Three Decades of Sermons, Decade 2 · Sermon 2

Three Decades of Sermons · Decade 2 · Sermon 2

p. 25Iudgement and Mercy.

Set forth upon Gen. 6. 3.

And the Lord ſaid, My ſpirit ſhall not always strive with man, for that he alſo is fleſh: yet his days ſhall be an hundred and twenty years.

IN the precedent Chapter you have the Genealogy of the long Serm. 2. At St. Mary's Oxon. Jan. 12. 1652. Gen. 5. 27.Gen 5:27liv'd Patriarchs of the old World: It's obſervable, that every ones particular age is exactly reckon'd, and though they lived ſome more, ſome fewer years; yet every one agrees in the ſame concluſion, And he dyed. Methuſelah, who lived the longeſt of all, lived nine hundred ſixty and nine years, and he dyed: The longeſt livers ſaw death, and could not deliver themſelves from the hand of the Grave. Theſe ancient Fathers, though dead, may be ſaid to live in their Poſterities: They left behinde them a numerous off-ſpring, the Earth is full of people, and mankinde is now multiplyed into multitudes, v. 1. And as the People, ſo their wickedneſſes are multiplyed: The more people, the more ſinners: O ſtupendious ingratitude! God multiplies their offſpring, and revives their memory in the fruit of their loyns: For what are Parents of many Children, but themſelves ſo much the more multiplyed; yet theſe wicked Wretches, by how much the more God encreaſed and multiplyed them in their Poſterity, by ſo much the more they encreaſed and multiplyed their wickedneſs againſt him their Creator: And now their abominations are come to the full, and they are ripe for deſtruction.

The Lord exerciſed Mercies, bowels of Mercies, patience, long-ſuffering towards them, waiting upon them many years, Preaching to them by the Patriarchs, calling them to Repentance, and notwithſtanding all the loving kindneſſes, forbearances, patient expectations of a gracious God, ye… they remain obſtinate, refractory, incorrigible, whereupon the Lord will not ſuffer his patience to be abuſed any longer, his Servants and Miniſtry to be contemned, his Holy Spirit to be grieved, v. 7, 8. The Creatures were made for the ſervice of Man, both he and they ſhould be p. 26took away together: Man was the Lord over the Creatures, and when he was took away, what uſe would there be of them, as Chryſoſtome obſerves: Man had abuſed the Creatures over which he had dominion: Maſter and Servants both fall together; thus the whole Creation gro…neth, by reaſon of mans Apoſtacy from God. As the Beaſts were made for Man, ſo they became ſubject foreign, Quod ſubjiciuntur Contra ingenium naturae ſuae agnoſcamus naturam Dei quae cogit illa noſtris uſibus inſervire. Pet. Mart. Poenitentia Dei eſt Mutā dorum immutabilis ratio. Auguſt. Hunc adulterinum & degenerum pro meo jam agnoſcere dedignor. Calv. in Loc. foreign omni die foreign. 70 Inter. Sedes vitae, ſedes animae & principium intellectus, vo luntatis affectnum & mo…um.to vanity and deſtruction. through Mans iniquity, Rom. 8. 20, 22. But this ſharp Sentence God pronounceth with a great deal of reluctancy, he is ſaid to repent in this verſe, and v. 6. both to repent, and be grieved at his heart: This is an foreign, repentance cannot in a proper ſenſe be attributed to God: Repentance in God, is the unchangeable diſpoſition of changeable things, as Auguſtine obſerves: God may will a change where he doth not change his will. There's no change in the Creator, the change is in the Creature; and here we may ſee how God takes upon him our affections, and ſo condeſcends to our capacity: As we repent, and are grieved when any thing diſpleaſeth us, ſo God here ſpeaking after the manner of men, is ſaid to repent and grieve: Hence we may obſerve what an hainous and abominable thing ſin is, that cauſeth God to grieve. Calvin, on the place, ſuppoſeth God pleading on this wiſe: This is not my work, this is not the man created after mine Image, endowed with ſuch noble faculties; this adulterous and degenerate world I ſcorn to own for mine.

But wherein conſiſts the greatneſs of the ſins of the old World, againſt whom the Lord threatens deſtruction?

You have a general charge given in by God himſelf, v. 5. compared with Gen. 8. 21. It's ſaid there, The imagination of mans heart is evil from his youth: They were habituated in wickedneſs generally, both heart and life ſtark n…ught; they were gray hair'd in wickedneſs. and now arrived at the foreign, the higheſt point and degree of impiety; and the heart, which the Philoſophers ſay is the ſeat of life, and Scripture ſaith; It is the ſeat of the ſoul, and principle of the underſtanding, will, affections and motions, this is depraved, and become the forge of all abominations: It's ſaid, Every imagination of the thoughts of his heart were onelyonly evil continually: Of this change in general, the Lord gives a clear proof by particulars, v. 2. The ſons of God ſaw the daughters of men, that they were fair, &c. By ſons of God, ſome underſtand Angels: This was the conjecture of Tertullian, Juſtin Martyr, Clemens p. 27Alexardrinus, and others: But Chryſoſtome urgeth that Scripture, which to me ſeems a full confutation of their opinion, Matth. 22. 30. In the reſurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. Others underſtand by ſons of God, the ſons of Princes, and thoſe great Perſonages that liv'd in thoſe days: I ſhall rather wave theſe …xpoſitions, and concur with Calvin, Luther, Muſculus, Ainſworth, and other ſolid Commentators, who unanimouſly, by Sons of God, underſtand the Poſterity of Seth, ſuch as were the ſons of God by external Profeſſion, the men of the Church of God, and theſe took the daughters of men, (i. e.) The Poſterity of Cain: The holy Seed mingled themſelves with the prophane Seed, they looked at naught foreign. Muſ. foreign. Chryſ. foreign. 70 Interp.elſe beſides Beauty and ſatisfaction of …uſts. Beauty was the *object of their Love: This deſire of Beauty was the Harbinger of their ruine. It ſeems they took any Women whatſoever, having no regard to goodneſs, no regard to God, none to their Parents advice, they made their own choice: Beauty, Luſt, Violence, their own will was the rule they went by, and might prevail'd above right: Violence and power carryed all before them, v. 4. ſome derive the word quaſi, foreign, ſons of the Earth. This Etymology ſavors of a Poetical Figment, therefore I diſcard it altogether. The word in the Original is Nephilim, it comes from Naphal, to fall; they were Apo…ates and fell from God, and by reaſon of their tyranny and cruelty, cauſed many to fall before them. It's ſaid Haggibburim, they were mighty men. The Caldee calls them Gibbaraja, mighty men: So Nimrod was Gibbor, mighty, Gen. 10. 8. He hunted ſouls, he was a monſtrous Tyrant and Perſecutor of the Church of God. Theſe men were famous, they had a great name, but they were famous onelyonly for oppreſſion and cruelty; their Will was their L…w, and their ſtrength and might bore down all before them: They got power and a name by the Injuries and Perſecutions which they exerciſed upon the Church of God. Calvin gives a remarkable obſervation, That it was the Haec prima fuit mundi nobilitas nequis longa & famoſa imaginum ſerie nimium ſibi placeat, Calv. in Loc.firſt Nobility of the world, That no one ſhould too much pleaſe himſelf with a long and famous ſeries of Images of Anceſtors. And Luther gives another note, writing of the fame of theſe wicked Gyants, and the renown they got by their Villanies; he compares them to the Popes, Cardinals, and Biſhops, who would not be called by thoſe p. 28names they deſerved; they would not be called Tyrants, Impious, Qui ſalutantur principes & regna tenerent non Tyranni, &c. ſed clementiſſimi, ſanctiſſimi, reverendiſſimi appellantur. Luth.Sacrilegious, but Merciful, Holy, Reverend: So the renown of theſe Gyants is mentioned for their Villanies. They were famous Oppreſſors, cruel Blood-ſuckers, wicked Tyrants. And thus you have a draught of the old World ſet before your view: Their crying ſins were prophaneneſs of heart and life, promiſcuous Marriages, Polygamies, contempt of God and Parents, Oppreſſions, Cruelty and Perſecution: They had many warnings from God, many reproofs and admonitions by the Miniſtry of the Patriarchs, and all in vain, wherefore the Lord threatens in the Text, My ſpirit ſhall not always ſtrive, &c.

