A Faithful Man, Described and Rewarded. SOME Observable & Serviceable Passages in the LIFE and DEATH OF Mr. Michael Wigglesworth. Late Pastor of MALDON; Who Rested from his Labours, on the Lords-Day, June 10th. 1705. In the Seventy Fourth year of his Age. AND MEMORIALS of PIETY, Left behind him among his Written EXPERIENCES. With a Funeral Sermon Preached (for him) at Maldon; June 24. 1705.
By Cotton Mather.
Factitium Vobis Sermonem in Omni forma Sanctitatis Dei Servus Exhibuit.
Boston: Printed by B. Green, for Benj. Eliot, at his Shop under the West-End of the Town-House. 1705.
TO THE Church and Congregation AT MALDON in New-England.
THERE is often found a truth in that which has been by many observed, viz. That the Names of those who lived much in Heaven whilest they were on Earth, Live on Earth after they are in Heaven. We see an Instance of it in your Faithful Teacher, Mr. Wigglesworth, who now, is not, for God has taken him. As it was said of righteous Abel, being dead he yet speaketh; so dos your deceased Pastor Speak to you, as by his Divine Poems, which are (I suppose) in many of your Houses, so by the SERMONS which he Preached to you, which will doubtless Live in some of your Hearts as long as you your selves shall Live: and by that [Page] Holy Example which he set before you. For as the Apostle said to his Thessalonians, You are Witnesses how holily, and justly, and unblameably he behaved himself among you: And in the Memorials of his Piety here put into your hands, his Example will still be Living among you.
The Providence of God was in several things Remarkable towards him, e. g. In his being favoured with a Learned Education, after his Father had designed otherwise concerning him, (as it also was with Mr. Wigglesworth's Tutor, our famous Mitchel, who proved a great blessing to all the Churches in New-England:) And in his being restored to such a measure of Health, as to be able to Preach for many years twice every Lords-Day, after he had been for a long time in a Languishing condition. And although in some of the Reformed Churches, they do not permit a Minister of the Gospel to practise as a Physician, left he should thereby be too much diverted from his Sacred Employments, one of these Callings being ordinarily as much as one man can duely attend; nevertheless the Lord enabled him to manage both with good Success: So that in being bereaved of him you have lost an able Physitian both for Soul [Page] and Body. Nor are the People in Maldon the only Persons who have sustained a loss by his Death.
He was moreover in his young years a blessing as a Tutor in the Colledge. It was an honour to Corderius, that the great Calvin had been his Scholar, and to Mr. Parkhurst, that the Learned Juel had been under his Instruction and Tuition, who afterwards took great delight to behold the Sparkling of that Diamond, which himself had first pointed, as one Expresseth it. Thus some who were once the My Brother Eleazer Mather, Mr. John Eliot, Mr. Shubael Dummer, & Mr. Samuel Torrey, &c. Pupils of this worthy man have proved Eminent in these Churches. It will not at all add greatness or respect to his Name for Me to say, That I was his Scholar at my first Admission into the Colledge, above three and fifty years since; but I have on that account reason to honour his Memory.
The Town of Maldon in England (from which yours receives its Name) was famous for the great Men who sometimes dwelt there; it having been the place where some of the British Kings had their Residence. The Lord grant that your Maldon may be [Page] famous for the good Men that shall be in it. And it will be so, if the Lord help you to follow the Doctrine, and Example of your late Pastor, as he followed Christ. It is the duty of Churches not to forget, but to Remember those that have spoken to them the Word of God, whose Faith they are to follow, considering the End of their Conversation. This will be the way for you to obtain from the Lord JESUS CHRIST (whose gift it is) another Pastor after his own heart, who shall Feed you with knowledge and Understanding. To His Grace and Guidance I commend you, and rest,
A Faithful Man Described & Rewarded. A SERMON Preached at MALDON, on June 24. 1705. Occasioned by the Departure of that Faithful and Aged Servant of GOD; Mr. Michael Wigglesworth.
Be thou Faithful unto Death, and I will give thee a Crown of Life.
TIS the Voice of our Glorious Commander uttered from Heaven unto us. Every Follower of the Lord JESUS CHRIST upon Earth is concerned in the Voice. 'Tis Extensive like the Voice of the Last Trumpet; And it is pitty but it should be as Powerful.
A Church at SMYRNA was one of the Seven, to which our Enthroned Lord, most graciously [Page 2] directed Seven Epistles. They that look for a Prophetical Interpretation of the Seven Epistles, as answering to Seven Periods in the Line of Time from our Lords Ascent unto His Advent, may help themselves thro' their Hard Task as well as they can. The Historical Interpretation suffices the more Judicious Interpreters. Our Lord, going to bid His Beloved John write the Things which were to be hereafter, bids him first of all to write the Things which then were. Our Lord would, [And how agreeable the method!] first Instruct and Reprove and Reform His People; and then communicate unto them His Divine and Secret Purposes. The Apostle, that had been a Preacher to the Churches in the Lydian Asia, now does the part of a Writer to them.
One of them was at Smyrna. Ecclesiastical Story tells us, That an horrid Storm of Persecution befel the Church at Smyrna, soon after our Lord had sent unto them the Praemonitions of it; A Storm, which was not asswaged until the Martyrdom of that brave old man, their Pastor Polycarp. A Letter of that Church yet in our hands, does relate, How cruelly the Martyrs of Smyrna were tormented, and after all their Torments they were thrown unto Wild Beasts to be devoured. And we find, that these Cruelties were push'd on, by the Envies and Slanders of the Jews, as well as by the Savage Fierceness of the Gentiles.
Our Lord Foretold, unto the Christian Smyrnians, the coming of these Trials upon them. That He might Fortify them for their Trials, [Page 3] Behold, an Encouragement! The most Glorious, the most Marvellous, the most Engaging Encouragement, that ever was offered unto the Children of men. Generals do Encourage their Souldiers, with the Best they can do for them; Riches, if they Live; Honours, whether they Live, or Dy. But we belong to the Armies of▪ Him, whose Name is, King of Kings, and, Lord of Lords. No King or Lord, could ever Encourage with such Assurances as ours gives to us. We are animated now, to Overcome all Discouragements in the conflict of Christianity. A CROWN OF LIFE! Methinks, it should be enough to overcome us, and make us Overcome all our Difficulties.
We have before us, a DOCTRINE, to Encourage us; a DOCTRINE, which may not only Encourage us, but even Astonish us.
Our Lord IESUS CHRIST, will with a Glorious Crown of Life most Gloriously Reward them, who Faithfully adhere unto Him & His Interests, as long as they Live.
There are two very Noble Subjects now to be discoursed on; Subjects that call for our most Serious Meditations, our most Rapturous Contemplations. The One is; What our Lord Jesus Christ Requires of us. the Other is, What our Lord Jesus Christ Reserves for us.
I. That which our Lord Jesus Christ has Required [Page 4] of us; 'Tis, That we be Faithful unto Him, and unto His Interests, and this, as long as we Live in this World.
Now, First; Faith in the Lord JESUS CHRIST, is presupposed in them that Walk in the Name of the Lord JESUS CHRIST. It is to be presupposed, That we Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, & Rely on Him, for Wisdom, & Righteousness, & Holiness, & Redemption. Our Lord Jesus Christ commands this; Joh. 20.27. Be not Faithless, but Believing. 'Tis for this cause, that the People of God, are so often styled, The Faithful, in the Scriptures of God. The Spirit of God has wrought in them, the Faith to Receive the Lord JESUS CHRIST, and His Great Salvation, as tendered in the Gospel. But Then, there is a Faithfulness to the Lord JESUS CHRIST, which must attend and assert our Faith in Him. This Faithfulness, is not so much Faith, as Obedience. 'Tis not our Trust in Him; 'Tis our Trustiness to Him. 'Tis what the Word of God calls, Good Fidelity. Allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ, and Perseverance in our Allegiance, is called for, in this call; Be thou Faithful unto Death.
First. He that would be an Happy Christian, must be a Faithful Christian.
