
I Appoint Abel Roper to Print this Sermon.
Richard Ʋines.
CALEBS INTEGRITY In following the LORD fully, IN A Sermon Preached at St. Margarets Weſtminster, Before the Honourable Houſe of COMMONS, at their late ſolemne and publick Faſt, Novemb: 30th. 1642.
By RICHARD VINES, Mr. of Arts of Magd. Colledge in Camb: and Miniſter of the Goſpell at WEDDINGTON in the County of WARR▪
Et facere, & pati fortia, Chriſtianum eſt.
LONDON, Printed by G. M. for Abel Roper, at the Signe of of the Sun againſt St. Dunſtans Church in Fleete-streete. M. DC. XLII.
HONOR ATISSIMO, GRAVISSIMOQVE SENATVI PARL. DOM. COM. HANC SUAM QUALEMCUNQUE CONCIONEM HABITAM APVD EVNDEM,
IN ECCLESIA SANCTAE MARGARETAE, APVD WESTMONASTERIVM, SOLENNI, MENSTRUORUM JEJUNIORUM, DIE, NOVEMB. ULTIMO, ANNO 1642. EX OMNIBVS, QUI SACRIS OPERANTUR, IN AGRO WARWICENSI, MINIMUS.
D. D. D.
RICHARDVS VINES.
CALEBS INTEGRITY In following the LORD fully. OR The Patterne of a godly Man, going upon a dangerous ſervice, or at a deſperate point.
NUMBERS XIV-XXIV.
But my ſervant Caleb becauſe he had another Spirit with him, (or in him) and hath followed me fully, (Hebr. hath fulfilled after me) him will I bring into the Land whereinto he went, and his ſeed ſhall poſſeſſe it.
THE Hiſtory whereof this Text Verſ. 2. & 9. & 11. & ….is part; is a narrative of one of the murmurings of the Iſraelites, which famous ſinne of theirs is expreſt in ſome variety of ſtile, being elſewhere called Temptation of God, or foreign provocation, or imbittering of God, and ſometime rebellion, which is a ſinne incident to a people that are under promife, or in expectation of good from God, and yet withall, ſo incountred with temptations and obſtructions of their hopes, wave after wave, that they cannot unto themſelves by faith reconcile the promiſe, or tenderneſſe of God with his preſent providence and diſpenſation towards them, his foot-ſteps being cloudy, and his hand heavy: whereupon their ſpirits are even by his probationary ſcourges imbittered againſt him, as if he neither regarded his own truth, nor their ſufferings. And God againe is imbittered againſt them for their unbeliefe in him, their jealouſie of him, their diſcontents, thought or vented againſt him; for God would not have the people of his Covenant, becauſe they are in ſtraits, to queſtion his reſpect to them; no, though they be betweene Pharaoh and the Sea, at point of periſhing: But if his preſent hand make them cry, Alas for the day is great, It is even the time of Jacobs trouble I…r. 30. 7.(and who will not ſhrinke at the firſt putting his feete into cold water) yet to over-beleeve ſence, and adde withall, but he ſhall be ſaved out of it. This murmuring was the Tenth, the greateſt, and of the heavieſt conſequence.
The Tenth, ſo God himſelfe numbers it, who, as he keepes a Booke of every mans particular ſins (as the phraſe of blotting out imports) and whereof every mans conſcience is a counter part, ſo it appeares hence that he keepes an exact account of our Nationall rebellions and provocations, Ver. 22. They have tempted me now theſe ten times.
The greateſt, for beſides that it is after nine, and the repetition of a ſinne makes the latter eo nomine the greater, (Ezra 9. 14. Should we againe breake thy Commandements) I ſay, abſ que ho…, their other murmurings aroſe upon their want of fleſh, bread, water, or ſome diſlikes of ſome particular occonomy of God over them: This ſtrikes at the roote, at Chap. 12▪ 16. Deut. 1. 20.the throate of all, for now being in Paran, or at the Mountaine of the Amorites, in the very borders of the Land of their reſt, ready to put in their ſickle to reape the promiſe made to Abraham ſo many hundred yeares before. They ſo undervalue and diſhonour Gods reſt made over by deede of promiſe unto them long agone, and now ready to be given by livery and ſeiſin into their hand, that they prefer a ſlaviſh life, nay a grave in Egypt, before ſuch an adventure, would God that we had died in Egypt, Ver. 2. Or would God wee had dyed in the wilderneſse, any grave would ſerve their indignation, rather then they would put on for this inheritance; and haply they thought (as we ſometimes doe in like caſe) that this Land being in promiſe, it ſhould have dropt into their mouthes, even without their opening them, and not have beene a Land of conqueſt as well as promiſe; for ſo we fancy, that promiſes muſt fulfill themſelves, even though we be not in capacity of them, or contribute not to ſerve Gods command or providence in the way of reaping them.
And what was the conſequence? God was provoked, and in his wrath ſwore an oath excluſive of this people, led them off the borders of the Land a 40. years march in the wilderneſſe, untill all the mutineers (all above twenty yeares old at their going forth of Egipt) fell therein. Upon which account, not a man of that great people (except Caleb and Ioſhuah) of much above 60. yeares of age came into Canaan.
Now if theſe things be our enſamples, foreign, 1 Cor. 10. 6.then it is but laying the ſcene among our ſelves, and the reſult of it will be this; That if after all our other Nationall provocations of God, for which wee have long deſerved, that the hand ſhould write upon the wall, that God hath numbred our Kingdome and finiſht it. We ſhould be brought to the borders of that long prayed for reſt from our yoakes and burdens in Church and State, and then prove, as I may ſo ſay, run-awayes from Edge Hil, and ſtumble at the threſhold, deſpiſing the offer, cancelling our former prayers, ſcandalizing our ſelves, ſaying, The time is not come, the time the Lords houſe ſhould Hag. 1. 2.be built, and ſo wiſh for Captaines that we may returne into Egipt, as this people, Verſ. 4. Might wee not feare ſuch another oath of God againſt us, and ſuch another pilgrimage of our ſelves in the wilderneſſe of our own miſery, untill our carcaſſes were all fallen as theirs.
The occaſion of this mutiny was, Twelve Princes or heads of the Tribes, were ſent out to diſcover the Land, they went, returned, and reported, but theſe Twelve were not all agreed of their verdict, they were ten to two; The ten ſpoke their carnall feares, nothing but walled Townes, warlike people, ſons of Anak. the Land indeed is good, but like the garden of the Heſperides, Dragons keepe it; not a word or ſillable of Gods covenant, promiſe, or preſence, to counter-ballance or make rebatement. The people are drawn after them and imbittered, they cry out that God hath betraid their lives, Wives, Children to manifeſt ruine, and to Egipt they will backe againe.
