THe words present us with a Two-fold matter of Lamentation, or cause of grief, doubled in the expression of each part, to note the greatness of the Judgement, and to awake us to the more diligence to learn righteous­ness by it.

1 That the Righteous perisheth, merciful men, or men of kindness, and godliness are taken away.

2 That no man laies it to heart, none considers that the righ­teous is taken away from the evil. We read [to come] but those two words being added by the Translators, as appears by their different Character, may be left out in our reading, and the text without them, not only as fully takes in the truth expressed by [Page 2] but is more signified, viz. That he is taken away from the evil, as well that present as that to come. The Instructions fully sig­nified, and set before us in the words of this Lamentation are,

1 That the perishing of the righteous, the taking away of men of kindness, and godliness, is a sad correction to the survivers, which God would have so laid to heart, and considered by them.

2 That when God so strikes, and yet none lay to heart, or con­sider it, it is an evidence of wilful blindness, and great hardness in such a people, and a sign and fore-runner of greater Judge­ments.

3 That even in these sad Judgements there is special mercy, and choyse blessedness to those so taken away, and that to be con­sidered also, they are taken away from the evil; Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord, from henceforth, yèa saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works follow them.

I That the perishing of the Righteous is a sad correction to the survivers, which God would have so laid to heart, and consi­dered by them; for our understanding and usefulness of this, wee shall propound to consideration, 1. Who are the Righteous, 2. In what sence they may be said to perish, and when they so doe; and then shall further demonstrate and explicate the Position.

I Who are the Righteous and merciful men, or men of kind­ness, or godliness, truly if men be considered as they are by Na­ture and first birth, as descended from Adam, or as they are in and of themselves, or in what they may attain to by the will of flesh, or will-wisdome, and strength of man, in whatever exercised, There is none righteous, or doth good, no not one, of all the naturall Children of Adam; they have all sinned, and are come short of the glory of God, they are become wholly sinful, weak, and cor­rupt, they are dead in sins and trespasses, and children of wrath, as so considered, one as well as another, Psal. 14. Rom. 3. 19-23. Ephes. 2. 1, 2. By the Law is the knowledge of sin in the best as well as in the worst works of men, yea it discovers his whole nature over-spread with it, and therefore by the deeds of it shall no man be justified in the sight of God, Rom. 3. 20. Gal. 3. 11. Psal, 143. 2.

There is only one man of all the Nature, even the man Christ [Page 3] Jesus, that is in a proper and strict sence, Good, or Righteous, in and of himself, and for us, and he is none of the natural Chil­dren, nor naturally of man, but of God, (Mark 12. 18.) who also prepared for him a Body in our Nature, and of a Woman, by the secret and wonderful efficacy of his holy Spirit, and did in that Body deliver him to Death for our Offences, and raise him again for our Justification; and gave him glory, that our faith and hope might be in God; And he is expresly called the Righteous, 1 Joh. 2. 1. the Just, Jam. 5. 6. even the righteous, or just one, and justly too; for,

1 He is perfectly so in and of himself, being the Natural and only begotten Son of God, so that he is of the Father, the same that the Father is, Righteousness, Justice, Truth, Holiness, and Goodness it self; yea in that Body prepared for him in mans Na­ture, though he was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, subject to all our infirmities that came by sin, yet without sin, He knew no sin; And this rendred him a meet and worthy Person to undertake for Sinners, to prepare, and give a Ransome to God, and bee a Mediator for them; for, Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean, not one; therefore no meer man can redeeme his Brother, or give to God a ransome for him; for such a High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, &c.

2 He is perfectly so in what he hath undertaken, and done for men in that Body prepared for him in mans Nature, he hath per­fectly and voluntarily fulfilled that will of the Father he came to doe, as to the works to be finished in his own Body on the earth, Psal. 40. 6 - 9. Hebr. 10, 5 - 12. Joh. 17. 4. He humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the Cross. He laid down his life that he might take it again, even as he received Com­mandement of his Father, Phil. 2. 7, 8. Joh. 10. 17, 18. Heb. 12, 2. 1 Pet. 2. 24. and because of this,

3 He is made perfect for us, the Righteous, and just one, or justified Person in our Nature, and for us, acquit off all our tres­passes and sins that were imputed to him, and so therein a Victo­rer over all Curse, and Death laid upon him, having by him­self purged our sins, he is accepted, and set down on the right hand of God as a perfect Ransome, and price of Redemption for men, and standing propitiation for the sins of the whole world, yea a [Page 4] Prince and Saviour, for to give repentance, and forgiveness of sins, and the Judge of all, Heb. 1. 3, 4, & 12. 2. 1 Tim. 2. 5, 6. 1 Job. 2. 1, 2. Acts 5. 31. & 10. 36. 42. Yea,

4 He is righteous and faithful in all appointed him. A faith­ful Mediator and High Priest, a faithful testimony of Gods good­ness to men in due time, that through him they might be saved; and the Author of eternal Salvation to them that obey him, and the righteous Judge of quick and dead, by whom God shall judge the world in righteousness, even by that man whom he hath or­dained, whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead, for to this end he dyed, rose, and revi­ved, that he might be Lord of dead and living; so that hee is pro­perly and absolutely the righteous One in and of himself, and for us; the Lord our righteousness, in whom, and in whom only wee­have righteousness, and strength; yet is not he the righteous that are here spoken of. For

1 This Text speaks in the plural number, of righteous ones, merciful men, men of kindness, or godliness, nor is he included as one of the righteous ones here spoken of. For

2 He was not, nor could be holden of Death, as David, and o­thers that sleep in Jesus, are; his flesh saw no corruption, Psal. 16. 10. with Acts 2. 25 - 31. so that he did not perish out of the earth by death as they, Mich. 7. 1, 2. He was raised again the third day, and after seen of many witnesses. Yea,

3 Though he was taken from the earth in his Ascension, yet that was no chastisement, or correction, and so no cause of grief or sorrow to us, no nor to them that did enjoy his personal pre­sence on the earth; but cause of great joy, for if hee had not so personally ascended to the Father. The Comforter, that coming forth of the Spirit of truth, in the evidence and demonstration of the works finished in his Body, accepted, and for ever vertuous with the Father for us, could not have come, Joh. 7. 39. & 14. 26 - 28. & 16. 7, 8. yea he went to prepare places for us, that he might come again Personally, and receive us to himself, that we, even all that by him beleeve in God, might be ever with him in his glory, Job. 14. And so neither is he so perished from the earth, or from among men, in his being personally received up into glory, as to be no more capable of conversing with them, helping, or do­ing [Page 5] them good, but is thereby absolutely perfected in such capa­city, even in that body in mans nature through sufferings glorifi­ed, for being ascended farre above all heavens, even in Heaven it self, there to appear in the presence of God for us, even the same that descended into the lower parts of the earth; he fills all things with his influences, and operations, and is in his gracious and Spiritual presence, and vertues, in the hearts and societies of his people, that through grace beleeve in him, Ephes. 4. 7. 8 - 10. 11. Matth. 28. 20. Joh. 14. 17, 18.

By all which it appears, he is none of the righteous spoken of in this text, yet the consideration already propounded of him as the righteous one, will help us to understand who are the righteous that are here spoken of, and therefore is no digression from our business; for from these two considerations, viz. That of the Na­tural Race, or Children of Adam, there is none in [...]r of them­selves, or in any thing they can doe, righteous, or that doth good, nor that is so accepted, owned, and justified in the sight of God, no not one; and that he, and he only in mans Nature is the righ­teous one, and that for us also, The Lord our Righteousness; I say, from these two considerations, it appears;

That of all the Children of men, they only are righteous that in the light and power of Gods testimony concerning Christ, doe so beleeve and receive it, that in belief and acknowledgement there­of they disowne and run out of themselves into Christ, for righ­teousness, and life, 2 Cor. 1. 9. Phil. 3. 3 - 9.

It is a good description, or character of the righteous, that on hearing of the Name of the Lord, that it is a strong tower, they as men therein made sensible of it, acknowledge their own na­kedness, and the lyingness of other refuges, and therefore the danger of abiding out of this, they run into the Name of the Lord, Prov. 18. 10. they fly for refuge (even in the light and powerful drawing of the Name, and Grace of God in Christ, which bring­eth Salvation to all men in due time) unto the hope set before them in Christ, that they may lay hold of that, Heb. 6. 18.

The righteous then are they (whoever they be, or whatever they have been) that through his name beleeve in him, Acts 10. 35. 43. for what saith the Scripture? Abraham beleeved God, and it was counted to him for righteousness; now to him that worketh is the [Page 6] reward not reckoned of Grace, but of Debt; but to him that worketh not, but beleeveth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness, for that was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we beleeve on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for our effences, and raised againe for our justification, Rom. 4. 3, 4, 5. 23, 24, 25. For with the heart man beleeveth unto righteousness, chap. 10. 10. Therefore even the sinners of the Gentiles, which before followed not after righteousness, yet when the light of Gods testimony concerning Christ came to them, they falling down in the acknowledgement of their own vileness as therein discovered, and seeking righteous­ness by faith in Christ attained righteousness; when Israel which followed after the Law of Righteousness yet attained it not, be­cause they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the Law, for they being ignorant of Gods Righteousness, and go­ing about to establish their own, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God, for Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that beleeveth; for Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the Law, that the man which doth these things shall live by them, according to which rule there shal no man be justified in the sight of God; for by the Law is the knowledge of sin, yea it concludes under the Curse, Every [...] that continueth not in all that is written in the book of the Law to doe it, Gal. 3. 10, 11, 12. so that whoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, Jam. 2. 10. and there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, and sinneth not, Eccles. 7. 20. yea, la many things we offend all, Jam. 3. 2. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wife, Say not in thy heart, who shall ascend into heaven, that is, to bring down from above, or who shall descend into the deep, that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead; it sets not men a work to enquire how these things shell bee wrought for them in Christ, or to fancy, or seek for an accomplishment of them over again in them. But what saith it, The Word is nigh thee, even that preaching of peace by Jesus Christ; declaring all this freely done, and finished for us by God in the Person of Christ, without any thought, motion, or desire of ours; This word of Reconciliation is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart; even this word of faith which wee [Page 7] preach, declaring the ground of Faith prepared, and true in him, and thence instructing and perswading to beleeve it. This is made nigh in those preachings of it vouchsafed, that by its owne light and power it might bee acknowledged, and beleeved, that if ac­cording, as in this nigh coming of the Word▪ light and power comes with it, instructing, moving, and strengthening the heart, thou shalt confess with thy mouth, and beleeve in thine heart, that God hath raised Christ from the dead, thou shalt be saved, for with the heart man beleeveth unto righteousness, &c. Rom. 9. 30-33. & 10. 1-11. therefore also this Prophet Isaiah interprets the true fol­lowers after righteousness to bee they that seek the Lord, for righ­teousness, and strength, that on the report of his righteousness be­ing near in Christ, in whom he hath caused his Judgement to rest for a light to the people, doe beleeve that report, and entertaine in their heart that his Law, or Doctrine, Isa. 51. 1-7. & 45. 22-25, & 53. 1.

Those that in the light and power of Gods testimony concer­ning Christ, in the opening of it to them, as therein it is made nigh them, fall down in the sence and acknowledgement of their owne sinfulness, and vileness, and the unprofitableness of all their owne works to help them, and seek righteousness in Christ, even by faith in him, in what hee hath done, and is become for sinners, that through the knowledge and faith of him they may bee found in him, clothed with his Righteousness, and not that of their own, Phil. 3, 8, 9, 10. 1 Job. 5. 20. These are the righteous, and so of the righteous Nation, that learneth and keepeth the truth as it is in Jesus; these are the righteous spoken of in this text, and therefore truly so called.

