From which Branch we may shake this Fruit into your Lap .

A gracious soul will endeavour the crossing his own will , when he sees that it crosseth Gods . Or thus ;

A true Christian dares not [ at least ought not ] to gratifie his own Humour when it stands in opposition , or cometh in competition with Gods Honour .

In the improvement of which , I shall 1. Premise some Presidents of it . 2. Annex some Reasons to it . 3. Infer some uses from it .

The first President I shall pitch upon is Abraham , Gen. 22.2 . Here God calls Abraham out to very hot service , even to lay the Sacrificing Knife to the throat of his dear Child : Come , saith God , Take thy Son , thy only Son Isaac , whom thou lovest , and offer him up for a Burnt-offering . Alas ! how many considerations might have stept up into Abrahams head , at this time to have made him refused obedience to a Command so grievous and ungrateful to flesh and blood . Alas ! Lord , Isaac is my Son , the only staff of my Old Age , and if my Son dye , it will be enough to bring my gray hairs with sorrow to the Grave . Nay more , Isaac is my ( onely ) Son , I have none else to keep up my Family , and to preserve my name in Everlasting remembrance , and if he dye , all the hopes I have of a flourishing Posterity dyes with him . Nay more , Isaac is the Son of the Promise , In his Seed all Nations are to be blessed ; Christ the Messiah is to come of his Line ; Sions . Deliverer is to spring out of his Race , and if he dye , the World for ought I know must want a Saviour , and Israel his Redeemer . Besides , if Isaac must be sacrificed , is there none to lay bloody hands upon him , but my self ? Must an indulgent Father be his own Childs Executioner ? Must I that gave him life be the cruel Instrument of taking it away ? Thus Abraham might have expostulated the Case with God ; But no no , instead of Replying , he falls to Obeying , Gen. 22.3 . without either disputing the Justice of Gods Precept , or distrusting the truth of his Promise , for he consider'd , That God was able to raise him up again from the dead , Heb . 11.19 .

See here an Eminent piece of Self Denial ; his sin must go , his Son must go , any thing , yea , every thing must go when God calls for it .

It was Abrahams will , and wish too that Isaac should live , but Abraham would not own his will , when he saw it did not own Gods , and what lost he by it ?

Take this Christian as an Axiome , and put it as an Article into thy Creed , That there 's never any loss in obeying God , let the command be never so dangerous , costly , or difficult ; the way to keep Isaac , is to give up Isaac , and the way to enjoy thy will , is to deny thy will . The Promise is clear , Mat . 19.29 .

A second President you have in David , 2 Sam . 15.26 . who in that great Cross , his chasing from the Crown , thus expressed himself , Behold here I am , Let the Lord do with me as seemeth good in his sight ; As if he had said ; If the Lord please to change the Nature of my unnatural Son Absalon , who seeks to usurp the Crown , and ravish the Kingdom from me , and to settle and Re-establish me on the Throne again : If God please thus to honour me , it shall content me ; but if he use his Negative Vote , and deny me that Mercy , saying , I have no pleasure in thee , I will be content still ; Let him do , saith David , what seems good in his sight ; Not what seems good in my sight , but in his : His will shall be my will , and his pleasure my delight . See what another self-denying Saint here is , that God and he should have but one will betwixt them both . If God would favour him , he would be for it ; and if God would afflict him , he would not be against it . Which disposition mindeth me of that passage which I have read of Socrates , when a Tyrant threatned him with death , I am willing to dye , said Socrates ; Nay then , replyed the Tyrant , you shall live against your will ; No , said Socrates , what ever you do with me , it shall not be against , but with my will .

O friends , I question whether some of you who pretend to Grace , may not go to School to this Heathen , who had no other Pilot but Nature to stear him : Could not the Tyrant by altering the mans condition make him to alter his countenance ? and is your condition Up and Down , as your Comforts or Discomforts Eb or Flow ? did natural Quallifications make him quietly submit to Fortune , and shall not Theological considerations make him acquiesce in a Providence ? Did the Spring-head of meer Reason rise so high as Contentation ? and shall not Religion like the waters of the Sanctuary rise as high ? O Christians , lie down at the foot of Gods mercy , saying , Thy will be done .

1. Otherwise you will grieve God . 2. And you will gratifie the Devil . 3. And lastly , you will no way advantage your selves .

First , I say you will grieve God , This Expression is not to be ta●en properly , but Theologically . See Heb . 3.10 . Wherefore I was grieved with that Generation , saith God ; what Generation was that , which God was thus grieved with ? Look but into Exod . 16.8 . and you 'l find it was a murmuring generation , a dissatisfied , and discontented Generation .

