The sect every where spoken against or, the reproached doctrine of Ely. As it was held forth in several sermons in the year, MDCLI. By Christopher Cob, lay-man, minister of an united people in Ely. Collected and analized for a private use, by Hampden Reeve, Master of Arts, one of that Society, and a constant hearer. Now published by the assent of the whole Society (as a short character, at present, of them and their way, till an opportunity of a farther and fuller discovery) for satisfaction in general. Cob, Christopher. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A79993 of text xxx in the English Short Title Catalog (Thomason E1251_1). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 709 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 194 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2018 A79993 Wing C4769 Thomason E1251_1 ESTC R209173 99868063 99868063 169498 2240951451

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 Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A79993) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 169498) Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 171:E1251[1]) The sect every where spoken against or, the reproached doctrine of Ely. As it was held forth in several sermons in the year, MDCLI. By Christopher Cob, lay-man, minister of an united people in Ely. Collected and analized for a private use, by Hampden Reeve, Master of Arts, one of that Society, and a constant hearer. Now published by the assent of the whole Society (as a short character, at present, of them and their way, till an opportunity of a farther and fuller discovery) for satisfaction in general. Cob, Christopher. Reeve, Hampden. [14], 298, 301-368 p. Printed by J. Macock for Giles Calvert, at the black Spred-Eagle at the west end of Pauls, London : 1651. Annotation on Thomason copy: "Septemb. 12.". Reproduction of the original in the British Library. eng Quakers -- Early works to 1800. eebo The sect every where spoken against: or, the reproached doctrine of Ely. As it was held forth in several sermons in the year, MDCLI. By Christopher C Cob, Christopher. 1651 386 138840 92 0 0 0 0 0 6.63 B The rate of 6.63 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the B category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 2011-02 Assigned for keying and markup 2011-02 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2011-04 Sampled and proofread 2011-04 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2011-06 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

THE SECT Every where Spoken against : Or , the Reproached DOCTRINE of ELY . As it was held forth in several Sermons in the Year , MDCLI .

By CHRISTOPHER COB , Lay-man , Minister of an United People in ELY .

Collected and Analized for a private Use , by Hampden Reeve , Master of Arts , one of that Society , and a constant Hearer .

Now published by the Assent of the whole Society ( as a short Character , at present , of Them and their Way , till an opportunity of a farther and fuller discovery ) for satisfaction in General .

LONDON , Printed by J. Macock for Giles Calvert , at the black Spred-Eagle at the West end of Pauls , 1651

THE PREFACE OF THE PUBLISHER TO THE READER . Reader ,

HAst thou not read , that in the days of Christ , a Romane Senator abiding at JERUSALEM , and wondering at his vertuous Life and Miracles , sent to the Senate at Rome to receive Jesus for a God ? They put it to the Question ; and in the end voted , That Rome could not receive Jesus for a God , because He admitted of no more Gods but Himself : And that whosoever would not accept of him alone , upon his own terms , which was , to leave all , and follow him , was not worthy of him . But the Worship of Rome consisted of many , and therefore Jesus and their gods could not stand together ; and accordingly rejected him , and left him to be tryed for his Life by the Law . We have a Law , and by this he ought to dye , said the People .

Reader , That People are not dead to this day : And to this day , whatever Man , Sect , or People , shall profess that Name of Jesus according to his Law left in his Gospel , he must be baptized into his Cup , hated of all Men for that Name sake , reproached , persecuted .

The Portion of the true Remnant in all ages : and in this day the very condition of this despised Sect without a name , the People of ELY : judged of all , known of none , owned of none ; a shame to be for it , a danger to be of it , a sin to be in it : But well ; They whom Jew , Greek , and Roman refused , do this People seek after for a God ; And accordingly think no relation dear unto them , if possibly they may attain to his Cross , and be found worthy to drink of his Cup together .

And for this Cause , for this Profession , and this Practice , are they called in Question , at this day , in this present year 1651. both Minister and People , after twenty years faithful service in the Gospel , day and night declaring this Name ; And accordingly stand indicted ( as is publickly known ) for an unlawful and most uncivil Assembly , gathered and united contrary to the Laws of this Commonwealth . How unjust and erroneous this scandal is , is well known to them that lie under the burthen ; and to him that is able to clear them in his own way and day .

In the mean space , friendly Reader , they thought it their duty , in the midst of these distractions , to endevor a right apprehension of their Way and Life ; and as much as in them lieth , to remove the block of offence , which is for the most part no other then Ignorance , and a misunderstanding of them ; the very cause that too many speak too headily , and fall too foully on them : As for them that speak evil through malice , they may go on till they be met with .

But because that some eminent and much honored persons , with many others in afflicted conditions of spirit , have earnestly desired to see some Declaration come forth in publique , manifesting their Practice and Doctrine ▪ The People have given their joynt consent to print this small Volume of Sermons , or Collections rather , ( being only the faithful gleanings of a diligent hand after a full vintage ) as a true and some small Testimony of them by it . By the Doctrine thou mayst know the People , and by the People the Doctrine , as a Banner of Truth displayed ; the Ensign stands open , the Colours are flying , the Motto is , Love and Truth . He that runs if he have eyes , may read . If that be not sufficient , to run and read ; then come and see : peradventure an Interpreter may be joyned to thy Charet ; and besides , thou knowest not what good may come out of Nazareth . Reader , I speak as a Witness and Publisher both , having made certain tryal , That to be the accepted Servant of this despised People , this House of mourning , is an Honor this World cannot give ; a Mercy of Mercies ; to be prized before all conditions of glory in Place or Court . Farewel .

Thine , so far as thou art Theirs , John Mason , Esq From my Abode in the Colledg Ely , August , 1651.
The Summary CONTENTS Of Each SERMON . WHat the meaning of the Precious Promises spoke of is : How they are concerning Life , Godliness , Glory , and Vertue . What it is truly to live , and how many things belong to it . The true Being of Godliness , Glory , and Vertue opened . The Divine Nature , what is meant by it , and the several ways by which the Soul is made partaker of it . How the Soul breaks off from God , and procures its wound : what it is to return ; to whom it must be , and by what means it is wrought . The ways God makes use of in healing the wound made by himself . What is meant by reviving , and how God revives ; with application of all to particulars . The Parties pointed out , who they are that may kill the Body : how , and by what means : Grounds why they are not to be feared , and in what respects . The worth of Soul and Body considered , and who is indeed to be feared . What it is to have the Soul destroyed , and the ways used by God to that purpose . What Hell is , and what it is to be in Hell . What the City Jerusalem means , and what sort of people are typed out by it . How Christ is said to come neer this City . Why he weeps over it ? both for joy and grief : and in what respects . What Jerusalems great ignorance was . The metaphor of a Hen gathering her Chickens under her wing largely opened and applyed . Jerusalems misery hinted for neglecting her Day of Visitation . Who Christ is ; what he comes down from Heaven to do in the World . Considerations about the uncontroulable Will of God , and the two main Branches of it . How , and in what relations a people are given to Christ , as Children , as a Sister , as a Spouse . Observations upon each of these . What it is to be utterly lost , and why all are not lost , with its grounds and application . The whole Parable concerning the Prodigal : His going out from , returning home to , and entertainment by , his Father , with all the material circumstances mentioned in that story , mysteriously opened ; and in all cases paralleld to the like condition befalling the Soul . What the things not seen were , which Noah is warned of ; and how we in the present day are warned of God in the same cases . How Noah was affected with this Warning , and the several Considerations moving him to fear ; with the case paralleld to our present conditions . What the Ark types out , and what was signified by its three stories , &c. The Effects consequent upon Noah's building the Ark : How He saved his House by it ; with Considerations about the way and manner of it . How this building of the Ark condemns the whole World ; and in what particulars . How Noah became Heir of the Righteousness by Faith : Where is opened , what the Inheritance of the Saints is , what it is to be an Heir , and how the Soul comes to partake and have use of both . How all men lay at first in one lump : How the difference was put , in choosing some , and not others . What it is to choose , with several considerations touching the nature of it . What it is to be of the royal Priesthood , with the Priviledges belonging to it . Certain Marks and Characters to distinguish the chosen Generation from all others , &c. How and in what respects the people of God may be exprest under the notion of a City : Why a little City : How 't is said , few men are in it , and in what Considerations . Who the great King is , and what his bulwarks , with the manner of his raising them . The poor wise man , who he is , where to be found , by what certain characters he may be known , and how he delivers the City , &c. What sort of People the Lords house was a type of : why God will have a House built : What are the true materials of it : Why the Soul is backward to this work , and pleads , It is not time to build ; with an Explication of the miseries for not building , on the one hand ; on the other , the great Priviledges that attend the work . That the way God chooseth to make out himself to his people is by a Prophet ; and for what Reasons . How this Prophet goes neer to God , and what that implies . What the main things are God speaks to his people by this Prophet , and would have them know ; viz. their present place , their next Way , their utmost End . What the true nature of Hearing is , with Considerations about it . Four great Dispensations or Times of Mans , the Devils , Christs and Gods Raign opened . What the Souls several Woes are under the Devils raign : What the Devils main armour is ; How and by what means Christ overcomes him , and how he divides the spoyl ; with Application of all . The Lepers present misery opened in its several Branches , and parallel'd to the Souls condition : Their hopeless Case ever to be recovered hence ; and where the point of the Strait lay : The great Submission wrought in their spirits to venture their lives , with Considerations about it , parallelling all to the inward work of Salvation . Christs great Submission in being brought to say that word , Thy Will be done , opened in all its Branches ; His betraying by Judas , delivering up into the hands of Sinners , unjust Arraignment , ignominious Death , Disciples forsaking , His Father withdrawing , He Dumb under all ; what all these Cases meant , and how verified in the work upon the Soul .
Precious PROMISES AND THE Divine Nature Opened and Unfolded .
SERM. I. March 16. 1650 / 1. 2 PET. 1.4 . Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises , that by these you might be partakers of the divine Nature , having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust .
The Analysis .

THree things in general were observed from the words .

1. What are these exceeding great and precious Promises ? 2. What is it to partake of the divine Nature ? 3. Who are They that are to be partakers , both of these precious Promises , and divine Nature ? Those that have escaped the corruption of the world through lust .

First , These exceeding great and precious Promises concern four things spoke of in the former Verse , Life , Godliness , Glory Vertue .

The first great Promise is of Life ; to have life given from the dead , to receive it of God : the world are all dead while living . This promise of Life takes in three things : 1. To be freed for ever from fears of Death ; now dye no more . 2. To be capable of instruction : Dead men can learn nothing . 3. A fitness for action and employment : The Living , the Living shall praise , &c. 2. The second Promise is of Godliness ; a God-like mind , in all like the pattern ; Just , patient , merciful , holy , &c. 3. Glory is promised ; Moses face shone : There is a lustre and glory in the Truth , which very Enemies must own and bow under . 4. Vertue , a quick and lively power in Truth : no dry thing , but a savor of life , or a savor of death .

The Uses were to two sorts .

1. To some , to enquire seriously what they seek in coming and going , life or death ; whether a need and strait for life . Then , 2. If a want and stress for life , yet on what terms would you have it ? Is it promised to you ? else why hope you ? 3. To consider , what you would have life for ; for ease , peace , safety to your selves ; or the service of Truth ? 2. To others , that are indeed in the grave , bound in fetters of darkness and sin , as if never deliverance should be , to minde such that the promise of Life is surely made , That Sarah shall conceive according to the time of life , &c.

Secondly , What is it to partake of the divine Nature ? This divine Nature is the Holy Ghost , and to partake of this , implies , 1. An indwelling , a setling abode of it ; not as a wayfaring man , but as a well of living waters within . 2. It implies a known and felt receiving of this Divinity ; the man made to know , and feel , and close with it . 3. This Divine Nature , where it is given and received , is fruitful , brings forth of its kinde and image , moulds the man into it .

The Uses were , 1. Enquire what we would come to ; whether ready to receive and be married to this Divine Nature ? else never expect children . 2. To inform that the door is yet open : the Promise and Call are yet to us , why are we no more minding it ! &c.

2 PET. 1.4 . Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises , &c.

THree things in general I would this day open to you . 1. What are these exceeding great and precious Promises . 2. What it is to be partakers of the divine Nature . 3. Who they are that shall be partakers both of the precious Promises and Divine Nature : not all men , all are not fitted for it ; but such as have escaped the corruption of the world through lust . For there is a great deal in us that seems to be for God , which is but lust , if well examined : the Heart of man is full of cheats , and deceitful above measure ; but God will not be mocked : none shall partake of his Nature and Being but such as have escaped lust : He will have no fellowship with the stool of iniquity .

First , What are these exceeding great and precious Promises ? Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious Promises : The words have relation to the foregoing Verse ; According as his divine power hath given us all things that pertain to life and godliness , through the knowledg of Him that hath called us to glory and vertue : Where four things are layd down , in which these precious Promises are fulfilled ; Life , Godliness , Glory , Vertue . These are the exceeding great things promised to be , though not yet attained : For it is one thing to have a Promise given , and another to see the accomplishment of it : as Christ saith to his Disciples , I will send you the promise of my Father : the Holy Ghost was promised before , but yet to be sent by Christ .

1. The first thing promised , to which you are called , is Life , as the promise was to Sarah , That according to the time of Life God would surely visit her , and she should conceive , &c. The Spirit of Life is promised to you , though yet the Thing is to be accomplished : For how do we lie at present in our graves ? like Dead men long out of minde ? how dry and desolate and waste , because the Spirit of Life , that should quicken and enliven , is not come ! The time of Life is not accomplished ; but the promise is gone forth , that at the set time He will surely visit Sarah , and the dry womb shall conceive ; though Abrahams body be dead , and Sarahs womb dead , and all seem to work to the contrary : For great is the desolation now upon us ; We are sealed in our graves under death ; but yet this is the promise , That the Dead shal hear the Voyce of the Son of God , and live : And This is an exceeding large and precious Promise .

1. Life implies in it a freedom from death , a recovery and deliverance out of its power : Alas , to Live is another manner of thing then we have conceived it ! We have gone about , and acted , and spoke like living men ; but have we Lived in all this ! have we been yet ever acquitted and freed from fears of death ? The Terrors of Death made me afraid ( saith David . ) Are you not yet kept all your life time under this fear of Death ? You can never have rest nor quiet because the Jaylor is ever at your heels : you are not yet freed from him . Death reigned , it is said , from Adam to Moses : now Adam was made a Living Soul : He had a life to see and know good and evil , but yet he could not come at it , could not reach the Tree of life ; a sword was set to keep him off there : But the second Adam is a quickening Spirit , He hath life in Himself ; He was raised up by the power of God , never to dye more : and this is life indeed . Now how many in the World are there that never yet came to be Living Souls ! to have understanding and light to know good and evil ! but when brought to that , yet there is no freedom from Death : Death reigns from Adam to Moses ; to that farther light , which comes in by the Law opened and read to the Soul : When the Commandment came ( saith Paul ) sin revived , and I dyed : Death yet reigned . And now to be freed from this cruel Tyrant , from eternal Death , and to be made partakers of Life , is an exceeding great and precious mercy : Who can value it !

2. The Man that is alive , is capable of instruction and teaching ; He can hear and learn from others : but the Dead know nothing at all ( saith Solomon : ) while we lie dead in darkness , fears , unbelief , faintings of spirit ; so long we know nothing , hear nothing ; we are capable of nothing of the minde of God : All is confused and without order in this land of Death . What is the reason ( think you ) there is such a stupid , senceless , careless Heart upon you ; not an ecchoing back , as was in Davids Heart ; When Thou saidst , Seek my face , My Heart answered , Thy face Lord will I seek ? Why is not this minde , and quickness , and breathings of Truth in you ? Why , you are dead : Death reigns , sin hath dominion ; you are not yet freed from that body of Death : For were you but alive , it were impossible but you should hear the voyce of the Son of God : Truth would touch you ; and that is the first thing to be done , to give you life , and then sense and hearing will follow . But you are now as unsensible at times as a post in the house ; and therefore you come and go , and come and go , and nothing is done ; why ? because you are under death : It is not yet the time of Life ; and He will make us know we cannot quicken our own souls . Adam would have been reaching to the Tree of Life when his Eyes were opened to know Good and Evil : I , but a flaming sword is set , turning every way , to keep the Tree of Life : and if ever Adam live again , it must be upon other terms ; He must be raised by another power , and that freely of gift : For he is now a dead man , and cannot quicken his own Soul , unless that quickening spirit of Life be put within : and here lies the great strait , to lie at the mercy of another , whether He will ever again give life or not ; and if he will , yet it must be in his own time too , and not ours : and therefore the Church is at a strait , and complains , There was none could tell her how long : How long we must lie in the dust , in our graves , before Life shall be given , we know not : we cannot get it out of his hand . Truth would never be good and sweet if we could attain it by our reachings . Many may press in to take the Kingdom by violence and stealth , but the Examiner will come ; Friend , how came you in hither ? But of a certain this Promise of Life is given to some of us ; Hear O Earth , for the Lord hath spoken : The word is gone forth , that you shall surely be visited at the Time of Life ; and till this be accomplished you cannot be capable of instruction : Your reason and thoughts cannot reach it , but are to sit silent in your graves till Christ shall call , Lazarus , come forth ; and so life be given and put within : and this will be an eternal Life , never to dye any more ; Death is no more to have dominion , but yet it reigns . This is your hour ( saith Christ ) and the power of darkness ; and whilest this government is up , and those noises of Hell are within , we cannot hear the voyce of Truth ; till the Soul is freed from the stormy wind and tempest , and a calm be made . We many times go about to quicken our selves , and get life at our own hands , and so reach up hopes , and conclusions , and promises to bear up a while : but alass ! all must down again ; we must to our center , to our graves , till the spirit of Life be put in . We are asking what we should do , and what is our way ? as if then we could easily turn and do it ; but alass , there is a mistake in the bottom , Life must first be given us , and we must rest in our graves till then , and sit in silence in our darkness and bonds till we are freed ; and that is our way , if indeed we would know it : but how foolish and preposterous are we ! we would be walking before we are made alive . But then ,

3. A man that is alive , as He is capable of Instruction and teaching , so he is fit for any employment , to speak , and walk , and act what is set before him : He may run the ways of Gods Commandments ; He may speak well of God : The Living He shall praise thee ( saith Hezekiah : ) The father to the children shall make known thy Truth : Then indeed there will be a capableness of that other precious Promise , to be partakers of Godliness , to walk with God , to be of his Councel . But now is a dead man fit company for God ? Can God have fellowship with such as lie stinking in their graves ? Is there any communion to be had with dry bones ? Can you have any content and pleasure in a dead mans presence ? No : you must first be partakers of Life , before you can partake of Godliness ; to have his minde and nature and disposition in you . God commanded Moses to speak to the people , not to break into the Mount to gaze , lest they were destroyed : We are reaching to come neer and neer , and plead for it , to be taken in to know the minde and counsels of Truth : Alass , we are not fit ! Can we dwell with everlasting burning ? Can we come neer God , and not be consumed ? Alass ! we know not what we have desired : The old bottles would burst in pieces if this new wine should be put in . There must be a new Life given before that new minde can grow : Before we ●●n partake of godliness , to have that God-like minde in all things , to love Justice and Mercy , and walk humbly with our God , we must first be Living Men : And it is but yet a promise to us , though it be exceeding great and precious ; the Thing is yet to be done : and therefore that which concerns us at present , is , to sit still in our graves , in our bonds and darkness and sorrows , till He calls us ; as They told the blind man ; Be of good cheer , for He calleth Thee : In the mean time it is in vain , and dangerous for us , to run and gaze .

These precious Promises are not made to all ; I would not have you all thrust in as sharers : you may come and gaze for fashion-sake , but I know there are among you in whom the love of God is not ; as Christ said to the Jews ; I know you have not the love of God abiding in you : You come not out of a love to Truth , or minde to be instructed , but either as to hear a matter of news , or to lie at catch to make a mischief . Therefore beware what you do , God will not be mocked by you ; It is dangerous tampering in Holy things with a deceitful heart ; we have payd dearly for it amongst us : and He will surely divide between thoughts and intentions , and separate betwixt the sheep and the goats . He hath indeed promised all things belonging to Life , Godliness , Glory and Vertue , but to whom ? Whereby are given TO VS ( saith the Apostle ) exceeding great and precious Promises : TO VS , and not to all . And ,

1. That Promise of Life ; I told you what it was to Live : to be freed of all snares and bonds and fears of Death , which keep down the Soul a close Prisoner , that it can stir neither hand nor foot : But none will come in here but such as are close hunted and put out of all their holes and shiftings , that they can no ways get Life at their own hand : For so long as there is any fhift , that we can either get up hopes , or prayers , or desires , or resolutions of our own ; so long we are not dead men ; as God saith , Thou hast abased thy self to Hell , yet hast Thou not said , There is no hope : And till a man be dead , there is no need of raising Him to Life : and now to live , is to be brought out of the grave , and recovered by this free word of Promise . You all live , and walk , and act , but upon what terms ? Is it by this Promise of Life given to Abraham ? Have your lives been given you ? Have you been raised up by the same power that raised up Jesus ? Christ saith , All that the Father hath given me shall come unto me ; and I will raise them up at the last day : They shall be raised up ; and when ? at the last day , not presently : The best wine is not brought out first , but at the last Day : When Christ who is your Life shall appear , then shall you also appear with him in glory : and this is an exceeding precious Promise indeed , to as many as God hath given it ; but not by any's thrusting themselves in that were never bidden : The King will come and look over his guests , and finde the man without the wedding garment .

2. The second great and precious Promise is of Godliness ; to have a God-like minde , to be Just , Patient , Merciful , Single , Holy as God is Holy , &c. to be knowing , and in the light as he is in the light ; to be fashioned into the very minde of the Father . This is godliness that hath great gain belonging to it , having the promises of this life and that which is to come ; to submit thus , to be God-like in all things , to pray indeed , Thy Will be done in Earth , as it is in Heaven ; We would have our wills reign and be done in Heaven , as they are in Earth : We would have Gods minde come to ours , and Heaven stoop to Earth : There is something yet dear to us that we save and keep alive , and would not every where and in all cases be like to God : But this is the onely happiness and content , to attain this life of godliness , for a people to joyn together in one heart and Soul , strengthening and building up one another in their most holy Faith , provoking one another to good works , seeking the good of one another as their own , and ready to lay down their lives for their Brother . How many people have we seen in our day to change and altar their Gods according to their own thoughts and imaginations ! as the complaint was against Israel ; According to thy Cities , so are thy Gods , O Israel ; such a changing , tossing , and variable thing is in the heart of man : but where the minde of God is planted , and spreads it self forth in the Soul , and makes it partaker of Godliness , that is a standing principle , abiding for ever .

3. A third great and precious promise is , to be partakers of Glory ; There is a glory that follows and flows from godliness ; Moses face shone when he came down from God : and the Church in her worst day , yet says of her self , I am black , but comely : and Christ yet owns and calls Her , O thou fairest among women ! And I am confident , however we are found in our selves weak and foolish , and sinners ; yet we sit in the Consciences of our worst Enemies , if they would speak their hearts freely , That sure we are beyond them , and honester then They : There is something that judges , and gets above them , do what they can : and however they envy , hate , and oppose , and will not stoop under it , yet such a glory there is in the Truth , such a lustre and shining , as will manifest it self : and therefore the promise is , The Righteous shal shine as the Sun in the firmament .

4. The fourth great and precious Promise is to be Partakers of Vertue : Now Vertue is either taken for a quick and lively fresh power in any thing ; as when we say , such an herb is full of vertue to smell on , or such meat is full of vertue to taste on : or else Vertue is some secret hidden power , which can neither be smelt nor tasted , but yet is perceived . As in the Loadstone there is a hidden vertue to draw Iron , &c. So there is a lively Vertuous Power in the Word of Life , it will take some effect or other , and not return in vain ; for either it meets with its own kind in us , and that relishes and tastes , and finds a sweetness in it ; as David says , Thy Word is sweeter unto me then the honey and the honey-comb ; It is a sweet smelling savour to that , a savour of life unto life ; but if it meet with the enemy , that evil principle in us , that curses , and rages , and rends , and teers the child at the sight of Jesus , it is a savour of death unto death to That . Who ever they are that neither taste a sweetness in Truth , nor smell a savour of rest from it ; yet there is a secret vertue that will cut them to the heart . Nabal's heart dyes and faints in him , do what he can ; It strikes a secret blow , and gets in between the joynts of the armour : There is a living vertue in it , and like a potion of Physick it will work one way or other , either make better or worse . And thus the first thing is opened to you , What are these great and precious Promises ? And before I come to the next thing , to open what it is to partake of the Divine Nature , I would have this I have said well looked over by you : For who of you is yet fit to be marryed to Christ ? He will not take another mans wife : whilest we have a husband living , any created thing , in whose bosom we lie , and take delight and pleasure , so long we are not a wife for Christ ; and if our hearts be pulled off by force only , and the way hedged up , that we cannot find our Lovers , this is not that which pleaseth him neither ; He will not marry a divorced woman , but only a chaste Virgin , a Heart that stands loose and clean from all corruptible things , such a heart only is a fit Spouse for Christ , to be Partaker of this divine Nature . But ,

1. It concerns some of you to enquire what ●it is you seek , Life or Death : None of you , I know , will say Death ; you would all have Life . But what then mean the bleatings ? the cryings and huntings after perishing Things , where Death is in the pot ? Why are you living in the creatures , in your own wills and counsels ? Why are you not at a strait to cry out to be saved , if Life be the Thing you seek ? There are many Seekers in the World ; the Greeks seek after wisdom , and the Jews they seek a sign : some seek ease , and quiet , and rest from their torment ; some seek wisdom , and knowledg , and parts , to be great and honoured ; but Death is in all this . See then what would you have ? Is Life the thing you seek for ? or have you it already ? If you are partakers of Life indeed , then the rest will follow : Godliness will then come in , a God-like mind , to be just , single , merciful , holy , like to the Pattern ; and then Glory will follow , your good works will shine before men , and then a vertue will go forth which may be savored and relished in all your words and actions . But now do these things appear in us ? what is it we seek ? what would we have ? is Life the Thing ? would we have Christ to dwell in us ? No , we would not all come so near ; we would have Christ a great way off , at the right hand of God , to save us at the last gasp , when we come to dye , but not live the life of the Righteous : But be not deceived , it is in vain to come hither , if we seek not Life . But then ,

2. Suppose a stress be upon you , that indeed you would reach out to the Tree of Life , because you are smit to the ground , and cannot escape the hand , but it will bring you to Death do what you can : But now enquire upon what grounds wouldst thou have Life ? upon what account ? why dost thou hope or expect it ? is it promised to thee ? is the word gone forth from Christ , that He will raise thee up at the last day ? what ground have you to hope more then all the world ? though you may seek it , yet that will not do it neither . Esau sought the blessing with tears : And ( Christ saith ) Many shall seek to enter , and shall not be able : And ( Paul saith ) That Israel obtained not what they sought after , but the Election obtained it . There is a People which shall surely be Partakers of Life , to whom the Promise is made , but no other : The Promise is sure to all the Seed ; therefore see , how standest thou in all thy seeking and hoping for Life ? Hadst thou ever a Promise of Life given thee , either to thy self , witnessed to thy own Soul , or given to any of his People for thee , that Thou shalt Live ? &c. For a vain thing it is , to go and take Promises up out of the Scripture , and make them our own : Promises made to Abraham , and David , and the rest , what are these to thee ? unless God make them over , and give them to thee , as He did to them . And then ,

3. Enquire what would you have Life for ? would you have it to please your selves ? to live to your wills ? to be at ease , and be freed from troubles ? Alas , this is not a right seeking of it ! As Jehu answered the Kings messenger concerning Peace , What hast thou to do with Peace ? So , what hast thou to do with Life ? it belongs not to thee , unless there be that end in it , to live for anothers service , and not thy own : Therefore it is of great concernment to know what we are about . I wonder sometimes on what uncertain bottoms you stand ; you know not whither you go , nor what you would have in all your hearings ; but like the picture of a rampant Lyon on the wall , come seven years hence , and that is still in the same place : So I have known some of you these many years , to be Seekers , and Professors , and Talkers , but you are still where you were seven years ago , as carnal , sensual , as blind & ignorant in the ways of God , as much glued to the world , and seeking your selves , not removed a step nearer God then you were , &c.

But then ,

For some of you , whom indeed I know , and who yet lie dead in your graves , fast bound in chains and fetters , under darkness , and fears , and sorrows , and are no ways able ever to get out ; to you this promise of Life is made , That God will make the dry bones live , and raise you out of your graves . It concerns you to look after it ; For he hath promised , and will perform ; He will surely keep his Word unto Jacob , and his Covenant to Israel . God will say to all that keep us down in chains and bondage , Let my People go , that they may serve me ; Let my Captives go free . The time will come , when he will turn our mourning into joy , and fill our tongues with laughter , and our mouths with praises , when he shall bring back the Captivity of Israel , when the Time of Life is come .

And now it followeth to go on , That you might be made Partakers of the Divine Nature : All this I have spoken of , is to pass upon the Soul before there can be this partaking of the Divine Nature , to be joyned in , and married to it : There may be somewhat of Life , and Godliness , and Glory , and Vertue springing in the Soul , but yet it may be but one alone , as a chaste Virgin indeed , single and loose from all , and fit for a Husband , but not yet married ; the House must be thus swept , and provided , and made fit , but yet the King is to come to lodg in it ; It is yet a farther thing to become fruitful , and have children in the Truth ; therefore the next thing to enquire into , is ,

Secondly , What is it to partake of the Divine Nature ?

The Holy Ghost is this Divine Nature spoke of : Now Christ saith , He will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask it ; only to such as ask it , such as are at a strait to cry for it , and only living men can cry and ask , and to them he will give this Holy Spirit : God communicates and gives in to the Soul a Holy Seed , of his own Nature and Being , as really as in the outward generation of a man . A seed must first be given and received , before ever a child can be brought forth : So is it with the Soul , a seed of God must be really planted in , and sown there , somewhat of his own Being and Substance left behind in the Soul , to stay & abide , and grow and spread , or else there can never be fruitfulness expected . If God only come and go as a wayfaring man , and take not up his abode , so long we shall never be setled down to any thing truly unmovable , but up and down , as His coming or going away is . As the Spirit came on Saul , and came on Balaam , so long they prophesied , and spake of God , and were as it were new men ; but the Spirit departs again , and then they are as other men , the same they were before . But now to have God dwell in man , to take up his abode , This is my Rest , here will I dwell for ever , this is a mighty thing indeed .

2. To be made Partakers of the Divine Nature , as it implies an abiding and setled planting in of a seed of God , so it is secondly a known and felt-thing in the Soul ; there is a certain close and meet of the man ; He receives the seed in ; the man is brought to hear , and feel , and know that God is nigh .

3. This Divine Nature , where it is thus given in by God , and received by the man , it brings forth of its own kind and Image : He gives to every seed it s own body . Adam begets a son in his own likeness , natural , and carnal , and earthly , and selfish , having his centre wholly downwards : And so the Lord , He begets Children like Himself , in Patience , Love , Singleness , Justice , Meekness , &c. Where this Divine Nature is sown , it will surely grow up into the likeness of its Father , it will own its Father in its countenance , it will turn the man into the same mind , and will , and desires ; and if not so , yet do the man what he can , whether he will or not , this Truth wil act & stir , and bring forth like it self : and in this it will deal plainly and truly , and shew the man where he is ; it will not be bribed to dawb with untempered morter ; and yet is merciful too , tender-hearted , easie to be entreated , full of all good fruits , &c.

Now then ,

1. This may be of Vse to enquire , what it is we would come to ? would we receive this Divine Nature , and joyn in and be marryed to it ? It is certain you can never have children , nor be fruitful in the Truth , unless you are marryed in here : Though you should be Virgins , and be brought to stand clear and loose from all intanglements , yet you can never have children , to keep your name alive in Israel ; you will live and dye alone , without you are brought to joyn into this Spirit of Christ : Though we may have Fathers and Instructers to care and provide for us , yet that Promise cannot take place , In stead of fathers thou shalt have children , whom thou mayst make Princes in all Lands . We can never leave a seed after us , that may grow up to be Princes in the Truth , to make it spread in the world , and run , and be glorious : but at present we are far from this ; there is a very ill spirit in us , not willing to see another thrive and prosper in the Truth : We would neither enter in our selves , nor suffer them that would . How few of us are yet reached out to this Thing , to long for and desire to be Partakers of the Divine Nature ? We would rather starve , and live on any Husks , any shifts and sharkings , then come near God for a Feast ; our hearts choose rather a Dogs life , hunger and ease . Hungry indeed we are many times , at a want for somewhat ; but if we can get but a little ease in our want , we can bear it , and so the strait gets off ; and this may discover that great ill will that is in us to the thriving and prospering of the Truth , &c.

2. This may inform you what the End of all is ; all the Promises of Life , and Godliness , and Glory , and Vertue , they all tend to this end , That you might be Partakers of the Divine Nature : The Door is yet open , the Promise and Call is yet after you ; It belongs to you , as it did to Ruths kinsman to marry Ruth , and purchase the Inheritance : but if you shall slight it , and say as he did , I cannot redeem it , for it will spoil my own Inheritance ; if we shall answer so , No , we cannot come so near , to partake of the Divine Nature , to dwell with God , He will be a consuming fire , He will cross and spoyl all our wills , and delights , and designs : If we shall thus judg our selves unworthy of eternal Life , then Lo He turns to the Gentiles : He will turn to another people ; for sure He will find out some that will be glad to receive Him , whose Souls will be at a strait , and thirst after the living God . But as yet the Door is open to you ; what is the reason you are no more upon it ? They are exceeding great and precious Promises in themselves , why are they not precious to us ? Sure they would , had we but a Heart . Therefore consider of it , it is offered to you ; and if you shall follow on to know the Lord , you shall surely know Him . Consider , the Door is open , the precious Promises are given to you , of Life and Glory , &c. Why then are you passing away your days on such low , trivial , and dying things ? Josephs blessing was large , reached out to the utmost bounds of the Everlasting Hills ; and why are we so scant-hearted and low in our desires ? Why are we not upon these great and precious Things promised ? and to partake of this Divine Nature , and thence be fruitful in the Truth , and bring forth somewhat that may stand and live for ever after us !

THE SOULS TRUE Wound and Cure . SERM. II. March 30.1651 . HOSEA 6.1 , 2.

Come , and let us return unto the Lord ; for he hath torn , and He will heal us : He hath smitten , and He will binde us up .

After two days will He revive us , in the third day will He raise us up , and we shall live in his Sight , &c.

The Analysis .

IN the words were intimated the three days Works of the Father , Son , and Spirit in their order .

1. The Work of the Father , to pull down and wound , and thither the Return must be , to Him that smiteth . 2. The Work of the Son , to revive ; After two days He will revive us , &c. 3. The Work of the Spirit , to raise ; In the third day He will raise us up , &c.

I. In this Returning three Things are considerable .

1. They that return must truly know they are out of the way ; a true sense of that must be : And that was here in two things : 1. In breaking prison and running from the strait ; The Princes of Judah like them that removed the bound , &c. 2. They were out in seeking to cure themselves before the day came , Hos. 5.13 . but a secret moth blasts all . The Vses were , 1. To look home , whether not our own Case ; have we not removed the Bound ? run from the strait ? and not endured ? &c. 2. To take us off of looking on anothers sin , and keep close to our own strait , lie under our own misery , till delivered . 2. 'T is considerable in this Return ; there must be counsel and calling to it ; Come , and let us return , else not stir a foot . 3. This Return is to the Lord : He that had wounded , He will heal . Many heal themselves , but there is a wound too hard . And these several ways God takes for healing . 1. He removes the ill humor that feeds the sore , Sense and Reason . 2. He asswages the anguish and smart and pain of the Soul , else all in vain . 3. He applies a plaister of loving-kindness and mercy . 4. He points the Soul to wait for the set time , till that come .

II. The second Work is the Sons ; He will revive : After two days He will revive us , &c. And that by these means : 1. He takes off all bonds and chains , fears and perplexities , which keep down the Soul from stiring . 2. He unswadles and opens Himself : I am Joseph your Brother . 3. He preaches Peace and Love ; He , the Prince of Peace . 4. He revives by preaching the everlasting Gospel : the eternal Love and good-will of God to the Soul , this enliveneth .

All was brought home by Vse , to see how much of the work had passed on us there , all the four Pa ticulars .

HOSEA 6.1 , 2 , &c. Come , and let us return unto the Lord ; for He hath torn , and He will heal us , &c.

IN the former Chapter great complaint is made against Israel and Ephraim , that they were Revolters , that they committed whoredom , and will not frame their doings to seek unto their God , Vers. 3 , 4. And this is that misery that befalls such as transgress against the Lord , that received not the Truth in the love of it , that obeyed not counsel ; the Hand of the Lord will surely meet with such ; He will teer and wound them : There shall be no peace to the wicked . When Israel was a child , then I loved Him , saith God ; then He was tender , and soft , and pliable to be ordered : but as They called them , so They went from them , Hosea 11.2 . As the Prophets called them indeed to come up , and come nigh God , then there is a going backward from Him ; He is bent to a back-sliding heart : But Israel and Ephraim shall be sure to be dealt with and made desolate : A Time comes wherein God will meet with Him . The Pride of Israel testifies to his face ; therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity : v. 5. And this is our case ; The Pride hath been such , we thought we had been Some-body , and could live alone of our selves ; and like the Prodigal have asked to have our portion , and we would be gone and shift for our selves : But alass ! all is soon spent with riotous living , and desolation and famine have come upon us , rendings and teerings , perplexities , disquiets and troubles in all our ways . I will be unto Ephraim as a Lion ; I will teer , and go away ; I will take away , and none shall rescue : Hos. 5.14 . And when thus it shall be in the midst of the Land , when this is the Souls condition , to be rent and torn by God , and then left and forsaken , that He cannot be found , but He hides Himself ; though Job go forward and backward , to the right hand and to the left , yet He is gone and cannot be found . He feeds among the lillies ( ●aith the Church ) until the day dawn , and the shadows fly away : As if she should say , Alass , I am unclean , but He feeds among the clean ones , among the Lillies that are spotless , the Lillies that grow without toyling and caring , there are his walks ; but I am no company for him , He is withdrawn from Me , until the day dawn , &c. This is a hard day indeed , when the Soul is left in this desolate case ; there is now need to think of returning : The Prophet He feels the need , and therefore calls to the People , Come and let us return to the Lord . And so all along the Scriptures , the Prophets are brought in as sensible and crying under the misery , though their People were senceless , and careless , and stupid . How do Isaiah , Jeremiah , Samuel , Hosea , and so all the Prophets , stand in the gap for their people , and call upon them in their desolation to come in and return to the Lord ! But whom do they call to return ? not all men , not such as never was nigh to the Lord ; No : Onely Ephraim , and Israel , and Judah , his own people , that have been once nigh , and are backslidden , and turned Prodigals from their fathers house : Onely to such is the Call ; and in the worst time of all , when torn , and wounded , and left of God : ( yet , saith the Prophet , ) Come , and let us return to the Lord ; for He hath torn , and He will heal , &c.

In this Return these things are considerable .

First , They that return know surely that They are out of the way : the Soul must first be made truly knowing and sensible of that , when it is met with in its gaddings , as Hagar was by the Angel , and examined strictly ; Whence comest Thou Hagar ? and whither wilt Thou go ? Thou art quite out of the way in flying from thy Mistress Sarah : Return , and submit unto her . The going out is thus clearly opened and layd upon the Soul .

But wherein were They gone out of the way , that

They are called on to return ?

1. They were out of the way , in that they broke prison , and ran away from the strait ; as Chap. 5.10 . The Princes of Judah were like them that remove the Bound : A Bound was set to keep them in a narrower compass , that God might the better come nigh to deal with them : as it is in Job ; If They be bound in fetters , and holden in the cords of affliction ; then He sheweth man his sin , and his transgression , how he hath exceeded : Then is a time when God can come neer to search and dress the sore , when the Soul is layd fast from running away ; when it is held in the Bond of the spirit , then the heart is opened , the wickedness discovered , what a wretched case man is in , hopeless and helpless . And this is the way God takes to hide pride from mans eyes , and lay him low in the dust . And how have we gone out of the way in this ? We have removed the Bond , and run away , and would not endure the strait , nor stick to our conditions , to lie so low , and wretched , and helpless : We have flown out from this , and said as They , No , but we are Lords , and will come no more at him . Here have we turned out ; and if ever we return , we must come in sensibly guilty under this , of removing the Bound , and running away from our conditions , living at our hands and own counsels at a distance from God . And now here it is needful for all of you to enquire , how it stands with you ? Have you all turned out here in removing the Bound ? or were you yet never in it ? I know some of you were never as yet in this Bond of the Spirit , but have been left to your own wills , and runnings of heart , and never yet were brought to this narrow compass . But some of you , I know , have removed this Bound , have got from your sin , and guilt , and misery , when opened to you : You have turned your eyes away from your own sore , and looked asquint on anothers faults , and pryed into their miscarriages ; have spyed out the mote there , but would not see the beam in our own eye , but have covered that close , and hid it : and therfore is the stroke now come upon us . God hath found us out , though man could not ; and there is a secret moth hath eaten and consumed us , and spoyled all our good , because we have run away , and would not endure the bond to be put upon us . I know assuredly the time when God would have brought some of you to a strait , that nothing should have contented you without the knowledg of the Love of God ; what the eternal thoughts are concerning you , and what should become of us in the latter end , that we might not live on notions , or words , or knowledg , or operations , nor any thing short of this : but here have we broke away , and would not endure to come at it . But ,

2. They were out of the way in going about to cure themselves before the day came , the time of deliverance : Chap. 5.13 . When Ephraim saw his sickness , and Judah his wound , then went Ephraim to the Assyrian , and sent to King Jareb ; yet He could not heal you : such a reaching hath there been after ease and cure and deliverance before the time was come ; Therefore ( saith God ) I will be as a moth and rottenness to Ephraim : a secret hand hath followed us , as David says ; I am consumed by the blow of thy hand : a secret consumption , and mouldring away , and coming to nothing ; and of all deaths this is most miserable , to dye so by degrees , fall in pieces , and melt away to nothing like a snail : and thus hath the Lord dealt with us , such a wasting and decaying hath been upon us , but yet the thing is not layd heart : None speaks aright , nor says , What have I done ? what is the cause of this desolation ? Why is the hand against me ? How hath a secret moth eaten up all our good ? Time was there was a tender conscience , an awe of spirit , and fear to offend , a watchfulness over all our ways , and thoughts , and words ; but now all is gone : The Lord hath smitten us , and our flower fadeth .

And now if this were indeed but sensibly upon us , it would make us look home , and not have our eyes in every corner ▪ to pry into one anothers failings ; but it would be work enough to look on our own guilt , to see how we have broke the bonds , and got away from owning our shame , and lying under our misery , and have not stayd till we were washed from our blood , but have washed our selves , and forced our selves ( as Saul did ) to offer sacrifice , when we heard but a report of deliverance : Behold , this is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the World : Yea presently we reckoned all this our own , and clambered up to get into the liberty , before we were called for our of our prisons ; and we must therefore down again to our bonds : we were but an untimely birth , and must not live to see the Sun . We tarryed not in our graves till that word came from Christ , Damosel , Arise ; Lazarus , Come forth ; but we broke away by force , as a Servant runs from his Master ; and that shews we broke from him , in that there is no heart to return : we never cared for the Lord , nor loved him since , but as we have been forced to Him for a little ease ; and when we have got that , we have been gone presently , and cared for no more .

Secondly , The second Thing considerable in this Return , is from the Call and Counsel of the Prophet , Come , and let us return , &c. Being once out , we cannot return of our selves without counsel : The Soul knows not what to do , nor which way to turn , being once lost , it is in such an amaze ; so foolish a thing is man : and therefore if we are never brought to that strait , to cry out for some to counsel , and lead , and tell us what to do , Men and Brethren , what shall we do to be saved ? without this there will be no returning .

For out we are got , that is certain , and have miserably lost our selves : For some of us were formerly truly touched and visited , and taken out of the world , were made to see and understand the vanity of our former ways , and in what a miserable and dangerous estate we lay , if the Lord stept not in to help us out ; and whether this would ever be or not , we knew not ; and here we were made to own , and bow , and lie under our conditions as undone Persons , if Mercy help'd not out : Thus we lay low for a time under this bond ; but soon as ever we heard a report of Deliverance , and were pointed out to it , as John pointed to Christ , Behold the Lamb of God , &c. Here is one that can cure you , and bring you out , This is the Saviour of the World ; when a Light came to shew us this , we presently reached at it , and called all our own , and would not lie in our misery till he called us to come , till the Lord Himself delivered us ; but thought now that we saw the medicine lie before us , we were wise enough to take it , and to cure our selves ; we thought we could now live of our selves , without being beholding to God ; that our Light and Instruction into the Truth , that the sight of Salvation had been enough : And here we went out like Prodigals , till all was spent , and Poverty came upon us as an armed man : We got out , and promised our selves liberty and ease , ( as Paul saith of some , ) who promising liberty , Themselves became the servants of corruption . We were the farther off , and the more entangled ; that which Job speaks of , If I wash my self ( saith he ) mine own clothes shal defile me : We have indeed washed and washed our selves , but that will not do ; we put on our own clothes again , and we are presently all dirt , as bad as ever : Here hath been our going out , and now we are out , we would never stir home again . But the Call and Counsel is to us , Come , and let us return ; That Charge is layd against us , Thou hast forsaken thy first Love ; remember whence thou art fallen , and repent . This I speak is a Deep Parable , if the Soul be not led in , to read the meaning : The Hypocrite he cannot know it ; he will ever be hoping and clambering up some way or other to get life , and never endure these bonds , though he perish for ever ; and how many are thus utterly lost ! And the Sons of God They cannot know this neither , until it cost them dear , till a dart strike through their Liver : They will taste of the Whores dainties , of her sweet morsels , till they are made to vomit all up again , and lose the sweet words . We have taken up words of Scripture , and Hopes , and Promises to our selves , but who gave us them ? The Door was open , and we thought we might venture in , and take what we pleased . But the Spouse could give a better account ; He brought me into the banqueting house , &c. Did He thus take us by the hand , and bring us in ? No , no , we thrust in without the wedding garment ; we stayd not till the Angel was sent to roul away the stone from the mouth of the Sepulchre , till Christ Himself came to loosen the Prison doors , and let the Captives go free . And now to all you that have thus turned out , and therefore have had a blast , a mildew , a secret moth consuming and destroying all your greenness , and liveliness , and freshness in the Truth , ( for how dead and sapless do you now lie ! ) to you yet is this Counsel given , and the Call made , Come , and let us return to the Lord , for he hath smitten , &c. Lie under the hand , and turn to him that smites you . And that is ,

Thirdly , The third Thing considerable in this Return , It is to the Lord , who hath wounded , that he may heal . Many they are wounded indeed , but they can heal themselves ; run to the Promises , and wariness , and resolvings , and they are presently whole : But when the Lord wounds indeed with the wound of a cruel one , when he rends , and teers , and goes away , then shall no healing medicine be found out ; when God comes to a strict enquiry once , and searches Jerusalem with candles , looks into every dark corner , and asks for an account of the bottom of the matter ; if we know what shall become of us for ever , how our everlasting Condition hangs , whether all we have , all the strong reasons , and hopes , and conclusions from the operations , and enlargements , and powers of Truth , will all these prove our condition good for ever ? Was not Saul also among the Prophets ? and was not the Spirit of God upon Balaam ? and yet both fell short . I wonder sometimes how we can pass it over from day to day , and not consider what the end shall be ; but it is because the wound is not deep , we have no sense to feel , but are like a post in the wall : but when He shall wound home indeed , and strike the blow to the heart , then it will seize ; it shall not be so easie getting from it ; then , if ever we be cured , the same hand must do it that struck the Blow , all other Physicians will be of no value : but , Come , let us return to the Lord , for he hath torn , and he will heal , &c.

And He will heal us . Now ,

What Ways doth the Lord take to Cure this Wound ?

1. The first Way to cure a Wound throughly , is by removing the ill humor that feeds and maintains the sore , else all plaisters and salves applyed to heal are in vain , and to no purpose . So God deals with the Soul ; He goes first to the Root , to stench the corrupt humor , the bitter Fountain that feeds and supplies all the streams ; Sensse and Reason they have been the ill humor which have fed the sore all along , whilest we could wring , and wrestle , and murmur , and complain against God , saying , Why hath he made me thus ? Why hath he brought us into this Wilderness to destroy us ? Who hath resisted his Will ? Whilest these pleadings and reasonings live , 't is impossible our conditions should be mended ; these will fester and corrupt , use what means we will for healing ; therefore God promiseth , I will heal their back-slidings ; that way He takes when he intends a Cure . Whilest we go about to cure our selves , and flee upon Horses , because they are swift , so long the case grows worse with us , the wound encreaseth ; but stand still , and see the Salvation of God , saith Moses : Let him alone , and He will never leave , till he hath met with the bitter Root that spoyls all our prospering .

2. Another way of healing a wound , is by taking away or asswaging the extremity of the anguish and smart of the sore , else the violence of the pain will let nothing take place : So is it with the Soul , sometimes there is such an extremity of anguish that perplexes and torments it , that nothing of hope or encouragement can come near it : When it is made to look over all its rebellions , and standings out , and provocations , what it hath done , how it hath grieved the Holy Spirit , and refused mercy , and brought all this that it now lies under on its own head ; You may thank your self for this , saith the Accuser , this is your own will , and way , and choyce ; and this causes a felt anguish and torture in the Soul , when all circumstances come up of sins done seven years since , as if but newly acted : How Thou provokedst God , and broke prison at such a time , and slightedst and turnedst back : This eats , and corrodes , and frets the Soul , and gives it no rest , to hear , or hope , or beleeve any thing from God . And therefore this is the next Thing God doth in going to cure ; He removes all the guilt , and sin , and shame , and unbelief , that lay upon the Soul , and lays all upon the scape-goat , to be carryed into the land of forgetfulness ; that though the iniquity of Judah and Israel be sought for , yet it cannot be found : I will remember their sin no more ( saith God ; ) and this pacifies and asswages the pain , and calms the Soul : He makes the storm a calm , and so brings them to their desired haven , &c.

3. Another way God takes in healing , is , by applying a plaister of mercy and loving-kindness : Then He speaks kindly and friendly to the Soul , comes with words of peace ; he comes enquiring , Is there no balm in Gilead ? is there no Physician there ? Is not the Lord in Zion ? is not her King in her ? The Lord opens to the Soul a soveraign Balm that can heal all sores : He discovers his Son the Lord Jesus , that seed of Truth that lies within ; This is my well-beloved Son , in whom I am well pleased . Now He comes gently to the Soul , and moves and stirs in it ; not altogether to despair and cut off it self from hope ; but an enquiry is made in the Soul , Is not the Lord in Zion ? Is there not hope in Israel concerning this thing ? However desperate the case seems , yet hope gets up ; Who can tell but he may be gracious ? It is one thing to have Truth manifested to be within the Soul , and another thing to have the use and enjoyment of it ; one thing to have a healing plaister applyed , and another thing to be healed : In the third day He will raise us up , and we shall live in his sight : To be raised out of this pit of mire and clay , out of this dark dungeon , to live in his sight ; to be brought out of darkness into his marvelous light , this is wonderful ! And how beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tydings of peace ! These good tydings are a sweet reviving plaister to the dying Soul . When just now at the brink of the Pit ; and the Life draws nigh to the grave ; then for an Interpreter to come , one of a thousand , to shew to Man his righteousness , to open that seed and principle of Life that is within , and so save his life from going down to the pit ; Is not such a Balm as this able to cure all wounds ? how doth this calm and quiet the Soul , and beget admirings ! O who would ever think any good should grow here ! that Truth should lie hid in such a filthy , defiled and polluted heart ! as Jacob breaks forth , God was in this place , and I knew it not : and Hagar , I did not think to have met with the Lord here : What! when all hope of life is gone , yet then to have salvation and deliverance opened ; out of the Eater to have meat ; in the midst of all guilt and shame and sin and lusts that oppress and torment , yet to have this opened , That such a Soul as this is no less then the gate of Heaven , where God and Angels are to pass in and out ; This is a pleasant plaister indeed : This heals the dying inwards , when it is given in by God , not taken up by mans gatherings , and conclusions , and hopings , as all the healings before were .

4. The Lord heals this sore by setting a time , appointing a day for deliverance , and putting the Soul in a posture of waiting till that come : so the Angel opens to Daniel , Seventy weeks are determined , to finish transgression , and to bring in everlasting Righteousness . And so in the Psalms , the Church pleads with God , that It is time to have mercy upon Zion , yea the set time is come : But what is this set time for Zion to be built ? Why , it follows , For it pities thy servants to see her stones lie scattered in the dust . This is the set time , when the hearts of any are raised to pity and take to heart the desolation and ruines of Zion : and when the Soul is pitched upon this , to lie in the dust , lost and scattered , and undone as it is , till the heart of some or other be raised to pity it . It is impossible you should ever be brought forth as children of the Truth , unless the Heart of some be turned towards you to be a Father ; as the Text saith of Elias , He shall turn the hearts of Fathers to Children , and Children to their Fathers . The Soul is layd down here , it cannot get up it self , but must lie wounded and half dead , till some good Samaritan pass by and take it up ; and this is the greatest tryal and hardest thing to bear , that ever could come to mans heart , That He must lie thus buckled and submitted to another , till his Brother come to pity and take him up : And now if the heart scorns , and will not come in here to be thus beholding to another , it may lie long enough , and not yet the time of healing is come : If thou scornest , thou alone shalt bear it : if thou scorn this thing , to lie as thou art till the heart of some father be turned to thee , thou mayst go long enough without cure : But the Soul that God hath indeed pitched upon this , as the way for its cure , that , is ever looking when some shall turn in to pity it , and ask how it doth , and take it out of the dirt where it sticks fast ; and therefore it is ever crying out , Is it nothing to you , all ye that pass by ? Is there none that mindes my sorrows ? Was ever grief like mine ? And is there none to pity and lay my case to heart , and travel , and pray , and cry for me ! Such a breaking out is there , not murmuringly nor commandingly , but bewailing and crying out , out of the sense of misery , and longing for cure ; O that there were some to pity ! Nothing else can content , because it is pitched upon that as the way for its cure ; all other plaisters cannot reach the sore : and therefore it cries for some to help it , as the blinde man cryed after Christ ; Thou Son of David , have mercy on me : and no rebukes from others , to hold his peace and be still , can prevail with him , but still the cry goes on , till the cure is done .

But it followeth :

After two days He will raise us up , and we shall live , &c.

The second days work now follows , the day of reviving ; no man shall seek the Lord in vain . The Prophet here invites & calls to come and return : and if any shall be prevailed with , they shall not lose their labor in the Lord : Verily there is a reward for the Righteous : Mark the upright man , and consider the perfect ; for the end of that man is peace . After two days He will revive such as return , and in the third day He will raise them up ; and this is a strange cure indeed , for such a wound to be so soon cured , in two days ! This is wonderful ; when , as David cries out , My wounds stink , and are corrupt ; when , with onah , the Soul lies in the bottom of Hell , and cries out , The Earth with her bars is about me for ever ; when all hope of life is taken away , and the Soul concludes , My wound is incurable ; yet within two days a cure is wrought , the case is altered ; the man possessed with a Devil now sits at the feet of Jesus , sober and clothed . Here is a Physician of value indeed ; That when Peter sleeps fast bound between two Souldiers , and the next day 't is concluded He should be brought forth to be executed ; then in a nick of time an Angel is sent , the chains fall off , and the iron gates open of their own accord , and Peter is delivered ; At midngiht a cry was heard , The Bridegroom cometh . In a moment , in a time unthought of , the stream is turned : Though grief endure for a night , yet joy cometh in the morning : 't is soon done , but a word with Christ ; Peace , be still , and a great calm is wrought : Speak but the word ( saith the Centurion ) and my servant shall be healed . After two days He will revive us . But ,

How doth He revive ? what way takes He to it ?

1. He takes off all the bonds and chains and fetters that hamper and keep down the Soul : He lets the Prisoners go free , and so makes a release . The Enemy comes in , with many fears and perplexities , and mists of darkness , and hard conclusions ; Sure God hath forsaken and left me for ever ; I shall come to nothing ; He hath brought me into this wilderness to destroy me : These bonds lie hard , and oppress and keep down the Soul . But now Christ comes and discharges the Enemy , and takes him that doth let and will let out of the way : All iniquity is made to stop her mouth ; and the poor hath hope : And this is one way he takes to revive .

2. Christ revives and chears the Soul by unswadling and opening Himself to it : I am Joseph your Brother : And this revives the heart indeed , when Christ is opened and revealed to be within , when the Soul is made to see it is of kinde to Christ , of the same stock , having the same Father : He that sanctifies , and they that are sanctified , are all of one . When this is opened , that there can be a clear witnessing , This is the voyce of my Beloved ; This is He my Soul longed for : He is come , He is come , as the Martyr cryed out at the stake : and they in Isaiah , This is our God , we have waited for him ; we will rejoyce and be glad in his Salvation . This is a reviving Cordial .

3. He revives the Soul by preaching Peace and good-will to it : When this voyce comes nigh , Peace be to this house : Christ is called the Prince of peace , and none can speak peace to the Soul but He onely ; and before He comes and gets up in the heart , there is nothing but mists and darkness and confusions , perplexities and troubles , which vex and disquiet the Soul : but Christ comes preaching Peace to them that are nigh , and them that are afar off : That message is brought by an Angel , Peace be on Earth , and good-will towards men . And this revives the heart , to have these glad tydings of peace published , to have peace in all thy ways , peace at home , and peace abroad , peace in thy coming in , and peace in going out : Her ways are ways of pleasantness , and all her paths are peace . This is a way of sweetness indeed .

4. He revives the Soul by preaching the everlasting Gospel to it . There is a Gospel , and an everlasting Gospel ; the Gospel is offered , and tendred , and preached to all , to every Creature ; I , but the everlasting Gospel , the tydings of that everlasting Love and good-will to the Soul , this is another manner of Gospel , to have this preached by Christ , Fear not little flock , It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom : This takes and revives the heart , and chears and strengthens it , and makes it able to run through all snares and bonds and intanglements , when this everlasting good-will is preached , which shall sound in the Ears to all Eternity . And this is the second days work : After two days He will revive us , &c.

And before I leave this , I would you should enquire and see , whether you have ever known this work of Christ or not ? Hath the Son ever revived you ?

1. Hath Christ ever set the Prisoner free in you ? Hath he taken you out of the Lions mouth ? Hath He broke all your bonds and chains , fears and scruples , and unbelief , all silenced and stopped ? Have you known this time , when the strong man was bound , and cast out , and spoyled of all his armor ? Did ever the Father lift up his Son in your view ? Were you ever yet removed out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of his dear Son ? The Light might shine upon you in the first days work , in the work of the Father , as the light shines upon a wall , but enters not through it : The Light shined in the Darkness , but the Darkness comprehended it not . But now see , hath he translated you out of the Kingdom of Darkness into his marvelous Light ? If you are not made to know clearly and distinctly where you stand , and what hath passed upon you , and what not ; without this you can never go forward , unless this Son be manifest in you , this Deliverer sent from Heaven , who hath the keyes with him to open all doors , and take off all bonds and fetters of fear and unbelief .

2. Have you ever known the time when Christ unswadled and opened Himself unto you ? Can you tell the day and time and place and strait you were at , when this was opened clearly , I am Joseph your Brother ? This was a reviving indeed ; if your Souls ever had such an Answer as this in such a strait , this would call , and raise up from the dead . And then ,

3. Have you ever heard that everlasting Gospel of Love and good-will preached ? That you are indeed his chosen , that you have a seed of his own in you , that you were chosen in the well-beloved before the foundations of the World were layd ? However we may lean , and hope , and expect , and promise our selves , yet till this everlasting Gospel be preached to us , we are but uncertain in the bottom of all , and , for ought we know , may be for ever miserable .

Who is to be Feared ; OR The True Ground of Fear . SERM. III. April 6. 1651. MATTH. 10.28 . And fear not them that can kill the Body , and are not able to kill the Soul ; but rather fear Him that is able to destroy both Soul and Body in Hell .
The Analysis .

SEven Things in general were observed out of the words .

I. Who are They that will kill the Body ?

They are hinted out Vers. 17 , 21. Beware of men . And they are ranked into four sorts .

1. Governors , Which are set to defend and protect ; yet beware of these , they shall be against you . 2. Kings , Which are set to defend and protect ; yet beware of these , they shall be against you . 3. Brethren : Brother shall betray Brother to Death , &c. 4. Children : and Children against their Parents , &c. This wonderful unnatural ; yet all made true in our own experience .

II. What is it to kill the Body ? what ways may they take to do that ?

1. By taking away estate and means , which maintain the Body . 2. By reproaches and evil reports , that none will Trade with us . 3. By binding our hands , that we may not defend our selves . 4. By ensnaring and making an evil of our words . 5. By tentering the Law to the utmost , that no stirring , but we may be found offenders . 6. By false witness , as against Christ , when He innocent . 7. They may kill by their Law , when we clear by Law of God . These several ways may They kill the Body , if the Lord prevent not .

III. The Exhortation : Fear not them . Why should not They be feared that kill the Body ?

1. Fear them not in respect of themselves . For , 1. They are vanity , a nothing , fade as the grass . 2. They but instruments ; the sword cannot cut without the hand . 3. Pity them ; 'T is their woe and misery to do this work . 4. Before their Plots are ripe They may be cut off ; so Haman was , and the Powder-Treason prevented in very nick .

2. Fear not , in regard of the Body which they can kill .

1. The Body is but the outside , the cask , the shell . 2. 'T is a perishing thing , and will soon dye of it self . 3. This is not to enter into glory , but must first put on incorruption : therefore this but a small thing , to kill the Body .

IV. Whom ought we to Fear ? FEAR HIM that can destroy Soul and Body : And that for these Reasons .

1. He is our Maker ; our Being and all we have is of Him 2. He can bring down , and twist away thy life , and all in a moment . 3. He hath no Controuler ; none can rescue out of his hand . 4. In thy own conscience He hath many just occasions against thee . 5. He will certainly bring to judgment and account for all , thoughts , words , actions ; Therefore there is good ground to fear Him . 6. Fear Him , because there is mercy with Him .

