The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Sermon 7
A SERMON Preached after the Communion,
On Pſal. 85.8. He will ſpeak Peace to his People and to his Saints: but let them not turn again to Folly.
IT is hard to know in Spiritual exerciſes, whether it be more difficult to attain ſome good frame, or to keep & maintain it, when it is attained: whether more ſeriouſneſs is required for making peace with God, or for keeping of it, when made: whether more diligence ſhould be in preparing for a Communion, or more watchfulneſs after it: ſure, both are required, and it was our Bleſſed Lords word, Matth. 26.41. after the firſt celebration of this his Supper, Watch and pray th…t ye enter not into Temptation: Here that ſaying holds eminently, non minor eſt virtus, quam quaerere, parta tueri: No leſſe vertue and valour is requiſit to maintain, then …o make a purchaſe or Conqueſt.
In the words (to leave the introduction and ſcope) There is firſt, a great mercy promiſed from the Lord to his People, viz. He will ſpeak peace to them. 2. A ſpeciall caveat, and advertiſment given them, poin ing at their hazard, But let them not turn again to follie: That is, Let not his People and Saints, to whom He hath ſpoken peace, return to ſin; Let them beware of bounding and dallying with Gods mercy, and of turning his Grace into wantonneſs, of cooling in their affections to him, of ſlipping back to their old way, and of embracing their old lovers and Idols; For that is folly, even in folio, to ſpeak ſo.
We ſhall firſt propoſe Six Obſervations from the words, and then apply them. Firſt then Obſerve, that Sin againſt God i… an exceeding great folly: It's the fooli…h h ſt and maddest thing in the world: Therefore it is here called Folly, to wit, in an eminent way and degree: It's that which doth moſt, ye that which doth in effect, Only, marre and interrupt Saints peace: that which Verſ. 2. Is called iniquity, which he ſo graciouſly pardoned, is here called Folly, becauſe of the follie and madneſs that is in ſin: and i… is on this ground and account, that the ſinner is ſo often called a Fool, and Simple in the Book of Proverbs; and Epheſ 5. The Apoſtle exhorts Chriſtians, to walk not as Fools but as wiſe; and Luk. 15. The Prodigal is ſaid, when converted, to come to himſelf, as if he had been in a diſtraction and beſide himſelf, all the while he was going on in his ſinful way. This may be further clear; if we look, Firſt, To the vanity of the matter wherein men ſin; is it not follie for a man to ſit tippling and debauching away his time, to be given to Harlotrie and filthineſs, to neglect Prayer, to Curſe and Swear, to let his mind rove upon things that never were nor will be, and wherein there is no profit? There is a great vanity in the matter of ſin. Secondly, If we look to the ſad effects, and bitter fruits of ſin; and to the great prejudice that comes by it; It will be found to be deſperat Madneſs and dear bought pleaſure, which is but fancied and Imaginary, and no reall Pleaſure: It marres the life of Grace & of peace with God, and treaſures up Wrath againſt the day of Wrath; See this verified eminently in Ahithophel, that Prodigy of profound Policie (Whoſe counſel, in thoſe dayes, with David and Abſalom was, as, if one had enquired at the Oracle of God.) The upſhot of whoſe deep wit was rank follie, when he went and hanged himſelf: See it alſo convincingly made good, in the rich Man in the Goſpel, To whom it's ſadly and ſurpriſingly ſaid, Thou fool, this night thy ſoul shall be taken from thee, and whoſe then shall thoſe things be? And what advantage or wiſdom is it. I pray, for a man to gain the whole World, if he loſe his own Soul? O Madly fooliſh bargain! Thirdly, If we look to ſin with a Spirituall eye, we will ſee folly in the very appearance and manner of it; a wicked man in ſinning is fooliſh-like, or looks as like a fool, as David did, when he played the Mad-man before the King of Gath, Scrabled on the doors, and let his ſpittle fall on his Beard: Is it not folly to ſee a man Labouring in the fire, for very vanity, loading himſelf with thick clay, purſuing the Eaſt-wind? He is juſt like a man in a frenzie, who imagines himſelf to be a King, and to be riding in great State and Triumph, when in the mean time he is a Poor naked Pitifull and deſpicable creature, in the eyes of all that behold him. Fourthly, If we look to the ſpring, fountain and cauſe of it; There can be no juſt nor relevant reaſon given for ſin; It's therefore, no doubt, folly: Is there, or can there be any thing that evidenceth mens folly ſo much, as their coming in tops with God, their walking in the way of death, their loving ſimplicity (as it is Prov. 1.) And their quiting the way of Life? Now the word of God is true wiſdome, and the way of life is therein clearly holden forth, and God as our pattern; and is there any thing more reaſonable, then that we ſhould live like, and be conform to the word of God, and to him of whom we ought to be followers? But ſin thwarts with the whole word of God, and with God himſelf.
Take this paſſing word of Uſe; Study to be eſtabliſhed in the Faith of this truth; That Sin, whether in doing that which is evil, or in the Omiſſion of duty, is the greateſt folly: ſuch of you as will not be convinced of it now in time, within a few dayes or years, ye ſhall be convinced of it to purpoſe & to your eternall prejudice; The moſt blockiſh ſhall then ſee it to be follie; a highly hurtfull, prejudiciall, Shamefull folly, and deſperat Madneſs; The rich Glutton and Ahithophel and thouſands more of worldly-wiſe-men, find it to be ſo, to their Coſt, in Hell: Therefore the Apoſtle ſaith, Rom. 6.21. What profit have ye in thoſe things whereof ye are now ashamed? And had we Spirituall eyes to diſcern the Condition of the moſt part of men and Women, who evidently ly ſtill in black Nature unrenewed, who ſlight the offers of Grace, and who will not receive Jeſu… Chriſt, the verieſt idiot in the world would not be a ſadder ſpectacle to us, nor affect our hearts with more pity & compaſſion, then the Lamentable caſe of the Souls of ſuch perſons would; becauſe they forſake their own MercieMercy, The ſure Mercies of David, and follow after lying vanities, and wearie themſelves with a vain purſuit after that which cannot profit them, Alace for this follie!