It 's a grief no doubt to a godly Parent , to see his Child discontented with his allowance , and Esau-like slight his birth-right . Ah! God is not pleased to see his Children displeased ; nor contented , to see them discontented ; I read in Psal . 35.27 . That God takes pleasure in the prosperity of his people : But I no where read that he takes pleasure in the Discontent of his people . No , no , this passion drove God himself into a passion against the Jews of old , because , saith he , you have not walk't thankfully before me in the use of my blessings , therefore you shall serve your enemies in hunger and nakedness . Whereas on the other hand , it pleaseth God to see his people truckle under the Cross , and yet content to be ground betwixt the Teeth , and wounded with the Tongues of malicious Neighbours , and yet content ; To see and hear the dilicious Accents of his dying Martyrs , when in their extreamest tortures , they cryed out nothing but [ Holy Jesus , Holy Jesus . ]

To see and hear patient Job sitting on his Dung-hill , and bearing his burthen bravely , mingling his Groans with Praises , and justifications of God ; this , this pleased God like an Anthem sung by Angels , in the morning of the Resurrection , and therefore he hath Crowned him with that Wreath of Glory , In all this Job sinned not .

Secondly , By discontent you Gratifie the Devil . When Nero [ that he might the better conceive the flames of Troy ] had set Rome on fire , he sate down and sang songs unto it . Oh , the Devil is never so merry , as when he sees us on fire with passion , Consuming and Smudging our lives away in the smoake of Discontent : Such a fire makes the Devil a Bonefire . And this was his aim in afflicting Job , not to make him a poor man , but an impatient man : But he was basely mistaken , for when he expected that Job should have fallen down to blaspheme God , Job on the contrary falls down and blesseth God . The Lord hath [ freely ] given , and [ justly ] taken away , blessed be the Name of the Lord .

Ah! how blanck lookt Satan , at the fall of the Expression from Jobs lips ? How did this gall and gravel a malicious Devil ? Certainly this one word of Jobs , did wound Satan more , then all the afflictions wounded Job .

Ah friends , get but your wills , to buckle under the will of Gods , and in all Overture of condition to acquiesce in a Providence , and this double advantage will come of it , God will have his end , and Satan will miss of his .

Thirdly and lastly , you can no way advantage your selves by Discontent , but may disturb your Conscience , and hugely prejudice your own peace . As the Prisoner in Irons , hurts himself more by striving to shake them off , then the Fetters would do by being on . So many a man by fretting and discontent makes the Cross bigger to himself , then ever God made it . His discontent being a geater affliction to him , then the affliction it self : Greater I say , by how much it sits nearer to the Spirit , then any outward crosses do or can do . I remember what Seneca writes of Caesar , who having appointed a great Feast for his Nobles and Friends , and it falling out that the day proved exceeding foul , even so as nothing could be done ; and being extreamly displeased at it , in the height of madness took their Bows , and shot at Jupiter , in defiance of him , but it happen'd that their Arrows lighting short of Jupiter , fell down upon their own heads , and wounded them mortally . Thus it is in the point in hand , our murmurings , and impatiency , are as Arrows shot , not at Jupiter , but at Jehovah , at God himself , hence said Moses , Exod , 16.8 . to that murmuring Generation , Your murmurings are not against us , but against God ; which Arrows may wound your selves deeply , but they never hurt God at all ; they wound your Consciences with guilt , and your hearts with disquiet , and oft times causeth God to wound you too with punishments , which [ if it had not been for your murmurings ] he would never have brought upon you .

Miriam murmured , and God smote her with Leprosie . The Israelites murmured , and God sent Serpents among them ; they stung God with fierce Tongues , and God stung them with fiery Serpents . Never then let a people murmer against their Maker more , but quietly submit to his Providential proceedings , lest otherwise by strugling and striving against God , they do but make their Bands stronger , and their condition worser ; Like the silly Partridge . which by her fluttering breaks her wings , but not the Net ; My advice then friends , is this , when ever God binds the Cross upon your backs , or ties or stakes you down to a sick bed , or any other sad or uneasie condition ; since these Cords of his you cannot break , lye down gently and suffer the hand of the Lord to do what he pleaseth , swallowing down this bitter Pill which he forceth down your throats for the health of your souls

I come now to the second thing , Viz . the USES of the Doctrine .

And upon enquiry I find two sorts of men Reproveable .

1. Those that do their own will . 2. Those that do the Devils will .

First then , It speaks Terrour to those that do their own will ; such were the Israelites , 1 Sam . 8.5 . they would needs have a King to rule over them , this was their will , and their will they would have , although they knew it jarr'd , and extreamly interfear'd both with the will of God , and his Prophets , yet still the cry of the Rabble , and the vote of the multitude was this , Nay , but we will have a King , ver . 19.

