THe History whereof this Text is part ; Verse 1. & 9. & 11. & 22. is a Narrative of one of the murmurings of the Israelites , which famous ●●n of 〈◊〉 is exprest in some variety of style , being elswhere called Temptation of God , or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 provocation , or imbittering of God , & somtime rebellion , which is a sin incident to a people that under promise , or in expectation of good from God , and yet withall , so encountred with temptations and obstructions of their hopes , wave after wave , that they cannot 〈◊〉 themselves by faith reconcile the promise , or tendernesse of God with his present providence and dispensation towards them , his footsteps b●ing cloudy , and his hand heavy : where upon their spirits are even by his probationary 〈◊〉 imbittered against him , as if hee neither regarded his own truth , nor their sufferings . And God again is imbittered against them for their unbelief in him , their jealousie of him , their discontents , thought or vented against him ; for God would not have the people of his Covenant , because they are in straits , to question his respect to them ; no , though they be between Pharaoh and the Sea , at point of perishing : But if his present hand make them cry , Alas , for the day Ier. 30. 7. is great , It is even the time of Jacobs trouble , ( and who will not shrink at the first putting his feet into cold water ) yet to over-believe sence , and adde with all , but he shall be saved out of it . This murmuring was the Tenth , the greatest , and of the heaviest consequence .

The Tenth , so God himselfe numbers it , who , as hee keeps a Book of every mans particular sins ( as the phrase of blotting out imports ) and whereof every mans conscience is a counter-part , so it appeares hence that he keeps an exact account of our Nationall rebellions and provocations , Verse 22. They have tempted me 〈◊〉 these ten times .

The greatest , for besides that it is after nine , and the repetition of a sinne makes the latter ●o 〈…〉 the greater , ( Ezra 9. 14. Should wee again break thy commandements ) I say , absque hoc , their other murmurings arose upon their want of flesh , bread , water , or some dislikes of some particularly oeconomy of God over them : This strikes at the root , at the throat of all , for now being in Paran , or at the Mountain of the Amorites , Chap. 12. 16. Deut. 1. 20. in the very borders of the Land of their rest , ready to put in their sickle to reap the promise made to Abraham so many hundred yeares before . They so undervalue and dishonour Gods rest made over by deed of promise unto them long agone , and now ready to be given by livery and seisin into their hand , that they prefer a slavish life , nay , a grave in Egypt , before such an adventure , Would God that we had dyed in Egypt , Verse 2. Or would God we had dyed in the Wildernesse , any grave would serve their indignation , rather then they would put on for this inheritance ; and haply they thought ( as wee sometimes doe in like case ) that this Land being in promise , it should have dropt into their mouthes , even without their opening them , and not have been a Land of conquest as well as promise ; for so wee fancy , that promises must fulfill themselves , even though wee be not in capacity of them , or contribute not to serve Gods command or providence in the way of reaping them .

And what was the consequence ? God was provoked , and in his wrath swore an oath exclusive of this people , led them off the borders of the Land , a forty yeares march in the Wildernesse , untill all the Mutineers ( all above twenty yeares old as their going forth of Egypt ) fell therein . Upon which account , not a man of that great people ( except Caleb and Joshuah ) of much above sixty years of age came into Canaan .

Now if these things be our examples , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ 1 Cor. 10. 6. then it is but laying the scene among our selves , and the result of it will be this ; That is after all our other Nationall provocations of God , for which wee have long deserved , that the hand should write upon the wal , that God hath numbred our Kingdom and sinisht it . Wee should be brought to the borders of that long prayed for rest from our yoakes and burdens in Church and State , and then prove , as I may so say , run-awayes from Edge Hill , and stumble at the threshold , despising the offer , cancelling our former prayers , scandalizing our selves , saying , The time is not come , the time the Lords house Hag. 1. 2. should be built , and so wish for Captains that we may return into Egypt , as this people , Verse 4. Might wee not feare such another oath of God against us , and such another pilgrimage of our selves in the Wildernesse of our own misery , untill our carcasses were all falne as theirs .