Secondly, Obſerve, That notwithſtanding the greatneſs of this follie, Gods people and Saints were ſometime deep, yea even drowned in it, and are yet in part taken with it. Needs this any proof? Ah! ſinful Nation (ſaith the Lord to his profeſſing people Iſaiah. 1.4.) A people laden with iniquitie, a ſeed of evill doers: The Ox knoweth his owner, the aſſe his Maſters crib, but my people doth not know: O beaſtly Iſrael! inferior to the very brutes thorow the folly of ſinning againſt God; and ſaith he, Jer. 2. Be aſtonished O Heavens; and horribly afraid; for my People have committed two great evils, they have forſaken me the fountain of living waters, and digged to themſelves broken Ciſterns, that can hold no water: Q egregious follie and demented choice? how many profeſſours of religion are there, who are foolish Virgins? And how many fooliſh practices are there among the Godly themſelves? Let it not then be thought ſtrange (as a word of Uſe from it) that not only among externall profeſſours, but even among reall Saints, there be found many acts of follie; though I grant it to be both ſad and ſtumbling, when it is; which ſhould therefore, ſo much the more make them guard againſt the ſame.
Thirdly, Obſerve. God will ſometimes ſpeak peace to them that are given to follie, or are often found playing the Fool. Of the truth whereof, as many as ever heard the Goſpel, and did partake of the Grace of it; and are before the Throne, and hope to be there, are as ſo many proofs; witneſſes and living monuments: I ſhall clear what this ſpeaking of peace is, in Three Steps; He ſpeaks peace to them, 1. In his offering of peace to them; and by his meeting and treating with them in and by that offer, in his intreating or inviting them earneſtly to come to him, who have wearied themſelves, and ſpent their labour on that which profits not; preſſing them to return, and aſſuring them that he will heal their backſlidings, Iſai. 55. Jer. 3. Hoſ. 14. And preaching peace through Chriſt Jeſus, Eph. 2. counſelling them to come and buy eye ſalve of him, &c. and by his knocking and waiting at their Door for admittance and entry, Rom. 3. Are not theſe words of peace to a fooliſh Church? 2. In making peace with ſome, when (as it is 2 Cor. 5.20.) He not only Prayes and requeſts them to be Reconciled, but really reconcileth them to himſelf, and ſaith, Peace be to you, Pardoneth ſin, taketh away the hand-writing of Ordinances that was againſt them, giveth them a diſcharge of their debt: that when their ſin is ſought for, it is not to be found, becauſe He hath pardoned it; and Hoſ. 2. This is called an alluring, or (as the word is) a ſpeaking to the heart. 3. In his not only taking away the Controverſie and making peace; but in his intimating that peace, Saying to the pardoned ſinner, Thy ſinnes are forgiven thee, go in peace, I am thy Salvation, and then the promiſe John 14.21.23. Is fulfilled, when Chriſt breaks open doors and comes in and Sups, and dwels, his Father and he: and one main diſh that is ſet on the Table (to ſay ſo) is Peace, as Verſ. 27. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: It's peace from God the Father Son and Holy Ghoſt: There are ſome ſpeciall times, wherein God ſpeaks Peace, ſuch as Solemn treating times and Communion dayes, and other ſpecial occaſions are, when there hath been more then ordinary diligence in prayer, more then ordinary Sorrow for Sin, peace is readily ſpoken on the back of it: as alſo trying and ſadly exerciſing times are uſually times of the intimation of peace: In a word when and where this Goſpel comes and is made lively, Peace followes on it: and this is your time, O! tha… peace may be found to have been ſpoken to many at this occaſion.
Fourthly, Obſerve, That, In and about thoſe times, when God hath ſpoken (or very urgently offered to ſpeak) Peace, there is often ſome reſtraint on People, as to the prevailing of their follie: Some ſtop to the current of Iniquity in it's wonted manner and meaſure, in ſome more and in ſome leſs; ſome more aw of God readily being on people then: Many will have a ſort of Righteouſneſs, like a Morning cloud and early dew, that ſoon paſſeth away; Some tickling of their affections, that quickly evaniſheth; as the Lord ſaith of many of the Jews, that were hearers of John, Who was a burning and a shining light, that they rejoyced in his light for a ſeaſon: So Pſal. 106.12. Then believed they his words, they ſang his Praiſe; but they ſoon forgat his works, they waited not for his Counſell; and Pſal. 78.34. When he ſlew them, then they ſought him: Nevertheleſs they flattered him with their lips and lied to him with their Tongues, for their hearts were not right with God, neither were the… ſtedfaſt in his Covenant: And ſomething of this was alſo, even in Chriſts hearers, and in the Galatians, who at firſt would have plucked out their eyes and given them to Paul: So in the parable of the Sower, ſome ſeed ſprings up and hath a fair appearance, but ſoon withereth; and other ſome holds out: So likewiſe at Faſts and Communions, affections will be readily ſomewhat ſtirred and warmed, and there will be many brave purpoſes and reſolutions, ſuch as were in the people, Exod 19. When they ſaid, All that the Lord commands we will do: and they look demure and grave like for two or three dayes; The Tippler keeps ſome dayes from the Tavern; He that prayed not in ſecret nor in his family, will, it may be, Pray for ſome time about and after ſuch occaſions; others will go further on; And yet it's but ſome reſtraint on their ſin, or ſome fit and flaſh of affection, that is tranſient and quickly gone; and they turn again to follie; and even the Godly themſelves are here often found, in a great meaſure guilty, as the following Note will clear.