VI. What is it to have the Soul destroyed ? what ways doth God take to bring this about ? Five several ways .

1. By withdrawing the sap ; when God leaves striving and motioning , the Soul dyes of it self , if not fed , upheld , maintained . 2. By giving up the Soul to beleeve lyes , wholy filled with them . 3. By leaving it alone , without one to pity , pray , or care for it . 4. By shutting out all prayers and means , that nothing shall prevail . 5. By taking away all doors and gates , that all lusts and floods of ungodliness may break in , and mould the Soul into the image of the Devil .

VII . What is it to be in Hell ? In three Things .

1. When the Soul sensibly feels it is excluded from God . Many are in Hell , and know it not ; the thing is not opened . 2. To feel the torments and pains of Hell , the warm that dyes not . 3. To have the everlasting sentence of this condition witnessed to the Soul ; this makes up all : the saved ones may be in the two former .

All summ'd up in a word of Vse .

1. If possible , to warn some of this woe , That They may never come into this place of torment . 2. To minde such as shall be saved , ( both by hintings in themselves , and witness from others : ) yet see how neer destruction you may come . 3. To counsel us to stand in awe , always to fear , not knowing what we may be left to , lest that day come unawares , &c.
MATTH. 10.28 . And fear not them that can kill the Body , and are not able to kill the Soul , &c.

I Would propound these several things to you to be considered of out of , this Scripture .

1. Who they be that will kill the Body . 2. What it is to kill the Body . 3. Why should they not be feared that can kill the Body ? 4. Whom ought we to fear ? Fear Him , &c. 5. Why should we fear Him ? what cause for it ? 6. What is it to have the Soul destroyed ? 7. What is it to be in Hell ?

First , Who are they that will kill the Body ?

You may see in the Verses before ; Christ speaks to his Disciples , Behold , I send you forth as sheep amongst Wolves ; be ye therefore wise as Serpents , and innocent as Doves : But beware of MEN ; for they will deliver you up to the Councels , &c. And it is farther explained , who these MEN be , of whom they should beware ; Ver. 18. And you shall be brought before Governors and Kings for my sake , for a testimony against them . And vers. 21. And the Brother shall deliver up the Brother to death , and the Father the Child ; and Children shall rise up against their Parents , and cause them to be put to death .

So that these MEN are of these four sorts , Governors , Kings , Brethren , and Parents .

1. Beware of Kings : Kings should preserve their People ; and Solomon saith , The Glory of a King is in the multitude of his People : And we can truly witness for our selves , and God is our Witness , that we have been and are as true , faithful , and loyal to the present Government of the Kingdom , as any other who ever ; yet we know not how their hearts may be ordered to consider of us : Such cases have been , we know , as that Kings have been let out to undo , and pillage , and kill their own Subjects : And though we may yet truly own the many mercies and liberties we have enjoy'd by this Parliament ; yet who knows how Things may be turned against us ? such a case may be ; Christ bids , beware of Kings .

2. Beware of Governors : Now Governors and Rulers are appointed of God to be a Terror of evil works , but not of good : They were set to be Defenders and Protectors of them that do well , to defend , to secure , to do them right and justice against such as falsly reproach , slander , or any ways wrong and injure them ; yet Beware of men ( saith Christ : ) Governors themselves shall be against you , such as should defend and secure you . And we have lately had some experience of this , how our Governors , which should have been our safeguard and protection , that they have slighted our Cause , and rather inclined to the false accusations of our adversaries , then hear us speak the Truth for our selves ; nay if the Lord had not prevented it , we might have been knockt on head , and have lost our lives by the rude and envious multitude which were set against us .

3. Brethren : Brother shall betray Brother , &c. Beware of Brethren . And how hath this been made true upon us also ? Who are they that have been our Accusers ? that have secretly informed and raised mischief against us , and made an evil of what they have heard and seen amongst us ? were they not our Brethren ? such as were in society with us , men of our own house , and we walked together into the House of God as friends ! such as have heard , and pray'd , and joyned with us , and yet have gone out , because they were not of us ? These have been our greatest Enemies .

4. Children shall rise up against their Parents to put them to death . And how hath this proved true , in my my own child coming as the main Witness against me ? He that came out of my bowels , he was not ashamed to witness falsly against me , and to say to my face , He would take a hundread oaths , if he might but ensnare me . And then , Parents against their children : This I have proved true also . Those that have looked upon themselves as my Fathers in Christ , from whom I have first received the Truth , such as have travelled and prayed , yea and witnessed for me , that I belonged to God ; yet how are these now secretly turned against me , and in a treacherous undermining way have wrought , and do work what they can to undo me ? Such a strange unnaturalness is there among men , and if the Lord favour us not , we know not but they may see their wills accomplished against us , and take away our lives : We know not what They may be suffered to do against us ; For , This is not our Country ; our Kingdom is not of this world : And it is certain , there is malice and envy enough in all these relations against us , in Kings , Governors , Brethren , Parents , Children ; therefore beware of men , though your Cause be never so just and innocent .

Secondly , What is it to kill the Body ? How may men do that ? what ways may they find out to bring this about ? For though it be not the main thing , or that which we should fear , if called to lay down our lives ; yet it may be of Use to be informed in the several ways men may take to destroy our Body , if the Lord prevent not .

1. This way they may take to destroy the Body , by taking away our estates and means , that which should maintain and keep up our bodies : Our bread may be taken out of our mouths ; we may be so impoverished by Lawyers , and Jaylors , and Fines , and strange ways that may be found out by our Enemies to waste our estates , that we shall not be able to maintain our selves . Such dealings some of our Fathers and the Martyrs have met with in their days .

2. Men may destroy the Body , by raising strange reproaches , and scandals , and such evil reports against us , that all men will be shy of dealing with us ; all our trading and commerce with men , ( by which our lives are outwardly maintained , ) may be thus taken from us : As I heard some say in my own hearing , Hang them ( speaking of Us ) they are a base reproached people , we 'l not buy of them of all others . And thus , by such scandalous reports as these , it may grow to that pass , that we may have neither liberty to buy nor sell , &c.

3. Another way by which men may destroy the Body , is , by binding our hands that we may not defend our selves , who ever set upon us : And thus we have been dealt with ; some of us bound to our good behaviour , that we may not so much as strike a Dog to defend our selves ; and who ever will , may come and set upon us , and we have no remedy in our hands , we may not stir against them for our defence .

4. Another way they may take to destroy our Bodies , is , by lying at the catch to insnare and intrap , and make an evil in wresting words contrary to our real intentions and purposes : As my own son was not ashamed to say to my face , I 'le take a hundred oaths , if I could insnare you . Now what a miserable case is this , if a word should slip either unadvisedly , or out of ignorance , that this should be catched at , and a thing never once thought of , nor intended , charged upon us , even to the hazard of our lives , for ought we know .

5. They may do it another way , as by making an evil , in tentering our words beyond their meaning , so by tentering out the Law to the utmost exactness and rigour in all points against us ; so that a man can hardly speak to another , or stir any ways in his business , but if the Law be reached out , and tentered to the utmost , he may be found liable to some forfeiture or other . You that are strangers this day , and come without any ill intent into this House to hear me speak , you might be troubled for coming into the House , or passing through a Close without leave ; such strange ways may be to tenter out the Law , if the Lord shall suffer men in this to stir against us .

6. Men may destroy the Body , by raising false Witnesses against us , and charge us of that falsly which we are no ways guilty of : And thus was Christ dealt with ; and many of the People of God have been falsly accused , falsly witnessed against , and so condemned to death . And in our late Indictment charged upon us , those that have appeared against us , what utter falsness hath been in their oaths , and witnessing against us ? and what further they may be suffered to swear against us , we cannot tell : and at last two false Witnesses came point-blank against Christ , and so took away his life .

7. Our Life may be taken away by the Law of Man sometimes , when we may be no ways guilty by the Law of God . So I remember , when the Bishops Courts were up , some have said to me there , You may be Honest , and your way may be good and harmless for ought we know , but how ever the Law will not bear you out in it . We have a Law ( say they to Pilate , ) and according to that Law He ought to dye . And here you see are Ways , and Means , and Doors enough open , if the Lord stand not for us , and prevent it , by which men may break in upon us , and destroy the Body .

And thus I have spoke to you of two of the general Points from the words . 1. Who they be that will kill the Body ; that Christ bids Beware of , Kings , Governors , Brethren , Parents , and Children : This seems wonderful unnatural , that these of all others should do it , to be for signs and for wonders in Israel , as Christ complains , I and the children that God hath given me , are for Signs and Wonders in Israel . Were it in Turkey , or some forreign Land to meet with this usage , it would not be so much : But , Thou my Familiar , my Friend , we took sweet Counsel together , and walked into the House of God as Friends , to be Signs and Wonders , a scorn , and reproach , and laughing stock in Israel , amongst men of our own house , our own Rulers , and Brethren , and Children , this is very unnatural : But , Beware of men . And then I have shew'd you seven Ways by which , if the Lord prevent not , men may come in upon us to destroy the Body . Now I come to the next general Thing , Viz.

Thirdly , The Exhortation given , Fear not them that can kill the Body : And why should not They be feared ?

1. Fear not , in regard of them that shall do it . 2. Fear not , in regard it is but the Body they kill .

1. Fear not them that can kill the Body : Fear not the men , the persons that shall do it ; and that for these four Reasons .

1. Because they are but men , and man at his best estate is altogether vanity . Alas , They that go about to kill this body , what are they themselves , but a vain thing , a nothing , a shadow , how ever strong and high conceited they may be ; yet alas , all Nations are but as the drop of a bucket ; and what is a man , that shall soon fade as the grass , that he should be feared ?

2. Fear them not , because they are but the Instrument , the Rod in the hand of another , and they cannot move nor stir a foot or hand , farther then they shall be suffered , and permitted , and ordered . They are but like the wheels of a Clock , take off the weights , and the Clock stirs not . Alas , though they may threaten , and resolve , and take counsel never so strongly , yet they are not their own Lords ; they shall do neither more nor less then the hand will make use of the sword ; and therefore our Fathers in all their sufferings have looked through and beyond the instrument , to the hand that rules and acts all : I was dumb ( saith David ) and kept silence , because it was thy doing .

3. Fear them not , but rather pity them : Alas , 't is woe , and misery enough to all such as shall have a hand in this work ; They are imployed about a hard service , it is their misery , they are hackned by the Devil to do this mischief against the Truth : As Christ saith of Judas , It had been good for that man he had never been born : Who ever shall be an instrument in this work , alas 't is mis●ry enough ; their case may be pitied by us , rather then their malice feared .

4. Fear them not in this respect , because before their plots be ripe they may be cut off , and dye , and be layd in their graves . How many such Cases have been known ? Haman , what a strange plot , and how surely had he layd it , to cut off the Jews root and branch ? I , but the mischief returns upon his own head , before his plot comes to an issue , he is cut off himself . Alas , how soon is it done ! His breath is but taken away , and man turns to his earth ; and in that very day all his thoughts perish : All plots , and designs , and contrivances come to nothing . Remember , O my People ( saith God ) what Balack consulted , and what Balaam answered : And yet see how all their designs were frustrate , and blasted , and came to nothing ! And in our own Kingdom , how many plots have been thus prevented , when they have been even ripe for execution ? So in that Powder Treason , when all was fit , and but now a candle only wanting to destroy and blow up all , yet in the very nick it is found out and prevented : Therefore fear them not ; if God will prevent , he can soon do it ; be they never so strong , and desperate , and malicious , yet He can but take away their breath , and alas they may be rotten and stink in their graves before their plots are accomplished . When the wicked flourish like the grass , and the workers of iniquity like the green herb , yet then it is that they might be cut off for ever . So that were we but truly principled and instructed , we might have our greatest encouragement , where we make our greatest fears , viz. from the strength , and heighth , and flourishing of our Enemies , when they carry all before them ; yet Fear them not .

2. Fear not them that can kill the Body , in regard of the Body which they can kill : They can reach no farther then the Body ; and what is the Body ?

1. That is but a poor outside , a shadow ; it is but as the cracking of a shell , to kill the Body .

2. The Body is a perishing thing , that will soon dye of it self ; if none should take a sword against it , it will soon dye and moulder ; 't will fall of it self : like the fruit of a Tree , let it but alone till it come to be ripe , and you need not shake it , the fruit will drop and fall of themselves . Therefore Fear not them that can kill the Body : They kill but a dead man , cut down a little grass ; like Jonas gourd , up in a night , and gone in a night .

3. Fear them not , for they kill but the Body , and that is not that which is to enter into glory ; this body is to turn to dust , this flesh and blood which you see is not to inherit the Kingdom , this Corruptible , must put on Incorruption ; this Corn must dye , before it shall bring forth that Body which is to abide . God giveth to every seed his own body as it pleaseth Him : He will give a Body , but not this body , this flesh and blood , which is sown in Corruption ; therefore Fear not them that can kill the Body . And I could wish , that always in all our fears and threatenings from men , these seven Considerations might stick by us , to keep us up from fearing , both in respect of the men themselves , and also the Body , that only is in their power to kill : Alas , it is but a poor Cask , when they have done their worst , that they can touch ; that which will soon dye alone , and save the labour of being killed ; and should it hold out never so long , yet this is not it , that is to enter into glory ; it must break , and go to the grave at the last : Earth must go to Earth ; Corruption cannot inherit Incorruption ; No unclean thing must enter into that City ; and this is an unclean house , a Body of Death and Sin : In my Body ( saith Paul ) I find no good thing , but a Law of Sin in my members rebelling against the Law of my mind ; and that must dye , and not enter into life .

And thus far you heard the Negative opened , What you are not to fear ; Fear not them that kill the Body , &c. And how have most of our days hitherto been spent about this body ! and how are the world , all of them lost and drowned in carings and providings about this ? what to eat , and what to drink , and what to put on ? We have been more foolish in this , then the Lillies , and Sparrows , and Ravens ; they take not these cutting and perplexing cares , and yet they are preserved and provided for ; and what have all our carings brought about to us but sorrows and misery ? they have not added the least cubit to our stature . But now we come to the fourth thing .

4. Who then is to be feared ? Fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell : Fear Him , fear the Lord , He that made thee , He that Rules and Orders all , Fear Him ; but why should we fear him ?

1. Fear him because we are his Workmanship , he is our Maker ; he is the Potter and we are his clay : we had our Being and Frame and mould , and all we have from him .

2. Fear Him , Because he can bring thee down on a sudden ; He can secretly twist away thy life , and all thou hast , thou knowst not how . How soon was Judas striped and twisted out of all his mercy , and presently left to ruine ? He was but now among the Disciples , and lookt upon as one of them , ( for they all questioned themselves as much as him , ) and by and by he hangs himself , when he is but left to have his run ; and therefore ( saith David ) Thou holdest our souls in life ; if he do not hold and maintain and keep up thy life every moment , alas thou art soon gone and wilt sink to nothing : when thou art in thy jollity and mirth , in the midst of thy bouls , if a hand writing do but come against thee , how soon may thy mirth be quashed , the knees tremble and knock together , and the face be turned to paleness ? Alas , therefore should'st thou not fear him ? When I consider Him I am afraid of Him ( saith Job ) for He is of one mind , and he will bring to pass the thing appointed for me ; He can turn all upside down in a moment ; at such an uncertainty stand all our ways and enjoyments , when at the best , much like a stout resolved Souldier , riding up bravely furnished , and with a courage to charge in the face of an Enemy , but on a suddain a bullet comes and lays him down , and all his strength and courage is gone in a moment ; so soon can this Lord take thee off , in any of thy injoyments , therefore Fear Him .

3. Fear Him , because he doth all without let 〈◊〉 controul , nothing shall hinder ; when He begins He will make an end . All men and all creatures have a Controuler that can frustrate their enterprises , but the great God hath no controuler , He gives no account of his matters ▪ if he will not favour a man either in Soul or body , but lets a blast seize upon him , alas ! the man must fall , and all the world cannot help him .

4. Fear Him , because in thy own Conscience tho● canst witness , Thou hast justly offended Him : he hath occasions and advantages enough against thee ; O Lord , how many ways might He justly take thee off ! might he not stop thy breath when thou sleepest ? might he not make thy meat to be thy poyson ? art thou not a sinner in all , and liable to Him , if He should take advantage ? therefore , Stand in awe , and Fear before Him .

5. Fear Him , because He will certainly bring thee to judgment ; he wil call thee to an account for all thy ways That which hath been done in secret , which no eye saw , and no man could ever charge thee with ; all thy secret thoughts , thy covetings , and lustings , and envyings , the secret turnings within , He will bring all upon the stage , nothing shall pass : therefore fear this Judg ; for Thou knowest not at what hour thy Lord may come . And , Good Lord ! if He come in a time unthought of , and finde thee froward , and fretting , and envying , and lusting , and saving thy life in any creature ; Alas ! what then will become of thee ? if thou beest thus surprized , ( and surprize thee He may ; ) For we know not the hour when the Thief will come ; therefore there is cause to fear .

6. Fear Him , because there is mercy with Him , that He may be feared : He will have a reward for them that fear him . If thou fear men , either they may neglect , and not minde to reward thee ; or else may not be able : but the Lord will surely reward them that fear Him , and those that wait on Him shall not be ashamed . And therefore there is great reason from these several Particulars , why He should be feared .

And now I shall speak of the two other general Points from the words , which come in as an enlargement and farther ground of this Exhortation ; Fear Him that can destroy both Soul and Body in Hell : where these two things are yet to be opened ; What it is to have the Soul destroyed ? and then what it is to be in Hell ?

Fifthly , What is it to have the Soul destroyed ? what ways doth God take to do that ?

1. He destroys the Soul by withdrawing the sap which should maintain it ; when God gives up the Soul to it self , and leaves striving , and motioning , and knocking ; this is one way by which it is surely destroyed : For it will soon dye and sink of it self , if it be not followed , and hunted , and kept up , and maintained dayly .

2. Another way of destroying the Soul , is , when God gives it up to beleeve lyes , to feed on ashes ; and that , like a canker , will soon eat out all the life and power and spirit of Truth : The Soul is made uncapable of receiving Truth , nothing can enter nor seize : Though there be never such a power and strength and clearness in the Word , yet nothing can take place : and this is the wonder that God speaks ; I will work a wonder in your days that a man shall not beleeve , though it be told him ; I will destroy the wisdom of the wise . And again ; In hearing they shall hear , and not perceive ; and in seeing they shall not see ; because a deceived heart hath turned them aside , given up to beleeve lyes , &c.

3. Another way of destroying the Soul , is , by leaving it alone out of the Nursery , out of the heart and care of the People of God , that there is none to take it in , none to look over it , nor enquire after it ; none to turn aside to ask how it doth : Alass ! this will soon destroy the Soul , to be thus cast off , and left alone , without the care and counsel and pity and encouragement of the Truth ; to have none to plant , nor water , nor till it ; that ground can bring forth nothing but bryars and thorns , and so is nigh unto cursing , &c.

4. Another way God takes , when the Decrees are gone forth , to undo a Soul , is this ; He shuts out all prayers , and intreaties , and means , that are used to turn his heart to the creature , that nothing shall prevail with Him ; though there should be any to stand up to pray and plead , yet He will not hear . Though Samuel and Moses and Daniel should stand up , yet could not my heart be turned towards this people : Put them out of my sight ( saith God . ) And so to Samuel God answers ; Why prayest thou any more for Saul ? I have cast him off . And this is a sure way of undoing the Soul indeed : If God be against it , who can stand for it ? who can deliver out of his hand ?

5. Another way the Soul is destroyed by , is , when God takes away all its gates and fences , and lays it open to sin and Satan to have their full course and run , without stop or let : All the floods of ungodliness and troops of wickedness may come in at pleasure , and overflow and overspread the Soul , so that nothing at all can be seen , but envy , and lust , malice , and deceits : the man is moulded and changed into the very image of the Devil . I have known some men so wholy drunk up of the Devil , that no Reason nor Sense , nothing of parts and reasonableness , hath been left , but the very minde and disposition of the Devil hath been in all . And this is to be undone indeed , it is the very destruction . And this is a sad condition sure , to have the Soul thus destroyed : Was ever sorrow or misery like this ? Is there not reason He should be feared that can destroy the Soul with such a destruction as this ? Look over it again : 1. If God withdraws his sap , that which enlivens and quickens and keeps up the Soul , how surely doth all dye of it self , and decay and wither ! And may He not withdraw if He please ? Is he bound to us ? Then , 2. To be given up to beleeve lyes , to lie under the power of deceit , that nothing of Truth can reach the Soul ; how miserable is this ? And then , 3. To be left here in the mire ; to be left thus wounded of Thieves , and half dead , and no good Samaritan to take pity , nor look for cure , for it ; to have none to care , nor support , nor look after it , but be like a member cut off from the body ; how soon must that needs dye and wither ! And then , 4. To have the anger of God so far kindled and gone forth , that He will not hear any prayers or cries that shall be put up for the Soul ; Pray no more for this people . When God will by no means be entreated to have mercy , this is sad . And lastly , To be wholy left and given up into the hands and will of the Devil , to be ruled at his pleasure , and left wholy to be swallowed up of sin and ungodliness , that nothing else appears but the very Image of Hell and the Devil ; this is a whole destruction indeed : and wo to the man or woman that is thus beset , that hath no place to turn to , nor way for help or cure : This is a destruction to be feared indeed : Fear Him that can thus destroy Soul and Body . Take heed ( saith the Apostle ) lest there be any profane person as Esau , who for one morsel sold his birth-right ; and if you are not here prevented , you are for ever miserable : and the same thing , is in you , that would thus desperately throw away Life , and Heaven , and all , for a trifle , any vain lust : and to be here prevented , and not suffered to undo our selves , is a mercy worth ten thousand worlds : Therefore fear not them that can kill the Body . Alass ! that is but a poor thing , not worth the speaking of , in compare of this destroying the Soul : but Fear Him who can destroy with this destruction . This I would have you minde , That Men , whom Christ counsels not to fear , they can reach but the Body , there they begin and there end , in killing the Body : But God , when he sets against a man , He begins with the Soul ; Fear Him that can destroy Soul and Body : the Soul first ; and that may be struck at , and have a wound , though the Body live ; He begins there to strike and blast ; the Soul first , and then the Body that will soon pine and fall and dye and come to nothing . And now to the last thing .

Seventhly , What is it to be in Hell ? Fear Him that can destroy both Soul and Body in Hell .

It hath these three degrees in it .

1. To be in Hell is to be sensibly knowing that the Soul is excluded from God , and hath no fellowship nor communion with him . All the World are in Hell ; they have no knowledg nor fellowship nor union with God : I , but the sense is not upon them ; they know it not , but cover themselves with a covering of falshood and lyes ; and hope and beleeve that God loves them , when they have no ground , nor know any such thing . But now ▪ when any shall be awakened , and rouzed , and made to see their condition , and sensibly know they are ignorant of God ; live at a distance from him , and are so shut out and excluded , as they cannot turn any ways to get to Him ; and know not whether ever they shall be brought to see the Kings face , or not ; whether they shall be so far favored or not : I say , the felt sense of this exclusion from God is the first degree of Hell . And this God can soon do ▪ He can soon awake and rouze , and open how the case stands with the Soul , that it may cry out with Cain , My Punishment is greater then I can bear . There are many in the world , were they but brought to a strait to know their conditions , would be found here in Cains case , shut out from the Presence of God ; and therefore they hate the Light , and are afraid to come to be judged by it .

2. Another degree of being in Hell is , when the Soul is made to feel the very Pains and Torments of Hell , to go under the gnaw of that worm of conscience , which continually dogs , and gnaws , and torments the Soul day and night ; The pains of Hell took hold upon me ( saith David , ) the sorrows of Death encompassed me . He was brought to this step of Hell , to have no rest nor quiet in all his ways ; but he was not given over unto Death ; The Pit did not shut her mouth upon him : Thou wilt not leave my Soul in Hell ( saith he , ) nor suffer thy Holy One to see corruption : That was his mercy and salvation , &c.

3. The last step of Hell , which makes all up , ( for , as I said , the children of God may , and do many times pass through the two former , ) but this makes it up to be Hell indeed , when Everlastingness is added to the condition , Go ye cursed into Everlasting Fire ; when there is an everlasting Sentence of Exclusion ; when the great gulph is set , as Abraham answered , Between us and you is a great gulph set , that they that would come from you to us , cannot , &c. This is the Hell indeed . And the Time is coming that this will grow up to be more known in the World , that men shall have their Hell opened , and their sentence read in their own consciences ▪ For how have all things been in the dark hitherto ! How few of the Children of God in former days have had a clear , evident and certain knowledg of their Salvation ? And so for the children of the Devil , how few have had their consciences opened , and condemnation sealed ▪ but have slept out their days sottishly , and gone hood-winked to Hell . But as the Truth shall get up to open Salvation to the sons of God , that that is their lot and portion ; so certainly will it grow up for others to be divided to their own stock and kinde , and go under the feeling and sense of their condemnation ; as the Apostle saith of some , whose damnation slumbreth not .

And now what shall I say to you more ? but this :

1. If it be possible , that some of you might be warned never to come to this place of torment , to taste the sorrows of Death , and feel the pains of Hell ; to have the Soul destroyed , to be turned into Hell with the ungodly . Oh! who can express the misery ? What have we been upon , caring and fearing about the Body , and them that can kill it ? but alass ! this is the thing to be feared , to have Soul and Body destroyed in Hell .

3. Then you that are to be saved , and truly belong to God , and have had true hints in your selves , and a witness from others to that purpose ; yet see what may befall you , how far you may be let go , how neer destruction you may come : you may be cast into the belly of Hell , so was Jonah ; and feel the pains of Hell , so did David ; and be shut out from all enjoyment of God , so was Job , that he could not finde him : though he went forward and backward , on the right hand and on the left , yet no entrance could be found : but their mercy and salvation was in being brought out of Hell . But now because you have yet no certain knowledg of your latter end , how God will deal with you ; if the sense of what I have said were upon you , it would put you to a great strait to know the end .

3. Stand in awe , lest this day overtake you unawares ; you know not what shall happen , therefore stand in awe , and fear .

CHRIST Weeping over JERVSALEM ; OR Truths Bowels towards its own . SERM. IV. April 13. 1651. LUKE 19.41 , 42 , &c.

And when He was come neer , He beheld the City and wept over it ,

Saying , If thou hadst known , even thou , at least in this thy day , the things that belong to thy peace ! But now they are hid from thine eyes , &c.

The Analysis .

FRom the words these Things in general observed .

I. What City this is ?

Ans. It is Jerusalem , the Beloved City , a City compact , a City built on a Hill , typing out the People of God .

1. As they are the beloved and chosen ones of God . 2. Compact and made up of the Divinity and Humanity , God in Man . 3. Built on a sure Rock , the everlasting Love and good-will .

II. And when he came neer , &c. Whence this observed :

That the great care and business of Christ is to come neer this City , these saved ones ; to gather Jacob , to finde the lost sheep , to seek up the sons of Peace .

III. He beheld the City and wept over it . Why weeps He ?

Weeping ariseth either from 1. Joy . 2. Grief . On both these accounts Christ weeps .

1. He weeps for Joy that He had found Jerusalem ; so Truth when it meets with the sons of peace : And that for three Reasons .

1. For joy , that however now in their blood , yet 't is the beloved City ; they are the people where Christ is to do his great cure . 2. For joy , that God had left the wise and prudent , and chose such Babes ; Truth rejoyces at it . 3. For joy ( however now they deal with Him ) that they shall accept and say , Blessed be He that cometh in the name of the Lord .

2. He weeps for Grief , to finde Jerusalem in her sin , killing her Prophets . Where these three Aggravations .

1. 'T is an unnatural sin , in killing the Prophets they kill themselves . 2. An ungrateful sin , to reward evil for all the good done . 3. A desperate and venturous sin , to kill their present Prophets , and know not whether ever another shall be sent to them , or not .

3. He weeps to see Jerusalems miserable ignorance , that They knew not the things that belong to their Peace ; how He would have gathered them as a Hen her chickens , &c.

This was parallel'd to Truths Dealings with us .

1. A Hen calls and clocks her chickens after her ; so Truth call'd us together out of several places , conditions , relations , &c. 2. The Hen sits down when her chickens gathered ; so Truth sat down with us . 3. She spreads her wings to take in and receive he● chickens . 4. She gathers them under her wings to cherish , and warm , and heat them . 5. She doth it , the better to secure and prote●● them . 6. She doth it , that she may nurse up , and bring them to perfection , to shift for themselves . In 〈◊〉 these Cases Truth has dealt with us .

4. He weeps from an unsatisfied Desire and Love towards Jerusalem : O that thou hadst known , eve● Thou , &c.

5. He weeps for the miserable Condition He foresaw coming on them ; that , is intimated in sever●● expressions .

1. But now they are hid from thine eyes . 2. Thine Enemies shall cast a Trench about thee , 3. And compass thee round , and keep thee in on every side , 4. And lay thee even with the ground , 5. And thy children within thee . 6. And not leave one stone upon another in thee . 7. This is added as an aggravation of all ; Because thou knewest not the day of thy visitation . Here is a full woe indeed .
LUKE 19.41 , 42 , &c. And when He came neer , and beheld the City , He wept over it , And said , If thou hadst known , even thou , in this thy day , the things that belong to thy Peace ! but now they are hid from thine eyes , &c.

THe occasion of these words from Christ , ariseth partly from the Pharisees envying the Discipl s joy , singing Hosanna to Christ , and rejoycing to see their King come , meekly riding on an Asses colt , towards Jerusalem . Christ tells them , If these should hold their peace , the very stones would cry out : secretly reproving them ; Well , you will not regard it , you rejoyce not ; you are not glad to see your King coming towards you , you embrace not the Salvation offered : but if you hold your peace , and these should hold their peace ; yet He will have a people , though He raise them out of the dust : Of very stones he will raise up children to Abraham : He will yet have a City , a Jerusalem , which shall receive him at last , and be glad of their King , what usage soever at present He may finde from them ; how sad and miserable soever their case now is : And when He came neer , He beheld the City , and wept over it , &c.

From the words I would have you consider these several Things .

I. What City this is that Christ beheld and weeps over ?

It is Jerusalem , the beloved and chosen Ciey , where He had placed his Name , and Worship , and Ordinances . 2. Jerusalem the compact City , that is at unity in it self . 3. Jerusalem , a City built upon a Hill , standing aloft on a sure foundation , which cannot be moved . And this was but a Type of the people of God , the Jerusalem which is from above . 1. They are the chosen and beloved people , chosen out of the World , redeemed from among Men , gathered out of all Nations , and Countries , and People , and Tongues , to be a peculiar treasure to Him . 2. The compact City , such as are made up and compact of God and Man in one person ( according to the Pattern their elder Brother Christ ) the Humanity and Divinity joyned in together , God with man and in man ; Christ in you the hope of glory : For all others ( in whom something of God is not ) are but a meer outside and shadow ; but where ever in any man this Divinity is joyned , in , and to , the Humanity , there is the compact Jerusalem : of such members is that City made : the Jerusalem from above , which is the Mother of us all . And , 3. These are the City built upon a Hill : What is that ? what Hill ? It is the everlasting Love and good-will of God , that unchangeable purpose , which is a Hill too high for any thing to reach and come neer , to destroy and undo them ; though the winds blow , and storms beat , and floods come ; yet the House stands , because 't is built on a Rock , unmoveable as Mount Sion : And this is the Jerusalem , this the City , these the People , that Christ weeps over .

II. And when He drew neer the City . Whence consider ;

That the great care and business of Christ is to draw neer this City Jerusalem , to come nigh his people .

This is the thing He mindes above all other things ; Seek ye first the Kingdom of God : That was the great work He layd upon his Disciples , to seek up this Kingdom , to look up the sons of Peace , such as are to be saved : It is his meat and drink to do the Will of Him that sent Him : And that was his Will , That He should lose none that were given Him of his Father . All this have I said ( saith Christ ) that you might be saved . And how contrary is this to the way of the Ministers of the World ! They seek Livings , and Honors , and respect : they seek a multitude to follow them , and to be called Rabbi . But Christ ; the true Shepherd , He seeks his own sheep ; where ever they straggle and wander , He follows and searches them up : among Harlots and Publicans , by the high ways and hedges , where ever He may finde the sons of peace , there lies his way . And this minde of Christ hath been in all his people in their day : Not seeking yours , but you , ( saith Paul . ) This is the thing Christ ayms at in all his seekings and labors and travels , in leaving his glory and crown and ease , in taking upon Him the form of a servant ; was not this the cause of all , That He might come neerer to his Brethren ? Because the children were partakers of flesh and blood , He also took part of the same : That was the thing He came for , to visit his Brethren , to gather up Iacob , to seek the lost sheep of the house of Israel .

III. How is Christ affected when He comes neer and beholds Ierusalem ? He wept over it .

Now weeping is a passion or affection of the Soul , being moved and stirred either with joy or grief ; and bo●h these have a share in Christs weeping over his People .

1. He weeps for joy that He had found the City of a blessing , the beloved people , His own Brethren ; His Soul is glad at it , and breaks in him for joy : So Ioseph , when he saw his brother Benjamin , his bowels were moved , he could refrain no longer , but weeps over him for joy . But what joy can there be to see Ierusalem in this case ? killing her Prophets , stoning them that are sent to her ? lying at present in a dead and sensless condition ? How can Truth be affected with joy to finde a people in this case , though truly belonging to God ?

Yes . Christ weeps for joy , in these three Considerations .

1. For joy , that however the present case stand with them , that they are dead , in their graves , and now ready to stink , in all appearance past recovery ; yet They are such Dead , as ( He knows ) shall hear the voyce of the Son of God ; and live : such Dead , whose Souls shall not be left in Hell , nor they suffered to see corruption . He hath met with such Dead , where a great Miracle is to be wrought , and the glory of God shall be manifest , and this is Joy to Truth : When He came to Lazarus his grave , He wept : Why ? what was the cause ? He breaks out thus ; I thank thee , O Father , that thou hast heard me ; and I know thou hearest me always . Why , Lazarus was yet in his grave , and the thing not wrought , of raising him to Life : I , but Christ weep● for joy to see the thing shall be : There was a hope and faith in the thing , as if already done : He joys that He hath met with one where a cure is to be wrought ; there is a work and service for Him to do , to honor his Father by : The beggerly , the poor , the out-casts that no man looketh after , but lie in their graves , like dead men out of minde ; That He meets with these , where there is work for Him to do , to set the Begger with the Princes of his people ; this Truth joys at , to be employed to help its Brethren : We have a little Sister ( saith the Church ) and she hath no brests ; what shall we do for our Sister ? &c.

2. He weeps for joy , to think that God hath hid these things from the wise and prudent , and revealed them to Babes : That God hath chose the weak , and poor , and foolish things of this world , to confound the great , and wise , and honorable : This breaks his heart , to see the hungry Soul fed , and the rich sent empty away : They had their good things in this Life ; their Heaven , and solace , and content ; but Lazarus his evil things : I , but now , he is comforted , and the other tormented . And this pleaseth and contents Truth , to see these equal proceedings of God : Therefore , I thank thee , O Father , &c. That the proud and scornful are not always suffered to reign , and lord it , and carry all before them ; but a day comes , of doing right to the meek of the Earth : this Christ joys at . And certainly it is as great a content to Truth , to see the rich , and wise , and proud , and scornful , that scorn and trample all under their feet ; to see these cut off : as to see the Begger lifted out of the dunghill , to see the poor ones saved .

3. He weeps for joy , that this Ierusalem , how ever she be now against her Prophets , and her own good ; yet the day will come when they shall say , Bl●ssed be He that cometh in the Name of the Lord . They shall be willing , and embrace and receive Him , in the day of his power ; they shall be a willing people : and this He joys at ; in hope that he shall see Ierusalem recovered ; that his people shall not always be scorning , and despising , and kicking against the Truth ; that they shall not always be covering and hiding themselves , and stand out against their own mercies : but the year of Jubilee will come , the day will be , when God will break the yoke from off their neck , and set them free : And then ( saith David ) I will run the ways of thy Commandments , when thou hast set my feet at liberty . Then all his Love will be owned , and received , and prized : He shall be welcom to them then ; even the feet of such as bring glad tydings of peace : Then will the Soul say with Abigail , Let me wash the feet of the servants of my Lord the King . He shall be welcom indeed in that day : And this glads , and rejoyces , and keeps up his spirit , to think on this time . I had verily fainted ( saith David ) unless I had beleeved to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living : That bare up his heart . There is hope in the latter end ( saith God to Rachel ) that thy Children shall come again to their own borders . How ever they are now in captivity , and lie scattered & broken , as if utterly forsaken ; yet they shall return . And for these causes Christ weeps over Ierusalem , over his people , out of joy , where ever and in what case soever he finds them : yet this joy lives in the bottom . I would you might never forget these Particulars . But ,

2. And when He beheld the City , He wept . Another Reason why He weeps , is out of sorrow , because He findes them in their blood : He grieves to see Ierusalems wickedness , to see her hands embrued in blood ; to see her killing the Prophets , and opposing and fighting against her own good . There is no other way for Her ever to be saved , but by hearing the voyce of her Prophets , and obeying them : And now , to thrust these away , saying , We will not have this man rule over us ; for Truth to finde the sons of peace , the saved ones , in this strange condition , hating and striking against their own chief good , and best friends , This causes a weeping . It is a gladness indeed to finde the sons of peace ; to see a Nathanael , an Israelite indeed , in whom there is no guile ; one in whom the Spirit of Life , the Seed of God , is planted ; Truth joys at this : and if this be not in the bottom , there is no ground for Truth to work upon : No Physician goes about to take a dead man to cure . If there be not a Seed of Life , there is nothing for Truth to care for , and pray and weep over : But now where that seed is , yet to finde such a Soul , or such a people , stoning their Prophets ; to finde his own Children rebelling and standing against Him ; this causes Truth to weep : And when He beheld the City , He wept , &c.

Now this Sin hath three Aggravations in it , which cause Truth to weep .

1. It is an unnatural sin for them to kill their Prophets , which came to instruct and inform them in the way of Life . Alass ! in killing your Prophets , you kill your selves ; you murther your own Souls : And what murther is so cruel and unnatural as that ? Who shall save you , if you kill your Saviour ? Him whom God hath sent to be a Saviour and Deliverer ? If you thrust away this Moses , who shal bring you out of Egypt , and lead through the Wilderness ? Nothing so unnatural as for a man to cut his own Throat ; such a thing is it for any to slight and contemn that Truth which comes to save them .

2. It is an ungrateful Sin . It is not right , nor allowable , to render evil for evil , to hate our Enemies : But to reward evil for good , to return hatred for love and mercy and bowels shewed us ; ( Am I therefore your Enemy ( saith Paul ) because I tell you the truth ? ) This is wonderful ungrateful . I will send my Son , sure they will reverence Him : but now after all to take this Son too , and kill Him , that was sent out of love and exceeding tenderness ; this is the ungratefullest sin in the World : To refuse Him that speaks from Heaven , that can open to you the minde and heart and love and good-will of God ; this Christ weeps at , to finde them in so ungrateful a sin .

3. It is a venturous and desperate sin ; That moves Christ to weep , to see the hard venture : what , to sleep upon the top of a Mast ! To venture to kill their Prophets , and the present offer of Grace , and know not whether ever another Prophet shall be sent them or no ; O what a venture is it ! God hath truly sent me to you , to warn you to come out of Sodom , and to tell you , God hath purposed to destroy the City ; and will you venture to linger in it still ? Had Lot stayd but one hour longer , he had been destroyed with them : but the Angel layd hands on him , and pulled him out , the Lord being merciful to him : This is the next to that unpardonable sin , which David prays against ; O keep me from presumptuous sins , that I may be innocent from the great Transgression . The Lord warn and prevent you , and lay it to your heart to consider , how guilty we are in all these Particulars ; how unnatural we have been and cruel to our own Souls , to murther the Truth sent to gather us ; and then of all transgressions 't is the most ungrateful . What people in all the world have been so kindly dealt with ? so followed , and waited on , and born with ? Line upon Line , Instruction , and Counsel , and Love , have followed us ; and to murther this Truth after all , how ungrateful is it ? And then how desperate have we been and venturous , in a Passion ( like the profane Esau ) to sell all for one morsel of bread , to venture all at a blow ? and what ever comes on it , desperately resolve , We will not have this man rule over us . Well may God say to us , Because I would have purged you , and you would not be purged , therefore you shall not be purged till you dye . Do you hear what is spoke ? It concerns all ; you are all guilty , the Lord lay it not to your charge . I know not a People in the World so venturing all at a cast , as we have been . Come Life or Death , yet there hath been a punctual standing out and slighting the Call of Truth , to have our wills .

Thirdly , Another Cause Christ weeps over Jerusalem , is , to find her in that miserable condition of ignorance , that she knew not the Things which belonged to her Peace : O that Thou hadst known , even Thou , in this thy day , &c. But They knew not the day of their Visitation , they knew not their time ; this Christ grieves at . Work whilest it is day , whilest you have the Light with you ; for the night cometh wherein no man can work . But they had played in Summer , they slighted their seasons and opportunities , and knew them not ; knew not the Things belonging to their Peace . Man naturally looks after the things that concern his ease , but is not so minding what belongs to his peace . But it is this Peace only that must stick by us in a strait , in a time of need ; when ease , and enlargements , and all fail , then will this Peace abide ; and this Christ weeps for , to see their ignorance , though it is well in one respect that they were ignorant : I obtained mercy ( saith Paul ) because I did it ignorantly . And had we done what we have done , fully knowing , we had sinned that unpardonable Sin , and there could have been no mercy for us .

But What was Jerusalem ignorant of ?

She was ignorant of her Day : O that thou hadst known in this thy Day ! It was the time and day of her Visitation , and she knows it not . This day ( saith Samuel to Saul ) would the Lord have established the Kingdom upon thee , had he known the time , and stood in that nick ; but falling there , he lost all . So the woman of Samaria , she looked for the Messias to come , and that He would tell her all things ; but she was ignorant of the present season , she knew not that He was the Messias who now talked with her . So have we been hoping , and expecting , and promising our selves great things for the future ; but have not known the present day , and the present mercies offered us . For my own part , had I known my time and day afforded me , I can truly say , I had been prevented of many of the miseries , mischiefs and miscarries that I have fallen into : And how many times have you killed the strugglings and motionings of the Spirit in you , and said , To morrow we will consider of it , and hear and come up to what is called for ? when alas , to morrow is not ours , we know not but this may be the day ; and if this be slipt over by us , it may never be offered more : but we are reasoning and disputing away the time , saying , Sure this is not the call and mind of Truth , this would make me a scorn and hissing stock to all , sure this would undo me : And thus we are keeping off our mercies . No , but we judg amiss ; He would bring thee to Himself , to know the things that belong to thy Peace , to have Peace in all thou goest about , which is worth all . We have now no Peace in all our ways , turn whither we will , to eating , and drinking , and trading , to all our employments and enjoyments ; yet nothing shall give rest and ease to them that are to be saved , till this Peace be given , and this Christ weeps for , that this Peace should be no more known nor minded by Ierusalem ; but the time slipt over , and lost and gone , whilest we stand and oppose our own Salvation , and would never come at it . But you will say , Is such a Thing in man that would not be saved , and come to know the things which belong to his Peace , and everlasting good ? I , there is that which opposeth it to the Death , if the Lord prevent not . But how ever the Soul may be saved in the day of the Lord , yet a great Loss may come , the inlargements and attainments may be lost . But now they are hid from thine eyes , &c. and much misery & sorrows may be brought on our heads , as in the Verse following , Thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee , and keep thee in on every side , and not leave one stone upon another , &c. Methinks while I read and consider it , to whom he speaks , to Ierusalem , that God should deal thus exactly , and be so severe and harsh to his own People , this is marvelous , and makes my heart ake to think on it , and yet thus He will deal with Ierusalem . I told you , the high nature of their sin to destroy their Prophets , is , 1. An unnatural sin , it is to kill their own Souls . And , 2. An ungrateful sin , against all love , and mercy , and tenderness , a requiting of the greatest evil for the greatest good . And then , 3. What a venture is it to run such a desperate hazard ? who , that should see this in himself , and have the sense seize upon him , would not cry out , O what have I done ! I remember it was so with me in my day , when Christ was offered to me , and my Soul drew back , & refused the Lamb of God , that which I had so long cryed , and prayed , and longed for ; yet when offered to me , Lo here is my Son , that then I should refuse it , Lord ( I said to my Soul ) what have I done ! what will become of me ! what now can save me ! Then another Cause of Christs weeping over Ierusalem , I told you , was their Ignorance , that They knew not the things which belonged to their Peace ; and what Things were they ? Why ( saith Christ , ) How often would I have gathered thee , as a Hen gathereth her chickens under her wings , and you would not ? They knew not the goodness of the Lord , the day of Grace offered , that then He was calling , and inviting , and gathering them to Himself .

Now this I would bring home to our selves , to see how it will parallel with our conditions , whether the Lord hath not thus sought to gather us in our day as a Hen gathereth her Chickens .

In which these several things are Considerable .

1. A Hen calleth her Chickens after her , she goes before and clocks , and clocks to call them together , to follow her , till she gets them all about her ; and so hath the Lord dealt with us , the Call of Truth hath reached us , and brought us together out of several Countries , and places , and conditions ; one Call of the Truth hath met with us , and brought us together .

2. The Hen , after she hath gathered her chickens about her , she sits down and settles in some place ; and so hath Truth ; now it hath gathered us together , it hath sat down amongst us , it hath taken up a setled place of abode , that we are not now wanderlng abroad to find a Truth , or a People to joyn with .

3. After the Hen hath called her chickens together , and sat down in her place , the next thing she doth , is this , she spreads forth and opens her wings to receive and take them in : so hath the Truth opened and spread forth the wings of its favor , and goodness , and entertainment ; the way is open and free , all that will may come under and find acceptance and tendering , all that are the chickens indeed , that belong to this Hen , to this Truth , and not of a false brood .

4. The Hen receives her chickens under her wings to warm , cherish , and revive them ; and that is the end of Truths gathering and opening it self to receive and take us in , to fellowship , and counsel , and unity ; it is that we might be warmed , and helped , and relieved , and prosper . If two lie together , there is heat ; but how can one be warm alone ? Take a quick coal out of the fire , and it dyeth presently : And the Holy Ghost says , Wo to him that is alone . But the Prospering way that Truth calls to , is , where Brethren live together in unity , to come under one wing , for counsel , and help , and direction in all our ways .

5. The Hen gathers her chickens under her wings , as to warm and cherish them , so to protect and keep them out of danger and harms ; the Kite , or some ravenous thing or other , soon catches them , when they leave the Hen , and straggle alone : And this is a certainty , whilest we stand alone by our selves out of the counsel , and care , and submission under Truth , we are open to a thousand dangers and miscarriages , we lie exposed to all ravenous beasts : The Avenger of Blood he may justly take us , when we are out of our City of Refuge ; and this wandering hath been the Cause of all our desolation , and misery , and sorrows .

6. The last thing in the Hens calling , and gathering , and receiving , and warming , and protecting her chickens , all is , that she may nurse them up to perfection , to be like her self , to be able to shift abroad , and defend themselves : And this end Truth hath had in all its dealings with us , and followings after us , and waitings upon us , that we might grow up to be like-minded to it self , to see us wrought , and molded , and fashioned into the same likeness , that the same mind might dwell in us which dwelt in Christ Jesus , &c.

Now look it over again : Have you known these things which belong to your Peace ? Have you known that all these dealings and calls of Truth , and strivings with you , were in love and goodness ? that this was the day of Visitation ? and have you accepted of this Love ? See : 1. Have you not been called out of several places , many miles asunder , to come together ? Hath not the sound of Truth gone forth , and reached you , and called you to it ? And , 2. Do you not see that the Hen is now sat down ? that the Truth is pitched , and hath taken up a setled place and People ? and now if we should be broken in pieces , and shattered hither and thither to our former scattering in the world , would it not be sad and miserable ? And this I fear may befall us , because we have slighted , and not taken notice of this day of our mercies . Then , 3. Have we not known and felt the warmings and cheerings of the Powers of Truth ? How often have we found our hearts touched within , and heat , and warmed , and turned ? and yet for all this we are loth to come under the wing , but are upon our reasonings , and deferrings , and scruples . Then , 4. Have we not known what a shelter and safeguard it is , to sit under the wing of Truth ? what a defence and safety ? how safe we are under the wings of the Almighty ? We do not at present so consider this : But they that are deprived of this mercy , and violently taken away from us by wicked hands , They now feel the loss , and bitterly complain and mourn under it ; They find what snares , and baits , and ravenous beasts lie dayly at watch ready to devour them ; and if the Lord prevent not beyond our deservings , we know not what miseries and sorrows may befall us , if a scattering day come . And lastly , I told you , the Hen nurses her chickens , to bring them up to be like her self : And hath not this been aimed at in all the dealings of Truth with us , that we might grow up to be like it self , and be moulded into the same Image ? And we can never grow up , whilest we live at a distance from the Hen , the place where she sits down to warm , and brood , and cherish her young ones : And therefore at what a strait was David , when driven into the Wilderness by his son ? How doth he cry out , That his Soul was athirst for the living God ? How doth he then prize the Sanctuary , the Place and People of Gods Worship ? How doth he envy the Sparrow and Swallow , which could make their nests there , when he was forced to live at a distance ? For there he knew the Blessing was commanded , and life for evermore .

Now these are the Things which belong to our Peace , to be gathered under this wing of Truth : If we should have all the world , and yet no Peace in it , what were we the better ? And this we are called to , to know this present day of our Visitation , lest the Door be shut , and that which follows fall upon us , But now they are hid from thine eyes . O Lord ! it makes my heart shake to think upon it , to have the Eyes shut , and closed up , to be left to grope , and wander , and stumble in darkness , and not to see when good cometh , and all for slipping the present opportunity , not knowing the things that belong to our Peace .

There are yet two other Reasons behind , why Christ weeps over Ierusalem .

Fourthly , He weeps from an unsatisfied Love and Desire after Ierusalem : O that thou hadst known , even Thou , in this thy Day , &c. At length the fire breaks forth , and He can hold no longer , but must weep over His Brother Benjamin . But why Ierusalem above all , that He weeps over Her , and cries out for her , O that Thou hadst known ? &c. Why , Jerusalem was the Beloved One , the choyce One of her Mother , born out of the Love and Heart of God : Thou above all others ; O that Thou hadst harkened , then had thy Peace been as a River , &c.

Fifthly , Christ weeps from the sight of the miserable and lamentable condition which he knows is coming upon them ; not only shut out from the day of her mercies , and the things that belong to her Peace ; but now they are hid from thine eyes : and that is not all ; but now God is departing , all woes and miseries are coming upon Her. 1. Thine Enemies shall cast a Trench about thee . And then , 2. Compass thee in on every side . And , 3. Shall lay thee even with the ground , and thy children within thee . And then , 4. Not leave in thee one stone upon another . And then , 5. This added to all the rest , Her own guilt , which brought all this evil upon her own head ; Because Thou knewest not the day of thy Visitation . If all these Circumstances and Aggravations were opened , and seized upon your hearts , it would appear a sad condition indeed , and all for slipping the time , the day of Visitation .

Christ Buckling TO HIS FATHER , OR THE Absoluteness of the Divine Will. SERM. V. April 20. 1651. JOHN 6.38 , 39.

For I came down from Heaven , not to do mine own Will , but the Will of Him that sent me .

And this is the Fathers Will which hath sent me , that of all which He hath given me , I should lose nothing , but should raise it up again at the last day .

The Analysis .

FRom the words was considered :

I. Who this [ I ] spoke of , i●● .

It is the Son of God , the Mind , the Heart , the Will of the Father brought forth : This is He that came from Heaven , &c.

II. What doth he come to do ?

Not His own Will , but the Will of His Father ; That Will of God is the sure uncontroulable Rule , to which Christ Himself submits .

Whence three Considerations were proposed .

1. To see the ground of all happiness ; It is this good-will of God . 2. All Things must buckle to this Will , even the Son Himself . 3. This Will of God cuts off all our wills ; nothing that comes into our thoughts must be at all .

III. What is this Will of the Father ? That of all which He hath given me , I should lose nothing , &c.

Where two Branches of this Will.

1. A People are given to Christ by this Will , and that in three Relations .

1. As His Children , and so Christ stands as a Mother . 1. A Mother brings forth her Children out of her own Bowels . 2. She nurses up her Children to perfection . So Christ . 2. A People are given to Christ as his Sister ; and hence three Priviledges spring up to them . 1. That they are of the same stock and kindred with Christ . 2. They have right to the same portion and priviledges . 3. Hence they are liable to be Christs Wife ; He must not marry out of his own kindred . 3. A People are given to Christ as his Wife : In which two Things called for . 1. Serviceableness ; the woman is to be subject to her Husband . 2. Fruitfulness ; no children without a Husband , and no name to live after us , if not children in the Truth to keep it alive .

2. Another Branch of the Will of the Father , is , That none of these that are thus given to Christ should be lost .

Where two Things considered .

1. What it is to be lost ? Opened in these Particulars . 1. To be lost , is to be left out of that good-will of God . 2. Not to be of that stock which the Lord Christ is sent to gather . 3. To have the eyes blinded : Our Gospel hid to them that are lost . 4. To be given up to believe a Lye , to feed on ashes . 5. To have in evil eye , and grudg all done to Truth , as Judas . 6. To be left without any to gather up , or take the care of the Soul . 7. To be left without restraint , that wickedness may take its full course , and grow to cursing and madness against God . 2. Why are not all lost , since all wander and turn Prodigals ? It comes from these Grounds . 1. From this Will of God ; it is his Will to give Christ a People . 2. They are nigh related to Christ ; He cannot see them lost . 3. They must not be lost , because Christ cannot be perfect without his Members ; He must have a Body , &c.

The Vses were , 1. Throughly to understand on what bottom Salvation stands . 2. To enquire , Do you know your Lot here ? Are you given to Christ ? 3. To comfort all drooping hearts that lie under sense of their misery , as if quite lost : No , Christ is to lose none given to Him .

JOHN 6.38 , 39. For I came down from Heaven , not to do mine own Will , but the Will of Him that sent me , &c.

I Am daily and continually minding you , that you might understand the sure principles and ground of Things , that you might know the Foundation and Cause whence all springs , in those that are saved , and those that are lost . For whilest we are judging according to appearance and effects , all is uncertain and doubtful , till we come to be unmoveably principled into the Foundation of all , how that stands . For Things are not as man judgeth ; for it is not what man would ; if he would be saved , and labours , and struggles to press in , alas , that is not the thing : It is not in him that wills , nor in him that runs . And then it is not what man would not ; if he stands out , and opposes , and would never come in , yet if the word goes forth , Go and compel them , it must be done : It stands upon the Will of God ; what He will , what He hath ordered and appointed , all must stoop to that ; Christ himself submits here .

I came not to do my own Will , but the Will of Him that sent me , &c.

Where consider ,

I. Who this [ I ] spoke of , is . I came not , &c.

This I , is the Son of God , the Mind of God , the Heart and Will of the Father brought forth ; and this Mind of his He hath pleased to put into earthen vessels , into his People in all days : This Son of his it was that spake in his Prophets , and opened the Counsel and Purposes of God to them ; that which was hidden and layd up in his own Bosom from the foundations of the world , that is now made manifest by the appearance of Jesus Christ , by this Bosom , and Heart , and Mind of his , sent forth into his Prophets ; that opened , and doth yet open , what was before the world began , and what shall be after that comes to an end : This opens the deep things of God . None knows the Father but the Son , and he to whom the Son shall reveal him . There can be no coming near to God , no knowing , no being like him , unless this Son , this Mind and Heart be sent out , and opened , and grow up in the Soul . Alas , the Deity in it self is too large and infinite for man to conceive of : If ever you come to have apprehensions of the Godhead , it will drink and swallow you up : No man can see my face and live ( saith God to Moses , ) therefore He hides him in the cleft of a Rock till his Glory pass before him . Man is not able to come nigh that infinite Majesty ; and therefore He is pleased to send forth of Himself , His own Heart and Mind , His Son into his People : As He was once sent out in the flesh of Christ , our elder Brother ; so is He now to be sent into his People , the same Mind of God to grow up by degrees and degrees , as we are able to bear .

II. What is this Son of God , this Mind of His , sent out to do ? what comes it for ?

I came not ( saith Christ ) to do my own Will , but the Will of Him that sent me . It is a strange Mystery , ( if you know not somewhat of it in your selves ; ) That this Heart and Mind of God that comes forth from God , and is God Himself , that yet this Son must not do his own Will , but the Will of the Father ; that the Truth , and Christ Himself , though his desires be just , and good , and right , yet He must not have them unless his Father please ; His will must suffer , and be cross'd , and denyed ; therefore it is said , He learn'd obedience by the things he suffered . It is strange how God seems to contradict himself , that his own Heart , and Mind , and Truth must yet be denyed , and suffer and submit to do this Will of the Father , though it be against it self ; so great , and Lord-like , and commanding is this Will of the Lord our God . He doth ( saith David ) what ever pleaseth him , both in Heaven and Earth : What ever he will do , that comes to pass . If he bring some far on in the way to Life , that they come even to the door , yea into the very room ; yet if he will then turn them out , and enquire , Friend , how camest thou hither without the wedding garment ? The man is speechless , and must be turned out presently , if He will not have mercy , &c. And on the other hand , if a man run never so far from him , with Jonah into the bottom of Hell , that all seems utterly lost ; yet if he will recover , and bring back from thence , if He will have mercy , nothing shall hinder ; so absolute , uncontroulable , and over-ruling is this Will of the great Lord , without giving any account of his matters .

And hence I would have you consider three Things .

1. What is the ground and foundation all the happiness and favour that we or any are ever like to enjoy ; It must only be from this good-will of God : What he hath set and purposed for , or against , any , that shall stand . What ever his Soul desires , that he doth , ( saith Job ; ) therefore he adds , When I consider him , I am afraid of him . Have any of you this favour , to have a lot and portion in eternal life ? It is his will that hath done it , his good-will , his good pleasure , nothing can hinder it ; If He will have mercy , who shall hinder ? Again , are any left to destruction , to ruine and undo themselves for ever ? Alas , it is this Will that hath left them out , and destruction must then needs follow . What if God will harden Pharaoh , and make some vessels of wrath ? If he will not shew mercy , who shall turn him ?

2. As this will is the foundation of all that comes to pass ; so secondly , Consider how resolved it is , and all must buckle to it , even Things in Heaven and Earth , the Son himself must be subject ; He comes down from Heaven , leaves his Crown and Glory , and must fulfil this Will by suffering : All things must stoop to this great Lord , so mighty is he , such a Lord Paramount , so great a Ruler . Alas , Things come not to pass according to mens thoughts and propoundings , but according to this Will of God .

3. Then Consider , How this Will of God quite cuts off all our wils . Nothing that comes into your thoughts shall be at all , ( saith God . ) And again , Many are the devises of mans heart , but the Counsel of the Lord that shall stand . And He cries out against Jerusalem , How long shall vain thoughts lodg within thee ? All our thoughts are vain ; if our thoughts are to save our selves , or if to condemn and undo our selves , they are all but vain : The Counsel of the Lord that shall stand ; and the thing is done already before the foundations of the world were layd . When we have tryed all , and run out all our runs , there is but one door to go to in all our needs , the Will and Purpose of God ; and if we find no relief there , alas , the case is miserable ; man can never help himself : So that the great matter lies there , to know what that Will of God concerning us is , how that stands , what his thoughts are , and to be truly informed here , and layd submitted to this Will ; This is all we have to do , for the thing is done already . In the Salvation of them that are to be saved , how contrary are all things to Reason ? how do they oppose and stand out more then any ? Had the mighty works ( saith Christ ) been done in Sodom and Gomorrah , which were done in thee , they would have repented them in sackcloth and ashes : There would not have been so much opposition from them ; but yet if he will save , he will save , nothing shall hinder . And so in those that perish , though they seek the blessing with tears , as Esau did ; though there be never so earnest a crying , and weeping , and pleading , Lord open to us , we have cast out Devils in thy Name , and Thou hast taught in our streets ; yet all will not do , if his will be set once , and the doors shut , then Depart from me , I know you not , &c. If we were but truly informed and principled in this thing , it would be a great setling to our minds . We have many strange and vain wandring thoughts and troubles , for want of a true principling , and setting down here , that all must come to pass according to this Will. Thou wilt perhaps say , But I have the Truth in me , and that cries , and desires , and longs . Well , but the Son himself must be subject ; the Truth in thee , the right desires of thy Soul , must submit to his pleasure , whether to be answered or denyed . The Son himself says , Not my Will , but thy Will be done : And it is said , He learned obedience by the things he suffered . And if the Son of God , the Truth it self , which comes out of his Bosom into the world , into the man , if that cannot alter nor change his minde , but must submit its Will to the Will of its Father ; then sure , the man , who is but dust and ashes , he can do nothing in it ; his prayers and cries cannot alter this Will.

Therefore , what ever thy desires are set upon , and how right and single soever they may be ; yet this is to be looked at in all ; but , What is the Will of the Lord ? what is his pleasure ? Christ , according to his tenderness , He would have all men saved , and come to the knowledg of the Truth : He desired many things by his own Will , but He must come in again , and lay all those desires at his Fathers foot , and say , Yet not my Will , but Thine .

Now are any of you at a strait and pinch , to know what shall become of you ? Here the thing stands , it depends onely upon this minde of God ; and nothing ( I know ) can or will ever satisfie you , till that , which the Disciples ask for ▪ be granted you ; Shew us the Father , and that will suffice . Christ had been long with them , tendering , exhorting , instructing , and bearing up their heads ; yet that was not enough to them : they are at a want still , till that word comes from Christ ; And I say not , that I will pray for you ; for the Father Himself loveth you : And this stays them indeed : Now speakest thou plainly , and no Parable . This is more content and satisfaction , then all He had ever spoke before to them ; this is the ground of all your Happiness , if your Souls were but surely principled and setled in it . But then ,

III. What is this Will of the Father that He comes to do ?

This is the Will of Him that sent me ( saith Christ ) that of all that the Father hath given me , I should lose nothings . There are two things in this Will.

1. A people are given to Christ to be his , by this Will of God . 2. It is the Will of the Father , that none of these should be lost , but that Christ should raise them up in the last day ; That they should be recovered , how desperate soever the case be with them .

And thus far I have gone , to shew you , who this He , spoke of , is ; the heart , the minde of God sent forth , tht Son of God . And , 2. What He was sent out for ; and that is , to do the Will of the Father , to submit to that : And I told you how all stands in this Will of God ; That if Christ Himself would save a man , yet He cannot do it without this Will of the Father : Therefore He submits , Not my Will , but thine , &c. Christ would that all should be saved , and come to the knowledg of the Truth : but He must lay it down at his Fathers Will . And had I no more then my own desires and love towards you to carry me forth , I should surely have flagged and left you before this time ; were not those eternal thoughts of God , and that setled Will concerning you , discovered to me . But now I come to open ,

What this Will of God is .