The occasion of this mutiny was , Twelve Princes or heads of the Tribes , were sent out to discover the Land , they went , returned , and reported , but these Twelve were not all agreed of their verdict , they were ten to two ; The ten spoke their carnall feares , nothing but walled Towns , warlike people , sons of Anak , the Land indeed is good , but like the garden of the Hesperides , Dragons keep it ; not a word or syllable of Gods Covenant , Promise , or Presence , to counter-ballance or make rebatement . The people are drawn after them and imbittered , they cry out that God hath betrayd their Lives , Wives , Children to manifest ruine , and to Egypt they will back again .

The two , Cateb and Ioshua , controverted the ten , and Numb. 30. 30 , 31. protested . We are not able to say the ten , wee are well able saith Caleb ; they are stronger then wee say the ten , Cum Cap. 30. 31 , 32 , 33. Cum Cap. 14. 8 , 9. they are bread for us say the two ; we are Pismires and Grashoppors to them say the ten ; the Lord is with us , fear them not say the two ; they are fenced in with wals , and Giants say the ten ; their shadow is departed from them say the two ; This was the contestation , but the Noes carried it , and though Caleb and his fellow plyed the people with Gods presence , power and promise , and with the experience they had had of him , yet they got no heat into them , but the heat of insolency & rage , All the Congregation bad stone them with stones , Vers. 10 Spirituall arguments to a carnall heart , are but warm clothes to a dead man ; when men have once a prejudice against God , as if he would be false to them , and think their faith in his promises will be but a snare to engage them into ways destructive of themselves , then it 's no oiling of a wheele so skotcht : for it is a sure rule , hee that hath no faith to make use of God , would by no means have need of him . When this people saw the great worke which God had done upon Egypt , then they believe ; Exod. 4. 31. the faith of a carnall heart is laid up in present sence or evidence of Gods hand ; but while the Anakims are alive , God is no body to them ; a hard heart will not bring up former experiments of God , to charge new dangers in the face , for though saith Moses , you have seen so much of God already , yet in this thing yee did not believe the Deut. 1. 31 , 32. Lord your God . On the contrary , Caleb values God alone against all that can be said , and makes the Giants but Pismires to his faith , by setting God by them , of suchdown-right is God to a spirit of faith in that very thing wherein toan unbeliever , he doth not so much as stirre , much lesse turn the beam .

So much for the survey of the Suburbs of the Text , whereby you already do perceive , that here is somthing that is proper to the Meridian of our own case .

And now I am at the words , which are an exception of Caleb out of the number of them , whom God by oath peremptorily excluded the Land of promise for their Rebellion , and therein we have ,

1 The assignement of Calebs plot , the Land he searched , or that part of it into which he went .

2 The ground of that promise , because hee had another spirit , and hath , &c.

3 The entaile of the promise , or the inheritance upon his seed . His seed shall possesse it .

I begin with Gods testimony of this servant of his , He hath fulfilled after me , which after this time you may observe to be set as a mark of honour upon this man : insomuch as when his name is named , this character sirnames him , He that followed me fully ; in like manner , as Deut. 1. 36. Ios. 14. & 6. & alibi . that brand sticks upon the name of Ieroboam , Hee that made Israel to sin .

I list not to vex the words . The Hebrew being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , hee hath fulfilled after mee ; answered with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; in the new Testament , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 2 Cor. 10. 6. when your obedience is fulfilled : but I will not stand to rub that eare , which will yield me no more corn then the Translation hath beaten out . He hath followed me fully ; as if the Lord had said , he hath stuck close to me , and improved the businesse under his hand , howsoever succeslesly as to the people , yet dangerously as to himself for my sake , & managed it to the best advantage of my honour , by valuing me , my promise , presence , power , against all Objections made by humane wisdom ; or Objections laid by humane power .