The two, Caleb and Ioſhua, countervoted the ten, Num. 30. 30, 31.and proteſted. We are not able ſay the ten, we are well able ſaith Caleb; they are ſtronger then we ſay the ten, they are bread for us ſay the two; wee are Cum Cap. 30, 31, 32, 33. Cum. Cap. 14, 8, 9.Piſmires and Graſhoppers to them ſay the ten; the Lord is with us, feare them not ſay the two; they are fenced in with walles, and giants ſay the ten; their ſhadow is departed from them ſay the two; This was the conteſtation, but the Noes carried it, and though Caleb and his fellow plyed the people with Gods preſence, power and promiſe, and with the experience they had had of him, yet they got no heate into them, but the heate of inſolency and rage, All the Congregation bad ſtone them with stones, Verſ. 10. Spirituall arguments to a carnall heart, are but warme clothes to a dead man; when men have once a prejudice againſt God, as if he would be falſe to them, and thinke their faith in his promiſes will be but a ſnare to ingage them into wayes deſtructive of themſelves, then it's no oyling of a wheele ſo skotcht: for it is a ſure rule, he that hath no faith to make uſe of God, would by no meanes have need of him. When this people ſaw the great worke which God had done upon Egipt, then they beleeve; the Exo. 4 31.faith of a carnall heart is laid up in preſent ſence or evidence of Gods hand; but while the Anakims are alive, God is no body to them; a hard heart will not bring up former experiments of God, to charge new dangers in the face, for though ſaith Moſes, you have ſeene ſo much of God already, yet in this thing yee did not beleeve the Lord your God. On the Deut. 1. 31, 32.contrary, Caleb values God alone againſt all that can be ſaid, and makes the Giants but Piſmires to his faith, by ſetting God by them, of ſuch down-weight is God, to a ſpirit of faith, in that very thing wherein to an unbeleever he doth not ſo much as ſtirre, much leſſe turne the beame.
So much for the ſurvey of the Suburbs of the Text, whereby you already doe perceive, that here is ſomething that is proper to the Meridian of our owne caſe.
And now I am at the words, which are an exception of Caleb out of the number of them, whom God by oath peremptorily excluded the Land of promiſe for their Rebellion, and therein we have,
1. Gods teſtimony of him.
2. Gods promiſe to him.
1. Gods teſtimony of him.
1. He hath fulfilled after me.
2. He had another ſpirit with him.
2. Gods promiſe to him. Him will bring, &c. and therein,
1. The aſſignement of Calebs plot, the Land hee ſearched, or that part of it into which he went.
2. The ground of that promiſe; becauſe he had another ſpirit, and hath &c.
3. The entaile of the promiſe, or the inheritance upon his ſeed. His ſeed ſhall poſseſſe it.
I begin with Gods teſtimony of this ſervant of his, He hath fulfilled after me, which after this time you may obſerve to be ſet as a marke of honour upon Deut. 1. 36 Ioſ. 14 & 6. & alibi.this man: inſomuch as when his name is named, this character ſirnames him, Hee that followed mee fully; in like manner, as that brand ſtickes upon the name of Ieroboam, Hee that made Iſrael to ſinne.
I liſt not to vex the words. The Hebrew being foreign, he hath fullfilled after me, anſwered with foreign; in the new Teſtament, foreign, 2 Cor. 10. 6. when your obedience is fulfilled: but I will not ſtand to tub that eare, which will yeeld me no more corne then the Tranſlation hath beaten out. He hath followed me fally; as if the Lord had ſaid, he hath ſtuck cloſe to me, and improved the buſineſſe under his hand, howſoever ſucceſleſly as to the people, yet dangerouſly as to himſelfe for my ſake, and managed it to the beſt advantage of my honour, by valuing me, my promiſe, preſence, power, againſt all Objections made by humane wiſedome; or Obſtructions laid by humane power.
Let us now ſee what the Text holds forth unto us, and that honey is beſt, which runnes freely from the combe; we muſt not commit rape or extortion upon the word of God, a ſinne too frequent in our times, by ſuch as are moſt zealous for their party, for how many doe foreign, cauponari verbum Dei, as the Apoſtle ſpeakes, daſhing and mixing as Huckſters doe their wares, adulterating the pure word with their owne crude fancies, and ſo uttering and venting it abroad into the world, to the great ſcandall of Scripture it ſelf, godlineſſe, learning and ingenuity.
The Obſervations that offer themſelves willingly are theſe.
1. That God makes great reckoning of, and gives ſpeciall testimony unto ſuch his ſervants who fulfill after him. My ſervant Caleb hath fullfilled after me.
2. To fulfill after the Lord, proceeds from another ſpirit than the unbeleeving Iſraelites are acted withall. He had another ſpirit with him.
3. Such ſhall not looſe by the hand, who out of a right ſpirit doc follow the Lordfully. Becauſe he had, &c. him will I bring into the Land, &c.
For the firſt, it is not Calebs commendation onelyonly, but every mans duty alſo, who beares this ſtile, My Servant. You heare that Solomon who out of complyance with his wives, tooke in alſo, as I may ſay, Concubines to Gods Temple, is therefore charged, 1 King. 11. 6. Not to have fulfilled after the Lord; and Iehu who out of compliance with that pollicy which proved fatall to that Kingdome, not caſting out that Ieroboamiticall Idolatry in being, is likewiſe charged, 2 King. 10. 31. Not to have obſerved to walke in the Law of the Lord with all h… heart: both of them are taken as defective in this duty, he that tooke in more, and he that caſt out leſſe then might anſwer the levell of Gods order of worſhip, and judge the ſame in other caſes. For it is plaine by our Saviour his frequent and inſtant importunity, that his people muſt deny, looſe, ſell, forſake, hate all, not onelyonly all ſinne, but all deareſt things of this life, which are lawfull, neceſſary, and (out of the caſe of impediment of our following of Chriſt, and their competition with him) worthy to be ſought or enjoyed, which can import no leſſe then this duty of fulfilling after the Lord.
Nor are theſe meerly Evangelicall counſels to ſome perfect men, but obligatory of all Chriſtians, otherwiſe that weight could not be laid on, which is, Whoſoever doth not this cannot be my Diſciple, And indeed, as the Philoſopher ſaith of privation, that it is one of the principles of naturall generation; ſo is ſelf-denyall and the whole ſale of all for Chriſt, it is the firſt leſſon, howſoever it be laſt that is well learned, being the onelyonly removens prohibens, that which removes all impediments of our fulfilling after Chriſt. And as the times of Chriſt, oppoſite to the inſtitution of the Goſpell did require the inculcation of this Point, ſo ours, oppoſite to the reſtitution of Gods worſhip to it's native ſimplicity, doe beſpeake the ſame, being ſuch, In quibus animum firmare oportet constantibus exemplis, as he in Tacitus.
For the opening of this Point, we ſhall consider,
1. What ground-worke is requiſite to be laid in a man, that he may fulfill after the Lord.
2. What it is to fulfill after him.
3. Why we ſhould fulfill after him.
For the firſt of the three, I ſhall acquit it in foure things, of which the ſecond will riſe out of the firſt, the third out of the ſecond, the fourth out of the third.