And I told you there were two branches of it .

1. That a People were given to Christ by this Will of God : All that the Father hath given me , ( saith Christ . ) Now there is a threefold giving of a people to Christ .

1. He gives Him a people as his children , to be nursed and tendred by him ; and so He speaks to his Disciples several times , calling them children : Children , have you understood these things ? &c. They were but in the condition and state of children , though they were men . And here God puts Christ in the place of it Mother and Nurse , to bring up those that are thus given Him .

1. A Mother receives a seed from her Husband , which is to be molded , and formed , and grow up in the womb , till it be a perfect child : such a seed is given to Christ , to warm and cherish , till it grow up to the minde of God , and have the true proportions of a child , and be like its Father : And therefore it is said , The Promise is sure to all the seed : And again , A seed shall serve Him , it shall be to the Lord for a generation .

2. A Mother nurses up her Children when they are born ; she feeds , and tends , and oversees them , till they are grown up to live of themselves : And thus are a People given to Truth , that it may nourish , and care for , and deal tenderly , and lead them on , till they grow up to be strong men in the Truth . How doth a Mother bear , and go through all with her child ? all its frowardness , and crossness , she takes it up willingly . So this Love of Truth to its children ; it is not easily provoked , it is not soon moved , but endures all things , and waies , and hopes all things : It spares from it self to give to its children : such a Nurse is Truth , so tender and careful : I have been as a nurse amongst you ( saith Paul . ) If you perceive not this dealing of Truth towards you , it is all but as a Riddle ; If you are not seeing , how tenderly and patiently you have been dealt with all along from your Cradles ; nothing hard and unbearable hath ever been put upon you , but some issue hath been made for deliverance : You have been given into the care and nursery of Truth , to look after , and provide for , you : nothing more is put upon you ; but , open thy mouth wide , and I will fill it , &c. There hath been one with you to care for you , when you have slept , and slighted , and not considered the day of your visitation . You have little considered what it hath cost to enjoy the brests that you may suck at dayly ; what a living Ministry you are entrusted with , and yet waits upon you : It reaches all that come neer it ; none that have come amongst us , have gone hence without the power of this Truth , convincing , and making them acknowledg , that of a truth God is amongst us .

2. God gives Christ a people as his Brethren , when they are grown up to that state , as He calls the Church , My Sister , my Spouse . And in being thus given to Christ , He manifests these three Things to the Soul .

1. He opens , that it is of the same stock and kindred with Himself ; as it is said , At the second time Joseph was made known to his Brethren . Now that the Soul of man and the Word of Life should be so nigh related as a Brother and Sister , this is wonderful ! It is too high to be exprest by me , in words , or for you to conceive of : But yet there is a generation , a people , that shall justifie this wisdom , that shall know this portion is befallen them , That they are of the same stock with the Lord Jesus , the Word of Life , That they are born from above ; I am not of this world , and these are not of this world ( saith Christ : ) They are of one World , and one Kingdom , and one Country : Therefore he says , My sheep hear my voyce , and the voyce of a stranger they will not hear ; they know not the voyce of strangers : They are not of that Country nor language , and so can understand no other language but the Word of Life . This is opened to the Soul , when it is thus given over to Christ , as a Sister , one of the same stock , born from the same Love , as it is in Jeremy , I have loved thee of old with an everlasting love , &c.

2. Christ opens to the Soul , when it is thus given to him , the Priviledges it is to have with Him ; That it is born to the same inheritance and portion that He himself hath : and without this , what is all preaching to you , if this portion be not made known as belonging to you ? And none can read this seven-sealed Book but the Word of Life : unless He read thy portion to thee , thou canst never know it ; unless He witness to thy Soul , as He did to his Disciples , The Father Himself loveth you : And if he ever open this to you , it must be , when you are grown up to this stature , to be given him as a Sister , as Brethren : For whilest Children and Babes , you have not understanding ; you are not capable to know it , though it be never so often told you . O Lord , That you were at a strait to have this opened ! For your lives will ever hang in doubt , till this portion shall stablish , and settle , and put you out of all fears .

3. Hence this follows , and is opened to the Soul , That it is now liable to be marryed to Christ , and become his Wife : It was a true Type among the people of Israel , they were not to marry out of their own stock and kindred ; All strange wives were forbidden : So Christ marries not out of his own line , out of his own stock ; He cannot joyn to the stock of the Devil : But such as are his Sister , born of one Father , sprang from one Love , they may become a Wife for Him : Those two links are joyned together in the Canticles , My Sister , my Spouse ; but if no Sister first , it is impossible to be his Spouse . I have told you often , gold and sand cannot be run together into one lump : and it will surely grow up more manifest , that all relations , what ever , will dye , and come to nothing , where Truth lives in one party , if nothing of the same kinde appears to maintain the tye in the other : A Husband , a Wife , a Child , all these relations will dye , &c. if there be not a surer bond to hold fast for ever .

3. God gives a people to Christ , as a spouse , a wife given into his bosom . And here two things come in .

1. Serviceableness and subjection to the Husband ; That was the Law given at the Creation ; Thy Desire shall be subject to thy Husband , and He shall rule over thee . Christ will now rule , and expects to be obeyed ; He puts the Soul upon service now , it must no more be its own now , at its own hand and disposing : The Wife must not please her self , but her Husband . If ever you come to be Christs Wife , you must do something for him : Do you look always to live as children , to be nursed , and tendred , and fed , and never to do some service for the Truth ? &c. And then ,

2. If you come to be a Wife to Christ , it will be expected you should be fruitful , to bring forth children to keep the name of Truth alive after you : Will you onely leave a stone behinde you , like Absalom , to keep up your names ? Shall it be said of you , Here a stony heart lies , that dyed without any service done for the Truth ; He hath left no children behind to speak for him ? Would you be content to dye in this condition ? and thus dye you must , if you never come to be marryed to Christ : you can have no true children without a Husband , if you be not given by God into his bosom , as his Wife . And thus I have opened to you one branch of this Will of the Father , in giving a people to his Son Christ , and that in a threefold relation : 1. In the relation of Children . 2. In the relation of a Sister . 3. In the relation of a Wife . Which are but several steps and degrees , according as the growing up of the Truth is , &c.

2. Another branch of this Will of God is , That Christ should lose none of those that are thus given Him .

And this is the happy thing , to be given of God to Christ in any relation : If but His in the lowest station , if but as children , or if higher , given him as a Sister , though not yet a Spouse ; yet this is the Happiness , That this is the Will of the Father , that of all that He hath given me ( saith Christ ) I should lose nothing : If but His in the lowest degree , the case is happy : And therefore this is the great and weighty matter to be known , as the ground of all ; Would you know what shall become of you ? would you know whether you shall be lost or not ? Why , are you given to Christ , into his charge and care ? do you know that ? Are you his children ? in the lowest degree His ? Else if you are not children , then you can be no heirs ; you have no right nor portion with Him : and if you be children , it will appear ; the Truth will be stirring towards you , nursing , and serving , and ministring to the Soul ; dealing gently and tenderly , as a Nurse or a Mother , that you may not be lost , &c.

About this two things were considered .

1. What it is to be lost ? 2. How comes it , that All are not lost ? since all are Prodigals , and wander like the lost sheep , why not all lost ?

1. What is it to be lost ? It hath these several things in it .

1. To be lost , is , not to be of that stock and kindred which the Lord Christ is sent to gather : The great and main thing which is the cause of perishing , is , the being left to a mans self ; That is enough to undo a man : Thy destruction is of thy self ( O Israel . ) Men are already sure enough in Hell and destruction , if there be not a recovery , ( were but the sense of the thing upon them : ) The carnal minde is enmity to God , and is not subject , neither can be , to his Will. And now to be but left here , not to be sav'd out , ans pluck'd out of the fire ; this is to be lost : not to be of that number , not to be that lost sheep which Christ seeks up , as he says , Ye are not of my sheep . And when some plead , Oh , open ! we have eat and drunk in thy presence , and thou hast taught in our streets : yet He answers , I know you not , you are none of my sheep ; the Father gave me no charge over you , to seek and gather you ; and therefore Depart from me . This is to be lost .

2. To be lost , is , to have the Gospel hid : If our Gospel be hid ( saith the Apostle ) it is hid to them that are lost , in whom the God of this world hath blinded their eyes , &c. That is a token of a lost condition , when the Soul is blinded , that there is neither a knowing of the Mercy , nor a knowing of the Judgment : I will sing of mercy and of judgment ( saith David . ) Many they get up Gospel-words , and speak of Mercy , but they know it not : They can live loosely , and vainly , and carnally , and as they lift : But the Gospel is for Judgment , as well as Mercy ; That sends a sword : The Word of the Lord is quick and lively , more piercing then a two-edged sword ; It cuts , and divides , and squares , and orders : And if either of these be hid , either the Mercy , or the Judgment ; if this Gospel be hid , it is hid to them that are lost .

3. To be lost , is , to be given up to beleeve a lye , to be setled down to deceit , that nothing of Truth can seize , or enter : Charm the Charmer never so wisely , yet the Ear is stopt : I 'l hold my hold , says the heart : there is such a secret resolvedness in the Soul when it is given up to beleeve a lye : And this is to be lost , to be left here to feed on ashes , on any thing that is short of a sure condition ; That which will not endure the fire , nor stand in the day of Tryal , though it may carry never so fair a shew before man . If man may judg , by his own wisdom ; of himself , He is the bravest thing in the World ; so long as he may beleeve his own thoughts , and feed on a lye ; But if Truth comes indeed to search and judg him , then he will be found the basest thing in the World , the most vile and wretched .

4. To be lost , is , to be given up to an evil Eye ; to think much at the prospering of the Truth , and grudg all that is done to , and for , it ; A Judas-like spirit , that grudged the ointment should be spent upon Christ , and thought it too good . This evil Eye to grudg at anothers enjoyment , this is a certain canker that will destroy us , if we are not delivered . It is a dangerous thing to take offence , and dispute , and reason against the Truth ; to speak evil of the things we know not : And to be left to this evil Eye , to grudg , and think evil , and turn Traytor to Truth , is to be lost and undone .

5. A fifth thing that makes to a lost condition , is , to be left out of the care and heart of the people of God ; to have none to look after the Soul , nor minde it : as the Curse is in the Psalms against Judas his children ; Let there be none to take care of his fatherless children ; let them be vagabonds , and beg their bread : And if there be not some to stand in the gap for you , you are in a miserable case , to be left without the prayers of the Lord Jesus in his people for you ; to be left out of the care and cries of that one Spirit ; as the Apostle says , The Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with sighs and groans that cannot be uttered . Christ , and His Spirit , and His People , cannot be divided ; He is with his Body , and that Body is but one , and the spirit that cries and groans in them is one Spirit : and if we have no share nor portion in the care , and counsels , and prayers of his people ; none to gather us into this Body ; This is to be miserable .

7. To be left to a mans cursing , and rage , and devilishness of spirit ; to be swallowed up and drowned by the floods of ungodliness ; and wholy transformed into the image of the Devil , and to be left here ; This is to be lost . And to this height will the least seed of Sin grow at last , if Mercy be not shew'd to prevent from it . But this is Christs charge , and this is the happiness and security of his People , That the Will of God stands in it , for the Salvation of his people : It is the Will of Him that sent me , that of all which He hath given me , I should lose nothing , &c.

But now , if you come sometimes , you may finde some of the saved ones , that are most dear to God , ( Precious to the Lord is the Death of his Saints , ) yet these dear ones are sometimes left to taste of all these conditions : You may finde them blinded , and given up to beleeve lyes ; They are secure , and sensless ; and in all appearance they are sunk in the mire as deep as any . Jonah , he cries , out of the bottom of Hell , I went down to the bottom of the Mountains ; the Earth with her bars was about me for ever , &c. And David cries out , I had almost said as they ; my foot had welnigh slipped . And so in the Proverbs , He that followed the whorish woman , came to that pass at last , to cry out , I was almost in all evil , &c. Prov. 5.14 . They come to the pits brink ; nay , David was in the pit , and therefore cries out , O let not the Pit shut her mouth upon me . How comes it about then that they are not quite lost ?

It stands upon these three grounds .

1. They cannot be quite lost , because the Will of God is set to save them : Their Safety and Security stands in that free and unchangeable Will. It is the Will of Him that sent me , that of all He hath given me , I should lose nothing . And nothing can alter , nor turn his thoughts .

2. They are nighly related to Christ , and therefore cannot be lost ; they are his children : Behold , I , and the children God hath given me . And again : I said of them , They are my people , Children that will not lye . And sure He will not see his Children killed , and not rise up to save them . Farther , They are his Brethren ; He is not asham'd to call them Brethren , Heb. 2.11 . They are his Sister , his Spouse , that lies in his bosom , and He cannot bear to see them lost : He is not able to see any of them in the Lions mouth , but he must rescue them out , and slay the Lion : His bowels are turned to see them in misery ; and therefore He waits to be gracious . He stands pleading and entreating at their doors ; O why will ye dye ? Do you indeed hear ? and do you consider that this is the cause why you are not lost and undone before this time ? This is a wonderful mystery , That such a tye and neer relation should be to the Word of Life , to the Lord Himself , that He should take such a care and charge over thee , and so wait and attend at all times to do thee good : It is from this neer relation to Him ; He that sanctifieth , and they that are sanctified , are all of one : And this is the onely cause you are not lost . And therefore what have any of you to boast on ? Why are you not as base and vile as any ? Why not lost as well as others ? It is not any thing that springs from thee which makes the difference : We must all become guilty before God ; we are the worst of sinners : But because He hath put his Son in you , and made you so nigh to Christ , therefore will He save you .

3. They are not lost , because Christ Jesus cannot be perfect , nor subsist , without his Members : nothing will content the Son of God , the Truth , till all that belong to it are gathered into an Union with the Head . Many vainly imagine , and flatter their thoughts , They shall be saved , and gathered to Christ when they dye ; but it is to be done here , if it be ever done : The Soul must be brought into Union with the Truth , joyned to that one Head , and receive sap , and nourishment , and life from Christ sooner or later ; This must be done in all that are to be saved : And this Christ prays for his Disciples , That , the same Love , wherewith thou hast loved me , may be in them , and I in them : Such an Vnion and Oneness , to stand on the same foundation with Christ , and suck the same brests , and be supplied with the same sap ; this is a condition where Salvation stands ; and none that are brought to this must be lost .

The Vses hence may be ,

1st , To consider and hear for your selves , That you may come to be setled on sure principles : Do you understand on what bottom Salvation stands ? Do you know what the ground and foundation is of all your happiness or misery ? of all your enjoyments or sufferings ? that it lies up in this will of God ? Are you set down in this Principle , and submitted under this Will ?

2ly , Enquire farther ; Do you know your lot and portion in this good-will of God ? Is that opened to you ? If not , How can you sleep upon the top of a Mast ! and be secure , when your case lies so dangerous ? Do you know you were ever given to any ? into their hearts ? to travel for you in the bowels of Christ ? It is certain there are a lost number that are not given to Christ : Now what security have you for your selves ? Will that save you , that you have knowledg , and parts , and hear the Truth preached ? Alass ! many followed Christ , but at last came to a hard saying , and there they fell off , and left him : Therefore it concerns you to enquire , whether you have that which will carry you out , and give you a certainty you shall not perish for ever ? If you hear , and hear ten thousand years , and hear not that you have a portion in this good-will , all is as nothing .

3ly , This may be of Use for encouragement , to comfort all the drooping hearts , that are ready to cast off all , as if they were now quite lost : Zion said , The Lord hath forsaken me , &c. No , no ; there is no such thing where his Will is once pitched : Having loved his own , he loved them to the end , Joh. 13.1 . It is his Will , that none that He hath given to his Son should be lost : And therefore , however hard and dangerous the case seems at present , yet you that are given to this charge of Christ , and are under this Love , this might encourage you , That you have One that will look after you , and care for you : No man ever hated his own flesh , but cherisheth and nourisheth it : so tender will Christ be to his own Body , if your lot be fallen in that good ground .

Therefore have your thoughts about you , and consider the ground of your happiness or misery ; Happiness , if you be accepted in that good-will of the Father , and by that Will given to Christ to be his charge ; this is a sure token he wil save thee : These are the two main pillars on which your Salvation stands . For , if it were possible ▪ not one man would ever be saved , but go on in darkness and ignorance all their days , and lie down in misery . But God hath provided a way , and taken a sure course , to save all his by : and therefore enquire for the old way , the way that the Ransomed have passed ; All the saved ones have been saved this way , by this Will of God ; not by any willings , or reachings , or desirings of their own ; not of Works , but of Grace : And therefore , if the Lord be for thee , it is enough ; but if He undertake it not , thou art lost , and wilt be lost , &c.

THE Prodigals sad Pilgrimage , AND SAFE RETVRN ; OR , The Woful Case of Wandering , though saved . SERM. VI. Febr. 23. 1650 / 1. LUKE 15.11 , 12 , &c.

And He said ( meaning Christ , ) A certain man had two sons :

And the younger of them said to his father , Father , give me the portion of goods that falleth to me . And he divided to them his Living , &c.

The Analysis .

THis Parable of the Prodigal may have a three-fold relation .

1. To the Jew and the Gentile , the elder and younger son . 2. To the union of Brethren in the Truth , in the same society . 3. To the two sons , two nations , two principles , in one man , Good , Evil.

Three general Things observed about the Prodigal .

I. His going out from his Father . In which consider , 1. He was grown up to know Him to be a Father . 2. He claims his Portion as due : Give me the portion , &c. 3. His Father grants his desire , divides his Substance . 4. Having his Portion , He presently takes his Journey , &c. 5. He spends all , and a Famine comes upon Him : And that , 1. As a just Judgment for his riotous living . 2. To shew him the evil nature of the Country he is in . 3. To pinch him out thence , and press him homeward .

II. His Return home again . Where consider , 1. He comes to Himself ; He was out of his wits before . 2. Bethinks himself that he was a Son , though in this case . 3. Considers the plenty at home : The servants have bread enough , and to spare . 4. Resolves at last ; I will arise , and go to my Father &c.

Where consider , 1. His sense of his misery , and that no help is there to be had . 2. He goes at a peradventure what he shall meet with from his father . 3. Goes as he is , ragged , tattered , and torn , &c.

III. His Entertainment upon his return . And that opened in five Particulars .

First , The best robe is put on ; that 's the first thing : And for these ends ; 1. To cover his nakedness , that that may be hid . 2. To take off his shame : The sinner is ashamed . 3. To stop his fears : being guilty , he dare not look up , till his sin be covered .

Secondly , A Ring is put on his hand , to adorn it : And that in three cases .

1. With Skill ; He is now made wise in the work of Truth . 2. With Diligence ; Now he learns to redeem his time , &c. 3. With weightiness of employment ; He has done with toys , &c.

Thirdly , Shooes are put on his feet : The feet express the love and affections , by which the Soul moves ; to which shooes bear a threefold Usefulness : 1. To fence them to go through all bryars and thorns . 2. To quicken them to run swifter . 3. To make solid , that they may hold out the journey , &c.

Fourthly , The fatted Calf is killed ; There is now meat for him : And that has these Considerations .

1. Meat refreshes the faint and weary . 2. It strengthens , to endure labour and employment . 3. It makes to look well , and gives a good countenance .

Fifthly , There 's Mirth and Musique to compleat all ; Let us eat and be merry , &c. And that for three Reasons .

1. Because this Son was dead , and is alive . 2. Was lost , and is found . 3. Because he received him safe and sound . 1st , Safe : That implies , 1. To be well fenc'd about and guarded . 2. To be where no harm nor danger comes . 3. To be in an incapacity of harming one's self . 2ly , Sound : That holds out , 1. To be free of all taint and rottenness . 2. To be perfect in its kinde , without deficiency .

All this parallel'd in the inward work upon the Soul .

Vses hence .

1. ( If possible ) To forewarn some from turning Prodigals . 2. To inform of the certain misery that will follow . 3. Yet to encourage and envite such as are Prodigals , to return .
LUKE 15.11 , 12 , &c.

And he said , ( meaning Christ , ) A certain man had two sons :

And the younger of them said to his father , Father , give me the portion of goods that falleth to me : And he divided to them his Living , &c.

THis Parable may have relation to three sorts of People : And a certain man had two sons , &c. It may be taken thus .

1. These two sons may be the Jew , and the Gentile , which once were in the House together , in the days of Righteous Noah , when he built an Ark , to the saving of his houshold : But Japhet the Gentile went out , and from hence came forth that Prayer , or Prophecy , God shall perswade Japhet , and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem , Gen. 9.27 . And now was the time of prevailing with him , ( for at this time was the calling of the Gentiles ; ) but this younger son ( the Gentile ) would needs go from Jerusalem to Jericho , from the City of a blessing to a curse : So is it with the heart , as the horse rusheth into the battel , without fear , and knows not but that a spear may strike through his bowels ; and as Job saith , as the sparks fly upwards ; so natural is it for man to go to cursing . But ,

2. A certain man had two sons ; a son that abode in the house , and a son that loves to wander : And this may have relation to a People joyn'd together in the Truth , being of one Family , as amongst our selves ; and yet we may wander one from another ; we may not all of us so love our Fathers house , nor our Brethren , nor have a mind to retain God in our counsels , but stand and seem wiser in our own conceits then seven men that can give a Reason . But ,

3. It may also have relation to the two sons in one man : ( For what ever we see in the great World without us , the same is comprehended in one particular man , if it were discovered : ) There are the two Nations in the womb , ( as 't is said of Rebecca ; ) there 's the natural son , and the spiritual son ; there 's the Jew , and the Gentile ; the Jew is a natural branch , the Gentile contrary to nature ; the Son of God , and the son of man . Except a man be born again , he cannot see the Kingdom of God , ( saith Christ . ) A man , viz. the will , the understanding , the Soul , ( for this house , the body that we carry about with us , that is not the man , where the Son of God dwells ; as Paul saith , He that hath not the Spirit of Christ , he is none of his ; ) Now where that Spirit is , the Father brings that man to be his son , to a new birth ; not to a new birth in the full sence ; for there 's a two-fold birth ; first , there 's a birth to see the Kingdom , and then a birth to enter into the Kingdom of God : To the first the Prodigal was brought . And this we can truly witness , We are born in the house , have eaten and drunk in his presence , and heard him teach in our streets ; we have lived at his Table , we have had bread enough and to spare , having the world at will ( saith David , ) &c. But now we girded our selves ( in this day ) with Peter , we could walk upon the Sea to Christ , and thought our selves safe , &c. till at last getting up our portion , we wandred from our fathers house . And this Interpretation I intend to follow : For though the other two are true , yet if we come not to particulars , what 's this to me ? to hear of a Jew , and a Gentile without me ; or to hear of a Prodigal wandring from his fathers house , &c. if all this while I be not this man , I this Prodigal spoke of ? I shall now go on to the several Observations rising from the carriage of this Prodigal son .

1. The son said to his father , &c. Hence is considerable , the distinct knowing that God of his mercy hath brought him to , to know the Truth . It 's not said , that one said , or that a certain man said thus ; but , the son said to his father . And herein have we exceedingly made an evil of the goodness of the Lord : And it makes my heart tremble to think what want will come upon this Prodigal for it . But ,

2. The second thing considerable in this Prodigal , is this ; And the son said to his father , Give me the portion of goods that belongs to me . You shal see , if you mind it , another manner of carriage in him , when he returns from his Prodigality : Now he is upon his claiming , Give me my portion ; but when he returns home , he does not say , ( though greatly pined with hunger , ) kill the fatted Calf ; but he comes thus , I am not worthy to be called thy son , make me as one of thy hired servants .

In the days of our Ignorance , how do we claim our portions , looking for a reward as due to us ? But no greater token that want is coming , then this ; and this is a certain thing , that all our losses have come from this , and will come , whilest you command God , and his servants , saying , Why do'nt he regard me more ? And so there is a claiming of our portions , and taking them out of the hands of Truth , and so we thrust our selves out of the house , as the Prodigal , and say , He will be such a hard Master to me , I had better have it in my own hand . Thus hath there been an evil intreating of the Son of God : Now is that presuming , and desperate venturing , that we are able to go alone .

But I would you might read all along as you go , that those of you who are not fallen ( if possible ) might be warned ; and if you are fallen , that you might learn Instruction how to return . How did destruction come upon Korah for his evil reaching ? What , are not all the Lords People holy ? Will you put out the eyes of these men ? But , by and by you shall know ( saith Moses : ) And indeed how did they know to their woe ? How did the fire of the Lord consume some , and the Earth swallow up others ? &c. Oh that you might take warning ! But ,

3ly . The father gives him his deresi ; a sad case ! And he divided to them his substance . When Israel murmured against God , complaining of the light Manna , and craving for Quails , God heard their cries , He gave them their hearts lust , but sent them leanness of Soul . When I consider the cries of our hearts , those evil reachings for the Truth , it makes my heart tremble , lest God may take advantage in giving us our desires : We think , because we reach after the things of God , we do well ; But when I think what Lot got by desiring to go to Zoar , ( though God gave him his choyce to go , yet ) how did his heart reproach his mouth ? When he had it , he could not abide there , but feared to dwell in Zoar ; Zoar now will not maintain him ; the time comes , when neither wisdom , nor knowledg , nor discerning will serve the turn . Though I had the gift of Prophecy , ( saith Paul , ) and could understand all mysteries ; If I had all knowledg , and faith , that I could remove mountains , it would profit me nothing , if I had not Love , 1 Cor. 13.2 , 3. When I enjoyed the world at will , when my bough was green , when the dew lay upon my branch all night ; then I said in my prosperity , I shall never be moved ; thou Lord of thy goodness hadst made my mountain so strong , ( saith David . ) I know thy works ( saith the Angel to the Church of Ephesus ) thy labour , and thy patience , and how thou canst not bear with them that are evil ; and hast tryed them which say they are Apostles , and are not , and hast found them lyars , &c. Nevertheless , I have somewhat against thee , because thou hast left thy first Love : As if God should say , I know thy gifts have not sprung from the garden of Nature , but I have given them , they were my Wool , and my Flax ; but you have deck'd your Idols with them , therefore they are taken away . But he gives a portion to his eldest son , that never shall be taken away ; He saith to him , Son , thou art ever with me , and all that I have is thine : But to the younger son he gives that which may be spent , the common Faith ; as Paul writes to Titus , Titus , my dear son ( saith he ) according to the Common Faith . But yet what a loss came to the Prodigal , though truly a son ? Such a loss may the Soul come to , to be as naked as a child that is newly born . So foolish and ignorant was I ( saith David ) as a beast before thee . Behold ( saith God ) I make the Earth utterly empty , without an Inhabitant : And then ( as Christ said ) you shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man , and shall not see them . As a dead man out of mind ( saith David . ) If we were aware of this , it would make us afraid of what we reach after . I know many of you have an aspiring mind to be high , and accounted eminent in the Church ; but if you would know for no better end then this , only to satisfie your reaching heart , if you employ not your Masters goods to the best advantage , better had you never had the Truth , then to make an evil use of it ; as Christ declares in the next Chapter , a Parable of a Steward that wasted his Masters goods , and inrich'd himself by it . Ephraim is a fruitful Vine to himself : But ( as Solomon saith ) Riches are given to some for their hurts . And here you may see , that if riches and honor , &c. shall be the way to bring a man down , God will give him them . Eve shall eat of the Apple , though forbidden , ( because ( said she ) its good to make one wise , &c. ) that so she might be brought under the curse : Though all shall not have their hearts brought down that way ; for some shall have their hearts discovered by their foolishness , they shall have no knowledg , but be ignorant , and brutish as a beast : What strange ways does God take to bring down mans heart , before he can know that he standeth by grace , that he is not able to think a good thought of himself ? As the Prodigal here , as soon as ever he can get all together , he is gone , he thinks he is well now : As soon as God gives understanding , knowledg , discerning , then comes Pride , then we think we are something , because we have something : But alas ( may we cry out as the man did to Elijah ) it was but borrowed ; and he that lent it , may call for it when it pleases him : Therefore let him that thinks he standeth , take heed lest he fall . How proud is this Peacock ? how does she spread out her tail ? but when she sees her black feet , then she hangs down her head .

4ly . The Prodigal having gathered all together he has , then he goes forth gallantly adorned : Now I can give Reproof , Instruction , and Counsel ( saith he ; ) and thus he looks upon his plume of Feathers : but by and by his portion is gone , his Feathers are pluckt , and then how naked and ashamed is he ? If you be made wise , to see and be warned , then happy are you : We never come to our losses , but by this prying upon our selves ; ( as the Apostle saith , ) We measure our selves by our selves , saying , I am better then I was ; and amongst our selves , when we look upon others , we say , I am better then this and th' other ; but in this you are not wise , &c. But who of us desires the Truth as David did , O deal kindly with me ( saith he , ) that I may keep thy Commandments ? We say , Let me have the Truth ; but for what end ? to be proud of it ? We often enquire and enquire , as the Pharises did of the blind man , But how came thine eyes open ? as if we would be his Disciples : But is it indeed for that end ? I beseech you enquire , why would you know the hidden Mysteries of God , and be of his Counsel ? &c. If you have no mind to be his Disciples , there 's great danger in it ; there 's great need to enquire wherefore you would know God : Would you know him , to fear him ? fear him , to serve him ? serve him , to love him ? to love him , not your selves ; is this in all your hearings , desirings , and prayings ? &c. What would you have him for ? is it to get honour to your selves ? or is it for the honour of him ? That in all your desirings , this may be set before you , to say thus ; Did the Prodigal desire ? and did the father give him his desire ? But what did he with it ? He gathered all together , and ran from his father . We never undertake to be desperately evil , but we first plot how to carry it out : As a thief that is resolved to steal , he plots how to carry away what he intends to steal . When you look over , how you are wiser , and have more discerning then others , how good is prophesied concerning you , &c. then you gather up your portions , and arm your selves against the Truth to fight with it . All you that have gone far from God , have not gone naked ; we have made use of what God had given us , to carry us out from him : We could never have gone into a Land of wasting , of hunger and famine , had we not once been in a Land of plenty ; You have not gone out hood-wink'd : How have you promised your selves , when you have gone into evil company , you would only go to learn experience , and return again presently ?

But whither have you carried your riches ? even as the Prodigal , to a Citizen of that Country , where self-love , pride , envy , &c. dwells , where the Ishmaelites dwell , the Tabernacles of Edom , of Moab , and the Hagarens , Gebal , and Ammon , and Amlaeck , &c. Psal. 83.6 , 7. All the kindred that are against Truth , Pride , Self-love , Envy , &c. are the Country-men whither the Prodigal carries his riches . And what doth he now do ? does he go to God in this loss ? No , he joyns himself to this Citizen , one of the same kind ; for such as a mans heart is , such is his society he joyns himself to : If the heart is let out to Envy , then to the envious ; if to Self-love , Pride , unmercifulness , it seeks for such ; and therefore must our high thoughts come down : And whosoever of you shall be so wise to take warning by this , might be afraid to ask of God riches any more , since we have spent them upon our lusts . We have gone from Jerusalem to that cursed Jericho , and as the Prodigal , spent all our substance .

And when he had spent all , there arose a mighty famine in the Land , and he began to be in want , &c. And so it will be ; all the vertue , strength , power , wisdom , fear , love , &c. what ever we have enjoyed that sprung from Truth , will be spent , and the famine will arise .

But for what Cause ?

1. As a just Judgment .

When David had numbered the people , God sent unto him three Judgments , bidding him choose which he would : Shall seven years of famine come unto thy Land ( saith God ? ) or wilt thou fly three moneths before thine enemies ? or shall three days Pestilence be in thy Land ? &c. 2 Sam. 24.13 . This was to come as a Judgment upon him : Therefore now in this strait , what great need have you of one to make an attonement for you ! When you have had the exercise of Truth lively upon you , how have you babbled it to every one ? You have thought , Sure I have riches enough ; and so have run it out as long as ever you had breath ; as a drunken man that has money , he spends all , never considering how hardly he came by it , and how soon he may want : Not like that wise man Christ speaks of , who when he hath found the treasure hid in a field , presently goes and hideth it again , Mat. 13.44 . But as soon as we are a little brought out but to see our way , &c. how do we tell it abroad to every one we meet ? My heart shall never reproach my mouth ( saith Job , ) I , but it did ; for how did he curse the day of his Being , &c. though he had once spoke well of God ? The Prodigal sure once thought , when he was in his fathers house , that he should never be so base as to leave his father , and joyn to a Citizen of a strange Country ; but you see he did it : But shall not God visit for such things as these ? I will surely bring upon them ( saith God ) all the days of Baalim , when they offered sacrifice to their Idols . God is a just God : Moses , when Miriam was smitten , prayed , O Lord , let her not be as one dead ; heal her now : No ( saith God , ) she shall be shut out of the Camp seven days , till she bear her shame ; according to the transgression of her Sabbaths when she enjoyed them , so many Sabbaths shall she be without a Priest , or an Ephod : Here 's the Judgment indeed . God does not afflict willingly ; but because you would not hear , therefore He cries out , O Jerusalem , Jerusalem ! that stonest thy Prophets , &c. He bewails over you , because you have slept away your time , all the days of his patience , and long-suffering , and dayly calling upon you . It was possible to have turned his anger away , while he was waiting , and enduring the frowardness and rebellions ; but when he saw that Israel would not for all this return , therefore ( saith God ) will I let go all my wrath . And yet be comforted in this , He is righteous in all his Judgments , and holy in all his ways ; the ministration of condemnation is glorious : And now to accept of the punishment of iniquity , this God would have you do ; for if we wring and wrestle never so in the chain , he will be too hard for us . But ,

2. There arises a famine to this purpose , to shew us , there is no increase in this Land ; we may carry much in , but bring nothing out again : Wo unto me ( said the Prophet , ) that I am constrained to dwell with them that hate Peace . When we go into the Land of slanders , backbitings , envyings , &c. these are not like the garden of Eden ; A Land of plenty of all things is this Land , where Brethren dwell together in unity : But in this going out , the Lord will have no fellowship with the stool of iniquity : And though a man should have a great substance , and gather it all together , and carry it into a Land where nothing grows , it would soon waste . They that go down to destruction , they cannot celebrate thy praise ; there 's nothing grows in that Land . You are wondering why you are so desolate and empty , so voyd of exercise , &c. alas , there grows nothing in this Land ; you are gone out of the Land of plenty , and can it be expected that men can gather grapes of thorns , or figs of thistles ? The time comes that all will be spent , and you shall wonder at the desolation that shall come ; you shall say , Where is the Land of Increase that once I was in ? The Deeps they say , It is not in me ; the Sea saith , It is not in me : But ( saith Job , ) Sure there is a place where Gold is found , and a vein for the Silver , Job 28.14 . But as for the place of wisdom and understanding , where is it ? It 's not in the wise world , it 's not in sleepiness , nor envy , nor pride ; where then ? where the fear of the Lord grows ; they that fear the Lord , they are the men that get wisdom . They have forsaken the Fountain of living water , and digged to themselves Cisterns that will hold no water . It 's no wonder we are barren , because we have not had the fear of the Lord before our eyes . Again ,

3. The famine arises for this Cause , that the Prodigal might be pincht out of his place . When a General of an Army goes to storm a dangerous place , he first considers , May it not be taken by starving them out , saith he ? So the Lord deals with his Prodigals ; they are gone far off from hearing , beleeving , &c. but there comes a want , because the Father intends to starve them out . This misery befell the son of Josiah ; he was carried into Captivity , and Manasseh , being in chains , cryed unto the Lord , and because he was of those good Figs , God brought him out : But there is a misery that befalls some , ( as God bids the Prophet Jeremiah , that he should not weep nor pray for a people , ) some go into Captivity , and shal return no more : But here 's the mercy , God brought out his Prodigal , he was carried into Captivity for his good , into a Land of famine , nakedness , &c. to make him remember his fathers house ; and where this want is , there 's no greater token of deliverance . The restless Dove finds no footing , till she return home to the Ark , whence she went out ; but the Raven went out , and returned no more : Some are brought into famine for their instruction , and some for their destruction . There were some invited to the feast , and because they would not come , God swore , they should never taste of his Supper . But it was not so with Peter ; he went a great way off , but the Cock did but crow , his Conscience was awakened , and Christ gave him but a look , and that broke his heart ; for it was that look of Christ that was his deliverance , though his Conscience was awakened before . It was not so with Judas , he went out , but returned not again : And here lies th●●avour of them God intends good to , they shall return .

Therefore because it hath been thus with us , that we are all Prodigals , and have gone out , and are in a very dangerous way , here lies the fear now , whether Truth will look upon us with an eye of favour or no : The Cock will of a certain crow , your Consciences will be awakened , and your guilt will fly in your faces ; but if that were all , our cases would be the same with Judas .

Thus you see the three Causes , why this famine is come : 1. As a Judgment : 2. To shew us , that no enlargement , no increase of Truth grows in that Country . 3. To pinch the Soul home to its Father ; he must find no rest , he must have no bread , he is glad to serve swine , and would fain eat husks with them , but must have none ; and here 's his mercy , that he has none . Here 's the difference ; two Thieves are crucified with Christ , the one is saved , the other left .

Therefore consider , Though you are all sinners together , you don't know whether you shall all return together ; therefore if the famine be come , the great thing is to know the end , whether there must be a return ; for all comes but for this one end , that we might return home to our Father . And he began to be in want : The time will come , that the want will be felt , hunger that may be felt , a hard heart , a blinded mind that may be felt , then the want will come nigh . A mad man feels no want . While we have been mad in our huntings after folly , &c. we have not felt the want of Truth : But the time will come when we shall feel it ; but why is he now in want ? There is a two-fold want , and I would have you distinguish them : There is a certain need when a mans head is plotting , yet there 's a fainting of the heart , the dart strikes him : how do we often famble in speaking of our conditions ? There 's a want within , we want God ; but we would carry it out fairly still , shuffle it off , and say , as Elisha's servant did , Thy servant went no whither . When we have been rioting in an Harlots house , our heads are plotting , though we in want . Never would the Prodigal return , if possible , but that none would receive him when all is spent . How did Jacob change his wages ten times , because he loved Labans service ? Before we will cry out , and own what we have done , how we have taken his Wool , and his Flax , and called them our portions , and spent them upon Harlots , it must be a want indeed .

But now is the Prodigal left to his last shift , and being once gone from his father , the heart is like a run-away child , though he can be received no where , yet he had rather lie in a ditch , or a stable , any out-house , then come and buckle to his father : Though he was in a Land of pits , and deserts , of emptiness , where no good grows , a Land of thorns , ( therefore he came home ragged and torn ; ) yet for all this , his head is plotting still to carry it out . Though Saul had forsaken the Lord , yet he comes to Samuel to ask counsel in his want , when the Philistins were upon him , &c. Though Israel walk'd not stedfastly with God , but contemned the counsel of the most High , &c. yet in their afflictions ( saith God ) they will seek me . The Prodigal joyn'd himself to a Citizen of that Country , not to a stranger , for then had it been possible , they might have gone out of this evil Country together ; but he is joyned to a Citizen , to the King of darkness , the Spirit of Antichrist , a dweller in that Land ; and now to have him to be his Counsellor , that cursed Sense and Reason to rule all , to become one with that King of darkness , to be molded into that soil , O what misery is it ! Your League with Hell shall be broken , and your Covenant with Death shall be disanulled : But as yet it is not broken in us ; there has not been a translation out of the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Light : We can truly say , we have been born again , and have seen the Kingdom ; but Except a man be born of Water and the Spirit ( saith Christ ) he cannot enter ; that birth has not been : Therefore what fellowship and society has the Prodigal ? why such as is suitable to him : for now the heart is afraid of the righteous , the clean and just ones ; now it invents , saying , How shall I spend my days ? &c. And now he is joyned to the Citizen , he must do his service ; and what s that ? he must now be a server of swine ; Alas , alas ! what a case is he in ! Now Princes go on foot ( indeed , ) and servants ride on horses : What , for a Prince to feed swine ! The Church saith , O thou whom my Soul loveth , tell me where thou makest thy flocks to rest at noon ; for why am I turned aside by the flocks of thy companions ? Alas , to be with swine ! there 's no harmony ; yet he would fain have eaten husks with the swine , but no man gave him ; upon any thing would the heart feed , rather then repent , then come to the Land of the living , it had rather feed swine in the Land of Death .

But here was his mercy , that he had no mercy shewed him ; and this was a token God would bring him out , because the hearts of them he would have had favour from , were closed to him . If indeed God has a favour to a man that is intangled in the world , and will bring him out , he will let him find no favour . When God had a purpose to bring Israel out of Egypt , he turned the hearts of the Egyptians to hate them . But might the Prodigal have said , Why don't you favor me ? I am joyned to you ; I have as swinish an heart as any of you : But though there would be a cleaving , yet because God has a minde to bring him out , he will make a separation , and all things shall work to make a disagreement ; and here you see the end of his race .

I shall speak next of his Return , and then of his Entertainment by his father .

By and by he comes to himself , and now he says , How many hired servants in my fathers house have bread enough and to spare , and I pine with hunger ? But where had he been ? Why , all this while he was out of his wits , he was not himself , he was enchanted ; But when he came to consider what he once enjoyed , and the present misery he was in , Alass ! ( as if he should say ) what a case am I in ? I , that am a son , who have a father , &c. He remembers the time that he was brought forth by the Truth , and truly born to be a Child : He is not now as one that knows not who he belongs to , and is not able to go to a father ; but he knows him : And if this be not in your returning , you will never return .

Two Considerations there are must move you to it .

1. To consider that you are children ; for if you know not this , you will never return : He that comes to God must first beleeve that He is , before he can set one step to come to him : Turn to your strong holds , you prisoners of hope . But while you stand disputing , Am I a son or not ? &c. here you have forgotten that you were once cleansed , that God is your Father ; but when once you shall come to your selves , you will then consider , and say , Thou art our Father , we are thy Children . The way to come to the blessing of the Birth-right , is , to set an high price upon it , not to dis-esteem it , and count it light ( as Esau , ) for therefore he lost it . Now though you have spent your portion , and lost it , and squandred it away you know not how ; yet there 's hope : but if you had despised it , and trod it under foot as a light thing , then had there been no hope ; but ( as Paul saith ) Brethren , I know that through ignorance you have done it : You have gone out with this Saying , That sure you are well , it will maintain you , &c. But No , it was not given for that end . I beseech you consider , that you be not of them that draw back to perdition ; I know you have not so properly been there in despising , but here you have been , You have left your first Love : If there had been a contemning your Birth-right , and saying as the man that had but one Talent , What 's this ? &c. if a despising , then had there been no return : but you have been cheated of your portion , the subtle Enemy has got beyond you ; all that you have cared for has been , that you might have meat for your lusts ; as Eve , she did not sell her birth-right , but the serpent beguiled her , and she did eat . If indeed there is to be a return in you , I beseech you consider ; ( for it 's in vain to think of returning , if no fathers house ) if thou wert never born to see the Kingdom , there can never be an entering in .

2. This encourages him in his Return , when he considers with himself thus , How many hired servants in my fathers house have bread enough and to spare ? Who have no portion , they have been followed , and dandled upon the knee ; but I , being a son , have been cheated of my portion . How are you made to cry out sometimes , Woe is me , for the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously with me ! You have been enchanted , your iniquities have hindred good things from you ; but when he considers these two things , then he says , I will arise and go to my father .

And this is beyond all that went before ; for while he was under the judgment , under the plague , pinched with want , yet this makes him not arise ; but now he saith , I will arise and go , when he considers he is a son , and that he is worse then any hired servant in his fathers house that hath no portion . Oh that the Lord would be pleased to call you according to purpose , that you might have no rest till you return . When Jacob saw the charets that were sent from Joseph ( he could not beleeve , for all the former reports , but his heart fainted still ; yet now ) the spirit of old Jacob revived , Genes. 45 , 27 , 28. He resolves , I will arise and go , what ever it cost me .

In this arising of the Prodigal these things are considerable .

1. He is made sensible of the want he is in ; that there 's neither bread , nor clothing , nothing that 's good where he is ; therefore he saith , Well , I will arise and go to my father , for there the servants have bread enough , &c. much more I that am a son , might : Now he bethinks himself where he is , how beset on every side . And here consider , what a stubbornness there is in man , an evil malignity against God : for we may say , Why cannot he return without this stir ? Why , because of that evil-disposedness in the heart that would not love the Lord : Why ? What evil have I done ( saith God ) to you , that you would none of me ? Have I been a wilderness or a land of darkness to Israel ? No ; all arises from an evil will that lieth in the bottom , and is at enmity with God : But when the Soul is brought to such a pinch , that there 's no remedy , ( for God will never leave hunting and hunting ( as a blood-hound ) till he findes out its iniquity ; ) then the Soul is made at last to say as David , Whither shall I fly from thy presence ? If I take the wings of the morning , and fly up to Heaven , thou art there ; if I go down to Hell , there will thy hand find me out , &c. At last , when pinched out of all , and no other shift , I will arise ( saith he ) and go to my father .

2ly , I will arise , &c. As though he should say , Well , against all my fears and gainsayings , &c. I will arise , what ever I shall meet with ; I will forget all my shame , all my ill dealing , &c. nothing shall stand in my way to hinder , now there 's a going as Benhadads servants with ropes about their necks ; and as Esther , though it was death for any to go in before the King , yet ( in such a case of necessity ) she is resolved to venture , and goes thus , If I perish , I perish .

O all you Prodigals , that have gone astray from your fathers house , &c. when will you venture into the hands of Justice ( as the Prodigal here ) and say , I will arise ? We are like a man that stands betwixt hope and fear , that would ●ain venture to leap over a ditch , but dares not a great while ; but when his minde is strong enough , then at last he is made to venture . When you shall consider and say , Why should I not hope ? Is he not my father ? If we sit here ( said the Lepers ) we perish ; and if we arise and go upon our Enemies , we can but dye ; Need forces them at last : So here ( saith the Prodigal ) I will arise ; see , prove him , if he will not open the windows of Heaven to you , and receive you . But ,

3ly , Does he take off his filthy garments when he arises ? No ; but though he be naked and desolate , yet , I will arise ( saith he ) and go to my father , and say , Father , I have sinned , &c. He does not lay his grievings of his Father aside , how ill he has delt with him , but that he carries on his back : When ever your Souls shall arise , think not to leave your iniquity behinde you , and come clear ; but come as you are , owning and confessing the thing as it is , saying , I once lived nigh thee , in the house , in the counsel ; but I thought it not good to keep there , but have chosen rather to wander from thee : I have sinned against Heaven ( thy people ) and before thee , &c. For now , being once born again , and turning out , we defile not only our selves by our sin , but one another , either by our evil counsel , or not standing , or not helping others to stand ; yet thus he arises and goes to his father ; he bears his sin , and sight of it , he goes as he is .

And when his father saw him a great way off , he ran and met him , and fell upon his neck and kissed him : And the son said , Father , I have sinned against Heaven , and in thy sight , and am no more worthy to be called thy son : Make me as one of thy hired servants . Here appears the pride of our hearts ; we would not begin with a morsel of bread : But when the father saw him a great way off , [ saw his mind coming ] he ran and met him ; He waits to be gracious : And , If any man say , I have sinned , and perverted that which was right , and it did not profit me ; then he will deliver his Soul from death , &c. Job 33.27 , 28.

But now consider , If you should lie owning and confessing all your life-time , and should not stir in your ownings , there would be no meeting of you ; there 's a certain savoring of a returning minde : but while he was feeding swine , and pined with hunger , he might have said , Sure my father will look for me , he will not leave me : No , no ; there 's no looking after him , so long as he is loving to feed swine : No , saith God , Ephraim is joyned to Idols , let him alone .

Therefore all you Prodigals think upon this ; Truth does not regard you while you love darkness rather then light : but as soon as the Prodigal does but return , then saith the father , Come bring the best robe and put it on him , &c. But did he think to finde such entertainment as this ? He proposed but to be as an hired servant , but while he claims nothing he enjoys something ; and while he was claiming something , he spent all and had nothing : a strange way that God takes ; He sets the Begger , that 's taken out of the dunghil , with the Princes of his people , but the rich he sends empty away . That such as lie reaching to be great should be sent empty away ; and such as lie , and say , I have sinned , I have sinned against Heaven , I have hindred this people , I am conscious of it , I have been a block in the way ; yet that He should be received , this is strange ! But what is he saluted with ? not with the remembrance of his sin , but bring the best robe , which is that everlasting righteousness , that clean Love , ( for if the Prodigal does but return , he will never go out again , ) and Love covers a multitude of sins : Bring the best robe ; that 's his best robe ; He hath beheld no iniquity in Jacob , neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel , Numb . 23. He does as Noahs best son did to his father , go backward to cover his nakedness ; so , before he can well see him , he cries , Come , bring the best robe : You don't know when you shall return thus buckled and bowed , owning the thing as it is , how the Father will reward you ! Be not discouraged , do but cry out , Lord , I have sinned ; what wouldst thou have me to do ? And though thou shalt say , but I cannot speak a word as I ought , nor think a good thought ; yet let not this hinder thee , Come as thou art ; Remember thou hast heard it reported , the Prodigal came thus , and his father received him : better to be an hired servant in the house , then a son a great way off : better is it to wipe the childrens shooes , then to be in a Kings house amongst ravenous beasts .

All this is written for our learning , that we through patient waiting might have hope , and return with this saying , Peradventure he will receive me , though we come forlorn , &c. yet see what his Prodigal received , for God waits to be gracious ; O that I could but hear the sound of a right word ! All your complainings , rising onely from being tormented , &c. are nothing to me , because you still love to be in them ; but if there were but a minde to return , see what entertainment it would finde ! Then he had the fatted Calf set before him , the musique and dancing ; O the sweet harmony , when God and man are at unity ! From this time it shall be said of Jacob and Israel , What hath God wrought ?

But minde this of a certain , That all your forced confessings for fear , &c. bring no turn in you , nor turns Truth to you ; but where truly the Soul is buckled , it ventures , and comes in to its Father , and is received : and this kinde of entertainment the son findes , not a word of upbraiding for what he had done : Though the servant owed his Lord ten thousand Talents , and is not able to pay one peny of it , yet in that he lies down at his Lords feet , and owns the thing as it is , saying , Lord , have compassion on me , all is forgiven him ; and had he stood here , his Lord had quite forgiven him for ever ; but because he began to lord it over his fellow servant that owed him a hundred pence , taking him by the throat , saying , Pay me that thou owest me ; and though he fell down and besought him , yet he would not have compassion on him ; therefore his Lord was grieved , and cast him ( again ) into prison , till he should pay the uttermost farthing : Matt. 18.24 , &c.

Therefore minde what will be the benefit of the Prodigals returning ; see what shall follow it : but no man can beget Truth where it is not , nor raise it where it is , before its time : but were you sensible of the reward that shall follow a right turning , it were enough to make the worst heart in the world to bow : For we propound , He is a hard Master ; No , there 's nothing remembred against him , but bring the best rob , &c.

There are five dishes which are set before this son for his entertainment .

1st , ( Saith the father ) Bring the best robe . 2ly , Put Rings on his fingers . 3ly , Put shooes on his feet . 4ly , Kill the fatted Calf . 5ly , There 's gladness ; Come , let 's eat and be merry ; for this my son was dead , and is alive again , was lost , and is found , &c.

Here will be considered the order next , And why not meat for his belly first ? for he was now almost starved by reason of famine : Yet ( saith the father ) in the first place , Come bring the best robe . Wherein you may consider these three things .

1. The best robe is brought to cover his nakedness , for there 's no standing else before God ; there 's no disputing with him at all except the sin be covered : while there 's any guilt upon the heart , there cannot be a neerness betwixt God and man . But in all reason he should have had meat for his belly first ; yet that must not be till he has the best robe , [ the Fathers best Love upon his back ; ] because there can be no standing in his sight to speak a word without it : For who can stand before everlasting burning ? And God is a consuming fire . Where this Love is not first a covering , they will rather cry to the rocks and the mountains to fall on them ; for who can stand before God in his guilt ? Therefore first this is most needful , to be covered with the best robe . But ,

2. Bring the best robe , because the sinner stands with such a shame upon him : for while he stands guilty , there can be no boldness nor freeness to receive any thing from his Father . The poor sinner saith , I know not why he gives me this and th' other ; for ought I know it 's for my greater condemnation : for ( as Solomon saith ) Some have riches given them for their hurt : And how many patterns do we see of it !

3. The fear will remain till it be discovered that the sin is taken away : therefore saith the Father , Bring the best robe ; for the Father has robes that will wax old , which the servants are clothed with : I will turn them out of my house ( saith he ) and love them no more . But after the Prodigal is thus adorned , when the Love of God has covered him , that he is made able to stand spotless and blameless before him in love , now he stands covered in this long white robe : he had none of this garment upon him when he went out , for then had he never gone ; but he was covered with that which could be taken from him ; And you shall know ( saith God ) the breach of a Promise : But there is Love that cannot be changed ; a Covenant that can never be broken ; a Foundation that cannot be shaken ; and now there 's a boldness to appear before God : but so long as any guiltiness remains , the Soul is afraid of God : I remembred God ( saith David ) and was troubled : Therefore he cries , O cleanse me from my blood guiltiness . The Father is sensible how the Soul stands trembling , therefore Make haste , bring the best robe ; make haste to cover his nakedness ( saith the Father ) because our guilt is upon us . How do we pull charging of sin upon our selves when God charges not , and hide our sin , when God would charge us ! but the best robe clears all : it intimates the Father had others . It 's said of Elkanah , he gave portions to all his wives , but to Hannah he gave a worthy portion , because he loved her . I have loved thee with an everlasting Love ( saith God , ) therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee , That where sin abounded , Grace might superabound ; for yet in the worst day the Soul is made to say , but my wisdom remained with me . The Prodigal in the worst day retained his sonship still , though when he returns he is made to confess the thing as it is . But first he arises , and that 's beyond all that howl upon their beds ; In their sickness-time and straits they will cry out , Oh , what a wretch am I ! but their iniquities are still upon their backs ; they arise not , they dare not approach before God : But the Prodigal , though he comes bowing and blushing , yet he comes knowing and hoping ; and he never says that word , Father , I have sinned , but the Father saith presently , Bring the best robe . But ,

2. I told you this was considerable the Father saith , And put a Ring on his hand : Do you consider what Rings are used for ? They are not put on to strengthen the hands , but to adorn them : But what is the hand for ? It 's for work : O prosper thou the work of our hands ( saith David . ) Now what must the hand , the work be adorned with ? There are these three ornaments for it .

1. The Prodigal must be adorned with Skill ; as it 's said of David concerning Israel , He fed them in the integrity of his heart , and guided them with the skilfulness of his hand , Psal. 78.72 . It has taught the Prodigal skill indeed ; he can say now as David , Come ●y Brethren , and I can tell you what God has done for my Soul ; how he delivered me , and instructed me ; now I am made able to divide the word aright : There 's great need of skill to know when to speak , how to speak , to what to speak , for what purpose to speak , either for edification or destruction . All the while before he had no heart to pity strangers , till he was fallen amongst thieves , &c. and now after his coming home , he is able to instruct and teach others ; If there be a messenger , one of a thousand , to shew unto man his righteousness , &c. Now he has learnt expereince by his wandering : But all the while we were in the house , we were Novices ; we had learn'd no skill how to instruct others , for we had learn'd none our selves . But now the burnt child dreads the fire ; when we have run our rounds , tryed what is in madness and folly , it brings forth skill : And who are fit to bring up a people in the wisdom and fear of the Lord , but such as have gone down to the deeps , as Joseph did ? First he had been proved and tryed himself ; he was separated from his brethren , as Christ said of Peter , Satan hath desired to sift thee , and he shall , &c. but when thou art converted , then strengthen thy brethren . But ,

2. The second thing the hand is to be adorned with , is , Diligence ; being now once brought from his prodigality , he will redeem the time , and be more watchful and diligent then ever : Be you vigilant , for your Enemy the Devil goes about like a roaring Lion , seeking whom he may devour . It 's an ornament to the work when it goes on with diligence , not sleepingly : we say of such a man , sure the work is never like to come to perfection . The Lord expects a diligent hand in all your services , and that beautifies the work ; but to beautifie a slothful hand , is like to the putting a Ring in a swines snout : He will not reward the slothful hand , but the diligent he rewardeth : The Soul , that is diligent night and day , how to further the work of the Lord ; therefore Be you always abounding in the work of the Lord ( saith Paul , ) knowing that your labor is not in vain , &c. But alass ! while we are in the Land of Harlots , we are ashamed of our work . A man that has no meat to eat , nor clothes to put on , nor a friend to go to , to impart his grief , what a miserable case is he in ! such a Land are you in , where there 's no growing of any thing that good is ; nothing but leanness and ill-favoredness , because you have outed your selves of all friends : But when you shall be brought home , then will you say , Well , I will be diligent : Then will you set an high price upon the Truth , and say as David , O what shall I render to the Lord ? &c. I know how many precious days and seasons you have troden under foot , but the time will come that you will be glad to glean them up again , and say , I will be more diligent to hear , and lay up every word , and Look : The least smile of Truth will be layd up ; every Mercy will you be made to prize : There will be no more a claiming , ( as the Prodigal , ) Give me my portion ; and saying to me , You are bound to preach , and look after me , and give me this and th' other : No , there will be a diligent hand prizing and improving to the utmost the least mercy . But ,

3. A third Ring that adorns his hand , is , the weightiness of employment , when the hand shall be employed in things of great concernment : When we pass and see a man at work in carving some curious piece , and not busied upon baubles and trifles ( like children that make dirt-pyes ) we stand and prize the work : This will adorn the hand , when it shall be employed about things that profit , to be about a work which shall abide for ever ; Let all your words be full of grace , seasoned with salt . To be employed about such a work , which neither fire nor water can hurt , this adorns the hand indeed : But alass ! what a little of our work will endure the fire ? but we shall know the difference . I shrink to think what I shall say : But must you all go a prodigalling ? Will you all see your hearts by desperate venturings ? Indeed Travellers learn experience , but they pay dear for it : None will know how to distinguish between works and works , but they that have traded through them . When I was a child ( saith Paul ) I did as a child , and spoke as a child ; but when I became a man , I put away childish things . The Prodigal did foolishly in forsaking his Fathers house , and going to Harlots , &c. but God shall say to him at his return , Be not grieved that you sold me , &c. He has lost nothing by it , he is made now to love him the more : When God shall say , 'T was not you that sold me , &c. ' I sent you into the wilderness to learn you experience , that when you are converted , you might strengthen your Brethren .

Thus you may see of what use Rings are : and this is wonderful , that God should so adorn the hand with his Rings ; To be , 1. Skill'd in the works of Truth . 2. To be diligent in the work of Truth . And , 3. To be garnish'd with this , to be busied about things of worth , to be exercised in things that abide for ever : Let all your things ( saith Paul ) be done to edification : Let nothing be out of strife or vain glory , but all for the building of something that shall stand for ever . But yet this son is wanting still ; as if the Father should say , What if we clothe him with the best robe , and put Rings on his hands ; yet if his feet be not shod too , how can he go ? Therefore ,

3. This is the third thing , And put shooes on his feet , &c. Let him be shod with the Preparation of the Everlasting Gospel of Peace .

The feet are the Affections , which are to be wrought upon .

1. To go , but how ? why , Let all your things ( saith Paul ) be done in Love : There 's need your feet be prepared to serve the Lord in Love : And that our loves might be prepared , there 's need of shooes to put on , that the feet might be enabled to go upon the bryars and thorns , to endure the frost and the snow ; need to have the Love made strong , to endure hardness : Love ( saith Paul ) suffereth long , and is kinde , envyeth not , seeketh not her own , is not easily provoked , thinketh no evil , rejoyceth not in iniquity , but rejoyceth in the Truth , &c. 1 Cor. 13.4 , 5 , 6. It had need be shod indeed .

When God said to Moses , Thou shalt carry this people in thy bosom as a Mother doth her child , &c. Alass , ( pleads he ) how can I carry all this people ? If thou dealest thus with me , I pray thee take me away , that I may not see my wretchedness : He had not Love enough to carry him through ; There 's need of great preparations , if such a service be in hand . And now the Prodigal shall be made to endure , to bless when he is cursed , because he knows now the heart of a stranger : We our selves ( saith Paul ) were sometimes strangers and aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel , hateful , and hating one another : He having a knowledg into this , was made to endure , Though the more abundantly I love ( saith he ) the less I be loved . That there may not be a shrinking here , this is one main thing he has need of , of the shooes , of that which may be a fence , a safeguard to his feet ; that no fiery darts ; no discontents , &c. may stop or overturn him . But then ,

2. The shooes are , that the Love might run the swifter , without fear : Withhold thy Feet from being VNSHOD ( saith God ) and thy throat from thirst , Jerem. 2.25 . Thou makest my Feet like HINDES FEET ( saith David : ) But when the Love is cold , then the heart by and by waxeth feeble and faint . Ezra was astonish'd , and sat seven days so , because he had said , The Lord was able to save them ; therefore ( said he ) I was ashamed to go to the King for a band of men : His Love began to be feeble at last . And Job sat astonish'd seven days ; his Love was cold ; he could not have offended , had that been alive : Great Peace have they that love thy Law , and nothing can offend them . How do we stand , and pick and choose ? But when we shall be made able to say as Paul , I am not onely ready to be bound for the Name of Christ , but to suffer death also ; When so shod , then shall we go boldly without fear : when the Love is shod with quickness , then , I shall run the way of thy Commands : When thou hast set my feet at liberty ( saith David , ) then will the Soul readily love the Lord with all the heart , and all the soul , and all its strength . But when it 's not quick and lively , there come in the miscarriages . For , 1. It 's not shod to endure : And , 2ly , then it has not quickness to speed on the work ; but through reasoning and disputing the case , the Love waxes cold : And the Prodigal shall be made to see , to his cost , when he returns home , what his Leaden-heel'd Love was . But ,

3. The third thing that prepares the Love , is , singleness , solidness , and faithfulness ; these are the shooes that garnish his feet ; these are the Affections to be shod with : The double minded man ( saith James ) is unstable in all his ways . When the Prodigal comes home , and sees how double he had been before in all his ways , now he is made to say , It was good for me that I was afflicted , for thereby I learn'd thy Law : Now he can say , One thing have I desired , which ( now ) I will seek after , That I may dwell in the house of the Lord for ever , to enquire dayly in his Temple , &c. Now the Prodigal has learn'd this , He knows what it is to put his hand to the plow , looking backwards : Now his Love is singly fixt upon its object ; but when it was not single , how did he soon wander from it ! He was bare-foot then , but when he comes home , then the Father puts on his shooes ; they were not of his putting on , but the Fathers , done by his command .