1 Because herein they doe Righteousness, or Justice, they are doers, or workers of good, Rom. 2. 10. Acts 10. 35. 43. 1 Joh. 2. 18, 29. & 3. 6. 2 Joh. 9. 3. Joh. 11. For,

1 In this they doe nothing in any light, wisdome, or strength of theirs as of them, in or by which no man can understand the things of the Spirit, or come to Christ, or doe good, but as know­ing their strength is to sit still in this respect, letting their imagi­nations fall, and every high thing that exalts it self against the o­bedience of Christ; they by him do beleeve in God, they through Grace beleeve, and that not of themselves, but of the gift of [Page 8] God, they come in his drawings; see light, not in their own, but in his light, beleeve in the evidence and demonstration of his Spi­rit, and by the power thereof coming along to them in his words, and works, so that their faith is of the operation of God, who of the discovery of his owne good will in Christ, through the word of truth begets them; they are in this not their owne, but his Workmanship created in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to them Wisdome, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Redemption, and so doe work the work of God, not only which hee requires of them, but which himself is working in them, Joh. 6. 29. for they are born to this beleeving on his name, not of bloud, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God, Joh. 1. 12, 13. 1 J [...]h. 5. 1. Jam. 1. 18, 19. 1 Cor. 1. 29, 30. Eph. 2. 10. and yet this is graciously imputed, or counted to them for righteousness, though it is the powerful operation of the grace of God in them through his name. As on the other hand, that which is in Scripture called Ʋnbelief, that is, to reject when men hear, is truly charged on men as their owne proper sin, disobedience, and unrighteousness, even wilfully committed against the light and power of Gods grace bringing Salvation, for though men have neither light of understanding, nor freedome, or inclination of will in themselves as of themselves, yet while he is calling hee is certainly putting forth his hand, drawing with the cords of love, and the bands of a man, the demonstrations of his love, evidenced in the lifting up the Son of Man, and lifting up the yoke of thraldome on the Jews, setting meat before them; so that his goodness not only hath ten­dency, but sutable operation in it. It doth lead men to repen­tance though they draw back, and harden their hearts again, so that he that despiseth, despiseth not man only, but God, who hath also given them of his holy Spirit to instruct and reprove them; they harden their hearts against the word spoken in his Spirit, in the light and power of that by his Prophets, Isa. 65. 1, 2. H [...]s. 11. 2-7. Rom. 2. 4, 5. Nehem. 9. 20. 26. Zach. 9. 11, 12. 1 Thess. 4. 8. and so are fighters against God, closing their eyes, and stopping their ears, and hardening their hearts when hee is opening, and working upon them, lest they should be converted, and hee should heal them, Mat. 13. 15.

[Page 9]2 They doe in this, beleeving on his name, doe nothing but what they have good reason and substantial ground for, in what he hath done, and is become for them, as declared in his testi-Mony, and what they are thence obliged to as their reasonable service, there being a righteous ground and foundation of faith prepared and laid for us in Christ, as declared in the Gospel, whether men beleeve, and so come and be built upon it or no; for God hath made him that knew no sin, to be sin for us, that wee might hee made the righteousness of God in him. Whence also the Holy Ghost reproves the world of sin, because they beleeve not on Christ, and evidences it to be great unrighteousness, from the consideration of what great things he hath done for them, as also from the faithful evidences thereof to them, instructing and moving to it, as their reasonable service; so that indeed they render him hatred for his love, and evil for his good will, and are without cause his ad­versaries, yea against, and contrary to all right reason, or cause, They not regarding the work of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, which was true in him for and towards them, that through him they might have beleeved, Joh. 16. 8. 14. 1 Sam. 12. 24, 25. Psal. 68. 18-21. 2 Corinth. 5. 11-21. & 6. 1, 2. Psal. 28. 5. & 109. 4, 5.

3 This work of faith in Jesus is a righteous work, directed in truth, as may be seen in every act or branch of this faith of the operation of God. For,

1 Such it is, as in which they acknowledge God to be true in his testimony concerning Christ, which is the great things of his Law; and in all the instructions and sayings thereof, and therein acknowledge, and disown themselves, and all their own imagina­tions, and the traditions of men, as discovered, and detected in the light of Gods testimony, to be vanity and lyes; he that hath received his testimony, hath set to his Seal that God is true; whereas on the other hand, hee that beleeveth not God, hath made him that is the God, & Fountain of all truth, a Lyar, because he beleeveth not the record that God gave of his Son, even this record, that God hath given us eternal life in his Son, so as to bee received in receiving him, in his testimony, &c. Joh. 3. 33. 1 Joh. 5. 10-12. What greater unrighteousness than to make God a Lyar, and yet this is done by all, that when they hear, beleeve not the record of [Page 10] God concerning Christ; but in the faith of Gods operation, God is acknowledged to be true, and every man a lyar; his Word re­ceived as his, and reverenced and preferred before all the Tradi­tions or Precepts of men, if never so many, and those never so learned, or holy.

2 Such it is, as in which they ascribe righteousness to their Ma­ker, and make their boast of his righteousness, and of his only, Job 36. 2, 3. Psal. 71, 15, 16. As that in which Law is answered, Truth fulfilled, a Door of approach to God opened, and without which they must have been for ever cast out, as an uncleane thing, so as in this they acknowledge their owne sinfulness, and vileness, as therein evidenced. They are the true confessors of sins, that doe in the belief of that testimony of God concerning Christ, owne them as theirs, according to the discoveries of the true Light, and so confess, and disowne, and give them up as filthy, as thereby de­tected to be purged; and such confession and acknowledgement of our owne vileness is certainly included in this faith of the opera­tion of God; If a man with the heart beleeve Gods testimony concerning Christ, then doth he therein beleeve what it faith con­cerning himself, or concerning Sin, or Righteousness to bee true, and so beleeving, ownes its reproofs, whence the Apostle John faith, If we, any of those great Apostles, and so consequently any belee­ver in this life, say, we have no sin, we deceive our selves, and the truth is not in us; If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a Lyar, and his word is not in us, 1 Joh. 1. 8. 10. If any object against the righte­ousness of this act of faith, That it is affirmed of Zacharias and Eli­zabeth, that they were both righteous before God, walking in all the Com­mandements of the Lord blameless, to this we answer; This confirms what we have already said, for if they walked in all the Comman­dements of the Lord blameless, then they walked in this of con­fessing our sins, always acknowledging our owne vileness, and wretchedness. And truly this was contained in all those Com­mandements, and Ordinances of the Law, under which he served in the Priests Office, for in those Sacrifices there was a remem­brance againe of sins every year, Heb. 10. 3. yea the High Priest himself ought, as for the people, so also for himself to offer for sin 8, Heb. 5. 3. And now the prefect Sacrifice is offered, and the Purgation for all Sins compleatly made in the vertue of the bloud [Page 11] of Christ, men are in the testimony of this Fo [...]untainepened, dis­covered to be sinners, and all their righteousness as filthy raggs, and so their owne vileness, and the need of coming to this Foun­tains for washing, always shewed in the opening of it; so that he that walks not in the confession, or acknowledgement of his sin­fulness, vileness, and wretchedness, as there discovered, ascribing righteousness only to his Maker; he doth not righteousness, hee makes God a Lyar, the truth is not in him; hee walks not blame­less; for by the deeds of the Law shall no man be justified as blame­less in the sight of God, for all have sinned, and are sinners, have Sin in them, as well as Death upon them, while in this mortal bo­dy, rendring it vile and wretched, Phil. 3. last. Rom. 7. 18-24. And for a sinner to hide his sin is most worthy of blame; the just are they that live by faith in the righteousness of another, even of Jesus Christ, the just and righteous one. Behold, his Soul which is lefted up, is not upright in him, Galath. 3. 11, 12. Rom. 1. 16, 17. Hab. 2. 4. Hence the confessing of our sins answers to, and is put for the walking in the light, as he is in the light, 1 Joh. 1. 7. 9. and good reason, for God is always in the discovery and demonstrati­on of Christ the true light, discovering our sinfulness, and vileness, that we may not trust in our selves, but receive the sentence of Death there, that we may learn in the beleife and mindfulness of his testimony, concerning Christ, to trust in him that raiseth the dead. So that if we bee walking in the light, beleeving and ac­knowledging Christ in his testimony, we must needs be found in the beleeving view, and remembrance of what he hath done, and is become for us, and Gods glory in him confessing our sins; and so he that is borne of God, that is led of the Spirit of God that al­ways leads into, and in Christ, for all righteousness and life; though he have sin in him (for which simply God holds no man underblame, or Condemnation by Christ) yet so farre forth as he is born of God, that is, as he abideth in Christ he sinneth not, hee doth not commit or serve sin, no not in hiding his sins, which is the first step of making provision for it, which who so doth, shall not prosper; truly he should sin with a very high hand, even to the making God a Lyar, if he should say that hee had no sin in him, warring, and moveing for service, or that he had not sinned; yea doubtless, in any thing wherein his heart is departing from his re­fuge, [Page 12] or his eye wandring into corners; the immortal Seed, the Word of God not retained in his heart, in beleeving mindfulness, Sin gets the advantage of him, and his readiness to halt appears, and so in many things we offend all, and are therein of Satan, not of God, 1 Joh. 3. 5, 8-10. Psal. 38. 17, 18. Prov. 28. 13, 14▪ Psa. 19. 12, 13. & 119. 8. 11. 133. 176. & 51. 1-7.

3 Such also is this beleeving with the heart, that God hath raised Christ from the Dead, that in it, the Lord himself becomes the Beleevers hope, his expectation of all further grace and glory is in him, begot, and strengthened from the infinite grace of God to man ward, commended in this, that while we were sinners, and enemies, in due time Christ dyed for us, and the infinite vertue of his Bloud, in which the peace and attonement was made with God for us, while we were yet enemies; This grace in Christ be­leeved renders him precious, fills the heart with high esteeme of the greatness, and truth of Gods love in him, and of the infinite and abiding vertue of his Bloud, and his fitness and faithfulness throught it, to perfect what concerns them. So that in this faith of Gods operation, their expectation and hope is not grounded, either on a peremptory conclusion, that they cannot fall, or mis­carry, or on their act of beleeving, or faithfulness, and resolutions of constancy, and abiding; nor are they left to draw up their con­solation, and hope, by way of Argument from their being such, or in such a state, as to which such Promises are made; but the grace in Christ understood, and beleeved, the heart being exercised in the hearty beleef and mindfulness of him; what he hath done, and is become for sinners, and his office, faithfulness, and readiness to help, teach, and draw them, and to accept all commers without up­braiding, and to give them through his name in the vertues, and openings of it, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life, in the know­ledge and faith of it, and first fruites of the Spirit now, and in the hope of the Harvest in due time. I say, the heart and mind be­ing exercised in the hearty belief, and mindfulness of this grace in Christ, and so stayed on his name, is not then left to reflect back into it self, to draw up its consolation, and hope, from its being such a beleever, but is filled with strong consolation, and hope, through the grace understood and perceived in Christ; while the heart is only minding him that is the ground, and object [Page 13] of hope, the hope is begot, and strengthened in a Divine and Spi­ritual way, through the opening of that name, and shedding a­broad his love in the heart therein; so that Jesus Christ received by faith in his testimony, and not their receit of him, is unto them, and in their hearts the hope of glory, the ground and foun­dation of it, and he from whom viewed it springs, and in whom it i [...]. And that after the same consideration of him, as hee is in the Gospel preached to every man; He that spared not his owne Sonne, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him freely give us all things. See Rom. 5. 5-10. & 8. 32. Col. 1. 26, 27. Gal. 2. 20. Joh. 6. 51. And such is the truth and excellency of this name of God in Christ, that they that k [...]w it will trust in it, if any man what­ever did know, own, listen, and seek to it, according to the disco­veries of it brought him, it would beget trust, and hope, of which he should not be ashamed; it quickens to new and living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Again, in this faith of the operation of God their expectation is so in him, even of all things pertaining to life, and godliness to be now given, with him, not without him, or in any other way; but through the knowledge of him, whom he spared not, but de­livered up, for us all, that even that hope retained in them purifies their hearts from ways of iniquity, in which presumptuously growing careless, or wandering from him, they might miscarry, and fayl of the grace of God, so as they are instructed, and ad­monished by it to give diligence, and attend always to read the vision of God, as written in the face of Christ, that so they may be strengthened to run, and kept through faith, to the Salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Yea such it is, as from the excellency and grace in the ground of it, as also in the way in which it is to be met with, rather to bee chosen then any other way, or rule, and the excellent glory of the end of it, as strengthens them to all patience and long suffering with joyful­ness, and as those that beleeve in him, and look for such things, not to make hast, to fancy an accomplishment of the great things hoped for in this day, or to bring about the accomplishment of Gods promises, he that beleeves makes not hast; Behold his soul, that is lifted up, either above the reading of the Vision of God in Christ in his testimony given, for guiding his feet in the way of [Page 14] peace, that he may run with patience the race set before him, as Heb. 12▪ 1, 2. or to imagine and boast of an enjoyment of the Vision, so as by seeing and possessing the great things, the glory in the hope of which we are called by the Gospel, or to put to his hand in striving, and fighting for the hasting or bringing forth of Gods righteousness in the things behind. His soul is not upright in him, but the just shall live by faith.