Let us now see what the Text holds forth unto us , and that Honey is best , which runs freely from the combe ; we must not commit rape or extortion upon the Word of God , a sin too frequent in our times , by such as are most zealous for their party , for how many doe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , comparari verbum Dei , as the Apostle speaks , dashing and mixing as Hucksters doe their wares , adulterating the pure word with their own crude fancies , and so uttering and venting it abroad into the world , to the great scandall of Scripture it self , godlinesse , learning , and ingenuity .

The Observations that offer themselves willingly are these .

1 That God makes great reckoning of , and gives speciall testimony unto such his servants who fulfill after him . My servant Caleb hath fulfilled after me .

2 To fulfill after the Lord , proceeds from another spirit than the unbelieving Israelites are acted with all . Hee had another spirit with him .

3 Such shall not lose by the hand , who out of a right spirit do follow the Lord fully . Because , he had , &c. him will I bring into the Land , &c.

For the first , it is not Calebs commendation onely , but every mans duty also , who bears this style , My Servant . You heare that Solomon who out of complyance with his wives , tooke in also , as I may say , Concubines to Gods Temple , is therefore charged , 1 King . 11. 6. Not to have fulfilled after the Lord ; and Iehu who out of complyance with that policy which proved fatall to that Kingdom , not casting out that Ieroboamiticall Idolatry in being , is likewise charged , 2 King . 10. 31. Not to have observed to walk in the Law of the Lord with all his heart : both of them are taken as defective in this duty , hee that tooke in more , and hee that cast out lesse then might answer the levell of Gods order of worship , and judge the same in other cases . For it is plain by our Saviour his frequent and instant importunity , that his people must deny , lose , sell , forsake , hate all , not onely all sin , but all dearest things of this life , which are lawfull , necessary , and ( out of the case of impediment of our following of Christ , and their competition with him ) worthy to be sought or enjoyed , which can import no lesse then this duty of fulfilling after the Lord .

Nor are these meerly Evangelicall counsels to some perfect men , but obligatory of all Christians , otherwise that weight could not be laid on , which is , Whosoever doth not this cannot be my Disciple , And indeed , as the Philosopher saith of privation , that it is one of the principles of naturall generation ; so is self-deniall and the whole sale of all for Christ , it is the first lesson , howsoever it be last that is well learned , being the only removens prohibens , that which removes all impediments of our fulfilling after Christ . And as the times of Christ , opposite to the institution of the Gospel did require the inculcation of this Point , so ours , opposite to the restitution of Gods worship to it's native simplicity , do bespeak the same , being such , In quibus animum firmare oportet constantibus exemplis , as he in Tacitus .

For the opening of this Point , we shall consider ,

For the first of the three , I shall acquit it in foure things , of which the second will rise out of the first , the third out of the second , the fourth out of the third .

1 The first and indeed the root of all the rest , is this , that there be in a man a principle of saving faith , closing with Christ to secure the present and finall estate of the soule , or the ground-work of sound Regeneration and conversion to God ; there may be many workings or gifts of the Spirit of God in and unto men , in whom there is not a spirit uniting to Christ , and there is a dogmaticall faith of holding the truth in opinion and assent which is not justifying of the person by reception of Christ ; now there must be such a spirit , and such a faith as may carry the soule out of it self for subsistence , and above it self in operation and working , so that God may be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , from whom and unto whom the soule doth act , and then it will follow , that hee that hath cast his soule on Christ by faith , securing the mayn estate thereof , shall the more easily cast away his life , estate , &c. in a particular cause for him . Hee that through all the pangs and struglings of the new-birth , discouragements at the weight and height of his sin , oppositions of reasonings , delusions , and flatteries of self-righteousnesse , violence of hell it self , hath shot the mayn gulf and hath landed in Christ , shall with more facility lay aside his lesser , his outward interests for him , for it is a terrible thing for the stoutest heart alive to look such a danger in the face , as for ought hee knows may at one blow kill him and damne him , or in a moment , send him both to his grave and Hell , it makes a man follow the Lord fully , when he obeyes the Commandement by the same faith , whereby hee receives the saving promise , and offers up Isaac by the same faith , whereby hee got him ; that is , to obey and suffer by a justifying faith , as they , Heb. 11. whose acts there expressed , were not most of them justifying acts , yet done by a saving and justifying faith , for so it is the same hand which shuts and closes upon the gift and opens it self to work . And yet I must needs preoccupate an Objection , and grant that Abraham who believed the mayne promise without staggering , shewed some trepidation , when he conceived himself in danger of his life , They will kill me , Gen. 12. 12. saith he ; but that is but the encountring of sence with faith , which sence fights sore against faith , when it is upon it's own dunghil , I mean in a sensible danger , natures retraction of it selfe from a visible feare may cause the pulse of a Christian which beats truly and strongly in the mayn point , the state of the soule , to intermit and faulter at such a time ; but the Needle will return to the true point again upon self-recollection , That godlinesse hath the Promises that belong to this life and the life to come : as for such men whose hearts are not ballast with grace ; no marvell if they ride uncertainly and are up and down in rough water , for though in fair and easie weather they may keep tune and time , yet it will be no wonder if they ring their bels backward when things begin to be on fire , Religio religat , Godliness binds fast .