But all along , while I am speaking to you , and am seeing what divided hearts you come with , and the great loss that is come upon you , there 's great need to pray to the Father , that he would bring the shooes ( his Love ) to set the Affections right , to love with rightness , readiness , and singleness ; for if He bring them not , this evil and hypocritical will will be our undoing : But ( saith God ) You shall finde me , when you shall seek me with all your heart , and all your soul : He will be sought to of the house of Israel ; And he has not said to the house of Jacob , Seek my face in vain : But he that offers to the Lord for a sacrifice , that which is torn or lame , and has a male in his flock ▪ He abhors that mans offering ; He will receive none but that which is without blemish , and that will make our works accepted , ( as Paul saith ) Faith , that works by Love , and doth all in singleness of Soul , That will make every thing acceptable in his sight .

4. A fourth thing the Soul is to be shod with , is , Soberness ; for there may be a real singleness of spirit , and yet a great headiness : Therefore ( saith Paul ) let your Moderation be seen in all things : For if we cannot say as Job , The Lord giveth , and the Lord taketh away , and blessed be the Name of the Lord , there is not a sober love : Therefore , Put off thy shooes ( said God to Moses ; ) He was yet over-heady , and not fit to walk ; as you may see in his strait concerning Miriam , because God had stricken her with Leprosie , he prays , Lord , heal her now : But ( as if God should have said ) No , thy love is too heady ; Let her go out of the Camp seven days , and bear her shame , and then let her be received again . But Paul could say , I have learn'd in all things to be contented , both how to abound , and how to want : And this is that which God delights in ; Sober love , ordered love . He that rules over men must be just ( saith David , ) ruling in the Fear of God , in Soberness , in Humility , &c. to be wise , slow to do evil , swift to do good , more ready to hear then to offer the sacrifice of fools . What , need of this ! When we are but a little brought from our hypocrisie , and can truly say , our love is single , then we think , sure this is enough : No , but yet be you sober ; that 's the counsel .

But who will be wise ? none but the Prodigal that has learn'd experience . Peter meant singly when he said to Christ , I will lay down my life for thy sake : But how heady was it ? He was unsober in it ; He knew not that was to be fulfilled , that was ordained before of God , that he should deny him . All you shall this night ( saith Christ to him ) be offended because of me , and shall leave me ; for it is written , I will smite the Shepherd , and the sheep shall be scattered abroad : He little thought of this .

Alas , is there no other way to find this Soberness , but through sorrows , through banishments , sending into Captivity ? This is hard dealing indeed . But now the Prodigal can tell this Mystery , now he has learn'd Sobriety , he is made to admire at the way his father took to make him a sober man : Now he can say ( as David , ) It was good for me that I was afflicted : A friend loves at all times : And now he seeth , That Love is as strong as Death : It has Hinds feet , it hath quickness , singleness , and soberness ; and when you shall be thus shod , then love as much as you can , nay then you cannot but love : And thus the son is welcom'd , Bring hither the best robe , and put a ring on his hand , and shooes on his feet .

And if ever we shall see this Return , then shall we be made to say as Paul , Thanks be to God that we are the servants of sin . But who would fetch pearls from the bottom of the Sea ? It 's ten thousand to one not to be spoiled in this venture : For there shall be but a remnant saved ; here and there one ; as the shaking of an Olive tree , here and there one in an uppermost branch . What , to be found dead and stinking in the grave , as Lazarus ! to be incompast about with Harlots , &c. and yet get home again ! Sure the Prodigal did not discover himself to the Citizen he joyned to , that he was a Jew , for then he would not have received him ; he was fain to use all the shifts he could for entertainment : And so do we , and yet we can find none that pities us , we cannot so much as feed with the swine . But what has God wrought ! that no inchantment nor divination should be against him . Oh the wonder ! that ever he should welcom his Prodigal with such entertainment as I have shewed you . But ,

4. The next thing considerable in his Entertainment , is , And kill the fatted Calf , &c. The Robe I shewed you what it was ; I also shewed you why he must have that put on before he has meat , and why the rings and shooes go first , seeing he came out of the Land of famine ; and the main cause that moved him to return , was because his father he knew had bread enough , and he perished for hunger . I shewed you the Reasons , &c. But why must he have such abundance ? And this is not all neither , Bring the musick ; there must be dancing and mirth too : Well may this be likened to Jacobs ladder , for it reached to Heaven . The fatted Calf , what 's that ?

The Everlasting Righteousness , to be establisht with the free Spirit . Seventy weeks ( saith Daniel ) are determined , to finish transgression , and make an end of sin , to make reconciliation for iniquity , and to bring in the EVERLASTING RIGHTEOVSNESS , &c. Dan. 10.24 . This David cries out for , when his blood-guiltiness lies upon him , O deliver me from my blood-guiltiness ( saith he , ) establish me with thy free Spirit , Psal. 51.14 , 12. With that Spirit Christ could say , It 's my meat and drink to do the Will of my Father . This made David say , Thy Word is dearer to me then my necessary food .

But what benefit is it to the man or woman that eats this fatted Calf ?

There are three Benefits considerable that comes to him by this meat .

1. There 's refreshment to the weary Soul : When the Inwards are dying , and sinking , and tyred quite out , when hunger has smit the Inwards for want of the enjoyment of God , how good then is the Spirit of Truth to refresh to the heart ? After a great abstinence , after a long time of distance , then Christ saith , But I will send the Comforter , the Holy Ghost , who shall abide with you for ever . After many a weary step , and hard pang , for want of meat , a mans inwards close together , and ( as it were ) devour themselves . Is it not enough that I take my flesh in my teeth ( saith Job ? ) I lookt on my left hand , and none stood by me , and on my right hand , and found none to comfort me : And O that I could find him ! ( saith Job . ) Alas , Hope deferred , makes the heart sick ; but when the desire is come , it is a tree of life . After a weary journey , & long want , every morsel is good , nay bitter things become sweet . But ,

2. The second use of meat , is to strengthen mans heart ; so is the Communion of the Holy Ghost , a Strengthener to the Soul : As Paul prayeth concerning the Ephesians , That you might be strengthened ( saith he ) in your spirit with might in the inward man , that Christ might dwell in your hearts by faith , that you being rooted and grounded in love , &c. Rooted and grounded : As if he should say , That now you may be able to stand strongly and unshakeably through temptations , and provings , and all storms ; as the Prodigal here , now never more having a mind to wander from his fathers house ; and this will be your happiness indeed , if ever you attain to it . We have had many deliverances , and experiences , and helps in the wotk , but are not yet made able to stand : but ( as David says ) we mount up to Heaven , and down again to the deeps ; not yet come home : But when God shall have given victory , then will there be a sure standing ; we shall then move no more , when once establisht upon mount Sion , that steady Foundation , which shall never change , nor wax old as a garment ; then shall we stick to our Principles , and not after a vow enquire , as now we do . But ,

3. Meat ( if a blessing be with it ) makes a man look well , have a good countenance ; but how through want does a man look lean and ill favored ? Wo is me ( saith Jeremy , ) my leanness , my leanness , the treacherous Dealers have dealt treacherously , &c. God gave Israel their hearts desire , but sent leanness into their Souls . How uncomely does a lean man look ? 'T was not so with the Spouse ; Let me see thy countenance , let me hear thy voyce ( saith Christ , ) for sweet is thy voyce , and thy countenance comely ; she was in the banqueting house , and her looks shew it : How often does Christ commend her ? though she saith , I am black , yet still she is comely : I look like one of thine ( saith David . ) If a mans heart be down and under , how feeble is his countenance ? but when he is up and refreshed , how is he bold as a Lion ? The Righteous are bold as a Lion , &c. When we are in by-paths , how do we hang down the head , and creep into a corner , and are loth to be seen ? But surely the Promise is , that we shall be fat , and well-liking , and bring forth more fruit in old age . But what a day of leanness is it now with us ! We spend our days in a Consumption , a lingering disease has taken hold ; but when we shall return , then shall the flesh come again as the flesh of a young child . When you shall look over all the Entertainment , and view it well together , it will be wonderful : but you must first be wearied out of all ; and when they shall be weary , then they shall curse their King and their God , and look upwards .

5. The Entertainment of this Prodigal still goes on , And let us eat and be merry ; which is more strange then all the rest , and hath more in it : and yet that this joy should accompany his Return , who had so slighted his father , and abused all his mercies , now to be entertained thus , this is strange : The Father sets him up again amongst the Princes at his own Table : Now he needs not be ashamed to sit with them in the gate , when they all see how the King smiles upon him . This is beyond all expression , that ever he that was a begger should be so adorned , so accepted and incompassed with mercies on all sides : The Father calls all his friends to see his glory , and invites them to this great feast , Come , let 's eat and be merry ; he calls his servants , all the Angels , those noble Spirits , he makes them ministring Spirits : But to which of them does he say , Sit thou at my right hand ? But to man he says , Thou art my son , this day have I begotten thee . There 's more joy in Heaven over one sinner that repents , then over the ninety and nine just persons ( the Angels ) that need no repentance . Those glorious Angels are made but ministring Spirits to attend dayly upon those that shall be saved : But to be born of God , to be co-heirs with Christ , this is beyond all the Angels portions . Come ( saith the Father , ) let us eat and be merry . But for what Cause must there be so much mirth ? &c.

It arises from these two Causes .

1. From the liberty the Father had in himself . And ,

2. From the contentedness he had in his son : It signifies he was now eased of his grief ; for when he went out , he grieved for him , he had no content in that ; as if he had said , Well , my son will never be at quiet till he has had his run in Prodigality ; well , I will let him go , though with many a sad and a king heart for him . He yet cries after him , O Jerusalem , Jerusalem , that thou hadst harkened to me , then had thy Peace been as a River . And ( as David for Absalom ) O my son Absalom , my son Absalom , would God I had dyed for thee , &c. It appeared well that he loved him ; for how does he at his Return give him the best of every thing ? clothes him with the best robe , puts rings on his hands , kills the fated Calf for him , and now has full contentedness in receiving his son , Let 's eat and be merry ; as though he should say , I have enough , I have my son again . But ,

What particular Grounds are there of all his mirth ? why these three .

1. ( Saith the father , ) Because this my son was dead , and is alive again . And ,

2. He was lost , and is found .

3. Because I have received him safe and sound .

Here 's cause indeed of Joy , if all this be true : What , to have recovery after banishment ! Here 's Joy indeed , both in his recovering , and in the fathers receiving him . But ,

1. Because he was dead , and is alive , &c. If any of you should have a child fall into a Well , and in all appearance should be drowned ; now to have this child revive again , how would you prize him above all you did before , and above all your other children ? A man that is dead , is without hearing , seeing , savoring of any thing : A dead man is burdensom to every one , yea to his dearest friends , every one is weary of his company , and afraid of getting a taint from him : There 's no hope of a dead man : Things dead turn to rottenness presently . Such was this Prodigal , he was dead , without sense , unsuitable to any society . The dead cannot praise thee ; but ( saith Hezekiah ) the living , the living , they shall praise thee , &c. Well may the father rejoyce , when he considers the case his son was in , This my son was dead ; well might they eat and be merry at the receiving of this dead son alive again . When I consider how you lie , as dead men , so voyd of understanding , and sensless , would I not rather say as Jeremy , O that I had a Cottage in the Wilderness , &c. that I might fly away from this people , and be at rest , rather then to endure with you ? But if ever deliverance be , would there not be rejoycing in me indeed , to receive you , as Moses , drawn out of the water ; or as Jonah , out of the Whales belly ? There 's cause indeed of mirth , when the graves shall give up their dead , and the Sea give up its dead , then shall we sing in the height of Sion : Why the Promise is , that God will comfort the mourners . But ,

2. This is not all neither ; but , This my son was lost , and is found . A man that 's drowned in a River , and cannot be found again ; whosoever was the friend of that man , it 's a far greater grief to him ( if any of you have experience of it ) to have him lost , then to have him drowned ; it 's a great and restless disquiet to think what is become of his friend . So the father cannot find this son , he is such a fugitive ; he goes to Heaven , to Hell , to seek his Church , and cannot tell where to find them . Such runagates are you , the Lord knows not where to meet with you , that he might say to the dead , Arise , your heart is so lost , and setled upon nothing : But if once Christ could but come to your graves ( as to Lazarus , ) and find you there , if you were but brought to a narrow compass , there were hope . But to be lost , that 's above all your misery , that Truth cannot tell where to find you : Could it but find you ! though in a Goal , or Stocks , amongst Harlots , or any where in the dirtiest hole that could be , it would be a gladness . But to be as runaways , every where , and yet no where , sometime in this Harlots house , & sometimes in another , this is a great woe and sorrow . But let 's be merry ( saith the father ) for I have found my son again that was lost . If you could but come forth , and say to the Lord , Here I am , and declare the very particular place where you lie , and stick , 't were happy . As a man in a mist ( when quite lost ) is glad to hallow , and call to any to give notice he is lost , and tells them where they shall find him . But we slight it , and say , 'T is true , I am in a lost condition , but what will any telling another do me good ? We think there must be no crying out : But the time will come , that you will cry before delivered , both to instruct others , saying , O come not here ! as ( the Lepers were to cry out to all , O come not to me ; I am unclean , I am unclean : ) and then there will be a crying , Can you help me ? can you tell me which way God delivered you ? Though the Father sent forth his word , to seek up his son , yet he came not till he was alive , quick , and sensible of his wants ; and this made him arise and go to his father , &c.

The last thing yet remains , wherein lies the conclusion of all ; and it is marvelous to consider how the work hangs together .

A third Reason why the Father is merry , is , the safe return of his Prodigal : When the other son came out of the field , and heard the musick and dancing , he asked one of the servants what those things meant ? Why ( saith he ) Thy Brother is come , and thy Father hath killed for him the fatted Calf , because he hath received him safe and sound . And if this should not be , all would be an incompleat Salvation still . But while I speak the word , I sigh to speak it ; Shall we ever see the day to be thus adorned ? to have the best robe , the shooes , the ring , and the fatted Calf ? to sit at the Kings Table , and have the presence and favor of the Father ? to hear that concord between Heaven and Earth , that musick and harmony ? to hear the gladness of the Father and all those holy Angels ? to see the Earth , which is his footstool , brought to the Will of the Heavenly ? to have Heaven and Earth brought together to a meet and close ? Therefore Let 's eat and be merry : 1. Because my son was dead , and is alive again . 2. He was lost , and is found . And , 3. He hath received Him safe and sound . And this is wonderful , that one so far gone , that had been dead and lost , that Lazarus lying four days stinking in his grave , should be raised and made a sound man again ; that there should be no deadness , nor confusion , nor taint in the Principle of Life , but all return sound ; this will be a wonder ! That there shall be no taint nor smell of any ill savor in all our words and ways left ; it will be wonderful indeed , to have such a Resurrection !

There are three things considerable from this word To be Safe .

1. That which is safe is well fenced about , as Solomon saith , The Name of the Lord is a strong Tower ; the Righteous runneth into it , and is safe , Prov. 18.10 . But what 's the Name of the Lord ? He proclaims his Name thus ; The Lord , the Lord God , merciful , and gracious , long-suffering , abundant in goodness and truth ; Keeping mercy for thousands , forgiving iniquity , transgression , and sin , and that will by no means let the guilty go free , &c. Exod. 34.6 , 7. When the Prodigal is compassed about with this Name , he is safe to purpose , with long-suffering , gentleness , &c. and with remembrance of this also , That he will by no means let the guilty go free ; then is he made to give glory to his Father : This will be a strong tower where the Soul may be safe .

2. To be safe , is to be where no harm can come at him : In time of trouble ( saith David ) he shall hide me in his pavilion ; in the secret of his Tabernacle shall he hide me , Psal. 27.5 . A pavilion stands in the midst of the Army , and what harm can touch one there ? To be in the City of Refuge , there the Avenger of blood cannot come neer : Now he is under the wings of his Father , no Witchcraft nor Enchantment can touch him : And when ever God shall make such a fence about you , your estate will be good indeed , when thus fenced about with the Name of the Lord . But ,

3. A man may be said to be safe , when he cannot run away to harm himself neither : When God makes this Covenant with Israel , he saith , And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them , That I will not turn away from them to do them good , but will put my Fear into their hearts , that they SHALL NOT DEPART FROM ME , Jer. 32.40 . A man that is lock'd in the Stocks , or in a Gaol , we use to say , such a man is safe , because he cannot get away : So when God has put his Fear into the heart , it 's made as an hook or anchor to the Soul , it cannot get away from him : But happy are they whom God will bring back again with the Prodigal , from the Land of their captivity into his presence : There 's the place of rest and quiet ; there the Father rejoyces over his Prodigal , because he has received him safe and sound .

To be Sound hath these things considerable in it .

1. A thing that is sound may be considered thus , to be without rottenness , without fault , firm and durable : Now the Prodigal ( before his return ) has a heart with a taint in it ; and 't will be wonderful if ever we shall be brought out clean , spotless , unblameable , &c. It 's nothing to keep a man from stealing when he can come at no prize ; but to have the Babylonish garments and the wedges of gold lie before the Soul , and now not to have an Achans heart , to covet them ; here will be the tryal : O let me not taste of their dainties ( saith David . ) The time was , he was envious at the prosperity of the wicked : But now to see them prosper , and enjoy their portions , and yet not envy , nor cover ; [ in nothing to be tainted ; ] here will be the wonder ! But ,

2. To be Sound , is to be compleat , and without deficiency ; as of a Horse that is fit for service , we say , He is a sound Horse , sound wind and limb , compleat , &c. The Prodigal came home compleated , ( as Paul saith , ) That you may be wholly compleat in him , not having any spot or blemish , or any such thing : And , My Beloved ( saith the Church ) is wholly delectable , compleat in beauty : O that my heart were so direct ( saith David ) [ that I were sound in thy Law ! ] O Lord , how far off are we from this compleat soundness ! We complain because we cannot have our evil wills ; but when David was delivered , O let me never taste of their dainties ( saith he : ) Thus did the Father receive the Prodigal safe and sound . But ,

He received him so ] Which intimates , That no unclean thing shall enter : The Child shall be in the wilderness till he know how to refuse the evil , and choose the good : but we put it off , and would never learn , saying , When God comes indeed , we shall be so : But we must be brought to choose the thing ; our wills must buckle to be of his minde , not his Will to ours ; all this curious work was wrought in the dark : I was curiously fashioned ( saith David ) in the lower-most parts of the Earth , &c. When the Prodigal came to himself , when he first returned , the Father received him safe and sound ; so sure was he fenced about with the Name of the Lord ; a strong fence indeed ! The Father findes him in this Name , and in this he receives him ; as Christ saith of Mary , She loved much , therefore much was forgiven her : So , safe and sound does the Father receive him ; Safe , in that he is free from all evil , nothing can touch him ; and then safe , in that he cannot get away : and sound , not having an evil tincture of an old rotten heart in him : Now he has no mind to return to Sodom : I remember ( in that day ) I look'd for all my fears that had plagued me , and could not finde them ; the minde was set on fire for God alone . Well may the Father be merry now , to receive a son that was once forlorn , that had neither clothes to his back , nor meat for his belly ; that had no fellowship but Rogues , fit for every base Harlots house , taking all opportunities of destruction ; yet he is saved out of all , and comes home safe : and now for a King to entertain him thus , it was a token he was a son indeed ; for who else could have the face to own such a Father ( such a case as he was now in ? ) but he ventures , and calls him Father ; and the Father own● him , and is glad to receive him , in how miserable a case soever he findes him .

Thus have you seen the progress of all the Prodigal's way : Did you see him in his pride and bravery ? ( wiser then seven men that can give a reason ? ) full of wealth and store , having got his portion into his hands ? and have you seen what he does with it ? The rich mans wealth ( saith Solomon ) is a high wall in his own conceit ; ( 't is but in his own conceit : ) But before destruction ( saith he ) a mans heart is haughty , Prov. 18.11 , 12. And if you see him a while after , where is it all become ? The time comes he is glad of an husk , if he could but feed with the swine ; but he may not . And now he is put to his last shift , either to dye with hunger , or to return home to his Father , at a peradventure whether he will receive him or no : he proposes to himself , if he might but be received as a servant , it was far better to be so , then as he was , for they had no want , but he starved with hunger : And because he comes home thus buckled , owning his shame , confessing he had so sinned , and was not worthy any more of the name of a son , ( now his commanding and claiming spirit is layd down ; ) but while he comes thus , he is largely entertained with abundance of mercies ; as hath been shewed you .

Now from all this you may consider these Vses .

1. In the first place , here might be an Use of Information , or forewarning , to all those that are sons or daughters of this Father , That ( if possible ) you might take warning , and not gain this loss to your selves by wandering . If a man be a Drunkard , or Swearer , &c. yet he will ( many times ) counsel his child , that he should not follow his way : And as Paul said , so I say to you , 〈◊〉 would you were all as I am , except my bonds : I would you might never have a minde to wander as the Prodigal did ; you see what it brought him to : And all the Examples you hear of , they are all written for your admonition , upon whom the ends of the world are come : And as you have seen the end of the World , so you would see an end of Truth too ( were it in your power . ) The Prodigal did not spend the Worlds , but his own portion ; you have made an evil use of all the Creatures , and will you make an evil use of Truth too ? O that you might learn instruction , and be wise ! That the days past might suffice , in which you have walked perversly ; that hence-forward you might be warned to keep out of the snare .

2. It may be of Use for Instruction , to let us know of a certain , That where ever Pride goes before , Destruction will follow after : The Prodigal for his riotous living was rewarded with famine . It were well if you would never venture ; but if you do , know of a certain the Famine will overtake you : Therefore ( as Paul saith ) Forsake not the assembling of your selves together , as the manner of some is , who are thereby hardened : Where presumption goes before , hardness of heart will follow : Therefore it 's no marvel to see us lean and barren ; it is because that proud spirit has gone before ; which has brought it on us ; that promis'd you , you should not be poor , but sit as a Lady for ever , &c. We have promised our selves we would be diligent and watchful , not envy nor despise any ; but when the heart is once out , it 's hard to come in again : When Davids heart had got out to look upon the woman , he presently sends for her Husband , then makes him drunk , then sends him with a Letter to the Army , to take his life away ; and all that he might enjoy his Wife : So when the heart is once out , how does it heap one lye and mischief upon another ! O therefore consider how you get out ; for if you are once gone , it 's not such an easie thing to come in again : The beginning of strife ( saith Solomon ) is like the breaking out of water ; The gap is made bigger and bigger , till at last it cannot be stopt .

3. And lastly , This may be for Encouragement to all those Wanderers that are gone a long journey , and would never think of returning ; that count God such an hard Master : Do but consider his works of old , as David did ; he was encouraged by it , and had hope : Our fathers hoped in thee ( saith he ) and were not ashamed . Remember the Prodigal , though a poor forlorn wretch , yet he return'd to his Father as he was ; and see what entertainment he found .

Therefore now enquire with what Principle thou couldst come in ; Art thou dead ? and thy fear is , thou shalt not be revived again ? or is thy fear because of a dissembling unsound spirit thou hast , which twists about thee do what thou canst ? Yet see ; Is thy strait for a single and upright heart ? Doth thy Soul choose it , however thou art found ? That 's the thing ; If thou canst but come in this Name of the Lord , then be encouraged , that he will receive thee , he will make thee a feast of fat things , and of wine well refined on the lees : He will sit down at Table with thee , and say , Eat my friends , eat abundantly ; Come and let 's be merry , &c. for Fury is not in him ( as we suppose ; ) He waits to be gracious , and is more glad of one sinner that repents , then of ninety nine just persons that need no repentance .

O therefore return thou Prodigal , return ; say to thy Soul a thousand times over , O return to thy strong hold : Take hold on the horns of the Altar as thou art , and be safe : Say not , If I were clothed I would come ; if I were shod , and had Rings on my hands , and were filled with the spirit of power , then I could come ; But enquire , Is there not life in thee ? Is not the principle quite dead ? then be encouraged ( for where there 's life , there 's hope ) the Father will entertain thee : But , O Lord ! how long shall we neglect so great Salvation ?

O Lord , the thing is too much to expect , That ever the sinner should be so received , to stand before him spotless and blameless , safe and sound : But surely the Scripture has not said it in vain ; nor is that principle in you in vain , that gasps and pants after it . O therefore minde and consider , that we might enjoy this portion , and return from our Prodigality ; and the good Lord bring you in at the right door , for there onely will he finde you : and where 's that ? Why , in the Name of the Lord . But so long as this pride and envy , &c lives , we would never come to admire and say , O the forbearance and long-suffering of our God! We would never clear him , and own the thing as it is : but this is the door by which the righteous enter , and are safe .

Noah Warned OF Things not Seen ; OR Faith piercing into Invisibles . SERM. VII . April 27. 1651. HEBR. 11.7 . By Faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet , moved with fear , prepared an Ark to the saving of his house , by which he condemned the world , and became heir of the Righteousness which is by Faith .
The Analysis .

FRom the words was observed in general :

I. What Things Noah was warned of by God ?

And they were these three .

1. That all flesh was corrupt , how fair and specious soever to sight . 2. That the end of all flesh was come , though all seem'd quiet and well . 3. He is warned to prepare an Ark , to the saving of his house : None of these things were yet seen , but Noah sticks to the Word .

This brought home , to shew , we have been warned in all these Cases .

1. That all flesh is corrupt : We have been warned of that three ways . 1. By the Word of the Cryer , that hath witnessed it . 2. We have proved it over and over again by Tryal in our selves . 3. Warned by Providence ; the world let out against us , and the breach begun . 2. We have been warned , the end of all flesh is at hand ; often witnessed to us , That He will not always wink and bear , but call to an account . 3. The warning hath oft been to us , to provide an Ark , a sure resting place and shelter from storms , [ to know our portion in the eternal Love . ]

II. How is Noah affected ? Moved with Fear , &c. A Fear and awe seizeth on him , and that in five Particulars .

1. From the warning , that all flesh was corrupt ; [ All in the man , sin ; ] a Fear touches the Soul : Lord is the case so with me ! 2. Moved with Fear , because the end of all flesh was come ; Judgment ready to seize , the Flood coming ; this moves a Fear . 3. Because he was naked , and had not an Ark provided . 4. Moved with Fear , lest he should slip over the present day and Call . 5. Lest the Flood should come before his Ark be finished : And this moves the Soul , and makes it haste to the work .

All this brought home to Particulars , to enquire , whether we were moved with this Fear , with much power and searching .

III. Consider , He prepared an Ark ; the Fear took place .

The Ark was a Type of Christ : It had three Stories , which expressed the three Conditions Christ went through , and All His must follow .

1. A day of weakness , sufferings , and Death ; and this lowest story , all that will prepare an Ark , must first build .

In this Death of Christ was considered , 1. He dyed to all things ; not only unlawful , but lawful ; just Rights and Priviledges ; became poor for others . 2. He did it willingly , and quietly , not grudging , none took his Life from him . This the pattern of the first story of the Ark.

2. The day of his Resurrection to Life , that a second story .

3. His ascending into Glory , answerable to the third .

HEBR. 11.7 . By Faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet , moved with Fear , prepared an Ark , &c.

IN all Times God had some to whom He hath been pleased to communicate his mind about what was to befall the world ; and therefore he saith , He will do nothing but he will reveal it to his servants the Prophets ; and to them , the forewarning they have had from God , hath not been a slight Thing , an idle Tale , or a Fable , but it hath taken impression : As with many of the Prophets , how have they cryed out in bitter distress , That they were pained at the very heart , and their bowels shook within , &c. at the sight of the miseries which were to come on a People , before the thing was done , or any present danger in view ! And so here , Noah is warned of God of things to come , ( though not at all yet seen , ) and see what place it took : He was moved with fear , and that fear was not in vain neither , but put him upon a work : He prepared an Ark to the saving of himself and his house . And therefore where ever we hear of great high words , of great discoveries and revealings of God to any ( which many now in the world pretend to , ) and yet all they speak of takes no place upon their spirits , ( there is no fear , nor awe , nor dread , no paining of heart , nor shaking of inwards , but they can live still as loosely and vainly as ever , after their own fleshly wills , ) this is a token God hath not spoke there ; but speak a false Vision of their own hearts . But God hath in all Ages had some to whom he hath revealed what he hath intended to do , to give warning to the world before-hand , that when the Judgment comes , they may know it comes not by chance and hap , but that he hath a hand in it . So Christ to his Disciples , When these things come to pass , you may remember that I have told you . And it is often mentioned , That such and such things came to pass , that the Scriptures might be fulfilled : The Word which God had spoke to his servants , that must not fall to the ground . And thus was Noah warned of God of Things not yet seen ; He had onely a word for it , and yet believes : So Abraham , but a word from God to call him , and He goes out , not knowing whither he went . Consider ,

I. WHAT THINGS THEY WERE THAT NOAH WAS WARNED OF ? These three .

1. He was warned , That all flesh had corrupted its way , Gen. 6.12 . This Word came to him from God , first , before the thing was so proved and known to him , that all flesh was so corrupt , nothing at all good in man ; but the imaginations of his heart altogether evil , and that continually . Now there is a birth of the flesh that seems very like the Child of God , but yet it will not be owned , it must not be Heir with Isaac : What ever is born of the flesh , is flesh ; it is no better , and the best of flesh is corrupt ; All flesh , how fair and specious soever it may seem . And the same warning is now sent to you this day , That All in you is corrupt before God ; an evil taint runs in all , in the best we do ; a dead Fly spoyls the whole Box of oyntment : In my flesh ( saith Paul ) dwelleth no good thing . But we plead , we do not so see this , that we are so wrong and guilty in all . Well , but Noah is warned of God of things not yet seen , not yet so clear to his eyes , and he believes the Word , and the warning sent , and stands not to parl the case with God .

2. He was warned , that the end of all flesh was come before God ; that a day of account was coming , a Judgment , a Flood to drown all flesh . God will not always strive and bear , but the end comes : And this Word Noah believes , though nothing as yet is seen , but all is well , and at peace , eating and drinking , marrying , and giving in marriage ; yet he observes the warning , and believes the Word , and submits and cleaves to it : The warning is given him , Depart from the tents of these wicked men , left ye perish with them , &c. and he obeys .

3. He is warned of God to prepare an Ark for the safeguard of himself and his house : And what a strange and mad thing would this seem to all the rest of the world ? They could not but laugh and mock at it ; What doth this man intend ? is he wiser then all the World ? and will he go contrary to all ? to build an Ark when no Flood nor danger appears ; this seems a mad way to Reason . Well , but Noah was warned of God , and that is enough to him ; though the thing is not yet seen , yet he believes the Word , and sets to the work , and goes on alone ; let them say what they will to him , and mock on , he observes the warning ; as Gen. 6.22 . And Noah did according to all that God had commanded him ; so did he . Now to bring this home to our conditions ; ( for Noah is dead , and the Word yet concerns us : ) It is certain we have been warned of God , as he was , in all these three Cases . And ,

1. That all flesh hath corrupted its way , we have been warned of God these three ways .

1. By a word of true report : God hath told you again and again , That all flesh is grass , that there is no good thing in man . How long hath the Cryer cryed this , That all flesh is wholly corrupted ? Though it be never so fair and goodly , and the Sepulchre painted , yet there is nothing but rottenness and filthiness within . The mans fleshly wisdom , that which is his guide and Counseller , the eyes that he sees with , the feet he walks with , even that hath been a corrupt taint in all our ways ; and this hath often and often been told you , and yet you go on , and pass the Condition over , and sleep desperately upon the top of a Mast , and go contrary to all that comes to cut down flesh , and destroy your wisdom , and vain imaginations .

2. You have been warned of this , by a work upon your own spirits : And if you believe not the Word , yet will you not believe for the Works sake ? Have you not been spoyled and ruined by the charms and false flatteries of this whorish woman [ the flesh ] all along your days ? Have you not proved out the thing throughly ? And yet we plead , we do not so see it : We would justifie our selves in something according to the flesh . But have we not seen ? have we not felt it to our loss , what a treacherous dealer this flesh hath been ? It is then , because we would not see it , but blind our eyes ; and if we stand here pleading , we may stick long enough in the mire , and see no deliverance , if we will first see , and not at all beleeve our misery and danger . Noah was warned of things not seen , and he believes the Word told him . Now you call me your Guide , and witness that God is with me : But how appears it you judg so indeed ? Would you not live after your own counsels still ; rather then the Truths ? Would you not see with your own eyes ? and not stir a step farther then your own Reason can reach ? But whose heart trembles , when the Word goes forth from Christ , One of you shall betray me ; to say , Lord , is it I ? or , Is it I ? Who fears , and lays it to heart , when the Cryer tells you day by day ( and complains bitterly under it , ) That All flesh is corrupted ? Who is touched to enquire , Good Lord , is it so with me ! is all in me corrupted ? all my hopings , and resolvings , and turnings , and puttings off the strait ? is there a taint in all , which way soever I turn me ! and doth not our experience prove this out to us also ? Have we not seen an end of all perfection ? and yet how strangely do we stick to our shadows , which we have proved out to be dry and empty ? and like the foolish Bee , light again and again upon the same flower , when it can yield no more honey . And thus your days may be worn out , and spent , and come to nothing , if you will neither be warned of God , nor your own experience , to lie down in the dust , and abhor your selves in ashes , and own your own wretchedness . All I speak , is , to bring you to a strait for help , and to see it is not in your selves ; it grows not in that soyl , though you till and manure it never so carefully . What is the Reason ( think you ) we are not removed , not translated into another Kingdom , another condition , but stick still where we were seven years ago ? What are we molded and wrought into of the mind and likeness of God ? We have more light indeed then we had , but what hath it brought us to ? What have we submitted under and parted with of our lives and wills ! &c. We turn like the door upon the hinges , so the sluggard upon his bed ; and if we turn , and turn never so often , upon a fleshly bed , alas , all comes to nothing , so long as we move upon that centre of fleshly wisdom , and will believe God no farther then we can see him , but keep off our misery ; though we are warned by the voyce of the Cryer , and warned by our own hearts , to know how deceiveably they have dealt with us ; yet we will hold our hold , and not give up all flesh for corrupt and wretched , and cry out , In me , that is , in my flesh , dwells no good thing : Till this , we must welter in our misery , no Cure will come .

3. We have been warned by Providence of this ; an ordering Hand of God hath preach'd , That all flesh is grass . How hath it taken away some of us by Death ? and how hath the world a late been let loose upon the rest ? What plots and contrivances are there on foot to break us a pieces , if the Lord prevent not ? What stirings are there and waitings for our halting ? And what mean all these stirs and hurly-burlies ? Sure they have an end , they come for the destruction of the flesh , they come to shew that flesh yet lives , that there is a fleshly coming together , fleshly hearing and trusting in our outward mercies , crying , The Temple of the Lord , the Temple of the Lord ; and so rest in the shadow , and come not to the preparing of an Ark indeed : And therefore you see how it hath fallen upon some of us , to be divided , and taken away by force ; and carried to strange Tryals : And think not with your selves , that they were greater sinners then the rest ; No , but certainly unless we repent ( that are yet left together ) the Hand will go against us , and the men of the world shall have their wills to root us out from being a People .

Therefore if we shall be warned this day to lay it to heart , it will be well ; if the Word , and the Work , and the present hand of Providence , if all make you consider and know that all flesh hath corrupted its way , and that out of flesh you must come , then it 's well . Out of Sodom you must come , that is certain ; and if one thing will not do it , another shall . We have certainly lived all of us besides the mercies afforded : We might have been Teachers of others for the time ; but alas , we have been dull of hearing , and have need to be taught into the first Principles of repentance from dead works : Therefore there is need now at the last you should be warned , That all flesh is grass ; and this you will grant in a word : But come to particulars , and there your fleshly wisdom wil● be Judg , what is right , and what is wrong ; and flesh will never judg it self : and so all is kept off from seizing upon the heart ; for certainly else you could never keep up to live alone , as you do ( upon your own thoughts and counsels ) without the Lord : As it is said , God is not in all their thoughts . Oh therefore , Consider this all you that forget God! And whilest it is called to day , harden not your hearts . Fall under the mighty hand , and own your misery ; and if you know it not , be jealous , and enquire with fear , What means this voyce of the Cryer ? ' Am I indeed so corrupt and miserable , and know it not ! Say with Job , What I know not , teach thou me , till the Thing be opened ; for some way or other this Lesson must be learn'd you , That All flesh is grass ; and the Lord spares none of you , and nothing in any of you ; but All flesh , the whole House of Israel have corrupted their way : You are all guilty , and have turned aside to vain things , and have forsaken the Lord days without number , and the strait is not yet upon you : The Lord make you sensible where you stand ! But then ,

2. We have been warned of that too ( as Noah was ) That the End of all flesh is come before God . How often hath this been told you , That He will not always bear , His Spirit will not ever strive ? The Patience will wear out at the last , nay it is even expired ; and if the Lord move you not with fear , as Noah was moved , to prepare an Ark , desolation will surely come , the Flood will overtake you some way or other ; either Death will come and bind us fast from our wills in the grave , or sufferings from unreasonable men will come to shatter us asunder , and break us in pieces ; and then whither shall we turn for counsel and help in our straits ? How may we then prize the days which we now slight ? Surely one way or other God will take to bring All Flesh to an end : And if we have no other hope nor confidence but in the flesh , if we stick still in our self-wills , and fleshly minds , we shall not be able to stand in that day . It is not your high looks nor great thoughts that will then carry you out ; not your knowledg of Scriptures , nor understanding of Mysteries ; none of your carnal hopes , nor carnal fears , nor carnal reasonings , will now stand , as they have done formerly ; but the Flood will sweep away all that is born of the flesh . Therefore if we shall be made to judg our selves before-hand , and cry out , O search me , and try me , if there be any way of wickedness in me ! and bow under the Judgment , then it 's well for us : But if there be such a saying within , I shall have peace in the way of my own heart ; this evil shall not come that is spoke of ; I shall have ease and rest , and dye in my nest ( saith Job ; ) if thus you put the evil day far from you , it will surely overtake you unawares , in a day when you think not of it ; when they were eating , and drinking , and marrying , the Flood came ! &c.

3. We have been also warned ( as Noah was ) to prepare an Ark : We have been minded often , both from a Word without , and stirrings within , to look after a sure testing place , a Refuge , a shelter , that which will keep off all Floods , and storms , and Tryals . Though the Earth be moved into the midst of the Sea , yet ( saith David ) I will not fear ; His heart is fixed , trusting in the Lord : And in another place , My heart is fixed O God , my heart is fixed : There is , sure , such a place whither the Righteous can flee , and they are safe ; In the Name of the Lord , in that Tower , under his wing , in the secret of his Pavilions , in his Bosom [ in his Love ] when that is opened to the Soul , and a mansion given it there . Now if thou hast all parts , and knowledg , and operations , and good desires , and good resolvings , all these will not save thee in the day of the Flood : The Waters will get above , over all the high Mountains , the whole Earth , how high soever it be ; yet if it be of the Earth , if it be born of the flesh , and the will of man , it will not stand . But There is a Rest for the People of God : Wast thou ever brought into that ? Hath the Lord Jesus ever shewed thee thy lot and portion in that Eternal Love ? that thou art chosen there , in the Beloved ? Nothing else will carry it out against the Flood ; when that comes to overflow , nothing then but that everlasting Rock . Many are wise , and great , and honorable , and knowing in their generation , famous , and men of renown ; but alas ! when they come to dye , they have no understanding , but are found like the beast that perish ; They are to seek their shelter when the storms beat . But now to have a portion made over to thee in that Eternal Love , that will be a sure Ark in the time of the Deluge ; this will be the happiness : And such a condition as this you have been warned of God , and are warned , to press after , and to rest in nothing till this Ark be prepared for you .

II. Consider next , He being moved with Fear , &c.

The Warning takes place upon him , and leaves an impression behind , it moves and touches his heart , and that from these five Considerations .

1. He was moved with fear , from that warning to him , That All flesh was corrupt ; a fear seizeth on him , and makes him enquire , Is it indeed so as the Lord hath spoken ? Though I see not so clearly , that All is so corrupt and vile , yet what means this warning from God ? Surely the case is worse then I yet see it ; sure I am leaning and hoping in some wrong thing , some arm of flesh or other , that the Lord warns me thus . Hence the Fear moves upon him , and makes him look inwards .

Now doth this come home to your doors ? Do you enquire whether these things are so or not ? Alas , how is it with me ? How stands the case between God and Me ? What means the complaint and cry , That All is corrupt ? Doth the Lion roar , and are you not afraid ? Or do you stand upon your terms with Corah , and say , All the Lords People are holy ? [ We are not so base and vile as you would make us believe . ] If you plead so , you shall know shortly ( as Moses said to them ) who are the Lords People , and who are not : The search and dividing will come ; and if thy money be good , thou art not afraid to bring it out ; Thou wilt not shrink from being enquired into ; Thou wilt come to the Light , if thy works be good . But this will be a testimony the case is bad , if either there be a snuffing and taking it ill to be put thus on the Tryal , or if a shuffling it off and laying it aside till to morrow ; or if a fear , and shrinking , and covering the condition close to your selves ; or if a wilful stubbornness and scorning to come to the Touch-stone : If thou be a scorner , thou alone shalt bear it , that is certain , thou shalt be alone by thy self ; and woe to him that is alone . Who ever is in an Error , or evil way , he is surely alone in it : There are not two in the whole world that are fully together in an evil way , but some flaw and difference creeps in do what they can ; for it is a spirit of confusion and division ; and there is no true Vnion and Oneness but in the Spirit of Love and Truth : Therefore enquire if there be not a canker-worm , a taint , in all thy best things , in thy Knowledg , Fear , Hope , Believing , Desiring , &c. if all be not corrupt : And will not this cause a Fear ?

2. He was moved with Fear , to consider , Is an end of all flesh coming ? Is a Judgment so near ? Is it certain that an Account will be called for from me in all my ways , and nothing of flesh shall stand ? and do I sleep in this condition ? Am I secure , and the Judgment so nigh at the door , ready to destroy all ? Hence the Fear moves and works upon the sensible Soul .

Now enquire , whether this Fear touch upon you or not : If you are not brought to be knit up to the Lord Christ , and be made one Spirit with him , you will be sure to be left behind to the perishing world . I wonder sometimes how you can have any rest upon your spirits ; how you can go through your business , and eat , and sleep , and talk , or mind any thing , whilest your Souls hang at such an uncertainty ; and thou knowest not what shall become of thee in the latter end : If there be nothing but flesh in thee , though never so high , and fair , and refined , yet it will come to an end , it will not stand in the fire ; for what is the chaff to the wheat ( saith the Lord ? ) Now if thou searchest into thy self , art thou sure thou canst find any thing better then flesh ? another spirit seed of God ? and then art thou sure that this is thine , and shall ever abide with thee , and be in thee ? ( For if the Spirit be taken from thee , as it was from Saul , then thou art miserable , ) for that alone must stand in this day . Therefore art thou sure thou hast that which will carry thee out through Death and Hell , when the Flood comes to drown the whole Earth ? Now you are at ease , and quiet , and in health , and go and come at will ; but do you not think a Flood will come and sweep away all flesh ? Do you not think you must dye , and part with all your wills , and loves , and desires that are not born of God ? Therefore what need is there this Fear should seize upon you , lest you should not be able to stand in that day ?

3. He was moved with Fear in this Consideration , That he is naked , and hath no Ark to betake him to : The Judgment is at hand , the Deluge ready to seize , and he hath no shelter nor place to turn to ; and this makes the case harder to him , then the rest of the World , which saw not the danger : and hence the Fear seizeth ; Alass , his shelter is not yet prepared , the Ark not made !

Now , do you search and enquire into this ? Have you an Ark at hand , to receive you , or not ? Are you provided for such a day or no ? Are you sure you shall stand in the fire , and not be consumed ? Do you know you shall go through with your building , and that mock not fall upon you , This man began to build , but was not able to finish ? Doth this Fear touch upon your Souls , as it did on Noahs ? There is a Rest for the people of God , that 's sure ; an Inheritance in Light , reserved for the Saints : But is it your portion , or is it not ? I wonder I hear not that voyce among you to cry out , Oh , who shall stand when God doth this ? when the Searcher comes with his fan in his hand , with refiners fire , and fullers soap ! when every plant shall be plucked up that my heavenly Father hath not planted ! This may seem light , now , and a vain enquiry to many that are high , and at ease , and think to dye in their nests ; ( as sure , they could not but mock at Noah in his day : What is this Fool doing ? What need of all this stir to build an Ark ? what need is there ? to what purpose ? ) I , but when the Flood comes where are the Mockers then ? What is the Hypocrites hope ?

4. Another thing that might move Noah to fear , might be this , lest he should slip over the present instruction and warning given him ; lest he should neglect the present day , and then it may be too late : Therefore the Soul that is sensible is afraid , a jealousie strikes the heart ; O what would come on me , if I should withstand my Mercy ? How were many envited to the Feast ? but because they made excuses , and neglected the offer , the door is shut ; and he swears , They shall not taste of his Supper . But now Josiahs heart was tender when the Judgments were read before him out of the Law ; it took place in his Soul : And Mordecai says to Esther , Who knows but thou wert raised up for such a time as this ? [ If now thou shewest not thy self , thou mayst never have another offer : ] And here the Fear comes in , Lest the day slip , and can never be recalled again : and therefore Christ weeps over Jerusalem , O that thou hadst known in this thy Day the things that belong to thy Peace ! but now they are hid from thine eyes .

Now see ; doth this Fear touch your Souls ? Are you struck with an awe of spirit , lest you should slip away the present day of Mercy ? Doth it press upon you , That whilest it is called to day , you harden not your hearts ? and then the word go forth , You shall never enter into his Rest ? Truly the venture is hard , were our Souls but awakened : If thou slip the nick , and knowest not the time of thy Visitation , He may never speak more of the things concerning thy Peace ; but that sad conclusion may come , Now they are hid from thine eyes .

5. Noah might be moved with Fear out of this consideration , lest the Flood should take him unawares , before his Ark was finished ; and therefore he sets to the work presently : And Noah did as the Lord commanded him , so did he ; lest he should be prevented , and not finish his Ark in time , and then all his labor and pains are lost ; this strikes him with fear .

Now consider ; doth it take this place upon thy spirit ? Doth it set thy Soul to the work presently , now [ this very season , ] to say , Men and Brethren , what shall we do to be saved ? Doth it make you look out for a guide to lead you on , and counsel you in the work ? For an Interpreter , one of a thousand , to shew to man His Righteousness ? Sure the Idol gods keep the room , ( some base lusts , or hopes , or promising your selves Peace , ) or else you would be afraid : and all that God intends that everlasting good to , sure the strait will come , That they shall not be suffered to let their eyes sleep , nor their eye-lids slumber , till they shall finde out an habitation for the God of Jacob. Do these things take place upon you or not ? if not , what is the cause ? what hinders , you are not baptized ? Are you sensless and carnal , living in the flesh , upon any seen thing ? Alass ! That is miserable , the Flood will come and sweep away all of that kinde : Whilest they were eating and drinking , and marrying , and giving in marriage , unawares the Flood came . Or canst thou give a good account what will be thy latter end ? and canst say with the Apostle , We know , that if this earthly Tabernacle be dissolved , we have a building , not made with hands , eternal in the Heavens ? I would you could say that word indeed . But , O Lord , when I think of it ! what if he should come now unawares this night ! where are your mindes ? Are you fit to go out and meet the Bridegroom ? Are not your Hearts either cavilling , or reasoning , or murmuring , or hunting and lusting after somewhat ? or fearing and sinking under your bonds ? But who has a minde prepared to meet the Lord in the ayr , and so be for ever with him ?

Thus I have shewed you what the things not seen were , of which Noah is warned . 1. God tells him , All flesh is corrupt . 2. That the end of all flesh is come . 3. He invites him to build an Ark to save himself . And this I applyed to our present condition ; for Noah is dead , and this is written for our instruction . I told you how we have been warned in these cases ; And that , 1. By a word that hath cryed long to us , All flesh is grass . 2. By the proof of our hearts . 3. By a voyce of Providence , letting out the world , and the out-cries of men against us , if it be possible , to break us asunder , and not leave a stone upon a stone . Then I told you how the thing took place with Noah , He was moved with Fear , from five Considerations ; all which might seize upon us , and cause an awful dread and enquiry in our spirits : 1. To see what is our confidence and hope that we lean on ; Is it not born of the flesh ? And then , though it be never so fair-spun a threed , though never so wise , and sober , and patient , and meek ; yet if it spring not from a good root , if it be born of the flesh , all is nothing : You cannot love Him unless it be opened that He first loves you . Now many pretend that they love God , and prize and honor him ; do you so ? but are you sure that he loves you ? What if he shall answer you in that day , when you plead , Lord , we have eat and drunk in thy presence , and thou hast taught in our streets ; ( well , but for all that ) I know you not ( saith Christ , ) Depart from me , &c. How will your Love to God then stand ? Have you indeed an Ark prepared to receive you in the great overflowing Deluge ? in the day of desperate sorrow , that shall come to try all that dwell upon the Earth ? The Day will surely come ere long ; now are you sure you have that which will carry you through ? 'T is not your Learning , nor Knowing ( if you knew all Mysteries , ) 't is not your Parts , nor Hopes , nor mans conclusions will do it . Many measure themselves by themselves ; [ they are not as they were , they are more strict and observant : ] I , but what then ? Will that carry you out ? And many measure themselves with others , and say , I am better then such and such ; I am not like this Publican : Well ; but they that thus measure themselves with themselves , and others , are not wise ( saith Paul : ) the root and principle may yet be Self , and then what the better ? Then ,

2. This might move us to fear , That the end of all flesh is come : God will not always wink as he hath done in the days of Ignorance ; if he should , we would never come up to any thing : And will not this strike upon you an awe ? That the Judgment lies at the door ; Death is entring in at the windows , and nothing of flesh , nor mans Will , though never so fairly painted and gilded over , will be able to stand ! Is it not time to fear ?

3. Have you an Ark prepared to shelter you ? a sure resting place from all storms ? if not , is there not great cause of fear and trembling ? I know not one of you , if you were called this night to dye , that are at a certainty for your conditions , what shall become of you ; you have nothing certain to stick to : If you look over all your treasure , your hopes , and promises , and operations from Truth ; yet the bed is too short , and the covering too narrow . I remember the saying of an old Professor , which was long my Guide and Teacher , and many years had been zealous , and strong , and forward in Religion ; yet when he lay upon his death-bed , and great things were expected from him , I know not ( saith he ) whether all that ever I have done in all my life hath not been in hypocrisie . All his great confidence was gone in a moment , and he at a pitiful uncertainty what should become of him . I am sure it made my heart startle , to hear it , and say in my Soul , Art thou now to seek after all ? then what shall become of me who am far short , and but a new beginner !

4. This Consideration may move you to fear , Not knowing how soon the day of Mercy may be slipt over , and the day of Visitation hid from our eyes . It hath been no small Mercy , the peaceable Government we have lived under , we have had Liberty and Peace to meet together ; it is more then was afforded in my day , it cost me dearer . But now do you think it will last always ? Is there not a fear upon you , lest the day be gone , and a breaking and scattering should befall us ? And then we may remember Sion , and weep by the Rivers of Babylon in our bonds !

5. This moved Noah with Fear , lest the Deluge should come before his Ark was finished ; and therefore he presently hastens to the work , and did as the Lord commanded him . Now doth it take this place ? Are your Souls afraid lest the day should come unawares , and prevent you ? Sure if you are , it will put you out of hand to look after a shelter , and presently to set upon the work to prepare an Ark.

III. The next general Thing to be Considered , will be ,

WHAT THIS ARK WAS ? How to be built ? And what a Type of ?

This Ark typed out Christ ( all confess : ) He is that Alone Refuge for all the saved ones to hide themselves in , when ruine , and desolation , and destruction comes upon the whole world beside . Now the Ark had three Stories , which type out three Conditions and states that Christ went through , to finish and compleat the great Work of Salvation .

1. A day of Christs weakness and Death . This the 1. Story Of the Ark. 2. A day of his Resurrection from the Grave . This the 2. Story Of the Ark. 3. A day of ascending and entring into Glory . This the 3. Story Of the Ark.

And all the saved ones must tread in the same steps , and go through these three conditions in the work of Salvation , &c.

I. Christ had a day of weakness , a day of death and sufferings ; He was crucified out of weakness : And if ever you will build this Ark , to the saving of your souls , you must begin at this lowest Story : If we are planted into the likeness of his Death , we shall be also into the likeness of his Resurrection : If you suffer with him , you shall reign with him : If you take up his cross , and be faithful to the Death , He will give you a crown of Life : But if you deny him , he will deny you : If we drink not with him in the cup of Vinegar and Gall , we shall not drink of that new wine with him in the Kingdom of God . If you will indeed be like Him , you must begin here . No man can build a Castle in the Ayr , if there be no Foundation ; and there is no other Foundation but JESVS CHRIST , AND HIM CRUCIFIED . Now this Death of Christ takes in a large compass ; and who will follow him here ?

1. He dyed to all things , both lawful and unlawful : He sought not Himself in any thing : He could have prayed to his Father , and have commanded Legions of Angels to save him : He was Lord of all , and yet became poor , and made himself of no reputation : He layd down all his just Rights and Priviledges , and comes not to do his own Will , but the Will of another . Now if you look it over , how hard are we to part with unlawful things ! We are holding what in our own Consciences belongs not to us , and we have no right to ; nor can we have peace in the enjoyment of it : and yet how is the heart gathering , and reaching , and coveting ! O fill my belly , clothe my back , pity my case , consider my tryals : And thus every one would scramble all to himself , and never care what becomes of another , though in our Consciences we know these reachings are utterly sinful and unlawful . But now who will follow Christ in that other Branch ? Who will begin to dye to lawful things ? that which we may justly plead a right and title to ? To clear our selves where we are innocent , to have our Love answered with Love , to have others deal with us as we deal with them ; This we say we may justly plead for : I , but to suffer wrongfully , to be numbred with Transgressors , to be counted a wine-bibber , a companion of Publicans and Sinners , one having a Devil , a Deceiver , a Blasphemer ; Thus it was with Christ , though he was without sin ; neither was guile found in his mouth : And yet this he takes up , and lies under , and lays down his neck to the block and submits : This is your hour , and the power of Darkness ; No more but so : Who will follow Christ here ? to suffer servants to ride on horseback , and thou , though a Prince ( one truly belonging to God ) yet to go on foot ? Thus did Christ ; He went on , taking up his Cross dayly ; and this Cross was not onely outward sufferings and reproaches , and denyals from the World ; but alass ! it takes in a parting with , and dying to , all seen things , all that the Will sticks to , all that the Soul chooses , all that is dear and precious , to give up all : Christ could justly have pleaded , That he had a right to God , a right to all the Creatures ; He might have enjoyed of the best the World affords : No ; but He resigns up his Will to the Will of his Father : He gives up all ; and though He was rich , yet became poor , &c. And if you come not to this , to follow him here , you shall never build this Ark : And wo to the wantons of this world , that talk highly and largely for God , but live loosely , and reproach the Cross of Christ as much as any ; will not enter themselves , nor suffer others .

2. He did not only dye to all things lawful and unlawful , but He did it quietly and patiently ; He took it well , He gave up his life , He layd it down , none took it from him : But how far are we from this ? When any thing is hard indeed , and pinches us to the heart , how do we struggle , and take it ill ! There is an envying arises against the Truth , that searches and tries , and will give us no rest ; They envyed Moses and Aaron , the Saints of the Lord &c. The heart is unruly and unsubmitted , and its life is torn and rent from it ; but this is not the giving up , not the free-will offering that God looks after ; He loves a cheerful giver , and not of constraint : When they offered , and would by force have made Christ a King , he refuseth : and Moses chose afflictions with the people of God ; his heart chose the thing : And if you are yet upon those terms , to have a hankering mind upon honor , or ease , or quiet , or any seen things , you are not Christs followers : and you can never build this Ark of Salvation , unless you lay the foundation thus low with Christ ; all you build ( though never so fair and beautiful ) it will not stand without this bottom , unless there be a heart to take up the Cross and give up your lives , unless you are willing to go through Hell with him . Many may abase themselves to Hell ; I , but they make that their Heaven ; they say not , There is no hope : the pains of Hell are not indeed felt and endured . But Christ was brought to that pinch , that his Hope was lost ; My God , my God , why hast thou forsaken me ! If the Fear of God seize upon you , you will be jealous every step you take in this work ; it will put an awe upon your spirits , lest you should miscarry in any thing from the pattern . How ever the words you hear from me may be rude , yet the Knowledg is sure ( so far as God hath led me ; ) and if you pass not through the condition , [ the thing spoke of , ] I am sure the building will not stand : The man that thrust himself in without the wedding garment , when he was enquired into , Friend , how camest thou hither ? he was found speechless : But those that were compelled to come in , from the high-ways and hedges , they can answer , Lord , I came hither thus , I was drawn , ( None comes to me ( saith Christ ) except the Father draw him , ) I would never have come of my self ; I stood out to the last ; and had I not been compelled and forced , I had never been here . If you cannot give an account you have passed this way , That you have been drawn and haled to it contrary to your wills , and been made to lay down your lives with Christ , your building will not stand : This is the way God takes with his own ; He turns man to destruction ; and then he says , Return you children of men : He will give no other sign but the sign of Jonah the Prophet ; and this way He passes , He goes down to the bottom of Hell , He cries out , I am cast out of thy sight ; and the Earth with her bars was aboue me for ever : [ as if he was now quite lost and gone ; ] and hence deliverance comes , but not before : And this first story of the Ark you must build , [ go through the Death , ] if ever you think to attain the second and third Stories , the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ .

It will be afterwards considered ,

II. About the Resurrection : Which had three ends in it .

1. To shew the mighty power and free Grace in raising , when all hope gone . 2. That the Man may tread on the neck of his Enemies . 3. That the Soul might declare and preach his praise .

III. About the Ascension of Christ into Glory .

Three things in it also .

1. A taking up of the Soul into the third Heaven , [ from all Earth . ] 2. I heard unspeakable words ( saith Paul : ) [ The Decrees of Life opened . ] 3. The Soul is given into Union with the Divinity , marryed to Christ .

Several other things may be observed , about the length , bredth , and height of the Ark , the pitching it within and without : All which had a meaning of Truth in them .

Noah's Ark IN THE WORLDS DELVGE ; OR , Truth a Saviour and a Judg. SERM. VIII . HEBR. 11.7 . By Faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet , moved with fear , prepared an Ark to the saving of his house , by which he condemned the World , and became Heir of the Righteousness which is by Faith .
The Analysis .

NOw a proceeding forward to declare the Effects and Consequents of this Ark being built : And they were three .

1. He did it to the saving of his house ; [ a people he had a charge of , ] not himself chiefly . 2. By which he condemned the World , &c. This judges them . 3. And became Heir of the Righteousness which is by Faith .

I. About Noah's saving his house three things considered : 1. He saves them by being a Hearer himself : He is first warned of God , and preaches to them what he received from the Lord . 2. He takes the charge over them , makes them as his own Soul . 3. He follows on , till the thing be brought about ; He doth the work , He doth save them , &c.

II. Another Consequent of this Ark-building , is , He condemns the World : And that in seven Particulars .

1. He beleeves God , and is warned : and this the World is condemned by , they do not so . 2. He beleeves , though the things not seen as yet : The World they are upon their Reason , and consult with flesh and blood . 3. He sets to build the Ark alone ; The World look for company of wise and learned , and follow them onely : this judges the World . 4. He builds an Ark , a compleat one : This judges the World , to look after a compleat Salvation ; they content with broken pieces . 5. He builds an Ark pitcht within and without ; [ a sure and certain condition to keep out all doubtings , &c. ] This the World can never reach . 6. Noah not satisfied with the Ark , but sends out a Dove to enquire of God : The World is condemned by this ; they have no holy Ghost to enquire of God by . 7. He condemns the World by doing a Work ; He doth save his house : They build and build , but it comes to nothing , none are saved by it .

III. A third Consequent , He became Heir of the Righteousness by Faith .

1. What is this Inheritance he enjoys ? The Lord himself : The Lord is my portion ; an Inheritance that fades not away . 2. What is it to be an Heir ? To have an Inheritance fall by right , which cannot be sold nor given away ; This is wonderful ! 3. How comes he to this ? By Faith He became Heir : That 's the way the Soul is made to prosper in , by beginning with Faith .
HEB. 11.7 . Prepared an Ark to the saving &c.

I Have been speaking from these words all the last week ; in which many things have been opened to you at large . I shewed you , how in all ages God hath had some , to whom he hath revealed his minde and secrets : And here Noah is pick'd out for the man ; of whom God thus witnesseth ; Thee onely have I found righteous in this generation ; and to him he opens his counsel , what he intends to do concerning the destruction of the World , and that the End of all flesh was come before him . I opened to you , 1. What the Principle was he went upon , That was Faith ; by Faith he did it . 2. I told you the effect it left behinde ; the Word from God took place , He was warned . 3. What things was Noah warned of ? Not things in present view , which appeared to Sense and Reason ; but of things not seen as yet : Though no danger at all could be seen or thought of at present , yet he beleeves , and is warned . Then , 4. I told you the great impression it made upon his spirit : 't was not a light warning , a matter of talk , ( as the Religion of all the World is , ) but it comes neer , and toucheth upon his heart deeply ; He was moved with Fear : [ Work out you Salvation with Fear and Trembling ; not talking , and thinking , and resolving ; but ( the thing comes to the heart ) with Fear and Trembling . ] Then , 5. I told you what a real work this produces in him ; he is not onely warned , nor onely moved with Fear ; but goes on to a great work , He prepared an Ark. I told you this Ark was a Type and Figure of Christ , of a Saviour , of a sure and safe condition , which will carry through all storms what ever : which sure condition I told you was made up of three several works , answerable to the three Stories of the Ark. 1. The work of Death , of being made conformable to the Death of Christ , [ to dye to all things both lawful and unlawful ; ] To let all dye , all mans reason , and wisdom , and hopes , and confidence ; all created enjoyments , how dear soever , to part with all . 2. The second story of this Ark , or the second work of Salvation , is the work of the Resurrection : If by any means ( saith Paul ) I may attain to the Resurrection of the Dead ; [ To be raised again by the same power that raised up Christ : ] Else if we part with all , and give our bodies to be burned , and be left there in Death , That will be miserable : If that word of the Curse threatned to Adam light on us , In dying thou shalt dye ; if left in the grave , This is to be utterly lost . Many have been brought to that strait , that they could not keep alive their own Souls , had no ways to turn from the stroak : Cain was brought to this , Saul brought to this , Judas brought to this : I , but here lay their misery ; they were left in Hell , they dyed in dying , and never came to the Resurrection . 3. The Ark is not yet fully built , the work of Salvation not yet compleat , till it is made conformable to the Ascension of Christ into his glory , to be accepted there of his Father , and for ever setled in an Eternal Life , never to dye more . And in this last Story of Salvation I opened three things to you : 1. That the Soul is here taken up ( as Paul says ) into the third Heaven : It is quite translated , and separated , and divided from all seen things , [ the whole World , ] nothing toucheth it below . 2. Here the Soul heareth words spoke to it which cannot b uttered : Here the seven-sealed Book is opened , and the eternal Decrees read ; This is my beloved Son , &c. 3. Here the Soul is marryed to Christ , joyned into the union with the Divinity ; the Holy Ghost put in it , as a well of living waters , springing up to eternal Life : And this is that long Life spoke of ; He asked Life of thee , and thou gavest him a LONG LIFE , for ever and ever : This is that Eternal Life , never to dye more . Now such a condition may be , of having Life , but not the eternal Life ; they may dye again : therefore 't is said of some , Twice dead , plucked up by the roots : Therefore the Ark is not compleat , the condition not fully sure and safe , till the Soul be setled in the Eternal Life , ( as Christ said to his Disciples , ) And I give unto them Eternal Life .

