I Shall not hold you here with any trou­blesome speculations by way of Intro­duction; onely so farr, as I humbly conceive necessary to help your Un­derstandings in so plain and important a Con­cern.

It seems that God had then a great Controver­ [...]e with his People, which he stirrs up the Pro­phet to plead in his name and behalf, vers. 1. A­rise, contend thou before the Mountains, and let [Page 2]the Hills hear thy voice; ver. 2. For the Lord hath a Controversie with his People, and will plead with Israel. ver. 3. O my People! What have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? Testifie against me. With what melting Compassions doth God begin with them! how doth his bowels yearn upon them! O my People! Though they be a sinful people, yet they are my people.

And this is one distinguishing Priviledge,Observ. and singular Comfort of the people of God; Though he do correct them, yet he will not cast them off, though he may distress them, yet he will not di­vorce them: What have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testifie against me. O the wonderfull condescention of the great God! how pathetically, familiarly, convincingly doth he expostulate with his children? What have I done unto thee? wherein have I wearied thee? What iniquity have your Fathers found in me? Jer. 2.5, 31. have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? what can you charge me with? let us hear it: testifie against me. Ver. 4. I brought thee out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants, and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. And is this the wrong you complain of? hath my patience, my goodness, my mercy, my wisdom, my power, (which have ever stood engaged for you) abused you? ver. 5. O my people! remember now what Balaac King of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal, Numb. 22. that ye may know the righteousness of the [Page 3]Lord. Remember how I trod down your enemies before you, and brake all their snares for you, and owned you still in all your streights, in all your wants, in all your fears, and under all your pro­voking unkindness and unthankfulness: And is this my unrighteousness now? and that wherein I have wearied you?

God having thus justified himself, their own conscience and experience being witness; In the next place we have their strange Reply: ver. 6. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow my self before the high God? See the frowardness and foolishness of their answer; much like the language of that wicked and slothful servant, Matth. 25.24. I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown. q. d. Why, we know not how to please thee, thou art alwaies [...]hiding, alwaies finding fault, and seeking occa­sions against us, every thing is naught that we do, our very Incense is an abomination. Why,Isa. 1.13. what wilt thou have of us? ver. 7. Will the Lord [...]e pleased with thousands of rams? or with ten thousand rivers of oyl? shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the [...]n of my soul? a flat impossibility on the one [...]and, and a foul impiety on the other; Could they ever imagine that this should be a probable way to attone him? The truth is, it looks like an horrible imputation on the Just and Holy God; but that Charity suggests, it was not their profes­sed, but their interpretative language, not of their [...]ps, but of their lives. And hence we may ob­serve,Observ. 1. That it is the course and the character of [Page 4]an hypocritical People or Person, to think to make up that with the labour, which is wanting of the life of Religion. And farther, That it is the sub­tilty and ambition of the Devil, to mix his own Immolations and super-erogations with Gods In­stitutions. But I must not insist here.

See now how mildly God replies again, v. 8. He hath shewed thee, O Man, what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do just­ly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? These words contain both the Tables of Moral duty: and therefore he sayes, he hath shew­ed thee what is good, what is simply, per se, [...], or morally, good. 'Tis true, Sacrifice and Ceremonies were good intra suam sphaeram, if observed and performed according to their di­vine Institutions; good, pro tempore, & virtute mandati: Matth. 23.23. but not virtute propriae naturae. These things ye ought to have done, and not to leave the other undone; Therefore, the Lords voice cryeth unto the City,—Hear ye the Rod, &c. God hath these two great, standing, visible Ordinances, to reclaim his people, his Word, and his Rod: and when one of these will not do, the other must. Such is the care of our heavenly Father, that he will not lose a hoof or a hair of his children, what ever it cost him or them; if the gentle gales will not send us to shoar, his rougher storms shall.

The Lords voice cryeth unto the City.— But why to the City? 1. The City is the representa­tive head of the whole Political body, therefore the voice is directed to the City; as in our com­mon discourse, the voice is directed from face to [Page 5]face. 2. The City is the Countrie's admired Sampler or Copy, in respect of manners and pra­ctice; as the City is, so, for the most part is the Country about i [...], and by this means first or most [...]n the transgression. 3. The City hath usually the [...]airest advantages and encouragements to serve [...]nd worship God, and to promote the beau­ty and power of godliness. 4. Cities are apt [...]o look big upon their own strength, riches, [...]nd fortifications; therefore the City is alarm'd [...]y name, that they may know that their fig. leaves will not hide their guilt, nor secure their peace a­gainst the strokes and strength of the Lords Rod.

And the man of wisdom shall see thy Name. [...] need not, I shall not acquaint you with all the Versions of this Phrase; And thy name shall see that it is, say some Translations, (nam quod res [...]st videt nomen tuum. Beza.) [...]. Septuag. The scruple deserves [...]ot many words: among many varying transla­tions, the sense comes near to one. Thy Name; [...]is is spoken by a Metonymia Adjuncti, for the [...]ing or person named, a very common and usual [...]rope in Scripture; and it hath relation by a Autatio personae, unto the Person exprest in the [...]recedent clause, The Lords voice cryeth,— And [...]e man of wisdome shall see, [...]. The [...]an of wisdom. The word signifies, as the Lear­ned observe, substantial wisdom; therefore Beza, quod res est: The truly, substantially wise, the [...]odly man, shall see, submit to, and tremble at [...]y great Name; [...]. So that you [...]ay take the words, either as a Precept, or as a [Page 6]Promise: As a Precept, to see and acknowledg God in all his Ordinances, and in all his Providences, with this argument, that it is the onely wise course, and both the property and character of a truly wise man. As a Promise, that there should be some on whom this spirit of wisdome should rest; and for whose sakes, by consequence, God would shorten and make up the controversie.

Hear ye the Rod, and who hath appointed it. These words are the summe and tenour of the Lords voice to the City: wherein you have,

• 1. The Warning of the Rod.
• 2. The Author of the Rod.

In the warning you have a dutie, Hear: which in Scripture is taken for acknowledging, submit­ting, or obeying: With the Author you have the authoritative decree, or determination; who hath appointed it?

From this Analysis we may observe,

First, from the Scope;

Doct. 1 That when a People or Person are come to resting in the external and ceremonious part of duties [...] ordinances, it is time for God to take up his rod. This was the case here. Wherewith shall I co [...] before the Lord, and how my self before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt-offerings with calves of a year old? which argues the [...] resting here, and that their Religion had no high­er principle nor aim than these beggarly elements therefore hear ye the rod.

2 2. From the leading words of my Text, The Lords voice cryeth unto the City, Observe,

Doct. 1 That the Lord is not wont to steal on a rod [...] [Page 7]on his people, but gives them fair and loud warn­ing of it.

Doct. 2 That the voice of Gods Messengers is the Lords own voice.

3 3. From the words themselves, Hear ye the Rod, &c. observe;

Doct. 1 That the people of God ought to be sensible, not only of the rod it self, but of the forewarnings of an approaching rod.

Doct. 2 That the afflictions wherewith God exerciseth his people are but rods.

Doct. 3 That there is no affliction can light on the people of God, without his divine permission and appointment.

Doct. 4 That the Lords rod is no dumb rod.

We shall begin with the first, from the words, That the people of God ought to be sensible, &c.

This I shall first prove from Scripture. 2. Shall shew you some tokens of an approaching rod. 3. How farr we our selves are under the sym­ptoms and strokes of the rod. 4. Shall evince the dutie by Arguments. 5. Apply it briefly.

• 1. For Scriptures, see Jer. 3.7, 8, 10. What a sad complaint does God take up over. Judah on this very account? when for all the causes where­by backsliding Israel committed Adultery, I had [...]ut her away, and given her a bill of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. Though God had threatned them, not with words only, but with blows, and had set the legible and bloudy cha­racters of their own doom before their eyes; yet all was too little to convince them of their own [Page 8]approaching miserie. Ezek. 33.4, 5. Then who­soever heareth the sound of the Trumpet, and ta­keth not warning, if the sword come and take him away, his bloud shall be upon his own head; he heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warn­ing, his bloud shall be upon him; but he that ta­keth warning shall deliver his soul. Pro. 22.3. The prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself, but the simple pass on and are punished. I need not heap up witnesses to evidence so ratio­nal and undeniable a truth.
• 2. But you will ask me, How shall we know when a rod is coming?

I shall answer in these two generals.

• 1. Something may be gathered from God.
• 2. Something from Man.

From God; as,

1. The packing up of his Jewels is a sign of some storm approaching. The righteous is taken away from the evil to come, Isa. 57.1. When God is packing up his Jewells, inbarquing his Noahs, and shouldring away his Lots, it's a sad Omen, that the day of some dreadfull visitation is at hand.Heb. 2.27. 'Tis true, as we are all mortall, It is appointed to all men once to dye: but when God seems to catch them up in haste, and to gather them by whole Clusters, and that in the midst of their strength and service; this is an ordinary Prognostick of approaching Judgment.

Gods withdrawing his presence is another sign that he hath a rod a making. When he hath shut himself up, and will not be spoken with; I will go, and return to my place, till they acknowledge [Page 9]their offence, and seek my face; in their affliction they will seek me early, Hos. 5.15. This was the case with the Spouse, Cant. 5.6, 7. I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn him­self: and what then? The watchmen that went about the City found me, they smote me, they wounded me, the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me, &c. When God sayes to his Moses, Let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them, Exod. 32.10. Pray not thou for this people, nei­ther lift up a cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me, for I will not hear thee. Jer. 7.16. And what this did presage, you may see, Jer. 11.14. Pray not thou for this people, &c. for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble; And chap. 14.11. Pray not for this people for their good: when they fast I will not hear their cry, &c. but I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pesti­lence; Then said I, Ah, Lord God! the Prophets say unto them, ye shall not see the sword, &c. Then the Lord said unto me, both the Prophets and the people that believe them, shall know that my word shall stand: both the Flatterers and the Flattered shall perish together. O England, know, it must not be as thy Prophets, but as thy God will.

3. Gods crossing the course of Nature, is ano­ther sign that Judgment is hastning: Numb. 17.8. we read that Aarons Rod budded and blossomed, and bare almonds: and what? was this a dumb sign? No: verse 10, And the Lord said unto Mo­ses, Bring Aarons Rod again before the Testimony, [Page 10]to be kept for a token against the rebells, &c. What did all those prodigious signs which God wrought in Egypt, portend? I need not tell you: What did the hand-writing on Belshazzars wall point at? Dan. 5. Our Saviour himself argues a necessary connection between signes in the Sun, and Moon, and Starrs, and upon earth distress with perplexity. Luk. 21.25. And that which was here particu­larly intended, was afterward fully accomplished by Titus Vespasian on Jerusalem; that Abomi­nation of Desolation being usher'd in by a multi­tude of signs and wonders, as Christ had foretold, and credible History doth abundantly certifie.

4. A gradual beginning of Judgment is ano­ther presage that the full blow is coming. God doth usually send some drops, as the Harbingers of the storm of his wrath, and layes not on with his full might at once, lest he should crush us to pieces; but he chides before he strikes, and begins with gentler strokes, and every stroke calls louder and louder for repentance; as being loath to strike harder than needs he must. First, he removes from the Cherub to the threshold, Ezek. 9.3. and there turns again, and reasons the case, and takes notice of every weeping eye, and every sad heart. Set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh. Then from the threshold to the cherubims, chap. 10.18. and then falls a threatning and a promising; Yet will I be to them as a little sanctu­ary in the Countries where they shall come. At last from the Cherubims he departed to the Mountains, chap. 11.23. and thence he useth the utmost importunity, if at length by any means [Page 11]he might reclaim and spare them;Chap. 12.3. Therefore thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight,—It may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house. Many shall come in my name, sayes Christ, saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many, and ye shall hear of warrs, &c. Nation shall arise against nation; these are the beginning of sorrows, Matth. 24.5. to 8. Now the beginning argues both the middle and the end to succeed.

5. The joint cryes and warnings of the Prophets is another symptom of approaching misery; These are called Gods Watchmen, and his Seer; Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel, therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me, Ezek. 3.17. I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer, &c. Hab. 2.1. God doth usually reveal his purpose first to them, that they may publish it unto whom it doth concern; and therefore he adds vers. 2. Write the vision, and make it plain, that he may run that readeth it. We are his Ambassadors and Heraulds; he is wont to send out his Summons, and bid battel by us. When those Turtles which were wont to bring you the Olive-branch of peace, the glad tidings of the Gospel, come with a sword in their mouths, be confident there is war preparing in heaven.

2. Other grounds of Conjecture are drawn from man, as,

• 1. When sin is on the thriving hand; God hath a double harvest; a harvest of wheat, and a har­vest [Page 12]of tares; and he will have both ripe before he cut them down; the harvest of his Grace must be ripe before he will send in his Sickle. Grace must have its full growth. Job 5.26. Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn commeth in his season: And the harvest of his wrath must be ripe too; Put ye in the Sickle, for the harvest is ripe, the press is full, their wicked­ness is great, Joel. 3.13. So that we may con­clude according to Christs Parable of the Fig­tree, Matth. 24.32. When his branch is yet tender and putteth forth leaves, ye know that Summer is nigh. 'Twas sin that first opened the womb of misery, and 'tis sin that ripens and hastens Judg­ment; Sin and suffering have the measures of their growth proportionable; as the one ripens, so doth the other too. Now consider this, ye that forget God; your treasuring up of sin, is a treasuring up of wrath unto your selves against the day of Gods wrath, Rom. 2.5. O that blind sinners could but see what they are doing! Tophet is ordained of old, the pile thereof is fire and much wood.—Isa. 30.33. Every sin brings its faggot to this pile. Little did Perillus think what he was a doing when he was forging the Tyrant Phalaris his curious Instrument of Cruelty:
  [...]th. 12.36. [...].4.24. [...].4.17.
  Every idle word, every vain thought, every neglect of a known du­ty, like so many Infernal Locusts, are daily flying from the dead carcase of thy heart, where they breed, unto the hive of a sad eternity, crura veneno plena; and thou shalt shortly taste and see when Gods vintage and Burning-time is come, what this hony is which now seems so sweet in thy mouth.
• [Page 13]2. When Gods worship, which he is ever most tender of, is prophaned or idolized. God calls his Church his Spouse, Cant. 5.1. and is married to her, Jer. 3.14. His Worship and Institutions are his Coition with his Church, whereby he begets children unto himself; and therefore the abuse of his worship he justly calls Adultery, and spiritual Fornication; a violation of Covenants, and a breach of Conjugal union: This was commonly one principal cause of Gods Controversie with his first Wife, his ancient Spouse, and that which he hath mostly manifested his furious Jealousie about. Several Instances might be produced, but exam­ples of this nature are obvious and occurrent al­most every where in the old Testament. Again, Gods Church is his Garden, Cant. 4.12. and a garden inclosed too; he keeps it under lock, it is his own Peculiar, he will allow no plants here, but those of his own setting; Humane Inventi­ons and Traditions of men, unscriptural Cere­monies and significant signs farr-fetcht by the un­der-keepers of this Garden, are weeds which God will root up; he will not have his Garden new modell'd, nor adulterated with mans bastard ornaments; the wrongs that are done here, are sacrilegious wrongs.
• 3. When Professors lose their zeal for God, and the pure and strict wayes of God. Because Iniquity shall abound, and the love of many shall wax cold, Matth. 24.12. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another, ver. 10. This was spoken as a presage of that dreadfull Destruction which [Page 14]Christ there foretold, And that day, sayes the Apostle, [that great and terrible day of the Lord] shall not come, except there come a fal­ling away first. A general Apostasie is a certain Omen of approaching Misery. This was part of Gods accusation against Ephesus, Rev. 2.4. Thou hast left thy first love; and what then? ver, 5. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy Candlestick out of his place, except thou re­pent. Was not this the cause why God put away his own chosen Israel, and gave her a bill of di­vorce? Jer. 3.6, 8. What complaints hath God taken up on this very account? Why is this Peo­ple slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? Jer. 8.5. And my people are bent to backsliding from me, Hos. 11.7. How tenderly does God seem to take it! Therefore, if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him, Heb. 10.38. And the more gross and general this Apostasie is, the more dreadful, the more universal, the more spee­dy execution of wrath it doth portend.
• 4. When charity among brethren is dying. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed ye be not consumed one of another,
  Dulce nomen pacis! Cicer.
  Gal. 5.15. Discord hath a more natural tendency unto ruin than al­most any other sin; A house divided cannot stand, sayes Christ, and therefore this is one principal scope of the Commands of the Gospel, to beget and quicken love and charity among brethren. You shall scarce find any one thing in the new Testament so much prest as this: For this is the [Page 15]message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 1 Joh. 3.11. But when God sends a spirit of division among his children, and dashes child against child, it is suffi­cient evidence of his high displeasure.
• 5. When Covenant-breaking lies unrepented of. What was it that overturn'd Zedekiah and his peo­ple? Jer. 34.8. After they had entred into sa­cred bonds in the house of God, to release all their servants, that were of the Jewish seed, and had for a time performed it; but afterward dealt deceitfully with them, and brake their Covenant, ver. 11. Therefore from ver. 17. to the end, you may see the issue, Behold, I will proclaim Li­berty for you, saith the Lord, to the Sword, to the Pestilence, and to the Famine. Other known Instances to this purpose might be given; but I forbear.
• 6. When those sins for which God hath taken up a controversie are not removed. Sufferings, as I have said, are the direct and proper effects of sin; the only successful course to heal the effect, is to antidote the cause. Israel cannot prosper,
  Iosh. 7.
  nor stand before his enemies, until Achan be exe­cuted; There's no sayling,
  Ion. 1.4.
  while guilty Jonas lyes aboard, but death and ruin on every hand. When God is shaking his rod against a People, and they regard it not, warning them by his Pro­phets, and, as it were, planting his Ordnance, and setting his battel in array against them, and they tremble not at it; what is this but a bold challenging of the Almighty, and even a daring him to go on, and to do his worst; now what can [Page 16]be expected in such a case, but that God should arise in the fierceness of his hottest wrath, and avenge him of his enemies!
  Isa. 1.24.

3. We come in the next place to consider, How farr, or in what respects we our selves are under the symptoms, or the strokes of the Rod; And in order hereunto, we will weigh our present estate by the fore-mentioned Prognosticks.

• 1. Hath not God been packing up his Jewels? How many hath he taken away of the eminent bearing-Pillars both of Church and State? whose lamented funerals have set a sable Astracism on their sad Elegies? God hath seem'd to begin his harvest among them, and to fill his hands with ripe Fruit: nay, may I not say, in a sense, to strike down thousands at one blow, even of those that were giving suck, without compassion either to Nurse or Babe: but I will not insist here, Res ipsa loquitur.
• 2. Hath not God seem'd to withdraw his pre­sence? at least in some respects; Blessed be God for any tokens of his quickning presence among us; that there is yet so much of the life of God in us, as to carry us out in an unwearied search after him, yet 'twas so with the Spouse, when her Beloved had withdrawn himself, Cant. 5.6. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. And is not this our very case? How long have we cryed to God for bread? and as yet we have stones instead of bread; or if bread, we have it, but as God threat­ned Jerusalem in another sense, by weight, and by measure,
  [...] 15.
  by crummes, and by drops; yet bles­sed [Page 17]be God for the crumms that fall from his [...]able. Hath not God seem'd to defeat the [...]rayers, and frustrate the hopes of his people, [...] that they lye as the slain in the streets, at [...]he feet of the lusts and wills of all that [...]ass by.
• 3. Hath not God been crossing the course of Nature, by strange Signes and Prodigies, such, and so many, as no age in England could ever parallel? I need not be large here, yet I would [...]ot that these things should be lightly past over, [...]or easily forgotten, for doubtless God hath [...]igh and glorious ends in them; his signs are [...]ot without their significations. He that hath [...]ot set the Rain-bow in the clouds for nought, [...]or one Star or Comet to appear in vain; but [...]ath ordained them for signs and for seasons;
  Gen. 1.14. Matth. 10, 29, 30.
  [...]o, not so much as a sparrow, or an hair of our [...]eads shall fall to the ground without a Provi­dence; can we imagine that ever he would thus [...]ill heaven and earth with his strange works of wonder, on no higher design, than to be meer [...]azing-stocks and table-talk with unconcerned [...]an? nay, be confident the dayes are at hand, [...]nd now are, that God will interpret his own meaning, and clearly unriddle all these his Pa­pables to us.
• 4. Is not Judgment already begun at the [...]ouse of God? I hope, I need not run out into particulars here, to tell you your own sorrows, [...]o pull those groans from your hearts, and to bump those tears from your eyes; I hope that every corner in your houses, and every Angel [Page 18]in heaven can bear witness with your conscien­ces, that you are some of those whose foreheads God hath marked for such as sigh,
  Ezek 9.4.
  and cry for all the abominations, miseries, and calamities of our poor Sion.
  Lom. 2.1.
  How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud, in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembred not his footstool in the day of his anger.
• 5. Hath not this been the joint-cry, and un­believed report of the Prophets and Watch men for several years together? And now our Pro­phesie is accomplished, both we, and you all know & feel what the voice meant, & are sma [...] ­ing under the burthen of the vision; but when, [...] how it shall be removed, we know not: only the far in general we know, When the Rod hat reach'd its ends, either of obduration, or rui [...] or (which the Lord grant) of thorough. Refor­mation;
  Ier. 24.
  When the Figgs are pickt and separa­ted, when the harvest is ripe, and the Lord people fit for the Mercies they look and lo [...] for; when the Lords time, even the [...] time, is come; then, and not till then, [...] shall be.
• 6. When was all manner of sin in a [...] thriving way than now? Drunkenness, an Whoredom, and Oppression, and Deceit, Sweal­ing and Lying, Debauchery and Prophanen [...] of all sorts and sizes, is growing ripe apa [...] being established by the dormient connivant of wholsom Laws;
  Mos. 4.1.2, 3.
  The Lord hath a cont [...] versie with the Inhabitants of the Land, becau [...] [Page 19]there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the Land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and bloud toucheth bloud. There­fore shall the Land mourn.— What's become of Sabbaths, and Sabbath-duties, Institutions and Celebrations? the beauty and power of them? Are we not like Ezekiels pot,
  Ezek. 24.6.
  whose scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it? Nay, if we look home on our selves, we may find the Leprosie on our own walls: how can we justifie our Pride and Worldliness, our Wantonness, our Censoriousness and self-ended­ness, our Unbelief and Impatience? Don't these things testifie against us?
• 7. Is not the worship of God abused; and that both practically and doctrinally? But I must be silent here. Curae leves loquuntur, in­gentes stupent.
• 8. Is there not a great declining, and losing of zeal for God? How sad and general hath been the Apostacy of worldly-minded and worldly-ended Demas's? Who would have thought that ever such hearts had been enken­nel'd under such tongues?
  2 Cor. 11.14.
  that such Angels of light had been no other than transformed De­vils?
  Iohn 6.70.
  Who would have thought that Judas the Disciple had been the Traitor? May not Christ shew the wounds with which he hath been wounded in the house of his friends? Nay,
  Zech. 13.6.
  let me ask you, whose whose hearts and minds have been savingly inlightned and warmed with the quickning Beams of the Sun of Righte­ousness, [Page 20]How have you flourished with your water and pulse?
  Dan. 1.12.
  Are not your Graces and Hopes shivering within you? what's become of those divine sparks that have been begotten in you? are they as quick and lively, as forcible and serviceable, as they were wont to be?
• 9. Is not charity among brethren dying? partly from the jarring of worldly Interests, and partly from the disagreement of Judgment and Opinion? How few are there, that, like bre­thren, dwell together in unity?
  Psal. 133.1
  This hath been a disease of a long time lamented, and yet lamentations of this nature are as seasonable as ever: Oh! when will God cure the wounds among brethren! we have been licking our selves whole indeed, but alas! it hath been with a cankered tongue, so that the Leprosie hath spread and gotten strength by the means of its Cure.
• 10. Doth not Covenant-breaking yet lye un­repented of? How many Oaths, Protestations, Leagues and Solemn Covenants, have there been imposed and taken, whereof the one hath neces­sarily and manifestly implyed the violation of the other? O! the miserable and cursed pro­stitutions of Conscience! Those that make so light of Oaths, will not make so light of the Vengeance of that God unto whom they have sworn: no Covenant hath, on all sides, been so faithfully kept, as that with Satan and Self: This is a lamentation, and let it be for a lamenta­tion. Besides, how many private, personal, [Page 21]and occasional vows and promises have there past between God and your own souls, on seve­ral forlorn straits and emergencies? and have they not all been as easily broken as they have been made? Oh! let me lay up these things in the closets of your Consciences, and, when you are alone, seriously a d sadly conne them over.
• 11. Are those sins for which God hath ta­ken up the Controversie removed? Have we heard the rod, and him who hath appointed it? Have we answered Gods demands? nay, have we duely debated the business, and examined the ground of the Quarrel? Have we been in Parly with God, and executed his VVrits of Inquiry, by the Commission-Office of Conscience, throughout the Liberties and Precincts both of the outer and inner man? If not, how can we rationally expect a comfortable issue? Can a rotten Liver produce sound bloud?
  Matth. 7, 16. Gal. 6.7.
  Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? nay, VVhatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap; as long as sin is the seed, the harvest will be wrath; if we sow the wind, we must expect to reap the whirlwind.
  Hos. 8.9.
  Can you dry up the streams, as long as the fountain is alwayes sending out fresh supplies? though you may seem to bay it back a while, yet, sinner, believe it, the vengeance of God is all the while pending against thee, and thy Bay will not hold long; but when it bursts, look for a sweeping Judg­ment. Now lay all these things together, and by these, and the like, judge how farr we are [Page 22]under both the symptoms and the strokes of the Lords Rod.

2. In the next place, I am to prove the Doctrine, and to evince the duty; That you ought to be sensible, not only of the rod it self, but of the symptoms of an approaching Rod.

I hope I need not spend much time here; Is it not pity that words and threatnings should not prevail with rational creatures, without blowes? why, consider; should God shew his skill to hit, he might strike thee in the secret parts unawares, and come upon thee in the dark;1 Sam. 24.4. Iudg. 4.21 how easily might he find thee, as David found his enemy, and serve thee as Jael served Sisera. He is not bound to sound his Trumpet, before he takes up his sword; Gods threatnings are in mercy; he threatens, that he may spare; the Ambassadours of his Judgements, are condi­tionally Ambassadours of Peace; every Warn­ing offers you reconciliation upon Gods terms, the Motto of his sword is, Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die? Now I shall knit up the Ar­gument of this Assertion in this threefold Motive.

1. 'Tis the best way to prevent the coming of the rod. What sworn witnesses might I pro­duce you from Scripture-Records? Ah! my brethren, shall the men of Nineveh rise in Judgment against us? shall we justifie Sodom and Gomorrah, and Ierusalem, whom the just vengeance of God hath pursued to their utter ruine, and set up for warnings unto us? See Joel 2.12. Turn ye even to me with all your [Page 23]heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning, and rent your hearts, and not your garments. God had threatned to rent them with his Judgments. Blow ye the Trumpet [...]n Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy moun­tain, let all the Inhabitants of the land trem­ble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is [...]igh at hand. A day of darkness, and of gloominess, &c. yet, turn unto the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful—Who knoweth if he will return, and repent, and leave a blessing behind him? Observe Gods method and carriage in the course of his Judgments; he threatens that he may not correct, he corrects that he may not destroy; if less ado will com­pass his ends, he sits down, and proceeds no far­ther; he will spare every blow that may be spar'd, and will not adde one grain more than [...]s of necessity.

2. It will arm thee for the coming of the rod, if it do come. The prudent man fore­seeth the evil, and hideth himself. Prov. 22.3. Though thy foreseeing of it, and humbling thy self under it, may not prevent the coming of it, yet it will be a hiding place for thee when it doth come. 'Tis true, the storm may fall on the fields of thy profits, on the gardens of thy delights, on the house of thy rest and peace; but it can't reach thy soul, as long as thy life is hid with Christ in God. Indeed Jonas cryes out, that the waters compassed him about, even to the soul, Jonah 2.5. And David complains, that his soul was among lions. Psal. 57.4. Bus this may [Page 24]be spoken in an Hyperbolical phrase, and may be true of the animal part of the soul, their lives, and the support and comfort of their lives being in extreme hazzard. Nay, and 'tis true too, that the dearest of Gods servants have been sometimes guilty of Dilapidations, and by their neglects have let it rain in upon them, to the despoiling the present state of their spiri­tual comforts; and yet the foundation which is of God hath stood sure. Thus oftentimes i [...] comes to pass through her own weakness, or un­watchfulness, that the poor Soul is forced to scrabble to shoar, like Paul's companions, on the Planks of broken peace and shatter'd com­forts. 'Twas the blessed temper of a holy man now in rest, under all the tortures wherewith his body was rackt, that he could truly and chearfully bear witness for God; Not one dr [...] of wrath in all this. Though thy losses b [...] great, and thy sufferings great, though thy Cre­dit be gone, thy Ease, thy Plenty, thy Liberty thy Friends, thy Hopes, and all be gone, the are but gone a gathering, as Bees from their hives; anon thou shalt see them come flocking home as heavy laden with the blessed gains and overplus as ever they can flye. Thy Credit with man, hath brought thee home credit and favour with God; thy Broken name is return'd [...] New name, Rev. 2.17. a title of honour, and royal digni­ty; and no bare title neither, as that was thou hadst lost:2 Cor. 1, 22. but the Crown it self is come, and the Seal of the Inheritance. Thy painful, un­constant ease is not come halting, but dan­cing, [Page 25]like David before the Ark: 2 Sam. 6.16. Psal. 24.13. Luk. 12.19. from hence­forth thy soul shall dwell at ease: other man­ner of ease than what the Fool in the Gospel could boast of, or any other the world can pro­duce: Thy spoiled Plenty is come home with a spring tide of richest increase. Oh! who could ever have hop'd for such Advantage? Lord, if thou hadst given me leave to ask, I had never askt half so much! 'Twas but a handfull of dust thou adventured'st, and behold,1 Tim. 4.8. heaven and earth is now little enough to hold the Increase. Thy Liberty which went Captive away, is come Triumphing home: to what a height is Joseph the poor barter'd Lad advanc'd? See what a Repeal is endorsed by the Parliament of Hea­ven, on the backside of thy Mittimus, or Pro­scription! He that is called in the Lord, 1 Cor. 7.22. [though a servant, though a bond-man, though an exile, yet] is the Lords Free-man. Ioh. 8.36. And if the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Eph. 2.19. Now therefore thou art no more a stranger and a forreiner, but a fellow-citizen with the Saints, and of the houshold of God. Act. 21.39. A Citizen of no mean City, (sayes Paul.) Are thy Friends gone? lift up now thine eyes, Gen. 13.14. and look from the place where thou art, North­ward, and Southward, and Eastward, and West­ward. Thousands, and ten thousands of Friends for one, and never a one but a Jonathan, 2 Sam. 1.26. whose love is wonderful, passing the love of wo­men, and whose power comes not short of their love. A whole heaven of friends above thee, a whole volume of friends before thee, and a thou­sand [Page 26]witnessing Friends within thee. Are thy hopes down? why, pluck up thy spirits; the waggons are come,Gen. 45.27. richly laden, and full fraught with highest satisfaction. O, blessed Adven­ture! O happy Merchandise! O, Christian! if this it be to sow, never bethink thy Seed; if this be the harvest, never bethink thy Pa­tience.

'Tis threatned as the plague of the wicked, that their miseries shall come upon them, as pangs upon a woman in travel, 1 Thes. 5.7. irresistibly, and unexpectedly. In a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, Matth. 24.50. Yet not for want of warning: God scorns to steal upon them; he comes openly, and blows his Trumpet before him: but 'tis, for not taking warning: and hence it is,Iob. 5.14. that they meet with darkness in the day time, and grope, and stumble, and fall, in the noon-day as in the night.

3. It will argue thy care to please God, and that thou standest in some holy fear, and filial awe of him. 'Tis a token of an Ingenuous spirit in a child, to observe the looks and carriage of his Father towards him; when a look or a nod is enough to intimate the parents mind, and to cause the dutiful child to obey, or submit and humble himself. As the eyes of servants look unto the hands of their Masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her Mistress, so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God. Psal. 123.2. O my brethren! If it be not all one with you whether God be pleased or displeased, [Page 27]whether you stand or fall before him; if you [...]ould be hid in the day of his wrath; take no­tice of his frowns, and of his smiles, and which [...]ay his rod leans when his hand is lifted up. Walk with him, and follow after him, in the [...]aths of his Providence: walk with him, I say, [...]ut take heed of stepping before him, or part­ing from him, and humble your selves under [...]he tokens of his fatherly displeasure. O how [...]indly would God take this at your hands! [...]nd how soon would he lead you through [...]nese thickets and bryars, into more open and [...]leasant walks?

Thus far for the Doctrinal part, I shall speak [...]ut briefly in the application of it, that I may [...]asten to what principally I intended in the [...]hoice of this subject.

This truth then argues three sorts of people under just reprehension.

Ʋse 1 1. Such as will not acknowledge God in, and under, the Rod: That cry out under the smart of it, but are blind as to the real Ends and De­signes of it: and herein the best are very guilty, if we throughly consider these four things, wherein God is to be acknowledged in his Rod.

• 1. In his Providence, as he is the Author of it. Shall there be evil in the City, and the Lord hath not done it? Am. 3.6. It is the Lord, said Eli, let him do what seemeth him good: 1 Sam. 3.18. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. Job 1.21. not the Sabeans, nor the Chaldeans, here was no quarrelling [Page 28]with second causes, nor falling out with Instru­ments: O suffer me, Christian, now to deal a little plainly and faithfully with thee. 'Dost thou acknowledge God in his Providence? are thou really perswaded, that he is the Author of every stroke thou sufferest? Have thine E­nemies a Commission from heaven, even the [...]road seal, for what they do? (though they act not intentionally in prosecution of any such Commission). O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, &c. I will send him (not onely suffer him) against an hypocritical nation, and a­gainst the people of my wrath will I give him a charge to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire in the streets, Isa. 10.5, 6. Are Instruments but the Charriot-wheels whereon God is riding out to correct, and to chastize? what means then this snarling at the stone? this contending with the rod, as if that were in all the fault. If it be God that strikes thee, as thou acknowledg­est, how darest thou oppose thy self against thy Maker? What is it that your complaints are ordinarily so full of, when, like Turtles, you are bemoaning your selves together? But, the cruelty and oppression of Enemies, exclaiming on the subtilty and unfaithfulness of one, or on the malice, revenge, or self-seeking of another; this argues your half-acknowledging of God. I was dumb, and opened not my mouth, sayes David, because thou didst it. Psal. 39, 9. He observes the hand as well as the rod; God had to do with him, and he has to do with [Page 29]God again, in the affliction: here lyes the Quarrel, and therefore he hath nought to say [...]o Instruments, he dares not once to open his mouth.
• 2. God is to be acknowledged in his Sove­reignty. His authority is absolute and unlimit­ed: Heaven and Earth, and all created beings, Souls and Bodies, and whatsoever we are or [...]ave, are peculiarly his. Shall the thing formed say unto him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? hath not the Potter power [...]ver the clay? Rom. 9.20, 21. Now acknow­ledging, implyes a submitting to, an acquiescing and resting under, some clear and full perswasi­on. It is not only an act of the lip, or of the [...]udgment, but is comprehensive of the whole man, the heart and life, the assent and con­tent: When a Question is granted, the dispute [...] ended: if Gods Sovereignty in the Latitude and universal fulness of it, be throughly ac­knowledged, we have nothing then to gainsay [...]im in his arbitrary execution of it; if he [...]ke our health, or our wealth, or peace, or friends, or lives from us, we are thus far sa­tisfied, that he takes but his own, he doth but [...]etch in what he had lent out; and we do no more than we are bound to do in honouring him, though with the expence of all those bor­rowed enjoyments. Wo unto him that striveth [...]ith his Maker; let the Potsheards strive with [...]he Potsheards of the earth; shall the clay say to [...]im that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or by work, He hath no hands? Isa. 45.9.
• [Page 30]3. God will be acknowledged in his Justice Wilt thou condemn him that is most just? say [...] Elihu to Job: Surely God will not do wicked­ly, neither will the Almighty pervert judg­ment, Job 34.17. and 12. 'Tis true, men may be unjust: If thou seest the Oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of Judgment and Justice in a province, marvel not at the matter [...] Eccles. 5.8. 'Tis no strange thing to find u [...] ­righteousness among men, nay, too often among the best of men; but to impeach God of inju­stice, or to charge him with hard measure, [...] most nesarious Blasphemy.
  Gen. 18.25.
  Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Nay, after all thi [...] that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and f [...] our great trespass, seeing that thou, O God, hast puni [...]hed us less than our iniquities de­serve. Ezr. 9.13. Yet who is there that will not acknowledge that God is just, even in his severest providences? But alas, my brethren! 'tis one thing to say that God is just, another thing to sit down fully satisfied under the clea [...] conviction of the Equity and Reasonableness of it.
• 4. God must be acknowledged in his ends. Now his Ends are either secret or revealed. A [...] for those secrets of God, those Arcana Imperii, they are infinitely above us, lockt up in th [...] Cabinet of divine Counsel: all that is visible in God are his back parts; his works are in the dark, à parte post; we can see no further than is revealed. And in this sense is God to be acknowledged in his Ends: and what those [Page 31]revealed Ends are, with reference to his Rod, both in general and in special, the ensuing discourse may more at large discover: at present I shall only shevv you vvhat it is to ac­knovvledge God in his revealed ends, vvhich imports, as I conceive, these tvvo things.

1. To ask Counsell of God. God hath gi­ven you his Oracles, his Ʋrim and Thummim, the Law and the Testimony; and hither you are to have recourse. Search the Scriptures. Acknowledging presupposeth knowledge, as eve­ry rational act of the will implyes the precedent act of the understanding.

2. To joyn issue with God, to drive on the same End, and to manage the same design with God. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Act. 9.6. sayes St. Paul, thy Will shall be my will, and thy Interest my interest.Matth. 26.42. If this Cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. Is it thy Will that I should bear this Cross? so it shall be mine too. Is this thy way to humble and reform me, to make me perfect through sufferings? blessed be thy Wisdom [...] blessed be thy care! If this may be the fruit, to take away my sin, spare me not: let the Flesh say what it vvill, let the World advise how it vvill, I vvill not ask counsell at those stocks: O my soul! come not thou into their se­cret; unto their Assembly, be not thou united. Lord, take thine ovvn course, abate me not one grain that may be for my good. If pover­ty, if shame, if banishment, if death be the vvay, Thy will be done. Lord, take me at my [Page 32]word, and let it appear that thou hast honou­red me,Psal. 119.75. and that thou in faithfulness (accor­ding to thy Promise and Covenant) hast af­flicted me.

2. This reproves those that will believe no more than they feel, but like that Horse that Job speaks of, Job 39.21, 22. —Rejoyceth in his strength, he goeth on to meet the armed man, (nay, the armed God); he mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted, neither turneth he back from the sword. Of this generation are those Scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the Fathers fell asleep, all things con­tinue as they were from the beginning of the Creation. 2 Pet. 3.3, 4. Well sinner! Whe­ther thou wilt believe, or whether thou wilt not believe, this shall stand on record within thee for ever, that thou hast been warn'd. The dayes are at hand, and the effect of every vision; when God shall make this Proverb to cease, The dayes are prolonged, and every vision faileth. Ezek. 12.22, 23. The time is coming, when God shall be as good as his word with thee; and if Faith can have no entrance at thy Hearing, it shall by thy other sense of Feeling. Though Hell be the portion and place of unbelievers, yet there thou shalt, as the Devils, and the rest of thy cursed brethren do, believe and tremble. 'Tis true, God doth sometimes drive the nail with his axe, when the hammer will not do: but know this too, that the nail that turns at the hammer, is wont to break under the axe.

[Page 33] 3. It reproves such as slight any thing where­by God manifests his displeasure. You have heard in eleven particulars, what Gods ordina­ry course is in predicting his displeasure, with a people or person; and, to slight the threatnings of God, is to despise both the person and autho­rity threatning. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, 1 Thes. 4.8. And these warnings and threatnings of God are de­spised these two wayes:

• 1. Privately, and that in these three re­spects.
  • 1. In the want of Faith to believe them, ei­ther in the Reality of them, or in the Ends and meaning of them. Though I would not you should prostitute your Faith and Credence, and set open these doors to every Bastard-Page of [...]ying Fame, yet neither should you obstinately nail up your doors against all strangers; as 'tis storied of the Amyclaei, who being often terri­fied and wearied with false reports, at length by Law condemned all Reports, and then quickly became their enemies prey. But in this surmising, inquiring, credulous, and yet unbe­lieving Age, this is all I shall add at present, as to this case; Those things that are inevident, and improbable in the Fable, may yet be cer­tain, and seasonable in the Moral: therefore what will not serve for a staff to support thee, may yet, one way or other, serve for fuel to warm thee. But how disputable soever God's warnings may sometimes, and to some persons, seem to be, We have a sure word of Prophesie, [Page 34]whereunto ye do well that ye take heed. 2 Pet. 1.19. Yet, alas! who hath believed this re­port, and to whom is the arm of the Lord re­vealed? Though the Watchmen cry from the Tower, and blow the Trumpet from the Walls; yet, Where are the so [...]ls that take themselves to be so deeply concerned in the business? Sinner! thou shalt shortly know which way the malign and fatal Aspects of those fierie Comets of Di­vine threatnings look, when God shall bring thee out with Agag, and tell thee, as Nathan told David, Thou art the man, the very per­son I aim'd at; and though thou wouldst not hear thy case pleaded, thou shalt both see and suffer the sentence executed.
  • 2. In the want of fear, to reverence and stand in awe of them, as the Majesty of God, and the importance of the issue require. Hear now this, O foolish people, and without under­standing! which have eyes and see not, which have ears and hear not. Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence? Jer. 5.21, 22. Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord, thou art great, and thy name is great in might; who would not fear thee? O King of Nations! Jer. 10.6, 7. O the strang [...] stupidity! the atheistical madness of an unbe­lieving heart! Surely, if any created Being be worse than the Devil, 'tis this unbe­lieving Heart. The Devils believe and trem­ble. O how is it, that the miserable Pro­selyte hath so far out-stript his cursed T [...] ­tour!
  • [Page 35]3. In the want of Repentance to submit. When either through the stoutness of the heart men scorn to stoop; or through the blindness of their minds know not how to do it, farther than the bare Ceremony and externity of it; unto whom God seems, as Lot to his sons in law, but as one that mocks with them. Yet suf­fer God to speak, nay, he will speak, and, af­ter that he hath spoken, (as Job said to his friends, and performed his word) mock on, Job 21.3. But unto this man will I look, (with an eye of mercy and salvation) even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word, Isa. 66.2.
• 2. Positively; and thus likewise these three wayes:
  • 1. By belying them. Thus the Sorcerers and Magicians of Egypt endeavoured to belye God, to the hardning and ruining of Pharaoh and his People. Are there none of these Politique Magi to be found among us? who (beyond the Impudence of the Chaldean Astrology) will un­dertake to interpret the hand-writing, pro lubi­tu suo. These are some of Israels Prophets, of whom God speaks, Jer. 14.15. The Prophets that prophesie in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this Land; by Sword and Famine shall those Prophets be consumed. These sons of Chenaa­nah, that with their horns of iron will push the Syrians, untill they have consumed them, will at Ramoth be of another mind, 1 Kin. 22.11. If God threatens, 'tis in vain for us to flat­ter [Page 36]our selves: you may call evil good; and the [...], the evident prints of the Fin­ger of God, Fortune Chance or Casualty; the threatnings of Scripture, old Antiquated Rid­dles; the plain-dealing of Michaia, a spi­rit of ill will, and disloyal affection; but you will not call Hell Heaven, nor everlast­ing Burnings the Blessedness you promised your selves.
  • 2. By deriding them. When Israel was rot­ten-ripe for Judgment, and God was sending his harvest-men to make a smooth field of them, 'tis recorded, to their shame, but for our warn­ing, 2 Chron. 36.15, 16. The Lord God of their Fathers sent to them by his Messengers, rising up betimes, and sending: because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling-place; but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his Prophets; until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy. Which way went the spirit of the Lord from me, said Zede­kiah, to speak to thee?
    1 Kin. 22.24.
    The day is coming, that thou shalt know by what spirit we are acted; that we speak not of our selves, nor run, like Ahimaaz, on a feigned, or begged errand. And if we must be mockt, and derided, and smitten on the cheek for our labour: yet, for our own sakes we rejoyce; but for our sa­cred authorities sake, and for your own souls sake, we cannot but tremble, and weep both over it and you.
  • [Page 37]3. By taking a wrong course to evade them. These were some of Saul's practical Politicks. God had threatned to rent the Kingdom from him, and to give it to a neighbour of his that was better then he, 1 Sam. 15.28. and now the wisest course he can advise on to secure his Kingdome, is, to destroy the man (were it possi­ble) whom God had chosen to succeed him. So when God withdrew his presence from him at Gilboa; and answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Ʋrim, nor by Prophets, 1 Sam. 28.6. which is one ordinary symptom, (as I have shewn you) of some Judgment at hand; away he runs to forbidden means, (nay, by his own law forbidden and condemned) and sues to the Devil for counsel in his desperate case. I might enlarge my self here: but what might farther be added, I shall reserve for another place.