2 The second is , That a man affect God himselfe , and account him his great reward , and this is the immediate effect of saving grace and faith , to bring the soule into the esteem and acceptance of God himself for our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or chiefest good ; it is true those Promises , I will call for the corn and increase it , and will multiply the fruit of the Tree and of the Field , are blessings and benefits of his Covenant , Ezek. 36. 29. And blessed are the people that are in such a case , Psal. 144. 15. but the main Promise of the Covenant is , I will be their God and they shall be my people ; and then saith the Psalmist , Ibid. Yea blessed are the people whose God is the Lord : That which we call amor amicitiae or conjugalis closes with the person , and not onely with benefits . The first Commandement shews that this is the most naturall order ; first ; to have God for our God , and then and thence to performe other duties . Servility when one is awed from sin , or driven to duties by the whip , and mercenaries when one is drawne by meere benefit or reward , are the bane of following the Lord fully : He that parts with sin as a slave , parts with it and loves it , and will in the calme gather up again that which he cast over-board in the storm ; and he will perform duties and hate them : He that follows God as a mercenary will no longer uti Deo , then he can frui mundo : He will use him while he can serve himself of him . Duties and sufferings are irksome things without that suave condimentum , the love of God himselfe . I know the opinion of merit with God or men sweetens sharpe duties and sufferings to some palats , but that is but dulce venenum , a sweet poyson to all we do , it frustrates our very Fasts , Did yee Zach. 7. 3. at all Fast unto me , even unto me ? Was it not an argument of an excellent spirit in Moses , when God offered him the benefit without himself or his presence , Exod. 33. 2. I will send an Angell before thee , and I will drive out the Canaanites , &c. but I will not go up in the midst of thee ; and this was the reason , I shall but consume thee if I do ; what a faire offer was this , and what a reason of Gods deniall of his own presence was that , and yet Moses could not be content with it ; For if thy presence goe Exod. 33. 15. not with me , then carry us not up hence . Let us be here in the Wildernesse under thy Cloud , rather then possesse a Canaan without thee .

3 The third is , To value Gods interests in any busines under our hand , more then our owne , his Gospell , his cause , his glory ; and this rises out of the former ; for he that loves God himselfe , above himselfe , will value Gods interest above his own . It is the property of a sincere heart to observe , what share God may have in any action or duty to which hee is called , and to distinguish and abstract it from his own . Wee have a famous instance in Moses , who was offered a private fortune , even by God himself , I 'le make of thee a great Nation , Numb. 14. 12. greater and mightier then they ; no ( saith he ) Lord , thou wilt be a loser by it , and thou shalt run the hazard of thy houour ; and surely as God was displeased with Balaam for going , though he bad him go , so the Lord would not have taken it so kindly of Moses , if hee had taken him upon the offer hee made in a time of his heat against his people ; nothing makes a man eccentrick in his motions so much as private respects ; hee that hath an habituate by-end , hath as it were a nayle in his foot , and though he may go well enough in soft ground , yet hee wilt halt when he comes in hard way : If ever in any great busines God did intwist his own interest with ours , it is now in our case , and if there be any that could be content to sit downe in the settlement of their liberty and property , without further care of Religion , and to dwell in seiled houses , while the house of God lyes waste : let mee put Hag. 1. 4. them in mind of Reuben and Gad , who being seated in their plot , would yet march on to see the rest of the Tribes setled , as well as themselves , before they would sit down ; and sayth Moses , if you will not do so , ye have Numb. 32. 18 , &c. sinned against the Lord , and be sure your sin will find you out .