In all which considerations it appears, they are in this bele [...] ­ving through his name, workers of righteousness, doers of the truth, and therefore truly called, The righteous. As well as also,

2 Because they are herein justified in the sight of God, imputed, accounted, and accepted righteous in that perfect righteousness Christ hath wrought, and is become for them with which faith closeth. By the deeds of the Law shall no man be justified in the sight of God; but now the righteousness of God without the Law is ma­nifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God by faith of Jesus; that is, by the Preaching, or Doctrine of Jesus: So now, manifested unto all, and upon all them that beleeve, unto all by way of redundancy, tender, and manifestation, but upon all that beleeve, even by way of imputati­on of it to them, and acceptation of them in it; so in the next Chapter, God is said to impute righteousness without works unto them, to accept their persons into delightful favour, and fellow­ship, by and in the vertue of that perfect righteousness which they have by faith accepted, and so they are made accepted in the Belo­ved; they are made, or pronounced, and presented good, just, righ­teous in the sight of God, being found in him; and so it is upon all them that beleeve, for there is no difference, for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus. That (vers. 24.) answers to, and shews the reason of both the former branches, (viz.) That the righteousness of God is unto all, and upon all them that beleeve, though all have sinned, &c. and so is to be understood in a two-fold sence▪ 1 The whole Nature is justified in the second man Christ Jesus, that stood for all, to bear their sins, in which all have already sin­ned, and with which the whole Nature is thence polluted, in that he is justified for them from the sins imputed to him in his Resurrection, and this is freely by his grace through the Redemp­tion [Page 15] in Jesus. 2. All that beleeve, every one of them beleeving what he hath done, and is become for sinners, and so through his Name beleeving on him, are in their particular persons justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in him; God accepts them in his Son, and remembers not, nor doth impute to them their former wickedness, or present unprofitableness, but imputeth to them righteousness without works; as in Acts 10. 35. 43. that saying, That in every Nation, he that feareth God, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him, vers. 35. is thus explicated, as fulfilled among those where the Gospel comes, That through his name, whosoever beleeveth on him shall receive the forgiveness of sins, vers. 43. So Acts 13. 39. By him all that beleeve are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the Law of Moses, they are delivered from under the condemnation of the wrath, which in respect of the execution of it is yet to come, under which they all abide, that on hearing beleeve not on the Son of God, 1 Thes. 1. 10. Joh. 3. 18. 36. He justifieth even the ungodly beleeving, and so coming to, and being found in the righteous one, that being justified freely by his grace, they might be more and more made heirs according to the hope of eternal life given us in Christ, that through the righteousness of God, and our Saviour, they might be made to be meet partakers of the inhe­ritance of the Saints in light, Rom. 3. 20-22-24 25, 26. & 4. 3, 4, 5. Tit. 3. 4-7. And so,

3 Therefore also are such beleevers on his name called, The righteous, because the end and fruit of this righteousness of God, and our Saviour, in which beleeving they are accepted, is also, that through the knowledge and faith thereof the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in them, even the righteous affections, and services the Law required, but gave no strength to bring forth, as well as the life and peace it was ordained to, but could not give; that the beleever might bee filled with the fruits of righteousness by Jesus Christ, Rom. 8. 2, 3, 4. Phil. 1. 10, 11. even the fruites of the Spirit, whose evidence and demonstration is of Christ, in his testimony, bringing forth in the beleeving receiver, love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance—And they that are Christs, have in the light and strength of the Lord, cruci­fied the flesh with the affections and lusts, That henceforth they should not serve sin, Rom. 6. Gal. 5. They beleeving with the heart, [Page 16] that God hath raised Christ from the dead, doe through the grace and power of that beleeved, and beleeved in, receive in a first fruits of the Spirit, the end of their faith, even the salvation of their souls, for with the heart man beleeveth unto righteousness in this sence also; Giving all diligence through the knowledge of him, they adde to, or in, their faith vertue; his goodnesse, compassions, holinesse, &c. as manifested in Christ, frames to some likenesse, or conformity to him, in like love, bowels, mercies, holinesse, &c. And so in their vertue they adde, or proceed to further knowledge, tastes, and proof of his graciousnesse, and therein temperance, and so godlinesse, brotherly kindness, charity. Hence it is the Apostles would have these things, namely, the righteousnesse of God, and our Saviour, through which they were made partakers of such precious and operative faith, to bee always bad in remembrance, seeing hereby they were saved, if they kept in memory 1 Cor. 15. 1-4. 2 Pet. 1. 1-12, &c. this word of faith, and so this faith, that is of the operation of God is not without its works. It works through love, as from the consideration of Gods love in Christ, as the foundation and fountaine of it, whence it hath all its fresh Springs, so in a channel of love towards God and man. It favours therefore of ignorance of the righteousness of God, and our Saviour, and of the preciousnesse of this faith of Gods operation through it, when any say to us, That it is not e­nough for us with the heart to beleeve, and close with Gods testi­mony concerning Christ; but we must also look for the work of the Spirit inwardly, to quicken, save, and sanctifie us; such sayings at least signifie, that the work of the Spirit for quickning, saving, and sanctifying the soul, is another thing besides, and divided from this testimony, and not certainly met with in this way of beleeving, and having the heart and minde exercised and stayed on that name, and grace of his beleeved, so that a man may with his heart be­leeve, and confesse, that God hath raised Christ from the dead, and yet not therein experiment the quickning and saving work of the Spirit; contrary to Rom. 10. 9, 10. 1 Cor. 15. and so doe indeed lead beleevers, having begun in the Spirit, to seek to bee made per­fect by the flesh. True it is, a man may say he hath faith, when yet his faith hath no works, nor spirit left in it, only an empty and idle opinionating such a thing, or professing to beleeve it as true, without any hearty mindfulnesse of the importance, or [Page 17] grace of the truth he pretends to cleeve. And of such a faith James saith, Can it save? faith if it have no works is dead; a spiritlesse, and un­profitable thing being alone, yea, even that faith is signified by him, to be nothing else but a dead Carcasse, pretence, outside profession, or shew of that which indeed is not, or not with the heart, not kept in beleeving remembrance and mindfulnesse, for even there he signifies, that if it were unfeigned, or with the heart, according to the discoveries given, lesse or more, it would work savingly, like as the same Propositions beleeved to be true by the Devils, works horror, because they speak as much against them, as they doe for man; even so man, any of mankind beleeving with the heart, it would be unto righteousnesse, Let God bee true, and every man a lyar; if any say, hee stedfastly, and with his heart beleeves the truth, and greatnesse of Gods love to man ward, as manifested in Christ, and yet perceives no such preciousnesse in Christ, and his testimony, as to move him according to his measure, to count all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ; but easily listens to, and admires the pretended excellencies of other spirits, that lift not up the Son of Man according to the Apostles Doctrine, but privily some other thing, or work in his stead, or embraces, and cleaves to the things of this present world, nor is moved with like love and compassion towards men from the grace in Christ beleeved, nor united in heart with them that fear his Name, and call upon him in truth, to know and own them as brethren, and strive together with them for the faith of the Gospel, but hath left his first Love, or else hath not yet so received the love of the truth as to save him; let us not acknowledge his sayings to bee true, that he doth so unfeignedly beleeve the truth as it is in Jesus, for so we shall render God a Lyar, and his Word without effect: but let God be true, and every man a Lyar, for that grace of God that bringeth salvation to all men, teacheth us, That denying ungodlinesse and worldly lusts, we should live righteously, soberly, and godly in this pre­sent world, looking for that blessed hope, and glorious appearing of the migh­ty God, and our Saviour.

Let none of us therefore be moved to mean thoughts of the effi­cacy of the word of faith, because we, or others prove it not, while we think and say we beleeve, that thence we should slight that as vain, and run to some other way to wait for the Spirit, or [Page 18] for perfecting what was begun by the Spirit in the hearing of faith; but let us judge our selves of wavering, unconstancy, or double▪ mindednesse, and of neglect of that so great Salvation, and having itching ears after something sutable to our divers lusts, and let us suffer our hearts by the grace of God, while yet admo­nishing and striving with us, to be more fixed trusting in the Lord, without guile or waveringnesse, seeking righteousnesse in Jesus, through the knowledge and faith of him, through which he gives all things pertaining to life and godlinesse, Let us give more earnest heed to the things we have heard, in the word of the truth of the Gospel, least at any time we let them slip. Consider that love of God to man­ward appearing in and through Christ saved the Apostles, and so, and therein they had the washing of regeneration, and the renew­ing of the Holy Ghost shed on them abundantly through Jesus Christ, and that Gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvati­on to every one that beleeveth, for therein is the righteousnesse of God revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

And to this answers the other descriptions of the righteous ones in this text; They are merciful men, or men of kindnesse, or god­linesse. Men filled and seasoned, with the apprehension and per­swasion of the mercies, compassions, and kindnesse of God to sin­ners, to the unkind, and evil, and of that as discovered in the face of Christ, where he is to be truly known and worshipped. And so of his good will in Christ, begotten through the word of truth, to their faith and hope in him, and joy in hope of the glory to bee revealed, and patience in tribulations, and thence moved and fil­led with bowels and mercies, compassions; and kindnesse, answe­rable to that they beleeve, and perceive to be in God towards o­thers, even towards all in blindnesse and distresse, yea to the un­kind and evil, the love of Christ constraining them, to perswade them to be reconciled to God in Christ, and to seek [...]heir good by all means within their capacity, and with all earnestnesse, knowing also the [...]errour of the Lord; because they thus judge, That if one dyed for all, then were all dead, and that be dyed for all, that they which live should not henceforth live to themselves, but to him this dyed for them, and rose again; yea hence also they are filled with de­lightful love of, and desire of fellowship with those that call on the [Page 19] name of the Lord out of a pure heart, and with bowels of mer­cies, humblenesse of mind, meeknesse, and goodnesseone towards another, and towards all men, answerable to the kindnesse and mercies of God in Christ.

And so, if we read it, men of godlinesse, it will come to the same, for they are the right and true worshippers of God, who worship the Father in spirit and truth, and such the Father seeks to worship him; they worship, adore, honour, magnifie, beleeve, and trust in him, in the Spirit, that is, in the light and power of, and according to the testimony of Jesus, and of Gods glory, as shined in his face; which testimony the Holy Ghost hath given, and in it, his evidence, and demonstration of Christ, and of the Father, is. And therefore when we are called upon to godlinesse, or to wor­ship God, that testimony of Jesus is said to be the spirit of Pro­phecy, in, and according to which we are to worship, Rev. 19. 10. and so they in that light and strength of the Spirit have their re­joycing in Christ Jesus [The truth] And have no confidence in the flesh, Joh. 4. 23, 24. & 5. 23, 24. Phil. 3. 3. and in this true wor­ship and fear of the Lord, they are made partakers of the Divine Nature, in interest in it, union, or fellowship with it, conforming to it, so as by Christ through faith, so as thereby they goe on pur­ging themselves from all filthinesse of flesh, and spirit, perfe­cting holinesse in the fear of the Lord, 2 Corinth. 6. 16-18. & 7. 1. purifying their hearts through beleef of the truth, and retaining the hope of it in them to unfeigned love of the brethren, and to more freedome from the intanglements, and cares of this world, as those that are pressing after the mark of the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, which pure religion, and un­defiled, brings forth its fruit, in their visiting the Sick, the Wid­dows, and fatherlesse in their affliction, and keeping themselves unspotted in the world; so as they walking in the Spirit (though they have flesh warring in them) are by the light and power of the Spirit in the testimony of Jesus, kept from fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, and so preserved blamelesse unto the day of Christ, Rom. [...]. & 8. 1-13. Gal. 5.