The like you see in Rachel , Gen. 30.1 Give me children , or I die . Albeit she saw that her Husband could not , and that God would not humour her , yet still she cries , Give me children , or I die . Wilful woman ! if thou canst live in pleasure , wilt thou needs die in a pit ? choosing rather to have thy body kil'd , then thy will cross'd ?

This is the case of all Mankind , till Grace work a change , and till God of an unwilling , make us a willing people in the day of his power : Till then , we have a will , which is not only blemisht with an indisposition , but also byass'd with an opposition to Gods ; for saith Paul , that Doctor of the Gentiles , Rom. 8. It is not subject to the will of God , neither indeed can be . Mark , it is not subject , nor can be subject ; what more can be said to abase the natural pride of man ? as he hath such a mind as neither understands , nor can understand the things of God , 1 Cor . 2.14 . So he hath such a will as neither is subject , nor can be subject , Rom. 8. Thus lies fallen man , lost man , forlorn man , degenerated man , thus lies he lockt up in obstinacy , darkness , and unbelief , minding his own things , doing his own will , and damning his own soul , untill God spring in , as the Angel did to Peter in prison , and bring him news of his spiritual enlargement out of that dead and damning Estate , to which he had thrown , and enthrald himself , body and soul , for ever .

O thou heavenly Samaritaine , that once poured in wine into the half dead Traveller , draw near , draw near , hears a Church full of souls , not half dead , but wholly dead , their eyes closed , they cannot , they cannot see thee , their hearts grown stiff , and cold , and hard , and have no feeling of thee , unless in mercy thou speak a Resurrection word , and make them live again to praise thee . Oh let this be the time of life , Oh let it be a time of love , apply unto their festered sores this saving salve of Christs blood , that they putrifie not to death , nor languish in despair ; drop into their wounded souls the sharp wine of thy wraah to search them , and poure in also the supling Oyl of thy tender Mercy to heal them , that so both them and their wills ( which further they are diven will not go ) may be brought into a Conformity to thee and thy will .

Secondly , it speaks terrour to those that do the Divels will . It was an Indictment which Christ preferd against the Jews , and may I fear , too truly be laid to the charge of many Nomical Christians , John 8.44 . Ye are of your Father the Devil , and the works of the Devil you will doe .

Adam , when the will of God , and the will of the Devil hung up in equal ballance before him , we know how ready he was to choose the rong Scale ; God said , Touch not the forbidden fruit ; Satan said , Take and eat the forbidden fruit ; and you know the sad event of that affair . Now if Adam was at the Devils beck in the state of Creation , when his Nature was not depraved with sin , nor his Soul debaucht with Lust , who in the state of Corruption can say , My heart is clean .

It may be some will Object , None is so devoid of Grace sure , none gon so far in the Stupification of their Conscience , as to do the will of the Devil ?

Ah poor soul ! I could wish that the party here concern'd be not nearer thee then thou art aware of ; put thy hand into thy bosom , and it may be , thou mayest resolve the Objection thy self : Thou wouldest possibly take it ill , should I come to thee [ as Nathan did to David ] and clap thee on the shoulder with this Arest , Thou art the man . I confess this would be more then my Commission warrants me to do , yet give me leave to whisper one word or two in thine ear .

When thou makest a lye , whose will doest thou ? Gods , or the Devils ? not Gods , for God saith , put away lying . Surely lying is the work and will of Satan , whom the Scripture Records for a Lyer from the beginning : Again , when with Jezebel thou paintest thy self with pride , and standest sacrificing many a precious morn to the Idol in the Looking-glass , whose will art thou doing at such a time ? sure not Gods , for in Isa , 28.1 . you have him declaiming against such practises , Woe to the crown of pride , to the crown of pride . When thou art acting the good fellow upon the Ale-bench , and with thy driveling Oaths , damning all that are wedded to the Rules of Sobriety , and dares not be of thy drunken fraternity , whose will art thou doing ? and in whose work art thou imployed at such a time ? Certainly not Gods , he calls no such Conventicles , nor allows no such Societies ; witness that Alarum , which he sounds under the window where such Swaggerers sit , Joel 1.5 . Awake , awake ye drunkards , weep and howl all ye drinkers of wine , for the time is at hand when your sweet draughts shall be cut off from your mouth . In a word , when thou art sinning , whose will art thou doing ; not Gods , for he saith , Cease to do evil , and learn to do well . Certainly , while it is thus with thee , the words of Christ are applicable to thee , Thou art of thy Father the Devil , and the work or will of the Divel thou wilt doe , John 8.44 .