You have heard your duty, Brethren: but, Ʋse 2 duty heard, and in the notion of it acknowledg­ed, and yet not practically imbr [...]ced, is the God- [...]rovoking sin, and the heart-plague of this our Sceptick Age. Duties are obligatory on the Conscience and Conversation; O take heed of breaking Gods bonds, and casting his cords from you. We have heard, nay, in some measure, we feel, both the symptoms and strokes of the Lords Rod: Sit down now, and begin to count the cost. There is a Wilderness, and a Jordan, and, it may be, a Red Sea yet before us; gird up the loyns of your minds now, and be strong in the Lord. Watch and be sober. Watch for the [Page 38] word of command, and resolvedly stick to your choice and holy profession, whatever come o [...]t. And for your awakening and encouragement, consider;

• 1. Within a few moments more, all the mer­ry dayes of the wicked, and all the sad hours of the righteous, shall be at an end for ever; the Field shall be tried, and the Battel shall be over, and the old Quarrel never to be reviv'd more between the seed of the woman, and the seed of the Serpent; The pleasures of sin are but for a moment, Heb. 11.25. and, How are they brought down into desolation, as in a mo­ment [...] Psal. 73.19. He seems to be ravisht at the conceit of it. Those Vipers, that even now, were threatning thy destruction, and greedily thirsting for thy blood; see! with the turn of a hand, they are gone, and are now crawling in the fire. O wonderful and glorious change! For when they shall say, Peace and Safety, then sudden destruction commeth upon them as travel upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape, 1 Thes. 5.3. O Sinner! One moment more, and then succeeds thy wofull Eternitie. One game more, and then turns up thy undoing Card. One hour's pastime more, and then fare­well to all thy pleasures for ever; not one song, not one dance, not one pot, not one glimpse of joy, not one merry thought nor word more then. On this one Cast lies thy whole Estate [...] Spend out this, as thou art doing, and thou ha [...] never a farthing more to spend, nor to save, i [...] this world, nor in the world to come. So on th [...] [Page 39]other hand, the troubles of the righteous are under the same Date and determination; the one [...]s hell is altogether as short as the others heaven: For as the one Bucket goes down, the other comes up. His anger endureth but a mo­ment, Psal. 30.5. Our light affliction which is but for a moment, 2 Cor. 4.17. For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath, I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. Isa. 54.7, 8. Pluck up thy spirits then, O Christian! and turn to thy strong hold, thou Prisoner of hope.
  Zech. 9.12. Cant. 2 [...]8.
  Behold! yonder comes thy Redeemer, leaping upon the mountains, and skipping upon the hills. See what haste he makes! he is come! he is come! Behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the window! He is nearer than thou art aware. Arise, O drooping Soul [...] view the heavens, 'tis all cleer and serene above us: In portu navigas. Are not these the gates of thy Father's Kingdom? Is not the smell of the Country already in thy Nostrils? Are not the golden Instruments of Joy a tuning, to welcome [...]ome the lost Son? O hold out Faith and Pa­tience!
  Luk. 15.25.
  one League farther, one Tide more, and then thou art safe for ever. Reason thus with thy self; Were This my Portion, and all that I were ever like to see or hope for; were my whole Venture in this Leaking bottom; Had I no settled Inheritance another where, I were miserable indeed, yea, of all men the most mise­rable; [Page 38] [...] [Page 39] [...] [Page 40]but, blessed be the freeness of rich Grace,
  [...] Sam. 23.5.
  the case is otherwise; The Covenant is ordered in all things, and sure. This hath been my Trading time, my sowing season, my yeares of Service; and now the Jubilee is at hand, and the Fields look white to the har­vest. Awake then, O North wind, and come thou South, fill my Sails, and drive me once to shoar.
• 2. Remember, The persevering Christian is the only blessed Christian. Ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake, but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved, Mar. 13.13. All is well that ends well. O that I could drive a nail here, that might hold! There's no Fruit fit for Gods hoard, but that which hangs till Gathering-time; that which falls before, is lost, or sent to the Mill to be beaten to pieces. If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Heb. 10.38. If any man, whatever he be, whatever he hath been, or seem'd to be, whatever he intends to be in fairer weather and better leisure, [...], sayes the Original; if the Righteous, or Just man, he that should live by Faith, [...], if he draw back, si se subduxerit, if he shall slink away; the word signifies aliqua ex parte dissimulare, to desire to be excused under some fair, it may be religious yet falso, Pre­tence, to run away behind one's back, a [...] a Coward or Traitor from his Colours: if any man thus draw back, my soul shall have no plea­sure in him: Here is a Liptote; under this [Page 41]calm Negative lies a Taboroh,
  Num. 11.3.
  even the fire of the Lords Jealousie. q. d. It is the highest af­front and displeasure that can be offer'd unto my very soul, (speaking after the manner of men) and so I take it, and shall record it unto the Judgment of the Great Day. No man ha­ving put his hand to the Plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdome of God. Luk. 9.62. [...]. looking on those things which are behind (the Fish, and the Cucum­bers, and the Melons of Egypt:) or which tend to a sinful Retrogradation, for so much the words Grammatically import; therefore, sayes Christ, Remember Lot's wife, Luk. 17.32. This one thing I do, Hoc ago, sayes the Apostle, forgetting [...], those things which are be­hind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark, Phil. 3.13, 14. O my brethren! if ever you intend to press forward, take heed of looking backward; as ever you hope to reach the mark, take heed you fall not by the way. Remember Christian! thou art under bonds and Covenants with God for thy faithfull and constant service, during the whole and full term of thy life: Thou art under List with him as thy lawful Captain and commander; Thou hast his Presse-mony and his Livery, and he hath thy Name, and thy Hand and Seal too, for thy loyal and impartial obedience: be sure, God will find thee out among the trees of the Garden, and woe be to thee, when he begins to manage such a Tryal against thee, either he will whip thee home [Page 42]by weeping Cross, the highest favour thou art capable of in such a case; or else, (which is more to be feared) will let thee alone till thy measure be full, and then reckon with thee for all together. O remember! Gifts are nothing, Duties are nothing, all external Priviledges are nothing; Truth and Perseverance is that which crowns all.
• 3. Consider, As tall Cedars in Gods Leba­non as thou or I, have fallen, and are daily fal­ling. In the later dayes some shall depart from the Faith, 1 Tim. 4.1. Under the sixth Seal the Starrs of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a Fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken with a mighty wind, Rev. 6.13. Is not God now opening this seal, and shaking the fig-tree? What year, what age, had the Devil gotten such windfalls as of late he hath gotten? The third part, nay more than the third part of the starrs are smitten, (If it were possible) they shall deceive the very elect, Matth. 24.24. But, blessed be God, who hath made it impossible; Who are kept by the power of God through Faith unto Salvation, 1 Pet. 1.5. We are kept, but not by our own power. We live, yet not we, but Christ liveth in us, Gal. 2.20. O take heed how you adventure away on your own feet. Wherefore let him that think­eth he standeth, take heed lest he fall, 1 Cor. 10.12. Many. nay, most of those that fall, never rise more, but are of them who draw back unto perdition. 'Tis true, A Peter may fall, a Noah, a Lot, a David, a Solomon may fall [...] [Page 43]the Devil may lay snares and stumbling blocks in their path, and get them down; But, though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand, Psal. 37.24. Though he fall, yet he shall rise again; and observe, though he rise, yet not by his own power, for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. O take heed then! if you fall, there you must lye, nay, there you must dye; unless that Grace which you have abused help you up: thou mayst rise, but thy losses will almost undo thee. Peter got up again, with good help, but he wept bitterly for it. Gods choisest children have fallen, but it cost them dear to rise, yet 'twas well they did rise; nay, and it may be well that it cost them so dear. O, let these be your warnings! even those thousands that stumble at, and fall, and break their necks over the Cross, which they should, and might have taken up, and carried on, both with ease and honour; and those hundreds that thus fall, and break their peace. Now all these things hapned unto them for ensamples: and are written for our admoni­tion, upon whom the ends of the world are come, 1 Cor. 10.11. O take warning by others, that others may not hereafter take warn­ing by you!
• 4. Let me ask thee, Is there not enough in Hell to soure all thy present comforts? and enough in Heaven to sweeten all thy present crosses? Tell me, Christian, if thou art not asham'd to tell, What is it thou art at a stand about, whether thou mayest go forward or back­ward? [Page 44]Is it that which is not common to Man? Hath God made thee no way to escape with it, unless thou take one of the Devils blind wayes to escape from it? What Lions are these, that it should seem impossible to pass them? Are the pleasant looks of the World so fair, so ra­vishing, so real, so beatifying, that the eternal frowns of the Almighty God can't daunt nor change them? Hast thou gotten a heaven on this side Heaven, and entail'd it on the other World too? Hast thou procured an Act of Re­peal on all those Scriptures, and unalterable Statutes of Heaven, which have provided the Contrary? As, Job 3.21. Eccles. 5.15. 1 Tim. 6.7. Psal. 49.17. &c. Oh! how soon will all these Dreams and Apparitions vanish, when once the dawning of Eternity is broken upon thee! When once that light shall appear, every thing will look like it self; Sin will then be Sin, and Heaven will be Heaven; this old Hag, the World, shall then be stript of her Harlots Vail, and shall deceive no more: Hell will be Hell indeed, and Christ will then be Christ. When thine eyes be once open'd, thou wilt see that thou art naked. And is there not enough in Heaven to make thee amends at last? Will not the End defray the charge of the Means? Canst thou think it will never quit cost to be a Christian in all places and in all cases? If Heaven be not worth this, I would never perswade thee to adventure for it: Alas, Christian! were thy heart as big as thy head, didst thou but believe thy own Confessions, all [Page 45]these If's and And's would be laid aside; thou wouldst stand no longer a choosing; the Question would be no more a Question with thee. What the World hath, and what the World can do, we know; we know the utmost of it; we can see both ends of it at once, and wrap up all it's arrows in one Syllable, Death, which, at worst, is but an Anticipation of Na­ture. Alas, alas! I am almost asham'd to dis­parage that infinite Glory above, by so vile, and disproportionable a Comparison; Well might the Apostle reckon, That the sufferings of this present time, are not worthy to be com­pared with the glory which shall be revealed in us, Rom. 8.8. What this glory is, I cannot yet tell you; He that had seen farther than ever I yet saw, knew not how to express his ravish­ing sight, and unspeakable works;
  [...], 2 Cor. 12.4.
  neither shall I here begin to tell you that little that I might, onely I say it is Heaven. And, as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him, 1 Cor. 2.9. And now, if thou art resolved to stand fast in the Lord, if thou wilt own thy professed Choice, unto the death; take with thee this three-fold Cord, and gird up the [...]oyns of thy mind with it; bind it upon thy heart, and let it be thy Cable in the Storm.

1. Take heed of over-prizing the World. Rate it not higher than thou art sure to make [...]on't. If God be come to deal with thee for it, [Page 46]be sure, take him at his first Offer. Don't out­ask, nor out-sit thy Market; convince thy self of the real value of it. And, in order hereunto, consider it, 1. In its self. 2. In the price offer'd for it. In its self, Wherein is it to be esteemed farther than the bare use of it? and as for the use of it, this concerns the Body only directly, the Soul indirectly; necessary it is, as to thy natural Being, but not as to thy future happiness; an old decaying Post, that may stand a while; and for no higher use than to prop up thy Working-house, I had almost said thy Prison-house: nay, it sits as a Nail in the door, to keep thee out of thy Dwelling-ho [...]se. Lo! this is the Palladium, the Pearl of such great worth! Consider it again, in the price offered for it, Matth. 19.29. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my names sake, shall receive an hun­dred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life. Here's a Trade for wise Merchants, that are complaining they know not wherein to deal to get a penny; here's an Ensuring Office, that shall secure thee an hundred pounds for the adventure of one. With whom canst thou deal else in all the world, at such an advantage [...] And if this be not enough, there is thy Lif [...] settled on an Everlasting inheritance. Nay, believe it, Brethren, Christ makes the least on't [...] Give me but thy self, sayes God, and I will give thee my self; give me all thou hast, and I will give thee all I have; let me command thee and [Page 47]thine, (which yet is but my own, and my pro­per right, and ever under my absolute dispose) and thou shalt command both me and mine;Isa. 45.11. let me have this Earth at my use, and thou shalt have both it and Heaven too, at thy use and service for ever. On this account it was, that St. Paul cryes out, Phil. 3.8. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the excel­lency of the knowledg of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. O my brethren! are you like to lose by such a bargain? O, whence is it then that every Shop is full but God's? that every other trade is ambitiously sued, or patiently served for, and this only goes a begging? None but the worlds fools have wit enough to adventure this way.

Ay, but your worldly hearts would say,Ob. might they but speak out; We may look long enough for this: A little in hand is better than a great deal more at such a distance.

This I shall answer briefly, Answ. but as fully as I can.

1. Though it be future, yet it is sure. Thou hast the word of a God for it, who is truth it self, and cannot lie. Nay, thou hast his Hand and Seal for it; his Word, his Covenant, and all [...]he Promises and Priviledges of them ratified and sealed with his own Seal of Divine Inspi­ration and Institution, and that in the blood of the Lamb, in whom all the promises are [...]ea and Amen, 2 Cor. 1.20. What thou [Page 48]hast not yet in thy hand, is certainly forth­coming.

2. Thou art sure to have it into hand as thou hast real need on't. It is not for the cre­dit of a Father to let his children go naked and famisht, unless it be in order to some greater good; though I might interpose, by the way, that God seldome or never turns out any stark naked. Nemo tam pauper vivit quam na­tus est. The Covenant of Grace hath provided as well for this life, as for the life to come. I have been young, and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread, Psal. 37.23. He hath given meat to them that fear him, he will ever be mindful of his Covenant, Psal. 111.5.

But we often see the dearest of Gods chil­dren in lack, Ob. and that not only of conve­niencies, but even of necessaries; 'tis a com­mon Case.

Let God be true, Answ. and every man a lyar. Men are not held to be competent Judges in their own case. Thy Parum, may be Satis in God's Translation. Though they be sometimes without conveniencies, yet 'tis improper, I had almost said, false, to say they want them, for there is no want to them that fear him, Psal. 34.9. This Scripture is the word of God, and therefore true. If there be any want, 'tis from within, not from above; mistake not, Christi­an, 'tis the Ship moves, not the Shoar. I hope you confess that that is not necessary that God doth not see necessary: Well then, can it possi­bly [Page 49]consist with his glorious Attributes, to see any thing really necessary pro hic & nunc, and yet deny it to such as are in Covenant with him, when he hath plainly asserted, and faith­fully engaged the contrary?

3. Nay, let me add, This hundred-fold en­crease thou hast already; and that not only in the promise and title, but in the possession. Mar. 10.29, 30. Here you have a large Edition of the fore-cited Text: Verily, I say unto you, Here's the Oath, there is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake and the Gospel's, but he shall receive an hundred fold: now in this time, houses, and si­sters, &c. with persecutions; that is, He that shall leave Lands, or Relations, &c. for my sake, shall find as good again another where. Strangers shall be to him as Father and Mo­ther, &c. as tender, as careful, as friendly, as those Relations he left. Their houses shall be his houses, and their lands his lands. These [...]re your persecution-Fathers, and your perse­cution-Brethren, the Relations begotten in, and [...]y your bonds, the lands and houses purchased [...]y your poverty and want's as God dealt with Joseph, Gen. 39.4. And Joseph found grace [...] his sight. Here Joseph found the Father and Brethren which he had lost: Thus in the same [...]ind; and yet if this be not enough, or if it be [...]ot alway made up this way, yet be sure it shall in that better part: if thou be not paid in [...]ounters, thou shalt in Gold. Godliness with [Page 50]contentment, Godliness in all its Consequences, or Appurtenances; Persecutions with content­ment is great gain. That little, that never-so-little that a righteous man hath, is better than the riches of many wicked, Psal. 37.16. Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a stalled Ox [...] and hatred therewith, Prov. 15.17. I might [...] forth the vastness of the over-plus of this advan­tage, both in respect of the Nature, and the Measure of it; but I must not Digress too far [...].

2. Clear up thy Assurance of Gods good-wi [...] to thee. 'Twill be a hard matter to suffer long, [...] to suffer much, for One, of whose special love you are not well, and convincingly perswaded. Here­in stands the superlative Excellency and commen­dation of the love of Christ, that he dyed [...] Eremies, Rom, 5.8. But 'twill be hard for you to drink of this Cup. I am not of their mind, who own no such thing as the Doctrine of Assurance but would cut God's Standard, and reduce it un­to Antichrist's Peck. Neither am I of their Per­swasion; who make Assurance the Genus of Justi­fying Faith; These are the Scylla and Chary [...] ­dis, which have slain their thousands, nay, the [...] ten thousands. Nor shall I digress so farr, as [...] insist on the confutation of either: onely this [...] say, Give diligence to make your calling and Ele­ction sure; as the Apostle exhorts, 2 Pet. 1.1 [...]. For if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. Ma [...] your Calling and Election, [...], firm and st [...] ­ble. Not, Objectivè; For, the Foundation of G [...] standeth sure, 2 Tim. 2.19. Election is Elect­ion, [Page 51]and Calling is Calling, whether we know it or no; neither is it founded on opera praevisa, or peracta. But Subjectivè, That ye may believe, and besure; [...], as St. John speaks, Joh. 6.69. that ye may certainly know, and fully testifie your Calling and Election. And that this is the truth of this Scripture; Observe, first, his Inversion; [...]ot Election and Calling, in their natural Or­der, but Calling and Election, q. d. Make evi­dence of your Election by your Calling; and then give diligenceto make it sure. [...] [ [...] as Steph. Divers. lect.]: for if ye [...]o these things, (before advised and enjoyned, [...]er. 5, 6, 7. you shall never fall; not only from [...]our Elected and Justified Estate, but not from any proportionable and comfortable sense of it: Keep [...]he Clouds of sin from interposing; keep the low­er Regians clear, and the Sun shall cast thy shade [...] the way wherein thou art walking. As ever [...]hou hopest to find that Cordial at the Bottom, and [...] hold out with Courage and Patience till the [...]oyls shall come to be divided; get some in­fallible Evidences, that thy Captain's heart is [...]ith thee. Alas I Christian, thou art little a ware, [...] what use Love will be in hard service. Now thou lovest, but considerest not what standing [...]edges and Reciprocations thy love hath gotten [...]om above; onely thou hast thy ease, thy health, [...]y liberty: God hath made a hedge about thee, [...]d thou art not serving him for nought; thou [...]st thy Priviledges, and Spiritual Advantages in [...]mmon with others; the same Sun that is shining [...] the wicked, shines on thee too. These are [Page 52] to thee some tokens of Fatherly Love and care, on the account of Covenant-Interest and Relation; Ay, but when thy Goshen is become a Wilderness, and these tokens cease, what infallible Evidence [...] hast thou then, on which thou canst boldly cast thy Body, and Soul, and Hopes and all! If eve [...] you fall, it's like to be under your burden, or over some Rock of offence: and now that your old Staff is broken, what have you to trust to? O [...] keep in with God; give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure, and so, Y [...] shall not, not at any time fall, [...].

3. Examine, and prove the strergth of thy Gra­ces. Hast thou nothing to try thy Faith and Pa­tience with? no smaller Burdens to begin with [...] no broken Papers to try thy Pen upon? Taur [...] feret, qui Vitulum tulit. Take on thy whole Ar­mour, and prove it; thou art called to fight [...] thy life; this is it must defend thee, or thou m [...] ­dye for't. Thine Armour is invulnerable, [...] thou knowest how to use it. Young Souldiers, th [...] have only the Theorio of Arms, will find them­selves miserably to seek, when they come [...] Practice. Hast thou no Personal troubles, [...] Family-Crosses, no Scorns nor Contempt, no [...] that Wrong thee, or Speak Evil of thee, no Pai [...], no Disease, no Fear art thou in, no trouble [...] other men? If thou hast no burden considerable of thy own; hast thou no assisting work offer [...] Are there none of thy poor brethren overladen [...] thee, whose burden thou art commanded to bea [...] Gal. 6.2. Try now what thy Faith and Pa [...] ­ence, thy Humility and Self-denial, thy H [...] [Page 53]and Charity will do, in these common and lesser cases. It may be thou art hoping to hold out well enough at last, and in greater Trials to stand thy ground with the best. O consider! how sadly thou wilt befool thy self? First, He that will not serve in his own File, whereunto he is called, may look to be disbanded, and cast out of the Service for ever, like one of Gideon's supernume­rary Cowards; and what then? He that is not with me, is against me. Secondly, It argues thy mercenary hopes, as well as thy slavish fear; and what thou dost at last (should [...]st thou make good thy glorying) would appear to proceed from no Love or Loyalty to thy Captain or to thy Cause; out a servile, and base fear, of losing the glory, or advantage of the Victory: and how little art thou like to be thankt for such service? Lastly, It seems very irrational, nay, somewhat impossible, to [...]ring thy boasting to pass. For, If thou hast run with the Footmen, and they have wearied thee, [...]hen how canst thou contend with horses? Jer. [...] 2.5. How canst thou think to bear blows, that [...]t not able to stand under a frown? Is the great­ [...]r more tolerable than the less? Sure, if à minori [...]d majus be true arguing, thou wilt be deceived. Thou art commanded to lay aside every weight [...] that hinders thee) and run with Patience, Heb. [...] 2.1. and dost thou think to tugg it along, till [...]y back break under it, and the Prize be won? What will running avail thee when the Race [...] over? Once behind hand, and ever behind and. When thy Vessel is sull, and begins to [Page 54]sink, then 'twill be time to shuffle thy undoing wares over-board.

That the Afflictions wherewith God Exerci­seth his People, Doct. 2 are but Rods.

I have gone beyond my purpose on the first Doctrine, therefore shall be the more succinct here; where I have but these three things to do: 1. I shall shew you that they are Rods, and but Rods. 2. What Rods they are. 3. Ap­ply it.

That they are Rods, and but Rods, appears;

• 1. Because they are so called in Scripture Psal. 89.32. Then will I visit their transgres­sion with the rod, and their iniquity with stripe [...] and Psal. 125.3. The rod of the wicked shall not rest on the lot of the righteous [...] and Isa. 10.5. O Assyrian! the Rod of mi [...] Anger, &c.
• 2. God useth them to no other end about his people, but as Rods. Solomon tells us what th [...] end and use of the Rod is, Prov. 22.15. Foolish­ness is bound in the heart of a child, but the r [...] of correction shall drive it from him. This is th [...] very design of the Rod in Question. Zion sh [...] be plowed like a field— Jer. 26.18. You know what Plowing means, though it be to lay the fir [...] fallow a while, yet it is in order to a Crop. Th [...] Plow is an Instrument of Husbandry; where [...] see God's Plow, we may conclude he intends bo [...] the Seed and the Harvest in their Season. I know there is a vast odds between [...] and [...] amending and avenging; curing and cursing o [...] [Page 55]Person or People; but we are speaking of such afflictions as are common to the people of God, as such, whether personal or natural: of which the Apostle speaks, Heb. 12.10, 11. For they verily, for a few dayes, chastened us after their own pleasure; but he, for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness: for no chasten­ing for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grie­vous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peace­able fruit of righteousness.
• 3. God dealeth with the Instruments as with Rods. When the Child is sufficiently beaten, the Rod is burnt, or laid aside. 2 Thess. 1.6. It is a righte­ous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you. This was the end of the Egyptian rod, as you may read at large, Exod. 14. So God dealt with the Assyrian, the rod of his Anger, Isa. 10.27. And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder; and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. When Gods areing time is over, he will burn the yoke, that sate too heavy, and gall'd the necks of his children: when the long Furrows are turn'd, and the seed is in, and co­vered; he will drive off the Beasts, and they shall oppress no more, but be fed for the day of slaughter.

2. The second thing proposed, was, to shew you what Rods these are; This I shall do under these three heads.

• 1. In themselves.
• 2. With relation to our sins.
• [Page 56]3. In respect of Gods ends in them.

In themselves, they may be,

• 1. Sharp rods. No chastening for the present, or in its self, seemeth joyous, but grievous. Af­fliction is the burden and distress of Nature. Every Cross hath its nails with it, according to its kind and degree: yet God hath some greater and sharper than others, that will not only scratch the skin, but tear the flesh, and break the bones. All his rods are not of a size; that he may proportion himself to the strength of the Offendent, and the height of the Offence. God may set a Bramble over thee, and hedge thee about with Thorns. Wonder not, Christian, if the Rod smart, that is dipt in the Guilt of sin, and Divine displeasure.
• 2. Long Rods. Such as may reach over all thy comforts, all thy hopes, all thy contentments. Such was Job's case, trouble on every hand, with­in door and without. God may lay thee out in such a storm, as shall swill thee from head to foot, and leave thee never a dry thread; nay, he may wrap up thy spiritual peace in the same plight too, and make thee cry out with David, All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me, Psal. 42.7. The Cloud may overspread thy whole Horizon, in all the parts and dimensions of it. Sometimes God cuts his Rod so long, that it shall reach from thy Cradle to thy Grave [...] nay, he hath a rod that is as long as Eterning it self; which is the rod he hath laid up for his Enemies.
• 3. Strong rods. Such as thou canst neither [Page 57]stand against, nor stand under: that will make thee yield and stoop to them. Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop, Pro. 12.25. God may bring such an evil upon thee, and lay his Siege so close at thee, that thou shalt not be able to escape; as he threatned Jerem. 11.11. The weakness of God is stronger than men, 1 Cor. 1.25. Who can contend with the Almighty, or quench the flames of Consuming fire? He is wise in heart, and migh­ty in strength; Who hath hardned himself against him, and hath prospered? Job 9.4. God will draw his arrow so deep, that it shall be sure to [...]each home, and strike its mark: though ten thou­sands stand in his way; though Earth and Hell conspite with their utmost skill and power, yet there's no resisting of his absolute will and pur­pose; nor turning him from his designed end or means. Both his work and his way are irresistable.

2. With relation to our sins; they are,

• 1. Short rods. Sin is of an infinite extent: had not God set its bounds, it would run parallel with [...]ternity. Nay, in some respect, it is actually as [...]ndless as eternity it self. For, though there be no sinning in Hell, as sin hath reference to the Law, [...]t being Gods Goal, and therefore exempt from [...]he Law:
  Rom. 5.13.
  And Sin is not imputed where there is [...]o Law. But, as sin is the depraved habit of [...]he mind, and the [...] of the whole Soul, [...]t accumulates in that estate of eternal separation from God, and rises to its highest Zenith; so that those that were bad before, are now un­conceivably worse. Let him that is filthy, be [...]lthy still. The Covetous never so greedy, as [...]ow; The unclean never burn'd, as now; The en­vious [Page 58]never gnasht the teeth as now: and yet the Objects of those lusts at an unaccessible distance: the gulf is fixt, which doubtless is no small part of their torment. I should speak more fully here, but that it is plainly out of my way. That which I aim at, is, to measure the Rod with Sin, the Sire and Progenitor of it; and we find that the Giant hath begotten a Dwarf. Sin hath seiz'd on every faculty, and lies in every joynt: but the Rod hits but in one, or some few parts at once. The yoke lies but on the neck. The Disease is universal, yet the Vein is open'd but in puncto. Nay, Sin is a complicated evil, a Bundle of diffe­rent Species; some, in the seeds onely; others, both in the root and branch. But the Rod is won [...] to come single: God doth not heap up misery, as we heap up iniquity; He punisheth, in this world, seven times, nay, seven thousand times less than our iniquities do deserve.
• 2. Light Rods. Our light affliction which is but for a moment, &c. 2 Cor. 4.17. God may lay more upon thee, than thou art willing to bear; but not more than thou art enabled to bear. More than thou bearest with Patience: but not more than Patienee would bear. Thou hast no reason to shrink from, or sink under thy burden, till God lay on the burden of thy sin, either in the Guilt, or in the full demerit of it. This indeed is a weight, which none but he that was God as well as Man could ever bear. Nay, see how i [...] stretcht the very Cords of his Soul, as it were to stand up under it. Hear, how God himself complains of it, Amos 2.13. Behold, I am pres­sed [Page 59]under you, as a Cart is pressed that is full of sheaves. O my brethren! never com­plain that God hath laid on you his little-finger, when he might have crusht you with his Loyns.
• 3. In respect of God's ends in them; they are,
  • 1. Teaching Rods. The rod and reproof give Wisdom, Prov. 29.15. The rod is Gods pen wherewith he writes his Law, and our duty, on the fleshy Tables of our hearts. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes, Psal. 119.71. It is good; the Affliction is over, but the Good remains. The good that is in other things, dyes with them; Health, Wealth, Peace, Friends, and all those things that contribute to the sweetness of a natural life, are good but while they are enjoyed, unless that good be sanctified by a faithful and successful improvement of them to their spiritual uses and ends. There are thousands in Hell, that are cur­sing the day that ever they were born to such E­states, and arriv'd to such Honours, and liv'd at such Ease: these things were once taken to be good, nay, the only good; but now that the other side is turn'd up, and upon deliberate re­view, they are not like the things they were. Thus the Devil cheats poor Souls, with a fair Image on the one side, but plain Brass on the other. But it is good for me that I have been af­flicted; The Cross lay uppermost, but the Crown was under; and true Gold on both sides; Gol­den afflictions, and Golden glory. That I might [Page 60]learn thy Statutes. These are Mysteries that the Worlds-Disciples are ignorant of. Indeed, they pretend to great Matters, great Learning, and high Parts, men of vast Reading, and piercing Wits; and yet they dye Fools at last, and their Wits pierce themselves. But, Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy Law. Psal. 94.12.
  • 2. Establishing rods. Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now have I kept thy word. Psal. 119.67. The shaking of the tree strengthens the root. When I liv'd at ease, and every thing was, as, I thought, I would have it: when I selt no pain, and saw no trouble: I was wandring and gad­ding after every temptation, my foot was in every snare, and one swallowed-Bait engaged me for an­other. I was beating up and down the streets like a truant child, that had no Guardian nor Gover­nour, but his own Will. But now, since thou hast fetcht me in with thy whip; since thou hast been dealing with me by such or such an affliction or cross: since I have smarted under thy rod, the case hath been happily altered with me: I have kept thy word. O Christian! thou canst not think how much thou art indebted unto God for his Rod.
  • 3. Comforting Rods. This is a Mystery to the poor blind World. What! Affliction the way to Comfort? Trouble the way to Peace? Liberty the fruit of Banishment? Meat out of the Eater, and Sweetness out of the Strong? This is a Riddle, how can these things be? Alas, they are people of another Climate, that can't live by such herbs; no, nor yet by Faith. What can [Page 61]comfort them, when the heart of their comfort is broken? What, or who can bless them, when their Gods are spoiled? Ye have taken away my Gods, and what have I more? Judg. 18.24. If these fail, they are undone. This is their Main chance, their Portion, their All. In and by this Element they live. 'Tis true, they have some other things to discourse of now and then, but 'tis that they can't live on. When they saw the boldness of Peter and John,— they marvelled, Act. 4.13. 'Tis a won­der to them to see the Bush in a flame, and yet not burnt: to see men in the fire, and yet not con­sumed: among Lions, and yet not devoured. But, sayes David, Thy rod, and thy staff, they comfort me, Psal. 23.4. No Comforts like to Affliction-comforts: This is the Sword of Goliah the Phi­listim,
    1 Sam 1.9.
    wrapt in a cloth behind the Ephod; there is none like it. The highest wages are reserved for the hardest service. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so oun consolation also aboundeth by Christ, 2 Cor. 1.5. The Vessel never rides bet­ter than on Spring-tides, when the waters are highest. O how sweet are Prison-Cordials! how pleasant are his looks, when darted through the blackest Cloud! Oh what light is there in the fla­ming furnace, when God is there too! What a smell is there in his Distilling-house; how sweet are the Roses when the fire is under! But I cannot stay here; I must hasten.
  • 4. Feeding Rods. Gods children never begin to prove, till they fall on Pulse and Water: Feed thy people with thy rod, Mich. 7.14. And in this sense we may call it, the Bread of adversity, and the Water of affliction, Isa. 30.20. which are as [Page 62]absolutely necessary (though not per se, but per accidens, and as the case stands) unto our spiri­tual life and growth, as bread and water are to our natural. Alas, Christian I Thou canst not live without sufferings. You say, 'Tis pity that fair weather should ever hurt. But it's certain, a con­tinual Summer would wither thee, branch and root; the Winter must succeed in its course, or thou must dye. This necessity proceeds not from the Arbitrariness of Gods Sovereign dispose, but from thy own temper and constitution. God is not like those Physicians that covet to in [...]ich themselves by their Customers, and will physick them right or wrong, that they may live upon them, though their poor Patients dye under them. Oh, 'tis well for us, that we have to do with a God, that knows how to chastise us in Judgment, and immeasure, and will correct the poysonous Ingredients of the Fury and Envy of unreasona­ble men [...] that will pare his rod, lest it should fall too heavy, or too many wayes at once. Surely, the wrath of man shall praise thee, the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain, Psal. 76.10.
  • 5. Improving rod. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit, Joh. 15.2. God doth not onely lopp off the dry boughs, but pares [...]p the green; and this is the way to make a fruitful tree more fruitful. That tree onely is in good case, that is full of fruit, let the hus­bandry be what it will. Affliction is the wa­tring [Page 63]of Gods Garden; though the drops may fall so. heavy and thick, that they may beat all flat to the ground, as if it should never rise more; yet it quickly recovers, and with the fresher vi­gour and beauty. What an odour doth there result from every odoriferous herb, in its nature and kind, after a soaking shower? Every Grace thrives under a sanctified Rod.
    Stellae no­cte splen­dent quae die non vi­dentur. Bern.
    Humility never lookt like its self till now. Heavenly-mindedness had never such a face, as now that it is washt in its own tears, from the filth and polluting scum of this Earth. Faith was never so active and clear-sighted: Patience never so strong at the Ancles: Charity was never so heart-whole as now, that God hath dieted them with his rod. The Judgment never so settled; The Will never so deliberately resolv'd; The Conscience never so tender and clear; The Affections never in such a posture and temper; The Temple of the heart never so kept as now, that God hath made a scourge of small cords, and driven out all those Merchants that held their Exchange there.
    Ioh. 2.12.

Hitherto for the Doctrinal part: Let me ap­ply it now, for

• Information.
• Exhortation.
• Consolation.

A word to each of these, and so I proceed.

If this be so, Then the wicked are sadly decei­ved; Ʋse 1 and that,

• 1. In themselves. Howbeit, he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so— For he saith, [Page 64]are not my Princes altogether Kings? Isa. 10.7, 8. With our tongues we will prevail. Our lips are our own, who is Lord over us? Psal. 12.4. Alas, Sinner! this is thy day, and it is but a day. Mistake not, thou art but a Rod, though it hath pleased the Father to set thee on high in his house, for the terrour of his children; thy use is no longer than while the child is under age, when once the Heir is of years, this penal Disci­pline shall cease for ever; and then all thine ar­rows shall return on thine own head, tipt with that vengeance that thy Pride and Cruelty hath deserved.
• 2. In the people of God. They are not the persons thou takest, and accusest them for: the Fools, the Hypocrites, the Troublers of Israel. The World knoweth us not—Now we are the so [...] of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, 1 Joh. 3.1, 2. Oh Sinners [...] what will ye say, when ye shall see those, whom now ye hate and persecute, and brand with hy­pocrisie and sedition, coming in the Clouds, and in the Glory and Power of their Father, to pas [...] Sentence and Judgment upon you? Do ye un­know, that the Saints shall judge the World [...] 1 Cor. 6.2. Go on then, arraign, condemn execute; But know thou, that for all these thing God will bring thee into Judgment, Eccles. 11.9. For a good work, say they, we stone thee not; b [...] for Blasphemy, &c. Joh. 10.33. But wilt tho [...] adventure thy soul on [...]t, that thou art not mi­staken? Was not Saul once of thy mind, be­fore [Page 65]God from Heaven convinc'd him what he was doing? He little thought it had been Christ he was persecuting. Oh! don't thy Conscience sometimes tell thee, when thy Interest and Malice [...]s at an Ebb; that the Question deserves thy better consideration, whether it be Dagon or the Ark, thou art fighting against? the Fox or the Lamb, thou art hunting and smiting? Yea, the [...]ime cometh, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doth God service, Joh. 16.2. [...]Twere very strange indeed, if any one should [...]hink to do Christ a service, in destroying his Members, eo nomine: but, under other notions [...]nd accusations. Well Sinner! if thou wilt not [...]ebate the case now, God himself shall shortly [...]ebate it with thee, and shall judg uprightly be­tween us.

Now to the people of God. Ʋse 2 Is all that you [...]mplain of, and groan under, but a Rod, and [...]ch a rod? then be exhorted,

• 1. To bear the rod. Nay, you must bear it: [...]he yoke is pinn'd-on, that it cannot be shaken [...]. But that you may not lose your labour, and [...]pes, bear it,
  • 1. With Faith: the affiance, confidence, and [...]quiescence of Faith.
  • 2. With Patience.
  • 3. With Resolution.
  • 4. With Joy.
  • 5. With Perseverance. Matth. 16.24. Then [...]d Jesus unto his Disciples, If any man will [...]e after me, let him deny himself, and take up [...] Cross, and follow me. If you will be Chri­stians, [Page 66]you must bear the Cross; and for your help and encouragement consider,
    • 1. 'Tis the Cross of Christ. He hath born it before you; He hath born it for you; He bea [...] it in you; He layes it on you: And in his time, He, and he alone, can and will take it from you.
    • 2. 'Tis thy Cross. The burden that is weighed out for thee. The rod appointed thee: there is a necessity, & praecepti, & medii; and thou [...] bear it.
    • 3. 'Tis a gainful, though a painful Cross like Aesop's Load; the burden that threatens th [...] death, is the bread that maintains thy life.
    • 4. 'Tis an honourable, though a dishonoured Cross, The Vexillum & Insignia Christi. I b [...] in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus, G [...] 6.17. The wounds and scars of a Souldier, an [...] the visible witnesses of his valour: and his v [...] ­lour the Crown of his honour.
    • 5. 'Tis a Victorious Cross. In this War th [...] conquered conquers,
      Patiendo non resi­stendo, Aug. Euseb. l 4. Hist. c. 13.
      and patience only wins th [...] field. Christianos victores evadere, dum m [...] malunt pro sua Religione qudm Imperatorum [...] ctis parere. That the Christians became Co [...] querours, while they chose to dye for their [...] ligion, rather than to obey the Edicts of [...] Emperours;
      Anton. Imp.
      was confest by an Heathen E [...] perour himself.
• 2. To kiss the rod. Kiss the son, lest he be an­gry, Psal. 2.12. Kissing imports Salutation, [...] welcom entertaining of a person, or thing; [...] ­luntary submission to it; and a full and free [...] conciliation with it. Can you? will you, th [...] [Page 67]kiss the rod, not only in the Author, or Efficient, but in the Instruments, or second Causes of it? It is not sufficient, that the child kiss his Father that corrects him, but he must kiss the rod too. But to prevent an Objection or a Mistake here. I must add, That God doth not expect, nay, he will not, that his children should kiss the rod, on any other account, but as they are rods in their Fathers hands: Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, nor with the workers themselves, farther than the Law of God and Nature do allow, or the Christian du­ty toward their Souls requires. Take heed of striking hands with the Gibeonites; of comply­ing, or compounding with the rod.
• 3. To improve the Rod. To this end, walk with God under it, and wait upon God in it. When the Streams run foul below, draw up to the Fountain, and dwell there. If the Floods be upon the Earth, repair, with the Dove, to the Ark, where thou mayst be at rest; Walk with God in his way, and by his Rule, when he is not pleased to walk with thee in thy way, and by thy rule; Then is the rod improv'd, when it touches with God's design. You have heard, they are Teaching Rods; oh, learn by them! Establishing Rods; oh, take root under them! Comforting Rods; oh, suck out the marrow of these bones! Feeding Rods; oh, shut not the mouth too fast against them! Let them in, and set them down, and digest them, when God offers them; and so your growth and improve­ment shall abundantly appear. I am fain to [Page 68]post over these things, that I may not be pre­vented in what I chiefly aim at.

If it be but a Rod, Use. 3 and the Rod of Fatherly Discipline and Love; then, Christian, let me offer these three rich Cordials to refresh thy spirits in such a case.

1. It proves thy Adoption. And in nothing terrified by your Adversaries, which is to them an evident token of Perdition; but to you of Salvation; and that of God, Phil. 1.28. If ye endure chastning, God dealeth with you, as with sons: for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not? Heb. 12.7.

But Solomon tells us,Ob. Eccles. 9.1. that no man knoweth love or hatred, by all that is before him. How then shall I know, what, or when afflictions are conclusive of Adoption?

'Tis true, Answ. 1 God is not wont to set his Seal to Blanks; but where Adoption is, this is one Seal or Evidence of it. No man knoweth either love or hatred, by all that is before him; if he hath nothing else to know it by, this is no adaequate, but an assistant, or comple­tive Evidence.

These Evidences are not so discernable Co­ming, Answ. 2 as Going. When David had gotten through, he looks back, and concludes; It is good for me, that I have been afflicted. We may judge something from the Cause, for which, and the Instruments by which, we suffer: but most safely, from the work, and operation o [...] them; the manner, nature, and fruit of their working. Then doth the Physick promise a [Page 69] Recovery, when it kindly works upon, and for­cibly works off the Cause of the Disease. The teaching, establishing, comforting, feeding, im­proving, and improved Rod, is the restoring, and sealing Rod. But when it works the con­trary, as, on too many it doth, and, like the Troubled Sea, casts up mire and dirt: or but at halves; when it stirs the Pool, and causeth sin to come in remembrance, and makes the Soul, it may be, stomach-sick, but carries it not off; in this case, in this sad case, it seals too; but, as to thine Adversaries, It is an evident token of perdition.

2. It seals to thy Portion. It is a faithful saying, For if we be dead with him, we shall al­so live with him; if we suffer, we shall also reign with him, 2 Tim. 2.11, 12. Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee, sayes Peter, what shall we have therefore? Verily, I say un­to you, sayes Christ, that ye which have follow­ed me in the Regeneration, in the work, the du­ties, and difficulties of Regeneration, when the son of man shall sit in the throne of his Glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve Tribes of Israel, Matth. 19.27, 28. This is the day of thy labour, and every stroke thou strikest in it, is in earnest of thy Rest. As sure as thou seest the Sun shining in the Heavens, the Evening is at hand, which shall crown thy dayes work. For God is not unrighteous, to forget your work, and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, Heb. 6.10. Bear up your spirits then; He that hath espoused you, will [Page 70]shortly marry you, and celebrate your bles­sed and glorious Nuptials, in the house, and kingdom of his Father, for ever. O the ravish­ing Songs! the joyful Epithalamiums that shall then be sung! He that hath hired you, will surely and fully reward you; when you shall know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his Inheri­tance in the Saints, Eph. 1.18. Though thou art sweating, toyling, suffering, sighing, weep­ing now; by this thou mayest know, that thy rest remaineth.

3. It works for thy good. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose, Rom. 8.28. All these things which seem to be against thee, are directly making for thee. God is now emptying thee from vessel to vessel, that thou mayest not settle on thy lees: that thy (old) tast may not remain in thee: that thy scent may be changed, and thou mayest be prepared for the Cup, and Table of his Glory. He would never thus winnow and grind thee, but that he might have thee nearer to him; and make of thee, Savou­ry meat, such as he loveth, and feast him­self with thee to all eternity. Nay, it makes for thy present good; The tryed Silver is now Current Coyn; and they that scrupled at it before, that call'd it Brass, base, and counterfeit Metal; that scour'd it, cut it, and curst it, and blasphem'd the sacred Stamp, and Coiner of it; are now asham'd of themselves, [Page 71]and glad would they be,Math. 25.8. like the Foolish Vir­gins, of some of your oyl. I might here tell you mose at large, how the Lords rod, and every branch of it, as all the Occurrences of his Pro­vidence, are working together for the good of them that love him, both in respect of the design and event. But this hath been the happy labour of a far abler Pen already, whereunto I refer you,Mr. R.A. and shall add no more here.

That there is no affliction can light on the people of God, Doc. 3 without his divine permission and appointment.

But I intend not to insist here, only give me leave to make good what I have said; which I shall do in the mouth of these two Witnesses: Matth. 10.29, 30. Are not two Sparrows sold for a farthing? and not one of them shall fall to the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your heads are all numbred. And then he concludes, à majore, Fear ye not there­fore, ye are of more worth than many Spar­rows. If a Sparrow, which, in buying and sel­ling, is valued but at half a Farthing; nay, if a hair of our heads, which is but an excremen­titious Appendix to the body, can't be any way disposed of, without the all-commanding Coun­sel of Heaven; doubt not, Christian, but that thy higher affairs, thy greater concernments ei­ther of Body or Soul, are under special appoint­ment and designation. Hath he such care of Sparrows? and will he forget his Doves? Cant. 6.9. Isa. 62.3. Will he not lose a hair of thy head? and will he be prodigal of the pretious Jewels of his royal [Page 72]Crown and Diadem? Surely, he that guides thy hairs to the ground, will not suffer the Rod to fall, without special Licence and ordination, on thy back, Isa. 10.23. The Consumption de­creed, shall overflow with righteousness. For the Lord God of hosts shall make a Consumpti­on, even determined in the midst of all the Land. Whoever, or whatever be the Instru­ments, they must work by Gods rule, and in Gods determined, though they cross his pre­scribed way.

Proceed we now to the last Doctrine, yet that which was the first in our eye.

That the Lords Rod is no dumb rod. Doc. 4 It is a speaking, pleading rod.

This we shall 1. Prove. 2. Interpret (as God shall enable) the Voice of it. 1. In Ge­neral. 2. In Special. 3. We shall apply all very briefly.

Here are two Arguments coucht in the Text it self, to illustrate the [...] of this truth.

• 1. The Lord cryes for Audience. He hath now sent his Rod to plead his Quarrel, seeing his Prophets could not be heard; and now com­mands their attention to this his severer Messen­ger: Hear ye the rod. Which clearly implies, that it hath a Voice; nay, an intelligible, though in it self, an inarticulate Voice. His Rod, and his Word, are sometimes Synonyma in Scripture; as Isa. 11.4. He shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. God doth some­times speak Rods, his Words do wound, and [Page 73]kill. When he rides forth, as St. John describes it, Rev. 19.12, 13, 14, 15. Cloathed with a vesture dipt in blood, and out of his mouth go­eth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, &c. And as he speaks rods, so his rod speaks and pleads with those unto whom it is sent.
• 2. The Text tells us, that it is the Rod of divine and special appointment; which argues the End and design of it; it is a designed, and a designing Rod. God doth not shoot his ar­rows at Random, without mark or aim; but he hath a Wherefore for every particular of his Providence. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep, 1 Cor. 11.30. This is one main use God makes of his Rod, to point at his meaning by it, and to give us the sensible and visible Characters and Emblems of his mind. God spake in divers manners in time past, unto the Fathers, by the Prophets, sayes the Apostle, Heb. 1.1. But hath in these last dayes spoken unto us by his Son. And now, may I say, in divers manners too. Sometimes by his Word, in plain Scripture; sometimes by the explaining, or awakening Ministry of it; and that either in Doctrine or Reproof and Threat­ning; or in Promise and Incouragement; Sometimes by his Spirit, in the secret workings and whispers of it, in, and on the Conscience; and sometimes by his Rod; when our stupid Dulness, or perverse Carelesness is grown to such a pass, that other means and wayes are [Page 74]ineffectual; then he takes up his rod, and points more plainly and convincingly at our duty, and engageth us in it, with the more fixed, and solemn resolution. Thus far the Text it self confirms its own truth: And let this serve at present to prove the [...] of it.