And to this agrees that two-fold description of the Persons that shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, and stand in his holy place, Psal. 24. 3, 4, 6. The first is, He that hath clean hands, and a pure [Page 20] hears, that hath not lift up his soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully, for though there is none righteous, no not one, but all have sinned, and are wholly polluted, and unclean, yet this truth remains for ever, Without holiness no man shall see the Lord; so that if there be not some way in which men may be made again the righteousness of God, and made partaker of his holiness, they must all bee shut out for ever from God, under the curse of the Law; but God hath made his Son that knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him; and according to that rule the sixth verse of that Psalme gives us the next, and fundamental description of the sub­jects of the glorious priviledge fore-mentioned, or rather the de­scription of those Persons, in whom the truth of the former de­scription is found, and so an answer to the question, Who are the righteous? This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face O Jacob, or, O God of Jacob; that seek the Lord for righteous­nesse and strength, that through his Name beleeving in him, seek righteousnesse by faith in Jesus, as Isa. 55. 3, 4, 5, 6. & 45. 22▪ 24, 25. Rom. 9. 30. and as before is shewed by the Scriptures, On them comes that blessednesse of Gods not imputing former iniquities, but imputing righteousnesse without works, Rom. 3. 25, 26. & 4. 3▪ 6. yea they through the understanding and faith of Jesus, have their hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience, and their whole man in all their actings, and conversation, therein continually washed with that pure water of the love of God, through the blond of Christ shed abroad in their heart, Heb. 10. 19-22. 1 Pet. 1. 18-22. that in the issue they may be presented without spot, or wrinckle, or any such thing, Ephes. 5. 26, 27. Col. 1. 21, 22, 23.

And truly this large description, and explication of the righte­ous, and merciful men, or men of kindness, and godliness, gives us a true character of him, whose being taken from us, occasioned this Discourse.

We come in the next place to consider.

2 In what sence they may be said to perish, and when they so doe. Here give me leave for our instruction and encouragement, First, to propound to consideration, in what sence they perish not; in respect of themselves, or as with reference to their hope to­wards God; They perish not, they for their parts are not driven a­way, or cut off from God, or from their hope in death; the wicked dying [Page 21] in his sins, even in his stubborn refusall of him that came to save him from his sins, and so out of Christ, he is therein driven away in his wickedness, cut off, and shut out from God, and from the hope of a better life, and from all opportunities of ever being made partaker of that hope; doth not their excellency which is in them, even their hope goe away, and perish with them? They dye with­out wisdome; But the righteous hath hope in his death; hee retaines, or holds his hope and joy even in death, yea then goes to a more full enjoyment of it, Prov. 14. 32. Whence our Saviour saith, If a man keep my sayings, he shall never see death; hee shall never dye, in the full, and proper sence of the word, he shall not in, or by death be separated, or cut off from God, or from his hope and portion in him, Joh. 8. 51. & 11. 26. but from thenceforth shall be more especially blessed in, and with his presence, and with more immediate, and uninterrupted fellowship with him in spirit, even while out of the body, and while that sleeps in the dust; whence the Apostle desired, in respect of himself, much rather to depart out of the body, out of the flesh, that he might enjoy that more immediate, and free presence of, & fellowship with Christ, which to him would be farre better, 2 Cor. 5. 1-6-8. Phil. 1. 20. 23. neither are their bodies though resting in Death, and so sleep­ing in the dust of the earth, lost, cut off, or perished, as indeed they should be if there were no Resurrection of the Dead, as the Apostle reasons, 1 Cor. 15. 18, &c.

If Christ be not raised, and so, If the dead rise not, then those which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished; If in this life only we had hope in Christ, we were of all men most miserable; then indeed there had been some ground for, and truth in their saying, Ezek. 37. 11. Be­holdour bones are dryed, our hope is lost, and we are cut off for our parts; for even those that having seen those great and precious promises afarre off, which were before confirmed of God in Christ, and were perswaded of them: and embraced them, yet dyed, not having received them. But what saith the answer of God to them, vers. 12. Behold O my people, I will open your Graves, and cause you to come up out of your Graves, and bring you into the Land of Israel, &c. And now also for the confir­mation of our faith, the ground of it is actually come forth and manifested, Christ is risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that sleep, for since by man, even by the offence and disobedience [Page 22] of one man, sin, and so death by sin, the first death reigneth on all men, and so it is appointed to the whole kind once to dye, though all shall not sleep, or rest in death, some of this Body of righteous ones, shall survive at the Personal appearance of Christ in his glory, and they shall immediately, and on a sudden bee changed, and passe through death, yet so as therein they shall dye, though not sleep, or rest in death; Death is passed on all in the ordinance and ap­pointment of God, by reason of the Sin entring by one man, even so by man (viz.) by the obedience and righteousness of one man, Jesus Christ, in which the transgression of the first one man, in which all have sinned, and the sin and sinfulness thence entring in­to, and over-spreading the whole Nature, is so finished, and made an end of in the Court of Heaven, or purged, and put away from before the Father, that no man shall eternally perish, or bee sepa­rated from God in it; nor are they left under the power of that Judgement of Banishment, the curse of the Law; but all Judge­ment committed to the Son, and he impowred to execute Judge­ment also, because he is the Son of Man; by him is the Assurance and certainty of the Resurrection of the dead, For as in Adam all dye, even in the influence & demerit, as the fruit of his transgression; even so in Christ, in the merit, influence and vertue, and as the fruit of his Righteousness shall all be made alive; raised out of the first Death, that they may all appear before his Judgement Seat, to be judged according to the rule of his Gospel; all shall bee raised by him, but every man in his own order. Christ the first fruits being al­ready raised from the dead, afterwards, namely, immediately at the time of his second Personal coming, those that are his pecu­liar ones, the righteous Nation that keepeth the truth, those in whose heart the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, (in that evidence, and demonstration of him in his testimony) dwells, to the quickning their spirits now, or making them a­live to God, while yet the body is dead because of sin, shall then have their mortal bodies quickned, even raised from the dead by the same spirit that now dwells in them; and shall then, in their souls, and bodies reunited in that blessed and glorious Resurrecti­on of the Just, enter together with him into the everlasting pos­session of the joy and glory of their Lord. And this is that which is called, The first Resurrection, Rev. 20. 4 - 6. Thess. 4. 16. the [Page 23] test of the Dead, John in that Vision of things to come, saw, lived not again till the thousand years of Christs Personal Reign on earth, with the children of the first Resurrection were finished.

In which time there shall be new Heaven, and new Earth, and the new Jerusalem come down from God out of Heaven, and all things made new, and a perfectly righteous and glorious Kingdome and Government, Revel. 21. 1 - 7. Isa. 65. 16 - 19. & 66. 22. & 11. & 32. 1 - 5. Psal. 72. And the Lord shall be one, and his name one throughout all the earth, Zach. 14. 9. And the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the Sea, Hab. 2. 14. And there shall be great and wonderful Conversions, and daily flocking in with joy, as Doves to their windows, to the Name of the Lord in Jerusalem, of the Nations of them that are saved from the former desolating Judgements and Consumptions, among which also the natural Israelites then surviving shall be chief, to fill the face of the world with fruit againe, and to be Subjects of this glorious King­dome (for all the children of the first Resurrection of Jews and Gentiles shall be Reigners) And to walk in the light of the new Jerusalem, They shall flow together to the name of the Lord in Sion, Isa. 2. Mich. 4. Isa. 9. 4, 5, 6, & 24. 13, 14. & 66. 19. &c. Zach. 2. 11. & 8. 22. & 16. Rev. 21. 24. Psal. 102. and though there shall bee no more Death, nor fruits of Sin in the New Jerusalem, or upon the Children of the Resurrection, Revel. 21. 3, 4. no nor Night, nor need of the Sun or M [...]on to that City, when yet the glory and brightness of them (in that restitution of all things) shall be se­ven fold to what it is, and so useful in and so all the world be­sides, the subjects of this glorious Kingdome, Isa. 30. 26. & 60. 19, &c. Rev. 21. 22, 23, 25. Neither shall there be any more wars, or tumults among the Nations one against another in the time of that glorious Kingdom, Isa. 2▪ 4. nor shall there be that heavie Bon­dage of corruption remaining on the Creature, or enmity be­tweene them that is now, Isa. 11. Rom. 8. 19. 25. Acts 3. 20, 21. and so none of those poysonous Infections, or unnatural Diseases, or untimely Deaths, that now are common to man, shall be then common to any, or accidentally, or casually befall them; yet as there shall be extraordinary and immediate Judgements from God then falling on those Nations, Families, and Persons that will not voluntarily serve under this Government, and come up to worship [Page 24] the Name of the Lord in Jerusalem, even to the cutting them off, Isa. 60. 12. Zach. 14. 16 - 19. even so there may, yea there must needs bee some remainders of mortality, and the Natural death generally on the people, the Subjects of this glorious King­dome, the people that shall then be left of the Nations, and that shall then be created, or born to praise the Lord, who yet have not passed through that change. According to Gods appointment, All must once dye, amongst which some will bee found even then dying in their sins, not coming up to worship the Lord, and his Name in Sion at Jerusalem (in Christ, and the children of the Resurrecti­on) as proclaimed and shining forth from that great City, that shal be the glory of all Lands; and others dying in the Lord (as Isa. 65. 16, 17 - 20. of which happily some may immediately be chan­ged, and fashioned into the likenesse of his glorious Body; but some even of them shall stay, or rest in death until that great and general Resurrection that shall be after the finishing of that thou­sand years, for in that Resurrection it is evidently signified, that there shall be some found written in the Book of Life, Revel. 20▪ 12 - 15. and they must needs be of them that lived, and dyed in the time of that thousand years, or were immediately changed in the finishing of the same; for all that slept in Christ before that day of Christs appearing in his glory, and the survivers of that body then were brought together with him, to the inheriting & reigning in that glorious Kingdome. Then after that cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the Kingdome to God, even the Father, when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority, and power, for be must reign in this Media­torial, and Davidical Kingdom, till he have put all his enemies under his feet, the last enemy that shall be destroyed is Death, which though perfectly destroyed in the children of the first Resurrection, in the beginning of that glorious day, even immediately on his descen­ding, or coming down from Heaven, yet not wholly destroyed from being an enemy, while it holds the wicked from their ever­lasting punishment, and vengeance, in which God shall be glori­fied, and the righteous shall glory for ever; and while also it de­tains some of those worshippers of him, whose names (as such) are written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, even such of them as dyed in that time of his reign on the earth, from the possession of their utmost happinesse.

[Page 25]Therefore in the conclusion of that day of his Reign, or of that manner of Administration of the Kingdome (for the Kingdome, and the glory of it is everlasting, and never shall have end) all the rest of the dead, small and great shall be raised by him out of their Graves, and from the disappearing state of Death, and shall appear before his Judgement Seat. This is the second, and last Resurre­ction, Revel. 20.

So that there shall be a general Resurrection of the just, and un­just, which in both parts our Saviour distinguisheth from that first fruites of quickning of the spirit, from that death in sins and trespasses, which is now effected by the light and power of the Gospel in them that in hearing hear, of which work of Spiritual quickning now, having spoken in Job. 5. 25. hee adds vers. 28. Marvel not at this (as who should say, that which I shall now tell you of is not only another, but a greater work, and so a greater and more glorious evidence of the vertue and power of the voyce of the Son of Man) for the hour is coming (he saith not and now is, as of the former work, vers. 25. in which leaving out that Clause here, having added it to the former, he fully signifies that it is not now; and yet here he speaks of the whole and general Resurre­ction of the Dead in both the parts, first and second) in which, all that are in the Graves (or in the disappearing state of death) shall hear the voyce of the Son of Man (in an immediate, wonderful, and mighty putting forth of it) and shall come forth, they that have done good, to the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, to the resur­rection of Damnation.