Which words are a Sermon Preach'd by the great God of Heaven and Earth, to the old wicked World; which Sermon is a Patern, and the Archetipam for Miniſters to Preach by, and conſiſts of Judgement and Mercy.

1. Here's a dreadful Judgement, or a ſad Commination of Diviſ. 1. A Judgement and the reaſon thereof.the heavieſt puniſhment that can befall a people on this ſide Hell: My ſpirit, &c.

2. Here's a ſtrong reaſon to enforce: For that he alſo is fleſh. In the Mercy contained in the Text.

1. You have ſomething implyed: Its ſaid, Not always, implying, that it hath ſtriven ſome time, and a long time too: In Juſtice God might cut ſinners aſunder in the midſt of their rebellions, and ſend them to Hell: But O the infinite mercy and patience of God thus to ſtrive at all, and to ſtrive ſo long with rebellious ſinners.

2. Here's a mercy expreſt: It's wrote in ſuch legible Characters, 2. A Mercy.as he that runs may read it: Yet his days, &c.

The words have need of a Paraphraſe: I ſhall open them briefly in their order. By Spirit, Ainſworth underſtands that holy Spirit of Chriſt, by which he Preached in the Patriarchs, and eſpecially in Noah, to the diſobedient ſpirits of the old World, and exhorted them by the Fathers to amend their lives; ſo I take the Lo-iiddon. Non vaginabit Pagninus & Grotius. foreign. 70. Lo-jadon.ſenſe to be: It followeth, Shall not ſtrive. The 70 read it, My ſpirit ſhall not abide: But this I take not to be the meaning: the word hath many ſignifications; it ſignifies, to judge, to chide and diſpute: As if the Spirit of God ſhould ſay, I have ſet Judges over you, I have chid you, reproved you, argued the caſe with you, ſent my ſervants, Noah, Enoch, Methuſelah, exhorting p. 29you to come and repent, but you are incorrigible, impenitent, you are never the better, notwithſtanding all my patience, forbearance, waiting on you, trying you, therefore now my ſpirit ſhall no longer ſtrive with you, I will take no more pains with you, I will diſpute the caſe no longer, but ſend a Deluge to decide the controverſie: And ſo I underſtand the words.

In ſeculum, ſo the 70 read it, foreign. Here you may ſee an foreign Chryſoſt.Abyſs of kindneſs to mankinde: So Chryſoſtome: That the Spirit hath ever ſtrove with any, is a great mercy: But if the Spirit ſtrive by Meſſengers, riſing early, and going to bed late, and by its motions and whiſpers, if the Spirit be ſtill reſiſted and abuſed, it will leave ſtriving, and leave a people inexcuſable. Luther ſpeaking of this Text, ſaith, This was a publick Sermon, preached in a Fuit publica concio in publica Synodo propoſita. Luth.publick Aſſembly: When thoſe that were Gods Meſſengers ſpent their ſpirts in vain, and ſaw that the people were deſperate, paſt all hopes of reclaiming, they let them alone to take their courſe, and to be filled with their own ways.

Then here's a Reaſon given, For that he alſo is fleſh: The word ſets forth the corrupt nature of mankinde, and is here put by way of oppoſition unto the Spirit: It is the ſame with Animalis, or Conqueritur Deus tantopere turbatū eſſe ordinem d…ſe poſitum ut image ſua in carnem tranſformata eſſet, Calv. Centum & viginti annos ſi fo…te conver…antur. Cald: Paraph:Carnalis homo. Man that was created after the Image of God, hath defaced that Image, hath corrupted his way, and is become fleſhly. This God complains of, That the order which he put is inverted, and his Image transformed into fleſh, as Judicious Calvin obſerves.

Laſtly, Here's a gracious reprieval and ſpace allowed for repentance: Yet his days, &c. This is not to be underſtood as if an hundred and twenty years were the limited term of years for mankinde to live in this world: It's apparent, that many after the Flood lived longer: But the meaning is, that an hundred and twenty years ſhall be given them, if haply they be converted. This ſpace God allows them for repentance, and they had Noah a Preacher of righteouſneſs, and they ſaw the Ark a building, and every ſtroke ſtrucken: The building of the Ark ſhould have been a Monitor of repentance; this was great and wonderful long-ſuffering, as we read, 1 Pet. 3. 19, 20. By which he went and preached unto the ſpirits in priſon, which ſometime were diſobedient, when once the long-ſuffering of God waited in the days of Noah.

p. 30The words thus opened, contain two fundamental Doctrines.