Thirdly , Is it so , then ever make Gods will the Standard of yours and think not to bring down his will to yours , but resign up your will to his . That Epitaph would not become a Christians Tomb-stone , which was found Engraven upon a Misers Monument , Here lies one against his will ; the blessed Apostle was of another mind , when he said , I have learnt in what ever state I am , therewith to be content . Many can be content in an an honourable Estate , or in a wealthy Estate , or in a plentiful or prosperous Estate : But to be reproacht , and yet content , to be beli'd , and yet content , to be affronted , and wrong'd , and yet content , in such Estates as these to be content , is far above Nature , and none can do it , but he that hath learnt it , I have learnt , saith Paul .

But alas ! how few Schollars hath this great Doctor Paul , in his heavenly Academy ! Children can learn to be proud , can learn to be covetous ; can learn to be undutiful to their Parents , can learn to lye and swear , before they have well learnt to speak . But he must be a Man , nay more then a Man , that can learn to love an Enemy , to forgive an injury , and with Paul , to be content with every Contingency .

For the Lords sake [ MAN ] ply this Lesson well , if thine Enemy lay thy honour low , intreat the Lord to lay thy heart as low , and be content . If Authority bring thy Estate down , beseech God to bring thy Spirit down , and be content ; when thy comforts runs a tilt , and thy blessings runs dregs , then let patience have her perfect work , and be content , feast upon thy own Lentiles , quash thy penetential tears instead of luscious Wine , and count thy sins instead of pounds , keep thy heart at home , and suffer not thy ambition to climbe beyond thy Makers pleasure .

Mahomet , when he could not make the Mountain come Down to him , he went Up to the Mountain : So when thou canst not enlarge thy Dominions to thy mind , then confine thy mind to thy Dominions ; and when thou hast more , be the more thankful , and when thou hast less , be content . This is the third Use , Make Gods will the standard of yours .

Now if you put Pauls Querie , Lord , what wilt thou have me to do ?

I will answer the Question , and tell you , what God would have you to do .

1. God would have you to obey his Command , and live piously .

2. God would have you to bear his Cross , and suffer patiently .

First , It s Gods will you should live piously . For the proof of this you may read , 1 Thes . 4.3 , 4. This is the will of God , what is ? even this , saith Paul ; your Sanctification , that every one of you should possess your vessel in holiness ; Mark this , in holiness , and if so , what will become of all those befooled and abused souls , who debauch their vessel with uncleanness , and defile themselves with drunkenness ? If Belshazer was so severely punisht for dissecrating and prophaning the vessels of the Temple , dedicated unto God , of how much sorer punishment shall these wretches be thought worthy , who have adulterated and defiled the Temple of the Holy Ghost ? He drank intemperately to the honour of his Idol , only in dead Vessels of Gold and Silver ; But these in doing thus , abuse living vessels , living bodies , and living souls ; such vessels as by Baptism were markt out for God , and separated and sealed to his holy service , they abuse and prostitute to a Lust , to a Whore , to the Devil .

Ah! who can but weep , and weep again to see how much of our English blood is poyson'd with these beastly Enormities at this day ; and how many of our [ otherwise hopeful ] Gentlemen , who might do God and their Country much service , and be a great help to the publick good , and peculiar blessing to the place where they live , do basely and unworthily melt away their youth , and Emasculate their Spirits in drunken Societies , and Effeminate Embraces .

Alas , that so many Noble births , so many sparkling Wits should be prostituted to Satans service , and imployed in carrying on Satans Cause , while they know it not ; If they had found a golden Challice [ as Aug. observes of Lucinius they would have given it to the Church ; but God hath given them a golden Wit , a golden Head , and golden parts , and in these golden Cups , and Challices they drink themselves to the Devil both body and soul for ever more .

Ah deluded and degenerated Gentlemen , think with your selves seriously , what answer you will make to your Judge at the general Audit-day , for taking the Members of Christ , and making them members of an Harlot .

Never see my face more , said Joseph , unless you bring your brother Benjamin with you . Oh friends , never think to see Gods face to your comfort in glory , if you carry not holy bodies , and holy souls , and holy affections with you ; God tells you his mind in Heb , Follow peace and holiness , whithout which you shall never see the Lord . You may go to heaven without a penny in your purse , but you shall never come there without holiness in your heart . Heaven is a City where Righteousness dwels , and therefore though God in his wonderful patience to poor lost man , suffer the Earth to give the ungodly a little house-room a while , yet sure I am he will never cumber heaven with such a crew .

Before Enoch was translated to heaven , he walkt holily upon Earth , else God had never desired his company so soon as he did . And before the Saints departed , commenced , and took their degree of glory , they kept their Acts , and performed the exercises of grace , and so must you , the Scripture is plain , Without holiness , none shall see the Lord . It 's true , none goes to heaven for his holiness , and this shews the Insufficiency of holiness ; But it 's as true , that none goes to heaven without holiness , and this argues the necessity of holiness ; And therefore though it be no Plea for heaven , yet it will be your best Evidence , and will you have your Evidences to seek , when you should have them to shew ? Ah then as you vallue a portion among the Saints in light , and hope to live in heaven , when you can live no longer upon Earth : Be holy , as your Father which is in heaven is holy .