I shall add but a word or two more, for the Demonstration of the [...]: and so proceed to the Interpretation of the voice.

For Demonstration, or why the Lords Rod should have a Voice.

• 1. For the glory of his Attributes. Gods Wisdom, Justice, and Mercy, are highly con­cern'd in it. To think that Divine Dispensati­ons are steer'd by a blind Instinct Necessity, or Casualty, without some gloriously designed, and determined End, is Atheistically to blaspheme his heavenly Wisdom. Affliction cometh not forth of the dust, Job 5.6. God has a Wheel within the wheel; a wheel of infinite Counsel and Wisdom, which moves within the wheel of external Providence. Deus & Natura nihil fru­stra agunt. Nay, it would greatly derogate from the glory of his Justice, to exercise his Rod, without some proportionable End: For, (to speak with holy reverence) God is, as it were, bound in all his Divine Actions, to aim at his own Glory, because there is no higher End, for all Humane, Angelical, or Divine Motions to terminate in. And wherein is he glorified more than in the high Exploits, and blessed Fruit of his Rod? This is, as it were, the Scepter, the Fasces of his Kingdom, the Coercive Laws of [Page 75]his Government, and the great visible Pillars of his Jurisdiction over the sons of men, Now it is certain, that on the account of his absolute, and supreme Sovereignty, he may, without any violation of his Justice, dispose both of Us and Ours, as he pleases; neither is he bound to give us an Account of his wayes, any more than we are bound to give the Worms we tread on an account of ours. He might deal with us with dumb blows, and never stand to reason the case with us. He once gave us both to know, to Will and Obey; and dare we think to enjoyn him to look up, or repair what we have lost or spoi'd? Though we have pluckt out the eyes he gave us to see with, and stopt the ears he gave us to hear with, may he not in Justice require it at our hands? and that, not only by a Precept, but a Penal Law? Yet, such is the blessed Commen­dation, and condescention of his Grace and Mercy, that he will plead with us before he strikes; nay, and his very Rod shall speak, and that in such a Dialect, as our poor, broken ca­pacities may in some certain and saving manner apprehend.
• 2. To reach his Ends. God's End is not bare­ly to manifest the greatness of his Almighty Power, nor the severity of his Supreme Justice, in crushing in pieces the poor Potsheards of the earth; but to reduce his degenerate, fallen Crea­tures, to a nearer Resemblance, and fuller par­ticipation of that Blessed Image of his own, which he had at first enstamped on them. Man was the Epitome of Gods six dayes work, the [Page 76] Microcosm, the little World, the Crown of his Creation: Therefore, when Man fell, this little World was ruin'd, and became a Chaos, a con­fused, and dark heap of all manner of hellish, and rebellious Principles and Practices: so that ever since, God hath been on a New-Creation-work in the World, Eph. 2.10. and 2 Cor. 5.17. compar'd with Joh. 5.17. And in this his new work he observes his old method; First, he creates Light to work in, though not to work by: Light for his creature's sake, but not for his own. God is now working on rational crea­tures, which must, in some measure, and in some sense, co-operate, or work with him; what will serve again of the old ruines, must stand, as for the matter and substance of it: the old Fa­culties and Powers, New-wrought and Sanctified unto a new, yet its primitive, Order and Ser­vice. Now, I say, the case being thus, it would not seem so conducible to his End, to leave his creatures utterly in the dark, as to his mind and pleasure, in and by such Providences; for his Rod is as his Axe or Saw, to lessen, or shorten, or shape us in any manner, for the place and use he hath decreed, and called us unto, and under these, we are not to be meerly passive, but active also. Let this suffice now to have been spoken, by way of confirmation of so plain and evident a Truth.

2. Well, this, we hope, is sufficiently mani­fest, both from the light of Reason, Scripture, and Conscience, that the Lords Rod hath a Voice. But what this Voice is, or how to give [Page 77]the true and infallible Interpretation, is the Question: and were this Question as earnest­ly, impartially, and practically debated and resolved, as the Mint and Rue, the lesser Cir­cumstantials and Punctilios of the Law, or of private and worldly Interest; there were some probable hope, nay, more than probable, that God might yet at last obtain the Glory he is contending, and we the happy peace and salva­tion, we are looking and longing for. And for your help in this diligent and serious Search, give me leave to premise these four things.

1. Know therefore, in the first place, That when God speaks to us by his Rod, he speaks as to Rational creatures, that are capable of drawing Inferences, as well from his Works, as from his Word. God doth not work upon us as upon Stocks and Stones, that are supposed utter­ly insensible of the Stroaks, and ignorant of the Workman's design; God hath principled us with an intellective Faculty, that we might con­clude concerning his Will from his Works. Hence is that compassionate wish, Deut. 32.29. O that they were wise! that they un­derstood this! that they would consider their latter end! And that sad complaint, Isa. 1.3. Israel doth not know, my people doth not consi­der. Though I should heap mischiefs upon them, and spend mine arrows upon them; though the sword without, and terrour within, should de­stroy both the young man, and the virgin, the suckling also, with the man of gray hairs; yet [Page 78]who would lay it to heart? the filthy would be filthy still, the wicked and deceivers would grow worse and worse still; For they are a nation void of Counsel, neither is there any understand­ing in them. 'Tis true, we are sensible enough of the Smart of the Rod, but not of the End, and Design of it. In other things, that, compara­tively, little or nothing concern us, we can, with an elaborate, and studied exactness, run through the whole Series and concatenation of propinque and remote causes, and examine their mutual dependences and products; and yet how strangely blind and sottish are we in the case between God and our souls? Oh! whenever there is an evil in the Camp, a Judgment threat­ned, or inflicted, on the Church, State, Town, Family, wherein you live, or on your own Per­sons, or personal relations; let your next and speedy course be, to make diligent Inquisition to find out the Achan that hath mov'd the Se­dition, and rais'd the Controversie between God and you; that he may not upbraid your wretch­ed stupidity, as he did Israels, Isa. 1.2. Hear, O Heavens, and give ear, O Earth! and verse 5. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will re­vole more and more. And Jer. 6.17. Also I so watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the Trumpet; but they said, We will not hear­ken. Here God threatned Warr, by the sound of the Trumpet, but all was one to them, we will not hearken. Therefore, ver. 19. Hear, O Earth Behold, I will bring evil upon this People, ever the Fruit of their own thoughts, because the [Page 79]have not hearkened unto my words. Oh, my Bre­thren! As you desire, and hope to be saved from that Sword and Pestilence, and all the other evils that are upon you, or impendent over you, and from the wrath to come; hearken to the sound of Gods Trumpet, to the voice of Gods Rod: O, don't abandon your reason, and play the mad men in the things that do so nearly concern you! God is now contending with us for these and these things, and shall we not give him a sober hearing? nay, we do hear, and feel too, that our ears do tingle, and our very hearts ake, and shall we not regard? O that ever this should be said of England! What? what will become of us? The Harp and the Viol, the Tabret and Pipe, and Wine are in their Feasts, but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands. There­fore my People are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge, Isa. 5.12, 13. Let this be the first thing then remembred by the way, that whenever God doth lay his rod on you, he expects you should take special notice of it, and set your selves with all seriousness, speed, and impartiality, to inquire into the true, and spiri­tual Meaning, and End of it.

2. Examine Conscience by the Word of God. How doth the Physician understand the distem­per of his Patient, but by comparing and judg­ing the Urine by the Rules of his Art? Cast the Rod then into a clean Ʋrinal of Conscience, and examine what the Word of God will say of it there. Conscience is Gods Deputy and Re­gister, [Page 80]and if thou hast not for the present scratcht out God; writing there; for the pre­sent, I say, for these Characters will never be expung'd those leaves, but by the same Divine hand that ingraved them. If thou hast not sub­stituted the Lyes and Impostures of thy own de­ceived heart, but wilt be faithful and ingenu­ous; here thou shalt find a true, and plain in­terpretation of Providence. We may not ex­pect that God should speak to us immediately from Heaven, vivâ voce, or by any miraculous Revelations or Enthusiasms, as some giddy Brains would pretend unto; this were indeed Phanaticism, nomine & re. But, The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart. The Word speaks, and the Rod speaks, and Conscience will compare these together, and from thence draw up a full and perfect Decla­ration, and both prove, examine, and answer every Article of it, if it may but be suffer'd to execute its office in you. The great reason why we are such strangers to God, is because we are such strangers to our selves: Nemo is sese tentat descendere, nemo. Pers. Affliction hath a great I fluence, as on the other powers of the Soul, so especially on the Conscience, either to soften or to fear it: Every stroke on Pharaoh left him harder and harder. Why will ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more. But where the rod is intended for good, and works toward that End, there it softens and quickens the Conscience. What a blessed effect had that Rout at Ai, on Joshua [Page 81]and his people, Josh. 7. They presently fly to God, to know the Cause, and as soon as ever the thing was hinted to them, how industrious and restless were they, till they had found out the very Man, and executed Gods Law upon him, and so remov'd the Guilt and the Wrath [...]om Israel? oh, that God would once set our Troubled Camp on the like course, in a like ge­neral, sincere, and effectual manner! Manas­eh's Fetters was that softned Manasseh's Conscience, a Chro. 33.11, 12. 'Twas Ne­ [...]uchadnezzar's affliction, that humbled his [...]roud hear, Dan. 4.33, 34. 'Twas the stroak [...]rom Heaven that opened Saul's eyes, Act. 9. [...] Christians! take heed of hardning your [...]earts under the Rod; an affliction is never removed, but it leaves either a curse or a bles­sing behind it. Therefore, whenever God takes his rod over you, or layes it on, upon [...]ou; as you respect the spiritual and eternal [...]ace and welfare of your poor souls, awake [...]our Consciences, and find out the Cause, and [...]e Meaning of it. 'Tis not enough to groan, and mourn under the burden; this is but Na­ [...]re's common course; which (if this be all) is [...] Gods account, but as the ungrateful howling [...] a Dog, Hos. 7.14. Nay, it is not enough neither, to bewail any external, though spiritual, [...]ss; for, if this be all that your care and [...]oughts are taken up about; those that sate at [...]e door of the gate of the Lords house, weeping [...] Tammuz, Ezek. 8.14. were almost as [...]ligious [...] you. Take this for a second Di­rection; [Page 82]Set Conscience on work, and that [...] a lively, impartial, and regular way; acquain [...] your selves with Gods, and know upon what termes he is with you. O, my brethren! the [...] is a great deal of self trying, and self do [...]ying work before you. But how Conscient is to be put to it in this duty, I shall shew y [...] more at large hereafter.

3. Though the Rod may be general, yet t [...] Voice is particular. Besides those more pri­vate and personal evils, that every Town, Con­gregation, Trade, Family, or Person, are con­plaining under; there are National and P [...] ­lick miseries, which are the common Calamites wherein every individual Member is particular­ly concern'd; and so the voice directs its [...] stinct and particular Items to every one pa [...] ­cularly; and to every one it sutes it self season­ably and proportionably. It is a voice of Humi­liation to my Pride; of Mortification to t [...] Covetousness; of Self-denial to the Lust and Revenge of another; of Quickning to t [...] Negligence and Cowardice of another; [...] Establishment to the Haesitation, and Unresol­vedness of another; of Peaceableness and Charity to the Tumultuousness and Censorious­ness of another, &c. And to one it speaks with more terrour and dread; to another, in calmer, and sweeter Dialect, according to the nature and height of that guilt or corruption [...] aims at. Therefore reason thus with your selves God hath now taken up his Rod, and is comet plead with me: though the lash fall more [...] [Page 83]verely on others; yet I am in the same Condem­nation, and am as much concerned as ever those were, that are now lying in heaps at- [...] feet? oh, how shall I, how dare I, think of running from, or justifying my self before God! hay, a provoked, and an avenging God. Alas, Chri­stians! mistake not; 'Tis not so much for the Oaths and Blasphemies, the Drunkenness and Sodomie, the Sabbath-Breaking and Idolatry, of Gods enemies, those sons of Belial, that are among us, that God hath taken up this Contro­versie with us; he hath, I will not say, a few, but many things against us. 'Tis for my sin, and for your sins, that God hath torn up our hedge, and thrown down our wall, and laid us waste. As Mr. Bradford, that blessed Mar­tyr, acknowledged in his Prayer; ‘Lord, it was my unthankfulness that brought in Queen Maries daye; it was my unfruitful­ness that caused the untimely death of King Edward the 6th. And those Christians that were banished, and fled in Queen Maries dayes, professed, where-ever they came, that God, for their unthankfulness, had taken the Gospel from them.’

If then you would learn the language of the Rod, and understand the meaning of it, take this for another Rule with you: Believe it, that God is now speaking from Heaven to you; to me, and to thee, in particular: oh, what an awe, and dread should this cast upon us! Sup­pose you should hear God calling out of Heaven to you by name; what a dismal astonishment [Page 84]would [...] strike you into? why Man, what dost thou think? Is the Lords Rod a dumbrod? or else, hath it nothing to say to Thee, because possibly, as yet, it hath not much to do with thee? or, is this a feigned Message, an Errand of my own, that I am now come from God unto thee in? Do'st thou believe I am forcing thee with a lye? or else, is it true what I say? Well then, if the aim and level of the Rod, be at thee, and at me, in particular; is it not time for us to hear & lay it to heart? Shall the arrows of Gods a venging Fury strike us through the very heart, before we will be perswaded to look for the sin, or the guilt there? O, my brethren! we stand Gods Butt this day: and be sure, that either in your Lusts, or your Lives, he will shortly his you out; 'tis not the White, (which men shoot at) but the Black that God levels at; O sepa­rate, separate your selves! that you be not found anon among the slain of Gods Battel. 'Tis not Covenant-Interest shall excuse you here, nor the Priviledge of Adoption that shall defend you; if a Child stand, nay, though his Natural, and Onely Son, between him and his Mark, he shall surely die.

4. If we would understand the true intent and meaning of the Lords Rod; we must hum­bly betake our selves to the Lord of the Rod. It is not safe to trust our selves in this case; Self bears so strong a hand in us, that it will be hard, if not impossible, to escape its Distinctions and Fallacies. There will be some secret Grains of Allowance for this Lust; and a plausible Dis­pensation [Page 85]for the other Sin; and a colourable veit spread over the other Abomination; a thousand wayes we are in danger of deceiving our selves, untill we go to God, as the Disciples did to Christ, to unriddle to us his own Para­bles. This was Joshurs course, as you may read in the place before-quoted, and this was Da­vid's course, Psal. 42.9. I will say unto God my Zeck, why hast thou fongotten me? why go I mourning, because of the appression of the Enemy? O Sir! let this be your peedy course too: Set some time apart, solemnly to enquire of God, what his will is, and what he would have you to do, as to the hard case he hath set before you; Go into your corners, and com­mune with God in secret; lay down your packs at his feet, and spread them all before him; open every Box, and every Bundle, turn out the very Battom of all in his sight, and tell him; Lord, I am sonsible of thy Rod, oh, make me as sensi­ble of thy meaning in the Rod! oh, let me know why my Father is displeased! thy Frowns are death to me; Lord! I cannot bear them; O, let me but once know my sin, and it shall be enough! What is my Trespass, what is my sin, that thou art thus pursuing after me? search all my Stuff, examin every Tent, and set it here before me; bring out the stollen Ima­ges, though the Rachel of my greatest delight should dissemble them, and plead a Custom, or Natural Infirmity for them. 'Tis true, Lord, there is cause enough why thou shouldst not only frown, but dash so filthy a Potsheard in pieces [Page 86]for ever; But, O let me bear, Lord, what now thou halt against me! let me not be judg'd and condemn'd in a Language I cannot understand. Is it my Pride that displeaseth thee? O, break my heart, whatever it cost me, and make me as humble as thou wouldst have me to be! Is it my Worldliness, my Uncleanness, my Impatience, thy Remissness in Duties, my want of zeal, or loss of Love; Lord, I would not spare one of these Amalekies; O let thy Spirit convince me of Sin! and then gird me with thy Sword, and thy Power, that, though I cannot stable them through at one thrust, yet I may be ever hewing them in pieces, till thou hast utterly destroyed them for me. Oh, my brethren! will you ingage your selves in this Duty? Would you be hid in the day of God's wrath? or shall be go on to pour it out upon you? Now reso [...], or shortly it will be too late. The Axe is lifted up; shall God strike, or will you resolve? He is about a strange work among us, and that his Enemies shall shortly know; Will you be numbred among them that perish? the Lord forbid! Oh, let us prepare to meet the Lord, while he is yet a little way off, in the way of his Judgments, before his fierce wrath so light on our Sodom, that it be too late to escape to the Mountain. Thus I have given you the Key to unlock these hidden Mysteries, and to open the Oracle to you. Turn it as I have di­rected you, and as God shall enable you: Ob­serve the four Wards of it; if you break or wrest either of these, it will not do. I shall premise [Page 87]no further, but proceed to the Voice. And first, [...]n General.

1. One voice of the Rod in general, is this; God will have his People to awake, and consider. The Anger of the Lord shall not return, until [...]e have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart; in the latter dayes ye [...]all consider it perfectly, Jer. 23.20. When a people have o [...]t their Hearing, God will deal with them by that other sense of Feeling. In the [...]tter dayes ye shall consider it perfectly; though they have made a shift to stop their Ears at Warnings, Calls, and Threatnings; though [...]y Trumpets, and Heraulds of Warr, could [...]ot awaken them; yet my Sword shall at last [...]o it. I will reprove thee, and set them in [...]rder before thine eyes: now consider this, ye [...]hat forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and [...]here be none to deliver, Psal. 50.21, 22. If by words will not do it, my Blows shall; I will [...]et Life in them, or I will take that Life they have from them; if the renting off their skirt will not rouze them, I will tear them in pieces, and none shall deliver them. Lord, when thy [...]and is lifted up, they will not see; but they [...]hall see, and be ashamed, Isa. 26.11. Thus [...]oth God many times make his very Enemies Consider, and force them to see, and gaze upon [...]heir damning guilt, and inevitable misery: [...]hey shall know that God is too hard for them. [...]icisti Galilae, was the cursed speech of that [...]ccursed Apostate, Julian: God will sometimes give them the Praelibamina, the forc-tasts of [Page 88]Hell, and make them to consider, whether they will or no. This, my brethren, is a dreadfu [...] kind of considering, when God shall cast me [...] into Hell with their eyes open; like some de­parting Souls, scar [...]d by the hideous out-cryes [...] those that are about them, when their eyes a [...] sunk, and the gates of Death seem to be sh [...] upon them; then to stare abroad again, in a gast­ly, trembling distracted, posture; ut sentiant se m [...] ­ri, hat they may feel themselves to die: this is the Judgment and Vengeance of Considering. Bu [...] when God comes to deal with his children, be [...] treats them like a Father, though he knock them, yet he will not kill them; though be may break their heads, yet he will not dash out their brains; and yet awake they must too, [...] dead as they are, he will not leave them so; he hath a Rod for them; which will break no bones; and with this he whips them into their spiritual senses, when words will not prevail Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light, Eph. 5.14. And now, Christian Reader, thus fan [...] thou hast read, but canst thou say, Hitherto [...] am come. Have these, or any other of Gods Calls or Knocks so much as awakened thee [...] and art thou sure thou dost not dream? a [...] thou fit for a sober, and rational debate of tha [...] Controversie that lies between God and th [...] Soul? If so, then,

1. Consider, whether thou standest in rela­tion with God, as a Friend, or as an Enem [...] this will be the very first thing that will call [Page 89]for serious thoughts. Lord, Who art thou? and whose am I? Are these the effects of Love or Hatred? the rods of a Father, or of a Foe? As ever thou expectest comfort in, or good from the Rod, get this Question answered. As there is a vast difference between the iron Rod of Gods hostile wrath, and the gentle Rod of his Fatherly Correction, in respect of the Mea­sure, and the Divine Attribute from whence it proceeds; so in respect of the End and Design of it too. The rod of his wrath is not intended to amend, but to destroy. A rod of Scorpions will not heal, but poyson the soul; if we cannot look upon him as a Father, and on his rod, as the Fruit and Evidence of his Fatherly love and care, it is never like to reform us. If a Child be beaten by a stranger, it begets hatred, re­venge, or slavish fear; 'tis that correction only, that we can, on good grounds, apprehend to come from real, though abused love; that is like to produce love and obedience in us. Thou hast chastised me, sayes Ephraim, and I was chast sed, and because it was thou, I was turned; I repented; I was instructed; I smote upon my thigh: Now, what was the relation between God and Ephraim? Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant Child? With what undiscove­rable, and yet unconcealable affections, doth God fall on the necks of his poor chil­dren, that dutifully submit to the Rod, like Joseph on his Brethren, when the Relation could be no longer dissembled towards them? [Page 88] [...] [Page 89] [...] [Page 90]Gods Kisses are never sweeter, than when he kisses off the tears that his own rod had occasion'd.

But here I would speak a word or two, very briefly, to a Case, which possibly may be thy Case.Ob. The Rod lies very heavy upon me, may some poor soul complain; and I can apprehend nothing of love in it: I sit in such dark­ness, that I can see no light, neither from within, nor from above; I scarce dare to call God Father, nor can I see any evidencing, or comfortable Fruit of his Rod upon me. And what shall I do in this Case?

This hath ever been a common case with the People of God. Answ. Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy? sayes Job. Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro, and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? Job 13.24. He findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, Job 33.10. So David was rea­dy to look on himself as a Cast-away, Psal. 51.11. cast me not away from thy presence. In whan a Case was the Spouse? Cant. 5.6, 7. when her Beloved had withdrawn himself; she fought him, and called him, but could get no answer; the Watchmen smote her, and wound­ed her: her estate was very low, and yet she was the Spouse still. I would not that Affli­ction should fill you with hard thoughts of God, or despairing thoughts of your selves. To con­clude that the Sun is set, as soon as it is clouded, is too weak and childish; But more distinctly to the Question.

• [Page 91]1. Can you truly say, that you love God as well correcting as comforting? if so; Let it be in Argument with you, that your love was not [...]laced on the enjoyment you have lost, but on [...]he God you still enjoy.
• 2. Would you not be content, and gladly [...]huse rather to part with all that's dear to you [...] the world, than part with your Adopted Rela­tion unto God? Had you not rather have God [...]r your Father, than the World with all its [...]owry, for your Portion? Let your highest Choice of God then be an Argument of Gods [...]carest Choice of you.
• 3. Would you not rather have the Affliction [...]netified, than removed? Possibly in some hot [...]ssault, or the Paroxysm of some prevailing [...]mptation, thou mayst not be so well able to [...]dg; but, when thou hast space to make and [...]clare thy deliberate Choice, wouldst thou [...]hange thy afflicted Case for all the Pomp and [...]leasure of those that have the World, and [...]othing more, for their Portion? Would you [...]use rather to be thus washed from sin, than [...]ith more ease or liberty to be still pollu­ [...]d with sin? If then the perfection of Ho­ [...]ness be your Aim, it shall one day be your [...]own.
• 4. Dost thou find that sin begins to grow [...]erer than ever, and resolutions stronger? [...]hough the sense of thy suffering may lie up­ [...]rmost, and drown the sense of sin; yet canst [...]ou not find, that sin lying at the bottom, is [...]at which urgeth all? Wonder not at the [Page 92] Strugling then, Twins are in thy womb; con­tinue these throws unto their appointed Issue, and know that this sickness is not unto death; but a symptom of better health.
• 5. Let thy former experiences and evidences be produc'c against present doubts and jealou­sies; on this Foundation, Joh. 13.1. Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them to the end. If ever he were thy Fa­ther, he will ever be thy Father. For the Gifts and calling of God are without Repen­tance, Rom. 11.29.

2. Consider what thy wayes and carriage toward God have been. Let us search, and try our wayes, and turn again to the Lord, Lam. 3.40. This is absolutely requisite, both to our knowledg of the Offence, and expiation of the Guilt, and the removal of the Effect of it with a Blessing. How is it possible we should know what God is displeased at in us, unless we reflect on what we have done? and consider wherein we have miscarried our selves toward him? Why hath God lighted up his Candle in our Conscience, and unseal'd the Word of his mind, and our duty, to us; but that by these we may come to know wherein he is pleased or displeased? And when we perceive his anger by the effects of it; don't common reason tell us, that this is the course? to compare our wayes with our Rule, and to consider what we have done? Is there any probable hope of re­moving the Effect, without knowledge of the Cause? Alas, Christians! how can you believe, [Page 93]how can you hope, how can you pray for deli­verance, as long as the Cause of our Bondage is not acknowledged, nor removed? Ah, I how [...]pt are our false hearts to shuffle, and daub here, [...]o pack off the guilt on others! Loth we are to discover our shame, as long as we can get any Fig-leaves to cover it; but yet all will not [...]erve, the covering will be too narrow; thy [...]akedness will not be hid; there's no licking [...]hy self whole; all thy Plea's and distinctions will not do; the Fallacy will be detected, when [...]nce God comes to moderate; 'tis not the Wo­ [...]an, nor yet the Serpent, shall excuse thee; 'tis [...]ot the Peoples common vote or violence; 1 Sam. 15.21. nor [...]hy supererogated Devotion, that shall palliate [...]hy partial obedience.Culpae ipsae non trans­feruntur, nec Crimi­num quae­dam confu­sio fit. Lipf. de Const. l. 2. c. 17. God will not charge on [...]is children, the debts, or the crimes of his [...]nemies: nor is he like those passionate Furies, who, in their rage, know no distinction be­ [...]ween Friends and Enemies. What mean ye, [...]hat ye use this Proverb, saying, The Fathers [...]ave eaten soure grapes, and the childrens teeth [...]re set on edge? Ezek. 18.2. The soul that [...]neth, it shall dye, ver. 4. Be sure,Yet see ver. 1. God is not [...]riking thee for nought; he sees cause enough, [...] this cup had never come to thy share. Lo, I [...]ave sinned, saies David, and I have done wick­ [...]ly: but these sheep, what have they done? [...]et thy hand, I pray thee, be against me, See also Ezek. 14.23. [...]nd against my Fathers house, 2 Sam. 24.17. [...]ow in this serious reflection on our wayes, we [...]ould consider,

[Page 94] 1. Our sins, with their aggravations. Pa [...] ­don of Sin is the Gate of Mercy; while S [...] ­lyeth at the door, Mercy cannot enter: Pen [...] ­tent Confession is the only Lege-way to P [...] ­don; and certainly a distinct knowledg [...] necessarily precede such Confession, and a di [...] ­gent Search such Knowledge. In this Clime [...] there's no striding two stairs at once; if y [...] fail in one, you are out in all. The removal [...] an Affliction before the Sin be removed, is th [...] way to a greater, and more spiritual Judgment and to turn Rods into Scorpions. O my b [...] thren! for your Souls sake, and for your d [...] Posteritie's sake, search, and try your way [...] pass an impartial review on all the Passages [...] Transactions of your hearts and lives. Th [...] God is displeased, we doubt not; and that [...] is the cause, we doubt not; but what these [...] are, and when, where, and how this guilt [...] and hath been contracted, is that which no [...] the Rod calls on us to examine. Sinner, w [...] thou be perswaded to set thine heart to [...] work? Seemeth it a small thing, that God h [...] imprison [...]d his own Glory? and hath ming [...] our tears, nay, our bloud, with our sacrifices? [...] d [...]v­ided, and torn us, Soul and Body, Church an [...] State? And, after all, shall God take up his o [...] Lamentation over us? Jer. 8.4, 5, 6, 7 Thus saith the Lord, Shall they fall, and [...] arise? shall he turn away, and not return? [...] then, is this People slidden back, by a perpet [...] backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they ref [...] to return; I hearkned, and heard, but the [...] [Page 95]spake not aright; no man repented him of his wickedness; saying, What have I done? every one turneth to his course, as the horse rusheth into the Battel. Oh! how should our thoughts [...]ry into every corner, and leave no stone un­turn'd, lest the Leprosie should be in it, and the last end be worse than the beginning.

• 1. The sin of our nature will afford us mat­ter of large consideration, and sad lamentation. That Peccatum agens; that Pregnant Sin; [...]hat Root of Bitterness; the Original of all our Sin and Misery. Now sit down, and seriously [...]onsider; Lord! in what a case was I born! [...]nd how long did I lie ignorant of, and con­ [...]ented under that estate! how little have I been [...]roubled about it! how faint and heartless, at [...]est, have my endeavours been, to wrestle with [...], or to escape from it! oh, how full am I still of the old Dregs! like a Cake not turn'd, but [...]ttle more than half bak [...]e; perpetually prone [...]o backsliding! If thou wilt know from whence [...] is that the Streams run so foul, away to the [...]ountain, and there thou shalt quickly see how [...] comes to pass, and that it is more than an [...]cquired Pollution; the Fountain, the Foun­ [...]in is unclean! This was David's course, [...]sal. 51.5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, [...]nd in sin did my mother conceive me. Sin set [...]ut with me, the very first step from my Con­ [...]tion: the Leprosie clave unto me in the very [...]it from whence I was digged. He that never [...]lt the bitterness and weight of Original sin, [...]rther than it discover'd it self in Actual; [Page 96]is yet a stranger to true Repentance. And for the aggravation of this Plague of our Na­tures, consider the sinful effects of it.
• 2. In respect of omission. How hath it dead­ned thee to all kinds of duty; especially to the most spiritual, and self-denying duties! When we should, and sometimes, when we would d [...] good, evil is present, and too often prevalent, with us. Brethren! in the Bowels of Christ Jesus, I beseech you, consider how large an Indictment of this nature, Conscience has on record against us; We can't plead ignorance, as some others, it may be, hope to do; We have, or might have known our Master's Will; He hath not left us one Talent only, but all the Treasures of his House; the unsearchable riches of his Gospel: He hath not left us as some small Legatees, but Heirs and Executors of his whole Will and Testament; and now, what have we to shew for all this? Here we have been wrang­ling about Circumstances and Administrations, despising or envying one anothers portion, & so have turned the grace of God into lasciviousness. On, where's the Improvement! where's the En­crease! the Advantage that God will shortly call for! Remember what was Laodicea's temper, and what was Laodicea's curse Oh, this wretched, this cursed lukewarmness! how dear is it like to cost us! By that time we have discounted what we have l [...] pass, through invincible, nay, shall I add, through affected and gross Ignorance; how many gracious demands have we wickedly re­pell'd, because of some distastful, or flesh-dis­pleasing [Page 97]difficulty that seem'd to attend it? how might God dispatch his Angels with warrants of Contempt against us! Oh, what can Con­science say! han't we easily granted the Devil what we have stiffly denied Christ? and be­grutcht God, what we have willingly, and pro­digally bestowed on our Lusts? ah, how should these things pierce our Souls to consider! Again, by that time we have abstracted all that we have lost of that which we have done, through sinful miscarriages, in the manner, or in the end; how very little will it be, that we have been found faithful and diligent in?
• 3. In respect of Commission; What black Legions will there meet us here? If we look no further than our Hearts, what an Abyss of Filth and Deceit shall we find there? Our guilty Eyes have been, as it were, in covenant with Lust. What endless Catalogues are our Tongues convicted of? Can we wash our Hands in In­nocency? how justly may we hold them up at Gods Barr? The miserable abuse of our Time; The evil Examples we have laid, as snares for others; I am numbring now by Thousands and Millions: Oh, our Pride! our Worldliness! our Self-endedness! our Censoriousness! our Impatience! these are some of the Generals, under whose arbitrary Command we have yielded up our selves into subjection. Lord! what sad work have we made? whither should we wander, were it not for thy Shepherds Crook? what tears of bloud are sufficient to testifie a Repentance answerable to such Guilt? oh, that [Page 96] [...] [Page 97] [...] [Page 98]God would prevail with me, and you, and every one of his People, to take these things into deeper consideration, than ever yet we have done! Now that God is not only warn­ing us with his Word, but warming us with his Rod; how near should it go to our very hearts to think what a strange and unpleasing work we have put God upon! Oh, methinks we might hear the sounding of his Bowels within him [...] how loath is he to part with us, or to depar [...] from us! How shall I give thee up, Ephram [...] how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall [...] make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? Mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together, Hos. 11.8. What dear ingagements of love hath God laid upon us? When Israel was a child, then I loved him; I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by the arms: But they knew not, that I healed them. The people that will not consider, are nigh unto Cursing: oh, that God would now awaken us, that we might know the things that belong to our Peace! When Parents correct their children, they do, or should reckon with them, and remember them of those old scores which have been past by with an angry look, o [...] a bare threatning. This is that, my Brethren which God is now insisting on with us; no [...] but that the present Provocations are high enough, to have exhausted a far greater proporti­on of wrath; but he will have us to know, that this is not all he hath to reckon with us for; there are old miscarriages behind, which wer [...] [Page 99]never yet accounted for;
  Exod. 32.34.
  a thousand debts and trespasses, which, it may be, were never once entred on your Books; How many years war, how many years peace? how many years scarci­ty, how many years plenty? and how many thousands of Items are there set under every one of these heads? O! methinks, the very thought of these things, is enough to amaze us, and strike us dead!

2. We should consider our Duties. This was good Hezekiah's practice, 2 King. 20.3. I be­seech thee, O Lord, Remember now how I have walked before thee, in truth, and with a perfect heart; and have done that which is good in thy sight. Christian! these are things that require thy exactest examination; and the rather, be­cause on these thou art apt to lean. When all thy outward comforts lie at the mercy of thine enemies, hither thou thinkest to flie, and be­ginnest to look big on thy Duties; not as to their Merit, but as to their Evidence. Don't all thy hopes seem to hang on this pin? Besides, by these God hath been more immediately ho­noured, or dishonoured: Nothing reflects so much on his honour, either to the praise or dispraise; as that which participates, or pre­tends the nearest Relation to him. Now make the case; Suppose thou shouldst be mistaken in thy duties, as, 'tis possible, thou mayst; what if there should be a Flaw found in them at last, which will spoil all; in what a case art thou then? Canst thou believe that there are none so mistaken? O Christian! let me tell thee, Hell [Page 100]is called the place of Hypocrites, even such as were for the most part thus mistaken. Nay, the best of Saints, may, in a great measure, be mistaken too; they may overween their du­ties, and miss of much of that peace and support they expected in a day of tryal; therefore bring thy duties to the Test, and try them these three waves.

• 1. By the Principle from which they have proceeded. Canst thou truly say with the Apo­stle, 2 Cor. 1.12. This is our rejoycing, the testimony of our Conscience, that in simplicity, and godly sincerity, and not with fleshly wis­dom, but by the grace of God, we have had our Conversation in the world. 'Tis possible, there may be a carnal rejoycing, in a false supposition; but, art thou sure thy rejoycing is not in vain? Hath Duty proceeded from a Principle of Love and Obedience, and filial awful Respect unto God? Hath his Sovereign Command, and the conscience of Duty, been the Terminus à quo [...] Can you look back on your duties, and appeal to God, that all this hath been done in an humble obedience to his command? Had Self-love, or Blind Custom, or Slavish Fear, no [...] hand, nor interest in them? Those are que­stions that God and Conscience can bes [...] answer.
• 2. By the Rule, by which they have been di­rected. Hath the Word of God been thy Rule in all thy duties, not only of Solemn Worship, but of thy Calling and Relation? in all the transactions of thy Common, and Civil Af­fairs? [Page 101]And hath this Rule had a Casting-Voice against all the Votes of carnal Reason and Inte­rest? Hast thou us'd the Word of God, as thy Rule? As many as walk according to this Rule, peace be on them, Gal. 6.16. Hath it been your Walking-staff, a Rule at hand where-ever you go? A Carpenter, (you know) is distin­guished much, by the Rule he carries in his hand; which is not only for his support, but for the measuring and trying of any work he may meet with in his walk? And shall a dry stick be of more use and service in the hand of a Car­penter, than this Olive-tree, whose labour ne­ver fails, in the hand of a Christian! But, as for me, my feet were almost gone: my steps had well nigh slipt, sayes the Psalmist, until I went into the Sanctuary of God: then understood I their end, Psal. 73.2.17. This is a tryed staff in such cases; thou mayst depend upon it, and trust thy life and soul with it; if it break under thee, or start aside with thee, or any way deceive thee, without thy horrible abuse of it, then never believe God more. As for God, his way is perfect: the Word of the Lord is tryed: he is a Buckler to all those that trust in him, Psal. 18.30. And again; Is not thy whole life one continued course of work? Whether ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, ye must do by rule; eat and drink by rule, and sleep by rule, talk by rule, and work by rule. Where­withal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto, according to thy word, Psal. 119.9. Those that will work for God, [Page 100] [...] [Page 101] [...] [Page 102]must work by Gods Rule; Ghess-work will ne­ver vse under a crocked, and blind eye, and in a crocked, and unhappy hand. Now consider, how have you employ'd your Rule? the Trades­man will understand every Figure and Point in his Rule, and the use of it; have you thus im­prov'd your Judgments about it? doth the word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom? Col. 3.16. Hath it been a Commanding, a Transforming Rule? have you, with open face, beheld your selves in this Glass, that you are changed into the same Image, from glory to glo­ry, as by the Spirit of the Lord? 2 Cor. 3.18. Ha'nt it been a Rule to talk, and to reprove others; to censure your brethren, and to con­demn your enemies, rather than to reform your selves by? Hath it been your only rule? han't your own habituated Lusts, and Wills, and Customes, been as much your rul as this? Han't the Genius of the Times, the Examples of Great ones, or thy Byas of thy Interest, been as much thy Rule, as any thing else? oh, that God would set your Consciences on work, to search these things out!
• 3. By the end unto which they have been de­signed. The glory of God (I know) and your own Salvation, is the End and Design that you own: Ay, but may I ask you secretly, Hath this been your very end in earnest? the terminus ad quem, of all your Duties and Endeavours? Can you appeal to God, who knoweth all things, that this is true? and dare you venture you [...] souls upon it? Oh, that I could say so too [...] [Page 103]Hath not self, or something else, which thou art not willing to own, sometime stood Captain in thy Prizes? what else mean these self-attribu­tions? these self-confidences? this self-seeking, and self-pleasing? han't Gods glory hung like a Curtain by thee, to cover that which thou art asham'd should appear! Oh, Christian! what wouldst thou say, if all thy duties should be lost, and all thy hopes lost, and that which now supports thee, should at last undo thee? The time is at hand, that God will try what our ends have been; oh, that I could prevail with my self, and you, to be before hand with God in this great Search!

3. We should consider our Graces; and that,

• 1. For the truth of them. Thy Assurance of the truth and reality of thy grace, will be thy best support under sinking Providences. The time may come, that thou mayst have nothing in the world thou canst call thine own, but what thou hast within, and above; When St. Peters advice may be more in season with thee, 2 Pet. 1.10. Give all diligence, to make your Calling and Election sure. Consider, how dreadful a case would it be, should you be numbred at last among those, that now you would look upon as God's and Your enemies; if all your distinctions and distances should va­nish at the Grave, and when your veils are gone, your inside should be like some of theirs? If they upbraid you with hypocrisie now, how justly may they do it then? with what astonish­ing [Page 104]shame wilt thou be coupl'd up with those that now persecute thee? when that which now thou accountest intolerable slander, shall appear to be true, and God shall witness to all the world, that thine enemies were not mista­ken in thee? oh, how can we be serious enough, in a business of so immediate Concernment! let thy case be what it will, 'twill be worth thy pains to know it.
• 2. For the growth of them. What increase have we made of our Master's talents? By the growth, we may guess at the the truth of grace. The path of the just, is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day, Pro. 4.18. Consider, what means and helps you have had: where's that you have to shew for all your Sabbaths, Ordinances, and Duties? a lit­tle growth, it may be, in the head, like children in the Rickets; but, where's that Humility, that Self-denial, that Heavenly-mindedness, that Patience, Charity, and universal Obedience; that Inward, and Spiritual growth, that growth at the Heart, and at the Root, wherein the Life, and Power of Christianity doth consist? Hath your growth been proportionable? Proportion­able to the means you have enjoyed? how have your Crops paid the charge of all that Husban­dry and Patience, that hath been laid out about you? Proportionable, each part to other? han't your Zeal ou [...]- [...]un your Knowledge? or your Knowledge overgrown your Love? Gods growing Temple, is a Building fitly framed to­gether. Eph. 2.21. Not like Nebuchadnez­zars [Page 105]Image, with his golden head,
  Dan. 2.32.
  but all the other parts of baser Metal.
• 3. We are to consider, what Gods wayes and carriage towards us have been, and to com­pare our wayes and his together; which might be one special mean to humble, and shame us; Hear now, O house of Israel, Are not my wayes equal? are not your wayes unequal? Ezek. 18. 25. O, let us sit down now, and consider, where the inequality, the unrighteousness lies. What Iniquity have your Fathers found in me, that they are gone farr from me? Jer. 2.5. Have you examin'd your wayes, according to my last direction? and have you dealt thorowly, and impartially with your selves in it? if so, let me ask you, What think ye? Where's the fault how? If the inequality be on your part, as I am sure you have found it, if you have found it at [...]ll; O then, rest not here, go on, until you have brought it to some happy issue. Consider, how [...]ong hath God waited? how many wayes hath [...]e tryed? how hath he proffer'd, at this time, [...]nd at that time, and yet hath forborn? how [...]ften hath he drawn his sword upon us? and [...]et hath put it up again, and could not, for his Pity, strike; even as we have proffer'd to re­turn, and yet we have plaid fast and loose with him, like a broken, and deceitful Bow. And [...]ow, what a Compass is he fetching, to humble [...]s! Here we are complaining, how ill it is with [...]s; oh, where is our peace, our liberty, our [...]lenty, and the glory of God, in his Worship [...]nd Ordinances, become! Who would have [Page 106]thought that ever it would have come to this? But, alas! we are blind, we can't see the cloud rising, till it begin to fall about our ears; Why! these things, nay, and it may be, more than these, have been foreseen by some, whose eyes were in their heads, and foretold too; and yet now we are come with our Non putarâmus, Who would have thought it? Why! who would not have thought it? who could ever have hop't that God would prosper a Building on such a Bottom, and in such Hands? who would won­der to see a House tumble, when Blood, and Treachery, and Oppression, and Self-seeking, and Deceit, and Covenant-breaking, lay the Foundation of it? and all this, though seen by some, yet lamented, as it ought, by few; at least, by those that knew not how to help it: We may wonder rather, that it is with us as it is. And now these two years, or more, hath God had us on the Hip, like poor Isaac, bound, and stretcht upon the wood; Who, What is it, hath prevented hitherto, that we have not been of­fer'd in Sacrifice?
  Nay, thou­sands have been sacri­ficed to the Plague, and to the Sword.
  Can we think that our re­pentings, our humiliations, our personal, family, or heart reformations, have done it? oh, that it were so! oh, that it were indeed so! But that which I chiefly aim at, under this Head, is this: Walk with God, in the way of his Providence; keep thine eye alwaies upon him; follow him as farr as Faith can trace him; take all these things, as the wise, and righteous, and merciful issues of his all-disposing Counsel and Gover­nance; look on thy self as a piece of Clay [Page 107]on Gods Wheel; and let every turn of this flying wheel, help forward Gods design of grace upon thee.
• 4. Lastly, we must consider what it is that God aims at in us, and expects from us; This leads me to the following part of the Voice, and will be more fully answer'd, in that which re­mains to be spoken on this Subject: Wherefore, I shall add the less to this Branch. Are we ever like to answer Gods Ends, as long as we cannot, or will not, consider what his Ends are? Sure, 'tis in vain to give Laws or Ordinances to dead men, or mad men; such as are incapable of any serious consideration. The Aim of the Rod, in general, is this: viz. A Gospel, and Spiri­tual conformity to the Image, and revealed Will of God. This is the grand design of his Word, and of all his Providences and Ordinances; to renew that Image and Power in us, by the second Adam, which we had lost in the first Adam. He gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, & some Pastors and Teachers, for the perfecting of the Saints, for the edifying of the body of Christ, Eph. 4.12, 13. That we might grow up into him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ, ver. 15. Sufferings are part of our conformity to Christ, who was a man of sor­rows, and acquainted with grief, Isa. 53.3. and the means and way of our conformity to him in the perfection of Grace; who was made perfect through sufferings, Heb. 2.10. Perfect, as to his Office, though not as to his Nature. Where­fore in all things it behoved him to be made like [Page 108]unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high Priest, ver. 17. He bare them, as the Condition of our peace; but we, as the punishment of our sin, and the Medicine of our Souls. Thus you have heard the first Voice of the Rod in general; It would cause you to awake, and thus to consider. But if you rest here, and go no farther, you do no more than the Sluggard, whose Field is cursed with Thorns and Nettles; you may rub up your eyes, and draw aside your curtains, and let in the light, and tell over the Dreams and Shades that have disquieted, or beguil'd you, through the passages of the night; and yet while you keep your Beds still, and fold your hands, for another Nap, you do but aggravate the provocation, and cause God to double his stroaks, both for number and weight. Hath God called us to be idle? Rise, let us be going; we are lookt for in the Vineyard; one hour's slumber now, hath more shame, and guilt, and danger, than three at Midnight. Know therefore, in the next place,

2. The Rod calls for universal Reformation. Amend your wayes, and your doings, sayes God, Jer. 7.3. And throughly amend your wayes, and your doings: throughly execute Judgment between a man and his neighbour, ver. 5. Sirs [...] God will make through-work with us, before he leave us; either he will throughly reform us, o [...] throughly ruine us. He hath now stript us from head to foot, and hath even set us as in the day that we were born; sure, he means not to wash [Page 109]our feet only, but will now spread his Plaister as large as the Sore. He hath brought us to the Red Sea, where he will baptize us in the Cloud, and distinguish who are of Egypt, and who are of Israel; nay, who are of Israel, and who are Israel indeed. Now this Universa­lity respects,

• The Subject.
• The Object.