1. That it is a moſt dreadful judgement upon a people, when the Doct. 1 Spirit of God refuſeth to ſtrive any longer with them.

2. That it is an exceeding great mercy to a people, when the Lord Doct. 2 vouchſafeth them time and ſpace for repentance.

I reſume the firſt, and I ſhall caſt the Heads of my Meditations Method of handling the Doctrine.into this plain and familiar method.

1. I ſhall aſſert the truth of the Doctrine from Scripture Teſtimonies.

2. I ſhall particularly repreſent unto you how the Spirit may be ſaid to ſtrive with man.

3. I ſhall enquire into the Grounds and Reaſons for confirmation of the truth.

And laſtly, Conclude with particular Application unto our ſelves.

1. To proſecute the firſt Head propounded, time would fail me 1. The Doctrine proved by Scripture Teſtimony.in Scripture Quotations; but I ſhall gather ſparingly from ſo great a cloud of Witneſſes, mentioning ſome ſelect Proofs, and leaving the reſt to be ſupplyed in your Meditations.

Now that this is ſo great a Judgement, for the Spirit of God to leave ſtriving with a people, may be exemplified in ſeveral perſons, recorded in Scripture as ſignal Spectacles of Divine vengeance to Poſterity. The Lord ſpared Sodom and Gomorrah a long time: Abraham undertakes, though duſt and aſhes, to intercede for them. He intreats, That if fifty righteous perſons be found there, that they may not be deſtroyed: His requeſt is granted, he abates five of fifty, and then comes down to forty, after that to thirty, from thirty to twenty, and at laſt to ten; and it is to be obſerved, that God never left off granting, till Abraham left off begging: They had good Lot to reprove and exhort them, and they vexed his righteous ſoul day by day with their unclean converſation; he ſpent his ſpirits, his counſels, admonitions, all in vain: Now God will ſpare them no longer, the Angel delivered Lot from them, and as ſoon as ever he was gone, the Lord deſtroyed Sodom & Gomorrah with Fire and Brimſtone, Gen. 19. 24, 25. The Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of Heaven, and he over-threw thoſe cities and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. The Lord waited a long time upon Jeruſalem, ſending his Prophets, p. 31and warning them; he puts them in remembrance of his exemplary Judgements upon others, Jer. 7. 13. I ſpake unto you, riſing up early and ſpeaking, but ye heard not; and I call'd you, but you anſwered not, therefore I will do to this houſe, &c. as I have done to Shiloh: He expoſtulates the caſe with them, Jer. 13. 27. I have ſeen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdneſs of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields: Wo unto thee, O Jeruſalem, Wilt thou not be made clean? When ſhall it once be? and Ezek. 18. 32. I have no pleaſure in the death of him that dieth, ſaith the Lord God, wherefore turn your ſelves and live ye: The Houſe of Iſrael was the Vineyard upon which God had beſtowed ſo much pains, coſt and charges, Iſa. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4. My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful Haec omnia uſu veniſſe populo Judaico, cum in Babylonica tum in Romana captivitate, teſtantur palam Hiſt…riae, fieri hoc denique quotidie teſtatur experientia. Timeamus ergo Dominum, ſimuſque palmites fructiferi, ne post hanc vitam eliam tradamur igni ſempiterno. B…lling.hill, and he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choiceſt vine, and built a Tower in the midſt of it, and alſo made a wine-preſs therein; and he looked that it ſhould bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wilde grapes, &c. But all is labor loſt, v. 5, 6. And now go too, I will tell you what I will do with my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it ſhall be eaten up, and break down the wall thereof, and it ſhall be troden, and I will lay it waſte; it ſhall not be pruned nor digged, but there ſhall come up bryars and thorns: I alſo will command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. *They had many choice ſpirited Prophets, Iſaiah, Hoſea and Jeremiah, &c. They were knotty pieces, wherefore the Lord hewed them by the Prophets, Hoſ. 6. 5. Therefore I have hewed them by the Prophets, I have ſlain them by the words of my mouth, and thy judgements are as the light that goeth forth. They had warning upon warning, Prophet after Prophet; yet no more hope of doing them any good and working reformation upon them, then of changing the Aethiopians skin, or Leopards ſpots, Jer. 13. 23. Can the Aethiopian change his skin? or the Leopard his ſpots? then may ye alſo do good, who are accuſtomed to do evil. Now let us hear the doom, God will ſmite them no more, Iſa. 1. 5. Why ſhould ye be ſtricken any more? ye will revolt more and more; the whole head is ſick, and the whole heart faint. God will not let them fare the better for thoſe righteous perſons that are amongſt them, who are Advocates for them, Jer. 15. 1. Though Moſes and Samuel ſtood before me; yet my minde could not be towards this people, caſt them out of my ſight, and let them go forth: So Ezek. 14. 20. Though Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, as I live, ſaith the Lord God, they ſhall p. 32deliver neither ſon nor daughter, they ſhall but deliver their own ſouls by their righteouſneſs. Further, God will ſtraiten the ſpirit of Prayer in his Prophets, Jer. 7. 14, 15, 16. Therefore will I doe unto this houſe, which is called by name, as I have done to Shiloh; and I will caſt you out of my ſight, as I have caſt out all your brethren, even the whole ſeed of Ephraim: Wherefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make interceſſion to me, for I will not hear thee. Ephraim he is obſtinate and incorrigible, I will ſtrive no longer by reproofs and admonitions, let him be fill'd with his own ways: He is given to idols, let him alone. Hoſ. 4. 17. Luſeris operā fi ad poenitentiā invitaris, Ephraim Graviſſima eſt poena relinqui à Deo. Vatab.Hos 4:17It's a dreadful Judgement upon Jeruſalem, Luke 19. 42. If thou hadſt known, even thou, at leaſt in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes. This is further implyed in the parable of the fruitleſs fig-tree, Luke 13. 7. Behold, theſe three years I come, ſeeking fruit on this fig-tree and finde none, cut it down, why cumbreth it the ground? All theſe are Types and Examples, and as ſo many warning-pieces unto us. God waited a long time upon them, woed and intreated them by the Miniſtry of his Meſſengers to come in and repent; but they (as much as in them lay) tryed concluſions with God, and ungrateful wretches as they were, ſtrove to tire out and weary the patience and long-ſuffering of God, wherefore his ſpirit would ſtrive no longer with them; and when Gods ſpirit will no longer ſtrive, what's the ſequel, but ruine and deſtruction?