1. The firſt and indeed the root of all the reſt, is this, that there be in a man a principle of ſaving faith, cloſing with Chriſt to ſecure the preſent and finall eſtate of the ſoule, or the ground-worke of ſound Regeneration and converſion to God; there may be many workings or gifts of the Spirit of God in and unto men, in whom there is not a ſpirit uniting to Chriſt, and there is a dogmaticall faith of holding the truth in opinion and aſſent which is not juſtifying of the perſon by reception of Chriſt; now there muſt be ſuch a ſpirit, and ſuch a faith as may carry the ſoule out of it ſelfe for ſubſiſtence, and above it ſelfe in operation and working, ſo that God may be foreign, from whom and unto whom the ſoule doth act, and then it will follow, that he that hath caſt his ſoule on Chriſt by faith, ſecuring the maine eſtate thereof, ſhall the more eaſily caſt away his life, eſtate, &c. in a particular cauſe for him. He that through all the pangs and ſtruglings of the new-birth, diſcouragements at the weight and height of his ſinnes, oppoſitions of reaſonings, deluſions and flatteries of ſelf-righteouſneſſe, violence of hell it ſelfe, hath ſhot the maine gulfe and hath landed in Chriſt, ſhall with more facility lay aſide his leſſer, his outward intereſts for him: for it is a terrible thing for the ſtouteſt heart alive to looke ſuch a danger in the face, as for ought he knowes may at one blow kill him and damne him, or in a moment, ſend him both to his grave and hell, it makes a man follow the Lord fully, when he obeyes the Commandement by the ſame faith, whereby he receives the ſaving promiſe, and offers up Iſaac by the ſame faith, whereby hee got him; that is, to obey and ſuffer by a juſtifying faith, as they, Heb. 11. whoſe acts there expreſſed, were not moſt of them juſtifying acts, yet done by a ſaving and juſtifying faith, for ſo it is the ſame hand which ſhuts and cloſes upon the gift and opens it ſelf to work. And yet I muſt needs preoccupate an Objection, and grant that Abraham who beleeved the maine promiſe without ſtaggering, ſhewed ſome trepidation, when he conceived himſelfe in danger of his life, They will kill me, ſaith he; but that is Gon. 12. 12.but the encountring of ſence with faith, which ſence fights ſore againſt faith, when it is upon it's owne dung-hill, I meane in a ſenſible danger, natures retraction of itſelfe from a viſible feare may cauſethe pulſe of a Chriſtian which beats truely and ſtrongly in the maine point, the ſtate of the ſoule, to intermit and faulter at ſuch a time; but the needle will returne to the true point againe upon ſelf-recollection, That godlineſse hath the Promiſes that belong to this life and the life to come: as for ſuch men whoſe hearts are not ballaſt with grace; no marvell if they ride uncertainly and are up and downe in rough water, for though in faire and eaſie weather they may keepe tune and time, yet it will be no wonder if they ring their bels backward whenthings begin to bee on fire, Religio religat, Godlineſſe bindes faſt.
2. The ſecond is, That a man affect God himſelfe, and account him his great reward, and this is the immediate effect of ſaving grace and faith, to bring the ſoule into the eſteeme and acceptance of God himſelfe for our foreign, or chiefeſt good; it is true thoſe Promiſes, I will call for the corne and increaſe it, and will multiply the fruit of the Tree and of the Field, are bleſſings and benefits of his Covenant, Ezek. 36. 29. And bleſſed are the people that are in ſuch a caſe, Pſal. 144. 15. but the maine Promiſe of the Covenant is, I will be their God and they ſhall be my people; and then ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Ibid. Yea bleſſed are the people whoſe God is the Lord: That which we call amor amicitie or conjugalis cloſes with the perſon, and not onelyonly with benefits. The firſt Commandement ſhewes that this is the moſt naturall order; firſt, to have God for our God, and then and thence to performe other duties. Servility when one is awed from ſinne, or driven to duties by the whip, and mercenarines when one is drawne by meere benefit or reward, are the bane of following the Lord fully: He that parts with ſinne as a ſlave, parts with it and loves it, and will in the calme gather up againe that which hee caſt overboard in the ſtorme; and hee will performe duties and hate them: He that followes God as a mercenary will no longer uti Deo, then he can frui mund… He will uſe him while he can ſerve himſelfe of him. Duties and ſufferings are irkeſome things without that ſuave condimentum, the love of God himſelfe. I know the opinion of merit with God or men, ſweetens ſharpe duties and ſufferings to ſome palats, but that is but dulce venenum, a ſweet poyſon to all wee doe, it fruſtrates our very Faſts, Did yee at all Faſt Zach. 7. 5unto me, even unto me? Was it not an argument of an excellent ſpirit in Moſes, when God offered him the benefit without himſelfe or his preſence, Exod. 33. 2. I will ſend an Angell before thee, and I will drive out the Canaanites, &c. but I will not goe up in the midſt of thee; and this was the reaſon, I ſhall but conſume thee if I do; what a fair offer was this, and what a reaſon of Gods denyall of his owne preſence was that, and yet Moſes could not be content with it; For if thy preſence goe not with Exod. 33. 25.me, then carry us not up hence. Let us be here in the Wildernes under thy Cloud, rather then poſſeſſe a Canaan without thee.
3. The third is, To value Gods intereſts in any buſineſſe under our hand, more then our owne, his Goſpell, his cauſe, his glory; and this riſes out of the former; for he that loves God himſelf, above himſelfe, will value Gods intereſt above his owne. It is the property of a ſincere heart to obſerve, what ſhare God may have in any action or duty to which he is called, and to diſtinguiſh and abſtract it from his owne. We have a famous inſtance in Moſes, who was offered a private fortune, even by God himſelfe, I'le make of thee a great Nation, greater Numb. 14 12.and mightier then they; no (ſaith he) Lord, thou wilt be a looſer by it, and ſhalt runne the hazard of thy honour; and ſurely as God was diſpleaſed with Balaam for going, though hee bad him goe, ſo the Lord would not have taken it ſo kindly of Moſes, if he had taken him upon the offer he made in a time of his heat againſt his people; nothing makes a man eccentricke in his motions ſo much as private reſpects; he that hath an habituate bie-end, hath as it were a nayle in his foot, and though he may goe well enough in ſoft ground, yet hee will halt when he comes in hard way: If ever in any great buſineſſe God did intwiſt his owne intereſt with ours, it is now in our caſe, and if there be any that could bee content to ſit downe in the ſettlement of their liberty and property, without further care of Religion, and to dwell in ſeiled houſes, while the houſe of God Hag. 1. 4.lyes waſte: let me put them in mind of Reuben and Gad, who being ſeated in their plot, would yet march on to ſee the reſt of the Tribes ſetled, as well as themſelves, before they would ſit down; and ſaith Moſes, if you will not do ſo, yee have ſinned againſt the Num. 32. 18, &c.Lord, and be ſure your ſin will find you out.
4. The fourth is, To be able to periſh for God, and this riſes out of the former, for he onelyonly can lay himſelfe out for God, that can lay up himſelfe in him: And it is a point of great ability, I know how to be abaſed, how to hunger, I can doe all things, Phil. 4. 12. Let no man ſay, Paul thou muſt hunger and be abaſed, it is a matter of neceſſity, nay but yee ſee he makes it a point of ability in him, that he can be in a neceſſitous condition; a man ſhall never be quiet nor at point, till he can looſe himſelfe to ſave himſelfe, as Chriſt ſpeakes, and periſh to live, for he ſhall be daunted at every alarum of ill tydings, fearefull of the ſhadow of the Croſſe; every danger in a duty awes him; every frowne of a great man daſtards him, untill hee can periſh in his reputation, and be vile, more vile, yet more vile for God, or Heb. 11. 35.can come to that, They would not be delivered. It was the greateſt heart-breaking to Paul when his friends in affection to him, would have beſought him out of his owne danger, Act. 21. 13, 14. And this ground-worke being well laid, you may eaſily ſee how poſſible and probable it is, that ſuch a man ſhould follow the Lord fully, eſpecially in the matters of God and of Religion, wherein many excellent Romanes to their Country and true Patriots, prove very truants and heavy ſlugs.