4 The fourth is , To be able to perish for God , and this rises out of the former , for he onely can lay himself out for God , that can lay up himself in him : And it is a point of great ability , I know how to be abased , how to hunger , I can do all things . Phil , 4. 12. Let no man say , Paul thou must hunger and be abased , it is a matter of necessity , nay , but yee see he makes it a point of ability in him , that he can be in a necessitous condition ; a man shall never be quiet nor at point , till hee can lose himself to save himself , as Christ speaks , and perish to live , for he shall be daunted at every alarum of ill tydings , fearfull of the shadow of the Crosse , every danger in a duty awes him ; every frown of a great man dastards him , untill he can perish in his reputation , and be vile , more vile , yet more vile for God , or can come to that , They would not Heb. 11. 35. be delivered . It was the greatest heart-breaking to Paul when his friends in affection to him , would have befought him out of his own danger , Acts 21. 13 , 14. And this ground-work being well laid , you may easily see how possible and probable it is , that such a man should follow the Lord fully , especially in the matters of God and of Religion , wherein many excellent Romanes to their Country and true Patriots , prove very truants and heavy slugs .

I come to the second thing , viz. what it is to fulfill after the Lord , or who may be said to do ? And this I shall briefly run through .

1 For the more generall explication of this point , To fulfill after the Lord . 1 Excludes partiality in the Law of God and takes in integrity . Patiality is either in the negative part of the Law , and that is when a man casts off some sins , & hath some other , one at least , in deliciis ; or in the affirmative part ; when he plows here , & makes a bawke there , this cannot be following fully , for that consists in integrity of aversion from sin , and of conversion to God , quoad assensum & conatum . 2 It excludes sinisterity of ends , and takes in sincerity ; for the Scripture brands it for an emptinesse of fruit , when a man brings forth fruit to himself , Hos. 10. 1. Israel is an empty Vine , he brings forth fruit to himself . 3 It excludes lukewarmnesse and takes in zeal , not that preternaturall heat , miscalled zeal ; for that is a disease rather then a grace ; zeal should eat us up , but not eat up our wisdome , nor should pride eat up our zeal . 4 It excludes the meere forme of godlinesse , and takes in power ; for form wants the chief dimension of holinesse , which is depth and substance ; therefore those follow not fully , that run before the commandement in outward form , but walk not after it in morall piety . 5 It excludes withdrawing and takes in constancy , for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to follow fully , and go on to the end , are much at one ; hee that walks fully after the Lord , walks finally after him . But this fulfilling after the Lord , doth not necessarily require legall perfection , as to exclude all sin out of the person , or his ways , for wee heare of none besides the two Adams , in whom it might be said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , there is no sin ; though it was said of one , and may be of other true Israelites , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , there is no guile , or predominant hypocrisie ; Neither doth this fulfilling after the Lord , exclude inequality , and take in the same measure as necessary in all , for the fulness of two vessels , doth not infer the equality of them ; God hath differently tallented men with grace , parts , means , opportunities , and he doth not require him that hath but one tallent , to put forth five .