Let us reflect upon our ſelves, in Iſraels glaſs we may behold our own faces, and they will gather blackneſs.

The inferences we ſhould make are ſet down, Luke 13. 5. I tell you nay, but except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewiſe periſh: And Amos 4. 12. Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Iſrael, and becauſe I will do thus unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Iſrael: Likewiſe I will adde, Zeph. 2. 1. Gather your ſelves together, yea, gather together, O nation not deſired, before the decree bring forth, &c.

Some Reverend Divines have given three Signs of night.

1. When the ſhadows grow long, when wilde Beaſts go abroad, 1. When ſhadows grow long, it is a ſign of night.and when Labourers go to their reſt. Now he's a meer ſtranger in Iſrael, who knows not how of late years Shadows, fruitleſs and ridiculous Ceremonies, have been advanced and ſtickled for, and violence hath been offered unto many tender conſciences: Hinc illae lachrymae: Many godly Miniſters, with their Families, have p. 33been ruin'd for non-conformity; and others have been forced to leave the Land of their Nativity, when as in the mean time the fundamentals of Religion, Faith, Repentance, Love, Regeneration were neglected, and much diſcountenanced, and the zealous Preachers of theſe Doctrines, ſtigmatized with the odious nicknames of Puritans, which in a proper ſenſe, is that proud Hereſie of Novatus, as Euſebius records in his Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtory: But Euſeb. Eccleſ. Hiſt.through the iniquity of the time, was uſed as a brand of Infamy to reproach the moſt ſtrict and conſcientious Profeſſors.

Secondly, Wilde Beaſts went abroad: Then thoſe of the Tyrannical 2. Wilde Beaſts go abroad.Prelacy perſecuted the old Puritans, under the name of non-Conformiſts: May ſuch perſons never range again, under more plauſible names and ſpecious pretences; or more covertly, like wolves but in ſheeps cloathing. I wiſh the Jeſuite may appear barefaced, that we may know him, and beware of him: It is a plain Jeſuitical deſign, to ſet Brethren together by the ears in circumſtantial matters, and ſo make them almoſt diſpute and jangle away their Religion. I wiſh what was blame-worthy amongſt ſome, be not Preached and practiced by others that ſucceed them; though names may differ, yet if the ſame thing remain, it's to the ſame purpoſe. Melancton was deſirous to die for two reaſons: One was, That he might be with Chriſt: The other was, That he might be freed from thoſe bitter contentions that were in the Church in thoſe days.

Thirdly, And likewiſe Laborers go to their reſt: It is to be obſerved, 3. Laborers goe to their reſt.that within few years as many able men, both of the Magiſtracy and Miniſtry, have gone to their long home (as the oldeſt alive can remember in a greater ſpace of time) ſo true is that of the Prophet, Iſa. 57. 1. The righteous periſheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none conſidering that the righteous is taken from the evil to come. Methuſelah, that godly longeſt liv'd Patriarch, dyed but the year before the Flood came: His name ſignifieth a Meſſenger of death: His death did preſage the Flood. Thus Auſtin was taken away by death, immediately before the ſacking of Hippo, where he lived. Pareus dyed a little before the taking of Heidelbergh. Luther a little before the Germane Wars: And we have many Reverend Preachers, the Chariots and Horſe-men of Iſrael (it were eaſie to give you a Catalogue of them) who of late years have gone to their Graves in peace. By all their Miniſteries Gods Spirit hath ſtroven with us, and waited p. 34for our amendment of life: We read Hiſtories, that we may not be ſubjects of Hiſtory. Herodotus tells us of an Inſcription upon Legimus hiſtorias, ne ipſi fiamus hiſtoriae. foreign. Herodo.Senacheribs Statue, Look upon me, and learn to be righteous. Peruſe the ſacred Annals, read the Hiſtory of the old World, the deſtruction of Jeruſalem, the caſting off the Jews to this very day; read the Hiſtory of the Church in all ages, acquaint your ſelves with the Hiſtory of Germany and Palatinate of later years, and be not like many Travellers, who are better acquainted with foreign Lands, then that of their Nativity. Take notice of the acts, the ſtrange acts of the Lord in our L…nd: Hath not God, to this very day, continued many faithful Laborers in his Vineyard, notwithſtanding ſome of the Prelatical party ſuppreſſed (what lay in them) powerful Preaching: yet like the Palm-tree, The more it is preſſed down, the more it grows; o… like Pharachs afflicting the Iſ…aelites, Quo magis deprimitur, eo magis emergit.the more he afflicted them, the more they multiplyed, and notwithſtanding the ſubtile practices of many, what name to give them, I cannot tell, for they know not what names to give themſelves, neither know they what they would have: I ſay, notwithſtanding their Stentorean voices, crying down Miniſtry, Sabboths, Ordinances, yet God graciouſly confirms them all in their liberty and purity; and if we improve not theſe prices of Grace put into our hands, if we hearken not to the calls and whiſpers of the Spirit of God, if we neglect and deſpiſe this great ſalvation tendred in the Goſpel, the Spirit of God will be gone, and take the Ordinances from us, or us from the Ordinances. The Spirit will threaten this dreadful judgement in the Text, to ſtrive no longer: And that people are under a moſt dreadful Judgement, with whom the Spirit of God will not ſtrive any longer: That Commin…tion runs paralell with this of my Text, Hoſ. 9. 12. Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there ſhall not be a man left; yea, woe alſo to them when I depart from them.

And thus I have diſpatcht the firſt Head propounded, namely, The aſſertion of the truth of the Doctrine from Scripture Te…imonies: I proceed in the ſecond place, according to my method propounded, to make a particular repreſentation unto you, how the Spirit may be ſaid to ſtrive with man.

The Spirit of God, though it be a moſt free agent, bloweth 2. The Spirit of God ſtrives ſeven ways.when and where it liſteth; yet from experience we may diſcern, that it uſually ſtrives ſome of theſe ſeven ways, viz. By its motions p. 35and whiſpers. By the Miniſtry of the Word. By the checks and convictions of conſcience. By the tenders of mercies. By the exerciſe of patience and long-ſuffering, by inflicting of ſ…gnal, exemplary judgements up…n others: And if none of theſe will prevail by the execution of perſonal judgements upon our ſelves: Thus ordinarily upon a ground of experience, we may diſcern the ſeveral ſtrivings of the Spirit.