Caesars money must be known by Caesars Image and Superscription , and so must the Christian at the Reckoning day , by the Tenour of his Conversion . Not every one that saith Lord , Lord , but he that doth the will of the Lord shall be saved , saith Christ ; your works must be your witnesses , and your deeds must declare whose you are , and to whom you belong : And therefore begin to live that life now , which you intend and hope to live for ever ; and continue not one day longer in that condition , in which you would not dye , and appear at Judgement in ; therefore go home and dress your selves not with good Cloathes , but with good Works ; and while others are querying what they shall eat , and what they shall drink , and what they shall put on ; study you how to live , and how to dye , and to put on the Lord Jesus Christ , making no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lust thereof ; And when others are projecting how to improve a barren piece of ground , let your contrivance be how to improve a barren mind ; And as their care is that their fields should not lie fallow , so let it be your study not to let you hearts lie fallow ; and the rather because you see that this is the will of God , even your Sanctification , that every one of you should possess his vessel in holiness , 1 Thes . 4.3 , 4.

Now that this is the will of God , will appear upon a two-fold account .

1. First from the price , with which he hath redeemed us to it .

2. And secondly , from the Promise , which he hath made to Reward us for it .

The Price he paid down upon the naile was his own blood , Tit . 2.14 . He gave himself for us , that he might Redeem as from all iniquity , and purifie unto himself a peculiar people , Had man kept his Primitive holiness , Christ might have kept his life , and have spared his pains ; It was mans lost Righteousness , lost holiness , that Christ came to recover . But this is a Point that needs pressing rather then proving , which I shall undertake to effect by these ensuing Obtestations and and intreaties . I beseech you upon the account of these three Considerations , that you would approve your selves a holy Nation , a Seed which the Lord hath blessed .

I beseech you 1. For my sake . 2. For your sakes . 3. For Christ sake .

First , for my sake , who am to come to you as a Petitioner and Messenger from the Lord , and the summe of my desires is this , I beseech you in Christs stead that you would be reconciled to God . I am not courting you for your silver , but for your souls , and what will you grant me , if this be denyed me : O the Lord make you a willing people in the day of his power .

God hath sent me to you [ as Jesse to David ] with this Present in my hands , and these Breathings in my heart after your Salvation ; O may they but prove serviceable and succesful to your souls , and I shall bless that God hath put it into mine heart thus to visit you : But if you will not hear , nor fear to do no more so wickedly , My soul shall weep in secret for you .

Is it not sad to a tender Physitian to see his Patients to dye under his hands ; much sadder sure , to a poor Minister to see souls drop to Hell , one by one , under his Pulpit , and cannot help them , cannot save them ; this must needs be a heart-sadding sight to one that 's sensible of the worth of souls . It costeth the Mother no small pains to bring forth a living Child . But ah , the many bitter Throws of that Minister that travels all the year long , nay , all his life long , with a dead Child , a dead-hearted people : That spends his strength , and like a Candle Swails out his life amongst his Parish , and is forced at last to take up the Prophets complaint , Who hath believed our report , and to whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed ?

O my dear friends , think solemnly and seriously , what answer you intend to give me , before I leave you . Christ will not alway cry , Come ; the Spirit will not alway cry , Come , neither must I ; the time is at hand , when you will say one to another , We had a Preacher , we had a Teacher , we had a welwisher , and a lover of of our souls amongst us ; but we did not improve and profit under him as we might , and therefore God hath sent him away from us , as he did Jonah to Nineve , when Jerusalem despised him . O hear me then while you may , and pray with me while you may ; and accept of the tender of Salvation from me while you may ; Yet a little while , and you that have seen me , shall see me no more , and you that have heard me [ as Job saith ] shall say , where is he ; It 's but a little , and those seats shall have other hearers , and this Pulpit have another Preacher ; It 's but a little that you have to hear , and I have to speak in this place , and shall not my Dying words be Living words to you ? shall my Farewel Sermon be a forgotten Sermon ? and the last request I am like to make to you , be repulsed and slighted by you . O my dear Neighbours and Friends , of whom I travel till Christ be formed in you ; Awake , and live , Seek the Lord , before the Grave and Hell shut their mouthes upon you , and before the Servant of the Lord , sent now to warn you , take his last leave of you , and see your faces no more .

I am wounded , I am wounded , to think this Sermon should be Concluded , before all your souls be Converted , and to leave any of this Congregation walking on in Hells Rode , when I am gone ; Oh that I knew but what to do , to get you to do that to day , which must be done , or you may be undone to morrow .