Then I spake to you of the proportions , how the Ark was to be made ; the length of it three hundred cubits , the bredth fifty cubits , and the height ( yet less ) but thirty cubits : All which was not without a farther meaning .

1. It was three hundred cubits long , pointing out the long Life , the eternal Life , that all have which attain this safe condition ; a long walk , from Eternity to Eternity .

2. But yet the bredth is not so large , that but fifty cubits ; not so large a compass here in this Life , not such full room and liberty to walk round about without any straitness ; not so to run the ways of his Commandments , to go on without let and controul . But ,

3. The height less still , that but thirty cubits ; to shew , how the Soul is greatly kept down there ; it can have least room of all upwards : The Ark is but low , but little liberty Heaven-ward ; the Soul when it hath attained most , yet it cries out , O how short am I ! and this is to pinch it on still , not to sit down here , but to cry for the Kingdom to come , when all bonds and stops shall be taken out of the way , and a river of broad streams be given ; [ everyways liberty enough : ] but now ever & anon darkness and mists rise up , an earthly cloud gets between the Soul and its Happiness , that it can see but a little way off : But then ( saith Paul ) shall I know as I am known .

Then I told you , this Ark was to be pitched within and without , to keep out all waters ; which pointed out the exceeding firmness and safety of a good condition , That who ever builds such an Ark , ( is so conformed to the Death of Christ , and attained to his Resurrection , and ascended , and established in the same Inheritance , made a coheir with Christ in his glory ; ) nothing can ever shake this condition ; no waters can get in , 't is so surely pitched round : no doubtings nor fears can take place , either from within or without , to shake it : It is built upon the rock , and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it .

Then the Ark was to be finished in a Cubit , which had this meaning , That the nearer and higher we come towards God , our way will grow more strait and narrow . They came out of Egypt full-handed , with Dough on their shoulders , and rings on their hands , &c. but before they enter into Canaan , all that trash that came out of Egypt was spent ; their compass was narrower : Therefore the Cryer cries , Make streight paths for our God , &c. But yet , I told you , there was some compass left ; it was finished in a Cubits bredth , not an Inch , not without any bredth at all ; No : All our Fathers have had some flaw or other here , their Ark hath had somewhat in it , like to this world : They have had some sore and weak part ; some Canaanites left behind to afflict and vex their Souls : And this was to put them to a strait , to cry for the Kingdom to come , where no spot nor wrinkle shalt be left , nothing of sin or imperfection ; but all tears wiped away .

Then I told you , this Ark contained the whole Creation in it ; All creatures were here to be preserved , both clean and unclean : And this man would never chuse , to have these contrary beings live so near together . If the soul be once in the Ministry of circumcision , with Peter , then it would by no means touch any thing common or unclean : But the Promise is , That the Lion and the Lamb , and the Ox and the Bear shall lie down together , and yet do no hurt in all the holy Mountain .

Yet observe , there is a difference made ; but two of a sort of all the unclean were to be kept , but of all the clean seven couple , which had this in it , to shew , That however here sin and righteousness dwell together in the Ark , yet there are more for us then against us : Seven couple of the clean sort [ a compleat number of the righteous seed ; ] and but some few reliques of sin ; yet a spawn lives , to keep the Soul in awe always , lest it should increase and multiply , and that there might ever be a crying out against this Body of Death ; for 't is a wearisom condition at best , and full of snares : These unclean Beasts cannot but be ill companions for the clean , having always a devouring mind if it were possible to destroy them .

Then in this Ark Noah had a Dove to send out , to bring tydings to him how it went abroad , which had this meaning in it , That who ever have indeed built this Ark , [ attained to a certain estate of Salvation , ] the Holy Ghost is given them , to go to God for them in all straits . We know not how to pray , but the Spirit it self helpeth our infirmities : This is the Messenger between God and the Soul in all straits and distresses . What time as I am afflicted ( saith David ) I will pray unto thee . O Lord , if you had but a heart to consider it ! When your house is on fire , and the Enemies at hand , when you are compassed about with fears , and miseries , and distresses ( as you will be ) and yet no Messenger is at hand to send to enquire of God , and know his meaning , and what he intends , and what the end shall be : O how miserable is it to be left alone without this Comforter ! There are many that set themselves to pray , and speak words , but alas he hears not any for their much babbling , if there be not this Holy Ghost that proceeded from him , to go to him ; He hears not other cries and noyses : Though they howl on their beds , and abase themselves to Hell , he matters not . The Father will hear none but his own Spirit , and that knows how to get nigh him , to hold him fast , and plead with him : I will not let thee go , unless thou bless me . And if this Dove return once without the Olive branch , yet it hath no rest , but goes out again , till it obtain a blessing , and bring tydings of Peace . Now can any of you answer that question of Peters , Have you received this Holy Ghost after you believed ? You have believed indeed ( I know , ) and it lives in your Consciences , that Truth is here , and God is amongst us , that here are the words of eternal life : But now hast thou received the Holy Ghost after this believing ? Else what a miserable plunge must thou needs be at when straits and Tryals come as thick as Hail , and thou hast none to send to God to enquire the meaning , none to intercede for thee , and plead thy Cause ; but art left ( as the whole world ) to live in darkness , and judg all things like beasts , which know no farther then they feel in all that befalls them .

Now I would proceed to speak of the Consequents or Effects which follow this building of the Ark , and they are layd down in the words to be these three .

1. Noah did it , to the saving of his house . 2. He condemned the world by it . 3. He became Heir of the Righteousness which is by Faith .

1. He saved his house by it ; it is worth noting : It is not said He did it to the saving himself , though that was included in it ; yet a farther thing was in it , to save his house . The servants of God in all times have had that reward of their labor , to save a People ; That hath been their care and work , to seek up the lost sheep , to turn others to Righteousness .

And in this saving of his houshold , three Things are considerable , How Noah did it .

1. He saved his house , ( that great work , ) by being a Hearer first himself : He was first warned of God himself , and had an ear open to receive and learn the lesson before he can teach his house . What I received of the Lord ( saith Paul ) that I delivered to you . Many go to teach others , and were never taught themselves : Alas , how can their work stand ! They preach they know not what , nor to whom ; They would be Teachers of the Law , not knowing the things whereof they affirm : They never heard his voyce at any time , nor saw his shape , ( as Christ said to the Jews ; ) and how can they save a People ? They are blind Leaders of the blind ; and therefore wo to the Preachers that have not first learn'd of the Lord themselves ; and woe to the People that are left to such Guides ; for both the wall and the Dawber shall fall together . But Noah was first warned of God himself .

2. He saves his house , by taking charge of them , and standing engaged for them as for his own Soul . Take heed ( saith Paul ) of the flock , of whom the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers . The Holy Ghost lays the charge upon Gods Ministers , and they are made to receive it , and wait , and tend , and look after their People , as their own Souls : As Judah saith of Benjamin , If I bring him not back again to thee , let me bear the blame for ever : Such a weighty charge they take upon them . But where is now in our days such a Noah , such a Preacher of Righteousness ? Many Preach indeed , and they take the charge of a People , as they say ; but how long ? Till another hundred pound a year comes , and then they are gone ; or till some suffering and hardship or inconvenience come , and then they are gone : They fly at the sight of the Wolf . O wicked generation , God will find them out ! But Noah takes charge of his People ; they are his house , his family , his life , and therefore sticks to the saving of them .

3. That is the third thing , He sticks close to them , and follows on till the thing be done , till he hath indeed saved them , till brought them into the same condition with himself : He will lay down his life for his sheep ; and this is a true Shepherd indeed , that cries out with Moses , Nay rather blot my name out of the Book of Life , then that this People should be destroyed : And Paul he is at a strait , and could wish himself accurst from Christ for his Brethrens sake . Now to have such a Saviour to stand in the gap , to travel for a People , and never leave till Christ be formed in them , this is the great Mercy , and after this sort do the Noahs in all Ages save the People committed to them . Moses he stands up in the gap , and the anger is turned away : Phinehas he stands up and the Plague ceased : David he stands up and takes the sin and the blow upon himself , 1 Chron. 21.17 . It is even I that have sinned and done evill , but as for these sheep what have they done ? Let thine hand be upon me I pray thee , &c. Thus he stands up till the destroying Angel puts up his sword , till the thing be done he requests for : and thus Noah and all the preachers of righteousness prepare an Ark to the saving of their House [ the people committed to them ] .

II. Another Consequent upon Noahs building an Ark , is this , by which he condemned the world : all the world is condemned by it and that in these seven particulars .

1. Noah beleeves Gods Word and is Warned , God tels him Noah , all flesh hath corrupted his way , and it repenteth me I have made man , wherefore their end is come before me , and I will surely bring a Deluge to destroy them all ; now therefore look to it , stay not in all the plain ; get away from the tents of these wicked men ; hasten and build an Ark to keep off the danger , that thou perish not with them ; and he believed God , 't is said , &c. But who will beleeve this report now ? if God Himself should speak or an Angell from Heaven , if one from the dead should come , we would not beleeve , if we beleeve not Moses and the Prophets . Now who will beleeve , if such a certain word as this be witnessed to them ? Well , deceive not your selves I can surely tell you from God , that misery and destruction is certainly coming on , if you stick in this condition , if you get not an Ark , a sure shelter and refuge , astrong Tower to flye to , you will never be able to stand , therefore , Knowing the terrors of the Lord we perswade you ; lay the thing to heart , defer it no longer . I , but who will be warned by all this ? none of the world will , the world within us and the world without , that will go on its old way , do and say what you can ; Charme the charmer never so wisely the Blackmore will not change his skin , nor the Leopard his spots ; this carnall and sensuall and Devilish mind within us , it wil yet feed on carrion ; though it be a thousand times warned , it will not be warned ; though it be told , and told , and told , Well , this way will surely undo you , if you stick on any seen things , and come not to give up all , and lay down your lives , you will certainly be miserable and loose your lives : yet this spirit in us will not beleeve , but it will put the evill day far off , and mock at the making of an Ark. It will plead , what need is there of this ado ? and God he is merciful : one shift or other , this world will ever finde to be at ease , but wo to them that are at ease in Syon &c. Noah he is warned ; [ the new Heart , the sensible Spirit , that heares the Word and stands alwayes in awe and trembling , that is warned , ] and this is that which Judges the world , for they are not .

2. Noah beleeves though he be warned of things not seen as yet , he disputes not with flesh and blood about the matter , but beleeves , and this condemns the world : who would not argue ? But what shall we have if we leave all ? and what need is there of it yet , till more danger appears ? who would build an Ark , when no flood is seen ? and not say with Job , No , I am well , I shall dye in my nest ? who that is strong , and in health , and hath all enjoyments about him , will then beleeve a change will come ? Who breaks through all snares and entanglements , and says , Let me go , stand aside , all is uncertain , all may soon be taken from me ; this life is a mortal life , and all my enjoyments are nothing if the Deluge come ; therefore strive not to comfort me , let me go about the work , to prepare an Ark ? Who breaks through thus resolvedly ? No , the heart stands rather to dispute , Sure this man says he knows not what , there 's no such danger : And thus the time is reasoned out . And if you will stand thus pleading , till the Flood come unawares , and take you ; yet remember I have told you these things ; I have dealt truly in warning you : And ( as Christ saith ) all this have I said that you might be saved . But yet you are disputing and reasoning , Alas ! what can I do to help my self ? And thus we linger and come to nothing : Sure all this which I speak to you , is as a Tale that is told . Lord , how I feel the hardness of your heart , and that the Word enters not into the stone ! But sure it is , if the Word take no place , the Blow shall ; the Flood will come , and destroy this world .

3. He condemns the world in this , He sets to build an Ark alone : He stays not for great and wise ones to joyn with him in the work , but builds alone , though all scoff and say , What will this Babbler say ? what is this fool doing ? Will he bring in new Laws and Ordinances , and go contrary to all Customs , and Orders , and Rules of our Fathers , and Leaders , and wise ones ? Well , but this moves him not . Do ye what you will , ( saith Joshuah , ) I and my house will serve the Lord : I must go on , saith Noah . The Soul that is indeed at a strait , must go through all Lets , and set upon the work : It must leave all Relations , Father , and Mother , and Friends , and say to all , If you will not go with me , I must leave you : Let the dead bury their dead , but follow thou me ; ( saith Christ . ) But this is the pleading of all the world ; Do any of the great ones , the Scribes and Pharisees beleeve on him ? Do the Minsters and godly Divines go this way ? And here they sit down , saying , We 'l not be wiser then all men , but follow our Teachers . Well , saith the Soul that is indeed at a strait , Go they as they will , yet I must go this way ; there is a press within , I know not what shall become of me ; and 't is time now to look out : if neither Father nor Brother , if none in the World will joyn with me , yet I must go to Zion : Alass , I am at a strait ! Alass , what shall become of me in the latter end ! This strait will surely come upon your spirits , and run through all enjoyments ; your eating and drinking , and buying and selling , nothing shall give you rest : And were you indeed here , you would not stay for company ; you would look out for bread to eat , were you ready to starve . And who ever is thus pressed on through all , to build this Ark , he condemns the World , who all sit down at ease : And thus that world in us is condemned by that restless spirit of Truth , that is always reaching , and crying , and pressing forward .

4. This condemns the World , That Noah builds an Ark , a whole Ark , not a piece of one : Now the best of the World , how do they sit down contented , if they get but a broken board or two , or a sorry cock-boat ! They think all is safe then : I , but when the storms come , and the rain beats , where is the Cock-boat then ? Will that secure them , and be a compleat shelter ? Many are contented with a so far saving ; they are not the same they were , they are not like this Publican : they have escaped some of the pollutions of the world through lust , and this they judg enough : Now , Soul , take thine case : No , but this will not do : What if a people be saved out of Egypt , and yet perish in the Wilderness ? And if there be a saving through the red Sea , yet if the Soul enter not into Canaan , if it fall short of Salvation , if it be not saved to the utmost ; what will come of all ? Men preach much against Papists , for holding there can be no perfect Assurance in this Life ; but the best Faith is Doubting : And in effect our Divines all hold the same Doctrine ; They say , that in the best there may be fears and doubtings concerning their conditions in times of desertion and tryals : But it is not so ; for had they ever been saved to the utmost , they should never doubt that work more . If the condition be indeed once made sure , it is so without all doubts and scruples ; 't is clear and unquestionable , and can never be shaken in that point more ; The gates of Hell cannot prevail against it . And this sure and unmovable work of Truth is that which will condemn the World : If the Lord count you worthy to be the people to rest no where short , till the Ark be compleatly built , and a sure condition of life attained ; [ not to settle on flashes , nor true stirrings of spirit , nor operations ; not to rest in a half Salvation , but to be saved throughout , to the utmost ; ] That wil judg and condemn the World . You may go far , and be mighty in shew , get a high nest , and reach to the clouds ; but Lucifer must come from his Throne , and go down to the Pit : God saith of Ishmael , He shall be great also ; He shall beget twelve Princes : [ This flesh brings forth great and high births , ] but yet it shall not be heir with Isaac ; it shall not enter and inherit Life : Though it may fare deliciously , and be clothed in scarlet , yet a time of dying comes , and then this rich man is found in Hell . How many servants in my Fathers house ( saith the Prodigal ) have bread enough , and to spare ? I , but the Inheritance is not their own : The servant abides not in the house for ever . Therefore , what shall I say to warn you ? As the Martyr ( Bishop Latimer ) said , being to preach from those words , Beware of Covetousness ; If I should do nothing but repeat over this Text an hour together , it were preaching enough ( said he ) to them that could hear : So if whole days and weeks I should onely warn you of this ; Take heed , be sure you sit no where short of the mountain ; rest no where till you have an Ark built , a safe condition to stick to in all storms : All this warning would be little enough to warn you .

Thus I have spoke something of the Effects following upon Noah's building the Ark : 1. He saves his house : 2. Condemns the World thereby . And I told you he condemned it in seven Particulars , four of which I have spoke to ; the other are yet behinde . 1. He condemned the World , in taking Gods Word and being warned : The wise man foresees an evil , and hides himself : but this carnal , sensual , and devilish spirit , this World in us , and out of us , will never be warned , till it be destroyed . 2. He beleeves concerning things not seen ; He disputes not with flesh and blood , as all the World do : Even children can plead , Alass , I am young and childish , what can be expected from me ? The strong plead , Why , no need of such haste , I may live long . And others plead , ' Sure God is not so extream ; He is merciful , and will pass by failings : And thus all the World shift it off till the Deluge come . And how hardly hath it gone with some of the people of God because of this lingering and disputing spirit ! Moses reasons and reasons , till the anger is kindled against him ; and Lot lingers in Sodom till he is almost in the burning : and thus dangerously have we ventured to dispute and reason , till our Day may be over ; and then wo to us ! 3. He begins this work alone , though there be not one to joyn with him in it : and the Soul that is truly sensible of its want , and is indeed at a strait , That must look out for help : if none will go with it , to cry for a certainty , What shall become of them ? yet that must ; That must have bread , or it starves . So the blinde man , he cries and cries after Christ , and rebuke him who will , yet there 's no stopping of his mouth till the cry be answered . And this condemns the World ; they are for company , they follow the wise and learned , go with the multitude ; but alass , it never was , that the great ones and wise ones of the World were the Followers of Christ ! not whole Colledges and Congregations ; No : The Prophets of Balaam are four hundred and fifty , they go by Troops ; but onely one poor despised Micaiah for the Lord , and he never prophecied good to Ahab , but evil ; This true Spirit is the Troubler of the World , and judges them : nothings and vanities will content them , but this cries for substance , for bread indeed ; it looks after an Ark , a certain condition , and nothing less will serve it . 4. He condemns the World , in that he builds a compleat Ark , [ ceases not till the work of Salvation be gone through with , and finished ; ] till the Soul be conformed to the Death of Christ , and to the Resurrection of Christ , and to the Ascension of Christ ; till the Soul be brought to know the heart and counsels of God concerning it . Now the World are contented with halves , with piece-meals , with some broken scraps belonging to Salvation , but have not the thing it self , are not saved to the utmost : They cry for Parts , and Light into Scriptures , and enlargements , and peace of Conscience , and ease ; and they have their peny they agreed for , God gives it them ; but this will not satisfie the Noahs , [ nothing but an Ark. ]

5. This condemns the World , That Noah builds an Ark , and pitcheth it within and without ; a sure shelter , that not the least water can soak into it . Now as all the World , and all their Ministers can never reach to this , but some crevise is open , some flaw sticks to the best conditions , where questionings and doubtings will get in , do what they can : And this cuts them to the heart , That no other condition should be approved of , and pass for good and safe , but that which is thus pitched within and without ; That which will stand in the fire , and live in the water ; That which nothing can shake . But so far as the Salvation hath wrought a work indeed , the Soul can say with David , Though the Earth be moved , and the Mountains cast into the midst of the Sea , yet in this will I be confident , &c. So far as I am saved , I am saved : Death , where 's thy sting ? Hell , where 's thy victory ? This condemns and judges the World , That this Ark takes in no water ; That there should be no staggering in the Soul , but like Mount Zion , which cannot be moved : Wilt thou still hold thine integrity ? ( said that cursed Wife : ) I , says Job , till I dye , I will not give up my integrity . But the man ( be he who he will , be he never so wise , bold , and resolute to carry it out ) who hath not this Assurance by a sure and tryed work in his Soul ( I dare lay down my life for it ) there are times of staggerings and doubtings within , calling his condition in question , do what he can . Let him nail his god never so fast , yet Dagon must fall before the Ark ; some searching word of Truth will get in between the joynts of the closest armor , and pierce their confidence , do what they can .

6. Noah condemns the World in this , That though he be safe in the Ark , and hath attained a sure refuge from the Flood , yet this satisfies him not ; he is not at rest yet , but sends forth the Dove to enquire about the abatement of the waters . There is a condition beyond a sure and safe condition ; when Christ himself ( the Saviour ) is to deliver up the Kingdom to the Father ; when He promises to pray the Father to send them ANOTHER COMFORTER , the Spirit of Truth , to abide with them for ever : And this is that Dove , which the Soul can now send forth to carry out its requests to God , and bring tydings from him : And this is that which condemns the World , That they have no such intercourse with God ; they have no such Spirit given , to make their requests known by : Though they may cut themselves , and cry aloud , O Baal save us ! yet no Answer comes : there is not this Dove which Noah sends forth , that can bring an Olive branch of Peace in its mouth , and give a sure intelligence that the waters are abated , [ that the wrath is ceased . ]

7. He condemns the World by the real work of saving his house ; He prepared an Ark to that purpose , to save his house ; and it did the thing intended , He did save them : And this judges all the World , who though they build much , yet they save none ; The wall and the dawber fall together : They flee from their sheep when the Wolf comes , and leave their eggs in the dust like the Ostrich : But Noah did the thing , he did save his house ; He left them not in the mid way , till he brings them into the Ark : He travels , and is pained in Soul , till Christ be formed in them : This is that Interpreter , one of a thousand , that can shew to man his righteousness , and never leaves till that be done ; and this condemns the World : That sensual and devilish part will never endure thus to stick to the work , to cleave to a people , through all gainsayings , opposings and ill requitals . Many can preach , so long as they may have honor , and gain , and be well thought of ; but now take away their Money , or cross their Wills , let them be despised and dishonored , and they can presently be gone , and leave their people , and rid their hands of trouble : so that they will stick to none farther then they can serve themselves , and their own ends ; and thus nothing comes of their preaching : They bring their people to nothing in the conclusion . I have known some Ministers my self , that have been preaching these thirty years , and not a man converted by them : What a miserable case is this ! But alass , they were never taught themselves , and how can they teach others ? But the Noahs they have a charge given them over their people , they cannot get from them so easily : You shall not see my face unless your youngest Brother be with you , ( said Joseph : ) They must not leave a hoof behinde that belongs to Israel . Such a charge as this is layd upon me concerning some of your Souls , That if you fall short , I shall bear the blame for ever : The blood will be required at my hand , if I deal not faithfully , and bring you home , if you are not saved to the utmost . But the encouragement to me , is , That some have gone through this work : Noah did save his house , his labor was not in vain ; and the Promise to Christ is , He shall see of the travel of his Soul , and be satisfied . Noah is rewarded for his many years labor , He saves his house : And if the Lord would please ( after all my twenty years Travel and Preaching ) but to give me a People that might indeed build this Ark , and attain to a sure knowledge of their Eternal Condition , That they shall LIVE FOR EVER ; It would requite me for all : if some of you might come forth thus to be Judges of the World , and build such an Ark of Truth , as that all the Dagons , and Idol-worships of the World , must fall before it .

III. The third Effect that follows this building of the Ark , is this ; He became an Heir of the Righteousness which is by Faith . And about this , three things may be considered .

1. What is this Inheritance ?

It is a very large Inheritance ; it is to enjoy the Lord , to be joyned and made one Spirit with him ; The Lord is my portion ( saith David : ) [ The Lord is my lot , my refuge , the lifter up of my head ; ] This is a wonderful large Inheritance ! Great is the Portion of his People : Thus shall it be done to the man whom he delights to honor ; He shall have an Inheritance in Light , an Inheritance incorruptible , and that fadeth not away ; no altering of it : When I awake , I am still with thee , ( saith David : ) His Inheritance abides sure to him . Many have a great Portion to look on , they have a great stock of Peace , and Knowledg , and Hopes , and Confidence ; I , but a worm eats through the Gourd in a night ; Riches make them wings and flee away : Thus is the hope of the Hypocrite ; His house falls when he comes to lean on it : His great bulk of confidence is but a heap of chaff , which the wind soon blows away : But David could say , The Lord is my Portion ; I have enough : The Lord lives , and blessed be the Rock of my Salvation .

2. What is it to be an Heir ?

To be an Heir , is to be born with a right and title to an Inheritance ; to have an Estate fall to one by right , so that it cannot be cut off ; it can neither be sold nor given away from the Heir : Now this is wonderful , To be born with such a right and title to Eternal Life , such a neer Interest in the Lord , that nothing can separate from him ; neither tribulation , nor sufferings , nor life , nor death , things present , nor things to come : None can pluck them out of my Fathers hand ( saith Christ : ) This is wonderful !

3. How came Noah to this Inheritance ?

He became Heir of the Righteousness which is by FAITH : He came to it by beleeving ; That is the way how this Portion is made over to all the Noahs , even by Faith : Though it belongs to them before , yet they enjoy but as they receive ; and they receive as they beleeve : Be it unto thee according to thy Faith . They begin but with a little flock , a little beleeving ; O ye of little Faith ! ( saith Christ ; ) but a small grain of mustard-seed : A little Faith to set up with , and that too of things not yet seen , things out of sight , out of hand : and yet , by improving this little , how doth it grow and grow , and spread to a large Tree ? What encrease comes of it ? It leaves not growing , till it brings up the Soul , and joyns it in , to God himself ; till Noah is made an Heir of Righteousness : And therefore , O Lord , that you were but brought to stick to this small beginning ! to beleeve the word of Prophecy which is gone forth concerning you ! How might it grow and encrease to a mighty and large Portion ?

I have thus spoke many and great things to you from these words ; but the Sum of all hath been to this purpose :

1. To shew , how short you yet are ; where you lie and stick in the mire , and have no Ark to receive you ; know not what shall become of you in the latter end .

2. That your Souls might be put to a strait , to look after such an Ark as Noah prepared ; such an Assurance and Security as may hold out in a Deluge ; such a sure , certain , and unquestionable estate , as may stand in all storms , and judg all the false ways and rotten shelters of the World . And now , if the Lord seize not the thing upon your hearts , but it slip off like water ( as many words do ) then I know you will have no peace in your own consciences , and you will never be Judges of the World , nor come to Honor : Noah was moved with Fear to the building of an Ark ; but now if that will not do it , if Fear move not ; yet , Will not such an Inheritance , such a security move you , as may be attained to ? There is a sure place , there is a Rest , there is a way of Wisdom , which no fowl hath seen , where no ravenous beast destroys , which nothing can reach nor disturb ; The Lord seize it home upon your hearts to consider it .

THE Chosen generation AND ROYAL PRIESTHOOD , WITH THEIR True Marks and Characters . SERM. IX . May 11. 1651. 1 PET. 2.9 . But ye are a Chosen Generation , a Royal Priesthood , a Holy Nation , a Peculiar People , that ye should shew forth the Praises of Him , who hath called you out of Darkness into his marvelous Light .
The Analysis .

I. A CHOSEN GENERATION : At first all lay in one lump , till the choyce made by God . In choosing seven things considered .

1. Men weigh and consider before they choose ; so God pitched on a people to be his with deliberation and advice , not at random . 2. Men affect what they choose , what ever the thing be in it self : so the Lord set his love upon a people , delighted in his portion . 3. Men separate and take out of other things what they choose : so God pulls the Brand out of burning , takes His out of all the World . 4. In choosing , that which is chosen hath no hand at all : so God chose his people freely , nothing in them to move him . 5. Things chosen are set apart for some special use : so the Lord had an End , an use intended for the vessels of honor . 6. Men promise themselves something in the things they choose : so God expects fruit from his Vine , [ Love and entertainment from his Chosen . ] 7. Men have a special eye and care of things they choose : so Gods Eye is after his Chosen in all Tryals and Sorrows .

II. A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD , of the royal race , sprung from the Lord himself , of that stock . Whence three things considered .

1. They have an Interest in God ; can go to a Father , not a Judg. 2. Hence great boldness to go to God ; fear and shame are cast out . 3. Hence they prevail in what ever they ask according to his Will.

All was brought home to Particulars : And lest all thrust in , seven Notes were layd down to distinguish this Chosen Generation .

1. A certain close in their Souls to Truth onely ; no shadows can deceive them . 2. A certain weariness always upon them , giving no rest in all enjoyments ; A want still . 3. God is ever their utmost thing : All others are content with Parts and Gifts , &c. 4. This Spirit presses on to the highest and most single way , though never so sharp to it . 5. This Generation have secret hintings spring at times , That they belong to God . 6. In greatest falls and sins no hintings , as if utterly cut off because of sin . 7. A witness always in their Souls , That when ever they have a heart to return , they shall be received : The Father stands ready to receive the Prodigal ; He waits to be gracious : this Hope ever speaks ; not thus with the Cains , or those that belong not to God .
1 PET. 2.9 . But ye are a Chosen Generation , &c.

GO round about Zion ; tell her Towers : Mark ye well her Bulwarks , that ye may tell it to the generation following : For this God is our God for ever and ever ; He will be our Guide unto Death , Psal. 48.12 . And again , The Lord hath chosen Zion . And again , He will surely hear the afflictions of the afflicted , and answer their cry . Though they may now seem forsaken and forgotten , though abjects and out-casts in the eyes of the World , ( disallowed indeed of men , but chosen of God and precious . ) So was it with our Lord and Master ; and so will it be with all them , on whom the Father hath set his Love in like manner : However the World may look on them , or they judg of themselves ; yet in the Eye of God 't is thus , Ye are a chosen Generation , &c.

Now there is great need to distinguish between things and things , that the Trumpet may give a certain sound who are this chosen People that are thus beloved ; for it belongs not to all men : I came not but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel . Many widows were in Israel , but onely to one poor widow of Sarepta was Elijah sent : And it is not meet ( saith Christ ) to take the childrens bread and give it to the dogs : Some are dogs as some are children ; and Peter tells Simon Magus plainly , Thou hast neither lot nor part in this matter . Lest every one should thrust in , there are bounds set ; not All , but YE are a chosen Generation : Not every one that says Lord , Lord , shall enter : Not every one that comes , and hears , and sits in the house among the children , is of this chosen Generation , of that blessed seed ; No , but in Isaac shall thy seed be blessed . Ishmael , though he may live in the House , yet He must not be Heir with Isaac : There are many flourishing Plants in the world that grow and thrive apace : I , but every Plant that my Heavenly Father hath not planted , shall be rooted up . The King will overlook all his guests , and then , Friend , how camest thou hither ? will light on all that have not the wedding garment on : However we may strive to pull in Husbands and children , and other relations ( according to our selfish wills ) yet alass , That will not stand ! That will not make any , who are not , to be this chosen Generation . It is not whom man approves , but whom the Lord approves .

It was once so , That all lay in the confused Chaos together , in one lump , like the Potters clay , and then there was no difference at all ; none could say , This is accepted , or this rejected ; this is Jacob , or this Esau ; this a vessel of honor , That of dishonor ; till the Potter hath separated and distinguished his clay to several purposes ; and then was the Portion of the Nations divided , and then the Lords People became his portion : Then this chosen Generation had their first Being , and were both from the womb of the morning .

Now in choosing , these several things are considerable .

1. Before a man chooseth any thing , he weighs well , and considers , and overlooks it in his minde ; He weighs all the flaws and all the perfections in it , that he may know what he chooseth , and not do it hoodwinked : So the Lord was pleased to weigh all his creatures ; When he divided to the Nations their Inheritance , and separated the sons of Adam , then he said , Jacob is my portion : He knew what he did , how he would prove ; as God says , I knew thou wouldst have iron sinews , and a brazen brow : He throughly considered what he did , took in all faults and provocations that should ever spring from them ; and yet he pitches on this chosen generation ; and yet Jacob is the lot of his Inheritance . Hence it is there are no repentings in God , because the thing was throughly weighed : We often repent because of our heady rushing upon this , and the other ; but God is not as man , He made his choyce with full advice and counsel : Hence it is , The gifts and calling of God are without repentance ; And , In him is no variableness , nor shadow of change : because all his works were done in counsel , therefore they stand fast for ever and ever : And therefore ( saith David ) Walk about Zion ; Mark well her Towers , &c. Consider her strength , [ the sure unmovable Rock she stands upon ; ] For this God is our God for ever and ever ; He will be our Guide unto Death . This God is Zions God , that hath done things at a certainty ( not at hazard , ) that will be a Guide unto Death ; that will never leave nor forsake : The bottom and ground is certain , and 't is expressed thus in the Proverbs ; That I may make thee understand the words of Certainty . This choyce of God is a certain , unfailable , unchangeable choyce : This will seem wonderful when you shall come to consider it , and the thing sink to your hearts : Wert thou once in the same lump with the reprobate silver ? Was Esau Jacobs Brother , and Jacob loved , and Esau hated ? How comes this thing about ? What means this favor ? What manner of Love is this ? O Lord , if it did but sink into your Souls , what a thing is it to be chosen of God! Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom , nor the strong man in his strength , nor the rich man in his riches : This is not the thing which puts the difference . And ( so Christ to his Disciples , ) Rejoyce not that Devils are subject to you ; That is not your Happiness : No ; but that your names are written in Heaven ; that you are of this chosen generation ; that God pitched upon you : what ever you are , rejoyce in that . Samuel he looks upon Eliah because of his stature and goodly personage , as if sure he was the Lords anointed : No , but saith God , not He ; but it is the stripling , the little youth in the field , the youngest and unthought of , David , he is the man . He saves not the whole , the honorable and learned , the Scribes and Pharisees ; but Ought not this Daughter of Abraham to be loosed , whom Satan hath bound , lo these eighteen years ? She must be loosed because a Daughter of Abraham , [ of that stock , ] how ever mean and base in the eyes of man ; for God sees not as man seeth : He picks where he pleaseth , one of a City , and two of a Tribe : Though Israel be as the sand of the Sea , yet but a remnant shall be saved . Though there be threescore Queens , and fourscore Concubines , yet My Beloved is but one , &c. That he should let thousands and ten thousands go , and yet pitch on me ; this will be wonderful to us , when we shall see into it !

2. A man affects the thing he chooseth ; his heart goes after it more then that which he lets alone : And therefore Moses said to Israel , The Lord chose you not because you were better , or more in number , then other people ; but because He favored you , and set his Love upon you . And in Jeremy he says , I have loved thee of old with an everlasting Love ; and when thou wast in thy blood , ( one would think that a strange time to love in , ) yet then was thy time the time of Love : Though there was no cause , yet he loves : Even so , O Father ( saith Christ , ) for so it pleased thee . Two in a womb , two in a mill , two in the same condition , and the one taken , and the other left : To be left is enough , there is need of no more reprobation then that : If a man be but left , and not dayly maintained , kept up , and preserved , he will corrupt of himself , and run naturally to destruction : There is no need of a cursing or destroying any Creature , but he is pleased to leave some , and that is enough : They naturally tend and fall into the curse , and bring it on their own heads , if a preventer step not in : and therefore that is not first concluded in God concerning any , This is a damned wretch , whom I hate and detest ; No : his damnation is of himself ; he procures his own curse : and if he be but left , if not held up , and hedged in , and kept alive , he cannot but dye . No man can keep alive his own Soul . The Branch if it be left without Sap from the root must needs dye . If the Lord hath not chosen nor set his love upon any , that is destruction enough , that creature will sure enough run thither ; therefore see , how Esau first sells his birth-right , then loses his Blessing , and one misery follows another , till he be quite ruined : and therefore the choosing , the setting his heart upon any , that is the thing which saves . ( If God say ) as Sampson did concerning Delilah , Give me her , for she pleaseth me ; be she what she will , yet she pleaseth me : so Christ saith of the Spouse , Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes : that is the thing , to be beloved , to find favour in his eyes . Love will bear all things , Love is as strong as death , Love will save to the utmost , and this Lot fal's on some . Though Esther be an unlikely maiden , one of another Country , of mean degree ; yet she pleased the King , and obtained kindnesse of him , Chap. 2.9 . and vers. 17. and the King loved Esther above all the women , and she obtained grace and favour in his sight , and this is the thing that brings the Crown to her , be she what she will , Thou art fair my Love , my undefiled . Though she complains , I am black ; yet he loveth her , and Love sees no faults , she is comely in his eye , this is the portion of the chosen Generation .

3. What a man chooseth to himself , He taketh it out from other things , he gathers it near to himself : Thus is it with God , He pulls the Brand out of the burning ; He takes the Poor out of the Dunghill , leaves them not there ; and this is a sure token of choosing indeed , where he leaves not a man or woman in their darkness , in their bonds , in their snares , but pulls them out , separates the Wheat from the chaff ; who hath translated us out of darkness into the Kingdome of his dear Son , and in the Revelation it is said , they were redeemed to God from amongst men , and Christ saith , because I have chosen you out of the world , therefore the world hates you : He takes his chosen ones , out of their chains , out of their filth , out of a perishing condition , cuts them off from the old stock . That which he intends for a vessell of honour , he takes it out of the Lump , he leaves not his own in the same Lump with the rude world . Now this is the great thing to be considered , whether you are yet thus pulled out ? hath he made thee indeed to differ from the rude world ? art thou pulled out of the old Kingdome of Sathan , where the whole world dwell in wickednesse , though in severall ranks , forms and degrees , yet in the same Kingdome still , not a new Creation made , but this will make it appear , he chooseth thee , if thou canst say with David , He plucked my feet out of the Snare , he brought me up from the nethermost Hell : and saith Jonah yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption O Lord , my God , that is his Salvation ; there it appears , God is God . We would vainly promise our selves , ( as the whole world do ) to be saved by his love onely , and so quietly passe our Lives in our own wills here , and go to Heaven when we die ; but alas , if ever saved , we must be taken out of the condition we stick in . Come out from amongst them my people that ye partake not of her Plagues . Many have great words , and great knowledge and light , I , but they are not yet translated out of the old Kingdom , they remain still on the same stock , but things that are chosen , are taken out of the midst of other things , and therefore Moses speaks to Israel , Was ever such a thing known , as that God should go to take to himself a people out of the midst of another people , by great signes and wonders ? &c. to take out of Snares and Bonds and Intanglements ? for God to say , Come out of all , and be you clean , and be my people , and I will be your God ? I shall inquire of you , are you thus chosen ? are you pulled out of darkness , and out of death , and joyned to all the living ? Though in never so mean a place , ne-never so despised an outcast , though but a living dog , yet if living , if taken out of death , and planted into a new Life , that is the thing : If there be that seed of Life , it will ever be stirring and moving , and bending ( like the Needle touched with the Loadstone , set it where you will , it can never rest untill it come into its right place ) till the Soul be brought to God . Now there is a restless spirit in the Cains , and lost ones , but that is onely out of Torment , the worm that never dyes , and this restless spirit never moves towards God , but runs from him : but to this Centre the spirit of life ever tends , to come from , and out of , all things unto God , &c.

4. Things that are chosen have no hand in their own choice , All that befalls this Chosen Generation is of mercy and free goodness : who made thee to differ ? nothing they could do , could ever make a difference ; but the Case stands thus , Two things lie together , and a man passing by , takes one and lets the other lie : the things have no hand in it ; so is it in this choice of God , all is done according to the pleasure of his own will : see and read as you go , that you may have nothing to glory and boast in , nor challenge the least to thy self , as if he saw some readiness , or activity , or towardliness in thee more then in others : no , he saw nothing but his own pleasure : if there be any thing good in thee , he put it there : you have not chosen me ( saith Christ ) but I have chosen you : This will make it appear free indeed , when you shall be made to see there is no hand of yours in it , but of his own good will begat he us . No man ever begun first to seek after God , but , I was found of them that sought me not , else no Soul would ever be saved : Can a stone move upward ? no , nothing can move to God , but what came from God ; none can go to Heaven , but the Son of man , which came down from Heaven : It is contrary to man , who is born from beneath , from the Earth , to move upward , his Centre is below ; unless he be pulled , and drawn , and born up , and carried upon Eagles wings , he falls to the Earth like a stone ; the natural man cannot please God , he neither will nor can be subject to the Law of God , and this is , that God may have the glory alone in the work of Salvation , as he says in Isa. It shall be to me for a name , and for a praise : That he should save such unlikely ones , and out of stones raise up children to Abraham , this will seem wonderfull : I did not think to have seen the Lord here , ( saith Hagar ) when she had given up all for lost : this will make the Soul say indeed , as David doth , God alone doth all .

5. Things that are chosen are set apart for some speciall use ; a man hath some end in choosing them : so was it with God in this choice , he had a peculiar end and design to bring about , and he chooseth some for that purpose : but why are not all the world for this use ? True , they might have been , had he put in them the same spirit , had he fitted the vessel to that purpose , but he spends a great deal of cost and pains upon some , he prepares the Vessell for that very purpose to put in new wine ; Old Bottles would break presently , they were not intended for that use : You see Saul had of this wine in him , he was among the Prophets , the spirit of God was upon him , but the Vessel broke , and all ran out , and was lost : so Judas he was a Preacher , and went in , and out , with Christ , and had enjoyments and seasons of Truth , but the vessell had holes , and all was lost , and came to nothing , and therefore it is said of some , that they make shipwrack of faith , and a good Conscience : All is shattered and broken , and gone as if it never had been , some are compared to the Corn that grows on the house top ; though it be green and flourishing , yet soon withers and comes to nothing ; It was sown there by some chance , or carried by some fowl , the Husbandman never intended to have a Crop from thence : so may it be , and hath been , with many that are very green , they have Light and Knowledge , and parts , and Forwardness , I , but they grow upon the house top , the place was not intended for that purpose to bear a Crop ; the stony ground flourished for a time , but soon dies for want of root , ye did run well , ( saith Paul ) but they were left , and soon turned aside , but now whoever is pitched upon by God , and made a chosen vessel , he is set apart for some end some service : say ye ( saith Christ ) the Master hath need of him ; and he speaks to Ananias concerning Paul , He is a chosen vessel , to carry forth my name : whoever of you are thus chosen , and pickt and gathered by God out of the world , out of relations , and all your straglings ; Do you think God hath no end in it ? Is it think you , you should still live to your wills as you did , and walk as other Gentiles ? no sure , it is , that you may do him service , be his , and no more your own .

6. Things that are chosen , men expect more from them , then from other refuse , they leave behind ; A man when he is hungry chooseth bread and not a stone , and he looks for more refreshment , and nourishment from that , then he would from a stone , God expects not to gather grapes of thorns ; he looks not to reap , where he never sowed , the unjust Servant accused him falsly in that , but if he please to take advantage he may , he may come in an hour unthought of , as Christ came to the Fig tree , and cursed it , because no fruit was on it , though it is said , it was not the time of fruit , it seems strange , but such a Lord is he , if he will take the advantage , if he will be extream to mark what is done amisse , then who may stand ? He can ( if he please ) cast a man into sickness , and torments of body , or let loose horrours upon his Soul , there is cause and advantage enough to be taken , if he will make a man an example , a witness of his power and severity , ( for the Gospel hath that in it too , it is to be preacht for a witness to all , as well , as for Salvation to some ) but now from his own , his Chosen Generation , He expects somewhat out of Love : If I be a Father , where is my Honour ? he expects fruit from you , he looks for sweet grapes from his Vine , he expects you should hear ( Sure they are my people , they 'l be ordered and perswaded , and prevailed with ) he expects better entertainment from them , then from the world , and though it falls out , that they are the chief of Sinners , and found the most ill requiting of all People , I , but it is their shame , and their sorrow , and their Sin ; he looks for other fruit ; he looks for more , where he trusts with more , where he trusts with Heavenly Treasure , I sayd , They are my People , Children that will not lye , and in all things he expects their moderation that at all times they stand open and ready to receive him ; that alwayes their Lamps be burning , and their Loyns girt , as those that expect their Lords coming , and he is grieved if they disapoint him , therefore , he complains , The Ox knows his Owner and the Asse his Masters Crib , but Israel doth not know , my people doth not consider : This grieves him to be thus dealt with at their hands .

7. Things that are chosen , are more looked after , and more carefully minded then other things ; they are not layd scattering about , but charily reserved : So doth the Lord deal with his chosen ; He takes them into his bosom , hides them under the shadow of his wings , ( Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints , ) and if their Death be precious , if an eye after them then , in their blood ; if the minstration of condemnation be glorious ; if there be Love in that work of bringing to Death ; Then how much more Love will be seen in bringing them again to Life ? He says of his Vineyard , that He watches it night and day : And in the Canticles , My Vineyard , which is mine , is continually before me : There is no time he watches it not ; night and day take in all : In the Light and in the Darkness , in their sorrows and in their enlargements , still he watches : whether we sleep or wake , yet the Keeper of Israel neither slumbers , nor sleeps : If they are sent into captivity , it is for their good , ( there his eye is after them : ) If the three children are cast into the furnace , there is a fourth like the Son of God , He will walk with them there : If Daniel be cast into the Den of Lions , his God is there to shut the Lions mouths . If Joseph be sold into Egypt , God goes with him ; if he be cast into prison , he is with him there , and findes favor for him : where ever these chosen go , a special eye is after them : when they wander from one Nation to another , from one Kingdom to another People ; yet there , He suffers no man to do them harm , but reproves even Kings for their sakes : Touch not mine anointed &c. His charge is given out to secure them ; a guard is set about them that nothing may harm them : He shall give his Angels charge over thee , and they shall preserve thee in all thy ways : This is his care of his chosen , and this is their safety and happiness . Before I come to make Use of this , I would speak something of the next words , A Royal Priesthood : This chosen Generation is intended for that , to be a Royal Priesthood , to offer up Prayers and Praises to God : Hitherto , saith Christ , you have asked nothing in my Name , because as yet they were not brought to beleeve the words of Christ : They knew not they were a Chosen Generation , till at the last , when he was about to leave them , then he says to God , And these have beleeved that thou hast sent me : There is no coming to your Priesthood , till you are first brought to know and beleeve you are a Chosen Generation .

A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD ; Royal , ] of the royal Blood , born of God , sprung from that stock and kindred .

And hence three great Priviledges belong to them .

1. They can go to God as those that have an Interest in him ; they go as to a Father , and not as to a Judg : The Promise is to Christ ( and so to all the seed , ) He shall say , My Father , My Father ; and Christ says to his Disciples , who were of this Royal Priesthood , when you pray , say , Our Father : All must go to him as our Lord , and bow before their Judg ; but they have an interest in him , as being of that royal race , sprung out of his own heart and bowels ; and if you had but the knowledg of your interest in this Father , certainly you could not hold your Peace , you could not be kept off from going and making your requests known to him : If thou hadst known ( saith Christ to the woman ) the gift of God , thou wouldst have asked of him waters of Life . You could not but pray , and tell him your wants , and griefs , and sorrows : for you may go to him on this ground , He is my Father . O that you did but know , and weigh , and consider , whether indeed your lot be fallen in so good a ground ! We would be taught to pray any ways , rather then to pray thus , Our Father ; as the Disciples ask of Christ , Teach us to pray : but how ? as John taught his Disciples : Why , how was that ? John could shew his Disciples their wants , their misery , their undoneness ; and John could point to the Lamb of God , That this is He which takes away the sins of the World : [ That relief was onely to be had and expected there : ] But John could not tell them , This is your portion , God is your Father , All this is for you : No ; This is the witness which Christ is to bear forth , which is greater then the witness of John ; He tells them , It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom : And again , The Father himself loveth you : and therefore he teaches them to pray thus , Our Father . But how long were they before brought to ask any thing in this name ! such a wretched unwillingness is in the heart of man , indeed to know , or come to its own good .

2. This Royal Priesthood have this Priviledg from their interest in God , They may go freely , and with boldness , to the Throne of Grace ; no need of strangeness or straitness on Gods part : You are not straitened in us ( saith Paul ) but you are straitened in your own bowels ; That is all the cause indeed : But John was bold , He could say , And truly our fellowship is with the Father , and with his Son Jesus Christ ; His company was no lower , nor meaner : And it is said of our fathers , how they walked with God , and were the friends of God : They had a boldness to go in to him at all times , in all cases of need : when found Sinners , yet then they can pray , O cleanse my heart ; O wash me , and I shall be whiter then snow . When found ignorant , yet pray stil , O grant me understanding , and I shall live ; Teach me in the way that I should walk : O guide me , and teach me , &c. He is bold to go to God in the worst day , in the lowest time ; yet he hath no whither else to betake him : and here the door stands open always , Come unto me ye that are heavy laden , &c. When his sins go over his head , as a burthen too heavy to bear ; yet whither carries he his burthen but to God ? Where spreads Hezekiah the Letter , full of railings , and threatenings , and reproaches , but before the Lord ? As children , though they have never so greatly offended , yet , when all comes to all , have no whither else to go , but gather home to their Fathers house . Though Absalom had slain his Brother , and highly offended the King his Father , yet nothing will content him , unless he may see the Kings face : so nothing can stay the Soul , or keep it back , though it have dealt never so unkindly with the Lord Christ , though it hath crucified , and killed this Brother : yet it must come in to its Father , and own its sin , and see the Kings face , and cannot rest , till He smile again , and take it into favor , that it may be free and bold with Him , as formerly .

3. Another Priviledg of this Royal Priesthood , is , That as they have an Interest in God , and boldness to him ; so they are sure to prevail with him in the things they ask : I know ( saith Martha to Christ ) what ever thou askest of God , he will give it thee : nothing else will stop the cry of this child ; it will ask and ask till it do prevail : Though called Dog , and put off once and again , yet she follows on still , and will not leave , till at last she gets this Answer , O woman , great is thy Faith ! Be it unto thee as thou wilt . There is no denying this Royal Priesthood the thing they are at a strait for : They will never from his door till he arise and avenge his Elect. There is a wonderful sympathy that runs in the worst of times , that cannot give over ; but still the cry is , My God , my God , why hath thou forsaken me ? All must stoop to the Lord , the God ; but my God still : Though he kill me , yet will I trust in him : And therefore what need is there , and what great advantage might be to you , to know you are of this Royal Priesthood , to whom these Priviledges belong ! That you might step into the Priests Office , and begin to pray ; for He will deny no good thing to them that love him ; or rather ( saith Paul ) that are loved of him . Though the Lions may want , and suffer hunger ; though the great and high ones of the World may come to straits , and cry and cry , and no Baal will answer them ; yet Elijah is heard : The Lord deals not so with this Royal Priesthood ; He will deny them no manner of good thing .

Now , if it were the Lords Will , I desire that I might interpret the riddle to you , that you might read the Parable , and be your own witnesses , That God is in you of a Truth . I have told you , you are a Chosen Generation , and are to be a Royal Priesthood ; and how ever there be in us a strange unnatural warring against it , yet ( as Christ saith ) It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom : He hath pleased to tye himself in such a bond of neerness , as nothing can separate . But I would yet come neerer and closer to you , that you may know more clearly how to judg of the matter , and see the bounds of distinction that are set between this chosen generation and all other whatsoever : For as it is certain the Hypocrite will never be without Hope , say and do what you can ; yet he will scramble and steal something to lean on and trust to : So the sons of God are as much on the other hand ; it is as hard to pull and draw them up to beleeve and hope , as to keep the others back : They must be overpowered to it ; They requite sign upon sign , and witness upon witness , before they will be satisfied : And therefore ●ohn says concerning some , I write unto you that have BELEEVED , that you may know you BELEEVE , &c. But how shall we know this Chosen Generation ?

I shall propose these seven Characters to you to consider .

1. In this Chosen Generation , there is a certain natural instinct of a close , when ever God and the Truth sown in their Souls come to meet : when they come but neer one another , there is a natural turning , and cleaving together : The Loadstone and the Iron never meet , but they close and feel one another , and gather neerer and neerer . Now examine if it be not thus with you , where ever you meet with a living breath from the Lord , doth it not touch something in you ? Doth it not turn and strike the heart ? and cause a strange natural close in your spirits ? When Christ put but his finger in at the hole of the door , the Spouses bowels were turned presently ; 'T is not so to other Lovers . The Loadstone will not cleave to all metals , nor to wood and straws , though you gild them never so fairly . Now all the rest of the World are taken here ; They all wonder after the Beast , when it hath any likeness of the Lamb upon it ; they cannot know Wolves in sheeps clothing : They take down all good words , and earnest desires , and hope , and love , and zeal , that speaks for God : They are taken with shadows and pictures , and cannot distinguish between words and words , voyce and voyce ; Their gods have no breath pass through their throat ; they live not , to discern , and distinguish , and divide between things and things ; all that hath the same shadow , to them passes for the same thing : but my sheep know my voyce ( saith Christ ; ) That touches them , and the voyce of strangers they will not hear : Where this chosen Generation is , there is a certain distinguishing , relish , and taste ; Doth not my ear taste words ( saith Job ? ) Nothing will please nor take this Truth ( where-ever it is sown in any ) but its own kinde , and there it naturally cleaves and closeth .

2. You shall know this Chosen Generation by this , They can finde no rest for the sole of their foot , no place where to lay their head : Though they run , and hunt never so about and about for ease and rest , yet they can finde none ; They are certainly disappointed and wearyed out of all things : All they come neer cries out to them ( as the Lepers of old ) unclean , unclean ; Come not to me , I cannot satisfie : The Earth says , It is not in me ; and the Sea , It is not in me : They can sit down no where , but the stool is pulled from under them , and they hasted up to their journey , Vp Elijah , why fittest thou here ? Every thing their hearts would pitch on , is made either too hot , or too heavy , for them to carry ; either we cannot carry our lusts , they have so much lumber and luggage belong to them ; or else they are too hot , and burn our hands ; the thorns are too sharp : it is too hard to kick against the pricks : Therefore I have often said , of all people in the World , it is in vain for those that belong to God to go about to please themselves in any lust ; for they shall be sure to be hunted out . Others may enjoy their wills , and sit down in sin , and take content in the Creatures ; their eyes may swell with fatness , they may have their hearts desire : I , but the Davids may not : I am chastened every morning , and plagued every moment : They have no rest in this World , but are always like strangers and Pilgrims ; though weary and tired , yet alass ! they must not take up till they come home ! All grows wearisom and tiresom to their Souls ; nothing can ease , nothing quiet , nothing satisfie nor fill up their want , no pleasure , nor enjoyment : If I say , My Bed shall comfort me , yet there he is met with , and affrighted : If I go up to Heaven , or down to Hell , or fly to the utmost parts of the Earth ; yet no where can he sit down for ease , but this spirit findes him out ; he can finde rest and satisfaction no where . Job hunts through all places , and searches the perfections of the choycest Creatures ; he findes the place of Gold , and a place for Silver , a place for Pearls and Treasures ; but yet all this is too short for the want : where is the place of Wisdom still ? He had tryed all things , and yet findes them wanting : Now many through idleness sit still , and will not take the pains to hunt thus ; they will not try whether the Creatures can content them or not : but ( saith David ) I have seen an end of all perfections ; I see that all things come to an end : When all means , and ways , and plots are proved out to the utmost , yet then the Soul is weary of all its labors , and cries out , Ye are all Physicians of no value , you cannot help me .

3. By this you shall know the Chosen Generation ; God is their utmost , their utmost Hope , utmost Proposal , the utmost thing of all his People : but he is not the utmost of others ; they follow Christ but for loaves : some base selfish thing or other is their highest : If they may have but what their hearts run after , they could sit short of God well enough : Give them ease , give them peace of Conscience , give them Knowledg , and great enlargements of spirit , and they have enough ; This contents them . I , but this Chosen Generation , give them what you will , nor Gifts , nor Parts , nor Enjoyments of the World , nor enlargements of Truth , no not Heaven it self ; to be saved would not be enough to them : but God is the utmost thing , the Center to which their Souls tend : To see the Kings face is their desire ; else what will their lives avail ? And this I would propose to you , Whether ever any thing thou mettest with in all thy life was enough to thee ? whether it was the utmost thing ? That thy Soul could sit down in ? No , sure I am , nothing can stop the cry of this Elect ; It cries night and day : when straitened , and when enlarged , still it cries . When Jacob had wrastled all the night with God , and now he says to him , Let me go , for the day breaks ; Is not that enough ? Will not the day [ the light ] content thee ? to know , and see , and be enlarged ? No , it will not : I will not let thee go unless thou bless me : He wanted a farther blessing yet . I would have you weigh the thing in your own Souls , whether it be thus or no with you ? and do not always stagger ; be not faithless , but beleeve .

4. This is another sign of this Chosen Generation , it always gathers and cleaves closest to them that are most excellent : All my delight ( saith David ) is with the Saints , and them that excel in vertue : It chooseth to come up to the foremost , to the worthies of Israel : Now others drozel away their time without any such aspiring desires : If they might but come to Heaven , and be saved at last , That were enough to them : They are not pressing on to the utmost mark , where the bullets are thickest , and the battel hottest , as this chosen generation do , according to that right minde that is planted in them : They long with Moses , if possible , that they may go over this Jordan ; they are ever crying out of their shortness : Jacob ( though Pharaoh reckon him an old man , ) yet he complains his days were few and evil , and that he had not reached the age of his fathers in their generations : I , but he would have reached the greatest attainment ; That which is of this stock presseth to the utmost mark , prizeth that Truth , that friend , that deals most plainly , nakedly , and exactly with it ; it chooses the wounds of a friend , and goes where the sword cuts sharpest : This cannot the Hypocrite ever endure .

5. This Chosen Generation have often still and secret hintings speaking within them , That they indeed are of this stock , that they do belong to God , how ever they are stopping the ear , and putting it off . Now the children of Hell they hunt and seek for such a voyce , that they may be cozened and deluded ; and the Devil he speaks peace to them , and they are given up to beleeve a lye : but the Children of God are followed and followed with such a secret whispering in their Souls , that rises up without their pumping ; nay , when they run from it , it speaks , Surely they are my people , they are my chosen ; I will be their God : Now either we are not sober , and so listen not to hear this voyce , or else we wilfully stop the ear , and run from it , ( for such a base temper is in man against his own good ; ) or else through ignorance the Soul runs wrong when it doth hear ; it goes to Eli , as Samuel did ; it runs to this , and the other thing , to know the meaning of it , because , as yet , it is said , Samuel knew not the Lord ; but the time comes the Lord will go on , and call , Samuel , Samuel ; so long , till all the chosen of God , that are called according to purpose , shall be made to hear , and own it distinctly , and say , Speak Lord , for thy servant heareth .

6. This chosen Generation , in their greatest transgressions , and iniquities when most guilty , and left to themselves , yet never find such a witness speaking in them , that they shall be cut off utterly for it ▪ Now to all the Cains , he will peak destruction for that very cause , a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be , because thou hast killed thy brother , and his blood cryes to me : therefore , thou art cursed , &c. but to his own he speaks no such thing , he shews them not their sin to destroy them , nor drive them from him , he hath a care of that in all his rebukes : So when Nathan was sent to shew David his great sin of Adultery , and murther , before he had well finished his charge , lest such a thought should seise on him , as if God would utterly cut him off ▪ He addes , ( 2 Sam. 12.13 . ) The Lord hath put away thy Sin , thou shalt not dye : He never says that word to the Soul of any of his own , Iniquity shall be your ruine ; that sin shall utterly separate , ( no saith Paul ) nothing shall be able to separate , nothing , not Principalities nor Powers of Hell , not the heights or depths of Sin , nothing shall seperate from that love of God , to whom that portion belongs : Now mind and consider , and attend , whither all along your Journy you find not such Leadings in your spirits , as these I speak off .

7. You shall know this Generation by this , whenever there is a heart in them to return , there is a heart in God to receive : He stands open and ready at all times , there are such breathings in the souls of his people , that witness this for him , and can set to their Seals , that God is true in this particular : that he is alwayes open hearted , and waits to be gracious ; Mind whether it be not thus with you , when ever your souls are in a sober frame , and you can speak truly , and not ( as Job saith ) the words of a man that is desperate , which are as wind , when ever you are your selves ( I say ) and sober ; see if there be not ever such hints , speaking in you , that God is ready continually ; he waits to receive , whenever you will come . At what time soever a sinner repenteth , &c. And if thou wilt return , O Israel , return to me : as if he should say , Go to no other : if thou wilt return , here is a heart open ; I am ready for thee : Return to me , O Israel . Now let none get up the words and shadow of this , that have not the substance ; that idol will ●ot stand , though never so often raised and held up by force , yet it will down : but you who are indeed the chosen of God , and loved of him ; if I shall ever live to see you brought out and delivered , you will know what I have said , and be my witnesses , how these leadings , have been all along your days with you ; However at the present it be the weak time with you , and hour and power of darkness , when fears , and jealousies , confusions , and doubtings have their time to rule . I , but what saith the Spirit still ? What speaks that seed of life ? Are not these stirring within ? Is there not an invisible and strange close in thy soul , when God and the Truth in thee meet ? When Joseph and Benjamin meet , what a kiss is there , and turning of Bowels ! Then again , dost thou not finde that all creatures are too short , all is weary to thee , no rest or content to be had there ; but there is a pressing on through all to the utmost point , to God himself , thy life and Portion ? Is it not thus ? And so for all the other Characters , are not these things so ?