For the enlargement of theſe particulars. 1. The Spirit of God 1. The Spirit of God ſtrives by its motions and inſpirations.ſtrives by its motions, inſpirations, and ſweet whiſpers, when we hear, as it were, a voice behinde us, telling us, This is the way, walk therein: Thus the Spirit of God infuſeth holy thoughts, holy motions into us: We have not one good thought, we cannot of our ſelves think one good thought without the inſpiration of the holy Spirit. The Spirit of God rebukes ſin in us, quickens us to our duties, moves, woes, beſeecheth us to try concluſions no longer with God, nor to offer any violence to the Spirit of Grace, but to cheriſh its ſweet motions, and hearken to its whiſpers. We may know the Spirit of God from the ſpirit of deluſion the ſame way we diſcern good Gold from counterfeit, by examining them by the touch-ſtone of the word of God, Iſa. 8. 20. To the Law, and to the teſtimony, if they ſpeak not according to this word, it is becauſe there is no light in them: The Spirit of God directs the…e to the rule of the word: It is not any rule that will ſerve, but it is this rule, Gal. 6. 16. As many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them and mercy, and upon the Iſrael of God. But the Spirit of error directs thee to deviſed ways, it counſels thee to be wiſe above what is written. The word of God is the juſt Standard, we muſt not adde to it, nor take away from it, if we would eſcape that dreadful curſe, Rev. 22. 18. I teſtifie to every one that heareth the words of the Prophecy of this Book, if any man ſhall adde unto theſe things, God ſhall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man ſhall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophecy, God ſhall take away his part out of the Book of life, and out of the holy City, and from the things which are written in this Book. There be many that pretend to voices, dreams, revel…tions, now adays, they would have a Platonick Christ, and fain a teaching of the Spirit beſides, and contrary to the written word: Many of them are led like Abſoloms followers, in their ſimplicity, knowing nothing for whom we muſt pray, as the Prophet did for his Servant, p. 36Lord open their eyes that they may ſee, and let them read with fear and trembling, that dreadful Anathema from the written word, Gal. 1. 8. Though we, or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Goſpel unto you, then that which we have preached unto you, let him be accurſed: I'le be your remembrancer of one ſtory, 1 King. 13. 17, 18, 19. It was ſaid unto me by the word of the Lord, Thou ſhalt eat no bread, nor drink wa…er t…ere, nor turn again to goe by the way that thou cameſt: He ſaid unto him, I am a Prophet alſo, as thou art; and the Angel ſpake unto me, ſaying, Bring him back with thee into thine houſe, that he may eat bread and drink water, but he lyed unto him: So he went back, and did eat bread in his houſe, and drank water. The man of God had a ſure word of Propheſie, the word of God was in his mouth; yet he muſt be hearkning after a new deviſed word, a new pretended light or revelation from the old Prophet, he forſook the true word, and believed a lying word; what a ſad Cataſtrophe befell him, v. 24. When he was gone, a Lyon met him by the way and ſlew him, and his carcaſe was caſt in the way, and the 1 King. 13. 24.1 Kgs 13:24Aſs ſtood by it, and the Lyon ſtood alſo by the carcaſe: Yet notwithſtanding extraordinary Revelations, Dreams, Viſions, Extaſies, Enthuſiaſms, though they have ceaſed long ago, and we have no warrant to expect them, becauſe we are to keep cloſe to the revealed will of God written in his holy word: Yet I ſay, we are to take notice of the ſweet motions and ſpiritual illapſes upon our ſouls: Though Propheſies ceaſe, yet there are manifold diſcoveries of Chriſt unto the ſoul: The ſecret and intimate acquaintance of the ſoul with Chriſt, the ſouls raviſhing conſolations, the breaking in and flaſhes of heavenly light upon the ſoul, the heavings, aſpirings, and harmony of the heart with Chriſt, experience of mercies, iſſues out of temptations, protections of Angels; all theſe are Heavenly, conſtant revelations out of the Word of God, manifeſted to the ſouls of the faithful by the Spirit, according to the word: Let us therefore embrace and cheriſh the gracious motions of the Spirit of God: Where the ſpirit of Grace is in the heart, it cannot be idle or lie dead, but it's exceeding operative. The Spirit gives light to teach thee, it gives heat to warm and comfort thee: It is a ſpirit of burning and purging, to burn up the ſtubble of corruption, to purge out thy ſins: It is a ſpirit of refining and purifying: Therefore when the ſpirit of God ſtrives by its gracious motions, inlightning, purging, inflaming, comforting, p. 37wooing thee to walk cloſely with God, bidding thee beware of wounding thy conſcience, of reſiſting the light, and going againſt known truth: O beware of grieving this holy Spirit of God! Do not, O do not force the ſpirit to depart ſadded and grieved from thee. This is one way whereby the ſpirit ſtrives, viz. by its motions and whiſpers.