• 1. The Subject. Every part, and power of Soul and Body, must pass under the Fuller's hands. Yield your selves (without any restricti­ons, or reserves) unto God, as those that are alive from the dead; and your members, as in­struments of Righteousness, unto God, Rom. 6.13. All that was out of Frame, must be set at rights again. If one Wheel, or the least Pin, be mis-plac'd; if the most indiscernable motions be impeded, the whole Frame, though other-wayes, never so glorious or elaborate, is ren­dred utterly useless and unserviceable. Should I insift here, on a distinct Comment on the se­veral disorders, weaknesses, and pollutions of every particular Faculty and Member, I might seem to trespass on my Text, and abuse my in­tended brevity. Onely, let me tell you, as I pass; The reformed Creature must be a new Creature; and the new Creature must be new-born; and the Child new-born hath every part and limb alike new; not only a new Head, or a new Tongue, but a new Heart, a new Eye, a new Will, a new Conscience, new Affecti­ons, new Feet, new hands, new within, and [Page 110]new without. If any man be in Christ, he is a new Creature: old things are past away; be­hold, all things are become new, 2 Cor. 5.17. The Corruption is universal, and so must the Restitution be: the dead man is all dead; and so when life comes, it is universal; tota in toto, & tota in qualibet parte. Lord, not my feet on­ly, sayes Peter, but my hands, and my head, Joh. 13.9.
• 2. The Object. 'Tis not enough to lopp off a sprout or two of sin, but it must be cleansed up by the Roots. Cut these Brambles, and you shall have three for one, prune them above ground, and they grow the stronger at the roots. Ah, my Brethren! is this all you have done? What though your Church-path, o [...] your Market path be free from those Brambles, that your Neighbours stumble not at them; yet the Field is overgrown, and God hath nothing to sow, at least, to grow there. O, sit down and consider, what sins have you been particu­larly and personally convinc'd of? Can you name me the Lusts that you have set up for your Mark, the ruine whereof, you are resol'vd, i [...] the strength of God, to seek; and against which, you will die Fighting or Triumphing [...] Answer me here, and then let me ask again; What is the sin thou art thus out with? and whence sprung thy strife with it? Is it som [...] scandalous foul abomination? Drunkenness, i [...] may be, or Adultery, or Theft, or Tale-bearing or any the like things, of evil report amongst the soberer sort of carnal men? 'tis true, these [Page 111]things are a grief to every godly heart, to be­hold in others; much more, if their own. Now tell me, Christian, are these the sins thou find­est thy self most guilty of, and addicted to; or dost thou seem to bear them such a spleen, be­cause they are the sins of others, and the shame not like to reflect on thy self? If this be it, Publicans and Harlots may be in a fairer way to Reformation than thou. Hast thou duely searcht thy own heart? what hast thou found there, that thou canst thus resolve against? hast thou mark'd out the King of Israel, thy ac­customed, and most endeared Lust; and mustered thy strength, and severest charge there? hast thou found Thy Enemy, Thy Ini­quity? Canst thou go freely to thy heart, and to all the privy, and subdolous Recesses of it, and pull out thence, that secret, spiritual, and almost indiscernable Pride, that hidden and painted Idol of Covetousness, that Jesuited Traitor of Unbelief, those circumcised Sheche­mites, that are there, like Toads out of their Holes, and hew them in pieces before God? Alas, Christian! 'tis not doing, nor suffering, will save us, nor yet comfort us long, unless we do, and suffer, according to the full, and true in­ [...]ent and meaning of the Revealed Will of God; To lop off a forward, scourging Lust here, and [...]o go, and graft it again on another stock by, [...]s the propagation of sin, not the reformation of [...]e Sinner. Oh, Sirs! I would not for all the world, you should be mistaken; 'tis as much as our own Souls, and the Crown of my rejoy­cing [Page 112]on your account, in the day of the Lord, comes to. I fear the mistake is more common than you are aware. O keep them all clean, within, as well as without, that you may never be asham'd when God shall turn out your Insides to all the world.
• 3. God expects that his People should humble themselves greatly under his mighty hand. Jer. 7.29. Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the Lord hath rejected the generation of his wrath. And Jam. 4.10. Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. So, 1 Pet. 5.6. Hum­ble your selves therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. This is the proper, and direct Voice of the Rod: if afflictions be doctrinal, as you have heard? what more natural Inferences may we deduce from it? why hath God brought down the outer man, but that he might humble the inner man? For the day of the Lord of Hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up, and he shall be brought low, Isa. 2.12. God will cause the stout hearts of the world to stoop, and make them know it is in vain to magnifie themselves against their Maker. Know therefore, that when ever God hath to do with thee in such wayes a [...] these, he hath a special eye on thy Pride, for he hath said, God resisteth the proud, Jam. 4.6. Neither is thy forced external humiliation, e­nough; to be humbled, and to be humble, are [Page 113] [...]f a wide difference. A Pharaoh, an Ahab, may lye under a Force, and under all their Humiliation, be as proud as ever. 'Tis not [...]nough to bear an Affliction, though (it may [...]e) with some commendable measure of pa­ [...]ence; 'tis not the hanging of thy head like [...] Bull-rush, nor thy resolute contempt of [...]he Cross, that will commend thee before God; The iron may look like Gold while 'tis in the [...]re, and yet it is but Iron still; as soon as [...]he heat is over, it returns to its old form: oh, [...]y brethren! if you will learn any thing, if [...]ou will get any thing by the Rod, learn to [...]umble your selves under it.
• 4. God expects that his People should stir up [...]hemselves, to lay hold of him. Shall we let [...]ur Father go, before he hath blessed us? [...]oe unto us when God departs from us, Hos. [...].12. Don't we know and profess, that all [...]r hopes and happiness are bound up with [...]m? and can we see him going, and our [...]arts not melt within us? oh, my Soul! shall [...]e lose him thus! can we see him turning his [...]ck upon us, and taking his last Farewel of [...], and our Souls not dye for very grief? O England! hast thou not a few Names yet, that [...]nnot, that will not, part with their God so? [...], that I could melt into a cloud of Tears, and [...] sprinkled on the hearts and eyes of my care­ [...]s Brethren! O Blind! Blind England! Me­ [...]inks I see Lo-ammi and Lo-ruhamah written [...] the doors of thy Sanctuaries, and the abu­ [...]d Sampson of divine Patience laying hold on [Page 114]the Pillars of it; Lord God, what wilt tho [...] do with us? Shall we fall, and not arise? will thou turn away, and not return? O Father Wilt thou not then take thy children with thee with whom wilt thou leave us and our little ones? who shall teach us? who shall feed us? who will protect us? who will care for us? what will become of us? oh! let us dye in thine Arms before thou go: If thou wilt not. if thou wilt not stay with us, let us go when thou goest, and dye, that we may be with thee Crowns nor Kingdoms shall not tempt us [...] tarty behind thee; thou hast our hearts, and our life is hid in thee; if thou leave us, [...] dye. Oh, Sirs! if there be any thing of the life, or love of God in you; if ever you did or ever mean to pray more? now pray; [...] you have any power with God, any relation to him, any interest in him, by Christ? now plead it, and improve it; if you can do any thing, now try what you can do to help us Marvel not at my Passion, Brethren; I can't look up towards Heaven, and think of a de­parting God, but that I could even breathe ou [...] my very Soul after him; I can't think on your poor children, and those yet unborn of you and what is like to become of them twenty years hence; if the glory of Israel, and th [...] power of godliness should now depart from us; but is cuts my heart with pity for them and can you altogether hold your peace at th [...] time? certainly, 'tis no such indifferent case [...] the world accounts it. Who will plead with [Page 115]God in such a time as this, if you will not? Can these Dunghil-Birds set a due rate on Jewels? What is thy beloved more than ano­ther beloved?
  Cant. 5.9.
  they can see no such beauty in him, nor advantage by him, that they should desire him; their Corn, and Wine, and Lusts, are better to them than all that is in God or Christ; and are these the persons then that are like to appease a provoked God, and to hold him with us? You can't lose a Child, a Wife, a Husband, a dear Friend, or any outward comfort or enjoyment, without some tears or trouble; and can you part with God, the fountain of all these, nay, of all good, with less trouble and care of heart? Gird your selves, and lament, ye Priests: howl ye Mini­sters of the Altar: come lye all night in sack­cloth, ye Ministers of my God, Joel. 1.13. Te that make mention of the Lord, hold not your peace day nor night, keep not silence, and give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth, Isa. 62.6, 7.
• 5. God expects we should renew our Cove­nant with him. See the holy and pious zeal of Ezra and his people in the like case; after that God had begun to turn the Captivity of his people under Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, and had wonderfully restored them with a strange and unhop'd-for deliverance, see chap. 9.1. The Princes came unto Ezra, saying, The people of Israel, and the Priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from [Page 116]the people of the lands; — For they have taken of their Daughters for themselves, and for their sons; — which they were expresly forbidden to do, Deut. 7.3. On this report, see how his loyal zeal did burn for God; When I heard this thing, I rent my garment, and my mantle, and pluckt off the hair of my head, and of my beard, and sate down astonied, ver. 3. And then ha­ving prayed in a most humble, and pathetical manner, when he had confessed weeping, and casting himself down before the house of God; nay, the people wept very sore, chap. 10.1. Now therefore, say they, let us make a Co­venant with our God, to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my Lord, and those that tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the Law, ver. 3. Here is not only their Consideration, Confession, Re­pentance, Reformation; but their Solemn Covenant; for they sware, ver. 5. for the per­petual remembrance, and confirmation of it. Oh, that there were such a spirit in the hearts of our Ezra's! and in the hearts of our Is­rael! Let us once more make a Covenant with God; if any thing be like to stay him with a people, 'tis his Covenant. For he is a God that keepeth Covenant and Mercy for them that love him and observe his Commandments, Neh. 1.5. He never did, nor ever will, break his Covenant of mercy, with those that keep their Covenant of love and obedience with him; oh then! Let us vow and pay unto the Lord our God, [Page 117]Psal. 76.11. See the blessed effects of Asa's Covenant, when they sware with all their heart, and with all their soul, 2 Chro. 15.12, 13, 14. Here I might tell you what the mat­ter of our Covenant should be; but that I'm sure it is not for want of competent helps, if you are ignorant. That which I have to say at present, is, only to mind you of what I pre­sume you know; that is, If you have sworn in faithfulness, nay, though only your Baptismal vow be upon you, you have ingag'd for your sincere, willing, and impartial obedience to the whole revealed Will of God, both in matters of Faith and Practice, with all the species, and necessary consequences essentially or integrally belonging to this obedience. Now consider, in what special respects you have broken this Co­venant, and draw it out on the Tables of your hearts; nay, were it in Writing, to be ever kept for a Memorial and Remembrancer by you, it might wonderfully advantage your End; and then humbly and solemnly offer it unto the gracious acceptance of God, in the name of Christ. I might further add, with what seri­ousness, faithfulness, consideration, resolution, humility, self-denial, we should renew our bro­ken Covenant with him: But I intend not to enlarge. All that I have yet to say to this Branch, is but this; Be convinc'd of your gross breach of Covenant, and your extreme, and [...]bsolute need of making up this breach; Sit [...]own, and study those dreadful mischiefs, that will certainly and speedily ensue those broken [Page 118]and forfeited Bonds. When God stands dis­engag'd, man lies in a desperate case. A Co­venant that is not made on due Convictions, is never like to hold long; if the Bonds be drawn and seal'd, and yet the debt not hearti­ly acknowledged, 'tis never likely to be ho­nestly paid by such beggarly and paultry Deb­tors as we are.
• 6. God expects something extraordinary from his people, under extraordinary Provi­dences. We are weighed in the Balance, and are found wanting: Our False Balance and Scant Measure, is convicted before God, and now he will no longer be thus serv'd by us; The Whip is upon us, and the Spur in our sides, and shall we not mend our Pace? The Fire refines the Gold, and gives it an extraordinary lustre, and are we altogether, as the house of Israel, become Dross? All they are Brass, and Tin, and Iron, and Lead, in the midst of the Furnace, they are even the dross of silver Ezek. 22.18. to 23. Will not the Furnace melt, nor cleanse us? Shall we come forth as black and as foul as ever? as proud, as covetous, as sensual, as carnal, as careless, as crooked and deformed as ever? Will any one think we are more than painted, counterfeit Fire, when the Storms and Bellows will work no change, nor stirr the Flames in us? oh, how should our Faith shine, our Love, our Patience, our Humi­lity, our Zeal, our Heavenly-mindedness, and every grace, like the gloriously bespangled Stars in their proper Spheres and Orbs, in this [Page 119]Freezing, and Winters night! If ever you in­tend your light shall shine that others may see it, now let it appear to them that sit in dark­ness. Well, my Brethren! God will not now be content with our old, formal, heartless devo­tions, our lame zeal, our crippl'd obedience, our luke-warm love, our pur-blind faith, our tender-skin'd patience, our carnal heavenly-mindedness. He hath broken our peace, to break our pace; and, if this won't do, he will double his blows, or (which is worse) will leave us by the way, to perish under our bur­den. God will have something now more than ordinary.

• By way of Resignation;
• By way of Resolution.

• 1. By way of Resignation; Double thy Sa­crifice; I mean not thy Jewish or Ceremonial; but thy Evangelical Sacrifice. Let him that hath so long woed thee for thy heart, now have thy whole heart; if he ask thy Coat, let him freely take thy Cloak also, if it may any way serve him: let this be the language of thy Soul to God, as Araunah's to David, 2 Sam. 24.21, 22. Wherefore is my Lord the King come unto his servant? — Let my Lord the King take, and offer up what seemeth good unto him: Behold, here be Oxen, for Burnt-Sacri­fice, and Threshing-Instruments, and other In­struments for Wood; All these things did A­raunah, as a King, give unto the King. Lord, take what thou wilt, that which is most for thy advantage, though most to my loss: that [Page 120]which is mest for thy glory, though most for my present disgrace; if here be any thing for thy turn, spare it not, but please thy self. Be­hold, here is Liberty, Health, Peace, Ease, Friends, Wealth, House, Lands, Life, and what­ever else, through thy grace and mercy, I am, or have. Lord, here I humbly offer thee all, with the unfeigned consent and joy of my heart, Thy will be done, and let thy pleasure stand concerning thy Servant. For what thou leav'st me, I will bless thee; nay, take all, and my Soul shall bless thee; Spare none of my Lusts, yea, my most beloved L'sts: I would not They should any longer live, whoever dye for't. This, my Brethren, would be your honour, as well as your advantage; All these things did Araunah as a King: nay, less than this will turn but to bad account another day.
• 2. By way of Resolution. Go unto God and spread thy Soul at his feet; tell him, [...] those, Isa. 26.13. O Lord, our God, other Lords besides thee, (nay before thee) have had dominion over us; but by thee only will w [...] make mention of thy name. The world hath had dominion, the flesh hath over-rul'd me and Satan hath been a sharer with thee: Thou hast had but half a heart, but half love, but half fear, but half obedience; nay, hardly that Lord, what Patience is thine! how could'st thou ever put it up from the hands of so vile, so unworthy a worm as I am? oh! I am a­sham'd, I am consounded, to think how thou hast been made to serve with my sins; Now, [Page 121]Lord, in thy strength I solemnly resolve and promise, that from henceforth it shall be so no more; but I will make mention of thy name, against all other Suits or Claims what­soever; In vain shall the world plead Pre­sident or Prescription: or the flesh, Relation: or Satan, Possession: Thy Title and Interest shall stand good against all Corrivals. Amen. Lord, say Amen.

Thus have you heard what the Voice of the Rod is, in general; Proceed we now to shew you in special what the Voice of this Rod is, under which we are now complaining; And here we may observe the several parts, which are as so many scourges, or Branches of it: As,

• 1. The terrible Concussion, and Trembling of the Ark.
• 2. That dreadful, and unparallel'd Beesom of Plague and Pestilence.
• 3. The devouring Sword, and the Strength of Battel: a Land-impoverishing, and deso­lating Calamity.
• 4. The miserable Decay of Trade, and Cry of the Poor, and Complaint of the Hus­bandman.
• 5. Those Dismal Flames that have laid the Glory and Strength of the Kingdom in Ashes.
• 6. The sad Divisions and grievous Murmu­rings among the discontented Vulgar: with all those Miseries and Mischiefs, the natural [Page 122]Issues and Effects of this, and the fore-men­tioned Judgments.
• 7. I might add a seventh: The Plentiful Increase, which every year hath hitherto afford­ed; which (though in it's self a mercy, yet) considered with the general, and horrible abuse of it, and compar'd with those other Evils we lye under, seems to bespeak our case, as Zo­phar describes the Portion of the Wicked, Job 20.22. In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits.

Now what the meaning of this complicated Rod should be, as to us, who are exercised therewith, is the thing in question. And for the more successful management of this great Quaery, I shall speak to the Persons concern'd, distinctly: but of the Rod its self, somewhat more complexly.

The Persons, I shall consider, under this two­fold general notion.

• Friends.
• Enemies.

1. Friends: or the People and Church of God. 'Tis Gods usual method to cause Judg­ment to begin at his own House. He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches, Rev. 2.11, 17, 29. Not to the Kingdoms, or Provinces, but to the Churches of Asia. The same method we shall observe here, and begin first with the Church and People of God; at least, those that are visioly, and by special Profession [Page 123]such. Therefore, unto the Church of Ephesus, Rev. 2.1, 4, 5. (of England) write: These things saith he, that holdeth the seven starrs in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks: — I have somewhat (and that not a little) against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quick­ly, and will remove thy Candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Loss of Love in Conjugal Relations, dissolves the Union; at least, the Peace and Comfort of it. [...] Wanton Church, will provoke a Jealous God. And [...]ealousie is the rage of a man, therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance, Prov. 6.24. Slay utterly young and old, both maids and little children, and women; but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my Sanctuary; than they began at the ancient men which were before the House, Ezek. 9.6. But more particularly; this Rod hath a special errand,

1. To the Heads and Governours of this Church: and these are either Civil, or Eccle­siastical.

1. Civil, or Magisterial. But I fear what the issue of my Message may be here, with some, whose Lusts and Interests lead them ano­ther way.Isa. 59. [...] He that departeth from evil, ma­rketh himself a prey; to those, I mean, whose irregular Wills and prejudic'd Passions, are their only Rule in their arbitrary Execution, [Page 124]or Remission of those pious and wholsoth Laws, provided by the Sacred and Honourable Au­thority whereby they are Deputed. He that reproveth in the City, though never so seriously, seasonably, meekly, loyally, must by these be put to silence. Sin must not be spoken against; we may not say that Poyson is Poyson, for fear of sowing, or somenting Seditious Principles. God hath set us for Watchmen; but we must not proclaim what we see, for fear of commit­ting a Riot, and disturbing the common Peace. Oh! how are some men afraid they shall awake before they come to Hell! Nay, Whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house) yet shall they know, Ezecb. 2.5, 6. that there hath been a Prophet among them. And, O Sirs! Give me leave to speak, and then mock on. 'Tis not my own Cause I [...] ­plead, but Gods; 'tis not any Party or Faction that I pursue, (God knows) I abhorr it from my Soul) but the Interest of the Gospel, and the sure, and settled Peace of these poor, af­flicted Kingdoms; that the true Cause be­ing once throughly discover'd and remov'd, the Effects, which we all groan under, may cease.

Oh then! that God would perswade you to consider, who it is that hath put the Sword into your hands. There is no Power but of God; the Powers that be, are ordained of God, Rom. 13.1. Promotion cometh neither from the East, nor from the West, nor from the South, but God is the Judge, he putteth down one, [Page 125]and setteth up another, Psal. 75.6, 7. Sirs, God hath made you his Vice-gerents in the World; Ye are the Gods among men, Psal. 82.1.6. The Sword ye bear, is God's Sword; ye are the Stewards of Order and Government, in his Family; the great Affairs of his House are committed to your trust; the Keys are left with you; the Common Stock and Provisions of Gods House, are in your hands; ye are our Nurses, the Bottle and the Bag are in [...]our Tents; you are the Cedars of our Leba­non, amongst the Myrtles and Shrubs; you are the Stewards of the five Talents; oh, that [...]hat you would suffer the humble and loyal addresses of our hearts to you, that are even [...]eady to break for you! May I ask you, (God will shortly ask you, and Conscience shall make him answer) have you duly considered the Re­ [...]tion ye stand in, both towards God, and to­wards us? Do you know what a Burden lies in your Shoulders? The Earth, and all the [...]habitants thereof, are dissolved, sayes the [...]salmist, I bear up the Pillars thereof, Psal. [...]5.3. You are the Atlas's of the World; [...]he Pillars of the Earth are your burden. May [...]ask now, Whether hath been more admired, more defigned, more desired by you, the Ho­nour, or the Duty of your Relation? You are Gods Husbandmen, and are to plow, and to [...]w, for the supply of the whole Family. Sirs, this is your charge from the God of Heaven and Earth; in this honourable, and burden­some Office, God hath placed you, through [Page 126]what mediation soever your secular Deputati­ons have been obtained. It is God that puttet [...] down one, and raiseth up another.

2. Consider, I beseech you, for whom it is you bear the Sword; Must not the Judge pro­claim his Commission, in the name of him from whom he received it? Doth not the Fountain return through all the Creeks and passages of its Circuit, to the Ocean from whence it came forth? this then is both Legal and Natural; Who dares say, that he rules for himself? who [...] but God, can claim an Independant Govern­ment? Heathens indeed may boast themselves after this rate; Is not this great Babylon, th [...] I have built, by the might of my power, and for the honour of my Majesty? But far be it from Christians, so to blaspheme the Authority o [...] Heaven. We may take this for granted then [...] that 'tis for God you profess to bear th [...] Sword; but bear with me now, in this one word more.

3. How have you born the Sword? O Sirs! I humbly beseech you, censure not my loyal, [...] Cor. 5.11 though familiar, boldness with you Knowing the terrour of the Lord, we cannot but perswade men. The day of Judgment [...] shortly coming, and, methinks, I should nee [...] to say no more. Rulers are not a terrour [...] good work, but to the evil: for he is the mini­ster of God to thee for good, Rom. 13.3, 4. Your Honours are not your own, but God's whose Stewards you are; and, it is required [...] Stewards, that a man be found faithful. Yo [...] [Page 127]five Talents had need be ten in the day of Ac­count; For unto whom much is given, of him shall be much required, Luk. 12.48. That the Judgments of God are several wayes gone forth against us, I hope is not only felt, but in some measure acknowledged on all sides: That Sin is the cause of this displeasure, methinks, should not be doubted: That both High and Low are guilty before God, I hope will not be denied; For, Nemo sine crimine vivit, There is not a just man upon earth, that liveth, and sinneth not, Eccles. 7.10. Great men, have great Temptations, and oftentimes great mis­carriages too; the greatness whereof is much augmented by their personal, or relative great­ness, [...], sayes Aristot. It is a very hard matter, for poor Mor­tals, rightly to deport the burdens of their Ho­nour or Happiness. 'Twas Plato's answer once to the Cyrenians, who had desired him to write them some Political, and Moral Institutions, for the Settlement of their decaying Estate; Per­difficile est condere leges tam felicibus, It is a very hard matter to lay the obligation of a Law on those that are (in their own account) so happy. Sirs, the Lords Oyl is upon you; I may not, I dare not, I will not, touch the Lords Anointed, nor blaspheme that Autho­rity, under whose wings I expect Protection. Rebuke not an Elder, but entreat him as a Father, 1 Tim. 5.1. Far be it from me, for ever, to speak evil of Dignities; or any way to kindle, or abett Seditious Principles or [Page 128]Practices, either in my self or others: Yet give me leave, in all humility; from the Word of God, to assure you, that the on­ly way to a true, and lasting Peace, is to make Peace with the God of Peace. When a mans wayes please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him, Proverbs 16.7. The only way to have Judgment effectually removed, is, to remove it in the Cause of it; and in happy order un­to this blessed End, I shall say no more here, but, The Lord awaken, and direct, both the Rulers and Ruled.

2. To the Ecclesiastical, or Ministerial Heads of the Church; and,

• 1. To those in present being.
• 2. To those that are laid aside.

• 1. To those in present Being. I dare not pass you by unsaluted; though I have no Court-Complement for you. I beseech you, duly to consider the Charge of your holy Office; and your Discharge of it. These things, Sirs, you are better able to instruct me in, than I you; therefore, let my Silence plead my Mo­desty, while I humbly pass by, with the Prayer of the Church for you, That God, at length, would work that Great Marvel, in sending down upon you, the healthful Spirit of his grace. So farewel, until I meet you on even ground, at the day of Judgment.
• 2. To those that are laid aside. My Re­verend Fathers, and Dear Brethren! Though I am but a Child, yet suffer me to speak as a [Page 129]Child; whose aftections are great, though his strength and deserts be small. The Message is sent unto the Angels of the Churches; and these are called the seven starrs in the right hand of God, Rev. 1.20. Now give me leave but to paraphrase on this Emblem.

• 1. Starrs are heavenly Creatures. 'Tis true, there are Starrs (Meteors, or Comets rather) who are heavenly, only as to their present Site, or appearance; These are the Wandring Stars Jude speaks of, Jude v. 13. Exhalations, whose Composition is Earthy and Unclean; whose Elevation is Ominous, not only to themselves, out to the places where they Aspect: But these are none of the Fixed Stars, in the right and of God. Oh, what manner of persons [...]ught we to have been, in all holy, and hea­venly conversation! No man that warreth, [...]tangleth himself with the affairs of this [...]fe, that he may please him, who hath chosen him to be a Souldier, 2 Tim. 2.4. Our Call from Heaven, our Employment is Heavenly, our Lord, our Home, our Happiness, our Hopes, our All, is in Heaven; should not then our Affe­ctions have been Heavenly? our Minds and [...]ims, Heavenly? our Words, Devotions, and actions, Heavenly? And hath it been indeed [...] with us? I am speaking now (I hope) [...] such as know, how how to set Conscience on [...]ork, in the serious, and penitent Reflection [...]n these things. Oh, Sirs! why may not this [...] one great part of Gods Controversie with [...] Pride and Covetousness was the great Cry [Page 130]the World hath taken up against us; the Lord knows, it hath been too true of too many of us. Han't we been too thoughtful, and Gen­tile-like, what to eat, and what to drink, and wherewithal to be cloathed, while we have preach [...], and press't the contrary on our Hear­ers? Why, Hath God broken the Staves in our hands, and stript us of our coats and Scrip, without which, we could not trust him in our journey? Was not our temporizing with the Modes, and Manners of the World, both in our Persons and Families, become the open, and just scandal of our holy Calling? Where was that Charity, that Humility, that Self-de­nial, that Mortification, that heavenly Hearn and Life, that holy, and strict Godliness, with­out which, we were condemning others to the Pit of Hell? Was it not time for God to take down such foul Vessels, and to scour of that dust and filth they had contracted? No wonder, if our Dust hath brought us to the Dust; that we are fallen among the Potts, and caused to lick the Dust we were so greedy of Sirs, I hope you will not censure my plainness and liberty of speech. I have taken upon me to speak to such, as can far better instruct both themselves and me; and, I confidenth perswade my self, that these are no strang motions with you, nor Wounds that wi [...] ranckle.
• 2. Starrs are ordained for light. Ye are the Light of the World, sayes Christ, Matth 5.14. And, Let your light so shine before [Page 131]men, that they may see your good works, ver. 16. You are the Lamps of the Sanctua­fie, whose oyl was to be pure oyl-olive;
  Levit. 24.20. Num. 8.4. Rev. 3.18.
  and the Candlesticks for Light, which were to be of beaten Gold. We are God's Apothecaries, whom he hath sent with his Eye-salve, to re­cover a poor, blind, World. Now, I beseech you, let us consider, what Lights have we been in the Sphears wherein God had plac't us? Did we study to enlighten those that sate in Darkness? To speak to the Capacities and Consciences, in the Convicting Evidence, and Gospel-simplicity of the Spirit? Han't we (too many at least, and too often) endeavou­red to imblazon our own Parts, or Learning? Han't we been more affected with our own words, than with our Master's Work? and drest up the pure, and simple Truth, as an Harlot? Han't we set the Lords Candle under the Bushel of our private Honour, or Interest? No wonder then, that God hath remov'd his Candlestick, and caus'd our Candle to go out. Hive we been constant, burning, and shining Lights? or too-like, poor, dwindling Tapers, or the faint Flashes of an Ignis lambens, rather burdensom than useful? Have we been like Stars indeed, that appear brightest in the most told, and bitter night? Oh, my Brethren! that we could sit down now, and consider, as we sit by our Lahai-roi, where thou God seest us; Why is my Sun set at Noon? Why have the black Shades of the Night prevented me? Is not this, much my own doing? Of what [Page 132]nature or kind was my Light? Had I any other than what I bare in my hand? Of what use was my Light, either to my self or others? What can my people witness for me? What can my Family, my Wife, my Children, my Sojourners, my Servants, say for me? have they, or might they, have walk't in my light? nay, have I even forc't them to light their Candles at mine? Hath the Word of God dwelt richly in my Head, in my Heart, in my House, in all wisdom? or, han't my Family been much like other mens? as Ignorant, as Idle, as Proud, and, it may be, as Prophane, as ma­ny others? Han't the Springs of Knowledg been too much confin'd to, and lockt up in my Pulpit, as if I were a Minister no where but there? And is not this much of the matter, that God hath now lockt up the Pulpit from me; that he hath cast me out of his Eden, and plant­ed his Flaming Sword, which turneth every way, to keep the way of this Tree of life [...] Oh, that such thoughts might pierce our hearts? now that we are sitting with out broken Pitchers by those Waters of Affli­ction!
• 3. Starrs are appointed for Influence. T [...] are the Salt of the Earth, saies Christ, Math 5.13. Oh! what a savoury, and seasoning Influence have we had, on those with whom we have had to do? Salt, you know, hath a vir­tue to suck out corrupting humours, and to pre­serve from putrefaction; Alas! can we say that our Patients have never Gangrenated un­der [Page 133]our hands, for lack of proper, savory, and seasonable Preservatives? In Rev. 8.11. We read of a Starr, whose name was Wormwood; which fell from Heaven, as it were a Lamp, & it fell on the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters: and the third part of the waters became wormwood. Now hath our influence been like that of the Tree at the Waters of Marah, Exod. 15.25. of a [...]leansing, healing nature? or, too much like his Star, whose Name, and Nature was worm­wood? Hath our Communication and Con­versation, both in publick, and in private, [...]een so seasoned with Salt, that our very Pre­sence, hath daunted the Impudence of Sin? And our Countenances been a rebuke to a Wanton, Licentious, Prophane World? May [...] be said of us, as of John the Baptist, that [...]erod feared him, and observed him? Hath [...]he austerity, and holiness of our lives been [...]ch, as could command respect from an He­ [...]d? and fasten Convictions, with Authori­al, on the hearts of the proudest Sinners? Have we been like the Pleiades, whose sweet [...]fluence hath overcome those malign,
  Iob 38.31.
  and saturnine Spirits, over which God hath made [...] vertical? Or rather, han't we been like the Moon, whose growing big and full, hath [...]een fatal to the sick and weak in our Flocks? And now that we are cast out, as unsavoury salt, to be trodden under foot of men; the Lord [...]umble us! pity us! spare us!
• [Page 134]4. Starrs are ordained for Direction. Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ 1 Cor. 11.1. No Sea in the World is so dan­gerous, and fatal to Mariners, as this Sea of the World to Man. So many Rocks and Shoals, and Quick-sands, and Hirricane-Storms, as every Passage and Step is attended with; what need is there of faithful, and skilful Pilots? 'Twas a sad Voyage for Paul and his Com­panions? Act. 27.20. When neither sun, nor Starrs, in many dayes, appeared, and no small tempest lay on us; all hope that we should be saved, was then taken away. God hath set us for Sea-marks, because the Road is dange­rous, that scarce one of a thousand comes sale to Land. Or as the Star in the East, for the direction of those that are so wise as to steer by such a Point. Alae! how many rich Vessel [...] of precious Merchandise, have there miscarried irreparably, and eternally? and, it may be, much through our sinful Neglects; either we have been obscur'd, and not to be seen, when we should have appear'd for God, in the despe­rate hazzard of poor souls; or have been so general and uncertain, that the purblind World could not apprehend us; or else, have been out of the way, and deviated from our sacred Sphears and so led them by an evil Example, either di­rectly, or accidentally, on the very neck of ruin [...] Oh! how should it cut our hearts, to consi­der, how many brave, and hopeful Vessels, we have sad cause to fear, have for ever miscarried under our Conduct, and that in serene, and [Page 135] Halcion Floods! The Lord convince us! for­give us! and have mercy upon us!
• 5. Lastly, The Seven Stars are an united Constellation. Therefore Christ compares the Breasts of his Church, to two young Roes, that are Twins, Cant. 7.3. And, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's charriots, Cant. 1.9. Not only for their Strength and Beauty, but for their Union, and Oneness of Work and Way. And is not this another, and not the least ground of the breach that God hath made upon us? even our Dissentions and Animosities, our grievous Divisions, both in Judgment and Heart; our pertinacious insisting on undeter­minable, and frivolous Quiddities, and cir­cumstantial Differences. Besides, those pri­vate Grudges, and supercilious Distances, arising from personal Preferments, or carnal Interests; And in the mean while, have fed Christs Babes with Blood instead of Milk, and Stones in­stead of Bread. And, while we have, with such violence, been drawing, every one his own way, have between us, even rent the Chariots of the Church of Christ in pieces; and for these things hath God rent us in pieces. The sins of Ministers, are Nouns of Multitude; they sin by heaps, and in whole sums; as the Measures and Weights of the Sanctuary are larger than any others, so are the Sins of the San­ctuary too.

2. As the Rod speaks to the Heads, and Go­vernours, so also to the particular Societies of this Church of God: not only to the whole [Page 134] [...] [Page 135] [...] [Page 136]Body of the Church of Asia, but particularly to Ephesus, and Smyrna, and Laodicea, &c. the several Members and Congregations of the Asian Church. So, when God had promised to restore his People, Zech. 12. He promised withal, to pour out upon them, the Spirit of Grace and Supplication, ver. 10. and the Spi­rit of Mourning and Repentance, ver. 11. The whole Land shall mourn, and not only so, but, every Family apart: the Family of the House of David apart, and their wives apart. So, the Family of the House of Nathan, and of Levi; both King, Prophet, and Priest, by their Families apart. Now, as we have any of us stood related as Members of this, or that So­ciety, or Family, of the Church of God; it con­cerns us to consider, what the Voice of the Rod is, by which, he is now calling us to mourning and supplitation, by our Families apart.

• 1. Consider, whether the Worm of Self­endedness hath not been at the Root of the Matter. Brethren! for the Lords sake, deal faithfully with your own hearts. What was i [...] that mov'd you, in the first place, to engage in such, or such a Society? Was Self wholly laid aside, and utterly disown'd, as well in Heart, as in Word, from any partnership, in you Ends? Oh, that I could fasten these se­rious Questions on your Consciences! Were you fully convinc'd, from the invincible light of the infallible Rule, that this was the very way of God? and the Scripture-Discipline that [Page 137]he would have you to yield your obedience to, the very Pattern that was given in the Mount? No other Burden, than what we have received by Divine, and Apostolical Authority? And was this your End and Aim in Earnest? that you might be made more conformable unto Christ, your Head, in Holiness, and in the life and power of Duty? and walk in nearer, and more spiritual Communion with him? That you might receive more immediatly of his Fulness, and dwell nearer the Spring-head of Grace, as well as of Comfort? Had you a real Design aganist Sin, not only in others, but especially in your selves? And is this the very Truth, and Ground of the matter, that did engage you? Dare you look God and Death in the face, appealing from your Consciences, un­to his All-searching Tribunal, that this is the very truth? Did you joyn with this, or that Society, out of no proud, undervaluing, or Schismatical spirit towards your brethren, or over-weening Conceit of your selves, or your own party? but because you verily appre­hended it, the way of clearest Scripture-cer­tainty and security; and the nearest, and rea­diest way, to joyn in a fuller, and more inti­mate Communion with Christ? And was it the deep sense of that wearisom load of Sin and Guilt, that mov'd you from within, in obe­dience to a clear Command, to close with this way? Nay, Were all your Expectations al­way from above your enjoyments? Oh, Chri­stians! Can your Consciences comfort you, [Page 138]concerning all these things? Was there not an itching desire to seem as Holy as the best, or as a more refined Fraternity of Rechabites, fishing for Proselytes, to build your selves a Name? or else some mercenary fear, of incurring the hard thoughts, or disrespects of some, whose good will you valued? Was it not more to gratifie, or to engage Friends, or to promote some worldly Interest, or to find out some new Discoveries, or to inhance the rate of your Gifts and Parts, above the Common size? was it not something of this nature, that prevail'd with you, more than any thing else? And, could you ever expect, that a Building should prosper, on such a Foundation? Not that I condemn all; but I would that all should condemn themselves. Oh, my brethren! will you be upright with God, who knows all that is within you; and confess to him the whole truth? Oh! take heed, that That be not now conceal'd, which, one day, you will wish were pardon'd.
• 2. Since you have engag'd your selves in a Choise Society, and Communion of Saints; How have you behav'd your selves,
  • Towards your Teachers and Rulers?
  • Towards one another?
  • Towards them that are without?

• 1. Towards your Teachers and Rulers:
  • 1. Have you undervalued neither their Per­sons, nor their work? The Apostle seems to begg your Honour; yet not for our, but for your own sakes, 1 Thes. 5.13, 14. We beseech [Page 139]you, Brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you, in the Lord, and admonish you; and esteem them very highly in love, for their works sake. Esteem them very highly in love. Not with that Secular Ado­ration, wherewith the world is wont to court her Darlings; but with your cordial, and un­feigned affection. Honour them, not so much with Cap and Knee, and the Elogies of praise, and Hyperbolical Encomium's, which, ordina­rily, is but the stinking breath of a rotten heart. But, esteem them in love, and for their works sake. Not so much, for their Learning, or Parts, or external Preferments, but for their Work and Office sake; for their Message, and for their Master's sake. Now begin to reckon with your own hearts, how guilty have you been here? Han't your Oxen, that have labou­red but for your back and belly; your Servants, that have been your Drudges for the body; your Appendices of honour and pleasure, had more of your hearts, than those that have been tug­ging at the Oars, to harbour you and yours, in the Land of Promise? That have been pray­ing, and studying, and watching, night and day, for your Souls? Han't you been rea­dy to slander them, to censure their Do­ctrine, Elocution, or Method? and to take up hard thoughts of them, on the least occasion of offence? Have you never been ambiti­ously laying hands on the Ark; yea, when it hath but seem'd to shake? and quarrelling with [Page 140] Moses,
    Numb. 1 [...].3 [...]
    as Korah, and his Faction, Are not all the Congregation holy?
  • 2. Han't you, on the other hand, had their Per­sons or Gifts in Admiration? han't you so high­ly admir'd such a man's Abilities, or Eloquence; that you have slighted another's Graces? Every one saith, I am of Paul, and I of Apol­los, &c. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? 1 Cor. 1.12, 13. Christ hath made us your Watchmen, and your Servants, in the work of your Souls; and hath not set us up for Idols, nor Saviours. The diversity of Streams, should cause us to admire the fulness, and riches of the Fountain, and not to adore the poor Channel. Oh, let this be a piece of your Christian Learning, Not to think of men, above that which is written, as the Apostle advises, 1 Cor. 4.6.
• 2. Towards one another.
  • 1. Where is that exemplary love, and bro­therly-kindness, that should be between such spiritually near Relations? With what per­swading Motives, and compassionate argu­ments, doth the Apostle urge his Philippians, chap. 2.1, 2. If there be therefore, any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies: fulfil ye my Joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. But how apt have we been to think the worst, and speak the worst, by one another, and to aggravate each others [Page 141]infirmities? How hard a matter is it to take a rebuke at the hand of a brother, especially an inferiour? or to give a reproof with that se­riousness, prudence, meekness, self-denyal, and tender affection, and charitable hopes, and longing desires of their good, as becomes Chri­stians? Oh, what reason had God to take up his rod against us, and to let in the Flood upon us, while we have been wandring every one his own way, and magnifying our own Inven­tions, envying at, and clashing with, one ano­ther!
  • 2. Can you clear your selves of an affected singularity in your way? Were you not ready to look on your selves, as some body; and, it may be, somewhat more than others? Let me tell you, an affected singularity, either in Judg­ment or Practice, savours of a proud, and a false heart. Have you never entertain'd that in your hearts or lives, which you were never, from the Word of God, convinc'd in Consci­ence, to be a truth, or a duty; only because it liked you, or by your Teachers was offer'd you, or that you might seem to be the Authors of some new Garb in Religion, and such as act by more elevated Principles? Well! God hath now raised a storm, which, I hope, will quench all the sparks among us, that are not of his own kindling; and let us see the pure Lamp of the Sanctuary, from all those Bastard Ta­pers, and stinking Snuffs of mans invention, or the Devils lighting
  • 3. Hath there not been a spirit of Censori­ousness [Page 142]towards all others, that have not been of the same Society, or Judgment, in, or about some Circumstances; that have been without the bounds of your own Monopolies? What animosities, and heart-burnings have there been? what glorying, and magnifying your own way? as if Salvation were not attainable, without the verge of such a Society. Certainly, this is no other, than a more spiritual, and refined kind of Popery.
• 3. Towards them that are without.
  • 1. Hath there been that prudent, inoffensive, winning carriage toward them, that might heap coals on their heads, and commend your holy Profession to them; at least, to leave them without excuse, in the great day? Walk in wis­dome toward them that are without, Col. 4.5. The Carnal World can't judge of Spiritual things, but in a carnal manner; 'tis the wis­dom therefore, of a Christian, to become him­self with their Capacities, though not with their Corruptions. Those that live by sense, are led by sense; and judge according to sense, and outward appearance. What is thy Beloved, more than another beloved? Cant. 5.9. They can't see that beauty that lies within the skin, whereby the King's daughter is all glorious within. I shall not stand to answer all those Quarrels, that occasionally you may have with them, only thus; You know the Royal Law, and what respect should be had, both to their poor souls, and to the credit of the Gospel, 'T was the Apostles complaint, 1 Cor. 6.6. Bro­ther [Page 143]goeth to law with brother, and that be­fore the unbelievers. Should we not rather suffer wrong on our bodies, than offer wrong to their souls? You know how you pray; For­give us our Debts, as we forgive our Debtors; and what stress is laid on this Condition? Matth. 6.14. Mar. 11.26. Debts are di­stinguished into Civil and Criminal. The first indeed may be retained without sin, if it be not exacted without Conscience, and Charity, and due respect, and compassion to our brethrens Bodies and Souls. But the other is freely to be remitted, on the account of Christ, and our obedience to him, and hope in him. O, take heed, that your froward, sullen, and morose carriage and disposition, do not harden, and justly prejudice those, that might otherwise have been won, even such, as were once some of you, be they, at present, never so vile. I could inlarge my self here, and not without need; But, Verbum sat sapienti; A word to the Wise. A little Armour rightly applyed, is suffi­cient Panoplie.
  • 2. What affectionate pity hath there been shew'n to their poor Souls? Certainly, their Souls are formed of the same immaterial sub­stance with ours; as immortal, as pretious, in their own nature and original, as ours; Masses of the same lump, fashion'd on the same wheel of Divine Power and Wisdom; were once as fair for Election, and had as just a claim to the Kingdom, as we. If ever we are sav'd, it must be through the undeserved pity, and merits of [Page 142] [...] [Page 143] [...] [Page 144]another. And surely, where Christ communi­cates his merits, he communicates some pro­portion of his Spirit too. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the Devil; whosoever doth not righteousness, is not of God, neither he that loveth not his bro­ther, 1 Joh. 3.10. Now, we know, that Bro­ther is taken in Scripture, both in a Natural, Civil, and Spiritual sense; nor can I think that it is spoken Abstractly as to either, in this place; but rather Comprehensively of all. For, we know who hath said, Love your Enemies, do good to them which hate you, Luk. 6.27. And matth. 5.24.25. we find, that Brother and Adversary, are used Exegetically of each other. Nay, the close of that chapter speaks exactly, and Argumentatively to my purpose. Love your Enemies, &c. that ye may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven; for he maketh his Sun to rise on the evil, and on the good;—For, if ye love them which love you, what reward have you? do not even the Publicans the same? Though we can't find that love of delight and complacency, as there is with those spiritual branches, of one and the same stock; yet there is a love of Benevolence and pity, which is their due from us, their fel­low Creatures. O, pity their poor Souls, in­stead of cursing, or exclaiming on them! Would you not pity, and pray for them, should they come with tears in their eyes, to begg your prayers? pity them, and pray for them, now much more, for that they cannot pity them­selves! [Page 145]Is not a man that is distracted, and [...]nows not what he doth, an object of pity, [...]nd not of hatred or revenge, though he re­ [...]ile, and curse, nay, though he rent you? Fa­ther, forgive them, for they know not what they [...], Luk. 23.34.
  • 3. What serious pains have you taken, to [...]nvince, and perswade them? Would you not [...]en hazzard your lives, to save a mad man [...]om murdering himself, or your neighbour's [...]ouse from burning? Would you not lay vio­ [...]t hands upon them, and suffer abuses from [...]em, if you found them sleeping, in such 2 [...]e? And are their Houses, and Bodies, of [...]re worth than their Souls? Ah! with what [...]ter looks and curses, will these poor wretches [...]art from you, at the great Day! who, having [...]tained mercy your selves, did shew no mer­ [...]; that having the snares broken for you, [...]erein you, as well as they, were once bound, [...] being happily escaped your selves, had ne­ [...] a hand to help a perishing brother! Cer­ [...]nly; our Cruelty towards the Souls of those [...] call our Enemies, may well be inserted as [...] Item of that Rod that lies upon us. I may [...] insist here, on all the Cases, and Cavils, [...] might be objected; only let me caution [...]. Take heed of excusing your selves from [...] Duty, which God will require in the great [...] of Account. And, let me also tell you, [...], though you can't do for them, what you [...]ld do; yet, were you as prudent, as hum­ [...] as compassionate, as vigilant, as self-deny­ing, [Page 146]as active, as you should be, and, as on [...] day, you may wish you had been, you migh [...] have done far more, than you have done [...] them.