And of this Resurrection in both parts (and at both times as in the other Scriptures) Christ is in the Name of the Father the only foundation, and Author, even as the Son of Man; for had he not dyed, rose, and revived for them all, and therein by himself pur­ged our sin: in which we had all sinned, and were become sinful, and dead, he could not have been our Lord, and Judge, according to the rule of the Gospel, Rom. 14. 9. Joh. 5. 22 - 27. nor could any have been raised from the first Death, and brought before his Judgement Seat by him, if he had not by the grace of God tasted Death for them. Therefore with respect to that general Resurre­ction at the last Day, confessed by Martha, Joh. 11. our Saviour saith, I am the resurrection, vers. 25. The Foundation and Author of [Page 26] that general Resurrection in the last day, both of just and unjust; and so he is the life from the dead, that eternal life which was with the Father for men, and is now manifested, that it may bee known and enjoyed; he is the Author, Fountain, and in a sence, the matter of it, as delivered to Death for our offences, and raised again for our Justification; therefore, whosoever beleeveth in him, though he were dead, yea though they dye in common with others, yet shall he live, and he that liveth and beleeveth on him shall never dye, (as before said, in the full and proper sence of the word) the first Death being abolished, and they by him delivered from that wrath, which in respect of the execution of it, is yet to come on them that know not God, nor obey to his Gospel; they are not cut off from him, or from their hope in death, as others are, yea he being the Resurrection, they his peculiar Treasure, must needs have the firstnesse, and blessedness of that, yea they in having him by faith in his name (as Joh. 1. 12. Ephes. 3. 17. 1 Joh. 5. 10-12, 13.) have part in the first resurrection in the knowledge, faith, and hope of it in him; and the righteousnesse of God, and our Saviour, is ingaged for the making them partakers of it actually in themselves, in the accomplishing it upon them together in his time, for which they are all waiters till that Personal appearance of the Lord in his glory, which hee now being raised from the dead actually possesseth, and holdeth for them in Heaven with the Father, and so is to, and in them, by faith, the hope of it; which hope they having in him, it makes them confident, and patient in waiting for the enjoyment of it, Rom. 8. 23, 24, 25. 2 Cor. 4, 13. & 5. 1. 6, 7. Heb. 6. 19, 20.

So that they perish not, nor are at all cut off from their blessed­nesse by death, but from henceforth more blessed, and sealed up to the full enjoyment of that blessednesse, and holinesse with him for ever, even the periect blosting our, and delivering them from all their transgressions, and the fruits of them, and the making them perfectly like him in holinesse, and glory in soul and body for ever, in that time and state of the first resurrection, in which they shall be perfectly delivered from the first Death, to the full enjoyment and possession of everlasting life; in the knowledge, faith, and hope of which, their spirits now are made alive, or in part quickned from that Death in sins and trespasses (which i [...] [Page 27] but a part of that first Death that passed on all men at first by Sin, while yet their bodies are dead because of sin, which also in that day of Christ shall be raised up together by him, and the second Death shall have no power on them; his testimony having been beleeved by them in their day, and through it they being found in him, shall not be found naked to the second Death, and if not to that, then to no following death or misery for ever; for we read, or hear of no third Death, unless in some unlearned distinctions, not found or known in the Scriptures, which distinctions doe ren­der the Natural and Bodily death, in which it is appointed to men once to dye, to be the second Death, whereas indeed it is but the finishing of the first Death on the Body, or its full seizure on it, and that which the Holy Ghost calls the Second Death, they call the Third; in which rendering the Natural Death of the bo­dy to be the Second Death. They intimately deny the Resurre­ction of the body from that Death; for Scripture informeth us, that out of the Second Death there is no resurrection or redemption, and doe therein render that which they call the third Death, to have no terrour, torment, or punishment in it to be felt, and sustained by the body (for that can be capable of no such thing if it never be raised) but at most by the Spirit only, without the Body, in which the evil deeds were done; and so this distinction renders that which Scripture knows by no other name but The Second Death (though by them called the Third) to be much easier than the First, for that did seize, not on the spirit or soul only, but on the body also. But the Scripture every where represents it infinite­ly worse, and more dreadful in every consideration, and to be suf­fered for ever in soul and body together, when the body shall bee raised from the first death in that resurrection of Damnation, in which it shall be rendered capable of suffering everlasting and un­speakable vengeance and torment, according to the infinite grace now abused by them, for according to his fear, or grace, and name in Christ, that he might be feared by men now, such his wrath and terrour then against his enemies, Psal. 90. 11. 2 Cor. 5. 10, 11. 14, 15. 20, 21. Heb. 2. 1-4. and who then can comprehend the greatness and power of it, when though they shall suffer the ut­most horrour, anguish, and torment that an utter separation from God, and wrath deserved, by treading under foot his Son, cou [...] ­ing [Page 28] his Bloud an unholy thing, and in all this, offering despite to his Spirit, being poured out to the utmost, may occasion to them, yet nothing shall make either soul or body cease to be, or be sepa­rated any more as they were in the first Death, that there should e­ver be any release, abatement, or intermission in the whole, or in part, of that weeping, wayling, and gnashing of teeth world with­out end; yea their worm dyeth not, and their fire is not quench­ed, nor is there any darkness, or shadow of death, in which the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. O then it will appear, that Blessed are all they that trust in him; yea therefore from hence­forth, Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord, they having part in the first Resurrection, this second Death shall have no power on them.

On the other hand, they that in death, which terminates the gathering time and space of repentance, are found out of the Lord, dying in their sins, they are then, and thence for ever blot­ted out of the Book of Life, cut off from all hopes of ever at­taining, or having part in the first Resurrection; though they shall be all of them raised, and made alive from the first death, and then, and therein brought to the clear sight, and acknowledge­ment of the truth of the grace of God in the Lordship of Christ, through his death, sometimes, and while it was due time bring­ing Salvation to them; that which here they wilfully rejected when light came to them, and which if it had been now received in its own light and power bringing Salvation, would have been to their everlasting comfort, in the quickning them to a new and living hope through the resurrection of Christ; they shall then confess to the glory of God, and clearing his Justice, in judging them for ever according to the rule of his Gospel to a second and never dying death, infinitely worse than the first, and in sealing them up in Prison from the time of their filling up the measure of their sin of that nature, which is at the utmost, at the time of the end of their Natural life, when he hath done striving with them, and waiting to be gracious, I say, in his sealing them up in prison from such time to that dreadful Judgement, Isa. 45. 23. Phil. 2. 10, 11. Rom. 3. 4.

From which time they are shut up under the sentence and con­demnation of that second Death, and so in respect of their state [Page 29] and condition, are from thence Trees twice dead, pluckt up by the roots, though the wrath, in respect of the full and most dreadful execution of it, on soul and body for ever, is yet to come, so that in death they perish for ever from the presence of the Lord, and from his favour, in which is life; the wicked is driven away in his wickedness, but the righteous hath hope in his death.

So then, they that are fallen asleep in Christ are not perished, or cut off for their parts, no not from their union with Christ, by vertue of which, even their bodies that sleep in the dust shall bee first raised even to the resurrection of life, yea they are from hence­forth and more then ever blessed, the day of their death infinitely better to them, than the day that they were born. We come next to consider, in what sence such persons may be said to perish, and when they so doe; and this we shall finde explicated to us in the other expressions of this chastisement in this verse, as compared with other Scriptures, they are said to perish from the earth, to cease, and fail from among men that yet survive, when by Death they are taken away from them, they having no more a portion in any thing done under the Sun, nor capacity of being helpful to the survivers in any knowledge, wisdome, or work, for in death there is no remembrance or commemoration of him among the survivers; in the Grave who shall give him thanks, or praise him to others, yet living, or shew forth their hoping in his truth; The living, the living he shall praise thee (saith Hezekiah) as I doe this day, the Fathers to the Children shall make known thy truth; which expli­cates in what sence the dead praise him not, nor hope for his truth, that is, they celebrate not his praises among the survivors, nor are capable of exercising or shewing forth their hoping in his truth to them-ward, or among them, they cannot make known his truth to them, and so not praise him as he did then, the Fathers to the Chil­dren, Eccl. 9. 10. Psa. 6. 5. Isa. 38. 18, 19. for otherwise in respect of themselves, and to Godward, the dead in Christ even in these re­spects doe live, they retain their hope in death, and joy in it; yea they enter into a more full and peaceable enjoyment of it in spirit, their spirits are made perfect, each one walking in his upright­ness, and are still confidently expecting, longing, and waiting for that day of full Redemption, even the redemption of their body, and the judging and revenging their sufferings and wrongs on [Page 30] them that dwell on the earth, crying, Lord, how long, Prov. 14. 32. Isa. 57. 2. Heb. 12. 23. Revel. 6. 9, 10, 11. They are with Christ, which to them is farre better, as is shewed before; but they are dead to us, and can no longer in their persons be profitable to us, which made the Apostles and Prophets in their longing desire of the good of all, and for the furtherance of the Gospel among men, and that the truth of it might remain with those that had re­ceived it, so much desire to abide with them, even to abide in the flesh in this body, though so much to their own disadvantage, preferring others good before their own; in death they perish, cease, and depart from us, and are out of capacity of being helpful to us.

And yet further, These Scriptures; The Righteous perisheth, the good man is perished out of the Earth, and so the cause of grief here la­mented, is not verified simply in the taking away one, or diverse of the Righteous by death; but when also they are taken away as such a time, and in such manner, as that there is none of like faith­fulnesse to God, and kindnesse to men left in the place, or places where they lived, to survive them, or at least none in their room, or stead: But that if one or more of them be taken away, there is so many the lesse of that Generation, or Righteous Nation that keepeth the Truth, left in the midst of the crooked, and perverse Nation, to shine as lights in the world: Most sadly and fully is it verified, when there is none left in the place, or places, whence they are taken; and thus is this matter of lamentation explicated in the expressions of it in other Scriptures, as Psal, 12. 1. Help Lord, for the godly man ceaseth, the faithful fail from among the children of men; so Micah 7. 1, 2. Woe is mee, for I am as when they have ga­thered the Summer fruits, as the Grape gleanings of the Vintage, no cluster, &c. The good man is perished out of the Earth, and there is none up­right among men: Oh that the matter of this sad complaint were not too sadly verified amongst us, and in this place at this time. These things being thus opened, wee shall briefly demonstrate and explicate the position. That the perishing of the Righteous, the taking away of men of kindnesse, and godlinesse, is a sad cor­rection to the survivers, which God would have laid to heart by them. For proof of this

There needs no more, than the Scriptures already cited, where [Page 31] we see that the servants of God take it as a heavy chastisement, wo and misery to themselves, the taking away of such faithful labourers, and fellow-helpers with them, as were instruments of drawing others in, and gathering them together in clusters, to the acknowledgement, and seeking of the name of God in Christ; and strivers together with them, for the faith of the Gospel, and so helpers of their faith, and joy. So the Apostle Paul writing to the Philippians concerning Epaphroditus (his brother and compani­on in labours, and fellow-souldier; and their messenger) That hee had been sick, nigh unto death, saith, that God had mercy on him, the Apostle Paul, in restoring the said Epaphroditus again, lest hee should have sorrow upon sorrow, where he plainly signifies, that it would have been a very great chastisement, and occasion of grief and sorrow to him; if Epaphroditus had then been taken away. And how much more heavy is the correction, or judgement, to those societies, or companies of people to whom they were more parti­cularly messengers, and set as guides to go before them in the word of the Lord; and so to the people generally among whom they lived. It is mentioned as a heavy judgement on the Nation, and people of Israel, wee see not our signes, there is no more any Pro­phet, neither is there among us any that knoweth, how long, Psa. 74. 9. and so threatned, Ezek. 33. That he would lay the land most desolate, even the Mountains of Israel, so as when it should come to passe, they should know that a Prophet had been among them (verses 28, 29, 33.) Intimating, they should then know, by their being de­prived of him, and so know what their mercy was they sleighted, by the want of it. And truly it must needs bee a heavy correction and judgement to that place, or people, from amongst whom the Righteous so perish, or f [...] from the earth, and from among the children of men. For these reasons,

1 They are set in the world, and preserved in it, and from the evil of it while they are continued in it, for the good of the world, even of all men among whom they live, yea their Perse­cutors to be as Instruments in Gods hand, for the opening their eyes, and turning them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God; They are the salt of the earth, the light of the world, a chosen Generation, that they should shew forth the praises of him that hath called them out of darknesse into his marvellous light, and shine as [Page 32] lights in the world, by holding forth the word of life in word and conver­sation, Joh. 17. 15-18. 23. Acts 26. 17, 18. Matth. 5. 13-16. 1 Pet. 2. 9, 10, &c. Phil. 2. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Yea,

2 Their being so preserved in the world, not taken out of it, that is, not so taken out, but that there may bee a Generation of them continued successively, and they in their several Ages preser­ved, and kept from the evil of the world to the end fore-mentio­ned, it is one of the maine things for which Jesus Christ appears in the presence of God, making intercession for the good of Trans­gressors; therefore while any of them are graciously preserved a­mong any people, it is an evidence of the powerful mediation of Christ (whom the Father hears in all his Petitions) yet continued and graciously exercised for that people, as Joh. 17. 15-23. Whence the Apostle exhorts, not to receive this grace of God in vain, because God saith, In an accepted time I have heard thee, that is, Christ making intercession for them, in a day of salvation I have helped thee: which he doth, in helping, supporting, and preserving his Servants, to hold forth the Word of Life among others in word and conversation; Behold, this is the accepted time, this is the day of Salvation, namely, while they the Ambassadors for Christ, were instructing, exhorting, beseeching, reproving, &c. while their mouth was open, their heart enlarged, &c. 2 Cor. 6. 1, 2, 11. with Chap. 5. 20.