I come to the ſecond thing, viz. what it is to fullfill after the Lord, or who may be ſaid to doe it? And this I ſhall briefly run through.
1. More generally.
2. More particularly.
1. For the more generall explication of this point, To fullfill after the Lord. 1. Excludes partiality in the Law of God and takes in integrity. Partiality is either in the negative part of the Law, and that is when a man caſts off ſome ſinnes, and hath ſome other, one at leaſt, in delicijs; or in the affirmative part, when he plowes here, and makes a bawke there, this cannot be following fully, for that conſiſts in integrity of averſion from ſinne, and of converſion to God, quoad aſſenſum & conatum. 2. It excludes ſiniſterity of ends, and takes in ſincerity; for the Scripture brands it for an emptineſſe of fruit, when a man brings forth fruit to himſelfe, Hoſea 10. 1. Iſrael is an empty vine, he brings ſorth fruit to himſelfe. 3. It excludes lukewarmeneſſe and takes in zeale, not that preternaturall heate, miſcalled zeale; for that is a diſeaſe rather then a grace; zeale ſhould eate us up, but not eate up our wiſdome, nor ſhould pride eate up our zeale. 4. It excludes the meere forme of godlineſſe, and takes in power; for forme wants the chiefe dimenſion of holineſſe, which is depth and ſubſtance; therefore thoſe follow not ſully, that run before the commandement in outward forme, but walk not after it it in morall piety. 5. It excludes withdrawing and takes in conſtancy, for foreign & foreign, to follow fully, and goe on to the end, are much at one; he that walkes fully after the Lord, walkes finally after him. But this fulfilling after the Lord, doth not neceſſarily require legall perfection, as to exclude all ſinne out of the perſon, or his wayes, for we heare of none beſides the two Adams, in whom it might be ſaid foreign, there is no ſin; though it was ſaid of one, and may be of other true Iſraelites, foreign, there is no guile, or predominant hypocriſie; Neither doth this fulfilling after the Lord, exclude inequality, and take in the ſame meaſure as neceſſarie in all, for the fullneſſe of two veſſells, doth not infer the equality of them; God hath differently tallented men with grace, parts, meanes, opportunities, and he doth not require him that hath but one tallent, to put forth five.
2. For the more particular explication of the point, and firſt, who fulfils after the Lord in duties of obedience, and that is when a man walkes,
1, Univerſally in compliance of heart and endeavour to the whole rule, clipping off induſtriouſly no part of that ſervice which beares Gods ſuperſcription upon it, though it may be to him harſh and unpleaſant, yet the command of God ſhall both awe and draw the heart unto it, for that word, I am the Lord thy God, makes every Thou ſhalt of his, and every Thou ſhalt not, acceptable to a godly man, and this is to walke foreign, fully.
2. Freely, though no rod be holden over us, the Laws curſe is the impreſt ſhilling to force a ſervile ſpirit, but the love of God is the byas of a voluntiere. Grace is that whereby God is free in giving to us, and grace is that which makes our hearts free in obedience to him, and this freeneſſe of ſpirit will be moſt ſeene, when there are moſt rubs in the way; for then he that moves by outward poyſes will ſtick and be dull: as when a bowle runs up hill every rub ſluggs it, but when it goes downe hill a rub quickens it; a free ſpirit is enkindled by that which quencheth another man.
3. Satisfied in part with duty, and with the conſcience of ſincerity and exerciſe of his graces therein, though ſucceſſe anſwer not; what a joyfull man was David when he and his people had offered ſo willingly the materialls of a Temple, though he might not build it, 1 Chron. 29. What pleaſure tooke Paul in infirmities and reproaches for Chriſt, when the ſtrength of Chriſt was perfected in his weakeneſſe, 2 Cor. 12. 10. And this is that ſatisfaction wherein a good conſcience finds ſome reſt, when a man can pray, can beleeve, waite and ſpeake for God, though the ſucceſſe and event anſwer not his duties or deſires, a good heart is loaden with the very burden of duty, and finds eaſe when it is ſincerely diſcharged, let the iſſue be as it will.
4. Independent upon, and unreſpective unto the eye and account of men, and that, 1. Though equalls intereſſed as well as he doe deſert him, as the ten did Caleb and Ioſhua. 2. Though the people miſconſtrue him, as theſe did them; hee that walkes by mens countenance or eye, ſteeres by a Planet, and not the Pole-Star.
2. To fulfill after the Lord when impediments lye in our way, and croſſe winds carry us from the Port, is,
1. To reckon upon God with us, againſt all mountaines of oppoſition, ſo Caleb, The Lord is with us, feare them not. Thus the Prophet animated his man being in feare, and Hezekiah his Subjects, There be more with us then with him, yet had he none but 2 King 6. 16. 2. Chro. 32. 7.God to recken on, and the Aſſyrian had a hundred foureſcore and five thouſand at leaſt; ſuch is this God of ours, who ſaith, Shall I bring to the birth, and not cauſe to bring forth, Iſa. 66. 9. who promiſeth Iacob the worme, that he ſhall be his inſtrument to thraſh mountaines to duſt, Iſa 41. 14, 15. and what compariſon betweene a worme and a mountaine; what other reaſon is given of the breaking in peeces of all confederacies and aſſociations againſt the Church, but only this, For Immanuel, Iſa 8. 10. and it might teach all the world, to ſay when they ſet againſt God, ſi collidimus frangimur, as the earthen pot againſt the iron rod breakes not the iron, but is it ſelfe broken.
2. To ſtand firme, by ſetting one foote upon the experiences we have had of God, and the other upon his promiſes yet in expectation; for our experience of him, we may argue from his opening of the red Sea, to his opening of Iordan. He that opened the Sea to bring us into this wilderneſſe, will ſurely open a River to let us out. And for his promiſes to his people, they will eate their way over all Alpes of oppoſition, God will be the midwife of them to deliver them of their wombe, as it's ſaid, He hath fulfilled with his hands, that which he ſpake with his mouth.2 Chr. 6. 4.
3. To fulfill after the Lord, being in incumbrances inward, outward, is,
1. When a man prefers not a quiet Egipt, before a troubleſome and hazardous adventure upon the Land promiſed; He will never repent of his choyce of God, nor of his ingagements to his cauſe, though he ſuffer for it, and loſe by it, he will never ſay, would God I had died in Egipt, nor ſound for a parley with the world and ſinne, nor ſound a retreat to his heart, to march away from the cauſe or work of the Lord.
2. When we miſconſter not Gods intention and meaning towards us, nor put a falſe gloſſe upon his hand that goeth forth againſt us, like theſe rotten-hearted Iſraelites, that cryed God would betray them; it is hard when his covenant, truth and love, cannot vindicate him from all poſſibility of falſehood towards us, or forgetfullneſſe of us. Keepe up good thoughts of God; that if he bring us not into Canaan at the fore-doore, yet after he hath led us about to humble our pride, he will bring us in at the poſterne, as he did this people; and if he ſave not Ionah by the Marriners, he may ſave him by the Whale that ſwallowes him.