But then; Who is the Faithful Christian? We will Describe him; God grant, we may answer the Description; God grant, the Description & the Character may be our own. It very much belong'd unto ONE, that lately Shone among us.
A Faithful Christian is One, who has the Heart of a Christian, as well as the Name of a Christian. [Page 5] He is not meerly, Dealbatus nomine Christiani, as Austin Expresses it; Superficially Whitened with the Name of a Christian. Of such an one, [and, The Father of the Faithful:] We read, Neh. 9.8. Thou foundest his Heart Faithful before thee. Faithfulness is opposed unto Falsehood. Every Christian does profess himself to be, A Lover of the Lord Jesus Christ; and, A Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. A Faithful Christian, is one that is not False in his Profession. He Loves the Lord Jesus Christ; and it is, In Sinceriy. He Serves the Lord Jesus Christ; and it is, With a Perfect Heart and a Willing Mind. They that are Faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ, can say, as Gen. 42.11. Thy Servants are True men. A Faithful Christian is one who is truly, what he Seems to be.
And hence, it must be a Stroke in the Pourtraiture of a Faithful Christian, That he does Practise, what he does Profess. He will not Say one thing, and Do another, in the matters of Religion. He is none of those, whom our Lord sets that black mark upon, They Say and they Do not. We read, 1 Sam. 2.35. I will raise me up a Faithful Priest, and he shall Do according to that which is in mine Heart, and in my Mind. The Faithful Christian is one to whom our Lord may say, Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant. And he is one to whom all may say, Thou doest Faithfully whatever thou doest. The Difference between a Talker, and a Doer; the Difference between Talking Well, and Well-Doing: This is the Difference between the Formal Christian, and the Faithful Christian.
[Page 6]We will carry on the Lovely Representation. A Faithful Christian, is a Christian Mindful of the Obligations, which are laid upon him, to Glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no Christian, but what is under many Bonds and Vows to Glorify the Lord. The Faithful Christian is one, who does not Forget the Vows of God that are upon him. The Study, and the Language of the Faithful Christian is that, Psal. 116.14. I will pay my Vows unto the Lord. A Christian has Entred into Covenant with God. A Faithful Christian is a Covenant-Keeping one; he is one who may say, Lord, I have not forgotten thee, nor have I dealt falsely in thy Covenant. Having been Washed in the Baptism of the Lord, the Faithful Christian resolves; ‘Let me now never Defile my self with Sin, from which I have been Purified; Let me now always cleave to that God, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, unto whom I have been Dedicated; Let me now carry on the Wars of the Lord, under the Banners, to which I have been Listed.’ Having been Sitting at the Table of the Lord, the Faithful Christian resolves, ‘I am now under an Oath to observe the Law of my Lord Jesus Christ: I have taken the Sacrament upon it, that the Commandment of my Lord Jesus Christ shall always give Awe and Law unto me: I have Sworn the Death of my Sin, that my Soul may Live, O my Soul, How canst thou do so great a Wickedness, as to Sin against God?’
Moreover; A Faithful Christian, is a Christian careful to make a due Improvement of the Talents, which the Lord Jesus Christ has committed unto him.
[Page 7]A Faithful Servant is one who sticks to the Business which his Master has given him to do: Even such is the Faithful Christian: And the Lord Jesus Christ, is He, of whom the Faithful Christian says, He is my MASTER; To Him I still remember my self accountable. There is no Christian, but what is be trusted with Talents, by and for the Lord. Our OPPORTUNITIES to Render, or Procure, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS unto our Lord JESUS CHRIST; These are our TALENTS. A Faithful Christian, is very Sollicitous, that he may know and use his precious Opportunities, and that the Lord may have Service from him in them all. Hence, of him that made a Good use of his Talents, we read, Matth. 25.21. He is a faithful Servant. The Soul of a Faithful Christian is mightily concerned upon it. He often thinks; ‘What Good may I do? What are my Capacities to do Good! How shall I do the Good whereof God hath made be capable? Which way shall I be Serviceable?’ Do but Inform him, how he may be Serviceable, you need say no more: He will thank you for the Information: He will thankfully & chearfully set himself to do all the Good that ever he can.
It follows; A Faithful Christian, is a Christian that Labours to acquit himself well in the several Relations, wherein the Lord Jesus Christ has placed him. The Place wherein God sets a man, is greatly to be considered, by one that would be found A Faithful Man. Are we in Publick Relations? We read of a Preacher; Jer. 23.28. Let him speak my word Faithfully. We read of a Ruler; Neh. 7.2. He was a Faithful Man, and feared God above many. Are [Page 8] we in Private Relations? We read of Children; Tit. 1.6. They must be Faithful Children. We read of Servants; Tit. 2.10. They must shew all Good Faithfulness. Accordingly; A Faithful Christian, however he may stand Related, he considers with himself, What may my Lord Jesus Christ Expect of me in this Relation? And he endeavours to conform himself unto the Expectations of the Lord.
Finally; A Faithful Christian, is a Christian that will own the Truths, and Wayes, and Cause of the Lord Jesus Christ, whatever may be the Trouble or Hazard of doing so. What is a Faithful Christian, but a Faithful Witness for the Lord Jesus Christ? The Truths of the Lord Jesus Christ; a Faithful Christian will never Deny any of them. The Wayes of the Lord Jesus Christ; a Faithful Christian will never Desert any of them. Our Lord Jesus Christ has a Church and People in the World; a Faithful Christian will stick to that People, and never betray them, never forsake them. Whatever Interest of the Lord Jesus Christ calls for the Testimony of a Christian, a Faithful Christian will openly, zealously, courageously appear, to bear his Testimony. We read, Hos. 11.12. Judah was Faithful with the Saints. What is the meaning of that? There were Faithful Ministers of God, who could not conform to the Superstitions Established by Jeroboam. These, with other Saints of their Conscientious Principle, were kindly entertained by Judah: Judah stood by those Non-conformists of Israel. This was to be Faithful with the Saints.
Thus are we to be Faithful. But, How Long must we be so?
[Page 9]Secondly. A Faithful Christian must maintain his Faithfulness as long as he Lives: He must never suffer his Faithfulness to fail.
Faithfulness unto Death, implyes, That we must be Faithful unto the Lord Jesus Christ, until the very End of our Lives. As the Faithful man said, Psal. 119.112. I have inclined my heart, to perform thy Statutes always, even unto the End; Thus, We must be Faithful unto the Lord, and the Statutes of the Lord, Always, even unto the End. A Christian is the perpetual Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ; He has his Ear bored for Him: He must be Faithful unto his Lord, until he Dies. It was proposed; Psal. 146.2. While I Live will I praise the Lord; I will sing praises unto my God while I have any Being. Even so; While we Live, we must be Faithful unto the Lord, & Serve Him Faithfully while we have any Being. How Resolute was he? Job 27.3, 4. All the while my Breath is in me, & the Spirit of God is in my Nostrils; my Lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my Tongue utter Deceit. Thus, While our Breath is in us, & the Spirit which God gives us is in our Nostrils, there must be with us, nothing but Faithfulness; we must never deal Deceitfully with the Lord. Our Song must be that; We will Serve our Lord in Holiness and Righteousness and Faithfulness before Him, all the Days of our Life. I do not know, but that the famous Polycarp, [the Angel of the Church in Smyrna,] might have in his mind, this very word, Be thou Faithful unto Death, when he so answered those that press'd him to Renounce Jesus Christ: I have Served my JESUS, till I am now Fourscore & six years old; & [Page 10] I have always found Him a good Master; I will not now Renounce him: He shall be my Master as long as I Live!