If it were to follow you home , and there to beg your Conversion on my bare knees , as a Child begs his Fathers blessing : If it were to go to my Closet when Sermon is done , and there to wrastle with God , as Jacob did , for a blessing upon you , my loving Parishoners , till I get this answer from God , I have blessed them , and they shall be blessed . Nay , though I were sure to go to Prison as soon as I come forth of the Pulpit , yet I should think all well bestowed , could I but see you begin to turn this Sermon into practice , And to follow peace and holiness , without which you cannot see the Lord .

Oh what a joyful hours work would I esteem this , and how heartily would I bless your God and my God , that prospered his Word in the mouth of his servant , making it a Salvation Word to as many as are Ear-witnesses of it this day .

This is the first Argument , I beseech you for my sake . Little do you think what a joy it 's to your Minister to see his Children [ as St John speaks ] walking in the truth : And on the contrary , what an affliction , to see you walk in Errour , and Sin . Little do you think what a comfort it 's to me to think of making this account to God at the Judgement day , Here are the Children which thou gavest me , and I have lost none . And on the other hand , what an aking it is to my heart , to think of bespeaking God at that time , on this manner , Here are none of the Children , O Lord , none of the souls that thou didst commit to my trust , for I have lost them all . But I hope better things of you , though I thus speak .

Secondly , I beseech you for your own sakes . Who will have the worse of it , if this advice be not followed , you or I ? Alas , though it may be matter of Grief to me , yet not of Guilt : God will reward me according to my labour , not according to my success . We are , said the Apostle , A sweet savour of Christ in them that perish , mark , in them that perish , as well as in them that be saved . Though the Patient dye , yet the Physitian must be paid : So albeit the people die in their sins , yet Gods Ministers may comfortably conclude with the Prophet , Isa . 49.4 . Though I have laboured in vain , and spent my strength for nought , yet surely my judgement is with the Lord , and my work [ namely , the reward of my work ] with my God .

Ah my friends , it 's you that will have the worst of it one day , if this Sermon be not faithfully followed , and obeyed ; Ezek . 3.16 , 17 , 18. Read at your leasure , Ezek . 3.16 , 17 , 18. and see whether I speak truth or a lye ; It 's you that must have the Reward or punishment ; it 's you that must stand or fall , that must be the Subjects of the pleasures of heaven , or the Objects of all the pains in Hell , and should not you then be as much concern'd for your selves , as I am for you ? Now you enjoy your health , and the sad Accents of a dying sinner , are not heard in your habitations , but will it be alwayes thus ? Now each of you sits under his Vine with delight , and there is no carrying into Captivity , nor no crying in your streets , but will such times last alwayes ? Now you can Hawke , and hunt , swear and drink , and then you think you are qualified like Gentlemen ; but will this last alwayes ? Suppose thou hadst a Crown on thy head , how long wouldst thou wear it ? Suppose thou had'st a Scepter in thy hand , how long would'st thou hold it ? They are sick at Rome , and dye in Princes Courts , as well as at the Spittle ; yea , Kings themselves cannot keep their Crowns on their heads , nor their Heads on their shoulders , but must stoop when death strikes , and go as naked to their Beds of Dust , as other men ; and in that day all their thoughts , their projects , and their pleasures perish with them ; only the guilt of their sins , which were the Ladders , by which they did climb up to the top of their pleasures , the top of their honors , and preferments will dog them into another world . Hence said Abner to Joab , 2 Sam . 2.26 . Know'st thou not that these things will be bitterness in the end . You will now have your sweet meats , and your sweet drinks , your sweet pleasures and pastimes , let the Minister say what he will , but do not you know that this will be bitterness in the end ? In Hell all the Sugar will be melted off , wherein the Pill of your sins and temptations is wrapt , and then the note you 'l sing will be that of the Emperor , O quantum ob quantillum ! O what an Eternity of pain have I for an inch of pleasure , or an Ell of sinful delight ! As the Malefactor said to his Neighbour , dost thou envy me my Grapes that I have stolen ? Alas , they 'l cost me dear , I must die for them ? Ah envy not at the pleasures of a poor sinner , they 'l cost his soul dear one day ; what doth Dives his Wine-cellar advantage him now in Hel , while he cries out for a Cup of cold water , and cannot have it ? O Sirs , you cannot now conceive while you sit in health and ease , what different thoughts you will then have of a holy , and unholy life , and with what gripes of Conscience will your undone Souls , looke back on a life of Mercy , thus basely , and blockishly slept away , dream'd and sin'd away , ; I beseech you then , and that for your own sakes , that you would not for a few fleshly pleasures which are passing away , incur the torments of Hell which shall never pass away .