3. The third thing is, why his people ſhould fulfill after the Lord; in which I will be briefe, for Eliah his reaſon is enough, If the Lord be God follow 1 King. 18. 21.him, for all attractives are in him, all remuneratives, all reſtoratives, and he expects it of his people, commends it in them, and rewards it to them: He expects it, I know Abraham ſaith God, that he will doe ſo and ſo: He commends it, as here he doth Caleb, he followed me fully: He rewards it, as here he promiſeth, and afterward performed to Caleb, and generally they that follow the Lord home.
1. Shall ſee more of him.
2. Receive more from him.
1. They ſhall ſee and taſte more of him, for then ſhall we know the Lord, if we follow on to know him, Hoſe. 6. 3. we ſhall ſee him in oftner experiments, and obſerve the curioſity of his contrivements and workmanſhip in his wayes, and that is one reaſon why he crumbles his mercies to his people, and why they have his bleſſings by retaile, that communion and trading between his people and himſelfe may be maintained, and he more ſweetly enjoyed: ſo the cloud empries not it ſelfe at a ſudden burſt, but diſtills and diſſolves upon the earth drop after drop.
2. They ſhall receive more from him; he meaſures liberally backe to them that meete liberally unto him: They that will have their fill of God, muſt hold on to the looſe of a duty or ſuffering, for uſually he reſerves the beſt and fulleſt cup to the laſt; we know what Saul loſt by not holding out one moment longer, his men melted from him, the enemy was ſtrong and neere, and himſelfe had ſtayed almoſt to the end, yet for want of a minute, hee loſt by it, 1 Sam. 13. 13. Thou haſt done fooliſhly, for now would the Lord have establiſhed thy Kingdome for ever; wee know not what we loſe by making haſte, and not holding up our hands as Moſes did, to the going downe of the Sun.
For the Uſe or Application of this Point,
Vſe 1 Firſt it meetes with the murmuring and diſaffected Iſraelites, who, whether out of neutrality or malignity, fulfill not after the Lord, being either purely privative in reſpect of this duty, or poſitively diſaffected, of theſe we have infinite, and of divers principles, It's ſtrange, that men ſhould be no more ſenſible of the ſinne of lukewarmeneſſe, but that our Saviour gives a double reaſon of it. 1. That they are not ſtone cold, that is, not ſo vitious or profane as others, for there are not ſo many degrees of cold in the lukewarme as in the cold water; but they ſhould conſider that the lukewarme are more offenſive to Chriſts ſtomack, and can leſſe be borne by it. 2. That lukewarmeneſſe is attended with ſelfe-conceit and ſecurity, thou ſaiſt I am rich and have need of nothing, but this Rev. 3. 17.ſecurity ariſes out of ſelfe-ignorance, by which key whoſoever is lockt up, they lye faſt. I ſhall not ſo much diſcuſſe the ſin, as the principles whence ſuch indifferency towards, or malignity againſt God and his wayes doth flow. As,
1. Some are indiſpoſed meerely out of a ſtupid careleſneſſe, lying aſleepe in the ſide of our toſſed Ship in this great ſtorme, foulded faſt up in blindneſſe and ſecurity, as blankes in a Lottery, and they are but white paper, having nothing written on them; ſuch as theſe, like Samaritans are a kin to the Iewes when the Iewes proſper, and diſclaime kindred when they goe downe, being ready to contribute their eare-rings neither to golden Calfe nor Tabernacle; or haply indifferently to both, I mean Popery and purity are to them alike; And ſuch is the caſe for moſt part of ſuch poore ſoules among whom there hath beene no viſion, their Idoll ſhepheards having made their people Idolls like themſelves; not ſeeing, not hearing, not having any ſpirituall ſence; nor are they much the better who have had ſome rare Sermons, moſt what about Orders and Ceremonies, and ſuch extrinſecalls, which have proved as a thrum left in the loomes, to which our crafts maſters might more eaſily tye in their new peece, and if in no other, yet in this reſpect, deſerve caſtigation; becauſe they have ſo taken up Pulpits, Pens and Tongues, as to commit waſt of pretious time, of affections between brother and brother, and even of the ſubſtance of practick godlines, which hath ſuffered by ſuch diverſion; nor yet are they more awakend, whoſe Preachers have been but Ethick Lecturers reading morality, whoſe Miniſtry hath not beene firſt a fiery Serpent to ſting the conſcience (for Gods witneſſes are called tormentors of the inhabitants of the earth) and then a pole to hold up Rev. 11. 10.the braſen Serpent to the wounded.
2. Some are indiſpoſed to this duty of fulfilling after the Lord, out of pollicy, and that is either pollicy of ſafety or of temperament.
1. Of ſafety, as a reede in the ſtreame, which ſtands becauſe it yeelds to the tyde and ebbe, and bends the ſame way as the ſtreame runs; the wiſdome of theſe men (as they call it) makes them ſtand as ſpectators upon the ſhore, while the Ship is toſſed at Sea, applauding themſelves alone to have hit the right blot, and cenſuring all others that endanger themſelves for the Truth; If there be deliverance they ſhall have part in the benefit without their care, coſt or trouble, and have ſhare in the winnings though they have nothing at ſtake: but put caſe a man is not agreed in hac hypotheſi, that ſuch or ſuch a cauſe is Gods, and therefore cannot lay out himſelfe in it, or ſuffer for it. I anſwer, when men are indiſpoſed towards a duty they can eaſily pleade in Barre, every leſſer ſcruple, or haeſitancy of mind, which if they might forbid the action, notwithſtanding more preponderating arguments, melancholy and Satan would have us at ſuch a paſſe, as wee ſhould doe little or nothing; as it is a ſinnefull thing to raviſh the judgement, to goe without, or againſt the dictate of it; ſo it is dangerous to enſlave it to baſe feares, intereſts, luſts; the heart is not more fraudulent than in ſeeking conviction, being like a Clyent inſtructing his Councell, and laying open all that favours him, concealing the ſtrength of what may be ſaid againſt him, and when a rotten heart is pitched upon a verdict like a partiall and ingaged …ury, it will hold to it, let the evidence be what it will, reſolving to elude the evidence and not ſee it. And if inconviction of judgment, was but enough to free a man from the finne of not doing a duty, a man might the better reſt in it; but ſince it is not, let every man labour to avoid that perplexity of ſinning, if he performe, and of ſinning, if hee performe not, and to that purpoſe, not onelyonly ſearch the Word of God, but purge his heart from the falſe byas; nor onelyonly praying, but praying for practicke ends, He that will doe ſhall know: and let not the common ſence and concurrent judgement of thoſe that trulieſt Ioh. 7. 17.feare God be utterly ſleighted as inconſiderable, for though that be no rule determining my act, yet it is a ſtrong motive of my more diligent inquiry. I conclude with that of our Saviour, He that will ſave his life ſhall looſe it. It is a mans perdition to be ſafe, when he ought to periſh for God.