Yea; Faithfulness unto Death, implies, That we must be Faithful unto our Lord Jesus Christ, although it be with the very Loss of our Lives. Our Faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ, may cost us very dear: It may cost us all the comforts of our Lives; It may cost us our very Lives. But we must venture the loss of all; and lose our very Lives rather than lose our Faithfulness. Thus those Faithful ones; Rev. 12.11. They loved not their Lives unto the Death; They were willing to part with their Lives, before the Term to which they might have lived by the course of Nature. The Work we have to do for our Lord Jesus Christ, must be Dearer to us, than our very Lives. If our Lord Jesus Christ call us to part with our very Lives upon His Account we must be Ready to do it. As that Faithful man Expressed himself; Act. 20.24. I count not my Life dear unto my self, so that I may finish my course with Joy: Thus we should say; ‘I shall not count my Life dear unto my self, if I may but Faithfully Discharge and Finish the Work, whereto my Lord Jesus Christ has called me.’ Death it self, in all the Terrors of it, must never Terrify us, from our Faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ. The Faithful said of old; Psal. 44.18, 19. Our Heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way; Tho' thou hast sore broken us in the place of Dragons, and covered us with the shadow of Death. So should we be able to say; ‘Tho' all the Dragons in the Valley of the shadow of Death, may seek to Sting [Page 11] me to Death, yet I will never Decline taking any Step that my Lord Jesus Christ shall call me to.’
Now this Faithfulness, and Constancy unto Death, tis Demanded by our Lord Jesus Christ. It is Demanded, That we be stedfast and Immoveable, alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord. It is Demanded, That by patient continuance in well-doing, we seek for Eternal Life. Chrysostom observes on Luk. 22.28. The Lord Promises the Kingdom, not unto those that Followed Him only, but unto those that Continued with Him. The Demand is infinitely Reasonable. Our Lord JESUS CHRIST was Faithful unto Death in His Appearing for us; And shall not we be Faithful unto Death in our Adhering to Him? Ibi tu, Christiane, fige Cursus tui profectusque metam, ubi Christus posuit Suam, as one of the Ancients well Expressed it. Our Lord gave not over, till He was the Finisher of our Faith; our Faithfulness to Him, it must not be Finished, until we come, as He did, unto the Grave, Obedient unto Death. A man may Do much and Bear much for the Lord Jesus Christ; But if he be not Faithful unto Death, it is all thrown away: Gal. 3.4. So many Things in Vain! It is a Rule in the Civil Law; Factum non dicitur, quod non perseverat; That is not Done, which does not Hold▪ God will not accept a Maimed Sacrifice: a Curtail'd Sacrifice. A Faithfulness which is not unto Death, is a Maimed Sacrifice. The Race is Run to no purpose, if it be not Run to the very Goal. Our Goal is our Death. Indeed, it can be no Real Faithfulness, that is not a Lasting Faithfulness. A Fainting Piety is but a Feigned Piety. The Heathen could say, He never was a [Page 12] True Friend, that ever ceases to be a Friend. He never was a Faithful Friend unto the Lord Jesus Christ, who is not a Constant Friend; Who does not Love Him at all Times, unto the End of Time, and beyond all Time.
And now, if we are thus Faithful unto the Lord Jesus Christ, what will be the consequence? Verily, There will be a Recompence. And it is no Fault in a Christian, to have Respect unto the Recompence. Let us now Enquire after it.
II. That which our Lord Jesus Christ has Reserv'd for us; Tis, A Crown of Life in the World to come.
Oh! the Blessedness of the Faithful Christian! He is Disgraced, Reproached, Vilified, for his Faithfulness: The Lord Jesus Christ has a Crown to bestow upon him. He Shortens, he Resigns his Life, to please the Lord Jesus Christ. Life, Life, shall be his Portion.
We will proceed, Step after Step, unto the Consolation.
First. The Faithful Christian shall at last be Delivered from all the Grievous and Heavy Things, which he may suffer for his Faithfulness. All our Sufferings in and for our Faithfulness. come under the Name of Death. The Faithful Christian shall be brought into a State, wherein he shall see no more Death. He shall Enter into Life; and that Life will be a State, wherein he shall see an End of all the Adversity which his Faithfulness was once Encumbred withal. We read, Rev. 21.4. God shall wipe away all Tears from their Eyes, & there shall be no more Death. We shall come into a State, wherein we shall meet with no Temptation to abate of our Faithfulness. There will be no Flesh crying unto us, Master, Spare thy self. There will be no Devil shooting at us his Fiery Darts to discourage us. There will be no Messenger of Satan to buffet us. As we read, Psal. 31.20, 21 Thou shalt hide them from the Pride of man; from the strife of [Page 13] Tongues; Blessed be the Lord, for He hath shewed me His marvellous Kindness in a strong City. — The Lord preserveth the Faithful. Hold out, O Faithful Christian; Thou wilt shortly be in that Strong City of God, where thy Faithfulness will meet with nothing to Damp it, either from any Lust within, or from any Strife without. Yet a little while, and thou shalt see an End of all that was uneasy to thee: Faithful Servant, Thou shalt Enter into a Joy that shall never have an End!
Secondly. The Faithful Christian shall find his Faithfulness lead him unto a Blessedness, which is called Life; which will be an Excellent, yea, an Eternal Life. Tis most certain, That our Faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ will End in Endless Blessedness. Wherein will consist that Blessedness? In the Old Testament, we have it after that manner Expressed: Psal. 17.15. I shall behold thy Face in Righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with thy likeness. In the New Testament, we have it Expressed after that manner; 1 Joh. 3.2. We know, that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. That incomparable, that incomprehensible Blessedness, which is intended for the Faithful Christian, will be in the Vision of God, and of Jesus Christ; and in the Image of that Glorious Lord imparted unto him; and in a most intimate Communion with the glorious Lord; and in unutterable Satisfactions produced by the Spirit of Glory for ever possessing of him. This Blessedness is called, LIFE; and in that Name very precious things are intimated. A Faithful man may have his Death hastened by his Faithfulness. No; His Life is not lost. Non homo moritur, sed peccatum hominis: There Dies nothing of him, except that which is his very Death. His Faithfulness only brings him to a Blessedness, which is the Truest Life. The Separate Soul of a Faithful man puts on the Garments of Light; and flies away to a Paradise, and there waits in Rest and Peace, and Hope for the Resurrection of the Dead. [Rev. 14.13.] There shall at length arrive, [But, Oh Lord, How Long!] a Resurrection [Page 14] of the Dead; The Faithful man shall then receive his Body again. His Body shall be an Incorruptible, Agile, Splendid Mansion for him. He shall in that Body, live as a Citizen of the Heavenly City, till the very Heavens be no more. When a Faithful man Dies, tis to Live better than he did before. The Blessedness will be Life; Because it will be Desireable. It was said, What man is he, who desireth Life? Indeed, what man is he, who desireth it not? There are few things, but what we part withal, to prolong our Life. Men are naturally and generally loth to Dy. Nature is never willing to Dy. The cry is, Life is Good! The Blessedness intended for us, may well be Styled Life: Because indeed it is, [the Jews do well apply the Text unto this:] Psal. 63.3. Better than Life. And the Blessedness will be Life; Because it will be Durable. T'will Endure; T'will be Everlasting. A Living Thing may Dy; But Life never can Dy. We shall see Life, and never see any thing but Life. Our Blessedness will be Life; Because it will be, 1 Pet. 5.10. An Eternal Glory.