Thirdly , I beseech you for Christs sake . And methinks when I beg of you in Christs Name , and for Christs sake , you should not say me nay ; If you love me , saith Christ , keep my Commandements , Joh . 14.15 . See with what perswasive Rhetorick he presseth this Duty , If you love me saith he , do it ? O Christians ! what , may not the love of Christ command you ? If it were to lay down your blood for him , would you not do it ? and will you not be perswaded to lay down your Strifes , and Divisions , your Animosities and Corruptions for his sake ?

As Absolon said to Hushai , 2 Sam . 16.17 . Is this thy kindness to thy friend ? Such a friend as Christ hath been , is , and ever will be ? Certainly that Indictment will one day be prefer'd against you , which the Apostle pronounceth with tears in his eyes , Phil . 3.18 . You are enemies to the Cross of Christ ; as if he had said , Christ came to destroy the works of the Divel , and you by your loose walkings destroy the works of Christ , the Image of Christ , and the Interest of Christ in the soul : Christ laid down his blood to Purge you , and you unworthily lay down your selves in sin to Pollute you , and so become guilty of denying the Lord that bought you , and trampling under foot the blood of the Covenant . What Ear doth not tingle , and what doth not tremble at such a horrid and flagicious Act ? I beseech you then be tender of Christs Honour , Qod vos divites relinquam . and be holy for Christs sake , whose Heart you see , or may see by what follows , is engaged and concern'd to promote holiness among you .

Consider 1. His strict Command calls for it . 2. His fervent Prayer implyes it . 3. His holy Example teacheth it .

First , I say his Command calls 〈◇〉 it , Mat . 5.16 . Let your light shine before men , that they may see your good works ; that is , lead such convincing lives , that the world may witness and certifie with you , that you are certainly a choice Generation , a Seed which the Lord hath blessed . Here 's a Comman you see , now where 's your obedience ? will you make Conscience of it , or will you not ? will you swear Allegiance to it , or will you not ? shall it pass for an irrefragable Rule of Life , or shall it not ?

It was Pompey's boast , that with a Word , or a Nod , he could awe his Souldiers to any thing ; and shall God command , and go without ? shall Gods word have less authority then Pompey's ?

I read much of the blind obedience of the Papists to their Rulers , even in things scarce credible , but that themselves have publisht them .

One Masseus a Franciscan , tumbled himself in the dirt and crawled like a child , because that St. Francis told him , That unless he became as a little Child , he could not enter into the Kingdom of heaven .

The Jesuites are so framed to Obedience , that whatever service they are injoyned by their Superiours , though never so abominable , they must accomplish it . Yea , if the blessed Virgin vouchsafe her presence to one of the brethren , if his Superiour call him , he must presently break from her , and go at his bidding , although it be on a bloody Errand , and murderous design , with a hundred more Fopperies of this nature .

What do I reckon these for , but to assure you , that these who have paid such homage to man , will rise up one day out of their graves to condemnus , who are less careful in our obedience to God Almighty : They shut the eyes of Reason to obey their Earthly Superiours , and we dispute , if not deny our Allegiance to our heavenly Law-giver .

God bids us believe , and we distrust ; God bids us obey , and we dispute ; God bids us remember our Creator in the dayes of our youth , and we forget him even in our age ; God bids us learn of him , to be meek and lowly , and we learn of the Divel to be proud and haughty ; God bids us be sober and watch unto Prayer , and we surfeit with excess , and sleep at Prayer ; God bids us forbear , and forgive one another in love , and we reproach and persecute one another with much opposition and hatred . In a word , God bids us be content with what we have , and we unthankfully murmer for what we want .

Ah sinners , God sees and hears you all this while , and his hand is setting down in the Table-book of his Remembrance all your undutifulness and disobedience , and when the book shall be open'd , how think you will these Indictments be answer'd ?

Secondly , Christs fervent Prayer calls for holiness , Joh . 17.17 . Sanctifie them with thy Truth , saith he . Should you hear a Minister with abundance of zeal press a Duty upon his people , in the Pulpit , and as soon as he gets home , you should go under his Closet Window , and hear him hard at Prayer , begging of God a blessing upon his labours that day , you would easily believe the Minister was in earnest : So here , our Saviour hath no sooner done his Sermon , but you find him at Prayer , Joh . 17.17 . and what he most insisted on in the Pulpit , that he enlargeth most on in his Closet , Father , saith he , Sanctifie them .

Thirdly , As Christs Prayer , so his Pattern and Example shews his desires to have his people a holy people ; Was not he a lover of holiness in others , and a true practiser of holiness himself ? was not he the Israelite indeed , in whom there was no guile , no sin no spot ? and why was he so ? doth he not tell you , Joh . 13.15 . I have given you an Example , saith he , that you should do as I have done . He was content to have his Honor laid in the Dust ; his Credit and Blood laid in the Dust , but it was for an Example of all self-denial to you : Again , he was content to take a Towel an●… Bason in his hand , to wash his Disciples feet , Joh . 3.14 . but it was for an Example of Humility to you . In a word , he was so Heavenly upon Earth , so mortified to all worldly interests , and liv'd so convincingly before men , that his very enemies were forced to own his Divinity , and to say , that he could not possibly do such things , unless God were with him , now all this was for an Example of holiness to you ; I have given you , saith he , an Example , that you should do as I have done .