These considerations demonstrate, the Righteous perishing and failing from among a people, to bee a heavy correction and judge­ment, even of this nature.

1 Such as in which God taketh, or is taking away their Candlestick out of his place, where he had set and preserved it to give light to others, as Rev. 2. Yea

2 Such as in which the good man of the house appears as risen, or rising up out of his place of mercy, and forbearance, in which hee hath been long holding open the door of life; now to shut it against such a people for ever, if they speedily repent not. Such it is, as in which there is an appearance of the end, or nigh approach­ing of the end of his time, in which hee is pleading with the Fa­ther for sparing, or letting the fruitlesse Fig-tree alone, that hee may yet digge about it, and dung it; according to that, Luk. 13. 6, 7, 8, 9. like that, Isa. 5. A judgement of a far higher nature, [Page 33] than a famine of Bread, Amos 8. 11, 12. These are such provi­dences, as in which in some measure God is declaring men repro­bate silver, on whom the bellows is burnt, the lead consumed, the founder melteth in vain, and therefore fit to bee left as Re­fuse, and no more pains to be taken with them.

Vse. The Position thus opened, let it admonish us to consider and lay to heart even this sad providence before it be too late, be­fore the Decree bring forth, and we be as chaffe that passeth, &c▪ Jeremy in his Lamentation, on such an occasion, teacheth us to make this use of such Providences, viz. To search and try our waies, and turn to the Lord, Lam. 3. 39, 40. If when his hand is lifted up, and his Judgements begin sadly to be powred out upon us, we yet learn righteousness, he will yet bee gracious, and in the midst of wrath remember mercy; let us then be so wise as to hear the Rod, and who hath apponted it▪ consider the meaning of the Voyce; and that we may understand it, let us consult with the Scriptures, what manner of iniquities are usually punished with such Judge­ments.

We shall finde one great Head of Iniquity that is found in many Branches▪ and in divers branches of it, to have been punished with such Judgements, is, The not discerning the Lords Body; for this cause, saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 11. 30. not only many are weak, and sickly, but also many sleep; which though a mercy to them that sleep in Jesus, to be so taken away from the evil, yet a Judgement to the survivers procured to themselves, by their not discerning the Lords Body.

The Lord▪ Body is first and primely his Personal Body, and of that he was speaking immediately before, ver. 27. yea the com­memoration of that as broken for us, and the infinite grace and ver­tue of the sufferings sustained therein, is the subject matter of his Discourse there.

The Lords Body in a secondary sence is, his Mystical Body, his Church, those that through the tastes of his graciousness are built upon him, in whom the poor and rich, bond and free, Brother of high degree, and of low, do meet together, they being all in coming to him through the tastes of his grace, and so in being baptized into him, baptized into one Body, and made to drink into one spirit.

[Page 34]Now that not discerning, perceiving, considering, knowing, or owning the Lords Body, that the Holy Ghost charges upon men as their sin, and God judges them for, is not such weakness, or igno­rance, as is of necessity through natural frailty, or for want of means and discoveries vouchsafed, but a wilful and rebellious, not knowing, discerning, or taking notice of it, in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit in the testimony of Jesus, setting it before them, and therein opening the eyes, and lifting up the yoke of Natural thraldome, Hos. 11. This is the condemnation, that when light comes, men love darkness rather, because their deeds are evil, and re­proved by the light, Joh. 3. 19. And so when the righteous, the true worshippers of God in Christ, that are set as Lights in the world, holding forth the word of Life in the demonstration of the Spirit, and with power are lifting up the Son of Man in what hee hath done, and is become for sinners; and the infinite vertue and grace of his Personal sufferings, and Sacrifice, and therein shewing forth his vertues and praises, and so in both preaching not themselves, but Jesus Christ the Lord, and rendring themselves servants to all for his sake, beseeching, alluring, and drawing them in the light and power of his Spirit with them (as Hos. 11. Zach. 7. 9 - 12, 13. 2 Cor. 5. 14 - 20. Phil. 2. 12 - 16. 1 Pet. 2. 9 - 13, &c.) even to the most High to consider the Lords Body, and in the grace and power of its vertue and demonstrations to bee reconciled to God; yet none at all will exalt him, but are bent to back-slidings, when so called, allured, drawn, and wrought upon; they will not know, nor regard the Work of the Lord, or the operation of his hands, but despise both him and them for his sake, neglecting so great Salvation.

This iniquity is found in many Branches, as we shall see in this, and the other Scriptures, where these Judgements are bewayled, and the reason of them given; As,

1 When by the righteous and merciful men, the large extent of the infinite grace and vertue of the Lords Death is so commended, and lifted up, that the Lords House, his Temple, where he may bee worshipped, and place of entertainment in his Son, and with them that call upon him in truth, is presented as a house of Prayer for all people, where a rich Feast, and Treasury of all things pertai­ning to life and godliness is prepared, and set on the Table for [Page 35] them all, that all through his grace might come in thither, and eate of his Bread, and drink of the Wine that hee hath mingled, and that whosoever comes by him in the light and power of his drawings, while his grace is bringing Salvation to them, as it doth to all in due time, might be accepted; and therefore graciously in­viting them all, as in the Chapters before the text, Isa. 55. 1 - 7. & 56. 7, 8. with Prov. 9. Mat. 22. 1 Tim. 2. 1 - 8. Ioh. 3. 14, 15, 16. 2 Cor. 5. 14, 15 - 19, 20, 21. & 6. 1, 2.

Yet men not only set light by it, neglect so great Salvation, make excuses, and will not come, but also wilfully close their eyes, and harden their hearts against this grace of God that brings Salvation to all men; and also like the Beasts of the Field come to devour, forbidding the plaine and faithful preaching of the Gospel of Christ to the world, that through him they might bee saved. In which they please not God, and are contrary to the good of all men, and persisting in this wilful opposition of the grace of God in the Lords Death to all men, they fill up the measure of their sin, till wrath come upon them to the utmost, 1 Thess. 2. 15, 16.

And in this way of iniquity are found chiefly, and as Ring-lea­ders, the Generality of the Watch-men, the Masters, Teachers, and builders that are approved by, and of high account with men, they come chiefly under this charge in the Chapter before the text, Isa. 56. 9, 10, &c. His Watch-men, (the Watchmen of their owne setting up and approving) are blinde, and ignorant, not having learned truth as in Jesus, but professing to be wise in Sci­ence falsly so called, and thinking thereby to comprehend the things of God in Christ, have erred from the faith, and turned a­side to vaine jangling, the generality of them have in all Ages re­fused, and set at nought that Stone which God hath made, the foundation and head of the corner, Psal. 118. 22. Matth. 21. 42. with Chap. 22. 1 - 15. Joh. 3. 10. 14 - 15, &c. Acts 4. 11, 12. Job. 7. 48, 49. And where any of them doe see any truth in that Doctrine, that exalts, or lifts up the Son of Man, and Gods glory in him, yet they are dumb, and will not confess it, as Joh. 12. 42, 43. Among the chief Rulers also many beleeved on him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, least they should bee put out of the Sinagogue, for they loved the praise of men more then the praise of God; [Page 36] yea they generally love to flumber, are loath to be stirred up, and awakened, to consider and set their hearts to that which might bee for their owne and others good, but lying down to sleep, doe re­ject, and stop their ears against that knowledge of him that comes to awaken them to righteousness, and discovers the falseness and vanity of their Dreams. See further what follows of them, in that Isa. 56. with 1 Tim. 3 - 5.

2 Another sort there are, that doe not so much, or directly set themselves to oppose the Doctrine of the Grace of God in Christ, or the preaching thereof, yet will not diligently mind or consider it, or the weight, importance, tendency, and instructions of it, but doe inwardly shun the light and power of it, and harden their hearts against the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit in it, because it discovers and reproves their deeds as evil, not suffering grace to make them willing in the day of his Power, so to receive the love of the Truth as that they might be saved by it, doe wilful­ly reject, and harden their hearts against the reproofs of the in­struction of the Lords Voyce crying unto them, discovering, and reproving their Covetousness, Oppression, In-justice, Violence, least they should be converted and healed by it. And in this are found chiefly the generality of the rich men, and Rulers of the peo­ple; see at large Micha 6. declaring the procuring cause of that Judgement, of the good man perishing out of the earth, such they were, as that the good man being perished, or taken away from a­mong them, the best of them was a Bryar, and the most upright as a Thorn-hedge, see Chap. 7. 3. 4, 5. yea in Ezekiels time, many of them did shew much love and respect to the Prophet while hee was among them, and he was to them as a pleasant Song, yet they would not regard his words to doe them▪ or to suffer their sa­ving operation in them, for their heart went after their covetousnes, and that is there given as the reason of the Judgement threatned, in which they should know, that a Prophet had been among them, Ezek. 33. 30 - 33.

3 Others there are, that through the knowledge of God in Christ have made some escape from them that live in errour, and from the pollutions that are in the world through Lust, and some of them have stood against many strong temptations, and have tried those that say they are Apostles, and are not, and found them [Page 37] Lyars, and yet after all this, turn again with the Dogge to his vomit, and with the Sow to her wallowing in the mire, leaving their first love to that person, and to the excellent knowledge of him. Some with a more high hand then others, turn from the holy Commande­ment after knowledge of the truth received, and turning away their ears from the truth, are turned aside to Fables, even to such damnable Heresies, as in which privily under pretence of magnify­ing him, the Lord that bought them is denied by them; others cleaving to, and embracing this present world, not continuing in, but forsaking the Apostles Doctrine, and Fellowship, not dis­cerning, or considering, and remembring the excellency, grace, and vertue of the Lords Body that was broken for us; and for such like iniquity God threatens the removing of their Candlestick, Revel. 2. 1 - 5.

Now if yet we would judge our selves, we should not be further judged of the Lord, if when his hand is lifted up even to destroy, and make an utter desolation, yet if any take notice of it, and say; I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited mee not; then he is gracious, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, for I have found a ransome; If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and the bloud of Jesus cleanseth us from all sin, but he that hideth his sin shall not prosper; hee that being often repro­ved hardneth his neck, shall suddenly fall, and that without remedy; and this leads us to the next Branch of instruction, namely,

2 That when God so strikes, and yet none lay to heart, or con­sider it; its an evidence of great hardnesse, and wilful blindnesse in such a people, and a sign and fore-runner of greater judgements. The truth of this is evidenced in the fore-mentioned Scriptures, yet for farther, and more particular demonstration of it. See also, Isa. 26. 9. Oh Lord! when thine hand is lifted up, they will not see it, but they shall see, and be ashamed, &c. Jer. 5. When God hath threatned, and begun to make desolations (as chap. [...]. Then he saith, Run to and fro through the streets and broad places, And see now if yee can finde a man, if there be any that executeth judgement, that seek­eth, the truth, and I will pardon it. And though they say, The Lord li­veth, and swear by his Name, surely they swear falsly; O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive [Page 38] correction, they have made their faces harder than a rock, they have re­fused to return; and in this also the poor and rich did agree to break the yoke, and burst the bands, as Psal. 2. Therefore a Lion out of the Forrest shall slay them; A Wolf of the Evenings, that comes privily to devour, like that spirit of Antichrist, and ministers of Satan, Prophesied of to abound in the last days, that come with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, privily bringing in damnable Heresies, denying the Lord that bought them, such an enemy shall spoyl and destroy them; God shall send them strong delusions (by giving permissive commission to Satan, a [...] in the case of Ahah, 1 King. 22. 19,—22.) that they should beleeve a lye, that they all might bee damned, who beleeved not the truth, but bad pleasure in unrighteousnesse; Surely his soul shall be avenged on such a Nation as this. See also Psal. 78, 64, 65, &c.