2. For the more particular explication of the point , and first , who fulfils after the Lord in duties of obedience , and that is when a man walks ,

1 , Universally in compliance of heart and endevour to the whole rule , clipping off industriously no part of that service which beares Gods superscription upon it , though it may be to him harsh and unpleasant , yet the command of God shall both awe and draw the heart unto it , for that word , I am the Lord thy God , makes every Thou shalt of his , and every Thou shalt not , acceptable to a godly man , and this is to walk 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , fully .

2 Freely , though no rod be holden over us , the Laws curse is the Imprest shilling to force a servile spirit , but the love of God is the byas of a voluntiere . Grace is that whereby God is free in giving to us , and grace is that which makes our hearts free in obedience to him , and this freenesse of spirit will be most seen , when there are most rubs in the way ; for then he that moves by outward poyses will stick and be dull : as when a bowle runs up hill every rub slugs it , but when it goes downe hill a rub quickens it ; a free spirit is enkindled by that which quencheth another man .

3 Satisfied in part with duty , and with the conscience of sincerity and exercise of his graces therein , though successe answer not ; what a joyfull man was David when he and his people had offered so willingly the materials of a Temple , though he might not build it , 1 Chron. 29. What pleasure took Paul in infirmities and reproches for Christ , when the strength of Christ was perfected in his weaknesse , 2 Cor. 12. 10. And this is that satisfaction wherein a good conscience findes some rest , when a man can pray , can believe , wait and speak for God , though the success and event answer not his duties or desires , a good heart is loaden with the very burden of duty , and finds ease when it is sincerely discharged , let the issue be as it will ,

4 Independent upon , and unrespective unto the eye and account of men , and that , 1 Though equals interessed as well as he do desert him , as the ten did Caleb and Joshua . 2 Though the people misconstrue him , as these did them ; he that walks by mens countenance or eye , steers by a Planet , and not the Pole-Star .

2 To fulfill after the Lord when impediments lye in our way , and crosse winds carry us from the Port , is ,

1 To reckon upon God with us , against all mountains of opposition , so Caleb , The Lord is with us , feare them not . Thus the Prophet animated his man being in feare , and Hezekiah his Subjects , There be more with us 2 Kings 6. 16. then with him , yet had he none but God to recken on , and the Assyrian had a hundred fourescore & five thousand 2 Chron. 32. 7. at least ; such is this God of ours , who sayth , Shall I bring to the birth , and not cause to bring forth , Isa. 66. 9. who promiseth Jacob the worm , that hee shall be his instrument to thrash mountains to dust , Isa. 41. 14 , 15. and what comparison between a worm and a mountain ; what other reason is given of the breaking in pieces of all confederacies and associations against the Church , but only this , For Immanuel , Isa. 8. 10. and it might teach all the world , to say when they set against God , fi●collidimus frangimur , as the earthen pot against the iron rod breaks not the iron , but is it self broken .

2 To stand firm , by setting one foot upon the experiences wee have had of God , and the other upon his promises yet in expectation ; for our experience of him , we may argue from his opening of the red Sea , to his opening of Jordan . Hee that opened the Sea to bring us into this wildernesse , will surely open a River to let us out . And for his promises to his people , they will eat their way over all Alpes of opposition , God will be the Midwife of them to deliver them of their wombe , as it 's said , He hath fulfilled with his hands , that which hee spake 2 Chron. 6. 4. with his mouth .

3 To fulfill after the Lord , being in incumbrances inward , outward , is ,

1 When a man prefers not a quiet Egypt , before a troublesome and hazardous adventure upon the Land promised ; He will never repent of his choyce of God , nor of his ingagements to his cause , though hee suffer for it , and lose by it , he will never say , would God I had dyed in Egypt , nor sound for a parley with the world and sin , nor sound a retreat to his heart , to march away from the cause or work of the Lord .

2 When we misconster not Gods intention & meaning towards us , nor put a false glosse upon his hand that goeth forth against us , like these rotten-hearted Israelites , that cryed God would betray them ; it is hard when his covenant , truth and love , cannot vindicate him from all possibility of falshood towards us , or forgetfulnesse of us . Keep up good thoughts of God , that if he bring us not into Canaan at the fore-doore , yet after he hath led us about to humble our pride , he will bring us in at the postern , as he did this people ; and if he save not Jonah by the Mariners , hee may save him by the Whale that swallows him .