Thirdly. The Faithful Christian shall after all his Faithfulness, be Rewarded and Advanced, even as with the Crown of an Illustrious Conqueror. The Reward of the Faithful Christian will be, A CROWN: 2 Tim. 4.8. A Crown of Righteousness. It is to tell us, That a very high Advancement shall be the Reward of the Faithful Christian. There is no higher Advancement propounded among the Ambitious Children of men, than that of coming to a Crown. The Faithful Christian may meet with much Reproach, and much Contempt in the World. If any man will be Faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ, and His Churches, that man shall hear the Defaming of many. They that are Grievous Revolters from the Lord Jesus Christ, will walk with Slanders against the Faithful Champions of the Lord. As it was complained; When I wept and chastened my Soul with Fasting, that was to my Reproach. Even so, If the Faithful Servants of God are after the most Holy manner, only Praying, and Fasting before the Lord, on the [Page 15] behalf of His Churches, Men that are full of Satan, will invent something of Reproach against them, it may be, on that very occasion. Be patient, O Faithful ones. God intends an inconceivable Advancement for you. You shall come to that Advancement; Rev. 5.10. To be Kings and Priests for God, and Reign, over the earth. Highly Advanced shall the Faithful be, when they shall Sit on Throne in the Heavenly places with the Lord Jesus Christ, and they shall have power given them over the Nations of the Earth, to Rule them. Highly Advanced shall they be, when they shall Shine as the Brightness of the firmament, and as the Stars, and be employ'd in Turning many to Righteousness. Highly Advanced shall they be, when they shall be companions of Angels, and be Raised out of the Dust, and be set with those Princes and Nobles; and they shall indeed be the Angels, the Rulers and the Teachers of the Saved Nations. Oh! How highly Advanced, when all their Faithful Endeavours and Atchievements, will be Proclaimed with Honour in the City of God. The Streets of that Great City, shall doubtless have the Instances of our Faithfulness published in them; and those things will be done to us, which must be done to the Men, whom the King of Heaven delights to Honour.
Why so! Because the Faithful Christian shall then be considered as a Conqueror. A Crown of old, was a prize after a Combate; the Reward of a Combate. We read, 1 Cor. 9.24, 25. of them who Run, and Strive; They do it to obtain a corruptible Crown, but we an Incorruptible. This, This will be one thing in the Reward of a Faithful Christian. When he comes to lay hold on Eternal Life, it shall be openly acknowledged: ‘This Man has got the Victory! Unto many a Combate was this Man called in his Time; He Combated with the Flesh, and the World, and the Devil; He Combated with unknown Vexations and Confusions: But he has been Victorious over all▪ O ye Saints, O ye Angels, Glorify, Glorify that Grace that made him so!’ The Faithful unto Death, are all of them, Overcomers. They meet with many things divert [Page 16] them, and debauch them, from the work whereto the Lord Jesus Christ has called them. They Overcome all obstructions; They Overcome the tempters, and hold fast their Integrity. This will be acknowledged with most glorious Praises, when the Crown of Life shall be put upon their Heads. We shall then be Crowned in our Triumphs among them that are, Conquerors and more than Conquerors, thro' him that has loved us. T'will not be with a Crown of Lawrel, or a Garland that will Fade and Dy. No; T'will be with a Crown of Life. Our Honour among the blessed Conquerors will be a living and a lasting Honour; It shall not be said of us, Being in honour they abide not. No; 1. Pet. 5.4. Ye shall receive a Crown of Glory, that fadeth not away. But from whom?
Lastly. The Crown of Life, which is to be the Reward of our Faithfulness, will be the Gift of our Lord JESUS CHRIST unto us.
Our Crown comes to us as a Gift. There is no Desert in our Faithfulness. We cannot by our Faithfulness ever Deserve a Crown. We never earn'd a Crumb and much less can we earn a Crown. After all our Faithfulness and our Fruitfulness, we must confess, Lord, we have been unprofitable Servants. We read, Rom. 8.18. I reckon, that the Sufferings of this present time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be Revealed. And upon a due Reckoning we shall find, that there is no proportion between our Faithfulness, under all our Sufferings in this present time, and the Glory in the Crown of Life that shall be conferred. Tho' Death be the Wages of our Sinfulness; Yet Eternal Life is not the Wages of our Faithfulnss: No; Tis the Gift of God. One of the Best men that ever New-England saw; [Our famous Hooker] Lying on his Death-Bed, unto one that said unto him, Sir, You are going to Receive the Reward of all your Faithful Services, made this fit Reply, Brother, I am going to Receive Mercy! 'Tis Mercy that gives the Crown unto the Faithful; The Crown of Justice is a Crown of Mercy too.
[Page 17]Well; But this Gift comes from our Lord JESUS CHRIST. Indeed, no Person in the Godhead is excluded from the Glory, of giving us our Crown of Glory. If every good Gift come from God; surely, this Gift, the Crown of Life, must come from Him. Yet our Lord JESUS CHRIST is very particularly concerned, in giving the Crown unto the Faithful Christian. 'Tis the Prince of Life, who gives the Crown of Life. 'Tis He that says, Rev. 3.21. To him that overcometh, I will grant to sit with me in my Throne.
Our Lord JESUS CHRIST hath by His Death purchased for us the Crown of Life. Tis a Crown of a vast value. All the Crowns of all the Monarchs under Heaven, are but vile Caps & Rags, when compared with the Crown of Life. But our Lord JESUS CHRIST has paid a Price for the Crown; Yea, tho' it be worth more than Heaven and Earth, we may say, that our Lord Jesus Christ has paid for the Crown, as much as 'tis worth. His own precious Blood, is what He has paid for it. He bore a Cross, that we might have a Crown; He wore a Crown of Thorns, that we might wear a Crown of Life.
And our Lord JESUS CHRIST, as Mediator, has all Dominion in His Hands. He is the Disposer of the Crown. The Crown of Life is at His Dispose. He may cause whom He please, to Inherit the Throne of Glory. Our Lord JESUS CHRIST, has all power in Heaven and Earth given unto Him, & so this Power of giving the Crown of Life; and bringing to Heaven those that follow Him, God has given Him power over all Flesh, [Page 18] that He should give Eternal Life, where He shall please to give it.
Christians, We must all cast all our Crowns at the Feet of our Lord JESUS CHRIST. It is HE that sets our Crowns on our Heads. If we have the Crown of Life, it is from Him. And so, if we are Crowned with Health, or with Wealth, or with Wit, or with any Grandeur, or with any Vertue; Thine, O Lord, is the Glory, and all comes of Thee!
Let us now make our Inferences.
APPLICATION.
I. Are Faithful Ones predestinated unto a Crown of Life? Then we owe a Good Esteem unto Faithful Ones. Whenever we see any person Faithful unto the Lord Jesus Christ, we may say with our selves; That Person is an Heir of a Crown! The Lord Jesus Christ will one day bestow a Crown of Life upon that Person. To load such a Person with Injuries must needs be displeasing to the Lord, whose he is, and whom he Serves with Faithfulness. All that Love the Lord Jesus Christ, ought also to Love them that Serve Him Faithfully. Those persons whom the Lord Jesus Christ will Crown, certainly we ought also to Love. Our Lord Jesus Christ says, Psal. 101.6. Mine Eyes shall be on the Faithful of the Land. The people of the Lord Jesus Christ should say so too. And when they that are Faithful unto Death, are by Death taken away from the Land, it becomes us to look after them with mournful and weeping [Page 19] Eyes; as we do this Day after our WIGGLESWORTH: it becomes us to Lament after them, and say; The Faithful, The Faithful; the Chariots of our Land, and the Horsemen thereof!
II. Shall they that are Faithful to Death, receive a Crown of Life? Then the Faithful have no cause to be afraid of Death. An Eminent person Condemned to Dy, began his Letter to his Friend upon it so; Condemnatus sum ad vitam; A Sentence of Life is pass'd upon me! A Martyr coming to the Stake, there kneeled down, and cry'd out, Welcome, Everlasting Life! Oh! Let us Learn, to Welcome Death, when Gods Time for our Death arrives, under that Notion; An Inlet into Everlasting Life. A Faithful man could say, Phil. 1.21. To me, to Dy is Gain. What? Loath to Gain! Will you be afraid of Receiving a Crown of Life? Tis not a Grave, but a Crown, that is before you. The Grave whereof you have such an Horror, will be but, Sepultura Laborum, vitiorum, et Lacrymarum; the Grave of your Pains, your Sins, your Tears. To Bury these, 'tis to Live; 'tis Life in the sweetest Relish of it. Faithful Christian; Thou hast mastered every thing else. It remains now, that thy Aversion to Death, be likewise mastered. Oh! be not uneasy at the Approach of Death. As the Faithful man said, 2 Tim. 4.7, 8. I have kept the Faith; Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness. Thus, when they feel Death approaching, with what an Extasy of Gladness may the Faithful think; ‘I have according to my poor measure Faithfully Served [Page 20] my Lord JESUS CHRIST. Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee, with some Sincerity and Fidelity. And now, I am going into that World, where my Lord JESUS CHRIST, will give me to see, that I have no cause to Repent of Adhering to Him.’ O Ye Chosen, and Called and Faithful; You have no way, to come at your Crown, but by Death. So the Last Words of our WIGGLESWORTH were; We must Dy, we must Dy, that we may Enter into Rest.