Fifthly, Obſerve, That even thoſe people and Saints, who have ſometime been given to follie, to whom God hath ſpoken peace, and who have reſtrained their folly for a time thereafter, may much fall back to follie again. The admonition here given, Let them not turn again to folly. Suppoſeth this: This needs not much proof; If ye ſhall go through the Saints recorded in Scripture, ye will find ſad inſtances of it: David, after peace was ſpoken to him, falls into adultery and murther; Hezekiah, after a ſweet word of peace was ſpoken to him, Iſaiah 38. Falls into the follie of Pride and vain oſtentation, Chap. 39. Peter, after peace ſpoken to him denyeth his Maſter: Jehoshaphat, after peace ſpoken to him, fell once and again into the ſame ſin, and once even after he was reproved for it; as is clear, 2 Chron. 18.19. and 20. Chapters: Or there may be a falling unto ſome other ſins, or out of one ſin into another; as it was with David: This may befall reall Saints, yea eminent Saints, even Pillars in the houſe of God: was there not peace ſpoken to the Diſciples in that ſweet Sermon John 14. and 15, and 16. Chap. And yet that ſad word followes, Ye all shall be offended becauſe of me this night; And Peter to whom that ſweet word was ſpoken, I have prayed for thee, that thy Faith fail not, doth foully fall into follie quickly after; what then may befall the more Common ſort of profeſſors, who know not what it is to ſtand before the leaſt tentation? The Reaſons of this may be firſt, becauſe the devil falls preſently on, and ſeeks, as it were, with ſeven worſe devils to re-enter the ſoul, and busks this bait of the tentation, and preſents it in a new ſhape; old courtiers (to ſpeak ſo) and luſts ſet on and eſſay what hearing they can get. 2. Becauſe though, by peace ſpoken, tentations and corruptions may be bound up, yea and ſome-what Mortified: yet they are not ſlain outright, they may lurk for a time, but ſtill live. And 3. Becauſe his People are ready in ſuch a warme Sun blink to grow (as it were) wanton, and under ſuch a ceſſation from their luſts, to caſt by their armes, to grow ſecure, to grow ſomewhat too fain, and to dream of an eaſie life; thus it was in a meaſure with David, as he confeſſeth, Pſal. 30. I ſaid in my Proſperity, I shal never be moved; If they get peace for a little, who but they? They are Lords (in a manner) and will not come unto him; or if they win to a few tears and ſome liberty, they are readily puft up, and in ſome ſort bid their Souls take them reſt; as if they needed to trouble themſelves no more: Therefore there are new on-ſets, and the Lord lets them ſee how vain they are, even in their beſt eſtate: as we may perceive, in the Lords dealing with Hezekiah, and with David, in that Pſal. 30. Thou didſt hide thy face ſaith he, and I was troubled. O! what follie, vanity and outbreaking of corruption do often follow on the back of a ſeeming work of turning to God, and a tender like frame in Profeſſors of Religion? So Pſal. 106. It is ſaid, that they provoked him at the Sea, even at the red Sea: Even where and when they were in ſuch a frame, that they believed his Words and ſang his Praiſe: they ſoon forgat his Works, And waited not for his Counſel, which was, in a manner, at the very Table to lift the heel againſt him: And O! how Sad and lamentable a thing is it, to be unwatchfull after a Communion, and an offer or an Intimation of peace!
Sixthly, Obſerve, That, There is nothing more called for from a people, who have been given to follie, and have had Peace ſpoken to them, then to take heed that they turn not again to folly, To take heed that they fall not into the ſame ſins that they ſeemed to have abandoned and turned away from: that it be not with them, According to the true Proverb, The Dog is returned to his vomit, and the Sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire, as it is, 2 Pet. 2.22. Under which ſimilitude, the Apoſtle powerfully diſſwades Profeſſors of Religion from turning again to ſin, by ſhewing the loathſomneſs of it: It being as abominable, as a mans licking up again that which he hath vomited. This then is the duty that the Lord calls for: Firſt That you ſhould abſtain from the ſins that you have been given to, ſuch as tippling, drinking drunk, Swearing, Sabbath breaking, neglect of Prayer and the like, and do ſo no more: not only not to relapſe into the ſame ſins, but that ye abſtain from every other ſin: It is not enough that a man break off from one ſin, and take up with another: It is not ſufficient, though a man will not be drunk in his neighbours houſe, if in the mean time in his own houſe he tipple, play the good fellow (as ye call it) and miſpend his time. Secondly, Ye would Conſider, what engagements and reſolutions ye have come under, and that ye fall not back from them: In a word it is, not to be as ye were wont to be: and that ye be found in no known ſin, nor defective in any known duty.
We come now to the more Particular and cloſe Application of the whole, in theſe Two Uſes. The Firſt whereof is, for Advertiſement and warning, Let him that ſtands take heed leſt he fall, Let him not look on himſelf as incapable to be ſtollen off his feet: Alace! Perſons may be, in a manner, exalted to Heaven, and in a very good frame, in their own imagination and apprehenſion, and it may be, in ſome meaſure really; and yet be brought back to the Puddle and Mi…e again, after they have ſhaken themſelves and come out of it. In proſecuting this, we ſhal, Firſt ſhew wherefore we preſſe it, And Secondly, Wherein, or in reference to what we preſſe it.