3 The third thing is , why his people should fulfill after the Lord ; in which I will be briefe , for Eliah his reason is enough , If the Lord be God , follow him , for all 1 Kings 18 21. attractives are in him , all remuneratives , all restoratives , and he expects it of his people , commends it in them , and rewards it to them : He expects it , I know Abraham saith God , that he will do so and so : Hee commends it , as here he doth Caleb , he followed me fully : He rewards it , as here he promiseth , and afterward performed to Caleb , and generally they that follow the Lord home .

1 They shall see and taste more of him , for then shall we know the Lord , if we follow on to know him , Hosea 6. 3. we shall see him in oftner experiments , and observe the curiosity of his contrivements and workmanship in his ways , and that is one reason why hee crumbles his mercies to his people , and why they have his blessings by retail , that communion and trading betweene his people and himself may be mayntained , and hee more sweetly enjoyed : so the Cloud empties not it self at a sudden burst , but distils and dissolves upon the earth drop after drop .

2 They shall receive more from him ; he measures liberally back to them that mete liberally unto him : They that will have their fill of God , must hold on to the losse of a duty or suffering , for usually hee reserves the best and fullest cup to the last ; wee know what Saul lost by not holding out one moment longer , his men melted from him , the enemy was strong and neer , and himselfe had stayed almost to the end , yet for want of a minute , he lost by it , 1 Sam. 13. 13. Thou hast done foolishly , for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom for ever ; we know not what wee lose by making haste , and not holding up our hands as Moses did , to the going down of the Sun .

For the Use or Application of this Point ,

Use 1 First , it meets with the murmuring and disaffected Israelites , who , whether out of neutrality or malignity , fulfill not after the Lord , being either purely privative in respect of this duty , or positively disaffected , of these we have infinite , and of divers principles , It 's strange , that men should be no more sensible of the sin of lukewarmnesse , but that our Saviour gives a double reason of it . 1 That they are not stone cold , that is , not so vitious or profane as others , for there are not so many degrees of cold in the lukewarm as in the cold water ; but they should consider that the lukewarm are more offensive to Christs stomack , and can lesse be borne by it . 2 That lukewarmness is attended with self-conceit and security , thou sayst I am rich and have need of nothing , but Revel. 3 17. this security arises out of self-ignorance , by which key whosoever is lockt up , they lye fast . I shall not so much discusse the sin , as the principles whence such indifferency towards , or malignity against God and his ways doth flow . As ,

1 Some are indisposed meerly out of a stupid carelesnesse , lying asleep in the side of our tossed Ship in this great storm , folded fast up in blindness and security , as blanks in a Lottery , and they are but white paper , having nothing written on them ; such as these , like Samaritans are a kin to the Iews when the Iews prosper , and disclaim kinred when they go down , being ready to contribute their Eare-rings neither to golden Calf nor Tabernacle ; or haply indifferently to both , I meane Popery and purity are to them alike ; And such is the case for most part of such poore fouls among whom there hath been no vision , their Idol-shepheards having made their people Idols like themselves ; not seeing , not hearing , not having any spirituall sence ; nor are they much the better who have had some rare Sermons , most what about Orders and Ceremonies , and such extrinsecalls , which have proved as a thrum left in the loomes , to which our crafts-masters might more easily tye in their new piece , and if in no other , yet in this respect , deserve castigation ; because they have so taken up Pulpits , Pens and Tongues , as to commit waste of pretious time of affections between brother and brother , and even of the substance of practick godlinesse , which hath suffered by such diversion ; nor yet are they more awakend , whose Preachers have been but Ethick Lecturers reading morality , whose Ministry hath not been first a fiery Serpent to sting the conscience ( for Gods witnesses are called tormentors of the inhabitants of the earth ) and then a pole Revel. 11. 10. to hold up the brazen Serpent to the wounded .