Now if you have heard and believed this , You can surely witness to it . He that believs , sets to his seal that God is true : and till you shall set to your seals and believe this , That you are this chosen Generation , and your souls stand setled in it ; till then you can never enter into the Priests office , to go to God with boldness , to go in all straights ; no , we cannot go with that weak Prayer , Lord I believe , help my unbelief , till somewhat of this Faith be risen up , and stuck to by us . Why do we put it off any longer ? Why are not we now battered ? Why not this night ? What hinders ? If ever we begin , we must begin with this little grain , though there be but a dim seeing , but a half eye open . Yet the star must be followed , if ever we will come to Christ ; and the promise is , The eyes of them that see shall not be dim . Now it is a dim seeing indeed , now we see but darkly ; but however , if we did but stick to this dark seeing , then we might go and pray for a farther light , that it may grow cleerer and cleerer to the perfect day . But why are we so loth to believe that this good is intended us ? It is a wonderful unnatural thing in us . But well ; ( as Peter saith ) the long sufferance of God is salvation . Shall nothing hinder ? No gainsayings , nor longings ; but the long-sufferance will stand and knock , and wait out all , till it be our salvation ? This will one day be prized . There is a chosen Generation amongst you , that is certain : Now do you hear it ? Do you believe it ? When will you open the Door , and lay down all weapons , and say , Well ; I will never speak against the Lord more . But ( say with Job ) what I know not , teach thou me . It is sure you have been the bush in which the Lord hath appeared ; the fire , hath been trying and purging , and burning in you , and you are not yet consumed : but when will you turn aside to see this great wonder ? When lay it to your heart ? I must leave , and desire the Lord would give you understanding into what hath been said ; and above all , that you may not war nor fight against it in your minds ; but soberly inquire , Is this my lot ? Is this my Portion , to be one of this chosen Generation ? It will at last cause your souls to admire .

The Poor WISE MAN , And LITTLE CITY , Against The GREAT KING , And His BULWARKS . SERM. X. May 18. 1651. ECCLES. 9.14 , 15.

There was a little city , and few men within it ; and there came a great king against it , and besieged it , and built great Bulwarks against it .

Now there was found in it a poor wise man , and he by his wisdome delivered the city ; yet no man remembred the same poor man .

The Analysis .

FRom the words was observed :

I. The Lord ever had a Little City under the Sun . A People built together in Unity and Love .

In three respects compared to a City .

1 A City is for habitation : so God to dwell in his People . 2 It is a place of Free-Trading : so God will be free to trade in sorrows ▪ sufferings , inlargements ; What he pleaseth with his people . 3 It 's a place of safety : So God looks to be safe in his People , in his Name ▪ to be kept from reproach and sufferings .

II. This is but a Little city ▪ and that in three respects .

1 It makes but little noise in the world . Little notice of it . 2 Little in compare of many thousands left : But a small remnant . 3 Little , not easily seen , nor found , without a diligent search .

III. There are but few men in it .

Little or no help in it ; but a few men left , and they tremblers , unable to defend it .

Hence three things considered : 1 Few men in it , that no flesh might have to glory in saving it . 2 All is emptied out of the room , that God may dwell in it , and be seen — that the poor mans wisdome may appear . 3 Few in it , as no strength to withstand or keep off the lean enemy . Every Temptation and snare too hard .

IV. A great King comes against this little City , and builds Bulwarks : Great opposition from the devil . His Bulwarks are made of Earth : any thing that springs thence : knowledge , parts , zeal . Hopes these Bulwarks he can imploy to keep off the Truth .

V. In it is found a poor wise man , and he by his wisdom delivers the City .

Whence two things considered : 1 Where he is to be found : In the City , not out : the kingdom of God within you ; Christ in you , else reprobates . 2 How shall this poor man be known ? How shall you know whether Christ be in you ?

These seven signs were laid down of it .

1 If Christ be in you , the body is dead because of sin ; the man wholly convinc'd that sin is too hard for him . He cannot help himself .

2 Where Christ is , the soul cannot utterly despair ; it cannot be drowned . In the bottom of hell Jonah lookt toward the Temple .

3 There is ever a love to that which is of it 's own kinde : if God be your Father , you would love me ( saith Christ . ) Truth ever loves Truth .

4 Where Christ is , ever a light goes along to search and discover all the secret carriages and wiles of the enemy . He is a true searcher .

5 Where Christ is , He will never yield up this City though it cost his life : yet with the three children , we will not worship the golden image .

6 There is a secret looking after God , and expecting from him in the lowest day : never a whole giving up all for lost .

7 Where Truth is , It can look through all heaps and swarms of enemies to God : that he is still able to deliver , and who can tell but he may be gracious ?

ECCLES. 9.14 , 15. There was a little City , and few men within it , and there came a great king against it , and besieged it , and built great Bulwarks against it . Now there was found it , a poor wise man , &c.

IN the verses before , Solomon speaks of a strange Case , which is very contrary to Reason to believe , or see into ; vers. 11. I returned , and saw that the race is not to the swift , nor the battel to the strong , nor bread to the wise , nor yet riches to men of understanding , nor yet favour to men of skill : but time and chance hapneth to them all . None of these will carry through : by strength shall no man prevail , and the wisdom of this world is foolishness ; and as for Riches , they make themselves wings , and fly away . But well ( saith Solomon ) though all this takes not , this Wisdom , and strength , and riches , and skill cannot deliver men ; but they are taken in an evil net like the fishes , and snared like the bird ; Yet for all this there is a wisdom that will stand , there is a condition of deliverance to be attained . I saw this wisdom under the sun , and it seemed wonderful unto me . There was a little city , and few men in it ; and a great King came against it , and besieged it , and built Bulwarks against it ; and yet a poor wise man was found in it , and he by his wisdom delivered the City . This wisdom is indeed wonderful , and too high for a fool .

The words in themselves are a metaphor taken up by the Holy Ghost , by which he would express himself in things obvious to mans sense and reason , and humane capacity , and thereby lead the soul into the invisible minde , meaning and intent of Scriptures . For there is a hidden invisible meaning runs in all the Scriptures , which none can read , but those that buy eye-salve of Christ to anoint their eyes ; those who are taught of God , and led into the meaning of them by the same Spirit which once breathed them forth . The Scriptures are a deep Well , and none but men of understanding can draw it out : for all others the Well is too deep , and they have nothing to draw with ; they can by no means reach the invisible minde of Christ .

From the words , these things are observable :

I. That always the Lord had a little City under the Sun .

In all times he had his people , a City built together , where his Name lived : and this was the strait of all our Fathers in their day , to find this City of the living God ; They sought a City that had foundations , no other would content them . They left all other dwellings all other contents delights enjoyments ( wherein the world live ) chusing rather to wander in a wilderness , where there was no way , till they might come to this City of habitation ; they rested in no place : no condition , nor honour , nor pleasure could hold them , till they might come to this City , and sit down in their own house . — O when shall I come and appear before God! ( saith David ) Though he had a strong Army now with him , of the valiants of Israel , and they faithful and ready to venture their lives for him , through a whole host , yet he is at a strait for the Temple of God , for the place where the Lord dwelt , and his Name , and Power , and Truth lived .

There are many Cities in the world that are easily found . Cities of wisdom , and fear , and rest ; Cities of knowledge , and great enlargements ; but none of these will serve the true wanderers ; they seek a City from Heaven , whose builder and maker is God ; Where God dwels . And where doth he dwell ? Why ▪ where two or three are met together in my Name , there am I in the midst : Where Brethren live together in unity , where they be of one Heart , and one Soul ; Here , he hath commanded the Blessing , and life for evermore . This is Sion , ( saith God ) here will I take up my rest , I will dwell in it for ever .

Now in a City three things may be considered ,

1 A City is an habitable place ▪ where many dwell : 't is not like a waste Forrest , or barren Wilderness ; but a place of concourse and meeting of people . And thus are the people of God his City , where He dwells and inhabits , and all his train with him ; Peace , Love , Joy , Singleness , Hope , Meekness , &c. this City is full of inhabitants . It is said in the Proverbs , He dwelt in the habitable part of the Earth , and there dayly was his delight ; and he calls his people out of Babylon , Come out from amongst them , and ye shall be my people , and I will be your God . And again , I will dwell in them , and walk in them . They are his habitation , where he takes up his abode . Time was , when he came and went as a wayfaring man , that stays but for a night and is gone ; ( and thus he is now in many of your souls , he comes and goes presently ) but there is a time , and there are a people , when , and in whom , he takes up his abode ▪ in whom he settles ▪ never to remove more . Though he may lie in the bottom of the ship , lie covered up ▪ and buryed under sorrows and tryals ; yet he is still there : I will never leave thee , nor forsake thee ; that 's the Promise .

2 A City is a place of free traffique , where men may buy and sell freely without any molestation ( if they are made Free of the City ) trade where they will , and when , and in what they will , — Such a City hath God in his people ; such a freedom he hath to deal with them at his pleasure : Sometimes he will trade in tryals and sorrows , to bring forth the riches of the deeps beneath ; sometimes he will trade in chearings , inlargings , and revivings of Spirit . Sometimes Gold , and Silver , and Pearls come out to sale ; sometimes Camels Hair , and blue Silk , ( as he pleaseth ) but some trade or other is ever going on in his City . It is never left wholly desolate ; but he will be free to buy , and sell , and trade in what ever he pleaseth ; such a place as this he hath , where he is not bound in or to any thing ( as we would bind and limit him to our measure ) we will hear him so far , and come up to such a pitch , but not a jot further : therefore , we are not this City yet ; he dwells not so in us , ( though visits and passes too and fro often ) for the Spirit of the Lord cannot be bound , it will have liberty to stir and act at pleasure ; he will be free to binde and straighten , to loose and inlarge , to raise up or cast down , as he pleaseth ( and pleased he is , sometimes to run his dearest people through wonderful strange conditions and cases to shew his great power , and wisdom , and faithfulness in standing to , and recovering them out of all ) that he may bring forth all his rich wares , and make his Name manifest ; but he dwells not in any heart , where he hath not this freedom to trade in what he will , ( sorrows and afflictions , as well as inlargements and injoyments ) but in his own City he is free , there he can trade in what he will , and when he will , and how he will ; they always submit and say , Not my will , but Thine ; they ever justifie him , Good is the Word of the Lord ( and with Eli ) It is the Lord , let him do what seems him good .

3 A City is a place of safety and security ; it is expected a man may be safe from theeves and robberies there . Such a City are the people of God to his Name , and Honour , and Truth ; they are bound to secure them . It is expected by God , as Lot saith of the Angels that came to him ( when the wicked Sodomites pressed to the door to do them violence ) see how earnest he is , how he labours ? What will he not give to save them out of their hands ? Nay , take my two daughters , rather take all I have , onely let these strangers alone , disturb not them : For , for that very cause came they under my roof , that they may be safe . Where this City is indeed , what will not the soul venture to keep the truth alive and safe , that it suffer not ; and therefore the Church writes of Paul and Silas , that they were men which had hazarded their lives for the Gospel ; nay let all go , to keep this Name up . I count not my life dear ( saith Paul ) to finish this course with joy . Now the enemies great plot is , to kill this Name of truth , that the name of Israel may be no more in the earth ; that the devil and all his instruments aim at , to destroy it root and branch utterly ; but I have called you friends ( saith Christ ) therefore I can intrust you with all my minde and counsels ; you will be faithful , and not betray me , not deal as the men of Keilah , when David inquired of God , whether they would deliver him . I , they will ( saith God ) but these citizens will be more faithful ; they will not deliver up their David [ their King the Lord Christ ] they will die , rather then be false to the Lord . Such a City as this will God have , such a people he seeks , that will build him a sanctuary , where he may be safe out of all dangers , that will ( in deed , and not in word ) venture their lives and all they have for his Name . Oh that your souls were but taken ! that the desires and longings were but up in you , that you might be such a Citie to the Lord ; and sing as Israel did , when delivered thorow the Red-sea , And we will build him a habitation . Oh that such a minde were risen up , though but in two or three of you ; that any of you were brought forth to be such a City where God might take up his abode , and be free to do his own will ( whatsoever pleaseth him ) where he might dwell securely ; [ always a watch and faithful oversight to preserve his Name and Truth from suffering : ] Josephs watchfulness in all our ways ; crying out , when tempted to any thihg that is not right , How can I do this great evil , and sin against God ? How can I deal falsely with my Citizen , my King , that dwells in me , and hath committed himself unto me ? If you have indeed a minde to become a Citie for God to dwell in , you must first be a People compact together , and at unity in your selves [ a perfect union and close of heart ] as Christ prays , That they may be one , as thou Father and I are one : Such a neerness , and freedom , and communion with God , as John speaks of ; And truely our fellowship is with the Father , and with his Son Jesus Christ . And if we come not to this point [ to be such a Citie to him ] truely all our profession , and hearing , and gathering together , all will vanish into nothing : Nay , better had it been the Name of the Lord had never been called upon by us then that we should take his Name in vain ; which will be if we come to nothing after all ▪ if we have begun in the Spirit and should end in the flesh ; if make a shew ▪ and profession , and resolution to stand to his Truth and Name with our lives ; and then ( like the children of Ephraim who carried bowes ) shall turn backs in the day of battel ; this would be a taking of the Name of God in vain , if left , that any thing be too hard for us , and make us depart , and say , We will follow him no further .

2ly . Observe ▪ THIS CITY IS BUT A LITTLE CITY ; a little one ] and that may hint out these three Considerations .

1. Little , in that it makes no great noise , no bulk in the world ; no great notice is taken of it , ( but a poor obscure worthless thing it is looked upon to be ; ) and therefore 't is said of Christ , He shall not cry , nor lift up his voice in the streets . He makes no great bustle in the world , ( by power , and strength , and reason , and much talking to maintain his Cause ) but gathers to a corner amongst a few , a despised company of Publicans and Harlots , and blinde and lame , [ the abjects of the world ] and these he teaches , and opens the parable in private .

2. A little city , in compare of the many great and vast cities of the world , that make a mighty shew , and take up a large compass . They have multitudes on their side : ( they plead ) [ all the wise , and learned , and rational men in the world joyn with them . ] I , but this will not prove you to be the little City . The whole world ( it is said ) wondered after the Beast ; and the whole world lies in sin ; and it is a broad way that leads to destruction , and many walk in it : But it is but a LITTLE CITY where God dwells ; and therefore there is need to enquire into all your Preachings , and hearings , and huntings , and setlings down to any people abroad : Have we found the RIGHT CITY yet in all ? Men mistake , God hath not his kingdom in this world ; he hath not a multitude that will hold out to follow him , but fall , and fall away , as the multitudes that followed Christ did , till he came even to the twelve , and asks them , What , will you also forsake me ? Baals Prophets indeed they are many ; they are three hundred and fifty ; I , but the Lords Prophet is onely one despised Micaiah , and he never prophesied good to Ahab . If you seek this City indeed , expect it not in a multitude . What care , and designes , and plots are spoke of , to settle a whole kingdom , whole Churches and Congregations in a way of truth ! Alas ! when all is done that can be , you can get no gold but where it is , ( though you dig and dig never so in a wrong soil ) there is but a remnant when all is done : Though Israel be as the sand of the sea , yet but a remnant shall be saved , [ but a few ] if we hang never so on husbands , and wives , and children , and would carry all our friends a long with us , yet alas a parting must come , if they be not of that little Remnant .

3 A Little City , in that it is hard to be found : you must look wishly , or you 'll never finde it out : you can hardly spy the houses of this City , ( they lye so low ) unless your eyes be very good : you would never think this to be Christ : What , this Jesus ? The Carpenters son ? whose Father and Mother we know ? Is this he ? No , the world cannot find him , but two or three wise men that are led by a star [ here and there one ] a Philip , a Nathanael , a Peter ; they can truly say , We have found the Messias , he of whom Moses wrote ; but it is wonderful hard to spy him out , and therefore there is great need for you that are seeking this City , to be very careful where you pitch , and greatly to be jealous over your selves , and enquire again and again , that you may not be cheated , but meet with the true one ( for 't is wonderful hard to finde it ) and therefore see in what a posture the true seekers are , Jer. 50.4 . The children of Israel , and the children of Judah go together with weeping and supplication , and aske the way to Zion , with their faces thitherward . See how they are bent to the thing , and with what fear and earnestness they seek Zion ! Alas , if we finde not the true City , we are undone ! and the City is but Little . Many Cities indeed there are in the world [ Cities of silk , and purple , and scarlet ; of gold , and silver , and all precious wares , great hopes and confidences , and faith , and knowledge , and high words , &c. such Cities may easily be seen and found ] but if ever you finde this little City , you must have a new eye given you , such a one as Moses had , to see things that are invisible ; things that appear not at all here , but are a great way off , in another world , ( as Christ saith ) my kingdom is not of this world : and if you have not such an eye as this given you , ( seek , and enquire , and aske never so long ) you will never meet with the true Christ ; for he is not easily found ; It is not common Bread , to be had every where : you may indeed eat Manna , bread from Heaven [ Powers , and enlargements , and refreshings ] and yet die for all that ; your fathers eat Manna , and are dead : but now the true bread , the bread of life , that is hard to come by : to be saved indeed , to the utmost , that is another work . Here the multitudes fall off at this hard saying . Here are no full harvests to be expected ; but three or four berries on an uppermost bow , [ a few scattered gleanings after harvest , when the vintage is over ] and it is wonderful hard to spy them out , unless it be given you to understand the parable , unless your understandings be opened to see into the Scriptures , into them ] many read the letters ( see them without ) but cannot pierce into the Spirit and meaning of them . None can do this , but they to whom the new eye is given , none else can ever finde this City . It is so little a one , so clouded and covered over with reproaches , and scandals and meanness , 't is such a despised unthought-of thing . All the world never once dream that God is bound up in so little a compass , that he lives in such a little City . They plead , Is not God everywhere ? Is he not with us as well as with you ? No : He is indeed every where , but he is not seen everywhere , he is known in Zion ( that little City ) but all others , the great and learned of the world , see him not : they cannot see invisibly ; that 's nonsense , they 'll say . He is hid from the wise and prudent , and revealed to a few Babes . Therefore beware , and follow not a multitude to do evil : there is great need your whole souls and mindes should be intent and taken up in this thing , ( if indeed you have a minde to find it , and to live for ever ) that you may take no rest , nor give any sleep to your eyes , nor slumbering to your eye-lids , till you have found out this habitation for the God of Jacob. Need there is to keep your eyes fixed , and to go weeping and mourning , and asking the way to Zion , with your faces and hearts thitherward .

And thus two things in general have been opened to you . 1 That God for certain hath his City under the Sun , his people in the world : however the whole world lie in wickedness , and are lost , and run the several runs to destruction , yet he hath a remnant ; he hath reserved to himself seven hundred that have not bowed to Baal . In the days when Samuel was born , it is said , The Word of the Lord was precious in those days , and there was no open Vision ; and yet then God will have his Samuel . Hannah brings forth this man-child , this son , in stead of many sons : she that was barren hath brought forth seven , [ a compleat number , ] a remnant he will ever reserve . 2. It was considered this City was but a little one . 1. It makes no great noise nor stir in the world , ( it raises no Armies , nor makes Tumults to defend and enlarge it self . ) 2. Little indeed , if you consider the vast world , the great multitudes ▪ and many thousands , that fall short and perish : It is but a small cloud of a hands bredth , in compare to the whole Heavens . 3. But little , as being hardly seen and found : Many shall seek to enter , and shall not be able : And therefore there is great need ( were but your Souls sensible of it ) to cry out with David , O lead me and guide me in the way that I should walk , [ the way that leads to this City of Habitation . ] Now to proceed .

III. And but few men in it , &c.

The City is but little ; but that is not all , it is weak also : there is no might nor strength to defend it self , but few men in it : and therefore Paul cries out , O wretched man that I am , who shall deliver me ? &c. He felt how weak he was , and un●ble ever to deliver himself : And therefore there is nothing for any to glory in after the flesh ; for , Who made thee to differ ? There is no cause for boasting ; for none ever prevailed by strength , they obtained not the field by weapons of war : It is said of David , when He had slain the Philistin ; But there was no sword found in the hand of David : And he says of himself , I will not trust in my Bow , neither shall my sword save me : But he goes forth against the great Goliah onely in the Name of the Lord : and all the saved ones ever have and will cry out , Grace , Grace , Grace ; That must do all ; for this City hath but few men in it , and they are poor fearful tremblers , such as are ready to dye every moment , ( onely they are kept up by the chin , and not left quite to be drowned : ) but alass , for help to fight , and withstand an Enemy , little or none can be expected from them ! This poor wise man must do all , he must save the City by his wisdom , if it be ever saved ; it hath no help of it self .

1. Let none of you then , whom God hath favored , glory according to the flesh ; for there is nothing at all you have to boast in , there are but few men in the City , and they poor tremblers , not able for service : so that if this poor man do not the whole work in every one of you , ( use all your wits , and plots , and power , ) you will never be able to deliver this City .

2. But few men in it ; there was more once , but they wasted and wasted away , till but few left : Whence you may consider ,

Who ever are favoured of God to be his people , [ this little City ] He will certainly rout and rout out all the old Inhabitants , They shall not live quietly in it .

He will surely bring all the old Inhabitants down , all that is sprung from the Man or Devil , He will rout it out and thus is the great company within , the Wisdomes and hopes , and councels , the lustings and hunts of the heart , the fears and joyes , and love , all must be searched and fanned , and alas but a little will be left of the great bulk . There are but few men in it . The Poor mans wisdome could not appear nor be taken notice of ; if a multitude were in the City , they would take some of the work to themselves , but they must be turned out that it may appear his own arm brings Salvation , and none puts a hand to it .

3. But few men in it , not any considerable Partee to withstand an Enemy , especially such a Great King as comes against it ; no , alas they have no might to stand in any temptation if but an Alarum sounds , ( a rumor that an enemie is indeed coming to set down and besiege ) Oh what a strange uproar and trembling doth it cause within ! All the Wisdom and hope and faith and experience , how do all give back and are not able to stand to look the Enemy in the face without the Lord appear , and be Captain himself : whoever of you are indeed this City of God , you can witness how weak and unable you are to help your selves [ unstable as water not able to stand to it in the least Tryall ] there are but few men in it : and as Gehazi cryed out to Elisha when he saw the enemies round about the City , Alas , Master what shal we do ? so may we cry out indeed if we did but see the danger : For

IV. A GREAT KING comes against this little weak City , and besieges it , and builds great Bulwarks against it , &c.

This Great King is the same spoken of , cap. 4. Better is a poor and wise child , then an OLD AND FOOLISH KING that will no more be admonished , &c. In all Ages this old King [ the old serpent the Devil ] hath played these pranks against this little City ; he will never leave spitting his Venome and Poyson against the Truth to destroy it utterly , That the name of Israel may be no more . This Haman can have no rest , so long as Mordecai lives ; Poor Mordecai is an eye-soar , and troubles and disquiets this Great King ; and Gallows must be provided to hang Mordecai , and D crees sent out to destroy the whole Nation of the Jews for his sake ; nothing lesse will serve then an utter ruine . He will never be admonished ; this Old King will never take warning , though his plots have been again and again disappointed ; and he hath been taken in his own snare : yet he wi●l go on to besiege this little City ; to disturb , and perplex , and torment , and ( if possible ) destroy this little Remnant .

Now I have heard many say , that they never were thus troubled with the Devil , they thank God : He harms not them ; they never were under his temptations and torture , and cruell batterings : were they never troubled with him ? I , but this is an Argument ; they are a friend to him ; they live in his Kingdom , and there all is in peace , so long as he keeps the house ; but if you are ever brought out of the Kingdom of Darkness , into the Kingdom of Christ ; if you shall ever be gathered out of the great City Babylon , to this little Sion , this small remnant ; if ever plucked out of the world , then you shall feel him stirring : For this old Serpent hath ever from the beginning of the World been casting out his floods after the Truth ( if possible ) to drown and destroy that : and the neerer any of you shall be brought to God , be sure he will be the more busie ; you shall have the harder encounters and assaults from the D●vil ; you sh●ll then see he will raise his great Bulwarks .

But what makes he these Bulwarks of ? out of what matter doth he work them ?

Why , whatsoever is of the Earth , be it what it will , yet if it be but an earthly material , he can raise Bulwarks out of it well enough ; not onely out of gross earth , out of dirt and mire ; not onely out of lusts , sensual delights and pleasures ; but out of the finest earth , out of a golden myne he can do it : out of wisdom , and parts , and righteousness , and zeal , and hope , and faith , and what not ? that he cannot raise a Bulwark out of against the Truth . Paul had these strong Bulwarks fram'd in him against the Truth in Stephen ( when he was stoned to death , ) He was of the strictest way of the Pharisees , He walked according to his Conscience , He was as concerning the Law blameless ; and yet all these were made Bulwarks for the D●vils service . And therefore all your zeal , and forwardness , and love , which seems to be for God ; see whether the Devils bulwarks be not in all , to keep thee off from the Truth ; for he works himself strangely under ground , he hath strange wiles to cheat and cozen by , by knowledg of the Scriptures , by zeal , by forwardness to venture lives and estates for the Truth ( as we then think ; ) by these doth he s●●ly winde in , and raise his great Bulwarks : and if the Lord help you not , and deliver the City , he will soonest of all destroy you , where you think you are safest ; and so keep off all Truth from coming neer to touch ●ou : and therefore great need you should well minde and consider the sleights ; for he hath bulwarks of all sorts , shapes , and sizes ; Bulwarks of dirt , and clay , and mire ; they are strong enough to destroy some : Bulwarks of Gold , and Silver , and Pearls , ( if need be ; ) any thing that is but this Worlds material ( and that takes in a great compass ) he can make a Bulwark to save himself , and undo the Soul by . Good Lord ! what strange devices hath h● ! He 'l put a man upon zeal and forwardness , put him to give his goods to the poor , and body to be burned , and whatever you will , if so be under all this he may but make a Bulwark , and lurk behinde it to keep himself alive , and do a mischief to the Truth . Therefore there is need to consider what we lean on ; for if we are trusting , and hoping , and lightly promising our selves that God will sure help at last , and we shall be delivered when he pleases , ( and so rest in hearing and coming together , when nothing is done : ) I say , all these hopes and conclusions ( which we get up , to keep off the strait from our Souls , and get ease by . ) All these are but the Enemies Bulwarks , and certainly intended by him to destroy us : and if we be left to shrink away so , and neglect the Truth in our day , we may never be met with again , when the time is once gone : Sure the Lord is righteous , and will not let the guilty go free ; though ( as I told you the last night ) he is all Love and sweetness in himself , if we could but get in , to him , to his heart : now if we could go and meet him thus as a Father , and fall down and own our shame , how well were it ? Were it not better , then yet to stand out , and war , for the Enemy , against our Brother ? [ then to joyn with the Devil in his Bulwarks against the Truth ? ] for one of these hands we must needs fall into . But this is a hard case ( saith the Soul , ) Am I so liable to the Devils Bulwarks , and lie open dayly to all destruction and misery , and is there no remedy ? Yes , there is remedy ; There is Balm in Gilead .

V. In this City was found a Poor Wise man , and he by his wisdom delivered the City .

A POOR WISE MAN , a Jacob , a plain man ; no such cunning tricks and deceits as the Esaus have : and yet by his plain wisdom he can over-reach , and supplant , and go beyond , all the deep plots and cunning of this great King : How soon was Paul stopt in the midst of his run , when he drove furiously for the Devil ! Saul , Saul , why persecutest thou me ? Not any great weapons are used , but a wise word whispered into his Soul , and that turns all , and strikes the great Champion down to the Earth : So Abigail comes to David , but with a wise word , a soft answer ; and how doth it prevail , and prevent the great destruction intended against Nabals house ? It is but a word , and the stream is turned : I come against thee ( said David to the great Goliah ) in the Name of the Lord : No more but so ; That Name is enough against the great Gyant and all his armor : but a word , Why persecutest thou me ? and that is enough to strike down the stoutest heart in the World , if it be but set home ; What , dost thou fight against God ? Art thou able to stand in his hands ? Alass , what dost thou do ! Dost thou war against I AM ? Thou and all Creatures [ all thy strength , and hope , and plots , all the forces in which thou trustest ] ARE NOT , and wilt thou fight against I AM ? ( He that Is strength and Power , and with a word can crush thee to nothing . ) Such a word from this poor wise man is able to overturn and shake down all the great Bulwarks of this great King : But the rumor and noise of a barly loaf is heard , and ( this wise man can so order the matter ) it shall skare and undo a whole Army .

Now for you that are indeed besieged by this great King , against whom he hath raised his strong Bulwarks , and fills your ears alwayes , with desperate rumors , and hot alarums of ruine and destruction , and possesses your Souls with strange fears and perplexities , and sinkings ; Alas , what a sad case are you in , if you now are to seek and know not whether this poor man be in you , or no , who alone by his wisdom can deliver the City !

These things will surely bring you to a strait ( when seised upon your hearts ) to consider , 1. That for certain , God hath a City , a people in whom he dwells . 2. this is but a little one , and hard to find . 3. There are but few men in it , [ Little help to wage war and defend it ] 4. A great King comes against it , and besieges and builds great Bulwarks against it , all in appearance makes to destroy it : he raises all his forces , ( Gebal and Ammon , the Philistines , with them of Tyre , the Ishmaelites , and Hargarens ) all the Legions of Hell will be sure to have a throw at this City : and now here will be the strait , whether this poor wise man be in thee , or no ; if he be not there , it is impossible thou shouldst ever deal with this great King , and his Powers , they will surely undo thee ; but if thou canst find the wise poor man in the City , if thou lightest on him , happily he may help thee by his wisdom ; he may find out some wyle or other to draw this great King out of his Bulwarks , and if he can but cast him out , the unclean Spirit shall then enter no more , if he can but draw him forth out of the City , out of his Bulwarks , then he will soon spoil the strong man of his Armor and deliver the City .

Bu● truly wonderfull it is , that ever man or woman , should be saved , since the fall of man ! such is the ma●●gn●●y and strength of this enemy , and such the mans weakness , and utter incapableness to help himself : All are against Truth , be what they will , they all agree against the Lord and his Christ , a great Councel is held , and great resolutions neither to eat nor drink , till they have slain Paul , [ till this City be destroyed ] but well , there is yet hope in Israel , in it was found a poor wise man , &c.

Whence I would consider these two things .

1. Where this poor wise man is to be found ? And that is in it in the city [ in the man , in thy soul ] now shift it not off , and say , who shall go to heaven , to fetch him thence ? or go down to Hell , to bring him thence ? but the word is nigh thee , It is within , ( if it be at all ) The Kingdom of heaven is within you , the poor wise man is in this City , else it can never be saved by him .

And this might shew the great vanity of peoples thoughts , who look for the Kingdom of God to come by observation , they think to pull it to them , by their huntings , and seekings , and endeavorings , and strivings ; no , ( but if ever it be to be had ) it is within thee ; truth is to spring out of the Earth , the seed is there already , that seed of God , onely the spirit goes forth to unlock and open the ground , that it may get out , when it pleased the Father , ( saith Paul ) To reveal his Son in me , &c. He was there before , only now is revealed and made manifest , but

2. How then shall you know whether this poor wise man be in you or not , [ whether Christ be there or no ] It is not every one that saith , Lord , Lord , that shall enter , many have good words , and can learn the language of truth , ( as a Schollar learns Lattin ) by road , but it is not their own , it is not their mother Tongue in which they were born , they have not a root in themselves ; and so the seed soon withers .

How then shall we know it , whether Christ be in us , or not ?

1. If Christ be in thee , the body is dead , because of Sin , [ the Humanity is certainly convinced , that he cannot help himself , nor ever deal with this Enemy ] the man is cut off from ever getting life at his own hands , but he cryes out , O wretched man that I am , who shall deliver me ! &c. that is the first work of Christ , where ever he is in any Soul , to be ever stopping and curbing and snibbing the man , in the vain runs , and promises of his heart ; he sets a flaming Sword , that man may not put forth a hand to reach to the Tree of Life , and as Job says , He seals up the hand of every man : He shuts up , and there is no opening : Now many are wearied , and wearied , by their own labours , because they see nothing come out of all , and so their hearts dye , and are weak to go on in their old way , but yet truth hath not cut them off : Thou hast wearied thy self in the greatness of thy way ( saith God ) yet hast thou not said , there is no hope , hope lived still in all this ; I , but Christ , when he works , cuts off all hope , from man ever to deliver himself , The Body is dead because of Sin , &c.

2. Where Christ is , though the man would dye , and sink and give up all , and again , and again , run to despairing , yet he cannot , it is impossible to drown this truth ; cast it where you will , it will swim , and get above , this seed of Life cannot quite dye , Thou holdest our souls in Life ( saith David : ) and again , thou holdest me fast behind , and before ; he can get out no wayes , [ he can neither promise himself deliverance , nor yet conclude destruction ] such a strange bond holds the Soul : and I would now seriously enquire of some of you , ( in whose souls the truth is ) whether ever you could say soberly in all your lives , you were utterly cut off , and there was no hope in God for you , for as it is impossible to bring up others to this close cleaving , and hanging upon truth ( though they seem never so high , and confident , and nail their God never so sure , yet he will fall ) so impossible is it to kill this Spark of Life , where-ever it is ; but it will hope and cleave , and look towards God , though it be in the bottom of Hell , &c.

3. ( as Christ saith to the Jews ) If God were your Father you would love me , for I came from God ; so I say , if Christ be in thee , thou canst not but love Christ , ( that of thine own kind , wherever thou findest it ] as Paul says , we cannot do any thing against the truth , but for it , though the heart would be spurning and shrinking away , saying , he is a hard Master , yet where this Spirit of Christ is , it will joyn to his own ; the heart will be taken with him , and cannot get off quite to leave him .

4. Where Christ is , He is a searcher , he discovers al the inward , and secret workings , all the plots , and stratagems of the Devil , that all are but to destroy , the soul is made to take notice of the secret carriages of things within , it sees all the Train of his wyles and tricks , and inventions how they are laid , and how they work and whither they tend , the world is blinded in all , they see no danger , they know not whither they go , but Christ he is a divider in the souls of his People : he will not believe every good word and fair promise that the enemy may make ; Master save thy self , and cause these stones to be bread , no , but he will weigh and try what runs in all , he will not take all for gold that glisters , though you speak never so good words , and fair promises , and all seems right , yet the Spirit of Christ , where it is , will try and examine whence it comes , from what root all spings , whether from heaven or hell ? &c.

5. Where Christ is , he will never yield up his City , though it cost him his life , he wil stand to his charge what ever comes on it ; as the three children answer , though our God should not deliver us , yet ( this their souls are resolved in ) we will not fall down and worship the golden Image : what ever it cost , yet they cannot turn to a Lie to worship an Idol , Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of Dragons , and covered us with the shadow of death , yet cannot we lift up our hands to a strange God &c. though the Soul may be taken , and carryed Captive by force , yet where Christ is , it still breaths with Paul , but with my mind I serve the Law of God [ I chuse not this Service , though halled to it ] it is the burthen it cryes under , that is certain , it cannot go backward , though it cannot get forward neither , though made to yield and say well : this is your hour , and the power , of darkness , yet the soul consents not , it will not fall down and worship an Idol God Jacob will not go back again to Labans service , what ever comes on it , though Laban pursues behind , and Esau meets him be-before , and God seems to leave and discouraged him , yet he will wrastle it out with God , and never give over without the blessing .

6. Where ever Christ is , though the Soul be never so low in the bottom of hell , yet there is a strange looking towards God , out of the belly of hell , ( saith Jonah ) I looked toward thy holy Temple , where truth is sown in the Soul , it cannot but look thither ward [ towards God ] bind it , and fetter it , and keep it down , and sh●ke it as you will , yet it will never leave turning , and turning , and looking thither ward , as the Needle ever bends towards the Northpole . I remember in my lowest day , ( and it was low indeed ) when all appeared as if I were quite lost , and should sit down in Hell for ever among the damned , yet I said in my Soul , sure I shall love God th re , I sh●ll ●p ak something well of him , amongst all that cursed and hatefull crew , such a strange turning God ward is there in the worst of times .

7. Where Christ is though all enemies beset it , though all the Legions o● Hell and darkness , of fears and doubttings come about it as a swarm , yet the Soul is able to look beyond and through all to a Deliverance , that it is yet possi●le , it says still well , y●t if he will deliver , he is able ; th●re is a strange , long , Prospective Glass , by which the Soul looks beyond all Seas , and Mountains , and impossibilities , and fears , and sees the Land that is very far off , [ the good Land of rest , and Peace ] and says well , if the Lord delight in us , he will bring us thither , he is able still , who can tell but he may be gracious ?

Sure , if the Lord Christ , that Poor Wise Man be in you , you cannot but savour , and understand these words , you will know the Language , and though not able to express them plainly , yet , you cannot but know and feel these Leadings in your Souls .

It would now follow to speak of the Deliverance what way he takes , how he delivers this City from the great King ? and that is not by force nor might , nor multitudes , but by his wisdom , by a sleight , that great Goliahs head is presently taken off by a wyle , an unexpected way : If thine Enemy hunger , give him meat ; who would think this was the way to destroy him : Yet this is the way he takes , he gives the Enemy his Will , [ lets him take his own course , and run out his run , thus he feeds him till he be insnared in his own net , and so taken ] This can the Poor man do by his Wisdom , but I would wish none of you to take it in hand , 't is too hard for you to put your hand in the fire , and not be burnt .

Mans Backwardness TO THE Lords House , OR The Little Good-will to Truth . SERM. XI . May 25. 1651. HAGG. 1.2 , 3 , 4 , &c.

Thus speaketh the Lord , saying , This people say , The Time is not come , the Time that the Lords House should be built .

Is it time for you , O ye , to dwell in your sieled , houses , and this house lie waste ? &c.

The Analysis .

THese general things were observed from the words .

I. What this house of God was ? and what it typed out ?

It was a house built and separated to the Worship of God , typing out the uniting of a people into one heart and soul , where God may dwell .

II. Why will God have this House built ?

For three Reasons .

1. To be a Pattern of the Life to come , where all live in Love and Peace . 2. To be a standing place of Worship , whither the Tribes go up . 3. For a Witness , to condemn the World in all their false ways .

III. What are the Materials of this House ?

1. Not of all , but onely living stones , such as will abide , in whom the spirit of life is sown : A living Dog is better then a dead Lion . 2. In this House are to be vessels of all sorts , and all for their proper use ; none in vain , none unfruitful .

IV. Why do they plead , It is not time to build this House ?

For these three Reasons .

1. From their ignorance ; They knew not that all their blastings , and mildews , and curses came for want of this : This is our case . 2. From love to their ease ; easier to sit still at home , then go up to the mountain for wood to build : The heart loves to be at ease . 3. Fear hinders , because yet they were under Tribute to the King of Babylon , and the work once hindered ; and so now sit down , and will not venture .

V. Consider the Miseries that follow them for not building ?

They sow much , and bring in little ; clothe them , and were not warmed ; earn much , but all put into a bag of holes ; a curse in all their ways , vers. 6 , 9. This applyed to the present desolation upon us , it being impossible for us to prosper without joyning in to be a one People .

VI. The Priviledges considered , which accrue to them that set hand to this work : They are these four .

1. God promiseth , Vers. 8. to take pleasure in it : This is a great Priviledg . 2. Vers. 13. he says , I am with you ( saith the Lord : ) His presence goes along . 3. He promiseth , Chap. 2.19 . From this day will I bless you : A sure blessing follows . 4. He promiseth Zerubbabel , Vers. last , I will make thee as a signet , &c.

In which three great Priviledges considered .

1. A Signet hath a neer relation to the hand ; so He to the Lord . 2. A Signet carries a mans own Arms , or some memorable thing in it . 3. It is to ratifie and confirm things , to make sure ; such an honor , and great priviledges are promised to such as shall set upon this work .
HAGG. 1.2 , 3 , 4 , &c. Thus speaketh the Lord , saying , This People say , The Time is not come , the Time that the Lords House should be built , &c.

SEveral things I would mention to you out of this Scripture : 1. I would open what this house is , that God complaineth lieth waste . 2. What this house is to be built up of ? of what materials ? 3. Why do they plead , It is not time to build the Lords House yet ? What Reasons have they for it ? 4. What misery comes upon them for neglecting this work ; a blast and curse follows in all their ways : They prosper in nothing they set a hand to , because of this . 5. I would open the great benefits and priviledges that follow upon the beginning to set to this work of building God a house , how wonderfully they are prospered , and blest , and preserved ; what strange ways God findes out , and turns all things that were contrary , to help forward his work : The Heaven shall hear the Earth , and the Earth hear the Corn and Wine , and the Corn and Wine shall hear Israel : God will turn and order all things for a Blessing .

I. WHAT IS THIS HOUSE THAT LIETH WASTE , AND WHAT TYPES IT OUT ?

Time was when God had his Vine in Egypt , his people were in slavery and bondage in a strange Land , till their tasks grew too heavy , and they cry out under their cruel bondage , till at last the cry comes up to Heaven , and the Lord can bear no longer , but breaks out , I have seen , I have seen the afflictions of my People Israel : and so he sends to deliver them with a high hand and stretched out arm , by strange signs and wonders , against all the opposition and rage of their Enemies . Now when he had brought them through the red Sea , and by a visible miracle drowned all their Enemies , and saved them with a great Salvation ; then their hearts were taken , and they sing his praise , and in their song they make this promise , And we will build him an HABITATION : and this was never accomplished till Solomons time ; Though it was in Davids heart ( and God took it well that it was in his heart , ) yet Solomon was pitched on by God for this work ; He shall build me an House : and here God placed his Name , and his Worship , and his Presence ; here he dwelt , here he would be sought and enquired of ; Hither the Tribes came up : here their prayers were made and answered &c. But after they came once to make an evil use of this House , to serve their lusts and own ends ( contrary to what God had intended it , ) when they come to cry . The Temple of the Lord , the Temple of the Lord , and vainly rest on that outside , and make an Idol of it , as they did of the brazen Serpent in the wilderness ; then God departs from this House , and gives it into the hand of the King of Babylon , who makes havock of all , and lays it waste , and carries away the vessels of the Lords House into Babylon , and breaks all their way and worship in pieces : But yet still the Lords minde goes on , and is the same ; he is upon it still , to have a House built for his Name and Worship to live in ; and to this purpose he turns the heart of the King to make proclamation of Liberty to the people to return , and gives them encouragement and supplies to farther this work ; but they no sooner set to it indeed , to begin and lay the foundation , but there are Enemies appear , and great opposition is made , so that the work ceased and was layd aside , till a new stirring arises , and God sends Haggai and other of the Prophets to put them upon it , to build this House , after it had lien waste many years , ( for the people were now brought out of Babylon , and dwelt in their own Land , ) but they let the time slip and pass over , and had no heart to the work , though they might have built it ; and this is parallel to our condition , that linger and trifle away time , and put it off , though an opportunity be given us again and again , and we are often called , and invited , and entreated to set on this work of building the Lords House , [ to become a one-hearted people , no more to serve our selves , but one another . ]

II. But WHY WILL THE LORD HAVE A HOUSE BUILT ? a set place of Worship ? Why will he not leave his Worship to be performed in any place where men please themselves ?

For these three Reasons .

1. That this house might be a pattern of the Life to come , a type of the Heavenly Jerusalem , where they are all to live in love , and peace , and unity ; to be all of one heart and one soul , moving from one principle to one end , without jars , and scatterings , and wranglings ; for in the life to come it will not be as 't is now with us , every one living for , and to our selves , and at a distance and loose end from all others : But there the morning stars all sing together , without jars , and envyings , and an evil eye ; there is a peaceable life , a Kingdom of love and peace ; and this God would have a pattern , a rude draught of , in this World , a people brought into some order and conformity of spirit , answerable to the Kingdom to come ; He would have somewhat here of that union and agreement of Soul , of that love to care for one another , and bear one anothers burthens ; to honor , and serve , and prize one anotehr , and all in love . Paul had a taste of this life , He became a servant to all , that he might save some : and Christ pleased not himself ; and David cries out , O how I love thy Law , and the place where thy honor dwells ! This life to come was pointed out by this outward Temple ; and all its beauty , and garnishings , and curious works , all was to express what a life is to be attained , a life of Glory , and Freedom , and Peace ; a life free from all snares and bonds of World or Devil .

2. God will have a House built , that there may be a certain set way of worship , a place whither the Tribes may go up , the Tribes of the Lord ; that every man go not on rudely , in a conceited preposterous way , according to the thoughts of his own heart : Thou shalt not worship in every place which thine eyes shall see , but in the place which the Lord shall choose to place his Name therein : As there is but one God , and one Truth , and one Hope ; so he hath appointed but one way ; set down one order and rule for all , and not left men rudely to the rangings and rovings of their own vain thoughts and conceivings , ( as all the world now take up ways of Religion according to their own imaginations : ) but he hath a Zion , a House of prayer , a Temple , where Brethren live in unity , joyn with one heart and soul in offering spiritual sacrifices , and there will he be found ; There he hath commanded the blessing , and life for evermore . Why could not David worship God as well in the wilderness ? Was not God there ? ( As many now plead , Why , is not God every where ? and may not we serve him where ever we will ? ) But David cries out , and is at a great strait , to see the glory of God in the Temple , no other place would serve him : And why was all Israel once every year to come to this temple to worship ? What was the meaning of it , think you ? You 'l say perhaps , the Law is gone and abrogated : Well , but what was the end and substance of the Law ? That stands still ; Christ came not to destroy the Law , but fulfil it : to bring about the End of God , the thing typed out by the Law . Now ( as 't is said of Israel ) That the vail was upon their hearts , that they could not see to the end of the Law when Moses was read : So this hidden end none can reach , but to whom God shall open the Parable : but this was the end the Temple pointed to , to shew that God then had , and ever would have , an orderly , and quiet , and sober way of worship , in a people joyned together , and made up into one heart and one soul , and they to worship in spirit and in truth , according to his ordering and appointment , as that unction received shall teach , and not according to mans conceits , thoughts and imaginations .

3. He will have a House built to be a spectacle and standing witness to condemn the world by : For now , who will not say , that God is to be worshipped ? I , but they worship after their own heart and devices ; according to the number of their Cities , so are their gods , [ as every one conceives , and makes a shape of worship in his own thoughts : ] But who knows the minde of God in all their worship ? Who joyns in , to this Body of Christ , the true Temples where the Holy Ghost dwells , and spiritual services are performed to God ? It is said in the Acts , Of the rest durst none joyn , but they magnified the people ; the way was too strict : I , it is the greatest Circumcision in the world to mans will , to joyn in here , to be a member of this building ; it calls for a whole giving up of a mans own wisdom , his own will , his own interests ; no stone in this House must lie loose from another ; [ no Soul live apart to it self , and for it self , but all in love to serve one another : ] and this will condemn all the ways and joynings of men in the worship of God ; for they all live as Lords , love and seek themselves in what ever they do ; they cannot endure to come up to such a joyning , and such an order , where no Self may live : Though many enter into Church-orders , and Church-fellowship , yet alass , there is no true life nor spirit in it ; they still live loose , as Lords , and Rulers , one over another ; there 's no walking in love , and meekness , and patience to serve others , and deny themselves . But in this building there is a mutual help and supply in love , every member says to another , I have need of thee : The foundation lies lowest ; I , but it bears up the whole building : and what would the foundation be but lost rubbage , if not built upon , and joyned to , the rest of the House ? All minister and help , receive and give honor to other , and say , For they are worthy . O the peaceable Life that is to be attained ! But we are far short of it , at a great distance from that uniting , from that supporting , that serving , that prizing , and seeing the need each of other . We are brought together indeed , but live like loose stones , scattered and alone , and prize not the mercy given us , nor make use of it : and this is the reason we prosper not , but a blast follows in all : we sow much , and reap little ; we labor , and strive , and tug again and again , but nothing comes of it : we cannot , nor shall ever be able of our selves to withstand the Devil , and lusts , and entanglements , till we are brought to be a one people , to receive help from one another ; this is the way and ordinance of God , and here he hath commanded the blessing . If we were but once made naked and open-hearted to one another , in our tryals and temptations ; Oh how wonderfully might we be strengthened against the Enemy , and helped on in our way ! and this would clearly condemn the world , who in their own Consciences know they are not built up into a one-hearted people , [ singly , and truly , and heartily to serve one another in love and peace , not seeking themselves in all . ] But how we linger ? and the building of this House is neglected ? I remember the motioning and stirring to this work was up in some hearts at least twenty years since ; but the Bishops they got up , and crushed all the tender buddings , that the work ceased ; and since this Parliament , the Lord hath graciously procured Liberty to be proclaimed , a door open for this work , and many have begun to build , but they prove Houses of their own invention and contrivances ; not the Lord House : but we that are surely called and invited to it , and that of God , both from stirings within , and a call without , we make no use of the opportunity offered , but plead , It is not time to build the Lords House , because we have no heart to the work , &c.

Thus I have shewed the Reasons why God will have a House built : 1. That there may be a standing place of Worship , whither the Tribes may go up , where all may meet and agree together in one heart and way . Daniel , though he be in Babylon , yet opens his window , and looks towards Jerusalem in his prayers ; and when they sat by the rivers of Babylon , they wept , and remembred Zion : they called to minde the worship , the services , the solemn assemblies , where God had walked , and been seen , and found by them ; and the remembrance of this enforceth tears , being now deprived , being now in a strange Land , out of this enjoyment . Alass ! if we belong not to this City , this Habitation of God , if not a stone in this building , it had been good for us we had never been born , for without are Dogs . Then again , this House is to condemn the world ; let men be never so wise , and strict , and religious , yet if they live alone , [ keep all close , and live to themselves , ] the world will never be judged and convinced by this , but a spirit of love and union to serve another , and deny my own will ; as 't is said of Christ , He pleased not himself ; and Moses chose afflictions with the people of God : and Paul , though he was free from all , yet made himself a servant to all ; he made himself a servant , he chose the service , it was his joy to serve others : And no man ( saith Christ ) takes my life from me , but I lay down my life for my sheep : And if we shall ever be brought to this , to forsake and willingly give up all our enjoyments , and liberties , and enlargements , and choose afflictions , choose to bear anothers burthen , though I am free ; when we shall be glad to be counted worthy to suffer for the Name of Christ ; when we might have ease , liberty , and honor , and pleasures , yet to say , Farewel all : Friends , life , and liberty , farewel all , you are nothing to me ; neither count I my life dear , in compare of my God , my Truth , my Brethren , that I may serve in this work , and help to build this house This , I say , wil condemn the world ; their consciences accuse them , that this mind is not in them , they live not this life of love and union . There are many that cry for corn , and wine , and oyl ▪ [ enlargements and flourishings in the Truth , ] but all is for themselves , to feed their own bellies : but all this is too short ; this is but fruit that may be shaken : a mans Soul may be lost for all this , and the House of God lie waste . But next ,

III. Consider , WHAT WILL GOD HAVE THIS HOUSE BUILT OF ? WHAT ARE THE MATERIALS OF IT ? All that come are not the Materials ; No : though they make a fair shew , though wise , and honorable , and great in the eyes of men , yet this is not enough ; this House must be built .

2. Of living stones , stones that wil abide and endure , not soon rot and putrifie : Better is a living Dog , then a dead Lion . Not every one that makes a great shew , and comes to hear , and seems forward , No , no , onely such which have this spirit of life in them , to keep them from stinking and corruption , to make them lasting stones , they are the materials for this house ; all others will fall off in a day of tryal . There were many followed Christ into Jerusalem , when in his triumph , and Hosanna was sung before him ; but very few that went out of Jerusalem with him , that follow him to Golgotha , to his Cross ; No , none but a few pickt and chosen stones that have a spirit of life to make them last and endure : no others are for this building , but such as the Lord shall choose to it , whom he takes out of many ; David was chose out of all his Brethren , he was a fit stone for the use , a man after Gods own heart , he loves Truth in the inward parts ; and this mind he sees in David , and him he pitcheth on ; such a company of choyce stones will he have for this house , a chosen generation of lasting stones that may make a Tabernacle never to be pulled down more , never to be lost ; The gifts and calling of God are without repentance : such ●s God chooseth for materials of this building , are such as are never to be lost and thrown away ; No man can pluck them out of my Fathers hand ( saith Christ : ) not such a dead stone as Saul proved , when the spirit of life was taken from him , he mouldred away , and came to nothing ; but living stones : a stable , enduring , and fixed spirited people he looks for , that are not ever hanging , and waving , and reeling to and fro in their minds ; but such as are tryed stones , and will endure the storms ; not like Ephraim , who being armed , and carrying Bows , yet turned their back in the day of Battel . Then ,

2. Consider , In this House are to be vessels of all sorts and sizes , some to hold less and some more ; some to receive much , and to give out , and supply , and fill up others : He will have vessels for every service , and every use ; none are to be barren , but all useful and helpful to one another : and therefore the thing is weighty , and need we should consider it , and lay it to heart ; for he will not build his House of any rubbage , but onely of living and tryed stones : And then all are to be of use , all the vessels of his House are for his own service ; they are not to be looked on , and baubled with , and made to serve our wills and lusts . Remember what befell the King Belshazzar for venturing to call for the Lords vessels to make up his mirth and jollity , the hand-writing appears on the wall , and makes him tremble . 'T is dangerous trifling in weighty matters , God will not be mocked . But next consider ,

IV. WHY DO THEY PLEAD , IT IS NOT TIME TO BUILD THE LORDS HOUSE ?

What Reasons have they ? These three .

1. Their Ignorance hinders : Thence their pleadings come , It is not time to build , &c They knew not that the blastings and Mildews , and curse that followed them in all their wayes , was because this house lay waste ; they were ignorant whence all this evill befell them , they enquired not into it , Lord , what is the meaning of the hand against me ! Why go all things thus contrary ? Why prosper I not in any thing I take in hand ? They knew not this was the cause of all : Ye looked for much , and it came to little , and when ye brought it home , I did blow upon it ; why ? saith the Lord of Hosts ? because of mine House that lies wast , and ye run every man to his own house , Vers. 9. and so on . And this is a great block in our way , our ignorance ; we enquire not , why am I so barren and desolate , and perplexed in all my wayes ! Why goes all so cross to me , & I meet with nothing but troubles , and fears , and tormenting thoughts ? Alas , it is because we live Scattered alone , and follow our own Counsells , our own wills are our own guides , and rulers , and come not to build the House of the Lord [ to be counselled and ordered , and appointed there : ] Hence is all our misery .

2. Love of their ease hindered : it was a great deal an easier way to sit at home in their own ceiled houses , then to go up to the Mountain , and cut wood down , and bring , and hew , and square it to build the Lords House ; and who would indeed choose to venture to leave all , to give up all , ease and rest , and peace , and enjoyments , and instead thereof to take up troubles , and sorrows , and afflictions ? Oh no , the heart shrinks from this : here comes in , Spare thy self , Master ; and therefore we plead it is not time yet , because it is a trouble and perplexity to the man to set upon this work , it puts him beside his cushion ; he must be sure , if he begin to build the Lords House , to meet with opposition and contradictions from within , and from without , from the world , and from the Devill : The more we shall stir to get out of his Kingdom , the more will he stir and rage , and cast out his floods to destroy : what have our Fathers gone through in this work ? what strange miseries , and sundry sorts of death , as you may see Heb. 11. What did Paul suffer ? hunger , and nakedness , perils by sea , perills by Land , perils amongst false brethren , stripes , and Imprisonments ; and now who will endure this that can avoyd it ? who will choose afflictions ? Mans heart will ever plead , it is not yet time , because it loves Ease , and would never see sorrow . But

3. Fear hinders them : They were yet under tribute to the King of Babylon ; they were not yet quite freed from their foes , they had once begun to build and were hindered , and curbed in the work , and therefore now fear gets up , and they will venture no more , having been once crushed , and still remaining under the same enemies : this seems a just cause to plead , it is not time ; and thus the heart reasons , Have I not tryed , again and again , and been stopped and prevented , and beguiled by the Enemy , and am I not still in , his hands ? and if I stir , I shall soon be met with , and pulled back again : and here the heart slugs and lingers , and thinks it hath cause to fear , and keep off : but Jordan never parts , till the Priest first ventures to set his foot in it : there must be a venturing through all lets , and rubs in the way , if ever we think to come to any thing , and see , when they do but begin , and set upon the work , how they are prospered , and all makes for them , which before might seem impossible ; and are not these the true reasons we keep off from the work ? are we not ignorant , that this is the cause of all our misery ? are we not loving our ease ? are we not fearing our enemies , and so give it over , and plead , it is not time , &c. But consider ,

V. WHAT MISERIES FOLLOW FOR NOT BUILDING THIS HOUsE ?

A curse and a blast follows in all their undertakings , do what they will , yet nothing prospers ; as it is with a man in a deep consumption , let him eat what he will , though never so good and choice diet , yet his Stomack spoils all ; It turns it into ill humours to maintain the disease , till the root of his sickness be taken away : and so is it with us , notwithstanding all our mercies and opportunities afforded : meat is set before us daily , daily are we waited upon , and called , and instructed , and counselled , yet how do we still waste and consume ? we thrive not in all , but wax leaner and leaner , we come and hear , and listen sometimes , and swallow down a great deal , but alas all is spoiled by a bad stomack ! we spend all upon our Lusts , we love to live alone , by our selves , at our own Wills , and Counsells , and Wisdom , we are not subjected , yet in our souls to come to build this house of the Lord , to live in Love and Counsell and order one with another , &c. and this is the moth that eats and destroys , and will destroy all our good , if the Lord prevent not : thus I have spoke to you what this House is , why God will h●ve it built , and of what materialls : and then the Reasons why the people plead , it is not time , and the misery that follow this neglect : and now in a word I would speak to that , who they are that are chiefly guilty in this thing ?

I cannot so charge you all of being thus guilty , but there are chief Heads who are called to this work , and they are to lay the first stone : the cloud must first remove before the people can journy : and in that great sin of taking strange wives , for which Ezra pull'd off his hair , and sat astonished on the ground , 't is said , the Princes and rulers , they were the chief in this thing , they lead on the rest by a bad example , they are the sinners , such as were bidden to the feast , and yet refuse to come , and make excuses , they are the sinners . Now are you all bidden & called out to build this house ? no , I know , it cannot yet touch nor lie upon all your Consciences , that this house is not built , but the Princes and Leaders , such as have been called both from a word without , and a stirring within their own spirits , to begin their work , and lead the way and lay the first stone , that the rest might follow ; these are the guilty persons that make their excuses when they are Invited , I have married a wife , I have bought a Farm , [ This and the other stands in my way , that I cannot come ; ] but if any enjoyment or imployment , or relation , if any tye shall hinder us from setting to this work , when the Lord calls to it , then are we miserable . I know there are some of you that stand yet clear , and have not resisted a call , but think you are ready to become any thing that shall be called for from you ; but some of you there are that punctually and certainly know you are called forth to the work , and yet draw back and shrink away , and say , 't is not yet time to build , &c. The heart knowingly flies back and shrinks ; this is the guilt , here lies the sin : Therefore the first thing to be known by you , is , whether you are called or not , and if called , then take heed of reasonings and pleadings with Moses , I am a stammerer , a man of a slow speech , and they will not beleeve that thou hast sent me , till at lest the anger of the Lord was kindled for his lingering in it : and this is the way of the heart ; we do not say point blank , we will never build the House ; No , but shuffle it off , It is not yet time , and we know not our way , and the enemies are round about to hinder us ; and so we conclude the case before-hand , and keep off the strait that Paul was brought to , when he cries out , Lord what wouldst thou have me to do ? What way should I take ? What is thy minde in all ? All things go cross ; there is no thriving nor prospering in out ways , but all symptomes appear to signifie a consumption is upon our way ; we are scarcely kept alive , have scarce a bit of bread to stay our hunger : Now what is the meaning of all this ? Sure there is a Cause .

Therefore need there is every Soul of you should consider your ways , and enquire , Lord , is it I ? or , Is it I ? Do I hinder this work ? where am I guilty ? For though it chiefly concern the Leaders and chief ones to consider , and take it to heart , yet something belongs to all to look after : What is my place ? Where am I to stand ? Am I faithful in the work entrusted me ? To be faithful in little things , is the way to be trusted in greater . Surely , surely , 't is time to bethink our selves we have no good nor peace in our way : though we live , and are kept together by a mighty hand , yet we live loose , and scattered , and consume in our spirits : Certainly if we could but meet with the very root of all these ill humors , and get that cleared , then we might hope for cure ; if we were but once brought to leave the cumber about many things , and minde the one thing necessary , then we might prosper . O Lord ! that he would sink it on your hearts ! as God saith here , Consider your ways , you that are called to ; for all are not materials for this House , not any dirt and rubbish ; but you that the Prophecy hath taken in , That you are living stones , and that witness is born , It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a Kingdom , will not you build him a House ? you that he hath bestowed all this cost on ? you are called upon to begin and set upon the work , and lay the foundation of this House , that your children may have a pattern to build after , and a foundation to build upon . We pretend to love our children , and Oh how tender are we of them ! but alass , we do what we can to undo them utterly , if we come not up to this work , to begin a House for the Lord , and leave a way behinde us , for them to walk in . Hence come all our blastings , we eat , and are not satisfied ▪ put on clothes , and are not warmed ; we have no good runs in all we enjoy , the life and spirit ▪ is stoln from them , because there is not a true , and single , and clear coming off from the world , but we stick , and linger , and put off the time , and look back to our old Lovers , and hanker , and still love our selves , and come not forth resolvedly to build this House : and thus in stead of leaving a good example , a blessing to our children , we are like to leave them a curse and a blast , if the Lord prevent not : The way is open at present , there is no outward persecution that hinders but we might build this house in peace ; but we trifle , and dringle , and loyter , and say , It is not yet time . Good Lord , when shall we say , It is time ! but we plead , we have no heart : Have we no heart ? and what is the reason of that ? We have a heart to our ease , a heart to our own wills ; we have a heart to build sieled houses for our selves to dwell in , and shall we dye thus with this old heart ? and never see a new heart given , a heart wholly to follow the Lord !

But then lastly , If any thing will invite and move us to stir ,

VI. Consider THE GREAT PRIVILEDGES THAT ACCRUE TO THEM THAT SHALL SET THEIR HAND TO THIS WORK : And they are these four .

The first is mentioned Vers. 8. Go up to the mountain ( saith God ) and bring wood , and build this house , and I will take pleasure in it . Now to have the Lord accept our sacrifice , and take pleasure in our work , what a high favor is it ? Were it but truly layd to heart , That the God of the Heavens and Earth , whose all creatures are , to command and turn at his Will ; That I should do any thing ( may the Soul say ) to please him , in which he will take delight , who can express this favor ? &c.

2. Another Priviledg is mentioned Vers. 13. I am with you , saith the Lord : Will he be with them in it ? that they shall not go , nor stir a step in this work , but he will go along with them ? Is not this enough to carry them on ? If thy presence go not with me ( said Moses ) send me not hence : I , but if that presence go along , then send , do , and command me whither thou wilt : What would not a man do that loves God indeed ? what would not he suffer , and part with , and undergo , to have God always with him ? to have his Friend , his Counsellor , Life and Protector , to have him always stand by him in all that befals ? If God be for us ( saith the Apostle ) who can be against us ? what can be too hard ? Therefore we see our Fathers have rejoyced in prisons , in fires , in bonds , because the Lord was with them , and so long affliction is no affliction .