As for the Firſt, viz. Wherefore it is, that I doe preſſe this advertiſement: and indeed it is not without very good ground, as ye will eaſily perceive, if, Firſt, Ye look to and Conſider the beſt Saints and in their beſt condition: how ſoon are even they taken off their feet? Was not David often in a very good ſpiritual condition? And yet, how ſoon and foully did he fall into folly? was not Adam in a good and deſirable condition, when there was no quarrel betwixt God and him, nor any ground for it? And yet how ſoon was he enſnared? Was not Peter in a good ſtate and frame, when Chriſt ſaid to him, Bleſſed art thou Simon Bar-jona, flesh and blood hath not revealed that unto thee, but my Father who is in Heaven? And yet within a very litle, he turns again ſo far to folly, as to be the devils inſtrument to tempt Chriſt: as is clear from Matth. 16. verſ. 17. Compared with verſ. 22. Were not the Diſciples in a good condition, when our Lord had Preached to them both the Preparation & thanks-giving Sermons, before and after the Communion? And yet they all were offended becauſe of him, and forſook him and fled, And that very quickly, even that ſame very night; Now when ſuch tall Cedars fall, what need have we, who are but in compariſon, ſilly ſhrubs and but as ſmal ſtrawes, to take warning. Secondly, If we conſider that thoſe ſins and fals were often exceeding Sudden, the ſame night, in the Diſciples (as I juſt now hinted,) and in Hezekiah, very quickly after his recovery: exceeding foul; and exceeding Univerſal, as in all the Diſciples; Sometimes repeated, as in Lot, Jehoshaphat, and Peter; ſometimes a plurality and variety of them joyned together, as in David and Aſa, and in his People at the Red-Sea and in the Wilderneſs: And who knows but the ſame very night, that ye were at the Lords Table, ſome of you were back at your follie? And others of you before night may be. We ſaid, not only Suddenly, but foullie; as is clear in Adam, who when he had no corruption formerly, fell from God to the devil (and by the way, many of you are ſo groſly ignorant, and wofully ſelf-conceited: that ye think, if ye had been in his caſe, ye would not have done ſo.) And (as I hinted) what foul faults were Davids Adultery and Murder, and Solomons Idolatrie, at leaſt his tolerating it, after God had ſpoken twiſe to him? What a foul fault and fall was that of Iſraels, After their ſo Solemn engagements, and fair undertakings. Exod. 19. When within fourty dayes they deteſtably and damnably danced before the golden Calfe: & what a foull fall was that of Peters, to forſwear Chriſt, by denying him with an oath? And of the reſt of the Diſciples, unkindly & unworthily to forſake him and flee? And who knows, but ſhortly after this occaſion, many of you that have been tipplers, may grow worſe, it may be, even to be found ſtaggering in the ſtreets? And that others of you who prayed not before, may be heard curſing? Ye who are believers and Saints indeed, would Obſerve this, and know that there is need, great need of watching and Prayer, that ye enter not into Tentation: And if there hath been any idleneſs, lightneſs, vanity, miſpending of Precious time, or the like; guard, O guard againſt thoſe: The reaſon why Believers fall ſo often in Groſs ſins, is their playing (as it were) with their Petty Idols; little things given way to lead on to greater and worſe. Thirdly, Am I now ſpeaking of any ſtrange, uncouth or unpreſidented thing? Have ye never Obſerved, how ye carried and behaved after Communions before? Can ye ſay, but that, as many Communions as ye have been at, there have been as many breaches? If ye have never failed before, ye may be ſecure now; but if ye have failed and Miſ-carried formerlie, be the more warie and watchful now. Fourthly, Have ye any knowledge of, and acquaintance with your own hearts? Is your corruption dead? Are your Idols quite ſlain? or are they not rather like to thoſe ſtrange wives, in Nehemiahs time, (who were put away) crying on you for pity, (O! cruel pity) and weeping on you to be admitted to come home again? And have none of you ſo much fooliſh, fond and cruel Pity, as to ſide with them? Hath a Communion-day, thruſt out the devil fully? Are there no living luſts, nor ſtrong corruptions within you? Do ye not ſee what a ready welcome Tentations to ſin are like to get? And find ye not a woful propenſion to be glad, that the reſtraint and aw-band of a Communion day is over and by? And doth not this preſs you to watch? Fifthly, Try but how it hath been with you ſince the Sabbath, Is not the bent ye had then, alreadly very much ſlacked? Is not much of that ſeeming or really good frame of Spirit gone? Is not the great part of your work yet before you? And is it not a greater difficulty, to make out an engagement, then to make it; to perform, then to Promiſe? How is it then, that ye have in a great part laid by your armes, as if all were done? When ye have, as Souldiers, put your ſelves in battell array, and given your military Oath, and go…ten the ſigne and word of command, ſhould you quit your Poſt? beware of that, the matter is of greater concernement, then ye are aware of: ye are yet but in a manner beginning.