III. 'Tis plain, We shall be no Losers by our Faithfulness to our Lord JESUS CHRIST. Let us then make it the great Prayer and Care of our Lives, That we may he Faithful unto Death. We read, Prov. 28.20. A Faithful man shall abound with Blessings. In the Abundance of Blessings, that will Reward us, can we not see, Abundance of Motives, to be very Faithful! Surely, In a Crown of Everlasting Life, there is an Abundance of Blessings. Dreadful, Dreadful must be the Death, of them that are not Faithful to the Interests of the Lord Jesus Christ. If a Crown of Life shall be given unto the Faithful, What shall be given unto thee, or what shall be done unto thee, O Soul that art False unto the Lord? What? but a Death inflicted by the Sharp Arrows of the Almighty; a Damnation worse than Lying amidst Coals of Juniper? Not a Crown of Life, but Chains of Everlasting Darkness! Terrible, very Terrible, will be the punishment of Deserters. How Terribly it Thunders! Heb. 1O.38. If any man draw back, my Soul [Page 21] shall have no pleasure in him. No pleasure! The meaning is, That the Soul of the Lord will be infinitely Displeased at him. The Crown of the Faithful, will be Life; The Doom of the Fearful, will be in the Lake of the Wrath of God. Oh! Be Fearful of incurring such a Doom!
It was bowayled; Psal. 12.1. The Faithful fail from among the Children of men! Let it be desired by us; Lord, Let not me fail of being found among thy Faithful Children. Wherefore; Be Prayerful, O Christian, That thou mayst be Faithful. We read, 1 Cor. 7.25. Of, One that has obtained mercy of the Lord, to be Faithful. Tis a Mercy, to be asked of the Lord!
And then; To Supplication joyn Meditation.
Often think; What are the Priviledges, What the Capacities, wherewith my Lord JESUS CHRIST has Entrusted me! We read, 1 Cor. 4.2. It is required in Stewards, that a man be found Faithful. Remember we, that we are bur Stewards of all that we have; And then be full of anxious Thoughts, How to acquit our selves with Faithfulness in our Stewardship.
Again; Often think; What special Interest of my Lord JESUS CHRIST now calls for a special Witness from me. We read, Prov. 14.5. about, A Faithful Witness. The Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, sometimes is most opposed in one Article, sometimes in another. Our Faithfulness must be manifest, in our bearing Witness to the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ in that Article, where unadvised men are most busy at undermining it. There, There, Let us fall in, tho' we may never so much Expose our selves by doing so.
[Page 22]The Crown of Life, will make amends for all.
Finally. Let us Tread in the Steps of them that have been Faithful.
It was of old said; Prov. 20.6. A Faithful man who can find? Some Faithful Men have been found. We have Lately Lost such an One; Such an One was our WIGGLESWORTH, Who hath an good Report of all men. One who so Faithfully demeaned himself, that (as Jerom directed of old,) De illo male Loqui nemo Potuit Sine mendacio. Because, it may contribute unto the finding of more Such, I shall give you some short Account of his Faithfulness; & Proclaim his Goodness: but, as tis most Reasonable, my Account shall be given with the most accurate and unspotted Faithfulness.
I may truly affirm concerning him, That Faithfulness, Faithfulness, was the very thing that remarkably Characterized him, Distinguished him.
He was descended of Eminently Religious Parents, who were great Sufferers for that which was then, The Cause of God, and of New-England. While he was yet a Youth, he was marvellously concerned, That he might have an Heart filled with the Spirit of God. This concernment upon his mind appeared especially in his Watchful Endeavours to have Spiritual Sins, chased out of his cleansed Heart. PRIDE, the Sin of Young men, yea, of all men; PRIDE, the Sin which few men Try or Trouble themselves about; this Devout Youth, was full of Holy and Watchful Trouble about it: And he then wrote a very Savoury Discourse, Entituled, Considerations against Pride. And another [Page 23] Entituled, Considerations against Delighting more in the Creature than in God. This was to mortify in himself the Sins rarely minded by the most of men.
Having had a Pious and a Learned Education, the first Publick Station wherein I find him, was that of a Fellow, and a Tutor, in Harvard-Colledge. With a rare Faithfulness did he adorn the Station! He used all the means imaginable, to make his Pupils not only good Scholars, but also good Christians; and instil into them those things, which might render them rich Blessings unto the Churches of God. Unto his Watchful and Painful Essayes, to keep them close unto their Academical Exercises, he added, Serious Admonitions unto them about their Interiour State, and (as I find in his Reserved Papers) he Employ'd his Prayers and Tears to God for them, & had such a flaming zeal, to make them worthy men, that, upon Reflection, he was afraid, Lest his cares for their Good, and his affection to them, should so drink up his very Spirit, as to steal away his Heart from God.
From Cambridge, the Star made his Remove, till he comes to dispense his Sweet Influences, upon thee, O Maldon: And he was thy Faithful One, for about a Jubilee of years together.
It was not long after his coming to Maldon, that a Sickly Constitution so prevailed upon him as to confine him, from his Publick Work, for some whole Sevens of years. His Faithfulness continued, when his Ministry was thus interrupted. The Kindness of his Tender Flock unto him, was answered in his Kind concern to have them Served by other Hands. He took a Short Voyage unto [Page 24] another Country, for the Recovery of his Health; which tho' he Recovered not, yet at his Return, I find him comforting himself, with inserting of this Passage, in his Reserved Papers.
Peradventure the Lord removed me for a Season, that He might set a better Watchman over this His Flock, and a more Painful Labourer in His Vineyard. This was one thing that I aimed at in Removing (to help the Peoples Modesty in the Case,) and I believe the Lord aimed at it, in removing me for a Season.
His Faithfulness now appeared, in his Edifying Discourses, to those that came anear him; A Thing wherein he was very Careful and Fruitful; much bewayling the want of a Profitable and Religious Conversation, in so many that Profess Religion. And that he might yet more Faithfully set himself to Do Good, when he could not Preach, he Wrote several Composures, wherein he proposed the Edification of such Readers, as are for Truth's dressed up in a Plain Meeter. These Composures have had their Acceptance and Advantage among that sort of Readers; & one of them, The Day of Doom, which has been often Reprinted in both Englands, may perhaps find our Children, till the Day it self arrive.
It pleased God, when the Distresses of the Church in Maldon, did extremely call for it, wondrously to Restore His Faithful Servant. He that had been for near Twenty years almost Buried Alive, comes abroad again; and for as many years more, must in a Publick Usefulness, receive the Answer and Harvest of the Thousands of Supplications, with which the God of his Health, had been addressed by him & for him.
[Page 25]How Faithfully did he now, Deliver the whole Counsel of God!
How Faithfully did he Rebuke Sin, both in his Ministry and in his Discipline!
How Faithful was he to the Work of God in the Churches of New-England, and Grieved at every thing that he thought had any Tendency to incommode that glorious Work?
But how Patient, how Living, how Charitable, to such as in Lesser matters differed from him! Of this Faithfulness, you are all of you Witnesses!
How Faithful was he in the Education of his Family! A very Abraham, for his Commands unto his Family, to Keep the Way of the Lord; A very David, for his Charges unto them, to Know the God of their Father, and Serve Him!
His long Weakness, and Illness, made him an Able Physician. He Studied Physick; and was a Faithful Physician for the Body as well as the Soul. God made him a Successful Physician, & a Beloved one.
For such things, his Flock Loved him. Your Love, show'd it self, when a Dangerous Fit of Sickness was upon him, above Seven years ago. You came together with Agony; you Prayed, and Fasted and Wept before the Lord, with Publick Supplications for his Life. God heard you; God Loves to hear such Prayers. God Spared him yet unto you, Another Life. For Seven years more, you had him among you.