3. The Rod hath also a Voice to the Indi­vidual Members of this Church of God. As every Family, so every Soul of the Family, shall mourn apart. God hath not only Family-of­fences, Congregation-sins; but Personal Mis­carriages, to reckon with us for. He is calling us out, one by one, as those that accuse [...] the woman, Joh. 8.9. What I have to say here, I shall couch under these two Que­stions.

How have you bestowed your Talents?

How have you kept your Watch?

1. How have you bestowed your Talents The Kingdom of Heaven is as a man travellin [...] into a farr country, who called his own ser­vants, and delivered unto them his goods; a [...] unto one he gave five Talents, to another two, Matth. 25.14, 15. Our Lord hath intrust [...] us with his Goods; He hath left all the Rich of his house in our hands; We have receiv [...] our Talents, our Measures, and Proportion [...] Now let me seriously ask you, and my self, the [...] following Questions.

• 1. Have we weigh'd our Talents, and con­sider'd what they are? You will tell your Mon [...] though it be after your own Father; especially it be but borrowed, or entrusted Mony, wh [...] must again be accounted for. Christian! [...] aside, and tell thy Mony from the hands [...] [Page 147]thy Heavenly Father. Take a just account of [...]hat, for which thou must shortly give a just [...]ccount. Book down thy Receipts, both for Number, Nature, and Weight. Thus much [...]n Ordinaries, and thus much in Extraordina­ [...]ies; Thus many years Time, Health, Pro­ [...]ision, Quiet; Thus many Offers of Grace [...]ath God made me, and thus long waited for [...]y return; Thus many signal Deliverances [...]om Enemies, Disasters, and Sicknesses, and [...]om unseen Dangers, God only knows how [...]any. What large Inventories might the [...]eanest of us draw, of our external enjoy­ments, which is but the least part of the Ta­ [...]nt we have received? If we look into the [...]ittle-World of the Soul, we shall find it ful­ [...]r of Mercies, than the Heavens are of Starrs. [...]esides all that Goodness that God had pre­ [...]red to meet us at the very Womb, there hath [...]en a continual Accession and Succession of [...]ew Mercies, with the gracious preservation of [...]e old. Alas! we may as well number the [...]ops of an hours thickest Rain, as the Mer­ [...]es of an hours Time. Yet take as particular [...]nd distinct knowledge of them as you can; [...]r doubtless the Account will be particular: [...]od hath when, and where, and what, and [...]ow often, in his Book, even to the utmost [...]arthing, Matth. 5.26.
• 2. Have we consider'd whose our Talents [...]e? So far the slothful servant was in the [...]ght; Lo, there, thou hast that is thine, Matth. 25.25. But han't we rather greedily [Page 148]swept Mercies into our Laps, as Thieves, tha [...] are robbing the house; and taking all for ou [...] own, as those, that never think to be responsi­ble; as if we were the absolute Lords of [...] the Mercies we enjoy? And is not God con­cern'd in such a case, to vindicate his own In­terest? Remember, Christians, 'tis Gods ground you tread upon, and plant, and build, and [...]ow [...] upon; his Creatures you feed on; his Woo [...] and Flax, and Silks, you cloath and deck you [...] ­selves with; his Gold and Silver, you an [...] hoarding, or trading with; his Air you brea [...] in, and not your own. 'Tis his Word, hi [...] Promises, his Sacraments, his Graces, his Spi­rit, his Help, and all the hidden Treasuries o [...] his Gospel, the blessed Provisions of your Sou [...] they are his, and not yours. You never made you never purchased, you never repair'd any [...] these, nor can you do it.

But, may you say, Obj. This is true indeed of th [...] men of the World; they have only a Civi [...] but no Evangelical Right, to any thing the possess: But, what, Hath the Child no mo [...] right than the Servant? Godliness hath t [...] promise of the life that now is, and of th [...] which is to come, 1 Tim. 4.8. And God ha [...] promised, with Christ, to give us all thing and that freely, Rom. 8.32. So says the A­postle; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, [...] the World, or Life, or Death, or things pre­sent, or things to come; all are yours. 1 Co [...] 3.23.

The same Apostle also saith, Answ. that, The He [...] [Page 149]long as he is a child, differeth nothing from [...] servant, though he be Lord of all, Gal. 4.1. [...]od hath not given us the Impropriation, but [...]e Use of his Goods. The heir hath no more [...]tual propriety than the servant, as long as he [...] under age, only here's the difference; what [...]e Child enjoyes, he enjoyes by virtue of his [...]elation, and this Relation is grounded on [...]t Covenant between the Father and Christ, [...]d between Christ and his chosen; by virtue [...]ereof, they stand the Adopted Children of [...]d, through Christ; so that what we receive, [...] receive on the account of this Covenant, [...]ich hath made us over unto God and Christ, [...]d God and Christ, and all his Promises, over [...]o us; the Inheritance of all is ours, though [...] actual possession be reserved, till we are, [...]ough Grace, capacitated for it; all things [...]t are necessary, pro hîc, & nunc, unto Life, [...] Godliness, we have in Hand, the rest in [...]e; yet, both what we have in Hand, and in [...]e, we hold in Capite, and were never de­ [...]ed for the Absolute Lords of it. He that [...]eived the five Talents, could no more call [...]n his own, than he that received but one; [...]ther could the Improvement alter-the Proper­ [...] but both the Principal, and the Increase, [...]re their Lords, Matth. 25.27. Our Title [...]Evangelical indeed, and therefore not Le­ [...]: Legal, as to man, but not as to God. why [...]n dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received [...] 1 Cor. 4.7.

[Page 150] 3. Have you consider'd, why those Talen [...] were intrusted with you? The reason why wit [...] you, rather than with others, is, because yo [...] are his [...], own servants, his houshold-Hinds. You have been brought up at his hand and know his Work, and his Will; his Ex­pectations are great from you, he seems to have greater confidence of our Care, and Skill, and Diligence, and Faithfulness, than of Strangen [...] And then the Reasons, why he hath, as it were, p [...] it out of his own hands, and cast it into ours, are Because he will learn us, by these smaller things to merchandize and trade, with and for Heaven he hath adventured this little stock with us, t [...] begin with, and to train us up for higher Em­ployments. And, that his Goods might not [...] dead, and useless, he hath committed the Fa­ctorage to us, that the Returns might be mad [...] to his Advantage. Now this is that shoul [...] have taken up our thoughts; What a R [...] hath God set on such, or such a Mercy? An [...] how shall I manage my Course, to bring the [...] up to Gods price? what a circumspect ca [...] should I have, to commerce with honest, an [...] sufficient Dealers! The World is a Bro [...] Merchant, and its Wares are of no value in [...] Lord's Country. The Devil is too subtil, [...] dare not trust him; his design is to decei [...] The Flesh will bassle, and my own heart d [...] upon Day, and is wont to pay with Promi [...] and Delayes, and Protestations of his go [...] Meaning; How dare I venture my Lords [...] in such hands? My goodness shall extend to t [...] [Page 151]Saints, that are in the Earth, and to the Excel­lent, in whom is all my delight, Psal. 16.3. A froward heart shall depart from me, I will not know a wicked person, Psal. 101.4. I will have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them, Eph. 5.11. Oh, my brethren! how many thousand Mer­ties have we bestowed on our Lusts? how many Packs of our Master's Goods have we rid our hands of, which we are never like to see one penny for? And can we wonder then, that our Lord is come to reckon with us? May not God justly charge us with Riot and Unfaithfulness, and take the Talents from us? Certainly, that accursed, slothful servant, that hid his Lord's mony, seems far more excusable than we; for, though he did no good with his Talent, yet he was accus'd of no hurt he did with it. Surely, Pride had never so impudently dared God to his face, had it not been for us. The Flesh had ne­ver took such head, had not we pamper'd it. The World had never claim'd such Corrivalty with God, had it not been trading with us, in our Faith, Hope, and Love. May not God charge us, as once he charged his own People? Ezek. 16.17, 18, 19. Thou hast also taken thy fair Jewels, of my gold, and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thy self Images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them; And tookest thy broidered gar­ments, and coveredst them; and thou hast set mine oile, and mine incense before them. My meat also, which I gave thee, fine flower, and [Page 152]oyl, and hony, wherewith I fed thee, thou ha [...] even set it before them, for a sweet savour [...] and thus it was, saith the Lord God. Surely, had our Master no other stock, but this that is in our hands, we should quickly have undone both him and our selves. Therefore, I will return, and take away my Corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and I will recover my Wool, and my Flax, given [...] cover her nakedness, Hos. 2.9. Ah [...] wha [...] serious reflections, and thoughts of heart, do [...] these things call for! What sad, and general complaints, are there of bad Trading in th [...] world? God hath broken the staff in the mid [...] of us, and hedg'd us in on every side; the la­bour of the Artificer ceaseth, and the Merchan [...] begins to mourn: Men of great Engagement and Dependance, are shattering, like broken Reeds, and the Plagues of God, both at home, and abroad, have wasted us. Are not these some of your complaints to God? And may not God retort the same Complaints on us and spread our very tears, as dung, on o [...] faces? The Plague of our heart is spread to such a height, that he hath even nail'd up the Doors of his House against us, that there is little Trading for Heaven. What hath my Be­loved to do in my house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many? and the holy flesh is passed from thee, Jer. 11.15. God seems to stand off, and to avoid his own High-way, as if he were afraid we should come near, to touch his holy things, and pollute them, as we have done.

[Page 153] 4. Shall I ask you, What hath your esteem of your Talents been? how have you valued them? Possibly such as have related to the [...]uter man, the present carnal ease, or advan­ [...]age of the Flesh, have been over-rated; yet [...]is strange to see on what base, and low terms, they are parted with. Tell me, Christian, Hast thou never sold thy Ambition a good pen­ny-worth of these things, for a little honour, or preferment; nay, for the bare promise, or hopes of it, which thou mayst now set among thy desperate Debts? Hast thou never sold thy Lusts [...] huge bargain, for a little pleasure, though it were entail'd with shame, and pain enough? Are there none of thy Master's Goods to be re­deem'd out of the hands of Revenge, and Inju­stice? Is there none of thy Lord's Money to be [...]ak'd out of the Draught of thy Gluttony and Drunkenness? Ah, Sirs! Are these things [...]ut poor, empty notions, think you? will they [...]ome to nothing in the great day of Account? [...]dan't you dealt, in your reposed trust, as the injust Steward, Luk. 16.6, 7. written fifty, [...]r three score, for an hundred, on your Ma­ster's Bill? and will Conscience witness for [...]ou, that all hath been right and just? though [...]ow it lie under your Bribes and Flatteries, or [...]ears; certainly, when God shall examin it [...]pon Oath, it will speak the whole truth: When every Corner shall be searcht, and every [...]ill summ'd up, and every Mite accounted, [...]ther thou, or thy Surety must be responsible. As for our Spiritual Talents, at what a rate [Page 154]have they been prostituted? Such as have not been for the Common Market of the World, as the convictions, the humbling, and mortify­ing Motions of the Holy Spirit, such as are not for Caesar's turn; no friends to the Flesh; these have been often sent back, by the hand that brought them, as unprofitable Druggs, the great burdens that have troubled us. Surely, prophane Esau never prophaned his Birth­right, as we have prophaned ours. Han't we dealt with Gods most precious Gold, and those rich Jewels, that have been lockt up in the Ca­binet of Divine Counsel and Love, from all the Ages of the world, and reserv'd for so un­worthy, unthankful a generation as we, even those glorious priviledges, and liberties of the Gospel, the price of the precious bloud of Christ; as we deal with the stones and rub­ble wherewith we mend our High-wayes; and made them to pave the way of our Lusts? O Damnable Ingratitude! O cursed unfaithfulness! O horrible impiety! Is this the way to provide for a day of Judgment? to consult the comfort of a death-bed; the glory of a Church, or the Peace of a Na­tion? The Lord awaken us! the good Lord forgive us!

But, Obj. it may be, you have other thoughts of your selves: God forbid it should be so; sure we make an higher account of our Talents than so, especially the spiritual part of them.

What I say to you, Ans. I say to my self; I would to God you could all plead Guiltless but I, wh [...] [Page 155]an conscious to the guilt of this, and far more than I can express. But, for your further con­viction, consider; Have you had such an esteem of your Talents as you ought? Let me ask you then, On what account, or reason is it, that you so esteem them? Do you prize them as they are Talents, and the things wherein your duty and diligence, and the glory of God, is bound up? Do you esteem your work in them, as well as your enjoyment of them? Christian! Ask thy heart, in earnest, What is it that thou de­firest, or prizest, thy Time, Health, Peace, Plen­ty, or any other Priviledges or Enjoyments, for? Can you say, you prize them more for their service, than for their sweetness? more for Gods sake, than for your own? The Excel­lency, and therefore, the desirableness of these things, lies in their End; Now the End of these things is not in themselves, but they are ordained Means unto a higher End. To prize Health, for it self, is not to prize it aright; These are the only riches that a spiritual heart can take true content, and delight in, that are laid out for God. The Tradesman, that means to thrive, will turn all he can into stock; a penny here, is of more value with him, than a shilling, that must lie dead by him. I shall say no more but this; You may judge of your own case, by your faithful, and practical applying of all these things unto their great and high End.

5. What hath been your care about your Ta­lents? Your care of them, and your care in [Page 156]them? Han't your Dogs been maintain'd with the childrens bread? I mean, the unreasonable, and ravenous desires, and lusts of the Flesh; han't they liv'd upon your Parts and Gifts! nay, on the very heart and blood of your duties and profession? What care have you had of your Master's Goods, to keep them clean, and spotless, from the pollutions of your own Na­tures, and constitutions; and from the abomi­nation of the Times, and Places wherein you live? O, with what a Hiew do they look? are they such as will credit the Owner of them? mayn't you be asham'd to see them? would any one think, that the God of Glory should be the Author of them? oh! let us sit down, with Mary, and wash them out in our Tears! What care have you had of them, to keep them re­paired? han't you worn out your Talents, and are ready to cry for new? for New Lights, to do the works of Darkness by; for new Disco­veries, and new wayes, and are weary of the good old way? Plain, and common truths, though never so necessary, or seasonable, are lookt upon as poor, thred-worn rags. Are they not new things, though never so notional, or circumstantial; nay, though never so dubious and dangerous; that do most affect you? Are there not many among us, that have worn out Repentance, and all Duty and Obedience, and cast them aside, for abolish'd Legal Rags? And Christ, who was obedient unto Death, even the death of the Cross, must be their Sumpter, to carry their old shooes, and mouldy bread after [Page 157]them. O sensual Impietie! O hellish Pride! O horrible Ingratitude! Can those Gibeonites think thus to deceive God? Again, What care have you had in your Talents? Have you been trading for God, and your Souls, with that wariness and diligence, with that watchfulness and unweariedness, with that life and activity, as you have traded for, and with, the World? Have you been careful to basket up all those Fragments at your Master's Table, all those odd Ends of Time, Truths, and Experiences, that nothing be lost? or han't the world de­vour'd the main Feast, and the Flesh and the Devil had the rest? Have you dealt wisely, and sparingly, with those that have dealt deceitfully with you? Ah, my Brethren! can you say it was for want of no care in you, that you fell into such, or such a temptation? that you mis­carried in such, or such a duty or design? Why hath God made us to eat our bread with care­fulness, and drink our water with astonish­ment, and threatned to make our Land deso­late, of all that is therein? as he threatned Is­rael, Ezek. 12.19. but to convince us of our sinful carelesness? I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelesly in the Isles, Ezek. 39.6. How little hath it troubled us, which End hath gon forward, so that our own Ends have been accomplished? how little hath the Glory of God been set by, when our own Concernments have stood in Competition with it?

6. What hath been the Increase of your Ta­lents? [Page 158]What have you gained? where arenthe other five you have multiplied? what have you gotten by Sabbaths and Sacraments? where's that Love, that Faith, that Patience, that Humi­lity, that Heavenly-mindedness, that Prudenct, and Zeal, and Brotherly-kindness, that you have been trading with, and trading for? Where are the slain, and the spoils of your spiritual Battels? the lusts you have subdued, the temptations you have conquer'd? where are your experiences, and yoursongs of deliverance? Ah, my Brethren! Where are the returns of your Prayers, and the victorious Trophies of your Faith? what have you gotten from God, and for God? where's the Fruit you have so long stood in Gods Garden for? where's the smell of your Spices, and that ripe Fruit you have to present your Lord, your Beloved with, now that he is come down into his Vineyard? Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field: let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards, let us see if the Vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pome­granates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves. And can you assure him, The Man­drakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruit, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my Beloved? Cant. 7.11, 12, 13. Can you look back, and say, This I have gotten by this weeks mercies and duties; this I have gain [...]d by this day's opportunities [...] this fruit, this blessed crop, I have to shew for this years husbandry and patience? Or, are you [Page 159]not walking in a Round of Duties and Mercies, and returning to the same point still? going from Flower to Flower, and returning as empty home, as you went out? O that I could perswade my self, and you, to spend more serious hours in our Counting-House, to retire our selves with God, that we might prove our selves entire at last, and wanting nothing.

Now take up your Talents, one by one, and weigh them in these Scales.

1. Your Time, What hath been your Esteem, your Care, your Improvement, of this Talent? Suppose, that God were now calling you to an account for your Time; What can you say? Thus many years you have enjoy'd it, it may be, twenty, thirty, or forty years; divide this into dayes, and hours, and how few can you pick put, that have been faithfully employed, in the serious work of God, and your own Souls? how little will there redound to the comfort of your account? Was not the most, or a great part of your Time, spent in an unregenerate [...]state? Every hour of that time is lost: and, since God hath open'd your eyes, how much of your time have you slept away, beyond what would have refreshed Nature? How much hath the world, carnal pleasures, needless visits, un­profitable discourses, and unnecessarie recrea­tions eaten up? That little time, that you have [...]n any measure improved; with what faintness, inconstancy, and luke-warm in differencie, hath [...]t been done? Oh, Christians! Look back on [...]he many hours you have loiter'd away, and [Page 160]sported, and jested, and sinn'd away; are you ready to answer the Just God for all this? Have you never been, even burden'd with your time, that you have invented such things as Pastimes, to rid your hands of it? as if God had not allotted you work enough for your day: Nay, have you never begrutcht him, and your own Souls, any of that time which hath been their unquestionable due? Have Sabbaths and Duties, hath Prayer and Fasting, never been a weariness to you? Let Conscience speak now, and judge uprightly between God and us. And can we think, that God hath taken this well at our hands? Are not all these things written on that bloody Sword that is drawn out against us? What Talent have we more precious than our Time? 'tis that, wherein all the rest are wrapt up. Were the day of Grace over, all the offers of Grace, and means of Grace, and hopes of Grace, should be over too. Ah! could you but hear those heart-melting groans, and fruitless wishes of the Damned, for one of your idle hours; how would it affect you? and, should God at last send us thither, to learn the worth of Time; how sadly should we repent it, and rue it to all eternity! Oh! methinks it should strike a ter­rour into our very souls, whenever we see the Sun set, to consider, Now there is a day more gone, and I am not sure to see the dawning of another; can I tell, whether God hath said of me, Thou Fool, this night shall thy soul be required; and an exact account required too? [Page 161] [...] know, I am one day older; I cannot say, I [...]m one jot better, than I was this morning: [...]ut, it may be, have no small cause to fear, that I [...]m some degrees worse. Do such thoughts as [...]ese never lie down with you, and keep you [...]aking, when others are asleep? God is now [...]ome forth against us, with his Glass in one [...]e hand, and his Sword in the other, to mea­ [...]re our Time, and to cut it off. The Glass runs pace; nay, some of the last sands seem to be reparing for a fatal motion; and when once [...]is out, who knows, whether ever he will turn [...] up for us more? God is now reckoning with [...]r neighbours, for their time; and, for ought [...]e know, may call at our doors, on the very [...]me Errand, before he return to his Place. Be [...]re; he will shortly come, and make all [...]ven with you; and are your Accounts ready?

There are these five or six things e­ [...]ecially, that set up the rate, and price of [...]me.

1. 'Tis the more precious, because 'tis bor­ [...]wed time. Did you never hear Consci­ [...]ce crying out to you, for the loss of your [...]me, as the man did to Elisha, for the loss of [...]s Axe-bead, 1 Kin. 6.5. Alas! for it was [...]rrowed. The Candle, you loiter, and play way, is but borrowed Light, The Time you [...]profusely spend, is but the time of your Re­ [...]ival. The Sentence of Death is past upon [...]. Rom. 5.12. So death pass [...] upon all men, [...] that all have sinned. A [...] a condemned [...]n, between the Sentence and the Execution, [Page 162]whether ever time were more precious with him; how vile and secure soever he was before 'tis strange, if now he be not serious. Why, [...] your case, Christians; you are cast by God [...] Law, and condemn'd, Body and Soul, in the Court of his Supream Justice; only, here w [...] are reprived a while, and held in this priso [...] of the world, that we might provide for the other world, and sue out our pardon, while i [...] may be had; 'tis meerly the Indulgence of ou [...] gracious Judge, that hath shewn this respect [...] our Souls, and lent us this repenting, and return­ing time. And, is this our case, brethren? How precious, and how dear an esteem then should we have of our borrowed Time!

2. The Shortness of Time, adds to the Ex­cellency of it. The time past, was ours, b [...] is now gone, and shall never be ours more. The time to come is none of ours, nor do w [...] know whether ever it shall; onely the presen [...] is ours, which is but a momentany time. W [...] live by Moments, the shortest division o [...] time that is imaginable. O, Sirs! if you could but see, in what a narrow Track you are going methinks it should amaze you; Would you n [...] think a man in desperate hazzard, that wen walking on the highest Tower, from one Pinad [...] to another, and had no other footing to sec [...] himself? would you not expect to see him tu [...] ble, every moment? This is your very case, y [...] are walking fr [...] one pinnacle of Time to am [...] ther, and your graves are open underneath, [...] receive you; nay, are you sure that Hell [...] [Page 163] [...]ot at the bottom too? Never was there one [...]hat escap't the first; few, but meet with both [...]t once; the least trip, or step awry, nay, the [...]ast withdrawment of that hand that upholds [...]ou, may cost you as much as Bodies, and Souls, [...]nd all your hopes are worth, in a moment. [...]h, the value, and consequence of one Mo­ [...]ents time! oh, the desperate blindness, and [...]ldness of our secure hearts! Nay, if you mea­ [...]re your whole time in the world, at one [...]raught, you will find it very short. Are not [...] dayes few? sayes Job, chap. 10.20. Be­ [...]ld, thou hast made my dayes as an hand­ [...]eadth, and mine age is as nothing before thee, [...]sal. 39.5. Again, by that time you have dis­ [...]unted all that time you have lost, while you [...] dead in trespasses and sins; in your Mate­ [...]â primâ; besides those Deliquia animae, the [...]intings, and swoonings of the Soul, and in­ [...]missions of its spiritual, and regular motions, [...]d operations; you will find, I fear, a very [...]all pittance of time left you; for, tam diu [...]ximus, quàm bene viximus; We never have [...]'d longer, than we have liv'd well.

3. The Excellency of time lies much in the [...]certainty of it. Time is a golden Chain, [...]ich is let down out of Heaven to us, but by [...]e end, like Jacob's Ladder; we are walking [...]m step to step in it, and can see no farther [...]n we go; the very next, for ought we know, [...]y be the Top-round, which may lodge us, in [...] endless, if not an easeless eternity. My [...]es are in thy hand, sayes David, Psal. 35.15. [Page 164]And, have we liv'd as those, that can't promise themselves one hour more in the world? as those, that have taken their last, and solemn leaves of all the world? as those that do but look for a good hour? that lie afloat on the Borders of another world, and verily expect that the next Tide shall set them on Shoat [...] Or, han't we been building on that which is none of our own, and presuming on that un­seen time, that is in Gods hands? Oh, the madness! oh, the effascinated madness of such adventurers! How is it that rati­onal Creatures should ever act so irratio­nally!

4. Gods Patience contributes much to th [...] glory of Time. This is the time of his Pati [...] ence: God is now bearing, and forbearing [...] Sparing us, as a man spareth his own son tha [...] serveth him, Mal. 3.17. How many thou [...] sand just occasions of ruining us, bodies and souls, hath every day of our lives offer'd him [...] and yet he is content to shut his eyes at ou [...] infirmities, our unthankfulness, unfaithfulness inconstancy, and stubborn undutifulness. W [...] are every day trying the strength and leng [...] of his Patience; and thrusting a Sword in [...] his hands, even daring him to strike. O [...] what affronts have we given! and what Pati­ence hath he shewn? Had we been but sensi [...] of one drop of that wrath, that those damn [...] souls in Hell are despairing under; we shou [...] know, that the time of Patience, is precious ti [...] indeed. Were you never set on the Rack of a [...] [Page 165] [...]ormenting pain, or distress of body, or mind? [...]nd don't you remember what thoughts you [...]ad then? Han't you sound a vast difference [...]etween sickness and health, pains and ease; [...]hough there be a great ingrediency of Mercy [...]nd Patience in all this? Surely, we shall [...]nortly know the odds between the day of Gods [...]atience, and the time of his Vengeance. When [...]nce we know what Hell is, whether by our [...]eliverance from it, or our suffering in it, we [...]all then better know the worth of a dayes [...]atience. Nay, let me say, that one day here, [...] of far greater consequence and moment, at [...]ast, as to our selves, than a thousand dayes [...]were there any such Measures of Time in [...]ernity) in Heaven.

5. This is the time of our Visitation, and [...]erefore most precious time. Suppose all your opes, and possibilities of salvation, should end [...]ith this day, what would your care and Ac­ [...]unt be of this day! and how very short would [...] seem to be? How would you watch the posting ours, and bethink the declining shadows? a then, if you could but cry unto the Lord, and [...]revail with him, as once Isaiah did for Heze­ [...]ah, 2 King. 20.11. that the Sun might go back [...]me ten degrees, whilst you might work out [...]ur Salvation, and make your peace with God. [...]ow 'tis a little more slumber, a little more [...]eep; but Then it would be, a little more time, [...]ittle more space to repent, One Sabbath more, [...]e offer of Grace more, one tender of Christ [Page 166]more, one repenting, one returning hour more all the world then for ont inch of time; Rich­es, Honours, Ease, Pleasures, and all for a little of this precious Time. Why, Christians! now is the accepted time; this is the day of Salva­tion; What is it that God hath been calling for, and expecting from you, all your lives hi­therto? what hath been the language of every day of your time? and why hath he added thi [...] one day more, but that you might now hear [...] and live? How long, ye simple ones, will ye lov [...] simplicity! Open to me, my Sister, my Love, my Dove, my undefiled; for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops [...] the night — Behold, I stand at the door, an [...] knock. My Son, give me thy heart. Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light. Hath not thi [...] been the voice that hath waited at your door all your lives long? What hath God been do­ing in you, and with you, and for you, bo [...] here and in Heaven, but to prepare you for Glo­ry, and to prepare Glory for you?

Had you a great, and a dear Friend, in a fa [...] Country, whom you had a long time longe and looked for, and now at length had receive [...] a promise of his speedy return; if you had but [...] day, or some short time, to prepare for his co­ming; how carefully would you improve eve [...] part of that day, or time, in all possible prepa­ration? Every Servant should do his part, an [...] every thing should stand in its place and orde [...] for the best accomodation they are capable of [...] [Page 167]and how little would you bethink such a dayes work? what fears would there be, lest night should come on you too soon for your work! you would hardly have time to eat your meat [...]midst such Imployments; much less, would you [...]c down, and talk, and jest away your time: Oh, methinks I see, with what life and activity, with what delightsome labour, and over-curious [...]eal, you are taken up in such a case! And [...]ow, Christian, hath Conscience nothing to say [...]oncerning these things? This is your case; [...]ath this been your course, and your care? This [...]ath been your Preparation-day; hath this been [...]our Preparation-work? Shall the Devil find [...]is House empty, swept, and garnisht, Matth. [...] 2.44, and shall God find a foul house at [...]is return? Why! what hast thou else to do [...]a the world? what business of greater conse­ [...]uence, than thine everlasting happiness? what [...]are more weighty, than the care of thy Soul? [...]nd what is it thou wantest for the doing of [...]his work? what direction, what support, what [...]ncouragement? O be sure, that when thy Lord cometh, he find thee so doing.

6. It is a determined, set time, and there­fore the more precious. God hath measured [...]hee out thy time, and thou must be accounta­ [...]le for every Minute of it. He that hath set [...]ounds to the Sea, hath set bounds also to thy [...]ime; that hitherto thou shalt go, and no [...]urther: He that hath numbred the hairs on thy [...]ead, hath numbred the hours, and minutes of [...]hy dayes; he hath determined thy last hour, [Page 168]and thy last breath, and thou shalt not pass one step beyond it. When that appointed Period is once come, the very next moment lands thee on thy endless eternity; there is no mastering, corrupting, or intreating of Death; when God sends it, it must perform its office and message, let the work of thy Soul, or the concernments of thy Body, lie how they will: Where-ever thou art, at home, or abroad; whatever thy promi­ses, or resolutions be for the future; the hour that God hath determined, shall stand. Oh, with what terrour should this awaken us, to lay hold on present time! Now, Christian, tell me, hast thou thus seriously weigh'd thy time [...] Questionless, these common Notions are no strangers to you; this is not the first, nor the third, nor, it may be, the twentieth time, that you have heard the preciousness of Time, thus, and more fully displayed. But, let me ask you, Have you been so thorowly acquainted with it, that I might well have spar'd my pains about it now? what solemn times have you taken, to exercise your most studious, and retired thoughts about it? what an influence hath the knowledg [...] of it had upon you? This is an every daye [...] Mercy, and therefore should be thy every daye [...] Work, as it is thy every dayes Duty. Think thus of your Time oft'ner, and you will spend your Time better. Oh, that I could so river these nails, on my own and your hearts, tha [...] they might never start back more; that they may live, and dye with us! O, never forget you [...] Time! the worth of it, and your approaching [Page 169]account for it! Can you forget to draw your breath, or to eat your daily bread? Will a Cripple forget his Crutch, or a Traveller his Pass? As long as you have time, remember your Time; and that Time, when Time shall be no more.

This, in general. I might shew you, that there are some seasons, more especially precious than others: As,

• 1. The Time of Youth. The First-fruits are Holy, and more precious than all the Crop be­fides; on the account of Divine Choice, Conse­tration, and Propriety. Nay, on a Natural, and Moral account too; This is the seasoning of the Vessel, the initiating, choosing, cove­nanting-time. Here, ordinarily, are the foun­cations of eternity laid; and the first Goale toward another world, on which the whole Race after doth much depend; the time of greatest service, or dis-service.
• 2. Sabbath times, are most precious times indeed. The Day of Gods own separation. This is the Jewel in the Ring; though every part be precious, yet the Jewel out-values all the Ring besides. The most pure Elixir, if I may so speak, refined two degrees above the Quintessence of Time. The Authority, and the End of its Institution, together with the adjunct Priviledges of this part of Time, do high­ly advance the unvaluable price, and worth of it.
• 3. The times of the Gospel, are glorious, and precious times. Times of glorious Light; of [Page 170]glorious Hopes;
  Heb. 7.19. Ioh. 1, 17. 2 Pet. 1.4.
  of precious Graces; of exceed­ing great, and precious Promises; nay, and Performances too. This is the Glory of the later House, prophesied of by Haggai, chap. 2.9. Life and immortality is brought to light by the Gospel, 2 Tim. 1.10. These are the times so much looked, and longed for, of old. Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, ac­cording to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, said old Simeon, Luk. 2.29, 30. This is the Summer, the Harvest of the Church, one day lost now, is of sadder consequence, than seven in the Winter of former times.
• 4. Times of affliction, are also eminently pretious. When the Iron is hot and malleable, then hath the Artist an advantage to shape i [...] to his mind; The daies of the Saints greatest M [...]series, are wont to be the daies of Gods greatest Mercies: their most painful, their most gainful hours; both in respect of their supporting Cordials under them, and the blessed Ends of them. I might have en­inlarg'd on these things, but my present haste and straits prevent me.

Thus we have briefly examined our first Ta­lent of Time. And, oh, Sirs! may we not dip our pens in tears of blood, and write Tekel on it?

2. How have you improv'd your Parts and Gifts? If Conscience might but speak freely here, it would make you blush before God.

• 1. Consider, how low and mean are they, of what they might have been? When for the time, [Page 171]sayes the Apostle, for the helps, the means, the light, the high and glorious Priviledges you have enjoyed; ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again, which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God, Heb. 5.12, How low is your knowledge! how weak are your reason and capacities! We are still like children, and babes in Christ; like Trees, at a stand, though by the Fountain's side, and in the midst of the Paradise of God; like nar­row-mouth'd Bottles, that receive but by drops, and, it may be, leak it out as fast again.
• 2. How little hath there been return'd to the Glory of the Donour, of what we have recei­ved! May not God say of us, as Christ, of the ten that were cleansed? Luk. 17.19. Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? Were there not ten Gifts bestowed, but where are the nine? May not Conscience answer, The World hath had a share, and Self a share, and the Flesh a share, Lust a share, and the De­vil a share too. Have not these divided the spoils? Tell me, Christian; Where hast thou bestowed thy Wits most? thy Learning, thy Reason? han't the Pleasures, the Profits, the Esteem and Credit of the world, had more of thy study than God, and thy Soul? Is there no work for Repentance here? how dost thou? how darest thou answer this before the great God? Art thou not sensible, what a damnable deal of Self-confidence, Self-attribution, and Self-seeking, hath crept into thy most spiritu­al Duties? and have these things never troubled [Page 172]thee? Have thy parts never puff [...] thee up with some bigg thoughts of thy self, and an under­valuing account of those that are weaker? Hast thou never been ready to flatter, and adore thy self, and pleas'd thee with the Reflections of thy own beams, and the good opinion of others concerning thee? Have you no Experiences that can comment on what I say, and run parallel with me here? have your dayes of private Hu­miliation never afforded you just cause of se­cret Lamentation? have you never been forc't to seek for a corner, to weep over your own prayers and rears, on this very account? han't you been ready to rest in the bare exercise of Gifts, without Grace, and to mistake Gifts for Grace? have you never had reason to question, from the selfishness, or flatness of Duties, whe­ther it were God, or Nature only, the spirit of Christ, or the natural, and acquired elevations of the rational Soul that acted and steer'd you? have you liv'd on the heart and vitals of Duty? Can you say with Bernard,
  Bern. Ep. 116.
  Nunquam abs te absque te recedo, I never go away from thee, without thee? Oh, my Brethren! can you pick up nothing here, that deserves to be set among your Corrigenda, the scapes, and blemishes of your Duties and Lives?
• 3. How have you improv'd your Graces? These are your distinguishing Talents, which difference you from all others in the World. The Nether Springs of Time, and Parts, and external Enjoyments, are common to the Stran­gers; but these Ʋpper Springs are the childrens [Page 173]Priviledge. Look over your Graces now, and consider, what care, what account, what in­crease, have you made of them? Have you perfected holiness in the fear of God? 2 Cor. 7.1.

What can you say of your Repentance? hath it been a Repentance from dead works? Heb. 6.1. a mortifying Repentance? What's be­come of the sins you have so often confessed, and complained of to God, and made as if you were so exceedingly wearie and asham'd of, and troubled about? Would you willingly give God leave to search every corner of your hearts and lives for them? Are there none of those Stollen Images you have so constantly, and con­fidently denied, and defied, to be found in your Tents? None, but those you have served, as Jael served Sisera, that lie dead at your feet! Where are the lively Fruits of your Repentance unto life, which may testifie for you, that it hath been in faithfulness, and in truth? han't your Repentances been like a Cake not turn'd, bak'd only on the top? or, like the Tears of the Crocodile, that seems to weep over the Prey, he inwardly rejoyceth in? Have you repented unto God, or unto men only? hath your Sorrow proceeded from the evil, and sinfulness of sin, or meerly from the danger of it? Oh, Christians! as ever you expect comfort from any of your Graces, make these things clear to your selves. All your hopes of Pardon, and Justification, and consequently, of all that good you expect in this World, or another, are built on the sincerity [Page 174]of your Repentance. What have you to do with Pardon without Repentance? I even trem­ble, to think of those many thousands in the world, that have made their own Pardons, and seal'd them with all their confidence; with what shame and horrour will their faces be ap­palled, when God shall tear these forged In­dulgences out of their hands, and burn them, and their lying Pardons, together. Are not you some of those that defie the Beast, with all his Lies and Effascinations? and what! will ye turn Popes to your own Souls? and sell your Lusts the Indulgences of your own Inscripti­on? Ah, Brethren! Remember, A bare Con­fession is but an external concomitant of Re­pentance; and a bare sorrow for sin, is but a part of Repentance. Your words, your tears, and your hopes, may all deceive you. Re­pentance, is a wonderful changing and trans­forming thing. See, how the Apostle describes it, 2 Cor. 7.11. For, behold, this self same thing that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clear­ing of your selves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge? Oh! what a diffe­rence is there between our sorrowing for sin, and our sorrowing for the crosses and troubles of the world? how naturally do we grieve for these things! we need no Monitors here; our sorrows seldom keep within their bounds. But when we come to mourn for sin; how are we straitned! how cold and dead are we! how [Page 175]hard must we wring for a tear! what a tugg have we, to rub a little life into our frozen af­fections! like stones cast into the air, they fly no farther, than the very dead force drives them, and then make haste to their old Center again. Oh, my Brethren! what can we think of such forced Repentings? If we repent, as it were, against our Wills, will God pardon a­gainst his Will?

What do you think of your Faith? Is not a speculative Credence, and a blind Hope, or a bottomless Perswasion, that which you call your Faith? Is it a Covenanting Faith? an obedient, and fruitful, a holy, and spiritualli­ [...]ing Faith? Take this for a Rule. A Justifying, [...]s alway a Sanctifying Faith, 1 Job. 3.3. I [...]an but hint at things here, and propose you [...]he general heads, which your own hearts, I [...]ope, will more largely comment on. In a word, Is your Faith such as is required in, [...]nd by the Word of God, the Rule of Faith?

Again, For your Love, and the rest of your Graces, that reside in the Affections; who hath, [...]nd who hath had, the greatest share here; God, [...]r the World; Christ, or Self; your Duty, or [...]our present Ease and Safety? your Humility, [...]our Patience and Contentment; your Zeal, [...]nd Charity, and Brotherly kindness; Is there [...]othing lacking here? These are the Garments [...]ou are shortly to meet the Bridegroom in; [...]re they such as will become his Table, and his [...]pouse? Are they not ragged, torn, and foul? [...]s there no washing-work, no mending-work [Page 176]here! Oh, Sirs! look up: your Lord is come to visit you, and to reckon with his Family; his Harbingers are knocking at your doors; and is not the sound of their Master's feet behind them? Shall he find you in this foul, and rag­ged Plight? oh! that I could secretly come to every one of your hearts, and awaken them with Martha's words to Mary, Joh. 11.28. The Master is come, and calleth for thee. And, if you will hear, now is the time; be sure, you shall not be call'd upon much longer, in such a way as this. Your Consciences shall bear wit­ness for me, that I have done what I can to awaken you. Oh, my Brethren! Shall God find us sleeping in such a day as this? Will he not deal with us, as that Captain did with his Souldier, whom he found asleep on the Guard? Mortuum inveni, & mortuum re­liqui. Dead I found thee, and dead I leave thee.

4. How have you improv'd your Duties? Your Duties are your Priviledges, and your work is part of your wages. Is it no honour to be Servant, nay, a Noble in the Court of the most high King? Is there no difference be­tween the service of God, which is perfect li­berty, and the service of Self, and Satan, which is the highest degree of Slavery? Now, what an esteem have you had of your work? han'd you over-yalued that, which is of man in it [...] I mean, the bodily exercise, the Modes, and Circumstances, the visible excellencies, and ac­complishments of it; and undervalued that [Page 177]which is more immediately of God? Han't you rather doted on the expressions and exter­nal Garbes, than admir'd and ador'd the Spirit, by which you have prayed or heard? Han't you been ready to attribute something to your own strength, and to forget the hand that leads you! And what hath been the increase of your Duties, both Number and Weight? Wher's [...]hat you have prayed all this while for, and [...]eard and meditated for? Do you find that [...]uties grow more easie and facil, and your [...]earts more ready and prompt and thorowly [...]urnisht unto every good word and work? It [...]ay be you are grown more Wordie or Eloquent [...] Prayer or Conference, more capacious or [...]etentive in understanding or memorie; thus [...]he exercise of natural faculties may in­ [...]ease the habit of its natural strength, though [...] be about spiritual Objects; and yet all the [...]hile it be but a carcase without a Soul. But [...]n you say that duties are improved in the [...]irit and life of them? Don't you remember a [...]me when you could hardly reach up your hand [...] turn the Key of Prayer, but were forc't to [...]and without and call at a distance, amidst [...]eloud Rabble of turbulent prophane thoughts, [...]d cold and carnall affections? That in hear­ [...]g the cloud was so thick upon you, that you [...]uld scarce conclude whether it were Night or [...]ay with you? That in youl wordly businesses [...]ad all other duties of your General or Parti­ [...]lar calling, you had much ado to keep your [...]ye on the Mark; much more to hit it? And [Page 178]how is it with you now? Can you say that you are still getting nearer to God? That those former Distances are daily abolishing through the abundant and abounding fulness of the Grace that is given you? Are you getting ground on God, (if I may so speak) doth every step bring you nearer and every Duty wind you higher? I mean not in fine words, or Mi­inical gestures, or affected Singularities, but in the spirituality and flesh-abasing power of it? Oh, Sirs! Can you gather nothing from this Rod, that may mind you of something that is amiss in your Duties? Was there no­thing amiss in our Preaching, and in you Hearing, and in both our Praying and other Duties, that God hath cut us so short of it now [...] The good Lord, if he hath any pleasure in us fully and effectually discover these things to us?

5. Your Company is another Talent, that you must reckon for. O what mutual advan­tage might we have made of this Talent? The Merchants of the World account their Compa­nies and Societies, their hours and places o [...] Commerce and Exchange, one of their great pri­viledges. Lawyers and Physitians, when they come together will be prying into one another secrets and experiences, and proposing their doubts and cases depending. Nay, the very Drunkards and Whore-mongers, Brothells an [...] Assassinates will improve one anothers Com­pany for the carrying on of their desired though ungodly designes, to promote the In­terest [Page 179]of the Devill, to ruine their Estates and families, and to damn their own Souls. How frequent are such Complaints at the Gallows? Had it not bin for such or such Company, I had never come to this miserable End. Though we may not curse, yet how little Cause are we like to have, when we come to die, to blesse one anothers Company, and God, for that good we have done or received that way? Are we not ordinarily as vain, as worldly, as useless in our Company, as others are. Oh! whence is it that those that are inspir'd by the Spirit, led by the Spirit, and walk in the Spirit, should yet be thus Carnal? Are we the Lights of the World? Is the Candle of the Lord in us? Joyn two or more Candles together, and will not their Flames presently embrace, and dart up in one to a more lofty Spire, and with the more transcendent Glory? Sure, tis our little Com­munion with God, that hath thus incarnated the Communion of Saints. Are we trading to­gether for Heaven, ingag'd in the same duties, and in the same dangers? Are our main Con­ternments and Businesses one and the same? Are we all bound for the same Harbour, and Chil­dren of one and the same Father? And have we nothing to do with and for one another about [...]t? Are there so many weak and feeble and [...]ark among us, that we may fear how they will hold home! And is there no need of a [...]elping hand? Oh how well would thy Father [...]ake it to see thy weaker Brother's burden on [...]hy shoulders, helping him along! This is [Page 180]the glorious commendation of Christ's care of us, Isa. 40.11. He shall feed his flock like a shepheard, he shall gather the Lambs with his arm, and carry them in his Bosome, and shall gently lead those that are with young. Oh that we could resolve thus with our selves, when ever we happen (as we think we should earnestly covet) into the company of any of the Saints of God. Well! Now here is one opportunity more put into my hands of doing or receiving some good, the loss of this oppor­tunity may lose me one jewel in my Crown: Am I travelling with him here on the Earth? Oh let me travail as many steps with him to­wards Heaven!

But, by the way, take with you this Caveat. Take heed of vain Ostentation, or empty circumstantial scruples and questions; let the matter of your discourse, and the manner of it too, be such as may administer Grace. And meddle not so much with other mens sins, as with your own duty. 'Tis to be fear'd, that we spend more time to exclaim on others sinnes, than to bewail our own; to cast dirt in others faces, than to wipe off, or to weep off that which is on our own. And may not this be one Cause, why God hath suffered the Penalty on our comming together, even because he hath had no more glory, nor our Selves and Brethren advantage this way?

6. Your Priviledges are Talents you must shortly answer for. And these are either,

Temporall, or

Spiritual.

The Temporal I might divide into Ordinary, or extraordinary. Of the Ordinary, I shall instance but in these three, and that b iefly.

Our Health.

Our Peace.

Our Plenty.