For the Second Thing, viz. What it is wherein, or in reference to what we do preſſe your taking warning and being wary? And here I would have you, Firſt, To be aware not only of mo…e groſſe ſins, but even of all ſuch things in general, which Tentations uſe ordinarily to make their approaches and aſſaults by; as namely litle ſins (litle I mean Comparatively) Is it not a litle one? ſaith Lot of Zoar. O! How unſuitable was it for him, to whom the Lord had but a very litle before ſpoken ſuch a great and gracious word of peace, as that; Depart for I can do nothing, ſo long as thou art here: and yet the ſame night or the Morrow, this eſcapes him; and readily, when people fall once, they fall over and over again; but ye would be ware to ſeek leave to lurk and loure a while in ſuch Zoars; Beware to ſay, it's a litle Sin: ſay not, I ſhall not be drunken, but I muſt have leave to tipple, and triffle over the time; The devil drives ſin and Tentation, as a Carpenter driveth a wedge: he will teach and Prompt you to ſay, we may be cheerfull and ſport us a while, without regard to the matter, Meaſure or ſeaſon, though ye be not prophane: but, once let in the point of the wedge by a litle ſin, and it may become a great one ere all be done, or a groſſer one may follow, even as the great end of the wedge doth the leſſer. Secondly, Beware of returning to Omiſſions. Some, it may be, will reſolve that they will never tipple nor Swear, nor Commit any ſuch things; but they will, it may be, neglect and omit to Pray as they have (belike) done theſe few dayes paſt: though they go not abroad to the Tavern on the week dayes, nor go idly in the fields on the Lords-day: yet they may miſpend and triffle away their time at home, as if falling back into Omiſſions, were not a turning again to follie, as well as falling back to Commiſſions: The confeſſions of many poor Creatures (who become Publickly and Prodigiouſly Scandalous) on their death beds or on a Scaffold, that omiſſions of duty have Prediſpoſed them to, and brought on thoſe groſſe Commiſſions, may and ſhould awake and alarm us: ye would therefore with Holy Job Make a Covenant with your eyes and other ſenſes, and make Conſcience to keep it. Thirdly, Beware of falling back to a ſecure cold-riſe manner of going about duties of worſhip alone or in Company, in publick or in privat: let none of you think with your ſelves, that now this Solemnitie is over, ye need not wreſtle in Prayer, nor watch ſo ſtrictly over your heart, but let it gad and rove, and not hedge it in on an ordinary Lords day, as on a Communion Lords-day: ſince there is no liberty allowed for an idle word or thought any day, more then there is on that day: Think it not enough that ye ſay your Prayers morning and evening, and that none can charge you with any offence: God the all ſeeing God obſerves you, whether you be univerſall, ſincere and ſerious in the duties of Religion. Fourthly, Beware of neglecting Spiritual and Goſpel duties: ſuch as, Self-examination or Self-ſearching, Self-denyall, Mortification and uſe making of Chriſt: The neglect of theſe a…d the like, may be ſome way called Goſpel-follie: It is no doubt great Goſpel-follie, when Chriſt (being freely and fully offered therein) is not improved for wiſdom, righteouſneſs, Sanctification and redemption: when the power of Godlineſs is not aimed at in dutie: but People reſt and ſit down in the form thereof: which yet in ſome reſpect is more comberſome then the power: for Chriſt improved makes all things go eaſily with us: Therefore any of you who have lo…ked on it as follie to neglect theſe ſpiritual duties, ſee that ye return not again to that follie. Fifthly, Beware of unbelief: have ye not reſolved to caſt out with that evil, and reſolved to be no more jealous of God, though ye ſhould meet with difficulties? Believers in Chriſt, lick not up that vomit again, turn not again to that follie, to which there is a ſecret Naturall bentneſs of heart: If (I ſay) unbelief and jealouſie be a follie, take it not up, turn not to it again. Sixthly, Beware of heart-ills: poſſibly ye will not give way to more groſs evils: and yet ſuffer your Souls to be carried away after Idols, or after vain, proud, Ambitious, Covetous, Revengeful, filthy and Laſcivious thoughts: but if in very deed Chriſt get the heart, he muſt reign in it and command the Eye, Tongue, Ears, Hands, Feet, and all. Seventhly, Beware of falling back to the Inordinat love of the World, and of letting the heart be too much addicted and glued to, even, lawfull pleaſures & creature-Comforts, to your Callings, Wives, Children, Houſes, Lands and incomes of gain and Profit; from which there hath been poſſibly ſome ſuitable abſtractedneſs theſe dayes paſt: ye ſhould not only abſtain from oppreſſing. Stealing and deceiving, but ye would alſo guard againſt falling back to exceſſive purſuing after, and (as it were) glutting your ſelves with the things of this world, however lawfull in themſelves. Alace! Perimus Licitis: Inordinat love to, and Immoderat purſuing after things lawful in themſelves deſtroy more ſouls, then things ſinfull and unlawfull in themſelves do: the excuſes of thoſe invited to the Marriage of the Kings Son, are founded not on things ſimply Sinful, but on lawful things, the Farme, Oxen, and Married wiſe: Now the houſe is ſweeped, and ye are in Hazard, if ye guard not, to return to a greater and greedier feeding on thoſe vanities: I dare ſay, there are Multitudes of men and Women, who never ſo much hungred for the Communion, as they have longed to have theſe Solemn dayes over and by, that they might win back to their Callings, worldly buſineſſes and pleaſures; O what a wearineſs have they been to them? As Sacred Solemnities were to thoſe ſpoken of, Amos 8.5. Who cried, When shall the new Moon be gone, that we may ſell Corn, and the Sabbath day, that we may ſet out Wheat? To many theſe dayes of Faſting and Spiritual Feaſting and Communicating have been as a bridle bit in their Mouths, to reſtrain them from running on the Mountains of their vanity; and who knows, but ere another Communion come, the Lord may f…ed you as a Lamb in a large place?
The Second Uſe is, For Exhortation; would ye then know the duty that ye are called unto? this is it, Let not Gods People and Saints turn again to follie, Let not the Idler return to his Idleneſs; the tippler to his tippling, the ſcoffer to his Scoffing; the ignorant, who have been at a litle pains to learn ſome queſtions before the examination and communion, to his negligence in ſeeking after knowledge, &c. Let not this be; If ye have vomited out theſe and other ſins, Lick them not up again To preſſe this Uſe a litle, we would Firſt Give you ſome conſiderations from the Text. Secondly, Some directions to help you forward in the Practice of it.