As he was Faithful to the Death, so he was Lively to the Death. He earnestly Desired, That he might hold out, Useful unto the Last. God granted him his Desire; A Desire seldom denied unto them [Page 26] that are so Importunate in it. It was a surprize unto us, to see a Little Feeble Shadow of a Man, beyond Seventy, Preaching usually Twice or Thrice in a Week; Visiting and Comforting the Afflicted; Encouraging the Private Meetings; Catechising the Children of the Flock; and managing the Government of the Church: and attending the Sick, not only as a Pastor, but as a Physician too; and this not only in his own Town, but also in all those of the Vicinity. Thus he did, unto the last; and he was but one Lords-Day taken off, before his Last.
But in the Last Week of his Life, how full of Resignation! how full of Satisfaction;
Sirs, His Instruction must Live with you, tho' he be Dead. Yea, and his Example too; his Holy Example; the Example of his Holiness & his Faithfulness.
From his Exemplary Life, I will single out one thing, to be peculiarly inculcated. That one thing is, His Early Religion. Oh! That the Young Ones of the Flock, would but follow their Aged Pastor, in this amiable and admirable Excellency! His Early Religion. I have known it a Temptation, buzz'd by Satan into the minds of Children; That if they feared God, and sought Christ, & zealously made sure of Heaven betimes, they should not Live Long upon Earth. If it were so! —Certainly, Heaven is better than Earth. But it is a Foolish Temptation. Our Wigglesworth was a Godly Child; and he held on Living to God & Christ, until the Seventy Fourth Year of his Age. When [Page 27] he then lay a Dying, Some spoke to him, about his having Secured, his Interest in the Favour of Heaven, and his Assurance of that Interest. He replyed, [methoughts, like my Polycarp:] I bless God, I began that work betimes; And e're I was Twenty years old, I had made thorough work of it. Ever since then, I have been pressing after the Power of Godliness, the Power of Godliness! For more than Fifty, years together, I have been Labouring to uphold a Life of Communion with God; and I thank the Lord, I now find the Comfort of it! Words, that contain in them, An History of a Life, more valuable than I have seen a Volumn in Folio.
Follow your Pastor, as he followed our Saviour. Then, all you that have been brought nearer to God, by his Faithful Ministry, will one Day meet him in the City of God. Oh! Joyful Meeting! When he shall say, Blessed be God, That ever I spoke to those Persons! And you shall say, Blessed be God, that ever I heard the Voice of that Man! —
All that I will add, is this; May our Ascended and Glorious Lord bestow such another Gift, upon His dear People here!
Mors, Separavit a Nobis, Dulcem Amicum, Prudentem Consiliarium, Fotem Auxiliarium.
An Appendix. Containing a few MEMORIALS of PIETY; Faithfully Extracted from the Reserved Papers of Mr. Michael Wigglesworth.
THE Survivers have often received incomparable Benefits, from the Reserved Papers of Good Men; which they have Written only for the Help of their own Memories and Affections, & without the least Imagination, that they would ever get from under that Character of Reserved Papers.
Tis now found, that such had our Wigglesworth. Indeed they generally contain his humble, but severe, Animadversions upon himself, and such as argue a great Flight of Holiness in him from his Youth; and they contain many other Personal Matters, in which the Publick is no way concerned. Nevertheless, in perusing such of them, as fell into my Hands, I thought I should Hide a Talent, if I did not Extract from thence, a few Passages, which may have a Special Tendency to serve the Designs of Piety abroad in the World. They are such as these.
¶ 1. [While he was a Tutor at the Colledge.]
I. I find my Heart prone, to take Secret Pleasure, in thinking, How much I do for the Good [Page 29] of others? But, Lord, How Little of it is done for Thee? I fear, there is much of Doting upon the Creature, in my pursuit of the Good of others. I cannot Seek the Glory of God therein, but am carried most with Pitty to Man; Else the Lord would hardly cross me in my Endeavours.
II. Oh! Let me not unthankfully, and wickedly make the Gifts of God, Subservient unto my Vain Glory!
III. It is very hard for me, to set my Heart upon God Himself, and not rest in the Creature; (or else to be restless and disconsolate:) altho' I see, God is willing to have me come into His presence, and to satisfy my Soul in sweet Communion with Himself; and infinitely mere willing, than I am, that any of those I Love most, should be near me, and that I could be communicating the greatest Good unto them; which certainly is one of the main things I desire upon Earth.
IV. Some comfort God gave me in Himself; finding my Love to Man, not Rewarded with like Love again. He helped me to Rejoyce in the Testimony of a Good Conscience, and Looking unto Him, not unto Man, for the Reward of my Labours.
V. I thought, if God would not Save me at Last, yet there was something that pleased me in this; That my Lord should still have Glory. Hereupon I Reflected, Saying, ‘And whence hast thou any such Endearedness of Affection to the Glory of Christ? Canst thou Desire His Glory, without some Love to Him? Canst thou Love Him, Except He Loved thee first? Then has God indeed [Page 30] Loved thee with an Everlasting Love.’ This some what Revived me.
VI. It pleased God in some measure to scatter my Doubts, when I considered; How clearly did God once and again draw me to His Son, for all Good, when I could find none in my self? Then making with me a Covenant, Ordered in all things & sure. This remains, tho' I can't find such sensible Qualifications in my self; which I desire, bitterly to bewail it before God that I can't. Yet, whilst I Live, I will not Let Him Go. Moreover, I appeal to God Himself, the Searcher of Hearts, to see whether there be, or have been, no prizing of God above other things. What else means, my Restlessness after Sin committed, until I have made my Peace with God? Or, if that be from Fear of Punishment, rather than Love, to thy self, Lord, yet what means that Substantial Soul-Contentment I have found in thy self, when Creatures have failed; and which I never found any where but in thy self ? What is it but that gives me Support, when Creatures frown? When I cannot Receive what I desire from thee? Is it not, that I have all in thee? and that thou art mine, who art better than all? Away, Thou Unbelief! Away, ye Soul-sinking Discouragements!
VII. I see a Need of a whole CHRIST; and I Desire Him. Oh, Help my want of Desire. I Need Him, and therefore, Lord, according to thy Free and Gracious Offer and Command, I Desire to Take Him; As a Prophet, to Reveal His Fathers Glory to me; that God may be most Glorious in my Eyes; I can see no Glory in thee, Lord, Except [Page 31] thy only-begotton Son Reveal thee. I desire Him, as my only Priest, & Propitiation. I have Daily Sins, and therefore, I want Him for my Daily Atonement; that my Sins may not Separate between me and my God, and Provoke Him, and His Spirit, whose Visitations preserve my Spirit, to Depart from me; That's my Death which I am afraid of! And that I may be accepted for His Sake, who in and of my self, deserve only Condemnation. I desire Him, to be my King; that He may subdue all the Enmity of my Heart against Him; that I may no longer loath Him without a cause; nor Love other things above Him; that He may subdue my unconquerable Corruptions, which I despair in & of my self to subdue; & which Eat out actual Love to God, & the Relish of His Ways.
Lord, Let it be to thy poor Creature, according to thy Word. Let Christ be mine; Let me be His alone. I come to thee, to make me every day more willing that it should be so.
VIII. I cannot see my Studies & Pains, performed for God, and Accepted by God, because I have so much Love to my Studies, and so Little to God Himself. Yet, Blessed be His Name, that lets me not be at Rest, in the Bosome of the Creature, but Exercises me with often Fears of Losing Himself. When God Hides His Face, I am Troubled, however other things fare. Father, Deliver me from that Evil man, My Self!
IX. I cannot prevail against that Cursed Frame; To think the Time long that I spend in Reading the Word of God. Outgoings of Heart after my Studies again get head. My Heart even blesses [Page 32] God, when He lets me meet with Crosses in Creatures; For then is the Creator most Sweet & Desireable. My Spirit within me Desires Him, & is afraid of Losing Him, by Losing my Desires to Him.