• 1. Our Health. How miserably have we a­bused our Health, both in its self, and in its End? In its self; how often have we indan­gered and impaired it, through its hard bon­dage to the World or the Flesh. The Body indeed is your house to work in; but take need of eating down your own walls. May not thy diseased, spoiled health, thy akeing [...]mbs, and broken bones cry out on thy covetous [...]eart, thy immoderate toyle, thy greedy mind, [...]hy fool-hardy and audacious tempting of God, [...] thy intemperate life? Nay, in the recovering [...]f decayed health; how hath God been thrust [...]side, as it were, and naturall, it may be, di­ [...]bolical means onely, or especially sought un­ [...]o? And as for your ends, hath it not been more to please and ease or serve the flesh, than [...]o discharge your duties towards God? Hath [...]ot your Health been made your slave and [...]rudge for the World, and to hold the Candle [...]o the uncleanest of your Lusts? Who hath had [...]e honour and service of your Health: Let Conscience speak the truth now; how seldome [...]ath God heard from you more than in your [...]old and customary way, till he hath been even [Page 180] [...] [Page 181] [...] [Page 182]forc't to take up his Rod, and make some breach upon your Health? And do we wonder then that he hath let fly the arrows of Death, of Warr and Pestilence at us!
• 2. Our Peace. How sadly may we look back and lament the Peace we have lost? When we had peace with men, we regarded not our peace with God, nor with one another. What Quarrels were we picking? What Divisions were we running amongst our selves? When there were none to fall out with us, we began to fall out with one another, and to smite our fellow-servants; and therefore is God justly fallen out with us. We have stript our own Peace to feather our Nests, and now, Behold, we cannot sit warm in them.
• 3. Our Plenty. How fat and wanton are we grown, puft up with the conceit of our own strength: God hath filled our Barns and laden the Earth with his Mercies, and with the Fool we have been ready to say, Soul take thine ease. Mercies are never more fouly a­bused, than when most freely bestowed. What hath God had of all our increase? When thou shalt have eaten and be full, then beware les [...] thou forget the Lord, Deut. 6.11, 12. God hath found, that grosse feeding doth produce ill humours, and grosse miscarriages. As they were increased, so they sinned against me. Hos. 4.7. And therefore he is fain to keep us low.

I might also mind you of your Priviledges and deliverances extraordinary. Hath God [Page 183]never rescued you from the very brink of the grave, and reacht you his hand when you were just sinking? Hath he never over-answered your Prayers, and gone beyond your Faith and Hopes? Have you never seen him stepping out of his common way, and as it were breaking the bedge of Nature and Reason to haste to your help; that you have been forc't to say, This is the Lords doing, it is marvellous in our eyes. Psal. 118, 23. And do you think this will be forgotten in the day account? What won­ders of Providence did God work for Israel, from Egypt till they came into the Land of Promise? But, Our Fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt, they remembred not the multitude of thy mercies, but provoked him at the Sea, even the Red-Rea. They soon forgot his works, they waited not for his counsells. Psal. 106.7, 13. Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, and overthrew them in the wilderness. ver. 26. The abuse of extraordi­nary Providences, whether of Mercy or Judg­ment, on our selves or others for our warning, is commonly attended with extraordinary ven­geance.

2. Your spiritual Priviledges, and these are either External, or Internal. External, as

• 1. Our Ministry is one of your Talents, which you as well as we must shortly give an account for. This seems to be one special voice of the Rod, and that which it chiefly aims at. This is one of the main Bones that God hath broken, the principal vein that he hath struck [Page 184]us in, and therefore our search and attention here should be the more serious and solemne. Remember now with what careless, customary Indifferency you have bin wont to hear; with what drowsy, dead, secure affections; with what unbelief, irreverence, hypocrifie; with what a divided, worldly, and wandring spirit; with what inconsiderate, blind zeal? Christianl reason thus with thy self; what an excellent favour is this, that I have thus long enjoyed. What way could the poor blind world have grop't out to get to Heaven by; what shift could we have made? Must not I and all the world with me, of necessity, have perished to all eternity, had it not bin for Christ, and the blessed manifestation of his Gospel, the bring­ing in of a better Hope? for Faith comes by hear­ing, Rom. 10.17, And if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that be lost. 2 Cor. 4, 3. And now what have I done? How can I answer for what I have received of this Talent? Thus long have I lived under such a mans Ministry, and thus long under anothers; Besides all those occasional advantages, which have been very frequent and precious. With what preparati­on? With what care? With what humility and self-denyal? With what resolution and purpose of heart have I sought God and the everlasting happiness of my own Soul in the injoyment of such Mercies? To what purpose hath been all my hearing and praying hitherto? Ah! What work have you here to deal plainly with your selves in? How might your thoughts [Page 185]run into particulars, and every stone you turn [...]fford you matter of Lamentation! I beseech you, Brethren, for the Lord Jesus sake, let not [...]our ears be both the Cradles and the Graves [...]f these proposed Confiderations: oh, let me [...]oe open to your eyes only, and the curiosity of your ears and censures; and pack all up again, without any hopes of trading with your hearts! This is none of mine, but Gods errand, I am [...]ent in; the fruit of his tender care, and com­ [...]assion of your souls. Oh, let it not return [...]mpty from whence it came! let me not carry [...] back in witness of your ungrateful refusal! God will shortly come to reckon with you him­self, he hath sent me but a little before, as the [...]oice of one crying in the Wilderness, to warn [...]ou to prepare his Way, and to make his [...]iths strait. And, remember! Let Consci­ [...]nce set it down, that this day you have been warned.
• 2. The Sacraments are another, and no [...]mall part of your Talent. How shall we take [...]he weight, and worth of this Priviledge? All [...]he World, and a thousand more such, will ne­ver move the Scales against it. Oh, the height, [...]nd depth, and length, and breadth, of the love of God, in Christ Jesus! How might we begin [...]fresh to reckon with our hearts here? Have you been some of Gods invited Guests, that [...]ave eaten, and drunk at his Table, and fed upon [...]is Body and Blood? Consider then,
  • 1. What you have done. Have you fed on [...]arist, like children, at his Breasts? or prey'd [Page 186]like Vultures, on his Flesh and Blood? The evidence is clear concerning the Fact; you can't deny, but that you have eaten at his Ta­ble; you have had your share, and you must expect your Reck'ning. 'Tis no ordinary fare you have fed upon, and you may expect that the account will be some way answerable. Salvation or Damnation will be the summ total of your Bill of Fare. Sacraments are charge­able Dishes; It cost the Great Master of these Sacred Feasts dear, his dearest, and only Son, and the Feast-holder himself his dearest Blood; And do you think to sit at these Tables, at the same rate, as at the Ordinary of the World? What! think you to plead your Foederal, and Evangelical Right, by the seal of the first Sa­crament, that gave you visible Title to the se­cond? Ah, but what if this should but aggra­vate the business? Need I tell you, that the first admission was upon terms; and what these terms were? Were you admitted into the Fa­mily of God, and not bound to the Laws and Discipline of the Family? Know, my brethren that there was a mutual stipulation in your first Baptismal Adoption. Surely, 'tis no small af­front, for a Dog to lap of the Master's choise [...] dish, and at the Table of his most solemn Feast though they belong, as Dogs, to the Family, an [...] go in and out at the same door with the children Oh, Sirs! there are high things, that we a [...] stand chargeable with, on this account, and ho [...] little do we consider it?
  • 2. How have you carried your selves in th [...] [Page 187]use of Sacraments! Oh! Where are your most serious thoughts? Methinks the Rod speaks louder, and plainer here, than ordinary; For this cause, many are weak and sickly, among you, and many sleep, 1 Cor. 11, 30. And the cause you may see, from ver. 17. to 22. 'Twas their abusing, and prophaning of Sacraments. I shall but propose things in general here, and leave them to be more fully discussed between God and your own hearts. Consider then,
    • 1. What an influence hath your Baptismal Vow had upon you? how little have you studied the Terms and Conditions of those your first Indentures between God and you? and how seldom hath it been in your thoughts? Han't it past by you, as a Ceremony, rather than a Busi­ness of any great import?
    • 2. With what solemn Preparation have you waited on God, in the enjoyment of the other Sacrament? Han't you spent more time and care about your Bodies, than about your Souls? or in the external part of Preparation, than in the life, and power, and spirit of it? With what self-abhorrencie, with what brokenness of [...]eart, with what hungring affections, with what faith, and earnest hope, with what dear [...]ove, and spiritual joy, and holy watchful care, have you ficeed, and filled your selves, for so near, and intimate Communion with God?
    • 3. What good have you gotten by Sacra­ments? Have you been like Gyants refreshed [...]ith wine? How have your Graces flourished [Page 188]under such heavenly dews? Have your resoluti­ons been strengthned, and your diligence dou­bled? hath the Devil lost ground in you? oh, what have you to shew that you have gotten by Sacraments? Are you not as empty, as vain, as worldly, as impatient, as selfish after, as you were before? Are these things like to make for the comfort of your account, at last? Which way can we look, but we may find guilt and shame meeting us? is not every leaf in your Consciences fill'd with accusations against your selves? oh! with what astonishing shame will it amaze secure sinners, when, all that Consci­ence has to say, shall be publisht in open Court, before God and Angels, and all the world! Now is the time to prevent all this; yet you have a repenting hour, a returning sea­son; oh! don't sit it out, and talk, o [...] resolve it away, till you come to Esau's pass, and then a whole world will never redeem you one such offer more.
  • 3. Good Books are another part of your Pri­viledge. These are some of the golden streams, that have refresht, and made glad the City o [...] God. How wonderfully hath the Church flou­rish't under these Dews? the Pulpit and the Press have been the two Breasts of the Spouse or, as the Hands of Sampson, on the Pillars o [...] the Kingdom of Satan. 'Tis true, these Breast have been, and alwaies are, molested with i [...] humours, and give Blood, nay, sometimes, Poy son, instead of Milk. But, we have that Glas [...] in our hands, that will discover where the Poy [Page 189]son lies. To the Law, and to the Testimony; [...]f they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them, Isa. 8.20. [...]ay, and we have the spirit of Promise, and of Truth; whose Office is, to guide us into all [...]uth, Joh. 16.13. This, like the Unicorn's [...]orn, tries the Pool, and Antidotes it before we [...]rink. 'Tis confest, that the most eminent Wri­ [...]ngs, of the choisest Instruments of the Church [...]f God, have their [...], their Naevi, their [...]pots and Blemishes: This argues, that they [...]re but men, though divinely, yet not infallibly [...]spir'd. The Fountain indeed is most pure, [...]et the Streams are useful too, though liable to [...]ccidental, and humane Tinctures and Imper­ [...]ctions. A Fountain without its Streams, [...]ould be serviceable but to few; abstract the [...]un from its diffused Beams, and where is its [...]ory or service? But when every one may have, [...] it were, a Brook, running through their [...]itchins, what a help, and advantage is it, in [...]ldomestick employments? Surely, never was here an Age in the world, that abounded with [...]ch, and so many helps of all sorts, as ours [...]ave done. Now, consider, what an Account, [...] Improvement, have you made of this Talent? [...]s for the choice of your Books, and Studies, I [...]ean, not only Scholars and Students, but others; [...]an't you been led by the corrupt Genius of a [...]anton Fancy, to Plays, Romances, Stories, Toys, [...]nd unprofitable Questions, [...], Prophane, and old wives Fables! or an [...]oneous understanding, and schismatical, and [Page 190]partial affection, led you unto the Tents o [...] Mesech, the sons of contention, to strengthe [...] your selves, to kindle, or quicken coals among Brethren? Have you exercis'd your selves, ra­ther unto Godliness; as the Apostle exhort [...] 1 Tim. 4.7. and made your choice of such Books, and means, as may best promote tha [...] noble, and blessed End? And have you in [...] prov'd such your choice, with your utmost ca [...] in reading, understanding, and obeying them It cannot but grieve my heart, to think of th [...] miserable slighting, and horrible abuse, of th [...] part of our Talent; to see poor souls groping and rambling up and down in the Dark, whi [...] every corner stands so full of these precio [...] Lights. When I find, of what large capaciti [...] firm intellectuals, retentive memories, work­ing affections, and excellent naturals, some me are of, and yet in all these degraded, throu [...] the madness of their hearts, that they little d [...] ­fer, as to their aims, objects, and leadi [...] principles, from the beast that perisheth. Son will pretend, they have no mony to bestow [...] such commodities; who yet can find, it m [...] be, twice as much, to spend at one sitting, wi [...] their fellow Drunkards, or Dealers; or in son Toy, to please a cocker'd child; or to cloa [...] the back of Pride; or to sacrifice to any their Lusts. If the Devil, by the Commiss [...] of the unclean spirit, lay a Tribute, as I m [...] say, on thee; he seldom goes without it. If [...] self-love, thy vain-glory, or revenge, levi [...] subsidie upon thee; it presently stands for a S [...] [Page 191] [...]cute-Law with thee, and thou darest not refuse, or delay thy obedience, though thou pinch thy self, weary thy friends, and undo thy family for it; But though thy Soul lie gasping, bleed­ing, and dying within thee, and the mouth of Hell stand open for thee, and thy Friends, that wish thee and thy Soul well for ever, lie hard at thee; yet here thou pleadest a Corban, and hast nothing to spare, because thou hast no heart to spare. Others there are, that count it sufficient, [...]f they bestow their mony in these things, [...]hough they have little time to spare in reading, [...]ess in considering them; as though they meant [...]o set up these for their Penates, their Paper­ [...]dols, or Houshold-Gods; or else let them lie, [...] waste papers, of little use, more than for chil­dren to play with, or to pass away a tedious our on a Sabbath day.

Others, again, for the pleasantness of the [...]yle, or some by-respects to the Person, or [...]ubject, will seem to proselyte themselves, to [...]ch, or such a ones devotion. Others, more [...]r Novelty, than for their Understanding, or [...]onscience-sake; tumble over one page after [...]other, and when all is done, can say, they [...]ve read it, but are as wise as the Moths; those [...]elluones Librorum, that feed upon them. Oh, [...]ow few are there, that, like Bees, extract the [...]eetness, and service of those Flowers? Where [...]e the Combs you have fashion'd, and the [...]ore, you have treasur'd for a spending time? [...]here are the Convictions, the Resolutions, [...] Affections, they have wrought on your [Page 192]hearts and lives? What pains, and watching [...] and care, and cost, and hazzards, have those eminent servants of God been at; and all, a [...] the abused issue hath proved, but to feed you [...] fancies, and to expose themselves to your cen­sures, and Critical castigations? Questionless there is no small guilt, in the Records of Hea­ven, against us, on this account. It is not fo [...] nothing, that God hath set Watchers over us, an [...] a Flaming Sword, to keep the way of this Tre [...] of Life.

2. Your Internal Priviledges; the stirrings and operations of the Spirit in you, this wil [...] come into account too, at last.

• 1. Your Convictions. How often hath th [...] Spirit of God wrestled with you, till you ha [...] been forced to yield? how often hath Go [...] brought you to your knees, and made you con­fess before him? and what woful shifts have you made, to quench the Spirit again? Han't you been like water forced against the stream, tha [...] hath broken down, and swollen over all th [...] Baies, and Damms, that have stood before it Don't you find, that Convictions are hard [...] to be wrought now, than once they were? th [...] ordinary things do less affect you, than the [...] were wont to do? or are more ineffectua [...] and fruitless, than they were wont to be And is there no matter of sorrow, and lamenta­tion, in all this?
• 2. Your Refolutions. H [...]n't these been lik [...] the Spider's Webb, spun out of your own Bow­els? and have been broken, by every finger [Page 193]of temptation? Han't God been often disho­ [...]oured, and your selves deceived, by your [...]ight; rash, and half resolutions? Are you not [...]ham'd, to think, to how little purpose you [...]ave been so long a purposing? When are you [...]ke to be settled, in that, you have been once, [...]nd again, resolving on?
• 3. Your Vowes. Are not the Vowes of the [...]ord upon you? Han't you been often plighting [...]our troth with him? May not God sue you, [...]or your Faith, Love, and Obedience, upon that [...]pecialty you have given him, under your own [...]ands and seals? Now, consider, how faithful [...]ave you been, in performing your Oaths unto God? Have you walked, as those that are in [...]ecial Covenant with him? What a tie hath [...]is been upon you, against all assaults? what stay hath it been, when your feet have been [...]ding? oh, my Brethren! Han't God much [...] lay to our charge, concerning our Vowes and [...]ovenants? Look back on your dayes of cala­ [...]itie, on your sick-beds, when you were in the [...]tterness and anguish of your souls; on your [...]nvictions, and desertions, when the sense of [...]vine wrath, and intolerable guilt lay upon [...]u; was there nothing past between God and [...]u then, that's worth your remembrance, and [...]lls for tears afresh now? Surely, now that [...]od is visiting for these things, 'tis time for us [...] consider.
• 4. Your Comforts. Those reviving Cordials, [...]at have so often fetch [...] life into your dying [...]pes; with what thankfulness have you enter­tain'd [Page 194]them? with what faithfulness have yo [...] reserv'd, and stor'd them up, for standing experiences, to support you in future dangers, fears, or miseries? Christian, what is it tha [...] comforts thee most? Is it the hope of a tempo­ral deliverance, of better times, and greaten freedom and peace? Why! these are the thing that natural, and carnal men, are wont to com­fort themselves with. In the Lord put I m [...] trust, sayes David, how say ye then, to m [...] soul, flee as a bird to your mountain? Psa [...] 11.1. Remember the word unto thy servant upon which thou hast caused me to hope. Th [...] is my comfort in my affliction; for thy word hat [...] quickned me, Psal. 119.49, 50. Here a [...] three things, which contribute to David comfort in his affliction. 1. The Promise [...] the Word, the ground of his hope. 2. His re­lation, as servant, unto God, the ground of h [...] proprietie, or right to the Promise. 3. Th [...] Influence of the Word, through the quickni [...] co-operation of the Spirit. 'Tis not enough that there is a word of Promise made to us, un­less the condition of the Promise be wrough in us, and the Spirit quicken us, to apply th [...] Promise too. Comforts drawn from a Promis [...] without the Condition of the Promise, are b [...] stollen Comforts; and a Promise, without the Spirit, to quicken and apply it, is but li [...] a Hony-comb in the mouth of a dead man, th [...] hath not strength to draw it.

1. Consider, of what nature are your com­forts? Are they earthly, or spiritual Comforts [Page 195]Where is it you are wont to retire, and to take [...]ctuarie in your fears and dangers? Are you [...] ready to answer with David? In the Lord [...] I my trust. But, what's that thou findest in [...]d, that comforts thee? You will say, His [...]ributes, and Promise: you know that he [...]ble, and ready to help, and hath promised [...]o do, in a time of trouble. Yet this is not to [...] Question. This shews the ground of your [...]forts, but not the nature of them. You [...] guess at the nature of your comforts, by [...] inward fears and troubles; of what kind these? Are they the concernments of God [...] Christ, and your own souls, or your ex­ [...]al, and private interest, that you are so ten­ [...] of? Don't the hopes of your deliverance [...] the Rod, affect, and rejoyce you more, than [...] hopes you have of being better'd by the [...]? Alas, Christian I God will have thee yet [...] spiritual, he intends to wean thee from self, and to make the concerns of his Glory, thy own Soul, yet more precious with thee. [...]true, there's comfort in every good; and [...] Creature of God is to be refused, 1 Tim. [...] so neither the comfort that issues from it, look, of what nature the Good is, of the [...] nature, in its self, is the comfort that [...]gets. It is thy highest Good, that af­ [...] thy highest comfort. So that hence you judge of your choice, and consequently, of present Estate, and future Portion, accor­ [...] to such Estate.

Consider, of what ground and sufficien­cie [Page 196]are thy comforts? what weight do the [...] make against all thy discomforts? Are they su [...] as proceed from a true, and lively Faith, a [...] the Spirit, the Comforter? or, are they bred [...] the knees of thy carnal Reason, and bli [...] Hopes? The strength of thy Comfort will [...] much according to the strength of thy Fai [...] Rom. 15.13. 1 Pet. 1.8. and the fulness [...] thy Joyes, according to the fulness, and near [...] of thy Communion with God, 1 Joh. 1.3. Thy Common Reason, and carnal Experien [...] may serve thee, as Rebeccah served Isaac. [...] may dress thee a savoury Dish, such as t [...] likest, and tell thee, that the Lord [...] God hath brought it to thee. Bastard Co [...] forts may seem very beautiful, and stollen [...] ­ters, sweet; but these are wasting Comfo [...] Cisterns that will not hold long; these W [...] will quickly run on the Lees; when God [...] ­gins to walk with thee, above thy reach, [...] to lead thee through the dark, and narrow w [...] of his Providence, these Comforts will [...] Shades too, and tend to thy disquietm [...] Therefore, my brethren, examine your C [...] forts; see whose Image and superscription [...] bear; and be sure, that among all o [...] things you have to comfort your selves w [...] you be not without that one, which will [...] fort you in Death, and sweeten the bitterest [...] for you.

3. Consider, What use have you mad [...] your Comforts? How have you set Faith [...] Hope on work, in your straits and difficult [...] [Page 197] [...]th God given you this Talent, to lie idle by [...]? Those Jewels that are of greatest worth, [...] of greatest use; The more there is of Pri­ [...]edge in it, the more of Duty. Blessed be [...], even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, [...] Father of mercies, and the God of all com­ [...]t; who comforteth us in all our tribula­ [...], that we may be able to comfort them [...]ch are in any trouble, by the comfort where­ [...]h we our selves are comforted of God, 2 Cor. [...]3, 4. Here are four things observable in [...] comforts. 1. The ground, or original of [...]; and that was God, the Father of mer­ [...], and the God of all comfort. 2. Their way [...] Conveyance: 'twas, through Jesus Christ, [...] therefore he adds, the Father of our Lord [...]us Christ. 3. Their Sufficiencie; it was universal cordial; comfort in all tribulation. The end, or use of it, which was two-fold; [...]ate, and Publick. 1. Private. It begat him a thankful frame of heart; Blessed be [...], who comforteth us. 2. Publick. viz. [...] communication of the same comfort to [...]s; That we might be able to comfort them [...]th are in any trouble. Now sit down, and sider, what's the reason your comforts are [...]ow, and spiritless? how comes it to pass, [...] are ever and anon, fainting under the [...], and ready to give up your hopes for lost? [...] art thou cast down, O my soul, and why thou disquieted within me? Are the trou­ [...] of this world too hard for the hopes of the [...] to come? and lie heavier on you, than [Page 198]Christ can bear in you? Was it Paul's expe [...] ­ence only, who could say, 2 Cor. 1.5. As [...] sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our conf­lation also aboundeth by Christ. Christia [...] thy faint, and heavy carriage, and sad [...] quietments, do reflect on thy Profession, [...] on the glorious Attributes of God. T [...] are your Priviledges, Temporal, and Sp [...] ­tual, which is the sixth Talent we have [...] in question.

7. Your Afflictions, are another of your [...] trusted Talents. God is now reckoning [...] you, by his Rod; the time is coming, that [...] will reckon with you for his Rod. Would not be sad, if your present miseries should [...] aggravate your future unhappiness. Oh! [...] what horrour will Conscience look back ons [...] less afflictions? When thou liest stretcht ou [...] the Threshold of a miserable eternity, thy [...] bedience to the Word will sufficiently asto [...] thee; but thy hardening under the Rod, [...] be one of the bitterest Memento's that shal [...] in thy mind. When the Brute Creat [...] with whose bodies and lives, thou art now [...] ­ting thy unreasonable Lusts, shall rise in J [...] ­ment against thee, who never were guil [...] so stupid, stubborn, and unteachable a sp [...] as thou. Hath God cast thee into the fire, [...] art thou the same still; or rather, worse [...] worse? Be sure, sinner, God hath a Fur [...] that's seven times hotter than any thou [...] ever tried yet, and that will melt thee. [...] one of the saddest Judgments in the world [...] [Page 199]come out of afflictions unreform'd; for this is usually, one of Gods last, and most effectual courses, to humble proud hearts. If the Rod once leave thee uncurable, there's little hope of thee. Oh! that I could awaken you now! Oh! that God would awaken you! That I night but open your skirt, for one of the heal­ing, and yet wounding Arrows, of his Spirit, [...]o enter you; surely, he will not spend them all upon you in vain. If they will not pierce thee [...]ow, his Quiver is yet full of the flaming Darts of his vengeance, with which he will [...]ursue thee into Hell, and there thou must stand [...]is Butt to all eternity.

8. And lastly, Your Relations, are not the [...]east part of your Talent. Here I might sub­divide my Course, many waies, in this large [...]ield: but I shall knit up all, in as few words as [...] can. There's never a one, but stands in se­ [...]eral Relations to others, and every Relation [...]harg'd full of Duty; But within the bounds [...]f Family-Relations, I shall at present direct my way.

1. I shall begin with Masters of Families. Oh! how few are there, that duely consider [...]he duties of such a Relation! How have Gods saithful servants labour'd at this Oar, to con­vince men of, and perswade them to the obe­dience, and practise of these duties! No string [...] often set as this, and yet no string so much [...]ut of tune still. How have you weighed the [...]urden that lies upon your hands! The bloud [...]f your servants souls, is like to lie at the doors [Page 200]of your Neglects, another day. You must not think to answer God, as Cain answered, in another case; Am I my brothers keeper? God hath committed not only their bodies, but their Souls, to your care, Exod. 20.10. And what have you done for them more than their bare In­dentures or Covenants have inforced you? May not God justly say to thousands among us, nay, to most of us, as once to Cain? The voice of thy Servants blood cryeth unto me, not from the ground, but from Hell. Certainly, 'tis a dreadful thing, to consider, what cursed and heathenish cruelty there is shewn towards the souls of poor servants. Oh! what an influence might you have upon them, did you but take the right course with them; how would a little con­descending, self-denying, gentleness, and love prevail with Inferiours! You are crying out up­on their unfaithfulness, idleness, stubbornness and profaneness: Oh! Consider where one great cause lies. Hath not your worldliness, or fro­wardness, or supercilious, unchristian-like stout­ness, or your own evil Example, or Negligence and unwatchfulness in your duties, been th [...] main thing that hath produced it? What time have you allowed them for their souls? what Counsel, what Arguments, have you used with them? what pains have you taken to inform or reform them? how often have you been o [...] your knees on purpose to God, for their souls Were the Egptian Task-masters ever mo [...] exact for their tales of Brick, than you have been with them? Do you think you are servi [...] [Page 201]of God, and that God will accept an offering, a duty at your hands, while your poor servants are even forced to serve the Devil, that they may serve, and please you? oh! that ever such things should be heard of, among Christians! How few are there, that, with good Joshua, have solemnly set up their resolutions, and faith­fully walkt up to their resolutions, That they, and their houses, will serve the Lord? oh! that God would perswade us, to more seriousness, and unwearied diligence, in this business. Questi­onless, this is not the least cause, for which the Land is mourning this day. How can we ex­pect, that God should remove his Judgments, before our sins be removed? that he should re­store us, before he hath reform'd us? and,Caudrey, Fam. Re­form. Gouge, Domestical Dutie. Abbot, Christian Family builded by God. with what reason, can we ever hope to see a National reformation prosper, unless it be founded on a domestical, and personal reformation? I can but briefly touch at these things; onely to mind you of them, and to referr you to those that have purposely, and fully treated of Family-Govern­ment, or reformation.

2. Parents. Methinks, I should need no o­ther Argument here, to provoke you to your duty, than the nearness, and dearness of such a Relation. If any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house: [and much more then for his own children] he hath de­nyed the faith, and is worse than an Infidel, 1 Tim. 5.8. Doth the Apostle speak only of temporal Provisions here? Nay, were it so, yet doubtless, by the same Argument, & virtute [Page 202]majoris, the spiritual part is manifestly inclu­ded; having alwayes due respect unto our Sa­viour's command, Matth. 6.33. But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness. Some there are, even among Christians, that are worse, not only than Infidels, but the very brute beasts, that regard neither the Bodies, nor Souls of their own children. But I shall say nothing to such: the very light, and principles of Nature, do sufficiently condemn them. The greater sort of Parents think, they have done enough, nay, very wisely and commendably, if, through their Care, Frugality, Labour, or Wits, they have brought them up to some cal­ling, or competent Estate, that they may live in fashion amongst men. Nay, strange is the Ambition of some Parents, that care not what become of themselves, bodies or souls; so that they may, by any means, advance their chil­dren above the rank of their Predecessours; that will bethink no pains, no sweat, no tra­vel, no disgraces, nor repulses, for the promo­tion of their ambitious aims. Might I take such Parents aside, and ask them seriously, What they mean, to heap up, with so much la­bour and diligence, the heavy curses, and ven­geance of God on their poor children? to hang Mill-stones about their Necks, and so to set them afloat in a leaking Vessel? to damn their own Souls, that they may betray those, they pretend so dearly to love! Oh, Sirs! methinks your hearts should bleed within you, to think what a preposterous course you are taking, to [Page 203]consult the welfare of your dear children. Have they not immortal souls, as well as bodies, think you? Have you begotten beasts, or Men? Is there an everlasting estate, both of glory, and misery, in the world to come? Are your chil­dren born under the condemning sentence of the Law; and the Wrath of Almighty God? If not, then expunge those Scriptures out of the Book of God, that plainly affirm it; Matth. 25.46. Rom. 5.12. Eph. 2.3. with those hundreds more, that speak to the same thing. But, if God be true, and his Word must stand; then tell me, whether the Souls of your children be not of as great a value, and require as much of your care, as their Bodies. I cannot stand here, on the Institutions of Family-Discipline; I am, at present, but your brief Remembran­cer, though in a somewhat lax, and digressive way. Oh, my brethren! Are children a bles­sing to you? take heed ye be not a curse to them. What pains and care have you taken, to instruct them in the knowledge and fear of God? With what wrestlings, and tears, are you wont to go to God for them? With what gen­tleness and impartiality, have you administred due, and seasonable correction? Have you be­gotten Slaves for the Devil, Limbs of Satan? and shall they be brought up in the same case they were brought forth? Oh, remember! you are but Stewards of these Mercies, and must shortly give up your account of them. They are God's Proprietie, and the Souls that he hath made.

[Page 204] 3. Husbands. The Apostle summs up the Husbands Duty toward the Wife, in this one word, Love, Col. 3.19. Eph. 4.25. And so ought men to love their wives, as their own bodies: he that loveth his wife, loveth him­self, ver. 28. Here are two things to be considered; The Object; and the Nature of this Love.

• 1. The Object. This should be no Accident, nor Adjunct; but the very Person of the Wife; Portion, Parts, and Beauty, are indeed lovely accomplishments; but yet are fading, and im­permanent; and therefore, not the adequate Objects of the Husbands affections. Hence it is, that some men love their Wives, as their Merchandise, for their Portions sake: Some, as their Slaves, for their Stewardship, Care, or Service-sake: Others, as their Harlots, for their Beauty, and Lusts sake. These are the horrible abuses of such a Relation. He that loves his Wife, as he ought, hath his Love grounded on her Person, and loves her as his Wife, ab­stract from all other Considerations, which Love alone is like to hold, as long as the Re­lation holds.
• 2. The Nature of this Love. Love is both an Active, and Passive affection. Here I might shew you, what Love hath to do, and what to bear in this case. But, because it seems somewat alien from my present purpose, I shall only mention it, and so proceed.

1. What this Conjugal Love will do, in the behalf of the Wife. We must know, that the [Page 205]Object of this Love hath a double respect, or consideration; both the Body, and the Soul; the Outer, and the Inner man.

1. The outer Man. Love is a benevolous, and diffusive affection.

• 1. It bestows its self on its Object, and unites its self with it. And they two shall be one Flesh.
• 2. It delights to live with its Object. Verus amor maximè delectatur praesentiâ amati,
  Daven. in Coloss. cap. 3. v. 19.
  & quasi cruciatur ejusdem absentiā. True love greatly delights in the presence of its beloved, and is even crucified by its absence.
• 3. True love will provide for the Wife,
  Amor est diffusivus sui boni.
  according as her necessity, or degree, re­quires.

2. The Inner man. This is the special Care, and Charge of a Christian Husband. He is therefore called the Head of the Wife, Eph. 5.23. And she required to ask, and to learn of her Husband, at home, 1 Cor. 14.35. who should be able to instruct her. What know­est thou, O Wife, whether thou shalt save thy Husband: and what knowest thou, O man, whe­ther thou shalt save thy Wife, 1 Cor. 7.16.

2. What, Love will bear with toward the Wife.

• 1. With all the deformities, and decaies of Nature.
• 2. With all humane Infirmities, Passions, Weaknesses, or unkindnesses, 1 Pet. 3.7. Gi­ving honour unto the Wife, as unto the Weaker Vessel.

[Page 206] 4. Wives. The summ of their duty, as con­tradistinct unto that of the Husbands, is, to obey, Eph. 5.22. Col. 3.18. Here's the plain Pre­cept. Besides, St. Peter pleads prescription too, 1 Pet. 3.5. After this manner, in the old time, the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorn­ed themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands. Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord. 'Tis the excellency of a Chri­stian, to know the duties of his Relation. God hath made the Husband the head of the Wife, in all things, under Christ; And certainly, for a Wife to disobey her Husband, in things law­ful, or indifferent, is manifestly to rebell against her Maker. [...]. Obedience, is the Mother of Felicity. If you would live happily, live obediently. Though God hath, in his Providence, joyned thee with a Cross Disposition, yet that will not discharge thee of thy duty;Daven. in Col. Quò difficilius, eò laudabi­lius; The more difficult, the more praise-wor­thy. 'Tis true, the great Lord and Husband of his Church, must be obeyed, whatever become of the Wills, or Laws of man: But, take heed, you make not a pretence of Duty, a cloak of wickedness and disobedience.

5. Children. Their Duty likewise, is, to obey their Parents, Eph. 6.1.2. but here we find their duty limited. Obey, in the Lord. Obey them, as you may obey God too. Chil­dren have a double Parentage; a Father in Heaven, at least, by Creation, as well as a Fa­ther on Earth. Now, in all Relations whatsoe­ver, [Page 207]Whether it be better to obey God, or man, when one must necessarily be disobeyed, we make no doubt. But the Instruction of chil­dren, at least, in their minority, being the boun­den, and domestick duty, and care of the Pa­rents, and especially of the Mother, as might ap­pear by 1 Tim. 5.10. 2 Tim. 1.5. Prov. 31.1. [...] shall not undertake it here, but commit it unto those, whose more proper, and peculiar work it [...]s. Though I doubt not, but that the obedience [...]nd duty, here required of children, to their Parents, expires not with their minority; The Relation never dies, while the Correlates live; The child is a child, as long as he hath a Pa­rent; and the duties of his Relation, though, as [...] Circumstances, may be varied, yet as to their obligation, are not at all remitted, or dimi­nished.

6. Servants. Their duty also, is, Obedience, [...]nd faithfulness; not with eye-service, but in [...]ngleness of heart. (loc.cit.) Remember, How­ [...]er you may deal with your Masters on earth, [...]ou have a Master in Heaven, whose eye is al­way upon you, and observes your going out, [...]nd your coming in, and hath a Hell, or a Hea­ven, to pay your wages with. Oh! take heed [...] those sins especially, that are most incident [...]nto servants, and all those provocations and [...]ticements of evil Company, which are like [...] beget, or foment, corrupt Principles in you. [...]ow hard a matter is it, to find an Onesimus! wicked Company, is ordinarily one of the [...]eatest snares that servants are caught in. My [Page 208]son, if sinners intice thee, consent thou not, Prov. 1.10. &c. Bad servants become bad masters, and so sin and misery run in a successive, and hereditary line. Thus I have finished the first Question, How have you improv'd your Ta­lents?

2. How have you kept your Watch? How importunately doth Christ press this duty? Mar. 13.33. Take ye heed, watch, and pray, for ye know not when the time is. And, Watch ye therefore, for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, ver. 35. And, What I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch. ver. 37. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong, 1 Cor. 16.13. Behold, I come as a thief, blessed is he that watcheth, Rev. 16.15. Christians! God hath set you on the Guard,; you are his Watchmen. Now there are these four things especially requisite in a good Watchman.

1. A Watchman must be a man of Counsel and Judgment; able to discern between good and evil, Friends and Enemies. He must know the bounds, and extent of his Commission. Watching, is the work of the eye, therefore, surely, blind men can never be good Watchmen. 'Tis true, there are a generation, whom the world applauds, for wise, understanding, know­ing men; and these are Watchmen too. But David tells us what it is they watch for; Psal. 4.6. Who will shew us any good? and the next verse specifies, what good it is they watch for; even the excrease of their corn and wine. And [Page 209]Christ himself tells us, whereto such wisdom comes at last, Luk. 12.20. Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee.

Others there are, that are wise, and watch­ful too; but it is to do evil;Eph. 4.14. That lie in wait to deceive. Others, that are wise in their Genera­tions; but are such as David complains of, Psal. [...]19.95. The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me. Of this sort were they that met with the Spouse, Cant. 5.7. That watch to wound and to smite; Whose feet run to evil, and make haste to shed innocent blood, Isa. 59.7. These, as wise as they are, are none of God's, [...]ut the Devil's Watchmen. Here is not only [...]he Serpents Craft, but his Nature, his Venom, and his Curse too. But, I shall tell you, through Gods assistance, more fully, in what follows, wherein the work, and wisdom of your Christian watch lies. Only, in general, know, by the way; that your wisdom consists in the Choice of your work, and in the management of your Choice. And it is a supernatural wis­dom, a self-denying, flesh-displeasing wisdom; it is a simple, innocent, and, in a word, a hea­venly wisdom; —which is first pure, then peace­able, gentle, and easie to be entreated, full of mer­cy and good fruits, without partiality, and with­out hypocrisie. Jam. 3.17.

2. VVatch men must be men of Courage. Alas, Christians! you know not what you may meet with on your watch; nor how you may be [...]ut to it. Men are not set to watch, but in dangerous times; See then, that ye walk, [...], [Page 210] exactly, or warily, because the dayes are evil, [...], difficult, dangerous, as well a [...] sinful, Eph. 5.15. VVatchmen must be resol­ved men. Your work is of publick concern­ment, and therefore you must be men of pub­lick spirits. VVatching is night-work; Watch­man, what of the night? Isa. 21.11. And nights are dark, and cold, and perillous. Now what are your resolutions? How are you arm'd for this Night-work? God hath already le [...] you through the Caput Vigiliarum, some o [...] the first Watches of this sad night; with what undaunted zeal have you stood your ground, against all opposers, and oppositions? where are the Prizes you have taken? May you not say, with the Disciples, in another case? We have toybed all night, and have caught nothing. You know not how you may be set upon, before eve [...] your morning-hopes yet dawn upon you; what Storms may arise, what Providences may be­tide you; the darkest, and coldest time of the night, is wont to be a little before the break of day; and I greatly doubt, that the hard­est work you were ever put upon, is yet be­hind.

3. Watchmen must be men of Care and Vigilance. It is not for you to sleep in such a season as this is. I am not speaking now, of that natural rest, which the weaknesses, and infir­mities of Nature call for; but of that secure sluggish frame of spirit, which so blunts the edge and benumbs the operations of Grace, in the heart, and life of a Christian. The Ark, an [...] [Page 211]Israel, and Judah, abide in tents, sayes vriah, [...]ny Lord Joab, and the servants of my Lord, [...]re encamped in the open fields; shall I then go [...]nto mine house, to eat, and to drink, &c. As [...]ou livest, & as thy soul liveth, I will not do [...]his thing, 2 Sam. 11.11. The Ark and Is­rael, abide, this day, in tents. What! can we [...]ot watch one hour? Be sober, be vigilant, be­cause your Adversary the Devil, as a roaring [...]yon, goeth about, seeking whom he may de­ [...]our, 2 Pet. 5.8. Oh! remember, while you [...]e sleeping, he is waking, and wicked men [...]e waking; He deviseth mischief on his bed, Psal. 36.4. While you sit idle, they are hard [...] work. Nay, your Captain himself is on the [...]atch with you, My Lord Joab; your Lord [...]esus, is encamped in the open fields: and, He [...]at keepeth Israel, shall neither slumber, nor [...]ep, Psal. 121.4. O, my brethren: take heed [...] this drowsie, careless, indifferent frame of [...]irit; you know not how dear it may cost [...]u. 'Twas while men slept, that the enemy [...]wed his tares, Matth. 13.25. and while [...]e Virgins slept, the Bridegroom came, Matth. [...]5.5. How many thousands are there now in [...]ell, whom all the Calls of Mercy, nor the pro­ [...]ises, or threatnings of the Word, nor all the [...]therly stroaks of a chastising Rod, could keep [...]aking; but were as insensible, as the earth [...]ey trod on: yet now their senses are come [...] them, and they feel, and know that, which [...] all keep them waking, and weeping too, to [...] eternity!

[Page 212] 4. Watchmen must be men of Credit, and faithful in their trust. The duty of a Christian, is not bare work, but a trust; which is not dis­charged by action only, but by faithfulness and integrity. An unfaithful Watchman, is the most dangerous Enemy; no thief, like the do­mestick thief: oh, Sirs! Are you sensible what a charge lies on your hands? You have heard something of it already, what Talents God hath laid up with you; and, how dare you be unfaithful? God hath adventur'd his Glory, his Gospel, his Ordinances, his Sabbaths, nay, his very Life, as it were, in your hands; you are his chosen men, his Life-Guard, his Militant Church; and will you, dare you, through un­faithfulness, betray your Lord, into the hand [...] of those that shall crucifie him afresh, and pu [...] him to an open shame? Let me farther propose these two Questions, for the trial of your faith­fulness.

• 1. Have you laid out your utmost for God? The utmost of your Time, and the utmost of your Care and Strength? Have you made the most o [...] all that you are, and have, for God? Have you redeem'd as many Hours, as many of you [...] Thoughts, as many Pence, for God, and Christ [...] as possibly you could have done? oh! where i [...] Conscience now? how can it answer for you [...] selves? Look back on all the Mercies you have received, and all the time you have enjoyed [...] Is there nothing to upbraid your unfaithfulness here? Is God your record, whom ye serve i [...] the spirit; that, for your lives, you could have [Page 213]done no more for him, than you have done? why, then! what means thy immoderate world­ly care? thy mistrusting of God, and murmu­ring at his Providence? what means all this cost thou hast bestowed, to feed thy Pride and Am­bition? or thy over-curious, or over-greedy Palate? Remember! in such a Garment, in such [...] Building, in such a Banquet, in such a Re­creation, in such a Company, in such a Business, something might well have been spar'd for Christ. What mean thy worldly thoughts, [...]nd thy worldly discourse, on the Lords own [...]ay; whereof, not one minute is thine own? And, is this plain dealing with God? Is this thy faithfulness to thy friend? oh, be convinc't, and [...]ham'd before God!
• 2. Have you been impartial in your obedi­ence? Han't you learn't of Saul, to reserve [...]ome of the chief of the things, which should [...]ave been utterly destroyed? May not God [...]ome, and pull an Agag out of your Closets? [...]ome delicate, choise Lust, which you are loath [...]o lay violent hands on? Have you never served God with an Amalekitish sacrifice, with un­hallowed, prophane, and uncircumcised hearts? Don't you find it harder work, to deny your selves in some things, than in others? Are not [...]ome duties more difficult, and irksome to the [...]lesh, than others? Watch your selves then, [...]specially in these things, and you may quick­ly find much of the partiality of your obe­dience.

Thus I have labour'd, though weakly, to set [Page 214]you on your Guard; and have put the Watch [...] Bill into your hands. Now let me tell you, wha [...] you are to watch for, and what to watch against [...] and why.

1. What you are to watch for; and no [...] only to let pass, but to defend, and conten [...] for; in general.

• 1. Gods Glory. Whatsoever is properly, an [...] directly for the Glory of God, you are boun [...] to defend with your lives. Neither is this al [...] but you are to watch, apprehend, and improv [...] all advantages, and opportunities, in order hereunto: to set every whoel you can move, [...] going this way. This is the great Road, th [...] Kings high way, which you should turn ever [...] wandring Passenger into. All your thought aims, and designs, your Families, and whate­ver else lies within your bounds and limit [...] should be all travelling this way; for this on [...] leads homewards: which brings me to th [...] next.
• 2. Your own Salvation. Christians, yo [...] watch for your Lives, nay, for your Souls; an [...] what have you dearer than these? Sirs! m [...] thinks this should startle you, to consider, th [...] here you stand with your lives in your hands [...] oh! that I could but convince you, how despe­rately you hazzard your souls, and peace, an [...] comforts, by every neglect of your Watch [...] If you could but see, what black Troops of arn [...] ­ed Enemies, have beset you round, and eve [...] one striving to strike you first; and the lea [...] able to strike you dead. But, alas! we are [...] [Page 215]the dark, and 'tis little we see, more than we [...]eel, and little we feel of what we suffer. What shall I say? or how shall I bespeak you? For [...]our live's sake, for your soul's sake, for Christ's [...]ake, stand closer to your Watch. Oh! how [...]hick are your enemies upon you? see how your blood is running at your Feet! Every idle word wounds you, every sinful, vain thought, draws blood from you. How grievously was David wounded, but with the glance of his eye? How [...]adly did Noah and Lot suffer by a cup of Wine? and Peter by a carnal fear, or hope to escape the Inquest? oh! the stabbs and wounds, that every day, and hour of our heedless VVatch, [...]s attended with! If your souls be worth any [...]ing with you; if Heaven, and Eternal Life, [...]e worth any thing; take heed to your VVatch.