2. Of temperament, I meane ſinfull, ſuch as are they that cry, Divide the living child, or can be content to make a mixture, like the tranſplanted Nations, 2 King. 17. … Who feared the Lord and ſerved their graven Images. If there be any that can goe ſo low as to give toleration to Popery (though now the Papiſts put themſelves into ſuch a poſture as they ſeeme to threaten to give, rather then take) let him conſider that wee have beene too liberall in connivence that way already, and is it not therefore that warre is in our gates; The ſetting up of Reubens altar had preſently ſtirred up warre againſt them, if the miſpriſion had not been cleared, that no Religion was therein intruded; and what ſay the meſſengers Judg. 5. 8.of the Tribes, ſent upon the embaſſie, Rebell not againſt the Lord nor againſt us, Joſh. 22. 19. Wee ſhall ſmart for it if you doe it. Let their Popery and our Popiſhneſſe goe forth at once for ever: and ſo I would cloſe this point, but that having named the word Temperament, I would not be miſtaken, as if I meant to blow the fire which needs no bellowes, flaming already out at the houſe-top, to which every good man ſhould bring water and not oyle. For love peace, ſaith the Scripture, yea ſeeke it when it is wanting to you, yea and follow it when it is flying from you; but yet withall the ſame Scripture couples peace and truth: peace and holineſſe in our loving, ſeeking and following, for we ſhall have a deare bargain of it, if we ſell truth to buy it, and therefore we muſt not play booty with one another, to riſe winners, and God who hath greateſt intereſt to bee the looſer. Wee ſhould be happy in ſuch Treaeies, as might not proove a Trojan-horſe unto us; and which might heale us to the bottome, and not skin us over. And for him that delights in blood, let satiate ſanguine be his burden.
3. Some are indiſpoſed to this duty out of feare, as
1. Feare to be engaged, ſtanding with one foot within, and another without the threſhold, looking back-ward and forward, afraid of every new ſtep, ſaying as Caeſar at Rubicon, yet wee may goe backe, and of ſuch men there can be no certainty; for as it is ſaid of thoſe that followed Saul, they trembled after him, 1 Sam. 13. 7. and the next newes of them is that they were ſcattered from him, verſ. 11. So is it here.
2. Feare of loſſe by the Reformation, and ſuch is every Demetrius, whoſe Trade goes downe by it; and therefore no wonder if all the Craftſ-men cry up their Diana; there is but little more reaſon for ingroſſers of dignities and livings in the Church, then for Monopoliſts in the State, yet let not that Oxe his mouth be muzzled that treads out the corne: If our Churches be made golden Candleſticks, let not candle-ruſhes be ſet up in them: If our Miniſters be Angels, they muſt have wings, and their feathers not ſo pluckt-off, as to prevent their flying; there is no colour of feare of this from a Senate of ſuch learning, Religion, and already declared reſolution, for ſtarve the Nurſe, and ſhee muſt needs ſtarve the Child; the bird that is to keepe the neſt and ſit upon the egges, muſt have her meate brought in to her, and not fly abroad to purvey for herſelfe; nor makes this any thing againſt that freeneſſe of preaching the Goſpell, which ſome in ſimplicity or worſe doe urge as inconſiſtent with liberall maintenance; for even the Volunteer followes not the warre at his owne charges. I ſay no more but this, that poore pittances and meer benevolences, are but too like a priſoners maintenance, whoſe ſmall allowance, and almes-basket to boot, keep him ſtill hungry.
3. Feare or hatred of the purity of Ordinances and power of Religion, of which thouſands will ſay, as they of Chriſt, Mal. 3. 2. But who may abide the day of his comming, and who ſhall ſtand when he appeareth, for hee is like a Refiners fire and Fullers ſope. This root bears gall and wormewood, Deut. 29. 18. unto ſuch the burning and ſhining light of the Miniſtery is terrible; and the more, when they ſhall not be able at pleaſure to hamper it in the old ſnare of Ceremonies, or bring upon it the old extinguiſhers with that facility as was wont; it is a marke of a Philiſtine, if the Arke of God ſmite him with Emerods and afflicts him, it ſerves not the Iſraelites ſo.
4. A ſcrupulous feare of ſinning againſt authority, and in truth the tenderneſſe of the conſcience in that point is to be approved; for God hath ſo hedged in Magiſtracy, whether the ſupreame or ſubordinate, that 1 Pet. 2, 13, 14.whoſoever breakes through that hedge, ſhall feele the thornes in his ſides, and therefore conſcience muſt acquit it ſelfe of it's warrant and ſincerity, that it ſeekes nothing but the ſaving of the Ship and Maſter from the violence of the ſtorme; and in that caſe that once ſpeaking Aſſe ſaid reaſon, who having ſaved her ſelfe, yea and ſaved her Maſter from the Sword, againſt his owne will, did thus plead againſt his anger, What have I done unto thee, that thou Num. 22. 28, 30.hast ſmitten me, was I ever wont to doe ſo before time.
Let this point helpe forward our Humiliation this Vſe 2 day, for our not following the Lord fully, and is it not time, when our former rebellions againſt and provocations of God, doe now plead againſt us by the firſt of Gods foure ſore judgements, the Sword, and that Sword the ſoreſt of all Swords, which kind Ezek. 14 21.may yet doubtleſſe be caſt out by Prayer and Faſting: nor ſhall I now at this time ſet in order before you our former Nationall ſinnes, for which God hath been a Moth unto us, and is now become a Lion; for from ſo ſmall a thing as a Moth, doth he threaten to be a Lion unto Ephraim, Hoſ. 5. 12. &c. Let us rather apply our ſelves to take notice of ſuch markes of Gods diſpleaſure as are now upon us, ſince we came to the borders of our happineſſe, and obſerve the reaſon why wee are wafted from the ſhore ſo farre into the maine backe againe. When was the venome ſpirits of men ſo diſcovered as now of latter times, When I would have healed Iſrael, the ſinne of Ephraim was diſcovered, Hoſ. 7. 1. Healing times are diſcovering times; and have wee not cauſe to looke for that in Ioſhua 24. 20. namely that the Lord ſhould turne to doe us hurt, and conſume us after hee hath done us good; or for that in Numb. 14. 34. Yee ſhall know my breach of promiſe; Our Arke is like Noahs floating upon the waters. We have many that are weeping for Tammuz, thirſting Ezek. 8. 14.for the returne of their Adonis, we have bitter murmurings and eructations of gall againſt God and his Truth, we feare our remedies; wee are full of diviſions, ſinfull, paenall in Church and State. We abound in jealouſies, a juſt puniſhment of our provoking God to jealouſie of us by our former dalliances with ſuperſtition. Wee arc diſcouraged becauſe of the way, and ſpeake againſt God and Moſes, Numb. 21. 4, 5. and therefore hath the Lord ſent fiery Serpents amongst us, that bite us and even devoure us, Religion is torne into diviſions and fragments, the ſwarm is up and ſettles in ſo many places, as without great mercy, they will never be got into one hive; ſuch ſymptomes doe wee put forth now that God is healing of us, and are come to ſuch a criſis as makes our hearts to bleed, what is there in Ireland? what in England, but pila minantia pilis? quis talia fando? What monſter of cruelty can endure to ſee his Mothers bowels ſo tipt up. Where are our publicke ſpirits remote from mixture of private ends? What Souldier is willing to forget his a…ream meſsem, or golden harveſt, and rather be bankrupt by peace, then make the State bankerupt by warre? What Delinquent rather offers up himſelfe to Tryall, and Iona. 1. 12ſaith, Take me up and caſt me forth into the Sea, ſo ſhall the Sea be calme unto you? Surely God will ferch our pride out of us by ſtrong hand, if wee take not off the head of it, and caſt it over the wall, to prevent his indignation; and yet wee have marvellous mercies too, if we had eyes to ſee them. God hath evidently ſhowne that he is in our burning-buſh, we had otherwiſe been in aſhes by this time, and ſo we are like the flint betweene the hard hammer and the ſoſt pillow, and have cauſe of the beſt kind of humiliation, which is to love and weepe, as that woman did: if we be not battered into the mould, why are we not melted, that we may runne into it? and let theſe humiliations be continued in their vigour, that frequency beget not formality; for the valley of Ach… Hoſ. 2 15. Vſe 3.is given to us for a doore of hope.