X. Oh! Kindle in me a glorious Esteem of the glorious Saviour. When I hear, the Father gives a Welcome Entertainment unto Him in Heaven, Let not me slight Him upon Earth.
XI. Lord, Art not thou as ready to give me of thy Spirit, as I am, to give, if I could, my Spirit unto all my Pupils? Lord, Save me; Thou art my Tutor, and my Father!
I desire to aggravate my Sin, and fly only to the Blood of Jesus. The more dead-hearted I am, the more Rich is that Grace of thine, Father, which will notwithstanding Accept me in thy Son.
XII. I hope, the Lord hath in some measure answered my long Desires, in granting me at length, a Spirit of Fear lest I should, lose Christ, and care that I might have daily communion with Him, and rest my Soul in his Bosome, and and make Him my Life.
XIII. Outward wants, at least the Fears of them, Disquiet me, or would do so. But I dare not let them make Impression, nor be Earnest with God for the supply of them, lest my Desires thereof should exceed my Desires of Sanctifying Grace.
XIV. I am unworthy to lift up mine Eyes unto Heaven, because proud, and vain, and forgetful of God. Yet, verily, thou art my Father. Thou givest me ground of Encouragement, because I find a daily Restlessness under Sin committed, without Renewed Repentance; my Soul is Breathing [Page 33] after God: Emptiness on all things else; God cleareth up to me His calling of me; and causeth me to come to His Son, and close with Him on Gospel-Terms.
XV. It is a Death, to think of being left by Gods Spirit in His Ordinances, and left to set light by them.
XVI. Yesterday, I was in a Doubt, Whether I should go to Watertown-Lecture, or not; because of multiplicity of Business. I went nevertheless. And this Day, thro' Gods Assistance I have done as much as I used to do in two Dayes.
XVII. The Lord lets in some comfort into me, in that, tho' I be sinful and impotent unto any thing that is Good, yet He hath made Christ Righteousness and Strength, to me, and Accepts me thro' Him. Which was evidenced to me, by my longings and reachings of Heart after the Lord, not finding Satisfaction any where else. And in my desiring and promoting the Glory of God, that He may be advanced by my self and many others. How can I Love the Lord, or His Glory, except He have Loved me? And if He have so done, He will ever do the same.
XVIII. Gods Visiting Hand has now pluck't away from us, Four Brethren of our Church in a few Dayes. The Lord was pleased to set in, and break my Heart, and shew me, that I am the man, who Sin unto Death the precious Servants of God, and drive God from the place and society where I Live, and I pull down Wrath. Yea, I have sinned unto Death, the Lord JESUS! This most affected me, That I have Crucified the Lord [Page 34] of Glory! And as if that had not been enough, I am daily grieving & wounding of Him afresh.
XIX. I was afraid, lest my Soul never rested in Christ, and found satisfaction in Christ alone. The Lord helped me over these Fears; In that, I daily war and wrestle against an Heart that is Resting any where but in Christ. And my wandrings make for my further Establishment, and closer cleaving to Christ: God sends vexation in the Creature, and makes me seek and find more abundant sweetness in Him. So I concluded, Christ was mine; & all Spiritual Blessings in Him.
XX. The Lord affects my Heart with some shame, that I should so Dishonour my Fathers House, as to feed upon Husks, when He has Bread Enough for me: That I should promise my self any Paradise under the Sun, when as I have experimentally found all to be vanity and vexation of Spirit; That I should mind or desire the love of the Creature, more than take contentment in the love of Christ, who loveth me better than any Creature can do, and who is more able to do for me, what I stand in need of, than any, yea, than all besides.
XXI. My God, and His Service, is all that I have to Delight my self in, in this World.
XXII. God sends me in some support. For, First; I have desired and delighted in (not Heaven, or any Created Excellencies, but) God Himself, who is my Hearts contentment. Secondly. I do not desire Holiness for Heaven, but for the Love I bear to God and Christ, and out of my Desire to please Him. And I should desire it, if [Page 35] there were neither Hell nor Heaven, and I desire universal Holiness. And it is my very Happiness to do God some Service before I dy. That's all I have to comfort me against my Sorrows. And that is one end, why I desire communion with God; that I may be like Him. Such a Christ pleases me best, as will make me Holy.
XXIII. My Morning-Desires on the Sabbath were, That I might do nothing for my self, to set forth my self; but all for God; and that I might mind God, and not Man, in all the Duties thereof.
XXIV. Methinks, These Sabbaths are blessed Seasons, wherein poor wandring Harlots, may return to their Husband again. Oh! the boundless and inexhaustible Fountain of Mercy, that is with God and Christ, to Entertain again such as I am! Behold, I come unto thee; Thou art the Lord my God! Tho' vain Thoughts, and Pride, are rife and prevail in me, & what I would do, Lord, I cannot, yet I bless thee, that I have Time and Heart, to mourn for what I do amiss.
XXV. I find, that the clearest Arguments that can be, cannot perswade my Heart to believe the Being of a GOD, if God do not let the Beams of His Glory shine into it.
XXVI. I have sometimes thought, that in one Quarter of an Hours Sense of Gods Favour (tho' in a Weak measure,) I found more Joy and Inward Pleasure than Ever I found in my Twenty years course, by any Worldly Contentments.
[Page 36] XXVII. What if I have a False and Deceitful Heart; bent to Apostatize from God? Shall I therefore utterly turn away from Him? No. God forbid. I will seek unto Him, to give me Truth in my Inward Parts. I have an Heart over-powered with Sin. My Corruptions are too hard for me. And this is the Grief of my Heart, that I cannot be Sufficiently Humbled for them. This is my Burthen of Burthens. And, whither should I go, but unto Christ, to ease me? The Bruised Reed He will not break, and the Smoaking Flax He will not quench. He has bid me Hope in His Word, and Wait on Him. He has reached out His Hand to me, and by that Hand I will hold, and never let Him go, never give Him Rest until He make me see His Salvation. If I perish, Let me perish waiting on Him!
XXVIII. I have found such vile and blasphemous Injections of Satan into my mind, and such carnal Conceptions, and bodily Apprehensions of God, even in my Drawings near unto Him, and I had no power to Resist them, they were so sudden; that they did even make my Flesh to Tremble, and drive me almost to desperate Thoughts sometimes, that these could never be cured so long as Lived in this World, and made me fear lest I should Live long here, to be ever and anon Stared in [Page 37] the face, by such horrible abominations. I sought God earnestly for help against these; and found some help. Could I ask in Faith without Wavering, there is Redeeming Mercy with God, and He will Redeem such as hope in Him.
XXIX. It pleased God to draw near unto my Soul, when I saw the Administration of BAPTISM; bidding me look back to my Baptism, and see the Lord JESUS there setting His Seal upon me, and making a Covenant with me, to become Mine, if, when I came to years of Understanding, I would own His Covenant, and be willing to accept of that Grace which He had Seal'd unto me. My Soul answered, Lord! That Grace, and that Son of God, I desire to Embrace! Why, God is willing on His part, yea, stands with both His Arms open to Receive thee; This administred a great deal of comfort to my Heart, and Strengthening to my Feeble Faith.
XXX. The Life of Godliness, and Power thereof, is apt to be worn out of my Heart and Actions, and that suddenly. But in Repenting and Turning unto God, in seeing my own Vileness, and Fleeing to God for Help, there I find Support. And it is a sweet and blessed thing, to have the Bosom of a Reconciled God and Father in Christ Jesus, to repose my Soul [Page 38] in, after I have wearied my self with the pursuit of Vanity.
XXXI. One was speaking in Commendation, of seasonable Laughter & Merriment, as that which may be a means to Recreate ones tired Spirits, and prolong ones Life. But, alas, my Heart is so naught, that should I give it Liberty there, I have cause to fear, lest I should take pleasure, for it self, without Reference to Health, and so to the Glory of God, and then it would be Sin unto me. And let me rather Live a Melancholy Life all my days, than by Merriment run into a course of provoking my God.