A ſecond way whereby the ſpirit ſtrives, is by the Miniſtry of 2. The Spirit ſtrives by the Miniſtery of the Word.the word: It is ſaid, Rev. 3. 20. Behold I ſtand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will ſup with him, and he with me. The Spirit of God knocks at the doors of your hearts by the hammer of the word: The ſpirit knocks louder and louder, and the Miniſters are to cry aloud and ſpare not, Iſa. 58. 1. Cry aloud, ſpare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and ſhew thy people their tranſgreſſions, and the Houſe of Jacob their ſins. The Lord calls upon us by every Sermon we hear: Why will ye die? Why will ye bolt the door againſt the frequent knockings of the Spirit of God? The Spirit of God hath ſtrove with ſome of us ten years, ſome twenty, ſome fo…ty, ſome ſixty years: How many years have we lived under the ſound of the Goſpel, having heard the voice of the Turtle crying in our Land? How many powerful Preachers have ſpent their ſtrength, their breath, waſted their ſpirits, wooing, intreating, beſeeching us to be reconciled unto God? many of them are gone to their reſt, their works praiſe them in the Gate, their memory is bleſſed, and their name is like ſweet Oyntment poured forth: How many are yet alive to this day, who Preach Jeſus Chriſt faithfully and experimentally? how do they pray and wreſtle with God? how zealouſly do they preach? how many admonitions, reproofs, exhortations, warnings, do they give us? And if we will not take warning, the Miniſters ſhall deliver their own ſouls, and our blood will be upon our own heads; and the time will come, when it ſhall be known that we have had Prophets amongſt us. I ſhall make an alluſion to that Scripture, Deut. 20. 11, 12, 13. It ſhall be if it make thee anſwer of peace and open unto thee, then it ſhall be, that all the people that is found therein ſhall be tributaries unto thee, and they ſhall ſerve thee: And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war againſt thee, then thou ſhalt beſiege it; and when the Lord hath delivered it into thy hands, thou ſhalt ſmite every male thereof with the edge of the ſword. Juſt ſo God proclaims peace, and the Miniſters p. 38are Ambaſſadors of Peace, and deliver their commiſſion after this manner, Into whatſoever houſe ye enter, firſt ſay, Peace be to Luke 10. 5, 6.Luke 10:5Luke 10:6this houſe: And if the ſon of peace be there, your peace ſhall reſt upon it; if not, it ſhall turn to you again. The Lord now beſe…eth your hearts by the Miniſtry of the word, and offers you peace and reconciliation; if you will ſubmit unto his Scepter, and caſt down your rebellious weapons, the Lord will have mercy on you; but if you hold out the flag of defiance, and will not come in to Jeſus Chriſt, what remains but utter ruine and deſtruction? Every Sermon you hear, is like the water of Jealouſie, when he hath made her to drink the water, then it ſhall come to paſs, that if ſhe be defiled, and hath done treſpaſs againſt her Husband, that the water that cauſeth the curſe ſhall enter into her, and become bitter, Num. 27. 28.Num 27:28and her belly ſhall ſwell, &c. but if ſhe be not defiled, ſhe ſhall be free: When the word is received into an honeſt and good heart, it doth it good and makes it fruitful, when into a corrupt heart it rots it, and makes it worſe. Its an obſervation of a Reverend Divine, That it is an indignity beyond all apprehenſion to the ſpirit of Dr. Ed: Reynolds,grace, when we ſuffer him to wait daily at our Betheſda's, our houſes of mercy, and all in vain, to ſpend his ſacred breath in the Miniſtry of reconciliation, in doubling and redoubling his requeſts unto our ſouls, that we would be content to be ſaved: Yet all this while we harden our hearts, and ſtop our ears, and ſet up the pride and ſtoutneſs of our own reaſonings, till we even weary the ſpirit of God, chide him away, and cauſe him to depart ſadded and grieved from us. O my Brethren, deſpiſe not prophecying, undervalue not the Miniſtry of … Theſſ. 5. 20.reconciliation: An indignity or affront offered unto Chriſts Meſſengers, Chriſt takes it as done unto himſelf, Luke 10. 16. He that heareth you, heareth me, and he that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth me; and he that deſpiſeth me, deſpiſeth him that ſent me. Be then exho… ted to ſet an high price of the Goſpel, and make much of the motions of Gods holy Spirit in the Miniſtry of the word.

Urſin relates, in his Preface to his Catechiſm, That thoſe godly Vrſini Praf. Catech.Proteſtants that fled beyond the Seas for their Religion, in that Marian quinquenium of Perſecution, ackno…ledged, That that great innundation of miſery came juſtly upon them, for the neglect and unprofitableneſs under the Goſpel in King Edward the ſixth's days. And if they were ſo ſeverely puniſhed for a few years unprofitableneſs under the means of Grace, of how much forer puniſhment p. 39ſhall we of England be accounted worthy, who well nigh a hundred years have enjoyed the purity of the Goſpel, and yet we are barren and unfruitful: Let us every one acknowledge his own unfruitfulneſs, that notwithſtanding fatning Ordinances we have lean ſouls; and let us every one pray in particular, Lord, lay not my unfruitfulneſs under the Miniſtry unto my charge. The Spirit will not always ſtrive and wait at thoſe Betheſda's. God may in judgement ſay, I will take this kingdom from you, and give it to others who will bring forth the fruits of it: I will no more ſuffer my ſervants to be abuſed, no more ſuffer my word to be deſpiſed; I'le rain Mann…h no more round about your tents, if you have ſo cheap an eſteem of it. Let us all deprecate this dreadful judgement which the P…ophet Amos threatens, Amos 8. 1. Behold a basket of ſummer-fruits, and he ſaid, What ſeeſt thou? and I ſaid, A basket of ſummer-fruit; then ſaid the Lord unto me, The end is come upon my people of Iſrael, I will not again paſs by them any more: This is the ſecond way whereby the Spirit …rives, viz. By the Miniſtry of the word.

A third way whereby the Spirit ſtrives, is by the checks and 3. The Spirit ſtrives by the conviction of conſcience. Multi habent ſcientiā, pauci vero conſcientiam. Bernard de interiore domo. In corde puritatem, In ore veritatem, In actione rectitudinem. Bern. de interdomo.convictions of conſcience. Bernard makes a ſad complaint in that excellent Tract, De interiori domo: Many hauehave knowledge, but few have conſcience. He lays down there three choice qualifications of a good conſcience, To have ſincerity in the heart, truth in the mouth, and rectitude in the converſation: Theſe are diſtinguiſhing Notes for tryal and examination. Now the ſpirit of God ſtrives by the checks of conſcience: Conſcience flew in Judas his face, a legal qualm came upon him, I can call it no better: It ſprang from the horror of the wrath of God, and Hell fire flaſhing in his face: It was no Evangelical repentance: Judas got thirty pieces of ſilver, but conſcience forced him to a reſtitution. Conſcience is a reflect act, it looks back upon a mans ſelf: It is like a Musket over-charged, it will recoil upon a ſinner: It is like a Blood-hound that will follow by the ſcent, and will never leave ſearching till it hath deſcryed the Delinquent.