Let it ſet an edge upon you to fullfill after the Lord.
1. When hee goes before you, that is, foreign.
2. When he flyes from you, that is, foreign.
1. When the Lord goes before you and invites you yet after him, by making the tracke of his feet evident; we muſt not ſit ſtill, when his Cloud ariſeth to move forward, it's ſafe to march after it: and ſurely if God be to be ſeene. 1. In nickes of time, Tanquam a machina. 2. In working or creating good out of evill, hope out of deſpaire, furtherances out of oppoſitions, &c. 3. In ſeaſonable diſcoveries of Clouds, while they were but like a mans hand. 4. In miniſtring or ſuggeſting timely antidotes or preventions. 5. In entangling the Spiders in their owne webb, or bringing downe enemies by their owne hands. 6. In drawing hopefull bleſſings on, upon their way above our firſt thoughts or aime, as he drew on Luther, whetted by importunity of Adverſaries; then is God gone out before us, wee may ſee his foot-ſtepps in all theſe wayes, therefore follow him.
2. When he flies from you, yet then follow him fully: Doth he hide his face, delay to heare, lengthen our danger, are things in worſe ſtate with us ſince Moſes came? are Treaties abortive, Faſts imprevalent? &c. let us not turne backe and ſay, This evill is from the Lord, why ſhould we wait upon him any longer? There is reaſon that God ſhould be ſharpe, we have inveterate ſtaines to be waſht out, which will hardly be got out, untill the cloth be almoſt rub'd to peeces: Chriſt came with a ſhaking of the Heavens and Earth, and all the Nations, Hag. 6. 7. after ſuch concuſſions, The deſire of all Nations ſhall come; nor did Chriſt riſe out of his grave without an Earth-quake, cum duplicantur lateres venit Moſes; for how could mercies be wonders, if ſtraits were not wondrous; though obſtructions be obſtinate, yet Chriſt will come in to his people, even when the doores are ſhut: preſently after Marahs bitter waters, God brought Iſrael to Elim, where they had twelve wels of water, and threeſcore and ten Palme-trees, Exod. 15. 27. God hides himſelfe to be ſought, delayeth to be importuned, flies from us to be followed.
I will adde but a word or two of encouragement.
1. To all.
2. To you our Honourable Senatours.
1. That which I ſhall ſay to all is this, that if we fulfill after the Lord, we ſhall cut ſhorter our travailes and troubles: ſo had this people done if they had followed the Lord fully at this time, we lengthen our miſeries by ſhortening of our duties, and the Lord keepes aloofe from us, becauſe we lye aloofe from him: God is diſabled from doing great workes among us by out diſtruſt, Hee could doe no great workes among them, becauſe of their unbeliefe, ſaith the Text: Or admit we be long holden off our happineſſe, as Caleh was kept out of his promiſes fill our laps at the laſt; the longer day God takes to make payment, the more he gives us at the laſt. If he come not to heale Lazarus while he is alive, we ſhall loſe nothing by it, for he will come to raiſe him when he is dead; therefore let us follow him fully, both by prayer, and all poſſible contributions to his worke, and cauſe, and Goſpell; what if we have not an eare-ring left, ſo that the Tabernacle have it: water we ſee puts it ſelfe to extremities, and contrary to particular nature, riſes upward ad prohibendum vacuum, to prevent a fraction in the univerſe; who is likely to ſave his own cabbin, when the Ship founders; but it may be the worke ſtickes, and it may be at thee, why is not thy ſhoulder at the wheele, when the Cart is ſtalled; though Iſrael ſtick at firſt in Egipt, yet they went out at length with the Egyptians leave, and not a dog (as Exo. 11. 7the Text ſaith) moved his tongue againſt them.
2. To you of Senatorian order, be you encouraged to follow the Lord fully, and let not the Luminaries of the higheſt Orbe be ſloweſt of motion, you have need of encouragements, that you may ſcatter the obloquies, the ſcandalls, ſuſpitions, jealouſies had of you, and endure the contradiction of ſuch as are afraid to be healed: In the Univerſities they complaine their muſes lye a dying, O let it never be by or under your hand, but onelyonly teach them as of old they were feigned, ſo now really to frequent and be miſtreſſes of purer fountaines: Some cry out that Religion will be changed, and that there will be an alteration thereof; If this Objection ariſe from this, that the ceremonies and uſages hitherto offenſive and burdenſome, are likely to be aboliſht, what can be ſaid more againſt them; for is it not time to caſt them out, the rather, becauſe they are accounted ſuch immoveables, that to remove them, is to commit waſte upon the very free-hold it ſelfe. It's time to breake the braſen Serpent, and to call it Nehuſhtan, a peece of braſſe, when it's idolized; or if rather the quarrell ariſe from that pure adminiſtration of Ordinances of worſhip which is deſired, is it not as voide of reaſon; for ſhall perfective alterations be accounted deſtructive, doth the changing of the Tabernacle into a Temple, wherein are ten Candleſticks for one and more ſetledneſſe and beauty, imply any change of Religion? Others finde out as many Religions as we have Articles of Doctrine, nine and thirty, and upbraide us with Sects and Schiſmes, &c. which truely are our miſery, and fill us with ſcandalls, ſhame and ſorrow; yet this I may ſay, that if every ſeverall or new opinion, makes a new Religion, then we have more then ſo many: If not, then doubtleſſe we have fewer; but whatſoever it be, it is but a fond thing to ſay there will be no building, becauſe the timber, ſtone, materialls lye yet in confuſed heapes. I beſeech you to ſet on worke hewers in the Mountaines, and ſtone-ſquarers, to prepare 1 Kin. 5. 15, 18.timber and ſtones to build the Temple, that our Ieruſalem may at length be a City compact together, and at unity in it ſelfe. And as for all aſperſions and reflections upon you, follow the Lord fully; and as the ecclipſed Moone by keeping her motion, wades out of the ſhadow, and recovers her ſplendor, ſo ſhall you, For every tongue that ſhall riſe in judgement Iſa 54. 17againſt thee thou ſhalt condemne, and this is the heritage of the ſervants of the Lord.
For the confirming of you in following after the Lord, I might put you in minde, what Gods people have done for God in preſſing extremities. namely,
1. Doing that which ſaving the preſſing caſe, it might be queſtioned whether they ought; an inſtance whereof we have in Phinehas, Numb. 25. 13. who by an act of zeale, turned away the neere approaching wrath from Iſrael, and made an attonement for them, by ſuch a ſacrifice as it's doubted by what warrant he offered it up, I meane the execution of Delinquents, and yet is juſtified and highly extolled by God for it. And ſo Eſther, in a time of extremity, put herſelf to do that▪ which was not according Eſth. 4. 16to the Law, to draw forth her people out of deſtined deſtruction; nor doe I know how ſhe could have anſwered it to God, if her particular obſervation of that humane Law, had forbidden her thereſcue and preſervation of a whole Nation of Gods people, and yet the Law ſhe broke was capitall, as ſhe ſaith, Ver. 11th. and therefore ſhe goes on with this reſolution, If I periſh I periſh; whereby it appeares, ſhe could in this caſe have comfortably periſht in the breach of that known Law.