XXXII. I could not go thro' my Study, with Delight & Comfort. God would here it may be show me, how far even my Studies fall short of giving my Heart true Content. And Oh! that this might make me prize the Lord more, in whom alone my Soul finds Support; in whom are all my Springs. Return, Return, Blessed Father, with the manifestations of thy self, and communications of thy Heavenly Grace to my Soul.
XXXIII. I Bless God, for giving me a Mouth, to speak any thing of Himself, to my Companion: Lord, make me to abound in Every Good Work! [After this.] A Friend came over to us: and we discoursed on this Question [Page 39] If Christ be mine, and all Fulness in Him, and God willing to give it, and I seek it, Why find I not Grace in my Need? It was answered. First; It is to make a man Examine, and be sure he has a Christ, and so a Right to it. Secondly. If he be sure, then to make him Live by Faith, and not Sense; to make him a poor Nothing. Thirdly, Tis to Exercise Patience and all Grace. Lastly. Tis to break his Will, and make him Meek.
XXXIV. I was full of fears and sad thoughts. But for my Re-encouragement, God Let in these Evidences. First. My Love to His People above others; among them, my greatest Love, to the most Godly. Secondly. My unfeigned Desires, and some small Endeavours also, to bring the Souls of others into Hatred of Sin, and into Love with God.
XXXV. This was the Stumbling-block I alwayes fell at, (while yet unregenerate;) the great thing, that barr'd me from coming to Christ, and closing with Him; the Ruin and undoing of my Soul: That I thought, I was not humbled enough, to Receive Christ. I durst not close with Him in a Promise, but still put from me, so great Salvation; hoping to get a greater measure of Humiliation; and so of Fitness for Him. So by the Strength [Page 40] of Sin in me, I was still brought back again, into full Slavery and Bondage. And what Impressions, Affections, Resolutions God wrought in me, this Sabbath-Day, all were Eaten our, and quite lost, in a manner before the next: So that I was as far off from Christ, and a broken Heart, at the years End, as at the Beginning.
June 20. 1652. [When he was about one or two and twenty years old, he entred this passage.]
‘In our Presidents Exposition, I found sweet Encouragement in regard of my Bodily Weakness; occasionally fetched from that: Isa. 40.30, 31. It may be thou art Sickly. Why, the Lord is thy Physician, who healeth thee. HE CAN MAKE THEE STRONG IN THY AGE, THO' THOU BE WEAKLY IN THY YOUTH.’
¶ 2. [After he was invited unto Maldon, and then was taken off by Long Sickness.]
I. I Have been musing upon this point, That GOD is. Besides what Arguments I read in others, these are presented unto me.
[Page 41]1. If there were No God, mens Hearts would not be so full of Enmity against God as they are.
2. Once I was Blind, but now I See; once Dead, but now Alive; once loving Sin, and hating Holiness. Who made this Change? Not, Self. For to me, Believing was impossible. Not Men. For why are not others Converted, that are less Hardened in Sin; or why was not I Converted sooner, while it was easier! Not, Satan. He is not such a Fool, to destroy his own Kingdom. Therefore, it was GOD. Therefore God is.
3. My Prayers have been answered from time to time. Therefore there is a GOD, who hath heard me. If there were no God, how should my Prayers have been heard? Whoever doubts of his Being, let me never doubt of it, who have Seen him, and Felt him; not only Heard of him.
II. These are the Principles, which the Lord has been teaching me by his Afflicting Dispensations this Winter.
1. To Rejoice in Acting according to the Rule, whatever the Event be, Good or Evil. Mind my Work, which is Duty; and let God alone with the Event, which is His Work.
2. Not to Rejoyce much in any Creature. Thou knowest not, whether it shall comfort thee, or Torment thee.
3. Not to be Troubled with Evil before it come. Sufficient is the Trouble of the Day, when it is come.
4. To be humbly Thankful for Life, & Health, and Liberty to Serve God heretofore; though I should Enjoy them no longer.
[Page 42]5. To Fight against Melancholy, and unbelieving Thoughts: Not by Debating with them, (for so they are too hard for me:) but by Sleighting them, and not Attending to them.
III. I am afraid, Lest I desire Health more than Holiness: (tho' I desire that also, that I might have Opportunity for further Exercise of Holiness:) But what Good will my Life or Health, do me, Good Lord, if I Live not to thy Praise & Honour?
V. Lords-Day. I have been almost discouraged, finding my Heart so carnal, and my Conversation so Fruitless, on the Week-days, when as my Soul hath been so Earnest with God, for more Grace, upon the Lords-Dayes. But God be thanked; I have obtained a Little Strength this Last Week, to honour God with my Lips, and Speak of Him, and for Him. This Encourages me, to seek Him the more Earnestly this Day. Lord, Help me to Seek thee, and Serve thee with my whole Heart. And, Oh, Quicken me, and others by me!
VI. I Earnestly Desire▪ Deliverance from my Long continued & increasing Weakness. Because I am thereby detained from the Liberties of Gods House and Ordinances. And, because it is a sore Hindrance to my Personal Communion with God, and Holy Walking. I cannot take that pains with my carnal Heart, that its Necessities requires. I cannot make a fervent Prayer, but my Strength [Page 43] faileth, before I have half unburthened my Heart, or spread my case before the Lord. I cannot think a few serious Thoughts, Except now and then a short Ejaculation, which does not so Effectually take off the Heart from things Below, & carry it into Heaven, as Set and Solemn Maditation was wont to do.
VIII. Lord,
I have Learn't by long Experience, that the best of means can do me no Good without thee.
I Believe, that JEHOVAH, the Creator of the Ends of the Earth, can do all Things. Nothing is too hard for thee. Therefore, thou canst cure me yet, that have been so long Incurable.
Thou art All-Gracious. Therefore I believe, there is Goodness enough in thee, to move thee to do such a Great Work, for a most unworthy Sinner; Enough in JESUS CHRIST, though no Goodness in me, to move thee.
I own my utter unworthiness & Vileness; and therefore I Justify thee, if thou never do it for me.
[Page 44]I therefore beg humble Submission to thy Sovereign & Holy will in the Event; That I may not Repine, or be Discontented, tho' things go cross to my Desire. Help me to put my month in the Dust, and say, Not my will, but the Lords will be done!
Nevertheless, if for thine own Names Sake it may please thee to grant me my Suit; Mans Extremity is Gods Opportunity, and makes for the Advancement of Gods Power & Grace. Oh! Therefore be Seen in the Mount!
¶ 3. [Being with a marvellous Display of Power and Answer of Prayer, brought forth again to his Publick Services, They were so many, that he had very Little Opportunity, to Write much more, in his Private Memorials. Nor indeed, had he now so much Occasion; because he had his former Experiences to Live upon. We will Transcribe only Three Passages.]
I. AT the Lords-Table, after some Serious Preparation of my Heart for that Ordinance, I found much of Christs presence enabling me▪ to Desire & heartily to close with whole CHRIST, in all His Offices, for my Saviour, who there offered to bestow His Broken Body upon me, and His Blood poured out, for the taking away of my Sins. I knew, God was Real, in giving His dear Son; And Christ Real in bestowing Himself upon me; And I was Really willing to accept of Him upon Gods Terms; For I was Really Sensible of my absolute Need of Him, and Perishing condition [Page 45] without Him. I came not thither for Bodily Refreshment, but Spiritual; Not only to Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the Sin of the World, but to Converse with Christ, & feed upon the Flesh & Blood of the Son of God, whose Flesh is Meat indeed, and His Blood Drink indeed; that I might Live by Him Spiritually & Eternally, & might have Life in more abundance; a Life of Comfort, an increase of Grace, and Spiritual Strength. I did therefore Believe, and I do still Believe, (Lord, Help me to believe more strongly and stedfastly▪) That JESUS CHRIST is mine, with all His Benefits, as surely as the Bread that I eat, and the Wine that I drink; & that He will nourish my Soul to Eternal Life. Amen. Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and forget not all His Benefits.