Now, in order to these two great Ends, you must watch;

• 1. For the Word of God. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my [...]ates; waiting at the posts of my doors, Prov. [...].34. I was glad when they said unto me, Let [...]s go into the house of the Lord, Psal. 121.1. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write un­to you, of the common salvation; It was need­ful for me, sayes St. Jude, and, would to God, I [...]ould not justly say, it is far more needful for [...]e, to write unto you, and exhort you, that ye should earnestly contend for the faith, which was once delivered unto the Saints, Jude v. 3. Search the Scriptures. Know your Dutie: [Page 116]observe your Tessera, your VVatch-word. Here is your Armourie, which is able to make the man of God perfect, and throughly furnisht unto all good works, 2 Tim. 3.17. These are the weapons, which Christ, our Captain, hath already tried against the great Goliah of our Enemies, Matth. 4.4, 7, 10. Three times in one chapter, he foils him with a [...], It is written. Let this be the Beacon then, that you watch at; even at the Shepheards tents, whither you may retreat, and be safe. Beyond these bounds, you have no warrant; if you wander hence, and miscarry, (as some have done, making shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience; others, of their Peace and com­forts) thank your selves.
• 2. Watch for the Spirit of God; as the pool Cripples, at the pool of Bethesda, Joh. 5.3. but especially,
  • 1. VVatch for the teachings of the Spirit. This will teach you, after another manner tha [...] we can do. VVe can but teach the ear, this th [...] heart: we baptize with water, (as John sai [...] of himself) but this with Fire. Alas: ours ar [...] but the Pictures, and dark Emblems of Com­fort; but these are Comforts indeed. The w [...] of God is never like to prosper in you [...] until this VVork-man take the Tools in hand. He knows how to break hard heart and to open blind eyes, and to prevail wi [...] stubborn wills, and to teach his people [...] profit.
  • 2. VVatch for the quicknings of the Spirit [Page 217]Prepare the Tinder of Conscience, to catch at very Spark that shall leap upon it. VVhat [...]ay you, Brethren? where are your hearts now? [...]re you dealing with dead letters, or dead words? is there no life, nor spirit in them? [...]r is God now striking the Steel of his VVord, [...]n the Flint of your hearts? and are there no parks then glancing out on your affections [...] Now catch for your lives, and take fire from [...]ence. Snatch a Coal from these Altars, and [...]indle a fire, that may keep you warm, all this [...]ight of your watch. Sure, if you sit a cold, you may blame your selves; God hath allowed [...]ou fire, and fuel enough: All the sweet Cedars of his Promises, nay, all the precious Oyls of his Graces, Faith, Hope, Patience, Love, &c. [...]re free for your daily use, O take heed then, Quench not the Spirit. This may be the day, and hour, for ought you know, of the richest Grace and Mercy, that ever you were acquaint­ed with, in your lives; the loss of these offers [...]nd motions, may be the loss of all. If now you [...]et out your fire, who knows whether ever you may get it to be kindled more, till it be kindled for you in Hell.
  • 3. Watch for all Opportunities of doing, or re­ceiving good. As we have therefore opportuni­ty, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the houshold of Faith, Gal. [...]6.10. We are apt to wait opportunities of re­ceiving, but not so forward to catch at all oc­casions of doing good. The man of God must be throughly furnished unto all good works, [Page 218]not only to works of Pietie, but to works of Charitie too. Your light should not shine in­ward onely, but outward also; not only before God, but before Men. To do good, and commu­nicate, forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased, Heb. 13.16. Communicate, not only of your Purses, (though the present exigencies, and straits of the distressed Saints plead with you also in this behalf) but of your Graces; not to the bodies only, but to the souls of your brethren. A good man is [...], a common good. Ah, my brethren! are you lying in wait to do good? Are you glad of opportunities, to help, and assist the weak? to reduce the strayers? to admonish the stubborn? to instruct the simple? to awaken the idle? to bind up the broken? and to relieve the poor of Christ's little Flock? Are you glad of every spare hour, that may be borrowed from your necessities, that you may run to your Pisgah, and thence, as it were, leap into the Arms and Bosom of your beloved Saviour, that you may ream your hearts with him, and fill your empty bottles there? oh! how little are Opportunities prized, or improved by us!

Thus you have heard the summ of what you are to watch for; In the next place, [...] shall shew you what you are to watch a­gainst,

• 1. Be sure, set a strong and faithful watch a­gainst sin. These are the Gates of your Ene­mies: that wide Sally-port, that broad way wherein the children of darkness are walking [Page 219]O take heed! Set not your foot here. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of dark­ness: but rather reprove them, Eph. 5.11. These are dangerous Clives; one wilful step here, may cost you the breaking of your necks; or the breaking of your peace as long as you live. This Road lies beyond the Line of the Covenant; beware how you adventure this way. And for your wiser management of this Watch;
  • 1. Watch against sin, in the Fountain of it. Crush the cocatrice in the shell. A full grown Lust is not so easily master [...]d. If you intend to keep the gardens of your hearts clean, weed them betime. Sin is a Weed that will grow apace, both branch and root; and when once 'tis settled in you, it may find you work as long as you live, to tugg at it. This is the matter, Christians, that God is even forct to send in his Plough upon you, and to lay you to fallow, that he may wither the roots of old sins. Old sins are one high degree of incurable sins. Have you no experiences of this nature? Have you never been wrestling with strong, and sturdy Lusts? Have you never seem'd to have pluckt them up by the roots? and been ready to rejoice in your Optatâ arenâ, desired, and glorious Vi­ctory? But, alas! What hath the next Spring produced? Han't the same weeds appeared again, which you thought you had been for ever rid of? What's the reason t [...]ink you? Were not part of the roots left behind, which, while the nipping Winter of some Affliction, [Page 220]or Conviction, lasted, you hop't had been dy­ing, never to revive more; but yet were all the while but strengthening themselves at the root, preparing for another Spring? O what sad work do we make our selves, for lack of a more faithful watch against the first appearances of evil!
  • 2. Watch against the Acts of sin. Sin in the heart, grieves the Spirit, but sin in the act dishonours thy Profession. A fool (saies So­lomon) layeth open his folly. Take heed of playing the fools in Religion. Remember your Conversations are of high consequence; The honour of the everlasting God, and the Crown and Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, are interessed in it. The eyes of Men and Devils are upon you, to watch, and to catch all advan­tages, to reproach, and blaspheme the name of God, on your account. Nay, let me tell you, the eyes of God and Angels are upon you too, watching you into every corner, into your clo­sets, and into your callings, in your lying down, and in your rising up; in your beds, and in your fields; Every word, and every motion, nay, every thought and inclination, the ve­ry Embryo of our confused Imaginations are [...], opened, (or anatomized) unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do, Heb. 4.13. Oh, with what watchful prudence should Christians carry themselves in all places, and in all relations! Set a Porter at the doors of your lips; make a covenant with your eyes; enter into interchang'd Indentures with your [Page 221]hearts; fetter up your wanton, wandring, self-law'd wills and affections: swear every fa­tulty, every member, and limb, in faithful Alle­giance unto God, and Christ; and solemnly [...]bjure all other Covenants, or Complyances. If you will walk aright, you must walk by line, and by Rule. Your sins, my brethren, are like the sons of Anak amongst your enemies; Every [...]ffence of yours, is another Gyant, prest for the Devils service, against God, and your own Souls; These are the Goliah's, they triumph and vaunt themselves in. O, let it not be told in Gath, nor published in the streets of A­ [...]kalon!
  • 3. Watch against the Temptations to sin. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into tempta­tion, Matth. 26.41. Nay, is it not your daily prayer? Lead us not into temptation. oh! let it be your daily watch too. My son, if Sinners [...]ntice thee, consent thou not, Prov. 1.10. We [...]ive in an enticing world, and in enticing times: every danger is enticing us, our hopes, fears, and straits, are enticing us: the snares of Hell are set for us, on every side, snares with­out, and snares within us; temptations of all kinds, and siz's. The Devil hath spread his nets for every constitution, for every sense, nay for grace, and in every estate, and in every dutie. If you are full; Pride, or worldliness, or sensu­ [...]lity, is his snare: if you are empty; Murmu­ [...]ing, impatience, discontent, immoderate care, [...]r any unlawful course, is his snare. He hath a [...]rap for every affection. If you are angry, re­venge [Page 222]is his snare; if you are merry, excess is his snare. Fain would I warn you of every Rock, and of every Shoal that might endanger you; of every false Star, and wandring light, that might possibly seduce you: of every Bi­vium, Creek, and turning, in your way. But the burden is too heavy for me: every day brings in new experiences; as Christ saies of the Father, and of himself, Joh. 5.17. The Father worketh hitherto, and I work: every day producing new mercies and providences; so may we say, The Devil worketh hitherto, and his children work; every hour is in travel with new temptations, And you hath he quickned, who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past ye walked, according to the course of this world, according to the Prince of the Pow­er of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience, Eph. 2.2. There­fore, what I cannot tell you positively, let me tell you negatively; Take heed of setting one foot out of that way, which you know to be the right way; of putting forth your hands unto iniquitie: whatsoever hath not the Image, and Superscription of God, and the Seal of his Spirit upon it. Remember! He that doubteth, is damned, if he eat, Rom, 14, 23. To go with­out the light of Conscience, is next to going against its light: take heed how you like that, that is not like Christ; or force Conscience when it is at a stand. Be sure you step not be­yond your clear Command, and promise of Protection.
  • [Page 223]4. Watch against all the Occasions that may lead you into temptation. Look not thou on the Wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, Pro. 23.31. Hating even the gar­ment spotted by the Flesh, Jude v. 23. whatso­ever hath the tincture, or shew of sin upon it. Abstain from all appearance of evil, saith the Apostle, 1 Thes. 5.22. Whatsoever is likely to ensnare you. Alas, Christians! You know not how dearly you may smart for that, which in its self, you may account tolerable, and in­different. If once you venture beyond your Warrant, you know not whither you may ram­ble. The waies of sin are dark, and head­ [...]ng-waies. Her house is in the way to Hell, [...]oing down to the chambers of death, Prov. [...].27. The way to Hell is down-stairs. Here, [...]ethinks, I would tell you, of several things, [...]hat may lead you into temptation: but I dare [...]ot enlarge my Digressions. Your letting down of close communion with God. Your enterpri­ [...]ing of any business, spiritual, or secular, with­out asking counsel, or craving assistance of God. [...]very step in any way, wherein your selves, or [...]thers, for your warning, have been former­ [...] ensnared, &c. These things, with divers [...]thers, I might have more fully dilated: but I asten.
• 2. Set a watch against Satan, Learn to pay [...]m home in his own coin. He hath set a strait [...]atch upon you; a watch to tempt you, and a [...]atch to accuse you. He goes from Dutie to [...]utie, from corner to corner with you, and [Page 224]is alwaies at your right hand, to watch you to disturb your thoughts, to quench your affe­ctions, and to pick matters of accusation. As you write what you hear, so he has his Note­book too, and writes, How you hear, and pray, and spend your Sabbaths and Societies; and, as far as he can guess, where your hearts, and what your ends are too. Oh! If this Convi­ction could but take with you, what care would it beget in you? Blessed be God, that though he watch us, yet he can't discover us; or, though he discover, yet can't discourage us: though we are his Envie, yet we are no [...] his Prey.
• 3. Be sure, Set a strong watch against Self Here is thy greatest Enemie; This home-bred [...] Traitour, this betraying Judas, which the great­er part of the world are like to rue for, to a [...] Eternitie. O, set a faithful watch, upon un­faithful Self These three waies you are i [...] danger here.
  • 1. Of Self-application. Beware of this. 'Tis the common course of the world, when an [...] thing ails them, to run to Self for help. Thi [...] is their Egypt they flie unto, which God wi [...] one day make his people asham'd of. Nay, not God now upon this very design? wh [...] have you now to help your selves with? Han [...] you tried what Egypt can do for you? wh [...] your own Reason, and Wits can do? Where the Deliverance that Self hath wrought you where are your Counsels and Contrivances are you not asham'd of your shifts, and wear [Page 225] [...] look any longer to these Hills? Ah! how [...]auiral is this Idolatry? How fain would this Absalom judge the people? How fain would self sit in Gods throne?
  • 2. Of Self-relyance. This is the Staff of [...]at broken Reed, that will deceive you, and [...]erce you too. Self-dependence is a sacrilegi­ous sin; It robs God of that Glory, which he [...]ath said he will not give unto another. See that care God takes of this, Judg. 7.2. When [...]erubbaal was going forth against the Midi­anites; The people that are with thee, are too [...]any, for me to give the Midianites into their [...]ands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, [...]ying, mine own hand hath saved me. Cursed the man that trusteth in man. And, surely, [...]ery man in his best state, is altogether vani­ [...]. How full is the Scripture of cautions to is purpose! oh! take heed of trusting to a [...]e! You never read, nor found in Scripture, [...]or Experience, that Salvation is of your selves; [...]t thy Destruction is of thy self: O Israel, [...]ou hast destroyed thy self, Hos. 13.9.
  • 3. Of Self-attribution. The ascribing of ho­nour, or praise, to our own Prudence or fore­ [...]st, to our Might or Policie, to our Righteous­ness, Innocence, or Duties. Therefore they sa­ [...]ifice unto their Net, and burn Incense unto [...]eir Dragg; because by them, only, as they [...]retend, their portion is fat, and their meat [...]enteous, Hab. 1.16. If God answer your [...]rayers, and hear your cries, think not, it was our Prayers, or cries that did it, or your righ­teousness, [Page 226]or innocencie, that turn'd the whee See Ezek. 36.25, &c. Then will I sprink clean water upon you. A new heart also, w [...] I give you. And I will put my Spirit within you. And ye shall dwell in the land that I ga [...] to your Fathers. I will also save you from [...] your uncleannesses. And I will multiply th [...] fruit of the tree. But then, observe th [...] Primum mobile, the first Mover of all this happ [...] change, ver. 32. Not for your own sakes, [...] I this, saith the Lord; be it known unto you. Be ashamed, and confounded, for your o [...] wayes, O house of Israel! Though mercies an [...] deliverances seem sometimes to be attribute unto our righteousness, or duties, as Prov. 10. [...]. Psal. 25.21. Matth. 21.22, &c. yet it is to be understood as the Condition, or Instru­ment; not the Efficient, or Meritorious cau [...] of it. 'Tis the Design of the Gospel, to tak [...] us off from these Hinges, on which we are [...] naturally apt to turn. We have this treasure [...] earthen vessels, that the excellency of the pow­er may be of God, and not of us, 2 Cor. 4.7. O take heed of maintaining that design, tha [...] God is resolved to destroy in you! if you would have the Controversie made up, which is begun, you must not expect, nor is it rea­son, that God should come to your terms but you must come up to his. Until this re­bellious, atheistical, designing Self, that grea [...]. Achan, which hath troubled the Camp, b [...] discovered, arraigned, and executed, you ca [...] expect no settled Peace.
• [Page 227]4. Set a vigilant watch upon the world. As Self is your greatest Enemy within, so the World is your greatest Enemie without. Yet know this by the way; that the World in its self, is not the Enemie; but as it holds secret intelligence with that Enemy with­in. The World could do you no hurt, did not that Traitor within open the Gates to it. 'Tis a Weapon indeed, that has cost you much blood, and many a sad wound; but then it hit you on a bare place; it found you unarm'd, or else it had never enter'd. The Devil hath us'd it, and his Souldiers have tried it; and the main reason, why it hath prov'd so mortally successful in their hands, is, for want of your Christian Panoplie, your putting on the whole Armour of God. This would soon have turn'd the edge of it, and frustrated it's Execution. Now there are these five or six things in the world, that I would have you take special [...]eed of.

1. Take heed of the Fears of the world. The fear of man bringeth a snare, Prov. 29.25. Why, Christian! Let me reason it a little with thee then. What is it thou standest in such fear of? the snares that thine enemies have laid for thee? lest thou shouldst fall into one of their [...]its? or incurr the displeasure of thy old friends? or undo thine heir or family? Is it the Crown of Thorns that terrifies thee? or the barking of those Dogs of the world at thee? Believe it, and take not mine, but God's word for it, It comes with the fear. Your carnal fear [Page 228]brings the snare, and tempts God to give you up to that which you stand in such fear of. I might give you a plain, and natural experiment, to this purpose. Such is the weakness of some heads, that walking on a very high, and dan­gerous Clive, if they come but so near, as to look out over, and to see the danger; they are so surpriz'd with the sudden fear, that they even dote on what they so extreamly dread, and cast themselves headlong, though their footing were sure, and room to escape sufficient. Similar hereunto, is that of Christ, Mar. 8.35. Who­soever will save his life, he that is afraid to lose his life, shall lose it; but, whosoever shall lise his life, i. e. though not actually, yet habi­tually, he that is not afraid, but ready to lose it, if called thereunto, shall save it, in this world, or, at least, in another. Now, pray sit down, and count your gains; see what a Bar­gain, Satan, and your unbelieving hearts, are trading together for. The Devil would un­dertake to teach you a nearer, or a cheaper, and easier way to Heaven, than ever Christ ap­pointed: and, if you will, you may believe him. But when you are caught in the fatal snares of your own carnal fears, and shifts; then sit down, and thank your selves: and remember, who once was sent on purpose, to warn you of it. And let Conscience then, (or rather now, that it may not then) sadly com­ment on Rev. 21.8. But the fearful, and un­believing, and the abominable, and murther­ers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and [Page 229]Idolaters and all Lyers shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brim­stone, which is the second death. Here's a wo­ful Portion, my B [...]ethren, and wofull Partners. O, take heed of the fears of the world! Remem­ber! Such as your fears are, such are your hopes; if your fears are the fears of the world, your hopes are the hopes of the world: your God the god of the world; and your Portion is like to be Portion of the world; O, let it ap­pear that there is that in your Religion, that can make weight against all that Earth or Hell can find to lay in against it: Should such a man as I flee? Et Turnum fugientem haec terra videbit? Shall a Christian turn his back? Nehem. 6.11. O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turneth their backs before their Enemies! Iohn. 7.8. This base carnal fear is the Devils great Engin: the Alpha and Omega of all his external temp­tations: if once he can fasten these fears upon thee, he hath fitted thee for any thing: What will not a man do that is overcome with his fear! Peter never began to sink till he began to fear. We are never overcome till we flee; we never flee till we fear. 'Tis not the loss of life, but the loss of faith: that is thy undoing loss.

Take heed of the Flateries of the World. The Devill will promise thee fair, that he may gain a Proselyte. All these things will I give thee, sayes he to Christ, if thou wilt fall down and worship me, Matth. 4.9. But alas, his Promises are farr beyond his power. He boast­eth [Page 230]of that which is none of his own to bestow; or if it were, yet it is not the thousandth part of what you have already promised to you, and that by One that both can and will make it good. Godliness hath the promise, not only of the life that now is, but of that which is to come. 1 Tim. 4.8. The Devil, or any of his illegi­timate Bastard-heirs, may promise thee some small matter here, though they can make thee no assurance of it: But in the other world they have nothing to do: Never an Advowson not small Coat there; their Lands lie not in that Country. Alas! What is there in the World, that should so tempt a Christian? Is a little yellow Clay, or one hours sensual pleasure, on the stinking breath of a few false friends; are these such taking things with the Heirs of glo­ry? Believe it, Friends! The world flatters that it may deceive, and huggs that it may stabb and undoe you, and betray you with a kiss.

3. Beware of the Hopes of the world, High expectations usually beget high Fears, and according to the heighth of your fears, and the frustration of your hopes, will be the aggrava­tion of your sorrow, and the redoubled force and Impetus of your Temptations. Take this for a tryed Experiment; None are so deceived by the world as those that expect most from the world. Yet however your hopes may prosper for a while; be sure, there is a worm at the root, that will eat out all in the end. The hope of the world is the hope of the wicked, [Page 231] Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be as a Spider's web. Job. 8.14. Your [...]opes, Christians, are the truest and liveliest [...]ictures of your hearts; your carnal hopes be­tray your carnal hearts.

There is nothing more natural, and yet no­thing more dangerous, than to hoise the wide fails of hope in the brunt of a Storm, when the sure Anchor of a humble and recumbent faith were more proper and safe. Certainly, my Brethren, great are our losses through our groundless and carnal hopes. 'tis not a spi­ritual Object that will make a spiritual hope. To hope for the Redemption and Peace of Sion: The glory and enlargement of the Kingdome of Christ, and the return of the Captivity of his people: These and such like, we would fain possesse our Hopes of: And hope being once an end, seems long till it be answered; at length impatient of delaies,Pro. 13.12 (for Hope deferred maketh the heart sick) up she climbs up into the Watch-tower, and there consults with Reason, expounds and applies the Promises with their own private Glosses and irregular Appropriations, prescribing or pre­dicting Times, Places, and Methods; and all the while our personal Reformation is negle­cted, God provoked, and our Hopes deceived. Sure you would account it a strange unheard­of madness for a Town that is closely besieged, to throw aside their Arms, and to run together in Heaps, and begin to talk of certain old Pre­dictions and Prophecies of Relief, though ut­terly [Page 232]uncertain, and improbable as to their present Case, till the Enemy break in, and spoyl them at their pleasure. Oh that this were not too much the temper of the spirits of these times! Nay, I would to God, there were none of those among us that make the People vain, when they should have stood in Gods Counsel, and caused his people to hear his words; then they should have turned them from their evill way, and from the evil of their doings. Jer. 23.16, 22. For my part, I cannot think that God, hath yet done with us, or that the bitterest Ingredient is not yet behind. Surely England is not yet ripe, nor fit for the mercie she gapes after. I hope God will not leave all these spots in us, after that he hath done with us. Look for other manner of Taske yet then ever have been imposed. These, trust are some of the Death pangs, the parting sprawls of the Beast, which doubeless will be strong as farr as they reach.

Bit you will say, Obj. Nay, but it is comfort that we want most in such times as these. Gi [...] strong drink to him that is ready to perish, and wine to those that be of heavy hearts, Pro [...]. 31.6.

I know, Ans. you had rather be on the Hedg d [...]ying, than under the heavy Hammers the Mill a cleansing. But God forbid the I should any way weaken your Christian con­fidence or Comforts, or grieve the spirits who God would have revived. Repentance, in [...] Gospel-length and latitude of it, is a very ha [...] [Page 233]and displeasing work to flesh and blood; and a thousand slights and evasions will be had to mitigate, dissemble, or avoid it: And I fear that such kinde of Hopes may have much of this anti-evangelical influence. As long as we are unwarrantably looking that God should build us a Bridge, we will never be perswaded to take the Water, till extream force and un­avoidable necessity drive us. Oh take heed you do not carnallize your Hopes! The Hopes of the world are empty hopes. Hopes and no­thing else, mere Hopes. Sin hath cut off the Entail from the owners of them, and shame will certainly enjoy their next Reversion. They may goe big-bellied a while: But at last, it all miscarries: The wind they were swollen with, will turn to a whirlwind of divine wrath in the end. Though they paint and ruffle and trim it up, and boast themselves of great things: Yet, believe it, all they can do is in their Mouths, and all they are worth is on their Backs: They are broken, flattering, ly­ing, dying, killing Hopes. Oh beware then how you perch your selves on such a Bough, as you are warn'd will break under you!

4. Watch against the Scorus of the world. Though you cannot watch to prevent them, yet watch to bear them, and not only so, but to improve them too. Blessed are ye when men shall revile, you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake, Matth. 5.11. No wonder if fools blaspheme. Alas!Iud. v. 10. they speak evil of what they [Page 234]know not. But wisdome is justified of her chil­dren. 'Tis but a little while you are like toly under these Scorns. You shall shortly hear them change their Note. When the ends of us both shall be compared together, and the definitive Sentence of a just and impartial Judg shall have convinc't them of their madness; You shall then mount above their reach, and be as much their envy, as now you are their scorn. Come ye blessed, and Go ye cursed will surely bring them to their right witts, and a more true and honourable opinion of you.

5. Watch against the Persecutions of the world. Here is work for your Patience, & for your Pru­dence too. For Patience, to suffer what you cant prevent, and for Prudence, to prevent what you may foresee and warrantably escape. Let not your Imprudence wrong your Patience, nor your Im­patience force, your Prudence. Your liberties & liycs are dear to Christ, as well as to your selves; you are as the Apple of his eye, Zech. 2.8. Oh take heed then you do not foolishly expose the Apple of Christs eye to every thorn that would pierce it, as long as you may avoid it without dishonour.

'Tis true, the Just shall live by his Faith. Heb. 2.4. but not aband on his Reason: he will trust God;Psal. 91.11 12. but he will not tempt him. Though Angels are charged concerning him, and in their hands they shall bear him up; Yet it is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Matth. 10.22. ve. 16. vir. 17. Matth. 4.6, 7. He that hath said. Fea [...] not them which kill the body: hath also said in the same Place, Beware of men. And, [...] [Page 235]wise as Serpents. But, I hope, I need not use much ado with you here; Self-preservation is a Principle of Nature. But watch your Pati­ence rather, how to bear that which you are called unto. And should I tell you all your encouragements hereunto; I must set open the very heart of Christ, and the Gates of Heaven to you, which is a task too hard and too high for a poor finite, shallow, mortal Creature to do.

6. Take heed of the Cares of the world. Those choaking things; Matth. 13.22. The care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choak the word. They will choak your graces, and your comforts too. I would have you without carefulness, 1 Cor. 7.32. How did Christ labour to beat his Disciples out of this! Matth. 6.17. Which of you, by taking thought, can add one cubit to his Stature? What have you gotten by all your Immoderate cares? Han't you found them to be unsatiable, [...]exing, tormenting things? Whosoever drink­ [...]eth, of this water shall thirst again, Joh. 4.13. Have your cares, ever filled your Bellies? Or are they ever like to do it? Han't you bin as when a hungry man dreameth, Isa. 29.8. and behold he [...]ateth, but he awaketh and his Soul is empty. Besides; they are entangling things, the Cords and Fetters of the Heart, 2 Tim. 2.4. Nay, let me tell thee. Christian, these sinful cares [...]re the Instruments of Petsecution and cruelty; [...]he spears in the heart of Christ, and Thorns [...]n thy own Soul. What Fires and Feudes do they kindle in your Affections? What shuffling [Page 236]and partiality do they introduce on your Duties-Certainly I cannot tell you the thousandth part of the mischiefs of these poysoned Arrows, these pestilent, sordid, Christ persecuting, heart-ensnaring cares. Nor can I stand at pre­sent to enlarge as I thought to have done.

5. Lastly, watch against Death. Not only agaist the Stroak of Death, which is common to all; but against the Sting of Death. Le [...] not Death find you out of the way of Life, no [...] out of a lively activity in that way. Wait with Patience till your Change come,Iob. 14.14. which shall change your Patience to possession Le [...] not Death be in your Mouths only, but in your Hearts; that both heart and mouth may joyn in your eternal Triumph. This is you last Enemy, overcome this, and you shall wear the Crown to all eternity, and set up your everlasting Trophies in the Throne of your God. Watch, that Death find you no [...] onely in the Vineyard, but in your work, tha [...] you may dye, not only in Christ, but in Com­fort too. Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing, Luk. 12.43. Oh Christians! When God shall call you out of your hardest work, and snatch you, as it were, out of the midst of crue storms: When he shall break in through you Prison-doors, and lead you out by the hand or send his fiery Chariots, to convey you from your glorious Martyrdom to your most gloriou [...] Mansions: Oh! conceive then, if you can with what in effable compassions will he la [...] [Page 237]you up in the victorious arms of his Love, and place you in his eternal Rest? oh! hold out [...]ith and Patience, one hour, one year, one [...]attel more; For yet a little while, and he [...]at shall come, will come, and will not tarry, [...]eb. 10.37.

Thus I have told you, what it is, you are specially concern'd to watch against. I hope here are but few, among Christians, that are question the reality, or necessity of such [...] Duty. Yet to keep you the better waking, [...] this sad, and dismal night, when so many [...]f our Watchmen are forsaking the Walls, or [...]llen asleep: I shall propose these five quickning Motives.

• 1. They are Enemies that you are to Watch against. Such as will be sure to do you [...] mischief, if possible: they never intended you [...]ny good. It never goes well with Sin, longer [...]han it is feeding on the blood of your Souls, and the spoils of your Duties. Oh, how would [...]he Devil rejoice, to see you falling, like Starrs, from Heaven, and God blotting your Names but of the Book of Life! Nothing stands more directly opposite to your peace and happiness, [...]han Self. How full is the World of venom and [...]nmity! and Death waits but for the word, to [...]trike his last blow at you, to consummate [...]our eternal Ruin. Oh, my Brethren! you [...]hat have to do with enemies, had need be watchful.
• 2. They are Mortal Enemies; Such as thirst [Page 238]for your blood. The wages of Sin is death, Rom. 6.23. What doth the Labourer look, and long for, but his wages? oh! how hard is Sin at its daily work, to earn the undoing wages of thine eternal death! 'tis that it looks, and longs for.
  1 Pet. 5.8.
  What is it the Devil is seeking after, and hunting up and down the world for, but to devour? What is that Imposthume of Self doing within, but conspiring thy destru­ction? How wide doth the World gape upon thee,
  1 Tim. 6.9.
  to drown thee in destruction, and perdi­dion? As for Death, it carries mortality, and dissolution, in the very name of it. Oh! what need have we of wary steps! Were ever Crea­tures in such hazzard? Well might St. Paul cri [...] out, Wretched man, that I am, who shall deli­ver me from the Body of this death? Rom. 7.24.
• 3. They are Spiritual Enemies, and there­fore the more dangerous. We wrestle not a­gainst flesh and blood, but against Principalities and Powers, and against the Rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wick­edness in high places, Eph. 6.12. Spiritual, on a double account; in their nature, and in their operation. They are of a spiritual, and invisible nature, and are not the objects of external sense, which is the eye we are wont, and able to judge by: These are enemies that are all waies on the blind side of us; they wound us and we are not aware. Their operations are also spiritual; they work on us like an infecti­ous Air; we will not believe, but that we are [Page 239]well enough, till we drop down dead where we are going; and therefore 'tis call'd the Plague of the heart; which is oftentimes undiscerna­ble, till it be incurable. How closely doth Self steal in betwixt Christ and our hearts? How deceitfully doth the World charm our affecti­ons? What secret passages and trap-doors, hath Satan, at every Pore of hearts? Oh, my Bre­thren! We have spiritual enemies to deal with; our Watch is especially within our own walls.
• 4. They are Constant Enemies: Such as will find you work as long as you live. This comes to pass, from their contrary, and implacable nature; Light and Darkness can never be [...]econcil'd. St. Paul could not sing his Palinody, that his Fight was over, and his Course finish­ed, till the time of his departure came, 2 Tim. 4.6, 7. Thy Watch-work, Christian, is thy Life's-work. Our Enemies seem to enjoy our Promises here, Psal. 37.24. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down. Oh! which of our fallen Lusts, can we say, is utterly cast down? Every Conquest produceth a new Com­bat; and our very Victories oftentimes, occasion our sadder Losses.
• 5. Lastly, They are Mighty Enemies: Such is we cannot, in our own strength, stand be­fore. If a Lust do but becken at us, we pre­ [...]ently yield. If the World do but frown on us, we [...]remble. As Self will have it, so the Law must [...]and. If Satan turn the Key of a temptation upon us, we are his Close Prisoners. If Death [Page 240]once strike, we fall. Had we not a strong God to flie to; a sure word of Promise; an im­pregnable Refuge in Christ; a mighty Advo­cate with the Father, who is able to save to the uttermost; an irresistable Help in the Spirit, to bruise Satan under us. Were not the Weapons of our Warfare mighty through God,
  2 Cor. 10.4.
  these strong holds would never come down; our victories would be, according to our strength, very small. Therefore, what you want in Power, labour to make up in Care. O let the sense of your Weakness, double your Watch­fulness! that you may be able to say with the Apostle, Phil. 4.13. I can do all things, [or suffer any thing] through Christ, which strengtheneth me.

Thus I have laboured, though weakly, yet, I hope faithfully, to interpret the Rod to you. And, oh, that now I could prevail with you to lay these things close on your bare Consciences! Commune with your own hearts, and let your spirits make diligent search. Now set about your mourning, repenting, resolving, reform­ing-work. God hath us in his Furnace, and his Jealousie is smoaking against us. He hath cast our Liberties, our Peace, our Health, our Hopes, nay, his own Ordinances, and Sa­cred Institutions, the holy Vessels of his own House, as Wood under us, for the Fire of his Displeasure to heat us with: oh! when shall we begin to melt, that we may once be capable of being cast into a new Mould! oh! when will those hard hearts break? when will those [Page 241]stout hearts yield? when will those stubborn wills comply? Shall we stick in the Birth, till we die there? shall we tempt God on the wheel, to cast us off, as a Lump, that will never [...]ome to any thing? Shall we even force him [...]o throw us and Idolaters, us and Hypocrites, and the prophane, incorrigible, and abomina­ble Scum of the earth, to the Dunghil at last to­gether? The Lord forbid! O the God of Hea­ven forbid it!

2. In the next place, This Rod hathalso a voice to the Enemies of God; and these are [...]ther open Foes, or false Friends. I shall joyn [...]oth together, as Christ hath done, Matth. [...]2.30. He that is not with me, is against [...]e; and he that gathereth not with me, scat­ [...]reth abroad.

These five things would I tell them from God, hight I be freely suffer'd to do my Message [...] them: And with these five Bells I shall [...]ing the doleful Knell of God's, and his Churches Enemies.

1. It assures them, that God is not such an [...]e as they take him be. These things thou [...]st done, and I kept silence: thou thoughtest [...]at I was altogether such an one as thy self: [...]t I will reprove thee, and set them in order [...]fore thine eyes, Psal. 50.21. Alas, Sinner! [...]ou art mistaken in God; though he keep [...]ence awhile, he will not keep silence for [...]er; he will find a time to speak, when thou [...]alt stand speechless before him. Though his [...]se Providence, and thy cursed Projects, seem [Page 242]to joyn issue, yet assure thy self, their disparit [...] and incongruity, will shortly appear to th [...] shame and astonishment. I could tell them in what respects they are mistaken, in the [...] thoughts of God, [if God be ever in the [...] thoughts.]

1. They are mistaken in his Holiness. Th [...] is that, which seems to be principally aimed at i [...] the fore-cited Text. After God hath charge [...] them with Incorrigibleness, from ver. 17. with Theft, and Adultery, and False-witness, unto ver. 21. Thou thoughtest, saies God, that I ha [...] been such an one too; as wicked, and as vile, a thy self: That I had lov'd thy Drunkenness thy Oaths, thy Blasphemies, and Uncleanness thine Idolatry, and carnal, gawdy, Will worship, thy Crueltie, and Oppression of m [...] People. Because I kept silence, and wink'd a these things; because ye were become Such Priest, and such People, ye thought it had been Even such God too: That I had been as great a [...] enemy to Holiness as you; as implacably be [...] to ruin the Interest of my Son Christ, as you were; that I had divorced my own Spirit, and exchang'd natures with your Father the Devil and yielded up my Scepter and Kingdom unto him, and become altogether such a one as you [...] You thought, it had been as much my envy, [...] see men faithfully labouring to make their Ca [...] ­ling and Election sure, as it was yours: tha [...] their Faith, and Humilitie, and Self-denial, an [...] Patience, and Constancy, and Resolution, an [...] Heavenly-mindedness, had been the only thing [Page 243] [...] had been offended with, and resolv'd to re­venge, with all possible Indignation, as you [...]ere. The time cometh, saies Christ, that who­ [...]ever killeth you, shall think that he doth God [...]ervice, Joh. 16.2. But, how is it possible [...]ey should ever think so? Why? These things [...]ill they do unto you, because they have not [...]nown the Father, nor me, ver. 3. It proceeds from their wilful mistake. They are not aware [...]at our God is the Holy one of Israel. Psal. 68.35. Exod. 1 [...].11. That is [...]rrible out of his holy places. A God glorious [...] holiness. Alas, Sinner! God is never the [...]holier, for that he bears with thy unholiness; [...]l these thy mistakes will shortly be corrected [...] another world.

2. They are mistaken in his Justice,— I knew thee, that thou art an hard man, saies the unfaithful servant, Math. 25.24. [...], a shrewd, difficult man to please, [...]aping where thou hast not sown, and gather­ing where thou hast not strawed. Such are the [...]ard thoughts of the poor, blind, prejudic'd [...]orld. They think it an impossible matter to talk by God's prescribed Rule, unto well­ [...]asing; that, walking by the Spirit, is but [...]ancy, or Schism, and therefore better let all [...]one. They hope, whatever they are told on [...]e contrary, that God will pity them on their [...]eath-beds; that his Justice will not be so [...]exorable, but that they may be heard, when [...]ey call upon him. Indeed, were God such a [...]udge, as they conceit him to be; Were he who [...]des the Circuits of Heaven, a respecter of Per­sons, [Page 244]Fallible, and Mutable, of the Generation of those that ride the Circuits of the Earth, i [...] might fare better with them than it is like to do. But, alas! a few daies more will open their eyes, and then they shall see what a Justice that is that dwells in Heaven. Justice and Judgment are the Habitation of his Throne, Psal. 89.14.

3. They are mistaken in his Mercy. They have heard, that he is a God of great Mercy, and thereupon are bold, that they may perswade him to what they will, at last. They have heard, that he is ready to forgive; a God, gra­cious and merciful, and that keepeth not ange [...] for ever. Psal. 73.11. They believe, that his mercie is all sufficient, and that he will not take any great notice of those things, that are so far beneath him; Such are the thoughts that keep their carnal hopes alive, and please their beguile [...] souls with a Fools-Paradise. Indeed, were God as mutable, as he is merciful, they had som [...] ground for their hopes. It may be, some [...] them have laid their heads on this Pillow, Rom. 11.32. For God hath concluded them all [...] unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all or on Rom. 5.18. Therefore, as by the offence of one, Judgment came upon all men, un [...] condemnation: even so, by the righteousness [...] one, the free gift came upon all men, un [...] Justification of life: or on some such like place and there have dreamt of an universal Re­demption; and by this means, all their care [...] over. But, they may know, when they awake [Page 245]nay, to their terrour, they shall know, if they awake not, before they awake to Judgment; [...]ow God will hav mercy upon all, and yet they left out. Abstract the consideration of [...]ercy, from this present life, wherein all are [...]artakers of the riches of his mercie in common, and all things happen alike, as to outward ap­pearance, to all; and then I'le tell them, that God will have mercy, supra omnes, but not supra singulos: upon all sorts, or some of all [...]orts, Gentiles as well as Jews; but not upon [...]very one of either; Election is but of some, and [...]ot of all. But I will not stand here, to confute [...] unreasonable, and anti-Scriptural an asser­tion, seeing this Dagon hath been already bat­tered to the ground, by far abler Engins than [...]ine: The day is at hand, that will for ever [...]cide the Controversie, and unravel all those Querks of the Devils knitting.

Few there are, but will confess, (though they [...]re but half-convinc'd) that there is a Hell, and [...]at it is prepar'd for some, whom God hath [...]presly condemn'd in his Word: Hypocrites [...]nd unbelievers, they acknowledge, are gon in [...]e Forlorn hope.1 Tim. 5.24. Some mens sins are open [...]fore-hand, going before to Judgment. Hy­ [...]crites, such as their Father hath taught them [...]re-baptize with the Nick-name of Phanaticks, [...]r the names are synonymous; and vnbelie­ [...]ers, such as can't believe, as they do, and [...]uzzle their Consciences, as they can. Well [...]en, Sinner, Let me reason with thee, from [...]y own Concessions; If Hypocrites and Un­believers [Page 246]are the undoubted Heirs of Hell, I w [...] tell thee, (not to stand on the Justification [...] any Party) who are their Coheirs; Matth. 2 [...] from ver. 48. to the end. The evil servant that saith in his heart, my Lord delayeth h [...] coming. He that lives in the height of his secu­rity, that thinks 'tis time enough yet to provide for another world: And shall begin to smi [...] his Fellow-servants. Either with the slander and reproaches of the tongue, or with the fi [...] of wickedness. And to eat and drink with the drunken. The Lord of that servant shall come as secure as he is, in a day when he looketh [...] for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him [...] portion with the Hypocrites; there shall [...] weeping, and gnashing of teeth. And Luk. 1 [...].46. He will cut him asunder, his Soul from his Body, and both Body and Soul from all h [...] worldly comforts and hopes, he will irresisti­bly, and irrecoverably destroy him, and appoi [...] him his portion with vnbelievers. If the unb [...] I eving are condemn'd, then pray see, who a [...] cast with them, and must partake with them [...] the Execution; Rev. 21.8. The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and mu [...] derers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, a [...] idolaters, and all lyars. If you question [...] truth of this, look back but to the fifth verse, a [...] you shall see it seal'd with an express Authori [...] from Heaven: And he said unto me, Writ [...] for these words are true and faithful. Know [...] not, that the unrighteous shall not inherit t [...] [Page 247]Kingdom of God? Be not deceived, neither For­nicators, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor Effeminate, nor Abusers of themselves with Mankind, nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, nor Revilers, nor Extor­tioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 6.9, 10. Nay, Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 15.50. This cannot be understood literally, as if our Souls only were capable of eternal Salvation, and not our Bodies, which is contrary to the Apostle's Argument; Contrary to one great Design of Christs Incarnation; nay, contrary to visible, and ocular Demonstration; For Christ himself hath visibly ascended, and, in the names, and behalf of his Mystical Members, hath entred with real Flesh and Blood, and is inheriting the eternal Kingdom of his Father: But the same Apostle particularly explains what he means by Flesh and Bloud, Gal. 5.19, 20, 21. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, Fornication, vn­cleanness, Lasciviousness, Idolatry, Witchcraft, Hatred, Variance, Emulations, Wrath, Strife, Seditions, Heresies, Envying, Murthers, Drun­kenness, Revellings, and such like; as I have told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. And now, Sinner; Canst thou wash thine hands in innocency, from all these? If thou thinkest thou art no Hypocrite, nor Unbeliever, (though both might easily be prov'd against thee) none of the Heirs of the Kingdom of [Page 248]Darkness, yet art thou none of these Co-heirs? Surely, thy Conversation can never so fouly bely thy Condition. Alas, poor self-deceived wretch! Dost thou think to meet thy Hopes and Comforts on the other side of the Threshold? I cannot but pity thee, to think how I shall see thee look, and lament thy loss, when I shall meet thee at Judgment, when God shall make a Believer of thee, to thine everlasting Sorrow. When thou shalt see that he was in earnest, when he said, He that made them, will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them, will shew them no favour, Isa. 27.11. Though he be a merciful God, yet thou shalt then know, that he is as just as he is merciful.

4. They are mistaken in his Patience. They know no difference between his Patience, and his Approbation: Where is the promise of his coming? for since the Fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the begin­ning of the Creation, 2 Pet. 3.4. This is the Generation of Rational Brutes, that can see no higher, than they can reach with the Pole of Sense and Reason. As long as it goes well with them in this world, they little trouble themselves about another. The time of Gods Patience, is the time of their Presumption. Despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing, that the goodness of God leadeth thee to Repentance? Rom. 2.4. A [...], Sinner! If thou could'st, if thou would'st but believe, and consider this! Is God patient with thee? and dost thou think he will be so [Page 249]for ever? Is thy repentance that which his Patience is waiting for? Is God but looking one day, and one year after another, when thou wilt turn? Is he patiently waiting at thy Ale-house or Tavern-doors, longing for an op­portunity, as it were, to find thee sober, that he might treat with his Prodigal about his everlasting Peace? Doth he put up and pass by all thy scorns and contempt of his condescend­ing Grace, and willing to forgive all if he could but perswade thee to turn unto him? O shameless wretch! Is it consistent with the glory and honour of a God thus to become himself; nay, thus to humble himself with dust and ashes, for ever? In what fury will such Patience end at last? oh how will those Items burn in thy Soul, when Conscience shall have the reading of them in Hell? when those Inventories of wrath, which thou art now treasuring up in this the time of Gods patience, shall be brought forth in the day of his wrath, and revelation of his righteous Judg­ment! o [...], if words would prevail, how could I let my Pen run here! But alas! These Ham­mers can do nothing, till God strike with them.

5. They are mistaken in Gods Delight in, and Care of his people. Haman little thought that poor Mordecai, for whom he had prepa­red the Gallows, had been so high in the Kings Books. He was thinking in his heart, To whom will the King delight to do honour more than to my self? Hest. 6.6. But the [Page 250]Kings thoughts were farr otherwise. Methink these are the very thoughts and carriage of the Haman's of our Times. Whom doth God delight to dignifie more than them? Who are advancing themselves on the Icarian wings of begged honour? A few Mordedai's they are ailing at, who (though they deny them no civil reverence) yet know not how to stoop and bow and cringe to their Idols. These are therefore Populus Dei occidendus. A certain people, sayes he, scattered abroad a­mong the People in all the Provinces of thy Kingdome, and their lawes are diverse from all people, neither keep they the Kings lawes (a Politique pretence) therefore it is not for the Kings profit to suffer them. If it please the King; let it be written that they may be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand Talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the Business, to bring it into the Kings treasuries. Oh praeposterous course to enrich Kings! Little did he think what his designs lay in travail with. Oh that all those that are lifting up their hands against their fellow-servants would consider this! What if the King of Heaven should call for his book of Records, which he hath written, Mal. 3.16. with what Hester would they intercede? Our God hath ingaged not to forget our Work and labour of love. Heb. 6.10. To recompense tri­bulation to them that trouble us, 2 Thes. 1.6. I intend not to tell them, all that spiritual re­fuge and divine strength we have to trust to; [Page 251]onely let them know, that we have a righteous, Almighty, Faithful, Gracious and Wise God, and a sure word of Promise to anchor on: And we know that Mordecai shall one day ride in Honour and Triumph, when Haman shall hang on his own Gallows. I know 'tis in vain to tell the Wolfe now that they are the Sheep and not the Goats he is worrying. Therefore I shall leave it to the Decision of the great Day. And, sinner, let me tell thee, when God shall pull his Lambs out of thy teeth, and rake their pretious bones out of thy Den, thou shalt then know, to thine eternal misery, whose and what blood it is that thou art guilty of. When Christ shall up and tell thee,Math 25.45. In as much as ye did it, or did it not, unto one of the least of these, ye did it, or did it not, unto me. When he shall shew thee, that every stroak lighted on the very apple of His eye: That every drop of blood thou hast drawn from them came from his heart; that every Penny thou didst unjustly exact from them, thou stolest out of his purse. That when thou didst imprison them, thou didst imprison him. Oh! these things will surely trouble thy minde another day.

6. They are mistaken in God's glorious Title of Hearing Prayer. Psal. 65.2. I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain, Isa. 45.19. Let the mighty Nimrods of the world know then that the people of God are not so naked and helpless, as they take them to be. To speak with holy reverence, yet in Scripture-Dialect, Prayer hath the command of Heaven, Isa. 45.11. Ask me of things to come, concerning my [Page 252]Sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. But alas! Things that are invisible to carnal sense, seem incredible to carnal reason. Yet, seem it never so incredible, what God hath promised and his people ever experienced, we dare, we must, we do believe. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all their troubles, Psal. 34.17. I cryed unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy Hill. Psal. 3.4. Here was his experience as a witness of Gods truth. Therefore I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about. Psal. 3.6. Marvail not then, ye Sonnes of Pride, that we fear none of your threatnings. Our God is a God hear­ing Prayer, and wo be to those that have such a God for their Enemy? The prayers of God's people were wont to be terrible to his Enemies. Exod. 17.11. 2 King. 1.13. In the first Reformation of Scotland, it is reported, that the Queen-Mother in her warrs confessed that she feared more the fasting and prayer of Knox and his Disciples, than an Armie of twenty thousand men. The Prince of Wales being perswaded to make warr with Henry the 3d. ac­knowledged that he was more afraid of his Prayers and Alms, than of his Armies. So the Bishop of Magdeburgs Fasting and Prayer was the terrour of Frederick Elector, of Saxony. But however it be grown less terrible now, it is not grown less fatal. God is the same still, and his Promise is the same, and his enemies, even [Page 253]the proudest of them, shall one day know that he is a God Hearing Prayer. Wo be to thee, Sinner, when God shall rain upon thee the tears of his oppressed Saints, and wo to thine House, when God shall beat upon it with the sighs and groans of his persecuted children? Wo to that man by whom the offence cometh. Matth. 18.8.