For the firſt, viz. Some conſiderations from the Text to preſs i…; Firſt, Is it not a follie to ſin once? If ſo, ſure, it is much more to relapſe into ſin. Whether is it more true wiſdom to abſtain from thoſe Sins, or to fall back into them: Is it not more wiſdom for you who have been given to Tippling or drunkenneſs, to neglect of Prayer and the like, now to let alone ſins, and to give your ſelves to Prayer, then to be walking in the ſtreet on the Plain-ſtones? Is it not more wiſdom to be given to edifieing diſcourſe, then to be laughing and ſporting over the time? Is it not better to come to the Church, then to ſpend the time Idly, In diſcourſing and waiting for a Tentation? And if your conſcience aſſent to the truth of this, then we take witneſs in your Conſcience, that it doth ſo, and this Inſtrument of witneſs will ſtand on record againſt you, if ye ſhall turn to thoſe ſins and to this Folly again. 2. Have ye been examining your ſelves? And do ye find, that much of your life hath been ſpent in folly, by Some Twenty, by ſome Thirty, by ſome Fourthy, by ſome Fifthy, by ſome Sixty years. And every days account caſt up amounts only to folly, vanity and Madneſs? And is it not enough, and may it not ſuffice you, that ye have ſpent ſo long time in folly, though ye ſpend no more ſo? 3. Hath not God been ſpeaking peace to ſome, and given them the Intimation of it? So that their Souls have been made to ſay, God is here: And have they not gotten the bargain cloſed, and the hand writing that was againſt them torn? We hope, there are ſome ſuch among us? Nay are there any, but the Lord hath been offering peace to them, treating with them, ſaying Behold me, Behold me, intreating and requeſting them to be reconciled? And hath there not been ſome tickling of the affections of many? If ſo, will ye be ſuch fools as to fall back, and to wear out the ſenſe of that peace and warmneſs, that any of you have win to? And ye with whom God hath been meeting and treating about the pardon of ſin, what a folly will it be, in place of getting a diſcharge, to increaſe and multiply your debt? 4 Are there not ſome engagements on you? Or what ever be reall, is there not a profeſſion of coming under engagements? Are not the vowes of God on ſome of you? Is there not ſome ſin that hath ſtared you in the face, which ye have reſolved to abſtain from? And hath there not been ſome ſtirring and ſtickling of deſires to perform what ye have reſolved and engaged to? And will ye break all theſe bands? Will ye repent and rue, that ever ye ingaged to God? If ſo, as ye notably play the fools, So the Lord will be about with you, and even ſpew you out of his Mouth, that ye may puddle your fill in the mire of ſin. 5. Is there not a great bentneſs and propenſion in all naturally to turn again to follie? Is there not an evil heart of unbelief, ready to depart from the living God? I have ſo much Charity for you, as that you will grant this; and when the Lord hath ſaid, Watch, and tells that He is at hand that betrayes you, will ye go ſecurely, and not take warning? O! What deſperat folly would this be? 6. Conſider what will come of it, if ye ſhall fall back, if ye ſlacken your bent, and growing cold, turn again to folly? ye will wear out any bit of good frame that ye have attained: ye will blur and ſully the reall or ſuppoſed clearneſs of your intereſt, marr your Peace, and become in a manner more beaſtly and ſwiniſh in your ſinfull way then before; At the very thoughts whereof your hearts ſhould ſcare, Nauſeat and even grow ſick. And what will be the upſhot thereof? Either ye will repent, or never repent: If ye ſay, ye will repent; are ye ſure that God will give you Repentance, If ye ſhall hazard on ſome ſin? Are not many given up to hardneſs of heart, who never come to Repentance? Know ye what Repentance is? have ye not been already eſſaying and doing ſomewhat at Repentance; and have ye not found it difficult and hard to come by? And if ye ſhall ſin yet more, will not Repentance be yet a greater, more difficult and hard work? and ſuppoſe ye ſhould get Repentance, ye ſhall know the truth of that ſaying, Jer. 2. That it was an evil and a bitter thing to depart from the Living God, and that his fear was not before your eyes. O! what ſhame and confuſion of face will it bring with it, to remember that we had ſo Many warnings from the word without, and ſo manie Convictions and challenges from our conſcience within, and that yet we went over them, and with a high hand went on in our folly: will thoſe things be litle, think ye? what pleaſure or profit can ye have in thoſe things whereof ye will be ashamed? Yea ſuppoſe ye come to repentance (and a hundred to one if ever ye come to it) ye ſhall weep and mourn bitterly, that ever ye hazarded ſo on ſin over your light and convictions, and over the belly of your Conſcience? If ye get not repentance (as I am afraid many never ſhall) what will come of it? Convictions and challenges will wear out; the heart will grow harder, you will go on Laughing at reproofs, mocking at exhortations to Repentance and Reformation, and regardleſly treading on what might reclaim you; you will be angrie at them who brought you under any engagements: ye will become very Atheiſts in your hearts, and as ſo many profaine Heathens in your carriage and when you have lived thus for a time (and the Lord knows how long) will ye not come to die? will not your monethmonth come on you? will not your bed take you, or ye take your bed? and then the Conſcience will ei…her awake or be ſilent; if it awake, will not this be your language, which is the language of many a poor wretched creature? Wo is me, I have miſpent my time, and have been glu…ting my ſelf with the World and ſinfull pleaſures: Oh vaine world! O bewitching and beguiling world! Alace that ever I was ſo much taken up with it: And if the Conſcience be quiet, what will come of it? Will that fin ly on, and not be ſought account of? know ye not, conſider ye not that word, Gal. 6 Be not deceived, God will not be Mocked; As men ſow, ſo they shall reap? Think ye that God will be inferior to the Creature? will not your Governor or Land-Lord ſeek account of you according to your engagement? And ſhall not the Lord call you to a reckoning? Yea certainly: and the Conſcience will then awake and roar on you; then the curſe, Wo and damnation will ſeize upon, and take hold of your Soul in death: and devils ſhall carrie it thither, where Hypocrites are, untill the Judgement of the great day: and then ye will ſay, turning again to ſin was the greateſt folly and madneſs: And thus, whether God have a purpoſe of repentance to you or not, ye ſhall one day rue it at all the veines of your heart (to ſpeak ſo) and ſhall find the follie of it, and that to your everlaſting prejudice and loſs, if ye repent not.