2. Standing to it, ſo as it might be queſtioned whether it was needfull, and it is the caſe of Daniel, Cap. 6. 10. whoſe keeping his thrice a day devotions, and opening his windowes towards Ieruſalem, not abating of the number of his prayers, nor performing them in a more concealed manner, to have avoided the malice of his accuſers for one Moneths time (for no longer was the Interdict to laſt) may ſeeme more then needs; yet he did not budge a …ot, nor abate a circumſtance, becauſe he ſaw his Religion was ſtricken at, and his ſincerity put to the tryall, which he was reſolved to maintaine with (as I may ſo ſpeake) a holy obſtinacy, whatſoever came on it. I doe not urge theſe examples, to precipitate any man unto raſhneſſe, eſpecially in caſes not thus circumſtanciated, but to ſhew how fully they went after the Lord, in that wherein carnall wiſdome might and would have found ſundry ſpecious eluſions to have evaded the duty.
I ſhall reſume the exhortation in a few words, as touching your advancing and ſetling Gods intereſt, and then he will ſettle yours; He tooke out of all the Cities (ſaith the Text) the high places and Images, 2 Chro. 14 5.and the Kingdome was quiet before him: If you will build God a houſe, he will make you an houſe; as it was ſaid to David, labour ye therefore to ſet up the evangelicall worſhip and regiment of Chriſt, ſo as there may not be one howbeit, if poſſible, as there was in that of Aſa, Howbeit the high places were not 2 Chro. 20 3….taken away; which worke we ſhall bring to beſt perfection, if we adhere to the word of God, and print after ſuch an originall as went before all editions of error: not that I would tye any man to ſuch examples, cuſtomes, conſtitutions of the word, as were meerely occaſionall in their both riſe and uſe, and reſpective to times then being, for what would that differ from a ſuperſtitious valuing of the braſen Serpent, after the uſe of it was out, becauſe it once had inſtitution of God; but of this point no more now: My buſineſſe is, to excite you to follow the Cloud, and the Rock ſhall follow you; let ſeedsmen be ſent forth into all our fields, that the people may be taken by the conſcience, and not only conformed by Law, for the ſtrength and continuance of a reformation, lyes not all in the Magiſtrate, but in this, that the people receive the truth into them and among them, who otherwiſe will be but as Hens in a coope, alwayes boaking to get out: which was the reaſon that they were ſo up and downe in Iudah, according as they had remiſſe or religious Princes; and by this meanes alſo ſhall Popery be profligate, and Papiſts converted a little better, then meerely by oath of ſupremacy and allegiance, which breed ſuch a generation as is contrary to rule of Philoſophy, which is, Generatio unius eſt corruptio alterius, whereas theſe new Proteſtants are Papiſts ſtill.
Finally, If there be ſome croſſe ſprings in the locke, ſome propheſie may lye againſt our preſent hopes, for God hath his arcana Imperij; or if neceſſity of times, unripeneſſe of the people, ſhall retard the worke, ſo as it ſhall be ſaid, ſo many yeares was this Temple in building, yet I ſay to you as the Lord to David, 2 Chro. 6. 8. Thou didst well that it was in thine heart: and let but a right ſpirit (namely a ſpirit of adherence unto, and acquieſſence in God) carry you on to fulfill after him, and then, though Caleb through the peoples rebellion, wander in the wilderneſſe forty yeares, and be kept off his promiſed reward; yet he ſhall come into poſſeſſion thereof at laſt, and his ſeede ſhall inherit it, and ſo I ſhould come to that which remaines in the words, as namely, That
To follow the Lord fully proceeds from another ſpirit, Doct. 2 than the unbeleeving Iſraelites are acted withall: and this ſpirit of Caleb was clearly that which the Apoſtle cals a ſpirit of Faith, in cloſing with, and cleaving unto God alone. I cannot particularly handle this point, only be bold to caſt in a word or two towards the ſetting of the byas right way, els a man may run and never obaine. If we would have the hand of the dyall to point and goe right without, the wheeles and poyſes muſt be right within, and wee muſt not onelyonly looke at the worke we have to doe, but alſo to the principle within us, that it be a right ſpirit, for there is no queſtion but that a man of no filiall diſpoſition towards God, may be Gods toole or inſtrument, or (if ye will) Gods ſervant, to performe ſuch or ſuch a ſervice right in Gods ſight, I ſhall not need to ſhew how farre a man may goe, and what adventure he may make in a good cauſe upon other reaſons, principles and motives than proceed from a Goſpell ſpirit; Cyrus proclaimes liberty to the Church, 2 Chro. 36. …2. yet was he a man that knew not the Lord. I doubt not but a Proteſtant upon a dogmaticall Faith or beleefe of his tenets and principles, might among Papiſts dye upon them, and yet come farre ſhort of ſalvation; how farre would the name of Abraham or Moſes have carried a Jew, even a Iew in letter? Martyrdome is no merit.
L…t every man therefore take heed to his ſpirit that Mal. 2. 16.he deale not treacherouſly, for howſoever your good ſervice periſhes not to the Church or Commonwealth, yet it periſhes to you, if you be not carried with hearts full of God. Many a man is a Carpenter to build Noah an Arke, wherein himſelfe is not ſaved. There are many reſt in their meere oppoſition to, and hate of Popery, as if that ſhould ſeale up their ſalvation; and many againe will reaſon thus, The cauſe wherein I am is good, it will ſwim out it's gods, and that is their plea. Alas this is not all, for be the Proteſtant truth never ſo cleere to thee, and be the cauſe thou art in never ſo good, yet thou mayeſt be loſt in it, as the Egyptians were loſt while they went in the ſame path, wherein the Iſraelites were ſaved; therefore pray and ſeeke for ſuch a ſpirit of chuſing and following the Lord thy God, as may enſoule thy actions or outward works; and then beſide the acceptance and teſtimony thy wayes ſhall find with God, thou ſhalt be able to goe through, and fulfill after the Lord, which a man upon naturall parts, and ſtrength of morall principles or vertues, ſhall never doe, for youths ſhall faint and be weary, and young m…n ſhall utterly fall, Iſa. 40. 30. that is, men of moſt able ſelfe-ſufficiencies, who though their motion was ſwift before, yet when they come to the center of their own ends, they reſt and proceed no farther; ſuch a ſpirit therefore as Caleb had, doe you reſtleſly ſeeke of God the giver of it to them that aske him, that being ſincerely carried, (which▪ in great and glorious actions is the more hard) you may reape the Euge of your own conſcience, which is better then the Hic eſt of all the world; and not only ſo, but there will be more hope of the worke when it is carried on by ſuch hearts; as God ſaid of David, he was a man after his own heart, and what followes, He ſhall fulfill all my will, Act. 13. 22. And of Hezekiah it is ſaid, that in every worke that he began in the ſervice of the houſe of God, and in the Law, and in the Commandements, to ſeeke his God, hee did it with 2 Chron, 31. 21.all his heart, and proſpered; ſuch hearts, ſuch ſucceſſe we pray to them that are now ingaged in this great worke, that ſo promiſes with the entayle of them upon Poſterity may follow ſuch Calebs for ever.
FINIS.
End of the text · Richard Vines, Calebs Integrity in Following the Lord Fully (1642)