O then set Christ in his holy Example before you , [ as one would set the person whose Picture he intends to draw ] and labour to draw every line in your life , according to your Copy . O this would be a sweet way indeed to maintain the power of holiness : when you are tempted to any vanity , or extravigancy , then set Christ before you in his holy walking , and ask thy soul , am I in this speech like Christ ? do I in this action write after my Copy ? Did Christ , or would Christ , if he were to live again upon earth , do as I do ? and live as I live ? would not he be more choice of his company ? more watchful over his words then I am ? were ever Cards and Dice seen so frequently in his hands as in mine ? did he ever ruine his Debtors by exacting his right , or Defraud his Creditors by detaining their rights ? O friends , study Christs life more , and you will sooner learn to amend your own .

Well , I 'le conclude this discourse with one word of Counsel . Is it Gods will that you should be a holy people , then let your wills be so too , and be holy in all manner of conversation .

The last words that Mr. Bolton spoke to his Children on his Death-bed , were these ; I charge you my dear ones , as you will answer it at the day of Judgement , that you live so , as that you meet me not at that time in a state of unregeneracy .

Beloved , I have not many words to speak to you , for the hour of my departure hastneth ; therefore I will compose what I have to say , into this dying request . You and I like Elijah and Elisha , are at the point of parting , I do therefore require of you , and in the Name of God Conjure you , so to improve this Sermon , this opportunity , this hours discourse , that we may take comfort at our next meeting , and rejoyce to see one anothers face at the Judgement day , which we shall never do , if we appear there in a sinful and unsanctified estate .

Oh that the Lord would make me an happy Instrument to convey Converting Grace into your souls this day ; so that as Sampson slew more at his death , then he did all his life before ; So I may save more with this dying speech , then ever I did with all that 's gone before . I have read of a rich Florentine , who being to die , called his sons together , and thus bespoke them ; It much rejoyceth me , now upon my Death-bed , to think that I shall leave you all wealthy . But oh my friends , it would rejoyce me more if now at my departure , I could leave you all Gracious , and if before I die , I could see Jesus Christ to live in you .

Awake , awake you sons of sleep , and hear what concerns your peace , before the time come when you shall hear no more . Let not your hearts run after Fields , and Vineyards , Houses , and Orchards , for before thy fruits be ripe , thy flesh may be rotten ; before thy next Harvest be ready for the Sickle , thy Sou● may be ripe for Judgement .

Up then and be doing , thou know'st not what a punctillo thy time is reduced unto ; thou hast gone over some mens graves to day , and it may be , others may go over thine to morrow ; Or , if God spare thee with life and health , yet if thou neglectest Gods call this Sabbath , God may neglect to call thee the next ; It is well known how many merciful Messages Pharaoh had brought him by Moses , and what fair and frequent warnings he had to amend his life , but when all this would not do , Moses took his leave , and he saw his face no more .

Beloved , I have appeared many a Sabbath amongst you , and once again am I come as a Collector , to gather Souls for God , and to try how many hearts I can hug to heaven with me . O consider now in time , what you resolve on ! stand out against the Offers of Mercy this day , and God knows , whether ever you may hear him again knocking at your doors upon the like Errand ; God makes short work with some in his Judiciary proceedings ; If he finds a Repulse once , sometimes he departs and leaves that dismal curse behind him , Luke 14.24 . Not one of those that were bidden , and would not come , shall ever taffe of my Supper ; they were but once bidden , and for their very first denial , this curse is clapt upon their heads , Not one of them shall taste of my Supper ; It 's not said , they shall never come where the Supper stands on the Table ; but they shall never taste it . Poor souls , you may sit under the Ordinances , and you may come to Sacraments , and Sermons , where Christ is brought in , both as first and second Course ; but through the efficacie of this Curse , never taste ; as David saith , How good and gracious God is ? why , because , when I called , saith God , you refused , and when I stretched forth my hands , none regarded , therefore I will now give you to eat of the fruit of your own doings , and fill you with your own devices , Pro . 1.24 , 31.

Therefore consider of it , and give up your names to God to day , lest to morrow be too late , his Manna is ready if you come in time to gather it , but if you linger , he hath his Sun to melt it away , and it 's gone .

Thus have you had the first Particular open'd to you and urged upon you , namely , That it 's Gods will you should obey the Command , and live holy .