And therefore let me preſs this Uſe upon you, and ear…eſtly exhort you, to let theſe Conſiderations ſink down …nto your ears and hearts: Beloved, We are jealous over you, and would God it were with a ſuitable Godly jeal…uſie: We are afraid that many, ere we be aware, be …own in their former puddle, that ignorance and Pro…anity be as rife as ever; there have been ſo many fits …nd good appearances, and of ſo ſhort continuance here…ofore: and now ye have been making ſome mint: but what will come of it, if ye fall back? If theſe ordinances ſhall do you no good, we know not what will do it: … think ye were never nearer to ſome great Criſe, to a …ick of being loſt or gained: we have you (as it were) … the very place of the breaking forth of Children: So …hat now, you muſt be either ſafely and fairly delivered, …r prove abortives: Ah! are our faſts and Communions …o no purpoſe? Are all your Purpoſes and reſolutions, …our engagements and ſeeming willingneſs to engage, … vain and to no effect? If ye ſhall fall back after this …nd turn again to folly; I do not much expect that any …dinances, or future engagements ſhall do you much …ood: we muſt either look for better and more fruit, …r there will be more barrenneſs and ſtubbornneſs: …ither ye ſhall be more Holy, or more of that old ſin of Malignity, ſtoutneſs of heart againſt God, and more …ppoſition to Godlineſs ſhall bud amongſt you: We …ould from our very Souls wiſh you brought well tho…ow; but are afraid there be a ſticking. Why is it I pray, …hat we inſiſt ſo much with you, if we were not jealous over you? will ye have faces to hold up before God, when ye and we ſhall be reckoned with, if ye ſhall ſit …heſe warnings? or what heart can we have to go about …is ſervice amongſt you, if yet there be a ſticking: and …hen there is ſome wreſtling to get you up the hill (as it were) and ye run further down then ever? O! to be mightily helped of God to travell in birth, to have Chriſt formed in you, & formed in you again: Is it probable, when many of you are brought further up then before, if ye fall further back, that ever ye will win up again? We apprehend, that there are many of you, who ſhall never again, with ſo much moral Seriouſneſs, be wrought upon, if there ſhall not be now ſome abiding and effectuall work; but a turning again to Folly. It is not, Beloved hearers, the fruit of one preaching or two, that we are now driving at; but the great ſcope of this bleſſed Goſpel; Therefore, for Chriſts ſake, hold at it, come forward and go not back, O turn not again to folly: elſe be aſſured, that the Lord and your own Conſciences will bear witneſs, and we his Servants will alſo bear witneſs againſt you, (as many of you will bear witneſs againſt us if we ſhal do ſo) If after God hath ſpoken peace to you: Ye shall return again to follie. Let me yet add this one word further for preſſing this; will ye but conſider what we are ſeeking? is it not your reall good and advantage? is it any hard or unreaſonable thing that we crave of you, or any uncouth thing; or any thing but that which Abraham, David, Paul, and others of the Saints, were deſirous and ſtudious to be at, Yea and our bleſſed Lord Jeſus himſelf was content to be at? Though he was never indeed tainted with any folly; yet he was content and carefull to fulfill all righteouſneſs; and what ſeek we of you but that ye would ſeek and labour to imitate him, that ye would prevent your own loſs and ruine, and give Chriſt a kindly and a hearty welcome, in order to the exerciſe of all his Offices about you: that his heart may be made glad, and that He may ſee of the fruit of the Travel of his Soul to his Satisfaction, in the Salvation of a number of Souls in Glaſgow, O that we could get you prevailed with to be as ſerious in theſe things, as ye are in and for the things of this preſent life: and that we could get as great vent (to ſpeak ſo) for Chriſts Precious wares amongſt you, as a man would get for ſome rare Commodity: nay (may I or ſhal I ſay?) but even for Tobacco: Alace! that incomparably Precious Jeſus Chriſt, and his purchaſe, the Everlaſting Covenant, even the Sure mercies of David, ſhould have leſs vent and ſale, then that and an hundred other commodities have: this is a Lamentation, and ſhould be for a Lamentation: always let bygones be ſeriouſly reflected on, and ſee that by all means, ye turn not again to Folly.
As for the Second thing Propoſed, viz. Some Directions for preventing your turning again to folly, ye may take theſe few, and the Lord himſelf put them home with a ſtrong hand. Firſt then, Walk in fear, Serve the Lord in fear, and rejoice before him with trembling; the Wiſe man ſees the evil, but the Fool paſſeth on and is confident; There is a ſort of Spirituall pride, vanitie and ſelf-conceit, reigning amongſt ordinary Profeſſours, and too much of it Prevailing amongſt Believers, that undoes them; are there any of you afraid of Fornication & Adultery, or of turning giddy Sectaries and the like? Your want of fear brings you into the mire, ere ye be aware; Pride goes before Deſtruction and a Haughty mind before a fall: The litle fear that is amongſt the moſt part ſays, that ſome black turn (as we uſe to ſpeak) is in their hands, or ſome foul fall before them: Hence the Apoſtle, Philip. 2.12. Exhorts, Work out the work of your own Salvation with fear and trembling: and 2 Cor. 7.1. To perfect Holineſs in the fear of God. Secondly, Obſerve well and lay due weight on that exhortation of our Lord, Matth. 