What then shall wee say, when in stead of laying it to heart▪ and considering it, and being grieved, many rejoyce, and sport themselves at such judgements, as Micah 7. 8. Isa. 57. 3, 4. imagi­ning they shall now have their desire, and that the Righteous be­ing taken away, their name, even the good name of God that was upon them, shall perish, as Psal. 41. 5, 6, 7. and therefore en­courage themselves in their evil wayes, doctrines, and practises, faithful reprovers, that were a terrour to them, being ceased from them; now they say (as Psal. 12.) our tongues are our own, who is Lord over us. And now a [...] men delivered to do such abominations, they speak vanity, every one with his neighbour, with a flattering lip, and double heart, thinking to prevail with their lip, or do­ctrine; now to root out the lip of knowledge, encouraging them­selves, as if the foundations of the righteous were destroyed, and therefore reproachfully saying to the poor, that hath no helper but God, and yet puts his trust in him, where is now thy God, thy hope, thy confidence—what can the righteous do? Mic. 7. 10. Psal. 11. But our God, who is our rock, and foundation is in his holy Temple, in his Son our very present help, and strong Tower of defence to save us, The Lords throne is in Heaven, from whence his eyes behold, his eye lids trye the children of men, hee is a God, by whom actions are weighed in an even ballance, and though hee do not speedily execute judgement against evil works, because hee delights in mercy, and would not that any [Page 39] should perish, but that all should come to repentance, such his gracious affection towards sinners, even rebellious ones in this day of his grace, and patience, yet all these things are laid up in store with him, sealed up among his treasures, and shall be brought forth, when every secret thing shall bee brought to light, and God shall manifest the counsels of the heart, then no more patience, or forbearance to bee exercised towards rebels; the Lord shall laugh then at their calamity, and mock when their fear commeth; yea, the Lord himself shall come, and ten thousands of his Saints, to execute judgement upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly amongst them, of all their ungodly deeds, which they have ungod­ly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him, Then the Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things, &c. for to him belongeth vengeance; their foot shall slide in due time, &c. Deut. 32. 34, 35, &c. Jude 14, 15. In the mean time therefore let us look to him for counsel, and see what use hee instructs us to make of this consideration, when we shall see the daies so evil, and iniquity thus abounding, and evil men, and deceivers waxing worse and worse, by every warning and judgement. Truly then

1 Let them alone, withdraw from them, reprove not a scorner, lest hee hate thee; for hee that reproveth a scorner, getteth to him­self shame, he that rebuketh a wicked man, getteth himself a blot, though still as grace instructs, wee may yet mourn in secret for their pride, as Jer. 13. 17. And not bee hasty in desiring the wo­ful day; but let our prayer bee for them, if yet there may bee hope, even when God appears to bee rising up, as one that will no more be intreated; See Jer. 14, & 15.

2 If there be any that will hear, be diligent, and earnest in season, and out of season, in instructing, and admonishing them, while it is to day, not to harden their hearts; rebuke a wife man, and hee will love thee, and be yet wiser, and with meeknesse instruct them that ignorantly oppose themselves, &c.

3 And let us together be admonished 1 In the way of his judge­ments to wait for the Lord, quietly to bear his indignation, because we have sinned, and reverently listening to him, and standing in awe before him under such testimonies of displeasure, knowing [Page 40] that he is righteous and faithful, as well as infinite in wisdome, and power, as hee hath manifested himself in that faithful witnesse, setled for ever in Heaven, and in due time hee will bring us forth, and wee shall behold his righteousnesse: Then she that is mine ene­my shall bee ashamed, Micah 7. 6. 10. And fret not our selves because of evil doers, wait patiently on the Lord, commit our way to him, and hee shall bring it to passe; despise not his chastise­ment, neither faint when rebuked of him, seeing it is the Lord; The helpers taken from us were no otherwise helpers, but in the Lord, and hee hath not taken himself from us in whom is our help. 2 When wee see how the reproaches, and blasphemies of men are increased against him, and do set themselves against the heavena; let the consideration of it, make us more willing to bear them, seeing they are the reproaches of them, that reproach him, that fall on us, and commit vengeance to him. 3 Bee wee stirred up to cry mightily to God for help, Help Lord, for the godly man ceaseth, the faithful fail from among the children of men; they speak vanity every one with his neighbour, with a flattering lip, and double heart do they speak; cry therefore with more earnestnesse to God in Christ. 1 For pardon of our iniquities, and healing of our distempers, Psal. 41. 4, 5, and 38. 12,—16, 17,—19. 2 For wisdome in the knowledge of him, and those great things of his Law, that may guide us in a plain path, because of our enemies that watch for our halting, Psal. 27. 8—11, &c. And to this pur­pose also, 4 Let us redeem the present time yet left us, and bee admonished by his judgements to awake to righteousnesse, and not sin against him; for it is a shame for us that wee are yet found so much without the knowledge of him; what, the summer past, the harvest ended, and yet wee not saved? Jer. 8. 20. Oh that at least in this day, before it bee wholly past, wee did wisely consider our latter end; yea, the rather because the dayes are evil, redeem the time, and be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is; and to that purpose, take heed to our selves lest [...] any time our hearts be overcharged, with surfetting and drunk­ennesse, or cares of this life, and so the day of death, and of judgement come on us unawares; Be not drunk with Wine of earth­ly pleasures and cares, wherein is excesse, but be we filled with the Spirit, speaking to our selves, and one another in Psalms, Hymns, [Page 41] and spiritual songs, &c. not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some it, but exhorting one ano­ther; and so much the more, as wee see the day approaching, and for our encouragement herein, that we be not slothful, but fol­lowers of them, who through faith and patience, do already in Spirit inherit the promises; Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; look upon him in the light of Gods testimonie, there you shall see, That the end of that man is peace; And this brings us to the last instruction.

3 That even in these sad judgements to the survivers, there is special mercy, and choice blessednesse to those so taken away, and that to be considered also. They are taken away from the evil, or as we read it from the evil to come.

1 They are then taken away from, and do depart out of the flesh, in its weak and corruptible state, out of a vile, or wretched bo­dy, that had sin in it to be striven against, as well as death upon it, A law in the members warring against the law of the minde; And shall not again return to it, until it shall be renewed, or given them in a new glorious and incorruptible state, in the first resurre­ction.

2 They are then taken from an evil generation, that was continu­ally vexing their righteous souls, with their unlawful and ungodly doctrines, and practises, and so from all Satans temptations, and batteries; the accuser of our brethren is cast down from Heaven, hee cannot reach the spirits of just men made perfect, which are with Jesus, and have finished their warfare, their end is peace.

3 They are taken from the evil, and judgements to come, as Lot was pluckt out of Sodome, that they may bee out of danger of be­ing defiled with the sins, procuring such judgements, that so they may not partake with them of their plagues, yea, that they may no longer plead for sparing, and diverting such judgements. Oh heavy judgement to the survivers, yet therein the dead are blessed. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth, yea saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, combates, and dangers; and their works follow them.

Ʋse 1 This consideration instructs us, that while they are in these mortal bodies, they are not taken away from the evil, though [Page 42] through grace delivered, kept, and daily getting escape from the pollutions and intanglements of it, and victory in the continu­al combate, yet they have sin in them, as a Law in the members, to strive against, even unto blood, to death, and that continual lead­ing them captive, though they minding the things of the Spirit, in the light and power of the grace vouchsafed, are not led cap­tive by it; yea hitherto they have not attained, neither are they per­fect, they have not yet apprehended, or laid hold of that for which they are apprehended of Christ Jesus, but are pressing on to it, expecting the full injoyment in soul and body in that blessed and first resurrection; in the mean time, in death they are taken away from the evil, but not before, though in a sense they are said to be perfect, or upright ones, that have their hearts fixed to seek righteousnesse in Jesus, though much weaknesse and sinfulnesse be yet found in them; they are perfect, as opposed to waveringnesse, or double-mindednesse, and so in the way of righteousnesse, in which is life, and light increasing to the perfect day; but in this day, not arrived at their journies end, not perfect as to attain­ment, but still striving against sin in themselves, as well as against it in others, and so have fightings within, and fightings without, as also they are groaning under the burden of those weaknesses, and that death that is yet upon them, and in a sense raigning over them.

This should teach us, not to be secure, or sleep as do others, but to be watchful, and take heed to our selves, lest at any time sin get advantage over us, and we be hardened through the deceitful­nesse of it; left at any time we be overcharged with surfetting and drunkennesse, and cares of this life, and so that day come on us unawates; Put wee on the whole Armour of God, that wee may be able to stand in this evil day, Heb. 3. 12, 13. Luk. 21. 34. Ephes. 6. 10, &c. 1 Joh, 1. 8, - 10. with chap. 2. 1.

2 The dead that dye in the Lord, being then taken away from the evil; it mindes us. That the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of Judgement, to be punished, that so we may now look to the Lord, and wait for the God of our salvation, as Micah. 7. 7, - 9. In his hand are all our times, and wayes, and with him is wisdome, strength, and faithfulnesse, to deliver us from the evil of [Page 43] temptations while yet we are left among them; and if hee see them too heavie for us, he will either deliver us out, or command restraint to the remainder of them, that might not tend to his praise in our profit, Psal. 76. 9, 10. 1 Cor. 10. 13. 2 Cor. 1. 10. 2 Pet. 2. 9.

3 This consideration also is an Antidote against immoderate mourning for them that sleep in Jesus, as those without hope, it speaks to all the surviving Brethren of such in the faith, and pati­ence of Jesus, that they have not lost, but for the present parted with such their Brethren, and helpers of their faith and joy, that they may enjoy them in a farre better manner for ever; when the Lord comes, he will bring them againe with him, in the meane time they are taken away from the evil, for which we have cause to rejoyce on their behalf; and for our owne parts that are left be­hind for a while, we know not how little a while that may be, it cannot be long; and this also we know, He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, he abides or dwells in him, whom also he hath raised from the dead, to support and help us: through him we shall doe valiantly, it is he that treadeth down our enemies, yea he will with his Son give us all things; he doth and will keep us by his power, or powerful Gospel through faith, to the Salvation now ready to be revealed in the last time, that we may also finish our course with joy, 2 Cor. 1. 10. Psal. 60. 12. Rom. 1. 16, 17. & 8. 32. 1 Pet. 1. 5.

4 Let this last consideration be of this further and general use to us all, seeing the righteous hath hope in his death, and the end of that man is peace; seek righteousness, and seek it in the Lord, seek it by faith in Christ Jesus, Seek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near; we pray you, in Christs stead, be yee re­conciled to God; and as motives to it, consider, 1. He hath made his Son that knew no sin to be sin, and a curse for us, that wee might be made the righteousness of God in him. Consider how great things he hath done for you, in and through the cutting off the Messiah, as Dan. 9. 24. 16 that he might be feared by you.