Wherefore Brethren, let us take ſpecial notice of the checks of Conſcience: Let us keep faith and a good conſcience joyn'd, as the Apoſtle exhorts: Let us not break Gods link. Let Pauls (Herein I exerciſe) be our continual Monitor, Acts 24. 16. Herein I exerciſe my ſelf, to have a conſcience void of offence towards God and p. 40towards men. A Chriſtian may have a pardon in the Court of the Judge, and yet not diſcern it in the Court of his conſcience: In caſe of deſertions, withdrawings and ſuſpenſions of Gods gracious countenance, a Chriſtian may not be able to apprehend Gods reconciled countenance; but in this caſe there are incouraging, ſupporting promiſes, Iſa. 50. 10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his ſervant, that walketh in darkneſs and hath no light? let him truſt in the name of the Lord, and ſtay upon his God: We read likewiſe Pſal. 97. 11. Light is ſown for the righteous, and gladneſs for the upright in heart: and Pſal. 112. 4. Unto the upright there ariſeth light in the darkneſs: God is gracious and full of compaſſion, and righteous in all his ways: But what ſhall we ſay when a ſinner is condemned both in the Court of the Judge, and of conſcience? how great is that condemnation? Spira had a check of conſcience, and a voice forbidding him, O do it not! He paid full dear for the wounding of his conſcience. It's an obſervatian of an excellent Divine, in a precious Book, called, Moſes ſelf-denyal: We had better (ſaith he) have all the world Mr. Burroughs Moſes Selfdenyal.caſt ſhame in our faces, and upbraid us, then that our conſciences ſhould caſt dirt into them: It's better to endure all the frowns and anger of the greateſt Potentates on earth, then to have an angry conſcience within our breaſt: It's better to want all the pleaſures that earth can afford, then to looſe the delights which a good conſcience will bring in: O let the Bird in the breaſt be always kept ſinging, whatſoever we ſuffer for it! We all ſubſcribe to this in The…, whether we do thus in Hypotheſi, let's examine our awakned Conſcience: Let us every one deal impartially with his own conſcience: All our hearts are naked unto him, with whom we have to deal. Let every one pray, ſtudy, confer for the information of his own Conſcience; nothing may be done doubtingly, for that is not of faith, and whatſoever is not of faith, is ſin. In the whole courſe of our lives, let us bring all our actions to the rule of the word of God, and let that decide the controverſie.

Here's a four-fold infallible rule. LetA four-fold rule for the examining of conſcience.

1. Every one be perſwaded in his own heart.

2. Let us abſtain from all appearances of evil.

3. Prove all things, and hold faſt that which is good.

4. Hold faith and a good conſcience.

p. 41Let us keep cloſe to theſe known, plain rules, diſcarding carnal policy, carnal intereſts, which are the deviſed ways of men, and then let our reſolution concur with Luthers: I bear this title, I Hūc gero titulum, cedo nulli. Luth.yeild to none.

Now then when the Spirit thus ſtrives by the checks of conſcience, let us not reſiſt nor ſtifle thoſe motions, let us not ſhut our eyes againſt known light breaking in upon us. This is a third way whereby the Spirit ſtrives, viz. by the checkings and convictions of Conſcience.

A fourth way wereby the Spirit ſtrives, is, by the tenders of 4. The Spirit ſtrives by the tender of mercies.mercies and loving kindneſs, openings of bowels of compaſſion towards poor ſinners: Theſe mercies are tender mercies, and there is a multitude of them, Pſal. 51. 1. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindeneſs, according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my tranſgreſsions: They are the ſounding of Bowels, the fountain opened, Zech. 13. 1. In that day there ſhall be a fountain opened to the Houſe of David, and to the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, for ſin and for uncleanneſs. Here is a free tender of Jeſus Chriſt, and the riches of his mercies; The ſpirit makes many Proclamations and Invitations to come in to Jeſus Chriſt: One is, Iſa: 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: A ſecond is, Mat. 11. 28. Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you reſt. A third invitation is, John 7. 37. If any man thirſt, let him come unto me and drink. Rev. 22. 17. A 4th is, The Spirit & the Bride ſay, Come, and let him that heareth, ſay, Come, and let him that is athirſt, come, and whoſoever will, let him take of the waters of life freely. The l…ſt I ſhall name, is the moſt prevalent obteſtation in all the world, Rom. 12. 1. I beſeech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye preſent your bodies a living ſacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reaſonable ſervice. Put forth thy labor to make a Catalogue of the mercies of God, they exceed all Arithmetick; meaſure them, their dimenſions are infinite. The Apoſtle makes four dimenſions, breadth, length, heighth, and depth, Eph. 3. 18. The mercies of God reach to the Heavens, his faithfulneſs to the clouds: All the pathes of the Lord are mercy and truth, to ſuch as keep his covenant and teſtimonies, Pſal. 25. 10. His mercy is from everlaſting to everlaſting, his mercy is above all his p. 42works. Had we the tongues of Men and Angels, we could not ſufficiently ſet forth the mercies of God; yet let us ſummon up all the members of our Bodies, and all the faculties of our Souls, to praiſe the Lord for his mercies, and tell the wonders which he hath done for the children of men. How many National mercies and ſignal deliverances have we received, and we yet are in peace, even to a miracle of mercies, our fleece is yet dry, whil'ſt others are wet with blood? Thouſands have faln beſide us, and ten thouſand at our right hands, and no evil comes nigh our dwelling.

What variety of perſonal mercies do we receive? How many deliverances have we received from the Grave, being ready to fall in, and yet we are reprieved, and have ſpace to repent? How many deliverances have we received from Fire, Water, Pobbers, unreaſonable men, and all the plots and projects of Malignant Enemies unto the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt? Further, What mercies do we receive for our ſouls? Do we not injoy Sabbaths, Ordinances, publick aſſemblies? Bleſſed be God, our eyes yet behold our teachers, and our Goſpel is not driven into corners: How many mercies, Quot miſericordiae tot ora. Iſa. 30. 20.Isa 30:20ſo many mouthes: All theſe mercies, have ſo many mouthes calling upon us to thankfulneſs and amendment of life. Now the holy Spirit of God ſtrives by all theſe mercies to win us to repentance: It is our obliged duty, as God ſtrives with us in mercy and loving kindneſs, ſo we ſhould ſtrive with him in our return of thankfulneſs and reformation of our lives: Every mercy ſhould be a Lord-ſtone, to draw us up to Chriſt: Every mercy ſhould be as a foot-ſtool, to raiſe us up higher to Heaven: Every mercy ſhould be as a Looking-glaſs, wherein we ſhould behold the viſible reſemblances of the loving kindneſs of God. O then, take heed of neglecting the voice of the Spirit, when he calls by mercies: For if he be neglected when he ſpeaks in the ſweet muſick of mercies, he will ſpeak terrible things in the thunder of judgement.5. The Spirit ſtrives by the exerciſe of patience.