26.41. (which hath ſeverall directions in it) Watch and Pray, that ye enter not into Temptation; look about you, be not ſecure, ſtand by your Poſt, let nothing go out nor come in without ſtrict examination; and ſeek (as it were) after its Paſs, and ſet (as it were) a Sentinel at the Port of every ſenſe; And what I ſay unto you, I ſay unto all, watch, ſaith the Lord, Mark. 13.37. Be not ſecure; watching is a moſt ſuitable duty for Chriſts Souldiers: fail not to joyn with it much Prayer, not for the f…ſhion, but that which is in the Spirit and fervent; yet lay no weight on it, as if ye could merit any thing by it, but go about it humbly and ſeriouſly, in order to the entertaining the life of Grace, ſit not up in it, but rather double your diligence. Thirdly, Keep the heart well; heart-ills are the Principal ills; Keep (ſaith Solomon Prov. 4.) the heart with (or above) all kee…ing; Set your main force to guard it, for there Sathan keeps his Court and head-quarter, and thence gives his Orders to the outward ſenſes; dally not with ſin in the heart, elſe it will come a further length. Fourthly, Forget not your engagements, but let the vowes of God ly on you, and have due weight with you; let not the ſins that ye diſcovered and ſaw in your ſelf-examination between God and you, before ye came to the Communion-Table, be forgotten; but remember them, to repent of them and to renounce them; and when one knot (to ſay ſo) of your engagement looſeth, caſt another faſter, or if a knot were weak, ſtrengthen it, or caſt a new one; for as acts of Faith muſt be renewed, So muſt acts of engaging to God. Fifthly, Be much in the exerciſe of Repentance for your bygone folly, My ſin (ſaith David Pſal. 51.) Is ever before me; think not Repentance to be the work of a day or two; look back and reflect on your old ſins of tippling, Swearing, enmity at Godlineſs, &c. For if ye wear out of the exerciſe of Repentance, ye will wear in, piece and piece on your old ſins, againſt which Repentance is a notable bar; being much in the exerciſe of Repentance keeps the heart ſober and watchfull, and loth to hazard on ſin, and withall makes ſin bitter: But the Antinomian way takes off all reſtraints, and looſeth the reins to ſin; It's much now to ſee a penitent; I wiſh There may be much Repentance in ſecret; but for any thing that is ſeen, it's very rare. Sixthly, In an eſpeciall manner, be much in Improving the ſtrength of Jeſus Chriſt, to prevent your turning again to folly; do not undertake nor engage in your own ſtrength; but believingly lay all the weight and ſtreſſe on your Suretie, Put his name in the band, which ye give to God, for the debt of duty: Abide in me, and I in you, So ye shal bring forth much fruit; for without me, ye can do nothing; ſaith our Lord to his Diſciples, John 15. But how many fail and come ſhort here? While they go about duties, and either quite misken or make but very litle uſe of Chriſt; many know very litle or nothing at all, what it is to make uſe of Chriſt, in order to the making of their peace with God; but O! how very few know what it is to make uſe of his ſtrength to enable them for duty, & to go through the wilderneſs leaning on their beloved. Seventhly, Defer not to make your Reſolutions and engagements practicable; There are many, alace! who think Shame, it ſhould be ſaid, that a Sermon had ſo much weight with them, as to make them alter and change their courſe at once; It may be they will conſent to be religious, but they muſt be allowed to come to it by degrees, & to creep toward it piece-meal; but beware of that, leſt it prove in the Iſſue to be a shift of thy deceitfull heart; Ponder theſe words well, Eccleſ. 5. Defer not to pay what thou haſt vowed for the Lord hath no Pleaſure in fools; And in the Holy Ghoſts account, he is a fool that deferreth and putteth off one moment; O! delayes are in a ſpeciall manner dangerous here, and Sathan will not faill to knit one delay to another. Eightly, Reject all Temptations to ſin and turning again to folly, with abhorrency; ſay with Ephraim, What have I any more to do with Idols? Never think on them, but with indignation and Holy diſdain; for ye are undone if ye but once liſten to them. Ninthly, Be often examining, if ye be like and anſwerable to your Communicating, and to your Promiſes and engagements; many know not how it is with them, becauſe they Examine not Tenthly, Walk humbly in the ſenſe of your weakneſs, truſt not to your own heart; for he that doth ſo, is reputed to be a fool, by the Holy Ghoſt. Eleventhly, Be helping one another forward in your way to Heaven. Take heed (ſaith the Apoſtle. Heb. 3.12.13. That there be not in any of you, an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God; but exhort one another dayly, while it is called to day, leſt any of you be hardened through the deceitfulneſs of Sin: To be edifieing to others would, through Gods bleſſing; be edifieing to your ſelves, and help you to be in good caſe; to be praying with them would ſtir up your ſelves to more Seriouſneſs in the exerciſe of that duty; to be reproving ſin in them, would waken up more hatred of it in your ſelves, and to be much Converſant in the duties of Mutual edification with them that are warm in their love to Chriſt, to his intereſts and friends, and diligent in the ſtudy of Holineſs, would readily through Grace ſtir you up to ſeek after more love and more Holineſs; as he inſinuats in that exhortation to the Chriſtian Hebrews, Chap. 10.24. Let us conſider one another, to provoke unto love and good works. Twelfthly, And in a word, endeavour to walk ſuitably to your light; your own conſciences will readily tell you, that it's beſt to walk ſo, as ye may abſtain from that which ye know to be ſin, and to be doing and delighting in that which ye know to be duty; The…e are very few, if any duties of Religion, but they are one time or another, and many of them frequently laid before you; and not a few ſhall, I hope, have cauſe of bleſſing God eternally, that ever this Goſpel-light was made to ſhine ſo clearly on them: but for ſuch of you, As detain the truth of God in unrighteouſneſs (as the Apoſtle ſays, ſome do, Rom. 1) or make a priſoner of it, by ſetting a guard of corrupt affections about it; Whom God gave up to vile affections; and to all ſorts of moſt abominable filthineſs, becauſe, though they knew that ſuch things ought not to have been done, yet they not only did, but took pleaſure in them that did them: I leave it with all the ſeriouſneſs I can win to, on you, and take Inſtruments of witneſs in your conſciences, that ye have bad great offers, and have made fair mints, and come under, at leaſt, ſeeming engagements: if ye have not done ſo, declare ſo much, but ſince ye all profeſſe that ye have engaged, and ſome have really engaged, not to turn again to folly; walk ſuitably to your engagements, as ye would not have your conſciences condemning you, and God who is greater then your Conſciences to condemn you. Many, I fear, have ſleeping conſciences, and that will not now ſpeak to them; but the Conſcience of every one will ſpeak at length and not keep ſilence. We ſhall now ſay no more, but Pray that this word may be Bleſſed of God to you.
Theſe five following Sermons were all Preached about the time of the Communion, the firſt four within a very few dayes before it, as it gradually approached; the Fifth after it