3. A third great Mercy is promised v. 19. From this day will I bless you : From that day that the foundation of the Lords house was layd : Consider it now ( saith the Lord ) from this day and upward will I bless you : In all thou takest in hand shall a sure blessing follow , in thy going out and coming in , when thou walkest abroad and when thou sittest at home , when thou sleepest and when thou wakest ; from that very day you shall be helped to set a hand to the work indeed : He will surely bless you . We have forsaken all , and followed thee ( saith Peter , ) what shall we have ? Have ! you shall have enough ; you that have endured with me in my Temptations , you shall sit on Thrones ; you shall be blest in all your way : and what can you desire more ?

4. The fourth Mercy is mentioned in the last verse , I will make thee as a signet upon my hand ( saith God to Zerubbabel . )

And in that these three Priviledges lie couched up .

1. A Signet hath a neer relation to the hand , it is worn always and carryed upon the finger .

2. A Signet carries the image and superscription , either of a mans self , or some friend ; or some weighty thing or other is carved in it .

3. A Signet , or Seal , is to witness , confirm , and ratifie ; to make things sure and unalterable , that are once sealed with it . And now , 1. To be thus neer to God , as the signet upon his hand , to lie so close , so nigh him , in his heart and bosom and love , as his delight , his jewel , his ornament ; This is wonderful ! And then , 2. To bear forth his own image and stamp , to be like him , to own our Father by our faces ; as 't is said of Moses , His face shone when he came from talking with God in the Mount : It will appear to all whose we are , to whom we belong , by the image and likeness we shall hear in us ; all our words and carriages savoring of God , bearing forth his image , his minde and heart . And then , 3. To be as a seal , to witness and ratifie the deeds of God , to confirm and make all sure ; This is a mighty honor , that man should ever be employed in such a service : Whose sins ye remit , they are remitted in Heaven ; and whose sins ye binde in Earth , they are bound in Heaven : I will make thee as a God ( said the Lord to Moses , ) to act , and order , and counsel , and confirm in my place ; Lo , thus shall the man be blest that feareth the Lord , he shall be as a Signet upon his hand .

O then that your Souls were at a strait indeed , that you might cry out , O who will give me of the waters of Bethlehem to drink ! Who will help , and counsel , and direct ? who will shew me how to begin to build this House of the Lord ? that I may share in all these blessings , and escape all the great curses , and stand in that day ; That the Lord may take pleasure in me , and be with me , and bless me in all my ways , and bear me as a Signet on his hand , so nigh himself , and make me so like himself , so serviceable and highly impowered to act for him . O that it were in your hearts to cry this night , every Soul apart , O that he would count me worthy to help on this building ! That is the next thing , if God will please to give us a heart to cry together and strive with him , and not let him go until he bless us , till we shall be counted worthy to begin to build , and made to say and feel , My heart is ready ( O God , ) my heart is ready : That you may say to all Idols , Get you hence : Friends , and relations , and ease , and honors , farewel all ; let the dead bury their dead : you are but dead enjoyments , and I am called , and must go , to build a living House to the Lord !

God Speaking BY A PROPHET , OR Truths way of instructing the Soul . SERM. XII . June 1. 1651. DEUT. 5.27 . Go thou neer , and hear all that the Lord our God shall say ; and speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee , and we will hear it , and do it .
The Analysis .

FRom the words in general was considered .

I. That the way of the Lord in speaking to his people is by a PROPHET . And that for these Reasons .

1. It is his pleasure , his ordinance , as for bread to nourish . 2. It is a gentle familiar way , suitable to their weakness . 3. His power and wisdom more appears in such weak means . 4. By this he brings his people into an oneness , order , and government . 5. Hence the distinct way of their being saved appears ; They know who was their own Guide and Leader .

II. This Prophet is to go NEER TO GOD : Go thou neer , &c. And that implies three things .

1. To be free and familiar with God : Fear and guilt are removed . 2. To stand in an awful and reverent frame of spirit . 3. To learn the carriage and minde of God , his wisdom , meekness , &c.

III. HEAR ALL that the Lord our God shal say to thee .

Now the Lord speaks three things in general , which they should hear .

1. The Lord would have them know where they now are . 1. Saved out of Egypt , [ brought out of the rude world . ] 2. That no returning back thither , what ever come on us . 3. Know we are still in the wilderness . In which two things . 1. To know , this is the day of proving our hearts . 2. That this is not our Rest , we are far from home . 2. God would have them know what way they are to go ; all along by Enemies , Amalek , and Ammon , and Moabites , all will rise and stand in their way : This they must lay down , the way of the Cross . 3. Know the end whither they are going , what the latter end will be . Hence three things considered . 1. Know there is surely an End , a Rest for the people of God . 2. This cannot be , till Christ have put down all other Rule and Authority . 3. Then is the Kingdom to be delivered up to the Father , and God to be all in all ; this is the end .

IV. Consider the Promise , And we will hear it , and do it .

About this Hearing five things were considered .

1. To hear who it is that speaks , to be sure to know the voyce of Christ . 2. Hear what he speaks , thy particular lesson . 3. Hear to whom ; not every one to thrust in , but Is it to me ? 4. Hear when the thing is to be done , now or afterwards . 5. Hear for his sake that calls so lovingly , O that my people would harken . All brought home in five particular Uses .
DEUT. 5.27 . Go thou neer , and hear all that the Lord our God shall say ; and speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee , and we will hear it , and do it .

TWo things I have already mentioned to you out of this Scripture : I. Why it is that God will speak to his people by a Prophet ; why not alone by himself , without outward means and help of man ? No ; but Go thou neer to the Lord our God for us , and speak thou unto us , &c. and God approves of the thing as good : They have well spoken in all that they have said . I shewed you five Reasons , why this was so . 1. Because it is his pleasure , his ordinance , the way he hath appointed for that purpose , where he hath commanded the Blessing ; and if we neglect that way , we can prosper in no other . 2. It is a gentle and familiar way , suited to mans capacity and weakness : God in himself is too dreadful and dazling ; but a Prophet will the Lord raise unto you out of your Brethren , him shall you hear . 3. The Wisdom and Power of God is more manifest by using such weak means , a worm , a nothing ; That this rich treasure should be put in earthen vessels , it makes the glory wholly to appear Gods . 4. By this he brings his people into an union , an order and government , else all would live loose , alone , and scattered to themselves ; but now all are brought under one Guide , one Shepherd , one Interpreter between God and them . 5. By this the particular work of Salvation is made more distinctly to appear ; Of Zion it shall be said , such and such a man was born there : The particular characters shall be set down ; In such a place , at such a time , by such a man , from such a word , the Soul shall distinctly know all its leadings on . Then something hath been spoke of that ,

II. Go thou neer : This Prophet is to go neer to God . They hit on the right nick , God will have it so .

And that for these Reasons .

1. To testifie his freeness and open-heartedness to them ; To you it is given ( saith Christ to the Disciples ) to understand the mysteries of God , but to others in Parables ; They come not so nigh to read his heart and bosom . They that travelled with Paul to Damascus , they saw the light that shone about him , but none heard the voyce , That was whispered unto Paul alone , Saul , Saul , why persecutest thou me ? None else was taken to be delt with in that manner , in whom the Word entered , and searched , and came nigh to the inwards : but they that would indeed know the minde of God , the inward meaning , there is need they should have a heart raised to search and enquire of God privately , What is the very thing he intends in all ? Many enquire no farther then the Scriptures , the outward letters and the light of their Reason joyned together ; but alass , I cannot finde out the meaning of the heart of God concerning me by all this ! Therefore if there be not an Interpreter , one of a thousand , that can shew to man his righteousness ; if there be not a days-man for us , that can come nigh to God , and enquire his minde and thoughts towards us , then are we miserable : for alass , we cannot go neer our selves ; who of us can stand before everlasting burning ! No , ( saith God to Moses ) Thou canst not see my face , and live : No self , no flesh , no evil thing can live in the presence of God , the fire is too hot ; He will have no fellowship with the stool of iniquity . If you will come neer God , there is need of a heart without all guile and deceit , that intends what it pretends ; Will you be my people indeed ( saith God ? ) Indeed ? Nothing else will pass ; He will divide between words and thoughts , between thoughts and intentions ; if there be but a tittle against thee , he 'l be sure to finde it out : I know thy Works , and Love , and Patience , ( saith Christ ; ) I , but yet I have a few things against thee : He spies out the least flaw ; and therefore it is dreadful coming neer him without that garment of Love , which can cover a multitude of sins ; for else alass , he may take advantage every moment , and consume us .

2. This is another end of coming thus neer God , That the Soul may stand reverently , and with deep attendance of minde , as in the Kings presence : Were you but aware that God was so neer you , sure it would strike a great awe and wariness upon your spirits : What , is the Lord in this place , and I knew it not ? Is this no less then the gate of Heaven ? Am I in the presence of the great God , and have to do with him in all my words , and thoughts , & hearings ? O what need is there of an awful spirit ? Holiness becometh this House for ever . Many go to Church , it may be twenty or thirty years , and never yet were their hearts affected with the least true fear and awe ; 't is because they come not nigh God in their service , but make it a meer custom and May-game : but he will have his people come nigh him , he will have them stand in his presence with awe and reverence , and godly fear ; he will have their words and prayers weighed and scan'd to a tittle . How carelesly and inconsiderately do many venture on praying ? as men cast bones from them to a dog ; never think of the thing , never look to see what becomes of their prayers : but God will have his stand in another kind of posture ; As the eyes of a maid are unto the hands of her mistress , so are our eyes up to thee , O Lord : He will have them wait , and look , and attend ; when ever a word shall drop from his mouth , and touch upon them .

3. They are to go neer to God for this end , to learn his behavior and carriage ; Be ye holy , as I am holy ( saith God : ) Learn of me ( saith Christ , ) I am meek and lowly : I will go down to Sodom ( saith God ) and see whether it be altogether so as the cry is come up unto me : Why , did not God know ? Doth he need to go and see ? No ; but it is to teach us how to behave our selves in such cases , to teach us to be sure and wary , and just in judgment ; before we pass sentence against any , to know what we do ; to learn his tender-heartedness , and compassion , and forbearance ; to learn his manners and ways : and if ever you are brought neer him , it will be for these purposes .

III. The next thing to be considered in general , is , AND HEAR THOU ALL THAT THE LORD OUR GOD SHALL SAY UNTO THEE .

Hear all , ] Every tittle , let nothing be lost that he speaks . Now there are three general things which the Lord speaks , and would have all his people know , that stand in the same condition as Israel now did . 1. He would have them know where they are , that they are yet in the Wilderness , yet not at home , but far from Rest . 2. What is their way to attain it . 3. Their latter end , what they are intended for , what they are to come up unto ; for else the Soul cannot go on with any strength and courage , but will faint and feeble . Abraham followed the Lord at first going out , not knowing whither he went , but it was a mighty power of God that carryed him out to it ; and afterwards he saw the minde meaning of God plainly , and that the Lord delights in ; he would not have his people grope in the dark always , but see and know their way , and have the mark in their eye , and be wise to understand their latter end .

1. The Lord would have his people know where they are ; They are now brought out of Egypt , they have escaped that cruel bondage under Pharaoh . This the Lord would have you take notice of , how far you are saved and delivered , not to pass that over slightly without regarding it .

1. He would have you consider how he hath brought us out of the rude world , when we lay all together in one lump ; and why should the Lord put a difference ? why hath he brought us off of our false hopes and confidences , and false ways of worship , worshiping Idols , the works of our own hands , the contrivances of our own wisdom , and thoughts , and reason ( as all the world do ? ) Why hath he saved us here ? that what ever become of us , we can never again go back to those flesh-pots , the Garlick and Onyons of Egypt ?

2. He would have us know what we are brought to , as well as brought from ; to consider how far he hath led us , That we can surely stick to , though it should cost our lives : whether we can say that word with the three children , what ever becomes of us , though our God should not save us , though we should never attain the thing set in our view , yet we will not fall down to this Image : we cannot turn again from the worship of the living God , to worship Idols : This the Lord would have us know and stick to .

3. He would have us know , that notwithstanding all we are brought off from , and all we are brought on to , that yet we are but in the Wilderness , that is the place , and no farther , And in this , two things are to be known by us .

1. That this is the day , in which he will prove our hearts . Now will he open the fountains of the great Deep , the low channells of the earth are now made to appear , as Psal. 18. Now he discovers what man is , what a helpless wretched thing : Now he opens the strange wickedness that lay hid in the heart ; the fire makes the scum rise , the fiery trialls , the great and sore temptations ( as God calls them ) these stir , and fetch up all the poyson that lay buried before : Now the Lingrings , and drawings back , the murmurings , the ill will , the frettings , and madness of the heart shews it self : when there must be no water given , but what comes out of a rock , a flint , such a strange unthought of way , and impossible to reason ; and that they must have no bread but what is given them new every morning , that they can turn them no wayes from their miseries , nor to their mercies : that they cannot reach out a hand to help themselves ; but though they dye and starve , and perish , yet there is no remedy , but they must lie at the foot of God , and take what he gives , and no more : this is a day that will prove the heart indeed , and what is in it .

2. As it is a day of Triall , so God would have us know , it is not our rest , our home , there is a great journy to be gone , up Elijah why sittest thou here ? Alass , you are far from home , you are not come to the good Land yet , which brings forth of it self milk and hony ! and this greatly displeased the Lord , that they should here in this wilderness sit down to eat and drink , and rise up to play : Is this a place , Is this a time to sit down in , and feast ? Alass , ( as if God should say ) you know not how long you shall enjoy any thing , what I give you to day , I can take away , and deny to morrow , and then what becomes of you ? you know not yet my Heart , and Mind , and Good-will , and Eternal Thoughts , how they stand towards you , and can you sit down here , to take content and pleasure in any thing ? This God would have them and us know in what a dangerous place we are , still in the Wilderness .

2. Hear all ] The second thing the Lord would have them hear , is , what way they are to go .

And all along they are to pass through their enemies Lands : they must go by Amaleck , and by the children of Ammon , and Moab , all along stand enemies in their way to oppose and hinder . All that will live godly in Christ Jesus , shall suffer persecution ; they must take up their Cross , and follow him : He could have led them another way , a nearer cut to Canaan , if he had pleased , but he chooses this way , to go through the Lands of the●r enemies , and they must follow him , if ever they will come to their journies end : they must through the Cross , through hunger , and thirst , and Serpents , through sore temptations , and sorrows , and sins . Now this you are to hear , if you will hear all , hear what your way is , and submit to it : if he will lead through hunger and drought , if he will deny and shut up , if he will destroy our next companions , if Korah , Dathan and Abiram must be swallowed up , yet murmur not , be not affrighted , nor skared , but go on still , and know the way is through strairs and sorrows : Expect no bettter .

3. God would have them know their latter end whither they are going , he hath given an expected end .

And here three things are to be known .

1. That there is surely a Rest for the people of God : that they shall not alwayes be as a rowling stone , not always vagabonds , and wanderers , following the Prince of the Air , with those restless tossing Spirits : this God would have his people know , that there is a Rest , there is an expected end , a day of freedom , when all bonds , and chains shall be broken , Sin shall not alwayes , reign , the enemy shall not afflict and torment for ever . I would not live alwayes ( saith Job ) by any means , I am weary of it : This God would you should hear , but now whilst we are in that horrible pit , the pit of noise , we can hear nothing , but destruction upon destruction , one storm and wave comes upon the neck of another , there is no respite given no time to swallow the spittle , ( as Job complains ) so that the soul is , as it were distracted , to see no way of escape , that it is like alwayes to be thus with it : But is there not an appointed time for man upon earth ? Yes , God would have you hear , and be surely set down in that , that there is an end .

2. He would have you know , when this end is to be .

It is said , when Christ shall have put down all rule and all authority , & all power , then to comes the end : a time is to be when Christ shall reign in the world in his glory , and his Saints reign with him , and all Scepters and Kingdoms shall be made to bow and stoop under him : but there is a time of his reigning in the particular souls of his People , when all that opposes and offends shall be taken out of the way , no end will come till then : we shall find no rest in our Souls , till the word of Life shall come and put down all other rule and government , to bring every thought into subjection , every Lust and Hunt of heart , all Pride and Envy , and self-love , all those lords that have ruled over us , must down , before this end shall be ; and till this be done , there will be nothing but wars and rumours of wars , Nation against Nation , and Kingdome against Kingdome , and famine , and pestilence , and earthquakes ; nothing but troubles , and perplexities and trialls , till this end come : now to be kept through all these , is the Salvation : He that endures to the end , the same shall be saved .

3. What is this end ? What is the Rest of the People of God : Hear and know that , and that rest is the sole raigning , and rule of God in the soul , when Christ shall deliver up the Kingdom to the Father , and God shall be all in all : Now the Heir is under Tutours and Governours , now up , and now down , under fears and faintings , and Terrors , because the Kingdome of God is not yet come , that Kingdom of Peace and Truth ; God is not yet all in all , we are yet stragling after our wills and lustings , and covetings to our selves , and so can have no peace in all our wayes , till we shall be brought under that peaceable Government , to submit to that one Lord in every thing ; to give the Crown out of our hand unto him whose due it is , that God may be all in all .

Now hear all that the Lord shall say , not by halves , and piecemeals , but hear all , every word of God is good : how many of you content your selves , when you have but a little Light to see where you are , how your condition stands ! but alas , that is misery , if you hear only your shortness , that you are in a Wilderness , if you hear not of a rest too , of an end , if you perish and fall short in the mid way , what shall then come of all ? but oh how impossible is it to make any thing seise upon a flint , to make a word enter upon an iron heart . I wonder sometimes , the word should sink no more , being it is told you over , and over again , and yet all passes away as an idle tale , but that I know , it is impossible to be otherwise , till there be a new heart given , and an ear bored by God to receive instruction .

IV. The next general Thing , is the Peoples Promise , AND WE WILL HEAR IT , AND DO IT .

And if this be not the thing set down in your hearts and minds , if we intend not this , to come to doing , to be the thing that is called for , alas , what do we come together for ? Why do we hear ? What will come of all our way , if we are not truly brought to this mind , we will hear and do all that the Lord shall command ? About this hearing , five things may be considered .

1. You are to hear who it is that speaks : My sheep hear my voice , ( saith Christ ) and the voice of a stranger they will not hear : there is need distinctly to know him that speaks & calls , and not take every word by road that seems good and true , as the world do , but to be able surely to discern and distinguish between the voyce of God , and the voice of man , and the voice of the Devil , for the same outward words may be taken up by them all , the Devil can speak Scripture to Christ ; He shall give his Angels charge over thee , lest thou dash thy foot against a stone : and the Jews , ( the great enemies of Christ ) they can speak as good words as may be , they say to the blind man recovered to his sights Give Glory to God : what better and righter word can be spoken ? But yet , how base and wicked was it from them ? for in the next word they reject Christ ; as for this man , we know he is a sinner . Now if we be not made to look into the inwards of words , and see what runs in them , what Spirit breaths , whether God , or the enemy , or mans own heart , if we know not this , we know nothing : and sure the word now preached to us is as an idle tale , and we do not seriously enquire who it is that speaks ? whether this Doctrine be from heaven , or from men , whether the Lord speaks indeed unto us ? I told you , the Lord would have you know where you are at the present , that you are in a desolate Wilderness , where a thousand dangers and miseries lie in the way , and it is ten thousand to one , whether you get clear through all , but fall short in some pit or other : Now do you believe this indeed ? do you think it is the Lords voyce , that he speaks his very word to you ? Alas ! what a mist do the world live in ? How do they go to Church , and hear , and hear , year after year , and it scarce ever comes into any of their minds once to think seriously : what is this I hear ? whose voyce is it ? Doth God speak to me of a certain , or is it onely the voyce of a man ? If it be man onely , then what do I hearing ? it is a vain service : but if God , then why seiseth it no more ? why do they not tremble under it ? And this old Taint we retain from them , and thus I fear most of our hearings slip away without a serious enquiry who it is that speaks to us , whose voyce calls : for if we were certainly perswaded , that when a word touches our hearts , when it reproves , and finds us Sinners , when it pulls and stirs to arise , and be going , did we surely know it is God that reproves , and touches and stirs within us , certainly we durst not so stand out and sleight it , as we do . If it be indeed the word of God , it will not be dallied with : It is quick and lively , and will work one way or other , it will either kill or save , condemn or justifie , draw to God , or drive from him ; he will not speak in vain ; therefore in all hearings , hear this first , who is it that speaks ?

2. The next thing is to hear what he speaks , I will hear what the Lord God will say , ( saith David ) hear the particular word and message that comes to me , for he saith to one , Go , and he is to go , and to anoth●r , Come and he is to c●me ; to a third , Do thou this , and that is to be his work . Now in Babel there is a strange confusion , and lumber of all together ; it is a Land without order , because there is no King nor governmenr , nor setled laws to stand to , but God is not the God of confusion , his Kingdom is a Kingdom of righteousness , peace , and order , the Lord sets every one to his own work , and in his own place ; Sit thou down here , thou art a sinner , and guilty , buckle thou under the guilt , that 's thy place : To another he sayes , Friend sit up higher be thou incouraged , and hope , and expect deliverance , that 's his place , to another he says , Enter thou into thy Masters joy , for thou art worthy , and that is his place : he speaks not to you all , as in one condition , though you may be all sailing in one ship , yet for different ends and purposes . I now some of you that are like a post in a wall , it is as impossible to make you hear a word of truth , the ear is so stopp'd , charm the charmer never so wisely . Now the word spoke to such , is , to know where they are to own thei● shame , that 's their place , & for others that may not be this Highway ground , where the word is snatched away , and takes no place at all , yet there is a stony ground , and a thorny ground , where the seed grows and flourishes a while , but yet all is lost , it never comes to perfection . Now for every one to know what ground is my present condition in ? What speaks the Lord to me ? What is my way and work ? hear that .

3. Hear to whom he speaks , that not every one may thrust himself in by violence , and catch at a share in every word that is spoken : do you press in ? I ▪ but you shall be turned out again as fast . The children of the Kingdom ( that thought they had good right and title to it , yet , they ) shall be thrust out . There is need therefore to know distinctly , whether the Lord speaks to me or not . Thou art the man ( said the Prophet to David ) thou art the sinner , when the word shall come home , and the Lot fall upon the particular Tribe , the particular man , the particular sin : T●is distinct way God takes in his de●lings , when Christ said to the D sciples , One of you shall betray me ; they are all put upon the search and enquiry , Lord is it I ? and is it I ? Now I have told you all the four sorts of grounds are amongst us , there is the High-way ground where the seed takes no place at all , and the stony ground where it takes a while , but there was a depth of earth , a sure ●ooting , and that soon withers , and there is a thorny ground which may continue long and hold to the last , but the seed is all overspread , over-●opped , and choaked with the thorns . Now these three grounds take in a large compas● , & will you now go away , and not enquire this night , which of these grounds doth my soul stand in ? how is the state of my condition ? where am I ? how far gone , and taken off of my self ? and where stick I and am loath to give up ? He that will be wise , let him be wise for himself : 'T is not your way to put it off to another , and say , this concerns such a one , they are sinners and guilty here and there , and so the discouraged drooping Soul puts off hope , and reviving , and says , I , it may belong to another , but as for me , I am cut off , &c. Zion said my God hath forgotten me , &c. but our way is quietly and sob●rly to listen , to whom is the message sent ? doth the Lord speak to me or not ?

4. Hear this , when the Lord calls to stir , when his voice is to be obeyed ; we hear sometimes , and know and are convinced , that this is his will , that we must come up to such a deniall , and take up such a cross , and do such a service , but we hear not the time when , we put it off till to morrow : Alass , to morrow is not yours ! you may be dead & in your graves by to morrow , therefore consider , and whilst it is called to day , hear his voyce . Ask now what is the meaning of the Parable , what is his mind concerning thee , let not the Sun go down upon your wrath . How many of your souls at present stand unreconciled to God ? an enmity is in your minds : now if advantage should be taken , if the Sun go down upon you [ if Truth should depart , and you be left to dye in your sins ] oh how miserable would it be ! to morrow may never be ours , and then are we undone for ever .

5. Consider , why , for whose sake , I should hear ? for his sake that invites so lovingly , and waits so patiently and calls so earnestly , Oh that my people had hearkened to my voyce , O Jerusalem , Jerusalem , that thou hadst known the day of thy visitation ! Hear for his sake that comes with intreatings , and bewailings , and love and tenderness , that comes in the still voice , gently , not in thunder and earthquakes to crush all a pieces , and shake us to nothing , ( as he might do ) but the good-will , the love of him that speaks might move us to hear : he that after many rebellions , and many gainsayings , and many withdrawings , yet stands at the door , and waits , and calls , and would not by any means the death of a sinner , but useth all wayes , that he may return and live : Hear for his sake that is thus gracious .

Thus something hath been spoke to the opening of that word , and we will hear it and do it , it is a very good saying indeed , and God approves of it well ; they have well spoken , and if this come not in the last place , if we are not brought to do what we hear , to be the thing , then is all our labour lost , as good we had never heard at all ; and if it come in the first place , it is to as little purpose , if we set upon doing before we hear , then all is in a confusion and lumber , we worship we know not what , God regards it not , and therefore he says , I hate your new moons and solemn assemblies , my soul loaths your sacrifices : and Samuel said to Saul for his blind and hasty venturing to sacrifice , Hath the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings , as to hear the word of the Lord ! no to obey is better then sacrifice : and these are the two great Rocks that the whole world are split upon , one sort will do nothing , another are doers indeed , but they do they know not what , they worship an unknown God : Now it is said that he will come to render vengeance on all that know not God [ they live loosely and do nothing at all ] and such as obey not the Gospel , [ The Gospel comes to them , and they hear and know it , I , but they obey it not ] they obey their own thoughts , and will-worship , they seek , and ask ; I , but they ask amisse : Israel hath not obtained what it sought after , but if ever you would obtain and do any thing which may please the Lord , then you must hear first , hear soberly what is his will and way ? 't is a blind preposterous way to do first , and then go to hear whether we have done right or not ; no , but hear what he would have thee do , and therefore how long have I cryed , and waited , to hear but that word come from you , Lord ; what wouldest thou have me to do ? O Lord , have we been all this while , & have not heard yet ! I , to this day , we have not soberly and calmly sat down to hear the voice of the Lord , we have been like wilde creatures all our dayes , that though he hath been calling and going after some of us this twenty or thirty years , yet he could not come nigh to speak with us , charm the charmer never so wisely ; till he shall bind us in fetters , and hold us in the cords of affliction , that we cannot get away , and then will he open the ear to discipline : I know many of you have had calls again , and again , and been made to say , sure , It is the voyce of my Beloved , but we would not rise , nor hear the call out , to this very day , not come to do it , and if we are not brought to this ▪ we are miserable , &c ▪

Thus have I opened to you the several circumstances b●longing to hearing , and first you are to hear , who it is that speaks , to know the Lords , voyce . Now to bring it to use .

1 I●quire , do you believe that it is indeed the Lord that calls and invites , and speaks now to you : else why hear you , if it be only man that speaks ? wherein is he to be accounted off ? What are mans promises ? what are mans threats ? bu● if you are indeed convinced , ( as I know some of you are ) that it is the Lords voyce , then why obey we not ? if we are fully set down in our consci●nc●s that it is the Lord that speaks , then we must n●eds come to one of these two points : 1. Either to do and an●wer the thing called for from us by God ; or else , 2. To lie under our guilt and shame , and accept of the punishment , and bow under the hand . If the Lord sp●ak ●o this purp●se to any soul , why thou knowest not yet the latter end , what shall become of thee for ever , what ●●pes bear thee up ? what livest thou upon ? why takest thou any c●n●ent in any thing till this thing be opened : If this be his voyce , why then hear it and obey it , own thy condition as it is : take thy place quietl● when he calls , Friend , sit down lower . Certainly , you will all be called to the touchstone God will search and see the bottom of things how they stand , the word wi●l come to sh●w our shortness , that we are not yet brought to that Reign of Christ : all power , and au●horit● , and rule , is not put down in us , but yet our wills , and huntings of heart , and self-loving Principles , live and rule : Doth the voyce say thus ? why , hear it , and obey it , bow under , own the condition , mince not the matter , but let it seise upon thee ; and if a word of incouragement come from God , to raise the desolate , and ●●ll , Arise , arise out of the dust O Jerusalem , &c. will Zion still say , The Lord hath forsaken me , and my God forgotten me ? Doth he call thee lovingly , to return and come into his bosome , and he will be gracious , and wilt thou be kept back by wrath and doubting ? How doth this wrath that is seated in the Soul against the truth hinder and keep us off ? This is the swelling of Jordan , The Heart swells and rises , and will not be reconciled to God and its brother ; alas , are we able to contend with him , and stand before his wrath ? and yet will we not hear and answer the milde call , and invitation of love . Dost thou well to be angry ? ( saith God to Jonah : ) I , saith he , I do well to be angry , such a strange pensiveness is in the heart , and this made the jar between the Lord and Jonah , he kept his wrath , it vexed him that God should be gracious , and spare Niniveh , and that seems strange , but mind it , who ever of you are kept off from God , it is through wrath or doubting : we would not in the mystery know our sins should be forgiven in such a manner and way as God takes , we purpose some strange torments and thunderings should do it , but that the thing should be done so easily by a word from Christ , Thy sins are forgiven thee , and I say unto thee , arise ; this the proud heart would not submit to , to see a straw , a light thing , hath been such a ruler over it , which Christ can cure by a small word , and then Doubtings hinder ; when we see the waves , the least difficulty comes in view , then the doubtings , and faintings press us and beat as hail : good Lord , do you not feel these bonds about you ! How you are holden of these cords ? How your destruction is of your selves ? I speak to them of you , whose Consciences are awake , and that have an Ear open to hear , and know that nothing in the world hinders you , but this , wrath and doubting ; an ill temper is settled in the Soul , that will not come to God , but either fly out in wrath , or sink and feeble in doubting .

2. Enquire , do you hear What the Lord speaks , in what particular he charges , and smites at thee ? There is nothing more contrary to me , then to hear you complain in a confused generall lumber , and cannot come distinctly to shew where your hurt is , and this is for want of observing and listening to the voyce , but we shuffle and jumble all together , and so keep off the particular nick where our guilt lies . Now every one of us hath some particular taint , or other , which hinders our thriving and prospering in the Truth , and this must first be known and owned , all other confessings , complainings , and doings w●ll come to nothing .

3. Enquire in all speakings of God , to whom speaketh he ? doth he call me or not ? He calls not to all the whole Army to move at once , but now calls for one part to march , and then for another ; and there is a strange mystery and Witchcraft in the heart , when God finds it guilty in one particular , then it will take all the charge upon it self , and be more guilty then it is , and all that it might keep off the particular charge , and run from what God lays upon us indeed as our sin , and place of sticking ; therefore , Hear diligently to whom the Lord speaks : and what the particular charge or call is .

4. Inquire in all hearings when the Lord cals to have the word performed and obeyed by thee . 'T is strange how crosse and contrary to God the heart of man is in all points ! that which God calls for to be done to day , ( to day harden not your hearts ) that it puts off till to morrow , and what is to be done to morrow , when he calls to stay till the Cloud remove , then the heart is upon it to run and post , presently to rush on ( as we say ) without fear or wit . Now examine , is there this warinesse wrought in your souls in all cases and points , to wait for instruction , when to stir and when to sit still ? when to speak and when to be silent ? sometimes the warning is , Stir not up my beloved untill he please : perhaps he calls and minds us by a clear instruction to see our way pla●nly in all particulars . I , but the time to reach up to all this , may not yet be ; perhaps months and years must be gone through first before this be attained . But something he cals for at our hands to day , to day harden not your heart , and this the heart would put off and slip over . See the heat and forwardnesse of Peter , he would dye with Christ when he is not called to it ; I , but when Christ in his great distresse cals and intreats him to watch but one hour , that he cannot do , then he sleeps . Do you observe this strange crosseness of your hearts in all points !

5. I told you for whose sake you are to hear and do ; for the Lords sake , not for your owne sakes or wills , not an end of selfe must lye in the bottom : and this will be a sure measure and Touch-stone of all your actions . When ever you are upon any worke or service , when ever doing or hearing , or speaking , inquire , For whose sake do I all this ? what end have I in it ? Is it singly for the Lords sake ? is it in love to his name , his praise ? that that may live and spread abroad . In all your obedience and services , if you have not a single eye to this , if there be a selfish taint in the bottome , it spoils all ; God reckons no more done to him , then is singly and unfainedly done for his name sake : not for our ease or praise , or honour . And if I had not that witnesse in my soul , that I now preach to you singly for that very end , not seeking yours but you , alas , I should not be able to go on , it would be as a fire in my bones , and a torment whilest I speake to you : but that is my peace in this particular , and will be yours in all your wayes , the clear witnesse of conscience , that what you do , you do it singly for his name sake .

THE Strong Man outmatch'd by a stronger , OR Heaven out-powering Hell . SERM. XIII . June 8. 1651. LUKE 11.21 . When a strong man armed keeps his palace , his goods are in peace : but when a stronger then he comes and overcomes him , he takes away from him all the armor in which he trusted , and divideth the spoyl .
The Analysis .

I. A Fourfold Dispensation or time of reigning observed .

1. A time of mans reigning when he girds himself , and goes and comes whither he will , without bands and straitening . 2. A time of the Devils reigning : Wo to the Inhabitants of the World , for the Devil is come down to dwell amongst you . 3. A Dispensation of Christ , a time when he reigns , after he hath bound the strong man , and put down all rule and authority . 4. A time of Gods reigning , when the Kingdom shall be delivered up to the Father , and God be all in all .

II. About the Devils time of reigning ( which was chiefly aymed at from the words ) these several woes observed .

1. He is a strong man : David and our Fathers complain of their strong Enemy , who was too strong for them . 2. He is throughout malignant , maliciously bent against the root and branch of Truth , that the name of Israel may be no more . 3. Woe , in that he hath a time and power given him to afflict ; God allows it : This is your hour , and power of darkness , &c. 4. He is in possession , he keeps the house , he is got into the heart : out of the heart adulteries , murthers , &c. This is a great woe . 5. He hath goods in us , finds of his own kinde , Pride , Envy , Deceit , Lustings , that he can challenge his own goods by right . 6. Besides all this , he is armed , he hath armor . His Armor exprest under these three notions . 1. A coat of mail , to cover him over , that nothing can touch or finde him guilty ; his scales so thick nothing can enter . 2. A helmet of brass ; He can dispute , and reason , and plead for himself , and will never yeeld nor give over . 3. A spear like a weavers beam ; He 'l seem to be for God and Truth , and by this spear keeps off all from coming nigh . 7. The last woe , He is desperate , will venture on any desperate designes , being thus armed , he is safe , made without fear .

III. A time when a stronger then he comes and overcomes him : And Christ doth it by these means .

1. He takes away all his armor ; That is first done ; else no entrance . 2. He divides the spoyl , sends all to their place , as Jer. 15. 1. That which for death , to death , [ something utterly destroyed : ] That malignant disposition which is ever bent against the Truth , that must dye . 2. That which for the sword , to sword : The sword of the Spirit , the Word of God , must cut through sloth and lingerings , &c. 3. Something to famine ; the ill tempers are starved by degrees . 4. Something to captivity ; the Devil is bound , and in prison , though not quite destroyed , but some Canaanites live , &c.

All brought home in these four Uses .

1. To examine how 't is with us , whether we feel this reign of the Devil , this strong malicious Enemy , what goods and possession he hath ? 2. If we feel it , then to inform what a vain thing it is for us to stir to help our selves ; alass , man hath no might ! 3. To shew , our way is to lie down , and let all go over till Christ come . 4. To encourage that a stronger then he will come : Hope against Hope .
LUK. 11.21 . When a strong man armed keeps his Palace , his goods are in peace , but when a stronger then he comes and overcomes him , he takes away from him all the Armour in which he trusted , and divideth the spoile .

I Have s●oke to you this last week from those words in Deut 5. where God cries out Oh that there were such a heart in then ! &c. I told you what Heart it was that God requires , and longs for , to have grown up in them , a Heart that will hear and do all that the Lord shall speak , A heart always to feare before him ; and only such a heart I told you would be , first , suitable to God and the heavenly life , secondly , profitable and usefull to our brethren , and thirdly , peaceable to our selves ; and therefore ou● great happiness lyes in this , in being brought up to such a heart . But now to day , if God wil● , I shall open to you , what hinders that such a heart is not risen nor can rise in us ; though there be longings in God , and longings in the soul , yet that which doth let , will let till it be taken out of the way . For this I would have you note , that where-ever there is a longing and breathing in God after any of his People , to cry Oh that there were such a heart in then ! there is a certain eccho lyes in the bottome of such a soule that answers this call , and longs and pants also , Oh that my heart were so direct to keep thy Commandments ! the longings and cryes are on both hands , and why do they not prevaile ? why is not such a heart presently given ? no , there is a block lyes in the way which will ever hinder , till it be removed , the strong man armed keeps the Palace , and till a stronger then he come , till Christ shall rise in the soul and cast him out , this heart cannot get up nor arise in us , the strong man rules .

I would in generall observe to you a fourfold time of raigning , which succeed and follow one the other . 2. A time of the mans raigning . 2. A time of the Devils raign . 3. A time of Christs raign . 4. A time of Gods raign , when Christ shall deliver up the Kingdom to the Father , and so God become all ●n all .

I. There is a time of Mans reign , when the man hath a great liberty and swinge to turn himself about hither and thither as he please , and meets with no let nor cross , nor trouble in his way . When Peter is young he girds himself and walks whither he lists , but when he grows old the case is altered , another girds and leads him whither he would not : but the man hath his day of liberty , when the grass is in its prime , and the flower in its full beauty , the man can turn him to his ease and parts , and inlargments , and injoyments of truth , and injoyments of creatures , and suck sweet every where . Thus was Iob in his day , when his steps were washed in Butter , and the rocke poured out rivers of oil , his beauty was fresh in him , and he sate as a king in the army under the flourishings and inlargments of truth , he could walk , and speak , and act , and choose , and refuse , exhort and incourage others , and all takes , and prospers and finds acceptance , and here he thinks he is sure , Then I said , I shall dye in my nest , &c. And this time of greenness in the truth is yet upon some of you & affords the man sweetness and liberty ; and how long did many of us walk in this posture ? coming forth delicately with Agag , and saying , Surely the bitternesse of death is past . So have we secretly promised our selves , I have forsaken the world , and am come off from all the false wayes of worship , and have left friends and preferments , and am set down to the truth , and sure now the worst is over , now I am safe and in a good way : and here the man sits down on a high seat above all creatures , and bonds and snares , takes ease and content , and reigns with truth , as Paul writes to the Corinthians , Ye are free and reign as Kings ; they thought all was sure and the liberty of man would last alwayes . I , but ( saith Paul ) I would to God you did reign , viz. that it were such a reigne as would last and hold . Now who spake he to ? not to the rude world , nor to the ignorant , but such as he had in his heart to live and dye with , such as he had espoused to Christ , the match was made , but not the thing done ; they were not wrought off from all things , nor wrought up to that one husband , into the minde of Christ , though out of a light instruction and choice the thing was owned and approved . And here the man gets peace , and ease and liberty , is free from guilt and torments , and perplexities , the man can goe on either hand , if a mind to God and Truth , thither he can turn : if a mind to the Creatures , he can turn thither , the door is open , and he can suck sweet from every thing , his wayes are all washt in butter , smooth , soft and easie . And here ( saith David ) my mountain was so strong , I said I shall never be moved , here the man sits as a King , this is his day of reigning . But ,

II. There is another dispensation follows , a time of the Devils reign , this is a sad and wofull change . Another king arises which knows not Joseph , the man , when he was King , he knew God and owned truth , and joyned it with him in his Kingdom , ( though yet in the throne Pharaoh will sit above ) [ the man was uppermost in all : ] But now another king rises , that will not know Joseph ; and he deals cruelly with Israel : then the hard Task-masters and cruel burdens come : he will know nothing but his own will , and lust and cruelty : And Wo to the inhabitants of the world , when the devil comes down to reign amongst them ; when Jeroboam reigns , that makes Israel sin . And how often have our fathers been at sore pinches , and cried out in bitterness of soul , when this time of the devils reign was upon them ! It is a woful kingdom indeed , a cruel reign . And these seven Woes lie up in it .

1. One Wo is , that he is a strong man . How have our fathers owned his might , and cried out under it ! Thou hast delivered me ( saith David ) from my STRONG enemy : for he was too strong for me . And again : My enemies live , and they are MIGHTY . And Hezekiah cries out , Lord , I am opprest ; undertake for me . And again : We have no might against this GREAT HOST . Alas , when the man compares but himself to him , what a Nothing is he to this great Goliah ! but as a fly , a worm , a gnat ; a stripling , and he a man of war from his youth . And here the heart sinks and dies at the very thoughts of dealing with him . Was he but an ordinary enemy , that might be matched any ways , and the thing but feasible to fight with him ; then Man would have some hope : but alas , he carries all before him . Shall not one be cast down at the very sight of him ? ( as 't is said of the Leviathan , who was a type of the devil . ) Iron is counted as rotten wood to him : he laughs at the shaking of a spear . Who is able to deal with this monstrous Leviathan ? If ever you but begin to reason and tamper the matter with him , you are certainly foiled and worsted ; he will surely get beyond you ; 't is in vain to contend with him : But let him vaunt , and boast , and rail on ; the Kings commandment is , not to answer a word : that 's the way Truth points us to , to be still , and lie under , and say with Christ , This is your hour , and the power of darkness . Until we can go out against him as David did , in the Name of the Lord , let us never stir : though he come and vaunt himself , and reproach Israel fourty days , yet there is no other way , but , with Hezekiah , to spread the Letter before the Lord , and cry under the misery .

2. He is not onely strong , but a thorowout malignant enemy , maliciously set and bent to destroy all truth ; exalts himself above all that is called God ; root and branch ; he strikes at all : he deals as Herod , who killed all the children from two yeers old and upward , that he might be sure to meet with the childe Jesus , and not let him escape . So this malicious enemy kills every budding and springing of God in the soul ; he kills all the light , kills the single love , kills all the good desires , that not so much as a right word , or desire , or groan , may live : and in all this , his aim is , utterly to destroy the Truth , the principle of God sown in the soul . Alas , he cares not else : if he can but kill the little spark of the Spirit of life , he cares not what else passes by and lives . Let us hear , and meet together , and eat , and trade , and take ease and content ; this is not the thing he is set against so , but to smite the king of Israel onely , that is his plot ; that was the wicked counsel of Ahithophel , to kill David onely , and bring all the people back to Absalom : Neither small nor great doth he strike at , but the King onely : he cares not what lives , so the Lord Christ the Truth , the Seed of life , the Heart and Minde of God ] may die in us . Such a height of wickedness is in him , that nothing else will content him , but the death of all that would be a Lord over him : a controuler , a King , this , Herod cannot bear . That which sits in the kings gate , and will not bow to him , [ that resolved Truth that will not fall down and worship the Idol ] nothing will content Haman but the death of this : though he get Decrees against all the Jews , though invited to the Queens banquet , and sit next the King , yet nothing will content him , whilst this Mordecai lives , [ that Seed of God , that root of the matter , that , which will not stoop and buckle to him , that he aims at ] and his fingers itch to cut off this name of Israel for ever . And Oh , what a Wo is this , to be under such a cruel malicious enemy ! that would not give a moments respite , not so much as a little breathing-time for the Truth ; not a little hope , not a little desire , not the least stirring of an inclination , but he 's upon it presently ; if it were possible , to stop every chink , that the smoaking flax might not have the least vent , but be utterly extinct and quenched .

3. A third great Wo lies in this , that he hath a time and power given him of God , to afflict and try : God allows it , and gives him leave to strike Job . This is YOVR HOVR ( saith Christ : ) an hour was given them . And God saith , I will cause them to pass under the rod. And 't is said in the Psalms , He TVRNED the hearts of their enemies to hate them . He gives him his time and commission to rend and tear , waste , spoil , and imprison ; and none can call him to account for it ; his Commission will bear him out . Alas , what a day is this ! In the time when the Man reigned , he promised himself fair , he should soon be delivered , and get thorow the Battel , and see an end of sorrow : I , but he little thought of this day , as Job cries out , He hath given me over into the hand of the ungodly ; when the devil has power given to try and afflict , and torment ; to let in what beasts he will , to destroy the vineyard . O wo indeed , when a Leopard is set to watch over the city ! when the Devil is suffered to keep watch and guard , that nothing can stir nor pass in or out without his leave . Power is given him ; he hath a time to lead into captivity at his will . But the day will come , when he that led into captivity , shall be led into captivity himself : He that spoiled and wasted , and cried , Down with it down with it , to the very ground . A turn will come ; and then , Blessed shall he be that serveth thee as thou hast served us . But Oh what havock doth this murtherer make when it is his day ! How doth he make the earth utterly waste and empty , and not a stirring of Truth may live ! If you minde it , we cannot sometimes speak a word , nor breathe a groan towards God , but he flaps on the mouth presently ; so cruel is he , when the power is put into his hand . But now ( saith Job ) now I am their song ; they mock at me ; the rascal and vile rout , whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock : [ every base , lowe , unworthy , trifling lust , can now lord it over the soul , and make their song on it . ] Oh this is a woful day indeed ! when the enemy has power to serve himself of the soul , without any controuler ; when he can carry captive at his will : this Christ cries out against ; If it be possible , let THIS CVP pass . And here David cries out , Oh let not the pit shut her mouth upon me .

4. Another Wo lies in this : he keeps the houe ; he is in possession : ‛ The spirit that rules in the HEARTS of the children of disobedience . There is a rotten and tainted sore within , that is seated in the soul , and sends forth such an unsavoury stink , if it were possible , to choak all that is good . The Devil hath got the dwelling-place in the heart , is in possession ; it is his house : and therefore whence hear you of all your enemies ? whence come your troubles , and perplexities , and wars , and fightings ? Come they not from your lusts ? ( saith Saint James . ) Is not all the mischief from within ? Out of the heart come adulteries , and murders , and thefts , an evil eye , &c. all comes out of the heart . Whence come all the pesters and torments ? out of the air , or from another ? ( as we often put it off ) No , the taint is within : Look not without thee for the enemy , nor for the devil ; no , but within ; IN THE HEART , there 's the seat , that 's his palace . A time indeed is to be , of his casting out ; but at present he keeps the house , and therefore neither good can come in , nor good come out , not a breathing of Truth stir , but he presently cries , Get you to your tasks , to your tasks ; that 's the word that stops all . He would not let a groan live : and this brings the soul into great bitterness , that neither good can come into it , nor a groan go out from it , but presently the Devil flaps Christ on the mouth ; [ some base taint or guilt comes in , and stops the rise and liberty of Truth . ] Alas , to have the Devil dwell so neer a man , in his bosom ! this is a misery indeed : Here the soul cries out , Wo is me , that I am constrained to dwell with them that hate peace . This is the present day and time with some of you : your enemies sit chief , and Zion is in the dust . I beseech you , let the Word sink into your hearts : ( for it will have a time to sink upon you all . ) Consider where you are , under what rule and government . If under the Mans reign still , then no marvel indeed you can live loose and free , and gird your selves , and go whither you will : But a time will surely come , when you shall know and feel this reign of the enemy : For till this Day be over , you can never indeed come under the reign of Christ : the Day of Christ will not be , till there be a falling away first , ( from the Mans reigning ) and that man of sin be revealed , the son of perdition , who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God : ( this is the time of the devils reign . ) And until this wicked one be revealed , whom the Lord Christ shall consume with the spirit of his mouth , and destroy with the brightness of his coming ; till this , you will never see that day of Christ , nor come under his time of reigning .

5. A fifth great Wo is this : He hath goods in us ; his goods are in peace : ] the Prince of this world comes , and findes of his own in us , ( though he did not in Christ . ) And that he hath goods in us , appears by that unsavoury smoak that always is coming up out of the bottomless pit : their throat is an open sepulchre , ( saith David ) a continual ill savour and stink comes forth . As the Church is described to be full of sweets , her garments smelling of myrrhe , aloes , and cassia , and all sweet perfumes : so in this condition , the soul is clothed with nothing but stinking rags , and polluted garments . The soul that is indeed awake and sensible , knows not how to endure its own stinking smell ; it is almost choaked and overcome with an ill savour , which comes from that abundance of rottenness , those goods of the Devil , and wares of Hell , that lie up in the heart ; so that the poor man knows not how to speak a word sometimes , nor think a thought , but an evil taint gets in first or last , that spoileth all ; all the thoughts and inwards are so poisoned by the devil . Here David cries out , My wounds stink , and are corrupt . In mars heart is that soul sepulchre of dead mens bones , full of loathsome rottenness . ( Do you know this ? have you felt and seen it in your selves ? ) There is that cage of unclean birds ; there is the Bittern , the Screech-owl , the Satyr : there all the beasts of the Forest creep forth : there is the Lions den , and all the bones he hath gnawn and scattered : Our bones are scattered at the pits brink ( saith the Psalmist . ) All is corrupt , and become abominable ; there are the goods of hell packt together : there he lays up envie , and wrath , and stubbornness , and deceit , and lyes . Now who will believe this report ! Who thinks his soul and heart to be the devils shop , the ware-house of hell ! But they that feel it , feel it ; and they that know , know ; and the day will surely come to finde out every man . How fair soever we may speak , and mince the matter , and wipe our mouthes ; yet the fruit will discover the root ; Samuel , will ask , What mean the bleatings ? Though we would hide and cover the Devil never so close , and paint and garnish him over with never so many fair pretences , yet he cannot be so whited , do what we can , but his black 〈◊〉 appear to them that have eyes , and can discern . Paul was brought to own and discover these goods of the devil : he cries out . In me dwells no manner of good thing ; all is corrupt . And God saith of Jerusalem , As a fountain casts out its water , so Jerusalem casts forth her sin . Now a fountain casts out water naturally ; it flows without pumping , and continually , it never slacks night nor day : and 3ly , a fountain casts out abundantly , no measure of it : and 4ly , irresistibly ; who can stop it ? So the heart casts out sin ; such a stock and endless store of the devils goods , are laid up in the heart . Do you believe this ?

6. Another great Wo is this : He is not onely a strong enemy , and most maliciously bent , and power put in his hand , and in possession , and hath stuffed the house with his goods ; but 6ly , he is armed too ; he hath armour to defend and maintain himself , and keep off all assaults that are made against him .

Now his Armour may be expressed under these three Notions .

1. He hath a coat of male upon him , which covers him quite over , that no word of Truth can come to touch and enter into him , and finde him guilty , though you try again and again , and shoot and shoot bullet after bullet , yet nothing shall enter ; his scales are so close to one another , that not the least air can come between , until the Lord shall direct an arrow thorow the joynts of his armour , and come to the heart : but it 's out of the reach of any creature to do it : his coat of male keeps off all : And though you may crush his coat a little sometimes , and hurt him a little ; yet he presently gets up again , and shakes himself , and he is well ; the wound is healed for it never came to his heart : his coat of male hath a thousand twistings and windings , to keep off all guilt from coming so nigh him .

2. He is armed with a helmet of brass upon his head : his wisdom fences him , that he is mighty able to plead the cause , and reason and dispute for himself : you shall never out-speak nor out-reason him , he has so many subtil windings and ways to put off the guilt : The fool is wiser in his own eyes , then a man that can give a reason . He hath a brazen brow , that be the case never so clear , yet he will not blush , nor ever yeeld he is guilty ; but some way , or trick , or shift is ever at hand to put it off , and save himself from being a sinner : some plaister or other he will finde , to heal the wound , and keep the guilt from sinking to his heart : though the case be never so plain against him , and though seven [ a compleat number ] witness and accuse him ; yet his helmet of brass keeps off all : he will not be guilty .

3. He is armed with a great spear in his left hand like a weavers beam ; and with this he dare challenge all : Come neer him who can ? By this spear he 'll seem to be for Truth , and fight the Lords battels , with Saul , and slay the Philistims : And who dare charge him now ? He is on our side ; he cries , A friend , a friend : He hath the Watch-word and the Colours : he 'll come and build the wall with you ; and who shall set upon him here : He 'll be zealous and forward in the Truth : he 'll plead , and answer , and prove , and condemn others for being thus and thus , ( as the Pharisees did Christ . ) And this spear reaches out so far , that there is no way to come nigh to reach , or once question him . Will you speak wickedly for God ? ( saith Job to his friends . ) There is a wicked speaking for Truth , many times ; a preaching of Christ out of envie , to snare another , or finde another guilty , and keep up our selves ; some base selfish end or other lies in it , that spoils all . Therefore God says , He will be Judge himself : he will judge between ends and ends , between thoughts and intentions . The Word of the Lord is quick & powerful , that pierceth between marrow and joynts ; that can get between , and meet with this enemy , when the time is come . But the work is wonderful : He is so sorely armed all over , 1. with a coat of male ; 2. with an helmet of brass ; 3. this long spear like a Weavers beam ; that , alas , what man shall come near to deal with him !

7. The last great Wo is , that this enemy is desperately ventrous , dares venture upon any strange designes : He 'll set on Christ , and hurry him about to a high mountain , to a pinacle of the Temple , into the wilderness . This Leviathan is made without fear : being thus armed and fenced , he cares for nothing . Whilst his armour is so close about him , he can venture on the mouth of a Canon , and is safe enough . He can vent out all his malice , and poison , and rage , and do all his mischiefs , and none shall touch nor controul him , nor come nigh to search his heart . He 'll be a friend to God , and Truth , and his People , come not nigh to judge him . And this is the armour of the whole world : they are thus cheated by the devil , and think all is well and right with them ; and under this covert he can work all his pranks and bring about all his mischiefs and murtherous plots against the Truth . And this is a great misery , the desperate ventrous spirit of this enemy , that rushes on all mischief without fear and dread .

Now minde : whilst this strong man armed keeps his Palace , his goods are in peace ; all is at rest and quiet ; there 's no trouble nor perplexity , no fears ; the whole earth is at quiet : and , if it were possible , he would never be disturbed , nor pitch battel with Christ , but keep his goods in peace . I , but a time comes when a stronger then he comes upon him ; and then the war begins , and the battel stirs , and the clashings appear : but this is the great happiness , that there is one that is stronger then this strong man , that can deal with him ; one that hath all the keys of hell , and can open and unlock all the doors ; one that can take away all his armour in which he trusted , and utterly overcome and rout him . Then ( saith Job ) the poor hath hope , and all iniquity stops her mouth .

And the way by which Christ accomplisheth this , is twofold .

First , He doth it , as I told you , by taking away all his armour in which he trusted . He trusted in his armour , that that should save him , and keep off all blowes : He trusted no arrow should ever pierce that , and come into his heart , and finde him guilty . He trusted in his wisdom , that he could reason and plead the case , and maintain his Way to be right and just . He trusted , his speaking good words for God , and pretending for Truth , and his love , zeal , and forwardness , should never have been questioned and ransacked . I , but Christ , when he comes , he takes away his armour ; all that in which he trusted and hoped , and said , Now I am safe ; I shall sit as a Queen for ever , I shall never see sorrow . I , but all his armour and fence is taken from him ; and this is a downfal indeed , when he is thus found out , and nothing can hide nor cover him any longer ; his coat of Male is taken from him , and then Truth can easily enter ; then nothing appears , but the mans nakedness , and guilt , and shame : then the man cries out , with Paul , I am the chief of sinners : then the Word takes place , and enters ; and every arrow sticks : Thine arrows stick fast in me ( saith David . ) Then the man falls under , as a poor , naked , helpless , hopeless thing : then he is counselled by Christ to buy eye-salve of him , and gold tried in the fire , and fine linen ; for he is found wholly naked , and blinde , and miserable . We had thought Christ had ruled in us , and we had been for God and the Truth : we had thought our zeal , and forwardness , and speaking for God , should have passed currant ; but take away this armour of the devil , and then we are found out to be a wretched deceitful people ; a lye and deceit appears to be running in all , and that there is nothing single for God and Truth , without base selfish ends of our own . And this is the first work Christ is to do in your souls , to spoil this strong man of his armour ; else no Word of truth can ever come nigh and seize .

2. After Christ hath taken away his armour , he then seizes on his goods , and DIVIDES THE SPOYL : the spoyl ! Why , what use can Christ make of his spoyl ? what can he do with all the devils goods ? You may see the thing illustrated , Jer. 15. where God speaks thus : Let that which is for death , go to death ; that which is for the sword , to the sword ; that which is for the famine , to the famine ; and that which is for captivity , to captivity .

1. That which is for death , to death : some of these goods are presently to go to death , to be utterly destroyed : The enemies which you have seen to day , ( saith Moses ) you shall never see them more . The malignant disposition , that was so wickedly bent against all prospering of Truth ; that evil eye , that which lay in the way , that one step Godward could not be taken ; that must be utterly destroyed , and cut off for ever ; that abomination must live no more ; that ill favour , that gave a taint and poison to all our ways , and thoughts , and words , that man to Death : Christ will say to that unclean spirit , Come out of the man , and enter into him again no more . That enmity of spirit , and hatred , and ill will to all good ; the end of that is , to be destroyed for ever . That Cain-like love , that hates its brother , and would not suffer the least breathing , nor prospering , nor looking up of the Truth : for , according to that evil disposition in you , if you minde it , the heart rises against all good , where-ever it appear ; though in a childe , in a brother , in a husband or wife , yet the enmity works , and hates to see your offering accepted , and mine laid by as nothing . But before Christ can ever come to reign , this must certainly die , and a whole turn of soul be wrought , and we made naturally to love and chuse the prosperity of the Truth .

2. Something must go to the sword : That which is for the sword , to the sword . The Word of God , that sword of the Spirit , that shall still go on ( after that great enmity is slain ) to search , and judge , and quicken , and stir up the man , and cut off what hinders that the soul may grow up into the minde of God ; and as it hath born the image of the earthly , so to bear the image of the heavenly : as we have given our members servants to sin , so to give them up to be servants of righteousness ; to be as free , and voluntary , and earnest in the service of the Lord , as ever we have been to serve our selves : to spend and be spent for the truth , this the sword must do ; cut out a way thorow all rubbish , for this minde to arise : It must cut away all that sloth and carelesness , that sluggish and carnal minde , that sits still at home , and would not come out to help the Lord against the mighty . When Christ shall come to deal with us indeed , and use his sword ; this must all be cut away , and the soul pruned .

3. Something must go to the famine . That ill taint , and setled indisposition , that has been gathered and contracted by long custom in evil ; that hankering and lingering after the wickeds dainties ; all this must to the famine , and be worn out by degrees , and pined by little and little , till it come to die . Where-ever the heart is taken , and hangs on the creatures , on eating , or wearing , or trading , ( or whatever enjoyments ) by degrees and degrees a secret moth shall eat and consume all : a wasting and consuming famine must cure this evil disease .

4. Something must go to Captivity , and that is the last enemy to be destroyed : the Devil he will yet keep some hold and footing , and not be utterly routed , so long as there is any dust to be the serpents food ; so long as the man hath any life beside the life of God . I , but now Christ shall designe him to captivity ; he shall be under ; a hewer of wood , and drawer of water ; a servant to Christ : he shall lord it no more . He shall be bound for a thousand yeers ; and that will be the souls greatest happiness , to keep him but in his prison , that he may not break forth , do his mischievous pranks , but lie in his dungeon , and be an underling to Truth , though he still live ; for some Canaanites will ever live in the land , to be the souls trial , &c.

And thus I have opened to you this Day , the great block that lieth in our way , the bonds and shackles that hold us so fast . It is Satans day , 't is his hour , and the power of darkness : the mans Day of reigning is declining and laid aside in most , if not all of you : the man is not suffered so to bear sway , and go at liberty , and soar aloft in his minde , but there are secret checkings , and mindings of a shortness ; and the black feet appearing , make the feathers fall . And in some of you it is an empty and desolate Day ; you are left without much stirring , either from God , or from the enemy : The land is void of both her kings . But the greatest and sorest Day which lies sore upon some of us , is , The reign of the enemy ; and then wo to the inhabitants of the world . Wo to that Land indeed , where the Wicked are in Authority ! I opened to you the several Woes in it .

And now to make some Use .

1. Examine , How is it with you ? Every soul look home : do you feel this strong enemy ? Do you feel how utterly malignant he is , and contrary to all good ? Do you finde it is his hour to be let loose , to rend , and rear , and perplex , and torment ? Do you feel indeed the pains of hell , and do the sorrows of death take fast hold , as David cries out they did upon him ? If you finde it not so now , nor have ever found it ; yet certainly a time will come when the enemy will shew himself , when the wicked one will get up into the throne , and exalt himself above all that is called God : a time will come of being hurried , and torn , and perplexed , under his wicked and tyrannous reign , when ye shall be made sensible where you are once : for whilst you stand sensless , as images and posts , nothing seizes on you , and you never think to see such a Day : but whether you feel , or believe to see it , yea or not , yet the Day will surely come , and try all that dwell upon the whole earth .

2. You that finde and feel this Day , it may inform you what a vain thing it is for man to stir or move hand or foot to rescue himself , or oppose this adversary . Alas , what is man to lift up a hand against him ! one that is so strong , and so malignantly bent to destroy ; one that hath a commission and power given ; one that is in full possession of the house , and furnished with all store of armour and goods in us . Alas , it is in vain to stir against him ! Man is too weak : 't is all one as if a poor lonesome woman should have twenty or an hundred plunderers in her house , ransacking and breaking up here and there ; alas , 't is in vain for her to stand against them ; they may do what they will , unless some other help come and rescue her : so vain and impossible is it for any of you to winde out of the hands of this enemy , and save your selves , if another Saviour , one mightier then he , deliver you not .

3. Therefore , in the next place , this might perswade you to lie down and submit to your bonds , till deliverance come . Answer him not a word , ( that is the Kings command , the charge of Truth ) but bear all his threats , and vauntings , and upbraidings . Let all run over , as God saith of Zion : And thou layedst thy body to the earth , for them to pass over . Lie in the condition , how miserable soever it be , till a stronger then thou or he shall come to deal with him . This is the peaceablest and most sutable way for our present conditions .