1 Therein, by executing the Judgement of this world on him, (as Joh. 12. 31) he hath finished the transgression (that one of­fence and disobedience that brought in Sin and death, Rom. 5. 12 - 18.) and made an end of the sins that came in meerly thereby, the guilt of all the sin, and filthiness of the nature thence naturally, and [Page 44] necessarily derived, Jesus Christ hath by himself purged or taken away from before the Father, and so finished and made an end of it in the Court, he being taken from the Prison, and from the Judgement therefore laid on him, so that the Father will require no more paiments of that Debt, nor goe to Law or Judgement with men, according to that rule of Judgement; but hath com­mitted all Judgement to the Son, that all men should honour the Son as the Saviour and Redeemer, the Abollisher of their death, and Deliverer of them from the curse of the Law, even with the Same ho­nour as they honour the Father, as the great Creator of them all, acknowledging the Redemption wrought, and his Power over them as Lord and Saviour, by means of death to bee of the same latitude, that so though sin be in them, and death upon them, at the fruit of that first Transgression, yet the sting thereof, which is the Wrath of God, on that account due, the Curse of the Law being suffered, and taken out by Christ, no man shall perish for ever in or by that simply; neither remains it as an Iron barre be­tween God and them; no man is necessarily kept out from God by that sinfulness and death yet remaining on them, but may come to God by Christ the Mediator, in whom the enmity is slaine, the peace made, and so the door opened, and way made clear, and the grace of God bringing Salvation to them through it, Rom. 3. 23, 24. Heb. 1. 3. Joh. 5. 22, 23. Gal. 3. 13. Psal. 107. 15, 16. Ephes. 2. 16. Col. 1. 20. 2 Tim. 1. 10. Tit. 2. 11.

2 Yea therein by making his Soul an offering for our sin, and causing him to bear our sins in his owne Body to the Tree, and in the vertue there of he hath made reconciliation for iniquity, a Pro­pitiation, Purgation, or Sin-offering for the taking away the fol­lowing sins of the people, and brought in everlasting Righteousness, the Works which the Father gave him to doe on earth, being once actually finished in that person, the Sacrifice of his owne Body, perfected through sufferings once offered, is of everlasting value and vertue with the Father for us, even for the taking away the sins of the world, and for the holding open the door of Life, and procuring the continuance of Mercies even to the rebellious, that the Lord might dwell among them; as well as likewise for the continual covering, and presenting compleat, and spotless before [Page 45] the Father, all that are found in it, and for the perfecting what concerns them, God hath set him forth in the infinite vertue of that his perfect Righteousness, and Sacrifice, a standing Propi­tiation, not for our sins only that through grace beleeve, but also for the sins of the whole world, that through him hee might de­clare his righteousness, in exercising patience, and forbearance to Rebells during the day of his grace, and patience, and that is while it is due time; and in justifying whosoever through his Name beleeveth in him, that being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption in Christ, they might be washed, sanctified, and made Heirs in the vertues and influences of the same everlasting righteousness, Joh. 1. 29. Rom. 3. 25, 26. Heb. 7. 25 - 27. 1 Joh. 2. 1, 2. so that though those iniquities, or unrighteousnesses, in which when the light and power of the grace of God is bringing Salvation, and comes nigh to men leading to repentance, lifting up the yoke, then men close their eyes, and harden their hearts, and chuse darkness rather, because their deeds are evil. Though I say, sins of this nature be not finished, or made an end of in the Court, as was said of the fore-mentioned, but are detained in Heaven against men while they abide in them, they being of a new nature, and such as were not, nor could have had being in the world, if there had not been peace made for them, and that also preached to them, even by his Spirit to their spirits (as 1 Pet. 3. 19, 20.) Joh. 15. 22 - 24. they provoke new wrath, which a­bides over men while they continue in them, Joh. 3. 18, 19, 36. and will end in a second death, if persisted in till finished by them; yet there is Reconciliation, and Propitiation made in the vertues of his Blood, or being cut off by death even for sins of this nature, so that by means of that Death, which was for the redemption of the Transgressions under the first Testament, in the infinite and a­biding vertue of that Bloud, he is the Mediator between God and men, and maketh intercession for the Transgressors, yea hee hath received power and authority in the Name of the Father, to procure and give forbearance to Rebells, during his pleasure; hee hath the Keys of David, he opens and no man shuts, hee shuts and no man opens, he hath received gifts for men (yea for the rebellious also) observe that additional clause, and the instruction in it, That he hath re­ceived [Page 46] not only gifts for men, as men and sinners from Adam con­sidered, but for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. And so also to give through his Name for­giveness even of all sins past, to whosoever through this grace, seeth and beleeveth on him, as well as always to present them accepta­ble in the presence of God in himself, in the vertue of that his perfect and everlasting righteousness, yea they have righteousness and strength in the Lord answering to all their needs, weakness, and nakedness for their covering in the presence of God, and that they may be filled with the fruites of it, in the Lord shall all the seed of Israel, all the generation of seekers of Gods Name, and face in Christ be justified, and shall glory; therefore saith he, Look unto me, and be yee saved all the ends of the earth, for I am a just God, and a Saviour; and his righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and shall never be abolished, however men fight against it.

3 Therein he hath sealed, or confirmed the Vision, and Prophe­sie of bringing forth blessing in Abrahams Seed to all Nations, gi­ving his Son Jesus, as raised from the Dead, for a Witness to the people, a Leader, and Commander to the people, a Light to the Gentiles, and his Salvation to the ends of the earth, Gen. 22. 18. Gal. 3. 8 - 13. Isa. 42. & 49. & 55. 3 - 5. Acts 2. & 13. for bee hath now made the man Christ Jesus, in the Name and Majesty of God, a testimony to men, the Light of the world, to bee testified to them in their several Ages, and in due time having anoynted the most Holy, even that most holy Body, the Personal Body of Christ, through sufferings glorified with the Fathers owne selfe, the glory he had with him as the eternal Son of God before the World was, with the vertue of whose Bloud, the Heavens them­selves were sprinkled, that Grace and Truth might thence come forth to us, It hath therefore pleased the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell, even the fulnesse of the God-head bodily▪ that of his ful­nesse we might all receive, for the opening our eyes, and turning us from darknesse to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that we might re­ceive forgivenesse of sins, and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in him; Now Jesus Christ in his Personal ministration on earth, was a Minister of the Circumcision, yea after his Ascension the first pouring out of the Holy Ghost, bringing and opening [Page 47] the testimony of Jesus as the Works are finished in his Body was upon his Apostles, and Disciples, that were all of the Circumci­sion, and by them it was first to be preached to the Circumcision, and after to all Nations for the obedience of faith. Now this his being a Minister of the Circumcision, was to confirme the Promi­ses to the Fathers, and that in the confirmation of them, and in the grace so coming forth in Abrahams Seed, and confirmed a­mong his Family, and from thence coming forth to the Nations, the Gentiles might glorifie God for his mercy, as it is written; For this cause I will confesse to thee among the Gentiles, &c. Rom. 15. 8, 9. And this may answer to his confirming the Covenant with many for one week, the last of the Seventy, in the midst of which him­self was cut off, and did therein prepare, and through those suffe­rings himself was perfected that everlasting Sacrifice, in the com­ming in of which, the Typical Sacrifice and Oblation did cease, a­bout, or soon after the third day, or year of his being manifested to Israel, and shewing himself in his Personal Ministration as the Son of God, the Saviour of the World, and so in the midst of the week he was cut off, and through sufferings made perfect, Luke 13. 32, 33. and in a like time after, the revelation of the mystery out of the Scriptures of the Prophets was come forth fully and confirmed in them, and by them, according to the Commande­ment of the everlasting God, given forth for obedience to the saith among all Nations, so that the Lord Jesus in that his most holy Body, being made perfect through sufferings, is the anoynted Prince and Saviour, for to give us repentance, and forgiveness of sins; and he hath confirmed the Promises to the Fathers, and gi­ven forth the testimony and revelation of himself, and the Fathers glory in him, in full, and as it must stand till his Second appearing; At which Great Day, all the things behind shall even so bee ful­filled, as declared in this dispensation of the fulness of times; in the meane time, God hath spoken to us in these last dayes by his Son, and in, and with, and according to this word is the influence of the light and power of his Spirit poured out on all Flesh, on all the Nations, reproving the World, and leading Beleevers into all truth, the Father having glorified him for the calling the Nations in the preaching peace to them, by vertue of the peace made for [Page 48] them by his bloud, Isa. 55. 4, 5. Matthew 28. 18, 19. 1 Tim. 2. 5, 6, 7.

2 In and with this consideration of the great things he hath done: Rich provision of all things pertaining to life and godliness in him for us; behold him also in his faithfulness, in all his Work, and Office appointed him, it is according as it hath been manifested in that which he hath already done, therefore that to be remembred as a standing witness of it, as Isaiah 50. 4, 5, to the end; so Hebrews 12. 2. he that failed not in that, will not fail in any thing that he is appointed, and impowred to, for us in the vertues of that, either in his appearing in the presence of God for us, or in the Name of the Father, giving good things to us, that through him we might be saved.

See also the Fathers face in his, Good and upright is the Lord, therefore will be teach sinners in the way; and then it follows, The meek, that is, those sinners that in his first and preventing teach­ings are melted, and turne in the light and power of his reproofs, those will he guide in judgement, and further teach his way, Psalme 25. 8, 9. like that, John 16. 8, 9, 10 - 13. he fails not, Isa. 4 [...]. but makes his Judgements as the Light that goeth forth, he is all the day long, while by any means he is calling to behold him, stretching out his hand, Isaiah 65. 1, 2. Hosea 6. 5, 6, 7. his goodness is leading to Repentance, even those that are not led by it, Romans 2. 4, 5. Isaiah 48. 17, 18. Psalm 81. He is drawing with the cords of a man, the demonstrations of a Saviour in a body prepared for him, through sufferings made perfect, and glorified with the Fathers owne self, and with he bands of love, the displayings of his love, and glory in that face of Christ, and therein lifting up the yoke of thraldome naturally on the Jewes, while he sets meat before them, and this, even to such as break his bands, and cast away his cords from them, Hosea 11. John 3▪ 14, 15, 16. Psalm 2. Jeremy 5. 5. Zach. 7. 11, 12. Ezek. 24. 11. 13. Psalm 81. and in turning at his reproof, he will pour out his Spirit further, and make known his words, Proverbs 1. 23. hee hath now no pleasure in the death of any Sinner, yea behold, he stands ready to accept of all commers, And in every Nation, he that feareth God, and worketh Righteousnesse is accepted with him; to [Page 49] him give give the Prophets Witnesse, that through his Name, whose­ever beleeveth in him shall receive remission of sins; and the end of that man is peace.

Consider also as further Motives to press us to haste, and dili­gence in Learning Righteousnesse, the present opportunity only is ours, wherefore the Holy Ghost saith, To day if yee will hear his voyce, harden not your hearts; If once the good man of the House (that by such Providences, as is the subject of this Discourse, appears as rising up, if once he) bee risen up, and have shut the door against any of us, it will then be too late. And this also, wee know wee must all dye, and doe see that the natural life is a very Bubble, presently broken by the least blast of God; and the gathering time terminates with that at farthest. After death, the Judgement shall bee accor­ding to the things now done in the Body, good or evil, according to the rule of the Gospel.

Let all move us to consider, and receive instruction while it is to day, learn Righteousnesse by his Judgements, and for our direction herein, Hee hath shewed thee O man what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to doe justly, in receiving his Testimony concerning Christ, and as that gives ground, perswades, and strengthens in the supernatural Light and Power with which it is evidenced and made nigh thee, so through it beleeving on him that justifieth the ungodly, as Ro­mans 4. & 10. to love mercy, accept, receive, and drink downe the mercy and pitty of God to man-ward, as manifested in and through Christ bringing Salvation (as Hosea 6. 6. with Matth. [...]. 13.) reject not the grace of God in Christ, the love of the Truth that comes to save your souls; and walk humbly with thy God, ac­knowledging our owne vilenesse, wretchednesse, and deadnesse in sins and trespasses, ascribing Righteousnesse to our Maker, re­ceive the Sentence of Death in our selves, that wee may learn to trust in him that raiseth the Dead; lift not up our imaginations, high thoughts, or purposes, against the evidence and demonstra­tion of Christ, the instructions, reproofs, and requirings of that; Murmur not among your selves, but with meeknesse receive the ingrafted word that is able to save your souls, and in the light and [Page 50] strength of it, be yee doers of it in all the fruites of Righteousnesse, Justice, Mercy, and humility in your whole demeanour towards God and m [...] ▪ [...] that Grace of God that brings Salvation to all men, hath appeared, teaching us, that denying ungodlinesse and worldly lusts, we should live so­berly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for that blesse [...] hope, &c.

The Lords voyce crieth unto the City, the man of wisdome shall see [...] name, hear yee the Rod, and who hath appointed it, Mich. 6. 8, 9.