7. They are mistaken in Gods Ends and Designs, Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so, but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations, not a few, Isa. 10.7. God's end is to reform, theirs to destroy. But here is our comfort; these are but his Exe­cutioners, and none of his Jury: God hath not acquainted them with his mind. It is not for them to know what he intends to do with his people. Their wills are none of his Rule, nor are their false accusations any evidence with our Judge. God hath a hook in their Nostrils, and hath appointed them their bounds. If the pardon come at the very top of the Ladder, the Executioner must obey: And if the Judge will that the righteous shall be delivered out of trouble, and the wicked come in his stead, Pro. 11.8. his Will must stand.

2. The second voice of the Rod unto the In­emies, is this. It calls upon them to Consider, and on consideration to repent. Methink that Generation is com, or an other well like it, which was spoken of under the fourth vial. Rev. 16.9. And men were scorched with great heat and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power ever these Plagues, and repented not [Page 254]to give him glory. Han't the Plagues of God scorched us, both at home and abroad, in City and in Country; yet who hath repented to give him Glory? I have but these four things at present to propose to your sober Confideration, and very briefly.

• 1. What manner of Persons are they whom God takes to be his Enemies? Phil. 3.18.19. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the Enemies of the Cross of Christ. Here the A­postle complains of Enemies: in the next verse he describes them, by their way, and by their end. Their way, they walk, a kind of Pro­fessors they are; but, their God is their Belly; their Lust and uncleanness. Their Glory is in their shame: either passively, their Glory shall end in shame, or actively, they glory in that which is the shame of their profession. Who mind earthly things; Carnal men, carnal in their affections, and in their conversations: to which answers Rom. 8.7. The carnal mind is enmity against God. And their end is de­struction. The end of these things is death. Chap. 6.21. Again, Luk. 19.27. But those mine enemies—bring them hither, and slay them before me. Here's their Doom. The Persons were such as would not that Christ should reign over them. And how doth Christ reign, but by his word and spirit, and the Laws and Statutes of them? Well then, such as yield not both visible and invisible, obedience in heart and life unto the laws of Christ; but [Page 255]walk by their own laws, or the laws of men in things pertaining to the Kingdom of Christ, are the Enemies of his Kingdom. Nay, every man in an unconverted estate is an enemie to Christ. Rom. 5.10. Col. 1.21. Now I befeech you, if your Souls, and the securing of your eternal peace, be so much worth; make a little pause here, and soberly consider, what infallible, nay, probable evidences you can produce to prove your pretended Conversion; whether they are such as God in his word speaks peace through, and on which after serious and due deliberation, you can boldly and safely adven­ture your fouls on for ever. Nay, are there not many, and I think, never more amongst a Christian people, that even hate and disdain the imputation of Repentance and Conversion, and yet cannot so much as question whether they are the enemies of Christ or no. Well, the day is at hand that will separate the Sheep from the Goats, and then it shall fully appear who are friends, and who are foes.
• 2. Whether Gods Enemies be not concern'd in his Rod, as well as his friends. Doubtless the Proposition is affirmed by all the Reason in the world; If Judgment begin at the house of God, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel!
  1 Pet. 4.17.
  The wicked shall be tur­ned into Hell, and all the Nations that forget God, Psal. 9.17. Will a Lyon roar in the For­rest when he hath no Prey? Shall a Trumpet be blown in the City, and the people not be a­fraid? The Lyon hath roared, who will not fear, [Page 256]the Lord God hath spoken, who can but pro­phesie?
  Am. 3.4.6.8.
• 3. Whether the course you are taking be the way to the mercies you are exspecting? By swearing and lying and killing and stealing and committing adultery they break out and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the Land mourn, Hos. 4.2, 3. If all manner of prophaneness and oppression be the way to mercy and peace, then Scripture shall be no longer Scripture, nor God any longer God, who hath both threatned and executed the contrary. There is no peace, saith the Lord, to the wicked, Isa. 48. ult. Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy! even to make the poor of the Land, to fail that ye may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes. Shall not the land tremble for this? and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? Am. 8.4, 6, 8. Righteousness exalteth a nation, but Sin is a reproach to any people, Prov. 14.34. Surely if the plainest Scripture, or the most undeny­able experience, be of any Credit or Consequence with us, we need no prophetical Revelations to tell us whither we are sinking.
• 4. Whether or no you are fighting for Christ or for Antichrist. Your estate is Militant, and for one of these two you are fighting. He that is not with me, is against me. But be sure, Mi­chael and his Angels shall prevail, the Lamb will overcome the Beast. Therefore come out of her my People, that ye be not partakers of her Sins, and that ye receive not of her Plagues, [Page 257]Rev. 18.4. The Wine-press is pre­pared, the Vintage is at hand; Wo! wo! wo! to Babylon.

3. The third Voice of the Rod to the Ene­mies, is this; It tells them, that the Dregs of the Cup are like to come to their share, Psal. 75.8. For in the hand of the Lord there is a Cup. and the Wine is red, it is full of mixture, and he [...]oureth out of the same; but the Dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them. How full of Gall & Wormwood [...]s every word in this Text! In the hand of the Lord, This shews that irresistable power, that [...]hall enforce it, and the speedy execution of it; [...]t is in his hand, and shall shortly be set to their [...]outhes; there is a Cup, The measure which [...]e hath appointed: 'tis the full Dose, not one Scruple, or Drop, to be abated them. And the Wine is red. 'Tis a bloody Cup: fiery Indigna­tion. It is full of mixture, A composition of [...]ll kinds and degrees of wrath and misery; the Cup is not only full, but the mixture is full: it [...]s full of mixtures, nothing left out, that may [...]xpress his terrour, or their torment; it is full, [...]nd compleat vengeance. And he poureth out of [...]he same, They shall not sip of it only, but [...]hall take off their full draught, they shall be [...]rencht with it; poured out, not by drops, but with a great Gush of wrath; But the Dregs thereof, the Quintessence of its bitterness, the [...]ery utmost gall and venom of it. All the [...]icked of the earth; there shall not one escape, whether openly, or closely wicked; whosoever [Page 258]hath not his name written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and his doors sprinkled with the blood of the Passeover: though never so great in the world, or righteous in his own, or in the eyes of others; all the wicked of the earth, in all times, relations, conditions, or places of the earth, shall wring them out. 'Tis a Cup of their own mingling, they are treading the Wine-press themselves; and this shall be the Worm that Conscience shall gnaw them with, to all eterni­ty; that there is no more poured out, than they themselves poured in: Their undoing, is their own doing. Ah, Sinner! Every Sin, every Lye, every Oath, every Lust, every omission of thy Dutie, every Idle word, every hour spent in an unconverted estate, laies on more weight, to squeeze out, and extort the bitterest dregs of wrath and misery, which thou must shortly drink up. Tremble then, oh Sinner! God is going the Round, with his Cup of trembling; though it come to our Table first, be sure, the bottom shall return on you; The time is come, that Judgment must begin at the House of God, and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel? 1 Pet. 4.17. He that hath begun with us, shall sooner o [...] later make an end with you. In the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will also visit the altars of Bethel, and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, Am. 3.14. The captive Ark, shall one day prove the utter ruin of Dagon. For, thus saith the Lord, Be­hold, they whose Judgment was not to drink of [Page 259]the Cup, have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shalt altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it, Jer. 49.12. 'Tis a sad Omen to God's enemies, when he begins to fall foul with his Friends, Rejoyce, and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Ʋz, the Cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thy self naked, Lam. 4.21. Behold, the righteous shall be [...]ecompensed in the earth; much more the wicked, and the Sinner, Prov. 11.31. Farr be it from me, to rejoyce at the thoughts of that [...]udgment that attends thee; or to comfort my self, with the hopes of that Tribulation, that is [...]ke to be thine eternal Recompence. But knowing the terrour of the Lord, we per­ [...]wade men. God, who knoweth all things, [...]noweth, that the desire of my very Soul is, [...]hat thou might'st be saved; that, of an ene­ [...]y, thou might'st be made a friend; my Prayer to God, is, that the thoughts of thy [...]eart may be forgiven thee; my design is not [...] cry out upon thee, but to cry out unto thee. [...]ave your selves from this untoward genera­tion, Act. 2.40. I would not, that fire should [...]ome down from Heaven to consume thee;Luk. [...].5 [...]. but [...]hat thou might'st be as a fire-brand pluck't out [...]f the burning. O that, though we are strug­ [...]ng together here, in the womb of the earth, [...]e might both pass safe through the new birth [...] [...]nner! this is all the harm and misery I wish [...]ee, and all the happiness I wish my self. O [Page 260]that God would awaken thee, and cause thy lot [...] to fall with his own people! that God would make this Cup thy blessing, and not thy bane; thy purge, and not thy poison! that he would open himself a door into thy Soul, before he shut and lock the door of Hell upon thee!

4. The fourth errand of the Rod, to God [...] Enemies, is, to tell them, That God will cer­tainly be too hard for them. Trouble, and an­guish shall make him afraid, they shall pre­vail against him, as a King ready to the Battel [...] For he stretcheth out his hand against God and strengtheneth himself against the Almigh­ty. He runneth upon him, even upon his neck [...] upon the thick bosses of his bucklers, Job 15.24, 25, 26. O, Sinner! what strange madness hath bewitched the? Darest thou venture upon [...] God that's arm'd with all Power in Heave [...] and in Earth? Thou shalt break them with [...] rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces, like a Potters Vessel, Psal. 2.9. Ah, poor worm [...] Dost thou think to take God Prisoner, an [...] bind the Almighty in chains? should he a [...] but the least of his Creatures against thee, wi [...] a Commission to execute his wrath upon the [...] could'st thou stand before him? To what [...] a Height was proud Herod come, before God [...] his Worms upon him, Act. 12.23. Hath G [...] left himself without evident witness of his P [...] ­er and Justice, even in this age? Don't you very Reason, and natural Conscience, some times suggest to you, as once it did to Gamali [...] If this Counsel, or this work be of men, it w [...] [Page 261]come to nought; but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found, even to fight against God, Act. 5.38, 39. We know, who will one day bruise the Head, and wound the hairy scalp of such an one, as goeth on in his trespasses, Psal. 68.21. And for your farther awakening, Consider, and know,

• 1. That God will be too hard for your Pow­er: No weapon that is formed against thee, [...]hall prosper: and every tongue that shall rise against thee in Judgment, thou shalt condemn, this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord, Isa. 54.17. He that can set the Starrs in Bat­tel-array, and cause them to fight from Heaven [...]n their Courses, against his Enemies, Judg. 5.20. He that hath Legions of Angels at the Command of a word, Matth. 26.53. He that hath given thee all that power thou hast, thy [...]ife, and breath, and beeing, Act. 17.28. Will not such a God be too hard for thee? Shall the dryed stubble contend with the whirlwind?— Who would set the briers and thorns against me [...]n battel? I would go through them, I would burn them together, Isa. 27.4. Well, Sinner! [...]s confident, and as bold as thou art, thou shalt, after a few moments more, know, against what [...]rresistable strength thou hast ingaged; and remember, thou hast been warn'd, that our God is a consuming fire, Heb. 12.29. Remember, when thou art crying to the Hills to cover thee; when thou art roaring under the vengeance of [...]hat God, against whom thou art now fight­ing: [Page 262]When God is dealing dead Blows at thee, remember, that thou wert once warn'd; nay, thou shalt remember; there's one within thee shall bear record to Gods patience, and to my duty, and to thy shame and torment, that tho [...] hast been fairly warn'd. When the Plagues of a Just God are raining in fire and brimstone upon thee, and there is no escape: when 'tis too late to deliver thy Soul; then remember the time that thou wouldst not be perswaded.
• 2. God will be too hard for your Policy Associate your selves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces, and give ear, all ye of fa [...] Countries. Gird your selves, and ye shall b [...] broken in pieces; take Counsel together, and [...] shall come to nought; speak the word, and [...] shall not stand: for God is with us, Isa. 8.9, 10. Associate your selves, and take counse [...] together; let the Assembly be full, a general Convocation: Gird your selves in Oath an [...] Interest, as one man, and gird your selves again [...] twist the Cords of Counsel, revise and re­cognize your Debates and Results; nay, spea [...] the word, and yet it shall not stand, for God is with us. God is an All-seeing, and an Al [...] knowing, as well as an Almighty God. Coun­sel is mine, and sound wisdom, I am understand­ing, I have strength, Prov. 8.14. The Decre [...] of men are not in force with God, till the [...] have past under the Broad Seal of Heaven Counsel is mine, The Counsel that is not ferch from the God of Counsel, is Madness and Folly and not Counsel. Sinner! let me tell thee, though [...] [Page 263]thou hast hired the D [...]vil for Counsel, with the Fees of thy Soul: yet all thy Counsel shall prove thy Confusion, when the Cause shall be pleaded before the Judge of Quick and Dead. Remem­ber Balaam's Parable, and take it for a Rule. Surely there is no Enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any Divination against Israel, Numb. 23.23. Who hath hardened himself a­gainst God, and hath prospered? Job 9.4. Ask Cain how he prosper'd against his Brother; ask the old World how they prospered; ask Pha­raoh; ask Sodom and Gomorrah; nay, ask the damned in Hell, whether they have prospered? whether ever they were too hard for God? and within a few years more, you may be able to tell me, could I come to ask you, that you have had as bad success as any of these.

5. The fifth and last Voice of the Rod, to the Enemies of God, is, to forewarn them, that God is making short work with them. For, he will finish the work, and cut it short in righ­teousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth, Rom. 9.28. Oh, that I could be heard, while your hearing time holds! oh, that now, at the eleventh hour, I might per­swade you to come into the Lords Vineyard, and labour with us this one hour that is left, that you may receive your penny with us at [...]ight! oh, that these parting knocks might be heard! that these last calls might have a willing and kind Answer! How doth my Soul long for you? Ah, Sirs! 'twill be sad repenting in ano­ther world; 'twill be hard to bear what you can­not [Page 264]not then avoid. Oh, that I could wish you, or weep you, and pray you into Covenant with Christ! A little while longer, and you will wi [...]h as I do, O that I had been wise, while I might have been happy! oh, that I had been counselled, and rul'd by those that wisht my Soul well, even as their own Souls! A few Sports more, Sin­ner, and then thou shalt play thy last Game, Deceive and flatter thy self a little longer, and then thou shalt be undeceived for ever. Scorn us, mock us, persecute us a little longer; and then thou shalt scorn us no more, thou shal [...] mock nor persecute no more for ever. Be wise now therefore, O ye Kings, and be instructed ye Judges of the Earth; serve the Lord with fear, and rejoyce with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way: When his wrath is kindled but a little: Blessed are all they that put their trust in him, Psal. 2.10, 11, 12. The Lords wrath is kindled, and that not a little: 'tis time to kiss the Son. But, Wi [...] you kiss him, as Judas kiss'd his Master? W [...] wo, be to thee; it had been good for thee, i [...] thou hadst never been born. Oh, how sh [...] bespeak thee! how shall I awaken thee! Wha [...] meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon th [...] God. But for m [...] People and Country's sake, I on­ly with, I might err in this part [...] Vision. The Cloud hangs black and heavy [...] [...]hee, full of the wrath of God; Warrs and Tu­mults, and Rapines, abroad: Poverty and Pest [...] ­lence, Mu [...]mu [...]ings, Heart-burnings, Jealousi [...] and Fears, at home. Misery and Ruin seem to be driving at us, as Jehu towards Jezreal. W [...] knows what Desol [...]tions a year or two more [Page 265]may produce? who can well what a day may bring forth. The fire hath entred your dwel­lings, and will you burn in your Beds? God hath clasht the Bells of Nature, nay, and over­turn'd the Bells of Aaron too, and can none of these things affect us? oh that God would now drive home and fasten these Nails upon you! that he would graciously perswade you to hear the Rod, and him who hath appointed it.

Proceed we now to answer one Query briefly; How to Judge of the particular Voice of this or that particular Rod. And that I may commend the practice of this Search to you, give me leave to premise these three or four Incentives.

• 1. 'Tis an excellent way to gain by the Rod. Though the Balm be never so Soveraign and good; yet if the Patient knowes not how or where to apply it, it is never like to effect the cure. Correction without instruction is the way to harden, not to reform. This seems to be one main cause why God was even weary of smiting Israel. There was no end in it; ye will revolt more and more. The more I strike, the more ye revolt; I may strike you dead, and all will be one. The reason is, Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider, Isa. 1.3. Therefore Doctrine must go with Reproof, and Insructi­on in righteousness with correction; then both the Word, and the Rod will be profitable and successful. Christian:
  2 Tim. 3.6.
  this is the way to turn thy saddest losses to thy best advantage: To extract Ex vipera theriacam, out of poyson an Anti­dote against poyson: To turn Egyptians against [Page 266] Egyptians; this is the art and happiness of a Christian, To set his losses, his hazzards, his crosses, his miseries, nay, death it self, among his richest gains.
• 2. 'Tis a notable course to make the yoak easie. What's that makes any case grievous or desperate, but this, when we know not how to help it? How doth it trouble and dis­quiet you, when a friend is angry, and you know not why or wherefore? or how to go a­bout to reconcile him? Onely this you know, that he will not be angry without great and just cause. The knowledge of the Cause is alway the first direct step to the Cure. You will never go cheerfully under the yoak, as long as you go in the dark as to the end and meaning of it.
• 3. 'Tis a special means to improve your Ex­perience, and to strengthen your watch. This will bring thee better acquainted with all the false corners and Caves, the windings and Me­anders of thy heart and life. When you have not only bin taught or threatned, but whipt out of an errour, it will be a good token with you as long as you live. What you have once sensi­bly smarted for, you will the more carefully watch against. The reason why we are at such losses in those Circumstantials, wherein the Word is silent, is, because we have not observed nor understood the Rule, wherein the Rod hath spoken more plainly. The Rod is the Festu in Gods hand, whereby sometimes he teacheth his children to spell his word. The Theorie of any art is not so throughly understood, till the Pra­ctice [Page 267]make it familiar. Your Costly experiences will be your standing experiences. Oh what a staff will this be in your hands, when you are staggering and halting between Faith and Rea­son! when conscience shall stand up and urge you with former experiences, This way I dare not adventure on, God hath met with me here already, and convinc'd me that it is out of my way; the last time I was wandring in this or the like unwarrantable path, I sadly remem­ber what frowns were given me, and how dear it cost me; and should I be found in the same or the like way again, will he not make me re­member it as long as I live? and leave such a mark on me as shall cause me to go limping and lamenting to my grave?
• 4. 'Tis the only way to have the affliction re­mov'd with advantage. Suppose, now God is afflicting thee in thy Health, or Liberty, or in thy worldly Designes or Hopes: It's not thy or­dinary course in such a case, to find out and re­move the immediate and natural cause of it? if this be accomplished, and the effect, which troubled thee, cease, thou rejoycest and com­mendest thy course, and by and by all is forgot­ten; the wound is cur'd, and all is well, and the Plaister laid up for the next like occasion: thus the Rod loseth its end, and doth but stop thee in thy way, not turn thee out of thy way; and hence it follows, that if God intend thee any good, he must send stronger messengers after thee, which, it may be, are forc't to knock thee down before thou wilt yield. But suppose that [Page 268]God should leave thee to thy own course, to re­move natural evils with natural Remedies, and to look no higher; unto what a distance from God wouldst thou in a short time wander? Nay, though thou acknowledgest thy sin in the gene­ral, or in many principal or particular branches of it, and indeavourest to humble thy soul in truth before God; yet if that Achan the chief Author of the present displeasure be not found out and executed according to the law of God, thou art as lyable still, to the same miscarriage, and to the same affliction, as ever thou wert be­fore. Though the Rod may have wrought some good on thee, yet it hath not reacht that good.

Let this serve to move you unto the Duty, through the blessing of him that watereth the Furrows of Sion, and causeth his people to pro­fit. I come now to answer unto this great and necessarie Query.

To be peremptory or positive in this case is dangerous. Gods waies are sometimes in the dark: his counsels are a great deep, where it may be as unsafe for us to seek him, as it is im­possible to find him. Yet I am not leading you into a Labyrinth of endless or fruitless labour, nor introducing unto the contemplation of a Pla­tonick Idea, nor about to perswade you to turn Oracles to your selves. That which I have to propose is not intended to distract thee, but to direct thee. Here is certainly a Pearl of great price hid; a Gemme of infinite value; Digg, and thou shalt find it; find it, and it shall en­rich thee both in this world, and in a better. [Page 269]And as you hope to understand the Counsel of God in this business, set your selves with all pos­sible seriousness and impartiality to seek it of God in the diligent use of these, and any other Directions that shall from God be suggested to thee.

• 1. Confider what were thy last miscarriages. Deal with thy self as Physitians are wont to do with their Patients. What was the last die you fed upon? Possibly, there may be something in the Nature, the Quality or quantity of it, which may produce such a distemper. Was there no distaste or dislike in the stomack at, or immedi­ately after, the reception of it? No Reluctance or doubting in conscience about any thing you have lately done, or spoken, or purposed, or advised, or omitted? Sometimes, God is pleased to intimate his displeasure by his Rod in the first step of our departure from him, He that hath commanded us to call upon him while he is near, is sometimes pleased to observe his own Law, and calls upon us while we are near, to reckon with us while it is hot: before we are gone out of hearing, as it were. I need not heap up Scrip­ture-Instances to this purpose: daily experience is sufficient evidence.
• 2. What are the cructations of thy conscience? Is there nothing, that Conscience doth begin to accuse thee of? that thou couldst wish had been done, or left to doing? When David had num­bred the people, see how conscience did present­ly begin to work within him, His heart smote him, 2 Sam. 24.10. What ever thou doest, [Page 270]take heed of overlaying thy conscience, or stifling the operations of it: If this lye speechless in such a case, its a signe the disease is dangerous: when the Stomack is overcharged, either in Quantity or Quality, it loatheth the very thoughts of meat: but especially of that, whereon it surfeited. My Sin is ever before me, saies David. Psal. 51.3. 'Tis true the sin of his nature comes into his thoughts, as the root and spawn of all the rest: but 'tis this particular guilt, that alwaies returns with its gashly and dreadful aggravations upon him.
• 3. Sometimes the Punishment bears resem­blance with the Sin. Suffering is the Off-spring of sin; and oftentimes it begets children in its own likeness. God sometimes deals with us Lege Talionis, and requi [...]eth us like for like. So he dealt with Agag, 1 Sam. 15.33. As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. Such was that Judg­ment of God on those Sodomites the Apostle speaks of, Rom. 1.27. Receiving in themselves that recompence of their errour which was meet. He meted out a punishment, that should suit with their impiety, and made their very sin to be their snare. Thus he doth often, as it were, write our accusation on our cross, and cause the suffering to bear the very picture of the Sin. Nay, after this manner God dealt with David himself: When he began to glory in, or to trust to, the multitude and strength of his forces; God shortned them by seventy thousand men. 2 Sam. 24.15. So when he had sinned by A­dultery [Page 271]and Murder: Murder and Adultery was his punishment, 2 Sam. 12.10, 11. Thus also God met with Ahab, 1 King. 21.19. But to mention no more: this is one of the commonest and clearest Rules we have to judge by in this case. Hath God crost thee in any of thy delights? Consider whether thy delight were lawful in its self and in its circumstances, or the use of it, moderate and subordinate. Hath he smitten thee in some dear Relation? Consider whether it had not too much of thine heart, or of thy time, thy care, or fond Indulgence. Hath he afflicted thee in any part of thy Body? Consider how thy Body (or, it may be, that part especially) hath been employed either to Gods honour or dishonour. Hast thou met with any frustration, danger, or evil success in thy enterprize? Con­sider what were thy ends. Of whom didst thou ask counsel? or crave assistance? See whether there be not some offence near thee, of which thy punishment may claim parentage. The first Question we use to ask the Patient is this, Where doth your pain lie? Wherein are you grieved most? And then examine, whether that part be not suffering under its own guilt. It may be thou art in a languishing, pining case, under som hereditary distemper, and hast alwayes somthing to complain of. Why, may not God then be presenting to thee the Condition of thy [...]oul by the estate of the body, and visiting for [...]he sin of thy enstome or Constitution? When God enters into a Course of Physick with thee, [...]s an Argument that the disease is rooted in [Page 272]thee, and let me add this as a sure Rule, by the way. Every Affliction hath a general, if not a special eye and aime at thy most beloved, habi­tuated, or accustomed Sin. Though particular miscarriages be often times attended with par­ticular corrections; yet both, it may be, are properly reducible unto thy master-Last, the sin that doth so easily beset thee, as the root of all: for one and the same sin may discover its self di­verse waies, that seem aliene from its own na­ture. For illustration take this plain example. A man that is naturally Scorbutical, and lies under the Physitians hands for that disease, but while this is under cure, he falls into a Feaver, or Plu­risie, or Dropsie, or the like; unto which the Physitian applies his art diversly; yet in all he does, hath a due respect unto the former and great infirmity, which is as the fountain of the rest, and creates him all this toyl, and variety of Methods and Compositions. Hence I conclude then, that he that is not acquainted with his Master-sin, the King or Prince of his corrupti­ons; is not like to go farr, with any success or re­al advantage, in his search.
• 4. It may be God afflicts thee for prevention of a worse evil. I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall that she shall not find her pathes. Hos. 2.6. God will set thorns in his sheeps paths, to keep them from breaking from him. This was the course God took with St. Paul. 2 Cor. 12.7. Left I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in [Page 273]the flesh: a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. God sees sometimes that prosperity would hurt us, ease and worldly contents would prove snares to us; and therefore in mercy he may deny or remove them. It may be, that God is fitting thee for some more than ordinary mercy, and laying the foundati­on for some fair building; if so, marvail not, nay, bethink it not if he digg deep in thee.
• 5. Consider, what is thy Patience under the Rod: An impatient high colour, and the thick and eager beating of the Pulse of thy complaints are the Symptoms of a Feaver, and gives cause to think that unbelief and impatience is, at least, an Assistent, if not the Principal cause.
  Pelluntur ignibus ig­nes.
  'Tis an ordinary thing with God, to drive out one heat with another. Wonder not to see God setting his weak children on their leggs and teaching them to go, though they be froward and unwil­ling. He knowes that exercise is the way to be­get and to strengthen habits. If thou wouldst that God should give over his afflicting, thou must learn to give over thy fretting. The qui­et Patient is either the most hopeful, or the most desperate Patient.
• 6. It may be Gods design is only or chiefly, for thy tryal. To discover to thy self that which was hid, whether it be grace or corruption. Though sin be ever (at least) the remote cause of the Rod, yet it is not alway the main Cause; though it be cum causâ, yet not alway n causâ, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made mani­fest [Page 274]in him. Joh, 9.3. Doubtless, both the man and his parents were sinners, both originally and actually; but that was not it, for which the man was born blind.
• 7. Go and ask it of God by prayer. No man in heaven nor in earth is able or worthy to open this Book, unless the Lyon of the tribe of Judah do it. Prayer is the Key to open these Adyta Templi, the secrets and Mysteries of the Spirit; the deep counsells of Providence. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdome and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his waies past finding out! For, who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his coun­seller? Rom. 11.33, 34. O then! go out of thy self, and get up to the Mount with God. Prayer hath the Promise to quicken and encourage it. Jam. 1.5. Spread thy case before him; bewail thy Ignorance to him; draw up thy affections to a resolved and practical submission to what­soever he shall convince thee of; and conclude all with holy Job, chap. 6, 24. Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to under­stand wherein I have erred.

Vse 1. I come now to conclude all with a little Application. And I shall be very brief here, be­cause the doctrinal part hath been mostly pra­ctical. Well Sirs! If the Lords Rod be no dumb Rod, and this be the voice and language of it, then,

1. This Informs us of a threefold Mistake.

1. They are mistaken, that question Gods rovidence. And they say, how doth God know, [Page 275]and is there knowledge in the most high? Psal. 73.11. Nay, it seems that the Psalmist himself was almost ready to think so to. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, ver. 13. Vntil I went [...]nto the Sanctuary of God, then understood I [...]heir end, ver. 17. Which argues that he was mistaken before: till then, he understood not [...]he mystery. He could not perceive those inner wheels, that secret Thred of Providence, which [...]uns through all the transactions, counsells, estates [...]nd designs of men. And is not this almost your Case, my Brethren? that you are ready to say with that wicked Messenger, 2 King. 6.33. This [...]il is of the Lord, what should I wait for the Lord any longer! Though you acknowledg the [...]vine Providence in its Esse, yet know not how [...] subscribe or submit to it in its Operari. You [...]e that it is the Lords doing, and it is not only [...]avellous: but grievous, as thorns in your eyes [...]nd hereupon the unbelieving, impatient heart [...] begetting and harbouring hard th [...]ughts of [...]od. Because you can't reach the other end of [...]s unsearchable Counsells, are apt to censure his [...]are or his Power, as if he were a God that [...]d forgotten to be gracious, or unable to deli­ [...]r. God hath forsaken him; persecute him, and [...]ke him: for there is none to deliver him, Psal. [...]1.11. What! is there none to deliver? Have [...] cut the Reins in Gods hand? Have you got­ [...] the Bridle into your teeth? Will you indeed [...]secute and take him? Ay, but what if you be [...]staken? What if the Sampson of your Con­ [...]ence should but mock with you? what if the [Page 276]divided Sea should roul her waves together a­gain? But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them, and de­liver them: he shall deliver them from the wick­ed, and save them because they trust in him, Psal. 37.39, 40.

2. They are mistaken, that transferr the cause of the Rod from themselves. When the guilt of sin appears in the punishment of it; Nature it self seems asham'd to own it, Then it is not I, and it is not I. The Woman which thou gavest me, saies the man: the Serpent, saies the woman. Thou art he that troubleth Israel, saies Ahab to Elijah: I have not troubled Israel, saies Elijah, but thou and thy Fathers house (more likely in­deed) in that ye have forsaken the commandment, of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim, 1 King. 18.17, 18. Well Sirs! 'tis in vain to sh [...]ffle and collude with God and Conscience The Burden of England is very heavy: ou [...] wound is grievous and general; we are in a bleed­ing, ga [...]ping, dying case; the whole Camp is dis­quieted, for the judgments of God are among us, and the glory of England is departing: God will shortly discover where the fault lies; and who and what it is, that hath troubled us. 'T [...] in vain to plead, Not guilty before God. For [...] have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God Rom. 3.23. 'Tis true, there are those that thing themselves without sin, and at least without an [...] considerable guilt in this evil, and take up th [...] Stones to cast at us: But when once Conscience [Page 277]is awakened as theirs was, Joh. 8.9. they may be­gin to be ashamed. The Wiseman tells of a woman that eateth, and wipeth her mouth and saith, I have done no wickedness, Pro. 30.20. and yet she is convicted for an adulterous woman: Nay, it is given as the mark of an Adulteress, so to do. God is not wont to cut his Plaister larger than the wound: the Rod will tell us where the guilt lies. Yet where the wound smarts most, there is most sign of life and hope of a cure: that part that is most dangerously gangrenated is least sensible, till it comes to caute­rising or decision. Oh that God would convince England of her sickness, and cause her to see her wound, before it become utterly incurable!

3. They are also mistaken, that apply themselves to indirect means to be healed. Good men as well as bad are sometimes guilty in this kind: it was Asa's sin 2 Chron. 16.12— In his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the Physitians. When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wounds, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to King Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound, Hos. 5.13. They saw onely the wound of their disease, not the cause of it; and this led them the wrong way to the cure; so, Jer. 44.17, 18. We will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth [...]ut of our own mouth, to burn incense to the Queen of Heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto her, [...]s we have done, we and our fathers, our Kings and [...]ur Princes in the Cities of Judah, and in the streets [...]f Jerusalem: For then had we plenty of victuals [...]nd were well, and saw no evil: but since we left off [...]o burn incense to the Queen of Heaven, and to [Page 278]pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. Is not this the language and practice of the Generation of our daies? that measure their Religion by th [...]ir B [...]llies,Mich. 3.10. and would fain build up [...]ion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. We will return to our Mass and Matins, to our old Su­perstition and prophnness, for then we were well and saw no evil: but since there hath been so much preaching, and such strong light, such circumspect walking, and evidence of the spirit and power of godliness; we have wanted all things, at least that one thing we would have. Oh 'twere good daies when both Priest and People were agreed to fall in­to the Ditch together, when Sabbath-daies were daies of sport and recreation, and Pardons might be had through the hands of other Meditators, and within the price of a lust. But see what follows, ver, 21. The incense ye that burnt in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye and your fathers, your Kings and your Princes and the people of the land, did not the Lord remember them, and came it not into his mind, so that the Lord could no longer be [...]r because of the evil of your doings? Be­cause ye have burnt incense, and because ye have sin­ned against the Lord, &c. therefore this evil is hap­pened unto you as at this day, Jer. 44.21. Is your re­turn to the cause of your P [...]gues the rational course to prevent them? will a second draught of the same Poyson a [...]ido e the first? The children of Israel have done evil in my sight, saith the Lord, they have set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name to pollute it, and they have built the [Page 279]high places of Tophet. Their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of man; while, with the old Samaritans, they fear the Lord and serve their I­dols. They are gon with the Dog to his vomit: Therefore, behold the daies come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the val­ley of the Son of Hinnom; but the valley of slaug­ter, Jer. 7.31, 32. When we turn Gods Bethel to a Bethaven, his house of Prayer to a den of Thieves: it will cause God to turn our Hephzibah into an Aceldama, a land of delights to a field of Blood. Till the true cause be discovered, acknow­ledged, and removed, we are farr enough from the cure. The nature of the cause might direct us to the means: If it be sin that hath made the wound; who shall heal it, but he that hath authority to forgive sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness? For thus saith the Lord, thy bruise is uncurable, and thy wound is grievous, there is none to plead thy cause &c. All thy lovers have forsaken thee, they seek thee not, Jer. 30.12, &c. Thy wound is in cur­able with men; for few there are that understand, none that can remove it in its Cause or effects. Thy Lovers, thy Confederates, whose Assistance thou cravest and dependest on, will prove but Fig-leaves, not Shields to thee. For I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy. Thou wilt find that these Beds are shorter than that thou canst stretch thy self on them, and the Coverings narrower than that thou canst wrap thy self in them, Isa. 28.20. the Abomination of thy Prayers and Sacrifices will ne­ver reconcile that God that is in controversie wi [...]h these thy Abominations. The multitude of thy Of­ferings [Page 280]will not remov [...], but aggravate the sin of thine Oblations. There's nothing of thee, nothing in thee, nothing about thee, nothing above thee, but God that can help thee: and if ever he do it, be sure he will do it in his own way, and on his own terms: thou must first compound with him and submit to him. Oh! take heed of running to thy own witts, or righteousness, of resting on thy own duties, or innocency, or goodness of thy cause for help: These are not, these will not be, thy Saviours.

S [...]ffer the word of Exhortation. Vse 2 You have heard that the Rod hath a Voice, and what this voice is: God hath been now a long time with various Com­ments and glosses expounding it to you. And now, my B ethren, I am come in the name of God, to drive home the Nail to the head, that I have bin all this while driving at. Oh that these last blows might do the work on you! that God may not take up the Hammer and drive a Jael's nail at your very heart, that I may leave it at last as nails fastned by the Masters of Assemblies.Eccl. 12.11 The spirit of God hath fram'd the exhortation in the text it self, Hear ye the Rod; and I shall say no more, I can say no more, but to urge you with this Dilemma. Either you will hear, or else you will not hear. Now give me leave to tell you, and take it as some of my parting words, as those that are not like to be called upon much longer. God is c [...]ying to you, Friends, for his pack­ing penny; the eleventh hour is come, and some of h s last messengers are sent, for your last answer; refuse but a little longer, and you shall never have the [...]ffer more. Oh! that our words and wishes and tears might now at last prevail with you!

[Page 281] 1. If you will not hear the Rod in the voice of it, you shall surely feel the Rod in the vengeance and curse of it. Hear ye deaf, and look ye blind that ye may see; who is blind but my servant, and who is deaf as my Messenger that I sent? Isa. 42.10. &c. But this is a people robbed and spoyled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison-houses, they are for a prey and none delivereth, for a spoyl and none saith, Restore. Who among you will give ear to this? Who will hearken and hear for the time to come? ver. 22.23. Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the Strength of Battel, and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew it not, and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart, ver. 25. Sinner! dost thou think that God will leave thee thus? Hath he threatned thee, and shaken the Rod at thee, and shalt thou escape so? Hath he made all these dreadful preparations of wrath onely in ter­rorem, to affrighten thee? wilt thou once more try whether he be in earnest or no? To thy sorrow shalt thou try it and find it, when the irreversible curse of God hath fastned on thee, when the Fire and Brimstone of divine and unexpiable vengeance is smoaking about thine ears, thou shalt know that he was in earnest. When God shall dash the potts of thy highest Hopes and dearest Comforts, in pieces; when the bitter dreggs of the Cup of trembling are at thy nose and must pass through thee: when thou shalt long for death, and curse the day that ever thou wert born, then shalt thou know in whose hand the Rod is. If ye will not hear these words, I swear by my self, saith the Lord, that this House shall be­come a desolation, Jer. 22.5. O hear this and trem­ble, [Page 282]thou that wilt not hear? God hath sworn thy desolation, and vow'd thy destruction. What shall I say? If thou art resolv'd to run the Risk with God thou mayest. Rejoyce, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the daies of thy youth, and walk in the waies of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know that for all these things God will bring thee into Judgement, Eccles. 11.9. Thou may'st enjoy a merry day or two, it may be a few merry years more; but then, resolve to bid thy joys farewell for ever! O that some such thoughts as these might awaken thee before it be too late!

2. If you will thus hear the Rod, you may be sure of strength to bear it. Encline your ear, & come unto me hear and your soul shall live, Isa. 55.3. What death soever threatens you; what dangers soever are im­pendent over you; whosoever die, be sure, you shall live. You shall live even in death its self; for your Soul shall [...]ive. There hath no temptation taken you, saies the Apostle, and there shall no temptation take you, but such as is common to man. But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make away to escape, that ye may be able to bear it, 1 Cor. 10.13. When God sees his children willing to o­bey to their utmost, he will never put them upon more than they shall be enabled to wade through with comfort. Rejoyce not against me, o mine enemy when I fall I shall arise; when I sit in darness, the Lord shall be a light unto me, Mic. 7.8. What shall I say? All the comfort in the God of comfort is in­gaged with thee: If thou art willing to take up thy Cross, and to own thy duty under all its difficulties; [Page 283]he that hath called thee will bear thy Cross for thee and, if that be too little, he will bear both thee and thy Burden too. 1 Pet. 5.7. Matth. 11.28.

In the next place, let this put you on the serious, speedy, and impartial search and examination,

Vse 1. Of your Ends in desiring the removal of the Rod. Is not this your joynt-cry, and the common request of your Souls to God, that his blows may cease, and the bloody executioners of his wrath be cal­led in? Now what are your Ends? Is your personal peace, the worldly credit of your own way, that which you aim at! that you may sit down under your own Vines and Figtrees, as you have done heretofore? do your ends reach onely to your own enjoyments, either spiritual or temporal? If so, you are yet short of that which is God's, and should be your, design. Christian, I cannot tell thee what lies at the bottom of thy heart, nor where thy ends are center'd; I can but propose these things to thy Conscience, and leave it there to be examined be­tween God and thy own Soul. The end of all divine actions and providences with relation to God him­self is the fuller and more convincing manifestation of the glory of all his Attributes, wherein he is wont to make himself known to his creatures, with rela­tion to us; it is to accomplish his revealed will, which is our Sanctification. Wherefore th [...]se designes of God, whom we are bound to imitate in all things imitable, should be our Rule, both to direct and dis­cern our ends by.

But you may say: Why, Obj. we are content to ly as low as God would have us to ly: to become any thing that God may have glorie by us, We hope, we aim [Page 284]at nothing more than the advancement of that great End.

You say, Answ. You are contented to lye at Gods feeet. But let me ask thy heart now, Is it not, because thou must be there, and canst not help it? God hath cast thee down, but fore against thy will: wouldst thou ever have taken up this cross, had not God necessi­tated thee and even forc't it on thee? Brethren, I would not be mistaken here: I have already declar'd my mind in this case, before. There is nothing in the Cross it self, that can render it desireable or eligible for it self: but if Christ be there, the Case is alter'd. If he be lifted up, he shall draw all men to him. Ioh. 12.32. The Cross is then thy Cross, and thy duty lies in it: and certainly, Duty is desireable, on the same account that Idleness is detestable. Nay, what ever it be that God hath plac't thy duty in, it is desireable for thy duties sake. A true Souldier had as liev fight the Battel, being called to it, as to divide the Spoyl: and yet is not fool-hardie, to rush on dangers, without a Commission. These are they which follow the Lamb whither soever he goeth Rev. 14.4. They are not dragged at his heels, but they follow him. A Christians will should hang in Aequilibrio, with an indeterminable promptness and readiness to any thing that shall from God be discovered to be his duty. Now, can you rejoyce in tribulation? May I ask you then, whence it comes to pass? Is it from the Comfort you find in it? Can you say, you are at hearts content even in the Fur­nace, because you are there with Christ? or is it from the Good you get by it? can you say, that you never wrought merrier than in those golden Mines, where [Page 285]you are ever and anon fainting and ready to leave your lives under your Burdens? or is it from the E­quity you perceive in it? do you resolve,Mich. 7.9. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned a­gainst him. If this be the temper of your hearts, let him alone to take it off, that laid it on: and though what ever God doth in the world, he is wont to do by means, yet take heed of prescribing means to him whose Prerogative it is to elect his owne means, and then to commissionate and impower them. Examine what good the Rod hath wrought on you: either the voice of it, or the stroaks of it. Have you been humbled and reformed by what you have seen and suffered? Have you been instructed, resolved, and strengthned by what you have read or heard? Hath God been at all these pains about you in vain? Hath he been knocking on Anvils, and I beating the air? God hath no [...] chastized you with dumb Blows, but hath reasoned the case with you. Oh my Brethren, where's the print of Gods Seal on you? have you been softned to receive the impression? Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, and teachest him out of thy law, Psal. 94.12. This is the Blessed course that God hath taken with you; oh! where's the Bles­sed effect it hath wrought on you! As sure as your Souls shall rise at the Judgment, these things shall rise with you, either to your comfort or your condemna­tion. And now that I am about to shut up all, and to conclude my important Errand to you, O let me not leave it in your Napkins, in your Papers, in your Heads, or in your Mouths onely; but in your hearts and lives! It grieves my soul to think that I should bestow so much of my time and labour to aggravate [Page 286]the Damnation of any of you. O that I knew how, or were able to prevent it! Dearly beloved in the Lord! though my message to you be drawing to a Period, yet my heart is ever full towards you. I know not how to leave you, for fear I should leave any of you short of my end and desire. Oh that I could in­trust a Token with you to remember God, your souls and your Duty by, as long as you live! What Duty, what Sin have you been convinc't of? what search have you made, and what have you found? Have we been fishing, not onely all night, but all this year, and caught nothing? What spiritual weapon, what experience, what courage, what victory, what grace have you gotten or strengthned? oh sit down and shake your Netts; see what you have gotten. Shall afflictions from henceforth find you as naked, and leave you as unreform'd and unresolv'd, as if you had never heard a word of the nature or use of them? Ah my Brethren! these are the things you have adventured hard for, that you have hazzarded, and it may lost somthing for, and have you gotten no­thing to make it up again? Take this from me, You will never adventure all at such a rate; such march­andizing will certainly beggar your Profession.

Vse 4 Lastly, this affords us matter of saddest Lamen­tation, and that on these three Accounts.

1. That we should provoke God thus to deal with us. We, the People of such mercies and deliverances whom God hath so highly honour'd and made the head and not the tail of the Nations; whose part he hath taken against all the world, and manifested his high account of us in the face of our enemies. Surely any Nation under Heaven might better have done it than England. You onely have I known of all the [Page 287]Families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities, Am. 3.2. Is it a small offence that hath drawn out such a Flood of wrath? Oh let us sit down and weep here! we that even now were sitting among the Lillies are now tost and torn a­mong the thorns and briers. Our peace is broken both with God and Man; our health and plenty is declining like a Shadow; we are sore broken as in the place of Dragons. O that my head were waters! and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! O that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of waifaring men! that I might leave my people and go from them. For they be all Adulterers an Assembly of treacherous men! Jer. 9.12.

2. That we are no more sensible of the Rod, nor bettered by it. This is the saddest judgment on this side Hell, to be given up to a hard heart, a spiritual Lethargy; When Calls and Promises and Threat­nings and Judgments will not work, he hath but one way more, as to visible means, to make work with a People: Ruine and Desolation will make work, but sad work! Hell and damnation will make work with the stubbornest heart that ever sinned against God. Ah sinner! there is a Rod that will awaken thee; there are arrows that will pierce thee; there are flames that will warm thee; there are Fiends that wil surely daunt thee, and chains that shall bind thee to all eternity; there's a Discipline that shall tame [...]hee, as mad and as wild as thou art.

3. Lastly, lament your poor Posterities, who are like to inherit the curse of our backslidings. Methink it is a dreadful Text, Am. 4.2. The Lord God [Page 288]hath sworn by his holiness, and lo, the daies shall come upon you that he will take you away with hooks, and your Posterity with fish-hooks. God is like to visit the iniquities of the fathers upon the chil­dren, unto the third and fourth generation. How may the generations to come arise and curse us for sinning away both the spiritual and temporal Pri­viledges they should have enjoyed after us. God seems to threaten us as David devoteth his enemies Psal. 109.10. Let his children be continually va­gabounds and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places. Oh Sirs! if your children are dear to you, consult their peace and welfare: Provide the blessing, not the Curse, for their Portion that God may yet say of us as once of Israel, Jer. 31.17. And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border. Even so Lord! Amen, and Amen!