4. Yet this must give some hint of hope and encouragement , and cause the soul to put in and wait for a lot in this matter , since there is for certain such a thing as deliverance to be for some : there is a rest for the people of God : Our God will come ( say they ) and will not tarry . A stronger then he is spoke of , that is able to deal with him , and twist him about at his pleasure : and this might give a little encouragement to hope . But as for our parts , we can do nothing in it ; we cannot stand against the enemy , nor can we hasten the rising of Christ to deal with him ; Who shall say unto God , What dost thou ? Who shall stir him up before his time ? May he not do what he will ? Is he not Lord of all ? Therefore no way is for us , but to lie under and endure , and let all the waves go over our backs , till he shall command a calm : and he uses to come in an unexpected time , when all hope of life is gone ; when but meal and oyl enough is left to make one cake , and then the widow concludes to die ; then comes the word , The barrel of meal and the cruse of oyl shall not fail , &c. Therefore Oh that it was in your hearts to cry with one consent for this Saviour to arise ; this Deliverer , that might turn ungodliness from Jacob : All difficulties and impossibilities are nothing to him : that which is impossible with Man , with God is easie and possible . And this might raise up a little springing of hope against all rubs and bars that lie in our way . When he comes , he is able to deal with this mighty enemy . He comes provided ; His works before him , and his rewards with him : He will divide the spoyl , and take away his armor , and send that which is for death , to death ; that which is for the sword , to the sword ; that which is for famine , to famine ; and that which is for captivity to captivity : He keeps sure records of all , and will surely visit in his appointed time . O therefore that we had a heart raised and stirred , to cry with one consent for this Coming of his , and to give no rest night nor day , but cry , O come Lord Jesus , come quickly , till we have an answer , and be delivered !

THE Woful Case of the Lepers , OR The Soul at an exceeding Strait . SERM. XIV . June . 22. 1651. 2 KING . 7.3 , 4.

And there were four leprous men at the entering i● of the gate : and they said one to another , Why sit we here until we dye ?

If we say , We will enter into the City , the famine is in the City , and we shal dye there : and if we sit stil here , we dye also . Now therefore come and let us fall into the hoast of the Syrians : and if they save us alive , we shall live ; and if they kill us , we shall but dye , &c.

The Analysis .

THree things in general observed .

I. The present condition the Lepers are in : And that was opened in five Particulars , suitable to the misery of our present state .

1. They were without the City , out-casts : no enjoyment of the Society , Ordinances , Blessings , of the Commonweal of Israel . 2. They were all overspred with leprosie , might not talk with any , lest infect them : and how do we taint one another with our selves ? 3. Farther , a miserable famine was upon them , women eat their own children : so we forced to eat what is born of the flesh , [ our own Reason . ] 4. They are beset with an hoast of Enemies too : and this is our case at present , the world are up against us . 5. The light and sense of all this misery was upon them ; If we sit here , we dye : They knew and felt the heavy case they are in .

All this was brought home to our particular conditions .

II. Consider their hopeless and helpless Case to use any means to escape : If we go back into the City , we shall surely dye , &c.

This applyed to our conditions : in three things we are brought to something ; and if we go back , Death will surely be in it .

1. We are brought to a clear information of the vanity of all the worlds worship , and the shortness of our conversation in all points . 2. Made to see that all hopes and conclusions , without a certain witness from God himself , are short , and nothing to eternal Life . 3. We have professed to all , and chose in our Souls , a self-denying way , to take up the Cross dayly : and if now suffered to reason with flesh and blood , and go back in any of these , we surely perish .

III. Consider the great Submission and Bowedness of Heart in these Lepers . Let us fall into the hoast of the Syrians , we can but dye , &c.

About this three things considered .

1. They rise in this strange , leprous , out-cast , famish'd , forlorn case , as they are ; Come and let us fall into the Hoast , &c. 2. They venture upon Death it self , the mouth of Cannon ; need makes them run : they fall upon the Sword of their Enemies . 3. Yet they go at a peradventure , without any conclusions either that they shall live , or shall dye , but leave it and venture : And thus the Soul , truly buckled , comes in these three cases .

The Uses were , 1. To enquire whether the sense of our misery be upon us , as it was with the Lepers ? and that noise ever in our ears , If we sit here , we dye ? 2. If sensible , then learn , What did the Lepers ? they ventured upon the Sword : You 'l never have bread by ease , but venturing to endure . 3. Learn the way of their going ; without conclusions for , or against our selves , to say , Sure we shall be saved , or sure we shall fall short : stand between both , and go at a peradventure .

2 KING . 7.3.4 . And there were four Leprous men at the entring in of the gate : and they said one to another , Why sit we here untill we die ? &c.

THere are three main things in generall , which this day I would open to you from these words .

1. What an estate of misery the L●pers were in at the present .

2. How hopeless and helpless all wayes and meanes seemed in their view for a recovery . If sit here we dye , if we go into the City the famine is there , and we dye also : Death hedges them in on both sides .

3. Take notice of their submitted minds , how they are bowed to the hand that is against them .. They venture and fall under the Lords Sword , the Hoast of the Syrians : come what will , if they kill us we can but dye ; a great buckling of heart was upon them , and they go , not knowing the end , but carry their lives in their hands . But consider ,

I. What their present condition is , and how suitable it is to ours in these five particulars ; For this that befell them came not upon them for their sakes only , but was writ for ensample to us which are fallen in the same condition .

1. Then observe these Lepers sate without the City , they were out-casts , a people forgotten , & cast off as it were , and not left to share in the mercies of the Common-weal of Israel . Now the Common-wealth of Israel injoyed many priviledges , they had the Ordinances , the Temple , the Worship , and there was a common blessing that ran in these to them , not as though the Word had taken no effect ( saith Paul ) it did take some effect ; but now to be separated and shut out , and to have the heart hardened that the Word and all Ordinances slip over and take no effect ; this is to sit out of the City , and be separated from the common good of Israel , not to partake of the power of the Word ; but the heart hardened , and left without all sense and feeling , and motion , that whilest it is in the Ordinance , yet it is as not in it , In hearing it doth not hear , and in seeing it doth not see ; but is as a stone in a wall , that what ever weight lyeth on it , it feels nothing : and in such a day as this to be left as an out-cast , to have no fellowship from heaven , and no fellowship from earth , no society either with God or Man , this is the Lepers sad condition , destitute , afflicted , tormented , Heb. 11.37 . But now to come home to our selves , for that is the life of all . For what is it to me to hear of the mercy or judgment , or sin , or misery , or recovery of another ? if I have not my share in the condition , it will never seize , but passe over as a Tale that is told : now therefore see if this be not our present condition , do we not stand some of us as out-casts ? are not we cast out of the favour and nearnesse of God , of the Truth , and of our Brethren ? I am a stranger to my brethren ( saith David , ) and so Iob and Christ and our Fathers tasted of this Cup. How senseless and stupid is the heart under this Word and Ordinances ! They take no place at all ; like a dead man out of mind ( saith David , ) as like a dead man as may be , only not dead : Spare his life ( saith God concerning Iob : ) the life is maintained strangely , by a secret , invisible , unaccountable power ; the root of the matter is in me ( saith Iob , ) I , but his bough is not green , nor doth the dew lie all night upon his branch , his ways are not washt in butter as in months past : where are all our former operations , and powers and flourishings in the truth ? where is the Love ? the tender heart ? the single minde ? the cryes and groans to be satisfied with substance indeed , and no shadows ? have not all our riches made themselves wings and are flown away ? and are not we left miserably naked and destitute of all ? the power of the Word that reaches us not , the love and help from one another , the bowels of compassion they are shut up , how miserable forlorne are we both within and without ? we looke and gaze on one another , but if we come but near to speak , and breath a word together , either heart-rising or envy , or some evil taint or other gets in , do what we can ; this is our present condition , ( if we were but sensible of it ) all good is separated from us , and we are like the clung and frozen earth , hardned , and hardened , that nothing can enter : though the Light appears , and shines bright , to shew us our way , yet are we but like the earth in a winter night , the hardest Frost many times is upon it when the Moon shines clearest and brightest ; the Sun , the warm and enlivening beams of that , are far off : we stand out of the City , and are not partakers of the common mercies of Israel : the hired Servants had bread enough and to spare , but the Prodigall wanted that ; the ordinances were in Israel , there were widows , in sad cases to mourn and make lamentation ; there were Prophets to bring a word from God , to enquire and tell how long the sufferings were to endure , and what the meaning of the hand was , and what the end would be ( as Peter saith ) Ye have a more sure word of Prophesie , to which do wel to take heed , &c. though , in the dark , yet it was a great mercy , to have that sure word of Prophesie , to have entercourse there : but alas the Lepers , they must sit without the City , where they can hear no word from God , nor have any notice of good ; there is none to turn aside to ask how they do , for it is all one in the mystery , to be out of the house , to be out of the ordinance , out of the society , out of hearing , as not to have the blessing that runs in these : In hearing ye shall hear , and not understand , and seeing ye shall see , and not perceive : What a misery is this ? and are not we thus an outcast ? outed from the favourable presence of the Almighty , outed from the love and hearts of one another ? the Court of heaven hath excluded us , and our own Land casts us out ; we presently become a burthen to our selves and each other , and live only among harlots , and thieves , and murtherers , the strange lustings , and iniquities of our own hearts : who of you can say that word with spirit and courage , Our feet shall stand in thy gates O Jerusalem ? Who of us is joyned to ano her ? Who lives in counsell , & love , and the true one-heartedness ? Who stands not alone ? Whose Soul sits not down in its bonds , and is turned out to the wide World of temptations , trialls , and discouragements ?

2. Another misery of these Lepers is , that they are all unclean , and overspread with Leprosie ; not only shut out of the City , but they must come near none , to have any relief : They were to carry a cloth before their mouths , lest their breath should touch upon any , and so infect them , so loathsome and noysome was the disease upon them : and how truly is this our present condition ? How do we spoil and infect one another with our very words ? we cannot speak the least word , but a Selfish taint runs in it , and is ready to infect whoever it lights upon , either to sink their spirits with faintings about the difficulty of the way , or to stir them to frowardness , or move Jealousies : One mischief or other comes from this loathsome Leprosie , that selfish base taint that runs in all : so that they ( as many as are sensible ) know , and the Lord knows , that we sometimes know not which way to turn us , to speak a word , or do an action , or breathe a Breath without spreading a taint and infection in it ; and therefore Job cryes out at the last , I will lay my hand upon my mouth , I will speak no more : I will be among the Lepers , and cry , unclean , unclean . Do you not see this thing I speak of ? Do you not ●e●l , how you harm and grieve , and infect one another ? and that ever we should be cured and made to speak a word in season to strengthen and help forward one another , this seems wonderfull , but yet it is possible , If he will , he can make us clean : and Lepers , such as we are , have been cured ; but Lepers we are at present , wholly polluted and unclean , that is certain .

3. Yet farther , They were now under a miserable Famine : you may see at what a strange price an Asses head was sold , and Doves dung , and how they eat their own children , a woman cryes to the King , Help O King , this woman and I made a bargain to eat my Son to day , and her Son to morrow ; and we boyled my Son , & eat him , and now she hath hid her Son , &c. 2 Kings 6.28 , 29. a miserable Famine surely ! and when Elijah prophecied of plenty that should be to morrow , one of the Nobles , on whom the King leaned , looks upon it as such an impossible case , that he says , If God should make windows in heaven , can this thing be ? All shews the Famine was very sore in the Land , and this was like to undo them were there no other miseries at all upon them . Famine is the most miserable , languishing , uncomfortable death that can be : They that dye by the Sword ( saith Jeremy ) are better then they that dye by the Famine : O what a strange force is there in hunger ! How will it turn all upside down ? This at last buckles the Prodigall to the Dust , when nothing could touch him ; and how truly is this Famine seised upon us ? Not a Famine of bread , but of the word of the Lord . How doth the countenance fall , and wax pale because of the Famine upon our spirits ! there is no bread to be found to strengthen mans heart , no oyl to anoint his face , to make a chearfull countenance : I could ask all of you , How long it is since you met with a word of power and vertue that strengthened and gave life to your souls , and set you upon your legs to walk on in your journy chearfully and resolvedly ? Sure when you awake you will be sensible how lean and poor you are ; you have had so much hitherto provided and brought to you , as hath just kept life and Soul together , that you are not quite famished : and so had these Lepers , they were alive yet through all , I , but what strange shifts were they put to by the Famine ? made to eat Doves Dung , and boyl their own children , strange unnaturall wayes to keep a Life by ! and do not we use as hard shifts ? Are not you made often to eat your own children , to eat that which is born of your own flesh , comes out of your own Bowels ? your own wisdom and reason , and counsell , as David cries out , How long shall I take counsell in my own heart ? &c. We have no other food to live on now , and that we turn to , rather then we will starve : that which once we scorned , and condemned , and judged , ( as Job saith ) That which my Soul refused to touch , is made my sorrowfull meat : We have no other stay and refreshing , then these dry Husks , and it is a wonderfull thing , that we are not yet dead with such unsavoury meat : It was a sore day of Famine with Job , when all was taken from him , all his friends , and children , and wife , and servants , and cattle , and he sits on the Dunghill to scrape himself , and is cast off by all , that he cryes out , My breath stinks and is corrupt , my breath is strange to the wife of my bosome . This is a strange turn for one who had seen so flourishing a day ! and if you have never known plenty , you cannot so sensibly know want ; but if you have indeed tasted of the rivers , the brooks of honey and Butter , ( as Job speaks ) if you have ever tasted that the Lord is gracious , and then come to be denyed , that will be the sore Famine indeed : Oh how flourishing and green have we been in our young dayes ! what powers and breakings of heart upon us ! How could we have run barefoot , and broke through all blocks in our way to meet with the truth ! but now how is all dead and stupid , and clung within ! the inwards are shut up , that nothing can go down nor come to the heart to strengthen and nourish : but we dye , and pine , & famish , and walk about like shadows , without any true life and motion : It was misery enough to sit by the rivers of Babylon , and remember Zion , to them that were sensible of the loss ; they weep to think of Zion : but now to be an outcast from Israel , and all overspread with the Leprosie too , to have a loathsom disease sticking , that the breath must be stopt and kept from all society , this is more miserable still : but then to be in a Famine too , that the Soul can turn no whither for bread , the Nobles come to the pit , and there is no water , the poore and needy seek water , and there is none , &c. This is a wonderfull hard case indeed .

4. Another misery of these Lepers was , They were encamped round about with the host of the Syrians , their enemies were all about them on every side , and though they were such sorry worthless things , so full of woes , and miseries , that it might scarce seem worth the while to kill them , yet they stand in great fear of their Lives too , lest their enemies should fall upon them , and slay them ; for an Host was now come forth , a sworn company of profest enemies against all that belong to Israel , and have entred a League to cut off , and destroy both root and branch : and though the Soul be but as a dry leaf , a Partridge upon the mountains , a thing of no worth , as David pleads with Saul , Alas , against whom is the King of Israel come forth ? against a flea ? such a sorry thing as I am ? So the Soul sometimes pleads , alas , what a wretched creature am I ! I am destitute of God and truth , shut out from his people , all overspread with a loathsome Leprosie , ready to dye for hunger , dryed up to nothing with want and famine , and is not this misery enough ? Is there need of other force and violence , an Host to come against me ? the Soul sometimes seriously debates the Case , What is the meaning that all should thus conspire against a poor desolate creature ? a thing of nothing , a few sorry Lepers that will soon dye of themselves , though all should let them alone ? are you come out against me with Swords and staves , ( saith Christ ? ) alas they might have spared that labour , he was now in a most painfull agony , in a bloody sweat , his Soul was sorrowfull unto death , under the sense and burthen of sin , no need of a Sword against him . The Soul that is indeed sensible , knows and feels it is miserable enough , though no enemy from without should ever strike a blow against it , to be void of God , a stranger to the Common-wealth of Israel , to be a Leper full of sores , to be ready to starve for hunger ; is not here load enough ? But to all these , to be in continuall fears of death from an Host of enemies , who can utter the miserie of this condition ? Surely if the Lord remove us not hence , we cannot long live , and continue here . But ,

5. Another thing considerable in their present condition , is , The lively sense and feeling of their misery : they were not asleep , then the woe had been lesse , but they feel where the shoe pinches , As for our iniquities we know them ; the misery and fears lie hard upon their Souls : If we sit here we dye , and if we go into the City we dye , the famine is there : if we fall to the Army of our enemies , in all appearance we dye , they will surely kill us : a great Strait it is truly , if your Souls were sensible of it , to lie still in a barren wilderness is to dye surely : and if you stir a foot , to get out , there are pits to fall into , and wilde beasts ready to devour , and it is a thousand to one , if one mischief or other do not destroy . But all spoke in the general , I told you had no force nor power in it , if it come not home to us in our own conditions : therefore I shewed you how the Case was ours , we were the men , we are the Lepers . La. 3.1 . I am the man that have seen affliction ( saith Jeremy ) by the rod of his wrath . I told you , 1. How we were out-casts , cut off , cast out from the common blessings which belong to Israel : the word takes no effect , hearing & speaking , and praying together , they take no place , touch not the heart , but all we get , is put into a bag of holes ; It comes in at one ear , and goes out at another , nothing abides to be blest unto us : we said in our prosperity , in the day of our flourishing , we should never be moved , nor see sorrow ; I , but now how desolate are we ? voyd and destitute of all good ? how do we sit many a day , & not one good and sober thought doth passe through us ? because we sit as outcasts . 2. An evill disease hath taken hold of us , we are all overspred with the leprosie , so that we cannot speak nor have any dealings with one another but we are in danger of being infected and tainted : whatever we do or say , or designe , a selfish taint get● in , and spoils all : Let all your words be seasoned ( saith the Apostle : ) but how unsavoury a breath runs in all ours ? unsavoury to our selves , and unprofitable , if not infecting to all that hear us . 3. The famine is sorely upon us also , and like to that which was in Samaria , a Famine that puts us to it so hardly , that we are made to eat our own children , the fruit of our own thoughts , and wisdom , and reason ; we have no Bread from Heaven now rained upon us , but Bread from the earth , that is from beneath , our own fleshly thoughts and counsells , we have nothing else in a Strait to refresh our weary Souls withall : all is spent , and the Prodigall seeks to fill his belly with the Husks that the Swine eat , and they fail him also . 4. There is an Host of enemies hath beset us ; Troops that continually seek our lives , and wait for our halting both from within and from without , and they threaten like Goliah , never to give over till they have given our flesh to the beasts of the field , and the fowls of the air , till they have undone us , when the poor soul sits sadly bemoaning it self , alas ! I am an outcast , shut out from the favour of God , and of his people , and am made to sit alone in my chains . Alas ! I am a Leper and unclean , My wounds stink and are corrupt , a loathsome disease hath all over-run me , there is no sound part from head to foot . Alas ! I am ready to dye of the famine , the word takes no place : hearing is not blest to me , that which was once dearer then thousands of Gold and Silver , sweeter then the Hony , and Hony comb ; more sought for then necessary food : yet now all is gone , the Soul is empty and dry , and heartless : the famine hath consumed all ; and yet must an Host too come against the Soul in this case ? this adds to all our misery greatly . Here new fears perplex the Soul , lest the enemy come unawares , and slay it : The Lepers know not what shall befall them , and they are sensible of all these miseries now upon them . Alas ! you that go and come , and sit here as pictures , and are no more sensible then the stones in the wall , all this is nothing to you ; and I am wondering sometimes , how it is possible you should thus sleep away your time , and never consider you are going apace to Hell and destruction , but like the Smiths dog , sleep quietly , though the sparks fly about your ears : the words of the Curse , and the words of the Blessing , all are al●ke , nothing seiseth ; and this is your great misery , that you cannot come near your selves to enquire how is it , A deceived heart hath turned him aside , that he cannot ( possibly come to that word to ) say , is there not a lye in my right hand ? Isa. 44.20 . But now you that are made sensible , and know where you stand , and cry for bread to eat , somewhat that may cure and heal , and satisfie you every where , you that are under the sense and pain of this felt-want and misery , you clearly know these two things . 1. You see how an evill taint hath gone along with you all your dayes , from your childhood , which you never yet were cured of , and if you be not cured , it will surely undo you . And then , 2. We are under the sense of the great thing we are short of , of knowing the very inward mind and heart of God towards us , how we stand in that eternall favour of his , & acceptance : for till we shall have a clear and full certainty , what these everlasting thoughts of God concerning us are ; whatever else we have had , or may have , of powers , inlargings , refreshings , and operations of truth , yet all will be too short , to satisfie and set down our Souls : we must still lie , as the Lepers here did , at a peradventure and hazard , with our Lives in our hands : They can but kill us , &c. We know not what the end will be , how God will deal , whether save or destroy , but all our Life long we shall stand in fear of death , till we are freed from him that hath the power of Death , till we are satisfied by an everlasting witness of good-will towards us ; and that nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ : and to have the sense of this shortness upon us , sure it would make us stir and look about us . I wonder truly , how you can passe over a day , a night , an hour , and let the case lie at such uncertainties , and that you are not alwayes crying out with these Lepers , If we sit here , we dye ! if we are not freed from this selfish taint , from an evil heart that hath ever been nursed up with us , that will surely be our ruine : and if we are not in that eternall Good will of God favoured and accepted , that love which still cover a multitude of sinnes , and never fail , but save to the utmost ; if we are not found written in this book of life , we surely perish . And can we lie in this miserable condition , to be outcasts , Leprous , under a sore Famine , beset round with an Host of enemies , from within , and without , ( for do you not see and know how the world are up , and stirred against us , if it be possible to break us in pieces , from being a people ? ) & yet have we no sense , nor feeling of all this ?

II. I told you a second thing in generall to be considered , was , not only the present misery these Lepers lie under , but the hopeless condition of any way or means to help them : They are at their wits ends ; If we sit here we dye ; if go into the City , we dye ; if fall into the Host of our enemies , we can but dye , &c. which implies they could promise and expect no other thing . And thus are our souls hemmed in with straits on all hands . If we sit where we are , we certainly know and feel we are short and perish , and if we turn back to the world , and draw back from the place Truth hath brough us up unto , there we are sure to perish : and if we go on , an host of enemies is before us , what shall we do in this Case !

There are three things which Truth hath surely led us up to , and if we go back again , and turn in any of those Cases , we are sure to fall short and dye .

1. As I told you , we are brought to a true light and information of our present misery , in what a wretched , polluted , leprous case we stand , what a base selfish ta●nt is with us in all our way , how short we are of the life of God : and if we shall turn back from this , & the heart be left to reason , and plead , and blind it self , saying , sure I am not so miserable , the case is not so bad , as I may judge , &c. and so shuffle away , and get off the strait : This is to be undone , that is certain .

2. We are informed in the great thing we want , that without a clear and certain witness from heaven , sealed upon our spirits , of the everlasting thoughts of Good will towards us , that nothing else can be enough to stay and settle our Souls : this we are come to , to see nothing short of this will serve : and this there is a true close to , and cry for , at times , in our minds , in our inward man : However we are led captive , yet all along the eye is open to see what we want : and if here we shall be left to turn back , and reason with flesh and blood , and say , all reach not to the same pitch : why may not we be saved , though we are not led up so far as some others ? if we get off the strait thus , and turn to carelessness , and security ; this is the way also surely to perish .

3. We are brought to a Proclamation of , and have begun to enter into , a killing and self-denying way : the Proclamation hath sounded to leave all things and take up the Crosse , and follow Truth : not to please our selves , not to take content or sit down in any of the creatures , not to have a Kingdom in this world , but to walk always as strangers and pilgrims , seeking another country : this we have chosen according to our Light , and this we have professed to the world , and if we shall be left to fall back here , and say , This is a hard saying , who can bear it ? to be ever dying , to be killed all the day long , &c. and so shall turn again to vanity , to the beggarly elements , to make a Captain , & go back to Egypt , to turn with the dog to the vomit , &c. I say , to be left to this , is a certain token of being undone . Many of you might have dyed in peace , and been truly saved formerly short of this conversation , before the Light came up , and the thing was called for to leave all : but now to resist , and withstand the light that arises in your day , to rebell against the Lords call , this is certainly to be undone : and therefore if the Lord help you not out , and bring you not up to the next step and buckle your hearts to the dust , and make you lie under and submit to the hand , and venture your lives , and say , Let him do what seemeth him good ; without you come to this , you are undone : if you shall make a Captain to return into Egypt , then remember what befell , He sware in his wrath , that they should not enter into his rest : and so they that were invited to the Feast , and draw back , and make excuses , see what comes of it , he swears , they shall not taste of his Supper . I could desire you might never come hither to hear , unless there be a heart indeed to go on ; it is not easie dallying with the truth , not like going to ordinary Chu●hes and meeetings , there you may hear many years , and never be touched to the heart , nor found so guilty for not going on in the Truth ; but it will not be so here , the Word will surely take place , and be either a savour of life to life , or of death unto death .

And thus I have opened to you the present miserable condition the Lepers sit in , and brought it home to our own case , and the case indeed is miserable to sit down in it ; and if ever we rise , it will be a wonderful recovery . You that are sat down , O consider , and think of it ; for if you are left here , it had been good for you you had never been born . Then I have shewed you how they were hem'd in with Death ; if they go back , they dye ; if fall to their Enemies , in all appearance they dye . I apply'd it to our particulars , and shewed you three Things we were brought to , from which if we turn back , it is no less then Death . 1. We have seen the end of all the Doctrines of the world , an end of all the ways of false worship . 2. We know how we are short , and what we want , and that nothing but a certainty , and clear evidence of the love of God opened and sealed to our Souls , and that we may be made like to him , nothing else can ever content and satisfie us . 3. We are come to receive and entertain the Proclamation of a self-denying way , to bid farewell to ease , and quiet , and self-pleasing , and take up the Cross dayly ; and if in any of these Cases we fall back , we are surely undone . And now to speak of the last Thing observed from the words .

III. THE GREAT SUBMISSION AND BUCKLING OF THEIR SPIRITS . Come , and let us fall into the Host of the Syrians , for we can but dye . Can but dye ! Alas , and is that little ! How are their Souls ground to powder , and their hopes layd in the dust , and they venture with their lives in their hands ? In this Buckling of the Lepers , I would observe to you three Things .

1. They rise : for they were set down ; but are made to look about , and say , If we sit here , we dye : And must they rise now ? This is a strange time and case to stir in ; what when out-casts ? when Lepers ? when almost starved ? when cast off on all hands ? I , now they rise ; need makes the naked man run : They do not stand to dispute the case as our hearts sometimes do ; Alas , I am unclean , and an out-cast , and filthy , and should I now look towards God ? But if the famine pinch'd you to the heart , it would make you up , and be going , and not reason the case , I am ragged , and torn , and uncomely ; 't is not a time to look for any message from God , whilest the case is thus with me . Alas ! Hunger stands not upon manners and modesty ; it says , Give me bread , or I dye : The sore famine buckles the heart , and makes it stoop to any thing : It turns to the hand that smites ; it falls at the foot , and says , Let him say and do with me what seems him good ; Lo here I am .

2. In this submission of theirs , they fall into the Host of the Syrians ; they fall upon the sword . Now the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God ; with this it cuts , and divides , and pierces to the heart ; and when the Soul is brought to this pinch , it bows indeed , it accepts of all ; Let him read , and say , and do what he will ; let me hear all his mind , the judging part , the cutting part , that which most strikes to the quick . The heart is not now coy and nice , and stands upon those terms of picking and choosing ; it says not , This is too sharp , and the other too cruel ; I cannot bear that hard saying , or the other dealing : No , but now to the hungry Soul every bitter thing is sweet : Every word of God is good ( saith Agur. ) And Paul under this buckling of heart cries out , The Law is holy , just and good , but I am carnal , &c. Thus the Leper crouches down , and lays his neck to the block ; if the sword will spare it , well , if not , it lies to take the blow ; I can but dye : and with Esther , If I perish , I perish .

3. Consider the carriage of the Lepers in this great strait : They rush not on furiously and desperately , and say , Come , all shall be well ; they take not the Kingdom by force ; nor do they go utterly fainting and despairing , shutting out all hopes of their lives by hard conclusions : but with a sober submitted spirit they venture , ready to take up what ever befalls ; b●● whether life , or whether death , that they leave , and conclude not the matter : And in this posture doth the Soul truly buckled ever draw near to God . And therefore when ever you are upon your hasty conclusions one way or other , saying , Sure I shall come to nothing , or sure all will be well with me ; you say you know not what , both are alike false , and come not from a submitted heart that stands in the strait , and gives not up all for lost in the worst time . How did Josephs Brethren expostulate the case , and plead with him when he seemed most harsh to them ? and though they buckle and own , We are all my Lords bondmen , we are guilty ; yet they plead , and hang on him , and cannot give over ; but , O my Lord ( saith Judah , ) let thy servant I pray thee speak a word in my Lords ears , &c. This is a token of a Soul that is at a want indeed . Many talk of a Heaven , of a God , and of an eternal life , but 't is but in way of complement , they are not at a want indeed , their Souls are not fired with a thirst for the living God ; but want will carry through all . Though the Soul be an out-cast , and the enemy reproach it , and upbraids , how ill it hath dealt with God , and how can it ever hope for mercy ? yet nothing can stop or hinder it ; the needs press it on , and the noyse continually rings in its ears , If we sit here , we dye . Now for Use of this , Consider :

1. Do you indeed hear this voyce in your Souls , ever living , and speaking , and giving no rest , If I sit here , I dye ? O that it were the Lords will to thunder it in your ears , that you might ever hear it sounding , If we sit here , we dye ! Who of you have attain'd to that certainty , that are sure you shall never fall short ? There is a two-fold Death : A Death of your good , and light , and love , and enlargements , and attainments , that may be come to in the Truth ; and here you that are to be saved may dye in this Wilderness : And there is an everlasting Death , to be utterly cut off and separated from God . And can you have any rest till you are satisfied in both these , for your state , and for your attainment ? Can you get off from that voyce within you , If I sit here , I dye ?

2. You that indeed hear this noyse in your Souls , do you learn of these Lepers ; venture into the host , fall under the hand , let nothing keep you back ; not because you are forlorn , and miserable , and all overspread with sin ; shall this keep you back ? But it shall not keep back all , some must enter and come as they are , in their rags and unclean garments ; they must venture upon the swords point : and if ever you get bread , it must be this way ; not by ease , and sitting still , and shunning sufferings : No , but by venturing into the midst of the Host , in taking up the Cross dayly ; not by picking and choosing here a bit , and there a bit ; but if hungry indeed , the whole Lamb must down , and the bitter herbs ; nothing must be too hard .

3. The manner of these Lepers going without conclusions one way or other , for or against themselves ; this may shew you the right way of coming at a peradventure , not propounding to our selves what will come on it , but to venture , and leave the success to another , to lie before the sword , and say , Let him do his pleasure , Lo here I am , let him do what seems him good : If it please him , he is able , he can cure , and heal , and save us ; but if not , lo here we stand in his presence , and lie at his mercy .

Thy Will be done ; OR Christs Amen to the bitter Cup. SERM. XV. July 6. 1651. MATTH. 26.42 . He went away again the second time , and prayed , saying , O my Father , if this Cup may not pass except I drink it , Thy Will be done .
The Analysis .

FOur General Things observed from the words .

I. This Cup must in no ways pass from Christ without drinking . II. Christ certainly knew this , by proving and trying to the utmost to escape . III. The ground why it cannot pass , was the Will of God . IV. Christ submits and bows to this at last , Thy Will be done .

In this Submission of Christ , seven Particulars considered .

1. He submits to be betrayed by one of his Disciples , that eat at his Table , they took sweet counsel together ; this a great woe . 2. Submits to be betrayed into the hands of sinners , not righteous persons : and here seven Aggravations considered . 1. They are a multitude ; that which is the Betrayer of the Soul , le ts in a multitude , an Host , swarms of ungodliness . 2. They come against him with swords and staves ; not only swords to kill , but staves to defend , and prolong the misery . 3. They lay hold on him : sins get upon the Soul , and are too strong , it cannot shake them off . 4. They bring him before the High Priest , an Enemy , and unequal Judg ; so the Soul brought befo e the Devil to be judged . 5. When He begins to speak , they flap him on the mouth : so is the Truth snib'd within , if it speak a word to clear it self . 6. They crown him with thorns : so the Truth pestred and cumbred with thorns , cares , fears , &c. 7. They seek false witness against him to put him to death : so the great search in the Soul , is , to prove all has been deceit , &c. 3. Christ submits to be put to death unjustly ; no just thing is against him , but only false accusations ; yet he submits to dye . 4. He submits to a most base , unworthy , and ignominious death . 1. Crucified between two Theeves ; Truth dies between the man and Devil . 2. Buried in the field of blood , the place of a skull . 3. The Souldiers part his garments ; Lusts share the garments of Truth . 5. Submits to be left of all his Disciples and Friends , they all fly away : so all the labours and good that ever the Soul hath done , now forsake it . 6. His Father hides himself from him : He cries , My God , my God , but not now , my Father ; His bowels are hid . 1. He hides himself , because his Son is to dye , and he will not see the death of his Child . 2. He doth it , that the Son may learn obedience from what he suffers : Nothing so crushes the Soul , as the absence of God . 3. He doth it , that the blow may seize ; whilest he is present , 't is impossible the Soul should dye : Three children burn not . 7. That which adds to all , He submits to be dumb and silent , not to complain under all this : and that for three Reasons . 1. That he may stand to his word : He had consented , Thy Will be done , and if now complain , he contradicts all . 2. Dumb , to give no evil example of murmuring to others . 3. That he might not lose all his recompence and reward .

All was brought home practically , and Application made .

1. To enquire every one , What is my Judas , that lurks and lies hid ? what will be my Betrayer ? need to know it . 2. To inform what we are to meet with ; if we will go to life , we must drink the same Cup ; therefore let it not be strange .
MATTH. 26.42 . He went away again the second time , and prayed , saying , O my Father , if this Cup may not pass except I drink it , Thy Will be done .

HAving spoke several times to you of the General Points observed from the words , we came at last to the fourth Point , viz.

After all means used by Christ to avoyd this Cup , after all strivings , intreatings and prayings , O my Father , if possible let this Cup pass ; yet at last submits , Thy Will be done .

In the conclusion he bows and buckles , and is ground under , and made to cry out , Thy Will be done . And in this saying there is so large , and vast , and deep a thing contained , that truly it swallows up all things else : Heaven , and Earth , and all creatures are as nothing before this Will of God ; All things must come to buckle , and be crusht , and lie in the dust before it ! Alas , it will make the sensible heart to shake and tremble , and the ears to tingle , to hear and see what Christ here submits unto , what he gives consent to in saying this word , Thy Will be done ! an unfathomed depth of submission and bowedness of Soul lies up in it , to take up all sufferings , and sorrows , and miseries that can befall . For more plainness , I branched out the thing into seven Particulars , which Christ here submits to , and to which all the saved ones must consent , and follow in the same steps : In which seven particulars , ten thousand miseries and sufferings are layd up , which no heart can conceive , nor tongue express ; what all they must pass through that go to life , and shall be made to drink of the Brook in the way , before they must lift up their heads .

1. In this saying , Thy Will be done , He submits to be betrayed by one of his Disciples ; one of his own house lifts up himself against him , one that eat of his bread , and was his familiar friend ; as 't is expressed in the Psalmist , We took sweet counsel together , and walked in the House of God as friends : And this is a wonderful misery to take up ; Had it been an enemy , I could have born it ; but thou my friend , my familiar , &c. This cuts to the heart : This very case befalls the Soul in which Truth is . There is something that sticks near to it , a friend that lies in its bosom , and is nursed and favoured by it ; something that walks in the House of God with it , and pretends to be for God , and Truth , and pleads hard , as if all were intended for the Souls good ; and this will be a sad day , when this very thing shall be found to be the Betrayer ; and yet this Christ submits to , when he consents , Thy Will be done .

2. F●rther , He submits to be betrayed into the hand of Sinners : And here are seven great Aggravations of misery .

1. They are a multitude into whose hands he is betrayed : This flattering and smooth-mouth'd Betrayer , this Judas , that comes with a kiss , and salutes , Hail Master , a great multitude is at his heels ; he brings in a whole Troop after him . Oh that you could read the thing in your selves , in the work upon your own Souls ! For there is all this to be fulfilled , if you go in the same way with Christ , and tread in his steps , if you drink of the same Cup ( as all the saved ones must ; ) for there is no other way to life , but to be planted into the likeness of his death ; the likeness in all cases , though not the very same particular Tryals that he had . And now this you shall find true , that when ever this Judas that betrays the Soul gets in , when by his counsel , or wisdom , or flatterings , and fair promises , that cursed Betrayer gets in his foot , and deceives the Soul with a kiss : then he lets in a multitude of enemies against us , then come in the swarmings of wickedness ; They compassed me about like Bees ( saith David : ) Then come in all the floods of ungodliness , and make the Soul afraid ; Then all the fountains of the great deep are broke up , and come with violence , ready to sweep away all before them : Then the Sea brings forth abundantly all manner of creeping things ; Then a night presently overtakes the Soul , and all the beasts of the Forrest creep forth : Strange monsters and things we never saw before ; mire , and dirt , and strange wickednesses appear , that we never thought had been in us . This Betrayer brings out all against us . We had thought we had been knowing , and well seen into the ways of God ; but now ignorance , and mists , and confusion beset , that the Soul cannot see nor know one distinct Truth . We had thought we had been good-natured , and tender-hearted , and friendly however ; but now rage , and madness , and desperateness get up . We had thought sure we had a will and desire towards God , and were willing to be ruled and ordered by him ; but now the punctual fightings , and opposings , and resistings shew themselves , that the Soul is made clearly to see , it chooseth Death rather then Life : All monstrous wickedness gets up , when this son of perdition is to be revealed in the Soul , and hath once betrayed it . I would you might read these things as we go , for all this a written for our learning ; and if this was done to the green tree , then what shall be done to the dry ? This is no other condition then what hath befallen our fathers in their day : When God hath brought them to Judgment , and this work of bringing them through death to life was in hand , they ever had a Betrayer , that lay close , and did them all the mischief , and brought these Troops of Enemies against them ; and it cannot be prevented : This son of perdition will thus act , he will betray and bring the Soul to death ; and he lies close : he is in all the saved ones ; and there is no other way to life , but by having him cast out : But he will first surely spit his poyson , and play all his pranks , if it were possible to undo the very Elect : Such an Host , such a multitude he brings with him , that sometimes it agasters and amazes the man to see how he is beset , what swarms of iniquities & strange unthought of lusts appear . And we shall all surely find this true in our selves , when God shall have that work in hand , of bringing us down to death , ( the house appointed for all the living , ) which all the saved ones must pass .

2. This multitude come armed and provided against him , with swords and staves ; and herein lies a great mystery , if you were able to read it : Thy rod and thy staff sustain me ( saith David . ) The Enemy also he hath swords and staves to destroy ; and mind , there are staves as well as swords : Now staves are dull weapons , and though they may bruise and batter , yet they kill not : and this is a great aggravation of the misery , that the sword may not come alone , suddenly to cut off , and make an end ; but there are staves too , that bruise and batter the Soul , and yet touch not its life ; but it must hang in death : And this Job cries out against ; O that I could find the grave , then should I be at rest , I , but in those dayes ( it is said , ) men shall seek death , and it shall fly from them : They cannot dye : and this wonderfully adds to the misery , that the Soul is wounded , and cut , and pierced , and yet cannot reach to dye : the staves keep off the sharpness of the Sword , that it doth not quite kill . The Sword of the spirit , is the Word of God ; the true Light that the enemy makes use of , that searches , and cuts , and judges , and finds guilty every where , and leaves no thought unjudged : and this Sword would soon cut off , where it let loose . Thou writest bitter things against me ( saith Job : ) and this , though it be cruell , yet it would seem easier to the Soul in that day , and under that anguish , if it might but go on to make an end : then should I yet have comfort , &c. ( saith Job ) Iob 69 , 10. But there are staves too , that keep off the blow from coming to the heart . There are secret hopes from the Devil steal in , and get up , do the Soul what it can , that so it cannot dye , but lies thus miserably hattered to and fro , and can get no wayes , as David cries out , Thou hast beset me behind and before , that the Soul can neither get to God , nor from God , nor to death , nor from death . O Lord , who can read the Riddle !

3. This multitude lay hold on Christ , and lead him away : they are too potent and strong , and he hath no might nor strength to withstand them : This is your hour , and the Power of darkness : but it is the day of his weakness , his wings are cut , that he cannot get away : He cries out , I am a worm and no man , a scorn and reproach among the People : and this the Soul shall find true in it self : there is a time when Christ is strong and can get away from them , a time when the Soul could deal with its lusts , and curb and beat them in , when ever they appeared : and like Sampson , when ever the Philistins came to bind it , It could but arise , and shake it self , and get loose again . I , but there is a time when Sampsons strength is departed , and the Philistins prevail , and carry him by force , and put out his eyes , and make him grind in a mill , and he cannot withstand : such hold do sins lay upon the Soul , They take such fast hold on me ( saith David ) that I cannot loook up : and again , speaking in the name of Christ , My sinnes are gone over my head , as a burthen too heavy for me to bear ; they stick close to the Soul , that it cannot get loose : they stick as the flesh to the bones , that the Soul is no wayes able to shake off these Lions , and Tygers , and devouring beasts that lay hold upon it , it is impossible for the soul to get them off , but it ●s led captive , and made to serve and follow whither this wicked rabble will lead it : and here Iob cries out , That which my Soul refuseth to touch , is made my sorrowfull meat : and so Paul cries out , that he was a slave and sold under sin , and that which I hate , and would not do , that I do ( saith he ; ) such a strange haling is there , and leading captive by sin : And this you will all have a time to find true , that your iniquities will be too hard for you , you will not be able to stand before them , they will pr●vail , and have the victory , else what need that challenge to Death and Hell , where is your victory ? if they had not the victory once ? yes , they surely will have the victory over all : but now not to be left in Hell , not to be holden of the grave , but to be raised up by the same Almighty power which raised up Christ , this will be the Salvation ; but this will be the sad day to the Soul , when it shall be thus left in the hands of Sinners : In those dayes they shall mourn , &c. We promise fair , I can submit to be ruled & ordered , and part with this and other , and be denyed of my wil and runs of heart : alass , you know not your heart , nor the multitude and strength of your enemies ! They wil surely come to be too hard for you , that you shal not be able to get out of their hands , but a base rabble company of unworthy lusts ( which somtime the Soul hath scorn'd should touch it ) now lay hold & lead it away like an ox to the slaughter , and as a fool to the correction of the stocks , and it cannot help it , nor wring any ways out of their hands .

4. They bring him to the high Priest , and set him before a partial & unequal judg that is set against him , and right or wrong will certainly do what he can to put him to death ; and thus is the Soul dealt with , in this day , when it is betrayed into the hands of its lusts : They presently lead and hale it to be judged by their own King , the Devil , he sits in the seat of Judgement to hear and cast the matter : he who never favoured Truth , was never a friend to it , but a murtherer from the beginning , seeking all wayes and means to destroy , yet He must now be Iudge , and condemn , and accuse , and upbraid the Soul , in this day of its calamity . Now Shimei comes out , and upbraids , and curses David , Come out thou bloody man : Now all the blood of Sauls house is come upon thee : Alas ! there was another hand in it , he was clear and innocent concerning Sauls blood ; he had spared his life , when it was in his hands to slay him , and had done good to Sauls house : but yet this false charge must be laid in his dish , and he must bear the railing , and go away as guilty . O Lord , if your Souls be awake , and do but mark the carriages within , you will see what a stir this wicked Judge makes to find some false accusation or other , for which he may pass a sentence of death against the Soul : how doth he bestir him to prove , that all that ever the soul had or did , was but a deceit , and in hypocrisie , and no truth was in the bottome of it ? and this is a token you were a deceiver , ( saith the Judg ) and this proves you will come to nothing , you ever had a base taint in all you did , a base selfish end : and here the poore creature stands amazed , and silenced at these cruell charges , when presently this wicked Judge is upon its back , and will not give a breathing time , but asks an answer : Answerest thou nothing to what these accuse thee of ? he calls for an answer in a moment : when the Soul stands amazed , and nonplust , and knows not how to get up a sober thought , or word , at such an instant , to plead for it self , yet then they press to have the Sentence pass against the Soul , as if there were nothing of truth and singleness , but a dissembling hypocriticall heart in all .

5. When Christ begins to speak for himself , presently one smites him upon the mouth , answerest thou the high Priest so ? why ( saith Christ ) If I have spoken evil , bear witness of it ; but if good , why smitest thou me ? So if you can read the Parable , when ever the Soul in this day goes about to speak a word for it self , though never so fairly , and soberly , and according to truth , opening the thing as it is ; presently one or other of this Rabble multitude flap it on the mouth ; some base fear or discouragement comes in : What , dare you look towards God ? Dare you speak or plead a word for your self ? Are not you found guilty and deceitfull here and there ? And do you look for mercy ? so that when this work must pass , of bringing the Soul to death , all things must work to that purpose : it may not have liberty to speak a word to clear it self , how innocent and clear soever it be .

6. They crown him with Thorns : A Crown of Thorns indeed ! 'T is said of the Thorns , that they choked the seed , and made it unfruitful : A Crown of cares and pesters come in , which way to take , and what to do , to escape this hand , and get from the blow . Oh that the King of Glory should wear such a Crown as this ! He that was born to a Crown of Glory , a Crown of Gold ; yet he too must be rent with these Thorns : He was under cares and fears ; and therefore 't is said , He was heard in the things he feared : He looked about to his right hand , and to his left , to see if there were any to help , but he found none : This Crown of Thorns rends his head , the cares and fears which in the day of his flesh did beset him . Then they put on a Purple robe ; in derision and scorn they mock at him , Hail King of the Jews , and make a sport at his misery . And thus many times the cursed Lusts within , insult , and triumph , and mock the poor Soul , when it is in this miserable strait , and upon the nick of Life and D●ath : Can you read it ?

7. They sought false witness against Christ : They were busie to search and enquire out all that could come against him , right or wrong they matter not . And if you mind in this day , there will be a most strict search and enquiry made , if any can come in against the Soul , to prove it a Deceiver and Hypocrite in all it hath done or said for Truth . Can you not read the Parable ? What inquisition is made by the high Priests to prove against the soul , that all its best good was tainted , all it hath ever done or spoke for God , that all this was in deceit , and a base selfish taint ran in all , & that there is no singleness in the bottom to carry it through ? This is the thing the Enemy main●y aims at , and this cuts to the heart , as a sword , to be thus upbraided and dog'd with accusations and outcries within , that all was but deceit , and the Soul shall come to nothing , &c. And this I would have you mark , what will surely befall us in the day of our calamity ; what dealing we may look for , and expect , if we will follow our Master , and tread in his steps . Many speak much of the Death of Christ , but they come not to it , to know and feel it in themselves : But if we never be planted together with him into his death , never shall we partake of his resurrection , if we come not to the same submission of heart , to say , Thy Will be done . And in this word I told you seven Things were considerable , which Christ accepts of , and consents unto , though the Execution was yet to come and pass upon him . 1. He submits to be betrayed by one of his own House , by a Disciple , one of the Twelve , one that goes for a Friend , and had another heart given him , though never a new heart . 2. He submits to be betrayed into the hands of sinners , a multitude come against him ; and there I opened to you seven particular Aggravations . Now to come to the next Thing .

3. He submits and yeelds to be put to death wrongfully : He is falsly accused , falsly judged , falsly condemned : They bring nothing truly , but only lyes against him ; and yet he submits to take up death , though never so unjustly condemned : They lay that to my charge which I never did ; and therefore their Witnesses could not agree ; there is ever a jar will be between lyes : One comes and witnesses , This man blasphemed , and said , I am the Son of God ; another says , This man said , I will destroy the Temple of God made with hands , and in three days raise one made without hands : And this was a lye , He had said no such thing , but spake of the Temple of his Body . And thus is the Soul dealt within this day , false Witnesses come against it , and upbraid it ; Well , you said once you should never be moved , you should never be left nor forsaken of God , but that he was your Father for certain , and you should be saved : When alas the Soul that is to be saved never durst conclude any such thing , till it be sure indeed ; but in its best day , ever it stands in fear and jealousie what the end shall be . Other Witnesses come , and bring in a false charge on the other hand ; ' Well , you said once there was no God , no ' Heaven , no Hell , nor Life to come : And this is a flat lye also . The Soul to be saved , could never , nor durst ever say , there was no God , though it hath truly complained and bewailed that it knew not God , nor Heaven , nor the life to come ; it was dark and ignorant in these cases as a blind creature ; and this was its heavy woe and bitterness . And all this while the Witnesses agree not , they differ in their Tale , and their Accusations are all false , and unjust , and groundless ; no one true thing is brought against him , and yet he must dye ; still they cry , Crucifie him , crucifie him , and he submits to take it up . But what is the reason , why must he dye , when no just Cause is found against him ?

1. Because it is determined so , it is the determinate Counsel of God it should be thus , though brought about by wicked hands .

2. He dyes for the glory of God , that his Power , and Might , and Truth , and Faithfulness might appear the clearer , in raising up from the dead : As Christ said of the blind man , Not for this mans sin , nor his parents , was he born blind , but for the glory of God . Alas ! were man to dye for sin , ( for that very cause , and no other , ) he might dye again and again , ten thousand times over , and never have done the work : No , but precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his Saints : They dye not to satisfie for their sin , but for the glory of God . Did the Father lay any thing to the Prodigals charge when he came home ? No , his sin was that he came no sooner , the father was ready to receive him notwithstanding all his rags and riotous behaviour ; this hindered not his acceptance , but his keeping away from his father , that was his great sin . When they accuse Christ as a glutton , a wine bibber , a Companion of Publicans and Harlots , a Breaker of the Sabbath , a Blasphemer , and would put h●m to death for these ; alas , they charge him unjustly , he is not guilty of these . So all that is layd to the charge of the Soul in that day by the Enemy , all the hypocrisie , and deceit , and envyings , and coverings , and lustings ; alas ! all this belongs not to the Son of God , the Truth is clear . But these are the Devils goods , his ware , and he and his goods must perish together : The Truth is free , and disowns and hates all ; and the man ( take him as separate from that evil Spirit , as standing alone ) and he is harmless and innocent , only his woe add misery is to be cumbered , and pestered , and plagued with these goods of the Devil , lodged within him . But now the Accusation and Charge is never layd rightly and truly , for then the Enemy must accuse himself , which he will never do : He never hits rightly on the sore , where the Souls great woe , and misery , and weakness lies , that is hid from these false Witnesses ; but they venture to speak desperate and punctual lyes , if it were possible to destroy the Soul by them : if you do but mind how the wheels move within , when ever the man is indeed put to a strait , and stands in anguish , then the Lyar steps up , and witnesses falsly ; then they say ( acted by this Spirit , ) 'T is you , Moses and Aaron , that have made our savor stink in the nostrils of Pharaoh and his servants , and you have brought us into this Wilderness to slay us with thirst : It was all false ; they were sent to be their Guides and Deliverers , to bring th●m to the good Land : But the Lyars mouth was open ; and this Christ is made to submit to , to have his Life taken from him unjustly , and without cause .

4. Another Thing Christ submits to , when he says , Thy Will be done , is , to be put to the worst and shamefullest death of all : The Circumstances aggravate the Death . 1. He is crucified among two Thieves , as one of that company , guilty as they ; He is numbered with transgressors : The Truth suffers as guilty , though it be clear ; as Deceivers , and yet true ( saith Paul . ) Truth suffers between the Man and the Devil ; they are the two Thieves . The Devil he is the great Thief ; he steals to himself Lordship , and Power , and to sit in the seat of God , and to be Disposer of things ; He brags and vaunts , All this will I give , if thou wilt fall down and worship , &c. Alas , they are none of his goods . Then the Man , he is a Thief too ; he steals a little hope , and ease , and rest , a little release of his burthen when it presses very sore : and this Thief steals for his want to satisfie his hunger ; and therefore he may be saved with Christ : But between these two the Truth must dye , as one of that number , as a sinner and transgressor . We have looked amiss , as if the man only and the Devil were to suffer ; but the Truth in us , because clear , therefore that might scape : No , no ; that must suffer , and lead the way to the man , or else he alas can never suffer , nor go through death ! But the good shepherd , when he puts forth his own sheep , he goes before them ; He suffers first , and drinks the first cup. But , 2. Where do they crucifie him ? Out of the City , out of the place of blessing , and carry him to the place of a skull ( as one of the Evangelists hath it , ) a field of blood ( as another calls it , ) but by both it appears to be a loathsom , unworthy , disgraceful place , a place of filth and rottenness : Out of the belly of Hell have I cryed unto thee , &c. No better a lodging for the Soul in this day , then the belly of Hell it self ; and this Christ submits to . 3. Yet further , The Souldiers part his garments among them : And truly this is a very sad case to consider ; How the Lusts , that crucified the Truth , yet they will divide its garments , and put them on , and they 'l be covered with a garb and covering of Truth : The wisdom of the flesh that puts in for a share ; the hasty and eager zeal and affections they plead for a share , the strange imaginations they plead a share ; and all will seem to be Friends to Truth , notwithstanding they have but now put it to death ; yet they part his garments among them . And this is a sad case to the sensible Soul that is bereaved of the Life of its Truth , and of the garments also , that hath lost all ; such a Soul can cry out bitterly with Mary , They have taken away my Lord , and I know not where they have layd him .

5. Yet further , He submits to be left and forsaken of all his Friends ; His Disciples left him and fled : Might he but have had them to stick to him in this day of his calamity , it had been a great support and stay ; but they all leave him , and are scattered every one to his own : And herein lies a sore aggravation of misery , ( if your Souls can read it , ) that now in this woful day , when all these woes are upon the back , and press the Soul to death almost , yet this must come in , to add to all the rest , That all the good that ever the Soul hath done , and thought , and laboured in the Truth , all is now scattered , and leaves it : What ever it hath done , singly and honestly , and out of the good-will sown in its heart towards the Truth , all the labours under the Sun now take their leave , and seem vanity and vexation of spirit : And here Christ cries out , I have spent my labour in vain : time will come , you will forget that ever you had a good thought , or a good word or did any thing for the Truth ; all wil leave you and be gone : when now your Souls can sometimes hold on the innocency and single mindedness within , and truly pray to be remembred according to that inward cleanness , yet a day will come when all this will be laid aside , and forgotten ; I forgot prosperity ( saith David : ) and in another place , he compares himself to the Dead that are forgotten for ever : How had Christ once his Disciples about him , and ready to his command , when he sent out the Seventy two by two ! and now to be left of all , and not one to stand by him , this is a hard Trial : and if it were not hid from the Soul , if it could foresee what a day of Scattering of all its good and labours would come upon it , as though they had not been , it would discourage and make it flag in all its actings for God , if it thought such a day of stripping all were to come . They pierced my hands , and my Feet , ( saith Christ ; ) His Hands that had laboured in the Truth , and his Feet that had ran the way of his Commandments : These are now nailed fast to the Cross , and he is not able to stir them . The day will come when your Souls will hate all the Labours you have taken under the Sun ; when that Strait shall be upon you , to crie out , My God , My God , Why hast thou forsaken me ! ( Mark what I say , for the day will surely come upon you ) and then all your Works and Labours will leave you : All the good that ever hath passed upon you will not stand you instead in that day , nor answer that Strait . O Lord ! how is my Soul troubled , when I feel how senselesse you are , and far off from having the thing seise upon you indeed ? But it will surely come , and then you will remember what hath been told you ; this Condition will befall you , to be left alone , as Christ complains , Lover , and Friend hast thou put far from me , and my acquaintance into darkness .

6. Another misery greater then all , is this , His father hides his face from him , he seems to forsake him , and become an enemy , that he cries out , my God , my God , &c. My God , he can yet say , but not my father , he hath hid himself from the house of Jacob , all the bowels are hid . But why must this befall Christ , that his father leaves him ?

1. He hides himself , that he may not see the death of his childe , the father cannot endure that ; and therefore he turns aside , and hides his face , his bowels and tenderness , and puts on another habi● : Cloaths himself with vengeance , as with a garment : when this work of death must pass , then he seems all anger , and hardens himself against the cries , and tears of his Son ; then he comes with Refiners fire : now the fire , that hath no mercy , it burns all alike that comes nigh it : and here David cries out , Hast thou forgotten to be gracious ? Hast thou shut up thy loving kindness in displeasure ? The Soul wonders at this day , and is amazed what work is in hand : It is hemm'd in wi●h darkness and gloominess , and all things work against it , and God he withdraws , and leaves it : the Father lays aside all his bowels , and falls upon his Isaac to bind him , and lay him upon the Altar for a Sacrifice .

2. He hides himself , that the Son may learn obedience by the things he suffers : for nothing in the world seizeth so deep upon the sensible Soul , as this absence of God : when God is indeed made precious , and the Soul hath left all , and made choyce of him onely ; then to be left and forsaken , O how it grindes the heart , and lays it in the dust ! The Soul is like a foolish childe , that so long as the mother is present joys and fliggers greatly ; but let his mother depart and leave it , and then how doth it pensie and sink , and nothing will please it ! So when all sight of God is gone , that the Soul can see no more of him , O how doth it seize and buckle to the dust ! Then the Soul cries to all things , Labor not to comfort me ; let me dye in my sorrow : It learns by this want to want all things .

3. He hides himself , that Death may seize and take place : for God , should he always be present , and uphold with his love and favor , it were impossible to dye . How have the Saints sung and rejoyced in stocks , and prisons , and fires ? nothing could terrifie nor affright : why , God was present , and that kept them up . He walked in the fire with the three children , and so long the fire cannot burn , nor seize at all . Martha says to Christ , Lord , hadst thou been here , my Brother had not dyed . And certain it is , were but God with us , we could not be in that darkness and confusion , in those sorrows , and wants , and perplexities , that now are upon us ; but he withdraws on purpose that the blow may seize . Do you know what this means ? and what a bitter cup this will be to drink of ? when the Philistins are upon you , and the Lord he is departed ! To be betrayed by a neer and bosom friend , to be given into the hands of sinners , to be unjustly put to death , to be numbered among Transgressors , and left of all friends that ever stood by us ; and then to add to all the rest , to have God withdraw too , and hide all love and favor , and stop his ears , and seem an enemy ; O who can express the misery ! My God , my God , why hast thou forsaken me ! The Soul cannot get from my God : How ever it is delt with , though a Father be gone and hid , yet it cannot go to another God , though it perish .

7. The seventh aggravation of this misery , to which Christ submits , is this , He must be dumb , and not open his mouth in all these sufferings ; as a sheep dumb before the shearer : He must not complain , nor repine , nor struggle , nor reason the case : He must not ask and cry for any ease and favor , but be still , and let all the waves go over him : He may not have so much liberty as the rich man had in Hell ; he could call out to Abraham for water to cool his tongue ; but he must be in the fire , and yet not cry out , but bear it in silence : and how hard a lesson is this , to have no vent in misery ? not to complain , nor so much as ask pity ! but this Christ submits to , and all your Souls must come to it , that shall enter into Life . And there are three Reasons for it .

1. He must be dumb , that he may stand to his word , and make that good : He had consented and spoke the word , Thy Will be done ; and he should now contradict himself , and his heart would reproach his mouth ( as Job says ) if he should shrink away , and complain ; for this was , to have His Will done , and not Gods .

2. He must be dumb , that he may give no ill example to others : He is called the Lamb without spot ; no flaw must be in the Truth : If the Captain turn his back , alass , this would soon dishearten all his Souldiers ! If he should complain and murmur , who would not learn murmuring , and stand to plead for it ? 'T is certain we learn evil one of another ; if we see another break out frowardly under a cross , we presently learn to be unruly and froward : With the froward thou wilt shew thy self froward . But now he must bear the hand quietly , and meckly , and patiently , to leave a good example for his people to walk in the same steps .

3. He is dumb , that he may not forfeit all his work , and lose all his reward : One dead fly spoyls the whole box of ointment ; And he that keeps the whole Law , and fails in one point , is guilty of all : Not to go quite through with the work , is to lose all ; and to complain and murmur , that is to fly from the hand , and shrink from the work ; and that would hinder the reward , and be recorded for an evil : Amongst all the other good , yet this comes in as a flaw ; In this thou hast done foolishly . And thus you may see a picture of Christ upon the Cross : but you cannot feelingly know the thing , till you shall come to the execution of it upon your selves , and feel the same in all these particulars .

1. Then for Use , consider , Do you beleeve ever to see this day ? or do you think to come in at some other door ? I wonder where your thoughts are ! sure you do not beleeve that ever this condition should be yours : If you beleeve it , you will be searching and enquiring , But what is my Judas ? what is that false bosom companion that will prove my Betrayer ? where lies that darling-viper ? Is it in my Understanding , my Light ? Am I holding and boasting of my knowledg secretly ? Or is it in my affections ? in the love , and choyce , and cleavings of my heart to any seen thing ? and will that be a Traytor to me ? Where lurks the Thief ? under what habit goes he ? Is he betraying with kisses , with tenderness , and love , and inward pleasings of spirit , where I least suspect him ? Is he in my ease , and rest , and content ? Is it he that keeps the bag , and is the overseer and provider of all things needful for me , which seems the neerest friend , and most careful for my good ? Is the Traytor so nigh me ? 'T is time to entire ; for certainly if ever you enter into Life , you must pass the same way ; and you will meet with a Judas that will be your death , one that lies close and hid ; and the man little suspects him to be who he is : but 't is said of Christ , He knew from the beginning who should betray him . Truth in us , from the first day , we can remember , hath ever dis-relished him , and found an evil savor in all that he hath done or said : therefore enquire out the thing ; for what ever it be , whether wisdom , or knowledg , or honor , or ease , or outward enjoyments , or husband , or wife , or childe , or what ever else ; yet certain a Thief is got in , and lodges nigh all of you , in your very bosoms , that will betray you .

2. If you are informed you must pass this way and no other , then let it not seem strange when it comes to pass : when a multitude shall be about your ears , floods and swarms of ungodliness , that agaster and amaze the Soul , will appear , hidden and unthought of depths of wickedness : and all , that man may appear to be a meer nothing , and Sin may appear exceeding sinful , and Grace may appear to be Grace indeed . All your fair carriages , and wisdom , and moderation will be found to be a stinking puddle , and defiled . If you have found another way to life , I would you could declare it ; but if there be no other , sure it will put your Souls to a strait , to look about where you are : How do you think to stand in that Day , when he shall rise to shake terribly the Earth ? If you are not then found in those everlasting records , if not a Name written in the Book of Life ; if there be not another spirit in you , that can go through the fire , that cannot dye , that it is impossible it should be holden of the grave ; Then what will become of you in that Day !

FINIS .