5. Yet further, The Spirit ſtrives by the exerciſe of patience, forbearance and long ſufferance towards ſinners: God is not willing that any ſhould periſh, but that they ſhould repent and be ſaved: O the unwearied patience of a merciful Father! How long did God bear with the old▪ world, with the Amorites, Jeruſalem? The Lord waits to be gracious, he delights in mercy: It is his nature to be merciful: Judgement is called his act, his ſtrange act, Iſa. 28. 21. The Lord will riſe up, as in mount Perazim, he ſhall be wroth, p. 43as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his ſtrange work, and bring to paſs his act, his ſtrange act: This is to ſhew his unwillingne…s to puniſh ſinners till needs muſt: He is ſaid to hyer a Razour to ſhave them, as if he had none of his own, Iſa. 7. 20. In the ſame day ſhall the Lord ſhave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the King of Aſſyria, the head and the hair of the feet: See and admire the wonderful patience of God, though we provoke him every day: O wonderful patience! that the Drunkard dies not in his vomit, that the Swearers & Blaſphemers tongues fall not preſently out of their heads: Still the Lord waits knocking at the doors of our hearts, exerciſing infinite patience and forbearance towards poor ſinners: He whets his Sword and bends his Bow, Pſal. 7. 12. He might cleave us aſunder preſently, but there we have experience of ſingular patience: God was but ſix days in creating the world; yet (as Chryſoſtome obſerves) he was ſeven days in encompaſſing the Walls of Jericho, before he deſtroyed it: Patientia laeſa fit furor.but let us take heed of abuſing patience; patience abuſed, breaks forth into extremity of fury: Mercy pleads, I am ſlighted, I am abuſed, I will no more have mercy on them; then patience interpoſeth, I will wait longer, but patience being abuſed, it pleads, I will be no longer tired out nor abuſed: At laſt comes long-ſuffering, I am gentle and merciful, and I will wait longer and longer; but if long-ſuffering be wearied out, What will plead for us? What will become of us? The long-ſuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, whileſt the Ark was preparing, as the apoſtle Peter ſpeaks, 1 Pet. 3. 20. 2 Pet. 3. 9. The Lord is not ſlack concerning his promiſe (as ſome men count ſlackneſs) but is long-ſuffering to us-ward, not willing that any ſhould periſh, but that all ſhould come to repentance: We ſhould account the long-ſuffering of the Lord our ſalvation, Rom. 2. 4. or deſpiſeſt thou the riches of his goodneſs, and forbearance and long ſuffering, not knowing that the goodneſs of the Lord leadeth thee to repentance.

6. The Spirit of God ſtrives by many ſignal exemplary Judgements 6. The ſpirit ſtrives by many ſignal and exempla…y Judgements inflicted upon others.inflicted upon others: We have read of the Wars of Jeruſalem in Joſephus, but more pathetically ſet forth in the …ook of the Lamentations: We have read of the heavy Judgements of God upon Germany and Palatinate: We have read of the barbarous butcherings of thoſe blood-ſucking Caribals in Ireland, upon the Proteſtant Party: We hear now of a Sword letting out blood in Scotland, good p. 44blood and bad blood being let out together, the Sword deſtroying one as well as another: We hear of ſad breaches and heart-diviſions widened more and more in England: You hear a general complaint of poverty and decay of Trade: By all theſe Judgements the Spirit of God ſtrives with us, and woes us to repentance, to Dan. 4. 27.Dan 4:27break off our ſins by repentance, that our tranquillity may be lengthned, and that there may be a healing of our errors. The uſe we are to make, is that of the Apoſtle 1 Cor. 10. 6. Now theſe things were our examples to the intent we ſhould not luſt after evil things, as they alſo luſted: Let us not paſs uncharitable cenſures upon others, as greater ſinners, for greater ſufferings, but remember, that except we Luke 13. 5.Luke 13:5repent, we ſhall likewiſe periſh.

Seventhly and laſtly, Let us conſider how the Spirit of God 7 The Spirit ſtrives by perſonal judgements.ſtrives by perſonal Judgements inſlicted on our ſelves: There is a Judgement of chaſtiſement, and a Judgement of revenge. God ſends Judgements by way of revenge upon the wicked of the World, but by way of chaſtiſement unto his own children: When God takes away thy riches, and other outward comforts, as a childe, a wife, &c. by theſe the Spirit of God ſtrives with thee, and ſends thee to God to inquire into the cauſe, and walk more cloſely and humbly with God; and thy duty is, to pray to God to teach thee what thou underſtandeſt not: If God ſend thee a ſore diſeaſe, a grievous pain; ſuppoſe the Stone, Strangury, Collick, &c. by all theſe the Spirit ſtrives with thee, and reads thee a Lecture of thy Mortality, and warneth thee to make a ſerious and ſpeedy preparation for death. Afflictions are ſent by God, as Scullions, to ſcour away the ruſt and canker of Gods children: They are the Shepheards Dogs, to bring home the ſtraying Sheep: Luther ſaith, Afflictions teach us to underſtand Scripture: Where God teacheth with the rod, there he beſtoweth a choice bleſſing, Pſal. 94. 12. Bleſſed is the man whom thou chaſteneſt, O Lord, and teacheſt him out of thy Law. God ſends affliction on an errand: Go affliction, take down ſuch a mans pride: goe, awaken another from his ſecurity: Affliction is Gods Ordinance, and with the ſame hand he gives Jeſus Chriſt, that he gives correction to his own children: Thus the Spirit ſtrives by perſonal judgements and afflictions.

The uſe we muſt continually make, is Heb. 12. 5, 6. My ſon, deſpiſe not thou the chaſtening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loveth, he chaſteneth, and ſcourgeth p. 45every ſon whom he receiveth: Hence ſaith the Apo…le, Rom. 5. 3. We glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and Jam…s 1. 2. My brethren count it all joy, when ye fall into divers temptations: The rod hath a voice, and we are call'd upon Mich. 6. 9. Hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.

Thus you have heard how Gods Spirit ſtrives, by its motions, by the Miniſtery of the Word, the checks of Conſcience, tenders of Mercy, exerciſe of patience and long-ſuffering, inſlicting of exemplary and ſignal Judgements upon others, and perſonal Judgements upon our ſelves. Now the Lord give us his Grace, and teach us to make much of, and cheriſh the ſtrivings of his holy Spirit, and let us all deprecate the fearful judgement in the Text, My ſpirit ſhall no longer ſtrive with you.